Umbrella of Doubt

Yeah, I know that sounds a little contradictory. Usually umbrellas are meant to protect us from things—not be the thing we need protecting from…

It’s all in perspective.

When I doubt or worry it’s like I’m opening that big fat umbrella and cowering under it—blocking any blessings heading my way. Blocking God’s creativity within me.

Interesting thing about doubt is that is grows quickly with very little nourishment.

Remember the old adage—feed a fever and starve a cold or was that starve a fever and feed a cold? I can’t ever remember.

Either way, I’ve come up with a new one: Feed a hope—starve a doubt.

Next time rough weather fills your life, leave the umbrella…

Turn your face to the sky…

And drink.

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. -- Corrie Ten Boom

Touching His Cloak

I love when a Bible story is so significant that it appears in three of the four gospels. My favorite is the story of the woman who pushed through the crowd to touch Jesus’ cloak. Matthew (9:20), Mark (5:25), and Luke (8:43) all thought the story important enough to add to their gospels.

What awesome faith she had!
She didn’t call out His name. She didn’t rush to get in front of Him, nor did she feel the need to capture His attention.

She simply touched Him. Knowing, with deep-rooted faith, that would be enough to heal her.

Her simple act serves as a reminder that my faith needs to be like hers. Knowing that all I have to do is reach out to Him with absolute faith that He can accomplish anything.

Are you trusting Him with your writing? Your problems? Your family? Your future? Have you touched His cloak in faith that He will fulfill His promise to you?

Reaching for His Robe…

Unlikely Gifts

Sometimes we get gifts that take us a while to figure out that they really are gifts. As a writer, those gifts may be something as simple as an interruption in our writing time to minister to a friend in need or as heavy as a rejection from someone that God knows would not be the right fit.

Once I purchased a laptop and started writing at different locations, little gifts from God seemed to appear everywhere.

Many times, I sit on my back porch to write. It offers a great view and the perfect landscape for those little gifts. A furry bunny. A family of deer. A red fox. Numerous birds. Especially hummingbirds. Often, because I’m fond of Coffee Mate’s Crème Bruleé creamer in my coffee, I’ve had the little feathered kamikazes dangerously close. So close, I've felt the breeze of their wings on my face.

At the park, the giggles of a brother and sister playing on the swings.

At a coffee shop, the gesture of a stranger that perfectly matches the personality of my main character.

At a restaurant, the background music that sets the tone for a difficult scene.

In the den next to the fireplace on a cold, winter morning when sleep is interrupted by the voices that demand their stories be told. In the still quiet morning, the words flow. No restrictions.

Have you received a gift from God while you were writing? If so, please share.

Sometimes it’s in appreciating the little things that keep the big things from overwhelming us.

Genesis Contest Open

So you write fiction and want some awesome feedback? Then may I suggest entering the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Contest.

It’s a deal…

Three critiques from experienced writers - Five if you’re a finalist for thirty-five ($35.00) dollars. Who can beat that?

Polish those first twenty-five pages and get your entries in. Contest deadline is April 15, 2007.

You can enter online at http://www.acfw.com/genesis/

I hope to hear your name called in Dallas at the Annual ACFW Writer’s Conference!

On the Road Again…

Well, seems like God and ExxonMobil has us moving again! Yes, this time to Colorado.

Scott has accepted a position in the Construction department in ExxonMobil’s Piceance Creek location near Rifle, CO.

We’re very excited about the opportunity to live in such a beautiful place. I’m especially excited about living in a location that has FOUR seasons!!! It will be a first for this deep Southern gal. Of course, many of my friends tell me to give them a call after I’ve had to shovel snow for several mornings. They seem to think I’ll change my mind.

Our family will make the “big” move above the Mason-Dixon line sometime next May or June, plans are still pending.

I’ll keep y’all (can I say that up North?) posted…

ACFW Conference

Hello Everyone!

It’s been a very busy and emotional time. I recently returned (Sept 21-24) from the American Christian Fiction Writer’s (ACFW) conference in Dallas. It was an awesome four days of fellowship, learning, worship, and fun! By the time I pulled into the driveway on Sunday afternoon, I was exhausted. In a good way.

ACFW has an annual writing contest for pre-published authors. This year’s contest sported a new name: THE GENESIS.

I entered my manuscript LEGACY OF GRACE back in February of this year. One night in the spring, while ironing clothes, the phone rang. The caller, Ruth Logan Herne the Genesis coordinator for the Women’s Fiction category, informed me that LEGACY OF GRACE was one of the five finalists. When I look back at that night and my total surprise, little did I know that God had amazing things in store. I said a prayer of thanks and returned to the mundane and much despised task of ironing.

In Dallas, the Saturday night awards banquet was done in A+ style. The elegant china, candlelit-clad dining tables, white-gloved waiters, and gourmet meal set the tone for a night of gratitude far beyond my wildest dreams.

LEGACY OF GRACE WON!!!

First place in the Women’s Fiction Category AND…….OVERALL WINNER!!

I still shake my head and wonder if I dreamt the whole thing. It was an amazing night. I can’t remember what I said so I know it was God that carried me through the speech to the 400+ attendees.

I had one day to revel in the elation of the win before I received a phone call from my sister stating that my grandmother had passed away. So, two days later I’m back on the road, this time to Louisiana to say my final goodbye. Although sad for the reason, it was nice to see family members I hadn’t seen in years.

It’s been an emotional tilt-a-whirl. But God has a way of giving us what we need at just the time we need it. And His blessings don’t always lead in the direction that we think.

I don’t know what’s in store for LEGACY OF GRACE or anything else in my future, but I do know that I am content to trust in the One who does.

Praise Him.

Winner of THE RELUCTANT BURGLAR

By JILL NELSON is:

SHEILA MARKLEY!

CONGRATULATIONS, SHEILA!

Thanks to all of you who entered the contest. Next week watch for an interview with:

CAROLYN AARSEN.

Check back in a few days for my exciting story as the ACFW Genesis Winner!

I do ask for your prayers—my grandmother died yesterday. I’m traveling home to Louisiana on Wednesday for her funeral on Thursday.

From Athens to Corinth

How often do we agonize over an anticipated event only to find when the event has come and gone, we’ve wasted time imagining the worse?

That’s what Paul must have felt when he left Athens headed for Corinth. His experiences in Athens were not confidence boosting. They actually zapped his confidence. Few of the Athenians got Paul’s message. They only embraced the fact that this was another way to think. I’m sure the time alone traveling the distance between the two cities provided a lot of quiet time. Paul could have either wallowed in his low self-esteem or brought his concerns to Jesus. We see Paul’s different approach when he addresses the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 we see a Paul totally dependent on Jesus, one who is weak and trembling with fear.

If you’re a writer and the thought of the upcoming ACFW conference makes your knees shake and your palms sweat. Or if you’ve got a gut-wrenching decision you’re struggling with. Or if you’re battling a never-ending foe and are exhausted, remember Paul’s approach to Corinth. It was when he was at his weakest that God stepped in and used him to minister to the Corinthians. Here we see Paul as someone like us. Take heart, if God used a human like Paul with insecurities and self-doubt, he can use you the same way.

Pressing on.

Check out my new author interview with Jill Nelson author of Reluctant Burglar
www.marianmerritt.com

Also you can register to be notified of my blog updates -- enter your email in the box to the right under my profile for blog update notification!

God really does have a sense of humor

And His timing is pretty good too. Friends, it has finally happened. After almost three years of hard work, my manuscript is finished!!

I thought lightning bolts would split through the sky and confetti would fall from the heavens, but alas no such celebration. Just quiet tears in my 10 x 11 office.

Now, the fun begins…rewriting.

Oh yea, why do I think God has a sense of humor?

The laptop I’ve wanted for years is scheduled to arrive today.

He is an awesome God!



Check out my website for Featured Author Trish Perry and hear about her dubut novel, The Guy I'm Not Dating. www.marianmerritt.com

Watching the Tree Limbs Winner!

Congratulations to Margo Carmichael for winning the copy of Mary DeMuth’s debut novel, Watching the Tree Limbs.

Check out my website for an Interview with Trish Perry.

www.marianmerritt.com

Book Review – Watching the Tree Limbs by Mary DeMuth

A rich story of innocence lost and redemption found.

What should be a time of playing with friends and exploring what life has to offer, is filled with fear and shame for nine-year-old Mara. Her tormentor threatens to kill the people she loves, if she reveals his dark secret. So, she doesn’t tell.

With her heart set on finding other secrets of her past, she weaves through the maze of deceit the small Texas town of Burl has kept for much too long. In the process, she discovers her past is firmly embedded in the web of lies some in the town will go to great lengths to keep hidden.

With the help of a dedicated best friend, a mysterious man called Denim, and a mothering housekeeper, Mara finds hope where she thought none existed. She also finds true love under the limbs of a stately pecan tree.

This story is written with words that sing and content that grips. A painful story handled with tenderness and grace. DeMuth has done an excellent job of creating characters that crawl into your heart and beg for attention long after you’ve read their story.

Highly recommend.

To win a copy of Watching the Tree Limbs, visit my website at www.marianmerritt.com and leave your name and a valid email address on my contact page.

Book Review - Just As I Am by Virginia Smith

A delightful read with a profound message.

Virginia Smith has created a memorable character in Mayla Strong. Not because Mayla sports a myriad of hair colors or has jewelry in unordinary places, but because she’s a new Christian trying to be a REAL Christian.

With each struggle Mayla encounters, she turns to God for guidance and finds that He leads her into areas that cause her to grow in her Christian walk. She is a beaming example to those around her.

With a fresh voice and an unforgettable character, Smith tells a story that will have you laughing one minute and in tears the next. With real topics that face today’s young people, we are reminded not to judge by appearances.

Recommend Just As I Am to all ages, but especially to teenagers.

Check out my website’s featured author link to see an interview with Virginia Smith.
www.marianmerritt.com

Happy reading…

Trusting God – His words, not mine

This summer I’ve committed to complete the manuscript I started almost three years ago.

It’s been an amazing journey so far…

I look back and see how much I’ve changed through writing this story. At first I thought I had squandered away valuable time by going back and re-writing the first part of this manuscript. You see, I started writing before I knew a thing about writing. As I learned things, I entered into the editing black hole and stayed there for many months. Every writing book says get the first draft completed then go back and edit. I couldn’t do that…couldn’t move forward knowing how horrible those beginning chapters were. God knew I needed that time to grow. Not just as a writer, but as a Christian. Although far from being an excellent writer or Christian, I have learned much about the craft, but more importantly, I’ve learned much about myself and my God.

Through writing, I’ve learned to rely on God more than ever before. Everything I’d done before came easy. Not so with writing.

It’s hard.

The hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Some days I press on simply as an act of obedience to the One who has called me to do this. I have found that I need to pray before I sit to write. I pray for His words to flow through my fingers and heart. On those days, the words fly. I can’t type fast enough. And while I type, my heart expands because, with gentleness, I’m shown humility. I needed to be at this place in my life to finish this book.

Because it is Him and not me.

How does time fly?

Wow, where did April and May go? The school year is finally over and we're off to a busy summer.

I'm busy working on my self-inflicted deadlines. Promised myself to have my Women's Fiction finished by mid-July. And that's one promise I plan to keep. Unless of course, God has other plans. Which sometimes He does...but until He tells me otherwise, I've planned the next two months of writing time.

Finally have my website up and running, there are still a few "kinks" I need to iron out, but it's a go. Check it out at www.marianmerritt.com. Let me know what you think.

God bless...

“What is said in the OR, stays in the OR”

These were the words of the anesthesiologist as she and my nurse wheeled me back to the operating room. I’d just been given my “margarita cocktail” via IV and she informed me I would be able to answer questions and respond to commands, but wouldn’t remember a thing. Man, talk about blackmail material. Oh, the stories she could tell…

This was last Friday when I had outpatient surgery. Nothing major just something that I should have done a long time ago. But like the leaky faucet and the squeaky door we learn to live with, I just learned to live with my “issues”. After all if you never get those glimpses of feeling great, you really don’t know what you’re missing. Sounds crazy, but that’s the way it’s been for the past year.

During this time I was blessed with the tremendous support of my family, Bible study friends, church friends, and writer friends. I truly felt the prayers of each of you and I don’t think I’ve ever been so at peace.

Especially while wearing a backless gown …

I thank God for the circle of friends He’s placed in my path. It’s wonderful to have such praying faithful women as friends. Your cards, letters, and support meant a lot. Thank you…