Who Will Set Her Free from the Darkness Inside?
Mary Margaret Delaney hides in the shadows, her arms scarred, her heart wounded by grief and weighed down with regret.
Adrift on the streets of Chicago, she is surrounded by strangers and hounded by demons, both real and imagined. Her neighbors in Lincoln Park call her Mad Mary—until a fearless young pastor dares to call Mary his friend.
Mercy Like Sunlight is a powerful tribute to God’s boundless compassion and unending grace.
Inspired by the biblical account of Mary Magdalene, this touching contemporary story first appeared as the opening half of Liz’s nonfiction book, Mad Mary (2001), later titled Unveiling Mary Magdalene. Now Mary Margaret Delaney’s journey of redemption has been released as an eBook exclusive, especially for Liz’s fiction readers.
Liz shares her heart for Mercy Like Sunlight and, far more, for God’s Word in this Livestream Webcast, recorded live on March 18th. Take a look…
Mary Margaret Delaney’s Irish Soda Bread
4 cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ cup butter
2 cups buttermilk
1 egg
½ cup raisins (Mary Margaret’s suggestion)
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
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Mix flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and sugar in a large bowl. Add softened butter and mix with your fingers.
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In a smaller bowl, beat egg and buttermilk together. Pour the egg and milk mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients, and mix well until dough forms. Add raisins now, if you wish.
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Knead dough on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough evenly, and form into two round loaves. Place on a greased baking sheet. Take a sharp knife and cut a cross into the top of each loaf.
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Bake for about 40 minutes. The loaves should sound hollow when you thump them.
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Remove them from the oven and brush with a bit of melted butter. Cool for a few minutes on a wire rack. Serve bread warm.
What readers are saying about
Mercy Like Sunlight: A Novella
“Thank you for bringing the story of Mary Magdalene into a modern-day setting. I have never thought of the transformation of Mary in that light.”—Ann
“I am awed at how you portray your characters to be such real people who live among our society. You gave Jake no more accolades than an ordinary caring pastor in today’s society, yet the compassion you had him show his parishioners mirrors exactly the compassion of Christ Jesus for his people. I’ve never seen anyone write so clearly about that kind of love before.”—Tammy
“I’m going through a stressful time, and your beautiful story of Mary Margaret and Jake, and its message of hope and faith in Jesus, has given me strength and comfort in my own life.” —Lisa
“Incredible. The detail and emotions you tell about are so real. I know a lot of women who suffer from depression, and this book will help open doors and hearts to being more sensitive and compassionate.”—Sheryl
“I was so touched by this story that I cannot begin to put it into words. I wept uncontrollably and fell deeply in love with Jake as I read about his unconditional love, kindness, and compassion.”—Cathy
“I appreciated how Mary Margaret’s illness was presented, and the sensitivity with which her suffering was portrayed. I have come out of a two-year-long depression, and by God’s grace, and with the help of a Christian psychiatrist, I’m whole.”—Sara
“Quite a few boxes of tissues were needed. An amazing story, one to take to the heart.”—Marge
What authors are saying about
Mercy Like Sunlight: A Novella
“Irresistible, unconditional love shines through on each and every page!”
—Sharon Ewell Foster, Christy Award-winning author of Passing by Samaria
“I was deeply moved by the story of Pastor Jake and Mary Margaret Delaney. So well written. So challenging to me. So Christlike. And so Chicago!”
—Neta Jackson, best-selling author of The Yada Yada Prayer Group
“Liz captures the heart and circumstances of a woman of Magdala and brings her into the twenty-first century…captivating us with Mary’s story.”
—Kay Arthur, author of Lord, Give Me a Heart for You
“I love Liz’s work! Her insights are fresh and exciting and will draw readers back into the Word.”
—Francine Rivers, best-selling author of Redeeming Love
“This lady knows how to paint a story. But most of all what Liz is offering in this masterful rendering is hope and liberation. Wow!”
—Michelle McKinney Hammond, author of How to Be Blessed and Highly Favored
“In a style all her own, Liz Curtis Higgs retells the story of Mary Magdalene. And what a distinctive, refreshing story it is. Her books are always placed at the top of my ‘must read’ list.”
—Robin Lee Hatcher, author of A Promise Kept