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A FAITHFUL WRITER
Now here's a new fresh
subject. Well--not really, there are maybe a thousand or
so articles in the past year alone on Faith. Is this a fresh
new approach? Probably not, but it occurred to me that if,
from time to time, I question the depth of my faith, then
so do other Christian writers.
Webster describes the meaning of faith as a belief that
is not based on proof.
Meaning of Faith to a Christian
-
Belief in Jesus
Christ
-
A relationship
with God through Jesus
-
Life in the spiritual
dimension, trusting Christ to take control of your life.
-
Taking God at
His word and doing what He says, even when you do not
understand all the implications.
- A journey that begins upon accepting
Jesus, and continues until you see Him face-to-face in heaven.
I prefer the definition in this beautiful
passage in Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) "Faith is being sure of what
we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
I am a Christian Fiction writer. Fiction is a strange genre--it's
real life with fuzzy edges. No style or beautiful prose in the
world can replace emotion and texture. Yes, craft is important,
but a reader turns the pages because he can smell pine scent
on the air, or feel cold wind on his face. Maybe the reader
knows what it feels like to see a pale face…that isn't there
looking through a dark window. Without honest feelings and emotions,
these are meaningless words on paper.
I became a Christian late in life. I spent many years writing
my first novel before deciding to place the word Christian before
the word Fiction after my name. Jacqueline McGuyer--Christian
Fiction Author. Thank God. My first manuscript never saw publication
(not for the lack of trying) God is good. It took more years
before my manuscript was "Born Again". Blood
Secrets is due for release in January 2007 by Wings
e-Press.
What does all this have to do with Faith? Let's see if I can
sum this up in 5000 words or less.
When I was "Born Again", it immediately became obvious that
either my writing career was in the dumpster, or I was going
to have to make a decision. My view of things had changed dramatically,
and the Holy Spirit was nudging me--big time. I put my book
on the back shelf…so to speak…but couldn't bring myself to delete
it from my hard drive. That was just too much to ask. Actually,
that's not what the Holy Spirit was asking.
I am an avid reader. Up to this time in my life, I'd read every
single thing Stephen King wrote, along with Peter Straub, Koontz,
Grisham, Ludlum, Clavell and many more just like them. Oh, yes,
give me murder, psycho thrillers, mayhem, intrigue and I'm happy.
I've read many classics as well; I love Henry David Thoreau
and Milton.
I went out and bought a load of Christian Fiction books, brought
them home and began to read. I hate to admit it I had an awful
time getting through most of them. Convinced Christian Fiction
is an acquired taste, I bought more--this time I bought the
Left Behind series--I couldn't put them down. They were full
of action, emotion and texture--I was there. I found other writers,
Randy Ingermanson and John Scott Bell. Extraordinarily talented
authors--still Christ centered.
I was able to go back and re-read the first books I'd purchased
with a different point of view. They no longer seemed so Pollyanna…just
not to my taste. I realized God has a plan for everyone. Each
of us tells our stories in a different way to a different audience.
Yes. Texture and emotion must be there, but the Holy Spirit
must be present as well. Our FAITH must guide our pen.
Now I was ready to take my book down from the shelf and begin
to rewrite. Now I know what the word FAITH really means. FORSAKING
ALL I TRUST HIM.
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