by : Marion Keeping Faith

2021 going on 2022

As this new year comes I do not want to put my goals and visions for myself and life on a pedestal because I do not know what tomorrow will bring let alone a whole year. The only thing I know is, I know who holds tomorrow and He has my best interest in mind, He has proven that to me my dying on the cross and the defeating death for all of us.

I used to put myself under a lot of pressure on this day. Writing all my goals and how the year was going to go. Lately I have been reading James 4 and at the end of the chapter it says

““Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”” James 4:12-15 For years I had been planning my whole year when in reality I don’t even know what tomorrow will be like.

Instead of writing a bunch of goals I will not achieve and be disappointed in myself I wrote prayers, knowing God is who holds tomorrow and who knows what 2022 will look like so He is the one I should turn too.

Some of my prayers were these:

• Lord please take good care of me and all those I love.

• Lord please help me to never feel scared because faith and fear cannot be in the same place.

• That He gives me boldness.

• I never go a day not reminded of his love for me.

• That each time I pick up a pen He guides me in what I shall right.

• Lord please never allow me to forget all you have done and sacrificed for me.

Last year my word was create.

This year my word is rejoice.

Romans 5 talks about life in a sense of what comes from hard suffering “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

I have seen this head on in my life the last couple of years. What God can make out of suffering for “he gives beauty for ashes”

The word rejoice, my word for the year is so I am reminded I can rejoice everyday this year no matter what the circumstance is because Jesus has already over come it and the victory has been won.

I pray none of you put your hope in this new year but in Christ, for He will never put you to shame.

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by : Marion Good Reads

Type of reader

I am the type of reader who sits with the book for a while, not in a rush but allowing each word to fulfill its purpose in the story. The type of reader who holds onto the book I’m reading and brings it to each place I go just in case there is time for reading or even if I know there is no time for reading I bring it along for I feel empty without a book nearby.

Though I love reading now, I was not like that before. I hated reading growing up, really I did not begin to enjoy reading until about two years ago. I had a learning disability and reading reminded me of that. Once I found a type of genre that spoke to me I realized reading was not about how fast I could read or how many times I had to reread a paragraph for it to make sense but what I was gaining for reading. I began my journey of always being in a book. Now after a couple of years reading mostly christain nonfiction I am extending my branches and ready to know and explore what rich culture is waiting for me. Knowing me I don’t think I will ever get into horror but I am okay with that, I will appreciate its art from afar.

I enjoy reading beneath a tree or in a tree. Under a warm comfy blanket by a crackling fire and coffee cup in hand. I like reading while eating soup. Reading while my toes are in the sand and the waves are coming and going is nice too. Reading gifts me with time to relax and slow down for a bit. When my body needs rest but my brain cannot sit still, a book is just what I need.

My favorite is when I can say “yes” to a line in a book. When it speaks so deeply to my heart apart I never thought someone would understand the book says “I understand you”. Seeing the world differently from a book’s eyes is so very refreshing. After I finish reading a book I always think of someone who could use this, the impact, the escape, the sense of understanding. I hand my book off to them, praying it will gift them something as well, and that one day it will gift another. The butterfly effect of a good book.

by : Marion Good Reads

Meeting Mitch Albom

Mitch walked into the crowed book shop late, he walked in as if he were a person coming to see him, very noble and hungry. All of us in line we thinking he was someone in the bookstore about to make a big entrance but no, he walks in saying “Hey guys”. This stood out to me. A famous author showing us how equally important we all are.

When I got the chance to talk to Mitch, I thanked him for his books and how they have helped me with my grieving.

He said to me: When we lose people it is similar to putting a penny in a piggy bank. We will never see the penny again, but we know it is still there and when we shake it we can hear it. Just like we know our person is still there and can remember all the memories shared.

He said his mom died a couple of years ago to, probably close to the same time as mine.He was sorry that my mom wasn’t around as long

He said: Why do we ask God why he has taken people from us when they die? Instead we should be thanking him for giving them to us for the amount of time we had. We cry on earth but he reassured us that in heaven they are not crying.

After we left I check when he wrote to me in the book he said “ To Marion- so good to meet you! Those we love never leave our hearts. Believe.”

He wrote this book in hopes of exploring healing. Realizing in todays time we want our help like we want our “sandwiches”.

Writing this book was a healing experience for him as he has lost his young daughter. In the book someone asked God “why do you let people die” God responding with they are a gift, all the memories but there death is not a punishment.

I leave it at that and suggest you read the book and let it speak directly to you.

by : Marion Uncategorized

Type of writer

A creative writing assignment: what type of writer are you?

I am the type of writer who misspells words as they pour them out on the page, not drizzle, maybe not even pour more like dump words on the page. They cannot come out fast enough, my poor hands are all over the page, my pen is running dry. I do the old link the pen trick, more than not it works. My brain says gross, but my heart interrupts and says there is no other choice. It’s like the words are impatient people in line for a rollercoaster, a couple minutes and they are gone. Stephen King says a good thought will not be forgotten, I’m not sure how similar of writers we are since writing things down is my way of doing life from my devotions and what I did today, to to-do list, goals, reminders, good quote I found, dream I had, grocery list, people I want to reach out to, flowers I want to smell one day like a sea aster. Without writing I would be lost and nothing but forgetful.

I am the type of writer who is a friend of writing. I think of it not as a chore but like spending personal time with a friend, a friend that is your thoughts, nature around me, a bird that stopped by or a butterfly whose wings need a break for a second. I am the type of writer who travels, travels from thought to thought, bush to bush. I will do random research on something as if I am asking someone more questions about what they do or where their life has brought them. I am the type of writer who just writes, does not have a plan, maybe just a thought or one word in mind and what comes out is something I didn’t know I needed to hear. I am the type of writer who allows my heart to speak, my brain takes a step back and the soul flies in  any and every direction.

My writing can get messy, unorganized, lost, and found, it flows without change. Each piece would be the same. My handwriting is quite similar. From neat to sloppy, there may be tears or coffee stains. All it does is put light on the art writing is. I am the type of writer who will write on any paper or napkin in sight if all that’s available is my hand, I write on my hand. Anything I can find to let my words out. I’m the type of writer who feels the build up and calling from the words needing to be let out on paper. The writer who writes at my warm desk in my bedroom or sometimes against a tree of nature, maybe in my car between places. I write wherever I am, because I am a writer called to write.

by : Marion Healer; Healing, Keeping Faith

Gods love surpasses..

Surpasses all understanding

Surpasses all knowledge.

Gods love

God’s presence

Gods plan

Gods will

Gods heart

Gods grace

Gods Mercy

Gods will

Gods hand

Gods feet

Gods son, Jesus

Surpasses all understanding.

It is so strong, might and present no words can describe it. The feeling of being held and loved by your Heavenly Father as life seems to be falling apart.

Definition of surpass: exceed; be greater than.

The creator of the universe loves me and has my best interest in mind. This surpasses all understanding, all knowledge, all of life’s circumstances.

Life is hard. I know it is. My heart aches for what your heart aches. But my heart also rejoices because I know this is not the end, and if you are like me and your heart hurts with grief, know your loved one is in the presence of Jesus Christ, living out eternal life, set free from life’s burdens and is more alive and free than ever before.

Life is hard but God is good.

God is so good it surpasses all understanding.

I think surpass is my new favorite word. 🙂

by : Marion Keeping Faith

Verse of triumph

I found this verse a little over a month ago and it really stuck with me and I have been sitting with it ever since. It is as if God and I sat at a coffee shop together and talked. Talked about some really hard things that have happened. Talked about how He helped me, how He carried me. How He never left or forsaken me. How He is bringing triumph. How is is proud. Here is the verse:

We’re by the sunrise shall visit us from on high. To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. To guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79

For me it describes exactly what God has been doing in my life the past couple of years. Years that felt like darkness where any light was covered by the shadow of death. The light overcame the darkness and has guided my feet ever sense on the way to peace I’m not fully there yet but I am on my way Jesus and His light has shed upon me and I have been able to grow.

The darkness that surrounds you and perhaps the shadow of death, look for that sunlight Gods light shining upon you and showing you away.

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by : Marion Healer; Healing

My cardboard testimony

What a powerful experience.
Carolyn, my young life leader presented me this opportunity, she told me to think deep and pray about what I wanted to have written on my piece of cardboard.

I thought back to church service that morning and what my pastor said. He’s sermon was on dreams. Dreams even if they feel forgotten.
His main focus was that your creator, your HEAVENLY Father created your dreams just as He created you.
I thought wow my Heavenly Father because my whole life I have felt abandoned and unloveable because of my earthly father, who has abanded me and does not and has not provided for me needs. BUT through faith I have met my Heavenly Father who loves me dearly, never has and never will abanded me and will always provide for me.

Walking out in front of everyone with the words “grew up without a Dad” was vulnerable something in my heart that was not yet healed. It was real and something I hardly brought up. There is a piece of me that still felt left behind and forgotten.
Flipping over my cardboard to the words “met my Heavenly Father” filled my heart will so much love. I could almost see my Heavenly Father at the table with all the other parents so proud.

by : Marion Good Reads

The book: five people you meet in heaven.

After reading the five people you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom somethings stuck with me as I think of heaven and where my mom and Katie rest.

Entering life after death. What beginning does not start without an ending?

Before you’re fully home you get the wonderful chance to look back and see all the behind-the-scenes of your life on earth and allow your heart to heal and body to let go of all the brokenness and anger that fills the earth.

We will never know what truly is after death but this idea gives me great comfort and belief that God gives us time to process and heal as He welcomes us home.

What we do for those after they die is more for us. Their souls are at peace, allow yours to be too. They do not worry about their old things left on earth. The flowers are really for you showing their true beauty and colorful soul.

After death we finally get our many questions answered. This world is full of “individual” stories that really all connect it is revealed to us in heaven. Maybe we meet the people that had an impact on us or the ones we impacted and didn’t have a clue.

There souls are at peace.

by : Marion In God's Image

Be here

While at camp kayaking alone looking towards the shore of Castaway God placed the words “Be here” on my heart. “Be here” and let your thoughts be here too.

For so long I have been distracted and disconnected. My body is in one place and my mind is in a completely different state.

When this happens I miss what God is doing. Where He wants me to be. He wants me right here, in the place He brought me.

If I did not allow myself to be fully in the present moment I would have miss these fake flowers I found all over camp, just like the ones I found from my mom on her death anniversary and birthday. I found them at camp in the house-keeping closet, next to a tree I was doing a bible study beside. On the side walk, and in the hallway. My moms sprit was and is with me. I felt her telling me she is proud of me and happy seeing me at camp. I would not have experienced this if I wasn’t fully there.

My takeaway now that I am back home I make sure to continually check on myself and make sure I am present where my feet are.

by : Marion Healer; Healing

Full circle at Castaway

Over the past 3 weeks I had the chance to serve at Young Life camp: Castaway the place I met Jesus. Seeing the place where I first prayed, where I received my first bible and be back in the room I heard Jesus Died on the cross for me. I was surrounded by kids getting to experience something simpler what a beautiful experience that was and for share it with so many amazing new friends.

Each week on the campers last night they here what Jesus did for them on the cross, that they are forgiven and loved. Later that night Work-crew went on stage and the camp speaker told the campers what we had been doing behind the scenes, keeping camp clean so they could have the best week ever.

I got the opportunity to share apart of my story to all the campers in the exact place I heard about Jesus and his love for me. I told them four months before I came to camp I lost my mom, I did not believe in God or in heaven. Learning about Jesus in this club room I realized where my Mom is and who I am and I decided to do work-crew so each and everyone of you could have the same opportunity. It was almost like as I was sharing I was talking to my past self in the crowd.

God showed me the healing and growth that had and is still taking place in my life. The transformation and beauty He has welcomed into my life, and that my trust is safe in him. God really does make all things beautiful in it’s time.

Saying Goodbye to all the campers as they make there way back to the bus my heart is bursting with so much joy, after witnessing so many of them stand up for “say so” and proclaim the start to there journey with Christ. I can’t imagine the way Jesus heart feels.

I ask you to pray for each kid, as the camp high fades, school begins and they feel lost and alone with the battles they are facing. Pray they allow Jesus in and hold on to His love.