Marlene is offering one copy of her powerfully helpful, non-fiction WRITE HIS ANSWER to one randomly chosen commenter. The winner will be announced here on Friday, April 11th, between 5-6 PM EST. For convenience, please leave your contact information within your comment. Thanks!
Only God . . . by
Marlene Bagnull
If
anyone had told me when I was growing up that one day I would have a writing
and speaking ministry, I would have said, “A loving God would never do that to me!”
I
hated English in high school, and I was terrified of the public speaking class
we were required to take. Still, I couldn’t shake the call I felt to full-time
Christian service. After reading the entire New Testament in King James
English, I searched the shelves of my local library for Christian novels. Back then
they were scarce. I devoured The Robe
and read Taylor Caldwell’s Tender Victory
at least five times, never dreaming that one day I would write words that
others would read.
The more
real Jesus became to me, the more I longed to share Him with others. But how?
Where? Certainly not in the halls of my high school. I read about the exploits
of missionary evangelists. Yes! That’s what I would become. I would go to a
remote jungle and boldly preach
the gospel. It obviously didn’t connect that I’d have to speak!
I
knew I’d need a college education. Hopefully it would help me overcome my huge
inferiority complex. My parents did not support my decision. “What makes you
think you’re college material?” they scoffed. Evidently the people in the
admissions office of my top choice colleges agreed. Finally, a little Bible
college down south accepted me.
Meanwhile,
I had fallen in love with a sailor. When he broke up with me, I was devastated.
“Okay, God,” I sighed. “This must be confirmation that you do want me to go to
college unless – unless You bring Paul back into my life.” He did! And I said
yes when Paul asked me to marry him over fifty years ago.
I’ve
never regretted my decision or ceased to be amazed at the way God has worked
out His plans for my life despite my self-doubts. For years I felt ashamed that
I was only a high school graduate. I questioned how He could use me. It was
easy to believe the lies of the evil one that I was not smart enough or good
enough.
Still
the call to ministry never went away. Ever so slowly I began to believe God’s
promises and to step out in faith to do things I was not qualified to do. I
clung to the words of the apostle Paul. “When I am weak, then I am strong – the
less I have, the more I depend on him” (2 Cor. 12:10 TLB).
Today,
I’ve made over 1,000 sales to Christian periodicals and published nine books
including Write His Answer–-A Bible
Study for Christian Writers that has been in print for twenty-four years.
I’ve watched the Lord expand my ministry of writing and speaking, in
Ephesians 3:20 ways.
Thirty-one
years ago He led me to begin the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers
Fellowship. He didn’t tell me that this ministry would grow into a three and a
half day conference or that fourteen years later He would call me to direct the
Colorado Christian Writers Conference. I’m sure I would have run the other way!
After all, I wasn’t qualified. I’m still not. But I’m learning that “I can do
everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and
power” (Phil. 4:13 TLB).
What
is holding you back from becoming all God is calling you to be and to do?
Marlene's Ah-hahs To Tweet:
Everyone’s Story: Meet Marlene
Bagnull, author & Christian writers conference director. (Tweet This)
Everyone has a story: how
Marlene Bagnull overcame inferiority complex to achieve her goals. (Tweet This)
Marlene Bagnull: what is holding
you back from success? #BookGiveaway (Tweet This)
Author's Bio:
Marlene Bagnull is the author of
five books including Write His Answer: A
Bible Study for Christian Writers and the compiler/editor
of four other books. She also has made over 1,000 sales to Christian
periodicals. Marlene has given her Write
His Answer and Get Your Book in Print
seminars over 50 times around the nation in addition to serving on the faculty
of over 75 Christian writers’ conferences. She teaches At-Home Writing
Workshops, freelance edits, leads two critique groups that meet in her home,
and helps Christians publish affordably and professionally through Ampelos
Press. She has directed the Colorado Christian Writers Conference since 1997
and the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, which she founded, since
1983. In 1999 she received an honorary Doctor of
Letters. All she could say was, "Wow! Only God could take someone who felt
as inadequate as I did (and often still do) and make all this happen.”
Places to connect with Marlene:
