No Fear

Posted on February 15, 2022 by Marie

For God has not given us a spirit of fear but one of power, love, and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Perhaps ‘fear not’ is repeated so often (365 times in the NIV) because we need constant reassurance that God is always near and we can depend on His love! We can lean on His strength and count on His help. He is always near!

Think about His love… Think about His grace…

Abba, Father, show us Your Presence in every part of our lives. Take away any fear, worry, or anxiety and replace it with strength, love, and self-control. Hold us close and give us comfort.

Blessings and grace to you and yours!

Marie

Loving God

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Marie

How prepared are we to give our absolute loyalty and obedience in all we think, do, and say to God? That’s what loving Him means.

To love God with our whole mind we have to know Him. To know Him we have to know His Word. Yes, we certainly should read it but there is more to it than that. We need to study it, pray it, memorize it, ponder it, and live it.

To love Him with our whole being we have to make a conscious choice to make every action we take, every choice we make, every word we speak, acceptable to God. David, in Psalm 19 wrote these words, and they often come to my mind when difficult choices happen: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

And then, we must love Him with all our strength which means using our time, talents, and resources for Him. You might be thinking that doesn’t make sense but it takes physical and mental power to ensure that everything we are given by Him is being used for Him.

I hope you’ll find some time today, every day, to love on Him!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

This post is in response to week 8 of Deb Wolf’s 52 Week Devotional Journal For Women.

Perservere

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Marie

Each year I choose “One Word” to help focus and define the days ahead. This time I was quite challenged. I had prayed and thought and talked and listened and waited. Finally, the word was made plain to me. It would be a year to perservere.

I was quite surprised at the many different words that mean the same thing as I looked for the One Verse that would underscore 2020 for me. I chose James 1:4 and found that persevere can be translated as patience, endurance, steadfastness, strength, and wait(ing).

Although the NIV is my preferred translation for memorization (as seen above) the VOICE Bible with its preceding verses was quite interesting.

Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.

The MESSAGE, another favorite of mine adds to the meaning, also.

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. John 1:2-4

The New Living Translation says it like this,

Learn well how to wait so you will be strong and complete and in need of nothing.

It looks like I’m going to have an interesting and busy year. Hopefully, the joys and the challenges will be tempered with a new sense of perseverance.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

One Word

Posted on December 29, 2018 by Marie

Each year I choose one word as my focus. I’m kind of leaning toward ‘believe’ but I’m also carefully and prayerfully considering other options. I also include a Bible verse for the year with my choice. Here are a few I’m considering, perhaps they’ll help with your choice, too.

BELIEVE Blessed is she who has believed that the LORD would fulfill His promises to her. Luke 1:45 (NIV)
LISTEN Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. Isaiah 55:3(TLB)
CELEBRATE Celebrate God all day every day. I mean revel in Him. Philippians 4:4
TRUTH Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:3 (NIV)
STRENGTH The LORD is my strength and my shield: my heart trusts in Him and He helps me. Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

I hope these are helpful. If you choose one or have one you’d like to share. Leave it in the comments below.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

5-Sentence Friday 1 Corinthians 16:13

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Marie

I decided to take the Strong, Brave, Loved 21-day Challenge with Holly Garth. Today’s verse and devotional were both powerful and convicting for me. Through many of my life experiences, it has been necessary to have strength and bravery as part of my arsenal. Things like surviving a tornado that landed on the patio of our first home, surviving a t-bone crash, standing up for those who have been wronged, and many more of the uncertainties in this life, have required my dependence on the strength and courage that is given by God.

Choose your battles carefully. You don’t have to fight every one.
Know that the evil one is always trying to get through your guard.
Know God’s Word and use it to determine what He expects of you.
Stand and persevere when you know it’s right.
True strength is knowing where your power really lies.

I’ve discovered that sometimes we lose the battle, or it appears that way. If we know it’s the right thing to do we should be doing it. God is always the final judge. Wouldn’t you rather hear why did you than why didn’t you?

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie