Crazy Believing Testimony
I didn’t have enough faith to IMAGINE I could be part of Women of Faith. It was the farthest thing from my mind.
In 2009, my praying and believing were focused on Thomas Nelson Fiction. That they were even considering me was wild. I’d only had one novel published, and it hadn’t exactly topped the bestseller lists. Yet, Thomas Nelson—with its amazing roster of authors and slew of bestsellers—had my name in the hopper and hadn’t yet hit “eject.” So we were praying—my mother, my husband, and my amazing band of praying sister-friends.
One of them, Anne, had been signing emails to me with the bolded tagline, “Ephesians 3:20—yes, Lord, may it be so!” since early 2008. You probably know the verse: “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us….” Anne had been praying for God to do “exceeding abundantly” with my writing and overall ministry, and that tagline was her exhortation for me to do the same, to believe.
In spring 2009, the “exceeding abundant” happened. Thomas Nelson Fiction offered a publishing contract. I screamed. Pretty sure I did a little jig. God had challenged me to pray and believe, but it’s hard when that voice in your head is screaming, “You’re crazy!” With the challenge behind me, I wiped my brow and thanked God that that whole “big believing” exercise was over.
Little did I know it was just beginning.
That summer 2009, someone at Thomas Nelson asked me to send a copy of my nonfiction book so they could send it to “the Women of Faith group.” “Sure,” I said, puzzled. What in the world was “the Women of Faith group”? The only “Women of Faith” I knew was the women’s conference, which I’d attended in 2001 in Dallas. I Googled and discovered that Thomas Nelson was the ministry home for Women of Faith…but why was the fiction team sending them my book?
A couple of weeks later, my editor at Thomas Nelson asked if I had any audio of my speaking. She said an organization was looking to expand its speaking roster, but she couldn’t give specifics.
Two-and-two were trying to make four, but there was no way!
In September, I attended the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Conference for the first time and was thrilled to meet my publisher, Allen Arnold. One evening after a dinner with Thomas Nelson authors, I had a chance to talk to Allen about my ministry and upcoming novel. The conversation went something like this:
“Allen, when the novel comes out next fall, do you think Thomas Nelson might be able to help me put together a small gathering of maybe fifty women to talk about the issues in the book?”
Allen nodded slightly. “Actually, I’m thinking about Women of Faith.”
I’m sure I simply stared. Then, recovering, I asked, “Isn’t that, like, crazy? Don’t they hear from hundreds of women who’d like to speak at their conferences?”
Allen nodded again. “Yeah, but if I call Mary next week and tell her about you, you might go from being one of hundreds to, oh, maybe one of eight.”
What was God doing??
By mid-October, Allen had not only talked to the Women of Faith leadership team about me, he had arranged for me to meet them at a Women of Faith conference. I had a blast hanging behind-the-scenes with speakers and music artists I’d admired for years. But more than that, I treasured the time I had to talk with Mary Graham, President of Women of Faith, and Lori Robertson, Director of Programming. I left knowing so much more about the organization, the tremendous work that goes into setting up and taking down the event from city to city, and the invaluable support team, from prayer warrior Lana, to transportation specialist Rick.
But I knew nothing of what they thought of me. For weeks.
My mind told me I’d better walk by sight. It was a wonderful weekend I’d long remember, but I shouldn’t expect anything to come of it. Women of Faith was the largest women’s conference in the country, held in huge arenas with thousands of attendees. The speakers were enormously gifted, and that gift had been honed over many, many years. Me? Most I’d done was speak a few times to a couple hundred women in churches. I needed to be a high profile speaker prior to promotion to the “big stage.” They’d done Allen the favor of meeting me, but they’d never actually choose me for something like this.
But God said, “Believe.”
Sigh. But it’s hard.
I found out God gives grace even for believing. As I’d study the Bible, certain verses would flash like neon signs—“meditate on us”—and I’d add them to my “believing” arsenal. I was moved to order Beth Moore’s Believing God CDs, and God spoke straight through Beth, enlarging my faith. I was also moved to start yet another prayer journal, but this time, I kept at it and felt my faith soaring as I poured out my heart on the pages. And of course, my awesome prayer team had shifted into overdrive.
But there was something else that flashed like a neon sign. Women of Faith had announced changes for 2010. For the first time, there would be a West Coast tour and an East Coast tour (thus the need for more speakers). On the website, I saw that the 2010 theme for the West Coast tour was “Imagine.” The Scripture verse for the theme was Ephesians 3:20—the very verse God had given almost two years before, appended to the bottom of Anne’s emails.
God again said, “Believe.” And not just for some future year with Women of Faith and not just for either tour, but for the 2010 Imagine tour with the Ephesians 3:20 theme.
Really, Lord? That’s some crazy believing.
But by then, my faith had been built up enough to say, “Let’s do it!” I was so fired up that I wrote my weekly devotion with that title—“Crazy Believing.” I posted it on Monday, December 3, 2009. That Wednesday, Lori Robertson called. Words could never do justice to what I felt when she said they were offering me an opportunity to speak at four Women of Faith events in 2010 on the Imagine tour. When she said they’d been praying and felt sure God was leading them to do this, it was EXCEEDING ABUNDANT!
I share all of this as an exhortation to you. If you know that you know that you know that God has put something in your heart, keep seeking Him, keep walking in obedience, and KEEP CRAZY BELIEVING!!
“And Jesus answered saying to them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you’” (Mark 11:22-24 NASB).
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:7-8).
27 Responses to “Crazy Believing Testimony”
Crying tears of joy for you .. I’m so excited for you Kim. You know I know what crazy believing can do .. Great things are on the horizon for you my dear.
Oh, yes…I KNOW you know what crazy believing can do! I’m excited for you too, and the awesome things God has done in your family. So thankful God connected us!
Wow, Kim!!! How do I begin to share what this stirs up in me? My joy for you is just spilling over, I can just feel your excitement as I read this. Then, as I was reaching the end and you wrote “if God has put something in your heart, keep seeking Him” I felt as if God were saying “I have a message for you.” As I have worked through, and still work through, things I need to heal from the past, I feel so strongly that God had a purpose in those scars. I believe deep in my heart that He is leading me to help others who are where I have been. I so badly want to say, “but I’m not good enough, strong enough, special enough, etc to do such a thing, why would you choose me?” Then, God leads me to people like you who remind me that it is not about what we see or our plans, but about what He sees and His plans. Through Him all things are possible!
Congratulations in becoming one of the Porch Pals! I know and believe you will do great!! I’ll be praying for you as you follow God on this journey and as your first conference approaches!!
Beautiful testimony of God’s movement in your life. May He be glorified continuously in all that you do.
Blessings!
To God be the glory!
Kim, I am rejoicing with you and smiling at our God!
Isn’t He wonderful in every way?
I’ll be keeping up with your new adventures and thanks
for the timely reminder for me to walk by faith, not by sight and to keep crazy believing in God.
He Reigns Forever,
Selina
Jessie, I’m so glad you felt the message was speaking to you. You already know the truth, that God has a purpose and that He wants to use you to help others. Now you just have to BELIEVE it. :) Each one of us is inadequate. If we looked to ourselves and our own abilities, we would never step out and do what God wants us to do. It’s only when we keep our focus on God and trust in His ability that we gain the strength to walk in God’s purpose for our lives. As you heal from the scars of the past, God will use you to comfort others with the comfort you’ve been given. Praying BIG blessings upon you!
Lisa, you always make me smile. You shine the light of Christ, and I’m so thankful that you took the time to stop by. Blessings upon you too!
Selina, I was so excited to “see” you here. :) Thanks so much for rejoicing with me. Yes–God is wonderful in every way! And He was wonderful in connecting us the way He did. Thankful for you and all that God’s doing through you.
Kim, I’m so excited for you, my sister! God bless you!
Wow Kim! What a powerful testimony….these few minutes it took to read this article stretched my faith tremendously. Congratulations and I know the blessings will continue to floooowwwww…..!
Michelle and Tia, my awesome writing sisters…so thankful you stopped by! Thanks so much for the blessings and the congrats! It means a lot coming from you two. Keep penning books that glorify God! Love you!
Kim,
What a phenomenal story and what a wonderful testimony! Wow. I got excited just reading it, I can only imagine your joy as everything began to unfold!! I appreciate the underlying application, too: Keep crazy believing! What an encouragement. The verse your friend was boldly praying through for you, Ephesians 3:20, is just…mmm mmm good. Thanks for sharing this testimony, I absolutely loved reading it! Considering this weekend is your first weekend being a part of “The Porch,” I hope you relish in all that God has done–more than you could ask or imagine for.
Excited for you and grateful for your openness!
Jenn
Hey Jenn!
You’re probably wondering why I’m just now replying, but we just figured out a little while ago how to add replies directly to comments on WordPress. :) Thanks so much for stopping by and rejoicing with me. Even though my first weekend speaking with Women of Faith was a month and a half ago, it still feels CRAZY! As I shared in a recent devotion, I’m seeing that God wants this to be a way of life for me…so the wild ride continues…
Blessings to you!
Kim
To God be the glory, Kimberly! He is faithful, and I praise Him along with you. The best is yet to come!
Hey Kendra! Such a blessing that you stopped by. Amen–He is SO faithful! And I know you know because I’ve been blessed by your books :)
Much love,
Kim
Glad I dropped by for this awesome testimony of encouragement!
Glad you dropped by too, laVender! So appreciate it, and what a blessing that you were encouraged. God is so faithful!
To God be the glory!
I praise God for all things, that he has release in your Life,everything is done according to your Faith!I’m so excited for you,I was crying,and i see so much MORE in store for you my Sis,the vision has expanded and it will all manifest! a open door of favor in abundance!his grace is in abundance over your Life!as a believer first you truly are!
You are a Blessing,
Love Jai
Hey Jai!
Wow, praising God for your excitement and encouragement! Thank you SO much for rejoicing with me. God is truly amazing. The more He does, the more I’m humbled and praying to walk in obedience. Praying God’s continued grace and favor over your life and ministry as well! So thankful you stopped by. We’ll have to connect!
Blessings Sis!
Kim
Happy Friday,
Thank you Sis for your words of kindness and prayers,i thank God that he orders our steps,becasue I was led to your site,and I thank God,you are so Blessed and it’s the act of your obedience!
I speak nothing but Blessing,and the Power of the Anointing over you every time you speak he will move, and divine health over you and your family!
Tap into…
God Bless you
Love Jai,
Hi, Kim~
I so much enjoyed reading your testimony! God certainly does have a plan for all of us!! I am very uplifted by your testimony, and I just want to thank you for being “real” and reaching out. It’s so important (especially for women) to be encouraged! Thank you for serving the Lord.
Love, and God Bless!
Barb Nimmo-Tydings
Hi Barb!
So blessed that you stopped by. Yes, I LOVE that God has a plan for all of us, from the beginning of time. So awesome that He is also well able to establish His plans. You have certainly encouraged me as well! Thank you so much for your kindness. I love connecting with sisters in the Lord!
Blessings,
Kim
Look at God! He is so strategic and intentional and awesome! I was blessed by your Crazy Believing testimony from April 02! I’ve just completed a 21 day fast and I knew that once the fast ended that I had to continue to believe and stay in close communion with God. During my fast, I’d been praying for clarity and what direction to completely walk in for His will to be done and the final paragraph of your testimony had me in tears of praise and joy. Thank you for that exhortation….for I know that I know that I know that God is using me. Thank you for being obediant to Him! Blessings to you continually ~ Alwaysness Geri
Hey Geri!
Amen, God is SO strategic and intentional and awesome! And you know that after a 21 day fast that put you in close communion with Him, He will lead you in many awesome ways for His glory. I’m so thankful that you found something on this site that spoke to you! Keep pressing, clinging, and seeking. God will show Himself strong in your life–believe it!
Blessings to you!
Kim
Hi Kim,
I heard you this past weekend, November 6, 2010 at the Sprint Arena. Great story of your testimony! I was blessed! I too am an author and the book is now in the editing stage. I am praying about which publisher to use that will best meet the needs of what he has assigned me to do. I am taking the advice of Lucy Swindoll(Aunt Lucy)smile and am doing what God said do and not delaying it. I want to stand in front of God and hear “well done thy good and faithful servant.” I remember your book Heavenly Places being used in a book club last summer. Hope I get to meet you personally, let me know if you are ever in the KC area speaking on a more personal level. God Bless! Vanessa (KCMO)
Hi Vanessa! So nice to hear from you! Thank you for the feedback from the conference, and kudos to you for the progress you’ve made with your book. You can’t go wrong when you’re doing what God has moved you to do without delay. I pray His blessings upon you as you seek a publisher. I hope to meet you personally too!
Blessings to you!
Kim
Hi Kim
I definitely accept this exhortation. I came to your website to sign up for the blog and received a great blessing from your testimony.
Take care,
Hey Gwen! Praising God that you were blessed by this testimony. It’s been over a year since these things unfolded, and one thing’s for sure–we never run out of things to “crazy believe” for. The faith walk is constant. May we all grow in walking by faith, believing despite what we see, trusting in God to do the impossible! Blessings, sis!
Kim,
Blessings to you! I just heard you speak in Columbus. very inspiring! Isn’t God amazing!
♥ Margaret