#BEHINDTHESCENES #NEWBOOKALERT #BOOKSPOTLIGHT CAN I BE ME? By Cheryl Lacey Donovan @wnlbooktours #FRIDAYFINDS #INDIE #AUTHOR #NONFICTION #INSPIRATIONAL

Welcome to Behind the Scenes

Today's featured author is

Cheryl Lacey Donovan

CAN I BE ME? 

Coming in June 

About the Book

Learning to live your life authentically is a process. Cheryl takes you through that process in an introspective journey that resulted in newfound self-awareness, self- confidence, and the courage to create a life that is happy.

In this collection of transparent reflections, Cheryl discusses her journey to the discovery of new joys as she learned to let go of living the way others think you should and, instead, live your life as the real YOU.

About the Author

An ADVOCATE Cheryl is a servant leader to women working for the greater good, pushing social change with purpose, and causing shifts that empower the powerless. As a LUMINARY Cheryl motivates others to seek the truth in their own lives as well as the lives of others; inspiring every mind, soul, and voice with education to take their causes even higher. Cheryl's warrior strength and valiant soul allows her to step willingly into her role as a keeper of truth, faith, and light. Cheryl understands each day is journey of resilience over resistance. Innately supportive, empathetic, and compassionate, Cheryl helps women open up as they become renewed and rejuvenated in body, mind, and soul. Focused, determined, and courageous, Cheryl is goal oriented and on a mission to make a difference. She works hard on behalf of her clients and expects the same in return. Cheryl desires to create community and bring people together. She is more teacher than leader; more mentor than boss. She empowers others with a 'you can do it' mentality. Cheryl is a National Best-Selling Author, Inspirational Speaker, Mentor, Entrepreneur, and Media Personality.

Contact Peace In the Storm Publishing for additional information about this release. 

#MOTIVATIONALMONDAY #INSPIRATION #ENCOURAGMENT @pauletteharper

“Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19 AMP).

Here, the writer, Isaiah, is admonishing us not to give heed to remembering the former things, but to take note of what’s happening right now. He admonishes us not to recall, recollect, or commit to memory previous situations and circumstances. Isaiah issues a warning of caution to prevent our minds from drifting away from God’s present dealings. He reminds us to refuse to give the previous situations the opportunity to detract us from God’s present reality: The new thing God is doing.

As people of God, we often do the opposite of what the Scriptures state. The tendency to rehearse the past is far too common and far too easy, especially when we have made bad mistakes and bad choices.

Decisions can affect us for years, and with every decision, there are consequences. In making decisions, you are not the only person affected by your choice. Children, family, and friends might also be affected by your decisions. Many decisions we make will alter our future and set the course of our life.

It’s detrimental to live our lives this way because we can never move forward and accept the new stages in life. “What if this? What if that?” We constantly question ourselves. We long to go back and correct things. Our minds drift back in time to yesterday’s mistakes. Friends, abandon yesterday’s regrets for the sake of tomorrow’s glorious victories!

The past only hinders us, and sets a trap for us to fail. We have to kill the past including the statement, “I remember when.” Not looking back is a choice we all need to make the moment we decide to do something new. We can never second guess ourselves unless we are absolutely sure that we can retract a previous decision.

Does this sound like you? If so, take some advice from the apostle Paul—get rid of that mind set and get out of that pit! He wrote:

 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 KJV) .

#MONDAYMOTIVATIONAL #INSPIRATION #EMPOWERMENT

“Life’s victories are achieved when a person looks at obstacles as nothing more than opportunities and those opportunities become limitless”.

Just like a child growing up in life, you have expectation and plans that usually don’t include bruises and bumps in the road. But I found that even when the bumps, scars and the bruise of life hit your home, life and ministry, God has a plan and purpose to make something good out of the worse situations.

Here is my story. I was forced into singlehood after a 23-year marriage failed. I was pushed into a world unprepared for me and I for it. Twelve of those years I was married to a pastor.

Was I having a bad dream or was it true that my life was headed for a 180 degree turn, a turn in which I was clueless how to maneuver because I was not in control. How was I going to make it through one of my worst nightmares? But it wasn’t a nightmare; I was facing reality, a reality I so desperately wanted to avoid.

My will power played an important part in my overcoming every challenge, setback and all the odds that were against me. Depression, loss, uncertainty and anxiety awaited me every day. Not to mention thoughts of suicide continued to plague my mind.

Where on earth will I get the strength to keep pressing forward when the desire to die many times outweighed the desire to live?

It doesn’t matter how many blows have come, how many scars, cuts or bruises you have, God has fixed the fight, and you win! Some of the blows have intensified, oh, I know the enemy has launched his best attack on you, your ministry, your family, but you can make it. Regardless of what you see and what people have said, or how you feel, you are and will always be a winner.

Here is Gods promise. “I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

2016 © Paulette Harper @pauletteharper 

Award winning, best-selling author of

Secret Places Revealed, That Was Then, This isNow & Completely Whole

www.pauletteharper.com

#MOTIVATIONALMONDAY #INSPIRATIONALMOMENTS

Ruth 1:20-22 

And she said to them, Call me not Naomi pleasant; call me Mara bitter, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?


If you have never read this story, here we have a woman whose life was drastically changed. First, she and her husband, Elimelech, and their two sons left Bethlehem because of a severe famine.

Looking for a better life, they journeyed to Moab. While in Moab, Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, dies, and ten years later, her two sons die, leaving her to care for her two daughters-in-law. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, but upon returning she has no husband or sons, instead a bitter heart.

Just as Naomi did not understand why God had chosen to take her through one of the most challenging experiences in life, some of us pondered as well. Just like a child growing up in life we have expectation and plans that usually don’t include bruises, flat tires, accidents and bumps in the road.


We have a choice to make, either we are going to allow the situations to make us bitter, with what He had allowed, or we are going to let the situation develop and make us into a better person, today, decided to use the situation as a catalyst to make your life better. You can do it!!!!

Paulette is a multi-published author, workshop facilitator and inspirational speaker. For more information about Paulette and her new release Secret Places Revealed © 2016 visit:  Amazon: http://a.co/7hcScoE

To book Paulette at your next event visit: www.pauletteharper.com

#MOTIVATIONALMONDAY THE FORGIVENESS FACTOR

Matthew 6:15

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

In this passage, forgiveness is conditional; and with the conditions, there are consequences. The emphasis on this passage is your ability to release those that have hurt you.  Just as Christ has forgiven us of all our many sins, He is expecting us to have the same attitude, and show the same kindness to those who have offended us. 

Forgiveness is a choice!!!

Bitterness is a trick of the enemy to keep disunity, strife, and discord between families, friends, coworkers, and even Christians. I encourage you to drop it, let it go, give it to Christ, and let God deal with those that have brought you hurt, pain, and suffering.

I guarantee this: once you release the people that have hurt you, your healing and restoration will most certainly come, and your blessings will be looking for you.

#GUESTBLOGGER Kolleen Lucariello A Friend Who Refreshes #inspirational #encouragement

 Welcome To Nothing But Books

Today's Featured Guest Blogger is Kolleen Lucariello 

A Friend Who Refreshes

As we flip our calendars from August, ushering in September, we say farewell to our summer vacations and hello to the season of back-to-school, cooler temperatures of fall and one of the highlights of our home: football. Here’s another bonus of September: it’s also Women’s Friendship Month and I love the gift of friendship!

Recently I was reading in Acts about Paul and how difficult life had become for him. He was beaten, bound with chains, accused by the Jews, imprisoned, taken before councils and Rulers, and then eventually sent to Rome. I imagine by the time Paul boarded the ship to begin his journey to Rome he was a tired man; he’d endured a great deal. As I’m feeling bad for him, this verse jumps out at me: “The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, treating Paul with [thoughtful] consideration, allowed him to go to his friends there and be cared for and refreshed” (Acts 27:3 AMP).

I simply adore the fact Julius, the guard in charge, thought enough of Paul to recognize he needed the care and refreshment of his friends. That part of the story just blesses my heart because I’m so grateful for those who recognized when I needed the care and refreshment only a faithful friend could bring. While my journey, or your journey, may never look like Paul’s, it’s still possible for imprisonment to find us.

We might endure a prison of darkness when depression covers us like a thick heavy blanket. Or chained to a past we can’t seem to move away from. We may find ourselves standing before accusers—relentless in voicing their opinions while refusing to hear ours. Life is full of moments when the waters can become a turbulent sea.

That’s when we need our own Julius, the guard in our lives, to recognize our need for care and refreshment. Who is traveling your journey with you? Who is your guard in life that notices when you’re about to break? Who reaches out when you begin drifting away? We all need a guard like Julius, someone willing to stand by us, giving thoughtful consideration to our needs. And we all crave friends who bring care and refreshment to our lives. Proverbs 11:25b promises, “Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (NIV).

Guarding and Caring always brings:

R-Refreshing.

~+~

Kolleen Lucariello is the author of The ABC’s of Who God Says I Am. Read her heart at www.speakkolleen.com. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Pat, for 34 years. Together they have three grown children, and four beautiful grandchildren. They make their home in Upstate New York.