“We think that “success stories” build the hope of Christians, but the Bible suggests otherwise. Hype is not Hope.” ~ bible.org
My personal journey of rebranding is no different.
On most, “score cards” the world uses, you would be hard pressed to point out to someone if I’m scoring any “successful wins” in my attempt in becoming a “successful author.”
Sure, I’m learning the craft, I’ve self published 5 books and over 298 weekly posts over three websites. (I’ll be celebrating #300 on davebosquez.com in a few weeks… woot woot!!!) But the first thing I think of (to my detriment) and the first thing I get asked is… “How many have you sold?”
Which really means, “You make any money yet?”
What’s your gauge on money made? 0-5 bucks, 6-10 bucks, 25-100 bucks, more than a hundred? More than a thousand? A hundred thousand?
I have to say I’ve made some, a little, more than a hundred.
Then you get the funny look.
As I went over my notes last week for my “Entry Level” posts, I used the topic on all three of my websites, it was good looking at it from those different points of view.
Then, “who cut in on you,” gave me a shoulder shove mentally and I started to think of grander things, which as you know I’m not worried about right now, that’s not my goal.
So God helped me out by reminding me of this…
“When Baruch son of Neriah wrote on a scroll the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah said this to Baruch: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3 You said, ‘Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.’ 4 But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. 5 Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’”
Jeremiah 45:1-5 NIV Biblegateway.com
Most of the comments I researched, and other articles, all point to this aspect of these few verses, looking for great things for yourself.
The one that God has shown me is… “Jeremiah said this to Baruch: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3 You said, ‘Woe to me!“
God speaks directly to Baruch, the friend and secretary of the obvious prophet Jeremiah.
He says, “You said…”
That is very personal.
I have a penchant for “running ahead, or looking too far ahead,” due to the fact that I have a good mind that can create a very clear picture of where I want to be.
But I gotta wait.
Baruch, who’s name means “blessed,” complained… at some point.
Have you ever complained to God… “Woe is me!” “Why oh why Lord, why me?”
I complained once.
I was self wallowing up to my neck, and whining about my past relationship with my earthly dad. I was complaining in my mind, “Why God?”
God did not approve. He rebuked me sharply with…
“Was I wrong?!” “Was I wrong?!” “Was I wrong?!”
Very adamantly and sternly… for a week straight, everyday, for a week.
I didn’t like the feeling of him talking to me like that… but it got my attention.
God can’t be wrong. He knew exactly what he was doing when he placed me with ol’ Johnny Walleye.
I’ve come to know Jesus personally. I’ve seen Him work in my life. I am trying to apply His Word, the parts that I know… to my life, working to change for the better based off of what He has said and done for me.
I didn’t understand fully how I could rob God of his glory, by looking for greater things.
But I have learned if I’m looking for “that” then I am not looking “at” Him.
People don’t think God gives clear words or instructions in the Bible. I know He does… we just have to search it out with all our heart… and the Holy Spirit will move us to understand and keep His decrees.
He came through again by leading me to…
“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 1:5-6 NIV Biblegateway.com
I, like Baruch, am to serve [with no whining] being able to do so because I have been set free by His blood.
And “to Him… be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”
By the way, did you catch that Baruch was Jeremiah’s secretary, and a scribe… you know… a writer!?!
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