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.

Showing God’s Face on Facebook

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I truly enjoy Facebook.  Communicating with friends and family over long distances when I can’t personally visit is great.  Having private pages for family, church, and prayer groups is an awesome tool.  I have laughed, cried, been overjoyed and frustrated.  Yes, I even relax playing Farmville ($7,000,000 farm) and Mahjohng. 

I’ve been seeing a lot of negative, untrue, vicious, profane posts and wonder why I would see some of these things from anyone, including believers.  Is it because people think that because it’s in cyberspace it’s not real?  Get real!  Did you know that Twitter allows the Library of Congress to record every open Tweet for historical purposes?  Do we realize that negative, untrue, and mean posts hurt just as much as the spoken word?  Are we aware that the computer, games, even social sites like Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, etc. can replace the One and Only God as a god?

God has some very good Rules that really do apply.  Let’s take a look…

Exodus 20: 3   You shall have no other gods before Me…that includes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, online games, chatting…anything that takes the place of God in our lives.

Exodus 20:7  You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.   How many OMG’s do you see or even hear daily?

Exodus 20:16  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.  Basically, don’t lie about anyone.  That certainly includes political postings.

Ah, Lord, God, every perfect gift comes from above.  You have given us the knowledge and ability to create the internet and new forms of technology.  Help us, Lord, to use them for Your glory and for furthering the Kingdom on earth.  This prayer is lifted in the precious name of Jesus.   Make it so!

Words

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Open Mouth

Have you have gotten caught up in the moment and said something you wish you hadn’t?  Are there times when you wish someone would put a bridle on your mouth and completely control your words?  Are there times when you wish you could sleep all day, hide, play computer games that take over your mind…? Then, guess what, that makes us all normal and still forgivable and lovable.  The real question is…How do we overcome these times?

First, we must realize we are as much an at fault sinner as the one we directed our words toward.  God knows that!  He knew when He breathed the Word.  The Bible is full of admonitions, both Old and New Testament, to guard our words.

Second, we must ask for forgiveness and then follow through with a change of heart.  I can get on my knees 50 times a day, some days 500, and ask for forgiveness but unless I decide, with God’s help, to change, the words are empty.

Then, and the hardest of all, is to ask for forgiveness from the one who has been harmed by the words.  Unlike God, they may choose to be unforgiving.  If that happens give it back to God and continue mending the relationship.

There is a delightful children’s song that says: Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.  Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.  For the Father up above is looking down in love.  Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.

Psalm 19:14  May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.

Heavenly Father, creator of all words and languages, Lord of my life, forgive me for words hastily spoken.  Control my words (and thoughts) toward or about others.  Let my life be acceptable to You.  Make it so!

All God’s Children

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While we were waiting for church to start this morning Taylor asked if I had some paper so she could draw. I watched her draw a cross and underneath she wrote Jesus’s cross. Next to the cross she drew Jesus . He was holding Taylor’s hand, she was holding Marlee’s hand & she was holding Morgan’s hand… Then she told me it was hers & Morgan’s job to help teach Marlee about Jesus & to let her know that He is always holding their hands. She then drew a picture of Bro. Kenny preaching to the congregation … her mommy, Morgan, Taylor, Nana & Pawpaw. It is amazing how much they learn & how quickly they pick it up. My girls are so bright, caring & loving especially to Marlee. I love these girls so much.

This beautiful word picture was painted by a dear friend in Alabama.  I loved it when she posted it on Facebook and have her permission to share it in this blog.  (The picture above is not the one the girls drew.)

It is so easy to read Matthew 19:13-15 and think I’m no longer a child.  That’s really not true.  We are all God’s children.  He wants us to come to Him regularly and learn from Him.  We tend, as adults, to become so independent that trusting anyone but ourselves is a rarity.  Proverbs 3:5 says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’.  That’s what Jesus is saying to ALL His children, trust Me, count on Me, lean on Me, I AM what you are searching for, I will hold your hands anytime you need Me.

Heavenly Father as I lift these words in the Name of Jesus, keep me constantly aware that I am Your child.  Throughout this day help me to trust You, to lean on You, to hold Your always extended hand.  Your awesomeness thrills me.  YOU ARE!

Attention!

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attention icon.

How does God get your attention?  Does He quietly grab you in the calm of a new morning?  Does He speak through another person on a life issue?  Does He give you a ‘DeNozo’ (a tap on the head to say – – really?!)

Why does He need to get our attention?  In the day-to-day stuff of living we tend to start depending on ourselves to much and He needs to remind us who is really in control.  Through the phone ringing, dishes, laundry, taking the cat to the vet, mowing the lawn, waiting in line, daily issues He wants us to remember He is there.

So, then, how do we react?  Are we angry, irritated, grouchy, grumpy….  When these attention grabbing issues happen we often display whatever is in our hearts/minds at that point.  Proverbs 23:7 reminds us that what we think is who we are.  Jesus said in Luke 6:45 that a man speaks out of the nature of the heart.

Long Lines for the Bus

Do we consider these reminders of God’s control as a part of our daily joy?  James 1:2 says to consider it pure joy when we face trials of any kind.  Imagine what might happen if you’re having one of those days where the irritations start upon waking and just continue to pile up and you remember to ‘consider it pure joy’.  Would that change our behavior, demeanor, and attitude?  Hm-m-m-m-m–m-m

More than anything God wants us to become totally dependent on Him for every one of life’s issues.  He wants us to come to Him when we’re tired of the drama and the interruptions.  He is waiting to hear every good and bad part of our day.   He wants us!

Almighty, Most Holy Father,  my life is Yours.  I place all my good and bad in Your hands.  Take control of all today’s issues.  Let me find joy in everything that will happen.  Let me know Your Presence.  Keep me connected to You in every part of this day.  Make it so!