Author: Marie Fitts

Wife, Mom, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend, Writer, Dog Lover, Grated in and Grateful, Child of the Most High God!

Change Your Story

I’m sad for those who don’t believe
For the Kingdom riches they will not receive
Because of cold hearts and calloused minds
Rejecting God’s love, not allowing it inside

I’m sad for those who don’t call on His Name
To The Lamb’s Book of Life, they hold no acclaim
Their vision set on earthly things
Valued at nothing, no more will it bring

For everything is meaningless under the sun
Except a relationship with The One
Who died on a cross made from a tree
Atoning the sin debt for you and me

I’d hate for you to miss His calling on Your LIfe
Because of stubborn rebellion and a heart filled with strife
So lay down your pride and your unbelief
And surrender your life to the Most High Priest

Who waits patiently for you to come back home
So you don’t spend eternity alone
Separated from Christ and His Glory
Repent now…and change your story

Selfie

In the looking glass I see
A chameleon staring back at me
A soul that has weathered many storms
Constantly changing, taking new form

Adapting and growing with every step
The same, yet different from when we first met
Freedom from guilt and shame of the past
Forgiven and righteous at last, at last

What does this self portrait tell of me
I’m unchained from the past, my God set me free
I’ve become a vessel of mercy and grace
My heart ever changing, along with my face

The Light of the World

The sun illuminates the day
The moon and stars by night
Yet a time comes when there will only be
The Light of Jesus Christ

To receive His Light you must believe
The Son of God is Risen
He ascended To the Throne from the grave
Where He is no longer imprisoned

He sits at the right Hand of God the Father
The maker of Heaven and Earth
And will pass judgement on every
Human being to which was given birth

For now we see from dawn til dusk
With assistance from the sun
But the light will go out for those
Who don’t acknowledge Him as the One

For Jesus is the Light of the World
He died to set us free
Every knee will bow, every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is King

The Narrow Gate

The Narrow Gate can be hard to find
Although it was built with you in mind
Covered with a bloody crown of thornes
Made from love before you were born

Though many are seeking
Few will find it
When vision is blurred
And hearts are blinded

If you follow the crowd
Through the Broader Gate
It leads to destruction
And that will be too late

To change your heading
If you’ve gone off course
There will be gnashing of teeth
And great remorse

So take heed to these simple
words that rhyme
And follow Jesus, The Christ
While there is still time

If the road you travel
Does not lead
To the Narrow Gate
In Godspeed

Where awaits an everlasting
Abundant life
With an eternity assured
To be spent with Christ

Blackout Drill

My Dad is 82 and my Mom is 75. I wanted to document some of their memories while they are still of sound mind and before they go to be with The Lord. I believe that by looking into their past, I could glean knowledge to help me in my walk with Christ and for my future…and I did.

I jotted down several questions that I thought would trigger the most memories and provide glimpses into the windows of their younger days. It was an enlightening experience and I wanted to share their response to one of the questions with you.

What was the most memorable event in history, during your lifetime? How did it effect you?

* My Dad remembered Dec 7, 1941. He was 9 years old. His family did not even own a radio at the time. He told of a neighbor who came to their door and told his parents that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. He said his Mom and Dad were both upset and naturally he was too. He didn’t know if his Dad would have to go off to war. He said they cringed every time an airplane flew overhead, because they didn’t know if they were US military or enemy planes; possibly looking to drop bombs on civilians. He said it was a very unsettling time and he remembered it vividly.
* My Mom was only 3 at the time of the initial attack on Pearl Harbor but remembered blackout drills closer to the end of
World War II in 1945 when she was only 7 years old. Cities were instructed to turn out all the lights at night. This was done so that enemy planes could not see to get to their targets simply by flying close to the shoreline under cover of nightfall. She said “It was a very scary, unsettling, nervous time… even though it was just a drill.”

My Mom’s comments on the blackout drills from World War II resonated in my mind. I imagine eternity will be like that for those without Christ…total darkness, forever! Scary and unsettling to say the least.

We are still in the blackout drill phase of life, so to speak. But, people get ready… The King is Coming! Don’t wait to make the Lord your Savior. You do NOT want to be apart from the Lord when the “Light” goes out!

{Jeremiah 13:16} tells us to: “Give glory to the Lord your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness.”

{Revelation 22:5} describes Heaven saying: “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Don’t you want to receive that glorious light described in Revelation 22:5? Don’t you want to spend eternity with Jesus in His Light? I know I do!

If you’ve never made a commitment to Christ, you can do it right now. Just pray…”Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior.”

Now that you’ve made a commitment to Christ, you’ll need to find a good Bible based Church and get involved with other Believers. Stay yoked to people who can make you accountable, pray for you and offer encouragement. Stop by my blog and leave a comment any time. I consider myself a prayer warrior and will be honored to pray for you as well.

The Potter’s Purpose

Do you ever wish you could start all over? Do you wish you could go back to a time before you made that bad judgement call, back to the time before you got off track and just begin again?

Maybe you didn’t realize that Jesus was there for you. Maybe you knew Him but you never really focused on Him. You thought you could handle things pretty good on your own.

Maybe you didn’t realize you were at a fork in the road until you had already taken the wrong path. In retrospect, you realize it now. You can see that there were small choices that slowly lead you down a specific path. Everyday there was a choice and somewhere along the way you made a few wrong turns.

Do you ever wonder if you had started your days back then talking to Jesus and asking for His guidance, if he would have steered you in a different direction altogether…Or would He?

Maybe you had to travel your path to get to where you are today. Maybe your heartache was part of your journey. Maybe your journey was specifically planned by our Creator so that your life experience, when shared with others, could move them to repentance and toward a renewed life in Christ.

I didn’t always believe that every situation and circumstance in my life had a purpose. I spent years feeling guilty and ashamed for past mistakes. But the more I stay in God’s word and spend time alone with Him in prayer, I am realizing that every step of my colorful past had a purpose and it is all part of God’s magnificient plan for my life.

As Romans 9:21 (KJV) points out, “Hath not the Potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?” I believe my days of dishonor were for a purpose. His purpose. I believe He knew the paths I would take and allowed them to happen. I believe He had a purpose for my past, which was to set me up for my future.

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) tells us “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Jeremiah 18:4 (KJV) also reminds us: “When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

I believe I was once a marred piece of clay, with words and actions that did not reflect I was a child of God. I also firmly believe that because my heart was open to hear His voice, that I was called out of the darkness into His marvelous light. I have been renewed, reconstructed by the Potter’s hand. I am a new vessel to be used solely for His purpose.

If you feel marred and ashamed by your past, The Potter can make a new vessel of you too. Maybe you don’t need a Do-Over at all! Maybe you just need to embrace the road that you’ve travelled, in all of it’s inequities and splendor, knowing that God has a plan and He intends to use it for your good.

The Potter has a purpose for all of His children. He has a purpose for every heartache we’ve experienced and every heartache we’ve caused. We may have to go through several valleys in order to find it but His unveiling will reveal that everything was meant for good and nothing is ever wasted.

Aqua Blue

Aqua blue to emerald green
And every shade in between
Indigo to midnight blue
It catches light, it changes hue

Flowing, rolling, waving roars
crashing softly on the shore
Glistening water all around
Wind and surf and seagulls sound

Abundant marine life lives beneath
In their home the ocean deep
A cosmic world beneath the sea
All His creatures roaming free

And God made them everyone
All His creatures under the sun
With a purpose to enhance
Our time spent here this earthly dance

God split the firmament above
The waters below fit like a glove
Up next to the land where it abides
For all His children to occupy

Be kind to each other the earth and seas
So when God looks down He will be pleased
At how we’ve managed this earthly home
Since banished from the Garden long ago

We must take care of what He’s given
Until Christ comes and He is risen
To proclaim His Kingdom come
We must stay yoked to the One

Who died to save us from our Sin
Never to be banished from the Garden again
We will rise to a lofty place on high
Dry bones and dead to self sanctified

Oh what a glorious day that will be
For believers in Christ like you and me
When God reveals we have passed the test
A peaceful eternity in Him we will rest

Everlasting Arms

This poem is written for my sweet husband, Lee. His prayers over the years have warmed my heart and given me a picture window to see into his.

When you pray for me
I learn your heart
I am captivated
From the start

Your words lift me up
When you call my name
Before The Lord
I am forever changed

By the love you feel
for me inside
My heavy burdens
Now reside

Within your heart
And they have become
Your deepest concern
Because we are one

Your arms so strong
They comfort me
But when we both are down
We trust in Thee

Our God is always there
to cover us
It is in His promise
That we trust

So I will pray over you
As you have prayed for me
His abiding love
You too will see

That our burdens
Aren’t heavy
And our yoke is light
Leaning on the everlasting arms of Christ

Never Miss A Good Chance To Shut Up

This poem was inspired by an article I read in the March 2014 issue of The Oprah Magazine, written by
Dr Phillip C. McGraw, entitled “Never Miss a Good Chance to Shut Up!”

We all want to be heard
And understood
Sharing a confidence
Can feel oh so good

But disclosed thoughts
And information
Empower the listener
With sweet temptations

To use against you
Exploit you in some way
Not earning your trust
When words are freely displayed

But vengeance is mine
Says the Lord
So hold off on any
Attempt to restore

Because it’s not your battle
To always fight
Straightening everyone out
Or to prove you’re right

If your heart is in the right place
You will find
You don’t have to do the talking
All the time

Engage your brain
Before you put your mouth in gear
Amaze at what you can learn
When you take time to hear

It is best to listen
Let the Lord build you up
And never miss
A good chance to shut up!

Power Verses:
Proverbs 10:19-21 (NIV)
“Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.”