Want to SEE More Favor?

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As a counselor and coach, people come to me because they are frustrated for one reason or another.  And not to get simplistic, but most of the time, what they need is a strong revelation and then a solid foundation in the favor of God.

Now, most people have heard about favor, and some even make a declaration or two about having favor, but still little evidence exists that they REALLY have it.

Well, given the opportunity, God always reveals why.

It has nothing to do with whether they deserve it or not.

Or whether they have done enough of the right things.

Or whether God loves them enough.

They can even believe favor is for them, and still not see it except sporadically here or there.  Favor is often minimized, discounted, and resisted.

And here’s the reason:  Competing mindsets.

What do I mean by that?

Ok, let’s take the verse Psalm 5:12 for example.  “For you, Lord, will bless the righteous;  as a shield You will surround him with goodwill, pleasure and favor.”

Let me ask you.   Do you FEEL surrounded by goodwill, pleasure, and favor?
If you don’t, there is a reason, and probably a very good one!  We live in a world where people hurt each other, rather than favor each other.  Relationships are often strained and frustrating. Then there’s the economy – people out of work, or stuck in jobs that don’t pay well, fit well, or fulfill them.  Many people suffer from health issues. The list goes on.  It is easy to not feel favored.

But in reality, our circumstances don’t determine how favored we feel.  Our mindsets do.

If you believe on one hand that God’s word is true, and He favors you, but on the other hand have had things happen in your past that have made you leery to trust people, then unless that is resolved, that distrust will work against and compete with the mindset of favor... even if it is God, not man, you are seeking.

If you believe in favor, but also believe you are unworthy, deficient, inadequate, disqualified for whatever reason, those two beliefs will have a stand off.

The words says that a man of two minds is unstable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, and decides. (James 1:8)

So, how do we have ONE mind about this?  Well, minds are renewed by God and us working together.  The more the mindset of favor gets established, the more we will see evidence of it.

At the end of this week, I will be sending out an email with an opportunity for you to join a small group of like minded, favor-increasing people. This opportunity will help you to expand your consciousness of how favored you really are, and reduce the power of competing beliefs.   And it will be free.

I won’t get into the details now, but it will require only about 5 minutes of your time, a couple of times per day for one week.

A couple of simple, easy to do steps will yield you some big results.

So, keep a look out for that, and in the mean time, ask God to reveal the competing mindsets that lay within you that resist His favor. You can be free to walk fully and in increasing experience of this absolutely under-estimated power.

Are you tired of feeling small… yet??!!

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This morning while talking with my husband, I once again saw us like Gulliver from Gulliver’s Travels.  As a kid, I saw the animated movie and later read the book (which by the way, I didn’t really get), leaving this lasting impression on me.  There is a scene where Gulliver is laying on a sandy beach, held down by numerous teeny cords attached to pegs in the ground.

This scene comes up frequently when I think of my own life and the life of my coaching clients.  Here we are, big and powerful, often feeling trapped, held down, and paralyzed by a million little fears that have convinced us that we are small, insignificant, and ineffective.

Well, it doesn’t have to be that way!  I am thrilled to say, God has severed those ties, and freed us from fears produced by lies.  Lies formed from abuse, neglect, abandonment, oppression, betrayal, and just plain old walking on this earth.

We are not small.  We are not bound.  We are not insignificant.  It is not futile.

We don’t have to struggle against the cords … God has already cut them!  We may still see them lying across our chest, or draped over our arms, but they are not attached any longer to any thing.  Each tie represents a lie, and we can continue to lay there and believe we are bound, but instead, let us be encouraged that we can rise up and stand tall, and make every lie told about us bow to the truth.

God does not think of us as small.  He has not made us that way.  Let His opinion be the final authority about who we are.

By the way… I just noticed a new movie about Gulliver coming out this Christmas!  I’m going to see it. Yeah.

How to Seek God

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Writing a book opens all kinds of doors.  And I love that.  More coaching clients, invitations to speak, seminars to present, and book signings to do. Opportunities to witness the move of God in the hearts and minds of so many new, as well as old friends.

I get so excited when the opportunity gets presented… and then, a few days, or the night before the event… a dread falls upon me.  I want to run away, disappear, and go into hiding.

At first, I thought something was wrong, or maybe I’m not supposed to do this, or…. and then, doubt about who I am takes over, and I even lose sight of why I’m doing this.  Quite frankly, it almost overwhelms me!

Has this ever happened to you, or is it just me?

And what is this dread about?

For me, imagined fears of being a failure, or being alone, of feeling like I’m ineffective, inadequate, and non-essential.  Old yukky thoughts still wanting to block and stop me from carrying out the mission God has placed within me.

But…ha-ha!   God is making me savvy.  I see the wiley ways of the enemy who stands to accuse and oppose me.

God is making me smart.  He exposes the plot, and reminds me who I am, and why I do what I do.


He shows me the thoughts that create the feeling of dread are not the thoughts of a highly favored woman of God, co-heir of the King, esteemed and deeply loved child of a Father who has said He would do “whatsoever” I ask.

He uses these times to train me, mentor me, and power me up.  I am then led to speak my agreement with Him.


“Yes, Lord, You are mighty and I am highly favored.  I am blessed to be a blessing.  In You, I am not a failure.  In You, I am not ineffective.  You have chosen me for such a time as this!  When I enter that arena, I will be full of Your love, wisdom, and anything else I need because You are faithful. You are already there, and at the same time, I bring You with me. Flow through me, and touch whoever needs Your touch.  I am grateful and excited to showcase Your love, Your favor, and Your energy.  Thank you for choosing me.”

Well, I am happy to report, the seminar I conducted after my last tangle with dread was sheer delight.  The Lord showed up in a marvelous way as He gave me the courage to transparently tell my embarrassing stories.   All the pieces of the study fell into place, and the ladies responded as baby birds, mouths wide open, hungry for what God was revealing.  It was apparent to all that He was there, at work, inspiring, motivating, and encouraging.  As a friend quoted from Veggie Tales, “I laughed. I cried.  It really touched me, Bob.”  Cute.

Consciously flowing in the favor of God could not happen if I did not “seek” Him.  Not some religious ritual, perfunctorily performed and then checked off, seeking Him is as simple as sharing our secrets with an intimate friend, or relaxing over coffee with a deeply interested relative.


And yet, there is a profundity to seeking Him, where He shares with us the inner workings of His heart and mind.  How secure He makes me feel knowing that every need I have, He has the answer and solution.

Where I once had difficulty carving out time to sit with Him because of all I had to get done, I now am so addicted to it, that everything else gets ordered around this part of my day.   Oh, how much easier, more productive, and satisfying life is!! For those of you who know what I’m talking about… let us rejoice together!

For the rest, oh, how I want that for you!

And so, I asked the Lord to speak to you today, and here is what He said,


“Come to Me as you are.  I know the details of your life intimately.   And I care about it all.  You don’t have to know anything other than I desire you and you desire me.  Sit with Me, and let Me show you My love.  Close your eyes, and look into Mine.  Do you see My delight for you?  You are My heartthrob.  You are My joy.  I know everything in your mind, your heart, your circumstances.. I know it all. I see the good in you, and all are trying to accomplish.  I see your fears, too. Come, let Me show you that I am on your side.

I desire to work with and through you, to give you ideas and what you need to accomplish them.  (I see the Lord lift up your face, and a radiant glow illuminates it, as He says…) I have things worked out for you.  Sit and rest awhile, and then follow my lead and I will show you the path.”

At that point the Lord held you close, until you were almost totally absorbed into Him.  Oh, the sweet satisfaction in His eyes as He held you!

How do we seek God?  Just show up, be ready to receive, and have a conversation.  He is waiting with eagerness and joy.


Have an amazing week!

Success is NOT what we think!

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Psalms 32:8: ” I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye.”

Last week I presented the question, “Are you made for success?” And hopefully after the post you pondered that question before the Lord, and determined that, “YES! I am made for success!”

But another question often arises and that is, “What is success, really?”

I hesitate bringing it up because I have seen tempers fly over this one… which is really just an indication that indeed, we all want to be successful, and when we perceive that desire to be threatened, well… we get kind of touchy!

Another reason for the defensiveness is… as much as we might desire success, we also have a fear of it … and while we might fear success, we also fear failure!

Quite a catch 22!  No wonder there are so many of us who are stuck in limbo!

Recently I had a discussion with my son about success because he was clearly frustrated.  For him, success was the “A+,” the 100%, being at the top of the heap, and staying there.  So, whenever things didn’t work out as he thought they should, he wore a big “F” on his forehead.

This mindset prohibited him from seeing what he had gained and contributed in each instance.  It made him feel like God wasn’t there for him, and that created more doubt and insecurity. Over a lifetime, this kind of perception can cause a person to just stop trying, hide away in bitter cynicism, or do something rash because of the frustration it causes.

Maybe you’ve experienced this same dynamic?

Well, after seeking the Lord about what success is, He brought me to some surprising conclusions!  “Success,” as used in the scriptures, isn’t the same as we typically think!

Isn’t true that when we think of success we think in terms of accomplishing something, like “get ‘er done?” Or we think of wealth or material gain or position?  God is not opposed to that at all, and truly, Deuteronomy 8:18 says that we have been given the power to get wealth so He may establish His covenant through us.  Please do not be double minded about this!

But as I read all 63 times the Hebrew word (sakal) for success is used, it is clear that there is a depth and richness to the word, that if we grasped it, we would charge for it. (If you want this list of scriptures, just email me.)  Given this definition, we can ALL be successful.

So…. what is it?

To succeed is to be instructed by the Lord and thus, think and act wisely, wittingly, and with true understanding!  It is NOT necessarily a goal point, a destination, or the achievement of something (though results are a good thing!).

Success is the PROCESS of hearing from the Lord, being instructed by Him, understanding His heart, knowing His call FOR YOU, (stop comparing yourself to others!) and then going forth confidently in wisdom, understanding, skill and strategy, picking up more as you go.

Now, I am all for results.  In fact, the Lord has made me more results oriented than I’ve ever been.  But my success is not determined by my results.  Indeed, my results flow out of my success.

I am reassured and comforted by the fact, that when I come to the Lord, sit with Him, and seek Him for His heart, mind, agenda, love, and the favor to fulfill what He wants to do through me, I can KNOW without doubt, that I am already a success.

Can I challenge you?  If you are not having regular times of sitting with the Lord, dialoguing with Him, and feeling His heart beat for you, do yourself a huge favor!   Ask Him to help you do it.  You will be so enriched, empowered, and elevated… and that is His will for you!

Next week, let’s talk about how to seek Him.

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For those of you who are interested in starting your own business or already have one… Mark you calendars!  November 30, 9 pm EST, I will be interviewed on an internet TV show, www.CelebrityCreators.com, where I will be discussing, “The Essential Mindset for Christian Entrepreneurs.” We’re going to tackle some daunting issues that hold Christians back from going forward in their purpose and what kind of mindset is necessary to meet all the challenges that accompany business. I’d love it if you joined us!

Are you made for success?

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When I was 16 I came across some books which helped me deal with all the negative things that were a part of my life at the time… separated parents, distraught siblings, cheating boyfriend, thwarted goals, and normal teen stuff. You get the picture.

Well, these book, now classics, literally “saved my life.” They were, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” and “The Power of Positive Thinking.” I studied those books, took diligent notes, posted relevant quotes in my locker… I wanted to know what made people successful and what didn’t.

That question has been a theme in my life. I understand today why that is: because we are made for success, and it has become my personal God-given mission to help people discover the “secrets” to success and implement them in their own life.

And though God has made us to succeed, the obstacles are plenty! Indeed, I think I may have encountered every single one of them!

Today, I would like to address just one:

Did God really intend for us to be successful?

Until we are CERTAIN that God intends for us to be successful in our endeavors, our careers, our families, and our faith, we WILL BE double-minded about success. Double-mindedness dilutes our efforts, robs of us peace and joy, and creates confusion. No doubt about that!!

So, here is but one verse that may clear up any double-mindedness from Joshua 1:7-9 (The Message):
Strength! Courage! … Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

Joshua had a purpose and a mission born out of that purpose. The Lord wanted him to be successful… and He gives Joshua some strong direction as to how to make that happen and the attitude with which he was to approach his mission.

Quite frankly, the word “success” isn’t used often in the Bible. But several passages say things like … “the Lord was with him and gave him success in everything he did.” It is clear that the heart of God is for our success. Jesus came here with success in mind. He was going to accomplish what He set out to do, NO MATTER WHAT.

Being successful was not something He struggled with, and it shouldn’t be for us either.

Next week I will write to you about the meaning of success. Even if we are established in the notion that God desires us to be successful, we can get tripped up in what success is and what it isn’t.

So, if you would.. could you send me YOUR definition of success? What does it mean to you? Do you feel successful?

The other thing I wanted to ask you is…. I am seriously considering making these emails short video emails. Maybe about 3 minutes in length. What do you think of that? Thanks for the feedback!

Have a great day!

Always in YOUR corner,
Maryann

You’re Beautiful… believe it and soar!

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So many people I counsel or coach are stuck because of how they perceive themselves, mostly in their subconscious mind.  Rooting out false beliefs must be done to move forward… here is a song to help!


Do you know, really know, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL??  I think you  are… but if God thinks you are, shouldn’t you?

Got Purpose or Too Busy Surviving?

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In my last blog post, I presented the opening line in Paul’s letter to his spiritual son, Timothy.

“I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God’s plan laid out in the Message of Life by Jesus.” (2 Tim 1:2  The Message)

Paul knew his individual assignment, but also how he fit into the bigger plan.  Having had my own purpose clarified, I can’t tell you the difference it makes!!I encourage you to seek the Lord about yours!

I am aware though, that many of you are in survival mode. Purpose seems too far out there.  Paying your bills, struggling with health issues, healing a broken heart all seem lots more pressing and urgent.

Clarity seems impossible with all the anxious, colliding thoughts.  But I propose that purpose changes the daily grind into daily gold, so press on. It’s so worth it!

Psalm 23:2 says the Lord leads us beside still waters.  He does this!!

Each morning, even for a few minutes,  I HAVE to sit with the Lord, my still water, and get renewed, refreshed, and restored.

Clarity for purpose has come during these times.  But something came before that…. clarity of who I am.

Recently we saw the movie, “The Karate Kid.”  There is a scene where the karate kid’s trainer has the boy look into a large font of water.  When he stirred the water, the boy’s reflection was distorted and unrecognizable.
Then when the water became still, the boy looked at his reflection again, and of course, it was an accurate representation of his face.

This has been my experience when I sit with the Lord.  He has taught me how to look into His face, gain a quiet stillness in my spirit, and position me to hear and see Him, myself, and my circumstances clearly.

Clarity of purpose comes frequently during those times. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t come while driving to work, doing dishes, or taking a shower!

However, the practice of sitting still with Him, seeking Him, and loving on Him brings a great reward.

Clarity of purpose will take you from trying to survive the day to giving your daily activities meaning.  It brings a hope and perspective.

You need to see yourself as more than a conqueror.  You have been given power and the authority to use it.  Your life is favored and full of good things.  His divine power has already given you EVERYTHING for life and godliness.

Ask God to teach you, to train your mind to see your special purpose and the opportunities to fulfill it.  It is within reach.  It’s how you are made.
Have a great day!
Always in YOUR corner,
Maryann

YOU Matter!

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Praise God!  Another new week to see His mercies, favor, and power displayed in and through YOU!

Whatever your environment or your circumstances, you are positioned for a special purpose.  In fact, your very existence has a special purpose.

Some of you may recall that when I was 18, I discovered a family secret:  As a baby, I had an deadly, incurable infantile disease. The doctors projected that I would die before I was 18 months.


As you can see, I was cured and I’m not dead!

The only way to explain the disappearance of the disease, even by most doctors, was — it was a miracle!

The threat of death has a way of putting things into perspective.  Even as a late teen, consumed by college courses and partying, I was struck that day with the realization that I was spared for a reason.


My life had purpose!  I was alive for a reason!

I’d like to say that that revelation catapulted me into my divine purpose, but it wasn’t long before I forgot all about purpose.

Little did I know that NOT considering and discovering what my purpose was would cause a lot of turmoil, ineffectiveness, and frustration in my life.

That does not mean that God had not been leading and steering me in my purpose anyway… He does that!  However, we get to participate!  
The current of the river will take a boat wherever it will, but a person skilled with a sail can effectively use the mighty wind to stay on course.

One of the most fruitful leaders in our history was the apostle Paul.  I believe one reason is seen in Colossians 1:1

(The Message)


“I, Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God’s master plan.”

Paul knew he had a special assignment by Christ.  He knew he was part of God’s master plan.


Do you know that YOU are a part of God’s master plan? Do you know what that part is? Are you aware of YOUR assignment?

If you are experiencing frustration in your life, maybe not having clarity contributes.

In considering this with the Lord, remember, His plans and purposes for you are always good.  He says so.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer 29:11

Believe this very familiar, oft-quoted verse and then seek God.  Ask Him to teach you, to begin the discovery process.  I’d love to hear what He says!!

Always in YOUR corner,
Maryann

How To NOT Worry Part 2

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I hope you had a stellar weekend!  It’s that time of year here where the leaves are turning those beautiful shades of gold, red, and brown.  Love it!


 So, you recall in a previous post I proposed that we can greatly reduce (dare I say, eliminate??) worry by not doing anything different than we are already doing, but rather, change our FOCUS.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight,  O, Lord, my Rock (Strength) and my Redeemer.” Ps 19:14

We want the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts to be acceptable in the sight of God. But what is that?

What are those words and meditations that God finds acceptable?


Oh, my — the answer could be a very long and drawn out one… but let’s make it simple today.. …. anything that AGREES with God and His heart and intention for you.

Here I’ll choose one for you today … Next time you find yourself worrying about something you have said or done, or something you failed to say or do, and you are now worried about the consequences of that – meditate on this truth:

you are the righteousness of God in Christ.

Do not be tempted to think of this in only doctrinal terms… this is real!

Being His righteousness means that you are filled with everything that is deemed right by God. Indeed, it is WHO YOU ARE!

You have the right heart, the right thoughts, the right solutions, the right wisdom, the right attitude, the right power, the right authority to use that power, the right creativity…. need I go on?

Because of Christ, it is all there within you. Meditating on this truth and speaking it out loud, will RELEASE it into your mind, your heart, and in your circumstances.  Faith will rise. You will find the right and favorable outcome to the thing you are concerned about.  If you need to change your heart and mind about something, you will know that and doing it will come easier.  But don’t dwell in that position!  Move on.

Worry will only cloud your judgment and confuse your efforts.  This kind of worry also causes us to doubt ourselves and that makes us feel insecure and unstable.

By declaring that you are God’s righteousness, you will put the devil on notice that you can not be accused and condemned because you are all right with God and He is all right with you!

And if God is for you, who can be against you!  Being His righteousness entitles you to all kinds of benefits, not the least of which is the authority to use His power.

So, rather than use the power He has given you to worry, use it for good. Meditate on life giving thoughts and speak life giving words.

If you would write and tell me what you are going to meditate and speak on this week, I would love it!  If you want me to hold you accountable, let me know.  I will be happy to do so!


 Always in YOUR corner, Maryann

Do you see the King?

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From Successful Christian Living Ministries, Dudley Hall’s weekly devotional:

They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!”  Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?”  The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” John 19:15 ESV

“…What people do with Jesus reveals what is in their hearts. Those who cannot recognize him to be the legitimate King expose their blindness. Those who do recognize him realize they can only do so because of the mercy of the One who gives sight to the blind.

Circumstances align themselves in our lives to reveal our own answer to the question, “Who is your king?” The chief priests are not the only ones to face this question, and they aren’t the last to get it wrong.

When we are cut off from the reality of the spirit realm and predisposed to believe only what we see in the natural, there is just not enough evidence to correctly identify Jesus as King.

When we feel alone and desperate it is difficult to believe the promise of the “Father of spirits” to never leave us and always guide us into his peace.

When jobs are scarce and payment is due on the house, believing that “he will prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies” proves challenging.

Caesar appears to rule in the natural, political, and economic world. His power seems unstoppable.

The Savior doesn’t look powerful. He appears to be a prisoner at the mercy of the system. Placing bets on his coming out on top would not be wise, unless you could see beyond the apparent.

Could it be that the circumstances surrounding you right now are designed to focus your eyes on the invisible rather than the overwhelming issues of the apparent? Like the Israelites going through the wilderness, we are learning to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:1-11).

We have a King beyond Caesar. We must not crucify him by doubt and neglect. If we do, Caesar will continue to parade himself as the real ruler.”