Author Archives: marniep

friendship is born

Friendship Is Born: Day 29 – Light the World, Build the Kingdom (Year 2)

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You, too? I thought I was the only one.” C.S. Lewis . How can you listen for the common ground with the people around you? How can you be more empathetic and look for those connecting points. In doing so, friendship is born, and more light is added to the world.

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

Featured Image Copyright: Rawpixel.com / BigStockPhoto.com

cast your bread

Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters: Day 28: Light the World, Build the Kingdom (Year 2)

Cast your bread upon the waters and after many days it will return to you. In this segment of the Light the World, Build the Kingdom Challenge I talk about an experience I had where someone came to my rescue and how after many days, I had the opportunity to return the favor. Be willing to serve, lift and bless without though of return of reward. Life has a way of blessing you when you need it if you have sown good seeds into the world.

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

Featured Image Copyright: schankz / BigStockPhoto.com

follow your bliss

Follow Your Bliss: Day 27 – Light the World: Build the Kingdom (Year 2)

Are you following your bliss? And is it okay and responsible to do so? There is a power you unleash when you follow your bliss. Doors open for you to serve others and yourself. When we follow the thing we are passionate about, others are attracted to us and what we are doing. It’s like the little puffer fish who creates an elaborate design in the ocean floor to attract his future mate. He feels compelled to make this design. I’m sure he doesn’t know why he’s doing it, but he can’t help but do it. In the process he attracts his future mate.

“Follow your bliss. If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be. If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn’t have opened for anyone else.” – Joseph Campbell

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

Featured Image Copyright: Mikesphotos / BigStockPhoto.com

destruction and loss

Why Destruction and Loss Are Good: Day 26 – Light the World, Build the Kingdom (Year 2)

Most of the time when something devastating happens, when there is destruction and loss, we automatically see that as a bad thing. But destruction is a natural part of the creative process. It’s a natural part of creating a higher level of order. In this segment I share a story about my mom and her house remodel and also lessons from the Children of Israel who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering their promised land.

It’s like the Phoenix rising from the ashes. Without the fire and devastation, there would be no Phoenix rising.

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

Featured Image Copyright: Corey Ford / BigStockPhoto.com

peace

More Peace, Abundance & Wisdom: Day 25 – Light the World, Build the Kingdom

How would you like to increase your ability to make wise, inspired choices? Have more peace, joy, hope, wisdom and understanding? Would you like a more abundant life and feel more guided? Today I discuss how you can live with more grace, peace, wisdom and inspired connection to the ultimate source of all light and truth.

 

“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… That 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. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:1-5, 9-12)

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

Featured Image Copyright: artitcom / BigStockPhoto.com

power of praise

The Power of Praise – Day 24 – Light the World, Build the Kingdom (Year 2)

What do you do when facing something daunting? Do you pray, get a feeling of peace, but things still look overwhelming as you proceed forward? If so, take a cue from King Jehoshaphat! He’ll demonstrate what to do between the time of your peaceful answer and things working themselves out. The secret is found in the power of praise.

There is a difference between praise and gratitude. 2 Chronicles chapter 20 tells the story of King Jehosaphat and the Children of Israel as they came up against an insurmountable enemy. The king’s first instinct was to gather his people in prayer and fasting. As he did so, the answer came through a prophet of God that they would “not need to fight in this battle. Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord… Fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.” (verse 17)

To his credit Jehosaphat took God at His word. Listen to the video below to find out how Jehosaphat harnessed the power of praise to calm the people’s fears and trust God for His promised miracles. As we model the steps Jehosaphat took, we can reap miracles in our own lives as well.

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

 

Featured Image Copyright: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek / BigStockPhoto.com

missing piece

The Missing Piece – Day 22: Light the World, Build the Kingdom

What do you do when you’re doing what you feel led to do, but there’s a missing piece? Maybe you don’t have all the people, resources or knowledge you need to complete the project. In this segment I talk about what to do when a piece is missing on something you feel led to do.

For example, let’s say you’re writing a book, but you’re not great at grammar and punctuation. You don’t know a good editor. Or you have no idea who would publish your book. What should you do? In this video I share a situation that happened to my husband and me that illustrates what to do when something important is missing from a task at hand.

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

Featured Image Copyright: SkyYo30 / BigStockPhoto.com

Hope

Hope Through Music – Day 22: Light the World, Build the Kingdom

When you’re losing hope, when your life is falling apart, please find ways to hang on and have hope that things will get better. One of the best ways I’ve found to do that is with music.

In this segment I share several songs that have helped me keep going when things looked bleak and like nothing would ever come together for me. Sometimes you just need to hold on until the light can come.

Remember, if things look like they’re falling apart, hang on for the Glorious Unfolding!

Glorious Unfolding – Steven Curtis Chapman

Here are a couple more songs I mentioned in today’s segment that will help you find hope when things feel hopeless:

Just Be Held – Casting Crowns

Rocked in the Arms of God – Jana Stanfield

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

 

Featured Image Copyright: Splendens / BigStockPhoto.com

O Jerusalem

O Jerusalem – Day 20: Light the World, Build the Kingdom (Year 2)

As I play the piano, I face a large painting of the Savior overlooking Jerusalem. It's Greg Olson's "O Jerusalem" and it's not only one of my favorite paintings of Christ, but also one of my favorite verses - Matthew 23:37.

As I began playing, I looked at this painting and thought of the words to the verse. As I did, this melody came. I recorded it and then put the words to the melody. I know I'm not the most professional singer on the planet, but I do enjoy composing music and singing. So today's Light the World is this tribute to my Savior Jesus Christ.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Thou that killest the prophets
and stonest them which are sent unto thee
how often would I have gathered thee --
Thy children together
even as a hen gathers her chickens
under her wings
and ye would not,
and ye would not.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
I would have gathered thee
And ye would not,
And ye would not,
And ye would not.

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, "What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?"

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere -- in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you're going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

Photos: © 2018 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

going your way

When Things Aren’t Going Your Way – Day 19: Light the World, Build the Kingdom (Year 2)

Do you get frustrated when things aren’t going your way? Today I’m sharing why things may not be unfolding as you want them to and what you can do when you’re bumping up against challenges and problems on a path you felt inspired to travel.

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

Featured Image Copyright: Pavel1401 / BigStockPhoto.com