Every time I read the words above from A Thousand Blessings, I am reminded of my own times of hearing the call to sacrifice and my refusal to obey. During one particular season of running, I took the worst fall of my life. Now, I can honestly say that when I hear, I obey. I would be a liar if I said that I always obey right away. Plenty of times I hear what God is calling me to do or not to do, and I drag my feet in obeying. The difference now, though, is that I do obey.

That ugly season that I’m reminded of left scars, so when I’m tempted to ignore God, I can look at them and remember what the fresh wound felt like. I don’t want that ever again. Even when I’m a slow listener, I do listen.

What I didn’t know then that I know now is this: Jesus can be trusted. Even when He calls me to give up what I am struggling to hold onto, I know there is a reason behind Him asking. For my good, for the good of someone else, for someone else’s growth, for the Kingdom good, there is something that I’m not seeing. But He sees.

You may assume that I create crazy scenarios  and build a story around it. Well, sometimes that is true. Often, though, even when I have no intention of pouring myself into a character, it just happens. God has that planned long before I dream up a story. As I got deeper into Isabel’s story, I found I was writing out of personal experience in some ways. I spent many years feeling unloved in my marriage. Because of that, I tried to fill my empty places with everything but Jesus.

I came to a point where I had to decide that the love Jesus gives was enough – no matter what was going on in my marriage.

After giving up and giving in, Jesus has restored a marriage that I once believed was lost. I am loved by my husband. I never doubt that now. I never would have believed it possible, but after my obedience, after choosing to live in marriage that I didn’t believe in any longer, a new, deeper level of love surfaced for us both. God honored my obedience with a love I’ve never experienced before.

All that to say, love is complicated. Marital love is just flat out painful at times. As many times as I cried out, “God, get me out of this marriage.” The Spirit interceded by saying, “Father, save this marriage.”

If you are in a season of discontent in your marriage, or if you wonder if it’s even worth it, I urge you to hold on. I urge you to take all the needs you feel are not being met by your husband to Jesus. Not only will He meet them, He will sustain you and help carry you through rocky times in your marriage. I pray for you what the Spirit prayed over me: “Father, save this marriage.”

Look to Him. Pray to draw nearer to Him, especially in the toughest times of your daily struggles. He is close. All you need to do is reach out.

May the Lord bless you and your family,
Lisa

This release has been a long time in coming since the book was written in the spring of 2016. With the current revisions complete, the stage is set for a short series.

Keep an eye out for A Deslan Tale and Promise Keeper. A Deslan Tale will be available in 2018 – Lord willing. 🙂

We will provide the link for presales later in the week.

“Jacket Cover”:
Travel with Isabel as she journeys to an unknown land to marry Colin, a widowed king. Elias, the king’s trusted commander, accompanies Isabel to her new home. While faced with peril along the way, the greater danger is the fondness that develops between the two. Isabel must choose between her heart and duty, while Elias decides if he will fight for the woman he loves or honor his king and kingdom.

This fantasy kingdom setting differs from Lisa’s usual contemporary novels. No matter the time period, Lisa explores the complexities of relationships when we try to live with Jesus on the outskirts of our lives.

Other books by Lisa: Unmending the Veil, On 4/19, Beyond 4/20, and Deceiver – all available on Amazon.

Please note: If you purchased the PDF and would like the .mobi file to read on your Kindle for no additional charge, please let us know at lisa@lisaheatonbooks.com.

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There are few books I can read more than once, but in this case, I hope you will give Unmending the Veil another read. There are new scenes included throughout the story. Also, due to the changes I’ve made, new ideas have begun to flow. I see a sequel in the future ~ Lord willing.

Also, I hope you will tell a friend about Unmending the Veil.

If you’re wondering how this all came about, continue on with my blog below.

These days, I’m trying to catch my breath from this past year, from this rocky, educational, soul crushing journey I’ve been on. Every step of the way, I was looking toward a destination that just won’t arrive. More and more, as time went by, I felt like a failure and genuinely considered giving up. Don’t worry, I’m not. I plan to give up at least once a year. I won’t. I can’t. There’s this line that I learned from Max Lucado. “If I don’t the fire will consume me.” It’s what he said in response when an older pastor asked why he wanted to step into pastoral ministry. Same with me – if I don’t write, the fire will consume me. I can’t quit. Believe me, I’ve tried.

Recently, God has been doing a peace-giving work in me. He has shown me that all along it’s been about the journey, about what He has wanted to accomplish in me. He’s been tinkering around inside of me in ways that I wasn’t even aware. Now, all the sudden I find new things about me that surprise even me. God has developed perseverance (endurance) in me for one.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

I’ve faced trials this past year for certain. In learning to take my writing to the next level, I discovered techniques that I didn’t even know I was supposed to be using. An example is to show not tell. In my books, I spend a lot of time in my characters heads, telling what’s going on through their thought life. I was supposed to be showing through scenes and the character’s interaction with others. Funny things is, I’m so relational, I love writing scenes more than narrative summary. I dunno. I guess I thought I was supposed to explain more. This new technique is what has led to new scenes in UtV.

Now, of course, that has led me to fret over all of my earlier books. I can’t stand the thought of knowing they are out there, not done right. Most readers don’t even notice what’s wrong, but I know now. It won’t let me rest. When faced with the idea of revising 600,000+ words worth of books – no kidding – I died a little inside.

For a while I was like, “No way, I can’t do that. I quit!” But this new me, the one who is ready to persevere (endure) is ready to dive in. I have two revisions behind me so far with three to go. So in the upcoming months, when you see revised editions popping out here and there, you’ll know why. I knew they weren’t my best work, and for me to do this thing right, I have to go back and do the work.

Now you: (I never want to leave you out.)

Our lesson in this is two-fold:
First, are you constantly looking toward some end goal, or are you focusing on what God wants to do in and through you along this journey?

Are you a woman climbing a ladder at work that never seems to bring you to your desired success? As a mom, are you frustrated with little kids and ready for them to be a little more independent? Are you trying to get pregnant, thinking that a baby is the end goal? Or looking for a spouse? We are all on a journey of some kind. And God has the same plan for each of us during the journey: to teach us, to grow us, to mold us, to show Himself faithful to us along the way, to make us more like Him so that we reflect who He is to others. (and more) Are you letting him?

My advice to you is this: Begin to have this conversation with God during your quiet time. Ask Him to help you see the importance of the journey rather than focusing on your end goal. Truth is, we may never make that destination that we think will make us happy. You may not. I may not. It simply may not be how our life works out. Still, He’s faithful and will make something good of the journey if you’ll let him.

A second thought for today: Are you thinking of quitting? Is your faith in some area tested beyond what you think you can handle? Hold on a little while longer. Talk to Him. Ask for direction. He has promised to give wisdom when we ask. Believe He will answer that prayer.

Many years ago I prayed this: Help me quit quitting!

As an early writer, I was shredded by every little piece of rejection or criticism. So I would quit for a year or more at a time. This prayer, that I quit quitting has been answered. All these years along the journey, He’s been toughening my skin to rejection and tendering my heart toward His direction. The outcome has been that I’ve quit quitting. You do the same. Don’t give up, believer, in the good Shepherd who is leading you down the path you need to go. Persevere. Endure.

I love you dearly and am thankful for the ways in which you constantly encourage me with your replies and messages.

Blessings on you and yours today,
Lisa