I can’t write another post without writing this one today! God is definitely at work!! Please be encouraged by me personally to take steps of faith even when you do not feel adequate or equipped. Remember the saying, “God does not call the equipped, He equips the called!”? Well, I definitely fit into this category. I am not a writer, but God is. I was a business major in college and, even though I have had success in public speaking, I have never written much. God called me personally at 16 to write a book one day (And even then I thought it very strange. I was so young. I asked myself and God, ” What in the world would I write about?”). I have never given it much thought since, until 4 years ago.
I was encouraged by someone whom I deem to be extremely wise in giving advice and with whom I had shared my thoughts about writing and God’s call. We talked and prayed at length about this venture. It was a tremendous encouragement to me and the wise person posed a challenge to me, “Maybe the book is for God to read and read only. Don’t worry if it is for anybody else, just do it for God.” So I started writing several years ago. Best advice ever.
My first year of writing I have now come to call “narrative therapy” and prayers to God. Writings that only God would understand and have the patience and grace to read. It also gave me a whole year to write freely without the thought or worry that their would be any other reader but God, thus, I wrote freely and uninhibited. Writing with this perspective taught me valuable lessons. One lesson being that writing was a permanent form of communication and, if preserved, could last way after I am gone.
I also learned that writing was a fabulous form of communication. It allows me to process my thoughts better. In essence, I could write and then reread and correct the idea I was trying to convey. I could even sleep and pray on it for a day or two and go back and rewrite and delete–something I realize we cannot do with our words when we speak. And, I realized that maybe at age 50 I had learned some valuable life lessons that were worth writing down and sharing.
Right now I have to give credit where credit is so due, to GOD and to a group of prayer warriors–my precious and beloved family and to The Back 9 Ministries Team. On the Back9ministries.org website under the Contact button, it says “Our Team”. If you click on that button, you will be able to see the people who have worked tirelessly and cheerfully to help me be obedient to God’s call. This team is composed of a business manager/advisor, a media specialist, a web designer and manager, and two incredible editors.
They all have helped to make this a success to God’s glory and with that being said, I want to make sure the readers know, first, it is a God thing. And second, it is not just me, Back 9 Ministries is a TEAM EFFORT. God is using everyone on the team and is equipping them to use their God-given talents. In the future there will be posts about these individuals and how I came to know each one of them.
Looking back and reflecting, I now see God’s hand today as He has been orchestrating this team of people as far back as twenty-six years ago. Never, no never, underestimate God’s plan nor His timing for you. He created all of us to do good works, in His time and at His call. Isaiah 41:10 ” So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Do not ignore the voice of God in your life. If you are unwilling to risk your reputation, you’ll never fight the giants like David did in defeating Goliath or walk in the fiery furnace (untouched) like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. You cannot build God’s reputation if you aren’t willing to risk your own.