Tag Archives: breakthrough

Contrary to Popular Belief, You Deserve It!

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Lately my husband and I have been visiting churches and enjoying meeting so many new people in our area.

One church we visited recently had the friendliest group, stirring worship, and an invigorating guest speaker.  Almost every church we go to has something favorable to recommend, and this church was no exception.

As I listened intently to the speaker, agreeing and nodding with his encouragement to us all, my heart and mind came to a screeching halt.

There it was again… every time I hear it, it’s literally like nails on the chalkboard.  I can’t even remember what was said before or after… all I heard was those blaring words we often hear in many churches… “Though we don’t deserve it … ” followed by some benefit bestowed upon us.

Ok, it’s true.  I get a little riled up about this.

Maybe it’s because through 25 years of counseling and coaching people, I have seen how this subtly deceptive belief of being undeserving lies at the heart of so many problems. It undermines confidence like few things can.  It anchors our feet to the ground when we are supposed to be soaring.

I also get riled up because God has done so much to make us worthy and deserving, but we continue to buy and spread the lie.

To feel we don’t deserve God’s blessings and abundance does not make us humble, it makes us impotent. And when we are impotent, we are not empowered or at peace.

And if we are not empowered or at peace, then we are child’s play for the enemy who wants to wipe our faces on the floor.

Now, I don’t know if this is an issue for you, but if it is, may I be a strong encouragement to you?
You are worthy and you do deserve the blessings of God.

Maybe an argument can be made that you did not deserve salvation and forgiveness and redemption before you received Him.

But if He died for you so you could have eternal life and kingdom living, then don’t you deserve it?

To deserve something is to be entitled to it, to have it coming. Jesus said He came so that we would have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows. (Jn 10:10 AMP)

If He came to give this to you, are you not to claim ownership of it? Are you not to expect it to come to you?  Was this a cruel joke?

Yes, I understand.  To say we are not worthy or we don’t deserve it often means, “I did not earn this great thing myself, therefore I don’t deserve it.”

Well folks, that is worldly thinking.  It is the world, not God, that says we only deserve what we earn ourselves.

Set your minds and keep them set on what is above, not the things that are on the earth.  (Col 3:2)

Think about it … Adam and Eve deserved to be in the Garden – because God put them there. They did not build it, pay for it, or work for it.  The fact that God GAVE it to them was all that was necessary for them to be entitled to it.

One final question:  for those of you who have little children, do you want them feeling like they don’t deserve a meal when you offer it to them? Or would rather they just come to the table happy and accepting and leave grateful and satisfied?

In Mt 18:2-6 we are encouraged to be as little children.  Receive in freedom and gratitude all that God has for you.

Please say with me today, and every day… “I deserve all that God has given to me.  I deserve all that He has won and all that He has done.”

Believe me it will give our Lord great pleasure and also open the door to even more of what He wants for you.

Please, please, please… purpose in your hearts to be done with this debilitating notion.  It is not of God.  Agree with Him.  He has made you worthy and you deserve His best.

Shout it from the rooftops!

In your corner,
Maryann

Draw Your Sword!

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You do not have to take it!
(This is a post from my Java, Jammies, and Jesus)

This JJJ is a little more aggressive than usual, but I believe I need to issue a call to action.

You see, there has been a recurring pattern that needs to be exposed and once you see it, you may feel the call to rise up, too.

Many people come to my site, read my writings, and some make the decision to invest in and grow my finances using tools available for you if you go to Skrumble.com.  To one degree or another the pattern is the same… initial revelation, enlightenment, the sensation of feeling “lighter than a feather,” and increased hope and courage to do whatever it is the reader or client needs to do.

This is wonderful!  God’s revelation brings elevation and a breath of fresh air.  Several people have used the same phrase to describe their experience, “I feel lighter than a feather!”

And then circumstances come along…. and then more… and now the reader or client is tempted to doubt the new thoughts God had them thinking… is it really God?

Am I really as loved, esteemed, and as favored as I’m learning?

Are my sins REALLY forgiven?

Am I really cut out for this?

Is favor just  momentary feel-good fluff?

Well, let me reinforce this old familiar perspective:  old habits
die hard.

When a mind has been set in a certain direction for a long time, it is like deeply embedded ruts in a road.  Remember the pioneers and the wagon trail?

The explosive quality of revelation can shoot us out of those ruts, making the shifts we need easier.  But our brain, and this is proven scientifically, does not like change, and will do whatever it has to to make our lives reflect what it is used to believing.


The new revelation is perceived almost like an inaccurate, incorrect thought, which the brain sets out to correct.

If anyone wants to read more about this, a good book is, “Who Switched Off My Brain?” by Dr. Caroline Leaf.

So, here is my encouragement and then call to action:


1.  Know that doubts don’t mean the truth isn’t true, and it doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you!  The transformation process takes time and diligence.  In the beginning, a down after an up is normal.

2.  When old thoughts and voices rise up and want to reclaim their place… draw your sword.  Speak OUT LOUD what you know to be true and put your stake in the ground.  If you can’t remember what’s true, it might help to go back through some of my posts, read my book, or better yet… sit in the presence of God and get loved on!

3.  Get angry at the lies, not at people, or even the circumstances.  God promises and provides abundant life.  The enemy
robs, steals, and destroys.  When it comes to lies, get good at spotting them as quickly as possible, and TAKE NO PRISONERS!

4.  If you can, join with people around you who are like-minded and going through similar changes, discovering similar things.       Accountability and encouragement is crucial to success.

There’s so much more to say, but I hope this helps.

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!

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

God Has Breakthrough For You!

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Recently I had an experience I’d like to encourage you with.

Several of us went to a prophetic meeting at another church and had
a wonderful time of worship, teaching, and receiving some exciting
prophetic words.

After the service, on the way out, one of the participants came up
to me and complimented me on a shawl I was wearing. I loved the
shawl too, not just because it was hand woven cashmere, hand
embroidered, and gorgeous, but I bought it from a missionary pastor
after one of his trips to Nepal. I had never worn it before that
night because the weather had been too warm. I was very excited
that this night I could. To me, it felt like an anointed and
special shawl.

Well, it must have been, because without hesitation, I took the
shawl off and placed it on the shoulders of the woman saying,
“Here. It’s yours.”

It happened so quickly and naturally that giving it to her didn’t
even phase me. Except for feeling a blast of cold air once I went
outside, I almost didn’t even notice what had happened and gave it
no thought… until the next morning.

Now, I can’t say I know exactly why giving this shawl would be so
significant, but I think it is. I will share what’s been revealed
so far.

1. God’s nature is to give. Throughout scripture and in our own
experience, we know that God is a Giver. 2 Peter 1: 2-3 say that
God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness, and
through His precious promises, we share in His divine nature.

And what is that nature? To be a giver.

Now, this is not startling news to any of you, I’m sure, as it
wasn’t to me. Which leads me to point 2.

2. For me, as much as I have known that it is God’s nature to
give, and thus it is my nature, too, I have not always been a very
giving person, at least of some things. I have had an easy time
giving my time, energy, heart, and money…. but, don’t ask me why,
giving away personal possession that I love, well that is not
something I do.

Ok, so maybe even that is not such a big deal. And so, what is?

3. For me, here it is:  Without my working at it, I had a
breakthrough! The natural giving away of my shawl was just a
manifestation of a breakthrough that had occurred a while ago. The
breakthrough allowed the free flow of God’s giving nature to flow
through me to bless this woman. And because I share in His divine
nature, I experienced no lack when I gave the shawl away.

Breakthrough takes down any barrier erected that inhibits the flow
of God’s powerful provisions and our true nature. I love and need
breakthroughs of all kinds.

4. How did the breakthrough occur? Well, it was part and parcel
of the revelation of favor. A revelation of favor produces
breakthroughs...not grind-it-out breakthroughs, but effortless
breakthroughs, breakthroughs that occur when you aren’t even
looking.

And, I guess this is the essence of my encouragement to you. Take
the favor of God seriously. It causes profound and life altering
changes.

Please, I couldn’t be more urgent about this…. seek God and ask
for a huge revelation of His favor. It is only in revelation that
you will feel its impact.

If you are not excited about favor, then you need a deeper
revelation about it. 2 Cor 5: 18-20 (AMP) tells
us God sent His Son to restore the world to favor! That is a big
deal! Paul urges us to lay hold of this favor! We are to be
releasers of His favor!

To help you lay hold as we are encouraged to do, I have written a
book. Many of you already have it. That’s wonderful, and if you
do, I would also ask you to do the exercises in it. God will take
you to the next step.

If you don’t have it, please don’t let a wimpy bit of money keep you
from experiencing more of all God has for you. I don’t say this to
make a buck, believe me! I just want you to experience how real
favor is. It is profound. It produces major transformational
breakthroughs. It also produces jobs, new housing arrangements,
connections, and lots, lots, more.

Who knows what your life would look like with an increased
revelation of favor?!