Faith

Easy Summer Bible Study Ideas

March 23, 2018 by Marya 5 Comments

Summer’s almost here…how did that happen? We’re all relieved to have a more relaxed schedule of no school, car pools and vacations (well, hopefully…) However, it’s important that our prayer and Bible study don’t get so relaxed that we neglect our relationship with God.

Have you thought about easy summer bible study ideas? Here’s some simple, low-key (and non-workbook) suggestions to stay on track this summer.

She Reads Truth – This is my favorite Bible Study app that I’ve been using for about a year. I usually do my devotions on my iPad in the morning before I get out of bed. You can either read the devotion online or download their app and purchase the individual studies which range from free to $2.99.

Another app worth considering is First5, a study designed to help you give God the first five minutes of each day. No matter which one you choose, take the time to invite God into your day before your feet hit the ground.

Write the Word – I’ve found that the simple act of putting a gel pen to paper and writing the Word helps me to meditate on it longer and not rush through it like I might on a tablet. Get a pretty journal, write your verse in it and decorate as you wish with stickers, rubber stamps or other mixed media. Plans and prompts are available from Sweet Blessings and The Architect and The Artist.

Color the Word – Like writing the Word, coloring the Bible can help you to meditate and think about it longer. I’m currently using the Inspire Bible (New Living Translation) which has beautiful line illustrations that I don’t get tired of. You might also want to explore bible journaling.

Read a Christian Classic – Take advantage of some of the summer down time and read a classic. Here’s some suggestions:

Sometimes we forget that Bible study is more than something we have to get done and cross off our to do lists. It’s important to create the time and space to think about what we’ve reading and studying.

Go For a Walk – If you live with a loud family, getting outside and praying may be the easiest way to gather your thoughts, reflect, pray and meditate on what you’ve been reading. Of course you’ll reap the physical benefits as well.

Turn Your Car Into Your Prayer Closet – We live in an area that’s pretty spread out and I’m trying to use some of that time more productively than I have in the past by listening to worship music more often. (Pandora keeps things more interesting. Some cell phone plans like T-Mobile offer unlimited music streaming.) You might also want to listen to Bible audio, books and podcasts. And sometimes, you just might want to turn everything off and pray.

Take a Digital Fast – I’m pretty guilty of rarely doing this but have been convicted about being plugged in 24/7 every day. Turning the electronics off helps to create margin so that we can process the past week, what we’ve read and just be. Those who take weekly digital fasts say that they come back to their workweek feeling more refreshed and creative.

How do you keep your Bible study time going during the summer?

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Why Does God Allow Disability to Happen?

March 12, 2018 by Marya 13 Comments

Why Does God Allow Disability to Happen?

Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?” Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. John 9:1-3 from The Message

Unfortunately some Christians think that that every illness or disability must be the result of a lack of faith or sin in a person’s life. What a discouraging burden to put on someone who’s already struggling!

We don’t become disabled because we’re being punished for something. Neither are we defective because even in our disability, we’re fearfully and wonderfully made and God has a plan and a purpose for our lives.

I don’t like living with chronic illness, pain or suffering. I’d take the healing in a minute. But I’ve come to the place that God allows suffering for His purpose. I’ve learned many life lessons as a special needs mom and as a person with a disability. It’s taught me to be patient and to persevere. It’s deepened my prayer life. And it has given me a deeper compassion for the marginalized in our society which is also the heart of God.

Being disabled with dystonia has also forced me to accept my limits and not be so self sufficient which in all honesty, I hate. I don’t want to need anybody or ask for help, but when I became incapacitated for a time there wasn’t much choice but to learn to rest in God’s care and provision.

God can use any and every illness or disability to bring glory to His name. At times He may do that through a physical healing but sometimes He works in the situation by giving you the supernatural strength to persevere to keep on going even when you’re struggling with chronic illness or disability.

I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations…At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Excerpt from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 The Message

Living with disability is so hard. I have days where I’m functioning relatively well and other days where I’m leveled. It’s depressing and lonely at times. But God has been my strength throughout my disability journey and He has always been faithful to provide.

I’ll never know this side of heaven why I had to experience disability on top of the demands of being a special needs mom. I feel very helpless at times, but I know that He will be with me on the path as I continue on this journey. All I have to do is remember to abide in Him, and to continue in prayer and meditation to seek His will for my life.

God, this is hard to ask but let me rejoice in illness and in disability, even as I pray for healing, for I know the plans You have for me are good. Use my disability to bring You glory in all I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Why You Should Set New Year’s Intentions

December 15, 2017 by Marya 1 Comment

I’ve never had much luck with New Year’s resolutions. I’d often make crazy resolution lists in hopes of making this “the best year ever” but I aimed too far and never got past February. As you can imagine, this created a cycle of guilt and shame that followed me around for years.

A simpler way to set your course for the new year is to set New Year’s intentions. Think of it as a theme for the new year. Take inventory of the past year, what went wrong and where you’d most like to improve in the coming year. Here’s some examples for you to think about!

Intentional Self-Care

Like many special needs moms, I put my own health on the back burner and ran on adrenaline, coffee and processed carbs for years. My body finally crashed and I had to learn to start living my life intentionally as a mom with chronic illness.

Believe me, I’ve had to make lots of changes..and they’re still in progress. I’ve lost a good amount of weight and my chronic pain levels are greatly reduced, but I’m still not where I’d like to be. So 2018 is going to be a year of self discipline for me. This will help carry me through the days of not feeling like working out or sticking to my food plan. Small changes over time will add up to big results, if I don’t give up.

Intentional Creativity

Many moms are consumed with caregiving responsibilities and all too often, creative pursuits are the first thing to go. Nurturing your creative side is an essential part of emotional wellness and stress reduction. There’s lots of ways you can do this, depending on the time you have available. You might try picking two or three new pursuits to explore this year. Some examples might be crocheting, drawing, or journaling. YouTube has videos for just about everything but you might also want to check out local class offerings.

An Intentional Yes

We’ve all heard that we’ve got to say no to too many commitments and responsibilities. But have you ever considered what an intentional yes might look like for you? It should be something fun that fills your cup. Maybe coffee with a friend, or a girls’ day trip to some local attractions.

Intentional Faith

I’ve been stumbling for years with setting expectations that were too high for where I am in life right now. For example, reading the Bible through is a very worthy goal, but reading plans for me never seemed to last beyond February when life took over and it felt like a chore…an I couldn’t remember what I read anyway! What works for me right now is smaller studies, like She Reads Truth, devotionals or praying the offices.

I hope these ideas got you thinking! There’s no right or wrong way to do this. Just pick an idea that’s speaking to you and then move towards it!

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How to Support a Struggling Friend

November 10, 2017 by Marya 8 Comments

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19, NIV

Cheryl was the kind of woman people looked up to. Not only did she run several ministries at her local church, she also homeschooled her kids, stayed fit and healthy and ran a successful online business. Despite all of the activities she was juggling, Cheryl loved her life.

But one day everything came crashing down when she became chronically ill and her husband subsequently left because of all the pressure. All of a sudden she couldn’t do what she had been able to do before and felt completely powerless over her circumstances.

Suddenly everything stopped. Cheryl had never felt so alone and she didn’t know what to do next. That’s when her local community began to step in. A family who lived across the street stocked her fridge and pantry. A friend from her homeschool group helped get her kids to some local activities.

Every time Cheryl had a need, it was met. She’d poured out her life helping others and now these same people were happy to reach out to help provide for and protect her and her family.

Sometimes, trying to support a struggling friend is hard. You may see all of the things that are needed and feel overwhelmed. That’s a natural response.

But try to focus on meeting just one need at a time. Begin with the most urgent physical need like food, shelter, or medication. If possible, rally others to help you start meeting these needs as well.

God, sometimes a crisis scares me and I don’t know how to help. Please calm my fears and help me to focus on serving each need as it comes.

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Why I Changed My Mind About Christians and Halloween

October 9, 2017 by Marya 8 Comments

As a child of the 60’s and ’70s, I grew up participating in Halloween every year. I have lots of happy memories trick or treating as a kid. As I got older, the celebrations got more raucous. Fast forward a few years on what was probably my second sober Halloween I rescued a frightened dog who had been pelted by eggs, cowering in front of my apartment house. I named her “Spooky.” After she recovered from her trauma she started to display an amazing fetch instinct and a few months later she became a star bomb dog for the Atlantic City Police Department. As far as I know, Spooky remained her name. It’s a sweet memory.

Christians and Halloween

As a new Christian and a new parent, I was anxious to do all the right things. It was strongly urged in my church for families to stay away from anything having to do with Halloween. I felt a little bad about this but wanting to do the right thing, we completely abstained from anything having to do with Halloween except for some harvest festivals throughout the years. Luckily we live in a rural area so there were never any trick or treaters who would brave the dark, two acre lots and wildlife on my street anyway. (I was quietly relieved to avoid the potential conflict.)

One year a friend at church who lived in a subdivision privately confided to me that her family participated in Halloween on their street. She saw the opportunity for fellowship, reaching out to neighbors and didn’t want to lock themselves in the house. I had to agree with her.

Fast forward again a few years…my husband I both privately felt (but never said to each other until recently) that neither of us ever really had a problem with costumes or trick or treating. I went to a (different) church’s Halloween festivities and realized how much I missed it (kids dressing up, candy and yes…carved pumpkins.)

As my frequent readers know my youngest son with Down Syndrome has caused us to rethink a lot of things and Halloween has been one of them. As is typical with kids with Down Syndrome he is all about FUN and he is all about the OUTFIT. He’s a simple little guy but in a very profound way. I don’t know how I could try to hammer in “Halloween is bad” without making a lot of trouble for him understanding school celebrations or what he sees in stores. It just seems terribly unnecessary. The kid just wants to wear his cowboy hat and score some candy.

To Each His Own…

Being around the Christian homeschooling community for over 20 years, I’ve seen a variety of opinions about holidays celebrated and not celebrated, often accompanied by intense debates and opinions. I listened to them all but over time, I came to understand that there are pagan in roots in Christmas, the days of the week, the months of the year, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and probably plenty more than I can think of. I started to find it all somewhat inconsistent and began to think that Romans 14 was the best application here.

We can respect everyone’s convictions, remembering that what we do or choose not to do is between ourselves and the Lord (within reason and while remembering we are as lights to a dark world). We don’t want to judge others and certainly don’t need to be anybody else’s Holy Spirit. Speaking for myself, I don’t give power to Halloween as being “Satan’s Day.” Everything belongs to the Lord and I believe any day of the year can be redeemed. We are, by His grace, overcomers after all. There are so many ways to enjoy and decorate this time of year and I try to focus on the beauty of the season, to celebrate life and not death. That being said, my husband will watch an occasional zombie movie and finds some of the decorations hilarious.

If I lived in a more populated area, I’d be glad to give out candy. What about Reformation celebrations? Probably a great idea for some families but in our family…it’s just not happening for a variety of reasons. That’s just us.

For our family, it’s been far better to engage than retreat. For the last several years we’ve gone trick or treating and trunk-or-treats at local churches. My son loves socializing and I’m happy to feel part of things again instead of feeling like I had to hide in October!

Feel free to leave comments…but please be respectful!

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How to Survive Life’s Changes

October 6, 2017 by Marya 6 Comments

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1: 17, NIV

I’ve gone through many seasons of change in my life. Some, like getting married, having children and buying a home, have been fun and positive. But sometimes life suddenly changes…

There have been hard struggles in my life as well. I’ve lived through multiple miscarriages, life changing diagnoses and ongoing special needs in my children as well as my chronic illness dystonia which began in 2010.

Honestly, it’s been overwhelming, especially as a woman in recovery. What’s helped me to stay grounded is the midst of my physical struggles is to focus on God’s Word, as well as His unchanging love and provision. I continuously remind myself that no matter how I might be feeling that day or what changes around me, God will never change. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever and His promises are faithful and true no matter what life brings.

Can you relate? Maybe you’re going through your own struggles and changes in life and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or even abandoned. When these moments come, look to God’s unchanging nature to find comfort and support.

God, thank You for being faithful and constant through life’s changes even when I’m not. Remind me that no matter what comes in my life that I can always look to You for support and guidance. Stay with me, Father and reassure my heart.

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My Chronic Illness Diary {May 2, 2017}

May 2, 2017 by Marya Leave a Comment

Every serious blogger knows that there’s a lot more to blogging than just pouring their hearts and thoughts into a post and hoping that people will read it. There’s all this other stuff you have to do like write to your target market, write to solve people’s pain points, create the appropriate Pinterest image for the post and then promoting the heck out of it.

I’ve been so focused on that and my blogging course that sometimes I forget that I need to just write.

So for today I’m ignoring my editorial calendar.

I’ve had a late season viral plague since last week which is showing no sign of letting up. Last night it seemed to be getting worse. My breathing felt a little more labored but my peak flow meter said levels were normal. And when I’m sick like this, it makes the dystonia worse.

I’ve tried to be intentional about devotions first before social media but it’s a struggle when I feel like this and can’t focus too well on anything that requires thought. I try to remember that as tempting as social media is, it can really drag me down and cause me to feel even more depressed. It’s better to minimize it on days like this.

My devotion from She Reads Truth today was from one of my favorite passages Psalm 121…

I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

I’m a little overwhelmed with being sick and a growing concern about the extremely dry conditions around us. There are wildfires popping up in our county several times a week and we are still about 4 weeks from the start of the rainy season. Our yard is tinder dry and the grass is just about gone. I think we’re even losing some of the native bushes.

When I’m not feeling well like this, it’s easy for me to succumb to stinking thinking and try to self-medicate with food. Since I’ve mostly given up sugar, salty snacks have become my new drug of choice and I have to begin to deal with that as it’s derailing my weight loss efforts.

I found some bible verses about spiritual battles and have committed to reading or copying one down before I go into the kitchen when I’m feeling weak.

My reading from Psalm 121 reminds me that God is always by my side, protecting me. He may not keep me from the storms, but promises to be there in the midst of them with me.

Now, I just have to remember that.

10 Calming Bible Verses When You’re Overwhelmed

January 11, 2017 by Marya 3 Comments

As a mom with chronic illness, I get overwhelmed a lot. Living with chronic pain means I have to be very selective about what I say yes to and since I still have kids at home, there always seem to be too many things that need a yes.

As a special needs mom, I’ve often been overwhelmed by many diagnoses among four kids, hospital visits, therapy needs, financial concerns, school issues, dietary needs and more.

The older I get, the more I understand just how much I’m powerless over. It’s scary. But when I dwell on it all too much, and let the worries of life begin to distract me from what I should be doing fear, depression and discouragement become a constant presence.

Much of the time the overwhelmed feeling comes from not spending quality time in prayer and Bible reading and thinking I could do things in my own strength. Time in the Word is essential to my spiritual maintenance. Too many times I’ve rushed through it or pushed it aside in favor of social media so that I didn’t have to think too hard in the morning when I’m foggy.

I’m still learning how to live intentionally and learning not to let my monkey mind run the show. One of the most important things I can do is meditate, even if it’s just one verse.

Here’s 10 calming Bible verses when you’re overwhelmed.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14:1)
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17)
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7-8)
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. (Isaiah 26:3)
Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. (Psalm 46:10)
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. (Romans 8:37)
Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…(Isaiah 49:15-16a)

Do you have a favorite verse about being overwhelmed not listed here? I’d love to hear it!

My 10 Intentional Goals for 2017

December 29, 2016 by Marya Leave a Comment

I’m feeling a little shellshocked about the many celebrity passings of 2016.

Like many other kids from my generation, I grew up processing life through the music and comedy I listened to and the TV I watched. Struggling with constant conflicts with my biological family, and lacking any real extended family or faith community, I needed to feel part of something and I found it in 70s sitcoms and music. They were my family when I struggled with feeling loved and accepted in my own home. So when they inevitably pass away, it hits hard.

It’s only natural that we’ll be hearing about more and more deaths of musicians and celebrities with every passing year. What gives me pause is that many of them aren’t too much older than me and in a few cases were even younger.

While it saddens me and reminds me that time is indeed slipping into the future, it also makes me ponder how I really want to spend my time and what I want cut out what’s unnecessary. God willing, I’ll be 55 this year and my time on earth grows shorter. How can I redeem it and make it count?

I’m spending a little time this Christmas break setting intentions for 2017. Intentional goals are a kind and gentle way of setting priorities.

Read the Bible through. I’m embarrassed to admit that although I’ve been a Christian since 1988, there are some sections of the Old Testament I’ve never read and have never read it through as a whole. I’ve tried many times but got lost in Exodus and the business of life. I’m trying to do things a little differently this year. I found a plan that I think will be a good fit, and I’m going to make good use of the audio capabilities of YouVersion. I’m also using the Message translation because I just need a different voice.
Resume health and wellness goals. I lost 25 lbs. In 2016, about halfway to goal. I probably could have gotten there sooner but I went off track quite a bit the second half of the year. I love yoga and am happy to do it most days but I need to add some cardio to the mix a few times a week because I lose weight faster when I sweat. Also I’m aiming to add two hot yoga sessions at the gym a week because as much as I don’t like the instructor’s style, it does push me past my limits and I feel great afterwards with reduced pain and spasm.
Learn photography. It’s been a dream of mine to be a photographer for a long time but life always got in the way of my getting a DSLR or even having the time to learn. I’ve found a great photography course that I have already learned so much from. I’m kind of wondering if I’m really too old now to expect to go pro but it’s definitely a fulfilling and creative pastime for me. I’m also working on learning Photoshop with the hope of adding graphics and printables services to my business down the road.
Reduce time spent on social media scrolling. I’m as hooked to my phone as anyone else and I spend far too much time randomly scrolling my social media feeds. It can really get in the way of productive reading. I just bought a Kindle paperwhite for this purpose so that I’d have something productive to read when in the car or sitting around waiting rooms. After this election season (and the sure to be ongoing drama in 2017…) I just find being online too much to be really draining. For me, there’s too much information to consume and process. I try to follow positive people for the most part but I can’t get away from the lingering sadness I feel when I see pics of people with big extended families or moms who aren’t chronically ill being able to do things with their kids that I can no longer do. Social media can be a blessing when it connects me with others who are struggling, gives me a writing outlet and a chance to earn a little extra money but it’s a curse when it triggers sadness and depression.
Get outside. Chronic pain is a constant presence in my life that limits walking, which I used to love to do. I also hate the Florida heat and I find myself indoors far too much. One good thing about having an active Jack Russell terrier is that it does force me to get outside several times a day but I need to do more than than that.
Pray. Somehow this fell by the wayside this year. I’ve been operating in “independence” mode all on my own strength. It’s a major character flaw of mine. I still want to be a badass New Yorker, but I often think God allowed me to become a disabled special needs mom so that I would see my powerlessness, learn to depend on Him more and see His provision in everything.
Practice acceptance. Living with chronic pain has meant giving up a lot. It isn’t easy. I’m continually learning life lessons on accepting what I can’t change and the living the chronic life as best as I can.
Practice gratitude. No matter how I’m feeling or what’s going on aroundme, there’s always something to be grateful for.
Live one day at a time. I’m one of those big picture people who is constantly thinking what the next step is. That’s a given as a special needs mom…we tend to worry about the future more. We do have to plan ahead. But I have to learn not to overthink everything and accept each day and what it brings.
Create margin in every area of my life. After 20 years of raising 4 kids, homeschooling and the household chaos that comes with being a special needs family, there is a whole lot of mess and clutter in every part of my house. Not sure if I should just tackle a draw at a time or attempt a program like this one (which might doom me to failure) or this one but every box taken out of the house and found drawer space is a victory.

One more thing…I’d be remiss in not mentioning that I’m entering my 32nd year of sobriety. It’s still one day at a time. Living these intentions to the best of my ability will keep me in a good mindset which is essential to long term sobriety.

P.S.I like to use my bullet journal to keep track of what I don’t do so that I don’t succumb to overwhelm and put too much on my plate.

My friend Candace at Mercy is New likes to call these intentions Grace Goals. While everything seems possible during holiday or summer break, the reality of life WILL happen. Baby steps are all we really need to take and keep moving forward in grace with intention.

Oh wait, there’s one more intention. I’ll be joining Candace’s community to study Woman of the Word in January. I really want to develop as a Christian writer and share the reason for my hope. That starts with more systemic study of the Bible. You can find more info here.

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A Random Thoughts and a Look Towards 2017

December 20, 2016 by Marya Leave a Comment

Well, December completely blew up on me. I’ve been sick off and on since Thanksgiving and have been trying to keep up with the usual holiday craziness and various medical appointments that HAD to be this month.

I’ve learned to let go of most holiday expectations and accept what I can and cannot do. It’s been said that expectations are premeditated resentments and that has certainly been a problem for me in the past.

I’m continuing to practice positive self care as much as I can. For me this looks like:

*Minimizing sugar intake

*Yoga every day I can

*Plenty of rest

*Saying no when I have to

Looking ahead to 2017 I’m trying to take some time to see what I really should be focusing on and be more intentional with my time in 2017. I probably won’t be writing much until after the holidays and am trying to minimize random social media scrolling. I’m really finding that it sucks the life and creativity out of me.

Thank you all who visit my blog for your comments and support, and I’ll see you soon!