In church, we hear a lot about putting our faith in God and not worrying about tomorrow. We are told pure faith is what God is after and are given examples of the hero's in the Bible. All the while, us confused, frustrated people crammed into the pews doubt we have enough faith God will help us with the Mt. Everest stack of bills.
Good thing we don't need very big faith, something as small as a mustard seed is all God needs.
There has been several times during my publishing, book signing adventure I had to trust God knew what he was doing because I sure didn't. I thought it be fun to share the times God blew my socks off and used my tinny faith to make something great.
Let me start by saying I have never been to college and creative writing classes were not offered at my high school. No one else in my family is a writer. Therefore, I have not officially been trained how to market, write, or edit, but that's half the fun. ;)
My first book was published when I was seventeen. It was awesome, my childhood dream fulfilled of publishing a book before graduating high school. Then what? I had no idea. I knew I had to market, but didn't know where. I knew it would be expensive and, as a seventeen year old, I didn't have much. And I knew I knew nothing.
Panic ensued.
Then, amid the fear and worry, God whispered, "you write and I'll market it for you".
I had no idea what that meant or where God was leading me. I knew he still had marketing work for me, but only market how and when he said to.
Not long after publishing, the manager at the bank I deposited into had a bright idea. She offered the bank's lobby for my first book signing. She said I can come at the busiest time in Friday, let me barrow a table, and vuala! God planned out my first book signing and dropped it in my lap.
For the first years of publishing, I rarely planned my own book signings. Pastors, a writing professor, and random people approached me with their book signing ideas, location, time, and everything I needed before hand.
God prompted so many people to help me it was astounding! Even today, my radio and online TV show interviews were not my doing. People from both establishments randomly approached me and set up the interviews!
Later, when the first cover of "Shattered Lives" was being designed, I needed a medieval gown. Halloween was still months away and, because of my remote, little, hick town's inability to modernize, the closest mall is two hours away driving on a highway the entire time. Thus, a medieval gown would be impossible to find. But not for God.
I told him what I needed and he waved a casual hand with a grin. "Don't worry about it," he said, "I got this." A week later, I was at a local second hand store on fifty cent day. Guess what I found? A perfect medieval-looking witch dress with, after a few modification, was the gown I needed. And low and behold! The dress fit my model perfectly even before I knew who would be modeling. And it only cost me fifty sense.
Recently, I needed more editors. I am insecure about my grammar and spelling skills, so I like lots and lots of editors. One night, I was frantically looking for the contact information given by a friend willing to edit. God told me calm down and knock it off, he's got it figured out. "Ok, well," I said, "I'd like another editor so please send me one".
Good thing we don't need very big faith, something as small as a mustard seed is all God needs.
There has been several times during my publishing, book signing adventure I had to trust God knew what he was doing because I sure didn't. I thought it be fun to share the times God blew my socks off and used my tinny faith to make something great.
Let me start by saying I have never been to college and creative writing classes were not offered at my high school. No one else in my family is a writer. Therefore, I have not officially been trained how to market, write, or edit, but that's half the fun. ;)
My first book was published when I was seventeen. It was awesome, my childhood dream fulfilled of publishing a book before graduating high school. Then what? I had no idea. I knew I had to market, but didn't know where. I knew it would be expensive and, as a seventeen year old, I didn't have much. And I knew I knew nothing.Panic ensued.
Then, amid the fear and worry, God whispered, "you write and I'll market it for you".
I had no idea what that meant or where God was leading me. I knew he still had marketing work for me, but only market how and when he said to.
Not long after publishing, the manager at the bank I deposited into had a bright idea. She offered the bank's lobby for my first book signing. She said I can come at the busiest time in Friday, let me barrow a table, and vuala! God planned out my first book signing and dropped it in my lap.
For the first years of publishing, I rarely planned my own book signings. Pastors, a writing professor, and random people approached me with their book signing ideas, location, time, and everything I needed before hand.
God prompted so many people to help me it was astounding! Even today, my radio and online TV show interviews were not my doing. People from both establishments randomly approached me and set up the interviews!
Later, when the first cover of "Shattered Lives" was being designed, I needed a medieval gown. Halloween was still months away and, because of my remote, little, hick town's inability to modernize, the closest mall is two hours away driving on a highway the entire time. Thus, a medieval gown would be impossible to find. But not for God.
I told him what I needed and he waved a casual hand with a grin. "Don't worry about it," he said, "I got this." A week later, I was at a local second hand store on fifty cent day. Guess what I found? A perfect medieval-looking witch dress with, after a few modification, was the gown I needed. And low and behold! The dress fit my model perfectly even before I knew who would be modeling. And it only cost me fifty sense.
Recently, I needed more editors. I am insecure about my grammar and spelling skills, so I like lots and lots of editors. One night, I was frantically looking for the contact information given by a friend willing to edit. God told me calm down and knock it off, he's got it figured out. "Ok, well," I said, "I'd like another editor so please send me one".
He didn't answer, like he usually does, but I knew he was up to something. The following day, while at work (I work at a hardware store, how glamorous is that!), a regular customer came in. He had seen my online TV interview and learned I'm an author. We talked about books and such and he shared how his wife loves to read.
"Would she be willing to edit?" I asked.
"I'm sure she would!"
So, within twelve hours of asking for another editor, a woman I have never met before offered her editorial services. Boom. God comes through again.
There's been so many.other times I've freaked out, not knowing how to fix a problem, and God calmly says he's got it handled. From not knowing how to pay for my mortgage or asking him where's my lost earring, he's bailed me out with supreme style.
The next time you have a freak out moment and can't figure out what to do, just ask him for help. Even if it's a stupid problem, he cares about the little things and wants to help.
Give it a shot, you only have to have faith as big as a grain of sand, or mustard seed, or eye sleeper.
There's been so many.other times I've freaked out, not knowing how to fix a problem, and God calmly says he's got it handled. From not knowing how to pay for my mortgage or asking him where's my lost earring, he's bailed me out with supreme style.
The next time you have a freak out moment and can't figure out what to do, just ask him for help. Even if it's a stupid problem, he cares about the little things and wants to help.
Give it a shot, you only have to have faith as big as a grain of sand, or mustard seed, or eye sleeper.
