Decades ago I was in some sort of worship service - or worship event which was being headlined by David Ruis. Vineyard worship pensioners might remember him :) He wrote a couple of songs which did the rounds in the late eighties and nineties. And he came to Scotland ( although I cant remember if he came to our church or not - most of them did. ) I was standing about five rows back from the front with my hands in the air enjoying the atmosphere when David Ruis started to call people out and prophesy to them. He said there was someone in the room who was in the process of writing something. I looked around for the person who was putting up their hand but nobody did. Then I remembered that I had just finished writing a short play for our church to do at Easter. So in the absence of anyone else responding I put up my hand. And David Ruis told me that I had a writing gift and that God was going to use it. I wish I can remember what else he said. I probably wrote it down somewhere and I should really go and find it to remind myself. But the bit that stuck in my mind was the writing thing.That was at least twenty years ago.
In the interim I have written bits and pieces on and off. A few sketches, a few poems. A life letter to my kids. A diary. But I have to confess that although I have never forgotten that word it didnt seem to be particularly pertinent. But whilst pondering the blog statistics today I realised that my scribblings are now being read across the world! And that what I say is being used by God in some profound ways. I often get messages behind the scenes from friends who have been challenged or encouraged or moved by what I have shared. The other day someone told me about a friend of a friend who had read my posts about depression and had been helped by them. The photograph of the Queen I posted the other day had an impact on another friend who was being challenged by God to offer the hand of peace to an ' enemy'. Amazing. And the best thing is that I really do enjoy writing and I dont find it arduous in the least. ( Now admittedly sometimes I sit looking at a blank page and am utterly uninspired.... but not too often)
So, the moral of the story today is that if someone sees something in you that you dont quite see yourself..... believe them. Hold onto that prophetic something someone said to you twenty years ago. Look back through your old journals or diaries and remind yourself of what was spoken over you and marvel at how much of it has already come to pass - maybe in ways you could never have anticipated. When David Ruis told me I was a writer Im pretty sure the internet hadnt even been invented. Facebook certainly hadnt! :) Don't discount the unlikely promises of God just because you cant figure out how He might make them come to pass in your life. That is why He is God and you are not :) And above all enjoy the gifts and talents He has given you and use them in any and every way you can find to use them. These days the possibilities are ever expanding. And the more we use our gifts the more glory God gets.
PS. Nice little aside. I met David Ruis again at a huge Vineyard conference and God gave me a word for him. Which I nervously delivered and he graciously received. In the economy of God, what goes around comes around . Neat eh?
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