I promised you pics from my release party and here they are…Enjoy…And let me know what you think…

We held the party at Space Atlanta in the West End area of the A...

Greeting guests as they arrive...

Enjoying the evening...

Hopefully enjoying my book...

 

More guests enjoying the evening...

 

"Into Your Heart" Creative Dance Blessing by Ms. Gwendolyn Fields...

 

Sis. Uter, one of the women in my book, along with my emcee for the evening...

 

My mom in the center and guests...

 

Dr. Pam Thompson, one of the women featured in the book...

Thanking guests for coming...

 

A young guest obviously enjoying his evening...

 

My three assistants serving food to guests...

 

My nephew congratulating me on my book...

 

Emmy Award-winning poet Hank Stewart reciting a poem for us...

Hank Stewart again...

Dwan Abrams, event planner, and me...

Aunt Nev (right) and guests...

"Beauty," who is featured in my book, performing for guests...

A cool shot...

Me along with 2 of 3 door prizes donated by my sponsor for the evening - Sofn’free GroHealthy! The company also donated 100 sample packs for each of my guests!!! Support this company!!!

My book and door prizes..

Winning door prizes!!!

Examining the goods...

Members of my family...

The pretty cake...with my book!!!

Rap artist Mr. Ray...

Winning a Kindle!!!

Winning a Kindle part two...

Signing books! (What's up Elle?)

Signing books! (What's up cousin Kisha?)

Me & Aunt Sue...

My Delta line sisters showing their love...

Me & Sherry, my girl and soror from way back...

Doug showing support...

Soror Mickey showing love...

The lone writer...(get it? LOVE.THIS.PHOTO...) All wrapped in love...

Beauty & her hubby C-Los of Zonum Media Group showing support...

My souvenir bags containing several goodies including sample packs from my sponsor of the evening - Sofn’free GroHealthy

Thank you Dwan Abrams for planning my book release party! Thank you Alex Johnson III for the excellent photography! Thank you Space Atlanta for the venue! Thank you  Sofn’free GroHealthy for sponsoring my book release party! Thank you Nevaeh Publishing for publishing my book After the Altar Call: The Sisters’ Guide to Developing a Personal Relationship With God! Thank you R. for your unwavering support!!! Thank you God!!!!!!!

Any thoughts? 

The post After the Altar Call Release Party Pics!!! appeared first on After the Altar Call.

As of tomorrow, the month of June begins. Can you believe that 2009 is almost half over? I can’t! It seems like just yesterday that I was pondering my goals and dreams for the new year…So how are you doing on your goals and dreams for 2009? My spiritual community and I have a phrase that we use to determine how one another is doing. That phrase is “checking in.” You can “check in” with yourself and with other people.

For the purposes of this blog, I will share some of the “checking in” I have done with myself over the last week.  One of my goals for the new year was to start saving money consistently. Wonders of wonders, I have actually been saving! As I take out my tithe out of my paycheck, I also subtract my savings…My savings account isn’t huge, but it is growing. I also wanted to take a finances class or seminar to learn more about finances and become financially healthy. Well, I am proud to say that I now have a financial coach. So I am on track in that area! Another one of my goals is to make this blog the best it possibly can be. I’m working on that…My goal is to post twice a week…This month I haven’t done that…but I’m getting back on track…I also want to expand what I cover on this blog…I don’t have a “game plan” yet for that endeavor, but I will work on that during the  month of June. I have also wanted to find a career mentor, but I haven’t been able to find one yet…I hope to work on that in June…we’ll see…

Another one of my goals was to go to five journalism networking events this year…I have attended two so I feel pretty good about that…I need to attend three more and make sure that I utilize contacts that I make at each of these events. And networking for me is not only about working to advance my career…I have learned that it is important to network to help others as well…Another one of my goals was to stay on top of my daily mail and e-mail…Not looking good…I have over 900 new e-mail messages in my inbox and stacks of mail I need to go through…I know it’s important to look at each of these each day, but I get sooo overwhelmed sometimes…Anybody got any tips for making this task more manageable?

So that is a little bit of my “check in.” How are you doing? Have you remembered to dream and dream big? Have you written down your goals? Have you made your vision boards and posted them within easy view? Have you consulted others who may be able to help you achieve your goals? In my experience, it is only with the help of others that I can achieve my goals and dreams. My friend, Dr. Pam Thompson, has begun a series, “Blue Lights in the Basement,” in an effort to “take psychology and life coaching to the streets.” I attended the inaugural session on Friday and what I learned there I think will help me achieve my dreams and goals for this year and beyond…

But let’s face it…sometimes things happen in our lives that we aren’t prepared for that can derail our goals and dreams…Many people have lost their jobs this year…I have experienced that before…It’s not fun for sure…But when that has happened to me, I have learned that God has got my back, and I have always moved onward and upward…(Yes, it has happened to me more than once…) Let  me share a portion of the sermon that my father preached for the New Year’s Eve service. He preached on Hebrews 13:5-6. This passage is from The Message version of the Bible.

 ^5-6Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote,

   God is there, ready to help;
   I’m fearless no matter what.
   Who or what can get to me?

And here are some of the notes that I took from the sermon:

1. Don’t look to money as the source of your supply. If you have a lack of money, that is not the end of the story.

2. Our Heavenly Father is the source of your supply and is able to make a way out of no way.

3. Face the New Year with contentment.

4. Face the New Year with courage. We are not alone on our pilgrim journey…

 No matter what, God has got our back…

Any thoughts?

The post Check-In: God Has Got Our Back appeared first on After the Altar Call.