Monday, March 16, 2015

Visible Christianity

Marianne Evans
“You can praise God by peeling a spud, if you peel it to perfection. Don’t compromise. Compromise is the language of the devil.” Quote from the movie Chariots of Fire

“Do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

“A Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes but by making good shoes.” Martin Luther


As I journey through Lent, I've been thinking a lot about my faith walk. My mission field as a writer encompasses a great deal of that focus. I tend to write about characters one might refer to as visible Christians. What does that mean? Well, they spend their lives as part of the public eye. When the spotlight shines, I discover they’re not only committed to their faith, they declare it with confidence.

I’m passionate about music and its impact on the spirit, so a number of my books center on musicians and singers, the agents and producers who help them ‘spread the Word.’ But what I’ve noticed as I create these stories is the underlying theme of being bold. Being courageous, even in the face of failure. Trusting God even in the face of self-doubt, or when they must live out the ideals they hold to when it’s difficult...when it hurts.

In a way, I wonder if God isn’t sending me along this writing path in answer to some of the disturbing trends I see in our information driven, media-saturated and increasingly (disturbingly) secular culture.

I see such a need a return to Christian truth and roots. I sense so many people crying out for better things than this world can ever deliver. I hope visible Christianity—in books, on TV, in the movies—will touch hearts and create a revolution.

Everything circles back to relationship. What can I do for God? How can I further His mercy and loving reach? Whether we’re in the mainstream media or not, each and every one of us are created special and precious. We all have a vital role to play in spreading the Gospel. We all have a responsibility to be…visible.

The quotes I’ve shared at the top of this post have helped me maintain focus as I come to realize I don’t have to do ‘huge’ things by the world’s standards. I need only to bloom where God places me, in the people he delivers to my life.

How about you? How are you choosing to live out your faith? How are you encouraging others toward God and Christ? I’m praying for you!

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Happy reading!

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Marianne Evans is a multi-award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction with over twenty titles to her credit. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create.

Readers laud her work as: ‘Riveting.’ ‘Realistic and true to heart.’ ‘Compelling.’ Devotion, earned the prestigious Bookseller’s Best Award from Greater Detroit RWA as well the Heart of Excellence Award from Ancient City Romance Authors. She also earned wins for Best Romance from the Christian Small Publisher's Association and the Selah award for best Novella.

Happily married and the mother of two, Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan who is active in a number of a number of Romance Writers of America chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President.

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