Welcome to the April 28th edition of Faith & Life Lessons.
You will see this email full of tidbits from my week. My goal is simple. I hope that from how I live my life, you can find a thing or two that helps you as you try to live a life that matters. I am always trying to do one thing - make Christ-focused decisions in love, work, and life. And this was my week.
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The Story of My Week
I completed the manuscript and two editing processes for my book.
After the first editing process, I sent out a couple of copies to people so they could write a review for it.
It's interesting how much work goes into writing a book. Not just any book. But a book is meant to offer a measure of value to the reader.
I wanted to write a book that someone like me would be willing and able to read.
That's why I couldn't go for a book with many pages. One of my reviewers even asked me, "I hope it's not too big."
Knowing that I'm writing to a specific niche of people in a world of short messaging and social media posts makes it essential to cut through the clutter of noise quickly.
I wanted to write a book that felt like a friend sitting beside you and conversing with you.
Interestingly, two friends had referred me to a prospective publisher to discuss this with. I conversed with her, and she asked me a question I hadn't been asked before.
She wanted to know what I was going for with my writing style and what book resonates with me. I had never thought about that, but an answer that I guess had been hiding in the recesses of my mind came out.
I wanted my writing to be in the tone of former US President Bill Clinton's autobiographical book "My Life."
It has a sizeable number of pages, but I read it through non-stop when I got it after it was released.
Why?
It felt like you were sitting down on the porch with Bill and listening to him reminisce about days gone by. And more than that, it felt like just watching the world through Bill's window. Lessons were learnt, and valuable insights were shared.
That is the stuff of dreams I am aiming for with the book.
I hope my book lives up to this.
Things I Learnt
1-A Clear Goal Defines the Steps: This week, I was introduced to a publisher. A few of my friends felt it would be a good idea for me to work with her since she had helped one of them to publish.
Speaking with her, I found more reasons why I didn't need her - or at least most of what she was offering to do.
She would be helping me with key things: cover design, kindle publishing, book printing & ISBN registration.
Fortunately, I had been a part of the back end of past book launches for other people. Because of that, I could handle Kindle publishing & cover design.
As much as I would like people to have copies of my books, I would only do that if there is an easy way to distribute them. I don't have the bandwidth to be "tracking" where people's orders are.
That's why I am not planning to print for sale distribution in Nigeria.
I have a bigger reason. At this moment, it does not align with the overall goal I have for the book. The audience I am targeting has no problem reading an ebook.
The joy of having a clear goal is that the steps become apparent.
2 - When God is Working: God asks us to do something, but God is also doing something at the same time.
God's instruction does not mean He is also not at work.
A few things happened this week that reminded me of this.
I'm walking this season on a higher level of expectation - it demands more.
I'm also seeing God at work.
He is giving me support and lining my way with encouragement.
He is working as I am also working.
As I see Him working, I get more encouragement to keep working at what He told me.
Even as it gets tougher by the day.
There is still joy in the journey.
Postscript
May you find encouragement around you when the road gets tough for you. Amen
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Tola - The Everyday Disciple
I help Christians like you who want to live intentional lives incorporate their faith into everyday life so they can make Christ focused decisions in all areas of life and truly live to make an impact and make God happy.
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