Inspiration for Today: The Importance of Yielding

"We cannot be filled with the Spirit until we are prepared to yield ourselves to be led by the Lord Jesus — to forsake and sacrifice everything for this pearl of great price." 

(Andrew Murray)

Yield. There's an unloved word. It means to relinquish. To give up, as to superior power or authority. To surrender.

Any volunteers?

Counter-intuitive and difficult as it is, yielding our wants and desires is a path to life — the abundant life Christ offers.

As we yield, we give up our right to forge our own path. We step aside to let Another lead. And as we surrender the illusion of control over our lives and destinies, we discover a freedom previously not even accessible to the self-centered, self-actualizing existence.

Yielding involves forsaking and sacrifice — no doubt about it. But the pearl of great price is more than worth it!

Yield!
Dr Mari

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:13-16

Encouragement For Healthcare Servants

I am so thankful for every opportunity I get to support, encourage, and empower healthcare professionals and caregivers in their critical roles. If you are a physician colleague navigating the many changes in healthcare that continue to impact your life and work, stay encouraged! People need your medical and technical skills and, especially, your gifts of attentive listening, compassion, and love.

These are challenging times, so remember to keep your cup full so you can give out of the overflow of your heart. Learn to identify the signs of burnout and compassion fatigue in yourself and your coworkers so you can be proactive, stay healthy, and continue to serve others.

As you know, music can be not only therapeutic but also a way the Spirit of God ministers to our deepest needs. So I'm posting a link to two songs to encourage and strengthen you right now: Mandisa's Overcomer and All Sons & Daughters' Oh How I Need You.

If you find this helpful, consider sharing this post with someone else.  

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

In Christ's Hope,

Dr Mari

Whatever challenges we face today, whether in our personal lives or while caring for others, God says to you and me, Pray. Stay with Me. Do not give up. I will answer. Pray. (Walking with Jesus in Healthcare, p.186) 

"Ask and it will be given to you; 

seek and you will find; 

knock and the door will be opened to you. 

For everyone who asks receives; 

the one who seeks finds; 

and to the one who knocks, 

the door will be opened."

Matthew 7:7-8

Let the Voiceless Speak: A story of faith in action

This week I had a heart-warming experience of God's faithfulness and the importance of trusting Him. For the last nine months, I've been invited to speak to various groups to share the story of what God has done in my life. This week I was scheduled to speak to a group of faith community (parish) nurses at a local hospital. The organizer of the event is a lovely woman with whom I connected right away, and I sensed her deep faith instantly. I couldn't wait to be among them to share how God continues to transform my practice of medicine into a ministry.

Two days before the talk, I lost my voice completely. After using all my doctor tricks to heal my vocal cords, I woke up around four in the morning on the day of the talk ... still voiceless. I tested my voice and out came a shriek. So I said to God, "Well, that won't do, will it? How will I share about You with no voice, Lord?"

God replied, "Rest. You will have your voice by then."

So I went back to bed in peace. As the hours passed, my voice slowly strengthened, and I had just enough sound by noon. I gave the talk as planned, and we had a beautiful time together in spite of my husky voice.

Two more things happened that were significant. A flood on the hospital floor where the talk was scheduled forced a sudden location change. So the organizer and others scrambled to find a new location, reorder lunch, and inform the participants by phone of the last-minute change. I was ready for a very small crowd.

It turns out that, as in Genesis 1:2, the Spirit was hovering over those waters, and He was about to do a new thing in me and among us.

I was forced into a two-day silent retreat right before my talk, which deepened the message and moved it in a new direction. For God uses all things for His purposes, and what the enemy means for harm, God uses for good.

So during my two days of silence, feeling like Zechariah (John the baptist's dad), I was led to God's Word. I delved into John 15, where Jesus reminds us of the absolute need for us to abide in Him continually, not just every so often.

As I meditated on this chapter, I remembered something I'd noticed years ago. The word remain appears eleven times in the first eleven verses. Hear the words of Jesus,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

“If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love." 

(John 15:1-10)

Let us remain in the Vine, for that is how we can be fruitful, spreading the goodness, love, and hope that will bless a hurting world. As we remain in His love and show it through our obedience, we can expect to see and experience the living waters of His Spirit. And there is nothing better and more needed than that.

Remain!
Dr Mari

Photo by Manuel Díaz Photography. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved.

On the Edge of What's Next

I need to be honest with you. I have to come clean. Sometimes my posts are ... for me. I'm thrilled you're eavesdropping, of course, and please stay and invite your friends. I love to share with you, always. But writers will write even if no one will read their musings. And sometimes I post what I need to read and see and hear.

This is one of those times. Yes, I admit it, without shame. There!

It's just that, every so often, you're gripped with this sense of rightness. Of being exactly where God wants you. Of standing at the very edge of where He's taking you. And that place, that point in time, will very often take your breath away.

And I'm there. I'm right there. On the very edge of my tomorrow.

It's exhilarating to know you've been faithful, obedient, and patient. And years after His very words were spoken over you, you've taken that next step. And the next one.

Which brings you to that last step before what's next.

I'm so grateful to be there. To recognize it. And to continue to walk with the One who took me by the hand years ago and invited me into His blessed life.

His name is Jesus. He is my Savior. My Lord. My all. To Him I said yes long ago. And last month. And yesterday. And this very moment.

And for Him I long to shine. To reflect His light unto the piercing darkness.

So here's the song I need to hear. To remember. For I know not what tomorrow will bring.

And I want my answer, tomorrow, to still be yes.

Yes, Lord! I want to shine for You!

Thank you for eavesdropping. And for helping me continue to say yes, even as I help you do the same.

Shine!
Dr Mari

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.

Isaiah 61:3

For a bit more sharing with flare, check out My Mission Statement: To Shine. 

 * Photo courtesy of Manuel Díaz Photography. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved.

Trust: A Pathway to Peace

I've had a remarkable few years. Like the little drummer boy, I gave God the most precious gifts He gave me to use for His purposes. As I've stepped more fully into His calling on my life, I trust that the One who called me will continue to equip me. It's an exhilarating process that still amazes me daily as I recognize that it is possible to have what you most desire. Psalm 37:4 agrees,  

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

One of the disciplines I took on as I became more intentional about fulfilling my purpose involves a commitment to do those things that nurture my soul and keep me full of the Lord's Spirit. This includes reading God's Word, spending time surrounded by nature, pursuing inner stillness, volunteering my time and talents to serve others, and pouring into key relationships in my life, among others.

Today I read a chapter from Brennan Manning's book, Ruthless Trust. Here's what spoke to my soul, "The splendor of a human heart which trusts that it is loved gives God more pleasure and delight than Westminster Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, and all the other human glories combined. Why does our trust offer such immense pleasure to God? Because trust is the preeminent expression of love."

Brennan's words resonate within me and are close to my experience. As I've come closer to God, I know Him better. And the more I know His character, the more I trust Him.

As I trust God more, I have more joy, more peace, and I am more whole. And then, naturally, my attitude, thoughts, and actions reflect that trust. Others notice, which gives me the opportunity to share Him with them as well. I believe this sequence of events that flows from a trusting heart makes God (and all of heaven) smile.

The more we trust God, the more we learn to rely on His strength, which means we move away from relying on our weakness. We learn to rest in Him, which moves us away from a natural inclination to worry and fret (my previous specialty!). As we trust God more, we experience a peace that is beyond understanding even in the toughest moments.

Trusting God is a fruit of faith, and it bears its own fruit of other-centered living.

Today, resolve to seek strength outside of yourself. Choose to get to know God and His character better, and you'll enter into a relationship unlike anything you've ever known.

Trust God!
Dr Mari

Prayer: A Way of Life

I recently came upon this quote by one of my favorite Christian writers, Henri Nouwen. He said, 

"To pray, I think, does not mean to think about God in contrast to thinking about other things, or to spend time with God instead of spending time with other people. Rather, it means to think and live in the presence of God. As soon as we begin to divide our thoughts about God and thoughts about people and events, we remove God from our daily life and put Him into a pious little niche where we can think pious thoughts and experience pious feelings.... 

Although it is important and even indispensable for the spiritual life to set apart time for God and God alone, prayer can only become unceasing prayer when all our thoughts -- beautiful or ugly, high or low, proud or shameful, sorrowful or joyful -- can be thought in the presence of God."

I agree with Henri's thoughts on prayer. There is so much written about this subject, and some of it is helpful. But as my own prayer life has changed and deepened, I've learned that prayer is much more than words and requests. 

Prayer reflects a relationship between one who surrenders and One who reigns. This relationship, one that is marked by transparency and a desire to seek God's best in all things, is central to a powerful and transforming prayer life. As this relationship matures and becomes central in someone's life, prayer itself becomes a way of life. This makes perfect sense. 

The one who gets to know God and His character never wants to leave His presence. Why would we?

Prayer is words, thoughts, and even gazes toward God. It is seeking God's face, His presence, and His wisdom in every circumstance. Such prayerful living keeps us safe, softens our hearts, and helps us live for others. It exposes our true selves and looks to God as the source of love, goodness, and peace. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the apostle Paul urges us to pray without ceasing, 

Be joyful always;  

pray continually;  

give thanks in all circumstances, 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I believe such praying without ceasing begins to happen naturally as we get to know God and His character -- His goodness, faithfulness, and love. As we learn that God is trustworthy and faithful, we want to live in His presence more and more, and so we pray continually, calling Him into every circumstance, good and bad.

James 5:13 points to the joy and wisdom of praying at all times,

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

In good times and bad times, prayer brings us into the presence of God. Prayer is the overflow of a life that is learning to trust the One who knows everything and cares about everything. Today, regardless of what you're facing, look to God as the answer. Pray that He will reveal Himself in the midst of your need, and continue to abide in Him through prayer as you wait for the answer. When you wait prayerfully, you wait in good company!

So, today and every day, choose to stay close to God, and pray!

Dr Mari

Prayer is also about learning to live in Love's Grip; read more about that here. 
The importance of prayer is emphasized in my new book, Walking with Jesus in Healthcare.

Physician: Heal Yourself!

I recently saw an ad for one of the medical VIP services that read,

“Healing Others Shouldn't be Killing You.”

A “choking” visual created by a stethoscope looped around itself pulled me in, triggering flashbacks of my career as a physician. I remembered practicing as an Air Force officer with competing authorities - the military rank system and the medical hierarchy – which proved impossible to reconcile at times! During my second year in that challenging job, I fell on my knees one night and prayed, “Lord, I need You. If You are real, please reveal Yourself to me!”

He did, and my life has never been the same again.

When I gave my heart to Christ, He began to transform it, changing me as a mother, as a wife, and as a doctor. God is faithful to answer our prayers to know Him. And when we give Him our brokenness, He gives us life; what an exchange!

As I picture the loops around the choking stethoscope, I recognize that many physicians and caregivers feel like this right now. Squeezed in from every direction. Stretched to the max. Spent. And they feel this way right as they head for the door to see their next patient.

In a recent study of 1,195 physicians from various specialties, “nearly one-third of physicians responding to the survey indicated that they will want to leave medical practice after health reform is implemented.” One out of every three! I know of an office that recently lost three doctors in less than nine months. They all left for the same reasons. They had no joy in their work, little control over their days, and felt that they couldn't provide excellent care with the time constraints and other obstacles they face daily. In medicine, less is rarely more.

We need well-trained, compassionate team members as well as adequate resources and time to care for people with significant problems. The right fit is hard to find, and many never find it. For me, finding the right fit meant that I had to change, too, and learn to think outside the box. I chose to start working as an independent contractor, which has afforded me the flexibility to pursue God's call on my life as a pastor's wife, mother, author, speaker, and doctor. Joy has returned to my work, and I see myself as a servant in healthcare. 

Although the changes in my professional life have been life-giving, they came at a price. I've had to embrace a non-traditional model that others may not choose for themselves. Yet, in Galatians 1:10, Paul challenges our perspective and reminds us to consider our motives. “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?... If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

These days, my joy and peace come from knowing that my choices are pleasing to God, and that is all I need.

No, helping others shouldn't be killing us. That is not God's will for His servants. Healing others is, in fact, life-giving when we do it with Jesus and to please God. I think many of us do it for Jesus but not necessarily with Him. This gap can be bridged through daily, intentional choices involving prayer, meditating on God's Word, adoring Him in worship, and through meaningful conversations with colleagues about the Lord and what He's doing in our personal and professional lives. The closer we walk with Him, the more He works through us, and He is a God of healing.

Are you working for Jesus on your own? There is a better way! Organizations like the Christian Community Health Fellowship can come alongside you as you work for the Lord in healthcare. If in doubt, ask yourself, is this God's will for my life, for my family, and for my patients? Ask Him to help you discern and prioritize your days around His agenda for your life, and resolve to make every necessary change – with His help – to remain aligned with His perfect will.

Joyfully,

Dr Mari 

My Injury - A Megaphone!

So I hurt my hand. My right hand. My writing hand. Just as I was starting to add the final edits to my book. So instead of editing bliss, I have four more weeks to learn to appreciate the splint that protects my right thumb and my wrist's scaphoid, the bone I hurt when I fell off my bike.

And, yes, I recognize that I just started two sentences with "so" and another with a preposition, but remember. No editing bliss. My writing captain is on strike. By that, of course, I mean my right thumb. The space bar is critical to a writer, and the left thumb has way too many duties now.

All that said, there have been some benefits to this nuisance of an injury. Like my sweet husband putting my hair up when I opt for a pony tail - which is every morning now - mostly so I get to watch him do it. Too cute!

I've also realized how much I ignore my left hand when I'm well, relying heavily on my dominant hand. How often we use only some of the gifts God gave us while others lie dormant, unused and under-developed! I'm committed to using my left hand more after my right hand heals.

My biggest lesson came last week while Russ fetched the bag of sugar I couldn't quite grasp left-handed. I finally confessed, "I just want to be self-sufficient!"

"Really? That's what you want? Inter-dependent is what you mean. You want to let us help you when you need us, don't you?"

Well, in truth, no; I don't. I want to be able to do everything for myself with little need of others. A recovering perfectionist and type B wanna-be, I live by my to-do list and, lately, I simply cannot get it all done.

Somehow I sense that was part of God's plan in allowing this annoying detour to my perfect plans.

So what's my point? I guess I've realized how much I take for granted every single day. How much I need others. And the blessing of asking for help when I need it and accepting it with grace.

My alarm went off this morning with a song of praise. As I tested my thumb, I noticed it still hurts. So I joined the song on the radio, thanked God for another day, and walked over to my hubby, hair-tie in hand. He knew just what to do.

I'm pretty sure he smiled, and I definitely said thank you.

Grateful,
Dr Mari

A Solid Foundation

As I sit to write this morning, my mind is full and my heart, stirred. I have a loved one in prison and several others who are grieving the loss of parents and spouses. I treated a young woman yesterday who hasn't slept for days since hearing the news of her father's cancer. And I saw a beautiful lady with severe anxiety who's so afraid of doctors that she hyperventilated through the first fifteen minutes of our visit. Thankfully, I was able to reassure her enough to trust me for five minutes, long enough to do the labs we needed to begin treating her. It's a tough world out there, and I thank God that we don't have to face life's challenges alone.

As I began to get to know this woman with severe anxiety, I asked all the typical questions about her upbringing, family, friends, activities, and support system. Then I asked a question that many neglect but that I find critical as I care for hurting people. "Do you have any faith beliefs that help you in life?" The answer to this question helps me know what kind of a spiritual foundation has been laid in people's inner lives, and whether they attempt to walk through life's valleys on their own or hand-in-hand with God. This simple question opens the door to what often becomes the most important conversation I have with people. It marks a turning point.

The woman's reply came with a blank stare. She said nothing at all, searching her boyfriend's eyes as if to say, "What does that even mean?" I asked the same thing in a different way and got the same answer. "I get through life alone." Repeatedly wringing her calloused fingers and shaking her feet without pause, she said, "I can handle things alone."

In the seventh chapter of the book of Isaiah, the Lord says to His prophet, "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." (Isaiah 7:9) God Himself said this to Isaiah as he began to walk daily under His guidance. We either stand on the foundation of faith in the living God or we will fall. Period. This is God's word to Isaiah and to each of us.

I wonder - what ground are we standing on? Whether wrongly accused or grieving the losses of life, what helps us stand? Are we standing on a sure foundation or is our life built on quicksand?

Psalm 89:14,15 speaks of the hopeful and solid foundation of God's kingdom,

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; 

love and faithfulness go before You. 

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, 

who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord." 

I, too, have found great joy, peace, and comfort in learning to acclaim my God - our God. As we call on Him, He is here. As we ask for more of Him, He is faithful to reveal Himself more, showing us what we need when we need it most. The foundation of our spiritual life is critical, and the apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of the right foundation. "But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:10b,11)

With Christ as the ground we stand on, we never have to face life's challenges alone. God with us, our Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), stands with us as our Companion, our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Strength. If we build our lives on this Rock, when the storms of life come, we will stand. And as we remain there, firmly planted, we can reach out and help others rise, sharing the One who is our foundation that they, too, may stand firm on solid ground through the trials of life.

Who can we help stand today?
Dr Mari

Dr Mari's Health & Hope Corner: Life's Extras - September 2011

Life's extras at Leu Gardens. Orlando, FL.

Follow this link to Life's Extras, this month's Health & Hope Corner, where I share about my husband's discovery of a bigger plan in the midst of suffering. This column is a "small thing" I do "with great love," as Mother Teresa taught. It is published monthly by Hope Matters, whose mission it is to spread hope to those walking through the stormy seas of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, or through the uncertainty and stress of military deployment. I have the privilege of serving as their translator, copy editor, and contributing author. Through books, workshops, special events, and advocacy efforts, Hope Matters provides tools, resources, and hope for tough journeys.

Enjoy this month's Health & Hope Corner, and may we all learn to rejoice as we discover life's extras in the midst of our struggles.

Blessed by sharing hope,

Dr Mari

Adversity's Gift: Perseverance

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

I love how James ties trials, faith, perseverance, maturity, and joy. Our trials, he explains, test our faith and develop our ability to persevere. The dictionary defines perseverance as steadfastness, determination and, my favorite, staying power. Staying power – the diligence, commitment and muscle to stay, to endure, not to flee, to hang in there. Perseverance gives us the power to stay in our circumstance, standing firm in that uncomfortable, painful or devastating place until we can rise above it. I don't know about you, but I want more staying power. I want to be fully equipped in hardship so that I may continue to stand and not fall.

James reminds us that this process of increasing our staying power matures us, that we may be “complete, not lacking anything.” He's not referring to material provision here; he's talking about our emotions, our relationships, our spiritual life – our inner life. Perseverance strengthens our inner being, where our emotions, thoughts, and will reside. We become wiser and more mature as we persevere. Like a tree that sways in the storm but remains standing, our roots dig deeper and grow stronger when we resolve to stand firm through trials. As we grasp the transformation taking place within us through difficulties, we learn to rejoice in the midst of them. We discern a noble and good purpose in our suffering, and this awareness transforms it – and us.

"Finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means." (2 Corinthians 8:11) Perseverance helps us "finish the work," and it is our trials that help us develop this virtue. May we all remember this when we face adversity and learn to rejoice in the midst of it, thanking God for making us whole and helping us stand.

Rejoice!
Dr Mari

For more encouragement, listen to the song Blessings and read Contentment: Good for the Soul and Evidence of Trust.

A Lesson in Patience from Hens and Chickens

I love this picture of "hens-and-chickens" growing in my mother-in-law's New England garden. That is what she affectionately calls this succulent that to her "looks like a mother hen" that "creates little versions of herself." I discovered that this is indeed the name of this spreading plant indigenous to Europe, where it is known for its fire-resistant properties. Hens and chicks "produce clusters of rosettes. The parent rosettes are the 'hens,' and the smaller rosettes that spring from them are the 'chicks' or 'chickens.'" (Hens and Chicks, by David Beaulieu, About.com Guide)

Hens-and-chickens from Mom's garden

As I look closely at the different sprouts, they remind me that, as imperfect people, we are all at different stages of our growth journey. Like gardens, some of us are blooming in certain areas and still infants in others, but we all coexist, hopefully helping one another grow rather than standing in each others' way.

It is encouraging to remember that we are not merely dependent upon each other as we mature. The apostle Paul reminds us that it is God who makes us grow. "So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow" (1 Corinthians 3:7)

Hard as we try, we cannot make someone else mature any quicker than they're ready for; that is God's work. Although at times we are called to confront one another in love, many times we simply need to wait patiently. I'm not sure which is tougher! I do know that a key to healthy relationships that grow and endure is the ability to discern wisely when to confront, when to push gently, and when to wait.

In Ephesians 4:2, Paul urges us to "be patient, bearing with one another in love." And when love's many attributes are listed by the same apostle, the very first one is this: "Love is patient." (1 Corinthians 13:4) Our patience with one another in our different stages of growth reveals our love, and it is also a mark of our own maturity.

Our journey through life is full of challenges and struggles, but it is also full of wonder, joy and miracles. As we all grow together, "let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds... encouraging one another..." (Hebrews 10:24,25) As we do that, it helps to recognize that God is more interested in our growth than we are! So let us trust Him with our journey and that of others, doing our part each day, thankful that God will help us all mature into the blessed people He created us to be - in His time.

Let us be patient with one another and, as we wait, may we choose to love!
Dr Mari

Dr Mari's Health & Hope Corner (featured in Hope Matters)

Hope: An Anchor for the Soul

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. 
 Hebrews 6:19

One of my earliest journal entries as a teenager declares, “I don’t want to be a healer; I want to be a giver of hope.” Thirty years later, I am now a family physician. Although I love to help the sick and those in need, I recognize that I am not a healer. God is the healer who bestows upon us the knowledge, skills, and compassion to extend healing to others. I am, however, a giver of hope, and those of us in medicine who aren’t have missed the point of our calling. 

One of my favorite definitions of faith comes from Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Faith is confidence and assurance, not wishful thinking, and hope is a fruit of faith. In uncertainty, hope yells, “Believe!” and whispers, “You’re not alone.” It reminds us of possibilities we’ve not considered and equips the soul with pluck.

We can learn about hope and faith by observing trees. J.W. Von Goethe said it this way, “Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it.” I would add, “And then we see it.”  

I have discovered that the most powerful gift I possess is my faith - a storehouse of tangible hope. Over the years I have met countless people who have lost hope and, in the process, have lost their connection to their deepest desires, to God, and to others. What joy it brings to rekindle their faith and hope by sharing mine! Then I notice small buds begin to form on the branches of their hearts as joy returns, followed by the full blooms of Springtime. It’s as if they’ve come back to life. 

Hope restores purpose and vision to the soul. It is an anchor to the life within fueled by the Giver of life. When we share hope, we extend ourselves for the sake of others, helping them find greater purpose and meaning in the midst of their struggles. So plant seeds of hope in someone’s heart today, and watch for the harvest of healing, of joy, of life! 

Faithfully,
Dr Mari 

Dr. Mari's Health & Hope Corner is published monthly at Hope Matters.

Welcome to Dr Mari's Faith Stop

A simple, heartfelt prayer changed my life in the late 90s. When I asked God to reveal Himself, He did, and that changed everything. From that day on I've grown increasingly aware of God's unconditional love and goodness, and resolved to live for Him. As I share my faith journey, I find that life is abundant, as Jesus promised in John 10:10, 

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; 
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

These words of Jesus are the source of my hope, joy, and peace, for His words are life. He further said in Matthew 11:28,  

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

 

Are you weary? Are you burdened? Welcome to Dr Mari's Faith Stop™. Here you will find inspiration and hope, helpful scriptures, resources, songs, and links to other life-giving sites. My hope is that this will be a rest stop on your busy travels through life to renew your soul and refresh your heart.

Here's to a full life for us all! 

Dr Mari

* Photo by Manuel Diaz Photography. All rights reserved.