Author Sherri Lewis Shares: What She's Grateful For This Christmas

What I'm Grateful For This Christmas

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Sherri Lewis

This has been a huge year for me and it would be hard to say everything I’m grateful for. For one, I took a huge leap of faith walked away from my 15-year career as a Family Physician to chase God and chase my dreams. I’ve always wanted to be an artist – writer, singer, songwriter – anything creative. In the past year, I’ve been able to focus on my writing career more. I feel like God is flooding me with creativity. If I had time to sit down and write novels for all the stories that are in my mind right now, I’d have a full library. Haven’t gotten back to my music yet, but I’ll get there soon.

 

I’m also called to teach the word of God and to go to the nations. It’s always been my dream to minister to young people in Africa. Since leaving my job, I’ve been to Cameroon twice and it’s been beyond my greatest expectations. God is opening doors in other nations in Africa. I feel like Dora the Explorer and can’t wait to see the treasures each country holds. I’m looking forward to taking in new sights, sounds, music, dress, cultures, but most importantly new people. I’m amazed at the divine connections God has been setting up – I’m meeting long lost friends in other nations.

 

So my life is exciting and scary at the same time. I feel like I’m waking up from a long, deep sleep and rediscovering who I am and what I love. I’m coming into that space of knowing what I’m on the planet for and living in the amazingly adventurous place of purpose and destiny. There’s nothing more exciting and fulfilling than being in the center of God’s perfect plan for your life.

 

Even with all that, what I’m most thankful for this year is my family. We went through a health nightmare this summer when my father almost died several times from complications of routine surgery. God was faithful not only to spare his life, but to restore his health beyond any doctor’s prediction. I’m glad that Daddy is alive and still brilliant, loving and completely hilarious. But I’m even more grateful to have a new appreciation for family, friends, and just life in general. I tend to be very purpose driven and often forget what’s most important in life. Watching my Dad literally come back from the dead completely changed my perspective on what matters most. I’m learning to relax more. Rest more. Enjoy the simple things in life more. I’m spending more time with my family and reaching out to meet new friends. Love, family, friends, and “fruit that remains” are now my priority.

 

Finally, I’m grateful for a deeper intimacy with God. Living “by faith”, being completely dependent on Him and fighting for my father’s life this summer has taken me to a deeper relationship with God. I’m celebrating the true meaning of Christmas this year.

About The Author

Sherri Lewis is the author of three Essence Bestselling novels that bring new life to the words "edgy Christian Fiction". She writes from her heart with the a spirit of excellence that has marked her place at the top of the list of must read authors. Her highly acclaimed novels My Soul Cries Out, Dance Into Destiny and The List receive rave reviews by all. On March 1, 2010, her fourth novel, Selling My Soul will be released. You may learn more about Sherri at her website www.sherrilewis.com  

Author Daphine Robinson shares "What She's Grateful For This Christmas"

"What I'm Grateful For This Christmas"

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Daphine Robinson

Many years ago, it looked as if my husband and I might end up a childless couple. After two devastating miscarriages and much prayer, we had our first child and three years later, a son.

This time of year I am particularly reflective as I remember the promise I made to God many years ago. "Lord, if you allow me to have children, I promise I'll raise them in your will and way and let them know they are special gifts from you to us." As I look at them each day, I remember that promise and thank the Lord for being faithful and true. It may sound cliché, but I'm very thankful for my family. I'm surrounded each day by people who have no special person in their life, no one to make them smile-and worse, no faith.

I honestly believe without faith, I would have nothing.

I realize the Lord has given me a special gift in my family and not just the family in my house. My biological family, my husband's family, and friends who are like family make me thank the Lord that I am loved. I am so thankful the Lord loved my husband and me enough to bless us with our own family, but I'm even more thankful he sent his son to us many years ago.

About The Author

Daphine Glenn Robinson is the author of Brotherly Love and Betrayal, and Caring What People Think. She lives in NC with her family and is currently working on her third novel Untold Lies. Visit her website www.daphinerobinson.com for more information.

Author Shawneda Marks: What I'm Grateful For This Christmas

What I'm Grateful For This Christmas

by

Shawneda Marks

This time two years ago financial challenges become life changing as my husband’s trucking company hauling housing materials began to feel the beginning of the economic downturn. While I was not even a month pregnant my Dad fell ill, misdiagnosed three time by the end of my first trimester he passed. I experienced several unresolved medical issues during my pregnancy after we buried my Dad. Clamoring for peace I prayed and God gave me assurance our child would be fine. God blessed us with a successful birth I shared the news with my birth son given up for adoption, and all communication from his side stood still. As the forecast of my life began to look bleak I had two choices give in to the pressure or reach out to God to be my strength. My faith in God and love of worship called me back from the invitation to look at the glass half empty.


This Christmas I'm grateful for what some consider the basic things in life. I am blessed to have my relationship with God, health, safety, shelter, loving family and a few sincere friends. Instead of focusing on the things I've lost I focus on how much God loves me. I thank Him for a temporary work assignment to help rebuild financially, a husband who supports my purpose as well as dreams and a healthy happy little girl. In addition to the basic blessings I'm thankful for the people God has brought into my life who share my passions worshipping God, wellness and words.

About the Author
Shawneda Marks is affectionately known as the activist author. Her new novel, It's in My Blood was available on December 1, 2009, World AIDS Day. She lives in metropolitan Atlanta with her husband and daughter. Find out more about her visit http://www.shawneda.com/.

Author Nikita Nichols: What I'm Grateful For This Christmas

“What I’m Most Grateful For This Christmas”

By

Nikita Nichols

What I'm most grateful for this Christmas is the fact that I actually lived this long to see it. It is truly God's blessing that I've come this far in life. Sometimes health and strength can be taken for granted not realizing that in a blink of an eye, the very things we don't always appreciate, can be taken away. This holiday season is a special one for me. I am releasing my 4th fictional novel, "A Woman's Worth" on December 24th, Christmas Eve. Truly this is my gift from the Lord and I appreciate the talent He has instilled in me. It puts joy in my heart to know that readers are satisfied and happy. I've come to learn that Christmas isn't about receiving gifts but it's about gift giving. Most of all, it's a day to acknowledge the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I celebrate Him.
About the Author
Nikita Lynnette Nichols is employed at the Chicago Transit Authority. She is a member of The Progressive Life-Giving Word Cathedral under the leadership of Apostle Donald Lawrence Alford. She enjoys shoe shopping and indulging in milk chocolate every chance she gets. Nichols is currently writing her fifth and most anticipated novel entitled, 'Crossroads', releasing April, 2011. She resides in the southwest suburbs of Illinois.
You may learn more about Nikita at her website www.nikitalynnettenichols.com

Author Pat Simmons: "What She's Grateful For This Christmas."

What I’m Grateful This Christmas

By author Pat Simmons

Is it possible to be grateful for the same thing year after year? If not, let me break protocol.

Last year around Memorial’s Day, my son, Jared, was involved in a horrific car accident. He was a passenger in an SUV. The driver was racing down a busy street in speeds excessive of one hundred miles her hour. The vehicle crashed into a pole, rolled over, and exploded. His friend was ejected from the SUV. This time last year, I was praising the Lord for sparing his life when during the same night, other wrecks killed people.

A few days ago, my son, who is twenty-five, and I revisited that life-alternating day. Jared told me a woman who was traveling behind that SUV was an eye-witness to the accident. She didn’t know Jared at the time, and she described how his foot was shaking uncontrollably as it hung from the twisted metal of the SUV.
Most bystanders thought Jared was dying, so did the investigating officer. Even the reconstruction team was dispatched then turned away. God snatched him and the driver from Satan’s death grip that they should live. Read the complete story in my June 2008 newsletter at www.patsimmonsnewsletters.blogspot.com, and view pictures of Jared and the vehicle’s remains at photos.www.patsimmons.net entitled Jared.

So, here I am again, another Christmas, not only grateful for my material possessions: money, clothes, a house, car (well when it starts anyway) and my spiritual benefits of salvation, but I have no doubt next Christmas and the Christmas after that, and even as many Christmases as the Lord Jesus will give me that I’ll continue to be grateful for one thing—how God miraculously spared my son’s life.

About the Author
Pat Simmons is the author of the national bestselling and award winning "Guility Series". Her latest release Not Guilty of Love is avaliable wherever books are sold. You may learn more about Pat at www.patsimmons.net

Author Rhonda McKnight shares "What I'm Grateful For This Christmas"

I am grateful for so many things this Christmas. Typical things like my family, health, and income. I don't take them for granted. I reflect weekly on God's grace with respect to those areas in in my life. So when I thought about what I would share today for the start of this series I considered my book release party yesterday. It was an awesome time. I was so blessed by the number of people that came out to support me, and the kind words that people said about me. But there was one moment that touched my heart more than any other, and that was when I looked out in the crowd and saw the look of pride on my mother's face as she watched me sign books. Both my parents have lived to see my novel, Secrets and Lies released. I dedicated the novel to my aunt Laura who very much wanted to see the novel finished, but died three years ago. I have had to forgive myself for my procrastination and really accept that God’s timing is always the right time, but I would have so liked to look out and see her smiling at me too. I know she's looking down on me from heaven and she’s smiling. So, I thank God that my parents held my book last week and got the chance to tell me how very proud they are. Can you tell I’m crying? I am very grateful indeed.

Here's a picture of me with my awesome writers group, Faith Based Fiction Writers of Atlanta. I couldn't have done it without these ladies.  From left to right, starting at the top: Veronica F. Johnson, Sharon Ball (blogger-A Break from the Norm), author-Tia McCollors and she's holding her daughter, Regan (The Last Woman Standing), Tangie Henry (Inspired Sister), Pamela English (blogger-Pam's Perspective), me-Rhonda McKnight (Secrets and Lies), Vanessa Madden, author-Sherri Lewis (The List), author-T.S. Jones (Everything But The Ring), author-Melissa Ewell Miller (A Reason To Love). Bottom, from left to right: Trina Charles, author-Ashea Goldson (The Lovechild),  publicist-Dee Stewart (DeeGospelPR), and author-LaMonica Smith (A Meeting In The Ladies Room).