Mary Moments in my Maniacal Martha World

I admit it. I'm so easily distracted. My mind is like a butterfly flittering here and there. Well enough, I say! Today, I am in Alexandria, Louisiana, for the Because of the Times prayer conference.

You should see me at home, though. Here's a typical scenario: Working on a book I walk into the kitchen for coffee where I begin emptying the dishwasher, but notice something on the counter that needs to go upstairs. Before I know it, I have half the laundry out of the dryer (yes, I have upstairs laundry and it's wonderful), but then the phone rings...and if you look back over my trail, you will see the unfinished projects in my wake.

Three hours later I notice the dryer door is still opened, my coffee cup is still in the microwave cold as anything, and the bottom rack of the dishwasher was never emptied. But I probably did go back to my desk and get some writing done. It's my passion! And if you want to know what real passion is, consider this: passion comes from a root word that means to suffer. Passion (true love) suffers. I guess that makes the phrase "the passion of the Christ" make sense, doesn't it? Jesus certainly loved us so deeply He was willing to suffer for us.

Anyway...I am so excited. I left all my books and brochures behind, my writing work, too, to turn away from distraction and responsibilites and submerge in the presence of God. Yes, I'm on my computer today, but it is getting turned off in the morning and I don't plan to get back on for the next three days. Praise God!

While I was here I received a wonderful message from someone who gave her 81-year-old neighbor a copy of Quilting Patches of Life. Her quote follows:

She commented on the comfort she received while reading your book last year as her husband was in his final days.

I also received a note from another saying:

...your ministry to me became a ministry of restoration. I began to feel hope...The more you poured out from your unselfish life, into my very wounded life, the more healing took place...

Folks, it just doesn't get any better than that. Hearing I've impacted the lives of others--well, it's just awesome and makes all the hard work worthwhile.

That's what Affirming Faith is all about: encouraging everyone, wherever they are in their walk with God, to have hope--and also to share the good message that there is always more in God. I know you probably thought I had all this Christianity thing all wrapped up, but no (just kidding BTW). The man or woman at the highest pinnacle in their spiritual walk with God can still learn more and be more for Him.

Sure, I'm hoping for a nice contract on my latest novel (feel free to add that to your prayer list), but the joy of impacting lives for Jesus is far more valuable than earthly gain, and I thank the Lord for the many wonderful opportunities He's given to me.

God's Gonna Shine in 2009!

Don't you believe it? I do! I was sitting at my desk working, and the phrase came to mind... Yes! God's Gonna Shine in 2009! And we are His little lights!

I'm an upbeat person, but also a realist. As I shared breakfast with my husband this morning, in celebration of our anniversary, we talked about our goals and concerns for 2009. There is much going on in our world, but as I looked across the table into his sparkling blue eyes, I realized something.

"I feel happy," I said.

Bill smiled, and we held hands across the tabletop. Although we scaled back on expenditures this holiday, I'd still been so busy I didn't really take the time to "check in" with my emotions, but I realized I was happy.

"Sometimes I'm almost afraid to feel happy, because I know life is going to smack me down again," I said.

"If you're happy," he replied, "or your miserable, the devil's still going to try to smack you down even farther. You might as well choose to be happy."

Sage advice...Thanks, Bill! Now, remember...let your little light shine for Jesus!

Josh Groban's Oh Holy Night/Nativity Video

I know we're all busy, but the four+ minutes it takes to experience this video clip of Jesus' birth is something you won't regret.

Indulge a Mom

My Noelley directed Carol of the Bells at our Christmas for Christ service. It's the first time this group played together, but it was nice. [Click here] to watch on YouTube.

Christmas Prayer Breakfast & Book Signing Event

What a lovely Christmas prayer breakfast the Pastors' & Intercessors' Network Ministry shared this morning[pinmtroy.blogspot.com].

I'm pictured with, Pam Hancock from Zion Christian Church; and the guys are Pastor Bob Cholette from Troy Assembly (who hosted the event), Don Aupperle from Hope Community Baptist and Family Life Radio, and my own dear husband, Bill.

People gathered from several area churches. We enjoyed a great breakfast and wonderful worship. Representation came from the Troy City Council, and we prayed for our community and our leaders.

Last night I was invited to a book signing at Borders in Birmingham for Tom Mooradian, author of "The Repatriate: Love, Basketball, and the KGB." At an afterglow event at Hagopian World of Rugs, a unique dedication was done for the book.

In addition to meeting many wonderful people, I was thankful for the opportunity to address those assembled and tell them about the Armenian projects I'm working on, in particular, Bachik the Birthday Kiss. Although my Armenian husband passed in 1997, I still feel connected with the Armenian people, and as I sign off, I am preparing to make an Armenian dish, cheese borak, with my daughter. We'll freeze them and have them for breakfast Christmas morning...one of our annual traditions.

Detroit Armenian Women's Club

OK...so we didn't actually meet at the Geghard Monastery, but when I think of Armenia, I think of this famous location in Yerevan. I have a book proposal out, a series on world religions, one of which is titled Beyond the Tombs of Yerevan. I've also written an interactive bilingual book in Armenian and English for preschool and early elementary children titled Bachik the Birthday Kiss, and am in process with a middle school book about Armenian twins raised on the Cape in the 1950s, The Pirates of Castle Rock. Check the website in the future for availability of these titles.

Projects and silliness aside, I was pleased to speak at the December meeting of the Detroit Armenian Women's Club, and I thank the ladies for their hospitality, the fine meal, and the opportunity to share my connection with the Armenian community through my deceased husband, our children and my writing. The club is a charitable organization that raises funds for scholarships and relief work for the needy around the world.

For my Armenian friends, “Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand!”