Author Archives: Marie

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About Marie

Happily married to the same awesome guy for many years. Love God, reading, cats, and travel. Avid crafter especially counted cross stitch and crochet.

7 Rules For Life

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7 RulesFrom time to time I read something on Facebook that is actually applicable to life.  The 7 Rules of Life resonated in my thoughts, leading me to find scripture that tells me God would want these ‘rules’ to be considered and used by His Children.

Hebrews 12:8 tells us to live at peace with everyone.  If we are doing that we will not need to make peace with our past because there will be nothing there to worry about.

I loved the second one and really gave it some thought.  If we truly believe Genesis 1:27 then we understand that we are defined by God.  How we look and our personal characteristics are the mirror of God’s image.  What other’s think doesn’t really matter when our life is completely centered on the One and Only.

Matthew 6:34 applies to rules 3 and 7.  Our problems, trials, temptations, and challenges look different as time passes.  What may have been a major crisis in our 20’s pales when we look at it through the lenses of our 50’s.  We will never solve all the problems that are in this world, but we can know that in God’s timing everything will eventually work out.

Judging others is a major issue in everyone’s life.  We may be able to convince others on the surface that we aren’t judging them, but…  Matthew 7:1-2 tells us that the consequence of being judgmental is that we will be judged in the same way as we judge others.  Can we at least, if we have to ‘judge’, do so with love, mercy, and compassion?

Why are we so worried about stuff?  We are clearly told in Phil. 4:6-7 to quit worrying.  God is in control.  He has our front, back, sides, tops, bottoms, past, present, and future in His very capable hands.  Let this truth settle in your mind…He wants and will provide what is best for us.

Number 6 is the only one I would question.  I have given God charge of my life.  With that I have given him control of happiness, joy, delight, and all the other good things that are in His storeroom for me.  Ecclesiastes 2:26 says He will give us wisdom, knowledge, and happiness if we please Him.  You might ask how do we please Him.  It’s quite simple!  We learn His Word, know His Son, and share all with others.

Fishy Friends

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fishermanMy dad was an avid fisherman.  As soon as the weather was warm enough to be on the lake he was there.  Of course, he taught all three of his girls the skills necessary to be fisherman.  Such things as putting our own bait on the hook, quiet conversation or no talk at all, and of course how to swim if we fell out or the boat capsized were patiently taught until we got it.  To this day all three of us still enjoy a quiet morning on the water.  In fact I can still filet and skin a fish.

Jesus was into fish too!  His first disciples were persuaded to follow Him by telling them they would become ‘fisher’s of men’.  In Matthew 4:19 we are not only told He said this but they followed immediately.  Then he walked down the road a bit and said the same thing to two more fisherman.  They followed immediately.  These four men Peter and Andrew, James and John became Jesus’ BFF’s!

Christ_feeding_the_multitudeJesus also used 5 loaves and 2 fishes to clearly show that He could and would provide for His people.  (My husband jokes that we will be served fish and chips in heaven, at the Great Banquet, because of the number of times fish is a part of the Story.)

When Jesus appeared to  the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee, before His Ascension, guess what He served?  Yep!  He was cooking fish and invited his friends to have breakfast with Him.  John 21:12-13

IchthusIn the first century church the fish symbol (Ichthus) was used by believers to identify themselves as Believers.  These friends of Jesus would ‘write’ the upper half-circle of the fish when they met someone and if that person finished the lower half-circle they were recognized as a fellow Believer.

Do you use a symbol to proclaim your belief?  Do you wear a cross?  Do you unashamedly carry your Bible?  Do people ask if you’re a Believer because of how you act or look?  Do you willingly talk about Jesus when someone notices what you’re wearing, carrying or modeling?  I take every opportunity I find to talk about my Jesus.  You can too!

Heavenly Father, shine through me.  Let others see Your love, faithfulness, joy, delight…when they see me.  Oh, Lord, let my life be totally about You!  Make it so in Jesus Name!

All Things Are Full of God

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I came across this beautiful poem from more than a century ago.  It spoke to my heart so I’ve added some pictures to the words.  God bless you throughout this special day.

All Things Are Full of God

by: John Stuart Blackie (1809-1895)

imagesAll things are full of God. Thus spoke
Wise Thales in the days
When subtle Greece to thought awoke
And soared in lofty ways.
And now what wisdom have we more?
No sage divining-rod
Hath taught than this a deeper lore,
ALL THINGS ARE FULL OF GOD.
 
cropped-winter-sunrise-in-the-smokies.jpgThe Light that gloweth in the sky
And shimmers in the sea,
That quivers in the painted fly
And gems the pictured lea,
creationThe million hues of Heaven above
And Earth below are one,
And every lightful eye doth love
The primal light, the Sun.
 
IMG_0142Even so, all vital virtue flows
From life’s first fountain, God;
And he who feels, and he who knows,
Doth feel and know from God.
As fishes swim in briny sea,
As fowl do float in air,
From Thy embrace we cannot flee;
We breathe, and Thou art there.
 
th (1)Go, take thy glass, astronomer,
And all the girth survey
Of sphere harmonious linked to sphere,
In endless bright array.
All that far-reaching Science there
Can measure with her rod,
All powers, all laws, are but the fair
Embodied thoughts of God.
Consider Psalm 8.    
“All things are full of God” is reprinted from The Oxford book of English mystical verse. Ed. D.H.S. Nicholson. Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1917.

God’s Great Love…

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I have finally finished the Book of Deuteronomy and am ready to dig in to Joshua.  I am reading the Word in the Message and Peterson writes some very interesting introductory thoughts about the book.  This one in particular was very compelling, and I quote, “God’s great love and purposes for us are worked out in the messes, storms and sins, blue skies, daily work, and dreams of our common lives, working with us as we are and not as we should be.” (The Message.  Eugene H Peterson.  NavPress. 2004  pg. 263)

God loves us, without question, and really wants what is best for us.  He knows what ‘we should be’ but determines to work with us as we are.  His purpose is to make us the best we can be as we mirror His Son, Jesus.  He knows we are imperfect, sinners, always.  It is not a spur of the moment plan.  God is able to see the past, present and future of each of our lives and He wants to be part of every moment.   His presence is always there we just don’t always choose to honor it.  God’s plan will prosper us and provide for us.

God's Plans

He does nothing without just cause.  He knows the right time, the right place, and the reasons for His actions regarding us.

Ezekial 1423

However, He expects us to communicate with Him through prayer.  And wants others to be doing the same for us.

1 Thessalonians

God knows and He will share His plan.  All we have to do is ask and listen for the response.

Oh, How He Loves Us by David Crowder

Heavenly Father, my prayer today is that You will open our hearts and minds and give us the ability to hear You.  Oh, Lord, when we hear You let us respond as You would have us respond.  I lift this prayer in the Mighty and Awesome Name of Jesus.  Make it so!

Getting the Blessing

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Deuteronomy 30 was my reading portion of the Word today.  This is a very powerful passage.  Have you ever questioned what is necessary to receive God’s blessing?  Do you think simply believing in Jesus will do it for you?  Will all the good things you do get it for you?  The answer is quite simply…

GOD, your God, will cut away the thick calluses on your heart and your children’s hearts, freeing you to love God, your Whole heart and soul and live really live.  God, your God, will put all these curses on your enemies who hated you and were out to get you.  (See Chapter 27)

And you will make a new start, listening obediently to GOD, keeping all His commandments that I’m commanding you today.  GOD, your God, will outdo Himself in making things go well for you: you’ll have babies, get calves, grow crops, and enjoy an all-around good life.  Yes, God will start enjoying you again, making things go well for you just as He enjoyed doing it for your ancestors.

But only if you listen obediently to GOD, your God, and keep the commandments and regulations written in this Book of Revelation.  Nothing half-hearted here: you must return to GOD, your God, totally, heart and soul, holding nothing back.

This commandment that I’m commanding you today isn’t too much for you, it’s not out of your reach.  It’s not on a high mountain–you don’t have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and bring it down to your level and explain it before you can live it.  And it’s not across the ocean–you don’t have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then explain it before you can live it.  No.  The word is right here and now–as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest.  Just do it!

Look at what I’ve done for you today: I’ve place in front of you

Resurrection

Life and Good                                       

                                         Death and Evil

                              Cross+bridge+christ-e1328133861855

                                            

And I command you today: Love GOD, your God.  Walk in His ways.  Keep His commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by GOD, your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess.

If you’ve gotten to this point you’ve read through these verses from The Message and know the secret to receiving the blessings.  It’s simply love God and know His word so that you can walk in total harmony and obedience with Him.

I’m choosing life, abundant, exuberant, joyous, thrilling, delightful life!  How about you?

Heavenly Father, I love Your Word.  Thank You for breathing onto paper so I would know Your desires.  I am so blessed.  Oh, GOD, You are my God!  Because of Jesus I lift these praises before the Throne.  Amen and amen!