I am still dreaming. Still believing. Still growing. Still becoming the woman God created me to be.

Today, a sweet friend shared something with me that served as a powerful reminder. God does not operate within the restraints of our time.

What a beautiful truth!

We have a tendency to put timelines on things, don’t we? We think certain dreams should have happened by a particular age. Certain doors should have opened by now. Certain things should be further along.

But God is not looking at the clock the way we are! What He has spoken, He is faithful to fulfill according to His perfect will and timing. My responsibility is to continue following His lead.

And when I look back over my life, I can see His hand everywhere.

I have watched Him move in some pretty unexpected ways. I have seen Him bless the fruit of my hands, open doors I wasn’t looking for and bring some pretty amazing people into my life. People I am so grateful for and hold very close to my heart.

And for all of it, I simply want to say, thank You, Lord.

A Little Sidebar: My Fitness Journey

Now, before I go any further, can we talk about this fitness journey for just a moment?

Because, ladies, I have been showing up!

No missed days!

This is the longest streak I have ever had of consistently moving my body for at least 30 minutes a day in exercise. I am lifting weights three to four times a week, getting in 8,000 to 10,000 steps most days and closing all three rings on my Apple Watch!

And yes, I am proud of that!

Now, my trainer continues to remind me that this process is going to take time. And you know what? I am okay with that.

No quick fixes for me. Not this time.

I am here for the long haul.

I am learning to appreciate what my body can do. I am getting stronger. I am building consistency. I am learning patience. And isn’t it something how the Lord can use one area of our lives to teach us lessons that apply to so many others?

The same patience I am learning in my fitness journey is the patience I need as I continue walking out the things God has placed on my heart.

Growth takes time. And I don’t want to rush through the process and miss what God is teaching me along the way.

Getting Out of My Own Way

There are days when I look at everything before me. The book I am working on, this blog, the desire to restart my vlogs and the other creative things stirring in my heart. And sometimes, I feel a little overwhelmed. I wonder how I am going to get it all done. Whether I have enough time. Whether I am moving fast enough.

Then I remember something very important…. I didn’t put myself up to this.

These things were birthed out of my quiet time with the Lord.

They came from those moments when it was just Him and me. When I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, build anything or make a name for myself. I was simply spending time with my Father (The blog started as hand written letters to different friends and loved ones).

I told The Lord that I wanted His will more than my own. That I wanted to speak what He would have me speak and write what He would have me write. That is still the desire of my heart!

Now, I would be less than honest if I didn’t admit that getting back in front of the camera has made me a little nervous. My face is a little fuller than I would like. And, These cameras are a whole lot clearer than they used to be, and they seem determined to show every little flaw!

And can I just say, I do like a good filter (case in point, the feature image on this post)!

Maybe a little too much sometimes. Ha!

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Not just the younger version of me. Not just the thinner version of me. Not just the version of me with the perfect lighting and the right camera angle. Me. Right here. At almost 57. My age does not diminish my worth. A few extra pounds do not cancel my purpose. And the things I may see as imperfections do not change who God says I am. #Selah

So, with His help, I am going to get back to those vlogs.

I may not have everything figured out. I may stumble over a few words. I may even watch a recording and think, goodness, do I really look like that? But I am going to show up anyway. Because sometimes the biggest thing standing between us and what God has called us to do is simply our willingness to get out of our own way!

My Favorite Place

Of all the things I love to do, worship comes the easiest.

There is something so precious about those early mornings or late evenings when the house is quiet and everyone else is asleep.

Just me and Him. No audience. No microphones. No expectations. Just a daughter spending time with her Father. That secret place has become my favorite place. It is where I pour out my heart. Where I cry when I need to cry. Where I sing, pray, listen and sometimes simply sit in His presence.

It is where I am reminded that before I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a writer or anything else, I belong to Him. Yahweh, my Everything (My very best Friend). And if I never accomplish another thing that the world considers significant, knowing Him and being known by Him is more than enough.

That is why I want this blog to be more than just words on a page.

I want it to be a place where I can share His goodness, His faithfulness, the lessons He is teaching me and the beautiful ways He continues to reveal Himself in everyday life. Because when I think about all He has done for me, how could I not tell somebody? #ToShareMyStory

Lord, Thank You for This Life!

There is so much life still ahead of me, so much to learn, so much love to give and, Lord willing, so much more to create.

Important to Note: Surrender doesn’t mean giving up on your dreams. Sometimes it means trusting God enough to place those dreams back into His hands and allowing Him to determine what they become.

To the Woman Who Thinks It’s Too Late

Can I encourage you for a moment?

Maybe you are in your 20s and still trying to figure out what you are supposed to do with your life.

Maybe you are in your 30s or 40s, raising children, building a career or wondering when you will have time to pursue those things that have been stirring in your heart.

Or maybe, like me, you are in your 50s or beyond, looking at dreams you haven’t quite seen come to pass.

Please hear me.

• You are not too young, and you are not too old to be who God created you to be.

• Your age does not disqualify you.

• Your past does not have to define you.

• And just because something hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean God has forgotten about you.

I think about Sarah, who received a promise from God that seemed impossible given her age. Yet the Lord was faithful to His word.

Genesis 18:14 asks, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?”

What a reminder!

Now, that doesn’t mean every dream we have will unfold exactly as we imagine. But it does remind us that God is not limited by the things that limit us. So keep believing! Keep dreaming! Keep praying! Keep growing! And most importantly, keep yielding your heart to Him!

With a grateful heart,

Marvlun

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14 KJV

Think about it: Writing a book. Composing a song. Starting a business. Launching a blog. Sharing your story. Or simply stepping out to pursue something that has been stirring in your heart for years.

There is something incredibly vulnerable about taking an idea, a dream, or a vision that once existed only in your heart and mind and allowing others to experience it. Because, the moment you share it, you open yourself up to the opinions of others.

Some will celebrate you. Some will encourage you. Some may not understand what you’re doing or why you’re doing it. Others may never acknowledge it at all. And you know what? That’s okay.

The Courage to Begin

As I was reflecting today, I felt the Lord lay this message on my heart. Rather than waiting until my next scheduled blog post, I decided to share it now. Consider this a bonus blog! I believe someone needs this reminder, perhaps even me.

Creating something takes courage. Not just the courage to begin, but the courage to keep going when the excitement of starting has worn off, when the results aren’t immediate, and when the applause you may have expected never comes. It takes courage to believe that what God placed inside of you is worth nurturing, even when no one else can see the vision.

What Happens When We Allow Others to Define Our Worth?

In last week’s blog, I wrote about the importance of having the right perspective. I shared how my perspective of myself changed as I began to understand who I was in Christ. This message feels like a continuation of that conversation. #IAMWHOHESAYSIAM

Because how we see ourselves influences how boldly we are willing to show up in the world.

If we see ourselves through the lens of other people’s opinions, we may find ourselves constantly adjusting, second-guessing, or shrinking back. There is a tremendous difference between seeking wise counsel and allowing the approval of others to determine whether we move forward!

One helps us grow. The other can keep us standing still.

You Were Created to Be You

Psalm 139:14 reminds us:

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” KJV

I love this scripture because it reminds me that God’s creativity is reflected in each of us. He didn’t create us all to think alike, sound alike, write alike, or express ourselves in the same way. Our gifts, personalities, experiences, and perspectives are different for a reason.

And while someone else may have written a book, recorded a song, started a business, or launched a blog similar to yours, no one can bring your exact perspective, experiences, and voice to it.

That is the beauty of authenticity!

We don’t have to compete with someone else’s calling. We simply have to be faithful with our own.

Learning to Create Without Seeking Approval

I have loved writing for as long as I can remember. Writing has always been one of the ways I express myself, process life, and share what is on my heart. The same is true of music and worship. But I also understand how easy it can be to allow outside opinions to influence what we do. We live in a world where so much is measured by likes, shares, comments, followers, and views. And while there is nothing wrong with appreciating encouragement or wanting our work to reach others, those things cannot become the measure of our worth!

Impact and popularity are not always the same thing.

I believe we must be careful not to allow the response of others to become the reason we create or the reason we stop.

There is freedom in learning to do what God has placed on your heart without constantly looking around to see who approves.

Be Careful Whose Voice You Allow to Influence You

Now, I want to be clear about something;

Showing up authentically and refusing to be controlled by the opinions of others does not mean we shouldn’t listen to wise counsel.

In fact, the Bible teaches us the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who can offer wisdom, guidance, and godly perspective.

Proverbs 11:14 reminds us:

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” KJV

I believe there is great wisdom in this scripture. We weren’t created to navigate every decision alone. We need people who can speak into our lives, challenge us when necessary, encourage us when we’re uncertain, and help us recognize things we may not see ourselves.

But here’s something I’ve learned along the way: Not every voice deserves the same level of influence in your life!

Everyone may have an opinion, but that doesn’t mean everyone has earned the privilege of speaking into your dreams, your purpose, or your calling.

I believe we must learn to recognize the difference between someone offering constructive guidance and someone simply expressing a personal preference. Just because someone doesn’t understand your vision doesn’t mean your vision is wrong.

And just because someone doesn’t like what you’ve created doesn’t mean it has no value…..

At the same time, we must remain humble enough to receive correction. Sometimes the very people who love us most will challenge us to think differently, improve our work, or reconsider our approach.

The goal isn’t to surround ourselves with people who always agree with us. It’s to surround ourselves with people who genuinely desire to see us grow. There is a difference between a voice that builds and a voice that tears down. A trusted voice may challenge you, but it should ultimately help you become wiser, stronger, and more grounded in truth.

As I continue learning to surrender my plans to the Lord, I’m also learning to be intentional about the voices I entertain.

• I want to remain teachable without becoming easily influenced.

• Open to wisdom without becoming dependent on approval.

• Confident in who God created me to be without becoming unwilling to grow.

Because at the end of the day, we need wise counsel, but we don’t need everyone’s permission to pursue what God has placed in our hearts. #selah

Galatians 1:10 asks a powerful question:

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” KJV

We cannot spend our lives chasing the approval of people while trying to remain faithful to what God has called us to do. There will be times when others don’t understand our decisions. There will be seasons when we are building something that hasn’t yet produced visible results. There may even be moments when we question ourselves.

But I am learning that faithfulness isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it looks like writing another page, practicing another song, taking another step, or continuing to build when no one is cheering. Sometimes obedience is quiet. And sometimes the most meaningful things we do begin with a simple yes to God.

Give Yourself Permission to Grow! You don’t have to be perfect to be authentic. In fact, sometimes the most beautiful part of sharing our journey is allowing others to see that we are still becoming. I certainly am.

Show Up for Yourself, Too

I want to emphasize something that I believe is often overlooked. There is an importance to showing up for yourself. Not from a place of selfishness or pride, but from a place of recognizing that the gifts, dreams, and abilities God has entrusted to you deserve your attention and stewardship. Sometimes we become so accustomed to showing up for everyone else that we continually place our own dreams on the back burner.

We encourage others to pursue their goals while quietly postponing our own. #ME

A Final Thought: Create Anyway

As I close this bonus blog, I want to encourage you, and remind myself, of something simple.

Create anyway.

• Even if everyone doesn’t understand.

• Even if the response isn’t what you hoped for.

• Even if you have to learn along the way.

• Even if you are starting later in life than you originally imagined.

Create because there is something meaningful inside of you worth expressing!

Your assignment is not to be everyone’s favorite. Your responsibility is to be faithful with what God has entrusted to you.

As I continue walking through this year with the word Surrender on my heart, I’m reminded that surrender isn’t just about what we release. Sometimes it’s about having the courage to move forward, trusting God with the outcome.

Be encouraged. Be courageous. And most importantly, be authentically you!

A Question for You

Is there something you’ve been wanting to create, pursue, or share but have been holding back because of what others might think? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Perhaps today is the day you give yourself permission to begin.

With love,

Marvlun

For this week’s blog, I thought I would share a few notes from my quiet time, particularly from Luke 12:1–7.

What stood out to me was how Jesus teaches about three important things: living authentically, fearing God rather than people, and remembering that we are never forgotten by Him.

Living Authentically

In Luke 12:1, Jesus warns His disciples:

“Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

That word hypocrisy really caught my attention.

Jesus compared hypocrisy to yeast because even a little can spread and affect everything around it. It reminded me of how important it is that our lives reflect what we say we believe.

It’s easy to say we trust God, but what happens when life becomes difficult? Do our actions reflect that trust? Are we the same person behind closed doors that others see publicly?

Now, none of us are perfect. I certainly don’t claim to be. We are all growing, learning, and hopefully becoming more like Christ each day.

But I believe God desires authenticity over appearances. He wants our hearts, not a performance.

Whose Approval Matters Most?

As I continued reading, Jesus reminded His disciples not to fear people but to fear God (Luke 12:4–5).

This was another moment that caused me to reflect.

How often do we allow the opinions of others to influence our decisions? Sometimes we may hesitate to step out in faith, share what God has placed on our hearts, or simply be ourselves because we’re concerned about what someone else might think.

But here’s what I am learning: When we become more concerned about pleasing God than pleasing people, we experience a different kind of freedom.

Fearing God means reverencing Him, honoring His Word, and recognizing His authority in our lives.

It doesn’t mean we won’t face criticism or misunderstanding. It simply means those things don’t have to control us.

And sometimes, that requires surrender.

You Have Not Been Forgotten

Of all the verses in this passage, Luke 12:6–7 especially touched my heart.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?”

Jesus goes on to remind His disciples that even the hairs on their heads are numbered and that they are worth more than many sparrows.

What a beautiful reminder!

The same God who created the heavens and the earth cares about the smallest details of our lives.

There may be seasons when we feel overlooked, when prayers seem unanswered, or when we’re quietly doing what God has called us to do without anyone noticing.

But God sees.

He sees the sacrifices, the tears, the prayers, and even the struggles we never share with anyone.

Being unseen by people does not mean we are forgotten by God.

I find so much comfort in that truth.

My Takeaway: Another Lesson in Surrender

As I reflected on these verses, I realized how beautifully they connect to my word for this year: Surrender.

• Surrendering the need to impress others.

• Surrendering the fear of what people may think.

• And surrendering the worry that somehow God has forgotten about us.

What I love most about this passage is that Jesus reminds us of both God’s holiness and His love. We are called to reverence Him, but we can also rest in knowing how deeply He cares for us.

My prayer is that I will continue growing in all three areas, living more authentically, walking more courageously, and trusting more completely.

One day at a time, one lesson at a time, and always following His lead.

A Question for You

As you reflect on Luke 12, which reminder speaks to your heart the most?

Is it living authentically, letting go of the opinions of others, or remembering that God has not forgotten you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time, keep trusting, keep growing, and remember that you are seen, known, and loved by God.

With love,

Marvlun

Let me ask you something. How important do you believe it is to have the right perspective?

I would venture to say that perspective matters more than we sometimes realize. It influences how we see ourselves, how we interpret the actions of others, how we respond to life’s challenges, and even how we see God.

These days, it seems especially easy to misunderstand someone, mishear what was said, or misinterpret something we’ve read or seen. We live in a world where information travels quickly, opinions are formed almost instantly, and sometimes conclusions are reached before the whole story has been told.

A text message without the right tone. A conversation taken out of context. A social media post that doesn’t tell the whole story. A situation that looks one way from where we’re standing but completely different from another person’s point of view.

And before we know it, we’ve formed an opinion based on what we think we know.

But what if our perspective is wrong?

What if there’s more to the story?

What if the very thing we believe to be true is being filtered through our own experiences, disappointments, fears, or assumptions?

Perspective matters because how we see something often determines how we respond to it.

In his book The Genius of One: God’s Answer for Our Fractured World, pastor and author Greg Holder explores the importance of unity, healthy relationships, and learning to see beyond the things that divide us.

Drawing from Jesus’ prayer in John 17, Holder reminds readers of God’s desire for His people to be one. The book challenges us to consider how we relate to one another and how humility, love, and a willingness to understand can help bridge the gaps between us.

What a powerful reminder for the times we’re living in…….

We don’t all have the same experiences. We don’t all come from the same backgrounds. We don’t all process information or respond to situations in the same way. And that’s okay. But if we’re going to love people the way Christ calls us to love them, we must be willing to look beyond our own limited understanding.

• Sometimes that means listening a little longer.

• Sometimes it means asking another question.

• Sometimes it means extending grace instead of jumping to conclusions.

• And sometimes it means admitting that we may not have the full picture.

Proverbs 18:13 reminds us of the danger of answering a matter before hearing it.

How often do we do just that?

I know I’ve had moments when I’ve had to reconsider my own perspective.

When Life Shapes the Way We See God

As I thought about perspective this week, my mind went back to my childhood.

I was only four years old when my daddy died.

At that age, I couldn’t possibly understand the magnitude of what had happened. I only knew that someone who was supposed to be part of my life was no longer there.

Growing up without my father affected me in ways I didn’t fully understand until much later.

There were questions. There were emotions. There was the reality of watching other children experience something I didn’t have.

And although my mother worked hard to raise us and provide what we needed, the absence of my father was still a part of my story.

As a little girl, I saw fatherhood through the lens of loss.

And when your earliest understanding of a father is connected to absence, it can influence how you understand the very idea of having a Heavenly Father.

But here’s what I’ve learned along my faith journey.

My earthly experience with fatherhood did not define the character of my Heavenly Father.

I had to learn to see God through the truth of His Word rather than through the pain of my circumstances.

What a difference that makes! Abba Father: A Different Perspective

Romans 8:15 tells us that through the Spirit of adoption, we can cry out, “Abba, Father.”

I love that.

The word Abba comes from Aramaic and is an intimate, deeply personal way of addressing one’s father. It communicates the closeness of a child who belongs, who is loved, and who can approach their father with confidence. Think about that for a moment. The Creator of heaven and earth invites us into that kind of relationship.

Not a distant relationship. Not one where we must earn His attention. But a relationship rooted in His love.

For a little girl who grew up without her earthly father, understanding God as Abba Father changes the perspective!

I may have experienced the loss of my daddy, but I am not without a Father.

Psalm 68:5 describes God as a father to the fatherless.

And Psalm 27:10 reminds us that even when earthly parents are absent, the Lord receives us.

Those scriptures don’t erase the pain of loss. They don’t replace the memories we wish we could have made or the moments we wish we could have shared.

But they remind us that loss does not have to be the final word over our lives.

I can look back and acknowledge the hurt while also recognizing the faithfulness of God.

I can see what was missing without overlooking what He has provided.

I can remember the little girl who lost her daddy while celebrating the woman who has come to know her Heavenly Father.

That’s the power of a changed perspective.

I wonder how many of us are carrying perspectives shaped by experiences that God wants to help us see differently.

Maybe you’ve experienced rejection, and now you find yourself expecting people to reject you.

Maybe someone betrayed your trust, and now it’s difficult to believe anyone has good intentions.

Maybe you’ve prayed for something that hasn’t happened, and you’ve begun to wonder whether God hears you.

Or maybe you’ve allowed one difficult season to convince you that your entire life will always be difficult.

I’ve learned that our feelings are real, but they don’t always reveal the whole truth.

Sometimes we need to invite the Holy Spirit to help us see what we cannot see on our own.

Proverbs 3:5–6 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding.

That last part is so important.

Lean not on your own understanding.

Because our understanding is limited.

We see the moment. God sees the whole picture.

We see the obstacle. God knows the way through.

We see what we’ve lost. God knows what He is still doing in our lives.

And sometimes, the perspective we need comes not from gathering more opinions but from spending more time in His presence. Before You Respond, Consider Your Perspective

Here’s something I’m challenging myself to do, and perhaps it will encourage you as well.

Before responding to something that frustrates me, I want to ask whether I truly understand it.

Before making assumptions about someone, I want to remember that I may not know their whole story.

Before allowing fear or disappointment to shape my thinking, I want to pause and consider what God’s Word says.

And before deciding that a situation is hopeless, I want to remember who my Heavenly Father is.

This doesn’t mean ignoring reality or pretending difficult things don’t hurt.

It means choosing not to allow our circumstances to become the only lens through which we see life.

It means making room for truth, wisdom, grace, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

And it means being humble enough to acknowledge that sometimes our perspective needs adjusting.

A Final Thought

As I continue walking through this year with the word Surrender on my heart, I’m learning that surrender also involves the way I think.

It’s not just surrendering my plans, my desires, or my timing.

Sometimes I must surrender my assumptions. My need to understand everything. My interpretation of what I see.

Even the stories I’ve told myself about who I am because of what I’ve experienced.

The little girl who lost her daddy could have allowed that loss to define her entire understanding of fatherhood.

But through faith, I’ve come to understand something greater.

I am loved. I am seen. I belong to Him.

I have an Abba Father.

And when I look at my life through that lens, I see more than what was missing. I see the faithfulness of a God who has been present through every season.

So, I’ll leave you with this question:

Are you seeing your life, your circumstances, and the people around you through the lens of your experiences, or are you allowing God to shape your perspective?

Because sometimes the situation doesn’t have to change for us to begin seeing it differently.

Sometimes, what needs to change is the lens through which we’re looking.

And that change can make all the difference.

Until next time, be encouraged, extend grace, and remember to keep your eyes on Him.

Faithfully,

Marvlun

Scriptures for Reflection: Romans 8:15–16; Psalm 68:5; Psalm 27:10; Proverbs 3:5–6; Proverbs 18:13; John 17:20–23

Writing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. In fact, my love for writing was born out of one of the most painful experiences of my life.

I was just four years old when my daddy died.

Too young to fully understand death, but certainly old enough to feel the pain of losing someone I loved. His death impacted me in ways I would not fully understand until much later in life. It shaped how I saw the world, how I processed my emotions, and even how I viewed love and loss.

I remember my daddy. My Boom-Boom, as I affectionately called him.

He wasn’t a perfect man. None of us are. But I knew that, at one point in my young life, I had been loved by him. And when he was gone, there was a void that I didn’t quite know how to fill.

Death seemed to be all around me during those early years. People I loved were leaving this earth, and I was left trying to make sense of a world that sometimes felt so lonely.

And somewhere in the middle of all those emotions, I began to write!

Writing became my outlet. My way of expressing the things I couldn’t always say out loud. My way of making sense of feelings that were very real, even when I didn’t have the words to explain them.

Little did I know that God would eventually take something born out of pain and use it for His glory.

But isn’t that just like God?

He takes the things that hurt us, the things that threaten to break us, and somehow, when we surrender them to Him, He gives them purpose.

From a Father’s Love to the Love of the Father

My mother introduced me to the love of Jesus.

And what a gift she gave me!

For a little girl who had lost her earthly father, discovering that I had a Heavenly Father who would never leave me was life changing. I wasn’t fatherless after all.

I was loved. Deeply. Completely. Unconditionally!

The love I thought I had lost forever was met by a love greater than anything I could have imagined.

And over time, I began to understand that while my earthly father could no longer hold my hand, my Heavenly Father had been holding me all along.

He was there in the moments when I felt alone. There when I was confused. There when I made mistakes. And yes, there when I went my own way instead of following His.

Oh, how patient He has been with me!

My life has certainly not been perfect.

I met my husband when I was just 16 years old. We fell in love, married as teenagers, and started our family early. We were young, trying to figure out marriage, parenthood, and life, sometimes all at the same time.

And let me tell you, we didn’t always get it right!

There were disagreements. There were struggles. There were moments when we simply didn’t know how to communicate with one another. We had growing up to do, and we were doing much of that growing while raising a family.

There have been so many peaks and valleys along the way.

But God!

Through every season, He has been faithful.

When I look back over my life, I can see His hand in places where I didn’t recognize it at the time.

He took the broken pieces of my life and still chose to color with them.

The very pieces I thought were too damaged, too painful, or too insignificant to be used, He picked up and began creating something beautiful.

And He is still creating.

That is why I worship Him with such passion. That is why I sing of His goodness. That is why I write.

Because I know what He has done for me and for my family.

He is a good, good Father. The best Father a girl could ever have!

As my relationship with the Lord grew, so did the purpose behind my writing.

What began as a way to process my emotions eventually became a way to share my faith.

To be a witness.

To encourage someone who might be walking through a difficult season. To remind another person that God sees them, loves them, and has not forgotten about them.

Many of the words I have written over the years have come out of my quiet time with the Lord.

Just me, my Bible, my thoughts, and His presence.

Sometimes a scripture would speak to me. Other times, a sermon, or simply; something happening in my own life that would cause me to reflect on His goodness. And before I knew it, I would find myself putting pen to paper.

I didn’t know whether one person would care enough to read what I had written.

But I wrote anyway.

Because I believed God had placed something on my heart that needed to be shared.

And out of those quiet moments, my blog, A Journal of Love, was born.

Eventually, my first book came to life!

It took five years to see that first book become a reality. Five years of writing, waiting, learning, praying, and trusting God through the process.

And now, here I am, patiently waiting for the completion of my second book.

There are other dreams still tucked away in my heart. More Video blogs (or is it called a podcast, now), and yes, my sophomore music project that I have been working on for a few years now. #selah

I can see glimpses of what they might become, but I am learning not to rush the process.

Because this journey is not about my timetable.

It is about His timing.

And if there is one thing the Lord continues to teach me, it is the importance of surrender.

Not my will, Lord, but Yours.

I must admit, I remain in awe of what God is doing through this little space on the internet.

Without a major marketing push, my blog has been receiving somewhere between 4,500 and 6,000 unique visitors each month.

I sometimes sit and think about that.

Thousands of people visiting a space that began with one woman simply wanting to share what God had placed on her heart.

People from different places, different backgrounds, and different walks of life.

Some I know personally. Some I have met along the way. And many I will probably never meet this side of Heaven.

The feedback has been encouraging. I am grateful for every subscriber, every person who takes the time to read, and the other blog sites that have chosen to share or repost my writing.

But as thankful as I am for those numbers, I have to remind myself of something very important. The numbers are not my why!

If one person reads something I have written and decides to open their Bible, that matters.

If one person who feels forgotten is reminded that God loves them, that matters.

If a struggling wife, a grieving daughter, a tired mother, or someone trying to find their way back to God reads a few words and finds encouragement to keep going, that matters.

And if someone who does not know Jesus comes to know Him because of something shared here, then to God be all the glory!

Learning to Protect What Matters

Lately, I have been very intentional about removing distractions from my life.

And goodness, there are so many!

How easy is it to pick up our phones, begin scrolling through social media, and suddenly realize that an hour has passed?

An hour we cannot get back.

Now, don’t misunderstand me. I enjoy social media. It can be a wonderful tool for connecting, encouraging, and sharing.

But I am learning that just because something has my attention doesn’t mean it deserves my time.

And I don’t want to become so distracted by everything happening around me that I miss what God is trying to do within me.

I want to hear His voice!

I want to recognize when He is speaking and have the courage to obey.

When He says go, I want to go.

When He says stay, I want to stay.

When He says move, I want to move.

And when He tells me to be still, I want to be comfortable enough in His presence to simply wait.

That last one isn’t always easy.

Especially when you have dreams, ideas, and things you believe God has called you to accomplish.

But I am learning that obedience is not always about movement.

Sometimes obedience looks like waiting.

Sometimes it looks like closing the laptop, putting down the phone, opening my Bible, and sitting quietly before Him.

And sometimes it means trusting Him even when I cannot see what comes next.

I may not understand the purpose behind every instruction today, but I believe that one day I will see why He led me the way He did.

And even if I never fully understand it on this side of Heaven, I know I can trust His heart.

My Strength, My Refuge, My Everything

Some of the most precious moments in my life are not the moments when I have accomplished something or received recognition.

They are the quiet moments spent in His presence.

The moments when life has been heavy, my heart has been tired, and somehow, in a way I cannot fully explain, I sense Him drawing close. Those moments mean everything to me. Because I know where my strength comes from. It comes from Him.

• He is my lifeline.

• My strong tower.

• My refuge.

• My peace when life becomes overwhelming.

And I believe with everything in me that no devil in Hell can take away what God has given me.

• Not the love He has poured into my heart.

• Not the peace that comes from knowing Him.

• Not the purpose He has placed on my life.

There have been seasons when I have questioned myself. Seasons when I have wondered whether I was doing enough, moving fast enough, or accomplishing what I was supposed to accomplish. But the Lord continues to remind me that my worth is not found in what I produce.

It is found in whose I am, and I belong to Him. And that is enough.

Psalm 119:105 reminds us:

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

I don’t need to see the entire road ahead.

I just need enough light to take the next step.

And I need to trust the One who is leading me.

Remembering My Why

So here I am.

A little girl who once wrote because her heart was hurting, now a grown woman writing because her heart is overflowing with gratitude.

A woman who has known loss, made mistakes, experienced disappointment, and walked through seasons she never imagined she would face.

A wife, mother, grandmother, worshipper, and writer who is still learning what it means to surrender every part of her life to God.

I am not the same little girl who struggled to understand why her daddy had to leave.

But I carry her story with me.

And I believe God has used every chapter of that story to help shape the woman I am becoming.

When I think about my marriage, our children, our family, the lessons learned, the prayers answered, and even the prayers that are still waiting for an answer, I cannot help but worship Him.

He has been so good to us!

Not because everything has always gone the way we wanted. But because through it all, He has never stopped being God.

And that brings me right back to why I started writing in the first place.

• To share His goodness.

• To encourage others.

• To point people toward Christ.

• To remind someone that even when life feels broken, God is still able to create something beautiful.

This blog is more than a collection of stories to me. It is a ministry the Lord placed on my heart.

A place where I can share what He is teaching me, celebrate His faithfulness, and hopefully encourage someone else to go a little deeper in their faith.

I want every word written here to honor Him.

I want to remain sensitive to His leading.

And I want to be careful that in sharing my life, I am always pointing people back to the One who gave me life.

Because without Him, none of this matters.

A Little Encouragement for You

Perhaps you have been walking through a season of waiting. Maybe there is a dream God placed in your heart years ago that has yet to come to pass.

Or perhaps, like me, you have experienced loss and wondered how anything beautiful could ever come from the pain.

Can I encourage you today? Don’t give up on what God has placed in your heart.

Don’t despise the small beginnings.

And don’t allow the distractions of this world to pull you away from the quiet place where He speaks.

Your story matters.

Your testimony matters.

And you never know how God may use the very thing that once caused you pain to bring hope to someone else.

Keep trusting.

Keep listening.

Keep surrendering.

And most importantly, keep your eyes on Jesus.

Because the same God who has been faithful through every chapter of your life is already present in the chapters you have yet to live.

Remember your why. And never forget the One who gave it to you.

With love and encouragement,

Marvlun

A Journal of Love | that focuses on; Faith • Family • Fitness

I got into my car, entered my destination into the GPS, and headed out. But instead of paying attention to the directions, I followed my usual route. I knew how to get to work. I had driven that way plenty of times. I knew where I was going, or at least I thought I did.

Then I ran into standstill traffic.

As I sat there, I glanced over at my GPS and realized, I had missed the turn.

The GPS had tried to take me another way, but I wasn’t paying attention (and I had turn off the voice navigation). I was so accustomed to doing what I normally did that I missed the direction that could have helped me avoid what was ahead.

Eventually, I took a detour. Although the alternate route looked longer on the map, it turned out to be the shorter trip because the GPS knew something I didn’t. Immediately, I thought about God, and how He knows what we don’t….

How often do we do the same thing in life? What’s familiar? We pray. We ask God to lead us. We tell Him we want His will.

Then we start driving. We follow the route we know, make the decision that seems logical, and rely on our experience, feelings, and understanding.

Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit is saying, “Turn here!”

But are we listening?

The GPS could see what I couldn’t. It knew there was traffic ahead and that another route was available. It knew that what looked like a detour could actually save me time. And, I liken that to God, and how He sees even more than us. He knows our end from our beginning.

He sees around corners I cannot see around. He knows what lies ahead. He knows which doors should open and which should remain closed. He knows when I need to move, wait, turn, or keep going. #selah

When I look back over my life, I can see times when I tried to do things my way. I moved too quickly. I made decisions before praying. I allowed my emotions, impatience, and limited understanding to lead me.

Those experiences taught me that knowing a route does not mean it is the route God wants me to take.

Sometimes what is familiar is not what is best. Sometimes God leads us in a direction that does not make sense at first. His guidance may feel like a detour. He may tell us to wait when we want to move or move when we would rather remain comfortable.

Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42

Following a GPS requires more than entering a destination; we also have to pay attention to the directions. That thought stayed with me. Life can be noisy. Responsibilities, work, family, social media, our own thoughts, other people’s opinions, fear, worry, and plans can all compete for our attention.

Sometimes so many voices are speaking that we can barely hear the One who matters most. That is why being still/quiet is important to me. I want to be intentional about creating space to hear God, to pray, listen, and be present. I want to prioritize His voice over the noise around me and within me.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Notice the last part: they follow Me.

A Word Of Encouragement

Maybe you are in a season when life is not going the way you planned. Maybe God is redirecting you. Maybe the door you expected to open has not opened. Maybe something has slowed you down. Maybe the road ahead looks completely different from the one you mapped out for yourself. Before assuming something has gone wrong, ask God: “Lord, are You redirecting me?”

The longer route on my GPS turned out to be the better route because staying where I was would have kept me sitting in traffic. Sometimes the same is true spiritually. We resist God’s direction because His way looks longer, unfamiliar, or inconvenient. But He knows what lies ahead. What looks like a detour to us may actually be divine direction.

Follow Your Inner GPS

Today, I am reminding myself and encouraging you to get quiet enough to listen.

Open your heart. Pay attention. Be present. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you.

When He gives you direction, be willing to follow, even when His route looks different from yours.

I don’t want to keep asking God to guide me and then ignore His directions because I think I already know the way.

I want my prayer to be: Lord, have Your way. Life moves much more smoothly when I stop insisting on my own route and simply follow His….

Come, Jesus, come.

I’m learning that I need those moments with God. I need to slow down long enough to hear His voice, to process what I’m feeling, and to remember who I am in Him.

Sometimes those trials expose insecurities I didn’t realize were still there. Sometimes they make me question myself. Sometimes my thoughts start running ahead of me, creating scenarios that God never asked me to carry.
And that’s when I have to come back. Back to His Word. Back to prayer. Back to stillness. Back to the truth!

I am learning to be who God created me to be. Not who life tells me I should be. Not who people expect me to be.
Not who insecurity tells me I am. But, who God created me to be.

Maybe the trials aren’t just about getting through something. Maybe God is using them to draw me closer, to strengthen me, to refine me, and to teach me to trust Him in places where I once trusted myself.

So, yes, life is busy! Yes, there are trials. Yes, sometimes my thoughts are all over the place.
But I’m learning not to run from the quiet. I’m learning to sit with God in it.

Because in the quiet, He reminds me that I don’t have to have everything figured out.
I just have to keep following Him!

That’s it! That’s This Week’s Blog!

No matter the circumstances, God keeps reminding me of one thing: He is Faithful.

This week’s blog is all about my fitness journey. Honestly, there isn’t a huge update this month, but maybe that’s the point. Even while traveling, I kept moving. I got my steps in. I stayed committed. I kept showing up. And I’m still 10 pounds down.

But if I’m being honest… I want to see more.

The truth is, this journey is taking longer than I’d like, and that’s okay. With the GLP-1, the results came quickly, but they came with a price. This time, I’m doing things differently. I’m slowly rebuilding the muscle I lost. My body is getting stronger. My energy is coming back. My mobility is improving.

I can feel the difference, not just on the scale, but in how I move, how I feel, and what I’m able to do.

And maybe that’s the bigger lesson:

It’s not always about the number. It’s about the progress.

And yes… sometimes pictures have a way of adding a few pounds that definitely weren’t invited. 😂 But oh well… here we go!

God has been teaching me that everything doesn’t happen overnight.

• Some things take time to develop.
• Some things have to be rebuilt.
• Some things require patience, consistency, and faith.

And just because I can’t see everything happening yet doesn’t mean nothing is happening.

That part.

The results will come in their time.

Until then, I’m going to keep showing up, keep moving forward, and celebrate the progress I can see.

Because even in the waiting…

God is still Faithful. 🙏🏾❤️

I can keep the schedule.

Handle what needs to be handled.

Show up where I’m supposed to show up.

Answer the messages. Take care of the people I love and Keep the things in the house moving.

And somewhere in all that running, I can forget to stop. Forget to sit. Forget to listen. Forget that I need to be filled, too. There is something powerful about quiet.

Our quiet time gives you room to hear what all the noise has been covering. It gives you space to ask the Lord the questions you may have been too busy to ask:

“Lord, what are You saying to me?

What are You trying to correct in me?

What needs to change? What am I carrying that You never asked me to carry? Where am I trying to lead myself instead of allowing You to lead me?”

Those aren’t always comfortable questions. But they are necessary ones. I’m learning that sometimes the most spiritual thing I can do is pull away.

There is a difference between being busy for God and being built by God.

And I want both—but in the right order.

So this season, I’m giving myself permission to pull away sometimes. To turn down the noise.

To step away from the opinions, the podcasts, the constant scrolling, the lives of people I don’t even know personally, and all the voices competing for my attention…..

Not because those things are necessarily bad.

But because even good things can become noise when they leave no room for the voice of God.

Podcasts (And, there are some really good ones out there). Reality TV (Can you say; #MarriedAtFirstSight). Social media (#TIKToc -Use to be so much fun for me). The non-stop News Cycles with Endless Commentary. And an Algorithms that constantly serves us another person’s life, another person’s perspective, another person’s success, another person’s struggle, another person’s opinion about what we should think, how we should live, what we should believe, and sometimes even how we should feel.

And, It can all be Exhausting!

Recently, I heard the Lord say, “Pay Attention.” I began studying the word attention and how it showed up in the Bible and in my life…. And, what I found was that Bible attention begins with listening to God. Intentionally turning our ears toward Him rather than allowing every other voice to “compete” for our focus. Knowing that; what continues to receives our attention eventually influences our thoughts, desires, attitudes, and actions…..

This week’s blog is centered around me being transparent here and asking myself some tough questions, after clearly hearing direction from the Lord…… My response was to began Fasting and fine tuning my ear. Lord, speak, I prayed – your servant is listening! Its easy to become distracted, non of us are immune. And, some of the greatest distraction isn’t necessarily something bad. Sometimes it is simply too much: Too much information. Too many opinions. Too many voices. Too much comparison. Too much commentary. And, too much looking outward when God may be inviting us to look inward.

The Gift of Getting Away

Jesus understood the importance of getting away from the noise. Scripture tells us:

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16

If Jesus made time to withdraw, to get away, to pray and be alone with the Father, surely we need to do the same; To be intentional, To put down the phone, turn off the computer and to, steal away to the quiet. Not because we don’t care about what is happening in the world, but because we don’t want the world to become louder than the One who created it.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Stillness is not always comfortable. Because when everything gets quiet, we can hear things we may have been avoiding.

• Our own thoughts.
• Our attitudes.
• The ways in which comparison has crept in.
• And where pride has slipped through the door.

For me, I realized that perhaps the thing bothering me about someone else is something God wants to address in me. And that’s where it gets real.

What Do I Do With What I See?

Years ago, I prayed for the gift of discernment, and received it. I wanted to be able to recognize what was from God and what wasn’t. I wanted to know the difference between truth and deception. In short; I wanted and needed more Godly wisdom!

What I discovered in having discernment is that it is not always easy to know what to do, after you have seen what you saw; “Now that you see, What are you going to do with what you see?“

Discernment isn’t a license to judge people. It isn’t an invitation to become the critic of everybody else’s life. It isn’t permission to sit above someone else and point out everything that is wrong with them. Sometimes discernment is God allowing you to see clearly so that you can respond correctly. And sometimes the correct response is silence. Sometimes it is prayer. Sometimes it is love. Sometimes it is boundaries. And sometimes… God is showing us something because He wants to correct us. Ouch.

That one will preach to me before it ever preaches to anybody else.

The Bible says:

“Search me, God

There is so much noise out in the world right now, and its easy to become distracted. I know for me, it can be.

I have to be careful about overextending and/or overcommitting my schedule and allowing busyness to keep me from what makes my heart sing for real! Being in His presence. Alone, with my Bible, and Worship Music – praying and worshipping for an audience of one). I need this! This is my lifeline.

Confession: I do enjoy being on social media and seeing my friends and family (but lately, my algorithm seems to show me everything but…. And, I have found myself distracted – which is how I began watching the current season of, Married at First Sight. Very Entertaining. But, Why? There is still so much work to be done. That is me, That’s my story (no judgement to anyone else). Just asking myself some tough questions and reminding me, about the importance of being still before the Lord.

My hope and prayer is that something that I have said on this week’s blog will help you see ways in which you may have allowed yourself to be distracted. And, to tell you its ok. We all have experience those moments. But, I believe it important that we keep first things first.

Our time with God, our hearts, and our ability to see others correctly (the way God sees them) – must be guarded and prioritized. I hope this helps! This is what the Lord laid on my heart for this week.

Special Note: Thank you to all those who have subscribed to my blog. I really do appreciate the love, and encouragement you have shown. I am blown away by your kindness and it is beyond me how so many of you tune in from week to week. Again, thank you and please let me know if you have any questions or if there is anything that I wrote that you need me to clear up. Until next time… God Bless you all.