Deanna Nowadnick: Buckle up! We’re going for a ride!

Everyone's Story welcomes back author Deanna Nowadnick. I've always thought that enthusiasm is catchy, in a positive way, and that's why I'm glad to host Deanna once again because she has a lot of zest to share. And, her source of energy is the Best! Please check out her BookGiveaway, her prologue of her new book, SIGNS IN LIFE, and her special words that she's chosen to share with you this week. Deanna and I look forward to hearing from you!

BookGiveaway:

Deanna is offering 1 copy of her non-fiction SIGNS IN LIFE to 1 randomly chosen commenter. The winner will be announced here on Friday, October 30th between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment (you may choose to use the Contact Me form to privately send me your email address--the form is in the right-hand sidebar on the blog's main page, toward the bottom).

One day, Moses was taking care of sheep and goats for his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and Moses decided to lead them across the desert to Sinai, the holy mountain. There an angel of the LORD appeared to him but it was not burning up. “This is strange!” he said to him- self. “I’ll go over and see why the bush isn’t burning up.”

When the LORD saw Moses coming near the bush, he called him by name, and Moses answered, “Here I am.”

—Exodus 3:1-4 (CEV)

    Prologue

           “If you’re going to ticket me, then ticket me!”

I scrambled out of the car, slammed the door, and kicked the rear tire. Squinting into the harsh glare of a flashlight, my first words were louder than necessary, “If you’re going to ticket me, then ticket me! I just want to get home.” Not giving the police offi- cer a chance to respond, I continued, still annoyed, still defiantly frustrated, “I’m tired. Really—I just want to get home!”

“And I just need you to slow down, ma’am. I actually stopped you, because I really just needed you to slow down and stop—at the sign back there. You’re in a school zone. It’s dark. There’s traffic.”

The officer was right. Traveling home from the gym, I’d failed to stop at a busy corner. Distracted by a young mother’s ever present to-do list, I’d rolled through an intersection, the middle school on my left, a railroad crossing on my right. Fortunately a man with a badge had cared enough to give me a much deserved warning and an undeniable lesson: road signs are an important part of safe travel.

Road signs are everywhere: SPEED LIMIT 25, SCHOOL ZONE, STOP. Yet even with signs telling us what to do and how best to do it, we still miss the signs, overlook and ignore them. But signs in life surround us for a reason and I’ve gotten costly reminders of their importance. A patrol car’s red and blue flashing lights have refocused my attention on the speed limit—more than once. Traffic cameras have reminded me to slow down in a school

zone—twice. And a police officer has re-emphasized the importance of coming to a complete stop at a busy intersection.

In addition to traffic signs, I have also overlooked and ignored directional signs. I live in Monroe, Washington, about an hour’s drive from Seattle. On a trip into the city, I programmed my car’s navigation system to get me from the freeway to a waterfront res- taurant. After three turns, I decided I knew better than my digital guide. I didn’t. I made wrong turn after wrong turn and silently cursed the afternoon’s traffic. The delay cost me time and patience and taught me a second undeniable lesson: road signs are not just an important part of safe travel, but there are consequences when ignored and overlooked.

So why don’t I follow the signs, block after block, turn after turn? Why don’t I heed the high resolution images on my car’s high definition screen? The signs were all there: a black and white sign alerting me to the speed limit, a red sign reminding me to stop, a yellow sign warning of the school zone. There were signs telling me of the exit ahead and the turn on my right. Still I ignored some, skipped others, and overlooked many. Why did I, why do I, ignore the help?

And if I struggle to get around the block, how will I ever survive the bigger journey? How will I navigate life? Not the quick trip to the grocery store, but the longer journey through adulthood? Not only the daily commute, but the more onerous trek through times of trial? Not just the trip into the city, but the turn into tempta- tion? What about my travels as a wife and mother, sister and friend? What about my travels with God?

I really do want to follow God more closely, but I’ve repeat- edly ignored the spiritual guidance that could’ve helped me in my quest. Too many times I thought I knew more, knew better. At other times I overlooked God’s directional signs and tuned out the audible instructions coming from life’s metaphorical console. And then there were those times I just didn’t pay attention.

I’m not alone. People long ago and people today, we’ve all sought to follow God more closely. The Bible shares example after example, stories that also remind us of our propensity to miss the signs. We question where we’re going. We complain about our

circumstances. In a story that spanned four decades, God led His chosen people, the Israelites, through the wilderness with a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night, huge THIS WAY signs. Their leader, Moses, even encountered personal signs when he saw a burning bush and heard the voice of God. All these signs were important as God directed and redirected Moses and more than 600,000 Israelites on a journey that would take them from Egyptian slavery to the Promised Land.

God’s been active in all our lives, directing and redirecting. Through Bible stories and our own personal experiences, we see the signs. Through Bible stories and our own travels through life, we learn that God doesn’t just issue a citation and move on to the next offender. He steers us toward Him and His divine purpose, toward that promised place He has for each one of us. The man with the badge cared enough to warn me and cite me. God cares enough to guide me and direct me. And when I mess up? When we mess up? He forgives and redeems, redirects and refocuses—just as He did with Moses and the Israelites. And that’s a good thing, because I don’t know about you, but I need help and guidance. Often.

So here’s what you also need to know. I battle weight issues. My walk is a nagging reminder of past knee and hip surgeries. I place way too much importance on mascara and hair gel. My driving record lists way too many infractions. I get dazed and confused in places unfamiliar to me, also in places I know well. I can obsess over the smallest details, especially the insignificant and inconse- quential. I make mistakes. I wander off. I overlook the signs and miss the turn.

Moses and the Israelites made mistakes, too. On their journey to the Promised Land, they overlooked signs and missed turns. Their story is similar to my own in many ways, but strikingly different in others. I’ve never known the brutality of slavery, never been forced from my home. I’ve never had to walk through a desert, never been nomadic. I’ve never been a camper for goodness sakes! Still God’s traveled with all of us wherever we’ve been and wherever we’ve been going.

“Our travels with God are part of His story, His purpose, travels that begin right now.—Robin Dugall

Signs in Life tells of my journey and the divine signs I’ve encoun- tered along the way. In my travels, there have been directional signs, mileposts, and cautionary signs. There have been exit signs and speed limit signs. There have been signs that were seen and others that were heard. All have helped me follow God and find His purpose for my life. By sharing the signs in my life, I hope you’ll be able to see the signs in yours. I might be speeding through a stop sign—again!—while you’re navigating a busy street, but our journeys are very similar. I think we all want to be part of a greater purpose. We all want help and guidance in our understanding of God and His plans for us. And when we miss the signs, real and divine, we want to know that God will redirect and refocus us, that He will get us back on track. My pastor, Robin Dugall says, “Life with God is not just about a heavenly destination. Our travels with God are part of His story, His purpose, travels that begin right now.”

Whenever we got in the car, I used to tell my boys, “Buckle up. We’re going for a ride.” In life we’re all going for a ride. Our travels with God are an adventure in discovery and growth, an opportunity for each one of us to repeat the words of Moses, “Here I am.”

THIS WAY. This is my story, the signs in my life. So far. 

SIGNS IN LIFE: Finding Direction in Our Travels with God
by Deanna Nowadnick

I scrambled out of the car, slammed the door, and kicked the rear tire. Squinting into the harsh glare of a flashlight, my first words were louder than necessary, “If you’re going to ticket me, then ticket me! I just want to get home.” Not giving the police officer a chance to respond, I continued, still annoyed, still defiantly frustrated, “I’m tired. Really—I just want to get home.”

Yes, I was tired, but the police just needed me to slow down and stop—at a STOP sign. Sadly, it wasn’t the first time. I’ve hurried through more than one STOP sign in life. I’ve also overlooked and ignored other signs and mileposts. Through it all, I’ve learned the hard way (and the expensive way!) that road signs are an important part of safe travel, particularly the signs in my travels with God.

I’ve always wanted to follow God more closely—when it’s convenient, when it’s easy, when it feels good. But it’s not always convenient or easy, and too often I’ve ignored the spiritual guidance that could help. I’ve hurried through God’s STOP signs, overlooked and ignored His other signs. Too many times I thought I knew more, knew better. And then there were those times I just didn’t pay attention.

In my second book, Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels with God, I share my own mistakes and shortcomings both on the road and in my faith. Each chapter takes its title from a specific sign and opens with a related driving antic, some silly, some cringe-worthy. Anecdotes illustrate the spiritual signs that have highlighted my journey. Stories of Moses are woven throughout. God also used divine signs to help him navigate a forty-year journey in the wilderness. Together we take a metaphorical road trip.

I didn’t always recognize God’s signs in the moment, but looking back, I saw that I was never really lost, never ever alone. God directs and redirects. God leads us to His purpose. The signs are always there.

By sharing the signs in my life, I hope you’ll be able to see the signs in yours. I might be speeding through a STOP sign—yet again!—while you’re carefully navigating a busy street, but our journeys are very similar. I think we all want to be part of a greater purpose. We all want help and guidance in our understanding of God and His plans for us. And when we miss the signs, real and divine, we want to know that God will redirect and refocus us, that He will get us back on track.

What signs has God placed in your life?

Where have you needed to YIELD in life?

Where have you found yourself in a CONSTRUCTION ZONE with God"

As I used to say to my sons, "Buckle up! We're going for a ride!"

Deanna's previous guest appearance on Everyone's Story:

Living With The Fruit Of His Holy Spirit

Deanna's Ah-hahs To Tweet: **Administrative note: Due to an absence at a writer's conference, these Tweets are NOT hyperlinked. Both Deanna and I would appreciate if you would please copy and paste these suggested Tweets onto Twitter and Tweet away. Thanks so much!

Meet author @DeannaNowadnick:How a speeding ticket redirected her back to God's intended journey. http://elainestock.com

Don't miss this one: #BookGiveaway of @DeannaNowadnick's SIGNS IN LIFE: FINDING DIRECTION IN OUR TRAVELS WITH GOD. http://elainestock.com

Authors' Bio:

When not responding to traffic citations, Deanna Nowadnick provides administrative support for The Planner’s Edge, an investment advisory firm in Washington State. She’s active in her church, playing the violin Sunday mornings and serving on the leadership team. She loves Bible study and delights in meetings with various women’s groups.

Deanna’s a Pacific Northwest native who’s been blessed with a wonderful marriage to Kurt. This is Deanna’s second book. Her first book, Fruit of My Spirit: Reframing Life in God’s Grace is also an inspirational memoir. Deanna’s books are available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Places to connect with Deanna:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Amazon

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Please note:

--I have a title change for my novel coming soon from Elk Lake Publishing: Always With You.

--I will soon launch a specially designed website that will incorporate Eveyone's Story blog. I hope you will follow me on this new site. When it goes live, I'll make the announcement!