Who Am I?

Exodus 3:11-12
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

Who am I?

My mind is still reeling from everything I experienced at the Goodlit Writer's Retreat. Not only did we have excellent mentors and teachers, we were fed well (I tasted food I'd never eaten before) I slept in a beautiful old inn, and I bonded with writers from all over the country. More than all the wonderful accommodations, teaching, and the people I met, I had an overwhelming awareness of the presence of God.

I've known for a while God called me to write, but at Goodlit, He met me face-to-face and poured into my heart to leave discouragement behind. Most writers will tell you that we never feel our writing is good enough—we find ourselves wondering why anyone would want to read what we write. It's called imposter syndrome. Even as I sit and write this devotion, the devil is trying to mess with my mind and tell me I'm wasting my time. I'm not saying any of this so people will respond with encouragement, although that is always appreciated. I'm saying this because I think we all feel that way in our walk with Jesus.

Who am I to be redeemed, forgiven, sent into the battlefield for God?

Moses wondered the same thing, but God had called him to deliver His people. He asked Moses to bring His people out of Egypt. The beautiful part of the story is Moses obeyed. He took God's calling to heart and trudged on. Was it easy? No. Did he get accolades at the end? No. He didn't even make it into the promised land with the people he led. Yet he obeyed.

God has called me to write, but even more important, He's called me to obey. I may never win an award, or have a best seller. It doesn't matter. What matters is obedience to the one who created me and knows my purpose on this earth.

What is God calling you to? Listen and obey.

An Adventure of Obedience

Psalm 128:1
Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.

Obedience to God is an act of faith.

For as long as I’ve walked with God on my writing journey, He’s only asked one thing of me—to be obedient. With every word I’ve typed, class I’ve taken, conference I’ve attended, He has opened doors for me to walk through. Mind you, I didn’t have to step through any of them. The free will He gives us to choose our own adventure could have kept me from the journey He planned. And at times, I know I stepped off the path, but He waited patiently for me to turn around and seek Him again. You see, I had a dream to be a writer, and I prayed about my desire. I had no idea where the journey would take me, but I knew God walked with me.

He’s my writing partner. The One who knows my every thought and prayer. He understands my heart’s desire and He’s given me the tools to follow my dream. I know this because He’s the one who placed the dream on my heart from the beginning.

Scott and Lori Conley had a dream to provide food to children, offer scholarships for camp, and provide pillows to kindergartners. They prayed about the possibility of beginning a ministry to empower children and provide for their unmet needs. Lori and Scott got the program off the ground with much prayer, and Empower Youth soared. Since then Lori has made her way to heaven, Scott remarried, and the dream has continued. Even though Lori is in her heavenly home, Scott has remained obedient to God’s call.

We don’t know where our passions might lead. I pray my words encourage and bring hope. I know Empower Youth feeds the hungry both physically and spiritually.

My question now is, do you have a dream, a desire, a passion you want to pursue? Is it something God has placed on your heart? Pray, read the Bible for guidance, and seek people who will encourage you and give you wisdom, and be obedient.

Have faith in the One who created you for your adventure.

Do Good Work

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Genesis 6:6-8
The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

As a crafter, artist, and writer, I picture God’s hands creating each person with a purpose.

Can you imagine being called by God to build an enormous boat because torrential rain is about to flood the earth and kill off all the sin-filled people? On top of that, fill this ginormous ark with animals who will be hungry, thirsty, and smelly. And you and your family of eight will be the only people to survive.

True story. God called Noah to build an ark because God looked at the world and saw so much evil, that He chose to start over. The only man for the job was Noah because he was faithful, and he was created for this purpose.

My friends, Bev, Krista and I went to visit the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky. The Ark is a replica of Noah’s ark built according to the dimensions in the Bible with the folks who created it using an artistic license on the internal structure.

As we walked up and down the three-story boat, along the ramps, I pictured Noah and his family caring for the animals. The feeding and cleanup were enough to overwhelm me. Which got me to thinking about tasks God has called me to do. Was I as willing as Noah to trust God and move forward? I’d like to think so, but at times, I’ve hesitated. When God called me to write novels—I thought there is no way I can do that. Yet I have because I chose to be obedient to God’s calling.

I’m thankful for Noah’s example of obedience and faith. From him and his family, I’ve learned to trust God and His wisdom and obey his calling in my life. It’s not easy, but I know God has created me as His handiwork to do good works.

What is God calling you to do?

God Hems Me In

Psalm 139:1-6
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

How do I want to be known?

Who am I? Tim’s wife, my children’s mother, my parents’ daughter, Babbaw or Grammy Penny. Or perhaps you knew me when I was a quilter and crafter, a librarian who read to your children, the volleyball coach, or the lady who rode her bicycle all over town. Maybe you know me now—as a writer, a reader, or a reviewer.

In whatever phase of life I’ve been known, I strive to be recognized as a follower of Jesus. As I continue to work through my story and purpose along the path God sets for me, I pray I leave a trail of kindness and encouragement.

In the psalm, the writer, David, confirms God knows him. Not as a passerby, but as an in-depth relational bond. The Father sees when he gets up, lays down, comes and goes, and every word on his heart and tongue. David must have been humbled by this realization, as I am. When I stop and think about God seeing, hearing, and knowing everything I do, I’m a little taken back. He’s known me since I was a tiny embryo, and now he sees me with white hair and (ahem) a few wrinkles.

He sees my ugly and my beautiful. And loves me anyway.

God hems me in—in other words, I cannot hide from Him. There is not one thing I can bury, cover up, or camouflage. He sees my heart, my intentions, and my failures. He hears my words and follows me on social media. Seriously, God is aware of all of our comings and goings. Sounds a bit overwhelming, right?

But it’s not. When we live as though our heavenly Father knows us, then we live in obedience, serving one another in love.

Be the person God nods at and acknowledges as the one trying to do his or her best.

Sunrise---Sunset

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Linus, of Charlie Brown fame, starts each day with a fresh blanket.

Photo by Maggie Wickline-Jowers

I don't often wake up in time to witness the sunrise. Yet, I know every day that bright star lights our world from dawn until dusk. With the morning I'm given the gift of a new day, an opportunity to start fresh on my journey with Jesus. While I attempt to follow the Holy Spirit's lead each day, some days I fumble through on my own and make a mess.

On the days I fail miserably, I bow my head as the sun sets and ask God to forgive me.

And he does.

The Lord gives second chances. His patience amazes me. I would have been done with me a long time ago. Not God. He calls me to repent when sin strangles me and drags me to the ground. He reminds me how much he loves me and wants me to understand I'm not alone. Instead I'm loved and accepted as his child.

I'm thankful for sunrise, a new beginning every morning. I'm even more thankful for sunset, a time to reflect on my day and seek God's grace.

Jesus calls everyone to repent, to throw off the burden of sin, and follow him.

If you haven't accepted Jesus love and grace, he asks us to hear his word (or read it), believe he is the son of God who died and rose to life, confess our sins, repent (turn away from a life chasing sinful things toward a life of hope and joy), be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit (our comfort and guide,) and be obedient.

 Jesus loves us and wants us to live a life of abundance.

God Freed Mary from the Ordinary

Luke 2:6
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

From beginning to end, Mary loved her son, Jesus. She cuddled him in the manger and stood with him at the cross. And she prayed.

Day after day, Mary labored beside her family members, probably her grandmother, mother, sisters, aunts and cousins. Between carrying water, preparing food, and watching out for the families children, she worshiped God. She loved her heavenly Father and followed his direction. When he called on her to be the mother of Jesus, although she was troubled, she obeyed.

Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

I've been reading a book by Sharon Jaynes, How Jesus Broke the Rules to Set You Free. She tells the stories of several women in the Bible and how Jesus gave them respect and love. In Mary's chapter she writes, "God freed Mary from an ordinary life and freed her to fulfill an extraordinary purpose." Isn't that beautiful? In obedience we're set free! God requires obedience, not because he wants to control us. But because he has an amazing life in store for us. Mary's life was truly incredible. She was the mother of Jesus. I can't imagine how extraordinary that would be. She knew him in a way no one else did. And he loved her as only a son could.

John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple [John] whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

As a mother and daughter, I've been blessed beyond anything I could imagine. I pray that I continue to obey the Lord and pass the blessings on to my mom and daughters.

Happy Mother's Day and God bless!

Jaynes, Sharon. How Jesus Broke the Rules to Set You Free. Eugene, OR, Harvest House Publishers, 2015.