Monthly Archives: April 2016

Friday Faves

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I read many blogs throughout the week and thought you might like to check some of these out.  Don’t you love it that the internet is providing a way to connect with people of like interests all over the world?  What a blessing!

scissors-1126805_960_720The first blog post I’m recommending is at Journey of the Word.  There are some places in the Bible that verses are left out.  Want to know why?  Check it out on this post.  It’s short, sweet, and to the point.

 

bring-mayberry-backThe How To Guru makes a very compelling argument to look at Mayberry again and apply the characteristics of this 60’s TV show to life today.  She’s spot on with 8 usable and doable challenges.

 

 

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Have you given much thought to the qualities you’d like to see in your spouse and the future spouse of your children?  Check out Chuck and Ruth Gangard’s post at The Vine Press. 

 

 

Most-people-say-they-would-like-to-have-a-more-engaged-prayer-life.-Check-out-these-10-ways-to-add-life-to-your-prayers...I read Deb’s posts at Counting My Blessings every time they pop up in my email. There’s always a great thought or idea.  Today she’s talking about putting life in your prayer life.

 

yard-yahtzee6-682x1024I do enjoy being outdoors and finding this post in the 100 Happy Days Blog Hop was a delightful surprise.  I’m sure we’ll be using Yard Yahtzee at home and VBS and church picnic and family reunion…  What fun!

 

 

I do hope you’ll take the time to visit all or some of these sites.  There’s some really great writing and ideas here.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

 

 

Me? A Minister?

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Have you ever thought about being a minister?  Do you know that your ministry is one of the most important things you can do for the Kingdom?  Ministers are not only about those that preach every Sunday and serve as pastors of our churches.  They are the everyday people who hear God’s calling, set aside time, and serve in a variety of ministries.

As a result of your ministry they will give glory to God

So what can we do if we hear God calling?  ANSWER!  Say, Lord I’m not sure I can do this but if You think I can then I will.  There are so many possible ministries in the church like Sunday School, Men’s and Women’s ministries, Music, VBS, Upkeep of the building and property… I think we should also be open to ‘outside’ opportunities.  How about things like …

Prison Ministry    Everything from being part of the Chaplains services, leading Bible Studies, writing letters to the inmates.  (One letter saying I’m praying and thinking of you can be the catalyst for change.)

Nursing Home Ministry    It would surprise you how many don’t get visitors.  Volunteer to give a free manicure,  read to a patient who doesn’t see well, play board games and cards, play the piano for a sing-a-long.

Helping Hands Ministries   Can you repair a faucet, mow a lawn, rake some leaves…  Anything you do at your own home is needed by those who can’t do it themselves.  They’re not hard to find.  Look around your neighborhood.  It won’t take long to find someone who needs your help or skills.

Do you know a couple, with a new baby, that needs a night out.  Volunteer to watch the child for 2 or 3 hours so they can continue building a strong relationship.  Don’t charge them but do ask them to pay it forward.

What a blessing we all can be if we just reach beyond our personal boundaries and say, “Yes, Lord! Yes!

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

Life Interupted

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Jonah and the Whale in the Jami' al-tawarikh (c. 1400), Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jonah and the Whale in the Jami’ al-tawarikh (c. 1400), Metropolitan Museum of Art

Have you noticed that when life is going smoothly something happens to interrupt?  It can be something small like the phone ringing when you’re trying to finish a project.  It can be something much larger like a life-threatening disease or accident, severe weather (blizzard, tornado, earthquake), birth, death, loss of a job…  When you start getting a case of the ‘why me’ syndrome give some thought to these lives that were interrupted by God Himself.

Moses             2 forty year visits to the desert

Noah               Stop, drop and build a boat on dry land

Abraham         Leave everything and travel to an unknown location

Sarah              Baby at 90

Joseph            Dropped into a pit and sold as a slave

Mary                Suddenly pregnant

Dramatic and sudden interruptions happen all the time.  Case in point…Jonah.  He was living a great life but God wanted more for him.  So God told him to go to Ninevah.  Jonah wasn’t having any of that.  That city was known as the ‘Sin City’ of that era.  So, Jonah decided to run to another place.  Really!?  Did he really think he could hide from God?  Yes, he did.  While on that journey, in the opposite direction, the ship he was on was hit with a threatening storm.  Those on board determined it was Jonah who was causing the problem, so they threw him overboard.  We know the rest of the story…

Let’s look at this from a different angle.   This is a story of many miracles.  The first two are in verse one.

Jonah 11

First – God spoke!

Second – God allowed a person to hear His voice!

When He allows one of His creation to hear His voice it’s a huge privilege.  We often hear His voice and don’t recognize it.  The difference with us and Jonah is he knew exactly Who was speaking and choose not to obey.

Then, how do we know we’re hearing God?  How do we know He’s interrupting us?  Have you ever been listening to a speaker and the words seem just for you?  Have you been reading the Word and it’s speaking to your heart?  Henry Blackaby says we hear God through His Word, prayer, other Christians, worship, and life circumstances.  God talks to us often through the Holy Spirit living in us and He expects us to listen.

When we hear God what are we to do?  Easy answer, yet hard to follow through.  We’re to drop everything and listen.  He is saying I have a plan and I want you to be part of it.

The interrupted life is not always the big events I mentioned earlier.  It can be a crying child, a husband or wife’s attention, a new friendship, an unexpected phone call, a knock on the door….  God wants us open to His voice!  Anytime!  Anywhere!

He is calling.  Are you listening?

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Living A Long, Strong Marriage

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A couple of weeks ago our niece married her long-awaited prince in shining armor.  The one God had chosen for her before time began.  It was a beautiful wedding.  I thought back on it today as Ray and I celebrate our anniversary.

Being married is not the easiest thing you’ll attempt in life.  When you determine to walk with our Jesus during the years it makes the triumphs and the struggles much easier.  At the start of our marriage, though I truly believed in God, I hadn’t made Jesus my Personal Savior yet.  God’s plan was for Ray to lead me to this crucial decision.  Almost a year after we married I gave my life to Him.  I’ve never looked back.  He has led us through some amazing times both as a couple and as individuals.

With that thought in mind, I wanted them to know what I think leads to a long marriage.  Here are my words to them…

Abby and tyler

They chose these words to be read as part of the ceremony.

 

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.

Interesting choice, don’t you think?  I’m not sure why.  Perhaps, because they wanted to remind themselves that there really is a world out there that will mock and think up all kinds of wicked things…I don’t know.  Without question, though, if they are honoring our LORD and his law (word) their marriage will be a great one.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

The Cross In Nature

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He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.  Colosians 1:17

Laminin is a molecule that structurally holds cells together.  It sometimes appears under the microscope in the shape of a cross.  Interesting that a needed part of cell structure fits a verse in Colossians 1. Verse 17 says ‘He is before all thngs and in Him all things hold together.

laminin

 

The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as M51 has a black hole at its center.  The shadow of the Cross is evident in many of the pictures taken by NASA and the Hubble Space Telescope.

 

Some pine trees form crosses as part of their new growth each spring.  It’s interesting that trees we use for the celebration of Christmas send up crosses on the end of their branches just before Easter.

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The Agiope spider bears a small cross on its belly.

spider_cross

God can and does use all of His  creation to remind us of His presence.

Watch for Him.  He’s everywhere!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie