Reality Check-October’s WOW-From Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Thanks for joining me today for a little break at Coffee Hour and for the conclusion of this months’ WOW!
I think it has taken us three coffee breaks because He is using so many things to remind me of this particular powerful lesson found in Philippians 2:3-4: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition (strife) or conceit, but in lowliness (humility) of mind, let each esteem others better than himself (herself). Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
I just noticed something else in the last line. My Microsoft Word program has the word “own” underlined in green, which means that it’s grammatically incorrect. But you know what? It’s really not. I believe HE put that there for emphasis because when I check the translation out in my 1865 edition of the Holy Bible, “his own interests” is in there too.
So last year, this verse spoke to me about putting my agenda aside when it came to interruptions in my day; this year it’s speaking to me about my motives and the fine line of promoting Him without over-promoting myself, my books, et cetera, and that when I’m at a speaking engagement, it’s not about my interests, book sales, et cetera, but about the interests of others, the ministering to others for the well being of others.
It’s a narrow piece of fabric that He is weaving for me to walk, and sometimes, before I know it, I’ve meandered over and off the fabric of His plan, aimlessly wandering and wondering if I will ever be okay with the reality that I am a needle in a haystack of authors and He is the thread that will weave the words He’s given me into the hearts of others. I am eternally grateful for His grace that gently pulls me back onto His designated canvas, while His hand gently comes up under my chin, lifting my focus up and off of myself, back on the greatest Author who is in charge of the story of my life, the one who abolishes my selfish ambitions and knows my heart.
Oh, and by the way, remember that book signing I was telling you about earlier where the lady wasn’t giving me the time of day but reading a New York Best Seller” at my book signing? Well, just a few weeks later, I received a Facebook message from someone who had read that same book — whose success I was coveting — as well as Back to Single. She went on to share that she picked up the Number 1 Best Seller and after two chapters, she put it down. She picked up Back to Single and couldn’t put it down!
I am not telling you that to flaunt a success or boast in any way whatsoever; not at all. My true heart’s desire is that you will see the grace woven in and through that book signing that I thought was pitiful. The truth is that He used my own flaws and insecurities to bless me, assure me and encourage me. This is beyond my comprehension but definitely a signature inscribed with His sovereign love.
In His will,
Evinda

Reality Check-October’s WOW-From Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Thanks so much for joining me for a little break today. I know it’s not always easy to get away, but I pray this will be a wise investment of your time today. Grab your coffee and come on in and let’s get back to our WOW.
I’m still stunned at the reality of the necessity of walking in the truth of these words, and my desire for them to manifest in my DNA and rid me of anything that is not from Him, with Him and for Him. And while we’re at it, Father, could you help me to quit comparing myself to other authors and speakers! (Go ahead and pray that one for me and for you!:) )
Here’s the Words of Wisdom: Philippians 2:3-4 (don’t you love that easy address?) Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit – I wasn’t going to take the same detour as last year, but I think I’d better so we can receive all that is intended! Since this is New Testament, I’ll go to the Greek concordance. The word that is pulling at my attention is ambition. So, ambition – wait, there is no “ambition” in the concordance. Well, that’s weird. Okay, so it must be a translation thing. So, that’s okay; I’ll go to my Holy Bible (1865 copy) which says: “Translated out of the original tongues,” which says: “Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory.” Interesting! Now let me look up strife. This is getting fun! :)
The word strife translates to eritheia and “denotes self-seeking ambition, self-will being an underlying idea with an emphasis on drawing followers.” It also says: Seeking to win followers creates factions, and factions are the result of jealousy.
Oh, my, the taste of conviction is bittersweet as I think about tweeting on Twitter and connecting on Facebook, and dealing with all the other forms of social media that help in the platform-building process for an author. And as I rewind my book-signing experiences, I can’t help but admit that He’s used them all, individually and collectively, for His purposes. I’m totally smiling right now because I remember one recent book-signing at my nail salon. This woman was getting her toes done and she was totally engrossed in a book, a book that has gone to the New York’s Best Seller’s list in record time. I literally almost broke out in tears at the inadvertent rejection and my mind spilled out questions that only He could answer. Just before I jumped in the pool of pity, I received a text from a team member sharing that someone who had been to our recent workshop had rededicated her life to Christ afterwards. I pulled myself away from the pity pool and my phone announced another text, sort of like a P.S.: “Oh, after she read Back to Single.”
My heart smiled while my mind begged for forgiveness for coveting the success of this author who was reaching people in the flesh while He is reaching hearts, albeit one at a time, through Back to Single. And somewhere in this WOW is the key to balance in this mind-boggling challenge of how to get what He has written through me out to the hearts of women all over without sounding as though I’m all about me.
Oh, how true it is that the Word is alive and Holy Spirit inspired. Please join me tomorrow for the conclusion to our October WOW.
Humbly,
Evinda