My New Book: The Ultimate Girls' Body Book!

Publication Update: My new book, The Ultimate Girls' Body Book: Not-So-Silly Questions About Your Body, released in January! Published by Zondervan and coauthored with Dr.Walt Larimore, the book helps equip girls and the adults who love them during the change-packed years of puberty. Full of humor and fun stories, it is written from a Christian perspective to help girls see themselves through God's eyes as they grow into the women God created them to be. 

Having spent Thanksgiving with one of my BFFs (of more than thirty years!), I love thinking that the stories of true friendship I share in the book will help growing girls make wise choices. We cover everything from periods to pimples to bras, healthy boundaries with social media and much more! A panel of experts and mother-daughter teams helped us write a relevant, accurate resource. I am very thankful for each of them. 

Please join me in thanking God for the blessing of speaking into young girls' lives and pray with me that God will be glorified through this meaningful project. And, if you have a few minutes, learn more about the book by listening to my interview with Jo Rathmanner from January 3rd on Connecting Faith Live. And thank you for helping me spread the word!

Joyfully,

Dr Mari

 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

For more on my books as well as testimonials, please visit my author website. 

To read a tribute to my beautiful and inspiring mother, go to Lessons I Learned Watching Mom.

Blessed Christmas!

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; 

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned....

For to us a child is born, 

to us a son is given, 

and the government will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called 

Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God, 

Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace." 

(Isaiah 9:2,6, Old Testament)

The prophet Isaiah wrote the words in Isaiah 9 hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. 

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to many people, and the New Testament is filled with accounts of His saving acts while He walked the earth and, later, 

through those who believed in Him. 

Christmas means the Light of Christ has dawned in our dark world, making the way to eternal life available to us. Like the wise men, we want to follow that Light, for it leads to Life.

 

This is why we rejoice ... Christ's birth means Hope! 

Here's what the apostle Paul, a man transformed by the love of Jesus, believed about Him,

 "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, 

visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; 

all things have been created through him and for him. 

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

And he is the head of the body, the church; 

he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, 

so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, 

whether things on earth or things in heaven, 

by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." 

(Colossians 1:15-20, New Testament)

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

(Luke 2:14, New Testament)

Have a blessed Christmas season full of the joy, hope, and peace that come from knowing, believing, and following Jesus, our Savior and Lord!

Joyfully,

Dr. Mari 

The Season of Light

During Advent, this glorious Season of Light, I remember all that Christ has done for me. 

I lift up my eyes to my Maker and thank Him for being my God, my Healer, and my All. 

I invite you to keep Advent in your heart this year, slowing down to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. Like Mary, may we ponder the miracle of Jesus and make room for Him in our hearts. When we invite Him in, what we've said yes to is healing, restoration, and hope. 

His arrival means Life!

This poem I wrote a few months ago is being published in the next edition of HEAL Magazine. It summarizes what Christ has done and continues to do every day as I remain close to Him.

When we pray to God in our despair, He meets us there. 

He is our Emmanuel — God with us. 

Here's a sneak peek.

my life

loved

created

known

hurt

abandoned

b - r - o - k - e - n

sustained

seen

lost

pursued

     d

          e

              s

                 p

                      a

                           i

                                 r

                                      i

                                           n

                                               G      

  n

            i

       y

a

         r

   p

heard

called

found

embraced

forgiven

surrendered

comforted

restored

renewed

m - e - n - d - e - d

healed

loved

Prepare a manger for Christ in your heart, for He longs to give you Life.

Have a blessed Advent and Christmas,

Dr Mari

"'He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.'"

(Luke 1:32-33)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 
(John 1:5)

For more reflections about Advent, read Advent Word of the Day: Devotion.