Grace

What if all editors gave unmeasured grace to every writer who submitted his or her work?  That would be an unkind kindness.  Readers everywhere would be deluged with atrocious articles or books, although there might be a spattering of good reading material.   Unmeasured grace would do no good to increase the author's writing skills.

What if reviews gushed on with how great all published books are?  Or, what if the reviews did the opposite - tore down every aspect of a book without adding something of valued to help the author learn the skills of the trade?  Such reviews would be devoid of any grace.

What if critique group members listened with nods and a lot of "uh-huhs" as authors read from their pages?  Or, what if they attacked the writer's piece with the frenzy of sharks at supper-time?  Where's the grace?  Where's the mercy?  Where's the compassion?

What makes God's grace so different?  Grace as defined by the Random House College Dictionary, Revised Edition, is: "The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God."  Why is God's undeserved kindness so important that it is mentioned one-hundred-seventy times in the Bible?  (Thirty-nine times in the Old Testament and one-hundred-thirty-one times in the New Testament, KJV)

One reason would be that God shows grace for our good, to build us up; not in pride, but in order that we would grow in our walk of faith, to persevere in our calling.

Although grace was manifested in the Old Testament, it was but a candle compared with the brightness of grace that appeared at the birth of Christ when God became flesh.  Titus 2:11 says, "For the grace of God appeared bringing salvation to all men."  That's not to say that all men are saved - only those who receive Jesus, who believe on His name.

So, what makes God's grace so different?  It is that the value of one who receives grace is measured by the worth of the One who gives grace.

Rita Kroon

Where Can Wisdom be Found?

While my husband and I spent time in Arizona this winter, I discovered a creative writers' group that met weekly.  One of the exercises we did was to write down a word or phrase on a pieces of paper, toss them into a hat and then, we would write for a specified time - three to ten minutes - on that particular word or phrase. We had to write  continuously without taking our pen from the paper.  No time to think, imagine, or plot.  Just write.  Another exercise was  to write a poem - rhyming or not.  I wrote this poem adapted from Job 28.

"Where Can Wisdom be Found?"

Where can wisdom be found?  And where is the place of understanding?

Man does not know its value - nor is it found in the land of the living.

The deep says, "It is not in me."  The rolling sea says, "It is not with me."

Pure gold cannot be given in exchange - nor can silver be weighed as its price.

Diamonds or sapphires cannot equal it; coral and crystal cannot acquire it.

Where then does wisdom come from?  And where is the place of understanding?
Mann cannot comprehend it - it is hidden in the land of the living.

There is a mine for silver - there's a refiner to purify gold.

Rocks are a source of sapphires, and its dust contains gold.

The path no bird of prey knows - the falcon's eye caught sight of it.

Where can wisdom be found?  And where is he place of understanding?

It is concealed from the birds of the sky - it is hidden from the eyes of the living.

God understands its way - He knows it place.

He looks to the ends of the earth - He sees everything under the sun.

He said to man, "The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom!"

And to depart from evil, that is understanding!"

This was a fun writing exercise that taught me that when I hit a writer's block, if I pick a word or phrase and just write whatever comes to mind for a set amount of time, it breaks up the writer's block like dynamite blows apart a mountain.

So,no more excuses for not writing because of writer's!

Rita Kroon

Dirge of Sorrow - Symphony of Joy

I would like to introduce my guest blogger for this week.  His name  is Sam Crabtree, Pastor for Small Groups at Bethlehem Baptist Church (http://www.hopeingod.org/news-events/bethlehem-blogs) It is a touching article of a young couple in our church who had lost their baby, whereupon the husband anonymously wrote these beautiful words of insight in the midst of grief - grief, yet not without the hope for joy:

"From within the cloud of grief, it can be difficult to see how God feels about your suffering.  Unfortunately, the temptation can be to imagine that he either doesn't care or, even worse, is actually enjoying it.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a story of hope wrapped in tragedy.  If you read the story without grieving, you ave not read it carefully.  Jesus dies.  One cannot imagine a worse outcome for the hero than death, especially when He needs to live in order to accomplish the mission.  Thankfully, Jesus' death is not the end of the gospel story.

One day soon the wrapping paper of sorrow will be torn off and thrown away and the gift of joy will  be forever ours in full.  For now, songs of joy and sorrow play simultaneously, neither canceling the other ... yet.  In the dissonance of these songs, let us remember that the dirge of sorrow has only a few measures remaining, whereas the symphony of joy will crescendo forever."

I love that the dirge of sorrow has only a few measures remaining, and the symphony of joy will crescendo forever.  When times of grief and sorrow do overtake you, I hope you are encouraged to know a the symphony of joy will follow.

Rita Kroon

When God Whispers...

This is too beautiful not to share.  Copy and paste  the link in your browser, turn up your volume, sit back, and take it all in.
 http://www.youtube.com/embed/zf_0jzPQ8lo?rel=0

A Priceless Gift

Merry Christmas to all and may the wonder-filled season linger in your hearts and homes all through the new year. Rather than a blog this week, I decided to include a link to a very touching, family video I think you will enjoy at Christmas.  Blessings, Rita Kroon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sUGOjNsE4aY

Ask Yourself

Questions I think writers should ask themselves.  "Do I have depth to my writing?"  "Do I write on several topics or on only those for which I have a real passion?"  "How does my reader response to what I write with passion and depth differ from that which I write with knowledge and research?"

Unless you're writing a technical paper for a research project or a school assignment, the answer is unequivocally the work written with passion and depth is what evokes the greatest reader response.  What then is key to writing with depth and passion?

Every email, each forty-character twitter, every blog and facebook post, texting, and all other social media are successful only if you connect with another person.  Writing books is no exception.  The key is connecting on a meaningful level and it's called relationship.  Every book and social media must be based on relationship if there is going to be any purpose at all for their existence.

 We are social creatures.  We build meaningful relationships when we spend time together.  Some would argue that if it weren't for social media, there would be no relationships at all.  True - to a point.  However, the best relationships are built on quality time together - talking and listening to one another with a caring and open heart.  The more quality time together, the deeper the relationship.

Allen Arnold, leader of 'Content & Resources for Ransomed Heart Ministries' in Colorado, puts it this way, "This deeper magic comes down to one simple word.

With

Are you writing with God?  This is a radically different approach than starting your writing time with a simple prayer or asking God to bless your work once you're done.  There has to be a relationship between you and God if you are going to write with God."

I agree with Allen.  After all, God is the creator of relationships.  He's the source of wisdom.  He's the teller of parables.  God is the storehouse of creativity.  He knows the beginning from the end.

How do I measure success as a writer?  The number of books sold?  Or, the number of hearts touched?

I am comforted and assured ever time I read the words of Jesus, "I will never desert you nor will I ever forsake you."  (Hebrews 13:5)  I can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper.  I will not be afraid."

I have discovered a confidence and assurance from the Originator of the written word that gives me the depth of writing that will change the hearts and minds of my readers.

As Allen Arnold says, "It's about you and God experiencing the creative dance together."

See Allen Arnold's complete blog at www.novelrocket.com

Rita Kroon