Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God
Many years ago in my mom's '65 LeMans yellow convertible with the black top down. I wore this hat everywhere – bought it in Denmark in a women's hat shop while on my great excursion to Europe circa 1968. Racetrackers will recognize my Longacres Barn Pass button needed for entry to the backside of the track my first year there in 1969. Way back in the day . . .
Lord God, thank you for rescuing me eventually from myself. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
This is from Chapter Eleven of my older novel Sweet Release.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CM was so glad to see her mother standing outside the entrance to the church. She doubted at this stage of her God investigations she could’ve attended church by herself. It was just too uncomfortable walking into a place where she assumed everyone knew what to expect except her. Her mother smiled as she approached, and it dawned on CM how pretty she looked, dressed in a maroon skirt with a black silk blouse under her black wool jacket. She had on classy looking heels which added a couple inches to her normally 5’3” height. Her medium length brown hair had a generous blonde frost on it, and the breeze wisped it around her face allowing the sun to capture all the highlights.
“Wow, Mom, you look beautiful.”
Her mother blushed. “Oh, honey, thank you.”
As the two of them walked into the foyer of the church, Pastor Bill Chambers approached them with a welcoming smile and a sincere handshake for both of them. “I was praying I’d see you two today. I’m grateful you came.”
“Thank you, Bill,” Millie said, her voice quiet.
“Nice to see you again, Pastor,” CM said, realizing how genuine this man seemed every time she saw him.
“If you’re not busy after the service, I’d be honored if you’d be my guests for lunch,” he offered.
Millie looked inquisitively at CM.
“I’d appreciate a rain check, but you can go, Mom. I’m afraid I’ve got a feature to finish.”
“Millie?” he asked, his gaze direct.
“Well, I suppose I could, if you’re sure, Bill.”
“Oh, I’m positive, Millie. Great. Guess I better get my pastor hat on and get with it. Thank you both for coming.” He shook their hands again.
“Mom,” CM whispered.
“What?” Millie looked puzzled at her daughter’s stealth.
“He likes you, Mom,” her hushed tone excited.
“Oh, CM!” she responded louder than she intended and lowered her voice. “That’s ridiculous. He knows how I felt about your dad – he feels sorry for me.”
“Mom,” CM stifled a laugh. “I wasn’t born yesterday—I’m 28 years old now, remember? He’s interested in you. Seriously.”
“That’s absurd, CM. Now let’s go find a seat.”
The two ladies sat in the third row from the back on the right side near the far aisle of a nearly full sanctuary. The worship team sang several choruses and two hymns. Everyone stood and sang with them, many of them lifting their hands in the air as they sang. During the musical pauses several people said “Hallelujah!” or “Praise the Lord”. CM remarked to her mother as they sat down after the singing was over how beautiful everyone sounded. Millie’s eyes held tears.
“Usually I give you a summary of the information printed up in the bulletin. If you didn’t receive one, please feel free to ask an usher or pick one up out in the foyer. Today I have to tell you the Holy Spirit is urging me forward with this message before the beauty of His presence fades. So if you’ll join me in prayer, we’ll begin this part of the service.
“Heavenly Father, no one walked into your house this morning without being drawn here by your Spirit. That’s the way it happens. Whether you’ve known the Lord for years and years or if you’ve only known Him for a matter of days or even if you have yet to surrender to His magnificent love and forgiveness, you came here today because of the sweet invitation of our God through His Holy Spirit. That’s how it all begins, isn’t it? He sends out His invitation through a friend, an event, a trauma, a circumstance, or even a curiosity He put in your heart to find out who this Creator really is. Well, Lord, whatever the case may be, I ask this morning that you would make yourself known in a specific way to each heart that has come to celebrate who you are today. Thank you, in the name and authority of Jesus Christ.
“You may be seated.”
CM sat down quickly, feeling hot but wielding goosebumps. She slipped her coat off and draped it over the back of the chair.
“I have to tell you today’s message is one of urgency. So I hope you’ll listen to the cry of the Lord’s heart as I give you what He’s given me. Have you ever been promised something but failed to receive it from the one who promised it to you?” He paused and looked down for a moment. “Have you ever been lied to so cleverly that you never doubted it was the truth you were being told? Have you ever trusted someone with your whole self and been betrayed by that someone? Perhaps as I offered each one of these questions for your examination, somehow you were able to answer no to them. But I think if you really examine them further, you will inevitably have to answer yes to at least one of them.
“You see, there is a devil. He is the master of deception. He promises to deliver on any number of things, doesn’t he? C’mon, just one drink—it’ll be fun. Just one toke, just one snort, just one shot, just one . . . And you know what? It is fun . . . at first. C’mon, we love each other. It’ll be so beautiful if we sleep together—what could possibly be wrong with it? Now it may or may not seem beautiful to you the first time you cross that line with sex outside of marriage, but it won’t stay beautiful under the glare of the selfishness that preceded the act and demanded sexual fulfillment before the spiritual and emotional requirements were met. Selfishness is never ‘beautiful’, and it is never fulfilling, but it’s always demanding.
“He’s a great liar, isn’t he? Jesus called the devil the ‘father of lies’ and the ‘author of confusion’. Now tell me, have you ever been confused by your circumstances? So entangled in your situation that you couldn’t decide if there ever was a right and wrong decision to be made in that situation? You finally make a decision in desperation, and everything blows up in your face. Suddenly, you can see how wrong you were to go in that direction, and you can’t understand for the life of you how you made that decision. Ahh, the devil deceived and confused you, and you took the bait. Remember, the Bible tells us his objective is to ‘rob, kill, and destroy’ our life. Whatever works on you, he’ll figure out and apply.
“How can he possibly be defeated? He’s smarter than we are. He’s craftier than we are. He’s a supernatural being in that he was created a spectacular angel. How can we win against such an evil foe?”
The pastor stayed quiet as he paced back and forth on the platform. “We can’t,” he said succinctly. “Without the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and our Lord, we are powerless to defeat the enemy of our souls. We are absolutely useless against him. He is able to drive us in multiple directions in our lives, all of them motivated by the desire to be fulfilled, loved, respected, and admired. Some of us would settle for just being loved because some of us have never felt the blessing of having someone love us for who we are. Others of us would settle for being fulfilled – you see, we’ve perfected our craft, our skills, our business, made ourselves an outstanding career – but we’re empty, and no matter how much acclaim we receive and how much more we achieve, it feels meaningless. I know some of you men would just once like to feel the respect of your wives, if not for what you look like, at least for what you do. But somehow your wives think it’s enough to wash your clothes and tell you they love you without really conveying their respect for who you are as a man. Ladies, you wonder what it’s going to take to make that man of your dreams show his love for you. You’re mystified because it seems so obvious to you. After all, all he needs to do is learn from some romantic movie, for crying out loud.”
Some nervous laughs flitted around the sanctuary.
“And all the time, through all of your thoughts and imaginations, the devil is there to prod you on with your fantasies of something, someone better. Isn’t that the way it is sometimes?
“I stand before you today having experienced every form of the devil’s trickery in my life. Most of you know I came out of the world and was a very despicable individual when I did. But one thing I learned from my experiences in that empty place without Jesus is that I was desperate for His saving grace. I was absolutely desperate for His rescue from my sinful ways.”
The pastor stopped mid-stride across the platform. He turned to the people and said “And you know what? I still am.”
He dabbed at his eyes with a handkerchief retrieved from inside his suit jacket.
“You see, you all know this life is hard. The pitfalls are always there before you. You always have to make decisions based on what you know to be right and what you have learned to be wrong. Always. Don’t you?”
Several shouted “Amen”.
“In the book of first John, the inspired writer tells us if we claim we are without sin, we lie. Couldn’t be more real than that, now could he? We fight our way through this world, and sometimes we fail. Some of those failures we’re able to take in stride, and others nip at our heels for the rest of our lives.
“By now, I’ve probably got you a little down in the mouth considering the state of our human condition, but this morning we’re not going to glorify the devil and all he’s capable of. No. Instead, we’re going to celebrate ‘Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.’ That’s the truth, folks.”
“Hallelujah!” and “Amen!” all over the sanctuary.
“The Creator of the universe has given us Jesus Christ to save us from our human stain, and He has allowed us to house the very Spirit of God within our own heart of hearts—the very place where He can establish His ways in our lives so that in spite of the trouble He warned we’d have in this sinful world, we could have His courage because He overcame the sorry condition of this evil place we call home. You know why? Because of a love so pure and so deep, we will never truly be able to experience it until we go to be with Him, but His love for us in spite of how we give in to our enemy’s tricks and travesties and chase after his tempting indulgences—in spite of all we’ve done and pursued: He loves us, folks!”
This time the pastor wiped his brow with his handkerchief and went to lean against his podium.
“I don’t often do this in my services—I try so hard to hear the voice of the Lord concerning this critical moment. Today, though, the Holy Spirit is telling me I need to remind anyone who has yet to receive Jesus into their lives, today is the day of salvation. You’ve tried it your way long enough. Be honest, it hasn’t worked, has it? Can you tell me without reservation from your gut you’re successful? That those dark days of confusion never pass your way and overwhelm and even frighten you sometimes? On the darkest day of my life, God came and rescued me. He’ll do the same for you, but you do have to ask Him to do it. He won’t overpower you and demand you serve Him. His love is given freely, but it’s not pushed upon you. It’s demonstrated to you by His Son on the cross, but it’s your choice whether or not to accept His sacrifice made just for you. Do you know that in the book of Isaiah it is written the names of His people are engraved in His hands? That really moves me.”
He paused and moved up beside his podium. “If you want to know Jesus today, all you have to do is ask. Tell Him you know you’ve sinned and you need a Savior to restore you to His Father and yours. The simplest act of submission grants you a beautiful eternity and a chance at peace in your heart on earth, regardless of the things that befall you while you’re here. You will be welcomed by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and it won’t take you long to figure out you really are different somehow. Believe it or not, this is the answer to life’s problems. And, no, for most people it won’t be easy, and it’ll take a lot of work, but what doesn’t on this earth? Choose this day who you will serve. God or the devil. Heaven or hell. Chaos or peace.”
The worship team assembled on the platform and sang an old chorus about deciding to follow Jesus. When they were finished, the pastor returned.
“Father in heaven, I worship you. Thank you for getting me through your message. I hope it was pleasing to you above all. I pray, Lord, that in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, you added people to your kingdom today because I know that’s your heart’s desire. Thank you, God, for loving me. I’m still ever desperate for you. In the name of Jesus, Amen.”
Father, thank you for words and stories and inspiration. Only you give the impetus and direction for us to do what you created us to do. Above all is to share the beauty of your sacrifice and the rescue of your redemption. Thank you, Jesus, and Holy Spirit for reaching me. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Smooth Jazz keeping the love theme going, gorgeously played by musician Everette Harp.
Father, thank you for beautiful music and musicians and their instruments, speaking to the soul and your amazing creativity. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
What drives you to do what you want to do? Is it purpose? Is it praise? Is it the desire to succeed – however that might be defined for you? Is it just for fun? What is the motivating force behind what you do?
I write. I can say I've been doing it since I was a child because that's true. It definitely serves a purpose in my life, and I need purpose.
When you do what you're supposed to do, all of the above items might apply.
As a Christian, my/our foremost pursuit is obedience to the Lord's direction(s). Although that pursuit will usually involve some hardship(s) along the journey, ultimately the outcome of those endeavors will be the most satisfying and feel the most complete.
What's driving you? Or who?
Father, thank you for directing me to write for you. It is the most satisfying thing that I do. Please allow the stories you give me to make an impact wherever you choose. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." Jesus
John 14:12 (NIV)
Decisions, decisions . . .
Carrot Cake or Chocolate Fudge Cake
Tacos, Tamales, Burritos, or Juevos Rellenos
Spaghetti, Lasagna, Pizza, or Penne Florentine
Frosted Sugar Cookie, Snickerdoodles, Chocolate Chip, or Fig Newtons
Tuna Fish Sandwich, Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwich, Roast Beef Sandwich, or Mesquite Smoked Chicken Sandwich
"All of the above" is available.
Father, thank you for all the wonderful food in this world. Help us to appreciate all that we have. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Back in the day . . . way back, when the music was real, black and white photos were in, and I was a college freshman.
Father, I can never thank you enough for rescuing me from myself. I know it took too long, but you finally let me know who you really are when my heart was ready for truth. Thank you, Jesus.
A review has become a treasured commodity to most novelists. Amazon reviews tend to sell novels, providing they're good reviews. Most of you know how I feel about 1-star reviews: they tend to say more about the ones who write them than the book itself. They need to be aware that one person's "1-star" is another person's "5-star" – strange as it might seem.
I've received a 1-star review once. I checked out the reviewer. She liked short novels, and mine was not short. She didn't finish it. Yet she wrote a bad review. Entitled to her opinion.
If you've ever gone to my page on Amazon, you can see the few reviews. Many more readers have read my stories and told me how much they enjoyed them, but they never wrote reviews. For some, writing a review seems challenging, but it doesn't have to be. A few sentences to express your enjoyment might encourage others to take a chance on the book.
If you're a reader of novels and you find a story captivating or just plain entertaining, write a sentence or two for an Amazon review. The process is user-friendly, and it will mean a lot to the author.
We will thank you.
Father, I'm grateful for everyone who reads my novels, and I thank you for them. I thank you again and again for every inspiration, word, character, and story. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Love is the continuing theme and it is . . . Beautiful.
God, thank you for your song writers and singers. Music can be so beautiful when you touch those who make it. Thank you is never enough for sharing your creativity. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
From my novel Destination available here or here for your e-readers.
SEVERED
Now he wondered why he thought this would be a good idea as he stepped onto the first of five stairs that led up to the front door. He glanced back over his shoulder to see the lawn needed mowing and for some reason he thought of the Briggs & Stratton mower they used to have and wondered if it was still in the garage. It was amazing to see the house looked the same—a taupe color with a cream-like trim and in need of a paint job—because he didn’t look the same. He didn’t feel the same either. Or think the same. Or even act the same. Because if he did look, or if he felt, or if he thought or acted the same, he certainly wouldn’t be here now. No doubt about that. Because what he was about to face was going to tear his heart out. Again. Only in a different way.
He took each step slowly, deliberately, and when he lifted his right hand to knock on the scuffed door, he took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, the pounding of his heart threatening his ability to hear himself think. He waited nervously with both hands in his worn brown leather jacket pockets, looking down and then once again back over his shoulder.
The door finally opened and he took in the briefly curious look on her face that too quickly turned to anger and then stopped just short of hatred.
“What are you doing here?” she snapped, her tone and angry expression momentarily stunning him despite his anticipation of that very response.
“I, uh, I came to tell you that I’m sorry.” He could hardly breathe, and he wished he’d thought to bring a bottle of water and taken a drink before he attempted to speak. He cleared his throat. “For all of it. For everything.”
She looked out the door past him, and it was at that moment he saw her fight back tears in those hard golden brown eyes. He’d never noticed the hardness before. Had it always been there?
“How convenient,” she said harshly. “Jail house religion? Makes you feel good about yourself now, does it?” She was struggling with her temper, and he remembered suddenly how every once in a great while she could go off like a firecracker.
“Well, no. It doesn’t exactly,” he managed to say.
“Good. Because I don’t feel good about you either, and you had no right to come here.” She jerked her hand up and quickly rubbed her forefinger under her eye.
“Jenni, I had to come here and tell you that I regret messing up your life. I’m sorry I upset you by coming here.” He attempted to look her in the eyes, but she wouldn’t allow more than a second of direct eye contact.
“’Messing up’ my life?! You ruined my life, Thomas! You devastated my life. I’m just now trying to pick up the pieces of it, and you have no part of it. None! So if you’re through with your cutesy little feel good speech, I’d appreciate it if you’d get out of my life for good,” she barked.
“Alright, Jenni,” he conceded wearily. “I just want to ask you one favor,” he ventured bravely.
“You’re asking me for a favor?” The incredulity seemed to ricochet around in his ears.
“Yes. Down the road, if and when you’re not angry anymore, I would ask you to find it in your heart to forgive me because I’m truly sorry for what I did to us, to you, and that it turned out the way it did for Will. I never intended to do that. I’ll have to live with that for the rest of my life.”
“He’s dead, Thomas!” She almost screamed. “I loved him, and you killed him.” The tears came in a flood now.
Her words burned through him like a precision guided laser beam straight to his heart.
“You loved me once, Jenni,” he said quietly, although at the moment he couldn’t imagine she ever had.
“Go away!” she shouted and stepped back inside, slamming the door in his face.
He turned around and fought back tears of his own. With hands in his jacket pockets he walked down the stairs and out of his ex-wife’s life.
Father, thank you for every inspiration, words, stories, and perseverance. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Into the Fire 