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| Julia Reffner |
Julia Reffner is a writer of contemporary fiction mirroring truth.
Julia, welcome to Overcoming With God. We appreciate your
willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers.
Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you
have had to overcome, with God’s help? (transparency appreciated!)
Hmmm...one of the most difficult circumstances was the death of my
father, but since you’re asking for transparency I’m going to give something
more recent. One of the hardest battles I’ve faced in my life is that of fear. God
has used my writing journey itself in a myriad of ways to teach me to rely on
Him for strength.
When I began writing, the first thing he led me to do was join a
face-to-face critique group. For this introvert who struggles with panic the
thought of sharing my work with others out loud and interfacing in discussion
about it was terrifying.
In Fall 2012, I went to my first writing conference. I had never
traveled alone, not to mention the thoughts of the hundreds of people
attending, none of whom I had been acquainted with beyond online . My writing
friends helped me a great deal through that journey as I had known them so well
online they seemed like familiar faces as soon as I met them. I also wrote
Scriptures on cards and carried them in my purse.
God had some surprises in store for me there. I was not planning
to meet with an agent, but when an opening came up I felt his gentle nudge. God
is so gentle and builds our courage step-by-step. Courage comes at the very moment
we need it, a fact I often need to remind myself of.
But what helped me the most with conference jitters was praying
with others. Between workshops I wandered the halls and prayed with other
ladies about to go in to their appointments. At the meal tables I spent time in
prayer. Even in the bathroom, I prayed with someone. As I prayed for others and
their needs, my own insecurities seemed to vanish. It was the most selfish and
wonderful part of conference for me!
This year for the first time I will speak in front of a large
congregation at a women’s retreat. So I just keep saying yes to God in spite of
my fear. Doing hard things while shaking in your boots sure gives you an
appreciation that Christ is our strength and His power truly is made perfect in
weakness. This is a journey of overcoming day-by-day moment-by-moment for me.
In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for
bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or
situation?
Yes, my novel in progress is about the theme of freedom in Christ.
I live fifteen minutes from the birthplace of Joseph Smith and here we have a
yearly pageant to honor his contributions. I was also influenced by two
autobiographies of women who left the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS)
and similar groups and later came to find a relationship with the true and
living Christ. I also was fortunate enough to be able to connect with a ministry
in Utah run by a lady who escaped a polygamous cult and is now helping abused
victims before and after escape, sharing the Gospel and meeting physical needs
for food and shelter.
My story is contemporary fiction about a woman who escapes a
restrictive cult, but I believe the theme of what it means that the King of
Kings has set us free and we are free indeed is life-changing. We all are
looking for freedom from the tragedies of this world, the sin that so easily
entangles us, freedom to run the race He has set before us. It is my hope that
Rachel’s story of redemption will connect with readers.
Julia enjoys writing women's fiction whenever she can find a chair free of smushed peanut butter sandwiches and lego blocks. She is a wife and homeschooling mama of two littles. She also enjoys reading and reviewing books for Library Journal, The Title Trakk, and Christian Library Journal.
Find her blogging every other Tuesday at: http://www.thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/
Connect on FB:
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Thank
you Julia for agreeing to answer these questions. Have a blessed day and keep
on writing!!
GIVEAWAY: Julia is
giving away a $5.00 Amazon gift certificate (thank you Julia!) and we are matching
it with one of our own!
