There are some things in life that you always dream of doing. And you even tell people, “One day I’m going to …”

Writing a book was never one of my dreams.

As a school-aged girl, I struggled to finish reading a book for a simple book report. When the time came to churn out a seventy-five-word summary of what I had read, I always needed a few more words to meet the word count. I would end each book report the same exact way, “This was a very good book.”

Whew! I made it.

Why in the world would I embark on the enormous task of writing a 50,000-word book, and what made me think it might actually be published?

I can’t tell you exactly when I knew I was writing a book, but I can tell you this. It was a long journey of taking tiny steps of obedience one step at a time. There was never one aha moment or one message in the sky from God.

It was a series of little promptings and a burning desire to do the impossible thing God placed on my heart.

I began small. I started with a 600-word blog post and from there began writing anything and everything God put on my heart and mind. Some words were worth sharing and some were better off left unread by anyone except me.

After thousands of words were written, I began to discover that they all carried the same theme:

“Experiencing God’s power when life makes it seem impossible.”

Almost half of the book was written before I even began creating chapters. God designed it in His perfect time and His perfect way.

Over two years’ time, God put people in my path who guided me, helped me, and showed me how to make it all come together. I can’t claim the credit for this work and this accomplishment.

To me, it’s more like the least I could do for my Savior.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1

When God calls us to do something for Him, He is more than capable of accomplishing amazing things. I have experienced His power firsthand.

“Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:24

It’s not that I’m a superstar writer or that I have a secret about working the industry, but I do serve a mighty God who is powerful beyond the industry of this world.

The special part about my journey is that it has been counter-cultural when it comes to the industry of writing. And yes, even in the Christian circle, it is an industry. Most publishers are out to make more money and sell more books; it’s how they survive.

Making money or becoming famous has never been my goal nor my focus, but rather simply following God as He ordains each step of the way.

So for me and my journey, I haven’t hustled the market, manipulated social media, or climbed the corporate ladder to get to where the industry says I should be. I’ve done many things in silence waiting for God to tell me what is next. And I’ve done a lot of waiting and wondering if I’m doing it right.

I’ve taken the simple road. It’s the only way I could go. What I mean is this: I’ve written when God gave me words. I’ve shared on social media when God prompts my heart. And I’ve connected with people when God puts them in my path.

Many of you know the latest addition to our family has brought about a lot of change. Change usually means challenge. The past two years have also been filled with new experiences and challenges as both my father-in-law and my dad have battled cancer. Rob has been taking seminary classes and supporting our local fire department as chaplain on top of his daily ministry of pastoring. And me, well, I’ve been wife, mom, writer, and women’s ministry leader. It’s an amazing full life with lots of challenges, but I’m learning God’s way is always the way to fullness.

And that is what my book is all about: living life with God’s power through the ups and downs and experiences that take us upside down.

Don’t we all have moments when life seems like it’s been turned upside down and we wonder how we will ever make it through?

I have often told friends that it’s the things that bring us to our knees that we should be thankful for. Those things are God things even if they don’t feel like good things.

And I’ve had to live it, not just say it.

Do you long to experience God’s power in your life? Do you know God is near, but sometimes He feels so far away? Have you experienced heartache that makes you question and wonder why God would allow it? That is why I wrote this book – for us.

I wrote it for you and for me. For all of us who sometimes struggle to see God in the hard times that life presents.

I wrote it so we have a reminder to look to God in every moment, not just the desperate ones. It’s an authentic book of struggles and daily life, coupled with the hard truth and hope that God’s Word gives.

I think you’ll love it! I hope you do. But most of all, I hope you hear from God in it, not from me.

For the next few weeks, I’ll be answering some questions that I often receive about my book:

• What is the book about?
• How did you find time to write?
• What does the process of getting published look like?
• What’s next on this writing journey?

If you want to follow along, be sure to subscribe HERE.

Also, follow me on Facebook or Instagram and I’ll post updates to keep you in the loop!

Hugs and blessings on your week! Thank you for supporting a simple girl who is doing her best to listen to the voice of God, doesn’t always get it right, and is brave enough to let others see a little piece of her heart even when it’s broken or wounded. You are a gift to me. You are one of the reasons I wrote Anchored In.

Love & Blessings,