You are Worthy!

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One of the most prevalent issues I encounter in coaching is that many of God’s people are not thoroughly, 100% convinced that they are worthy of His blessings, favor, prosperity, provision…. whatever He has to offer!

I know you have read about it more than once, but I believe we need to be reminded over and over that because of what Jesus has done, WE ARE INDEED, WORTHY!

This little story illustrates one reason why we need to be convinced of this truth:

Have you ever heard of a little book, “Expectation Corners“?

It tells of a king who prepared a city for some of his poor subjects. Not far from them were large storehouses, where everything they could need was supplied if they sent in their requests.

But, on one condition–that they should be on the lookout for the answer, so that when the king’s messengers came with the answer to their petitions, they should always be found waiting and ready to receive them.

The sad story is told of one desponding person who never expected to get what he asked, because he was too unworthy. One day, he was taken to the king’s storehouses, and there, to his amazement, he saw, with his address on them, all the packages that had been made up for him and sent. There was the garment of praise and the oil of joy and the eye salve and so much more.

They had been to his door but found it closed; he was not on the lookout. From that time on, he learned the lesson Micah would teach us today. “I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7  (Andrew Murray, Wait Upon God)

If you often wonder if you are truly worthy of God’s best, may I encourage you to spend time with Him so He can validate you personally?  And then bask in the lovely, overflowing experience of who He is and who you are to Him.

Remember, God is all about you, so together, you and He can all about others.

Big blessings are yours!  Expect them!

Maryann

Savor the wait!

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As I write this, it’s a cool 93 degrees.  Yes, cool…. later it will be 113!  Summer in Phoenix.  Just where you want to be.  Normally we visit in the winter or early spring.  Not summer.

So, why are we here now?

Because grandbaby #9 is due!  Actually he is overdue by more than a week!

It’s an interesting thing waiting for a baby to be born.  As we all wait, we and our grandkids have been having fun swimming together, playing games, talking, thoroughly enjoying each others’ presence.  And at the same time, part of the joy of being together is waiting together.

Each day we wonder… will it be today?  Each night we go to sleep wondering… will it be tonight?    We all know that he is in there.  We can see him moving.  We can feel him.  Our daughter-in-law is all too aware!  She is so ready.

And while he is her body, we are joined in the experience of waiting for a joyful gift from God.  It’s almost as if the waiting is making the gift that much more precious and sweet.  We all have been tempted to say, “Is he ever going to come out?!”

But it has struck me, that we can savor the waiting knowing what is to come, will come.

Today I ask you, is there a promise of God for which you are sure and for which you are waiting?
Maybe you can savor the richness of the waiting, enjoying life and your relations, as you do.

Just a thought.

Powerful stuff!

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What is it that can cause a tribal woman to decide to not eat her children today or any day? (yes, you read that right!)

What is it that can grow limbs, open deaf ears, even produce pupils and irises when eyeballs are completely white?

What is it that can feed 12,000 people bread and have baskets and baskets full leftover… just like Jesus did?

And what can cause a ministry to grow to care for 10,000 children and plant thousands of churches, even when government forces repeatedly shut you down?

Well, according to Heidi Baker, founder of Iris Ministries in Mozambique, the answer is the most powerful force on the earth, something we all crave whether we recognize it or not … the love of the Father. … and boy, does she exude it.

Some of you have read my book, “Have I Ever Told You, You’re My Favorite” and may have noticed her name.

I regularly quote her love-filled words, “We are the crowning achievement of all God’s creative power.” What a way to look at ourselves and each other!

For a number of years now, I have wanted to meet this petite powerhouse. In fact, just a few weeks ago I was asked if I knew her.

I replied, “No, but I would love to! That would be a dream come true.”

I didn’t even pray that… I just said it… but the Father was listening because today, here in San Juan Capistrano,CA. sort of out of the blue, my dream came true! What a thrill!

One of the interesting things about Heidi speaking to this fairly small church was this was the first time in 31 years she had ever spoken in her hometown area!

And I just “happened” to be here? FAVOR? Ya think?

Well, not only did I get to hear her speak, but actually talk with her, and as I did, she did something surprising…. she took her almost childlike hands, put it to my face, drew me close, and then hugged me like she had known me since birth, giving me an awesome word from God. I cried. Genuine love… pure and sweet.

May I encourage you today? 1 John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

And 1 John 4:18… “perfect love casts out fear”… “there is no dread in love.” God has perfect love for you.

I would encourage you today… if you know God loves you, but you don’t feel it, go to Him, and ask Him to lavish His love on you today. Keep at Him, until you feel it.

He loves you and wants to show you.

Thank you for letting me into your life!
Maryann

Faith trumps worry!

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Good day!  I hope you are finding the time today to celebrate and remember all the dedicated men and women who have sacrificed their lives, their time, their bodies, and their hearts for the purpose of maintaining our freedom.  I appreciate them!

One particular soldier I would like to mention is our first grandson, Josh, who is currently training for the Navy SEALS.  He’s only 19, but his passion to serve God and his country is strong.

Thus far, it has been a grueling experience, unimaginable to most, but it seems the worst of his training is behind him!

It’s interesting what is behind our decisions and choices in life.

Living in Brooklyn and walking back and forth to school, Josh was once robbed at knife-point.  The perpetrator wanted the laptop Josh was carrying home.  He was about 8 or 9.  Thankfully he was not hurt… at least not physically.

Around that same time, the twin towers were struck.  Josh’s church, pastored by his other grandfather, was in Manhattan and so, he witnessed the devastation weekly.

The effects and fear of terrorism was very real for this little guy.

A few years later his family moved to England where is father secured a pastorate position. By then, however, the sentiment toward Americans had turned negative and Josh experienced hardship far too often in school BECAUSE of it.

All these things affected Josh’s faith in God, too.  For a few years, he seemed unreachable.  We worried at times about where all this would lead for him.

We worried because we couldn’t see the future.  We worried because our faith that our God is faithful and loving was not as strong as our fear.  We worried because we were afraid Josh’s wounds would dictate his choices negatively, as it did for us in our younger years.

Somewhere along the line, though, God quieted our hearts as we sought Him.  We didn’t know how all this was going to turn out … only that Josh had God’s favor, as did we, and thus we could count on the outcome to be a favorable one.

No one would have guessed that Josh would desire to try out for the SEALS.  When Josh announced his decision, the opportunity to shriek, “NO!!” rose large.  But we saw how determined he was, and even before enlisting, he trained hard.

When he was accepted into the program, straight from civilian life, we knew he would not need our worrying.  He would need our faith.

That’s what all our men and women need.

Thankfully we are persuaded that faith is a much greater force than worry.

And in what do we have faith? 

In our God who loves us, redeems us, and restores us from all brokenness, and even more, grants us the freedom for which we all long.

Remember the soldiers, today, and remember your God.

Holding God and you in brilliant remembrance!
Maryann

The Power of Approval

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One of the most invigorating and comforting experiences we can have is feeling the approval of someone that matters to us.  God put this need for approval within us, and it is He who has the ability to fulfill it!  Inherent in favor is approval.

  • Do you feel approved by God?
  • Do you believe you must earn God’s approval?
  • Do you wonder if God is disappointed with  or in you?

How you answer these questions will affect the freedom you have in approaching God and the security you have in having your prayers answered.  (More to follow… excerpt from “Have I Ever Told You, You’re My Favorite!” p.65

Say Yes!

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Most of us have heard that God is a God of “Yes, it is so (amen)”, (2
Cor 1:20), but many of us have times when circumstances are such
that we perceive God to be a God of “No, I don’t think so!”

Over the past year, I have had many opportunities to talk and work
with people who have been laid off, searching for work, or trying
to establish a new business… in what everyone agrees is a very
difficult economy.

Every person without exception has understandably been quite
anxious, some even terrified, as they think about their future.
Fear, when it grips our hearts, has a way of convincing us that we
are destined for the poor house, or worse – living in a cardboard
box under a bridge (my personal favorite).

Well, I am thrilled to report that every one of those people have a
job, or a new business venture they are thrilled about, or an
existing business that is taking on a new dimension.

What do each of these people have in common?

Loss or fear of loss caused them to:

1. take a closer look at Who is the Source of their security, and
what have they been thinking about that. Do they perceive God as a
God of Yes and It is so, or No, I don’t think so?

2. examine who they THINK they are and what are they truly
qualified to have in life. Lack and poverty, or more than enough
wealth? What does God say Yes to?

It’s not easy to have a change in mindset when fear is dominating
your life, but God is faithful, and when each one of these people
decided to say YES to what God says YES to, things shifted in their
lives, which caused other things to shift in their lives… which
resulted in, as one dear one said, “more than I could have hoped
for!!” Oooo… how I love participating in people’s happiness!

So, may I encourage you today to ask God to reveal where you may be
perceiving Him to be a God of No and I don’t think so, rather than
a God of Yes, IT IS SO!

Then, let Him have the final say, and out of your mouth, you speak
what He says!

In Your Corner!
Maryann

P.S. I’ll keep you posted as to when the next tele-coaching class
will be offered. Also, if you think your mindset may be standing
in the way of your personal life, profession or business, consider
one on one coaching! I’m here for you!

Are We Having Fun Yet?

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Does the fact that you are a Christian mean you have to feel guilty when you are doing something for the sheer fun of it? Does there really have to be a “higher purpose” in order to justify the pleasure of the experience?

What do you think?

Posted in fun

Ever feel alone?

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Last week I wrote about John 17:22 and I wanted to delve a little more deeply into that.

If you recall, Jesus said, “I have given to them the GLORY which you have given to Me, that they may be one as We are one.”

We focused on the word “GLORY” and saw that it meant God’s infinite, intrinsic worth, His approval, splendor, brightness, honor, and praise.  That is what He gave to YOU!

I hope you actually spent some time meditating on that.  This is a word from the Lord that has supreme ramifications!

You know, we often talk about “giving God the Glory,” in whatever we do, not wanting to take credit, or any honor away from Him.  And that’s a good thing!  However, God wants to GIVE US the glory, too!  It isn’t a one way thing to Him.

Now, I’m not proposing that we have any true glory in and of ourselves, or apart from His glory, but sometimes, what I have seen in the Body of Christ, is we are so afraid of “taking the glory,” that we DON’T TAKE THE GLORY!

And if we don’t TAKE the glory, we can’t experience the ONENESS.

You know, I know a lot of lonely people: people who FEEL separated from others, alienated from God, and disconnected from themselves.

Could it be they have been taught, either through life’s experiences or the church that they are lowly worms, sinners saved by grace, or their works are as filthy rags? This kind of image is anything but glorious!

Could it be they are lonely because they don’t feel they can reveal who they really are or say what they really think for fear of judgment?

There is no doubt in my mind that embracing, meditating, and delighting in the truth that you are glorious, infinitely and intrinsically worthwhile, splendid and brilliant, would open up a world of connection, unity, and intimacy with God, yourself, and others.

Ask the Lord to enlighten the eyes of your heart to this glorious truth!

Before you go into a tough situation or a crowd of people that may not appreciate you, or you have a problem that looks daunting… stand in the presence of God, head help high, and boldly proclaim, “God has made me glorious!  I am a brilliant problem solver!  I am luminescent!  I offer hope to the world around me!”  Selah.

In your corner!

Maryann

Shine On!

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So, as I was preparing for this past Saturday’s ladies conference, listening  to Cyndi Lauper’s, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” a verse jumped out at me. (Go ahead and ask… )

“Somebody takes a beautiful girl and hides her away from the rest of the world.  I want to be the one who walks in the sun,, Oh, girls, just want to have fun!”

Now it’s doubtful to some that a song like this is appropriate in church, but I KNEW this was the Lord.  I wish I could show you the faces of these precious ladies from 10 years to 85, dancing, conga style in the sanctuary.  I could just see Him smiling!

But, back to the verse….

It dawned on me that so many of us want to be that beautiful girl, (well, maybe not you guys reading this, but the idea still works!) walking, singing, dancing in the sun, but don’t because of all kinds of things… responsibilities, concerns, social protocol, shame, worries, and feeling we might be judged.  I thought of all the various ways we hide, when we are meant to shine.

In Jn 17:22 Jesus says, “I have given to them the GLORY which You (Father) have given to Me, that they maybe one as We are one.”

That word GLORY in the Greek means God’s infinite, intrinsic worth, approval, splendor, brightness, honor, dignity, and praise.

Would you think about that today?  Without you lifting a finger, you HAVE, right now, His infinite, intrinsic value!!

Bask in it!  Delight in it!  I believe accepting that, receiving it, and walking in it, KNOWING you have it, would please the Father greatly!

So…. SHINE ON!!