How Did I Become a Christian Writer? - Janis Cox

I've been asked a question:

Are you a Christian writer or a writer who is Christian?

I would say I am a Christian writer. After giving my life to Christ I wanted to learn more and more about Him. I took Bible studies; read my Bible; memorized Scripture; discussed difficult passages; asked the Holy Spirit to help me understand more and more.

The Bible is my focus.

Now I feel confident to spread the Word of God - to feed His lambs. That is not to say that I have learned it all - I am the first to admit that there is an endless ocean to knowing God.

As for the writing part - I have gone to Write!Canada (a conference for writers and editors who are Christian) for the past 8 years. I read books about writing. I read many other books. I journal every day. I pray (both talking and listening).

And I believe my writing is improving, because I am writing more. I am encouraged by comments on my blogs. I blog on my own blog He Cares for Us, 5 times a week. I co-ordinate a group blog called Under the Cover of Prayer. At Family and Faith Matters I write once a week. And for Inscribe Writers Online I post once a month.

This forces me to write.

In the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell,  he states that to become really good at something you need 10 000 hours. "

"Outliers are those who have been given opportunities — and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them."

So I am beginning on that journey. I will get better with more study, more prayer, and more writing.

Can I improve? For sure. Learning never ends. Even with a passage of Scripture it speaks to me in a different way at a different time. The more I become aware of the Holy Spirit and the more I ask to be a part of His service - the more He shows me.

Then there is the other side of my life - painting. God has led me to paint in watercolour. I love it. I am working at merging my two loves - as I illustrated and wrote a children's book called Tadeo Turtle. Once again the more I paint - the better I get.

But as long as God wants me to write - I will write. And if He wants me to paint, I'll paint.  If He takes me in a different direction, then I will follow that path.

Being ready, being aware and being surprised by Him each day.
Blessings,
Janis