Dear Michal Ann:

My name is Theresa C. I wanted to write and let you know how much your book, "A Call to the Secret Place," has meant to me.

I am 44 years old and have been a born-again Christian for nearly 3 years.
Last year I purchased the book "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge. In it they told about their friend Tammy who gave up all her ministry to come home and sit at the feet of Jesus to worship and be taught. And at that moment, I felt a stirring and understanding of what the Lord was calling me to do. I wrote to them and asked if they could put Tammy in touch with me; sadly, they could not.

But the Lord knew my heart and knew that a couple of descriptive sentences would not be enough. So He did the next best thing -- he led me to your book! I was in Pathways one night and I found your book on the sale rack, which was a great blessing because I'm a single mom and funds are very tight.

So I didn't get to talk with Tammy -- but I got to meet you and all the amazing women you described in your book. And now I know -- no, I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW -- what the Lord has called me to do.

By reading about you and the women in this book, I found women who have had the same incredible experiences that I have had with Jesus. Who share the passion and desire just to sit with Him and learn from Him and do everything they can for Him. I remember how confused I was when my Bible study leader tried to explain contemplative prayer to me. Finally she said, "You just have to sit down and do it!" And now I know. . .

Earlier this year, the Lord told me that I had been in a cocoon, and very soon, I was to emerge as a butterfly. He asked me to create a desktop wallpaper to remind me of this so I would stay encouraged while I was in my cocoon. While I was surfing around looking for a butterfly photo, I found the Web site of a Christian artist who had gotten this word from the Lord:
"Be who you are in Jesus Christ and step into your destiny. Come out of the cocoon and be a beautiful butterfly." The Lord told me to claim this for myself, so I added it to my artwork. I also added Jeremiah 29:11 to the art.

But I was puzzled. I did a keyword search for "butterfly" on Biblegateway.com, and that word does not appear in scripture. I knew the Lord would reveal the purpose of this at the right time, so I waited.

And then, in your story about St. Teresa of Avila, you described her book "The Interior Castle," "based on the journey and transformation of a silkworm into a beautiful butterfly." Now I understand the Lord's word to me! Because of my name I have always been interested in St. Teresa, and even
got to visit her cathedral in Avila, Spain while in college. I have bought
the book and will start reading it this weekend -- I will be on vacation next week, and the Lord asked me to wait to read it until I could have an extended period of time alone with Him. I can't wait to get started! I also read Jeanne Guyon's "A Simple Method of Prayer" last week.

So thank you, Michal Ann, for your book and for introducing me to yourself and these other amazing women of God. Now I see and know clearly what I was meant to be and do for the Lord, and I have several "mentors" to follow. I will probably be writing back soon to share my wonderful experiences from reading St. Teresa's book.

I pray that the Lord will reward you richly for all you have done, from the women like me who found much-needed inspiration and confirmation from your book. Thank you for putting yourself out there for us!

Sincerely,

Theresa C.