Dear Girl | Embrace God's Plan

Dear Girl,

I wasn't originally going to write this.  I was planning on only posting about reading/writing related topics.  But then I remembered that there's so much more to life.  Let me explain.

Last week, my family went on a trip to Iowa.  We drove through endless fields of soft, brown hues.  We watched windmills spin, white in the light of the sun.  We passed rolling hills, arching bridges, and cities that stretched up into the sky.  During those long hours of driving, I had several goals of what I could accomplish with a seat-belt strapped around my shoulder.  My goals always consist of three things.

I have three areas of life I focus on.

I'm a Christian - I strive to have every area of my life reflect the love of my Savior.  I try to love Him with all my heart and tune my own dreams to reflect His plan for my life.

I'm a writer - I have writing goals such as finishing projects and keeping up with blogging.  I also read to help my writing abilities grow.

But I'm also a girl - I have relationships and a family whom I devote myself to.  I have hobbies and work that I try to keep under control.  I have emotions that go crazy, a room to keep clean, and a schedule that drives me nuts.

So if you're a girl, here's what I want to tell you.

Life's crazy.  It hurts.  It confuses us.  We face decisions and deadlines.  We try to balance a million things.  We're horrible at juggling, and sometimes our lives show that quite clearly.

Some of us are depressed.  Some of us are broken.  Some of us are afraid.

But dear girl, it's okay.  God's got this.

In Psalms 18, He gives us so many promises.  He promises to deliver us from our enemies because He delights in us.  He promises to support us.

For who is God, except the Lord?

And who is a rock, except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength,

And makes my way perfect.

- Psalm 18:31-32

God's in control of our life - victories and struggles.  Yet we also can't accept less than what He has in store for us.

He has an amazing plan for our lives.  It might not have the glitter or comfort we're hoping for.  His plan might include poverty or persecution or peril.  But it's an epic adventure.  Why wouldn't we let the Author of history write our own life story?

My friend, the One who lead David to battle and Esther to go from peasant to queen wants to use YOU.  He has plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11).  But those plans won't come to those who dilly-dally and dance through life living for themselves.

I don't want to be a Christian who lives in the lukewarm atmosphere that's only too common in our churches.  I heard that the name "Christian" was a term that non-believers gave to those who radically lived for Christ.  They were so different from the rest of the world that even those who denied the faith noticed their passion.

I want a faith like that.  I don't want to call myself a Christian.  I want it to shine from every area of my life.

I hope you want that same radical fervor.  Life wasn't meant to be lived half-heartily.  God has an amazing story specifically for you, but sometimes you must be willing to let go.

It would be nice to know all the answers and decisions in life.  And yet, that's the beauty of it.  God is directing every part of our life for a specific reason.  Maybe one day, we'll finally be able to see the "why"s.

But if you're wanting that set-apart life for Jesus, He's given us some hints at what He expects from those who love Him with everything.

You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

- Jeremiah 29:12-13

Dear girl, if you want to find Jesus and let Him consume every area of your life - writing, reading, relationships, and more - are you willing to let go?  Are you willing to pray to Him and seek Him with all your heart?

I know you have so many things begging for your attention.  I do too.  It's hard to balance everything.

Yet, I also know this.

For You will light my lamp;

The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

For by You I can run against a troop,

By my God I can leap over a wall.

- Psalm 18:28-29 

As you face life, remember that you're never alone.  You are loved.  Treasured.  And He has an amazing plan for your life.

The question is, will you let go and let Him write your story?  In every area of life?

Let's be radical.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

- Philippians 4:13

Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

- 1 Corinthians 8:6 

~♥~ 

Dear Christian | Read the Word

Dear Christian,

You know you're supposed to read the Bible.  You know it's the inspired Word of God and sharper than a double edged sword.  But maybe you're struggling along and don't know where to start.

Well, guess what - I'm right there with you.  Reading the Bible can become a tedious chore that we do every day to cross off a box and feel good about ourselves.

It doesn't have to stay that way.

Reading the Bible isn't a chore.  Relationships don't work if we have a list of "do"s and "don't"s.  If we live with that perspective, we have it all wrong.

Here's why:  God didn't have to create the world.  He chose to.  He wanted to make people who willingly chose to love and serve Him.  When we instead raised our tiny fists in anger, He gave us a second chance.  God created a way for us to return to Him so we could be restored to Eden one day.  The Bible is His letter of love, faithfulness, forgiveness, and salvation.

When we read the Bible, we're reading the Words of eternal, mighty God.  It's not drudgery - it's a blessing beyond words.

That Creator wants to have a relationship with you.  He wrote a long, passionate letter that tells the story of His love.  It shares stories of people He loved who made decisions.  Some embraced and followed Him; others treated Him with scorn.

The Bible shares the songs of praise that fellow Believers lifted up to heaven.  It offers practical advice in living in His presence.  It directs us to the path of Salvation.  Beyond our wildest imagination, God finished His letter with a peek into the future when evil would be overthrown and we would return to Eden to live in His presence.

It's a love letter.  Because He wants to be your Best Friend.

Some people make rigid structures in how you need to read that love letter.  You start here and read until there.  You highlight these verses or underlines those ones.

That's all good in and of itself.  If you need a schedule to motivate yourself to keep being in His Word, use one by all means!

I haven't found a verse or chapter in the Bible that tells me how to read it.  But it does tell us that His Word should always be in our hearts.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 

Go find yourself a quiet place.  Turn on soft music or push away the noise.  Pull out pens, highlighters, notebooks, dictionaries, or concordances.  You could study original Hebrew or Greek text through online sources such as this one.

You could sing.  You could dance.  You could pray, or memorize, or read.

But dear Christian, be in the Bible.  Read from cover to cover.  Pray through verses and hide God's Word in your heart.

Sometimes I read chapters end upon end.  I race through books and then sit back, soaking in the beauty of the overarching story.

Several weeks ago, I decided to see what it's like for so many of our brothers and sisters across the globe.  I took four loose pages of a book of the Bible that happened to be Romans.  I then spent my time digging through these few chapters as if that was all the Bible I had.  For some people, it is all they have.

My friend, read and write and pray away!  Sweep through entire books or chew on every word.  How you read the Bible or where you start doesn't matter.  Just do it.  Don't put it off for later, because, if you do, you'll never going to start.

Being a Christian is so much more than reading an old book and going to Church.  It's a relationship.  Let's seek after Jesus.

If you've discovered a Bible reading plan or method that works for you, please share it in the comments.  This is the most important Book we'll ever read.  I want to receive it with gladness and embrace the message God wrote for us.  I hope you do too.

How can a young man cleanse his way?

By taking heed according to Your word. 

- Psalm 119:9

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

~♥~

Dear Writer | Live for More

Dear Writer,

Your words have power.  They have purpose - if you use them wisely.  Remember that.

If you're a writer, you've already been giving a huge blessing.  God's given you the gift of words.  Maybe you don't think so, because English can trip anyone up (trust me).  However, there's something so much more important than grammar and a flowing story-line.

There is something we often forget.

We can't define ourselves as merely "writers".  We're people.  We have schedules and families and friends.  We can't bury ourselves in our writing and miss out on all the rest.  What would it matter if we gained the whole world and lost our soul?  Or what would it matter if we wrote a best-selling book, got published on a renowned website, or created a story that brought tears to someone's eyes if at home our lives were falling apart?

Writing is important.  Maybe it's your calling.  But don't forget that Jesus is what matters.  If you spend your life doing things for Jesus, you'll miss out on having a relationship with Jesus.  He wants you.  Not your writing.  You.

Jesus will often use your talents to do amazing things.  Make Him your priority.  Then you'll be writing something worth reading.

I'm just starting to learn this lesson.  I'm still struggling.  Inwardly, I want to live my life for myself.  I want comfort and schedules and routine.  But we're made for so much more.

A real Christian's life should be lived from the outflow of her relationship with Jesus.

Everything.  Writing, reading, words, it should all be because of a passionate love that overwhelms their life and seeps out from them every time they open their mouth.  This isn't writing.  This is so much more.

There are no meaningless moments in life - even writing.  Every one counts.  Let's make sure we don't waste them.

You're more important as a person than a writer.  So take a break.  Focus on relationships.  Sit alone in God's presence.  Maybe then you'll be ready to write with enthusiasm without forgetting what matters most.

I want to share one last piece of encouragement.

It's easy to get into "author mode" and look over everything with a critical eye.  Sometimes we forget to like our writing.  We pick out commas and stress about character flaws.  We wonder what a reader would think.  Or we erase yet another email and wonder how to share what we really want to say.

Guess what?  First drafts aren't beautiful.  Neither are second or third drafts.  Don't let yourself get carried away with perfectionism.  Sometimes the best thing you can do is explore your writings as a reader.  Turn off editing and wrap yourself into the story.  Read.  Feel the emotion of the story and embrace where God has already led you.

Then get back into editing mode with a bounce in your fingers.  Embrace every stage of writing knowing that there's a purpose in it.  If we wait to live life until a certain point, we'll never truly live.  So live right now.  Give yourself away to Jesus and write up a storm to His glory.

Dear Writer, I know it's hard, and you might feel discouraged.  If life was easy, we would never achieve anything worth success.  Start today.  Life for more.  Don't be just a writer, but when you do set your pen on paper, let it fly from fingers eager to share a message of hope with the world.

I'm cheering you on.

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

- Psalm 46:10

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

- Psalm 150:6

~♥~