Finding Passion and Purpose By Vickie Stam

 What is it about finding our purpose in life that is so important? A friend of mine once said, "I don't understand why people say they need to find themselves. Find their purpose. Were they lost?"  

Somewhere along the way I think most people feel lost or simply lose sight of their goals, not knowing which way to turn or even how to get there.

If you have ever been hurt before you might even feel as if your passion and purpose are driven by your pain and sorrow - the very things that carved their way into your life are now the conversations you have with God and the stories that fill the pages of your journal. 

Like many people, I write to heal from the broken road that got to me to where I am today. Yes, it's been hard! There are days when I sit with my pen in hand while the words only echo inside my head. The wounded part of me can't move. My pen is still. The memories are piercing. Every part of me hurts. I stare at the blank page in front of me and will myself to write. Just let it out. The last thing I want is to allow the memories to overtake me - turn a good day into a dreadful one.

I need to write about my past, the things that should be over and done with really are a part of who I am. Each word in my head represents a broken piece of me - pain that continues to heal. 

Here I am now years later still putting the fragments of my fractured self back together, paving a new road that doesn't need to bury the old wounds or store them away like they never happened. 

In the moments when I feel the old hurts trying to crush me, I know if I can write about it, the pain will have a purpose and so will I.  

Trust and Press On - Janis Cox

I hate staring at a blank sheet of paper – whether for writing or painting. It is intimidating.

When I haven’t been inspired with any idea just the thought of making a mark on that paper can cause procrastination.

Today in my watercolour art class, after I had put the finishing touches on a test painting for a children’s book, I didn’t know what to do next. I felt lost.

My instructor suggested I try a four stroke painting. The idea is to only make four brush strokes on a page, with four colours. Sometimes this frees up the mind as there is no structure. So I tried it. I didn’t accomplish much of a painting but it might be of use sometime as a background for an idea.

Knowing that I had to write for Inscribe for November 3 put me in a similar position. The topic this month is writing. What could I write about writing?

Usually I write about prayer, or a devotional based on a Scripture I have read. But to write about writing – that became a blank page and I procrastinated.

Until I remembered my art teacher – who said, “just paint”. So I thought I would, “just write”.

Sometimes writing is therapy for me. Certainly when I write in my daily morning journal it clears my head – gets rid of everything on my mind – so I can concentrate on my Bible study lesson.

Other times I write because God has given me something to say. I need to put those thoughts down on paper for myself and possibly for others to be clearer in God’s Word.

And there are times when I just want to make something up – a fiction story – because I feel like it.

What I have to remember during all those times is not to stress about it. Every time I pray for inspiration – God comes through. He is the “author”, not only of my faith but of my life. I can trust in Him to help me with everything I attempt – watercolour, writing and even a new pursuit – tap dancing.

My new way of thinking is to just “do it”. Trust in Him and then press on.

Press Through - Janis Cox

Press Through

by Jan Cox

artwork courtesy of Bill Osborne

Read: Matthew 14:24-26 Jesus Walks on Water

I attended my seventh Write! Canada Conference this past June. Each year I have come away inspired and ready to write for Him.

This year the Conference theme read, “Change the World with Words”.

Every year I hear, and this time was no exception, thoughts of insecurity. Myself included.

Why? Why, as Christian writers, are we insecure in our calling?

Grace Fox covered this topic in her continuing class, “What authors need to know” and in her plenary session. Grace is author of the book Moving from Fear to Freedom. She has recently released a Bible study and DVD based on her book.

Words of insecurity filtered into our prayer times with members requesting direction from God. “Is this the path You have chosen for me?”

“What am I doing here?”

“Should I be a writer?”

Oswald Chambers tackles this, calling it the deception of the Enemy – this self-doubt. He reminds us about Peter and how he walked on water for a bit – then saw where he was, lost his focus and started to sink.

Every time we lose focus of the One who calls us we have self-doubt.

“We step right out on God over some things, then self-consideration enters in and down we go.”

Chambers says if we start asking questions of whether we should or shouldn’t, we are in essence debating with God." (Oswald Chambers June 18)

"Never begin to say – "Well, I wonder if He did speak?" Be reckless immediately, fling it all out on Him." (Oswald Chambers June 18)

How reckless are you? Do you step out of the boat when He calls you to write something?”

Can we as writers “Change the World with words?”

I think we can.

Let’s step out of the boat together! Press though our uncertainties and walk on that water.

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it (Philippians 3:12-16 The Message).

Jan Cox

Jan, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She also writes at A Better Way. Jan has written a children’s book in which she is also the watercolour illustrator. She hopes to publish it this year.