Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10:23-25
April 2023 - Stepping out in Faith
I did it!
With the help of my family and friends, I turned my 2020 blog into a manuscript, submitted it to a publishing company, and signed an accepted book offer.
It’s been a rollercoaster of events, and I am still waiting with baited breath for the final drop.
Thankfully, prayerfully, painstakingly, the collection of writings I've published here on this blog, have been collected, edited and are now a published book.
For this, I give God all of the glory.
Book publishing is a much more labor intensive process than I had anticipated it would be. I’ve read my book about five times cover to cover; not for enjoyment or learning purposes, but for editing the text.
I can now state with absolute certainty that I am not a fan of editing - at least when it's my own work.
I spent hours and hours scanning the text for errors. My editors were phenomenal, and each round of editing polished the book more and more. But I am my own worst critic. In every updated edit, I'd find new errors – thought fragments, formalities, tense issues, grammatical mistakes, tiny nuances that I wanted to change. Essentially, I rewrote 90% of my original posts.
The work is paired with good intentions. I was very mindful not to insult anyone, especially my friends or family. Perhaps if I wasn’t so emotionally invested in the outcome, I would not have found it such a daunting task.
I worry about people’s reactions and their comments. I worry about misquoting the Bible or taking a scripture I may not fully understand yet out of context. I actually worry that Biblical scholars will seek me out to reprimand me for even attempting to teach others about reading through the Bible. I admit to being a novice!
Truthfully, I don’t know why I’m like this.
I can state with such boldness and confidence that I am the righteousness of Christ.
I fully know who I am in Him.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I am set apart for His glory.
I am redeemed, forgiven, made new, pure in His sight, and like David, the apple of His eye.
Seconds later, I can state with just as much certainty that I am a failure. A disappointment. A sorry excuse for a follower of Christ. That I am fooling myself for believing that I could actually become an established Christian author. That I should stick to teaching science. That this endeavor was too huge an undertaking for someone like me.
Why, God, why do I possess so many self-defeating thoughts?
My only response lies in the awareness that there is a battle for my soul. The devil is a skilled craftsman. He knows our weaknesses, and he will use them in the war he has waged against us to prevent the advancement of the Kingdom of God. I believe now, more than anytime in history, we are witnessing evidence of this spiritual battle in the physical realm.
So, like St. Paul, I press on toward the prize. I cast out all of those negative statements, bring them captive to our Lord, I accept who I am in Christ, and forge full speed ahead on the mission He has assigned me.
I will proclaim His message to the nations.
I will sing of His goodness.
I will continue to promote the reading and study of His word.
I will continue to write about my experience doing so.
I will do all of this because He is faithful and He has equipped me to do it.
I am a warrior.
I hope you decide to join me on this mission!
Your spiritual work is most needed!
Yours in Christ,
Jen
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