We’ve been chatting this month about moving, traveling and transition. So what happens when God transitions you into something you totally didn’t see coming? I love Vickie’s take on going along for the ride when God’s on the move!
Allowing God to Move in Your Life
For I know the plansI have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Ever since I first started writing, that has been my theme verse. You see, I never once thought about becoming a writer, but it was a career God blind-sided me with.
When my four boys were small, I prayed and prayed that God would give me a job that I could do from home. A number of things came my way, but none brought in all that much income. I even did a job or two where I could take the boys with me, but that sure wasn’t much fun.
Then one day, a story started running through my mind. It was like I was watching a movie in my head—a movie I’d never seen before. When it got to the point that I was only sleeping about five hours a night, I decided to try writing down the story to get it out of my head in hopes of getting a full night’s sleep. Right on its tale, another book came my way, and after I finished that second one, I started wondering if God was trying to get my attention.
My husband and I prayed about writing, and felt that this was God’s will for me at this time in my life. It’s hard for me to believe that my 25th book, End of the Trail, has just released. Though I’ve been a huge fan of Christian fiction ever since I discovered it in the 1980’s, I never would have dreamed I could write one book, much less so many.
I had a limited view of my abilities, but God could see everything. He “shoved” me into a whole new career, and it’s been a great blessing. I’ve met some fabulous friends. In fact, most of my best friends are writers. I’ve gotten to travel to many writers’ conferences and learned things I’d never have known if I had never allowed God to move in my life. And I’ve made some money along the way.
God dreams far bigger dreams for us than we can dream for ourselves. This is something I firmly believe and use as a theme quite often in my books.
Is there something God has been asking of you? Don’t be afraid, but step out in faith and see what fabulous things He’ll do with your life. You could be quite surprised.
Comments 31
Twenty-five books! Awesome. I hopped over to Amazon and read the beginning of Vickie’s book and love it! Thanks for introducing her to your reader, Melissa.
I had the same reaction, Pat. I hope someday I can claim 25 books under my belt. 🙂
Thanks, Pat! It’s hard for me to believe that God has taken me down the path to publishing at times. I’m glad you enjoyed the beginning of my book.
I love that He dreams big for us! So great to hear your story and meet your Vickie. Thanks for the encouraging words today:)
Yay for God dreaming more for us than we can ask or imagine! 🙂
God is good, Susan. I wish we all could see the future He has for us.
So great to meet you Vickie! Such an encouraging post to step out and do what God asks, even though it’s bigger than you. 🙂
I love that God calls us to big things–and they may be bigger than us, but they’re never bigger than Him!
Thanks, Jessica. It’s great to meet you too.
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Ugh! I posted one response and it didn’t show up until I posted a second–in case you wonder why there’s two.
Hi, Vickie! 25 books…what an accomplishment!
Even though I wanted to be a writer when I was young, I kind of gave up on that dream. But in the last year, God has brought it back full force. And I look back and see all the ways he prepared it for me…even when I wasn’t looking for Him to do so. It’s so cool to know that He cares about the details of our lives and dreams amazing things for us.
Linds, I am so, so glad you came back to your writing dream…totally selfishly! Because I probably wouldn’t know you otherwise. 🙂
Lindsay, It’s so cool to hear you want to be a writer. Follow your dream and don’t give up. If you write Christian fiction, I highly encourage you to check out ACFW.com. American Christian Fiction Writers is a great help to writers, and they have the absolute best conference for fictions writers each fall. You get agent/editor appointments with your conference registration.
I’ll be there in September, Vickie. It’ll be my first time and I’m stoked. Melissa here is going to make sure I don’t get lost in the crowd. Right, Mel? 😉
And Mel, I’m glad for that too!
Absolutely, Linds! I will be your personal ACFW tour guide. 🙂
Yikes, four boys? I thought I had it wild with three. LOL What an inspiring post! Thank you for sharing and congrats on your 25th anniversary!
Hehe, I have trouble imagining having one kid right now. 🙂
Jessica, It helps if the boys are spread out a few years. Raising four was hectic at times but they’ve all grown up into men I’m proud of.
Melissa, I received, Extravagant Worship, in the mail yesterday. Thank you! Thank you!!
Hi Vickie! So nice to meet you. Congrats on your huge success in writing Christian Fiction. I’m with Melissa, I love the cover of your new book. I will definitely visit your website!
Yay, Loree! I’m glad you got the book. I hope you like it. 🙂
Loree, I love the cowboy on my cover too. Moody let me pick him out of a bunch of stock photos, and I knew that guy was Brooks to moment I saw him. Just an FYI about my website. Because of some changes Apple is making, my website may be offline the first week or two of July. It should be up through the end of June, and then I need to change hosts.
This was such an encouraging post, thank you Vickie and Melissa. In the past five months God has resurrected my dream and passion to write and I’m scrambling to keep up with Him! It is a transition to find the time to write with my four kiddos to keep up with, but He’s showing me little ways here and there. I’m excited to see what the future may bring! Congrats on 25 novels, Vickie!!
Trying to write with four kids would be so hard, but I’m a firm believer that if God gave you the dream, He’ll see it through! 🙂
Gabrielle, So glad to hear about your desire to write. I didn’t start writing until I was 47, and my youngest child was 10. But if God is calling you now while you have young children, He will make a way for you.
Nothing is every too big for God, even if we think it’s too big for us. What an encouraging post!
Amen to that! 🙂
That’s right, Melissa. Thanks for visiting today.
Melissa,
Thanks so much for having me as a guest on your blog today. You have a great bunch of commenters.
And thank YOU for being today’s guest. I’m so excited to read your latest book!
Love that line – God dreams bigger for us than we do for ourselves! Even when we think we know what we want, if we allow Him to guide us, things turn out far better than we hoped or we learn important lessons we otherwise wouldn’t.