I've got two writing projects going at the same time, and I'm thankful to God that He's kept the inspiration flowing as I make strides toward meeting the deadlines. One of those projects is writing the devotions for the next Summerside devo, this one on the theme of grace. I'm never so immersed in God's Word as I am when working on these devotionals. They've been such a blessing to my own spiritual life!Last night, I was reading about Paul. I just love Paul, and I identify with him greatly. A former bad guy, brought to his knees by the grace of God; a man with an undefined handicap who was anointed by God to use his writing talents to construct a large part of the New Testament, laying down the foundation for gazillions of believers who would come after him. When reading about Paul, it's almost impossible to miss his lower-profile friend, Barnabas. But I often do skim right past him.
As is often the case, after giving some thought to the relationship of Paul and Barnabas just last night, I turned on the television this morning to hear Joel Osteen talking about them on his television program. Joel pointed out what I hadn't really considered before: We might not have Paul's writings if not for the pivotal role played by unassuming Barnabas.
This got me to thinking about the Barnabases I've had in my life. How many times has someone played a key role in moving me forward in my faith walk or my writing career or simply my personal growth?
Fellow author Debby Mayne has been a powerful Barnabas in my life. More than a decade ago, I walked into a writers group meeting, new to Florida, relatively new to writing fiction as well, and this small, energetic woman walked up to me and introduced herself. After our first meeting, Debby took the role of encourager and mentor. She told me about writing opportunities, even introduced me to my first publisher, and I don't think she's ever asked for anything in return. Like Barnabas, Debby knows the secret that, when you do for others what they can't do for themselves, you embody the hand of God in their lives.
Who has God placed in your life to encourage, support and/or guide you on your journey? I'm about to send the link to this blog post to Debby so that she is reminded once again how valuable her friendship has been to me, how pivotal her Barnabas role in my life has actually been. I want her to know that I'm praying for her hundredfold reward, that I'm humbled by and grateful for her friendship, and that she has changed me.
Is there someone you need to remind and thank? Someone unassuming and yet completely valuable to your life? I encourage you to do it right away.
Sandie! What a sweet blog post! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou've been very supportive, too, and don't think I haven't noticed.
Awww! That was so sweet, Sandi.
ReplyDeleteI love the freedoms that we have in Christ, especially the ones that aren't quite so obvious in the world. You know, the freedom that allows us to acknowledge those around us who might otherwise be considered competitors--and yet there's no threat there, because our goal is not so much personal gain, but eternal gain. Therefore, we're free to encourage one another and build each other up, to brag on each other and truly learn to love. I have seen this in the southern gospel music world through my experiences at the Steve Hurst School of Music (www.stevehurstschoolofmusic.com), and I watch it happen every day as I get to work on terrific books by so many of you wonderful Christian authors. When the goal is not merely personal gain, we are free to share secrets and tips and tricks of the trade without fear. The best part of that is that God sees that selflessness and rewards us for it. It's a win-win situation, and it's such a blessing to see it in action!