“All people are like grass … the grass withers.” 1 Peter 1:24
“The grass withers … but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8
Some grow flowers or vegetables or fruit, but I grow grass … sometimes. Too many days I merely dampen the graves of dead seed.
Growing grass shouldn’t be hard. It grows natural (I hear) but not in my yard. In my yard I have to coax each blade from the earth. For fourteen years I’ve struggled to cover our lot with Bermuda grass. Experts say Bermuda likes hot weather and doesn’t need a lot of water. They should tell this to the blades of Bermuda in my yard.
For me, growing grass is like selling books. At first I have high hopes that all the seed will take root and soon I’ll have a lush, green lawn. Then, as the hard-baked soil blooms into wind-blown dust, I merely hope for some grass. Weeks pass, months, years … A few patches of green appear but it’s never what I imagined and certainly not what I see in Southern Living Magazine.
I do my part. I buy new top soil, sow seed, water as directed, and still all I get are bare spots with a few sprigs. I’m still speaking of grass, but my lawn is a metaphor of my book sales.
And not just my book sales, but the sales of many of our LPC authors. For two years I’ve prayed that each LPC book would sell 100 copies a month. That’s 3 sold copies a day. Doesn’t seem like that would be hard, but as with the seed in my yard, selling even one copy a day can be a tall task for some titles.
That’s why I’m always looking for new sales avenues – and help from God.
“Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.” Job 8:7
I don’t give up on books. Not mine – not those of our LPC authors. If it’s God’s will to bless our words and effort, then we will reap a full harvest – of this I’m sure.
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6
Selling books is like growing grass. We can do our part – sow, water, pray – but only God can make a thing grow. This is one reason I place such great value on prayer. Based on my experience, it’s the only thing that causes grass to grow and books to sell.
Please circle in prayer: “Lord, LPC and Christian Devotions Ministries are our church – a community of believing authors committed to serving You. Please show Eddie how to lead. Give him strength, wisdom, discernment, opportunities, and stamina. May you bless his hand. Expand his boundaries; enlarge his areas of influence for You. Keep him from sin and pain. May your strong hand be upon him. Lord, you have promised to be with us wherever we go. Lead us forward, now.”
If you would like to join my Circle Maker Prayer Team, click on this link. No pay – just a chance to pray and help a struggling writer and book publisher.
I just started reading The Circle Maker last night, and am delighted to read here how God’s Spirit is encouraging both of us at our point of need. Another “Godincidence” where I grabbed a book for no apparent reason, only to find out why later. It will be an honor to pray for you and your ‘grass’ to grow. We just need to take the next step, and trust God for the harvest. I hope to meet you at GPCWC in a few weeks!
Thanks, Lisa.
Here’s that link again if it didn’t show up in the post.
http://click.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=a53d6abe752ba433f8028041b&id=8b6067eeab
Praying…