Monthly Archives: September 2010

He is the Way

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Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham… I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren. (Genesis 24:27)

Do you live in fear, fear of living, fear of faltering, fear of an uncertain future?  Put all your fears aside. Realize and accept God is leading you. It is His way, the way of truth, the way of life. He is by your side.

Most precious Lord Jesus, help me to release my fears and worries. Guide me on your path of truth, your path of life. Never be parted from me. When I stumble, gently lift me and set me on Your path so that I may join you in all of heaven’s glory. This I pray through your most gracious son, Jesus. Amen

God Bless,

Chris

Aaron’s Revenge

Available at Xlibris, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Women of the Bible: A Study

Available at Filbert Books, Amazon and Faithwriters

http://www.todayisagooddaywithgod.com

Inebriate Me With the Spirit of God

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For where two or three are gathered in my name, I AM there among them. (Matthew 18:20)

 

I spend a lot of time praying along, not that that is a bad thing, in fact it is a good thing.  Do you ever wonder why you have to go to church or some other faith based function? Have you ever thought I don’t need to go to church or another Bible study; I do just fine on my own? Last night I rediscovered the answer. Keep in mind I do go to church on a weekly basis, usually and participate in a Bible study group.

Anyway, I had the privilege to go to a Mercy Me/Jeremy Camp concert last night. This is the third year in a row that I have had the wonderful opportunity to go to the concert of a Christian band. At first look the concert seemed a little disappointing, not because of the bands, but because of the crowd size.  There should have been more people there, more people wanting to praise God. Then Jeremy Camp came on the stage and all my disappointment disappeared. I became a part of the music and the prayer that was occurring in that stadium. It didn’t take long to be swept up into the glory of the moment, the presence of Jesus. People standing up swinging to the music, singing along, worshipping God. It didn’t make any difference that the stadium wasn’t quite full, because God was there.

So back to my original query, why go to church or faith based function? Why, because God is there, His Spirit sweeps the crowd. Things happen to you that you don’t expect wouldn’t think you had in you. Usually I am a quiet, reserved person, but when I get to one of those concerts I become inebriated, and not on alcohol, but on God. The Spirit fills me and bleeds out to the person next to me and next to him. It is like a tidal wave washing away all my fears, worries, inhibitions and replacing them with a joy in faith in God. You may be saying that happens at any type of concert, but I’m not sure that it is God sweeping the stadium or worship space. A special thing happens when one worships God with a crowd of believers. The Spirit moves you; you want to share the feeling with everyone. It gives you courage and inspiration.  God is there.

Praying in private is a good thing, praying with a group whether in church, a bible study or a concert is better. So many people engaged in, becoming inebriated with, praying, what better way to worship our most awesome savior, Jesus Christ.

Most gracious and awesome Jesus, teach me to pray. Show me how and when to pray whether by myself or with a crowd. Inebriate me with the power of your Spirit and give me the courage to spread your word to the world. This I pray to your most magnificent Son, Jesus. Amen.

Go and Be Inebriated, God Bless,

Chris

http://www.todayisagooddaywithgod.com

Letting Go

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It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. (Mark 1:9, NAB)

 

We stood in the driveway, seven of us, tears flowing and hugs that we feared breaking. How could we leave this, it was our whole life? Yet, God had called us; we had made all our decisions. Laid all the groundwork. Now all that was left was catching the plane.

Like Jesus, we were leaving our lives, our families, our church, our community behind to face the next step on God’s path. Unlike Jesus, we were not walking toward our new destination with dignity and grace. Instead we were blubbering in a driveway hanging on for dear life, afraid to let go of the past and afraid to face the future. This wasn’t like thirty years ago, when as two teenagers, we married and moved away from our parents and childhoods. Now we were adults, had raised a family and had begun laying the groundwork to raise our fourth child. Not easy things to let go of. The ties were strong, forged in tears and blood, made of love.

Jesus faced similar issues that day in the Jordan River. He had to let go of the simplicities of his past life and embrace the unknowing of His future. Sure, He was God’s son, divine and all that, but I’m sure He took those first steps with some trepidation. His human side was afraid, yet He boldly took those steps and gave His life to God to keep Him on the right path.

On that day in Pennsylvania, my husband, daughter and I finally did let go and drive away from our grown daughter, granddaughter and his parents. It wasn’t easy and still years later is hard at times. However, if I keep in mind that Jesus made a similar journey and He is always by my side, I have the strength and love to continue. God has set us on a new path that ultimately leads to home with Him. What more could I want?

Lord help me to let go of things that are holding me back from your path in my life.

 

Is there something in your life that you don’t want to let go of? Is it holding you back from making changes and moving forward with your life? Test the waters, set aside that which you don’t wish to and step towards that new life. Believe it was meant to and lovingly set the past aside where you can easily reach it, to remember and learn while you move forward.

God Bless you on all your journeys,

Chris

http://www.todayisagooddaywithgod.com

Ratchet Up the Tension

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Ratchet Up the Tension

So you have a list of characters, a setting, a list of things that will happen to the protagonist, even a timeline, but things still seem a little dull. There seems to be something missing. Sure my two princes will be crowned king, but what’s so exciting about that.  One more ingredient is needed to make this story sparkle, jump out and pull the reader in and then never let go. It needs some tension, a little conflict thrown in. What brought my protagonist to this spot and where will he go once it is over?

To come up with these, I suggest doing a what if list: what if someone interrupts the ceremony, what if there is a kidnapping, what if the prince doesn’t make it and why didn’t he make it? As we answer these what ifs a whole new set of ideas arise along with ratcheting up the tension. Don’t give the reader an easy situation, take the answer to your what ifs and incorporate them into the story. This will add all new dimensions to your story and help your word count get from 0 to say 50,000, 100,000 and beyond. Your characters will become three dimensional as you see how they react to the dilemma in front of them.

Never let your protagonist take the easy way out, don’t let the situation pass without a little conflict to spice things up. I have a friend, Ang Bouma, whose theory is when you get blocked throw in a bar fight. I want to add to that and suggest if things are getting to dull, too easy, throw in a bar fight. Don’t give the characters a chance to become complacent. Complacent is boring Give the reader a reason to root for your protagonist, to be fearful that he won’t reach his goal, that this time he may just be the one to lose. And make sure that once in a while he does lose, because winning all the time is boring and predictable. Always keep your readers wondering, but don’t take away their hope. Strike an equal balance between success and failure. This is what will keep your reader turning the pages, reading till the end and wanting more, like the next book in the series.

Check out Ang Bouma’s blog for more writing stuff at http://angbouma.wordpress.com.

God Bless and Happy Writing

Chris

Aaron’s Revenge

Available at Xlibris, Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Women of the Bible: A Study

Available at Filbert Books, Amazon and Faithwriters

http://www.literarygumbo.com

Faith, Works and Prayer

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Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall
live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)

Faith without works is like peanut butter without jelly, or a hand without a glove in the middle of a snowstorm. One is good but together they are great.

Good works are exactly that good works. Anyone can do them, but like the pb&j sandwich without the j something isn’t quite right but add the pb and you have a good sandwich. When you do good works, pray for faith and then believe you get a great sandwich.

We also run the risk of being pufffed up on our faith and thinking it guarantees us a trip to heaven. Without the good works and prayer you may get a trip to  heaven but then the bus will turn around and head in the other direction and not let you get off.

Sounds like a pretty good deal to combine prayer, faith and works, like the hat trick in hockey or the triple play in baseball, the results are awesome. Someone sees God in us and we see God in what we have done. A deal too good to pass up.

Most awesome Lord Jesus help me to see You in everything I do and let people see You in me through the acts I do. In the most loving name of your son Jesus I offer up this prayer. Amen

All for the Glory of God,

Christina Weigand

Aaron’s Revenge

Available at Xlibris, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

Women of the Bible: A Study

Available at Filbert Books, Amazon and Faithwriters

http://www:todayisagooddaywithgod.com