Writing Our Life Themes by Sandi Somers

The author Philip Yancey once said that whatever his topic, he ends up writing about pain. As he reaches out to those for whom life doesn’t seem to make sense, he often discovers that the root of their pain is a problem in their relationship with God. He stated that God’s mandate and challenge to Christ followers is to represent His love to a suffering world.[i]

Image by Kasia Mosaics

While Yancy’s theme is singular and focused, my themes are multifaceted—like a mosaic. God has taken many experiences, interests and callings, and is shaping them together into a design for my ministry to others.

Some of my themes come from the crucible of life. God has taken broken pieces of my fears, worries, trauma, and weaknesses, and brought healing to many of those areas. In turn, He is giving me opportunities to offer comfort, healing and restoration from desolation, and new life through God’s power. One scripture that has become very meaningful is, “(God) comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Another theme includes seeing God, both in the ordinary and in key turning points of my faith and the faith of others. Through a touch of His gentle presence, a word to my spirit, an unusual answer to prayer, and a new discovery, God transforms those experiences into moments of grace. I’ve written a number of what I call these “Divine Touches” to encourage others to see God in their circumstances, and to develop both a deeper faith and a greater vision of Himself.

A third theme began early as an interest in missions and other peoples of the world. Teaching in Colombia and later teaching English to immigrants and refugees has given me a wider compassion for internationals. I regularly pray for my former students and sponsored children, as well as connect with internationals at the grocery store, at church, and in my neighbourhood. 

If my life themes are the mosaic tesserae (pieces) of God’s plan for me, the glue that holds them together is spending time with Him and through prayer. When I do so, the Holy Spirit infuses me to ask in faith to receive answers that are far above what I’ve asked. But He has also reminded me to always pray and not to faint where I haven’t received answers—yet (Luke 18:1).

My ultimate purpose, however, is God’s ultimate purpose for me, and that is to glorify Him. Just as brilliant light shines through finished glass mosaics, my purpose is to shine God's glory through all I do.

Image by Modern Met

While writing this blog, two major words that have come to mind are “transformation” and “reconciliation”. Christ came to reconcile us to God and is transforming us. Then God has commissioned us for the ministry of reconciling others to Himself.  (2 Corinthians 5:18)

Working on this blog has opened up deeper lines of thought, and I have much more work to do in articulating and expanding my themes and the meaning and purpose to which God is calling me. I have written more extensively on some themes than others, and now God is prompting me to explore new potentials, delve deeper into His truth and increase my passion to continue His mission for me.

Each person has a specific message—a niche in God’s continuing story of redemption. Just as God chose and appointed Jeremiah as a prophet (Jeremiah 1:5), He has uniquely positioned us in our families, our geographic location and society. He has designed our message to fit in this timeline of history—a message of hope and love to a lost and confusing world that so needs Christ.

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How has God called you to be part of His continuing story?

What redemptive themes percolate through your writing, speaking and singing ministries?

How has and is God empowering you to meet the needs of those around you and beyond? 

Note: For further reading on life themes, see some of our bloggers’ earlier discussions by Brenda Leyland, Marnie Pohlmann, Bob Jones, and Alan Anderson.

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[i] Yancey, Where Is God When It Hurts? 2^nd edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 1977, 1990. Preface.

Out of Your Comfort Zone by Sandi Somers

This month’s prompt comes from InScribe member Sheila Webster. “We are all ordained and equipped to do good works…God doesn’t give you all you need before you put your hand to the plough – but supplies you along the way.  The first inkling is the nudge to do something out of your comfort zone.”

Plunging Into Faith

Sheila’s prompt packs a powerful punch. She wrote so much in those few words. As I reflected on the many times God has prompted me and the results, I wondered how could I write this blog.

I felt like Rohadi Nagassar in an earlier IWO blog: “I had to think about this, and then think about it again, then think about it some more.” (Read it here). One day while walking to the nearby coffee shop to work on this blog, God prompted me to take each element in Sheila’s quote and elaborate on it.

“We are all ordained and equipped to do good works…”

What does it mean that God ordains us? To answer that, I often think of God’s explanation to the prophet Jeremiah.  “Before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you…” (Jeremiah 1: 5).

God created us for a purpose and has special design for us. He chose us for this time in history, this location, this family, and this environment. He gave us our character, personality, and particular talents and abilities.

He created us to continue His story of redemption for the world. As writers, we are His hands and fingers on the keyboard. We are His voice to speak or sing to the needs of the world. We are His feet to go where He calls us.

And God has given us this task (ministry) of reconciling people to him. 2 Corinthians 5:18

“God doesn’t give you all you need before you put your hand to the plough.”

Sheila’s metaphor from farming is beautiful. I come from a farming background. On the first day my brothers plow or cultivate a field, all they need to do to produce an abundant crop is to plow. Just so, as we take that first step, plunging into faith, God gives us only what we need at that time. And just as God causes a crop to grow during the rains and heat of summer, God gradually opens up more and more of His plan.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:6)

“The first inkling is the nudge…”

We’ve all experienced twinges to do something: We may say, “I’d like to…” Or a direct word from scripture directs us to take a plunge into faith.

Our response is to listen to God’s deep twinges, in whatever form they take.

Sally Meadows’ advice at Fall Conference 2016 comes to mind: Is God whispering to you, casting you in a new direction? Pray into that vision.

Go…and you will be told what you must do. (Acts 9:6)

“…to do something out of your comfort zone.”

And here’s the crunch.

Just as we might experience a rise of faith when God first prompts, we often come face-to-face with our inadequacy. God’s plan seems sooo big. Or we’re afraid of failure. Or we cover our inadequacy by pushing our way into that venture using our own steam.

Sometimes I feel inadequate to write my monthly IWO blogs.  But if I focus on my inadequacy, I lose sight of God, His presence and power.

Joshua must have felt the same way. However, as he prepared to lead his people into the Promised Land, God said, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you.”

But then He calls us to be strong. Three times God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” Three times—to underscore that He would go with Joshua and give him victory. And God did just that. He is the God of the Impossible.

The One who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)

How is God challenging you to plunge into faith? What is your next step?