hope

Mary’s January Newsletter (Hope-Filled Living)

January 10, 2021 by Mary

Greetings Sweet Friend!

It is with love, light and hope that I greet you in this New Year! Congratulations to all for enduring 2020! Let’s move forward with great joy and anticipation for the year to come! I move forward into 2021 with a heart filled with hope and gratitude for the supernatural favor of God and HIS enduring promises. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures. 1 Chronicles 16:34

We have passed the threshold of a year that will go down in history for many reasons and we must now hold onto the hope that the very God who created the universe will bring us out of this darkness; a hope that He will lay these things to rest while carrying a torch to help us make our way into the light of His presence. I give thanks upon every remembrance of Him, for His love endures forever!

With that, the whisper of January is upon us. It is a time of stillness and wonder as I sit by the fireplace in my cozy 1883 bedroom. I enjoy quiet evenings curled up with a velvet comforter with the soft glow of the street lamps coming in through the old wavy glass. Many nights, I marvel and give quiet thanks for the beauty of tiny little snowflakes swirling and the sense of wonder that overtakes me as I watch them floating around the peaks of my house. There is something rich about being content and feeling safe during a time when the world is being shaken up. I find myself giving thanks continually for the comfort of my old house and the feeling of “home” within her walls. As I look out the window, I see in the midst of small bursts of flurries, other historic homes with frosty windows lit up and I know that my neighbors probably feel the same way. We all have so much to be thankful for.

I have started painting again and I am resisting the urge to critique my work; instead, I am giving myself permission to study, learn and practice a new skill that brings me joy. Keeping our thoughts at bay and our minds still while pursuing something we love can bring us great comfort and joy. I often think that as we create, it is a form of prayer. We express words that we cannot say through our creative pursuits. Psalm 46:10 says, “be still and know that I am God.” If you are struggling through the current situation in our world and at a loss for words to pray, perhaps it’s time to practice some form of creative pursuit and let your prayers come through it. I have taken great comfort during this pandemic in the pursuits of painting, sewing and writing. In case you missed it in the last newsletter, I wrote another workbook during 2020. It is filled with prayers for those days when you cannot find your own words. You can read them over and over again or recite them as a starting point. My offering to the world during a time of fear, grief and sorrow.

I have just started the soul stirring journey and heart preparation of writing another workbook in 2021 and possibly two. What creative pursuits will you begin this year? How can you take the love that comes from your heart and share it with the world to bring others joy, a sense of belonging or hope? We are all in this together and I look forward to walking alongside of you this year to see the bright and beautiful things you put out into the world. If we have learned anything during the past year, I’m sure you will agree with me that now more than ever, we carry with us a profound sense of gratitude for our loved ones and the people with whom we share our lives. We probably also share a deep gratitude and thankfulness for front line workers and every single person who has served us in some way during the pandemic. As I pull up to curbside each week for groceries and people bring my food out after shopping for me, I try to always be extra kind and thank them for their service and I give God thanks for them and say a prayer for that individual as I drive away. What a sacrifice and special gift that I could never have imagined, that someone would shop for me–hand pick my items from the shelf and bring them out to my car or deliver them to my house! Praise God.

As we move forward into 2021, may we be united in our hope for a better tomorrow. May that ignite our hearts to find gratitude and joy each day and to give thanks for everything bright and beautiful. May peace and joy be yours, sweet friend and may we all pursue things that bring peace, hope and joy in this New Year! Let’s choose to fill the world around us with hope! Let’s choose words of kindness! Let’s choose to serve others with our gifts, our hearts and our hands! Let’s choose to pray for our families, our neighbors and the world. Let’s choose those things that are true, honest, just, pure and lovely ( Philippians 4:8).

Love,

Mary

Be Patient

April 26, 2018 by Mary

Be Patient

Sometimes we long for things to come to us-here and now. We suffer in the waiting and want to give up.I think about the times I have wanted to give up. Sometimes it’s just because I am physically, spiritually or emotionally tired. Other times that I have wanted to give up, as though I was disappointed with God and behaving like an angry child. “I’m quitting. Nope. Not doing it. All done. I give up. Sorry God. Game over.”

Have you ever had that kind of conversation with God?

Here are some thoughts to help you get through your season of waiting:

1. Step away from whatever it is that is causing you to feel hopeless or overwhelmed.

2. Rest your body. Get the sleep you need to help your body restore itself.

3. Pray your way through the situation. Keep praying.

4. Recite scripture that gives you hope in God’s promises. Write them down, keep them in your purse or a place that you will see them as a reminder that God is at work.

5. Give praise for prayers already answered.

The best is yet to come. Be patient.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

If you are struggling with a season of waiting, perhaps you would like to work through one or two of my workbooks:

You can also join a more private conversation about hope over on my Patreon page, where I post several times per week on CHOOSING HOPE… because sometimes we just need to hear it from someone else. Amen?

In all things, choose hope. Remain steadfast, sweet friends.

xoxoxo.

Doing Things Differently

April 15, 2018 by Mary

When you know that it is time for a change, how do you handle it? Do you jump right in or do you take time to mull it over and see how it settles with you? Do you pray and listen for God’s voice to answer you before you take a leap? Doing things differently than you have done them in the past is sometimes intimidating. We grow comfortable in the patterns of our daily lives and the way things are, even if they are not serving us or God anymore. Even if they are not serving God anymore…we hold on because we have settled into being lukewarm, but God says,

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3

Perfect peace is found when we abandon the fear that keeps us holding onto things that are no longer working. Fear says, “I will hold you close and not let you go because if I let you go...” but perfect trust says, “I will let go and let God. I trust that He will supply my needs and care for me in this area of my life.” Peace is derived from trust. If we have no trust, we have no peace.

But what about those hard places? How do we trust in the hard places? When we feel afraid, we simply open our hands and pour out all of the fear. Palms to God. “I am yours. I empty myself to you, Lord.” Perfect peace says, “For my yoke is easy and the burden is light.” Matthew 11:30

Are you holding onto something that keeps you in a lukewarm place? I’ve been there, in the lukewarm. We either have to give up or give in and surrender. When we hold things so closely to us, it’s as if we think we can control things and yet, letting loose is so liberating. The God of mercy, hope and grace invites you to open your palms. He is all-knowing, all-powerful and has a hope and a future for you.

When we sense that it is time to do things differently, perhaps it is an opportunity for something new to be born–something beautiful that God put inside of you that He wants to bring to life. When we trust and lean will take us to new levels. Perhaps it is time to put to rest the things that have kept you lukewarm because a lukewarm spirit has no life or nourishment.

He died on the cross, nail scarred hands that we might trust. He bore our brokenness so that we might not carry it with us or hold it so tightly…because being afraid to do things differently and allowing our spirit to become lukewarm says that He is not in us. Christ did things differently. His life was different. His ministry was different. He was passionate and jumped right in. He was not lukewarm. Perfect peace is found when we abandon the fear that keeps us holding onto things that are no longer working.

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Holy Discontent

April 2, 2018 by Mary

I had been praying for nearly a year about growing discontented while being so “connected”…

God created me as one who needs down time-time to withdraw from the world to connect with His spirit, to ponder and ask questions and to walk quietly with him every morning.

As my social media presence grew, so did the distraction. Here’s the thing: I bought into the lie that if I wanted to be significant, if I wanted to be an author and signed by an agent or a publishing company, I needed to grow this presence. But, God made us so beautiful and whole. We already have all that we need to complete His plan here on the planet. His desire for each of us is to fully live while we are here and be fully present with the people in our lives and the people we encounter each day.

I bought into the lie that if I desired to touch more lives and grow a ministry, I must continue on this social media cycle, like a hamster running on a wheel. I started with a simple blog in 2007, then a website. Next, I opened a Facebook account, then a Facebook Author account, next an Instagram, Pinterest and an author platform on Amazon.

Then there were the Facebook private groups that I started for people reading my workbooks, prayer groups and a self-care group. The social media platform kept growing and I continued to be only one person. Suddenly, I started feeling completely drained and lacked inspiration because my mornings with Jesus…my renewal time was time now spent catching up with all of these avenues, answering messages and e-mails, creating new content and praying with people.

In the years that I have been blogging, writing and maintaining social media, we have lost friends and loved ones, said goodbye to family pets that crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, endured sickness, disease, loss and heartache. My husband almost died when he bled internally after a simple, outpatient procedure. We have lost my mother in law, my father in law, my step-father in law, three aunts, my mother had a stroke and we have an adult daughter with a rare and disabling condition. But the social media continued. It continued not only as a distraction but became in and of itself a distraction.

I began to pray for clarity. I asked God to help me know which way to go, as I felt responsible for the spiritual care of my readers. To many, I had become a spiritual mentor or a spiritual mother. The ministry kept growing and growing and I continued to be only one person running a great big platform.

The thought that we must DO all of these things that society tells us we “must” do, is a lie. The lie is meant to deceive us into believing that somehow, we are not enough. It is meant to make us believe that God is not enough. The chitter chatter of social media can distract our hearts from being wound up intricately with the heart of God. It can make us believe that busyness is better than stillness.

Peace comes after we take a leap of faith. Peace comes when we listen to the voice of God, even when it feels scary. Peace comes when we rest in the knowledge that no matter what happens, God has a plan for us.

So, one morning a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting in my kitchen sipping a cup of tea and the Lord spoke to me. A sudden peace washed over me and I knew that He was directing me to eliminate most of my social media. With a desire to be completely obedient, I quickly let my Facebook friends know in a post that I had made this decision.

Following God when people do not agree with the word He has for us is always difficult. Changing directions is difficult. Not knowing where a new direction will lead is always difficult but I am reminded of a few Bible verses:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“For we walk by faith, not by sight”. 2 Corinthians 5:7

“Out of the anguish of his soul, he saw and was satisfied”. Isaiah 53:11

Every single time I have been obedient to the Lord when He has asked me to do a difficult thing, I have grown leaps and bounds in my walk with Him. I am excited about His direction for my life, even though I may not see the blueprint yet.

I look forward to walking in the garden with Him each morning and writing from my tiny writing shed this summer. I know I will draw nearer to Him as I work in the garden and catch my breath, and see Him in the eyes of my daughter as I care more delicately for her needs. And I am so excited about new insight and wisdom that I will share here, in my upcoming book projects and on my Patreon page.

Thank you for being part of my journey for all of these years and for allowing me the GRACE to step back a little bit and bathe myself in what God has for me and the ways He will use me to draw you ever closer to Him.

Don’t ever get so busy looking down that you forget to look up! God has a plan for you.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
²My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
⁸the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Victorious Living Day 9: Victory in a Renewed Spirit

October 10, 2017 by Mary

Today is Day 2 of Week 2 in our study titled, Victorious Living.

The theme of our study today is finding victory in a renewed spirit. This could not be a more timely study for me. I hope that it comes at a perfect time for you today. Have you lit a candle to prepare for your prayer time today? I would love to see a picture here in the comments or on my Facebook page! I would also love to see pictures of your workbook pages!

Behold, the Lord has proclaimed
    to the end of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
    “Behold, your salvation comes;
behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.”

Isaiah 62:11

There will come a time when the Lord comes again.We should seek after holiness, for He comes for His servants and saints. His promises are proclaimed in the Bible and they shall come to pass. Spend time in prayer today renewing your spirit. His salvation is with us. The world may be turning upside down but our God is steadfast. His promises live on forever. He will never go back on His word and salvation, His reward.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Oh, how I love this passage! God IS peace. Paul prays that the “God of peace” will sanctify us (to set apart as holy). He speaks of the WHOLE person-spirit, soul AND body, for we know that we are all of these. One cannot exist without the other. So, Paul is praying in his letter that God will sanctify (make holy) our body, mind and spirit (the WHOLE) of us. Such beautiful words, in essence praying that God would touch His people with His complete peace, from the inward part of us to the spiritual part of us that we cannot deny ( that which is the sum of who we are), and our physical being, (the temple by which the Holy Spirit makes a way through the world).

As you are praying today, think about the word, “holiness”. When we are sanctified by God in our mind, body and spirit, we are renewed. At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be renewed and find our final victory. As Christians, this is what gives us strength, hope and encouragement to carry on in the faith. This assurance brings us from victory to victory, knowing that the things we face here today are only temporary.

to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22-24

To “put on the new self” is to change our lives to put on righteousness. We have a desire to go to heaven when the time comes, but we often lack the discipline to change our lives. As a Christian, your life should look fundamentally different than before you were in the faith. We must have a lifestyle of daily repentance, growing in faith and relationship with Christ. When we receive new life in Christ and we walk in it, our hearts will show us areas that need to be conformed or changed more into the likeness of Christ rather than in the futility of our own mind.

As we put off our old lives and put on the new life, change happens. As we grow in the faith and we come to know Jesus more personally we let go of our “deceitful desires”.

Lord, because I am your child, my victory has already been won. You will come again and bring your reward with you. During these troubled times here on earth, I pray that you will continually renew the spirit within me, that I may find comfort. Let all of your creation rejoice as you make your proclamations to the ends of the earth. Amen.

Praise: Praise the Lord, for He says to rejoice! I have victory through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Take time today to list some times when God brought you comfort and a renewed spirit while you were going through a trial:

Give God praise that He is able to renew your spirit. Write three praises:

Think about the message today and write a prayer of victory for the ways that God spoke to your heart.