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new book release

Telling my story, beyond the bolted door

Still They Speak from Beyond The Bolted Door

by Corine Channell September 18, 2023

written by Corine Channell

I was thinking about how I wrote books – THREE of them in the past three year, now a series – telling my story and subsequent healing journey, and I STILL feel like my story is messy. STILL messy. I was wondering if I would ever NOT have a messy story.

JUST A CRACKPOT

I think not. I mean, a pot that is broken and put back together, STILL has visible cracks. Ah. I still have visible cracks. I am NOT broken anymore – THAT is true, BUT I have the effects of having been a broken pot. From broken to cracked – from useless to useful – from ashes to beauty – from shattered to restored. So, yes I wrote three books to chronicle my healing journey- the last one being where I got to write a new ending! Yes, I have and AM still healing. And yes, I will always have visible cracks to remind myself of God’s redemption and putting me back together. You know – like Humpty Dumpty.

“These scars aren’t pretty
But they’re a part of me
And will not ever fade away
These marks tell a story
Of me down in the valley
And how You reached in with Your grace
And healed me.” (“Scars” by Mandisa)

Stories are messy. Pots are cracked. And it is okay. Every story matters. Every pot carries light shining from – cracks. The thread weaved through my books is less about my story, and more about who Jesus has been TO me, IN my story. HE is the light.

EVERY MESSY STORY MATTERS

My newly published book “Still They Speak from Beyond The Bolted Door” is a very generational book – connecting ALL of our stories past/present and future. Every story matters, and this book is a collection of the stories of ancients as well as those living in 2023 – reminding us that NONE of our stories are finished until ALL of our stories are finished. And surprisingly enough, pretty much EVERY story has been messy, in one way or another. God knew that. Already.

It is eye opening really, when you realize finally and completely, that God was never asking you to serve Him without knowing exactly what He had to work with. I didn’t see myself as a published author. I for sure didn’t plan it or expect it or even anticipate it. I know NOW it was always HIS plan – to take an imperfect cracked pot, and use it for HIS glory.

GOD IS LOOKING FOR OUR YES

He wasn’t looking for perfection because, well – at the end of every day we are still gonna be human. Humans are NOT perfect. And yet, somehow – we expect ourselves and others to be just that. NOT possible. On my best day, with my best of intentions, and my ducks with their hair slicked back all in a row and standing in formation, I am still going to fall or fail or at the very least – flail. I think finally I am at peace with my own humanity. God asks us to come to Him as we are. It is the authentic and honest turn of our heart TO Him that He is looking for. And then, voila – He works THROUGH us.

It is a privilege to make peace with our past mess, and be able to leave solid honorable clues behind – whatever that might look like for each person. What an utter relief to find healing so that generations to come will find blessings instead of curses, and will have a crumb trail to follow to find purpose, faith, and hope.

“I see it on the cross
The nails You took for me
Scars can change the world
Scars can set me free.
They remind me of Your faithfulness
And all You brought me through.
They teach me that my brokenness
Is something You can use.
They show me where I’ve been
And that I’m not there any more
That’s what scars, that’s what scars
You show me that’s what scars are for.” (“Scars” by Mandisa)

STILL THEY SPEAK FROM ETERNITY

The journey might play out differently but the goal is the same – to get everyone home to heaven. Hebrews 11:39 & 40 tells us: “These (our ancestors) were all commended for their faith, yet NONE of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for US so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

A perfect God with a perfect plan, working through imperfect people – how perfectly imperfect. I get it. I can stop beating myself up now. I am SO okay with being just a crackpot. Because it is NOT about the pot or the cracks but ALL about the light shining out FROM those cracks.

From the halls of eternity still they speak, cheering us on to embrace reckless courage to finish the race against all odds – not just for ourselves, but for those who were here before us, and for those who come after us. We must.

____________

After A Decade, Rick Warren Announces New Book Release

by Le-Jovale Vallejo March 2, 2023

written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

A few years ago, Rick Warren announced his retirement. And now, after a decade, he about to publish his new book.

Pastor Rick Warren

Rick Warren was the senior pastor of Saddleback before stepping down from the role a few years ago. He is the author of over 100 books and is best known for writing the book entitled ‘Purpose Driven Life.’

When he retired, his final sermon was all about conveying how he felt toward the body of Christ.

“As you know by now, today is my last message to you as your senior pastor. For 43 years, it has been my privilege to love you, pray for you, serve you, encourage you. Be at the bedsides, be at the gravesides, be at the counseling when you’re going through a tough patch in your life; and to teach you,” he said.

He retired on August 29, 2022, after 43 years of serving in the ministry. He recited his very first teaching from when he founded the church in 1980 for his final sermon. It conveyed the idea of leading a life with purpose.

The New Book

And now, after a decade, he is back—not in the pulpit but back on paper, where he has reached millions of people.

Rick is releasing ‘Created to Dream: The 6 Phases God Uses to Grow Your Faith.’ The book will be published on April 11, 2023, by Zondervan Books. An imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

“In ‘Created to Dream’, Warren helps readers understand how God uses six phases of faith to grow their spiritual maturity while fulfilling the dreams he gives them. Each phase is a test of faith that allows readers to stop wondering if God has forgotten them and begin working with him toward all he has dreamed up for their future.” Harper Collins said in a press release announcing the book.

“God’s Goodness”

In 2019, Rick shared a message about perseverance through Nehemiah’s story. He said, “Nehemiah and the army didn’t give up on the goal; they just advised a new strategy.”

“Whatever you are discouraged at right now, doesn’t necessarily mean you need to stop what you are doing it; it doesn’t mean you are doing the wrong thing. It may mean you are doing it the wrong way. Maybe you need to change the way you’re doing your schedule, change the way you are doing your diet, change the way you are relating to people,” he added.

It doesn’t matter how long it takes as long as we don’t stop and make God’s dream for our lives happen. You will read more about this in his new book.

But if you’re in need of encouragement right now, Rick said to always try to remember “God’s goodness to me in the past, God’s closeness to me in the present, God’s power for me in the future.”

_____________

Header image: Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest speaks at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, on June 14, 2022. | Baptist Press/Adam Covington

Reference: The Christian Post

March 2, 2023 0 comments

Articles

Your Healing Is Your Legacy

by Corine Channell June 2, 2022

written by Corine Channell

In my first published book “Beyond The Bolted Door” I wrote about how more times than not over the past few years, I have felt like I was showing up late to the party.

That basically means that when I have finally figured something out, or found the right formula to ‘get it right’, or have had that split second AHA moment – I find that YES indeed I showed up, but to a party long over. And SO far over, that there is not even a speck of glitter to be found on the floor. THAT is when you know over is really over, when there is no glitter.

DELAYS AND DETOURS

First of all, I have already learned that we can face delays and encounter detours on this journey of life, but somehow STILL get to where we are supposed to be, ON TIME. It is a constant process of learning curves. We must continuously adjust our mindsets and reevaluate our footsteps. Really, life just works this way. I get that I have shown up late in my own life for many things but God can still get me to where He wants me to go, right on time – with not a second to spare. I get it.

Beyond that though, I have STILL kept a running list of my regrets, failures, and consequences – I feel responsible for all of it. I seemed to be constantly rehearsing it and trying to fix ‘all the things’. So over and over and over I would cry; I would worry; I would have anxiety; I would feel worthless; I would lose sleep; and then finally just feel useless and hopeless – because I WANT to fix it ALL. I totally get overwhelmed with all of that because I can NOT fix it – it is impossible.

Today I heard God softly say, “No, not fix. Heal.” And I knew what He meant. I instantly “understood the assignment”, as the saying goes.

THE GOD WHO HEALS

God miraculously is the one who redeems lost time. He is the one who mends a broken heart. He is the one who sets a captive free. I can NOT fix what is unfixable. But He is not even asking me to. He just wants ME to heal. If I heal, then THAT is the gift I can leave behind.

Heal. Just heal. Whatever that looks like for you, maybe you already know. Maybe you have been questioning the process, or wondering what it even looks like. Healing comes with surrender, admission, truth, forgiveness, acceptance, and a whole laundry list of painful things that hurt before they make us better. BUT when you have healed, then you can change the future. We must find healing. We don’t need to be fixed, or TO fix – we just need to heal.

Do you get it? Do you see it like I do? Stop trying to fix everything. You can’t. Just let HIM heal YOU. THAT is how we get to show up to a party with no glitter, and understand that our part is just to host the NEXT party.

“By HIS wounds, YOU have been healed.” (l Peter 2:24) Find the peace of closure that is in these words. He already took your place. May your legacy be that you healed.

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

My new book just released on Amazon titled “The Road Beyond The Bolted Door” is my journey of healing AFTER demolishing the rigid lock on my heart’s door. The silence of shame has been broken – and the good, the bad, the ugly AND the glorious ALL came with the brokenness. It truly has been my own road less traveled. It is a solo journey we each must take, with the goal being to go all the way to the finish line!

No one wants you to know their shame; no one wants to show their scars – but in doing so, we find the purpose of both – and then we get to walk others to their freedom.

My hope in this new book is to give you a simple survival guide about what lies ahead on your OWN road less traveled, so you will be prepared for the detours, pitfalls, obstacles, adversaries, enemies, and your own humanity. Walk it out – I am cheering you on to your finish line!

(You can find “Beyond The Bolted Door” and “The Road Beyond The Bolted Door” on Amazon and other online retailors. Proceeds from sales go to the gifting of books to those who need it most.)

https://www.amazon.com/Road-Beyond-Bolted-Door-Vol/dp/1662926014/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=YjdhK&content-id=amzn1.sym.bbb6bbd8-d236-47cb-b42f-734cb0cacc1f&pf_rd_p=bbb6bbd8-d236-47cb-b42f-734cb0cacc1f&pf_rd_r=5FQFFEAFKKCWFDF7BRN6&pd_rd_wg=H58h6&pd_rd_r=5d23f6d0-821b-497f-8987-8b77529b3049&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mi

‘Come Dance With Me’, God’s Invitation To You!

by Rachel Shafer July 18, 2019

written by Rachel Shafer

I had a dream and in it Jesus was singing, “Come and dance with me.” I responded back and simply said, “I’ll dance with You Lord, but I don’t really know what You mean.” When I woke up, the melody and words were still ringing in my ears.

I meditated on the dream and looked up scriptures about dancing. So many of the scriptures referenced victory or war dances, but the melody He sang to me was different. It was beckoning me in an authoritative, yet loving, way.

God, Abba Father, brought to my mind a picture of how a little girl will stand on her daddy’s feet as he leads her into a dance. I believe that’s what God was trying to tell me. I don’t have to know the steps if I’m standing on His feet. I just have to be willing to dance with Him, to trust Him, to let Him lead.

So I stepped on nail-scarred feet and let the dance begin. With each step, I gained more freedom, greater love and deeper trust. My life’s dance was being perfected by standing on my King’s feet, by learning the rhythm and hearing the songs He was singing over my life.

GOD TV Dance 2

The dance can begin today

It doesn’t matter where we are in life, the steps we may have forgotten or perhaps never even knew. The dance can begin today. You can hear the song of Heaven for your life. God is waiting to dance with you. Step by step, He will teach you to trust, He will teach you to allow Him to lead, and He will teach you to hear the heartbeat of Heaven and dance along.

“Come and dance with Me. Stand on My feet, Let Me lead. Step by step, beat by beat. Into your destiny, dance with Me.”

God was calling me to go beyond believing and to fully trust Him. The words translated “trust” in the Bible literally mean “a bold, confident, sure security or action based on that security.” To trust is not the same as having faith or belief. Rather, trusting is what we do because of our faith.

Dance 3

In the late 1800’s there was a great performer named Jean Francois Gravelot. He was a tightrope walker known as “The Great Blondin.” One of his greatest stunts involved walking a tightrope high above Niagara Falls. Blondin performed this death-defying feat more than once, adding elements of difficulty each time. Such as carrying his manager on his back.

He was quite the showman, he had a knack for engaging the crowd, stirring the suspense and excitement. Upon completing one attempt, he asked the crowd if they believed a second attempt would be a successful one. The crowd unanimously agreed it would.

Always looking to better his last great feat, Blondin now asked the crowd if they believed he could cross the falls on the tightrope while pushing a wheelbarrow. Having seen his previous stunt, and how seemingly easy it was for him, the crowd had no doubt he could pull off this new, more difficult one. Again, the response was unanimous, the crowd had no doubt “The Great Blondin” could do it!

Blondin was ready to attempt this amazing feat that only he could do, but before he set out on the rope, he had one last question for the crowd: “Which of you will ride in the wheelbarrow?” The crowd was frozen, still, silent. Not a single man or woman responded to his challenge.

All of those people witnessed Blondin cross the falls on the rope. They gained first-hand knowledge of his abilities. They had a well-founded belief that he could perform the more difficult stunt. Yet, when it came time to act on those beliefs, they were silent…still. They did not trust him.

Many of us have seen what God can do, and we believe, we have faith. However, when He calls us to “ride” or “dance” with Him, we’re often silent and we remain still.

Trusting is believing in the promises of God in all circumstances, especially in those where the evidence seems to be to the contrary.

Romans 4:17-18 (Message Version): “We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, “I set you up as father of many peoples”? Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said He would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God Himself said to him, “You’re going to have a big family, Abraham!”

Abraham dared to trust God to do what only God could do: Raise the dead to life! With a word make something out of nothing! When things looked hopeless, Abraham believed anyway. He didn’t live by what he couldn’t do, but by what God said HE would do. God is working even when we can’t see it. He is completely trustworthy.

“Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:35-36)

This excerpt is taken from Rachel Shafer’s book “Expect God.” published by Destiny Image. For further reading and information visit her website.

Read more blog posts from Destiny Image authors, including Believing In The Waiting, also by Rachel Shafer.

July 18, 2019 0 comments