Today, my first book, Paul’s Letters to the Early Church, launches. This projected started 7 years ago when I was asked to write notes to accompany my church’s read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year program. I didn’t quite realize at the time that I was committing myself to eight pages of written material every week for two years. The two years passed and I managed to meet each week’s deadline. One of the things that kept me motivated during the long hours of writing was the direct and indirect feedback I received about how the material was helping people in their study of the Bible.
As I look back on the writing process, it is abundantly evident to me that God has led the way. I always managed to get the week’s writing done despite working a full time job, being out of town and participating in life’s normal activities. Yet, I can’t really say I managed, because it was God clearing the way. I remember one night having 3-5 hours worth of writing still to do in order to meet the morning’s deadline. I’m not too effective at writing much past 11:00 pm. This particular night I was alert and engaged in the writing until I was finished just after 1:00 am. God’s Spirit was guiding me.
After completing the project, I attended a Write-to-Publish Conference, met an editor and signed a contact to publish the material. It all took a little longer than that one sentence suggests, but it happened nonetheless.
Again, it seemed evident that God was clearing the way. The editor was the first I met at the conference and the only one who took an interest in my work. Generally authors have input into cover design. Somehow this was overlooked in my case, yet I loved the covers. They didn’t need any changes and were perfect.
As I look back on this project, there definitely have been moments of frustration, exasperation and a certainty that I will not make it to the next step. Yet, as I remember all the ways God has cleared the way for this material to become a book, I can say I love this project. There is nothing like knowing you are right in the midst of God’s will, doing God’s work and seeing God’s blessings.
So today I am excited. God is not done. He will continue to use Paul’s Letters and the other books that will be part of the Christian Living Bible Study Series to draw people to Himself, reveal His word and shine His light of truth into dark places.
Join the launch event. I’d love to chat with you!