3 Best of Everything

Taking in a Stray Dog: Tips & a Heartwarming update after 8 years!

2025-02-18T14:40:00.003-07:00

Hello everyone, I want to update you on a special family member, Ember the dog. You see, back in 2018 we found a stray dog, while we were living abroad in Guatemala.

Here is the video I made when we rescued her. She was so cute, but also deeply exhausted, hungry, and in need of medical attention! Wow- I can't believe she is already almost 8 years old!

To say Ember is a special dog is an understatement. We've built a whole family around her, and she is incredibly gentle and sweet with our two young children.

Here is Ember today. Ember is 8 years old, and our children are 6 and 3.

We believe Ember is a blessing, but such a successful adoption doesn't happen by chance. There are several things we did right from the beginning that made this a seamless, sweet experience, and I'm happy to share what I've learned with you.

1. Stray Dog Medical Care

There are a few things you can do before even visiting the vet to make the stray dog feel more comfortable and be more safe around your family. In the video where I shared my experience, I suggested a few simple things:

:: Collar and Leash set – A big part of safety is just keeping the dog from getting back loose again, of course! These simple neoprene ones are long lasting. You'll be glad you have a simple set for just getting in and out of the car. Also, this is the type of leash that pro dog trainers suggest. More on training later.

:: Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade) – This is such a hot tip. Welcome to the biggest word ever, pronounced "Die-ah-toe-may-shus Earth" -- but it's SO key. Stray dogs often come with parasites, both external and internal. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural way to help eliminate intestinal worms and can also be lightly dusted onto their coat and bedding to kill fleas and ticks without harsh chemicals. It's an essential first step in making sure your new pup starts their new life in better health. It's totally safe for the whole household and you don't need any kind of prescription for it.

:: Flea & Tick Shampoo – Fleas and ticks are just part of the package when you take in a stray, and they need to be dealt with immediately. A good flea and tick shampoo provides immediate relief for your new doggy friend and will prevent parasites from spreading in your home.

:: Neosporin – Stray dogs often have minor cuts, scrapes, or abrasions from life on the streets. The classic human grade Neosporin is useful for dog's wounds too, for faster healing. A little care and attention to these minor injuries shows love!

2. Basics for the Home

These are pretty obvious ones, but I have some opinions here too from experience that my help you.

:: Dog Crate – This is a subject of debate, but I know for us as renters we were concerned that the dog might do damage to the inside of our home when we weren't there, so we got a crate as soon as we could. Crate training is a whole thing to itself, and we decided not to stick with it.

:: Baby Gate – You'll find out fast that there are parts of the house you don't want the dog to be, especially if it sheds. We now have a baby gate for our stairs, for example.

:: Dog Bed -- A simple, machine washable dog bed will be a great addition. We had trouble getting our dog to use one at first, she was so used to laying on the ground. But eventually and with a little training, she began to understand that the bed was just for her. What a sweet realization!

When it comes to nutrition, that's between you and your vet. But, a simple diet of rice and chicken is easy on the stomach for dogs and the softer food may be more similar to what the stray is used to eating if she's been living on the streets.

3. Training

Next up, it's time to get trained. Everything else, like toys and treats is just extra! Getting training will make a huge difference.

:: E-collar– The professional trainers we worked with suggested an e-collar. I was against it at first until I tested it on myself and found out that it genuinely was humane and would save Ember from real danger like roads, and other dogs. There are many available online, ours came with the training package we got with an in-person trainer. Here is one with good reviews and a 10% promo code through my link: G2XGWX6M

Special training: We were able to get Ember trained to be an emotional support dog so that she could travel back to the US with us on the airplane. It helped us again and again.

10 Mornings of FERVENT Prayer | FERVENT Bible Study | Now Enrolling!

2024-08-01T10:28:00.004-06:00

Looking for the Bible Study plan to go along with War Room and the book FERVENT by Priscilla Shirer?

If you’d like to put FERVENT prayer into practice right away, you’re in the right place.

You’re invited to “10 Mornings of FERVENT Prayer” which includes video teachings and free printable extras.

TO GET YOUR FREE STUDY BOOK…

Let us know you’re IN by signing up for our study group. You’ll receive our all-new PDF workbook which will release on 8/5, for FREE.

TO GET YOUR PRE-RELEASE PRINT BOOK Donate to this ministry and get an exclusive pre-release print copy of the workbook mailed directly to you with our thanks!

Get Print Copy Mailed to You

It’s Easy to Join the Study

Join a Study Team (Day 1 is 8/12)

Looking forward to connecting with you and having a fun “Grand Finale” when we go watch The Forge in theaters. Let me know if you plan to go watch!

Love in Christ,

Laura Gabriele

This ministry is not directly affiliated with Lifeway, Kendrick Brothers, or Going Beyond ministries. We are an online community of women who have been meeting to do Priscilla Shirer Bible Studies together through Zoom for the past 8 years, and we are always excited to meet more ladies who want to join in. We’re so excited to share this with you and “go to the movie” together!

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Roadtrip With Baby and Toddler Tips

2021-07-05T17:03:00.003-06:00

Looking for hacks to make a road trip with a baby and toddler go great? This Summer my family ventured a 10 hour drive and tent camping trip to the Redwoods, with a toddler, 3 month old baby, and our dog.

It went incredibly smoothly, and many of my mom friends have been asking for the secret sauce! I’m going to break this down into several posts, starting with our road trip hacks for road tripping with a baby, toddler, and dog. In future posts I’ll talk about tent camping with kids and some Redwoods specific tips too.

Car preparations for our family of 4 plus dog were make-or-break. I have plenty of hacks to offer here but let’s start with what’s on everyone’s mind: what to do with ALL. THIS. STUFF!

My husband warned me ahead of time that with all the camping gear, food, and firewood, we would have no wiggle room, and he even told me to kiss my foot space goodbye! I took that as a welcome challenge. Everyone knows a long road trip is better when you can extend your legs!

First, I minimized my packing list to the bare bones. Clothes and shoes were packed in carry-on sized roll away bags: one for kids and the other for adults. Inside I included laundry bags to use for dirty clothes and to separate shoes from touching clothes.

Car Storage With No Roof Rack

If you don't have a car roof rack, you'll need to rely on interior car storage solutions. Since roof racks are ridiculously expensive, I was so pleased to find a reasonably priced alternative that works to create storage inside a car! Our car's interior cargo net was installed specifically for this trip, but I’m leaving it up. It provides a space for soft items like blankets and pillows.

With a baby it's normal to need lots of burp cloths, blankets, and changes of clothes, and this was a game changer. I had a spot for my blankets and a change of clothes for me right behind my head. I also used the area above my daughter’s seat to store her shoes. As a toddler she is prone to remove her shoes and in a crammed car it’s so easy for a shoe to go awol. This one trick likely saved me from lots of frustrated searching time.

What I love about the car storage cargo net:

Accessible storage from anywhere in the car keeps essentials always within easy reach
Super easy to install, using velcro straps on otherwise useless overhead handles.
Tightens with bungee drawstring so you can still see using your rear view mirror

Find the cargo net here: Roadtrip ceiling cargo net, right now it's $26.98.

Staying Organized on Roadtrips with a Baby

With a baby, clutter seems to be a fact of life! That's why I recommend you start packing the car at least 2 days prior to your roadtrip. Motherhood is such a paradox, we need things to be neat and tidy to feel sane but we also need everything in arm's reach! Sit in your car where you will be sitting and check that you car reach all of the following...

Things You Need Within Arm's Reach on a Roadtrip with a Baby

Wipes and Diapers
Trash bin (I love this one)
Water and snacks for you
Water and snacks for the kids
Binkies, and MORE binkies
Phone charger
Blankies
Burp cloths
Change of clothes for baby
Change of clothes for you (trust me, you don't want to be digging through your trunk for your overnight bag if you just got spit up on!
Laundry bag - because spitup is stinky and you want to get that off you and keep it from stinking up everything else in your car

The biggest reason for car clutter with a baby is general messes and diapers creating lots of soiled clothes and trash. My baby is three months old and still in diapers, and my toddler is already potty trained. You'll want to bring way more diapers than you think you will need! It’s so stressful to be running low especially when you’re roadtripping to a more remote place like the Redwoods. I stored diapers and wipes in the seat pocket in front of the baby carseat, and also kept wipes and diapers in the front passenger seat. I made do with built-in storage in the car for this, but kept reaching for the cargo net for blankets. I did most of the diaper changes in the front seat, protecting the chair with a couple baby blankets just in case.

And just to reiterate, it’s important to know how you're going to handle dirty diapers and trash. I used to keep a plastic garbage bag in the front seat, but when space is at a premium and you have dirty diapers to contend with, you need to up your car garbage game! Yes, I got an actual garbage can for the car.

What I love about our car trash can:

It straps in place right behind the center consul, a spot you probably weren’t using anyway that’s still easy to reach
It’s soft sided
Looks small but holds a deceptively large amount of garbage at one point I think ours fit three or four empty drink bottles

You can see ours here, and it's only $12.99: car trash can Of any of the things I bought for the car, this is the one my husband was most skeptical of. But after seeing it in action he is a believer. He kept marveling that it still wasn't full!

Estimating Roadtrip Time with Kids

We recommend you take whatever Google maps tells you and then add 20% longer travel time to it if you're traveling with kids. This doesn't make you a failure, this makes you practical. If you can accept the fact that you're going to need to take frequent stops, you can do it with no drama.

Bathroom breaks are probably the biggest culprit for travel delays with kids. But let me get real with you for a moment... if you are a few months post-partum like I was for this road trip, remember your bladder is still healing. So need to take EVERY opportunity to use the bathroom, even if you feel like you don't have to. You can really make this a lot easier on everyone if you're willing to forgo the traditional toilet and get a little wild, haha. As an adult this is pretty straightforward, and you'll be glad you had those baby wipes on hand.

But for my toddler, I use a potty chair specifically for the car. I used to bring my daughter’s only potty chair with us in the car which was always a source of stress as I'd often forget it at home and it's just really bulky! For this roadtrip I got wise and purchased one that's designed specifically for the car.

What I love about the roadtrip potty chair is...

It's fully collapsible, not a space waster - even the legs fold in
It has baggie liners for easy cleanup
The basin is removable so you can set it up outdoors to help them go on the ground

The one we use is reasonably priced at $20.99 and is linked here: toddler potty chair

Keeping Your Baby Happy on a Road Trip

The ability to easily see and interact with your baby in their car seat is really non-negotiable on a roadtrip. Its so hard not to hold baby for a long period of time, too as a Mom!

The situation is made a lot better with a basic, high-quality carseat mirror. Full visibility of a baby is a safety must, and a mirror is the best option for visibility with rear-facing seats. A good mirror also benefits the baby. If it's large enough and a high enough quality, the view of the road and the front passenger seat reflected in the mirror adds interest and a sense of comforting presence for a rear-facing child. In the past, I wrestled with two terrible baby mirrors that required near constant adjustment and they would often flop down during driving excursions. I’m pleased that I finally found one I love. I have linked it here.

What I love about the carseat mirror:

Easy install
Super large mirror so you can see baby’s whole body and he doesn’t slip out of view
Sturdy swivel adjust

Like I said, any kids car mirror will do, but if yours is problematic, it's time to upgrade so those problems don't plague your whole road trip. Ours was only $20 and totally worth it, here's a link: carseat mirror I have watched my baby playing with his reflection now that its not the old small and cloudy one... quality makes a big difference here!

Sun can also be a big problem - many times you won't know why baby is so fussy and it's just because the sun was in their eyes! No matter how tinted your car windows, harsh sun can prevent kids from being able to rest easy. I used to struggle with blankets draped over the windows, having to constantly readjusting them and then even sometimes falling on my kids face!

I'm so glad I found these sun blockers for the windows. What I love about them:

no spit necessary! They actually stick with static cling.
My child can easily remove them too for when we want to roll down the window and get a better look at the view (did this in the Redwoods!)
Slim and easy to store

They are another cheap hack at only $11.97 for a pack of two... car sun shades for kids window

Car Roadtrip Toys for Babies and Toddlers

Like any good mom, I want to give my kids the world and make sure they have everything they need. But for my two kids in a very packed car, it was essential I kept the toy clutter at baby. I chose just one or two quiet items for each of them to stay entertained.

For my 3 month old, I brought his favorite- the TaGgies Crinkle Paper Baby Toy. I have linked the exact one. The interesting mix of textures including fuzzy parts, silky tags, and lumpy doggie face provided just the right amount of entertainment for eager little fingers, curious mouth and sleepy eyes that just want to doze. The best part? The silky tags serve as a kind of pacifier for him. This is amazing because the Binky kept falling out of his mouth which was driving me crazy! For some reason he likes the tags just as much.

Why I love it

crinkle sound is like ASMR for babies
Keeps baby calm and occupied
Big key ring so it won’t fall out of reach
Silky tags work like a stand in for the binky

It's only $10 and makes baby (and thereby me) very happy. Here is that link again: taggies baby toy

For my toddler, I love her quiet book (a soft, tactile activity book, link here $24.99) for times like these and the activity table. I was sure to fill up her Activity Table with goodies like paper, stickers, crayons, and yes I did use a movie or two on my iPad. If you’re going to have your child watch movies, be sure you’ve “downloaded” them so that they are viewable when your signal fades on longer trips.

Why I love the activity table for my toddler:

slot for the tablet keeps it safe from crayons and spills, propped up correctly, but still responsive to fingertips
Surface is wipeable, and dryerase if you’re willing to risk using dryerase markers
Slim and easy to take off and put on your child’s lap
Great surface for eating, drawing, reading or any other activity
Cuts down on the incidents of a front-facing toddler constantly dropping things!

The activity table is $26.99 (linked right here!) and is a great thing to put on your wishlist.

Beyond these fun hacks, my final piece advice for a road trip is just to be confident! You have so much going for you on a road trip- constantly changing scenery out the window, the steady thrum of the tires, the vibration of the road. There is a saying that my pediatrician told me when I was concerned my baby’s daytime sleep would lead to a sleepless night. He said, “Sleep begets sleep.” Allow your children to enjoy a drowsy day full of rest without worrying about the consequences later. He was right. Any time we’ve allowed our children to sleep extra they seem to be alright with the night routine as well.

This blog post has a companion video! There is so much to show you so I thought I'd give you an actual tour of our roadtrip-ready car. Follow along with this blog post for easiest access to links and extended descriptions that I didn't have the time to share in the short 4 minute timeframe. I invite you to watch our video on YouTube: Roadtripping with a Baby and Toddler which shows many of these items in use. It's a brand new channel just for our family adventures and I called it: The Go Wild Gabrieles! Thanks for checking out this blog post and if you have any questions please leave a comment here or on the video and I'll get back to you! Big hugs, remember to just relax and enjoy the journey!

- Laura

The Morning Miracles Challenge with Ambitious Christian Women - November 2020

2020-10-22T10:07:00.010-06:00

Ever tried to start something new and make it a habit? It's hard!

When I decided that I wanted to read my Bible every day, pray intentionally, and do basics like daily stretching, I was feeling SO willing and SO ready! I knew how beneficial those simple changes would be to my life, and though I didn't expect it to be easy, I knew I was capable. Plus it was a noble pursuit and I knew God would help me. My self discipline wasn't great but I wanted to grow it and be that woman I knew I could be.

But it was way, waaaaaay harder than I thought.

The first couple days went well, and I felt excited and good about it. I sensed change coming. But then, I got off track. Just one day of staying up too late then sleeping in a little too long to get ahead... and suddenly I felt my old habits overtake me, like a giant wave.

I was humbled. I was going to need help. More prayer... more will power... something!

What I really needed was like-minded community. Sisters in Christ that wanted this morning routine change too. Women who were honest, kind, gentle but also driven, passionate, on fire for God. I needed them to come alongside me and encourage me. Not just for one day, but every day. But I didn't know how to find them. So for months I struggled alone, reading books and listening to motivational audio recordings to fill the void.

Eventually, after much trial and error, I gained the insights, tools, and self discipline to make my morning routine a reality for me.

That's why I created the Morning Miracles Challenge. I realized that my trial-by-fire could benefit other women and help them get ahead more quickly.

Think of your morning like this:

Every day, your mind is like crowded beach, full of voices vying for your attention and things to trip over. There are people, responsibilities, and many colorful distractions luring you, and there is also a cozy cabana that invites you to just tune out, lay down and waste away the morning hours, wearing earplugs and dozing in the sun.

But in the distance, you see something different. Something wonderful. The sunrise kisses a small, quiet island with nothing but a Bible, glass of water, a tree for shade, and a simple, comfortable chair. Just the sight of it thrills your spirit. You sense the presence of the Lord is there. A time of refreshment, meditation, and personal growth just between you and God await... if only you can get there.

You look around again at this noisy beach you're on, and you know for sure where you want to be. Not here, but over there with your Jesus.

You're about to link arms with a group of women who will help you paddle out every day for 10 days, help you beat the waves and the tides, and overcome the voices from the shore that call out to keep you from changing.

It's the Morning Miracles Challenge, a 10 day morning routine challenge that gets you to that place, just you and the Lord, for healing, for comfort, or just to feel His presence in your life again.

Each day you're asked to check in with your team on our private Facebook group. We want to know how you're doing and help you stay focused. After those 10 days are through, you'll know the ropes and where you can improve. You'll be stronger to face the rest of the month on your own. But if you fail, or if you want a boost again, we will be here the following month, for 10 days, to help you reach your goal.

What I have found is that women keep coming back, again and again. Just for the community and encouragement. Each month of our lives is a new adventure, and the Morning Miracles Challenge returns with a new theme and new ideas to help you succeed.

Some months you'll be stronger than others and you'll be one of the women who can help a teammate who is struggling. Other months you'll benefit from another woman's strengths. But one thing is for sure - we will be glad to have you.

Click this link to join: https://bit.ly/Morning-Miracles-Challenge

I hope to see you inside.

With love in Christ,

Laura

P.S. If you'd like to join us for November 2020, you should know that signup is happening right now. Our first day of the 10 day challenge is Monday, November 2nd but we like to get our groups together in advance. You can join us in the group at any time, but if you'd like to be added to an official Morning Miracles Challenge accountability team for November, please sign up right now!

God is the Master Gardener

2020-06-10T07:46:00.002-06:00

Each month, I co-lead a 10 day morning routine challenge called “Morning Miracles” - it’s one of my favorite things, and while it is the smallest of our groups, I consider it the heartbeat of the Ambitious Christian Ministry.

Years ago, when I started getting serious about putting God first in my life and days, I had difficulty finding likeminded women, specifically Christian women, who were actively pursuing a strong Jesus-centered morning routine.

Now, there are about 500 of us meeting monthly in the Facebook group located here: Morning Miracles Challenge

The group is managed by 7 amazing co-leaders:

Mary Mulligan Stipp, Illinois

Bekie Blanco Abiro, Texas

Debra Abisher, Arkansas

Beth A Summers Eilers, Illinois

Julie Jeno, Utah

Alison Tegano, New Jersey

Jennifer Reaves, Texas

These women have all been working with me practically daily for the past 1-2 years. In addition to helping keep the Morning Miracles machine running month after month, they help me think through complex social issues, like the ones we are facing with Coronavirus and Black Lives Matter, and hold everything up to the truth of the Bible, before opening my mouth to speak formally as a representative of the ministry. They are wise, loving, and fun! We finally met just for fun last month (Bekie’s idea) and we learned so much about each other.

I’m sharing all of this for two reasons.

Firstly, in just two days the Ambitious Christian Women ministry turns 4 years old! 😍 I plan to post separately about that, especially for those of you who support us financially.

And secondly, part of today’s challenge was to reflect on Genesis 2:8 and 2:15 and how we should be tending the garden we’ve been placed in.

I think it honors God to reflect on all He’s doing and consider how you can be a better co-laborer.

When I think about my garden I think about all the wonderful opportunities I’ve been given, and all the things budding, about to burst forth - how my daughter is growing beautifully strong and fast, how we are possibly buying our first home soon, how I was just offered my job back at work on my own terms, and how the ministry continues to flourish despite change and pressures of life. I think about my approach to motherhood and how I’m being constantly refined. I think about my relationship with my husband, and how parenthood is growing us. I think about my friendships online and off, and especially our church.

There is always so much happening! And I see God’s hand and favor in it all.

When I think of areas that need my attention, it’s overwhelming. I think that for sure I can never do ENOUGH. I am always thinking of new projects, Bible studies to facilitate, snail mail to send, blog posts to write. And if we get this house, I’ll have my fair share of home projects to keep me very very busy. But I want to be walking in step with the Holy Spirit, so that means I’ll need more self-control than ever.

I learned a while ago to give it all to God and ask for the grace to complete the MUST DOs plus a little more, and to run my own race with excellence. I know for sure that for me it starts in the morning, every morning by meditating on God’s word (the Bible) and praying real, thoughtful, strategic prayers. Those two things are like the watering of the whole life Garden. If you don’t have the watering consistent, all your hard work is at the mercy of the weather.

And LOOK OUT, because if you haven’t noticed - the weather isn’t very merciful! 😂

I will never be a master gardener of my life, but thankfully I look to Jesus, the rock that is higher than I, the one who is and will always be THE Master Gardener. He leads, guides, and directs me, and I don’t need to worry about anything,

If you’re considering putting God first every day with a strong morning routine that’s centered on Him, you’ll love our little group. You are placed with accountability partners who want the same and encouraged to check in daily with your team showing you are completing the various steps of the challenge. Scroll back up for the link - I hope to see you inside!

❤️ Never stop learning, growing, and reaching

Laura

Laura's Christmas Gift List... EXPOSED!

2019-12-01T16:37:00.005-07:00

This is my fun little video sharing all my Christmas gift ideas for my in Laws, Gifts for Men, Gifts for Kids, and all the women in my life! There are ACTUAL spoilers in here so please if you even MIGHT get a Christmas gift from me, please skip this video!

When you make a purchase through one of my links, you support this ministry at no additional cost to you! Sometimes, because of the discounts and promo codes I can offer, the price actually comes down. Thank you so much for watching, clicking, and liking and commenting!

Watch the video on YouTube here:

WATCH: Laura's Christmas Gift List

And all the links to the gift ideas are below in the show notes!

🎁 Gift 1: Luxury PJ set!
I got my Cosabella Pima cotton, mother of pearl button pajama sets from Stitchfix Extras

Use my link to StitchFix for a $50 credit toward your first purchase!: Your $50 Invite to StitchFix from Laura Gabriele!
Or you could shop on Amazon. It’s the Cosabella set here: https://amzn.to/35MRWZK

🎁 Gift 2: High Quality Bra

True and Co: https://bit.ly/37UZz2g
Spanx Bra-llelujiah: https://amzn.to/2OWfmoK

🎁 Gift 3: Christmas Card stuffers

Leather Bookmarks: https://amzn.to/2R2MPAF

🎁 Gift 4: More Christmas Card stuffers

Proverbs in Color Cards: www.adornedwithdelight.com
Colorful Blessings cards to color and share: https://amzn.to/2R2MPAF

🎁 Gift 5: The Christian Daily Planner

This is the one that wowed my husband - You can view all of the 2020 details here: www.christiandailyplanner.com

🎁 Gift 6: Purchase an Acre of Land in their name

I used www.highlandtitles.com for Scotland, and you can find other websites for things like naming a crater...

🎁 Gift 7: (Oops I skipped 7 sorry lol there is no 7)

🎁 Gift 8: Coffee Table Book of photos of their favorite place or home city https://amzn.to/2OVBFuM

🎁 Gift 9: Picture Book of Psalms

Great gift for the elderly or those suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia https://amzn.to/2OCZEA3

🎁 Gift 10: Experiential gifts! Check Groupon for good ideas near where they live.

🎁 Gift 11: TOYS - Big but not as expensive as they look!

Girls tent - https://amzn.to/2LaVMny
Boys tent - https://amzn.to/35OdC7L
Pop up indoor fun house - https://amzn.to/33HEWDu
Marble run - https://amzn.to/37VOhdQ
Indoor basketball hoop arcade game - https://amzn.to/2LblkAZ

🎁 Gift 12: All my Friends Have Issues

Quickly becoming my favorite book... https://amzn.to/37XhIfY

Thank you for watching and reading! To learn more about this ministry please see our Ambitious Christian Women Patreon page!

Happier by the Minute with Stacey Yates Sellar - a new online community

2018-02-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you Happier by the Minute for entrusting me with the soft launch of your first flagship digital asset and corresponding Facebook Group. Now we nurture this fledgling online community in their exploration of positive psychology!

The group is open to the public: https://www.facebook.com/groups/happierbytheminute if you'd like to learn to apply the science of happiness to your everyday life.

Here are some engagement and growth statistics from our first full month:

The corresponding Instagram page which I manage, @happierbyminute has been seeing excellent growth at the pace of about 75 new followers per week. See that here: Happier by the Minute Instagram

We begin with her professionally pre-recorded videos which I reformat for social media and apply captions. I also source beautiful imagery to go along with her science-backed happiness tools and tips. We continue to trend in the top 9 for the #positivepsychology hashtag and we are discovering new avenues for reach every day!

Soon we will launch an initiative to turn followers into group members, and I can't wait to report on how that goes. We also have a new influencer outreach campaign which will really take things to the next level.

As part of the monthly management package, also I restructured the Happier by the Minute YouTube channel, adding a Trailer Video which I made, organized all videos neatly into playlists to boost SEO, and applied clear calls to action where applicable. Take a peek at her new look: Happier by the Minute YouTube Channel ...Who else needs a YouTube makeover?

If you're curious about how to leverage Facebook Groups or social media to build an online community or enhance your offline community, come to me! I am available for consulting only, and would love to be a springboard for you. This is what I love to do and it's one of the few things that is working on Facebook for organic (unpaid) reach right now.

How to Attend the Facebook Communities Summit

2018-01-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

I'm really looking forward to the Facebook Communities Summit coming up in February.

Attend the summit by RSVPing on the Facebook Communities Summit Event Page. The live summit will stream directly to that event page on Friday, February 9 at 10:20am GMT. You bet I'll be putting on my big girl pants and getting up to watch it! The opening keynote is from Chris Cox, Chief Product Officer at Facebook, and with all this change happening to Facebook within the past week, this is an event I'm not going to miss!

I have personally benefitted tremendously from Facebook groups and I know that in the wake of recent changes to the Facebook Pages algorithm, building real community in Facebook groups is key to maintaining organic reach on Facebook.

Many of my clients and collaborators use Facebook groups to build communities around their ideas, apps, brands, systems, educational products, and digital assets.

For its members, a Facebook group becomes a place for customers to become friends with each other and receive crowdsourced feedback, tips, encouragement, and troubleshooting.

Without advertisements of any kind, my personal brand's Facebook group now grows at the rate of about 20-40 members per week with the main lead funnels being various digital offerings and my YouTube channel. The average post in my group receives between 4-25 comments and as you can see, growth has been steady.

Growth chart, Facebook group "We Are Ambitious Christian Women"

I expect growth to increase as I begin to invest in unique digital offerings and run promotions for this great niche of women that I personally admire and learn from.

We have already created 3 sub-groups to aid with organization of the growing community, allowing us to serve them better.

How did I create a growing Facebook group that truly serves people? Necessity is the mother of invention. It was the community that *I* needed. If you need help determining how to build a community around your brand, I highly recommend the book It Starts with Why and considering what's the thing YOU need that you wish you had?

Thanks for reading! Are you coming to the summit? What has your experience been with Facebook groups? Drop me a comment below!

Never stop learning, growing, and reaching,

Our Giveaway - and the Future of Ambitious Christian Women on YouTube

2018-01-18T14:18:00.003-07:00

Dear friends and supporters,

I want to thank you for helping me make Ambitious Christian Women what it is today.

My motto is "Follow God's Signs, Not Dollar Signs" and I repeat that again before I show you this note from YouTube. Because I don't get pushed around by money (or apparent lack of money) - I trust in God and God alone for my future, my wellbeing, and my ability to impact others.

Looking back, here's what we accomplished in 2017:
WITH NO MONEY, NO FUNDRAISING, NO FINANCIAL RESOURCES, NO ADVERTISING, NO "COACHING" ONLY GOD'S GRACE AND A HEART TO DO HIS WILL...

- We have hosted 3 powerful online Bible Studies (one of those Bible Studies now has over 20,000 views!) and we keep getting new women signing up for these every single day.
- Created an ongoing challenge called Morning Miracles Challenge where women learn a morning routine to put God first and stay accountable
- Hosted online and in-person meet ups where women create lasting connections built on God's truth
- We just surpassed 1,000 subscribers on YouTube
- We grew to over 1,500 members on our private Facebook group

And to celebrate God's goodness and grace toward us, we are hosting a very fun giveaway within the group.

I mentioned that I received a concerning letter from YouTube a couple days ago and I want to share it with you. I am sharing it as a call to prayer and also a request for us to put our minds together.

The YouTube Partner program (which I am now in danger of being removed from) was central to my strategy with Ambitious Christian Women.

I did the math. Although we have over 1,000 subscribers, PRAISE GOD! I am still about 350 hours of watch time short of making the 4,000 cut. Within the next 30 days, the content on the channel must have been watched for a total of 350 hours for me to remain monetized.

How much do I make through YouTube?
Maybe this isn't too surprising to you... it's almost embarrassing to admit that even with countless hours of my time pouring into this, I have never received a check from YouTube (they only pay out when you hit a $100 threshold). I was so close to hitting that threshold though and I was counting on that small portion to fund giveaways like the one I'm running now to celebrate milestones, encourage engagement, and have scholarships available for women who can't afford Bible Study materials.

Why does YouTube matter then?
With a motto like "Follow God's Signs, Not Dollar Signs" you know I'll be moving forward regardless of whether we remain monetized. I am happy to continue to invest my own funds into its growth. Since I don't collect dues, have monthly supporters, or make any profit on running all these goodies for you, I have a very patchwork strategy right now. I am not lazy - I have tried doing raffles and asking for support and putting links to support on the free resources I create, but it hasn't gone well - unless of course $9 is impressive to you. I'm learning, and still haven't figured out the ropes of support raising and so Ambitious Christian Women, for now, exists by God's grace, my own investment, and my husband's patience with me devoting many hours a week to unpaid work.

How can you help?
I want to stay viable on YouTube because right now, considering our rate of growth, it's my best bet. I need your help to share our videos with your friends, your sisters in christ, and family. I believe that just by doing this, we can hit the 350 hours in the next 30 days and stay a part of the partner program. Over 2017 I've created almost 100 videos, most of them recorded while I was in Guatemala for a year with my husband, working and volunteering our time with various Christian organizations.

By entering the giveaway you'll be helping generate buzz in a variety of ways, and Sharing JUST ONE VIDEO counts as 3 entries.

The videos include interviews with amazing female Christian authors and activists, group discussions, Bible study material, reflections on top issues, testimonies, calls to prayer, and a few very personal accounts of faith in action.

What am I doing wrong?
This is a question I ask myself frequently, not to be a downer, but to stay on my game. For example, I have received several entries but notice that very few are taking this step of sharing a video from the channel. This is the one thing I need most. So, while asking for shares, I am also re-evaluating, paying close attention which of the videos DO get shared by our audience, while praying about how I can get better. I want to make the content more impactful and sharable so supporters feel comfortable going ahead and posting it. Even though my background is in social media, I am always a learner and always find myself getting humbled! This is a cycle that God uses to keep me growing and reaching. The internet is so full of rotten stuff, I've made it my business to be a light and there's no time to waste!

Thank you so much for your love, prayer, and your support. Its an honor to create Ambitious Christian Women WITH and FOR you. Regardless of the outcome of this YouTube Partner Program, you will keep seeing me declaring Jesus and trying to make the Earth look more like Heaven.

Never stop learning, growing, and reaching,

Laura

P.S.
I have never been without guidance and encouragement, thanks to the Holy Spirit, and the amazing women that God has gathered around me. I shared this email with the awesome volunteer leadership team of Ambitious Christian Women and some of us will be praying and fasting, seeking the heart of Jesus for the future of the group. These women pour their time, energy, and resources into discipling our members. To learn more about them and the story of how this online ministry came to be, please visit our main facebook page and click "OUR STORY" on the righthand side bar. I could never do this alone, and I am NOT alone!

My Favorite Christian Planners

2017-12-12T13:58:00.002-07:00

Who else has big plans for 2020? I love setting Christ-based goals, and I have found a few Christian planners that support that approach.

I can't wait to go live with you on YouTube after Christmas to show you my favorite goal setting tools!

I originally wrote this blog post in 2017, so I've tried a few more planners since then and thought I should do a comparison video. You may be interested in that so please leave me a comment below if you'd like to be updated when that video becomes available!

The Christian Daily Planner

My life has changed a lot now that I'm a new Mom and I guess you could say my "style" of personal organization and spiritual development as changed too.

This year I am really favoring the focused, simple, appointment layout of The Christian Daily planner. More on this planner in upcoming videos, but I think just looking at their website will give you a very good sense of it: https://www.christiandailyplanner.com/whatsinside.html

I included The Christian Daily Planner in my 2019 Christmas Gift List (watch here) if you click that link you'll see I fast-forwarded it for you right to the part where I'm talking about the planner.

Again, you can see the planner (and even download a few freebies!) here: www.christiandailyplanner.com

Cultivate PowerSheets by Lara Casey

I love my Power Sheets - they help me understand how to nurture different area's of my life God's way. You can read my 2016 review and watch my walkthrough here: Make It Happen with Powersheets

Lara Casey, the woman behind the powersheets, really is an amazing woman, her book Make it Happen is excellent, and I also LOVE her "write the word" journals.

Shop Lara's whole collection at shop.cultivatewhatmatters.com

Horacio Printing "The Best is Yet to Come" Planner

This was my main everyday-use planner for 2018, and I hit the ground running using some of the goal setting tools inside to map out my dreams, hopes, and plans for the year ahead.

I found Horacio Printing through their gorgeous Instagram account. Inside the planner you'll find beautiful statements like "He's Got This" and Bible verses on each page. Just having it laying around my home I find myself saying "the best is yet to come" so much! haha....

They have a beautiful walkthough video showing each page of the planner here on their site: The Best is Yet to Come Planner

Learn more at https://www.horacioprinting.com/

I am still looking for more to review on my upcoming video. Subscribe to the YouTube channel so you don't miss any of the goodness. Click here to visit the Ambitious Christian Women Channel If you know of a Christian planner that should be featured in this roundup, please direct them to message me on Instagram: @sacredambition

Never stop learning, growing, and reaching!

The Dark Side of Perfectionism: How to Hold Onto Jesus While Making Major Life Change

2017-08-17T08:04:00.002-06:00

A young woman recently asked me, "How far is too far?" when it comes to maintaining purity in a Christian dating relationship.

This is an important question... because the wrong answer can make someone feel like a failure, and even totally leave the Christian faith, and the right answer can point them into a deeper relationship with a loving and merciful God.

I just finished reading the book "The Scarlet Virgins" which is really getting a lot of attention right now as an answer to books like "I Kissed Dating Goodbye." It helped me to understand why it’s so important to point people to an authentic relationship with Jesus, rather than rattling off a list of do’s and dont’s.

See the full video interview with the author, Rebecca Lemke, right here: Purity Culture and Turning Horror into Hope

Whatever it is you set your mind to... when we decide to put God first, it’s easy to get stuck in perfectionism which is such a death trap...

Feeling like we failed.... makes us fail to get back up when we stumble!

We are so mean to ourselves sometimes - tricking ourselves into thinking God’s love and acceptance is contingent on what we do (or don’t) watch, what we read (or don’t read), how we dress, and especially what we do (or don't do). We find ourself clinging to a few scriptures as behavioral law and not considering the context of what Jesus has done!

It’s so easy to stray away from the heart of Jesus when we start taking score on ourselves and our goals...

So when that young woman asked me “How far is too far?” I began by asking her what she believed and wanted...

Do you believe God wants you to wait to have sex until marriage? Does he? She said yes on both counts.

I asked her about the goals with the relationship, and she said she wanted to honor God by making this one different!

Then and only then did I give her personal advice based on my own experiences, and I made sure that she realized it was my personal advice and *not God* telling her what to do.

I told her the most kind and loving thing she could do for her boyfriend was to let him know through words and actions this relationship is different, special, and God is really in it… helping him and joining him in guarding that conviction. Because in order to be in a successful relationship, you need to define success, set clear boundaries, and guard it like the relationship depends on it- because it does.

Lastly, I let her know the Holy Spirit will help guide her into the pure and God-honoring relationship she seeks, but there is no perfect formula.

And most importantly, I let her know that when she fails she needn’t have feelings of shame, or even engage in self-harm. And as Rebecca shares in her book, legalism really can lead to far worse behaviors showing up down the road.

All this echoes Rebecca’s advice on the topic, which she shares in the book:“My best advice is: stay in Scripture. instead of asking ‘How far is too far?’ Pray, listen to your conscience, and ask yourself throughout the relationship, ‘Is this action truly loving to this person, or am I trying to gratify desires of the flesh?’ Once you have an answer, act accordingly. If you fall short, seek out private confession and receive forgiveness."

Rebecca shows how people have twisted the gospel, leaving out sections of scripture and losing context. She takes aim at the prosperity gospel, and I’m so grateful more Christians are speaking out against that, because we all know that bad things happen to good people!

If you come from a Christian background that says God won’t tolerate certain music, shows, styles of dressing, celebrations etc etc, you will love the section in the book called “Unlearning Legalism” and the following chapters which teach you how to view sexuality in a healthy way again, identify areas where culture may have misled you, and read scripture in full, understanding God’s heart.

Want to dig in to this book yourself? It will help you deal with not just sexual issues, but challenges regarding all forms of striving and reaching for a goal. Purchasing the book through my link will financially support this blog and my video ministry, at no cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

You can find the book here: The Scarlet Virgins

Never stop learning, growing and reaching.

The Proverbs 31 Experiement

2017-07-25T08:14:00.002-06:00

Much has been said about the "Proverbs 31 woman" and many have aspired to be more like her. But how? Where do you even start?

Well, I'm starting an experiment to see what happens when we apply these truths to our lives, beginning with our morning routine. I will be your coach, and place you in an accountability group of likeminded Christian women who will be delighted to get to know you.

Often we focus on changing other people (a losing game!) when we ourselves are struggling with the very basics: such as having a solid morning routine, making time with the Lord, exercising, and staying grounded.

The Proverbs 31 woman is actually a saying BY a woman, to her son, a king. The standard is high, but I love a good challenge... don't you? We will take it a step further by examining this scripture, and using multiple resources to create a plan that WORKS.

Now enrolling for the Morning Miracles Challenge

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

FERVENT Online Summit

2017-07-21T14:52:00.003-06:00

UPDATE FOR 2024

Looking for the Bible Study plan to go along with War Room and the book FERVENT by Priscilla Shirer?

If you’d like to put FERVENT prayer into practice right away, you’re in the right place.

You’re invited to “10 Mornings of FERVENT Prayer” which includes video teachings and free printable extras.

TO GET YOUR FREE STUDY BOOK…

Let us know you’re IN by signing up for our study group. You’ll receive our all-new PDF workbook which will release on 8/5, for FREE.

TO GET YOUR PRE-RELEASE PRINT BOOK Donate to this ministry and get an exclusive pre-release print copy of the workbook mailed directly to you with our thanks!

Get Print Copy Mailed to You

It’s Easy to Join the Study

Join a Study Team (Day 1 is 8/12)

Looking forward to connecting with you and having a fun “Grand Finale” when we go watch The Forge in theaters. Let me know if you plan to go watch!

Love in Christ,

Laura Gabriele

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Fabulous Flores - Lake Piten Itza

2017-06-03T18:15:00.001-06:00

Guatemala is an intense country of contrasts, and living here has been challenging and beautiful at the same time. We recently took a trip to the island of Flores on Lake Peten Itza, about 10 hours north of Guatemala City. It's become our favorite stop on the way to the Mayan ruins of Tikal. I'm excited to share this itinerary with any of you who are considering a trip to Tikal and who might choose Flores as a leeway point.

Excuses to Go:

- It's the access town to Tikal, an hour and a half away and a fraction of the price of staying in the park
- The second largest lake in Guatemala, (Lake Atitlan is the largest)
- 27 Mayan sites dot the lake, so you can get in a little extra sightseeing
- Stretch that dollar: $1 USD = approx $7 in Guatemalan Quetzales

Where to Stay:

Hotel La Unión

A post shared by Laura Gabriele (@thelauragabriele) on May 28, 2017 at 7:18pm PDT

Pictured above, view from room #12. Owned and operated by a local Guatemalan family for over 15 years, La Unión is a simple, clean, budget-friendly option. Seeing that my husband is a slightly "particular" sleeper, we'll say, we loved the super high powered ceiling fan and lake breezes from our balcony room.

In the end, La Union was about $35 USD and well worth it! Excellent budget hotel right on the water. For a great view and good sized balcony at a great rate, we recommend room 12. Get $25 off your stay when you sign up for Airbnb through this link.

Hotel LaCandon

A post shared by Laura Gabriele (@thelauragabriele) on May 26, 2017 at 3:45pm PDT

This hotel offers Mayan decor with an ancient Mayan twist, beautiful lake views and a full terrace restaurant. Get $25 off your stay on Airbnb through this link

We were greeted by the hotel owner, Oliver (pictured left) a super kind and fun guy who made us feel comfortable and welcome right away. For the best deal, we chose a basic room with no AC. We also ate dinner at LaCandon, and we are glad we did- why search when you have excellent fare and a view available right away? I ordered kebobs and Rob had pasta carbonara, and with drinks we came out less than Q11. ($14 USD)

Where to Eat

There are cafés galore, and a good selection of restaurants. You shouldn't have a problem finding a great meal in the Q30-Q50 range, and some really delicious cuisine around the Q100 mark.

Breakfast:
Try Cool Beans for a good breakfast and coffee at a reasonable price. Fun atmosphere. Thankfully they provided the bug spray! These mosquitos bite early and bite often.

Lunch:
San Telmo is a great place for a super healthy lunch. When you see it lit up at night, you'll want to go there for dinner too. Plus there is a thrift shop attached - fun!

Dinner:
Captain Tortuga's cooks up a great pizza, but if you're ready to take a chance on the street food, it's only steps away by the water. Great people watching.

Drinks:
Purchase a bottle of wine at the local store, or enjoy a drink and some live music in the bar at Hotel Isla de Flores.

Getting Around

The town of Flores is very small, and you can walk all the way around it in about 20 minutes. Getting there is fairly easy but not for the faint of heart. We chose to take a shuttle from Antigua where we live to Guatemala city, and then the 10 hour bus ride to Santa Elena. This was part of a package deal, at Q300 (about $40 USD per person.) Approaching from Guatemala City, we arrived in the town of Santa Elena and from there, we hopped in a taxi for Q20 (about $3 USD) to cross the causeway to island of Flores.

So, did I convince you yet? Get packing! Flores is waiting for you!

Le Tote for Plus Sizes - the 3 best alternatives!

2017-05-20T16:07:00.002-06:00

Le Tote sadly only carries up to size 16 but there are some GREAT alternatives for plus size women that I've been looking into that I want to share with you!

As we know, for some reason fashion is behind the curb for plus sizes, because as we look for larger sizes we see it's so much harder to find great style. Recently my Mom re-entered the workforce after years of working part time and as a stay at home Mom, and all her old work clothes either no longer fit right or they were just really outdated. She needed a new look and style that allowed her to walk with confidence in the world.

My beautiful Mom in her Gwynnie Bee dress!

But before we tackled her whole work wardrobe, we just needed these two basic things:
- A great plus sized top for a new headshot
- A great dress for her to wear to my Dad's 40 year high school reunion

But even after searching for hours in the WORLD'S LARGEST Macy's, we left empty-handed and incredibly frustrated. Everything she tried on either had weird cuts or was just not with the trends.

I had personally been using Le Tote (see my LeTote review here) and figured there must be something like it for women like my Mom - and then after some digging I found Gwynnie Bee! It's like Le Tote for larger sizes, and right now they give a free 30 day trial AND $10 off through my special link since I decided to partner with them for my blog cause.

So I convinced my Mom to try it. She got her first 3-item box and loved everything in it. She found the perfect dress for my Dad's reunion (middle), and found cute and expensive-looking clothes for the office.

So if you haven't heard of it, Gwynnie Bee is a box subscription for sizes 10-32, and is the perfect alternative to Le Tote. It works the same way as Le Tote, where you're encouraged to wear the items whether or not you decide to keep them. If you decide to keep a clothing item they offer really really good prices.

Gwynnie Bee has a few different categories of clothing, from work wear to weekend casual, and even a dressy line. They offer free shipping, free exchanges, free laundry, AND right now they have a free 30-day trial.

Since then she has had what I refer to as "the Gwynnie Bee glow" because I noticed a change in her posture, the way she talked, everything all because she finally had clothes she felt good in.

How much does Gwynnie Bee cost?

Gwynnie Bee offers three plans with UNLIMITED EXCHANGES which is really important to understand. They have different pricing based on how many clothing items you want out at one time, and with unlimited exchanges you can do about 4 boxes per month if you stay on top of it. The price ranges from $45/mo to $95 month.

So if you were interested in Le Tote, then I say give Gwynnie Bee a try!

Right now they're running a deal -- Your first month is free! Also, if you try Gwynnie Bee for free through my link, you'll get that free trial AND save $10 off your second month which would help to support this blog and my cause.

Honorable Mentions

There are some styling companies that are similar and offer plus sizes, like Stitch Fix. The thing with Stitch Fix is that you aren't supposed to wear the clothes unless you really buy them. Through my link you get $50 off, which is double what most people are allowed to give, and then you can apply that to what they send you. Again, you're not supposed to wear the clothes till you buy them! So that is a huge difference. But it's still a great option if you don't want to deal with the frustration of digging through the sale racks. Want to try? Get StitchFix Here (you get $50 off and pay no styling fee through my link!)

Dia & Co is a lot like Stitch Fix in that it's not a rental service, but I LOVED their survey - it really set them apart. It was clear from the beginning that Dia & Co "gets" the issues specific to curvier figures, because they are asking the right style questions. And the stylists are plus sized women themselves who are actually stylish. I was so impressed by their looks they were putting together. One other great thing about Dia & Co is they actually have 2 boxes: one for "style" and one for "activewear" this is a great opportunity to just take the frustration and time-suck out of the search for great looking clothing of all kinds and all styles. Get Dia&Co here ($20 off - you pay no styling fee through my link!)

I hope this helps you build your style - feeling good about yourself is such an important first step toward changing the world!

Never stop learning, growing, and reaching!

Ambitious Christian Women Bible Study: FERVENT by Priscilla Shirer

2017-05-04T15:37:00.001-06:00

On the National Day of Prayer, we announced online Bible Study for the summer would be FERVENT by Priscilla Shirer.

Each week an amazing group of women from all over the world met via conference line to discuss the study. Our online studies are perfect for women who don't have a group at your home church, or if they're traveling, this is a great chance to get connected!

GET YOUR COPY OF THE BOOK | WATCH THE SUMMIT

Over the course of 6 weeks, we discussed the strategies laid out in the book, which are:

Strategy 1: Your Passion - getting it back when it's gone
Strategy 2: Your Focus - fighting the real enemy
Strategy 3: Your Identity - remembering who you are
Strategy 4: Your Family - fortifying the lives of those you love
Strategy 5: Your Past - ending the reign of guilt, shame, and regret
Strategy 6: Your Fears - confronting your worries, claiming your calling

Replay available: See it all in one amazing hour on our FERVENT Summit replay.

As you will see, this book isn't just a study, it's a complete battle plan! If you loved the movie War Room, this bible study will help you apply God-glorifying prayer to your life. I can't wait to help coach you to craft your own personalized prayer strategy to get victory with your identity, family, attitude, and more!

Want to join us on future studies? Become a Member of our Facebook group.

Please purchase the Book HERE: Fervent by Priscilla Shirer on Amazon to support the group and allow me to keep bringing these great Bible Studies to you! You don't absolutely need the book to join us. You are always welcome to join our weekly calls, and I think you'll get a lot out of the concepts we discuss!

Almost 6 Months in Guatemala - A Check-In

2017-03-21T18:58:00.000-06:00

The best way to describe the moment getting on the airplane to Guatemala is, I felt like a plucked chicken! I wondered - what happened to me? Don't my talents and abilities, my education, my wits, anything matter to you, God? Why on Earth would you want me to go to Guatemala? This makes zero (0) sense! Where is my dog, my house, and my baby? Where is my office building, my team, and my trips to Switzerland? What about ME?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!" Psalm 139:23

Lately as I see more and more devastation in this country, including a friend and coworker being murdered in cold blood a couple of weeks ago, my mind takes me back to the U.S. -- the immigrants used to tell each other that the streets were paved with gold there, and now I kind of get it. There is a sense of enduring wealth, security, and prosperity on most streets in America, even the unkempt areas.

Yes, I look back at the worst of what I've seen in America and it was still cleaner and safer than most places here.

Here in Guatemala, one the things that upsets me most is the disorder. Piles of rubble, general filth, and unfinished buildings or buildings that are falling apart everywhere along the streets. I am not really talking about Antigua where I live, which for the most part is stunning for tourist presentation purposes (in shambles, but stunning) - but almost everywhere else.

There is this near constant of utter chaos which my beauty, elegance, and simplicity-loving soul just recoils at. The people here are oppressed by constant fear of being robbed or murdered. The women can't even think about things like college with a religion that keeps them in constant cycles of pregnancy and bare-footedness.

My Life Before Guatemala

I am a lady who loves tea parties, rose gardens, pleasant conversation, pretty dresses, and gondola rides. I am old-school. I admit it. I want to go to galas and be surprised with a necklace of pearls. Yes, I want to "propose a toast" - I want to enjoy a sunset from a sailboat. I want to go back to Scotland and stay the night in a real castle, and I want a night at the Connaught after spending a day seeing Big Ben and other places I want to see in London and finding the address my Great Great Great Grandma Eloise once lived.

A post shared by Laura Gabriele (@thelauragabriele) on Jan 20, 2017 at 5:40pm PST

I worked hard to ensure I would have the life I desired in the United States, with the prospects I wanted, and the spontaneous trips I wanted. After realizing it wasn't going to fall on my lap, I drank so much coffee and worked myself to the bone. I worked through the nights with a day-light bulb, till my eyes went and I couldn't even look at the screen anymore.

One day my husband told me he felt the Lord was telling him we need to move to volunteer in South or Central America and he was getting an impression about Guatemala.

I hated this idea.

It wasn't glamorous, that's for sure. It didn't fit my plan which was finally coming together.

But I prayed for confirmation, and I got it. And I knew not going would be sin. So gave it all away, we did it.

What Life is Like Here in Guatemala

Now it has been nearly 6 months of living here in Guatemala. I find myself trudging at 7am to a bus that is a decommissioned U.S. school bus which is literally falling apart and speeding down the road on dangerous curves. My lungs which appreciate the clean air are instead breathing in thick volcano ash mixed with burning trash, mixed with vehicle exhaust, mixed with urine from men who commonly pee on the sidewalks.

I am here volunteering with my husband while we build our startup. Twice a week we go to this castle-like house that is a home for disabled orphans in a town called San Antonio Augas Calientes. It is like arriving to a different world where order and sanity exists as best it can.

A post shared by Laura Gabriele (@thelauragabriele) on Mar 13, 2017 at 8:31pm PDT

And I am there just trying to love these orphans and make some kind of difference. There is one child named Alejandra who I thought might be helping, but I've recently pulled back significantly, concerned how I could be distracting her with play from her more effective therapies, and now my visits are less frequent.

On Sundays I serve on the worship team at my bilingual church, Shoreline Guatemala. It is a strong church full of inspiring people who are mostly missionaries. Yes, I have a strong community of ex-pats here. I live in a gated community that only outsiders can afford. I also demand strong internet so I can maintain bonds in the US and continue to build this business.

What's Next

Except for at church, I feel somewhat like an outsider who is shuffling on the outskirts because I'm not a Guatemala-lifer or a true "missionary" like most of the people I have met.

Am I supposed to want to stay here in Guatemala because I feel too guilty to go back, like somehow my contribution living here could help more?

I have been exposed to so much suffering and disorganization, so much tragedy and need for so many months, I'm sure when I get back to America it will all hit me differently and I will finally see how I've changed.

A post shared by Laura Gabriele (@thelauragabriele) on Mar 16, 2017 at 12:27pm PDT

My country of The United States of America gives me - a young educated female - a chance to create a thriving business without fear. I can actually go to the grocery store alone, and count on certain systems to support me, my family, and my life. I don't have to live under the constant stress of being surrounded by a system that is crumbling, I can live with confidence that I will be respected and treated fairly, if not I have recourse.

I am determined to go back and make the most of everything I used to take for granted, and pour out on these new heart connections and new dreams of supporting friends and loved ones in Guatemala.

I believe that's where I stand now, and I'm more grateful than ever.

Mis Raices - Learning the Spanish Language in Guatemala

2017-02-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

I think because of the nature of our current political situation around immigrants, this story matters now more than ever. It's time to share more about my Grandparents, who are a huge inspiration to me, and I really don't talk enough about them. Their story of struggle and victory would blow you over. They are hands down the best people I know.

FIRST, KNOW THIS: We are all ignorant, whiny, lazy losers compared to them, I assure you.

These amazing humans changed their destiny through a strong faith in God, unstoppable tenacity, and a heart of service. Before coming to Guatemala to volunteer, I had a blessed conversation with my Grandparents, Osvaldo and Carmen Iris Enriquez who emigrated from Puerto Rico and made a good life in America.

My Grandpa gave me a GREAT piece of advice that has stuck with me. He said to improve my handle of the language in a new place, I should read their local newspaper every day.

It's super hard. It means humbling yourself and taking it slow. It means getting to know what matters to the people you live among, from their perspective, in their language.

It's how he taught himself English decades ago, as a young man looking for a better life in New York City. Soon to serve our country facing the horrors of Vietnam with a great bravery and strength that demands our honor and respect. He then sacrificed the rest of his working life to service in the Army, even living in Alaska for several years with his wife and children. BTW I'll spare you the stories of the ridiculous racist disrespect he had to put up with... and still has to put up with... I know HE rarely speaks of it and doesn't complain about it...

So today I may struggle to read the paper (even with AP Spanish and Puerto Rican blood pulsing through my brain, this is HARD) but I know that within me is a legacy of victory over challenges like this, and far greater than this. My favorite paper to read is Prensa Libre, because of the quality journalism.

One day I will know this language of Spanish inside and out. I would love nothing more than to honor my heritage, and make the most of the place in the world they worked so hard, and sacrificed so much, to carve out for me.

Get over yourself America. Open your doors. The people you let in are not rapists and terrorists, those are racist lies. They are people like my Grandparents.

Discerning The Voice of God - Online Bible Study

2017-01-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

Do you desire to hear from God and really know it's Him speaking to you? Maybe you're going through a season where He seems totally silent. For times like this, there is a bible study by Priscilla Shirer that came highly recommended to me. The book is Discerning the Voice of God:

After doing this study with a group of amazing women online through our Ambitious Christian Women book club, I developed a set of resources so you won't have to do this alone! This series to accompany the Bible Study has been reviewed and approved by Lifeway Christian Resources.

What You'll Need:

The workbook. Please support this ministry and purchase through this link: Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks (Bible Study Book)

Access to the full length sermon videos from Priscilla Shirer, which we can help you get once you join us inside the group.

Video Series:

I created a Discerning the Voice of God video series on YouTube to help you get the most of this study even without a group to meet with in person. Please bookmark this page and enjoy these discussion videos which will walk you through the most impactful exercises and more.

The images below are LINKED to each video so just click on the one you need! Some of these videos are protected as members-only content, so you will need to become a member of the group to access all 6!

(Session 6 coming soon!)

Extra Freebies and Meeting Times:
Of course, the most meaningful connections come from within the group. Members of our Ambitious Christian Women Facebook group get lots of freebies like printables, worksheets, and daily encouragement. When you join, you can also meet with us on a conference to discuss the content of this study!

Join the Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ambitiouschristianwomen and I will make sure you get all the freebies and meeting times.

Never stop learning, growing, and reaching!

Laura

If Your Loved One is In The Hospital, Order Your Flowers Direct

2016-12-27T12:53:00.002-07:00

One of my loved ones is having surgery at Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City, FL today. Every time, I always use a local florist called Creative Flowers by Glenn. They always do such a great job. I call them up on their local number (813) 754-7449 instead of their 1-800 number. And there is a specific reason I do that!

I know from working as a florist in a floral shop that if you order through 1-800 Flowers or from the florist's website, often a big company takes a fee from the small shop.

And there are many benefits for me, too:

I can choose a floral shop that's closest by looking at the map, which means they can probably get the flowers there faster without a bunch of fees
By calling them directly, I get to hear Glenn's cute raspy voice and make a specific request like a type of flower rather than going with one of the cookie-cutter designs
It matters to me that I support the small businesses rather than the major chains
I connect directly with a human about a purchase that matters to me
I can request a certain price point, and ask that they do their best to work within that. And because the florist keeps a bigger % of the sale they can pass a little savings on to me as well

So I hope you'll keep this in mind next time you're looking to buy flowers. Support the local floral shops! Long live your flowers!

The Alfombra Guides Me On

2016-11-30T15:11:00.001-07:00

The path we are on is hard, but it's important and it's blessed. The beautiful flower carpets "alfombras" leading to the children's home this morning came as a sign to me to remember that I'm on the right track. I want to thank you if you were one of those people who spoke up when I was sharing deeply and honestly about my challenges. Some beautiful truths were shared that came together just like the patterns on these carpets.

Truth is perfect, our walk through life is not - when we walk along the perfect plan laid out for us we undoubtedly will stumble sometimes, but the point is to keep your eyes forward, fixing yourself to the one who is perfect. Don't get lost focusing on how your steps could have been more perfect or more even. I remind you to lift each other up as you have lifted me up.

Not everyone is as naive as me to share the hard stuff in such a public way. Many hold it all in and never get the chance to see how much they're cared for.

So keep reaching out your hands and hearts to people. Remind them that they matter and remind them of the truth of their worth, lay out the carpet.

I promise I won't sugar coat my life just because social media makes it easy to fake perfection. My life is not perfect and neither am I, but God is still using me. And that makes everything worth it!

I got to take my girl Alejandra out for a "walk" ...roll? today after the procession ended. She's the one who deserves a carpet of flowers... Love you people, so so much. It's not easy to be away from you, and that's a good thing. I promise to keep learning - it's a beautiful path I'm blessed to walk along.

My Grown-Up Christmas List

2016-11-21T09:45:00.001-07:00

Coming up with a Christmas list this year is really hard. I have everything I need. But the weird thing is I happen own less than I've ever owned.

We came here to Guatemalawith 2 suitcases total... I bought one scarf to replace one I gave away, food and flowers, and that's it... literally. I think the word is called "grace" - we are practically drowning in grace.

So this year I made a "Grown Up Christmas List" it's under construction but worth sharing anyway: www.ambitiouschristianwomen.org/marketplace

What would make me really super duper excited and grateful is if you supported one or more of these small business owners on that list, these are people that I personally know and love, and they are part of an online community I'm building.

And yeah, we are on there too, with the 501c3 Hope for Home and your donation goes 100% to their organization, not our living expenses. You can even pick a disabled child to support monthly or give a one time gift. Write on the note it's our Christmas present so I can do some happy dances. <3

Thanks everyone. This is my grown up Christmas list. <3

My Christian Perspective With Trump Named President

2016-11-09T05:23:00.002-07:00

I woke up in the middle of the night to see who won. Some say God won and are being very vocal about it on social media so as a Jesus follower I want to speak plainly about the outcome of the election for a moment. When I was out last night with the piñatas, I met a Indian woman and asked if she was a Trump supporter.

She simply pointed at her skin and said "what do you think?" I think that says a lot about a nation divided. 😔

Jesus would NEVER make anyone feel that way. We have a LOT of work to do.

A man who lives, acts, and talks like Trump is not what Christians stand for. We stand for Jesus whose life and speech was much the opposite.

Christian friends, if you feel that God has won, mark my words: no one comes to God through law, they come to Christ by grace.

You must not rely on law to save the unborn, you must be a true friend to the hurting woman in her darkest hour. You must meet her at the well, or in the middle of people hurling rocks, and show her incredible levels of understanding, that's what Jesus teaches!

If you're not like that, if you don't actively support abused women or women on the streets on a personal level, you really haven't earned anyone's ear, heart, or mind on issues of abortion or anything else.

I think we will see what really happens. But don't be surprised if the outcome brings a ton of persecution to Christians, especially those who are now being vocal thinking that God somehow won through a political candidate.

For another perspective on this, I'd love you to take a look at my friend's blog Sincerely, Erin and her post entitled "Today is a Hard Day"

Just a Hint of Wrong - what maxims and mantras are you allowing into your life?

2016-10-24T10:39:00.000-06:00

Today I'm writing you from Impact Hub in Guatemala. It's a special place for business owners to connect to ultra fast wifi in a unique co-working space. As a frequent traveler, I appreciate the ability to make new connections and strike up new business in a co-working environment.

This is my a free test day, and I'm deciding whether to make this my spot, or if I want to engage in more open environments like cafes like I normally do. It's not my first time in a co-working space, and I'm sure it won't be the last.

This particular co-working space has a giant picture of Steve Jobs on the wall. So here is my selfie with the giant.

It's funny to me the way he's idolized by entrepreneurs worldwide, but I get it.

Steve Jobs achieved massive success and overcame some huge obstacles. I enjoy and count on many of the products he developed (I'm writing this from a MacBook Pro). However, for all his good traits, some say he was extraordinarily difficult to work for, and he was by no means a perfect example of how to do life. No human being is perfect, and because of that I believe no one should be worshiped.

Before Christ overhauled his area of my mind, I definitely worshiped people like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and others like them. I made a point of memorizing their words, as if they were scripture. But I experienced a healing that shows me that they are not better than me!

No, they not worthy of worship, we are actually equal in the sight of God. While our gifts, talents, and abilities are good, they not the true essence of who we are.

Even if all your abilities and skills disappeared overnight through some terrible accident or mishap, you would still be completely and totally valuable to and loved by your creator.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

That knowledge was truly freeing for me, and I hope it is for you too.

I recently wrote an article for BeLoved Ministries that dives a little deeper into this subject, offering some solid Bible verses that I think will surprise you... and make you look at yourself with more grace and acceptance.

The article is designed to free you from the bondage of slavery to worshipping human-sourced wisdom, and enter into the freedom of true and pure wisdom that transcends, because it comes from God. Yes, it is possible to build your business and become very successful, relying on the 1 source of real wisdom, God himself. And I believe if you follow Christ, he will guide your steps every day to help you build something that matters, without compromising on your treatment of others, your health, or your values of family and connection.

That article is here: Just a Hint of Wrong: what maxims and mantras are you allowing into your life? It's a short 2 minute read.

I can't wait to share more about my time in Guatemala. This is just the tippy-tip of the iceberg.

Never stop learning, growing, and reaching,

A Little Swank and a Whole Lot of Sweetness: Louisville, Kentucky

2016-10-11T11:42:00.001-06:00

An unexpected stop on our cross-country trip, but probably the most exciting was Louisville, Kentucky. Do not pass up your chance to soak in the charms of this city. We loved it so much, we extended our stay an additional night! Here is my guide to taking in the sights, sounds, and flavors of a city that will surprise you!