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This weeks guest post is from my friend and fellow writer Meghan Weyerbacher.  We have been “online friends” for  years, but this past June, we finally met face to face!  I loved getting to travel to see Meghan, meet her family and speak at her church.  I have always loved Meghans sense of humor and fun writing style.  I have been honored to support her as a launch team member when she published her first two small town romance novels, and now again with her third one just having been released a short time ago.  I am so proud of Meghan for stepping out and being obedient to write and get her stories and their messages out there.  I am honored to call her friend and have her being a guest on the blog.  When I asked her to write a guest post back in August, life happened and she had to delay. Then as she was writing, she messaged and asked if it could be a series.  So, for two more weeks, I am honored to share my space with Meghan.  I pray you get to know her and fall in love with her the way I do.  If you would like to purchase any of her books, you can find them all on Amazon!  Click on the links below.

Organic Love

Wild Hope

Rooted Peace

The Gift of Prophetic Story: A 3-Part Series

The God of Unfolding Sagas

By: Meghan Weyerbacher

“I’m here to tell you that you can’t get it all done. Forget that. I’d say you can’t even get most of it done.”    – Jon Acuff, author of Finish

I’ve spent a lot of my life seeing from an angle aimed from hurt; from fear. These things keep a person pressed down, shaken—not stirred, and packed to the point of such built up pressure, the vessel itself feels the slightest crack right before its eventual shattering.

That’s where I was this summer. On the floor in pieces. We seemed to have happened upon a turn of events, one after another that left me weary and frustrated. Not so much with God or others as I was with myself for not feeling like superwoman, because at my core—I wanted to “do all the things” penned on my calendar.

Important things like meet a book deadline, review books I’d told people I would review, and plan ahead because most writers know you don’t just wake up and live out your day. You at least attempt to have an outline of the week, so you stay on track, even if you’re rolling in on one wheel.

I wanted to do all these things because that’s who I am. I do what I say I will do, except ever since the end of Spring, I’ve been dropping balls left and right, and they’ve been crushing my toes, turning them to the color Smurf.

This summer, my brain has felt more like an egg, over easy. Frustrated and tired, sad and stressed. These are just some of the descriptors I’d use for myself as I attempted to cradle hurting children, support and cheer on a sleepy but hardworking husband, and wear about a dozen other hats that may or may not have been leaning like the Tower of Pisa.

Everything had been going so right, and in the blink of an eye, everything seemed to go so wrong—or so I thought.

Really, looking back on our days when our daughter was in the hospital, it was an answer to prayer. From there, she was able to get a much-needed referral to get more needed in-depth care. But watching her get stuck with needles and other things I’d rather not talk about, I couldn’t see it in the moment.

For us recovering perfectionists, it’s really hard when things don’t go the way they’re “supposed” to. Especially if we’ve checked all the boxes, hash tagged all the way to Mars, and made sure to wash behind our ears, right? I can see these very traits in my youngest. She will not be rushed. She has to get it just right. And if she doesn’t, tears will erupt. She is hard on herself. When I look at her, I see me as a child.

That’s why after Rooted Peace, I wanted to finish out my days in a cave, because there on page one of chapter one—the ultimate “do not do” for authors, there was a typo. I’d worked long and hard, drafting, rewriting, repeat, followed by what felt like centuries of edits so, “How could this be?”

It’d been read and reread a gazillion times yet there it was, the word disappointment living up to its actual expectation. Later, I laughed about it, finding the messed-up word ironic and downright hilarious. At the time I was devastated and wanted to bury my head in the sand or possibly burn all the books and pretend I was not really into storytelling.

By the time you read this, that error will be fixed, and who knows—maybe more will be found, though I pray not. In many ways, I am like my first series: a total noob.

The first represents me saying yes to something scary and hard. The second represents me trying to get better at the craft, even attempting something new. The third represents me feeling out the boundaries of a genre and learning to be obedient to God over man, even if it means I get tomatoed. I guess I’d rather learn these lessons earlier on, but it doesn’t make them any less easy to learn.

In a way, I’ve felt like an error-riddled novel myself. I am learning to turn the page one day at a time, accepting what is not in my hands to change, and pushing through the hard spots where it is in my power to do so.

I have high hopes and big dreams for family spin offs for each of my novels. While I write this, the next three for Rooted Peace are outline and I hope to have one ready by Christmas. But I frequently shoot my goals so high, the ball just grazes the net without going in.

Through this indie publishing process, I’ve learned it’s great to give yourself big goals. I’ve also learned to give myself more time since I don’t have a giant team working with me. This is one reason I hope to work with traditional publishers one day.

A nice way of looking at my unfinished series is knowing it’s helping me grow more than all the courses ever taught me. Learning by doing has been the best teacher thus far.

Who knows? Maybe this practice is a stepping stone rather than a period at the end of a sentence. In fact, I think it’s only the beginning. But this practice has revealed I can not do anything in my own strength. I’m sad that I tried, though in the trying, I did not realize that’s what I was doing.

God is teaching me that I can’t replace him with “my best” because my best still needs him. He is teaching me that though I show up to do the work, I can’t go without him.

I am most definitely learning that ultimately, it’s through his power in which opportunities knock, doors crack open, and stories unfold. Yes, we do our part, but we are allowed to ask him to do what only he can do. In my case, it’s making something of this muddied series.

To change a life. To ignite hope into dark and lonely places. Or maybe, it’s not about changing someone else’s life so much as he’s using it to mold me. He is, after all, the God of dry and wet dirt.

I always wanted my messy process to help someone else; to show them that we are all works in progress and in need of God’s daily grace.

As it turns out, I’ve needed these reminders as much as anyone.

Join us next time for Part 3!

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Episode #029:  Manifesting Heaven to Earth Guest Amie Rogers “Dare 2 Hear The Podcast” is now live!

Thank you to those who listened last week and have already left reviews!  You have blessed us so much!

Would you please consider subscribing to my podcast on the platform of your choice, sharing it on your social media with friends and if you like what you hear, would you leave a review so others can know what you think.

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For those who like to watch and not just listen, I will also be posting new episodes on my YouTube Channel.  You can find it by clicking here.

New episodes will be released every Wednesday. Next week Episode #030: Prophetic Community with Guest Kim Maas

Can I ask a HUGE Favor? 

Would you Please Listen & LEAVE A REVIEW ON iTunes…

It know it may seem like a lot to ask, because it takes time. However, if you can leave an honest review after listening, it would really be a HUGE blessing. Each review helps the podcast rank higher and get more eyes. If you’re interested, here’s how you do it:

1. Go to the iTunes podcast page for my show – CLICK HERE
2. Click on the blue button that says “View in iTunes.” (If you are prompted to launch iTunes, you’ll need to do so)
3. Listen to Episode 1  How to Hear the Voice of God
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With Much love and Appreciation,

Debbie 

Debbie Kitterman is a natural born encourager who is on fire for God. She is passionate about equipping individuals, so they can go deeper in the relationship with God, reach their God-potential and claim their Kingdom inheritance. Debbie is a wife, mother, author, pastor, speaker and the founder of “Dare 2 Hear,” a ministry that trains individuals to hear the voice of God. She travels to churches internationally and is the founder and teacher of d2htraining.com, an online course designed to equip the believer in releasing God’s heart. Her writing and teachings inspire faith and build bridges for people to believe and expect the impossible. She is also an ordained Foursquare pastor, currently serving with her husband, John, as senior pastor of Restoration Church in Lacey, Washington. Learn more at: www.debbiekitterman.com

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YouVersion 7-Day Devotional

I am blessed and honored to have a 7-day devotional on the YouVersion Bible App. YAY!!! It is a great way to kick start the 7- days before my on-line Bible Study starts next week. I would be so blessed if you would check it out and share it with your friends. You can find it here: Be The Gift Someone Needs Today!

Have you had the opportunity to read my new book  “The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for others.” ?  This book is about learning to hear the voice of God in our own life so we can respond to those God bumps and little nudges He gives us on a daily basis.    God is calling us to be agents of encouragement and to be the gift the worlds needs today.

We live in a time, where those around us are in desperate need of a real encounter with Jesus and in need of encouragement. We are called to encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13), and to build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  My book will teach you how to step out and do just that.

To order your copy today: You can find it at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, OR your favorite online retailer, Plus, newly added, you can now get a signed copy from me.  Click Here to order yours today! 

We all have the opportunity to #BeTheGift of encouragement others need today.

Do you wonder if God still speaks today?  Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally?  Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?

Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to  move you forward  hearing from God?

If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need.  I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others.  He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you.  The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice. 

God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?

d2htrainging.com membership site is open, I invite you to check it out today, and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, as you learn to hear Him speak to your heart.

Looking for other Great Inspirational Parties. Click Here to see where I Link-Up weekly.

Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:

Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be

Who we Are and Whose We Are

Trusting God When it Seems Illogical

Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)

My Post:  Adjust the Flow was featured here:

Over the Moon Linkup

My Post: The Reluctant Encourager was featured here:

My Posts:  The Most Wonderful Time of the Year & And So Do We! & Know Your Why & Jesus in Us! were featured here:

My Post  #BeTheGift was featured here:

My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party

My Posts: “Will You Sit with Me?”  & New Mercies Everyday & Wait for it were featured here:

My Post: The Power of your Story, The Reluctant Encourager and #TeamJesus were featured here:

My Post “What’s in a Name?” was featured here:

My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:

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