When God Calls You to Release Your Gift

Exodus 2:3 (NIV) “But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.”
 
Authors often talk about how their manuscript is like a baby and when they release it for the world to read—and criticize—it’s like sending their child into the wilderness.

It’s hard!

So, when I clicked on that link that sent my novella, At the Edge of a Dark Forest, out to be published and offered for sale on Amazon, Smashwords and all its distributors, my fingers actually shook.

But I did it!

I kept musing about my “baby” out there with no one to shelter it, and it made me think of Moses’ mother …

And all of you.

Moses’ mother had two choices:

Keep her son, risking he be murdered by the king of Egypt

OR

Let him go … allowing him to do the work for which God made him.
She released him to the current of the Nile. That’s what I needed to do with my manuscript. I needed to let it go and do the work God intended for it.

I have a confession. I LOVE my story. I really do. I write for me—the kinds of things I love to read. But I don’t expect the world to love it the same as I do. However, I know God has planned for it to touch someone somewhere. I hope I get to hear from those people who are touched. It encourages me to continue in God’s work.

The same goes for you, dear reader. God has requested you release your baby—the ministry He’s called you to. If you don’t, it will die. Given to Him, it will live, and grow, and blossom. Don’t hold onto the gift He’s given you. Give it away. Because when you do, He will not only protect it and nurture it, He will give you infinitely more!

Other posts you might like:
 
Dark Forests and Military Service
 
Let Him Steal Your Show
 
How Many Talents Do You Get?

Prayers for Those with Autism

One of my most read posts, and consequently, most commented on, is “Can God Heal Autsim?” It seems many people are dealing with this issue and would like answers as to what God’s role is in the whole affair. I’m not going to tell you the answer because I don’t feel there is only ONE. God deals with each and every one of His Creations differently. He made us unique. He will treat us as such.

Still, I know God CAN heal autism. I also know that He can do miraculous things THROUGH autism, as He has for my family. Either way, it’s best for all of us if we invite God into the process of our lives so He can work as He deems best. To trust in HIM.

In the above mentioned post, I ask my readers to pray for my son (who has autism), and I promise to pray for their afflicted child, as well. And I do. Many have left comments to tell me of their children. Others have emailed me. So today, I’m going to do that again.

Out loud this time!

Please join me in praying for these children, their families and the many others struggling with this disorder. Pray for healing, pray for patience, pray for resources, pray for answers. Pray that we see God in the process and know that He is Good.

Pray! It’s the most powerful thing you can do!

…

Dear Lord,

We thank you that you are an intimate part of each of our lives. Not You and a crowd of believers, but You and ME, You and Bridgette, You and Hannah, You and Des, You and Aida, You and Rebekah.

You and each and every one of us—individually. You treat us as the unique creation we are, not as others want us to be.

We thank you that you watch over our needs and give us what is best. We thank you for the many others who commented on the previous post with thoughts, prayers and resources—Albert Soo, Hannah Lim, Thomas Wagner and those who did not leave their name. We thank you for the many who have prayed. We praise you that you created believers who care!

Please, dear Lord, we ask that You will continue to show Yourself in our lives, that you will bless all our children and cause them to know You as well. We ask that You will give us the resources for the jobs you have mapped out for us.

Give us peace, give us guidance, give us Your Joy!

Lord, please show us how to pray for our family. The Bible tells us Your Holy Spirit translates our groans into prayer. I’m groaning Lord! Know my heart. I know You do. Thank You for that.

And as always, Lord, I pray you will heal my son. I pray You will give him words to speak so he can tell me all that is on his heart. I pray for all the others who are dealing with the troubling effects of this disorder. I pray for those who’ve requested prayer from me and my readers, those who have the disorder: Matthew, James and Rashad, and the many who did not leave a name. I pray these families will see Your work in their lives today and know it is REAL.

I pray this in Your Holy Son’s name, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior!

Amen.