I'm thrilled to tell you that my first ever bible study is here! Authentic Girlfriends: Real Women finding Real Faith arrived at my door yesterday! I was so thrilled I gave my UPS driver two copies for his wife and daughter! The guy brings me a package a day… well, not quite, but close. I do love the online shopping world!
I opened the boxes, grabbed a handful of books and my phone and snapped a few pictures. I had to put it on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. I had to shout it from the rooftops — and I did. I posted, tweeted and created the perfect vignette so my Instagram friends would see my excitement. And I am excited, honored and humbled that the God of the universe allowed me to write such a study.
I began planning my tweets, posts and pictures. I wanted the perfect Pinterest worthy phrases and tweetable quotes. I've watched other authors (with bestselling books) create amazing launch parties — I've even been involved in a few. I loved every minute of it. I began planning out who I would ask and how I would ask. I might be a bit late to the book launching party but I was ready to come on full force until….
I opened the pages of Authentic Girlfriends -and read:
God showed me that I was replacing my ministry and my relationship with Jesus with marketing. I had put book sales and number of speaking engagements ahead of time with my Lord. I made fame and success my benchmark for faithfulness.
WHOA! That's me. I wrote that about my last book. I wrote this in the introduction and I remembered why I walked away from writing. It wasn't the writing — I love that part and I fell head over heels in love with writing a Bible study. Bible studies are how I grew in my faith. Studying God's Word changed me. God used women's Bible studies to change my heart and mature me as a believer. And while I LOVE Bible studies and writing them, I do not love marketing. I get so caught up in the numbers and the success that I lose sight of why I do what I do — for God alone.
So the Bible study is out! My sweet is doing a fun little contest to win books and necklaces (I LOVE this necklace) and it's on my facebook. I would LOVE everyone to win. I may even tweet a few quotes and make something for pinterest, but I'm keeping my eyes on Jesus and not the numbers. I'll trust His hand to place this before those who need to hear these words. Oh, and I'll share a sample of the first chapter too! (another sweet offering from my publisher). I hope you enjoy it.
I will do my best to keep my focus on Jesus — my Savior and Redeemer — and off the sales and speaking engagements. I'm trusting that the God of the Universe will do with this work what He sees fit. I'll just follow where HE leads. But I have to say this…
I LOVE the cover! And I'm crazy about what's inside. I hope you like it too!
Congratulations!! It is so exciting to have your hard work in your hands! I totally get what you are talking about with self-promotion. I was uber-aware of that as the HeBrews launch approached. Interestingly enough, the Lord gave me a huge peace about doing promos, blog tours, etc. I think it is because I was at a very different place with the launch of HeBrews than I was with Legacy in 2010. I had not planned to publish HeBrews. I was just writing to be obedience, so when I did get a publishing contract, my words to the Lord were, “Okay, but publishing this is your idea, not mine. It’s up to you to place it where you want it. I’ll do whatever you tell me to do about marketing it, but this is about focusing my eyes on Jesus, and helping others to do the same through the study of THE biblical book that is really a treatise on Faith.”
I know Girlfriends will be a huge blessing to many! Way to go, friend.
I know it was no accident that I have stumbled upon your blog. Now I am seeing your Bible Study!!