HOPE in the Aftermath

I was delighted to present the devotional this month at our Northwest Christian Writer’s Association meeting.
I shared about TRUST from one of my favorite verses in Proverbs 3:5-6.
Have you ever ignored the voice on your GPS system, only to find yourself at a dead end when you went your own way?

GPS Directions

This happened to us when we were trying to find a restaurant while on a trip to Disneyland a few years ago.
“Maggie”, the nickname we gave our GPS system, knew that the road ended about a mile down the road and started up a few blocks later. The illogical turn she recommended was actually necessary to get around the dead end.
After we hit the dead end, our attempt to find the restaurant on our own caused much frustration and made us later for the dinner.
Sometimes we don’t listen to God’s direction either, and end up wasting time and energy on the wrong road.
At the NCWA meeting, I shared my story of how my publishing goals changed once I stopped working on my own plan and sought God for His plan.
I had just completed a Writer’s Digest University critique review of 35,000 words of my Hope in the Aftermath memoir. One day I was praying about the next step for my book and I strongly felt I needed to put this book on hold.
I strongly sensed that my story wasn’t finished yet and it was not time to tell it.
What? But Lord, I’ve just completed this 35,000 word review! I worked so hard on rewriting what the editor suggested. It’s a story that brings You glory! What do you mean it’s not time?
After much prayer and counsel, I exited the road to publishing that book and went a different route.

Remember that when it comes to direction, there is one “GPS” that is most accurate. For me, GPS now means God’s Plan Succeeds.
The book I wrote with my son is now in the final typeset review at our publisher. It was loaded up to Amazon’s Kindle for review the other night. Tonight I’ll get it loaded on Barnes and Noble’s Nook.
Once the book is reviewed we’ll make it available for purchase.
Trust me when I say we are chomping at the bit! But we know God’s timing is perfect.
May God bless you plans with His clear direction.
Gigi
Read more about it here at the blog for NCWA. You’ll see that I’m sure God’s plan was a better choice.
http://nwchristianwriters.wordpress.com/

I’m very excited to see what God has in store for me this weekend at the Northwest Christian Writer’s Renewal Conference at Overlake Church in Redmond, WA.
I get to meet incredible agents, editors and fellow writer’s on the same journey.
I’m not sure exactly what I’m pitching because I’m working on a few things.
My HOPE in the Aftermath booklet of stories and Scripture to get you through an emergency is likely what I’ll share.
It will be a helpful tool to keep in your emergency kit or to hand out in a crisis.
One thing I know for sure.
God will give me several God stops during this conference.
He always does.
I want to share a God-STOP that already happened on Monday.
I offered to pay for the conference for one of my friends.
She has been an amazing blessing to me and I wanted to bless her back.
So I set aside $189.00 to be able to cover the cost of the registration and a meal.
The day I committed to do this for her, I walked to my mailbox and returned with three reimbursement checks.
Two were from my visual insurance and one was a refund from a credit balance for Steve’s phone.
The total of the three checks was $189.18.
$189.18 in and $189.00 out. That’s my kind of math!
How is that for God giving back to me when I open my hand to bless someone else!
We serve a generous God!
Open your hands and give. You’ll be amazed to see the blessing come back.
God Bless Your Heart
Gigi
www.nwchristianwriters.org

Trust that GPS

Writer’s Conference BLESSING