I am a corporate career woman turned homeschool mom, writer,
speaker and soon to be podcaster. Married for 24 years with three girls…two
adult daughters and 10-year-old Hope, the mastermind behind Chickening
IN. I have a passion for seeing women grow in courage and faith, and
often I find myself starting new small group ministries. I love my German
Shepherd- Bella and most days you’ll find me sipping a glass of fresh brewed
ice tea.
Have you written
other nonfiction books?
This is my first book! However, I have written on my blog
for over two years now, and I’ve done some guest post work.
Do you have any other
books in the works right now?
I am working on several projects that include a 90 Day
Devotional- Practical Tip for Overcoming
Fear, and a companion workbook to go along with Chickening IN-
What kinds of hobbies
and leisure activities do you enjoy?
I am a foodie! My husband and I enjoy finding local
restaurants for the food, but also, for the face-to-face conversation and
connection with each other. I find it relaxing to bake, and I’ve been
attempting to perfect a banana bread recipe for years! Also, we travel to Cancun every year, and it’s become my favorite place to
vacation.
Why did you write the
featured book?
I wrote Chickening IN for three reasons. The
first is that since I was nine years old, I have been on a mission to change
the legacy passed to me from my mother. A legacy of multiple divorces,
brokenness, and dysfunction. This book represents the new legacy I leave my
children. A legacy of courage, faith, and life in Christ.
The second reason I wrote this book is because God planted
the seed deep within my heart. I tried to talk myself out of it many times, because
I felt unequipped, unworthy, and uneducated. But the desire would not go away
so I decided I better listen and go write the book!
The final reason I wrote this book is because I thought
about other women and I wondered if they too struggled with fear, doubt, and
anxiety as I have. My heart ached for the woman trapped by fear or the woman
living in doubt about who she is and if she can really trust God. Over the
years I have learned so much about fear and I felt God calling me to share
practical, manageable wisdom and tips to all of us go from fear to courageous
faith.
What do you want the
reader to take away from the book?
Chickening IN is an invitation to a lifestyle of courage
and faith. It’s a journey of loosening the power of fear over our lives in
practical and manageable ways. With the 8 Pillars of Transformation as
our guide, readers will be equipped to overcome fear and walk in faith like
never before. Things like:
Identify the roadblocks that prevent courageous forward
movement.
Learn the art of calculated risk taking to reduce risk
anxiety.
Create action plans to overcome fear and doubt.
Learn to face your fear through the stories of people
(just like us) in the Bible.
The 8 Pillars of Transformation that we will walk through
are:
Facing Fear
Stepping-up to the Plate of your Life
Taking Calculated Risks
Traveling Unknown Roads
Embracing your Uniqueness
Pursuing your Dreams
Doing it Afraid
Faith the Difference Maker
This book is not an easy read or a quick fix. It is a
process that requires deep thought and a willingness to be give an honest
self-assessment. Readers can expect to be challenged … challenged to put feet
to their faith and walk in courageously through the scary situations of life.
Is there anything else
you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?
God used the words Chickening IN to grab my attention. They
were the vehicle He used to point me back to the Bible, the place where the
most life changing words can be found. Without the Word of God, I wouldn’t be
sharing my Chickening IN journey with you. Nor would I offer it to you to
use as a tool against your fear, doubt, and anxiety. The power of Chickening
IN lies not in the phrase, but in the truth of God’s Word that it is
founded upon. Knowing the truth, studying the Scriptures, and allowing God to
guide and lead your Chickening In. And I am so thankful that the power of
transformation lies in God and His Word!
Please give us the
first page or two from the book.
Chapter 1
A TRANSFORMATION
JOURNEY
THIS IS MY STORY OF transformation. It is not just another
positive transformation story, but one that shares secrets and principles as
well as concrete action steps to help you have a transformed life as well! To
be vulnerable and honest, my life could have been so many things ... I could have
been a victim of my circumstances, I could have repeated my mother’s legacy of
pain, brokenness, love-affairs, and multiple marriages. I could have sunk into
a life-long depression feeling sorry for myself or become an angry person
living with a chip on my shoulder. I had every right to be those things, but I
wanted more. I had deep, desperate longings and needs for security, hope, and
love. Life was brutal to me. It stole, extorted, twisted, and manipulated me.
But, and I mean a huge BUT, God had a different plan. A transformational plan
to teach me, heal me, and change me into a new person. Because of that I have
learned practical ways to face my fear, create action plans, take smart
chances, and be happy with who I am.
I am now able to travel down unknown roads with new-found
boldness and have dreams again—BIG dreams! No longer controlled by fear and
triggers of a painful past, I have been transformed. You, too, can have a
transformed life. I am living proof of it! If it can work for me, it can work for
YOU! We need hope, faith, inspiration, and forward movement to change. I call
it putting feet to your faith, and this book is written to provide you with the
practical steps that worked for me. In this chapter, I want to share with you
the importance of forward movement, the roadblocks that prevent us from taking
positive action, examples from my life, and the phrase that has guided me to
transform and write this book.
The principles laid out in this book are not something
I just stumbled upon or made up myself. If it were all about me, the foundation would
fail because I am just a human being with faults and weaknesses. But instead,
we need something or Someone greater. What better place to go than the Bible!
In fact, what I want to share is that putting feet to our faith and taking
action is God’s way of transforming us! Let’s look to the Word of God for great
examples of the kind of transformation action I am talking about.
Where on the Internet
can the readers find you?
My website: http://www.chickeningin.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chickeningin/
You can purchase my book at:
Chickening IN: From Fear to Courageous Faith, 8 Pillars of
Transformation by Amazon.com
Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1620206064/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_fKbwEbAEZ59F9
Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1620206064/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_fKbwEbAEZ59F9
Or at
At Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chickening-in-jj-gutierrez/1136423524?ean=9781620206065
Thank you, JJ, for
sharing this book with us today. It sounds wonderful!
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5 comments:
This sounds like a wonderful, inspiring read. Thank you for sharing.
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thank you Connie. While I didn't plan on launching a book during the pandemic the book couldn't be more timely! So many are struggling with fear and my book offers practical steps to moving away from fear and towards courage and faith in God.
Pat Love from Lonoke, AR
This book could not have came at a better time. I was on the launch team so have read but would love t share with others in our small town who are struggling and if I win then I can share. Patandbillylove@yahoo.com
Enter me!!
Conway SC.
Pat, I graduated from Lonoke, Arkansas.
Lena
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