Author Archives: marniep

I am that I am

Day 8: I Am That I Am

Life is made up of a bazillion tiny choices that you and everyone else in the world is making. All any of us can do is tap into our own heart, our own spirit as clearly and as cleanly as possible. We can reach toward God’s reaching and make our choices the best we know how in the moment.

As we do that (and even when we don’t do that), I believe every choice we make is “perfect.” Even if we learn later we could have done something differently, it was perfectly designed to bring us to where we need to be next. There have been times when I outright knew to do better but could not muster the strength, will power or faith to do it. As I kept calling out to Him, kept asking for His help, He brought me back around and made all of it serve my journey and shaped me into a more compassionate, less judgmental person.

All our life lessons build on each other. Everything happens for a reason and often the reason is simply to position us somewhere new.

Looking back can be helpful when we look at it realistically…both the positive and the negative in equal balance, until we see it through grateful eyes that comprehend that it was all divine perfection. Second guessing everything in an effort to more effectively control future outcomes is futile. Even if we get it all right the next time, there will be a completely new and different set of a bazillion variables.

Regardless of what we may believe, we do NOT have ultimate control of outcomes. There are too many other variables involved (including the freedom to choose for every other person on the planet).

What we CAN control is whether we choose to see divine balance in everything that happens, whether we choose to gratefully see God’s loving hand in every little thing. In the darkness and in the light, in the poor choices and the wise ones, He IS There. His name is “I Am, That I Am.” There is nowhere he is NOT. Everything serves because HE IS THERE.

As we really begin to understand this, we liberate ourselves from the past, from the need to control. We can go forward living in love, peace, and gratitude, allowing whatever comes to be divine perfection.

Day 6: The Worth of Souls Is Great In the Sight of God

Have you ever heard someone say, “That person isn’t worth my time?” Or maybe you’ve heard people speak derogatorily about people of a certain belief system, lifestyle, race or ethnicity. Our world is a world of labels. For some reason we feel compelled to lump people into groups or categories and assume everyone within those groups may be judged as a herd instead of as individuals. Jesus had a different view about the worth of souls.

In this segment of the Light the World: Build the Kingdom 90-Day Challenge I talk about how Jesus Christ treated people and how we can follow His example. His life, death and resurrection can teach us much about how to view and interact with people we don’t agree with or who we might perceive as our enemies.

Make the impact you’re here to make! Find out how… get your copy of Light the World: How Your Brilliance Can Shift the Planet on Amazon.

in the beginning was the word

Day 5: In the Beginning Was the Word

In St. John Chapter 1, John the Beloved wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

That [Jesus] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” John 1:1-10

How can we follow the example of John and be a witness for Christ? How can we show people that He IS the light and life of the world. How can we help those who walk in darkness comprehend the light?


I love this video from my friend Tara Jensen of JoyInTheMountains.com. She talks about how we label other people instead of treating them the way God would treat them. I think this fits perfectly with the fact that we ALL have the light of Christ flowing through us. There is good in everyone. Let’s stop labeling people and see Christ in them instead.

Make the impact you’re here to make! Find out how… get your copy of Light the World: How Your Brilliance Can Shift the Planet on Amazon.

preach deliverance

Day 4: Preach Deliverance to the Captives

After being tempted by Satan, Jesus began his mortal ministry in his home town by reading Isaiah 61. He declared he was here to preach deliverance to the captives:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

He closed the book, gave it back to the minister, sat down and said, “This day is the scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

If Jesus Christ had a mission statement, it would be this passage. As disciples of Jesus Christ, His mission is our mission. We are here to be His hands and feet to set the captive free.

In today’s episode of the Light The World: Build the Kingdom Challenge we talk about how this might look in your life.

Make the impact you’re here to make! Find out how… get your copy of Light the World: How Your Brilliance Can Shift the Planet on Amazon.

let it go

Day 3: Let It Go

In Day 3 of the Light the World: Build the Kingdom 90 Day Challenge, we talk about letting go of any hurt, anger, resentment toward anyone or anything else. In order to shine our brightest, we must release anything standing in our way. Let it go! That includes feelings of unforgiveness.

In this video I share an experience I had today that allowed me to set things right with someone in my life so I could move forward unencumbered and step fully into the light.

Is there someone or something you need to let go?

Make the impact you’re here to make! Find out how… get your copy of Light the World: How Your Brilliance Can Shift the Planet on Amazon.

arise shine

Day 2: Arise, Shine

In Day 2 of the Light the World: Build The Kingdom 90-Day Challenge we talk about Isaiah 60:

Arise and Shine

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

Make the impact you’re here to make! Find out how… get your copy of Light the World: How Your Brilliance Can Shift the Planet on Amazon.

Lord's Prayer

Day 1: The Lord’s Prayer

This video officially kicks off the Light the World: Build the Kingdom 90 Day Challenge. We talk about the Lord’s Prayer and how we can use the format of it to shape our prayers during the challenge for best results.

Remember, the challenge is to get down on our knees each day and ask our Father in Heaven how we can light the world and build the kingdom today. What is one thing we can do? It doesn’t have to be big and grandeous. It can be as simple as helping one person with their problem or offering a listening ear to someone having a bad day.

Make the impact you’re here to make! Find out how… get your copy of Light the World: How Your Brilliance Can Shift the Planet on Amazon.

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 70

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written
therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for your Word, for the blessing it is in my life. As I meditate upon it and live according to it You have promised to make my way prosperous and bring me good success.

Father, please connect me to my life purpose. Give me clarity in my creativity that I may move forward and live the divine design You have for my life. I trust that You will guide me to the right knowledge, people, and resources to live out my purpose as Your child.

I trust that you are bringing prosperity and success to me as promised and as I do according to Your will.

I thank you for the seeds of creativity You have placed within me. Thank You for making me in your image… a creator in the image of THE Creator. Please guide my creativity, make it flourish and grow. And may everything You and I create together bring honor and glory to You.

I pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 69

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for the dream, the vision You have placed in my heart and mind. Thank You for the desire to reach out and serve others with the talents and gifts which You have given me.

Father, You know every piece, part and person that is needed to bring this vision into reality. You placed the dream in me and I know that Your plans can never be frustrated.

I trust that in the perfect time and way You will lead to me the individuals who have the knowledge, commitment, passion and talent to work alongside me. I trust that people I don’t even know and may never meet will be prompted to take actions that would facilitate the fulfillment of my vision.

I know that just as we do not see the swelling and sprouting of a seed in the ground and yet growth is happening, the same thing is happening for my dream. Beneath the surface it is
swelling, sprouting and beginning to grow. Everything it needs by way of nourishment is being brought to it.

Thank You, Father for Your mercy. Thank You for Your miraculous and tremendous capabilities of creation. I put my trust in You. I will not force or micromanage the creative process. I will
keep my heart and mind fixed on the vision and accept Your direction to act when prompted to do so.

And in the meantime I will continue to praise You for Your matchless power, love, mercy and miracles that are happening all around me.

In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 68

Dear Father in Heaven,

I put my trust in You. I know that alone I am nothing, but with You, all things are possible.

I am confident because I have confidence in You. I am successful because everything You set your hand to prospers and thrives.

Father, you do nothing small. You fed the 5,000 with a few loaves of bread and fish. You parted the Red Sea with a breath of your nostrils. You brought down the walls of Jericho and parted the waters of Jordan.

You are a God of miracles, taking the meager efforts of humanity — an outstretched hand, a few loaves, or walking around a city — and transform them into miraculous deliverance.

Thank you that as Your child, I am an heir of everything that is Yours. I am a joint-heir with Christ, of great worth to my God and King. Help me to feel your love today in my life. Help me to feel my worth and value in Your eyes. I accept your love and receive your deliverance.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen