Writing and Life: A Persevering Pilgrimage

“Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem” by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. (Photo credit: Wikipedia

Jeremiah did not resolve to stick it out for twenty-three years, no matter what; he got up every morning with the sun.  The day was God’s day, not the people’s.  He didn’t get up to face rejection, he got up to meet with God.  He didn’t rise to put up with another round of mockery, he rose to be with his Lord.  That is the secret of his persevering pilgrimage.               Eugene Peterson, Living the Message

Perseverance and Pilgrimage

These two words hold the key to the writing life and the spiritual life.

According to Merriam-Webster, Perseverance  is the continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.  Pilgrimage is a journey, especially one to a shrine or a sacred place.

When we begin writing, often we find we cannot stop.  The words in us must find expression or they burn and smolder, causing frustration and sometimes depression.  Same with our spiritual walk. The ideas and stirrings in us toward God must find a way out – an expression of worship.  The result can be connection – or rejection.  That should not be our concern.  Our concern is perseverance .

 But if I say, “I will not mention his word
    

or speak anymore in his name,”


his word is in my heart like a fire,
    

a fire shut up in my bones.


I am weary of holding it in;
    

indeed, I cannot.

Jeremiah 20:9

The result of the perseverance – the striving to express – is continued progress on the journey toward the heart of God. Earthly success is nice and welcomed but we may never see success in our efforts.   We can be encouraged like Jeremiah, that God walks with us on the journey.

 But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; Jeremiah 20:11

What an incredible promise.  Are you persevering today? Please share about your journey.

Betsy and Laurie

Writing Sisters

10 Powerful Quotes on Prayer by Oswald Chambers

English: Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Our true character comes out in the way we pray.

2. Prayer imparts the power to walk and not faint.

3. Prayer is the answer to every problem there is.

4. Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer.

5. Prayer is the vital breath of the Christian; not the thing that makes him alive, but the evidence that he is alive.

6. Never say you will pray about a thing; pray about it.

7. God never give us discernment to criticize but to intercede.

8. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message.

9. We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.

10. Prayer does not just fit us for the greater work. Prayer is the greater work.

Love these quotes on prayer.  Do you have other favorites?

Betsy and Laurie

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Tell Us, Oswald Chambers

Praying Psalm 23 for Your Children

Quietly, in bedrooms and armchairs across the world a force of power unknown and unseen is unleashed, changing the course of the world: the prayers of faithful women and men for children.

Untold numbers of mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles and people of faith lift up prayers.  We do not know how many soldiers have returned home to spouses and loved one because of these prayers.  We will never be able to count the good choices made and bad choices avoided.  How many have been healed?  How many have avoided disaster? How many lives have grown in faith through the quiet prayers of others.

Join us for twelve weeks of prayer from Psalm 23.  Sign up here to receive the weekly email devotional message with a prayer for you to pray for a loved one.  

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Betsy and Laurie

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Do You Want More Joy?

But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy  Galatians 5:22

I want more joy.  I can come to my desk with the spirit of drudgery or the spirit of worship. With worship comes Joy.

“We have forgotten that the call to creativity is a call to worship.” 

Michael Card

Somewhere along the way I learned that work was the opposite of worship. I learned wrong.  When I engage in my work as worship, I can write with joy.  If I am writing with a sense of the wonder and expectation I revel in my work and experience joy:

The joy of creating.

The joy of connecting with God.

The joy of sharing myself with others.

 It helps to come with a sense of expectation to the desk instead of dread.  When I lose myself in the writing I do my best work.

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”
Rumi

“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.” 
Marianne Williamson

“when we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus”
Corrie ten Boom

How do you experience joy?  Do you want more?

Betsy and Laurie

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

Can You Write WIth More Love?