Entering a new territory

   Have you ever wondered how in the world you end up at a certain place in your life?
   If someone had told me 10 years ago that I would be managing editor for a newspaper I would have laughed until my stomach hurt.
   If they had told me I would be divorced, raise three children on my own, buy my own vehicle and my own house, before meeting and marrying the wonderful man God had chosen for me, I would have laughed even harder.
   But that is exactly how my life has turned out. Now I have been called to do something even more difficult to imagine.
   I recently started writing what I call a Christian slice of life column for my newspaper.
   While I grew up going to church and knowing God and accepting Jesus as my savior, I was not baptized until I was in my 30s. Even then I was not in a church that taught me how to live a true Christian life. That is something I am still in the process of learning and will continue learning for the rest of my time here on earth.
   When I felt the call to write my first Christian column a couple of months ago, I was hesitant. After all, what do I know? What if I got something "wrong"? What if it sounded stupid or people told me I had no business writing something like that?
   But the call to write it was even stronger than the fear, so I wrote. Then I wondered if the publisher would even allow me to put it in the paper, but he did. And I got none of the complaints or criticism I was worried would come. Instead people were telling me how much they liked reading it.
  After that I began publishing a column every week in the Religion section of the paper. I still am unsure often about what I am writing or how to write it. But I have found a lot of prayer before beginning, for what to write about and how it should be written, is a fail free way to produce that weekly column.
   When I stop letting the Lord lead in my writing and try to take control myself I find my hands freezing on the keyboard and the words stop coming. As soon as I turn it back over to Him, the words start flowing freely again.
   So now, at 41, I am starting a new chapter in my life. I am even starting this blog, which I have to admit I had no clue how to start a blog before today. But the Lord has given me a talent in my writing and provided me an opportunity to share His word through that talent.
   I have no religious training or background other than being one of God's children. I am just a woman looking to Him for guidance in my life and hoping to share some of the ways He has led me through the things we all face in this life.
   Maybe by sharing what He has done for me and my family and loved ones it will help someone else who is going through the same type of things.

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.