Pamela Q. Fernandes's Blog, page 9

10 INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICIANS

I decided to write about investment opportunities for physicians because the economy is looming on everyone’s mind. There’s a contraction in progress, bubbles are fragile and it’s quite obvious taxes are going to rise.

So I’m not sharing any investment advice. The basic rules are the same: don’t go on a spending spree with your first job, spend less than you earn, don’t get into debt, invest wisely, and start early to get the benefits of compounding. Also, don’t invest in stuff you don’t understand. You need to know how a company/stock/fund works before you decide to do it.

So here are some investment opportunities for physicians. Now I understand the risk appetite is less for people with debt. If you’re debt-free, then like me you can freely invest in a portfolio that is varied. For basic terms and definitions, read this first: The Physician’s Guide to Investing: A Practical Approach to Building Wealth.

10 Investment Opportunities for Physicians Fixed Deposits

I personally love this because you set fix em, you leave em. It’s as simple as that. There was a time where inflation allowed us to have a 9% interest. And since FD’s get auto-renewed, you continue to enjoy the same rate despite changing rates. Here you can decide to allot a sum and then fix them at an interest rate. The rule is the longer you leave them, the higher your returns.

Pros: There’s no risk involved. There’s no managing once you fix the deposit.

Cons: The money is fixed and immovable.

Index Funds

The difference between an index fund and a mutual fund is the fund allocation and management. In an index fund, your money is invested passively in pre-selected companies. There is little involvement or supervision by a fund manager. The expense ratio is minimal. Comparatively, over time, the amount you lose in fees is very little. Index funds are an easier bet.

Pros: Less expense ratio and management costs.

Cons: The returns are less profitable compared to other types of funds.

Mutual Funds

I was initially reluctant but got involved with MF’s by chance and it has high returns. With mutual funds, you have a fund manager that is researching the stocks, picking them and then allocating the fund. So paying the fund manager and the fees involved with this can accumulate over time. However, I like this because yes, you get double digit returns ie you can beat the investment returns of a benchmark index.

A good fund manager is always watching and studying the growth of medium and small cap companies. There’s more growth here but more risk. In certain MF’s the fund manager may even allow you to pick and move the stock if you’re a savvy investor. However, I don’t have the time or the intelligence to micro-manage all this and just leave it to the fund manager. You can start with a SIP. (Small Investment Plan). An alternative or something similar is the Unit Linked Insurance Plan or ULIP.

Pros: You can achieve double digit returns.

Cons: More risk, more expense ratios

Gold

The Indian mindset of me always prompts me to invest in gold. When the price is high or low, this is a good place to invest. Because Gold is a great investment. The returns are always on the up. I remember for my 30th birthday, I decided to gift myself diamond earrings and my whole family was so disappointed in my purchase. Because the resale value of 18k gold and diamonds is not really all that much. It’s a sentimental purchase not an investment one. When you’re buying gold, it’s easier if its jewelry rather than biscuits. You can just wear your gold and travel across countries. And buying electronic gold stock? Absolutely not. I would suggest starting small.

Pros: Gold always appreciates. Resale value us high.

Cons: Storage is a problem and it’s always expensive to buy.

Real estate

Now I’m not a fan of real estate. I know lots of people take out mortgages to buy a house. I don’t believe in going into debt to buy real estate. I’ll probably never purchase a home with a loan. It makes no sense to keep working to build a home I can’t afford. However, if you’re flush with cash, by all means invest in real estate. It appreciates handsomely. My personal reasons probably affect this because having a real estate portfolio has only translated into paying more taxes for me. Sure you can rent, but its a hassle. Besides said properties need to be maintained. A house also grounds you in a particular place. You tend to make a lot of decisions because you have a house and are now blessed with it. Otherwise, you need to have a reliable manager who will look after all said properties.

Pros: Depending on the area appreciates well.

Cons: Gets you into debt. Requires upkeep, keeps you local.

Cryptocurreny & Bitcoin

I think I dropped the ball on bitcoin. When it first arrived, a decade ago I was skeptical but I’ve watched few of my peers do it and they did really well. Bitcoin is grey area to me. I don’t like stuff that isn’t transparent. As Warren Buffett says, “Don’t invest in what you don’t understand.” I guess this is an investment opportunity. It just depends on your risk appetite. Plenty of authors are now accepting payments in bitcoin and NFT’s. I’m on the fence.

Pros: Digital curency, non taxable.

Cons: Online theft, lack of transparency, government crackdown

Owning a Business

With extra money to spare, you can easily invest in a business. A pharmacy, a pizzeria, a franchisee, that doesn’t require your presence. A medicine related business, may be more your alley. Either way, if you can manage to keep it profitable, its a good investment.

Pros: Businesses especially small ones are eligible for lots of tax breaks.

Cons: Requires initial down payment and labor intensive.

Stocks or Direct Equity

You can do stocks. However, if you’re someone who’s going to watch the stocks every ten minutes. This is not for you. Research the stock, pick the stock and then invest for 10 years. Leave it there without fiddling. If you’re a speculator, sure, go ahead and play the stocks. There are so many profitable IPO’s in the last few years alone. An example, Tesla, enough said.

Pros: Can yield good long-term results

Cons: Long term investment, no immediate returns

Intellectual Property

With incremental returns you will see an incremental return over time. Intellectual property could really be a lot of things. Books, movies, dramas, paintings, sculptures, crafts, an app, a course. The sky is the limit. You can create something of value and it will provide you with returns for generations to come. Personally, intellectual property is a significant portion of my portfolio. And it does require time and investment.

Pros: You have complete ownership, eternal returns

Cons: Requires effort and investment

Angel Investing

You can become an angel investor or a venture capitalist if you’re really swimming in money. This is a huge risk. You can fund a start-up or a business idea. This requires a lot of courage. And a big risk appetite. But if you’re someone who wants to find the next Google or Apple then go for it. Remember angel investors do invest in exchange for equity so its not all charity.

Pros: If you backed the right idea, it can make you a millionaire in no time.

Cons: Big risk appetite, plenty of due diligence and follow up.

Impact Investing/Charity

Finally, if you’ve been blessed you may want to consider impact investing in charities or charitable organizations without really considering the returns. This could be your favorite charity or a goal that you love. For example, I’m a keen supporter of training Salesian priests, evangelism through the Divine mercy, tree plantation and the support of widows and orphans. Find a charity that you like and support. And no I’m not suggesting starting your own charity as a tax haven or offshore accounts. I’m talking about being generous with what you have, especially if you’re a Christian.

Its Not All About The Money

While you’re considering investment opportunities for physicians, don’t forget its not all about the money. You’re going to leave all this behind someday. Don’t be myopic and get yourself on a hamster wheel were you’re working yourself to death, to meet all your investments. Life is not about the things but the people and the experiences.

One more thing be patient. Keep a level head. This quote sums it up.

“A lot of people with high IQs are terrible investors because they’ve got terrible temperaments. And that is why we say that having a certain kind of temperament is more important than brains. You need to keep raw irrational emotion under control. You need patience and discipline and an ability to take losses and adversity without going crazy. You need an ability to not be driven crazy by extreme success.”

Charles T. Munger, Value Investing: A Value Investor’s Journey Through the Unknown…

The post 10 INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICIANS appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANDES.

15 Clean Contemporary Romance Books

The 15 Clean contemporary romance books for all those readers who want to read romance but without all the details. I have a friend who’s an actress (I’ve mentioned her on my site) and she always says, there’s art to being subtle. Too often, cinema and even books are too detailed about things that should be left to the imagination of the audience. I agree with her for once. We did spend some time during the lockdown last year binge-watching Netflix and it’s shocking as to how much content there made us cringe. There was a lot of fast- forwarding involved. That’s how I came up with this list.

15 Clean Contemporary Romance Books

Here’s my list of best clean contemporary romances. You can find something for everyone.

Nantucket News

Charleston native, Taylor Abbott, has just relocated to Nantucket for her dream job as a junior news reporter at the local paper. Ten years ago she was Abby Hodges college roommate and is looking forward to living near her best friend again.
Until her rental cottage is available, she’s going to stay at the Beach Plum Cove Inn, Abby’s mother’s bed and breakfast.

Abby meanwhile is dealing with an issue she thought she’d resolved.
Rhett discovers someone that works for him is a thief and tries to figure out who it is.
Rumor is there’s a celebrity or two on the island and the media (including Taylor’s co-worker, Victoria), is in hot pursuit to track them down.

Saltwater Promises

Mike isn’t about to let a little thing like being forced into retirement stop him from investigating the mob activity on San Juan Island. Sure, it’s dangerous, but he can handle it. He’s about to crack the case wide open, too…then he sees her again and everything gets way more complicated.

Lynn Campbell loves retirement. Leaving the FBI gave her more time with her daughter and let her live out her dreams of being a full-time artist. But the mystery Mike brings into her life is irresistible, and unfortunately for her peace of mind, so is the man himself.

Soon, Mike and Lynn find themselves caught up in a case neither of them should’ve been working on—and in the middle of a romance they never expected. Is happily ever after possible for two retired agents in Westcott Bay? Maybe. If the bad guys don’t ruin their chances…permanently.

Saltwater Promises, the final book in the Westcott Bay series, is a sweet, romantic, mature women’s fiction read packed with excitement, suspense, and love. Get your copy today and get all the answers you’ve been waiting for!

The Summer House

Lily Bishop wakes up one morning to find a good-bye note and divorce papers from her husband on the kitchen counter. Having just moved to Alabama for his job only weeks before, Lily is devastated. New to town and knowing no one, Lily finds herself in desperate need of a job and a new place to live. When Lily hears that a hair stylist is needed at small retirement community, she decides to apply.

Rose Carrigan built the small retirement village of Safe Harbor years ago—just before her husband ran off with his assistant. Now she runs a tight ship, making sure the residents follow her strict rules. Rose keeps everyone at arm’s length, including her own family. But when Lily shows up asking for a job and a place to live, Rose’s cold exterior begins to thaw.

Lily and Rose form an unlikely friendship, and Lily’s salon soon becomes the place where the colorful residents share town gossip and a few secrets. Lily soon finds herself drawn to Rose’s nephew, Rawlins—a single dad and shrimper who’s had some practice at starting over—and one of the residents may be carrying a torch for Rose as well.

Neither Lily nor Rose is where she expected to be, but the summer makes them both wonder if there’s more to life and love than what they’ve experienced so far.

It’s Better This Way

t’s been nearly six years since Julia Jones had her heart broken. After her husband became involved with another woman, she did everything she could to save their marriage, to no avail. The couple’s two daughters continue to stand by Julia in the wake of their father’s behavior—and they’ve had a tough time getting along with the other woman who’s become their stepmother. Distraught after selling the family home, Julia moves into a condominium complex that offers the warmth and charm of a fresh start. Now, having settled into her new community and sold her successful interior design business, she’s embraced a fulfilling new life, one that doesn’t seem to need a man in it. Her beloved father’s trusty saying is ringing truer than ever: It’s better this way.

But when Julia meets a handsome new resident in the building’s exercise room, she can’t help but be drawn to him. Heath Johnson is a welcome change from the men she’s encountered on the occasional—mostly disastrous—dates her sister has eagerly planned for her over the years. As she and Heath, a divorcé himself, begin to grow close, their friendship blossoms into an unexpected love. However, they soon realize that combining families proves to be a challenge, even though their four children are adults.

When a dramatic revelation threatens the happiness they’ve found, Julia and Heath must reconcile their love for their children with their love for each other. If they can’t, their bright future together may be nothing but a dream.

I Hated You First: Sworn To Loathe You 

Clay… My best friend has held a grudge against his half-sister, Lauren, forever. It’s unjustified and ridiculous, but I have to take his side. Also ridiculous? How bad I have it for her.

My Lauren radar goes off the second she steps in the building. Did I mention we work together and her dad’s the boss? Yeah, she’s so off-limits I might as well start running now and never come back.

Except, her family is like family to me. So, I’ll do whatever it takes to stick around, even if she hates my guts.

Lauren… I date guys nothing like Clay on purpose. I will not let my old crush on him get the best of me. It’s going on the list of things I’ve outgrown and will deny ever having, like the Justin Bieber poster I used to keep on the back of my door.

It doesn’t matter that I’ve caught Clay looking at me like he’s a jewel thief and I’m a precious gem encased in glass. He’d never choose me over my brother, or his job, or his enjoyment in teasing me.

Avoiding Clay is easy, until the day I realize my dad’s asked for Clay’s help in checking up on my dates.

A Wedding in the Keys

The bonds of love that have formed and grown over the past year in Coconut Key reach a culmination of white lace and champagne…for some. For others, things may not turn out as they expected.

New arrivals on the island turn plans and lives upside down, testing the strength of relationships. Everyone has to make major decisions about life, work, and love. The future may look different for Beck, Savannah, Peyton, and Jessie…but whatever it is, with family and friends, it will be warm, happy, and dappled in sunshine.

The Coconut Key Series celebrates older heroines, second chance romance, entangled families, and lifelong friendships. With a cast of unforgettable characters and stories that touch every woman’s heart, be sure to read them all!

Gulf Coast Sunsets 

Escape to the Gulf Coast of Florida with Georgia Carpenter as she gets a second chance at life, love, and happiness.

With a hurricane barreling toward Blackbird Beach, Georgia Carpenter is faced with new problems and the need to work faster than ever. The last thing she needs is more damage to the inn, but she can’t control nature.

What she can control is how the people around her weather that storm. In a bid to protect those she loves, she pulls them all close, opening her new home as a place of shelter.

Everything’s going fine, too, until the man she’s falling for, Travis Taylor, reveals he has a storm of his own going on. Will the changes in his life mean changes in Georgia’s too?

Seabreeze Summer

While renovating an old beach house, Ivy and her sister, Shelly, suddenly have full occupancy after fire forces Summer Beach residents from their homes. Even the mayor, Bennett Dylan, who was Ivy’s high school crush, moves in. As the summer heats up, attractions simmer and feuds erupt. 

Living in the house Bennett had hoped could be a community center, he finds himself at odds with Ivy’s campaign for a bed-and-breakfast zoning change. And when valuable items disappear from the inn, Bennett’s friend Mitch, who owns the popular Java Beach coffee shop, is the prime suspect.

Shelly’s romance with Mitch cools when his old criminal record emerges, which leads her to question if Summer Beach is the right place for her.

Despite the chaos, Ivy has just one summer to save the house from an impending tax sale. And when a documentary filmmaker arrives to reconstruct the history of the old house and its secretive former owner, yet another secret emerges from an unlikely place.

Seabreeze Summer is a sweet summer beach read and the second novel in the Summer Beach series after the Seabreeze Inn. Book your reservation in this small beachside town of intriguing characters now.

Small Town Charm

From the New York Times bestselling author of Small Town Rumors comes a sweet Southern story of family, forgiveness, and true love.

Growing up, Cricket Lawson was never one of the popular girls. And that was just fine with her. If the Belles couldn’t deal with her curves or tell-it-like-is attitude, she didn’t want to be friends with them anyway. Now she’s perfectly content running her little bookshop and tending to her garden.

Then Bryce Walton comes to town. He’s sweet, friendly, and successful, and suddenly all the ladies in Bloom, Texas, are pulling out every ounce of Southern charm they have to win him over. But they’re shocked to discover the only one Bryce wants to spend time with is Cricket.

When one of the Belles reaches out to her for help, Cricket will have to decide whether the opportunity for true friendship means losing the man who’s quickly winning her heart.

After All

From New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin comes a heartfelt story about overcoming great loss and forgiving past sins to find happiness again.

Brooklyn Hewett hasn’t set foot in Cape Harbor for fifteen years—not since an accident claimed the love of her life, Austin Woods. Desperate to move forward, Brooklyn has focused on raising her daughter for the past fourteen years. But when the opportunity comes along to renovate the old Driftwood Inn, Brooklyn knows it’s time to go home.

But it won’t be easy. For one, Austin’s best friend, Bowie Holmes, still lives in Cape Harbor. Brooklyn hasn’t quite been able to forget him: not since the night they spent together—the same night they both lost Austin. Separated by tragedy and guilt, they’re brought together by the Driftwood project. And as they rebuild the inn, they discover they’re also rebuilding something else.

Brooklyn’s always been desperate to move on, not knowing that she first needs to reconcile past transgressions. She can’t forget, but she can forgive—Austin, Bowie, and herself—on her way toward long-awaited happiness.

Sweet Bliss

Welcome to Harper Landing, a small town filled with people who believe in happy endings.

Left raising his newly orphaned nephew after a tragic accident, Aaron Baxter fears he’s not cut out to be a single dad. But to give baby Jack the life he deserves—and to find a peaceful refuge for himself—Aaron moves to the idyllic Pacific Northwest town of Harper Landing.

Julia Harper, descendant of the town’s founder and successful frozen yogurt shop owner, is mostly resigned to her role as the often-overlooked girl next door. But when the town newcomer, Aaron, reaches out for help with Jack, she finds herself yearning to take part in a sweet love story of her own.

To Aaron, the grace Julia extends is a balm for his aching heart and the guilt he feels over his sister’s death. To Julia, Aaron’s adoration is the key to finally realizing her own worth. With a baby in the middle, can these two hurting souls find completeness in each other?

The Island House

Charlotte Madsen’s whole world came crashing down six months ago with the words, “I met someone else.”

Thirty-seven, recently divorced, and childless. That’s Charlotte when she disembarks from the plane in Getaway Bay. She wants to get away, that’s for sure. She thought the best way to do that was to buy a run-down house overlooking the bay, knowing she’ll need all her fixer-upper skills to get it in shape. Which is just fine. She’s hoping as she overhauls the house, she’ll get a life makeover too.

She was not expecting a tall, handsome man to be under the kitchen sink when she arrives at the supposedly abandoned house. She wasn’t expecting to get drenched when the non-plumber twists something the wrong way. And she certainly wasn’t expecting her heart to be well enough to feel anything for anyone.

But former Air Force pilot, Dawson Dane, has a charming devil-may-care personality, and Charlotte could use some carefree laughter in her life. But everything with Dawson isn’t sunshine and unicorns. He’s estranged from his family, though he does speak to one of his brothers. And he’s never committed to anything except his career, even choosing flying over an engagement years ago.

Can Charlotte navigate the healing process as she renovates the island house? Can Dawson finally make a commitment to a woman? Or will he and Charlotte decide a relationship is just too hard?

One Summer in Italy 

Reeda Summer is running from a troubled marriage and a truth she can’t face.

When the Summer sisters discover their grandmother’s journals after her death, they unlock a mystery that shakes their family to the core. Who is Charlie Jackson? Is he their grandfather? And if so, what happened to him?

Reeda leaves the Waratah Inn and returns to Sydney, her husband, and her thriving interior design business, only to find her marriage in tatters. She’s lost sight of what she wants in life and can’t recognise the person she’s become.

Instead of facing her problems, Reeda embarks on a journey to discover more about the grandfather she never knew, leaving her troubles behind her.

Her search takes her to Italy, where a trail of clues leads her across the country with few answers to satisfy her burning curiosity about the past. And instead of helping her to forget, her pilgrimage reminds her of everything she loves and what she’s left behind.

Under the Italian sky, Reeda discovers that the joy she was searching for was hidden inside her all along. And instead of running from her problems, she embraces the healing she needs to face them.

Good Guys Love Dogs

She’s Main Street. He’s Wall Street.

Desperate father Ian McKinley moves his delinquent teenage son to the small Virginia town of Keeling Creek, a place very unlike the New York City life he has been leading. Love takes him by surprise when he falls for Colby Williams, a woman unlike anyone he has ever been drawn to, a small town vet with a heart for animals and a fierce love for a teenage daughter she is also struggling to raise.

But Colby has a secret in her past, a secret she’s not sure her daughter will ever forgive her for. And as for Ian McKinley, he seems too good to be true. If she had learned anything from the one time she had thrown her heart fully into love, it was that it didn’t last.

Starting Over

Cara Wallace is stunned to find Nathan Reynolds back in Henderson County. His sudden arrival brings to the fore unresolved questions of what might have been.

How could she unwrite the past?
How could she undo the mistakes?
How could she unlove him?
Nathan Reynolds can’t understand why Cara chose to stay in this small town. How could she sacrifice her career, her future and their love for a small run-down cottage in the middle of nowheresville?
Whatever her reasons, Nathan intends to find out and start over again!

Do you have a favorite clean contemporary romance book?

I’d like to know what authors you read when it comes to wholesome romance. Do you have a favorite clean contemporary romance? Let me know.

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77 Developing Integrity & Virtue in Business

“You need to love your customers if you want to run a business. Love like Christ loved us.”

Dr. Brian Engelland

WHO IS DR. BRIAN ENGELLAND?Dr. Brian Engelland

Dr. Brian Engelland is professor emeritus at two universities – Mississippi State University and most recently, The Catholic University of America. He is widely published in the fields of management, marketing and business ethics.

His research interests include the application of Catholic ideas and principles to the conduct of business. Recent publications include Force for Good: The Catholic Guide to Business Integrity, a book published by Sophia Institute Press; “Consumerism, Marketing, and the Cardinal Virtues,” an article which appeared in the Journal of Markets and Morality; and “Team-Building, Virtue and Personal Flourishing in Organizations,” the first chapter in Personal Flourishing in Organizations, published by Springer.

Engelland is recipient of the Society for Marketing Advances’ Lifetime Contributor to Marketing Award, a fellow of the Marketing Management Association, and a past winner of the National Best Teacher in Marketing Award. At The Catholic University of America, he held the Edward J. Pryzbyla Chair in Business and Economics.

His prior managerial experience includes serving as dean of the Busch School of Business at Catholic University, president of Engelland and Associates, a marketing consulting company, and as chief marketing officer for Eljer Industries.

Dr. Engelland holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University, an MBA from the University of Cincinnati, and a doctorate in business from Southern Illinois University. Engelland is a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a Knight Grand Cross in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

PQF · 77 Developing Integrity & Virtue in BusinessDeveloping Integrity & Virtue in Business

In this episode, Dr. Brian Engelland talks about developing integrity and virtue in business. He explains:
– Is it possible to be successful and have integrity?
– Why is virtue important in business?
– What are the 3 virtues required to run a business?
– What steps can we take to develop integrity?
– Where or to whom do we turn to when we don’t know what to do and have to make ethical decisions?

When I saw this book on the must read book list I was surprised to find this book. As a Christian, my grandfather always believed that it was impossible to be a Christian and be successful at business. Yet, here was someone who had done it himself and also taught other people to do it.

I was intrigued. I wrote to the Professor but I thought it was a long shot. As we prayed for a guest for this episode, Dr. Engelland replied and the episode was so informative.

As a business owner myself, I’ve struggled with many aspects of running a business. Even my professional life. And that’s what he mentions, “Christians are living divided lives.”

True in many ways.

Giveaway

He goes on to list the 3 basic virtues you need to run a business as a Christian. They are:

LoveJusticePrudence

Additionally, I love how he explains with examples of various businesses and how they managed developing integrity & virtue in business. However, you can’t do it alone. He talks about how a business owner might be making as many as 500 business decisions per day. Surprisingly, small business owners are no different.

Everyday you have to choose. The question is how do you incorporate your faith so that your business is an extension of your Christian life.

Dr. Brian Engelland is giving away a free signed copy of his book Force for Good. All you need to do for a free copy, simply let us know one thing you do to incorporate integrity and your Christian faith in your business or workplace in the comments below. Final winner will be selected on 2nd October, 2021!!!

ENJOYED THIS PODCAST?

We hope you enjoyed this podcast. Check out our podcasts on St Thomas Aquinas and Anger. Finally, if you liked this podcast, like us, leave us a comment and share our episodes on social media with those who may benefit from it. If there is a particular saint that you would like to hear about us, tell us and we’ll add him or her to our future episodes.

We are on iheartradio, Stitcher, Itunes, Spotify, Pandora and tunein.com. We’d love to hear from you. If you hear us online, please rate and review us.

The post 77 Developing Integrity & Virtue in Business appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANDES.

76 How To Stop Judging People

“How I treat others is a reflection of who I am. “

Patti Maguire Armstrong

WHO IS PATTI MAGUIRE ARMSTRONG?Patti Maguire Armstrong

Patti Maguire Armstrong is a TV talk show host of Ladies of Another View and an award-winning author and journalist. She was managing editor and co-author of Ascension Press’ bestselling Amazing Grace Series. Her newest books are Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith & Get to Heaven and Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families. She has a B.A. in social work and M.A. in public administration and worked in both those fields before staying home to work as a freelance writer. Patti and her husband, Mark, live in North Dakota, where they raised their 10 children. Follow her on Twitter at @PattiArmstrong and read her blog at PattiMaguireArmstrong.com.

How To Stop Judging People?PQF · 76 How To Stop Judging People

In this episode, Patti Maguire Armstrong tells us about how to stop judging people. She explains:
-Why is judging people a sin? What does Jesus say about it.
-How should we not judge people?
-What should we do if we’re being judged unfairly.

10 STEPS TO STOP JUDGING PEOPLE

I contacted Patti after I had read her post on NCR on how to stop judging people. She’s been on the podcast before and this is a subject that was on our calendar after much prayer. There are so many beautiful points Patti makes about judging people. Why we do it?

And I’m guilty of this myself. It’s like at first glance we’re always assessing and sizing people up. Instead, of being open to God’s way of looking at people.

This podcast was eye-opening for me also because Patti gives us strong tips to help us not to judge other people but also what to do when you’re on the receiving end. This really resonated with me. I’ve been at that end, when people make assumptions at work and where I’ve lost out on opportunities because someone has judged me because of the way I look, or where I come from, my religion, my lack of connections and so on. So, it almost brought me to tears when she explained how we should give back to God and to the people who have hurt us.

This episode is chock full of great advice and Patti with her usual gusto explains how we need to be humble and surrender to the will of God. She keeps reminding us that the measure we mete out to other people is what will be meted to us by God.

ENJOYED THIS PODCAST?

We hope you enjoyed this podcast. Check out our podcasts on the Adoration of the Mother Teresa and Anger. Finally, if you liked this podcast, like us, leave us a comment and share our episodes on social media with those who may benefit from it. If there is a particular saint that you would like to hear about us, tell us and we’ll add him or her to our future episodes.

We are on iheartradio, Stitcher, Itunes, Spotify, Pandora and tunein.com. We’d love to hear from you. If you hear us online, please rate and review us.

The post 76 How To Stop Judging People appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANDES.

10 Amazing Doctors on Youtube

Today we’re talking about 10 amazing doctors on Youtube. There are so many talented people on Youtube. And there are amazing doctors as well who teach and share so much that they learn. Here are some, you can follow.

Doctors on Youtube

The top 10 doctors on youtube are:

1. Dr Matt & Dr Mike

These two guys are absolutely splendid when you want to learn something in medicine. Mike Todorovic (PhD) & Dr. Matt Barton (PhD) are Senior Lecturers and Medical Researchers at Griffith University, Australia. Take the ABG class for instance. Absolute gold.

2. Armando Hasudungan

Armando is a physician trainee living in Sydney Australia. He makes these videos because he says he loves to create medical diagrams. How cool is his artwork?

3. Dr. Zubin Damania

Zubin Damania, MD. Stanford-trained hospital doctor and host of The ZDoggMD Show. His music videos are wonderful parodies of everything wrong in medicine. I have mentioned him before but he deserves a look on Youtube.

4. Doctor Mike

Dr. Mikhail “Mike” Varshavski is an actively Practicing Board Certified Family Medicine Doctor living in NYC. As one of the early influencers, his videos on various subjects on medicine are interesting. Some are hilarious.

5. Dr Ali Abdaal

Dr. Abdaal, a Cambridge University medicine graduate, creates content that helps people lead happier, healthier and more productive lives with the overall aim of helping people do more of what matters to them. He certainly shares a lot of his negative experiences as well which is helpful for those with similar circumstances.

6. Dr. Lee

Dr Sandra Lee, MD, aka Dr Pimple Popper, is a board-certified dermatologist, skin cancer surgeon, and cosmetic surgeon, who is a regular guest dermatologist on various TV shows. This channel was first a place for her to post her television segments with her discussing and treating common skin issues and cutting edge cosmetic surgery techniques. Some of her videos are unbelievable.

7. Dr. Anthony Youn, MD

Known as America’s Holistic Plastic Surgeon®, Anthony Youn, M.D. F.A.C.S is a nationally-recognized, board-certified plastic surgeon. His goal is to help health conscious men and women look and feel their best by teaching them a holistic approach to beauty. Recognized as a leader in his field, he is the author of the best-selling books “The Age Fix: A Leading Plastic Surgeon Reveals How To Really Look Ten Years Younger,” “In Stitches: A Memoir,” and “Playing God: The Evolution of a Modern Surgeon.” Dr. Youn also hosts the popular podcast The Holistic Plastic Surgery Show. He covers a gamut of medical things.

8. Dr. Najeeb 

World’s Most Popular Medical Lectures on Youtube. You can master Medical Sciences with Dr. Najeeb. His lectures are super easy if you want to revise any of your medical knowledge.

9. Kevin Jubbal, M.D

Dr. Kevin Jubbal is the creator of Med School Insiders. He’s one of the doctors on Youtube that helps students interested in medicine live more effectively, both inside and outside of the classroom. If you’ve read the Med School Insiders, you’ll see the sheer variety of subjects he covers for the medical community.

10. Dr. Vanita Rattan

Dr Vanita Rattan’s channel is dedicated to Weekly teaching for skin of colour, since people of color suffer with different issues to Caucasian skin and requires different products, routines and treatments. For women with skin issues, she’s kind of super focused on dermatology, which is a passion of hers.

Happy Watching

If you’re on Youtube, then check out these amazing doctors. There’s a wealth of information on their channels. Its not always medicine. There are others as well Chubbyemu and so many more doctors on Youtube. Disclaimer: Do not take any of it as medical advice. Consult your doctor for health information.

Do you have any doctors that you watch on YT freuently? Let me know.

The post 10 Amazing Doctors on Youtube appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANDES.

Book Launch: STUMPED

I’m so happy to announce the book launch of STUMPED. This is book 2 of the TO LOVE A SPORTSMAN series. Book 1 was Bowled. This entire series comes from Touchpoint Press.

It’s a contemporary sports romance set in England.

Blurb

English vice-Captain Claude de Lussan is the poster boy for English cricket. He’s smart, handsome, rich and a damn fine cricketer. And Delilah Taylor loves him to bits. Her whole existence revolves around him so much so, she polishes his autographed ball from his first century every weekend as it sits in her cabinet. Except, Claude de Lussan doesn’t love her back.

Following a heady summer, she finds herself suddenly married and divorced from the cricketer only to find him return to her world years later.

Can they resolve old hurts and bury the past to rebuild a future together?

Can they overcome family resentment, old flames and misunderstandings to accept that what they had was and still is special?

Trailer of Stumped

I created the trailer in one go. I loved the piano on this so much. Do you like it as much as I do? I always like creating trailers and especially when it finally comes together.

HOW I WROTE STUMPED?

As I look back on writing STUMPED, I have to say this book was just one of the more emotional books for me. I wrote it with a clear structure in my head but the story was so organic. As I’ve shared in my previous YT videos, I usually write in third person POV. Rarely when I’m really emotional, I write in first person POV. And for this book I’ve written in first person POV.

Then there’s the fact that I was in a different headspace while writing this book and its very evident. As much as I’ve featured cricket, there are subtle undertones of sadness that emerged. Even as I re-read my own manuscript for edits, I teared up.

I’ll be doing a separate video this month on how I wrote STUMPED. Watch out for that.

GRATITUDE

I am grateful to so many people for helping me write this book. First up Touchpoint Press for allowing me to write this book in the series. Like I mentioned in my video before, STUMPED was not originally part of the plan or the series. My then editor Melody Miller loved the idea and we went on to create book 2 which she loved. So thank you to Sheri and her TPP team because without them this book would never have seen the light of day.

Melody Miller deserves praise because she had already read BOWLED and coaxed me out of writing just the same cookie cutter sports romance. I’m so thankful that she shook me out of my comfort zone. My new editor Kathleen McIntosh fixed all my mistakes and blind spots. She took this book to another level. And as I continue to work on this series with her, I’m grateful for her thoughtful touches.

Colbie Miles, my cover designer, thank you. What a fantastic cover she created for STUMPED. I love how I just shared my idea with her once and she turned around in a couple of days with a stunning cover.

And this book is dedicated to my biggest fan, Valencia P. I don’t think I’ve had a fan bigger than you.

To Colleen’s team and Laura (RIP Laura) who read BOWLED and along with the entire street team with Lauren and Dianne working on STUMPED for the book launch, three cheers.

And to my readers, my greatest supporters for reading this book and making this series successful. Where would I be without you!

BUY LINKSAMAZONKOBOBookmateAppleGoogle Play

This book is also going to be available in print and I’m so happy because it’s a shorter book compared too bowled.

So happy book birthday for STUMPED and I hope you all enjoy reading it! If you do, don’t forget to review it at your favorite bookstore site or Goodreads.

The post Book Launch: STUMPED appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANDES.

75 Being Faithful to Jesus Like St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

“The Sacred Heart Devotion as told by St. Margaret Mary is recognizing that because Jesus became a true man, has a human heart and with that human heart, He loves with a Divine Love.”

SR. EMILY BEATA MARSH

WHO IS SR. EMILY BEATA MARSH?Sr. Emily Beata Marsh

Sr Emily Beata is originally from Buffalo, NY, and is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul, a community of religious Sisters dedicated to the mission of communicating the Gospel using all forms of media. She entered the Daughters in 2007, and has served in editorial, parish evangelization, the Daughters’ bookstores, and writing. She currently serves in the community’s vocation office in Alexandria, VA, working with young women discerning a vocation to religious life.

You can reach out to her on Twitter: @SrEmilyBeata or the Daughters of St Paul: @DaughterStPaul. You can also visit their website www.daughtersofstpaul.com or www.pauline.org.

Being Faithful to Jesus Like St. Margaret Mary AlacoquePQF · 75 Being Faithful to Jesus Like St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

In this episode, Sister Emily Beata Marsh tells us about St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. She explains:
-Who was St. Margaret and her early life? What was the turning point in her life?
-How did this Devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus come about?
-How she stayed faithful to Jesus despite the difficulties in her life.
-What can we learn or how can we emulate this wonderful saint?

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque & The Sacred Heart

June 11th is the feast of the Sacred Heart. This is the first time I did the novena. Even though our altar has the Sacred Heart and we attend mass every First Friday.

I looked for someone who had researched and written about it. I found a book on St. Margaret Mary that was written by Sr. Emily Beata. Soon I wrote to her and she asked her superiors, to whom I’m so grateful because they allowed her to do this episode.

Our 75th episode is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Woohoo!!!! I also apologize for all the birds crying in my neck of the woods. You hear all these birds that were screeching during this recording. I’m sorry. That was just something beyond my control.

During this podcast, I love how Sr. Emily explains that God loves us with a divine love. Even in the ordinary mundane moments of our life God loves us and wants us to take everything to him. Many of you know I’ve been reading the diary of Sr. Faustina and I found so many similarities with St. Margaret Mary’s life.

Despite their circumstances, they clung to God. While I on the other hand get mad at Jesus when things don’t go according to my plan. Sr. Emily also encourages everyone to believe in their own inner experiences. I was so interested in this part because Jesus is intimate with us in so many different ways.

He is with us and speaks to us. Our walk is different and despite that she says He is always inviting us to draw deeper to him. (James 4:8)

WHAT IS THE SACRED HEART DEVOTION?

This is the altar at my home. Forgive the blurry picture, but in our Diocese, it is kind of a requirement at house blessing to have the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Sacred Heart of Jesus & Immaculate Heart of Mary image at our Home Altar

The Two Elements of Devotion to the Sacred Heart as told to St. Margaret Mary are Consecration & Reparation. The Devotion includes:

1.Receiving Communion frequently
2.First Fridays: going to Confession and receiving the Eucharist on the first Friday of each month for nine consecutive months. Many parishes will offer public First Friday devotions; if they do, you must perform First Fridays publicly. If it isn’t so offered in your parish, you can do this privately, going to Confession, receiving the Eucharist, and offering your prayers for the intention of the Holy Father.
3.Holy Hour: Eucharistic Adoration for one hour on Thursdays. (“Could you not watch one hour with me?”) Holy Hour can be made alone or as part of a group with formal prayers.
4.Celebrating of the Feast of the Sacred Heart

Jesus Made Twelve Promises to Those Who Hold a True Devotion to His Sacred Heart:

I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.I will give peace in their families and will unite families that are divided.He will console them in all their troubles.I will be their refuge during life and above all in death.I will bestow the blessings of Heaven on all their enterprises.Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.Tepid souls shall become fervent.Fervent souls shall rise quickly to great perfection.I will bless those places wherein the image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored and will imprint My love on the hearts of those who would wear this image on their person. I will also destroy in them all disordered movements.I will give to priests who are animated by a tender devotion to my Divine Heart the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.Those who promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart, never to be effaced.I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate(Receive Holy Communion) on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence: they will not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their Sacraments. My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.ENJOYED THIS PODCAST?

We hope you enjoyed this podcast. Check out our podcasts on the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Teaching Faith. Finally, if you liked this podcast, like us, leave us a comment and share our episodes on social media with those who may benefit from it. If there is a particular saint that you would like to hear about us, tell us and we’ll add him or her to our future episodes.

We are on iheartradio, Stitcher, Itunes, Spotify, Pandora and tunein.com. We’d love to hear from you. If you hear us online, please rate and review us.

The post 75 Being Faithful to Jesus Like St. Margaret Mary Alacoque appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANDES.

Ten Reminders Audiobooks Are Here

The Ten Reminders Audiobooks are here. Like I said in my newsletter, I spent all my quarantine time praying and listening. One of the things I was led to do, was to record my audiobooks. Two of them are out and I’m waiting to get the third one out too.

Recording Ten Reminders Audiobooks

Needless to say, I’m done recording. Two audiobooks are now available at 49 different vendors. So wherever you get your audiobooks, you’ll find it there. I’m also going to be putting it up for direct sale on my website in a few weeks.

I’m comfortable with voice recording. I’ve done it before for medical clients and their work. However, I’ve always done that at a studio. So doing this in a hotel room was a bit of a challenge.

And everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. While I started recording Ten Reminders for the Single Christian Woman, the roof started leaking. A lot! Imagine that, the roof of the Hilton!!!

I had to use a bucket and every time a drop hit the bucket, the sound caught on the recorder. I used towels to dampen the sound.

Then the neighboring room played their TV so loud that I recorded only between 1-5 am. The phone would ring; reception, my mother and temperature check at the door. It was like a 100m sprint with hurdles.

At one point, the sound engineer I was supposed to work with said the audio was just not salvageable. I prayed again and cried bitterly after four hours of recording. I kept asking God why he was putting me through such an ordeal.

Again the Holy Spirit kept leading me to continue. I wrote to another sound engineer and even told the Lord, if he said no, that would be it. And Jonathan, the guy who worked on the books was so patient despite all the issues with the recording. He said we could use it.

I started recording again until all three books were completed. Phew. This stuff was not easy. And the problems while being stuck in a single room for so many days were too many to count. The only thing that kept me sane was my Bible and the fact that I was praying with my mother on the phone twice and sometimes thrice a day.

One More To Go

While I’m done recording, I’m waiting to edit the covers and create the files before we can submit them for the third book.

It’s been a tiring few weeks. As the pandemic rages on and movement is so limited. I’ve used all my free time to pray. I’ve also been reading voraciously. And writing too.

I have a book release in July 2021. And I’m beginning to lay the groundwork for the next book in the TEN REMINDERS series.

It might seem like a breeze but I know how much prayer has gone into these Ten Reminders audiobooks. It’s been a labor of love. And by God’s grace I’ve come this far despite all the disappointments this season.

Listen Now

Ten Reminders for the Grieving Christian: Audible – Booktopia – Google Playstore

Ten Reminders for the Single Christian Woman: Audible – Kobo –

If you get a chance to listen, let me know if you enjoyed them. Stay safe everyone! And happy sunny days if you’re in the sunshine and happy rainy days if you’re in the monsoons!

The post Ten Reminders Audiobooks Are Here appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANDES.

16 Best Books for Single Christian Women

Today, I’m going to list out the 16 Best Books for Single Christian Women. No matter what stage you’re at, you’re or your vocation, I think these are some of the best books for single Christian women. I’ve read most, if not all of them.

16 Best Books for Single Christian Women31 Prayers For My Future Husband: Preparing My Heart for Marriage by Praying for Him

Marriage is one of the greatest gifts God ever gave to humanity, besides His son Jesus. In the Garden of Eden, God said that it was not good that man was alone. So He created Eve out of Adam’s side (Genesis 2). Desiring a counterpart and oneness with another person is built into the deepest and oldest parts of our human nature. God also tells us in His Word to present all of our requests to Him (Philippians 4:6). We want to encourage you in your desire for marriage by encouraging you and inspiring you. To pray for your heart and the heart of your future husband. We wrote 31 Prayers For My Future Husband for single or engaged women, women currently in a serious relationship, and women who are already engaged that are planning for their special day!

You don’t need to wait until after you’re married to start praying for your husband. Start praying for your future husband today!

I Kissed Dating Goodbye

Joshua Harris’s first book, written when he was only 21, turned the Christian singles scene upside down…

And people are still talking. More than 800,000 copies later, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, with its inspiring call to sincere love, real purity, and purposeful singleness, remains the benchmark for books on Christian dating.

The national #1 bestseller is honest and practical. It challenges cultural assumptions about relationships and provides solid, biblical alternatives to society’s norm.

Tired of the game? Kiss dating goodbye.

Going out? Been dumped? Waiting for a call that doesn’t come? Have you tasted pain in dating, drifted through one romance or, possibly, several of them? Ever wondered, Isn’t there a better way?

I Kissed Dating Goodbye shows what it means to entrust your love life to God. Joshua Harris shares his story of giving up dating and discovering that God has something even better. A life of sincere love, true purity, and purposeful singleness.

Praying for Your Future Husband: Preparing Your Heart for His

Have you ever thought about praying for your future husband?
Will it make a difference?
There’s only one way to find out…
 
From when we were small girls, most of us dream of “The One,” our future husband. We think about what it would be like to be a bride. We wonder who that special guy is and when we’ll find him. The great news is that what you do now can make a difference in your life and the life of your future husband!
 
Authors and good friends Robin Jones Gunn (Christy Miller series) and Tricia Goyer (author and former teen mom) believe God answers women’s prayers for husbands. Even husbands they may not meet for years. They invite young women to pray boldly for their future mate … while also asking God to prepare their own hearts.
 
In Praying for Your Future Husband, Robin and Tricia share their two vastly different experiences. Including the things they did right and the mistakes they made on the path to meeting and marrying their husbands. Each chapter includes helpful Bible verses, prayers, and practical application. With true stories of women who prayed for a husband and how God answered in remarkable ways.
 
God has a beautiful romance prepared for you. Prayer is the key to unlocking the love story … with your future husband and with God, the lover of your soul.

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love—that’s the challenge. How can you keep your relationship fresh and growing amid the demands, conflicts, and just plain boredom of everyday life?

In the #1 New York Times international bestseller The 5 Love Languages, you’ll discover the secret that has transformed millions of relationships worldwide. Whether your relationship is flourishing or failing, Dr. Gary Chapman’s proven approach to showing and receiving love will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your partner—starting today.

The 5 Love Languages is as practical as it is insightful. This new edition reveals intrinsic truths and applies relevant, actionable wisdom in ways that work.

The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

What on earth am I here for? A 40 day purpose campaign to discover the answer.

The New York Times #1 bestselling book by Pastor Rick Warren that helps you understand and live out the purpose of your life.

Before you were born, God already planned your life. God longs for you to discover the life he uniquely created you to live–here on earth, and forever in eternity. Let The Purpose Driven Life show you how. As one of the bestselling nonfiction books in history, with more than 35 million copies sold, The Purpose Driven Life is far more than just a book; it’s the road map for your spiritual journey. A journey that will transform your life.

Designed to be read in 42 days, each chapter provides a daily meditation and practical steps to help you discover and live out your purpose, starting with exploring three of life’s most pressing questions:

The Question of Existence: Why am I alive?Question of Significance: Does my life matter?The Question of Purpose: What on earth am I here for?The Power of a Praying Woman

Stormie Omartian’s bestselling books have helped hundreds of thousands of individuals pray more effectively for their spouses, their children, and their nation. Now she has written a book on a subject she knows intimately: being a praying woman.

Stormie’s deep knowledge of Scripture and candid examples from her own prayer life provide guidance for women who seek to…

trust God with deep longings, not just pressing needscover every area of life with prayermaintain a right heart before God

Each segment concludes with a prayer women can follow or use as a model for their own prayers.

Women of all ages will find hope and purpose for their lives with The Power of a Praying® Woman.

Savoring Single

Why savoring single? Because you were meant to enjoy it!

Finding purpose, knowing love, and experiencing adventure arent reserved solely for the married girls! You can enjoy a full and vibrant life even while being single. Its also a perfect time to partner with what God wants to develop in you through this once-in-a-lifetime part of your journey! Girl, being single is okay. There is a purpose for it, and it wont last forever. So savor it!

Finally the Bride: Finding Hope While Waiting

Why Would God Care About My Love Life? From the woman behind the screenplay and novel, Never the Bride, comes a roller coaster of a love story with God.

Cheryl McKay pulls no punches about what it’s really like to be single, with your age creeping up, and no end in sight to the wait for love and marriage.

It seems that many years ago, God asked Cheryl to surrender the pen she was using to write her love story. All He wanted was carte blanche. No problem, right? Cheryl tentatively conceded—that is, until it became apparent that the Almighty had no intention of conforming to her writing schedule, much less the tick of her biological clock.

In fact, He blew every deadline she ever attempted to set. As romance seemed to pass Cheryl by, she couldn’t help but question: Could God really be trusted to bring her the love of her life? Written during a long wait, this book opens up Cheryl’s painfully honest, personal journals. She explores what it’s like to enlist in God’s Marriage Boot Camp, and how to survive singlehood year after solitary year.

Cheryl wrestles with her Creator over multiple best friends that never see her “that way.” Then there are those lists of what she wanted. You know, the ones she revised a billion times then laminated for safekeeping. She watches, bewildered, as much younger women find love that seems to elude her. Through it all, she falls head over heels for a God who proves Himself to be as resistant to her controls as He is faithful beyond her wildest dreams.

Are you still waiting? Have you lost hope? Venture to victory with a woman who knows just how hard it is to wait for the day when you are Finally the Bride. 

Go Bravely: Becoming the Woman You Were Created to Be

As a young Christian woman, do you struggle with insecurities and feel bogged down by the pressures and expectations of society? Do you find it challenging to take care of yourself and be a faithful daughter of God?

Emily Wilson Hussem used to feel the same way. In Go Bravely, the Catholic musician and speaker offers twenty bits of advice. It will equip you to tackle your deepest concerns about relationships, self-esteem, and dating while strengthening your faith at the same time.

“Sometimes even the smallest acts of living out faith require great bravery.”

In Go Bravely, Wilson Hussem offers readers warm and friendly encouragement . She shares her experiences with other young women as their youth minister. And her own struggles with insecurity, relationships, loving and forgiving herself, and living her faith. You’ll feel right at home as she challenges you to be a light in the world while simultaneously offering you easy-to-digest advice on your most pressing questions.

Fresh off figuring out who she is as a daughter of God, how to cultivate healthy friendships, how to save sex for marriage, and how to develop a prayer life, Wilson Hussem gives you advice. That which she learned in the midst of becoming a young woman. Aware of the information overload that young people face today, she shares simple wisdom for bravely living your faith:
Always be kind to other women.
Work hard at what you love.
Recognize God’s plan for your life.
Remember that nobody is perfect.
Cultivate authentic friendships.
These are basic ideas, Wilson Hussem says, but taking care of yourself and loving others are easy tenets of our faith to forget. A book that can be read in short snippets or in one sitting, Go Bravely offers you the encouragement and tools you need to live out your Christian faith with purpose and zeal.

When God Writes Your Love Story

n their most popular book, bestselling authors Eric and Leslie Ludy challenge singles to take a fresh approach to relationships in a culture where love has been replaced by cheap sensual passion. When God Writes Your Love Story shows that God’s way to true love brings fulfillment and romance in its purest, richest, and most satisfying form. This new edition includes an extra chapter from Leslie Ludy about the surprises of life after marriage!

“I had dreamed of a perfect love story for my entire life. But somewhere in the midst of the endless cycle of temporary romances, my dreams had shattered.” How can I find a love worth waiting for?

Lay the foundation now—whether you’ve met your future spouse or not—for a lifelong romance. Bestselling authors Eric and Leslie Ludy invite you to discover how beautiful your love story can be when the Author of romance scripts every detail.

Eric and Leslie Ludy want to offer an exciting vision of hope, proving that the Author of romance is alive and well and that true and lasting love can become a reality. Using the “four secrets to an amazing love story,” Eric and Leslie present a Christ-centered approach to building a relationship that will stand the test of time.

Captivating: A Guided Journal to Aid In Unveiling the Mystery Of A Woman’s Soul

Every little girl has dreams of being rescued by the hero, of being swept away into a great adventure, of being the beautiful princess. Sadly, when women grow up, they are taught to be tough, efficient, and independent. Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the pressure to be a “good servant,” a nurturing caregiver, passionate lover, or capable home manager.

What the Wild at Heart Field Manual did for men, the Captivating: A Guided Journal can do for women. By revealing the three distinctly female desires every woman shares, John and Stasi Eldredge invite participants to recover their feminine hearts. Even some which may have suffered many wounds but were originally defined in the image of a passionate God.

The Seven Big Myths about Marriage: What Science, Faith and Philosophy Teach Us about Love and Happiness

This work explores some of the most interesting and vexing problems in contemporary life. Appealing to reason rather than religious authority, the book tackles the most controversial positions of the Catholic Church. On contraception, on marriage, on reproductive technologies, on cohabitation, and on divorce – arguing for the reasonableness of the Church’s views on these issues.

The book’s interdisciplinary approach, following the precedent of Thomas Aquinas. It looks to human happiness and fulfillment, properly understood, in seeking the answers to questions about how to live. The book aims to show to skeptical readers that what the Catholic Church teaches about controversial issues is rationally justified by considering evidence from psychology, sociology, and philosophy. The foundation of Kaczor’s approach is happiness. We all want to be happy. 

Get Lost: Your Guide to Finding True Love

Have you ever ditched a friend for a guy? Filled your journal with more thoughts about guys than God? Found yourself jealous because that other girl gets all the dates? Maybe it’s time to get lost—in God.
 
Discover how to get so lost in God that a guy has to seek Him to find you.

Dannah Gresh traces God’s language of love through Scripture to help you pursue your heart’s deepest desires. And seek love the way God designed it to be. Because once you identify your true longings and let God answer them. You’ll know just how to respond when romantic love comes along.
 
With a guided ten-day Love Feast Challenge, Get Lost will help you see for yourself how getting lost in God opens the door to lifelong fulfillment.

Love That Lasts: How We Discovered God’s Better Way for Love, Dating, Marriage, and Sex

In Love That Lasts, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus > Religion Jefferson Bethke and his wife, Alyssa, expose the distorted views of love that permeate our culture and damage our hearts, minds, and souls.

Drawing from Jeff’s “prodigal son” personal history. Additionally, from Alyssa’s “True Love Waits” experience, the Bethkes point to a third and better way. Blending personal storytelling with biblical teaching, they offer readers an inspiring, realistic vision of love, dating, marriage, and sex.

Lady in Waiting: Becoming God’s Best While Waiting for Mr. Right

With humor, honesty, and biblical truths, the authors help point women to being the right woman and not just finding the right man. By studying the biblical character Ruth, women learn the characteristics that every woman of God should develop. This expanded edition of the original best-seller includes a personal journal and study guide.

Ten Reminders For The Single Christian Woman

Are you a single Christian woman wondering what’s going to happen next in your life?Is your faith wavering as you wait for that special “someone”?Have you been praying and enduring for months only to go though another breakup, failed relationship or bad decision?If this is you, then this book is for you. In Ten Reminders for the Single Christian Woman, Dr. Pamela Q. Fernandes talks about why you should stay optimistic and remain in God’s love. As a follow up book in her Ten Reminder Series, she talks about her own struggles with faith, discerning a vocation and finding meaning as single Christian woman.

Do You Have Any Recommendations?

These are just my recommendations of books for single Christian women. I’m sure there are tons more. Do you have any favorites that you’ve read and enjoyed. Share them in the comments below so others can read and be inspired.

The post 16 Best Books for Single Christian Women appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANDES.

74 How To Start Christian Homeschooling?

“Our goal is to help our children be ready for heaven.”

Susanna Spencer

Who is Susanna Spencer?Susanna Spencer

Susanna Spencer has a masters in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. She is a writer and the theological editor for Blessed is She, a co-author of the children’s devotional book, Rise Up: Shining in Virtue, and a regular blog contributor at the National Catholic Register. She is a homeschooling mother of four and lives with her family in St. Paul, Minnesota. You can find out more at her website.

How To Start Christian Homeschooling?PQF · 74 How To Start Christian Homeschooling?

In this episode, Susanna Spencer tells us how Christian families can start homsechooling. She explains:
– What is homeschooling?
– Why is it a great choice for Christian families?
– What are the first steps to take? And then how do you go about it?

Teaching Children Christian Virtues

We’ve seen how teaching children Christian virtues in the home produce saints. Since we’re all going through an extensive lockdown and an unpredictable year, we’re seeing lots of parents struggling. Homeschooling is not new. However, many parents are now beginning to see the advantages of Christian homeschooling. Given all the recent changes in the public sphere, the lack of any moral code whatsoever, I’m sure many others are thinking of going this route.

I know a few of my friends even sought spouses who would support this idea before pursuing courtship. I also tutor kids in Maths and Science when a homsechooling parent finds it tough. So I decided to reach out to Susanna who has been successfully doing this for her children.

I reached out to her and she was so prompt about talking about this despite her busy schedule. In fact, on the day that we were supposed to record, I lost Wi-fi and Susanna was so gracious to reschedule. This woman has a lot of patience. And I was so grateful that she gave me a second chance to record.

As you can hear in the podcast, Susanna talks about lots of benefits of homseschooling especially for Christian families. Her family begins the day with prayer and teaching subjects that evidence God and virtues.

Most days, her kids finish school before lunch and then have the entire afternoon to play. I love how she talks about praying while deciding to do this.

Choosing to homsechool your kids is a vocation.

Susanna Spencer

Benefits of Christian Homeschooling

The biggest advantage Susanna says she sees is unity. It’s really nice to see unity among the kids. You can teach children what’s really important and focus on what matters.

It’s also less expensive.

You can make teach as much religion as you want. Her kindergarten son knows Latin prayers! Wow!

You can teach truth.

When it comes to your spouse, Susanna has excellent advice as she recommends praying for the other person. She says, “God can change people’s hearts.”

For those interested, here’s the book she recommends by Cathy Duffy, How To Choose Homeschool Curriculum. You can read this before you decide and discern what’s best for your child.

The online course website she mentioned in the podcast: https://homeschoolconnections.com/

In the end, Susanna does say, its a sacrifice and it will have its challenges. What’s right for another family might not be so for you. Don’t compare and don’t feel pressured. Take it a year at a time. You can always switch.

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