Greetings, 

I have loved coming to post things more regularly. I still have a desire to build this blog out more and hope to get there, eventually. There are so many things that I could capture within the confines of the stuff that I post here and as I continue to build out my ideas and thoughts, I'd love to let everyone know that mjelliott-author.com will be getting a bit of a makeover in the coming weeks. I have thought about doing this for several months, and am now going to transition this website to something more purposeful for all that I am working on. 

A Promise of a New Journey

Greetings,

There are times when we are taken down a path in life that we never really expected we would be taken down. In all honesty, I am being taken down more than one of those paths and it has been an eye-opening experience. It has all helped me see the world a little differently and while the paths I am heading down are struggles in their own right, I am seeing changes within that I didn’t know were needed.

 Greetings,

It's time for a sneak peek of the newest story from The World of Kedoshim, The Hope of Inheritance...

I cannot wait to get this story out into the world. I have been working on this book for a very long time. I mean we are talking, I wrote the Prologue at the end of 2023. So we are more than a year down the road on this project and let me tell you, it has become something bigger than I ever thought it would be. 

More to Come Soon and I'll see you in the pages, 

MJE

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: Dawn of Daybreak

 “Paul teaches us not to give in to fear and doubt, but to speak into those things with the word of the Lord. I find this difficult because of everything going on with Titus and John Mark. How can we continue to speak life into the Ephesian people when we are still searching for them? As a doctor, I must seek life. I am not seeking to save their lives by staying here.”

~Aristarchus ~

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There are moments, like the way Aristarchus feels, in life that we are going to struggle to understand. We are also going to struggle with the weight of the choices we have made and often wonder, “Was this the right choice?” As someone who endures a lot of anxiety at times, I can attest to how true feelings like these cloud our minds. They are intrusive thoughts that tend to keep us from seeing the path laid out for us through the chaos we face. 

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: Ties That Bind Us

 “I point to the weak moments in my life not to offer evidence of who I am, but to illustrate where my path has taken me.  Finding your way amid the chaos of what lies within is never easy, dear one, but facing that chaos will show you the way of glory. In finding my way, I found confidence in who I was created to be...”

~ John Mark ~

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At this point in John Mark’s story, he is beginning to see that there are things in his life that are worth reflecting upon. One aspect of life he is beginning to understand is that it is often the weakest moments that reveal the most to us. We should not see our weaknesses as stains upon who we are but as opportunities for growth and transformation. There is beauty found in our struggles, and they are the very foundation of what our strengths become. 

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: The Pathfinder's Way

 "In the past, there had always been someone for me to lean on and at this point in my life, there was no one to keep me focused. The pain that began throbbing upon my forehead left me motionless at times. Pride had no place in this battle and my spirit grew heavier with every chaotic thought that found its way to the forefront of my mind." ~ John Mark ~

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We often find ourselves in moments that leave us feeling utterly alone. In the first episode of The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins, John Mark finds himself in a similar situation. He is burdened by the weight of his thoughts and by the absence of support. These words can resonate with anyone who feels they are facing a season of solitude and struggle. However, it is in these moments that we can find significant growth and build a more purposeful connection with God.

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: The Prologue

 “It is never easy to place our trust in something unknown, or that may seem impossible, but part of what we are called to do in this life is to let go. The time is near, the path ahead is there waiting for you to place your feet upon, all you have to do is take that first step.”

~ Barnabas to John Mark ~

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There are many things that drive us to fear what we cannot pretend to understand. In the journey of life, we often encounter moments of uncertainty and doubt. The paths set before us are always going to be there, and it is when we face those moments that we are encouraged to put our trust in something bigger. In my newest series, The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins, Barnabas encourages John Mark with the words written above just before he leaves to pursue reconciliation with Paul, someone he did not end on good terms with in the past.

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: An Introduction

Greetings, 

One of my favorite things about releasing The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins is that there are many quotable moments in the story. While it was not my intent to do this, that is what happened and I have been seeking confirmation about doing this for a few weeks. When I asked God to give me a story that focused more on Paul and some of his Missionary Journeys, the city of Ephesus stuck out to me deeply. 

Let's Wrap up 2024

Where to begin?

I rarely get sentimental or personal about aspects of my life outside of writing and encouraging others, but I have to say 2024 was a whirlwind of chaos and unpredictability. It has been a year of drastic change and a great deal of learning and discovery. While I began the year on a huge positive note by completing the novel, The Cyprus Journal, and then releasing it on Orthodox Easter, things quickly changed.