What I’ve Been Up To…

Hey everyone!

Happy summer and what a hot one is has been! It’s been a couple of months since I’ve posted on here and I wanted to update you on something exciting that I’ve been working on since January 2022.

Drumroll please…. I am writing my first ever 30-Day Devotional and I am hoping to self-publish it by the end of 2022!!!

God’s hand has truly been on my writing adventures ever since I started blogging in 2011 and in my freelance writing for Christian online publications starting back in 2013. I’ve attended tons of writing groups and conferences over the years with the exciting hope of, one day, having a publication in print with my very own name on it. Over the years God has spoken ideas to me and what I am currently creating is a product of those prayers and conversations. I ask for your prayers as I am rounding the bend on the editing process and starting to delve into the finite details of self-publishing this book.

It is not in my nature to advertise, self-promote, or ask readers for financial compensation for my writing. Writing is a gift I have been given that I love to partake in and gives me so much joy to share! I pray that my writing is always a conduit of His love and truth and that this new project will be no different. It truly is not about any financial gain (especially since I know it will cost me to publish it myself) but it’s more about being faithful to a calling God placed on my heart years ago to be faithful to spread His good news to His children. I am expectant that God will do something amazing through this Devotional and that it will reach all of the eyes that it is meant for!

Is there something that you have been working on, or thinking about, this year that has taken up more of your attention? This world seems to be constantly getting crazier but I know without a doubt that God has us in His hands. Just this past week I was catching up on the “news” and the two hot topics were CERN and the recent Georgia Guidestones destruction here in GA. I also just finished the 4^th season of Stranger Things this past week and my mind was really starting to question what was fiction and what was reality!

This week I felt a special prompting to place a Bible on the coffee table next to where I sit on my sofa for easy reaching. After scrolling through the news that night and listening to some of the speculations / theories about all that was happening, I dropped my phone and reached over to open up my Bible. This particular Bible that I grabbed had a piece of paper stuck inside so I turned the Bible open to the paper and pulled it out to see what was written on it. I saw a listing of Bible verses and a date written at the top saying “July 2011.” I looked over the two pages that were bookmarked and saw a verse underlined:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

In God’s perfect care and timing, this verse was just what I needed to be reminded of exactly 11 years later. My current favorite show Stranger Things also has a main character named Eleven in it and I thought that was a funny Godwink too. I hope my sharing this gives you a burst of confidence, comfort, and peace knowing that He is faithful to lead us, see us, and take care of us each day as we walk with Him.

Thanks for reading along today and for all of your continued support and interactions with me over the years! It is an honor and a blessing that you give me the opportunity to walk along with you through this crazy and beautiful life we are all living.

I will let you know as soon as I have more dates and information about the release of my 30-Day Devotional!

In the meantime, you’ll be in my prayers…please keep me in yours too!

Blessings,

Mandy