The ferocious eyes of the rescuer
possess this wildest secret:
the weapon of victory in his fist
is simply death, his own.
The Rescuer, a short poem
2
Category Archives: Bible
quality Christian fiction
This issue has been pawing at me for the last week or so.
Here’s my dilemma:
As a fanatic writer, I have a hard time incorporating Jesus Christ into my writing in a way that is not alienating to non-believers.
As a critical reader, I find the number of books that can do this well to be sorely lacking.
Look, I know that there is a vibrant “Christian fiction” genre out there, but if I step into that area of the bookstore, I seem to be surrounded by Amish romances. Really? Amish romances? That is what Christian fiction has boiled down to? I have no– read my lips, NO– interest in reading such a book.
I want books like Perelandra by C.S. Lewis (which was full of dense theological arguments that were presenting in a fascinating and thrilling cosmic duel that draws in all readers), books like Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (which somehow manages to show a believer’s real relationship with Christ without stepping for even one moment into sentimentality).
Even worse than that issue is that I worry that I am contributing to the problem. I’m not writing any poems about how God blessed us with puppies and rainbows or anything, but I am really struggling to find a way to speak to all audiences while still mentioning the name of my Savior.
This was my prayer the other night, which I am showing to you in the hopes that you will join me in praying it:
Jesus Christ, my hope, my love, I BEG THAT YOU WOULD SHOW ME HOW TO WRITE CHRISTIAN FICTION THAT GLORIFIES YOU AND CALLS OUT TO UNBELIEVING HEARTS.
Jesus, I want to do something big for You. Unfortunately, without Your assistance, I can do NOTHING. HA! I even need You just to enable me to worship rightly. I NEED YOU, JESUS. My heart wants this so badly– I so desperately, so deeply want to honor You through my writing and want to draw people to You through story. It seems almost insurmountable to me– the idea of writing incredible, realistic fiction that both honors You and appeals to both believers and non-believers and that will minister to hearts of all kinds. Jesus, I know it is possible with You, but I think that is the ONLY way it is possible. And I plead for it. It’s like my heart is begging for this, Jesus, to honor You in this way, and I need Your guidance and direction just to even come close. Help me to get there. Help me to persist even if it takes so very, very long to get there.
I want what I write to matter; I want it to be infused with meaning and with YOU, and I don’t know how to do that without alienating the very people that I want to have read the book.
May I please throw all this responsibility back on You and ask that You simply use these hands as Your tools? When I sit at my laptop to write, Holy Spirit, I pray that it would be You who guides the words I write.
Amen.
eternal life
Price: “Eternal life is not a substance, it is a Person, and it is enjoyed by knowing the Person. It is knowing God and knowing Christ.”
I remember reading this in college and having something click inside of me. It’s not about Heaven. It’s about JESUS. Which is why my favorite verse is now John 17:3, which says, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
It reminds me that my eternal life has already begun, since I know Jesus now and will continue to know him forever.
For someone who has religious-themed OCD and scrupulosity, this is like a rock beneath my feet.
Martha, Martha.
Productivity really matters to me. A lot. Maybe too much.
This was my prayer the other night:
I love You, God. I really do. Why don’t I spend more time with You? I have this idea about productivity meaning that I churn out a product. But it is productive to spend time with You. I think of the Mary/Martha story– Martha was cleaning and serving and being productive, but You said that Mary made the better choice– to sit at Your feet and listen, adore. Calm me down. Help me to not feel like I always need to produce. I know that part of it is just the creative spirit that You gave me that drives me to create– and in so doing, I believe I am mimicking You, hopefully to Your glory– but I never want my creative tendencies to get into the way of my relationship with You. Holy Spirit, I need You to change this in me. Help me to be satisfied just to be with You. I do feel like we are together while I write– and I am writing for You– all I do is for You. I want to be like Mary, to sit at Your feet and adore. But it is not in my nature, Lord, so I will need You to engender that in me. Martha, Martha, you are worried about so many things. Jackie, Jackie.
survival
I made it through last week! PRAISE THE LORD!!!
There are all sorts of changes going on at my workplace, but I’m through the worst of it for now (I think/hope!). I felt as if God were taking my hand every morning and walking me through each day without letting go. So lovely.
No one wishes for hard times to come, but I find that when they do …
* I am driven into my Bible
* I cling to God more savagely
* I am forced to reevaluate my life and choices
… and it usually ends up working out for my best.
I am so grateful for a God who stays and sustains me, for the wisdom of Scripture, family, and friends, and for incredible new opportunities! It’s not a perfect analogy, but this week, I kept thinking of the story of Joseph– how his own brothers sold him into slavery, how he was wrongly accused of rape and sent to prison, and yet rose to power in Egypt. I love when later he says to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”
Amen and amen, yes?
Proverbs
I have been reading the book of Proverbs in my search for wisdom/guidance, and here are some of the things that are standing out to me, over and over again:
1) Foolish people hate feedback; it’s the wise people who like to be corrected– then they learn from it.
2) It’s better to be poor and happy than rich and unhappy.
3) God hates lies and deception and loves righteousness.
Now to put all these things into practice … to truly embrace constructive criticism, to rejoice in happiness, to rid myself of my deceitful ways. I want to be a better, wiser woman.
unicorns … Bible … what?
Super interesting! (Or maybe I’m a total nerd, which is also a strong possibility.)
JACKIE LEA SOMMERS 