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.

God’s Love

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Do you ever have moments when something you’ve read in the word many times has new meaning?  God’s word is new every morning.

Understanding God’s love for me (and You) is nearly impossible. Think about it. It’s too much. It’s higher, longer, broader, greater, extravagant, extreme, lavish, unconditional, unending…  His love is more than the width of His arms stretched out on that cross. If that is possible!

He wants us to know that in this incredibly unloving world His love is always there, always available, always within reach, always…  FREE! For Him, it cost his most precious Son. For us it is free. He wants to give it. We cannot earn it. We cannot buy it. We can only accept it. Have you?

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

I’ve written these thoughts in response to week 5 of Deb Wolf’s 52-Week Devotional Journal for Women.

Thank you to Bible Gateway for the links to God’s Word.

Transformed

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I chose transformed as my word for the year and have been delighted at the number of verses that apply to it.

Having God change the way I think was a big part of my selection. I want every thought and every word to be acceptable and agreeable to the One and Only!

 

 

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

God’s Girl

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I love to go to seminars! I love hearing excellent God-speakers and enjoying the company of other believers. There is something really awesome about worshipping with thousands of women. Don’t get me wrong. I worship with my husband and the men of my church every Sunday and love every minute. But there’s just something special about worshipping with girls. I love it that God made me a woman.

Several years ago the topic of one of these seminars (Beth Moore, 2014 Simulcast, Fort Wayne, IN) was being women of God. During that time of worship, these words were spoken, together, by 11,000 women (and a few brave men).

I am a WOMAN OF GOD. REDEEMED by JESUS CHRIST. LOVED, PURSUED, and CHOSEN, EQUIPPEDwith WORDS OF LIFE. Clothed in STRENGTH and DIGNITY, commissioned HERE and NOW. GIFTED by the SPIRIT, FORGIVEN, and UNBOUND!

I have these words framed and placed on the wall above my desk. To remind me how much He loves me. He has made me His child. I am His little Princess. He loves me so much. He protects me from all directions – my front, back, top, bottom, and sides. He wants to guide my thoughts, words, and actions.

Isaiah 41:10 tells us what God, the King, wants for us.

  1. He wants us to keep in mind that He is always present. There is no need for fear.
  2. Discouragement cannot/does not exist in the presence of the Great Encourager.
  3. He has already won every battle we will ever face.
  4. He gives us all the strength we will need for every endeavor.
  5. In every situation His help is immediate.
  6. He is, has been, and always will be, victorious!

Abba, Father, I give You all my trials, troubles, and discouragement. Deafen my ears and mind to those thoughts that are planted by the evil one. Let me hear only Your voice. Thank You for adopting me and making me Your princess.   Amen! Yes!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

This post was inspired by Deb Wolf’s 52-Week Devotional Journal For Women. 

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Roar-chestra

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Some of the best years of my life were spent as an Elementary Music Teacher. Of course, I was always on the look-out for new ways of teaching the basics of music. Wouldn’t you know I would find a very usable book for the classroom after I had moved on to another education career?

This delightful book is perfect for introducing some of the basic words used by the instrumentalists in the orchestra. It is cleverly devised to show different animals that match the action words. The author uses sleeping animals to show the concept of the word adagio and animals that can move swiftly to portray allegro. The illustrations are fun to look at and clearly show how the animal’s movements match the Italian word.

I highly recommend this delightful book for the classroom and home. Although recommended for ages 3 to 7, I think most Elementary students would enjoy it. After all, teachers, we never have enough books. Right?

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Net Galley/Kids Can Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Whatever

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Have you ever given serious thought to your thoughts? Are your thoughts always focused on God? Are they always positive? I’m pretty sure the answer to all these questions is no! Among the 80+ verses in God’s Word about thoughts, a couple really stick out to me.

Give some thought to the one on the right. Whatever is in my mind is going to be expressed in my words, my actions, my relationships, actually, in all of me! I’ve always known my thoughts control my actions but only recently have I realized that every bit of me is controlled by what is going on in my mind. Not just the biological, scientific, control of my body, but the every moment activities, ideas, plans…

 

 

And so, I thought, what am I going to do with that? One of my go-to verses is Philippians 4:8. Whenever I find myself thinking about things that are not worthy of being the King’s daughter I focus on these words.

One of the things I have done for many years, actually since I read Ann Voskamp’s one thousand gifts, is to keep a journal of blessings and thanks. These include thoughts of family, friends, and events, as well as some really original blessings that have crossed my mind. Like:

Warm hospital blankets

Quietly colorful aquariums

Singing What A Friend We Have In Jesus with my friends at my piano

Snow diamonds (Yes, He loves me that much!)

Detroit Tigers beating the Cleveland Indians

I think you get the idea. By keeping this journal I deliberately focus on the good all around me. I highly recommend committing to writing your blessings down. It’s refreshing and revealing to look back and see what has been a blessing over the years. (And your children will love it when you leave it in your will. Just sayin’.)

Abba, Father, thank You for all the ways you are transforming my mind. Help me to dwell on whatever You say is right, ignoring the world and focusing only on You! 

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

I wrote this in response to Week 3 of Deb Wolf’s 52-Week Devotional Journal for Women. It’s a really great way to connect with God!

Check out Whatever by clicking on the word highlighted in blue. There are more thoughts here on Philippians 4:8.