Hello Family, I have missed you all. I’ve been quiet recently, because I only write when God gives me something to say. I was also resting mentally; all this writing has worn me out! Well, as you can see, the book is finally published, and that’s amazing. But what is really amazing is the journey that I had to take to get to this point. I want to encourage you as you journey with God. I want you to know that He will finish the work that He has begun in you, and even through you.

 

In 1991, I heard God say to me as I sat at my desk at work, “You’re going to write a book.” As I mentioned before, I had no clue how to write a book, or what to write about. In 1995, God told me, and I wasn’t pleased with the topic, because the topic was my life. However, in obedience I began the long journey of writing, and re-writing, and re-writing to get to the final product that is now available to enjoy.

 

About two weeks ago, as I was laying in bed, I had just opened my eyes and was preparing to go into prayer, when it hit me; it’s been 30 years since God spoke to me about writing this book. Thirty years!!! In sorrow for feeling like a failure, I questioned, “Lord, it took me thirty years to write that book?”

 

He responded encouragingly, “No, it only took you two years to write the book, and two years to edit the book, the rest of the time, I spent developing you to minister the message within the book. And then I had to align you with your publisher.”

 

That was an eye-opening statement, and it was absolutely true. When my writing journey began, I knew nothing of what I know now, or even how to do any of it. I didn’t even know how I was going to publish the book, God surprised me with that answer. I wanted to do a traditional publisher, but He chose a different publisher and publishing route. When I had exhausted all of my publishing possibilities and was very discouraged, He told me, “Sow a seed into another author.”

 

The problem was, I didn’t know any other author personally. Then He told me to do something that really shocked me, He said, “Call the publishing house that you were not able to sign with because you couldn’t afford it and ask if you can sow into one of their authors.” With much trepidation, I obeyed, and the publising representative was also shocked at my request. However, he took the request back to his superiors and they agreed to let me sow into one of their current authors. This happened around March-April 2019.

 

After I realized that I had done all I knew to do with the book, I turned it back over to God. Some years ago He encouraged me when I was worried about getting the book finished and sold. He tenderly reminded me, “Don’t you worry about it, I know about books. I have the best-selling book of all times.” God is so funny!!! And He is so right!!! With that statement, I relaxed and just kept writing until I had nothing more to say. Then I knew, I had finished my course.

 

After a few days had passed, I received a call giving me the green-light to sow into one of the other publisher’s authors. After a few weeks had passed, I received an email with the author’s name and a thank you reply. Then I left the rest to God. In October 2019, I opened my mailbox to find a letter from my current publisher, Dorrance Publishing. Why are they contacting me? I thought.

 

The letter announced that they had found my manuscript in the Library of Congress, (I had copyrighted it for protection before I sent it out to agents) and somehow a representative from Dorrance had found it. They notified me that they were interested in publishing my manuscript. This was so intriguing to me, because early on in my writing process, I had submitted the first part of what I thought was the finished manuscript for review, and Dorrance wanted to publish it in 2006. At that time, I couldn’t afford the publishing fees, and I didn’t know how I was going to afford them this time, either.

 

I told my publishing representative that the first contract amount was too high for me, and she went back for renegotiation. The second amount was something that I instinctively knew I could afford, but I really didn’t know how I would afford it. Something in my spirit just felt right about it. So, I began my publishing journey, and now it is finished!!! I did ask God to confirm that I was in the right place, with the right people, at the right time and He did. My publishing representative stated, “I like you and I really like your name; my mother has the same first name as you.”

 

I replied, “Guess what, you have the same first name as my mother, thank you for the confirmation.”

 

I just want you to be encouraged on your journey with the Lord, whether you are authoring a book, building a ministry, or entering into your assigned calling. Just know that the timing is not ours, nor is the outcome. I don’t know what shall become of my book, I only know that I fulfilled my obligation to write it the way God led me to write. My obedience to the ministry is my responsibility, but the success of the ministry is God’s responsibility. I take my rest in trusting Him with the rest. I urge you to do the same. Don’t stress about it, rest, He knows what to do with you and your ministry responsibilities. He only needs you to stay the course and not give up!

 

“For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, Because it will certainly come; it will not delay” Habakkuk 2:3, AMP.