I invited my Mississippi friend and author, Virginia Vaughan, to Inspy Romance today! She has a great message and a giveaway for us! Welcome, Virginia!
Many thanks to Janet for having me on the blog today. I wrote this blog post way back in 2011, less than year before I received my first publishing contract based on interactions I had at the ACFW conference referenced below. I wanted to repost it here today because the idea still speaks to me. Recently, I made the decision to become a full-time writer and looked to God to provide opportunities. Not long after my first day of being “self-employed” God showed up and sent an email my way offering the opportunity to contribute to a romantic suspense boxed collection with six other great romantic suspense authors.
As I prayed about whether or not to jump into full-time writing, I kept hearing God reminding me that we don’t grow where we’re comfortable and that if I don’t follow him straight to the end, I’ll never know the full victory He has in store for me. I hope this post speaks to you as much as it has to me.
And The Walls Came Crumbling Down
I recently reached the six year mark at my current job. It’s significant because this is the place God provided for me when he pulled me away from a lucrative position with the state in order to focus on my writing. Now I work at a job where I make less money, have a degree I don’t use, and from a worldly perspective have made little notable progress in my writing endeavor. I confess it’s hard to see God at work sometimes when I look at those facts.
How appropriate then that God has led me this week to the book of Joshua and the story about the fall of Jericho. In it, God commanded Joshua to march once around the city with armed men for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times, then blow the trumpets and give a loud shout. If they followed these instructions, God promised the walls of Jericho would collapse. But what if Joshua hadn’t continued to the seventh day? What if he’d given up after the sixth day? Or the sixth circle around the city? If he hadn’t followed God to the very end, he would not have seen the victory.
So as I was preparing this morning to leave for my annual writing conference, some things occurred to me. It’s no coincidence God led me to this passage this week. I hadn’t been studying Joshua—I’ve been focusing my studies lately on women of the bible—but this six thing has gotten my attention because I do feel as if I’ve been circling for the past six years, waiting and searching for a crack in the defense of the publishing world, a way to break through the wall that at times seems so large and impenetrable. But I know God’s plan for me. He wants me on the other side of that wall. So armed with scripture and prayer, I’ve been quietly marching towards that goal. Now I’m into my seventh year. Is it time to blow the trumpets and shout to the Lord? Is this the year I’ll finally see the walls crumble?
I hope so.
“When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when these people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged in, and they took the city.” Joshua 6:20
Blessings,
Virginia
“I do feel as if I’ve been circling for the past six years, waiting and searching for a crack in the defense of the publishing world, a way to break through the wall that at times seems so large and impenetrable.”
Virginia Vaughan was born and raised in Mississippi and has never strayed far beyond those borders. Blessed to come from a large, Southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age and soon started writing them herself. Book 5 of her current series, Rangers Under Fire, Mission Undercover, releases in August 2017 and Book 6, Mission: Memory Recall in January 2018. Also look for her story, Homecoming Homicide, in the Pursued romantic suspense boxed collection.
www.facebook.com/ginvaughanbooks
Virginia is kindly offering a paperback copy (U.S. only) of Mission Undercover to one reader who comments by August 13, 2017!
Paula Dye says
What a wonderful story of a leap of faith! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Janet W. Ferguson says
Hi Paula! It was so inspirational to me, too!
Virginia Vaughan says
Hi Paula! Thank you for stopping by and thanks for the encouragement!
Wemble says
Hi Janet and Virginia. Thanks for sharing your faith walk. Praise God for His guidance and providence:)
Blessings:)
Janet W. Ferguson says
Yes, Wemble! Praise God for that!! I need it every day!
Virginia Vaughan says
Absolutely, Wemble! He continues to amaze me with his blessings! Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Renate says
Hi Janet! Welcome Virginia and thank you for your post about your writing journey and leap of faith. Listening and trusting God is not always easy. Best wishes on your new releases. Enjoy this season in your life.
Janet W. Ferguson says
Hi Renate!! You’re right. It”s not always easy!! I’m working on it!
Blessings,
Virginia Vaughan says
Thank you, Renate! Trusting God should be easy but I often struggle with it, but the rewards are always amazing! Thanks for stopping by!
Lee Tobin McClain says
This story was perfect for me this morning–thank you for the inspiration!
Janet W. Ferguson says
Thanks Lee! I’m glad her story helped!
Blessings
Virginia Vaughan says
Thanks Lee! I’m glad my story made a difference.
MH says
Thank you for sharing your faith journey, Virginia! And for reminding us of Joshua’s faith and persistence and trust. Our jobs, our professions impact us greatly, don’t they? They can be the cause of strife, grief, restlessness, stress. Yet they can also bring us a tangible purpose in this physical world, fulfillment in following His Will.
Janet W. Ferguson says
Great insight!! We do have a purpose!
Blessings
Virginia Vaughan says
Well said, MH! Sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day of our lives that we don’t see where God is leading us.
Sherri G says
The devotional I read this morning suggested I read stories of people who have taken steps of faith. This article was the next thing I read. Thanks for sharing your story.
Janet W. Ferguson says
Hi Sherri! Isn’t amazing how God connects things in our lives!
Blessings
Virginia Vaughan says
Wow Sherri, that’s amazing! Just further proof that God is working in our lives. Thanks for commenting!
gobers2013 says
Thank you for sharing your inspiring blog. I love the story of Joshua, and I love the way God made it come alive in your own life. You are a new author to me, and I would love to win a copy of your book. Blessings on your writing ministry.
Janet W. Ferguson says
Joshua is a great hero of the faith! Good luck on the drawing!
Blessings
Virginia Vaughan says
I too love the story of Joshua. What an amazing example he was to us. Thank you for your comments and good luck in the drawing!
Laura says
Thanks for sharing your story Virginia. Going out of our comfort zone is something that takes a lot of courage and faith.
Janet W. Ferguson says
Good morning Laura! Yes, that comfort zone… I need a shot of courage and faith every day!
Blessings
Virginia Vaughan says
Hi Laura! I always wonder why its so hard for me to make a leap of faith when I know my God will catch me. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
thequeenofquitealot says
I always tell my children “the answer is in scripture”. To everything! It’s living and active and He speaks to us through it if we have ears for it. Loved this highly applicable reminder today. Thank you
Janet W. Ferguson says
What a great thing to teach your children! I pray mine have that insight and those ears!
Blessings
Virginia Vaughan says
That is so true and such a great reminder! All the answers we seek can be found in scripture. Thanks for stopping by!
Jackie Smith says
How interesting!! Love that Bible story (just read about it last week in a book by T.Afshar). Thanks for sharing. Am excited to read your book and THANKS for your giveaway. Blessings on your writing~~
Janet W. Ferguson says
Jackie, that sounds like a good book, too! Thank you for coming by, and I hope you enjoy Virginia’s novel.
Blessings
Virginia Vaughan says
Thanks Jackie! That story in Joshua has become a new favorite of mine. If you don’t go all the way with God, you don’t know what blessings you’re missing. Thanks for commenting!
Charolette Romero says
I would love to win a paperback
Janet W. Ferguson says
Hi Charolette! I wish you the best!!
Blessings
Virginia Vaughan says
Thanks for stopping by, Charolette! Good luck in the drawing!
Gail Estes Hollingsworth says
Hi neighbor! I live in Alabama. My sister-in-law and her family live in Amory, MS.
God does many times lead us to uncomfortable places to help us grow and to further his plan for us.
I love the Love Inspired Suspense books! Would love to win and read yours.
Janet W. Ferguson says
Hi Gail! Always glad to meet a neighbor! Virginia and I are both from Mississippi and know where Amory is!. My mom was from near Jasper, Alabama, so I like Alabama, too. Except when we play them in football!
Virginia Vaughan says
Hi Gail! Yes, we are practically neighbors! And I’m with Janet. I like Alabama except when it comes to football! Then we’re rivals, lol! When I was trying to make the decision to go into full-time writing, I kept hearing God saying, “You don’t grow where you’re comfortable.” Best wishes in the drawing!
Karen Loomis says
You are leading by example in your publishing quest. You are listening to God’s message and have opened your heart to what God wants you to do with your life. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Virginia Vaughan says
Thank you for the encouragement and kind words, Karen! I’m trying to do as God leads. It’s scary sometimes — I know it shouldn’t be — but it’s also an amazing journey. Thanks for stopping by!
Janet W. Ferguson says
Hi Karen! Thanks for being an encourager!!
Blessings
Deana says
thank you for sharing. When you listen to God great things happen.
jhdwayne(at)peoplepc(dot)com
Virginia Vaughan says
So true, Deana! Thank you for stopping by!
Regina Merrick says
Thank you so much for posting this today! I’ve been feeling that nudge to go into writing full-time for about 7 years. This summer, I decided to do it – maybe. I’ve been turning it over and over in my mind, and in my prayers, until one night, around 1:30am, I pulled out my tablet, pulled up Bible Gateway, and just started reading in Isaiah where I had ended before. Isaiah is a challenging book, I’ve found, and I’m not exactly flying through it! I landed on Isaiah 43. Wow.
Virginia Vaughan says
I have verses 16-21 of Isaiah 43 marked in my Bible! Such great versus about God’s provisions! I prayed long and hard about this decision and kept hearing God telling me you don’t grow where you’re comfortable. Praying for you in your decision. Thanks for stopping by, Regina!
Janet W. Ferguson says
Hi Regina! I love the book of Isaiah. My first series used Isaiah 61. Blessings with your writing!
Andrea B. Brooks says
I loved reading this blog. The book looks really good and I may have to try and look for books by this author.
Janet W. Ferguson says
So glad you are enjoying the blog! There are a lot of amazing authors here!
Virginia Vaughan says
Thanks for stopping by, Andrea!
Trixi says
Loved Mission Undercover Virginia! I read it in one day :-)
Janet W. Ferguson says
So glad you enjoyed it, Trixi! That was fast!! I’m sure Virginia is happy to hear from you!! We love encouragement!
Virginia Vaughan says
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Trixi!
Nikki Dawson says
Thank you for sharing your journey with us , I for one need encouragement , thanks so much
Janet W. Ferguson says
I know I do, too, Nikki! Blessings