Stay tuned for fun news at the end of this post…
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| Two of the prettiest words in the English language. Photo credit: stock.xchng |
I’m on deadline.
And that means I’m doing things like buying new socks so I don’t actually have to do laundry. Eating peanut butter straight out of the jar. And trying to convince myself sleep isn’t really all that necessary.
Okay, it’s not actually that dire. I mean, I have done all of the above, yes. But the no-socks issue was more my usual laundry procrastination than anything. The peanut butter is what I have about every other day for lunch anyway. And my poor sleeping patterns come and go regardless of deadlines. True story: I took a nap yesterday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:35 a.m. Weirdest nap time since college.
Anyhow, I’ve had drafts (yes, drafts) of this book done for several months now…I’m not suffering greatly in pursuit of the deadline. But I have been a little stirred up about it. I’ve got a slight (read: slightly massive) case of Second Book Insecurity.
So imagine my joy when I stumbled upon this verse:
“The Lord replied, ‘I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” –Exodus 33:14
Ahh! Love!
What I love most about this verse? It’s that one word: personally. I love how personal God gets not only in this verse, but the whole chapter. Later on in the chapter, He assures Moses he knows him by name.
Sidenote: Interestingly, earlier in the chapter He actually tells the Israelites He won’t go with them because He’s angry with them. Even in that, there’s just something so personal about God. He’s angry. He shows emotion. And then later, that anger soothes into compassion. We see a God we can relate to in His emotion…but who isn’t ruled by His emotion.
Back to verse 14. I’m sure I’ve blogged about this verse before, but this time it’s the intimacy of it I can’t get over.
Faith doesn’t always seem intimate. Belief in and relationship with God don’t always feel personal. That’s just the off-and-on reality of living in a natural world while believing in the supernatural.
But I love those reminders throughout Scripture—like this one—that our God is a personal God, able to see us in our deadlines or disasters or regular old whatever days, and say:
I will personally go with you.
I will give you rest.
Everything will be fine.
*****
Speaking of my second book, it now officially has a title:
Here to Stay
Don’t you love it? All credit goes to my fabulous editor, Raela Schoenherr, at Bethany House Publishers. We’ve already been talking cover ideas, too, so I can’t wait to see what the talented artists at BHP come up with. Here to Stay releases in summer 2014.
And get this: Today it’s exactly 100 days until my first book, Made to Last, releases on September 15!
All right, readers, do you have any deadlines, big occasions or important dates coming up? What are you looking forward to these days?
Comments 47
I could nap anywhere, anytime. I burn the candle at both ends until my body says it’s time to unplug. Probably not good, but I just don’t want to miss anything.
I really love the inspiration–God. Is. Personal. So. True. Ahhh. Resting in that today. We have such an amazing God. Thank you for that reminder.
SOOO exciting for you about new release coming out. I’ll have to hop over to Amazon and take a look to see if we can pre-order yet.
Deadlines: prepping my MS for conference, critting for others. Just signed college loans for daughter–Eeek.
Oh, MTL is definitely available for pre-order. Hehehe…
I love naps, too, Anne. I’ve taken so many accidental naps lately, it’s crazy. Probably a sign I need a wee bit more sleep. I miss the college days of four hours being enough. 🙂
Congrats on getting to The End! Always an accomplishment worth celebrating. I’m thankful we’ve just finished our whirlwind of graduation and then college registration/orientation. Now I’m just waiting on an editorial letter so I can polish the next book! Oh yeah, and getting ready for another release. That, to me, is so much more stressful than the writing part, so I’m a bit anxious as I look toward Sept. 15! 🙂
And on that note, that you for sharing the Exodus verse. I needed it this morning. I love that the more we walk in obedience and choose to believe what God says is truth, the more personal He becomes in our lives. We hear those words in scripture as if spoken only to us by the God of the universe. Such an amazing relationship!
Ooh, waiting on that editorial letter–does that make you nervous or do you look forward to it? I’ve only ever had one of those so far, but I honestly found the process fun. Probably because eventually you get so close to your book you just can’t see what needs to happen revision-wise. So I love fresh perspective…
Wait, we have the same release date?? That’s so fun!!
I’m glad the verse in Exodus was encouraging!
Yes we have the same release day! I love it when I get to share that day with a friend! 🙂
I look forward to the editorial letters. I want the book to be the best it can be, which means, yes, getting another perspective. I know I still have so much to learn so I very much appreciate my editors’ input!
Methinks we should do something fun promotion-wise since they’re both releasing at the same time!
Um, my husband’s favorite snack? A spoonful of homemade peanut butter with a scoop of jam on top. Yum! (Or so he thinks.)
And laundry? That demon of never-done-ness? Moving on.
Thank you for pointing out how personal God is.
I can forget that too.
And naps-just-after-I-got-out-of-bed? Sometimes are the best ones of all!
Um, yeah, I eat peanut butter by the spoonful too. I just don’t see the need for bread most of the time…I even skip the jam. Although when I’m feeling especially energetic, I do love a grilled PB&J sandwich.
Yeah my nap yesterday was hilarious. I got up at 5 like usual…had a little quiet time, wrote a scene, and promptly fell back asleep. Then had approximately 15 minutes to get ready for work. Haha!
Peanut butter out of a jar. Umm. You need a deadline for that little habit? Cuz I’ve been doing that for years. And now my five year old does it. Needless to say, we go through a lot of PB, and I can say I taught my princess at least ONE life skill! 🙂
Personally. Best part of God’s love and attention for us. Absolutely. 🙂
Happy Friday, Melissa!
*hugs*
raj
Hey, if you’re going to eat something by the spoonful, peanut butter is a better option than, say, nutella. Way to teach your daughter well!
Happy Friday and hugs to you, too!!
Melissa, I feel for you. Second Book Insecurity can be tough. I’m glad the Lord gave you that verse just when you needed it. How like Him to uplift you just when you needed it.
Love the title of the second book. Here to Stay works so well with Made to Last.
Thankfully, so many writer friends have assured me I’ll get through the whole second book syndrome thing. 🙂
Thanks for liking the title. I adore it!
Love the title! Love that you buy new socks instead of doing laundry. Love you’re 100 days away! I’m thrilled!
And most of all, I love that God is indeed personal. 🙂
Yeah…sometimes I get lazy. Sometimes buying new socks is just a way more attractive option than laundry… 🙂
Yay for the new title!! 🙂 And looooove that verse. It reminds me so much that HE’S GOT THIS. He really does. I don’t have to fret or worry. He’ll fight for me. What a powerful, powerful thing.
And yes, as you know, I’ve got a self-imposed deadline. I really want to finish this round of revisions by the end of June. June 25 to be exact. Because that’s the day that I get to go hang with amazing friends!!!
I have a June 25th deadline, too! It’s called: Have my house clean in time to hang out with amazing friends! 🙂
We all have June 25 deadlines. Woohoo! (Well, I guess technically, mine is June 24.) But like you, Gabe, I’d like to have my place looking something close to clean by the time Linz comes. Can’t wait!!!
Eh, don’t worry about it. I survive in my not-so-clean house all the time. 😉
If only you could see mine now…I need a housekeeper, that’s all there is to it.
Great title Melissa:-) You’re right…God is sooo personal…I love it! I totally understand about the ‘second book insecurity’ as I’m working on my 2nd book too. Excited for you that your 1st book will be out soon …I’m waiting for the proof of my 1st book to come right now, so I’m glad for you that you’ll soon be able to hold your 1st ‘baby’ in your hands 🙂
Great post…thanks for sharing!
Lorna, I stopped by your website! Awesome stuff…congrats on your new book releasing soon, too. Woohoo!!
Loved this: “He can relate to His emotions but He isn’t ruled by them.” LOVE! And do I need to practice that:)
Oh yeah, and I love the name of your second book. A virtual love fest going on here today;)
Yay for love fests. That’s what I like on a Friday. 🙂
Love your title for the second book! And I so understand that 2nd book insecurity as I write the last few pages of book #2. Yes, I’m almost at The End…of the first draft. lol. Exodus 33:14 is one of my favorite verses.
It’s such a sweet verse. I loved coming across it again this week!! p.s. Keep going on book two. You can do it!
You can do it! You can do it!
And I LOVE the title of your next book! Can’t wait to see what the art dept does for a cover too!
Thanks for the cheers!
Congratulations, Melissa! Go, go, go! 🙂
Love your take on laundry. hehe I’m working on some additional book ideas and my office redo. Love how God is so on-time with just the right scripture when we need it!
Yep, God is pretty awesome at the encouragement thing. 🙂
Here To Stay is a wonderful title! Have they given you a release month yet? I’m wondering if we’ll be together in May…. :))) I just survived (um, BARELY) my deadline. It almost did me in.
Thanks, Becky! OH how fun it’d be to have similar/same release dates. Not sure what mine is yet. Bet we could do some super fun promotional stuff!! Good job surviving your deadline!
If I had to guess – which I don’t, but it’s fun – I’d say that they WILL pair us together for promo reasons. Hope so!
Me too! That’d be so fun. Go contemporary romance!
Yay!!! I love Here to Stay–it tells me so much already. 🙂 Can’t wait for September 15th and next summer’s release, too!!!
My deadline is at the end of today. 🙂 I want to have my current WIP (including proposal) sent to my agent. I’m feeling pretty confident, but I still have a couple of hours of work ahead of me. It’s called a synopsis. Blah.
Thanks for liking the title, Gabe. I was pretty pumped about it…especially pumped to have such an awesome editor!
Ooh, congrats on finishing your WIP and proposal today. Fact: I actually wrote a new synopsis for my story over the weekend and into Monday. Usually I want to stab my eyes out when writing a synop. But for whatever reason, this time around it wasn’t nearly as painful. So here’s hoping the same for you!
I am SO excited for you!! I love the title! Who needs sleep or socks, right? (Well, I kind of need socks. It’s cold today. And I’m cranky without sleep.)
Congrats!!
Yeah, I’m totally a socks girl. I HATE having cold feet. I waffle between cranky and loopy when I’m without sleep…which makes me a super fun person to hang around, I’m sure. 🙂
Melissa, wow, great the 2nd book is coming along well. I was reading David’s great shepherd Psalm this week, Psalm 23 – “The Lord is MY Shepherd”. I’d never really focused on the “MY” – even though we’re just one of billions, the Lord is MY shepherd…He cares for us as individuals.
Keep leaning into Him… great reflections today, Melissa. Thank you for sharing.
Ian
Ooh, I’ve never really thought about that part of Psalm 23 either. Cool!
Thanks for stopping by, Ian!
oh pu-lease…stab your eyes out???? Sweetie, I will write your next synopsis for you! 🙂 Love ya…mom
Um, Mom, if that’s a promise, it may be the best one anyone’s ever made me. 🙂 Love ya back!
Yeah. I can nap pretty much anytime anywhere [smack me if you see me sleeping in Indy].
YAY!!! on the title. Can’t wait for the artwork!!! Is it too early to ask to be on this influencer list too?
The only really big date here is Monday. Genesis day. And self-imposed deadlines – but those aren’t quite the same ;).
Never too early, Carol. Haha! Although, I have to ask myself, am I organized enough to begin an influencer list for a book which releases a year from now? Haha…
Oh the Genesis…lots of people waiting on that. 🙂 Hoping you get happy results!
So exciting!! Thanks for sharing this verse. It is perfect. I love how God does that!
So exciting!! Thanks for sharing this verse. It is perfect. I love how God does that!
Thanks, Lisa!
Here to Stay – what an awesome title for any author’s 2nd book! Congrats on keeping up with the deadline!
My personal deadline is past – hoped to publish my e-book by now but I’ve fallen behind. Now I’m pushing to read through & revise the whole book to still publish by the end of the month! Time will tell …