The Will of God

The instruction is general, the responsibility is personal

A few weeks ago we traveled to North Eastern Germany where we were invited to give a series of workshops at a conference. My husband and me enjoy teaching as a team and during that weekend we spoke on the will of God, the plan of God, the voice of God and the power of God in our lives. I thought it would be fun to share some of the nuggets on this weblog, in a nut shell of course :) So, let's start with the will of God for our lives.

The will of God is a general instruction for all believers. There is really no such thing as the will of God for our individual life; that would be called the plan of God. Often, we confuse the will of God with the plan of God. The will of God = the Word of God = the Law of God. His will is His system, or His testament for the believers. Jesus states in Matthew 12:50, Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, is my brother and sister and mother. His will is something we do, not something God will do for us. We proclaim it in our prayers: Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). God desires His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven! He tells us to proclaim that. It is our role/assignment to execute His will (His testament) here on earth. The instruction is therefore general, but the responsibility is personal. 

It takes a change of mind to execute His will, instead of waiting for it to happen. Romans 12:2 says, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

So, what is God's will for you and me, for us all? Scripture teaches us a few basics:

• Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).Well, that would give us enough work for the rest of our lives, right?
• It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality... (1 Thessalonians 4:3). No theology needed to explain that one, right?
• For my Father's will is that everyone who look to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life...(John 6:40). Here we see God's will through Jesus, transferred to us.

Is everything that happens on earth God's will? NO! Even in a few scriptures as mentioned above, we see what God's will is on earth, but often we see the opposite happening. This is however not a reason for despair, but a call to action. There is work to do for the believers.

Let's stop asking for His will, but start doing His will!

Friday Round-up

Cover of my first Dutch book

Writing is a multi-faceted business

Today I am following the example of blogging friend Susan Reinhardt who has just posted her 161st Friday Round-up on her blog Christian Writer/Reading Connection. I love Fridays with Susan, she always has the coolest links to other blogs and websites.

My Friday round-up is more of an update on works in progress. The last few weeks have been really busy here in our small house in Holland. Many projects are pending, and I am learning that the life of a writer is not just reclining at a desk and thinking up new stuff to share with the readers. As a matter of fact, I am learning that writing is a multi faceted business. Just to mention a few of the projects I am working on:

• Next week my first Dutch book will be released in Holland. It is the translation of my book Breath of Life and is called Levensadem. My Dutch publisher gave it a new cover, which I think is absolutely awesome! We have scheduled a book presentation on July 4th 2011, also our wedding anniversary!
• I am ready to review and edit my fifth book in the USA and I am planning to send it to Tate Publishing within the next few weeks. The work title is My Neighbor's House and it deals with the 10th commandment.
• Because sales are going well, I have scheduled another book give-away on Goodreads, I am giving away three copies of Grace of Giving and one copy of Breath of Life. Feel free to check it out if you are on Goodreads. Just for fun I like to give away a free copy of my book Respectfully Yours on this weblog, why not! All you have to do is leave a comment and your email address and share this post on any other social media. I'll ask my husband to pick a winner next week!
• Last week a new web community has been introduced here in Holland, called Jarsons. I am co-owner of this internet business and wrote most of the web content. Although the website is currently only available in the Dutch language, feel free to take a look. Talent development is our main goal.
• I am also writing the web content for our new non profit Traveling Light. The blog is still under construction, but definitely worth visiting. The first project that we want to sponsor is the purchase of a rehabilitation center for men in Ukraine, the Onyfrievka project!
• I just received an e-mail from Readers Favorite informing me that my book Grace of Giving is one of the contestants in the Readers Favorite 2011 Award Contest. By August 1st 2011 I will receive a list with the finalists. So, please pray with me for favor :)

As I a juggle to find balance between my part time job and this writing business I am happy to say that I love all this action! I am expecting big things and have decided long ago that I am willing to pay the price. Have you?

Biggest flashmob ever

Blogging buzz....

Oh, how I love the world of blogging! In a single second messages and posts can travel all over the world. Sometimes I try to picture my 82 year old cyber friend Wyn from Down Under, as she sits behind her desk and writes her poems or reads my posts. Her Ponderings traveling throughout Australia and beyond, ending up in my living room. How awesome is that!

I just came back from a long weekend conference in North Eastern Germany, where my husband and I gave some workshops on the will of God, the plan of God, the voice of God and the power of God in your life. I left some notes and photo's from that trip on our weblog Traveling Light.

I just received a special thank you hug from blogger friend Lorrie Ransom at her blog Grow up Deep, for the interview I had with her. The funny thing about that interview is that it was picked up by her friend Vee who re-posted it on her blog Living Journey and was so kind to post a link to my weblog too. You have to check out her blog, Vee writes about Christianity, Religion, Politics, apologetics... you name it, it's there.

Blogging makes the world go round. Keep on blogging friends!