Boston is so pretty wrapped in a Blanket of Snow

I am so thrilled to be here and to see the snow fall today. It changed the ambience overnight! Now the back gas lanterns with the green wreaths and big red bows look so nostalgic...like England...after all this is called New England (Boston well Massachusetts, Main, Vermont, New Hamshire, and Conneticut) ... smile, I think I have them all. It is a pretty picture perfect setting, tomorrow I will try to post a photo. And one of the twins too, and their big sister! We are having so much fun with 1 yr old twins and a 3 yr old...the nights are long with babies waking up though! One soon forgets what sleep depervation is like...how these Mom's manage is beyond me. I can go home and catch up on my sleep!

Can you hear, or can 'your Spirit' hear when you are in a coma?

My brother Marty and I chatted on the phone a couple of days ago from his home where he is convalescing. Now I am convinced that while he was in hospital in a coma his Spirit was connecting with me and this is why;
 I was by his side for 4-5 days, he tells me he did not know I was there until his family told him so after he came out of the coma. At the time I had anointed him with oil, whispered in his ear, prayed intensely, sang to him ...and quoted scripture every day for hours (I could not take my Bible in because he had H1N1) I told him to "fight and to cry out to God". And he did. He now tells me that on at least three occasions while in the coma he called to me and said; "Maralee pray for me... pray as hard as you can". When we spoke the other day he said "thanks for doing what I told you to do"...big smile. I love him. What do you think ...was  his "Spirit Man" connecting with me? Beyond his intellect while in a coma? Is it possible that there is more to the Spirit realm that we can not see and do not understand?

Avalanche Area Do Not Stop (part two)

In our life there are times that are like driving through the Rockie Mountains on winter roads. Poor visibility and lurking danger. Intense times of uncertainty and questioning. At those times, when it seems too difficult to press on, when inwardly I am desperate and feel I do not have the fortitude to move forward and all I want to do is pause or perhaps quit. But the Lord has a road sign that reads ..."Avalanche area do not stop" I must press on. Sigh. I must trust that this directional sign is for my good. There is more danger if I stop... I must keep going no matter how slow the pace. And then, and then there is the euphoric rush when I have made it through the pass, gone further then I thought possible, and I am on the other side...thanking God!

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Avalache Area Do Not Stop

When i pulled out of Gplden the roads looked clear but in just 10 short min that all changed. The visibility dropped drastically and the snow blinded my wind shield. I sighed and clenched the wheel. I did not want to drive on these wintery roads and mt shoulders rose slightly and my back stiffened, I whispered a prayer and clung to the wheel of the car praying for safety. God has been good and now I am safely home and very,very blessed.

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He will Always be my Little Brother

Tonight I fell on my knees beside my bed to petition the Lord, once again on behalf of Marty. Being as I am a visual person...in my minds eye I could picture him lying in the hospital bed, the eight medication bags hanging from chrome hooks on tall stands  to my left, and the connecting tubes running to Marts jugular on the right side of his throat. His dark, wavy, silver threaded hair, drenched from the perspiration as he rested unconsciously against the bleached white pillows. His arms and shoulders propped up with towels his daughter rolled and tenderly tucked around him for comfort. His month gaped open with white adhesive strapped across three tubes, adhering them to his beard and upper lip, which was blistered with dried blood. The large tube wedged between his lips was the respirator and it had a vacuum cleaner like hose that billowed gently in and out with each life sustaining breath. Then there was the small one with the cream colored "liquid dinner' going straight to his stomach... and the third, the ugliest, was sucking the poison from his lungs and filling the clear glass bottles, tucked behind the humming and colorfully blinking machines, filling up with gross brownish blood-stained gunk from his lungs... I think.
It hurt as I prayed...then the transformation happened. I saw him as this delightful little boy, his eyes were dancing with life and mischief, he was smiling..and laughting I saw him as "my little brother" and I wanted to hold him, protect him and most of all I was over whelmed with a strong, powerful love for him. With those wonderful pictures I forged into the realm of supernatural prayer, I entered the courts of the Lord as a warrior, a big sister doing battle, relentless battle and so I continue...I had to get up and come into my office and type this, it is so real tonight. I feel a sense, like when I was there in his room, and now over 1000 miles away I pray...and the miles evaporate. The spirit know no distance no barriors...and I thank God for this miracle.

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He will Always be ...my Little Brother

Tonight I fell on my knees beside my bed to petition the Lord, once again on behalf of Marty. Being as I am a visual person...in my minds eye I could picture him lying in the hospital bed, the eight medication bags hanging from chrome hooks on tall stands  to my left, and the connecting tubes running to Marts jugular on the right side of his throat. His dark, wavy, silver threaded hair, drenched from the perspiration as he rested unconsciously against the bleached white pillows. His arms and shoulders propped up with towels his daughter rolled and tenderly tucked around him for comfort. His month gaped open with white adhesive strapped across three tubes, adhering them to his beard and upper lip, which was blistered with dried blood. The large tube wedged between his lips was the respirator and it had a vacuum cleaner like hose that billowed gently in and out with each life sustaining breath. Then there was the small one with the cream colored "liquid dinner' going straight to his stomach... and the third, the ugliest, was sucking the poison from his lungs and filling the clear glass bottles, tucked behind the humming and colorfully blinking machines, filling up with gross brownish blood-stained gunk from his lungs... I think.
It hurt as I prayed...then the transformation happened. I saw him as this delightful little boy, his eyes were dancing with life and mischief, he was smiling..and laughting I saw him as "my little brother" and I wanted to hold him, protect him and most of all I was over whelmed with a strong, powerful love for him. With those wonderful pictures I forged into the realm of supernatural prayer, I entered the courts of the Lord as a warrior, a big sister doing battle, relentless battle and so I continue...I had to get up and come into my office and type this, it is so real tonight. I feel a sense, like when I was there in his room, and now over 1000 miles away I pray...and the miles evaporate. The spirit know no distance no barriors...and I thank God for this miracle.

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Every day Crystal

This is a continuation of the Fine China...

I will use crystal glasses every day.

I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like.

I won't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to.

The words 'Someday...' and ' One Day...' are fading away from my dictionary.

If it's worth seeing, listening to or doing, I want to see, listen or do it... now!!

My niece Nikki sent this to me today (part of a much longer e mail) and I love it. Smile. In just a minute I am going to leave my computer to change into my Sunday clothes, put on my gold heirloom necklace from my mom, and splash on the exquisite perfume gift that I have been using sparingly, for special occasions. Sigh. Just thinking about it makes my heart skip. And then I will go and sip a glass of Mona Vie from my crystal goblet. Let this be a new beginning...that I would live each day as not just saying... "I am blessed and highly favored" but living it out. Big smile. I shall walk my talk. How about you? Any changes in sight?

Fine China..mine is Royal Albert Celebration

My friend Daryl told the story about a mother who used her fine china every day. His illustration included how one day that mother became a grandma and shared with her grand daughter why some of her china had chips and one plate in particular had been broken to pieces and the salvage was glued back together. It happened when the little girls mother was 7 years of age and was so excited because guests were coming to see her new baby brother, she dropped the plate! Together,mother and daughter, with painstaking effort, patch the plate like gluing a puzzle. The beauty in this scenario was that the mother never "lost her temper" but focused on the "journey of repairing it" and now with the precious memory of that journey, she held the treasured... fractured and mended plate and recited the story to her grand child. The morale of the story is that I will continue to use my 'inherited china', every day. But I still display it in the cabinet where Mom kept it locked up for years. I think she is applauding my transitioning her china...to my daily dishes.

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Head lines; Americans Come to Canada for Wedding Officated by a Dummie

It was such a great wedding, I was thinking it was going to be too much of a stretch for me...to do it with a vent figure and all...but it went VERY well. Christine, the bride, lost two husbands to cancer and she wanted a "light hearted" wedding ceremony. Both her and David, the groom, have a great sense of humor so I reluctantly agreed to comply with their wishes. And what a marvelous and extraordinary wedding it was ...and oh sooo much fun!
Butch and I stood in our tuxedo's (did you see a photo?) it was on the front page of the Vancouver Sun, Wednesday Sept 16, and that is what initiated the media stir... the Globe and Mail called as well as the New York times. It was on the news too (City TV, CBC and Global) I wore 3 mics so that every one could film it. Big smile. We will soon have it on youtube.
The wedding began with me extending a warm welcome to the guests (most had traveled from the States) and then prepare them for a "unique and joyful" wedding. Including a chat about how Jesus did his first miracle at a wedding and that wine represents "joy" and that Jesus was today looking down with great joy at the wedding of David and Christine...and perhaps he may even be laughing along with us.
 Then turning to Butch I inquired "I believe you were in charge of arranging the music?" Butch pulls out a card from his vest pocket and the brides maid (Laura Lynn Tyler Thompson, a comedian herself) opened it and held it to the mic, the card plays the wedding march and in came the bride on the arm of a friend...the ceremony continued. Butch banters a little and then when they say "I do" he says "I couldn't hear you" and he asks the groom repeats it louder, and then for the bride, because she had declined for 5 years to marry David, Butch had her say"I do" five times! It was priceless. In conclusion Butch had some interactive audience banter and then asked every one present to say "they do"!! People were shouting and laughing and it was great.
Next came the exchanging of the rings and the ring bearer, Butch, pulls out a ring, a gaudy 5" plastic diamond and announced that he took the ring the bride had entrusted to him to a local  Pawn shop and "exchanged" it for the "bigger rock". Little chuckles. Then after a struggle and search of his many pockets we find the right ring. Next comes a 'bright red flashing ring"...the grooms ring for the bride and again we have a few laughs and then Butch finds the authentic ring. The exchange was sweet and more serious but immediately followed by more kibitzing. Then the more serious vows, Butch read I Corinthians 13, the verses on love, and I prayed a very touching serious prayer. In closing I introduced the newly married couple and said "what God has joined together let no man divide". And the brides maid said "or dummy" There was also a light hearted response when I said "It gives me great pleasure to introduce Dr David Balsger and Dr Christine strong, husband and wife, under the autority of God, and the Province of British Columbia, Canada...Butch added "and the International Association of Marriage by Dummies". Concluding with hilarious laughter, whistles, cheers and lots and lots of bubbles. Big smile. It was quite the celebration!

Right Hand or Left Hand...Whats the Difference?

And God will lead you by his right hand ....and he will take your right hand. I remember reading that in scripture and after pondering it for a little while I recognized the significance, his right hand enfolding my right hand. Hmm, I am convinced that sometimes when he heads us he wants to do so looking in our eyes, you can read so much by gazing deep into someones eyes, into their very soul. In conclusion; leading in that style is an expression of  God's deep love, he leads while walking backwards. He is taking the most difficult steps, because he wants us to look into his face, and with our eyes fixed on his we feel the intimate connection the amazing security  and with His passionate love we can there fore confidently move forward and loose our carnal anxiety. A beautiful picture of a compassionate father and his favored child don't you think? Warm blessings, Maralee.

Let Them Tell Their Story

So many of my friends, and myself included, are writing their stories, or books. Psalm 107:2 says " Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story" TNIV
I was in Medicine Hat at Eagles nest ranch a few days ago and met a new friend, Katie, who shared with me her story. Prior to her sharing I looked across the camp fire and listened to her talk about "Papa Daddy" in reference to our Lord...and I was uncomfortable with her terminology.Perhaps even a little judgmental. Later that night, alone in my car, she shared her story...her son Joshua, 19 yrs old has been  missing for the past 12 weeks and I was stunned to tears. This strong, courageous prophetess continued to say... he went missing on a canoe trip with his dog on lake Huron in Ontario. The rescuers who are now saying it is not a rescue mission but a recovery mission, have found the dog (who died  shortly after being found) they had been missing a week at the point the search began... due to a fumbled alert  (someone alerted authorities that there was a canoe in distress but after a brief search they abandoned the mission for 6 days) they now have the canoe, but not the body of her son.
Katie had her phone on and was "on alert" each time it rang, longing for closure. She also shared how she went up to the cabin and crawled into Josh's sleeping bag, the last place he was, to get as close as she could.
Oh how I long to move into a place of intimacy with Jesus ...to move as close as I can to him. This morning I was up early and re reading one of Joshua's journal entries (Katie was so kind to give me a copy) His last line was a trigger  for me, calling for a response. " The door that requires the most sacrifce will take you to the highest level."
Lord give me the courage today to move to the highest level in you. I will tell my story...thank you "Papa Daddy", for bringing Katie into my life and for her courage ... hearing her story has challenged me.

Near Accident...

I arrived an hour ago in Calgary and leave for Denver in the morning, oops it is morning now...well later in the morn. The trip up here was long with many construction delays, a one hour delay for a serious accident near Crazy Creek and then just prior to Golden a big 18 wheeler that I was following had a load shift and lost a piece of lumber which splintered on the road and on my car...no injuries to me or the car...just left me "all shook up" after doing the dodge ball swerve to avoid all the flying wood!  I passed the trucker asap and then reported it to a Mountie (who happened to be doing a radar set up on the highway) right where I was. He radioed his colleague to catch up with the trucker in the next town. The concern was for the 10 foot concrete slabs that were standing up like tee pees top on top of the lumber... least they should shift and cause a serious accident!
I had a great visit with my grandma in Penticton yesterday on the way here. I took her out for dinner, did a little shopping (to replenish her "junk food stash"), then whet back to The Hamlet (where she lives now) and they had a little out door music concert with a accordion player. It was so precious to me, grandma and I sat under a little canopy/tent and they served us lemonade and chocolate chip cookies, which we made room for even thought we had just had a chocolate malt at Wendy's! Grandma reached over and took my hand clutching it in both of her hands and then she kissed my hand and smiled a large warm smile and said "thank you so much for coming and sitting with me, and for connecting me with my past." We both cried when I left. Sigh. Tell you more later. It is hard to believe that we too will move to that stage in our life. Sooner then we care to imagine. When grandma was moving from her wheelchair to the car (for the third time on our excursion) she was getting weaker and had a little difficulty, she moaned and then said 'when did this happen...I mean when did my body get like this? I don't really remember how my body quit working for me".

Big smile. Only one life will soon be past only whats done for Christ will last. We have the gift of today.

His eye is on the sparrow...and I know He is watching you

Hey friends when you look closely at the photo do you wonder what it could be?  It looks like a piece of art right? It is not art ..please read on.

 My two friends and I were standing chatting in the cool of the evening in front of our apartment when an unusual sight caught my eye. I brought their attention to the little bird hoping on the lawn in front of us with his head poking out from under, what appeared to be, a piece of news print or a flyer of some sort. I commented. "How is it possible that the little bird is carrying such a large piece of paper with its foot ...its strange that its not using its beak". We stood oberving as he continued to amuse us hopping ackwardly across the grass. "Well, said Hazel, "I've never seen anything like that!" Then Alice piped up "Maybe its tangled by some string or thing under the paper?"

 I quickly slipped up to the bird and cautiously crouched down as the ladies watched me. I was speaking in soft comforting tones, "Hey... little fellow... let me take a look"...he paused and I gently reached for the wee sparrow and discovered he was "glued" to a 4"X6" piece of cardboard! He cocked his little head and looked at me with pleading eyes. Cautiously I  tugged at the wing that was adhered and could see much of the "downy feathers" had been completly torn off his body and were stuck all over the card board, he must have been struggeling for a very long time.There were bits of twigs, flower petals, and plastic artifical grass stuck fast to the card too. On close examination I deducted that there was not choice I would have to tear out a couple of very strong feathers in order to free my liittle friend. Holding him gently tight, like getting a knot out of a toddlers hair, so as not to hurt the little one. I snapped the two feathers while cooing the words  "Your OK,  here let me help you" ...and he did let me help. With in seconds he took to the air, he was free!
The three of us were in awe; he had a wee struggle and a gimped flutter but he gracefully landed in a near by tree. We looked at the card board "trap" and wondered if any other animals, such as our little bunnies, get caught unintentionally  in these sticky haszardous cockroach things. Who would have thought they could be such a risk? How would any of God's creatures ever get unglued with out human help?

Since then, every morning, and in the cool of the evening, I hear one little bird who seems to sing a little sweeter ...perphaps a little shriller,  than the others. And some times a sparrow lands on my patio railing...I am pretty sure it must be the little fellow that I set free, sigh, he is just wanting to thank me. Smile.  Or is it his mother?

"And not one sparrow will fall to the ground without your Father knowing" Math 10:29

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My Little Balcony Garden

Is it possible to grow a garden on a balcony? Yes! Why not? The last few years I have limited myself to flowers but this year I planted peas (they are already 2" tall in just one week), dill, tomatoes, and strawberries! I have just picked my first strawberry, and my how sweet to eat the fruit of my own planting. When you think of it, what a miracle to grow things...I was watering dirt for several days, and now there are green sprouts everywhere. I believe in the miracle of a garden growing under the soil where I can not see it, and I believe in God when I can not see  him. I know he is there, he is here, right beside me and he is applauding as I enjoy the fruit, that ultimately He blessed me with. Big smile. In the beginning God created...

Commitment to Journal...

Kananaskis, Alberta is one of the most breath taking places I have ever been. After completing my first semester of classes there, for the CREST coarse I am taking, we were committed to journal. I was certain that I would "journal every day"..NOT happening. Sigh. In fact I wrote in my journal more before the course then I do now, go figure.
I left that amazing setting in the foothills rented a car and drove to Lethbridge where I began producing wrap a rounds (TV lingo for the threads that tie a show together) for the interviews which I had previously filmed in Thailand. Fortunately for me, Becky is my producer. She is both Thai and Canadian, and multi talented. We fought through pouring rain, cold winds, snow and hail. By the end of day two we had only managed to get one show in the can and called it quits, which gave us a total of 3 shows and we needed 10. We all knew it would take a miracle to complete them all, and that is exactly what happened. So today I 'blog' a thank you to all who were praying, and to the Lord for His faithfulness. Tomorrow I journal. Smile. How about you?.

Back to School...by Faith

What an adventure to step back into the class room ...I did so with fear, trepidation, and a great big dose of Faith.  It was three years ago when Dr Dan Reinhart first invited me to attend CREST Leadership training and I wanted to, but the timing was not right. My ministry board agreed that NOW was the time. So I registered and qualified for a 50% bursary and was stretched to believe for the rest of the finances. When classes started there was enough for the first semester. This is a two year commitment and I knew that each quarter I would need to trust God for the monies needed. Can you imagine my surprise, I don't know why I should be so "surprised", when God answered my prayers?! Yes it is a miracle! Upon returning from classes in Kananaskis Alberta, I received an e-mail that an anonymous donor had come forward and my tuition is now fully paid for the entire two years! I am so blessed... and reminded that our God is a miracle working God. Why not put your hand in His and take a step of faith today...all things are possible...only believe.

Wedding this weekend

I was at a wedding this week end it was quite an unusual experience. It was the first time I attended a Sikh wedding and my friend Kamal gave me a Sari to wear. Many times I closed my eyes and whispered a prayer for the couple to come to know the love of God in full intimacy with Jesus. As I approached the temple I was a little intimidated with the circle of men in black with red hankies wrapped around their heads. Not many wore turbans. Fortunately Kamal had her phone of vibrate and she came to rescue me and guide me in to the boys side (the grooms side) .I was in awe of the dazzling colors, extravagant silks with lots of bling, bling , bling! I starred at young man with a scarlet turban and decorations whom she informed me was the groom and the lady across, was beaming and highly decorated with jewels on her forehead and I took her tattooed hand in mine and thanked her for allowing me to share the celebration with her and continued babbling as I told her she was the first Sikh bride I had ever met! She let me know that she was not the "bride" just a sister in law to the groom and the wedding planner. Blush. Oh well, she really was gorgeous. The room smelled of warm curry and spices as we were ushered on up to the "great hall" where we would sit on the floor in our bare feet waiting for the long ceremony to begin. Children giggled and whined and ran wildly around the room, crossing from the boys side (where all the men sat) to the girls side (where we were) this proved to be a bit of a game with the parents caught in the middle (like Keep a Way)...or catch me if you can! Smile.
Other sights and sounds: arms with bracelets to the elbow, making tinkling sounds every where, sons leaning back sleeping on their proud fathers chests, girls dancing around the room with silk scarfs flowing, strangers and non Indian folk trying to keep the scarf on their head (including men) line up of people paying tribute, and filling a trough at the front with money and gifts. A Bible being fanned with a large white plume, and what seemed like an eerie sad sounding music from strange instruments and drums. Every one seemed so sad. The processional started at last, my back was starting to ache and their are only so may ways to sit with your legs under you until they cramp. We, the non Indian, were out of shape, they sat cross legged and seemed quite comfortable...even the grannies! The brides maids wore gold and green, the bride wore green, and wedding party was followed by large groups of people, family and friends I assume. They couple sat on the floor cross legged and got up and walked in a circle four different times. There was no 'now you may kiss the bride" but she was tenderly passed along by the male attendees from one to the other and to the groom, whom she followed obediently behind holding on to his coat tail, or so it looked. And he carried a red sack, apparently with a coconut in it so that if she wasn't pleasing him he could crack her on the head with it. Seems a little brutal however I am not sure if the person telling me that was kidding or not. I was naive enough to believe it, but now as I think about it no doubt it was probably jewels or money??
The evening celebration and the dinner following the wedding and the other 3 days of celebrating are for another blog! Pictures to follow.#end

Friends and Frogs

My faithful friend who watches our series Maralee Dawn and Friends sent me this e mail today.

How do you rely on God for your every need of life that may come your way of living in today world?  In  my 2 & years  with my  type of  Cancer  Melanoma ''SKIN CANCER'' I have rely on God to help me get through this hard time  of my life and  I trust in God  every day of my life.

In my room I have this stuffed frog and a frog blanket on my bed to comfort me in the rough times. When I go to the hospital for treatments I take my frog and my blanket in my suitcase with me.

Thank you Lord of this reminder today that I have so much to praise you for and teach me to learn to Fully Relay on you...and that takes a big leap, like a frog. Smile. Thank you for the gift of today. My heart is full and I am so blessed. I am learning to rely on you. Forgive me for my petty complaints and forgive me for my trespasses as I learn to forgive others who trespass against me...or whom I feel have moved into a place and challenge what I feel are my "rights". I surrender my "rights to you Jesus". I am a servant of all. Please teach me to see others through your eyes and to serve as you did when you walked among us. Amen. And Lord bless my dear friends, our viewers who are tuned in to our show. Bless them with courage, and love on them please Jesus. Like this letter has blessed me.

It is so Funny I have to LOL!!

OK so I just finished blogging and then realized that last week I already shared that story ! Yikes it must be that menopause thing everyone is talking about! How can it be? I thought I would skip it!
When I was much younger everyone was talking about preparing to go through menopause so I asked my mother in law about it and she said she was busy on the farm planting big gardens (for survival) raising seven children, haying, plucking chickens, canning etc etc. She told me she didn't have time to menopause, in fact their were no pauses in her life, summer, winter spring or fall.  So I determined way back then that I would skip it too, I just don't have time for the "pauses in my life".
Well today I guess I need to pause, reflect and well...perhaps take time for listening prayer. Big blush, big smile.

My Wonderful Family...sigh and a big smile too!

When children choose to focus on the positive things in their family what a  joy it is and how it blesses the hearts of their parents! I recently received this heart warming e-mail from one of my regular viewers of our Maralee Dawn and Friends TV series, I was so delighted I asked permission to share it with you...be blessed!
I cut and pasted it just as it was sent except for the few words that I placed in brackets.
Dear Maralee
I want to tell you about my wonderful family.
Who has been a great part of my life growing up?
I have a wonderful father,mother,brother David and my wonderful sister-in-law, my 3 nieces, one nephew, who has encouraged me to be a great listener,and to tell them about my life,and about Jesus who cares for us. My family is wonderful to be around, they are very understanding,and very helpful to be there for me through my trials of impatience of going down to M D Anderson (for chemo treatments). My family is the best of the best,they are so caring and so understanding to help me get through my rough times of my life.
The reason why my family is great because they know how to love you no matter what happens they can help you to relax and be patient about your situations of your life.
I am so thankful for my family a loving family.
 

                           

A Grateful heart? or a Great full heart ?

Tonight I am so full of the joy that comes from having family, the Kingdom family, which can be just like 'blood relatives', or even greater! I feel so blessed to read this letter from one of my viewers who is battling with cancer, her letters always in spire me, and leave me with a "great full" heart. Big smile. It will bless you too...read on (printed with permission).
I want to tell you about my wonderful family.
Who has been a great part of my life growing up?
I have a wonderful father,mother,brother David and my wonderful sister-in-law, my 3 nieces, one nephew, who has encouraged me to be a great listener,and to tell them about my life,and about Jesus who cares for us. My family is wonderful to be around, they are very understanding,and very helpful to be there for me through my trials of impatience of going down to M D Anderson for cancer treatment. My family is the best of the best,they are so caring and so understanding to help me get through my rough times of my life.
The reason why my family is great because they know how to love you no matter what happens they can help you to relax and be patient about your situations of your life.
I am so thankful for my family a loving family.

With Mothers Day coming we can take time to write a note to say how 'great full" we are. And whisper a prayer for that matter too!

Our newest child

 I love to hold and smell new born babies, they come with a promise and with God's blessing. Here is the newest member of our family, Jaxon Coomber. When we look in his eyes we see his his trust and dependency, love and hope, we see a future of great things to come. Big smile. When we look into the eyes of Jesus with trust and dependency we find hope and a future too! A wonderful positive furture filled with promises.

Emily took me to Hanna Montana

I went to a movie tonight with my little friend Emily, age 9, she chose Hanna Montana. The movie was cute but at times a little juvenile. I would glance around at the children laughing hysterically and I would paste on a smile. Bu at the of the show when Hanna sang these words...

There's always going to be another mountain

I'm always going to want to make it move...

Ain't about how fast I get there,

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's about the climb"

....I wiped a tear from the corner of my misty eyes. I was reminded of the mountains in my life, such as the time I had 20% of my body in second and third degree burns and my feet were deeply scared...the promise I clung to and then and the verse I embraced was... " How lovely on the mountain are the feet of them who bring good news." I had assimilated this scripture into my life while I was healing and preparing to go back into evangelism. I was in a rush back then too, to heal and to take the good news to the Nations!

Now here I am in transition, years later, and once again anxious to "get to the other side", to "make the mountain move" and "in a big hurry". Who would have thought the Lord would use a childrens' movie tonight to remind me...its all about the climb? Sigh. I am so blessed. And so are all the children at the theater, oh how wonderful to learn these lessons early in life. Excuse me I need to go down load that song on my ipod

April Fools Day

Well I missed it, April fools had come and gone and an entire morning of opportunity to laugh and have fun! I simply forgot. And no one called me either! I can't believe not one of my family of friends pulled one on me. This is the first time in all my life, that I can recall, not having fun on April Fools day! Sigh.
Hmm the only thing that I can think of is that famous missionary Jim Elliot, who said "He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can never loose". So there... at least I blogged something with the word fool in it! Big smile. Now I can go to bed and sleep in peace. Hope you had a happy April Fools Day!

A Year ago Today?

My devotional last night asked, "what were you doing a year ago"?  I grabbed my 08 journal and surprise! I was in Dallas, Texas with my friends Suellen and Jimy. And Erin and her dad Mark came over to 'convert me', smile, from a PC to a Mac! Such a clelbration! And I discovered change does not come easy... it has been a process and all year I have been learning the Mac precept on precept. Hmm. It is so like our faith journey. And the verse a year ago? "Consider the lilies...how they grow" Math 6:28. Yesterday on my walk, I paused to look at the spring flowers pushing their way through the stubborn sod and I thought about the beauty in that. The crocus, tulip and lilies all come out looking elegant, tender colors splash across the barren soil, yet none of the soil clings to the flower. Perhaps refreshing spring showers cleanse them? Like the showers of kindness from my friends in Texas, refreshing and encouraging. The Easter lily and its sweet perfume will soon permiate  my home, as I prepare for the celebration of the reserrection of my Lord. I will find a friend to share Easter with, my hopitiality or kindness my be the "shower" they need to refresh their soul. What do you think?

Playing and Praying

While I was working out at the gym I read a poster that said "You don't stop Playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing". I had a grin from ear to ear. But it also spurred on another thought in my heart, " You don't stop praying because you grow weary, you grow weary because you stop praying"!! Now that's a revelation.
Take time to chat with God to day, He is listening, and He, most likely, is in your waiting room. Smile.

Reccess...and much more

I was at curves today working out and I read a sign that said something like t his "Recess has always been good for you" and another one that I really liked is "Laughing burns calories, now how funny is that?"
i pray that you will have some "funny" in your day today. And remember money can't buy funny! Happiness comes not from the cash we have, or the possessions, not even from close friends and family (because even they can abandon you) but tru happiness, the deep down in side kind, comes from knowing Jesus. And he is a true friend who will always be there for you and He is family. For me He is the father I never had, he is my brother, my closest friend and my God! Big smile. And He laughs at me...a lot!

Getting Tired? Here is some Food for Thought

Is it because I pray that I grow so weary"
Or I grow so weary because I don't pray?
Is 40:31 "Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings as Eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint".
Blessings!!
Maralee


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Maralee Dawn Ministries
maraleedawn@gmail.com
Toll Free 1-866-930-1333
Ph. (604) 930-1333

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Back from Trail and Salmo, British Columbia

Hi I just arrived home tonight from the airport, I flew in from Trail today. It was a lovely day for a flight and so beautiful to see the sights from the sky, just a small plane so we flew low through the mountains, valleys and over the city..and it was fantastic!
I had so many surprises this week end. On Friday I was surprised the little Trail church had grown so much since I was there  over 20 years ago and that they had a bus ministry for kids! I was blessed as we drove to Salmo and I found that my friend Milan was visiting, she is married now and has a baby! And her parents are the pastors there! The another surprise was on Saturday back in Trail, I met a lady whose friends name is Maralee, same spelling, and she was named after me!(I never knew there was anyone ever named after me)! I was told that her mother was blessed by my ministry way back about 25 years ago and she named her only child after me! What an honor. However the sad note was that when Maralee was only 10yrs old her mother took ill and was unable to "mother" her. Then about 2 year ago Maralee's mom died of a brain tumor or brain cancer (so did my Mom)! My name sake now lives in Saskatchewan and I hope to connect with her one day, perhaps God will use me in her life. This story will be continued!
The other surprise was that Pastor Shane McIntyre (from the Trail church) took my Thailand photos and put them to music! I have been so blessed this week end, I can't remember when I have had more surprises, more fun, met more friends, old and new, and been more blessed by the sovereign move of God. It has been a beautiful, supernatural week-end... as I have let my light shine, so that they might see your good works (Jesus) and Glorify your Fathers which is in heaven! Big smile. And the light shone back on me.

Back from Trail and Salmo BC

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Maralee Dawn Ministries
maraleedawn@gmail.com
Toll Free 1-866-930-1333
Ph. (604) 930-1333

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Make your Messenger window look the way you want. Express Yourself!

I am doing well after the Thai trip. but what an emotional turmoil! I had no idea of the volcanic anger that would spew up inside of me, sigh, when I saw, with my own eyes, pathetic men praying on little girls and the young women in Pattaya. I am told is is a two billion dollar a year buisness; the sex trade and human trafficking! Preying on the poor and the weak!
 I had to visit my own "Shack" (have you read the best seller this year, The Shack by William P. Young?). I met God at "the Shack" (we all have one, a place of pure anguish and entitled pain where God tenderly confronts us with... forgiveness) and believe you me ...God and I spent a long time together in my shack! The good news is that I did come away, after bloody tears of anguish and outrageous anger, with the precious gift of peace and forgiveness. Embracing this truth, "they are His children"...too.

The strange thing is, that I knew of the atrocities I would encounter prior to leaving on my Thailand mission,but still I  was blinded sided and surprised  by the emotional investment that I would need to deposit when engaging with the people. It was a transition that I did not anticipate. Confronting  evil was the most exhausting part of the trip...in every sense. Including the agony in my soul as I observed people groveling before the stone idols and statues.
How blessed I was to use every opportunity to lift of Jesus and share the good news!
In Thailand, in the deception and in the darkest night, I was able to shine my tiny candle, and there was light. And where there is light there is truth, and the truth sets people free! Big smile. And leaves them with 'hope'.
"Nations will come to your light...to the brightness of your 'dawn' " Is 60:3 TNIV

I had a Dream

I woke up with a dream about the children in the refugee camps that I visited. Little snap shots in my mind. Oh how I wish I could have "printed them" and given them to the kids and their parents. I never want to forget the gentle eyes, the little crooked grins that broke into rapturous laughter. Oh yes...and the one Mom whose child received Suzi's shoes, small enough for a puppet but a perfect fit for a toddler! How quickly the snap shots have faded in just two weeks as I jet through my days. I am delighted to have a disk full of photos...and yet the refugees have only their memory. Sigh. I am blessed. I am comforted to know that I used visual puppets and scripture to verbally paint a photo of heaven for them, so that they could understand and embrace God's love. This photo memory that I left behind will never fad.
However, next missions trip I will leave photos with the children... and the mom's, sigh, so they can remember what their baby looked like, they will cherish the record too. It such a blessing to look back and see how we change... how we grow. As new born babies desire the milk of the word that you may grow...its God's plan. That is why we celebrate growth! And babies, and birthdays...

Where do you hurt?

Oswald Chambers seems to believe that at point of our greatest pain is where we will find truth. So then, I must ask myself, where do I hurt? Then I must embrace the pain and move forward, by the grace of God.To rest in Him and in Him alone. He is enough. More than enough.And the truth will set you free! Freedom tastes so sweet.Having recently returned from visiting the refugee camps in Thailand it is so much more palatable to me.I am so blessed...and so grateful.

Will the lost return?

I lost my precious TNIV Bible at Missions Fest, it has treasures in it... like my grandma's handkerchief.
 So I went back and re traced all my foot steps including every washroom ...anywhere I had been, but alas I did not find it.
However in the process I met a gentleman who told me not to worry my Bible will be returned. He was certain because his lost Bible always came back and then he relayed this story; When he was a boy his mother made him write in the front of his Bible " I am 7 years old and I loose things, please mail this back to me". He could not recount how many countless times he found his Bible in his mail box!
That got me to thinking, what if I made labels to put on everything I own that read " I am menopausal and I loose things so could you please mail this back to me" What do you think? Big smile. And blessings!

Can you spare some change?

I was down town Edmonton leaving Missions Fest and carefully walking the icy streets when I noticed a man rummaging in the garbage. I scurried past but felt prompted to go back and give him $5 with the warm reassurance that "God love you". He looked up misty eyed and stammered out a "thank you". I responded with "don't thank me thank Jesus... I have never done this before and I know Jesus prompted me to tell you how much He loves you."
The frail elderly man then said "can you thank him for me?" And I responded "we can do it together right now" then gently I place my hand on his arm as we prayed together out loud..a prayer of thanks, repentence and consecration. I'm thinking of him tonight, -27 snowing and icy cold winds. I pray he makes it through the night but if he doesn't I feel confident that he is in a very warm place...with Jesus.

Home Sweet ...but Aimee and Lucille stayed on... for a few days of R&R. Hooray for them!

Its good to be back in Canada on safe soil...and a beautiful place of freedom and opportunity! From all my life changing experiences my heart is torn and full of tears, I have no words... yet. It is all ...indescribable. And yet I wonder " Why Lord, why did you show me these things?" and "What Lord am I to do next"? I am confident there is a purpose that he will reveal to me. I am reminded of the logo for Compassion Canada..I think thats where I heard this so many years ago:
 
Pity weeps and she walks away
Compassion comes to hep and stay

I must sleep now and ponder and process so many things ...later...good night my friend. This e-mail is ...the last 'sparkle' in my day! I know you will read it and you will pray. Smile. Soon I will attach some amazing photos! Check back.

FW: Terry is a Mother of 20 chidren, and 16 still at Home!!

Oops I made a mistake...I received an e-mail from the children at the home, who have adopted Terry, our Canadian friend and their new Mom, and I made a big mistake, I said there were 13 children and there are 20 in all! Big smile. Tonight they made us cookies and we had such a wonderful visit, they loved Butch and he loved them too. Here are some photo's. Butch gave them a DVD sent from Canadian friends who purchased and donated them. Enjoy! And please pray for these sweet new friends.

The God made family...

Wow... how awesome to meet Terry and Terry, two wonderful mothers (sister in laws) from Canada who are living in Thailand. Terry #1 and her husband Al Purvis have raised 33 children! Many of them I have met and it give me chills to see how God rescued these precious little ones and answered their hearts cry and prayer for a "forever family". We went to the market tonight after church and Terry shared more of her story ...it touched my heart.
 Terry #2 has 13 children... and I met nine of them yesterday, and oh how they loved the puppets! They were teaching Butch to speak Thai and he was teaching them English. LOL Then afterwards the students made balloon sculptures for them...we brought the balloons from Canada and I taught them how to make the only three that I knew how to make; a sword, a dog and a crown, Smile. Here is a photo...enjoy! Please remember them in your prayers. Thank you.

Thank you thank you to each of you who have been praying for me.! I arrived safely.
I have had a long journey, but a lovely flight (and they fed us every couple hours!) and we had prefect connections. Aimee and Lucille got seats together all the way (that was amazing as they booked them less than a week before departing and they only had single seats left at the time of booking).
Our rooms are comfortable and the College has air conditioning! See photos at www.victoryasia.com It is so hot here...smile and humid. We arrive at 2:30 am and slept for  a few hours and were up at 6:30 am for chapel at 8 ...and then I was teaching until noon. There was an outreach tonight but we were too tired to go. I am going to bed now.

I love the students already! The are so keen to learn and can you ...some of these "future Pastors and leaders" admitted to day that they did not want to take my class and had no or very little interest in children's ministry. I apprciated their honesty. The good news is that by the end of the day I had won their favor and supernaturally they changed their minds! And they were quick to tell me so. This was the greatest gift to me today. Big smile. Love to you all will write again when I can.

Does God Sing to me?

This morning as I prepared my heart and Spirit to go on "the air" (a live radio broadcast over the phone on air from Edmonton , Alberta, Canada, The Morning Show AM 930) it seemed the Lord lead me to Psm 107 these are the verses that jumped out for me...Verse 2 "Tell our story", 8 Thanks giving, 14 Brought out of darkness, 15 UNFAILING Love!!, 20 Word healed them, 21 Unfailing LOVE, 27 "At their wits end..!", 28 Cried to Lord in their troubles, 29 Stilled the storm to a whisper (smile I love that 'word picture') and "hushed the waves" (can you see it? I see  a mother singing to her baby ..hush little baby don't you cry, mommy's going to sing you a lullaby ...). God sings to us, yes he does its in the word somewhere (I forget where) but I read it, and I know its true! So why not welcome your heavenly Father, you Abba Father (and if you are comfortable with these words "your daddy") to sing to you. Smile, I know that He longs to, what parent doesn't? Your His child. Maybe you could do a duet? We sing "to" him why not with Him? Sigh. I love him, and you, big smile.

Leaving Soon for Thailand

I am counting the sleeps, just five more days and I will be in Thailand!
I am busy doing last minute preparations and packing...I am very excited about going, this has been over two years of planning, praying and preparing and now it is culminating so quickly! I trust I will be a blessing. I am long to meet the wonderful, warm and loving new Thai friends that I have heard about, and that God has chosen.
This morning at 6:30 am several (6) 0f us prayed, Karen in the USA and 5 of us on a conference call, the Holy Spirit moved powerfully. I sense some thing supernatural is going to happen, I feel it in my bones. Something that has God's signature on it. I am going with great  anticipation! There has already been a series of miracles on many levels to make this missions trip possible ie like with one weeks notice Lucille and Aimee are coming with me! And the finances are all falling in place, and Hilde and Miriam helping with lessons and power point and Barb getting the finances and year end done and much more..
I am so blessed to be,
Walking with my King one day at a time and...
to think that 'He" calls me "friend"? Smile. Yes I am blessed!

My Prayer for you...From My Friend Laura Lynn

Wow what a prayer, thank you Laura Lynn for writing this and praying it for me! And for our permission to pass it along and pray it for all my friends...dear friends this is for you!

I pray for divine connections, favor so great it astounds and ironic honor to take its rightful place in our lives.  I pray that mistakes of the past become so distant that we wonder if they ever really happened and the successes of our future will be so awe inspiring...it will be difficult to comprehend or believe it's true.  I pray for clarity, good judgment, wisdom and Godly power, strength to endure and an open heart to receive more than we asked for...more than we imagined could be.  I pray that the God who saw us in the darkness of our weakness would raise us in His strength to higher places, larger lands, indomitable territories and unpredicted conquests.

 

May God raise your expectations to what He is truly capable of and may you experience the most unrelenting, overwhelming breeze of His unfailing, unconditional, incomprehensible love.  And may you truly know that He sees you and is captured by your brilliance as you shine with magnificent beauty, not only before Him, but also before those whom you serve so graciously.  I pray that you receive glimpses in shadowed moments of how He really feels about you...but only in small humanly bearable portions...cause if we truly knew...if we could experience the whole of it...would we be able to stand?

And this is all possible because of Heb 13:8..."Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!" Be blessed and pass it along!

Happy New Year 2009

A New year has arrived, and I celebrate, for God has given me more time to win the lost and rescue the dying. I am more passionate to "preach the Gospel" than ever before. It is all I live for, to please my Jesus, one day at a time. And my but the days fly by quickly, there is so much work to do for the King and to advance His Kingdom! What a joy to be a servant of the most high God.
I know you have heard me say this before, but I must say it again, "I am greatly  blessed, highly favored and deeply loved, and to this statement I am adding one more thing..."I am choosing joy in my journey". Smile.
The other day I was reading the book of James (very short, only five chapters) but dear friends can you believe this... all of the above statement is included in that one book, James? Please read it I am sure there are other promises in James just for YOU. I highlight or underline & date he ones that He gives me.
James 1;12 "Blessed"
James 2:5 "Loved" ..because I am chosen" and of coarse His LOVE is confirmed in John 3:16
James 4:6 "Favored...God shows favor to the humble and the oppressed"
James 1:2 "Joy"
  a special thank you for each one of you who have covered me with your on going prayers and your encouragement in practical ways, words of affirmation,gifts, e-mails cards, financial support and time,;a very valuable commodity these days! Each of these practical gifts being equal in our God given love language.
This year I pledge to be more of a Jude 20 women! My prayer is that you too will embrace Jude 20 as your personal challenge too. As we continue to walk hand in hand with the King. Smile.
With Love and pausing to pray for you all who read this blog.Maralee