At the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, opening keynote speaker Davis Bunn gave everyone a wake-up call about hills and valleys. He shared about his hardships as a writer.
Whether sacrifices or rejections, it was clear being a best-selling famous author isn’t easy, after all. Yet, we all have a hope (John 11:33). He shared, “By focusing on hardships you make it harder. We have a choice. Jesus said, ‘My yoke is easy.” We can trust God. God’s goals are better and more useful than our goals.”(Proverbs 19:21).
Face it, from the moment we’re born, everyone is crying–babies and parents. We know the journey of life is a difficult and something is broken. When I was young, I was taught that the journey is more important than the destination. The journey God has for us isn’t always that obvious.
JOURNEY?
Dictionary.com defines a journey as: a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time; a distance, passage or progress from one stage to another.”
Speaker Todd Starnes shared, “The journey of 1000 miles starts with one step. Faith and freedom go hand in hand. We must tell our stories!” Our journeys are different, but hopefully our destination is the same, heaven, to be with God. I left the conference knowing we don’t have to wonder what God is doing—often the journey says—I’ll find you.
I was thrilled to be with other creative Christians, they are beautiful people. Like a writer from Nigeria or funnyman Torry Martin; two different stories, two different journeys, one purpose—to glorify God, so let your light shine bright.
Growing up as an Army brat, I’ve always been comfortable being myself and not fitting in. I learned as a child, hardships are part of life’s journey and are often more interesting than the destination.
When we lived in Colorado my family took trips to Georgia to visit my grandparents. My father enjoyed driving cross-country. One time, my siblings and I took a bus with our mother to visit my grandparents. While traveling through Texas, the bus encountered a flood; I’ll never forget how scared I was.
Then we stopped at a bus station where the stalls required change in the doors to use them. All those storms had a little boy doing a rain dance. Oh, the childhood memories. When we made it, I remember going to the field and picking vegetables, not a fun for a seven-year-old boy who hated vegetables! It wasn’t the summer that I had hoped for, but it was memorable (psalm 17:23)!
PLANS?
Before I left for the conference, I planned which classes I would take and who I would pitch my book to. But, the first day God said no and changed everything. God’s plans are better than ours (Isaiah 55:9).
God put me on the path He had planned long before the conference (Ephesians 2:10). He also put people on the path with me whom I never dreamed of meeting.
Like a veteran filmmaker who shared my passion for Christian film making. Then there was a beautiful young girl who also was given a scholarship. I was amazed that we shared the same convictions.
After the conference, I had planned a getaway to North Georgia for some relaxation. I had so much fun hiking gorgeous waterfalls that I ended up eating dinner at 9 o’clock.
I ate so fast that I didn’t chew my food and choked on it. Nothing would clear my throat and God had my attention. When I looked in the mirror I could see the color leaving my face.
I heard a car door shut and ran outside and tried to scream, but nothing came out. I knew I was about to die. I tried one more time while leaning over a railing and finally that dead holy bird came back from the dead and flew out of my mouth.
The tears ran down my face as I lay across my bed. I asked God what’s the purpose He keeps leaving me here for when I am broken? In that moment, He said, “I am your banner, I am with you, enjoy the journey!
Whether sacrifices or rejections, it was clear being a best-selling famous author isn’t easy, after all. Yet, we all have a hope (John 11:33). He shared, “By focusing on hardships you make it harder. We have a choice. Jesus said, ‘My yoke is easy.” We can trust God. God’s goals are better and more useful than our goals.”(Proverbs 19:21).
Face it, from the moment we’re born, everyone is crying–babies and parents. We know the journey of life is a difficult and something is broken. When I was young, I was taught that the journey is more important than the destination. The journey God has for us isn’t always that obvious.
JOURNEY?
Dictionary.com defines a journey as: a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time; a distance, passage or progress from one stage to another.”
Speaker Todd Starnes shared, “The journey of 1000 miles starts with one step. Faith and freedom go hand in hand. We must tell our stories!” Our journeys are different, but hopefully our destination is the same, heaven, to be with God. I left the conference knowing we don’t have to wonder what God is doing—often the journey says—I’ll find you.
I was thrilled to be with other creative Christians, they are beautiful people. Like a writer from Nigeria or funnyman Torry Martin; two different stories, two different journeys, one purpose—to glorify God, so let your light shine bright.
Growing up as an Army brat, I’ve always been comfortable being myself and not fitting in. I learned as a child, hardships are part of life’s journey and are often more interesting than the destination.
When we lived in Colorado my family took trips to Georgia to visit my grandparents. My father enjoyed driving cross-country. One time, my siblings and I took a bus with our mother to visit my grandparents. While traveling through Texas, the bus encountered a flood; I’ll never forget how scared I was.
Then we stopped at a bus station where the stalls required change in the doors to use them. All those storms had a little boy doing a rain dance. Oh, the childhood memories. When we made it, I remember going to the field and picking vegetables, not a fun for a seven-year-old boy who hated vegetables! It wasn’t the summer that I had hoped for, but it was memorable (psalm 17:23)!
PLANS?
Before I left for the conference, I planned which classes I would take and who I would pitch my book to. But, the first day God said no and changed everything. God’s plans are better than ours (Isaiah 55:9).
God put me on the path He had planned long before the conference (Ephesians 2:10). He also put people on the path with me whom I never dreamed of meeting.
Like a veteran filmmaker who shared my passion for Christian film making. Then there was a beautiful young girl who also was given a scholarship. I was amazed that we shared the same convictions.
After the conference, I had planned a getaway to North Georgia for some relaxation. I had so much fun hiking gorgeous waterfalls that I ended up eating dinner at 9 o’clock.
I ate so fast that I didn’t chew my food and choked on it. Nothing would clear my throat and God had my attention. When I looked in the mirror I could see the color leaving my face.
I heard a car door shut and ran outside and tried to scream, but nothing came out. I knew I was about to die. I tried one more time while leaning over a railing and finally that dead holy bird came back from the dead and flew out of my mouth.
The tears ran down my face as I lay across my bed. I asked God what’s the purpose He keeps leaving me here for when I am broken? In that moment, He said, “I am your banner, I am with you, enjoy the journey!
