Calling NOT Comparison - by Tracy Krauss

COMPARISON - Don't play that game!

We've all fallen into the trap of comparing ourselves to other writers and usually, it only leads to discontent, discouragement, or even despair. (Too many D words for a post about C!)

So-and-so has more reviews... So-and-so has a larger email list... So-and-so has written more books... ...has more followers, is more outgoing, knows more about marketing, writes faster, writes better, (INSERT whatever comparison makes you feel bad about yourself and your writing.)

Conversely, we must also be careful not to become puffed up. The comparison game is also very good at doing that. Just reverse the above comments and add a self-satisfied smirk... I have more reviews, more books in print, more followers... etc. Does that sound like a person God is going to bless?

I firmly believe that God has called me to write. (In fact, CALLING was my next "C' choice) I'm sure many of you feel the same. However, God has also impressed upon me that comparing myself to other writers is a dangerous pastime. Of course, we must learn from one another. That's not what I'm talking about. 

My writing journey has been different than yours. I've had to own my genre and subject matter which doesn't always fit neatly into the traditional Christian marketplace. I've come to terms with the fact that I may never be able to make a living through my writing. I will likely never have a huge following. But if I can touch one life, that is all God has called me to do. 

STOP comparing yourself to others.

START leaning into your CALL.

Tracy Krauss writes from her home in Tumbler Ridge, BC. For more, visit her website at:

https://tracykrauss.com

Call of the Heart by Tracy Krauss

Long ago God spoke in many different ways to our fathers through the prophets, in visions, dreams, and even face to face, telling them little by little about his plans. (Hebrews 1:1, TLB)

I love this month's prompt and quite honestly had many different thoughts about how I could write on this theme. I sincerely believe that God has called some of us to write, and include myself in this group. Does this mean it is easy? Never! Sometimes (quite often, in fact) I feel as though I am 'writing against the grain'. Firstly, I believe God can use fiction to affect the lives of believers and non-believers alike and prefer writing it, although I have also written some non-fiction. I've written several posts on this topic including one called The Power of Fiction. 

As well, my novels seem to fall into what some might call the 'edgy' camp. My tagline, "Fiction on the edge without crossing the line" sums up what readers can expect. I do not purposely use vulgarity or gratuitous elements, but my stories are not always squeaky clean. I've had feedback from both those who appreciate the authenticity of my work and those who are uncomfortable with certain topics or character behaviour. I have come to terms with it. I will probably never have the large fanbase that some Christian novels do such as 'Amish' stories or sweet romances, but I believe that there is a place for my work. Reader feedback tells me this and so I persevere in writing what I feel God has called me to write.

Beyond the call to write, the verse used as a prompt this month really caught my attention for another reason. Many have already heard the story of the vision God gave me while I was waiting for open heart surgery two years ago. I was in St Paul's Hospital in Vancouver waiting for an angiogram and saw a very clear picture of my heart with four words emblazened on it. The words were: FEAR, DOUBT, ANXIETY, and PRIDE. I admit that I do not know whether this was in a dream, a vision while I was awake, or whether it was drug induced since I was on a lot of medication. However, it impressed me so much that I drew a picture of it in my journal. 

After my angiogram, I was given a picture of my heart showing four blocked arteries. The blocked arteries coincided exactly with the ones in my vision! I felt God saying that the physical by-pass I was about to go through also had spiritual application. Since then I have purposed to renounce all fear, doubt, anxiety and pride, for they have been by-passed in my life. 

I have been encouraged and inspired by other people's posts this month. Even when I feel discouraged about my writing, I need only think back to the many times that God has proven Himself. He has called me to write for Him and has by-passed all fear, doubt, anxiety and pride in my writing journey as well as in my life as a whole, including serving as InScribe's current president. 

Tracy Krauss lives in northern BC - http://tracykrauss.com

Making Our Calling Sure - Ramona Heikel

Lately I’ve noticed that my reading and devotions have been focusing on my “calling”, but thinking about that often makes me nervous.  It gives me performance anxiety, because I’ve been given an assignment, but what if I fail?  I believe God wants me to write, but I’m not sure if I have the ability to consistently glorify him, or be a good witness through my words.

Well, I need not wonder any more.  The fact is, I don’t have the ability.  That’s one of the freeing things about being 54 years old.  I’ve had most of my life to try as hard as I can to accomplish what I felt was important, and have become painfully aware of my limitations.

I not only fear that I will fail at my most important responsibilities, I fear making a fool of myself publicly by publishing what I write and having people chuckle to themselves about this newbie who should have revised a few more times, or roll their eyes at my silly ideas about life.

It occurred to me while I was listening to a sermon how much of a risk Noah and Moses took by obeying God’s call on their lives.  They could have made such fools of themselves if they’d misunderstood God.  And if the embarrassment wasn’t bad enough, they could have even gotten themselves thrown in jail or killed.  It took a lot of faith to do what they did. 

Or, I should say, it took a lot of faith in God to obey what he told them to do.  That’s different from having faith in themselves.

Lately, I am realizing that it is God’s responsibility to make something of my efforts.  He is the one that had the brilliant idea of working through humans to love and serve mankind, instead of taking the safe route of just doing it himself through supernatural methods (which would have taken a lot of pressure off of us!).  But I believe that this plan of his is perfect, because he is the one who thought of it.

Notice that in Acts 1:8 Jesus does NOT say, “After you ask for the Holy Spirit, you’ve got to try your hardest to demonstrate my power, and hopefully you won’t be too chicken to be my witnesses in your neighbourhood or overseas.”  (This is actually how I’ve been reading it for the past thirty years.)

No, he says, “You WILL RECEIVE power…and you WILL BE my witnesses.”  As in, “It’s going to be amazing what God’s power will do through you.  I can hardly wait!”

In Exodus 31, when God chose (called!) Bezalel to take responsibility for the designs of the Tent of Meeting and its furnishings, he “filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship” so that he could make beautiful things.  God puts his Spirit in us, too, giving us writing ability, intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship to make beautiful words.

I believe that this is what makes our calling sure: our awareness of God’s power and our willingness for him to use us for his own purposes.

Posted by Ramona

www.happilywriting.com

[Clipart courtesy of ChristianClipArts.net]