tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61795129555164494962012-02-15T23:55:03.084-08:00"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-18998617132995208222010-01-15T09:34:00.000-08:002010-02-23T12:18:16.102-08:00

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalms 37:4)Last night Pastor David spoke about dreams. He spoke of how often God will give us desires that will seem to nag at us and not go away. These dreams or desires are often placed there by God because they reflect something God wants us to accomplish in our lives, or bless us with. We can fuel these dreams by

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-69964408359263585692009-06-15T09:51:00.000-07:002009-06-15T14:18:29.986-07:00

One of the things I hate most about reading is when I finally find a great book to read and I completely devour it say, within a day. This is what happened yesterday when I bought my first e-book, The Atonement Child, by Francine Rivers. I bought the book yesterday around noon and I was done before 9pm. Now I am back to square one looking for my next book to read. Sigh.Francine Rivers is an

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-73508997943940058442009-06-03T11:56:00.000-07:002009-06-03T11:57:10.085-07:00

This past Saturday Jeff and I had the opportunity to go and visit a Advent group home in our area. The home is only a few blocks from our house. :)We brought snacks for them and even had a little bible study. It was cool to just hang out with them because they are actually really good kids who just need some guidance and love. I played basketball with a few kids while Jeff had a heart to heart

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-78570468664807301132009-05-04T09:45:00.000-07:002009-05-04T10:02:39.130-07:00

Last Thursday night we skipped bible study and had a girls night out instead. We went out for dinner and a movie and we also celebrated Mary's birthday afterwards. I don't think I have ever ate so much food! I had a great time and felt like I was in high school again as we laughed and acted silly all night. I am so blessed to be a part of our ladies bible study. I love the group of ladies we

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-2491788036393225002009-04-27T14:54:00.000-07:002009-04-27T16:57:12.411-07:00

"The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. " Genesis 12:1Our family has been going through a lot of changes lately. My husband was laid off in January from his job of more than 12 years. We have also been attending a new church for the last month. Yes, a lot of changes. It reminds me of Genesis 12 where God told

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-83542094907727843142009-04-21T09:44:00.000-07:002009-04-21T10:28:03.925-07:00

This past Sunday Jeff and I decided to go to the beach after church. As soon as church was over we raced home to get our beach gear. The weather in Santa Cruz was probably the hottest I can remember and made for a perfect beach day. We had fun wading in the water which was surprisingly refreshing for the month of April. We also took naps under the sun and even got some color. Jeff of course got

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-64280498135319673112009-04-01T17:46:00.000-07:002009-04-05T21:10:22.627-07:00

This has been a tough week for me, but I am thankful that I can always find comfort in God's word, no matter the circumstance. We as Christians have a choice in the way in which we live out our Christian walk. We can choose to live life through the eyes of faith, or we can look at our circumstances and walk by sight. In order to live a live of faith we need to constantly meditate on and choose to

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-59069556685416221292009-03-22T21:48:00.000-07:002009-03-25T19:37:55.691-07:00

2 Chronicles 7:14 is one of my favorite verses of all time because it voices my heart's desire and the vision of my life. When I first read this verse, my heart nearly collapsed within me because it voiced the desire of my very being.I desire to be a person who lives as a vessel for God to use to spill out onto this dying world. I love Jesus so much because He is my everything. He is my hope and

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-60733175101661217942009-03-11T13:02:00.000-07:002009-03-17T07:55:44.775-07:00

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalms 20:7Lately, I have been realizing that I do not trust in God to the degree that I should. I need to put my complete trust in Him for all things. I need Him to be first in my life above anyone or anything else. This is hard for me because I tend to elevate people and put my trust in them. I can also

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-41517558322434317552009-03-02T21:02:00.000-08:002009-03-05T09:51:28.242-08:00

My post is a little late this week as I have been extremely busy. :)This past Sunday I had the privilege to join my hubby for a trip inside the California Youth Authority in Stockton, California. It was my first time in the YA, so I was a bit unsure what to expect. We drove over an hour in the pouring rain to meet the fellow members of the Wildfire Ministries team. We showed our identification

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-12084174635635668882009-02-23T14:41:00.001-08:002009-04-20T09:54:55.273-07:00

Romans is by far my favorite book of the entire Bible. I enjoy it because it's terribly complex and yet full of grace. This letter holds some of the most fundamental themes in the Bible. In chapter one, Paul is writing to the Romans because he desires to visit them, to teach them regarding salvation through faith, and he also speaks about sin. The theme of salvation by faith is woven throughout

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-15121271844861647342009-02-21T11:10:00.000-08:002009-02-25T13:34:12.144-08:00

So, I found this song online and it is one of my favorites. It's by Stephen Curtis Chapman and it's titled, "Free". This song is POWERFUL because it talks about freedom in Christ and the power of salvation found in Jesus Christ. The lyrics describe a man who visits a prison yard and meets a prisoner who seems out of place within the prison walls. He was a shining light in this unexpected place

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-84701904301747212952009-02-19T09:35:00.000-08:002009-02-19T15:04:02.508-08:00

I am thankful today for a multitude of things and I want to publicly share all that God is and has done in my life. I believe there is power when we give thanks because we are declaring what God has done and this process helps to strengthen our faith and stengthen us along our journey of faith.I am thankful that on my way to work a van was driving next to me with the words "Jesus is Coming" in

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-459067511347360082009-02-16T18:24:00.000-08:002009-02-19T20:08:10.891-08:00

I love My Walk Mondays because I am always encouraged by the wonderful posts the ladies contribute. I love to be encouraged and sharpened by the wisdom that the others bring to the table. It is great because we are all able to bless each other and grow alongside one another.I would like to share this week on the topic of brokenness. I am reading a book titled, "Brokenness, Surrender and Holiness"

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-28939912006930986942009-02-10T21:44:00.000-08:002009-02-24T13:55:49.054-08:00

Well as you may know I am a step-mom to a 13 year old wonderful girl. I think this is probably one of the hardest things I have ever come across in my entire life. Being a new step-mom to someone who doesn't necessarily need or want "another mom" is probably one of the most humbling and painful things I have ever experienced. However, as I have seen the Lord work in our relationship, it has also

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-3426649892454270712009-02-10T20:22:00.000-08:002009-02-11T09:40:56.482-08:00

This week is the concluding week in our study of 1 John in our Women's Bible Study. I have learned so much in this study and I have been so blessed to get to know the ladies. I have never gone through a Precept study by Kay Arthur before and I hope this will not be my last! The homework for this study always keeps me busy but I am amazed at how in depth this study has been. The book of 1 John was

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-31582059613275477052009-02-03T09:47:00.000-08:002009-02-03T11:33:12.583-08:00

This last weekend I had the privilege to attend the Elizabeth George conference. It was such a complete and total blessing. Elizabeth George is one of my favorite authors. Some of my favorite books of hers are: Putting on a Gentle and Quiet Spirit, Loving God with all your mind, and Beautiful in God's Eyes. I love her books because she is not only a great author, but she always points the reader

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-66921284289880376612009-01-28T10:42:00.000-08:002009-01-28T11:59:12.861-08:00

I am catching up on my "My Walk Monday" even though today is Wednesday. I have been meaning to write something that God has placed on my heart lately. This post is titled "Wise Counsel" because this is something that is sooooo important to me and my walk with the Lord. I don't know where I would be without the wonderful people God has brought in my life. As I have been meditating on this post for

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-67419431699313298492009-01-19T20:35:00.000-08:002009-02-24T19:26:50.604-08:00

Well tomorrow is President Obama's inauguration speech and I am a little frustrated. Okay a lot. It makes me sad to think of what is happening in our country. Then I turn on the news today and they are speaking of the Inauguration Party and how it is going to cost $150 million dollars just to celebrate Obama's entrance into the White House, which is 3 times what Bush's inauguration cost. I just

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-85247778387095767742009-01-19T09:27:00.000-08:002009-02-24T14:17:31.291-08:00

I am dedicating this post to my friend Carolyn Garland. She is an awesome woman of God whom I respect very much. Her blog is incredible... I really don't understand how she does it. She also has her own scrapbooking business called Scrapping Servant. You can find her at http://scrappingservant.blogspot.com/She is really into the whole art of scrapbooking, it is really incredible. She can bust out

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-62556024250000999232009-01-06T20:08:00.000-08:002009-02-24T14:16:24.875-08:00

Christians exist to be in a relationship with God. God created us to glorify Him. Since God loves people, if we love him we will feed his sheep(John 21:17). But the question is: How do we achieve this day to day? How do we walk in relationship with Jesus, grow, and accomplish this task? King David faced this dilemma throughout his life, as he sought out to follow the Lord. His very life

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-34721028541915663442008-12-27T19:27:00.000-08:002009-01-04T19:47:20.984-08:00

I have been doing a lot of reading lately on the subject of forgiveness. The topic of forgiveness is so huge that is deserves a lot of study. The bible goes on and on about the subject and I believe it holds a key element to the concept of healing and overall everyday life to the believer.The biblical word for forgiveness is a noun which most commonly is translated as a "release from bondage or

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-65708626495520578452008-12-16T19:39:00.000-08:002009-01-12T21:28:12.723-08:00

Well, Christmas is coming up soon, very soon actually, in a few days. I find myself not as excited this year as I usually am around the holiday season. The whole "economic recession" has put a few of my family members and close friends in complete financial crisis. I just haven't had the same excitement this year when I think about Christmas. I find myself not really wanting to go Christmas

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-36914355860345595842008-11-12T19:15:00.000-08:002009-01-01T10:35:36.357-08:00

Lately I have been reading a few books by my current favorite author: Nancy Leigh DeMoss.I love her books because she is very anointed, she tackles the tough issues, and she is very right on.I love her book: Lies Women Believe and The Truth that Sets them Free.In this book Nancy talks a lot about the "S" word. Yeah, the submission word. This is a very controversial topic in today's world. She

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-65351460072391788592008-10-29T20:30:00.000-07:002008-12-17T21:01:31.366-08:00

In John's epistle in the book of 1 John, John is concerned with the importance of the Christian walk. John talks openly on the concept of sin and instructs the Christians on how to handle the issue of sin once it comes up(1 John 2:1). I thought this was pretty interesting since sin is inevitable in the life of the Christian. John then makes it clear that Jesus has provided a rescue for the sinner

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-78625450885292686982008-10-17T17:08:00.000-07:002009-01-01T10:33:40.399-08:00

Wow. All I can say is Wow.I have just started this new study on the book of 1 John by Kay Arthur. It is so amazing.The book of 1 John was written by John in order to instruct Christians on how to live and to also warn them of different false teachings which were rising up within the church. One of these teachings was Gnosticism. Gnostic's believed they had a superior knowledge which other

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-23769192320259143152008-06-25T17:04:00.000-07:002009-01-01T10:26:43.722-08:00

God's plan was for his people to go to Egypt. This was not a vacation for them. This was not a fun adventure full of hope and blessing. This was a trip they probably would not have wanted to go, had they been able to see the future. If they were able to see the future they would see slavery and bondage. But God called Jacob in his old age, to get up and take his family and all his belongings and

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6179512955516449496.post-69559522633465305672008-06-25T16:46:00.001-07:002009-01-01T10:31:23.279-08:00

I am excited tonight because we are continuing in the exciting book of Genesis. I am attending a class with my husband on Thursday nights and I am really getting into the study. We have been reading through Genesis and this book is probably one of the most interesting books I have ever heard. What drama, what romance, it's definitely a good read. There are however, some things that are somewhat

Natalie Marie Guarasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14870216594159421112noreply@blogger.com0