It's soggy, soggy, soggy here in SWLA. Hurricane Harvey has caused torrential rains and flooding all over TX and is headed in our direction as a Tropical storm. Hope everyone is safe! Today's guest is new so please give Terry Palmer a great big welcome....
I found a treasure to share with you today. It’s not unlike what my granddaughter does. When taking a walk with her, don’t be in a hurry, as every few steps another treasure shows its way into her world.
Especially the neighbors flowers. Oh, the fascination of the different textures, colors, and fragrance. For her, these call out to her, to touch, to share a fragrance, or just to enjoy in passing.
As a Christian writer, her antics have taught me so much to apply to my stories. Instead of rushing through a scene, now my characters stop and become aware of the background, the theme, and become a richer scene for it all.
As a result, each character has a moment to develop his or her character strengths or lack of, as the villain deals out treachery with a skill and finesse to make the best hero falter. At the same time, our heroes can make a stand for faith at the exact crucial moment so that darkness is defeated and people find Jesus as the solution and not the problem.
Ted pulled his black Harley around in back of the church, letting his mind follow a prompt. Look to the northwest. He parked next to the familiar blue Harley and let his feet take him to the second lower lookout.
Rita glanced up as his stocky form emerged from the boulders. “This is getting to be a habit.”
Ted nodded as he levered his weight down against the hard boulders. “You come here often?”
She jumped at his bait. “Just when I want to meet my kind of guy.”
Ted raised his eyebrow but ignored her jest. He pointed past the city of Ravenna nestled below along the muddy Mississippi River and high hills toward the northwest. “It’s getting stronger. Any clue yet?”
Rita followed his gaze and lowered her voice to whisper. “Ted…”
His voice matched hers. “I know…”
She leaned against his bulk and shivered. “I’ve heard of the call of the wild. We both KNOW the call of the road. But what’s this? So many conflicting thoughts.”
Ted gasped as sudden revelation came into clear focus. “Yes! That’s it exactly. Two conflicting voices, battling to be heard.” His shiver matched hers. “The first one scares me an’ that isn’t easy to do…”
Rita pulled her long legs up and pulled her arms around them in thought. “Me too. I get these visions of an evil presence, reaching out toward me, trying desperately to drown out the second voice.”
Ted jerked back against the hard rock and gulped. “That’s it exactly. Thanks. Couldn’t put it into words…”
Rita grimaced at her recollection. “An’ the other voice?”
Ted lowered his voice again. “Still small voice, carrying an awesome message… In Spirit and Truth!”
She reached out a shaking hand. “Ted… This… This is scaring me!”
He put his arm around her and sighed. Me too. Whatever it is? Is gonna happen soon, like real soon. Then…, as far as I can tell, that’ll set up a sequence of events like…”
She put her hand on his arm as shiver convulsed her again. “You believe in evil? A yawning darkness, seeking to swallow us up to prevent His Word from coming out?”
Ted nodded as he absently put his hand over hers. “My place… Hmmm, don’t quite know how to explain this. My visions you know… When I went to a place of higher understanding. Seemed so real, like it just happened.” He felt his lips move per his thought. “Because they won’t stop. Won’t stop and be still! Be still and know that I am God…” He startled at his own words. “Just what Ralph said… Hmmm.”
Rita nodded. “Tell me again…, please?”
Ted closed his eyes. “He took me to a place of higher understanding. Hard to explain. I saw it there. A depth of darkness trying to steal this nation. Some kind of evil motive, trying to subvert the government to its will. Really scares me, you know? The depth of wickedness involved in that. Then, a hand of disaster…”
Rita gasped as he said the word. “I feel that too. Jumbles of rock and heat moving toward some kind of rendezvous.”
Ted hesitated. “Yeah an’ that brings me to the tiny chapel window blowing out, the floor shakin’ so… Can’t get away from that… To know that level of evil…”
My characters move on to discover that Jesus is the source of their strength as the storms of life do come and darkness does take a swipe at them, but through all things – faith makes the difference. That is the theme throughout the series. To overcome adversity through a step of faith in Jesus.
Terry Palmer is a new author to most of you. He lives with his wife, Leann, in Rosemount, Minnesota, where he is mostly retired and loves to write his novels and devotionals. You can find his latest title for free at this link in INKITT. https://www.inkitt.com/stories/thriller/129589
Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.
8 comments:
Terry,
Overcoming adversity through faith is a worthy theme. Congrats.
I enjoyed the read. Thanks Terry, for sharing.
Jacqueline. Thanks for your comment. I find that people can relate to overcoming adversity, because we all share that burden. To turn to Christ and His strength is the key for the characters to learn. For all of us to learn and grow.
Connie. Thanks for the comment. Every author is encouraged when readers like their works. Book Two of the series is shaping up, in which darkness attacks with a depth of cunning and desperation which leaves the characters stunned. Will their God given mission fail, even after all this work and blessing? Read book two to find out how the characters have to work together and turn to God to reach the final conclusion.
Thanks Pam for hosting me this week. God' plans are remarkable. This ol' author suffered a mild stroke last Tuesday and didn't know where or how to return a focus on writing and caring through on God' plan. Your hosting my article and book address at INKITT gave me a tremendous lift. Bless you all.
Lovely excerpt! Best of luck with the book!
Thanks Alina. As a Christian author, I hope that all of our messages get through and that darkness is shattered that Jesus might claim more souls for eternity.
I really enjoyed the excerpt! Best and Blessings with your book!
Read my dad's book! He is the best dad ever and I love him! I'm very proud of him.
Terry's daughter Angel
This ol' papa is humbled by the gift of two awesome daughters. Daughters who give comments like this and support an old dad. Wow, thanks Angel.
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