Do you know what a memoir is? Yes, it has something to do with the word memory, but it’s what someone does with a memory that turns it into a memoir. It’s an account of one’s personal life and experiences usually shared in reading form. Continue reading “God and Your Pillow”
We all know that saying ‘My mouth dropped!’ Has your mouth dropped after seeing something unexpectedly pop up? I bet you have. Continue reading “My Mouth Dropped” 
Have you ever had something you’ve been thinking of doing?
“Should I? I don’t really have time. I shouldn’t. But . . . but I want to. No, I shouldn’t. But maybe I should force myself. No. Don’t. Time just isn’t there. BUT I REALY WANT TO!”
Have you then had something pop up that encouraged you to finally do what you’ve thought of doing? However, you still don’t have that full 100% ‘YES’ swimming around in your mind.
That is until something finally hit you. The word YES is highlighted, underlined, with an exclamation point attached.
That is exactly what It’s been like for me. Something has caused me to finally do that one thing I’ve been pondering on. A song is what encouraged me to go ahead and underline that ‘YES’. What’s funny is that a song has encouraged me to talk about, well . . . SONGS!
I can’t explain it all right now but I plan to share a bit more tomorrow. Notice I said ‘tomorrow’ which is a clue to what this is about. But for now, listen to this song, and see if you can tell why I’ve decided to let ‘YES’ win. After all, we’re stronger than we think we are. There’s a thunder rolling in our hearts. Pushing up against the dark. Yes, we’re stronger than we think.
Do you ever ask yourself if you should do something you keep telling yourself you want to do? If you lean towards doing it, Just don’t do it alone. You might be surprised. God might be wanting to do it right along with you.
Marianne Petersen’s book God and Your Pillow is now available. (Amazon) – You can follow Marianne on Twitter at @mariannesmemoirs and read more on her blog, mariannesmemoirs.com.
Have you ever had one huge thought rolling in your mind while driving, and right then and there a perfect song starts to play? That happened to me a few years back. My thought? I was close to being done with my book’s first draft, and being I love music, I wanted to put a song at the end that would somehow help describe my story.
“What song should I put in? This won’t be easy to choose.”
There I was, driving with a Christian radio station playing as those thoughts were rolling right along. All of a sudden – “Oh, I’ve never heard this song before.” After the first verse I was glued.
“This song’s a must! It fits perfectly with my story,” I thought as more verses went by and a few tears began. Tears didn’t form because I felt I found a song, but how each word described me to the ‘T’ in how I felt during my pregnancy. (I sure was glad no one else was in the car.) God’s timing was perfect for that song to play. To this day I, more often than not, think of that song when ever I’m on that street.
As soon as I got home I went to my computer and downloaded that song.
While hearing it at least ten times, deciding that song tied for first place on my favorite song list, I found the lyrics and began typing those words in my book.
I’ve mentioned my book, a song, and God’s timing. It’s time now to bring up the last: You.
As you listen to this song, think about you. If you feel at all like giving up on some tough ordeal you’re going through, if you see no end in sight, and have done all that you can, then think about what this song is saying. If you find yourself on your knees and feel far away from God, you best remember He’s right there. You’re not along. Stop holding on, and, like the song says, just be held.
As my last post shared, my book is available now to share my tougher than normal trial of an unplanned pregnancy. If you, or you know anyone going through one themselves, then pass word along to them of my book, God and Your Pillow. It’s to encourage, letting them know that they are not along.
Note – I realized later that I did not have the legal okay to show the words from that song in my book. If I was determined to wait forever and a day, then maybe. But for now, I just described a bit about the song and how it fits in with my story.
Marianne Petersen’s book God and Your Pillow is now available. (Amazon) – You can follow Marianne on Twitter at @marimemoirs and read more on her blog, marimemoirs.com.
Now, where did I leave off? Oh, that’s right. My last post ended with . . .
My book finally was – drumroll please – DONE! (1*)
Done. I love that word. With the book finally finalized, the next phase of publishing began: getting my book out of my heart, soul, and mind, and into people’s hands. That phase began this last winter of 2017 – the winter whose weather was 80 percent to blame for why I didn’t run as often as I had the last four winters. Too cold, too windy, too wet too often. I blame my book for the other 20 percent. No way could I pull my running shoes, gloves, and extra-thick sweatshirt out of my closet, since that would prolong getting my book in readers’ hands. ‘Determined’ became my new middle name.
“Hmm. I’d like a reason for my deadline. I know! My next birthday isn’t too far but not too soon.” That’s it. I decided to work my tail off to get God and Your Pillow ready by April 1, 2018. This plan of attack was the main reason I was unable to find time to run even if the weather was okay.
At last, decent weather, one month ago in early March of this year, plus a little free time: running shoes on, check; iPod in hand, check. I took off. As soon as my feet hit the sidewalk, as soon as that two-mile escape from life began, I realized something.
“I’m no longer thinking about what to write, how to write, who to find to do whatever is needed. Weird.” I’m sure those driving by noticed a little bit of a stunned look on my face. “There are only a few last little things to do before it—gulp—gets printed!”
Reminiscing thoughts began of what got me to start my book, how many years it took me to write it, how many people I’ve met, how much I had learned, plus more. But most of all how God had clearly shown me so much encouragement from day one. To God be the glory.
April first has now passed. And I am happy to announce that even a few days before my birthday my book found a home on Amazon. (Determination can sure speed things up.)
With so many thoughts floating around that day, I had to run. “I can’t believe it. My book is now on Amazon. I can’t believe it,” ran right along with me.
Once home, I walked into the front yard (notice I said ‘walked’) and sat down on the outside stairs to let my breathing slow down before going inside. No song stood out as much as the one that began as soon as I sat. God must have known to save that song for the few tears He knew I’d have in the privacy of my fenced-in front yard. Why? The song speaks to how God was my strength, always there for me in my writing experience and that tender wind that carried me.
Do you have a goal? Do you have a plan? Please, let me encourage you.
You can meet your goal either in an instant or, as it was for me, after years of hard work. Give it your all, accepting the fact you might work your tail off and lose some sleep, but only to find out you’ll be rewarded with excitement.
My favorite verse says it perfectly on what to do with your goal.
Matt 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (like your own book in your own hand) shall be added to you.
Now sure, I still have work to do. Making the book is now done, so getting it out into the hands of readers is my next adventure. But it’s an adventure in that I’ll just pull up my sleeves, thinking that God’s pulling up His as well, as we say together, “Here we come, book world. LOOK OUT!”
1* – Click here to read last post.
Marianne Petersen’s book God and Your Pillow is now available. (Amazon) – You can follow Marianne on Twitter at @marimemoirs and read more at her blog, marimemoirs.com.
My last writing (1*) explained how, during a two-mile run I did every few days, most of my thoughts were about the book I was writing during that time. After a few years of writing went by, my thoughts began to run in an entirely different direction. “I’m almost done with my book. Wow! But now what?”
Run after run, thoughts turned into who, what, where, when, why, and how questions:
“Who should be my editor? What words, sentences, or paragraphs need to be fixed or taken out before I even try to find an editor? Where do I learn all the pros and cons about the different ways you can publish a book? When should I decide how to publish? Why can’t I keep 100 percent of the dollars my book sells for? (Man, was I dumb.) How in the world do I decide all this without going bonkers?”
These thoughts were just a fraction of how many I had. ‘Lord, please help me know what I’m writing,’ turned into ‘Lord, please help me know what I’m doing.’
When not running, I was glued to Google, soaking in anything I could find on the internet to help answer these question.
Thankfully, my biggest step during all these months took place: I found my editor. “Thanks God, for spoiling me,” found a comfortable spot in the middle of all those other things pestering me as I ran.
My thoughts, however, still questioned if this was all going to work.
“Am I crazy? What have I gotten myself into? I might feel it’s totally my thing to self-publish, but does that just mean I’m totally crazy?” Thankfully, God’s sparks of encouragement kept me going, whether it was having me meet certain people, read the right website, or just keep me hearing that perfect song as I ran.
Speaking of perfect songs, it’s time I share another one. I already knew this song, but during a certain run it suddenly felt like it was written specifically for me. “Why is that lady who’s running wiping her eyes?” I’m sure people were questioning while driving by. Listen and see if you can tell why.
– Title- Already There by Casting Crowns.
This song is worded perfectly, being it was so hard for me to see where by book was going and where God was leading me. I just wish I knew how all my fears and all my questions were going to play out in a book-selling world that I have no way of controlling. Thankfully, I was reminded and assured that God is and was already there, knowing just how my book would turn out.
We all need to keep that fact in our minds. God is already ahead. His plans are perfect for His children. If you are one of His, then one day you too will stand before Him and look back at the life you’ve lived, enjoying the view, and seeing just how all the pieces fit. They may not seem to fit now, but be patient, for the time will come when they will.
Isaiah 40:31 – But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Finally, my book was – drumroll please – DONE!
To be continued.
1* – Click here to read my last posting.
Marianne Petersen’s book God and Your Pillow is now available. (Amazon) – You can follow Marianne on Twitter at @marimemoirs and read more on her blog, marimemoirs.com.
