Happy New Year!

Things are super busy here in my world.

Lots of writing, homeschooling, baseball, preparing for college visits (WHAT IS HAPPENING?!), and bracing for my youngest to get his driver’s permit in February. He asked me for the keys when he was eighteen months. I’ve been worried ever since!

And let’s not forget that I have a book due on February 1st AND Last to Fall releases March 3rd!

Y’all.

It’s a LOT.

Several weeks ago, I looked at the calendar and knew that this past weekend was my only opportunity prior to my deadline to get away and focus on the new story. So I booked the hotel, made the plans, asked for prayer, and on Friday afternoon, got on my knees in a hotel room and cried.

Because y’all…this may come as a surprise, but I have no idea how to write a book. I really don’t. And yes, I know I’ve written a bunch of books. But every single one is a complete shock to me. And, at some point, usually multiple points, with every single one, I’ve wound up on my knees, crying out to the Creator and telling Him (as if He didn’t already know) that there was no human way for me to get a book written in the time available to me.

Truly, my entire writing life is a bit of a mystery to me. I’m as flabbergasted as anyone is that I do this. I’m a wife, I homeschool, I parent a lovely adult daughter with disabilities and two teenage boys who have the audacity to do things like go out with friends, date, play baseball, and keep me in a perpetual state of chaotic confusion. Not to mention that I have parents, a sister, in-laws, friends, and I even have a few hobbies that I sporadically enjoy.

And without knowing all of your details, I know that you have a similar story. You have responsibilities, obligations, relationships, and at times, maybe most of the time, you have no idea how you get through the day. The new year rolls around, and you’re stunned and amazed that, once again, you’ve made it through another trip around the sun.

So if that’s you, please let me offer a small slice of encouragement. When you hit the point where you know – you know in the core of your soul – that you have nothing left to give, that in your own strength you will fail, I beg of you, take it to your good, good Father who knows what you need before you ask.

On Friday, before I left home, my devotions were so spot on that it was like GOD KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED. (Wild concept, I know! LOL!) And because this isn’t our first dance, I left for the hotel excited to see what He would do.

Unfortunately, when it was time to do the work, my excitement was gone, and just like the disciples, even though He has never failed me, and I’ve seen Him do more than I can ask or imagine, I still forgot, and my fear was riding me hard.

But as I prayed, He reminded me of the feeding of the 5000. So I asked him to take my small offering of words and multiply them in ways that were beyond my human capacity.

Full disclosure: I’m a bit too much of a realist at times, so I hedged my bets and said if that’s not your will, then please help me get whatever it is you want me to have out of this weekend. And help me be okay with it.

There were no audible voices, no angels singing, not even an overwhelming sense of peace that followed. Just a lot of hard work.

For the next twenty-four hours, I did more cutting and re-writing than new writing.

At some point on Saturday, things started flowing. I finished reworking the new idea in, and I knew where I wanted the story to go.

And I honestly don’t have an explanation for Sunday other than to say, “Wow. God is awesome.” I have written 10,000 words in a single day before, but I think only once.

When all was said and done, I wrote the equivalent of 1/4 of my book in 76 hours.

I could write another 1000 words about the timing of the Scripture I read, the devotions, the prayers, and the verses that were so perfect that a few times I found myself staring at them in awe. I won’t because this is already so long, most people won’t get to this point. And that’s okay. I’m not writing it for people. I’m writing it because God wouldn’t leave me alone about it today until I did. 🙂

I want Him to have all the glory! All the praise! And my biggest worry is that anyone reading this would think that I’m sharing so people will stroke my ego, or worse, think that they don’t have access to God’s power in the same way.

Y’all. I’m a sinner. I fail way more often than I “succeed” at anything. I’m so thankful for Jesus because I know He’s the only reason God can look at me and see anything good. It’s not my good. It’s all Jesus and His sacrifice. All glory and honor are His and His alone.

Because when the time is right, the LORD will make it happen.
The One who called me is Faithful.
When I’m weak, He is strong.
He’s the one who holds my hand and says, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Believe me when I say this: I still have no idea how to write a book.
But I know who does.

You may not know how to do whatever He’s called you to in this season. But you can rest in the One who has called you to it. And if you don’t know Him? Oh, friend, please reach out and let me tell you about my Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria!