Tuesday Tidbit: Where do you find the guts to climb over or break through or dig under?

Reading time: 55 seconds

Following up on Thursday’s post, Even if I must drag myself on bleeding hands and knees to get there, yesterday David Ramos, Author, spoke to exactly where I find myself:

"The three ingredients for a miracle:

Start where you are

Be thankful for what you have

Give everything you’ve got.

So often we think we’ve hit a dead-end

When in reality, the wall isn’t telling us to turn around.

It’s seeing if we have the guts to climb over

Or break through

Or dig under.

Miracles don’t happen when there are other, safe, more practical options on the table.

They show up for those who have nothing left

The ones who show up in obedience

Raised their arms in courage

And spoke out in faith.

You are not stuck.

When you can’t seem to find a way out

That’s when you need to start paying attention to how God is finding His way in."

And dear Chuck Swindoll—yesterday he, too, encouraged me. He writes:

“If you want to . . . replace excuses with fresh determination and procrastination with tough-minded perseverance, you need discipline. Winners know that disciplined persistence must be a major part of their training. That’s the only way victory becomes an attainable reality rather than a distant dream.”

You and I can do this!

Let's remember God's encouragement:

Don't panic. I am with you.

There's no need to fear for I am your God.

I'll give you strength.

I'll help you.

I'll hold you steady,

keep a firm grip on you.

Isaiah 41:10, The Message

With God’s help—

and with each other’s prayers and practical help—

we can publish our memoirs!

We will publish our memoirs!

Even if I must drag myself on bleeding hands and knees to get there

Reading time: 1 minute, 51 seconds

My memoir should have been in print months ago.

I’ve fought hard to finish this book, keeping my eyes always on the mountaintop—that sometimes-elusive “Published!”—hiking foothills, surmounting rocky outcroppings, enduring loneliness, slogging through inevitable valleys between peaks, persevering despite summer’s heat and winter’s ice.

Standing victoriously on that topmost peak requires a ton of hard work.

Like Vince Lombardi said, “The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.” (Duh. . . .)

It’s a struggle. A fight. Sometimes it’s an all-out war.

And my battle has tuckered me out.

I gave myself a couple of months to catch my breath, to regain strength and enthusiasm.

Now the time has come to throw myself back into this culminating scramble—to tackle the final sheer vertical ascent to that mountaintop.

But technical problems have left me immobilized. I struggle to pick myself up and fight the final challenge, to finish. I’m stuck.

Maybe you’re stuck, too.

A few weeks ago on Facebook, Mick Silva of Higher Purpose Writers wrote, “Mondays can come with a hefty dose of guilt and shame for once again having to concede you don’t have a work completed. . . .”

He nailed it. And the ridiculous thing is that, if I worked diligently, I could have this memoir ready to publish in less than a week!

Yes, I feel the guilt and shame.

But I don’t want to give up!

I want to conquer—to stand atop that mountain peak named “Published!” even if I must drag myself on bleeding hands and knees to get there.

And so I pray a lot, and I cling to God and a number of Bible verses. 

I hope these will strengthen you, too:

• Let’s approach God’s throne boldly and confidently, trusting Him, because there we’ll find mercy and grace to help when we’re in need. Hebrews 4:16
• Help me, O Lord my God! Ps 106:26a
• God is . . . an ever-present help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1
• It is God who strengthens me. 2 Samuel 22:33
• God is my helper, the One who sustains me. Psalm 54:4
• Don’t panic. I am with you. There’s no need to fear for I am your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10, The Message
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
• You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3, GNT

So, Friends, continue climbing those rocky, steep mountains!

Keep praying.

Trust God with all your heart.

With His strong assistance, scale those scary crags.

Clamber.

Persevere.

Prevail.

Triumph!

If you’re struggling to complete your memoir,

let us know how we can pray for you.

Leave a comment below on the blog,

or on Spiritual Memoirs 101 Facebook Page,

or send a private message.

Tuesday Tidbit: How can I best help you write your memoir?

Several times lately I’ve nearly cried when I think of the enormous help I’ve received from so many people in writing and publishing my memoir. Maybe you are one of them. If so, thank you, thank you, thank you!

And then I think of you. How are you doing in writing your memoir?

Every memoirist needs help from others

in writing and publishing a finished book.

I hope I’m one of those helpers.

And that brings me to today’s question:

How can I best help you write your memoir?

What do you need most from Spiritual Memoirs 101?

• lessons on the art and craft of writing?
• specific teaching on what a memoir is and is not?
• tips on revising and editing?
• reminders that your story is important and others need to read it?
• reassurance that writing your memoir is a ministry, a sacred calling, not just a hobby?
• encouragement to begin writing?
• inspiration to continue writing?
• motivation to finish writing and publish?
• other?

I welcome your comments below

or at the Spiritual Memoirs 101’s Facebook Page.

Feel free to also send a private message on the Facebook Page.

In the same way that others have helped me with all of the above, 

and more,

I want to help you write your memoir.

Let me know how I can best do so.