FRIDAY April 30, 2010

HIDING PLACE (New Life Worship)

I found myself a hiding place
I found myself a secret space
In the shelter of Almighty’s love
In the safety of the Savior’s arms
I will run to the hiding place
I will run to the hiding place
Draw me ever closer to look upon Your face
I will run to the hiding place
I have found myself a hiding place
I have found myself a secret space
In the refuge of the Father's care
In the cleansing blood of Jesus there
I will run to the hiding place
I will run to the hiding place
Draw me ever closer to look upon Your face
I will run to the hiding place
Though my fears may overwhelm me
And troubles, they surround
Though the wind rise up to take me
My hiding place is already found
I have found myself a hiding place
I have found myself a secret space
In the shelter of Almighty's love
In the safety of the Savior's arms
Oh, I want look upon Your face
I will run to the hiding place
Good morning Lord Jesus.  I slept in a little later than usual this morning, it felt good.  The blood sugars are close to normal this morning and I am thrilled.  I will truly run to you today.  You are my Hiding Place.  Draw me even closer to look upon Your face.  Yesterday was a great day of spiritual growth.  I heard Andy Stanley preach several sermons, my brother gave me a great illustration on being grateful.  Thank You for allowing me the opportunity to be an overcoming, successful person.  I am fully aware that it is all You.  Anything good in my life is You.  My flesh is ugly, it stinketh, but my Spirit is You. 

Something I learned yesterday was about temptation.  A phrase that I picked up that I think is powerful and I want to share with you all.  This is something that I am saying that speaks right to the problem and I thought you might benefit from it as well.  I say “Temptation, you will not steal my future, temptation you will not steal my family, temptation you will not steal my faith”.  There were many opportunities to allow the temptation to lead me down a path of defeat.  But….as I spoke those words, I was able to recognize that I couldn’t allow anything to steal my future, family or faith away from me.  I could say no and I did.

Thank You Lord Jesus for Your power at work in the temptations that I face.  We all have different temptations.  Grace, your Power at work in our lives.  Your power will say no to temptations and yes to life.  One day at a time, one hour at a time, one moment at a time.  I will forget about tomorrow (except to remind myself that I can say no), I won’t fret about tomorrow….but I will rejoice that I am an overcomer this moment.  I will continue to do what I know is right.  I will believe that God hears and answers my prayers.  I know that He is working all things for my good.  He is my strength when I am weak.  His words are power to my soul.  Today I am

Saying no to temptation and yes to life,

Mary Ann

THURSDAY April 29, 2010

THE CROSS (Crabb Family)

To some it's just an emblem a formality.
It's a symbol that's been used so frequently.
Many blaspheme and despise.
Though it's ancient, it abides.
A shrine to death that stands for life to me.:

There was a cross made for the Son of God at Calvary.
Two pieces of rough timber on a hill.
Through His hands and through His feet,
He took the nails for you and me.
Angels watched as He died for the lost.
Though He could have walked away He chose the cross.
You see why this old emblem is so dear to me.
It stood for suffering, yet it brought us peace.
It bridged the gap for me.
Offered cleansing for our sins.
An icon that reminds us that we're free.
God forbid that I should ever let my memory fade.
But forever keep the cross in view for that's where I was saved.

I was with my mother and my granddaughter yesterday and today I am still exhausted.  Both of them are precious to me and I enjoy them soooo much….but….today my body “feels” more than I can even express in words.  Sometimes words aren’t adequate to express my thoughts and I think today is one of those days.  This song and listening to it is healing to my existence.  I will cling to “The Old Rugged Cross”………….And……again I think….God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, why do you continue to pursue me?  And the Lord would say to me…….because I know how much you need me.  Yes, indeed Lord, I need you so much.  The Cross…..though you could have walked away, you chose the Cross.  You took the nails for you and me.

“I want Christ in my life. I want to be set free from all flesh. So I’m going to move forward, into his presence and claim my possession. I want Jesus to be my all, my only source of satisfaction.” David Wilkerson…..I could not have expressed my “feelings” better than David Wilkerson, a brother in the Lord that I admire and respect.  Sometimes the thought that I am the only human I know that struggles with the flesh comes into my head.  One time a pastor that I loved and appreciated said, “there’s only about five cents worth of difference in all of us.  When I see those who have conquered some of the flesh that I struggle with, I think, “no way”….They have arrived, they are more “spiritual” than me.  Even as I write my journals and let you hear my cry, I begin to allow the Holy Spirit to renew my mind and remind me that I am free.  Because of the Cross, I am what I am.  I become open and let you see my wounds.  No matter what I “feel”, the fact is Jesus passionately loves me.  His love for me is not contingent on my behavior or my own opinion of my behavior.

Jesus, I ask You to quicken my body, this earthly suit that you have given me.  I agree with one of the sisters that you have put in my life.  I believe that you are healing the diabetes and strengthening my heart.  I will cherish that Old Rugged Cross, till my trophies at last I lay down, I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross and exchange it someday for a crown.  If you are reading this journal, will you agree with me that I will be healed?  I’m not too proud to admit that “I want Christ in my life. I want to be set free from all flesh. I want Jesus to be my all, my only source of satisfaction.” Today I am

Being pursued,

Mary Ann

WEDNESDAY April 28, 2010

UNTIL THE DAY (Darlene Zschech)

When I walk through suffering, let it be an offering

Like a fragrance rising

In the valley of shadow, not to waste my sorrows

But to trust in Father

Until the day when you wipe away every tear

You will hold me,  carry me

Until the day when you take away every fear

No more suffering

Who can imagine?

So I’ll trade my sorrows for the joy of knowing

You, sharing You to my world

With your comfort comforting

Bringing hope for the hope You bring

My whole life for an offering

Who can imagine the day

Who can imagine

Who can imagine

No more suffering, no more crying, no more failure

I can imagine.  “Live with the wonder of a child, pray with your arms swung open wide, love with a love that has no end”.  My mind is centered on You this morning, Lord.  I could sense Your Precious Holy Spirit speaking to me as I had my first “awake” moment this morning.  Thank You that You never leave me and You watch over me as I sleep.  To think that You are everywhere all the time is more than my small mind can comprehend.  I don’t understand that now but according to the Scripture that You put in my mind this morning, it is true.

“ We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us”! Message Bible 1 Corinthians 13:12  The first thing I do when I move out of bed in the morning is put on my glasses.  The thought came to me of this scripture as I reached for my glasses.  Roger and I are making some life changing decisions right now.  We think, we listen, we plan, we are squinting in a fog so to speak.  We walk this way thinking it is the right way and then we are repositioned by the Lord in another direction.  We seek counsel and “sometimes”???? listen and then turn another way.  Sometimes as we walk we even hit a brick wall that we weren’t even aware was in front of us.  But…the good news is that God isn’t walking through a fog.  He sees and knows everything, He has perfect vision.  He can see all the way from the beginning to the end.

He is unfailing, His love is unending and His Word is eternal, firm in the heavens it stands.  His Word assures me that He is always with me, He never leaves me or forsakes me.  My eyes are dim, I can’t see Him, but I know He is near.  I trust Him and walk confidently beside Him as He knows the direction (plan) He has for my life.  The promises that He has made in His Word never changes.  This earth and the way His creation lives life has changed, but He never changes.  He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  The things of this life are changing, they are becoming dimmer and dimmer.  I sometimes say that when I was a younger person I thought I knew all the answers to life and now that I am a “little” older, I’m not even sure what the questions are.  I am so grateful for this wonderful, exciting day that I have.  I can see through the perfect eyes of the Holy Spirit as He leads and guides me into His truth this day.  I can know that yes, I am peering through a mist, but I am holding onto the Hand of the One that knows the way, because He is the Way.  I am

Looking through His eyes,

Mary Ann

TUESDAY April 27, 2010

WITH ALL I AM (Crossroads)

Into Your hands, I commit again

With all I am

For You, Lord

You hold my world in the palm of Your hand

And I am Yours, forever

Jesus, I believe in You

Jesus, I belong to You

You’re the reason that I live

The reason that I sing with all I am

I’ll walk with You, wherever You go

Through tears and joys, I’ll trust in you

And I will live in all of Your ways and Your promises, forever

I will worship, I will worship You

I will worship, I will worship You

I will worship, I will worship You

Yes, I will, I will worship You.  Today is an exciting, intriguing, unknown, day.  This is my opportunity to throw my head back and worship, my Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the reason that I live.  He gives me gladly every breath that I breathe.  He has a purpose, reason and season for all of my time of this earth.  Sometimes, I forget about His love and affection for me.  It’s in these early morning hours that I hear His sweet, gentle voice.  At the end of the day, I have heard so many other things that my connection with Him is sometimes broken and crowded out with life…..but….here in these early mornings, He is so close and I am so humbled.  Through tears and joy, I trust in Him.  I will live in all His ways and His promises forever.  Jesus, I believe in You, I belong to You, You’re the reason that I live, the reason that I sing. 

“He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Abraham could see the true significance of the land blessing and he realized, “This place isn’t the real possession. It’s just an illustrated sermon of the great blessing to come.” Abraham grasped the true meaning of the Promised Land; he knew Canaan represented the coming Messiah. Jesus himself tells us, “Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). (David Wilkerson) Jesus is the real possession.  I just finished a “real estate” deal that went south.  We were disappointed, the outcome was out of our control.  That piece of real estate wasn’t important when you consider that the city that has foundations (our Canaan) is Jesus.  He is the rock on which we live.  One day we will inherit our “forever” home….all the homes on this earthly piece of dirt will one day turn to just what it is, a piece of dirt.

Our true Home is described as a city where the streets are paved with gold.  Can you just imagine the appraised value of something like that?  A beautiful, wonderful “forever” home.  I know I am going there and the heart that Jesus has given me wants to take others with me.  My desire is to snatch others out of the grips of hell and show them the love of Jesus.  I want to get out of my “rocking chair” and be about my Father’s business.  I can’t continue to rock, Jesus needs me to be His hands, His feet, His voice, His heart on this earth.  He is preparing my “forever” home and one day we will all face our “eternal” home.  Will we hear Him say, “well done”?  Today I am

Amazed and Packing,

Mary Ann

MONDAY April 26, 2010

ORPHANS OF GOD (Avalon) Who here among us has not been broken Who here among us is without guilt or pain So oft’ abandoned by our transgressions If such a thing as grace exists Then grace was made for lives like this There are no strangers There are no outcasts There are no orphans of God So many fallen, but hallelujah There are no orphans of God Come ye unwanted and find affection Come all ye weary, come and lay down your head Come ye unworthy, you are my brother If such a thing as grace exists Then grace was made for lives like this O blessed Father, look down upon us We are Your children, we need Your love We run before Your throne of mercy And seek Your face to rise above We are not orphans.  If such a thing as grace exists, then grace was made for lives like this.  Grace does exist.  (G etting R ight A t C hrist’s E xpense)  Good news.  God’s News.  There are no orphans, once we are bought, we belong to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  A great price was paid for ALL our sins.  The Bible says that God sees us through the righteousness of Jesus.  We are not abandoned by our transgression.  We are a called people, set apart for His Pleasure.  Then if we are never orphans and Grace covers our sins….what is bad about sin?  This is what sin causes in our lives.  It keeps us away from God, it keeps us away from the full, abundant life that He has for us.  It causes us to hurt, it causes the ones that we love to hurt, it breaks the heart of God to see us suffer and living outside His blessings.  God cannot lie, He loves us unconditionally.  It affects our confidence.  His opinion of us does not change….but we change our opinion of ourselves.  We hide from the Lord, we turn Him off in our minds.  We run from Him. There are no strangers, there are no outcasts.  Very simply, Thank You Lord Jesus for the Price that You paid for me.  Today I am Reflecting on Your Grace, Mary Ann

FRIDAY April 23, 2010

HEALING IS IN YOUR HANDS (Christy Nockels)

No mountain, no valley

No gain or loss we know 

Could keep us from your love

No sickness, no secret

No chain is strong enough

To keep us from Your love,

To keep us from Your love

How high, how wide

No matter where I am,

Healing is in your hands

How deep, how strong

Now by Your grace, I stand

Healing is in Your hand

How present, our future

Our past is in Your hands

We’re covered by Your blood

We’re covered by Your blood

In all things, we know that

We are more than conquerors

You keep us by Your love

Hallelujah!!!  Healing is in Your hands.  What a great encouragement to me this morning.  I trust You.  I love You.  You are the source of life for me and I am grateful that You chose me for Your Own.  Maybe it is better for the “busy” people that read this devotional for me to shorten this part of the devotional.  I just can’t.  Out of my heart comes more “feelings” than I can even express to You, O Lord.  This is my time to leap within my heart at Your goodness that I don’t deserve, that You give to me.  This is my time with You and I allow others to listen in.  My place is with You.  My time with You.  In fact I want to stop and “feel” Your presence beside me.  I have finally found the truth and my place is with You.

"Blessed and happy and to be envied are those…whose sins are covered up and completely buried. Blessed and happy and to be envied is the person of whose sin the Lord will take no account nor reckon it against him” (Romans 4:7-8 Amp.).  I am happy that my sins are covered up and completely buried.  Buried, no one can look at them, not me, not you, NO ONE.  You take no account of the sins, You don’t hold it against me.  That says it all.

Today, Lord Jesus, I am believing for my healing.  I am by faith, walking away from diabetes and everything that goes with it.  I won’t accept guilt any longer.  I won’t hold onto diabetes according to my performance.  By faith, In all things we know that we are more than conquerors, You keep us by your love.  You keep no account or reckon our sins against us.  No matter where I am or what I do, healing is in Your hands.  As a precious Sister of mine is praying, the Lord will regulate my blood sugars and strengthen my heart, I am in total agreement with her.   Today, as every Friday, I am

Riding the Golf Cart with a “certain” little lady,

Mary Ann

THURSDAY April 22, 2010

PRAISE THE FATHER, PRAISE THE SON (Chris Tomlin)

Oh Sovereign God, O matchless King

The saints adore, the angels sing

And far before the throne of Grace

To You belongs the highest praise

These sufferings, this passing tide,

Under Your wings I will abide

And every enemy shall flee,

You are my hope in victory

Praise the Father, praise the Son,

Praise the Spirit three in one

Clothed in power and in grace

The Name above all other names

To the valley  for my soul,

the great descent has made me whole

Your word my heart has welcomed home

Now peace like water ever flows

Yours is the kingdom, Yours is the power

Yours is the glory, forever

Yours is the Kingdome, Yours is the power

Yours is the glory, forever

You are the rock on which I stand.  I praise You Father, I praise You Son, I praise You, Holy Spirit.  These sufferings, this passing tide, under Your wings I will abide.  Good Morning, Lord Jesus.  You are my hope in victory.  I praise You, I worship You.  I am grateful that You are my Lord and Savior.  This passing tide.  That phrase resonates in my soul.  Tides go in and out.  They don’t stay in one position…so I have to reconcile that this tide that we are riding on right now won’t last forever.  It is passing.  Under Your wings I will abide.  You are my hope and victory.  I will Praise You, I will worship You, I will sit at Your feet, turn off all other distractions and learn Your truths. 

I am going to put a story that I read yesterday into a condensed version.  Jeremiah 5:22 says…”I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.  The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.”  The ocean would say to the sand, Little sand, do you really think you can stop me?  The sand would say to the sea, “listen here big, bad, ocean it doesn’t matter how little I am, it matters that God Almighty has decreed me as a boundary that you cannot cross.  The sea roars, it creates a huge storm and the waves roll past the sand.  It says to the sand, see, I have crossed, I have shown you the power that I have, the storm has created havoc over you.  All the grains of the sand begin to sing in unison, in peace, Guess what Mr. Sea, You’ve got to go back now.  The wind will calm down, the waves will retreat.  Did that happen because the sand is more powerful, did it happen because the sand is bigger?  No.  It happened because God decreed it.  He said this is what will happen.  It had the authority of the Words of God Almighty.

The more I seek You, the more I find You.  The more I find You, the more I love You.  God has decreed certain things over my life.  They will happen because God Almighty has said it will happen.  My circumstances, my flesh will not determine the direction of my life.  I will seek You, today, Lord Jesus.  I will turn off the computer, I will walk outside and breathe in the fresh breath of Your Spirit as It directs my steps.  Your love and concern for me is overwhelming.  I will not listen to the negative, give up kind of talking.  I will apply the Words of God Almighty in my actions and attitudes.  If God can cause a grain of sand to have the authority to stop a huge, powerful ocean to stop, I can stop the actions of the powerful storm against little old me to “go back now”.  With the Words of God over me and in me, I can tell the storms “to go back NOW”.  Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, Holy, Holy is He.  I will sing a new song to Him.  I will declare that I am a bully against the storm.  As soon as the storm is over, as soon as the wind quits blowing, the ocean retreats to its normal boundaries.  The sand has declared its boundaries.  This passing tide has subsided.  Today I am

Holding back the raging tide,

Mary Ann

WEDNESDAY April 21, 2010

YOU HAVE BEEN GOOD (Twila Paris)

Oh Lord, You have been good

You have been faithful to all generations

Oh Lord, Your steadfast love and tender mercy

Have been our salvation

For by Your hand, we have been fed

And by Your Spirit, we have been led

O Lord.

For by Your hand, we have been fed

And by Your Spirit, we have been led

O Lord, Almighty God

Father unchanging, upright and holy.

O Lord, You have been good

You have been faithful, You have been good.

You have been good, You have been  faithful,

You have been good

Your loving kindness is everlasting

Your loving kindness is everlasting

Your loving kindness is everlasting

Your loving kindness is everlasting

You have been good.

Father, I don’t “feel” like writing this, I stayed up way too late last night.  But…as I hear this song, I am reminded You have been good.  You are like talking to a really close, familiar friend.  Even as I write these words, my heart is moved with compassion as I think of the years that I have had with You.  I think of all the many, many times that it’s been just You and me.  I am reminded of Your faithfulness and kindness.  You have never changed, You have never, not one time, been too busy for me.  When I need You, You are always there.  I know You watch over me constantly.  I know that You are steadfast and perfect.  You have been good, You have been faithful.  I know that Your love for me is wider than the ocean, stronger than any force I have ever seen or heard of on this earth.  I know that all I have to do is whisper Your name and You hear me.  I know that when I am weak and frail, You hold me.  I know that when I am strong and running, You run beside me.  I know there isn’t anywhere here on this decaying earth I can go that You aren’t there.  Your Holy Spirit is hovering over this planet that You have made.  You have been good.

Has God been good only when things are looking good for us?  Has He been good when our prayers aren’t answered as we think they should be?  Has He been good on a Wednesday when we get up really wanting to go back to bed?  Has He been good when everyone around us is doing exactly what we think they should be doing?  I am trying to buy a new house and out of the clear blue sky yesterday, we ran into a problem with our lender.  Everything looked fine and then…..a new regulation made the underwriter question our integrity.  She was wrong, things are exactly as we told her.  But now, the only way she will change her mind is a change of heart from God.  Knowing the real estate business and working with things like this, I immediately went into “fix” it mode.  The other solutions didn’t seem to work, I felt checked, I have to stop “fixing” it and wait on the Lord.  That is humbling to me, but necessary.  Oh Lord, You have and are good to us and I know that You work out all things for our good.

I am a child and You are my Father.  I trust You, You have been good.  You have never, ever failed the Seman Family.  I love You, Father.  I am secure that our lives are in Your hand.  I am steady because You hold me.  Faith is not understanding, but accepting anyways.  Nothing is impossible for You.  My plans are in Your hands.  A woman makes a plan in her heart, but the Lord directs her path.  Prayer is the connection that I have.  It is the power source between You and I.  I plug into You today, Lord.  My batteries will only carry me so far, the real lasting, persevering ability comes from the electricity that I acquire from You.  You are larger than all the power generated from the Hoover Dam.  You shake the nations, Your voice is heard through all generations and You have been good, You have been faithful to Your “little” girl down here in St Marys, Ga.  I trust You.  You turn the heart of a king, so I know You can turn the heart of a “little” lady in an underwriting office.  By Your Hand, I trust You.  You direct our path.  I know whatever You have for us is good and perfect.  Thank You, Lord.

This warrior is a child,

Mary Ann

TUESDAY April 20, 2010

I WILL TRUST YOU (James Fortune)

One of the most difficult things to do is
find yourself in a storm and
while in that storm it seems like everyone who you
thought you could count on has
well walked away; and
Sometimes it seems like even God Himself has
forgotten about you.
But in spite of it all you should still be able
to lift your hands and say
"Lord, I trust You"
Even though I can’t see
and I can’t feel Your touch
I will trust You Lord
how I love You so much
though my nights may seem long
and I feel so alone
Lord my trust is in You
I surrender to You
so many painful thoughts
travel through my mind
and I wonder how
I will make it through this time
everything that I see
tells me not to believe
but I’ll trust You Lord
You have never failed me
my past still controls me
will this hurt ever leave?
I can only trust You
no one loves like You do
but I'll trust You
Lord it’s not easy
Sometimes the pain in my life
makes You seem far away
But I’ll trust You
I need to know You’re here
through the tears and the pain
through the heartache and rain
I can
I will
I must
trust You
I will
trust You

I surrender all, all to Jesus, I surrender.  Good morning, Lord.  There is no love sweeter than the love You pour on me.  There’s no song sweeter than the one You sing over me.  No one deserves my love more than You.  No person, no event, no excitement, no disappointment, nothing comes before You.  I repent of the sins and habits that I have committed against You.  I ask for Your mercy as I walk in this life.  I will enter Your gates with thanksgiving and I come into Your courts with Praise.  This is the day that You have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.  That is the choice that I have made for today.

Trust.  You have been good, You have been faithful.  I am waiting on an answer to something really important.  Yesterday was supposed to be the final answer, I was supposed to know the answer at least by 5:00 in the afternoon.  Well, all day, I was suppressing the anxiety, the minutes clicked by.  I began getting anxious about 2:00 (as the final answer could have been earlier), no word, nothing.  I froze, I couldn’t think about anything else.  So….by 5:00, I was a mess.  I blew it, I called the person with the answer ???? and let them have it for their imperfection and incompetency.  The Lord spoke to my heart this morning and explained something to me.

First of all, I was into depending on myself to work this thing out.  Because of my “fixing” it, I got into fear (because I am incapable of making things work, I have no power)  I was afraid of the answer and that fear produced thoughts of perfection and expectation of others.  Where was faith?  Where was the knowledge that God works all things out for our good?  I was trying to be a “grown up” with childlike “abilities”.  I am so sorry.  “My yoke is easy and my burdens are light”.  Oh Lord, You have been good, You have been faithful through all generations.  You didn’t just stop with me, You are now and forever will be.  I relax in Your presence and accept the steps that You have put before me.  Today I am

Covered in Your Grace,

Mary Ann

MONDAY, April 19, 2010

HE KNOWS MY NAME (Tommy Walker)

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands
I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call

One thing about doing this devotional, it pushes me to getting up and communicating with my Savior.  It’s Monday morning, time after a long, busy weekend.  My flesh would rather stay in bed and rest….but….here I am, Lord.  This song speaks to my heart.  You know my name, Lord, You know my every thought.  You see every tear that falls.  That is good news.  You never leave me.  Father, I thank You that You look over me and love me unconditionally.  I am so grateful that You chose me.  My life has been and is wonderful because of Your favor.  Thank You for loving me and giving everything for me.  This is a new day and I am grateful for it.

Londyn’s other grandmother told me a story about her that touches my heart.  The other day she took Londyn for the day.  She told me that all the way to where they were going Londyn would say, “Where Mommie go?, Where Daddy go?, Where Meme Go? And etc….She’s learning her other grandmother and didn’t “feel” quite as familiar with her as she did some of the other people in her life.  She was venturing out into new territory so to speak.  As I think of this, I think of the safety that we have in Jesus as we venture into new territory.  I can almost picture us as we stand behind Christ hiding in His safety, asking where so and so go?.  As we look around His protection into a unfamiliar scene, as we hear the rumbling of “things” going on, we might ask “is it safe out there, where did the familiar go”? 

I can almost hear Jesus speak to my heart, You are safe wherever you go and so now, Go!!! There are so many out there that need to hear us tell them about the safety that we can find behind the cloak of His garment.  He gives us the opportunity to rest in the safety of His arms.  He gives us the security that we need to “fight the fight”, “win the battle”.  We are the voice of His love, we are the arms of His forgiveness.  He who dwells in the safety of the Most High shall rest under the Shadow of the Almighty.  He is our Hiding Place.  We have an answer to the dilemmas that we see all around us.  We have something to proclaim, our words will make a difference in the world that we live in.  He has equipped us with His Power to proclaim the Good News.  Today I am

Going to new places,

Mary Ann

FRIDAY, April 16, 2010

ANNIE’S SONG (Travis Cottrell)

You fill up my senses
Like a night in the forest
Like the mountains in springtime,
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert,
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses,
Come fill me again.
Come let me love you,
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter,
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you,
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you,
Come love me again.
You fill up my senses
Like a night in the forest
Like the mountains in springtime,
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert,
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses,
Come fill me again.

This is the day that the Lord has made and I WILL TO rejoice and be glad in it.  I now remember this song.  It was written as a secular song by John Denver.  It wasn’t written to be about the Lord, but it relates so well to the Lord.  You fill up my senses, come fill me again.  You, Oh Lord, are the essence of my life.  Even though there are so many minutes in the day filled with the “stuff” of life, You are ever present in my life.  How can I be even more keenly aware of Your presence in my life?  I remember a friend of mine that used to take “power naps”.  She would be visiting me and out of the blue ask if I minded if she took a little “power nap”.  She was extremely healthy and fit.  I thought this a little strange, but I had to look at the end result and apparently she was so aware of her body’s needs that she thought this was necessary for her health.  Remind me today of her Lord and I will take “power breaks” with You as I need to.  I want to be fit at the end of the day as I am fit in the early morning.

I read something in the middle of the night that encouraged me and I thought it might encourage my friends as well this morning.  Joel Osteen says, “Have you ever tried to drive a car forward while looking only in the rearview mirror?  You can’t do that and make good progress.  The same is true in life.  You can’t move ahead to the good if you are always looking back at the bad.”  I remembered another friend of mine that had lost his driver’s license because of DUI and he once told me that he would feel so free one day when he could drive his car without looking in the rearview mirror to make sure the police weren’t going to catch him driving without a license.  This morning thinking about that, it reminds me of the “Gotcha” mentality.  The enemy always does the “gotcha” thing.  God says, Forgiven, the enemy says “gotcha”.

Yesterday is gone, today is here.  It is a glorious, powerful day.  A gift that has been given to us.  A day to live in victory, forgetting those things in the past and pressing toward the prize that is set before us.  Jesus.  I will never again have this opportunity of today.  I have been “gotchaed” by a loving, kind, Father that draws us to repentance and says the ticket for our sins has been paid.  I will never be the same again.  I can drive the car of “life” looking forward to the exciting journey.  I will make the miles that I have been given.  I will lift high the Name of Jesus Christ.  I WILL TO take “power naps” as I pull my car over on the side of the road and then continue my journey.  I am SO EXCITED THAT I WAS CHOSEN.  Thank you for my “day” with my little princess and the weekend with my loving, kind husband and friends.  Today I am

Speechless and amazed,

Mary Ann

THURSDAY, April 15, 2010

2000 YEARS (Travis Cottrell)

If I could see 2000 years ago
Travel back in time and walk in the
Day when just one man turned this world upside down
If I could be a guest at the wedding, and
Taste the wine that was water moments before
Would I realize what was really in store
That there would be so much more
Would I fall down and worship?
Leave all that I treasured behind?
For a chance to be closer
To the Man who might
Be the One who saves my life?
If I hear His voice call to Lazarus
Stand and stare as my friend stumbles out of the tomb
Witness blind men see their first morning sky
Would I believe what He says to be true
If I was there the night soldiers took Him away
Would I flee the scene like most of His friends
Then watch on the cross what I thought was the end
What would I do then
Would I fall down and worship?
Leave all that I treasured behind?
For a chance to be closer
To the Man who might
Be the One who saves my life?
And what would it be like
After three days gone by
Would I believe what they said
Or wanna see with my own eyes
Put my hand on the scars
Only then realize
My Lord, my God, alive
Will I fall down and worship?
Leave all that I treasure behind?
For a chance to be closer
'Cause He is still alive
And the One who saves my life!

Busy.  Yesterday was busy(not free, committed to something that has previously been planned or arranged and so unable to undertake another activity).  That wraps it up.  I was unable to undertake another activity.  At the end of the day, I was spent.  I was emotionally tired then and “feel” emotionally tired even now as I have recharged through the night.  In my mind, Lord Jesus, is the pain and suffering that I see and hear around me.  I need to release this “stuff” to you.  I need to regain my joy, my carefree heart.  Yesterday, observing the pain, hearing the cries, seeing the struggling emails this morning, my heart is heavy.  Thank You, Lord Jesus that I can run to Your arms and know that You will hold me and let me know that I can rest now and know that You are in charge.  Know that I can talk to You about all these situations and You will listen to me.  To know that I can snuggle up in Your lap and You will change my mourning into dancing.  Thank You Father that I am busy about the “Father’s” business. 

I wasn’t designed to carry the Cross.  When I take the Cross of others, I am not free.  The weight of the Cross knocks me on the floor.  Just picture that…me laying flat on the floor with a cross crushing me.  I would surely be “busy” (not free) and unable to even move, much less help someone out.  Jesus was and is God and He was able to carry the Cross that gave me freedom.  The Cross was defeated.  He is Alive, Moving, Vibrant.  My heart has found its home.  “If He carried the weight of the world on His shoulders, I know He can carry me and my loved ones”. 

Your promise that You will always be with me, causes me to dance.  The fact that You are God and You hear me and my friends.  You are the answer to everything.  You only know good.  You won’t give up on us.  When God when, how God how?  Not sure, but I know yes. Jesus says to me,  “Yes, I love you and I will make the crooked paths straight.  Yes, I know what’s going on.  Yes, I will take all those problems from you.  Yes, step aside and watch me move those mountains.  Grab hold and ride with Me, feel the wind as we ride through the desert”.  “Like a walk in the rain, like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy, blue ocean.”  Fill me again, today, Lord.  I have been too busy.  Today I am

Backed up to the Gas Pump,

Mary Ann

WEDNESDAY, April 14, 2010

LIKE A LAKE (Sara Groves)

So much hurt and preservation
Like a tendril round my soul
So much painful information
No clear way on how to hold it
When everything in me is tightening
Curling in around this ache
I will lay my heart wide open
Like the surface of a lake
Wide open like a lake
Standing at this waters edge
Looking in at God's own heart
I've no idea where to begin
To swallow up the way things are
Everything in me is drawing in
Closing in around this pain
I will lay my heart wide open
Like the surface of a lake
Wide open like a lake
Bring the wind and bring the thunder
Bring the rain till I am tried
When it's over bring me stillness
Let my face reflect the sky
And all the grace and all the wonder
Of a peace that I can't fake
Wide open like a lake
Everything in me is tightening

Everything in me is tightening
Curling in around this ache
I am fighting to stay open
I am fighting to stay open
Open open oh wide open
Open like a lake

Here I am this morning standing at the water’s edge looking into God’s own heart.  I’ve no idea how to swallow up the way things are.  Everything in me is tightening.  I am fighting to stay open.  Open.  Retreating is a easier way.  Is easier what I desire to do?  No, it isn’t.  I have to face “it” head on.  I have to run toward the battle, not away from it.  Thoughts.  Why is it that the “random” things, the “random” comments hit me so hard?  When the obvious battles hit me, I can handle them….but….it’s the small things, the little comments, things that happen that don’t seem to matter that affect me.  Wide open.  Lord, I am open to You this morning.  I am sorry that I got so “busy” yesterday that I didn’t run to my Hiding Place.  Since I didn’t Hide in You, I was open to the attacks that come from “life” and the enemy of my soul.  Today I am tight, I need You to unwind me and leave me wide open.  Open.  Can I really be open and let others hear it?  Do I have that courage?  I desire the rain that only You can give that will wash away the “dirt” from my heart.  I can’t fake it, I have to know that You are laying me besides still waters. 

Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume before he was buried according to Mark 14.  The commentary says …”it was a normal Jewish custom to anoint a body with aromatic oils in preparing it for burial.  Jesus seems to anticipate suffering a criminal’s death, for only in that circumstance was there no anointing of the body”.  A friend of mine that was considered to many a “criminal” just died….so I can understand “dying a criminal’s death”.  His family and close associates loved him, but to the general population, he was considered a criminal.  I felt the shame for him, I felt the disdain of society against him, I was grieved in my heart over his death.  What does this have to do with the death of Jesus?  Jesus was not a criminal, He was treated horrible, He never deserved any of that.  He was the Son of God, the Creator of Life, the Bright and Morning Star.  He had never cheated anyone.  He only knew good, He was perfect.  Then Why?????  Why did He die like that?

For me and for you.  He loved us that much.  Amazing!!!  How can it be that God would die as a criminal?  That was the price for sinful man.  The good news is that He arose like a King!!!  He conquered death, hell and the grave.  He might have died in shame, but He arose in victory.  Something that struck me about Mary’s anointing Him with oil is that even though to the outside world, it seemed he had died in defeat, His Father knew better and had Mary anoint Him like a non-criminal would be anointed before burial and then later on in the Scriptures, it says that after the Cross, he was again anointed with oil.  No Sir, His Father would make sure that he was taken care of, no matter what the general population thought.  Because of that we don’t have to hang our head in shame (no matter if we or the general population) think we are criminals.  We are all criminals according to the Scriptures, our Righteousness is as “filthy” rags.  Sometimes our filth just shows up more than others….but because of our acceptance of God’s righteousness we are ruling and reigning with Christ in High Places.  We are Royal Heirs.  Jesus paid it all and all to Him I give.  We have been given a place of honor, we are the head and not the tail, we are up front and not behind and it’s all because of a “criminal’s” death.  Thank You Lord Jesus.  Today I am

Going to a funeral,

Mary Ann

TUESDAY, April 13, 2010

HIDING PLACE (Sara Groves)

Early when the day is new

Before the stirring,

I will come to talk to You and

Confess the ways I’m broken

To recall the words You’ve spoken

And to try to comprehend the love You have for me

You are my hiding place,

You fill my broken heart with songs

Songs of deliverance, You sing of how the weak grow strong

And I believe You for You save me from my darkness and my shame

And I believe You for I hear Your song of beauty and grace

You never meant for me to walk alone

You are always for me

As the truest lover of my soul, You hear my desperate calling

You have kept my feet from falling

You have set me on this rock on which I’m standing now

You are my hiding place

You are my hiding place

And I believe

And I believe

I sure didn’t “feel” like getting up this morning.  I truly wanted to crawl back into bed and rest.  Nothing particularly wrong, just a desire to “lay off work” today.  Wouldn’t you know Lord, that the first sentence of this song talks about getting up early in the morning before the “stirring” and talk to You?  You are so personal, Lord and I love that.  If we look for You, we can find You.  So I abandon my flesh this morning and Praise You and tell You how much I appreciate You.  I “feel” surrounded by Your love for me.  You are my hiding place.  My soul is stirred and moved by Your Presence in my life.  This is the most important part of my day.  I believe by faith that You are sitting here in this room with me.  The Scriptures say, “Where could I go that You are not there?”

You never meant for me to walk alone.  “Before the stirring”.  You set me on this rock on which I’m standing.  I “need” to stop everything and just spend time meditating on this song.  There isn’t anything really going on in my mind, except the realization of how much I am truly loved.  To realize that the whole world and everyone in it could turn their back on me and You, Oh, Lord will never turn away from me.  Scriptures say that I am the apple of Your eye.  You are my hiding place.  You are where I go to get the breath for my soul.  I will stop breathing and die if I don’t have Your presence in my life. 

You have kept my feet from falling, I believe You for You save me from my darkness and shame.  My friends, if You get this song from me, stop and meditate on it before you start your day.  That is what I am going to do.  If you don’t get this from me, look it up on ITunes or something else.  It will minister to you.  So right now, I am

Meditating,

Mary Ann

MONDAY April 12, 2010

WHAT WE PROCLAIM (Aaron Shust)

I praise You Lord Jesus.  I am grateful for Your love towards me.  I worship You and bow at Your feet.  Even though You aren’t physically in this room, I “feel” as though You are sitting right here with me.  I use this time to pour out my heart to You.  Even if I fall sometimes, I will have the strength to rise.  “Don’t give up, don’t give in”.  When I “feel” as though I can’t walk, you lift me from my chair and tell me that You will carry me if I can’t walk alone.  You will cheer me each step along the way to victory.  I love You so much, I trust You.  I know that I can fall on my face, cry out to You and You will move the mountains in my life.  You will never, ever leave me.  I lift my arms up in surrender. 

How different our Lord is.  The enemy of our soul would say, “forget it”.  You’ve failed over and over again and there’s no hope for you.  What a lie!!!  With Jesus there is victory, with Jesus there is compassion, instead of judgment.  Something I learned from Londyn (imagine that).  The weekends I have with Londyn are incredible.  Both of us have fun, I give into almost every whim that she has.  We are both totally out of control (okay, so I admitted it).  She wants, I give.  Right or wrong, that’s the way it is….so by the time she gets back to her Mom, she’s kinda hesitant and wants to stay with Meme.  That happened this weekend.  When she was leaving with her Mom, I had this thought.  “Sometimes, Mary Ann, you live “the weekend” mentality all during the week.  Your pamper and give your flesh all its desires.  Would Londyn benefit with being spoiled all the time?  She needs boundaries, it makes her secure.  Her Mom lovingly guides her to maintain many disciplines that will make her a better person.  She has to learn that just because she wants something, it won’t necessarily be good for her.”

I go back to that Scripture that I had last week.  “the sluggard craves and gets nothing, the desires of the diligent are satisfied”.  It has gotten me “out of the chair” (so to speak).  I believe that You are speaking to me loudly through this Word.  I “feel” the security when You put this boundary in front of me.  You are giving me a choice to do this or that.  I choose life, I choose to have the desires of my heart fulfilled.  I know that I  can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me the strength.  He has overcome death, hell and the grave.  Today I will listen to Him as He gives me the boundaries that will cause me to have success.  Even on my worst day, it’s always better listening and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Sure I will have those weekend “meme” days, He delights to give me the desires of my heart.  But….life is more about living with boundaries and the daily routines.  Today I am

Within the boundaries,

Mary Ann

FRIDAY, April 9, 2010

THIS IS OUR GOD (Beth Coulson)

Your grace is enough

More than I need

At your word, I will believe

I wait for you You’re near again

Let your spirit make me new

And I will fall at Your feet

I will fall at Your feet

And I will worship You here

Your presence in me

Jesus like the wave by the power of Your Word

I am restored, I am redeemed, by Your spirit I am free

And I will fall at Your feet,

I will fall at Your feet

And I will worship You here

Jesus.

Jesus, my hope is in You

Jesus, my hope is in You, Lord

Freely, you gave it all for us

Surrendered your life upon that cross

Great is Your love poured out for all

This is our God

Lifted on high from death to life

Forever our God is glorified,

Servant and King, rescued the world

This is our God

And I will fall at Your feet, I will fall at Your feet

And I will worship You, here

And I will fall at Your feet, I will fall at Your feet

And I will worship You, here

HALLELUJAH!!!  Great is Your love poured out for all.  I worship You, today, Lord Jesus.  My hope is in You.  I am restored, I am redeemed, by Your Grace I am free.  This is the morning after Father.  Yesterday was hard as I heard of a death of a friend.  Someone that I had mentored probably took his own life (the final report hasn’t come in).  In spite of that and the pain it causes, I am aware of Your presence as it “hovers” over me.  I know that my hope is in You.  You paid a great price for my hope, I will not walk over Your great sacrifice.  I love You, Lord Jesus.  You are becoming more and more the real reason for living.  It’s beginning to rain outside.  I am waiting in the dark to know what the light will bring today.  My physical body has been restored through the night and now I am waiting with great anticipation with the promise of today. 

The Power of the Cross.  No matter the anguish and pain that I see around me, I know that there is victory in Christ.  My friend that died yesterday was a person of great anguish.  His life was full of pain, his priorities were wrong.  I don’t believe things with him were always as they seemed.  I always tried to look at him with the eyes of Christ.  I was saddened as I watched him struggle.  He was my friend.  I spoke with him many times about his relationship with Christ.  I knew that all the other things he was involved in wouldn’t matter “when it was all said and done”.  He confessed Christ, he grew up in a Christian family.  But….I am also saddened that his life on this earth was so full of trouble.  I am saddened that things got so bad that he felt there was no other way, but to end his life.

Is there another way to be free from so much trouble?  You betcha.  I declare war on the enemy of our souls.  He is defeated.  How many times and how many ways do we need to declare this?  We are fighting in a real battle.  The enemy has no compassion.  Yesterday, someone was talking to me about how much the enemy knows and how smart he is.  That’s not true.  He isn’t smart at all.  He uses the same old tricks over and over again.  He has no creative power, there is nothing smart about him.  Joel Osteen…..”Focus on your faith, let God deal with your fear.  Don’t use your energy to worry, Use your energy to believe”.   He also said that it takes the same amount of energy to believe as it does to worry.  I choose to believe.  Won’t you?  Today I am

Amazed that He has poured His love all over me and I’m getting ready to play with Londyn all day,

Mary Ann

THURSDAY, April 8, 2010

YOU SURROUND ME (Brian Doerksen)

You surround, You indwell in me

You surround me

You are beside me, every present, ever near

You are the whisper calling my name gently

Love eternal reaching to me, jealous for me

I will stay with You forever

Arm in arm we’ll walk together

You will never let me go

I can’t live my life without You

My whole will to live is for You

You have awaken me to know

I can’t live my life without You

Jealous for me, calling my name gently.  Do I hear You calling my name this morning?  Your perfect love calls to my soul.  You bid me come to You, You bid me to experience an abundant, full life.  Oh no, You never let go.  You sing and dance over me.  You created me for Your pleasure.  I know You have a great sense of humor, I know that You desire to laugh and spend time enjoying me.  I become so intense some time that I forget to laugh.  You have put a light heart within me.  I will praise You for I am wonderfully and fearfully made.  You took great care in creating me, I am valuable and loved.  Thank You for desiring to be with me on this earth and forever.

Do we really understand how magnificent it is that the God of the whole universe chose us?  We say that we do, but then we hang our heads down when “life” cuts into our race.  We means me as well as you.  Why have we let “life” determine how we act on this earth.  We should have our faces to the wind, running this race, with outstretched arms, swirling, with a smile on our face and a song in our heart, laughing.  No matter what happens, whether we “act” good, whether we “act” bad, the Savior of the world chose us.  The powerful, conquering, King has chosen us.  He created us, He knew this day, He knows every word that is going to come out of our mouth before it does (now that’s a thought to ponder).  He knows who we are and what we do.

Why don’t we accept today what is going on in our lives and know that our steps are ordered by the Lord?  Why don’t we walk knowing that we have a purpose, taking steady, strong steps, rather than weak, trembling steps.  We have been tricked, we have been “talked into” believing a lie.  We just kinda dip our toes into the water afraid.  Lord, give me the courage today to “plop” my feet down hard into the water.  Help me to know that I will not drown, I will not falter and fall.  I’m walking away from that life and running into the race that You have put before me.  I am sure footed, I am enjoying this journey.  I am an over comer, I am going over.  I will not shut up, give up, let up, sit down, back down, lie down.  I will rejoice for all You have for me.  I want it all, I want to see the victory in my own life and those in my world.  I want to remember that You will knock my enemy on the jaw.  I am

Thrilled that He put me in this exciting journey,

Mary Ann

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

YOU’RE AMAZING (Vineyard)

As you travel through this life in your plans

And in your dreams and in everything you do

May you know a peace inside as you hear

The Father’s voice and the songs of love He sings to you

He says that you’re amazing

He says that you are His special one

He says that you’re his special child

And there’s no one else like you

He says that You are beautiful,

Do you know that you make him smile

Do you know that you’re His heart’s delight

Do you know that you’re amazing

He says that you are amazing

“You pile blessings on him, You make him glad when You smile”.  Psalm 21:6 MSG  I didn’t get enough sleep last night, my body didn’t have enough time to rest and restore (yesterday’s devotion).  I stayed up and watched a “somewhat” unrealistic TV show about losing weight.  These people lose tons of weight in a short period of time.  It seems “too good to be true”.  I know that one day in a matter of seconds, I will have a glorified body that is weightless.  What a day that will be!!  But, here we are today, back to reality….I love You, Lord Jesus.  Thank you that I am glad when You smile at me.  To think that the King of the Universe enjoys me.  To think that this awesome God listens to me when I call, to imagine that He watches me as I rise from my sleep.  To think that He surrounds me as I walk through my day.  I am amazed that He says there will never be another me on this earth.  I am amazed that He has called me His child and loves me passionately (more than I love my own family).  His love will not pass away.

….”The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied”.  Proverbs 13:4  This scripture hit home with me yesterday and I wanted to write about it this morning.  What is the difference between the sluggard and the diligent.  The sluggard quits, the diligent keeps going.  Both of these types desire something, they both have dreams, desires and plans, but I see the sluggard just going back to bed and stop trying and I see the diligent getting up, time and time again, no matter how hard.  I am thinking of two people that I know…one becomes so overwhelmed with life that they just go to bed, the other one has almost the same type of problems, but he continually tries.  This scripture says the one that quits, gets nothing.  It also says that the one who keeps on and on is fully satisfied. 

It’s the winner in me.  Jesus is the winner in me.  The only way that I could have made it, is Jesus.  He gives me the strength to get up, wipe off my knees and “go again”.  I can only pray for the sluggard, it breaks my heart that he doesn’t get up.  What makes one “stay down” and another “get up”?  I see it happening, I don’t have the answers myself, but I know the One who does and His name is Jesus.  Jesus, I pray today for those that I see that are so discouraged and defeated that they can’t get up.  Allow me to be the one that brings Your water to them.  Give me opportunities to bring them to the Great Physician.  Let me share with others to be diligent and wait for the One that will renew their strength.  I praise You, Lord for continually reminding me that You are faithful.  I can trust You, I can be diligent because I know You are the answer to everything that happens in my life.  I love You, Lord Jesus.  Where could I go, what could I do, without depending on You?  There are no mountains too high, or valleys too low.  Today I am

Leaping on Hinds feet on High Places,

Mary Ann

TUESDAY, April 6, 2010

YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE (Charlie Hamilton)

Lord, I long to know Your purpose

To know my destiny with You

Here in Your presence in the fullness

Of the joy I’ve found in You

Jesus, You’re my heart’s desire

Only You can satisfy

Jesus, I’ll forever love You

You are the apple of my eye

You’re my hope and my desire

Every dream has now come true

Here in the loving arms of Jesus

Oh Abba Father, I love You

Good morning, Lord Jesus.  I lift up my eyes unto the hills where my help comes from.  You are Holy, even when the darkness surrounds my life.  I look outside right now and it is still dark.  I love to watch as the sun arises and the world seems to “wake up”.  Sometimes I go outside to get something out of the car or something like that in the dark and somehow I am more acutely aware of the dark.  It seems somehow “kinda scary”.  I pray under my breath as I walk in the “darkness”.  I sometimes think there might be something in the dark that I can’t see that might “get me” (so to speak). 

What is the purpose of darkness anyway?  The world was totally dark and You spoke, and “then there was light”.   The biggest purpose of night is rest and restoration as I see it.  In the natural order of nature, the way life was created to function, dark is the time to rest and restore the body.  That is a good thing.  In the physical world, there are creatures of night that are still moving around while we rest.  Of course you know that I am going to take this information and apply it to our Spiritual life.  God is the Lord of the light and the darkness.  He never sleeps or slumbers.  When we are in the dark times, He is awake and Lord over everything.  He gives us rest, He restores us.  We don’t have to be afraid of the creatures that stir in the dark.  He is our Hiding Place. 

I will trust in You, let the weak say I am strong in the strength of the Lord.  I am strong because He has caused me to rest.  He has watched over me as I sleep, nothing can harm me.  The creatures of the dark might rise up against me, but I can lay in peace knowing that My Father is everywhere all the time.  I can be assured that He is working in my behalf, I am the apple of His eye.  There is security in knowing that He dispels the darkness when it is time.  I can awake to a bright Son that rises in my life.  I will follow that light, I will listen.  Lord, I dedicate this day to You.  I will not hide from the light, I will run to it, for I know there is safety there.  It is easier to see the things that hide in the dark as the light exposing these things.  Today I am

Shining the light under my bed,

Mary Ann

MONDAY, April 5, 2010

YOU ARE (Ben Cantelon)

For every song, for every breath

For every good and perfect gift You give

For every night, for every day

For the glory of the earth, we will say

You are over everything

You are the eternal king

Jesus, You are the song we sing

You are, You are, You are

For Your Word, full of Grace

For the steadfast promises, You make

For the Cross, from Your Life

For the beauty of Your sacrifice

You will always be,

You will always be,

You will always be the Great I AM

You will always be, You will always be

You will always be, the Great I AM

Good morning, Lord Jesus.  You are over everything, You are the eternal King, You are the song we sing.  You will always be the Great I AM.  You are the Great I AM, even when I am the great, I ain’t.  Your character doesn’t change because of my actions.  This weekend was a whirlwind of activity without much discipline on my part.  I am sorry, today is the first and only day of the rest of my life.  There is no I was or I might be, but there is only I AM today.  Thank You for a fresh start.  I am forgiven, loved and accepted.  I can hear You call my name and let me know that I am not alone.  You have never left my side and You have seen me through the darkest night.  I worship You, I put myself and my actions at the Foot of the Cross, I rejoice that You have defeated the enemies of my soul.  Instead of death, You give me life.  Such Love is not understandable to a human being.  My mind says Crucify me, give me full justice for my behavior, Your Love says….”For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son…..for me this day, April 5, 2010.

I know that many of you guys know that I sell Real Estate.  There have many times that folks have sold or bought homes that were my friends.  Just speaking from my heart, those same people have used other realtors instead of me and sometimes it’s just hard for me to understand.  I know that we all have unique circumstances and I know that I am not the “only” realtor in this area….but I still have to deal with my thoughts and reactions.  I always go back to this:  I know that I make plans in my heart, but the Lord directs my path.  Do I really believe that?  Most of the times….but what about those other times?????  I have given my whole life to the Lord Jesus, I have to know that He directs my path.  He brings people into my life for various reasons.  He “allows” me to be with the ones that He chooses for me, in my career, in my social life, in all my interactions with everything I do.  He uses my business to rub iron against iron, He uses my business to Bless others and show those around me how a “Christian” is supposed to act (don’t really get a+ on that all the time).  He allows me to speak life where there is death. 

So then I can say, Lord, You have permission from me to put those people in my life that will help me grow.  You have permission to put those people in my life that need You.  I don’t want to choose what “seems” natural to me, I want to rejoice that You order my footsteps in my daily walk with you, be it work, play or whatever.  I love You and I am honored to be in Your employment.  Thank you that You accepted my resume.  It wasn’t and isn’t perfect, but You can look beyond the obvious and see the potential.  There are only 24 hours in this day.  24 hours to do Your will, to be around Your creation and show them how You love.  A real estate transaction is just that, a transaction, a source of income to my family.  The real purpose that You have for all of us is to go where You send us, Be with those You put in front of us.  You provide for all of our needs.  We can be confident that everywhere we put our feet, You are there.  Today I am

Punching In on the Timeclock,

Mary Ann

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2010 (GOOD FRIDAY)

CAN’T NO GRAVE HOLD MY BODY DOWN (Mike Farris)

It was early one mornin'
Just about the break of day
The angels came in glory
And rolled the stone, stone away
When the women came along
And they found the Savior was gone
Can't no grave
Hold my body down
Can't no grave
Hold my body down
Can't no grave
Hold my body down
When the first trumpet sounds
I'm gonna get up out of the ground
Can't no grave
Hold my body down
Listen up dear Gabriel
Stand on land and the sea
Don't you do nothing
Till you hear orders from me
Now the night is almost gone
And the day is comin on
Can't no grave
Hold my body down
Can't no grave
Hold my body down
Can't no grave
Hold my body down

“Look at these hands and my side.  They swallowed the grave on that night.  When I drank the world’s sins so that I could carry you in and give you life”.  Good morning, Lord Jesus.  This weekend is the most exciting time that we celebrate the greatest event that ever happened in a Christian’s life.  I am honored to be Your disciple, thank You for choosing me.  Rather, than no music as I experienced at the first of the week, I feel today as all music combined is soaring in my spirit.  My soul senses a freedom, a kinda like dancing mood.  Even with the circumstances of life are all around me, I just want to stand up and swirl around and around declaring the freedom that You have won at Calvary.  Thank you, thank you.

Don’t give up, don’t give in.  You are the child of the Risen Lord, the Conqueror of all evil.  THE CHAMPION!!!!  Just imagine your worst circumstance….Imagine Jesus taking that “thing” out of the hands of our enemy and throwing it to the furtherest point on the earth.  I don’t say this lightly, you know that I know what “things” are like, I know how hard they are, I know how much they hurt….This is a day to rejoice, rejoice that Jesus won.  I’m so excited, I could almost come out of my skin, rising up to Praise the Winner.  The Lord God Almighty, the Risen Lord.  No great insight, No great picture, just gratefulness to my Lord and realizing Who He really is.  He conquered hell, death and the grave.  He did that for us, how loved that makes me “feel”.  The enemy of my soul says we are defeated, we have failed, we can’t and won’t get up.  THAT’S JUST NOT TRUE!!!!!  The truth is we are hidden in Christ and He already got up and whipped the devil’s butt.

HALLELUJAH!!!  Can’t no grave (or threat of it) hold my body down.  Even when I die in the grave, ain’t no grave going to hold me down…I will rise and be with my Lord, forever.  What a promise, What a hope.  Even in all the excitement of the Risen Lord, I’m reminded of those without hope, those who don’t know our Risen Lord.  They’re lost without Him.  Father, give me someone today that I can talk to about You.  I ask whoever reads this journal to make it a necessity to talk to someone about our Risen Lord.  I ask that “the cares of this world” would not weigh us down so much that we forget those around us.  I ask You to give us eyes that see and ears that hear your heart.  Set us on fire and let others stand around and watch us burn with Your love.  I am

Looking for a match,

Mary Ann

Thursday, April 1, 2010

A THOUSAND MILES (Free Chapel)

I have walked a thousand miles with all my test and all my trials

And then You still love me for me

In the refuge of your wings, I can rest in You safely, O Lord, You cover me

Now I can finally see

It was your love changing me

It’s your mercy that draws me near

By your grace, I’m standing here

No matter the road I walk, it’s covered my wrongs,

I realize it’s true

There is none like You

I will run the race of life, pressing on toward Your prize

It’s You, my reward is You

I will live because You died and as You rose, I will rise in You, victoriously

Now I can finally see, it was You hand, yearning me

I can finally see how Your love has guided me

There’s one thing I’ve found to be true

There’s none like you

There’s none like you

There’s none like you, Jesus, oh Lord

There’s none like You, Jesus.  There’s none like You, Jesus.  I love You so much Lord.  You give me strength, You give me desire, You give me hope.  I have walked a thousand miles with all my tests and all my trials, and yet YOU STILL LOVE ME.  I would have already given up on me.  Such mercy, such patience, such long suffering.  How can You forget the things that I have done, the mistakes that I have made?  Mercy and Understanding.  You have covered my wrongs.  WOW!!!  Now I can finally see it was Your hand reaching out for me.  That nail-scarred Hand reached out for me and I accepted it.  What a wonderful decision, it changed my life and I will never forget it. 

Think of this.  In my mind I can see a person going into a cave.  The cave is deep and dark.  On the head of this person is a large light.  This light is the instrument that they use to see their way in this dark, deep cave.  As they begin walking, they can hear the sounds in the cave, possibly the sound of bats, rats, dark things that live in the cave.  But they can’t see them unless they turn in that direction and put the light on them.  As they expose them, the rodents  scurry away. and then that person turns their face straight again as they go toward the back of the cave, finishing the work that needs to be done in the cave.  If the light goes out, it is impossible to see the direction that they need to go in, the light keeps them walking in the right direction. 

“And then there was light”…..Jesus, You are the light of the world.  You go to those dark places in our lives and shine Your love where we can see.  Now I can finally see, it was Your love changing me.  As I point Your light in the direction of my sins, they are exposed and I am healed.  I rejoice in Your Light in my life.  I swirl around and around thankful for the light and love in my life.  It’s Your mercy, It’s Your desire for me.  You are the lover of my soul.  There is none like You.  I throw my head back and worship You.  I will put new batteries in my heart.  I will plug up to Your power source as I walk out my journey.  If the cave overwhelms me, I will go to the rock that is higher than me.  I will work in the cave and do what needs to be done with Your light and then I will walk out into the bright sunlight and enjoy all the things around me.  Today I am

Happy I don’t still have the purple potty,

Mary Ann