Opening our eyes to see God's metaphors!

I’m so excited to be sharing this blog with you, as I begin this journey of reading Lessons From the Mountain alongside you. What is new to you is actually about 8 years old for me. I began writing my metaphors almost 8 years ago now, with many of them swimming around my head for much longer than that. The realization that this project would actually become a book was way out of any realm of imagination for me. What began as a journal of metaphors for my eyes only grew into what you have access to as a book! Have you ever had a thought and wondered if that thought could take root and grow into something beyond your wildest dreams?

God has gifted us all in amazing ways! Those ways for me started in the form of being a pastor’s wife, a mom, a teacher, a children’s ministry leader, to name many of the roles I’ve played in my adult life. Every now and again during those busy years I’d dabble at writing a poem here and there, or jot down memories in story form of one sort or another. I also wrote talks for a variety of retreats I’d go on and be asked to speak. But a book? Where people like you are asked to pay to actually read something worthwhile is a whole other ball game. To be honest, opening myself up for others to read what I have written has been thrilling, humbling, and yes, also very vulnerable, even to the extent of feeling exposed. And not in that order. The ‘what ifs’…are real and have begun to rear their heads and their voices the closer I have gotten to launching the book. The “What if” you don’t like it, what if it’s too much of the same content, what if someone takes offense to one of my metaphors, what if the Scripture verses don’t compliment what I’ve written about, or have the correct meaning God intended for them to have. Oh the danger of the what ifs. If what if’s dictated our lives we’d never do anything that was our of our comfort zones.

I know without a doubt this gift has been from God. That without Him I would have not even had a leg to stand on in writing anything, or doing anything with success in my life for that matter. The verdict is still out on if anyone other than my dear dedicated friends and family will even buy the book, or give it a thumbs up review. So instead of dwelling on the what ifs, I’ve chosen to give this work as an offering of myself, my time and resources and be at peace with whatever it will become.

So raise a pen, or a paint brush, or a college class, or a gym membership to stepping out of what seems easy, and comfortable, and reliable, and all the other synonyms that mean the same. Be bold stepping out and doing what seems impossible, what excites, challenges and exhilarates you. Don’t shy away from what God has in mind to fulfill your potential. The outcome isn’t the end game, the completion of knowing you’ve tried and you’ve used the gifts God planted within you when he created you. What has He ordained you to do? I think mine was to write this book, but I’ll keep searching if He has anything else in store for me. Lord, give me the wisdom to know what to keep reaching for and the boldness to never give up!