Michelle Andrea Williams
Author | Speaker | Teacher
Leaving It All on the Table: A Believer’s Story
Honestly – this is me on the mornings after our monthly Women of Faith and Friendship dinners. My friend Sherry and I cook and bake up a storm of food to feed about 15-20 ladies. We make enough for them to pack leftovers for spouse, lunch, or next evening’s meal. We throw ourselves fully into this event and leave nothing on the table – literally!
The ladies spend an hour and a half sharing a meal and developing friendships. Sherry reads a devotional before and prays over the meal and our time. It is a simple act of loving another human being – listening, hearing their hopes and sorrows, offering testimony to give hope when days are dark, and showing God’s unfailing Love through Jesus.
And the food, mostly homemade, created with Love and care. It shows in how much they enjoy the dinner and how fast leftovers are packed for home. This picture of me first thing in the morning represents leaving it “all on the table”! I am spent, lovingly, passionately, drained of every ounce of energy. Joining God in His work may require everything I’ve got! I am good with this – it is what Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 NIV. I know He sustains me and provides rest on the other side, especially when I give all that I am to join Him.
Prayer: Lord, let me join in Your work wherever You are and sustain me through it all. In Jesus’ Name Amen.
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Tending The Beloved – Out Now!
OUT NOW!!! Are you looking for curriculum for your small group in 2019? Or searching for a tool to help you through deep wounding to achieve sufficient healing? This workbook is for you.
The workbook is a labor of love and learning to help those struggling with wounds – some realized and others in need of uncovering. God is ready to guide you to His unique plan for your healing. I wish you courage and resolve to walk the path and discover what it means to be God’s Beloved Child.
Tending The Beloved: Healing Wounds Into Scars is a comprehensive workbook designed to discover the deep wounds we carry and create a plan for sufficient healing through open, intimate communication with God. The workbook can be used individually, in small groups, or in a retreat setting for self-discovery and God-discovery. The sessions start with contemplative prayer, or meditation, to promote the intimacy we so desire with our Creator. Each chapter consists of stories from Jesus, lessons from God, skill building, and questions to help develop a path to sufficient healing. Journal prompts are included at the end of the chapters to dig deeper into topics. A journal section is enclosed. God has an exclusive plan for our healing to match our unique situations. The course aims to help us realize God’s plan for healing our wounds into scars. Jesus’ stories from the Gospels help reveal new revelations and deeper meaning to our wounding. Through the teachings of Christ, God reveals a new way of looking at our habits, our hurts, and our hearts. Join the journey of discovering God’s plan to heal your deepest wounds into sufficiently healed scars and lay down the burdens at the foot of Cross once and for all.
I pray you have courage and resolve on your journey of healing wounds into scars.
Michelle Andrea Williams
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Steady Progress: An RA Story
I forgot what it feels like to live a normal life and I may never experience it again. I have hope, however, with new developments in pharmaceuticals and biotech devices. I keep up with the latest trials and breakthroughs on the horizon.
In the meantime, I do my best with the medicines I am currently taking. No, its not the injectables anymore. I gave up on those in May. Now, I take Plaquenil and Xeljanz. It has taken 3 years to discover these two drugs worked the best in my body – for now.
I know there will come a time when the meds will decrease in their effectiveness. I will work with my Rhematologist once again to find what works.
I am about 60 percent of my normal self. Grateful for the life I have at the moment. It’s good and sufficient for what God has me doing for now. I know if He invites me to join in new adventures, He will match my wellness for the energy needed.
I look forward to 2019 and all it will bring – good days, low days, restful days and days of exuberant activities. I am ready for what will come.
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Can I decorate this year? Yes, No, Maybe. — STILL SARAH (message from my Father-in-law)
Sarah and I loved to decorate for Christmas. Our first Christmas together we had one Christmas tree as most sane people do. Over the years we kept adding trees throughout our home. Eventually, we had a tree in every room including the bathrooms and laundry room. Each tree had a unique theme and Sarah’s artistry […]
via Can I decorate this year? Yes, No, Maybe. — STILL SARAH
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The Latest Research on Bioelectric Treatment for RA
Image: Setpoint Medical
Read the lastest on biomedical treatment for RA.
www.rdmag.com/article/2018/09/biotech-device-could-treat-rheumatoid-arthritis-without-side-effects
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New Workbook – Out Now!
PRESS RELEASE from PR.com: https://www.pr.com/press-release/758263
Michelle Andrea Williams Offers New Tools in “Wound-Proofing Our Writing Practice”
Boiling Springs, PA, July 03, 2018 –(PR.com)– The workbook introduces the S.C.A.R.s. Method developed by the author to assist in healing wounds into scars for writers struggling to put their pain on paper.
Today, Michelle Andrea Williams announced the immediate availability of her latest workbook, Wound-Proofing Our Writing Practice, a workbook allowing writers of all genres the tools to attain sufficient healing prior to publishing memoirs or fictional stories of traumatic events.
“The workbook is designed to give writers insight into whether they or their story is ready for publication,” said Michelle Andrea Williams, Author of the memoir and study guide, Finding My Damascus. “It also offers writing exercises to promote sufficient healing and capture the fullness their story deserves.”
Positive Customer Impact
Karli Rush, the author of The Bound Series, recently previewed the workbook. It prompted Karli to refocus on her writing practice and she is well into completing her latest novel.
“It can be perplexing to find the right tools, books or other material to help with the journey of healing from painful events,” said Karli, “The book not only explains how to write from wounds but coaches you through step-by-step positive methods to find healing.”
Wound-Proofing Our Writing Practice Availability
Wound-Proofing Our Writing Practice workbook is the latest offered by Michelle Andrea Williams. The workbook is available in paperback and Kindle on www.Amazon.com.
For more information, press only:
Michelle Andrea Williams
Email: michelleawilliamspa@gmail.com
For more information on the workbook:
Website: www.michelleandreawilliams.com/books
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Buckets & Levels: An RA Story
Photo: barbara baldocchi
Each morning I wake up, stretch, and evaluate how my body feels. What pain level do I have this morning? Is it a five or is it a three, or did I toss and turn all night because my pain registered a seven? Then energy evaluation – how much is in my bucket today? Like a bucket to gather water at a pump with a small hole in the bottom, that’s the bucket I imagine energy fills each day. When I exert a lot of energy on gardening, it sloshes over the sides. I sit and work, drips start leaking out of the bottom. During the course of the day, my bucket is empty.
Some days offer a bucket half full, others 3/4 full, but rarely is it overflowing anymore. I can predict the level fairly well and plan important events, chores and work in the morning. Other days, by noon I have a little left. The outlier is the amount of pain – this depletes the bucket of energy faster like pulling a plug. Buckets and levels – this is how I measure and plan my life with rheumatoid arthritis.
The understanding and planning have been an adjustment and a lesson God has shown me to deal with this chronic illness. I set limitations based on how much energy I feel is left in my bucket (or will be) and what level of pain have I experienced lately. Travel is challenging but doable with careful planning. How long will I be riding in a car? Will I drive or my husband? How long is the flight? What type of vacation is best suited for me and my husband to enjoy? What is the best way to spend time without overdoing it? All of these factor into my travel plans.
Then there is everyday life. I work a full-time job – yes, from home and yes, sitting at a desk writing brevity news for the healthcare industry. Sounds tough? It can be – especially when my pain level is high and energy bucket low – both fight my productivity. (P.S. Sitting is the new smoking – read more by the Mayo Clinic)
When I use more energy than my body supplies, it’s as if I walk neck-deep in a swimming pool while running a marathon – my descriptive definition of fatigue. My body will not cooperate and making the bed is the biggest thing I accomplish some days. My bucket empties quickly and I rest to replenish the bucket and bring the pain level down. All while trying not to wallow or feel sorry for myself.
Yesterday my feet were so painful I didn’t even want my fluffy slippers to touch them. I did exercises the physical therapist taught me two years ago and it helped. By the afternoon, my bucket was empty, my pain level was a six, and I rested the remainder of the day. But I worked a full work week, taught a class at church, helped my husband cook dinner (once), did a few chores, and went to the store several times. I called that success.
Tomorrow may be better bucket/level day. To have pain at a one or zero and 100% full bucket, my goodness, what a marvelous day that would be. I would spend it wisely, thoughtfully, and deliberately. Realistically, I would clean the house from top to bottom, work in my garden, tinker in the garage, and move until my legs gave out. I pray I have one of those days soon. (Just sayin’, Lord, Amen).
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What Does Sufficient Healing Mean? A Writer’s Story
What does it look like to be sufficiently healed? That is the question I asked while writing the two workbooks (soon to be launched into the universe). What does sufficient mean? Sufficient – according to Miriam-Webster, the definition is “enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end”. Let’s go with “enough for the situation”.
What does it look like to be healed enough for the situation – in the case of “Wound Proofing Your Writing Practice” – it means to be healed enough, whole enough to undergo the publication of whatever your mind and heart creates. Whether a memoir, like mine in “Finding My Damascus” to the beautiful nonfiction story collection I have swimming in my head and heart, “Uprooting The Family Tree” – writers need to be sufficiently healed to share the story of truth without opening old wounds or creating new ones. This could be anything from a past traumatic event to getting one’s nose out of joint when an editor asks for changes (oh, it happens).
Here is the thing – writers are emotional creatures – at least I am, and it has taken years of being in business and workplace situations to toughen up. I am an empathetic introvert after all, so if I can do it – anyone can. I listened to God’s leading, and for those of you who are not on a spiritual journey, bare with me – He makes a lot of sense.
I wrote the first workbook for all writers. It is filled with healing practices, exercises, and discussion. This was the precursor to the second workbook. The first, “Wound Proofing Your Writing Practice” will be launched on Amazon in July 2018. The next, “Tending the Beloved: Healing Wounds Into S.C.A.R.s.” will be available in the fall of 2018.
Each addresses the question, “What does it look like to be sufficiently healed” in the situation in which we find ourselves and how do we get there from where we currently stand? The answer is the quest itself – the journey to discover our deepest wounds and what it will take to sufficiently heal, then doing the hard work to get there.
To stay focused despite outside influences, I go back to Monte Python’s “The Holy Grail” scene in which God is speaking to King Arthur about His idea of the quest for the Holy Grail. “What a good idea, Lord,” says Arthur. “Of course, it’s a good idea,” quips the Lord, like “how could you think otherwise because My plan is perfect” Psalm 18:30.
For those with the courage to embark on this quest, I wish you patience and strength, discernment and healing. We are all works in progress aiming to find that “Holy Grail”. Let’s march onward.
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Hold Up A Minute…Where Am I? An RA Story
Have you ever been on the trail and gotten turned around? Have you read a map wrong and gone way off from where you intended? Boy, I have. I enjoy hiking, when my body cooperates. My map reading skills are not as good as I think – especially as I get older. When Greg and I went hiking with his son Corey last summer, I was the map reader although I was not the leader of the pack.
Greg led after glancing at the map and understanding the terrain, elevation, and direction the map laid out. (see photo) I followed with the map in my hand forcing my brain to understand what I was seeing on the trail compared to the facets of the map. I got confused. “Hold up,” I said, “Let me get my bearings.” They patiently stopped for a while along a ridge and waited for me to get my head straight.
Slowly, I traced my finger along the path and looked at the elevation and distance to see where we were standing along the trail. We were not even close to where I thought we were on the map. I asked Greg to help me see our exact location – he looked over my shoulder and pointed to where we stood. I saw it instantly – on the ridge, facing northeast, headed back to Kings Gap Mansion where we parked. How could I not see that? It was so clear.
Two weeks ago, I wrote a piece about starting injections for treating my Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is a big adjustment. My doctor laid out the plan at our last appointment – go to injections for both Humira and Methotrexate, stop the Xeljanz. I let her know I was unsure if Xeljanz was even doing anything and was good with the plan.
After I posted my blog about the changes, I broke down. I cried over the path I was on. I looked at Greg and said, “I feel terrible, I don’t like this. I am scared of Humira and all its side effects. Are we doing the right thing? I shouldn’t have this much anxiety over it.” He said, “I don’t know what to tell you, but you do need to reach out to your doctor.”
Put the parking brake on! Time to take assessment of this medical path!! I messaged my doctor about the anxiety, what was happening to my body and asked for a new direction.
“I think we skipped a step,” I said in my message, “Let’s take a few steps back and NOT do the Humira injections. I feel like we need to give Xeljanz another chance and still do the Methotrexate shots.”
She agreed, and reminded me I was the one who thought the OTHER medication was not working well. So the path now – weekly Methotrexate injections and take the Xeljanz pills twice a day. Good thing too! My latest labs results showed the “bad” liver levels doubled while on Humira.
Am I on the right path once more? Pretty sure it’s a yes, but there is an ever changing landscape out there – research, nutrition and medical studies to help care for chronically ill bodies. Just this week, a report was published on the positive effects of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and autoimmune disease – yeah!
This is a journey – in need of a map and someone to help me navigate it when the map doesn’t make sense. My prayer from two weeks ago was answered – changes have been made and I pray God will continue to guide me. He is the ultimate navigator with great people willing to show me where I am on the map.
When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Psalms 94:19 NLT
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Michelle Andrea Williams 
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