My Story

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Marie

Are you curious about me? I certainly am about you? Every one of us has a story that is peculiar (Yes, that’s the right usage of the word.) to us. Here is a part of mine. There is so much more…

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My greatest desire is to teach others how much God loves them and how to use His Word to live the life He has purposed for them. In my home church, I co-direct Worship and Music, play all keyboards, and sing with the Worship Band. God has seen fit to give me the gift of teaching, which I use for leading 3 Bible Study groups. He specifically called me to writing/blogging about 5 years ago.

I have been married to the perfect partner, chosen for me by God, for more than 45 years. It was God’s plan that we would not have children but would be able to love in a unique way our nieces, nephews, and the hundreds of children who touched our lives through the years I spent in Public Education as a Music Specialist and Elementary Principal. I hold a B.S. Degree in Music Education and Performance from Defiance College and an M.Ed. Degree in Administration and Supervision from Bowling Green State University.

Our family includes two cats named Smokey and Salem, three awesome sisters and one incredible brother, 7 sisters-in-law, 7 brothers-in-law, 36 nieces and nephews and their spouses, and many great nieces and nephews.

Music has been part of my life from my earliest years. One of the greatest honors of my life was to be invited to sing in the Rose Garden of the Whitehouse with the Ohio Youth Choir at the invitation of then-President Richard Nixon.

As a 25+ year Cancer Survivor, I have been able to use that challenging time of my life to support others. It was not easy but God knew there would be many who would need a listening ear, an understanding heart, and someone who understands the value of presence without words.

From the time I was old enough to hold needles, scissors, yarn, thread, fabric, you name it, I was ‘hooked’ on crafts, particularly those that are counted. From painting count by number pictures to my grandmother teaching me to crochet, to my mother teaching me to embroider, to learning to do counted cross stitch, rug hooking, needlepoint and crewel my life has been filled with many happy hours of artful crafting. I also enjoy sewing and often make my own clothing and things for my home.

I enjoy baking and decorating. This hobby started when Ray and I owned a coffee shop/bakery called Maggi Raes. (Maggie for the carved magnolias that were part of the shop’s decorations.) I am certified in all the Wilton decorating levels and have done many wedding, birthday, and event cakes and cookies.

We love to travel, especially on cruise ships, and have been all over the Caribbean and are planning to go to Alaska for our next cruise. We also enjoy taking a few days here and there in the Smokey Mountains, believing there is nothing like sitting on a rocker, on a back porch, on top of a mountain and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.

God has given me a great life and I can’t thank Him enough for His love and provision.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

(BTW: The reason this only took 5 minutes is that I copied and pasted it from a much larger article. )

Common

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Marie

common

Such an interesting word. So many applications.

Common ground — when we are in agreement on an issue

Common sense–the ability to use what you know is right

Common law–personal actions over time leading to common ‘ownership’

Common cold–a health condition

Common chord–musical term

Common property–those items that are shared by 2 or more parties

Common denominator–mathematical term

Common noun–that which is not a proper noun

Common core–academic standards defining what a student should know

In common–a sense of mutual agreement

I am joining Kate Motaung and an incredibly talented group of writers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. Just writing!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

JOURNEY

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Marie

When I saw today’s Five Minute Friday word, JOURNEY, this poem came to mind.

the-road-not-taken

Throughout this journey I have often chosen to take ‘the one less traveled by’ and it has certainly made a difference.

The decisions we make as we journey through life are like a tree as it grows its branches. If you can imagine with me the start of the tree, just a little sapling, no branches yet. Then as the years go by growth allows branches to grow on branches from the original sapling. As this tree of life, if you will, grows year after year, there is new life from the old. Sometimes winter takes it’s toll and a few branches fall off. Spring and summer storms may remove a few branches here and there. The tree continues to withstand the buffeting of wind, maybe a few lightening strikes, perhaps a few children climb and play in it… The journey continues…

My journey has been much like the tree. Each new branch has been a fork in the road, a life change or decision has presented itself. I’ve often chosen ‘the one less traveled’ and yes, it has made all the difference.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

The Green-eyed Monster

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Marie

Recently a friend purchased a new winter coat. It was a beautiful purple wool with a silver fox collar. I knew how good I would look in the coat and also knew I simply could not afford it. So what happened…my eyes turned green with envy and I couldn’t even make myself tell her how nice she looked in it. (BTW I’m not proud of my reaction!)

Whenever you envy another”s things, looks, or skills it causes problems for everyone involved.

When I got home I decided to search the Word for what God has to say about this issue.

James 3:14 But if you have bitter envy (jealousy) and contention in your hearts, do not brag, and do not lie against the truth. (New Testament Breakthrough V ersion)

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (New International Version)

The Message translates envy as the opposite of wisdom.

James 3:17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

End of 5 minutes…but continuing on.

So what is envy? Envy is the desire for some object, character trait or skill that another already possesses. Why is it not a good thing? Easy answer…because it takes our focus off of God.

God has told us clearly that He can and will supply everything we need. All we have to do is ask. Check out Philippians 4:19 and Matthew 7:7. No one has more than God and His desire is to give it to us.

So then why do we envy? Why do we desire what belongs to someone else? Because satan knows, just like he did in Eden, that if he can get us to take our eyes off God and focus them on something else (the Green-eyed Monster) he wins.

Do not let this happen. Do not let evil win. Keep your focus on Jesus! Here are some verses to memorize and keep in your arsenal to defeat the enemy.

I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. Proverbs 8:17 NKJV

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV