A Prayer Request and an Invitation to Praise God and Pray with Me Via Zoom on June 30, 2025

 

My husband is currently recovering from his fourth surgery on the same knee within a two-year period. We would appreciate prayers as he heals, and as I care for him while managing my increasing pain and fatigue.

Over the last seven years, both of us have experienced blow after blow that left us feeling physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. We’ve trusted God through trial after trial but often struggled to take the next step of faith.

Even though I knew God was with us, at one point during our two-year stint in Wisconsin I didn’t know how I was going to make it through with my marriage or my faith intact. I began asking God questions and grappling with the answers He led me to in the Scriptures.

What does it really mean that the Holy Spirit indwells believers in Jesus?

How can I walk by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit when I feel physically, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually depleted?

How can I be reading the Bible, praying, and serving others, yet feel disconnected from God?

As I cried out in desperation, I searched through the Scriptures. God affirmed that changing my physical location or increasing my spiritual disciplines would not fix the problem.

Serving God regularly and spending time praying and studying His Word had made it harder for me to realize that I had unintentionally severed my connection with God.

I knew God was still with me, but I couldn’t always feel Him with me.

I knew the Holy Spirit was present before the creation of the world, and He is still active and empowering God’s people today. But at times, I didn’t live as if I really believed what the Bible says.

But when I couldn’t rely on my own strength because I could not physically walk without help, something happened.

After the ER doctors admitted me into the hospital on January 14, 2022, after I spent the first night alone while experiencing excruciating physical, emotional, and mental anguish, something happened.

The next morning, I wrote the first chapter of Sacred Strides: Walking in the Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit.

In Sacred Strides, I share strong biblical truth and personal testimonies from Christians from all walks of life. We’ll explore what the Bible says about who the Holy Spirit is and how we can rest in His presence and rely on His power every day and in all circumstances.

We’ll discover the keys to hearing Him, depending on Him, and surrendering to Him.

Together, we’ll grow in our confidence that the Spirit of God is willing and able to work within us and through us as we trust Him one sacred stride at a time.

It took God seven years to guide me through the prayerful process He used to prepare Sacred Strides for publication. But my journey toward the starting line began in 2001.

So, I am ready to celebrate what God did, is doing, and will do as His beloved children meet with Him through the pages in Sacred Strides.

But Alan is still recovering from surgery, so I’m not able to have a launch party to rejoice as God places Sacred Strides into the hands of readers around the world on July 1, 2025.

At first, I felt alone and discouraged. I didn’t want to let the day pass without praising God and sharing all He did. I didn’t want the day to pass without praying for the people God’s been preparing for the messages He led me to share in each chapter.

Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me that He’d already provided all I needed.

So, I would like to invite you to join Alan and me for the Sacred Strides Prayer Parties, June 30, 2025 from 10am to 11am Pacific and again from 5pm to 6pm Pacific.

 

**These events have passed.*

You can drop in, stay for the full hour, or attend both Prayer Parties.

To join the 10am to 11am (Pacific) Sacred Strides Prayer Party, click HERE. (We enjoyed an amazing time of praise and prayer!)

To join the 5pm to 6pm (Pacific) Sacred Strides Prayer Party, click HERE. (We enjoyed an amazing time of praise and prayer!)

We’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes testimonies, praising God, praying for readers, and doing exclusive giveaways.

A few years ago, God blessed me with the privilege of contributing devotions to The Message Women’s Devotional Bible, scheduled to be published by NavPress and released in August 2025.

I’m giving away two copies of The Message Women’s Devotional Bible: The Gospels, one during each Sacred Strides Prayer Party.

A few of the authors I interviewed for Sacred Strides will be giving away copies of their books, too.

You must be in attendance to be eligible for the giveaways.

Please let me know if you’ll be joining us by replying to this email, writing a comment under the original blog post, or sending me a direct message on Instagram or Facebook.

There is no RSVP necessary, though. If you decide to join us at the last minute, we’ll be happy to welcome you!

I’ll be sharing an invitation on my social media pages, so you can share this article or my posts on Instagram and Facebook.

I’m looking forward to praising God and praying with you!

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If you pre-order your copies of Sacred Strides: Walking in the Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit today, you may receive them before the Prayer Parties!

Sacred Strides is available wherever books are sold, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book, and Our Daily Bread Publishing.

Ministries, churches, and nonprofits (tax exemption sales) are eligible for discounts on bulk orders when you order directly from Our Daily Bread Publishing. Call 1-800-653-8333 –OR– email  [email protected] today.

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How Do I Know If I’m Walking by Faith in My Own Strength?

How Do I Know If I’m Walking by Faith in My Own Strength?

That was the question I grappled with in 2018, only a few weeks after Alan and I stumbled into a season of overwhelming changes, unexpected trials, and faith-stretching uncertainties. As my husband transitioned into a new position at a new job in a new town across the country from our family and friends, I sat alone in my living room.

One day, I woke up feeling physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually depleted.

I had been prayerfully reading and studying the Bible while sharing God’s Word with others regularly. I had been praising God and praying with and for others daily. Still, that morning, I felt empty, isolated, and disconnected from God.

I knew the unerring and unchanging God-breathed words of Scriptures said separation from God is impossible for believers in Jesus. But knowing that truth didn’t stop me from curling up on my sofa, crying out, “Why can’t I feel You with me, Lord?”

That day, as my puppy comforted me with kisses, I looked out the window to see if the rain had stopped so we could go for a short walk. A white crane landed on the muddied bank of the creek that flowed next to my front yard. Rays of sunlight cut through the dark clouds, like a spotlight hitting the majestic bird before it flew away.

God used the vibrant colors of His creation to remind me of His presence as He brought Bible verses to my mind that I’d never intentionally memorized.

Sobbing and singing, praying and praising, I wrote a poem. When the words and my tears stopped flowing, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Praying for the strength to get up, I winced when the nerve pain in my upper spine and neck triggered muscle spasms and a headache.

Though my body complained, my puppy needed a walk. So, I prayed for strength and endurance as we strolled toward the park under the gray clouded sky.

The colors in the world around me seemed brighter. My heart felt lighter.

I had no idea how often God would use that day to encourage me in the days to come. I definitely didn’t expect God to transform that poem into my second picture book, What Color is God’s Love?, seven years later. He transformed me through that process, too.

When God finally said “yes” to my requests to take us back home, getting what I wanted didn’t work out as I expected.

God kept blessing us and carrying us through as one trial hit us after another. But some days the blows landed harder, and the sting from each jab lasted longer. Some bruises are still lingering, some scars still throb. And some of those hits pushed my husband and I into pockets of uncertainty.

We dove headfirst into one of those pockets on January 14, 2022.

When I woke up that morning, I couldn’t walk.

But, I discovered hope beyond the end of the rope!

When I had nothing left to offer, when I literally could not walk by faith, everything changed!

I wrote the first chapter of Sacred Strides: Walking in the Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit after my first night in the hospital.

Over the next three years, I continued prayerfully researching, studying the Scriptures, and interviewing Christians from all walks of life.

In Sacred Strides, I share strong biblical teaching, Scripture-based prayers, and testimonies from ordinary people like you and me. Join me in rejoicing over how the Spirit worked in the lives of God’s people in Scripture and how He is still working today.

I’ve been praying for readers since God gave me the idea to write about walking by faith in 2017.

Sacred Strides is available for PRE-ORDER TODAY wherever books are sold, including Our Daily Bread Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christian Book!

To God be the glory, the honor, and the praise!

Let’s commune with the Holy Spirit, rely on His incomparable power, and intimately encounter the one true God in Three Persons ̶ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ̶ as we keep step with Him one sacred stride at a time!

I look forward to connecting with you:

*Engage with me on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Substack, and LinkedIn. I’m most active on Instagram.

*Subscribe to my blog, where I share exclusive content, and invite others to subscribe.

*Subscribe to my Pause for Prayer YouTube Series (Returning June 2025).

Let’s remain rooted in God’s Word, while growing with God’s People!

 

 

I need partners in ministry, people who are willing to help me spread the word about Sacred Strides.

I am excited about partnering with other ministries, joining podcast hosts as an engaging guest, and collaborating with others who share the unerring and unchanging God-breathed words of Scripture with love. Please email me at [email protected] for more information.

However, you don’t need a huge social media following, a blog, or a big church to help me encourage others to walk in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

All you need is a willingness to share Sacred Strides with at least one person.

Top 4 ways to partner in ministry with me:

*Pray for me and the readers God is leading to read Sacred Strides.

*Pre-order your copy of Sacred Strides today. I need over 50 reviews on Amazon in July 2025 to reach more readers!

*Pre-order extra copies of Sacred Strides as gifts. Shop early for Christmas in July!

*Write a review on Amazon and any other review platforms you enjoy. This is as important as pre-orders!

More Ways to Collaborate and Help Spread God’s Word:

*Share Sacred Strides in person or via email.

*Share Sacred Strides and tag me on social media.

*Write a shout-out or a review on Sacred Strides and include in your blog or newsletter.

*Interview me as a guest writer on your blog or guest on your podcast.

*Read Sacred Strides with a group and invite me to visit (virtually or in person).

*Invite me to speak at your event, retreat, or group meeting (virtually or in person).

Thanks for linking arms with me as we share God’s truth and love to the ends of the earth.

Pre-orders tell the publisher that readers are interested in the messages God helped me share in Sacred Strides.

Please prayerfully consider loving your neighbors by pre-ordering extra copies as gifts. You can also order an extra copy and ask God who He wants you to pray for and bless with that gift.

Trust the Holy Spirit to minister to others when you donate copies of Sacred Strides to:

*Pastoral Teams

*Church Ministry Leaders

*Church Staff Members

*Ministry Teams

*Church Members

*Nonprofits

*Bible Study Group Members

*Book Club Members

*Church Libraries

*Free Little Libraries

*Public Libraries

*Churches, Ministries and Nonprofits that would give copies away.

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS: Churches, ministries, and nonprofits can contact Our Daily Bread Publishing to check eligibility for discounts on bulk orders of Sacred Strides: Walking in the Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit.

Our Daily Bread Publishing

Ministry Sales / Tax Exemption

1-800-653-8333

[email protected]

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