What are you waiting for?
Have you ever asked yourself, “What are you waiting for?” I did, just recently. And I had a lot of answers, but none of them were good answers. So I asked myself again, “What are you waiting for?” And the result is this blog.
Why a blog? (There’s a backstory, and I’ll get to that shortly.) My hope is to inspire anyone who’s had their foot on the brake of life for way too long to put the car into gear and get moving.
Maybe you’re one of the lucky people in this world who doesn’t struggle with doubt and self-imposed limitations. That’s great! I still hope there will be plenty of encouragement to be found here. That said, I’ve discovered that there are many people who, like me, need a friendly nudge and a cheer squad to get them off the bench and onto the field.
“This blog is all about serving God with what He has placed in your hand, right now, wherever you find yourself.”
It’s easy to look at the heroes of our faith, only to disqualify ourselves by comparing ourselves with their achievements. This is how we keep ourselves on the sidelines. But God wants us in the game. He needs us in the game! Because there are people that only you can reach. There are lives that only you can touch. And there are truths that only you can tell.
“There are people that only you can reach. There are lives that only you can touch. And there are truths that only you can tell. ”
Don’t get me wrong, we need our heroes. My heroes inspire me to grow and dream. They teach me things that it’s taken them years to learn, and introduce me to ideas I would never have considered otherwise. I listen daily to podcasts and read books by people who are brilliant, humble, gifted, anointed and brave. Each of them brings a different perspective, has a unique set of gifts and their own sphere of influence. I’m grateful for them and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without their influence.
But some of my heroes are quietly doing life in their little corner of the world, blissfully unaware that they are watched and admired. They are the people you’ll meet through the pages of this blog. People you’ve never heard of, doing things that you’ll probably never read about anywhere but here. Why them? Because they are just like you and me and if they can serve God with what’s in their hand, where they find themselves, then so can we.
So, back to “why a blog?”. About 15 years ago, I had a pretty intense encounter with God. I won’t bother you with the details, but I walked away with a clear message “Write it down, and speak it out.” I knew He was telling me to write books - not a book - but books. And for 15 years, I’ve been making excuses as to why I couldn’t. He gave me ideas. Random people asked me if I had written any books and that they would read them if I had (who asks that?!). Over and over again He confirmed this word - emphatically, categorically and clearly. And I just kept answering Him with excuses. "Who am I? Why would anyone ready anything I’ve written? I’m not educated enough. I’m a jack of all trades and master of none.”
Just when I’d finally scrape together enough gumption to type up an outline, life would knock me back into place. Disappointment, failures, fears and limitations. Call them what you like, at the end of the day they were just excuses.
Throughout all those years, God has been gracious and loving. He has stayed constant. And He has never let me get too far from the deep-seated conviction that He has a purpose for my life which includes writing the things He deposits in my heart, and then speaking about it.
Which brings me back to the conversation I had with myself a few weeks ago. If writing a book seemed intimidating, then why not start with baby steps. How about a blog? I’m positive it was a God idea – you can always tell when it’s His idea because it’s the last thing you would think of on your own. This time, I stopped making excuses. And I got started.
“So that’s where you find me today. At the starting line. ”
What is your starting line? What’s the idea you can’t shake, that keeps you awake at night and occupies your daydreams?
Whatever it is, will you join me at the starting line?
