How to Write a Book in 4 Simple Steps

How to write a book in 4 simple steps:
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1. Experience a life-changing tragedy
   
   
2. Get outside of your comfort zone
   
   
3. Find an editor that believes in the message
   
   
4. Become discouraged and put the project away for 17 years

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​Seriously, this is how it happens sometimes. At least this is how it happened for me. And if I’m completely honest, none of that was simple.

​The Heart That Heals is coming to Amazon September 1, 2019. Today I want to share with you how it almost didn’t happen.

Those 4 simple steps:

1. My sister was tragically killed. It was unexpected to us, but not to God. (More details in the book.) The Heart That Heals is really all about how I healed my brokenness, due to that tragedy, through the promises of God found in His Word, the Bible. 
   
   
2. I was asked to speak at a ladies conference on the events of that night and how I healed my brokenness through the promises of God. I spoke at that conference and a couple more, but let me tell you public speaking is WAY outside of my comfort zone! I am not a speaker. I am not even a writer. I’m just a girl asking God, “What next?”
   
   
3. From those speaking opportunities came enough notes to write a 12-chapter book. I gave that book to an editor. She tore it apart, rearranging chapters, creating sections, and all of that needed to be done.
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4. The task of moving chapters around, rewriting intros, exits and transitions was completely overwhelmed to me. I became discouraged and put the book away for 17 years.

None of that sounds simple, does it?

Last summer God really impressed on me to get that book back out and finish the job! There was just one problem. I couldn’t find the file. My laptop crash and when I purchased another and transferred my backed-up files, the book wasn’t there. I had a little panic attack. I prayed. Then I called for help. My son and son-in-law were able to resurrect a copy of The Heart That Heals from two laptops ago—a laptop I thought was completely dead. It took a few months but I finished the edits from the first editor and sent it off to a second and after those edits, a third.

What you should know about The Heart That Heals

If you are the kind of person that judges a book by its cover, you’re going to LOVE The Heart That Heals! My friend Emily, from Blue Chair Blessing, created the cover and illustrated the interior. You really should hop over to her site and take a look around. She's so talented, and she loves Jesus like we do.

Wouldn't it be great if our whole lives said, Come on in! You'll meet Jesus here! That's exactly what The Heart That Heals says. It's a place for you to settle in and meet God.

"Our choices have consequences. The pathway we walk has a destination. I want you to make good choices so that the consequences will be good. I want your destination to be one that glorifies God. If you’re in a broken place, it may be difficult to make good choices. Is your pathway littered with the debris of brokenness? I want to help you get past all that and learn to be still, and know that He is God." —from the Prologue

The Heart That Heals is centered around Psalm 46:10a, Be still, and know that I am God. It’s a book about healing our brokenness. It's about doing the next thing, and sometimes, the next thing is to be still, and know that He is God. This book is full of Scripture and practical application. Each chapter will challenge you to reflect, apply, pray, meditate on and memorize Scripture. It’s your homework but in a good way.

Friend, please don’t think you’re alone. You are not! Thousands of women just like you have used these biblical principles to heal their brokenness. You have not come here by accident. You've found this place today for a reason, and you belong here!

What people are saying about The Heart That Heals

"The Heart That Heals is like a friend who comes alongside you to walk a long journey. There are moments on the path when your friend lets you cry, or even cries along with you, because the terrain is tough. There are times when your friend grabs your hand and lifts you up because you’ve tripped over a tree root you didn’t see. Then there are glimpses of remembered joy when your friend says something funny-and you laugh-and the path seems brighter. And, somewhere along the way, you realize she gets it. She understands. She knows because she’s walked this path before. Thank you for providing a resource that not only offers healing hope, but also a sense of friendship for the journey." —Stephanie ​

Read More

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Post Continued

As I was drinking my morning coffee and looking out over our little garden, I notice a cucumber vine that had taken leave of its trellis. They seem to do this overnight, suddenly and without warning. My husband lovingly put it back where it belonged.

​I thought about myself, somewhat like that cucumber vine. Wandering. Taking leave of my protective trellis provided by God. It can happen so quickly. But God, I love to say that! But God, lovingly puts me back where I belong.

This has been the story of my life. I wander. He seeks me out, finds me, and restores my soul with His loving kindness. The tool He so often uses to do this is the tool of His promises. I have seen His promises play out over and over in my life, and that has not only brought me back to Him but also strengthened my faith.

Those promises, straight from His Word, are waiting for you here in The Heart That Heals. They are laid out for you in a way that will nourish your thirsty soul and bring you back to Him, if that’s what you need. I found myself today highlighting them, and making notes of His promises found in the book.

If you’re wandering, grab ahold of His promises and let them penetrate the very depths of your soul. Meditate on them day and night, friend, hide them deeply in your heart, and write them passionately into the story of your life. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

When you hold a copy of The Heart That Heals in your hands, I want it to feel like that favorite coloring book you had when you were 7 years old. Remember, the one you took on long car rides, when everyone else was saying, “Are we there yet?” and you were just enjoying the ride? Coloring, looking out the window, enjoying God's creation, amazed at its beauty. You colored in that book a lot! And for the first time you learned to color inside the lines. Oh, you’d highlight around the edge of the lines, make it a little darker for artistic effect, but you always stayed inside the lines.

Wouldn’t it be nice if life was like that—always staying inside of our neatly defined lines? But it’s not, and we’ve come to expect that. We deal with it. We overlook it. We ignore it. But sometimes it gets the better of us. It hurts. It’s painful and recovery can be challenging. Well friend, The Heart That Heals is here to help you with those challenges. It's here to remind you of the beautiful promises of God found clearly defined in His Word. Come color with me. Let’s be friends and let me tell you about His unchanging promises! ​

At the beginning of each chapter of The Heart That Heals you'll be challenged to meditation on three verses or passages of Scripture and write out one. Meditate on three. Write out one. This was the brainchild of my friend Christine, and I’m so happy we added it to the book!

This morning I was reading in Chapter 9: The Blessings of Burdens and meditating on the three passages of Scripture for that chapter.

Here’s what I discovered:

“But  the more they [the Israelites] were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.” Exodus 1:12

“But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 50:19-20

“And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they [the Apostles] did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” Acts 5:42

• Burdens make us stronger
• Burdens can be used by God for good
• Burdens give us a renewed boldness

​​I chose to write out Genesis 50:19-20, because Joseph’s story is just one of the best visuals of the blessings of burdens found in God’s Word. Joseph’s willingness to be used of God, the deceitfulness of his brothers, the love of his father, the accusations of Potiphar’s wife, the abandonment of the cupbearer, the years in prison, the trust of Pharaoh, the wisdom of how to prepare for years of drought. . . all of these things, some burdens some not, came into play to keep many people alive. 

It’s actually fascinating how God weaves these things together and creates blessings out of burdens, and He does the very same thing in our lives today!

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Download The Heart That Heals printable package today!

The Heart That Heals printable package includes 10 verses used in the 10 chapters of the book. Break out your favorite watercolors, colored pencils, Bible journaling markers or even crayons and relax while you get artistic and meditate on Scripture with these lovely printables. 

Can you keep a secret? These printables (illustrated by my friend Emily over at Blue Chair Blessing) are included in the book, but I'm giving you the opportunity to download them from our little Etsy shop today! It's our secret, ok? You're going to love these printables!

Download The Heart That Heals Printable Package here

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I recently read this verse in my Bible study:

​​"The sum of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever." Psalm 119:160

That's when it hit me—His truths, His promises, they endure FOREVER! The Heart That Heals sat waiting to be published for 17 years, but it really doesn't matter because the truths and promises we find in God's Word are timeless. They don't change and neither does He. Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8).

If you and I were Pen Pals, The Heart That Heals is the letter I would write to you if you’d lost a child, a husband, a best friend, or a sister. It’s the kind of letter I would seal with a heart-shaped sticker that says, God Loves You, you know, that kind of sticker you used to get in Sunday school. You’d read my letter and you’d know, yes, you would know, He truly loves me!

Friend, I pray The Heart That Heals meets you in the quiet places of your heart—especially that place where you struggle to see God at work. I’m inviting you to explore those places and be changed. 

P. S. The Heart That Heals is coming to Amazon September 1, 2019. Can I ask you a HUGE favor? Will you pray over the book with me? I want readers to see Jesus. I want them to find Him waiting on every page. I want the promises of His faithfulness and steadfast love to scream above the waves of the storm they may be in. Will you pray to that end with me?

How can you see yourself using The Heart That Heals in your own life?

• As a personal or group Bible study?
• As a gift to a hurting friend?
• As a donate to a local hospice or woman's shelter?
• As healing for your own brokenness?

These are just a few ways I plan to use the book. Please share with us how you see yourself using The Heart That Heals.