In a Tough Spot?

Matthew Henry's thoughts on reading in Psalm 31:

Instead of yielding to impatience or despondency under our troubles, we should turn our thoughts to the goodness of the Lord towards those who fear and trust in Him. ... Let not any yield to unbelief, or think, under discouraging circumstances, that they are cut off from before the eyes of the Lord, and left to the pride of men. 

I could not dare to quote the comments above if I had not seen the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of Difficulties and Troubles. The secret way of access into God's Goodness, I discovered, is no secret at all. It is found and used through fear of the Lord and trusting Him. Fear in this case means Awe. It means Amazement at the Wonder of the Love of God for all who desire its comforting, providing embrace. 

Awe of God yields trust in Him. When we see no way forward in times of need, we trust. How often I have reaffirmed, in a conversational and intense way, " God, I trust You. I have put all trust in You, and You have promised that You will not fail me in good or desperate times!" I have dared to leave it there and wait, reflect, and trust in the Lord. He has never failed me, although sometimes the answers were surprising or so practically normal- seeming that I felt amazed at the ways God works to meet the needs of anyone who loves Him.

Maybe the difficulties lie at home, or maybe at work or not having enough work. Maybe they are financial, or the expectations of others. We could name a long list of possibilities.

It is the need or worry of now that seems to be drowning us in such times. I recall, as I write, a true story in the news after a California earthquake. Rescuers searched for any possible unresued survivors of a crumbled, leaning apartment building. It was the third day they had been searching. Suddenly, they found an old lady, alive, in what had been a third or fourth floor apartment home. Her greeting to them was, in effect, "I knew you would come. I knew the Lord would not leave me here." 

They noted immediately, of course, that she was weak, thirsty, and hungry; yet she was also calm. They had water and food bars with them, and immediately gave aid, checked her out, and began to execute the plan to get her safely out of the rubble and dangerous situation. No one knew if another quake or after-shock might come at any time.

For three days and nights an old woman had escaped panic and fear, trapped among  the detritus of her former haven-home. She had prayed, trusted, and prayed and trusted more. Whatever happened, she was not alone there, hoping and waiting for the help she was confident would somehow find her.

God knows every need, everything large and small that is important to us. I sometimes wonder how many more wonders of His care I would have witnessed and experienced if trusting Him even more.

One said to Jesus, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." Jesus taught that faith as small as a mustard seed is powerful with God.

Lord, I believe. Help us all.

SEEK to OVERCOME the TERRORS

Will we forget the news scene of the woman who lifted her hands in prayer near Boston's well-known square? It was moments after the Boston Marathon bombing. Medics were helping people on the pavement near the woman. She was standing, her back to the injured and their helpers. Seeing her in profile, I noticed her head lifted toward the heavens and her slender hands put together in prayer; she was doing what she could.   

     I do not like the fact that we are likely to live as a people who must deal with shocks of terror. How will we do it? Our grandsons knew people watching near the Finish line in Boston that day, young people changed from happy to frightened in an instant. 

     In recent years, the USA and Europe have seemed to be relatively safe from terrorists' acts. Then Boston; then London. Young men intent on "teaching others a lesson," "paying back for events of the past" and railing against governments appeared to be normal and innocent. In Boston, they walked unnoticed amid crowds of happy marathon watchers; in London, they walked unnoticed in a relatively quiet neighborhood. Recently, people similar to their victims were bombed near Kabul, foreigners who had gone to help those in need in that city. 
   How are we to live unbound by fears as individuals, families, nations and regions...wherever we are, in these days?       

     Deliberate acts of terror can happen anywhere. For those who have not sought the peace of God yet, starting time is here. For any who have not prayed to Almighty God, it is time. This is important because we desire to have, in these times and conditions, a "peace that passes understanding." It is an inner peace that enables us to seek to settle our minds on the possibility, or maybe even the likelihood, that violence may happen near us or to us. To have peace with such knowledge whirling in our minds is the goal. 
     There is a peace that God gives that is possible, although it is unlike our ideas of peace. Our ideas mean that "nothing bad like this will happen again." We hope. The mental and spiritual peace that we need is unlike the peace of quiet or the peace of the absence of disagreement in the world The peace of God, being above and beyond the natural, is the highest, strongest, and most powerful peace. It enables us to live with inner peace while we keep our eyes open to dangers disguised as normal, friendly, sincere...and safe.   
    

     Lord, grant us Thy peace, which the world cannot give us or refused to give. We live in the open; we work; we take care of others; we love those closest to us. By Thy peace we seek to help all, including those outside the faith. We pray unceasingly for justice and for the end of anger, hatred, and all evil. We desire to see forgiveness in the world and the putting away of deeply guarded grievances. Lord, we desire Thy peace that overcomes the terrors that try to reside within us, whether we are children, grown ups, tribes, or nations. Amen. 

Copyright (c) 2013 Opinari Writers.

Boston Wounded-Hope, Encouragement, Love, Prayer-HELP

Maryland USA

Freedom-loving people all over the world rejoice today. The Boston Marathon terrorists have been stopped. The aftermath is at the forefront of our minds...wounded runners, helpers, police, and marathon watchers. Some have buried loved ones or will in the near future, including a police officer's family. 

   News reports say that a Boston bombing casualty has no health insurance. His and others' medical care will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars at least. You may have found a way to help with finances of medical needs of the wounded. I found a link to ideas of ways to help. 

   We continue to remember and to pray, while we resolve to do something and to remember to keep doing it. Whatever financial contribution we give, however small it may seem to us in light of these recent traumas, makes a diference. Progress in healing and moving ahead needs love and persevering care. I believe that financial gifts, however small, also give some measure of comfort for the wounded needing so much special and professional medical attention.  

   Thank God for the desire for freedom, that precious estate in which we live. Freedom, even to run a race or gather in a crowd to cheer, offends some among us to the point of terrorizing us in the most heinous actions. Freedom, however, reflects well, and the scars of these fresh wounds must make us more aware and determined than ever to hold freedom close. This treasure, freedom, has a great price. This we know.  

Copyright (c) 2013 Opinari Writers.

Are You Crazy to PAY for Your Book's Marketing?

Image by striatic via Flickr

It's easy to go into debt paying for book marketing programs that don't work. Want some ideas to avoid this? Examples and ideas follow: 

Moving from paying for promotions to making opportunities means you need to use skills you already have. You have to assert yourself on the page; so, assert yourself with attention-getting marketing. Writers can find free professional advice via websites, blogs, and newsletters online. The Internet is as good a research tool as you will find almost anywhere. And what about doing research in public and university libraries?

Before my company, Opine Publishing, released the rare Charles H. Spurgeon book, The Mourner's Comforter, in 2007, we sent 40-plus free Advance Review copies, six weeks in advance, to a carefully prepared list of individuals and organizations. The book did well. 

Three years later, a reviewer finally read his free copy, and got his review into a widely distributed magazine. Who knows if the book's second climb among Spurgeon books on Amazon.com came from the 2010 review? I think so, for we did see a spike in orders.

You have a passion for your writing. You want to connect with readers. You're willing to grow as a writer. You want to know all of the important parts of writing and publishing as well as anyone else at your stage of experience! 

Marketing is: "Reliable and persuasive communication about something of value."* That's it: Communicate! If you pay for marketing, are you sure you've carefully evaluated what that expense might get for you? You're only "book marketing crazy"  if you don't think with a hard hat on, for this service.

Jean Purcell (c)2010

*Opinari Quarterly 2009

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