Enjoying What We Do

I write this in the days before Christmas, and my heart still rejoices over the good news of the birth of Jesus, God's Son, sent to live, die, and be raised from death for our sakes.

Entering another Christmas season, to be followed by a new year, my thoughts turn to the daily work of writing for 2015.

You know how much we writers must read of others' work; I am now reading a weighty biography about a prolific writer of the new nation formed from 13 original colonies of the United States, who became the fourth president of the United States--Virginia's James Madison. Michael Beschloss called Lynne Cheney's biography of Madison a "compelling, elegant, original biography" (back cover). That and other reviews piqued my interest in the historical figure I had otherwise thought only of as the honoree of a Virginia university.

In the book's Prologue, these words stood out to me: "Madison's time of extraordinary accomplishment came after years of intense focus, deep concentration, and nearly obsessive effort...." (Page 5, emphasis added here)
 
This reinforced for me the importance of years of writing, which are times also to hone thoughts.

James Madison's disregard for getting credit for his formative ideas for a new nation could inspire any writer of these different yet difficult times when gaining "name-recognition" can easily become too large a concern of the writer.

Whatever comes in the Christmas and New Year season, if drafting-writing-honing thoughts continues to be as enjoyably satisfying as ever, I expect, God willing, to stick with it for the joy of words, ideas, info, and--very important to this writer--connecting with readers like you!

Life offers much to claim our attention now, in this remarkable season and beyond; I encourage all of us to remember a former president's commitment and enter a new year with our own kind of "intense focus, deep concentration, and nearly obsessive effort..." --which undoubtedly influenced one of our presidents' role among his peers. I read that he set himself to the task of guarding conversation with people of different minds about the issues and life of his day.

I hope that we will use this privilege of freely thinking and speaking in this work we do and enjoy--writing.I hope that we, too, will calmly listen to different views and not flee from conversation about them.

Cheney, Lynne. James Madison: A Life  Reconsidered. Viking, 2014. 

How to Get Away from Discouragement

A peaceful balcony, Aruba 2012

At this moment I would guess that there are writers experiencing emotions from high to somewhere in the neighborhood of blah. or worse.

The best emotions are like those I overheard at London's Gatwick Airport, as a woman whispered breathlessly, "My first book has just been accepted by a publisher!"

I wish all of us writers could have that kind of excitement every day. But we do not, and neither does that thrilled author at Gatwick. We go through ups and downs in life and work. We need rest and a change of scene, if we can get it. The scene above is one place I was privileged to relax and rest. Maybe the aqua water and palm tree view can please your eye and focus for a moment.

I can only share what Jesus Christ has done for me. He has also taught me about battling discouragement of any kind. Some of His unmatchable riches that I cherish appear below. Most are inspired by or directly from scriptures. If you are a discouraged Christian or writer today, I hope you will reflect and take comfort and also affirm the truth of these words for yourself.  

I have learned to dig deeply into who Jesus is and the good company of believers I am in, as a believer, for they have borne witness through generations of tumult, fire, and sword. 

You are beloved of God at this moment whether or not you are aware of it.

By faith in Jesus Christ, you have been saved, made whole, with the assurance of eternal life with God. 

You have Peace of Mind, and Christ is your Joy. 

Christ in you is the hope of glory.

He is the One against the discouragement that tries to Overtake  you.

Put on the whole Armor of Christ.

Wear it from Head to Feet, and Never give up putting it on daily.

Pray without ceasing.  

Be in Quietness with God, Trusting Him. In quietness and confidence (trust) is your strength.

God Helps and Upholds you by His Righteous right arm.

He Loves you with the Everlasting Love through Jesus the Savior of the World.

Christ has died -- on the cross for the sins of the world.
Christ is risen -- raised by God bodily, on the third day.  
Christ will come again -- as He has promised. 

A Cross stands over the world. Cling to the Crucified Lord by faith. Think on these things.

Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief.
.
Amen.

Meditation for the coming night

Into this earthly place of life 

Intense and stressful times rush in.
They heap upon you their surprise and 
Crash with disarming urgency.

Believer, dig deeply into

who you are

in Christ Jesus.

Here is your

Peace of Mind and your Joy.

Do not despair.

Christ in you is the

hope of glory, and the Spirit of God 

works within you.

You have ways to resist the

Discouragement that 

threatens to Overtake the world.

Remember the night will turn into

another day of sun or shadow.  

Put on your Armor

from Head to Feet.

Do not fear
the dark or any pestilence.  

Breathe in the holy life in the day, and 

Pray unceasingly in light and
in the night's long hours.

Listen for the Quietness within you, and rest there. 

In spite of aberrations, noise, and clamor, affirm your trust in God.

Rely upon God who

strengthens and who Loves you. 

His Everlasting Love

expressed in the Beloved Son

invites souls now in this wearying world,
Guarding them for a Brighter day.

This is cause for the release of "Halleluia!" praise 
that honors 
this Wonderful Savior and God.

Amen. 

Photo by JPP. Butte, Montana open mine.