Good morning…
In my recent post Fill The Hole In My Soul, I shared words handwritten by my 25-year-old self in my first official journal back in 1988. Afterward a supportive subscriber wrote: “Wow. You are the same as when you were at 25. Older. Wiser. But really the same. If you had cut and pasted that message from your old journal and not said anything, I would have assumed you wrote it today. How amazing. So glad that God is continuing to work in you and through you and to use the gifts he has given you to bless and encourage others.”
As I sat back and read that post myself, I actually was struck by the very same thing. My voice written on the page at age 25 sounded much like the words I blog each morning as prepare to turn 55, and my unique voice will likely sound similar when I am writing fresh words at age 95. This is one reason I believe my writing is a gift from God, a gift God is honing in me to help heal huge hurts.
Why does the continuity of connection surprise me? If the Bible message is true, we are all wired to mature God’s calling. One aspect of becoming more and more our true selves is to embody the moment-by-moment intimacy Christ enjoyed with our heavenly Father. Jesus himself wondered aloud: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority, but the Father, abiding continually in Me, does His works [His attesting miracles and acts of power]” (John 14:10, AMP).
Whether we are gifted by God to write or paint, to sing or teach, to build or parent, to encourage or befriend, do we not believe we are in the Father and the Father is in us? Might the words we say, the love we share, the kind community we create be the LORD’s initiative, bestowed by God’s authority, fed continually as we abide with the Almighty? God is doing powerful work in and through us, miraculously making all things new.
What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. …you lived in responsive obedience… Now…keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13, MSG).
…Sue…
P.S. As we head into this time of Lent, a six week season set aside for self-reflection, will you ponder with me this piercing question, “God, what am I made for?” If you live in the Atlanta area, I encourage you to join us tonight at our Women’s Lenten Communion Service. Please read details below and bring a friend.
Copyright © 2018 Northside United Methodist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is:
Northside United Methodist Church
2799 Northside DriveAtlanta, GA 30305
