Tag Archives: Inspiration

Why I Write

I am called to refresh others.
I am called to speak words of encouragement and inspiration into the lives of people.

Photo courtesy of Julie Beth Theule

This is why I write. I have been called to write the words of my heart and share them with you.

Do I have a great and glorious revelation to share with you? No. I have words given to me over the course of the 43 years of my life. Words of my story I wish to share with you. Words are bursting out of me. Every day.

My story is no different from your own. We all experience joy, sorrow, triumph, defeat, success and failure. I am called to share my stories with you so you too can better understand this life you live. My words may inspire you to greatness. My words may bring you to deep despair. Either way, I’m going to share them with you. If my words move you to greatness, HALLELUJAH! If my words bring you deep despair, I pray God will meet you in that despair and restore you to HALLELUJAH!

The written word and the spoken word are powerful.

I’m not writing out of a selfish need for validation. (At least I shouldn’t be.) I’m writing so I may share what has been given to me.

I’ve been called to share the words I’ve been given. I wrote the quote below in my journal a few months ago. I didn’t make a note of the source, so I cannot give proper credit, but I love these words and I need to share them with you.

“It’s not God’s plan for us to collect seed. God’s plan is for us to plant the seed.
Do something with what you have.” – unknown

I’ve been collecting words like seed. Now it is time for planting.

I am being called to write and speak. May my words be seeds. May they find rich soil. May they grow and have life in you. May they produce a harvest filled with overflowing HALLELUJAH!!

One Word

11 Replies

A few days ago I sent out a tweet asking some friends, “What should be my #oneword for 2014?” Instead of making the traditional “resolutions”, I want to select a word to focus on for the year.

My Friends, Practicing My Word

Here are some of the suggestions offered by my friends in response to my tweet:
Courage
Intentional
Proactive
Awesome
Relevant
Delight
Abide
Present
Faith (in yourself and God)
Forward
Trust
Soon J

One friend emphasized that no matter the word I choose, “walk in it boldly!” Good point. To focus on one word for 12 months, one should certainly be bold about it. This also reminded me to choose wisely.

One word for the year is a big deal.

For the last 8 months or so of 2013 I attempted to focus on the word “intentional”. My life was turned upside down at the end of April. (You can read about that HERE.) I needed to work on some major changes in my daily life. I’m sure I’ll continue to focus on being intentional in 2014, but I’m at a place to add on to it and grow more as well.

While I pondered my “word” and read the responses to my tweet, I was also reading “Love Does” by Bob Goff. As the tweets came in, I was reading Chapter 21. The chapter title is “Hearing Aid.” As I read, and as the tweets came in, one word continued to roll around in my head.

LISTEN

I thought about the word for a few days. Would it work as a word to focus on for the year? What does it mean? Can it encompass multiple aspects to help create movement in my soul?

In his chapter “Hearing Aid”, Bob writes about “selective hearing” (married folks, you know what he means). He also writes about how we often have selective hearing when it comes to God speaking to us. Are we being lazy? Not trying to determine what God is saying to us? Do we need to listen harder with our heart?

I’ve been in that situation. Listening with my heart was not happening. At some point this past summer I realized I wasn’t listening, or living, with my heart. (You can read about it HERE.) As I intentionally searched my head and heart, I began to discover I was lacking quite a bit when it came to my heart.

Now as I look to 2014, I’m going to be intentional with my listening. I believe I can learn how to listen. Not only listen to God, but also to everyone around me.

Wife, Sons, Family, Friends, Co-workers, Mentors, Ministers, God

As for the words offered by my friends in response to my tweet, I’ll use them too. I believe each of those words ties in well with “LISTEN”. Over the coming months I’ll write about each of those words and how they have worked in conjunction with listening.

Here we go! Happy New Year! I’m ready to “LISTEN”!

What word did you select for 2014? Share it in the comments. Join the conversation.

Thanksgiving Perspective

Leave a reply

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” – Mark 9:37 (NIV)

It is Thanksgiving Week in the United States. Many of us use this week, and Thanksgiving Day, to connect with family and friends to enjoy fellowship and share what we are thankful for in our lives.

I’m not going to spend a lot of words today trying to guilt you into feeling bad about the good and wonderful things God has blessed you with this year. I’m simply going to ask you to click on the links below.

Read the stories.

Investigate the opportunities to share.

Rejoice. Give thanks. Share as you are able.

Opportunity #1 – God’s Littlest Angels Orphanage in Haiti – November 29 through December 1!
My friend Tom Vanderwell works for GLA. He lives near me in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tom is passionate about his work and the incredible opportunity that is available through a partnership with Family Christian Stores and Best Selling Author, Karen Kingsbury.

Click this link to read about the opportunity to help raise $500,000 to build a new neonatal facility in Haiti: The Haiti Challenge. Three Days, One Orphanage & You.

Opportunity #2 – SafeWorld Medical Clinic in Uganda – NOW through December 12!
My friend Matt Chambers is the Director of SafeWorld projects. He has assembled a team with a dream for Uganda.

The goal is $50,000.

1,000 people $50 each

WHY BUILD A HOSPITAL?
In the United States, we have 1 physician for every 390 people. In Nakaseke District, Uganda (where SafeWorld is based), there is only 1 physician for ever 29,000 people. As we researched the most immediate, effective, community-building ways we could help, this seemed the most crucial need. When we met with all the village, parish, and district leaders, they were unanimous that this should be the first building we construct.
Affordable access to excellent healthcare changes EVERYTHING.

Click this link for more information and to donate: http://hopemob.org/s/1ts-help-us-open-a-medical-clinic-in-uganda

Rejoice. Give thanks. Share as you are able.
Have a great week!