NEWS: Recent articles, Speaking Invitations, Podcasts, and a Book Contract
Hello, dear ones!
I hope you are doing well and enjoying the many blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Isn’t God great? 🙂
He certainly has been good to me. Here is an update on all that’s been going on… and there’s lots!
Recent Articles and Guest Posts
God has blessed me with opportunities to write for various magazines and blogs. Here is a list of my recent articles. I hope you’ll check them out:
“You are Welcome Here”
- Family Recovery, July 2013.
“Gentle on the Hair”
- Mentoring Moments for Christian Women, June 2013.
“My Drastic Estate”
- The Gabriel, Spring-Summer 2013 (page 16).
Speaking Invitations
Several weeks ago, the Celebrate Recovery Pastor at Bell Shoals Baptist Church (BSBC) in Brandon, Florida, invited me to speak at their Celebrate Recovery program. I was so honored by their invitation to share my testimony with them. They have a great group of participants–so welcoming and transparent. I felt very much at home! I hope and trust that my story–God’s story in my life–helped even one person in the room. A very special thank you to all who came out to support me.
Podcasts
I will be podcasting soon! I’ll send you more information about it as the date gets closer. I plan to record some posts, as well as interview others and provide you with other tools to comfort–and empower–you on your journey. I can’t wait.
and last, but certainly not least…
Book Contract
You might know I’ve been wanting to write a book for some time now. I’ve had articles included in anthologies alongside great writers, for which I’m grateful. From the time God placed the desire in my heart to write a book, I’ve known what I wanted to write about. After working some time on a book proposal this year–and I mean, for some time, I finally sent it out. I was surprised, to say the least, to hear from them so soon, but elated with their response:
This is exactly the kind of manuscripts that we are looking to get into our lineup and market. There are so many women that could benefit from this, and we are 100% on board.
Isn’t God great? 🙂
I am beyond ecstatic about this. In the days before I heard back from them, I prayed to God and told him I turned it all over to Him. If it wasn’t His plan, to close the door. If it was His plan, to make it obvious and to work it all out for me in such a way that I–and everyone–would know that only God could pull it off. He has! My heart rejoices with the Love of my Father.
So… You’re probably wondering the type of book. For now, I’ll just say that it’s an inspirational book for hurting women. God willing, I plan to have the book ready by year-end. I know that’s soon, but if it’s God’s will, He will make a way. If not, then we’ll plan for next year.
Isn’t God great? 🙂
I want to thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement. I appreciate your emails, your “likes,” comments, forwards, tweets, stumbles, and all your interactions–not only with me but with each other. God keeps showing me, especially on those days I question myself, that I’m on the right path. So, thank you!
Please let me know how I can pray for you. I want to join with you for those things that weigh heavily on your heart.
Many blessings and hugs,
Daphne
Guest Post: Love Twisted. Love Defined.
I am honored to have my dear friend, Sara Robillard, as my guest blogger for today. Sara and I have known each other several years, and she is truly the sister I never had. She is my “Sissy.” Sara is one of the best lyricists I know. She writes recovery testimonies and recovery-related blogs. She’s also a ghost writer for a non-profit organization. Sara’s story is one of hope and healing. I’m honored to have my Sissy share her heart with you today and hope you will be blessed by her story, “Love Twisted. Love Defined.”
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“Love Twisted. Love Defined.”
by Sara Robillard
Find Sara on Twitter
Love.
Love twisted. Love Defined.
That’s been my life thus far in a nutshell.
As a victim of physical, sexual, spiritual and psychological abuses for the first 20+ years of my life, it’s safe to say I felt pretty screwed up coming out of it. I had seen despair, I had felt hopelessness, but never as profoundly as I did entering recovery. I began to understand that I was being held accountable, and I needed to trust God if I had any chance of surviving. I fought it at first. I had my own way of dealing with things, but God began to break through all my mechanisms, drawing me to Himself. At the end of a long, weary battle, I found myself on my knees, my heart absolutely crushed, and throwing myself at Christ. He finally became my source of life, of hope, of love. No more idols. No more ideals. No more disappointment.
I struggled with how to handle this love relationship I had with God. I had been told I was “loved” before, but that was the twisted sort. Taking and demanding. Using and abusing. Based on merit and emotion. I turned to His word, looking for the truth. And I found it. I found it in the example of Christ, in His action upon the cross out of love for me (1 John 4:9). I found it demonstrated through His people as they ministered to me (1 John 4:11-12). I found it as I began to understand how to express my love to Him through simple obedience (1 John 5:2-3).
He chose me. He set me apart to be His own before the world began. I know that I have never been alone. And I am constantly being romanced by Him in all that is around me. Somehow, I have found myself desperately in love, going from one extreme to another. I have no idea how it happened…it was so subtle, so profound, so beautiful.
And to think, this is what He desires for us all.
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Come alongside…Has love been twisted for you? Can you allow God to define it? Comment below.
Ever watch a flower bloom?
Today it is my pleasure and honor to have my husband, Luis Tarango, as guest blogger. Luis is a talented writer with a wonderful imagination–I’m jealous! Luis also has a unique ability to see things in a different way. As Luis observed flowers in our living room just a few days ago, he remembered our word for the year, “Growth.” He told me about his observations and sat down to write, “Ever watched a flower bloom?” Enjoy and be blessed!
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Ever watch a flower bloom?
By Luis B. Tarango
Ever watch a flower bloom?
Why would I ask such a thing? What is so special about a flower blooming–other than flowers are pretty and sometimes smell good?
Seriously, ever watch a flower bloom?
It takes just a few days. Progressively, the plant begins to bud. Slowly, ever so slowly, the bud opens. The bud blooms into something…well, something spectacular.
Have you ever watched a flower bloom?
God in all His infinite wisdom, the Great Artist, has given the flower one shot at putting forth its best effort, one shot at showing the world what it is capable of.
Never to bloom again, the single bud opens to reveal the wonderful abundance of beauty it contains inside.
Knowing that it has only one chance at stardom, the young bud doesn’t waste time worrying about its past. It does not ever say…
- “I can’t do this; it’s too hard.”
- “I don’t like this vase I’m in.”
- “Maybe if He had planted me right in the first place.”
- “This garden does not suit me.”
- “I’m just going to die when I am done–why bother?”
With only one chance, the bud releases perfection upon the earth. It comes forth with such stunning beauty–never once with the worry of what tomorrow is going to bring. In this brief moment, it gives maximum effort!
From the palette of a genius, the colors leap out exalting praise and perfuming the air with such sweet aromas. It’s as if the rest of creation pauses to take notice of this magnificent symphony of eye-pleasing splendor. Without complaints, worries, doubts, fears or excuses… the transformation from bud to flower is complete.
Slowly the stem curves, and the dry petals begin to take their place one by one on the ground. With every trace of life gone from its body, nothing more left to give, it rests peacefully. Given only one chance to shine, it did so with the utmost exertion.
Have you ever seen a flower bloom?
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Come alongside…Are you taking advantage of your one chance to bloom? How? If not, what can you do to change that? What first step can you take? How can you share this post with someone who is not blooming?
(Remember… January is book giveaway month. The more you comment below, the more chances you have to win a copy of my new book, Women of the Secret Place.)
