Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 76

Call Out For Beta Readers

Hey friends!





I'm happy to report that I'm officially halfway through with first-round edits of The Way of Grace (book 3 in the Miller's Creek novels), so I'm on the lookout for folks interested in serving as beta readers.



Here's a book description:




In pursuit of justice, in need of grace . . .

 


A justice-seeking perfectionist pursues her dream of a
perfect life in her hometown of Miller’s Creek, Texas. Sidetracked by a
desire to be a prosecuting attorney, Grace Soldano launches into
uncharted waters, making herself over to please her boss and mentor. Then a disheveled free spirit turns her perfectly ordered world upside down, challenging her concept of personal goodness. A
fall from perfection leaves Grace teetering between vengeance and
grace, caught in a deadly crossfire that leaves her dreams in a heap of
ashes. Can she learn to joyfully accept the life God has given her–far
from perfect–but one completely immersed in His grace?




I think it's only fair to mention that this book is considerably
different from the first two. It is a romance and you'll still have time
with the good folks of Miller's Creek, but there is definitely a dark
undercurrent in this story. And if you've never read one of the Miller's Creeks books, you should know they are unashamedly written from a Christian worldview.



After hours of working on a manuscript, an author's eyes tend to skim over mistakes that we would normally see, so beta readers are extra sets of eyes and very important to the process of publishing a book. (And sorry, this is a non-paying gig--except for first peeksies at the new book--but beta readers will be identified by name in the front matter of the book unless you specify otherwise.)



What's a Beta Reader?

I'm glad you asked. Here's what I'm looking for:


Identify punctuation, spelling, grammar and usage mistakes.
Identify overused phrases and words.
Identify timeline glitches. (Places where the days get out of order, or where something that's supposed to take place after happens before, etc.)
Identify awkwardly worded passages that either don't make sense or that tend to be a little wordy.
Identify character motives or actions that you don't buy or that don't make sense.
Identify dialogue that sounds forced or unnatural.
Identify places where the story moves too fast or too slow.
Identify places where there's not a strong sense of setting.
Identify places where there's too much or not enough description.
Identify over-writing (where the author's voice intrudes or explains).
Identify areas that sound preachy.
Identify places where there's not enough conflict or tension to hold your interest.

In a nutshell, ANYTHING THAT YANKS YOU FROM THE STORY WORLD.



What's the Process?

I'll send those who are chosen the first fourteen chapters via e-mail attachment. You'll save the document to your computer, read it and type your notes directly into the document in a different color font, then attach it to a return e-mail and send it back to me. While beta readers are working on the first fourteen chapters I'll be working on the last half of first edits.



NOTE: Beta readers will more than likely be able to read faster than I'm able to rewrite the rest of the chapters. This will probably result in a delay between when you finish the first round of chapters and receive the second round of chapters. Sorry...it's easier to read than it is to write! =)



I am looking for people who will have the time to do this in a fairly short amount of time, so if your schedule looks pretty hectic over the next few weeks, please don't apply.



How Do I Apply?

If you're interested in serving as a beta reader, simply send an e-mail to catbry1 (at) yahoo (dot) com. Please put the words BETA READER in the subject line so I won't think it's spam. Also please indicate whether or not you've read the first two books in the series and your typical reading preferences (contemporary, historical, secular, Christian, mystery, suspense, romance, thrillers, non-fiction, etc.). Also let me know a little about you if we've never met personally.



I most likely won't be able to use everyone who applies, simply because I won't have time to go through too many sets of notes. So please don't be offended if you're not chosen. (You can always catch the book after it's been completely edited!) =)



I'm looking forward to hearing from you!



Happy Reading,

Where's Your Focus?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ~Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)





Every well-trained musical group knows the importance of keeping their eyes
on the conductor. If every member of the choir, orchestra or band took
the music at their own personal tempo, the result would be chaos,
confusion, and discord!



When Peter, the often-impetuous disciple
of Jesus, stepped out of the boat in Matthew 14, he was fine as long as
he kept his eyes on Jesus. As soon as he took notice of the swell of the
tide on either side of him, he became fearful, faith flew away and he
sank like a stone.



As followers of Christ, it is imperative that
we keep our eyes trained on Him at all times. When our focus strays to
making money, controlling our circumstances, other people, or the work
we do for Christ, the result will be the same chaos, confusion &
discord, as well as anxiety, worry and fear. We must stay in step with
God's Spirit, closely following the Master, our gaze and thoughts
forever stayed on Him.



You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. ~Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

Make 'em Laugh, Make 'em Cry

What makes a book stick in our mind long after we've reached "The End" and closed the back cover? For me, it's a combination of things: memorable characters, an engaging plot, beautiful prose. But one factor encompasses all the others--emotional appeal.



Think about it for a second. Television commercials, store displays, magazine ads. They're all structured to strike an emotional chord with the consumer. Add to this the various forms of artistic endeavors: music, a painting, and even books. They are most successful when they draw the listener, the looker and the reader in through emotions.



So how can you add emotional appeal to your writing? By simply (and sometimes, not so simply) adding scenes that make the readers laugh and cry. (And it always helps if you can do both in the same story!)



Make 'Em Laugh

This is easier for some writers than it is for others. The ability to time lines and to write zinging humor is not always easy. A good training exercise for the writer is to sit down with your favorite humorous movies (for me this means romantic comedy) and pay close attention to the funny scenes. Analyze the humor and what makes it work, then try to incorporate what you learn in your own writing.



As you go about your day, take special note of what makes you laugh. Maybe a witty comment from a colleague or even a sarcastic remark from your spouse catches your attention. Find a way to add that to your writing to make it sing! (In the movie Something's Gotta Give, Diane Keaton's character demonstrates this when she uses comments from Jack Nicholson's character in the play she's writing.)



Making the reader laugh is a great way to grab the reader's attention and keep them turning pages.



Make 'Em Cry

I consider it the highest praise when a reader is moved to tears by scenes in my books. Hubby, who graciously reads every word I write (even the lousy first draft!), recently came into my office with tears in his eyes after reading one chapter. I can't explain why, but that meant so much to me. Just to know that someone was touched by a story I wrote brings a satisfaction that is beyond explanation. It's also very humbling.



As a reader, my all-time favorite books are those that moved me to tears. To give an example, when I read Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love, I cried on numerous occasions. I remember bawling my eyes out and thinking, "This is how much God loves me." In fact, it was that emotional experience in reading the book that ignited my passion to write stories to touch people in the same way.



Final Thoughts

To cement the idea of emotional appeal in your mind, think not only of your favorite books, but also your favorite movies. Think about the last time you went to the theatre. If you saw a thriller, you were there for the purpose of gripping your seat with white-knuckled fingers as you held on for a wild and breathless ride. If you saw a tear-jerker, you went with a few extra tissues in your purse. If you saw a comedy, you anticipated laughing until your sides hurt.



As writers, we should aspire to give our readers the same emotional appeal in each and every scene we write.



Here's to making them laugh AND cry!

Characterization: Peeling Back The Layers

When it comes to making memorable characters for your stories, the writer must first learn everything they can about this fictional persona. Once you have a story idea in your head, the main characters will begin to "reveal" themselves to you. (And yes, I know, they're not real people. They're fictional...)



Not only should the writer know the character's age, hair color, height, weight, eye color, skin pigmentation, personal style, etc., but we should also know what makes them tic. Why do they twirl their hair? Why do they always order a cherry-vanilla Dr. Pepper with a slice of lime? Why do they prefer to take dirt roads to get to their destination?



Every time one of these character traits pops into your mind when plotting your story and planning your characters, take the time to develop it further. Keep asking "Why?" until you get to that inner value that truly helps you and the reader understand that character.



Peel those layers back one at a time, until you finally glimpse the character's true essence. Only then will they truly come to life on the page.

Stretched by God

Yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all 

the work of Your hand. - Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)


I must confess to being particularly fond of all the "Remember this?"
photos spreading across Facebook like wildfire. Though I don't
necessarily enjoy being reminded of my rapidly advancing age, it has
been fun to walk down memory lane with pictures of skates that attached
to your shoes, 8-track tape players, jacks, and one of my
favorites--pant stretchers.





Now for those of you too young to
remember pant stretchers, they were basically a rectangular frame made
from wire that fit inside pant legs. The frames were used while the
pants were wet, so that when they dried, a nice crisp crease formed on
the fronts and backs of each pant leg.



The thought occurred to me
that God is often in the business of stretching us, usually during what
we would classify as the storms of life. I balk at storms or stretching
of any sort. I much prefer my safe, comfortable box. Yes, my rut might
get a little dull sometimes, but I take comfort in the sameness, the
routine, the sense of control.



Just as we love to see our children
expand their horizons and stretch their wings to soar, I imagine our
loving heavenly Father must feel the same about us. He put His creative
spark and stamp on each of our lives, wove various gifts and abilities
into the fiber of our being, breathed His Spirit and life into each of
us. How sad it must make Him when I choose to take the comfortable and
easy path rather than the one that tests my faith and causes me to
depend totally and completely on Him.



My prayer for each of us is
that we'll give the Potter free access to our lives so that He can mold
and shape us as He best sees fit.



Even if that means a little bit of stretching.

Motivation - In Stories and in Life

One of the big break-throughs in my writing came when I learned the importance of understanding a story character's motivation. It's the "why?" behind character actions which encourages readers to keep turning pages. A story is especially delicious when only the reader--and not the other characters--understand the hero's and heroine's reasons for what they do.



(SIDE-NOTE: I would highly encourage all aspiring writers to read Debra Dixon's awesome writing how-to book, Goal, Motivation & Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction. This will catapult your writing up a few notches!)







 While hard at work on the third book in the Miller's Creek novels (The Way of Grace, releasing later this year), I seemed to hit one brick wall after another. Then in a brief moment of clarity, I realized the brick wall I kept hitting was me!



What was my motivation for writing this book? In fact, what was my motivation for writing in general?



I went through a long and involved process I call a "heart check," where I asked myself these and other tough questions.



If I write as a job, career, or for a paycheck, I write for the wrong reason. Though plenty of writers around the world may have this as their main motivation I don't want it to be mine.



If I write to appease people who write me such sweet messages and e-mails, encouraging me to keep writing and telling me how much they enjoy my books, I write for the wrong reason. Don't misunderstand me please. I very much want the readers of my stories to enjoy them, but I can't let that be my main reason for writing.



If I write for the purpose of venting my frustrations and angst, I write for the wrong reason. Oddly enough, most writers and experts in the field will tell you to harness the emotions created through various life experiences and use it to add emotional impact to your story. While no writer can completely divorce their life experiences from their work, I don't want venting to be my primary (or even secondary) reason for writing.



If I write even for the lofty goal of providing clean entertainment, I write for the wrong reason. Though I realize the importance of having clean entertainment in this day and age of "anything goes," there is yet a higher purpose and motivation.



I write for the same reason I live or do anything: to bring honor and glory to the One who redeemed me from a life of death, sin and destruction. I want the world to know Him. I want those who already know Him to draw closer to Him. I want readers to experience the transforming grace of our Lord and Savior.



So my motivation and my motto for everything I write will always remain the same: "Heart-Stirring Stories, Life-Changing Grace."

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: "Completely Whole" by Paulette Harper Johnson

About The Book:


In her
well-written, resource-filled guide, Harper provides readers with practical and
biblically-based solutions to overcome everyday problems. Completely
Whole features prayers, meditations, and powerful scripture passages to
allow readers to interact with the text and to apply it to their own lives.
Harper uses personal experiences and biblical principles to place readers on a
path to be in connection with God. This life-changing book will help
readers to transform their spirit, soul, and body through Jesus Christ, so they
can live a life of peace, joy, and fulfillment. 



Completely
Whole is not a book to read once and set on a shelf; it is a "field
guide" to help navigate through some of life's most difficult situations.
Paulette does not sugar-coat painful dilemmas, but instead helps the reader to
recognize God's redemptive plan in even the most dark, most daunting
circumstance. This book is inspiring, optimistic, hopeful and encouraging while
providing a clear-cut, scriptural blueprint for each reader to follow as they
allow the Word and the power of God to transform their pain and restore their
lives on their road to becoming "Completely Whole."


About The Author:


Paulette Harper Johnson, an award winning author,
writing coach, and speaker, seeks to inspire women from all walks of life.  As an inspirational and motivational speaker,
Paulette’s desire is to empower, influence and cultivate women to move forward
while dealing with issues that hinder women from becoming all they are created
to be. Her topics are biblically sound and pertinent to the needs of today’s
women.




Paulette is a wife, mother, grandmother, Bible
teacher, radio host, writer and the owner of WNL Virtual Blog Tours. Her years
of marketing her own self-published books have created a special talent in
her—her ability to sell a product well. Not only does she specialize in
marketing strategies, but also serves as the publicist for P.F.L. Publishing.




She has been mentoring and teaching women for years
though seminars, workshops and conferences. Paulette Harper Johnson serves in
ministry as an Elder with her husband Sr. Pastor Tony E. Johnson at Word of Faith
Worship Center in Bradenton and North Port FL.
Ministry Book website: www.pauletteharper.com



Interview With The Author:







Paulette,
Welcome. Tell us about yourself.




I am a wife, Bible teacher, radio host, and
author.  I’m the owner of WNL Virtual
Blog Tours and proud grand mother of two adorable granddaughters.




Tell
us Paulette about your current book Completely Whole?




The concept of being made whole is personal and
relevant to each individual.  I believe every reader might have something
in their lives that continues to either be a reoccurring issue or an area in
their lives that they are lacking or feel they have not conquered.  To be whole according to Webster is to be
“free from injury or wound; to be healed and to be physically sound and
healthy.”  Because we live in a world in
which we experience the ups and downs of life, we deal with heartache and pain;
sometimes these experiences leave residue that we have not been able to deal
with. Completely Whole is resource filled- guide full of practical and
Biblically-based principles, real-life application strategies and prayers to
give the readers a holistic approach to living a life of wholeness through
Jesus. Christ. This book is inspiring, optimistic, hopeful and encouraging
while providing a clear-cut, scriptural blueprint for each reader to follow as
they allow the Word and the power of God to transform their pain and restore
their lives on their road to becoming Completely Whole .




What is your main message in Completely Whole?




Completely
Whole is one of those books that will challenge the reader to do
a self-examination of where they are as it relates to their own spirituality.
This life-changing book will help readers to transform their spirit, soul, and
body through Jesus Christ, so they can live a life of peace, joy, and
fulfillment. In Completely Whole ,
I offer keys to help those who are searching for answers that can lead to a
life of complete wholeness: Spirit, Soul and Body.
My
focus in writing is to enrich the lives of my readers. I had a reader make this
comment about Completely Whole “It speaks” and that’s what I want it to do. I
want readers to come away knowing that they have the ability to live a full
enriched life.




Why the title Completely Whole?

 

Actually,
in the middle of completing my first book, this book came to mind. I had gone
through a bad ordeal, which left me broken and scared.  In order for me to write about becoming
whole, I had to experience it myself. 
There were areas in my own life that I needed to confront and deal with.
Those areas that hindered me from moving forward needed to be addressed. Once
God began to point out those areas and I accepted where I was spiritually, the
healing and restoration began.  The
process of becoming Completely Whole
is continual for any believer desiring to live, walks, and pursue a life on
purpose.




 An
excerpt from Completely Whole, Chapter 9… Still I Rise

 The Promise of God

“Many evils confront the [consistently]
righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalms 34:19 AMP).


God creates different roads for each of us. Some
roads are more difficult to ride. God allows certain people to endure more
hardship, perils, and sorrows. Though the path might be difficult, this is the
way in which God has designed for people to find the results that only come
from experiencing the flat tires, wreaks, and blow outs of life. There is a
road map that God has that will take people to new journeys and adventures.
Getting to this place of new heights will test your ability and endurance. 




I don’t know why some of what Paul went through
didn’t kill him; yet, I know those perils came to do just that. God kept
preserving Paul’s life, and God has kept you through your own perils, while on
this journey called life. Paul continued walking with and serving Christ,
regardless of the dangers, risk, and the lack of safety he faced. What a
testimony to have when faced with a situation that will jeopardize one’s life
for the sake of deeply held beliefs, morals, and convictions. 




Do you see that you are able to rise above the chaos,
mess, and drama?




 You are
unlimited, unrestricted, victorious, and a world-overcomer. You must choose to
live above everything that would capture and ensnare you. I’ve been in bondage,
and it doesn’t feel good. I refuse to return or go back to that place where my
feelings, thoughts, and actions were dictated, and controlled by others. Where
is that place? That place is called confinement. I was not created to be
manipulated and broken. Yet, at times I find myself giving into the pressures
that infiltrate my mind. I rise above my situations and circumstances that have
come to defeat me, and cause me to retreat because of what I face.




Through every situation, this is my confession: Still
I rise. 




Connect with me:

E-Mail:
info@pauletteharper.com

Blog:
www.pauletteharper.blogspot.com

Facebook:
http://tinyurl.com/6wq6mog

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/pauletteharper

Website:
http://pauletteharper.com

Which Road Are You On?

Every person on the planet has a choice to make--a choice that means,
well, everything. What we choose determines our mode of travel as well
as the final result, so we would be wise to carefully consider the two
options (Jeremiah 17:8; Matthew 7:13-14; 1 John 5:12).




1 Blessed is the man
    who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
    or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
    Whatever he does prospers. ~Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)



CHOICE 1: BLESSED OR CURSED:

The
word "blessed" literally means happy and rejoicing, and even though the
word "cursed" is not used here, it is in other places in the Bible
(Deuteronomy 11:26; 30:15-20). And it's implied as a life contrary to
the life of blessing (Psalm 1:4-5). The "wicked" mentioned in verse 1
denotes a loose animal or drifting boat. While we're all "sinners," this
verse shows someone who stands in continual sin. The last group are
"mockers," those who make fun of the life of blessing and the people who
follow it.



CHOICE 2: WISE OR UNWISE:

No
one sets out to intentionally choose cursing over blessing. How foolish
is that! Instead, our lives are knit by the daily compromises we make.
Notice the progression in the verses above: walk, stand, sit. (See also
James 1:13-15.) Who we walk with determines who we later stand with and
where we eventually sit. Choose friends wisely (Proverbs 13:20)! There's
nothing wrong with being a light in a cave, as long as we're strong
enough to resist the temptation to become a cave-dweller!



CHOICE 3: GOD'S WORD:

What we do with God's Word determines which path we're on.
Either we view the Bible as a dead, outdated and irrelevant religious
book, or we see it as the inspired, living and active Word of God, a
sacred book which reveals God and serves as His guide to blessed living.
Notice in verse two that the blessed person "delights in the law of the
LORD." "Delight" is enjoyment, and "the law of the LORD" is all of the
revelation of God to humanity, a standard of faith and practice.

Not
only does the blessed person enjoy God's Word, but he meditates on it
day and night. Meditation involves concentrated thought, a mulling over,
a careful and considered chewing to glean every last flavorful ounce of
meaning.



THE BENEFITS OF CHOOSING THE RIGHT PATH:



1. Stability and Productivity


The
blessed person is like a tree firmly planted by the Master Gardener
where it can grow best, drawing from the Living Water (John 4:14). Only
when we're connected to Christ, our Living Water and our Vine (John
15:5) can we truly live productive lives.



2. Security


There's
security in living God's way that can't be reproduced by the world.
Because of our connection to the Vine and Living Water, our leaves will
not wither, even in times of drought, trouble, and persecution. We will
prevail because our Victor has already prevailed.



3. Success

Our
success is guaranteed when we take the path of following God and His
Word. Everything we do will prosper--will provide joy and usefulness as
we find and fulfill our purpose. I can think of nothing more blessed
than that kind of life.



APPLICATION:

Consider the following questions and answer them in your heart:


Which path have I chosen?
Is the progression of taking the wrong path evident in my life?
Where do I find my enjoyment? Do I truly enjoy that aspect of my life, or does it sometimes ring a little hollow?
What do I believe about the Bible? Do I carefully consider and meditate on what it says? Do I try to apply it to my life?
Do I have the stability, productivity, security and success that comes from choosing the path of blessing?

Heavenly
Father, thank You for loving us so very much that You provided a way
for us to know You and live a life of divine blessing. Make us cautious
about each step we take. Guide us to take delight in and meditate upon
Your Word. Thank You for the blessing, joy, stability, productivity,
security, success and purpose we find only in You. Amen.

BOOK REVIEW: "When You Need A Miracle: How to Ask God for the Impossible" by Linda Evans Shepherd

About The Book :

Hurting people want a God who is big enough to rescue them from heartache and circumstances beyond imagination. But even if they believe that such a God exists, they may have no idea how to approach him, much less how to ask him for the impossible.



In this powerful book, Linda Evans Shepherd shows readers how to reach out to God and ask for a miracle. She shows how God's miracles may not come packaged in the ways we would expect, but they do come in ways that will transform our lives. This book will be a comfort to those who struggle with faith yet still dare to believe that God cares. Through solid biblical teaching and real-life stories of answered prayer, Shepherd walks with readers on a journey to renewed hope and the assurance that God still works miracles.





About the Author :

Linda Evans Shepherd, author of When You Don’t Know What to Pray, How to Talk to God About Anything (Revell 2010) and co-author  of The Potluck Club and The Potluck Catering Club (Revell 2005 - 2010) novel series, is an speaker and media personality regularly appearing as a host of Denver Celebration, a Daystar TV show. She is also the co-owner of WebTV4Women, an internet TV station where she hosts The Miracle Channel as well as her shows Be A Miracle, Cooking Up Wonders, The Women's Ministry Moment and True Miracles. She's the, founder and leader of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and President of the non-profit ministry Right to the Heart. She’s authored almost 30 books including co-authoring the bestselling Share Jesus Without Fear. She's married to Paul and has two children. 




My Review :

I have to confess to being a bit skeptical when I thumbed through this book and saw what I considered to be "canned" prayers. Please don't misunderstand me. I believe the most important thing about our prayers is the attitude of our heart--whether the prayers are rote, memorized, or nothing but heartfelt sobs--but I was concerned this book would be one in which the reader is spoon-fed.



I'm happy to report that as I dug deeper and deeper into this book, I found the opposite to be true. Rather than being served spoonfuls of religious food, I found myself rejoicing and praying all the more as I turned each page.



The author, through use of meaningful and gripping words, drove home each point, causing me to move closer to the Father as I prayed myself through each chapter. Here's a sample from the chapter on intercessory prayer:

I sometimes wonder who Heaven considers to be today's "who's who" of the faithful. Would the list include the pastor who leads a church of twenty thousand, the evangelist who led a million people to Christ this year, or the young girl in a far land who risked her very life to share the gospel with her neighbors?

 I'm sure these are the kinds of people God would pick for such a prestigious list. However, I'm thinking we've forgotten someone who's very dear to God's heart. She's easy to miss. When you do see her, you might see her frail body, though God sees a mighty prayer warrior standing in the gap for others. You might see a drab face lined with wrinkles, though God sees the beauty of vibrant prayers of faith that push back the darkness over ministries and loved ones. You might see feeble knees, though God sees lovely knees that have worn a carpet bare through hours in prayer.

It may very well be that these faithful prayer warriors, the ones who have sacrificed their time to pray through great battles on behalf of others, are those whom God would most likely recognize as modern heroes of the faith.

I'm delighted I had the opportunity and privilege to read this book, one I intend to keep for many years to come for the purpose of gleaning guidance and good.



DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinion. I received this book from Revell Publishers.



 

Got Living Power?

Living power. Sounds like something we might all want--and certainly need--in our lives. Not long ago I wrote a post entitled "What Do You Believe About the Bible?"
In that post I mentioned the importance of viewing the Bible as God's
Word. In this post I want to dig a little deeper, to hopefully better
understand the significance of the Bible.



In the beginning
[before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God Himself. ~John 1:1 (AMP) (See also Revelation 19:13)



God's
Word, simply put, is Jesus. He was and is the spoken Word of God in
creation and is God Himself. The Bible is God's spoken, living and
powerfully effective Word to us as a revelation of Who He is and how He
wants us to live. Its central message reveals a God who loves us so much
He took on human flesh to Himself absorb the wrath and death we
deserved because of our sin, who made a way for sinful people to be
reconciled to holy God.



For the Word that God speaks is alive
and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and
effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the
dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit,
and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing
and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of
the heart. ~Hebrews 4:12 (AMP)



The Word (Jesus) is described
as a double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 19:15), capable of
penetrating to the very dividing line of our mortal (soul) and immortal
(spirit) selves--to the deepest part of who we are--for the purpose of
judging and discerning our feelings, thoughts and motivations.



Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable
for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of
error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness
(in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and
action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well
fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. ~2 Timothy 3:16-17
(AMP)



God gives us His Word to teach us, expose and
convict us of our sin, correct our faults and mistakes, teach us the
discipline of obedience, and train us in righteousness--all for the
purpose of completing and perfecting us and equipping us for acts of
good.



Consider this illustration in how we approach God's Word.
Let's say we are wanting God's wisdom and direction in whether or not to
purchase a particular house. Is there a specific verse in the Bible we
can turn to get a definitive answer? Of course not. You won't find
"buying a house" in a concordance.



Does God even care about
something as trivial and mundane as purchasing a house or want to be
involved in the process? Yes. The Bible speaks time and time again of
God's loving concern for His people and His desire to guide and direct
our steps. It also very clearly says that if any man lacks wisdom, he
should ask God. We're told in the Bible to first seek Him and His way of
doing and being right, trusting that He'll provide what we need when we
need it. We're also to ask with the right motives, not out of greed or
selfishness.



When we approach God's Word with humble and prayerful
hearts as well as pure motives, I believe all three members of the
God-head are present. God is there because He is everywhere and because
we're praying to Him as our heavenly Father. Christ is there because He
is the Word we are searching for guidance (in line with Who He is). The
Holy Spirit is there because He indwells us, teaching and guiding us
into all truth, and because all Scripture is God-breathed. ("Breathed"
has the same root word as "spirit.")



When we sincerely seek
answers by coming to God and His Word, He will provide. That is the
exciting and living and powerful part of God's Word to me. How many
times have you searched through the Bible and read a verse you'd read at
least a thousand times before, which now takes on fresh meaning because
of your prayer and current life questions? What an awesome and mighty
God we serve!





Holy God, in response
to Your living and powerful Word may we first of all be grateful.
Through the gift of Your Word You've given us Yourself, a power so great
our finite minds can't come close to understanding or explaining. Thank
You that through Your Word we have a manual for living in a way that
pleases You. May we be determined to read it, study it, meditate on it
and live by it, so we can become mature disciples of Christ, thoroughly
equipped for the good works You determined in advance for us to do. Help
us hold on to Your Word with all our strength, examining everything by
the light it provides. And most importantly, give us boldness to share
it with others, with the full realization that in doing so, we are
offering hope and life. By the power of Your Word, Amen.