The Gift of Knowing Your Calling by Annette M. Irby

Feathered Quill*

Hey everyone, Annette here. This weekend I heard two songs in a row that reminded me of a much less certain time in my life. The songs had the theme of finding one’s purpose and knowing God’s blessing on that pursuit.

More than two decades ago, I couldn’t have told you what my calling was.

As I listened to the songs, I thanked God because somewhere along the way, He both showed me and equipped me (and He still does). I’m guessing He’s done the same for you, dear writer, am I right?

How it All Started

Now I know my calling is writing, but I didn’t always know that. The draw began much further back—all the way to my youth when I read The Outsiders and watched the movie. For the first time, I saw the tie between a book I truly enjoyed and an engaging movie where the story came to life. A spark kindled and though I couldn’t see this far ahead, I began typing stories on my neighbor’s typewriter. You know, just for fun.

Then, as a young married woman I started frequenting the library in my new hometown. Such a challenge finding wholesome novels twenty-something years ago, am I right? You could, but you might have only a few authors to choose from. So, I’d search the shelves and hope for the best. Now I know which publishers I can trust, but then I had no idea. These days, there is a huge market for Christian readers as well as a teeming marketplace of Christian authors. Over twenty years ago, that wasn’t true.

God Both Gives the Desire and Fulfills It

It wasn’t until I began to pursue God with all of my heart that a distinct desire arose to participate in offering wholesome entertainment to Christians. I’d graduated to a desktop computer by that point, and I developed a couple trilogies.

And I clung to this verse: Psalm 37:4. You know the one:

Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (NKJV)

That’s when the equipping began. Writers’ conferences and writerly connections. Making friends. Finding tools. Attending workshops, buying software, and gathering books, lots and lots of books—both fiction and non. Going on retreats. Fellowshiping with fellow authors. Critiquing. Growing and writing and learning and writing. And writing, and writing, and writing.

Still writing.

Over and over God has shown me His provision, His faithfulness. And He’s planted new dreams in my heart, new hopes for the future.

Looking back, I can see how God put all of those pieces together. I’m guessing that if you took a few minutes, you could list some pivotal moments when your calling became clear. I’m guessing you could also cite how God has equipped you both through experiences and resources, yes?

It’s encouraging when we see God at work in our lives. And pursuing one’s calling is in itself refreshing.

So, your turn. When did you first know you were called to write? What dreams has God placed in your heart? Have you seen any come true yet?

Write on, friends!

~~~~~

Annette M. Irby has two published books and runs her own editing business, AMI Editing. She is also an acquisitions editor for Pelican Book Group. See her page here on Seriously Write for more information.

* Photo Credit: Feathered Quill by Simon Howden at freedigitalphotos.net

Pass It On by Susan Tuttle

Image Courtesy of Ambro/FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

I was helping my son with his schoolwork recently, and we were studying about Samuel. He was a great man. An amazing prophet who God used to not only anoint Saul as King, but be a spiritual leader to Israel.

And he didn’t miss a beat. The man loved the Lord and carried his calling very seriously. He was dedicated to the Lord by his mother, Hannah, (one of my favorite stories) before he was even born. Raised under the priest, Eli, Samuel recognized God’s voice from a very early age and followed it willingly. He rallied under the passion God had given him to reach Israel and lead them as a Judge.

He pointed them to God. Helped them walk in His ways. Encouraged and uplifted the people with the sole purpose of bringing their focus to God. It was, in essence, his calling.

Except, in all his zeal, could he have missed something?

1 Samuel 8:3 says “…but his sons did not follow in his ways.”

He’d reached an entire nation, but missed his own children.

Now, I have no way of truly knowing if Samuel was a present parent or not. If he spent as much time teaching them about God as he did with Israel, and they simply chose another path. Believe me, I know this happens, and it is heart-wrenching. But as I read the story with my son, caution stepped in. A warning if you will. See, Samuel was so focused on carrying out his calling, that it’s equally as possible he missed bringing it to his family.

How do I know this? Because I am passionate about writing. Can anyone here relate? And writing for the CBA market isn’t strictly about entertainment. We write with a message, with a calling. We write to encourage other Christians and point non-believers to Christ. It’s an amazing purpose that we could so easily lose ourselves in because we see the value of it.

Problem is, the people in our immediate reach are our first mission field. If I write a bestseller that reaches a million plus people for Christ, but I neglect to show Him to my family or lose them in the process, what have I gained? Oh, I desperately want to reach an unsaved world, but not at the cost of my husband feeling neglected or my children never knowing Christ.

Please hear me, I’m not saying we don’t have deadlines, or that God hasn’t called you to write what’s before you. I am saying he’s placed your family around you for such a time as this. That God holds time in his hand, and He’s capable of proportioning it into the perfect amounts if you seek Him over what those are.

And I guess that’s where all this is going. Learning to balance your calling with the people he’s placed in your immediate sphere. Being present in their lives, so they don’t miss the presence of the One who created them. What you share with them is as important as the message you’re typing with hopes of reaching the masses.

Don’t let that calling pull you from the people within arm’s reach.


Pass it on.

Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

Creative Best Series: Nine

Annette M. Irby

Good Monday, friends! We've come to our final post in our Creative Best series. How are you doing with the elements we've discussed so far? I've been challenged! I hope you've been encouraged. I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. 

Okay, on with it! Here is the passage we've examined over the past several Mondays, from Galatians 6:4-5 in the Message Bible: 

Make a careful exploration of who you are

and the work you have been given, 

and then sink yourself into that. 

Don’t be impressed with yourself. 

Don’t compare yourself with others. 

Each of you must take responsibility 

for doing the creative best 

you can with your own life.

Today's focus is on the phrase: (for doing the creative best) you can with your own life

Consuming

Writing can consume your life, can’t it? Ideas come in the strangest places. In the shower, for example. Now, how practical is this? “That’s just what would fix that scene! Where’s a pen?” Shampoo is running into your eyes. Not exactly the best place to scribe a chapter revision. ;-)

The writing life is just that—it’s your life. It’s your focus. But that's not all bad.

Writing is a calling. From God. As He was knitting you together in your mother’s womb, He knew your calling. I imagine Him looking ahead to the days when you would realize your life’s purpose. And the day you’d accept it. The first time you would take pleasure in doing what He created you for. Do you remember those moments? Cherish them.

But, like other areas of our lives, this can go sideways. Writing can become an obsession. That’s not what God wants. He is our everything.

Writing can offer so much affirmation and acclamation, that we fixate on our books, our next project, positive reader letters, good reviews, rewards, contests. Careful. It’s going sideways.

The Overflow

Writing can bring us so much joy we forget to draw what we need from the Lord first and write out of our overflow. We turn to the act of writing or editing or blogging in order to fulfill a deep need for communion, accomplishment, success, or affirmation, rather than to God who longs to fill that place inside us. 

Of course, the flipside is the pain of a bad review, or a rejection, or difficult contest results. If we've sunk all our hope (for our future, for a fulfilling life, for joy) into our writing career, and things don't go according to our plans, we might be devastated. We might even give up. That would be tragic.

Our Original Message

Another aspect is we can write from our own experiences in ways that will minister to others. Our testimonies may help others through their pain or trials. In this way we use our lives to be our creative best.

So, this writing thing is about your life. It is the focus of your life’s calling. It cannot be your top priority—God is. It cannot take first place in your activities, (to the detriment of family, for example). But it must be a high priority. It must be a cause you’ll spend your life on.

Are you doing the creative best you can with your own life?

 

~~~~~

Annette M. Irby is a published author who runs her own editing business, AMI Editing. She is also an acquisitions editor for Pelican Book Group. See her page here on Seriously Write for more information.

Creative Best Series: Five

trophy

Hey everyone, Annette here. Happy Monday! We've spent the last few Mondays going through Galatians 6:4-5 in the Message, focusing on being our creative best. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve my Creator by using the creative gifts He placed within me. Aren't you? Writing is a gift and a calling. Let's peek at the next section of this fantastic passage and see what nuggets we can pick up to fortify us this week. Our next line reads:

 

Don’t be impressed with yourself

Wow. Holds nothing back, does it?

Years ago, I joined fellow writers at a conference in Seattle. We sat down to eat and one of the authors said he always signed with this “code”—1cor47. We determined he meant 1 Corinthians 4:7, what we didn’t know was what that verse said. I’ll never forget the impact of these words as he quoted them to the five us:

For who makes you differ from another?

And what do you have that you did not receive?

Now if you did indeed receive it,

why do you boast as if you had not received it?

(1 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV)

Does God inspire our writing? Then, how can we take credit for it? We cannot. That author’s “code” for book signing is a great code for Christian living. It’s humbling and true.

Being “impressed with yourself” leads to boasting. How can God bless the prideful ones? He detests pride. Jesus Himself is our example of humility, serving others and loving them sacrificially. That directive is wrapped up in our calling. 

Any successes we have aren’t our own. They are a grace of God. We can’t take credit for them. It’s like the elders in heaven who throw their crowns at the feet of Jesus—they know their accomplishments were only possible by the grace of the One who dwelt inside them, making them succeed. So, how can they retain the crowns bestowed on them? No. They must throw them at His feet, giving credit where it's due.

Ever had to endure a long, one-sided conversation where an author spoke only of his/her accomplishments? Me too. Isn’t it better, more gracious, when an author takes interest in those around him/her? Offering support and encouragement?

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,

but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests,

but also for the interests of others.

(Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV)

We didn't get to where we are today on our own. It was the gracious work of God. He sent mentors into our lives, and teachers. He helped us discern our areas of weakness so we could address them. God gave us the calling, the resources, the support we needed as we sought Him. We certainly couldn't manufacture any of that on our own. And we definitely can't take credit for it. 
 

We can cheer the successes. Enjoy the process and the ride. But we cannot become impressed with ourselves.

Give glory to God and be your creative best.

We're halfway through our series. So, tell me: how do you nurture your creativity? How has God met you in writing, preparing, gathering resources? How has He shown you His faithfulness as you write for Him?

Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net: metal trophy by Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot.

Creative Best Series: Three

Annette M. Irby

Good Monday, friends! We've been studying Galatians 6:4-5 in the Message Bible this month to see how the Scripture applies to  us as writers. Looking for some encouragement? Read on, dear writer!

Today let’s look at the next phrase: 

"Make a careful exploration of who you are

and the work you have been given . . .”

Did you know God created you to “walk in good works?” (see Ephesians 2:10) Before you were born, He had a lifetime of activities mapped out for you to participate in. These are ways you would glorify Him.

Remember the time you helped the homeless person by offering a few dollars, or giving him a lift? Remember the time you hugged the toddler who skinned her knee on the playground? Or the time you mowed the widow’s lawn? All of those were “good works” God invited you to participate in.

Your writing life is the same. You have been called, invited, to participate with God in His calling on your life. Who knew Wm. Paul Young would write a bestseller that would touch millions and bring glory to God? God did. Who knew your favorite author would put together just the right story, words, themes that would touch your life and inspire you? God did.

And He has books for you to write that will glorify Him while drawing people to Him. That’s the work we’ve been given. Beautiful isn’t it?

Here’s the best part: You get to enjoy the journey and God enjoys you in it. Let’s me explain.

In the movie Chariots of Fire, missionary Eric Liddell tries to comfort his anxious sister. She’s concerned he’s not fulfilling his calling as a missionary to China. He’s concerned about not fulfilling all of his callings—and one of them is to run. He tells her:

“I believe God made me for a purpose. For China, yes. But He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Eric was doing what God created for Him to do. Are you? When you do, you’ll feel His pleasure.

Isn’t it amazing to share with the Creator of the universe in crafting a story that can change lives, or writing a non-fiction book in a creative way that will also affect people’s steps?

What a gift! What a calling! A privilege. A pleasure.

As you sit at your computer today, give yourself permission to explore your work, the work you’ve been given. ENJOY writing! Enjoy the journey of your calling, or walking out the work you’ve been given to do.

Be your creative best!

~~~~~

Husband Material

Wyatt Hansen has no fears about commitment, but only three years have passed since his beloved wife died, and he can't bring himself to break their annual dinner date—that is until he meets restaurant owner, Lara Farr. Lara doesn't have time for romance; she has a business to run. At least that's what she tells herself so she doesn't have to admit that commitment scares her. But Lara's business is failing, and it just may take a miracle—or marketing analyst, Wyatt Hansen—to save it. Can Wyatt rescue Lara’s restaurant, help her overcome her fears, and prove he is good husband material?

This series first appeared on Seriously Write in 2009. 

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1,000th Post and Survey Link

fireworks

We just celebrated our 1,000^th post at Seriously Write! We’re always looking for guests and topic ideas. So, we’ve come up with a quick survey to help us help you. Please a moment to fill this out. (Feel free to select as many as you wish in each section.) We’d also love to hear from your writing friends, so feel free to pass along the link.