Hi Everyone!
I want to interrupt my usual posting to ask for some prayer for the direction of my life. An opportunity has come up for me to further my writing career into the future in a way far greater that I could ever imagine.
Three weeks ago, my wife and I attended a Weekend To Remember conference held by Family Life. On the last day they held a meeting for anyone who may be interested in working at Family Life Ministries, possibly down at their headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their needs are great as the ministry continues to grow. One of those needs is in the Publishing dept. Needed are writers, editors, etc...
In the last couple of months, God has increased my desire to see my book Faith, Hope & Love written and gotten out to the masses. I'm not saying that this is what I would be writing for Family Life, but I am saying that my desire for others to know everything we can about Jesus in every part of our lives has grown exponentially. The meeting with the Associate Pastor at my church was scheduled before the conference, which resulted in this blog being started, which has given me a way to show people who Jesus is.
Most people don't know that I have been writing since I was twelve. At that time I began with poems and songs, as I had gotten my first guitar at twelve. In 1985 I began my first novel -- science fiction -- hasn't been published, but not without a lack of trying. Since then I have attempted two other novels, but have not yet completed the one I will complete someday. But it wasn't until I was saved that the book where these posts for this blog are coming from was started.
In 1999, after having accepted Jesus only six months before, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to start a book about Jesus. "Me?" I asked Him. "I'm only halfway through the New Testament and you want me to write a book about Jesus?" But the more I asked, the heavier the impression grew. So, for days I wondered what I would write about. What would the book be about? So, I said to the Spirit, "If I had a title for the book, maybe I would know what you want me to write about." That very next morning I awoke with the song "Faith, Hope & Love" by Point Of Grace playing in my mind. I then began to sing it out loud. Before I got to my living room, it hit me! Faith, Hope & Love was to be the name of the book. So, I pulled out my Nave's Topical Bible and a notebook and began writing down every scripture designation that resonated with my soul through the Spirit. Before I was done, I had at least 50 scriptures for each section of the book. Then I went through five versions of the Bible I had and wrote out the scripture, again, which resonated with my soul through the Spirit. Needless to say, I almost filled the small notebook I was using.
But then came the easy part. I say easy only because the Spirit took over full control of the next step. He had me cut out each individual scripture for each section, and for one section at a time, had me place the scriptures on the table in front of me. As I sat there looking at these 50 scriptures, I had no idea what order they were to go in. So, I asked the Spirit what next? He told me to start picking them up one by one however I felt the need to. So I did. In less than five minutes, this pile of scripture in my hand was placed in the exact order that the Spirit wanted them in. The same happened for the other two sections of Hope and Love. Then the headings you see in this blog were written in such a chronological way that only the Spirit could have caused this to happen so easily. Again, here I am, a believer for only six months and the Spirit asked me to write this book.
You may be wondering why the book isn't finished yet. The simple answer is that I had to grow in Jesus before I could write about some of the things the book talks about. To me, a book without experience is nothing but a boring bunch of words. You cannot write about something you have never experienced (unfortunately, many authors who are not saved try to do just that, making people very confused about what is the truth really is). Of course, there must be a purpose for the book to be written. Without a purpose then what is the use in spending all the time and energy. Writing this blog has given me a purpose and a reason to get the news of Jesus out.
As far as Family Life being a call from God. Well, we know that there is no such thing as coincidence in a Christian's life. But, sometimes, we can read things wrong. That is why I am so glad that Family Life has a process of hiring that will let all involved know if working for them is indeed a call from God. I pray that it is. If not, then I will continue to trust God for my future.
Thanks for listening and praying.
Bobby
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