EXcited by Lorrie Orr

 

It's Christmas Eve. I'm a child - 7, 8, 10, 12 - and so excited for what the next day might bring. My sister and I awaken in the dark early morning and creep downstairs, our bare feet cold on the floor. We know to wait to open presents and our whispers soon rouse our brother. Yawning, our parents make their way downstairs. We turn on the Christmas lights and there are the presents. I remember matching doll buggies, dolls, and the year I turned 10, a gold ring with a pink zircon.

Now I'm a grown woman with grandchildren. I still love this season of the year. Advent, with all its heart-focused preparations for Christmas, is deeply meaningful. I lean into the longing felt for generations, and the joy in knowing that our Saviour has come. The story of Jesus come to earth fills me with delight and occasional shivers up my spine.

Then there are the physical plans - considering gifts to make or buy for loved ones, filling the freezer with cookies and other treats, and decorating the house with lights and festive greenery. I love the list making and planning, but all of it can add up to overly busy days when weariness erases excitement.

On top of all the preparations, I want to feel Christmassy. I want to be excited about the season, to revel in the glow of lights, to find myself smiling throughout the day. I've learned, however, that feelings come and go, and to be okay with that. Christmas doesn't mean that frustrations, difficulties, and sorrows disappear. Indeed, sometimes hard things are magnified by the expectations of the season. Walking under the stars (or in falling snow), sitting quietly by the fire, hearing Christmas music in the stores, or just being content puttering away in my home are moments when that elusive "Christmas spirit" fills me with a measure of happiness. I am learning to be content with those moments, knowing that they will pass, but also that they will come again. Ultimately, I know that no matter my feelings, Christ is here. Immanuel. God with us. God with me. God with you.

Merry Christmas!

Lorrie writes from Vancouver Island where she always hopes for a white Christmas, still shakes presents for clues, and enjoys tea and cookies by the fire.

XYZ! by Tracy Krauss

Over the past two years, I have really enjoyed writing this series of posts based on the alphabet. I want to give a huge SHOUT OUT to our outgoing blog moderator, Wendy Macdonald, for coming up with the idea. It was inspired. I’m sure all the other bloggers here would agree that it has been challenging at times, but always loads of fun.

In fact, it has been X-tradordinary! It has made me want to YELP with joy (or laughter on occasion) after reading what others wrote! In fact, I think it has sparked a new ZEAL for blogging for some, myself included.

There. I’ve successfully completed the alphabet. (How successful is a matter of opinion.)

I’ve talked about Authenticity in one’s writing as well as Balance as a writer. I urged others to lean into their Calling rather than Compare themselves to others. It takes Discipline to be a writer, and it helps to know our mission such as whether we write to Encourage, Equip, or Entertain.

The rest of the list includes:

F – Feed My Sheep

G – Grappling With G… GOD!

H – Habits

I – InScribe!

J – Just Write

K – Know and Be Known

L – Limitless

M – Muse

N – Networking & newsletters

O – Opportunities

P – “Plantser”

Q – Quality not Quantity

R – Read and Review

S – Soul On Fire

T – Take Charge of Your Writing Life

U – Uniquely You

V – Vulnerable

W – WIPs

This brings me to the present and this last post for the year and of this alphabet journey. Did you know this represents two whole years of blogging together, my friends? I admit, I’m sad that it’s over.

As a bonus, I’ve recycled many of these posts on my own blog. I felt some had enough merit to deserve more eyes than just those of our small group. As part of the FellowScript editorial team, I’ve asked some of you to reword certain posts and re-submit them as feature articles when I saw how well they fit in with an upcoming theme. I even convinced Sharon Heagy to write a regular column based on her offerings here!

May I make a further suggestion? Some of you may want to gather these posts into a larger publication. (Seriously. An anthology or even a separate book of your own.)

My final advice for 2024 is this: Take the lessons learned while writing these posts and continue to hone your skills. And, keep on finding ways to find joy in the midst of your writing.

May God bless you this coming holiday season and into the next year.

__________________

Tracy Krauss enjoys writing from her home in Tumbler Ridge, BC. Visit her website for more about Tracy and her writing. https://tracykrauss.com

Exit 2024: This Year I Crawled by Alan Anderson

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;

he makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake. Psalm 23: 1-3 (RSV)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays

down his life for the sheep” John 10:11 (RSV)

 

NOTE: Forgive me, I strayed from our theme of “X” for this month’s blog post. Another thought consumed my mind as I prepared this message.

Exit 2024, Embrace 2025

We all know this year, 2024, will end soon. If the Lord allows us, we will experience a New Year only a few days away. I crawled through most of this year. How about you dear friends? I do not know if 2025 will be any different, but I pray it will be a year I embrace.

Fed up with the Voices

Dear reader, do you ever tire of the world? The world has chosen to act crazy right now. I should say the world lives according to its nature. There are so many loud voices all around. Voices devoid of listening to and speaking truth. Voices of discontent and confusion from those speeding towards an eternity without God, He who loves the world.

Do you ever become weary of the voices? I get to where I cover my ears to block out the voices and yell into the raging clamour, “Will you please shut up?” The world continues to broadcast its blabber through a megaphone of its own making. So many people deaf to the voice of the One who calls people to rest, His rest… Oh, such gentle rest.

The Shepherd’s Voice

Health challenges beset me this year like never before. A combination of these challenges gave cause for me to reflect on the number of my days. The physical strength of my youth has waned, yet I persevere. There is still life to live, people to love, and words to send into the world as I listen to the voice of The Shepherd. This great Shepherd who promises rest for one’s soul.

When 2024, the year I crawled, finally becomes history, I will walk into 2025 with caution and, I am sure, with a limp. With the Lord’s help, I will avoid loud unsettled settings all too open to the brashness of our society. My voice as a writer seeks places surrounded by green pastures and still waters.

What I know as 2025 draws near is God leads now and will lead then. He awaits me. The Lord leads this crawling, needful man to still waters. Still waters are a place to rest. A place to rest in God’s care…a place to hear The Lord’s voice, the voice that matters. A place I need to abide in.

Dear InScribers

Dear InScribe family, with the New Year within sight, I pray our writer voices will reflect the voice of our Shepherd. Whether we crawl, limp, or walk into 2025, He will lead us to green pastures and still waters where rest and restoration awaits.

Merry Christmas dear ones. Christ is born, glorify Him! 

Alan lives in a small village called Deroche, British Columbia, with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. He enjoys walking on the dike near his home with trees all around, where he finds inspiration for his writing. He occasionally writes articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan is the new BC/Northern Regional Rep. for InScribe. His website is https://scarredjoy.ca.

X is for x by Lorilee Guenter

X marks the spot

 According to the dictionary, x "represents an unknown quantity, factor, result, etc." Etcetera, in other words, x is a symbol we use to mark a number of things that we don't know. In mathematics, it is a placeholder in complex equations. X is also a symbol we use for things we know. On a map, it can mark the point of a significant event or destination. It is used as a signature among the illiterate. This letter which does not start many English words compared to its colleagues, is often used as a symbol of something to be found or something important we need to record.

X marks the spot of what we are looking for. Do we know what we are looking for? Many don't. I enjoy solving logic puzzles. While I don't often write out an equation, the principle applies. I am trying to figure out an unknown. When I write, I am exploring unknowns so they become known. I like to read mysteries. Every mystery is an attempt to find some satisfactory conclusion. The x should be difficult but not impossible to deduce. So many ways I use x without even thinking about it.

In Acts 17, Paul introduces the unknown God to his audience. They had a monument to an unknown god. The residents didn't want to offend anyone among the pantheon they worshipped. To ensure no one was overlooked, this monument was erected. Paul knew the one and only God. He could give them the answer they were looking for. 

X marks the spot. The Greek chi (x) was used at least as far back as the 16th century to denote Christ. It was a mark to indicate your belief much like the cross is today. I find this a fun juxtaposition. X marks the spot of the greatest treasure ever, Jesus Christ, the unknown made known at Christmas. Many did not recognise the Messiah. Many still don't recognise Him. They continue to search for some unknown substance or activity to fill the empty spaces. They use created things to approximate the X in their life equation. 

Today God gives us an unknown quality through the Holy Spirit that sets us apart from the world. Only when we let the Holy Spirit work in us, do we have a chance to make the unknown known. It doesn't happen by trying harder, but as a wise woman once said, it happens by trusting harder.