Hazel Green woman writes devotional for Open Windows

Like many stay-at-home moms with small children, Jeanne Nation prayed for a worthwhile, profitable home-based job, and that is exactly what God gave her.
   
Over the past year, the First Baptist Church, Hazel Green, member has written two weeklong devotionals for LifeWay’s Open Windows guide, one published in Fall 2002 and the other to be published next fall.
   
After obtaining a master’s degree in Christian education from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., Nation moved to Hazel Green with her husband and 6-month-old daughter.
   
She then sought a way to make some extra income from home. Having no writing experience, Nation had not previously considered a career as an author even though Open Windows had always been an important part of her life.
   
“We did our family devotions by reading Open Windows,” said 27-year-old Nation, now First, Hazel Green, director of preschool and children ministries. “I’ve read them all my life.”
   
Through prayer, she was led to contact the guide’s editor, and the rest is history.
   
A few months later she received her first assignment, a seven-day devotional called “God Is Patient,” which highlighted God’s patience with different types of people.
   
Her most recent submission focused on “Experiencing the Gospel’s Power.” Daily topics deal with wisdom, Jesus’ resurrection, renewal, the truth of the gospel, deliverance and healing.
   
Though she is certain that God blessed her with the opportunity to write for Open Windows, which has reached countless Southern Baptists and others since 1937, Nation had mixed feelings about her assignment.
  
“I was kind of nervous because it was my first time to write anything. I always get nervous when people read what I’ve written, but I was really excited to do it,” she said.
   
She continued, “I know some of the people who read it, and I feel unworthy to write something they’re going to read for their devotion. I just really prayed a lot about it and felt like that was what God was wanting me to do.”
   
Nation encourages others who may be worried about attempting a task for the first time to give it a try.
   
“If God is calling you to do it, then He’s going to give you the ability and opportunity to do it if you listen to Him,” she said. “So try it and spend time in prayer.”
   
If you are interested in writing devotionals for Open Windows, send a letter to the editor, Woody Parker, at 1 Lifeway Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175.