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.

How Can I Be More Like Jesus?

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If you’re much like me you’ve given a lot of thought to becoming more like Jesus. To emulate (copy) another person’s characteristics is the greatest compliment you can give them.  One of the ways to do that is to know His attributes.  Now to do them all would take an entire library so I’ve selected just a few to consider.

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LOVE  Doing what is best for others without expecting anything in return.                             1 Corinthians 13:4:7-8

JOY  Real happiness in every part of God’s creation.  Nehemiah 8:10

PEACE  A sense of tranquility which is a result of resting in His Spirit.  John 14:7

PATIENCE  Accepting all situations, even the really difficult ones, as part of God’s plan.  Ephesians 4:2

KINDNESS  A loving attitude toward all.  Ephesians 4:32

CONTENTMENT  Accepting God’s provision in whatever measure He gives. 2 Timothy 6:6-7

HOLINESS  Set apart to join Him in His activities.  2 Corinthians 7:3

SENSITIVITY  Opening our hearts and minds to compassion for those around us.  Romans 12:5

JUST  Doing what is right. Romans 2:11

SUBMISSION  Yielding to God’s authority in all things. Ephesians 5:21

GRACE  God’s free and undeserved favor.  2 Corinthians 12:9

There are so many more than these.  It’s interesting that each of us, through the Holy Spirit, has them all.  It really is our choice whether or not we let them shine through and out.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Delight

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eyes-218185_960_720We 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) 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 he 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.

For the Lord takes delight in His people

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 so much more. Watch for the LORD’s delighted love.  It’s everywhere!

Heavenly Father, Creator of all this is was and ever will be, open my heart, mind and soul to Your delight.  Give me the supernatural ability so see You in all of Your Creation.  Make it so in Jesus name.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

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There are so many beautiful Irish Blessings and Prayers.  I thought you might enjoy seeing a few that are not the traditional.

clover-1263125_960_720May God fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope.

May you live as long as you want

 

 

 

 

 

clover-1263125_960_720May your days be many and your troubles be few.                         May all God’s blessings descend upon you.                                   May peace be within you.  May your heart be strong.                     May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam.

The LORD bless you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Amazing

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YAA_LifeGrowth_Guide_Cover_1024x1024Have you ever picked up a book to read that spoke to you right where you are?  I recently received a copy of Holley Gerth’s Life Growth Guide and that’s exactly what happened.  I had been wanting to find a book that I could walk through, step-by-step, a series of questions, that would help me discover the person I knew God knows me to be. This book definitely fit that criteria.

This book is designed to align with the book You’re Already Amazing.  It also has a series of videos that fit with the scope of the study.  It is full of questions that demand a response so that you can get to the heart of who you were designed to be and what God’s purpose is for your life.  These are not simple, yes/no questions.  They are designed to move smoothly toward discovering the ‘real’ you.

In learning about my skills, strengths, and styles I discovered parts of myself that I really hadn’t given much thought too.  Here are some quotes and thoughts that stood out to me…

God’s voice needs to be the loudest ‘voice’ we hear.

“All of the roles we have in this life are temporary.  Who God made you is eternal. (pg. 66)

There’s nothing God and I can’t do together!

It’s OK not to tolerate bullying or belittling behavior from other people.  It’s best to say, “When you are ready to speak or act differently we can move on.”

Knowing who I am and using that for God’s glory allows me to thrive.

“God doesn’t want you to be like anyone but Jesus…” (pg. 110)

Think smaller!  Turn large projects into smaller segments.

“A purposeful existence never happens by accident.” (pg. 134)

One of my favorite parts of this book is when Ms. Gerth says it’s OK to use an unlined journal in which to write your to-do list.  I must say I totally related to that.  I’m a circle, bubbles, and odd angles kind of girl and the concept really resonated with me.  I’m going to go out and find a blank page journal.

All in all this study was worth every minute of the time it took to work through.  I can hardly wait to share it with other women.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

I received a copy of this book and the accompanying DVD in return for my review from Holley Gerth/Revell Books/Baker Publishing. I receive no other remuneration. The words you have read here are totally my own thoughts.

 

Voices

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Do you hear voices….?  We all do!  All those thoughts and ideas that roll around in our minds, competing for first place, sometimes shouting, others whispering, making us the person we are at the moment …  Most importantly, in all the clamoring and cacophony, are you hearing God’s voice?  God’s voice needs to be the loudest ‘voice’ we hear.

How to really ‘hear’ God’s voice…that is really the question.

Create a place of stillness.  Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still and know Him.  He can’t be heard above the din of the world and the thoughts that go with living in it.  Quiet your mind and your heart.  How does that work?  I have a window in my study that my reading chair faces.  All I have to do is look up and out and there is a tree that personifies God’s creation.  Every season, spring, summer, winter, fall, it’s there.  A spirit of peace, calm, assurance, love, descends to my spot and I know He is God.

Cultivate an attitude of trust.  There is no way to hear God’s voice if we don’t trust that His voice is the only one we want to listen to.  Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in Him with our whole heart.  (Not just a piece of it but every part of it.)  It goes on to say (my words) don’t trust your own understanding (thoughts).  Our culture teaches an attitude of independence that contradicts the dependence on God that allows us to totally trust Him.

Learn of Him.  Do you really know all there is to know about God and His Word?  Probably not!  None of us do.  I suspect that if you’re reading this you want to know more.  Psalm 32:8 tells us, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”  Did you get that?  He wants to be our personal teacher.  Not only that, He already knows what we need to hear and learn.  Wow!  A personal, life coach!  All that’s required of us is to HEAR Him.

Pay attention!  Block that voice that says quit wasting your time on that stuff.  There’s a report that has to be written before the day is over.  There’s laundry, lawn mowing, dishes, dusting, and a zillion other chores and distractions.  Hebrews 2:1 tells us that we must pay closer attention to what we have heard (about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Word).  If we don’t we’ll start drifting off.  We have to use all we have at our disposal to ensure that we are really listening.

It is totally possible and probable that you already know the sound of His voice.  Give it your total attention.  He wants you to hear Him.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Abba, let me hear Your voice.  Let me know and trust You.  Take away outside influence and noise so that my attention can be totally on you!  Make it so in Jesus name.

alatsee-968598_960_720This beautiful song reflects this post beautifully.  Just click on the picture to listen.

 

 

This post is in support of Holley Gerth’s new study, https://player.vimeo.com/video/152491133“>You’re Already Amazing Life Growth Guide.  It will be released on March 1st.  Watch for the review!