Marilynn Dawson's Blog, page 12
March 1, 2013
The Secret: Do You Know What it Is?
A new book was recently placed in my hand, being touted as having very powerful concepts that I should read this weekend. The book is entitled, "The Secret" and is copyrighted 2006.
I have only gotten a few pages into the first chapter, but already it is abundantly clear what this secret is and verses from Scripture began flying through my mind. Verses from Proverbs, the Gospels, Genesis, etc.
Interestingly enough, the author of this book, "The Secret", claims you will find it in every known and ancient religion and civilization including both Judaism and Christianity. The author and those they interview, refer to The Secret as none other than the Law of Attraction. Even more interesting is where these voices claim this law has particular power, and that is in the mind, in the thoughts.
God's Word has amazing things to say about the human heart and mind. The first is found in the book of Genesis where we learn that whatever man puts his mind to do, he will accomplish!
Genesis 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
From then on however, every search in my King James Version Bible for the word "imaginations" links the term to the evils found in the heart of unregenerate man. Same with the thoughts of mankind.
We are told continually to place our thoughts on God and not on ourselves, yet this book, "The Secret" claims this universal Law of Attraction for entirely selfish purposes. It places the focus squarely on ourselves.
1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Psalms 94:11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
1 Corinthians 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We know from Scripture, that the mind is the battle ground of the enemy! We are told in Proverbs to guard our hearts for out of it are the issues of life! We are told to take every thought captive to the things of God, not so that we can have everything our hearts desire, but so that we may escape the wiles of the enemy and avoid damning our souls to hell.
Hardly a few pages into this book, the author claims people have been healed, fortunes have been changed, loved ones brought back from the brink of death, risen out of wheel chairs, etc. All due to this Law of Attraction.
Now this is how this law works: According to this author, what you think will attract more thoughts just like it. If they are negative, negative thoughts will join them, if they are positive, positive thoughts will join them. The author encourages the reader then, to avoid the thoughts that drag them down and focus on the thoughts that will build them up.
On the surface this sounds like a very truthful observation, and similar thoughts are indeed found in the pages of the sacred writings of Judaism and Christianity. However, without Christ, these are incredibly vain and self-serving, while in Christ, they are misdirected and can cost a person their faith if mishandled.
God does not deny that the heart and mind is a powerful thing. Our emotions have much to do with how we see the world and respond to it, both in our thoughts and in the actions those thoughts produce. It is 100% true that everything anyone has ever said or done, has been based on a thought first and foremost! Every single thing! This is where satan wants to trip us up if he can. Take our minds off Christ and onto ourselves, get us thinking that we are our own savior and can call our own destiny.
This message comes out in these first few pages loud and clear! Through our thoughts, this author preaches, we can decide our destiny and we can bring it about our way in our time!
God's Word says there is a way that seems right to a man, but the Lord decides the outcome! The mantra that man is the chief conductor of his soul, that man is king of his own heart, that man charts his own waters has indeed been trumpeted down through the centuries from the Garden of Eden through to this book now sitting on my desk!
The enemy of our souls knows how to package his lies so that we take the throne of our lives and not God!
I am quite frankly amazed at how the lie is spelled out in these first few pages of this book.
For the Christian, we must be aware of these kinds of teachings and ensure that we do not propogate them in our own hearts and lives or those of others. Scripture tells us to place our thoughts on things above, not on earth beneath, to seek first the Kingdom of God and not our own ambitions, to lean on God's understandings and not our own, to place the paths of our lives in God's hands and not seek to direct it ourselves, to place Christ on the throne and not sit there instead. Any thought that becomes self-serving is to be thrown under the Cross and every thought that serves God is to be exalted and acted on.
In this way we see what God means when He says that man's ways are so much lower than His. Yes if we dwell on the negative too often, we will engage in what is known as self-fulfilling prophecy and make our lives worse instead of better merely by how we look at the world. I'm not disputing that. The positive thinker always does better in life than the negative thinker. The twist is where those positive thoughts are focussed and the type of thoughts focussed on most.
A person can think themselves ill and many times can think themselves better, no argument. There is a certain level of truth to the concept of mind over matter. However the most positive thinker still needs medication and doctor attention every now and then. We are not the master of our ship as the world would like to teach us. God is! We must learn to see ourselves as God sees us, learn to dwell on the precepts, promises and teachings of God's Word and allow them to shape how we think and feel about the world around us. We must make the Kingdom of God our focus and dwell on the things above instead of on the things beneath if we ever hope to be of use to God among the lost we run into every day!
The law of attraction. . . The best Biblical example of this is the various times God says to draw near to Him and He will draw near to us!
James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
We can attract the enemy by the thoughts we allow into our minds, or we can attract the God of the Universe by the thoughts we choose to put into our minds. If our thoughts are always about ourselves and our selfish ambition, guess who's going to come along and encourage those thoughts? If our thoughts are toward God and the things of God, guess who's going to come along to encourage those thoughts? Who do we want to attract? Yes thoughts beget like thoughts, but thoughts go further than the author of "The Secret" understands, and attract spiritual forces for good or evil, for eternity separated from or drawn near to Christ Himself.
We can attract the wrong people into our lives as Proverbs says, encouraging us to be careful the company we keep as bad company corruptes good character. We can attract our own downfall by hanging out with the wrong crowd and hording riches for ourselves. Proverbs is a great book for how we as Christians should think and feel and as a result behave toward life around us!
The secret is not in the Law of Attraction, it is in where we choose to put our focus. That is the battle ground! God gave us a free will to choose the influences we allow into our lives for good or evil.
I'm not sure I want to continue reading this book now that I have had just a small taste of the lie it is perpetrating. I'm not sure I want to let it's words influence how I think and who gets to sit on the throne of my heart and mind. Discernment should be the greater part of valor, I feel. I will not allow the enemy a potential foothold to influence the thoughts and imaginations of my heart.
Scripture is the only psychology textbook I need, and contains too many examples of the heart and mind found without God, contrasted to many examples of the heart and mind found IN God. The Holy Spirit knows the heart of man better than any human author ever will! God's Word cuts right to the chase of every heart and mind that picks it up, acting as mirror, discerner, teacher, rebuker, encourager, exhorter, comforter, and more!
No, I know The Secret to living an abundant life here on earth, and that secret is to put God first in all I do, all I think, all I say, etc. Do I live it out all the time? No, unfortunately I am not always found living these out, but I know them and endeavor to live them out as best I am able, continually asking the Holy Spirit's help in the process.
It is my prayer that this author and those quoted, will learn this greater secret and that God will get the glory in their lives.
This book places man at the center of the universe, but God says He is the center of the universe and we are to be drawn to Him! No. . . The last couple pages of the book are worse than the first few. . . Man is NOT King of the Universe! Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God is KING!!! I read the last few pages of HIS book too, and I know who wins! . . . and it isn't unregenerate man!
February 28, 2013
Latest Newsletter for February 2013
Two months have passed already in 2013! Wow!
I want to welcome more readers to our monthly newsletter! For those of you who are new, this newsletter goes out roughly once a month.
Last month I wrote that January had been one of those rocky months, primarily at work. A few days after I sent out the last newsletter, I was laid off from that job and yet another adventure began! Two weeks ago I began work part time as unlicensed assistant to a Realtor! A very nice realtor, but one who is quite . . . shall we say . . . scatter-brained? Life will be interesting as I go to work for him 3 days a week to begin with.
Daily sessions in "Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey" began as an online blog/emailed daily session February 4th. There are two ways you can sign up to receive each day's sessions: Email only, or blog registration so that you can participate in any discussions about each day's session. For registration info, please read this link here:
The desired automated emails are not going out until someone visits the site each day. But the daily sessions themselves ARE being posted to the site at 6am every day Monday to Friday unless there is a short week. Use short weeks to catch up on anything you missed, or to go back over something you felt needed more time to ponder.
The possibility of holding a global blog tour, featuring bloggers from all over the world is stalled right now till I get more than two responses from bloggers willing to participate. I have one blogger in the US and one in Nigeria. If you know of any bloggers who might be interested in joining such an international blog tour for this series, get them to contact me? They can reach me either via this email address, or on facebook at my author page: https://www.facebook.com/Marilynn.Dawson.Author?ref=hl
As usual, where you can find my series is listed in various links below, but the thought occurred to me, what if you want to find me as an author online? Where would you go? Here is a list of places you can find me:
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/songdovebooks/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10989028-marilynn-dawson
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/songdove
Freado: http://www.freado.com/users/34318/marilynn-dawson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/songdoveMD Yes I finally bit the bullet and created an account on Twitter. . .
Zianz: http://xianz.com/n/songdove
Chapters: http://community.indigo.ca/profile/Marilynn-Dawson/557354.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Marilynn.Dawson.Author?ref=hl
Here is the current list of where you, or those you know, may purchase the series. If all goes well, I will be planning a book-signing event in Kelowna at a local Chapters outlet. Pray for that event as details come together.
In Canada:
Bell Tower Books - Kelowna BC:
http://bookmanager.com/1187155/?q=h.ts&opt=kw&tsf=y&qs=marilynn+dawson&x=0&y=0#
Amazon.ca:
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Ms.+Marilynn+Dawson
http://www.bookmob.ca/search/keyword/Marilynn+Dawson
Chapters-!ndigo:
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/35/search/?sc=Ms.+Marilynn+Dawson&sf=Author
Global:
Createspace.com:
https://www.createspace.com/3672131 Volume One
https://www.createspace.com/3933868 Volume Two
https://www.createspace.com/3958072 Volume Three
https://www.createspace.com/3958097 Volume Four
https://www.createspace.com/3958124 Volume Five
https://www.createspace.com/3960362 Volume Six
https://www.createspace.com/3964570 Leader's Guide
Amazon websites:
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Ms.+Marilynn+Dawson
http://astore.amazon.com/becothebridof-20 Marilynn's Amazon Store
http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.fr/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon FR
http://www.amazon.es/s?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=english-books&field-author=Ms%20Marilynn%20Dawson Amazon ES
http://www.amazon.de/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon DE
New Zealand:
http://www.mightyape.co.nz/Authors/MS-Marilynn-Dawson/All/
India:
Digital versions online:
http://www.scribd.com/Songdove
http://www.atcontent.com/Profile/songdove/Publications/
http://songdove.fa-ct.com/songsfromwordlistings.shtml
Sometimes seeking God's direction in your life and following through on your promise to follow, can lead to very different and unsual results that you would never have seen coming! God truly does move in mysterious ways, because as He says, His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. God sees the big picture and it is up to us to trust, follow and obey.
I was reminded of this when I first got the call for an interview with this realtor. My job as assistant is basically do anything and everything he asks of me willingly and to the best of my abilities. This meant acting as a carpenter's assistant during the interview, making tea and running for apples, all in the first week. This is a far cry from the training I have used as a computer tech all these years, but it is a job that has answered two prayers to this point. Namely: the ability to only work 9:30am to 4pm or roughly 5 to 6 hour days at a wage that still pays the bills, which is roughly $20/hr minimum. I have yet to fill in the two days a week not worked for this realtor, but the mere fact he agreed to my desired wishes answered both those prayers.
God has never left us begging. We haven't had much, never made it into the middle-class of society, but never lacked basic necessities, ever! God has seen to it that our needs have always been met one way or another, just not necessarily in the ways we would have chosen for ourselves. Many times God's people feel their prayers have not been answered or that they have been left wanting, because they do not allow God to move in His own sovereign manner, or trust that God knows what they really need instead.
This year as we progress through 2013, may we never put God in the proverbial box, but let Him be who He is, and meet our needs accordingly. God knows best.
Sincerely,
Marilynn Dawson
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say Come. . . and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.
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January 26, 2013
What do octopi, puppies, toddlers and horses have in common?
It's occasionally struck me, and strikes me again this morning, that largely without fail no matter where I look around the world, critters of all shapes and sizes seem to have a propensity for four common descriptions and one common state of being. In fact this observation usually only happens when this single state of being is in effect. I've observed this in animals, sealife, birds, and people.
The state of being I refer to is that of peace, or peacefulness; that place of mental, emotional, spiritual and physical rest where for that moment at least, there is no threat, no frustration, no need, no hostility, no struggle, just contentment and peace.
This state of being leads young anythings to explore, to play, and to discover. What I find interesting, is what is typically discovered. . . For it is in this state of being that bears look and act like stuffed animals, lion cubs play with each other's tails, octopi, magpies, and weazles haul off pretty shiney objects, and the most fearsome among creatures basks under a gentle touch.
From wild cats to horses and sharks to spiders and foxes and crows, it's been fascinating to discover that when left to a peaceful existence, these are the things they enjoy.
Then I look at mankind and the discovery is very similar there. What fascinates us most in a futuristic book or movie? Everything is clean and shiney and ideally free of the sinful behaviour that plagues much of our existence. What draws us to romantic tales of love and bravery? It is that gentle touch and the need for protection and safety found in the arms of one who loves us deeply. Why do we get all warm and fuzzy inside when we see cute and cuddly baby anythings in person or in pictures or videos?
Just like the critters, we too desire that state of peace, and something within us longs for a gentle touch, a soft heart, a quiet spirit, and whether we are willing to admit it or not, the clean shiney look of that pure gold pavement in heaven.
I am led to believe that when nature is at peace, it longs for the untouched perfection of the way God intended our world without sin. Something within every single one of us, man and beast alike, says these things should be there, these things are longed for; and every time a small snippet of that expected reality reveals itself, cats purr, birds sing, dolphins dance, and tails wag. One day the reality nature knows should be present, will be present! One day God will return all things to the way they were before sin entered the world.
I long for that day. Do you?
January 1, 2013
Announcing Daily Sessions from "Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey"
Ok, after two days of installs, updates, upgrades, tweaks and tests, I am now ready to accept sign-ups for this year's Daily Sessions from Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey.
If all goes well, the first email will go out February 4th, beginning what is roughly a 10 month daily walk through my series. Each week will feature 4 to 5 daily sessions along with a review day that would normally be reserved for group meetings if done in person. Some weeks may have fewer sessions than others, allowing you to catch up if you missed any.
These daily sessions, although delivered by email, will also be available on a blog specifically set up for this purpose. You won't find this blog in the search engines. I've deliberately told the search engines NOT to spider this blog! Why? Because of spammers mostly. But secondly, because this is a sign-up only site. If you don't register for the site, you won't have access to it and won't be able to interact with it.
There are two ways you can register.
1) Register to get emails only. This can be done at this link: http://songdove.fa-ct.com/wordpress-mu/post_notification_header/
2) Register to interact with the daily sessions on the blog as well as get the daily email. This can be done at this link: http://songdove.fa-ct.com/wordpress-mu/wp-login.php?action=register
You do NOT need to do both! I've tested both, and I've had a beta-tester test both as well. But you only need to choose one registration method. If you don't want to interact, use method 1). If you do wish to interact, used method 2).
Please note ahead of time that this is bootcamp! This is indepth. This is raw at times! There are moments of encouragement, exhortation, challenge, correction, and worship. Be sure to make use of the tools offered on the companion website to assist you in going deeper in your own walk of faith. You'll want to set aside at least 15 minutes a day, more if you can swing it. This can be done as your own personal devotions every day, or done in addition to that. Being as this is my story-turned study-turned series, it will read as part book, part study as you join me on this journey deeper into the heart of God.
So feel free to sign up now, and to encourage your friends and contacts to sign up as well.
I also have a monthly newsletter which goes out typically around the end of the month. If you'd like to be kept abreast of what's going on with this series, you can sign up for that at this link here: https://www.freecrm.com/form.cfm?id=5918&vc=CLRCCEAEQA
Here's praying all the best for you in 2013, and praying God moves in your life in a new and deeper way as you progress along your personal journey of faith.
December 26, 2012
Songdove Books Newsletter - Boxing Day
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
(sign up link for this newsletter - https://www.freecrm.com/form.cfm?id=5918&vc=CLRCCEAEQA)
First off, let me welcome more readers to our monthly newsletter! We just wrapped up a second blog tour! The Christmas Story-telling blog tour featured story segments from all but two chapters in the entire series! I am pleased to announce that during this Christmas tour, another amazing reader not only followed the entire tour, but downloaded every single one of the featured Volumes in this series in PDF format! As a Thank you Christmas gift, I sent them a free copy of the Leader's Guide in PDF format! Thank you Stephen S, for faithfully following every single stop on tour! I pray you are enjoying this series as we wrap up the holidays.
Did you get a chance last month to check out the fledgling book trailer for this series? If you have friends or followers on youtube, feel free to share this link on your channel: At some point this year it will be updated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6rtfMulwu0
So how was Christmas Day in your household this year? Was it crawling with people or quiet and serene? Was there food all over the house or a simple meal on the table? Were you travelling or staying home this year? We stayed home. The day was largely quiet and serene, just the way I needed it after how busy the past few months have been. But dinner was shared with my Grandma along with an Aunt and Uncle, whose birthday we celebrated along with Christ's this year. It was really nice. But it wasn't just about us and whether we had company or not. I wrote a note on my author page on Facebook that I'd like to share with you. Many people feel that it's belittling God to include Him in the details, in the little things. But Scripture and life experiences have shown me that God cares as much for the little details as He does the big ones. I invite you to read a thank you note that I wrote to God last night:
So what does the New Year hold? What plans are you facing? What events are coming down the pipe? Are you ready for them? If Christ came back for His Bride tomorrow, would you be ready?
As I sit here thinking about the New Year and the message in my book series, "Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey", I am reminded of a conversation I had with one of my participating bloggers in the last blog tour. We discussed the possibility of holding a global blog tour, featuring bloggers from all over the world. They offered to pull in their resources to assist me with such plans. I told them we'd stay in touch for sure! I don't yet know how this will look, or what content will be featured - interviews, book excerpts, fresh content. . . All that is yet to be planned. However, if you know of any bloggers who might be interested in joining such an international blog tour for this series, get them to contact me? They can reach me either via this email address, or on facebook at my author page: https://www.facebook.com/Marilynn.Dawson.Author?ref=hl
Every now and then I do a quick scan of Google to see where this series is available online. I've recently discovered that Amazon Japan is now carrying the complete series! So here is the current list of where you, or those you know, may purchase the series. If all goes well, I will be planning a book-signing event in Kelowna at a local Chapters outlet. Pray for that event as details come together.
In Canada:
Bell Tower Books - Kelowna BC:
http://bookmanager.com/1187155/?q=h.ts&opt=kw&tsf=y&qs=marilynn+dawson&x=0&y=0#
Amazon.ca:
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Ms.+Marilynn+Dawson
http://www.bookmob.ca/search/keyword/Marilynn+Dawson
Chapters-!ndigo:
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/35/search/?sc=Ms.+Marilynn+Dawson&sf=Author
Global:
Createspace.com:
https://www.createspace.com/3672131 Volume One
https://www.createspace.com/3933868 Volume Two
https://www.createspace.com/3958072 Volume Three
https://www.createspace.com/3958097 Volume Four
https://www.createspace.com/3958124 Volume Five
https://www.createspace.com/3960362 Volume Six
https://www.createspace.com/3964570 Leader's Guide
Amazon websites:
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Ms.+Marilynn+Dawson
http://astore.amazon.com/becothebridof-20 Marilynn's Amazon Store
http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.fr/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon FR
http://www.amazon.es/s?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=english-books&field-author=Ms%20Marilynn%20Dawson Amazon ES
http://www.amazon.de/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon DE
New Zealand:
http://www.mightyape.co.nz/Authors/MS-Marilynn-Dawson/All/
India:
Digital versions online:
http://www.scribd.com/Songdove
http://www.atcontent.com/Profile/songdove/Publications/
Just a reminder that the $.50 coupon that you can apply to each book in the series if you purchase using the Createspace.com links above, is only available till December 31st for the current promotion. That's a potential savings of up to $3.50 off the entire series.
So here we go. 2013 is just around the corner. Are you ready? What are you doing to prepare yourself for the coming year? Are you ready for Christ to do a new thing in your life? Let us be sure to take the Lover of our souls into every aspect of life this year. May His presence be felt every day this coming year, and may you know the depth of His love in a new way in 2013.
Sincerely,
Marilynn Dawson
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say Come. . . and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.
To sign up for this newsletter: Click here - https://www.freecrm.com/form.cfm?id=5918&vc=CLRCCEAEQA
December 25, 2012
Gratitude for all God chose to do this Christmas!
Oh my Lord,
Thank you so much for all You did for me, and for my children this Christmas! Yes, I know they are teenagers now and soon to graduate High School, but still. . .
Oh Lord, You heard my daughter's request for help as she prayed for my financial situation. Then as any good father does, You acted on her request and sent so much my way that all Christmas receipts were effectively repayed and the New Year is nolonger of any financial stress! Lord, You're amazing! Just totally amazing!
Then as if that wasn't enough, You choose to take part in a family gift to my daughter! Oh God, I don't deserve You at my side like this! Lord it totally felt like You were right there in that moment as Ashley opened her gift and as Isaiah and I looked on, then explaining what was waiting for her in the cupboard that went along with the gift we'd purchased for her. Lord You were there! Truly as I couldn't help but expressing, that was a gift to her, from us! You, my son, and myself together!
Oh God, that You continue to take myself and my family under Your wing like this! Words fail me as I seek to express my gratitude, my amazement, my wonder. . . Lord I tell people that You behave like a Husband and Father in this home, and wow. . . You weren't just here in the reverent manner in which we sought to honour Your earthly birth, but You were here as the member of this family You have chosen to be.
Such thoughts blow me away every time they come to me. But You seem to enjoy doing that. . . Oh God I bless Your name above the heavens! You are worthy to be praised, worthy to be honoured, worthy to be loved and adored beyond that which I as a mere mortal feel incapable of giving You. I love You so much. . . oh Lord. . .
Father, I desire to be wise with the gifts You gave me this Christmas. May they be used for Your glory as I seek to manage house and home in the New Year. May You be pleased with my choices and with my decision-making. Lord, I invite You into that process, that You would continue to be active in how Your gifts meet needs not only in our home, but in the lives of others our home may touch. My heart bows before You tonight. . .
Thank You so much. . . oh my Lord. . . in Jesus' name. . . Amen. . .
December 13, 2012
"Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey" Celebrates Christmas!!!
Christmas is many things to many people. For some, it's party time, for others, it's travel to friends and far-flung family. For one person it's a time of celebration while for another it is a time of loneliness or mourning. But above it all, regardless of how a person may or may not spend Christmas, it is most importantly about the birth of Jesus Christ, our soon coming King, our Prince of Peace and Lord of lords! Some of the most important lessons God taught me back in 2007 occurred during the Christmas season. So it is only fitting that my book series would celebrate Christmas in style!
First up is the "12 Days of" Christmas story-telling blog tour that kicked up December 13th with the story segment found in Chapter Two of Volume One. If you wish to follow along, click the event link here for details: https://www.facebook.com/events/343837409048953/ This tour will run every day until December 24th, featuring a different story segment each day. At the end of each segment is a download link where you can download the volume featured that day.
Second is the "12 Days of" Pinterest Party featuring 12 boards that will open to over 20 participants to illustrate various themes and thoughts found in this series. Day One's board opened December 13th and Day Two's will open December 14th, etc. It should be fun to see how people envision various things each day. The pin with the most likes/comments/repins each day will net it's pinner a free PDF of that day's Volume from the series. To follow along, click here to visit my boards: https://pinterest.com/songdovebooks/
Third is a $.50 cent coupon that you can use to get $.50 off each book in the series until December 31st. You can find the coupon code here: https://www.facebook.com/Marilynn.Dawson.Author/app_174961479209942
And remember, the Greatest Story Ever Told is not a fairy tale! It is the story of a God who couldn't bear to be without His prize creation, and sent His only Son to die for the sins of the entire world! That includes you! Wil you give Him the ultimate gift in return? Will you give Him your life? If you want to learn how to do this, leave me a message and we'll chat.
November 30, 2012
Songdove Books Newsletter - November Edition
This is the newsletter that was just sent out to those who signed up. If you'd like to sign up to receive future newsletters in your email inbox, please fill in the form here: https://www.freecrm.com/form.cfm?id=5918&vc=CLRCCEAEQA
Hello again!
A month has passed since I had the opportunity to welcome new people to this newsletter, and now we have a few more. Most of you signed up during the recent book tour for "Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey". I am pleased to announce that one amazing reader not only followed the entire tour, but downloaded every single one of the featured Volumes in this series in PDF format! I couldn't help showing my thanks by sending them the Leader's Guide in PDF format! Thank you Pam T, for faithfully following every single stop on tour! I pray you are enjoying this series.
During the past month, I finally buckled down and created a book trailer for the series. I was doing this at night with the teenagers home, so my voice is much quieter than usual. If you have friends or followers on youtube, feel free to share this link on your channel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6rtfMulwu0
Tonight is November 30th, 2012, the day before December 1st when many begin to decorate their homes in anticipation of Christmas, the celebration of Christ's birth. I am part of a small choir that began this fall, and we were privileged to sing at a very special event in town. One of the construction companies hosts a huge tree made of lights and scaffolding every year, as a fundraiser for local charities. In the past they've raised funds for the local food banks, single parent family initiatives, and this year partnered with Crime Stoppers and their annual "Light the Night" walk to bring awareness of the need for safety for women and children. Our choir was the featured entertainment, and guess who directed??!! None other than yours truly! Sure enough, half-way through the second song, my pages stuck together at a crucial point in the song! I've heard other choir directors complain about this happening, and now it's happened to me! A tenor said, "well, that makes you an official choir director!" We had a good laugh. . .
In keeping with the Christmas season, Songdove Books is hosting a "12 Days of" Pinterest Party running from December 13th to the 24th, Christmas Eve. Each day's board will feature a different theme or thought found in the pages of my series. It should be fun seeing how various people interpret each theme. If you wish to follow along, just go to http://pinterest.com/songdovebooks/ and follow the Pinterest Party boards. If you'd like to join the party and participate in the pinning, please comment on the invitation pin and I'll add you to the list.
In addition to the "12 Days of" Pinterest Party, Songdove Books is also going to take the series on tour again with a "12 Days of" Christmas story-telling blog tour! I have five bloggers on board already, but I still need seven more. If you know of any bloggers who might be interested in featuring a fictional story segment from my series, get them to contact me? They can reach me either via this email address, or on facebook at my author page: https://www.facebook.com/Marilynn.Dawson.Author?ref=hl
Lastly, for those of you who may be wondering where you can purchase the series, here is the current list:
In Canada:
Bell Tower Books - Kelowna BC:
http://bookmanager.com/1187155/?q=h.ts&opt=kw&tsf=y&qs=marilynn+dawson&x=0&y=0#
Amazon.ca:
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Ms.+Marilynn+Dawson
http://www.bookmob.ca/search/keyword/Marilynn+Dawson
Chapters-!ndigo:
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/35/search/?sc=Ms.+Marilynn+Dawson&sf=Author
Global:
Createspace.com:
https://www.createspace.com/3672131 Volume One
https://www.createspace.com/3933868 Volume Two
https://www.createspace.com/3958072 Volume Three
https://www.createspace.com/3958097 Volume Four
https://www.createspace.com/3958124 Volume Five
https://www.createspace.com/3960362 Volume Six
https://www.createspace.com/3964570 Leader's Guide
Amazon websites:
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Ms.+Marilynn+Dawson
http://astore.amazon.com/becothebridof-20 Marilynn's Amazon Store
http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.fr/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon FR
http://www.amazon.es/s?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=english-books&field-author=Ms%20Marilynn%20Dawson Amazon ES
http://www.amazon.de/-/e/B008SXA2QS Amazon DE
New Zealand:
http://www.mightyape.co.nz/Authors/MS-Marilynn-Dawson/All/
India:
Digital versions online:
http://www.scribd.com/Songdove
http://www.atcontent.com/Profile/songdove/Publications/
My author page has a $.50 coupon that you can apply to each book in the series if you purchase using the Createspace.com links above. That's a potential savings of up to $3.50 off the entire series.
As we get ready to enter a busy season of holiday preparations, events, presentations, parties, concerts and more, let us always remember the reason this holiday even began. Jesus Christ our Lord, the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, came down from heaven to be born as a baby, presented to the shepherds of the Temple Flocks as the perfect Lamb of God, and laid in an animals feed trough. Two years later according to the book of Matthew, this toddler would be greeted by wisemen from the east bearing gifts that would signify His riches, His purpose, and His message to the world. At age 33 He fulfilled that purpose by giving the ultimate sacrifice for those He loves, - the Bride of Christ, the Church, otherwise known as the Body of Christ. He rose again, and now we eagerly await the return of the Heavenly Bridegroom, the Prince of Peace, upon whose thigh is written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Are you ready for Him? Does He have a place reserved at your table this Christmas? We are very fond of Christ's baby pictures and we post them everywhere, from nativity sets to Christmas cards to lighted displays on our lawns. But the Prince of Peace wants to celebrate with you in the here and now. In our home, we've replaced the tree with a tinfoil-wrapped Cross over the Manger, and we've placed a crown on top. By doing so, we honour not merely His advent on earth, but the reason He came and the fact that He is coming again soon! How will you remember the King of Kings this Christmas?
The next time I write to you all will be just before the New Year. The gifts will have been opened, the turkey eaten, the credit spent, and the songs sung. I pray God meets each of you in an extra special way this Christmas. Along with the Little Drummer Boy, what is in your hand to give?
Sincerely,
Marilynn Dawson
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say Come. . . and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.
November 23, 2012
All sermons referred to in my series are now up on the companion website.
All sermons referred to in my series are now up on the companion website. Whereever possible, sermon audio has been augmented with that sermon's thumbnail graphic, powerpoint presentation, and notes page to fill in while listening/clicking through the slides. Due to the age of this material, not all these aides were retrievable, but they are present where available. The following chapters and corresponding Volumes have sermon audio:
Chapter Three Volume One
Chapter Four Volume One
Chapter Five Volume Two
Chapter Six Volume Two
Chapter Nine Volume Three
Chapter Ten Volume Four
Chapter Eleven Volume Five
Chapter Twelve Volume Five
There is a total of 17 sermons spread between these locations. Each sermon is roughly 30 minutes or so in length. For group leaders, this wasn't mentioned in the first printing of The Leader's Guide as I didn't know the sermons would be available at the time the Guide was printed. However they are now mentioned in the first revision of this guide. Feel free to use these sermons during your weekly meetings as additional resource material to discuss with your group as they prepare for the coming week's homework. You will need to pick out in each chapter where the sermons are mentioned, and then decide how they might best fit into your group sessions. The powerpoint presentations have been converted to flash, and they can be expanded full screen with a right-click on the flash presentation itself. Notes pages can be printed off to hand out for additional written reinforcement of concepts being shared.
The PDF version of this guide is now updated as of 10pm November 23, 2012. The paperback edition is in the process of being updated and will once again be available for purchase in the next few days.
Remember, only those who have purchased the series have the URL for the companion website. Anyone else who finds it without having purchased the series will not find the website very useful. It is meant to be used in conjunction with the series, as a resource for subject matter in the series itself.
November 17, 2012
Upcoming Christmas Events: "12 Days of" Pinterest Party and Story-telling Blog Tour
Who doesn't love a story at Christmas? Who remembers picking up a sword and pretending to be a knight riding the wooden stick horse? Who remembers putting on a tiara and pretending to be a princess? Who remembers sitting at the foot of someone's chair as they read to us special stories at Christmastime?
"Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey" will be celebrating Christmas by sharing such stories in two very different venues over the 12 days leading up to Christmas this year!
#1) Pinterest Party!
#2) "12 Days of" Christmas Story-telling Blog Tour!
Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey has 14 chapters in it, spread across 6 volumes. Each chapter begins with a story segment. Chapter One begins with my own and will not be featured on this tour. Chapter 14's story segment was just featured on a blog tour that wrapped up November 16th. http://traveller-gal.blogspot.ca/2012/11/special-feature-royal-wedding.html So it won't be featured on this tour either, although it will be linked to at the end of Chapter 13's story segment on Day 12, which will be Christmas Eve. 12 story segments in all.
Both of these events will begin on December 13th so that they end on December 24th.
To join the Pinterest Party, please visit this link: http://pinterest.com/pin/421227371367157542/ and leave a comment. Over 20 people have already expressed interest so far. Your name will be added to each day's board, the night before.
To join the Christmas story-telling "12 days of" Blog Tour, please send me a message or reply to this note, that you'd like to feature one of the story segments found in this series. I have one blogger so far, but need 11 more.
I look forward to seeing you over the Christmas holidays!
