Behold -Thy Family

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Fifteen Years by Kendra Norman Bellamy is a reminder that family is not necessarily those linked to us by genetics. Family can be those ordained to be the blessing we long for, if only we open our eyes and hearts wide enough to receive.

So it it with Josiah Tucker, the son of a substance dependent and neglectful mother, spent most of his childhood years in the custody of the State, living in foster homes throughout Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of fourteen, he was taken from the foster family that he had grown to love, the Smiths, and returned to his negligent birth mother. Enduring the hardships faced while living with his birth mother JT manages to makes something of his life. However, fifteen years after being taken from the Smiths and at the peak of success, he finds himself feeling empty and at his lowest. When he decides to reconnect with the Smiths, JT finds his faith in God renewed and discovers his attraction to his foster sister.

KENDRA NORMAN-BELLAMY is a national best-selling author and the founder of KNB Publications LLC. She is the organizer of Visions in Print, an Atlanta-based national organization for faith-based writers, and The Writer’s Hut, an online fellowship for African American Writers. She is the founder of Cruisin’ For Christ, a groundbreaking at-sea ministry that celebrates writing, gospel music and other God-glorifying arts, and also serves as a motivational speaker.

A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Kendra currently resides in Stone Mountain, George with her family.

 

For more information, visit http://www.knb-publications.com/ 

To view the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt visit: http://bit.ly/FifteenYearsBlogTour

DO YOU SEE WHAT THEY SEE?

Wedding preparations have been what most women literally dream of from childhood. The same holds true for Indigo Burns. Numbered among her many dreams has been to become a successful photographer – check; marry the man of her dreams – check; have her family restored – no check. 

Left open on her list, but possibly not for long, is the desire for her family to become what they once were. With the impending return of her brother Rueben to Jubilant, Texas, that item may be checked off her list sooner rather than later. Well, that is, if they can overcome the obstacles that separated them and the new one thrown into the dysfunctional stew by the choice of their sister Yasmin.

Within Dreams That Won't Let Go Stacy Hawkins has done a superb job of revealing how life challenges and our choices about them can bring us closer or tear us apart. She is to be commended on presenting a story that is not only entertaining, but thought provoking as well.

To learn more about Stacy and her upcoming projects visit her at: http://www.stacyhawkinsadams.com/

*Book provided courtesy of The Baker Group

Dreams That Won't Let Go Devotion

by Stacy Hawkins Adams

Who doesn’t have dreams?

Martin Luther King Jr. is famous for his. In biblical times, Joseph’s nearly got him killed – at the hands of his brothers.

Dreams can haunt us or heal us. They can give us hope or leave us hopelessly frustrated.

Sometimes we feel stuck, as if the desires of our heart don’t matter, to God or anyone else. We feel invisible, as we watch those around us get blessed, while we seem to regress. Or maybe we feel inadequate, as if we’re not good enough or smart enough to be worthy of the dream we imagine.

If any of these scenarios sound like you, pause wherever you are right now and acknowledge what you’re feeling.

Then, make up your mind that your feelings will not control your future. Your feelings will not fuel your fate. Because if God gave you the desire, he did so for a reason. He planted a seed in your heart or in your spirit that He knows you can nurture into a full bloom.

In Genesis 37:20, we see Joseph’s jealous brothers serving as dream stealers. They throw him into a pit to be devoured by wild animals and believe they’ve snuffed the life out of his bigger-than-life vision.

In your reality, the dream stealer may simply be fear. But as 1 John 4:18 declares, where God dwells, so does love. His perfect love leaves no room for fear or for doubt.

You may have tried and failed; or maybe every time you start, you can’t move past “Go.” Along with fear, other obstacles seem to block your path.

Remind yourself today that an obstacle is little more than a test to strengthen your faith, your endurance and your assurance that the dream you’re destined to birth will be mighty, just as Martin’s was, and just as Joseph’s was.

Your dream may not involve plans to impact millions or thousands, but any soul you touch for Christ is worth that and more. Your dream may not even be ministry-related, but if you are one of God's children, any vision He gives you will be anointed with his purpose.

Your dream may be birthed from you, but if it’s God-ordained, it may not be about you. God is calling you to believe in your dreams, and give them life, so that you can bless others and serve as a light for Him.

Ask God to give you clarity and wisdom about how best to bring your dreams to life, and to give you the courage, the patience and the faith to trust that He will open doors and bless your efforts and your obedience in His own timing.

1 John 4: 18 (NIV):
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Genesis 37:20 (NIV)
Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams."

DELIVERANCE

Deliverance, from a biblical perspective represents a purging, if you will – a coming through/overcoming/winning the battle with the assistance of God. It is the fulfillment of the reason for Christ’s birth, life and death. Deliverance is freedom – in Christ.

Within the pages of SistahFaith, Poet Shelette Carlisle paints a clear visual of the aforementioned definition. Close examination reveals the canvass of candor that framed the inner vision of this prolific writer. With experience and abandon, applied faith broadened brush strokes that allowed Love to become her guide. Possessed ability inspired expressions of self-worth infused with the expectancy of being valued by others.

Deliverance,in the written form showcases represents what can be partially seen, but only fully realized within the soul, through the option of choice.

About Ms. Carlisle - My name is Shelette Carlisle. I am a 28 year old single mother of two and I’ve written poetry since the eighth grade. It was a way for me to express my emotions because I never truly felt that I had anyone that I could confide in. I wrote “Deliverance” at a point in my life when I was truly finding out about the love and power of God. After living a life full of hurt, pain, suffering and turmoil I didn’t feel safe, loved or any other terms that describes an emotion that could express affection for another. But, God stepped in and changed all of that because I turned it all over to Him and started seeking Him first. God has given me the strength to heal and walk through all the trials set before me. He taught me how to love and respect myself through it all, through the molestation, through the disappointments, through whatever came my way. God even placed people in my life that loved me in a way that I never thought possible. If nothing else, I pray that every individual that hears and reads the Sistahfaith anthology will fully grasp the fact that God can do anything. He can completely heal and deliver from any situation when we seek Him first and turn everything over to Him. He will supply every one of our needs.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people? (Jeremiah 8:22, NIV)

Twenty-five women, including Bunny Debarge, Sharon Ewell Foster, Stanice Anderson, Claudia Mair Burney and Marilynn Griffith, tell their stories of coming full circle from tragedy to triumph. Each contributor keeps it holy, keeping it real in these raw, relevant tales of redemption and restoration. Think of it as Prozac for the Christian Woman’s Soul!

A twelve week study is included for churches and book clubs. Instructions provided on gathering your own SistahFaith circle.

Join the network of sistahs at http://sistahfaith.ning.com/

Check the tour schedule at http://bit.ly/SistahFaith

SISTAHFAITH CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

• MARILYNN GRIFFITH (Editor)

• STANICE ANDERSON

• TANYA R. BATES

• CLAUDIA MAIR BURNEY

• WANDA J. BURNSIDE

• ROBIN CALDWELL

• SHELETTE CARLISLE

• LADY CATHERINE

• ETTERLENE “BUNNY” DEBARGE”

• DEE EAST

• SHARON EWELL FOSTER

• DORIEN HAGE

• GAIL M. HAYES

• DR. NAIMA JOHNSTON

• DELORES M. JONES, MSW, LMSW

• STEPHANIE L. JONES

• CARMITA MCCALL

• LAVONN NEIL

• CARLEAN SMITH

• DAVIDAE “DEE” STEWART

• SONYA VISOR

• LITTLE SALLY WALKER

• ROSALYN “ROS” WEBB

• ROBIN R. WISE

• KISHA WOODS

ARE YOU KEEPING UP?

As authors, writing is our passion, it’s in our blood, drives us to remain awake at least one more moment in order to exhaust the flow of the present muse. Beyond the passion of writing, our desire (at least for most of us) is to get our books into the hands of as many readers as possible.

At the top of our strategy for sales is placement of our intellectual property upon the shelves of bookstores across the nation.

With the advent of the Internet and electronic reading devices opportunity for national and international exposure has increased. Yet, with the plethora of choices available, the standard question most will ask when it is known that you have published is – is your book in the bookstore?

Now granted, their penchant for online shopping may have kept them out of a brick and mortar store for the last four years; and if they purchase it will more than likely be online, but, they want to know if your book is on the shelf.

Why? Simple answer – because that’s the way it is in the mind of most readers. However, satisfying the expectation of that mindset is becoming increasingly challenging for American booksellers.

According to Publisher Weekly booksellers are facing increasing challenges in terms of access to books available for purchase. They are due to the minimizing and in some cases the elimination of ARC mailings and severe cuts in field reps available to call upon establishments that were once the bread and butter of the industry.

Times are constantly changing in the publishing industry and it is your responsibility to -- Keep Up!

Today, as you begin your strategy for publication, or consider revamping that current plan, I urge you to understand the pros and cons of getting your books into the hands of the reader. Keep up with the trends that apply to your profession and determine what works best for you. Do not forsake traditional means, but do employ the option of diversification and creativity in your quest to exposing readers to the work you have labored over.

Linda!