Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19, 20, NLT

I’m always excited to hear when my Pastor puts emphasis on our congregation going outside of the walls of our church to share the good news of Jesus Christ, for it’s just a reminder of our primary purpose as Christians  – to go and make disciples.

Did you know that your primary purpose as a Christian writer is to also go and make disciples? For you are called to write words to help others know about the good news of Jesus Christ. You are called to write words to let others know of the wonderful plan God has for their lives when they choose to place their faith and trust in him. You are called to write to let others know of his desire to heal them from their deepest hurts and their deepest wounds.

Christian author Marlene Bagnull states: “While we may never never go more than a few hundred miles from our homes, our written words can go around the world and make a difference for all eternity”.

Are you ready to use your written words to make a difference in the world you live in today? Then go, write and make disciples!

Sharing the journey,

Jeaninne

Responding to the call of writing:

As you reflect on the great commission found in Matthew 28:19-20, how do you believe God wants to use you as a Christian writer  to make disciples for his kingdom? Post your answer on my blog or engage with me on my Facebook group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/345280025595641/?ref=bookmarks) for Christian writers.  I enjoy hearing from you!

One day, while Moses was taking care of his father-in-law’s sheep in the land of Midian, he noticed a bush engulfed in flames that was not burning up. As he drew closer to the bush, God called to him from the bush and told him he would lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.

As with Moses, God has a way of getting our attention when he is calling us to write for ministry. What are some ways he uses to get our attention?

1. He uses our circumstances – Has an event recently happened in your life that may be a sign God is calling you to write for ministry? Is your passion for what you're currenty doing lessening and your desire to write for ministry increasing more and more? Are doors closing regarding job opportunities in your existing career that once opened easily for you? Then pay attention to how God may be calling you to write for ministry through your circumstances.

2. He uses people – What are others telling you about your writings? Are they saying it’s time for you to move from writing as a hobby to writing for ministry and publication? Do people enjoy reading what you’ve written and want to read more? Is your critique group giving you more positive feedback lately about your writings than negative? Then pay attention to how God may be calling you to write for ministry through people.

3. He uses divine intervention – In what ways has God spoken to you directly  to let you know he wants you to write for ministry? Have you received an unexpected note from someone confirming you need to begin your writing ministry? Has God spoken directly  to you through a sermon, a song, a Bible verse, or through prayer? Then pay attention to how God may be communicating his call for you to write for ministry through divine intervention.

Like the great leader Moses, God knows how to get our attention when he wants us to do great things for him. So be sure you are paying attention to how he may be calling you to write for His kingdom.

Responding to your writing call: Which of the three ways is God  using in your life to let you know he may be calling you to write for ministry?  Post your comments on my blog or in my Facebook online Guild  for Christian writers.  I enjoy engaging with you !

I didn’t feel like writing my blog post today.  I needed to write my blog post  so I'd have it ready to include in my weekly newsletter, but the motivation just wasn't there. So I almost didn't write a blog post  for today's newsletter. Until I remembered my why.

You see, my why determines why I write. My why is my purpose for writing. It helps me get up every day and stay committed to my writing goals. And it reenergizes me when the journey of writing gets weary along the way.

So I took some time this morning to reflect on the following question: Why am I writing?

• I am writing because I want to make a living as a writer
• I am writing because I want to  inspire other Christian writers
• I am writing because I want to teach 
• I am writing because I want to create a body of work I can be proud of and leave as a legacy  

1.  It is my life goal to write a book I can be proud of and can hold in my hand
2.  I want to get an agent and a publishing deal
3.  I want to see my book on the shelves of a bookstore
4.  I want to reach readers with my words
5.  I want to sell lots of books.
6.  I want to receive critical acclam and win a literary prize
7.  I want to make a full-time living with my writing
8.  I want to create a body of work that I can be proud of over my lifetime.

Jeaninne 

Responding to your call to write: What is your "why" for  writing? Share your feedback via my blog or  Facebook page!

What’ s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram; now you will be known as Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. Genesis 17: 5, NLT

Did you know that when God changed a person’s name, it was usually to establish a new identity? According to: www.gotquestions.org/name-change.html, God changed Abram’s “high father” name to “Abraham,” “father of a multitude” (Genesis 17:5) and his wife’s name from “Sarai,” “my princess,” to “Sarah,” “mother of nations” (Genesis 17:15). God changed Jacob’s “supplanter” name to “Israel,” “having power with God” (Genesis 32:2.  He changed Simon’s “God has heard” name to “Peter,” “rock” (John 1:42).

Did you know God also wants to change your name? For after he calls you to write for ministry, he immediately begins to form a new identity within you. An identity which includes writing to share the gospel of hope and salvation found  through his son, Jesus Christ.  An identity which includes writing to inform, instruct, encourage and to help heal the hurts of mankind. 

Are you ready to embrace the new identity God wants you to have as his Christian writer? Then get ready for a name change! 

Sharing the journey,

Jeaninne

Responding to your call to write for ministry: How are you preparing yourself today for a new identity as a Christian author? Post your comments on my blog. I enjoy hearing from you!

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? James 2:14, NLT

How many times have you told yourself you are going to write the book God has placed on your heart and mind to write, but it’s still not written?

Those given the charge to write for ministry must demonstrate their calling by their actions. For example, Noah, being warned of God that he would destroy the world, acted by preparing an ark to save his family. Abraham, when told he would be the Father of a great nation, acted by packing up his belongings to move to a foreign land. And Rahab, after being told her city would be destroyed by the Israelite army, acted by gathering all of her family under her roof, and hanging a scarlet cord from a window.

Your actions as an aspiring author demonstrate your faith in what God has called you to do. So if there is a book within you God is calling you to write, seek help if needed on how to begin your writing journey. Then get moving!

Sharing the journey,

Jeaninne

Responding to the call to write for ministry:  How will you show by your actions today that you really want to write for ministry? Post your comments on my blog. I enjoy hearing from you.

There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud. Carl Sandburg

Every so often I run into them on my journey as a Christian author. And every time I encounter them, I have a choice - to overcome them or let them overcome me. 

What are they? The calling blockers. In the book, How to live your calling, the authors describe calling blockers as “things that prevent you from taking the needed actions to live out your calling.” They list four calling blockers people encounter as they seek to live their callings - fear, negative thinking, busyness, and money. How do these relate to you as an aspiring writer? Busyness keeps you from carving out time to write. Fear keeps you from submitting your writings for publication. Negative thinking keeps you from believing your writngs are good enough, and money keeps you from pursuing a career as a writer.

Which of the above calling blockers are causing you to wallow in the mud of doubt and fear when there’s a writer in you that wants to soar?

Sharing the journey,

Jeaninne

Today's takeaway for your writing journey: Name one calling blocker that is getting in the way of your desire to write for publication and how you are planning to overcome it. Post your comments on my blog. I enjoy hearing from you.

God has chosen me and given me this sacred trust and I have no choice. I Corinthians 9:17

While I have worked part-time for a number of years since beginning my journey to write professionally, I am currently looking for a full-time job.

But as a former full-time employee, I understand what returning means. It means I may not have as much time to write as I had before. It means I may not have as much mental energy as I had before. It means I may not have as much physical energy as I had before.

But even if I return to full-time employment, I will still find a way to write. For like the apostle Paul, God has chosen me and given me the sacred trust of writing for Him. He chose me when I heard him speak to me on my way to work one day and he told me it was time to leave my job. He chose me when he started awakening me at the crack of dawn to read his Word and write down the insights I received. He chose me when I battled discouragement after giving up my career, and he kept reminding me of my new calling. He chose me when I didn’t have the monetary resources to attend the writing conferences or buy the books I needed to hone my craft, yet he provided a way to attend every conference and the financial resources to purchase every writing book.

 I have been chosen and given the sacred responsibility to write for the kingdom, so no matter what happens regarding my employment status, I will write. Because I simply have no choice.

Sharing the journey,

Jeaninne

 

Responding to God’s call to write: Is God calling you to write for Christian publication? Then no matter what changes occur in your life along the way, remember you have no choice but to keep writing. Post your comments on my blog if this post ministered to you today. I enjoy hearing from you!