I’ve just returned from my first blogging and writing conference. I went hoping to learn how to be more effective and returned with my focus more firmly settled on the “BE,” rather than the “EFFECTIVE.”
Pursuing any dream is a bit of a paradox–a dichotomy of ideas that wars within your soul until you reconcile and understand the tension. You know what I’m talking about…you have a dream, a longing, a desire for more. As a writer/blogger here are my personal paradoxes:
- I have a personal story…but I share it publicly with the world.
- I desire to grow my reach and my influence…but only One audience actually matters in the end.
- I write about my life…but I have to live it fully in order to have anything to write about.
- The business of writing…begins with the business of living.
- I desire to stand out and stand apart…but in community, we stand together.
- Everyone online is “published”…but for a writer, to be traditionally published holds such permanence.
- Numbers don’t matter…but they do.
- I desire to be content where I am…but I will do all I can to not settle.
These are some of the juxtaposed thoughts that swarmed around my head as I gathered with the room full of Christian writers, mothers, story-tellers–all 400 of them–who came seeking to grow in using their voice…their words…their platform. I dare say each of us left with more than we expected–not necessarily from what was offered in a session, a resource table, or a keynote (though all were insightful and rich)–but from the impact of experiencing the written word as living souls. Souls who become friends and community.
Should it surprise us that it is a paradox? That the deepest well or the purest stream of water must still be drawn one handful, one bucket at a time? Something as free and fast as water is delivered through small and simple vessels. The paradox is this:
God provides the limitless resources and enablings of His work and ministry; we simply catch it and offer it in our simple, broken pots of redeemed lives.
Therein lies the tension, again:
- The first shall be last.
- To be poor in spirit is to be gain the whole Kingdom.
- To be weak is to be strong.
- To lose your life is to gain it.
…and so it could be said of pursuing your dreams, the longings of your heart, and the crossroads of CALLING and ENABLING;
There is not how-to for success, no formula for effectiveness, no stamp of approval, there is but ONE ambition–to find Him more worthy, more beautiful than any dream, any longing, any desire for more.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -Matthew 6:33
So this is my dream-pursuing, blogging-better strategy…to be a simple vessel filled up with living water. Living water is limitless and the vessel will hold as much as He desires. That’s all the strategy I really need…What about you?
****IMPORTANT UPDATE!**** I’m so thankful to have you at GraceLaced Mondays! I am making a change to the link up: instead of featuring one post here each week as introduction to the link up, I will be choosing 3 of my favorite posts each week, and sharing them with readers via Facebook and Twitter at the end of the week. This change will be more exposure and interest for linked-up bloggers, and will allow me to post my own writing on Mondays once again. You will simply find the link up at the end of each Monday’s post. Thank you so much for being a part of this grace-noting community. All glory to Him!
Welcome to GraceLaced Mondays, a link up dedicated to sharing any and all blog posts by like-minded lovers of grace–God’s grace! Grace is found in the everyday when you are intentional about taking note of it…and I invite you to share your story, great or small, of how everyday moments are full of Grace.
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I am so glad we met in community at Allume. We have a lot in common and I loved what you shared here because we do hold tension in all we do as Christians. The tension is what makes us lean in to Him because it’s so easy to sway wrong and weary into the unbalanced life. Can’t wait to get to know you more and see what God does through your words.
I was so blessed to meet you, Alia, and felt an immediate connection to your honesty! (And…that we grew up in the same town!!)
Praying your return home and to blogging life proves to be seasoned with steady focus and calm trust in Him alone.
LOVE your “new” strategy and couldn’t agree more. You and I have talked on several occasion about the tug and pull (that tension) in the blog world, and I actually loved what your very first paragraph about the BE vs. the doing I can’t remember the exact wording , but that is where God wants us,and the more we spend time THERE, with Him at His feet, living off of HIM instead of ourselves, the more of HIM will flow OUT and then that could mean “success” who knows. But you know then that you have success with the One that matters, the one that counts. You are a LIGHT Ruth, and i’m so thankful this conference was a goodie. Where was it located?
Thank you “getting” my hear, Gina. The conference, Allume, was in PA–so so far for me! I’m thankful that despite the many techniques, strategies, and ideas a conference like this offers, the best keynotes at this conference chose to point to Christ and his favor above all else.
It was such a joy to really get to know you this weekend. Your humor and genuine heart for trusting in the Lord were confirmed – the best laughs of the weekend were your stories and insights! And some of the deepest conversations centered on the struggles we all face in overcoming our fleshly desires for significance, and committing to the truth that the Spirit whispers to each of us that real and eternal significance is only found in surrendering our lives, hopes and dreams to the Will of Him who redeemed us to further His Kingdom and not our own. Love you, sweet sister!
“Real and eternal significance”–Amen, Kelly! I’m so grateful you and I were given the chance to connect our hearts over what is MOST important. Love you, too. So so thankful to be your friend.
I enjoyed meeting you at Allume this weekend and so relate to this post! I too felt the tension, but also the call. The call to serve better the ones in front of me and to share more openly with the ones I cannot see. I have been inspired and you have been a part of that. Many blessings to you!
Thank you, Jennifer! I agree….that it’s the call we must heed, and hold our desires with open hands. May you have a restful and blessed week back home!
I love this. Such wonderful thoughts on Allume. It was great to meet and talk with you there!
You as well, Anne! Blessings to you!
I was at the same conference, and came back with the same mixed feelings. Thank you for your honesty!
Gina, I think those mixed feelings are to be expected whenever we are attempting to do something costly and meaningful. May the Lord help us discern how to pursue Him with focus, while diligently using and stewarding the gifts He’s given!
How kind of you to share what you’ve learned with us. It sounds like a lovely conference. Blessings….
Thank you, Pamela. Bloggers need each other
, thank you for coming by this space!
I’m not a blogger…but i am a momma who greatly appreciates the writings of a few blogs…yours included!! so glad you were able to go and be encouraged…you are a gem and your writing has brought me so much encouragment, hope, and insight as a mother & wife. even this post was a great reminder for me to live out of that place of overflow from HIM pouring into…putting Him frist…thanks again!!
Thank you, Jill. It truly is a message for all of us who want to do great things for Him…from within the walls of our home, in the lives of our children, through the impact of our service. Serving Him must start with being satisfied IN Him. Thank you for your comment!
I want to thank you for writing this! You write about some excellent points. One that really struck me is about writing about life, but in order to write about it we must live it fully. There are many times when I feel myself distracted away from my kids, or pining for something else.–forgetting that my calling is the here and now. I must live in the moment! Receiving every blessing and challenge as God’s perfect will in His perfect timing. That is worth writing about, and giving Him the glory for!
Karina, I think that is really the key–to be really living, really engaged in what He’s given for us to do! Thank you for sharing.