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