Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
This is the story of how Dear People started. It was May 5, 2007. Becky and I were taking a few days off and hanging out at a friend’s house near Myrtle Beach. At the time, the Holy Spirit River was flowing strongly in our church and we were being accelerated significantly. The rivers within in me were also being stirred and for the first time in my life I had a desire to write some things I was seeing and hearing. The River had given me a new boldness and confidence in the Lord.
So I wrote my first Dear People and emailed it to a few people in the church. We were experiencing a drought in the southeast U.S. at that time so I titled it “Pray For Rain.” I used the analogy of natural rain and drought to what may be happening with some who struggled to “get into the River.” I had no real plan beyond that first one. My goal was just to help some people who were experiencing dry times in the midst of a season of fresh outpouring.
It was a hit with some of those people and they forwarded it to friends and family and I began to receive encouragement to write more. It took a bit, but I finally wrote another one here and there, but by the time November rolled around I was writing one every week.
Some have wondered where I came up with the salutation. I got it from the Message Bible, “Keep Company with God, get in on the best” (Psalm 37:4). I just added Dear People to it since I was specifically writing to those who desire to keep company with God.
There were some times during our season of sifting that I wanted to stop writing them. It was such a painful time and I did not feel like what I had to say was doing much to help, but for some reason I could not make myself quit. I am glad I didn’t; it really has been a labor of love for me.
Inspiration to write comes at odd and often inconvenient times. Once we were stuck at the border between Argentina and Paraguay for a few hours, so there I was awkwardly sitting on the sidewalk in front of the customs’ office with my iPad typing away. I got a lot of curious looks. The inspiration typically comes in the form of thought or a phrase and as I begin to write them down, others follow. I find it is easy to write when I am not trying to write, just being.
I have found the key to writing or speaking is to have something to say. You get that something by keeping company with God. God has a sense of humor. Writing or speaking was never on my radar. In fact, my command of the English language is sorely lacking. But God has chosen the foolish so He gets the glory.
My goal for writing Dear People has never changed. It is still to help people to “get in the River.” The River may not look the same today as it did back in 2007, but there is always a much greater life in the Spirit available.
I do not know what the future holds for Dear People, but regardless, I hope this encourages you to do what God has put in your heart and not quit whether it is easy or not. I really appreciate all of you dear people for taking the time to read and share your thoughts. Your encouragement has been such a blessing in my life.
Many Blessings, BW