Summer is almost over, but it’s one of my favorite times to read, so I’m squeezing in more reading and hope you are too.
I’d love to hear what books you’ve been enjoying, in the comments.
It’s a joy to offer another installment of the Author Interview Series. I officially endorsed the book we are highlighting today, which is: The God Dare, by Kate Battistelli. Here’s my endorsement:
There is something special about this book! Power-packed with rich biblical accounts, Kate’s compelling story—and an invitation you can’t afford to miss—The God Dare is for everyone who is ready to leave behind complacent living and respond to God’s call to a courageous, faith-filled life. It will be worth it!”
Disclosure: Affiliate links are used in this post. If you choose to purchase through the links, I may be compensated at no additional cost to you. See full disclosure policy.
If you watch our live show, “Stop! Hammock Time,” then you’ve already met my friend, Kate Battistelli and her husband, Mike. It’s a joy to welcome to Kate to the blog again to talk about her new book, The God Dare: Will You Choose to Believe the Impossible?
Interview with Kate Battistelli
I am a huge musical fan! Can you tell us about your background, on Broadway?
I met my husband, Mike, in the Broadway National Tour of The King and I, starring Yul Brynner. I started the show as the understudy to the leading lady, and after a few months, I had the wonderful opportunity to take over the role of leading lady. I met my husband a few months later, when he joined the tour as the associate conductor, and we quite literally fell in love across the footlights. We both were convinced the theatre would be our life but God had other plans for us.
About two years after giving our hearts to the Lord, we both began to get the feeling God was calling us out of that world, which made absolutely no sense in the natural, but often God’s call doesn’t make sense at the time. We prayed about it and got good counsel and decided to move out of New York and into a home business and homeschooling and leave the theatre behind.
We wanted fame and fortune but thank God, in His wisdom, He allowed our ceiling to become our daughter’s floor as her desire has always been to make His name famous. Because of our backgrounds, we were able to guide Francesca and help her navigate the music and performing world in the early years of her career. At the time God called us out of the theatre world, it made no sense and all of our theatre friends thought we were crazy as our careers were going well. That’s why I call a God Dare a spiritual bungee jump. It’s guaranteed to be a wild ride but when you obey, there will always be fruit.
Tell us about your new book, The God Dare (Shiloh Run Press, June 2019):
A God Dare is that crazy, impossible dream or wild adventure God is inviting you to join. You know you aren’t equipped but if God calls you to it, He’ll equip you to do it. If you believe God is daring you, typically it will be scary and make you move out of your comfort zone. The best way to hear it is to pray and ask God for confirmation that it’s really Him. Ask a few mature Christians or your pastor to pray with you that God will make it crystal clear.
A God Dare is simple. It’s God’s yes. It’s His gigantic smile and nod of the head, His holy high-five begging you to believe. Begging you to take Him at His word, to once and for all let go of fear, doubt, guilt, and pride and say yes to His yes. It’s God’s offer to each of us to choose to be chosen–to say yes to His magnificent plan for your life!
We only know what’s possible but the impossible is God’s comfort zone. @katebattistelli #TheGodDare Share on X
What was your core motivation for writing this book?
I look at the American church and, for the most part, it has gotten soft. We don’t take risks, we don’t want to leave our comfort zones and we don’t want to step out. My desire is to challenge and encourage each reader that God has a plan specifically for them. I’m convinced each of us is here to change the world but we have to be willing to obey, step out and do it afraid. I’m praying and believing The God Dare will encourage many to take their own personal God Dares and change the world right where they are!
You have a performing arts background. What started you on your writing journey?
Back in 2011, God dared me to write my first book and I wasn’t a writer. I’d always loved to write and journal but I was not a trained writer. Here’s how it happened. We’d homeschooled our daughter Francesca with a large homeschooling group in Orlando, where we lived at the time.
They were getting ready to celebrate their 20th anniversary and asked my husband Mike and I to come speak about what we did to raise our daughter to find her purpose. By this time, she’d already signed her record deal and her songs were getting lots of airplay on the radio. We told the homeschooling organization yes we’d be happy to speak and afterward, as we chatted about it, Mike and I came up with 15 intentional things we’d done to raise her to find her destiny in God.
A week later we gave our talk and the next day I was praying and thanking God for those 15 things and that’s when I heard God speak these terrifying words in my spirit: “Those are book chapters.” I reminded God I wasn’t a writer, I had no platform or college degree and no way to get it published but I kept hearing Him repeat, “Those are book chapters.” So I found a friend who was a writing coach and showed her my idea and she helped me get the book written and published. I realized God was triple-dog-daring me to step out and do something that made absolutely no sense at the time. But it makes total sense now!
The God Dare shares your story but also the story of numerous Bible characters who said, “yes” to God’s dare to follow Him, no matter what. What Bible passage or story best describes your journey of faith?
I’d have to say the story of the woman caught in adultery and forgiven by Jesus. I’ve never committed adultery but I did get caught in sexual sin as a teen and ended up pregnant at 18 and having an abortion way back in 1972, before Roe vs Wade had become law. When I got saved at 29 I knew Jesus knew what I’d done and I knew He loved me anyway. His redemption is real and has been proven over and over again in my life.
Is there a particular verse from the Bible that is your favorite?
Psalm 16:5-8 English Standard Version
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Kate Battistelli is an author, speaker, former actress/singer in the New York Broadway musical theatre world and mother of GRAMMY award-winning Contemporary Christian recording artist Francesca Battistelli. Kate is convinced God has a wild, preposterous, secret, scary, or impossible dream just for you. It’s what she calls a God Dare, because she’s learned with God absolutely anything is possible.
Kate has been married to her husband Mike for thirty-five years and loves being near her daughter, son-in-law and four amazing grandchildren. More information can be found at katebattistelli.com.
So grateful that Kate could be with us today. Be sure to pick up a copy of The God Dare. It makes a great gift for anyone, especially those entering college.
P.S. If you aren’t already a subscriber to my e-newsletter, text the word MARTHA to 345345, to sign-up for free.
P.S. There just a few days left to enter to win a copy of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver and Made Like Martha by me, in this giveaway.
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