Fabulous Friday Feature-Michelle Rayburn

Today I welcome author: 

Michelle Rayburn

To win a copy
Michelle's book, 
The Repurposed and Upcycled Life

Scroll to the end of the post 
to see how to get your copy.

I met Michelle at the Write to Publish Conference. Although a member of the faculty/staff, Michelle's warm and friendly spirit encouraged conferees to chat with her. She never rushed away but always found a time to laugh or talk with us. When I saw her again this year, she invited me to her table. Sure enough we were laughing in seconds. I asked Michelle, "How has God led you on your writing journey?" This is what she replied:

A Renewed Sense of Purpose

I always knew I loved writing, but didn't know I wanted to be a writer. I was one of the unusual students who enjoyed a writing or speaking assignment from a teacher, and disliked multiple- choice exams. I remember a seventh grade assignment to write a short dialogue between two people. Emphasis on short. I turned in a thesis-sized manuscript of a fictional conversation between two opponents playing tennis. Yawn. I showed ambition with the ridiculous length of the mundane conversation, but poor Mr. Breytung, who had to grade that foolishness.

And that's why I don't write fiction. You’re welcome.

I didn't figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up until around age 32. That was more than ten years ago. 13 years more than, to be specific. Yeah, you can do the math.

I had been a registered nurse, then a stay-at-home mom. I tried wedding coordinator, rubber stamp demonstrator, custom painter and decorator, craft instructor and web designer. In my free time, I enjoyed drawing, quilting, scrapbooking, and reading. But, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.

A writers' conference provided a compass in the midst of my career wandering and hobby-exploring and offered a new and unexpected direction. I returned home from that conference and never followed through on any requests to send a manuscript to an editor for consideration. Wouldn't that have sounded so much better if the reverse had happened? Confidence didn't come automatically.

However, I did return home with a renewed sense of purpose. I realized that all of my hobbies, career attempts, and talents and abilities weren't as random as they might seem. Like a dot-to-dot puzzle, as I made the connections and saw how everything established a solid foundation for providing writing material, developing skills, and beginning a speaking ministry, I could see the big picture and it all made sense.

I return to that conference nearly every year, and now write for various publications. Yes, I did eventually follow through! I love what I do. The variety keeps me hooked on my career—the longest one I’ve ever had outside of motherhood. On one work day, I might write a devotional. Another, an article. Still another, I'm working on a newsletter for a Christian ministry or creating a marketing flyer for a client. Some days I'm prepping for a speaking event, and others I'm free to have lunch with a friend.

In 2013, my first book came out. The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure is a book that helps women reexamine the junky stuff in their lives to see how God uses our worst experiences to teach us and to show his glory. The book was born out of my love for repurposing yard-sale junk into budget-friendly decorations for my home (I blog about that passion on my website). I realized, if we can appreciate trash-to-treasure finds with all of their flaws, maybe it's time to learn to appreciate others, and ourselves, despite our imperfections. God is the master at turning trash into treasure. Writing it was a significant part of my own spiritual journey, and the process was therapeutic.

As you look at your own journey, where have you seen God at work even when everything seemed to fall apart? 

What about your own before and after story points to the greatness and goodness of God? 

Please comment below with how God has “repurposed” your junk.

Michelle wants to help you connect the dots between faith, creativity, and everyday life and discover the joy of finding God in the most unexpected places. Michelle is the author of The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure. She has written for Chicken Soup for the Soul, Vista, Christian Communicator, Focus on the Family, and more. She has also written several Bible studies for ChristianBibleStudies.com. She and her husband, Phil, have been married for nearly 25 years, and they have two college-aged sons.

Website: www.michellerayburn.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Michelle.Rayburn.Author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/michellerayburn

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/michellerayburn/ 

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Special Offer Today: The Repurposed and Upcycled Life is free for download on Kindle, July 25 only for all visitors!

Book Trailer on YouTube: The Repurposed and Upcycled Life

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To enter the contest for  

Michelle Rayburn's book: "The Repurposed and Upcycled Life":

leave a comment (and email address)

AND become a follower of this site, 
OR sign up to receive posts by email
if you aren't already.

Sorry, U.S. only for the hard copy
BUT on July 25 anyone visitor can download a copy! 

Winner announced on my facebook page.

Thank you, Michelle, for Joining us This Weekend!

Don't forget to comment!