Wednesday, February 5, 2020

The Story Behind the Story

by Mindy Obenhaus

With every book I write, I feel as though God is trying to teach me something. Whatever my characters need to learn, seems God wants me to gain a better understanding of that, too.
In Her Rocky Mountain Hope, my February Love Inspired release, the theme is trusting God, no matter the circumstances. And writing this story quickly became a lesson in trust. In leaning on Him, knowing that He would equip me for the task He'd laid before me.
  
When I was putting together the proposal for my Rocky Mountain Heroes series, I had to write a story blurb for each book. I had ideas for all of them, except the last one. I had no clue what to do with Daniel’s story. I knew he was an adventurer, but that was about it. So, I began to think about a summer camp, but where would I go from there. Yet when I put pen to paper, the words spilled onto the page. I’ve never experienced anything like it before or since.

When I finished, I read:
Outdoorsman Daniel Stephens is all set to open Adventure Haven, a camp for teen cancer patients, dedicated to the memory of his mother. But his plans are thwarted at every turn when the overseer appointed by the foundation funding the camp arrives, nit-picking every little thing.

Blythe McDonald refuses to let one penny of Ridley Foundation money go to a camp that doesn’t fulfill its promise. Not only because it’s her job, but also as a former cancer patient let down by the camp that once promised her fun. And given that Adventure Haven is run by a man who looks more like a ski bum than a director, this should be a slam-dunk. Yet when the first campers arrive, Blythe soon sees that Daniel is a caring man with a heart for each and every child.

As Blythe and Daniel grow closer, she finds herself having more fun than she ever imagined. But just when Daniel believes he’s found the perfect partner for Adventure Haven, the unthinkable happens. Will they let her cancer tear them apart? Or is love strong enough to overcome their fears?

Sitting back, I thought, “Wow, that's really good. But I can't write that story. What do I know about childhood cancer?” I knew I could research it, but that was one topic that needed personal knowledge. Something I did not have. Still, the blurb sounded good and that was the only thing stopping me from sending the proposal off, so I left it, thinking I could change it later, and sent off the proposal.
That was in the first quarter of 2016. I received a contract for the first two books in the series but would not be contracted for the final three until early 2018. During those two years, life changed. My husband retired, our youngest graduated high school and we bid farewell to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and moved to our family ranch seventy miles west of Houston. New home, new church, new friends. Friends that included a couple who had lost their teenage son to cancer. Then there was a divine appointment with another author whose son had attended a summer camp for youth cancer patients. There was even an acquaintance in our little town whose grandson was working at a youth cancer camp.

God put each of these people in my path precisely when I needed them so I could tell the story He wanted me to tell.

Okay, so you may be sitting in front of your computer, thinking, “Great story, but what does it have to do with me?”

It has everything to do with you. Here's what I want you to take away from this story.

If God calls you, He will equip you – You've heard me say this before and I will say it to my dying day because I believe it with all my heart. No matter what God has called us to do, our job is to be obedient and trust Him to give us exactly what we need, when we need it. I would have preferred to have had all the information I'd need right up front, but that didn't happen. Still, God wasn't late. Everything I needed was provided right on time.

God is in the details – Perhaps I could have gotten the information I needed from researching the internet, but God knows me. He knows I’m detail oriented and that unless I talked with someone who had a first-hand account, I would not be confident telling His story. God knows you, too. How you think, how you work. Instead of stressing over the details, trust Him to take care of them.

He is the author and perfecter of our faith – And He wants to work in tandem with us. Talk with Him, tell Him your fears, then let Him guide you, even if things don't match up with your plans. Walk by faith and trust Him to lead you where He wants you to be.

God doesn't mold all of us the same. No, He handcrafts each of us individually, giving us unique talents, strengths and weaknesses. And where we are weak, He is strong, growing and stretching us. 

What has God called you do to that you feel ill-equipped for? Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Her Rocky Mountain Hope, print or ebook for US entries, ebook only for international. 

Three-time Carol Award nominee, Mindy Obenhaus, writes contemporary romance for Love Inspired Books. She’s passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren at her Texas ranch. Learn more at www.mindyobenhaus.com



33 comments:

  1. Hi Mindy:

    Your story today reminded me of a saying found in ancient Eastern philosophy:

    "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."


    The ancients did not mention God back then, but we know better. God is why the saying works. It's the way of the world.

    This same phenomenon can work in novel plots. Take Jack Reacher for example, he will face a life and death challenge in needing to fight five men hidden in an abandoned warehouse. A partner will say, "How are you going to do that?" and Reacher will say, "I don't know yet. I'll know when I get there." Then, of course, the author, Lee Child, will amaze the reader with a surprise solution to the problem which lets Jack come out a hero. It's a lot of fun trying to figure out in advance how Reacher is going to do it. (BTW, this all happens while Jack and his partner are walking into the building!)

    Your post is right on!

    Please place me in the drawing. I like the theme of your book because it makes the camp, as a setting, a beautiful and worthy thing. By elevating 'setting' to a high emotional level, it gives an added dimension of depth. I love when this is done. BTW: Tina did this amazingly well in her new book, "Christmas with the Cowboy". Now I want to see how you did it!

    Vince

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    1. Vince, how many times do we say/think that as we walk through life? How am I going to do this? Then we're left with few choices. Face whatever it is head on, try to avoid it or crumble into a heap. Sometimes we start off in a heap and then rise to the occasion. But it's so good to know that we don't have to be strong in our own power. Good insights, Vince. Thank you.

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  2. Mindy, I loved Reunited in the Rockies and I can't wait to read this story. It may be too close to home, though. My nine-year-old niece is a cancer survivor and she LOVES her summers at Camp Bring It On! These are things families don't ever want first-hand knowledge of, but God is so faithful and if our family hadn't known it before her leukemia, we sure as heck did after.

    Thanks for the encouragement today to step out of the boat, knowing that God will help us swim.

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    1. Aw, Glynis, give your niece a hug for me. What a special girl she must be. And I love the name of that camp! Very bold and fun. Who knows, maybe your niece will want to camp counselor there when she grows up.

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    2. Glynis, doesn't it rend your heart when it's a CHILD? Don't know how people get through this without God.

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    3. Yes, it is heart-wrenching when these babies get sick. She was a tiny two-year-old who kicked cancer's butt and is a spunky, sassy young lady who has a testimony and will probably set the world on fire. God knew she could inspire people and I have a feeling that is her calling, even now. I get to see her this weekend, so you can be sure I'll give her a hug from you :)

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  3. Great post, Mindy. The book looks good. Please enter me in the drawing. I feel ill equipped to move forward in my writing career but I know that God is with me.

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    1. That's right, Sandy. Simply ask Him to guide you every time you sit down to write.

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    2. Sandy if I can do it anyone can.

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  4. Mindy, when you first told me about this, I got chill bumps. And I just did again! Yes, when God calls us, He equips us.

    Thanks for sharing this amazing, inspirational post!

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  5. Wow. This is powerful. I am feeling ill-equipped to win a contest, but I plan to enter a couple anyway. My husband tells me I won't ever win something I don't enter. So, here we go.

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    1. Amy, your husband is a wise man. You go for it and enter those contests, girl. ;)

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    2. Amy, do it, contests are great feedback and judges are (usually) wise.

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  6. I think it's wonderful that you can see God's hand so clearly. Not everyone is "tuned in" that way. Thank you for this incredible reminder that we need to trust God to provide, even in our writing lives.

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    1. Laurie, I'm not always tuned in like that. However, because of the way it came about, I had no choice but to lean on God as I wrote the story. A learning lesson, indeed.

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  7. Mindy, you are so wise. I just came off a year (2019, if anyone's counting) when I was afraid of just about everything and not just in writing. But He did equip me. And He will give us what we need when we need it.
    I'm like you, I'm not always "tuned in," but that was pretty blatant and even I could have seen that God put those people in your path.
    My first books weren't easy, this never is, but they were do-able with the skills I had at the time. My current WIP, well, isn't. The physical scope is bigger, the issues are bigger, and I have to get myself into the mindset of not only a Native American man, but a Native American man in 1849. Plus the flora, fauna and fa-la-la of six separate states/territories, a couple real-life historical characters, and a convoluted plot. But the part that scares me the most is the dynamic between the heroine, hero and their God.
    I think we also get a little more intimidated as we go along because we're more aware of what good writing is, and we're afraid of falling short. The reverse of that, if we happen to be published, is that we know we are at least good enough for SOMEONE to publish us, and we just need to get better.
    Off to New Orleans to wear that ball and chain, or to trample out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored, I don't know, I'm so behind on everything EXCEPT writing, I may be back later.
    Your Kaybee
    something something something In New Hampshire

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    1. Kathy, that sounds like one meaty story. But, God knows you can handle that. With a little help, that is. However, I would like to sit down and have a chat with you when you're in the mindset of that Native American man in 1849. What a fun conversation that would be. ;)

      God had given you a challenge, my friend. Let Him guide your way.

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  8. Lovely, Mindy, and so true! God provides. Amen!

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  9. I loved the reminder, Mindy! Even though one of my daughters is 30 years old! I've always felt ill equipped to mother her! From the moment she was born, she has been a challenge to me! She's a great person, just opposite of me in every way! We have clashed over everything all her life. My husband and I have shaken our heads probably million of times over her 3 years of life and wondered, "What do we need to learn from her?" We have sought guidance from God on so many occasions!!! Thanks for your reminder!

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    1. Valri, first, I want to congratulate you for making it through these past 30 years. I know there were times you probably wanted to throw your hands up. Sometimes I think God thinks more highly of us than we do of ourselves. He calls us to things we think we're not capable of, yet HE knows we are. Each and every time it's an exercise in faith. Hang in there, Valri.

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    2. Thank goodness He gave us two other children (one older, one younger) that were a little easier so we could see that every child wasn't quite that hard although we did have the usual challenges with them too!

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  10. I love this reminder that God is BIG! He knows the end from the beginning, even with our stories! And His people are EVERYWHERE!

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    1. Erica, I'm so glad He knows and that He unfolds them for us.

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  11. Hey Mindy, good to see you here on Seekerville. Also, I am enjoying your appearances this week on Love Inspired. Can't wait to read your book! I need to get the whole series.

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    1. Hi, Jackie. It's great "see" you again, too. I hope get the opportunity to read Her Rocky Mountain Hope.

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  12. I love the reminder that God will equip us. And what a great example you've set for us. You and God knew what you needed to write this story. You were patient and waited for God's equipping. And he gave you THREE sources. I've got cold chills thinking how God has blessed you to write this story.
    God called us to South Carolina, but my husband and I couldn't imagine leaving all of our family in KY. I mean our grandchildren lived around the corner in our neighborhood. As we prayed, He continued to nudge us then gave us three signs. So, here we are in SC. At first I felt like I was just tagging along because it was obvious how he planned to use Tim. I finally found how He planned to use me, too.
    Thanks for sharing your story, Mindy. You encouraged me today.

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    1. Jackie, I'm so glad I could encourage you. And aren't we glad that God doesn't do things willy-nilly? He always has a reason. Like it says in the Bible, ALL things work together for good. Our job is to take Him at His word and trust.

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  13. Oh Mindy, this post made me tear up. Our God is so faithful. It's kind of amazing how He gives us what we need when we need it. I'm so sorry for the people in your life who have had to walk through childhood cancer. But, how beautiful that He allowed you to glean from their experience and create what I bet is an amazing story.

    There have been many times when I've felt ill-equipped....teaching my first Bible study in front of 100 or so women, leading groups, teaching a class on blogging, and writing a book (or four). He meets us in each thing He calls us to.

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    1. Jeanne, we serve an amazing God. I'm so glad He meets us.

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  14. What a beautiful testimony Mindy!
    I remember the feeling well of being ill-equipped. A first time mom to not just one, but two little babies. How many times I wrestled and wondered why me? We were so far away from family and newly transplanted. I knew no one. Could ask no one for help.
    But God.
    He provided support in so many ways that looking back, there's no question His hand was leading. He always provides a way.
    Blessings!

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    1. Lee-Ann, I'm pretty sure most of us would feel just like you if we were given twins. But God gave them to YOU because He wanted to be able walk through all the challenges with you. That intimacy grows the more we trust in Him. Go you!

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