A Return to Writing and IF

It’s been a while since I’ve written, a long while. Between the width and the breadth of the last time I posted, we’ve lived a lot of life. To say it’s been busy is a gross understatement. Since July, we sold our house, built a new one, moved into a temporary apartment, had our fourth baby, and then, finally moved into our new home. In some ways I feel as if I am just now catching my breath.

I hate that I’ve been silent here for so long, but it has also been healthy. It has helped me to see how much I truly love this space, and how much I appreciate you. I have longed to feel these fingers strike upon the keys, and that is good. So I look forward to returning here with some regularity.

God has put a return to writing upon my heart for a while now, and I can ignore it no longer. Over and over He has patiently pressed; and over and over I have said, “Yes, but …”

But I’m too busy, I’m too tired, I’m too stretched, I’m too incapable.

But I can no longer make excuses. Just this weekend, sitting in a group of women at an IF:Local gathering, I watched Jennie Allen take the stage. She began to talk about the next step for IF, and I felt my spirit whisper a prayer: “If she says it, Lord. I’ll do it.” 

Then I laughed a bit at the ridiculousness of it all. Because of course, she wouldn’t actually ask us to submit content from up there on that stage. And then she did. Just a couple minutes after praying, she invited us all to share our voice.

And I couldn’t breathe. 

Only a gracious God who loves His daughter intimately could cause the calling He’s placed upon my heart to be confirmed from a stage. Sometimes I am like Gideon and the fleece. Show me, Lord. OK. Now show me again.

So he showed me. And now here I am.

Does anyone else relate? Is there a burning calling upon your heart? That one thing you know you should do but you’re terrified of all it will require of you? The story you want to tell; the art you want to create; the thing you want to orchestrate; the idea you long to bring to life. What is that brave, beautiful thing that will cost much and cause you to be stretched and poured out in ways you didn’t think possible? What has God called you to do that will require the undeniable working of His hand in order to accomplish it?

Those things … those are the things I want to spur you onto here, and those are the things to which I want you to hold me accountable. Because if we encourage one another to set aside convenience, to roll up our sleeves, to get up early or burn the midnight oil to do the hard work of that thing He’s woven into the very fiber of our being, then the effects could echo throughout eternity.

It’s a call simply to be faithful and a promise to do the next thing. Who’s with me?

(These images are from my Instagram feed. To connect with my everyday, follow me there. In the days to come, I’ll share some more images of our sweet baby 4, so you can meet her!)  

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Like what you see here? Then you’ll love my first-ever children’s book, Bruce the Brave. Now available on Amazon! 

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