"And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God."  - Eccesiastes 3:13

Readers of Daily Deposits for the Soul and followers of this blog know that the focus of both is to guide the reader to living their best life based on the word of God.  According to Dan Miller, 81% of Americans say they would like to write a book.  Which means 4 out of 5 of people in the US believe we have a message to share with the world, and that sharing that message may somehow fit in our life's purpose.

I just finished reading a preview copy of You Are A Writer (So Start Acting Like One) and found it to be a helpful resource especially for the millions who want to write a book, but are apprehensive in taking the steps necessary to allow your words to see the light of day. Drawing from the author's own experience, the first chapter addresses facing and overcoming the fear and reluctance that either prevents us from writing, or hinders us from writing consistently enough to finish the work.  The first step to becoming a writer is to believe that you are one.  The overall message here aligns with scripture: "… be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."  Once our thinking has changed, then our actions will be more apt to fall in line.  Jeff shares a solid, yet incredibly simple, exercise to help make that transformation.

Another message that resonated with me was to not write what you think other people want to read; instead, write that which you know to be true.  Write for the love of writing.  Write for yourself, and not for anyone else.  That way, your passion will come through and the message will resonate best with your audience. Jeff's sharing how this shift in thinking markedly increased his blog following really brings this point home.

Jeff discusses the travails of approaching publishers to request freelance writing gigs, and how that business model affected him psychologically.  Then he shares how he changed the dynamic from him seeking acceptance by the publishing gatekeepers, to him becoming the gatekeeper because publishers began contacting him to request his writing.

The author points out quite clearly that being a successful writer requires more than just writing - it requires the writer to develop solid marketing skills as well.  To this end, the remainder of the book provides practical steps to become a successful writer, including establishing a brand, building a platform, connecting with an audience, and additional steps to take before you have your first book written.

I highly recommend You Are A Writer for all who sense a calling to make a difference with words, but especially anyone who is struggling to make the transition from being someone who wants to write to being the writer you already are.  This book may be just the resource you need to find the confidence to say, "I Am A Writer," and to fulfill that part of your God-given purpose.

Have you identified writing as part of your purpose for being here?  What fears, insecurities, or apprehensions have kept you from writing?  Share your thoughts in the Comments section.

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"Do all things without murmurings and disputing: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world"  - Philippians 2:14-15

Regardless of whether you are a fan of professional football, chances are you have heard of Tim Tebow.  Tebow is wildly popular among evangelical Christians for not only his athletic prowess (having won the Heisman trophy as college football's best player, having led the University of Florida Gators in winning the national championship, and having engineered several come-from-behind victories with the Denver Broncos), but more so because of his devout Christian beliefs.

Although Tebow enjoys widespread popularity, he has more than his share of detractors.  He has been ridiculed on most every media outlet and even has been mocked in a Saturday Night Live skit - and all because he acknowledges the Lord in a posture of humility (aka "Tebowing") after every touchdown and professes Jesus Christ unashamedly as his Lord and Savior every time he is interviewed. But despite the frequent and bitter ridicule he receives, Tebow continues to conduct himself with grace and humility.

NBA basketball player Jeremy Lin, also a devout Christian who was included on the Time Magazine list, had the following to say in the article regarding Tebow:

"Watching Tim Tebow play football, you can observe many things about his character. You see his fierce competitiveness, his strong work ethic and how he is a leader that his teammates trust and respect. But it is the qualities that Tim, 24, embodies in his life off the field that truly set him apart. He is unashamed of his convictions and faith, and he lives a life that consistently reflects his values, day in and day out."

In the midst of a society that is corrupted by sin, the life of the Christian is to provide a striking contrast – compared to stars shining in the night sky (verse 15).  The passage illuminates a specific area of our conduct, instructing that we are to “do everything without complaining or arguing.” (verse 14).  In a society where criticism, contention, slander, strife, and all kinds of negative attitudes are everywhere, how striking it is to find someone whose attitude is pleasant and whose words are edifying and gracious.

In our fallen society, Christians are often tempted to tone down, and in some cases are instructed to eliminate altogether, public professions of our faith.  I say let us follow Tim Tebow's example, and magnify the name of Jesus Christ on whatever platform we are blessed to stand.  And while we may not make Time's list of 100 influencers, we still can point this world to the #1 Influencer of all Time.

So, how do you exert your influence?  How will you going forward?

 
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"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret..."  Matthew 6:3-4

One of my favorite random acts occurred when I was in the grocery store one day. The lady in front of me was in the situation I am sure many of us have been in before where she had more groceries than she had money.  The Lord told me to give $20 to help her.  As I was getting the cash from my wallet, she left most of her groceries with the cashier and had gone to replace some of the items she could not afford on the shelves.

The cashier had motioned me to move ahead so he could check my two or three items.  After he rung up my items, I asked him how much more the lady needed in order to pay for her items.  He looked at the register tape and told me $19.82 or some amount that was remarkably close to $20.  I gave him the $20 and told him to apply it toward her purchase.  I could tell that the act had moved him as he said, "I have never seen anyone do that for someone they didn't know."  I smiled, said "God bless you" and left the store knowing that that single act of obedience and love blessed both the customer and the cashier--and probably blessed me most of all.

What's your favorite secret random act of kindness when either someone randomly blessed you or you randomly blessed someone?

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As you probably know, we set aside the Friday before Easter as Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus our Savior on the cross at Calvary.  As I considered that selfless act on this Good Friday, here are a few things that came to mind.

1.  In order to have a resurrection, there first has to be a crucifixion.  Renewed life requires some sort of sacrifice on our part.  It's insanity to think that we can keep doing the same thing and experience a different result.  Figure out what it is in your life that you need to do differently, and do it without letting anything - including your fears, doubts and insecurities - get in your way.

2.  "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."  We all experience disappointments and setbacks; and things do not always work out the way we want them.  In fact, sometimes life can deal you a heavy blow.  Despite experiencing what may be a great loss in your life, proper grieving can bring healing and peace.

3.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...."  The love Jesus so passionately demonstrated on the cross makes it clear that love is not an emotion, but rather it is a God-given ability to treat others better than your emotions may dictate, and better than their actions may deserve.  Let that example be the model for how you love the people around you every day.

4.  "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."  Just think: where would we be if Jesus had said, "not thy will, but mine be done?"  Even when we are unable to see or understand it, and even when it seems to stand against all logic and reason, God's plan is perfect and always works out for the good of them who love him.
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Seasons 10/20/2010
 
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Ecclesiastes 3:1-9  "1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."

Like it or not, all things, whether good or bad, eventually must come to a natural end: offspring come of age and move from the comfort and security of the place they know as home; physical prowess slowly dwindles and outward beauty gradually fades with time; relationships transition when friends or relatives move on from this earthly existence. But with every end, there is room for a wonderful and exciting beginning.

When a loved one passes into life eternal, we have opportunity to reflect on what made that person special in our life – how they affected us with their sharing, or their comforting, or how they encouraged us, or made us laugh – and to ensure that we live in a way that reflects that spirit. This establishes a legacy that survives their temporal existence and extends even to others who never had the privilege of making their acquaintance. Just think of how your commitment to being a living legacy will affect the lives of those you encounter. If you haven’t guessed, your own spirit will affect their lives that same way the spirit of your departed loved one has affected yours.

When we lose a much-needed job due to downsizing, we have a chance to do something we might never have done otherwise. We can pursue a dream that long ago had been pushed aside due to the mundane pressures of everyday. We can return to school and train for a career that aligns with our passions. We can start that business providing a product or service desired and needed within our local community or even extending to others across the country and around the world with similar needs or interests. We can write that book or screenplay that has been burning to come out of us and that the world has been waiting to read or hear. We can do what has been “impractical” to do before, because we no longer have the job as an excuse not to do it. The time is now right; and the circumstances could not be better for you to do something different than they are right now!  Pray to God about what you should do, and step out in faith.  This is the season.

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What recent or anticipated change do you currently face in your life?  Where are the opportunities to grow and develop brought about by this change that will enable you to be a blessing and to glorify God?
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Break the Dam 08/08/2010
 
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John 7:38-39a NIV "'Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.'  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive."

Because we have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, we have been given the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.  And because of the Holy Spirit we are to have streams or rivers of living water that flow from within us.  But what does the Bible mean by this?  Let's look at the qualities of a stream or river to understand it.  A stream or river has a larger body of water as its origin, or source, and empties from its mouth into another large body that is situated at a lower altitude.  Proverbs 18:21 tells us that "the tongue has the power of life and death."  So the living water that flows from our mouths is the life-affirming words that we speak.

Our living water has as its source the Holy Spirit, who is our guide and counselor.  We are to speak life-affirming words as given by the Spirit when we and others around us find ourselves in, or even realize we have placed ourselves in situations that are lower than God's highest and best for our lives.

But sometimes we are presented with opportunities to allow the living water to flow, and it does not.  Why is this?  Something has hindered or dammed the water from flowing.  It could be lack of knowledge of what God's word says about a certain topic.  It could be fear of what others might think or how they might respond.  It could be a lack of faith that what God says will actually come to pass.

There are steps that you can take to break the dam.  Where ignorance of the Bible is the issue, take advantage of Bible study tools and adopt a consistent study plan.

Where fear of the opinion of others is concerned, rather than focus on the worst case scenario, think about the potential for good that your words can have within the situation.  And remember the words of Jesus in Luke 9:26: "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory...."  Whose opinion matters more: Jesus' or theirs?

Where your faith is lacking despite knowing what the Bible says or what the Spirit has spoken clearly to you, recall other circumstances when you followed God's direction either as you read it in the Bible or as God had spoken it to you.  And remember that somehow it all worked together for good.

So remember, when you and others around you are in a dry place in your lives, living water is just the refreshment you need.  Break the dam and let it flow.

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What are some areas of your life in which living waters have been dammed?   How have you or how will you break the dam and allow living waters to flow?
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