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Sneak Peek at By Faith’s Introduction

It’s with great joy that I share the Introduction for By Faith with you! Please join me in praying that all who read this book will be encouraged to trust God in a greater way and inspired to live their God-given dreams!

Introduction

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)

God has opened some pretty incredible doors for me over the years. I like to say He showed up and showed off in October 2016.

After years of feeling drawn to somehow minister at the United Nations, God allowed me to speak to a group of Christians who work there. That in itself was a longing fulfilled and a privilege that I didn’t take lightly. Then about a week later God allowed me to give my brief testimony at an evening service at my home church, Times Square Church. What an honor!

Within the span of two weeks, I got to speak at a UN building and a legendary Broadway theater. Only God could do that!

God truly opens doors that no man can shut (Revelation 3:8).

But years before I experienced those breakthroughs, I had to go through a long journey and process. I have seen God do miraculous things here and in my travels abroad. I’ve also seen Him work in the ordinary and routine moments in my life.

Walking with God has truly been an adventure for me, and I feel God leading me to share some of those moments with you. I’m writing this book as a love letter to God. I want to shout from the rooftops how great and mighty He is! He is worthy of praise in the good and bad times.

I’d like to share with you glimpses of what my life was like before I surrendered it to the Lord, as well as some of the wonderful work He’s done in me and through me over the years. I pray it will encourage you to receive God’s love and inspire you to love and obey Him wholeheartedly and to spend the rest of your life pouring out that love on others!

If at times I come across as boasting, please know it’s just me marveling at all God can do. I can’t take the credit. I can just humbly yet boldly follow my heavenly Father’s lead.

If at times it seems I’m being vague with details, please know I’ve done so on purpose to guard my privacy and the privacy of those around me.

This book is not meant to be a tell-all exposé of my life or meant to point fingers, place blame, or to condemn anyone.

This book is a peek inside the beautiful and international love story God has written for me. May it bless you and remind you that God loves you beyond measure and that He desires to walk in close relationship with you.

God has a unique story He is writing for you. You can trust Him with the pen.

My story is still unfolding, and so it is with great pleasure that I look forward to sharing the next chapters with you in God’s perfect timing.

If you are tempted to quit in the middle of your story, I invite you to read my books Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough, Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible, and Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land (available on Amazon). They are filled with Bible verses, action steps, and prayer prompts to help you to keep running your race.

As always, I’m delighted the Lord would allow me to encourage you through my writing and speaking. It’s all for His glory!

I pray you will be encouraged to live your God-given dreams. There’s no better place to be than in the center of God’s will for your life.

If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I’d like to invite you to put your trust in Him today. It’s the best decision you will ever make. Your life will truly never be the same!

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her! (Luke 1:45)

BY FAITH: ADVENTURES AND REFLECTIONS ON WALKING WITH GOD HERE AND ABROAD

Copyright © 2018 by Nancy Gavilanes

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

For more information, visit AboundingFaith.com.

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NEW Abounding Faith Video
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Oh Come Let Us Adore Him
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Announcing Abounding Faith’s Second Women’s Conference!

“I was encouraged to pray and seek God for my life’s purpose.”

That’s how an attendee summed up her experience at last year’s women’s conference. Glory! It’s time for us Audacious Dreamers and Doers to reunite at this year’s Abounding Faith Women’s Conference! Come be inspired and connect with women of diverse ages and backgrounds who are on this faith journey with you.

Ladies, you won’t want to miss this beautiful time of refreshing and empowerment! Save the date and invite your friends. Registration details to come.

**If you’re interested in sponsoring this inspiring event that will encourage and empower women in New York City, please email info@aboundingfaith.com. Blessings!

 

Did this post encourage you? Get my weekly blog posts emailed to you for free by clicking here or the image below. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to the new “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Help You Wait on God Well” PDF as a free gift.

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For more encouragement, read my books Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land, Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

You might also enjoy reading:

New Q&A Episode of the Abounding Faith for Today Podcast with Nancy Gavilanes
My Gold Medal Moment and Road to Damascus - Reflections on Sydney
September Reflections & Our Daily Bread Writing Update
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5 for 5

In honor of my fifth Blogiversary, I’m taking a look back at posts from past years. Below are links to posts that ran in January over the years. The lessons still ring true. I pray they bless and encourage you. If you have a favorite post from the past that you’d like me to re-visit, please let me know and I may feature it again. Blessings!

Help is on the Way January 2013

I once heard a sermon where the pastor mentioned that we pray one thing and God does 10,000 things in order to bring to pass the answer to our request. The photo above helps to remind me that God does hear my prayers and that His answer is on the way. [Read more by clicking here].

 

In Full Bloom January 2014

Lessons from the Lilies

This week, I’d like to share some lessons I was reminded of from these two lilies in the same bouquet. They caught my attention because at first they were all closed up. They were sealed tighter than in the picture on the left side. Then, in typical fashion, as the days passed they opened up so that their beauty was on full display. [Read more by clicking here].

 

Freedom in Facing Your Fears January 2015

Lessons Learned From Daring to Finally Use my Flat Iron

Ladies, I’m pretty sure you’re going to be able to relate to this post. Fellas, hang in there. Just substitute the mentions of the flat iron with something you fear. [Read more by clicking here].

 

3 Ways to Grow in Your Faith January 2016

If you desire to grow in your faith in Christ this year, congratulations! There’s no better time than today to start. Whether you’ve been a Christian for most of your life or you’re new to following Jesus, I’d like to help you on your faith journey. [Read more by clicking here].

 

7 Bible Verses to Boost Your Hope! January 2017

Are you struggling to wait on God to fulfill His promises in your life? Are you afraid that you’ll never see a breakthrough in your finances, personal life, or ministry work?  If so, I’d like to encourage you not to give up! God is Faithful and will move in your life in His perfect timing and in His perfect way! [Read more by clicking here].

 

Did this post encourage you? Get my weekly blog posts emailed to you for free by clicking here or the image below. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to the new “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Help You Wait on God Well” PDF as a free gift.

WOGW journal prompts header 1-16-17

For more encouragement, read my books Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land, Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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Celebrating God-Given Writing Dreams Come True this Mid-Year Check-In, YouVersion News & Today's...
NEW Forward By Faith Resource Page
SHINE - Motivational Monday with Coach Nancy, Abounding Faith Coaching & Consulting
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Happy 5th Blogiversary!

How in the world has private me been blogging for five straight years? Only God could do that!

I still remember how hard it was to launch this blog. There were tons of reasons why I shouldn’t have started blogging.

I have a master’s degree in journalism from New York University and have written for various publications including The New York Times, but I wasn’t used to writing publicly about my faith. I was trained to tell other people’s stories. But the more I started to share some of my insights and life lessons I’ve learned, the more positive reaction I got from readers.

I’m not techie by any stretch of the imagination. I remember spending hours reading and watching videos about the technical side of starting a blog. I made tons of calls to the support lines for help the weekend I launched my site. I still marvel that this site ever went live.

I was also going through a very rough time in my life. I was in tears most of the time I launched this blog. This blog easily could have been one big rant, but I was determined to create something beautiful and to write words that would inspire and uplift readers.

All my fears and concerns could have stopped me from publishing my first post, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that God wanted me to start this blog and that it was time to honor Him with my writing gift. What a journey it’s been!

I was worried that I might quickly run out of things to say, but God has been faithful to give me ideas for what to share here. As I poured out my thoughts on the screen, God filled me with fresh ideas (or manna) to help others on their faith journey.

I’ve written on good days and not-so-good days. I’m grateful that this blog has been a safe place for me to share my writing, photos, videos and designs.

By God’s grace, I’m still here. And you’re still here, too! I pray you have been encouraged by my posts!

I’m delighted that I’ve written three books during these years of blogging, and I’m thrilled that Book 4 is with my early readers. I plan to share parts of my testimony and some blog posts in my new book so stay tuned!

This year I also plan to have my second women’s conference. I will be sharing more info shortly.

In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy the Miraculous and Lovely moments in your life! God really is closer than you think, and He desires to spend precious time with you! Blessings to you on your faith journey!

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45)

Did this post encourage you? Get my weekly blog posts emailed to you for free by clicking here or the image below. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to the new “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Help You Wait on God Well” PDF as a free gift.

WOGW journal prompts header 1-16-17

For more encouragement, read my books Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land, Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Peek Inside the New Abounding Faith Devotional
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Happy New Year & My One Word

Welcome to 2018! I pray you’re filled with God’s love, peace and joy in this new year! I pray that you will know Jesus in a deeper way and that you will dare to live your God-given dreams and SOAR!

As I’ve been praying and thinking about my “One Word” for this year, the word that keeps coming to mind is beauty. I will seek to see God’s beauty in my everyday life. Yes, I will rejoice in the Miraculous Lovely moments throughout the year.

God’s beauty is all around us. We just need to stop and cherish those moments.

I had plenty of time to soak in God’s splendor during my recent trip back to the Caribbean. The sunrises and sunsets on the ocean were truly breathtaking!

I’d like to start this year off by sharing some of those photos with you. I pray they will inspire you. God is so creative!

 

I’ll be sharing more pics this week on Abounding Faith’s Instagram page.

Many blessings to you this year, and remember that God promises to give us beauty for ashes.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Did this post encourage you? Get my weekly blog posts emailed to you for free by clicking here or the image below. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to the new “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Help You Wait on God Well” PDF as a free gift.

WOGW journal prompts header 1-16-17

For more encouragement, read my books Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land, Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Reflections on Abounding Faith's Mighty Women of Valor Women's Conference Sponsored by Nyack College
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Reflections on My Year to SOAR!

As 2017 is winding down, I’m reflecting on some of the highlights that God allowed me to experience. My “one word” for this year was SOAR! What a year it’s been!

It started out with launching my third book Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land in March. What a blessing it was to release that book!

The following month, I got to host my very first women’s conference. Glory! I’m so grateful to all the women who came to Abounding Faith’s SOAR Women’s Conference.

In the fall, I got to host my very first Abounding Faith Book Social where we had a group discussion about how to wait on God well.

I also had the pleasure of leading the service for my friends at Central Delaware Trinity Covenant for the third straight year.

The Lord allowed me to speak at Nyack College’s Chapel service. What an honor! I had felt drawn to Nyack for about two years.

This was also the year that my books started being sold at Pipe and Thimble bookstore in Lomita, California, and I was even part of a small group that studied Crossing Your Jordan River.

Some of my designs were featured in a Christian women’s magazine in France.

I got to celebrate my birthday in a castle for the third straight year. And I got to visit Carnegie Hall and the offices of Simon and Schuster twice and connected with more of my Times Square Church family throughout the year.

God is Good!

It wasn’t a perfect year, but God did allow me to SOAR! And the year isn’t over just yet!

I’m already praying and preparing for what’s ahead in 2018. I’m getting ready to share a draft of Book 4 with my early readers to start getting feedback. I hope to release Book 4 and to host a few more events next year.  Let’s see how the Lord leads.

I appreciate your prayers, and I’m grateful that you’re on this faith journey with me! I invite you to stay connected with Abounding Faith on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. I look forward to continuing to encourage you to live your God-Given Dreams!

Here’s another look at some of my lovely readers from this year:

I pray you have a blessed Christmas and that you enjoy God’s presence more than all the presents. All the best to you and yours!

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45).

Did this post encourage you? Get my weekly blog posts emailed to you for free by clicking here or the image below. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to the new “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Help You Wait on God Well” PDF as a free gift.

WOGW journal prompts header 1-16-17

For more encouragement, read my books Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land, Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

You might also enjoy reading:

Reflections on 2013
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Happy Cyber Monday & Reader Survey Reminder

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving! I’m grateful for your support and encouragement!

As you’re shopping online today, I hope you’ll consider blessing friends and family with inspiring books such as Crossing Your Jordan River, Waiting on God Well and Abounding Faith which are available on Amazon.

There are also inspiring mugs, journals, bags and more exclusively at Abounding Faith’s online store. Here are a few pics of some of the collections you’ll find there:

When you have a quick moment, kindly share your thoughts with me by taking Abounding Faith’s 2017 Reader Survey. Your thoughtful feedback will help me as I prayerfully prepare for next year and beyond. The survey will be open until this Wednesday, November 29th. Thanks!

Many blessings and thanks for staying on this faith journey with me!

Did this post encourage you? Get my weekly blog posts emailed to you for free by clicking here or the image below. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to the new “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Help You Wait on God Well” PDF as a free gift.

WOGW journal prompts header 1-16-17

For more encouragement, read my books Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land, Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

You might also enjoy reading:

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Please Take Abounding Faith’s 2017 Reader Survey!

 

It’s that time of the year again when I ask you to kindly share your thoughts with me by taking Abounding Faith’s 2017 Reader Survey. There are just a few questions in the short survey. Whether you have been reading my blog since the beginning and have read all three of my books, or you’re new to Abounding Faith, I look forward to hearing your thoughtful comments about what has blessed you and what you’d like to see more of in the future.

Your feedback will help me as I prayerfully prepare for next year and beyond.

My hope is to continue encouraging you on your faith journey through my blog, books, events, social media posts, YouTube Channel, online store items and more. I pray you will be inspired to continue living your God-given dreams!

Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughtful feedback. The survey will be open until Wednesday, November 29th. Blessings!

Did this post encourage you? Get my weekly blog posts emailed to you for free by clicking here or the image below. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to the new “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Help You Wait on God Well” PDF as a free gift.

WOGW journal prompts header 1-16-17

For more encouragement, read my books Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land, Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

You might also enjoy reading:

You're Invited to Abounding Faith Live!
My Help Comes from the Lord
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Roctober 2017 Reflections

What a blessing this Roctober has been! There have been some ups and downs, but overall it was another rocking October, thank God!

I’m so grateful to my family and friends who help to make this month so special! This month included a trip back to my birthday castle as well as flowers, a ferry ride around Manhattan, mariachi singers, cake and the non-alcoholic pina colada pictured above.

I also got to go back and lead the service at Central Delaware Trinity Covenant. It was sweet seeing my friends there and getting to do everything from choosing the bulletin cover, to choosing the songs, preaching the sermon and greeting folks on the way out. It’s still surreal to see my name outside one of their church buildings. God is Good!

Although this was my third time visiting this congregation, it was my first time at this particular church building so I was thrilled to see horses right across the street! This city girl loves horses! It was another special birthday gift from the Lord.

We also wrapped up the study of Crossing Your Jordan River. It’s been such a blessing to see and hear how the book encouraged this group. We celebrated with yummy food and this beautiful birthday fruit tart!

Amid the celebrations, I’ve also had some really productive meetings throughout the month and still have one very important speaking engagement. I look forward to sharing more about that soon.

In the meantime, thank you for your prayers and encouragement. I pray you are seeing God’s fingerprints in your life! If you’d like more encouragement in between blog posts, please make sure to follow Abounding Faith on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

If you’d like another look at the “God’s Princess Diaries” series that I shot during my first visit to my birthday castle, you can find the short and encouraging videos on Abounding Faith’s YouTube channel by clicking here.

Blessings!

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)

Did this post encourage you? Get my weekly blog posts emailed to you for free by clicking here or the image below. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to the new “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Help You Wait on God Well” PDF as a free gift.

WOGW journal prompts header 1-16-17

For more encouragement, read my books Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land, Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

You might also enjoy reading:

Celebrating the 10 Anniversary of My First Book - Waiting on God Well
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If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (Part 7)

I’d like to let these quotes from Waiting on God Well do the talking this week. I pray they encourage you.

To find more images like these, follow Abounding Faith on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Blessings!

 

Did this post encourage you? Get my weekly blog posts emailed to you for free by clicking here or the image below. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to the new “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Help You Wait on God Well” PDF as a free gift.

WOGW journal prompts header 1-16-17

For more encouragement, read my books Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land, Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

You might also enjoy reading:

My Help Comes from the Lord
Spanning the Globe with Abounding Faith's Books
Dream On!