“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.”  Romans 15:5-7

The above passage is a passage I love and it has been close to my heart since 2007, when God opened my eyes to my need to pray these verses fervently on behalf of the entire Body of Christ. God was preparing and moving His Church to a deeper level of Community and Unity for the days grow darker and the need for us to be like a unified force is at hand. However, I had something interesting happen this week and I felt it was a great practical example of the execution of this passage. I was merely the recipient and observer, but found myself impressed by another’s deliberate act of unity and love displayed in front of me.

As many know, I have written a book and am in process to publish. People ask me all the time when will it be out and what is the title. Believe it or not, no one knows the title besides my husband. I’ve not told another soul. I don’t plan to until the manuscript is to press and all is agreed with the publication company. I feel a deep need to protect it. I sometimes get funny looks over this, especially because I’ve already written it, but I am quite sure I will refrain.

I’ve been researching  and gleaning from the other side of writing…the business side (publishing). There are so many options. I believe I have ultimately decided to self publish. I originally thought I’d like to sell it and see what happens. However, the more research I did and the more friends I spoke with who are published authors and professional writers for large ministries…I realized, I would rather self publish so I may retain the rights to the book. For me this is so important because some of my stories are so full of the Presence of the Holy Spirit and they are like Old Testament stories come to life in modern day…I didn’t want them taken out by a publisher. So, here I am, currently speaking with two sources who have committed to publishing for me. One is a business associate in the industry who made an offer (I did not even know they were a publisher!) and another is a large company well known in Christian Literature. I’ve been talking to the larger company since the springtime when I first began doing the footwork. Without going into tremendous detail, I was not feeling any sense of rapport with my contact person, though they were incredibly informative, professional, thorough and insightful. Then I began to dread the calls actually. I finally expressed my feelings to my contact and he apologized for any discontented feelings I may be having. He followed up with an email and then….totally unexpected, someone else from the company contacted me. This person was very attentive and relational, like myself. (The other person was attentive also, but very nuts and bolts to the point.) She did such an excellent job of connecting with me and hearing my heart. Yet, she validated her coworker and expressed regard for how he does business. After listening, I agreed, I respected his professionalism, but I just needed a bit more “flower” to the relationship. Though it is a business relationship, I am definitely an person who appreciates  and tries to express value of others and desire to be valued myself.  I don’t really need a lot of accolades or praise, that actually embarrasses me. But I do want to feel “connected”. I recognize that not everyone is like this, but I am. By the time I was finished speaking with her I was ready to sign on the dotted line!

Here is my point. We all have different personalities and some connect, others don’t. However, we can all be diplomatic. We can all communicate with effective listening and clarification when necessary. I witnessed this company not only go above and beyond to reach out to me and keep the relationship alive,  but they never once compromised their integrity and supported and upheld each other as they supported myself as well. I have nothing but the utmost respect for this company as I saw their true character in action. It was a blessing to witness and it was a blessing to be pursued as they pursued me! It is but too true, the fortune is in the follow up!

Continue to pray as I close this book deal. I have no idea of projected dates, but I promise I will share dates and details….AND the title. It is all in God’s hands and I have kept the entire thing submitted and surrendered to him. I even told the Lord that if I only wrote it for myself (the process was very cleansing and freeing) I was ok. It will publish in Gods perfect time. I know for me, it was only the beginning. I have already begun a second book that I am very excited about. I am also getting glimpses in my Spirit of writing I will do for others to be published as well. God is good…so good to me…so good to YOU.

I pray that this day you receive all of the encouragement, validation and support you need. For it is but too true, no matter what your love language or personality style, we all need to be pursued, to feel special, loved and needed. You are needed…rest assured. There are people counting on you and looking to you to lead them with strength and consistency; People who will probably never tell you how they appreciate you. I don’t know why…sometimes people don’t think their encouragement to another matters so they don’t say a thing. But even the strongest of the strong need a little follow up. Smile BIG! It’s a great day to be alive…

By His Grace…

~Nicole