"Consider How to Stimulate One Another"

“I will stand like a guard and watch.
    I will wait to see

what the Lord will say to me.
I will wait and learn

how He answers my questions.”

Habakkuk 2:1 erv

A writers’ group is about support and accountability. So today, Saturday, February 22, 2014, after our discussion the writers of our new Christian group in Billings, Montana, shared what we’ll commit to do between this meeting our next one. Things like “write” “finish” “complete” were among those commitments.

 
Mine, however, was to prepar my “pitch”…a “one-sheet”… to present to a publisher/editor at the writers’ conference I’m attending next week.

Did I really say that? What was I thinking?

Despite the struggles of the past year and the anxieties of what I foresee in the coming months, writing is both my therapy and God’s call on my life.

I press on toward the upward call God has put upon me. But what do I write?

“The Lord answered me,

‘Write down what I show you.

Write it clearly on a sign

so that the message will be easy to read.’”

Habakkuk 2:1 erv

My journey as a deliberate writer came later for me than for some. It wasn’t a lifelong dream. I wasn’t a career of choice. I can’t say, “I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember.” Yet, God has assured me and encouraged me to share His answers by allowing several of my devotional stories to be published. He has called me to encourage, inspire, and challenge my fellow Christians. This can only happen when they are published in print…or in today’s world, online. And that can only come to completion when I submit and pitch my work.

When I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord, I also became a servant of the living God. He entrusted and equipped me to write His words. Just as a missionary is called into unfamiliar lands among unfamiliar people, I have been called to write…to write clearly, plainly, simply, easy to read.

So, this week I will work to prepare my pitch to present my work with publication as the intent.

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Last week I exposed the burdens of my heart. The pain of my soul. My battle continues. Nothing else has changed in my life, except those who came to hold me up...YOU.

“As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.” Exodus 17:11-13

YOU responded with wonderful words of life…words of encouragement, support, and prayers. YOU couldn’t take my place, but you could station yourselves at my side.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, 

for He who promised is faithful;

and let us consider how to stimulate 

one another to love and good deeds…" Hebrews 10:23-25 nasb

Thank YOU for coming to my side, 

for lifting me with love and stimulation to good works