One of the things I love most about writing is the connections I get to make with other writers. These folks inspire and encourage me in huge ways, ways that make a difference. They speak to my soul and model for me that the faith journey (which for me includes a writing journey) is one to keep pursuing with all we hve.
Dorina Gilmore-Young is a writing friend who continually challenges and motivates me to live my best life in Christ. She does it by her words, her example, and her unflagging commitment to obey God’s call on her life. Dorina’s a mother of three girls, was widowed in her 30’s when her husband died of melanoma, and is now remarried - a full time writer and speaker. She helped start a nonprofit in Haiti, where she lived for a time with her first husband. She runs marathons and is a track coach. So as you can see, Dorina is the Real Deal.
This year Dorina put out a Bible study workbook called Flourishing Together: Cultivating a Fruitful Life in Christ. I’ve read the book and done the study; it’s an awesome resource. Here’s my Amazon review:
It's tricky business to write a Bible study that is authentic, readable, and theologically robust. Dorina handles all of these perfectly in this book. The concepts she covers are important, even critical, to those who want to follow Christ well in their lives. The amount of Bible - the wealth of stories - she covers in this study is significant in the project... but also doable. The personal stories and background she shares are just the right amount to engage the reader and prompt reflection. And the questions she asks are insightful and helpful.
Any Christian woman could benefit greatly from this study.
This book might be a great Christmas gift for a woman in your life! Go check it out.
To help you get to know Dorina a bit, I thought it might be helpful to include a couple snippets of three favourite blog posts of hers over the past year or so. I so enjoyed reviewing these myself and being reminded of the power of Dorina’s words and story.
5 myths about grief and 1 important truth
Dorina writes a lot about grieving well. From this post: “I decided to take an informal poll of some of my widow sisters and friends. The following are some common grief myths that frequently find their way into attitudes and conversations. There is great value in having conversations about how we process our grief because it helps us learn about ourselves and helps others understand our journey. Whether you are grieving yourself or supporting someone who is, I hope this will help you gain a deeper awareness of the grief process and how unique it is for each person.”
In the shadow of the giant: how to be a glory-chaser
Dorina’s a runner, and she writes about God’s ministry to her through running and races. “(The 20k trail) taunts and charms me at the same time. The trail requires embracing the unknown. The trail experience is less about pace and mileage, and checking my Garmin watch, and more about lifting my eyes to drink in God’s glory around every curve. I once heard a preacher talk about how we are called to be ‘glory chasers.’ Pastor Mitchel Lee’s phrase sparked something deep inside me. He argued that we humans were put on this earth to discover God’s glory and reflect it back to God and those around us.”
Facing transitions: how to grow resilient kids in a changing world
A snippet from this post: “The reality is we spend a lot of time in our lives transitioning from one thing to the next. Seasons change. Kids grow up. Tragedy strikes. Friendships wane. Leaders we love move on to new callings. As a mama, I have a deep-rooted desire to protect my kids from the hard stuff, to shield them from the pain and heartache, but I’ve learned this does not always serve them well… Kids grow resilient when they learn to navigate transitions. Rather than trying to shield my girls from challenges, I believe my job is to help them learn to embrace each new season”
The core of Dorina’s message is chasing God’s glory - unearthing it for ourselves, which brings him praise and us joy, and leading others towards it. She brings out the #glorychaser in me.
I trust you’ll enjoy perusing her stuff, and if you get/read her devotional book, let me know! I’d love to connect with you about it.
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