April/May FmF Post

Nothing but what is needed:
There is nothing in the Bible that is not meant to be there. How is a name given? What is in a name? Is it arbitrary, a family name, a syllabic mess, or is it chose with a meaning? 
Adam means man, Seth means appointed, Enosh-mortal, Kenan-sorrow, Mahelil-blessed, Jarrod-shall come down, Enoch-teaching, Methuselah- means this death shall be judgment, Lamech-lamentation, and Noah means to bring comfort. 

The message is that Man appointed mortal sorrow, the blessed God shall come down teaching, and His death shall bring despairing comfort. 

God's Word is breathed out by the Holy Spirit, so it is nothing for the Holy Spirit to bring understanding so we can dive deep into knowing God. Nothingness is in man's empty philosophies. We will spend eternity with God and still marvel. 

more names with meaning-
Nathaniel means gift of God 
Daniel means God is my judge
Rhonda means Grand and Warrior- which is hard to live up to. 
Leigh means poem or song, glade or meadow
Bronte means bestower and thunder
Brown-son of strength
Daniel Charles Brown, God is my judge, strong-manly, and son of strength.
Katelin Bronte- pure thunder

May 21, 2024 How to write stories from a Christian POV 
For a fellow writer on how to write a children's christian picture book. I agree with fellow writer, Arree, it makes writing a Christian book even harder. Here are come comparative thoughts.

Recently, I watched a series called Signal, a Korean drama. One of the things I realized this morning was the message in this story. Backdrop: police and political corruption, people looking the other way or taking brides to benefit themselves. Micah 6:8, He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you. 

I woke up early and began pondering different people in the Bible and their reactions to the challenges they face. Here is where your story lies: find the hidden truth, change it to today's issues, and have your character meet those challenges. He does not have to kill a giant, but he also faces the bully at school or his best friend trying to get him to do the wrong thing. 

For the character in the above series, it cost his life, which is the underlying truth of Christianity—exchange your worldly life and follow Christ, death to self, and submission to Christ, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

An example is two godly women:Esther was beautiful, and Leah, Jacob's wife, whom he didn't choose, was ugly. Esther, who was afraid, saved her people, and Leah, who was heartbroken, was loved most by Jacob in later years. Now consider Jezebel, Delilah, Herod's wife; you can feel and see people who are like this, so narcissistic that they manipulate and destroy those around them. Jezebel tried to destroy Israel by introducing idolatry back into Israel. Ahab was too self-absorbed to care. 

Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph—David, Samson, Gideon, and Nathan, who let Deborah lead Israel's army—these men failed drastically, yet saw it and took steps to correct their actions. (David's children: Three died; how David parented is not mentioned, but his kid's choices are.  I have to admit here I would have asked God to leave this part out of the Bible. I mean, who wants their dirty laundry aired for centuries? Parenting is hard. But his children still knew what was right from wrong. They were taught but chose not to follow God. Esther faced death, and Leah was ridiculed but still chose the right course of action. God put David's children's failures to show that it is our own choices. We overcome by trusting God.) Character, hook, conflict, failure, and resolve. 

Kirk and Alice Brown wrote a series of Christian books. I've passed these books on, so it took a bit of research to find their names. They didn't use Christian buzzwords but told stories kids deal with daily, like patience, loss, selfishness, etc.  They would be good mentor texts. 

I agree with fellow writer Arree; writing a Christian picture book is even more difficult. Yet, Arree's book Mixed teaches you how to love your neighbor as yourself. Ninja shows brotherly love by correcting his actions when he includes his sister in his Ninja games. Both show how individuals can change the people and circumstances around them. 

Marilyn Lashbrook's book, I Don't Want To, shows a defiant Jonah as a child. My son's favorite line was-- it was hot inside the fish, it was stinky in the fish, phewy. There were lots of onomatopoeia in her books that my four-year-old son loved. My son would stand up in bed and cross his arms like Jonah in the book. I think that is the catalyst for Trouble with Head Ants. 'ANTS' is an acronym for automatic negative thoughts or any naysaying, nervous, nasty, or not telling me what to do thoughts.  WITT is an anteater who uses his brain. He recycles negative thinking by spelling his name. WITT teaches kindergartners how to handle big emotions. 

It is like the retelling of The Three Pigs: The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf to David Weiner retelling this story. We writers find another perspective of that story and write from a different POV. 

May 17 Finally

Finally, it has a different meaning than final. Finally means to attain a dream, a goal, or a wish. It is seeing the fruition of your work and efforts. Writing stories and poems about how God works in your life and then seeing them published or others read and understand—that rings with finally someone understands or relates. 

Is it your final goal to hear, 'Well done, my faithful servant?' When I finally stand before Jesus, hear those words, and lay everything at His feet, I hope to hear my heart sing. When I lay everything at his feet, I lay down my struggles, see God's hand in my life, and finally understand God's peace for me. 

May 10
Someday your will see the reality of your faith that is no longer temporary but is eternal, immutable, unwavering in God's ever presence. Jesus is returning one day soon. 
Faith in faith is temporary.
Faith in God is eternal.
Faith in your timing is temporary.
Faith in God's timing is immutable.
Faith in changing another person is temporary
Faith in God changing one's heart is permanent.
Faith in feeling is temporary.
Faith in God's Word is solid, a cornerstone.
Faith in my efforts is temporary
Faith in God's ability to accomplish his purpose is unchanging.  
God's word is solid, immutable, unchanging, eternal.

Why men hate-
Patience, a virtue often overlooked in a world of instant gratification, holds a significant place in the realm of faith. It's not a simple trait to acquire, but a complex skill that requires reason, forethought, and emotional stability, all intertwined with kindness, cooperation, and selflessness. It's a virtue that's not for the faint of heart or those with a me-first attitude, but one that's crucial for spiritual growth. 

Jesus called men from all walks of life. He was patient with Peter's headlong ways, Thomas' doubts, Judas' unbelief, and the Romans who gambled for his garments and hung Him on the cross. 

How do we have no patience for our fellow man who does not believe as we do? The world has gone so far as not to suffer the mention of Jesus' name. Don't be offended by their ridicule, sneering, and mocking of Jesus' name. 

I Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and God rests upon you.

John 15:25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'

May 3 Some follies, when to play, when to let go, when to pray, when to rest

Good morning, Sunshine!
Taking in the day, no plans.
Boketto moments. 
--
Mångata reverie
a playful cadence,
lovers leap (Song of Solomon)

---- Some things to beware of
Impertinent chatter 
of a jaded woman
blissfully clueless. (Proverbs 5:3)

“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down” (Proverbs 14:1).
----
We, too, walk every day beside 
the true Messiah,
unmoved by the truth.

---- Some things to know
Moments in nature
filled with wonderment and awe
touching the soul. Micah 6:8 God has shown you what is good. 
--
truth is a plumbline
It does not vary
or shape shift. 
God is revealing the mysteries of the end times, of the secrets of His Word, in a way that offers clarity to everyday life and freedom in our spirit to walk with Him.
--
Light narrows yet shines.
Truth displayed for all to see, 
God’s bountiful grace. 

Rapture for the church 
The last harvest, winter comes.
Weary souls find rest. 

John 8:12 Jesus said:I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

----Some things to rest upon and in. 

Let go of the fight: Exodus 14:14 
"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Let go of doubt, ask for help: Matthew 11:28
 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Let go of resentment: Colossians 3:15 
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Let go of worry: 1 Peter 5:7 
"Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you"

Stillness comes in letting go. His word speaks as to how to let go. 
-----
Time is a fixed entity that is set for a season and is always moving forward. God cannot undo time. God's purposes are unchangeable and set for a season of salvation as a test to man's free will. (Hebrews 6:17-18) There is no variation or shifting of shadows for God's unchangeable plan. All things being possible for God ( Phil 4:13, Matt 19:26) is predicated on a few impossibilities concerning His nature. God cannot lie and therefore He is the plumb-line for the truth to be measured. God exists outside of time. He is the Alpha and Omega. Imagine God holding the ribbon of time, the beginning in one hand to the end in the other. He surveys all of time, simultaneously.
----- Some things to rest upon and in. 
God loves your soul like the soil loves the tree. 
God's Word is the soil where we firmly root our faith. 
The soil gives the tree all the space it needs to grow. 
God's will is His Word. 
It is not a road map but a relationship. 
God is more interested in what you become than what you do. 
Colossians 1:9. 

April
Every once in a while
inspiration hits and
a desire is lit.

Every once in a while
misery accompanies loss
heartache mellows the soul.

Every once in a while
memories comfort and
peace settles within.

Every once in a while
love overwhelms and
endurance is perfected. 
Romans 5 and James 1

What is so complicated about love? Love leads to kindness. Kindness leads to patience. Patience leads to self-control. Self-control to proven character. It is not that we get to pick and choose which fruit of the Spirit to exhibit on a given day. The Holy Spirit produces or yields the fruit (singular) of His Spirit to shine the light of Jesus. Christianity is unlike a cafeteria line where we choose what we like and ignore the rest. It is all or none. Jesus said we would know them by their fruits, actions, or proven works. Others will see the Jesus we know by our actions.
Romans 5:1-5 and James 1: 1-5 Galatians 5: 22-23 and Galatians 5: 5-6