THE RELUCTANT AUTHOR by JO MASSARO

THE RELUCTANT AUTHOR by JO MASSARO
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 by Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK, The Book Lover's Companion, second edition

AUTHOR: Jo Massaro

PUBLISHER: JDW Publishers

GENRE: Fiction Writing Reference Book

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Stand-alone book

TARGET AGE: For anyone who loves to keep track of the books they have read

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR JO MASSARO TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. JO SHARES WHAT SHE HAS LEARNED ABOUT OBEDIENCE IN HER WRITING JOURNEY.

JO IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE BOOK LOVER’S COMPANION, (second edition). JO IS AWARDING TWO WINNERS!

THE RELUCTANT AUTHOR

Jo Massaro

Have you ever walked on a journey to a place where you believe God is sending you, but you have blinders on? That, in some ways, has been my journey as a writer and author.

Blinders are small squares of firm leather on a horse’s bridle to prevent the horse from seeing objects at its sides.

Horses have peripheral vision, which means they can end up running off course unless they are made to remain focused. This encourages the horse to take chances it might not normally take.

There is a story about a preacher who bet his horse could walk up the stairs in his home. The horse was led up the stairs with no problem. When the preacher tried to coax the horse down, the horse wouldn’t move. The preacher covered the horse’s head and led him down the stairs with no problem.

It sounds good, but if I wore blinders all the time in my relationship with God, I might miss all that He has for me.

Little did I know that God would call me three years ago to begin a journey as a writer and author. At times, I have called myself the “reluctant author.” I wore that badge and thought it was okay to say it out load or to other people.

I looked up the word reluctant. It means, in part, to be unenthusiastic, undisciplined, hesitant, unwilling, and opposed. God had called me on a path, and I was moving forward with a reluctant heart.

Ouch! It hurt. I realized I had to have some surgery by the Holy Spirit to go on this journey with God.

I wanted to be eager, ready, willing, anxious, resolute, unwavering, unquestioning, committed to the goals, confident, driven by a purpose, and fully committed to what God has called me to do. I wanted to have joy in my life while walking with God.

Carol Kent is an author who inspires other people to have faith and hope. I heard her recently say, “Embrace the Season you’re in.” This is a woman who, if you know her story, has walked some paths that she never saw coming in her lifetime. What has she done? Not only walk with God but encouraged others to do the same.

If you look at Hebrews 11: 7 (NLT)

It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before.

Think about Noah. He lived in a time of chaos and social decline, but Noah found favour with God. He was a farmer, shipbuilder, and a preacher. People thought he was crazy for building his ark, but he preached to people.

Culture does not have to define you. You can be the odd person out. Don’t look at the culture but look to God. It is better to be cancelled by the culture than to be cancelled by God. You want divine favour. Noah didn’t give in to the world’s pressures.

Rely upon the Holy Spirit. He will counterbalance the pressures coming at us from the outside world. When we rely upon the Holy Spirit, the counterbalance keeps us from crumbling under the weight all around us.

What is it that God has been calling you to do? Don’t do it as I have done, in part, as a reluctant participant.

Hebrews 10 23-25 (NLT) says:

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

It doesn’t matter how young or old you are. Whatever your journey is, do it with joy trusting God.

Pass the baton of faith to those that you meet. Be involved in other people’s lives. Inspire one another.

Pastor and author Tony Evans says it this way. “That way, when someone’s “get up and go” has “gotten up and gone,” someone else will be there to encourage them forward.”

I pray this encourages you.

My journey has taken a path where I’m writing the first in a series of historical fiction books for young children. It will debut in the summer of 2022.

New Season!

I fell on Labor Day in 2019, have had six surgeries, had COVID last year, and as I’m writing this was diagnosed with shingles. Yes, it has been a long journey, but I’m spending days embracing the season I’m in with joy. I’m learning that there are shifts in my journey, and I’m embracing them.

Embrace your season and let me know how I can pray for you.

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE BOOK LOVER’S COMPANION, (second edition). BETWEEN NOW AND SATURDAY), MARCH 5^TH AT MIDNIGHT MST. JO IS AWARDING TWO WINNERS!

BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.

Jo Massaro is an author, speaker, and loves to encourage others. Jo is available to speak in person or virtually. She brings humor, energy, authenticity, faith, and strength she found in the Word of God to her presentations. She describes her journey through her darkest times and how God brought her to a relationship with the Light of the World.

When she is not writing, Jo loves to spend time with family and friends. She loves to cook with her husband, who is a professional chef. They have eight children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Jo would love to hear from you.

Website www.jomassaroministries.com

Email [email protected]

Facebook Jo Massaro

YouTube Jo Massaro

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Comments

Jo Massaro From IN At 3/6/2022 10:06:46 AM

I'm so glad you won my book last year and even more excited that you are using it.

Natalya Lakhno From CA At 2/24/2022 11:59:01 PM

Sometimes I have blinders on ...

Reply by: Patti Shene

You and me both, Natalya! Thank you for joining us.

Marsha Gutierrez From Fort Wayne At 2/24/2022 7:58:17 PM

You are very inspiring. I have gotten some of your children's books. My grandbabies love to be read to. You have been through a lot and have come out on top

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Marsha. Thank you so much for stopping by and joining us.

eMarie From Idaho At 2/24/2022 9:00:43 AM

Hi Jo, I won your Companion Book last year and have used it up - Love it!!! I'm sorry to hear about your health issues in the past year - we take our health for granted until... I can't wait for this book & your new YA series!! God bless you as you continue writing for Him!! :)

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi eMarie. Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing with us. I am excited for Jo's YA series as well.

Ben Cooper From PA At 2/23/2022 8:36:45 PM

Jo, Thanks for the deeper understanding of the word "Reluctant." I took over twenty years and two cancer diagnosis for me to finally write that first book. I wish you and Winston the very best with your youth history series. Praying for you!