The Journey Back- One Joy at a Time by Cherley Grogg

This Friday Feature is posted to help a blogging friend of mine who has a book available that's FREE for 1st - 5th April. Her short book is designed to help those who have a particular faith but who might need a little more impetus to strengthen it. 

I know if I need assistance with publicising my books on the internet, Cher'ley will be there to help me, and though I don't share her religious convictions, some of what she's advocating about bringing joy to life makes a lot of sense in a very busy world.  

Over to you, Cher'ley....


Cher’ley Grogg—Free Download of “The Journey Back—One Joy at a Time”

 Cher'ley writes different genres. "The Journey Back--One Joy at a Time" is a devotional book with lovely photos and exercises to strengthen your faith. "Stamp Out Murder" is a cozy mystery set deep in the mountains of West Virginia. "The Secret in Grandma's Trunk is a YA novel set along the Ohio River featuring a spunky Grandmother and a rebellious youth. She has a short Novella, “Four Moons and Fair Maidens”. Cher’ley has a contributing story in "Small Town America" and "West Virginia Memories". She edited and contributed to the anthology “Boys Will Be Boys-the joys and terrors of raising boys”. She has a story in the “2014 C3 Anthology”, and a contributing story in “Cowboys, Creatures, and Calico Anthology”. She drives an eighteen-wheeler, enjoys photography, painting, fishing, reading, walking, dancing, and long baths. Her artwork is in collections around the world, and in many parts of the US. She loves the Lord, her husband--Del, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and her Carin Terrier, Tootsie.


     I figure the best way to let you know what the book is about is to share part of the first chapter. There is also a scripture verse and an activity at the end of each chapter and I have written several original poems, and taken original photos for this book. I hope you will find it helpful and that you will return to it time after time. 

   Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

   

This is the first activity. Try it and please let me know how you feel afterwards. My contact information is at the end of this blog as well as the link for the free download of The Journey Back—One Joy at a time. 

Joy for today: *Go outside, lay down on the grass (or lean way back in a chair) and look straight up at the clouds. What do you see?*

Chapter 1

Acceptance

You are broken. Something has happened in your life—to you—a good person. Things that happen to us are rejection, chronic disease, depression, loneliness, inadequacies, and the death of a loved one. Your problem may not be listed, however, travesties big or small are real, and they hurt. 

This is a book about coming out of a deep sorrow and some ways to handle life’s smaller problems, as well. I wrote this book for me, only in the process of writing “The Journey Back”, I realized how much we all need to instill or re-instill “One Joy at a Time”. 

Do you remember the first time you heard the “Serenity Prayer”. The first time I heard the poem was when President John F. Kennedy repeated it:

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the knowledge to know the difference.

This little prayer can help us through many a trial and tribulation. Some things in our lives can’t be changed such as chronic illness and death. More things can be changed, the things that are centered in our emotions: rejection, depression, loneliness, and inadequacy. We have to learn the difference and ways to change the things we can. 

There is more to this poem and the words are not new. Written by Reinhold Niebuhr, and first used in the written form at the conclusion of his sermon in 1943.

The original attributed to Niebuhr is: 

God give me grace to accept with serenity
The things that cannot be changed.
Courage to change the things
Which should be changed,
And the Wisdom to distinguish
The one from the other.
Living one day at a time.
Enjoying one moment at a time.
Accepting hardships as a pathway to peace,
Taking as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it.
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to your will.
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with you in the next.
Amen

Recognize your problem. Listen to what others are saying to you. No matter how subtle the voice is, either of your friend, or in your own mind, there is an acknowledgement of what is going on in your life.
You may not need to be surrounded by others or a hands-on comfort, but you need to understand something has changed in your life.
Or you may need the hands-on comfort that can only be received from others. Hands-on comfort can help you heal.
There’s no right or wrong way to recognize your sorrow.
The important thing to remember is “I need help”. Even though, I can’t change all situations, or hurts or problems in my life, I can change some of them.

For a free Kindle download from April 1-5th 2016, click here The Journey Back—One Joy at a Time 

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Fans of Cher’ley Grogg

Wishing you great sales, Cherley. Thank you for sending along your post today. 

Slainthe.