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Start today and make your own, it will brighten up your time with God!

Make your own devotional

Colorful coffeetable book

I have hidden your words in my heart [Psalm 119:11]

Last year I made my own devotional. I treasure it, it is a wonderful coffeetable book and I open a different page every day! I have written many diaries over the last few years, but this is the first one that does not hold my words, but His!

I started with a blank journal and stacks of magazine clippings: pictures, words, symbols, anything! I added scripture, a different word or promise every day. Now I have a colorful book that is very inspirational, not only because it is handmade, but also because it holds the wonderful promises of God! Sometimes I linger at a page for days and soak in the words. Hey, this was a project I still enjoy!

Thoughts on Writing

She'll do it :)

The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think.

[Edwin Schlossberg]

This week I have been working on the edits of my new book, Grace of Giving, that will be released later this year. The 4th book in the series about the Ten Commandments in the 21st century. I couldn't help but notice that sometimes I still struggle with the subject of my writings. When people ask me what my books are all about, I always hesitate... almost as if ashamed. Maybe it is because I have seen and heard the same reaction over and over again... 'oh, the Ten Commandments... interesting" and off he or she goes, away from me.

Come to think of it, I can't blame them, simply because I do represent an odd combination. I am a charismatic believer, I am a woman and I do NOT write about marriage or kids, I write about the Law from a Holy Spirit point of view, go figure! Sometimes I wonder if my assignment is part of the Lord's humor, "We need some fresh thoughts on the Old Book, let's ask Marja, she'll do it!

And He was right, as always!

The WHY questions

This earth is our domain and our responsibility
Every Wednesday night a small group meets at our, even smaller, house. Last week we talked about the 'why' questions we sometimes ask God. Why is there so much pain in the world? Why do people kill each other? Why do children die of cancer? Why are things so hard? Why me?

As human beings we somehow have the annoying habit of questioning the Almighty about every disaster, every pain and every event happening here on earth that doesn't go the way we expected. Even people who do not believe in God do this! Going through my Bible, however, I found out that it is not us, but God who asks plenty of 'why' questions. Jesus, for example, did it all the time, it was His way of teaching.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye? (Matthew 7:3), Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4), Why did you doubt? (Matthew 14:31) and Why do you ask me about what is good? (Matthew 19:17) and He goes on and on like this. It seems to me we take an unrightful place at His throne when we require answers to the very things God gave us dominion, authority and responsibility over. This earth is our domain, He gave it to us. Maybe we should change our 'why' questions into 'how' questions. How can I deal with this, how can I help and how can I change this! Would that make the earth a better place?