Tuesday, January 28, 2014, began like any other day. Fall out of bed--Check sugar level--Eat lo-carb breakfast--Take morning pills--Sit in front of computer--Check emails--Wake up. My normal routine. But not today. One email made me wake up a bit earlier than usual.

 

"WinePress finally shut its doors a few weeks ago with no notice or plan to take care of the authors...your books are no longer in print and available to the public."

 

Our hopes and dreams belong in God's hands---not for us to share with Him, but give to Him. We must seek His blessing and direction so that our goals, desires, and plans will align with His purposes, will, and path for us. So we open our eyes, see what's going on, and understand where we're headed.

 

That's what I did with The Company. I researched, sought counsel, and I prayed...a lot. God said to sign with WinePress, so I did. I resisted changes from their editors. God said to follow them, so I did. I balked at their urging to attend a conference in Orlando, Florida. God said to go, so I did.

 

Now, for a moment, one email made it all seem pointless. Long ago I would have shouted to God, "Where were You in all of this? I did what You told me to do. Shouldn't everything be wonderful?"

 

Yet what if I had not signed with WinePress?

 

I'd never have met Carla Williams who encouraged me to go to the conference. There I spoke to a packed room of authors and retailers, had a two hour book signing, and reconnected with my Favorite Bolivian Buddy, author Janet Perez Eckles, and friend, James Burkhardt, host of SnTRadio.com.

 

Had I not listened to Carla, I'd never have met Cecil Murphey. An internationally known author (Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, 90 Minutes in Heaven and Heaven is Real with Don Piper, Making Sense When God Doesn't, and about 300 others), He is now my good friend and mutual encourager.

 

And had I not met Cecil, I'd never have known, much less joined, the Inklings, a group of amazing and gifted writers--Ginger Garrett, Julie Garmon, Nancy McGuirk, Patrick Borders--who have greatly encouraged me and made me feel a part of their literary community.

 

"But God, not in print? Really?! And what about the sequel You told me to write?" I would've cried.

 

Last year I planned to finish the sequel, The Rise of New Power. I diligently started--many times--but got nowhere. Interruptions occurred throughout the year. Deaths of dear family and friends. Severe damage to our house. My own health issues. Times of sadness, busyness, distraction.

 

But what if I had found the time to complete the sequel?

 

Considerable time and money would have been spent on the production and marketing of the book. WinePress would still have closed its doors. And I would have found myself with nothing.

 

But I did not lose that time or money. My writing was not stopped forever, only delayed. God has led me to a new publisher and The Company will soon be back in print. And suddenly it looks like I'll have time to complete the sequel, after all. When we stay close to God, life is wonderful because He is.

 

Often difficult times cause frustration and anger. We shout to God, "This is what I hope, what I dream, what I desire!", and fail to hear His whisper, "Not yet." Only when we look back do we see how He was preparing us, protecting us, positioning us for His purpose.

 

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8.

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