Be the example...

A  Manifesto...

A friend sent me this link to a 7 day challenge offered for bloggers looking to expand their reader base and while I’ve never really heard of the guy who is putting the challenge on, Jeff Goins, it seems like something worth putting some time into. I’m not sure I’ll be able to meet all of them but I’m sure going to put the effort into it. So, if you’re willing to join me on this small journey, I’m willing to take the next step. Here is the first Challenge….

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Why, I write…

 As young boy, it was always difficult for me to read and write.  I struggled, and still do occasionally, with seeing words correctly and putting them on paper because of Dyslexia, ADHD and really bad eye sight.  That all began to change when I received my first pair of glasses and with the blessing of my mother’s support. She struggled with some of the same things but always found a way to communicate what had been placed upon her heart regardless of what people thought. Her struggle was an inspiration to me and ultimately what gave me the passion I have for writing today.

 The question you may be asking at this point is “how does this tie in to why I write?” The truth is, I really never thought about this until I began writing for this first challenge. After some time in prayer and reflection, I realized this is where my passions began. You see, my mother inspired me so much with how she overcame her struggles that it instilled that same passion in my heart.  All she ever wanted to do with her life was to encourage others and inspire their faith, and in the end she truly did.  This was her legacy and it has now become my desire to have a similar legacy. A legacy that encourages others and inspires their faith in the darkness this world has been influenced by.

The Problem we face… and the solution we need to embrace…

 The world we live in today is full of darkness and many of us have been through experiences that should never have taken place but, at least for me, God has always found a way to bring good out of them. My desire is to use my experiences to encourage those that are facing their own darkness head on and to be used by Him in a way that only He could imagine. I desire to be a light in that darkness. God’s promises are always anew and He has promised to be faithful to us. We don’t have to face the darkness of this world on our own. My mother sought to show this to others though everything she did and to everyone she came in contact with. She desired to show them that they were not alone in their struggle, and I can only dream of doing the same with the Legacy I pray God will build through me.

Where do we do from here…

 I don’t want to say that I have all the answers by any means but I truly believe that God can use my passions to bring others into His shining light. This is why I write. It is what drives my inner heart and what I believe to be the calling that God has given many of us. The question that remains is, how do we embrace this calling? Honestly, the answer may not be as complicated as you may think. The answer this question comes by sharing our experiences with others as a way to remind them: You are not alone. We have all faced circumstances that can inspire and encourage others, all we have to do is share them, and I share mine through what I write.

 Don’t let the world keep you from being an inspiration to those around you. Instead, seek out ways you can be a great encourager and more importantly, a great example of what God can do in all our lives. If you believe, you can be the example you were called to be.

Blessings in Christ and thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you... (2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.