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.

5-Sentence Friday

I’m trying something new.  One of the on-line gurus I follow (Ruth Soukup) commented in a recent blog post that she had read there should only be 5 sentences in an e-mail.  So my creative mind went to work and came up with an idea.  Why not write a Friday blog that will have only 5 sentences.  I’ll choose a Bible verse each Friday and give you 5 sentences with my personal thoughts on it.  Here goes…

But whoever keeps His Word, truly in him the love of God is perfected.  1 John 2:5

To keep His Word we have to know it.

Although I can’t be perfect God’s love is.

Keeping His Word is a daily process of reading it, studying it, and thinking about it.

I am more aware of what God wants me to do in life situations when I can apply His words to them.

God’s perfect love, perfected in me and shining through me, will draw others to Him.

And that my friends is 5-Sentence Friday # 1.  What do you think?  Is it a keeper?  What does the verse I chose mean to you?1

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Airship Genesis – Kids Study Bible – Book Review

As a retired teacher, I am always interested in what’s new in kids books.  When this came to my attention I was delighted to review it.  I’ve long respected David Jeremiah and knew something having his name on it would be quality material. I was not disappointed.

Clicking on the picture will take you to Amazon.com. I receive no remuneration for your purchase.

I also asked several children in my local church to look through it, read some of it and tell me what they thought.  Those in the 12 to 14 age bracket liked it but found it too juvenile for their tastes.  Those in the 8 to 12 age bracket loved it.  Loved the pictures and extra stories.  However, they found the actual scripture (NKJV) difficult.  Having a website they could go to for more information was very appealing to them.  All in all their review was very positive.

As I scanned through, reading my favorite books for flavor and concept I found some great ideas that could even be used in an adult study Bible.

  • New Testament concepts and teachings were embedded in the Old Testament.
  • Print size is great for kids.  Not to small.  Not to large.
  • Useful information at just the right point, in eye-catching color, that gets the readers attention and enhances the message.
  • Memory verses, useful for life application, were highlighted in red.

Choosing the NKJV for this Bible may keep some young readers from even trying.  The NKJV is written at an average 7th-grade reading level.  Children at 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-grade levels, the recommended group, find upper reading levels difficult to read and process.

Except for the choice of translations, I found this Bible a true delight.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Thomas Nelson and BookLook Bloggers. 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.”

Musical Prayers

Do you include music in your prayer time?  I do.  Years ago I heard a Bible Teacher say she used her dog walking time as Praise time by singing her favorites while she walked.  I thought, Hey! I can do that.  Click on the picture to enjoy some of my favorites:

Ancient Words

Ancient Words

 

Better Than A Hallelujah - Amy Grant

Better Than A Hallelujah – Amy Grant

God of This City - Chris Tomlin

God of This City – Chris Tomlin

Here’s another idea for your quiet time.  Copy your favorite hymn lyrics and pray through them.  Example:

On Bended knee I come, with a humble heart I come, bowing down before Your holy throne.   Lifting holy hands to You As I pledge my love anew.  I worship You in spirit.  I worship You in truth.  Make my life a holy praise unto You. (On Bended Knee I Come by Don Moen)

(Prayer for On Bended Knee)  Heavenly Father I come before the Throne, bowing before Your majesty and greatness.  I lift my hands in praise and worship, giving You all of me.  My life.  My love.  My everything. Lord, You are all the truth I need.  Fill me with Your Spirit.  Only You are worthy of my praise and I give it will all my heart.

Or, choose some of your favorite solo guitar, piano, harp, orchestra, whatever instrument(s) you like best, put your earbuds in, sit in your favorite chair or place, and BE STILL.

Instrumental Songs of Worship for Quiet Moments (Piano)

Acoustic Guitar Instrumental Worship Songs

Many hours of Christian Instrumental Music

 

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

Friday Faves

I haven’t done a list of my top 3 favorite blog posts for quite some time.  As I read the title of Melanie’s article I was intrigued.  One of the members of the Sunday School class I teach likes to try to get me going with the question, ‘If God knows everything, why bother?’ Or something similar to that. God knows what choice we’ll make in every situation but we still have a choice. Check out Why Should We Pray (if God Already Knows Everything Anyway)?

 

 

 

Happy Anniversary to Deb Wolf and her husband!  They’ve made it to 45 years and are looking into the future.  Her 10 tips are among the same life concepts that have helped Ray and I in our 45-year journey. (April 8th we will celebrate that milestone, too.)  Enjoy this article from one of my favorite bloggers!

 

 

 

 

Finally! A review of The Shack that doesn’t bash it to pieces because it isn’t theology accurate.  Finally!  WooHoo!  I’ve read the book and loved it.  Why? Because it attempts to show God the way I believe Him to be.  The Creator of both men and women in His image. (see Genesis 1:27)  I loved it because it shows what mercy and forgiveness are meant to look like.  And I fully expect the movie to be totally awesome.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

Delight!

salem

In the course of my lifelong search for what Love really is God has given many examples of it.  We recently had guests for lunch and their youngest son was totally enamored with our black cat’s choice of sleeping/hiding places.  He (the cat in the picture above) loves to be totally covered up under quilts, blankets, pillows…actually under anything.  We would pull back the throw, that the cat was sleeping under, and all Isaiah could see was two green eyes peering back and he would laugh that delighted two-year-old laugh.  I could hear God in that laugh and knew that He was once again giving me a personal glimpse of Him through a child’s delighted laugh.

Psalm 149:4 tells us the LORD takes great delight in us.  He shows us how much He loves us in the many things around us.  Like a child’s delighted laugh, hummingbirds at the feeders, the shapes and colors of nature, people who model His many attributes, and… Watch for the LORD’s delighted love.  It’s everywhere!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

This is a reblog from a post on August 11, 2011.