Throwback Thursday – What Does Gardening Have to Do with a Book Deal?

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:6

From the moment I came across this scripture I have been intrigued by it, especially when I was hoping to one day publish a book featuring my structured prayer journal, and desiring to do ministry full-time. So many days I was working my public job, and at night I was working on ministry endeavors. I did not know how I was going to get to this wonderful place, but I knew that God had ordained it.

I was very much like Joseph…I had a dream, but had no idea how I was going to make it happen. (Genesis 37-50)

THANK GOD it was not up to me to make anything happen!

God not only plows, plants, waters and reaps the harvest, He is truly the Author & Finisher of our faith.

God has been faithful to me on every account. On this Throwback Thursday, I gratefully remember when my book Organizing Your Prayer Closet was launched on November 7, 2013. This is a picture of me and my daughters at a Lifeway book store. It is an AMAZING FEELING, finding MY BOOK on a BOOK SHELF in a real BOOK STORE! We went to several book stores looking for it – oh, what fun it was. I feel like this book is representative of my life’s work in structured prayer journaling, which I have been doing since 2001.

Every man must labour to be a blessing to that place where the providence of God casts him. Wherever we are, we may find good work to do, if we have but hearts to do it. If we magnify every little difficulty, start objections, and fancy hardships, we shall never go on, much less go through with our work ~Matthew Henry.

Ministry is much like gardening; it takes hard work, complete dependence on God and a ton of patience. With summer on its way, gardening is underway. When God uses human experiences to make a point, I think it is helpful to really understand that particular activity so we can glean all of God’s wisdom.

As such, I’ve got some great articles for:

– How to start veggie garden
– Vertical gardening
– Tips for growing perfect tomatoes
– Gardening Calendar
– Re-growing vegetables from table scraps!

Just check out this Pinterest board!

If you are hoping to publish a book one day, let me encourage you with my story here.

For more information on structured prayer journaling, watch this video:

And here is the final product of The Prayer Closet Organizer! WOOHOO!!!

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Author Gina Duke is a wife, mom and Director of Women’s Ministry at her local church. With a B.S. in Organizational Leadership, she is able to bring a clear word for authentic Christian living. Through her book, “Organizing Your Prayer Closet: A New and Life-Changing Way to Pray” (Abingdon Press), she imparts 1 Peter 4:7 with the gift of structured prayer journaling. If you would like to schedule Gina to speak on prayer or host a prayer journaling workshop, click here for more inormation. You may also follow her on Twitter and Instagram @TheGinaDuke.

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