Marie’s Sunday Message - February 7, 2016

I saw this video yesterday by Kristina Kuzmic. Kelly, Claire’s mom, showed it to me while our grandsons competed in various sports. We had so much fun together! The video reminds us how easy it is to listen to the negative voices surrounding us. Those negative minions only talk smack to our brains, and often, one of those negative comments turns our focus away from all the positive ones in our lives. It reminded me of a #SundayMessage I posted in 2016. I’m reposting it below in hopes that today you will look for only the positive ones in life and remember, always, you are loved!

Marie’s Sunday Message 

February 7, 2016

As I set up my dolls this week, I included these “Ruby Red Slippers,” or shoes, that my daughter Rachael blinged for me; they even have the yellow brick road on the bottom arch. They were made for a new music video I’m shooting that will be coming out soon. These shoes are so symbolic for me. You see, I have loved The Wizard of Oz since I was a very young girl.

I was a big fan of Judy Garland. There weren’t many people I could relate to growing up as a child performer. Still, the first time I looked into Judy’s eyes on screen, I knew she understood how I felt as a young girl being an entertainer. I felt a “loneliness” in her eyes when I was away from home touring on the road.

You know, it doesn’t matter who you are; we all feel lonely when we want to return home, right? Home is that place in your heart where you find peace and contentment. There’s also the spiritual home we came from, where we lived before this life as God’s spirit children.

Jeremiah 1:5

God knew us ALL! There is always a home with God our Father and peace with Christ.

A yellow brick road has been placed before us, simply following God’s commandments. When we take that road, one thing is for sure: it will always lead us back home to our Father in Heaven’s presence.

Will we keep following the golden path home, or will we take shortcuts (the way of the world) and fall asleep in those poppy fields? Yes, there will be apples thrown at us, some witches along the way, and even some flying monkeys that will try to torment us, but staying determined to keep on our yellow brick road, we will only be refined by our trials so that we may come off conqueror and return to our heavenly home to be with Him!

I wore these shoes in my video because they symbolize that God is my path. His unconditional love has kept me on that road through all my many challenges and trials. I know God wants to be with us and wants us to succeed on our path back into His presence and, yes, even make a few trustworthy friends along the way to help with our journey. Maybe that’s why Judy Garland’s role in The Wizard of Oz spoke to my heart so profoundly. I’ve always had one foot in this life and one foot ready to go back home to my heavenly parents, who I know love me and YOU…unconditionally!!!

Following God’s yellow brick road makes me stronger and wiser and banishes all loneliness from my heart. So this Sunday, I pray we will keep God as the center within us and continually strive to have Him be our companion, our compass to always help us find our way back home!

Happy Sunday!

#WizardofOz #NoPlaceLikeHome #RubySlippers

Marie's Sunday Message - October 6, 2019

This past week, I have been spending time with my amazing daughter Brianna and her sweet family. Of all the things I’ve done throughout my life that the world says will bring us happiness, I can honestly say nothing brings me more joy than my family.

I believe family is a precious gift from our loving Heavenly Father. As parents and grandparents, it is our privilege to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6). My brothers and I were blessed to have parents who loved and taught us the eternal value of family and faith.

I won’t be posting on Saturday or Sunday. This will be my post for the weekend because it's our church's General Conference.  It happens two times a year, in April and October. I will be watching it with my family on Saturday. Then, on Sunday at noon MST (in between the two conference sessions), KSL-TV will be airing an interview we just did with all of my brothers and myself. We spoke about our love of God and family…of course. 🤭👍 I thought maybe you might want to watch it.  We did all of our interviews separately, so I’m interested to see how they put it all together. 🥰 You can watch at https://ksltv.com/live if you would like. 

With this being conference weekend, I thought I would re-share a Sunday message I wrote on October 6, 2019, and remind you that we all are children of a loving God. Remember, always choose to think positive thoughts, and know that I love you!!!

Marie’s Sunday Message

October 6, 2019

The average person thinks about 70,000 thoughts a day. That’s a whole lot of thinking! And isn’t it true that sometimes we allow our thoughts to work against us? Imagine if we had 70,000 negative thoughts; how could anyone be happy? But imagine choosing to have 70,000 positive thoughts; well, we could move mountains!

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase one million times, but it bears repeating... “If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought again.”  Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones takes work and practice; it’s a choice, but it is doable. When we listen to the negative thoughts going on inside us like, “You are the only one with the problem,” or “What makes you think you can do that,” or “I’m such a loser,” we destroy our self-worth and confidence, diminish our desires to try new things, and can even become fearful and depressed.

When we start saying no to negative thoughts and actively replacing them with positive ones, we can lessen anxiety, fear, and worry. Sometimes, those big opportunities can be missed when our inner voice tells us not to try—or worse yet—we aren’t good enough. The adversary and his minions are great at playing on our fears and insecurities. I have thought on occasions when I’m beating myself down, would I talk to my children like this? Absolutely not! So why do I allow myself to do it to me? Those negative thoughts are not coming from me but from darkness. In those moments, we can protect ourselves with some very simple tools.

Remember who you are! Your Father is God, and you are his child!!! By virtue of that one amazing thing, you are good enough, and capable of anything, and worth all good that comes from Him. 

This scripture from the New Testament shows us how: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) 

Isn’t that scripture amazing?!!! Right there, we are given a perfect guideline for choosing our thoughts. It’s one of my favorites! And next and maybe most importantly, believe you can do it! We have all had negative things said about us, but we cannot internalize them or let them get into our heads. We CAN choose not to listen to them simply because they are not true. We know who we are, and like the little girl in the picture, we just need to straighten our crowns again and keep going. 

Let’s all make a promise to ourselves right now that we will start each day paying attention to our thoughts and catch ourselves when they try to get negative.  Another great way to start today is to join me in watching The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints General Conference or go to LDS.org and watch it there. It’s very uplifting and a place where everything is definitely set to be a positive influence in our lives.  Have a wonderful Sabbath day, and always remember how much I love you!!!

Marie’s Sunday Message - May 22nd, 2022

I just finished some shows this week in Kansas, Ohio, and Indiana!! You were all so amazing!! Thank you!!!! Your love and support bring tears to my eyes.

The message I’m posting today is from 2022, after we had just started my new show at Shipshewana, Indiana, where I performed yesterday. I had to go back because I needed some fried chicken from the Blue Gate, go shopping at the cutest shops, and I definitely needed some Amish Crack donuts, and yes…I ate sooo many!!🤭😋🍩

I’ve added some new numbers since last year’s show, and many are thanks to you. The album I speak of in the #SundayMessage debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart. That truly was an “Unexpected” surprise. Thank you all so so much!!!

Before I post this message, I just wanted to say thank you again to everyone who attended… You are so full of love and kindness!💖 I hope you had as much fun as I did. I love you all very much and hope you have the most beautiful Sunday ever.🥰❤️👈

Marie’s Sunday Message

May 22, 2022

This weekend, I had a show in Shipshewana, Indiana (the cutest Amish town ever, with the BEST ‘Amish Crack’ Donuts!). It was so fun exploring the town with Darla, my manager, and Bonnie Story, my choreographer, as our buggy driver, Ezra, drove us around to see the countryside and also introduced us to a few of the locals. I even took time to go to a couple of fabric stores. I admire the Amish; their way of life, devotion, and belief in God are truly inspiring. I find joy in all our Christian beliefs because we all love our Savior, Jesus Christ, regardless of our denominational differences.

This was the beginning of a new show for me. I usually do a big symphonic concert with a full orchestra, but this was just my band, who, by the way, are absolutely phenomenal! My show features some of the music from my new album, “Unexpected,” but I’ve also added some of my other hits throughout my six decades in music. Once again, You were a fantastic audience… five standing ovations! Thank you so very, very much!!!! My whole crew couldn’t stop talking about you all! Thank you for your love and kindness!!!

People have asked me why I stopped performing in Vegas. Well, 11 years of performing five days a week is a lot!😂 Not that I didn’t enjoy every minute with you, I did!!! And truly, it would be easier for me to stay there, but I have felt prompted to come out on the road to see YOU in your hometowns. It’s getting increasingly expensive to travel, and with hotel costs, etc., I felt you didn’t need those extra costs. I will come to you! 👍 I believe we need to remember some of our good and happy times and make new ones. We need to hear, more than ever, the message of hope and love that music provides. We need all the good memories we can make!🥰

I’m very prayerful about what I do now, including what shows I choose, because, at this point, it’s all about finding more balance in my life. I need more time with my wonderful husband, children, and grand-babies. I have felt very strongly about the areas I will perform in and designed my show for you to feel love and joy.

Because I grew up performing on the road, it’s been so much fun to see the country again, and I know I wouldn’t be able to do what I enjoy if it weren’t for you. Like the line in my song, “Unexpected Song,” “Your smiles have really thrown me.” I can’t express enough my joy in seeing you enjoy yourselves as I perform for you. It’s a family feeling of sorts for me. I have seen some of you in the audience for years and years now, and some of you are brand new to my music, too, but you do feel like family to me. The most amazing thing happened after the show last night. In the 70s, I had a group of ladies who called themselves my “Fab 5,” Now I have a younger generation that has chosen to call themselves the “Fab 5! 😂Well, they were all there. Incredibly, all my Fabs got to be together this weekend! 🤭 It truly shows how music and loving friendships have transcended six decades of music.

In the New Testament, Peter says, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. You should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4: 8-10)

I don’t believe in accidents. The good and bad, God has a plan for us. I also believe that God brings us together for a reason. We are made through God’s love and made to share that love.

John also says, “My commandment is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15: 12-13).

God really does bring people and experiences into our lives at the perfect time. At my show this weekend, I had the pleasure of hanging with my besties the day before the show and then finishing up the trip and hearing stories from a few of my fans about how they met their besties. They told me they all became friends because of their mutual interest in my music, and now they all travel together to shows! Seeing them together and the bonds they have formed touched my heart. So this Sunday, let’s all remember those wonderful people in our own lives. We may not see each other regularly, but when we do, we enjoy the unique gift of documenting our lives together!!! I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday, and always remember I love you all, my dear friends!!!!

Marie's Sunday Message - February 19th, 2017

I've been rereading one of my favorite books again… I pick it up every few years, and I love to go back through its beautiful message. It's called Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. It's a lovely read, and it made me think of a post I wrote for my Sunday message back on February 19, 2017. As I read what I wrote back then, I realized I'm actually now doing what I wrote then with my #BucketList adventures! 🤭👍 I guess my next adventure will have to be painting.😉 I hope you have a beautiful Sabbath day. And always remember, you are loved!!!

Marie’s Sunday Message

February 19, 2017

My friend #KellyLang and her darling husband, TG Sheppard, stopped in to say hi before our show last night in Vegas. It was so much fun catching up with our busy lives after the show. While chatting, Kelly said, "I worry about you, Marie. You always seem to go, go, go… 'n go.” I responded, “Well, in our business, you have to keep riding that wave!” Kelly responded quickly, “But sometimes, don't you just want to sit on the beach and watch the waves?”

You know, she’s right! I’ve been thinking more about carving out some time for a little slower-paced life - a fuller, more balanced one. I enjoy my work, but I also cherish those moments of having sand between my toes on the beach, especially during my getaways with my sweetheart, Steve, in Mexico. I often reflect on past R&R vacations with my children… sitting on warm sandy beaches and swimming in cool turquoise waters. Pondering on this today made me think more about the various stages of our lives. As we approach our golden years, will we choose to walk into the sunset, sitting on the sideline of the beaches, watching others rise and fall with each thrilling wave they catch? Or will we choose to venture off into the glorious waters ourselves and have fun swimming to our heart’s content?

Sometimes, we can get so busy that we forget to LIVE life…we just DO life. I think that's what Kelly meant about “Riding the waves too much.” Sometimes, it might be nice to sit on the beach and watch. Maybe I'll try to do more of that in this fall season of my life!

There is something about those waves of life that are so inviting! I love Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's words, “My soul is full of longing for the secrets of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” It’s no wonder Christopher Columbus was brave to venture into unknown territory and the high seas. "The sea will grant each man new hope."

The other night, after my show, my son Matthew, daughter Rachael, and I stayed up till two in the morning eating popcorn and watching "The Joy of Painting” on PBS, starring the late Bob Ross. The three of us flippin' love that show! 😂 It was so much fun seeing him in the episodes create various sceneries of water in oceans and how he painted the waves. 

 I decided that night I wanted to try and paint!!! It's amazing how Bob brings the light in from the heavens and how it puts its life-giving energy into all the details of his paintings. To me, light is Godly power, bringing life into darkness! Our Savior brings us this energy of love, warmth, and especially light when life seems too tough to bear.  When we are in those deep waters and may feel that no one can rescue us, remember He is ALWAYS there to pull us through our darkest sorrows. He's our lifesaver, and His grace is sufficient for us ALL! All we have to do is reach up to Him and ask!

Maybe I'll try to paint a picture like Bob Ross, with the strokes of my paintbrush creating light-filled waves. And you know, I think I'm going to try even harder to swim in them. 

#Happy #SUNday!

And here's the link to Amazon for the book if you're interested. Love you all. https://a.co/d/iv5ZhG0

#HisDay #PeaceBeStill #stageoflife #LetsPaintSomeWaves #seasthemoment

Marie's Sunday Message - June 6th, 2021

Last week, I spoke with a friend who was having a rough day. We've all been there! Our conversation switched from the day's difficulties to the blessings we receive daily from our loving Heavenly Father. We both agreed that God's grace is bestowed daily on each one of us. And His grace IS sufficient each and every day as we ask Him for help to carry our burdens when we feel we are overburdened and just can't! I know He's made the difference for me many, many times in my weakest moments.

Today, I’d like to share my #SundayMessage from June 6, 2021. I hope you all see God's love and grace in your lives today! Have a wonderful Sunday, and remember, I love you all!!!!

Marie’s Sunday Message

June 6, 2021

The other day, I had the opportunity to perform and be interviewed on a TV show called “Grace Notes,” which is on BYU-TV. I was happy to be on their show to thank them for filming my recent concert at Tuacahn. I must say, though, I was more than delighted to be able to do an interview and have it be all about my love of God. When we spoke about grace (a principle I feel is often not contemplated upon or understood enough), I thought it would be a good topic for today’s Sunday post. Over the years, I have enjoyed studying the principle. A wonderful friend of mine, Valerie Dimick, wrote these words that I love:

“Years ago, I did a word study across all scriptures and discovered the simplicity of what Grace actually is. Here is the simple definition: ‘The gifts and power of God.’ I found that if you supplant the words ‘the gifts and power of God’ with ‘grace’ each time you find it in the scriptures, you will begin to truly see the beauty of what God has done for us! For example, ‘It is by grace that we are saved’ restated, ‘It is by the gifts and power of God that we are saved.’ Another example, ‘Christ grew from grace to grace’ restated, ‘Christ grew in the gifts and power of God—to greater gifts and power of God.’ When we understand this definition of grace, we can begin to comprehend what it really is. We aren’t saved by getting life right enough, or doing things perfectly enough, or even being right enough. It is through HIS gifts and power that we are saved, that miracles come into our lives, that His tender mercies abound, and that we are ultimately able to get through this life’s challenges because of  His grace and return to His presence! What greater joy and peace could there be? We are here to experience life, to fall down, but most importantly, to get back up and to joyfully continue to move through life. And it’s all because it is through God’s gifts and power, HIS grace, that we are saved.”

Don’t you love this?

I have met so many people who, after “falling down,” feel they cannot be forgiven and will experience personal turmoil forever. But God expects us to make mistakes. That’s why He provided us with our Savior, Jesus Christ. We came here to learn and grow through those mistakes, to make better choices the next time. As we taste the bitterness of feeling alone, we can comprehend the sweetness of the incredible gifts God provides us. All we have to do is ask for His grace! Grace is a gift that is sufficient to change us with its enabling power. We all have places in our lives we want to improve, places we want to be more like the Savior. His grace will give us that power, and Heavenly Father’s grace will ALWAYS bring us peace as we focus on the Savior.

I chose to perform this song from my album, “I Can Do This,” on the show “Grace Notes.” I performed the vocal simplistically, keeping one focused on the lyrics and not the vocal acrobatics 😂 because the words are so beautiful, and I hoped people would feel the Spirit. I loved doing this show because we focused on why I’m thankful that God has been such an essential part of my life. I hope as you watch, you’ll remember today that I am also thankful you all are in my life. You will always be important to me because we are all God’s children going through this magnificent journey called life! God Bless You!   #HappySunday

Marie's Sunday Message - April 24th, 2016

This week, I did a big Nutrisystem day on QVC. Since we discussed the importance of having a healthy body and how it affects stress levels and even our mental clarity, I thought my #SundayMessage from April 24, 2016, might be appropriate for today. I love you all and hope you have a beautiful Labor Day weekend.

Marie’s Sunday Message 

April 24, 2016 

It is no secret that I experienced a great deal of pressure when I was younger to remain very thin. The weight war is a constant battle in my business and, unfortunately, still prevalent in our culture. Growing up, I felt pressure from many people in my industry to maintain a thin figure as a way for them to keep their livelihood. But as my weight dropped, so did my self-esteem. As a  5'5", 103-pound teen, I was told I was too FAT! So, feeling the pressure of others needing jobs – I got down to 93 pounds.

This kind of pressure can put a heavy burden on a teenager and often leads to various types of eating disorders. Too much pressure on anything can do this to young minds and hearts. Luckily, my body didn’t give up on me, even when I gave up caring for it.

As I have gotten older, I realized that these bad decisions had ramifications on my metabolism and my body's ability to keep weight off. I had to relearn how to eat healthy, exercise, and care for my body. As my grandmother Osmond would always say to me, "Marie, no one's going to take care of you, so take care of yourself!"

Before I lost 50 pounds on Nutrisystem, I realized that for me, food was used as a reward and even a form of comfort to medicate emotions. The key is mentally turning your relationship with food into a healing and loving act to create energy for a happy and healthy life. Doing so lets you discover that it is medicine for the body, mind, and soul. Making that paradigm shift and subscribing to the motto, “eat to live, rather than live to eat,” changed my life!!!

It clearly states in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that our body is the temple of God. We are to take care of it and fill it with pure and good things so that the Spirit of God can dwell in us. That decision to take care of my temple (body) made it easier for me to love and cherish this gift of life God gave me.

 Let us relish life as we live it and find joy in healthy, uplifting, ways that feed our body, mind, and soul. As for me, music was and always will be my drug of choice!😉🤣

By the way, I have thoroughly enjoyed traveling coast to coast this month and meeting so many of you during my Music is Medicine CD signings. I have been so deeply honored and touched by you all! It's thrilling when I see multiple generations turn out to get my current album. I feel so honored to see those of you who grew up with me and now to see you bring your children and grandchildren to my concerts and have them enjoying my music. It is wonderful to feel your love, warmth, and encouragement.

It was impressed upon me this Sunday to share the message that we should never give up on ourselves! Never give up on what we love, our lives, our bodies, our passions... our souls!!! Heck, I've decided that I will be 29 forever! So my question this Sunday is, who wants to join me on this journey to refresh and invigorate our souls? Let us focus on healing. And start by healing our bodies. I love you all so very much much!!!

#HappySunday #HisDay #HisTemple

Marie's Sunday Message - August 25th, 2019

As my husband and I were ready to fly home from our magical trip to Greenland and Iceland yesterday, we got to the airport only to find out our flight had been canceled! We ended up not sitting together on our rebooked flight, which could have upset me, but I learned a long time ago to choose to find the positive, not the negative, in a trial. I ended up sitting next to a man I felt very prompted to talk to…you see, I believe there are no accidents. And that's where the miracle occurred! It all happened because I chose to see the positive instead of the negative.

I chose to repost this #SundayMessage today because of what happened yesterday. Have a beautiful Sunday, and remember, choose joy, love, and life. I love you all so much!!!!

Marie’s Sunday Message

August 25, 2019

Photos can look perfect, but did you know everything isn’t perfect? In fact, everything is “perfectly imperfect!” We make all things that happen to us throughout our lives perfect by our choice and how we desire to see it or learn from it. So, when I ran across this saying this week, I wanted to share it with you.

“Be happy, not because everything is good, but because you can see the good side of everything.”

When you look at the verb in front of the word “happy,” that little verb says it all… “BE.” That’s our action, our choice to do it, and choose to be happy. If it rains on your wedding day, be happy. Why? Because it changes the whole event into something you can smile about instead of cry about.  If dinner doesn’t turn out, be happy! There’s always takeout! 😂  Even if you don’t want to be happy, just choose to do it because you can make happiness your default emotion. Sounds too easy? Remember, it doesn’t take skill to see the good side of everything; it just takes practice! We live in a fallen world, and essentially now so much of the news is negative, and then there’s social media, which seems to be filled with amazing lives, clean and tidy homes, and well-behaved toddlers—a harsh contrast to our lives at times. The food presentation is beautiful, and no one goes to Home Depot dirty only to run into their boss from work. 😂 So, with all that going on around you—if you find it’s a personal struggle to see the good side of things—it’s understandable. The key is to remember it takes practice to confront those negative thoughts and “choose” to toss them away and look for the good side. Remember, staying with it can make it a positive habit. My Mom always said, “Marie, if you want to create a habit or break a habit, you can do it in 30 days. Just be consistent for a month!” Wise Mom 🥰❤️

My friend’s grown children moved in with her and her husband over the summer; it was a great experience, and she loved having the extra time with her granddaughter and new grandson. She spent quality time with her daughter-in-law and saw her son as the great husband and father he had become. So now that they are moving on to their new home, what did she think?? She said to me, “I didn’t do enough for them while they were here.” I told her to stop being so tough on herself! Instead of remembering and being grateful for all the positive things that occurred over the summer, she went straight to the negative thoughts. Why do we choose to do that? Ever feel like that? If you have, “see it” for what it is and “choose” the thoughts that only bring peace and joy! 

For some, this idea that they can [choose a thought] is revolutionary and maybe even hard to believe. But remember, the Savior is all light, all positive energy! So when we think of Him and choose to be like Him, we gain some of His light and His strength. This, in turn, helps us to “see” more clearly the things we need to choose to find more happiness on our road through life. After all, God said, “Man is that he might have joy.” It says have “joy”; it doesn't say we will always have happy things happen in our lives. The attitude we “choose” to have while we go through the trials makes the difference. And I don't know about you, but I would rather have God on my side than Satan's minions talking in my head, discouraging me, and making me feel worthless. 

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Heavenly Father does not walk around heaven sad and morose; He is filled with love and light. So when we lean on and think of Him, we will also carry His love and light in us, which will not leave room for any negative thoughts.

Choose HAPPY, and don’t let anyone or anything take it away from you!! So, like my mom said to me, “Let me know how it goes... in a month!” Right now, I choose not to stress perfection; I choose to make lots of happy memories with my grandkids, messy house or not.