Into the Fire

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Halleluuuujah! 

Praise the Lord God Almighty. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

I've just finished three novels in a series written by a familiar author (to me) who I'm sure is writing under a pen name which encompasses many other authors. An indie published author(s) of many series books, some of which are at the 22nd, 18th, and so on number of novels in each series, cannot be accused of mistake-free or edited literature. Popular stories that borrow from the mystery genre as well as sometimes using the characters or at least their names from some mystery television series.

But let's face it, some readers pay little attention to what would be considered "good" writing and tend not to notice when the author writes about their main characters getting a tingling up their spines nearly every paragraph or that their hearts are beating out of their chests in every third paragraph during a discovery moment or "scary" interaction. For those of us who take great pains not to use such obvious repetition or cliched descriptions, it definitely gets eye-rolling tedious. 

However, why, you ask, did I bother to read three of these novels? Because at first, I was interested in the heroine's story and the restoration of her reputation. And although the actual writing was annoying at times, I wanted to see how she was developed in the series. Beyond that, I don't have much to say because the third book just became frustrating, and I started not to like her for the way she handled "things." 

Anyway, these multiple series have sold thousands, maybe millions, of copies, and sometimes that in itself is a mystery to me.  

Father, thank you for the stories and characters you've given me. May I honor you with each one. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."  (Jesus) 

John 14:15-21 (NIV) 

                        From my unfinished manuscript . . . 

Chapter 10

I hustled back to my house and into the room I’d dedicated for my gym. I jerked off my shirt and went to the treadmill. Warming up at a brisk walk, I did my best not to contemplate my behavior, but it was no use. As I turned up the speed to a jogging pace, I realized this attraction was more than casual lust for me. That terrified me. Because I had no idea why or how I was supposed to act realizing that this woman I barely knew was wrecking my concentration, inspiring a new novel in the middle of another one I had to finish first! Things couldn’t have been more chaotic in my mind as I increased the speed to a run.

     Completely sapped, I shut down the treadmill without looking at all the read-outs, dripping sweat. Grabbing the towel I kept nearby I wiped off most of it and walked over to my weights.

     I did every lift I could handle, put the last of my weights back on their rack, and walked over to the portable fridge to grab some electrolyte water, chugging the entire 16 ounces. I kept one straight back chair in the large room and I plopped down on it with the empty container still in my hand while I stared at the bamboo flooring.

     Something was up with me – something I didn’t recognize. Unfamiliar, and for sure nerve wracking. I honestly felt like change was sneaking up on me, and I had no idea why or what it was supposed to look like, be about, or what it intended for me. Change was not a good thing in my world unless I determined I wanted it, unless it was my idea. And this? This was like being tied to the proverbial train track with six locomotives roaring toward me from a distance.

     I leaped up and stripped, walked over to the shower in the bathroom I had installed in a corner of the room. I must’ve stood under it for 20 minutes, first very warm, then lukewarm, trying to right my wrong mindset. But was it wrong? Or was it just confounding me because it introduced something I wasn’t expecting and consequently attempting to resist?

     I stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around my waist without drying off.

     “What?!” I shouted, my voice cracking from the volume.

     It was then I heard the front doorbell chime. My clothes were too sweaty to throw on so I walked to the front door to see if it was the UPS driver leaving a package. He always rang the bell to let me know he’d delivered one. When I looked out the tiny peephole, I frowned and threw open the door so hard it hit the door stop and bounced back nearly hitting me.

     “What the hell are you doing here?”

Father, only you make stories happen, give me words and characters. You know how I'm struggling with this one even though I like it. Help me, Lord, as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

It's a brand new year. What lies ahead? There are two trails, one with hope and one with despair. 

The last four years have been draped in despair. 

In spite of the horrors, terrorists, and tragedies, we will search for and cling to hope. 

The only true and real hope in this world comes through Jesus. He's the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Find Him, find hope. 

Only You, Lord. Thank you is never enough. 

                                                                 AND

Rockin' out with the Doobie Brothers for New Year's Eve. "Without Love, where would you be now?" 

We know who Love Is: the Lord Jesus Christ gave it all for you. Let Him have your life. Without Him, you know where you'd be now. 

Many people make resolutions in hopes of keeping them, inspired by the dawn of a new year. No harm in that. Many people need to set goals, make lists, and determine by so doing to conquer lethargy, fears, laziness, or whatever keeps them from advancing in their daily lives.

My goal is the same every year, every day, every moment: Listen to the Lord's Spirit, discern His voice, and obey His requests. Christians often fail to remember His desires for us – whether they come via difficult tasks or simple endeavors – are for our good. Anything, any action, that brings us closer to Him will always prove to be an improvement in the way we live. Sometimes we're so engrossed in our selfish wants that we make the Lord's requests secondary to ours. That rarely works out well for us. 

As the New Year approaches, if you haven't had the absolute pleasure, privilege, and/or thrill of meeting Jesus, the Savior of the world, I pray you will. Nothing in this world offers a better way to live.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  – John 14:6 (NIV)

     Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

          "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

           you now dismiss your servant in peace.

          For my eyes have seen your salvation,

           which you have prepared in the sight of all people.

          a light for revelation to the Gentiles

           and for glory to your people Israel."

     The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." 

Luke 2:25-35 (NIV)

From Chapter 32:

REMINDER

Jean July had the luxury of being born into a holy house with two parents who managed to praise God’s love and provision in spite of her father’s disability and eventual amputation and even when the young and vivacious Jean was told there was nothing that could correct her heart condition at such a tender age.

     He heard her words of explanation after she took him to their favorite spot up above their hideaway homes, high in the evergreens with an occasional pine, alder, or maple draping over them like a primitive shelter. They called it Eden—this place of beauty and stillness. This place where their lips first touched.

     She huffed and stopped along the way, and he asked if she was okay. She just smiled and pushed herself to get there.

     “Micah,” she said, settling into the seat of an ancient root system of a long-fallen fir. “We know God. You’ve even seen our Lord.”

     He remembered she labored over the words, reaching for more air as she spoke. “We don’t have much time left together. They—” She stumbled then. “The doctors can’t help me. It’s my heart.”

     The tears came fast then, and he panicked. He almost lunged for her but pulled her gently to himself and started to tell her they didn’t know what they were talking about. She was too young to die, and no way would he allow it. But as he struggled to speak, the Lord made sure he understood this would not be compromised. Jean July belonged to Him and what He intended for her was more and better than anything Micah or anyone else could provide. Micah wept as he held her and made no grandiose statements of her miraculous healing.

     When he could find his own oxygen and stop his wretched sobbing, he found a way to whisper, “Marry me.”

     She pulled out of his embrace and looked with wonder at his statement. “I’m going to die, Micah.” She said it so sweetly as if bestowing some noble gift upon him.

     “I know. So marry me.” He grabbed her hands. “I love you, Jean. I’ll always love you.”

Father, thank you is never enough for all the inspiration, the desire to write, the words, characters, all of it. Please help me to continue it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.