Is There Purpose in Affliction?

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"Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord?

Arise! Do not cast us off forever.

24 

Why do You hide Your face,

And forget our affliction and our oppression?"  

Ps 44:22-24

Affliction

Wow. Just wow. 

For the past two weeks, I have received so many prayer requests from friends who are truly hurting....

• Loss of a baby
• Death of a father
• Job loss
• Financial issues
• Cancer diagnosis
• Surgery recovery
• Marriage problems

...and many more! The Lord has brought so many to mind during my morning prayers that I am weary. My heart is breaking! I cry out to the Lord!

And He hears me.

Habakkuk

For the last 4 weeks I have been in a Bible study on the Book of Habakkuk and I have gleaned much from this book. 

I have learned that there is a purpose for affliction and I have learned that it comes from the Lord.

Is there comfort in knowing that?

I suppose there can be. 

All I know is, the Lord created the nation of Babylon for one purpose only:

To afflict His people, Israel. 

Can you imagine that? A nation is born for one reason only... to wreak havoc on God's people. 

Why? To bring them back to Him.

When? During a great time of apostasy and idolatry.

"We have heard with our ears, O God,

Our fathers have told us,

The deeds You did in their days,

In days of old:

2 

You drove out the nations with Your hand,

But them You planted;

You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out."  

Ps 44:1-2

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Purpose

Why does God allow us to be afflicted with pain and suffering?

Answer: to bring true believers near to Him.

Habakkuk realized who God was during the time of affliction. He asked God questions and got answers. And as a result, Habakkuk saw the attributes of the Lord. 

He remembered the God whom he served.

Asaph was conflicted when he saw how the wicked prospered even though they were afflicting God's people. And the result? Asaph almost stumbled. But he entered the sanctuary of the Lord and saw how it ends for the wicked. 

"Truly God is good to Israel,

To such as are pure in heart.

2 

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

My steps had nearly slipped.

3 

For I was envious of the boastful,

When I saw the prosperity of the wicked."  

Ps 73:1-2

"When I thought how to understand this,

It was too painful for me—

17 

Until I went into the sanctuary of God;

Then I understood their end."  

Ps 73:16-17

He remembered the God whom he served. 

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God Hears

As you can see, affliction is there to force us to look at God and NOT our circumstances. 

"...For He hears the cry of the afflicted."  

Job 34:28

If anyone was afflicted in Scriptures, it was Job. And yet he remembered his God.

I love to pray for others who are in need because I know the Lord hears me. I have faith that He will go the those in need and comfort them. 

I know He is faithful.

And just this week, I have learned that God has answered my prayers and is helping some of my friends. 

And the others? They are still in need, but I know God is with them getting them through the storm.

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Storms are scary. 

My friend, Pam, reminded me of the story of when Peter walked on the water and only began to sink when he took his eyes off the Lord and focused more on the storm and his circumstances. 

"...But when he saw that the wind was boisterous,he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

And immediately Jesus stretched out 

His hand and caught him, and said to him, 

“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased."

  Matt 14:30-31

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Peace

Ahhh, peace. We all crave it.

To have peace, we can learn from Peter...never take our eyes off Christ during the storm! 

My prayer for those of you suffering right this moment is that you would draw closer to the Lord during this time of affliction.

Draw near to Him! 

Wait.

Watch.

And listen for Him.

It is there in the midst of the storm that He reaches out his hand to save us! When we look at our surroundings, we miss it. 

We miss that opportunity to grasp His hand and be saved. 

Trust the Lord. The wind will cease. The calm will come. Draw near to Him!

And there will be peace again.

"Whom have I in heaven but You?

And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

26 

My flesh and my heart fail;

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  

Ps 73:25-26

Blessings,

Ruth

Words That Inspire...

 

"There is creative reading as well as creative writing." -Ralph Waldo Emerson




Words That Inspire

On my blog, I have posted about movies that inspired me to write. Today I post about books that inspired me to write...

 A couple of years ago, around the time I had decided on the plot, setting, and theme of The Dragon Forest II, I realized I needed some inspiration for writing prison scenes. 

I came upon this book, The Count of Monte Cristo, and found it most helpful for writing the prison scenes, but also it was most helpful with writing the scenes involving conflict and change my story lacked. 

My hero, Peter, must undergo extreme changes that occur from experiencing a horrific trial that no mother or father would ever want their child to endure. I found this book most helpful with this task. Dumas writes about the anger, frustration, and sorrow his protagonists deals with along with the powerful feelings of revenge that drive him and keep him alive in that prison setting.

I learned how to input those exact feelings into my story a couple of years ago when I read this book. Dumas left me appreciating language all the more when I put his book down. I became a fan after that experience!

I didn't read much as a child. When I did pick up a book, it was usually a history book, a book about horses (I loved to draw horses!), or a science book. 

Every once in awhile, I would pick up a book of fiction to read. One day, I read a book about King Arthur. I was forever hooked on the legend! 

When I decided to write my own book series, I knew I would write about castles, knights, kings, and sword fights all because of the impact this book had on my imagination as a child. My own series deals with a noble King struggling to keep his kingdom from falling into the enemy's hands while dealing with betrayal among his own friends. 

I feel this book has given me the most inspiration to write a story than any other. 

Finally, the story of Joseph in the Bible also inspired me to write.

I, like most Christians, had read this story and heard this story numerous times ever since I was a child in Sunday School class.

But it took writing a story about a young boy innocently thrown into prison, to open my eyes to the precepts in this book.  I needed help in writing about what emotions a person innocent of all charges would feel if suddenly placed in prison, and this book revealed a young man who served his time well. He served with honor and obedience. He served in such a way that the Lord remembered him.

Wow. How many of us could do this if we found ourselves unjustly accused and thrown in prison?

Joseph's story also helped me write about how it is futile to sit in a prison cell and plan out revenge on those who wrongfully imprisoned you, as the protagonist in Count of Monte Cristo did.  Instead, I thought about Joseph's hope and how that got him through this trial.

And how God rewarded him.



Well, these are the three books that have inspired me to write. I have read many more through the years, but as I look back, these three came to my mind over and over again.

Emerson was correct. To write creatively requires reading creatively. Now I read outside my comfort zone of non-fiction and I have found so much inspiration this way!

Your turn: What books have inspired you to become the writer you are today?


Blessings,
Ruth

 

Bend, Don't Break

“I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide.” — Harper Lee

Constructive Criticism

One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was stand in front of a room of strangers and try to inspire them. Did I mention those strangers were 13 & 14 yr olds?

I explained to my students on the last day of school my story:  How I was once a little girl who dreamed of having my own classroom because I love school...I'm weird that way. I also told them how hard it was to stand before them and teach them writing. But I ended by telling them how welcome they made me feel and how kind they were. In the end, they inspired me much more than I inspired them!

Writing a book is almost the same thing: you put yourself out there in front of total strangers and hope they accept you and your story for what it is.

Boy is that scary!

I remember asking my editor to read The Dragon Forest II thinking I had hit it out of the ball park! I thought for sure he would be so impressed with my story line.

I was wrong.

He had ten...yes TEN...typed pages of constructive criticism for me to read through, AND he wanted to meet with me to go over each point. 

Ugh. That was a bad, bad day. 

Yet it was also a very good day because it was the day my story was saved...from myself!

I learned that day the true meaning of "constructive criticism" and how much it stings. 

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The Writing Process

When I looked over my Dragon Forest II manuscript again after meeting with my editor that day, I realized how off course I was from my original idea. And I realized my editor's ideas were very beneficial to my story. 

So, I revised....and revised...and...well, you get the picture. 

My book went from 158,000 down to a workable 115,000 words. It was hard to cut out so many words, but it made for a much better story. 

Then I sent my editor an apology email telling him how sorry I was that he had to read such tripe in the first place! But he told me, "That's the writing process..."

And he's so right. 

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Bend, Don't Break!

After revising my book, I asked my beta reader to read the edited copy. It came back with stellar reviews from my target audience. 

Yes! God is good. 

I knew there and then that I was a writer. For the first time, I felt I truly understood the whole process of writing.

I rediscovered something about myself: I can bend without breaking!

I knew this before, I had just forgotten. 

So much about being a writer is bending...

• Listening to an editor's harsh criticisms along with the heartfelt praises.
• Accepting the publisher's timelines instead of your own.
• Reading your beta reader's comments and suggestions with an understanding that they, too, want you to make a better book. 

All this "bending" makes you stronger...just like a tree after a storm. 

I hope this post encourages you to work through the constructive criticism and not give up!

Keep the faith...keep believing in your story...keep dreaming.

And...keep writing!

In the end, you'll not only have a better book, but you will be a much stronger person!

Your turn: How have you handled harsh criticism from your editor, readers, critique partners? How do you handle rejection?

Blessings,

Ruth

Movies That Inspire

10 Movies That Inspired Me

I grew up in the 1970s so I am a “child of the television age” where most families had more than one TV set in the house and usually had it turned on all day long…even during dinner!

But it also means I grew up during the summer of blockbusters, a term created after the movie JAWS set box office records that summer of 1975.

My family enjoyed going to movies and drive-ins, but also watching movies on TV. I can look back and see how so many films I have watched over and over again truly influenced by desire to write stories of my own.

Here are 10 movies that inspired me:

Sound of Music- I saw this musical as a child on television and then in the theatre when it was re-released. I was so moved by the music, but also the story of how a family was created, tested, and strengthened by trials.  So moved was I that Maria’s wedding dress and veil inspired my own wedding dress and veil!

Gone with the Wind- this movie was on TV all the time when I was a kid and I watched it each time it was on! I never read the book, so the movie has a long lasting impact on me with the Technicolor, costumes, music, and set designs. But it was the story that always inspired me. A heroine who survives war and goes from being a spoiled brat to a conniving adult to a repentant sinner about to lose the one thing she never appreciated.

I walk away from that movie with a new lesson learned every time whether it’s about the civil war, how NOT to make a marriage, and how not to treat a man, to appreciating what you have and not to love money.

Such a tremendous movie!

The Godfather- We watch this movie at least once a year and every time I am amazed at the talented cast, writing, and directing. A writer can truly learn about conflict, how to build suspense, and how to create convincing change in the main character that breaks the viewer’s heart. Sigh. What a masterpiece in filmmaking.

Pride & Prejudice- I usually do not like romantic movies, but this one took a more contemporary cast and made it into a classic movie. I watched the film with the director’s commentary and learned so much more about the story and the interpretation of the story. The director directed his cast as a choreographer creates moves for the dancer. The lighting, the script, the location, the acting, and, most of all, the directing grabs me and takes me into this breathtaking romance every time. Heck, even my husband and teenage son liked it when they watched it with me. That’s says a lot!

Sense & Sensibility- Emma Thompson won an Oscar for her screenplay adaptation of this film and each time I watch it, I can see why. There is no action, no special effects, no exotic locations…this movie relies mostly on the eloquent words spoken by the actors. The commentary on this one is also most helpful in explaining the direction along with funny anecdotes that make the film interpretation even more endearing. The story is one that is timeless, yet each time I watch it, I walk away with something new.

JAWS- I saw this movie over and over again as a child and that probably explains my extreme ocean phobia. The first blockbuster in movie history, this movie never loses its impact no matter how many times you see it. This is definitely a director’s movie because the direction is what builds the suspense. Spielberg used the camera as the shark in the first part of the movie and that’s what scared the heck out of the audience more than any fake shark could! A brilliant move that happened by accident. This movie inspires me to show more and tell less in my own stories.

Lord of the Rings Series- Because my first book series is fantasy/adventure, this entire series inspired me to write my book back in 2004. I tried to read the books, but because I am so visual (remember, child of TV?) I had a hard time “seeing” the world the author had created. So, along comes these films that fans had waited decades for and boy were we NOT disappointed! Fantastic costumes, set designs, and locations inspired me to add more details into my story. The characters, the words, and the story intrigue me each time I watch. How the main character endures each obstacle put in his place helped me add more obstacles to my own story. Truly, a work of genius is the LOTR series!

Chronicles of Narnia- Another film that inspired me to write my book back in 2005. I had read the book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, to my son when he was little and the words always inspire me to try harder with language in my own book. C.S. Lewis also inspired me to put Christian principles into my story so that Christians would see them and be encouraged.

Gladiator-To me, this is a perfect movie: great acting, writing, and directing along with a fantastic musical score; the perfect movie. But what inspired me the most was the story. The heroic general who loses everything only to become a slave inspired me to take my character and put him into the most horrible situation he could face in order to learn what matters most in life: what we do now matters in eternity. Amen! I have to watch this movie at least once a month and each time I do, I walk away inspired.

Star Wars- Last, but not least, the most important movie I have ever seen. Why? Not because this movie is perfect (because it isn’t), or because it has the perfect story (it doesn’t)…but because this movie changed my life. I didn’t want to see it in theatres, initially. I thought a “space movie” would be boring, but my older brothers convinced me and away we went. I will never forget that opening scene and the first time I heard the music. I went out and bought the soundtrack with my allowance! I ended up seeing Star Wars 26 times that summer…and I was only 10 yrs old! Yes, this movie changed me and made me dream up stories and scenes for movies and books of my own. For now, I write books, but someday….movies! Thanks, George Lucas, for inspiring so many kids like me to go out and dream a little dream.

Your turn: What movie(s) inspired you to be a writer? I’d love to know! 

Blessings,

Ruth

Ruth A. Douthitt is a writer living in Arizona with her husband and teenage son. Ruth's first book, The Dragon Forest, was released through OakTara Publishing in 2011. Her second book, The Dragon Forest II: Son of the Oath, will be released in July 2013.

What? Me Worry?

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Don't Worry! Be Happy...

That was the title of a very popular song in the late 80's. Sounds easy enough: don't worry! Just be happy!

But happiness comes and goes. You could win the lottery one minute and be a happy millionaire only to lose it all in one bet at Las Vegas and be one unhappy gambler.

I believe that's why we all should long for PEACE.

In Habakkuk, we are learning about how the prophet understood all about God's judgment, but was confused and dismayed at how God enacted His judgment.  How could He stand by and watch as the enemy of His people slaughtered His people?

Habakkuk wondered aloud how God could allow the wicked to do such things. He wondered where God was in the midst of his trial...

Are You There God? It's Me...Anxious!

I know so many times we wonder where the God of the Bible was during times of crisis. We wonder if our prayers are even heard. We sit in anxiety as we ponder the silence we receive from God who promises to always be there.

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In today's world, it is considered rude not to answer an email or phone message within 24 hours. Well, we don't want to be rude do we?

So you can see how torturous it can be not to here from God in a timely manner. Why can't God show us the same courtesy? 

We want to know NOW what's going on. We want to know NOW what the answer is. We want to know NOW what's going to happen to this or that. 

In doing this, we go against the very Word of God:

 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God..." Phil 4:6

Paul didn't say to be anxious about somethings...he wrote to be anxious for NOTHING. No. Thing.

Habakkuk learned through his trial many things about his God. And that's the very purpose of our trials: to know our God.

As we sit and wait, we should focus on who God is...not on what we want. 

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts."  Is 55:8-9

You see that? God's thoughts and ways are NOT like your thoughts and your ways of doing things. 

Instead of making God into our image...look to who He is:

Self-existent

Creator

Holy

Self-sustaining

Immutable

The Solid Rock

Faithful

Covenant-maker

All these attributes should make you quiver with fear because no other thing in the universe has these attributes. But these attributes should also bring you comfort knowing that He has you in His hands. He knows ALL your concerns even before you speak them. 

And sometimes what He is doing in your life may not make sense, but He does have a purpose for everything He does!

“Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you..." Habakkuk 1:5

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In Everything...PRAY!

Habakkuk only received peace once he talked with God. Asaph wrote the same thing in Psalm 73:

"When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me—
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end."  Psalm 73:16-17

As a mother and a wife, I try hard not to worry. Lay-offs at my husband's job, high unemployment as my son looks for work, lesson plans to be written...all this can make me toss and turn at night.

But then I pray. I enter the sanctuary of God and remember who HE is:

Eternal

Faithful

Covenant-maker

Holy

Powerful

Unchanging

Amen! That's what Paul meant when he wrote:

"...but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

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Peace!

And that's what I leave with you today. I know you are worrying about something! We all do. 

But enter God's sanctuary. Reach out to Him...about everything. 

Wait.

Watch.

Worship.

And remember to whom you are praying. 

"If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:13

Your turn:  How has God revealed Himself to you when you were in prayer about something big?

Blessings,

Ruth

Welcome to Paradise!

Vacation!

Don't worry, this post isn't solely about my recent vacation. Instead, this post is about a lesson learned during my vacation...

Dr. R. C. Sproul often tells the story of his wedding day when he and his new bride were stuck at the airport on a cold winter day in Pittsburgh as they awaited their flight to paradise: Bermuda!

In the story, he explains how dreary the weather was at the airport and how they longed to start their honeymoon in the tropical island paradise. He equated this situation with how we Christians live:

So many times we long to stay here in the world (airport) where we think all our needs are met and yet all the while, paradise (eternity with God) awaits us. 

This is oh so true. 

Stuck at the Airport

Well, something similar happened to us only weather wasn't the problem. As we happily boarded our plane to start our long awaited Hawaiian vacation, the captain announced there was a mechanical issue with the plane and we needed to disembark.

You can imagine how disappointed we were. We had planned this vacation for over a year! But we were grateful that the error was found on the ground and not over the Pacific ocean.

As we sat waiting for an update from the crew, we couldn't help but remember Dr. Sproul's object lesson.  Are we, as Christians, truly looking forward to the return of Jesus? Or are we more than happy to be stuck at the airport: Stuck in the world as we know it?

Hey, the airport met all our needs. We had plenty of food, air conditioning,  bathrooms, chairs to sit on, and books to read. So, why not just stay there at the airport for the entire vacation?

Because we both knew that paradise awaited us!

Paradise

The view from our room...

Although my husband and I had never been to Hawaii, we had heard so much about it from friends and we had seen photographs. It sounded like and looked like paradise to us!

I remember when I was younger and I heard people say that they could hardly wait for Jesus to return. "Oh come quickly!" they would say. I would disagree with them. 

I wanted to marry and have children and have a career and do fun things BEFORE Jesus came. After all that, then Jesus could come and get me and take me to His Paradise. 

What foolish thinking, huh? Basically, I was telling God that I wanted to stay at the airport even though a marvelous vacation paradise awaited me. 

I had heard so much about what awaited me when Christ returns, I had read about it in Scriptures, yet I still wanted to remain in the world because I thought it was much better. 

I couldn't help but think about this way of thinking as we arrived at our hotel room in Maui. 

We made it! Our room was beautiful, the view was spectacular, and the beach was RIGHT THERE! Yes, our final destination was much better than the airport. 

Our 10 hour delayed flight made the arrival to Maui that much better than we could have imagined. 

The greens surrounding us were greener than anything I had seen. The colors of the flowers were intense and rich. The sounds of the waves hitting the shore lulled me to sleep each night. 

And yet all this beauty is marred with sin. 

Can you imagine what God's creation looked like without sin? We stood in the green hills of the Iao Valley pondering that thought. It was more than our feeble minds could handle. 

Iao Valley

On the Road to Hana

God's Rest

The purpose of our vacation was REST. I had just completed my first year teaching middle graders and discovered that the first year is the toughest! Boy was I ready for rest and relaxation.

At the airport...

All our needs were met at the airport...

In Maui...

...but we didn't enter into that REST and relaxation we longed for. 

And that's the promise we have from God. Through Christ, we leave behind this hectic world and enter into His good and perfect peace and rest.

"...So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,  for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience." Hebrews 4:8-11

Ahhh...rest. That's what now awaits those in Christ Jesus. 

• No more striving.
• No more work.
• No more bills.
• No more taxes.
• No more sorrows...and no more death. 

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

All our needs will be met! His plan is perfect! his banquet table will be plentiful. God will dwell among us. We will see Christ as He is...and we will be like Him!

Why would we desire anything else?

Peace and quiet...

So although the airport did meet our needs, there was NO WAY we were staying there for our vacation. We knew what awaited us!

As Christians, we should feel the same way about this world. Yes, our needs are met, but once we see in Scriptures what paradise awaits us with Christ's return, we should be like John:

"He [Jesus]who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:21

Yes, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Blessings,

Ruth