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.

Being Holy

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What is being holy all about? We are called to be holy. I have thought and thought about this thing of being holy for a very long time. I thought I didn’t have it, but I really wanted it.

God said, in the first verse of Leviticus 19, “Be holy, because I am holy!” He then goes on to tell us how to do that. I know Leviticus is not one of the modern Believer’s favorite books. It’s full of rules and customs and laws that are ancient, and, well we’re New Testament Believers, right?

I used a bit of sarcasm here because Jesus definitely had something to say about that. He said, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come—it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them and to make them all come  true.” Matthew 5:17NLV  

I hope you will take the time to read the whole chapter of Leviticus 19. It’s amazing!  (Just click on the blue letters and it will take you to Bible Gateway.) There are so many answers to our culture’s questions about what God says about so many issues. When God said, “Be holy, because I am holy”, He didn’t just leave it at that. He went on to explain in the next verses how to do that. I picked out 10 that stood out to me. I’ve paraphrased some of them for you:

1. Worship God ONLY

2. Keep the Sabbath. God does not say worship on the Sabbath. He says rest on the Sabbath. The expectation here is we can and should worship every day. But since we work every day we need to rest so we have the energy to do our jobs effectively. God knew that so He said, do it.

3. Give your offering sacrificially. Remember the woman with the 2 mites. It was all she had so she gave all she had.

4. Obey His commandments. Yes, all 10 of them!

5. Do not use His Name for anything but worship. This OMG stuff is completely unacceptable to Him. When I hear it or see it the Spirit within me cringes.

6. Care for the needy. That’s why we have the admonition to leave the edges of the fields unharvested. It’s a really creative way to give to the needy. Those who need it can harvest it.

7. Be just. Don’t skew the law because of race, color, creed, wealth, age… or just because you want it your way.

8. Be loving and treat all with respect. I discovered early on, in my teaching career, that respecting my students made a huge difference in what they learned.

9. Do not lie! Can we please go back to just saying what is true? Political correctness and tolerance for everything and anything are way out of control.

10 Avoid hate, violence, and sexual immorality.  We are living in a time where these sins are rampant. Stay away from all three!

So how do we ‘become’ holy? It really is a daily process. It doesn’t just happen when the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. There’s more to it. Holiness requires some thought and work. We are called, invited, and commanded to make holiness a part of our lives.

He created us in His image. He wants us to show the World who He is.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Watch Your Tongue

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One of our biggest mistakes is thinking our words don’t matter. Yes, they do!

God created us with the ability to speak. We are the only part of His creation that can choose the words we say. Our words can lift up and tear down. Our words have the power of life and death. (Proverbs 18:21)

James 3:7-8 tells us that even though we can tame all the rest of creation we cannot do so with our tongues, the words we speak. So how do we control this small part of our bodies? Let me say this with as much love in my words as possible. We can’t do it alone! Matthew 19:26 holds the answer. Jesus, using words that give great hope, said this, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

There’s the answer! Give it to God! Ask for His forgiveness. Apologize and ask for the forgiveness of the person you have harmed with your words. Then, give God praise for His forgiveness.

Abba, Father, give us strength to control what we say. Guide our words. As David says in Psalm 119:133, “Direct my footsteps according to Your Word, let no sin rule over me.” Make it so in the Precious and Holy Name of Your Son, Jesus.

Guide Me!

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I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32:8

God breathed these words into David’s heart. This King of Israel knew he could do nothing without God’s guidance. It’s the same for us!

Abba, Father, teach me what I need to know. Direct me on the path You have chosen. Open my heart, mind, and soul to Your voice.

20 Ways To Practice Lifestyle Evangelism

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Marie's avatarA Satisfied Spirit

Are you looking for creative ways to show Whose you are?  Here are a few I’ve used.  Add your suggestions in the comments.

Wear a piece of jewelry that invites discussion.

Take a glass of something cold to your neighbor, or the person doing lawn work, etc.

Visit someone in a hospital or nursing home that doesn’t get visitors.

Call to say I’m thinking of you.

Volunteer!

Invite the person who is sitting alone (in church, in a restaurant) to sit with you.

When someone’s name pops into your mind send them an ‘I’m thinking of you’  note.

Follow through when you’ve said you would do something.  If you said I’ll call, then call.

Don’t hesitate to pray anywhere and anytime you’re asked. 

Be sincere in your compliments.  People can always tell when you’re ‘just sayin’.

Ask someone you don’t know (while at the doctors, grocery, or other public places)…

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Never Alone

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We live in a world of more than 8 billion people (7.87 billion in 2021). With that many people, why is it so common to feel alone at times?

God creates loneliness in us so we will seek Him. When we do this He gives us wisdom and understanding. (Proverbs 4:5) When we are troubled, stressed, and just plain tired He gives us strength. (1 Chronicles 16:11)

Merriam-Webster defines this feeling as being without company/cut off from others. In Hebrew, it can also mean solitude and desert.

Yet, this (God) was something Jesus sought often. In nine different passages of the Gospels, He goes to a solitary place to seek God. (I’m sure there were more!) Why? Because He needed to set apart alone time, to be away from other people and distractions, to seek His Father’s will. (Luke 9:18)

We are rewarded when we diligently seek God. (Hebrews 11:6) When we spend set apart time with Him what we ask we will receive, what we seek we will find, when we knock He will open the door. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Abba, Father, help us recognize that our feelings of aloneness are invitations from You to talk. Open our hearts to Your welcoming voice. Comfort us and give us the peace that comes from being in Your Presence.