Onward Christian Soldier

One of the most powerful tools in our walk with the Lord is to "cast down vain imaginations and everything that tries to exalt itself over the knowledge of God." 2 Cor. 10:5

Our mind is a battle field.  If the enemy can plant a seed there and it is allowed to take root and sprout we soon become impotent and will experience no victory in our lives.

In the beginning of this exercise I felt very weak but with the power of the Holy Spirit and His reminding me, I soon became strong in the "pulling down of strongholds".  As I went about my day something would pop into my mind and I would begin to mull on it. I would be reminded and a would speak out loud over myself:
 
"I'm not going to "go there".  It does not matter. I am in the very palm of my Father's hand and nothing...I will repeat NOTHING, is allowed to come into my sphere of being without His first having seen it and allowed it for his purpose. I choose to praise the Lord!"

There were days that I repeated this out loud 100's of times.  A fortress soon began to be built around my life as His strength was made perfect in my weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Don't give ground to the enemy or the flesh!   Hold steady.  Stay in the Word. he comes only to kill, steal and destroy.  Don't give him anything!   Say no to your flesh and  walk in His ways.  You will never be the same.

Blessings!

Duct Tape Anyone???

Throughout the scripture we see time and time again where the tongue got people in trouble. 
Wars have been started, relationships broken and atmospheres changed simply by a word hastily spoken. 


 Perhaps that is why God chose Mary to carry Jesus as she was known to be a "woman who pondered in her heart" rather than one who ran to the well to spread the news!


Do you have control over your mouth?  Are you a speaker of life or death,  health or sickness,  darkness or light?  Do you use your words to build up or to tear down? 


Today remember your mouth.  Be conscious of your speech.  Keep quiet,  you will have less to be accountable for.
"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You, oh Lord my rock and defender." Psalm 19:14

See you on the Road

A few years ago I was chatting with some of my single friends about the topic of dating.  I was being encouraged to go "online" to find my Mr. Wonderful.

Later that evening I was chatting with the Lord about this and He told me;
"Marnie, you will find EVERYTHING I have for you on the Road of Obedience."

Are you searching for what the Lord has?  Wondering about your future?  Worried about making a mistake and/or making the wrong choice?  

What a wonderful promise He gives!

Joshua 1:8+9
"Study the Bible continuously.  Meditate on it day and night so that you  will be SURE to obey everything written in it.  Only then will you prosper and succeed in all that you do.  This is my commandment; Be strong and courageous.  Do not be discouraged or afraid for the Lord  Your God is with you  WHERE EVER YOU GO!"

See you on the road!
Blessings

Heartache

I distinctly remember a time sitting on my deck in the warm fall sun thinking.."My life is over, I'll never be happy again.  I have no reason to live"
Devastation hits strong and hard and many times totally unexpected.  We are shook to our core.  We doubt that we will make it.  We are dazed.  
BUT THEN
Jesus comes.  We may not see Him, hear Him or even seek Him but He is there .  He is faithful. He is watching. Nothing escapes His notice.  He holds us close.  He protects us from all that is not of use in His plan for our lives.
15 years later I sit on that same deck.  I reminisce and see the goodness of the Lord.  I am changed.  I have grown.  He has gone deeper inside of me. My life is full and He has proved Himself more than enough.

His word says:  "I will never leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." 

Even when we have no strength to go on  He will carry us.  Beloved crawl up on His lap and rest.  Put your head on His chest and allow yourself to be quieted. 

HE IS ABLE.

LAUGH

Many of you have heard of "THE" woman.   The one mentioned in Proverbs 31 who seems to have it all together!....
A few years ago the Lord brought this  scripture to mind and it has come to be one of my favorites.

Verse 23;  " She is clothed with confidence and dignity and she laughs at the future"
She speaks of  you and I wearing the confidence (because of WHO we serve) and dignity(because of WHOM we belong to)   of a woman WHO IS NOT AFRAID! 
One who can actually LAUGH at the future!.

That's who He wants us to be..What He wants us to look like.

Men,  you as well need to let the Lord have tomorrow and not be afraid.  He is the provider, our source, our strength and peace.  We serve a risen Savior!

SO Today    Let's LAUGH!!

Breakfast in Bed

Every morning the Lord desires to serve His children breakfast in bed.

This breakfast is  filled with the needed nutrients that will insure that our day will be filled with the supernatural focus that we must have to walk our pilgrim journey in a way that will bring glory to our Lord.

So when your eyes open. Ask the Lord what HE has for you today.  It  will surely be delicious and nutritious

Blessing!

A message from Eeyore,

"It's going to be a no-good, hard, bad day."

Have you ever made a declaration over your day, life or a circumstance?  The Lord speaks through out the scriptures about  how important our words are.
James is full of warnings about the tongue and the words that roll off of it.  So when your eyes first open in the morning, take a minute and present your day to God, asking Him to be involved, to direct your steps and guard your ways.  When we focus on Him everything else will come into alignment.

Psalm 19:14
"May the words of my mouth and the thoughts from my heart be acceptable to You, O Lord, my rock and my defender"
1Peter 3:10
"He who will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile,"

Are You a Person of Gratitude?

and if not ~ why?

We have everything to be grateful for~!  
We have been forgiven, set free, saved from sin and hell.  We now have "heaven" at our disposal.    We can have assurance about our insurance!
The scripture assures us that at salvation we are new creatures, old things have passed  away.  Have you experienced a fresh start?  Its available any minute of any day.
Be careful that you do not allow your experiences to override the truth of the Word. 
The Living Word is true and everything written in it is yours! 


I challenge you to ask the Lord to give you a "life-verse".  He will.  Begin to read His Word and before long a scripture will "pop out" at you.  It will fill you with peace, joy and hope for the future.
Let's pray:

Father, Speak to me today Lord as I read and study Your word.  Give me Your wisdom and direction to walk on this earth.  Let me hear Your voice.  Fill me with the grace to trust You,  that You might have more of me as I take more of You. 
 I thank you for salvation Father.  Please give me a Spirit of Gratitude. I depend on You. Amen


Blessings!

A New Stance on Life!

Try looking at your life from your knees!

Sometimes it's good to get a "birds-eye-view" or perhaps a "side-long glance".  But I don't think there is any better way to look at life than ON YOUR KNEES!

I'm not sure why it is but things just look different when on my knees,  the fog lifts, the haze clears and the stress just seems to melt away.  I feel closer to God  and more focused.  Many times when people come to visit the Balm we  do the  "work" while  kneeling by the couch....presenting our requests to God with thanksgiving.  You know what?  It's not long before the "peace of God that transcends ALL understanding" quiets our hearts and  washes over us with a peace that is not available anywhere else on earth.

If you are laden with a burden of care  the Lord says to you today,  "Son/Daughter come,  you who are weary and stressed, lay your head on My lap and talk to Me.  I AM always here, able and willing. I long to hear your voice.  I love YOU!

Blessings!

Musings with Marnie

God is our Refuge and God is our Strength,
A very Present Help in trouble.  
Therefore I will not fear, though the earth be removed  and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

Are you afraid?
With calamities seemingly coming at a faster pace, our world does not seem like a "safe" place anymore.

There is only one secure  spot. 
It's in the palm of HIS hand where nothing, I will repeat, NOTHING, can come into you that He has not seen and have a plan for in your life.

He is GOOD all the time!
He can be trusted and is faithful!
He watches over you!

Blessings,

The Constant Counselor

This door of HOPE stands in one of my gardens. 
It reminds me that the Lord is as close as the mention of His Name....JESUS      


With life-coaches and counselors abounding the Christian often overlooks the ONE who travels with us....wherever we go...wherever we are ~ HE is there.   The Sweet Holy Spirit*


We want to see....we want to hear....we want to touch.... and yet He is available in ALL of those ways.


Today, when that worry creeps in and/or the questions of life plague you....Stop for a minute, wherever you are, and step through the door of HOPE and listen.  


The scripture promises a Counselor, Comforter and Friend.  His Word is for today and HE is as close as the mention of His name!


Blessings!
*John 14:16-19

Worry...Are you caught in it's web?

Worry, albeit rampant in our world, was nailed to the cross thousands of years ago.  If you, as a believer, still carry this burden, simply go back to Calvary.  Take it off and leave it there.  Take His peace.  His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  Let Him carry you AND your worries.

Cast your cares on Him for HE CARES FOR YOU!

Is it well with your soul?

Jesus...He's as close as the mention of His name.   The scripture says that there is POWER in the name of Jesus!
Call out to Him today.  You have unlimited minutes and a face to face appointment.  In fact He is LONGING to hear your voice.
He is interested in EVERY LITTLE THING!     Stop now and call on the Lord...
He will answer.  He is always faithful.  He will strengthen you and guide you