The First 250 Steps

I have reached a bit of a milestone in my writing.

It was almost five years ago that I felt God leading me down this path.

I freely admit that I did not respond to it at first because, at the time, I failed to recognize it for what it was.

Fortunately for me, God was as patient with me as He was persistent.

Eventually I got the message, trusted His leading, and embarked upon the journey.

Now, 250 pieces later, I pause to look back on the journey and appreciate just how far He has brought me.

Very early on I learned two valuable lessons.

First, I learned that I would have to trust Him completely and without reservation.

I would have to count on Him to provide both inspiration and motivation week in and week out.

Second, I learned that I would have to set aside time every week specifically for this purpose.

Shortly after I began, I was invited to participate in a group effort.

I prayed about this and began alternating between the two sites.

In time, God blessed me as I learned that these offerings were of help to a few people along the way.

I was so grateful to learn that.

If I knew of a few that benefited then maybe, just maybe, there were others who have benefited that I will never know about in this world.

In April 2013, the monthly magazine that serves my church's denomination asked me to write a piece for the magazine.

This has turned into a regular monthly contribution.

I had to trust that if God would help me write four pieces per month, He would certainly help me with five.

Perhaps the greatest blessing God had in store for me was the number of Christian friends I was able to connect with from every corner of the world.

Proverbs 27:17 (NET) – As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.

I can truthfully say that together we definitely sharpen each other.

This ministry has also made me a both a better teacher and a better speaker.

These are just some of the things that have happened since I followed His leading.

What will come of this ministry in the future?

I cannot say.

Only God knows what He has in store for me and that, in and of itself, is sufficient.

Now, I am forced to ask myself one final question.

Would I continue to do this even if I thought that no one was reading them?

To this I would have to answer that I would for two reasons.

First, if I honestly feel as I do that God wants me to do this, then do this I will.

Second, through each piece I am also learning more about myself.

Each piece serves to remind me just how much I need Jesus Christ in my life.

Each piece also serves to remind me that I am very much a work in progress and still have far to go.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 3, 2014.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 10, 2014