Hey Beautiful!

I am so grateful you are here.

This past weekend, I received an email from a friend I hadn’t seen in over six years.  She wanted to let me know that she had finally read my book, Broken to Brave.  It’s only been published for a few months, so I guess I won’t be too hard on her! 😉 After that, she went on to tell me that it opened up a part of her that she knew had been waiting.

I needed to pause there for just a moment to let the words soak in before continuing.  It was as though God was sending me a reminder through my friend of the reason I wrote the book in the first place.  

I’ve never really had a desire to write a book.  I vaguely recall a couple of times the thought crossed my mind decades ago, but for whatever reason, I dismissed the idea.

It wasn’t until I started working with Melissa at the beginning of last year that the seed of writing a book began to be planted.  If you haven’t had a chance to read my book yet, you will learn that I nicknamed her Melissa the Miner because she dug my story out of me.  She just kept asking questions that took me a little deeper each time, until she had what she needed. 

We were working on a speaker sheet and an outline of my story.  After her mining and my rough draft, she asked me if I had ever thought about writing a book.  The thought of writing a book came to mind more often after that.  Then one day, when I was sitting with God and journaling, I asked Him what He had for me in this season.  

A book.

I remember thinking, Really, God?   I didn’t feel qualified to write a book.  I didn’t know where to start.  How would I even know what to write about?  

And possibly the biggest question I had was why would anyone even want to read what I had to write?  

The enemy was clearly behind those thoughts!  Thankfully, I had also been working on recognizing the source of some of the thoughts in my head.  Those questions didn’t come from God!  

As we learn from John 10:10 NASB: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.”

This verse is a great tool for deciphering where our thoughts may be coming from.  Also, God’s thoughts bring the fruit of the Spirit, as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.  If you still question whether a thought is from Him, the Bible is a great place for confirmation.

Getting back to my journaling, after writing “a book” and having a new desire to be radically obedient, or as my friend says, “immediate obedient”.  I decided to get going.  I started with a chapter in a collaborative book with ten other women, which showed me that I had much more to say.  I believe I started writing Broken to Brave around September.  At the time, I didn’t know the purpose of writing the book, other than the fact that I believed God wanted me to.

Looking back, I now know that the process of writing the book was very healing for me.  There were things in my past that I definitely wasn’t proud of.  Putting them on the pages of the book was scary, but I believe that they were meant to be there.  Last week, as I handed a copy to a beautiful, faith-filled woman, I told her I hoped she wouldn’t think any less of me after reading it.  

Apparently God is telling me I have more work to do in this area… 

I have already been forgiven.  My past no longer defines me.  It is not who I am anymore.  

I’m so thankful for what I have learned; it helps me recognize the source of my thoughts, because the evil one will always try to destroy the work God is doing in me.  I just thought about the annoying commercial with a basketball player smacking the ball away and saying something along the lines of, “No, no, no not today.”  It makes me giggle a little as I think of saying that to the enemy: “No, no, no not today, Satan.  I am forgiven, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and made righteous in His sight!  Get behind me!”

A little unexpected turn there, but I guess that’s no surprise.  🤣

Which brings me back to my friend’s email.  She wanted to thank me for sharing some of the deepest places in my heart.  Yes, the very stories that I was afraid to share were the exact stories she was talking about.  

The stories I was afraid to share.  The parts of my life I was most ashamed of.  Those are the ones that inspired her.  It reminded me how God brings beauty out of the ashes.  That He uses our testimony to bring healing to others.

Her email went on to share some of what was going on with her life and concluded with:

“After reading your book, I am excited to go back and reread it so I can pick back up on my journaling I have not had time to do.  I also know it’s time to start my journey in building my relationship with God, unlike I had previously.  But now with a new purpose!

I thank you from the bottom of my heart!  Sending you a very loving hug old friend!” 

I will have to remind my friend that I am not old (even though I know that’s not what she meant, I can’t let the opportunity to tease her a little pass me by)!

Her email was a refreshing reminder that I wrote my book to obey what I believed God was asking me to do.  He meant it for healing.  It turns out healing was meant not only for me, but hopefully for others as well.  My prayer for everyone who reads Broken to Brave is that they find healing and their own bravery through the pages of the book, and that they discover how much God delights in them!

If you have read Broken to Brave, I would love to hear your thoughts.  If you haven’t had a chance to yet, maybe this is your invitation!  ♥️

Legacy Reflection

• What is the thing God has been asking you to do that you have been putting off because you don’t feel qualified, ready, or brave enough to do?
• Is there a part of your story that you are still looking at through a lens of shame rather than a lens of redemption?
• Who might be waiting on the other side of your yes?

This week, take some time to be still with God and ask Him:

What do you have for me in this season?

Be still enough to hear.  If you don’t hear something right away, be persistent and keep asking!  When you hear something and confirm it’s from Him ~ be brave enough to obey!

Because somewhere, someone is waiting for you to step into your calling, so they can step into theirs!

Love ya!

Laura