I'm someone who treasures old friendships. If you and I knew each other in grade school, I promise I'll be the most faithful friend ever. If we were pals twenty years ago and lost touch and we re-connect, I'm a pal forever.
Which reminds me of a funny story. I met a guy a while back who was born in the same hospital at the same time as I was. His mother and mine were in labor together. He insisted since we knew each other from the womb we were destined for each other. (There's a new line for you! Ha!)
I hold friendships very close to my heart, and it's probably because I'm a public person and people tend to come and go in my life. My dear friend Becky, for example, who was my best friend when we were raising our children will always be precious to my heart, and we're close to this day. My dear friend Judy, who was my friend when I was in Bible college in Chicago, remains one of my closest friends, as well as so many others, like Doris, who has remained close through all the years, and Lorraine who I love like a sister ever since we met at Moody Bible Institute--
And just yesterday I reuinited with a beloved friend from my days in New York City as an aspiring actress. Peggy was, and is, a jazz singer and we were best friends while we were working our way to the "top." When I got married I decided to leave show business, and I lost touch with Peggy. What a fantastic blessing from God to bring us together again. She loves the Lord and I feel so honored to have such a long-lasting and endearing friendship.
I love new friendships too, of course-- and must warn you, if you're a new friend-- you better get used to me because I take friendship seriously. If I call you "friend" you'll be forever important to me.
And by the way, the guy who said we knew each other from the womb? He married one of my best friends from high school.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
A SWEET JESUS DAY
I always tell my kids on the way to school or wherever, "Have a sweet Jesus day," and then at the end of the day I ask them, "Did you have a sweet Jesus day?" In the morning, "Did you have a sweet Jesus sleep?"
Do you know, they have never, ever answered No. It's always Yes. Never No.
I've come to the conclusion it is just impossible to have a bad Jesus day. I mean, when you've been blessed and prayed over and loved into the Kingdom, how can the day be "bad?" Well, that's not to say we have no trials or troubles, but a sweet Jesus day takes the sting out of trouble, takes the ouch out of sorrow or pain.
I've just finished writing a book about the most extreme suffering I've ever heard of in an American family, and yet I can see the sweet Jesus day occuring in their lives through it all. (I'll tell you more about this book in later blogs) I'm also preparing "The Emancipation of Robert Sadler" for re-publication, and working on that book with its horrors of slavery is utterly wipe-outsville, and my tears are rusting out my keyboard-- yet again, through it all, there's a Sweet Jesus Day. Victory, joy and the power of overcoming and prevailing in Christ Jesus.
So have a sweet Jesus day, dear one-- and when you sleep tonight have a sweet Jesus sleep.
You're very much loved.
Love, Marie
Do you know, they have never, ever answered No. It's always Yes. Never No.
I've come to the conclusion it is just impossible to have a bad Jesus day. I mean, when you've been blessed and prayed over and loved into the Kingdom, how can the day be "bad?" Well, that's not to say we have no trials or troubles, but a sweet Jesus day takes the sting out of trouble, takes the ouch out of sorrow or pain.
I've just finished writing a book about the most extreme suffering I've ever heard of in an American family, and yet I can see the sweet Jesus day occuring in their lives through it all. (I'll tell you more about this book in later blogs) I'm also preparing "The Emancipation of Robert Sadler" for re-publication, and working on that book with its horrors of slavery is utterly wipe-outsville, and my tears are rusting out my keyboard-- yet again, through it all, there's a Sweet Jesus Day. Victory, joy and the power of overcoming and prevailing in Christ Jesus.
So have a sweet Jesus day, dear one-- and when you sleep tonight have a sweet Jesus sleep.
You're very much loved.
Love, Marie
Friday, February 4, 2011
DO YOU LOVE TO READ?
I read a survey taken recently to see which cities in the USA were the most well-read. Guess what the two top cities were. -- New York City and Minneapolis, Minnesota. This just confirms my personal theory that when the weather is bad we tend to become more cerebral. Blizzards and snow storms inspire us to read, to study, to learn something. At least that's my thought. (I wonder if the bookstores and libraries are packed with readers now that these winter storms are hurtling about the nation.) Me, a transplanted Minnesotan/New Yorker, to live in Southern California where it doesn't snow, I find it amazing at the huge number of readers I encounter. With the beach calling and the surf boards glistening, there are still vast numbers of readers curled up in well-lighted corners with a book. Granted, we're surrounded by colleges and universities and book clubs on every corner, but isn't it something that in a part of the country known mainly for its year-round tans and Mexican food that people are reading?
I like to read after dinner and before bed. The only problem with that is if I'm really engaged in a book, I'll read into the wee hours and my schedule will become skewed. The other night I was re-reading THE EMANCIPATION OF ROBERT SADLER, and when I looked up, it was 5:30 in the morning! (And it's not just because I wrote the book either! Ha) BTW, The book is coming out again next January, and I couldn't be happier. This story has to be heard again.
As a writer, I read all the time, of course. I read for the sheer love of words. One book that kept me up late is THROUGH IT ALL HE WAS THERE by Sharon Libby, who writes about her life in a wheelchair as a post-polio victim. She's a friend and a beautiful person, and I highly recommend her book. You can order it directly from Sharon at http://www.sharonlibby.com/
I hope we meet in a book! I love hearing from you.
Love, Marie
I like to read after dinner and before bed. The only problem with that is if I'm really engaged in a book, I'll read into the wee hours and my schedule will become skewed. The other night I was re-reading THE EMANCIPATION OF ROBERT SADLER, and when I looked up, it was 5:30 in the morning! (And it's not just because I wrote the book either! Ha) BTW, The book is coming out again next January, and I couldn't be happier. This story has to be heard again.
As a writer, I read all the time, of course. I read for the sheer love of words. One book that kept me up late is THROUGH IT ALL HE WAS THERE by Sharon Libby, who writes about her life in a wheelchair as a post-polio victim. She's a friend and a beautiful person, and I highly recommend her book. You can order it directly from Sharon at http://www.sharonlibby.com/
I hope we meet in a book! I love hearing from you.
Love, Marie
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
MAKING CHANGES FOR THE NEW YEAR!
Wow. I just had arthoscopic knee surgery for a torn medial miniscus. If you ever have to have surgery, this is the one to have. I was on crutches one day and walking the next, taking stairs the next and out with the dogs in four days -- not without limitations, of course, nor some pain, and I did a lot of work in my Sofa Office. haha -- but I'm pretty much back to normal and it hasn't been quite two weeks yet. (No marathons this month.)
My only marathons are book deadlines. I can't wait to tell you about the book I just finished, but since it takes a whole year before it comes out, I might as well wait. Now I'm clearing my desk to begin the next deadline.Some people might not think it's all that thrilling to spend endless hours day and night alone in a room writing, but to me it's the most exciting life. I've taught college fiction, poetry and screen writing for a number of years, and now I've taken off to concentrate soley on the books God has given me to write.
I sometimes miss the students, but then I also miss my former patients from when I was doing counseling full-time, too.
Oh life is full of changes, isn't it?
Which brings me to the subject of change. The number eleven, as in 2011, means transition, and that means change. We are going to be making changes in our lives, in our choices, in our mindsets, and even in direction throughout the coming year.
We can be in charge of those changes by being aware, first of all, of what needs change in our lives. Once we set our minds to make changes that honor God and His Kingdom, He will send angels and His Holy Spirit to make sure we succeed. Also, we're going to see changes that God initiates, and they will be for our good and for His good. The past is over and gone; we are on to new things in God.
"My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish My good pleasure..."
(Isaiah 46:10b)
A hundred million blessings,
Marie
My only marathons are book deadlines. I can't wait to tell you about the book I just finished, but since it takes a whole year before it comes out, I might as well wait. Now I'm clearing my desk to begin the next deadline.Some people might not think it's all that thrilling to spend endless hours day and night alone in a room writing, but to me it's the most exciting life. I've taught college fiction, poetry and screen writing for a number of years, and now I've taken off to concentrate soley on the books God has given me to write.
I sometimes miss the students, but then I also miss my former patients from when I was doing counseling full-time, too.
Oh life is full of changes, isn't it?
Which brings me to the subject of change. The number eleven, as in 2011, means transition, and that means change. We are going to be making changes in our lives, in our choices, in our mindsets, and even in direction throughout the coming year.
We can be in charge of those changes by being aware, first of all, of what needs change in our lives. Once we set our minds to make changes that honor God and His Kingdom, He will send angels and His Holy Spirit to make sure we succeed. Also, we're going to see changes that God initiates, and they will be for our good and for His good. The past is over and gone; we are on to new things in God.
"My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish My good pleasure..."
(Isaiah 46:10b)
A hundred million blessings,
Marie
Monday, December 6, 2010
Christmas/Chanukah Beauty
I'm celebrating the artistry of God; how magical is His creation. Today as I was walking a hiking trail I found a long patch of wild lavender and the aroma swept me away. I wanted to lie down in it (the bees may not have apreciated that. haha) Lavender not only has the sweet purple blooms, but the delicious calming aroma. Just breathing in the lavender was like taking a journey into a place of sweet peace. Then as I walked further I found wild fennel and wild rosemary. I plucked a couple sprigs of rosemary and leaves of fennel and hiked carrying them under my nose breathing in their pungent freshness like someone intoxicated. Even the scrub and the cactii seemed to glow in the shards of light between the barren branches of trees surrounding the trail. I like hiking hills because I like the workout, but the real thrill is the splay of sun on my face, the perfumes of the wild, the sound of birds, wind and silence-- and the solitude with God. The trail is my sanctuary.
But then I could say wherever I am is my sanctuary-- the writing studio, the easel, the car, the gym, wherever, because where we are, God is, right? Right. How blessed we are to be able to tap into His wonders and experience His creation.
Of course, we're all stunned it's already the Christmas season, and you should see the decorations and lights on the homes around here. Lighted reindeer with bobbing heads, giant blow-up snow men, forests of lighted plastic Christmas trees, santas on roofs, lights dripping from every eave and window ledge; singing mailboxes, oh it's a wonder. Me, I usually get into the spirit with a wreath on the door, pointsettas on the steps, but it always seems the Christmas season happens when I'm in the middle of a writing deadline or else in the throes of school finals, and it takes me a while to get into the mode. I love Jesus 365 days a year, and celebrate the glory and beauty of His birth 365 days a year, but Christmas involves a ton more responsibilities and work, doesn't it? I look forward to the day when December shows up on the calendar and I don't have a thing to do all month except prepare for, and enjoy Christmas (in another lifetime, right?).
Have you ever found yourself still shopping on Christmas Eve? And then, don't forget Chanukah, December 1-9. We light the first candles on Day One. This is such a wonderful holy time, so much less stressful, and so beautiful. We sing, we play the dreidel, we give gelt to the children (so they learn how give) and we dance-- and we EAT. Oi vay, we eat very oily food, and also dairy food.
I'd love to hear how you handle this season; I mean the stress of it. Do you recognize Chanukah? Ae you ready for Santa? How is Jesus (Yeshua) treating you? I'm sending you sweet peace and love--
But then I could say wherever I am is my sanctuary-- the writing studio, the easel, the car, the gym, wherever, because where we are, God is, right? Right. How blessed we are to be able to tap into His wonders and experience His creation.
Of course, we're all stunned it's already the Christmas season, and you should see the decorations and lights on the homes around here. Lighted reindeer with bobbing heads, giant blow-up snow men, forests of lighted plastic Christmas trees, santas on roofs, lights dripping from every eave and window ledge; singing mailboxes, oh it's a wonder. Me, I usually get into the spirit with a wreath on the door, pointsettas on the steps, but it always seems the Christmas season happens when I'm in the middle of a writing deadline or else in the throes of school finals, and it takes me a while to get into the mode. I love Jesus 365 days a year, and celebrate the glory and beauty of His birth 365 days a year, but Christmas involves a ton more responsibilities and work, doesn't it? I look forward to the day when December shows up on the calendar and I don't have a thing to do all month except prepare for, and enjoy Christmas (in another lifetime, right?).
Have you ever found yourself still shopping on Christmas Eve? And then, don't forget Chanukah, December 1-9. We light the first candles on Day One. This is such a wonderful holy time, so much less stressful, and so beautiful. We sing, we play the dreidel, we give gelt to the children (so they learn how give) and we dance-- and we EAT. Oi vay, we eat very oily food, and also dairy food.
I'd love to hear how you handle this season; I mean the stress of it. Do you recognize Chanukah? Ae you ready for Santa? How is Jesus (Yeshua) treating you? I'm sending you sweet peace and love--
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Alone with God
The Lord is doing a new thing and He wants His children in on it. I am in a set-apart place, away from the mainstream, separate from the loudness of the world and its busy-ness. It's a place of quiet and work. I'm writing my new book, alone with God and my work-- but I'm not without trials. Constant interruptions, problems surround me left and right, yet I feel in the midst of all storms I can create my own private sancutary and retreat. We don't always need the bucolic bliss of solitude beside a mountain stream, or a month at the seashore-- we can create our own retreat in the midst of the storm, like the cleft of the rock. I think I'd like to name my writing studio "Cleft of the Rock." I've been calling it my Upper Room, but it's more than that. My Upper Room has congealed to the size of a pocket cleft, yet by the Spirit of God, embraces the entire world.
I can do nothing without Him. The truth is, I don't want to do anything without Him. How foolsih would that be? I'm accustomed to separating myself from the world and locking myself away with the Lord Jesus alone-- this is nothing new-- yet, somehow this time set apart from the world around me, it feels fresh and new, like it's the first time I ever fasted and prayed. I miss the woods and the hills and the sunrises and sunsets, but up here in my attic studio, I am with Him, alone with Him, and that's better than anything.
I can do nothing without Him. The truth is, I don't want to do anything without Him. How foolsih would that be? I'm accustomed to separating myself from the world and locking myself away with the Lord Jesus alone-- this is nothing new-- yet, somehow this time set apart from the world around me, it feels fresh and new, like it's the first time I ever fasted and prayed. I miss the woods and the hills and the sunrises and sunsets, but up here in my attic studio, I am with Him, alone with Him, and that's better than anything.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
I've been travelling this past weekend-- and I've seen enough of airplanes and airports to last me at least two weeks (when I travel again)-- I have been working off-and-on at a collection of travel stories and one of them deals with the way people eat when away from home. Have you ever noticed the truck loads of junk food in airports and the hoards of people gobbling it up? I wonder if we don't just lose our minds when we're between two points. It's somewhat the same when when we're on vacation. (not that I'm EVER on vacation! I'm not sure what that means--) But I've noticed when I'm in a town speaking or when tourists come to our town, anything goes in the food department. "Pass the junk, I'm temporarily insane," seems to be the credo. I can usually tell the locals because they're the ones eating salads and no dessert. The tourists are packing away the deep fried fish and mud pie.
I had long airport delays and lay-overs this trip, and when I realized I had to eat something I found myself in that vacant-head mode and ordered food I simply NEVER eat. (I'm a sort of a quasi-health food guru-- you know, the carrot-carrying party-poop with celery in her ears and everything organic and whole grain?--) So there I am in the Travers City airport with three hours to kill and I'm eating cherry pie. (The last time I ate cherry pie was probably when I was four.) I had to run to find a mirror to see if I was the same person. I had a sudden craving for french fries and I noticed everyone around me was wolfing in unhealthy, greasy, sugary, gluey food too-- faces empty, eyes stuck to screens of past football games on the many TV monitors. I tell you, travel is not just about getting from here to there, it's about maintaining a sense of self and purpose. I said no to the french fries, bought a bottle of water (a 10cent bottle of water is $3.49 in airports-- don't get bitter) and found a seat in the boarding area to work on my book.
The book I'm currently working on is a true story-- heart-wrenching and shocking. I'll tell you all about it as soon as I'm nearing its completion. Please pray for me-- send up a "Help her, Jesus" as I plug away on it.
Here's sending you love and health and good choices--
I had long airport delays and lay-overs this trip, and when I realized I had to eat something I found myself in that vacant-head mode and ordered food I simply NEVER eat. (I'm a sort of a quasi-health food guru-- you know, the carrot-carrying party-poop with celery in her ears and everything organic and whole grain?--) So there I am in the Travers City airport with three hours to kill and I'm eating cherry pie. (The last time I ate cherry pie was probably when I was four.) I had to run to find a mirror to see if I was the same person. I had a sudden craving for french fries and I noticed everyone around me was wolfing in unhealthy, greasy, sugary, gluey food too-- faces empty, eyes stuck to screens of past football games on the many TV monitors. I tell you, travel is not just about getting from here to there, it's about maintaining a sense of self and purpose. I said no to the french fries, bought a bottle of water (a 10cent bottle of water is $3.49 in airports-- don't get bitter) and found a seat in the boarding area to work on my book.
The book I'm currently working on is a true story-- heart-wrenching and shocking. I'll tell you all about it as soon as I'm nearing its completion. Please pray for me-- send up a "Help her, Jesus" as I plug away on it.
Here's sending you love and health and good choices--
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