January 18, 2018

The Story That Wouldn't Go Away - Gloria Guest


"How is God speaking to you about your faith and writing? How are you anticipating God’s presence? How does He want you to step forward in faith?"



When I put the words ‘my faith’ and ‘writing’ together these are the thoughts that come to mind:

Last year I took the opportunity to write a short story for Inscribes Anthology, Christmas Stories & More. It was a faith inducing experience for me as I’ve resisted sending my work out for publication for years (other than newspaper articles and columns). Due to the encouragement of a good friend I pushed through that wall of resistance and sent in my story, even though I wasn’t happy with it and could only think about its flaws after it was sent. Thankfully the editor team saw more than flaws and it was published in the book.

I’d always had the tendency to simply forget about my newspaper articles and columns once they were in print. Once in a while someone would mention an article or column they liked and I was always so surprised and just brush off their kind comments. 

And so I thought I’d just forget about this story too. But for some reason that story just would not go away. Some people who read it offered encouraging comments more than once. Then a friend (also an Inscribe member with a story in the book) read it out loud at her Author’s Reading (things were getting out of control) and then told me that a lady who attended the meeting wanted to read it at her church’s Christmas program (now things had really gone off the deep end) This story seemed to be taking on a life of its own.

 I had offered a copy to my physiotherapist to leave in her waiting room and she phoned and left a message just to encourage me that she loved the story. And then at my appointment she brought it up again and wanted to know more about my writing. Being the encouraging person that she is she asked me if I’d ever thought of writing for Christian magazines, especially since I had experience as a reporter. Little did she know that she had touched on a dream in my heart; to be able to write articles for a faith based magazine on a regular basis.

I have to admit that I’ve always been the ‘hide my talents under a bushel’ kind of person. But with the comments and other promptings I’ve been coming to understand that that maybe my writing is meant to expand beyond my small thinking.

This year, I will choose to anticipate that God’s presence will go with me as I make more attempts into the published world. I haven’t decided yet what they will be and I may never write for a faith based magazine, but I’m trusting that when I hear that small voice prompt me to step forward in some way, that I will and can act.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” [Phil 4:13 NKJV] is the perfect scripture for my writing life this year.

5 comments:

  1. Sometimes it takes a lot of encouraging words from others before we can truly see the gift that God has given us. I'm sure those words of encouragement were also gifts orchestrated by God. Having said that, I can relate to your story because I often say that I'm going to submit a piece and then sit on it. The light of Jesus can only shine through us when we let it. Thanks for sharing your story and for showing us what really does happen when we put our faith and trust in him.

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  2. Gloria, may God strengthen you to accept these gifts of encouragement and stand firm under them. May you keep your eyes on him, and not seek safety under your bushel! I can relate!

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  3. I believe your story will touch many hearts. (And I don't just mean the story in the Anthology - I mean THIS story - of your reluctance and how God uses you anyway!)

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  4. Thank you for another heart prompting post Gloria. We have a lot in common when it comes to being a ‘hide my talents under a bushel’ type of writer. I know it's something I've fought all my life. I'll be one of your encouragers, ok? Keep writing my friend. I pray you have articles published in a faith based magazine. Any magazine will only benefit from your words my friend.

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  5. Borrowing Alan's words, I also want to thank you for a "heart-prompting post," Gloria. Years ago, my sister gave me a plaque with the words, "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." Here is the whole verse from 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, but you would have none of it.'"

    We don't need to be "puffed up" to write what God lays on our heart. We don't need to be "a sounding brass" or "even a tinkling cymbal" (I Corinthians 13) to talk or write about what God does for us. "Let us be glad and rejoice!"

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