Tag: God

Adventure, God, Life

“Are you frightened?”

Mark Wayne
“Are you frightened? Not nearly frightened enough, I know what hunts you.”

Are you? Am I?

And should we be?

If so, are we frightened enough?

Do we believe that evil does hunt us?

Do we believe that the evil can be defeated?

Do we believe that evil does hunt us? Do we believe that the evil can be defeated? (Yes or No? You must choose a side.) #WickedQuestions #GoodvsEvil

Halloween seems an innocent time of fun, candy and make believe, but is it? There is an evil that lurks behind the masquerade of scary good times. For the evil has cloaked the darkness in light so our eyes are blinded to the true intent. For in the shadows evil plays out its sinister plots to bind the hearts of men and we are oblivious to the reality.

I pray for each soul that believes this day is only innocent fun.
I pray for all on this day, All Hollows Eve, where evil walks among us unknown.

I pray for all safety from the plans of those who reside only in darkness.

I pray that our eyes will be opened to the fact that dragons do exist.

I pray that we pick up the sword of the spirit and defeat the dragons in the name of Jesus Christ.

“Are you frightened? Not nearly frightened enough, I know what hunts you.” #LOTR #Aragorn #Dragons #Warriors

God, Grief, Life, Writing

Though He Slay Me…

Mark Wayne

Though he slay me, I will hope in him. ~Job 13:14 #Encouragement #Faith #Motivation

It has been a rough last few weeks. Truth be told it’s been a rough past few months and even the whole year of 2020. I am not even talking about COVID-19, stay at home orders, social distancing, fears of infection from the virus, racial and civil unrest or even the current chaos of our political system.

Simply said my family has watched a beloved member’s health slowly decline. So much so that in the end it is hard to see who they once were. Illness and disease can do that to you.

Yet we can still hold hope, for ourselves and others, of better days ahead. As Job’s faith stayed fast even during his trials, I pray that we can all do the same.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart. And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Stay the course, live your dreams, and just believe, hope lives.

God, Life, Photograph, Poetry, Writing

Holy Mysteries

Mark Wayne

You will take me down
Into the depths feeling I might drown
For you know it is there can I truly see
The glorious beauty of your majesty

Into the mystic all around
My pounding heartbeat the only sound
Fly away to where we were meant to be
Revealing to us your holy mysteries

You will take me down
Break these chains that keep me bound
I want to live in shameless freedom
From now until your coming kingdom

Life and glory can be found
Let the false intimacy come unwound
Renouncing the enemy’s bastard accusations
Evil fears its pronounced damnation

You will take me down
Exchanging my ashes for a beautiful crown
For love and mercy linger in a secret place
Freely given is your unveiled grace

~Mark Wayne

#JustBelieve #HopeLives

Spending lots of time lately thinking about ‘holy mysteries’, life and death. Our purpose, destiny and futures if we fully devote yourselves to God’s call on our lives. Yes, it will be scary and overwhelming at time and we might even feel like we are drowning and that is when we might fully come alive and live the life we were created to live chasing the dreams God has given us.

#LiveYourDreams

God, Life

Do Not Fear…

Mark Wayne

The phrase “Do not fear” in one form or another occurs in the bible hundreds of times from Genesis to Revelation and Jesus says “Do not fear” fourteen times. If I may be so bold as to paraphrase Jesus in the vernacular of today and in relation to our current situation.

“CHILL OUT!”

“I have this all under control.”

There is a peace beyond understanding and I pray this for all who are reading this now in the days to come. It is a crazy, mixed up, shook up world right now and we all need strength to face what this way comes. Treating each other as fellow brothers and sisters, not as political ideologies and social agendas. As C.S Lewis said,

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. ~C.S. Lewis #Quote

God, Life, Writing

Happy Birthday to Me! – Motivation Monday

Mark Wayne

Yes! 😉 Today is my birthday! 🎂 Oh’ happy day right? 😃

Sometimes I am not so sure. What I mean is I have less years in front of me than I do behind me so another birthday is a reminder that time here on earth is finite. Time to get moving, live your dreams, seek your purpose, leave the world and others a little bit better.

AND WHAT GOOD IS A LIFE, THAT LEAVES NOTHING BEHIND, NOT A THOUGHT OR A DREAM, THAT MIGHT ECHO IN TIME ~Trans Siberian Orchestra “What is Eternal” from Beethoven’s Last Night #SongLyrics #Poetry #Music #Questions @trans_siberian

So with that happy thought ringing in your head, a question for you. Do you find a motivating quote, scripture, picture or something else to guide you? As I traverse this life between the eternities I often look to scripture for guidance, inspiration and solace. The following verse gives me strength, hope and comfort when the world seems out of control.

There are many others including quotes and even just photos that often have the same effect in calming my soul. Check out my Wordless Wednesday posts!

What about you? I would love to hear what gives you moments of respite during these chaotic and often confusing times.

#JustBelieve #GraceChangesPeople #LiveYourDreams

God, Life, Poetry

“But that, is not my destiny!”… BAM – Mic Drop!

Mark Wayne

Be true to who God created you to be.

Be true to who God created you to be. #YouMatter #GraceChangesPeople

It is for you to fulfill you destiny, not who others say you should be, for if you do not fill the role God has predestined you for who will?

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. ~Ephesians 2:10

#YouMatter #JustBelieve #GraceChangesPeople #LiveYourDreams

Happy 1st day of August, the month of my birth 😁, let’s have some fun! 👊

God, Life, Poetry

The Truth is We All Need Saving

Mark Wayne
Only you can save my soul.
Only You Can Save My Soul.

Only you can save my soul and drive my demons away. The only truth that can save a wretch like me. #Poetry #Quote #Writing #Faith #JustBelieve

With the lock downs and stay at home orders over the recent months it has been a while since my family has actually attended a live church service. This little poem is an attempt to capture the false sense of security we seek within the church that can only be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is not in a great worship band, the music and lights, dynamic preaching, or even the fellowship we find in connecting with others. All good things no doubt but they can also lead us to put our faith and trust in “the sweet poison of the false infinite” to quote C.S. Lewis.

We need more than that for our broken hearts and to slake the longing within our souls. The church with all it’s good intentions can often be a place that unfortunately hurts us and alienates us even further from God.

We do not need slick presentations and entertainment we need truth. The truth is we need him now more than ever to save us from ourselves and we all need him to save us.

#JustBelieve #HopeLives #LoveChangesPeople

Sometimes there is no justice only mercy. (James 2:13) #Truth #Faith #Believe

Adventure, Life, Stories

A Manifesto of Fatherhood – Revisited

Mark Wayne

Happy Day after Fathers Day to Everyone!

A little different post for Motivation Monday this week. I want to encourage parents, both fathers and mothers. This post is written from my perspective as a father, but it can apply to those moms who are parenting alone and filling both roles.

I hope every father had a great Fathers day. Now that the day set aside to be all about you is over, it’s time to get back to being the father your children need. Your influence and impact will either set them up for success or failure in life. You are their protector, comfort, soft place to land, compass, rock and shelter from the storm.

February 2020

For fathers of daughters, as I am, who you are as a man will influence how they view other men. How you love and treat them, how you love and treat their mother will impact their belief and trust in other men.

Fathers, show your daughters what a real man is, and how a real man treats a lady. #MotivationMonday #FathersDay #EverydayYouAreADad #HappyDayAfterFathersDay

“Think of the impact we would have if came alive as fathers. Your children will grow up and affect the lives of countless others and their children will go on and do the same. This ripple effect – this opportunity of compounding influence – has got to overwhelmingly dwarf whatever the majority of us may hope to accomplish at our jobs. Love your kids, men. Teach them to be strong, dedicated, focused, gentle, fierce, loyal.” ​​​​​​​- John Lovell, Warrior Poet Society

Love your kids, men. Teach them to be strong, dedicated, focused, gentle, fierce, loyal.” ​​​​​​​- John Lovell, Warrior Poet Society @johnlovell275

February 2017

The original post below was written back in 2013 when my daughter was 7 1/2 years old. She is now 15 1/2 and the words are as true today as they were then.

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"Father / Daughter Dance - February 2013"
February 2013

Knowing that, God willing, no matter the circumstances, I will always be a daddy to my little girl;

Knowing that, God willing, my daughter will one day be an adult and leave to follow her own path;

  • I will love my daughter for the gift that she is, not what she does
  • I will cherish every moment we spend together
  • I will strive to give her whatever wisdom I might possess
  • I will teach her the value of relationships & honoring promises
  • I will allow my daughter to soar upon her own wings
  • I will let her go to travel the path God has laid before her

“May the Lord give me the wisdom to parent with love, humility and strength, to give my daughter only and always the best that I can offer.”   ~M

Summer 2010

“Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.” ~C. Everett Koop

I encourage you to now write your own manifesto!

God, Life, Photograph

Are There Colors Beyond the Gray?

Mark Wayne
  • Seeing
  • Seeking
  • Shifting
  • Searching
  • Succeeding

Photo of Columbia River Gorge – Washington State, May 2020

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We see what we want to see.

We seek what it is that we wish to be.

We shift for the things we think we need.

We search for promises while our hearts bleed.

We succeed when gray turns to colors and we believe.

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Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. ~James 1:17

What do you choose to believe?

#JustBelieve #HopeLives #LoveChangesPeople

God, Life, Writing

What Will This Experience Teach Us?

Mark Wayne
For more be sure to follow my two accounts on Twitter – @MWSchutter and @AHorseShowDad and on Instagram – @mwschutter and @AHorseShowDad Thanks!

“Experience is the most brutal of teachers but you learn, my God, do you learn” ~C.S. Lewis

So in the midst of adversity and challenges that we did not anticipate nor wish for, we can only persevere and attempt to learn from the experience. I wonder years from now what will history say about this time in which we find ourselves living and what will be said about us as individuals, nations and the world?

I pray that we learn. And use this experience to do better and to correct any mistakes in the future. Like Solomon I pray for wisdom each day in the choices I make. Those that affect my family, my friends, those I work with and others that may be touched by the ripples I create.

5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”

Solomon’s Prayer

6 Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

God’s Answer

10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. ~1 Kings 3:5-9 (NASB)

May our leaders also being praying for and asking for wisdom. So, how are you doing with during this time? Are you affected by any stay at home orders?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Stay safe my friends and God bless! 😊