Into the Fire

Remember back when the professionals commented on desired changes for Christian fiction? Remember how some peripheral discussions during that rather highly-charged debate time regarding a certain author’s initial post brought comments of weariness on the whole subject? Remember how some author/agent/editor comments were succinct? Some were light-hearted and some were downright ticked off? Remember the similarities in many of them?

This is a blog about writing. Some days I post passionate thoughts about what I think of the overall writing biz from this position of knowing some wonderful and valuable people who happen to be insiders while I remain on the outside as an observer. Usually never without emotion and virtually always with passion, I give the ambiguous “you” my thoughts. Some of you have become lifetime friends although we’ve never met in person. Others of you are generous with your time and pop in once in awhile and ponder my musings. Others join me when I run an interview of a favorite author, agent, or editor. And still others show up for specific book reviews. All are welcome.

This is also a blog about the triune God. I post about my love for Jesus and the voice of the Holy Spirit. I share the magnificence of His power and how I can’t measure His love in my finite mind. I write about people who want God to be something He’s not, and I write about the enemy of our souls who seeks to devour us like a raptor on a rabbit.

If you’re just getting here, you don’t know me. If something written here interests you, you might read my profile or scan certain previous posts to get a feel for who this woman is, but who I am at this blog might not mesh with who I am in person. That is not intentional. At all. The last thing I want to be is two-faced. One way with some and another way with others. I want you to visit here often enough to “know” me should we ever meet in person.

Like Chip MacGregor commented in his interview when he said he’s “bigger in print”, I probably am also. More bold. More inclined to state my opinion since isn’t that what blogs are all about stripped down? Our opinions, others’ opinions? Of course that doesn’t mean the absence of facts, but it can mean that facts don’t always enter into the fray. It can mean facts can’t be determined in subjective matter.

Being a passionate person, I either feel strongly about something or not at all. It has to matter to me. I want to tell you the truth about books I read, how I feel about the biz, the devotion with which I desire to serve the Lord. I don’t want to hurt or disrespect anyone. Doesn’t mean I won’t. It means I don’t aim for that. Most likely if it happens, it’ll happen in a rant. And why? Because I’m offended. And I get to voice my opinion. Sometimes I should, and sometimes I shouldn’t. No doubt I’ll figure it out the hard way.

What I don’t want you to get when you visit here is a two-faced person who criticizes for the sake of having a venue to do it. If I criticize something, I hope there is value in it.  

Some days, there is a weariness to it all. I love writing and I love discussing it, but sometimes it really seems so small and insignificant. All the hoopla, marketing, fanfare. New authors! New books! New promotions! New/Old. All the same. I’m not knocking it. At all. This usually happens when I view the enemy in action. When I see people succumbing to his wiles, his schemes. When I feel it. Personally. The shiny new books lose their glimmer. My stories feel small. I lose intensity. But, I go to the Lord, my reservoir. And the waters for my soul pour into me and give me renewal. I take my place in the kingdom and willingly bow to the Lord Almighty.

Whatever it is you have for me to do, let me give my best. I don’t care how it measures up on anyone else’s scales. Only you matter, only your value placement is vital to my heart. And you, above all others, are the most generous and kind and just. Thank you, Father.

Forgive me when I plunge ahead of you, Lord. Subdue me. Lead me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.