Official Site of Preslaysa Edwards - Preslaysa Williams
Author. Actress. Blasian Gal.
This year, I’m a judge in a contest where published authors submit their books to be read and evaluated. I love participating in these types of contests. It’s a great excuse to read!! I love getting books in the mail! Some people would say I am a bibliophile. I’m just extremely literary. LOL
So, every day, I’m walking to my mailbox looking forward to receiving my books in the mail. It’s like Christmas in the spring!!
If you don’t already know, beginning this January, my Word Wednesday posts are taking a tour through the Bible, searching for each instance where the word “book” is written (in keeping with The Literary Mama theme). Last week’s post featured Deuteronomy 28:58-59 where it talked about the curses which occur as a result of not following God’s Word. While doing my research for this week’s verse, I noticed that the next four verses in Deuteronomy which use the word “book” emphasize this same idea.
Do you think God could be saying something here?
So today, I’ll list the next four verses which use the word “book” in Deuteronomy so you can read them too.
Also every sickness and every plague which, not written in the book of this law, the LORD will bring on you until you are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 28:61, NASB)
The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven. And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law (Deuteronomy 29:20-21, NASB)
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book (Deuteronomy 29:27, NASB)
Next week we’ll pick up with Deuteronomy 30:10
Last week I received brand new knitting yarn in the mail. I love its soft texture and the muted colors. I’ve started using it to knit a sweater for my soon to be one year old son. A part of me feels guilty for not having completed a knitting project for him. The other part of me feels like I’m being too hard on myself. (I’m leaning towards the “being too hard on myself” category!)
I enjoy knitting. I first grew interested in the craft at eight years old. As a youngun’, I checked a knitting book out of the library, bought some yarn and needles and made a simple scarf. In the years since then, I let my knitting fall by the wayside. I recently picked it up again in 2008.
Now, it’s an obsession. Well, not exactly an obsession but the mechanical activity of knitting stitches calms my mind and soothes my spirit. It’s a great way for me to focus, especially when most of my days are filled with juggling multiple tasks at home. When a long stretch of time passed without picking up my knitting stash, I found myself missing my hobby. So, I’ve decided to carve out a half hour a day, six days a week, to knit. That may not seem like a lot but it totals up to three hours a week. Over the course of a year, I can complete a lot of knitting projects with three hours a week. I just needed to stop thinking about the “bigness” of the project and break it down into smaller, more reasonable increments of time. Increments which would fit a busy mother’s lifestyle.
Is there a project that seems overwhelming for you to accomplish? Try breaking it down into smaller time increments. Even fifteen minutes a day can make a great impact. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish as you consistently work at the project in tiny chunks of time.
Every so often, I’ll post pictures and updates on the progress of my knitting projects: starting with this baby sweater. Right now, I have a fresh stash of yarn. I’m excited to see what a half an hour a day can produce.
I’m psyched about today’s author interview on The Literary Mama. Catherine West is the author of “Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” I’m pleased to welcome Catherine to The Literary Mama.
Catherine, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with The Literary Mama. Tell us a bit about yourself.
Sure! I was born and raised on the island of Bermuda, where I still live with my hubby and two-college age kids, when they’re home. J I went to school here and in England, and Canada, where I earned a BA in English from the University of Toronto. We also lived near Toronto for the first seven years of our marriage, which convinced me I’m not cut out for Canadian winters! I love dogs and gardening. I’m pretty shy around strangers, but I love meeting new people and traveling.
Where did you get the inspiration for Yesterday’s Tomorrow?
I first started thinking about this story in the early 80’s. I think movies about the Vietnam era were just getting popular at that time. I wrote an early version of the story, which was shelved for many years, but the idea stayed with me, and when I was ready to tackle it again, I kept most of the main character’s, but the storyline changed completely from that original draft.
What theme(s) did you explore while writing Yesterday’s Tomorrow? What do you hope readers walk away with knowing?
I think the most important theme of the book is forgiveness. Without forgiveness, we really can’t experience healing or any kind of restoration. It’s the first step. Kristin and Luke go through some pretty horrific experiences, so they must find a healthy way to process what they’ve been through. They’re both on their own spiritual journeys as well. Although they don’t always find answers for the tough questions, in the end they realize it is more about the trusting than the knowing. That is what I hope readers will understand. That whether you know it or not, God is always there, and He can be trusted.
How do you balance writing with your daily life?
Not especially well. J It depends on the day. I don’t work outside the home, so I’ve always been fortunate in being able to keep my own schedule. And my kids are both college-age so no more Mom’s Taxi service for me! The only distraction I have now is my two year-old border collie, and he can be a big distraction. JMost days I try to get at least three hours of writing or more in, but I don’t always manage that. And some days I just read. Lately it’s been time spent marketing and filling out interview questionnaires, but that’s fun too!
How did you know you were called to write?
It’s the only thing I’m good at, LOL! Well, I used to paint quite well, but no, I’ve always loved to read and write my own stories from an early age. It seemed like a natural fit. Except for that year when I wanted to run away and join the circus…
Tell us about your upcoming novel, Hidden in the Heart.
Hidden in the Heart is the story of Claire, a young woman going through the grieving process after losing her mom to cancer and suffering a miscarriage days afterward. Claire is adopted, and wonders if somehow she has inherited something that might have caused the miscarriage. She embarks on a journey of discovery to find her birth family, but ultimately to find herself, and receive the healing she is so desperately in need of.
How can readers get in touch with you?
I love to hear from readers! You can reach me at Catherine@catherinejwest.com
Or visit my Website: http://www.catherinejwest.com
or Blog: http://catherinewestblog.blogspot.com
or Twitter: @cathwest
or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-West-Author/157773297594081
Thanks so much for chatting with us today Catherine.
Thanks for having me!
You can order Yesterday’s Tomorrow on March 15th at Amazon and other major online distributors. See OakTara’s Website for a full list.
“If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses. (Deuteronomy 28:58-59, NASB)
I never thought there would be a cost to choosing not to walk with God, but there is.
I learned this the hard way.
I had committed my life to God at age eleven but all through my teens and twenties, I had forgotten Him, choosing to go my own way. I was smart enough, capable enough, talented enough. I didn’t need Him, I figured.
Religion was for the weak willed.
During my sophomore year of college, my choice had caught up with me. All that I had planned to achieve and accomplish in my own strength had fallen by the wayside. I was flunking out of the Ivy League school I had worked hard to get admitted to. My budding acting career was going down the toilet as my acting agency had abruptly closed business. And I was sinking into a deep depression which I couldn’t get myself out of.
At my lowest point in 2001, I cried out to God. I asked Him to forgive me for turning my back on Him. I asked Him to accept me again. And this time around, I knew I would stumble and fall at times, but I asked Him to never let me stray from Him for as long as I have done to date: over a decade.
A decade without Him.
Then, I opened one of my mother’s Bible and my eyes fell on this verse: “You cried out to me and I heard you.” I don’t remember the chapter and verse but it was in the Psalms.
Shocked, I thought: “Maybe God did hear me.”
Afterwards, a co-worker and now friend invited me to her church. It was there I started to regain my relationship with God which I had neglected. I also got married at that church a year later. By God’s grace, I was able to re-enroll at my dream college and graduate a year and a half later. As for the acting career, I haven’t pursued it wholeheartedly because I feel God’s call in this season of my life is to write and be a keeper of the home (Titus 2:4-5). For now, I have great fulfilliment with the work He’s given me.
He’s delivered me in many, many ways.
Yes, there was a personal cost for me turning my back on Him. Sometimes, I wish I hadn’t lost those years but I know if it hadn’t been for His disciplining me during that decade, I wouldn’t value Him as much as I do today. He let everything I had worked so hard for collapse so that I had nothing else to lean on but Him.
I couldn’t lean on an Ivy League degree.
I couldn’t lean on my acting credits.
I had to let go of all my ideas of success.
I could only turn to Him.
“If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses. (Deuteronomy 28:58-59, NASB)
We’re here at the last part of our series on Prayer Journaling! Today, we’ll talk about writing the Word. If you’ve read my post last Wednesday on Copying the Bible, then you know the benefits of writing verses (or even entire books!) of the Bible.
While reading through the One Year Bible, I’ll often see a verse that speaks to me personally. When that happens, I write them down and think about them as I go through my day. I create sections called: ‘Old Testament’, ‘New Testament’ and ‘Proverbs’ In each section, I’ll use verses from the day’s Bible passage and copy it into my notebook.
Easy peasy!
To recap, here’s all the sections I use in my own prayer journal. I got this idea from Becky Tirabassi’s book “Change Your Life”
Part I: Talk to God
1) Praise: I use the psalms.
2) Admit: I confess any sins before God and ask for His help in overcoming bad attitudes and actions.
3) Request: I lay out any specific prayer requests.
4) Thank: I thank God for the recent happenings in my life.
Part II: Listen to God
5) Listening: I write down what I sense God telling me.
6) Old Testament: I write down verses from the Old Testament reading in my One Year Bible.
7) New Testament: I write down verses from the New Testament reading in my One Year Bible.
8 Proverbs: I write down a verse from the Proverbs reading in my One Year Bible.
I hope this series helped you along in your prayer journey. Next Monday, I’ll spend the next few weeks talking about a favorite hobby of mine: Knitting!!
Hey everyone,
If you haven’t already, go out and get a copy of Shellie Neumeier’s book: Driven You can also read the interview I had with Shellie last week.
I hope everyone has a great weekend. On Monday, we’ll finish up our series on prayer journaling. On Wednesday we’ll take a look at Deuteronomy 28:58 and on Friday we’ll showcase author Catherine West.
Blessings,
Preslaysa
“And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them” (Deuteronomy 17:18-19 KJV)
I didn’t know the value of hand writing words of the Bible until I tried it for myself. When I found this verse in the Bible which commands the kings of Israel to do the same, I figured it was very important.
Hand writing bible verses shows you nuances in the words which you may have overlooked by just reading or hearing them. It slows you down and causes you to notice and ponder word choice, meaning and sentence structure. I know this sounds very “school-ish” but by taking the time to slow down, you’ll remember concepts and principles in the Word better. As a result of remembering them, you’ll keep them just as verse 19 states “that he may learn to fear the Lord, to keep all the words..to do them.”
Now, I write verses which stand out to me during my during my prayer journaling time using a One Year Bible. Over a period of months and years, I’ll be transcribing His thoughts over my natural thoughts, much like reprogramming a computer. Try it for yourself and reap the rewards of inscribing His word on your heart.
“And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them” (Deuteronomy 17:18-19 KJV)
