by Marie | Oct 27, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
Are you at a place in your life where you’d rather not be there? Well, God has a word for you, but it may not be one you want to hear. It’s the same word Jeremiah brought to his people when they were slaves in Babylon, far from everything near and dear: ‘You’re not going home anytime soon, so change your attitude, dig in and make the best of it. Buy homes, plant gardens, let your children get married…and in addition, pray for the peace and prosperity of the city where you’re living because when it prospers, you will prosper’ (Jeremiah 29:5-7). The Israelites were in exile because God had allowed them to be taken captive. So, could it be that you are where you are today because God placed you there to bless those around you? Instead of putting your life on hold waiting for circumstances to change, start sowing into other people’s lives what you want to come back as a harvest in your own. Why? Because when they are blessed, you’ll be blessed too! How do we know? Because Jesus said, ‘Give, and it will be given to you…the measure you use…will be measured to you’ (Luke 6:38 NIV). Also Read: The Influence of Jesus Christ Understanding God: God of Delegation After A Flash of Inspiration, What’s
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by Marie | Oct 25, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
‘I don’t remember the date I met Marty. Like a lot of people…the line I was in wasn’t moving as quickly as I wanted, and I glanced towards the cashier…an affable-looking man in his seventies. I thought, “Well, he’s an old guy and it probably takes him longer.” For the next few minutes, I watched him. He greeted every customer with the usual “How’s it going?” Then he did something different—he actually listened. You don’t give much thought to the question. I could say, “I just found out I’ve six months to live,” and someone would reply, “Have a great day!” The old cashier walked around to the customers, extended his hand, looked them in the eye and said, “I want to thank you for shopping here today. Have a great day.” The looks on their faces were priceless. There were smiles and sheepish grins. All had been touched by this simple gesture…Some walked away, paused…and looked back…they couldn’t quite comprehend what had just happened…I wanted to take him home and feed him cookies!… I’d been in that store a hundred times and never walked away feeling like that.’ A marriage counsellor asked a couple to list each other’s good qualities. The husband listed twelve. His wife couldn’t think of any! The Bible says, ‘Look for the best in each
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by Marie | Oct 24, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
The bible is full of people who used their talents to bless others: musicians, masons, seamstresses, ship-builders, teachers, farmers, fishermen, authors, architects, artists, administrators, etc. God gives ‘…each of us the ability to do certain things well…’ (Romans 12:6 TLB). Yet much of what He gives us goes unrecognised and unused. Mac Anderson says, ‘Making a living isn’t the same as making a life. You can’t fake passion; it’s the fuel that drives any dream and makes you happy to be alive…The first step is to know what you love. We all have unique talents and interests, and one of life’s greatest challenges is to match them with career opportunities that bring out the best in us. Sometimes we only find it through trial and error—but it’s worth the effort. James Audubon (1785-1851) changed locations, partners and businesses, yet failed and became bankrupt. Not until he understood he must change did he have any shot at success. He loved the outdoors and was an excellent hunter and artist. He travelled the country observing and drawing birds, and earned a place as one of the greatest wildlife artists ever. More importantly, the work made him happy and provided the peace of mind he’d sought all his life.’ The Psalmist says, ‘I cry out to God…who will fulfil his purpose for me.’
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by Marie | Oct 23, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
God uses people like you, regular folk with work and family responsibilities, mortgages and busy lives. The Bible says, ‘we are…created…to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ Note the word ‘prepared.’ It’s the same word that’s used for making sure a team has the training and equipment it needs to win. The truth is, we are ‘…God’s instruments to do his work…’ (1 Peter 2:9 TM). When do you know the true value of an instrument? When it’s in the hands of a master! So put your life into the Master’s hands and watch what He does with it. He ‘saved us…not because of anything we did… but because of God’s purpose…before time began’ (2 Timothy 1:9 NCV). And He ‘…has given each of [us] a gift from his great variety…to serve one another’ (1 Peter 4:10 NLT); ‘…gifts…to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church…’ (Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT). Do you still think your life doesn’t count for much? Jesus said, ‘Go and make followers of all people in the world…Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always…’ (Matthew 28:19-20 NCV). You’re not just another face in the crowd; your life has value and purpose, even on those days when
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by Marie | Oct 22, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
A lady whose only Bible reading was a promise box. Remember those? First, she reached in and pulled out a Scripture that read, ‘Judas went out and hanged himself.’ So she reached for a second one, and it said, ‘Go thou and do likewise.’ Quickly, she reached for a third one, and it said, ‘And what thou doest, do quickly.’ Seriously, don’t just read the promises of God, study the conditions that go with them! Through personal revelation. Hannah Whitehall Smith said: ‘I lay it down as a foundation principle…that God’s voice will always be in harmony with itself, no matter in how many different ways He may speak. The voices may be many, the message can be but one. If God tells me in one voice to do or to leave undone anything, He cannot possibly tell me the opposite in another voice…therefore my rule for distinguishing the voice of God would be to bring it to the test of harmony.’ So, make sure you are asking in harmony with God’s will. Meditation: ‘If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us…we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.’ – 1 John 5:14-15 Also Read: The Influence of Jesus Christ Understanding God: God of
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