#1 Tip for Writing a Book

Follow these three simple steps and you'll be an author, easily!..... said no one ever.

I wish it was easy, but hard things are worth fighting for, right? 

Let me start off by saying I have an undergraduate in Elementary Education and never thought I'd enjoy writing much less write a BOOK! Growing up I leaned towards math, even though it was at times probably the most challenging subject for me. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. :) But now, thirty some odd years later, I can't stop typing. You really never can predict where God will lead you! 

Just the other night I taught a lesson on Mary and the birth of Jesus. Do you ever think she predicted she'd give birth to and raise the SON OF GOD?! 

Nevertheless, where God leads us, He will equip us. If it wasn't for God helping me stay focused, inspiring me through others, and providing words for my fingers to type, I for sure would never have finished. Additionally, I had to rely on my husband to go grocery shopping more and ask my people to pray for me. So in all actuality, I feel like the author of the book should be "God, all her people, and Amanda Reynolds" ;) 

Even though He's equipped me this far in the journey, I've still got some race to run. The book is finalized but lacks a cover, title, and a few formatting details. And after I cross those hurdles, I've got the final stretch... the launch. EEKS, sharing my thoughts, opinions, and personal stories with real-life people. This is the part where I'd like to just duck out of the race and grab me a Gatorade. AND YET, God keeps telling me to continue. 

Just because God calls us to something doesn't always mean it will be EASY.  God tells us his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Notice that He still says BURDEN. When Jesus took on the weight of the cross, it certainly wasn't an easy feat. However, with God it was possible. When we lift what the Lord asks us to pick up, He gives us strength for the load. 

Where we get into trouble is when we try to pick up something that's too heavy and that God never asked us to lift. Recently I hurt my hip because I lifted weights that were too heavy for me.  

God calls us to hard but not defeat.

 Here towards the finish line of the book journey, I keep overwhelming myself with all these "shoulds".  The enemy tries to deceive us into overwhelm and distract us or make us want to quit.  

One way through this deception is to call upon the strength of each other. 

I love these verses in Exodus, ch 17...

10So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up-one on one side, one on the other-so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

When we share our load, we're able to keep going and defeat the enemy. I asked some of my people yesterday to pray for me to stay focused on God's path for me and this book, and you know what, I feel so much lighter today! If you're overwhelmed too, reach out to someone! No shame in having a weary arm!!!

So there it is. My #1 tip for writing a book (or whatever it is God has called you to do): 

Don't do it ALONE.  

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