When I began blogging, about 4 years ago now, I had no idea what I was doing. To be quite honest, I still don’t. And if you don’t believe me, you can ask either of my children who are constantly helping me with how to post or link or grab buttons, etc. I have fumbled and bumbled my way through much of it, always fearing I am making a fool of myself.
But I was willing to make a fool of myself in order to reach my goal. My goal? Simply put, my goal was to leave my children a permanent record of what their mom was thinking on a daily basis. And in so doing, perhaps, lead them closer and more deeply to Jesus. That was it.
I never dreamed blogging would come to mean so much to me. It has caused me to read more, think deeper, and sit in awe of Who my God truly is and all that He does in my life. Emily Freeman described my feelings so much better than I ever could:
You are aware of your desire for a map, but all you sense is a mystery. Instead of a plan, you are simply asked to show up in this day the same way you did the day you were born, with empty hands and an instinct to depend on someone bigger than you.
(A Million Little Ways, page 131)
That should be easy, right. We seemed to show up at our birth just fine with nothing at all in hand. And we seemed to do just fine being dependent on someone other than ourselves. And yet, there are days I am much like Moses making excuses for myself….
- Why me? (Exodus 5:22)
- No one listens to me anyway. (Exodus 6:12)
- I can’t speak. Or as Moses put it, “I am a clumsy speaker!” (Exodus 6:12)
- I can’t do it. (Exodus 6:30)
And yet, Moses ended up doing everything God was asking him to do with the assistance of his rod and his brother, Aaron.
Moses discovered the very things he thought were his limitations were his strengths. He also discovered God would give him the divine resources he would need to approach Pharaoh and lead God’s people.
Truly all Moses needed to do was show up – show up before Pharaoh each time God sent him. God was the One doing the rest. But it took courage for Moses to just show up. Moses stammered from his fear but he still kept going back. Plague after plague.
I have often heard it said, courage is not the absence of fear. But what exactly is courage? Again I go to Emily’s book….
Courage is about more than simply believing in yourself, more than making art with confidence and living life without fear. Courage, I’m discovering, happens in the deep and secret place of the spirit, the place where my life is joined with God’s. It feels more like a gift than an aware, more like a strength that doesn’t come from me. And the more we live from who we really are, the more courage will grow.
Courage starts small. Courage is head bowed down low, hands open in surrender, heart broken and moved with compassion. Courage knows – I can’t do this on my own. Courage turns to Christ.
(page 135-136)
I am so grateful Moses was transparent and shared his weaknesses with us all. I am grateful God delights to work in and through our weaknesses, for I have many. But mostly I am grateful I am a tad bit more courageous than I ever realized.
I am courageous because I know, beyond a certainty, I can’t do this on my own. So I am turning to Christ. My head is bowed down low, my hands are open in surrender, my heart is broken, I am moved with compassion.
All I need to do is show up.
My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9, The Message)
Today I am joining …. Thought Provoking Thurs. and Time Travel Thurs. and Thriving Thurs. and Thankful Thurs. and Thurs. Favorite Things and Thrive at Home and Cozy Reading Spot and New Every Morning and Quitting Thurs. .
Congratulations on 4 years of blogging. Writing a blog really helps you know yourself and it takes on a life of its own. I like to think of it as a love letter to God. The thing I like about your blog is that you promote the Lord rather than yourself. That’s what I like most in a Christian blog.
Thank you for your kind comments, Laura, as they are appreciated. Writing here has truly become a means for me to express my journey with God. And there is much to be said about Him! Blessings, friend!
Love this Joanne,
Just show up and God will do the rest. I just saw a quote from Kyle Idleman on Twitter. “Until there is action, our convictions and beliefs aren’t genuine.” That showing up, that step of faith – is so necessary.
Congrats on your blogging, the words that God gives you. So grateful that God led me to know you and be a sister in Christ.
Janis
Love the quote, Janis. Your comment brought to mind James 2 in which we read this about Abraham…”His actions made his faith complete.” (verse 22, NLT). Praying this will be true of our lives as well. I am grateful as well, Janis, that God brought our lives to intersect. Love that He not only does that with His people but the way in which He does it. So amazing!
God bless and wishing you many more years of blogging. Thank you for sharing your sweet blog at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop ♥
Thank you! It is always fun to join you & make new friends! Have a great weekend!
Love! I understand the fumbling. I seem to do that all the time. No little ones to help. Though I do enjoy this journey so much as a page for my adult children and mostly my oldest grandson who asked me to write. He is now 17 ready to enlist. Congrats on 4 years of blogging. Blessings
May God bless & use the legacy in writing that you are blessing your family with! May God be with & protect your grandson as chooses to serve us all!
Just showing up is a big deal with me. It’s something I remind myself of daily: Just show up; be authentic; connect with compassion.
I never could have guessed the beautiful journey that blogging would take me on either. I think it’s been a pleasant surprise to many of us to find out how rewarding it can be–and also how scary at times. Opportunities to live courageously. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Lisa – it is a beautiful journey, for sure! May we continue to push aside the fear and show up. May we find encouraging words that spur us on in our walk with Him. Grateful to Him for the sweet friends He has brought into my life! Have a blessed weekend, friend!
I think when we just show up, we clear such a path for Him, a path free of our own agenda, our own willpower. We are at His mercy and grace, which is how He wants us to live.
Amen, Jen! May we continue to clear the path for Him. More of Him. Less of us. That is where we will find the blessing.