#priorities – Tattoo It On Your Heart

Am I Worth It?

Tattoo-It-On-Your-Heart-Rachael-M-Colby-Am -I-Worth-It I cried when my friend Cherrilynn asked me to go to Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. There was no way I could go! I had wanted to for three years, but the timing was wrong, the money wasn’t there, and how could I leave my husband and two teen boys, one of whom just became our foster son, to fend for themselves? Besides, I was sure my husband would never say yes. So I didn’t ask.

“Just praying and doing the One-Day-at-a-Time Sweet Jesus 🎵 thing,” I told my editor friend. “So much to write. So much drama and distraction. Sure wish I could run away for a few days to Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. Well—🎵 Hallelujah Anyhow.🎵 Thy will Lord—in Your strength.”

Then Cherrilynn called two days before departure and asked again if I would go with her to the conference.

The thought of attending a writers conference with all those amazing people and accomplished writers terrified me! Who am I to go?

God makes no duplicates so why compare yourself?

Shouldn’t I have a several thousand page book written first to justify the expense and inconvenience to others? I have a couple children’s picture book manuscripts but… Am I worth it? Am I worth investing in? What if I fail?

Our worth is not defined by ourselves, others, or by our performance, but by Christ’s investment in us, His precious blood spent and His love for us. That makes us priceless. And it is He who bestows gifts on each of us for His glory and to help others.

I don’t doubt God’s calling on my life to write, but sometimes I doubt myself. I fear quitting. Remember in the Grinch when the townspeople are all shouting at him? “You don’t belong there!” echoed in my mind.

Waiting for Perfect (Guest Post on Inkspirations Online)

Rachael_M_Colby_Inkspirations_Online_Waiting_for_Perfect

I was waiting for perfect, but it never showed up. So I decided I’d better start the journey without it. I thought I needed to be the perfect Christian, wife, mom, have the perfect family, and coin the perfect phrases. Then I’d have something to say. Then God could use my writing. I mean, who am I?

But it’s not about who I am; it’s about… Continue reading “Waiting for Perfect (Guest Post on Inkspirations Online)”

Dear Me, I Have a Question for You

Tattoo_It_On_Your_Heart_Rachael_M_Colby_Dear_Me_I _Have_ a Question_for _You His question hit me like a bucket of ice water, and it wasn’t even the subject of his blog post. The job of the preacher is to preach the Gospel, to speak truth and make us uncomfortable with complacency, with less than what God wants for us—uncomfortable in our sin. And so he did.

“What would you say to someone whose life looked exactly like yours?” Pastor Payte said.

What a profound, thought provoking, convicting, question Pastor, but it’s too long of a list for a blog post. That’s a good question for us all to ask ourselves at the onset of the new year—or perhaps everyday.

So, time to take inventory. Have a seat Self.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: Psalms 139:23 (KJV)

Let God defend you. He is able. Tattoo_It_On_Your_Heart_Rachael_M_Colby_Most _Times

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalms 141:3 (NKJV)

My good friend Sue, prays, “ Lord put your arm around my shoulder and your hand across my mouth.” She’s a Proverbs 31 woman

Circumstance will circumvent your plans if you are not intentional with your time:

Time spent in God’s Word and presence
Time with your family
Time developing your skill to fulfill your calling.

Let God define you.

Rachael_M_Colby_Tattoo_It_On_Your_Heart__Life _and _Time-are-Bullies

Make priority a priority, or it probably won’t get done. Don’t let the urgent distract you from the important, as the preacher said.

Don’t allow the demons of One-More-Thing, Procrastination, Fear, Discouragement, or procrastination to derail you from what God called you to. Sometimes later doesn’t come, and too late or missed opportunity shows up instead. But if that happens, take heart; Jesus loves you anyway and meets you where you are. Nothing we do or don’t do takes Him by surprise. So, look up, get up and carry on—follow Him. He has a plan.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

Becoming a better person is more important than doing great things. People who strive to be better end up doing great things.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalms 51:10 (KJV)

We all fall short but Jesus is the difference maker. His mercies are new every morning. He supplies all our needs when we supply ourselves to him. Not just our physical needs, but our spiritual needs. He can turn our vices into victories, our failures into triumphs—even a ministry to others.

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

Your turn.

Oh, and I’ll talk about the actual subject of Pastor Payte’s article another time. 🙂

I’d like to invite you to read about our young friend, Alek’s, battle against Lymes disease. Please consider sharing on your social media and with friends, family and co-workers.

*Matching funds on new donations from February 1st- February 14th! Link to read his story or donate toward his ongoing treatment. the information on Lymes disease in this article by his mom is a good education on the disease and may be helpful to others battling it or with undiagnosed similar symptoms:

Click to read or donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/aleks-battle-against-lymes

gofundme_aleks_battle_against-lymes