Have you ever thought, “OK, I’ve been baptized, now what? Do you feel insecure when you hear people talk about their walk with God and wonder what that really means? What does a personal relationship with Jesus Christ look like anyway?
Indiana author Tammy Willette addresses these concerns in her new book entitled, It’s All About You: Walking One on One with God.
After years of struggling with why life continued to be so hard even after she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, Willette says she realized baptism was not the end of her race.
Recently, Willette spoke to the Recorder about her book, relationships and finding fulfillment in Christ.
What inspired you to write this book?
When I first became a Christian, started learning things and studying the Bible, there were things that didn’t make sense. I started journaling about those things. I was a Christian for almost eight years and realized the mistakes I made such as not raising my kids up in a Christian home, etc. I started reading my journals to my kids and shared them with my husband too. My husband said, “Wow, you need to share this with more people,” and that’s how it started.
What was your journaling about?
When I first gave my life to Christ, I finally realized everything I did wrong and thought everything would automatically be all right. I thought God was going to fix everything. I wrote down all my mistakes.
Through the process I found myself growing, as I would look back over what God has done for me in past notes. You pray and it’s a process, a journey because you think God isn’t there, but he is all along guiding you through.
Why is it important for Christians to have a sincere relationship with God?
Having a sincere relationship is realizing God is not a genie in a bottle. Two things happen when you accept Christ: salvation and a change of heart. You are going to have trials and tribulations, but each one is to help you get through the next one. Life is not perfect and it’s a comfort knowing that God is there. You can’t fulfill your purpose without getting to know him. It’s a relationship. Otherwise you’ll miss out on so much. There is a serious misconception that just believing in God is all you need. No! Even demons believe. You have to be willing to put away your fleshly desires, what the world tells you is important, and accept what Christ tells you is important.
What personally brought you to this realization?
In the beginning (of accepting Christ) I was on my second marriage and it wasn’t going so well. My relationships were failing. I was in my 40s and thought I was doing something wrong. I prayed and asked God what am I doing wrong here. He started showing me through prayer and the Bible. I was expecting him to do all the work and was not taking responsibility. There are things I am supposed to be doing too. My marriage began to get better and I’m no longer in a lot of toxic relationships. Now I look back and realize why I’m no longer involved in those relationships. I had to move on with the purpose God has planned for me.
You mentioned baptism not being the end of the race but just the beginning; what did you mean by that?
People think when they get baptized everything is going to be great now. Sometimes things get worse. I was living for Satan for 40 years and he wasn’t going to give up that easy. It’s not all fine. Part of that process is your flesh has to die and that’s a painful process that you have to be willing to do. There is work to be done after baptism.
You believe it is an individual’s daily decisions and thoughts that will keep them distant from God’s grace or draw them to him. Elaborate more on that.
You are put in situations everyday and you are able to make choices. You can do what glorifies God or what makes you comfortable. Which can bring you closer and help build that relationship or further distance you? Just because you say that you’re a Christian doesn’t mean you can’t back away from God through your actions. He’s present, but you aren’t. When I’m not looking for him or reaching out for him and I feel like he’s gone, in reality I stepped away.
This book connects with the Christian of 40 years to the Christian of four days. One would think that is a huge difference, why will this book help both?
It relates to people on all spectrums to take that next step to deepen their relation with Christ. When you first accept Christ you have your milk. Then you have to graduate to the meat and potatoes. Lots of people just stop at the milk or toddler stage, but you never stop growing in Christ. Never!
No matter where you are don’t think you’re done. Take the next step. Amazing things has happened in my families lives because we didn’t give up and we trusted God through the temptations and trials.
What do you hope people learn from your book?
That God loves them on a very individual basis. At his worse pain, while on the cross, he was thinking of you. People always say, “what God is saying to the church” but he is saying things to you. You have to realize how personal that is.
It’s All About You: Walking One on One with God can be purchased in bookstores nationwide or by visiting tatepublishing.com/bookstore, amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.
Book signings
Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Something’s Perkin Christian Coffeehouse, 108 E. Washington St., Greensburg, IN, 47240
Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon at Oak Tree Ministries, 6205 W. Taylor Road, Muncie, IN, 47304
Dec. 1 from 1 to 2 p.m. at Revelations Christian Bookstore, 209 E. High St., Moresville, IN, 46158
