I’m not good at talking about myself. In fact, I wrote 338 pages of my second book with no problem, but I get stuck every time I have to write a bio or an “About Me.” Nonetheless, I feel the need to step out of my comfort zone for just a moment to give my testimony.
This is for the common person; the average “Joe.” I don’t have the tales of drug addiction, the woes of single parenting, homelessness, AIDS—any of the things we (myself included) generally deem newsworthy. What I have is my truth.
A year ago, I was working for my church. The first Wednesday of 2010 I was called into a meeting to be told that, due to budget cuts, I’d have to be let go. Now, they weren’t aware of the conversation I’d had with God just the day before. One in which I’d promised to “follow him, quit fighting, and let Him have His way.” So, upon hearing the news, I chuckled to myself. My thoughts: Really God? ...Okay…Upon hearing the news, I was stuck. I knew what I had promised the Lord, but I also knew what lay ahead of me: rent, car note, insurance, and bills, bills, bills.
It would be great to say I immediately jumped up, left that place and said, “That’s it! I’m going to be an authoress!” The reality is, I was confused and tickled at the same time. I was tickled because I felt that God had hit me with the “Okie Doke.” He’d put me in a situation where I had to either make good on what I’d told him—that I was ready to submit to Him and His ways—or retract my statement from the previous day and go back to doing my own thing. I was confused because I was still operating in “Me.” I was stuck thinking, Eh, there’s not really another job out there that I want. I’ve literally done everything I said I wanted to do: social work, teaching and office work.
Not only was I without a job, I was without a plan. Even then, I didn’t say, “Time to move onto this book.” I’d also be lying if I said I went straight home and started looking for a job. The reality is, the week after I was laid off I was in Augusta, GA chilling with my best friend. We went to a comedy show, shopping, had a great time. Yep, right after becoming unemployed.
Although I wasn’t putting together a plan, God was formulating things on my behalf. He led me into a situation that made me really consider publishing my book. After that plan fell through, He inspired me to put the book out myself. “Now, Tierra, how do you know it was God?” one might ask. Well, I’d just told a friend the month before that I wasn’t going to put out the book. It was something I wanted to complete, so I did. It wasn’t in my plans to be a published author. Truth be told, I could’ve cared less about anyone reading Safe in His Arms. I wrote it, I liked it, and that was enough for me.
After God gave me the gumption to put the book out myself, HE made everything fall into place. He had people around me every step of the way showing me how to get started, funding the book…let me repeat that—FUNDING the book. He also knows how he made me; when I decide to do something…it will happen. Period. So, He knew that by giving me that desire, giving me a little push, a little help along the way, tons of support from family, friends and strangers, that I would run full-speed ahead.
My testimony is that one year ago I was unemployed. 12 months later, I’m the author of 2 books! Simply by taking a chance; choosing to believe; committing to what I’d promised God and trusting Him to accomplish His work through me. I’m not the bragging type—especially when it’s about me—but when it comes to God…I’m His spokesperson, His cheerleader. So… “Go, go, g-o…Go Jesus Go!”
If God has been calling you to do something and you’ve been hesitant, don’t know how to start or where to go, He’s put me in your path for a reason. Contact me today so you can start walking in your purpose.
Tierra Allen
This is for the common person; the average “Joe.” I don’t have the tales of drug addiction, the woes of single parenting, homelessness, AIDS—any of the things we (myself included) generally deem newsworthy. What I have is my truth.
A year ago, I was working for my church. The first Wednesday of 2010 I was called into a meeting to be told that, due to budget cuts, I’d have to be let go. Now, they weren’t aware of the conversation I’d had with God just the day before. One in which I’d promised to “follow him, quit fighting, and let Him have His way.” So, upon hearing the news, I chuckled to myself. My thoughts: Really God? ...Okay…Upon hearing the news, I was stuck. I knew what I had promised the Lord, but I also knew what lay ahead of me: rent, car note, insurance, and bills, bills, bills.
It would be great to say I immediately jumped up, left that place and said, “That’s it! I’m going to be an authoress!” The reality is, I was confused and tickled at the same time. I was tickled because I felt that God had hit me with the “Okie Doke.” He’d put me in a situation where I had to either make good on what I’d told him—that I was ready to submit to Him and His ways—or retract my statement from the previous day and go back to doing my own thing. I was confused because I was still operating in “Me.” I was stuck thinking, Eh, there’s not really another job out there that I want. I’ve literally done everything I said I wanted to do: social work, teaching and office work.
Not only was I without a job, I was without a plan. Even then, I didn’t say, “Time to move onto this book.” I’d also be lying if I said I went straight home and started looking for a job. The reality is, the week after I was laid off I was in Augusta, GA chilling with my best friend. We went to a comedy show, shopping, had a great time. Yep, right after becoming unemployed.
Although I wasn’t putting together a plan, God was formulating things on my behalf. He led me into a situation that made me really consider publishing my book. After that plan fell through, He inspired me to put the book out myself. “Now, Tierra, how do you know it was God?” one might ask. Well, I’d just told a friend the month before that I wasn’t going to put out the book. It was something I wanted to complete, so I did. It wasn’t in my plans to be a published author. Truth be told, I could’ve cared less about anyone reading Safe in His Arms. I wrote it, I liked it, and that was enough for me.
After God gave me the gumption to put the book out myself, HE made everything fall into place. He had people around me every step of the way showing me how to get started, funding the book…let me repeat that—FUNDING the book. He also knows how he made me; when I decide to do something…it will happen. Period. So, He knew that by giving me that desire, giving me a little push, a little help along the way, tons of support from family, friends and strangers, that I would run full-speed ahead.
My testimony is that one year ago I was unemployed. 12 months later, I’m the author of 2 books! Simply by taking a chance; choosing to believe; committing to what I’d promised God and trusting Him to accomplish His work through me. I’m not the bragging type—especially when it’s about me—but when it comes to God…I’m His spokesperson, His cheerleader. So… “Go, go, g-o…Go Jesus Go!”
If God has been calling you to do something and you’ve been hesitant, don’t know how to start or where to go, He’s put me in your path for a reason. Contact me today so you can start walking in your purpose.
Tierra Allen
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