I DARE YOU...I double dare you!

I DARE YOU TO JOIN ME IN A 30 DAY CHALLENGE

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

MY FEAR, MY CALLING

I stare at a blank white screen.  The thin, vertical line blink-blink-blinks...taunting me to punch out the first letter, that first word, then to form a complete sentence.  Suddenly, the dishes need to be done, the laundry should be folded, maybe I should go running?  Oh, and look at all those cars outside the window, maybe I should just watch those?  This is my battle as I go to write.  I feel that deep calling from within to put words on the screen that sits before me, but I'll be honest, I avoid  it because "WHAT IF IT'S NO GOOD?"  I'm supposed to be "a writer"; many of you know I'm working on a book right now.  But, I shy from the challenge sometimes for fear of not being a GOOD writer...what if the book fails?  That's where 2 Timothy comes in, God has been calling me to WRITE ANYWAYS because this timidity I feel is not from Him.  He has given me the self-discipline and strength to press through the feeling of lack and fear, and to go after the passion and love He's put on my heart.  At the peak of my struggle to work on my book, Jesus began speaking to me, he said,

"Krinda,

Your life is not yours, it's mine!  Will I not take care of it?  I repeat again, it's not yours!  I will take care of you!  I will use you!  I will fulfill before and through you!  Now, with writing - fear has kept you away; fear has kept you apathetic.  Do not try to pick up the pen without me, but pick it up.  It's the boat I want you in, and I want to drive it.  YOU do it, I do it through you....Krinda, on the other side of this storm of writing the book a whole crowd is waiting.  Girls broke, injured, dry....The enemy has been trying to distract and discourage you for this reason.  BUT, he is not match for me.  Invite me in and let me work.  It's time; it's the time you've been waiting but running from in fear! Face it and release.

~Your Warrior, Jesus"

WHAT ARE YOU CALLED TO?

Now, ask yourself, "What are you shying away from? What are you called to do?"  Mine is obviously this passion and gift He's placed in my heart to write.  And, as God said to me, on the other side of my responding to His calling, awaits lives!  When I think of that, I am struck by the importance of me rejecting complacency for action.  Maybe you're called to worship, maybe you're called to pursue further schooling, or maybe you're called to write like me.  Like Jesus said to me, your obedience will be met by His empowerment, and on the other side awaits others who will be touched by your gift! Whatever it may be, I dare you to accept the following challenge with me.  Actually, it's a DOUBLE DARE, because I'm doing it too....

THE CHALLENGE

Here's the challenge: 

for the next 30 days, work on whatever God has called you to work on 5 days a week.  That's right, only five days a week.  For me, this means if I only write a sentence on my book, I still worked on it!  I still progressed forward, stared that blank screen in the face, and defeated it with one letter, one word, one sentence at a time!  All it takes is one less hour watching TV.  If you're supposed to go to college again, commit to filling out applications.  If you're supposed to honor God with music, spend time 5 days a week practicing or working on songs.  Whatever it may be, do not let intimidation or timidity keep you back.  These 30 days are OURS to face with the power and self-discipline that God has already placed inside us!  Throughout this process, I will be posting about the experience, leaving encouragement on my blog, and probably rambling from time to time about the frustrations!  Now, choose the double dare, and let's begin....