Almost Mary

Today is a good day to reflect on my name. A few years ago (more than a few) my family chose a name for me when I was born. My brother Michael Dennis wanted to name me after himself – Michelle Denise. Somehow that didn't happen. So since I was born in December (on today's date) the name Mary seemed like a good name with Christmas coming up and all. I was always glad they didn't choose Mary -- to me it doesn't fit my personality. I guess Marie is close enough.

When I think about it now, it would have been an honor to be named Mary. An angel visited the original Mary and told her that she not just favored but HIGHLY favored and blessed. He also told her of God's awesome purpose for her life – something that no one had ever done before and never will do again – give birth to the Son of Righteousness.

Look at this conversation between Mary and the angel.

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:34-35 NKJV

Where's My Theme Music?

I still pray, of course, even though I haven't written about it. Hope to get back to blogging consistently again, soon. Meanwhile . . .

The 90's sitcom Hanging With Mr. Cooper opened with Cooper asking, "What's up? Where's my theme music?" For the last several months I've decided that the song Thank You sung by Mary Mary is my theme song. I even sang it to my dad for his birthday in September . . . and I don't even sing. :-)

I have much to be thankful for. God has blessed me and mine so much. Within the last few weeks alone, He protected me in a car accident and brought my mom through surgery. All of that was in the same week – very unusual for our family. But I praise God for keeping us! Woo hoo!

My theme song:

Prayer Revolution: Not Without Your Presence

Let's not go anywhere or do anything without God's presence.

13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” 14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”   
15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”  17 So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:13-17 NKJV

Recently my pastor mentioned this scripture with a practical application. Moses prayed and told God that he didn't not want to go where God was sending them if the recognizable presence of God was not with them. So my pastor challenged the students. He said what is you don't get out of the car at school until you pray for God's presence to go with you? And to the adults: What if you say at work, Lord I can't go in there if Your presence is not with me?

Prayer Revolution: Bless the LORD

If you want to revolutionize your prayer life, which will in turn, revolutionize your world . . . bless the Lord!

Sometimes I am so focused on myself that I forget that my heavenly Father is God of everything. I forget that He has everything under control. So I have to do like David did in the Psalms, sometimes I have to talk to myself.

¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul;
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
 ² Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget not all His benefits:
 ³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases,
 ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
 ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5

Prayer Revolution: Forfeit Peace No More

On Friday, my friend sent me an email that said she woke herself up crying, singing this song . . . and she sent this link.

I think that waking up with that song on her lips was God speaking directly to her. She said this happened years ago when there was illness in the family. I asked why she was sharing it with me on this day. It just popped into her head. :-) I think God was using her to remind me. Look at the words of this song:

The Prayers -- Cool Song

I recently found that I really like this song. It's based on James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 KJV

And you can dance to it! Enjoy! 

Prayer Revolution -- A Cool Way to Pray

On Thursday, as I was driving, I was praying for someone. I prayed, "Lord, deliver him from anything that he wouldn't want anyone to know."

That must have been a Spirit-led prayer. I don't know of anything wrong in the life of the person for whom I was praying. I've never prayed like that before. But I thought, "How cool is that?" I thought about how I would love for someone to pray that for me. 

Probably most people have something in their lives that they don't want anyone to know. I sure do. I would hate for anyone to know how much I have been eating lately.  Like that's my only flaw. But we won't discuss that right now.

But what if we prayed for each others' flaws/sins? We don't have to know everything about a person. God knows. Honestly, I wouldn't want to know everything about most people. We just have to remember that none of us is perfect.

That evening I went to pray with my partners. One of them, Frank, shared this word that Holy Spirit had given him: