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24 September 2017

Depending Upon God by Carrie Fancett Pagels


I recently had the privilege of speaking at the Writing to Inspire conference in Frederick, Maryland. I spoke on "How to Interview Your Characters Like a Psychologist." But none of it would have happened without leaning into and fully depending upon God. I'd been in an autoimmune flare ever since we returned from our wonderful trip to Michigan in July to promote My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring. My "plan" had been to drive up to the event with another author, spend the night, and be at the event for maybe a couple of hours (I wasn't sure how long I could hold up). I was so miserable in the lead-up to planning to go, that I told my husband to never let me do anything like this again.

Well, you know how plans go. which is why we have to depend upon God. The other writer I'd hoped to drive with didn't work out. Which left me driving by myself. But, Praise the Lord, my handsome chauffeur husband agreed to come with me. And, when speaking with my precious aunt Wilda, I learned that she didn't live far from the venue (I thought it was much farther away.)

So, depending upon God to get us through, we left out later in the afternoon on Friday, during the weekend when people were evacuating from the hurricanes. Despite being quite a bit further north, we both suspected there would be heavy traffic on the main interstates (we later learned the roads were clogged with traffic, delaying some of our friends.) We took a route we'd never taken before. It was wide and crazy and included some rocky rutted roads, but we got there safely and in time to enjoy dinner with Rita and Paul Gerlach, and had a wonderful fellowship.

I never know if I'll be able to sleep well and I'd forgotten my medications! I left packing them to the end and didn't have any. Thankfully, I had a couple of them in my wallet for emergencies. And I trusted in God to get me through the seminar. Thankfully, I was able to come even for the morning sessions, which started later in the morning. It was wonderful to see some old friends and to meet some new ones!

In my upcoming release, "Love's Escape" in The Captive Brides Collection, Barbour, October, 2017, my heroine Letitia Burwell is relying upon God to get her North to freedom, on the Underground Railroad for part of the trip, and by transportation by friends. As I was writing this story last spring, I felt the weight of Lettie's dilemma. We all have to depend upon God -- from those who escaped to freedom, to people escaping the hurricanes' wrath, and to a lowly author simply trying to speak at a conference despite autoimmune issues.

Question: How about you? What are you depending upon God for today?

Giveaway: A Copy of The Captive Brides Collection or any one of Carrie's other books including Romantic Times Book Reviews Top Pick My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring.

48 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Wonderful post. The collection sounds like a really good one. I love Carrie's books.

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    1. Hi Ann! I hope you would love Lettie's story! Thanks for your kind words!

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  3. I am relying on God today for help and timing in having a serious conversation with someone. Grateful for any prayers too!Thank you and thank you for the chance to win! I'd love to read your new book!

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    1. I pray that all worked out for you, Jeanne! Thanks for coming by! Would love for you to read my new story!

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  4. Daily depending on God to keep me faithful to him and serve others without fear.

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  5. I'm trusting and depending on God to lead us to the right church for our family. I'm also relying on him to lead us to amazing people that we can call friends. Moving is tough and we can only get through it by depending on God.

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    1. Praying that God will bring you to the right church home, Joy! Moving is so stressful! Blessings!

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  6. So glad that everything worked out! It was nice to see that you were able to teach that workshop. It sounds very interesting. Now it's time to rest up! <3

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    1. I was so blessed that it worked out, Carla! God is so good!

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  7. I'm trusting in GOD to make this world better I understand that we're living in
    Our final days but praying for peace. Thank you for the giveaway and would love to win a copy of this book,my type of reading.

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  8. can't imagine a day without leaning on Christ

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  9. Thankful everything worked out for you. God is always on time. I am depending on God for a great outcome for my husband and myself when we get our next CT scans. Mine is the last of October and his is November 2.

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    1. Am grateful God worked that all out for us. Praying for good outcome!

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  10. Great post Carrie!
    Your presentation at the Writing to Inspire conference was amazing Carrie! God used you right where you were in that moment, as He does us all. He is our strength in our weakness (Oh my, yes He is!). Now get some rest.

    I trust God everyday with each moment of each day. Some days have more struggles than others and I need to "marinate" (as a good friend once said) myself in His Word even more.

    Blessings,Tina

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    1. Thanks for your kind words, Tina. So good to see you at conference! Yes, marinating in the Word is good!

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  11. I am depending on God today as I think of my mother in an assisted living facility and wishing she could come back to us mentally. God gets me through every day and he has all the answers. I am blessed and grateful.

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    1. So sorry about your mom, Melanie. That's so difficult. Praying for you.

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  12. I don't depend on God. We all do what we have to do. I don't expect Him to see me through everyday. I praise Him daily. I don't ask for his help. He see's me, and will help if He feels it is necessary.

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    1. Try leaning into Him, Karen, you'll find He is so much more than a tertiary God! Sounds like maybe you've not gotten into an experience yet where you've had to fully rely on Him. It is then that we realize that we must depend on Him.

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    2. I feel like if I do, it's like being greedy. I always thought asking someone for something just wasn't right. I don't want to use Him like a wishing well.

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  13. I depend on Him to help me through the day, whether it be having lunch with friends, attending a work meeting, chauffeuring my children and their friends, grocery shopping, or hanging out with the family. I need His grace and mercy so that I can be the conduit for others.

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    1. Absolutely, MH! Same here, although I don't get to do all that in a day. His grace is sufficient!

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  14. I depend upon Him to guide me throughout the day.


    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  15. I depend on God to get me through 'most' days lately!

    wfnren at aol dot com

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    1. Hi Wendy! God uses many people as we depend upon Him, doesn't He?

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  16. I am depending on God to help me throughout the day. Every day. I need help. I would love to win a copy of this book. I love Carrie's stories.
    susanmsj at MSN dot com

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    1. Hi Susan, I'd love for you to win a copy! Thanks for your sweet words!

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    2. Per random.org, you won the giveaway Susan Johnson!!!

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  17. In a word....Everything! All I am, all I have is because of Him!!!

    :) I LOVE these collection stories!!!!

    Many Blessings, Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a)
    amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom

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    1. Hi sweet Amanda! It is through Him we can get through the day. I love reading collections as well as writing in them! Best wishes!

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  18. I am depending on God for a home. We lost our home and are living with a family member. It is really hard to do this but God will be done.

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    1. sorry forgot mommystuck1(at)optonline(dot)net

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    2. So sorry to hear this, Tammy. Praying for you and for God's perfect provision to be made!

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  19. I am depending on God to guide us as we make decisions about our future and act as wise stewards over the blessings that we've been given.

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  20. Carrie, thank you for your inspiring words. I am trusting God to give me the extra strength and stamina that I need to care for my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter. She is a joy and a blessing to this first time grandmother and I want to be able to teach her and encourage her to honor God, love Him and serve Him.
    Thanks for your giveaway.

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    1. Wow, Connie, I can't even imagine what that would take to supervise a 3 1/2 year old at this point in my life. Praying for you to be a wonderful role model to her.

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  21. I depend on God's leading in everything - large or small. He has protected me for 73 years, and is responsible for my being here and the person I am. I trust His plan for me and that He will work all trials to my good. He has given me peace, joy, and strength during my present trial with cancer. Thanks to salvation through Him - I am guaranteed eternity with Him!! No matter how many trials we have - we are blessed, aren't we, Carrie??

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    1. Hi Bonnie, I know you rely upon God. It's amazing He has carried you through this terminal cancer journey. God is so good and yes we are truly blessed.

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  22. I depend on God in so many ways each and every day. He has meet needs that only was possible through His working. I depend on God to give me the right words for each client I work with that has children that has been abused. Couple of promises I've claimed for years are in I Peter 5:7 and Isaiah 41:10. Thankful God provided for you, Carrie, to be able to do your workshop. God is good all the time.

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  23. Carrie, I am super impressed, that with God's help, you were able to overcome the many things standing in your way and were able to get to the conference and bless others with your message. I have had some health things going on lately and am trusting in the Lord to help me get things on track to become healthier.

    LLWALTZ [at] gmail [dot] com

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  24. CARRIE, thank you so much for sharing! I'm depending on the Lord for so many things. It's so true that apart from Him I can do NO-THING!

    Blessings and (((((HUGS)))))
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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