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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Click to tweet!

What’s a visible Christian?

Talking about faith in action at Seriously Write!

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Have you heard about the extraordinary event happening at Pelican Book Group? Throughout the season of Lent, every single e-book in their catalogue is FREE. No strings attached. From now until April 2nd, please download and enjoy these incredible Christian stories of all lengths and sub-genres. For more information, click right here: www.pelicanbookgroup.com.

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.

Connect with Marianne:

Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Pinterest

Renewal by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

I looked at the calendar the other day and nearly dropped my freshly poured cup of coffee. Lent is almost here, the season that leads us fast and sure toward the celebration of Easter. I find it difficult to believe how fast the seasons change and the years go by. Didn’t I just put away the Christmas decorations?

This transitional time of year always amazes me, filling me with hopeful promise. Days are lengthening, temperatures will soon be warming, flowers will push through the formerly snow-hardened earth and spring will bloom in a riot of bright colors, rich scents and sunlight.

Lent. Typically it’s a season of sacrifice, of doing without. This year, I’m embracing a different kind of challenge. Sure, I could give up chocolate. I could surrender my beloved bowl of stovetop popcorn, or abstain from eating out and give the money I save to charities around my hometown of metro Detroit. All those endeavors are noble and worthy forms of self-denial and penitence.

Or, I could do what Jesus did during His time in the desert, when he was faced with incredible temptations. He embraced a spiritual discipline. He prayed. He moved deep within Himself and surrendered in earnest to the only thing that mattered—relationship with God, His Father. Prayer. It’s the most powerful (and probably  most underutilized) tool in my arsenal. I want to pray, to fortify. God’s presence, His Spirit fuels my writing ministry, imbues my family and friend relationships, leads me to stillness where I can make important and ordained decisions. Why do I hesitate to make use of that miraculous grace? That connection to Jesus? Lent, it seems to me, is a great means by which to reconnect and discover an answer.

I can’t send a message through stories without God holding my pen. I can’t commune with God in an intimate, personal way without prayer. Over the forty days to come, I’m committing myself to renewal, to peace and rest in the One who guides my path.

How about you? What’s your Lenten ideal? I’d love to hear about it, and I’ll be happy to pray for your mission as I pray for my own.

Click to tweet!

Think about making Lent 2015 a journey of renewal.

Prayer…the most powerful tool in our arsenal.

What’s your Lenten plan?

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Ethan Miller’s family has done…what?

His profile is plastered on MingleInFaith.com. Now this career focused, happy-to-be-a-bachelor is forced to endure an episode of speed dating.

Interior designer Natalie Gibbs is on the dating circuit, eager to find ‘the one,’ but she has strict rules about the manner in which she’ll embrace a romantic relationship. She wasn’t even supposed to meet Ethan Miller, but God had other plans.

Ethan spends a month each year in Honduras, offering eye care to the underprivileged. He senses a sweetness to Natalie that prompts him to invite her along on the next mission trip.

The voyage leads them far from their home base of New York City, but straight into the hearts of the Honduran people. Slowly, Ethan’s heart is swayed toward the idea of love. But Natalie’s mission work teaches her about a love that reaches far beyond romance.

What’s God’s plan? Should their hearts combine – or does He want them to serve, and learn, from one another and an extraordinary date night?

Date Night, is part of the new Pure Amore imprint at Pelican Book Group! Pure Amore is a ‘book of the month’ subscription service featuring Christian romances centered on the concept of premarital purity and abstinence that doesn’t surrender one moment of the thrill to be found when two people fall in love. Check out Date Night and the other wonderful Pure Amore titles at: http://pure.pelicanbookgroup.com/

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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 as the Heart of Excellence Award from Ancient City Romance Authors. She also earned wins for Best Romance of 2012 from Christian Small Publisher's Association and the Selah award for best Novella of 2013.

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

Connect with Marianne at:

Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Pinterest