For those of who have been following along with me here, you know that this new year is about Making Things Happen. Less talking, more doing.
As part of my #2014GoalSetting process, I’ve really made my writing a priority – both on the blog and on the book project I started two years ago. For me, it’s not about becoming famous as an author or blogger; it’s simply just about doing more with the gift of the written (typed) word that God has blessed me with to bring Him glory. That’s the only goal, hope, and prayer I have with all of this. I do it because I feel called to do so.
I’m happy to say that following three Saturdays in a row of locking myself in my home office, I finally completed the first full rough draft of my book project. With a lot of prayer for fresh insight and motivation to do this thing, not to mention the fact that I was further along with it than I originally thought, it actually wasn’t too hard to knock out. I had my ideas written down, my bible at hand, coffee available, and upbeat music to keep me entertained enough through the hours it took to make sense of it all.
So, I wrapped it up, officially, last Sunday and breathed a huge sigh of relief at having actually stuck with it to its rough completion. And then I sat back and thought, “Now what? I mean, all these pages and now, what do I do with them?” Of course, God responds, “Make it Happen! Time to be courageous and start exploring the options, and share it with a few trusted family members and friends who have been instrumental in this journey you’ve written about.” Therefore, I listened and I obeyed. A few copies were made and passed out this week, and I received a phone call from a potential publisher after inquiring about more information. Eek!
Now I’m totally new to this whole “write a book” thing and like I said, I write because I feel called to write and there’s no other agenda than that. I have no idea if I’ll end up getting the book published, I’m still praying and thinking through it, and I don’t know if this blog will ever go further than the people I share it with on Facebook or through link-ups I participate in on other sites, but God is at work, I feel it. He’s up to something and its way bigger than any of this stuff I’m working on.
What God is showing me is that while I’m writing my little story, He’s writing the bigger story in full.
My story. Your story. The story of the world. He’s writing it all.
We don’t know how everything is going to turn out, but He does – from the beginning to the end, He knows our stories in totality.
And as we take those steps of faith and go after what He has placed in our hearts to do, the Author writes a story for our lives that is good, beautiful, and more amazing than we could ever imagine.
That’s what this process has been teaching me and showing me as I trust in Him while taking the steps of courage to put myself out there and really follow where He’s calling me to go with regard to my gifts, talents, passions, and dreams. And for that alone, regardless of where this all leads, I am so so grateful and blessed for the experience to know and see Him more.
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There’s a new song out by Francesca Battistelli that really speaks to this, called “Write Your Story,” that I thought I’d share with all of you as encouragement and inspiration in allowing God to pen your story and make your life all that it is meant to be. Sit back, close your eyes, listen to the music, and enjoy, friends!
They say
You’re the King of everything
The One who taught the wind to sing
The Source of the rhythm my heart keeps beating
They say
You can give the blind their sight
And You can bring the dead to life
You can be the hope my soul’s been seekin’
I wanna tell You now that I believe it
I wanna tell You now that I believe it
I do, that You can make me new, oh
I’m an empty page
I’m an open book
Write Your story on my heart
Come on and make Your mark
Author of my hope
Maker of the stars
Let me be Your work of art
Won’t You write Your story on my heart
Write Your story, write Your story
Come on and write Your story, write Your story
Won’t You write Your story on my heart
My life
I know it’s never really been mine
So do with it whatever You like
I don’t know what Your plan is
But I know it’s good, yeah
I wanna tell You now that I believe in
I wanna tell You now that I believe in
In You, so do what You do, oh
I’m an empty page
I’m an open book
Write Your story on my heart
Come on and make Your mark
Author of my hope
Maker of the stars
Let me be Your work of art
Won’t You write Your story on my heart
Write Your story, write Your story
Come on and write Your story, write Your story
Won’t You write Your story on my heart
I want my history
To be Your legacy
Go ahead and show this world
What You’ve done in me
And when the music fades
I want my life to say
I let You write Your story, write Your story
Write Your story, write Your story
I’m an empty page
I’m an open book
Write Your story on my heart
Come on and make Your mark
Author of my hope
Maker of the stars
Let me be Your work of art
Won’t You write Your story on my heart
Write Your story, write Your story
Come on and write Your story, write Your story
Won’t You write Your story on my heart