Treasure in Unlikely Places

How thankful I am for my grocery deliveries—they have changed my life. In days past, I’d spend a few hours at a shopping centre on Monday, then spend the rest of the week recovering. But now—my online shopping is only a few simple computer clicks, and my ever-flagging energy levels remain topped up. Perfect! One cold wet Monday recently, I opened my front door to a lean, lanky young man. “Come in” I said with a smile. He walked inside, his arms laden with shopping bags.

As he strode past my bookcase, he turned, glancing at its contents with hungry eyes.

“What an interesting house!” He placed the shopping on my kitchen bench top.

“Could I have a look at your books?”

“Sure”

It was the first time a delivery man had been fascinated by my books. Come to think of it, it was the first time anyone had looked so rapt at the sight of my precious bookcase, containing my writerly world. He pulled out a couple of books and read their blurbs in deep concentration. Yes, he was a reader. I asked him what he’d been reading lately. His answer surprised me—he’d  been reading Buddhist teachings.

“So you’re interested in spirituality?”

He nodded.

“That’s great!” I felt the tug of the Holy Spirit in my heart. Give him one of your books Anusha. I ran inside and brought a copy of ‘Enjoying the Journey’. Jake (let’s call him ‘Jake’) took it, surprised and grateful. After he left, I prayed fervently for Jake. Strangely enough, just before he’d  arrived, I’d been mulling over the fact that some Christians might share Jesus with their delivery men, sure I wasn’t one of them. But here was a God-breathed opportunity. I prayed that this lovely young man would return so we could have a God conversation. I prayed that he would read my book. I prayed he would and seek and find the Light of the world.

Sometimes we find treasure in unexpected places, don’t we? If I didn’t suffer from chronic illness, I would not have needed Jake to deliver my groceries—and he, a seeker would not have got a copy of a Christian book in his hands.

What are the treasures we Christian writers discover in unexpected places?

Here are a few possibilities:

1.      Did something unpleasant happen to you this year? You've got some interesting writing material!

2.      Did a relationship break down?  Perhaps your new knowledge could be used to enhance your fictional characters?

3.      Did you face a rejection in your writing? You may have learnt to better your craft?

4.      Has your health failed you this year? Could it lead to more times of reading… which would in turn fuel your writing?

5.      Did the Enemy whisper negative words to you? Aha—perhaps he knows you are a writer to be reckoned with? Keep writing

6.      Did life throw curve balls at you? Perhaps it’s made you grow into a more mature writer?

7.      Has finding sufficient time to write been a challenge? Perhaps it’s time to order your life anew? Maybe it's time to discover a different set of priorities for this present season?

8.      Have there been more failures than successes in your writing journey? You know what they say … it can only get better from here!

9.      Do you feel a failure? The perfect soil for a writer's tree to flourish are roots of deep humility. So put on your on writerly gloves and keep gardening.

10. Has your walk with God been on shaky ground? It just might be an invitation from God Himself, to seek Him all over again? Who knows where that would lead.

You and I know too well how hard the battle. Writing is not for the fainthearted; that’s for sure. Rarely has either my life or my writing life gone according to plan. But you know what? God’s used those hard times to help me dig out riches—like a deep pit which yields its sparkling gems, glimmering under the sun, but mined with difficulty, through blood, sweat and tears.

·               Let's throw off the discouragement that often clings to our writerly dreams. Let's embrace our calling and ask God to lead us. Let our hearts, lives and our pens create pages of beauty, truth and goodness, words which will make a difference to our world and resound to His glory.  

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 find 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. Please stop by at her website to say G’day to her. She’d love to see you there. Dancing in the Rain. Her first book "Enjoying the Journey" is a collection of little God stories that will bring you closer to your Creator. 

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Thank You, Lord!

by Margaret Lepke

This year has been full of ups and downs for me. There have been times when I felt like a spring chicken - ready to chirp and run and play - but also times when I felt like a tired old mare, ready to be put out to pasture. Too much to do, too many things to contend with, never enough time. Just stop the world, I want to get off... But through it all I have tried to thank the Lord in (not necessarily for :) all circumstances and kept reminding myself of two things: that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13), and that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6). Thank You, Lord, that You know best how to order our lives. 

http://1thessalonians417.wordpress.com/tag/thank-you-lord/

One of my Bible studies this year focused on the book of Job and I concluded that I am blessed beyond measure. Thank You, Lord! This patriarch suffered terribly for almost a year. His repeated cries for help seemed to fall on deaf ears, his questions were left unanswered, and the heavenly scene that could have explained it all was hidden from his sight. In other words, God seemed to be absent. Did Job curse Him and die as his wife suggested? No, his faith endured despite incredible heartache and physical pain.

When Satan was allowed to remove Job's worldly attachments, Job’s faith did not crumble. When Satan attacked Job’s body with almost unendurable pain, Job remained steadfast. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? And throughout all of this Job did not sin in what he said (Job.2:10)! What an example to us... thank You, Lord!

Then the final test arrived: a prolonged attack on Job’s integrity by those whom he counted his friends. Their psychological assaults would have hurt just as much as the physical and emotional pain Job endured. If only they had remained silent! But when his time of trial was finally over, Job’s faith had grown and his understanding of God had deepened. In his suffering he had sought God like never before, and his reward was a more intimate knowledge of the Almighty as well as physical blessings. His attitude would have been, "Thank You, Lord!"

I am so glad that God answered Job’s cry, Oh, that my words were written! That they were inscribed in a book! (Job 19:23). The record of this faithful man encourages those who suffer and gives a rare insight into Satan's involvement in human affairs.

Satan was given power over the elements, marauding people and physical illness, and he was able to use Job's friends for an attack on his integrity. While their assumptions were well meant and based on cultural norms, their reasoning couldn’t have been more wrong in this particular case. Let’s remember not to be like them when we take on the role of comforter. Let’s never assume, never offer cliché answers, and instead be willing to listen without judgement and to love without giving advice.
 

Friends that are tuned to God are worth their weight in gold. They accept one another, help one another and love one another at all times (Prov.17:17). The kisses of an enemy may be profuse, but faithful are the wounds of a friend (Prov. 27:5-6). Two are better than one, and they have a better return for their labor. If either of them falls (or is discouraged, or goes down the wrong path), one can help the other up (Ecc. 4:9-10). 

 

We all need friends like that in our lives. People who influence us to become what God intended us to be, who fill us up when we are empty; people whom we can trust and be ourselves with, and those who encourage us to stretch and expand not only our faith but also our God-given abilities. We can thank the Lord for each true friend He has given us.

 

And this is where I would like to take the opportunity to thank you, dear writers, for your encouraging, inspiring, insightful and soul-searching blog contributions throughout the year. As fellow travelers along the narrow road, I count you my friends. And while I rarely have time to comment (and for that I apologize!) I do read your posts when they arrive via email. 

 

Please know that your thoughts and challenges have left their mark... As the writer of Ecclesiastes puts it: As iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other (Prov. 27:17). I believe that this writers' blog is capable of sharpening minds and encouraging hearts, and for that, too, I thank You, Lord.

Margaret Lepke is a Christian educator, counselor, naturopath and freelance writer. Enjoy the resources on her website.  http://drlepke.com.au