What Dream Have You Given Up On?

Is there something in your heart to do? Have you silenced that still, small voice that once upon a time pleaded; Just try. You can do this thing. Have you buried your calling, shoved aside a dream that begged to be lived out?

Three years ago, God gave me a promise. You are going to write a book for Me. It wasn't audible, but it was clear. God confirmed over and over and over again, using His word to tell me what I would do.

My heart is overflowing with a good theme;

I recite my composition concerning the King;

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Psalm 45:1 

I would write for Him. Once my writing was complete, I would share what I'd written publicly. Unfortunately, as is my nature, I ignored, argued and even questioned His promise.

Lord, forgive me, but do you realize who you're talking to? This is me, remember? I'm a wife and a mom,end of story. I'm too busy with that calling. I'm disorganized, forgetful, and don't even know where to start. I am not able. I don't have the credentials. I barely have time to clean the bathrooms. I don't know enough about grammar. I can't.

 Then came His answer. You're right. You can't, but I can.


Yesterday, one of God's most precious promises to me was released publicly. My book, Just Too Busy,  was launched into the world. When I checked the ranking last it was listed in the top 100 books for parenting today. (Never underestimate the power of family and friends to alter an Amazon ranking!) Thankful tears have come quite easy this week. Requests to speak publicly at women's events are making their way to me as well, just like He promised: I recite my composition concerning the King.

Friends, promises are God's specialty. Depending on who you talk to, there are between 3,000 and 8,000 promises in the Bible. No matter which camp you fall under, promises from God are reserved for His children.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12

What promise has He given you lately? What are you arguing and debating Him about? Stop making excuses. Did I just hear you say, I can't? You're exactly right, you can't.

You can't. But, I can.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13



Interested in seeing how this new-author celebrated her book release, head over to my author site.


joanne kraft, just too busy-taking your family on a radical sabbatical, busy mom, christian mom, faith, christian parenting, parenting

Take Him at His Word

What Has God promised you? Is there something specific He has whispered to your heart He would do? Do you feel like His promise is so big and wonderful it couldn't possibly be for you? What is holding you back? Why aren't you taking Him at His word?

Why haven't you finished what you started for Him?

I have been feeling the sweet nudgings of my Lord to finish the book He put on my heart to begin last year. I have written eight chapters of a twenty chapter book, sent off book proposals and I'm far from finished. My friend Celia has offered to let me write in her home in the woods not too far from where I live. This means I will be able to head over there one day a week and sit on her wooden deck overlooking the most beautiful pine trees in our area. I am looking so forward to it. We just finalized my writing plans last week.

And then I read my devotion yesterday.

When I finished up the Book of Acts for my morning devotion, the most natural for me would have been to continue on and read the Book of Romans. But, for awhile 2 Corinthians kept coming up in my day to day goings on. So, I went there instead. This was the verse I read yesterday;

And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.
2 Corinthians 8:10-11


He has spoken to me loud and clear. I am feeling quite inadequate for the job at hand, but I am going to take Him at His Word.

What about you?