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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Will Waiting for God Do for You?

by Chautona Havig · 8 Comments

Written with experience, compassion, and gripping faith, Waiting for God prepares you for the journey ahead--one of waiting for God in everything. via @chautonahavig

I don’t know who pointed her out to me, but I will never forget the moment she turned and I could see her. Xochitl Dixon. I’d heard amazing things about this woman, and couldn’t wait to meet her.

You know, technically, I never did. Oh, sure. I was introduced. We said hi. I’m pretty sure that at some point at that conference, she prayed for me. Probably, because she knew that if she didn’t, the food she would be served wouldn’t be edible.

I was in charge of food, you see. For a couple hundred people. Without the ability to actually cook anything. Yeah. The food crew needed help. It was my job to make sure people ate. I needed great, heaping gobs of help. A mutual friend said, “It’ll be fine. Xochit (Soh-chee) is praying.”

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that this translated to, “God’s warrior is in conference with Him for you.”

Xochitl prayed for people all day, every day of that conference. I found out the next year, she prays for attendees of conferences… before they even arrive. For weeks and months before, she’s praying—for the attendees, the faculty, the place we’ll meet, the appointments God will arrange for His people.

And all while enduring excruciating pain. Almost all the time. I feel like we need a hashtag for her. #BecauseXochitl.

She’s been waiting for a solution to that pain—for healing for years. Waiting for God to do whatever it is He’s going to do for her. Growing, learning… is it any wonder that when I found out she’d written a book, Waiting for God I requested a review copy immediately?

WAiting for God

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What Will Waiting for God Do for You?

If you’d told me someone could write a “feel good” book that is both hard-hitting and shows example after example of people going through suffering, sometimes without relief this side of heaven, I’d have laughed. That’s not how I define “feel good,” and it’s not how this Christian life thing is supposed to work. Right?

Ha! Sorry, but I always have trouble not laughing when people claim that God’s people will only have joy, peace, prosperity, and perfect health if their hearts are perfectly aligned with God.

See, I think that’s true. I really do.

The key phrase there is “perfectly aligned.” That happens in heaven, folks. Here, we’re still fallen, messed up creatures. Saved by God’s grace? Definitely. Given the ability to hold fast in tough times? Absolutely. Free from trials?

Not hardly.

So how is this a “feel good” book?

Time after time, story after story, Scripture after Scripture, Xochitl Dixon shows the faithfulness of God even in the dark, hard, horrible times. She reminds us of Who holds our faith and hope in His hands.

Not only that, she does it without climbing into a lofty tower, having cornered the market on spiritual things. No, slugging her way through the dark times alongside the rest of us, she admits her faults, her failings, her moments of frustration and despair.

I don’t know how she does it, but in the midst of all of it, her devotion to prayer, to the Word, and to encouraging the body of Christ, she shows just what living an authentic Christian life really looks like.

That’s what Waiting for God does for you.

It brings you back to the feet of Jesus, time and time again. In a brilliant turn of phrasing that I’m totally stealing here, Dixon’s book helps you grow from being a do-it-yourself disciple into one waiting on the Potter’s wheel, ready for Him to make of you and your life what He wills.

Waiting for His will.

Waiting for Him.

And, as she shows us in story after story, Scripture after Scripture, Jesus is always worth the wait.

Devotionals aren’t usually my forte, but the moment I saw Xochitl Dixon’s unique name on the cover, I immediately requested a free review copy. I wanted to love it, but… devotional…

I didn’t need to worry. The book lives up to its claim. Waiting for God really does teach and encourage us to trust daily in God’s plan and place.

Recommended for anyone who has ever wondered if God is even listening—if He even cares. Also recommended for those who care about careful attention to not putting words in God’s mouth. While I didn’t read every word of the book before writing this review, I didn’t find a single place where I went, “Where’s that in Scripture?” Even when she spoke of God whispering to her to wait, she shares that He used the Word… His words in the Word to do it.

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Comments

  1. Lila Diller says

    September 15, 2019 at 8:20 pm

    Sounds like a wonderfully real and yet encouraging book! I had never heard of this author before, but your story of being introduced to her as a prayer warrior really struck me. That’s how I want to be known.

    Reply
  2. Jeanne Doyon says

    September 11, 2019 at 7:08 am

    Xochitl has been such a blessing to me over our internet friendship. She is a powerful encouraged and prayer warrior. I am excited to hear about her new book. I added it to my suggested resources on my blog this week as I write about Staying in Step with Jesus. Thanks for hosting her today. I would love to win a copy and would also be happy to review it.

    Reply
  3. James Robert says

    September 11, 2019 at 4:42 am

    Thank you so much for taking time to bring to our attention another great read. I enjoy these tours and finding out about many terrific books.

    Reply
  4. Amelia says

    September 10, 2019 at 3:22 pm

    This sounds great!

    Reply
  5. Debbie P says

    September 10, 2019 at 1:36 pm

    This book sounds like an amazing read.

    Reply
  6. Xochitl E. Dixon says

    September 10, 2019 at 8:40 am

    I read your review through blurred vision, Sister. As I read your encouraging words, I shed tears of grateful joy. The last month has been tough for me. The Lord used you to remind me to lean into Him, to fall into Him. Hallelujah! Thanks for helping me spread the word about Waiting for God and for serving with me as we share His word to the ends of the earth. I am thanking the Lord for creating you and for sharing you with me! I look forward to seeing what He has in store for us, Sister! To God be the glory!

    Reply
  7. Paula Shreckhise says

    September 10, 2019 at 6:50 am

    I am anxious to read some of this author’s works. They sound interesting and encouraging.

    Reply
    • Xochitl E. Dixon says

      September 10, 2019 at 8:42 am

      Thanks, Paula. I am praying for readers and looking forward to hearing what the Lord does as we surrender to Him one breath at a time.

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 163: A Chat with Naomi Craig about Ezekiel's Song
byChautona Havig

Before I began the interview with Naomi Craig about Ezekiel’s Song, I kind of went crazy and left it in to give you a chuckle. But Naomi and I chat about her upcoming release, why she chose to write about Ezekiel, and what areas she focused on. Listen in and hear her heart for the Word and for stimulating readers to love it and live it.

Oh, and that song I couldn’t remember? Well, I found it after a BUNCH of hunting on YouTube. Here you go!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Has Ezekiel Always Confused You? How about a Little Fictional Clarity?

There’s SO much to write about in Ezekiel, but after talking to Naomi Craig, I feel like I got a pretty good grasp of where she’s taking this book without feeling like I don’t need to read it now that we chatted, and that’s always great. Naomi shows service in the temple, how Ezekiel could have had a mentorish relationship under Jeremiah, and even what kind of woman his wife might have been.

Personally, I love the “Darcy-ish” meeting where he totally insults her and accuses her of being an idolatress. Let me tell you something. I cannot wait to read that! Seriously!

God had Ezekiel do a lot of weird things, and I always wondered how he managed some of it, but Naomi brings out possibilities by focusing on this wife that we don’t know much (anything) about. How cool is that?

Naomi also gave us a couple of glimpses into what’s coming next!

She’s #TeamBlue in the Keeping Christmas novella collections, writing about Herod’s palace and the wise men’s appearance looking for “the King of the Jews.”  And… from a scribe’s perspective!  How cool is that?

Also… next up is a book about a woman in Ephriam’s lineage who built three cities. A woman credited with the building of these cities!  I cannot wait! I love how Naomi focuses on how strong Biblical women were. So often we think of them as downtrodden and little more than cattle, but God shows how much He loves His daughters in the Word, and He definitely allows them to shine. We saw that in Naomi’s debut novel Rahab’s Courage.

Ezekiel’s Song by Naomi Craig

A prophet’s heart broken, a woman’s joy gone. What does Yahweh have planned for His people?

On the brink of Jerusalem’s demise, devoted priest, Ezekiel, sees the insincerity of Judah’s worship. Despite his efforts to call the people back to true worship of Yahweh, priests, artisans, valiant warriors, and royals are exiled to Babylon. When God gives him messages of continued judgment for the people in his homeland, his heart breaks. How can he minister to the people from so far away?

The presence of the Lord is tangible when Shiriel sings in the temple, and her voice prepares the hearts of many to worship. When she is exiled to Babylon, her faith is shaken. Does the Lord’s presence extend beyond Jerusalem and His holy temple?

Ezekiel is struck mute and paralyzed as he begins his prophetic ministry, and Shiriel devises a plan to get the Lord’s message back to the unfaithful people of Judah. Shiriel struggles with discontentment as serving the Lord looks nothing like she’d imagined. Can she provide for her family and carry out her husband’s ministry when her joy is gone, and her own dreams are placed on hold?

How will Yahweh save His people from themselves? Find out in Ezekiel’s Song!

Ezekiel’s Song is available at 30% off paperback and at a discount for Kindle, too through release week, so visit Naomi’s WEBSITE for more information.

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Episode 163: A Chat with Naomi Craig about Ezekiel's Song
Episode 163: A Chat with Naomi Craig about Ezekiel's Song
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August 9, 2022
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Reposted from @tabithabouldin Reposted from @Sarah Reposted from @tabithabouldin Reposted from @Sarah Monzon The entire Carrington Family series is on sale for only 99¢! (Free with #kindleunlimited ) 

Split-time romances with high stakes and even higher rewards! 

#splittime #romance #booksale #kindlecountdown #bookstagram #christianfiction #readmorebooks #read #books #ebooksale #boxset
If only owning a bookstore didn't mean dealing wit If only owning a bookstore didn't mean dealing with people.
Harper Brevig has two skills—picking out snarky bookish t-shirts and alienating customers. 
Oh, and racking up bills out of thin air. Make that three skills. She loves the elderly and the very 
young—except the ones who destroy her beloved books. You could say she doesn’t have a very nice 
“book-side manner.” 
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save this bookstore?
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2022. Link to more information is in my bio! 
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Fascinating moon tonight. Fascinating moon tonight.
If only owning a bookstore didn't mean dealing wit If only owning a bookstore didn't mean dealing with people.
Harper Brevig has two skills—picking out snarky bookish t-shirts and alienating customers. 
Oh, and racking up bills out of thin air. Make that three skills. She loves the elderly and the very 
young—except the ones who destroy her beloved books. You could say she doesn’t have a very nice 
“book-side manner.” 
Milton Coleridge and his parrotlet Atticus (not Finch) come to the rescue… but is it too late to 
save this bookstore?
Twice Sold Tales: the first full-length novel in the Bookstrings Series releases on November 2, 
2022. Link to more information is in my bio! 
#amwriting
#amreading
#bookishbooks
#bookstrings
#comingsoon
#ChristianFiction
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While I was in Minnesota, I went to Red Wing for While I was in Minnesota,  I went to Red Wing for research,  and the shop manager of the salon I've appropriated for my bookstore in Twice Sold Tales was so encouraging and helpful.  She even gave @catheswanson a great bang trim.
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