Saturday, June 12, 2010

For This I Have Jesus


For This I Have Jesus

John Hunter- one of Britain’s leading evangelists coined this phrase that provides a quick reminder of the peace and hope God gives in trying circumstances. For this I have Jesus.


A long awaited word comes to you from your agent via the ‘committee’; your novel has been rejected.

For This I Have Jesus

You have filled countless notebooks with your writing, your friends and relatives believe your writing is ready and has great potential for success yet you have had none when searching for an agent.

For This I Have Jesus

You are planning to attend a writers conference that offers excellent workshops and endless opportunity of face to face meetings with agents and editors but a financial 'crisis' just took the money you had set aside to go.

For This I Have Jesus

You have just completed that novel, paid a freelance editor to do a final edit and your new agent, "Can't wait to pitch it' just as the publishing industry takes a nose dive and new authors can't get their foot in the door.

For this I have Jesus.


Your royalties are due; you’ve heard the book is doing well. Your thinking you’d like to replace that 12 year old couch in the Family Room, or have that dentistry done you have been putting off, or trade in your clunker. The agent of record sent you an email; the checks have been issued by the publisher and should arrive any day. It’s here! There must be a mistake. Isn’t there supposed to be a coma in the figures?


For this I have Jesus.


The author is feverishly writing with a looming deadline in her focus. Looking good, just four chapters remain. A phone call informs her that a parent is in hospital out of state with failing health. She packs her bag, looks back to her desk, and walks out to the taxi- knowing she must choose family.


For this I have Jesus.


An author receives two glowing professional reviews, has a potential three book contract offer and opens her last email to find out from a friend that a popular blogger has listed her newly released title as one of the worst books she has read this year.


For this I have Jesus


Please feel free to share a line or two of an example when you could apply this phrase. We are not talking about simplistic matters such as finding an ideal parking spot but a time when you have been tested, disappointed and almost lost your hope of ever seeing your dream realized. It need not apply to writing or agenting.

May you find Jesus to be your all in all.

From my heart to yours,

Diana


9 comments:

writer jim said...

Several times I've had guns pointed at me in anger. From 50 feet several pistol bullets barely missed me. From 100 feet a dozen rifle bullets wizzed by me. For this I have Jesus.

Two men approached me, and got close on each side of me and pulled out knives. I feared they would slit my throat. For this I have Jesus.

An American Christian leader of great esteem warned me that Satan was going to try to kill certain people he was angry at...with a disease (that has less than one percent survival rate). I moaned and cried out in pain for a month. For this I have Jesus.

My list could go on and on and on.
But here's the most important one: Every day I realize I'm nothing more than a simple sinner. I still have too much of my old sinful nature. I'm a sinner, I'm a sinner, I'm a sinner. For this I have Jesus. Thank God. Thank God. Thank God.

Caroline said...

When I first began receiving rejections and low contest scores, I was devastated.

For this I have Jesus.

He strengthened me and reminded me that HE gave me the talent, kept it in my heart, and will keep me determined to learn and write. For Him.

For this I have Jesus. With heart lifting heavenward: thank you!

Linda Wood Rondeau said...

Like Robert DeNiro I ask, "Were you talking to me?"

What a ride its been...so close, so close, so close...I can almost taste it...

Thanks for reminding me For This I Have Jesus who understood disappointment.

Millie Samuelson said...

How marvelous to be renewed and inspired by what you shared, Diana, and those of you above, too! Thank you. . . for this we have Jesus. . . praise God from Whom all blessings flow. . . :-)

Jeanette Levellie said...

When my 59 year old brother faces a jail sentence, for this I have Jesus.

When a trusted friend rejects me, for this I have Jesus.

When my child's dreams lie crumpled in a heap and I am tempted to blame myself, for this I have Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for these words, Diana. Only Jesus knew how much I needed to hear them today.

Bless you,
Jen

Carrie Fancett Pagels said...

Thank you for this post. I really needed to read this today. My mother is very ill and this is a really difficult time. But for this, I have Jesus. God bless you!
Carrie

Anonymous said...

Dear Diana: My life has been a constant 911. My four-year old son, Jonathan, lay dying in my arms, days before Christmas, but for this I have Jesus.
My son, Matt, went through ten surgeries last year, with no promise of healing his airway disease, but for this I have Jesus.
My adopted son, just came through some testing in which we are still biting our nails waiting for the results. But for this I have Jesus.
I have so much to be sad about, but yet, I find comfort in the arms of Jesus.
I'm also learning that life is full of pot holes, and I've flattened many tires along the way, but I just patch them up, and allow Jesus to help me on my way.
I really enjoyed reading all of these posts.

writer jim said...

Dear Anon 10:19,

I realize this is not my blog, and maybe I shouldn't comment so often. But when I read your comment, I just have to say I'm so sorry for all you are going through.
People that endure such sorrow, and continue honoring God, amaze me more than those that do things like going to the moon, etc.

Diana Flegal said...

Thank you for all who shared their hearts disappointments, pain and struggles with us here. May we continue to know Jesus as the Lifter of our Heads and the Lover of our souls.
Anon., you are especially in our prayers.

May those that glimpse us in our journeys see HIM and may He get all the glory for our success's.
Diana