Her name is Nancy Sebastian Meyer and she wants you to know you too can experience unshakeable hope, restful peace and delightful joy. Nancy has written books that minister to women, provide encouragement, and help them in their daily walk. You will be touched by her rock-solid faith in God and His Word.
Nancy's Hope4Heart Ministries is a ministry that helps wives, women, mothers, and daughters to hear God's Word, understand His truths, and apply godly principles to their lives. Through this ministry she also communicates God's love, hope, grace, and peace. Nancy is our woman in the spotlight for the month of July.
W2W: Nancy tell us about your call to ministry and its primary focus.
Nancy: As a young girl, God gave me unusual communication and "platform" skills, plus a desire to marry a pastor. I pursued my strengths and married a youth pastor--who defected after four years to secular work and then rejected his faith completely several years later. Over the next bewildering and rocky patch of life, God showed me the sin in my life (and helped me let go of my husband's sins, failures and weaknesses). The result of God refining me so impacted my husband that our love returned and our marriage healed. We just celebrated 25 years!
As our romantic love for each other returned, I found myself writing an inspirational romance novel (as yet unpublished). God used that to get me to my first Christian writers conference where He uniquely called me to write our true story. Today this includes several Bible study books, 2 vocal CDs, submissions in several compilation books, articles, national radio and TV interviews and 3 nationally published books: Beyond Expectations: Finding Joy In Your Marriage, Talk Easy, Listen Hard: Real Communication for Two Really Different People, and Spiritually Single Moms: Raising Godly Kids When Dad Doesn't Believe.
As our daughter, Becky, goes to college this Fall, God is beginning another chapter in my life and is starting to reveal short- and long-term goals. Because of God's great provision in paying nearly all of Becky's tuition with scholarships, I am still free to share the hope, help and truth God has and is working out in my life and marriage.
W2W: How has this call directed your life?
Nancy: Knowing my ministry is actually God's call on my life and not my idea makes me stick tenaciously to it despite pressures from inside (feelings of inferiority, discouragement, fatigue...) and outside (my husband's pressure to "get a real job" and "step up and fulfill a financial obligation to our family"). And, yes, God does meet all of my/our needs--always on time, hardly ever early, always in His special ways!
W2W: What aspects of your ministry give you the most joy and satisfaction?
Nancy: On a professional note, letters and emails from women who now know they are not alone in their struggle and are finding help and hope in the same truths God taught me so I could teach others. Personally, in those tear-filled moments when life seems overwhelming, I remember that without the constant struggle I might not remember how my readers and listeners feel. For sure, my ministry gives the pain in my life purpose.
W2W: What are a few scriptures that you draw inspiration and strength from?
Nancy: The passage I include every time I sign a book for someone is Psalm 40:1-3. These verses tell what God has done in my life and what I hope each Christian will allow Him to do in theirs!
* My favorite passages are:
o Jeremiah 29:11-13
o Philippians 4:4-8
o Psalm 139:16b and Ephesians 2:10
o Isaiah 55:8-13
o Acts 17:26-28
o 2 Corinthians 10:5 and Romans 12:2
o (ahhh! there are so many more!!!!!)
W2W: I myself firmly believe in the power of prayer, share with us how you feel your life has been shaped through prayer.
Nancy: I've been a Christian for 43 years, and I keep learning more about prayer and enjoying God more as the years go by! Everything about my life has been molded by the prayers I've prayed and those prayed for me by so many others. Our prayers don't change God's mind or convince Him to do anything outside His will, but they serve to make us aware of what God is doing because we are watching Him to see the outcome of situations in our lives.
People praying for me are a significant source of encouragement that keeps me going when life gets unbearable. They have included parents, family, Sunday School teachers, friends, teachers and professors, church members, and most recently with ministry, my prayer partners and advisory team.
Finally, life would definitely be impossible if I couldn't personally pray my heart out to God, hear His still small voice, and dialogue with Him throughout each day. Not possible. Absolutely impossible. I need Him!
W2W: Do you have any words of encouragement for other women in ministry?
* Comfort those in any trouble with comfort you have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:4)
* Rejoice in God's blessings, even when life is hard (Philippians 4:4--it is a verb, a doing word!)
* Be careful of sin and other entanglement as you live out God's call on your life (Hebrews 12:1-2) - watch Jesus!
* Subscribe to "e-talk," my monthly e-newsletter of encouragement for ministry leaders and the general public--go to the "e-talk" button on my home page: http://www.nancysebastianmeyer.com.
W2W: What can we as your sisters in Christ be in prayer for you about?
Nancy:
* Faith for my husband, Rich, and a good transition to college for Becky this Fall
* Wisdom and strength to be the wife, mom, and woman in ministry He wants me to be (less of me, more of Him)
* The new Bible study book I am writing this Fall
* Opportunities to share my story where God's family needs desperately to hear it
* Personal purity, right priorities, compassion, discipline, and a sound mind (no stinkin' thinkin')
We thank Nancy Sebastian Meyer for this inspiring interview. If you would like more information about her ministry and books, please visit her website at http://www.nancysebastianmeyer.com
Sherri Walker
Woman2Woman Lounge, Editor & Founder of
Moms Working for the Kingdom
http://www.momsworkingforthekingdom.webs.com
