Thursday, 19 December 2013

The Struggle to Express yourself



 
O Holy Night
The words “O Holy Night” were written by Placide Cappeaude De Roquemaure in 1847 according to my Google search. Now, the author is largely forgotten and unknown but his writing lives on and has impacted people as they worship Christ at Christmas.
I think as authors, we like Placide are quite happy to remain unknown and unapplauded, many of us have hermit like tendencies any way. But we would love our writing to be useful and worthwhile. As Christian authors we would dearly love to make a positive difference regarding our own generation as we share the beauty of Christ and His salvation plan for mankind.

But for a writer it is not that easy. In all honesty it is a hard slog, there are more downs than ups. Like any other creative art form we do put ourselves out there and allow our work to be critiqued. We have a hard task, for some of us it’s just finding the time to write (that’s me) let alone dealing with marketing obstacles, etc. But we continue largely because we believe that God wants us to continue.
 In my devotional I was reading  Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest”
 I was encouraged to read for December the 15th,  the following,  “Try to state to yourself what you feel implicitly to be God’s truth, and you give God a chance to pass it on to someone else through you.” The task lies before each of us.

Let these words encourage and shape your writing for 2014 no matter your genre because who knows, one day although we are forgotten, by the grace of God our writing will live on and impact our generation and the ones to come for Christ.
So keep struggling to express Gods’ truth for perhaps it will be your words that are put to music in praise of God.
                                 REMAIN BLESSED THIS CHRISTMAS
Written by Jennifer Ann, author of Broken Pottery the life of an “African Girl” available on Amazon  Kindle at: Broken Pottery the Life of an African Girl, Kindle edition.
Jennifer also has her own blog site at: JenniferAnn/ aroma of Life
Visit her website: www.JenniferAnn.info
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20 comments:

  1. Nola Passmore19 December 2013 at 07:25

    Thanks for that Jennifer Ann. That's a great sentiment. I was reading something similar in a Selwyn Hughes devotional for 18 December. He said: "Everyone longs for success when embarking upon a spiritual calling, especially when they are convinced their desire is of God. But can we be more committed to the idea of success than to doing the will of God?" The songwriter you mentioned would have had no idea that his song would be so widely sung today and that it would have touched so many people. I was at a Christmas party last night where someone said it was their favourite Christmas carol and there was a spontaneous sing-a-long. If we keep writing for God, He will bless the results though it may not always be in ways we see. Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Jennifer Ann19 December 2013 at 09:46

      Thanks Nola. I'm glad you mentioned the Selwyn Hughes comment because that's something that I become confused with, not in idea but in practise. When nothing happens it is hard to not become discouraged and think maybe I shouldn't be writing. But then I like to think of a CS Lewis quote that goes something like "Your job is to do the right thing (I assume he means as God has shown you) and success( or not) is up to God.

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  2. Jo-Anne Berthelsen19 December 2013 at 08:12

    Thanks, Jennifer Ann. 'O Holy Night' is my favourite Christmas song for sure. I think at this time of the year when we are probably tired from our year of effort writing or promoting our books, it is easy to feel discouraged about the whole venture, so your reminder is very pertinent.

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    1. Jennifer Ann19 December 2013 at 09:54

      Thanks Jo-Anne, I do believe writing and keeping at it does seem to require so much tenacity and discipline more than I feel I have at times. Perhaps also we are at a beginning and breakthrough time in the Christian book ministry in Australia, and for Australian authors. Perhaps that is why we need even more perseverance. You and Paula Vince have really been some of the first, well done for such perseverance and praise God.

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  3. Paula Vince19 December 2013 at 09:40

    Hi Jennifer Ann,
    Thanks for this info about Placide Cappeaude. Isn't it amazing to think that though many claim that powerful Christmas carol to be among their favourites (and I'm one of them too), they would shake their heads if they heard his name. I'm very encouraged by this reminder to keep first things first. Have a wonderful Christmas :)

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  4. Jennifer Ann19 December 2013 at 10:00

    Hi Paula as mentioned in the comment above, I'm so glad that you and Jo-Anne as 2 of the Aussie authors who have persevered for a long time in this industry. Thankyou for leading the way. Rita Galeieah and Dale Harcombe , I also believe have written for a long time thanks ladies for the example of not giving up. and if there are others I have missed ( I include you all as well) Mary Hawkins and Penny Reeve too, thank you for the tenacity shown.

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  5. Anusha Atukorala19 December 2013 at 16:33

    Thanks for a lovely post Jennifer Ann and some lovely words to take with us into 2014. When I was considering what 'success' means to a Christian writer I came up with this.'Doing what God has called us to'. The results can happily left to God because if He has called us - then the results are His problem. I love 'O Holy Night' but hadn't a clue as to who had composed it. So thank you. May you keep shining for Him through your writing in 2014!

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    1. Jennifer Ann19 December 2013 at 22:25

      Thanks Anusha.
      I really enjoy your blog writing.

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    2. Jennifer Ann21 December 2013 at 07:40

      I also like the "Doing what God has called us to" thats already "success". Maybe another word for success is "Faithfulness".

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  6. Nola Passmore19 December 2013 at 17:44

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Nola Passmore19 December 2013 at 17:45

    Found this great version of Oh Holy Night on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU

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  8. Jeanette O'Hagan20 December 2013 at 18:08

    Thanks Jennifer Ann for your reminder that our influence for God does not depend on fame - and that we don't know what impact we have both now and in the future. Actually, it reminds me of a recent post I wrote which, while not specifically related to our writing endeavours, I think does apply - Ripples in Time http://christianwomenmagazine.com/2013/12/ripples-in-time/

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  9. Jennifer Ann21 December 2013 at 07:38

    Thanks Jeanette,your post does help define the reality that it is all about God working not our strengths and failures that achieve His purposes and us responding in faith to His promises.And maybe what we think God wants to achieve through us could be very different to what we imagine.

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  10. Dale24 December 2013 at 13:54

    Thanks Jennifer. That is one of my favourite Christmas carols, along with Angels from the Realms of Glory and What Child is This. never knew who wrote it before what a legacy to leave behind! Thanks too for that takeaway thought. Have a blessed Christmas

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  11. Jennifer Ann24 December 2013 at 14:06

    Thanks Dale and have a blessed Christmas also.

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  12. Unknown2 January 2014 at 18:21

    I'm sorry this comment is late, but I've only recently become active in Christian Writers Downunder. I loved your post because I feel it is such a temptation for writers (or any artist really) to focus on responses, which leads to a roller coaster emotional life which wars against the peace of God. We have to be careful not to define ourselves and our work by numbers, it is our faithfulness which matters.

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