Today At Covenant…Promise vs. Reality

This morning at Covenant Church our Pastor was visiting elsewhere and our message was brought by a former intern, Jonathan Allotey. It was such a neat experience to be inspired by a new voice. Jonathan is a great young pastor who is from Ghana in west Africa. Passion drenched every word spoken today and my prayer is that it affected everyone in a huge way as it did me.

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Our church is currently reading through Romans 6 in a series entitled No Longer Slaves. Today’s main passage came from Romans 6:4-8.

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—  because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Three obvious questions come from having read this passage:

  1. What does it mean to be dead to sin?
  2. How do we die to sin?
  3. Is dying to sin the end?

The answers to these questions can be found in multiple letters written by Paul to churches in Rome, Corinth, and Colosse.

In Romans 6:3 Paul uses an illustration to describe the change that takes place when we die to sin and accept salvation.

 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

When we received Christ we identified with his death in that we died to ourselves. The old life we lived was done and we were no longer ruled by sin. Christ became our master. And a man can only serve Christ or sin. Therefore, sin lost its hold on us and we became dead to sin by accepting Christ’s salvation.

Jesus paid the full price for our sins to make us free much like the indentured servants of the 18th century who traveled from England and worked in America for a certain number of years in order to pay for their freedom. The only difference with this illustration is that Jesus did the work for our freedom. We didn’t have to pay a thing. And now, as a Christian who has accepted the salvation we are made dead to sin, but alive in Christ.

In Ezekiel 36:25-28, the prophet tells of how God would make his people new.

 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.  I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you.  I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.

In this passage in Ezekiel God reveals his plan for salvation. Once we become children of God he cleanses us from our sin. He separates the sin from us and frees us from the grip of sin. God also gives us a new heart. He replaces our hearts of stone with a heart of flesh which is sensitive to the Word and promptings of God. The Spirit is also given to us to guide us through a life of obedience. The Spirit gives us the power to be slaves to Christ.

In his letter to the church in Corinth Paul explains that we are new creations the moment we accept Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

This passage states that once we accept Christ we are brand new. We are no longer ruled by sin! This is a not a future promise, rather it is a present  reality. In a culture where feelings reign supreme it’s hard to feel like being new is truth. Some days we don’t feel new. We struggle with sin and at times feel bound to it. But whether or not we feel it is true or not God’s Word is always true. When God says we are no longer slaves that is true. It’s our reality. Now.

So now that we know the truth how do we apply it to our lives? Colossians 3:1-2 explains exactly how to apply our freedom from sin.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

The things we should set our hearts and minds on are things like God’s truth (found in scripture) and loving others. We are free from sin so that we may live the way God designed us to:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:12-13)

If you have accepted Christ stop living in a state of promise and realize God’s truth is reality. Stop waiting around for feelings, but claim God’s Word in your life today. Whether or not you feel it or not you are a new creation. Sin has no power in your life that you don’t allow it to have. The Spirit has all the power of God and it lives within you. You are equipped to break the bondage of sin. You are a new creation!

The Ameri Brit Mom

 

Five Minute Friday: Easy

This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is Easy. What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:

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As an adult very few things come easy.

I can remember in high school taking months off from working out and being able to pick up where I left off. Running came easily. Working out wasn’t a struggle. Finding time to invest in my physical health was simple. School and friends were my only distractions.

Now, is quite the opposite. I’ve been trying to get in shape for a race (6.5 miles) I may end up doing with a friend. I’ve had to plan in advance and re-arrange my days in order to complete short runs. Plotting physical activity requires so much more than getting dressed for the exercise. Now that I’m a mother it requires childcare and making sure I still have time in my day to cook, clean, work, and fulfill all of my duties as a wife and mother.

Once I do find myself in a pocket of time set aside for running there is a brand new problem that comes with being an adult. Running is hard! As a petite high school student I was able to run long distances with mild levels of exhaustion and discomfort. Now, it’s an accomplishment to run two miles without contracting knee pain or shin splints. I don’t pay attention to the clock. It’s embarrassing. As long as I’m trying my best and getting good cardio through a heightened heart rate I’ll take whatever time I can.

Easy is not a word I would use to describe my road to getting in shape. But valuable is. Getting back into a regular routine of working out is valuable to my health and well-being and for that reason I will continue.

I’m back at it again. This isn’t easy. But I have resolved to not be too hard on myself and to enjoy getting back in shape.

 

Journal Bibles

One of my favorite blogs which I follow is by Rachel Wojo. She is a creative and inspiring person who posts about her faith and journey through God’s Word. Lately, Pintrest and Rachel’s blog have been capturing my interests with this new phenomenon in Bible study methods.

Essentially Bible Journaling is an illustrative approach to memorizing or dwelling on scripture.With this practice you turn your Bible into a visual scrapbook of your faith. You can journal within the margins of any Bible, but the exercise has become so popular that many Christian publishers now offer Journal Bibles.

After a few months teetering on the edge of the practice and attempting to journal within the margins of my NIV study Bible, I think I am ready to take the plunge. I would like to purchase a Journal Bible. I’m reaching out to my community for help.

Journal Bibles are a large market.

Not only are there different publishers, but there various translations, styles, and font sizes to choose from. I want to find a Journal Bible that is affordable, but that will also last. I’d like the pages to be thicker than a standard Bible and plenty of space to write and draw. There are so many choices that I’m completely overwhelmed.

Below are my top three picks. If you are experienced in the craft and have better options to suggest please do so. Otherwise, I’m looking for opinions :)

  1. Inspire Bible-NLT-Elastic Band Closure, Teal Imitation Leather

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2.ESV Single Column Journaling Bible 

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3. ESV Journaling Bible, Interleaved Edition (Cloth over Board, Turquoise/Coral), Multicolor

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The Ameri Brit Mom

 

This Is My Time: Ode To First Light

This Is My Time: Ode to First Light

Lauren Sisley

At first light I am alone, but also accompanied by characters, stories, and worlds borne of an imagination. Burning a candle on both ends I slave away in my den breaking only for sips of tepid coffee. The other members of my family are fast asleep in their beds. They dream as I toil in my craft spinning words into sentences and sentences into stories.

This is my time.

I write to stay afloat. An affection has been forged between language and my fingertips. With each swipe of a pen my hands breathe life into letters. The pulse behind each syllable aches to be heard.

This is my time.

By noon, I know, this won’t be true. A lunch will need made. A baby will need dressed. Laundry will need folded. Plants will need watered. That’s why I awake at first light ready and armed with a coffee, pen, paper, and computer.

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24 Book Challenge: A Book Written the Year I Was Born

The following is a book review by The Ameri Brit Mom. This is book #3 from The Ameri Brit Mom 24 Book Challenge in 2016. This post expresses the genuine opinion and experiences of The Ameri Brit Mom and is in no way endorsed by authors, publishers, or outside influences.

Title: Good Omens

Author: Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Publisher: Harper

Copyright Date: 1990

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This is a book I never would have chosen for myself. I guess that’s the point of a reading challenge, though. I decided to take on the challenge in order to expand my reading beyond just NY Times bestsellers. In the past, I’ve been a fan of some of Gaiman’s work (which usually flirts with the dark lines) so after reading several book reviews on Goodreads and reading through multiple Best Books of 1990 lists I decided on this title.

Good Omens is ,”a narrative of certain events occurring in the last eleven years of human history, in strict accordance as shall be shewn with: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter.”

Agnes Nutter, a seventeenth century witch recorded thousands of prophecies which have been passed down through the family heirloom of the Device family. The prophecies of this particular witch are extremely accurate, but hard to predict ahead of time. They are the types of prophecies one does not realize has been fulfilled until the event has already occurred. Partially because of the tiny details of the predictions and partially because many of the predictions involve objects and ideas for which there were no words when the book was recorded causing Agnes to create her own words.

Adam Young, is the anti-Christ. Although many people don’t usually think of the anti-Christ as being an eleven year old boy from Tadfield, England. Aziraphale, an angel and part-time rare book dealer, along with Crowley, a fallen angel, they worked together to switch out the biological son of the Young’s for the Satanic boy who would induce the end of the world.

Newt Pulsifer is a witchfinder private who works for Sergeant Shadwell. In his quest to learn of present day witches he comes across Anathema Device, the contemporary heiress of Agnes Nutter’s book of prophecies.

On the last day of the world as we know it all of these characters together with the four horsemen of the apocalypse (Death, War, Famine, and Pollution) meet in an old warehouse in Tadfield. The world is on the brink of extinction and each of these persons has an important role to play in that endeavor. Plans have been set and prophecies are being fulfilled, but some details have been missed in the process.

Witty, creative, and uncommon are three adjectives that come to mind after reading this collaborative effort by two of the most common names in fantasy literature. At times I was laughing, and to be honest at others I was completely confused, but in the end this book turned out to be a unique work of fiction unlike anything else I’ve ever read. I fell in love with the writing style of both of these men. As I read I could hear their humorous voices throughout the somewhat muddy plot. When things were confusing their wit brought me through and helped me to see this book through til the end.

I don’t know that I would highly recommend this piece for my usual followers. It’s a little different and the multiple conflicts and characters really challenge the reader’s attention. If you are looking for something different, however, to spark your reading habits or to approach a complicated fantasy then this is the book for you.

The Ameri Brit Mom

 

The Immediate Inciting Incident: The Irresistible Novel

As I dive into the week five topic from The Irresistible Novel by Jeff Gerke I want to refocus on a few ideas that I tried to make clear earlier in the book study. Throughout this series on my blog I am simply reading and summarizing the ideas presented by the Writer’s Digest author, Jeff Gerke. At no point in time do I mean to come across as saying his thoughts are absolutes for all writers. To be honest, I’ve disagreed with him more times than I’ve agreed. However, as a writer I see the value in dissecting some controversial arguments in order to better my writing.

Through this study I am being forced to look at things I may not otherwise have thought about (-ly adverbs, purple prose, prologues, description, etc.) As some one with little formal training in the art of creative writing I am finding it refreshing and learning a lot.

In each chapter Gerke discusses the topic from two viewpoints (those opposed and those in favor.) After the dichotomy of the subject he does offer his opinion. On my blog, I have skipped over this portion and instead I explain my current book and where I stand on this topic for that work. Again, not all writing is the same. What I choose to include in a novel is completely different to a poem or short story. To be honest, I am not a fan at all of any writing rules becoming absolutes. Writing is a creative work which I feel should not be limited by a set of dos and don’ts.  I don’t like to feel claustrophobic when I write. I want the limits to be endless and the liberty to write in whatever way comes naturally.

I say all of this because over the past couple of weeks I’ve had some interesting conversations, emails, and comments where the purpose behind this series I fear has become lost. I’m examining one chapter a week from this book as a long book review. At no point do I feel that any book on writing is 100% prescriptive. The purpose of books on writing (in my opinion) is to give writers things to think about to help them develop their own voice. I have never agreed wholeheartedly with any author. That’s because I have my own voice (as do all writers.) So please, take this for what it is. A short discussion on writing viewpoints. Now, enough of my rambling. Let’s dive in to today’s thoughts about the immediate inciting incident.

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The Immediate Inciting Incident

“The inciting incident is the thing that gets the story moving.” (Gerke 41)

In order for a reader to fully engage with characters in your story action needs to be a big part of the opening scene(s). The argument lies in whereabouts the action should begin.

Some believe that the inciting incident should be visible on the first page of your novel. Those in favor of placing the event right at the start see the inciting incident as the necessary hook to get reader to continue your book. I can think of a handful of books that I’ve enjoyed where this was the case. There’s no time to question whether or not to keep reading or abandon the book when you are sucked into the action on page one. You thought you were giving the book a quick try and before you know it you are emotionally and physically tied into the plot. A sample read becomes a fifty page reading and once you’ve made it that far there’s no turning back. Speaking from experiences this tactic works. However, it doesn’t always work for everyone every time. There’s an art to using the inciting incident on page one and if it seems too forced or hard to follow without background knowledge it can cause a book to crash and burn.

Others argue that a connection to the characters must first be present before the inciting incident occurs. That debate is rooted in the fact that the inciting incident may lack the intended reader response if the reader does not already have reason to care about a character. Those who write primarily in this camp find it beneficial to show a character in their usual element before throwing a wrench in their predictability.

“Establish normal before violating normal.” (Gerke 45)

It is important to your writing that no matter where you decide to place your inciting incident that you begin your book in an engaging way. You may choose to do that through action, inciting incidence, or another powerful hook technique. The introduction should draw your readers in and introduce them to the conflict of the story in a quick manner no matter which side of the above argument you favor.

My Current Project…

I’m not going to lie I’ve re-written my first chapter about six times.

My first draft like all other authors’ first drafts was a word vomit to put it illustratively. I had all these ideas I wanted to get down on paper, and so I did. And it was poorly written. Edits round 2 led me to readjust my first chapter. With a clearer vision of where the story was headed I was able to polish it and make it better reflect the rest of the story. However, it took several tries for me to get beyond simple character and setting descriptions to bringing conflict from the get-go.

My inciting incident is present in my first chapter.

It isn’t completely unraveled until later chapters, but it is present. My current draft of chapter one shows my character doing something uncharacteristic for himself and his own internal conflict in the event is how I’ve chosen to describe my main character. (I know that breaks many rules. It’s still a work in progress.) From that internal conflict he is thrust into a situation which reveals the inciting incident.

So, that being said, I’m currently looking for some qualified readers and editors to help me with my first chapter. If you are interested please comment with your email or email me directly.

I had a chance to sit down with a best selling author this week and I became a sponge which soaked up her wisdom. Those discussions are going to really help me as I move forward with my book and it was so encouraging to hear that it took years for her first book to be written and published. Mindy McGinnis is amazing. You should read her books and meet her in person. She’s a walking resource for how to be successful in the field. (More on this meeting next week on the blog.)

The Ameri Brit Mom

Stitch Fix #5

I’m really excited to share some big Stitch Fix news with you. Drum roll, please…

Stitch Fix now carries shoes. And not just ANY shoes. They carry name brand and designer shoes. Spoiler alert: I received some of my favorite shoes in this month’s fix.

Although my stylist was feeling a spring vibe as she assembled my personal box it has been breezy and blustery here in Ohio. This weekend I tried to get some outdoor shots in my new fix scores because even though it was windy and cold it did look beautiful. The photos below were taken in the middle of a wind storm so needless to say, it was fun and interesting. Grace for my blowing hair would be appreciated :)

Before I reveal my pieces let’s discuss Stitch Fix for a moment. Stitch Fix is an online personal stylist program. As the customer you begin by filling out a profile about yourself and your sizes on the Stitch Fix website. From this profile a team of stylists selects five unique pieces and sends them in the mail on a regular basis (the duration of which you can decide).

There is a $20 stylist fee for each fix that ships to your home. That fee can be applied to any pieces that you decide to keep from that shipment. After that original $20 fee each time you only pay for what you want to purchase. If you choose to purchase all five pieces in the Stitch Fix box you receive a 25% discount on your order.

The Stitch Fix company encourages you to try on every item. Anything that does not fit or that you don’t wish to purchase can be returned in a prepaid priority mail bag that is sent in each Stitch Fix at no cost to you. You have three days from the arrival of your box to complete the online checkout and resend any items you do not wish to keep. In order to checkout you must visit your account on their website and comment about each piece. If you choose not to keep something write why that piece was undesirable and that helps the stylists find better options in the future.

If you are interested in giving it a try yourself you can CLICK HERE to create your own account and begin filling out a profile. (Please use the hyperlink above as it helps me earn a little extra credit on my account as well. Thanks!)

To start off my personal fix description I love how within each box there is always a personal note from my stylist. For this fix she discussed the spring appeal of each piece. She also gave me ideas about how to wear some of the garments.

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Here is a look at my 5 items:

  1. Collective Concepts: Galen Printed Dress 

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This dress is a lot of fun. The pattern is very bold and lively, and I like the cinch sash which ties on the side to highlight my figure. The fabric is of great quality. However, I ended up passing on this deal for the shear fact that this dress was entirely too expensive for me. I could never pay out triple digits for a sun dress with a clear conscience so this one found itself packed back into the envelope provided by Stitch Fix. That was a hard decision.

2. Loveappella: Dewitt Lace Sleeve Henley Knit Top

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This piece is comfortable and perfect for layering. I really liked the fit of this top and look forward to wearing this versatile top throughout several seasons.

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Yes, you read that right and your eyes aren’t playing a trick on you. My Stitch Fix sent me new red TOMS. I’ve mentioned before the importance of including a link to pinterest and social media for your stylist. Mine mentioned a recent blog post of mine about TOMS in an email. These were perfect and exactly what I was looking for. Of course these TOMS made the cut!

4. Just USA: Morrie Boyfriend Denim Jacket

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This jacket brought a little warmth to the photo snapping, however, I already own an extremely similar jacket so I sent this adorable piece back to the factory.

5. Market & Spruce: Spencer Striped Jersey DressDSC00114

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This dress is perfection. I love the navy and white stripe design, the light fabric, and the way it fit my figure. It showed off some of my best features and remained cute and modest. Also, this was the most inexpensive bit of the whole box so it was practically a steal. I cannot wait for the temperatures to get warmer so I can get some wear out of this fun dress. I also love that it can be casual or more sophisticated based on shoes and accessories.

So, as always I was extremely pleased with my fix. I ended up with three new clothing items which I love and am excited to wear as the weather reflects its true season in the future.

Which pieces were your favorite?

The Ameri Brit Mom

*This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation as a result of this post.

 

Veggie Pizza Appetizer

Last Tuesday night we had our final cLife meeting with our current church group. Next month we will begin a new term and our close knit body will be dispersing in different directions. It’s a good thing ultimately because it means we had outgrown one group, but it’s always sad when a good thing comes to an end.

In an act of finality I hosted a family game night. The children played. The dad’s built and sat around the fire pit all while the moms played a few hilarious rounds of Telestrations through whining and injured children, feedings, and countless other interruptions. It was a blast! I have truly gained a second family with my church group and feel blessed to have spent two years in community with each person who has crossed our path.

For the party I tried a new recipe I found on Pinterest. It was a huge hit so I figured why not share it with my blogging community too!?! It may not look like much, but this stuff is addicting and a huge crowd pleaser. Bon Apetit!

Veggie Pizza Appetizer

Ingredients:

-2 cans crescent rolls

-4 oz cream cheese, softened

-1/2 cup sour cream

-1 Tb fresh dill, chopped

-2 cups assorted veggies, chopped (broccoli, bell peppers, cauliflower)

IMG_2461 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine the sour cream, cream cheese, and dill. Stick in the refrigerator to chill.

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3. Remove crescent rolls from the can and press into a large rectangle on a non-stick or parchment lined baking sheet. Pinch together all of the seams.

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4. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until golden.

5. While the crust is baking, chop all of the fresh vegetables.

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6. Spread chilled cream cheese mixture onto the cooled crescent roll crust.

7. Top with vegetables.

8. Cut into appetizer sized pieces.

9. This can be refrigerated for up to an hour before serving.

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The Ameri Brit Mom

 

Today At Covenant…No Longer Slaves

It’s been a couple of weeks since I last updated you on the preaching of Pastor Travis Davenport at Covenant Church in Grove City. So many things have been happening in our congregation. Last week I had the privilege to pray for others during our first altar call (due to the fact that we meet in a movie theater…altar calls are quite the challenge.) Today we moved from Romans Chapter 5 into Romans Chapter 6 as we began a new series entitled No Longer Slaves.

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Romans 6:1-4

 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

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Let’s be clear right off the bat: There is a difference between RECEIVED righteousness and EARNED righteousness. Received righteousness requires nothing but our openness to receive in order for us to gain salvation or grace. Earned righteousness requires one to complete a task list or to at least balance their good and bad deeds using a process similar to weights and scales. Of all the major world religions Christianity is the only one which claims that salvation a received righteousness. We believe it is not a product of our behavior or lack of sin, but rather a product of God’s love given freely to those who receive. In the same way we know that messing up doesn’t cost us that gift. Sin does not define who we are in God because His grace is great enough to cover our screw ups.

In case you didn’t get that: You don’t have to EARN God’s love!

There is something inherent in all of us that makes that a difficult bite to swallow. We sometimes struggle with feeling like we have to be cleaned up and fixed up before we can be righteous, when in reality we became righteous the moment we accepted the grace of God. So in other words: you who believe are now free from sin and are righteous.

You have died to sin!

But the age old question which Paul addresses here at the beginning of the chapter is then if we have been made righteous already then is it okay to continue sinning? God gave us grace and if he is continually forgetting our mess ups then what’s so wrong about going back to some of our old addictions, struggles, or sins? Isn’t it okay with Him? Can’t he just forgive us afterwards?

Again, Paul answers correctly in verse 2: BY NO MEANS!

Once you accept the gift of righteousness you are free to serve a God of love instead of the sin to which you were formerly enslaved. Why would you experience the life and fullness of God only to return to the death and destruction from which he saved you? It doesn’t make sense. And this mentality that “God will just forgive me if I ______ if I ask for forgiveness later” is harmful because it is essentially taking advantage of God. And although he is a God of love and forgiveness no one wants to provoke God like that. It never ends well.

Now just because you died to sin doesn’t mean you won’t sin it just means that sin is no longer your master. You now have the power to tell sin to leave you alone. With God in your corner that power is available. But, we are all human and every day we will still struggle with sin.

We will still have desires to sin. But sin does not reign in us. We are new creations who are no longer subject to sin as a master.

So live a life of righteousness. With the help of the Holy Spirit you have the power to silence your addictions, struggles, and sins. In Jesus’ Name you have healing from a past of following the wrong master and you are forgiven to move forward in truth.

I hope that message was as empowering to you as it was to me on this beautiful Sunday.

The Ameri Brit Mom

Purple Prose and Painted Paragraphs: The Irresistible Novel

 

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This is my fourth week exploring a writing principle from The Irresistible Novel by Jeff Gerke. The focus this week is on being an invisible novelist. Gerke’s issue which he calls “purple paragraphs” is rooted in whether or not an author should get outside the mind and action of the characters and add some of their own illustrious language to their story. For most of his writing life Gerke was strongly against the use of purple prose, but it wasn’t until he saw it done correctly that he began to open up more to the invisible novelist idea.

This type of writing takes fiction into the literary fiction genre. Many readers dislike this genre. It can be hard to read and sometimes the page-long details about the color of the sky can be boring for a reader who is used to action-packed plot lines. Gerke even goes so far as to say he gets rather annoyed at authors who use this practice because it often feels like they are tooting their own horn as opposed to letting the story, characters, setting, etc. speak for themselves.

But it is important to remember that each reader is drawn to different things. If you read you are well aware of this. Books that you have absolutely loved others can’t stand. Or maybe you’ve picked up a recommendation from a friend only to abandon the book later. We all have different tastes. And while a majority of readers are drawn to a solid plot filled with multiple conflicts and adventure others are prefer books with purple prose and painted paragraphs. Those readers are few and far between in this day and age, but they are still out there.

My Current Project…

Okay, I’ll admit it. I loathe purple prose. To be honest, I took a rather long reading hiatus in high school because I was forced to read literary fiction after literary fiction by my English teachers. I struggled through each book. Not because I didn’t understand them, but because they were boring. I’m not a Whitman lover. I can’t stand Fitzgerald. And I know it may get me fired as a high school English teacher, but I don’t even enjoy poetry at all. It just isn’t my personality.

I’m the teacher who pushes for young adult literature in the classroom. I know that some people really do enjoy literary fiction so as a class we do read some of those novels together, but from experience I know that being forced to only read literary fiction is a fast way to kill a reader’s passion. I didn’t begin to flourish as a reader until I was free to make my own choices. And those choices have very rarely included literary fiction.

When it comes to my book I’m writing you can guess it-there isn’t any purple prose. To me, it wouldn’t feel right. If I skip through the purple prose as a reader why would I choose to write it?

Writers do their best when they are ascribing to their own tastes. So I’ll stick with what I like.