Hosanna Emily's Blog, page 13

Project Canvas || Interview with Alea Harper

Hello writing friends!
Today I'm excited to share a new release that's full of writing advice, inspiration, and encouragement - a book that I was able to contribute to and be a part of!   In addition, I was given the opportunity to interview the cover designer/contributor, Alea Harper!

       

COMING NOVEMBER 15TH , 2018

Summary
An international writing community.
61 authors11 countries6 continents
Are you looking for advice on how to create the perfect villain? Do you need the courage to putyour story down on paper? Find this and more in Project Canvas, a writing resource writtencompletely by teen and young adult writers and compiled by Caroline Meek and Olivia Rogers.
Project Canvas includes:
● 71 short chapters, each written by a different author● bonus interviews with authors such as Tessa Emily Hall and Q. Gibson● world building and character development worksheets● and other helpful resources!

“This is a writing teacher’s dream – not a how-to book, but more of a literary testimony and homage to the process of writing. A sweet balance between the practical and the spiritual, Project Canvas is concise enough for daily meditation, yet robust enough to move the writer’s soul beyond the temporary.” –Brian Dolezal, professional development and spoken word coach at Sumner Academy of Arts and Science

Project Canvas will be available for purchase through Amazon on November 15.
(you can read my review of the book here)

About the Project Canvas Founders:
Caroline and Olivia have been friends ever since kindergarten, when they met in a homeschooling group.  Their writing journey was a slow evolution over the course of many sleepovers, games of pretend, writing stories together, and finally publishing some of them.
Caroline Meek is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Project Canvas. She’s originally from Kansas City, Kansas, where she co-authored The Drawing in of Breath and attended Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences. Caroline has a passion for bringing writers together and is currently studying English & Creative Writing on the Publishing track at the University of Iowa. She’s been published in The Kansas City Star, Ink Lit Mag, Wordsmith, and blogs at Of Stars and Ink-Stained Things.
Olivia Rogers is the co-founder of Project Canvas. She’s originally from the great state of Kansas, where she showed sheep, competitively debated, and also became involved in politics. Olivia believes that writing is the gateway to change. She’s currently studying Political Science and Philosophy at Kansas State University, with the goal of becoming a lawyer and continuing to advocate for others.

GoodreadsWebsiteTwitterBlog


AND NOW FOR THE INTERVIEW!
Hop on over to this link to get to know Alea (she's so inspiring!), and then check out my interview on her blog .
Or watch the full interview below.







About Alea

Alea Harper is an aspiring author of fantasy, science fiction, and any other weird genre out there, probably because she wishes it were real. When she isn't writing, you can find her blogging, reading, fangirling, chatting with friends, designing book covers, making a movie, or sipping tea.




(ps) visit here to discover more about Project Canvas, enter in a giveaway, and more Project Canvas

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

- Psalm 19:14

~♥~

Lakeside Thoughts || Part One

Several weeks ago, I went on a camping trip on a nearby lake with some dear friends.  We camped, laughed, hiked, and explored a world without tight schedules, mounds of clutter, and technology.
And sometimes, I still miss it - the waves beating against the shores, chattering girls as we slept in the nighttime world, the fresh air that reminded us of how free life was.  We returned home and accepted normal life.  Yet I remember.
So I recorded some of the tidbits of our time.  My goal is to give you a glimpse into the serenity of lake life and get your thoughts flowing.
I don't want to leave you thinking that the beauty I share is beyond reach.  My desire is to reveal questions so that we can pursue answers.  Let's desire Christ's beauty and the life He has prepared for us.  And let's chat together in the comments - what are your views on the questions I raise?
Here's part 1.

  

So little realness.

It's dark, nearly night.  The campfire burns even though we've finished dinner and cleared away the remnants.  As one team washes off the dishes, the rest gathers together under the trees.  Seats are opened.  We draw near.
And then we sing.  Some are hymns and others are light-hearted songs of praise.  We clap our hands, shut our eyes, and sing a capella because there on the beach, we don't have instruments.  Only the wind and the waves are the accompaniments to our songs as we stand on the shores.
When the last notes fade, we sit again and turn on head-lamps.  The darkness vanishes as Bibles are pulled out.  Someone shares while we follow along, taking turns reading.  Sometimes, a younger child wants her own turn, and we slowly follow along in our Bibles with smiles.
And then each group creeps away to their tents.  We find ours and, after the girls finish their own chattering, we gather close.  Their eyes meet mine as we talk about what we read.  They pull out notes and share their thoughts.
Voices die down.  We slip back into the night.  Soon, we're on the beach again, laying against the hard rocks.  I fold a hat under my head as a pillow.
The sky is a dark near-black color, but a million stars light it up like a ballroom.  A friend points out the Milky Way.  I feel small, watching the universe above me.
And then we see shooting stars.  First one, then another.  It's like they're dancing together, and soon we lose track of how many there are.  One girl says she saw more than twenty, others are nearing forty.
But I don't count, because with every meteor I want to scream and laugh and point because it's beautiful and amazing and God put it there for me to see.  My heart is pounding faster than those stars.  Together, all of us lay on the beach and admire His handiwork, scream our excitement, and act like little children because we are savoring life that much.
Then I come home.
It's cloudy, so I can't see the stars.  But it's not the same anyway.
My schedules begin.  I hurry to keep up with things, but I miss the connectivity we had.  Everyone lives their own lives, and we eat and laugh and talk together.  But somehow, we don't have the same mission.  We're distracted and preoccupied.  Maybe it's okay.  Maybe it's not.
I wonder what it would be like to have a common goal.  To just fellowship and be together.  I wonder what it would be like if we shared ourselves, became vulnerable, or maybe just stood together and sang under the night stars.
Why are we so individualistic when being connected draws us together?  Why aren't families living like teams but instead clash and argue and live without love?
Why don't we sing and read the Bible together?  Why don't we share truth and our thoughts and just sit together quietly when we have nothing to say?
We're so busy, and it steals our realness.
Does it have to be that way?

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

- Psalm 46:10-11

~♥~

Keep Burning, Keep Trusting

Dear Friend, let me tell you a story.
You're in a room with a roaring fire.  Wisps of orange mix with yellow and red in the flames as they leap high under the rough, brick mantle.  You can smell bits of smoke mixed with the faintest hints of cedar wood.
But as you watch, a man hurries to the fire.  Bucket in hand, he pours it onto the flames, and they hiss, fighting against his work.  When the bucket runs out, he hurries to refill it and returns, dumping gallon after gallon of water into the flames.
They don't die.  Somehow, with every drop that sizzles in the burning flames, the fire only grows.
So you turn, walk around to the back of the chimney where you can see the rear of the fire.  And there another man kneels.  Gently, he pours a curved pitcher into the base of the fire and deep, black liquid flows - oil.
Two fighting forces.  One side fights to kill the fire, the other slowly builds it higher and stronger.

The oil caresses the flames even though they can't see it.  Still, the fire roars at the man with the water as he tries to quench its heat.  Some flames die, others quiver under the water's touch.  But they never go out.
And you realize something.  The fire doesn't know, but it's kept alive - not by its own strength but by the oil that's gently poured into its roots.
(story adapted from John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress)




That fire represents our faith.  And we're under attack.
The enemy has cold water to douse our hope, and, honestly, we're helpless against his schemes.  What can a small fire do against so much water?
Yet we're not alone.  Christ is always there being our strength when we are weak.  He is our shelter in the storm, our oil when we burn low.  Even if all else fails, if God is for us, who can be against us?  (Romans 8:31)
That was my life last week.
On Monday, I had plans for what great posts I would write up for this blog.  I had a whole week ahead of me - a week to accomplish goals, grow stronger, do things I never did before.  But that Monday morning, it all shattered.
A friend died.
He was like a brother to me and my little brother's best friend.  After fighting cancer for 10 months, our friend went to be with Jesus.
It should have been a time of celebration - Heaven is a wonderful, beautiful destiny, and we are thankful for our friend's victory over sickness, death, pain.  But we also felt broken.  It sounds so selfish to miss someone who's in such a better place, but we did.  We mourned.  We hurt.
And then I thought I healed.  I moved on, tried to forget, and busied myself with other things.  If I was that fire, it was like the enemy gave me a break as he refilled his bucket.  I thought I was okay.
But on the day of the celebration of our friend's life, it all crashed down again.  I remembered every memory, every thing that I missed with our friend being gone.  As we worshiped together during his memorial service, I tried to sing along, but the words came out in broken sobs.
There were so many questions:  Why?  If I had faith, why did it not work out like I prayed for it to?  Didn't God care?  Didn't He love?
With them slowly came answers.  I felt that pitcher of oil pour into my dying flames.  And even though I still don't understand completely, I am not extinguished.






Yes, God loves.
As I walked outside in bitterly cold air, my heart matched the dropping temperatures.  But I looked up.  A monarch butterfly flew across my path.  I turned away, kept walking, but remembered.
Later, sitting at my desk, my eyes wandered out the window.  Sunlight pierced through a green field, edged in the brown of autumn.  Somehow, the light brightened the world and made it glow.  I stopped everything I was doing and embraced it.
And so many other little reminders:  yes, God loves.
I don't understand why, but He still loves.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, not height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

- Romans 8:38-39

He doesn't only love us, but He has a purpose in everything - even if it's not the purpose we imagine or dream.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

- Romans 8:28

As I felt the fresh pain of loss, He brought an idea into my mind.  I'm a writer.  In my current WIP, my main character experiences death firsthand.  She is alone, weak, scared.  Life turns upside down in ways she doesn't expect.  And she wants to give up.
As an author, I hurt with my characters.  I care about them.  I cry when I make them suffer.
But I know the big picture.  In the end of her story, my character will be stronger.  She has a beautiful, wonderful ending to her story, and she just needs to trust me to bring it to pass.
It's the same with us.
I don't know why things happen the way they do, but God has a purpose.  The end of our story is beautiful - Heaven with Jesus forever.  Even though right now it hurts, we have a good inheritance (Psalm 16:5-6).  We might never find out why, but we can always declare,

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.

- Job 1:21

 I believe God hurts when we experience pain (John 11:35-36, Hosea 11:3-4,9 read the surrounding chapters for full context - so rich!).  But sometimes, that difficult time is what helps us grow most.
And when we're hurting, we can remember that there's Someone behind us, fueling our flames with oil and never leaving us nor forsaking us.
There's so much more I learned from this time of mourning; I'm so, so thankful for it.  I'm learning to love others more.  To savor my time.  To rejoice.
But dear friend, what buckets of water is the enemy throwing on your flames?  What trials do you face, and how can I pray for you and be an encouragement?
You are never alone, and you are so loved.  God has a plan.

Weak and wounded sinner, Lost and left to die, O, raise your head for Love is passing by 

Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus and live

...

Sometimes the way is lonely, And steep and filled with pain, So if your sky is dark and pours the rain 

Cry to Jesus Cry to Jesus Cry to Jesus and live

- Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)

  

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

- Isaiah 40:31

(ps) A lovely author wrote a post that blessed me today in this topic.  Click to read God's Masterpiece by Aleigha C. Israel.
 ~♥~

You Have a Purposeful Calling

God has a purpose for you.
When I was little, that purpose was on the forefront of my mind, but I often searched for it in the wrong places.  I dreamed of what I would do when I grew up, who I would be, how I would change the world.  When friends came over, we'd ask the same question.  "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
And I had a lot of answers.  At first, I wanted to be a mom with ninety-nine daughters and one son (poor guy, I know).  Then my ideals matured to the idea of becoming a clown.  Sadly, I was never funny, nor did I like being the center of attention.  New dreams came and fell.  I'd be a jockey riding in horse races.  Or a missionary sharing the Gospel with cannibals in unknown lands.
But now I am a little older, and God has different plans for me.  I know a portion of my calling - to share His overwhelming beauty through writing.  In the future, I desire to raise a household of children for Him.  It's a good purpose but not entirely complete.
There's a calling so much more important.

   

If you know your future purpose or not, it's really not a big deal.  Because right now, right here, God has something bigger in store.
Before the creation of the world, He knew you (Jeremiah 1:5).  He knew your fears, your weaknesses, the way you'd fail.  And He has a perfect plan for you.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

- Jeremiah 29:11

We all want to know our future, and the Lord has it all planned out for us perfectly.  But there's something more important.
Our calling is to call upon Him, go and pray to Him, and seek Him with all our heart.
No matter what job we have, what house we live in, what our dreams are, that's our calling: to passionately want Jesus more than anything and seek Him with all.
When Jesus left earth, He gave us our purpose in life.

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

- Mark 16:15-18

It's not that our specific calling or occupation isn't important.  As Christians, what we do isn't less important; it's actually way more vital because the way we live can make a difference for eternity.
You could have any job or dream, but your calling is the same: to be ambassadors of Jesus to a lost world (2 Corinthians 5:20).  In a word, our calling is Jesus.
You are not a label.  When I was young and searching for my purpose, I wanted a label.  I wanted something to present as who I was.  But it would be selling ourselves short to find a profession, give our lives to it, and think that's all there is to it.
The real label that should define us isn't "college degree" or "profession."  Our definition should be Christ.
So we live every moment for Him.  I write in order to honor Him.  Maybe you babysit or dance or write essays or grow gardens or perform in movies.  Do it for Jesus.  We might not know the next step or what the future holds, but we know Who holds our future.  So live it for Him.
I had to make that decision this week.  After pressing on through school for 12+ years, I finally saw the end goal in sight, the day when I could be done, graduate college, and pursue what I feel is God's real calling for me.  And then things happened.  Classes weren't accepted, and I have another semester of work.
It's not my plan, and I don't like it.  But He has a purpose for me in these months, and I am choosing to rejoice in that.
Dear friend, live today rejoicing in Christ.  Don't worry about tomorrow, because He has a purpose for it.
And it's perfect for you.  Maybe not what you expect, but His plans are greater.
Don't wait to do hard things and live radically until you're an adult or until you reach a certain place in life.  Start being the person He has called you to be right now, and let Him take care of the rest.  He can write your life story better than you ever could.
My job right now might be taking college classes, but that can't hold me back from seeking Him with all my heart.  That can't stop me from pursuing the goals He has put on my heart.
You have a purpose.
My friend Jessica worded it perfectly, and I'll end with her thoughts, "You are chosen to be a child of God, first and foremost, and there’s always a place by His side for you. That is your purpose."  (read her post, What Does Purpose Look Like?)

   

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.  Amen.

- Mark 16:19-20

 ~♥~

Live - and Love - Simply

I grew up living simply.  If I was inside, it was to get lost in a book or to finish school as fast as possible so I could go outside.  Out of the house, I spent every afternoon in imagination games with my siblings and friends.
In the creeks, we were Indians washing away our tracks to escape from the settlers seeking to capture us.  In the woods, we fled from orphanage keepers.  Playing tag, exploring unknown lands, we embraced the beauty of life God gave us.
And then we grew up.  Addition turned into algebra.  Stories turned into essays.
Life became complicated.
But I wonder if it has to be that way.

   

Maybe you noticed that I skipped posting last week.  I haven't done that in months.  But life has become overwhelmingly busy at times (college does that), and, yes, I fall short.
It's crept to other areas of life.  I can't write my sequel... because I'm busy.  I can't savor relationships, go outside to just leisurely enjoy life, take a break to simply love God.  Sometimes life is like that.
Ultimately, the problem comes down to our priorities, but there's another issue.  Life is complicated.  Taking college classes, having online ministries, starting Bible studies at Church, trying to keep up with everything - it's complicated.
So easily, I become burned out, tired, exhausted.  And I need to go back.

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.

- Psalm 16:5-6

Last week, I did that.  I grabbed my 4 year old sister's hand.  We imagined that we had an umbrella that could fly, and we flew to the creeks, through brushes, and up a hill.  We discovered treasures and put them in our museum.
Another day, we climbed trees.  How long was it since I last scrambled up branches, let my skin rub raw, and tottered above the earth, looking down on the ground from a new perspective?  When I tried to swing on vines (failing but enjoying the moments) and climb up just one branch higher?
I made dinner for my family.  Baking for twelve is time consuming, but I savored the evening and doing something I had missed while working on essays and academic papers.
And so many other moments.  Walking through a cave and treasuring the beauty of it.  Laughing and talking in silly accents, forgetting that I'm an "adult" and supposed to be mature and serious *cough*.  Grabbing a childhood favorite book and losing myself in its pages.
And remembering the simple truths about God too.

Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.

- Deuteronomy 7:9

The Bible may seem complicated, but I remembered what is stands for.  We were created in the beginning because He loved us (Psalm 139:13-18).  Despite our failures, He is our strength (2 Corinthians 12:9), and He proved that by becoming the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.  In the end, that love story will be complete when we are in His presence together, united (Revelation 22).
We can get consumed by so much, when it's all supposed to be very simple.  Jesus loved us with everything.  Why don't we do the same?  Why don't we love Him and others radically like that?

Let all that you do be done with love.

- 1 Corinthians 16:14

It's not about trying so hard to overcome our weaknesses.  It's about realizing that we have everything we need for life and Godliness, and that's in Jesus (2 Peter 1:3).  We seek Him, strive to become like Him, strive to Love like Him.
It's a relationship.  He loves me, and I want every part of my life to love Him in return.

  

I don't think life was meant to be complicated.  We can be consumed by so much - being healthy, doing all the right things, keeping up with life, writing that next bestseller - when life was meant to be much simpler.

Jesus.
Living every moment as a worship to Him.  Embracing the life He chose to give us.

O my soul, you have said to the Lord, "You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You."

- Psalm 16:2

And somehow, when I remember that, it's enough for me.
I'll forget and go back to those long college papers, draining afternoons, and busy schedules, but I want to remember that I do all that for Him.  To love Him.  I complete my assignments to honor Him.  I worship Him through ministries, through holding that crying baby, through taking a break to love my sibling.
I might not be able to spend my life in the woods like I did when I was young, but I can go back to that simple joy I had when I loved Him, loved life, and embraced it all with thankfulness.  
My friend, live simply.  And love simply.
For Jesus.

   

But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

- Luke 18:16-17

~♥~

Replacing Lies with Truth

Dear Friend,
I've wanted to write this post for several months, but God is finally giving me the opportunity.  And the idea has grown bigger than I originally thought.
It's something I need to hear again.  And hopefully something that will bless you.
This is my prayer - that we both become more like Jesus.  That we have a heart like His, full of Love.

   

We hear so many lies.
The enemy is constantly throwing them at us.  He lies about us, those around us, God.  And most of the time, we listen to him.
One week, a friend challenged me to start guarding my thoughts.  We took every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).  By doing that, I discovered so many lies that were going through my brain.
Lies like, "I don't belong.  These people don't care about me." Or "I'm not as beautiful, as talented, as good."
There were lies that were meant to tear me down and ones meant to tear down others.  "I'm better than them.  They don't deserve...  They're not..."
It's scary.  The lies we hear can completely transform us into this bitter, selfish person who is not who God made us to be.  They turn our day sour, throw a bucket of ice water on that faith we thought we had.  The problem comes when we listen to the enemy.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

- John 10:10

That abundant life comes through Jesus.

  

When I started to guard my thoughts, I was horrified by the lies I heard.  But I also felt transformed, because I replaced those lies with Truth.  I took every thought captive and weighed them before Him.
Every time a thought came in my head, I stopped and asked myself, "is this Christ's Truth?"
When the enemy said I wasn't good enough, I remembered - my goodness comes only from Him, for He is my inheritance (Psalm 16:6).  He loves with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
When I had pride, I remembered that I'm only a servant, like Christ was (John 13:3-5).
When I was afraid, I remembered that when I am weak, He is strong.  His strength is made perfect in weakness.  (2 Corinthians 12:9).
When I didn't feel like it, I remembered to praise Him (Psalm 16:9).

  

If we listen to the enemy's lies, we will be torn down.  Bitter.  Offended.  But Christ offers love, hope, and Truth.

It's not because our lives are perfect that we can have this hope.  It's because we choose to abide in Him in the midst of our struggles, knowing that in Him we have everything we need for life and Godliness.
That week was beautiful for so many reasons as I discovered the beauty of being transformed by the renewing of my mind.  When we take every thought captive and believe His Truth, we find joy.

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

- Psalm 16:11

Joy is found in His presence.
So friend, whatever is keeping you from that presence - whether busyness, idols, or those lies the enemy throws at you - replace them with Truth.  His word is Truth (John 17:17).
And that's the key of it all.  Truth is in God, in His word.  Renewing our mind means loving His word so much that it becomes a part of who we are.
That's my challenge for you:  abide in Him.  For me, that meant taking every thought captive and replacing them with His word.
Although I've fallen away from that practice, I want to go back.  I want to remember His Truth and dwell in it instead of in those lies.  But I can't find Truth if I don't abide in reading His Word, memorizing it, and praying faithfully.  I can't find Truth if I don't have Him.
What's your first step?  Let's talk below.  Share how I can be praying for you and encouraging you on this journey for Truth!  ♥
If we seek Jesus, He will be found.
Dear friend - seek.

   

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts. ”

- Isaiah 55:8-9

~♥~ 

The Passion of the Christ movie review

If you're like me, maybe you've been a Christian for a while, but it's easy to gloss over familiar passages.  Even the key chapters of Jesus' death can become "skim through" places.  This movie helped me.
The Passion of the Christ shows the story of the life of Jesus during his last hours, including the Garden of Gethsemane, the scourging, the crucifixion, and a quick glimpse at his resurrection. It covers the accounts told in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  It shows a peak into the real story.  The real, amazing Love of Christ's sacrifice.

  

A film about the last twelve hours of Jesus of Nazareth's life. The film opens in the Garden of Olives (Gethsemane) where Jesus has gone to pray after the Last Supper. Jesus resists Satan's temptations. Betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus is arrested and taken back to within the city walls of Jerusalem where the leaders of the Pharisees confront him with accusations of blasphemy, and his trial results in a condemnation to death.


Details:

126 MinutesBy 20th Century FoxDirected by: Mel GibsonRated: RReleased: 2004

Negative Elements:

This is the only R rated movie I'm ever planning on watching.  I was nervous to see the graphic and violent content that I had been warned about, but I also wanted to gain a real understanding of what Jesus went through during the time of the passion.
This movie is not for anyone who avoids violent, scary, or gruesome details.  The Passion of the Christ shows Jesus' arrest, the flogging, and the crucifixion in details.  It doesn't attempt to hide or minimize the agony He went through.  The scourging was especially hard for me to watch.  There was a lot of blood - way more than I expected.  The cruelty and suffering can't really be described.  In those regards, the movie was a challenge for me to watch.
But that was good... because that's what the Passion was like.  It was a sobering reminder.
There were also many frightening scenes.  Satan is portrayed almost ghost-like, and it gave me goosebumps to look at him.  The scenes in which Satan enters or uses his power are chilling.  I covered my face with a pillow several times to avoid the worst scenes.  However, this too seems necessary to the film to show who Satan really is - the prince of darkness.
A last comment is that the movie depicts soldiers who are drunk.  Really though, in the entity of the movie, this is a small comment.

My Review:

Yes, there were a lot of negative elements.  Honestly, the movie was hard for me to watch.  The Passion of the Christ is realistically portrayed (in my limited understanding), and is quite open with the gore.  Although I did skip certain scenes, I can still say I'm thankful to have watched it.
What Jesus went through was undeniably horrific.  At multiple times in the movie, I watched His limp body, barely able to stand, and it just shocked me.  I never imagined Him as that torn.  As that broken.  The movie made the Bible come alive when it says,

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

- Isaiah 53:5 

His sacrifice is much more than we can imagine.
I also appreciated scenes in which we saw flashbacks into Jesus' earlier life.  It made His humanity  more real, and it took away the tension for a moment.  One part even made me laugh.
The movie ended with a quick glance into an empty tomb, but I wished it had gone more in depth into His resurrection.  After all I went through as a viewer, I wanted more closure.  I understood His death better, but His resurrection is vastly important for our salvation as well.
Overall, I recommend this movie to those who want to gain a real grasp of Jesus' death.  It's not an easy film to watch.  At all.  It's also not for those who want to experience a movie "for fun."  But understanding the Passion could give you a deeper understanding into the Gospels and how great His love is for us.  For that, the film is totally worth it.

Other Notes:

Something that surprised me is that none of the movie is in English!  Instead, the audio is in Latin and Aramaic, with English subtitles.  This didn't take away from The Passion of the Christ, as it was an interesting thematic element that helped transport me to the early years AD.
Also, a more detailed review is offered through Plugged In .  Use judgement, as I cannot promise that the site doesn't contain information you might be uncomfortable with reading.
And if you have watched this movie, I would be interested in hearing your side.  Does violence and gore bother you in films?  Have you watched an R rated movie that you deemed acceptable?  How do you try to see Jesus' sacrifice in a personal light?
Let's strive to guard our hearts and minds but also seek to know the full Love He has for us.  ♥

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.

- Isaiah 53:7

~♥~

Don't be a Christian for the Wrong Reasons

Last week, my mom, four sisters, and I drove through winding roads of pastures, hay fields, and houses.  Beautiful landscapes swept around us, greens of every color, trees.  We laughed at some of the funny road names, sang to the cd that played, and enjoyed the Saturday morning as we drove in search of a garage sale.
And then a different song began to play.  I listened and was caught by the words that a group of little children sang in praise to God.  Because I wondered if my life matched up to the lyrics.
So take a minute and listen to these lovely voices before reading on.
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever - Kids:  Joy.
The chorus repeats these two lines:

Let me be a shining light for You Let me be a joy to You always

They're simple.  But as I was listening, I was caught on the last line, and I wondered if my life was a joy to God.
If Jesus looked down and saw me right now, would I be a joy to Him?  So many other words pop into mind.  Half-hearted?  Distracted?  Trying but failing anyway?  Going through the motions?
Am I a joy to Him always?
What about you?

 

Worship should be our life.  We worship by singing, dancing, playing an instrument.  But we also worship by being faithful, living in love, and sharing His truth.

I think we (including myself) often worship only half-way.  We think our quiet times, when we go to church, when we work on our ministry - those are worship.  And it's true.  But worship is called to be so much more.  Every single decision should be a joy to Jesus.  We should live lives of worship, not just those occasional moments (Philippians 4:4, John 4:24).
It reminds me that Christianity isn't a one-moment thing.  If you were adopted into a family, that doesn't just change your name.  It changes you - your decisions, your passions, your home.
Ephesians 1:5 says that we were adopted as Christ's sons.  That relationship needs to change every part of us.
Let every part of our lives bring Him praise.  That is worship.  That is a joy to Him.
Maybe the reason we don't have that simple joy and humility is because we're "christians" for the wrong reasons.
When I was ten, I remember coming to Mom in tears.  I really wanted to be a real Christian.  I wanted Jesus.  I wanted to be certain that I had Him.  I was scared that I didn't have enough faith or that I'd miss the point somehow.
But I also remember telling her that I wanted Jesus because I was afraid to go to Hell.  A relationship with Him was important to me, but, at that moment, I didn't feel like I had one.  So I started at the basics, and Mom told me that as I grew in Him and got to know Him as a divine Person, that emotion - the love for Jesus - would come.
I wonder how many people have stayed with the basics (which reminds me of this passage ).  They are "christians" because it's comfortable.  Because it's popular and "saves them from Hell."
Don't be a Christian for the wrong reasons.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God...

- Ephesians 2:8

 

Dear friend, why do you want Jesus?
If you go through the motions so you can have a good testimony, so you feel changed, so you get to Heaven... you're doing it all for the wrong reasons.  Christianity isn't about you at all.  It's about Him (Titus 3:5-6).  It's about a God who literally died for you because of Love (John 3:16).
Sure, you feel dry sometimes.  Maybe you don't "feel" Him.  But that's not the point.
Are our beliefs rooted in a deep love for a Person who gave His all for us?  Do we live every moment, breathe every breath, take every step to bring Him joy?  Or is this all about us?
If Love is what defines us, we'll worship even if we don't feel the emotions.  We'll seek Him even when He feels far away.  Because it's not about us.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

- Romans 12:1-2

What if we really were transformed to be like Him, if we presented our body as a living sacrifice ?  Can you imagine a world where Christians truly had Christ's agenda and loved as He loves?
There would be no inconvenience... because we'd realize that it was all part of His plan.  We couldn't be selfish, prideful, envious.  There'd be joy, thankfulness, love.
That's Christianity: living a life with the fruits of the Spirit because we are so full of Him that we simply cannot help but become like Jesus.
Dear friend, don't seek Jesus to find anything for yourself; seek Him to love Him more.
And, like the song proclaimed, let's become a joy to Him.  If Jesus looks at your life, is He proud, excited?  Or does He wonder why you're so consumed with other things?
Your life needs to revolve around Jesus.  Let yourself be a shining light for Him.
I don't have this mastered.  I daily forget, fail, and try again, and, right now, I laugh at God's perfect timing because I desperately needed this reminder again.
So how do we live this out in our daily lives?  Let's talk together in the comments, dear friend, as we press on towards Jesus.

Come further up, come further in!

- The Last Battle, C.S. Lewis

  

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law...

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

- Galatians 5:16-18, 22-25

~♥~

Introducing: The Torch Keepers

Back in October, God gave me a story.  But the story's beginning goes even further back.
I remember seeing a picture online several years ago.  It was a portrait of a beautiful, European girl who looked like someone you'd see in prom photos.  Long, golden hair, beaming smile.
But the article underneath shocked me.  The girl left her home and traveled to a middle eastern country.  She became a terrorist.
I stared at the picture and wondered how someone could do that.  How they could have so much pain inside that would make them join a group of people who murdered for fun.  Who thought death was just a way of life.
It's horrible.  But I look back now and realize that the picture of the girl was the beginning of a story God was only beginning to write inside me.
Last October, I had a college assignment to write a short story.  Without realizing it, I wrote the story of that girl's life—someone who made the decision to join an Islamic terrorist group.  It sounds horribly graphic, but, somehow, I found God through writing about that evil.  Because despite the tragic pain in the story and in the world, He is strong.  And He is King.
I received feedback from the other students.  Two girls scribbled on the back of the story, "I think this should be part of a longer work."
I rolled my eyes when I read it; I was already so busy working on my other novel, Emblem of Hope.  I wonder if God laughed at my silly thoughts.
Because this summer, He lead me through writing a novel based off of that little story.  It was written and edited in two months—something I literally can't do in my own strength at. all.  And He gave me the opportunity to enter it into this novel contest .
Almost a year after writing that first short story, I'm here shaking my head.  The Torch Keepers is a fantasy novel (a genre I never wanted to write).  And, by His grace, it won the novel contest (see the list of winners here!).
Although revision will certainly come in the future, I'm so thrilled to discover where He takes The Torch Keepers!  My hope is to have it published by the beginning of next summer, but I'm taking it a day at a time.  Next up: writing the sequel.
But before I begin that, here are some sneak peeks into The Torch Keepers... a synopsis, some pictures that inspired the book, and Biblical verses that transformed it into the story it is today.
I can't wait for you to read the story!  But, until then, here's something to pique your interest.  And as I begin writing book #2, I'd savor your prayers for God's wisdom and grace in the writing process.






........

The Torch Keepers

synopsis

A fiery revolution sweeps across the kingdom of Érkeos, and each person must choose a side. Kadira—a girl set apart to serve the King—loses those most dear to her. When she meets Rekém, the Liberation warrior sent to kill her, she questions the King's ways. As hearts and lives hang in the balance, Kadira and Rekém's decisions could bring destruction or liberation to the entire kingdom.

........

   




The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.

- Isaiah 35:1

Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. 

- Isaiah 1:18

For You will light my lamp;
The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 

- Psalm 18:28

So—there it is!  There is so much I could tell you about this novel, so many God moments of inspiration and passages that He used to tell this story.  But I can't give away the whole adventure, so you'll just have to wait.
In the meantime, let's chat!  What part of the writing process is most daunting to you?  Have you ever given a story completely to God, letting Him write it through your fingers?  What questions do you have about The Torch Keepers, and what upcoming writing posts would you like to see about it?
As I'm preparing to outline book #2, I'm looking back and remembering how He is always faithful.  There are many unknowns in life, but that's okay.  He writes my story.
And Jesus wrote the story of that girl who became a terrorist.  I wonder if He cried at the pain she brought herself like I cry when I have to do it to my characters.  I don't know where the girl is, what she's done, if she's even alive anymore, but The Torch Keepers is the story I wish she could read.  I wish I could stand next to her and tell her that there's still grace.  That she can be forgiven.
But I can't.  So today I'm telling you, dear friend, there's grace.  And remember, Jesus is writing your story too.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

- John 14:27

~♥~

Set Life || a Short Story

I straighten, my elbows resting on the edge of a table covered by a blue cloth. The pattern on the sheet is like woven textile and complements the scattered puzzle pieces of every color. I see two matching zebra pieces and press them together. The edges fit perfectly.
"Don't get too far ahead, Hosanna," one of the grips says as I find another zebra piece, "we haven't started the shot yet, and the puzzle's only supposed to be half-done."
I laugh and shrug.  "I can't help it.  All these pieces just waiting to be put together."  But I stop and watch the film crew around me, my hands still fiddling with a small puzzle piece between my forefinger and thumb.
One actor—my brother—isn’t going to be filmed in this scene, and he takes a turn helping the grips set up lights.  Other behind-the-scene helpers put up the lights, hold diffusers, and arrange the scene perfectly as the camera op and director give them guidance.  The lights and stands are arranged, making the tan wall behind me free of shadows.  The puzzle pieces look even more vibrant on the blue tablecloth.  I pick one up.
When the director is satisfied with the lighting, a make-up artist comes close and squints at my face and the other actress.  She dabs transparent powder on my nose and forehead.  It already feels like there’s a thick layer of makeup covering my face, but I squint and let her brush some under my eyes.
"Are the lights making me shiny?" I ask, smiling.
Her voice rises with her flashing grin, "No, you just can't help glowing.”  She gives me one last pat of powder.  “You're a star, girl."
The other actress and I laugh.
"Practice run."  The camera op holds his gimbal and sweeps the camera slowly across the scene as I go back to the puzzle.  After he does it several times, he nods to the director.
I tense.  My heart pounds against the lav mic that's tapped to my sternum.  A tiny cord trails down to the transmitter in my back pocket that's hidden.  Every word I say can be heard by the boom operator.  Yeah, it can be embarrassing.  No secrets.
He hoists his boom pole onto his shoulders.  It's extended past four feet, and he raises it above our heads, checking to make sure it's not in the camera shot.  His long arms stiffen as the mic hesitates above our heads.
The camera op nods.
"Camera rolling."
"Sound speed."
I take a deep breath.  As I lower my eyes to the puzzle again, my fingers clasp around one of the pieces.  It's not a zebra but instead some odd, grey texture. An elephant?
"Scene 13 alpha take 1."  The clapperboard snaps, making my ears ring.  The 2nd AC steps away, holding the board, and pauses.
No one says a word.
Memorized lines rush through my brain.  I try to sort them, to remember which goes first, where I look, how I say every word.  They’re like the puzzle, mixed and strewn all over the tablecloth.
I release my breath in a quick prayer.  This scene belongs to God. It's all His.  "Help me, please."
"Three, two, one... action!"
The actress—my pretend sister—pulls up to the table in front of me, but I ignore her for a moment.  My fingers fiddle with the puzzle pieces.  I find two that connect, and they slip together like old friends meeting once again.
But I raise my eyes, my throat tightening.  "Why were you yelling?"
She doesn't meet my gaze.  "I don't want to talk about it."
It's the climax scene for my character, and somehow, I forget who I am.  I forget that I'm an actress, and instead I become Noelle.  At that puzzle table, I stare into my sister's face.  She pretends to work on the puzzle with me, but there's no effort.  She goes through the motions, and I know her secrets. I know how it's hurting her, hurting our family, hurting me.
My fists clench around the suffocating puzzle piece.  I try to control my breath, but it chokes when I say my next lines.  I'm not supposed to cry—it's not in the script—but I feel the emotion clutching in my throat.  Because somehow, right now, I'm Noelle.
The lines rush out of my mouth.  We argue, and my words hurt her as I try to "realistically" show her the truth.  As she finally turns to leave the table, I watch until I reach down for another piece.  It doesn’t have a partner, matching piece.  But it's still part of the overarching picture.  It has a place in the story.
"And cut."
I look up, almost surprised.  There's the camera, still turned towards me.  The boom pole lowers, but I forgot that it was there.  Lost in that moment, it all disappeared.  It was just me and my sister, our words flying and stumbling at times.  Our hearts broken and hurting.
I take a deep breath.  I'm not Noelle anymore, but she lingers inside me.  As the camera sets up for another take, I go back to being Hosanna.  Until the next shot.
The camera moves to another angle, and we retake the scene. Then again.  Alpha, bravo, charlie, delta, echo...  The clapperboard keeps snapping, and I say my lines again, lost in the moment.
At the last "cut", the director nods.
"That's a wrap for today."
I slip off my chair, leave the puzzle.  After the entire day of filming for 10 hours, we hurry to pack our bags and exit the house towards our row of vehicles.
I start our truck and pull onto the road.  My actor brother sits beside me as we pass the dotted, yellow lines and turn corners.
But I can’t stop thinking about the puzzle scene, about how I had become caught up in the moment.  Somehow, that feeling of being completely lost in something bigger than myself still hesitates within me.  I never thought acting was my passion.  But maybe—somehow—it is part of who I am.
We will come back the next day and act.  And the day after that.  But I don’t think it will be the same as the moment I forgot the mic, camera, and lights and got caught up in the story.
I guess it's called set life.




Last week, I spent at least 50 hours working on a short film with a crew of incredibly talented people.  We laughed, made mistakes, worked together.  And somehow, I felt like we became a family in those five days.
And even though it was time consuming and left me little breaks to be in His quiet presence, I still knew that He was God.  With every shot, I committed myself to Him.  When my stomach churned with stress, I let Him be my strength.  And He was (and is) always enough.
I miss set life.  But instead of being sad that it's over, I'm rejoicing that it happened.
And now you, dear friend.  What are your rejoicing in?  Do you consider yourself an actress?  If you've never made a movie, what aspects of filming stood out to you in my short story?
Friend, you are being loved.









 

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life.

- Psalm 42:8

~♥~