by Donya Dunlap | Aug 26, 2018 | Random, The Spiritual Life
Home.
Belonging. Sanctuary. Peace. Home cooked meals. Candlelight. Movie nights. Moonlit streets. The perfect paint color. Safety. Love. The outward expression of an inward self.
Missing my mother is an incomparable ache that will never be filled. But missing home…missing home is something else.
It’s odd, for this wanderer to miss something I’ve never really had. The closest thing to family I found in Atlanta with friends that knit themselves right into my heartstrings. The closest thing to love a glimmer of memory even farther back.
The closest to home, a little, rented cottage with original wood floors and wide white trim. A porch meant for summer nights and a fireplace aglow with candlelight. My first book was birthed there. My second degree began there. My call to women’s ministry gifted there. I came into myself in that tiny, two-bedroom space on Mayfield Drive. And I miss it. More than I can say.
I feel like Captain Jack Sparrow when he said,
Wherever we want to go, we go. That’s what a ship is, you know. It’s not just a keel and hull and a deck and sails. That’s what a ship needs. But what a ship is… what the Black Pearl really is… is freedom.
For Jack, home was the wide expanse of ocean and sunrise, an adventure at every port, and friend to enjoy it with. The Black Pearl gave him that. They had a symbiotic relationship, Jack and Pearl.
For me, home is more than a kitchen and curtains, and furniture and drapes. Home is wholeness, and beauty, and feeling completely at rest with yourself. Home is comfort and laughter, and unconditional love. Home is knickknacks from trips you’ll never forget, and too many people crowded around a table full of food, and a hug you don’t ever want to be let go from.
Nearly every night I sit in a chair chosen by my mom and look at wall color and curtains, flower arrangements and furniture, and it feels like…an echo. This room was her sanctuary. Her comfort. Where she would hide away and read and forget about the world. Pieces of her life surround me in this place and yet the truth of her, the essence of her, the warmth of her is gone. I miss her. A hug from mom always felt like home. And now all I have is her house, a shell, a shadow of what used to be.
My heart aches with longing to belong and I think of that old song,
This world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Moses knew what it meant to feel out-of-place. Nehemiah and Daniel too. And none felt more homesick than Jesus Himself. Separated from His father, His glory, His infinite majesty, wrapped in skin and bone, serving the hungry and broken. Homeless in every sense of the word.
I pray one day I’ll have a place to call my own. I dream daily of decorating, and hosting dinner parties, and raising a little girl to love books and music and Jesus as much as I do.
Maybe it’s silly to crave a dinner served on plates I’ve picked out myself. But I think Jesus understands. He told His disciples He was leaving to prepare a place for them. Jesus knew the importance of coming home. He knew His people were about to leave family and friends and possessions to share the Gospel with a world that would reject them. He knew how painful being an alien in a foreign land could feel. So He promised them a home-coming to look forward to.
I may never have the house I look forward to. And if I do, I may find out it’s not all I dreamed it would be. Dreams can be like that sometimes. But one day I’ll see that City on a Hill and know I belong. And you and I will sit at a banquet table fit for our King and together we will celebrate all He is forever. And that…that will feel like home to me.
Notes:
“Feels like Home” lyrics by Randy Newman. Copyright by Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Quotes.”Quotes.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2018. Web. 26 Aug. 2018. <https://www.quotes.net/mquote/73451>.
“This World Is Not My Home” lyrics by Mary Reeves Davis. Copyright by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.
by Donya Dunlap | Jan 13, 2018 | Book Reviews, Random
Since my first encounter with Laura Ingalls Wilder somewhere around age 6, I have always been an avid reader. I’ve never made a list of books to read or set a reading goal, however, until last year. Inspired by Jon Acuff’s posts on what books he had been reading, I decided to make a list of every book I finished in 2017.
My decision was part curiosity and part goal oriented. I was curious to see how many books I read in a year, with a loose goal of reading 50 by years end. The rules were, I only counted books I finished. If I had started the book in 2016 and finished it in 2017, I counted it. If I started the book in 2017 and didn’t finish it, it didn’t make the list.
The Top Ten
Instead of sharing details or summaries of each book, I’ve highlighted what I feel were the ten most impactful or most enjoyable reads.
The Broken Way was a book I began in 2016 and finished in 2017. I read it while on a trip meant to make the holidays a bit easier after losing my mom. I don’t know that it did, but this book was helpful. I had to read it slowly. I think I cried through every chapter. I highly recommend it to anyone facing a season of brokenness. And if you aren’t read it anyway.
The Help and To Kill a Mockingbird were both highly entertaining as well as enlightening. These books tell powerful stories of the injustices suffered by African Americans in the south. They left an imprint on my soul I hope never fades.
Big Magic is a priceless text on creativity every artist, writer, actor, singer, creator of anything meaningful should read. It is encouraging, humorous, challenging, and motivating. In fact, I am looking forward to reading it again soon.
Atlas Girl is a memoir of a young girl who left home to find herself and ended up truly healing and growing by returning home to help her mother who had been afflicted with a brain tumor. I saw a lot of myself in the pages and cried my way through most of the second half. The story is powerful, but more so are the spiritual takeaways.
The Glass Castle is another memoir with a deeply impactful story. It is a well-written tale of growing up under the care of parents plagued with addiction and mental illness. I’m not sure if I’ll watch the movie, but the book will stay with me for some time I expect.
The Historian is the best-written version of the Dracula tale I have read. It’s definitely not for everyone as the story is rather dark. However, the weaving of history and fantasy is masterful and the descriptions of the places, both ancient and modern, pull you into the drama and make it hard to put down.
The Furious Longing of God should be read by every Christian seeking a closer walk with the Lord. The book is thin, but the contents are deep. I hope to read more of Brennen Manning’s books this year.
Simply Tuesday is the second Emily P. Freeman book I’ve read. The first A Million Little Ways is one of my all-time favorite books. Simply Tuesday was a timely reminder to value the little things in life. It’s not all about striving to be the best we can be for God. Sometimes all God wants from us is to love our families well and be kind to our neighbors. To listen and love without hurry. Maybe you need that reminder too?
Daring Greatly is the first Brené Brown book I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. She focuses on overcoming shame and fear, two of my own greatest hurdles in life. The explanation of her studies makes a difficult subject easy to digest and apply to your own life. Though not a spiritual book, many spiritual parallels can be made.
Honorable Mentions
A quick glance will show my affection for the Aunt Dimity series. My mom recommended these cozy mysteries to me several times, but I never took the time to read them until after she passed. I’m still only about halfway through the series, but I have fallen in love with the quirky main character and I would kill to live in her gorgeous English cottage. These books are mostly fluff, but a perfectly lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
I highly recommend (and often recommend if you get me talking about books) anything and everything written by Joel Rosenberg. A quick google search will explain his rather impressive history. His writing is captivating and intense. The stories move quickly and are dramatic without being over the top. If you have even an inkling of interest in end times theology, read his books.
All the Rest
Though I won’t bore you by discussing the rest of the titles, every book on this list has merit. A couple I would recommend with caveats, but overall, each is worth the time.
See anything you’ve read? Adding any to your book list for the new year? Leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you.
The List
- The Broken Way – Ann Voskamp – 1/10/2017 (Read my full review here)
- The Fool of New York City – Michael D. O’Brien – 1/29/2017
- The Help – Kathryn Stockett – 2/4/17
- Drops Like Stars – Rob Bell – 2/5/17
- To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee – 2/12/17
- Aunt Dimity: Snowbound – Nancy Atherton – 2/20/17
- White Chocolate Moments – Lori Wick – 2/26/17
- Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea – Nancy Atherton – 2/27/17
- Aunt Dimity Goes West – Nancy Atherton – 3/5/17
- You’re Already Amazing- Holley Gerth – 3/13/17
- The Four Loves – CS Lewis- 4/2/17
- Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austin – 4/18/17
- Big Magic – Liz Gilbert – 4/21/17
- Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter – Nancy Atherton – 5/10/17
- The Third Target – Joel Rosenberg- 5/13/17
- The First Hostage – Joel Rosenberg- 5/15/17
- Without Warning – Joel Rosenberg – 5/17/17
- Aunt Dimity Goes Down Under – Nancy Atherton – 5/21/17
- Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree – Nancy Atherton – 5/28/17
- Atlas Girl – Emily Wierenga – 6/2/17
- The Red Sea Rules – Robert J Morgan – 6/4/17
- Real Artists Don’t Starve – Jeff Goins – 7/12/17
- Crossroads – Wm. Paul Young – 7/15/17
- Funding Your Ministry – Scott Morton – 7/16/17
- Writing Down the Bones – Natalie Goldberg – 7/19/17
- The Christian Atheist – Craig Groeschel – 7/25/17
- Eve – Wm. Paul Young – 7/30/17
- All In – Mark Batterson – 8/6/17
- The Grave Robber – Mark Batterson – 8/19/17
- The Sun Also Rises – Ernest Hemingway – 9/3/17
- Living Forward – Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy – 9/4/17
- The Glass Castle – Jeannette Walls – 10/1/17
- Stop Walking on Eggshells – Mason and Kreger- 10/6/17
- The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova – 10/13/17
- The Furious Longing of God – Brennen Manning – 10/15/17
- Danger in the Shadows – 10/28/17 – Dee Henderson
- Illuminated – Matt Bronleewe – 10/29/17
- Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil – Nancy Atherton – 11/11/17
- Aunt Dimity: Detective – Nancy Atherton – 11/12/17
- Aunt Dimity’s Christmas – Nancy Atherton – 11/14/17
- Aunt Dimity Digs In – Nancy Atherton – 11/17/17
- Strengths Based Leadership – Don Clifton, Tom Rath, Gallup – 11/23/17
- Simply Tuesday – Emily P. Freeman – 12/9/17
- The Negotiator – Dee Henderson – 12/9/17
- The Guardian – Dee Henderson – 12/10/17
- The Truth Seeker – Dee Henderson- 12/10/17
- The Protector – Dee Henderson- 12/13/17
- The Healer – Dee Henderson – 12/15/17
- Uninvited- Lysa TerKeurst – 12/16/17
- The Rescuer – Dee Henderson – 12/17/17
- Daring Greatly – Brene Brown – 12/30/17
by Donya Dunlap | Jun 6, 2017 | Random
If you don’t care about my awkward attempt at humorously telling my penny floor story and just want tips on doing your own, skip to the headings after the pictures.
There once was a young, bordering on middle-aged, writer who dreamed of having an office—her very own space full of beauty and inspiration…and without the consternation of ticking clocks.
One fine, Autumn day, the kind and generous father of this fair-skinned writer granted his daughter’s wish. He commissioned assistance from the writer’s much older (wink), and handier brother to build a wall. It would be a great wall, (not a Chinese or Mexican wall) dividing their screened porch in two. This wonderful wall and accompanying windows framed in a 10 x 12 foot space perfect for a writer’s nook.
Construction began after the first of the new year, adding hope and cheer into the writer’s otherwise dreary Mid-Western winter. The writer grew more and more excited as the weeks passed, photo-journaling the progress for all the world to see on Instagram.
Finally, the day came when the writer’s brother was done installing the wall, making way for the writer to paint and lay a penny floor.
Inspired by Pinterest, and armed with supplies from Lowe’s, the writer primed and painted, penned and listened to podcasts for hours…which stretched into days…and morphed into weeks.
Weary from her labors, the writer grew impatient. She wondered if her efforts would ever truly result in her much prayed for haven. She wondered and prayed and wondered and prayed until she glued her final penny to the floor.
Calling again for the help of her faithful family, the writer took the next step in her journey towards her precious place—she grouted. Dark and gushy, the grout oozed between the pennies, tying the floor together and creating a beautiful, mostly level foundation above which she hoped many best-selling books would be written. The end was in sight! Or so she thought.
Morning came and with the dawn the writer wiped the remaining grout haze from the floor and prepared the polyurethane to seal the floor. With bated breath, the writer applied the first coat and set her alarm for the appropriate dry time. As soon as the tinkling tones sounded, the writer dashed to the doorway and…OH NO!! Instead of a beautiful matte finish on her penny-covered floor, the writer found a hazy, streaky, hardened mess!
The writer scoured Google and called wise experts to determine what went wrong. No one could say for sure, but everyone agreed the film must come up.
The next several days were filled with despair and fix-it attempts. Sadly, nothing worked. Would her penny floor be ruined forever?
Praying for a miracle, the writer tried one last remedy—the citrus stripper. Down went the orange goo and up went the writer’s hopes. Mineral spirits and scrubbing followed and clean pennies emerged.
Hooray!
After many more days of stripping section by section, the writer was victorious. But she still wasn’t done! Back to Lowe’s went the writer in search of better, clearer polyurethane. The writer returned home and applied, one, two, three coats of lovely, streak-free gloss. The beautiful penny floor shined as brightly as the writer’s smile. Her hard work and determination paid off.
The writer waited ever so impatiently for the last coat to dry, then filled her new office with furniture, books, and her beloved non-ticking clock. When the last pen was in its place, the writer admired all that had been done and called it good. She gave thanks to the many who took part in making her writing haven a dream come true: her generous father, handy brother, hard-working niece, helpful nephew, and her Lord, who provided the inspiration, funds, location, and family.
To her faithful blog readers, the writer crafted a quirky missive to share her construction saga and to thank them for sticking by her side during her many days of laying pennies and not writing blog posts. She hoped her penny floor parable makes them smile.
The Moral of the Story
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV
Tips for Creating Your Own Penny Floor
Gather all of your pennies at once.
Unless you have a giant bucket of pennies you’ve collected over the years, this step is more difficult than it appears. This is also a step I ignored. I regretted that choice later.
The reason for it is the variations in color of the pennies as they age. Most of my floor looks rather uniform, but there is one section with a large amount of old, tan color pennies, and another section has a larger number of new, bright pennies in it. If I had gathered all the pennies I needed at the beginning, this could have been avoided. All in all, it looks fine. But without furniture, you can see a difference as you walk around the room.
As a guide, I estimated 270 pennies per square foot, or 27,000 for my 10 x 12 room. This estimate came from one of the bloggers I read that made the 12 x 12 squares before laying her pennies. I took her word for it. I didn’t do a final count myself.
Glue pennies directly to the subfloor.
You may see many suggestions for making 12 x 12 panels of pennies before laying them on the floor. Don’t bother. I used Elmer’s glue (yes, the stuff you peeled off your hands like skin when you were a kid) and adhered the pennies directly to the floor. This was great for several reasons.
- The Elmer’s allowed me to use a hammer to pull up the pennies if they dried out of place
- It removed any potential lines from the panels not fitting exactly right
- This method required fewer materials
- It allowed me to follow the curve of the floor as it was designed to slope towards a drain. I could have used cement to level the floor, but I knew it would be fine once the furniture was in so I didn’t take that step.
Several warnings about the gluing process
- If you use too much glue, you’ll have hard white gunk between your pennies that the grout may or may not cover later.
- If you use too little glue, the pennies will come up during the grouting process making you want to cuss like a sailor.
Grout
This step is technically optional. If you use epoxy it is self-leveling to 1/8″. It also takes longer to dry and can be tricky with mixing and getting any bubbles out so I chose to polyurethane my floor instead. Because of the gray grout used in the two brick walls of the space, I chose to grout my pennies using a charcoal colored sanded grout. It is dark enough to enhance the pennies without being black.
I read blogs where some chose to use a tan color to blend better with the pennies and others used black and said it really made the pennies pop. I suppose it comes down to what you want your floor to look like in the end. If you do choose to skip this step and use epoxy, keep in mind that you’ll be able to see things like paint splotches in the gaps between the pennies.
Polyurethane
If you read the above parable, you’ll know this step should have been the easiest and it turned out to be HORRIBLE.
This happened for two reasons. First, I didn’t want a super shiny finish that looked like a bar top on my floor. I was hoping for a more antique look and thought a matte polyurethane would help with this. Second, the matte polyurethane had been discontinued and the one gallon they had left was more than half off. This should have been a warning to me, but I was all about saving money at the time.
Sadly, the particles in the poly mixed poorly and left my floor streaky and cloudy. They also soaked into the grout and made it dull and milky looking. The stripper pulled the poly off the surface of the pennies and grout, but what soaked in beyond the surface stayed there. Thankfully, when I applied the gloss coat it seemed to mix with the original and darkened the grout somewhat. However, it still doesn’t look as great as it first did before my matte poly fiasco.
If you aren’t super interested in a shiny floor either, you can lay several coats of gloss and then cover it in a semi-gloss poly to dull some of the shine at the end. I read this handy tip AFTER my blunder. Oops. Turns out, I really like the look of it shiny so all’s well that ends well.
I used Minwax Ultimate Floor Finish in gloss. It’s a water-based, quick drying poly. You can walk on it in socks after 24 hours and put furniture on it after 48. I waited an extra 18 hours just to be safe. It takes a full 7 days to cure so be careful and don’t lay any rugs down until the full week is up. It’s expensive, but so is floor stripper, mineral spirits, gloves and steel wool. And those steel wool splinters hurt! Do yourself a favor and get the good stuff. You’ll be done in three coats (2 hours between coats for a total of 6 hours plus dry time) and you’ll be so happy you learned from my mistakes.
Enjoy your penny floor!
That’s it! If you are willing to spend some tedious hours getting a sore back, or if you have several really great friends that will help you lay all the pennies, you can have a beautiful, multi-toned copper floor for less than $3 a square foot depending on the materials you choose.
Even despite my setbacks, I truly love this floor and would do it again. If you decide to give it a try, send me pictures! I’d love to see your special place shine too.
Any questions? Post a comment below and I’ll try my best to answer. Happy DIYing!
by Donya Dunlap | Nov 22, 2016 | Guest Posts, Random
Today’s post comes to us from the lovely and generous, Stephanie L. Jones. As I was contemplating the holidays and what they mean to me this year, I decided to ask Stephanie to share from her wealth of experience in making life a little better for those she meets and invites into her home.
Stephanie is a speaker, life coach and soon to be author of The Giving Challenge: 40 Days to a More Generous Life. She helps people “Dream, Discover, Do.” As a fearless changemaker, she’s been a private investigator, police officer, and senior manager in a Fortune 100 company. Stephanie has traveled to 46 states, attended Oprah’s Oscar show, and auditioned for her own TLC show in NYC. To learn more about Stephanie go to www.GivingGal.com.
Did you know another word for a holiday is rest? Shocking! When was the last time your holiday was peaceful? Imagine hosting a gathering in your home feeling relaxed and content. Whether you are opening your home to friends and family on Thanksgiving, Christmas or a guest in someone’s home, your hospitality doesn’t need to come at the cost of your health and sanity.
Hospitality defined
According to Google, the definition of hospitality is the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Notice there is no mention of immaculate home free of dust bunnies, Pinterest-perfect food presentation, use of best china and fine silverware, or breaking the bank to redecorate the home with new paint and furniture. The latter may sound extreme, but I’ve heard of people doing this…for what? To impress people that “should” love you (and your home) just the way you are.
Pondering these words from Present Over Perfect author, Shauna Niequist,
For years, I have bridged that gap between differing opinions, tempered my own, made sure that everyone in the room was happy and fed and taken care of. It began as a clean love for hospitality, but over the years, I think, it devolved into caretaking and people pleasing at the expense of my own self, at the expense of telling the truth about what I think and what I need and what matters most to me.
Her words stung. I felt a punch in the gut when I read “caretaking and people pleasing.” Guilty! When did this become our responsibility during family celebrations?
Here are five things you can do to prepare your soul for upcoming festivities
- Find a quiet place, hide in the closet if you must, and grab a pen and paper.
- Grab your Bible and read Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
- Focus on this scripture. Before food and home preparations, it’s important to prepare your heart to serve your loved ones. Memorize Matthew 11:28 and repeat these words as often as necessary over the next two months.
- Jot down everything that worries and stresses you out about the holidays. Get them out of your head and on paper. Moving forward, don’t let negativity steal your joy and control your thoughts.
- Close your eyes and envision your home for the holidays. Use all your senses. What smells are waffling in the air? Do you hear laughter and feel the warm embrace of loved ones? I bet you see smiles and taste pumpkin pie…or if you are like me you taste the whip crème. Savor this moment. Don’t be in a rush to move on. Let these feelings soak into your bones. My guess is your writings and what you envisioned doesn’t match
Hospitality starts in the heart
Are you getting excited for the holidays? Is your attitude changing? Do you realize the difference between what’s important and what’s not?
As descriptive as possible, compose your definition of hospitality. Think back to number five and incorporate the thoughts that danced in your head. At the bottom of your paper, transcribe Matthew 28:11. When finished, post your note on the refrigerator as a constant reminder the world’s interpretation of celebrating the holidays doesn’t match the definition of hospitality. Take refuge and rest in the one who created you.
The holiday you dreamed of is within your reach. Remember hospitality is all about how you make people feel in your home. If you are uptight and stressed, your guests will feel it. Be generous with hugs, laughter, and listening. This year, I’m giving you permission to change your ways and enjoy the holidays.
by Donya Dunlap | Nov 8, 2016 | How Great is Our God, Random
Today, millions of Americans will exercise their civic duty and vote for the next President of the United States. As has been said repeatedly throughout the last months, this election may be the most important election of this generation. The result of this day’s election will impact not only our country, but the world.
Election Day brings with it many emotions. Legitimate concerns press upon us from all sides. We feel the pressure of history, patriotism, and moral obligations. These are not light considerations.
The state of the Union is in a precarious position, but the state of my heart is secure in Christ. I can honestly say that above the concern of what may come, the following five conditions describe my spirit as I prepare to cast my vote.
Grateful
Today I am grateful. Not only am I a citizen of the great country of America, but I am eligible to vote. This is a freedom earned by many brave, vocal, passionate women that have come before me. By casting my vote today I acknowledge their dedication to freedom and equality for all—and I thank them.
Prayerful
I was convicted this weekend by the fact that I have only prayed according to my personal concerns, and not for all the candidates as potential leaders of our country. Forgive me Lord!
I now ask the Lord for the salvation, wisdom, and discernment for every presidential hopeful regardless of the election results. And tomorrow, regardless of the results, I will continue to pray for the President Elect knowing that by respecting the office, I show deference and respect to my God who moved among the corridors of time to bring about this moment in our nation’s history.
Surrendered
It is not lost on me that many of my friends and family, neighbors and churchgoers will be disappointed tomorrow regardless of the results of today’s voting process. Every person has a unique view on the issues due to our unique worldviews. This should not be cause for divisiveness, but for mutual respect and love, knowing that our God is for us all, and He is in control.
I think of Jesus giving to Caesar that which was due him and Paul encouraging Christians to pray for government leaders during times when Christians were being beheaded, burned alive, and tortured for sport under Roman rule. Regardless of who becomes our next President, my responsibility is to honor those in positions of authority as I honor Christ. I surrender my heart and bow my knee to the King of kings. I trust Him to raise up the leader that He desires in order to bring about His kingdom on this earth according to the Scriptures.
Satisfied
It seems an odd descriptor, but during these tumultuous days, my heart is satisfied. Proverbs 19:23 states,
The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
I can think of dozens of ways that my freedoms and even my person can be harmed by the results of this election. The religious and personal liberties I have enjoyed are being threatened. So how can I be satisfied? Because my hope is in the Lord.
You can strip me of my rights. You can imprison me or beat me and it will be no surprise to the God who holds me in His hand. My days on this earth are numbered. When my time comes, I will be in the presence of God for eternity. No one can take that away from me. And it turns out, He’s all I really need.
Hopeful
I hope that the results of this election are positive. It is my prayer that the candidates meet Jesus as Paul did and radically change in submission to God. I hope that America continues to be a beacon of liberty to the world. I hope that the church rises up and makes a difference in their communities turning hearts back to God. My hopes are high. I
pray toward these ends. But above all, my hope is in Christ.
The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. – Proverbs 21:1
Yes, this election is important. This Election Day will likely be one of the most significant days in this countries history. The well-being of our nation will be impacted in significant ways. But the state of my heart is secure in the One who raises up one king and takes down another. I have nothing to fear.
by Donya Dunlap | Jun 14, 2016 | Random, The Spiritual Life
Handwritten letters are a special thing. In this age of instant communication, they hold even greater significance. As a writer, I always feel that I communicate best with pen and paper, but for the Apostle Paul, letters were the only way to communicate. A truth I am extremely grateful for. If he had Skyped the churches he ministered to or FaceTimed his friends, we wouldn’t have access to his spiritual inspiration today.
Paul’s letters to his young prodigy Timothy are especially tender and heartfelt. We can and do benefit from extracting the doctrine contained in the letters and applying it to our lives. This is not wrong. However, I feel we do the text and ourselves a disservice by not enjoying the missives as they were intended to be read—in respect to the one older, wiser man sharing his heart with one he thought of as a son.
Paul’s Pep Talk
The opening sections of the letter are especially poignant. Paul speaks of remembering Timothy’s tears, possibly at their last parting, and of longing to see Timothy again. After the opening greeting, Paul gets to the purpose of his letter, to encourage Timothy to continue to work out his purpose despite his fear. (11 Timothy 1:6-7)
You can understand Timothy’s concern. Paul is in jail because of his faith. Other Christians around him are being actively persecuted, and not just criticized on Facebook! They were imprisoned, beaten, dragged before crowds to be killed by wild beasts. It was not a pleasant time to be a preacher of the Gospel. Still, Paul encourages Timothy to be committed to his calling.
- 1:8 Share in the suffering for the Gospel; Rely on the power of God
- 1:13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching
- 1:14 Guard the good thing entrusted to you
- 2:1 Be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus
- 2:22 Flee from youthful passions; Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace
- 2:23 Reject foolish disputes
- 2:24 Be gentle to everyone
And the list goes on.
Paul wrote from personal experience and God-given wisdom.
Paul knew how easy it would be for Timothy to give in to his fear so he wrote to help his friend fight through it. He knew Timothy would be tempted to choose the easier road of friendship and busy-ness so Paul addressed these temptations and reminded Timothy of the Gospel’s importance. Timothy’s high calling did not guarantee his success. He needed a friend to help him on his journey. The same goes for you and me.
In my ebook, The Wonder Women’s Manifesto, I talk about four typical manifestations of fear and the number one tool God has shown me for fighting it. In Forgetting the Fairy Tale, I talk about struggles women face as they search for their true love. Just as Paul wrote to Timothy in the hopes of encouraging him in his faith, so I write hoping to encourage and inspire others to develop a deep relationship with Jesus and fulfill His plan for their lives. I don’t mean to equate my writing with Scripture, but I do believe God has given me the task of using my words for His glory. I also believe God has given certain words to certain people to share with those in their own circles of influence, regardless of whether or not they ever write a book or blog post.
The power of pen and paper.
I believe in the power of a handwritten page. I believe Paul’s words inspired Timothy to continue in his faith, regardless of how feeble it felt at the time. I also believe that each of us have that same power within us. You might not be a writer, but you can send a thank you note to your parents, letting them know how much they mean to you. You can write a word of encouragement to the person in your church who is having a difficult time. You can even join the “more love letters” movement and write a love note to a perfect stranger. You never know how God might use your written words to impact another person.
You can be an inspiration.
I encourage you to dig out some stationery or steal some of your kids’ notebook paper, grab a pen or a crayon, and get your thoughts on paper. Do you find someone’s faithfulness inspiring? Tell them! Do you have a favorite childhood memory with your mom? Share it with her. Has your child been struggling with obedience? Tell them how special you think they are and see if your words don’t make a difference. The cannon of Scripture is closed, but inspiration is not dead. The Holy Spirit still inspires and motivates God’s children to write truth and encourage the body of Christ. Ask Him for direction and let Him guide your words.
