Blog Archives

Thriving Grace

2/27/2015

A life of grace lives and gives of itself freely to others.

Last fall I came across this old growth tree with part of it's root system uniquely exposed above the ground. This tree kept growing strong despite the obstacles around it, building upward from the soil, besides its deep root system beneath the ground, firmly anchoring it where it began to grow oh so many years before. Life abounds in, on and around this tree and it's roots. It's thriving, along with the other plants and critters that are being nourished by it. It gives life freely...an act of grace. To me, it exemplified a life so overflowing with thankfulness that it just had to share the gift of life.

On October 2, 1969, God began a work in me. That evening, I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who paid the debt I owed for my sin, giving me eternal life. (John 3:16, John 6:47) He redeemed me and rooted me into the fertile soil of faith. Oh, what an amazing, matchless gift of grace!(Ephesians 2:8,9) I'm so very thankful for those whom the Lord brought into my life that first year to disciple me and help me along in my new found faith. I'm forever grateful for the time they invested into my life. I'm thankful for the years that followed at Florida Bible College, further deepening my faith. It's also the place I met my hubby...the love of my life.

Life continues on...faith continues to grow...roots grow deeper and deeper....My heart overflows today and everyday with thankfulness for the work God continues to do in my life. I love You, Lord!

A life of grace is rooted and growing....Thriving and Thankful.

"Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." ~ Colossians 2:6,7

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Listen to Our Hearts

2/27/2015

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Water is a source of life. No one wants to drink from dirty, contaminated water. So we take extra care to make sure the streams flowing into the source of our drinking water are kept clean and pure.

The same is true of our hearts, for what flows from it is what we allow to flow into it. Keeping the streams of drinking water as pure as possible is important, but keeping our hearts pure is even more so. What streams from our hearts is what we allow to flow into it. I want the thoughts, words, and actions that flow from my heart to be clean and life giving to those that are thirsty.

Lord, I make Psalm 139:23 and 24 the prayer of my heart this morning.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Listen to my heart, Lord. Fine tune it so it will sing praise to You.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

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An Instrument of Peace

2/25/2015

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So much heartache and turmoil in this world that is groaning for peace. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. There are days I feel like the world is imploding around me. And so I... Stop.... Breathe... Focus.... Pray.... Lord, come fill my heart with Your peace... I can't bring peace to the world as a whole, but this... this one thing I can do by Your grace....

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

St. Francis of Assisi - 13th century

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A Reflection on His Coming

2/24/2015

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One day, all the troubles of this world will vanish. In the blink of an eye we'll be with Him. In some ways I'd love to say "Come quickly, Lord Jesus." But in other ways, I desire Him to delay His coming. Not so much so that I can continue to love on my family and friends, or be enthralled by His beautiful creation, but because there's still so much to be done for Him on this earth. So many people don't know Him as Savior, so many things He's called me to do that sadly, I've yet to complete.

Lord, it is my prayer that You will awaken Your people to the reality of Your soon return. Fill us with a passion for people who need to know You, and lead us to them. Breathe life and revive us to live for the glory of Your name.

On a personal level Lord, may Your kingdom come and all my little sandcastle kingdoms go, crumble, vanish. May I love Christ more than I love myself.

Lord, wepray for those who are being persecuted for your name. May they see Your grace as sufficient and Your power perfected in their weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Until that glorious day, help us to remain faithful.

In the Name of Your Son Jesus, Amen.

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My Morning Prayer and Meditation

2/23/2015

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Reflections from Psalm 143

O Lord, hear my prayer! Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me!

I recall the old days;
I meditate on all You have done, are doing, and going to do;
I muse on the works of Your hands.
I spread my hands out to You in prayer,
My soul longs for You, as a parched land.

Let the morning bring me word of your lovingkindness,
For in You I put all my trust.
Show me the way in which I should walk,
Because I long for You!

Deliver me from anything that takes me from Your side.
I run to You for protection.

Teach me to do what pleases You,
For You are my one and only God.
May Your kind presence, lead me in Your footsteps.

O Lord, for the sake of Your reputation, revive me!

Rescue me from anything that takes my focus off of You

As a demonstration of your loyal love,
Destroy anything in my life that takes me from Your side.

I am here on earth to serve You only!

May Your will be done in my life, on earth as it is in heaven.

I love You my Abba Father, with all my heart, soul, and mind!!

Amen

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Navigating the Potholes

2/23/2015

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Life is full of potholes. Sometimes you can swerve and miss them, other times they're just unavoidable and in you go. Tensions rise, white knuckles grasp the steering wheel, and when you hit it, a shock wave vibrates through the steering column and you feel it throughout your entire body.

Some of us are on what looks like a never ending, nerve wracking road full of potholes. Don't be afraid or anxious. He's got this...He's got us in the hollow of His hand. Even when the pothole feels like it's jarred us hard enough to loosen our brain or physically throw us around, He's got us...He's there. He is faithful and can be trusted...time and time again.

Lord, When life is full of potholes and just one crazy swerve after another trying to dodge them, help us to trust Your Sovereignty. It hurts when we're jarred by anxiety and fear, so Abba, please uphold us with your Fatherly care.
In the Strong Name of Jesus, Amen.

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CrISIS of Faith

2/19/2015

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Twenty-one Christian men, ISIS labeled them as "The people of the cross, the followers of the hostile Egyptian Church", beheaded. Martyred for their faith.

I would like to think we, the present day Church, are the Church Triumphant as the inspiring song by Bill and Gloria Gaither states. Sadly, many within the Church are asleep, have their heads in the sands of time, or are fearful and just don't know how to defend their faith and face the uncertain times in which we live. Is God in His sovereignty using the terrorist group ISIS and their savage attacks to awaken the lethargic, fearful, sleeping Church from our crISIS of faith? I've read the end of the book and I know that Jesus Christ and His bride the Church will be triumphant in the end, but many will lose their lives in the process for standing courageously as Christ's Church.

A message was sent by ISIS this week.
A message of intimidation and fear.

What will our message be in response?

Fear is a paralyzing emotion that robs us of our faith in the One who is our light, our salvation, and the strength of our lives. The Deceiver, the Accuser, the Intimidator, the Liar Satan himself knows this. And so he uses groups cloaked in hoods of darkness, wielding swords, and some carrying flames and gasoline, to immobilize and fill us with fear. Why do we give him such power over us? Christ already won the victory. We can face whatever trial comes our way with courage. Courage doesn't come from an absence of fear, but rather an abundance of faith. From a fleshly standpoint, it's not always easy to stand up to our fears with courage. But we can stand boldly knowing we're found in Him. Nothing touches us without first coming through Him.

The solution to this crisis of faith is to wield our own double-edged sword - the Word of God, not haphazardly hacking away at anyone who challenges us, but as a skilled warrior, for those days when we need to do hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. Allow the light of His word to penetrate your very soul, become intimately acquainted with Him. Be dressed and ready to defend your faith with courage. Put on the armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-20.

The vast majority of us will never experience life-threatening persecution or martyrdom. But the voices of our brothers and sisters who are facing this are calling out. They're saying, "Pray for us!"

Intercessory prayer is our most powerful and strategic corporate weapon in spiritual warfare. Mark 9:29, Luke 22:31,32; Acts 1:14; Acts 2:42; Acts 3:1; Acts 4:24-35; Acts 6:4-8; Acts 8:14-16; Acts 9:40-42; and Acts 10:1-4 are just some of the places we read about the importance of intercessory prayer.

When we read Ephesians 6:18-20 we learn of the kind of prayer that brings God's deliverance and power in the midst of spiritual attack.

• Consistent Prayer (verse 18a)
• Intense Prayer (verse 18b)
• Strategic Prayer (verses 18c-20)

I've created a pdf file that will help us to pray for the persecuted church. Please feel free to download it and use it during your prayer time.

The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life -
of whom shall I be afraid? ~ Psalm 27:1

What is God's response?

To His Church, His response is:

He tells us that on this journey to the finish line, be brave, be strong, be courageous. Don't allow fear to freeze up our faith. Be the Church Triumphant, is His message to us.

I repeat, be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do. ~ Joshua 1:9 (NET Bible)

And to the watching world:

He may seem silent, but one day He will respond, and these will be His words:

Almighty God, I ask that you heal our land, strengthen our leaders with Godly wisdom, give us courage and increase our faith. Be with those who are living with persecution, and comfort the families of those who have given their lives for You. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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Pleasure That Satisfies In a Shades of Grey World

2/16/2015

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How precious is
Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men
put their trust under
the shadow of Your wings.
They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house.
And you give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
For with you is the foundation of life; in your light we see light.
Psalm 36:7-9

We live in a culture with an insatiable appetite for pleasure. With the pleasure seeking comes an attitude of “if it feels good, do it.” There is no right or wrong in the eyes of cultural pleasure seekers, thus we have a shades of grey world that does not recognize right or wrong, black or white.

Do you know God designed us to seek pleasure?

That may sound strange when I just equated pleasure with sinful selfishness. Seeking pleasure is only wrong when we try to find it in the wrong place. We go to sex outside of marriage, food, people, activities, or possessions. But those things can never satisfy the deep longing in our hearts. That’s why the shades of grey continue to grow more varied and deviant.

When we surrender to God, we find the pleasure that truly satisfies. Have you fully surrendered yourself to God? Are you finding your happiness in Him?

Several years ago I was searching the Scriptures regarding the topic of pleasure. I wrote down a paraphrased version of some of the verses I was reading as if He were speaking them to me. Listen to the words He spoke to me through His Word. Jeremiah 31:14 Ephesians 3:19 Colossians 2:20

You have looked for satisfaction in other places, but I am the one that satisfies you. You have given yourself to endeavors, projects, labors and relationships, but never experienced the feeling of satisfaction you crave.

The child of God desires the feeling of satisfaction and to know and be familiar with My words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” You are My child, and I want you to feel content and satisfied.

I gave My life so that satisfaction could be yours. I conquered dissatisfaction and discontent. I have begun a work in you which I promise to complete.

I have given you a new sense of purpose. Be confident that I am with you. Take My hand in yours and hold fast.

I am faithful and I establish you and I keep you from evil that keeps you dissatisfied.

The secret of living a satisfied life is to know My love, which passes human knowledge.

In Me you are perfectly accepted

and cherished. I love, forgive, strengthen and renew you. To know My love is to know the mercy of God. It is My joy to give you My satisfaction.

Hear My loving words to you. In Me you are complete. See yourself as having died with Me to the hunger for material things. You have escaped from the world’s crude desires to own everything that pleases and attracts your eye.

Do not live as if you still belong to the world. Know how much I enjoy your love; enjoy My goodness and My love toward you and be satisfied.

A life lived in surrender to The Lord experiences pleasure that truly satisfies–something a shades of grey world can never deliver.

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Welcome to the Sneak Peek!

2/7/2015

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It's so good to be back in the blogging world again after nearly a 3 year hiatus. I hope you'll come back and visit often. When you leave a comment for me, I will make every attempt to hop over and visit you at some point during the week.

A Work in Progress

Aren't we all a bit of a mess, a work in progress, in need of grace upon grace extended to us daily by our heavenly Father -- and each other. And I'm asking you for a bit of that grace to be extended to Marsha's Musings right now. I still have a couple of areas I haven't opened to the public yet. When those areas are ready, I'll have a "Grand Opening" complete with a few surprises. As we say here in the South, "Lord willing and the creek don't rise" I'll have Creative Musings and Healthy Living open over the next week. Creative Musings will offer free downloadable articles and meme photographs. Healthy Living will have recipes and healthy living and lifestyle articles and tips.

About the Pictures

Most all of the pictures on these pages are my personal photos. If you hover over the picture you'll see you can Pin it over on one of your Pintrest boards . I will eventually get my picture over there on my Pintrest, again, grace please because I'm a work in progress. You are more than welcome to share any picture and any thing I have written here, I just ask that you kindly leave the marshasmusings watermark on the pictures, and please give credit for any writings. A link back to this website would be a kindness I'd truly appreciate.

Comments, Suggestions, Prayer Requests

I would love to hear from you! Do you like the new website? A particular post touch you? A suggestion? Please leave a comment. Or, if you'd rather be private, please go to the Contact section and it would go to my email. It's not always possible for me to respond right away, but I will get back with you within 24 hours.

A Giveaway!

When I finally have all my content in place I'll be offering a giveaway. I hope to announce that on Monday, February 9, so stay tuned!

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Landing Gently Amidst Thorns

2/4/2015

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Live out each day in humility, gentleness, and patience. Touch others with the love of Christ.

Lord, I pray I walk humbly with You, today. Help me to think of others as I go through my day. Some people are just thorns in my flesh and downright difficult to love. Help me to land gently amidst the thorns and learn to love unconditionally.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Thriving Grace

A life of grace lives and gives of itself freely to others.

A life of grace is rooted and growing....Thriving and Thankful.

Listen to Our Hearts

An Instrument of Peace

A Reflection on His Coming

My Morning Prayer and Meditation

Navigating the Potholes

CrISIS of Faith

A message was sent by ISIS this week.
A message of intimidation and fear.

What will our message be in response?

What is God's response?

Pleasure That Satisfies In a Shades of Grey World

Do you know God designed us to seek pleasure?

Welcome to the Sneak Peek!

A Work in Progress

About the Pictures

Comments, Suggestions, Prayer Requests

A Giveaway!

Landing Gently Amidst Thorns

The Muser

Categories

Archives

Have each new post to this specific blog page emailed to you, or use your own RSS Feed Reader.

Please Respect the Muser's Work

A life of grace lives and gives of itself freely to others.

A life of grace is rooted and growing....Thriving and Thankful.

A message was sent by ISIS this week. A message of intimidation and fear.

What will our message be in response?

What is God's response?

Do you know God designed us to seek pleasure?

A Work in Progress

About the Pictures

Comments, Suggestions, Prayer Requests

A Giveaway!

The Muser

Categories

Archives

Have each new post to this specific blog page emailed to you, or use your own RSS Feed Reader.

Please Respect the Muser's Work

A message was sent by ISIS this week.
A message of intimidation and fear.