Now that I have published a book, I want to let you know how it feels to be an author.

Ever since Come to Jesus published, my life has been a dream. My dishes get done automatically, I don’t have to cook or create meal plans anymore, my children are obedient, respectful, and kind 100% of the time, and my husband brings home chocolate and flowers daily.

Basically, it’s amazing.

(Basically, I’m also lying.)

Here’s the real scoop on how it feels to be an author (or at least how it feels to be me)…

 

It feels pretty normal. 

I did a lot of dishes this week and cooked a lot of food. I responded to more texts than usual because I have really nice friends who take time out of their schedules to celebrate with me.

I’m still the same person. I still struggle with laziness and not wanting to serve those around me. I still have a bad attitude when someone does something I don’t like. In fact, I still fight coming to Jesus with my hard things. After writing a book about it, one would think you’d have that part of your life mastered, but nope. I still need Jesus just as desperately as I did before this book came out.

 

It feels like obedience. 

My goal in writing this book was to be obedient to the Lord. I shared more behind that struggle in this post, but there’s nothing like being there to know how things really went down. My husband is the one who saw the deepest (ugliest) struggles as they poured out of my heart in the form of frustration, laziness, and tears. But praise our good God, he worked surrender into my heart and gave me the desire to obey him.

Now that I’m on the other side of this project, it makes me even more thankful to have a Father who gave me a second (…third, fourth, fifth) chance to obey.

 

It feels like a celebration of God’s work.

Here’s the part I didn’t expect when I published Come to Jesus:
I didn’t expect to hear testimonies from people about how God has changed their hearts.

My writing cannot change lives. But God has the remarkable ability to use his Word to change lives, and that’s why there are many Bible verses throughout Come to Jesus—because it has the power to change my life and yours!

Every time I get a message from someone about the way the Lord has used Come to Jesus to change their heart, I respond with praise to God because this is bigger than me. This is a celebration of God’s work!

I can pound imperfect words on a page, but heart work is something only my Father can do.

In the introduction of my book, I tell the reader that I’ve been praying for them. It’s true. I’ve been praying for months that God would use this book to bring people closer to him. But I never thought I would hear about specific ways God has been working in people’s hearts. And yet, God is kind to let me get a little glimpse into the work he’s doing in people’s lives! By his amazing grace, I am humbled and thrilled to watch him answering those prayers.

 

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”

Psalm 115:1

 

I’m not publishing a book today.

I’m doing laundry, feeding my family, and helping my kids with homework. But today is still a celebration of God’s work in me through the power of the Holy Spirit, because I can’t do anything without him! Whatever God has called you to do this week, I trust that you will be able to spend time thanking him for the work he’s doing in and through you. Truly, when we are obedient children, our lives can be a celebration of his grace!

 

Get your copy here!