Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Strong…..and courageous. Most of you know that last year, I decided to write a children’s book to document the stories I use to tell my children and grandchildren when they were little. I prayed and prayed and prayed about it. I wrote, scratched, wrote some more…..made eleventy-million mistakes, but I prayed and believed that I was in the season that God wanted me to be in. With lots of input from my family, and tons and tons of support from friends, not only did I complete one book, but a series of five.
I have had the best of time visiting schools and encouraging little people to read. Book sales are growing. I am able to give my grandkids little royalty dollars. After all, they are the reason I wanted to write these books. This adventure has opened so many doors for me. God has even used me to encourage another woman to finish a novel that she truly wanted to write but didn’t feel courageous enough to do so. This whole “put people in your path at just the right moment” has never been truer than it has been the past year. I don’t even have words to tell you how grateful I am for this season I’m in.
One of the strongest lessons I have learned from the books is this: You get out of something what you put into it. Marketing is hard….really hard. For every school I get invited to, I get rejected by 3 more. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or terrified. I’m not real good at that part. Fear chokes me down. Now, I will tell you, I am the master of talking a good line. Marketing is my background. I know how to promote and work. But then Satan and his lying ass shows up and all of a sudden, I’m doubting everything I’m doing. Let me give you an example. Recently, I attended a function and was feeling pretty excited with the way things were going. I talked to so many people and was able to encourage a room full of young writers to follow their dream while they, in turn, encouraged each other and me. On the way home, however, I got a phone call from another marketer. “I don’t think I could ever use my grandchildren to sell books like you do….” After that, I didn’t hear anything else. My mind was filled with doubt. What I was so excited to share with my grandchildren was perceived as extortion by someone else. Does Satan do that to you, too? Just bust in and steal your joy?
Hey God, I want to thank You for this verse today. This isn’t about books, or grandchildren, or following a dream. I’m not trying to “attention seek” or feel sorry for myself. You made me so You know that all of my life I’ve taken my toys and just quit and gone home when someone hurts my feelings. But this verse... it’s Biblical proof that You’ve got me. You will guide me. You will encourage me. You will always, always, ALWAYS lead me where I need to be, if only I stay in Your will. Thank You for once again showing me the perfect verse at the perfect time. Thank You, also, for the little caution flag you raised so that I keep my balance with my marketing strategies. Satan knows exactly which buttons to push. Thankfully, You say I’m strong. Believing I’m exactly where You want me to be ~
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