Oooweee! My First Book!

I’m thrilled, grateful, and extremely relieved to announce the release of my very first 100% Isabella (and God) bona fide book, Sage Sayings & Slogans, Volume 1.

And today is my birthday! Sweet!

I must say, it’s very hard to write an 83,000-word book, especially when it’s loaded with spiritual meaning and bit of controversy. An extraordinary amount of hard work, sacrifice, prayer, and emotion went into this volume. I'm grateful God enabled me to do it, overcoming countless obstacles along the way.

The process was incredibly instructive—and in some ways, deeply redemptive. I know I’ve been absent from blogging and social media for a while. As I’ve shared a few times, God invited me into deep communion and silence, and the book—most especially the evolving revelations covered in the Introduction—is some fruit of that time away. More is continually being revealed and there's loads more to download, in God's timing.

While this is a daily reader, the Introduction provides essential context, both theological and personal. I pray everyone reads it. I believe it's a timely message for these trying times, recovery aside.

A Different Devotional Than You Were Expecting

Some of you were expecting Unfiltered, the more traditional Christian devotional I was crowd-funding last fall. Unfortunately, that project stalled due to lack of financial support. I believe where God guides, He provides. In this case, God had other plans.

Instead, He provided generous support through Barbara L., my former CoDA sponsor, a double-winner who spent decades jotting down sayings and slogans from vibrant Southern California recovery meetings of every variety. Her list became the seed from which this project grew. I hunted down hundreds more maxims and now have nearly enough for Volume 2—God willing.

Sarah T., a longtime spiritual encourager and Barnabas for my writing, also offered extravagant support.

Several other eleventh hour pinch hitters helped bring this home and are mentioned in the book.

I am deeply grateful to all of them.

Of course, I believe God had a higher purpose in allowing this book rather than Unfiltered and even in the sacrificial struggle to produce it. I still hope to write Unfiltered, one way or another. I have reams of inspiration for a few books. This one is for now.

For Such a Time as This

Though this book is a daily reader primarily geared toward people in recovery from anything or anyone, it contains wisdom and perspective for any human, particularly those struggling with the life of faith in a broken world. Those of you familiar with my Guideposts writing will recognize my voice and self-disclosing style.

Some people bristle at the word “recovery.” But let me gently suggest that we are all recovering from something—an exacting parent, a toxic church, a failed relationship, cancer, an unraveling society, or just plain old self. At its root, recovery is about healing our disordered relationships—with God, with others, and with ourselves. As I say in the book: we are recovering from ourselves.

Addiction is but a symptom of a deeper spiritual malady—what the apostle Paul calls sin, the flesh, or the old nature. In truth, all addiction is a form of idolatry. And my friend, we are all idolaters by default. That’s the human condition. St. Augustine called it original sin. St. Paul called it the “body of death.” We may not recognize our obsession with our kids, weekly HomeGoods runs, screentime, selfies, Starbucks, investment portfolio, prophetic messages, ministry work, political proclivities, unceasing social life, or Netflix habit as idolatry—but God does.

Anyone or thing we put before Him is an idol—even the things we claim are “for” Him. Gulp.

Psychology calls the extreme variety narcissism, a viral pandemic. We are quick to point this out in its more glamorous forms, but it is a more pervasive condition. Whatever you call it, this self-deification in its more innocuous to evil forms, is destroying us.

Why This Book Matters—Now

I believe Sage Sayings & Slogans carries a prophetic word for our times. It’s not just a recovery tool—it’s a spiritual wake-up call.

The spiritual sickness afflicting much of the world today—including anxiety, despair, moral confusion—isn’t just psychological. It’s rooted in rebellion against God’s rightful authority. Our “best thinking” got us here—into a place of global unmanageability: moral decay, unchecked greed and ego, climate crisis, division, addiction, and spiritual apathy. The whole world, and particularly America, looks increasingly unhinged.

But God.

God’s motive is always love and restoration. What if this unraveling is mercy? What if God is allowing us to hit bottom, so we might finally look up to Him?

Nobody likes powerlessness, least of all Americans perhaps. Yet, powerlessness is the very place Grace meets us.

Grace has a name, Jesus.

Twelve Step recovery has taught millions of people to stop trusting in self and start surrendering to God, usually at the end of self. That’s not just helpful—it’s biblical.

Recovery communities, when operating faithful to the essential Steps and Traditions, are far more faithful to the early church in many respects than most modern churches. That breaks my heart—and fuels my calling. We have dramatically departed from early Christian teaching and community.

Twelve Step ethos has something to teach Christians...and vice versa. I share some essential history below with a much deeper dive in the book.

Yet, as I talk about it the Intro, it’s oh-so-easy to revert to self-governance when the more obviously fatal threats subside. Danger!

The Revivalist Roots of Real Recovery

Prompted by my own religious trauma, frank self-assessment, and God's direction, I dug deeper. As I describe in the Introduction, the Twelve Steps’ roots are clearly Christian, inspired by pastor Frank Buchman and the Oxford Group that spawned a powerful global evangelism movement (initially the First Century Christian Fellowship) which emphasized surrender, confession, repentance, and guidance through prayer and listening in humble community. Buchman didn’t struggle with alcohol. He struggled with sin. After a transformative encounter with Christ, he realized the Christian life was about ongoing surrender—not just belief.

That’s the essence of recovery. And it’s also the heart of Christian discipleship and the renewal our world is groaning for. An Acts 2 church. At its height, after converting Bill Wilson, the movement aimed at Remaking the World. Buchman's practical program of Christian renewal made striking global headway before dilution destroyed it. Hmmmm.

Bill Wilson warned of the corrosive powers of “money, property, and prestige,” creature comforts that derail purpose and purity.

Significant Sidebar: I am reminded that substance abusers have a physical malady that also obscures reason while most other sins are committed stone cold sober. Moreover, substance abusers are often self-medicating deep hurt, numbing pain they sometimes had no part in creating. It’s also worth noting that addiction is most prevalent in communities marked by unrelenting misery that others could easily alleviate; impoverished inner cities and forsaken rural areas. Something to think (and pray) about. This is not an excuse but a point to ponder honestly. Especially the Church, which is charged by Christ to lovingly care for its own…and others. He is close to the brokenhearted.

Please, not another non-profit or NGO. Acts 4:32-37.

Does this sound a little like a rebuke? It is.

Sin is the great equalizer. So is Jesus. If we could all just get on the same page about our collective need, things would go loads better.

Again, the catalyst for this kind of miraculous transformation comes with absolute surrender that usually (only) comes at the end of ourselves. There's more to this than meets the eye...

From the Bottom—Chosen

There’s something deeper stirring beneath all this—a message that’s been forming in me for years, though it's nothing new. It's hinted at in the book’s introduction, but let me say it plainly:

Those who have suffered—the "poor in spirit" especially the the outcast, the injured, the victimized, the survivors, the spiritually poor and poor-poor are not disqualified. They are, paradoxically, prequalified.

The crucible of powerlessness often creates a depth of dependence, humility, and spiritual hunger that is exactly what the Church needs right now. These are the ones Christ called blessed. These are the ones He always used, often only through refining fire.

Think of Moses, Joseph, David—cast out, betrayed, humbled, exiled. Think of Ruth, who looked like she had hit bottom but was walking right into the genealogy of Christ. Think of Mary, misunderstood and risking dismissal or death as an adulteress, yet chosen to birth the King of the world. Surrendered.

Only Jesus can do that.

Easter: From death to life.

I believe many of you reading this—especially those who’ve been crushed, marginalized, and maybe victimized—are among the "least likely" whom God is raising up for this new era of the Church. That’s not just comfort—it’s a calling I hope to explore further. In the short term, we can be certain that we are unified by a fundamental truth...

We All Need Saving

Jesus said:

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31–32

Of course, Jesus said everyone is sick. Some of us just know it or are unable to adequately conceal it.

Jesus, friend to sinners.

It’s tempting to think certain sins are “worse” than others. But Scripture doesn’t let us off the hook. Greed, gluttony, gossip, grousing, are damning, too. Read Romans 1 or Galatians 5 for a refresher. And remember 1 Corinthians 5:11–13, where Paul says not even to eat with someone who claims to be a believer yet lives in unrepentant sexual sin, slander, greed, and idolatry.

We won’t talk about what he said about Pharisees. You know.

Whoopsie.

Friends, by that standard, our churches (and restaurants) would be empty.

There are more challenging, timely truths to explore. Later.

But God is merciful. He disciplines those He loves and always invites us home. That’s the heartbeat of this book—an invitation to honest reflection, spiritual dependence, and real, ongoing transformation through Christ.

That’s Good News indeed. And urgent.

A Few Final Things

For millennia, maxims have carried deep truths—offering wisdom, comfort, and direction in just a few words…

Despite my theological tangent, this really is mainly a daily reader.

That’s the opening line of the back cover copy. This book includes 365 short reflections based on a memorable maxim illuminated by personal experience, historical, and cultural references. Each one ends with a prayer or affirmation to ground your day.

Even if you’re not in recovery, I believe you’ll find much here that’s helpful—delivered with my usual mix of vulnerability, candor, (hopefully) humor, and faith.

A Note About Anonymity

Because of the traditions of anonymity, my full name won’t appear on Amazon, the book jacket, the website, or new anonymous social media channels. You, dear reader, are among the few who know who I am. Shhh. A shield against ego—for me and for you. It’s also given me a surprising sense of freedom, especially as I continue to write for more public-facing outlets. I have also found I cherish my privacy more than I realized.

I’ll be posting short podcast reflections on each saying, and whatever else, recorded quietly in the early morning hours as the Holy Spirit inspires. You can follow me on my anonymous Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, TikTok, and X, linked on my dedicated website.  To honor anonymity, I will not be cross-posting S&S content after this :-).

Buy Now!

A Sidebar Update

I recently submitted new devotions for Guideposts Mornings with Jesus 2027 , another Advent project. I hope to keep writing for them as long as they’ll have me.

I’m not totally sure what’s next. Blogging, social media, and podcasting take time—and a kind of spiritual capital that’s hard to manufacture. I also need the kind of capital that feeds my kids and pays my mortgage. This remains an ongoing challenge. however, God reminds me that I cannot serve both God and mammon, so he has a purpose, even in this.

God has called me into a hidden place for a while. In the continued silence, He is doing a deep work—and this book is just one of the results, but there's loads more I want to process and share if and as God leads, including Unfiltered and some other book projects. I do feel the Lord may be calling me to speak openly again—whether here or through the anonymous podcast and social accounts linked on the website.

I’ve never felt more surrendered or more unsure. But I trust the One who sees and will follow where He leads.

Regardless, I’d love your feedback if you get the book—especially typos, comments, or slogans you’d like to see in Volume 2.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for still being here.

In Christ alone (for sure),