One Writer's Mission

Hey there, bloggy friend! Welcome to my 300th post! It was nice of Rachel Olsen to host a carnival in honor of that...ok, she didn't probably didn't do it just for me...

Anyway, I'm glad you stopped by. It's Sunday night as I'm writing this, and I have this picture of all of us bloggers sitting at our computers, shining up our best stuff, trying to think of something catchy and smart to say. The trouble with writing is sometimes the words just flow, and your fingers can't keep up with your brain, and other times, well, there's just lots of deleting and backspacing going on. It reminds me of the verse about God's mercies being fresh every morning. While we don't get a complete do-over, we get a fresh start. We get a chance to try again.

What will you do with it? Will you allow all the yesterday's to stack up against you and keep you frozen on the same path? Or, will you allow the freshness of God's mercy, His grace, to lead you in a new way? I woke up one day about four years ago, suddenly aware that I had a new path to walk on. I had been living in the shadow of the old path for years, letting it contaminate each new day with it's lingering darkness.

In Luke 22:32, Jesus tells Peter that He has prayed that his faith will not fail him, and once he has turned back, to strengthen his brothers. My faith failed for awhile, but now that I have turned back, I am here to strengthen my sisters. To strengthen you, my friends and readers. God has given me a story to tell, and through it, a chance to encourage you to seek Him and the new day He offers in your lives. There is nothing that could keep Him from you.

Every day He offers you a fresh start, a spiritual backspace button. How would your day be different if you didn't look back at yesterday's mistakes and failures before beginning this one? If, just once, you focused entirely on Christ's perfection instead of your own imperfection? He isn't waiting for us to get it right, He is waiting for us, for you, to take His hand each day. To make the choice each day for Him, for life.

When you do take His hand, is there someone else's hand you could grab along the way? Someone who is still standing, frozen in her yesterday's, that you could strengthen and lift up with you? I picture one of those paper doll chains, hands united, glowing with the power and strength and love that is only found in Christ, encircling the earth. Notice that each hand is only holding two others, one on each side.

Sisters, as writers, we have a chance to hold a lot of hands; we will never meet most of them this side of heaven. It is my privilege to serve with you, to be a voice of hope, to share God's truth that

• We are a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• His Word will lead us in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:24)
• His mercies are fresh every morning. (Lamentations 3:23)

Tell the stories, hold the hands, and let God shine His light through your words. Together we punch a hole in the darkness.