an excerpt [9]

Not exactly what the ceremony room looks like, but it's cool. via

So. June's excerpt. At the end of July. Awesome, right?

This is the ceremony that takes place when my three main characters of The Three Worlds become a team. They are not getting married. Promise. 

. . . .

   The ceremony room is as dark as I remember, the only light originating from the torches on the walls. Josh and I step forward, and then I take Alexa’s hand and tug her forward. She stumbles, her eyes fixed on the wall painting of an older man with eyes that pierce the soul.

   “The Magician,” I whisper.

   We step forward onto a platform, and a man in a dark purple robe steps in front of us. The hood covers his face. He opens an ancient book and says, “Alexa Harrell, Andrew Harris, and Joshua Pettis, do you pledge your allegiance and loyalty to the Magician and the Association, to protect and assist, for as long as is possible?”

   “I do,” Josh and I say together. Then Alexa glances at both of us and adds a quick, “Yes.”

   “Do you promise to stay loyal to each other, your team members, as you battle evil and struggle through hardships?”

   “I do,” we all say.

   “Will you follow the Magician’s teachings and stay true to His word, showing the lost the truth through your actions?”

   “I do.”

   A gold ring appears in front of Alexa, floating. The fire glints off of it.

   “Then we plead with the Magician that you will not stray from Him or from each other.”

   Josh and I both slide the ring onto Alexa’s slender finger.

. . . .

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
♥
Bekah Joan

Persevere

At camp, the paid summer staff and a few others give short testimonies on the things God has recently been teaching us. This was mine from last week.
This week, I've been getting burned out. Physically and emotionally, I feel dead. The strength to get through this week of camp hasn't been here. My patience is just about gone, along with motivation to persevere. But Paige (one of the counselors) encouraged me yesterday, which helped. And I was reading my Bible, which also comforted me. I don't remember which verse it was that I read, but Philippians 3:12-14 is along the same lines. "Not that I have already attained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which Go has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
So, basically, look toward being with God when you need motivation, and remember to rely on Him when you need strength. He's the only one who can help us. And He will.
♥
Bekah Joan

The Struggle of Love

At camp, the paid summer staff and a few others give short testimonies on the things God has recently been teaching us. This was mine from a week ago.
Over the past two weeks, I have encountered some people who are very hard to love. And this week, with me still being fairly tired from my trip to New York City last week, it's even harder. All of these little things that some people are doing are really starting to get on my nerves. And instead of showing these people love, I was starting to snap at them a bit.
Then last night, I was hanging some stuff on the back line, and I just begged God to give me the strength to love and to have the patience that I needed.
And today, it's been a bit easier. It hasn't been a breeze, but I've been able to rely on God to show Christ's love a little bit more.
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8
♥
Bekah Joan

The Lord is My Strength

At camp, the paid summer staff and a few others give short testimonies on the things God has recently been teaching us. This was mine from two weeks ago.
So, over the weekend, I was thinking about this coming week and how on earth I was going to make it through. Emotionally, I was not prepared, and I wasn't quite sure how to become prepared.
I was sitting up with two girls from the counseling staff, waiting for our girls to get ready for our name introduction game, and I realized I was not ready for this week at all. And I'm only here until Wednesday (I went to NYC, guys. More on that later)! Then this morning, I took the time to read my Bible. Now, normally  I read the devotions given to the staff, but I managed to leave the devotion book at home. So I read John 14, which is where Jesus says that He's the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
That chapter really encouraged me. It was reassuring and refreshing. John 14:12 says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."
That encouraged me because it showed me that I can not only get through this week, but I can thrive for God. As long as I believe in Jesus Christ, I can serve Him through serving all of you. I just need to remember to rely on Him.
♥
Bekah Joan