Sunday, September 20, 2020

The Story Behind My Father's Voice by Janice Elizabeth Duval

After being a Christian for many years I began to attend Christian groups that encouraged me to pursue a Father who loved me, not just be subservient to a demanding God.  The more I read and studied the


bible I saw God’s mercy toward His wayward people Israel.

I never really felt that the New Testament was as interesting as the exciting stories in the Old Testament, therefore, I did not realize the inheritance I had received from Jesus Christ. My new Christian teachers and friends helped me to understand that the fulfillment of the promises God made in the Old Testament were culminated in Jesus’ life, death, burial and most importantly His resurrection.

His words began to live inside of me, and I learned that I can call God, Abba, Father and that I am His beloved daughter! From that point I had a new perspective when I read the Bible. I knew that Father God was speaking to me and telling me the family history and my heritage.

I had many questions, which I asked, but I did not know how God would get the answers to me.  So, I kept praying to hear a spoken word from the many ministry leaders and visiting prophets.  Nothing extraordinary manifested although each opportunity found me yearning to hear a word from God.

One morning as I was spending time with the Father, I seemed to sense words coming at a pace I needed to write down as they were coming faster than I could take them in. I felt that if I did not write them down, I would forget something important.  So I started writing and after I finished, I was blessed by the first words the Holy Spirit stirred in my heart.  I was able to read and savor each one.

My caution is, though, God speaks primarily through His written Word, but if you have hidden His word in your heart, His word is what will answer your questions. He does not contradict His written word, so if His word is not in you, you will not know the truth of what you are hearing.

About the Author


Janice Elizabeth Duval (Jan) is a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father changed careers and joined the Army when she was 2 years old, and so she was raised in a military environment.  She met her husband, Aaron, also a military man, at Fort Knox, KY and their marriage allowed her to travel to several countries, which broadened her life experiences. She and her husband of 58 years have a total of seven children, six sons, and one daughter. Growing up as an only child, and an Army Brat, Jan learned early on to be content without having a large group of people around her. She entertained herself with books, listening to the radio and making up plays for her parents. In High School, she excelled in History and Literature and Drama.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website Address: http://www.myfathersvoice.net

Facebook Address: https://www.facebook.com/My-Fathers-Voice-183096021801663

 

About the Book 

Many years ago when I became a Christian, I was like many people who did not really know God as he is-a loving and gracious father. When my family and I moved to Kansas and then to Oklahoma, it was right in the midst of the Charismatic Renewal. It was at the point in my life I began to see God in a totally different way. I did not realize that he loved me, Jan Duval. I certainly did not know that he wanted to talk to me personally! As I studied the scriptures and learned more and more about Jesus and his relationship with his father and understood that the Father wanted a similar relationship with me, I was over the moon! Each morning, I could hardly wait for my family to leave for the day so that I could have my time of fellowship with God. It was during these times that I began to write the things I felt God was telling me. I love how tenderly and patiently Father God teaches profound, amusing, and down-to-earth life lessons from everyday events. God is amazing! I hope these writings will encourage, inspire, and add some humor to the reader.

PRAISE AND ACCOLADES:

“Every person I know is in need of encouragement. The problem is that our daily grind and the routine of life sometimes rob us of this precious commodity. Janice Duval has done us all a service by compiling her short stories, antidotes, and heart conversations with God.  I think you will be amazed at how God uses understandable stories to make a profound and lasting imprint on your heart.  No doubt, the encouragement that you receive from this book will cause you to share it with others.”

Bishop Michael Pitts, Bestselling Author

ORDER YOUR COPY

HIGGINS PUBLISHING https://smarturl.it/mfv

Monday, September 7, 2020

The Story Behind Crying, Learning, and Laughing: Why Students Visit The Teen Center by Tamika M. Murray


Life is full of beginnings and endings. When I left my position as a full-time case manager at the Teen Center, I stepped into the role of a freelance writer. Writing was always a part of my life, and I wanted to become an author someday.

About eight months after I began freelancing, my mind drifted back to my kids at the Teen Center. I wanted people to learn about School-Based Youth Service Programs because I knew they worked. So initially, I outlined a blog series and began to write.

As I approached the fourth post, I discovered, “there’s enough information here for a book!” But the fear of writing a book hit me. I’d penned my first draft of a memoir, but it still needed revisions. The fear of failure lurked in the shadows until I watched a film about one of my favorite authors, J.K. Rowling.

While viewing all the obstacles she overcame to bring her boy wizard’s world to life; I realized if I never tried, then I could never succeed.

So I continued outlining the topics I wished to cover. I looked at pictures from field trips. The graduation ceremony booklet, Matilda the Musical program, and the ticket stub from the Philadelphia 76ers game sat on the table as I remembered the trips we’d taken.

Soon the memories of my life at the Teen Center came to life. I went through the steps of hiring an editor, interior designer, and book cover designer to help make my book shine.

I’d started my own imprint company, Celestial Publishing LLC, while working at the Teen Center which eliminated those tedious steps.

Now the world can learn about these School-Based Youth Services programs and how they help our kids cross the threshold from adolescence to adulthood.

About the Author

Tamika M. Murray, better known as Mika, was born in the urban, seaside town of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mika is a certified social worker, owner of Celestial Publishing LLC, freelance writer and soon to be author. She graduated from Stockton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and a Bachelor of Science in Social Work. Since then, her writing has appeared in over 50 online publications through ghostwriting. Mika’s helped over 200 children and adolescents during her career as an Adjunct English Instructor and Case Manager.
She plans to raise awareness about School-Based Youth Services Programs (Teen Centers) and why they are a necessity in all schools through the release of her book Crying, Learning, and Laughing: Why Students Visit the Teen Center, releasing on September 1, 2020.
She currently resides in Southern, New Jersey, with her boyfriend and three rambunctious kitties.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website Address: www.mikamurray.com
Twitter Address: https://twitter.com/CelestialScr81


About the Book

The struggle is real, but the help is sincere for adolescent students In Crying, Learning, and Laughing: Why Students Visit the Teen Center. The author recounts the stressful, but the often fun position as a case manager in a Teen Center. Students’ daily interactions in a School-Based Youth Services Program add color to the murky topics of teen dating violence, child abuse, and mental health issues. The unexpected crises don’t hinder the adolescents’ high energy, but it brings insight for the curious reader. Interesting and helpful, Crying, Learning, and Laughing explore the often chaotic life of teens and how social workers in schools shine a light during dark times.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/Tamika-M-Murray/e/B08DFCCMWJ/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1