I never imagined that I would one day be the author of anything (well, except maybe disaster!) but God, in His goodness, has allowed me to write and publish four books to date. One is a work of poetry, but the other three are works of historical fiction, mainly dealing with some aspect of Baptist history. There's one thing I've learned about fiction: as the author, I have the final say. In events I deal with concrete facts that can not be altered, but in characters I have the license to decide personality, background, and the outcome of their "lives."
Recently I was looking through a notebook I'd written my notes in it for my last book. I, ever the obsessive organizer, had written pages and pages of research, historical information, and character details. I can be forgetful and writing down everything is helpful as I work on a book so that I can keep everything straight in my mind.
It can be difficult keeping everything together in my mind even with detailed notes. That's when it occurred to me: the Lord does this but on a much larger scale! Think of it; He deals with every single person ever born! He knows their names, their lives, even the number of hairs on their head! He knows if they are saved or lost, and He has a perfect plan for each and every person who yields to Him. According to the book of Revelation, He keeps good records! Unlike me, He never forgets anything in His omniscience, yet He still keeps a written record. I find that in itself interesting.
I find God referred to as an author at least three times in the Scripture:
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God." Hebrews 12:2
He's the author of peace, the author of eternal salvation, and the author of our faith. Another passage refers to Christians as His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). I once heard my pastor say that word ,"workmanship" has to do with the word "poem." As one who enjoys writing poetry, that presents a beautiful picture to me. I believe in one sense, poetry is the art of words. One doesn't just put any word or phrase down, but rather thinks it through and gives attention to detail.
So our Saviour does with us! Right down to the simplest things, the most minute details: the number of our hairs and the tears that we cry, He knows! Different personalities, different abilities, even different fingerprints! Every single part of us is the result of His handiwork.
It reminds me of the Hidden Treasure Principle. Hidden Treasure is a wonderful place; a Christian School that works with special needs children to help them reach their full potential. It was started when the founder's daughter was badly injured and required a different kind of education that other schools could not provide. Her father wanted her and others to have every chance to be everything God intended them to be.
I knew this. I live in the same town as the school and knew the story behind it. What I did not know was what they refer to as the "Hidden Treasure Principle." One day I was complaining about my inability to perform a certain task. The person I was speaking to shared with me a simple truth I've tried to remember ever since: God has given you everything you need in order to do His will for your life.
Everything? My weaknesses? My flaws? Even those? Everything.
Even a weakness can be given to God and turned around for His glory. For example, stuborness. That's more than a weakness, it's a sin, and in the flesh can cause problems. Yet given to God, and He can use that in a person to make them stand firm for truth.
"What about my sinful past?" one might ask. Can even that be used of God? Oh yes! God is an expert at taking lives stained and scarred by sin and turning them into vessels of honor, and trophies of grace.
Everything! God is the author, therefore He has a will for us. Psalm 37:23 says that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Not suggested, but ordered.
Do you know that in all the times I sat down to work on a book, never once did a character complain about what I had written? Never once did I hear, "Wait a minute! I wanted blond hair. I don't want to live there! Why did you make me part of this family? No, you can't do that. I'd rather live in another country. Why did you have to allow that to happen to me? Are you picking on me, or something?" Etc, etc, etc...
No, they never complained. I was the author and I had the final say. Guess what? Complain or not, bitter or accepting, mad or glad, GOD not I, has the final say in my life. He is the Author. He never said I couldn't question (if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God) but He also never promised an answer. He answered Job, but He didn't have to. At times He has answered me, but He's not obligated.
I mentioned stubbornness earlier...because I know a little something about that! I look back over my life and how at times I've thought I knew best. "Why can't I have this strength, why this weakness? Why did you make me deal with this situation? Why do I have to bare this burden? It would be better if..."
Oh my! Sometimes I laugh, sometimes cry, and often regret all those moments. I serve a patient God. Even His chastening was never to crush me, but draw me back in love.
He hasn't always given answers to my questions, but He has at times allowed me to see that if He had allowed me to have my way, my life might be very different (and not in good ways!). Sometimes I looked at broken pieces with a question in my heart, only to later realize He allowed it so I might one day help or at least empathize with someone else. And sometimes it was so I could be helped by someone else.
For all the hard things there have also been the blessings. He has blessed me in ways I never could have planned or dreamed on my own! He has done marvelous things and I must stand back in amazement.
He's also not finished with me. How many days or years are left to my life? Only He knows. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know the One that holds it. Trial or blessing, my steps are ordered by the Author who makes no mistakes.
Slowly, oh so slowly, I am learning that He really does a better job than I! In my flesh, I might still complain or worry, but I can rest knowing the end result of a circumstance is in His hands and He knows what He's doing.
I encourage you to let God write the story of your life. He makes no mistakes. What He does is done well. He can restore, He can bless, He can comfort, He can do anything. If you are a Christian then you are His workmanship, and He gives attention to every detail of your life. Truly, He knows what He is doing. And one day, when we stand before Him, if we have allowed Him to have His way with us, we will be glad we did.
Recently I was looking through a notebook I'd written my notes in it for my last book. I, ever the obsessive organizer, had written pages and pages of research, historical information, and character details. I can be forgetful and writing down everything is helpful as I work on a book so that I can keep everything straight in my mind.
It can be difficult keeping everything together in my mind even with detailed notes. That's when it occurred to me: the Lord does this but on a much larger scale! Think of it; He deals with every single person ever born! He knows their names, their lives, even the number of hairs on their head! He knows if they are saved or lost, and He has a perfect plan for each and every person who yields to Him. According to the book of Revelation, He keeps good records! Unlike me, He never forgets anything in His omniscience, yet He still keeps a written record. I find that in itself interesting.
I find God referred to as an author at least three times in the Scripture:
"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." I Corinthians 14:3
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" Hebrews 5:9
He's the author of peace, the author of eternal salvation, and the author of our faith. Another passage refers to Christians as His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). I once heard my pastor say that word ,"workmanship" has to do with the word "poem." As one who enjoys writing poetry, that presents a beautiful picture to me. I believe in one sense, poetry is the art of words. One doesn't just put any word or phrase down, but rather thinks it through and gives attention to detail.
So our Saviour does with us! Right down to the simplest things, the most minute details: the number of our hairs and the tears that we cry, He knows! Different personalities, different abilities, even different fingerprints! Every single part of us is the result of His handiwork.
It reminds me of the Hidden Treasure Principle. Hidden Treasure is a wonderful place; a Christian School that works with special needs children to help them reach their full potential. It was started when the founder's daughter was badly injured and required a different kind of education that other schools could not provide. Her father wanted her and others to have every chance to be everything God intended them to be.
I knew this. I live in the same town as the school and knew the story behind it. What I did not know was what they refer to as the "Hidden Treasure Principle." One day I was complaining about my inability to perform a certain task. The person I was speaking to shared with me a simple truth I've tried to remember ever since: God has given you everything you need in order to do His will for your life.
Everything? My weaknesses? My flaws? Even those? Everything.
Even a weakness can be given to God and turned around for His glory. For example, stuborness. That's more than a weakness, it's a sin, and in the flesh can cause problems. Yet given to God, and He can use that in a person to make them stand firm for truth.
"What about my sinful past?" one might ask. Can even that be used of God? Oh yes! God is an expert at taking lives stained and scarred by sin and turning them into vessels of honor, and trophies of grace.
Everything! God is the author, therefore He has a will for us. Psalm 37:23 says that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Not suggested, but ordered.
Do you know that in all the times I sat down to work on a book, never once did a character complain about what I had written? Never once did I hear, "Wait a minute! I wanted blond hair. I don't want to live there! Why did you make me part of this family? No, you can't do that. I'd rather live in another country. Why did you have to allow that to happen to me? Are you picking on me, or something?" Etc, etc, etc...
No, they never complained. I was the author and I had the final say. Guess what? Complain or not, bitter or accepting, mad or glad, GOD not I, has the final say in my life. He is the Author. He never said I couldn't question (if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God) but He also never promised an answer. He answered Job, but He didn't have to. At times He has answered me, but He's not obligated.
I mentioned stubbornness earlier...because I know a little something about that! I look back over my life and how at times I've thought I knew best. "Why can't I have this strength, why this weakness? Why did you make me deal with this situation? Why do I have to bare this burden? It would be better if..."
Oh my! Sometimes I laugh, sometimes cry, and often regret all those moments. I serve a patient God. Even His chastening was never to crush me, but draw me back in love.
He hasn't always given answers to my questions, but He has at times allowed me to see that if He had allowed me to have my way, my life might be very different (and not in good ways!). Sometimes I looked at broken pieces with a question in my heart, only to later realize He allowed it so I might one day help or at least empathize with someone else. And sometimes it was so I could be helped by someone else.
For all the hard things there have also been the blessings. He has blessed me in ways I never could have planned or dreamed on my own! He has done marvelous things and I must stand back in amazement.
He's also not finished with me. How many days or years are left to my life? Only He knows. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know the One that holds it. Trial or blessing, my steps are ordered by the Author who makes no mistakes.
Slowly, oh so slowly, I am learning that He really does a better job than I! In my flesh, I might still complain or worry, but I can rest knowing the end result of a circumstance is in His hands and He knows what He's doing.
I encourage you to let God write the story of your life. He makes no mistakes. What He does is done well. He can restore, He can bless, He can comfort, He can do anything. If you are a Christian then you are His workmanship, and He gives attention to every detail of your life. Truly, He knows what He is doing. And one day, when we stand before Him, if we have allowed Him to have His way with us, we will be glad we did.
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