AFTER THE PARTY

The artist's reception for my exhibition of paintings was a wonderful experience. I felt so
-- well, so-- maybe "loved" is the word. I was amazed at the number of people who showed up and so encouraged by it all. (A couple of paintings actually sold!)
We rented a truck and brought in my big panel screens for the reception and thenbrought them back the next day because they could get damaged during the month since the show is in a country club with lots of activity.  The large oil painting here of horses charging is about life charging at us -- it's surreal in a way, yet not. I wanted to paint my purple horse which I wrote about in my book, "Angels in Our Lives," and this is how it turned out.
It's an amaing world we live in with all its colors and movement, brightness, and surprises-- I'm grateful every day. Like falling in love for the first time over and over again.

A Solo Exhibition

Getting ready for my solo art exhibition's reception this coming Saturday. I wish I didn't always wait
to the last minute to do things because I'm just now getting invitations out, canyoubelieveit. (I wish my
mom were here. She'd show up for sure. haha) Anyhow, it's an exhibition of about ten or 12 paintings with some of my panels and screens and the reception will be lovely. You're invited, of course.  Here are the details:  When:  Saturday, July 14
             Time:   4:00 - 6:00 PM
              Where:  El Camino Country Club
                           3202 Vista Way, Oceanside, CA  92056

I'm a writer and so painting for me is a deep passion that extends into a place of wordlessness, which I find intoxicating and wondrous. I've never actively tried to sell my art but I've shown paintings in galleries and  restaurants and even on TV, and of course, I've illustrated many books --  but I make my living as a writer
and so painting has been somewhat of a private love affair.  Something I turn to on a daily basis that expresses another side of the writer person. I think back on the happy days in art school when we'd have shows in abandoned houses and barns and do poetry readings on bookstore patios -- 

All Things New

I'm reading a story about a man who was in a terrible car accident and as he crawled out of the wreckage he was suddenly filled with unexpected joy and gratitude at being alive, and the feeling changed him forever.  He emptied himself of his selfish negative habits that had made his life lack-luster and dull, and  miserable. He dumped toxic relationships that supported his misery-- and he entered into a relationship with God  with so much enthusiasm that things around him changed.  Everything in his life changed! I think of Jesus' words, "I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5). 

This man's story touches me. I don't know about you, but All Things New is the attitude with which I want to live, too. It's how I want to live tomorrow, next week, next year, the works.  New and beautiful. Pulsing with life and energy, with enthusiasm and wonder. An interviewer once ended a long book interview with me with, "So Marie, what would you say is your secret to a truly happy life?"  I could have given several responses about faith, about trusting God, about willingness to suffer (a whole other subject) -- but I blurted out, "I live in a constant state of wonder."
He went silent.
 "I've  learned," I said as honestly as possible, " to embrace the art of amazement in a world filled with the wonder of God in all things,"

And it's true. I hope we don't need a tragedy to jerk us awake to the joy of life when everything around us can fill us with wonder. (This morning I had a little party with my washing machine, dancing to its galumping sounds--)  I love 2Corinthians 5:17. Here it is in the Living Translation: "When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same any more. A new life has begun!"

So that's you and me, every day, every day. All Things New in everything around us because we see with new eyes, hear with new ears, think with new minds, and love with new hearts. And we KEEP them new.
Check out my website for "A Word for This Season."  http://www.mariechapian.com/
Love and amazed, Marie

Come and dine the Master's calling ...

Greetings from Chicagoland! It's been an amazing five days so far and I'm praising God for the joyous move of the Holy Spirit and the wonder of His presence in our meetings. Tomorrow I'll be on WMBI from 10:30-11:00 on "This Is The Day." And I have three more meetings & our Part Two All Day Seminar on Tuesday. Its just flat-out fabulous to be here ministering every day. God is calling His children much, much closer to Himself -- I'm seeing miracles.

God is so Faithful!

                                                           It's been a busy time in Marie's writing studio! I hope to finish my new novel by the end of 2012. But my big news today is the John Ramsey book is just out called THE OTHER SIDE OF SUFFERING.  I spent a year working on that book with him and I'm so happy to hear the responses. John was on "Good Morning America" yesterday and "The View" this morning. Tomorrow he'll be on "Inside Edition" and then  "Nightline" on ABC – March 14; "Anderson Cooper" March 16, "Inside Edition" airing March 16 and "CBA This Morning on March 17.  He'll be on Huckabee, Fox News Channel – March 17 & March 18; "Good Morning America Weekend," ABC – March 18; "Starting Point," CNN (formerly American Morning) – March 19, and "Celebration," on  Daystar – March 19, and Table Talk with Joni, "Daystar"  – March 19.

              


And you might want to pick up a copy of PEOPLE Magazine, March 14th when it's issued for a feature story on this amazing man.  It's truly an inspiring story and I hope you'll get a copy of the book.  When you do, let me hear from you.

I received an email today from a woman I prayed for who told me she & her husband thought they were $30,000 in debt to the IRS and it turned out to be $140,000. She said God intervened and completely wiped out the entire debt. She wrote to thank me for praying.   May I just shout a big old, "Praise the Lord"??

Keep an eye on my website www.mariechapian.com because I'm coming to Chicagoland in April, and my itinerary includes  two all-day seminars in DesPlaines and I want to see YOU there!

 

it's 2012!

      Wow, and one of my New Year's resolutions is going to be to keep up with my blog.  The only other resolution I made was to give up sweets.  (This is no biggie for me; I do it all the time.)  However, last night at a college faculty meeting I ate a cookie.  I just up and ate it, just like that.  I didn't even think about it.  It was one of those oatmeal raisin cookies we tell ourselves are healthy. haha.  I've given up sweets for a year at a time and so it's kinda fun actually.  I get to be creative with fruits. (Ixnay on the oatmeal raisin cookies, Marie.)
     Fruit; yes, praise God for fruit.  Which brings to mind the fruit of the Spirit.  I love it that faith is not only a fruit of the Spirit, but a gift of the Spirit as well.  We're covered.  God surrounds us with faith opportunities.  We can never exhaust the subject of faith.  It's new every morning, like His faithfulness.  I feel like meditating on that point right now.
     Well, I'm excited about 2012, are you?  I join the other prophets' words expressing great things for God's children this year.  Great things happen by our agreeing with His will. 
     My book, THE EMANCIPATION OF ROBERT SADLER has been re-released this month.  Oh, please do check it out.  This man, Robert Sadler, sold as a slave when he was a boy of five -- and one of the greatest human beings I've ever known.  His story is amazing.  You can get it on Amazon or buy it from me -- just go to my website, www.mariechapian.com --  It's also in Christian bookstores everywhere, published by Bethany House.
     And the book I wrote with John Ramsey comes out next month.  Talk about a modern day Job.  He's the sweetest, kindest man who ever walked the earth -- and the father of the little beauty queen, JonBenet Ramsey who was murdered in their family basement the day after Christmas in 1996.  The name of the book is THE OTHER SIDE OF SUFFERING.  It's a must-read book. 
     If Robert Sadler and John Ramsey can overcome, we can too.
     Praise God, it's going to be a great year of overcoming and prevailing and fulfilling the will of God.  Agreed?
     Love, Marie