I’m not quite sure what to make of all this.

All this marketing. Trying to figure out who to ask, where to go, and how to do it.

Yes.  As you know, the manuscript for my new book is finished.  The final design pages are being put together and the words are being prepped to be inked on printed pages.

It’s now time.  To work on plans to get the word out.

Talk about experiencing anxiety asking real in-life friends to join me to celebrate my birthday with me (for a hike and a bite of crepes for brunch).

Friends, can you imagine me now? Collecting my heart to invite people across the blogosphere (whom I’ve never met) to come alongside me to celebrate and launch a book?

And not only that — to ask them to ask their friends to join in and help spread the word?

Gulp.

Double gulp.

{heart thumping}

{head dizzy}

Open a Space

God, I don’t know how to do this.

Who am I to dare and attempt such things?

I don’t know how this world of trauma, faith, and story — integrates — with the world of books, publishing, and promotion.

For nearly two years, my world had gotten very small. When where I chose to go, who I chose to see were wrestled over until they spiraled into anxiety storms of self-doubt and fear.  There were times I could even hardly step out of my house, touch the keyboard or even put words to all the tears that have been flowing.

I peek out, from the deep, safe places of my soul where I’ve journey with Jesus — and with you here on the blog — and I look out at the big, wide world.

And I can’t help but feel small. Inadequate.

What could I possibly say to compel someone to spend the time together — to open up a space in her heart through the printed page?

So we can go on on a journey together.

Into their stories.  My stories.

So we can both find a comfort, an encouragement on this journey called faith together?

A Seed

A Faith Jam blogger in our community Lisa of Lisa Notes shared a comment on last week’s The {Beloved} Begins post.

Lisa confided in return —

“I feel it’d be rude for me to ask for someone’s time–who has extra? But you’re right that we need to move past that.
It’s a gift we’re offering to be in someone else’s presence for the sake of Love.  Beloved = be loved.”

Time.  Isn’t that what we’re all really asking for whenever we step out to create?

Aren’t we really trying to say to the other person —

Do you see me?

Will you spend time with me?

Lisa didn’t know it, but her words landed right in my struggle to become {the Beloved}.

But even in the small, there remains a seed.

Of desire.

One God planted in me.

That cannot be destroyed.

That cannot be stolen.

Or crushed.

Even if it’s been buried.

It’s still there.

In you. And in me.

We want to make beautiful things.

We want to be {the Beloved}.

The Desire

Yes.  God is showing me there is a world that’s deeper — and truer — than the outer world Jesus says we are to be “in” but not “of” it.

This world resides in you and me.  Where we rest. And dream.

And He wants us to help each other.

To be who He placed in us to be.

God put this desire in us from the very beginning, before we even knew we had a name.

The desire to create.

Before we even understood what it meant to be loved, God placed a token of His everlasting love in us:  His imprint.

You and I were made to reflect His image.

He traced His heart in us as He gently molded us.

And as He nestled us close to him, like a father would do as he holds his newborn,  his lips whispered and breathed —

Your name.

Name What You See

And as the sun set and moon rose night after night — and the seasons passed — your Father has been waiting.

For the day. For the moment.

You would hear Him.

He’s been waiting to say to you what He said to Adam when he first woke up to a new world.

Name what you see.

He’s been waiting for the moment He can bring everything He made into your awareness.

Everything you see, touch, experience and hear.

He wants to hear your voice in return.

In the same way God brought the most beloved things He never, ever created before to Adam — just to see Adam’s response and hear him name them — God has brought a unique set of experiences into each of our lives —

— the stories you’re living now
— the questions and the struggles
— the dreams and the triumphs

— the children you want to connect with
— the friends you want to reach out to
— the art you long to create
— the song, dance or craft you want to express

Out of the ground
the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky,
and brought them to the man to see what he would call them;
and whatever the man called a living creature,
that was its name.”
~ Gen2:19

Whatever God’s brought into your life, He calls us to name them.

What do you see?

You and I have the power to make something beautiful.

Don’t worry what anybody else is naming.

Don’t evaluate whether what you have to say, do, make, or create is worthy.

The {Beloved} creates.

Do You Hear Him?

Name what you see.

Whisper it if that’s all you’re able to do.

Do you hear Him?

God is whispering.

{Beloved}

What do you see?

Name it all.

Your dreams. Even the broken pieces.

It’s all beautiful to me.

You are beautiful to me.

I want the world to see what you and I see.

I love you.

Fill The World

So, when you look at your children and you’re not sure what to say — name what you see.  Parent from where God is leading you.

And when you feel it’s just too hard to do what you want to do — name what you see.

Find a way to do the work — even if you don’t know where it will lead or who will see it.

The {Beloved} creates.

And as you do, look beside you.

Just as God knew it wasn’t good for Adam to name things alone and brought him a helper, you are not alone either.

Our paths have crossed here.  God has placed friends for us to discover in our everyday.

It’s time for you and me to fill the world with beautiful things.

Let’s name what we see.   And see who we meet.

Let’s be the {Beloved}.

Let’s create.
~~~~~~

How can you bring beauty by naming things? By creating?

Pull up a chair.Create a little community now. Click to comment.

~~~~~~

A #BelovedChallenge: Photo Journal Your Heart

What touches *your* heart?

One way of naming things is by taking a picture. Photo Journal Your Heart.

How has God been touching your heart this month? Share what you see. Pick 5-10 photos and share a few comments each. Then, publish them in a blog post next Thursday 1/30 and link-up in the Faith Jam (you’ll see a link to submit the url of your blog post on Thursday’s post). There are no rules. Yours will be unique to you!

Your {One Word for 2014} can inspire you too. Click here to see one example of photo journaling.

For Inspiration

My friend Emily Freeman recently released a beautiful book — A Million Little Ways — to encourage the artist in you. If you’re looking for a book to inspire you on the journey to create, I know you’ll enjoy making room for her words to accompany you.
“I don’t believe there is one great thing I was made to do in this world. I believe there is one great God I was made to glorify. And there will be many ways, even a million little ways, I will declare his glory with my life.” ~ Emily Freeman

**NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN — LINK UP IN THE FAITH JAM **

HTML Code For Special January Faith Jam Faith Fresh Badge

 

Faith Barista Jam Thursdays

1) I serve up a writing prompt. Let the topic soak in your heart, then publish your post the following Thursday and link up to share it with us.  If you don’t have a blog, just write directly in the comments.

TO LINK UP: Click the blue button below: “Add Your Link” and type in the *specific* URL to your blog post (not just the name of your blog). (Subscribers: click here to get there directly).

2) Place the Faith Jam Badge in your post.  It’s a welcome sign for our community, inviting others. Grab the HTML Code above. Thank you.

3) Then, pull up a chair. Visit the post before yours and say hi with a comment. Make a faith friend.

*Today’s Thursday 1/23/14 Writing prompt:
Beauty
— Or —
Use our open writing prompt: {Soul Rest}
Just write about anything that touches your heart during your 1-1 time with God.

*Next Thursday’s 1/30/14 Writing prompt :
Photo Journal Your Heart. How has God been touching your heart this month? Share what you see.
Pick 5-10 photos and share a few comments each. There are no rules. Yours will be unique to you! Your {One Word for 2014} can inspire you too.Click here to see one example of photo journaling.

Approach it any way you feel inspired! Only required ingredient: keep it real. Click here to learn more.

** Don’t miss! ** If you are new to Faith Barista, I’d like welcome you here.Click to subscribe by email and get each post in this series served up hot and fresh directly in your mailbox.

Today’s post is part of Bonnie’s {Beloved} series, where becoming #thebeloved and #soulrest is the conversation. Click here for the entire {Beloved} series.

{Photo Credit: The_ZippyGirl via Photobucket}