Suffering -- The Perfect Picture

Warning—suffering is gruesome and the top picture is difficult to see. But, the truth is suffering grows us. God uses suffering for our good. Therefore, we should embrace suffering.
What, you ask? Well, have you ever welcomed a brand spanking new baby believer into the fold and thought, “Just wait.”? And after some time of suffering that person has matured or revealed that the original dropped seed of faith never rooted? Faith must be tested.
I don’t possess the answer as to why death takes children prematurely or why drunk drivers kill hundreds of people. And, I don’t know how God weaves such horrendous sufferings into a personal tapestry. But, in the end, I desire to look like Christ. I will suffer.
Suffering—plain and simple—is one tool God uses to conform us into the image of Christ. Take a moment and look at Christ. Yes, really look at Him. Do you wince at the picture of His suffering? Touch the wounds. Feel the blood as it drips down His body. His breath is heavy and intermittent as He hangs there for me and all who will receive Him. Suffering—the perfect picture.
In the writing world, in His story, we would call the process of His relationship to each one of us a layer. Christ has millions of layers—and we see that in His suffering. In the second picture, we note contemplation. But, depth of the character of a person is unveiled through suffering.

Is there benefit to embracing suffering? If so, how does that work its way out in us—in you and me? Suffering brings humility. Suffering pulls me to a point whereby I raise my hands and acknowledge I have no control over a matter. The issue may be physical such as cancer or it may be a breaking heart as the loss of a loved one. Make no mistake—suffering brings us low to keep us aligned with God. Throughout Proverbs we learn the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. And, we need wisdom to live our lives in a Godly fashion—righteously.
For those of you who are equation-oriented, meditate on this:
Suffering-->humility-->fear of the Lord-->wisdom-->Christ likeness
C.S. Lewis wrote concerning the principle of first and second things. The first and most important is the soul. The body is second. In a fallen world, our nature is to put the body first. We want to feel good, own large homes and chase after money. Maybe that’s why Jesus told us we can’t serve two masters—God and money.
When the first becomes second and vice versa, our values change. We covet feel-good sin and our soul is left to confess later. Suffering helps keep the first thing first.
To believe we won’t suffer because God wants to bless us is adverse to Scripture. To believe the modern wave of the prosperity doctrine slaps Jesus in the face since He had no place to lay His head. Again, note the first thing and second thing swapped positions.
Maybe we need a mind adjustment to look beyond the current trials of life. As Paul said in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
As you go through suffering in this life, stop and contemplate this verse. Better yet, pick up your Bible. Go on—do it now. Got it? If you haven’t read it in a while, blow the dust off is cover. Then read that verse in context of the book of Romans.
I would delight to know your thoughts about suffering in a comment here. Do you have a favorite Scripture on the topic? Share that too.
Blessings,
Jackie

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas
from our home to yours!

We hope you are doing well this holiday season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. This past year has been filled with blessings for us and the future promises blessings and opportunities as we continue sharing our lives with others.
This past summer Lee and Jackie visited Ouray, Silverton, Durango and Mesa Verde. They travelled Million Dollar Highway, a narrow road of about 25 miles between Ouray and Silverton that hugs the side of the mountains, has no guard rail and drops 500 feet to the canyon below. Definitely not a road for the faint at heart! They spent a day on the Rio Grande Railway which has been in continuous operation for 126 years.
Lee’s father Bill visited in September. Bill, Lee and Jackie spent a few days with the elk in the Rocky Mountain National Forest that backs up to Estes Park. The rutting season had just begun and numerous bull ruts were caught on film. Elk racks smacking against each other can sure wake up a forest! They also visited Bill’s old stomping grounds, Lowry Air Force Base. Bill and Lee were both reacquainted with planes they recognized and some they flew.
Christopher has had a busy semester as he pulls out 21 hours. He should graduate in May with a major in History and minor in Classics. He spent time this summer kayaking in the Northeast and joined a family reunion in Lake Tahoe. He has a busy year ahead as he and his fiancée Carolyn plan a June wedding.
Jackie is still employed at T.Rowe Price, an investment company, and enjoys her job. She writes Christian fiction in her not-so-spare time. She attended a Christian Writers’ Conference in ’08 and hopes to add another in ’09.
Lee continues at Verizon. He was able to attend a men’s retreat, survive mountain bike rides, and fishing trips for relaxation. And He really enjoys fellowship and mentoring time with men from church and Academy classmates.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!




Lee, Jackie, Christopher and………Paddy

Fruchtbar Augenblick

Good evening! I hope this finds you well and enjoying a season of thanksgiving for all the precious people in your life. I appreciate everyone God has placed in mine!

I heard two words from a radio program that I hope sprout into full bloom in my life as a writer and woman. "Fruchtbar Augenblick." Sound like something Dr. R.C. Sproul may say, huh? Well he did and those words translated into English are "Fruitful Moment."

The painting is Rembrandt's "Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem." Meditate on the picture for just a moment and you can almost feel his pain. You know where he is and the consequences that are just around the corner for Jerusalem. The painter brings us into this fruchtbar augenblick. The reason I use the German for the phrase is that when Rembrandt painted this, the habit of a painter grabbing the "moment" was in vogue. And, he did this very well. Day after day he would immerse himself in the Scriptures. He sketched scene after scene after scene until the single moment that told the story arrived.

If you're a writer, how do you do this? How do you freeze that pane? Though we have story climaxes, special still moments can be found everywhere. They may be turning points in your book or a time when your protagonist must make the decision that weighs so heavily on her heart. Possibly the hand of a man on his wife's bed gripping the sheet as he releases her into eternity? Whatever that moment is, we can write it with abundant fruit We can write it so the heart of the reader grows and overflows to others. But, it takes time and time and time. Edits. Rewrites. More edits. More rewrites.

How about those fruchtbar augenblicks from a woman's perspective? Do we take opportunities that are teaching moments for our children and make them abundant? (I know I have missed some of those.)

And still yet, there is the whole life thing--the fruchtbar augenblick of life. I don't know about you, but I have, in my mind, a still moment. A life-changing moment. All the sketches of my life came together. Crinkled newspapers with old stories~~burnt and black as coal. Embers sizzle and only a few words from the stories peek through the charcoal. No fruit in this moment~~just death. The next moment was fruitful and continues on. I remember standing and leaning toward the large picture window. The sky shone bluer than ever and the grass?~~who added all the shades of green?! Scales you say? They fell from my eyes. And, I could see. I could finally see! Do you have a moment like this in your life?

Ok, back to the writers....we are created in the image of the One who created time and holds all fruchtbar augenblicks. Let's go out there and write, write, and write some more!

Till next time,

~~Jackie

Buckingham Palace in Colorado?

It's been a while since we've been in touch and I hope you are enjoying this beautiful time of year. The Aspens invite you to touch them with the warmth of their gold and yellow leaves quaking as you pass by. I recently had opportunity to spend the afternoon chilling in the back yard with Anne Perry. Well, not actually WITH her, but I definitely buried myself in her latest in the Pitt series.


This craft of fiction writing grows a deeper passion as I study layers of characters, places and plots. Even pushing the stakes higher and higher draws my heart out even more. Originally, I purchased the book so I could mark page tension, stakes, character layers, place, etc. You know--sort of a text book of sorts. And, oh yea--antagonist layers. A great book for study or pleasure!

I discovered a neat cozy mystery from the Victorian era in England. The book stretches from England to Africa--global stakes here! Though his diplomatic skills may seem not quite up to par, Thomas Pitt is one great detective for the Special Branch. His household maid joins him in Buckingham Palace and snoops the premises to solve a murder mystery or two. The plot twists are fantastic even leading one to suspect the heir to the throne may be guilty.

Winter will soon be upon us and if you'd like a cozy book to go along with the hot chocolate and afghan while you curl up by the fire, pick up a copy of Buckingham Palace Gardens.

Till next time~~Happy reading,
Jackie

Balloon Classic

Good evening,

Tonight was the Balloon Glow in Colorado Springs and tomorrow morning will be gorgeous, weather permitting, as roughly 100 balloons take to the sky early tomorrow morning.

Originating in 1977, The Colorado Balloon Classic is the longest continual balloon festival in the Rocky Mountains. Entrance is free and is a great time of enjoyment for the entire family.

Concession stands will be ready before the sun wakes the city. If you haven't seen balloons take off and touch down on the lake just before they ascend even higher, you are in for a real treat tomorrow morning at Memorial Park in downtown Colorado Springs.

As The Balloon Glow shines bright in the evening sky~~let your light so shine before men.

~Jackie

Healing for the soul....

Good morning,

I've changed the email feed on the blog recipients so I can touch different people. If you are reading the blog directly from the site and aren't on the email, please let me know and I'll be sure to add you.

Healing--isn't that what life is about as we work out our salvation? Take the old wounds to our Savior for healing. And, that takes time--a long time. After all, we didn't get ourselves into the twisted co-dependent world mind-set in just one day, did we?

I don't usually tout books on this blog, but a friend of mine, Nancy Rue, is an absolutely exquisite writer and author of over 100 books. Both her fiction and non-fiction books have poignant truths under the story line. "Healing Stones" is the first in a series of three books that are sure to stir your heart as the underlying healing begins. Steve Arterburn worked with Nancy on this series. And, his professional counseling definitely shows up in the book. I can say--first hand-- if you have any "junk" from your past that you don't know how to handle or what to do with it, the book leads you through those steps in your life. But, watch out, you may just find that the healing takes time and hard work as you walk with the characters through their lives.

If you enjoy reading fiction, this is the book for you. Autum is upon us in Colorado and is coming your way soon. This is a great book to lose yourself to as you curl up in that afghan, turn on a reading lamp and watch God bring Autum into this world and healing into your life.

Have a blessed day!
Jackie

Jim met Jesus

Our loss Friday evening was Jim's gain as he entered into the presence of the Lord. Cancer didn 't have victory as Jim entered an eternity with more clear vision than he had up until Friday. Please pray for his wife, Brenda. Her strength in the Lord is amazing as she recounted that the Lord picked a mighty man to go through this. We are in the same small church group and look forward to comforting her and the family in whatever way we can. We miss Jim greatly. He is one of those truly humble people who light up a room without saying a word. And his words were always carefully chosen and full of joy.

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Two friends of mine have exciting news as far as their writing. Names aren't important as the Lord knows what is happening with them. Please pray as the Spirit leads. These are some great open doors.

And me--I'm at about 67,000 at the current WIP. Am loving the self-editing book. Thanks to those who suggested the book vs critique groups. That decision was a hard one to make. But, I am more comfortable with self-edit and an editor than critique groups.

Looking forward to meeting all the saints someday

~~Jackie