His Timing, His Story, His Book

When I was a young girl I loved to sing. I started in early elementary school singing a solo once a month at church for our Sunday night services. I sung in school performances and talent shows. I would sing at the dinner table, which would get my dad so angry. I forever heard, no singing at the dinner table, mind your manners. Something we joke about now.

One Sunday evening when I was about 12 years old singing at church God declared a plan He had for my life. After church that evening a well respected man of God and a good friend of our family told my parents God gave him a word for me while I was on stage singing. God told him, “I am going to use her one day.”

When I was sixteen I toured with a singing group called The Continental Singers. My parents and I thought that must have been what God’s plan was and what He meant by using me. I got the opportunity to share Christ with others while doing something I loved. Years later I began a career as a teacher. Again, we thought maybe this was what God was referring to. He was using me to minister to children.

Fast forward to 2017. I had literally just been through hell and high water. My dad was helping the boys and I move into our new rental house. Our new home after losing our house in the floods and our first house with out Mike. At this point in my life I was still very broken. I had not begun writing my blog yet. I was only writing in my personal journals for no one to see. I had not met David, my husband on earth yet. Actually, the idea of a new love was not even a thought in my mind.

As my dad and I were in my garage together moving boxes he told me he had a dream about me. He dreamt I had written a book. This book was about my journey of losing my husband in the line of duty and losing our home in multiple back to back floods. In his dream my mom and I were gone traveling on my book tour while he was holding down the fort at home with my boys. As my dad and I stood in my garage that day talking about the dream, my dad told me God was going to use me and all I was going through for His good one day.

Over twenty-five years later after a word from Lord was spoken over me, I now see what God had planned all along for that innocent twelve year-old girl singing her heart out to the Lord. My dad’s dream seemed silly at the time, yet now makes more sense and was confirmation from the Lord.

I have said from day one of losing Mike, his death will not be in vein. I will do everything I can to share his love for the Lord with others in hopes that maybe even one person will surrender their life to Him. It started with planning a Christ centered memorial service which would be attended by thousands and streamed on television. Later, I began this blog in hopes to share my redemption story of how God has brought me through my worst nightmare. Now, the Lord has opened the biggest door yet to be able to share how God will see us through even in our darkest and most broken times in our lives. He is always faithful and will heal broken hearts. His timing is perfect. Even when we do not understand at times, His plan for our lives is also perfect.

I was recently given an amazing opportunity to be used by God even further. Another opportunity to honor Mike, his life and his love of the Lord. Another avenue to share not just my story, but God’s story.

This week I officially signed a book contract with a Christian publishing company, Redemption Press. We have teamed up to write and publish God’s redemptive story that is my life.

I am so excited to see what the Lord has up His sleeve this time for me and how He is going to use His story in my life and how it will glorify His name.