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.

Where Are You?

Oh, Jesus, where are you…

z1…when the violence in this world is creating fear and chaos all around?

 

z2…when my heart is aching from yet another stab in the back?

 

z3…when I recognize my sin is more than I can bear?

 

 

z4…when a child is so sick?

 

z5…when the love of my life is losing strength?

 

 

z6…when loneliness is pressing in like the darkness of night?

 

z7…when leadership is not showing faith in You?

 

 

z8…when resources are running low?

 

z9…when there’s no joy or delight in the day?

 

 

 

And He answered…

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  1 Corinthians 10:16

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.  John 14:14 

What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving.  People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works.  Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.  Don’t worry.  Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes, without missing out.  You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.  Matthew 6:31-34  MSG

Heavenly Father, let your Word be constantly on my mind.  Draw me closer and closer to You.  Give me strength, courage and wisdom for all that happens.  Make it so in Jesus name.

5 – Minute Friday TELL

Before I actually start the 5 minute writing segment I have to say I had what I thought was the entire piece written and ready to post yesterday.  For some reason I thought the word was ‘fill’ and even though I knew it was almost the same as ‘filled’ from the week before I thought OK here goes.  I even wrote a poem for the 5 minutes.  But guess what?  That was not the word (But, of course, you already know that.)  I really apologize to those who clicked on the post, before I took it down.  It took you into la-la land, I’ve been told.   Alright.  Enough.  Here’s the real post…

Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law by artist Rembrandt

Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law by artist Rembrandt

Any time I hear the word tell my mind goes to an Adult Sunday School lesson I did on the commands of the New Testament.  We all know there are are 10 Commandments in the Old but I wanted to discover what the New said.  So here it is…When asked what the greatest Commandment is Jesus clearly gave two, love God and love others.  But I just knew there had to be more…

In Matthew 28:16-20 we find the Great Commission.  In it, while telling the disciples how to teach new disciples He clearly says, “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you…”  Along with the commands to love God and love others there are two more in this passage.  Go and tell.

STOP

Now I have to finish because there’s a bit more that needs to be said past the five minutes.

Mark 16:15-18 gives the same  command.  Go into all the world.  Tell them the Story.  And, so, the 4 Commandments of the New Testament are; 1-Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37) 2-Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39) 3-Go and make disciple of all nations. (Matthew 28:19) 4-Tell the Good News to everyone. (Mark 16:15)

Ah, Lord, God, You have given such a simple set of commands.  Father, help me to love You, love others, go and tell.  Stop me from procrastinating on this issue.  Give me strength and courage to do what only You can do through me.  Make it so in Jesus Precious Name.

 

Word-Filled Wednesday Book Review

StonesI really enjoy reading history and novels based on historical events.  Rebekah’s Treasure by Sylvia Bambola did not disappoint.  Ms. Bambola took a great deal of time to research the events happening in Jerusalem and its surrounding towns  in 70 A.D.  The preparation for battle and the battle scenes during the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple were intensely descriptive and although violent, definitely necessary to understanding the story. (The picture to the left is stones from the Western Wall of the Temple Mount (Jerusalem) thrown onto the street by Roman soldiers on the Ninth of Av, 70 A.D.-from Wikipedia photos.)

As the story is developed and the characters come to life the reader is taken into the 1st Century.  Believer’s are trying to flee the city and the persecution they are experiencing at the hands of Rome.   Rebekah is carrying the Cup of the Last Supper and her husband, Ethan, is charged with guarding and using the treasures of the Temple.  Their journey’s include caravan robbers, lack of food and water, intrigue and mystery.

In weaving the story there is a constant thread of Family Values.  There is great concern as to the safety and well-being of each member.  The artifacts that are being transported to new locations remain simply things while the family relationships and friendships provide the cement that holds the story together.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.  It is refreshing, accurate, and believable.  If you would like to purchase a copy for yourself, just click on the picture and it will take you to the author’s blog.  (I receive no compensation from the author for suggesting that you purchase the book.)

I have been provided a complimentary REbekahcopy of Rebekah’s Treasure by Sylvia Bambola from BookCrash for the the sole purpose of review.

 

5-Minute Friday

I am joining the flash mob of writer/bloggers for 5-Minute Friday.  Today’s word is – fill.  If you’d like to join in the fun head over to Heading Home, Kate Motaung’s blog and join in.

jar-106855_640Immediately my mind goes to the Professor who brings a glass jar filled with rocks to a lecture and asks the class if they believe the jar is full.  Of course, the class says yes.  He then proceeds to fill in the empty areas with small gravel.  When asked if the jar is full the class says yes.  After adding sand he asks again and gets yes.  He then adds water and asks is the jar full.  Well of course it is, so he asks what is the significance of this exercise…

Unless we put the large rocks in first we won’t be able to fit them in later.

I have found this to be true in so many areas of life but nowhere more so than in my relationship with Jesus.  The basics have to be put in place each day to be filled to the brim with life nourishing water.

Look at it like this;

The rocks are the early morning times of prayer and praise.

The gravel is reading and studying the word.

The sand is asking for His help, encouragement, love, and forgiveness in all of the day’s situations.

The water is His response to my request…filled to the brim…overflowing…adding more as necessary…never letting the jar (me) run dry.

My 5 minutes has run out but …

Wonderful words from His Word – John 4:4-14

Fill My Cup, Lord

Heavenly Fill me to the fullest with Your Living Water.  Let it wash over not only me but everyone I come into contact with.  Hear my prayer, Lord, in the Precious Name of Jesus.

 

Our Amazing Brain…..

Anne at FreedomBorn is one of my favorite bloggers. She writes with total truth, integrity, and sincerity. I share this because brain function is a fascinating area for me. My years as a teacher and principal gave many opportunities for learning more about how the brain works. God created the perfect vehicle (our brains) for interaction with Him. I fear we don’t use it enough!

Freedomborn's avatarFreedomborn

Brain 1

SDAll God’s Amazing Creation leaves us in Awe, how can we doubt that He is The Awesome Designer, all He made is very good and when we know Him as Love, we know this is True, He is the same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

SDBelow is a Power Point of our incredible Brains and also Optical illusions that we will find hard to perceive as they really are, our Brains will tell us something different.

SDClick to enjoy –The Human Brain

SD

 If you don’t have a Power point viewer this link is for a free one that you can download then click and enjoy the beauty of God’s Creation http://www.freewarefiles.com/Microsoft-PowerPoint-Viewer_program_24404.html

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