Posted by The 5.2 Project on Wednesday, September 30, 2009,
by, Maria Hartman
Water.
It is the most important thing we can physically have. Of course we
need food as well, but the purpose of food in our lives ends after
we’ve ingested it. But have you ever stopped and considered how
vital water is as a whole to our lives? Here is a list that I’m
sure is incomplete, but is more than we really consider most often.
Water
is life. 70% of our earth’s surface is water. 75% of the human body
is water, and 90% of human blood is water too. (Yes I did do ...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Tuesday, September 29, 2009,
by Maria Hartman
My daughter said something to me today that has really caused me to think. She said, “Mom do you know I love you?” I said, “Oh yes I do!” I then asked her, “Do you know how much I love you?” Her answer blessed yet challenged me greatly. She said, “Mom,that’s easy to know.” It was not a typical response and it really stuck with me. What a great answer and confirmation that she is sure of my love for her. Is there anything more wonderful to hear from someone...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Monday, September 28, 2009,
by Maria Hartman
The doorbell rings. Great. You
aren’t expecting anyone today, and of course you have a million things
to do. As you peer out the nearest window, you don’t have any
idea who the person standing there is, but you can see they have come
to sell you something. You just wait quietly until they are gone.
A few hours pass. The doorbell
rings again. This time you look and see your neighbor standing outside.
You eagerly make your way to the door, open it up, and invite her i...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Friday, September 25, 2009,
by Maria Hartman
Friends, this is as serious as it gets. I received this email yesterday and put aside what I had planned to share today. We are in desperate times. The United States of America needs to call upon the Holy name of the One and only true God: Jesus Christ, and beg for His mercy! Please read through this email as I received it and look at the website.
Today, something will happen in the very heart of our land that goes against everything our Founding Father’s stood for. We ...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Tuesday, September 22, 2009,
I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together! I sought the Lord, and He answered my;He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him, He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He deli... Continue reading ...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Monday, September 21, 2009,
by Maria Hartman
Change is a fact of life. It happens all the time; in big ways, small insignificant ways, ways that make us happy, and ways that break our hearts. If we live and breathe, we are guaranteed to experience change. It happens within us and around us. Our change can affect another’s; their change can affect us….positively or negatively.
We must learn how to adapt to change at a very early age. Nothing ever stays the same. So much is just out of our control entirely. But desp...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Saturday, September 19, 2009,
1 Corinthians 5: 1-11
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
If indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Friday, September 18, 2009,
by Maria Hartman
I know most of you have either been
to a yard sale, had a yard sale, or both. I’d like to share with you
some of the lessons God has taught me as we prepare for one this weekend.
It is a given. Have a yard sale
just one time and you will experience what generally takes place
when people come by. An item can be marked at 50 cents and invariably
someone will want it for 25 cents. A new item priced at $5.00
will rarely be purchased at that price without someone offering ...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Thursday, September 17, 2009,
by Maria
Hartman
Be hospitable to one another
without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one
another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1Peter
3: 9-10
God is giving us clear instructions
for the manner in which we ought to serve one another. Let’s look
at v.10 again: As each one has received a gift, minister
it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
You have a gift. Yes you do. There
are no exceptions in ‘each one’. A...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Wednesday, September 16, 2009,
The following in an excerpt from an exciting online Bible study that began it's second session this week. It's not to late to join in!
What does this word: STAND
mean? Here’s a key verse for you:
Now I KNOW
that the Lord saves the anointed; He answers them from His holy
heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in
chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord
our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise
up and stand firm. Psalm 20:6-8
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Tuesday, September 15, 2009,
by Maria
Hartman
So much in life consists of balance.
We must balance our time, our checkbooks, and our meals. Balance is
generally a very good thing to have. It ensures that we are not at extremes,
leaving out something that is important because we are fixated on something
else that is important.
Since I’m sure all of you know
what I mean, I’ll get right to the point today. As I was reading through
some of the Psalms, God brought to my attention something completely
new. I notice...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Monday, September 14, 2009,
by Maria Hartman
Is it better to be a teacher of
the Word, or a student of the Word?
Is one of them better than the
other or is it important to have an equal balance of both?
Which do you consider yourself
to be?
Answer the above questions as honestly
as you can. Before I begin today, I’d like to define these two simple
words we use very often. A teacher is one who instructs another.
A student is any person who studies, investigates, or examines
thoughtfully.
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Saturday, September 12, 2009,
1 Peter 4:12-19
Beloved, do not think it strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange
thing happened to you;
But rejoice to the extent that
you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed,
you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
If you are reproached for the name
of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests
upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Friday, September 11, 2009,
by Maria
Hartman
Psalm 119: 67-68 Before I was afflicted, I
went astray, but now I keep Your Word. You are
good and dogood; teach me Your statutes.
Going astray is certainly never
good. So God sends something our way: affliction. This is not on our
top ten lists of favorite words by any means, but it comes with a purpose.
It brings us back to Who is in charge and causes us to depend on Him.
Our God loves us enough to keep us close. Don’t you want to keep those
who you love close ...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Thursday, September 10, 2009,
by Maria Hartman
Have you ever heard the expression,
“Gripped by fear”? This is a very good description of what
happens when we fear. Open up your hand wide. Now picture something
you need to hold onto tightly. Wrap all your fingers around the object
and that object now becomes gripped by you.
When we fear, our minds and subsequently
our lives are held (in the
same grip so to speak) by
the enemy’s lies. Without question, fear grips all of us to different
degrees and at differ...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Wednesday, September 9, 2009,
by Maria Hartman
For to me to live
is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1: 21
What does that really mean? This
verse is a significant challenge to us from the life of Paul; it represents
the true heart and purpose of his life. But I’ve wondered: does it
really represent mine? I’m afraid the answer I came up with is
no, it doesn’t. There is far too much of ‘me’ in my living. When
that occurs, Christ is pushed aside and I take the throne. That is not
a place I’ll ever ...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Monday, September 7, 2009,
by Maria Hartman
He that has no rule over his
own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Proverbs 25:28
I love this verse because it is
so descriptive. The cities of old had huge and massive walls built around
them so that the people could be protected from their enemies. So picture
a city surrounded by walls that were built to keep the ones who didn’t
belong on the outside, so that the ones on the inside
were safe from harm. God’s Word clearly tells us somet...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Friday, September 4, 2009,
by Maria
Hartman
I recently heard about a ranch
in Oregon which pairs abused and neglected horses with children who
have suffered significant abuse. The stories are truly heart-wrenching.
I didn’t know that people actually beat and abused these powerful
and majestic animals. But I guess if someone can abuse a helpless child,
there isn’t any reason to think they won’t abuse an animal.
Did you know that God has given
these battered horses a sensitivity and a connection to these bat...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Thursday, September 3, 2009,
by Maria
Hartman
Did you ever play this game as
a kid, or am I too old for anyone to know what I’m talking about?
Well this childhood memory involved the great outdoors and a few friends;
and nothing electronic! Here is how it worked; one person was
responsible to get the others to move (calling green light), or to stop
(calling red light). The object of the game was move closer & closer
in order to get to the person calling out ‘red’ or ‘green’….
so that you could then be...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Wednesday, September 2, 2009,
by Maria
Hartman
Although it shouldn’t, it always
amazes me how God drives home lessons every day if we are seeking to
be taught by Him and to learn His ways. Let me explain. I bought a few
glass bottles of that Sobe drink the other day. My kids think they are
really cool, and they are good for you, so I splurged and made the purchase,
figuring I’d hold onto them and use them at a later date as a reward
for a clean room, etc
Well during my prayer time this
morning God just impress...
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Tuesday, September 1, 2009,
A Love Letter
I have a challenge for you today.
I ask that you find a few quiet minutes sometime today when you can
make sure you won’t be distracted. Get a piece of paper and a pen
and close the door. Now write a letter; a love letter. You’ve probably
written a few of these in your life, but this one will be different.
Write a love letter to Jesus. Write it from the very depths of your
heart. Tell him why you love Him. Tell Him what He means to you. Tell
Him how much yo...
You are invited!"Day by Day" Is an opportunity for you to share what you are learning about God and His word with others. Join our wonderful friend Maria as she offers insight that the Lord gives and offers it back to Him by sharing. Please don't miss this chance to "share what you know" ... so that we can know more about our great God together! To submit your thoughts or comments just send it in an e-mail to the5.2project@gmail.com or write it straight in the box below and we'll post it for you. Thank you for sharing with us this way!
Comments:
Thank you Maria. Today was a wonderful reminder to me ... Thank you for you faithfulness! Love, Rachel
Thanks once again Maria for your “sharing” today. Such a great encouragement to me today and this was such a good study on these verses. THANK YOU
Maria, what a blessing your writings are to me. I love reading how God is working in your life and how beautifully you are so willing to share. What a wonderful Savior we have!! Thank you Maria from the depths of my heart. Donna
Thank you Maria for your lesson today! Praise God, He can do the impossible! Love, Rachel
Thanks once again, Maria. Your “studies” each day have once again blessed and touched my heart. I love what you did that illustrated GRACE! Just want you to know that your sharing is not in vain or going unnoticed! - Terrie
Thank you for the reminder that God made me for such a time as this; my adequacy is in our Great and Loving GOD!
Gravity: I can NOT wait to defy gravity! Come quickly LORD Jesus! Praise God, His thoughts are greater than my thoughts!! Thank you for sharing, Maria!
On 1 Peter:
Maria, Thank you so much for sharing what God is showing you in His Living Word! I Peter was a great encouragement to us through Levi's cancer and surgery. Just as you shared, we were continually reminded that our suffering was not in vain! God graciously allowed us to see His Hand at work every step of the way! I praise God for the opportunity to test my faith! Love, Rachel
Maria, I’m so thankful for your willingness to share and your incredible ability to do it in such an awesome way. I am always encouraged, and learning as I read and I’m so grateful for all that you do! Love, Mary
Thank you, Maria, for all your thoughts that you have shared so diligently over the past weeks! They are truly a blessing and inspiration to me! Often they are convicting to me, but that's what I need. Thank you for allowing our God to use you in this way. - Terrie
