Plan B

Have you ever been so excited that all your plans were successfully underway and you are positioned for the next task? This Saturday I was enjoying my morning cup of coffee and realizing I better do a load of wash. Plans were underway to get myself packed and organized. The morning is a peaceful place to plan for the day. I was going to spend some time celebrating the goodness of the LORD as I washed the first load.

I headed to the sunlit patio, bible in hand expectant to see and hear more clearly what else was necessary for the KINGS project. I so wanted to spend time waiting to hear if I had missed anything. Anxious thoughts vanish when GRACE comes in. That is why it is so important to know who is the giver of ALL GRACE. I love to start my day ASKing HIM big. He never fails to give us just enough GRACE for the task at hand.

Shock went thru me, not grace or peace, as I stepped from the kitchen into the family room. There was water running into the room. My emotions were in a flood and so was my floor. So much for the serene quite time. It was the mad dash for the mop and dial to stop the machine. There is more to this machine; it is washing me clean. Patience is still working herself out and JOY is spilling over. It is begining to FLOOD.

I reached for my phone to try and call the gentleman I recently purchased the machine from on Craig's list. I was sure I could get him on an early Saturday morning. Problemo number two, I could not find his number in my new phone. MY PLANS WERE NOT WORKING. I forgot, I purchased a new phone yesterday. This phone I am told will make my life "more efficient". I could not get the new SMART PHONE to find his number. Moments seemed like hours as I scrambled to find a land line and the ad with his number. Was I ever learning how man plans his day but it is only thru the GRACE of GOD that we realize how to let go of our controls. Later I learned that it was an imperfect control dial that fizzeled out. All sensors can go haywire when left untended, it had been unused for 6 months. We really can learn from this and see where are lines are plugged up. This throws the timing and sensors all off. He delivered a better machine to me with more cycles and sensors to go wrong. Blessings do come with unexpected surprises. GRACE had washed frustration and anxiety away.

Next on my "list" was a scheduled pickup at a client's estate. Saturday continued, in spite of 'my timing' being off. I managed to call him before my new phone episode. He assured me not to worry, he would handle it and told me to enjoy my grandson. Then came the unfamiliar ring. Who could be calling? "Mary Ann , this is Eric we are at the gate. Is it the very large home with the lake inside"? "Yes", I respond what is the problem? He goes on to say that the gentleman is not answering his call. I immediately wonder if he got a new smart phone and cannot answer it? Should I dare try voicemail? Not sure how to text... The efficient plans I had scheduled this day were drawing to an end. Like the phone I did not know how to make them work!

Alas my bundle of joy arrived. Max was here. My plans would now be just as expected. WONDERFUL INDEED. I opened my computer before reaching for Max. Oops! No this could not be so. The crate had NOT departed safely and was NOT securely inroute sailing the ocean blue. They changed the PLAN. This news was unexpected. It did not suit my plan. The plan was efficiently executed on my end. Was God speaking louder? It was begining to FLOOD. Grace got reintroduced. She came at just the right time. Suddenly Plan B came into my space suggesting that perhaps Gods' timing will work it all to our good.

So many times as a designer I had thrown myself at the mercies of the Heavenly Father and He always worked His PLAN to my good. The projects usually turned out better. He came thru. This reminded me how in the midst of this KINGS project, anxious thoughts flew in. I love the way He teaches me His truths. A bird flew in the same patio that I never got to sit with Him this Saturday morning. "You are better than a bird" just like the Bible says in Matt6:20 became music to my ears!

I am now setting sail to rely on His Plan and will B at PEACE! Mahalo!

wrapped up

DO YOU FEEL LIKE LIFE IS UPSIDE DOWN? Do you seem to be jammed and wrapped so tightly that you wonder how will you get out? All life's problems and major decisions can be adjusted making room for one more thing: remembering all the wonderful days that life has packaged.

Looking at this crate, I remember purchasing the nailhead sofa for an estate high on a hill, reminicent of TUSCANY. The chairs flanked the massive carved stone fireplace. Embers burn, reflecting a time to recount history. Blessings are to be recounted rekindling pleasant memories. Now the joy of unpacking- they will grace the KINGS MANSION. Will future generations enjoy the view? Will the leaders that sit in these chairs dream of future generations bursting with dreams for a brighter future.

One of my favorite verses in Psalms is to DELIGHT yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Sometime it takes the tight corners we get ourselves into to make us stop and remember that He always gets us out of the TIGHT SPOTS. We can recount the times when we wondered how everything would work out or even FIT in our PLAN. He always found enough ROOM to rearrange us and make everything work out for our good. The beauty of a matter is we often do not see the JOY in it until it arrives safely and is perfectly placed.

This crate will sail the "ocean blue" to HAWAII. All the unanswered design decisions will wait. The memories will unpack as the forklift drops the crate at the designated location and the items come to life in another ROOM. These will be rooms of NEW VISON. People sitting on the furniture will see and remember the TIGHT SPOTS they have traveled to get where they are now. So often in life we never sit long enough to enjoy the view. We are always in such a hurry to move to the next location.

My heart is that the rugs and furniture, as small as it may be, will create memories that will last a life time. The floors may not be in or the pillows completed, but somewhere in the sea that separates us from pressing decisions and the listening ear to hear the gentle voice saying "you can make it". Joy will dance inside as we know we have done all we can do and it is now left to the LORDs design. ALOHA!

ROOMS of Vision

Everything starts with a dream. You perish if you do not have a vision for your dream. On January 25, 2010, I awoke from a dream: “a large Victorian home with several stories. I was getting the bride ready in her dress. Preparation was key to the event.”

Two years prior my husband Rich had a dream that we were preparing a large white house in Hawaii for visiting dignitaries, sort of as caretakers of the property.

In April 2010 I got a call from Darlene Cunningham, co-founder with her husband and founder Loren, of Youth With A Mission. She wanted me, an interior designer, to help furnish “King’s Mansion”. This is a property owned by YWAM near Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. I enthusiastically began visualizing the project. Working on something BIGGER than you presents challenges that only an INFINTE GOD can COMPLETE. I went to Kona in July, 2010 to review the scope of the project. When Rich saw King’s Mansion he knew immediately that this was the house in his dream. We had both been to Kona many times since our Crossroad DTS in 1985. This latest visit strengthened our vision.

During that visit Loren was giving a tour of the Mansion to a group of leaders from around the world. He turned to Cindy & Tom, who are currently on the property and key to the renovation. He asked Cindy to share the dream she had while a SOE student at YWAM on another Hawaiian Island in 1973. “This is the house I saw in the small group as we were praying for direction for YWAM in the Hawaiian islands”.

Let her words continue to give VISION. “Jill Dawson (now Jill Bills) saw a large white house on a hill with a veranda and green shutters. As she spoke this out, I had, as it were, a vivid picture of this house--even where it was located on the island. Of course none of us had ever been in Kona before.

Several years went by and Tom and I were in Kona for the first time. Loren picked us up from the airport and took us to the new property that YWAM had gotten not too long before. It was King's Mansion we saw that day in prayer. Exactly!” she exclaimed.

This property was purchased in 1977 from the old Greenwell Estate a home steeped in history dating to 1903. Shortly thereafter John Dawson, Jill’s brother and now President of YWAM, started sharing about the Mansion being a place of prayer as well as a gathering place for leaders. Confirming how key leaders with a heart for prayer that bring forth VISON would be coming together, he had recently met with Lou Engle and Mike Bickle on the property. This will be a special place, a place to CATCH DREAMS.

Loren Cunningham along with Bill Bright founder of Campus Crusade for Christ both got the vision for the 7 spheres of society in 1975. In this they knew YWAM was to be an “influencer” to every arena in life. Loren’s vision and insight has caused the YWAM organization to be a leader in missions with over 1300 world wide locations. The Manison will be such a place where leaders can mingle from all the spheres of society. (read vision following)

He shared with us a progressive principle that “ prayer leads to ideas, ideas to vision, vision to events, events to communities and individual impartation.” The vision of his life has come from this progression. See the following vision for KINGS MANSION and look at their web site for more information of the history for past 50 years.

I now know why there was so much preparation in my dream. I want to make this the most beautiful place to get the “BRIDE READY”. I remember preparing and serving lots of food to the guests. Will you be ready to come to the wedding? Your place is set. Dreams do come true. We will complete and furnish all the rooms that really matter in life. DREAM BIG.

KING’S MANSION

YWAM Kealakekua, Hawaii

The vision for King’s Mansion is to serve as a gathering place for global leaders to relate and network around kingdom purposes in an environment of scriptural enrichment and spiritual renewal.

These leaders will be convened at King’s Mansion in Kealakekua, Hawaii according to categories that influence society, such as church and mission, government, business (including science & technology), education, media, etc. King’s may host an event focused on one sphere at a time, or bring together a mixture of spheres for catalytic networking and multi-generational purposes. Though Youth With A Mission will serve as the host for these gatherings, the events will be multi-organizational, drawing individuals from a broad cross-section of Christendom and society.

King’s will also be a place committed to fast-track young leaders, providing a context where the young mix, mingle and discuss together with experienced, mature leaders in the various spheres of society, allowing for impartation and multiplication.

Kings will serve as a gathering place for senior YWAM leadership teams as well—a place to fellowship, pray and strategize around future initiatives.

The Heritage Center at King’s Mansion will house displays, photographs and artifacts of key significance to YWAM’s history, values and vision—the DNA of this missions movement. Resident and visiting researchers and writers will use King’s to connect the past with the future.

All of the gatherings and events outlined above will provide the opportunity to offer internships for those called to roles in hospitality, operations and administration. These six-month and one-year internships will equip people to multiply these practical ministries. The internships will be overlapped to provide in-house continuity for the running of King’s Mansion.

YOUTH WITH A MISSION / UNIVERSITY OF THE NATIONS

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an ever-expanding global "family of ministries" born in 1960 which has reached into every nation. The work of YWAM encompasses evangelism, training and mercy ministries and is manned by nearly 20,000 full-time staff from more than 200 nationalities and a wide variety of denominations who serve at more than 1,300 ministry sites in 177 nations. More than four million students, short-term volunteers, part-time and full-time staff have served with YWAM since its inception.

The University of the Nations (UofN), is YWAM's global university. Since its inception in 1978, the UofN has grown

to offer more than 800 different kinds of courses and seminars (some of which are offered in 95 languages), held at more than 520 locations in more than 140 countries. Hundreds of thousands of students are registered within the global UofN system who have taken at least a Discipleship Training School (DTS), the entry course and pre-requisite for all other UofN courses and/or for becoming YWAM staff.

Anyone who has completed a DTS is qualified for "continued education" in UofN courses

anywhere they are offered worldwide, for the rest of his/her life. With appropriate course

credits he/she will receive UofN degrees through Masters level, when qualified. But more

importantly, he/she will be better equipped to serve the Lord in the role He has given

him/her to glorify Jesus and transform nations. For more information and course registration,

contact us at www.uofnkona.edu

Loren Cunningham

Founder, Youth With A Mission / President, University of the Nations

3/10

STEP INTO YOUR DREAMS

STEP INTO YOUR DREAMS

There is JOY when we know our life takes on new meaning. We have just gone thru the celebration of GREAT JOY, Sukokot in the HEBREW calendar. In Israel it is a time to share meals and vision with family members in the Sukkah. ( related posts 0ct 3-6-09) To me it is such a special time to make ROOM for my KING. I love to hear what is on HIS heart.

I have always invited my LORD into my dreams for interior design projects. Working on a NEW design often causes sleep deprivation. Furniture becomes my “sheep” as I struggle for sleep. New ideas swirl. VISION dances before my eyes. Surely vibrant color will capture the eye!

This year the Sukot celebration reminded me of RENEWED VISION and purpose. As the closed warehouse chapter in my life came to a conclusion, I turn the pages in my dream journal. They are coming into FULL VIEW.

May I open my dreams to you.

I am SO GLAD my REDEEMER LIVES. He never lets me MISS OUT! All the years of designing MANSIONS for others has finally brought me into the room with HIS VIEW. If I can say one thing to you “HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAM. IF IT IS DELAYED, WAIT, IT WILL COME INTO FULL VIEW”.

Awesome triple inspiring year ahead!

Love to look into the Hebrew year as it approaches and read what others are saying we can expect. One Jewish scholar said this will be a year where 771 is the multiple of 3! I have been seeing and saying 333 for months. The bible verse Jer. 33:3 leaps. It's actually been seen so many times, often written on people's heart. One time I met a girl from Japan while hiking the vortex in Sedona who I was able to share G-d's love. Let me share how this happened. I realized her hesitation to talk with a stranger. I even wrote about this G-d collide in a previous blog. We chatted before I asked her a question that changed her life. I saw so clearly the numbers 333 over her heart. I asked if this means anything to you? It was her exact age, 33 and ,wow, the thrill on her face to know that someone loved her. So fun to know I was on track with my running shoes laced. I am so ready to start afresh and finish strong. Anticipation sets in as we prepare to see what awesome and awe inspiring triple blessings are on our hike. I know I am going to be like the deer that pants for water in Ps42 awaiting the Messiah's return! I am so thirsty for a drink of the fresh water.

Summer is still upon us in arid Arizona. The last 2 days of August we knew we must clear our warehouse. We entered the racks of furniture spilling with plants and accessories. We sensed urgency and cleared, moved, and gave so much to wonderful people in need. We are in the PEACE PROCESS. We will make way for change.

Wow the meaning of PROCESS, to get things moving! We certainly have begun and like the Mideast talks often it is the PROCESS that seems to get in the way of PEACE. We are learning that when we hear "do it now," we will! The accumulation of 8 years in the staging business had caused our barn to burst. We found a verse in Proverbs 24:27 that week that stirred us to the timing of NOW. It said that do not build barns before there are fields. The scorching recession had withered our crop, our field was no more. This brought back to memory how we started with a simple word TRUST. We had no furniture, no barn but a very fertile field. So we planted and watered and built a barn in fact 3 of them! A sense of sadness emerged mixed with glee as we are letting go. We are now free to plant in a different field. Now we're going to walk in a new field of FAITH. I know we will have triple blessings. I got so excited with that word because I always listen up when the 3 thing occurs. I know it is time to move. READY, SET, GO...

I have been documenting my dreams over the years and I know this will be an inspiring year. What I see will come alive. They will no longer be scribbles in my journal. The business of INTERIORS is bursting inside. You will see the MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR EXPLODE. Mark it this will be a year when DIVINE AID is in everything I do! New avenues of creativity will SPRING forth as I lay down the thought PROCESS with the "how will I" achieve them. THE AWESOME G-D that lives inside me will make a way. His AWE-INSPIRING ways will direct. I wish for you an awesome triple blessing ROSH HASHANAH!

RACE FOR FREEDOM

http://www.yo

utube.com/watch_popup?v=ZprVPKi-W6s

I AM ISRAEL.

Sometimes we listen to others without SEEING for ourself. A False sense of reality is SHAPED and takes form, leaving us without BALANCE. My children could not learn to ride a bike unless they held onto the bars. We are all looking at people trying to ride bumpy trails. Mountain bilking in the desert is often treacherous, even for the EXPERIENCED.

We love to live the lives of others. The danger on the road is that we are not adapted to the terrain. We have no concept for the climb and rugged trail. We always give advice when we are not on the road. Designers know this better than most professionals. We have learned to balance OTHERS opinions and keep peddling.

Others wonder WHY CARE ABOUT THIS TINY PIECE OF REAL ESTATE - ISRAEL? Mary Ann you have so much to do, why bother? This clip put NEW TREAD on the MOUNTAIN BIKE! Amazing when family and friends question. Focus and determine to keep moving forward against all odds. We in AMERICA seem to be riding down a different bike path.

All focus this weekend in WASHINGTON is dividing the trail. We used to ride together. Now we seem to manage to push the OTHER off. Cycling used to be a sport we enjoyed together. Israel and America in the past even shared bikes. We were known to ride TANDUM. Now we are not on the same BIKE.

Don't you remember trying to ride together and the other was not balancing correctly? This called for a crash. We are tipping our points with ISRAEL and leaning on the wrong side. We are not even holding on to the handle bars correctly.

America - regain BALANCE . RIDE in the RACE for FREEDOM. LET go of WORLD VIEWS regarding ISRAEL. Look at what our FOUNDING FATHERS saw in the Bible,"he who BLESSES ISRAEL will be blessed". It would do us all well to experience the TRUTH THAT WILL ALLOW FREEDOM TO REIGN. G-d has a plan. He wants us to RIDE again with HIM. PRAYER WILL CHANGE A NATION.

May we BELIEVE TO SEE that we will be riding with HIM.

SEA SAW

Smooth sailing cannot happen in any one's life without integrity. We have to have accurate facts. We must honestly discern "DANGER AHEAD". I know as a designer I cannot be swayed by pressure to make decisions. It is so important that we not "listen" to popular opinion. What really is at sake? The NATIONS are in an UPROAR. The waters are troubled and boats with passengers spewing HATE. So similar to the OIL SPILL. It KILLS everything it touches. We all want to advise.

It is so easy to make DECISIONS when we don't have to live with them ! It is like purchasing a sofa that your friend suggests. She is swayed by her tastes. She however, has no children and dogs. Her recommendation is a pale silk. You cave into pressure and "suggestion of the trends". She only visits your sofa. You live with it .

We need to remember to listen closely. The media loves to appeal to emotions. The power of persuasion helps influence decisions. How are the words conveying truth? What sea are we seeing? Truth will triumph over evil and a voice will be raised. The book of Psalms shouts loudly that we need to BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS G-D. We are not sailing in the TROUBLED WATERS. We need to listen and PRAY. We will SEE what the ALMIGHTY will DO. HE WILL BE HONORED IN THE NATIONS!

There are so many articles on the FLOTILLA. I picked this one as another view. Everyone is QUICK to JUDGE and offer ADVISE. We never seem to weigh the facts and the "wear and tear" of our decisions. Words like purchases are costly. We often cannot take them back. Choose what you say wisely. There may be a NO RETURN POLICY! Make sure you are sailing in the SAME SEA, not the one you thought you SAW.

Hello, Turkey?

By AARON SCHOCK
06/06/2010 05:09

The Turkish foreign minister recently called the flotilla episode ‘Turkey’s 9-11.’

Talkbacks (42)

There are some vital points being overlooked in the international coverage of the Israeli response to the Gaza flotilla, and a mountain of hypocrisy that needs to be exposed. Egypt, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and every Arab foreign minister agreed that Hamas not be allowed to control the southern border crossing with Egypt after the terror group violently seized control of Gaza in 2007.

Yes, Egypt has blockaded Gaza under Hamas’s control as much as the Israelis have – and with the widespread support of Arab governments and the PA. Where’s the outrage?

Palestinians are supposedly experiencing a humanitarian crisis, and yet no Arab or Islamicgovernment has demanded Egypt open its border with Gaza. Hello, Turkey?

When Israel pulled out completely from the Gaza Strip in 2005, it imposed no blockade. It was only after Hamas began a terror campaignwith 10,000 rockets fired at Israeli civilians thatIsrael and Egypt imposed this blockade – with PA and Arab support. No Arab governmentwanted a terror-prone Hamas to flourish in Gaza, let alone spread.



ONE NEEDS to ask: If the Kurds or the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) across the Turkish border in Iraq rained 10,000 rockets on Turkish civilians, what would the Turks do? After all, the Kurds have legitimate disputes with the government of Turkey, and have been viciously repressed.

What if international NGOs decided to airlift humanitarian supplies to PKK refugees in Iraq, with those shipments containing civilian equipment that could easily be made into weapons?

Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish republic in Northern Cyprus. What would the Turkish military’s response be if organizations from nations that do not recognize the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus decided to break that military occupation?

Again, regarding Turkish hypocrisy, the prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, received the international pariah who leads Sudan – President Omar Bashir – a man who has committed genocide. The International Criminal Court has an arrest warrant out for him on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Not only has the Darfur region of Sudan experienced genocide directed by Bashir and hisgovernment, but other regions of southern Sudan have as well. During the visit in mid-August of last year, Erdogan said he did not believe Bashir was guilty of the war crimes for which he was indicted.

And here is how the Turkish prime minister justified that widely disputed contention: “It is not possible for those who belong to the Muslim faith to carry out genocide,” said Erdogan. He deems Bashir innocent. End of story.



THE TURKISH foreign minister recently called the flotilla episode, “Turkey’s 9-11.” Shame on you sir. No American should ever forget such an insult.

This brings me to the reason for the blockade of Gaza, including the Israeli naval blockade. Some of the items on the ships were dual-use, with both civilian and military uses. For instance, there was rebar for a small amount of cement.

Heaven knows Gaza needs a lot of rebuilding. This tiny amount is insignificant for construction, however, although it’s a nice supply of iron to be converted into weapons.

If the Israeli naval blockade ends does anyone really think Hamas won’t be importing a wide array of weapons? If the ships don’t have to go through checkpoints, arms shipments would resume without a doubt – and so would the rocket attacks.

What nation would sit back and allow arms to pour into a neighboring territory that will certainly be used in more attacks on its people? If the blockade ends, arms shipments into Gaza will resume, and rocket firings into will Israel resume. It’s that simple.

None of the United Nations peacekeeping organizations and observers has kept out the sophisticated weapons imported by Hizbullah into southern Lebanon – despite absolute UN assurances to do so. No similar observers are capable of standing in the way of Iranian arms shipments to Hamas either. Only Israeli and Egyptian checkpoints can do that.

Again, I ask, would Turkey allow similar organizations to ship uninspected cargo to the suffering PKK Kurds in Turkey and Iraq? Hamas needs to negotiate with its estranged brothers in the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, and commit themselves to peaceand recognition of Israel. Then peace and prosperity will prevail.

Let’s get the facts straight and the hypocrisy exposed as this debate proceeds.



The writer, a Republican, represents Illinois’ 18th Congressional District. He is the youngest member of Congress.