Amanda Stephan's Blog: God is Good, God is Great, page 45

Allusion

Last week's post about alliteration prompted me to investigate other literary elements.  Allusion is another element that can add spice to your writing and broaden your readers' experience.  M. H. Abrams defined allusion as "a brief reference, explicit or indirect, to a person, place or event, or to another literary work or passage".  The allusion may be to pop culture, a piece of literature, a work of art, an historical figure, or even a biblical reference.



If someone says "he found himself intrigued by her Mona Lisa smile," we can infer the lady is one of mystery, just like the painting from Da Vinci.



If a young man faces a life choice, looks at his best friend with a smile and says, "I'm taking the road less traveled," we should immediately picture Robert Frost's famous poem.



"Et, tu, Brute" will forever be linked with a traitorous friend.






The trick is to make the reference without having to explain it.  For example, "She was surprised his nose didn't start growing like Pinocchio's when he lied," is not a grand allusion.  The reader doesn't really have to think to figure out the reference.   But if the mom walks up to the little boy after he tells a whopper, gets a close-up look at his nose, and says, "Hmm, still the same size.  You must be lucky", we chuckle as we make our own connection to Geppetto's wooden boy.





Just like alliteration, allusion (or reference) should be used sparingly, otherwise the devise itself overwhelms the writing.  Another tip would be to consider your reading audience.  I wouldn't suggest using a mythical reference in a children's book for ten year olds.  Likewise one wouldn't fill a devotional book with pop culture references.  But used correctly, allusion can be a valuable tool in your writing arsenal.



For some more examples on allusion, check out these sites:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/allusion-examples.html

http://grammar.about.com/od/ab/g/allusionterm.htm



Happy writing,

Karina Harris

www.karinaharrisauthor.com


Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

He Loves You!

Two things have been heavy on my heart this week. I should say, two ideas, two teachings of Christ have been jumping around in my Spirit.



One is, this world is not my home. The second is, to be content no matter what the evidence of my life is telling me.



I remember packing the boxes. Mainly, I kept my kitchen tools, books and mementoes from family life. Most everything else, we gave to someone in need or sold on Craigslist. Here I am in my new house, thankful beyond measure and absolutely refusing to complain.



I could look at what I don’t have. A stove. A refrigerator. A washer. A dryer. (I spent a good portion of Monday at the laundry mat). I could complain. Then I think about where God has brought us and how far we have come.





We are but visitors in a foreign land. This world is not our home. Sometimes I look to heavens and wonder if this will be the day of His return. Some days I pray it is. I try and find clues in the clouds, as if He will post one for me. I think about the disciples standing and looking to the heavens when Christ ascended and the promise of His return and I know He is coming back soon.



We are not here for the trappings and all the things we can acquire. I will be the first to admit those appliances above are very very nice to have. But, like Paul, I can be content regardless of my situation.



Phillipians 5:11-12 …for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.





This weeks post is short and sweet. Simply, I want to tell you that no matter what you are going through, no matter how big the trouble is knocking on your door…God is bigger, much much bigger. If we look past everything and see the face of Jesus smiling back at us, how can we not smile through it all? He loves you. Does anything else really matter?


Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

New Twitter Tip and Trick

I just found something I thought was *very* neat.



Actually, two things. And it was two things, because I'm sidetracked at the moment and not at all doing what I was supposed to be concentrating on. Sheesh. When will the A.D.D. end?! ;) But for all intents and purposes, today, I'm only going to tell you about the first one. Next week, I'll tell you all about the other! How's that for suspense?! ;)



~ Twitter Tip

Did you know you can now embed a tweet on your website? I didn't have any idea what that entailed, so I tried it to see what would happen. I came up with a tweet I thought might speak to a certain group of readers and tweeted it. Then I embedded it onto my page on our blog. (Check it out HERE and tell me what you think!) It's now located up at the tippity-top of the page and visitors can retweet exactly what I said at the push of a button.



Here's what I did:

- Find your book on Amazon.com. Because I'm an Amazon Associate (who doesn't do much with it, but hey, that bar at the top is pretty nifty!) I can actually share anything right from that page with the social network of my choosing. If you're not an associate, try it. You may like it.

(Remember, if these pictures are too small, click each one and they should open up larger in another window.)















Isn't that just plain ole awesome?

Like #Christian romantic suspense? Try The Price of Trust - only $2.99 amazon.com/gp/product/B00… @amazon

— Amanda Stephan (@amandastephan) July 19, 2012

Like #LoveInspired novels? Try Lonely Hearts - only $2.99 amazon.com/gp/product/B00… @amazon

— Amanda Stephan (@amandastephan) July 19, 2012

Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

A Nativity Story With A Twist!

Recently I was asked by a fellow children's author, Karla Lowe-Phelps to read and review the first two books in her Yama the Llama series. The first book, Yama the Llama Off to Bethlehem, is the Nativity story told with a twist. Yama, a gentle llama from the Andes Mountains, is given the gift of flying with the angels to Bethlehem where he witnesses the birth of Christ. He ends his journey by leading the shepherds to see the new born King. Creatively told and beautifully illustrated, this book would make a great Christmas gift for children between the ages of five and ten.



Karla's second book, Yama the Llama off to Jerusalem, won't be available until August; but when it is available, it will be a book worth purchasing as well. In this story, Yama the llama takes yet another miraculous journey where he witnesses the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. It is my humble opinion that Karla has come up with a unique and interesting way to share God's Word with children. I can't wait to see what she has in store for Yama in the near future.



So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

Sundays with Kristi - Renewal

To me, the sunrise is the most beautiful of all God’s creations. Granted, God has certainly created a number of breathtaking and splendid works of art such as sandy beaches, majestic mountain views, and the like. All those are stunningly beautiful, but to me, there’s nothing like the newness and freshness of a sunrise.


Sunrises are so varied. Some mornings see brilliant reds and yellows reflected on the clouds. Others show only hints of pink and purple against a clear blue sky. Still other mornings, only a light yellow haze is visible as the sun tries to pierce through an early morning fog. Occasionally, I sleep right through the sunrise (which is really hard now since I have small children), but even though I didn’t see it come up, the sun is there waiting to welcome me. Each and every day, God gives us a new artistic masterpiece to celebrate, all of them speaking of God’s refreshing newness every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, His compassions never fail; they are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations, a book of mourning, sadness, and grief, contains this hopeful promise. The prophet Jeremiah knew as he wrote these words that even though the people of Israel were going through hard times, God is faithful. He still loved them. Plus, God’s love and compassion will never cease.


Many of us have heard these truths about God before. We know that He loves us. We know that His love goes on and on. We tell ourselves these truths in the midst of the circumstances of our daily lives, and certainly these truths are true. But, they are only half of the story. Not only does God love us and have compassion for us in the midst of all the circumstances of life, God’s love and compassion are new every morning. We don’t have to wake up to face the day with a stale remembrance of God’s love. We don’t have to try to hoard God’s compassion thinking we must try and make it last. God gives His love and compassion to us new and fresh every morning, just like a sunrise. And just like the sunrise, we may see them revealed in our lives differently every day. Some days, I need to see bold, stark reminders of God’s love in order to pierce through the clouds that hang around me. Other days, the soft, slow envelopment of His love spills into my life like an embrace. Some days, I do not see it and I can not feel it, but just because I can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. God is faithful. Every morning He gives us His love and compassion anew to wash over our lives with a fresh wave.

Have you experienced the fresh wave of God’s love and compassion today? Look for the sunrise. See it as a reminder of God’s promise to renew and refresh His love and compassion for us, no matter what our circumstances or our situation. Live and share that message of hope today to the people you are around so they, too, can share in the renewal of God’s beautiful sunrise.

Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker
Living in the World – Living out the Word
Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page

Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

The Center of My Universe

Do nothing out of
selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to
the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ
Jesus. (Philippians 2:3–5)

Everything we do in
life—every decision we make—can directly impact not only ourselves but others
as well. Yet often we don’t stop to consider the consequences our poor choices
may have on other people. This is a truth I see played out in my own family day
in and day out. We make so much of life about ourselves, as though we are the
center of our own universe.



If I were to take an
honest look at myself and all the decisions I make, I would have to answer the
basic question, “Who am I living for?” When I make the choice to use a credit
card in order to purchase something nonessential, am I doing that to satisfy a
desire I have, or do I have my family’s best interests in mind? Years of
frivolous spending have taught me that although I think I might be doing the
right thing at the time, I am actually doing harm to my family by making a bad
financial position even worse.  Momentary
pleasure can reap long-term consequences in some very unpleasant ways.



Even when I consider
my problems, some of which were brought on by circumstances beyond my control,
do I ask, “Why me?” or do I ask, “Why not me?” Do my attitudes and actions
under pressure reflect the belief that God is in control or that I am? 



I believe one reason
we live such defeated lives is that too often we turn our gaze inward, focusing
on our own problems, rather than outward, where we can look into the lives of
others. We get caught up in our own dilemma, seldom considering that others are
going through difficulties far worse than our own or refusing to believe that anyone
could understand how heavy our burden is. There is one who understands. His
name is Jesus.



Everything Jesus did
was motivated by his love for humanity. He came to serve, not to be served. He
came to love those who were unlovable, to forgive those who had done the
unforgivable, and to free those in bondage to their own sinful desires. He
could have saved himself from crucifixion, but he chose to lay down his life in
order that we might live forever.



Christ did not live
for himself; he lived for you and me.  Jesus
wants to be the center of your universe, the light that shines in your
darkness, and the source of your peace. You won’t find peace by looking inward.
You will only find his love, peace, and provision as you turn your gaze away
from yourself and fix your eyes on him.





From A
Pleasing Aroma:  Inspiring Devotions for
Joyful Living

Copyright © 2011 by Dee Dee Wike.  All
rights reserved.  www.deedeewike.com



Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

Accent Your Writing With Alliteration

I recently returned from a family vacation, and on the drive home my son watched  Mulan on his portable DVD player.  He sat in the back seat, so I only heard the movie.  At one point, the diminutive dragon, Mushu, sneaks away to help Mulan, and prove to the family ancestors that he is worthy of being a guardian.  As he introduces himself (with typical Eddie Murphy flair), he shouts, "Your serpentine salvation is at hand." That phrase stuck with me, and reminded me of a literary element I love to use:  alliteration.



Often taught in poetry, alliteration occurs when words with the same beginning sound are used together, as in serpentine salvation. An extreme example is, She sells sea shells down by the sea shore.  This tongue-twister combines both the "s" and the "sh" sounds.  I wouldn't recommend using this element with this much enthusiasm in your writing.  But using alliteration occasionally, even in prose, can be rewarding.  It makes that particular piece more memorable.  Below are two examples of alliteration in literature.



"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald




"... his appearance: something displeasing, something down-right detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere ..."
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson




When you are pondering the precise word to use, consider if your choices might begin with the same sound.  If so, try using alliteration.  It will spice up your story!




Here are some other worthwhile sites on alliteration:

http://www.dowlingcentral.com/MrsD/area/literature/Terms/alliteration.html

http://www.helium.com/items/1426241-alliteration-in-literature




Happy writing,




Karina Harris

www.karinaharrisauthor.com





Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

Say I Love You. Now.

I received this in an email from my loverly (yes, I said loverly) daughter. It was too poignant not to share. I hope it's a blessing to you today.

One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't "anymore". No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute."

Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, say "I love you."

So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick.

This is true for marriage 

And old cars

And children with bad report cards,

and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.






Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special.. And so, we keep them close!

 Suppose one morning you never wake up, 

do all your friends know you love them?

Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back. And just in case I'm gone tomorrow:




I Love You, My Bloggy Friends!!!




Live today because tomorrow is not promised.

Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

Paperbag Fun for a Social Butterfly

I'm sure many of you can relate with me when I say my daughter is a social butterfly. As an only child, she thrives on spending time with her various friends who frequently visit our home. I'm not quite sure how or when it happened, but a few years ago I unofficially became the mom known for having craft projects ready for any get together.



Usually I have craft ideas thought out ahead of time; but once in a while I need something spur of the moment, and that is where paper bags come in handy. They especially came in handy the other night when Emily had one of her BFF's spend the night. A while back I had seen a picture of a paper bag puppet that looked like a parrot. It had lots of individual brightly colored feathers and seemed a bit too involved for me and my young prodigies; so I did what I do best, and I improvised. Using scraps of colored construction paper, I cut out circles, triangles, squares, and assorted shapes which the girls used to make owl puppets.



Not the most original of crafts or the most time consuming, but the girls enjoyed it immensely. Have you and your munchkins made any paper bag crafts of your own? If so, send me some pictures at astewart27@neo.rr.com and I will post them in one of my upcoming blogs.



So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.




Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

Sundays with Kristi - Blessed: Persecution

Who are you working for and who do you want giving you your reward?

Tell you what, we’ll come back to that question in a bit. First, I want to let you know that today is the final week in our series over The Beatitudes. Next week we’ll dive into something new. I’m still praying about a couple of different things, so no details on that yet, but it will be exciting to see where God takes us. If you want to take a look back at where we’ve been, check out the “Sunday” tab above.

OK, so back to rewards. Our final Beatitude is found in Matthew 5:10-12:
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

There’s a lot in those three verses! They deal with blessings, persecution, the kingdom of heaven, lies, insults, rewards… you know, all things you would naturally associate together. (Note the profound amount of sarcasm as I type this.)



I think that’s why Jesus says “Blessed” twice when addressing this particular Beatitude. Most people would never associate blessings with persecution. Yet, persecution is exactly what Jesus says is in store for us by following after Him. Don’t believe me? Check these out:

John 17:14-16 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one, they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”

Hebrews 12:3 “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

James 1:2 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.”

1 Peter 1:6 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distress by various trials.”

You get the idea. I get frustrated when I hear others talking about Jesus like he’s a happy pill. “Accept Jesus and all your problems will go away.” That’s just simply not true. Make no mistake, living a life that obeys and follows Jesus Christ has peace and joy that can never be found outside of Jesus. But, God never promised us that it would be the easy life or the simple life. The people in this world are sinful and they will not hesitate to act like sinful people. I mean, if they don’t have Jesus, why should we expect them to act any different? People who believe in Jesus experience persecution, period. While it’s not widely publicized in the United States, people are killed all the time around the world simply because they believe in Jesus Christ. As an example, see this article about a mass killing just last week in Nigeria as reported by Open Doors (read the article here).

How are we blessed by this? How do we endure and remain faithful and obedient in the face of any amount of persecution, whether its name calling or discrimination at work or even violence and death? We remember where our reward comes from. Our reward is from God and Him alone. Remember the verses in Matthew, it says that the reward is the kingdom of heaven. Think of the reward as our salary for doing the work that God has given us. He’s given us the work to do, only He can truly pay us. Plus, it says that the reward for enduring persecution is great. Can anyone say “bonus”?

We must live our lives each day seeking only His reward. If we are busy seeking rewards from other people, our obedience to God will falter in the face of persecution. Things will get hard and we will get angry and bitter because we feel that we are entitled to a reward right now from those around us. However, the questions that we ultimately must ask ourselves are “Who are you working for and who do you want to give you your reward?” If you want your reward from others and to be thought highly of by others, you will probably not be persecuted as much. However, that will also mean that you are working for them and not God. If that’s the case, then you will also not receive the blessing of God’s reward.

So, I'll ask the questions again. Who are you working for? Who do you want to give you your reward?

Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker
Living in the World – Living out the Word
Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page

Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com