Carrying On

The forward movement continues, but at a snail’s pace. Because I have a life with many different things going on all at once, just like your life I’m sure, I must prioritize activities. There are some things which simply must be done (laundry, doctor’s appointments, etc.) and the other things, like writing, fitted in around them. Writing is a discipline for those who have always had the inner urge to write; much more so for people like me who are new to the craft and never was one to naturally journal. At least that’s what I tell myself.

Over the past weeks, necessities like business and medical travel for doctor’s appointments, the ones which call for me to drive 3 hours to keep the appointment (I have three specialists in southern Cal for very good reasons), have kept me away from home. But I was still posting, for the most part. But though I am a person of words, ie: words are important to me, and as a writer, the right words are important to me, I am not a person of a lot of words in conversation. Though I have had my times of wordy conversation since gaining strength for talking (and I always feel a bit guilty for talking so much), I am not like some who can talk non-stop for long stretches of time. I run out of words.

Since I don’t like to fill the air with word noise—words that have no use to the hearers—sometimes I just don’t post on my blog. I figure if your life is like mine, it is full enough; you don’t need to add blather to it when there are more important things to do with your time. So I do try to say things that have significance to me, hoping it will also be significant to you.

So, having said that, I hope you will continue to tune in whenever I post. I am working toward getting my book “blogged”, though I am cheating a bit since I have already written much of it. I will not be writing it (as in creating it) as I post, rather I will post small chunks each week of what I have already written.  (I got this fantastic idea of blogging my book from author Nina Amir who wrote, what else, “How to Blog a Book”. She was one of the presenters at our book club’s annual spring workshop.) I won’t post all the parts of my book, but enough to hopefully whet readers' appetites for more.

When I’ve blogged as much of it as I think appropriate, I will be publishing it in book form. I’ve been looking into various publishing options and talking with publishing representatives. I am hoping by this fall to make my final decision and get published! Prayers for guidance and all that good stuff are certainly welcome.

Now go have a good weekend.

Back to Sunday School

Back to Sunday school. I’m talking the real deal, one room school house type Sunday school with all age groups. Been there lately? We were this past Sunday, filling in for my friend, Naomi, the regular teacher. Both her helpers were unable to be there that day either, so Randy stepped in and took it on. I was his side-kick helper, but actually I didn’t do much at all.

Adamaris, (a beautiful name pronounced Ah-dah-mah-REES’; Ada (Ahdah) for short), sat in as she usually does to help with the kids. She is the fourteen year old daughter of a couple in the church who, like Randy and I (and Mustard Seeds West), are helping plant Plaza Iglesia Cristiana, a bi-lingual church, in Southeast Bakersfield, one of our city’s neediest neighborhoods. We thought it would be good for the kids if we had Ada with us, since they know her and she knows the routine. But the kids were fine with us, probably because they see us every Sunday in church. They know we are a part of the church family.

In the telling of the Bible story of the day— the one in which Paul and Silas, beaten and imprisoned in Philippi, were singing at midnight—Randy started singing a song he said Paul and Silas might have been singing:

“What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow. No other (thing) I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

I got the biggest blessing when the boy next to me, Leon is his name, started singing it with him. And he knew all the words. Others chimed in softly as well. But Leon sang it in a regular singing voice, with a big smile, eyes riveted to Randy. He knew that song.

Why was this such a blessing to me? This young man, maybe ten years old, is being raised by his grandmother, along with his four other siblings, one of whom is his infant sister. Grandma has serious health problems and no extra money for raising these children. Their mother just keeps dropping them off to Grandma. And she keeps taking them in and loving them.

And they are there every Sunday, scrubbed and every bit the squirmy handfuls you might imagine.

But they are in Sunday school every Sunday. And they can sing with a smile, “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus ….”

Oh, pray for Plaza Iglesia Cristiana, as we reach into SE Bakersfield with the good news that, yes, Jesus can wash away all our sins by his precious blood.

Raising Arizona

        

            This past weekend we were in Arizona for meetings Randy held with leaders and other citizens of the city of Williams, “Gateway to the Grand Canyon”. We flew from Bakersfield directly to Phoenix, which is in desert country close to central Arizona. Renting a car, we drove the two and a half hours to Williams, 30 miles west of Flagstaff, in northern Arizona. The land climbs upward from Phoenix to Flagstaff, which sits at 7000 feet above sea level, making for several distinct changes in the terrain. It is beautiful in its own unique way.

            Saguaro cacti grow abundantly around Phoenix. They are fascinating. They prickle the landscape for miles, standing like sentinels up and down the mountainsides. Because of their shapes, to me they are more like human figures than any other tree-like plant. Seeing them gives me a feeling I cannot put my finger on. I guess the picture of “sentinel” best expresses it.

            We noticed, though, that the saguaro gave way to scrubby, bushier plants as we climbed higher into the mountains. It was on the way back to Phoenix that we noted that the saguaro didn’t seem to grow above 3000 feet in the mountains, at least not in that area*.

            Higher up, bushy juniper forests literally choked the landscape for miles, which in turn gave way to tall pine trees at even higher elevations. Amazing variety of flora. Amazing mountain views.

            The trip was worth the travel, even getting up on Sunday at 4 am to be back at the Phoenix airport on time for our flight home. However, it wasn’t about the scenery; that was only a side benefit for our enjoyment. The real purpose of the trip was accomplished in the minds and hearts of the people of Williams, AZ, as Randy facilitated a Leadership Summit on Friday and on Saturday spoke to another group about Mission as Life, raising the challenge to make the kingdom of God their families' passion and live it out daily in creative ways.

            Calling people to higher ground. That’s what makes the travel worthwhile. 

*The U.S. Dept of the Interior National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/the%20saguaro%20cactus.pdf

Encouragement Day

Encouragement. We all want to be encouraged. Especially when we run into the snags, rough terrain, and potholes of life. When the forward movement of our lives gets bogged down, slowed up or derailed.

One of our greatest sources of encouragement, one so close to us we may miss it, is those people we’ve personally known who lived a life faithful to God and his word through all their own snags, rough terrain and potholes of life. They were people just like you and me. Not perfect in the sense of sinless perfection. No. Just like us. Fallen, but picked up by Jesus, dusted off and given a gentle push in the right direction by the grace of God.

Saved, by grace.

They walked by faith. Sometimes tripping over the snags. Sometimes stumbling over the rough terrain. Even falling into the occasional pothole. But getting back up and starting out again. Getting back on track.

Saved. By grace. The gentle nudge of Jesus in the right direction.

They kept on walking by faith.

No excuses. We have none, you and I. We have this growing crowd (also called a cloud) of witnesses who have gone on before us, walking the trail of faith. We’ve read about it. We’ve seen it with our own eyes. People just like you and me.

How did they do it? They looked straight ahead. At Jesus. Our faith trail-blazer.

Then they threw off, with horror and loathing, as though they were snakes and they no herpetologists*, everything that hindered their steps! Every sin that snags and trips and derails … be gone!

Not once but every day. Riveting their eyes on the One they followed: Jesus.

The way of faith. The way of Encouragement. If they did it, so can I.

So can you.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.


(Hebrews 11; 12: 1,2)

*A herpetologist is one who studies snakes and amphibians

The Decision at our Door

We admire and hold high as examples to follow, Daniel and the three Hebrew men when they asserted they would not bow and worship or serve any god but the one true God, the God of the Hebrews, YHWH (Daniel 3: 16-18; 6: 1-28 ESV). They did so at the peril of their lives.

They would have stood with Paul when he declared, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

These are of the ilk that make up that great cloud of witnesses who cheer us on even today, those who walked by faith, though for some it led to being “tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth” (Hebrews 11:35-38).

Brothers and sisters all over our world today are facing similar challenges—and decisions. Shall they acquiesce or stand firm, even though it may mean suffering or dying, for themselves and their families?

Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, though their lives were spared by God’s intervention, stand in company with those who “have conquered him (the devil, v.12) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (Revelation 12:11). These died for their faith. The list of the martyrs is lengthening daily.

We North American Christians are faced with similar, yet many subtle challenges to our faithfulness to God. Will we be faithful to the Word of God, to our profession of faith in the God of the Bible and his commands? Will we stand with our present-day Daniels and Pauls and the faithful followers of Christ who lay it all on the line to obey the truth of God’s everlasting Word?

“It would be a violation of my most deeply held convictions to disobey what I consider to be the principles in Scripture. The Creator will not hold us guiltless if we turn a deaf ear to the cries of His innocent babies. So come and get me if you must, Mr. President. I will not bow before your wicked regulation” (James Dobson. Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/05/dobson-obama-is-abortion-president/#q33wlUMoSQW0ymRo.99).

 “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18 NIV).

The voices of the prophets still ring out today. Are we listening? Will we stand with them?

Keeping Calm

I am so glad Jesus is along with me on this journey to write and publish a book (remember His “yoke” that He promised was easy? See April 24 posting). Just a little while ago I was ready to … never mind, I got control of myself. Peeked sideways at Jesus, if you will.  He is still calm. He’s the original author of “Keep calm and Carry on.” I really like that statement because that is exactly what I have to tell myself sometimes … a lot of times.

My current frustrations have to do with setting up my website. I’m committed to it now, no turning back. You may ask what a website has to do with writing a book. Yeah, I asked that once too. Back in my days of innocence. About writing and publishing. Nowadays an author must be marketer and promoter as well as writer. So I have many hats to wear and some don’t fit so well, especially the one labeled “Techie”. But like breaking in a new pair of shoes, I’m truckin’ on. One step at a time. (Sorry about switching metaphors in mid-stream ….)

I will begin posting a new blog from my new website when it is “presentable”, ie: functional as well as pleasant to look at. I need to get the word out about the book I am writing and build up my readership. It’s called “Platform”, y’all.

Even though I get frustrated and blow a little steam, mostly Randy’s way since he shows up around here more than anyone else (and has been very helpful but he does have a fulltime job and it isn’t website building), I am fairly calm and have this sense of plodding toward my goal.

One step at a time.

Baby steps but steps nonetheless.

Writer’s Conferencing (and other adventures)

I spent most of this past weekend at the Orange County Christian Writer’s Conference in Santa Ana, CA. I say "most" because the ensuing 30+ hours were spent in an airport and on an airplane (no, no hotels involved). We are finally and safely home now, adventure over, with no more excitement than huffing it to our last gate, on the far side of the world, at geriatric hyper-speed. 

Back to the more enjoyable portion of my weekend. This is the second writer’s conference I have attended. I was at this same one two years ago and learned an avalanche’s worth of writer’s stuff. I learned a lot more again this time around. A distinctive of the Orange County Christian Writer’s Conference is that it is put on by Christians who love Jesus and have His goals in sight for all of us aspiring (and those accomplished) writers who attend. I like that about this conference.

Since my first writer’s conference I’ve continued to gain knowledge about the craft of writing. I’ve also done more writing, especially after finding a local branch of the California Writer’s Club[1] and a writer’s critique group to join. This “Sisterhood of Word Weavers”, as we’ve dubbed ourselves, has helped spur me on to the goal of writing and getting published. Which is sort of the whole point of writing—to be published so others can read what you have to say.

Since I believe God wants me to write for the sake of encouraging others, I need to keep plodding, taking those baby steps, moving toward the goal of publishing and marketing my book, getting it out there so people can become aware of it and read it. So they can be helped and encouraged by it.

This is the reason I write.

If anything I’ve (ever) written has spoken to you, encouraged you, given you new perspective or insight, would you please tell me about what it was I wrote that did that for you?  Words going into the air need to be like arrows shot toward a target, intended for the bull’s eye, not balloons let loose to float aimlessly through the atmosphere.

I’d love to hear from you. I promise to talk back! Please comment to jacquelinegwallace@gmail.com.

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[1] Writers of Kern (WOK) is a branch of the California Writers Club (CWC). One of the nation’s oldest professional clubs for writers, CWC was founded by Jack London and fellow writers in 1909 for the purpose of helping aspiring authors socialize with published authors. (This comment was taken from the WOK website.)