by marian | Jan 13, 2024 | Blog
UpdatesSince the beginning of 2019, I have found myself in an extremely busy season. I have had changes in every area of my life. One of the biggest changes was that I decided to leave behind my career as a professional educator and I took the bold step to go to seminary. The same semester that I graduated, I starting working as a hospital chaplain. Becoming a chaplain is a very fulfilling calling. Daily I have the opportunity to listen to hurting people who share their emotional and spiritual needs with me. Their suffering and heartache is an opportunity for me to be present and extend a listening ear and...
by marian | Oct 8, 2017 | Blog, Uncategorized
I love it when I go to a conference and get to hear a brand new author–at least “new” to me. For me, this year, it was Glenys Nellist. I have to say I wasn’t sure what to expect from her session title, “Retelling God’s Story For Children,” but it was, by far, one of the best sessions I’ve ever gone to. Glenys is genuine and super funny and full of wonderful ideas and tips on writing. I just loved it when she said that we need to have an encourager in order to be a writer. She’s so right. I know this for a fact because I have one. It’s my mom. She is always, I mean always, encouraging me. She tells me that I can do it with God’s help and that He can use my gifts for His glory. Thanks, Glenys, for reminding me of that. And thanks, Mom, for always encouraging me. “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”–I Thessalonians 5:11...
by marian | Dec 25, 2016 | Devotionals
The breathless anticipation of Christmas morning keeps children from falling asleep the night before. They just can’t wait to wake up and find presents under the tree! Once they find their name on a gift, they can’t wait to open it. At last, they tear off the ribbons and wrapping and find out what’s in the box. It’s then that words fail them. A little dance or jumping in the air or uncontrollable giggles might begin to express their happiness. And yet, it is indescribable. This is the joy that characterizes Paul as he remembers God’s indescribable gift of our Savior. How thankful he is that God would give such an extravagant and beyond description gift to save mankind from their sins. This is the most generous gift of all time. It’s a gift that’s undeserved and could never be paid back. When words fail, let us pray that same prayer . . . thank you, Lord. And then may God help us find the words–and the boldness–to proclaim to the world that Jesus Christ is born. But He is not only to be celebrated for coming to earth one Christmas morn long ago, but also for being born anew in our hearts. This rebirth has made all the difference in my life and I pray it has touched yours as well. If you do not know Jesus as Savior, I pray that this Christmas becomes the merriest of Christmases for you as you invite Him into your heart. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to...
by marian | Oct 9, 2016 | Blog
I was so blessed to get to attend the Breathe Writer’s Conference once again this year! The speakers and classes were amazing! One speaker called it a feast and that’s exactly how it felt! I was stuffed full of great thoughts and encouragement! I think it’s going to take me a few days to digest it all! I’d like to share the highlights over the next few days, but the one that stands out is that we need to approach our writing with the view point of a missionary. We don’t have to worry about who will accept it–or not. We are simply called to be faithful in our writing and let the Lord take care of the results! ...
by marian | Sep 30, 2016 | Blog
I will not forget your Word.–Psalm 119:16 I forgot my cell phone today. At times during my day, it was inconvenient to have to use a landline when it would have been so much faster and quicker to just make a call with my cell phone. While forgetting my cell phone was a minor nuisance, forgetting God’s word is another matter. Without it, I lose my sense of direction and don’t know which way to go. With it, I have a clear purpose for living. I need to be intentional about making God’s word the main priority of my life. It’s not really the top priority or one of the top ten on a list of important things to do daily to be successful. Rather, it’s the main one of all. That means everything else in my life is filtered through it. It permeates and saturates all the other priorities so that God’s word infuses every part of my life. It’s kind of like baking a cake. That aroma of an almost-finished cake seeps through the house and fills every room so that it beckons me to find my way to the kitchen and have a slice as soon as it comes out of the oven. That’s how God’s word should overwhelm us with it’s goodness and sweetness. It should have an undeniable impact on literally every aspect of our lives. It’s daily as well as moment-by-moment living that follows the Lord’s ways. It’s constantly abiding within the plan of God. And it organically becomes an overriding influence on my Christian walk so that it all naturally aligns with God’s word. A follower of Jesus that...
