Monday, September 16, 2013
Please pray!
Hey, friends. Roberta Brosius here. Darlene has been sick the last few days and not able to write and post her daily nibbles. Please pray for her quick recovery, and send her a message of encouragement. Thanks!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
HANDLING THE TRUTH (Proverbs 8)
You'll recognize this as true--you with open minds; truth-ready minds will see it at once. (Proverbs 8:9, MSG)
YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH.--spoken by Jack Nicholson in his role as Col. Jessep in A Few Good Men.
When I checked on the quote, I learned that it is #29 on AFI's 100 most memorable movie quotes of all time.Those of you who have seen the largely forgettable movie have it ingrained on our memories. What I didn't remember as well was Jessep's explanation of "handling the truth."
"You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use then as the backbone of a life trying to defend something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to." (forgive the cuss word.)
Jessep was saying Tom Cruise's character wasn't "truth ready." What were his standards for getting truth ready? Values like honor, code, loyalty, backed up by putting his life on the line. We in America live in freedom, and as Christians, we are free from God's law and eternal death. If that is all we want out of wisdom, God will receive our thanksgiving, disappointed, perhaps, that we didn't get ready for more. We stay satisfied with baby milk.
The question of "what is wisdom?" has occupied my attention recently. I would like to think I have the spiritual gift of wisdom, but I have decided that I don't. I do have the gift of knowledge, of making connections between one scripture and another, and presenting in an accessible manner. Oh, yes, that goes right along with my gifts of teaching and encourager.
That doesn't mean I can't attain some degree of wisdom. Jessep defined truth-ready qualities as honor, code, and loyalty. I'm not sure what the Christian's code might be--unless it is God's holiness? We have the honor of representing God to other people.
The code obviously ties into the Bible. Paul said, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Corinthians 2;15, NIV) The more we delve into the Bible, the better prepared we are to compare other so-called "truths" against God's standards.
Loyalty? Purity, holiness, whole-hearted commitment to God. We have touched on those qualities fairly often this year. When our loyalty remains 100% focused, we have a clearer vision of truth. The closer I can come to being a Christian first and an American second. To being God's daughter before being a woman in the 21st century. The easier I will find it to sift today's popular philosophies against God's eternal truth. (Note: in saying that, I am not saying that every contemporary opinion is false. I am dangerously liberal in some people's opinions.)
What is our reward for getting ready for the truth? We'll recognize it when we see it. We can discern falsehoods and embrace the truth.
Let's check our truth-readiness on a truth-o-meter and work to improve our score.
YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH.--spoken by Jack Nicholson in his role as Col. Jessep in A Few Good Men.
When I checked on the quote, I learned that it is #29 on AFI's 100 most memorable movie quotes of all time.Those of you who have seen the largely forgettable movie have it ingrained on our memories. What I didn't remember as well was Jessep's explanation of "handling the truth."
"You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use then as the backbone of a life trying to defend something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to." (forgive the cuss word.)
Jessep was saying Tom Cruise's character wasn't "truth ready." What were his standards for getting truth ready? Values like honor, code, loyalty, backed up by putting his life on the line. We in America live in freedom, and as Christians, we are free from God's law and eternal death. If that is all we want out of wisdom, God will receive our thanksgiving, disappointed, perhaps, that we didn't get ready for more. We stay satisfied with baby milk.
The question of "what is wisdom?" has occupied my attention recently. I would like to think I have the spiritual gift of wisdom, but I have decided that I don't. I do have the gift of knowledge, of making connections between one scripture and another, and presenting in an accessible manner. Oh, yes, that goes right along with my gifts of teaching and encourager.
That doesn't mean I can't attain some degree of wisdom. Jessep defined truth-ready qualities as honor, code, and loyalty. I'm not sure what the Christian's code might be--unless it is God's holiness? We have the honor of representing God to other people.
The code obviously ties into the Bible. Paul said, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Corinthians 2;15, NIV) The more we delve into the Bible, the better prepared we are to compare other so-called "truths" against God's standards.
Loyalty? Purity, holiness, whole-hearted commitment to God. We have touched on those qualities fairly often this year. When our loyalty remains 100% focused, we have a clearer vision of truth. The closer I can come to being a Christian first and an American second. To being God's daughter before being a woman in the 21st century. The easier I will find it to sift today's popular philosophies against God's eternal truth. (Note: in saying that, I am not saying that every contemporary opinion is false. I am dangerously liberal in some people's opinions.)
What is our reward for getting ready for the truth? We'll recognize it when we see it. We can discern falsehoods and embrace the truth.
Let's check our truth-readiness on a truth-o-meter and work to improve our score.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Psalm 135-136
Focus
Who would be so foolish to make an idol like the Israelites
did with the golden calf and worship it?
It seems even more unfathomable when you consider all the miracles God
performed that they saw with their own eyes: the Red Sea splitting, manna and
water in the desert, and pillars of cloud and fire, to name just a few.
Psalm 135: 15-18 sums it up, The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but
cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is
there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like
them, and so will all who trust in them. (NIV)
Even though we may not worship idols, when we set our
affection on things of the earth (Colossians 3:2 KJV), we develop idolatrous hearts.
It’s a sobering thought that we become like what we worship. As we set our
attention on the God, focusing on Him and His word, our thoughts and actions become
more like God’s. Conversely, as we make the values of the world our aim, we
become more like it.
Psalm 135:3 reminds us that the Lord is good. And Psalm136
repeats, “His love endures forever.” If we center on God’s goodness, we’ll do
the good works he called us to (Ephesians 2:10). When we concentrate on His enduring
love we will obey His command to love the Lord and people (Matthew 22:35-41).
Let’s get our attention off the things of the world: power, position and
possessions. Friendship with the world means enmity with God. (James 4:4 NIV) Let’s
focus on the wonderful Triune God, and make it our aim and prayer to be more
like Christ.
Since, then, you have been raised with
Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right
hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
For you died, and your life is now
hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your
life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)
Connie L. Peters has thirty years of experience in writing
poetry, adult and children’s fiction and inspirational non-fiction. Currently
she writes devotions for The Presidential Prayer Team and The Pagosa Sun. She also
writes a poem a day on enthusiaticsoul.blogspot.com. Connie’s work has appeared
in numerous publications including Focus on the Family, Bible Advocate and The
Quiet Hour. She has served on the board of Southwest Christian Writers
Association for the past twenty years. Connie lives in Cortez, CO where she and
her husband host two adults with developmental disabilities. The Peterses’ two
grown children live in Arizona.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
PLEASE FEED ME (Psalm 3)
Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God's hand for that person. Don't tell your neighbor "Maybe some other time" or "Try me tomorrow" when the money's right there in your pocket (Proverbs 3:27-28, MSG)
Oh, boy, at times God just wants to get my attention about a subject. Today is one of those days. Notice that it's one of those always/never extremes that frighten me away?
Only last night I was confessing my prejudice against panhandlers to a friend. We were discussing prejudice. You may have noticed that I posted two versions of yesterday's nibble. The reason is that the first version included a poorly stated racial slur against Jews. That was never my intent, but when she probed, I realized I would make the same statement about a different racial group. I was shocked and convicted. (And at the moment, since I can't seem to delete the post, I reposted it with a correction.)
As we examined each other's problem prejudices, I admitted my feelings about panhandlers. She at least tries to set aside her prejudice. I hold tight to mine (and my purse strings). As a single mother, I resented young adults who could be working approaching me for money. I have offered food to those who are hungry (to have it rejected) and bus tokens to those needing a ride (also refused). Twice I took the plunge of sharing a meal with a panhandler. One of them was a sweet man whom I believe passed away soon after. (I no longer saw him at his usual haunts.) The second time, my guest ordered the most expensive item on the menu and wanted to bring food "home" to her cat and showed me the DVDs she had purchased with the money received that morning.
So today God sends me THIS verse reminding me that God plans to use me to help others. Yes, the verse says someone "deserves" help. But in case I take comfort in that loophole, it continues on to say "help your neighbor." Don't refuse to help him when you have the means to do so.
And we know Jesus's answer to "who is my neighbor?" I doubt that any religious Jew of Jesus time would have thought any Samaritan deserved help.
I hide behind the opinion that I'm not helping someone if I enable his homelessness/drug addiction/whatever by giving him money.
The problem is, I don't know what made the person destitute. Even if only one in a hundred is honestly homeless due to circumstances beyond his control, doesn't God encourage to help that one? To rejoice when that one returns to the fold of a productive society member and committed follower of Jesus?
I don't face destitute people here in the home. An occasional homeless person comes here to be restored to health. One such man left, drugs and cancer free, and reconnected with his father. His was a success story, but the only part I had in that restitution was friendship. Maybe that mattered more than anyone else.
Perhaps instead someone here wants my ear to listen and take their sad story seriously. Not to agree, necessarily, but to speak grace into a hurting heart.
Today's favorite verse: a promise to hold on to as I age: The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. (Proverbs 4:18, MSG)
Oh, boy, at times God just wants to get my attention about a subject. Today is one of those days. Notice that it's one of those always/never extremes that frighten me away?
Only last night I was confessing my prejudice against panhandlers to a friend. We were discussing prejudice. You may have noticed that I posted two versions of yesterday's nibble. The reason is that the first version included a poorly stated racial slur against Jews. That was never my intent, but when she probed, I realized I would make the same statement about a different racial group. I was shocked and convicted. (And at the moment, since I can't seem to delete the post, I reposted it with a correction.)
As we examined each other's problem prejudices, I admitted my feelings about panhandlers. She at least tries to set aside her prejudice. I hold tight to mine (and my purse strings). As a single mother, I resented young adults who could be working approaching me for money. I have offered food to those who are hungry (to have it rejected) and bus tokens to those needing a ride (also refused). Twice I took the plunge of sharing a meal with a panhandler. One of them was a sweet man whom I believe passed away soon after. (I no longer saw him at his usual haunts.) The second time, my guest ordered the most expensive item on the menu and wanted to bring food "home" to her cat and showed me the DVDs she had purchased with the money received that morning.
So today God sends me THIS verse reminding me that God plans to use me to help others. Yes, the verse says someone "deserves" help. But in case I take comfort in that loophole, it continues on to say "help your neighbor." Don't refuse to help him when you have the means to do so.
And we know Jesus's answer to "who is my neighbor?" I doubt that any religious Jew of Jesus time would have thought any Samaritan deserved help.
I hide behind the opinion that I'm not helping someone if I enable his homelessness/drug addiction/whatever by giving him money.
The problem is, I don't know what made the person destitute. Even if only one in a hundred is honestly homeless due to circumstances beyond his control, doesn't God encourage to help that one? To rejoice when that one returns to the fold of a productive society member and committed follower of Jesus?
I don't face destitute people here in the home. An occasional homeless person comes here to be restored to health. One such man left, drugs and cancer free, and reconnected with his father. His was a success story, but the only part I had in that restitution was friendship. Maybe that mattered more than anyone else.
Perhaps instead someone here wants my ear to listen and take their sad story seriously. Not to agree, necessarily, but to speak grace into a hurting heart.
Today's favorite verse: a promise to hold on to as I age: The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. (Proverbs 4:18, MSG)
Friday, September 6, 2013
MATERIALISM (Proverbs 1)
When you grab all you can get, that's what happens: the more you get, the less you are. (Proverbs 1:19, MSG)
Tada! Today we start Proverbs.
I have observed that men seem to favor Proverbs. I can understand why. Unlike the poetic extravaganzas of Psalms, Proverbs is full of pithy sayings a la Ben Franklin's "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy and wise."
That's the reason why I don't "enjoy" reading Proverbs. It reads more like a tear-away calendar; meditate on a single principle for an entire day. Some people read five Psalms and one chapter a day of Proverbs each day. You would quickly become very familiar with them, since you would read through both books in a month.
Another reason I'm not all that fond of Proverbs: I am not given to extremes. I see shades of gray more than black and white. Give me a scale of one to ten, and I use two to nine.
And Proverbs is full of all-or-nothing statements, such as the ones I quote below. My mind tends to fill in the blanks. [All] carelessness [always] kills. [any] complacency [kills the good]
I don't handle all-or-nothing principles very well. I've fought a streak of perfectionism for years. So looking for verses from Proverbs that don't leave me feeling like a complete failure may prove to be a challenge.
So after saying all of that, I found a great verse today, warning against the dangers of materialism.
I once worked for a new-age boss with a materialistic attitude. His sole measurement of success lay in a person's wealth. For me, money and cars are a means to an end, not a measurement of success. As a single mother, I treasured "gently used" items passed on to us. And aside from family picture and books (always books and more books and . . .), I didn't really horde anything.
My son has caught that value as well. He has to; two parents and four children living in a small three bedroom, one full bath home with two dogs and a cat have to share space wisely. And he grabs what he can get by dint of hard work, actually accomplishing the goal of becoming debt-free except for their house mortgage.
I guess I'm saying I'm not someone who grabs all I can get. But if I had the money to spend, would I be? Perhaps. And put me in front of an ice cream bar? Hmm, I'll fill up my bowl several times.
But what fascinates me the most about this principle is the consequence: Grabbing more==being less.
The suggestion is that the price of grabbing things is high, higher than we should be willing to pay.
The more I have grabbed of becoming a good writer, the less time I have devoted to my health and my family. The more I've grabbed of reading a good book, the less of enjoying outdoors and physical activity have I enjoyed.
The more I hold onto of the $50 a month I receive, the less money I have to spend on presents for the family--something my son is asking me for.
The more I think "me, me, me" in doing and spending--the less I have left to give to others.
Oh, Lord, let me find my self-worth in You, not in what I own.
Today's favorite verse: Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. First pay attention to me, and then relax. (Proverbs 1;31-32, MSG)
Posted by Darlene Franklin
Tada! Today we start Proverbs.
I have observed that men seem to favor Proverbs. I can understand why. Unlike the poetic extravaganzas of Psalms, Proverbs is full of pithy sayings a la Ben Franklin's "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy and wise."
That's the reason why I don't "enjoy" reading Proverbs. It reads more like a tear-away calendar; meditate on a single principle for an entire day. Some people read five Psalms and one chapter a day of Proverbs each day. You would quickly become very familiar with them, since you would read through both books in a month.
Another reason I'm not all that fond of Proverbs: I am not given to extremes. I see shades of gray more than black and white. Give me a scale of one to ten, and I use two to nine.
And Proverbs is full of all-or-nothing statements, such as the ones I quote below. My mind tends to fill in the blanks. [All] carelessness [always] kills. [any] complacency [kills the good]
I don't handle all-or-nothing principles very well. I've fought a streak of perfectionism for years. So looking for verses from Proverbs that don't leave me feeling like a complete failure may prove to be a challenge.
So after saying all of that, I found a great verse today, warning against the dangers of materialism.
I once worked for a new-age boss with a materialistic attitude. His sole measurement of success lay in a person's wealth. For me, money and cars are a means to an end, not a measurement of success. As a single mother, I treasured "gently used" items passed on to us. And aside from family picture and books (always books and more books and . . .), I didn't really horde anything.
My son has caught that value as well. He has to; two parents and four children living in a small three bedroom, one full bath home with two dogs and a cat have to share space wisely. And he grabs what he can get by dint of hard work, actually accomplishing the goal of becoming debt-free except for their house mortgage.
I guess I'm saying I'm not someone who grabs all I can get. But if I had the money to spend, would I be? Perhaps. And put me in front of an ice cream bar? Hmm, I'll fill up my bowl several times.
But what fascinates me the most about this principle is the consequence: Grabbing more==being less.
The suggestion is that the price of grabbing things is high, higher than we should be willing to pay.
The more I have grabbed of becoming a good writer, the less time I have devoted to my health and my family. The more I've grabbed of reading a good book, the less of enjoying outdoors and physical activity have I enjoyed.
The more I hold onto of the $50 a month I receive, the less money I have to spend on presents for the family--something my son is asking me for.
The more I think "me, me, me" in doing and spending--the less I have left to give to others.
Oh, Lord, let me find my self-worth in You, not in what I own.
Today's favorite verse: Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. First pay attention to me, and then relax. (Proverbs 1;31-32, MSG)
Posted by Darlene Franklin
THE DANGERS OF MATERIALISM (Proverbs 1)
When you grab all you can get, that's what happens: the more you get, the less you are. (Proverbs 1:19, MSG)
Tada! Today we start Proverbs.
I have observed that men seem to favor Proverbs. I can understand why. Unlike the poetic extravaganzas of Psalms, Proverbs is full of pithy sayings a la Ben Franklin's "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy and wise."
That's the reason why I don't "enjoy" reading Proverbs. It reads more like a tear-away calendar; meditate on a single principle for an entire day. Some people read five Psalms and one chapter a day of Proverbs each day. You would quickly become very familiar with them, since you would read through both books in a month.
Another reason I'm not all that fond of Proverbs: I am not given to extremes. I see shades of gray more than black and white. Give me a scale of one to ten, and I use two to nine.
And Proverbs is full of all-or-nothing statements, such as the ones I quote below. My mind tends to fill in the blanks. [All] carelessness [always] kills. [any] complacency [kills the good]
I don't handle all-or-nothing principles very well. I've fought a streak of perfectionism for years. So looking for verses from Proverbs that don't leave me feeling like a complete failure may prove to be a challenge.
So after saying all of that, I found a great verse today, warning against the dangers of materialism.
I once worked for a new-age Jewish boss. Just saying he didn't "get" the Christian worldview. It showed in his materialistic attitude. His sole measurement of success lay in a person's wealth. For me, money and cars are a means to an end, not a measurement of success. As a single mother, I treasured "gently used" items passed on to us. And aside from family picture and books (always books and more books and . . .), I didn't really horde anything.
My son has caught that value as well. He has to; two parents and four children living in a small three bedroom, one full bath home with two dogs and a cat have to share space wisely. And he grabs what he can get by dint of hard work, actually accomplishing the goal of becoming debt-free except for their house mortgage.
I guess I'm saying I'm not someone who grabs all I can get. But if I had the money to spend, would I be? Perhaps. And put me in front of an ice cream bar? Hmm, I'll fill up my bowl several times.
But what fascinates me the most about this principle is the consequence: Grabbing more==being less.
The suggestion is that the price of grabbing things is high, higher than we should be willing to pay.
The more I have grabbed of becoming a good writer, the less time I have devoted to my health and my family. The more I've grabbed of reading a good book, the less of enjoying outdoors and physical activity have I enjoyed.
The more I hold onto of the $50 a month I receive, the less money I have to spend on presents for the family--something my son is asking me for.
The more I think "me, me, me" in doing and spending--the less I have left to give to others.
Oh, Lord, let me find my self-worth in You, not in what I own.
Today's favorite verse: Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. First pay attention to me, and then relax. (Proverbs 1;31-32, MSG)
Tada! Today we start Proverbs.
I have observed that men seem to favor Proverbs. I can understand why. Unlike the poetic extravaganzas of Psalms, Proverbs is full of pithy sayings a la Ben Franklin's "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy and wise."
That's the reason why I don't "enjoy" reading Proverbs. It reads more like a tear-away calendar; meditate on a single principle for an entire day. Some people read five Psalms and one chapter a day of Proverbs each day. You would quickly become very familiar with them, since you would read through both books in a month.
Another reason I'm not all that fond of Proverbs: I am not given to extremes. I see shades of gray more than black and white. Give me a scale of one to ten, and I use two to nine.
And Proverbs is full of all-or-nothing statements, such as the ones I quote below. My mind tends to fill in the blanks. [All] carelessness [always] kills. [any] complacency [kills the good]
I don't handle all-or-nothing principles very well. I've fought a streak of perfectionism for years. So looking for verses from Proverbs that don't leave me feeling like a complete failure may prove to be a challenge.
So after saying all of that, I found a great verse today, warning against the dangers of materialism.
I once worked for a new-age Jewish boss. Just saying he didn't "get" the Christian worldview. It showed in his materialistic attitude. His sole measurement of success lay in a person's wealth. For me, money and cars are a means to an end, not a measurement of success. As a single mother, I treasured "gently used" items passed on to us. And aside from family picture and books (always books and more books and . . .), I didn't really horde anything.
My son has caught that value as well. He has to; two parents and four children living in a small three bedroom, one full bath home with two dogs and a cat have to share space wisely. And he grabs what he can get by dint of hard work, actually accomplishing the goal of becoming debt-free except for their house mortgage.
I guess I'm saying I'm not someone who grabs all I can get. But if I had the money to spend, would I be? Perhaps. And put me in front of an ice cream bar? Hmm, I'll fill up my bowl several times.
But what fascinates me the most about this principle is the consequence: Grabbing more==being less.
The suggestion is that the price of grabbing things is high, higher than we should be willing to pay.
The more I have grabbed of becoming a good writer, the less time I have devoted to my health and my family. The more I've grabbed of reading a good book, the less of enjoying outdoors and physical activity have I enjoyed.
The more I hold onto of the $50 a month I receive, the less money I have to spend on presents for the family--something my son is asking me for.
The more I think "me, me, me" in doing and spending--the less I have left to give to others.
Oh, Lord, let me find my self-worth in You, not in what I own.
Today's favorite verse: Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. First pay attention to me, and then relax. (Proverbs 1;31-32, MSG)
Thursday, September 5, 2013
ROMANCE, INC. (Psalm 149)
Let true lovers break out in praise, sing out from wherever they're sitting,
Shout the high praises of God, brandish their swords in the wild sword-dance. (Psalm 149:5-6, MSG)
Today I come to the end of Psalms. Oh, my, what an amazing journey. David seems to have a poem for every mood and circumstance of the Christian life. Whether I want to question for His absence or invite the whole world to join me in song, and everywhere in between, he speaks about it. I have found it hard to add anything of meaning to his powerful words, but I have enjoyed the road. I hope you have to.
I could end with a meditation on the very last verse in Psalms: Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah! But as always, David says it all, perfectly.
But as a writer of Christian romance, I was thrilled to read the above verses. For me and all the other romance writers out there, who doesn't perk up their ears when they hear instructions for all true lovers?
Let's see what advice the Psalmist dishes out for writers.
First, the instruction are for true lovers. Two people are committed solely to each other (at least by the end of the book). Their love has been tested throughout the book. They have had obstacles to overcome on their path to love. But their love has been proven true. When we reach the last page, author and reader alike have no doubt that their love is indeed "happily ever after," the stuff fairy tales are made of.
Those true lovers are to "break out" in praise. Their faith should flow seamlessly with the story. There should be times when they pause, amazed by God, and give Him praise.
They are to sing. I thought I included music (in my current WIP, it's Scottish ballads and hymns from the Psalter)in my books because music has been the language of my heart since childhood. The Psalmist encourages us to include music in our stories as well.
The setting? Wherever they are sitting. Any part of the world. Any time. Any occupation. As long as they praise god, the setting is left to the author's imagination.
My favorite instructions have to be "brandish their swords in the wild sword-dance." That makes me think of Scottish warriors, or perhaps pirates. A good, manly hero will be ready to defend his family--and God's honor. A swashbuckling pirate or a bronco-busting cowboy bring their own brand of praise to God.
If a romance includes conflict, true love that conquers all, a focus on God, a song or two, and an epic confrontation, the author is well on the way to a grand story.
Today's favorite verse: Let them praise the name of God--it's the only Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky; he's built a monument--his very own people! (Psalm 148:13-14, MSG)
Shout the high praises of God, brandish their swords in the wild sword-dance. (Psalm 149:5-6, MSG)
Today I come to the end of Psalms. Oh, my, what an amazing journey. David seems to have a poem for every mood and circumstance of the Christian life. Whether I want to question for His absence or invite the whole world to join me in song, and everywhere in between, he speaks about it. I have found it hard to add anything of meaning to his powerful words, but I have enjoyed the road. I hope you have to.
I could end with a meditation on the very last verse in Psalms: Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah! But as always, David says it all, perfectly.
But as a writer of Christian romance, I was thrilled to read the above verses. For me and all the other romance writers out there, who doesn't perk up their ears when they hear instructions for all true lovers?
Let's see what advice the Psalmist dishes out for writers.
First, the instruction are for true lovers. Two people are committed solely to each other (at least by the end of the book). Their love has been tested throughout the book. They have had obstacles to overcome on their path to love. But their love has been proven true. When we reach the last page, author and reader alike have no doubt that their love is indeed "happily ever after," the stuff fairy tales are made of.
Those true lovers are to "break out" in praise. Their faith should flow seamlessly with the story. There should be times when they pause, amazed by God, and give Him praise.
They are to sing. I thought I included music (in my current WIP, it's Scottish ballads and hymns from the Psalter)in my books because music has been the language of my heart since childhood. The Psalmist encourages us to include music in our stories as well.
The setting? Wherever they are sitting. Any part of the world. Any time. Any occupation. As long as they praise god, the setting is left to the author's imagination.
My favorite instructions have to be "brandish their swords in the wild sword-dance." That makes me think of Scottish warriors, or perhaps pirates. A good, manly hero will be ready to defend his family--and God's honor. A swashbuckling pirate or a bronco-busting cowboy bring their own brand of praise to God.
If a romance includes conflict, true love that conquers all, a focus on God, a song or two, and an epic confrontation, the author is well on the way to a grand story.
Today's favorite verse: Let them praise the name of God--it's the only Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky; he's built a monument--his very own people! (Psalm 148:13-14, MSG)
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