Giveaway: Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of Daphne’s latest book.
I am so honored to present to you my very own book, Dragonflies, Ketchup, and Late-Night Phone Calls. Yep, that’s the title! 😀
Didn’t Garcia Photography do a great job on that cover?
And, here goes…
You have a chance to win 1 of 5 copies!
Dragonflies, Ketchup, and Late-Night Phone Calls is a unique thankfulness journal. Here’s more about the book, from the back cover:
Insects are annoying. They zip around and get in your face, usually while you’re trying to do something productive or have a conversation. Ketchup, I can take it or leave it. Sure, it makes burgers and hot dogs taste better, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s just a condiment. Late-night phone calls? I pity the person who wakes me up past my bedtime.
These three things probably wouldn’t make it on your list of God’s blessings. But they’re on mine!
In Dragonflies, Ketchup, and Late-Night Phone Calls, Daphne Tarango reveals why she now sees these minor, insignificant, and annoying things as God’s blessings. Daphne will help you keep a quick journal of how God smiled on you throughout the day—your very own dragonfly, ketchup, and late-night phone-call moments.
Dragonflies, Ketchup, and Late-Night Phone Calls goes beyond general thank-yous to God. Each day begins with a prayer of thanksgiving. You fill in the rest with your specific blessings for that day: Morning, mid-day, evening, and bedtime. There’s even room for jotting down more thank-yous to God on extra pages. (Believe me, you’ll need them.)
If you’re having a good day, journaling God’s blessings using this 31-day journal can make your days brighter. “Hey, God is thinking about me!”
If you’re having a bad day—even a difficult season, your heart can be lighter and your mind clearer when you lie down at night. Your situation might not have changed, but after journaling using Dragonflies, Ketchup, and Late-Night Phone Calls, your lips might curl up on one end as you think, “That wasn’t such a bad day after all.”
Let me tell you: I’ve been so excited about this book from the moment God put it on my heart. It has changed my life by writing it, and it can change yours.
So, here’s how to enter: In the comments section below, I want you to tell me the craziest, zaniest, weirdest thing you’ve ever been thankful for. That’s it! 🙂
Giveaway Details
Simply comment on this post, and you’ll be entered into the random drawing. The last day to comment is midnight December 4th. That’s a Wednesday.
On Friday, December 6th, I’ll announce the five winners. If you’re not already subscribed to my blog updates, you’ll want to subscribe to receive notification of the winners, too. Otherwise, you won’t know if you won. 🙂
Pre-ordering
I am also taking pre-orders for Dragonflies, Ketchup, and Late-Night Phone Calls. If you order before next Saturday, November 30th, you’ll pay $12.99 (without shipping). On December 1st, the book will sell for $14.99 (without shipping). This is a great opportunity to purchase several copies–one for yourself and others for a mother, wife, sister, daughter, or friend. This is a great resource for children. Men can order too! 😉
Good luck with the contest. I look forward to hearing your crazy comments.
Big hugs,
Daphne
P.S. – Share the news. Forward to your family and friends. 🙂
7 Ways to Prevent–and Reverse–Relapse (Part 1 of 2)
Recovery is a life-long journey. It’s day in and day out–morning, noon, and night. We rejoice with our victories, and we sob with our defeats.
Many times, our missteps teach us the greatest lessons. But if we’re not careful, our missteps can also send us head first into a full-blown relapse.
Today–and in my next post, I want to use the letters in the word “RELAPSE” to share with you seven ways we can prevent—and even reverse—relapse on our recovery journeys.
1. Reflect
Think about the things you are doing that remind you of your “former self”—that is, pre-recovery. Lately, I’ve been getting angry easily and making sarcastic comments—signs of “old Daphne” resurfacing. Maybe you are:
- Criticizing others
- Trying to please people
- Taking a drink here and there
- Bursting out in anger
- Mistreating your body
- Flirting with pornography
Identifying these signs will help you uncover any underlying issues that need to be addressed. God will show you those signs as you quietly listen to Him and ask Him to “search you” (Psalm 139:23).
2. Expose your triggers and plan your escape strategies
Once you’ve identified the red flags, uncover your triggers. What are you generally feeling, thinking, or doing before you, say, burst out in anger or try to please others, etc? When I spout out in anger or make sarcastic comments, I’m usually feeling overwhelmed because things aren’t turning out the way I want or planned. This has set me off big time lately.
Once you know your triggers, you can start planning your escape strategies. Yes, that’s right—escape. Listen to 1 Corinthians 10:13:
But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.
Did you get that? God will show you how to escape your temptation! Maybe your escape strategy could include physically removing yourself from a situation or setting stricter controls on your computer, or God may even bring someone into your life at that very moment to help you in some way or another—even if it’s just to distract you for a few minutes to get yourself back on track. The key is to say to yourself, “When I see this red flag, I will escape by [insert your escape strategy].”
3. Look up and re-learn scripture passages
Once you’ve exposed your triggers and planned your escape strategies, pull out the Scripture passages that you used early on in your recovery. If you don’t have them anymore, no worries. Write them down again. As you write them on paper, God will rewrite them on your heart. In my case, I would go back to these verses.
“If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies.” (1 Peter 3:10)
“The tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life.… Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Can you pick olives from a fig tree or figs from a grapevine? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty pool.” (James 3:6-12)
“Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit–you choose.” (Proverbs 18:21)
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19)
These are just a few passages, but you get the idea: Inscribe God’s word on your heart once again.
I hope you can already see ways to help you prevent sliding back into old habits. It’s all about staying in God’s word and presence, wouldn’t you say?
In my next post, we’ll look at the remaining 4 ways to prevent—and even reverse—relapse.
In the meantime, come alongside… How has this post helped you? What can you put into practice today? Who do you know who can benefit from this post? Will you share it with them?
For more posts on seeking God’s presence, visit the “In His Presence Link-Up” at Mentoring Moments for Christian Women.
Book Review: “Women of the Secret Place” by Brenda Lee Taggart
The book reviews keep coming in for my first book, Women of the Secret Place (Ambassador International).
Another of my readers, Brenda Lee Taggart, won a copy of my book in my January book giveaway. Here is what she had to say about it:
Women of the Secret Place is well a written collection of personal and inspirational stories that spoke directly to my heart, embracing me like an old friend.
I received this excellent book just as I was being diagnosed with a tumor and dealing with all the fear that somehow attaches itself to our lives when we hear the c word. As I read my way through the book, I began to rediscover moments of renewal, hours reawakening and a genuine repurposing of self. Some stories made me laugh out loud while others brought a quiet deluge of tears; both ministered to my spirit. I celebrated each hard earned lesson as one woman after another shared herself and her experiences, helping me to uncover some simple truths about myself and God.
I am recommending Women of the Secret Place to every woman I know.
God’s timing is perfect, Brenda. Blessings to you!
Visit my book page for more information on Women of the Secret Place and to purchase your own copy.
Blessings!
Daphne
Kissing my bad habits goodbye
Thank you to everyone who replied to my latest poll, “Can you really get rid of bad habits?” We had a lot of discussion and great comments.
Overall, you said that most habits can die. And I agree! In fact, I believe that all bad habits can die.
I don’t have scientific evidence to support that–but I don’t need it. That’s why I have faith–faith in the all-powerful God who has freed me from my bad habits:
- Addictions.
- Perfectionism.
- Workaholism.
- People-pleasing.
- And more.
When I have laid these habits at the cross of Jesus–without taking them back again, He supernaturally erases those desires and tendencies so I can live in joyous freedom.
Some bad habits are so strong that I keep taking them back again and again. Part of my problem is that I put myself in situations that make it easier for my bad habits to resurface.
- Relationships.
- Friendships.
- Even the computer.
Truth is: I can feed my bad habits, or I can starve them. I can go back to the same routines, or I can replace them with better habits–habits that give life–not death. Every time I fail to create healthy habits, I put myself at risk.
When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn’t find anyone, it says, ‘I’ll go back to my old haunt.’ On return it finds the person spotlessly clean, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse off than if he’d never gotten cleaned up in the first place (Matthew 12:43-45).
I don’t have to put myself at risk. When I’m tempted, I can call upon God. He will help me day-by-day, and many times, even moment-by-moment.
But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
In the end, I will be free, and whom God sets free is free indeed (John 8:36).
Goodbye, bad habits!
Come alongside: How about you? Do you relate? Which bad habits have you replaced with good habits? With whom can you share this good news today?
Recovery Resources
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Poll: Can you really get rid of bad habits?
Earlier this week, I was reading an article in New York Times called, “How Companies Learn Your Secrets.” The article talked about how companies use statistics to understand consumers’ buying habits so they can predict how to market to them. (Side note: That’s what I do on a daily basis in my day job.)
Anyway… I read a line that intrigued me, especially given my own recovery and the recovery work I do on a weekly basis with others in my community. It said…
Habits never really disappear.
I understand they were speaking in biological terms, but it still makes me wonder.
How about you? Do you agree or disagree? Use a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “Completely disagree” and 5 means “Completely agree.” Then tell us why you gave that rating.
Feel free to reply to others’ comments. As always, please be respectful and kind. (Note: I reserve the right to edit all comments.)
Looking forward to your feedback.
Big hugs,
Daphne
