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 | Apr 7, 2016 | Uncategorized
The Pensacola Christian College spotlight reminded me that being in the spotlight is what I do. People know that I get in front of an audience. I perform. That’s basically it in a nutshell. There’s however an important spiritual component to being a Christian musician that’s deeper than this update story and my CD. It goes beyond the lessons I was blessed to learn at PCC. It’s not some secret to being successful that I learned during a lesson. Rather, it’s something that I’ve learned very slowly over the past twenty years since graduating. I’ve learned that in order to have a fruitful life as a Christian, I have to make an effort to have a daily quiet place and time. I have to be serious about cultivating the basic disciplines of prayer, reading God’s word, and being a part of Bible-believing church. While there are more, these are the three bare essentials. If I let one of them go, I begin to see tell-tale signs that my spiritual health is faltering. I need to maintain a close walk with God or I’m not ready for the spotlight. Of course, I can go through the motions, but my performance will lack that power that only the Holy Spirit can grant. I need that power–and I desperately crave it all the time. I’ve learned the hard way that I can’t survive on a diet of Christian “lite” snacks–a quick prayer, a verse on-the-go, and a church service here and there whenever I sort of feel like it. I desire a full and rich relationship with my Lord and Savior. It’s...
