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More Than Surviving: Courageous Meditations for Men Hurting from Childhood Abuse
Cec's upcoming book, More Than Surviving, is now available for pre-order. The publisher sent Cec a box of bookmarks, and now that he's not traveling and speaking across the country, he's looking for other avenues to distribute them. If you are part of a group or ministry that would appreciate knowing about Cec's book, and you're willing to hand out his bookmarks, please email Cec and send him your snail mail address.
Thanks to Karen Baker for sending us the link to an interview Cec had with Patrick Baker of The Divine Rescue when he was in Toronto several months ago. To watch, click on the picture above.
Gifted Hands
Have you read this book Cec wrote for Dr. Ben Carson? Millions have. It was first published in 1990.
It's Okay to Fail
Like almost every person in the world, I hate to fail. 

I’ve had my times of feeling remorseful, discouraged, and indulging in self-pity. In looking back over my career, I’m also learning the benefit of those failures.       

For example, I learn about myself. When I failed, I used to fall into the self-condemning mode. What did I do wrong? My first attempts at writing professionally were abject, and I assumed that wasn’t for me. And yet, the desire stayed with me. 

Twenty years later, I had learned about the publishing business and sold my first article. Within a year I sold regularly. 

Had that original disaster not helped me see how much I wanted to be an author, I wouldn’t have continued. When it’s something of great significance, the pain level helps me grasp how important something is to me. 

Sometimes disappointment yells, “Try harder.” Other times it whispers, “That’s one more thing you didn’t want.”  

Once I applied for a job as an editor with a publishing house. I didn’t even get interviewed. When I received the news, instead of disappointment, I felt relieved. I’d applied because several people said, “You could do a great job.” 

In retrospect, I’m grateful for those flops. What if I had succeeded at something that didn’t stir my passion? Worse, what if I made a vast amount of money but despised my work? 

For me, the biggest lesson in not succeeding has fostered compassion for others who face fiascos. I can sense their pain because I’ve felt it myself.

I’m grateful for failures—and the more they hurt, the more I learned. Or I could say that I learned life’s most important lessons by succeeding. 

But that would be a lie. 
Personal News
This is my second month of being officially retired. Yes, I’m still writing—and I’m being highly selective.  

My agent has sent out a book proposal for Don Piper (90 Minutes in Heaven) with the working title: People I Met at the Gate: How Earthly Actions Made a Heavenly Impact.

I’ve agreed to write a book proposal for a well-known movie casting director this spring. 

I taught the Open Door Sunday school class in January; this month I’m teaching the Discipleship class.

February 25, I’ll again participate in a Hunger Walk. Each year 25,000 people participate in this 5k walk to raise money to feed the homeless. If you’d like to donate money, click here

The Twila Zone--
Words from My Assistant, Twila Belk
Thanks to a group of people—and we don’t even know who they all are—my husband and I now have our own handicap accessible van that can accommodate his wheelchair. It's something I had put on my “God pile” because it seemed like an impossible thing. And my amazing God proved once again that He specializes in the impossible! We're blessed.
I received a sweet surprise from BroadStreet Publishing a couple of weeks ago--a case of my one-year devotional, Raindrops from Heaven:Gentle Reminders of God's Power, Presence, and Purpose, in imitation leather. It's beautiful!
The Power to Be: Be Still, Be Grateful, Be Strong, Be Courageous (a 40-day devotional) is available for pre-order and is scheduled to release on March 1. I'm pleased that my publisher has created a free preview that includes five chapters, the intro, the foreword, the table of contents, and a few other things. It's available by texting POWERTOBE to 54900 and entering your email address. The publisher is also offering a free ebook copy of Raindrops from Heaven to those who pre-order The Power to BeClick here for the details.  
JUST FOR FUN
Who would have thought 85 years ago on January 28 that this sweet little baby would turn into a super hero and change the world one word at a time? That's a big WOW!
In honor of Cec's special birthday, let's have a contest. The first person who emails me (Twila) the correct answer to this question will win one copy each of I Believe in Healing: Real Stories from the Bible, History and Today and I Believe in Heaven: Real Stories from the Bible, History and Todaybooks Cec and Twila wrote together. 
Question: What is the title of Cec's first published book?
Gotta Tell Somebody, Inc. | 5672 Appleton Road | Bettendorf, IA 52722



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