{ What to do in a Valley by Jabin Chavez - TLC Book Tour }

 

 

 

About What to Do in a Valley: Trusting God to Breathe New Life into Your Dry Bones

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication date: September 29, 2026

Take life’s valleys as not mere challenges but divine appointments designed to refine and strengthen your faith in this deep exploration of Psalm 23:4-6. You may be at your worst, but that’s when God can do his best work in your life. Take heart and use this opportunity to grow spiritual strength and wisdom as He walks alongside you offering encouragement and spiritual insight.

Jabin Chavez explores the profound lessons learned during life’s most challenging moments and sheds light on the divine purpose behind them. Key Insights from What to Do in a Valley will help you:

• See life’s valleys not as mere challenges but divine appointments designed to refine and strengthen your faith.
• Gain a fresh perspective on spiritual battles by embracing the valley as a sacred space for personal growth.
• Discover unique insights into navigating life’s toughest seasons with faith and resilience.
• Find comfort knowing that even in “the valley of the shadow of death,” you are not alone and God’s goodness and mercy will follow you.

In this book, Jabin offers practical steps for growth so your experiences in the valley build you up rather than break you down. Whether you’re pleading the blood, speaking in tongues, or seeking intercessory prayer, this book provides the guidance needed to navigate the wilderness and emerge stronger.

Are you in the valley, feeling like you’re under spiritual attack? Discover the transformative power of the Holy Spirit’s gym, where trials become the pathway to strength and spiritual growth.

About the Author

Jabin Chavez is a pastor, artist, podcast host, and highly sought after speaker who has a long track record of growing departments, ministries, and organizations. After five years serving at the influential Free Chapel under Pastor Jentezen Franklin, in 2018 Jabin Chavez and his wife Shanen decided to plant City Light Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also the founder of Jabin Chavez Ministries, a multi-cultural and multi-generational ministry that is helping lead people to Jesus, through which he speaks and leads worship all over the country and the world. Chavez has spoken widely at influential churches and conferences including Free Chapel, Elevation Church, The Belonging Co, Love Is Red Conference, Impact Church, Word of Life Church, Encounter Conference, Abundant Church, Lifepoint Church, James River Assembly, RISE Conference, Champions Centre, and many others. In 2019, Chavez preached a sermon called “What to Do in a Valley” at Elevation Church and it has been viewed over 200,000 times. In addition, Jabin also hosts the Jabin Chavez Leadership Podcast. He lives and ministers in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his wife Shanen and their kids.

 

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/09/2026 }

Good morning everyone, welcome to a cold November morning.

 

I hope you are all doing well.  We are doing good, life is moving forward and I'm coming out of the hard weeks I just went through.  It was two months of a really tough battle with many things happening.  But, God is good and everything is back on track, and I'm so happy to say that my anxiety is gone.  It is definitely connected to my hormones and rears it's ugly head right before my cycle, so I'm working with my doctor on that.

 

Anyway, enough sad things, let's get on with our post.  I will be doing more daily posts now that things have slowed down.  I will say, I am quite proud of myself for posting so much during October, I was not in a good place but pushed through and I'm glad I did.

 

As we get ready for the holidays, I will definitely be blogging more.  I want to get back to my blogging roots, and come at it with the same excitement that I did years ago.  

 

Alright, let's see what everyone is up to. 

 

Wishing you all a very happy and blessed week!   

♥♥ The Weather ♥♥
Cold but this week we will be seeing some 70 degree days, so I guess that's weird hahahah  I am ready for cold winter cozy weather, and right now, it is not cooperating.  

 

Monday - Cloudy, 71
Tuesday - Partly sunny, 74
Wednesday - Sunny, 76
Thursday - Sunny, 76
Friday - Sunny, 69
Saturday - Showers, 62
Sunday - Light rain, 56


♥♥ As I look outside my window ♥♥
All my windows have condensation, a true sign of cooler weather, and I love it.  The sun has come up and because it's cloudy, the sky is a pink color with mist moving over the land.  Beautiful ♥   

♥♥ Right now I am ♥♥
At my desk, listening to Max Velocity video about upcoming snow and where, and working on this post.    

 

♥♥ Thinking and pondering ♥♥
How wonderful God is.  Elliott went through a lot the past two months but my boy is healed and back to himself, and I couldn't be happier. 

 

♥♥ How am I feeling ♥♥
I'm feeling good this morning, slightly tired, but overall I am good.  Aside from a slight stomach ache which I attribute to my ridiculous intake of stuff that I shouldn't have had this weekend.  Too many carbs in the form of bread, too many sweets, two donuts, and oh my word just terrible choices I made, but we're back on track.  

 

♥♥ On the breakfast plate ♥♥
I've had a cup of coffee with hazelnut no sugar creamer.  The way I am able to use the creamer and not pack on all the extra calories, is that I make my coffee with 2% milk, then literally add a tiny and I mean tiny splash, just like two drops of the creamer which gives me the taste of the hazelnut, but not all the calories.

 

I made some oatmeal but I could only eat about 3 spoons of it, I don't know what is my deal with oatmeal lately, I think it's the kind of oatmeal I have which is not very good.  I may have some eggs later because I'm absolutely starving.  

 

♥♥ On the lunch plate ♥♥
Tuna Salad with chickpeas and boiled egg.  

 

♥♥ On the dinner plate ♥♥
Steaks with creamy oregano sauce, basmati rice and salad. 

 

♥♥ What I'm wearing ♥♥
In my pajamas as always at this time, I will change into some leggings soon and a tshirt.  It's going to be a slow, quiet day at home.  

 

♥♥ On my reading pile ♥♥
Almost done with 2 Samuel in the Bible.      

Currently reading Thornyhold by Mary Stewart. 

 

 

♥♥ On my TV this week ♥♥
Youtube - 

Homemaking and book vlogs

Crochet and Knitting podcasts 

 

Netflix - 

Call the Midwife 

The Great British Bake Off

 

 

Turkish Soap -

Mercan Kosk

Guller ve Gunahlar

Muhtemel Ask

Halef

Sevdigim Sensin

Gunesin Dogdugu Yer

Anne Yarisi

Sevdan Bir Ates

 

♥♥ On the menu ♥♥

 

Monday - Steaks with creamy oregano sauce, basmati rice and roast brussell sprouts  

Tuesday - Tomato Cream Cheese Pasta, Garlic Knots, Salad

Wednesday - Mediterranean bowls, meatball, couscous, olives, hummus, red onion and tomato 
Thursday -Greek Chicken in Tomato sauce, Pasta, Bean salad

Friday - Greek Kokinisto Pork, Orzo and Salad

Saturday -Tantuni Wraps

Sunday - Burgers and spicy fries

♥♥ Looking around the house ♥♥
I put up my paper snowflakes on the windows and the Thanksgiving tree is up in the dining room, but I am going to get more things out.  I am ready for the season.  

♥♥ To Do List for the week ♥♥
- Carpet clean, vacuum, dust

- Laundry 

- Change bedding 

- Start sleeve two of my Jumper

- Make my Christmas Pudding 

- Meal plan for Thanksgiving

  

♥♥ What I am creating ♥♥

I made my first sleeve for the Clarendon Cables Jumper and I am in love.  Starting my second today and hopefully finishing it by tomorrow, it's a quick pattern once you get the hang of it.   

♥♥ Something fun to share ♥♥
With the holidays coming up and specifically Thanksgiving, we know there will be pie baking, right?

 

Here is a quick graphic that shows different pie crusts.  It definitely helps me to have a graphic like this with everything in one place.  
 

 

♥♥ From the camera ♥♥

My first sleeve is done and I am in love with it, I honestly can't wait for this jumper to finished so I can start wearing it. 

 

 

♥♥ Devotional ♥♥ 

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.  - Psalms 119:105  

 

Misterlinky is not online so I'm using Inlinkz today, sorry about that.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/02/2026 }

Good morning and welcome to the first Happy Homemaker Monday of November.  Well we are now entering the holiday weeks, the busy, crazy, and amazing holiday times of the year.

 

It does also mean that we now have to focus on Thanksgiving and organizing it all, which I'm not quite ready for yet, but we will do it.

 

I also see a lot of people already decorating for Christmas, have you started?  I haven't yet, but may start pulling out some of the decorations later today.  

 

Anyway, thank you all for the comments on the last posts about my anxiety, I am getting through it, doing a lot of prayer, trying to train my brain not to overreact to everything and will definitely talk to my doctors.

 

Wishing you all a very happy and blessed week!   

♥♥ The Weather ♥♥
We are expecting some strong storms later this afternoon with the possibility of tornadoes.  Why we are doing tornadoes in November is beyond me, but ok.  Hahahah  

 

Monday - Storms and cloudy, 82
Tuesday - Partly cloudy, 69
Wednesday - Mostly sunny, 74
Thursday - Mostly sunny, 75
Friday - Mostly sunny, 70
Saturday - Partly cloudy, 67
Sunday - Sunny, 70


♥♥ As I look outside my window ♥♥
The sun has come up, the birds are chirping and the chickens are clucking away with the roosters singing their constant song.  it looks like a beautiful day ahead, at least until the clouds and storms set in.   

♥♥ Right now I am ♥♥
Sitting at my desk, I have a random Christmas movie playing on TV and I'm working on this post.  

 

♥♥ Thinking and pondering ♥♥
It's been a lot going on lately, poor Elliott has had a tough month, it's been one thing after another.  Just thinking how resilient animals are and how much joy they bring to us. 

 

♥♥ How am I feeling ♥♥
Physically I am well, obviously the anxiety played a major part of my mental well being, but I'm feeling ok today and I plan to stay like that.   

 

♥♥ On the breakfast plate ♥♥
I just had a cup of coffee earlier and haven't yet had breakfast.  Not sure what I'll have but will probably end up being the usual scrambled eggs with cottage cheese.  Or I may make a breakfast sandwich with an english muffin.  I'm not very hungry, one thing about anxiety and stress for me is that I stop eating, it's weird.    

 

♥♥ On the lunch plate ♥♥
Not sure, I don't feel like anything in particular but will see how I feel later.  

 

♥♥ On the dinner plate ♥♥
Sausages in tomato sauce, rice, mixed roast veggies. 

 

♥♥ What I'm wearing ♥♥
Still in my pajamas, will change into something hahahah  Not sure what.  Either leggings, a dress or some shorts, I'm not sure.  

 

♥♥ On my reading pile ♥♥
Almost done with 2 Samuel in the Bible.      

Currently reading Thornyhold by Mary Stewart. 

 

 

♥♥ On my TV this week ♥♥
Youtube - 

Homemaking and book vlogs

Crochet and Knitting podcasts 

 

Netflix - 

Trying to catch up on Call the Midwife but I don't remember the last season I watched so may start again from the beginning.

The Great British Bake Off

Going to start watching Star Trek The Next Generation again.   

 

Turkish Soap -

Mercan Kosk

Guller ve Gunahlar

Muhtemel Ask

Halef

Sevdigim Sensin

Gunesin Dogdugu Yer

Anne Yarisi

Sevdan Bir Ates

 

♥♥ On the menu ♥♥

Need to start working on the new meal plan today

 

Monday - Sausages in tomato sauce, rice, mixed roast veggies  

Tuesday - Meatball Moroccan Stew with potatoes, salad 
Wednesday - Chickpea and sweet potato curry, rice
Thursday -

Friday - Layered Flatbreads and Garlic Yogurt Sauce

Saturday -

Sunday -

♥♥ Looking around the house ♥♥
I need to do a bit of organizing in the living room to start making room for Christmas decorations and the tree. 

♥♥ To Do List for the week ♥♥
- Carpet clean, vacuum, dust

- Laundry 

- Normal daily cleaning, kitchen, bathroom, living spaces

- Starting my Clarendon Cabled Jumper

- Continue working on the Universe in Bloom Blanket  

♥♥ What I am creating ♥♥

Universe in Bloom Blanket and I just got my pattern for the jumper on Saturday, so am eager to get started with that.   

♥♥ Something fun to share ♥♥
I love the channel on YouTube Through Lucy's Lens, she always takes us around such fantastic spots in England.  

 

Here is her latest where she takes us to Wales to a lodge and shows us around.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  

 

 

♥♥ From the camera ♥♥

I love sitting at my desk, by the window, and working on crochet projects.   

 

♥♥ Devotional ♥♥ 

As I navigate my anxiety journey, I have started two new plans on my bible app.  

 

Fear & Anxiety

Victory Over Anxiety

 

They seem to be pretty good, so we will see how that goes.  

{ Blogtober 2026 - Day 20 - We've lost the joy of gifting and receiving }

I have always wanted a doll house, since I was a child, but it's something I never got.  I was one of four, the only girl, and my dad and stepmom worked hard to provide for us, but times were different and it wasn't always possible to give big gifts.

 

What I do remember, is that no matter what, we loved every gift we received, and I miss that, I miss the simple days and the simple holidays.  The days where gifts were not extravagant, not expensive but they came from the heart and meant so much.  

 

The excitement of birthdays and Christmas was palpable, and I don't know about you all, but I feel that those feelings have been lost along the way.  Of course we're older and I myself will be the first to admit that I don't have that excitement about gifts as I did when I was a child, but it's not just that, it's the fact that nowadays gifts seem to be all about the biggest, the most expensive, and being better than the year before.

It's made it all so materialistic and void of joy, and I really want to change that.

 

As I am making this big Gingerbread house that my sweet husband bought me, I am like a child back in my early teens, finally receiving the doll house she always wanted.  I am getting such pure happiness out of building these small pieces that will go into the finished house.

 

This is what brought all these memories back and made me really want to start looking at Christmas especially, in a different way.  I mentioned a few blogs back that I really want this year to be different, to be more of a vintage older kind of Christmas, from the tree to the gifts, to the food and especially the atmosphere. 

 

So I am just throwing thoughts around in my head and trying very hard to make that come true.  I feel the whole world is falling apart and our homes, our families are the only peace we really have around us, so why not make these upcoming holidays even more special than usual? 

Homemade is at the top of that list, for sure.  

 

Speaking of homemade and slightly drifting off the subject, I have been working on my sourdough for over a year.  My sourdough starter or Suzy as I call her, lives in my fridge and she has been thriving all this time.  I couldn't be happier.  

 

But having a good sourdough starter and producing a good loaf is a completely different thing.  I have struggled, I have made flops, I have made drops, I have made flat, dense, rock hard loaves, I have made them all.  But I have finally mastered a good sourdough loaf and I am thrilled beyond thrilled.  

 

Above you can see my loaf wrapped in a beautiful kitchen towel from Aveiro, Portugal. 

Just look at this beauty?  Look at those holes and the perfect crust.  This loaf is one of the best I have made and I am so proud of myself for sticking with it.

In the meantime, while I work on all these ideas floating around in my already overloaded and overwhelmed brain, I have been building shelves and trying to create a very cozy den/dining room area.  It's a work in progress for sure.

 

But when we have Thanksgiving and Christmas, I want everyone who walks through the doors to feel welcome and cozy and warm and happy. 

{ Blogtober 2026 - Day 28 - Wordless Wednesday }