Over the past few months I have had the pleasure to engage the Christian community on the topic of race and church life. It’s been a humbling experience and an emotional time. I’ve cried tears of joy knowing that women are being affected and encouraged by my words, pastors are eager to learn more and are rallying behind me, and organizations such as Desiring God and The Gospel Coalition are taking an active role in helping inform those who might be encouraged to know the black female perspective. I’ve been fearful knowing that the topic of race (and racism) can be very difficult for some to face, about putting my heart out on display for the world to see, and a fear of God as I pray through what I write. Overall, I thank God that one post has been received so well.
But we don’t want to stop there and by the grace of God we don’t have to! Her.meneutics, Kyria Digital and Desiring Godhave given me the opportunity to keep the conversation going beyond Women of God Magazine and my site here. I wanted to update those of you who have asked about articles by sharing this little update. Please spread the word. God is doing amazing things!
If you haven’t been following but are interested, here is a short list of the first articles regarding these topics and a list of those to come:
Women of God Magazine: Dear Pastor: From a Black Female Congregant
Desiring God: Celebrating Diversity in Our Homes
Her.meneutics: The Lament of a Black Neo-Reformed Woman
Upcoming:
Kyria Digital: Two posts on interracial marriage
Desiring God: A post about femininity
Her.meneutics: Race and politics
And MORE (keep a lookout)!
God is doing great things for his people and for his glory!
RELATED CONTENT
Join Drew Dyck, Randall Payleitner, and Trillia Newbell in this 90-minute virtual workshop event on Saturday, August 14, at 9:00 am (CST). You’ll learn about the publishing process at Moody Publishers, hear all about publishing from the writing process to best practices for proposals, and more. There will also be a time for Q&A for you to ask your burning questions.
In the summer, I was asked to compile a list of places and articles I’ve written over the year. I do a horrible job at updating my site with articles and even this list isn’t quite up-to-date. But, for those of you who enjoy reading here, I thought it would nice to share some links to articles I’ve written elsewhere. Many of these articles address the topics related to United:Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity as I’ve focused much of my writing on the topic over the year.
There’s little that I enjoy more than getting to speak with others about their books, projects, life, faith, and ventures. Last Friday, I had a chance to speak with a champion for Christ and beckon of His grace, Joni Eareckson Tada. Tada is an advocate for those with disabilities, so naturally one might assume that would be the bulk of our conversation. I was actually interviewing her about a song she sang, “Alone Yet Not Alone,” that is up for an Oscar for Best Song…
Writing a book involves so much more than merely writing. To be sure, physically writing United took up the majority of my time and prayers over the past year. But there are extra tasks I was unaware I’d need to do like: ask people to “endorse” United, think through launching it, and today, travel to shoot a book trailer. Yes, a trailer—similar to a movie but for a book.
I would never describe myself as a mommy blogger. I love them though. I love that they are writing about the wonders and trials of motherhood. Though I’m not a mommy blogger I do have a desire for moms, like me, to enjoy these years. They are hard. I cry at times wondering how I will make it through a day. But when my soul calms and I get a glimpse of those little eyes looking back at me, I get it. I stop and I know that God is pleased with me. God isn’t pleased with me because I’m a perfect mom–I’m not–He is pleased with me because of His son. Perhaps you thought I’d say that I look at my kids eyes and I know they are pleased. I’m not living for them. I’m living for my Savior and knowing that He is pleased is all I need to know as I seek to raise my kids…
Yesterday it was announced that I am joining Dr. Russell Moore’s team as the consultant for women’s initiatives for the ERLC. I am honored to be among five newly announced staff members, you can read more about that here. Dr. Moore addresses serious, delicate, and often complicated issues and topics affecting today’s society, church, and government with great thoughtfulness and grace. I have the utmost respect for him…
I’ve quipped once before that it would be much easier if I chose to write about tulips, and not the Reformed kind! I often write about topics and subjects that I have been praying through. This week was, for me, a perfect storm of deeply personal articles. I had been drafting one particular article for over two months. That is how long, at times, it takes for me to prayerfully consider what goes from heart, to head, to computer, to published…
A reader wrote in recently and asked:
“Did the fear of man ever used to cripple you from writing? It’s weird and new for me to say this but I’m an aspiring blogger and have noticed this a stumbling as I’m beginning. Thank you for any advice you can give.”
I sit down and I write. Fear sets in and I write. I write because I love to write. I write because I believe I’m called to write and yet I’m terrified—to write. I write and the voice begins to talk to me. “You aren’t good enough,” she says with her deadly arrows to my heart. “You don’t know enough.” “You aren’t qualified.” “You can’t do it.” I listen to the voice in my head and I write. Then I tell myself…
I never thought I’d be an author. Really, it wasn’t what I thought the Lord would have for me. For many of my friends, writing is the way they breathe—it’s almost therapeutic. I have friends who if they don’t write, can hardly think. Writing is important for them to function. Writing has never been that for me. I do love writing, but I have a desire to counsel. I’m slowly pursuing my M.A. in biblical counseling because I desire to encourage others in the faith with the truth of God’s word. That’swhy I write—to encourage others in the faith with the truth of God’s word. And it is such an honor and great joy to be able to serve in this way during this season…