Embracing Wisdom on the Walk

By Lori L. Dixon

The WoW book series began its outreach through women's stories of faith, healing, and transformation with Revealing the Wisdom on the Walk. It continues to ripple its mission with 16 female authors in the newest release, Embracing the Wisdom on the Walk, where we continue to bring forth Christ-centered, Spirit-led, and God-directed insights, pra

• Language: English
• Publisher: LLD Legacy Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Mar 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9798990233416

Book preview

Embracing Wisdom on the Walk

compiled by

LORI L. DIXON, Ed.S.

Copyright © 2024 Lori L. Dixon

ISBN: 979-8-9902334-1-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Book design by Callie Revell, callierevell.com

Published by LLD Legacy Publishing, LLC

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations marked ASV are taken from the American Standard Version Bible (Public Domain).

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.crossway.org

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Public Domain).

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version® is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000. www.nelsonbibles.com

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

www.newlivingtranslation.com, http://www.tyndale.com

Scripture quotations marked MSG or The Message are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. www.navpress.com

Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.

Dedication

While this may be a different type of dedication, it is one that I must share with you.

As I have written about on many occasions and created several successful women’s programs, I started a journey of healing and transformation when I realized the need in my life for sisters.

I had an amazing sister, even though she was an adoptive one. Susie was a full ten years older than me and sometimes even acted more like a mother than a sister.She would ask for a sister every holiday, birthday, and even a regular day. Mom and Dad finally agreed. I’ve heard from people who shared in my adoption that they couldn't decide who was more excited—my mom and dad—or my sister. Having my own sister growing up was foundational in my understanding of love, support, and communication with women. She was my best friend, big sis, and my hero. We even chose similar fields to make a career. When she went through college, I was part of the Lil’ Sis program, and I loved it. When she became a teacher and moved away, I learned how to drive and had permission to go see her whenever I wanted. I volunteered in her classroom when I could, and yes—I embraced it. I was blessed to have her as my sister. She was always proud of me.

In 1999, during my doctoral program, I will never forget a particular day. I was driving home after a long day of classes, and the phone rang. Since I was in rush hour traffic, I almost didn’t pick it up. It was my brother-in-law. We all knew he wasn’t one of my favorite people—more like my least favorite. He knew I didn’t like him or even respect him. But I picked up the phone anyway. The voice on the other side of the line was his, yet something was different. He asked if I could sit down. I knew what he was about to tell me was not good. As I pulled off the highway and over to a parking lot, he began to shakily cry, which scared me even more. He said three simple words that will be indelible in my mind. Susie is gone.  I thought it was an answer to prayer. Maybe she finally was able to leave him.

Instead, I just asked, What? What do you mean? He said it again. Susie is gone. She died today. I already knew what would happen next. I couldn’t comfort him right now. I needed to know the details and drive quickly to be with my mom. I had to be the one to tell her that her daughter died today. My dad had passed away suddenly several years prior—and now my mom has lost her daughter. That story is eventually one I will write,  when God feels it is the right time. But that day, my mom had one less daughter, and I had lost my only sister.

Did I tell you she was so talented? Loving? Gentle? Funny? And she supported everyone no matter what?

Susie was my big sister. She taught me I could do anything. She is the one I called for everything, especially when dealing with anything. Taught me about life. She taught me so much, especially about how important being a SISTER is.

To Susan Lane Fones. May your legacy and wisdom in my life and in the lives of those you touched never be forgotten. Your love and light shine on in each of us. I love you.

In 1986, a beautiful woman reached out to find me. It was my biological sister. What a shock! Did I know about her? No. But deep inside my spirit, I did. We could only speak for a little while, and then, due to an agreement I made with my mom, I wouldn’t do so again until many years later.

For years, I prayed to find her again. In 2019, God created a winding path back to her. Her name is Jody. When we connected, my life started making sense. My passions that didn’t match my adopted family, my magnetic pull toward ministry, my spiritual gifts and insights, and my birth story pieces. God created a feeling of wholeness in me. Since then, she has been my mentor, my best friend, my confidante, and a guide through the strengthening faith walk. Jody led me back to who I was and who God wanted me to be. She directed me back to my mission and ministry with gentle guidance, pouring into me the deep desire for the Word and Truth of God so I could influence and impact the lives of others. Enrolling in Jody’s Bible University filled my spirit to overflowing. God knew the timing was perfect. Jody is a profound teacher, pastor, prophet, and apostle for God and His Kingdom. She is funny, a brilliant storyteller, and a precious example of being a mom and wife, which provides me with family. My sister can be fully honest and correct me in my actions and direction in life, just like an older sister would do, even though we are only 10 months apart.

I have been fully blessed, not once, but twice, with what it means to be a family. And I embrace it readily.

To Jody Glass. My sister of the earth and of God. I am profoundly changed by having you in my life. Thank you for always supporting and loving me, no matter what I am doing or where I am. I love you!

Appreciation

My Wisdom on the Walk Team:

To Callie Revell. Thank you for your continued creativity, wisdom, and tenacious work in publishing with me. We have been on this journey a long time, and I am still in awe of what God has done in connecting us. I’m blessed to have you step up into being part of this newest team. The trust I have with you is unwavering. You never stop believing in what we are creating, teaching me more and more about this business, and your willingness to take on great challenges is exemplary. Thank you for making this process and project possible and being my publishing assistant and creative director. I am truly blessed.

To Niki Banning. Words cannot express my love and appreciation for you in our work and my life. You are an imperative part of this team, and I am blessed to have you remain in the yoke of faith with me. The authors love and respect you, and the outreach and influence you have is great. The heart you put into all you do is exceptional. From daily audio texts, calls, emails, and video chats, you are always there. You are not only my assistant and editor in the walk of wisdom, but my dear friend and loved sister.

To Coach Jackie D Davis. Our friendship and sisterhood has been years in the making, and having you on our team as first an author and now spiritual support has touched all of us. Your gifts as prayer warrior, sister guide, and believer in God and Christ Jesus have touched us all deeply. As we added the new Prayer Team, you were there. As we implemented new retreats, you were there. You walk with a servant heart and a wisdom of God that is unfailing. I love you dearly and am blessed to call you sister. Thank you for being on our team.

To Sadie Howard. God always knows what He is doing in these random and chance meetings and intersections of life. Needing a new photographer who has a deep faith and love for women was my search. Then, undeniably—God showed me you. From an overwhelming list of those available, He placed your name in brilliant white light, and I knew it would be you. We connected so much from the moment we spoke that it touched my spirit. You are a light in so many lives, and we are blessed to have you shine your light in the way you bring each woman’s inner beauty radiating through. We challenge you, I know, with numerous women at a time—and you always deliver the joy, gifts, and personality of each one. How can we ever thank you for showing us our light for God except to share it consistently with others. You are talented, brilliant, gentle, and loving—and we all are impacted. Thank you for making us feel beautiful. We love you!

To the 15 authors who collaborated and walked together in faith, prayer, joy, and healing. I love you dearly, and our bond is forever created as sisters in Christ. I know God has placed us on a journey that is just beginning.

My husband, Art Dixon. For his constant love and support for the mission God has placed me on for others. For his understanding and ability to make me laugh and see the joy in life every day. I treasure the journey God has united us on together.

My Heavenly Father. It is for Him and His Kingdom we are writing. For the walk of faith we each share as sisters and brothers and for His purpose, we are here to stand firm and walk humbly with Him. He radiates His enduring love so others may feel its healing and transformation in their lives.

Contents

Introduction

Lori L. Dixon, Ed.S.

Chosen and Cherished

Lori L. Dixon, Ed.S.

Take Your Seat at the Table

Sarah Garry

God’s Grace in My Weakness: A Journey of Faith

Mai Hooper

The Beautiful Sound of Empty

Jackie Herrera

Honor, Order, and Intention

Angie Aranda

I Will Always Love You!

Lori L. Dixon, Ed.S.

Taking Off the Mask of Brokenness

Stephanie Vasquez

Rough Waters

Niki Banning

Great Is His Faithfulness

Mantequilla Green

King of Steady

Liz Gabriel

Wow! Now That’s Walk On Water Confidence

Karen Lindwall-Bourg

When It Seems So Impossible

Alicia Perryman-Proctor

Breaking the Silence

Evone Blea

Resting in the Wait: Time’s Unexpected Tests

Dr. Adeola Chukwumah

Disillusionment of Love: A Journey Through Abuse, Loss, and Redemption

Ashley Spencer

The Sunnyside of Life

Jennifer Six

The Embrace

Jackelyn Davis

Your Call

Lori L. Dixon, Ed.S.

Meet the Authors

Introduction

LORI L. DIXON, Ed.S.

It is God’s promise of restoration in our lives. Do you hear him?

I grew up knowing this verse in Jeremiah was God’s phone number. It has supported my faith through the years of challenge and struggle.

Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Do you hear the call? Is it ringing? Please pick it up.

Remember how we answer, okay? These were the words from my mom every day when Daddy was not home or unavailable to pick up the phone. My training started when I was only four years old.

My response was always, Lane’s residence, Lori speaking. I used that technique in my mom’s home, even after my dad passed away and until she was in her eighties and came to live with my husband and me. Mom asked why I didn’t answer the phone that way in my home. You could see the importance in her expression, even then.

When did you start answering your family’s phone? Did you have a specific way, word for word, you needed to use? Did you learn to take messages and relay them to Mom and Dad, or later write them a certain way?

I did! Why? My dad was in the military and a highly-appointed leader over the state. These usually weren’t sales calls like we have now or even a neighbor calling. (And yes, they called on a landline with a cord. Please don’t ask what a landline is; I will quickly show my age!) Dad’s phone calls were usually emergencies from important governmental people who needed him or had an urgency to expedite information to Dad. Sometimes, those calls were just a passing of classified information that needed to be shared. But some calls would have Daddy packing and leaving quickly to some place we would never know about. Yet, each call was critically important. Other times, it may have been a golfing friend setting up a date to play or a church member needing answers to an upcoming meeting.

As I became a teenager, you can imagine the importance of being on the phone and staying connected with my friends. Look at our young teens now and how they are texting constantly. Mom and Dad didn’t understand. I was limited to 20 minutes on the phone in the kitchen, of all places. You can only understand my response to that restriction. When I turned 16, I could pay for a princess phone in my room. I still had to adhere to the 20-minute rule, but I could shut my door and have privacy. As a teen, every call that came in for me was utterly critical, too, as most youth believe.

Why are these memories important?

As I think about answering these calls, I reflect on how the call of the Lord can be filled with similar emotions of trepidation, excitement, planning, emergency focus, engagement, and importance. The call may even contain laughter, new understanding, and respect, too. In those early days, it was instilled in my nature to approach calls with honor and respect. Have we lost the way we answer God’s calls now? Do we feel honored in His presence as we speak with Him, or are we not taking it as seriously, as a teenager would? Do we respect the words of the Lord or treat them as gossip with our friends?

At this time of my life, I choose to treat those