As a young girl I read all of the Anne Frankish books in our library. I started journaling at age thirteen.  When I moved out of my parent’s house at twenty-two I took with me an Avon box full of 70-page lined spiral notebooks. I suppose there were over twenty notebooks filled with the thoughts and dreams of my girlhood. I still have them now. One of those dreams was to write a book.

Most of the time, when I was dreaming up books as a child, they involved characters, plot, and dramatic climaxes. Not until after taking online Bible classes did I find my passion for God’s Word and writing out truths that I had learned. The desire to write a book stayed on the back burner.

So many more important things took president. Marriage. Babies. I took some classes. I’ll write after I’ve had training. I though. Instead of taking secular grad-classes, I joined Compel. Through the training of this amazing organization, I realized that writing didn’t have to wait until all my kids were grown and gone.

Over the past couple of years I’ve seen my dream for a book blossom into a full out reality.  Next week I have the amazing opportunity to attend one of the best writer/speaker conferences on the East Coast. She Speaks is a conference for Christian women who desire to sow the seed of God’s Word through speaking or writing.  I knew about it last year, but too many doubts kept me from even thinking about going.

I’m definitely not good enough for that sort of thing. I thought

This year, I mentioned the conference to my husband in passing.  Sort of in a “Wouldn’t that be nice and awesome” kind of way. He said, Go! I looked at him and shrugged it off.  He kept on insisting.  And pressuring.

I made all of the usual excuses. But he shot each one down.  From the cost to the logistics of him taking off for four days.  It would seem my husband knows my dreams better than I do.

So next week from Thursday (July 23) through Saturday (July 25), I’ll be heading to something that scares and excites me all at once.  I do not know one person who is going. During the con fence I will be listening to amazing speakers and writers.  I will also have two separate meetings with publishers. I will have a book proposal (hopefully!) and will be trying to pitch my special idea to these wonderful women. One thing a publisher is looking for is how many followers you have. I’ll admit, I have been discouraged because let’s be honest, if this is a popularity contest I’ve far from being the winner. My social media following isn’t stellar and my blog readership has grown but isn’t what would be considered “enough” for publishers.

I’m very much a realistic person. So, I’m going to this conference with the expectation that the two publishers will not be offering me something this time around. My main goal is to find out what I can do better. Where I can grow and what next steps I can take this year. She Speaks is not just about the publisher meetings.  It is about growth.  It is about God planting seeds in my heart and allowing Him to grow something new. Something new in my heart and then something new here, at Abiding in Grace.

I am excited and nervous. So, here is what I need from you:

PRAYER!

More than anything I need prayer.  Prayers for safe travels. Prayers for wisdom. Prayers for confidence. I’ll be in a hotel and attending a conference with almost 800 women from all over the world. I’ll be a little intimidated. Prayers for peace and clarity. Prayers that my heart will be open to God and whatever He would have me learn.

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I’ve struggled with how much to promote my blog. I am not comfortable promoting “myself.” I know that deep down, if you are here for me you will be sadly disappointed.  But, what I do want to promote is God and His Word.

One of my passions is to encourage women to abide in Jesus and His Word. As we work for Him, we can find strength and grace to rest in Him through prayer and Bible study.  Abiding in Grace is not about my words, but Jesus‘ words.  My prayer is that after you’ve come here, you feel rested enough to live your life in strength, courage, love, and grace found in Christ.

If you know women in your life who would be encouraged by our conversations here on Abiding in Grace, share my my blog and Facebook page with them. You can also share my Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest pages as well.

Thank you all for your support, as I step out in faith and pursue something I’ve dreamed about since I was a little girl!

 

 

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Linking up here with these beautiful ladies!

and here…Ember Grey