Pens of Praise March 8, 2014
By Susan Marlene Kinney
The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but
a man of understanding draws them out.
Proverbs 20:14
Also, a writer of understanding draws out the timeworn cares and ambitions
of men. Every form of fear, greed, and desire, written into our tales, snag the
reader’s attention and take him on a mind bending adventure. We relate because our
wounded hearts have concerns, which have given us pause. But there is a
tantalizing hope that most of us endeavor to pursue. Rewards of joy, peace,
unconditional love, faithfulness, even riches seem to beckon us to seek for
them over the crest of the next hill. Sometimes we raced down the trail leading
to thieves who would strip us of every shred of hope, if we would just lay down
and give up. Sometimes we trudge a wayward pace because of impatience or
misunderstandings, but all too often rebellious selfishness is guiding our
fickle feet.
All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives
are weighed by the Lord.
Proverbs 16:1
Motives thicken plots and move the story along. Jesus spoke about men’s
motives in his parables. He knew how powerful story could be to anyone
listening. The life-changing qualities of story have influenced all of our
lives at one time or another. But there have been far too many stories written
or made into movies which use their influence negatively. These stories waste
our time by sharing no real moral value or degrade and smudge virtue in any way
that they can.
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things
as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do
not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its
practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in
the image of its creator.
Colossians 3:8 - 9
Come Holy Spirit, I need you. Come Sweet Spirit, I pray for your
guidance to write stories that matter. To write stories which reveal the
greatness of Father God’s virtue and his love and his power. Oh to write
stories illustrating the salvation of our God!
The Lord works out everything for his own ends —
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
Proverbs
16:4
Though there are evil men with evil plans, the Lord has the last say.
Everything that happens is under God’s control. Don’t we become stronger
because of our trials? We’ve even become more courageous and loving in spite of
the hardships and imperfections littering this world. But He equips us...
For I will give you words and wisdom that none of
your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
Luke 21:15
When all is said and done, it will be time for those characteristics of
our Lord to pop out on our pages waving the victory flag. His incredible
strength infuses unexpected beauty and hooks our emotions because He was the
one we were searching for all along. He is the greatest love story. He is the
greatest victor. He is the most powerful warrior. He creates all things holy
and beautiful and divine. One fine day our feet will pad their way down the
streets of gold. Let’s write stories that will aid others to find their way
home to the Lover of Their Soul.
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the beginning and the end…”
Revelation 21:6 a
