I had a horrible day yesterday. Satan isn’t happy that I published, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”
I decided to put my author hat away, and put on a salesman hat. It was time to contact all the local bookstores, and gift shops.
Out the door I went all excited to do God’s calling.
The first place I went to was a small independent Christian book store called, “Wings of the Soul.” I walked up to the store door and turned the knob. It was closed! The store was suppose to open. It was not. I left feeling a little dejected, but moved on to the next place on my list.
The next place was a local pharmacy that had a nice gift shop. I am even close friends with the owner. He was in favor of me putting the book in his store, but he has a shop manager that I needed to contact first.
I went into the shop, and asked one of the staff if I coud meet with the manager. The lady I talked to must of ate nails for breakfast. She blurted out, ” She’s not here.” I asked when she might be back.? “I don’t know!” This went on for a few minutes, and I finally gave her one of my promotional packets, and asked her to give it to the manager. She again blurted out,” I don’t when she may be back! She comes and goes when she wants!”
That was a wonderful adventure, but I am not done yet. I stopped by the city library to set-up a signing there in the future. It was closed!! They close the library on Mondays due to cut-backs.
I had one more stop. It was another independent Christian Bookstore near my home. I met with the owner, and he wouldn’t budge on what he wanted for a discount, and I left a broken man.
I then got home and opened up my email. There was an email from the manager of my local Borders bookstore in Same, Oregon. We have a signing scheduled there on November 6th from 2-4 p.m.
(If any of you life in the Salem, Oregon area, the address of the Borders Bookstore is 2235 Lancaster Dr NE. Go to Mapquest to locate it.)
He said my publisher wouldn’t send him the books he ordered for the signing until he paid upfront. He let me now that he didn’t have the funds in his local budget to pay for 100 books. He only has enough for 35 books.
I emailed him back and said I could provide the 100 books from my own personal inventory of books I had. I hope that works out well.
All in all, a day to be depressed, and wonder where God was. Well, I found out later where God was. I went to my weekly BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) meeting.
Please understand that what was covered in this one meeting wasn’t planned just for me, but when you read some of the quotes form the meeting you will see God was definitely speaking to me.
The topic? Adversity, Trials, and misfortune.
Quotes form the lecture:
“Fear results when you believe your adversity. Faith results when you believe God’s Word.”
“Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:28 ” God causes all those things of adversity in our lives to work to good those who believe.”
” You may give up on God, but He doesn’t give up on you.”
“Be still and now that I am God.”
“God’s presence with me is my solution to fear.”
The final statement by the speaker was this:
“God will be your sanctuary as you will be a SIGN to the world when you fear Him.”
I heard the word “sign,” loud and clear. That word is in the title of my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”
God was telling me to get up, and dust myself off. Get back out there and try again. I am doing that today, so pray that I will be more successful because I have God on my side.
BTW… you can order the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” off of my author site at www.dougbolton.com. If you do you will get an autograph and personal note with the book. When you get to the site, just click on “Bookstore.”
Never give up! Never ever give up!!
