Coming Full Circle by Joylene M. Bailey

I considered myself mostly a closet writer until recently. In the past I wrote for myself. I wrote little stories, songs, and poems for my daughters. I didn’t think my words had got out there at all.

Then the prompt for this month got me thinking, and I realized … I wrote for people all the time.

I was an avid letter writer.

I can remember spending hours writing letters, from the time I was 10 years old. I loved putting words to paper, describing things, telling goofy stories. Who knows whether or not the recipients of those letters truly appreciated them, but I sure enjoyed writing them.

When email first came on the scene, I still wrote long letters to people, often apologizing for how long they were. For some reason I had the idea that email was meant to be brief. My emails have now become almost non-existent unless business related. Nowadays, what with Facebook, texting, etc., communication has become more of a snapshot than a portrait.

As I wrote this post I started to feel sad that my letter writing has gone by the wayside. But then I recognized that my blog has taken the place of my letter writing. When I write posts for my blog, it’s as though I am writing a letter to a friend, like I did in the old days.

Over the past few years, a good friend has been periodically returning letters I sent to her 10, 12 … 20 years ago. With each one she reminds me how my words arrived at just the right time to encourage and cheer her. For me, each one is a surprise and a gift.  

In a remarkable twist, my words have come back to minister to ME!

Never discount the words sent in a card, a note, or a letter as being of no worth. God may use them, many or few, in ways only He could orchestrate.


photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/19862723@N00/213926774">Quill</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>

www.scrapsofjoy.com

Cast Your Words - Gloria Guest

I have had many opportunities to minister through my writing for which I am very grateful, although I truly think that in the end, I was the one most ministered to.

One of my favorite parts of being a reporter was the fact that on a daily basis I was able to interact with the public in ways that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to and allowed a door into their world of which I always felt so awkwardly grateful; like a stranger showing up on their doorstep and yet being warmly welcomed into their innermost lives. I took it for the gift that it was and always tried to listen more than I talked so as to best be able to retell their stories to others.
Some of the more poignant that come to mind:
Sitting with a war veteran who was present on D-Day as he bravely retold his experience and quietly shifting perspective to his wife’s version when he could no longer go on.
Being on scene near Mossbank Saskatchewan after two Snowbird Pilots had a collision in mid-air and then a few years later speaking with the deceased pilot's young widow when she unveiled a painting in his honour at Moose Jaw.
Interviewing the father of a young man shot and killed in the halls of his own high school in Alberta; listening to his grief and feeling awed and humbled at how his message of forgiveness was even stronger than his grief.
All of those moments and others felt holy in a sense.
I then went back to my desk and tried my best to put such heartfelt thoughts into words for the newspapers’ readers. I wanted to make them feel even a measure of what I had felt listening to these stories, but quite honestly I don’t think I ever did it justice. Thus is the life of a writer; we feel so deeply either our own stories or those of others, but then comes the committing of it to paper and sometimes it seems as if there are no words adequate enough; to really bring to life what we could sense in the heart. But still it is what we do and what we strive for.  What I strive for. It is a sort of casting out of our words in the hopes that they will reach someone, like a message in a bottle and help them in some way. One of my favorite poetic verses is; ‘Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.’  Eccl:11:1.  As writers let’s continue to cast out our stumbling, inadequate words out upon the waters of God’s grace and in faith believe that He will use them in some way to minister to others.

Impact and Measure: The Writer's Call - by Rohadi

Over seven years ago, the late Michael Spencer wrote a three blog post series with a prediction: the collapse of evangelicalism was imminent The series garnered incredible interest and critique including a feature in CSMonitor. With three years left before his prediction expires it appears he won’t be right--a cataclysmic collapse isn’t imminent.

At the same time I penned a response to the very same question, but from a Canadian perspective. Given the cultural differences between the two countries, I reasoned, if there was a coming collapse, Canadian evangelicals should be the first to go.

Unlike Spencer’s articles nobody read mine. That wasn’t the first time when I thought I had a hit but got *cricket*, *cricket*, instead. All that work and nobody reads my stuff, I thought. Is it even worth spending the time writing?

Blogging for a particularly niche area generally means writing to an empty room. Recently, I've been reminded that's not the case as friends and acquaintances started to engage with new thoughts and ideas they pulled from my blog. It was then I realized two things: more people were being impacted by my words than I expected, and my words could harm.

It's one thing to announce the emperor has no clothes, which I readily do, but any loudmouth with a keyboard can do the same. It’s quite another to use words and ideas to point to a better alternative (or better conversation). Very recently, almost ten years after starting my blog (I’m a slow learner), I came to an intentional decision: I can write about what I’m against, or I can write for what I’m for. The subtle difference makes the world of change in my words, but more importantly my heart.

Our words, especially when they hit the public, can be used in many ways. We certainly want to be agents of change in a land that sorrily needs beauty, but sometimes it’s not entirely evident when our work makes an impact (which is normal). Consider this next time you pen a thought or paragraph: the number of page likes, views, shares, or books sold doesn’t matter. The impact of our words isn’t our measure. What matters is whether or not we were faithful in penning them to begin with. What happens after that is up to God.


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Rohadi can be found at his blog sharing ideas on church planting and the missional church. His first book hits shelves this June. Soul Coats: Restoration is an adult coloring book with Bible scenes and scriptures.

FOR HIM by Glynis M. Belec

When I wrote my inspirational, slice of life & humour column for many years in a local paper I remember two of my favourite encouragements received from readers: 

Number 1 - "I could really relate to what you wrote. I know exactly how you felt."

Number 2 -  "I cut out your column and have it on my fridge. "

That was music to my ears; to think my words hit home and people were actually 'getting me'. 

Little did I know, though, that God was priming me for some greater, wonderful, writerly moments over the years. Moments that would point others to Him. A ministry.

At the beginning I had such trouble seeing myself as a writer, though, even though I loved relaying stories and offering inspirational words each week. Sure, I wrote, but I felt what I plopped on paper were mere words. I felt apologetic sometimes and often had a need to explain why I was writing what I was writing. As if my words were insufficient and weak; so weak no one would understand my point.

My confidence level in the writing department was as dull as ditch-water and almost as stagnant. 

Then something happened. I think I grew up. Come to think of it, it was the same year I fell in love with Jesus. God eventually had hold of me, and something started to bubble. Maybe it was because I had experience under my belt. Maybe getting older gives one presence of mind and a little bit more understanding. Maybe just maybe God gave me new eyes (He certainly gave me a new heart) and said it was time I started realizing that this writing gift was His to use for His glory. 

I am not by any means implying I have it all together and everything I write is flowing prose and each word effectual and right and pleasing to God. What I am saying is that once I acknowledged God, then something happened in my writing life. 

Situations entered my life; some heart wrenching and more than a little challenging. I wrote about them.

God placed people in my life then He gave me ideas about how or what to write. I wrote about them.


Trials came and opportunities arose. He told me that I need not worry about prying open any doors - He would make sure those He wanted open would be open and that would be my signal to walk through and write about them. 

God reminded me of how Jesus was not forceful and tough in his ministry. Instead he was gentle and honest and passionate.  That's how I wanted to write. 

An editor, very early along in my career, gave me a very wise piece of advice that I love to share. I believe she offered it as she was rejecting an article I was submitting. I cannot remember the article at all, but I will never forget her wise words that helped turn my ordinary writing into ministry: 

"If you write from the heart, you will touch other hearts"

My hope and prayer is that I always write from my heart - my new heart, in Christ! 

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I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders. I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I’m singing your song, High God. 

Psalm 9:1-2 The Message