My interest in writing found its earliest expression in my high school journalism classes. The passionate and energetic teacher coupled with a newfound friend group led to my first college visit, the school of journalism at the state university during my senior year, and eventually to declaring English as my major when I enrolled as a college freshman. My own passion was short-lived and I changed majors twice, pursuing secondary education with a focus in English, then business and accounting. I like to say that I majored by default, as I both met and married my husband during college. Transferring first to be near him and then to be with him meant a fifth year and taking out student loans, but I was determined to finish. I graduated with honors and we started our family the next year. My writing now took the form of journaling the prayers of a new wife and mother. I did publish an Advent devotional or two in a local church publication and that was that for the better part of two decades.
My first experience with writing for anyone else was five years ago when we traveled to Houston, Texas for our youngest to be evaluated for brain surgery for his epilepsy. My second CaringBridge journal was for myself when I was unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer during a routine health screening at age fifty. My blog came about halfway through my chemotherapy as a way to make my updates and the encouragement they offered available to more people via social media. I never considered the impact and the reach of these writings, but I had a tremendous sense of urgency to share what I saw God doing while I had the opportunity.
If I boil down the reason I’ve continued blogging and the why of maintaining a CaringBridge site twice, it’s been to hold onto what God is teaching me in each season of this life He’s given me, through the blessings and the battle scars. I am comforted by His voice, by the awareness of His presence with me, and since I’ve known moments when that is all and exactly what I’ve wanted and needed most, I knew that if I wrote it down, I could always go back to that space and be reminded as often as I chose of His faithfulness.
I’ve continued sharing because others see value, not in my words but in God’s Word, and have encouraged me to share more freely what I’ve been given.
“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me.
Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.
He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.15.3-4.NLT
A lot of the angst I’ve suffered in this life has been a result of being self-focused. I don’t identify as a self-confident or self-satisfied person. Quite the opposite, in fact, but humility in the form of self-degradation is just another name for pride in its negative form. Worrying over what someone thinks of me, not saying what I feel out of fear, self-consciousness, all focus on self. All of this focus on myself only caused me worry, fear, and misery. One simple shift of my focus to God, placing myself under His Lordship through faith in the finished work of Jesus, where it is meant to be brings me joy, peace, confidence, assurance, affirmation, and unconditional love in abundance!
My life isn’t about me. It never has been and it never will be. I was created and exist to put God in the spotlight, and not in some great work at some future time, but in every minute of every day. The One who was the Light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5) says I am the light of the world and you are the light of the world. Jesus, who fulfilled Isaiah’s prophetic words (Luke 4:18-21, Isaiah 61:1-3) during His ministry on earth, left us a clear call to carry on His work.
““You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.
Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.5.14-16.NLT
Like God’s promise to the displaced nation of Israel, we who are heirs together with Christ (Romans 8:17) are receiving an inheritance that is not of this world. Jesus came as the chief cornerstone (Acts 4:11) to begin building His perfect kingdom, made up of every nation, tribe, and tongue. (Revelation 7:9)
“In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory.”
Isaiah 61:3b NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.61.3.NLT
“Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed.
I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!
For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.
The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world.
Everyone will praise him!
His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.”
Isaiah 61:9-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.61.11.NLT
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.
Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable.
This is truly the way to worship him.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:1-2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.1-2.NLT
The only way I know to do this is to stay in God’s Word and to keep sharing His Word. It’s quite organic in the sense that it’s both a natural and an essential overflow of God in me. His Word claims that as a believer in the finished work of Jesus, I have both the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) and the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:16) God still speaks, and when I am grounded in His Word, hiding His Word in my heart, (Psalm 119:11) I am less susceptible to thoughts that are obviously not from Him because I am taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ, (II Corinthians 10:5) and I am better able to see Him and hear Him in every moment because I am so familiar with His voice. (John 10:27)
My blog bears the title, A Fitting Reply, which points to the New Living Translation of Proverbs 15:23: “Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!”(https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.15.23.NLT) I realize now that what began as a search for a Biblical title and an available dot.com is growing into far more, like those original journalism classes that sparked my interest in writing.
Every good story must answer all the pertinent questions: who, what, when, where, and why? The facts are fairly simple to come by but the why is where the real story begins. Seeing every moment, every breath, as a chance to showcase my God and share my faith is my why. One very intuitive young lady who sat in on a youth Bible study I led in my home once spotted it right away. Biblical literacy was the way she phrased what she saw as my passion.
Do you realize what a profound gift you hold in your hands when you hold the Word of God? Whether it’s your family Bible passed down through the generations with the births, marriages, and deaths of its members recorded in the front or an app on the smartphone or digital device you hold in your hand, God’s Word is Holy. It is Jesus in the flesh, (John 1:1, 14) the power behind creation, (Genesis 1:1-3) and what’s holding it all together to this day. (Hebrews 1:3) John said that if everything Jesus did and taught in the three years of his earthly ministry were written down, the whole world couldn’t hold the volumes (John 21:25) but that what is recorded was purposeful.
“But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.”
John 20:31 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.20.31.NLT
“So be careful how you live.
Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.
Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.5.15-20.NLT
Take a moment to ask yourself, “what is my why?” You’ll find your best answer in God’s Word.
A Fitting Reply 
Thank you for sharing this today! This is perfect and exactly what I needed to hear!
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