jesus – Almost An Author

Let Jesus Do His Thing

I traveled to India with Samaritan’s Feet earlier this year, which I’ve already shared a few experiences in this blog. Please, let me share one more. It was our commission to wash children’s feet, place new shoes on their feet and pray with them. The shoes were merely vehicles in which we could pour Jesus’ love, hope and joy on those children. However, when we were going to a government school in a Hindu village, we were instructed not to pray with the children nor hug or even touch them much as touch was not a part of their culture. Okay then. How in the world were we supposed to pour the love, hope, and joy of Jesus on these children without touching them nor praying with them? And so we were on our way.

Those of us in the feet washing stations gently washed the children’s feet, asked them questions through our school-aged interpreters and placed new shoes on their feet. For many children, this was the first pair of shoes they had ever worn besides flip-flops. So we jumped with the children or taught them to run in place to try out their shoes. Then we sent them out to the courtyard to Jeffrey and Laura. Laura showered them with toy bracelets, rings and airplanes we’d brought and she loved on them. Jeffery led the children around like the pied piper. He had them repeating every move he made and soon they were laughing and giggling like only children can. Then we heard Jeffery shout, “I AM LOVED!” and the children quickly echoed, “I AM LOVED!” He marched and danced around with the children following. “I AM BEAUTIFUL!” And the precious voices echoed his words. As we washed the children’s feet, they anxiously awaited the opportunity to join in the parade. We quickened the process so they could participate with Jeffery and Laura. Soon the whole school was marching around giggling and shouting, “I HAVE JOY! I HAVE HOPE!” These children spoke Telegu. They had no idea what they were saying, but they seemed to be having the time of their lives.

The next day, Caleb Sir, our Indian host, sat us all down before our next excursion and showed us a newspaper from the village that day that featured a picture and article of us! He translated it for us and it basically stated that a group of foreigners from far away America came to wash our children’s feet and give them new shoes. In the process, they brought the children so much joy, hope and love that we are forever thankful for them. Wow. The word “Jesus” was never spoken in that village that day, but Jesus did His thing. He loved on those children and poured His joy and hope on those children through the feeble, unworthy travelers with Samaritans Feet. We just needed to let Jesus do His thing.

And we need to let Jesus do His thing in our writing. We may not have to preach and shout Jesus in bold letters to get our points across. We may not have to end all our stories with scripture or a prayer. Perhaps the word “Jesus” won’t even be mentioned in our work. But Jesus can still shine through. If we cover our writing in prayer, write what He leads us to write, or step out into new territories, if that’s where He’s leading us, then Jesus may still be seen. While we can’t physically touch our readers or hug them nor pray with them, Jesus can still touch lives through our writing. It may be that our work brings love, hope, joy, laughter, distraction, encouragement, wisdom, or knowledge to a reader. We may never know, but let’s write with our hearts focused on Jesus so He can do His thing.

I must sadly add that last week Jeffrey was killed in an accident. He was on another mission trip. While our hearts are broken over the loss of this incredible God-loving young man, so many lives were touched through His life. Jeffrey brought love, hope, and joy to children in a way they had never experienced because he let Jesus do His thing through him – even more of a reminder for us to let Jesus do His thing through our writing and through us. Don’t put it off any longer. Others may need to read your message today.

I miss you Jeffrey. You brought love, hope and joy to us, too. Thanks for touching my life.

Words, Tomato Plants and Time with Jesus

The fruit of any writer is words, alphabetic compilations skillfully woven together into sentences and paragraphs that may eventually become an article, a story, or a book. Those words have the power to change lives. For most writers, those words that become sentences and paragraphs come rather easily. They are the currency of our craft —the artistic building blocks of our calling. A writer without words is a tragic paradox.

Therefore if words are so important, and have such power, it stands to reason that we, as writers, must take special care of our heart and our mind—the expressions of our spirit and our soul, because in those places this precious fruit is produced. A better quality of fruit always produces a higher level of impact.

Several years ago, I decided to do a little farming by planting some tomato plants. Nothing tastes better than a large, succulent home-grown tomato. I labored to build the beds and filled them with a mixture of dirt, compost, and horse manure. Next I placed the plants in the soil and began watering and fertilizing them with Miracle Grow on a consistent basis. Over time those plants grew into luscious bushes with beautiful blooms. I had gigantic plants but the tomatoes were few and far between. The same thing happened for three straight years. Discouraged, I was ready to give up on growing my own, and almost reconciled to a future of eating those plastic-tasting, pale pink variety you find at any local grocery.

Then I met a tomato expert at a botanical garden plant sale. I explained my dilemma and he asked a simple question, “How many hours of sun are your plants getting?” It seems tomato plants need a minimum of six hours of sunshine to produce large heathy fruit. A multitude of vines and no fruit are the classic symptoms of under exposure to the sun. My tomato plants needed something more than I was personally capable of providing.

As Christian writers, we don’t simply need more words. We need powerful words to convey concepts, ideas, and phrases that bring transformation. The power I’m taking about comes from having an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus. Like tomato plants, every writer who longs to produce genuine, lasting fruit needs time with the Son—Jesus Christ. Yes, it is vitally important that we hone our craft by reading widely, studying grammar and structure, and researching our subject with intensity. Yes, we must write, meet the deadlines before us, and build our platform on social media. Yes, it is true there are only so many hours in the day. But if we neglect our spirit and our soul, our words, though lush and plentiful, will be powerless and the fruit of our labor almost non-existent.

Take a few minutes today and spend some time in the glorious presence of Jesus. A moment in his presence may produce the fruitful word or phrase that could change a life forever. But one thing’s for sure, time spent with Jesus will change you, and if you are changed, the fruit of your words will reflect it.