The next leaf in the season of brave

 Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry."  Habakkuk 2:2-3

Who remembered us in our lowly state,
    For His mercy endures forever;And rescued us from our enemies,
    For His mercy endures forever; Who gives food to all flesh,
    For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:23-26

This is a first for me...I've never used my blog to make an announcement, but it's this blog that spurred the idea in the first place, so it's fitting.

Years ago, when I realized fully that I wanted my life to be poured out to its fullest, until I inevitably had to run to the throne room where Living Water would overflow my cup, I wrote a bucket list. It doesn't include many really large things, but there is one pretty monumental endeavor which I actually started years ago, and never finished...for lots of reasons, but no reason in particular, but now I'm determined, because this is a season of brave.  On that teenage list of things to do was a three word phrase that has hung over my head since college. A three word phrase that finished the sentence that DOZENS of people in my life have uttered. A sentence that began with "You should_____________."  I'm careful about the people I hear "shoulds" from, but the ones who spoke this one knew my heart, and I actually started doing it, it was on my list,  it was a big thing, it ended the sentence "You should..." and...now, because of so many things occurring right now...I'm going to do it.

The sentence? Oh, you want to know? MUAHAHAHA...no, just kidding, I'm not that cruel...

They told me I should...write a book. They told me I should, and honestly, I have most of the material already. Some of it, in one form or another, is housed in this blog itself.

When I was younger and writing, I was told that a writer should never title a work before finishing it.

However, this work is titled already. I won't give that away because it's something close to my heart, but I will tell you what I'm going to do now.

Over the next few months I plan to write as much as I can, and at Christmas when I'm free of school responsibilities, I plan to immerse myself in writing with the abandon of the teenager I remember so well, the one who was told long ago that she would indeed write a book one day.

Listen, I'm not saying it's going to be fabulous, and I'm not saying you have to read it. Here's what I am saying:

I'm going to write it. After I write it, I'm going to send it to a publisher, and if the publisher wants to publish it, well, then, let them do so. If I can do what I hope to do (the Bible says I can do all things through Christ) then, by the first of the year, the manuscript will be finished and mailed.

So... I need:

• Prayers- God is to be praised for EVERY word of my testimony, and every bountiful story, experience, gift, and yes, even struggling step, I've been given, and I pray to, and praise Him for it all. Pray with me.
• Eyes- I'll be picking proofers and editors once I really get started (and I'm really doing it, so...) If you want to proof and can be honest,  talk to me. It means, however, that you'll see the whole thing before it's finished...
• Experiences- This project is testimonial in nature, but not in the way you might think, it's something of a devotional project, much like what you see on this blog, SO, if you're someone who loves me, and I know you, and we spend any sort of time together, I welcome the privilege of learning from, and with, you. Let's go to breakfast, lunch, or to the grocery store. Let's listen to the radio with the windows down, tie on our scarves and pull on our boots, lay beneath the stars...Let's enjoy life together, shall we? I would love to include the heart God gave you in the project I believe I was called to write years ago. I believe His timing is altogether perfect, and perhaps the reason it was put on hold so long is that you had a story to tell that I had not yet heard. Books, movies, music,  all things of that nature, are not for our glory, they are HIS. This has been in me for a long time, and even though I'd rather keep it close to my heart right now. This announcement means I have to put my money where my mouth is.
• Guts- I need God to make me fearlessly obedient.
• Favor- Because it all belongs to Him anyway.

Even if not one person reads it, it's going to be done, because it's a new leaf in the season of brave.

 

 

All His Best,

Courtney