Today is See You at the Pole day, and Christians will gather around the flag pole even at public schools to pray! Keep this in your prayers. We could sure use a mighty move of God in this nation and especially in our schools!!!
Don’t forget! We’re reading Genesis one chapter per week. What stands out to you this week?
Genesis 32:24 (GW)–So Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until dawn.
The minute I read Genesis 32 this week, I knew this was my verse this week. It’s personal, so hang on for the ride with me while I talk about myself. Well, about God in relation to what He has done for me.
Freefall debuts in about a month. {{gulp}} This week, I found out Romantic Times gave it 4.5 stars. Let me tell you something that it truer than true… That is all God. See, I’d written two books prior to this one, and both of them came easy. I was in the groove, loving my characters, loving the story, knowing that these were THE ONES.
And then came Freefall. And believe you me, God pulled a Genesis 32:24 on me, because we wrestled. I got halfway through the book and he commenced to working on me. If you picture wrestlers, there is a lot of low, to-the-mat action. Believe me, God had me literally on the floor. I can vividly remember mornings where I’d put my daughter on the bus, then lay on the floor face down and tell God I didn’t ever want to write another word. My favorite line to Him at the time was, “I’ll even feed rabid alligators bare-handed.” My husband was deployed, the words came hard, and the personal pressure felt immense. It wasn’t bad. I liked the characters and the story; it was just harder than any work I’d ever done.
And every single day, God and I wrestled. He said, “Do it.” I said, “Do I have to? It’s hard.” He always reminded me of something I heard Cec Murphy say at a conference: “If you can quit, quit.” Well, God said I couldn’t quit. So after we wrestled, I’d get up and manage to get the words in, and I’d think, “This is the worst thing I’ve ever written.” Just when it was awful, he sent two people alongside me to lift my head and keep me going. (We’ll talk about them later…) And, gradually, God got and I wrote this book.
Here’s why He did it. Those first two books? Jodie wrote those. My words. My story. Yes, I gave them to God, and He worked through me, but I didn’t give Him all of the words. So with Freefall God made sure I knew Who it belonged to. It’s His. He did it. Not me. He wrestled with me and, of course, He won. Now, on the back end, I see all of these thing He is doing, and I know it’s Him. I can’t claim one ounce of it. When I look back on the floor pounding and crying and (let’s be honest) temper tantrum throwing I did, I see that wrestling.
And I’m totally glad to give Him the glory.
-JB
Sandy Rosser says
I can’t wait to see the great work God has done through you. I also loved this verse and the fact that it wasn’t just a three minute wrestling match — it lasted all night. And Jacob refused to let go until he received a blessing. Sometimes I think God wants us to fight for it…to show Him passion and desire.
As much struggle as you had with this book, I see great blessings in store for you. God is using you in MY own life. Don’t ever doubt how much you inspire others. Love you! Sandy