Sharon A. Lavy: The One Thing God Sees In You

Everyone's Story welcomes author Sharon A. Lavy. I see Sharon everywhere--and I'm glad I do. Whether at ACFW conferences, on Twitter, or you name it, I've been blessed to get to know Sharon a bit through the years and am pleased she accepted my invitation to guest on my blog. Please welcome Sharon this week as she shares a unique perspective on dress designing and our loving God. Also, check out her lovely BookGiveaway. Both Sharon and I look forward to hearing from you.

BookGiveaway:

Sharon is offering 1 copy of her newest release, FAREWELL FOR A WHILE, either print copy (US residents only) or e-version. The winner will be announced here on Friday, March 27th between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment. 

God Uses Flawed People by Sharon A. Lavy

This photo represents two of my enjoyable pastimes. Sewing and dress design. The dress on the form is one I designed for my youngest daughter-in-love. She showed me a dress she liked. Except for this, and that, and whatever, of course. This dress evolved from her request.

Everyone loves the dress form because I have to pin the dresses in the back to look smooth on the form. My friends say if I would just put one of their dresses on the form, they could feel skinny too.

The dress I am wearing in the photo represents spiritual growth on my part. You see, years ago I wouldn't be caught wearing a flawed garment. Not if it was noticeable. I was just too insecure. 

I love black and white. I also love red. Pink not so much but this fabric really called to me. So I bought it and put it with my stash.

And one day, I was getting ready to make a dress, went to my fabric drawers and pulled out this piece. I laid it out on the table and ack...it was full of flaws like smeared ink from when the fabric went through the printing process. 

I checked to see if I could cut around the flaws, but the flaw repeated every 18 inches or so. Even though I would be able to cut out unflawed cape, collar, and sleeves, almost every other piece of the dress would have a flaw. Sure, the flaws on the bodice would be covered by my cape, but there is no hiding the flaws along the bottom part of the skirt.

I can hardly believe I actually liked the fabric enough to cut it out. But the strangest thing is how I looked on the fabric and then the dress. 

I realized the fabric represents God taking a flawed character (me) and doing a beautiful work. And I feel really good inside whenever I wear it.

I first thought I would only wear this dress when I was not leaving the house. But if I need to go to town, off I go. The flaws on the bottom of the skirt are not so noticeable to me. Only if I look, yes there they are.

To me this dress represents a flawed piece of fabric made into something both beautiful and useful.

Now it if was soiled, or paint splattered, or etc. I would not wear it. But somehow I saw something worthwhile in this fabric, just as God saw something worthwhile in me.

Questions For Sharon:

What is the genre you write in?  Would you explain what it is?

I call it women’s fiction because I care about relationships between women, and families. Romance is a part of life and I include it in my storiess but it is not intended to be the sole focus of the book.

Other’s call my writing German Baptist fiction which would be a sub-genre to Amish fiction.

I write to share what God has given me. Even if it helps only one person.

What is the spiritual message in Farewell For A While?  What can readers expect to get from reading it?

We need to search for God’s will and not our own. We have to give up some of our pre-conceived ideas to serve Him. And most importantly of all…God wants to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us.

What are you working on now?

I am working on book three of the Sometimes we’re asked to forgiving the unforgivable series. The title is Forgiving the Unforgivable. As with all my novels I find myself learning lessons right along with my characters.

Sharon's Ah-hahs To Tweet:

Everyone’s Story: Meet Sharon A. Lavy @OldOrderTweeter, a dress designer following God’s patterns. (Tweet This)

If you like #AmishFiction try @OldOrderTweeter Sharon A. Lavy’s #GermanBaptistFiction #BookGiveaway (Tweet This) 

A spiritual lesson from a dress pattern? Sharon A. Lavy @OldOrderTweeter shares. (Tweet This)

Author's Bio:

Sharon A. Lavy was born into an Old German Baptist family. This Anabaptist group are often mistaken for Amish.

While Sharon was growing up her father went to medical school at George Washington University. He interned and took his residency at a hospital in Sacramento, California.

She inherited her love of books from her father and when she wasn't exploring the hospital where he worked, Sharon spent many hours pouring over his medical books.

When she married, Sharon moved with her husband to a farm in Southwest Ohio where they reared five children.

While she loves to read many genre, her own writing tends to feature medical drama among the Old German Baptist community.

Places to connect with Sharon:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook