Inspired by . . . the just and the unjust

I know that many of my {blog} readers do not read fiction of any kind, let alone romantic fiction and you all have valid reasons for not doing so. However, there is good, Christian fiction (yes, even romantic fiction) out there that not only provides a good storyline but solid biblical lessons as well.

I was recently reminded of this as I was re-reading Lori Wick's Yellow Rose Trilogy. I can't believe it has been nearly twenty years since I read these stories for the first time! Yet despite the fact that these stories were written twenty years ago and are even based in the late 1800's, the spiritual questions and struggles the characters face are still relevant today.

Don't you just love that about God?

Whether we're sweeping the cold, stone floors of a Scottish castle in 1501, walking through the dust of a hot Texas afternoon to use the privy out back in 1882, or typing out a blog post on our laptop computer in 2017, God's word is relevant and true.

He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Not only that, but His word is living and active. Meaning it is capable of constantly teaching us new things. I am so far away from knowing everything there is to know about God. Every day, as I meet with Him, He teaches me new things about Himself and new things about myself! Sometimes hard, yet always wondrous, lessons!

Case in point; one of Lori Wick's characters, Dakota, is a new Christian whose parents are not yet Christians. After a brief exchange with his parents, Dakota realizes how blessed their marriage is, which leads him to question whether God blesses non-Christians as well as Christians.

We're not talking about worldly blessings here, like money or a "happy" life, etc. We're talking about true blessings from God. Like a good, loving marriage. Or Godly gifts, like wisdom, etc. Does God bestow His blessing on those who have not accepted His Son? [click to tweet]

Yes, He does. I'm sure you've seen the evidence of this throughout your life. Maybe you even experienced it before you became a Christian. Perhaps you're experiencing His blessings now and you're not a Christian.

Matthew 5:45 tells us:  For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Mat 5:45)

I have a confession to make; I've been reading this scripture wrong and out of context the entire time! I've been focused on myself and the rain in my life rather than on a God Who loves so completely and so fully that He blesses and dies for His enemies.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1Pe 3:18)

I've been viewing myself as just (which I am only because of Jesus) rather than remembering my evil and unjust state before I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

The fact that He would use a fictional character in a Christian romance novel to enlighten me to the truth of His word is astounding to me.

But then I am reminded that Jesus is the Master Storyteller. [click to tweet] He used parables to convey His message when He walked this earth and He is still using stories, your story and my story, to spread His gospel today. Whether the stories we write about are imagined or experienced matters little.

What matters is that we use our stories to praise and glorify Him. [click to tweet]

Are you a storyteller?

Blessings,

Sharing inspiration here:
Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Faith On Fire, Grace & Truth,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace, Sitting Among Friends, #Glimpsesofhisbeauty
Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments, Heart Encouragement
#DanceWithJesus

Inspired by . . . word craft

It’s been a long time since I’ve talked about The Books here on the blog. Over a year, in fact. Many of you may not even know that I’ve written a book, let alone seven of them. Life has a way of rearranging your priorities for you sometimes. Besides writing here on the blog, the book writing has taken a backseat to family and other responsibilities.

 

“I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast.

And when I run I feel His pleasure.” ~Eric Liddell

 

I’m not saying God made me a great writer, like He made Eric Liddell a great runner, but when I am writing, either here for the blog, or on one of the many stories God has given me, I feel His pleasure. I know, without a doubt, that it is God’s will for me to write.

Knowing God’s will for your life is one thing, doing it is quite another.

My sweet man and I are working toward the goal of freeing up more of my time for writing. And I have goals when it comes to the individual books as well. But right now those goals are moving targets. That’s why you don’t find me making announcements and projecting release dates here on the blog. If/when I set a date it’s going to be one I can stick to, a promise I can fulfill, both to myself and to my readers.

In the meantime, for those of you who are interested, here is a recap of what is available, and what’s in the works:

 

Available now:

                                                                                               

Starflower, contemporary Christian Fiction                  Heart’s Desire, historical Christian Fiction              Gladness for Mourning, historical Christian Fiction

 

In the works:

No Tomorrow, contemporary Christian Fiction (Pacific Gem Series, Book One)

(I’m considering releasing this as a six-part eBook mini series - what do you think?)

Gladness for Mourning - eBook version

Pearl of Great Price, contemporary Christian Fiction, two-book saga

Unmerited Favor, contemporary Christian Fiction (Friends of Faith Series, Book One)

So there they are. The seven. All complete, save for the editing on the last three.

I won’t go so far as to say the writing is the easy part, but it is my JOY. The rest is the hard part. Finding an editor, promoting the books, and dealing with the publishers. The “tooting of one’s horn” so to speak. The selling/marketing. Pure torture. So for now I’m leaving that up to my fearless agent, Jonathan Graham, and God’s timing.

And I’m praying for more time to focus on the writing, and getting the stories into the hands of the people who need to read them.

Maybe that’s you?

Blessings,

 

Sharing inspiration here:

Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,

Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,

Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,

#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,

Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,

Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,’'

#GiveMeGrace, Still Saturday

Inspired by . . . owning it

 

Prelude:

I wrote this post back in November, after my #write31days experience, but never got around to posting it.  There is something about God’s timing {sigh}.

The feelings I express below have not changed, but there is now a new dimension to my #write31days experience. You see, God knew what I’d be facing over the next few months. My series on JOY, as much as I meant it to bless others, God meant it/used it to prepare me for what lay ahead.

My friend, He cares for us – YOU - in the most intimate of ways. Do not ever doubt this Truth. The words of Corrie ten Boom, that I shared with you at the close of 2014, have never been more relevant to me than they are now.

 

 

November, 2014

I’m different.

I know this because I’ve been in writers groups. I’ve read your blogs about why you write, how you write and what happens if you don’t write.

Very little of it resonates with me.

I’m different.

Different does not equal less than.

Different does not equal better.

Different is just different.

I’ve been a reader of words all my life. I love words. How they are used, their histories, etc. It never occurred to me to write anything myself. Nothing produced in school had tempted me to continue. Nothing simmering inside, yearning to get out. I was happy to read what others had written.

Then one day, about fourteen years ago, God woke me up from a dream and told me to write the rest of the story.

It was . . . odd. Like a dream itself.

So are the other six books and the literally hundreds of scenes –that-spawn-stories that He has given me since.

And then in 2011 came this blog. A new world, new blessings.

All of this, and yet I have never considered myself a writer.

My friends and family use the term without abandon. “Oh, she’s written. . . .” blah, blah, blah. “She’s an author.” blah, blah, blah

I sort of smile, and shrink inside myself, because it’s not me.

The mediocre, yes. The words stumbled upon, yes. That’s all me.

Anything you’ve read that’s clever, creative, meaningful, profound – that’s God.

And yet, saying that sounds so presumptuous . . .

. . . and yet.

The words inside me have been poured in, to be poured out. I am not their creator. They are not birthed from something inside of me. I must continually go to the Source to be filled.

I don’t have a daily discipline of writing - - Gasp! I know.

I write when inspired. And sometimes I write uninspired, to fill this space because I think I need to, and you can likely tell the difference.

This is why I don’t participate in challenges or prompts {unless they are photographic}. I greatly admire those of you who can write for five minutes every Friday. Those of you who have rocked this #write31days for the past five years. I sit in awe of you all, truly. However, this awe does not translate into a burning need to participate. The desire is not there. Probably because the talent is not there. I know my limits.

So when I found myself deciding to take the #write31days challenge, I looked around wondering what had just happened. It’s one of those decisions you make that you didn’t really make. This should have been my first clue that God was up to something. When God takes me out of my comfort zone, it’s not a gentle nudge. {Thank you, God} No, it’s more like being hit by the bullet train.

So I began. And God, in His great mercy, left manna for me every morning. For 31 days.

And somewhere along the way, day 27 actually – I’m a slow learner - I realized that God was trying to show me something.

I am a writer.

I’ve come to a place where I can own it.

I am a writer.

But God also confirmed for me something I already knew; I am not the Author.

It’s true people use these terms interchangeably, however, they do also have very individual meanings.

 

Author - one that originates or creates

Writer - someone whose work is to write books, poems, stories, etc.

 

These last 31 days have been far from a walk in the desert for me. Meeting God over a bowl of manna each morning has been a Gift. Receiving confirmation of His will, for at least part of my life, has been free-ing. Truly a JOYful experience, for which I am eternally thankful.

 

 

Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master;

nor is He who is sent greater than He who sent Him. John 13:16

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

 

Blessings,

June

Sharing inspiration here:

Inspired by. . . Gerbera love

 

 

It’s All About You

 

It’s not about me, Lord

it’s all about you

and I want to be, Lord

all about you

so I’ll forget about me

and focus on you.

For I am just an instrument –

a product of your grace.

Depending on your mercy,

seeking your face.

Daily Lord you stretch me,

quickening the pace.

Giving me the power

to finish the race.

The lesser I become,

the more of you they see.

The truth of your existence,

and how they came to be.

So I lay aside my own desires,

searching only for your will

Trusting in your sacrifice

to save them still.

For I am just an instrument –

a product of your grace.

Depending on your mercy,

seeking your face.

Daily Lord you stretch me,

quickening the pace.

Giving me the power

to finish the race.

It’s not about me, Lord

it’s all about you

and I want to be, Lord

all about you

so I’ll forget about me

and focus on you.

 

Blessings,

 

 

Sharing inspiration here: