Monday, 17 September 2012

Hi. My name is Helen, and I am one of the newest additions to the Christian Writers Downunder  list of bloggers.

 I never actually envisioned that I would be added to such a list; after all, I'm not exactly the epitome of Christian living at its best. Don't get me wrong, I'm not out every night breaking the Ten Commandments or anything; but I do tend to allow my circumstances to take my focus away from God more than I ought. When I know I should be praising, instead I tend to stamp my frustrated size 11 feet and throw spiritual temper tantrums.   

 Some days I am overcome by an overwhelming sense of insecurity; I shrink away from both God and people, struggling to find anything likeable about me, inside or out. I doubt my character - as a mum, wife, friend and Christian - and run a personal CCTV loop of my faults through my mind, over and over again.

It can be a stormy sea of emotions to navigate; from a writing perspective I can sometimes feel like such a phony, writing on the goodness of God and his wonderful love, when in reality I feel a million miles away from both his goodness and his loving presence. But over the years the Holy Spirit has taught me a tenet of faith that has released me from questioning my legitimacy to write for God. It's a revelation that has become crucial to my life, in every aspect:

 No matter how I feel, the truth of Jesus Christ will always be true. 

Aha! A rhema word indeed! God has so very gently shown me that when I write, I write from the heart. And in my heart of hearts is a deep-seeded love for God, an unshakeable trust in the truth of His Word and a delight in sharing the inspired encouragements that He whispers to me. 

 So when I feel that I am being tossed around on that wretched sea of uncertainty, I can rest in the knowledge that I am safe, for His truth is my anchor - and it is unfailing, able to withstand the roughest of seas I come up against. 

 What a relief it is, to know that I don't have to strive to feel holy enough to share the love of God;  to realise that my writing is acceptable to Him because of who He is, and the truth that He drops into my heart to share.

 Blessings, 

 Helen

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These thoughts were bought to you by Helen Carr at 11:00
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18 comments:

  1. Paula Vince17 September 2012 at 11:13

    Hi Helen,
    Thanks for your honesty and I'm sure we can all echo, "I know just what you're talking about." I'm so glad we're not expected to have it all together from birth and that for as long as we live, we are 'being' perfected.
    You're absolutely right, the truth of God's Word is what qualifies us to back up what we're talking about with no qualms when we right.
    Blessings,
    Paula

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    1. Helen Carr19 September 2012 at 23:48

      Hi Paula,

      It is so good to know that others feel the same! The image we portray up front is so often different from our unseen selves; it's so encouraging to know that people such as yourself feel the same way!

      Thanks for your response and encouragement.

      Blessings,

      Helen.

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  2. Dorothy17 September 2012 at 12:23

    What a beautiful post, Helen. I loved your transparency and most of all the lessons you've learned from the place of weakness. Haven't we all wallowed there? And praise God for taking all that and transforming us through it to reach others. Especially those of us blessed to use it in our writing. Keep up the great work.
    Blessing
    Dotti :)

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    1. Helen Carr19 September 2012 at 23:52

      Hi Dotti,

      Thanks for your encouraging words. I do think we are blessed as writers; sometimes I feel giddy as a schoolgirl when God brings a specific message to my heart to write about. The hard part is, generally the better writing comes from experience - oh how I wallow sometimes!

      Thanks for your encouragement.

      Blessings,

      Helen

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  3. Jo-Anne Berthelsen17 September 2012 at 12:53

    Thanks so much for your honest words, Helen. And I can see you have a great sense of humour too, which is always helpful in this writing journey! God bless and keep you standing firm in him.

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    1. Helen Carr19 September 2012 at 23:55

      Hi Jo-Anne,

      Well, I try to keep my sense of humour; mind you, with a husband and 3 boys under 7, I don't have to try very hard some days! Our home is full of rather interesting events and conversations - all of which make fantastic fodder for my writing!

      Thanks for commenting on my post.

      Blessings, Helen

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  4. Anusha Atukorala17 September 2012 at 13:20

    Hi Helen,
    That was a beautiful post. Bless you for blessing us. I think you have the greatest quality needed to write for Him. Humility. Many of us stumble on that if we allow it. I think that we can shine more for Him through our writings and our lives from a place of brokenness rather than from a place of bounty. God has shown me my sin many times and it has not been a pretty sight. So I too am not qualified to write for Him. But praise God that His grace enables me and all of us to speak of His love, as Christian writers, either explicitly or implicitly as we are called. I've heard it said that God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called. May He qualify all of us as we seek to serve Him through our writing.

    Glad you've joined us in blogging, Helen and thanks for touching our hearts today. Keep writing. You do it well,
    Anusha

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    1. Helen Carr19 September 2012 at 23:59

      Hi Anusha,

      Ah yes, I love that quote, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." I hang onto this for dear life, so often do I need to remind myself of it. Brokenness is indeed a hard state to be in, but it's the best place to learn of God's grace and mercy. And how can I write on things that I have not experienced? It is possible, I suppose, but I think the first-hand experience brings out something deeper than witnessing someone else going through a certain situation.

      I really appreciate your encouragement, Anusha.

      Blessings, Helen

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  5. Rose Dee17 September 2012 at 13:44

    Hi Helen,

    It's great to meet you. I see myself in your words. I only feel good enough to write because God says I am. But what more do we need!

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    1. Helen Carr20 September 2012 at 00:01

      Hi Rose,

      That's exactly right! It's a good place to be; I used to lead worship and would be battling feelings the whole time - was I spiritual enough, had I prayed enough, was I only doing this to gain personal recognition? How I wish I'd just relaxed and trusted that God alone qualified me for the ministry, so enjoy it! Ah yes, we live and learn.

      Blessings, Helen

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  6. Amanda Deed18 September 2012 at 08:35

    Hi Helen,
    I love that - that God is the same, reliable, unchanging, trustworthy God, now matter how we feel. Thanks for a great post. :)

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    1. Helen Carr20 September 2012 at 00:03

      Hi Amanda,

      Isn't it the most reassuring thing to know that, no matter what, God is in control and it will be okay.

      Thanks for commenting,

      Blessings, Helen.

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  7. Rita Galieh18 September 2012 at 12:43

    I think there's a reason we all seem to go through the horrible negative attitude stages. If we're truly Christians, then we know it's only by relying on Him do we receive the strength and confidence we so badly need. When I'm at my weakest, if I place my trust in Him then I am strong (by faith) And like you, Helen and many of us, I've found my feelings can always let me down. I love your articles, my husband and I also work with Somchai Soonthornturasuk of the Pocket Testament League in Thailand each Nov/Dec and hand out thousands of PTL Thai Gospels which are enthusiastically received.

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    1. Helen Carr20 September 2012 at 00:08

      Hi Rita,

      Yes, it is something we all must face. Sometimes I worry that I am not being a very good witness for Christ, but then I stop and remember that in all of the hard times and frustrations, I am still able to say that God is God, and I will praise Him - no matter what! I still get frustrated and vent, but ultimately I give Him the glory. And that's the best testimony to God I can give at the time.

      How exciting that you are involved with PTL! It must be very rewarding to be able to share the Gospel in Thailand. I pray that you will see the fruit of your labour when you next visit; that you will receive word from someone who has been transformed by the love of Jesus through the work of yourselves and the rest of the PTL workers.

      Blessings, Helen

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  8. Always Unlucky18 September 2012 at 22:06

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    1. Helen Carr20 September 2012 at 00:10

      Hi, thanks for coming past and reading my post. I pray that you are immensely blessed today and always. I hope to see you in the blog again sometime soon.

      Blessings,

      Helen.

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  9. Dale20 September 2012 at 08:14

    Helen, Thanks for that open and honest post that echoes what others of us feel at times. You're not alone and glad you have joined us.

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  10. Helen Carr17 October 2012 at 09:35

    Hi Dale,

    It's so encouraging to know we're not alone, isn't it?! Thank you for the welcome to the group,(sorry that I have only just noticed this message, too).

    Blessings, Helen.

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