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FROM THE PUBLISHER linda evans shepherd
In May of 2008, a one-mile-wide EF-3 wedge tornado cut a path through Colorado, plowing across I-25, north of Denver. This brute crisscrossed through the farms before
knocking much of the town of Winsor flat. I lived through that tornado.
I was flying down I-25 in my Ford Taurus wagon when what appeared to be a storm cloud slapped down in front of my car. That killer tornado could have sucked me up and spit my car out of the top, but it didn’t. My only explanation of why not is “but God.” When that monster landed, I was in worship, singing the words “Holy is the Lamb,” along to Third Day’s Agnus Dei. And I kept singing. I mean, it wasn’t that unusual to drive into a low-hanging thunder cell on the freeway. But I was stunned by its ferocious nature. I thought my windshield would burst from both the fire hose of slush and the change in pressure inside my car as the entire world disappeared. An oil tanker beside me vanished until we both popped into the tornado’s calm, misty center. A half-mile or so later, the tanker and I popped out of the second, less-daunting wall, and back into the sunshine. At that moment, KLOVE radio announced there was a tornado at our exit. Is that what that was?! I mention this story because it’s like we’ve all been hit by an EF-3 tornado that we never saw coming. The world as we’ve known it has disappeared, swallowed up. We can’t get our bearings, and we can’t find our way back to “the good old days” of last February. But no matter that the winds continue to swirl, we are in the center of the storm, holding hands with a God who loves us, a God who brings us peace. It’s just like when God shut the mouths of carnivorous beasts when Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. It’s just like when God saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from a fiery furnace. If God can see these biblical greats through their greatest trials, He can also see us through our trials. For with God, there is peace in the storm, calm in the lion’s den, and a chill in the furnace. To find God’s protection, we have to worship Him and give Him our problems. As we celebrate 20 years of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association in a time of pandemic, this much I know, our world needs Christian books, music and products like never before. God will make a way for us to stand through this storm because we are still on call with the purposes He has given us. Stand firm and trust in the Lord.
love, Linda Evans Shepherd is a Revell author and the founder of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
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AUTHORS AUTHORS 7 CHARLENE QUINT
Editorial Staff
PUBLISHER..................................................... Linda Evans Shepherd
EDITOR/ART DIRECTOR....................... Amber Weigand-Buckley LAYOUT EDITOR......................................... Tom Young COPY EDITORS........................................... Jodi Harris & Tom Young ADVERTISING............................................... Linda Evans Shepherd CONTRIBUTORS........................................ Dr. Sabrina Black, Dawn Scott Damon, Pam Farrel, Catherine Finger, Julie Lavender, Susan U. Neal, Charlene Quint, Janell Rardon, Linda Evans Shepherd, Jennifer Taylor, Sharon Tedford, and Peggy Sue Wells
7 8 8 11
Prepared for Such a Time as This
CHARLENE QUINT DR. SABRINA Prepared for Such aBLACK Time as This
Racial Reconciliation, Repentence & Restitution
DR. SABRINA BLACK LINDA EVANS SHEPHERD Racial Reconciliation, Repentence & Restitution
A Prayer When You Feel Defeated
11 LINDA EVANS SHEPHERD 13 JULIE A PrayerLAVENDER When You Feel Defeated Love Them Little, Love Them Big
13 JULIE LAVENDER 15 GINGER HARRINGTON Love Them Little, Love Them Big Holy in the Moment
15 SHARON TEDFORD 16 LINDA GILDEN & LINDA GOLDFARB Arise & Lead Leader or Follower?
16 CATHERINE FINGER 19 CAROL CLEOD What’s YourM Signature Message? Storm Proof
Right to the Heart Board
Linda Evans Shepherd (President), Dianne Butts, Sharon Norris Elliott, Karen Porter, Rhonda Rhea, Carole Whang Schutter and Joy A. Schneider
Information
Leading Hearts magazine for Christian Women is published bimonthly by Right to the Heart Ministries 2020. ISSN 2380-5455 ADVERTISING | Display rates are available at leadinghearts.com. By accepting an advertisement, Leading Hearts does not endorse any advertiser or product. We reserve the right to reject advertisements not consistent with the magazines objectives. MANUSCRIPTS | Writers guidelines are available at leadinghearts.com. Leading Hearts | PO Box 6421, Longmont, CO 80501 email: lindareply@gmail.com fax inquiries: (303) 678-0260 MEMBER | 2015-2016-2017-2018-2019 Evangelical Press Association Award of Merit Winner — Christian Ministry Digital Publication Photos courtesy of: Unsplash (Philipe Cavalcante, Rowan Chestnut, Dakota Corbin, Sai DeSilva, Caju Gomes, Ian Kiragu, Florian Klauer, Manny Moreno, Dang Nhz) Copyright ©2020 Right to the Heart Ministries. All rights reserved. Copyrighted material reprinted with permission. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
22 JANELL RARDON 20 JENNIFER DEAN Who Are Your KENNEDY Bridges? Treasured
24 DAWN SCOTT DAMON 23 KARISA MOORE Finding Freedom Turn the Page of Suicide
25 SUSAN U. NEAL 25 YVONNE ORTEGA 7 Steps to Improve Your Health
Six Ways to Comfort the Bereaved
26 PEGGY SUE WELLS & PAM FARREL 27 MICHELLE LAZUREK Navigating Family Life on Your Own The Day I Kissed My Religious Spirit Goodbye
28 JENN TAYLOR 29 SUSAN B. MEAD Cheri Keaggy: A Time to Heal Exposed
30 PENELOPE CARLEVATO For Such a Time as This
31 PAM FARREL PAGES
Other-Centered Adventure
10 BOOKS TO READ 18 AWSA MEMBERSHIP PAGES 28 CHERI KEAGGY 10 31 18 28
A Healing Journey
BOOKS TO READ CONTRIBUTORS AWSA MEMBERSHIP CHERI KEAGGY
contents A Healing Journey
31 CONTRIBUTORS
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FROM THE GUEST EDITOR charlene quint and nearly half experience emotional abuse or coercive control. Domestic abuse is the most misunderstood, silenced epidemic of our time. Too often the church and the legal system support the abuser and silence the victim. The Holy Spirit called me to minister to women in abuse. In 2015 I started a support group in Lake Forest, Illinois — my home of 20 years. I was shocked to find the mothers of my children’s friends join our support group. But God had bigger plans — He urged me to quit my job at a big Chicago law firm and to represent women escaping domestic abuse.
prepared for
SUCH A TIME AS THIS “It’s not that bad. You’re still here. If it was that bad, you would have left 10 years ago.”
That was the reaction my husband of 20 years had when I handed him a 15-page letter in February 2012, outlining his 20 years of physical, sexual, financial, verbal and emotional abuse and requesting he get counseling. Instead, to show he was in control, he got a prescription for Viagra and raped me twice a day until I fled. While it appeared I was living a beautiful, successful life with my churchgoing family, behind closed doors I was living in domestic abuse. My husband had started with financial and emotional abuse, but at the end our marriage, it had escalated to daily violence. My home had become a prison, and I was dying a slow death — physically, emotionally and spiritually. Despite being nearly nonfunctional, I heard the Lord say, You must get out, and get out now. I fled my house on Good Friday in April 2012 with only an overnight bag and went into hiding for 2 1/2 years. Escaping an abusive marriage is the most traumatic thing most women will ever do. I felt alone. Satan had taken away everything important — my marriage, home, children, friends, church, community, law practice. But one thing remained — God. I dove into His Word, which revealed a powerful God who takes care of His children. God was teaching me to hear His voice and to ignore the voices of my abuser and his minions. After my escape, I came to know the Lord as the Protector, Author of Truth, Giver of Courage, Provider, Warrior and Mighty to Save. An astounding 35 percent of women, including Christian women, are victims of physical abuse, rape or stalking,
I was not happy. Litigation against an abuser is a nasty, dangerous business. But God reminded me that He had prepared me for such a time as this. He had given me a law degree, rescued me from abuse and healed me. But most of all, He promised to make me into His warrior. I opened my law practice in 2016. And God has shown up in every case, Mighty to Save. I remind each client that she is a daughter of the King of Kings, and He goes before her. A sheriff often needs to escort me and my clients out of the courthouse because a violent, crazy man is on the other side. Satan has a target on our backs, but God protects us. I have written legislation that protects abuse victims. As of 2020, a new Illinois law requires all mandated reporters, including clergy, to take training in domestic abuse. Hopefully, other women will not be treated by their churches like I and countless others were when we exposed our husbands’ abuse. God also called me and my new husband to open our home to women who need a safe place to live temporarily. We see God at work — healing and helping them become the women He designed them to be. God had also urged me to write a book to help women of faith overcome domestic abuse. Overcoming Narcissists, Sociopaths, Psychopaths, and Other Domestic Abusers: The Comprehensive Handbook to Recognize, Remove, and Recover From Abuse weaves together research, my professional expertise and personal experience, true stories of others who have overcome abuse, and God’s healing words to educate, equip and encourage women struggling in abuse. It is the book I wish was available when I was escaping abuse — the book that tells a woman everything she needs to know about this horrible scourge and how to overcome it. Little did I know that God was also preparing the church to see the epidemic of abuse in the church. The #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements have opened the eyes of the church community to domestic and sexual abuse, and leaders are looking for answers. Given the prevalence of domestic abuse, every woman reading this knows someone who has suffered abuse. If you or someone you love has gone through abuse or is in it now, take this article as the sign you have been looking for. He is calling you toward freedom.
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It is necessary to have critical, often difficult listening conversations regarding challenges that minorities may have experienced over time.
RACIAL RECONCILIATION,
REPENTANCE & RESTITUTION key items for every leader’s agenda dr. sabrina black | drsabrinablack.com
Leaders impact and influence change. In today’s climate of racial tension and protest of injustice, leaders who will put key items on the agenda are needed. Leaders in every sphere of our society, whether Christian or secular, are bringing the issues of race to the conference table.
It is unfortunate that even in predominantly white, Christian groups, minority people are often not considered; or there is a blatant disregard. We have a voice that needs to be heard.
Agenda Item #1 — Racial Reconciliation (The process of healing and transforming injustice) When the agenda is set for any meeting or gathering, these key items — racial reconciliation, repentance and restitution — need to be a part of the old and new business. We need to look back and review what we have done well and where we have missed the mark.
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The goal is not condemnation or to be guilt-producing, but to acknowledge our race line (our statistical baseline of racial distribution throughout the corporation). The reality in most organizations is that Black African Americans or People of Color (Minorities) have not had the same opportunities or even consideration as others in the company. As we look at racial reconciliation, it is not sufficient for the majority to determine what the minority needs are and implement change. It is necessary to have critical, often difficult listening conversations regarding challenges that minorities may have experienced over time. You will need to listen as minorities process the pain of exclusion. These concerns need to also be addressed as part of the changes implemented. Because disparity has existed for so long, we cannot spend days, weeks or months in committee meetings determining what to do. We need to begin the process of change, immediately correcting what we can, with the realization that more change is coming. Delays can feel like more of the same old rhetoric and promises to look into it.
Agenda Item #2 — Repentance (To offer sincere regret or remorse) In recent weeks, I have been invited to be a part of numerous discussions, conversations, forums, etc. on race. It is has become clear, if it were not already, that minorities are tired of and exhausted from trying to be heard. The stories of their experiences with those of white privilege have left many bitter and discouraged. Others are outraged, enraged and determined to protest discrimination, injustice and inequality. I stand with those who desire righteousness for righteousness’ sake. I have committed to do my part as an advocate for social justice and use the platforms to which I have access to be a voice for the voiceless and to give hope to the hopeless. Black African Americans and People of Color are crying out about things that need to change for minorities to work more effectively together to advance the kingdom. Not only do minorities want to be heard, but they want an acknowledgment that they have been wronged, slighted, discounted, disregarded, overlooked and misjudged. When I consider some of my personal experiences, it has been heartbreaking to witness the same lack of repentance in some Christian organizations that I have dealt with in secular
circles. Yet, it has also been refreshing to be a co-laborer with those who walk upright and desire to “let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24, NIV) I have been a part of several symbolic requests for forgiveness and acts of repentance, where someone or some group has apologized on behalf of someone else, indicating that they wanted a chance to make it right. Those moments were heartwarming and brought tears of joy.
Agenda Item #3 — Restitution (Recompense for injury of loss) Given our country’s state, we need to be intentional about racial reconciliation, repentance and restitution. People have asked what can be done to make things right to pay restitution? “How can minorities be supported now and beyond?” “How can I make a difference?” In response to these questions, I offer the following suggestions as part of your meeting agenda for discussion and implementation: •
If there is a question of competency or credentials, then provide additional training and support.
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Create opportunities for fellowship and community so that people can get to know one another.
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Create space for conversations that demonstrate that everyone adds value, and that different perspectives bring additional insight and credibility.
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Facilitate a Bible study on Romans 2:1-11 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.
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Include minorities in the plans, processes, programs and the platforms.
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Ensure that minorities are represented as consumers, customers, clients and constituents.
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Open doors and create opportunities for involvement, advancement and promotion.
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Share resources and access to information and contacts.
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Invite minorities to participate at every level of the organization (and ensure candidacy).
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Co-author and co-edit projects as teams and groups.
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Partner and collaborate with other organizations that are minority-led.
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Sponsor, support and mentor minorities.
Although this meeting is adjourned, leaders of change are known for implementation and follow-up.
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BOOKSTOREAD BOLD VISION #1
I CALL YOU MINE embracing God’s gift of adoption kim de blecourt I Call You Mine was recognized as a 2019 Golden Scroll Awards winner in the Bible Study category. I Call You Mine is a six-week study focused on revealing the incredible spiritual insights available to those who embrace God’s heart of adoption. Just as Jesus used stories to engage and teach, the Scripture passages and personal stories in this study uncover greater truths about adoption as God’s children. Caring for the fatherless is a privilege, and the perspective gained when working with God in this way is humbling. Kim de Blecourt is an award-winning author, international speaker and Executive Director of Nourished Hearts, a nonprofit serving orphaned and vulnerable children. Kim is passionate about her relationship with God, caring for the fatherless, and encouraging others to do the same. Besides writing, she loves to read, take long walks, and sing on the worship team. Kim and her family reside in Michigan.
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STRENGTH OF A WOMAN: why you are proverbs 31 lauren crews The Proverbs 31 Woman seems perfect and is held up as a role model for Christian women everywhere. Based on the imagery of the Hebrew alphabet and word studies of the passage, Strength of a Woman will inspire you to celebrate as you understand the blessings already available to you. Through this study you will: •
Embrace God’s purposes versus society’s expectations.
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Enjoy insights into a strong woman’s day-to-day life.
•
Begin to understand the Jewish teachings and how it relates to your life as a Christian.
Amazon Review: I have never read a teaching on Proverbs 31 quite like this. I love how Lauren Crews used the Hebrew alphabet to uncover the true meaning of each verse. Lauren breaks everything down very easily for those of us who have never studied the Hebrew alphabet! For me, this Bible study was very encouraging!
new release
a prayer when you
FEEL DEFEATED linda evans shepherd | lindashepherd.com
plans for me. Your plans are for good, not disaster, to give me a future and a hope.
In my latest book, Praying Through Your Every Emotion (February 2021, Revell of Baker Publishing Group), I created mini-Bible studies coupled with prayers based on over 70 different emotions. As I wrote, I realized God was using the power of each prayer to transform me.
Because of the turmoil in today’s world, I’d love to reveal my prayer on the emotion of “defeated” so you can feel God transform your heart with hope. Dear Lord, My difficulties are not a measuring stick of Your lack of love for me but a measurement of the wonderful victories to come. You’ve promised me I will not be put to shame, and You give me amazing hope through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Pour more of Your Spirit into me so that my hope will not be shaken and I can overcome all my troubles with joy. Help others to see my peace and gentleness. I can carry such peace because You are my defender and protector, and You are coming soon. I give all my worries to You and ask that You turn every one of them into a miracle. I give thanks to You as I ask You to provide for my every need. When I pray this way, I do not need to live in worry, fear or defeat. How can my worries compete with the peace You offer me? I ask that You open my spirit to receive even more of Your peace, peace that fills my heart and mind through Jesus Christ. I am ready to move forward, not in defeat, but in Your
In the name of Jesus, amen. My prayer on defeat is a paraphrase of the following Scriptures: • “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT • Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5 ESV • The one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties. Romans 8:37 GW • Be full of joy always because you belong to the Lord. Again I say, be full of joy! Let all people see how gentle you are. The Lord is coming again soon. Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4–7 NLV
Linda Evans Shepherd is the author of over three dozen bestselling and award-winning books including Praying through Every Emotion. She is the founder of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA.)
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What ’ sBei ngSai d aboutPur s ui ngGol d:
St or y t el l er| Speaker| Hi s t or i an| Educat or f ol l ow@c y nt hi a l s i mmonson
Pur s ui ngGol dt henov el andcur r i cul um wher e v erbooks ar es ol d. T o ndoutmor eorr eques tCy nt hi at os peakt o y ourgr ouporaty oure v entgot ocl s i mmons . c om.
new release
love them little
LOVE THEM BIG julie lavender | julielavenderwrites.com
“People were bringing little children to Jesus
for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:13-16).
about God’s love, but inadvertently, our devotion and attention gave them a glimpse of their Heavenly Father’s love. Parents have the opportunity to show God’s love to a child through their own words and actions. A parent’s love for a child is fierce and deep, one of the strongest bonds we’ll experience in our lifetime. And to say to a child, “Mommy and Daddy love you so much, but guess what? God loves you SO MUCH bigger than that!” points to God’s unfathomable, steadfast love.
And the last verse of the same scenario in Matthew says, “When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there” (Matthew 19:15).
Scripture teaches children (and adults) about God’s love, and parents serve their children best by instilling those verses in their hearts and minds.
A beloved and familiar event told in Matthew, Mark and Luke, the scene is described in just three, four and three verses, respectively. Seemingly brief encounters with each child must’ve had profound and lasting ramifications in their lives. In those little moments, Jesus exhibited the love of the Heavenly Father with intentionality and care.
Some passages that stand out are:
Our four kids, now adults, often recount favorite childhood memories when they felt especially loved or blessed by their parents. More often than not, those moments are seemingly little ones — brief events that made lasting impressions. Growing up as military dependents, our children retrieve their memories by states that include North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, California, Oregon, Washington and Georgia, the youngest child with fewer locations to select from. Adventures that stand out in their minds include dancing in the den, picking blackberries and rolling down a hill. Little moments of intentionality and care turned into lasting memories in the minds of our children. My husband and I didn’t realize at the time that we were teaching our children
• “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” —1 John 3:1 • “We love because he first loved us.” —1 John 4:19 • “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” —1 John 4:7 • “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” —1 Chronicles 16:34 Use little moments — and big ones, too — to help children come to Jesus. It’s the most important parenting goal to accomplish. Take them in your arms, literally and figuratively, and be intentional to show the love of God every day through your words and actions. Watch for Julie’s new book, 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories (Revell/Baker Publishing Group), coming October 2020.
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Arise&Lead sharon tedford | 61-things.com
We’re equipped and we are ready We’re the people of God We’re anointed, we are willing To respond to His call We will stand up and move! “Arise” lyrics ©Sharon Tedford
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Jesus was the servant leader. He led, not to claim power for himself, but to empower others to experience joy and walk in freedom. In Matthew 20:25-28, Jesus shares this leadership perspective: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (ESV). It’s no good for us to look to our church, ministry and homegroup leaders as the only ones leading in the kingdom of God. No, God is inviting you to lead, too. He’s summoning you to rise and be a servant.
As Christians, especially those called to lead, we all need help finding our way. We need a trustworthy navigator to follow. The moment we realize our need for a leader is the moment we can begin making forward progress and stop going around in circles. I understood my lack of such a guide back when I was 14 years old. Jesus became my lifelong leader, and I have continued to follow Him intentionally. I can also name a handful of family, friends and teachers who have acted as leaders for me through life’s different seasons. They have shown me the roadmap on many occasions and helped direct me to the best destination. At other times, some of the leaders I have followed didn’t even know that they were influencing me. The YouTube sermons, the churches visited on holiday, the conversations overheard in the local coffee shop (come on, you’ve done that, too) all have played a part in leading me on to where I am today. Inevitably, I have been a leader at times, too. My husband and I have not only raised but also led our three children. Sometimes, we see exactly the person we are mentoring, but now and then, we are unaware someone is watching from the sidelines.
That sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? Often, kingdom truths feel upside down from our usual perspective. Yet, God is uttering a rallying cry to His Church, and it’s time to join in. For too long, we who are the Church have allowed those in positions of authority to be solely responsible for leadership. We’ve let them do all the work, and that’s not how we should be operating. It’s time for each one of us who has heard the kind, loving, saving voice of Jesus to arise. We hold the truth in our hands and on our tongues. Let’s share it. Our Heavenly Father embraces us with love, hope and truth. We need to envelop others with the same. We encounter the peace of the Holy Spirit, and His power fills us. Now is the time to enfold others with that peace and strength to create a ripple effect for God’s glory. Will you follow the call? Will you join me in rising up to be encouraged, empowered and advancing in your purpose? If you submit to Jesus, He will pour out everything you need to serve Him. Never let anything meant for the glory of God sit unused in your heart. Stand with your sisters in Christ and ARISE. JOIN THE MOVEMENT AT ARISEESTHER.COM AND LIKE @ARISEESTHERMOVEMENT ON FACEBOOK. .
What about the people who work alongside me? How have I guided them? Have I led them to believe that Jesus is faithful? Have I helped them to recognize a God who is kind and present? Have I directed them to see their need for a Leader for themselves? As I reflect on my influence in other people’s lives and the responsibility to lead well, I am mindful of Christ’s example.
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coach’s corner
“I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” —Psalm 139:14 AMP
WHAT’S
Signature catherine finger | catherinefinger.com
YOUR
MESSAGE
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about what might be next in my path of life and love before Him. I know leadership matters, and nothing makes my heart sing like being able to come alongside others struggling to serve in education or other public service roles in the midst of the complexities of living and loving.
I decided to step out in faith and take a few action steps while seeking His guidance, journaling daily along the way. AWSA offers a coaching certification program. While I wasn’t 100% sure it was the path for me, I enrolled in their program and will complete my credentialing soon. During the learning process, I got the proverbial fire in the belly and realized I wanted to become better equipped as a coach, regardless of whether or not I would create my own practice.
Early in my spiritual development I came to believe that my life’s mission was a simple one — I was on a path toward God and my job was to obey
Him by staying on that path and to love and serve those He dropped into my life. This mission has taken many different shapes over the years. Upon my retirement from a world of leadership and service in public education, it has taken a new shape still. As a leader, my role was to help others seek truth. Truth relative to who they are and how they can best apply their gifts and talents in their work lives, families and areas of community engagement. Truth relative to what matters most and how to stay focused on the mission of their organizations while dealing with complicated challenges and issues attendant to the world of public education. Truth relative to developing leaders around them and creating sustainable leadership teams able to endure and shape their organizations through the shifts and changes of our communities and our world. As a writer, the idea of seeking truth amid a dark world comes through loud and clear in my murder mystery novels. I love creating layers of complications and challenges and seeing how my characters will respond. Will life’s difficulties make them better — or bitter — and why? In my new life of choice as a retiree, while I reveled in having time to write, ride my horse and travel, I knew there was more for me. I found myself missing the personal engagement of working with aspiring and developing leaders, and I prayed
As I write this, I am now earning my International Coaching Federation certification from the College of Executive Coaching — and loving every minute of the learning process. Contributing to the well-being of others by coming alongside them as a personal or executive coach makes my heart sing. I love the experience of offering a light to fellow travelers and supporting them as they sift through truths and distortions on their way to greater freedom and power in their own lives. My goal as a coach is to offer a support system allowing others to reframe, refocus and refresh. My goal as a fiction writer is to offer a lens though which others can examine their own lives and discover opportunities for growth and exploration — through the medium of fast-paced tales of adventure. The process of prayer, taking action, and writing it out led me to a place of peace, excitement and confidence in both my writing and my coaching. Staying on His path by being true to the woman He made me to be is my job. The results are up to Him. AWSA Certified Coach CATHERINE FINGER loves to dream, write, and tell stories. Recently retired from a wonderful career in public education, she celebrates the ability to choose how to spend her time in a new way during the second half of life. So far, she chooses to write books, ride and show quarter horses, serve others and generally find her way into and out of trouble both on the road and at home. She lives in the Midwest with a warm and wonderful combination of family and friends.
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awsa memberships MEMBERSHIPS FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN COMMUNICATORS The Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) has two levels of membership including: AWSA PROTÉGÉ — For women who feel called to communicate. Membership includes: • • • • •
Newsletters with the latest news and resources. A link to watch “Storytelling for Writers and Speakers” video class. An invitation to attend our live events at our conferences and retreats. Access to AWSA Coaches. Eligibility to join our Protégé Power Call — a weekly live, call-in training with expert teachers.
AWSA PROFESSIONAL – For women who are professional writers, speakers or communicators. Membership includes: • • • • • •
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An online networking and resource loop. Newsletters with all the latest news and resources. A prayer loop. Opportunity to submit to AWSA’s Leading Hearts magazine and Arise Daily e-devotionals. Opportunity to submit books for possible review in Leading Hearts magazine and purchase cover and features for strategic promotion. An invitation to attend our conferences and retreat where you can submit proposals as well as meet editors and fellow professionals who will give you the publishing and speaking insight you need to know to succeed.
intensives & certification
AWSA Mastermind Groups — a mentor group for AWSA professional members only. Meets twice a month via video conferencing. Your Mastermind facilitator will ask you and other attendees four questions: • • • •
What are you working on? What did you learn since we last met? What do you need help with? How can we pray for you?
You will be amazed what you will learn as well as the bonds you will create!
Certified Coaching—For AWSA Professionals ready to coach the next generation. • • • • • • • •
Double, triple your writing and speaking income. Take your income and influence to a radically new level. Remove your roadblocks to your writing and speaking career. Identify and clarify your writing and speaking goals and help others do the same. Get paid for developing clients in leadership, writing and speaking skills. Recognize the scams and pitfalls in the publishing industry with guaranteed ways to avoid them. Identify your God-given dreams and develop a clear action plan to achieve them. Develop camaraderie, community and lifelong friendships, as well as peer-to-peer support in your ministry.
Our Coaching Certification was developed under the guidance of Professor and Life Coach Cynthia Cavanaugh and guest experts. It includes a copy of Your Plan to Achieve Your Professional Speaking and Writing Dreams, a coaching workbook for AWSA-generated clients.
Inner Circle — For AWSA Professionals looking for advanced training. • • •
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WHO ARE YOUR janell rardon | janellrardon.com
BRIDGES?
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I had a moment. Maybe two. I stood there as if I were in Paris, looking at the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. The mesmerizing words became a deep, life-giving, even prophetic footing for the rest of my life, reauthoring an old, negative narrative into a new, hope-filled positive one. Today, I am clothed in strength and dignity. Today, I have nothing to fear. Today, I smile when I think of the future.
Crossing an Emotional Bridge Sheryl is a proverbial woman who smiles and often laughs at the future. At a time when I needed her most, she became an emotional bridge in my life.
Tucked at the end of the book of Proverbs is the profile of a remarkable, heartlifting woman. Known through the centuries as the Proverbs 31 woman, she has often gotten a bad rap. She is perfect. I could never be as good as her. Model Christian. Gourmet chef. Real estate tycoon. Emotional rock. Social activist. Seamstress extraordinaire. Parented honor students. Married well. Pillar in the community. Yep, absolute perfection. Not for me. I’ll admit, she is a little intimidating if — and this is a big if — you forget this woman is not real! The mother of a king jotted this “inspired utterance” as a standard of excellence by which her son, Lemuel, should look for a queen (Proverbs 31:1031). We might call this proverbial woman a standard-bearer or a role model in today’s vernacular. Someone to look up to and aspire to be like. I call her a bridge. Several years ago, I read these beautiful words from Oprah Winfrey. “I am where I am today,” she writes, “because of the bridges I have crossed. Harriet Tubman was a bridge. Sojourner Truth was a bridge.” She proceeds to note all of the women who had served as bridges in her life. I love her choice of metaphor because bridges serve as a means of “allowing passage across some obstacle.” The proverbial woman, fiction or not, showed up in my life at just the right time. Isn’t it funny how that happens? I believe I am where I am today because of her. While moseying around one of my favorite retail therapy stores, I turned down one long aisle, and there it was, shining like a masterpiece in an art gallery — an 18-by-24-inch chocolate-brown canvas with this proverbial wisdom beautifully scripted in ivory font:
“Clothed in strength and dignity, with nothing to fear, she smiles when she thinks about the future” (Proverbs 31:25 VOICE).
One Sunday morning, as I moved through the crowded corridor at church, my arm brushed hers. I looked up to see Sheryl’s smiling face. We’d spoken here and there, but never at any great length. In a big church, Sunday mornings are often just pass-by hellos and simple exchanges of “How are you?” and “I hope you have a great week.” “Janell! Hi! I am so glad I bumped into you. I’ve been wanting to ask you something,” Sheryl said. Without taking a breath, she continued. “Would you be interested in going to Kenya to do a women’s retreat for the mamas of The Joy Village? We’ve never done anything like this before, but we’re thinking it is the right time. I can’t think of anyone better to lead our first Mamas Retreat than you. What do you think?” A bit stunned yet over-the-moon happy, I immediately exclaimed, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” And then I collected myself and said I’d definitely have to talk to my husband about it.” “Ok,” she said. “But I believe I hear Kenya calling.”
Bridges Help Us Become Our Best Sheryl’s invitation invited me to journey toward becoming my best, God-breathed self. Author Tim Duncan writes:
“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until good is better and your better is best.” The apostle Paul says it this way: “Earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31 NKJV). The word “best” is translated from the Greek, kreitton. It means, “more useful, more serviceable, more advantageous, and more excellent. The root word for kreitton, kratos, means “force, strength, and mighty in power.” When Paul urges us to “desire the best gifts,” he is asking that we pray for gifts that are “more useful, more serviceable, more advantageous and more excellent.” And in doing so, we will be exceedingly blessed with the strength to do mighty deeds with power. Understanding Paul’s exhortation has helped me see that it isn’t important to be the best, but to become my personal best. Living in this profound truth alleviates the need to compete with other women, to strive for perfection, or to climb any ladder of success. Instead, it compels me to be a healthy emotional bridge for others to cross on their life journey.
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Dawn Scott Damon
FINDING FREEDOM
dawn scott damon | freedomgIrlsIsterhood.com
I dIdn’t recognIze the name of the sender of the emaIl, but the subject lIne captured my Interest: “Do we ever experience freedom? Really?” As I read further, I grew sympathetic, then sad. “...I’m a survivor of sexual abuse. My father abused me when I was eleven. When I was twenty-six, I was raped. I pray a lot, but nothing changes. I’m filled with fear, pain, and depression. Is there ever freedom? Really?” I couldn’t help but read between the lines, imagining words that hadn’t been written, and tears that had been wept. Selfdestructive thinking, emotions, and behaviors bound this woman. I understood her bondage because I’d lived it. The “abundant life” the Bible speaks about was a fairy tale to her. She believed that her happily-ever-after would never come. Sadly, the author of this email was not alone in her pain. Thousands, perhaps millions, of women feel helplessly bound by past or present circumstances, restricted by invisible but very real cords. The psalmist describes their despair this way: “The cords of death entangled me.” (Psalm 116:3 NIV). Perhaps you have felt this way and searched for the answer to the question this woman asked: Can I ever be free — really free? If you’re certain the answer is no, but you long to believe that freedom can be possible, keep reading. I have good news.
Book Available through RedemptionPress.com Teacher’s Manual – Freedomgirlsisterhood.com Release from past hurts can be a reality. You and I can receive deliverance because a Deliverer exists, a Freedom Fighter who so craves our liberty that he gave his life’s blood to purchase it for us: his name is Jesus Christ. I can tell you that this is true, not just because God’s Word assures us of freedom (the greatest reason of all), but because I’ve experienced that freedom — bold, beautiful, and abundant. I know what it means to be emotionally and spiritually bound. I’ve wondered if I would ever see the morning dawn after fighting raging tempests through the night. I’ve spent days filled with pain and despair. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, I found that although sorrow may last for a night, joy does come in the morning (Psalm 30:5). God healed my heart. Bondage put up a good fight, throwing in a few desperate blows, but I won and came into His glorious freedom. Now I want to help you find true freedom. God’s healing is real and tangible, more than changed emotions or a new set of circumstances. God promises to sever the cords that bind you, to loose you from defeat and set you free. My journey required obedience and trust, and yours will too. By the power of God, I slipped free from the fears and lies that had tethered me to my past. Now it’s your time! If you find yourself struggling with selfdestructive behaviors that hold you in bondage; if you feel tangled in cords that are choking God’s peace and joy from your life, it’s time for you to be free.
Christian women often feel caught in a paradox. We know that Jesus Christ purchased our freedom through his gift of salvation and that we are born again. Yet we live in a place of woundedness and defeat, bound by cords that strangle life and vitality from our souls.
In The Freedom Challenge: 60 Days to Untie the Cords that Bind You, I unfold undeniable truths in a sixty-day interactive Bible study that identifies and confronts eight cords that keep many believers bound. These practical and powerful biblical tools are designed to give you a new mindset, a fresh beginning, and a clear direction for a positive future. Through a guided, intentional, and interactive daily process of putting God’s Word into practice, the strongholds of destructive and bondagemaking behavior in your life can be broken.
Is this the life Jesus envisioned for us when he came, as he said in John 10:10, to give us life more abundantly? I don’t think so. Freedom is possible. Because this is true, I wrote the sender of the email these words: YES, freedom really is possible.
The Freedom Challenge makes a powerful bible study, either by yourself or as a group. A teacher’s manual, study guide, and handouts are all prepared, along with interactive Facebook Group for support and engagement.
The Promise of Freedom
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excerpt
7 STEPS TO IMPROVE
your health susan neal | susanuneal.com
Does your health or weight impede you from
having a healthy, bountiful life? Do you lack energy, suffer from brain fog, or have physical ailments and pain? If yes, these seven steps may help you improve your well-being. Jesus said, “The thief‘s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10 TLB). Are you living life to its fullness? If not, are you ready to take the steps necessary to birth a new you? Step 1. Decide to improve your health through proper nutrition. The decision to improve your health is very personal. No one can make this decision for you. Step 2. Acquire knowledge and a support system to help make a lifestyle change. Learning which foods are harmful versus beneficial is crucial in sorting out what you should eat. Sweets and refined carbohydrates are addictive and harmful to the human body. Food industries spike foods with sugar, and this causes us to become addicted. Step 3: Clean out the pantry and refrigerator by removing unhealthy foods, and clean out your emotions. Remove unhealthy foods from your kitchen so you are not tempted to eat them. God gave us food to nourish our bodies. Yet food can be used for the wrong reasons. Cleaning out your emotions involves determining your relationship with food. Is it a healthy relationship or dysfunctional? Step 4: Purchase healthy foods and an anti-Candida cleanse. God gave us a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains to nourish our bodies. Some people crave sugar and carbs because they have a food addiction or an overgrowth of Candida in their gastrointestinal system. Figuring out the cause of inappropriate eating and resolving it is key to diminishing the control food has on our lives.
Step 5: Plan for the start date to begin changing your eating habits. If you are addicted to sugar or carbs, take spiritual measures to break this habit. Reciting Bible verses, praying, journaling, praising God and submitting your life to Christ can stop the chain of addiction. A five-step plan for binding the strongman of addiction is included in 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates. Incorporate exercise into your life because scientific evidence concludes that regular physical activity prevents numerous chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, depression, hypertension, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease. So, get out and do whatever physical activity you enjoy. What matters is that you get moving. Step 6: Prepare and eat foods differently than you did before. Whip up some healthy meals. As you prepare your weekly menu, keep in mind the healthy eating guidelines listed below: • Buy organic fruits, vegetables and meats. • About 50 percent of your food should be fresh vegetables. • Eat one fresh, raw serving of a low-glycemic fruit per day. • Eat a couple of servings of raw vegetables every day. • Plan for 25 percent of your food to be an animal or vegetable protein. • A variety of nuts and seeds are excellent sources of protein and essential fatty acids. • Eat nontraditional grains. Step 7: Improve your health through continuing this new lifestyle, and never turn back. As you incorporate these seven steps into your life, your health will improve. God gave us glorious bodies that heal from many ailments if we eat His foods. Live the abundant life Jesus wants you to experience by embracing this lifestyle change.
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The single mom works hard, loves her children, and longs for someone to love her, be strong for her and care for her as she cares for her children.
NAVIGATING FAMILY LIFE
ON YOUR OWN
peggy sue wells • pam farrel | peggysuewells.com • love-wise.com
Peggy Sue’s story:
“He’s gone.” Those were the words that launched my life as a single mom. Returning from church, as I steered our 15-passenger van onto our long gravel lane, I could see our home was strangely dark. Sitting forward, my daughter peered out the window and searched the empty driveway. “Where’s Dad’s car?” On the bench seats in the back, the chatter of the other six children abruptly went quiet. Once inside the house, the children quickly discovered their father’s clothes were gone, and his toothbrush was not in the bathroom cabinet. He had left.
Pam’s story :
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Pam’s mother became a single mom when Pam’s two younger
siblings were teens. Pam’s father struggled with alcohol, and with each passing year, his anger and depression grew, leading to increased episodes of domestic violence and physical abuse until Pam’s mom took the children to safety.
Our stories are not unusual. Today, one in four homes is single-parent led, and most solo parents are single moms. While some single mothers have been widowed because their husband took an early journey home, and some singles adopted, the majority of single parents began in committed relationships and never anticipated, expected or intended to raise children alone. All parents need the ability and skills to make wise, discerning decisions. Single parents have simular concerns, dreams and hopes as other parents. Yet, single moms often feel too overwhelmed to focus and be decisive when they most need to.
Reality for single moms is that you — • represent a wide range of ages and seasons of life, • wonder where you fit in society and the church, and • sometimes feel isolated, judged and alone.
Yet you are far from alone. • Approximately 15 million people are solo parenting 22 million children in single-parent families. • Eighty-five percent of single-parent families are led by single moms with primary custody of their children. • Some 40% of single mothers are over 40 years old. • More than three-fourths have full-time careers. • One-third of single-parent families live at or below the poverty level. • Less than half receive child support. • The average yearly child support to single moms is $6,000. • Less than half of single moms receive government assistance. Of the single moms who do receive government assistance, most do so only until they can survive on their own. Questions dog their thoughts. Is my life ruined? Will my children be permanently damaged? Do children need more love than I’m able to give? Can I provide all that my family needs? The single mom works hard, loves her children, and longs for someone to love her, be strong for her and care for her as she cares for her children. And Someone does. Pam and I had two goals when we wrote The Ten Best Decisions a Single Mom Can Make. First, we provided heartfelt assurance that God sees, loves and shepherds the single mom and her family. Secondly, we filled the pages with practical suggestions on a myriad of vital topics about how to be the best solo parent possible.
In addition to sharing our stories, trusted experts vulnerably shared their experiences and life lessons in the areas of • how to be a proactive parent, • how to be a barrier breaker, • how to develop relationship glue, and • how to deal with dating and romantic relationships. Because parents and children work well together with clear boundaries and expectations, Pam included her unique compilation of contracts for older children on topics from education to employment to a ready-to-use relationship contract. To be user-friendly for busy moms, this resource reads like an encyclopedia of bullet points, packed with proven ideas for thriving in the day-to-day. The Ten Best Decisions a Single Parent Can Make applauds the dogged determination of brave parents under challenging circumstances. And we want to give single moms the following assurances: • You are cherished, exactly where you are and as you are, by Jesus. “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17–19)
• When you feel weak, He is strong. “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2) • Before you knew Him, He loved you. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13) • He gives gentle guidance to single parents. “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (Isaiah 40:11) If you’re parenting solo, most likely your “happily ever after” didn’t turn out as you had imagined, and when much that is precious is marred, your tender heart longs to honor the holy and sacred. The Ten Best Decisions a Single Mom Can Make serves as a companion, packed with practical tips and the assurance that God loves you and your children unconditionally, and that His promises are true. Watch for the upcoming launch of Single Mom Circle on Facebook..
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CHERI KEAGGY 35 YEARS – ONE MESSAGE JENNIFER TAYLOR | MUSIC CONTRIBUTOR
I feel like my best days are ahead... my best work has not come yet.
jennifer taylor | music contributor
CHERI KEAGGY
A TIME TO HEAL 28.
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“I got to do a lot of reading and such, and still with all of that, I felt like I was stuck. I went through Grief Share and so many other things, and I felt like I still wasn’t making a lot of progress. I was frustrated with the process. I felt like I was in a bit of a fog.” As a believer and Christ follower, Cheri says the Lord has often been her Wonderful Counselor and completely sufficient to heal her. She was thankful He led her to seek additional help from a grief counselor. A connection through a friend led her to walk through the Grief Recovery Handbook.
For more than 20 years, Cheri Keaggy has shared her God-given talents as a CCM singer, songwriter and speaker. She shares her testimony of finding joy through all seasons as she’s survived divorce and most recently the loss of her father. Last September, Cheri unexpectedly received a call from her sister that their father had taken his life. “Following the death of my father, I expressed that grief and emotion in songs. I sang a song at his memorial service and wrote a couple more just to process through the emotions and my grieving. So that has helped in my healing,” Cheri said. In the shock of the news, Psalm 116:15 was an immediate comfort to her. “It was not like I had read the verse that night. I had just had it stored in my head from previous times in the Word. That really speaks to the importance of being in the Word throughout your life. When something like that strikes, then you have something to pull from,” she said.
“Psalm 116:15 says, ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.’ I just kept repeating that and speaking it out loud during the night that first night. That later became part of a song that I wrote and sang at his service.” The unexpected death of her father was before the pandemic. However, she knows God moved in ways for her to use the time at home to heal. She did not have to keep concert commitments or be in the usual busy season. The time has allowed her to walk through the grieving of her dad without rushing.
“I eventually wrote a completion letter to my Dad. I got to say all the things that I didn’t get to say, that we all need to be spoken verbally, like our love for one another. But the suddenness of his passing left things unspoken. So I was able to say all those things in the letter. It was healing and a gift to me because I know God has moved in me and healed my heart,” she said. “He has moved in me to the point where I feel like I could lead or encourage someone else in their grief journey. Only a few months back, I don’t think I could have, I was so much in the thick of it. So I praise God that I’m in a different place and maybe able to encourage someone else who feels stuck in grief.” Each time someone shares their heartache with Cheri, she feels blessed. “You feel honored that someone would trust you with the honored parts of their story,” she said. Verses like Matthew 10:27, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs,” challenge her to share parts of her story more openly and more boldly. Likewise, she shared that Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
“As we tell our stories, it is actually part of God’s healing in us. His continued work in us. When you testify, ‘Here’s how God met me,’ it’s like it solidifies it in us, that Truth is spoken in us and to another person.” Sharing her story has also led Cheri to new opportunities. Athena Dean Holtz with Redemption Press recently contacted Cheri and asked her to be part of the She Writes for Him book project. The book includes stories from several writers, and Cheri was able to share the story of her dad in the upcoming She Writes for Him: Stories of Living Hope. “Just the writing of it, I
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—continued from page 29— give praise and thanks to God that it’s a testimony that He’s healed me a little bit more to be able to write about it and not fall into tears,” she said. Working through her grief has allowed Cheri to be able to heal and enjoy the new blessings God has brought her in a new season of life. She’s been married to her husband, Steve, for three years now, and she’s enjoying her primary ministry assignments from home as a wife, mom and grandma.
“When my first husband and I divorced, I experienced a number of years of singleness, and the Lord became my True Good Husband. He became this Good Husband to me. As a single woman, or a single mom, you grow in your dependence on God. He’s no longer just my Savior. He is Father. He is Husband. He is everything,” Cheri said. “I experienced that and His sufficiency in my life, but I still desired an earthly husband to share my life with, if God would see that in His plan. So I put that before Him. In my strongest, most humble prayers, I would say, ‘Lord, let it be whatever best glorifies You. If that’s to remain single, then okay, I accept that. If that’s to marry again and share my life with someone, then let that be my desire.’ “When we stood at the altar on our wedding day, it was like an answered prayer. The Lord had been my Good Husband, but He was blessing me with an earthly husband to walk with me. So I would jokingly say to him, he’s just the icing on the cake that I’m already eating. I’m so so grateful. “Honestly, neither one of us could have known the path and the way, but (God) did. (My husband) has been so understanding and patient with me in my grief funk, and allowing the space and time for where I was. I am so grateful for that.” Her newest joy, her grandson, Oliver, celebrated his second birthday in May. He brings much joy to her life, and one of their treasured times together is when she’s able to hold him for naptime.
“While I hold him, I have made it a practice to whisper Scriptures and prayers over him. Just whatever comes to mind because you pray for your children to come to the Lord at an early age,” she said. “What a privilege as a grandparent to expose your grandchildren, from infancy, to the Holy Scriptures, and let God do the rest, which is what He does with the power of His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.”
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contributors meet the publisher
LINDA EVANS SHEPHERD @LINDASHEPHERD is publisher of Leading Hearts magazine. She is also a best-selling author, an in-demand speaker, and president of Right to the Heart ministries. She is founder of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA). She lives in Colorado with husband, Paul, and son, Jimmy. www.Sheppro.com
meet the editor
AMBER WEIGAND-BUCKLEY @BAREFACEDGIRL is managing editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine and brand manager for AWSA. She is a writer, speaker and multi-award-winning editor, having spent 23 years in the magazine industry. She is a mentor for AWSA Protege and host for Christian Book Buzz. Amber is owner of #barefacedcreative, providing branding support for authors, speakers, businesses and missionaries. She and her Brit-native husband, Philip, live in Missouri with two of their daughters: Imogen and Penelope. Their oldest, Saffron, is a student at Wheaton College. www barefacedgirl.com www.barefacedgirl.com
authors
DR. SABRINA D. BLACK, author of “Live Right Now” is the clinical director, of Abundant Life Counseling and Coaching, LLC. Providing Hope, Help, and Healing to God’s People around the world. HOPE International, Speaker & Lecturer Sabrina’s dynamic message of life’s struggles, temptations, and triumphs challenges others to deal with the real issues of daily living. www.drsabrinablack.com DAWN SCOTT DAMON. Also known as “Your Freedom Coach,” Dawn is the radio host of the Freedom Girl Sisterhood radio show, and serves as an authority on sexual abuse and trauma. As an ordained minister with the Wesleyan Church, Dawn is the Lead Pastor of the multi-cultural Tribes Church in the North Grand Rapids area. www.dawnscottdamon.com PAM FARREL and husband, Bill, are relationship specialists, international speakers and best-selling authors. When not traveling, you will find them at home on their live-aboard boat in Southern California. www.love-wise.com
CATHERINE FINGER loves to dream, write, and tell stories. Recently retired from a wonderful career in public education, she celebrates the ability to choose how to spend her time in a new way during the second half of life. So far, she chooses to write books, ride and show quarter horses, serve others, and generally find her way into and out of trouble both on the road and at home. She lives in the Midwest with a warm and wonderful combination of family and friends. www.catherinefinger.com JULIE LAVENDER is a journalist, author, and former homeschooling mom of twenty-five years who holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education. Julie is married to her high-school and college sweetheart, and Julie and David are the parents of four, in-law of one, and grandparents of one. www.julielavenderwrites.com SUSAN U. NEAL, RN, MBA, MHS is an author, speaker, and
wellness coach who is on a mission to help others reclaim their health. She combated a health crisis at the age of 49 with ten medical diagnoses and two surgeries. Her doctors did all they could but she was still not healed. Susan used her nursing and health science background to heal her body. She regained her health and now she wants to help you regain yours. www.susanuneal.com CHARLENE QUINT serves as the co-chair of the Partnership for a Safer Lake County. Prior to starting her own law firm addressing domestic abuse, Ms. Quint served for 15 years as a corporate attorney at the large Chicago law firm. As a survivor of domestic abuse, she is grateful to have made the journey from victim to victor, and feels privileged to walk alongside and help other women on their own journeys from victim to victorious. www.abusecare.org JANELL RARDON, national and international speaker, author and relationship expert, is a board-certified Advanced Christian Life Coach (AACC) in private practice in Virginia. Janell and her husband have three grown children. www.janellrardon.com JENNIFER TAYLOR is a reviewer and profile contributor for Leading Hearts magazine SHARON TEDFORD is a British performer who resides near Dallas, Texas with her Irish husband and their three teenagers. Sharon uses the written, sung, and spoken word to tell “God-stories” and most recently has used these skills to produce a book and an album, both entitled “Stand”. Sharon is an experienced contemporary solo Christian music artist, whose music has jazz and blues undertones. She speaks with eloquence, passion and humor, and always includes a call to action. Sharon’s ministry, “61 Things” is based on Isaiah 61:1-4 and exists to encourage Christians to live in their God appointed calling and anointing. www.61-things.com PEGGY SUE WELLS is the author of 29 books including several bestsellers and an audio finalist. PeggySue served as producer of WBCL’s Mid-Morning talk show – talk worth talking about. She was producer for the Migraine Again podcast. Her articles appear nationally in magazines. She is a member of the Christian Writers Guild, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and Christian Authors Network. In addition to penning her own award winning fiction and non-fiction, PeggySue ghostwrites, connects authors with publishers, writes proposals, and edits fiction and non-fiction. www.peggysuewells.com
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