tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4368412264624839722024-02-18T23:18:27.187-05:00I Shall Not DieKendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-12747683891585913192012-12-05T10:43:00.002-05:002012-12-05T10:43:51.061-05:00Encouraged To Live On!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>O</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">n an almost daily basis, I continue to be reminded of how much of God's will it was for me to write <strong><em>I Shall Not Die</em></strong>. I recently celebrated another anniversary of the release this book, marking two years that it has been available to the reading public, and I still receive a regular flow of correspondences from readers who are being encouraged, inspired, and otherwise blessed by the message of my life's testimony.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> appreciate and am humbled by nearly every note I recieve; however, every now and then, I get a message from a reader that I'll ask permission to share with others. Just a couple of days ago, I opened my private Facebook message box, and read the following response a young lady who was in the process of being ministered to by <em>I Shall Not Die.</em> It warmed my heart, and I wanted to post a portion of it here for those of you who follow my blog.</div>
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<em>Lord, Lord, Lord...I am reading "I Shall Not Die" (and now crying, as I listen to Jason Nelson's, "I Shall Live"). You have no idea, no idea, no idea, how your book is blessing me. I actually borrowed it from my local library last year AND LOST IT BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT! I had to pay for it (that's what I get for not purchasing it-LOL). I finally got it for my Nook & haven't been able to put it down. There are SO many messages for me personally in it. God is actually speaking to me through the words that you have penned. AMAZING! I plan to tell you all about them once I'm done reading, crying & processing it all. YOU are an amazing writer. I have read every one of your books & anxiously await each one. I pray that God will continue to use you for His glory. Be blessed!</em></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>his sister's note touched me on many levels, and I can hardly wait for her to share the rest of her personal story with me. When I read of her encouragement, it somehow served as a reminder to me of what I've been through and Who was my keeper throughout it. You see, in recent months, my life has gone through additional major changes. At the time I wrote <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, I didn't have a clue that this experience lay ahead . . . but God did. He prepared me for the pending storm even when I didn't know He was preparing me. This experience was one that was capable of breaking me, but God didn't allow it. It could have metaphorically killed me, but . . . </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I SHALL NOT DIE!!!!</span> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A </span></strong>phrase from a once-popular gospel song says, "Sometimes you have to encourage yourself." I found that to be particularly true as I praised God for another soul that had been blessed by the book that He ordered me to write. It was during that moment of praise that I was led to pick up my personal copy of <em>I Shall Not Die</em> and to begin re-reading my own written words. In doing so, I encouraged myself. </div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> truly love the Lord. It is because of Him that I am encouraged on a daily basis to LIVE...LIVE...and LIVE some more. Are you with me?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-i0HQ4QaCqH45MA-rmTZyUiBYwJZ1KIPwf0YibaVoY_UR2NOnkwXoQnSOjs7oKLJyHaTknm11AkJ-gQF71iAkayVFJEhhjdTkFVCroRa5J8U_DdI24PE-jgeVzRAG_oQR_45YAkRogPo/s1600/prayer+breakfeast+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-i0HQ4QaCqH45MA-rmTZyUiBYwJZ1KIPwf0YibaVoY_UR2NOnkwXoQnSOjs7oKLJyHaTknm11AkJ-gQF71iAkayVFJEhhjdTkFVCroRa5J8U_DdI24PE-jgeVzRAG_oQR_45YAkRogPo/s640/prayer+breakfeast+020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-76149163612229465762011-09-03T12:34:00.005-04:002011-09-03T13:17:35.303-04:00Letter From A Reader...<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0WyB0f25eaTRefffyizzSlQ6MNLBfvrzgpHMJBz4eqm6cjVN4_dClbdemVGz9sUS7XWA18RMv8MKFdny1MepkkzKqxt9CRUbfZVi6vdulNSdSApdsjhqrXYGPOCqNc0D1IRvbosqW0Q/s1600/Dear.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 197px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648181779206309602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0WyB0f25eaTRefffyizzSlQ6MNLBfvrzgpHMJBz4eqm6cjVN4_dClbdemVGz9sUS7XWA18RMv8MKFdny1MepkkzKqxt9CRUbfZVi6vdulNSdSApdsjhqrXYGPOCqNc0D1IRvbosqW0Q/s200/Dear.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">L</span></strong>ate last night, a young lady named Vivian, from Brooklyn, New York sent a private message to me through Facebook, regarding <strong><em>I Shall Not Die</em></strong> that deeply touched me. It wasn't so much what she wrote as it was the heartfelt manner in which I believe she wrote it. She didn't say a whole lot or reveal the intricate details of how the book touched her, but as I read the brief note, it was literally as though God was allowing me to feel the emotions she was feeling as she typed it, and it brought me to tears. The Holy Spirit assured me that <em>I Shall Not Die</em> had done something life changing for this sister, and that even deeper words - words that she didn't express in detail -were hidden between the lines of what she expressed. Knowing that brought me joy unspeakable.</div>
<br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>his email represents a sample of the many notes that have poured in since this book was released a little less than a year ago. Feeback like this is why I hold to what I said in my earlier blog entry: <em>I Shall Not Die</em> is a winner no matter what. Even if it does not win the national award that it is now in the running for, it has won hearts and souls for the Kingdom, and that's an award that can't be surpassed.</div>
<br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">M</span></strong>s. Vivian's note touched me so deeply, that I asked her if I could share it on this blog. She readily granted permission, and I hope that as you read it, you will at least feel a fraction of the overwhelming gratefulness that I do. The Lord has confimed many times over that it was indeed His order and His will for this book to be written so that it could be a blessing to many. To God be the glory...</div>
<br /><div align="justify"><em>Grace and Peace Mrs. Bellamy,</em></div>
<br /><div align="justify"><em>I beg your pardon for intruding on your personal page. I stopped by to say "thank you." I have just this moment finished with the reading of "I Shall<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXEpXyXlcW9M5zCNT7t6iO06qGnirgT3vGDgzAQypHxBPSXfK4mQPMuo79i-YBx-OaUvUb6fnoFnTwlORvlPWmfoyTmffOITfkvCQvgWemxraVMLPpKDpZ-4NR7TQ_itHkP7JxmO-WnE/s1600/ISND.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648182914575830658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXEpXyXlcW9M5zCNT7t6iO06qGnirgT3vGDgzAQypHxBPSXfK4mQPMuo79i-YBx-OaUvUb6fnoFnTwlORvlPWmfoyTmffOITfkvCQvgWemxraVMLPpKDpZ-4NR7TQ_itHkP7JxmO-WnE/s200/ISND.jpg" /></a> Not Die."</em></div>
<br /><div align="justify"><em>I am struggling to put into words my emotions right now, realizing that I would have more than likely been better off sending this message later because of the raw emotions I am experiencing at this time. So I will simply say again thank you for sharing your story and experience.</em></div>
<br /><div align="justify"><em>The sharing of "I Shall Not Die" helped me to release feelings I did not recognize existed within me until I finished your story.</em></div>
<br /><div align="justify"><em>I purchased my copy through my Kindle. I will be purchasing books to share with friends I believe will benefit from the reading of your story.</em></div>
<br /><div align="justify"><em>It is my prayer for you that you will continue to operate under the Divine gifts imparted unto you by our Father. Your stories have always made my reading times so pleasurable, but this story opened my heart to true forgiveness and understanding.</em></div>
<br /><div align="justify"><em>May the Lord send down an abundance of blessings to you and your family.</em></div>
<br /><div align="justify"><em>Sincerely,</em></div>
<br /><div align="justify"><em>Vivian</em></div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-27477063135987477412011-08-19T20:53:00.011-04:002011-08-29T18:17:39.719-04:00Humbled, Grateful, and a Winner No Matter What!<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-a-Vz1DWnhw4XifUSpKvlpn-39tbIHNm1dUmtYzPR4flApSrmGqVkmUtpdDdoLWN1_EGk-29Y8sy4k9lDnAuB05whb4p1_gZsswHUVfVydpsbICR2IqEjtXE9XFuLVnaECJkGn5bRwXw/s1600/ISND.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646392795319095922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-a-Vz1DWnhw4XifUSpKvlpn-39tbIHNm1dUmtYzPR4flApSrmGqVkmUtpdDdoLWN1_EGk-29Y8sy4k9lDnAuB05whb4p1_gZsswHUVfVydpsbICR2IqEjtXE9XFuLVnaECJkGn5bRwXw/s200/ISND.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong>t's no longer a secret. I've told about everyone I know, in some form or another (email, blog, Facebook, text message, Internet interview, radio interview, face-to-face conversation, telephone chat, etc.) that I finally have an answer to a question that I've been asked numerous times over the years. That question is: "Among your books, which of them is your personal favorite?" My answer to that question had always been, "I have favorite characters, but not favorite books. Asking me which is my favorite book is like asking me which of my daughters is my favorite child. It's impossible to answer. I love them all the same."</div>
<br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">M</span></strong>y answer to that changed from the very moment that I placed that last period on the final sentence of <em><strong><a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/">I Shall Not Die</a></strong></em>, my first nonfiction title that released on October 1, 2010. Each of the eighteen (18) titles that I have written and published to date are very dear to me, but for many reasons, <em>I Shall Not Die</em> holds a special place in my heart that none of my fictional titles have captured. The testimonies that have flooded in from readers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIKsb_Q7ouLoX5JjIB5-whQAm9l83rySl1FOy4jrJqkuNNb_mTSQnxKwsXyxgLRh2AOECiJ16vvk-bbDCMW2xA0TcpgTsEwjCM4d0MafH6kdnvRinOiM1g6GBJTNVhKtOelIggXLpnVM/s1600/AALAS.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 161px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646394608117001922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIKsb_Q7ouLoX5JjIB5-whQAm9l83rySl1FOy4jrJqkuNNb_mTSQnxKwsXyxgLRh2AOECiJ16vvk-bbDCMW2xA0TcpgTsEwjCM4d0MafH6kdnvRinOiM1g6GBJTNVhKtOelIggXLpnVM/s200/AALAS.jpg" /></a> of how the book has blessed them and changed their lives for the better, have been humbling to say the least. Just hearing the constant testimonies and reading the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shall-Not-Die-Living-Existence/dp/0984088210/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314652302&sr=1-1"><strong>online feedback</strong> </a>alone is reward enough for me.</div>
<br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">B</span></strong>ut that doesn't take away the thrill that I received when I first heard that <em>I Shall Not Die</em> was named a finalist to receive the "Best Nonfiction of the Year Award" from <strong><a href="http://www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html">The African American Literary Awards Show</a></strong> in New York. The news actually brought tears to my eyes; an emotional reaction that has never happened before in all of the other awards (or award nominations) that I've received for books through the years. I'm grateful for every accolade of any kind that I've ever received, but this one had an especially moving affect on me. I know that being able to claim this particular win will mean more to me than words will be able to express.</div>
<br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">W</span></strong>ill you help secure this accomplishment for <em>I Shall Not Die</em>? This is the last week for votes to be cast. The public announcement of the winner will be made on Thursday, September 22nd, but <u>no votes will be accepted after Friday, September 2nd</u>. Please click the African American Literary Award Show link in the paragraph above, or copy and paste <a href="http://www.literaryawardshow.com/">http://www.literaryawardshow.com/</a> in your browser and cast your vote there. Even if you have voted before, please try to vote again. Several people have said that they have been able to vote numerous times (at least once per week), so don't let a previous vote stop you from trying <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHlrtbhcldIvUs5Z75y1n4fv8XWQT2hdNhVRNQw1B5tUwrmS4yGLgH3B1S8EJjvD_vlDyyl8tBjhTn8Ty5wAsiv1LiZON5aeNEveKm4KZQ2fkzFx_-LlhV0hWWTTHoG1mankSV8w1OS8/s1600/P1012089.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646402997226539906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHlrtbhcldIvUs5Z75y1n4fv8XWQT2hdNhVRNQw1B5tUwrmS4yGLgH3B1S8EJjvD_vlDyyl8tBjhTn8Ty5wAsiv1LiZON5aeNEveKm4KZQ2fkzFx_-LlhV0hWWTTHoG1mankSV8w1OS8/s200/P1012089.JPG" /></a>again. The competition in this category is fierce, and I will need all of the support that I can get. </div>
<br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>A</strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;">s always, thank you kindly for your consideration and your unwavering support. It is genuinely appreciated. Whether I walk away with this 2011 literary title or not, I will still feel like a winner. This book has been used as a tool to win souls for Christ, and with a testimony like that, there is no way I can feel like I've lost. Even so . . . if <em>I Shall Not Die</em> is chosen as the Best Nonfiction of the Year, you can best believe that I'll be shouting and giving God the glory! :-)</span></div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-80629668789457746432011-05-26T20:28:00.010-04:002011-05-26T22:45:44.379-04:00The Brink of a Breakthrough<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>H</strong></span>ave you ever felt as though you were on the brink of a breakthrough, but you weren't sure exactly what that breakthrough was...or how close to the brink of it that you were? Over the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPO_2r9duzd8NiipO_a-GdRu5KowE0tYny4jP7WOnsxRsMzDJvoff8t26qvzcrlveddFhNjTIXm6tzhg5_ls8JKVkqKgT0OvFtz9_RW7-DJ9o6xgPFe-h9OCk5AZmWmny2urCnpD0BKOU/s1600/Breakthrough+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611219423231042930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPO_2r9duzd8NiipO_a-GdRu5KowE0tYny4jP7WOnsxRsMzDJvoff8t26qvzcrlveddFhNjTIXm6tzhg5_ls8JKVkqKgT0OvFtz9_RW7-DJ9o6xgPFe-h9OCk5AZmWmny2urCnpD0BKOU/s200/Breakthrough+2.jpg" /></a> recent months, that's the way I have felt regarding the work of <em><strong>I Shall Not Die</strong> </em>(the book) and <strong><a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/">The I.S.L.A.N.D. Movement</a></strong> (the ministry). A series of things have happened since my last blog entry, and not all of those things have been good. Well...let me rephrase that. All of them didn't fit <em>my definition</em> of good. Despite that, I know that all of them have worked together for the good of the ministry itself (Romans 8:28). There have been some challenges that were (and in some cases, still are) a weight for me. However, if I have learned anything in my 44 years of living, my 32 years of living for Christ, and my 23 years of working in ministry; it is that the strength that we gain along this Christian journey is often a direct result of the weights we come in contact with in the process. But thanks be to God who is our refuge and strength; a very present help in our time of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Because of Him, we never have to bear our burdens alone. God is good!</div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">W</span></strong>ith that said, I am blessed to report that with the help of the Lord, the message of "I Shall Not Die" is still going strong despite every trick that that the enemy has tried to create. A steady stream of books have been sold in hardcopy and in electronic (e-book) format. One hundred <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZe03egT8xQHh8ubvYblT5HoM0v4JGKbGu1vqkJCjhowbiKX-QpxnqcrBD1v55ARICCrRNHFCxQBscdcN33eow1aM7Xp2WpNFFfiJKoUJYGtbmRnkd3PXBGnoCMJYNrYffXsoFovSJZ8/s1600/Breakthrough+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611219279269539762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZe03egT8xQHh8ubvYblT5HoM0v4JGKbGu1vqkJCjhowbiKX-QpxnqcrBD1v55ARICCrRNHFCxQBscdcN33eow1aM7Xp2WpNFFfiJKoUJYGtbmRnkd3PXBGnoCMJYNrYffXsoFovSJZ8/s200/Breakthrough+1.jpg" /></a>percent of the reviews left on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shall-Not-Die-Living-Existence/dp/0984088210/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306458257&sr=1-1">Amazon.com</a> have been favorable, and most importantly, hearts and souls continue to be blessed and empowered. I could not ask for more, yet, because the ministry is on the brink of a breakthrough, I know that more is on the way. God is not finished, and I am bracing myself everyday (through prayer) for what lies ahead. No doubt, it's going to blow a few minds...perhaps even my own. :-)</div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">B</span></strong>ut as I "sit in the waiting room," I am continuing to work toward those things that I know to be in order for I Shall Not Die. And one of those things is the 2nd Bi-Annual I.S.L.A.N.D. Conference. The first empowerment conference launched in October of 2010 at the same time of the book's official unveiling. It was a one-night worship and arts conference that was an awesome move of God. I am still in the early planning stages of next year's conference, but the tentative dates are October 11-13, 2012, and it will be held in metropolitan Atlanta, GA. The location and other specifics will be uploaded to the <a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/The-Conference.html">Conference link </a>of the website as they become available. I hope<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsWtG4bHNded_Dyxt3F3G5mH4jxzZ0NqUYwTLxw1R3tYVmcuoBJgW_i9W9nL0kkChKYmUKhN58mN1lXTAOYP83oTlCpoP_JsC475vg-EIUWaKX1Dup6-P6FcxBQub8_NbPoexvjXzTP0/s1600/I+Shall+Not+Die.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611219054831003122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsWtG4bHNded_Dyxt3F3G5mH4jxzZ0NqUYwTLxw1R3tYVmcuoBJgW_i9W9nL0kkChKYmUKhN58mN1lXTAOYP83oTlCpoP_JsC475vg-EIUWaKX1Dup6-P6FcxBQub8_NbPoexvjXzTP0/s200/I+Shall+Not+Die.jpg" /></a> you will make plans to attend. The conference will include musical performances by Stellar Award winning artists, a prayer breakfast with a nationally known keynote speaker, praise dancing and mime ministry by award-winning artists, a women's empowerment session, sponsored by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_216046035087734">Gospel Girls Study Group</a>, a vending opportunity (books, CD's, T-shirts, etc.) sponsored by <a href="http://www.m-pactwriters.com/">M-PACT Writers</a>, and much, much more. Of course, it will all be capped off with a powerful worship service wherein another renown speaker will feed us with a good Word from the Lord. The early registration discount will be too good to pass up. Even deeper discounts will be available exclusively to VIP's (<a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/The-Vision.html"><strong>VI</strong>sion <strong>P</strong>artners</a>) of The I.S.L.A.N.D. Movement. As soon as we have more solid information regarding the venue, registration lines will be open.</div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">L</span></strong>ook for more details in the coming months. The ministry and message of I Shall Not Die is on the brink of a breakthrough. To God be the glory!</div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-6755929969589588142011-02-18T17:19:00.011-05:002011-02-25T11:15:49.608-05:00A New Season...A New Day<div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0qt9_wYSLkIkv6BMv7Fft3c1_Ij0vBJ_SXIHt3tkIgJquQctbSEQRCTcntgy9sjveQaO5OiZlCn8wcGCTD67TO9JWGkZMKCWnRoOZboykUvt7bm6LqgJ8UitHK7Jgprz6M0-uJzAysA/s1600/P1013046a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577496082750471090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0qt9_wYSLkIkv6BMv7Fft3c1_Ij0vBJ_SXIHt3tkIgJquQctbSEQRCTcntgy9sjveQaO5OiZlCn8wcGCTD67TO9JWGkZMKCWnRoOZboykUvt7bm6LqgJ8UitHK7Jgprz6M0-uJzAysA/s200/P1013046a.JPG" /></a>T</span></strong>o go into all the intricate details of the exciting direction in which God is taking my writing ministry would be a premature move on my part. Not only that, but it would make this long overdue blog entry far too lengthy. But suffice it to say, my first nonfiction, <strong><em>I Shall Not Die</em></strong> is playing a great role in my movement toward this new phase of my life and career. So much has transpired since the release of this book last October...so much has happened since my last posting to this blog. God has been good, and He has kept the promises He made long before I began penning <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. He assured me that if I followed His direction, obeyed His voice, and wrote the book that was birthed from my own life's<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LpHCYZNQKWcakpZZC5tnlL0IqbhhcBZg0jhMTrVyihRg1hlgG4UV2M_hfDZwRT2kzo6RS_PHPbmoGzEMw4llzigeyqC8LcbsTr92DIedFcWLijJWFm6v9fa6JEsgfHMrHRSk_er7Xac/s1600/P1013035a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577510808443615586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LpHCYZNQKWcakpZZC5tnlL0IqbhhcBZg0jhMTrVyihRg1hlgG4UV2M_hfDZwRT2kzo6RS_PHPbmoGzEMw4llzigeyqC8LcbsTr92DIedFcWLijJWFm6v9fa6JEsgfHMrHRSk_er7Xac/s200/P1013035a.JPG" /></a> greatest trial, He would see to it that <em>I Shall Not Die</em> would bless many. And indeed it has...including me.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">E</span></strong>mails, letters, and phone calls have come in a steady stream. Readers have found lost faith, renewed strength, and new reasons to live by way of <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. The sales of both the hardcopy and E-book versions have exceeded my expectations. The posted reviews on Amazon.com have been overwhelming, and the Facebook posts and private notes have been more than humbling. As I've digested the magnitude of it all, there have been many days that I've found myself in tears. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYx1coEhqE4oUCasMjuZ_if3NapfoYUloQHgBxd-yDIp-eXCqNhHvBGZYJGs9J5A9GXdVjH0lwMRIHxu5rfiLGwWp4UgB84UNDKy9i65JmFScMwUNUp92hGAm444mV9qE7tgbJ2BAIqc/s1600/prayer+breakfast+057.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577507389678811346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYx1coEhqE4oUCasMjuZ_if3NapfoYUloQHgBxd-yDIp-eXCqNhHvBGZYJGs9J5A9GXdVjH0lwMRIHxu5rfiLGwWp4UgB84UNDKy9i65JmFScMwUNUp92hGAm444mV9qE7tgbJ2BAIqc/s200/prayer+breakfast+057.jpg" /></a>It has brought me to my knees...literally as I have thanked God repeatedly for His grace and favor. Door after door has been opened for The I.S.L.A.N.D. Movement - the motivational ministry that was birthed from <em>I Shall Not Die</em> - since I obeyed God's voice and wrote the book that He inspired over fifteen years ago. I've been in awe of the move of the Holy Spirit as I have traveled to bring the message of LIFE to people everywhere.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">M</span></strong>y 2011 calendar has more speaking engagements lined up on it than I've ever had in past years. From Mississippi to the nation's capital of Washington DC; from my home state of Georgia to the state of North Carolina; from Maryland to Lousiana and more. Even dates in 2012 have already been booked as I'm being<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MX6T4VkN-EMDwV_egWBxeagP_VkGlhS0JODR1pTKGROK2oB-KWMFyhNW7Oow_2FOb7mzTCVdLXVh4KzYZ-qoTprG-gzQQTF1zOG_nLiuQLm1a9xrggOCJe15Ch2mbXUU4UMFYJfU9SU/s1600/P1013087a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577497830475243170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MX6T4VkN-EMDwV_egWBxeagP_VkGlhS0JODR1pTKGROK2oB-KWMFyhNW7Oow_2FOb7mzTCVdLXVh4KzYZ-qoTprG-gzQQTF1zOG_nLiuQLm1a9xrggOCJe15Ch2mbXUU4UMFYJfU9SU/s200/P1013087a.JPG" /></a> contacted by organizations and ministries to come and serve as keynote speaker for their special events. Even as I type this blog entry, I'm overwhelmed.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">A</span></strong> little known fact about me is that I've been a licensed minister since the age of 21. The pulpit (or stage for that matter) has never been my comfort zone. When I began publishing books in 2002, I saw it as a way to minister without the mic. But lo and behold, in a manner in which only He could orchestrate, the Lord has brought my life full circle, and I'm being placed in the position to exercise the ministry (in the form of empowerment speaking) that was bestowed on me by Him many years ago. Sometimes we have to come out <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TP2w9G_mutZP9P0eMwiJATZ8mPQ0aZuHoolbOeEbr6PA8RvSExWomkPSryTkwi7U4IvJS2kZjDaf-jbV3upt0LmVtJjfyAzXz1kUf38_qbd_7JgWu2X5N1h9tUudh9wlMkb0xXuIh3s/s1600/P1012840a.JPG"></a>of those comfort zones to completely fulfill our purpose. And now, though standing in front of a crowd may very <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcDMpWtHuM0RKZmRwQIm99hticZE2iYIYgDe9d4JLmTS0M6GYWtJSTgzpuqE94hxNOeKb1BKwVBh5uewZ9erJZCfEoBz0BXDT9Sjz5h8y9D6ELbS-9kuzPTQ6iElpyRNKMvHKdyymzS0/s1600/prayer+breakfast+042.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577520885040035874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcDMpWtHuM0RKZmRwQIm99hticZE2iYIYgDe9d4JLmTS0M6GYWtJSTgzpuqE94hxNOeKb1BKwVBh5uewZ9erJZCfEoBz0BXDT9Sjz5h8y9D6ELbS-9kuzPTQ6iElpyRNKMvHKdyymzS0/s200/prayer+breakfast+042.jpg" /></a>well never feel like second nature to me, it has become an assignment that I have embraced with joy, and I feel blessed every time my presence is requested to share the gospel of Christ; even if it is on the level of teaching others how to write their own life's tests in a manner wherein it will testify to those who read it.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> am so very grateful for this new season and this new day in my life. Stay tuned. More will be revelealed when the time is right. In the meantime, check the calendar on my <a href="http://www.kendranormanbellamy.com/Calendar.html"><strong>website</strong> </a>and/or connect with me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/KendraNormanBellamy"><strong>Facebook</strong> </a>so that you can be made aware of my whereabouts as I travel the globe speaking, facilitating, signing books, etc. If I'm ever in or around your area, please join me!</div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-76455183753927260732010-11-25T19:43:00.014-05:002010-11-26T00:00:12.854-05:00Something For Which To Be Thankful<div align="justify"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543716076094874578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrecRMvxHvZSfDYXhseCMOtlCniLi1HaB4fbyEkmtog4f09AQPvXz2u7Py4qZ6mBnQUB6ffVMt7g9cx9oVYiuH4cZZ9Un5qE5zJElC6gm7VmFQq7Fh2ogRdpWVvat1G9hB-oNguWmHYiE/s200/P1012296a.JPG" /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">O</span></strong>n the United States calendar, today is marked as Thanksgiving. Originally, it was sited as a Christian holiday, but oddly enough, it is now largely viewed as a secular holiday; a day of harvest and festival. I prefer to see it from the Christian angle because whenever I think of giving thanks, I immediately think of God. If anyone deserves a special day of appreciation, it is the creator of all things and the giver of life. </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">L</span></strong>ife. More and more, that one simple, yet powerful, word seems to take a front seat in my every day existence. This year, one of the things for which I'm most grateful is the release of my most recent book (my first nonfiction), <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, and the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Fi56Db3FBDtWtQ9HyvfzKWFzlJKoQ8CXCsBWxSMBpfn48Ax7YKQn-eBNlcm-aL0zlBk9a9GlTE621d-2SBNBGS3x8t4hFL34Na_uW3h4bkohidO74YoGaW0voQftOATF9XNyTiem5Zg/s1600/P1012031a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543714238136045298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Fi56Db3FBDtWtQ9HyvfzKWFzlJKoQ8CXCsBWxSMBpfn48Ax7YKQn-eBNlcm-aL0zlBk9a9GlTE621d-2SBNBGS3x8t4hFL34Na_uW3h4bkohidO74YoGaW0voQftOATF9XNyTiem5Zg/s200/P1012031a.JPG" /></a>launch of its partnering empowerment ministry, <a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/">The </a><a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/">I.S.L.A.N.D. Movement</a>. As I've repeatedly stated during speaking engagements as well as in my writings regarding <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, it is my seventeenth published work, but it is actually the first book that I was inspired to write. It was one that God ordered in 1995, but one that I'd fought against penning until 2009. Yet, despite my procrastination, when I finally obeyed the voice of the Lord and finally got it into print this year, He blessed it beyond my imagination. Truly, just as He promised in scripture (Ephesians 3:20), God has done exceeding abundantly above all that I asked or thought.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>hrough <em>I Shall Not Die</em> and The I.S.L.A.N.D. Movement, many doors have opened for me to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmV8uL-9WRduv_6KwyJcQTKvsktG3B0LUNG4kCNrBdfA7XgYzKz0MuKErxfA6eUfWQMNcLCD-zu7_sSRzSNZV1i7cqV0LH6ttih6uxQYAwMN3WhFE3JXI8KhfMFVfl1w6-WrIdSTBAzA/s1600/DSC_0840_pp2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543711729041169906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmV8uL-9WRduv_6KwyJcQTKvsktG3B0LUNG4kCNrBdfA7XgYzKz0MuKErxfA6eUfWQMNcLCD-zu7_sSRzSNZV1i7cqV0LH6ttih6uxQYAwMN3WhFE3JXI8KhfMFVfl1w6-WrIdSTBAzA/s200/DSC_0840_pp2.jpg" /></a>share the message of this book that is based on my own true life miracle and experiences. I should have been dead a long time ago, but God said not so, and even through the loss that I suffered, God still gave life. <em>I Shall Not Die</em> has been available to the public for less than two months, but the testimony that it shares has blessed many people in that relatively short span of time. I'm thrilled by the feedback that I have received in the form of Facebook postings, private emails, telephone calls, and online reviews. Additionally, I Shall Not Die has captured the heart of an independent documentarian who has plans to turn it into a televised documentary. How humbling it is to be used of God to share the message of hope with the world. </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">A</span></strong>t the start of my writing career in 2002, I promised the Lord that I would use this gift He gave me to His honor and glory. I have declared that it will be all about ministy, and over the years, various outside temptations have come my way to try to distract me.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzJG7RJ1L71aQA6Qaxa239xbCwsk7NYLbtaF3xwFEwnLKA52sT4KOJWtamqeDLcmQe7x80NSMjwCJV9y5Ji063nmucJTrwU-RuB5yF3TVd1Mg9oU-kIwnYR_ymePyGivIp1usnjWVm-U/s1600/P1012775a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543715057802169202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzJG7RJ1L71aQA6Qaxa239xbCwsk7NYLbtaF3xwFEwnLKA52sT4KOJWtamqeDLcmQe7x80NSMjwCJV9y5Ji063nmucJTrwU-RuB5yF3TVd1Mg9oU-kIwnYR_ymePyGivIp1usnjWVm-U/s200/P1012775a.JPG" /></a> Everything from a would-be publishers request for me to change my writing style so that my stories appeal to a more secular audience to the lucrative offer from another would-be publisher if I would agree to operate under a pen name and write erotica. My answer to both of these was an emphatic <strong><em>NO</em></strong>. Sure, it would have brought me a certain level of fame and fortune, but what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? My declaration remains the same. This gift that God has given me is all about ministry, and whatever notariety I don't gain doing it God's way, I won't gain. And I have no regrets.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> am so thankful for where I am, because I know that I am is where God wants me to be at this present time. And I know that more doors will open that will help to usher me to the place where He desires me to be in the future. I wouldn't trade my journey for the world. And believe me when I tell you...it ain't over....there is more to come...and I'm thankful for that too.</div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-83298724581351819132010-10-15T19:29:00.005-04:002010-10-15T20:22:06.992-04:00Time Does NOT Heal All Wounds<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxSr6LoDMYL76w6jo4mOUr_fFLZ9XT8KeA6Kj24IMTK_ijN9UlhYCNUYac0Irj3xa7sAlNxET6beA2zSsHM_LYf4zBVJF6QoJ6-19qxmgC-d3wxXmu49TeLFXiBHpkWmP2iPL5bCN9qs/s1600/Wedding+Day+3a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 136px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528423336928134114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxSr6LoDMYL76w6jo4mOUr_fFLZ9XT8KeA6Kj24IMTK_ijN9UlhYCNUYac0Irj3xa7sAlNxET6beA2zSsHM_LYf4zBVJF6QoJ6-19qxmgC-d3wxXmu49TeLFXiBHpkWmP2iPL5bCN9qs/s200/Wedding+Day+3a.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>oday, October 15th, would have been the celebration of my 22nd wedding anniversary if Jimmy (my first husband) was still alive. Fifteen years have passed since he transitioned, and yes, I have moved on with my life. However, one of the many things that my experience with him taught me is that true <em><strong>love </strong></em>never dies...not even when the true <strong><em>lover</em></strong> does. I never would have thought that I'd still miss him after all these years, but I do, and that's not something that I even try to mask or hide. It's not a fact that I'm ashamed of, nor is it one that I wish to change. The pain of his absence is not a pleasant feeling. Sometimes, especially on significant days like today, it still brings tears to my eyes, but despite that, I actually enjoy missing him. That's right...I enjoy it. </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> feel favored to have the memories. It brings me joy to know that his presence in my life was so positive and impactful that his not being here (physically) is still noticable. I pray that whenever the Lord decides to call me home, I would have lived in a manner to have left that kind of impression on someone's life. It would be great to leave behind tangible goods such as property, money, and other valuables, but all those things, in the grand scheme of things, are fleeting. To leave behind memories - <em>good and godly</em> memories - that last a lifetime... What a legacy!</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">R</span></strong>egardless of what "they" say, time does <u>not</u> heal all wounds. The saying sounds good to the ears, but it's not true. I know that for a fact. No doubt, it heals <em>some</em> wounds, but not ALL. For other wounds, all time is capable of doing is placing a scab on the surface of them so that the pain lessens,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDRgE969DVAjBMoHuPWlcCUIW-da6lFITAfymYfFXraaKIyUKTTByA89q6whGzX3nQ3klC8FGOiRBqF4mI7eGHm9S9XdZsFYE-VpLfRS7xcoOmc3icPtrkmDGXMYv4Nf6QAL30Bxn1xg/s1600/ISND+2a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528422509205937890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDRgE969DVAjBMoHuPWlcCUIW-da6lFITAfymYfFXraaKIyUKTTByA89q6whGzX3nQ3klC8FGOiRBqF4mI7eGHm9S9XdZsFYE-VpLfRS7xcoOmc3icPtrkmDGXMYv4Nf6QAL30Bxn1xg/s200/ISND+2a.jpg" /></a> or so the wounds don't become contaminated and fester into something worse. Often times the pain may be so meager that it's barely noticeable. But it's still there.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> think that the most wonderful thing that can be done through pain, is to bless others. When a personal tragedy or mishap can be used by God as a positive tool that blesses someone else, that's awesome. Since the official release of my first nonfiction book, <strong><em>I Shall Not Die</em></strong> on October 1st, I have read email after email from readers whose lives were changed by the message of <strong>LIFE</strong> that it brings. I am so humbled to have been chosen to write and deliver the words that are ministering to people on such a level. In the past two weeks, I have read notes of marriages being healed, mindsets being changed, and outlooks that were made brighter by way of <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. It's what God promised to do through this book, and it is a promise that He is delivering.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>he feedback and reviews that are coming in by way of the ministry website <a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/"><strong>guest book</strong> </a>and by way of <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984088210/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d3_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0XFN2W8JG5G750EX7GRM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846">Amazon.com</a></strong> has made me grateful that time didn't completely heal my wound. Had it done so, I may never have obeyed God's order to pen this book. And had I never written it, my lingering wound would not have had the opportunity to heal the wounds of others. For that reason alone, I gladly carry my scar, and I thank God daily that He has allowed it to be a blessing to others.</div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-12233504607066310272010-10-06T00:12:00.037-04:002010-10-07T00:16:55.120-04:00The Launch of The I.S.L.A.N.D. Movement<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwBTIi69X2kJ6f6Q59tM7Klk8ySOK-Q2m3hFmHEtK8QFg4ZhBtd5s0w9OYG51NjaC3fo_07cqtT14lcbGTh0diMdmoDuh_EWAyokEzTcmbTQvRH2_JaVjRzpisu_WtHwb7dmKp-JefuQ/s1600/P1012089a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 172px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524833617863836354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwBTIi69X2kJ6f6Q59tM7Klk8ySOK-Q2m3hFmHEtK8QFg4ZhBtd5s0w9OYG51NjaC3fo_07cqtT14lcbGTh0diMdmoDuh_EWAyokEzTcmbTQvRH2_JaVjRzpisu_WtHwb7dmKp-JefuQ/s200/P1012089a.JPG" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong>t's been a few weeks since I last blogged...not because nothing has been happening worth blogging about, but because so much has been happening that I've had trouble finding the time to blog. So I ask for your patience, and if necessary, your forgiveness, if this blog entry runs a little longer than normal. I have to catch you up to date...<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">B</span></strong>elieve it or not, after my last entry that chronicled all of the challenges I had faced to date, even more road blocks popped up that had the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3pKUgmwy_QuDBFjwTE2rqPmIry-7D6PoDuVb_SB60LpfZu8lGaOpCvu8GLHapAOd0sGNREEoqszLAzcwHy6dqIn0eLVVwlr97FwQ5dzRiak4pfjsO-cwFJFJwFQr8F8EJ0P8FUHUPvs/s1600/DSC_0528_pp2.jpg"></a> potential to hinder the birth of the <strong><em>I Shall Not Die</em></strong> book and the <a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/"><strong>I.S.L.A.N.D.</strong> (<strong>I</strong> <strong>S</strong>hall <strong>L</strong>ive <strong>A</strong>nd <strong>N</strong>ot <strong>D</strong>ie) <strong>Movement</strong></a>. Once the book was finally<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiqnFsaXxnnzZbKLCV7o3DxBu2G7TjxHt537igprYoHBYNSwbN3APyx5v2X6WD3W3IEzcvFE-gY6MGGmMEI-fEca7qgO3bz13uGVGG2M66BeCxU6C6U_l3Q8r3u4SWXpLCsOdLUcddx4/s1600/DSC_1057_pp2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525153208556395378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiqnFsaXxnnzZbKLCV7o3DxBu2G7TjxHt537igprYoHBYNSwbN3APyx5v2X6WD3W3IEzcvFE-gY6MGGmMEI-fEca7qgO3bz13uGVGG2M66BeCxU6C6U_l3Q8r3u4SWXpLCsOdLUcddx4/s200/DSC_1057_pp2.jpg" /></a> produced and shipped to me from the printer, I encountered a battle with the company that was outsourced to bring the books to me. For hours, the driver of the delivery truck held the books<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgYLTeAQU_IH4JUI2Lv8sz64HidvStCzTdroalU9g-rroT7P4QmLlPd59xgs-TtN_dyvID7kw1-PCSfBXteyxRYQXQdhmslDWa796hcLq2ugjKF2rbzQqTNW4INkfr-ty48Jnj-edglw/s1600/DSC_0588a.jpg"></a> hostage, actually refusing to bring them to my home, stating that he didn't like delivering to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtxwz4HrOmpkqtmXyqRIbUm0UrhyVnm6fYjvcvMS9DaCDpiB1FM99mckTxlqVduYIH4M7XcWaxGz9TgzFjGaFyVtWlR_qjU6Z9TIP66QMqxzLojPT4nCrO-n71T4Vk8XTgxW3jy2O3gY/s1600/DSC_0840_pp2.jpg"></a>residential areas. I won't blast the company by name on my public blog, but believe me when I tell you the temptation is there. I had paid for shipping and delivery, yet the truck driver told me that if I wanted the books, I'd have to rent a pick-up truck from somewhere and meet him in a business district because he didn't like delivering to residences. <em>Really? Are you kidding me?</em> You're a delivery man! After several telephone <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HnNRoCtYl3eia6T3SkUfuWxgdivw3ha2pTQJm-R0yQRXYAWPLmWFs6fRkfwaXkcXjqNEuwvaqhZrkbszuF5Yv83m6unxTWl3YPyOE6dEykdtYIrTtvBxL5jYMH9Fbcv1uHImZjbCvc0/s1600/DSC_0602a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524823462081377346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HnNRoCtYl3eia6T3SkUfuWxgdivw3ha2pTQJm-R0yQRXYAWPLmWFs6fRkfwaXkcXjqNEuwvaqhZrkbszuF5Yv83m6unxTWl3YPyOE6dEykdtYIrTtvBxL5jYMH9Fbcv1uHImZjbCvc0/s200/DSC_0602a.jpg" /></a>conversations with the people at the delivery company's headquarters and my ultimate threat to call the printer and report the incident so that they'd never use their delivery service again, I got my books. I waited from 8:30 in the morning (the scheduled delivery time) until 6:30 in the evening to receive them, but they finally arrived. And yes...I still reported the company to my printer.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">W</span></strong>hen I first broke open the box and held the book in my hand, I cried. Okay, I'll admit that I tend to shed a few tears each time I am blessed to hold a new release for the first time, but this one was different. This book is<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiDT2xZx45FrAivdIqiHpvVf-QPMKYiidwsdYQMfkk0_uS4iOtWfJUWEAsDeoz9k5oeAGIjPMPkema5mKksu5-TN5NYsupjYfYKJEqjkIrLI4YCOneYV34mPTg4DlKZqdL0_ypXXaKcQ/s1600/DSC_0705a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524823145849430674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiDT2xZx45FrAivdIqiHpvVf-QPMKYiidwsdYQMfkk0_uS4iOtWfJUWEAsDeoz9k5oeAGIjPMPkema5mKksu5-TN5NYsupjYfYKJEqjkIrLI4YCOneYV34mPTg4DlKZqdL0_ypXXaKcQ/s200/DSC_0705a.jpg" /></a> personal...and it represents a new level of ministry for me. Plus it seemed as if that moment would never come. With all the adversity I'd faced, there were days when I felt paranoid as I wondered what the enemy would come up with next. I'm so glad the God I serve is omniscient. No adversity could arise that He didn't<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAPu_0np8gr8fDdxtDVh9XjeIWIa8xLN63UUEQmI_b-Oh2cHzw1aCAm2pXTJS7_h9nA4Pr2jD4d1So2lBS7IJVg5FKTkF_pP0YYMKoruyWLeiHR7i-ZH8UZ62TPbjuiWOi5edMc2-nWw/s1600/P1012177a.JPG"></a> know about beforehand. With that being the case, God knew that the delivery issue wouldn't be the end of it all. </div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">C</span></strong>an you beleive that once again, we would be forced to change the location of the pending October 2nd I.S.L.A.N.D. Conference where we would officially unveil the book and the accompanying motivational ministry? We'd <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsfEnVc1VlEMOTqGU8HHnJVKhsQoN4k3pIbvjfECveNJ-cqAGUB79Mt15VzRbYheHBYPMqMcYB5v21iET92pIlKJtQHRr1ZINNkeMicGnf7KAAWhzD-9QdKb_2FDY5viwJVMF2aoigec/s1600/P1012031a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524822461043890402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsfEnVc1VlEMOTqGU8HHnJVKhsQoN4k3pIbvjfECveNJ-cqAGUB79Mt15VzRbYheHBYPMqMcYB5v21iET92pIlKJtQHRr1ZINNkeMicGnf7KAAWhzD-9QdKb_2FDY5viwJVMF2aoigec/s200/P1012031a.JPG" /></a>already had to change it once because someone who (for reasons that are still unclear) did not want the conference to manifest took it upon themselves to cancel our first venue booking and demand that the pastor not allow it to be held there. Now, due to more "church drama," we were forced to go for Plan C. And that plan had us taking the celebration out of the church altogether, and moving it to an events building instead. As God would have it, someone who had booked the building for the same time and date that we needed it, called and cancelled their booking just moments before I called to ask about the building's availability. (I told you<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIjJt7gmQ5VIwgman7iLOWuE96x3Wws-S_0y2-rcTSJI-ukv7q4jV7p4wn458e-9_LR_VfSlYcsy3TRvjX6wnOAuQbbSVGTz0taMBpBndl8-7rEncQafyqr-ETNo9kyYZ66HtOeTyVm8/s1600/P1012048a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524838125778801522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIjJt7gmQ5VIwgman7iLOWuE96x3Wws-S_0y2-rcTSJI-ukv7q4jV7p4wn458e-9_LR_VfSlYcsy3TRvjX6wnOAuQbbSVGTz0taMBpBndl8-7rEncQafyqr-ETNo9kyYZ66HtOeTyVm8/s200/P1012048a.JPG" /></a> HE was omniscient!) And with a venue secure, we were moving forward once again.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">B</span></strong>ecause the books arrived several weeks prior to the official release date, two "early release" events took place. The first one was held at Auburn Avenue Research Library in Atlanta, GA, and was hosted by <strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGCN6Ppdq-04dBxp5pJKgIXgTjPUxQ3Gw3VQCOUbkncX5eq7xZPwRwJShJAsrWQwTFr-5_Nb9kHQtQbH86kMpXIqlb6GlD6x0hN3am1dTzQVWO44jzLH458xKryqd4WcVQfZSJbTn-B0/s1600/DSC_0705a.jpg"></a><a href="http://www.bossettes.com/">Bossettes</a></strong>. It was a wonderful event that came with live entertainment that included spoken word by <strong><a href="http://www.ebonyjanice.com/">E</a><a href="http://www.ebonyjanice.com/">bonyJanice</a></strong> and song ministry by recording artist/stage actress, <strong><a href="http://www.churchmess.com/">Alicia Robinson Cooper</a></strong>. The second "early release" event <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pQacF0D90WN8GmAgtYrHh1h_ZjLyaKPvR0LR8gG_BKNe7IHYMjV0LvNj-gkUi9marMeEhh1d5ugLURy3PJVYUBOJugallUgoFKaBbLfIqT4N9yEtKlbQKEBJrV5BMOFPAcv2lcrXn6U/s1600/P1012006_pp2.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 174px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524838327815659922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pQacF0D90WN8GmAgtYrHh1h_ZjLyaKPvR0LR8gG_BKNe7IHYMjV0LvNj-gkUi9marMeEhh1d5ugLURy3PJVYUBOJugallUgoFKaBbLfIqT4N9yEtKlbQKEBJrV5BMOFPAcv2lcrXn6U/s200/P1012006_pp2.JPG" /></a>was a speaking engagement and book signing wherein I was blessed to be asked to be the keynote speaker at the 85th church anniversary service of <strong>East St. Paul United Methodist Church</strong> in San Antonio, TX. What an honor it was to share the "I Shall Not Die" message with the attendees there, and then to sell and sign copies of the book afterward. I took my youngest daughter along with me for that appearance. It was her very first flight and she got the opportunity to reconnect with a friend that she hadn't seen since she was a four-year-old Pre-K student. They are both now thriving 17-year-old high school seniors, and it was good to see how quickly they gelled. They even sang a duet at the worship service. Additionally, I was blessed to reunite with a sister-friend that I had not seen in more than ten years. It was marvelous! San Antonio made for a great tour stop on many levels.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">F</span></strong>inally, the day of the official book release and ministry launch arrived. October 2nd was the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6sXlSJkZUPLHKPMCQjvhXMmeDmxkETRrCGWW_L2N5qq9RfiyhHzznzf7Q2vDdWNkL3FZbZKz6levffPZyi02F3Qdz8nVB9-4X2f6SlPJQ4ty4vKraAHxg77pbUBnXZNUq3t6MpoChFc/s1600/P1012134a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524820132836195634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6sXlSJkZUPLHKPMCQjvhXMmeDmxkETRrCGWW_L2N5qq9RfiyhHzznzf7Q2vDdWNkL3FZbZKz6levffPZyi02F3Qdz8nVB9-4X2f6SlPJQ4ty4vKraAHxg77pbUBnXZNUq3t6MpoChFc/s200/P1012134a.JPG" /></a> date of the <strong>I.S.L.A.N.D. Conference</strong>, and it was with great excitement that I and a car load of family and friends took the 3.5 hour drive to Valdosta, GA for the celebration. En route, another curve ball blindsided me when I received a call from the booking manager of my featured artist, telling me that he would not be at the event. The immediate disappointment was heavy. I had been announcing for months that he would be there, and just a couple hours before "showtime" I was informed that he would not. Determined not to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFIHvL-EAunkTqjv3y4nCz6miegE7ltoBlpvGjGOV0ne2xoz8EiQrZQvtfKy6upj_hcX3aUpKpJIUhw7-s131BeymjhW23i7dfEkCnHWKCxSCetam5vkKklksFKnBoAH5LMDsKTZeo5s/s1600/P1012160a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524819405270003986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFIHvL-EAunkTqjv3y4nCz6miegE7ltoBlpvGjGOV0ne2xoz8EiQrZQvtfKy6upj_hcX3aUpKpJIUhw7-s131BeymjhW23i7dfEkCnHWKCxSCetam5vkKklksFKnBoAH5LMDsKTZeo5s/s200/P1012160a.JPG" /></a>let the blow be a TKO for me, I regrouped my emotions and prayed that God wouldn't allow the absence of the national recording artist to cause those who would be there to turn around and leave. God answered my prayer, and the conference that commemorated the book and the ministry was a wonderful affair.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>hose who attended the I.S.L.A.N.D. Conference were blessed with music and arts ministry that included praise dancing, singing, and a featured appearance by Agape Award winning mime minister <a href="http://www.themastersmime.com/"><strong>The Master's Mime</strong> </a>. The highlight of the night was an awesome (and I do mean, AWESOME) Word from the Lord that was delivered by <strong>Bishop Q.S. Caldwell</strong> of <strong><a href="http://celebrationofpraiseministries.com/">Celebration of Praise</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAPu_0np8gr8fDdxtDVh9XjeIWIa8xLN63UUEQmI_b-Oh2cHzw1aCAm2pXTJS7_h9nA4Pr2jD4d1So2lBS7IJVg5FKTkF_pP0YYMKoruyWLeiHR7i-ZH8UZ62TPbjuiWOi5edMc2-nWw/s1600/P1012177a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524831981644687394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAPu_0np8gr8fDdxtDVh9XjeIWIa8xLN63UUEQmI_b-Oh2cHzw1aCAm2pXTJS7_h9nA4Pr2jD4d1So2lBS7IJVg5FKTkF_pP0YYMKoruyWLeiHR7i-ZH8UZ62TPbjuiWOi5edMc2-nWw/s200/P1012177a.JPG" /></a><a href="http://celebrationofpraiseministries.com/"> </a><a href="http://celebrationofpraiseministries.com/">Ministries</a></strong>. The capable emcee for the evening was <strong>Pastor Bernard<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioO1Eby_C7v6j873Nm8BxGnlLgyAkM_yzMOARr-3StmINv96-wcIT2rAhMY72dULKn1LubZB20H_bQqBjJtFO9tpTmek7UoDXgAf57Nhp4BxEXKVE5SgIDi-tcxRijCTtcZLSnw87zNCM/s1600/P1012113a.JPG"></a> Robinson</strong> of Abundant Life Ministries. I can't say that our featured recording artist wasn't missed. He definitely was. He was on program to sing a couple of very key songs...plus he's one of my personal favorites, so I still wish he would have been there, but I was more than a little relieved that none of the audience members expressed any disappointment in his absence. And God provided a "ram in the bush" when one of the attendees (her name was Nicole), who I'd never even met before, agreed to fill in on a moment's notice and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3i29zztvhx6b4b9Y_yVG4esi-PSOCK7Hf90QZjHP3xvRJAeSr2-OkiyH2R-jgWTxuHx5x-LpCtXIJC5neQ_sY0lsrX29X-fbijwwPLyXSS6kmBiQ0oiecIpnCxl7iklIcuNFqtQDp88/s1600/P1012158_pp2.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524816920573414274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3i29zztvhx6b4b9Y_yVG4esi-PSOCK7Hf90QZjHP3xvRJAeSr2-OkiyH2R-jgWTxuHx5x-LpCtXIJC5neQ_sY0lsrX29X-fbijwwPLyXSS6kmBiQ0oiecIpnCxl7iklIcuNFqtQDp88/s200/P1012158_pp2.JPG" /></a>sing <em>I Won't Complain</em>, which was a poignant song for the program. And boy, did she sing it!<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>o top off the evening, quite a number of books and other I.S.L.A.N.D. ministry products were sold, and the wonderful reviews from readers have been pouring in via email, telephone calls, and by way of feedback posted in the guest book on the <strong><a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/">ministry website</a></strong>. Despite all of the ditches, mud puddles, and even dung hills that we had to leap over to get there, God made us victorious, and I am eternally grateful. He promised to be faithful, and He is and continues to be. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness!<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">A</span></strong>nd now the main tour begins. For the next few weekends, I can be<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXHfpPc7hBW-WSrmc04HYRP_E0VaaaGm8EiYGUCACBbzdQfJCJsU89GQEHt1g_idebibW8mC8pKFHIG9XMr-9XKQohE8osYivDwI_xHyIiPfbaWesZbXEz9UL0kLrBcDNeiaVe-Zjf8c/s1600/P1012229a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524817394347364898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXHfpPc7hBW-WSrmc04HYRP_E0VaaaGm8EiYGUCACBbzdQfJCJsU89GQEHt1g_idebibW8mC8pKFHIG9XMr-9XKQohE8osYivDwI_xHyIiPfbaWesZbXEz9UL0kLrBcDNeiaVe-Zjf8c/s200/P1012229a.JPG" /></a> found fellowshipping, promoting, speaking, and signing books in Jacksonville, Florida, West Haven, Connecticut, Chicago, Illinois, Lenox, Georgia, and Jackson, Mississippi. I hope to see some of you as I make stops through your area, and I request the prayers of the righteous as I continue to use this platform to empower, encourage, and edify. </div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-49769195495049828622010-09-05T00:34:00.009-04:002010-09-05T02:39:45.513-04:00You Hear That, Elizabeth???<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbF9srr43Y1YuWnetn8qTCn1hM5KRHsFu6uTcj63dd9XmdLbv4vOhoAD2MYLD_UxLKvSwdvq6gPo26aJ_ye0ilUvcxcQCj3kAjckJ-Zvi_GSJjBaml6E1wwfr1NN_YIQQ8kkn0w94urI/s1600/sanford_and_son.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 186px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513301225564883506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbF9srr43Y1YuWnetn8qTCn1hM5KRHsFu6uTcj63dd9XmdLbv4vOhoAD2MYLD_UxLKvSwdvq6gPo26aJ_ye0ilUvcxcQCj3kAjckJ-Zvi_GSJjBaml6E1wwfr1NN_YIQQ8kkn0w94urI/s200/sanford_and_son.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">R</span></strong>emember the classic comedy, <em>Sanford and Son</em>? Sure you do. Its original run ended in the late 70's but you don't have to think back that far or even have to have been born at that time to recall it. This show, starring the late Redd Foxx (as Fred Sanford) and Demond Wilson (as his son, Lamont), still airs in daily reruns over thirty years later.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">O</span></strong>n this sitcom that <em>Time</em> magazine once listed as one of the 100 best television shows of all time, Fred, a 60-something-year-old widower (whose deceased wife was named Elizabeth) would often feign heart attacks when something major, unexpected, and normally unpleasant would happen. At the onset of his attacks, Fred would place one hand on his chest, stretch the other out in front of him, and while staggering around the room gasping for air, he'd say, "This is the big one. You hear that, Elizabeth? I'm comin' to join you, honey!" Oh, how many hours of laughter my generation and many generations that followed got (and still get) from watching his antics.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">W</span></strong>ell, I had my own "You hear that, Elizabeth" moment just a few days ago. Over the course of writing my first nonfiction, <em><strong>I Shall Not Die</strong></em>, I've used this blog to keep a public journal of the journey. And what a journey it has been! In my most recent posting, I talked about how I've had to "fight" every step of the way<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpWHd3Vm6Wb9RAHoNe1tbQ4WzbtiU4shuMo595MW11dAYn7hmg6f3DFnTuaNti-VN1UnPkWIgbudG2O6HT08YRlQUvBIinCDOZf5y26so5md934YDtjS3JKZXWTyndneTpSqe7O_eGY8/s1600/Sanford+heart+attack.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 159px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513300311094322034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpWHd3Vm6Wb9RAHoNe1tbQ4WzbtiU4shuMo595MW11dAYn7hmg6f3DFnTuaNti-VN1UnPkWIgbudG2O6HT08YRlQUvBIinCDOZf5y26so5md934YDtjS3JKZXWTyndneTpSqe7O_eGY8/s200/Sanford+heart+attack.jpg" /></a> to get this God-ordered book in print and the partnering ministry (<strong><a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/">The I.S.L.A.N.D. Movement</a></strong>) launched. I spoke of the latest struggle just to get the book files to the printer, and nearing the close of that posting, I said that I was expecting the enemy to come back again with something else as a means of stopping the birth of this movement. Lo and behold....it happened. It was totally unexpected, and I was completely unprepared. By my measuring stick, it was the BIG ONE!<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">W</span></strong>hat I was expecting was a glitch with the printer or maybe an issue with the shipping or some other problem on that same level. But no. This time, it wasn't an issue with the book at all. The printer received the files that I mailed to them, they sent me a proof to approve the cover and page set-up, and as I type this blog entry, the book is in the print stage (thank you, Jesus!). So while I was expecting another problem to come from an outside source...it came from within...from a place that is very dear to my heart. People that I love, for reasons that are still not clear to me, stepped in and pulled the plug on the worship service that had been set up to commemorate the book and ministry launch. That's right...they cancelled it. I kid you not. Family members who were helping me to plan the event had donated funds to get thousands of marketing items printed to pass out and publicize the upcoming service, and because of the enemy's newest stunt, all of those dollars were flushed down the drain. Even to this day, those who stopped the program have not spoken to me to offer an explanation <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWYfDojyICpVVuvBtZYtpRVaS1RgaVYtrcNpwAHr4t-qHDorVT_QymdspYmxQYqbfs8ORxmM_snQbsEvka8FCtfGdvA6p_sn8TMhrCdLw_wnUPP7ghNUVnYyaz1lIUQjR3njO0OcbJbs/s1600/ISND+2a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513307150610663138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWYfDojyICpVVuvBtZYtpRVaS1RgaVYtrcNpwAHr4t-qHDorVT_QymdspYmxQYqbfs8ORxmM_snQbsEvka8FCtfGdvA6p_sn8TMhrCdLw_wnUPP7ghNUVnYyaz1lIUQjR3njO0OcbJbs/s200/ISND+2a.jpg" /></a>for their drastic actions, but because of them, for a few days, I walked around hurt, stunned, and quite frankly, angry beyond words. Like Fred Sanford, I felt like putting my hand over my heart and staggering from the blow of it all. But when I allowed myself to calm down and I began to place it in God's hands, the Spirit spoke to me. And the words He spoke to me, I relayed to the supporter who had called to inform me of the cancellation. "This won't stop it," I told him. "God has ordered this, and if He said it, He's got to bring it to pass."<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">S</span></strong>o we joined in faith and believed God to provide a ram in the bush. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work (because faith without works is dead). For the past several days, I, along with people who are in my support system, have been working tirelessly to find a new location for the worship experience. Door after door was closed in our faces. Either the contact people were not returning our calls, or the facilities were unavailable on the date we needed to use it. Finally, as I was conversing with a friend and we were brainstorming other options, I mentioned a former acquaintance in the area that used to fellowship with our church<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu89rIcKKfk7Ib9WFAvBWKB68r2FvGcc3m6Jvc65dEXi3Bzg4e4OKVeeTUZHnswTzFB018E0jZJJDJ7ueMFcJmlDMqjGwbNOqDrgN4BReNorhnaPDCreHK2VDO6tclOwe0v_vUUUokRxQ/s1600/ISLAND+Logo2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 155px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513307566015504978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu89rIcKKfk7Ib9WFAvBWKB68r2FvGcc3m6Jvc65dEXi3Bzg4e4OKVeeTUZHnswTzFB018E0jZJJDJ7ueMFcJmlDMqjGwbNOqDrgN4BReNorhnaPDCreHK2VDO6tclOwe0v_vUUUokRxQ/s200/ISLAND+Logo2.jpg" /></a> when we were both teenagers. As an adult he became a preacher and ultimately, a pastor. I asked about his church and the friend that I was speaking to informed me that he no longer lived in the area. For a moment, I felt a twinge of discouragement. And then she mentioned the name of the person who now pastored that same church. As God would orchestrate it, I knew him as well. I hadn't seen or spoken to him in years, but I used social media to send him an email, and he responded with these words: "I'd be honored to host this service at our church." Thank God for Facebook! :-)<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">A</span></strong>nd so, we press on. We are having to get more promo material printed, but God is still good. We didn't have to cancel or even reschedule the date of the event. <a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.net/The-Conference.html"><strong>The I.S.L.A.N.D. Conference</strong> </a>is still set for October 2nd, and while I am fully aware that there is still time for more adversity to arise, I feel that the worst of it is over. And even if other things do come my way, the fact that God got me through <em>the big one</em>, assures me that He'll get me through anything else. He's on my side, and I'm on His, and nothing can stop us now. You hear <em><strong>that</strong></em>, Elizabeth? NOTHING! </div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-33786213977531298272010-08-18T15:30:00.007-04:002010-08-18T19:49:36.935-04:00Fighting for the release of "I Shall Not Die"<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2kqZDFaS9-Tqy3IEYEcpR-71yy2Ml4zqBzVTgEaH95nQ9KichRRIWFdk9gApt7ttj5ri83w6kmuVIa__C8qPPHc_6Pzl5_DBLbUwpAkru_ZxoEtJfESHyNKGPyOTcsOStm2QR1eUf58/s1600/ISND+2a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506874297761024706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2kqZDFaS9-Tqy3IEYEcpR-71yy2Ml4zqBzVTgEaH95nQ9KichRRIWFdk9gApt7ttj5ri83w6kmuVIa__C8qPPHc_6Pzl5_DBLbUwpAkru_ZxoEtJfESHyNKGPyOTcsOStm2QR1eUf58/s200/ISND+2a.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>oday, I am geeked! Getting to this monumental point in the process of publishing <em><strong>I Shall Not Die</strong></em> has been an uphill battle, but because God has been with me for every step of the climb, my testimony is victorious. From the moment I said "Yes" to the Lord and answered the charge to write my first nonfiction/ministerial book, one adversity after the other has arisen in failed attempts to stop it.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">F</span></strong>irst, there was the uncanny, overwhelming fatigue. From the typing of the first letter on page one of <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, all the way to the last period of the final page, I fought tooth and nail just to stay awake. It mattered not what time of day I embarked on adding to the manuscript, I would suddenly become so sleepy that I could barely keep my eyes open. It was one of the most bizzarre experiences of my life. I could be doing anything else or writing on anything else during the course of the day and be fine, but whenever I began to work on <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, within minutes, I would be engulfed by lethargy. Every day, I was taking one, two, and sometimes three naps; sleeping for up to three hours each time. Literally, I was sleeping the day away; erasing precious hours that I needed to be writing the manuscript. I tried to explain it away several times; even tried to define the whole experience as coincidental. But the final proof that it was indeed directly related to the writing of <em>I Shall Not Die </em>came when as soon as I completed the writing of the book, the lethargy disappeared.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>here were other hurdles too. Of course, computer viruses are not abnormal, but it seemed a little more than happenstance that after never having one in the four years that I'd owned my laptop, I suddenly got one on the first day of a 5-day cruise that I was on. It was the time I'd set aside to work on editing the manuscript and I couldn't do it due to the virus. And then there was the oddity that the company that I'd worked with for years with designing covers for the books published through KNB Publications suddenly became unavailable to design one for <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. In the five years that I'd worked with them, I could always shoot them a "cover vision" for a client's book and without fail, within 48 hours, they'd have three or four samples for me to review. When I contacted them about <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, they told me that they had too much to do and couldn't get to it in a timely manner. I would have to wait four-six weeks or maybe more. I was forced to go with a different graphic designer that I'd never used before. Thankfully, the new guy did an phenomenal job, sending me ten samples within 24 hours. He's KNB's new cover designer now (smile).</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">E</span></strong>ven now, I continue to face challenges in getting this book in print. For the last three years, I have been using the same printer for books published through KNB Publications. Our protocol has always been that I sent them the book files via email for printing. Well, for the first time ever, my emails were not reaching them. Correction...my emails containing the <em>I Shall Not Die</em> files were not reaching them. When I would send them a regular communication, they would receive it. But when I would try to forward the book files to them, they wouldn't. On three occasions, I emailed the book and cover files, but they would not successfully transmit. I wasn't getting any error or "undeliverable" messages, but the printer wasn't getting any of my emails. I couldn't understand it, and neither could they. Thinking back on it now, I shouldn't have been surprised; the battle to get this book in print has been a normal part of this birthing process.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>here is a age-old gospel song that says, "Don't wait 'til the battle is over; shout now. You know in the end you're gonna win." Well, I'm shouting now! The book files are finally in the hands of the printer. I had to download them on a CD and mail them priority shipping since they weren't getting the emails. But if history with this book is any indication, the battle's not over yet. I'm praying that all goes well with the printing, but if they call me to tell me that they've run into a glitch, it will be no big shocker. It will also be no big worry. This book will come forth, and it will do so on time. I don't mind fighting for the release of this book because it's worth fight for. And although the enemy has proven to be a worthy opponent, I'm the daughter of the Army General, and the battle is not mine, but HIS. That makes me a guaranteed winner.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> am so excited about <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. The book order is scheduled to be in my hands no later than Sept. 15th, and although it is not set to officially release until October 1st (during <a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/The-Conference.html"><strong>The I.S.L.A.N.D. Conference</strong></a> in Valdosta, GA), God has already opened the door for two pre-release events, and because of His grace and favor, I will have the books back in time to have them available at both. One pre-launch is being scheduled for Friday, Sept. 17th in Atlanta (hosted by <a href="http://www.bossettes.com/"><strong>Bossettes</strong></a>), and another (two, actually) in San Antonio, TX on Sept. 24th and 25th (hosted by <strong>Carver Library</strong> and <strong>East St. Paul United Methodist Church</strong> respectively).</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>o God be the glory!</div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-23350236845876014272010-06-03T23:04:00.020-04:002010-06-08T14:46:28.068-04:00It Was A Set-Up!!<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQq3t_zXiLzJ1g63hywUSYfOiPzAMWfeHQjJ-2JRYZraOn6k-lV4p-e50ksDzBBNywOnJfx4bn4yhRtr2DkWVXfEdTH8-zdjcwUGt9QLhvowWVW4KdFHoh1Nl8KD43tftRPCcwVcWC77w/s1600/ISND_WithTag+(small+web).jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 155px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480460323566224642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQq3t_zXiLzJ1g63hywUSYfOiPzAMWfeHQjJ-2JRYZraOn6k-lV4p-e50ksDzBBNywOnJfx4bn4yhRtr2DkWVXfEdTH8-zdjcwUGt9QLhvowWVW4KdFHoh1Nl8KD43tftRPCcwVcWC77w/s200/ISND_WithTag+(small+web).jpg" /></a>That's right...it was a set up, and boy, did He set me up good! I'm not talking about a friend or a relative, I'm talking about God. And believe me when I tell you that there is no better "setter upper" than He! Every time I think that I have fulfilled His order as it relates to <strong>I Shall Not Die</strong>, He points out an unfinished area of the puzzle, and then points me in the right direction to help me create the piece that will fill the slot. There's a popular saying that states: "The will of God won't take you where the grace of God won't protect you." I have found that to be very true<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHfo0WZ3Tpwyc2eGtnlg866fyi6GKc7JS5pX2QMqsxfPlqzE7ewcXTTdmY4ts4D0elJCq10uhLeJXZ-JcEMd2_i1O3Ly3FWeqp3V-P4maWJBbPZHOyRGb2FIuIPg2Y9yhJ73v2-aPyRQ/s1600/book+cover+2a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 137px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 204px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480462624897869890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHfo0WZ3Tpwyc2eGtnlg866fyi6GKc7JS5pX2QMqsxfPlqzE7ewcXTTdmY4ts4D0elJCq10uhLeJXZ-JcEMd2_i1O3Ly3FWeqp3V-P4maWJBbPZHOyRGb2FIuIPg2Y9yhJ73v2-aPyRQ/s200/book+cover+2a.jpg" /></a> throughout my life and certainly throughout the process of birthing <strong>I Shall Not Die</strong>. What started out as what I thought would only be a book has evolved into more. Much, <em>much</em> more.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>I</strong>'</span>ve shared the story behind the <em>I Shall Not Die</em> book throughout this blog. Faithful followers of this online journal are aware that when I embarked upon the mission of writing this book, that task alone was intimidating. I had my moments of doubts and disobedience. Getting beyond the fear to reach the point of taking God at His word and trusting Him to not only walk with me, but <em>lead</em> <em>and guide</em> me through the process was fourteen years in the making. But even as I <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmrqvSdPMCuu-2jvNj9LN1ljexDR1C902wet4Ynw4-sh9HpfUCbDsEYJiBBG2sE67WosZxTpksGPo_YreGG7_6fwyOKkq1NPZLdDn996MgbRONl67n3RXVK9ub8qiL9YK2H7W4f5UCso/s1600/Bishop+Caldwell+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480462864902412706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmrqvSdPMCuu-2jvNj9LN1ljexDR1C902wet4Ynw4-sh9HpfUCbDsEYJiBBG2sE67WosZxTpksGPo_YreGG7_6fwyOKkq1NPZLdDn996MgbRONl67n3RXVK9ub8qiL9YK2H7W4f5UCso/s200/Bishop+Caldwell+2.jpg" /></a>moved beyond the lurking shadows of fear into the lighted path that faith provided, I had no idea of where this walkway would lead. I thought I knew, but I have come to the realization that I hadn't the slightest notion. And in the process, I also now realize that this is just the way God planned it. He set me up!<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">G</span></strong>od knew that if He allowed me to see the entire view from the onset, I would have frozen in place. It's quite possible that the writing of the book would still be on the back-burner if I'd known then what I know now. So instead of giving me a panoramic view of what He had planned, God showed it to me in snapshots that He knew I'd be<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxw8aJbmDh7wFKK_btcbjZ-_Xe5hYSKU6rVgx0BKOh3uSK0bmjkbk5EAWCOyTIuOmlurbbrDpMb8xHHZ-oTIUEyGv2H1RUVCT5TsqmZXNmcRolLwWl3y-tVyV2KO0s1a-dI7WvVu6Y76c/s1600/Lowell+Pye.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 157px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480463098614184626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxw8aJbmDh7wFKK_btcbjZ-_Xe5hYSKU6rVgx0BKOh3uSK0bmjkbk5EAWCOyTIuOmlurbbrDpMb8xHHZ-oTIUEyGv2H1RUVCT5TsqmZXNmcRolLwWl3y-tVyV2KO0s1a-dI7WvVu6Y76c/s200/Lowell+Pye.jpg" /></a> able to handle. That allowed me to complete the <em>I Shall Not Die</em> manuscript in five months after fourteen years of procrastination. When God revealed that the <em>I Shall Not Die</em> book was actually a puzzle piece of a larger platform that was to be the I Shall Not Die Motivational Ministry, I was somewhat taken aback, but it wasn't an assignment that paralyzed me. However, when another puzzle piece turned the ministry into a <em>movement</em> that God inspired me to title The I.S.L.A.N.D. (<strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">I</span></strong> <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">S</span></strong>hall <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">L</span></strong>ive <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">A</span></strong>nd <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">N</span></strong>ot <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">D</span></strong>ie) Conference, I was like...WHOA!! It took me totally by surprise, and the reveal of it all momentarily overwhelmed me, but there was no turning back, and God gave me the reassurance that if He assigned it to me, He would equip me with the wherewithal to carry it out. And I wouldn't have to do it alone because he promised to put people in place who would recognize it as a vision that He'd given and be willing to assist in making <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RlyLZFU9NdRUGzkJCFldBK3_DZ88BReDUMZ9pj_NXJdarNl_jnz34Ho125FTvslH2haYZFCiB5uDZKg1JptwQPkGnxvnmUv_GlKCkdO_R_YKuiqBPz0lj5HWT4cowCGZa-C1qKoVPZ8/s1600/Marcus+Cole.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 163px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480463949251273602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RlyLZFU9NdRUGzkJCFldBK3_DZ88BReDUMZ9pj_NXJdarNl_jnz34Ho125FTvslH2haYZFCiB5uDZKg1JptwQPkGnxvnmUv_GlKCkdO_R_YKuiqBPz0lj5HWT4cowCGZa-C1qKoVPZ8/s200/Marcus+Cole.JPG" /></a>it a reality. And so He did. Every phone call I made...every email I sent out requesting the involvement of others were answered with an unquestionable "Yes."<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>G</strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;">od is so faithful. His mandate (the book) broadened into a ministry (the motivational ministry) and then into a movement (the conference)....and it all happened before the book was even sent to the printer for production. <strong>He...set...me...up!! </strong>But what a blessing and an honor to be used of God to bring about a change in someone's life, someone's heart, someone's soul! The official launch of the ministry in it's entirety (including the book) is scheduled for <strong>Saturday, October 2, 2010</strong>. Join me in Valdosta, Georgia for The inaugual presentation of The I.S.L.A.N.D. Conference where our keynote speaker will be <strong><a href="http://www.celebrationofpraiseministries.com/">Bishop Q.S. Caldwell</a></strong>, Chief Apostle of Celebration of Praise Ministries, and our featured music guests will be Stellar Award recognized, national recording artists, </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/golowmusic"><strong>Lowell Pye</strong> </a>(of Men of Standard) and <a href="http://www.marcuscoleministries.com/"><strong>Marcus Cole</strong> </a>(formally of Commissioned). The evening of glorious celebration and radical worship will be hosted by <strong>Pastor<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqcAXvYybVZ6zicrX-IwOd4QcwbZIR0lDYImBrpdYXj2xCLcjTs50h6HtbF0OkmSbvpyT1IpUY7202G7IAsVQT9BiXbzB-Q3HVF6AkfLy_gYwgmAdTdEd5ycYLk5_18lnAsIO2s2doP4/s1600/Bernard+Robinson.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480463501944165234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqcAXvYybVZ6zicrX-IwOd4QcwbZIR0lDYImBrpdYXj2xCLcjTs50h6HtbF0OkmSbvpyT1IpUY7202G7IAsVQT9BiXbzB-Q3HVF6AkfLy_gYwgmAdTdEd5ycYLk5_18lnAsIO2s2doP4/s200/Bernard+Robinson.jpg" /></a> Bernard Robinson</strong>, the voice behind the mic of the Bernard Robinson Morning Show on WJEM-1150 AM gospel radio station in Valdosta. Admission is FREE and the public is urged to attend.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> am trusting God to do mighty things through the movement as a whole. That is my most earnest prayer. The book, the ministry, and the conference - I want it all to be to man's edification and to God's glorification. I speak it in faith and in Jesus' name that it is already done. To God be the glory!<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>o obtain more information about the mandate, the ministry, and the movement, visit the official website by clicking <strong><a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/"><span style="font-size:130%;">HERE</span></a></strong>. The book that started it all will officially release on October 1, 2010. Orders can be placed now through the ministry website. Shipping is free for advance orders, and the books that are ordered in advance will be shipped in the month of September. </div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-79339667712210512010-03-31T04:06:00.004-04:002010-03-31T04:11:53.869-04:00My First Nonfiction/Ministerial Book Is Complete<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63Q_FQVG6Ht3560LaYwmjCfwJ9XrZl6xFhBCEaSJZkEwZuKWLVAQB2ThBNEdJDdKbAQXxsH4SLqhdtlsOl7kDZ5gKeu9z5W6Fm8pZ67BYYAqVy7RZBHmit-s6lLSE6H4_iBLA7gYo5mM/s1600/book+cover+2a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454706569336015890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63Q_FQVG6Ht3560LaYwmjCfwJ9XrZl6xFhBCEaSJZkEwZuKWLVAQB2ThBNEdJDdKbAQXxsH4SLqhdtlsOl7kDZ5gKeu9z5W6Fm8pZ67BYYAqVy7RZBHmit-s6lLSE6H4_iBLA7gYo5mM/s200/book+cover+2a.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong>t was a challenge to write, but that came as no surprise. I knew it would be, but with the Lord's help, it's finally finished! And believe me when I say that without Him it never would have gotten done. Truly all things are possible when you believe in God. To God be the glory for the things He has done! My first nonfiction/ministerial tool is complete, and what a joy (and a relief) it is to celebrate this accomplishment. The writing of <strong><em>I Shall Not Die</em></strong> serves as the final piece of a very big puzzle in my life. I won't go into that fullness of that in this blog post. . .you'll have to read the book (smile).<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">M</span></strong>y most sincere prayer is that when this book is officially released in October, it will be a powerful source of encouragement to those who read it. I want this book, more than any book I've ever written, to get into the hands of those who need its message most and be a life-changing experience to the readers.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>hroughout my career as a writer, I've been asked many times during television, radio, magazine, and blog interviews which of my books is my personal favorite. My answer has always been that there is no answer for that. I just didn't see how I could love one more than the others. "That's like asking a mother which of her children are her favorite," I'd often reply. But I have an answer to that question now. By far, <em>I Shall Not Die</em> is my favorite among my titles. It's not necessarily better written than any of my other books, but because of the content, and because it's a personal testimony, it is dearer to my heart.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">F</span></strong>or any who saw the original cover (see photo below right) that was designed for this book, you will notice that it has<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PaSFjeAdnes/S7MAsdT6b4I/AAAAAAAAAb8/I7nqqXxeJWY/s1600/book+cover+1a.jpg"></a> been upgraded just a bit (see photo top left). I polled a few family members<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAaez1Cx-VpYlEDN2eQzsnbQhwbu8FfMGpaef2icZAzH0C_gcQH5ez3fV60WAzyj2WWv7XKndWpoWmZXcHxt4dLZ77o5S_ge_eAMlHXuALXP49UDGdoC5CA4jEG6ZwZTtORyCO-OEFf8/s1600/book+cover+1a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454706658372391682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAaez1Cx-VpYlEDN2eQzsnbQhwbu8FfMGpaef2icZAzH0C_gcQH5ez3fV60WAzyj2WWv7XKndWpoWmZXcHxt4dLZ77o5S_ge_eAMlHXuALXP49UDGdoC5CA4jEG6ZwZTtORyCO-OEFf8/s200/book+cover+1a.jpg" /></a> and asked them which cover they liked better and the revised design won by an overwhelming majority. A special thanks to Alex Johnson, III of AJ3 Photography for the picture of me that is on the new cover and for the cover design itself. Additionally, I'd like to send a special thanks to Lisa Zachery of <a href="http://www.paperedwonders.com/">Papered Wonders </a>for designing the new logo for the <a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.org/">I Shall Not Die motivational ministry</a>. And for everyone who has gone through the website to pre-order your copy, thereby making you a VIsion Partner (VIP) with this ministry, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. As I head down the home stretch toward the finished line of getting this book in print, I thank God for you because I know that your support has made the process a little easier for me.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">S</span></strong>tay tuned. . .<br /></div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-5241857464543489582010-03-18T02:35:00.008-04:002010-03-18T03:46:41.936-04:00"I Shall Not Die" - Almost Done<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYogWF1X6WmIy6x8kVOgOl6JRHGxyDYpjuH9y6-lsRZkMxSb53TlGfUbc72YaTBTSGO53FkOg43XfMiGlanzW5oFhVtaycT3BSGnJu0aQJVhfdaL60oMa0HDHpjF9zXWwPWa4k6FOI6Q/s1600-h/Jimmya.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449874255005691106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYogWF1X6WmIy6x8kVOgOl6JRHGxyDYpjuH9y6-lsRZkMxSb53TlGfUbc72YaTBTSGO53FkOg43XfMiGlanzW5oFhVtaycT3BSGnJu0aQJVhfdaL60oMa0HDHpjF9zXWwPWa4k6FOI6Q/s200/Jimmya.jpg" /></a>To God be the glory. I'm about two weeks away from being finished with my first nonfiction/ministerial project. It's been a five-month journey, and what a journey it has been. The writing of <em><strong>I Shall Not Die</strong></em> has taken me on an emotional rollercoaster at times. Not a bad ride, but a rollercoaster still. <br><br></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Revisiting this time in my life has sometimes brought laughter, and other times it has brought tears, but the tears have not left me sad or depressed in any way. I guess when it comes right down to it, it doesn't matter how many years pass after you have to bury someone you adore...the reminiscing will always spring forth some type of emotion. Regardless of what others may think, I'm still convinced that while a true lover may die, the true love never does. It's amazing how God can heal our hearts and allow us to move on and even love again without forcing us to stop loving the love we lost.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">In this writing of <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, I have reached a point in the manuscript where I want to include a pictorial account of my first husband, whose amazing, determined spirit is the inspiration behind this motivational tool. In order to complete this section of the book, I had to go into my garage and unearth a box that had been taped up and placed there twelve years ago. Inside the box were eight photo albums filled with captured memories of my former life. Turning the pages in these albums and reviewing pictures that reflected so many happenings from the time I became a blushing bride all the way to the time I became a weeping widow...it was all so surreal. At times, it became overwhelming. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">DAY 1 was Friday, March 12th, and it was the hardest. After opening a second retrieved box I<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNiU1QhS9gxCKCOhPtMo61hRS-bWMdlUPr-dmIgT20ZeNWZWnTUaIl7iKX8fMoDcT0JkQa1QhSm0MsUOxHCOS7UZzxEnM1mqXdAnXJyFPc5oJrv7B1joThdNJJSMNjwKB-O56lEnR0HQ/s1600-h/Wedding+Day+3a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 136px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449874403050987762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNiU1QhS9gxCKCOhPtMo61hRS-bWMdlUPr-dmIgT20ZeNWZWnTUaIl7iKX8fMoDcT0JkQa1QhSm0MsUOxHCOS7UZzxEnM1mqXdAnXJyFPc5oJrv7B1joThdNJJSMNjwKB-O56lEnR0HQ/s200/Wedding+Day+3a.jpg" /></a> pulled from the garage that is marked "Jimmy and Kendra's Wedding Memories" and seeing the wedding memory book, then pulling out the carefully wrapped glasses that we drank from (still clearly engraved with our names and the words "bride" and "groom") and the engraved stainless steel knives that were used to cut the wedding cake and the actual still-corked full bottle of Espirit De Vie Sparkling Non-alcoholic White Grape Juice that awaited us in our honeymoon suite...it was impossible not to have a "moment." I needed a shoulder and resolved to call one of my best friends who I knew would allow me to use hers (it's a blessing to have friends like that).</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">DAY 2 was Saturday, March 13th. It was still tough to try and go through the items I found, but God made it easier than the day before. I went back down to the garage to see what other things I'd stored there that would be useful in the completion of the book. A case of video tapes that I hadn't seen in twelve years was pulled from under the garbage bag filled with clothes that my daughters haven't been able to wear in forever. In that case, there are about twenty-five VHS tapes, most of which have footage of Jimmy preaching or singing at different church programs. I felt like I'd dug up a treasure chest, but I didn't feel ready to watch any of them. So I took them to my youngest daughter, and she spent much of the afternoon watching the memories play out in front of our eyes. She couldn't recall most of the happenings, but she seemed engrossed in the visual. She was just shy of three when her father passed and now she's seventeen. In her watching, I hoped she was forming a deeper bond with and appreciation for the man she never really got to know.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">DAY 3 was Wednesday, March 17th. I didn't look through any of it on Sunday, I had an 8-hour photo shoot on Monday, and I just chose to focus on other things on Tuesday, so on those three days, the items went untouched. On Wednesday, as I migrated back to the boxes of memories, I found that God had given me the courage and strength that I needed to do a thorough search for the pictures that I would use in the "Captured Memories" section of <em>I Shall Not Die. </em>I attached a couple, as teasers, to this blog posting - you'll have to buy the book to see the others :-). There were no tears, but endless smiles as I explored page after page of photos. I even watched a video and saw Jimmy render a soul-stirring rendition of "Eyes on the Sparrow" at a scholarship memorial event. It's the first live recording of him that I've seen of him in years.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Just as He promised He would, God has really been with me throughout this project. I'm headed down the home-stretch now, and I can clearly see the light at the end of the tunnel. <em>I Shall Not Die</em> is going to be a book that blesses many, and whatever hurdles that I had (or have) to clear along the way in order for it to get complete will be well worth it.</div><br><br><br>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-31450540970015349612010-02-09T02:52:00.007-05:002010-02-09T03:15:34.230-05:00A Testimony of LIFE for My Mom<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlhEc33HZy5JlZOZJZvF2AifqOrYK25wUlEs0nVamkJVP8sCr-IMpfaPTbTuMlwqM12tEY43RpRcwstTwT3Z1xjFIldQFjFfplq9Hbs62R1gY72alCbGdEcH9ToEGavOexLC0_iy60ug/s1600-h/Mother+poem.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436148845636581586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlhEc33HZy5JlZOZJZvF2AifqOrYK25wUlEs0nVamkJVP8sCr-IMpfaPTbTuMlwqM12tEY43RpRcwstTwT3Z1xjFIldQFjFfplq9Hbs62R1gY72alCbGdEcH9ToEGavOexLC0_iy60ug/s200/Mother+poem.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>he number of obstacles and strongholds that I have faced in just the short span of time that I have been writing <em><strong>I Shall Not Die</strong></em> is utterly amazing. It seems as if the enemy tries one thing to stop the process, and if that doesn't work, he finds a larger stumbling block and places that in my path to see if perhaps, it will do the trick. Everything from physical battles to personal challenges, to financial struggles have been tossed in my direction since I began the journey to complete this divine assignment. Most of the bumps that have been carved in the road, I've been able to navigate around without too much difficulty, but this latest stunt, I admit, was successful in creating a substantial pause in the flow of my determination.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong>t's one thing to fight the eerie fatigue and lethargy that I've battled from day one of my efforts to bring this vision to past. The strange depletion of my body's energy has been aggravating and annoying, yes. But I can and have dealt with it in a relatively proactive manner, and though it has slowed the process of completing the book, it has never completely stopped it. But on Monday, February 1st, the brakes were tapped on the production of this assignment when I received the news that my mother had been placed in the hospital with heavy rectal bleeding. And the entire process was brought to a screeching halt when I got word that she had been moved from her regular room to the intensive care unit when the bleeding continued. Then shortly before I was able to get to the hospital to see her, I was informed that she'd been rushed from one medical facility to another because her pulse rate had dropped tremendously and her skin was cold and clammy and they feared that she might have to have some type emergency surgery to save her life.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> broke every speed limit law known to man as I took to the highway to see her. Once there, I was only able to spend one day with her before having to return home to prepare to travel for literary appointments that had been on my calendar for months prior. I was prepared to cancel if I had to, but my mother said not to. Thank God that by the time I got there, although she was hungry because they weren't able to feed her due to the series of tests she needed, and she was a bit tired from whatever test that had just been performed shortly before I arrived, she was stable and was in good spirits. But the fact remained that she was still in the hospital and was receiving her sixth unit of blood to replace what her body was continuing to lose.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Y</span></strong>esterday marked a week since the mayhem began, and from then until now, I have been unable to get my mind in the place to write again. It's not writer's block...I've been so consumed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14zjUS1HT3MaS0o98MwaZ0p-n5LEmoGeG1LIoSJHAAbZl5yFdxEjOSJknRIrMFi2VYVoGl8l0AMJ8b6x2Suu27z4dfL7zVWA7tNOsnB1rO7_pBCzCDxJMHTMuzTCYdShR0-EeUCeRvAo/s1600-h/Mother+and+baby.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436152874680189362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14zjUS1HT3MaS0o98MwaZ0p-n5LEmoGeG1LIoSJHAAbZl5yFdxEjOSJknRIrMFi2VYVoGl8l0AMJ8b6x2Suu27z4dfL7zVWA7tNOsnB1rO7_pBCzCDxJMHTMuzTCYdShR0-EeUCeRvAo/s200/Mother+and+baby.jpg" /></a> with concern for Mom, that I've just not been able to focus like I need to. I had been able to write despite my own drama, but not despite my mother's. There is truly nothing like the love a mother has for her child and nothing like the love that a child has for her mother. For the first time in my life, I looked at my mom lying in a hospital bed, with needles in the backs of her hands that were feeding her fluids to keep her from dehydrating and blood to keep her from dying, and thought to myself: What if I lose her? I'm writing a book called, I Shall Not Die, but I was terrified of losing my mother.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>he older I become, the more I appreciate the fact that I come from a praying, Bible-believing, faith-walking family. After spending all the time in the ICU room with my mother that the hospital would allow, my dad, my two sisters, and I were told that we had to leave. But before we disbursed, my dad, who has been a preacher for about 45 years now, held my mom's hand and prayed as three of their five offspring stood around the bed and joined in. He prayed for the bleeding to stop and for his wife to be moved from ICU and eventually allowed to go home. And as he prayed in low tones, in my mind I spoke on my mother's behalf, repeating the words, "I Shall Not Die." I kissed my mom's forehead and told her how much I loved her before I left the room. I watched my two sisters do the same, and then I saw my dad bring up the rear with a kiss to her lips. When I got back on the highway to head back to Atlanta, I felt much calmer than I did when I was en route there. God had given me a level of peace that I didn't have prior.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">E</span></strong>ven as I make this blog entry, my mother is still in the hospital, but God is at work. The same doctors that were scratching their heads as they ran a boatload of tests on Mama to try to find the source of the bleeding are still scratching their heads now. They were never able to understand why she was bleeding, and now they can't understand why she's not. She has not lost any more blood since my father prayed over her on last Thursday. She has been moved from ICU to a regular room. She is scheduled to be released in the next day or so. And at this very moment, I think I just reclaimed my motivation to write the next phase of <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. Wow...even at three o'clock in the morning, God is good!<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYa_SVZ9dJKWAkYMf3Q857Db8V2q_4eDNk8dlaXZI8pkIZHWn74-RmDQ0aG0GctT4AFQO5gM2erdZMFIvdjbCtW10rC0m_CpzSNbWX_GN9ffPQHNXuk9cepWTvTqzHoHn2tCDiqccs5c/s1600-h/praying+family.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436154193106388850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYa_SVZ9dJKWAkYMf3Q857Db8V2q_4eDNk8dlaXZI8pkIZHWn74-RmDQ0aG0GctT4AFQO5gM2erdZMFIvdjbCtW10rC0m_CpzSNbWX_GN9ffPQHNXuk9cepWTvTqzHoHn2tCDiqccs5c/s200/praying+family.jpg" /></a>I </span></strong>am so grateful for everyone who have been praying for my mother's healing. I sent emails to just about every prayer warrior that I could think of. Mom's not totally out of the woods yet, and we realize that. As long as the source of the bleeding has not been detected and therefore not treated, the doctors have reported to us that the bleeding can resume at any time. But the Word (Isaiah 53:5) says <em>with His stripes we are healed</em>. And God's report is the one that we choose to believe. </div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-41453111127435252392009-12-30T14:25:00.008-05:002009-12-30T15:10:24.177-05:00"I Shall Not Die" is at the halfway point....<div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg414wab5HrtoQjJK2XP30AEDWW5_OSwEw50V3Oi9Q5GocHunRLlAdkcM05x0DCeYkeSzXo2NOmv_lZs78TvjRPw8Dte8NEXXYFHj8txTdrYA5zVmpjjQF6HjXd-rYFQUxaJLVqlhpXXLo/s1600-h/WelcomeBookAnimated.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421120217923553074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg414wab5HrtoQjJK2XP30AEDWW5_OSwEw50V3Oi9Q5GocHunRLlAdkcM05x0DCeYkeSzXo2NOmv_lZs78TvjRPw8Dte8NEXXYFHj8txTdrYA5zVmpjjQF6HjXd-rYFQUxaJLVqlhpXXLo/s200/WelcomeBookAnimated.gif" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong>n the month of December, I had two major editing projects to cross my desk with tight deadlines that forced me to set the writing of <em>I Shall Not Die</em> aside momentarily. It was difficult to put it on pause, but basically, I didn't have a choice. I'd been retained by two clients and was obligated to get their manuscript editing complete. I finished the last of them two days ago, and now it's back to the grind. I'm on a mission, and it feels good to know that progress is being made, and I'm halfway to<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfZI8aXUocLXv_OEzVrgnRzWxBuDlfqy2rCwtLMySkz3IYH31ICDnMFF4dlEpbElyE2baKWR0nluxPdRWMfkvsymnoAKi-YZaGopDctJ-P7PQZutZZOubt2wF_3JBpqnQ4TPxIMAN1-M/s1600-h/Typewriter.jpg"></a> the finished line.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">M</span></strong>y past blogging has outlined the challenges of getting my first nonfiction/ministerial book written. I try to adequately express the uniqueness of this undertaking in my blog entries, but believe me when<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfarNdzuQ_pToeXuOC_aPWBQk3vobJE3HbSDeE3u0KUo9lZ6oMFyBoV5Ak7H47N0ACIIdOcmpaMP230MrDtiDb5jO5arTujSaaotP_aB59Mf9e9njZRQnfnfBHAXTBVNrblHTsgGnQsU/s1600-h/hummingbirds_hovering_md_clr.gif"></a> I tell you that you don't know the half of it. I've been writing on and editing other people's projects all month long, and not once during those processes did the uncanny fatigue overtake me. Even as I worked well into the night and sometimes up to 3:00 in the mornings - there wasn't a struggle between alertness and sleepiness. There was even one day that I never went to bed at all. I literally worked from sun up to sun down....to sun up again. The deadine I'd been given was the following day, and I would not have met it had I taken the time to sleep. So I didn't get to bed until 7:00 the next morning. Yet, eventhough my body began to<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EAUyyGMC3d7-KjE9IfXuEAgipOFuRrV-167UjlNLjXsBxfe_ylPCiRgsDUBypLGelKJlUsXQef-8lWwcYbG_FwgHFgHKFR6zvUe5_LfqJ-lpSoIPrK2u9houfFJgKx34wDrKiLzSRto/s1600-h/Writer's+Desk.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421123407779941042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EAUyyGMC3d7-KjE9IfXuEAgipOFuRrV-167UjlNLjXsBxfe_ylPCiRgsDUBypLGelKJlUsXQef-8lWwcYbG_FwgHFgHKFR6zvUe5_LfqJ-lpSoIPrK2u9houfFJgKx34wDrKiLzSRto/s200/Writer's+Desk.jpg" /></a> tire as the hours ticked away, there was never a time when sleepiness engulfed me. </div><div align="justify"><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Y</span></strong>et in the last two days of me returing my full attention to the <em>I Shall Not Die</em> project, the tug-o-war has set up shop in my body again. Even as I type out this blog posting, I'm continuously yawning and struggling to stay awake. Whenever I work toward writing anything associated with this project, lethargy becomes my greatest enemy. <strong><em>Lord, what is really going on?</em></strong> I know that somewhere along the way, He is going to answer this inquest and reveal, without question, the fullness of the meaning of this perplexing experience.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong>n the meantime, while I await the divine revelation, I will continue to write at the pace my body allows. I'll write awhile, and then sleep awhile....whatever it takes. But make no mistake about it, I shall not allow this project to die. It will be completed, and it will accomplish all that God has designed for it to accomplish.....</div></div></div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-58799617289271800212009-11-08T22:42:00.028-05:002009-11-09T20:59:36.062-05:00Mind, Body, Spirit...Don't Let Them Die!<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAAXjVvotPL5vSWX4f4tMD4m6pGrWEMbWyznu2hKzuPF_wZXB6jUglnfr9Xj4_DgVsLJbWa9avn_8P6q6pLtXguHVdOzwaMxTSKixppKj-UOjlpRxY0UYMVdquOGcF8UK_kmy2lTHyHw/s1600-h/P1011882.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401990518709675666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAAXjVvotPL5vSWX4f4tMD4m6pGrWEMbWyznu2hKzuPF_wZXB6jUglnfr9Xj4_DgVsLJbWa9avn_8P6q6pLtXguHVdOzwaMxTSKixppKj-UOjlpRxY0UYMVdquOGcF8UK_kmy2lTHyHw/s200/P1011882.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>O</strong></span>n Saturday, November 7th, I had the sincere pleasure of sharing the message of the <a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.net/">I Shall Not Die</a> ministry with a group of simply marvelous young women. The Theta Tau Chapter of the <a href="http://www.deltasigmatheta.org/">Delta </a><a href="http://www.deltasigmatheta.org/">Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated</a> invited me to be the keynote speaker at their 2nd Annual Total Woman Tea gathering which took place inside the University Center of <a href="http://www.valdosta.edu/">Valdosta State</a><a href="http://www.valdosta.edu/"> </a><a href="http://www.valdosta.edu/">University</a> (Valdosta, Georgia). Approximately 150 women and teen girls (who are involved in a high school mentoring program called the Delta GEMS) were there to take part in this absolutely wonderful fellowship that somewhat reminded me of my childhood days of sharing imaginary hot tea, finger sandwiches, and intense sista-girl talk with my dolls and teddy bears. Saturday's Total Woman Tea, of course, was a lot more<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VbBqyGW-3zbO_a256GI6nRQes9Qx4vRq_DPFkMcu7fJqVppB0t9Pj-fAHiApm5PvXRHRcBURgwE7x5tG-CxhKwsGQYa7Pf7e5No4FJpPbSSxtv3TAG_7z9flayHo6faYX_PZyI_shuQ/s1600-h/P1011867.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401991102756763378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VbBqyGW-3zbO_a256GI6nRQes9Qx4vRq_DPFkMcu7fJqVppB0t9Pj-fAHiApm5PvXRHRcBURgwE7x5tG-CxhKwsGQYa7Pf7e5No4FJpPbSSxtv3TAG_7z9flayHo6faYX_PZyI_shuQ/s200/P1011867.JPG" /></a> interesting, inspirational, and interactive.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>I</strong></span> didn't quite know what to expect of this appointment. I have served as the keynote speaker for sorority functions before, but in the past, they have all been grad chapters. Theta Tau is Valdosta State University's undergrad chapter of DST, Inc. And in the past, all of my spotlight addresses have been more so geared toward business topics such as following dreams, turning a passion into a profession, succeeding despite the odds, etc. But as I was meditating and asking God to direct me on what to speak of to the women of Theta Tau, I could not shake away the message of "I Shall Not Die" that He planted in my spirit.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>his appointment had been arranged between chapter president, Mahja Zeon, and my publicist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSWquprVICy0Oa4acND6plAbq3_Z9SOZXtp3bVCwUot0oMFEXWx5Kct46j-rXc0q44_G7b8Jud67Z0WBLEFhVmV-wrWxVbwlNmPCzjuQg_2AcJwtA6aqERAjatzEiKuRmNGju4XRDgzk/s1600-h/P1011877.JPG"></a>, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanO7nuWWgAtpKAMPnfNMTA2mJJs42SF1oTJyewFhL2mVrNNvozYsJjWILqXxd-T6Bj6LXXAyBJEiyhn9r6xc6Q0j4SBvhBvKaySX5xvzZ2d3c4BM_WXcML73MKTOGU9KFNeEcs0zKwa0/s1600-h/P1011877.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402005721894972658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanO7nuWWgAtpKAMPnfNMTA2mJJs42SF1oTJyewFhL2mVrNNvozYsJjWILqXxd-T6Bj6LXXAyBJEiyhn9r6xc6Q0j4SBvhBvKaySX5xvzZ2d3c4BM_WXcML73MKTOGU9KFNeEcs0zKwa0/s200/P1011877.JPG" /></a>Terrance Wooten. I'd not exchanged conversations or emails with Mahja, but upon meeting her, I found her to be as beautiful (both inside and out) as her unique name. We almost stood eye-to-eye which made me feel an instant kinship to her. You see, it's not every woman who is blessed with our tailor made statue (smile). The theme of the tea was <em>The Total Woman: Mind, Body, & Spirit</em>. Because of a case of innocent miscommunication between my publicist and me, Terrance had told Mahja that the subject of my keynote address would match their event theme, and at <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VucAjrydEZCd9Wf5TrTp8CQFE3y18XOls6yEKwa01kn8ZfD8HDcL7-cA-RQGxF6kNX2_XRfMzCu98Qc2k0zLEKItmMkz2kWu0mKMId0GChwoH3i5DkzTqsbFwe2gz_fUo2k35WTji9o/s1600-h/P1011877.JPG"></a>first, I wondered if it would force me to change the direction in which I'd been led to go. But as God would have it, the "I Shall Not Die" message blended perfectly with the theme that the sorority had chosen, and I was able to expound on the theme while staying true to what God had given me to share. It is awe-inspiring how God pulls things together so that His<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeGpzwWs-4FkakPbM5FzsKAlGdg1d98DTw9NAjBfwOqdmule6EYO1_HSYn9o6s4Weoc0Jyj6frjCgXx2AkVlNyzvMWokUMq52VoUf1uLKwKu5cicho85teNjVjWmwmBjk1TtFnDgr4fs/s1600-h/P1011873.JPG"></a> will is done and the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7iBX0AiN2votd2A6smdC0ez_8T-Gvy6BbLgLWblvykHzRade80IFM7ZppuR1ZOntzzRvkYoPAt42qSbXzCbUEka1YEN3CjfiRydtf51uWvq_eJHotEgdC9Mm2c4prnpWQNbFwmARYBA/s1600-h/P1011863.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402006156711517490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7iBX0AiN2votd2A6smdC0ez_8T-Gvy6BbLgLWblvykHzRade80IFM7ZppuR1ZOntzzRvkYoPAt42qSbXzCbUEka1YEN3CjfiRydtf51uWvq_eJHotEgdC9Mm2c4prnpWQNbFwmARYBA/s200/P1011863.JPG" /></a> needs of His people are met.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVyEowN46dJFbrT0LFN-MQdrRlVVZLGwIdMVfw92Qe0rEID-1qfSiZevtOuptkL1K8DTuXzjgw1lokgLnURD_HmMPA43APIEAjAmykkG72EVPVf5EUrBZXaoLOQBlP0lyaHUNboH0ZAI/s1600-h/P1011863.JPG"></a>B</span></strong>eing that I am not a Delta, nor am I a member of any of the "Divine Nine" sisterhoods (my Greek affiliation is on the professional level with <a href="http://www.iota1929.org/">Iota Phi Lambda</a>) I felt particularly blessed to have been asked to come in and give the keynote address. Since I fully accepted this new motivational ministry that God had been molding me for and pushing me toward for the past fourteen years, He has been faithful to His promise to open unseen doors so that the message can be shared to the masses. It was a beautiful, empowering experience, and most of all, from the feedback that I received during the book signing that followed and through the emails and Facebook feedback that I've received in the hours since the tea ended, the women were blessed. One young lady came up to me during the book signing that followed and shared with me that her aunt had recently been faced with a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRtGZ3RTAvYrOlEHFv2LQpArXgde4DQnks9w9lWNKf9N8HTx4YgBwdz_pBc0-NI9sfmE8P9-H_XZZ7-cL3DbZ9tDTKp6RL9Pf3Zm0STDPuI-Ecd3qPhwltaxtutArIDJ7nV0zNjfnzws/s1600-h/P1011873.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401999786930286354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRtGZ3RTAvYrOlEHFv2LQpArXgde4DQnks9w9lWNKf9N8HTx4YgBwdz_pBc0-NI9sfmE8P9-H_XZZ7-cL3DbZ9tDTKp6RL9Pf3Zm0STDPuI-Ecd3qPhwltaxtutArIDJ7nV0zNjfnzws/s200/P1011873.JPG" /></a>experience much like mine...the one that ultimately led to the birth of the I Shall Not Die ministry. This sister seemed near tears when she thanked me for sharing, and then went on to say that because of my candidness and the message that was shared, she felt empowered and informed enough to go back and tell her aunt that she didn't have to give up, and she didn't have to let the situation kill her. "I can tell her to say, 'I shall not die,'" the young lady said. By that time, I was near tears too. In the end, that's what this ministry is all about.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>I</strong></span> thank God for this appointment...and I look forward to the next opportunity that He presents for me to share this message of strength, faith, and hope. </div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-29165697550979892202009-10-26T15:44:00.006-04:002009-10-26T17:06:35.493-04:00This "Stone" Won't Kill The Project<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBltM6dJ3x9O8CeLhGevQFsruOrS9CKVvqL46M57V3nTLKJcaCRa2pfi9dlZRTB94fldx9FsQC4HJxnMOoEdqU0N_feFdY2WLrJosCXye7VOixHUSMe1n7W27VaubJJ3GdpjR-vChW54/s1600-h/gold+figurine+writer.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397014629940642450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBltM6dJ3x9O8CeLhGevQFsruOrS9CKVvqL46M57V3nTLKJcaCRa2pfi9dlZRTB94fldx9FsQC4HJxnMOoEdqU0N_feFdY2WLrJosCXye7VOixHUSMe1n7W27VaubJJ3GdpjR-vChW54/s200/gold+figurine+writer.jpg" /></a> <div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">L</span></strong>ast week, I took time away from my writing of <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. The break was two-fold. One, I wanted to test myself to see if the fatigue that I had been suffering with while writing the book would continue if I focused on writing some other project. And two, I needed to be rejuvenated and replenished. Writing this book is indeed physically and mentally draining. It even depletes me spiritually. Not in a bad way, necessarily, but after a few days of pouring into <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, I'm left feeling like a car that has run out of gas. I feel as though I need a refilling of God's power so that I can have the strength to go a few miles farther.<br /></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">L</span></strong>ast week proved to me that this lethargy that I've been experiencing is definitely specific to this project. My body returned to its normal energetic self during those "off" days, and there was no bizarre fatigue. None. Nada. This short sebatical of mine gave a definitive answer to a question that had plagued me since I embarked on this nonfiction mission. Not that I really had any real doubts that my writing of the <em>I Shall Not Die</em> book and my physical drainage were connected. But I needed to know beyond any shadow of doubt. And now I do. I will begin writing again later this evening...and I already know what's going to happen. But I'm ready! :-)</div><div></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">A</span></strong>s far as my need for a refill of spiritual gas goes, God provided that as well. Dr. Toni Alvarado (see photo below taken with me in 2008), the co-pastor and first lady of <a href="http://www.totalgrace.org/">Total Grace Christian Center</a>, poured into me and hundreds of other worship attendees during the dynamic message that she preached on yesterday (Sunday) morning. Wow! God really knows how<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDIHngK6GQJO-ihDFtqMV5sfNnFMbB8KTb32lh8wKJx56rRIx1H8riRs6JPzsPzjuYE9hTjA4CUP4VsXYW90L3Ga1N12tP-6mtJgdHiDp8KVFp4Y-1scdl0n_0zsgxECgr0IQjGHp2Qs/s1600-h/P1010119+(web).jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397013553204612706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDIHngK6GQJO-ihDFtqMV5sfNnFMbB8KTb32lh8wKJx56rRIx1H8riRs6JPzsPzjuYE9hTjA4CUP4VsXYW90L3Ga1N12tP-6mtJgdHiDp8KVFp4Y-1scdl0n_0zsgxECgr0IQjGHp2Qs/s200/P1010119+(web).jpg" /></a> to provide what we need <em>when</em> we need it. Pastor Toni took her scripture text from Joshua 4:1-9 and entitled her message, "What Do These Stones Mean To You?" which was taken from verse 6. She walked us through the scripture and expounded on how things in life get most difficult just when God is getting ready to do something great. The enemy, she explained, knows that if he can get us to give up at the threshold of our blessing, we will never receive what God has for us, and we will never know what God was going to do through us had we finished the task. It was noted in this particular scripture text that God didn't part the river of Jordan for the people until they first took the initiative to step out on faith. Not until they (Joshua and his followers)physically made steps toward the water did He (God) divide it and allow them to walk on dry ground.</div><div></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>H</strong></span>er message was just confirmation for me. I know that God is going to bless this written work called <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. He has promised that it will be a blessing not only to me, but even more so to those who it will ministry to, and the enemy desires for me to become fearful, doubtful, and yes, even tired and depleted. Anything that might bring on discouragement or despondence, the enemy has been trying to feed it to me. So what does this stone mean to me? I'm turning it into a stepping stone. And every time I walk past it or step over it, I'm going to see it as the obstacle that it is, and continue to praise God for giving me the victory to LIVE beyond it and finish the task that has been set before me.<br /></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">W</span></strong>hat kind of obstacles are currently in your way? What does that stone mean to you?</div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-43756540046097926332009-10-18T20:20:00.012-04:002009-11-14T13:11:20.942-05:00The "I Shall Not Die" Experience<div align="justify"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 188px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394152502643147154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZRQZeC0bgVP4B7FQirbY-48IHnKPvLcQnRZPnG0IDxp7nWbFgErj2aU9Rx9eb_2n3_CUM95ql8Y_RrEmFsvmReUIFCW4WlN47cmRqaUhYJ6KVj5Rc8SMI2m0-5Lj9Zb1ReGsngRVRUo/s200/P1011093a.JPG" /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">B</span></strong>izarre is a good word to describe this birthing process. From the moment I began writing <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, I have experienced a physical fatigue unlike any other. I mentioned it in my initial blog posting...how every time I sit at my computer to embark on the mission of adding to the manuscript, I become so sleepy that I can barely keep my eyes open. It's not the kind of drowsiness that can be fought (at least not fought and won). When the feeling comes upon me, it literally overwhelms me, and I have no choice but to stop typing and climb into my bed. My plan is always to catch a short nap, and then continue, but whenever I fall asleep, I enter a stage of near-comatose. Most times I sleep for four hours or more, and when I awaken, I'm still groggy. Those hours of sound sleep seem to only provide me with enough energy to drag back to my computer to type for maybe another hour or so, but then I'll have to shut it down and go back to bed again.<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">W</span></strong>hat is really going on? Until now, I'd given all the credit to the enemy (aka the devil) and I've accused him of trying to prevent me from getting this project done by making me sleep away the time that I could have been spending on writing this book that God has commanded that I write. But just yesterday, a total stranger spoke into my spirit, and now I must take a step back and consider that perhaps this is not the work of the enemy after all.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Y</span></strong>esterday (Saturday, October 17th), I had a consultation with a client by the name of Sonya, who is a new writer and was looking for direction on everything from whether a publicist was necessary for where she wanted to take her career to how to gain exposure for her product so that it could land in the hands of those who would most benefit from the message that she is trying to share. What I thought was going to perhaps be a 2-hour session turned into a five-hour fellowship. By the time we parted ways, Sonya had thanked me several times for the wealth of information that I'd shared, but I felt as though she had imparted some wisdom to me as well. Spiritual wisdom. So much so, that I only charged her for three of the hours that we spent together.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">D</span></strong>uring our meeting, which was held at the Borders Bookstore in the Mall at Stonecrest (aka Stonecrest Mall) in Lithonia, GA, she posed a question to me that sparked the discussion of I <em>Shall Not Die</em>. Sonya's questions was: "Have you ever run from a ministry that God was trying to give you?" What a timely question! I initially laughed when she asked and then I explained to her why I was laughing. I told her the story of God's call for me to launch the "I Shall Not Die"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlOCKDcfcLX1T81CY9s9NBRnSBK3VmF3AujlXuwaYxTSJqy5wE-5LLGyynwlZy3sC0upmo9uxENFj8QuVq7cLvnf94z-Unj8SGM5Qcj42Pf4eXmMvrhkdTQJNSn6ztkMGNSC0KhHa6wc/s1600-h/I+Shall+Not+Die+(web).jpg"></a> Motivational Ministry as well as the written project and how I'd run from it for fourteen years. In the midst of my telling her about the book that I'd begun writing, I shared this bizarre experience of becoming overcome by sleep in the middle of my writing sessions and my thoughts of how it was all a ploy of Satan to hinder the birthing of this work. In all of the books that I've written in the past, it has never happened, so what else could it be? </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">S</span></strong>onya turned to me and asked me to consider something else. She asked that I consider the possibility that my sleepiness was due to the fact that the writing of this particular project was causing me to extract a part of myself onto the paper as I typed. Writing this book - a folio that requires that I open up myself and pour out a large portion of who I am - could actually be draining me physically. It's comparable to giving blood. When a person donates blood, it is not recommended that they get up right away once the process is complete. If they do, there is the risk of fainting because a part of them that gives life has been taken away and needs time to replenish. WOW! I'd never thought of it that way. But true enough, writing <em>I Shall Not Die</em> is requiring that kind of commitment from me, so it is a very real possibility that this peculiar and extraordinary lethargy is a result of the total depletion that my body is going through at each writing session.</div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong>'m not sure what the real reason is, but all that I know for sure is that I have to press forward despite whatever is causing it. Because of it, I can only write for a limited amount of time daily, so this won't be a book that will be completed in sprint-like fashion. It's definitely going to be a journey. Therefore, I have decided to roll with it. I'm wearing my comfortable clothes and packing my favorite CDs in preparation for the roadtrip ahead. No matter how bumpy, winding, or mountainous; I plan to enjoy the ride.</div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436841226462483972.post-44322538652413503072009-10-14T01:34:00.005-04:002009-10-18T23:52:37.579-04:00I Shall Not Die<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszSzrZb9M_KPZKCGcPEP5HNtUkHydRwqNuLfGaQa3__LtIsxkzZMwn45w02uLSJ4dDSHVKUNOPTf1vbw2rPDRLsS5uksvfb9S8RvSHWw_7Q3q-JAzrgJGU7gBYfDJLHrhhX2Jr3PxCvs/s1600-h/I+Shall+Not+Die+(web).jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392344312898196610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszSzrZb9M_KPZKCGcPEP5HNtUkHydRwqNuLfGaQa3__LtIsxkzZMwn45w02uLSJ4dDSHVKUNOPTf1vbw2rPDRLsS5uksvfb9S8RvSHWw_7Q3q-JAzrgJGU7gBYfDJLHrhhX2Jr3PxCvs/s200/I+Shall+Not+Die+(web).jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong>t is just after 1:30 in the morning as I am beginning the first installment of the <strong>I Shall Not Die Blog</strong>. This particular online journal is being created primarily to keep me on task with this charge that God has given me to write my first nonfiction ministerial tool, <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. All I can say is that this is turning into a much bigger assignment than I first thought it would be, and any time that we move forward to fulfill the work of God, we can also expect the enemy to do his part to try and produce stumbling blocks along the way. And need I say that he has already begun trying to trip me up.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> wrote my first public thoughts about <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, the pending book, in my <a href="http://www.blessed2write.blogspot.com/">Blessed2Write Blog</a> just over a week ago on October 5th, and I won't tell the whole story of this vision and God-ordained charge all over again. But there has been so much spiritual (as in evil spirit) adversity that has come my way already, that I felt compelled to create this blog to keep a record of all of the noteworthy things that may happen en route to fulfilling this assignment.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>he full acknowledgement and acceptance of God's will for <em>I Shall Not Die</em> (the book) came shortly before this year's launching of <a href="http://www.cruisinforchrist.org/">Cruisin' For Christ</a>. I knew long before that that God was ordering me to write the book, but I'd fought it for years. However, at some point in the month of August, I gave up the fight and told the Lord that as soon as I cleared my plate of some of the my current writing and editing deadlines, I would begin this project. Cruisin' For Christ III took place Sept. 5-12, and it was phenomenal! God truly blessed our week long at-sea fellowship, but immediately upon returning home, I learned that while I was away, there had been some suspicious activity on my business account, and as a result, the bank had frozen my account, hindering me from paying any of my outstanding obligations - both personal and business related. I was angry and I was hurt, but I was also determined not to let it throw me so far off course that I failed to honor my vow to the Lord.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">O</span></strong>nce I got caught up on my literary obligations, I made it a priority to move full steam ahead on <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. On October 5th, the date of my Blessed2Write blog entry, I began writing the book. Meanwhile, I made contact with the company who always designs the covers for the books published through <a href="http://www.knb-publications.com/">KNB Publications LLC </a>and requested that a cover be immediately designed for this new project so that I could begin promoting it at an event which was scheduled for October 10th. For the first time ever, the graphic designer was too busy to get to my project right away. Orders had her backed up so far that it would be a month before she could begin to work on the cover for <em>I Shall Not Die</em>. In all the years that I've worked with her, she has never needed more than two or three days to get cover samples to me. Coincidence? Maybe. But in my spirit, I felt that a strategically placed stumbling block had been laid in hopes of keeping me from having the cover ready in time. But I wouldn't accept defeat.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">A</span></strong>fter taking a moment to gather my thoughts, God reminded me that He always has a ram in the bush (or in layman's terms, another option). One of my best girlfriends is married to a graphic artist, and althought I'd never had him to design a cover for me before, I sent him an email to see if he would take on the challenge of not only putting together a cover, but getting it done within a few short days. AJ3 Photography accepted my request without a pause, and two days later (half the time that I'd given him) he had sent me about ten cover samples to choose from. The first one I opened (see photo) nailed my unspoken vision with so much perfection that I wept. Because of the nature of this book, it is dearer to my heart than any of my previous writings, and to see how God worked through the graphic artist's hands (without me even giving him the details of what I was envisioning) was overwhelming. But the enemy wasn't finished harrassing me.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>hose who know me well, know that I work long and late hours. I generally rise at 9:00 in the morning, and I don't go to bed until 2:30 or 3:00 the next morning. I'm full of energy and well-rested as long as I can get six hours or more of sleep per night. But since I said "Yes" to the Lord and set my sights on getting this particular book written, I can barely keep my eyes open throughout any given day. If there is such a thing as a "sleeping demon" it seems to have found its way to me. Each time I sit down to begin writing on <em>I Shall Not Die</em>, my eyelids become too heavy to fight the sleep, and if I lie down to catch a thirty-minute powernap, it easily turns into three hours of sound sleep. And even then, when I wake up, I'm still tired and groggy. This has been an every day occurence since I began writing the book. Whatever the reasons for all of these bizzare happenings, I am still determined to keep on keeping on. I won't give up. I won't be defeated. I won't be distracted. And <strong>I Shall Not Die!</strong> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">T</span></strong>he Women's conference last weekend (the event that I needed the cover image for) turned out wonderfully. Not only did God meet us there at the Clarion Airport Conference Center in Jacksonville, Florida, but he also inspired me to launch a full fledge "I Shall Not Die" ministry that expands beyond the pending book. And today, I sat down at the computer and followed His direction to build an <a href="http://www.ishallnotdie.net/">"I Shall Not Die" Website</a> that is specific to this newly birthed ministry. Please click on the link, visit the site, and consider becoming an ISND Vision Partner.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">A</span></strong>dmittedly, I have no idea where all of this is going to ultimately lead, but I know that as long as I listen to His voice and adhere to His divine instructions, it will be blessed. And I am excited to see how the hands of God will move next.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">S</span></strong>tay tuned...</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com1