Yesterday, something profound happened to me.

~”And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”~ Revelation 21:5, ESV~

I went to a job fair yesterday. I went to the job fair with the intention of finding a job and not to see, meet, or even run into anyone. I ran into an old friend from college.

Now, we have not spoken in years. This is because of a disagreement that I got into with other friends in the same group, which left me to go on the path that the Holy Spirit was leading me to go since the year of 2017: separation from the Body of Christ (the friends from college) and solitude with the Lord.

~”We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”~ 2 Corinthians 5:8, KJV~

There are things that have been left unsaid among my friends and me. I have missed out on many things with my friends, such as spending weddings, holidays, and other things together because of my committed sins. I am not perfect, by any means, but God is good because He has redeemed me by His grace.

The one thing I did gain from this experience of not seeing this friend or any of my friends from college for years was a stronger sense in my calling, purpose, and destiny, as an author and advocate for children, all while developing and maintaining a stronger relationship with Jesus. I also found that my approval DOES NOT come from this friend or any of my friends from college based off of my sins committed or what they think of me, but in my relationship and walk with God.

The friend that I saw yesterday saw me at the train station and walked towards me to say, “Hello.” I told her, “Hello,” back and we went to the job fair together.

We talked about many things. We even exchanged phone numbers. I do not know if I will ever hear from this friend again or any of my other friends from college, but I am thankful for this short meeting with the friend from college and for catching up on life together. I am taking this moment, as I reflect, on to praise the Lord and thank Him for this meeting as I was not expecting to see this friend from college again.

If I hear from her again, I will be happy. If I do not hear from her, I will be happy because being apart from this friend, as well as my other friends from college, has allowed me to discover my worth and that my worth comes from the Lord Jesus Christ and no one else. I have learned a lot of valuable lessons, over the years, and God has humbled me, by His grace, to seek Him and not men or women for approval or direction first.

I am stronger. I am wiser. I am more discerning of who I can and cannot trust. I am now in a period of learning of who I can and cannot trust. Not everyone is your friend, as I am learning, from the inflicted wound of two of the friends from college in 2017, a year I will not forget, but have surrendered to the Lord, as I heal in Him.

In fact, I am still learning if I can trust this friend from college that I ran into yesterday. God is redeeming the time and showing me. I cannot help, but wonder if this was a divine set up from the Lord OR that it could be a test from the Lord OR it could be both a divine set up and a test from the Lord.

Is this friend for me? Time will tell and God will show me, even if I don’t find out right away. I am not saying that I hope that this friend wishes ill will or bad things to happen to me, but I am a firm believer in the art of reaping and sowing.

I sinned against two of my friends. I have reaped the consequences of my actions. I attempted to mend things with the friends and they seemed to not receive or be receptive of me, even during the many times I tried to contact them. My prayer is that if it is God’s will that they will see that I have become a better person, but that does not mean that I let any one, including these two friends, take advantage of me and my kindness.

I do not know if the friend I met from college yesterday will contact me again. As stated, time will tell as her intentions for me are revealed and unfold. I enjoyed the time spent with the friend from college, even if it was our last moment together. God is faithful all of the time, whether I gain or lose reputation, value, or friends or family members that once loved me for the sake of my relationship with the Lord.

~”For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”~ Philippians 1:21, KJV~

Even if this was my last moment with this friend, time will tell as the Lord guides me. I pray and wish this friend and all of my friends from college the best. I am thankful for yesterday.

Thank you for reading this long and lengthy blog post. Grace and peace to all reading it!

God is good. God is so good.

God is good because He is constantly watching over me. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

God is good because He is constantly loving on me. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

God is good because He is constantly sharing His good news with me. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

~”And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told from the Lord.”~ Luke 1:45, KJV~

God is constantly watching over me. Therefore, He is good. Praise Jehovah and Hallelujah!

God is constantly loving on me. Therefore, He is good. Praise Jehovah and Hallelujah!

God is constantly sharing His good news with me. Therefore, He is good. Praise Jehovah and Hallelujah!

God is good. God is so good.

I believe. I believe in Jesus Christ and that He is my Lord and Savior.

One reason that I believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior is because He cares for me. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

Another reason that I believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior is because He loves me. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

A third reason why I believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior is because He died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave for my sins. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

~”That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”~ Romans 10:9, KJV~

Jesus Christ cares for me so much that He became my Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

Jesus Christ loves me so much that He became my Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave for my sins and became my Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

I believe. I believe in Jesus Christ and that He is my Lord and Savior.

You are good. You are a good and gracious God.

You are a good and gracious God because You protect me. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

You are a good and gracious God because You forgive me of my sins. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

You are a good and gracious God because You are kind to me always. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

~”O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.”~Psalm 136:1, KJV~

You protect me. Therefore, You are a good and gracious God. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

You forgive me of my sins. Therefore, You are a good and gracious God. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

You are kind to me always. Therefore, You are a good and gracious God. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

You are good. You are a good and gracious God.

I recently published my first book, “A Victory Song: Beneath the Veil.” After I published this book, the Holy Spirit of God was leading me to make a decision and to go in a different direction. God always has His way of surprising us.

~”Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”~ Psalm 119:105, ESV~

I prayed. I prayed. And I prayed. I also sought wise counsel from two members of the Body of Christ regarding this decision that I was in the process of making. After seeking this counsel and praying for direction, the Lord led me to resign from Atlanta Christian Voice.

I have faithfully served as the editor for Atlanta Christian Voice for four and a half years. I did not know that the Holy Spirit of God would lead me to write a book during the time that I served with Atlanta Christian Voice. My style of writing has developed immensely since I wrote my first book.

As my writing style began to develop, I noticed that my passion and way of writing to serve the Lord developed more into a creative side than a journalism focus. This is because Atlanta Christian Voice focuses on journalism-related writing than on creative writing. I believe, as I type this blog post, that the Holy Spirit of God was giving wisdom and discernment as my portion to see that my writing style is more creative focused than journalism centered as I write to serve others through Jesus Christ in my writing.

I really enjoyed the experience that I gained and learned from writing for Atlanta Christian Voice as well as the many articles that I wrote for it. I am also excited for the next level that His hand is leading me to walk. My prayer is that God will prepare me and make me ready for this next level that He is taking me to walk in my style of writing. I am really happy for this journey that God is taking me on with Him by my side. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

~”You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”~ Psalm 119: 114, ESV~

Thank you everyone for reading this blog post as I journey alongside the Lord in my walk with Him. May it bless you richly today!

I am joyful. I am joyful and praising the Lord right now!

~”Sanctify them in the truth: your word is truth.”~ John 17:17, ESV~

I am joyful right now because I have the joy of the Lord in my heart. Praise Immanuel and Hallelujah!

I am joyful right now because I have the joy of the Lord in my mind. Praise Immanuel and Hallelujah!

I am joyful right now because I have the joy of the Lord in my heart and in my mind. Praise Immanuel and Hallelujah!

~”Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”~ John 13:20, ESV~

I have the joy of the Lord in my heart as I am joyful. Praise God and Hallelujah!

I have the joy of the Lord in my mind as I am joyful. Praise God and Hallelujah!

I have the joy of the lord in my heart and in my mind as I am joyful right now. Praise God and Hallelujah!

I am joyful. I am joyful and praising the Lord right now!

I worship the Lord. I worship the Lord God.

As I worship the Lord God, I meditate on the goodness of God. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

As I worship the Lord God, I meditate on the mercies of God. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

As I worship the Lord God, I meditate on the love of God. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

~”The Lord appeared to him from far away, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”~ Jeremiah 31:3, ESV~

I meditate on the goodness of God as I worship the Lord God. Praise Immanuel and Hallelujah!

I mediate on the mercies of God as I worship the Lord God. Praise Immanuel and Hallelujah!

I meditate on the love of God as I worship the Lord God. Praise Immanuel and Hallelujah!

I worship the Lord. I worship the Lord God.

I am really excited for the direction that God is taking me concerning my calling, as an author. The Lord has been so, so good to me!! Praise Jehovah and Hallelujah!

~”For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”~ Jeremiah 29:11, ESV~

At the beginning of April 2022, I attended the Impact and Influence Author’s Conference, which literally changed my life! I met other authors, like myself, who have the same common goal and calling as me: to inspire, to impact, and to touch lives through writing!

I had a very blessed time at the Impact and Influence Author’s Conference! My book that was recently published, “A Victory Song: Beneath the Veil,” sold copies at the Impact and Influence Authors Conference. My book is about my battle with mental illness and how the Lord used my church family at First Baptist Atlanta to point me in the direction of Christian counseling at the church so that I can develop spiritual disciplines to empower me to walk in the Word of God as I confronted my mental illness (I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder) and I sought the Lord to walk in the healing power of God.

In my book, I discuss topics that are relatable to everyone so that even if you do not have a mental illness, you can relate to it. I talk about seasonal friendships, my relationship with my mother, and my relationship with my ex-boyfriend, all of which point me in the direction of healing, help, and hope in Christ Jesus as I went to a Christian counselor at my church to receive the healing gift of Jesus Christ and walk healed (even though I am not physically healed in this lifetime, I am spiritually healed, praise the Lord!!)

I remember one teenage girl, who I met at the conference, who is also diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her mother came up to speak directly with me after I spoke at speech at the conference and she told me that her daughter was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder and that she can be deeply inspired by my testimony be reading my book, so she bought a copy of my book for her. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

~”Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.”~Luke 22:42, ESV~

After having this conversation with the teenage girl’s mother, I knew that the will of the Father had been accomplished that day to touch, to reach, and to inspire a life. I thank God for the work that He is doing to reach lives through my newly published book. I thank God and give Him all of the glory!

At the end of the Impact and Influence Author’s Conference, I was not the same person going into the conference that I was leaving the conference. I was different in that I realized my calling, purpose, and destiny: My name is Sarah Dickens. I am a follower of Jesus and I am an author too! Glory to God and Hallelujah!

If you feel led by the Lord to purchase a copy of my book, “A Victory Song: Beneath the Veil,” from the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites, feel free to click on and follow the links to the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites to purchase your copy today!

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-victory-song-sarah-dickens/1141055426?ean=9781639037742

Grace and peace everyone and thank you for reading this blog post!

I worship You. I worship You and Your Holy Name.

Your Name is Holy unto me as I worship You. Praise God and Hallelujah!

Your Name is Majesty unto me as I worship You. Praise God and Hallelujah!

Your Name is Wonder unto me as I worship You. Praise God and Hallelujah!

~”For blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”~ Luke 1:45, KJV~

I worship You as Your Name is Holy unto me. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

I worship You as Your Name is Majesty unto me. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

I worship You as Your Name is Wonder unto me. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!

I worship You. I worship You and Your Holy Name.

I praise the Lord. I praise the Lord today!!

I praise the Lord today because of all of the good things that He has done for me. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

I praise the Lord today because of all of His creation and majesty upon the earth. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

I praise the Lord today because of His love for little children, like me. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

~”I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.”~ Psalm 143:5, KJV~

Because of all of the good things that God has done for me, I praise His Holy Name today. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

Because of all of the creation and majesty of God upon the earth, I praise His Holy Name today. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

Because of the love of God for little children, like me, I praise His Holy Name today. Praise Yahweh and Hallelujah!

I praise the Lord. I praise the Lord today!!