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.

Who Has Your Back?

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Who has your back? Who’s on your six? Do you realize that in putting on the armor there is no mention of our backs ,  perhaps for good reason.   Let’s take a look at  Ephesians 5:10-18.

We are first commanded to put on the FULL armor of God.  All of it!  Not just once, but twice. When we have it all on we can stand against the evil one and the evil forces of this world.  Did you see the word stand.  No sitting down to get the job done.

Belt of truthThe Belt of Truth   Refers to personal integrity, i.e., knowing the truth and speaking the truth.  Simply put – Don’t lie.

 

Beastplate of righteousnessThe Breastplate of Righteousness   What is righteousness?  Honoring God by making the right choices.

 

 

800px-Caligae_from_sideFitted Feet   It was absolutely imparative that a soldier would have the solid footing given by strong and fitted sandals.  Then he could stand strong and move as needed to defeat the enemy.  The rest of this verse refers to the spreading the Gospel of Peace which is a reference to sharing the Word whenever the opportunity arises.  In other words – Be ready to talk about God.

shield-158587_960_720Shield of Faith  In battle the shield can be moved in any direction to deflect arrows, rocks, anything thrown at you.  Shields of ancient times were made of leather and soaked with water to extinguish fire.  The shield saves the soldier from harm just like our faith does for us.

 

160px-Helmet_typ_Weissenau_01Helmet of Salvation   The helmet obviously protects the head.  Simply said – God protects me.

 

 

300px-Uncrossed_gladiusSword of the Spirit  The sword is the only piece of offensive gear in this list.  All the others are used defensively.  It is used to reflect the Word of God.

 

 

And then we are to pray.  In any and all ways in the Spirit for all occasions for everything and everyone.  When this process is complete we are ready to face anything the evil one can throw at us.

But wait!  What about our backs?  Who has our back?  Quite simply, God does.  When confronting an enemy in battle our body is in a face forward position.  If someone sneaks in from behind we turn around.  The evil one is too vain to stay hidden, he wants to be seen eventually.  When all is said and done, God is really all around us.  Front, back, side, top, bottom…

Heavenly Father, help us to use the armor You have provided.  Give us strength, courage, faith, and wisdom.  Help us stay firmly rooted in Your Word, surrounded by Your love.  Lead us forward in the full knowledge that the battle is already won.  Make it so in Jesus name.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

You can also find this post in Pondering and Prayer.

Listen! Concentrate! Pay Attention!

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Listen!  Can you hear Me?  Do you know the sound of My voice?  Hey you!  Paying total attention to someone requires all of everything we have focused on the One who is speaking.  Eyes on theirs.  Ears hearing every nuance of the words.  Mind totally focused on the subject.  It’s hard but it’s worth it!

Solomon was giving some fatherly advice in Proverbs 4:20-22 when he said:

Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice.  Keep My message in plain view at all times.  Concentrate!  Learn it by heart!  Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health.                                                                               (The Message)

Do you know the voice of God?  Adam and Eve did.  When He called to them in the garden they knew right away that it was Him. (Genesis 3:8-9)  We know certain people’s voices even when we’re not looking at them, at a distance, in a crowded room, anywhere.  God wants us to know His voice in every place and circumstance.  How do we hear His voice?  By knowing His Word.  Yes, memorizing it!  Thinking about it!  Reading it!

So, what do we get out of it?  A body and soul that’s healthy, really healthy.  The roadmap to living.  Not just breathing in and out but a life that is fully aware of all that is going on around us and answers to the hard questions.  It’s all there.  All in the Bible.  All we have to do is open the book and start reading and memorizing.

Father, You and You alone are all that matter.  Your Word is my life guide, my way to knowing You.  Open my heart and mind to every word.  You have breathed every single word so I can know You and what You want of Your child.  Thank YOU!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Here’s another post on the same subject: Calming The Restless Mind

You can also find this post on the Pondering and Prayer page.

James My Go-to Book

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book-1156001_960_720Do you have a favorite book in the Bible?  One that you can turn to and know that you’ll find new insight into living the way God wants?  James is my go-to book.  It’s the first book I read when I get a new Bible.  It’s underscored, highlighted, marked up, and has notes in the margins.  It speaks something new to me every time I read it.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.  So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.  Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father.  He loves to help.  You’ll get His help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.  Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.  People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves.  Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.                                         James 1:2-8  (The Message)

Right away we’re told we’ll have tests and challenges.  Why?  So we are forced to be faithful and let others see Jesus in us.  Then, in the next paragraph,  we’re told to pray when we aren’t sure.  Pray with hearts and minds wide open.  Not just saying the words but with the expectation that He WILL answer.  And He will!  He wants to help us!

Abba, Father, hear my prayer.  In all the confusion and challenges of life hear me.  Help me show You to the world around me.  Let my faith shine!  Make it so in Jesus’ Name.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

You can read more short devotionals in Pondering and Prayers

 

 

How To Worship Well

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Are you bored in Worship?  Critical?  Self-seeking?  Do you bring your best offerings, words and thoughts before the Throne?

God spoke some strong words to Malachi on this issue.  He’s very clear in Malachi 1:11-14

“I am honored all over the world.  And there are people who know how to worship Me all over the world, who honor Me by bringing their best to Me.  They’re saying it everywhere: God is greater, this GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies!  All except you.  Instead of honoring Me, you profane Me.  You profane Me when you say, “Worship is not important, and what we bring to worship is of no account, and when you say, I’m bored–this doesn’t do anything for me.  You act so superior, sticking your noses in the air–act superior to ME, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies!  And when you do offer something to Me, it’s a hand-me-down, or broken, or useless.  Do you think I’m going to accept it?  This is God speaking to you!  A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for Me–an expensive sacrifice, say–and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless!  I’m a great king, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, honored for and wide, and I’ll not put up with it!  (The Message)

What does He want?

1-He considers Worship of utmost importance and wants us to place top priority on it.

2-All that we bring to Worship is important.  Our thoughts, our offerings, ourselves, EVERYTHING.

3-Boredom is the choice of the worshipper and NOT one He wants us making.

4-We are to give our best!  Nothing used, broken or less than our best!

Our worship is to be all about Him, blocking out problems, plans, and people and focusing totally on Him.

Heavenly Father, Jehovah Sabaoth, You and You alone are my God, my King.  I will worship You with all of my heart, mind, and soul.  Give me the ability to give You my absolute best.  Make it so in Jesus Holy Name!

WIP Wednesday

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It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted anything about cross stitching or crafting.  I really have been busy stitching and knitting and crocheting.  I’ve finished two crocheted dishcloths, a shrug that I’ve been knitting on for more than a year and was actually able to wear it for Christmas and the stitching I’ll be showing below.

WIP Januare 16 dThis piece is my own chart from a picture that Lori Brechlin at the Not Forgotten Farm drew and gave to her followers to use as they wanted.   I decided to create a counted cross stitch piece from it.   You can find it at Threads on facebook.  I’ve included the chart at the bottom of this post so if you’d like to stitch it go for it.  You’ll notice I made a slight change in the finished project.  It will work better for the small pillow I’m making from it.  (It has not been cleaned or pressed yet but I’ll be sure to put the finish here.)

WIP Januare 16 eAs you know I am part of a 10-month round robin group.  I’ve had the pleasure of stitching on some really beautiful samplers.  This one is Simply Jane Austin by the Sampler Girl.  My part of this one is the bottom right corner, ‘marry for love not money’ with the basket of flowers.

 

 

 

 

WIP Januare 16 cMy niece is getting married soon so I am stitching this sweet little marriage record.  It’s by Demensions/Gold Collection.  I love the way they organize their floss.  It really makes it easier to separate strands.

WIP Januare 16 bMy youngest sister asked me to stitch a cover for her new Bible.  It has soft leather binding and she wants it to be a bit stiffer.  I’m using plastic canvas for this project and my own design.

 

 

 

 

 

WIP Januare 16 aLast, but certainly not least, I’ve been working on my Smokey Mountain Cats.  I love stitching on this and can hardly wait to finish it so I can hang it in the blue bathroom.   (I know, I have a ways to go.)

 

 

I do most of my stitching while watching television.  Which gives me 2 to 3 hours a day of serious work.  During baseball season it’s usually more.  Can hardly wait to see my Tigers on the field again.  They’re Grrrrrrrr8!

Keep on stitching!

Marie

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