A little about myself:
I am a speaker, teacher, pastor’s wife, and musician.  I am active in my church, community, and missions.  I have a personal ministry that encourages believers to grow spiritually and develop their gifts.  I have been married for 31 years and have two children.  I post articles on this website to encourage growth.

The motivation behind this project:
In 2003, God gave me a personal ministry called Come Unto Me Ministries.  The foundational scripture verse is Matthew 11:28-30, and the purpose of this ministry is to write, teach, speak, counsel, and support.  Over the years, God gave me scripture verses and thoughts that I jotted down.  And then one day, He prompted me to compile a book.  No Ordinary Invitation: Called to Live a Life of Eternal Purpose was the result.

What I hope people will gain from this project:
My goal is to help revolutionize lives.  I want to inspire and encourage people to grow in their personal walks with God and surrender to what He is calling them to do.  He invites each of us to multiple things, and it is important to know what those things are and respond to them.  I hope people will take time for introspection as they read this book, and once they have done this, take action.  One person can make a difference, and one person can change the world.  This is what I desire to do, and I hope to help others do the same.

How I was personally impacted by working on this project:
As I was writing, I was taught, convicted, challenged, and encouraged.  I had to take time for introspection, and after I did this, I was inspired to take action.  Writing this book was a journey for me, and it brought about spiritual growth.

Some of my influences, sources of inspiration, and favorite authors / artists:
My greatest source of inspiration comes from God and His Word.  I am also inspired by those who are wholeheartedly devoted to impacting the world for Christ, such as missionaries and persecuted Christians who persevere for His sake.

QUESTIONS FROM READERS
I am often asked what my favorite part of writing the book was.  My answer is, “The now.”  I am so blessed to see the impact this book is having upon people’s lives.  It is humbling to know God has used me to help others in their pursuit of Him.  It has been a joy to meet my readers and hear their hearts.

Here are some other questions:
Q: “From the time God gave you the dream to write a book, how many years passed before you saw through His leading for work to begin?”

A:  In January 2003, when God planted Come Unto Me Ministries in my heart, one of the five facets of the ministry was to write books.  At that time, I had absolutely no idea what that meant.  Thirteen years and one month later, God impressed upon me that “now” was the time to write.

Q:  “Was the calling to write this book a nudging of the Holy Spirit, or was it the audible voice of God?”

A:  I did not hear a voice in my ears, but the voice I heard in my spirit and the presence I felt was unmistakable.

Q:  “How long did the writing take for the finished product?”

A:  From the time I began to type, and until the publisher made the book available, a period of eighteen months passed.  In February 2016, at God’s prompting, I gathered the notes I had jotted over the past thirteen years and began to type.  God also poured new material into my brain as I wrote and helped me shape a book.  Many days, working on the book was all I did.  I often went without sleep, working into the wee hours of the morning, even staying up until dawn.  The original manuscript was completed in eight months and then came the next phases of proofreading, editing, revising, designing, submitting and re-submitting things to the publisher, etc.  The final manuscript was submitted to the publisher sixteen months after work began.

Q:  Do you have any other books in the works?

A: There has been quite a bit of writing taking place…I am not sure of the shape it will take. You may check out any of my 100+ blog posts while you wait.🙂 Feel free to make a suggestion on my contact page regarding what topic(s) you would like me to address.

–If you have any interview questions you would like to submit, please send them to me via my contact page.–

A parting thought:
You are in my prayers.  May you hear and know His voice and respond to His great love for you.

“I hope that you will search out what it is that He has invited you to do. May you be inspired by these things, but more than just be inspired, may you act upon the invitations and be blessed.  May you RSVP with a yes to God’s invitations to you.”

Francee Strain, No Ordinary Invitation: Called to Live a Life of Eternal Purpose, (Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press, 2017), 7.

Book photo by WestBow Press
Author photo by Suzanne Jenkins