Lori Bates Wright on Let’s Chat
Welcome to Let’s Chat, everyone!
Lori Bates Wright, bestselling author of Christian historical romance, joins us this week.
Lori is a child of the Southwest. Raised in New Mexico, she now calls Texas home with her husband of 38 years. She has two grown kids and four grandboys that leap tall buildings in a single bound! The only thing she loves more than family (and books) is Jesus. Her sincerest hope is that her readers sense His deep, abounding love in her writing.
Lori Bates Wright, Welcome!
Hi, y’all. I’m Lori Bates Wright. It’s a pleasure to be with you today. Thank you for having me, Linda, and for this opportunity to share my heart with your readers.
Here we are in the middle of Holy Week, the week leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. As I recall the events of this week two thousand years ago, I can’t help but think about all the Marys in Jesus’ life. Every year, I wonder the same thing. Why were the most significant women in His life – at least the ones named in the Bible – mostly named Mary?
When Linda invited me to post on Let’s Chat and I saw that my post would fall during this sacred week, I decided maybe it’s time to take a closer look at these Marys that meant so much to the Lord.
A Closer Look at the Marys by Lori Bates Wright
First off, there was Mary, Mother of Jesus, a young Hebrew girl from Nazareth. The gospels tell us she was chosen and highly favored to bring forth the Messiah.
- Luke 1:28
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Next, Mary of Magdala. A Galilean prostitute to whom Jesus showed immeasurable grace by saving her from certain death and delivering her from seven demons.
- Luke 8:2
and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out
Finally, one of my favorites was Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus. The Bible tells us she adored Jesus. She sat at his feet to learn all she could. Her brother died, and the honesty of her tears affected Jesus so much that this was the only account given where Jesus wept, too. She brought her most costly possession to anoint his feet, even when others around her scoffed and rebuked her for it. Mary recognized him as Lord. She loved Him much and was much loved.
- Mark 16:6-8
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the
place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Lori Bates Wright: What did they have in common?
Their name. Which meant bitter and rebellious in their native tongue.
Much like I was when Jesus found me.
It finally dawned on me ~ Jesus looked past what the world labeled these women. He no longer saw them as rebellious and bitter. He called them Chosen. Highly favored. Redeemed. And Beloved.
And He calls me the same.
Books by Lori Bates Wright
Other books:
Please check out my latest book, The Songstress, Book One of A MATTER OF INTRIGUE series.
- A Matter of Intrigue series:
Rising opera star, Juliana Chamberlain, still has nightmares of the night she witnessed the assassination of the President of the United States
from her spot on stage at Ford Theater. Recruited by The Pinkerton Detective Agency, Juliana was instrumental in bringing those responsible to justice.
Now, two years later, the Pinkertons once again ask her to join forces in exposing a corrupt political organization terrorizing her home in Texas.
Texas Ranger, Cade Matlock, has a job to do. He needs no help from a meddlesome lady agent with big ideas. However, he is a man of his word, and commits to partnering with the lovely songstress to smoke out the mastermind of a dangerous political plot with a thirst for vengeance.
Cade and Juliana soon discover their greatest strength is in working together until shadows of the past threaten to destroy their future.
Available for preorder on Amazon
Let’s keep in touch:
http://www.loribateswright.com/
To thank you for joining the conversation today, I’m giving away a free copy of The Songstress, your choice of format. Linda will pick a random winner from those who leave a comment.
Happy Easter! I pray blessings upon each and every one of you as we remember the death and resurrection of our Lord.
~ ~ ~
Lord, please bless each word Lori writes for you.
~ For Jesus’ sake
This was an interesting read about the different Marys in Jesus’ life. Very insightful. Blessings to you.
Thank you so much for sharing what you learned about the three Mary’s. God bless you. Happy Easter.
Thank you, Debra! ❤️ Have a happy and blessed Easter!
What a beautiful reminder, Lori, that Jesus loves us so very much. Thank you and to you Linda as well. Your novel sounds amazing, too!
Thanks, Stacy. I hope your Easter is filled with the wonder of His love. Blessings, my friend! ❤️
Dear Readers, if you haven’t read the Saberton series, you have missed a great treat, one you need to correct immediately! They are well written, intriguing, mysterious, & fun. I have no doubt the new series will be just as entertaining & worth the read,, NEVER disappointing! I know the writer personally & her love for Jesus Christ is real & undisputed. She is a devoted Bible scholar. Her gift of writing is God given, pure & pursued with the same enthusiasm as she pursues her intimate relationship with King Jesus. Her insights regarding the Mary’s Jesus knew & loved is a sample of her studies & research that goes into her writings. She has 4 grand boys that are the absolute love of her life & she, her husband of 38years & their the boys parents (their son & daughter’s children)love the Lord just like Lori, with their whole heart! She has set the example, they have followed. To say I am proud of her is pretty obvious. Grab a book & enjoy I promise you won’t have any regrets!!
Wow. Thank you, Ms. Betty! ❤️ Have a blessed Easter!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Marys in Jesus life, Lori. What a beautiful picture of how Jesus sees value and purpose in all of us. And thank you for the chance to win a copy of your upcoming book, The Songstress. It sounds sooo good! I have all 3 books of your Saberton Legacy series, and am looking forward to this new book series. 🙂
Yay! ❤️ I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Alison! Have a blessed Easter!
I have read two of your books and looking forward to the third.
Very interesting, like the stories and the humor. But it is clear
you are a Christian writer, which blessed me.
I teach a women’s Bible class and we studied the Marys of in the life of Christ
and was in awe of the devotion of them all.
Thank you, JB
Seeing you made my day, Jean. Thanks for popping in and for uplifting words. God bless!
Thank you, Jean! I’m glad you enjoyed them. ❤️ I hope you get a chance to read the third book in the series, Sacred Honor available now on Amazon.
I’d love to do a Bible study on the Marys. Did you go by a book? If yes, please let me know the name.
I never thought about the likenesses of Biblical Marys. That is really neat! I love the blurb for the book too, it sounds really good. Thanks for sharing the information, interview and the books as well!
Hi, Deb. Great to see you here. I agree—the different Marys idea is a God thing. I hope you’ll continue to stop in. Bless you.
Thank you, Deb! ❤️
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter, Deb! (I hit the post button before I finished my thought 😊)
I like the blurb for The Songstress. An opera star who also works for the Pinkerton detectives would be a very unique situation, but I assume she is working undercover.
Greetings, Roxanne! Great to have you in the circle! I agree—-opera star/detective is such an intriguing idea. Hope to see you again soon. God bless.
Roxanne, you guessed it! She is an opera singer but goes undercover for the Pinkertons down in Texas. 😊
Your books all have Beautiful covers, and they sound like very good reads. I enjoyed reading this interview , Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Have a Great day and may you and your family have a Blessed Easter.
Thanks for dropping in, Alicia. God bless.
Thank you. Alicia! ❤️ I hope you have a wonderful Easter as well!