"Your work and my work is to be holy.
That means we are to set it apart so that
we may honour God in what we do."
Jerram Barrs
~~~~~
Several years ago when I considered starting a blog, I struggled with the purpose of it. What would I write? Who would ever read it? There were so many blogs out there already, and I had nothing new or weighty to say. I'm not a Biblical teacher or preacher of the Gospel. I'm not a 'How-To' kind of explainer. I don't write devotionals. (I don't even like reading them - gasp!)
I just wanted to write and hone my craft. To use the gift God had given me and be useful to Him.
It was a stop-in-my-tracks spotlight from heaven when I sensed the Lord tell me that He didn't want me to be a Biblical teacher or preacher of the Gospel. He didn't want me to write devotionals. He didn't even want me to write with a specific purpose. He wanted me to be me.
"People need YOU. They need Joy. Use your words to give them the YOU I created you to be."
How freeing! How absolutely thrilling. And how profound and humbling to realize that He could use me just as I am.
When I write, whatever I write, I'm being faithful to who God made me. And the Holy Spirit within me is a constant Presence, helping me choose the right words, what to leave in and what to take out. Ideas that seem to come out of nowhere are, of course, whispers from Holy Spirit. The path of my day and seeming coincidental encounters and occurrences that find their way into my writing are not fate or a stroke of luck. He is in it all because He is my Guide. He is even there to nudge me on when I'm ready to give up.
It is a holy work. And I don't have to be someone I'm not to do it.
~~~~~
Photo by Megan Ruth on Unsplash
It's a busy month for Joy and The Cowboy as they make final preparations to move to their newly built home in the country, where a 'really big room' with lots of natural light has been set aside for Joy's beloved library and writing space. Find more of her Joy-infused writing at Scraps of Joy.
Loved your post, Joy! What a great last line: "It is a holy work. And I don't have to be someone I'm not to do it." You have certainly found your holy place and from it you write joyfully to the world.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Joy, for this refreshing post. Amen to showing up as ourselves.
ReplyDeleteIt's an intriguing journey to witness how differently each contributor to this blog responds to the writing prompts. Yes, when writers show up as their authentic selves, authentic writing takes place.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
I love this Joy! "I don't have to be someone I'm not..." YES! this rings so true for each one of us and I love that you are obedient. (And you bring "Joy"!)
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful, Joy! How I appreciate your honesty. Thanks for blessing my day. May yours be blessed as well. Hope all goes well for the big move and that you enjoy your new space.
ReplyDeleteGod made us and He wants us to present our true selves to the world. How freeing indeed when we each come to this eureka moment. This paragraph particularly resonated with me: "I just wanted to write and hone my craft. To use the gift God had given me and be useful to Him." In our own ways and with Him as our guide, we are doing just that.
ReplyDelete