June 7, 2019
Consider it all joy, my brethren, whenever you face various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4
When I first started my blog in 2012 following the publication of my book But the Greatest of These is Love, I tried to manufacture interesting topics to write about. My publisher had instructed me to “write a blog,” so I did. My feeble attempts were all over the map. “Narrow it down to define your ‘platform’,” she suggested. I had meaningless opinions about everything and no direction. I was oblivious, and my rambling posts revealed that severe deficit. I had no idea what my “platform” was, or even what a “platform” was. Most of those early posts were just silly tripe, all vanity. Luckily few, if any, read those early posts.
I am really just a “story teller.” I had poured out my God Story in my book, and didn’t expect, or want another. One surrender was it for me. When I wrote the post (linked below) about an ordinary life event, it would transition me back to my first love of sharing true stories that glorify God. It also revealed my “platform” to do the same. A vivid dream later accompanied this conviction to “write all this down,” in case I considered taking my predictable lazy-breaks. This was God’s Story, and I couldn’t afford to neglect it.
When the events began unfolding with such rapid intensity, I was thankful for the admonition to write them down, because I could hardly write fast enough. If I had failed to document them as they happened, many precious details of this story would have been lost. The posts transformed into series, and maybe into a future book. Readers can read the product of my God-led writings as you click the link at the end of each post.
Did I want to go all the places God would eventually lead us on this emotional pilgrimage? I would not have gone voluntarily. But in the process of trials and sufferings I came face to Face with the Living God I had never known or expected before. God refined me by fire. I learned I had never been alone.
He makes Himself known! This is how “relationship” with God happens. Sometimes I would almost miss His glorious appearance, and He would say, “OH NO! You are NOT going to miss THIS!” and bring my attention to HIMSELF! I didn’t understood the “relationship” element just a few years ago. I am so grateful I understand it a little better now. I know He will grow my understanding of Him even more as He leads me though this life, refining me all the way to Heaven.
I am blessed beyond words. I pray you will be blessed too, by reading about HIM.
Oh, how He loves us.
Begin with Refined by Fire, from July, 2013
Consider it all JOY 