Dream Till God gives You Assurance.
I am not a person who always says what's on my mind and
seldom what's on my heart, but I am prompted to do so today. A revelation that
lifted my spirit.
Maybe
someone needs to hear it as well.
I start to
write in 2010.
I wrote to
block out my reality.
I wrote to
block out the empty cupboards, the demanding phone calls of creditors. Writing
kept me from looking out the window to see the tall grass that could not be
cut. My eyes swimming in tears as my children left their safe place because we
could not provide in their needs anymore. I felt like a failure, worthless and
purposeless.
I wrote to
block out all the anger and pain, the rejection we have experienced from
church, the lack of support from anyone we thought were our friends at that
time. Standing alone in a very harsh world, without support, it is a harsh
place to be.
I wrote of
lost dreams and empty promises all in fiction form. Because in fiction I can
write a happy ending. Though my world had nothing to offer me.
I wrote 22
books during that time. Only five books were published so far. Many of my books
started off differently from its conception. But as I grew, the stories grew,
changed, and developed where they are now: published and read.
At that
stage, there was still a ‘we’ in the equation. After 2014, ‘we’ became I...one.
though I took the step to walk away, I was off balance with no understanding or
idea of how to move forward. I had no form of financial support, had no income
and no earthly possessions.
Then I began
to dream. It was a slow process of trusting myself first, then others.
(This was a
long process and one I will not talk about now. I want to get to the revelation
part.)
At the end
of 2019, I was invited to attend an Eksderde camp where Marié Bosman (van den Berg) spoke directly into my
life. Infused with God's knowledge, she said, "God has given you a blank
page."
It elevated me, but I didn't understand. I ran with it like a thirsty beggar
but still felt unworthy, not sure where I fit in. I was still off-balance,
unsure and desperate. And very much in lack.
Was God's
promises of yesteryear still effective? Did my current dreams coincide with
God's plan for me? How did it all fit? Were some questions I faced.
Then I met
Joe van den Berg, and he said, "Your past is the past, you have a new
slate. The words you received, the promises you received, they are over. It is
time for new ones."
It was like
a click within.
It is a
clean slate. From this moment forward, all promises and dreams is a new
beginning.
The
revelation part:
I read the
Fourth Dimension from Dr Cho, where he talked about receiving assurances from
God for your dream.
And the
second click happened.
Back in
2010, I wrote to forget; I wrote about anything. From spiritual stories to
erotic and everything in between. It was my saving grace during a difficult
time. It blinded me from reality. But it also blinded me to many truths. At the
times the lies became bigger, and my sins had a field day.
Since 2019,
my writing has changed. My fears and anger do not surface within the pages nor
my desires or longings of things not meant. It is more focused now.
My dream is
to be a New York best-selling author, to own a book and coffee shop and create
a safe environment for all creative beings, not only writers.
To get back
to Dr Cho's book and to cut an exceptionally long story short, he said to keep
on dreaming and talking about it. For others, it might seem foolish or a pipe
dream. Sometimes I feel neglected and even looked over, but He encouraged me to
keep on dreaming and planning until God gives me the promise, the red seal, so
to speak. God will approve or object, but my work is to continue with it
until...
When you
step away from a long-time marriage, your world tilts dramatically. In this
time, God will allow you to make decisions and even allow you to make mistakes
while He keeps you safe... Looking back I can point you to all the times He
provided and protected me from myself and others that meant me harm I am still
in awe about it.
The best
part of this long tale is that when God gives you a new page, he means it. But
he also wants to see how serious you are. By giving you a clean slate, He gives
you a second chance. We all begin anew at some stage of our lives. All you have
to do is keep on dreaming and doing until God gives you the red seal, the
assurance.
That dream
will propel you forward. It will help you grow and it will help you find your
feet again. Just hang in. God is in control.
If you are
unsure or off balance because of life's knocking around, push through. Get the
dream on paper. See it. Live it until God comes and put a stamp of approval on
it. If not, then it still will not be wasted time. Because you have learned new
skills. Who knows where it will lead?
Trust God
when he says he has given you a new page.
Copyright Lynelle Clark 2020
Newsletter
It has been a while since my last writing. With so much
that has happened the last year, I never really felt to say something specific.
As if words failed me. Or maybe it was just how the Lord has worked with me.
But it doesn’t matter.
What does matter is that we do as God leads us. On this
road of recovery/returning, I am more aware of what I do, and how I do it.
Those who know my path till today know how much of a
financial struggle it is to survive. There are days I wondered if I am
listening correctly. Days I don’t stay connected with God as much as
I should. There are even days that I miss reading or listening to the Word of
God.
Ever since the lockdown has begun in 2020, I knew that many
things have changed. Looking for work has ground to a stop, but God has
supplied in my needs even then. Small favors of grace, actually.
When the
government announced the special grant for unemployed people, I submitted my
forms as well. When that R300 dropped into my account, it was like manna, sweet
as honey. International writers would request a review and pay me for a blog
post and so with every payment, when added with the R300, gave me enough of an
income, and faithfully I tithe where God directed.
Writing
Maybe
your writing lacks punch. Or you’ve hit a brick wall.
Don’t
give up! With help, your message still has the potential to reach the masses.
I
can’t turn you into a bestselling author overnight, and I urge you to suspect
anyone who says they can.
But I
believe I can help improve your writing immediately.
1. Don’t aim to write a bestseller.
That’s
the last thing I think about when I start a new book. To have any chance at
success, my manuscript must come from my passions, the overflow of what I
really care about.
I have
no control over the market, sales, reviews, and all the rest. All I can control
is how much of myself I give to a writing project.
What’s your passion?
What drives you?
Write about that.
Your
passion will keep you at the keyboard and motivate you when the writing gets
tough—and if you’re doing it right, it always does.
2. Always think reader-first.
Write Think
Reader First on a sticky note and place it where you can see it while
you’re writing.
Your
sole job is to tell a story so compelling that your reader gets lost in it from
the get-go.
Treat
your readers the way you want to be treated and write what you would want to
read.
That’s
the Golden Rule of Writing.
Never let up, never bore. Always put
your reader first.
Newsletter
The last couple of months were the most
exciting but also hurtful times I had in a very long time. Although silent in
the sense that I wrote nothing, my life had undergone twists and turns;
each opportunity a learning curve where I discovered so much of myself, as a
person.
As a woman walking this path alone, I
realized my vulnerability and how people would use you, sometimes even with
your permission. For a long time I lived in a very safe cocoon allowing others
to think for me but since I made the bold step to stand on my own, taking
responsibility for myself, I realized that my understanding of life was very
much shaped by my circumstances, and the people or culture I lived in at the
time. In short, I wasn’t street smart, and I had to learn quickly how to fit in
or be devoured.
Because of the safe haven, I perceived
people in black and white with little or no grace towards them. Now those
unyielding glasses had fallen away and my awareness of life became more
colourful; making room not only for my own mistakes but those I’ve met. Life
isn’t rigid or set in stone but a kaleidoscope of laughter and passion, where I
discover new opportunities at every corner—venturing out in the unknown to find
incredible prospects and beautiful things along the way. I’m amazed at my boldness walking into places I would not have dreamed to do previously
and, in the process made friends. My pioneer spirit revelling in the new person
emerging from the cocoon.
In my vulnerability, I’ve learned to trust
my gut; I made mistakes when I disobeyed that little voice who diligently watch
over me. While doing this I learned to have fun laughing more than I did in a
long time. I learned that it’s okay to mess up—no longer do I chastise myself
in doing so—and at times ate some humble pie, but it taught me valuable skills
that serve me in my daily life and work environment. I work with people every
day and I experience the good, the bad and the ugly all in
one week. As human beings we have different perceptions, but when finely tuned
in—making the effort—the ugly turns out beautiful, the bad good and the good
sometimes bad. Life is a fine balance between them all.
