Songs

Sing a Song – Song #31

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                  – Sing a Song – Song #31 –

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Time for my last song in October’s Song-a-Day fun I’ve enjoyed putting together.

This last song I chose is Sing a Song. Perfect, don’t you think? I ran across it a few weeks back when looking for other ones to share. “Best choice for my last song,” I thought to myself. “Maybe I’ll find that old CD. Hmm, where did I put it?”

 

Here are a few quotes on music.

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” ― Bob Marley

“Where words leave off, music begins.” ― Heinrich Heine

“Where words fail, music speaks.” ― Hans Christian Andersen

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”  ― Friedrich Nietzsche

I often have fun making my own middle name being I was not given one. If I was forced to write one down, I’d be tempted to write Marianne Sing-A-Song Petersen. Like I shared in my first few postings, songs can mean so much to me. If they have the perfect words that hit home, held by the perfect music, I’d then, like this song says, sing-a-long.

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If you ever find a fifty-Something year old woman in her car, or jogging down a street with an ear plug glued to her head, obviously showing she’s listening to a song, you’re most likely looking at yours truly.

 

I can’t help but assume that you all now know I love music. God knows that fact as well. I’m sure He knows I’m thankful He created music way back when, also sure He’s often right next to me just singing away as well.

I’ve enjoyed this project of sharing songs. I’ll end with one suggestion – Have fun singing to your perfect songs. Make your middle name Sing-a-Song, and, as the song says, don’t worry that it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear. Just sing, sing your song.

 

Click here if you can’t help but wonder what got me to do a song-a-day. 

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.

 

 

 

Someday – Song #30

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                    – Someday -Song #30 –

 

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Do you ever think ‘Someday I’ll . . . ‘ or “Someday we should . . . ‘ or ‘Someday I might  . . . ‘ followed by a hope? Let this song I chose encourage you with your own ‘Someday’ you’re hoping.

Being this is the second to last song I’m sharing, it was harder to choose. There are still many others songs I wanted to pass along but decided to choose one with hope.

 

With all that’s going on all around us right now, I occasionally wish the world around us could just, as the song says, stop trying to find another mistake, and just start over again. But we can’t. Maybe, someday, we’ll figure all this out. Maybe, someday, people will agree to disagree yet still keep peace between one another, trying to find a way to make things better while carrying a ‘Love’ flag as this song shows.

Lots of confusion, yes. Lots of uncertainty, yes. There is, however, nothing on this earth more certain than knowing God will never leave us, nor will He ever forsake those who cling to Him. Maybe, someday, more people will believe in God, and allow Him to put an end to all our doubts with what’s going on around us. I wish someday, somehow, all would put Him first, follow Him, and basically start everything around us all over again.

What do you wish would be better? What is your wish for your ‘Someday’?

Note – Being I have been doing one song each day this month, tomorrow will be my last. Look forward to seeing you then.

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.

Happy – Song #27

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                      – Happy – Song #27 –

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Happy  – One simple word, yet one word that can mean so much. Quick, think of a few things that bring a smile to your face. You should be able to think of at least a few.

This should have been one of the first songs I shared. Why? The smiling face and I go hand-in-hand.

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I don’t dare tell you how many things I’ve collected that prove how I’ve turned THE smiling face into my own personal logo.

These are just a fraction of all I have.

 

 

Time to play the perfect song that perfectly fits what I’m covering. Click below.

It might seem crazy what I’m about to say, but trials may cause you to be happy. Of course the main reason for my happiness is that God chose me to be one of His. That’s far above all other reasons. But the second reason I give to being happy might make me sound crazy but . . . my brain illness I had almost twenty-eight years ago has made me happy.    click here and read a bit more what I was going through.  

I believe the specific brain injury challenge I’ve endured has caused me to truly treasure the simple parts in life. I appreciate more the basic things that I come across. I look at those extra special people, places or thing an eye distance away a bit longer. I hold the value of life a bit deeper, my desire to help people in need has grown, and I look at the bright side of things when ever possible. Along with this, there is another reason.

My illness encouraged me to agree that avoiding unneeded anger is a must. Life is too precious to wast with barking back and forth. Sad that, while growing up, I witness my parents relationship showing a bit too much anger and not enough happiness. I witnessed how things can get worse when the complaining spirit begins to grow, and getting mad shows no real worthwhile benefit for anyone. Witnessing that, plus my illness, had me glue to Bible verses such as…  Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

A few lines in this song perfectly share another reason.  ‘Come, bad-news, talking this and that . . .Give me all you’ve got, holding nothing back . . .I should probably warn ya I’ll be just fine . . . No offence to you, don’t waste your time.   God’s carried me through so much, and I know that, even though tears may still show up, He’ll be carrying me from the start.

True, life can be at times incredibly challenging. You may be confronted with difficulties that squash all the happiness out of you as setbacks and failures tag along everywhere you go. In short, being happy simply doesn’t seem possible. I get that. I still have my ups & downs, and my grinding of teeth from frustration every now and then.

Ask yourself if there is something you should do. Or better yet, NOT do. Don’t put the key to happiness in someone else’s pocket. Instead, do as the song says, and …clap along if you know what happiness is to you. 

One more picture: my house key.

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After all, I am one who’s always happy to be home.

 

 

 

 

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.

Just Be Held – Song #7

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                   – Just Be Held – Song #7

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I bet most of you can remember a time God showed you He knew just what you needed. God, again, showed that to me years ago, via the radio, one day in my car.

“What song would fit perfectly in my book? Hmm,” I pondered as I drove. Which one to put at the end of my memoir to describe how the Lord held me though the trial was the only thing I was thinking about. I’ll never forget when this song you are about to hear came on. That first time I had ever heard it couldn’t have been at a better time. And, just so you know, it instantly became second on my favorite songs list. (Click here for the story about my 1st)

“Perfect! No more wondering. Yep, this is it,” I thought. But something started while listening. A few tears began to form because my thinking on how to put it in my book slowly stopped as the words had my heart begin pondering on just how much God actually held me through the entire soap opera ordeal years before.

Like I always say, God’s timing is perfect.

Believe me, I tried my hardest to get the Okay to have all the words of this song in my book. Not an easy project to accomplish. I finally gave up waiting for permission, so just sharing my thoughts about that song was all I could do.

musicFact: I love music—always have, always will, so I can’t help but share the name of a song that fit perfectly into this episode of my life. “Just Be Held,” by a group called Casting Crowns. The words describe so clearly how God lifted me up during the toughest times and held me tightly through it all. In the arms of God I was held, and He didn’t let me go. As months passed, He let me know my life was not falling apart but falling into place. And even if I didn’t feel like I could hold on, I could tell I was still being held.

I bet most of you can remember a time God held you through a challenging time, knowing just what you needed. He may not have made that clear while a certain ordeal took place, but I bet after a bit of time had gone by, it was obvious He had.

Isaiah 41:13 – For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

1* – Click here for that story behind my favorite song. 

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.

So Long Self – Song #3

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                   – So Long self – Song #3

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I’m sure you all have that perfect song that explains how you felt on one of those most important days of your life. Out of all the songs I’ve chosen to share this month, how dare I not show this one first. After all,  it opens up those perfect words on how I felt, not just on one of the best days of my life, but on THE  best day of my life: the day the Lord had the new me say so long to my old self.

In 1985, the summer after I graduated from high school, I attended a Christian camp. I’ll never forget how I came back a new Marianne. God opened my eyes at that camp to who Jesus truly was and what ‘Christian’ truly meant.  Here is a piece I shared in my book, God and Your Pillow, about that memorable day.

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As the group that had arrived there together began to drive away that last day, I looked back at the campground.

It’s time I say goodbye to you, old self. I’m now my new me, very thankful to be on this new road ahead with Christ right by my side. I came home not Marianne TV-Someone-Someday Houstoun, but as a peace-filled Marianne New-Child-of-God Houstoun.

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I sure felt different diving back home. ‘So Long old self.’ and ‘Glad I’m not bringing you, my old me, back home.’ were the exact words I thought quite a few times as I, while sitting, looked back as the bus was taking off.  My old self and old heart arrived at that camp empty, lonely, and unsure of so much about myself. My new self, when leaving camp, was full of peace, hope, and energy to begin my new life. This song gives some of those exact words I thought back then because, as it says, I sure was a little different being I sure found somebody else.

Note – the video is a bit silly but hay, I like having fun with songs. Just make sure you pay attention to the words. (Sorry, but there may be a little add once you click.)

 

I know I sure was a little different being I sure found somebody else: a new me. Does any song remind you of a time when a life changing event took place? Believe me, it sure is great when a song causes you to thank God, once again, for what ever may have taken place. Let me know what song stands out to you. I’m too curious.

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.

When To Let ‘YES’ Win – Song #1

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         – When To Let ‘YES’ Win – Song #1

 

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Have you ever had something you’ve been thinking of doing?

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“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.

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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 @marimemoirs and read more on her blog, marimemoirs.com.