Do you know how powerful your yes is to God? I didn’t. That is, I didn’t until I stepped into my yes with faith and fully trusting God with all.
I never really knew that God had a purpose and a calling on my life. Sure, I read about it, I heard about it and thought about it. But I didn’t feel worthy of having a calling. I was a poor sinner who made mistakes, what would He use me for?
I love to read. I read murder mysteries, romance, fantasy, biographies, self-help, personal reflection, and others. But I had never read the Bible from cover to cover. In 2005, life changed. I graduated college, got married to Paul, and started a new job in my career field all within two weeks’ time. Then in August, my mom was in an auto-mobile accident (read Holding Tight the Pieces to learn more.) My life changed again. As I mentally and emotionally recovered, I felt compelled to read the Bible cover to cover and I decided to do that at my workplace. Every day I would get there a little early and read some, then I would also read during my lunch break. I followed a read through the Bible in a year plan. So, I read my Bible at work every day for a year. Who knew something so “simple” could be so important?! I challenge you to read your Bible cover to cover – or listen to the Bible cover to cover with an app (That’s what I’m doing this year!)
It was soon after I finished reading the Bible that I felt God calling me to write. I had written stories in school and pulled those out to look at. But no, I distinctly heard God say “not those, I have something else for you to write.” He had me write encouraging notes to people He placed on my heart. Then He had me transform that into sending Christmas cards with an encouraging note/story inside – I still send them!
But God was only preparing me to say yes to His purpose and calling for me. While sitting quietly with Him one day, asking what he wants from me, I heard loud and clear, “write a book.” Okay. That was probably around 2012 or so. I didn’t know what to write. I jotted down notes, looking here and there, but nothing came together. I wasn’t asking THE question to God – What does He want me to write about?
Fast forward to 2020. A pandemic brought the world to its knees. And God started to put His will on my life. His time was pressing in on me; I just couldn’t see it yet. I rode the roller coaster with everyone else – work from home, masking, church on TV, etc. But there was so much more: A totaled car. Hand Foot and Mouth Disease as an adult. Losing loved ones. Praying for our nation and our world.
December 2021 didn’t just bring new hope to the hurting world, it also brought God’s calling front and center in my life. I was having breakfast with my pastor, and he asked me what my personal 3–5-year goal was, where did I see myself? I said what was on my heart, “I want to be a published author, working from home, and living in the middle of nowhere.” He reacted like a good pastor should and said, I guess we need to start finding you a replacement and is there anything he could do to help me reach that goal. Two weeks later, I opened an email from a ministry I was subscribed to – I did not normally open them. There it was, a Calling Out the Book Challenge for people who feel led to write a book, but didn’t know where to start by Square Tree Publishing and IT WAS FREE! Um, yes!
I would like to say the rest is history, but I’m just getting started. Through the process they offered a follow-up program and God said do it. I had an amazing experience and started writing what I knew God wanted me to write about. But my heart was still yearning to be based at home for work and not living in the city. I had a breakthrough coaching session with Dr. Amanda Helman (reach out if you would like to get info on her services). I gave Jesus the keys to my house and the authority over my job. I had peace.
In June 2022, we drove past a house that was for sale by owner. I felt very strongly that we should stop and see about it. Paul felt the same. We stopped, we got a tour, and then we talked about it the whole way home. We started the process to see if we could get pre-qualified and we did – which with everything was a huge surprise! Then I reach out to my friend Kris who is a real estate agent. She made an appointment and got the deal made – which was also a God thing because they already had another cash offer! Then we listed our house and started to pack. In 2 ½ months, God moved us. We sold our house, bought a house, and moved in. All in a short time frame – only God moves like that.
I finished writing the book right before we moved. Then I spent some time editing and revising once we had moved and I submitted it for publishing the spring of 2023. I attempted to have a fundraiser to get the money to pay for the publishing process. I didn’t get much. I had a deep conversation with God in which I turned that over to Him. He needed to show me where the money was coming from. And HE did!
The publishing process was not easy. As several of my fellow writers and friends say, the devil will attack with such a force when you are doing something God has called you to do. I faced an ovarian cyst rupturing, multiple tick bites with infections, tachycardia, huge branches breaking on the trees near the house, well pump going, septic backing up, and on and on. But God also placed me with a publishing company that is so God/Christ centered that they have prayer people on staff! I reached out to my fellow authors and the prayer warriors, and we didn’t let the devil win. If you ever face forceful spiritual and physical attack while following God’s direction, know HE still has you covered.
And here we are. I am a published author, working from home, and living in the middle of nowhere. My 3–5-year goals complete. But my purpose is not. Throughout it all, He has shown me that I am to continue writing. My next book is in the works and is on infertility. That book and the subsequent books will still be on medical trauma situations, but they will be reality fiction and not necessarily my story – although it will be represented in the book.
Your Yes to God can change everything.