Bobbie Ann Cole: Godincidences Vs. Fears

Everyone's Story welcomes author Bobbie Ann Cole. I was introduced to Bobbie and her stirring memoir writing on another blog, which I won her giveaway offer of SHE DOES NOT FEAR THE SNOW. I'm so glad she accepted my invitation to appear here, perfect timing with Easter days away. And speaking about soul stirring, when you have a chance, please check out her blog, Encounters With Jesus. Bobbie has a lot to share with us this week so let's turn it over to this amazing guest. We're both looking forward to hearing from you!

BookGiveaway:

Bobbie Ann is offering 1 copy of her memoir SHE DOES NOT FEAR THE SNOW to 1 commenter. The winner will be announced here on Friday, April 3rd between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment. 

Questions for Bobbie Ann Cole:

In your stirring video you openly speak about God’s call to you and what He has done for you. Yet, many are unable to share these personal stories. Why do you think it’s necessary?

We have to take our courage in our two hands and share our Jesus stories because they inspire and encourage believers and non-believers both. Jesus took me from despair to hope and redemption. He drew me to Himself in miraculous ways. My story of the blessings He showered upon me blesses not only me but all those who hear or read it. 

If your life portrait hung in a museum as an abstract painting, some may interpret it as an enviable snippet of life: nice family life, a wonderful writing career, and reasonable peace. Yet, they might not see the ended business, or marriage, or cancer. Why do you describe this time as comparable to Jonah in the whale’s belly?

The whale swallowed Jonah as he sank down to the bottom of the ocean, drowning. Inside was cold and dark and foul-smelling. Terrified, Jonah must have thought – “This is the end. I’m going to die here.”

He couldn’t see that the whale was keeping him safe and taking him on a journey, not until it spewed him out on a beautiful beach. There, Jonah realized he could start over. In actual fact, however, the fresh start began way earlier, when he was first swallowed up.

This dark period of unseen protection was my story, too. It’s all our stories of redemption. God is at work way before we notice.

God’s a pretty fascinating matchmaker. Please tell us about how your pilgrimage to an Israeli synagogue’s prayer tower led you to meet your second husband?

It was actually a Jerusalem Christian congregation that I found myself in, against my own better judgement. I couldn’t say no to joining my Christian friend and traveling companion for Sunday worship, after she had graciously come to synagogue with me on the Sabbath.

In the prayer tower, I received prophecy that Jesus would take me as His bride and bring me a new husband.

I thought, “That’s not going to happen.”

I had a dire body image after cancer and hadn’t so much as dated in the two years since my long-term marriage had ended.

But it did happen and the path that took me there was composed of miracle after miracle.

I met the man who is now my husband 3,000 miles from my UK home, in Canada. That was where God led me through signs and wonders. I came home from that cup of tea meeting to write in my diary, “I want to marry this man.”

And, though he needed some persuading, that is what I did.

On that note, do you believe in coincidences or that God has a reason for everything?

I believe in Godincidences. Godincidences are when He puts things in place that shift us, either physically, to another place, or mentally, in our attitudes, but things look like they just came together by themselves.

Back to that prayer tower where you’re certain that you received a prophetic message from God. Have you seen various ways He reaches out to others? Do you believe that he calls us all at different times in our lives? What can we do to hear Him more clearly?

I have been truly blessed to hear about some amazing things God has done as I’ve helped others to share their own stories. For instance, Sue Lambropoulos heard from God that He would reunite her with her earthly father, even though she thought at the time that she hated him:

http://testimonytrain.com/i-despised-my-dad/. Elaine Kaley was injured in a car crash that left her with a “Rice Krispie arm”, that the doctor said would be of no further use to her. Yet God healed her completely: http://testimonytrain.com/rice-krispie-arm/.

As to calling everyone to faith, I suspect God does precisely that. But there are many who just do not or will not hear.

To hear God, we have to be open to hearing Him. One sceptic sneered that it was very “convenient” that God should call me when I was at a low ebb, the implication being that I was looking for any old crutch and latched on to Him.

I believe things were the opposite way around: it was because I was needy that God was compassionate, reaching out to lift up my head when He did. 

Where did the title of your memoir, SHE DID NOT FEAR THE SNOW, come from?

The title is a line from Proverbs 31 which describes a “good woman”. She has 22 attributes, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order. “She does not fear the snow for her household,” comes near the middle.

As my marriage ended, I asked to be shown what lay ahead. I saw a pristine field of snow, rimmed by fir trees. I thought this picture indicated new beginnings, somewhere to make footprints, although I might sink into deep drifts. I never for a moment imagined it to be a real picture of my future in the snowy wastes of Canada!

I have to confess that the title is a bit of a fib – I do actually fear the Canadian snow, which can be higher than I am.

Will you be writing any fiction?

I have a fiction book written but it won’t be out until next year because of other projects. The working title of this book is Being Lena Levi. It is 1950. Marlene, 14 ½, comes home from school to find a mother she never knew she had. She thought Mum was Mum and that she was “properly British”.

Mutti, her biological mother, is a Holocaust survivor who is now living on a kibbutz in the newly-formed State of Israel. Mum, thinking Mutti perished in the camps in the War, as so many Jews did, never told Marlene the truth. Now Marlene must choose between two mothers and two lives.

Please tell us about your Training Disciples Indeed course.

We all want to do what Jesus asked us to do, namely tell everyone about what we have found in Him. Our churches would love us to be doing this and helping to grow the Kingdom.

But it’s not easy when people close their ears. Bible verses and theology may be the last thing they want to hear. They may, however, be willing to hear a story, an episode from our lives that demonstrates the love Jesus has for us.

The Disciples Indeed Workbook, available through Amazon, helps us tell our stories powerfully and coherently, as well as offering many suggestions of ways we can share.

I also teach the course through workshops. It will very soon be available as a Program for church leaders to teach as workshops where they are. Watch my http://disciples-in-deed.com page.

For fun: what’s the last book you’ve read for light entertainment?

I have just finished Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. She’s a great writer and the book unfolds in a really compelling way. I was loving it until the end. Sadly, however, that felt like a cop out. I was very disappointed.

Bonus: You can get Bobbie Ann's FREE Story Structure Success Sheet here:  http://testimonytrain.com/#2.   

Bobbie Ann's Ah-hahs To Tweet:

Amazing story: #Memoir author Bobbie Ann Cole @cole_bobbie shares when God called her & what He did. (Tweet This)

Everyone’s Story: Bobbie Ann Cole @cole_bobbie & Godincidences #BookGiveaway (Tweet This) 

Inspirational #BookGiveaway: SHE DID NOT FEAR THE SNOW by Bobbie Ann Cole @cole_bobbie (Tweet This)

Author's Bio:
Bobbie Ann Cole is a writer, speaker and teacher. Her God story, She Does Not Fear the Snow,  is an Amazon #1 bestseller with over 50 reviews worldwide. She is currently working on Love Triangles, her account of her life as a Jewish Christian living in Israel, the Land Jesus loved. Bobbie’s Disciples Indeed Workbook will help you tell your faith story.

Places to connect with Bobbie Ann:
Website
Blog
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Goodreads