Saturday, April 30, 2016

Compelled to Write

Edie here. Today I'm super excited to introduce you to my friend who's a fellow blogger and author. Here newest book, A Mary Like Me, is taking the world by storm and I'm so glad I was able to convince her to stop by The Write Conversation. Be sure to give her a warm welcome!

Compelled to Write
by Andy Lee @WordsByAndyLee

Compelled to Write.
Authors are either audacious or brave or both.

What makes us think we have something to say?

Sometimes, as a writer, I wonder if I’m crazy. Doubts fill my mind. 


But as a blogger, writer and now author, I'm finding that my "job" is not about the blog, the books, or my wit or wisdom, or lack of it. It's about a compelling.

I am compelled to write. What started as a whisper from God seven years ago, an idea for a book, has become my life. It's 8:30 on a Thursday night, and I'm compelled to sit down and type a post for my blog. Nobody is forcing me. No paycheck waits in my mailbox at the end of the month. I just can't help it.

Are you compelled to do something? Do you feel if you don't do that activity a piece of you will be missing?

If you feel compelled, I believe that is a sign of a calling. Perhaps Gabriel didn't surprise you as he did Mary of Nazareth nor a burning bush lit your path like Moses, but you know. God has called you.

Yet despite the compelling and calling, we doubt we can do what we're compelled to do.

Are we crazy?

Yes.

But. . .

". . . God is able to make all grace abound to us, so that in all things, at all times, having all that we need, we will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8, plural mine).

The word "grace" comes from a Greek word whose root means, "causing joy, pleasure, and delight.” How do we know if the compelling we feel is from God? We know it when we experience grace— joy, pleasure, and delight in the work.
The other morning as I wrestled through my (almost) daily battle about whether or not I could do what I'm compelled to do, a picture flashed through my mind of the two women who anointed Jesus. Maybe the image of their brave acts were fresh on my mind because I had just finished line edits for A Mary Like Me: Flawed Yet Called. I write about these women who anoint Jesus in the book. I love the act of worship they performed (John 12:1-8 and Luke 7:37-39).


I often visualize worshiping Him this way—anointing the Messiah with my perfumed oil and tears.

But this time as the story flashed through my mind, I was not the one pouring the oil; I was the alabaster jar.

I wasn't the one pouring. I wasn't the oil.

I was simply the vessel being emptied. Just a plain, simple, kind of ugly, jar.

I didn't own the contents of the jar nor the hand pouring the contents out. I was the one being held. And the fragrant oil was something wonderful that someone had filled me with.

In this vision I was simply the vessel of which the oil was being poured out.

And with no words at all, God settled my fears. He showed me that this calling is not about my talent or wisdom. It's not about what I can do for Him. It's simply about being apart of something greater.

It’s an act of worship.

And I’m compelled.

Share your thoughts: What are you compelled to do? Does this post help you to obey—to be the vessel? 

TWEETABLE


While still in need of a Savior, they were called by God. Come find grace and courage to follow your call as you discover the Mary in yourself.

A Mary like Me unites twenty-first-century women with first-century saints by exploring the hearts of some of the most famous women of the Bible. One gave birth to the Son of God, another sat at his feet, and another was the first to proclaim his resurrection. These women shared the name Mary, which means bitter, defiant, and rebellious; and a closer look at Scripture reveals their personalities in light of their name.


Andy Lee is a new author of recently released books: A Mary Like Me: Flawed Yet Called (Leafwood), and The Book of Ruth Key Word Bible Study: A 31-Day Journey to Hope and Promise (AMG). She’s the blog coordinator/editor for the Florida Christian Writers Conference (floridacwc.net), an event speaker, Bible teacher, and mom of three grown kids. Andy and her retired Army soldier, Mike, live on the coast of North Carolina where she loves to sit on the beach and dig her toes into the sand. Visit her website www.wordsbyandylee.com for encouragement to find purpose beyond today.

25 comments:

  1. Andy, Beautiful reminder that we are His, to be used the way He desires. I am compelled to write also. God gave me a similar "vision" A red plastic basket, like the ones restaurants use for fries, chicken wings and burgers. The basket had pita bread. I am that basket. Not of much value but what I hold inside (The Word) brings sustenance and life. I must spread the bread. May God continue to bless the work of your hands. You write beautifully.

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    1. Cherrilynn, I love the vision God has given you! Only God can give us a vision where we're the bread basket! LOL! Keep on keepin' on feeding those around you. Thank you for stopping by and your sweet words. Blessings on your work too.

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  2. Andy, thanks for the wonderful picture of being a vessel the precious gift is poured from. That's what we've been called to be, isn't it?

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    1. Hey Sandy, yep that's it. That's why we do what we do. Thanks for stopping by. I loved sharing with ya'll. Blessings on your compelling! Keep on writing. :)

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  3. What a wonderful description. I love the idea of being the jar, the vessel for doing God's work. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Hey Lill! Thanks for stopping by. I hope this helps you do what you're compelled to do. Loved sharing with you.

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  4. I always considered writing as my "calling." I looked around at all the people in the world who are different, flawed yet deserving of love, and I used allegories to tell their stories. Readers of traditional paranormal books don't like my vampire romance novels because my vampires are human--mortal. They must overcome many obstacles to fit into society, to find acceptance and "God's grace." They could be any one of us...

    Although I can't categorize myself as a "Christian author," faith, hope, and love are the principles I rely upon when I write.

    Thanks for the inspirational post, Andy.

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    1. Hi Linda, your stories sound very interesting! Keep on sharing your message of faith, hope, and love. We can't live without these. Thanks for stopping by. I love sharing with fellow writers who are compelled too.

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  5. Thanks for the message of worship and wisdom. Writing for some of us is a wish, for some a pull, for some a calling. I never thought of it as a compelling. I love that. Procrastination and life tend to get in the way of accomplishment, but not for the compelled. What an insight. I can't wait to read your book. Great blog piece.

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    1. Thanks Jay! I once was teaching a blogging class and asked those attending why they wrote. Of course, when you ask the question, you need to have your own answer. That is when the word "compelled" came out of my mouth. And it fit so well. Keep on keepin' on. Thanks for the encouragement. Praying A Mary Like Me encourages you to follow your call.

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  6. Hi Andy:)

    First let me say, I am so happy for your books. How exciting! It is neat to watch the Lord use us as His vessels. It is very gratifying.

    I too find when the Lord compels me to do something; He has an amazing purpose behind it. A lot of times I don't know what that purpose is…..I just know it is usually a big God thing.

    The last time I felt the Lord compelling me to do something, He sent a visual confirmation. I was dictating a letter into my phone to an artist concerning a song I feel the Lord wants written. As I was dictating the letter, a hummingbird came to my office window and hovered for 5-7 seconds looking at me through the window. The hummingbird then tapped on the window with his beak before he flew away.

    Hummingbirds are my favorite subject to photograph. I wasn’t meant to photograph the hummingbird but to receive its confirmation.

    I have yet to hear from the artist. If it is the Lord’s will it will be accomplished!

    Keep up the good work. I hope to see you at the BRMCWC in a few weeks.

    ~Judy

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    1. Hi Judy! I love your photos of hummingbirds! And what a great story. I will be at BRMCWC this year! Can't wait to see you. Maybe we can get coffee together or at least eat together one day and celebrate what God has done in our careers. Blessings!

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  7. Beautiful picture to go along with one of my favorite verses. I repeat this verse (2Cor 9:8)along with Jonah 2:8 Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. I want all the grace.

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    1. Amen Jennifer! All that grace. Keep doing what you're compelled to do! He's filling you up. Blessings!

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  8. Andy,
    Glad you are compelled--write on and keep blessing. Gary Sorrells

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  9. I love this. And I love that God has compelled me to tell stories that He gives me.

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    1. Isn't it awesome to have him fill us up so much we have to pour it out in our words!? Thanks for stopping by, Patricia. Keep on telling those stories!

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  10. Yay!!! I keep wanting to say more and be more "writer-like," but YAY! is the think I keep thinking. (That's not a type-o, it must be a Dr. Seuss-o.)
    Thanks for giving me reason to cheer today!
    Yay! :)

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    1. Well, that's just a reason for a toe-touch Sarah! I'll have to show you my toe-touches one day. :) I love Yays! Thanks!

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  11. I have long believed that Psalm 37 verse 4 indicates that He has placed the desires in our heart to begin with and when we delight in Him, the desires and longings come to life. as writers who love Him and seek to honor Him in all we do, that desire is our calling, and it does indeed compel us to act on it. and yes, when we act in obedience, it is an act of worship, of surrender to Him to be used as a vessel. it still trips me out that what i *so* love doing is truly what He created me to do!

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    1. Amen Robin! Psalm 37:1-4 has been my mantra for many years. I wholeheartedly agree with you. How incredibly blessed we are as we've fallen in love with Him to pure delight. There's nothing sweeter, is there? Thank you kindred spirit for stopping by.

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  12. Thanks Andy. Most people in my life didn't understand why I began writing Adi's World. They still don't. And I'm not sure I even really understood. But the peace I get when composing tells me it's what He wants me doing for now. You're right, Andy, it is a calling. Thanks for your words.

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    1. Hi Jo-Marie, I know what it's like to be misunderstood in this call. In fact, I realized I HAD to write when I friend of mine questioned my heart and advised me to stop blogging and trying to publish my book. I slowed down for a year, but I could never stop. There is an ache inside that accompanies this pull. I think you know it too. Keep on writing my friend. Keep on.

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    2. Great post! Thanks, Andy. And welcome. I'm leading two writer's breakout sessions at a retreat conference in a few weeks. This post would be perfect for sharing with the ladies. Could I get permission to do so? Thanks!

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