Submit

I am in the Florida Keys and am closing in on finishing the rough draft of my book. I will complete it either today or tomorrow. Next I will read it cover to cover and then go back for one last final edit. It is all downhill now and there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it isn’t a train. If all goes as expected I anticipate that I will have it finished in its entirety, published, and on the street sometime in late July.

Whew! It has taken two years of hard work to get it to this point. I was thinking about this project this morning and trying to envision what it will be like the day that I am completely finished and I press the send button to send it to the publishing house. What a tremendous feeling of accomplishmentand relief that will be.

I have built many businesses, buildings, homes, and other varied projects, but none of these projects compare to the intensity of the effort expended on this project. I truly hope that God uses it to further His kingdom because I have given it my all.

I think that is what it is all about for us. My creative consultant for the book asked me to further explain the verse that I live by, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. In the book I explain that the verse states, “I” can do all things; it does not state “Christ” does all things for me”. This means that we must do our part.


My friend wrote to me: “I particularly like your explanation of the “I” in I can do all things through Christ. There’s just one more facet of that statement that I’m not clear on, though. You explain that the other half of that motto involves having to truly commit your work to Christ and not your own ambition. What do you mean by that exactly? Are you saying that you dedicate your passion, your energy, your gifts to something bigger than yourself, and then you just live it fully and the outcome is really none of your business? Is this what you mean by “submit?”

The answer to this question is YES! God will provide opportunities, just like the opportunity that was presented to me wherein I have a truly unique life story to tell that could help inspire others, but it is up to me to render the hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, passion, energy, and dedication to see it through.

I have come to understand that I was created by God in order to accomplish “His” purpose for my life and not my own. He bought and paid for me at a steep price through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ and I belong to Him and not myself. I have no control over whether or not my book will be well received by the public or if indeed it will help lead a single person to Christ. I can only hope that the outcome will be that it receives widespread distribution and helps innumerable lost or struggling souls worldwide.

Although I’m not in control of the outcome of the success of the book, I can honestly say that I have written this book in complete faith and in obedience to what I think the Lord wanted me to do and I have given it my absolute best. I think that is what is meant by “submit”. I can tell you that it was not fun reliving all those terrible years of grief and tragedy or sharing my weaknesses and stupid mistakes with others. Indeed just yesterday I had tears streaming down my face as I recounted the most horrible tragedy that ever occurred in my life and it was very painful reliving those dark days.

I am finacially set for life and could have easily spent those days having fun fishing, hunting, traveling, or relaxing on a beach somewhere, but as a faithful servant of God I have submitted to God and elected to do what I know God wanted me to do with my life.

I think the important thing for all of us in life is first to find God’s purpose for our lives and then submit to God in complete obedience and then roll up our sleeves and try our utmost to fulfill it. I truly believe that my purpose in life is to provide testimony of the transformational miraculous healing power of the Lord. Anything I can do to accomplish that purpose be it speaking, appearing on television, radio, Internet, print media, book, or whatever is what I need to be doing before time runs out. If one person or no one benefits from it then that is up to the Lord. I will have still done my part.

What is your purpose in life?

Have you seized upon the opportunity that God has provided to you and run with it?

Job 22:21
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”