Orange Wax Anointing

This week is the first anniversary of Joy in the Morning. Starting this blog was the beginning of what God is calling me to do with my life. 

My prayer has been that each post will inspire the readers to walk with the Lord in wisdom, knowledge and understanding. 

My goal was and is to touch as many lives as possible. Thanks to all who have read and supported me through this start up season. I have appreciated all those who have taken the time to let me know the posts had blessed them.

To celebrate, here was my first post (revised…lol)!

Hark! Was this a sign before I go to the Boot Camp Conference? As I talked on the phone with one of my writer buddies, I was also busy cleaning off my desk. You know the multitasking thing. Well, when I moved the lighted ‘Christ candle’ I keep on my desk, the candle fell over and orange wax went all over my hands, my computer, and my tablet of writing ideas. The wax was hot and sticky, but all I could think about was having to clean up another mess.

Then, the Holy Spirit invaded my thoughts to illuminate the situation. I began to see another reason for the mess. Was the wax pouring out the Lord’s way of anointing and sealing me to write for Him? It WAS the Christ candle I burn daily and the wax fell mainly on my hands, my writing ideas and my laptop.

The candle wax was orange. Oh how fitting. Orange is the color associated with passion and fire. Passion and fire are what I had asked the Lord for as I went into the weekend of learning. Do I feel a little overwhelmed at the task ahead? Yes. However, God’s passion inside of me will catapult me towards my goal of writing for Him alone. The fire is what He may need to put under me at times when I get too comfortable with where I am at in the moment.

Attending Writers ADVANCE Boot Camp 2012 was like a coming out of the shadows. I wanted to learn how to use my hands more effectively to war through my writings. I have struggled to see myself as a writer and that God had truly chosen me to be His “scribble.” (Scribe) (Typos are funny and sometimes revealing as well.) Years ago, scribbling is where I began. And now, after the conference has ended, there is a fresh purpose and excitement filling my soul. I am courageously stepping up and calling out, “Yes Lord, send me.”

What is your unfulfilled passion? Is there something you have not stepped out on because you were afraid? Developing a passion may be scary and it will come with a cost. However, God will be there every step of the way as you search out His leadings. Blessings on each of your passionate journeys.

Lord…Thanks for your inspirations. Without Your guidance and anointing my words would be to no avail. Teach me how to war with my hands so that I can touch the lives you intend for me to touch. And Lord…Give me the courage and strength to see the task through. AMEN!

Crosses for Christ

Crosses. I have a collection of them on my wall. And yet, if I had to choose one cross to focus on in my life, what would it be? Jesus tells us to take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23 NIV). So…what was the cross I was suppose to bare, Jesus?

In the next several days, I was reading in Marlene Bagnell’s book Write His Answers, when I came across this statement.

“Write out of your life experiences,” I felt the Lord say to me. “Make yourself transparent and vulnerable so others can see what I have done, and am doing, in your life.”

God’s declaration to Marlene seemed to capture my spirit. As I read it two or three more  times, I allowed its significance to sink into my heart. Then the Lord spoke to me personally and said:

Take up your cross and follow Me.

“Ok Lord,” was my reply

Then He came back again and said:

Take up your cross ‘pen’ and follow Me.

The instructions about what my cross was supposed to be became crystal clear.  Now, I had to make a choice. He was asking me to open up my walk with Him along with myself for others to see. Was I willing? Yes…even after considering the cost…I was ready to take up my cross pen to follow Him.

What does it really mean to take up a cross and follow Jesus? A cross is like an assignment God gives to a believer to do while he/she is here on the earth. Jesus’ cross was to die for the sins of the world and make salvation available to whosoever chose to believe in Him and what He has done. All our crosses work together towards proclaiming Jesus's salvation message until He returns again.

Are you looking for what your cross for Christ is? Let me suggest a few thoughts to help you ponder what you cross might be.

What or where is your passion? This may be a no brainer for some but check to make sure there are no emerging passions that are not fully developed yet.

What has God consistently guided you towards by the power of the Holy Spirit? It may be something you have been resistant to do none the less God keeps encouraging you to head towards that direction.

If you do not have to totally depend of Jesus to carry your cross, is it really the cross He wants you to carry? Your cross will never be about what you can do for Christ but what He wants to do through you by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.

You may have a cross that will last for a lifetime or you may be one that has a cross for a season and then it changes with the onset of a new season. Every cross requires your all. Suffering is apart of everyone’s cross carrying journey. However, whatever your suffering ends up being, the result of persistence through it all will result in a new level of maturity you had not thought possible.

A Spot of Encouragement

Occasionally, we need to be encouraged to go forward with our passions in spite of our own personal fears and challenges. I went through one of those difficult times recently. I desperately needed a tangible sign from God that He would inspire my writing in the days ahead as I stepped out in faith to write for the public.

Our writers group had been given the prompt “To Go” by one of the members and it was due in a week.  As the week progressed, I had not been able to come up with any ideas. And now that it was the night before it was due, I was getting frustrated. Sometimes I think writer’s block permanently sits on my shoulder so he can make fun of me regularly. Finally, I plopped down on the couch to relax, calm my negative thinking and pray for inspiration. With my laptop in hand, I typed the title at the top of the page and waited. Before long with a burst of energy and a dab of anger, this poem emerged.

Going

I’m going to be a writer

Whether you like it or not.

Place the words in motion

In the order of my thoughts.

God will guide the process

As I search to find His will

He knows the lives He wants to touch

With the strokes of my holy quill.

There…I had gotten an idea written down.

Then what happened next was only something God could have orchestrated. When I centered the poem on the page as I often do, a shape appeared. Can you see the shape the poem makes?

I’m going to be a writer

Whether you like it or not.

Place the words in  motion

In the order of my thoughts.

God will guide the process

As I search to find His will

He knows the lives He wants to touch

With the strokes of my holy quill.

If you look closely and imagine a curvy handle on one side, then it becomes a perfect teacup and saucer. When I saw the image emerge, I was shocked and joyously surprised. Faith filled my soul. Then suddenly, it dawned on me. The lady who gave the prompt collects teacups and saucers! WOW! God had answered my prayer with a flare and helped me gain confidence again. Now, when the doubts and fears want to invade my mind, this poem has become the lasting testimony I need to overcome the enemy of my soul.

Are you going through something challenging! Have you allowed the threat of failure to invade your soul in the final hours? God knows our situations better then we do and He is committed to giving us all the encouragement, wisdom and resources we will need to overcome. Talk to Him…then be still and know that He is God.