Month: April 2016

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First things first

On the first day of spring in “Bakersfield Beautiful,” Randy’s term for our city in the springtime, I had a first of another kind: my first book signing party for Brokenness to Beauty. My friend Marj, mentioned in the book, hosted the party at the Stockdale Country Club, inviting over 20 of her friends. True to her impeccable style, Marj made sure everything was beautiful and came off just right.

Marj's party 3-20-16

Some of the ladies in attendance were my friends too, but many I had never met before. Now I have several new friends in the Bakersfield and Shafter areas.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch as a couple of my friends, at my request, read portions of the book that were meaningful to them. We had some discussion as I answered a few questions from the ladies. It seems many who read the book come away encouraged and strengthened to carry on through their own trials, the reason I wrote the book in the first place. The most amazing thing to me was that I wasn’t nervous at all!

After we ate, I wore my hand out signing books the ladies were purchasing! I was grateful my friend Naomi stepped in and wrote down names and handled the business end of things. I could not have done both myself!

Marj’s book signing party was my first and I’m so grateful to her for her enthusiastic support of my book. It is friends telling friends that will spread the word and more women can be encouraged in their walk through life.

Now I am preparing for four other gatherings at which I get to share about how and why I wrote Brokenness to Beauty.

If you haven’t read Brokenness to Beauty: Transforming Your Brokenness into a Beautiful Life, pick up a copy at any of these online outlets: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, WestBow Press Bookstore. Let me know if it was an encouragement to you and leave a review at any of these sites, and Goodreads too if you are a member.

And tell a friend.front cover

If you are interested in hosting a book signing party for Brokenness to Beauty, please contact me by leaving a comment or emailing me at Jacqueline@brokennesstobeauty.com. I’d love to talk with you.

 

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Encouragement to Share

Roy Fisher will always be Pastor Roy to me. He was there for us when Randy and I went through a very difficult time in our lives.

We had one baby and I was expecting our second child. At home alone with my infant son I began having pains at five months into my pregnancy. I picked up my little boy and trudged over to the neighbor’s house to use their phone since we had none. I called Randy at the church where he was interim youth pastor, the same church in Florida where he had been born again a few years earlier.

Pastor Roy drove Randy to our house, picked me up and took us to the local hospital where he sat and waited with Randy. It was a difficult four hours for us. I had a miscarriage. Pastor Roy was there to simply be with Randy, comfort us, pray with us and see that our needs were met.

Pastor Roy, who is still active in ministry in his “retirement” years (he and his wife recently returned from a six month stint as interim pastor in his home country of England), graciously read and wrote a review of my book, Brokenness to Beauty. He then shared my book with a friend of his. His friend is reading Brokenness to Beauty and wrote an email to him, which he shared with me:

Dear Pastor Roy: What a wonderful gift this book is. I already have many areas of my life experiences with suffering and illness that I can relate to the author. Not only that, she reveals a heart that seeks after God and finds answers in His Word. I don’t think I’ve done this nearly enough–I’ve sought oftentimes answers from people or even my doctors, but truly, my answer must come from Him alone. She described the Lord as her rock in one chapter. I love that. I need to make sure I’m making Him my rock and fortress. Feeling so grateful for her testimony so far–I’m in Chapter 4. Will check in again with you soon.

My Rock Jesus

This is just one of many such comments I am hearing from those who have read my book. I thank God when I hear positive reports that Brokenness to Beauty is helping and encouraging others! The reason for writing this book is being fulfilled every time someone is strengthened or challenged by it.

I am grateful for friends like Pastor Roy who share Brokenness to Beauty with their friends. He is still building up others as he is prompted by his pastor’s heart, even in sharing a book with a friend. I hope you too will read  Brokenness to Beauty, be encouraged by it and share it with your friends!

Brokenness to Beauty may be purchased online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, WestBow Press Bookstore, and other outlets. Check it out!