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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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.