Series: Love
I Corinthians 16:14, “Let all that you do be done in love.”
I’ve been a writer almost all my life. I remember learning letters (which I thought were art) and learning to put letters together to make words.
I really thought that was the coolest thing ever.
For a crazy silly girl in elementary school I thought putting art letters together to make a word was genius.
THEN as if that wasn’t enough, when we started putting words together to make sentences that put me over the top!
My first books ((of course) were about Dick and Jane. Books like “Fun With Dick and Jane” brought the stories to life. Plus the illustrations were (are) outstanding.
I was so excited about reading that I won an award for reading more books than anyone else in my class. Honestly, it was the best award I could have won. That award put me on a part of being a confirmed reader.
Then, down the road a piece I had my first composition class.
I was forever hooked. I loved writing! It didn’t matter if it meant I was writing a story, a composition, a speech, or a science project. I loved writing.
I also had great fun in art class in my early years, but by the time I was in seventh grade I had to choose between speech and art, and I chose to take speech because I could use my love of writing.
On down the road several decades, when I started blogging I had to figure out how do do illustrations. I’d been a newspaper editor and because the photographer quit suddenly I was told I would need to do the photography. The publisher handed me a really excellent Nikon camera and I became a photographer. Later I worked as a portrait photographer for several years.
Those years as a writer and photographer were pivotal learning years for me.
God knew exactly what I needed and would need and God provided a way.
When I knew I needed to start drawing illustrations God was ever so good to help me. The answer was already “in” me but I didn’t know it yet.
When I was 12 years old and I went to hear Billy Graham speak at Arrowhead Stadium I started seeing pictures in my head. God spoke to me through those pictures.
So when I needed illustrations for my blog it shouldn’t have been a surprise that God would show me what to draw.
God knew the way long before I did.
God had already given me everything I needed to do simple illustrations.
Romans 8:29 says, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
God called me and gave me tools to accomplish His plan.
We are told in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
I am weak and powerless but God is powerful.
Luke 1:37 says, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
God knew everything in advance and planned to provide everything I would need.
When I had the privilege of sitting with a professional Spiritual Director (a wonderful funny Irish Catholic Priest) for several years I came to realize life really isn’t about what God needs me to do for God.
It’s about what God has for me.
I had to learn to stop striving and start receiving.
It took time for me to learn to be still and open my hands to receive what God has for me every minute of every day, but eventually I did learn (thanks be to God).
The illustrations God gives me in my head everyday are a gift.
I only need to be silent and God provides…even silly pictures that make me laugh!
Spiritual Practice: what does God have for you?
Be still and open your hands to receive.
In God, Deborah
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