Jen G’s Music View

Dear Friends,

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to interview the very inspiring, creative, and spirited Maria Long. She’s not only hard-rocking but also hardworking and God-loving. From the time she was a small child, God guided her steps by having her parents show her the light through the way they reached out and gave back to the community. She witnessed much grace and love through her parents’ sincere hearts to give, and, as a young person, she found herself having to make the decision to either be the light or join the darkness.

This month, in this very candid interview, Maria Long talks about her life, family, friends, and the battle she faced when God decided it was time to uproot her into something new. When all odds seemed against her, she was still in love with Him…

From her life to her album, Here With Me…

Jen G’s~
Publisher & Editor of AWOE Magazine

GOD’S PLAN

Jen G: So how are you today?

Maria Long: I’m great, a little tired. I had a late band practice last night.

Jen G: How’d that go? You have quite a cool group!

Maria Long: We are working on new songs, and it went AMAZING! We have one ready to perform soon, and it’s just neat to see the new stuff in my head come out, you know? My band is awesome, and they love the new songs.

Jen G: Totally! God is totally using you as a musical vessel. The lyrics are amazing on your last album.

Maria Long: Aw, thank you! That means a lot to me because lyrics are everything. I feel like they are seriously lacking in Christian music today. I’m so inspired by artists like Nichole Nordeman, who seek to say something more! My lyrics are nowhere near hers; they are just more personal, like my talks with God.

Jen G: Oh, yeah. I think God uses each musician in that personal way. But since we’re on the subject of your band…how did the four of you come together?

Maria Long: Well, I moved here to Arkansas from Michigan because my husband took a job as a pastor here, and I was teaching kindergarten this year. I would have different musicians from other bands play for me. Well, it got too hard coming home from shows at 2 a.m. and waking up to teach at 6 a.m.

Jen G: Exhausting!

Maria Long: So one night I asked God to reveal His plan for my life. I was offered a principal position at the elementary school, but it was in my heart to do music. So I asked for seven signs—big things—since I’d been looking for a band for seven months. I wanted a regular band, so I asked God to give me one. They found me on MySpace the next week. They live 25 minutes away!

Jen G: Wow, God is amazing!

Maria Long: I know! He’s not playing around!

Jen G: He answered that prayer right away!

Maria Long: I also asked for a trailer so that we could travel as another sign, and a guy donated a brand-new one to me two weeks later—for free! Every sign happened, and it brought me to tears because I realized that God really wanted me to do this!

Jen G: That’s such an encouragement!

Maria Long: The reason I asked for seven is because I lacked such faith. I’m such a planner. I dated my husband for five years before marrying, graduated, and went to college!

Jen G: One of the things that really stands out about you is how you grew up in a Christian environment. I can so relate to growing up in the church with all my family saved around me. I find it so inspiring that you wrote your first song, The Bible Is the Best Book, at the age of two! Do you remember when and why you asked Jesus into your heart at such a young age?

Maria Long: I think when you see your parents and how much they love God, it affects you. I had parents who would seek God in prayer, and when we had hard times or good times, they praised Him and taught me to see Him in every situation. So I learned from them how to experience God daily.

Jen G: Now, growing up, your parents took you and your sisters with them as they ministered in song in different churches. I know more often than not, a lot of young people who grow up in their family’s ministry turn away once they become older. Why do you think you turned to Jesus instead of away from Him?

Maria Long: Yes! Still, I encounter so many people who blame God for everything bad that happens in their life. That is why on my new album I have written a song that’s inspired by a true story. It’s so AMAZING, but that’s the next album!

Jen G: I can’t wait until it’s out!

Maria Long: It will be a while.

Jen G: All in good timing!

Maria Long: Yeah!

Jen G: What would you say to those who feel like God is to blame?

Maria Long: I would say that He is the only ONE who is ever going to bring them peace and healing from their situation. If I say more, I will be telling you my song! (laughs) I guess I’d just say don’t turn your back on the One who can truly heal you.

Jen G: What is the power of being a witness through actions and lifestyle, rather than just by words, for those who don’t have the words of comfort but are willing to give?

Maria Long: Good question. I think it’s more powerful because people are looking for us to show them the way. We can show them through our actions. People want to know that we are for real and not just saying things we don’t mean.

Jen G: Very true.

Maria Long: I wrote a song called Get Real, and I want to give you a line from it because it goes along with what we are saying, okay?

Jen G: Go ahead.

Maria Long: Okay, so that line I gave you was from it.

“People are looking for us to show them the way. Do we know it ourselves, or will we lead them all astray? Do our minds hold precious promises or facts about TV shows? Are we learning information that is vital to our souls?”

Last verse:

“So here I am reaching out to those who claim to know God, calling for a change—a life of conviction, one that is sealed and stained with His blood. ‘Cuz Jesus is waiting for us to share Him with the world. So let’s proclaim His life, realize our conviction, and just get real with ourselves.”

That’s it!

Jen G: That’s beautiful!

Maria Long: Thank you! It was a moment of clarity, you know? (laughs) When you realize you know more about what’s going on in Hollywood than, like, what’s in the Bible.

Jen G: That’s so scary, but true. Your music does that, though. It makes you think and reflect.

Maria Long: Good! That means a lot. We are so concerned with the present world that sometimes I think, if we had the choice, some people would want to stay. They love the world more than the ONE who made it.

Maria Long — Page 2