Friday, March 22, 2013

The Promised Land for Writers-part 1

"Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it,
as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you;
do not fear or be discouraged." Deut 1v21

Who knows the future? I certainly don't. Had you told me, seven and a half years ago that by 2013 I would be celebrating my first book contract, I'd have told you that's crazy. Clearly I would be a Bestseller by now...at least.
Sometimes I feel like those sad kids on American Idol: "But my Mom said I could be a star!"

God knows the future. You've heard that. You know it. But do you KNOW it, deep in your heart where hope is a sure thing and doubts don't even get a voice?

In fact, God knows every minute of your life. He's laid out a path for you, for your writing--or whatever "thing" you've discovered is uniquely yours--and while it might not jive with the path you'd like to go on (the one that smells like cotton candy and is smooth as melted cheese) it's the BEST path for you. No doubt.

That's the thing about the Promised Land. There's the one in the Bible, the one we experience as Christians living fully free in who God is and there's the one where we fulfill God's plans for us. I just have to stick close to Him and do the writing.
His work? Taking that writing, putting it where He wants it, and changing lives. (And getting the credit. Amen.)

And did you see that little sentence tucked at the end? Don't fear or be discouraged.

Yeah, okay. Thanks. 


"The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, 
according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you,
as a man carries his son, in all  the way that you went until you came to this place."
Deut 1v30-31

There's a couple at my church with a young child who has cerebral palsy. I saw the dad carrying his son last Sunday morning, cradled in his arms and it just hit me--that's how God holds us.
Not only that, but He walks each step before us...all we have to do is tread in His footprints. 
Think about times in your life when God protected you, saved you, carried you or someone you love. That's the God with you right now. That's the God who carries your writing--your blood, sweat and tears--to where He wants it to go. 

What an awesome God we serve.

Lisa Phillips is an ex-pat Brit, a wife, mom of a 2yo affectionately dubbed 2T and 5 (and a half) year old Li'l Princess. She writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense during naptime. Her first book, The Ultimate Betrayal will be published by Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense summer 2014

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