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.

Friday Faves

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thmb572ca55393568Happy Friday!  It’s been a very trying week.  I’ve been ill, really sick, for most of the week.  You know the kind of sick that stops everything in its tracks and leaves you so weak all you can do is just lie down and hope it passes soon.  It also gave me way to much time to think about an incident that happened last week.  Don’t delude yourself into believing that only kids are bullied.  I really didn’t recognize it as such until I read this awesome post by Mindy over at the Oil of Myrrh Blog.   satan uses our insecurities to give power to others.  Let me tell you that will stop right now.  Praise God!

Target4Rebekah at Ready To Be Offered has written a post of which we should all be taking note. In Target, Transgenderism, and Toughest Love she comments, “…Christ’s sacrifice  was too costly — and I cheapen grace when I make light of His Word by supporting those who do–”  Her choice to not support large businesses that support the LGBT life-style is encouraging and timely.  Well written Rebekah!

praise-1154566_960_720Can you imagine a world that was hopeful, compassionate, full of grace and mercy, thinking of the other person first, forgiving, loving and prayerful?  This beautiful post at Chasing Holiness uses Francesca Battistelli’s beautiful song Holy Spirit as the framework for a series of ‘what if’ questions that would be world changing if practised.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

 

Search Me

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bible-1089930__180Search me, O God, and know my heart;  test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive (wicked) way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.   Psalm 139:23-24

When was the last time you dedicated time to searching your heart for offense and wickedness?  What would happen if we were to do that on a regular basis?   If you’re ready to do a little (a lot of) soul searching read on.

Many times our anxious thoughts come from an unforgiving heart.  If we are refusing to forgive, for any reason, that is offensive to God.

bible-216962__180For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  Matthew 6:14-15

Did you notice verse 15.  If I (you) do not forgive others He will not forgive me (you). Those are powerful words.  I can’t bear the thought of not being forgiven, can you?

Are there situations and issues in your life that you think are unfair and you are unwilling to forgive those who have harmed you?  Of course, there are.  Everyone has them.  There are people and actions that seem, or really are, unfair and out of our control at the time they happen.  What should we be doing about that?  Let God have total control of all that happens to us, against, for us, without us…   Give it to God!   Ask Him to make you totally aware of any anger, bitterness, resentment, or envy you are harboring against anyone.  Only when the burden is given to Him can we move forward and forgive.

bible-102684_960_720Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit in me.  Psalm 51:10

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

Friday Faves

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I read many blogs throughout the week and thought you might like to check some of these out.  Don’t you love it that the internet is providing a way to connect with people of like interests all over the world?  What a blessing!

scissors-1126805_960_720The first blog post I’m recommending is at Journey of the Word.  There are some places in the Bible that verses are left out.  Want to know why?  Check it out on this post.  It’s short, sweet, and to the point.

 

bring-mayberry-backThe How To Guru makes a very compelling argument to look at Mayberry again and apply the characteristics of this 60’s TV show to life today.  She’s spot on with 8 usable and doable challenges.

 

 

spouseimage

Have you given much thought to the qualities you’d like to see in your spouse and the future spouse of your children?  Check out Chuck and Ruth Gangard’s post at The Vine Press. 

 

 

Most-people-say-they-would-like-to-have-a-more-engaged-prayer-life.-Check-out-these-10-ways-to-add-life-to-your-prayers...I read Deb’s posts at Counting My Blessings every time they pop up in my email. There’s always a great thought or idea.  Today she’s talking about putting life in your prayer life.

 

yard-yahtzee6-682x1024I do enjoy being outdoors and finding this post in the 100 Happy Days Blog Hop was a delightful surprise.  I’m sure we’ll be using Yard Yahtzee at home and VBS and church picnic and family reunion…  What fun!

 

 

I do hope you’ll take the time to visit all or some of these sites.  There’s some really great writing and ideas here.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

 

 

Me? A Minister?

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Have you ever thought about being a minister?  Do you know that your ministry is one of the most important things you can do for the Kingdom?  Ministers are not only about those that preach every Sunday and serve as pastors of our churches.  They are the everyday people who hear God’s calling, set aside time, and serve in a variety of ministries.

As a result of your ministry they will give glory to God

So what can we do if we hear God calling?  ANSWER!  Say, Lord I’m not sure I can do this but if You think I can then I will.  There are so many possible ministries in the church like Sunday School, Men’s and Women’s ministries, Music, VBS, Upkeep of the building and property… I think we should also be open to ‘outside’ opportunities.  How about things like …

Prison Ministry    Everything from being part of the Chaplains services, leading Bible Studies, writing letters to the inmates.  (One letter saying I’m praying and thinking of you can be the catalyst for change.)

Nursing Home Ministry    It would surprise you how many don’t get visitors.  Volunteer to give a free manicure,  read to a patient who doesn’t see well, play board games and cards, play the piano for a sing-a-long.

Helping Hands Ministries   Can you repair a faucet, mow a lawn, rake some leaves…  Anything you do at your own home is needed by those who can’t do it themselves.  They’re not hard to find.  Look around your neighborhood.  It won’t take long to find someone who needs your help or skills.

Do you know a couple, with a new baby, that needs a night out.  Volunteer to watch the child for 2 or 3 hours so they can continue building a strong relationship.  Don’t charge them but do ask them to pay it forward.

What a blessing we all can be if we just reach beyond our personal boundaries and say, “Yes, Lord! Yes!

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

Life Interupted

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Jonah and the Whale in the Jami' al-tawarikh (c. 1400), Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jonah and the Whale in the Jami’ al-tawarikh (c. 1400), Metropolitan Museum of Art

Have you noticed that when life is going smoothly something happens to interrupt?  It can be something small like the phone ringing when you’re trying to finish a project.  It can be something much larger like a life-threatening disease or accident, severe weather (blizzard, tornado, earthquake), birth, death, loss of a job…  When you start getting a case of the ‘why me’ syndrome give some thought to these lives that were interrupted by God Himself.

Moses             2 forty year visits to the desert

Noah               Stop, drop and build a boat on dry land

Abraham         Leave everything and travel to an unknown location

Sarah              Baby at 90

Joseph            Dropped into a pit and sold as a slave

Mary                Suddenly pregnant

Dramatic and sudden interruptions happen all the time.  Case in point…Jonah.  He was living a great life but God wanted more for him.  So God told him to go to Ninevah.  Jonah wasn’t having any of that.  That city was known as the ‘Sin City’ of that era.  So, Jonah decided to run to another place.  Really!?  Did he really think he could hide from God?  Yes, he did.  While on that journey, in the opposite direction, the ship he was on was hit with a threatening storm.  Those on board determined it was Jonah who was causing the problem, so they threw him overboard.  We know the rest of the story…

Let’s look at this from a different angle.   This is a story of many miracles.  The first two are in verse one.

Jonah 11

First – God spoke!

Second – God allowed a person to hear His voice!

When He allows one of His creation to hear His voice it’s a huge privilege.  We often hear His voice and don’t recognize it.  The difference with us and Jonah is he knew exactly Who was speaking and choose not to obey.

Then, how do we know we’re hearing God?  How do we know He’s interrupting us?  Have you ever been listening to a speaker and the words seem just for you?  Have you been reading the Word and it’s speaking to your heart?  Henry Blackaby says we hear God through His Word, prayer, other Christians, worship, and life circumstances.  God talks to us often through the Holy Spirit living in us and He expects us to listen.

When we hear God what are we to do?  Easy answer, yet hard to follow through.  We’re to drop everything and listen.  He is saying I have a plan and I want you to be part of it.

The interrupted life is not always the big events I mentioned earlier.  It can be a crying child, a husband or wife’s attention, a new friendship, an unexpected phone call, a knock on the door….  God wants us open to His voice!  Anytime!  Anywhere!

He is calling.  Are you listening?

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie