Ever been at the right place where God needs you?

Hello friends,
I am an Avon Representative and deliver my Avon books and products to my very loyal and awesome friends on Tuesday. This Tuesday I met with my girlfriend Carolyn at our local coffee shop and had our mocha and jalapena bagel, which was awesome. We talked about everything that happened in each of our lives and about family all that happened in the past week.  I always cherish this time with her.  She is my best friend from Almighty God and I love her so much.  Anyway, we talked and laughed and talked some more.  When I left there I had a few deliveries of Avon orders to make, which takes me around town.  When I delivered a specific order to a photography shop owner I found myself feeling that God really needed me there.  By this I mean when I walked in the door my friend Ryan was sitting at this computer and with tears in his eyes he was very worried.  So I asked him what was going on.  He proceeded to let me know about his new computer and how he was attempting to retrieve a lot of photographs onto this new computer, and so far it wasn't working. 

Well, at that moment my faith kicked in, and I told him it was going to work, we serve an awesome God and he just needed to remember that.  We chatted for a bit and while we were talking he would look at his computer and then at me, then with a smile on his face, he said it's working, the files are uploading onto the computer.  Praise God is all I had to say.  We had a wonderful conversation and I have to say that my faith in God has been strengthened from this encounter. In the fact, he will place us at the right place when someone needs a little confirmation and reminder of what God can do when we place our trust in him.  I was so encouraged and uplifted that I believe in my heart I was supposed to have been there at the exact moment, only God can create and orchestrate these type of situations and I grateful he can use me anytime he wishes. 

Bless you all and have a wonderful week.......let us keep in our prayers the families of those who lost loved ones at 9/11. Also for the families who had loved ones at the Embassy in Cairo, our heart and prayers go out to each of them as well.  

Mary's Faith Nuggets: A prayer for our nation and my niece.........

Mary's Faith Nuggets: A prayer for our nation and my niece.........: Today I would just like to lift up our country to God.  We are now more than ever in need of his blessings in so many areas of our lives. W...

A prayer for our nation and my niece.........

Today I would just like to lift up our country to God.  We are now more than ever in need of his blessings in so many areas of our lives. With so much happening, the economy, joblessness, our national debt sky rocketing out of control, oh do we need his guidance and direction.  So today wherever you are take a few minutes to just reflect on His goodness as to what he has done in your life.  I also want to pray for my niece Audrey, who has been fighting this cancer in her body.  The latest results after a scan show the tumors in her liver as actually having grown.

Dear Heavenly Father, today we come as a people who have been not so great at giving you the Glory that you so deserve. We have elected leaders in our past that do not even believe in your existence.  This is shameful and for that we ask your forgiveness.  We ask that you once again bring that amazing blessing onto America and our people.  We bow down to you today on our knees and ask that you come back into our lives, our work place and our schools.  We know that you are our creator and that everything and all things comes from you.  So today and every day we want to give you the Glory, praise and blessings as we live the lives that you want us to live.  Be gracious unto us and our families and friends and heal those that are sick, lonely, abused, discouraged because they have no jobs and can't take care of their families.  We ask that you place your healing hands upon my niece Audrey, that those tumors are shrinking and will no longer be there the next time she goes in to the Doctors office.  We believe you are a miracle working God and we are releasing our faith like never before for a victory in her life.  For a victory in our lives as we live the life that your son Jesus died so we could have.  Blessed be your name - Amen. 

Good bye Steve - see you in heaven!

This was a very sad weekend for our family.  Last Friday we went to visit our brother in law Steve at Virginia Mason where he has been for over 2 months now.  The chemo did not do it's job to fight off that dreadful leukemia unfortunately.  It was good seeing him, of course we could hardly recognize him because of how much weight he had lost.  But, all in all he knew who we were and even commented on how funny we looked wearing the yellow gowns we had to wear in order to see him. He was in good spirits considering all he has been through.  When we said good bye we basically knew in our hearts that was our last good bye and so it was.  The Drs. had already told Marsha what was happening.

Steve passed away peacefully Saturday evening.  We will miss him dearly and pray for Marsha who now has to pick up the pieces and move forward without him.  She needs a lot of strength right now and comfort during this very hard time.  I will forever remember Steve with his funny sense of humor always making us laugh.  See you in heaven Steve - you are in the best of hands now.  Love you!

This was Steve's 60th Birthday party only a few months ago - he got a gag gift of a walker with all the bells and whistles!!!!

My Beautiful Wooden Crosses now for sale!!!!

Hello everyone,
I hope you are having a fantastic summer out there wherever home is for you.  We are having some pretty warm days here on Whidbey, it's so nice.

I wanted to take a few moments and share my newest craft, which is the wooden cross.  The cross symbolizes our Lord and Savior and what he did for us, so displaying it in our home or office brings such a blessing.  It shows we are not ashamed of Christ and that we believe in a higher power Almighty God.  So, I have made a few some have been orders from my family,  and I have to say they are amazing.  The wooden crosses are approximately 15" high by 9.5" at the widest tip.  I have different themes and colors of course and my newest one is a "Patriotic Cross" with an eagle photo in the center and lots of red white and blue stars.  Here are a few photos of the crosses, and remember you can go to my Etsy shop to purchase some of these and other cross stitch items.  Some of these will not appear on Etsy, because I have not made them yet, so please email me if you are interested in a cross.  They are selling for $20.00 so what a deal, just email me at: gainesmary@hotmail.com if you would like a custom cross made to your specifications. Some can have your initials in the center like in the two zebra stripped crosses......:, or any inspirational phrase or words of scripture, totally up to you! Get your order in now to have your cross by Christmas.

Enjoy the photos and happy summer!

God will give you double for your trouble!

I am often awakened in the middle of the night thinking of the things that have been done to me and I realize there is nothing I can do about them now.  I have forgiven and have moved past those pains and trials, but there is something that I also think about and that is - God is going to give me double for my trouble.  In other words whatever you have been through in life that was unfair, unjust and hurtful, if you stay in an attitude of faith God will give those years back in double portion.  What others meant for your harm, God can turn around for your good - to me that is awesome news!

There are also things that I wished that I had done with my kids, spent more time with them, took them to church more, etc. Also relationships that have gone by the wayside because of one reason or another, not enough time spent on keeping them alive. In reading Joel Osteen's new book "It's Your Time", he explains that is the enemy trying to make me feel guilty for those things in my past.  But instead of giving in to the guilt, I need to do something far more constructive, which is to ask God for another chance, which I have.  I have prayed for God to restore the relationships, for me to put more into the time and effort and feelings required to heal it.  That if there was anything that I missed out on, he would allow me to make up for in lost time.  If we are bold enough to ask that God will restore the time we have lost.  So today I want to encourage you to do those things, pray bold prayers and your faith will be released and move God, because when we release our faith that is what moves God to act in our behalf.

Well it's a beautiful day here on Whidbey Island, it's supposed to be in the 90's - that is very warm for our area so gotta go and get my work done so I can enjoy the afternoon in the sun. Blessings to you!!!!

Why you should choose Faith and not Fear!

Greetings everyone! Today I want to remind each and every one of you to make a decision when you get up each morning to choose "faith" and not "fear" to control you in your everyday life.  I had a terrible time when my children were younger and to this day I look back at all the time that I wasted being afraid where I could have been releasing faith into my life instead of fear. 

See when my kids were younger I was very insecure in my marriage and did the best that I could to raise them, but I was always worried and afraid they would do the wrong thing, grow up with issues that I caused, etc.  I think you get the picture.  Having said that, I want to remind you that if you will speak words of "faith" over your children each day before they leave your home to go to school or any other activity, you will be surprised to see God's blessings come alive in their lives.  Instead of expecting them to misbehave, say "God I know my children are blessed and they will make good choices in everything they do".  But if you expect them to give you trouble, or cause you headaches your allowing those negative things to come to pass.  You are putting faith in those fears.

So, today begin to believe all through your day because you have that choice.  Begin believing that God is in control, and He is taking care of you and your children,  and He has good things in store for your family.  I do this all the time now, and when I take care of my grandchildren I speak faith into them as well.  I speak God's blessings on them and know all will be well for those who believe and love our Heavenly Father. 

Gotta go now but see you soon - blessings to you and yours!