#418 Mentoring Moment: Unsung Hero

Welcome to Kingdom Writers, where we help equip and empower Christian writers of all genres to share your unique gifts with the world. We're your hosts, C.J. and Shelley Hitz.

This podcast is filled with spiritual encouragement as well as prayers to help you overcome the resistance you face as a writer. Your story matters.

So our topic for today is Unsung Hero, and CJ Is going to share his encouragement on this topic.

Yeah, so, you know, during the Christmas season, whether it's our churches programs, you know, on tv.

Just the things we read, devotional material, you know, there are certain characters that, that come up, you know, in the biblical story, the Christmas story, this time of year, you know, and of course, Jesus. Jesus is the superstar.

As, as he should be. And Mary gets a lot of attention. So often we, we just, you know, all these different people. You've got the shepherds out in the field. You've got the angelic host saying peace on earth, goodwill to men. You've got all of these different characters as you read, whether it's in Luke or Matthew, you know, the Christmas story. But the, the one character that I want to look at that I think is the. Is one of the unsung heroes that really just doesn't get a whole lot of attention. But also in many ways, in many paintings, you might even see classic paintings throughout the ages, this character seems to get almost edited out, almost like someone being cropped out of a family portrait. And that character is. Is Joseph. Joseph, the. What we might even call the adopted father of Jesus. You know, that here, here's a man that finds himself in an interesting situation. You know, he's been told that. That Mary is. Is pregnant. And it says that he was a righteous man. He was in the line of David. He was a direct descendant, a descendant of King David. And so you might even say that Joseph was, was royalty. Joseph was a part of the royal Davidic family. And yet so often Joseph is just one of these, these people that we gloss over. But I want to say today that Joseph's obedience and key role that God used his life for has made all the difference in history. This adopted father of Jesus was an unsung hero on several occasions. And if you read the.

Accounts that we have in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, you, You know that Joseph had several dreams where God spoke to him. He was approached by. By an angel. And I want to read just a few of those excerpts. One of them is Matthew, chapter 1, verse 20. It says, as he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. Joseph, son of David, the angel said, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Well, what was he considering? He was considering divorcing her quietly. Now, in this day and in that age, when you were engaged to someone, you were as good as married. And so anything.

That would be cheating would be considered adultery. And if you know anything about adultery, you, you could be stoned to death for this. And Joseph could have went public, Joseph could have cried foul out loud, and Mary would have been ostracized.

She could have been killed, executed, all these different scenarios. But it says Joseph chose to quietly dismiss her and send her away. He wasn't going to make this a big deal. And that even made all, all the difference, his choice to do that. And what happened was the angel then comforted him and said, hey, you know what?

The baby, that, that is within Mary, your, your soon to be wife was conceived by the Holy Spirit and you were to take her as your wife. And so here's one instance of, of an angel breaking in and Joseph listening. It says right after that, when Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. Another instance, Matthew, chapter two. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route. For God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod again. God breaking in, intervening in ways that if Joseph wasn't alert, if he wasn't aware, if he wasn't obedient to the Lord, it would have, from a human standpoint anyway, ruined this whole thing. And of course, we look back and realize, you know, God's not going to allow something to collapse that he has plans for. But yet we still see human characters in the story that have to be obedient and make choices. And so Joseph was truly an unsung hero. Another instance after the wise men, and this is, this is regarding the wise men. Even after the wise men were gone, an angel, the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. Get up. Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother. The angel said, stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. That night, Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary his mother. We see again Joseph being obedient, to say, okay, this is, this is urgent. I need to get my family out of here. And then Matthew, chapter two, 1921. When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. Get up the angel said, take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead. So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother, again being obedient to God, speaking to him. Another instance in verse 22. But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod's son, Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. Again being warned in a dream, God intervening in Joseph's life. Can you imagine? Joseph found himself in an adventure that he never even imagined. How many of us have found ourselves in a story that we never even imagined we'd be in? You look back and you think, how did I get here? What am I doing here? And we just see God's fingerprints all over our lives and him guiding and directing us in this story. But my goodness, Joseph, his life was one detour after another.

And so we read all these instances and I want to say that God was and still is more capable of protecting the baby Jesus from being snuffed out by the enemy. And here's the thing. Kingdom writer, he's more than capable of protecting the kingdom writer and their books that they're called to birth into this world. You and I have been called to do something. You and I have a call in our lives to write words that potentially outlive us. We have a call on our lives as we're obedient to the Lord and what he's called us to write. But there's an enemy that wants to snuff that out. There's an enemy that wants to put it to rest. There's an enemy that doesn't want us to glorify the Lord because he want. The enemy wants to be glorified. The enemy wants to wreak havoc in our lives. And I want to say that may we listen to the Lord, whether in our dreams or any other means, God wants to intervene in our lives. How is God intervening in your life in such a way, Wanting to use you as an unsung hero that may not get much credit, may not get a whole lot of social media reposts and reshares and, and all, all of these things that the world deems as, as, as necessary or as worthy. We look back on Joseph, we know he was a key player and yet so often he just gets edited out. Like Joseph, we might find, might find ourselves in a story that we never expected and wondering what the Lord has up his sleeve. Do you ever wonder what the Lord has up his sleeve for the rest of your story? And like Joseph the carpenter, we can humbly live our lives as a different kind of carpenter where we build things with the raw material of our words and ideas from the Lord. You and I are building something. We're taking part in the building of something. We just happen to use words instead of nails and ideas instead of two by fours. And yet you and I are a part of this grand story. Joseph had no idea what kind of adventure he was signing up for. And I want to say that you and I don't have any idea either what kind of adventure God has for us now and, and in the rest of our days. And so I want to encourage you.

To even go back and reread those passages that include Joseph. We know that Joseph wasn't mentioned after that last story where Jesus was at the temple and he was listening and teaching and he was a 12 year old boy. And his parents, you remember they were frantic, they thought they had lost Jesus. But that's the last mention that we see Joseph being mentioned. And scholars believe that Joseph probably died at some point shortly after that.

But I can guarantee you that Jesus honored his adopted father, that Mary cherished her husband. And you can just imagine what life.

Not been a part of this story or had not.

Chosen to obey the Lord in all of these different sidetracks that he was called to do in order to preserve and protect Jesus, the Son of God. And so he played a vital role. You and I can play a vital role in our writing. You and I can be unsung heroes. We have to be willing to be faithful, obedient, and not worry about getting all the attention. Because in at the end it's all about playing the role God has for each of us, including the role he had for Joseph. And though Joseph doesn't get his name in light so much, it doesn't matter because his name is in lights in all of heaven. And, and God.

Saw Joseph and God used Joseph and his obedience, he'll do the same for us. And so think about Joseph. You know this in these remaining leading up to us celebrating the birth of Jesus and go back and, and give him some honor in rereading any of the passages that have to do with him. And thank the Lord for Joseph today.

Yeah, it's so good. And I know I can relate to a lot of the unsung hero. You know, it's like I have to die to my pride every day. And I recently did a Seven day digital detox. But I also, during that time was supposed to go to visit my family in Florida, and my mom's husband had pneumonia and it just wasn't a good time to go in the beginning. So I delayed my trip for five days. And the Lord's like, I want you to spend these five days with me. So four of those days I was like on a prayer retreat. I was prayer and fasting. And then the last day was a day of silence and solitude. But one of the days, God led me to reread the little book by Andrew Murray called Humility. I think this is a book we could read every quarter. I mean, it's short. I read it in one, just a few hours, but I've read it before, so it was like. But the Lord was just impressing on me this whole concept again of Shelly, it doesn't matter what other people say about you, and whether or not you have these certain results or you meet these certain goals, yes, you can set them, but don't get fixated on these things and that. I literally have to die to my flesh, my. My pride every day. And sometimes the pride is sneaky. You know, it's not like this big, like, oh, look at me, look at me. But, you know, deep down inside we might thinking, like, why haven't I sold as many books as this person? Or why is this person getting this and I'm not? Or whatever. All we're responsible to do is to listen to God, connect with him, intimacy with him, follow him, and then leave all the results up to him. And it's easier said than done. I know I'm living it, but God. And so Joseph was one of those people that he. He was, you know, not mentioned after, like I said, after CJ, you know, said after Jesus was 12 years old, and yet he played such a critical role. And I. I think that, that God wants us all to know in this season, and he's doing it in my life. Like, just when we live as humble servants, Number one, that strips away our biggest enemy, which is pride. And the biggest, you know, barrier between us and God, pride. But number two, second Corinthians, I think it's 12 says that when we are weak, what does it say? He is strong. And God is showing me, Shelley, when you go through trials, when you go through difficulties, when you go through times where it doesn't seem like anything's happening, when you go through this, not only is it stripping away your number one enemy, if I allow it, right? Number two, God's Strength can be manifested in that season. But Kingdom writers, we have to embrace it. I've been resisting it. The last two years have been really rough for us with our business. And I mean, bear like God keeps providing month after month, but just enough, right? It's just like, oh. And it's like, okay, I've been resisting this season. I want to see God's strength manifested and I want that for you as well. That in, you know, instead of being like God, why. Why has this not happen? Like the older brother I've been here, I've been doing this. Why does he get that? And I don't show up and say God, no matter if anyone ever says my name or any of these things ever happen or I reach any of my goals, I will follow you. I will choose to die to my pride. I will choose to die to myself. And I will follow you. All of heaven will know my name, even if no one else does. Kingdom writers, we need to do something different in 2024. We need to strip off the things that social media is puffing us up and all of the things we need to come to God and let his strength be manifested in our weakness because he will do amazing things. And so.

I'm getting preaching here. I went on a four day prayer, prayer retreat. Can you tell? But God has been doing so much in my and so much of my life. And the intim. Intimacy with him is the most important thing. Mary before Martha. I'm a Martha. And I always felt like this whole year I'm like God, I want to be a Mary. And God's like Shelley. You don't have to change who you are. You can be both. I just want you to be Mary before Martha. Amen. Like that intimacy, prioritizing that time with him. And he will then create us into an anointed Martha. He will anoint our writing, he will anoint our marketing. He will anoint the things that we are doing because we've spent that time with him. So, cj, why don't you close us in prayer?

Father, we thank you again just for these stories that we read in your Word that have been preserved and passed down. And we just thank you, Lord, that we can look at someone like Joseph and.

And really just see obedience, faithfulness, even though he's not the one that many times gets the attention, whether it be in songs or paintings or.

Or church services, whatever it might be. I just thank you for people like Joseph. There's so many throughout scripture like Joseph that are just mentioned in passing. And yet they played key, vital roles. And I pray, Lord, that each of us would play the role. Live out the role that you have for us. I want to pray, Lord, that this time today and into tomorrow.

Even though it's, it's. It's unseen by. By the world, it's seen by you. And I pray that each person would accomplish all that you have for them. I pray that all distractions would dissolve, dissipate. Pray, Lord, that every mind and heart would be.

Fixed on you. I pray that God, ideas would happen. And Lord, we just pray that you would just let creativity flow. And we, we thank you so much for the fruit that's going to come out from this December 2023 virtual writing retreat. And we just give you the glory and the honor for anything that is accomplished in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. And for anyone who's interested in reading that book, Humility by Andrew Murray, it's in the public domain. And so you can search it, it's on Gutenberg. You can get an ebook version. You can search Humility by Andrew Murray, PDF. Find the PDF. Ve and I encourage all of you in this new year, take out a few hours and reread that book. Write out some nuggets that you are, you know, feeling, and then pray that prayer of confession of any pride. And, and we almost need to do it every day. I think, you know, it's just like the pride wants to crop up every day, so definitely check that out. And thank you, CJ for sharing on this topic.

All right, so we are now moving in to a time of prayer. And.

Cj, why don't you go ahead and start?

Yeah. Father, again, thank you for this time. Thank you. For each person here. I just believe that each person here.

For, for whatever reason was, was led by you to be here. And you know, it's always just a little different from month to month. And I thank you for this group and what you have in mind for each of them. And we, again, Lord, we just, we rely on you. We need your spirit.

Yeah.

Pray that you pour your spirit out upon each person and that you would even birth vision and, and dreams for 2024, even in this virtual writing retreat, Lord, that, you know, we have a little over two weeks left in 2023, but I just want to pray that you would actually birth ideas that would be accomplished in 2024. And I just. Thank you. We know you've got so much in store with each one of these kingdom writers. Each of us, Lord, is a, a tool and a vessel in your, your Hands, you're working in and through us. And so, Lord, have your way. We ask this in Jesus name.

Yes, Father, we just come humbly before you.

Just realizing, like CJ said recently to me, like, the only thing we bring to you, Lord, is our sin. We bring nothing else. All of our gifts, all of our abilities, all of our, the things that we own, all of that has come from you. The only thing we can come to you with is our sin. And yet you choose to abide in us, to live in us, that when we die, Christ and his is raised in us and lives in us. So Lord, I just pray that every Kingdom writer right now on this call or listening later, Father, would just choose to pour out themselves before you in hum and humility, just saying, God, the only thing I bring to you is my sin. But I know and I declare and I choose to prioritize weakness because I know when I am weak, you are strong. And Kingdom writers, wherever you're feeling weak right now, say it out loud right now. Wherever you're at, just say it. If it's your first draft, if it's. You're stuck on this chapter two, if it's your marketing, whatever it is, finances, just say it out loud. Say, God, I am weak in this area and I need your help. Help Jesus and Father, I pray that when they confess to you their weakness and they come before you and confess any pride and pour themselves out before you, Father, that you would rush in. God, we pray right now for that. A fresh wind and a fresh fire of the who Holy Spirit would rush in. And father, that 2024 would be different for each of us, each of us, as we continue on this path, that we would put aside any striving, any comparison, any frustration with our path of writing and we would keep our eyes on the throne. Like Colossians 3 says to set our minds on things above. We would set our minds and our thoughts. Thoughts on you, Father, and what you're doing. And we would follow you. Even when it's difficult, even when it doesn't make sense, even when nothing is happening in the.

The.

The things we can see. We choose to follow you and we choose your path, Father. We die from the things of the world. The ways of the world, the ways that the world writes books, the way that the world publishes books, the way that the world markets books. We can use some of those techniques. We can use some of. But God, we die to all of that. And we choose to focus on you and what you have for us and your way and I just pray that. That each kingdom writer here would learn that your yoke is easy, your burden is light. When we're feeling the pressure, there's usually something off. And so, God, we just. We surrender everything to you right now. We surrender all of 2023 and everything that happened, good and bad. We surrender all of 2024. And like James says, we're not going to make our plans and say it's firm and it's going to be this for, but we're going to plan in pencil and say, if the Lord wills, I'll publish my book in 2024. If the Lord wills, I'll sell these books in 2024 and impact these lives. If the Lord wills. And we just. We surrender it all to you. So the picture God was bringing to my mind is a picture I've shared before. But.

The, The Hoyts and what were their first names? C.J. dick and.

And Rick. Yeah, Rick.

Dick and Rick. And I think it was Dick was the father and Rick is the son. And I just saw this picture and this, I didn't see this part of the picture before, but some of you, like Rick has cerebral. Had cerebral palsy. I think he may. They both have passed on now, but has cerebral palsy. And I just saw some of you, like, just barely crawling, you know, just barely crawling in your own strength, striving to get this book done, striving to market your book, and you're just barely crawling. And what happened with Dick and Rick is Dick would push Rick in his wheelchair and he finished hundreds of races that he could have never done on his own. He only finished them because his father was empowering him. And some of you today need to hear that. You need to get out of the crawling in your own strength, striving in your own strength, and let the father pick you up and set you in his. In the chair and push you across the finish line.

And allow him to do what only he can do. We are not meant to carry all of this.

So just get in to the seat with. With God, with your Father today and allow him. Him to push you. Allow him to do the work. Yes, He'll. He'll lead us. Yes, he'll show us what to do. Yes. We're not just sitting on the couch eating bonbons, but allow him to show you. Maybe you're to rest today. Maybe you're to spend the first hour in prayer. Maybe you're to read that book. Humility. Maybe you're. I don't know, but maybe your plans are are going to be changed today. Maybe they won't. Maybe God will say, you are on the right track. Keep going, work on this chapter.

Let him do it through you. And Lord, we just thank you. We thank you that your power is manifested in our weakness. Just like Paul said, he has chosen. He chose to be content in difficulties and trials and tribulations because he knew when he was weak. You are strong. And so, Father, I'm not there yet. I don't know about these other Kingdom writers, but I pray you would help us to get there in 2024 where we don't freak out, we don't get disappointed or depressed or discouraged when we see these things happening. But we just say, I'm going to press into it. I'm going to embrace it. Because God, I'm asking you to manifest your strength in this trial, in this difficulty, in this season of not seeing any results in whatever it is you're in. And that we will have such a joy in knowing that he's taking care of it and that he is leading and guiding and directing us, whether or not it makes sense to us and to the world or not. We pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Kingdom Writers. We believe that you, as a Christian writer, have a specific role to play in the Kingdom of Heaven to impact lives for eternity.

And because of this, we choose to pour out our lives into encouraging writers like you to not only tell your stories, but to take the courageous step of self publishing your stories in books that will outlive you and leave behind a powerful legacy. This podcast is sponsored by Christian Book Academy, where we help you give birth to your books. We invite you to join our community of Kingdom writers.