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 To-Do List

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What if God kept a list?  A ‘to-do’ list of sorts?  I’m sure if He did he would have every name of every person that has ever been.  Let’s clear this up.  God does NOT keep a list.  Both the Old and New Testament attest to that.

“But I, yes I, am the one
    who takes care of your sins—that’s what I do.
    I don’t keep a list of your sins.”   Isaiah 43:25

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.     1 Corinthians 13:5-7 

But what if He did keep a list?  Might it look like this?

Adam     Loved & Forgiven

Eve     Loved & Forgiven

Jael     Loved & Forgiven (Judges 4:21)

David     Loved & Forgiven

Daniel     Loved & Forgiven

The Disciples of Jesus     Loved & Forgiven

The Woman at the Well     Loved & Forgiven

Everyone     Loved

All Believers     Loved & Forgiven

Did you catch that?  Everyone is loved by God.  His heart is broken by those who refuse to believe.  Those who will not recognize they are sinners…  Those who simply say there is no God…   Those who say I am more important, intelligent, talented…than the Great I AM…

Even though God does not keep lists, He loves and wants to forgive every person.  He will!  All we need to do is ask.

Abba, Father, give me a heart to reach out to those who do not know You.  Grant me the ability to know when I should share Your love and what I should share of Your Message.  Let me love like You and forgive with total forgetfulness.  Make it so in the Precious Name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior.

Signs

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Sign Collage

Look around!  They’re everywhere!  Stop signs.  Sale signs.  Billboards.  Not just ‘man’ signs.  God did some pretty spectacular ones.  The rainbow.  The Babe in the manger.  Reversing the sun.  What?  Take a look at Isaiah 38:7-8.

Here’s the story in a nutshell.

~Hezekiah got sick.  Isaiah went to visit him and told him he was going to die.

~Hezekiah turned to the wall and prayed, pointing out his righteous life.  He asked for nothing.

~God heard his prayer and gave him 15 more years.

~God said he would give Hezekiah a sign to assure Hezekiah He could and would do what He said He could.  God moved the sun’s shadow 10 notches backward on the sundial.  The near impossibility of that happening then or even now is astronomical.   Even though the people of that time believed the sun moved around the earth it was till going to be a really big event.

Are you watching for His signs?  (I’m not really referring to end times here.)  When God wants our attention He can use several ways to get it.  Working/speaking through other believers – Isaiah spoke God’s message to Hezekiah.  Motivation to pray and seek answers – Hezekiah turned to the wall, toward God in prayer.  Everyday activities, like watching television or listening to music, will start pointing you in the direction God wants you to go.  Discomfort/sickness – Hezekiah was on his death bed.  God signs are visible but we must be watching, waiting, and ready.  All we have to do is look!

Ah, Lord God, open my eyes, my ears, my heart, my mind to where You are working and what You want me to see.  Give me the ability to take all that is going on around me and see it through Your eyes.  Let me hear Your voice as I try to determine the right response.  Give me wisdom and knowledge to see it Your way.  Make it so in Jesus Name.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

I am a part of Holly Garth’s Launch Team for her new book, You’re Already Amazing.  From time to time you will see some of her work in this spot on the blog.  Enjoy it with me.  She is a very gifted writer for such a time as this.

With Jesus

You can also find this post in Pondering and Prayer.

Abba’s Child | Book Review

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Abba's ChildDo you wonder about God’s personal love for us?  Do you have a background of little to no love as a child and have always been searching for it?  Are you a perfectionist with thoughts of I’m just not good enough?  This book might be for you.

God’s love (and grace) has nothing to do with not living up to your own or other’s expectations.  It is simple in its complexity.  It has little, to nothing, to do with you/me and everything to do with the One who forgave every complex bit of ourselves on the cross.  We are so wrapped up in what we think is expected that we choose to lay the burden on others and of course the media.  He loves us and He wants us to converse (i.e., pray) with Him without judging ourselves or letting others judge us.

This book is really about understanding the characteristics that are not particularly valued in our society.  Love, gentleness, lowliness, humility, sharing, tenderness, caring and more.  We have grown up thinking self-sufficiency is of the utmost importance not realizing that the far more important concept (to use an overused cliché) is to ‘let go and let God’.

Forgiveness is another of the characteristics that is not valued.  The book goes into great detail on this subject.  It is impossible to be considered Abba’s Child if we do not learn to forgive.  Whether it is a personal affront, abuse, a legacy of racism, or any other sin against us Jesus says to forgive just like we would be expected to be forgiven.

Abba’s Child is an excellent study in understanding how love, grace, and forgiveness work together.  I highly recommend this book.  It should be read by and on the bookshelves of every believer.

One last thought…Let yourselves be loved!

A copy of this book was provided for me by Tyndale Blog Review Network/NavPress.  No other remuneration was received.  The thoughts and ideas in this review are entirely my own and are based totally on the book.  If you click on the book picture it will take you to NavPress where you can purchase the book. (I am not an affiliate of this company and receive nothing from them for this option.)

I WILL SING

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Let me sing to God all my life long

When are you most happy? Content? Calm?  Are you like David and know God’s closeness and approval through music?

There is a continual musical theme throughout the Bible.  From God speaking the world/universe into order (Which can also be translated ‘singing’.) to the Heavenly Host at the birth of Christ, to the massed choirs of Heaven singing at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.  From Bach to Mozart to Beethoven…Casting Crowns to Selah to Matt Maher it’s all pleasing to Him.

God loves a good song!  For Him.  To Him.  About Him.  He has surrounded Himself with choirs of angels.  He hears the beauty, joy, peace, sadness, melancholy, and delight of each note and sound.  He loves it!

Abba, hear my song.  Let each note, each phrase, each verse be pleasing to Your ears.  Let my life be a continual song of praise to You!  Make it so, Lord!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

You can also find this post in Pondering and Prayer.

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.