V is for Vanity by Susan Barclay

 

God gives each of us gifts to use for His glory. How often, though, these gifts can become a snare as we take pride in our abilities, forgetting the Giver and His intent. We can even turn our gifts into idols, as objects of worship and worth. Forgive us, LORD!

Seeking wealth through our art is vanity. The writer of Ecclesiastes 5 writes, “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income” (v. 10), and the Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (v. 12b). Oh, that we would all cease striving for millionaire status and learn to be content with what we have! The secret Paul refers to is the experience of relationship with Holy Spirit, Christ’s indwelling. Really, who could ask for anything more?

Seeking fame is also vanity. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 20 that God’s definition of greatness differs from ours. “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (vv. 26b-28). Our gifts aren’t meant to make us great; they’re meant to be used in His service. As writers, people who know how to use words well, the questions in the back of our minds should always be, “What message does God want me to communicate to others? How can I use my writing to touch others’ lives with the love of Christ? How can I use my words to bless others and build them up?” We all know that words matter, that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), or in our case the pen, computer or typewriter. Let our greatness be in service to our God and the people He has made.

We can be thankful for our gifts without becoming hungry for money or fame, which are ultimately dissatisfying. With humility, God can use our writing to glorify Himself and to expand His kingdom. Our best treasures are sent on ahead, found in Heaven, the dwelling place of our hearts (Matthew 6:21), and since this is Thanksgiving month in Canada, let us be especially grateful and content with all the blessings we enjoy in His mercy and love, including our ability to write well.

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For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com. 

God Values Us and Our Writing by Sandi Somers

As I was mulling over the idea of what to write for our “V” theme, I woke up one morning with the thought that God is invested in us. He values us. He loves us. There was my topic, ready to be developed. 

I hadn’t grown up with the understanding of how much God loves us. I don’t remember a defining moment in those early years when I became overwhelmed with God’s love. But over time, this knowledge grew on me, especially when my friend Shirley told us that God loves us more than we can ever, ever dream or imagine. 

Later while reading through the book of Exodus, a thought jumped out at me in the most startling way. The Israelites, recently freed from Egypt, had crossed the most desolate desert imaginable, and God had been their provider and healer. Now they were camped near Mt. Sinai, where God was ready to teach them His laws. If they obeyed God, they would be His treasured possession—how much He loved them! (19:5). His treasured possession! How much He loved them! How much He loves us. How much He loves me!   

Then last November I heard a news item that became a metaphor for what we mean to God. On November 7, 2023, a vivid blue diamond sold to an anonymous buyer for a staggering $43.8 million (about $60 million Canadian) in Geneva, Switzerland. Named “Bleu Royal”, it is among the rarest and most valuable jewels in existence. 

I realized how much God treasures and values us more than the buyer valued that blue diamond. 

Not only does God treasure and love us, however. He values our writing and has invested Himself in us to produce the words on our pages.    

God has given us individual talents, individual ways to express His truths. I’m often reminded of Brenda Ueland, who in her book, If You Want to Write, maintained that each of us is creative and original. We have something important to say because we are creative, even when we spill out our scrambled jottings and as we risk exploring our vulnerabilities. All will contribute to our skill and future successes. 

But God intends our writing to go out beyond ourselves. He has intended that our writing should influence others for His Kingdom. How often I’ve heard authors say that their words have encouraged others, met a need at a pivotal moment, or given laughter to lighten heavy spirits. We enrich their lives. 

Which brings me full circle. As we enrich other lives with our writing, God enriches our lives with His love. Thoughts are sprinkled all through Scripture: 

•     “The Lord your God is with you…He will take great delight in you, He will quieten you with His love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).
•     “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).
•     “For you are a people, holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you…to be his people, his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6). 

…and this verse makes a wonderful conclusion: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9).

  

V is for Volumes ~ by Brenda J. Wood

I was abused at age eleven. Over time this developed into a serious eating disorder…Bulimia. I ate up to 50,000 calories at a sitting. (A very short sitting, I might add!)  And then I made myself sick to get rid of the food. (P.S. It does not help with weight loss!)

1 in 3 women have been abused and 1 in 5 men. We eat because of our shame and we throw up because of our guilt. For sixteen years, I was trapped in this addictive cycle.

Finally, someone told me about Jesus, the Son of God. He died on the cross for me, crucified for my sins. All I had to do was ask forgiveness for my sins and ask him to come into my life.

My life changed in so many ways but the Bulimia didn’t! I became an author, public speaker, and TV personality. God never once brought up my eating disorder. Then about four years later, it suddenly occurred to me that bulimia might be a sin.

I was on my way to do a segment with Jayne Pritchard at CKVR. I said to her, "I thought we might talk about Bulimia today… and I know of which I speak. Because I am one." Jayne was speechless. I thought I would have to finish the show by myself.

That’s why writing has been so important to me. I needed structure, control, deadlines, and encouragement and I found it in pen and paper. My yearly word is always ‘persevering’ because that is what I have learned to do.

I started to journal because I heard that writing helped you get over abuse. So, 61 journals later, I still write…everything, everywhere. I take notes in meetings, in church, and in Weight Watcher classes. I write everywhere I am because writing saved my life.

This writing has resulted in more than 50 published books, including a couple of award winners.  One is my Bulimia story, Meeting Myself and the other is The Pregnant Pause of Grief, written in the first 3 months after my husband died.

Truth comes out in writing. I say to you write, write your thoughts, write healing, write anything…If you are interested in more, look up Morning Pages and start writing them. I write and I persevere, because I know it works.

Brenda J. Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.

V is for Victory ~ by Wendy L. Macdonald

 

VICTORY:

V – Victory in writing is boosted by using strong verbs rather than leaning on adverbs and other weak words.

I – I is for insight into our ideal reader’s mind and aiming to satisfy her with treasures she’ll find.

C – C is for considering if our words are kind and true, for deleting stereotypes is the right thing to do. 

T – T is for testing our words in the Light of God’s Word, so we’re scribes of truth who avoid causing hurt.

O – O is for optimizing the opinions of others because first readers help us bless our sisters and brothers.

R – R is for rules we know how to break since following writing rules legalistically is a mistake.

Y – Y is for yes; we can do this and never give up because God is our Helper and He fills our cup. 

For lack of guidance a nation falls,

    but victory is won through many advisers.

Proverbs 11:14 NIV 

Which tip for victory spoke to you?  

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and YouTuber who loves photographing nature on Vancouver Island. Her happy place is making junk journals to sell in her Etsy shop. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.”