It is Finished...

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:30

Why is it "Good" Friday?

Today is Good Friday...

I have always wondered where the term came from, how could the day
 our Saviour was crucified be considered "good?"

One of the most commonly accepted reasons comes from the original
meaning of the word "good." Etymologically, the word good meant "Holy"
so in essence, you could say that Good Friday, originally meant "Holy
Friday." The Wednesday before Easter used to be referred to as "Good
Wednesday" as well.

So, Holy Friday.

Indeed it is.

But you could also say that it was Good Friday because it was good for
God's creation, which He originally called "Very Good" when He had
finished creating it, the "it" being mankind.

So while it was not good, or pleasant for Jesus, He did because of His
love for us. It doesn't get much more "good" than that.

John 15:13 Says this:

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for
his friends.

Jesus laid down His precious life, then picked it up again three days
later, for us, that we might have a direct path to Him, so that when
the time came, as long as we accept Him, that we we might be able to
be with Him in glory.

It was Good Friday indeed, even though He suffered horribly for it and
for us.

Who is Easter About?

Easter is coming, those of us who follow Christ stop to ponder the events of "Good" Friday and the events of Easter Sunday. But for me, while I realise He did this for the likes of me, I have also come to realise that Easter shouldn't be about me. It's about the Lord who died. It's about the suffering He went through, so that we wouldn't have to. It's truly about Him, not us, even though it involves us. It's so that we would have a path to Him.

Critical Eye(s)

One thing I find difficult, and I think other writers possibly do as well, is looking at your own work with a critical eye while editing. The ability to cut, trim and change can be difficult when you have invested so much time, effort and brainpower into a story. The story is like your child. But, at some point, like your child, you have to let it go and live a life of its own.

Theme Music

I find that one of the things which helps me to concentrate on writing is music. Each piece I work on has a theme, these themes can range from Byzantine chants through instrumental rock. I sometimes have an entire playlist which I listen to for a story. The music (particularly the rock) will also block out the outside.

Whatever works to help keep you focused, and inspired - keep at it!

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference

Looking forward to the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Fiction Writer's Conference in May...
Will you be there??

Blue Ridge

If you are, see you there!

Invading Hordes

2 Hear this, you elders; give ear, all inhabitants of the land!
   Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers?
3 Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children,
   and their children to another generation.
4 What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the
   swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping
   locust left, the destroying locust has eaten.

 Joel 1:2-4

Grabbing a reader's attention

The first two pages of a novel are the most important part, they are also the most difficult to get right. These two pages (narrowing it down further; the first two paragraphs) must grab a reader and not let go.

Editing

I think the edit has to be the most difficult part of the writing process. Punctuation is particularly difficult. But another aspect of editing which is difficult is giving up some aspects of a story which you may have found particularly satisfying to write. But eventually, you realize that it doesn't actually fit, and must be excised in order to improve the story.

Priorities

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien

This seems to be very true, though for some people, food and drink is something they pray they can find the next day, with the little they have, it is all they can hope for.

Which brings me to my point:

Be thankful for what you have, it may not be there tomorrow.
And that thankfulness should extend to the people around you.