Hello, My Beautiful People,

One of my goals is to develop a deeper relationship with my Lord and Savior. How do you develop that relationship? The answer is through God’s Word. You get to know Him through that daily connection with His Word.

“God wants you to know, understand, and apply His Word. But sometimes you need help making sense of a tricky passage or knowing what it means to live in light of the Bible’s teaching.”

I want to understand God’s Word, not just read it to check a box off my list.

I had the opportunity to preview the new Enduring Word Study Bible, authored by David Guzik and published by Thomas Nelson. The Enduring Bible draws you in to want to study more and more and more.” “The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:24-25).

Key Features of the Enduring Word Study Bible
– Each book of the Bible has a detailed Introduction that delves deeper into its key themes.
– Study notes for every chapter allow you to explore the true meaning of the Scripture.
– 400 application notes and 50 articles show you how to live in light of God’s Word with deeper exploration into the Word.
– More than 200 word studies found in the Concordance.
– translator’s notes and cross references to easily understand the true meaning of the Scripture.
– A clear and readable 9.5-point NKJV Comfort Print.

Purchase It Now!
If you want to go deeper in your walk with Christ, I found the Enduring Word Study Bible as an ideal place to begin that journey. The introductions to each book provide you with a starting point for what to look for. The corresponding study notes for the verses give the necessary context for the story being told or the message being delivered. I have found some study notes in other Bibles to be overwhelming and challenging to understand. These study notes are clear, concise, and enhance your knowledge of the scriptures.
The Bible is listed at $59.99, but it’s on sale on Amazon with this LINK.

Giveaway!
In conjunction with the release of the Enduring Word Study Bible, we are excited to announce a fantastic giveaway opportunity for our blog community. One of our members will receive their own copy of this essential new Bible resource. To enter the giveaway, leave us a comment below letting us know one of your favorite Bible verses that you come back to regularly. Comments will be accepted through Saturday, November 15th, at 11:59 pm (Central time), at which time one comment will be selected at random. The winner will be emailed on November 16th and will have 24 hours to confirm their mailing address. If we do not hear back from you, a new winner will be selected until the mailing address is confirmed.

Disclosure:
Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing our team with a sample of the Enduring Word Study Bible to write this review and to offer our community this giveaway opportunity. Opinions are 100% my own.

Going on maternity leave is one of the most daunting and exciting stages of your pregnancy. You know that the end is near, your life is about to change forever, and you have months ahead of you to care for your little one. If you are passionate about your career, you must start taking steps to prepare your company for your departure and pave the way for your return. Of course, you may find that your plans change somewhere down the line, but it will still give you peace of mind when you know that you have made all the necessary preparations.

Photo Credit – Photo by MYKOLA OSMACHKO:

Achieving a work-life balance is the ultimate goal when you return to your job, which is something that more and more women intend to do. So, let’s look at some ways that you can prepare your company and yourself for your impending departure.

Inform Your Boss and Clients
Though you will be very excited to tell your friends at work about your big news, it is also a good idea to inform your boss at the earliest possible opportunity—preferably before your bump starts showing! Speak to them in person at first, and then draft a maternity leave letter that outlines your intentions. Of course, these are just preliminary plans that may adapt and change over time. You will also want to inform your clients about your big news, preferably with plenty of time to spare, and when the plans about covering your absence are firmly in place. This way, you will be in the best position to explain how things will work while you are away.

Plan Your Leave
Once you know the date that you will be going on maternity leave, you can start preparing for your departure. Make a list of all your tasks at the company and who will take them over. If it is a current team member, you can start getting them up to speed as soon as possible. If someone is going to be covering for you on a short-term basis, you can make a document that helps them to transition into the role. 

Crunch the Numbers
Making a detailed budget is always a good idea, no matter your financial situation, but it is essential if you are about to have a child. It may be quite challenging to calculate all your expenses in detail, but it is a good idea to make a rough estimate. You can then weigh this up against the amount of money that you receive from your maternity leave and any other sources of income. If you can also accumulate some savings, it is always a good idea to have a contingency plan in case your expenses turn out to be much higher than expected. 

Plan Your Childcare
Though this may seem like a very early time to start planning your childcare, you can never be overprepared. It is worth visiting different centres to look at their facilities and see how they operate on a day-to-day basis. You can also find out about their availability and how far in advance you need to apply. The other potential option is hiring a nanny, so it is worth considering the pros and cons of this approach. A nanny gives your child individual attention and care. You can also look up 3 month old milestones to see how your baby is likely to develop. On the other hand, a daycare centre allows them to interact with other kids. A big influencer in your decision will be the standard of care available in your local area, and how your and your partner’s jobs will fit around what is available.

Stay in the Loop at Work
In most workplaces, things tend to change at a fairly rapid rate, and it is worth keeping track of what is going on—even if it is just the occasional update from a close work friend. Even better, if you have a colleague who is just returning from maternity leave, you can find out the inside scoop about how easy or challenging it has been. Of course, when your baby arrives, you will find your attention very much pulled in another direction. But if you are passionate about returning to work, it helps to stay up to date on what is going on. As the return-to-work date approaches, you could start coming in to meet with your boss to discuss how you will manage the transition phase together.

Create a Resources List
The balancing act between your family and your job is so challenging to get right. So, to give you a helping hand at this early stage, you can start pulling together a list of people and resources who can help you in all eventualities. For example, someone who can clean the house, look after the dog, and take care of the baby in an emergency. You are entering a daunting new world, and you never know exactly which direction it will take you. Creating this list will help you feel better about the challenges ahead. You will probably find that organising your life becomes much more difficult when the baby arrives! 

Wrap Up Any Outstanding Work
In the last weeks and days before your maternity leave begins, you should be wrapping up any projects that are still ongoing. Since babies often arrive ahead of schedule, it is a good idea to address the top-priority items first in case your little bundle of joy decides to make an early appearance! One of your final tasks will be to draft an out-of-office email that explains who people should contact in your absence. You can help out whoever is monitoring your emails by unsubscribing from any newsletters or email lists. Keep a note of them, and you can subscribe again once you are back at work.

Hello Beautiful People,

We need peace!

 I think everyone you talk to says they need peace in this world. Whether it is civil unrest, political debates, or financial worries, people are afraid. If they do not have the Lord, they have nowhere to turn to. Breakpoint Colson Center said that Bible reading has declined by 61%, and only 22% American adults read the Bible outside of religious services. To have peace in our lives, we need the hope found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I recently had the opportunity to preview the new Peace of God Bible: Discover and Experience God’s Shalom Throughout The Bible, by Jeremiah Johnston, Ph.D. This amazing Bible, published by Thomas Nelson, is available in the New King James Version. The Bible I received is brown leather, red-letter comfort print, soft, aesthetically beautiful, and pliable in my hands, and it also comes in a variety of cover options.

Features
– An introduction for each book of the Bible and how PEACE can be found in that book.
– 365 devotionals based on a key verse or passage to guide you in how to receive and live by God’s peace. That is one for every day of the year.
– 365 peace notes offering short, powerful insights to help you understand more deeply the wholeness you have in Christ. When we are short on time, this is an easy way to seek out peace for that day.
– Topical indexes to help you study on your own how God’s peace can shape different relationships in your life.
– Articles explore what the peace of God is, how to find or recover it, and how to experience eternal salvation because of what God has done for you
– Concise concordance and index of features

Peace of God Bible: Discover and Experience God’s Shalom Throughout The Bible is available on Christianbooks.

There is a section called Peace Notes that gives great encouragement for peace inside.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”John 14:27 (NKJV)

The Peace of God Bible: Discover and Experience God’s Shalom Throughout The Bible invites you to experience peace with God as you trace this vital theme throughout Scripture. By meditating on it daily as you read 365 devotions and application notes, you will find the encouragement you need to live out of the wholeness you have in Christ and be equipped to share that peace with others.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)

I look forward to continuing to use the Peace of God Bible: Discover and Experience God’s Shalom Throughout The Bible as a resource in my growth in God’s Word. The more I build my faith and meditate on the peace scriptures, the better equipped I will be to fight the forces that try to steal my peace.

Giveaway:
In conjunction with the release of this fantastic new resource, we are offering our readers an amazing giveaway. To enter, please leave us a comment and let us know in what area of your life you need to find more of God’s peace.

One comment will be selected at random, and that person will receive a copy of the Bible.
The giveaway runs through Saturday, November 8th at 11:59 pm (Central).
The winner must be a current subscriber to our blog and a US citizen. (Click HERE to subscribe.) They will be emailed on November 9th and will have 24 hours to confirm their mailing address. If no response has been received, a new winner will be selected until the mailing address is confirmed.

Disclosure:
Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

CDC data suggests that over 50 million people experience chronic pain every year in the US. Physical pain can take its toll on your mental and emotional well-being, as well as making even the most basic everyday activities more challenging. If you’re dealing with pain, this guide contains proactive tips to help you cope. 

Image credit:

Seek medical advice
The first thing to do if you experience long-term pain or symptoms that are getting worse is to seek medical advice. Whether you’re recovering from an accident or injury, or you’ve had pain for months with no obvious cause, it’s wise to get checked out. Sometimes, it’s not possible to pinpoint an underlying cause, but often, it’s possible to diagnose and cure health conditions or utilize treatments to manage symptoms. The healthcare professionals you see will depend on the severity of your condition, your symptoms, your health status, and your treatment preferences. You may be advised to wait and see if your symptoms improve or try physical therapy, or you may be referred for specialist treatment, such as a surgical procedure. 

Explore pain relief solutions
There are multiple treatments, therapies, and solutions you can try to alleviate or eliminate pain. It’s important to understand that everyone is different, and certain measures or methods recommended by others may not work for you. You may need to try a range of products or therapies to find something that is effective. In recent years, pain support with CBD & THC has become more common. CBD is generally recommended for helping people feel more relaxed and easing acute symptoms of discomfort, while THC can be beneficial for chronic pain. Ice and heat therapy, massage, and targeted exercises can also reduce pain. It’s beneficial to seek advice from your doctor or a professional, such as a physical therapist, before trying new treatments or supplements. 

Try distraction techniques
We often experience heightened symptoms of pain when we stop. It’s common to be more mindful of pain when you try to get to sleep or you sit and rest after work. Distraction techniques take your mind off the symptoms you’re experiencing, providing a new focal point. You may decide to call a friend, watch TV, listen to music, go for a gentle walk, spend time outside, do a puzzle, or play online games, for example. Some hobbies or activities may be more effective than others. Figure out what works for you and try to keep busy without giving yourself too much to do or think about. 

Developing coping mechanisms
If you live with chronic pain, you will probably endure good and bad days. When your pain intensifies, it’s helpful to use coping mechanisms to help you manage. You can try self-help techniques or explore therapies, such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). Examples include exercise, meditation, being in nature, and talking to a therapist, friend, family member, or partner.

Millions of people experience chronic pain every year. In many cases, there are no quick fixes, but there are steps you can take to try to manage symptoms and protect your mental health. Examples include seeking medical advice, exploring pain relief solutions, trying distraction techniques, and employing coping mechanisms. 

Ciao Beautiful People,

If you haven’t seen the exhibition Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, make sure to visit before it closes, especially if you live nearby in New York.

This groundbreaking exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City details how Dandyism is contained within black fashion. A Dandy is someone who “studies above everything else to dress elegantly and fashionably.” According to The Met, the exhibition is organized into twelve sections that build a specific, but not definitive, vocabulary of Black dandyism inspired by writer Zora Neal Hurston in her 1934 essay “Characteristics of Negro Expression.”

The 2025 Met Gala, as a prelude to the exhibition’s opening, featured Dandyism as its theme for the annual fundraiser. The gala inspired me to create my own dandyism style.

 We are showing you some of the exhibition highlights.

This exquisite jockey jacket looks to be screenprinted; however, each strip of fabric is hand-sewn. It can be found in the Champions Section. The level of detail needed to create this flawless jacket is fantastic.

 Monica L. Miller served as the guest curator for the exhibition. She is the chair of African Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University. She gives her overview of the exhibit in the video below. She also wrote the groundbreaking book “Slaves to Fashion”.

Beauty Section

In the Beauty section, you will see  Prince’s ruffled shirt featured on display.

I laid out above eight pounds of my money for a suit of superfine clothes to dance with at my freedom.
Olaudah Equiano, 1789

The great quote by Olaudah Equiano, which states freedom and liberation, is the inspiration for the exhibition’s title.Equiano’s autobiography is featured in the exhibtion and is shown above.

In the disguise section of the exhibition, the fantastic story of William and Ellen Craft, who wrote a book about their run for freedom, which is highlighted in the exhibition, see below.

Respectability, gallery view

Another favorite was the feature in the Respectability section of Frederick Douglass’s topcoat, hat, sunglasses, and pocketwatch. His attire represented being a free man, and he knew just how important time was to him.

I thought this image was so good because it features men of African ancestry tailoring and crafting bespoke garments.

Tailor boys at work 1899-1900. Platinum print. 7 1/2 × 9 7/16″ (19.1 × 24 cm). Gift of Lincoln Kirstein.

We learned so much in this exhibit that you keep wanting to know more. I bought the book, Slaves to Fashion, from Amazon. To purchase the book by Metropolitan Museum of Art book on the exhibition, you can click this link: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style

Many thanks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for providing the team with the images from the exhibition in order to write this post.