Email Mary
February 28th, 2010
Jesus said to His followers -
…”Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Mark 6:31
Do you have a place to sit and rest with God? Do you carve out a time? (And in this world that takes a hefty knife!) Do you set the alarm early, so you can be alone with God, not simply going for that last minute you can keep your eyes shut before your kids, your spouse, your work, your — fill in the blank — is there, demanding your time and attention?
February 27th, 2010
I drove this body in to my doctor’s office for a 50,000 mile checkup. I got my numbers back, and they weren’t pretty. Apparently, at my age you cannot eat like an unsupervised eleven year old at a slumber party on a daily basis!
I have a good friend who is on the Atkins diet. Oh sorry Al, did I say diet? I meant lifestyle. Anyway, I often give her trouble about the contents of her refrigerator, and even suggested that she maintain a little “Mary pantry” for times I may be over and actually want to eat real food. I told Al that the two biggest benefits to my anti-Atkins lifestyle is 1.) I get to enjoy life while I am here, and 2.) I get to go to heaven way before she does!
Then I saw my numbers. Yes, I want to go to heaven, but I believe God has quite a bit more for me to do right here. So I decided to cooperate. I went to the grocery store and bought healthy food - okay, not quite as healthy as yours, Al, but sufficiently no fun. I power walked the mall for 45 minutes, while watching a lot of people consume double dip ice cream cones and those frozen coffee drinks piled high with whipped cream that I love - do I get extra credit for enduring that scenery? I drank things like water and tea with no sugar. I ate fruit and salad - not bad for day one.
February 26th, 2010
You are, at this very moment, blessed. You may say to me, “Blessed? Oh, then you have no idea what I am going through right now! I feel about as far away from ‘blessed’ as a person can be!” God’s response is not only, “Yes, you are blessed!” but, “Then yes, you are blessed!”
Line up everything that you feel is wrong with your life. Make a list of each quality you possess that the world distains. Write up every struggle and trial, each sorrow and every loss. In God’s kingdom, you can check them off one by one - blessed, blessed, blessed.
The kingdom of God is all around us, but never forced upon us. God sets His kingdom before us and invites us to step on in -
…Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:17
The world saturates us with its definition of “well-off”. Here is a very different message from Jesus - an elevated teaching delivered from a mountain. Click to continue →
February 25th, 2010
Psalm 23
A Scripture Weaving
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. ~ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:28
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters, ~ Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
He restores my soul. ~ For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25
February 24th, 2010
People say, “People don’t change.”
People are right.
People don’t change.
People come to a place where they cry,
“Lord, I can’t change!”
People don’t change.
People invite God in.
God changes people.
Video ~ Cardboard Testimonies
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I am praying for you.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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February 23rd, 2010
Years ago, I told my husband, Matt, that if I owned a travel agency I would name it, Wherever You Go, There You Are. This phrase recently came to mind again as I was pondering the unpredictable and transient nature of my life.
Wherever you go, there you are. What does this mean to you?
Paul proclaimed -
If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:8
So whether I live or even if I die, the unalterable truth remains - I belong to the Lord. Hallelujah! I belong to God, no matter what! He is here with me, in me, and I in Him. It’s a house I can’t lose - paid in full on Calvary. Click to continue →
February 22nd, 2010
Saying, ”So long, self!” is not a one time goodbye. My old self does not really handle breakups well! I tried, “It’s not you - it’s me.” but that just led to confusion. And just because I have a new self, doesn’t mean that old one doesn’t poke her willful little head into my business. I need to remind my old self daily, “Get over it! It’s not about you!”
Jesus said -
…whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:25
I say goodbye to my old self and I find a new self in Christ.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
As I watched the sun rise on this new day, the Holy Spirit put a song on my lips. It’s a Dear John letter to my old self, a new song, day by day - a prayer for sharper vision, deeper love and faith to follow Jesus anywhere.
Day by day
Day by day
Oh, Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see Thee more clearly
Love Thee more dearly
Follow Thee more nearly
Day by day
Amen.
Music Video ~ So Long Self ~ MercyMe
Email subscribers, click here to view video
Day by Day by Stephen Schwartz
February 21st, 2010
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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
Sometimes, Lord, it feels like I am fresh off the starting block, carb load, coffee and energy bar coursing through my body. I’ve got my heart and eyes open, ears perked, ready for a Holy Spirit assignment. Send me, Lord!
At other times, it’s mile number eighteen of a marathon, and I have just hit the wall. I’m tired. There’s not much left in me now. Energize me for Your work, Lord!
Sometimes I fall. The other runners quickly react, dodging me and jumping over me, splayed out on the ground, blood and dirt on my face. I lift my head just enough to see the road through my tears. Help me, Lord! Click to continue →
February 20th, 2010
Jesus sent them out, saying -
“Take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.” Mark 6:8-9
And Jesus taught them, saying -
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
The Journey
I travel light
Upon this earth
The day I leave
Is my true birth
I’ve little time
In this small space
And I’ll take nothing
From this place
I walk the old
Apostles’ road
No extra clothes
Or bags of gold
I give - God stores it
All above
I carry nothing
But His love
I’ve hours - days
To give to God
His plan fulfilled
Upon this sod
The rooms that He
Prepares for me
Are mansions
For eternity
What do I own
What is so dear
That moths and thieves
Are what I fear?
What so distracts?
What do I trust
That will not be
Devoured by rust?
It’s You, O Lord
It’s You alone
Who lights my path
And leads me home
It’s You, O Lord
You are my rock
My heart, my life
It’s Yours - Let’s walk!
Mary Graver
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:67-68
Photo by Elsa Kawai on www.flickr.com
February 18th, 2010
My husband, Matt, once stated, “I believe our family experiences more pre-trip maneuvers than NASA preparing for a lunar landing.” It was during one such session that I was reminded of something God never wants us to forget - Our entire life on this earth is but preparation for the eternal trip of our lives! Click to continue →
