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Praise for The Girl Who Walked in the Shadow of the King

Trusting God with Your Story

A Good Day to Exercise Trust in God

Today was a beautiful day with sunshine, blue skies, and fiercely blowing winds bringing intermittent blasts of arctic-like cold. It was a good day for an exercise in trusting God.

Driving home, I braced the steering wheel as the wind pushed and pulled at my little Cooper. Making way through traffic, I saw a man standing on the narrow median, clutching a sign, defying the wind. My heart went out to him as he stood firm against the cold blasts buffeting him.

It’s not unusual to find people with signs asking for monetary help in any weather, but for some reason, this man caught my attention today.

His sign read, “Three-time veteran Afghanistan and Iraq.” He didn’t appear sloppy or unkempt. He held his post with dignity –despite the cold, forceful wind.

An Invitation

I sensed the Holy Spirit inviting me to reach out to this stranger on the far side of the road.

Shoot! The only cash I had was a $20 bill. It was my gas money.

Shoot! I would have to drive up the road, turn around at the market, then drive back to make my way to the point where he was standing. My free time was shrinking -again.

Shoot! Why do I always say shoot, thinking of myself first even when it’s an invitation from the Lord to reach out to others?

I accepted the invitation and made my way towards the man stood with his sign.

Rolling down the window, I clutched the $20 bill praying the wind wouldn’t whip it away as I waved it, beckoning the man. I thanked him for his service and gave him my gas money feeling sheepish for having questioned the Holy Spirit. His eyes revealed weariness as he smiled, “Thank you, ma’am.”

A Holy Nudge

The Holy Spirit nudged again. Your book. Give him your book.

I locked eyes with the man, “Sir, do you like to read?”

His eyebrows rose, then crinkled in confusion before he nodded, “Yeh, I do.”

I keep extra copies of my book with me for times like these. There was one on the seat beside me.

“Want a book?”

“Yeh, sure.”

I handed him my book before the traffic started moving forward again. He looked at the cover of the book back to me, then he cocked his head and replied, “Thanks.”

Thoughts swirled in my head as if caught up in the wind as well.

Lord, will this guy get anything from my story?

Street lights swung in the wind as I caught sight of pages of my book held in the man’s hand, flapping wildly in the wind.

Who Holds Your Story?

My life-story held in the hands of yet another stranger. Would it get tossed onto the street? What if pages were torn out and run over? I imagined the guts and treasures of my life blown all over, littering the road.

Lord, is this the destiny of my story?

His gentle reply settled my thoughts;

Daughter, have you forgotten you placed your story –your life in My hands? Trust me. (He has to say that to me often).

Trusting God

Without the aid of a traditional publisher, I am, for the most part, responsible for my marketing.

The destiny of each book is a faith walk for me. Days like today stretch me, but in the end, I am grateful. Perhaps it is better this way. A Book, A Stranger and a Windy Day

Could it be that God is the best marketer knowing who, when, where, and how to use what He, Himself inspired?

What if pages of my story did litter the street? Maybe some curious soul would pick up a page and read a few lines. It only takes a few words of life to pierce one’s heart. To that effect, I would gladly have pages of my story ‘litter’ on the streets.

The Girl Who Walked in the Shadow of the King, Streetside

What about your story? Have you entrusted it in the hands of God? Do you see Him woven throughout the pages of your life? Have you recognized the power and impact you can have on the lives of others?

I don’t know if that soldier will open the book and read my story, but now he will be covered in my daily prayers with all others who read my story.

Friend, our stories hold power. Be diligent in recognizing God in your story and being generous to share it wherever the Lord gives you an opportunity. You can never fully know what the Lord will do with it.

They triumphed… by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Revelation 12:11

The enemy works overtime to convince us that we’ve been abandoned, or that we’ve failed too many times to be forgiven, or that we’re too broken to ever be healed. But as Shelly’s story so beautifully reveals, that’s not what’s going on. Shelly’s story will inspire women at every point in their journeys, whether they are seekers, new believers, or seasoned women of faith dealing with brokenness in their own lives.

Sheri Miller

Director of the Women Ministry Leadership Team , Springs Church, Colorado Springs

Shelly’s is a powerful story of redemption and restoration. I’ve personally walked with her over two decades as she’s not only experienced victory in her own life, but empowered others to do the same. As a pastor, I’ve told Shelly’s story countless times in ministering to men and women choosing to lay hold of freedom in Christ, and I know that her story in print will impact even more lives. As Shelly’s life so beautifully illustrates, there is freedom and healing in Christ—for all of us.

Steve Collins

Founding Pastor, Church Eleven 32

I’ve never read a book with such fascination and interest, wondering how God was going to work in, and speak into, the life of its author. If you need encouragement that God is ALWAYS THERE, I’d encourage you to seek Him with your whole heart, as Shelly does, and you’ll hear His still, small voice whispering to you, too.

Eric Elder

Author, St. Nicholas: The Believer

I loved this story. And what I loved most of all is that Shelly gives us a peak into the unseen Kingdom realm where God is fighting for us—and what she shows us is wonderful and powerful. The tenacity of God’s redemptive plans for each of us is unrelenting. He never “writes us off.” Even when we don’t see it, He is there, continuing to pursue us for the purpose of redeeming and healing us.

Sheri Miller

Director of the Women Ministry Leadership Team, Springs Church, Colorado Springs

The names of God reveal so much about who He is, and one of the things that resonated with me about Shelly’s story is that it so beautifully reflects this truth. Shelly paints beautiful portraits that showcase the names and facets of God. When we come into the presence of the Lord, acknowledging all that He is—Savior, Protector, Shepherd, King—our time with Him is enriched in every way. Shelly has experienced this in her life, and we can too.

Gaylyn Williams

Author of 2031 Names of God

I absolutely love Shelly’s imagery of God’s presence, His thoughts, and His pursuit of our hearts even when life hurts. I’m reminded of the beloved poem “Footprints in the Sand” that has resonated with folks for years. Shelly’s story elaborates on that idea by giving us a glimpse of how God loves and carries us no matter what our circumstances, and even if we have yet to recognize that He has been there all along.

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

Radio Host of All Things Southern, Author, and Speaker

What’s Your Story?

Merry T

I was a happy child, full of joy and childlike faith. I loved Jesus.

Things changed when as an adult I took my eyes off the Lord. I was married to a good man who adored me. We had three beautiful children, and a good life.

Kacie B

Everything I knew was a picture of unfaithfulness. I had been sexually abused when I was three, my parents were divorced when I was 7, and I chose a lifestyle of sin to cope with my pain.

BJ

I used to be one of those guys who didn’t care about anyone or anything but myself and I wanted nothing to do with God.

If God was real I figured He had to be a cold heartless son of a gun. I’d seen too much pain and heartache watching my Dad suffer in and out of the hospital for years.

My Dad was a quiet man; the kind who walked tall and carried a big stick.

Tell me your story