Tag Archives: faith

Here, for Such a Time as This

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Who did God create you to be?

Do you know His plan for you?

Do you compare yourself to the world?

As I think about these questions, my mind goes to Esther 4:14: “…for such a time as this.”

I know God has a plan, a purpose, and a process for me. I know I am loved. I know I am chosen. I know I am forgiven. For me, all of this really matters. But then, I have to ask, “Am I immune to the world?” The answer is a resounding NO! I am tempted and distracted by the same things you are.

Let me tell you something that recently happened.

I am very active in the worship and music activities at my church. I never want any service to become the Marie Show. I want my part in worship to be all about God.

Last evening, I went to Facebook to see what my friends and family had been doing. The first thing that popped up was a collection of pictures from a past worship service. There I was, in four of the ten pictures. Not only was I prominently featured, but the outfit I was wearing looked horrible. Am I immune to the world? NO!

And here’s the thing; the evil one can use something as simple as a picture to get me thinking that I’m not what God says I am. Here’s another thing: I will not let him. I will become the woman God wants me to be. I will remember that I am God’s daughter. I will remember that I am welcome in God’s home and He is preparing a place for me for all eternity.

And most of all, I will remember that He loves me. The real me. Not the one in those pictures. Not the Marie the world thinks it sees. Not even the me I sometimes wish I were. The real me!

And guess what! He loves the real you!

So who did God create You to be? Be the real woman. Be the real man.

…for such a time as this!

I am joining a great group of Christian writers at 5-Minute Friday. We write for 5 minutes each Friday (sometimes longer). You can read the other writers posts and share your own here: https://fiveminutefriday.com

When Life Is Disrupted, God Is Not

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I’ve been thinking a lot about disruption lately. Maybe because I’ve experienced it in more ways than I care to count.

Sometimes God disrupts our plans.

A door closes. A direction changes. Something we were certain about suddenly isn’t certain at all. We may call it an interruption. God may call it an invitation. What feels like a disruption to me may be His gentle—or sometimes not-so-gentle—way of moving me to a place I would not have chosen. (Proverbs 16:9)

Sometimes people disrupt our peace.

I cannot control what another person says, does, believes, or chooses, yet I can choose where to take the turmoil that’s left behind. Those actions are often disruptive, but no one has the authority to take away the peace Christ gives. (John 14:27)

Sometimes circumstances disrupt our understanding.

We pray, and nothing seems to change. We believe God’s Word, yet what we see doesn’t seem to match what we know to be true. We ask Why? and there is no answer. We look for the next step and cannot see it. Sometimes faith means standing in the middle of what we don’t understand and saying, “Lord, I don’t understand this. But I do trust You.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)


But none of them can disrupt God’s sovereignty.

Plans may change. Peace can be shaken. Understanding is nowhere to be found, but God remains God.

Maybe this is where disruption becomes something different. Maybe it’s not something I have to understand, but something I can surrender to El Roi (My God who sees). Whatever caused the disruption does not have the final word. God grows us through the changes and circumstances of our lives.

Trust Him! No matter what caused the disruption, God has the final word. (Psalm 115:3)

I am joining a great group of Christian writers at 5-Minute Friday. We write for 5 minutes each Friday (sometimes longer). You can read the other writers posts and share your own here https://fiveminutefriday.com

What I Believe, I Know

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There is a difference between believing and knowing. I believe that God is who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do. I know that He has redeemed me through the blood of His precious Son.

Believing begins with trusting what we have been told. Knowing is much deeper. As a relationship grows trust grows with it. It’s like sitting down on a chair. When I sit down in a chair, I instinctively trust that it is there. I can’t see behind me, so technically I have no way of proving that the chair is there until I sit down. But I trust it. I trust that it will hold me.

So how do I know that God is really God, that He really can do all He says, that He redeemed me? That requires a special kind of relationship and that’s the key. I have built a relationship with Him. How? I spend time with Him, in the Word. I talk with Him in prayer. I discuss Him with other believers. I listen for His voice. I watch for His imprint on my life.

Somewhere along the way, something shifts. God stops being something I know about and becomes someone I know and trust. My relationship changes from my faith being simply an idea to a trusting friendship. I may not be able to prove all I know about God, but I know Him, and that makes all the difference.

I am joining a great group of Christian writers at 5-Minute Friday. We write for 5 minutes each Friday (sometimes longer). You can read the other writers and share your own here https://fiveminutefriday.com

The Wrong Voice

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Sometimes a single word says it all. Today’s word, short, does exactly that.

Eve fell short of obeying God’s one simple instruction, and every one of us has done the same.

Eve didn’t fall because she ate the fruit. She fell because she listened to the wrong voice.

God didn’t give Adam and Eve pages of rules. He gave them one clear command: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

The serpent questioned God’s Word, and Eve listened. One conversation. One choice. One bite. That single act of disobedience changed the world.

Most of us don’t wake up thinking, Today I’m going to gossip, or I’m going to ignore my neighbor who needs help. Sin rarely begins with a dramatic decision. More often, it begins with one small compromise—one little step away from what we already know God has said.

Satan delights in this kind of disobedience. He rarely tempts us with giant leaps. More often, he whispers us into taking one little step away from God’s Word. That’s how the enemy works. He doesn’t usually push us off the cliff. He simply whispers until his voice becomes louder than God’s.

Here’s the good news. We all fall short, but we know the One who never did. Jesus’ perfect obedience covers our imperfect lives. When we confess our sin, He forgives us, restores us, and lovingly leads us back to Himself.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24

I am joining a great group of Christian writers at 5-Minute Friday. We write for 5 minutes each Friday (sometimes longer). You can share your blog here https://fiveminutefriday.com/2026/07/02/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-outcome/

Genuine Care Speaks Loudly

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What are we doing to bring the lost to Christ? Who do we know that needs to know the love of Jesus? Are we consistently showing others that we are a child of the King? Do our words and actions lift up rather than put down those around us?

I’d like to answer “yes” to all of those questions, but then I’d have to ask for forgiveness for lying. Questions like these are so convicting that they make me want to get on my knees before the Lord.

When someone is thirsty, are we offering a cup of water? When they’re hungry, do we share our food? When they lack clothing, do we meet the need if we’re able? Or do we send them away with a hug while quietly reminding ourselves that we have needs too? Matthew 25: 35-40

They may never ask for help, but when God allows us to see the need, He also calls us to respond. Our commitment to the Lord is demonstrated not only by what we believe, but by what we do.

Can you imagine how many new believers might be drawn to Christ if our relationship with Jesus were evident in every thought, every word, and every action?

Living a life that consistently shares our faith with those around us is one of the most powerful ways to reach those who do not yet know Him. Genuine care for others speaks loudly. The question is… Who will hear Jesus through us today?

Ready to put your faith into action? Here are 20 ways to practice lifestyle evangelism.