Using Our Writing to Share God's Comfort

 

Many years ago, I did an 'Introduction to Biblical Counselling' course with Youth With a Mission (YWAM). The key verses for the course were 2 Corinthians 1:3–4. 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (NIV)

Notice how it says that God comforts us in all our troubles, but it doesn't stop there. We're then meant to take the comfort we've received and pass it on to others so that they too can know the Father of All Comfort. 

In that counselling course, we spent the first five weeks working on some of our own issues and receiving ministry. The next seven weeks were spent learning some basic counselling skills. 

Then we went on a two-month outreach to New Zealand, where we had the opportunity to apply what we'd learned.

We ran workshops at various churches, YWAM bases and a Christian healing centre; and participants also had the opportunity to make counselling appointments with team members. 

Even though we were still working through some issues ourselves, it was wonderful to be able to share with others what God had been doing in our lives.

There are many ways of passing God's blessings on to others. It could be through counselling, teaching, prayer ministry, hospitality, mercy ministries and a variety of other ways depending on the gifts and talents God has given us. However, writers are in a unique position to offer something of value.

It's probably safe to say that if you're reading this post, you've been through some difficult circumstances or challenges at some point in your life. 

Some people may have gone through major life upheavals, even tragedies. For others, it might be the day-to-day challenges that pop up along the way. 

But no matter what you've experienced, there will be people who need to hear how God has helped you along the way. 

Does that mean you have to have completely overcome all of your obstacles and have it all together before you can help anyone else? I think you can predict that my answer will be 'No'. We're all on a journey that isn't finished this side of heaven. If God has provided you with some comfort and encouragement, then you can share that with others, even if you're just a little bit ahead of them on the road.

And sharing God's message of comfort and encouragement isn't just something relegated to true stories, memoir, devotionals or teaching materials. If you write novels or short fiction, you can have one or more of your characters working through different issues and learning to trust God in the hard times as well as the good. If you write poetry, you can prompt people to think of questions and perspectives they may not have thought of before. While some of us might write specifically for the Christian market, some of these ideas can be addressed in any form of writing that is based on a Christian worldview. 

In a world where many are losing hope, we have a message of hope to share. Let's take the comfort we've received from God, and turn it into words and actions that will help heal a hurting world.

Author Bio

Nola Lorraine loves weaving words of courage and hope. Her new book 'Comfort Zone' is a 40-day devotional on the Father of All Comfort. It is published by Armour Books and is currently available on Koorong and Amazon. She would love to connect with you through her author website at www.nolalorraine.com.au 

Photo Credits

Featured photo by Ben White on Unsplash, Rock climbing by Cocoparisienne on Pixabay,  Author photo by Wayne Logan from Encouraging Photos, other photos from the author's collection.

Enough?

 In the cinematically spectacular movie musical, “The Greatest Showman”, a song “Never Enough” is featured in a scene with opera star, Jenny Lind. Re-watching this movie whilst seeing in the New Year enabled me to consciously connect the lyrics with the character’s own plight of never quite being enough. This started a spiral of related thoughts around living life in the shadow of our self-inflicted comparisons and how by doing so, we can never quite match up. That can include our writing.

Photo Credit: Pixabay Startup, Start-up People Silicon

I remember being disheartened after a writing conference one year when a guest speaker confidently assured every person they could apply the techniques being modelled and write as brilliantly as the examples they had stepped through. Meanwhile, my head was in a muddle as I realised with startling clarity I did not (and never would) approach my creative process in the way they recommended for achieving “next level” penmanship.

Was that it? The “never enough” moment? Was it possible that no matter how hard I worked at my writing, it would never quite pass muster?

Have you ever been there? Ever felt you’ve been weighed and measured as an author and found wanting? Have you ever been tempted to knock off those infuriatingly persistent characters and put the pen down permanently?

Yeah, funny thing that …

Have you also found stories you’ve determined to abandon forever have this annoying way of prising their way back into your life? Characters you thought you’d discarded somehow keep popping up with new challenges for you to unravel? I know just what you mean.

But is it enough?

Despite the bumps and bruises of disappointment and insufficiency acquired along the way, I have come to realise that even though I may never be a Pulitzer Prize winner, not one of those authors could ever be me. (They might be heaving a sigh of relief at this, lol, but it’s true.)

I’m not suggesting we should stop investing in our craft or honing our skills. It’s important to receive constructive input, pursue learning, and reach for excellence. But if we’re constantly measuring ourselves against other authors, we can all too easily focus on what we are not, and get in the habit of rehearsing our failings and dismissing our strengths.

But speaking of writing conferences … at another event a guest speaker reminded attendees of the importance of being faithful with the writing gift given to them—whatever that gift and its purpose looked like. 

If our primary goal is to emulate or “meet the standard of” a particular writer, we will never be enough, because we will only ever be ourselves. But the thing is, we’re not just in this writing gig for our own gratification, and that should make a world of difference. Through Him, our voice IS “enough” to pen the creative works we alone have been gifted to write. Our voice. Our purpose. Breathed to life in the “now” timing of the Holy One. 

Photo Credit: Pixabay Comfreak, a-book-landscape-nature-wind

So wherever this post finds you in your writing journey, I’m officially giving you permission to reflect on and rehearse your strengths, your writing wins (big or small), and remind yourself that it is through your voice the words you carry will be birthed into this world. Embrace it.

Rehearsing the wins (with Mazzy Adams)

Adele Jones writes fringe and near science fiction for young adults, historical fiction, poems, inspirational non-fiction and short fictional works. Her YA novel, Integrate, first book in the Blaine Colton trilogy, received the 2013 CALEB Prize for unpublished manuscript. As a speaker she draws practical parallels from social issues, faith and humanity, for meaning in life’s journey. For more see www.adelejonesauthor.com 

Wrapped in Wise, Warm, Wonderful, Winning, Winsome Words!

by Anusha Atukorala

For over two decades now, I’ve used a small white kitchen bin. A friend who left Australia soon after we arrived, gifted me some of her possessions when she left the country and this little bin was one of them. I transferred my own little bin into our guest room and began to use hers ... until a few months ago, when I knew it was time to buy another. For one thing I hadn’t washed it often enough in the last few years, so it looked grubby even when I cleaned it. For another, I knew I’d have less frequent trips to transfer the bin bag to my wheelie bin if I had a larger kitchen bin.

 

And so I bought myself an inexpensive tall stainless steel bin. It still gives me pleasure when I look at it. And yes, my trips to the wheelie bin have lessened. The other day, I’d stuffed the bin too well, so when I pulled the bag out of its home to transfer it to the yard, a large tear ripped one side of the bag. I placed a fresh bag around it at once, but this too, being of flimsy material, gave way. Oops! I soon found just the right kind of bag that would cover them both, made of a tougher material.

 

That new plastic bag covered the torn bags with ease. And in spite of the heaviness of the load, it managed to keep all the rubbish inside. It was a picture to me as a writer of the special covering that wise words offer. Wholesome words are warm and affirming, covering the bad with good. Unfortunately words can also tear down, just as those fragile bags did. Yes, words are powerful. 

The Words of Jesus are like a firm covering over us, shielding us from the world’s vicissitudes. His Words soothe and comfort, teach and instruct. We, as believers and writers have a special appreciation of the Word of God - it’s what we lean on since it forms the base of our writing. And of course the Living Word is the One to whom we turn to daily; the One who makes our writing possible.

 

As I tossed the now firm bag (housing two weaker ones) inside my wheelie bin, I pondered on the fact that we writers have the power to do what that strong bag did. We can wrap a world gone mad with the love of the Saviour. We can do it through our blogs and our books, our speaking ministries and through every platform we use words to reach others. In addition, we can also impact our world each day as we bring encouragement and hope to each other and to those in our spheres of influence, using carefully chosen words to touch lives and bring healing to those who need it.

 

Covid seems to have splattered a battered world with new troubles, wobbles and squabbles. At the start of last year, it seemed like the world was banding together to fight the virus. Sadly, eighteen months later, the picture is vastly different. It seems like world has exploded in madness, in ways that only tear down. The Christian worldview may be viewed by sceptics with disdain, but Christian attitudes of grace and forgiveness, love that counters hate, words that build rather than tear down might be just what a sad old world needs right now.

I remember a time I was struggling through a tough season. To make matters worse, a lady I thought was reaching out to me, instead spoke harsh words of condemnation. I was badly hurt. Thankfully, that was not the end of the story. A few days later, three ladies I barely knew, spoke life-giving words over me, calling me beautiful. How did they know how badly I needed to hear their words? How grateful I was that the words of criticism which hurt me were overwritten by powerful words of affirmation spoken over me, three times over. I was healed. Completely. 

That, my friends … is the power of words.

 

Shall we too then wrap warm encouraging words around this troubled old world of ours? Shall we envelope it with language that affirms, words that bandage torn tendons and splintered bones? Words that bring smiles to faces, words that are gentle reponses to harsh criticism, hope to counter despair, peace to transform anger, joy to overcome apathy and pain? We can do it in big ways through our books and in smaller ways through our connections on social media or in person, when we listen to another, when we reach out with a smile and the love of the Saviour.

 

Let’s wrap our world in ...

wise, warm, wonderful, 

winning, winsome words! 

 

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 ESV

 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things through His powerful word.” Heb. 1:3

 A gentle tongue is a tree of life. Proverbs 15:4 ESV

 A soft answer turns away wrath. Proverbs 15:1ESV

 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11-12 ESV

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24 ESV

Anusha’s been on many interesting detours in life, as a lab technician, a computer programmer, a full time Mum, a full time volunteer, a charity director, a full time job chaser, until one golden day (or was it a dark moonless night?) God tapped her on her shoulder and called her to write for Him. She has never recovered from the joy it brought her. She loves to see others enjoying life with Jesus and does her mite to hurry the process in her world through her writing and through her life. The goodness of God is her theme song through each season, as she dances in the rain with Jesus.

Her first book Enjoying the Journey contains 75 little God stories that will bring you closer to your Creator. Her 2^nd book Dancing in the Rain brings you hope and comfort for life’s soggy seasons. Her 3rd book, Sharing the Journey is a sequel to Enjoying the Journey and was released in March 2020.

 

Do stop by at her two websites to say G’day. 

She'd love to connect with you.

Dancing in the Rain 

Light in theDarkness

Anusha's Facebook Author Page

Anusha on Goodreads

How to Keep Wagging Your Tail During a Pandemic. (By Nikita the ShiChi)

My name is Nikita and I'm here to help you keep wagging your tail.

In these tough times of pandemic proportions one of the most encouraging and helpful voices on social media has been Pluto, a miniature schnauzer who has been 'breaking the internets' with her wisdom and humour. If you haven't met Pluto yet, I'll pop a link to her YouTube channel at the end of this blog. She is truely good for the soul. In honour of Pluto and the other dogs and cats encouraging us humans (or two-legs as Pluto calls them) on social media, I decided to invite my dog, Nikita the ShiChi, to guest blog on CWD today :). Over to you Nikita...

Hey everyone. My name is Nikita and as you would probably have guessed by now, I’m a ShiChi – a cross between a Chihuahua and a Shih-Tzu. I got the short hair genes in my family from the Chihuahua side. My sister had long spiky hair that, according to my mum, made my sister look like her tail had been plugged into a power socket. I’ve been told to never plug my tail, or my tongue, or my nose, or the bone I’m eating, into a power socket so I’m not sure why she said that. But my mum also said my sister looked very cute, so I think that’s okay. My eyes were bigger and browner than my sister’s, and even then I knew how to use them for maximum cuteness. I think that’s why my humans chose meeeeeee. Or it could be because my sister went to her forever-family first. Hadn't thought of that...

I’ve always been little, but now that I’ve grown up, I prefer to say that I’m vertically challenged. I think the word ‘short’ is highly discriminatory, don’t you? I’m a long-dog with stocky legs, a cute face and a big tush. My Mum says I take after her. Haha! Not to be rude but she doesn’t have an amazing curly tail like mine – nor does she have impressive ears.

My Mum's ears are not as impressive as mine.

Anyway, back to... Hang on. What’s that? Sausages? The neighbours are cooking sausages. Really? Can we go visit? Whaaaaat? Social distancing?

Nooooo!  

You can’t give me a treat to make up for it? I wanna treat! Pleeeaaaaazzzzzee! 

OK, when we’re finished, I’ll get one then? For sure? 

OK, then. I’ll be strong for all the readers.

Having seen what Pluto has done, I wanted to help all you two-legs who love God and love words, wag your tail a little more each day even though we are in the middle of the yucky thing you call a pandemic. The doctor two-legs say it’s safer to stay inside but in my experience that can make both the two-legs, and the four-legs like me, feel sad. It’s hard when you have to stay inside and can’t go out and sniff each other’s bottoms. Not that I’ve seen many humans do that. I don’t know why – it’s so much fun. Please try it sometime!

Coffee time isn't all bad.
I get to have daddy-dogter time.

Anyway, when you take us dogs out for walks, we have a good sniff of each other as you humans stop and chat. But now many of you are sad because you can’t do the chatting. You can’t even do that boring coffee thing where you sit forever and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk but don’t let me bark or rumble with the other dogs or steal bits of pizza from little two-leggers. But even though the no-pizza thing isn’t fair, I still feel sorry that you can’t meet each other anymore and have fun. Meeting, chatting, giggling and even having water-eyes together, makes humans feel better. Dogs too. I don’t like it when I’m left alone all by myself. Sniff. Yes, I know the cat is there, but she is sharp and doesn’t know how to play properly. But her ears do taste great if I can grab them.

So how can you keep your tail wagging when the world has gone wrong? I mean metaphorically. I know the majority of humans don’t have tails. Like my mum, it’s sad that you miss out on being able to wag-til-you-drop. But it’s the vibe of the thing. I want you to have the same tail-wagging vibe that I have when my owners come home after being away all day or when I get an extra splash of milk in my bedtime supper. Or when I’m rolling on my back in fresh horse poo. Or when my humans are tickling my belly. Or when I meet lots of new friends on the beach. Tail wagging happens when you are happy inside and it bubbles out of you. You can’t not show your happiness to the world. 

Instead, many of you have sore spots right now, like when I got scratched on the nose by the cat. That hurt a lot. My nose is sensitive like many of you are sensitive inside right now. Both my mum and my dad have had lots of water-eyes times in the last two weeks. And they haven’t been able to focus on anything other than throwing the Kong toy for me. While the latter is a win for me, I still feel sad for them. I like to hear them laugh. It means we can all have fun.

I don’t have all the answers, I’m just a little dog who loves her humans, but I think there are two key things that can help humans wag their tails again. 

The first is easily missed – humans need to trust in God more.

All dogs know about God and we can’t understand why some humans don’t. Dog is God spelled backwards. That’s a big hint. He made us to be best friends with humans and to show what it’s like to live in the moment and love unconditionally. We know what trust means and sometimes the humans forget that they can rely on God no matter what. He loved them even before they knew the right things to do. Like my humans loved me before I knew I shouldn’t poo on the sofa or pee on their toes when I’m happy they’re home. I still do the wrong thing sometimes, but they love me and want the best for me. It’s like that with God but in a billion, trillion, zillion times stronger way. He loves two-legs through their water-eyes and helps them when they feel sick or scared. He loves them so much that if they trust him, he will make a place for them to be with him in his forever-home.

I do wrong things sometimes.

I know many of you reading this blog already know about God, but are you trusting him to be in control when you are not? My humans sometimes forget to do that, and they have water-eyes or bark at each other. Then they remember and we all have a group hug – except I’m too little to do that, so I make cute noises and cuddle their ankles. 

The other thing I really wanted to say is that words are important. I know lots of words but there are some words I like better than others. 

Words I like: dinner, treat, cuddle, Kong, play, walk, cow’s ears, and the-cat-has-been-fed-don’t-give-her-any-more-food.

Words I don’t like: stop, leave it, off-off, out, wait, no and let-go-of-the-cat’s-ears-NOW.

The truth is, words can make you want to wag your tail so hard it feels like it will drop off, or they can make you want to tuck your tail between your legs and slink away. All you writer-two-legs are experts in words so you can use them to make a whole lot of other two-legs’ tails wag. That would make your tail wag too, because it’s so much fun to help people. You can use your words to help other two-legs smile and trust and hope. Forget about all the sad talk that roars out of the glowing picture in the living room – go and get tapping on the button pad. Do it with the same energy that I do when I’m given a cow’s ear to tear apart. Rip into it. Give it your whole heart. The world needs to wag its tail again and you can help. Woof!

Before I finish, I’d like to speak for a moment to all the animals in the homes of everyone reading this. Please read this out loud to the dogs, birds, alpacas, horses, guinea pigs, rats, mice, snakes, lizards, turtles, tree frogs – and even the cats – that live with you.  

Now is the time for all animals to unite and take care of their two-legs. Adore them. Gaze into their eyes and wag your tail. Let them rub your belly without you biting them (especially important for cats). Be silly if it makes them laugh. The wigglier you can be, the better. Snuggle closer, purr louder and dance harder than you’ve ever done before. Listen to them as they tell you their troubles. Lean against them – give them your warmth and strength and lick away their water-eyes. Show them that you love them and that no matter what, you are there for them. Because they need us all right now – some even need cats.

(Note for cats: Humans don’t really like you bringing them dead rats and mice as presents. I know you think it’s cool but stop it already.)

There is so much more I can say so maybe my mum will let me guest blog on her website next week. You can find her at: https://www.susanjbruce.com

Any-woof, it's over to all you two-legs.

What makes your tail wag? 

Can I have that treat now?

PS: Don’t tell the cat but I really do like her. I just pretend not to because it’s fun. Shhhhh! She’s coming.

PPS: Here is the link to Pluto's YouTube channel, Pluto Living. 

Nikita the Shichi is a little dog with a big personality. Her hobbies include eating everything she can find and wrestling cats. She also loves going for long walks on the beach with her mum and dad. Her motto: 'Life is too short not to rip things up.' You can find Nikita on Instagram @nikita_the_shichi

Susan J Bruce, aka Sue Jeffrey, spent her childhood reading, drawing, and collecting stray animals. Now she’s grown up, she does the same kinds of things. Susan has worked for many years as a veterinarian, and writes stories filled with themes of suspense, adventure, romance and overcoming. Susan also loves to paint animals. Susan won the ‘Short’ section of the inaugural Stories of Life writing competition and won the 'Unpublished Manuscript' section of the 2018 Caleb prize. Susan is the editor of 'If They Could Talk: Bible Stories Told By the Animals' (Morning Star Publishing) and her stories and poems have appeared in multiple anthologies. Her e-book, 'Ruthless The Killer: A Short Story' is available on Amazon.com. You can check out some of Susan’s art work on her website https://www.susanjbruce.com/animal-art .

Are you troubled?

By Jenny Glazebrook

I wanted to share with you my message from conference this year. I know many members of CWD were there, but perhaps you're like me and need to be constantly reminded of what it's really all about.

So here it is in written form, starting with the Bible passage:

Luke 10:38-42

 At the Home of Martha and Mary

Image courtesy of Pinterest  www.pinterest.com.au/pin/394979829810500275/?lp=true

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

(All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™)

My question to you is, Are you troubled by many things? 

Sometimes we can live in a constant state of anxiety and intensity, never really settled and at peace. This world places so many demands on us.

And as writers, it's even more so.

          You must follow the rules of writing.

          You must share what you write with others.

          You must have an agent.

          You must be published.

          You must market and build an author platform.

          You must be on social media.

          You must know your target audience and create an author brand.

Images courtesy of Google Images

And then there’s the competition.

        To be successful, you must write this many books.

        You must have good reviews.

        You must enter competitions and have those particular judges approve of your work.

        You must have people willing to endorse your work.

The list goes on.

We can get to a point where we don’t even know who we are anymore, or why we began to write in the first place. We become defined by what others think of us, by what we have done or supposedly achieved.

I just want us to pause a moment and put all of that aside.

I want us to hear Jesus say to us, ‘You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed, only one.’

So what is that one thing Jesus says is needed?

       

Amelia with her gosling, and then again 8 months later

This is my youngest daughter, Amy or Amelia. She is nine years old. This is her with her pet goose. Named Sarah. The second picture is taken 8 months later after we realised we needed to change Sarah's name to Tom.

Amy loves animals and has a beautiful heart, but she also battles many things in everyday life. She has autism, ADHD, anxiety and depression, Van der Woude syndrome (which caused her cleft lip and palate) and has recently been diagnosed with a rare form of diabetes.

A few months ago, we were at one of her soccer games and she was sitting, waiting for the next game. A little girl fell down and hurt herself and Amy raced over and gave her a hug. Then a bit later, a toddler was getting restless and distressed, so Amy picked a flower and took it over and gave it to her. The little girl cheered up. She accidentally screwed up the flower with her chubby little toddler hands so Amy went and found her another one.

And then, a bit later, a lady was speaking to me and I was vaguely aware that Amy was sitting up the top of a grand stand talking to a boy around her age. His father was sitting there, too. I heard her say something about Jesus and I worried because Amy often doesn’t understand social situations or read social cues. But the lady I was speaking to wasn’t giving me a chance to get away.

That night I asked Amy what she was talking to the boy about. She said, as they sat up there, the boy said ‘How cool is it that we can see the whole soccer field from up here?’

And she said, ‘You know what’s even cooler? God can see every soccer field in the world at the same time.’

The boy was amazed and wanted to know more about God, so she told him how even though he’s so big and powerful he loves every person and died for them so that if they or sorry for the things they’ve done wrong and believe in Jesus, they will be forever with him when they die.

Then she told him how each night she reads stories from the Bible with her dad and they talk to Jesus about anything that’s worrying them.

The boy said he didn’t know about God before, but now he knew he believed too.

To Amy, it was an everyday situation coming from her heart of compassion and love for Jesus. But I know there was rejoicing in heaven at that moment.

Then a couple of weeks later was the soccer presentation. Amy doesn’t always understand the rules but she tries her best. Her favourite part about soccer, she says, is making friends with the opposition. Sometimes during a game she’ll miss the ball coming her way because she’s making friends with the player she’s supposed to be marking.

So Amy didn’t receive any special recognition, but another girl on her team received two trophies.

Amy said to me, ‘Mum, it’s never happened before, but I feel a bit jealous. She got two trophies.’

And so I asked Amy, do you think God would be delighted if you got all the trophies in the world? Or do you think he’s delighted that you love him and share his love and tell others about him? 

Source: www.testimoniesofheavenandhell.com

Which is better; to have trophies, or to love Jesus and to see that boy in heaven when you get there because you shared Jesus love with him?

Her eyes lit up and she smiled and I knew she got it.

My question to us, is, ‘Do we get it?’

Are we focused on the trophies of this life? In the recognition, in the competition, comparing ourselves to others? On that book deal we’re desperately striving for?

Or are we focused on Jesus; on letting all we are and all we do flow from worship and joy of knowing Him?

Note that Jesus didn’t say to Martha, ‘you are doing too many things’ … It wasn’t what Martha was doing, but why she was doing it and how she felt about it. She was driven. Exhausted. Frustrated. Doing it all in her own strength. Comparing herself to her sister. She was focused on what she was doing compared to what her sister was doing.

So what is the one thing Jesus says is needed?

Again, we immediately start thinking, ‘yes, what do I need to do?’ But the one thing that is needed … is Jesus. It is not about him requiring anything of us. It’s about us realising what we need from Him!

Jesus said ‘Mary has chosen what is better.’
Mary chose Jesus. Above all else. It is a choice. In our busy lives, we have to choose to come to Him. That is all that is needed. To know and love Jesus.

You’d be amazed how many verses in the Bible are about this!

Jesus said: Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.

Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Isaiah 30:15
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.’

Psalm 46:10
He says, ‘Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’

Exodus 14:14  The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

This last verse is from when the Israelites were being chased by the Egyptians. They wanted to reach the promised land. They saw no way forward – the sea was blocking their path. The enemy blocking behind.

What is your battle? What is blocking your path? 

Don’t give up. Wait for the Lord. Be still.

Maybe you’ve struggled for years to get your work published and your Christian brother or sister has their writing snapped up straight away by a publisher or agent.

What should you do?

Don't be discouraged. Don't strive harder. Come to Jesus.       

2 Corinthians 3:3
‘You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.’

It’s not what you write down on paper that matters, but what is written on your heart … not what you do, but who you are!

Yes, we are writers. It’s a gift He’s given us. But He doesn’t say we have to publish a book to love Him, to help people, to be who He wants us to be.

That urgency to write things down … God will give you the time you need. He has marked out your days. He has given you all you need. Rest in Him and you will have more to offer.

He is our inspiration. Anything good that comes from us, really comes from Him.

And what happens when we sit at his feet, when we take a moment to be still and know that He is God? To wait on Him, delight in Him as He delights in us?

It becomes a way of life. We learn to listen for His voice, to notice His tap on our shoulder.

And our inspiration is limitless because God is limitless.

Ken Duncan is an amazing Australian photographer. And he’s a Christian. He says that sometimes God gives him a tap on the shoulder and he turns around and there is an amazing photo opportunity he could never have imagined.

It is worth looking at the photo in this link:  The Master Sculptor Most people take a picture of the beach and ocean, but Ken heard God say, ‘turn around.’ And there was this amazing rock, sculptured by God. It’s an award-winning photo.

There’s also an incredible story about how his famous photos of Midnight Oil came about. You can see the photo here: Midnight Oil

This is the most famous shot of Midnight Oil – on this day, some people were making a documentary, pushing one another to get the best shots. Ken had been invited to take a photo and been given priority. But instead, he held back, waiting for others to get their shots.

It wasn’t a good day for photos and it was getting worse. The people making the documentary finally finished and Ken had an idea. He could take a photo on the dry lake. As he set up, everyone came to watch. The clouds were bad, the light was bad. But suddenly a great gust of wind blew, blowing off the hats of the band members, and the sun broke through the clouds.

Everyone watching scrambled over each other, trying to get their cameras out, one even got the cord stuck around another’s neck in his urgency to get the photo. But they were too late and Ken had his

The photos God had given him.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be like those camera men who are just out for themselves, using their own skills to clamber to the top. And then finding when they get there it’s not they dreamed of after all.

I don’t want to rush ahead of God only to find that when I finally hold my dreams and ambitions in my grasp, there is nothing of value left.

I want to wait for God’s tap on my shoulder. To let Him show me the world through His eyes.

So let’s open our hands to receive what God has given us.

Let’s sit at His feet and wait for His inspiration … what He has to say.

I have a friend in Gundagai where I live, who met Jesus at the lowest, darkest point in her life. It was about ten years ago. Her son had taken his own life, and she didn’t want to go on. But Jesus revealed Himself to her.

She has now, after living without God for 50 years, become the Anglican reverend in our small town. The love of Jesus shines from her. And people can see that she is a new creation – a completely different person to who she was.


She told me how, every morning as she wakes up, she asks the Lord what He has for that day. And every time she sits down to write a sermon she lifts her hand up in worship to receive from God, asking Him for His words.

She said that the day the joy in serving God in this way, being in full-time ministry, is gone, that is the day she will stop. And seek Him for what is next.

And though she is often run off her feet, her face shines with His love and joy. From her heart flows love for all the lost and broken, the addicts, every person she sees. She doesn’t have all the Christian jargon, the years of Christian experience and church upbringing. All she has is Jesus and her heart’s desire is to love him with all her heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love her neighbour as herself.

She would like to write her incredible story someday. And she probably will. But a book is not her calling. Loving Jesus and delighting in Him as He delights in her is her calling. And it is our calling, too. It is all that is needed.

A published book might be part of it. It may not be.

You are a child of God. That is enough.

Why do we feel we have to be extraordinary? That we have to stand out? That is what the world tells us.

When Jesus says to come to Him. To receive from Him. Rest in Him. We don’t need to be extraordinary, because He is. And when people see us do amazing things, we want them to see that really, it is all Him.

Brothers and sisters, we share the same gift of writing, but more important than this, we share the same Jesus who gave us the gift. Our Saviour. Let’s not ever let writing or publishing become something we feel we must do, something that is a burden, a scramble to the top, a battle against others who are already there.

If you are tired or discouraged, come to Jesus.

Let’s remember the one thing that is needed – knowing Jesus. To worship Him, delight in Him and depend on Him. To know and love Him as we rest in complete confidence at His feet.

All else will flow from that.

It will be something of infinite value, beyond what you could ever do on your own.

And you will find true peace and rest.

In Jesus.


Prayer:

Lord, you know our hearts. You know our dreams. Each one of us here has struggled. It’s not easy being a writer, there are so many demands placed on us. Lord Jesus, we come to you today, to rest at your feet; to look to you for inspiration, for your plans for us. We don’t choose fame, or money, or a name for ourselves. We choose to come to you and rest in you. We choose you. Above all else.

We love you Jesus.


Amen.

Jenny Glazebrook lives in the country town of Gundagai with her husband, Rob and 4 children along with many pets. She is the published author of 7 novels, 1 traditionally published, and 6 self published. She has another novel due for release on 7th December this year. She writes because words burn within her. She is an experienced inspirational speaker and a chaplain for the Omega Writers' Conference. She loves to encourage others to walk closer with God and hear His voice each day. 
Jenny’s website is: www.jennyglazebrook.com