Black Author Showcase

Agents of Literary Change

If you follow God, people will think you’re crazy. I don’t know how many of you out there are listening, but God is talking. All the time. Not only through flowers, trees, a child’s smile, the soft wind, but He is talking to you into your spirit, or with an audible voice you can hear. If you get still enough, you will hear Him talking. He has something to say about everything in your life. From what shoes you have on, to what you’re about to say now, to who you marry.

I heard God tell me to quit my job in March 2008, when jobs were hard to find. People thought I was crazy. That is humans’ greatest fear, I now believe – that people will think they are crazy. God told me not to job hunt but to write children’s stories. I did. People thought I was crazy. No money fell from heaven, God led me to no great money making venture and so I gave up my apartment, as the money dwindled. Then I gave up my car to the bank. I moved in with my younger sister and lived off of her. People thought I was crazy.

Now I am writing. I’m in my fourth friends’ home living off her. People are sure I’m crazy. God has spoken to me and I am obeying. Sometimes I try to run back to my comfort zone of a job and a pay check, longing for my own place and the ability to take care of myself. Even freelance jobs haven’t worked, or I do them and there’s no money to pay me.

Anyone else having this experience? Are you job-hunting frantically when all God has asked you to do is write and trust Him? People will think you’re crazy. Maybe you’re determined that people won’t think you’re stupid or a member of a cult.
I’m researching this phenomenon:) – listening to God, following His instructions and people thinking you’re crazy.

My mother married a Nigerian she had only met three times. People thought she was crazy but she was convinced this was God’s will for her. I’ve watched her over the 53 years of their marriage, never waver from that, even through separations & rifts and joys & sickness. Whatever befell her in the marriage she stayed with, “God told me to marry this man”. People probably still think she’s crazy.

Then I looked in the Word. Jesus’ family openly called him crazy, so much so that it was recorded in the gospels. God asked Him to leave His glory in Heaven and come to Earth (imagine one day we’ll understand this). He could have been called crazy by some, especially Lucifer who had lost his glory and knew how horrible it was to be without it.
I haven’t read about Jesus having any job or income generating work, once his ministry started. People must have called him crazy. We are told about his disciples’ jobs, (and even Paul being a tent maker) so I’m sure if Jesus had a job he was actively doing during his ministry, we would have been told. His ministry was his job, as is my writing. He had income or provision. We know that because he had a treasurer, Judas Iscariot. So how did He have an income or provision? His Father was providing for Him and for His disciples. It was really when Mary, his mother, heard he wasn’t eating (or that he and his disciples were too busy with the ministry to eat) that she gathered the family to go get Jesus and bring him home.

He was called crazy and even demon-possessed or under the Devil’s instruction. But He went on. The end result didn’t look good, as mine doesn’t. He kept going on to Jerusalem and there he knew he would die. Jesus wasn’t respected, as we can see the response to Him being the Messiah and God was, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” not “Oh, that makes sense, isn’t this the wonderful boy from Nazereth?”

Interesting that one of the Gospels records that it was when Jesus had resolutely set his face to go all the way to the end – to Jerusalem, did his family rise up with “enough-is-enough” indignation and set out to bring him home. You’ve felt it before. You saw what God could do & you resolutely set your face like flint to do what He said and now here comes your best friend with doubts and your family with indignation.

Another Bible "crazy" was young David? What did he do to deserve being called “crazy”? He was sent to give his brother’s lunch and thought he could beat up the great warrior giant, Goliath. He was called nosey by his brother.

Here’s the thing about being called by God to do something and family call you crazy - they also accuse you. If I am listening to the devil or am crazy, shouldn’t you be praying for me about that rather than being angry with me? David’s brother should have been worried about him but they were angry with him.

If they are calling you crazy, but you know God has appointed you to do a job for Him, keep going. You're in good company. Probably when you completely die to self and the flesh and no longer care what they think, they, like Mary, Jesus' mother, they will come to your cross and watch.

Share 

Comment

You need to be a member of Black Author Showcase to add comments!

Join this Ning Network

OluTosin Mustapha Comment by OluTosin Mustapha on September 3, 2009 at 12:27pm
The Show you have on comcast channel 69 can bring some income if you get some sponsors whom you will brief mention on your show, Best of luck.
Princess Carroll Ayo Durodola Comment by Princess Carroll Ayo Durodola on September 3, 2009 at 12:17pm
I hear you my sister. That would be my common sense too, but the Father is telling to hold on. He's got the God plan. He is saying to me, if I just hold on, He's going to show Himself strong and well able to take care of me. I feel like Elijah sometimes, but I see there were a whole lot of us in Lk 9 & 10 and lo and behold the Lord keeps introducing me to people walking the same ground I'm on today. We are coming out, soon! I hope I'm not too busy to come back and share the testimony with you all.
OluTosin Mustapha Comment by OluTosin Mustapha on September 3, 2009 at 11:17am
Sister, I hear you but my piece of advice, sometimes living off people is not what Almighty God wants for us. You can still write the children`s book and have a part-time job to take care of bills. Believe me, nobody wants anybody to live off them when she can earn a living. I was fired from my well paying job out of envy and jealousy of co-workers but God made it happen because he had something better for me. I did not understand why he let evil people to prevail but later in life, I gave him the glory for taking me out of that place. I became a voice for immigrants who are treated unfairly at their place of work because people or co-workers couldn`t believe someone from Africa could be so intelligent. Sister, I know God speaks like he spoke to me to write to you but the writing will be easier and smoother if you have a steady income. My two cents of advice. Stay blessed

SPAM IS SO NOT COOL!

Please do not greet everyone on the site with large images and announcements of your book or business. Yes, you want to tell the world, but learn the fine art of subtlety. A simple welcome and signature/link is fine. Let them ask you for more.
We have lost numerous members because of the amount of 'friend' mail they instantly receive. This Hurts Everyone.
Spam is unsolicited advertising, whether it is posted as comments on other members' pages or is emailed for marketing purposes.

Please be considerate. Post your advertisement in the proper Articles/Forum or Group. There are free classifieds on the Pages tab. You can post your information on your profile and even update your blog as often as you like.

We are not into censorship, so please don't make us ask you to leave. Be kind and unselfish - don't spam.
SPAMMING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED

Cyber Tech Tips for Writers

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Get It, Mail It, Share It! Fresh BAS - Share the Literary Love

Click Here to DONATE TODAY!

Let the Black Author Showcase come to you: Subscribe to the Articles Newsletter

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Submit to RestNews.COM

Share This On Your Website

Badge

Loading…

Latest Activity

Michelle Rhnea Welcome 2010 & mention your business on a new web-based talk show "for&by" The People from your webcam, Send to humble@remaininghumble.com.
3 hours ago
6 hours ago
6 hours ago
Olynthia Stewart added a gift to their profile page
From the Gift Store
6 hours ago
quiniece sheppard updated an event
Potomac Adventis book Signing at Potomac Adventis Health & Food Store
January 10, 2010 from 2pm to 4pm
If you live in MD, DC or VA, come out to my awesome book signing event.
7 hours ago
Karen Lynnette Minors, Fannie Cameron and Eileen Banks joined Black Author Showcase
7 hours ago
Antar Jannah Mandela added 4 photos
8 hours ago
Antar Jannah Mandela "The universe is designed to make you give up. But if you don't quit, and you press forward, it is also programmed to pay up."
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
Alynetta Beck Networking...
10 hours ago

© 2009   Created by Diane on Ning.   Create a Ning Network!

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Privacy  |  Terms of Service