Christmas means many things to many people. Some people look forward to parties and social events. Some people enjoy the lights and holiday displays in stores and homes. Some people love all the holiday entertainment you can enjoy, such as Hallmark movies and music specials.

And of course, everybody loves gifts, especially kids!

But for people of faith, Christmas is the time of year when we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Even though we may enjoy all the festivities, gifts, and celebration, nothing is more meaningful than remembering the hope we have in Jesus.

It’s fascinating to read the accounts of Jesus’ birth from the Gospels. Those passages have been immortalized not only in church, but in pop culture as well. We all remember how Linus quoted from Luke chapter 2 in the popular TV special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

But have you ever stopped to consider exactly how these passages were written? We think of the Bible as a sacred text, which it is, but it was also written by regular people who chose to be obedient to the Spirit’s leading in researching and writing down these accounts of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection.

In Matthew chapter 1, just before the main action of the Christmas story kicks off, there is a short phrase in verse 18. We tend to ignore it as a passing phrase that links the previous section to the next one, but it’s absolutely vital to appreciating the writers of the Gospels. Matthew writes, “This is how the birth of Jesus came about …”

In other words, Matthew is saying, “Listen up, I’m about to set down a definitive account of something really important.” But what if he had not been obedient to his calling? What if he had not taken the time or the trouble to sit down and record this account of Jesus’ birth? Would someone else have done it?

Perhaps. Even though we have three other Gospels, they are all different. If Matthew had not done it, we would have never had his specific account of Jesus’ life.

Somebody had to make the effort. Somebody had to take the time. Somebody had to write it down.

So today, on this Christmas Day, as we relax and celebrate, let’s take a moment to appreciate Matthew and Luke as writers who took the time and effort to record their versions of the Christmas story.

And let’s also reflect on this: if God can use the writing talents of an ordinary tax collector like Matthew, then maybe, just maybe, He can use you and me to make a little dent in history.

Merry Christmas!

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Most writers feel this way about their work, too. You probably feel some type of nudge or pull toward your creative work. Regardless of whether you believe this comes from God or another source, the important thing is that we obey this calling and don’t try to run from it.

When we run, we are unhappy. When we do the work to fulfill our calling, we have a deep sense of joy and we also serve others with our gifts.

This calling, though, is never finished. It’s an ongoing pilgrimage that lasts your whole life. The author and ghostwriter Jeff Goins said, “Your calling is not a destination. It is a journey that doesn’t end until you die.”

None of us ever “arrives” as a writer in the sense that we have learned all we can learn or that we have somehow completed the mission. The mission, your calling, never ends. It is not just about how many books you write or what other accomplishments you might have. It is also about embracing the creative life, the life of an artist.

And that’s always a journey worth taking.

Question: Do you feel a calling to write? Why or why not?

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Most writers feel this way about their work, too.

You probably feel some type of nudge or pull toward your creative work. Regardless of whether you believe this comes from God or another source, the important thing is that we obey this calling and don’t try to run from it. When we run, we are unhappy. When we do the work to fulfill our calling, we have a deep sense of joy and we also serve others with our gifts.

This calling, though, is never finished. It’s an ongoing pilgrimage that lasts your whole life. Jeff Goins said, “Your calling is not a destination. It is a journey that doesn’t end until you die.”

None of us ever “arrives” as a writer in the sense that we have learned all we can learn, or that we have somehow completed the mission. The mission—your calling—never ends.

It is not about how many books you write or any other accomplishments. It is about living as a writer and embracing the creative life. When you do that, it’s much easier to accomplish your goals because you’re living in alignment with what you were created to do.

Question: How do you feel about the truth that you will never “arrive”? Are you committed to staying in a growth mode?

The post Nobody Ever “Arrives” appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

None of us ever “arrives” as writers in the sense that we have learned all we can learn, or that we have somehow completed the mission. The mission, your calling, never ends. corinna kopf nudes It is not about how many books you write or any other accomplishments. It is about living as a writer and embracing the creative life. And that’s always a journey worth taking.

The post You Never Arrive, and That’s a Good Thing appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Therefore, when we feel negative emotions like fear or doubt, we wonder if we’re the only ones going through it. We secretly imagine that everybody else is confident and secure, and we’re the only ones who are feeling a little shaky. 

But rest assured, every other writer feels the same way. It’s part of the deal of being a writer. The screenwriter and producer Brian Koppelman said, “Self-doubt goes hand-in-hand with self-expression. Tune it out for two hours and day, and you’ll have a finished screenplay.” 

The real question is not whether you’re alone in feeling self-doubt. Of course, you’re not alone. Everyone else goes through it as well. 

Instead, the real question is whether you will follow through on your writing, on your work, and on what you have been called to do as a creator. If you do that on a consistent basis, you’ll have a finished work in your hand before you know it. 

The post Self-Doubt is Part of the Deal appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.