Heavenly Places??????

I've had the privilege of traveling more than the average person.  Many of those places have left me in awe:  Niagara Falls, Red Square in Moscow, the Colorado Rockies, the Vatican in Rome, the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, and changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery--to name just a few.

Standing in the Maritime prison where Paul spent the last months and years of his life, however, is the only place that left me weeping openly. The low ceiling would not allow a person six feet tall to stand upright.  There was a rough hewn rock ledge where I could picture Paul standing to write much of the New Testament--while the sewer of Rome ran at his feet.

It was a small, dark, dismal place, with little light--yet I felt a surge of glory as I imagined the Apostle writing about sitting with Christ in Heavenly places.  His circumstances did not dictate his joy.  Was he happy to live in the stench of Rome, wondering when his head would be taken off his shoulders?  I'm sure he would have liked better accommodations. 

On the all-too-brief tour I had of Rome--the Vatican was very impressive.  The gold and fine mosaic art work was breathtaking.  Our tour guide took us to a spot in the massive structure where he assuredly told us the bones of Peter were kept enshrined.  Who am I to question if they were the actual bones of the disciple.   We saw the bodies of former popes, encrusted in gold laid out under glass.  The splendor of it all was indeed overwhelming.  And while impressed with the overpowering gold and costly artifacts...I was not moved emotionally.

But when I entered the cavernous underground prison where Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote the words that comfort and strengthen us today--I wept.  I wanted to kneel and pray--not to Paul, or because of his memory; but to the only one who can give comfort and grace through every trial and trouble that life throws our way.  Paul's state--(and he tells us to be content in whatever state we find ourselves)--was much more troubling than anything we may face.  Yet, all that came from his pen were words of encouragement and admonition to "stand fast", to "Hold on to our faith".

Yes, I felt like worshiping my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  My desire is to have the kind of fellowship and communion with Him that Paul had, so I can say with him--" whether I live, or I die, I am the Lord's."  It was from that dungeon in Rome that Paul was taken and beheaded, for the sake of the Gospel.  The same Jesus who appeared to him on the road to Damascus was still a reality to him when they laid his head on the cutting stone--and he was able to face death knowing he would be in the presence of his Lord.  That is truly "sitting with Christ in Heavenly places!"

You can see the ledge here where I picture Paul writing Ephesians and other books of the New Testament. The light above the ledge is electric--Paul had no such light.  Possibly a candle by the kindness of a guard.  It is reported that they would let guards down through a hole in the ceiling to keep guard over Paul--that upon spending time with him and seeing his faith--they would accept Christ as Lord of their life.  They would then be pulled up and fed to the lions in the Colosseum.  Another guard would be lowered, and so it would be repeated over and over again.

Interview with Angela D. Meyer

It's my privilege in today's blog to interview Crossriver author, Angela D. Meyer about her newly released book:  "Where Hope Starts".

This book opens with a couple living in New York City in the midst of marital crisis.  It seems they've lost every hope of happiness.  As despair, disgust and disappointment threaten their marriage there seems to be no hope.  Angela unfolds this riveting story that takes them to the brink of no return.  A theme of a desperate need for forgiveness emerges--but is it possible.

I relate to this story on a very personal level as we all can--for without forgiveness, where would any of us be?  It also reminds me of the absolute redemption that comes through Christ and His death on Calvary.  "Generations", my soon to be released book about the power of divine intervention in the life of a degenerate soul--rests completely on forgiveness.

Angela Meyer brings the reader to a heightened climax where a decision to forgive or not forgive is reached.




Angela lives in Omaha, NE with her husband of 22 years.  They have two children whom they homeschool--recently graduating their son.  She has taught Bible class for over 35 years and is on the leadership team of her local Christian writers group.  She loves God, her family, the ocean, good stories, connecting with friends, taking pictures, quiet evenings and a good laugh.  Someday she wants to ride in a hot air balloon and vacation by the sea.



In a city full of dreams...Karen Marino's life is a nightmare.  The New York City restaurant manager is a professional success, but her marriage is in shambles.  When her husband, Barry shows up drunk at her restaurant, she loses both.  She flees The Big Apple and returns to her Midwestern home to sort through her options.  But instead of answers, she finds an old boyfriend ready to rekindle romance, a family full of secrets and an angry brother bent on revenge.

Still in New York, Barry fights his own demons.  He knows he messed up, but is powerless to stop his rage and addictions.  A fistfight on the streets of the city lands him in jail and forces him to face the possibility of a future behind bars.

Karen knows holding onto her bitterness won't repair her marriage.  But how do you forgive someone when you don't feel like it?  As she searches for the answer, she uncovers the family secret that threatens to tear them all apart.  Can she find her way back to the place Where Hope Starts?

Watch trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yVLQ4KlbLs

Q & A

1.  Tell us a little about your background and how you became interested in writing.

I've kept a journal since eighth grade, my thoughts expressed mostly through poetry.  After I got married I began writing children's stories, joined a critique group and began fine tuning my writing.  When one of my critique buddies asked for more information than my children's stories provided I asked myself "why not?"  and delved into my first novel.   Where Hope Starts is the second novel I have written and the first to be published.

2.  What lead you to write Where Hope Starts?

I actually started the book on the way home from my father's funeral.  With all of my siblings around, I began to contemplate how our responses to life growing up determined who we are today more than any one thing that may have happened to us.  I also realized how necessary forgiveness is in the process of healing and becoming all that God created us to be.

3.  Tell us about getting your mind in a creative mode?  How do you begin your writing process?

Some things that help set the stage include peace and quiet.  (It is really hard to write when the kids are clamoring for attention), taking a show (Maybe it's because no one bothers me) and morning time with God.

I also keep something to write on with me at all times, because I never know when an idea will strike, the perfect flow of dialogue that I've had a hard time with will present itself or that elusive quality to make one of my characters real will become apparent.

4.  Many writers utilize a writing group.  Where do you get constructive critiques and feedback?

I am part of Wordsowers Christian Writers Group in Omaha as well as a critique group that operates under their umbrella.  They gave me the encouragement, accountability and honest feedback I needed to improve my craft.

5.  What is Where Hope Starts about?

Karen Marino's life is a nightmare.  The New York City restaurant manager is a professional success, but her marriage is in shambles.  When her husband, Barry shows up drunk at her restaurant, she loses both.  She flees The Big Apple and returns to her Midwestern home to sort through her options.  But instead of answers, she finds an old boyfriend ready to rekindle romance, a family full of secrets and an angry brother bent on revenge.

Still in New York, Barry fights his own demons.  He knows he messed up, but is powerless to stop his rage and addictions.  A fistfight on the streets of the city lands him in jail on possible murder charges and forces him to face a future behind bars.

Karen knows holding onto her bitterness won't repair her marriage.  But how do you forgive someone when you don't feel like it?  As she searches for the answer, she uncovers the family secret that threatens to tear them all apart.  Can she find her way back to the place Where Hope Starts?

6.  What was the hardest thing about writing the book?

The number of times necessary to go through the manuscript to make sure it was the best it could be.  No matter how many times I went through it, there was always something that could have been better.  After a while, you just have to be willing to let it go and hit the submit button.

7.  Now that Where HOpe Starts is out in bookstores, do you have any projects you're currently working on?

High on my list is finishing up the second book and submit that to my publisher.

8.  When you're not writing, what do you enjoy doing?

Reading, handing out with my family and friends and when the weather isn't too extreme in either direction, I enjoy being outside.

9.  Where can readers find your book?

CrossRiver Media (http://www.crossrivermedia.com/Where Hope Starts.html)

Purchase Where Hope Starts at www.crossrivermedia.com

Connect with Angela D. Meyer at
www.facebook.com/AuthorAngelaDMeyer
www.angeldmeyer.com

Read the first chapter:  http://www.angeldmeyer.com/p/in-city-full-of-dreams-karen-marinos.html

Visit Angela's website to enter the Where Hope Starts Giveaway during her blog tour.

Celebrating

There are very special days we keep track of so we can celebrate--remembering the time lapsed and look forward to days ahead.  Our birthday, wedding day, first date, our children's and grandchildren's birthdays--and the special days of those we love.  One thing I like about facebook is the reminders of our friends' birthdays--which would come and go without a greeting from us--without the reminders.

Today marks 53 years since a very special event in my life.  It was a Sunday night--I was fifteen-years-old.  We lived in Perth Amboy, New Jersey where my dad pastored Glad Tidings Assembly of God.  We were in revival with A. N. and Blanche Trotter--(my aunt and uncle). 

That night--a group of our relatives from North Jersey came down to the service and to visit with the Trotters afterward.  My grandparents, Edward and Jessie May Garlock lived in a small apartment above our family's quarters in the church parsonage--next door to the church.

When the altar call was given by Brother Trotter, I was one of the first to find my way there.  It was my custom to pray and "seek" Holy Spirit Baptism.  I had done this since age seven.  I was hungry for the experience, but very shy and guess I was waiting for God to hit me in the head with a lightening bolt and force me to speak in tongues.

I stayed on my knees, determined that I would receive that night.  Slowly people got up from prayer and drifted out of the building, heading home.  Eventually even my mother and grandparents, as well as my Aunt Blanche, left and went to the parsonage next door.  My Uncles Eddie and Vic, Aunt Alice and some of my cousins wanted to visit with them before heading home.  My cousin Eunice was the only one of that group that remained at the altar.

Even though I wasn't paying attention to who was around--as everyone filtered out, I felt no distractions.  I was alone with God as His presence overshadowed me.  The three still with me, even seemed to step back, allowing me this private time with Christ.  (But, again, I was waiting for the aforesaid lightening bolt experience to hit. 

And suddenly--as in Acts 2:2--He came "suddenly"--I was ushered into a realm beyond myself.  I was fully conscious--I don't mean I had an out-of-the-body experience.  No lightening bolt--but definitely a jolt of Holy Spirit awakening.  Then, as promised in Isaiah, with "stammering lips" and "another tongue"--I spoke. 

In this overpowering presence, I couldn't speak English if I wanted to.  The stammering was indication that my human tongue was still holding back, and then finally I gave up and surrendered.

Surrendering to the will and power of God is something required on this Christian path if we are to be an effective witness.  The Pentecostal experience, is poured out on those who hungrily seek to receive--and total surrender is necessary.  Why it took me eight years to experience this--I don't know.  I think I was looking for an earthly experience, something I could control, waiting for the Spirit of God to take away my control.  Instead, He was waiting for me to surrender--that is when He can take control, and only then.

If you are reading my blog, thanks for taking the time to share this glorious experience with me on my 53rd year celebration.  The power of the Holy Spirit is the same today as fifty-three years ago, and the same as He was on the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Christ's death and resurrection.

"And you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses..."  Acts 1:8

 

God's Timing

Our limited thinking causes us to balk at waiting for anything--even waiting on God--who knows the beginning from the ending--to work things out in the best possible way.  We perceive things in a temporal, let me see the results NOW, way.  Our fast moving culture has gotten us used to getting what we want, when we want it, in our scheduled time frame.

Whether it's the food we've ordered at our favorite restaurant, or the new phone that we want one day delivery on, or the solving of a crisis in our life.  We want the solution to be not only observable immediately--but perfect and done our way.  And trust me, usually our way and perfect are not simpatico.  

While we may quote or sing the words of Isaiah:  "They that WAIT upon the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles...they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint..."  We really don't mean the ending of the chorus taken from that verse:  "Teach me Lord to Wait."  Because we don't like to wait!

I'm waiting right now for the release of the book I've written:  "Generations". As I look back at the beginning of this journey or process...the almost two years it has taken since the publisher,  Crossriver   Media accepted it as worthy of publishing...hasn't been that long.

I actually began writing it more than 16 years ago.  Since then I've written two other books and started yet another.  I never really anticipated having any of them published.  "Generations" was written for my children and grandchildren.  I made copies for them.  Some 16 years later, somehow a paper copy got into the hands of someone that I do not know, who spoke to another author--who then gave it to Crossriver for review.  They agreed to publish it and that process began--and now I'm waiting--not always patiently--to have the finished book in my hands.

What really got my attention the other day regarding God's plan and His time frame for "Generations" was when I was reading through some old papers my dad had written about the time of my grandfather's death.  In those papers he told how my grandfather just before his death said:  "Maybe the Lord will raise me up..."  And then he quoted Psalm 71:18  "Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." 

What amazed me was this:  I have been claiming that Scripture for myself for several years--as I've gotten older.  Then I felt strongly that the publishing of my book, "Generations"--which is a testimony of God's marvelous redeeming power through deliverance from addiction and abusive behavior in my grandfather's life, was part of the answer to my prayer of this verse.

But when I read how my grandfather claimed the same Scripture which is coming to fruition by my telling his testimony--I realized God was working a plan all along--and I'm just privileged to be a part of it.  Grandpa died in 1960; 53 years ago.  God hasn't been nervous about getting his testimony out to future generations.  He had a plan all along.  Now I'm "Nellie Nervous" about having the book in my hands. 
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It's been 100 years this year since my grandfather's deliverance, healing and salvation experience.  God's still in the healing, redeeming, and delivering business.  He's working in my life, in your life as we allow Him to--and He'll do things on His time schedule--which is always the best.

So, today--teach me Lord, to wait.  Because I know your calendar is organized for the best results!