Sunday, March 21, 2010

THE CLIMB

By Jill Nutter

I’m doing a study with my church called, FREE. It’s a six week series and I couldn’t wait to dive into it. The first chapter is about following your dreams. How blessed I am to have lived long enough to see the beginning of my dreams coming true. I have a three-book contract! Amazing. Simply, and perfectly, amazing. It’s been a long climb, and I persevered, not knowing if I would ever achieve publication.

I want you to hear this as a message of encouragement. That no matter what your dream is you can begin it now, not knowing the outcome, but maintaining the hope and enjoying the journey; the climb. I think you've all heard Miley Cyrus sing, The Climb. Have you listened carefully to the lyrics? The first line of the song is: "I can almost see it, that dream I'm dreamin, but there's a voice inside my head sayin, you'll never reach it."

Don't listen to those negative voices inside your head. Those are lies staight from the pit of hell. Satan does not want you to succeed, especially if you are following the path God wants you on. He will tempt you, taunt you, torture you with self-doubt and self-loathing.

This is when you must climb into the Word and wrap it around you like a warm blanket.

Now week two of "FREE" was not easy. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this digging up of old wounds. It didn't surprise me at all that I like to escape. I didn't have the easiest of childhoods, but I felt like I'd dealt with it and moved on and I believe that. BUT, there's always a but isn't there? Now I've completed week two where I discovered that it's still possible that I may feel rejected and unloved. Rejected?I'm a writer! I've been rejected for years. Most of us writers are at one time or another, and for a long time. BUT I can't help but wonder if experiences from childhood, of feeling rejected or not good enough, have led me to the writing life. Weird, huh? Has anything like this happened to you?

As a counselor I think there are healthy and unhealthy ways of dealing with lifes disappointments and hardships. We can allow rejection, fear, and self-doubt beat us up and then give up, OR we can find ways of coping, like writing, that can not only help us cope BUT allow us to thrive.

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Be aware that if you've ever been deeply hurt or rejected by people througout your life or at a particularly vulnerable time, that you don't start feeling rejected by God. That's what I uncovered in week 2 of "FREE." I still harbor fears of rejection in this life, not the writing rejection so much, but the rejection that leads to feelings of abandonment. Jesus overcame difficult circumstances and so can we if we will only wrap ourselves in the blanket of his love and of his Word and listen.

The scripture that's been speaking to me lately is Psalm 34:4, I sought the Lord, and he answered me; HE DELIVERED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS.

So what scripture has been calling to you lately? Do you have a former belief or behavior from which God has freed you?

10 comments:

  1. Good morning.
    Hey Jilly Jillian, nice post. I had never heard that song before but I like it a lot. Great truth there.

    Hadn't heard of that particular bible study either but a little discomfort is a good thing--growth is never easy. Thankfully we do get rest for awhile before the next part of 'the climb'!

    Have a great and blessed week, everyone!

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  2. Hi Deb!
    Oh I'm going to have a lot of fun with the name thing. :) The joke about the study at our church is that the book for the "Free" series costs $2.50.:)And as you can tell I just love the song, "The Climb." Have a great Sunday!

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  3. I have another song in mind. I am Free. Of course, I can't recall the artist, but I'm thinking Newsboys.

    One of these days you will have to have a Barbara Cartland style photo shoot - boas and small snarly dogs while you lounge on a divan wearing your tiara. Oh yeah. I can see it all now Jillian Kent.

    Today our sermon was about having a 'transcended life' - allowing ourselves to go above and beyond the ordinary. We must allow ourselves to let God qualify us to do things that touch others and leave a legacy. Such a life requires the willingness to climb!

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  4. Hi Jill -

    Congrats on signing with Strang!

    My pastor's been doing a series on hope. It's an important component in our walk with the Lord.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  5. Hey Deb,
    Forget the Barbara Cartland like photo shoot. I think I'll go for books, chi tea lattes, a giant mastiff, and maybe horses in the back yard. :)
    You said: Today our sermon was about having a 'transcended life' -allowing ourselves to go above and beyond the ordinary. We must allow ourselves to let God qualify us to do things that touch others and leave a legacy. Such a life requires the willingness to climb!

    I love that! Isnt' it interesting how certain things just come together. Our sermon tonight was on helping others to become FREE through encouragment.

    Have a great week, kiddo!

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  6. Susan, my friend! Thanks for dropping by and for the congrats. It's all a little mind boggling, but I'm so excited. Now I'll have to figure out how to do all this and keep my sanity. Maybe that's what I'll blog about as different things transpire.
    Have a great week. I'll try to drop by soon!

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  7. Oh my goodness.. I think the Lord is trying to tell me something. Everywhere I have been going lately I've heard the message, "don't give up on your dreams". This post is a wonderful encouragement and a definite confirmation for me to keep going, keep persevering..and keep writing. Thank you.

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  8. This is a fantastic post! I really do feel that the lord has absolved me of the fear of failure and control issues. For the first time in a long while I feel completely surrendered.

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  9. Hi Lynda,
    So glad you stopped by to visit and so happy you found this post encouraging. That's what I wanted it to be.
    Keep going, keep writing if you love it. If you don't continue to write you may always wonder what if someday? And that's no fun. But I would encourage you to write for the pure joy of it and listen to God's whispers along the way.
    Have an awesome week!

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  10. Hi T. Anne,
    I think surrender is hard for a lot of us. If you feel you've been able to do that and give up control issues that's a wonderful God moment. And fear of failure is another one of those self-doubt issues that can cripple us, yet I think we all deal with it on some level.
    Thanks for visiting and come back again. Have a wonderful week.

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