Marie's Sunday Message - February 12th, 2023

Two days ago, my sweet daughter and I were talking about raising children. In that conversation, I expressed my sorrow for those times I needed to work to support them. There were times that I couldn’t be at home to help with the dinner dishes and put them to bed. That makes our mom hearts hurt. But, when we least expect it, we have those special moments of healing between a mother and her child….this was definitely one of those days for me. My daughter is an amazing woman, mother, and now my friend. 💖

Well, yesterday, she sent me the most beautiful text of love after our conversation. She shared this video. It is from a young mother with a life-changing family story. I normally don’t post these kinds of videos, but it touched my heart on so many levels, and I hope it does the same for you. The story she shared of “Let her wear the dress” brought me to tears as my heart broke for this woman’s mother. Sharing the story was so brave and so raw—especially when the unspeakable occurred. The message is clear, “Let her wear the dress.” 

This week has been healing as I went through many memories of when my children were little. I have also felt the burden of regret just like this sweet mother in the story stated, and I know other moms do too. Now, as I get older, I realize even more the important role we can have in helping our children take a breath and reminding them they are doing the best they can!  

I worked when my children were younger as many women do. I felt tremendous guilt surrounding my child-raising when I felt I wasn’t there enough. I eventually realized how counterproductive this was for my kids and for me. So now that some of my children are parents, I thought maybe the sage advice my mom, Olive, gave to me could help heal some hearts out there. I have great faith God will help our children and help us when we keep our eye on the Savior. It is also my hope we find a way to let our children “Wear the dress!” 

So here we go. 

There was no manipulation allowed between my parents; they were unified in everything, a fabulous team! I also know that if they had given in to us as children, it would have probably destroyed us. We would not have developed a sense of self-worth and personal growth from learning what reality was and what was on the stage. My mom would say to me- “I’m not your friend; I’m your mother. I love you but get to your chores and quit feeling sorry for yourself.” 😉 My parents made me strong because they were consistent and always showed immense love. They didn’t get angry or yell; it wasn’t their way. We knew the rules, and the worst feeling we could ever have was if we felt we had disappointed them. I may not have liked cleaning toilets after a long day of rehearsals, but I gave it my best! 😁 My mom “kept it real” so to say, and that reality kept our feet firmly planted.🤗 They were my heroes, plain and simple, and the lessons they taught were invaluable.

One of the “adventures with Olive” was the day I found myself bereft on the couch, a newly single mother, crying. I was having a most deserved pity party. I thought, “Oh great! Now I’m a single mom trying to raise a child all by myself! I kept moping, “this is too hard! I can’t do it! This mountain is too big to climb.” Well, my mom sitting next to me on the couch stood up, looked at my puffy red face, and said, “Well, la tee da-poor you! Marie, pull yourself together; you have a child to raise,” then walked out of the room. And guess what? I did. She kind of ticked me off at first, though!😂

When I was younger, I wanted to wear eyelashes. 😂 My mother didn’t know how, so she took me to the head makeup artist at NBC (who, by the way, as a kid, was Tommy from the original Mickey Mouse Club)🤗 for a first-class tutorial. 🤣 Now, I eventually taught my mom how to wear lashes, but she knew when to pick her battles and when to“let me wear the dress” She also “loved me” out of wanting to act stupidly by encouraging me to watch the choices others were making. When I saw some of the consequences my friends had made and the long-term effects of those choices, it left a strong impression on me. As always, Olive was very wise.

Raising children is something we have to work at every day until we leave the earth. I’m sure you feel as I have that we often fail and sometimes miserably! But I have come to learn as my children have gotten older (not me, though😂), if we make our choices for our children’s welfare with love, they will eventually see we tried our best! Also, if we try to justify the reasons we did what we did, it only puts up bigger walls. However, if we sincerely apologize for the mistakes we made, I know they will forgive and love us back. 

My mom let me, “Wear the dress! And some were pretty bad mistakes- 🫣 as you can see in the two photos! What was I thinking!!!!🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ But my sweet parents helped me to choose and learn! 

In my home, there was always forgiveness. I learned though that if I did fail, I always had my parents loving arms to fall into. But they would not fix it for me. I was the one who had to get back up and keep moving forward. Thank you, mom and dad, for that one. I love you eternally. 

So, if letting our kids and grandkids mix Marvel characters with Disney characters while adding a tutu makes your teeth hurt, close your eyes and let them. Pick your battles wisely. If, while going to Target, you notice your children look homeless after proudly dressing themselves …..so what. Pick your battles wisely because saying no all the time just sucks up our energy and creates a distance that makes it harder when you really need to say no. 

When my son Michael passed away, I wanted to take back every single heated discussion we ever had about dirty socks, bed-making, etc. Of course, structure and schedules are important—they can save a mom—but as I had to learn, don’t break yourself against a schedule. Children are more important than rules or schedules. 

I read an excellent article the other day as I thought about my mom and dad. It was by Dr. Jaak Panksepp on how there are nine minutes each day that we can positively affect our children. He said the “larger the sphere of positive emotions” a child has with a loved one, the more likely they are to become a productive and happy member of society. Here are the 9 minutes...

•Three minutes of positive interaction with your child as soon as they wake up. 

•Three minutes of positive interaction when you see them after a nap or school. 

•Three minutes of positive interaction right before bed. 

I love this idea, and I believe it keeps us focused on loving them and it’s much more doable than the standard 10 positives to one negative. (Sounds good for marriage also😉) 

This world right now seems intent on trying to get us all down, incorporating the tools of fear to leave us hopeless. And as Olive would say, “That’s just about enough of that!”🤭 So today, let’s join forces in choosing to be positive and more intentional with our words, thoughts, and actions, and for heaven’s sake, let’s all “Wear the dress”🥰 

Love you all!!! 

#Sundaymessage

Marie's Sunday Message - February 5th, 2023

I saw this poster for the remastered release of Titanic while at the movies this week. But look!! It seems like Kate Winslet has two different hairdos! One side of her hair is up and the other side’s down! I’ve seen that poster many times over the last 25 years, but I’ve never noticed that before!

Later that night, I was continuing my study of the New Testament. Suddenly, I saw the story I was reading very differently. It’s the story of some very clever people in the book of Mark. I’m sure you know it, but I’ll reiterate it quickly.

They knew the Savior could heal their friend who had palsy. After unsuccessfully getting through the large crowd surrounding the house where the Savior was, they decided to go up to the roof and lower their friend’s bed down to Jesus. Ingenious, right?!! Well, I’ve read this story for years, and all of a sudden, it took on a whole different emphasis. This time, I noticed what the Savior did next. He said, “your sins are forgiven,” and THEN he healed the friend with palsy.

I saw a pattern I hadn’t seen up till now. Before the man with palsy could be healed, the Savior forgave his sins so he was a clean vessel to receive Christ's gift. This realization came to my mind – if I want healing to happen in my life—emotionally, physically, spiritually, or whatever—I need to be full of forgiveness. Suddenly Matthew 5:43-45 Took on a much deeper meaning to me!

One of the many lessons I learned from my dear friend Olivia Newton-John was how forgiveness plays a big part in the healing of our bodies. Gratitude and forgiveness were just a part of her daily regime. We’ve all been hurt by others before, but by not holding on to that kind of dark baggage, we give room for light and love to enter in and fill our souls. Olivia would say, “If anger is in you, it will manifest as illness. So it really is beneficial for us to let things go no matter how difficult. It really is a choice.” Can you imagine if we all did this? No more road rage! 😂

I know we have all suffered heartaches and terrible wrongs. Sometimes, forgiveness seems impossible.

But….actually, it isn’t.

I have learned the first thing you do is identify it. That darling sage of simple reasoning…Mr. Rodgers said, “If you can mention it, you can manage it.” So our first step to forgiveness is humbly taking it to the Lord. Talk to Him for hours if needed; just take it to Him and talk. Prayer is real. It’s our cell phone to God. Now here’s where it becomes interesting!!

With our Savior's help, we can place any hurt in the past. After all, we cannot do anything to change it. So, we “let go and let God.” It's the only way this kind of miracle can happen. God, our Father, is our judge, not us. The only way to find peace is to leave things in the past and look forward to a Happy future 🥰

My parents taught us as children that forgiving is essential to gain entrance into the kingdom of God. As a little girl, that seemed doable. As an adult, it becomes more difficult, right? 😂

The Lord’s pattern in Mark was to forgive and then be healed. Carrying these burdens around creates bitterness, hate, unhappiness, and anger. These feelings get in the way of our personal growth and healing. So today, let’s all remember Mr. Rogers and keep repeating, “If it’s mentionable, it’s manageable! Then give it to our Savior, who atoned not only for sins but for the pains and sorrows He knew we would go through in this life. He did it all for us. All we have to do is give it to Him.

I love you all!

#SundayMessage

Matthew 5

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine, enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Here are the next few weeks of the reading schedule I am following for those that have joined me:

• February 6-12: John 2-4

• February 13-19: Matthew 5; Luke 6

• February 20-26: Matthew  6-7

• February 27-March 5: Matthew 8; Mark 2-4; Luke 7

Marie's Sunday Message - January 29th, 2023

January…phew! January is always a challenge, isn’t it? First, we are exhausted from the holidays, so we use procrastination just to find a little rest! Right away, we find the couch and streaming Netflix is far more rewarding than facing life again. 😂 January is also the month we calculate all we have been eating. It started when we took the Oreos out of the wrapper on “back to school” day and then rode the wave through Halloween, Thanksgiving, and December,🤦🏻‍♀️dodging the sugar the best we could! Holidays are wonderful but can be challenging in the aftermath, right? And then January comes, and we saddle up on the butt-kicking machine as we try hard to keep those resolutions we made! 

Then there is having to face finding room to store the new holiday decorations that weren’t really needed, but we had to have. Or better yet, thinking we put everything away, then when closing the closet door and discover an entire stack of decorations we hadn’t put away. 🤷🏻‍♀️But the best - the “oldie but goodie,” Will I just once get through January with a goal I’ve made instead of going around and around? 

However, January is also the month I make some much-needed course corrections. And I have found the best way is to keep it simple! I grew up with a mom who said, “You can’t eat an elephant in one bite! But over time, you can! A bite at a time. A little here and a little there.” She always made us laugh. Maybe that’s why I like elephants so much! (Last Sunday’s message😂) But the point is, I realized we needed to keep it simple so we wouldn’t get discouraged. This practical advice also works with having a testimony of the gospel. The Savior was very clear from His teachings that the gospel must be simple in order for a child to understand. But we try to make it so hard. Why? (that’s a post for a different day) Here is a thought, though. 

Scientists tested the theory that “people who are lost walk in circles.” Test subjects were taken to a thick forest with no visible landmarks, and they were left to rely solely on their sense of direction. What did they do? The scientists concluded from this test that people really do walk in circles when they don’t have reliable clues for their walking direction. Several reasons were hypothesized, but the reason that made the most sense was….simple! It’s human nature to drift off course when they don’t have reliable landmarks. 

This applies to us physically.

And this applies to us spiritually. 

I know for a fact that changes are made incrementally. From a sermon by Dieter Uchtdorf, he writes, “The book of Judges records that after Joshua died, “there arose another generation….which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel”. (Judges 2:10) He goes on, “Despite the astonishing heavenly interventions, visitations, rescues, and miraculous victories the children of Israel witnessed during the lifetimes of Moses and Joshua. Within a generation, the people had abandoned the Way and began walking according to their own desire, and, of course, it did not take long before they paid the price for their behaviors. 

But a small rudder can steer a large ship! Don’t get discouraged when taking on big projects or making big changes. Remember, my mother Olive said it best. We aren’t going to eat the elephant in one day! I know change is always possible. 

Michael Crichton said, “A day is like a whole life. You start out doing one thing but end up doing something else. Your whole existence or life can have that same haphazard quality or shape as a single day.”

Dieter Uchtdorf goes on to say, “Want to change your life? Change your day. Do you want to change your day? Change this hour.” I love his simplicity!! 

A great start is to build on the small victories. I read a book about being 1% better, and then I couldn’t figure out how to figure out measuring the 1%. 🧐😂 So instead, I say, “build on the small victories!  Every single one of those small victories turns into life-changing habits when you add them up. Break it down in easy steps. If you are just starting out studying the scriptures, read just a verse or two every day. If walking for exercise is your goal, start with 10 minutes this week, then increase it to 15 minutes next week. I know you have heard it a million times, but by following this simple pattern and then adding a little effort, you will have success! How would a little child do it? Well, Preschool is built around small victories and remembering Philippians 4:13! “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” He will never leave us weak. 

I know we all have challenges because that is what Earth life is about…. one struggle after another! But I also believe the Savior’s plan is perfect, and He knows we can overcome our challenges and replace them with strengths. He is always there to help.

I wish you every success as you lean on the Lord to build on those small victories….I love you all!!

Here are the next few weeks of the reading schedule I am following for those that have joined me:

• January 30-February 5: Matthew 4; Luke 4-5

• February 6-12: John 2-4

• February 13-19: Matthew 5; Luke 6

• February 20-26: Matthew  6-7

Marie's Sunday Message - January 22nd, 2023

I love elephants!! They’re proof that God has a sense of humor; they have cankles, their nose and ears never stop growing, and the bones in their feet are perfectly shaped for high heels. So, it’s no wonder they sway back and forth when they’re standing…their feet hurt!! 🤣😂 So, when I saw this image by Sara Gagnon, it reminded me of one of my favorite stories. But not just because it has an elephant, but because of what he’s doing… 

Frank Sinatra was, without a doubt, a powerhouse. Even at 78 years old, fans still came in droves to see him! Tom Dreesen was a comedian who was Frank’s warm-up act for many years. He recalled one particular show when there were about 20,000 people in the audience. Sinatra was 3 songs into his set when he completely forgot the lyrics he was singing. He kept repeating, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” but the band didn’t know he stopped singing. So they kept playing. When the band finally realized he stopped, they began stopping, instrument by instrument, until there was a deafening silence in the auditorium. At that point, Dreesen thought Sinatra would lay his microphone down and go home to recognize the end of an incredible career. 

But then something happened. 

“A guy way up at the top of the audience stood up by himself and hollered out, ‘That’s ok Frank! That’s all right because we love you!’

Then he started to applaud. 

Then the guy next to him started to applaud. 

Then hundreds of people started to applaud.

Then thousands. 

Pretty soon the whole arena was cheering and yelling! Sinatra turned around and went back to center stage.” Dreesen continued, “he went into the next number which was ‘Mack the Knife’ and he absolutely drilled that song. He hit every nuance and every lyric. It was like he was 19 years old again…After he finished that song the crowd went nuts! He was ready to go onto the next number when he finally quieted them down. Then he stopped and pointed up to the guy and said, ‘I love you too, Pal.’ He sang for two years after that. That fan brought him from the ashes that night.” 

This sweet story shows that no one is above a hand on the shoulder, a friendly smile, or a word of encouragement. I was blessed to perform with Frank and have so much respect for him as an entertainer. In the end, despite all the success Sinatra saw, it came down to one lone fan in the audience who allowed him to finish his career on his own terms. What an incredible blessing. 

This story made me want to be that fan. 

Sometimes, we have to step out of the crowd and cheer someone on. Give the encouragement or praise needed for someone else to live their best life. The Lord is always with us, fighting our battles, hand in hand. But sometimes, he sends you and me in his place to help those in need. I believe that when you feel impressed to offer a kind word to a friend, family member, or even a complete stranger, it is our Heavenly Father sending us to them. Mark Twain remarked that he “could live two months on a good compliment”!   In the words of the biblical proverbs of Solomon: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Prov. 25:11.) 

Just as I was getting ready to send my #Sundaymessage a sweet friend of mine sent this to me “I believe people who consistently choose to do simple acts of love and compassion toward their fellow man can bring forth extraordinary results that can change both the life of the giver and that of the receiver.” She felt prompted to send it to me. I guess she’s listening to the angels around her.🥰 Coincidence? I don’t think so.😉

Having a voice of gladness, especially in today’s world, is needed by everyone. Through the precious gift of offering kind words to others, our hearts naturally soften too. And, as our hearts soften, we become closer to the Lord. Think of all the good that you could do by cheering someone on…a lone fan in the crowd. In doing so, your own life will be blessed.

My love to you all.

#Sundaymessge

Here are the next few weeks of the reading schedule I am following for those that have joined me:

• January 23–29: Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3.

• January 30-February 5: Matthew 4; Luke 4-5

• February 6-12: John 2-4

• February 13-19: Matthew 5; Luke 6

Marie's Sunday Message - January 15th, 2023

I love stories and analogies. I remember one about a man who is walking down the street and falls into a hole. He couldn’t get out. A doctor passes by and the guy shouts, “Hey you, can you help me out?” The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down into the hole, and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up to him, “Father, I’m down in this hole. Can you help me out?” The priest writes out a prayer, throws it into the hole, and moves on. Then a friend walks by. The man in the hole sees him and shouts, “Hey Joe, I’m down in this hole. Can you help me out?” The friends jump in the hole. Our guy says, “Are you stupid? Now we’re both in this hole!” His friend says, “Yeah, but I’ve been down here before and I know the way out.”

Taking a step back, preparation is one of the most important things we do. We wear seatbelts in case of a possible accident, take vitamins to prevent a possible illness, and go to a checkup at the dentist to prevent cavities. We don’t leave our homes without prayer, we read scriptures, we wear helmets. There are even warnings on medications to prevent possible reactions. The list goes on and on. We can prepare for everything our minds can think of. But, sometimes, things still go wrong. When it does, how do we respond? 

So, back to the analogy of the man in the hole. Is it fair to say that he fell into the hole because he was unprepared? Probably not. Did he wake up and make a plan of what to do in case he falls in a hole today? Doubtful. We can prepare for anything and everything, but from time to time, we still need God to help. And he will send people to jump into that hole with us and guide help us out. 

I have a friend who’s a coach. He prepared his team with fundamental drills and for any unusual situation he could possibly think of. But the part he was the happiest with was how his team was trained mentally. These high school boys read books on positivity, leadership, and drive. They enjoyed coming to practice because, in their words, “They didn’t just learn about the sport but life itself.” This approach was highly successful and they went all the way to the state championship. He told me at that game that the referee was making some questionable calls that derailed their plans. His team had to keep playing with very unsettled emotions. This was an unforeseen situation neither the coach nor the players had considered. Instead of plowing back into the game, the new situation got the better of them and they lost. As disappointing as the loss was, he told me, “I believe it was still a win”. He said his team got the opportunity to understand that life isn’t predictable—we can’t prepare for every possible outcome. 

That’s why it’s important that, amidst all of our preparations, we put God first. If we rely on our own preparations rather than keep our faith in God, we completely miss out. There will be catastrophes in our lives, illnesses that take away our independence, and betrayals we don’t see coming. We will lose jobs we desperately need and encounter loss throughout our lives. But there is one thing we can count on, and that’s Him…every time. If we have more faith in ourselves than in the Savior, we will lose every time. 

I am not knocking preparations! I rehearse and rehearse and rehearse…but I still make sure we all have prayer before every show.

He is our light in the storm, our path when we’re lost, and our hope when we can’t take another step. I know this because I’ve been to this abyss. Reading about him daily has been a great source of strength for me through the years. I hope your scripture reading is going well. I promise studying the life of our Savior will prepare us for anything and will be life-altering. I know that we can try to prepare for every scenario but, in the end, the time spent studying the life of the Savior and then following His life and example will be the best investment of time we will ever make.

Here are the next few weeks of the reading schedule I am following for those that have joined me: 

• January 16–22: John 1.

• January 23–29: Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3.

• January 30-February 5: Matthew 4; Luke 4-5

• February 6-12: John 2-4

Marie's Sunday Message - January 8th, 2023

I finished a new quilt and have another idea for one on the way.🥰👍 Quilting is a joy for me now that I found later in life while taking care of my mom. There’s something very satisfying about piecing together small bits of fabric to create a beautiful quilt. This is the latest one I’ve done, and also one of the most challenging so far. I made it for my grandson, Wolf, who loves dinosaurs. He even helped to pick out some of the fabrics with his mom’s and my help. 🥰

Can I just say this thing was so hard to do!!! I called in reinforcements to help me finish! My friend Chris Chamberlain, the master quilter, and her brother Josh(an amazing quilter by hobby and a heck of a UPS guy by trade 😂) helped me make it to the finish line! Just zoom in and look at the eye on one of the dinosaurs - that’s a tiny square within itself! And look at the tiny triangles that needed to be made in between the triceratops spikes on top of him too. They all had to be pieced together… I love the intricacy.🤪🤢😂 It all seemed too difficult at first, but Chris and Josh were not going to let me fail! 

After seeing this quilt done, I realized the process was a lot like our life. If you want, you can slide through experiences haphazardly, with no goals or patterns, and worst, never ask for help. Or we can be very exact and thoughtful in following God's instructions or pattern for happiness, making careful measurements, and eventually, something beautiful occurs. 

Jesus Christ is our master teacher, and when we study His life, He will show us how to make those careful measurements and even point out the flaws we make, then help us resew them correctly.  In Matthew 11: 28-30, the Savior gives us all the hope we need in this wonderful promise…

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

This promise means everything to me. As a young girl, and even now, I’ve been through some difficult times. I know many of you have as well. But these words have given me great hope! I can imagine hearing this promise given directly from the Savior’s mouth and feeling that same hope that they did 2000 years ago. For us now, His promises haven’t changed because His words are eternal.

Remember, the promise to us is not that our burdens will be taken away, but they will be made lighter, and we will feel His power in our lives—giving us guidance, peace, inspiration, and a much-needed PATH!

I know this is true!!! In my life, God’s words mean everything to me. As I’ve learned about Him and trusted Him, I have felt my burdens lift. Just like Chris and Josh, the Savior was there helping me measure and cut, guiding me through some very difficult and very dark times when there was no place else for me to turn. I have learned through the years and tears that I find great joy in doing what God has asked me to do. It goes back to the quilt…Trusting in God brings happiness. Just like trusting in master quilters brings a beautiful creation, satisfaction, and happiness. 

I sometimes hear people say that living the commandments are difficult. Honestly, for me, NOT living them makes life more difficult! God’s commandments protect us from the snares of the world. They help us learn what true self-love actually is and not what the world says it is. True self-love is learning the joy of disciplining the natural man in us. It’s taking control of our physical bodies, our thoughts, and desires. True self-love is living within our means, focusing on having the wisdom to see the real truth and surrounding ourselves with good friends, and making sure we do all we can to uplift those around us. 

When we choose to overcome the world, that means everything from anger, judgment, rationalization, selfishness, or anything that can lead to us having addictive behaviors of the flesh, to name a few. When we can begin to see these flaws in us and start resewing ourselves (so to say), we become happier people for sure!

I know what you are thinking….how in the world do I do it? I want to be happier; I do. I want to turn my weaknesses into strengths, but that is such a long list. Believe me, I know. So, let’s go back to the quilt. Remember, It took meticulous work and many hours. Also, I started over more times than I can count because of the mistakes I made in measuring and sewing. But I had help…I knew Chris and Josh were not going to let me fail. I kept my eye on them and my goal, listened to their instructions, and sometimes even handed the whole project over to them. They didn’t do it for me because how could I learn? But they let me rest, just like the Savior who holds our burdens and sorrows, so they are lighter….also so I wouldn’t give up. 

I know January is a time for resolutions and goal-setting…I bet many of your resolutions are already in the rearview mirror! I included a joke that cracked me up😂 But how about we approach this differently? What if we take our weaknesses to the Savior? How about we lay them at His feet and then humbly plead with Him to show us where to start and how to make them our strengths? Where to start? I was always counseled as a child to begin with what is creating the most problems. Then trust Him! I know He will help with a lasting self-discovery. The scriptures inspire us to take an honest look at ourselves, so we can make the changes needed to improve and heal. But only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His atonement will we have the strength, desire, and power to overcome and do this. 

Believe me, our Savior can help us overcome anything!!!!!

Here’s my January reading assignment for the New Testament. I guess you could call it a pattern we’re following 😂 It might help you too! It’s not too late to catch up…. It’s never too late!!!! 💖👈😘 I mean, hey, look at my next project in these photos. I’m doing this next one on my embroidery machine. I know I’m crazy!😂 but I love a good challenge! Who wants to join me?😉🥰

• No January 2–8: Matthew 1; Luke 1.

• January 9–15: Matthew 2; Luke 2.

• January 16–22: John 1.

• January 23–29: Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3.

#Sundaymessage

Marie’s Sunday Message - January 1st, 2023

In 2022 my focus was on reading the Old Testament. This year I’m very excited to reread the New Testament. So my Sunday message is short today. It’s from Luke 11: 10 “For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

This promise from our Savior is for anyone who wants to learn about God's love for them. Because of the tender mercies I have experienced in my life, I know He is real.

I hope you will join me this year in doing a “deep dive” into the Savior’s life as we read the New Testament together. Studying His life will refocus us all for living in a world that would have us look anywhere but to the Savior for peace. He offers us peace…not as the world does🥰, but as He does.

I love you all and wish you a very happy New Year!