What is "who you are" filtered through? Are you someone who knows their identity - no matter what happens? Or, are your thoughts about "who you are" filtered through the opinions of others and relationships?
I have been experiencing a different kind of week - of course, all life is full of change. But some weeks seem more "full of change" than others. This week involved relationship mending and laughter, as well as relationship struggles and tears.
It is a battle to keep my mind focused on this:
My purpose is to glorify God each day - bring Him honor. Not myself or others.
It is that easy.
So, the question at the end of each day is pretty simple - "Did I honor God?"
If not, what can I change? Or, what can I do differently, so tomorrow will honor Him?
May the Lord remove your filters - and may your thoughts identify you as His child - a beloved creature - full of purpose - honoring Him - each day.
For Jesus' Glory!
Mary
"GIVE ME A MARY STORY"
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
We Are All Students
I believe we are all students. We are all learning each day.
We may be learning something about a job, activity, our relationships, or some form of actual studies, but we are all students.
Now, it has taken me a long time to decide what to study. Did you realize you can choose? You can learn - have a teachable spirit, or you can shut down the lesson.
I see children shut down the lesson when they rebel - they don't want to learn how to do things their parents way - they want to believe they already know the right way.
Now, as parents gently prod them into lessons - choices and consequences - I see myself.
God is prodding me toward a lesson.
Am I learning it - or fighting it? Is it a temporary lesson or is He giving me a lesson that will change my life?
Recently, a son-in-law asked me if I was still studying the piano. Now, I love piano music - love it. But, I have not committed to take the time to really learn how to play. I also love other languages, yet have not disciplined myself on taken the time to really learn. The same goes for Bridge - a card game that takes a lot of knowledge.
I go from activity to activity - deciding where to spend my time - and then deal with the consequences. I don't really accomplish anything - or become accomplished in anything - unless I give it time.
The big question is - what will I give time toward? What will I learn?
We go back to children - choices and consequences.
Do I want to really learn something, or just have my own way - being happy to just dabble in it?
And, why do I start learning and not become accomplished?
I have some unfinished projects in my closet - shouldn't I finish them before becoming a student of something else? I wonder if there is a psychological reason people begin projects and don't finish them - hmmm.
Well, I am comfortable with only knowing a little about another language, piano and Bridge. But, I am questioning why I stopped learning about golf.
Now, there is something I want to spend time on - something I want to accomplish!
And, my current lifestyle does not allow the same in-depth golf time I had while married to David, but it does afford me the opportunity to learn a little more about a sport I love.
So, here is a toast to being students - and making choices.
May you find out what you want to spend your time on - and continue to learn.
We are all a student of something :)
Love you,
Mary
We may be learning something about a job, activity, our relationships, or some form of actual studies, but we are all students.
Now, it has taken me a long time to decide what to study. Did you realize you can choose? You can learn - have a teachable spirit, or you can shut down the lesson.
I see children shut down the lesson when they rebel - they don't want to learn how to do things their parents way - they want to believe they already know the right way.
Now, as parents gently prod them into lessons - choices and consequences - I see myself.
God is prodding me toward a lesson.
Am I learning it - or fighting it? Is it a temporary lesson or is He giving me a lesson that will change my life?
Recently, a son-in-law asked me if I was still studying the piano. Now, I love piano music - love it. But, I have not committed to take the time to really learn how to play. I also love other languages, yet have not disciplined myself on taken the time to really learn. The same goes for Bridge - a card game that takes a lot of knowledge.
I go from activity to activity - deciding where to spend my time - and then deal with the consequences. I don't really accomplish anything - or become accomplished in anything - unless I give it time.
The big question is - what will I give time toward? What will I learn?
We go back to children - choices and consequences.
Do I want to really learn something, or just have my own way - being happy to just dabble in it?
And, why do I start learning and not become accomplished?
I have some unfinished projects in my closet - shouldn't I finish them before becoming a student of something else? I wonder if there is a psychological reason people begin projects and don't finish them - hmmm.
Well, I am comfortable with only knowing a little about another language, piano and Bridge. But, I am questioning why I stopped learning about golf.
Now, there is something I want to spend time on - something I want to accomplish!
And, my current lifestyle does not allow the same in-depth golf time I had while married to David, but it does afford me the opportunity to learn a little more about a sport I love.
So, here is a toast to being students - and making choices.
May you find out what you want to spend your time on - and continue to learn.
We are all a student of something :)
Love you,
Mary
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Steady Steps
Getting ready to go outside and play with a bubble machine, I ran after the one year old to be sure he was safe, scooped him up and returned to his excited sister.
"Grandma! I already made bubbles!"
"Oh my - where?" I asked.
"In the house." she exclaimed.
"Where in the house?" I nervously asked, as I had left her in a room with carpeting and hardwood floors. The carpet could handle it, but bubbles on hardwood??
She ran to show me, as I set her brother down gently on the carpeting.
It was then that it happened. As I wiped up some of the slippery liquid, I could see, out of the corner of my eye, her bare-footed brother step onto another area of the hardwood floor. With feet sliding under his weight, a surprise look took over his face. Immediately, the second foot found a small pool of the slippery liquid. With both feet moving uncontrolled, he kept his balance. A remarkable feat for someone who just began walking a few months ago.
He allowed me to wipe off his feet and steady his walk, as all three of us chuckled about the slippery floor.
It can happen so quickly. We think we are on solid flooring and - yikes! Our feet slip.
So, how did he keep his balance?
How do we?
I remember the look of surprise on his face, but not a look of fear.
Therein lies the difference.
When your feet slip - be surprised, but don't fear. God is watching and ready to make steady your steps.
And, He is cheering you on when you keep your balance :)
Isaiah 41:13
"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you."
Have a blessed day,
Mary
"Grandma! I already made bubbles!"
"Oh my - where?" I asked.
"In the house." she exclaimed.
"Where in the house?" I nervously asked, as I had left her in a room with carpeting and hardwood floors. The carpet could handle it, but bubbles on hardwood??
She ran to show me, as I set her brother down gently on the carpeting.
It was then that it happened. As I wiped up some of the slippery liquid, I could see, out of the corner of my eye, her bare-footed brother step onto another area of the hardwood floor. With feet sliding under his weight, a surprise look took over his face. Immediately, the second foot found a small pool of the slippery liquid. With both feet moving uncontrolled, he kept his balance. A remarkable feat for someone who just began walking a few months ago.
He allowed me to wipe off his feet and steady his walk, as all three of us chuckled about the slippery floor.
It can happen so quickly. We think we are on solid flooring and - yikes! Our feet slip.
So, how did he keep his balance?
How do we?
I remember the look of surprise on his face, but not a look of fear.
Therein lies the difference.
When your feet slip - be surprised, but don't fear. God is watching and ready to make steady your steps.
And, He is cheering you on when you keep your balance :)
Isaiah 41:13
"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you."
Have a blessed day,
Mary
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Extending the moment
A friend, Michelle, who knows of a photography artist, presented me with artwork of a small wave splashing on the shore.
It reminds me of walking along the ocean. It extends the moment of time when your feet touch the brisk ocean water for the first time in your walk along the sand. The water happily splashes across your toes and gently sprinkles your leg.
Taking a photo of a photo is not always advisable, but I had to try to share it.
Why?
Because I pray you have moments extended that are joyful to you - playful and full of life - like my moments walking the ocean have been.
And, I pray that you get to relive some of those moments - whether in a photo or in person - just for the sake of enjoying life.
God bless you.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
May 1st
Yes, it was a wonderful May 1st. In spite of my focus.
I think I may need a new way of celebrating this day. Four years ago, it was David's last full day and at the end of it, he said "I don't want another day like this." It was a most difficult day for him - and God was good to take him home the next day as his body had failed to support his spirit.
As I remember the anniversary of that day, I choose to focus on how good God was to take him home. And, how happy he is right now. Free from his failed body - enjoying eternity in a new, perfected body. I am so grateful.
Many of us celebrate anniversary's in unique ways and I have thought a lot about how I want to celebrate May 1st in the future.
David always said that if you had problems, take a walk along the ocean and they would be solved. I thought it was due to the "hugeness" of God there - but someone said to me this week that when you walk along the ocean, you actually fill your blood with more oxygen due to inhaling the salt water. The salt in the air you breathe does something good for you and you think more clearly.
Maybe David knew more than I think he knew about a walk along the ocean.
I am thinking of plans for next May 1st - to be walking along the ocean - Lord willing.
May God bless you as you refocus on any anniversary that is difficult for you.
And, may the Lord allow you time to walk along the ocean - sometime - to solve your problems.
God bless you :)
I think I may need a new way of celebrating this day. Four years ago, it was David's last full day and at the end of it, he said "I don't want another day like this." It was a most difficult day for him - and God was good to take him home the next day as his body had failed to support his spirit.
As I remember the anniversary of that day, I choose to focus on how good God was to take him home. And, how happy he is right now. Free from his failed body - enjoying eternity in a new, perfected body. I am so grateful.
Many of us celebrate anniversary's in unique ways and I have thought a lot about how I want to celebrate May 1st in the future.
David always said that if you had problems, take a walk along the ocean and they would be solved. I thought it was due to the "hugeness" of God there - but someone said to me this week that when you walk along the ocean, you actually fill your blood with more oxygen due to inhaling the salt water. The salt in the air you breathe does something good for you and you think more clearly.
Maybe David knew more than I think he knew about a walk along the ocean.
I am thinking of plans for next May 1st - to be walking along the ocean - Lord willing.
May God bless you as you refocus on any anniversary that is difficult for you.
And, may the Lord allow you time to walk along the ocean - sometime - to solve your problems.
God bless you :)
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Moving On
We have heard it many times - forgetting the past and moving on - it is even Biblical. I believe the verse is Philippians 3:13 "forgetting the past but looking forward to what lies ahead".
I am not sure, but, for me, the past I want to forget I do forget once I've confessed them - those things that I did not do right and are now forgiven.
The good of the past, I really don't want to forget - in fact, I want to bring it with me to what lies ahead - hopefully learning something that will benefit the future.
Like love - I never want to forget the love I have received - and will bring that love into the future to love others as I have been loved.
The next verse reads "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Moving on - pressing toward - looking forward -
It all means taking a step in the right direction - and it is active - we do need to put our "oomph" (I checked - it is a word:) into it!
God bless each of us to take the next step forward - in the right direction - toward the prize - a high calling of Our Lord, Christ Jesus.
Enjoy stepping toward His calling on your life :)
MB
I am not sure, but, for me, the past I want to forget I do forget once I've confessed them - those things that I did not do right and are now forgiven.
The good of the past, I really don't want to forget - in fact, I want to bring it with me to what lies ahead - hopefully learning something that will benefit the future.
Like love - I never want to forget the love I have received - and will bring that love into the future to love others as I have been loved.
The next verse reads "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Moving on - pressing toward - looking forward -
It all means taking a step in the right direction - and it is active - we do need to put our "oomph" (I checked - it is a word:) into it!
God bless each of us to take the next step forward - in the right direction - toward the prize - a high calling of Our Lord, Christ Jesus.
Enjoy stepping toward His calling on your life :)
MB
Friday, April 6, 2012
Good Friday
They call it Good Friday - yet, reliving what Jesus went through for my sin feels anything but good. I understand that the good is describing what He accomplished for us - and that is indescribably good! But, I am always more at peace later in the day - when I know his suffering would be over.
Thank you, Jesus, for all you went through to free us from sin - to grant us a place in heaven with you forever - to give us peace in our lives as we walk this earth.
Gratitude - eternally, I will sing praise and give thanksgiving to Our Lord for loving us so much that He gave His only Son.
What an awesome God we serve. What amazing love.
Looking forward to celebrating Jesus' Resurrection - and, like Mary in the garden on Easter morning, may we continue to search for more of Him - with gratitude :)
For Jesus' Glory, Mary
Thank you, Jesus, for all you went through to free us from sin - to grant us a place in heaven with you forever - to give us peace in our lives as we walk this earth.
Gratitude - eternally, I will sing praise and give thanksgiving to Our Lord for loving us so much that He gave His only Son.
What an awesome God we serve. What amazing love.
Looking forward to celebrating Jesus' Resurrection - and, like Mary in the garden on Easter morning, may we continue to search for more of Him - with gratitude :)
For Jesus' Glory, Mary
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