The Pope Has Ruled: Women are not Subordinate

For the first time in the history of CBE (Christians for Biblical Equality) held their conference in Canada, in Toronto, Ontario. I was privileged to be there and I helped man a booth for Dr Catherine Kroeger , the founder and past president of CBE, and now the founder and president of PASCH (Peace and safety in the Christian Home) I helped take care of the PACSH booth.
One of the highlights for me at CBE was attending Dr Kevin Giles lecture on "The Pope Has Ruled..." According to Dr Giles, for two thousand years the Catholic church has preached that women were in second place, based on the fact they were created second. But now apparently that is "forever changed". According to Dr Giles the Pope has recently made a statement which affirms the full equality and dignity of women. The Pope took a stand for "mutual submission". Dr Giles continued with important facts and transitions, not just in the Catholic community but many other Christian communities as well. He elaborated on the verse in Genesis that says "man needs a help meet:" often misquoted as a "help mate". The Hebrew word for "help meet" is not "second Mate" like in a ship command with a hierarchal system but rather a help "meet" is saying "man needs a helper like himself". That would be an equal partner. Smile. I like that. It make me think of something... did you ever consider the fact that "dog is mans best friend", but he can never be his "help meet", his equal partner. So God created women. Knowing that He created both man and women in his. God's plan is that both man and women would have unique giftings so that when they come together with equality and mutual submission in so doing they create something far greater then either have alone. I think we are finally getting it. And the church is finally getting it, sigh, and I am finally getting it! That must make God smile.

God has a Dream for Your Life

Last year on this day I was in Boston at a Women of Faith conference and that was the title...God has a Dream...and I had a dream for my life too! Smile. I went home from the conference and open my devotional My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers and my idea and lessons from the conference were crushed and the chaff was blown away and this is what all that remained...pieces of what Mr Chambers had to say...and I quote:

"We must never put our dreams of success as God's purpose for us. His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; but He is not....What we call the process God calls the end. His purpose is that I depend on Him and His power NOW. God is not working towards a particular finish; His end is the process...It is the process not the end that is glorifying to God. God's end is for me to see that He can walk on the chaos of life right now...we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present: if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.
Be blessed and splash it on to others, like a sweet perfume. Maralee

Time passes too swiftly

I have been so blessed by so many precious friends these last few weeks but also very busy. I made a new friend Nita, and she is so like me. It's like looking in a mirror! And we both love popcorn!

Did you know the Bible states that God himself picks are friends and neighbours? Today I pause to thank Him.

Friends and family are the richest blessing (gifts) we have or will ever have. I feel very rich and very, very blessed! How about you?

Maralee#end

Holy Land Experience more than I expected

It was indiscernible and absolutely astonishing to be at the Holy Land here in Orlando! Please check it our www.holylandexperience.com Not many can afford to take their children and or grandkids to the Holy land so this is the next best thing, It can be a life changing experience and it definitely brings the Bible to life! The actors and singers are superb and as you walk through the replica of Solomon's temple and sit by the reflecting pool the drama unfolds around you. It wasn't long before I too was greeting everyone with "Shalom"! I can't count the number of times I was moved to tears and celebrated the joy of my journey with Jesus as well as the Freedom we have in the Nations (Canada and America) in which we live. Many come to Orlando for Disney World but this experience is far greater and can leave an indelible imprint in the heart and soul of a child...of anyone for that matter! I can't wait to come back, it was impossible to take in everything in one day.

The Morning After...

Hi Everyone!
Here I am in my hotel room in Orlando, Florida the morning after...the International Christian Visual Media awards banquet. When I got to my room it was late and I was too tired to blog but now the l Lord and I are beginning our day and I am refreshed after a good nights rest! How blessed I was, and very grateful to receive recognition last night at on behalf of our team and all the hard work everyone did! We received the bronze award in both categories; Best Children's series for Maralee Dawn and Friends and Best Children's show for the show 'Hero's, a Cape and a big Fight', which is one of our new High definition shows in Maralee Dawn and Friends series. We are so blessed! I hope to blog some photo's very soon.

Today I will be going to the Holy Land Experience, www.theholylandexperience.com, owned by TBN our largest Christian broadcaster). They will be giving me a VIP tour and have invited me to perform there possibly some time in the future. This is a little Israel built close to Disney World and I am looking forward to being there. And then tomorrow I will fly home.
Thank you for your prayers I have been so blessed and so rested in my spirit.
Be blessed and pass it on...

ICVM (International Christian Visual Media) 2008

This is an amazing conference!! Today one of the key note speakers was Jim Green, the man who was commissioned by Dr Bill Bright of Campus Crusade to produce the Jesus film 30 years ago. Then a few years ago the Children's version, and now most recently the "Women's" version called 'Magdalene' which is the newest and is about Jesus love and affirmation of women! We saw a preview and it was very, very moving, it covers topics such as forgiveness and shame issues. Jim gave me a copy of the trailer I hope to share it next week in Toronto at the Christians for Biblical Equality conference which I will be attending.
Here are some other hi-lights:
Campus has a website called shorts.com and they are looking for ideas for short films to engage this generation that can be loaded on an ipod and will motivate people to ask questions and engaged in dialogue re the good news. They will pay $120 for an idea and $1,200 for a full script. They must be only 5-7 minutes in length. So check it out! ASAP
-Jesus was a master story teller. in every society story is the way we pass things on, ie grandpa with grandchild on his knee.
-Visual literacy is excel-orating. "Preach and print the gospel is something of the past but now we need to 'portray' the gospel". We need to use more visual to reach this generation then any previous generation.
- Harvard study said that 85% of US high school graduates said they never wanted to read a book again after graduation. And 45% of College students responded the same!! (they prefer the internet).
-Barna research talks about the power of the visual and this 'visually literate generation' and that his research shows that they are influenced mostly by; TV, film,internet, and music. And apparently he states they are least influenced by; parents, church and school (now thats a paradigm shift)!!
-this is a global media driven generation
-53%of the world is made up of youth
-young people watch an average of 120 films a year
-this generation derives their moral and spiritual moorings from the films they see
-Jesus knew all about the internet and film and that visuals engage the brain
-We need to think strategically and be intentional in reaching this visually engaged generation who are primarily oral learners
-Not one person trying to reach everyone but everyone trying to reach someone!
-Its always too soon to quit. (sigh, see I told you so, smile, and I told me so too) in fact it was just the other day I struggled with that.

Well dear friends that is it for tonight. I am blessed and encouraged...hope you are too. Yes I have an agenda, not to build up myself, or Maralee Dawn Ministries (which God has entrusted to me) but to be building the Kingdom, that is my agenda. And working together... I need you. Please pray 'for' me, and pray 'with' me as I seek God's mind for the task that lies ahead. I am ready to do my part in building the Kingdom and am standing on Is 40:31.

Today is day 7 of my 21 day Daniel fast. I believe God is preparing me for my next assignment. There is no more exciting life then this walk of faith, so glad you are waling with me dear friends. And with our hand in His I have ever confidence that we will finish the coarse! And may we bring many along with us., this is my prayer.

How many oranges does it take to make a 6 oz glass of juice?

What a privilege to be here in Orlando, Florida, land of sunshine and fresh orange juice! I love the juice here, I have no idea how many oranges they squeeze to make one full glass of juice but I did enjoy three fresh cool glasses of juice. It was a good thing for the first 20 min and then...well too much of a good thing is just too much. Smile. I will be careful the rest of the week! Do you think I drank a full bag of oranges? Perhaps 12?
My friend Janet Brann arrived today from South Africa and what a great blessing she is to me. We are sharing a room at the International Plaza Resort and Spa. Please pray for divine appointments for both of us.

Have You Been Robbed?

This was the question asked at the dominion conference by one of the guest speakers. He went on to askif the enemy has robbed us in any of the areas ie finances, family,children,grandchildren...or perhaps our joy or faith?
I identified several areas where I could see the enemy at work over the years that I have been walking out my faith. His attacks have been relentless, however I am grateful for the weapons God has entrusted me with. The one I use least...prayer is the most powerful. I am commiting to move forward in that arena. Starting today I will begin a 21 day sugar fast as well. Want to join me? I have done it before for 40 days and it is extreamly challenging the first 3 days and then you adjust and its very cleansing and healthy. Smile. Yes it means no sugar substitutes either (like diet drinks)!

---