I was 20 years old, staring bleary-eyed into my dorm-room mirror under a fluorescent light and trying to make something of my hair before a morning class in Asian Religions. Good Morning, America was on in the background, and a half-eaten bowl of Lucky Charms sat next to my stack of make-up compacts. The phone rang, and Daddy didn’t even say hello, just, “Are you watching TV?” I turned up the sound and saw the video of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. Where were you 12 years ago today?
The terrorist attack was a crisis for all Americans and much of the world. Whether or not we counted the victims among our personal family and friends, we all grieved. In the immediate aftermath, I remember a lot of people asking, “Where is God?” and wondering, “How could God let this happen?” Because I was pursuing a double-major in Middle Eastern Studies and Religious Studies, I had many opportunities to evaluate these questions academically. Unfortunately the common conclusion of my classmates was that God does not care or simply does not exist. I never agreed.
The circumstances of our lives are rarely as dramatic as what we all endured on 9/11, but everyday tragedies and triumphs may still leave us asking, “Where is God in all of this?” It is only when we immerse ourselves in the person of Jesus Christ that we not only survive but thrive in a broken world.
It is my hope that women can learn the answer to that question with the help of InScribed, a new collection of biblical and topical studies designed to support women as they grow in faith. This project is unlike any published before. Thomas Nelson has brought together a group of women who are not only authors but friends. We are all passionate about studying God’s word and helping others discover their places in His kingdom, but we have unique points of view. You’ll find us spread across the time zones from Washington to Colorado to Tennessee to North Carolina to that other Washington. Most of these ladies have much more experience than I do in publishing, speaking, and blogging; and all have supported me as I’ve tried to understand women’s ministry. I’m learning a lot from Wendy Blight, Donna Gaines, Jenifer Jernigan, Ashley Linne, Sarah Francis Martin, and Heather Zempel. I know you can too.
As I shared with my blog readers in an earlier post, my husband and I struggled with infertility for the last seven years; and it was through this journey that I learned the difference between my wants and God’s will. I am currently writing the manuscript for Barren among the Fruitful: Navigating Infertility with Hope, Wisdom, and Patience which will be available as part of the InScribed Collection in Fall 2014. I hope it will provide readers with a broad look at infertility struggles (medical, marital, emotional, spiritual, financial, and practical), a sense of community with others who’ve had similar trials, a healthy dose of laughter (seriously!), and a renewed hope in God’s individual plan for them—be it with or without children.
Today we remember one of our nation’s greatest tragedies, and maybe some of our personal ones. The InScribed Collection will present books that remind women we are not alone in our struggles, point us toward a God who loves us, and teach us how to thrive as citizens of God’s kingdom.
If you would like to connect with the authors, read about each book, or learn more about this exciting new collection, please visit InScribedStudies.com and these social media websites:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inscribedstudies
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/inscribedcollec/boards/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/inscribedstudies
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InscribedStudy
