Beauty & Disgrace

I had always been the girl who kind of kept to herself, and never really outwardly spoke what she thought about things. I think it was mainly because I was nervous of what others might think of me. I guess you could say I was never completely confident in who I was! I also didn't think I really had anything worth saying, because my life really wasn't that crazy or exciting. I thought that my story would just be boring.

Being in a band has definitely brought me out of my comfort zone and has stretched me in more ways than one. I never used to really talk about things from stage, just because I had such bad stage fright! "What does the audience think of me?", "What if I stumble over my words?", "What if I really DON'T know what I'm talking about?" these were all thoughts that raced through my mind. I just didn't like to talk in front of people. Period.

I started writing a girl's devotional a few years ago, and I basically just shared my heart on different areas in life - especially for Junior High Girls. I eventually got it done, and we printed it. It was such an accomplishment for me! I really didn't know where things would go from there, though.

It was just last year that I felt this major passion for speaking and writing. I knew I wanted to write another book or devotional, but I didn't really have the resources to do so. I kept it in the back of my head, and just kept praying for the future. It was just a few months ago that my good friend Scott Mason called my mom and asked if he could write a book with me. He said, "I'm not sure why the Lord wants me to write this book with your daughter, but I just know He does!" I thought about it, prayed about it, and agreed to co-write this book with him. We both had no idea what to expect or even how to go about this, because it was my first real book, and it was his first time ever co-writing with someone. Oh, and to make it all that much better, we're both major procrastinators!

It has now been almost 4 months, and the book is just about complete. It has been a short time to write a book, or so it seems, but the Lord has been crafting it and it has come together great. I hope to be able to inspire, encourage, and challenge every young man and woman who reads it.

Please keep this book in your prayers!

[Lex]