Jauss - Making room: doing less so God can do more

I wouldnt have guessed that I had much in common with the wife of a Major League Baseball coach, but Billie Jauss showed me differently in Making Room . As soon as I read her counsel to choose activities that are God glorifying not schedule stuffers, I knew she was speaking my language. In practical and genuine ways, Making Room offers us the tools we need to leave space for God to work in our lives and through our lives. A book to which Ill no doubt need to return often.

Cynthia Ruchti, author of A Fragile Hope and As My Parents Age

Not often can you read a book so honest and feel so at home. Readers will sense the courage it took for Billie Jauss to push past a surface life to one of depth and want to go right there with her. Through her authentic sharing, she offers insight and an invitation for us to recognize how we too can make room for a life led beautifully, intentionally, and uniquely set part for God. An inspiring read!

Jan Kern, author, speaker, life coach,
and founder of Voice of Courage (voiceofcourage.org)

This book is a must-read for those of us who confuse doing with being. So many nuggets of truth are tucked away in these pages.

Gari Meacham, author of Truly Fed, Spirit Hunger,
and Be Free , president of The Vine Uganda

Billie lives life with such full-throttle passion yet she has learned how to listen to the holy nudge that directs one to Gods blueprints. As a recovering control freak, I smiled as I read the process of Billie learning the liberating truth of doing less so God can do more. Billie inspires the reader to release the firm grip on ones blueprints and with open palms accept the Papa Approved script for ones life! I applaud your transparency, Billie!

Jackie Kendall, president of Power to Grow Inc.,
author of Surrender Your Jr. God Badge

Making Room is a compass for anyone who wants to learn to fall in love with Jesus and find true joy in your life. Billie not only writes from the heart, she lives it! You need to make time for Making Room .

Rod Olson, author of The Legacy Builder and The Wisdom Lunch Warrior

I first met Billie Jauss when she graciously hosted me in her home for a World Vision Women of Vision event in Florida. While her life was busy, I immediately recognized a woman eager to allow God to use her to make a difference. Willingness to be inconvenienced, stretched, and moved out of our comfort zones is always the key to seeing God make us change agents in this desperate world, and for this reason I found Billie Jausss honest account of her own personal journey a relatable and inspiring read. I encourage anyone who feels they are too busy, inadequate, or irrelevant to change the world in Jesus name to read Making Room !

Marilee Pierce Dunker, international speaker and author of Man of Vision

Making Room

Doing Less So God Can Do More

Billie Jauss

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

New Hope Publishers

PO Box 12065

Birmingham, AL 35202-2065

NewHopePublishers.com

New Hope Publishers is a division of WMU.

Making Room: Doing Less So God Can Do More

2018 by Billie Jauss

All rights reserved. First printing 2018.

Printed in the United States of America.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher.

New Hope Publishers serves its authors as they express their views, which may not express the views of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Jauss, Billie, 1966- author.

Title: Making room : doing less so God can do more / Billie Jauss.

Description: First [edition]. | Birmingham : New Hope Publishers, 2017.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017030966 | ISBN 9781625915351 (permabind)

Subjects: LCSH: Christian life. | Spirituality--Christianity. | Spiritual

life--Christianity. | Holy Spirit.

Classification: LCC BV4501.3 .J38 2017 | DDC 248.4--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017030966

(Copyright information continues on p. 188.)

ISBN-13: 978-1-62591-535-1

N184108 1017 2.5M1

I owe tremendous gratitude to the two women who launched me into this writing journey.

Bev Sparling, we met while sitting by a pool in Arizona during the Pro Athletes Outreach Conference. You encouraged me to write about my life experiences in baseball for Baseball Chapel Devotions. With your editorial prowess, you made me look like a writer. Your guidance created a desire to pen more devotionsthe beginning of my writing career. Thank you.

Katharine Grubb, the 10 Minute Novelist, we have seen a lot of life together. We have cried (mostly you), talked, and prayed for each other through the years. The word spoken over both of us, about writing, was what you knew for your entire life and I had no idea for mine. Fast-forward many years. You needed a guinea pig for your book, Write a Novel in 10 Minutes a Day. The experience was eye-opening and career-changing. You showed me a love for writing in a deeper way. Thank you.

Thanks abound from a grateful heart

First and foremost I thank God for giving a little girl from an Eastern North Carolina farm the gumption to never give up, the love of learning, and a desire to live life to the fullest with Him.

Thank you to my husband of many years for loving me no matter what, being my biggest encourager, and believing in me when I couldnt. Life is more joyous with you. I never knew how exciting life could be, and then there was baseball. There is never a dull moment in the traveling Jauss house. Gods love shines through you more every day. I look forward to the rest of our lives glorifying Him and loving each other through this crazy baseball life.

Thank you to my three wonderful babies who arent babies anymore. To the one who made me a mom, DJ, you challenge me every day. Your love is felt deeply even from the great distances you travel and live. My middle baby, Charley, your heart is bigger and more caring than I could have prayed for when you were born. Thank you for your constant encouragement. My baby boy, Will, you are special and strong-willed, a mini-me of your father and my miracle. God gave you to us when we didnt think there would be another. I thank Him daily. The three of you have been such an encouragement throughout this process. When I didnt think I could do it, you gave me courage. I am so proud of the men you have become.

Thank you to my mama. Watching you read late into the nights spawned a love of reading and books. I hope you enjoy this one.

Thank you to my sister JoAnne. Your love is immeasurable. I thank God you had a large hand in raising me. I think I turned out pretty good.

Thank you to my Dream Team of Prayer Warriors: Debi, Fran, Ingrid,Jan, Jeannine, Marcia, and Rene. The prayers were felt at the most needed of times. Knowing you all were going to God for this book and His words to be written was an incredible encouragement and support.

Thank you to New Hope Publishers and Mark Bethea for offering that little girl turned nearly 50-year-old a book contract. A dream I never knew I had came true.

Thank you to my editor, Ramona Richards.

Thank you to my agent, Wendy Lawton at Books & Such Literary Management. You are strength in this complex pathway to publishing. Thank you for walking with me.