I'm having a fun time reading through 1996. I am awed by what I was doing and how God was speaking. I had three little kids at home and VERY LITTLE writing success, yet I had dreams and I had goals. I listed them and followed them to the best of my ability. I also read God's word and tried to apply it. My journal is filled with thoughts and notes. Here is something I wrote from 12.26.96. At the time I was thinking of Christmas, but this is a message that is true of every day of the year.
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathan, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel." Micah 4:5
God always roots for the underdog. Find the smallest and the weakest, and surely that is what, or who, God will use. For example, Bethlehem was small among the clans of Judah, and this town was chosen to be the birth place of the Savior, but this is not the only "insignificant one" God used . . .
God chose Saul to be the first King of Israel, and even Saul himself could not believe this. "But am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?" (1 Samuel 9:21)
This happened again when God sent Samuel to anoint a man to take Saul's place. When Samuel saw Eliab, the oldest of Jesse's son's, and obviously an outstanding looking man, he said, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands before the Lord." (1 Samuel 16:6) God's answer? "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) So God again proved he roots for the underdog—He chose David, the youngest, whom his father hadn't even seen fit to call to the sacrifice. Why does God choose to call those who seem the least worth? Like He told Samuel, "The Lord looks at the heart."
In the lives of the simple and the plain, there is humility. They know they are not great thing on their own, therefore God is able to do great things through them. Where we are weak, like Saul, God has a chance to show strength. Where we are simple, like David, God is able to show His wisdom. Where we are humble, like Bethlehem, God is able to lift up. God roots for the underdog, because the underdog knows he can do not great thing, and God has the opportunity to shine.
Of course, the amazing thing was that God must have been speaking to my heart back in 1996, because I was an underdog like no other. I was a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom with three kids, a "scandalous" past, and no education to speak of, yet I had a heart to write for God and serve Him. I'm awed by God. Awed by how He loves underdogs!
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3 comments:
Hi Tricia. I have visited you before although it's been a few months. You had given me some great advice in the past, but now I need some more. Actually, I just started your GenX Marriage book...I will be reviewing it on your blog tour, it will be my 1st book review.
I just read over your story under your main page (for writers). WOw! How incredible is that? It's also intimidating for someone that has done absolutely nothing so far!
I continue to wonder if I should do something with my ability to communicate through writing. There are so many more talented folks out there, but I know that I have some ability. I'm really starting to wonder how God inspired this may be. Everytime I pray about, something wierd happens within a few days. Just this week I began to pray whether or not I should try my hand at freelancing. Within a day or 2, some NY Times Best Seller stops by my blog and asks me to submit a story for his book. Now, I know that he did not truely search me out, probably found my blog by accident and saw that I fit into his book category (I am a mom with a daughter). Regardless, this was so weird to me as I had JUST prayed about it.
So on to my question (see, I am a write at heart). How do I get started in freelancing? Do I just write something that comes to heart and mind and then submit it to a magazine? I really have no idea how the world of freelancing works.
I'm a determined and ambitious person, but I'm afraid to put so much time into anything that might pan out to nothing. And of course the little voice linger in my head of the enemy, that you aren't that good...so don't try.
I'm so sorry to waste so much of your time...I had no intention of writing so much, but the thoughts kept coming.
Thanks Tricia...your story is inspiring, not just for your success, but how and where God can use you. That is what inspires me most!
God bless,
Billie
www.lifelaughterchaos.blogspot.com
You have no idea how this post touched my heart today. Thanks!
Billie,
It's great to hear from you. Check out Sally Stuart's Christian Writer's Market. That book lists ALL the publishers (both magazine and book publishers) and what type of material they are looking for. Also, check out "writer's guidelines" found on the website on most websites. These tell you what they are looking for, how to submit, who to submit to, etc.
Finally, read LOTS of books on writing. Your library most likely has some great ones. And, if you can, attend a writer's conference. It will be well worth every penny for the training and contacts.
I hope that helps!
Tricia
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