Writing

My Mouth Dropped

/ Marianne Memoirs / 2 Comments

                      – My Mouth Dropped – 

wow.jpg We all know that saying ‘My mouth dropped!’  Has your mouth dropped after seeing something unexpectedly pop up? I bet you have.

I like to think that God had fun planning this one particular way of surprising me.

A few weeks ago, I got email from a book writers competition organization called American Book Fest stating my book was chosen to be one of the Award Finalists. Did I read right? My book was chosen? I felt like I had – time for that quote – died and gone to Heaven. But before I went there, I had to see how my book showed on the list. Those two words ‘Click here’ whispered to me to click.

“This should be interesting,” I thought.  – CLICK

The website showed up. As I scrolled down, the ‘Award Winners’ showed up first. Of course I would have loved to have seen my book next to that title, but I was still floating high having been chosen as an Award Finalist. One by one I scrolled down, with the pictures of each ‘Award Winner’ showing along with its information.

When will the Award Finalist list begin? How many are there? When will mine show?   

After checking that first Award Winner, I scrolled down.

Second one down… Award Winner – scroll to the next.

Third one down… Award Winner – keep going. 

Forth one down… Award Winner – oh, come on. Stop this list of winners.

Fifth one down… Award Finalist.

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The look on my face began to change.

 

 

 

Ten thousand questions began floating around in my head at eighty miles a second as I just stared at my screen. My eyes began crawling to the left of ‘Award Finalist’.

Where will mine show? How far down the list is my book? If it’s far down, then no one will really see it. Watch it be after oodles of others. Oh, please don’t be too far down.

All I was hoping to see in some near future was the picture of my book, along with its title, God and Your Pillow. 

If you want to know why I almost fainted in the middle of my next thought, check out this photo.

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I’m sure God couldn’t wait to see what my face would look like when I saw my book was at the very top of that Award Finalist list.  You read that right: TOP ! There’s one thing He still hears me say to this day: Thank you Lord.

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You have my full permission to share this posting with whom ever you please, and let others know God is full of surprises.

 

 

 

 – Click here to see the full website I ever-so happily found my book.  

 

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.

Thankfulness From Your Past

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           – Thankfulness From Your Past-

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With it being Thanksgiving season, no way could I not have thankfulness as my subject for a few weeks. Something I read recently caused me to think how whats taken place in the past can affect how thankful we are at life today. I totally agree.

Even though my upbringing in the past wasn’t picture perfect, and even though my past unplanned pregnancy wasn’t exactly what I dreamed of, (1*) and since I can easily say I would have preferred not to have gone through my past brain illness ordeal, (2*) a big part of me is still thankful for each trial. God covered me with the strongest umbrella of love, obviously keeping more difficult hardships from falling on me that could have occurred. Every little spot Christ proved He was there has me ready for what ever comes my way from now on. Yes, tears from sorrow still show. And yes, many times I do wish that certain things wouldn’t have happened. We all do. Yet looking at my past has sure helped keep me going through life, not worrying too much on what lies ahead.

Regarding past trials you’ve endured, can you see how God’s strong hands were carrying you? Give it some thought and I bet you can. And if so, then try to keep it floating in your mind a bit more than before. Don’t let those thoughts get pushed under the rug. Instead, allow your ‘past’ to encourage your ‘now’.

There are times in our lives when we have to realize our past is precisely what it is, and we cannot change it. But we can change the story we tell ourselves about it, and by doing that, we can change the future.  – Eleanor Brown

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1* – Click here to read a bit about my pregnancy.

2* – Click here to read ab it about my illness.

 

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.

Already There – Song #26

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                – Already There – Song #26 –

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We all may think we know a song, having heard it a few times, but it’s after those few times it finally hits our heart, soul, and mind. This sure was one of those being the words went right along with what I was thinking .

I am one who does a few miles run every few days but only, I repeat ONLY if my iPod runs right along with me. So there I was running one morning, thinking about my next step on that sidewalk, along with the next step needed to get my book published. My mind was overflowing with thoughts, needing to decide some rather important decisions.

I’m pretty much done with what I can do now. What’s next? It’s so hard to know the best step to take. I wish I knew more. Oh Lord, help me know what I’m doing.

Then this song came on.

I was wishing, while running, that I could know how all my fears and questions were gonna play out in the book world I can’t control. I realized this song’s wording fit perfectly with all my thoughts. Like the song says, it was a mystery to me, hard to see where my book and I were going, and where God was leading me. I got the best reminder that God was all ready there. He already knows the outcome. His perfect hand will help put together, the best way He sees fit, all those needed book publishing pieces. 

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The best part was when the words reminded me that yes, one day I’ll be looking back at the life I’ve lived, God pointing to the areas I missed that showed His hand was obviously there with all of the planning of my book.

“I sure can’t wait to enjoy that view, and see how all the pieces of putting my book together fit,” I thought to myself.

 

 

By the time I got back home, I was reloaded with encouragement. God sure knew I needed that song that morning.

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Are you working your tail off on some project, or are you going though some rather tough ordeal? Do you ever question if all that’s going on will ever make sense? Keep in mind that, as the song says, God will one day show you how your pieces in life were planned to fit together perfectly.

 

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.

If Today Was Your Last Day – Song #23

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  – If Today Was Your Last Day – Song #23 –

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Ready for a few questions? What if today was your last day? What would you do? What wouldn’t you do? How would you think? How would you feel? Think about it. My answers to all of these would be going on and on and on, so I’ll spare you hours of reading and just share a few.

First, I’d request hours in a hot tube. No, I take that back. I keep picturing me in heaven with my very own hot tub.  That leaves me then to think of what’s next of my list.

This song describes what I’d do a lot better than I can, so listen while reading more.

Note- The best part of this song is the second half.

 

If today was my last day it’d be pondering on what really counts. Not what hours I need to doing this or that task here or there. Nope. Because life, especially your last day, isn’t meant to be a rat-race or a marathon that gets you nowhere. I’d use that day to reflect on those adventures I went on and the discoveries I found. Those little blessing that stood out in life would be flowing in my thoughts. At the same time I’d be cherishing each second with family and friends, savoring every word they’d be saying. I’m certain God would hear my thanks for them a lot more than normal on that day.

Being that one of my favorite verses is Luke 6:31 – ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’, this song shows one thing I’d love to do my last day. It’s, as the song says, leave a few fears behind me and do what I’ve always wanted to do: surprise those in much need with money. Being I, of course, won’t really be needing money any more after my last day, I’d love to see a person’s mouth drop due to shock, just like the man in this story surprises others.

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Of course I’d use my perfect bag to help carry any other things I’d be passing along.

 

 

 

Have you given any thought what you’d want to do, if you could, on your last day? Please share at least one of the many things you’d do. I can’t wait to read it.

 

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.

Tell Your Heart To Beat Again – Song 11?

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   – Tell Your Heart To Beat Again -Song #11

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Do you ever feel like you can’t get back to normality after a tough day, or week, or month has gone by. I sure had to endure that years ago from a brain illness I experienced. (1*) Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and now, years later, I still have to deal with memory problems. Even though I have not recovered 100%, God gets much credit for helping me, as the quote says, ‘grin and bear it‘.

When I look at my past, it doesn’t sting like it use to. Instead I look back thinking of all that the Lord has done, getting me to where I am. Now don’t get me wrong. I have to still remind myself not to give up when I feel like I easily could. Difficulties I’ve had to deal with for years I still must cope with, especially when I’m trying to reach a goal. But God keeps helping me remember each day that my story is far from over, helping me tell my own heart to beat again.

 

We all endure some type trial. Some people seem to get hit with more than others. Sometimes difficulties come head on, and as the song says, having us feel shattered like we’ve never been before.  During one now, or the next one to come, just remember, keep telling your heart to beat again.

Why don’t you share a tribulation God has pulled you through. We all need stories for encouragement, knowing there’s others who can relate to what we’ve endured. I know I sure do.

1* – click here to read story of brain injury – 

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.

This is My Story – Song #9

/ Marianne Memoirs / 2 Comments

               – This is My Story – Song #9 –

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What is your story? If you had to write your story what made you who you are, what would people learn? A tough question, don’t you think?

Sure, we could get into all those little details of the who, what, where, when, and hows that made us who we are. Me? If I wrote you my story, you wouldn’t so much read all I held onto growing up, but who held on to me. If you ever asked me to write, you would read about life, but not my life. This song explains it all much better than I ever could.

 

 

As long ago as I can remember, I always believed in God. I considered myself a “good person,” and I tried to do the “right thing” all through my first eighteen years in life. But if I really wanted to tell you my story, I’d tell you how my real life began the summer I graduated from High school. From the first day God opened my heart, to now, 33 years later, I could round it all down to what’s most important. I’d tell about the grace that is greater than all my sin, about what justice was served, and where mercy wins.  I wouldn’t so much tell of myself, but tell of Christ, for it’s His life that has made mine.

If you only had a few sentences to share your story, what would it be? Do you have a song that tells yours?

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For what actually did take place on one unforgettable summer day, click here to read,  with a few more that follow.

 

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.