Joyce Meyer: Grand Rapids 2013

Yesterday marked our first Christian experience at a M-a-j-o-r event! We were so blessed to be able to attend a Joyce Meyer Conference. It was out of this world! And best of all--my husband loved it and would love to see her again!

Her message last night was about Live 2 Love. It's something that some people admit, claim, and state that they do.....but do they really? I know I don't. I've mentioned before about struggling to do this. As a Christian, we are called to love others--just as Jesus loves us. But some of the problems we face are being quick to judge, never admit when wrong, and pointing fingers. One thing that really stuck out to me last night was that we need to make efforts even when we don't feel like it. We are born inherently selfish and self-centered so we must choose to do these things. Oh and work it at it because this doesn't come naturally to no one.

What I love about Joyce is the fact that she has tried everything else and nothing worked. And because she doesn't preach on anything she hasn't experienced first-hand, she's much happier trying to be a blessing to others rather than always asking God for blessings.

The music was wonderful and what I loved most was seeing my husband notice all the different types of people who where there. It seemed to really connect with him. What I loved most was being around that many Christians worshiping and growing in the Lord--oh and not to mention how many lives were saved when they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That right there is the most important decision one person could EVER make in his/her lifetime.

I'm not going to elaborate how my vehicle broke down several thousand times and taking over 3 hours to get home when it only took an hour to get there. I also won't mention the fact that we ate at the worst McDonald's ever and witnessed one of the meanest people to work for. I will skip the part that my vehicle was chugging so hard that it made us nauseous. But I will mention that my husband and I made wonderful memories. I thanked the Lord about 100 times last night when we made it home safe and sound. Because no matter how bad you think your life is or the situation you are facing--always remember there is someone out there who has it ten times worse.

Driving Parked Cars

When I read this, I just about sank into my chair. I wonder how many of us say, "Yes I trust God" but really we are a little afraid or even worried to actually live out our faith. I know that I battle with myself constantly but it is something I'm learning to give up and reap the rewards. If we are willing, HE is able. And that's when the light bulb went off!

I love how God is not forceful. I love how the Holy Spirit will not take control of us without our saying, "Yes, please do come in." The Holy Spirit has such nice manners. If we are not willing to do our part, then why should He? Another way to think about it is if you're in a relationship how fair is it for your partner to do 90 percent of the work while you only do 10 percent? It's not and sooner or later the relationship will fail. If a relationship is supposed to be 50/50 then I want to make sure that I'm doing my part to not only better myself but for His kingdom.

But that's the thing about having a relationship with God, even though He does way more for us than we could ever image, all He asks of us is to believe in Him and love. Do you have that friend or family member that has anything or everything they ever wanted and it's either their birthday or Christmas and you ask yourself, "What do you buy for someone who has everything?" Well how about spending time together. Making memories. That's kind of how I think about giving back to God. What in the world can I give to the One Who created everything??

My love. My trust. My belief in Him.

But part of loving, trusting, and believing is letting Him guide you. Let down your walls and let Him lead.....believe me....it will be better than you can ever imagine.

Check, Check....Is this thing on?

Oh hello there....my oh my how times somehow manages to slip away. I feel like I took a sabbatical and wasn't even aware I needed one. My sincere apologies and know that I am back and have some very cool news to share as well as some new revelations and mind-blowing devotions.

There is no excuse for my absence. I did not make any effort to write and that is my own fault. But now that's off my chest, let's dive into a devotional that ignited the spark for me to continue sharing The Good News. This devotional is from the lovely and talented, Joyce Meyer:

 Yearnings in the Night--Apr. 25

 "My soul years for You in the night, yes, my spirit within me seeks You earnestly." Isaiah 26:9 

Nothing can satisfy your longing for God except communion and fellowship with Him. The apostle John wrote, "And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides forever" (1 John 2:17). 

The world makes it easy for you to fill your ears with all kinds of things that drown out the voice of God and push Him far into the background of your life. However, the day comes for every person when only God remains. Everything else in life eventually passes away; when it does, God will still be there. Seek God earnestly tonight and He will abide in you.

 I read this last night and my heart jumped for joy of acknowledgement! It's very difficult to admit that I was filling my heart with all kinds of things that were drowning out the voice of God and clearly by my lack of writing was pushing God in the background. I know that life does happen and not every single day I will be able to write, but I need to make a commitment that it should at least be three days a week. I find that it helps me become more familiar with Him and if I can help just one person understand something a little better or perhaps lead one person to the Lord, then it is worth it.

Thanks so much for hanging in there!

Tuesday Devotional

I struggle daily with my limits. I struggle because as a new wife and a step-mom, where do I draw the line? It's difficult raising not only a teenager (who just moved in with us less than a year ago), but also a teenager who is not mine and I don't want to cross any lines with her dad/my husband and her biological mom. Last night I prayed for guidance. I prayed for help to know when and what to say and even when to let go. This morning's devotional was just what I needed.

Relax! God is Working--March 19

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]" Matthew 11:28

 Being relaxed feels wonderful. Being nervous, tense, and worried are not so wonderful. Why aren't more people relaxed? Jesus said if we are weary and overburdened, we should go to Him and He will give us rest, relaxation, and ease (see Matt. 11:28-29). Jesus wants to teach us the right way to live, which is different from the way most of the world lives. 

It would be putting it mildly to say that I was an uptight woman for the first half of my life. I simply did not know how to relax, and it was due to me not being willing to completely trust God. I trusted God for things, but not in things. I kept trying to be the one in control. Even though God was in the driver's seat of my life, I kept one hand on the wheel just in case He took a wrong turn. Relaxation is impossible without trust! 

If you know you can't fix the problem you have, then why not relax while God is working on it? It sounds easy, but it took many years for me to be able to do this. I know from experience that the ability to relax and go with the flow in life is dependent upon our willingness to trust God completely. If things don't go your way, instead of being upset, you can believe that getting your way was not what you needed. God knew that, so He gave you what was best for you, instead of what you wanted. 

If you are waiting much longer than you had hoped to, you can get frustrated, angry, and upset or you can say, "God's timing is perfect; He is never late. And my steps are ordered by the Lord." Now you can relax and simply go with the flow of what is happening in your life. When it comes to things that are out of our control, we can either ruin the day or relax and enjoy it while God is working on the situation. As long as we believe, God keeps working! 

Trust in Him: How relaxed are you? Your answer is directly related to how much you trust God. It may take you many years like it did me, to fully trust Him, but each day will be better and better as you trust more and learn to relax.

After reading this twice, typing it, and praying about it over my morning exercise, I will let go, relax, and know that God is in control. As a step-parent, I don't have a say over many things because there are other parents involved. It's difficult being a step-parent but knowing some of the situations that arise will be out of my control is something that I'm going to have to give to God and know that He's taking care of it.  I am considering all these situations as a way of Him teaching me how to handle my own children--someday.

Wednesday Devotional

Lately, I've been experiencing God working in my life....tremendously. He's definitely moving and making things happen. On the other hand, I can't help but notice some people taking for granted all the blessings they have been given and not very appreciative of all they have.

This is always a touchy subject because I don't want to come off as nagging. So I turn to prayer. I pray that the Holy Spirit will enter them and change their heart so they can see the world differently. I pray that they can be thankful for all the little things in life. I pray that they would see the big picture and want to change their entire outlook. This would be a huge undertaking for any given person--but not for God. So I sit back and be patient.

I am leaving you with a wonderful devotion to help clear up any complaints. Because yes I've been there and seen it all. Even the shelters and the soup kitchens.

Mumbles and Murmurs

"There are inveterate murmurers who complain, going after their own desires." Jude 1:16

Sometimes it seems the whole world is complaining. There is so much grumbling and murmuring and so little gratitude and appreciation. People complain about their job and their boss when they should be thankful to have regular work and appreciate the fact they are not living in a shelter for the homeless or standing in a soup line. Many people would be thrilled to have that job, despite its imperfections. They would be more than willing to put up with a not-so-perfect boss in order to have a regular income, live in their own home, and cook their own food.

Maybe you need a better paying job or perhaps you have a boss who treats you unfairly. That is unfortunate, but the way out is not through complaining. Give God thanks tonight for every blessing He has given you.

Tuesday Devotional

This weekend was a whirlwind. Without getting into too many details, my husband and I had to exercise our parental rights and discipline his child that was in no way acting God-honoring. I am so very thankful that God gave us the wisdom to handle the situation and hopefully time will tell if the situation has been corrected and we can slowly rebuild the trust again. I can't help but think how many other Christian families are struggling raising their teenage children when God has been absent for a majority of their lives. I was never raised with God in my home and my step-child has been 13 years without it.

Here's the silver lining: We didn't have to do much but stand our ground, listen to God, and work as a team. Despite the negative situation, God was moving so much that weekend. I saw it, my husband saw it, and most of all his child saw it. God definitely convicted her of her bad decisions and I'm so thankful to have witnessed it. Believe it or not, it has made our marriage stronger and my husband has really stepped up being the spiritual leader in our house. I can only praise God for that and I'm so proud of my husband for doing so.

I plan on making a copy of this and taping it her room so she can be reminded that we may not be there to always push her to make right decisions, you have to ability to choose for yourself and when in doubt, ask God.

A Heart of Flesh

"I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 11:19

God puts a sense of right and wrong deep within your conscience, but if you rebel too many times, you can become hard-hearted. If that happens, you need to let Him soften your heart so you can be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

The only way to develop a heart of flesh is to spend time with God. You must be in His presence on a regular basis to hear what He is saying. God often speak gently, and those who are busy doing their own thing will not hear His still, small voice. Tonight as you spend time in the Lord's presence, ask Him to soften your heart so you can receive His direction at all times.

Tuesday Devotional

Listen for God's Voice

"And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it...." Isaiah 30:21

Most of the time, God does not speak to  us in an audible voice, we hear Him in our hearts. Sometimes He speaks by reminding us of a truth or principle from His word; sometimes He gives us thoughts or ideas we would not have had on our own; sometimes we simply have a strong sense of knowing what to do. We need to quiet all the noise in our lives and become sensitive to God's still, small voice. We need to choose to listen to God because he will speak to us.

God does not only speak in the urgent or important matter of life. He also guides us in the most seeming insignificant situations. I was on my way home one day and intended to stop and get a cup of coffee, when I had a strong impression that I should call my secretary and see if she wanted a cup, too. When I called, she said, "I was just standing here thinking, I would love a good cup of coffee right now." You see, God wanted to give her the desire of her heart, and He wanted to work through me. I did  not hear a loud voice or see an angel, nor did I have a vision; I simply had an inner sensing that I should offer her a cup of coffee. As a result, we both experienced great joy in knowing God cares about the smallest details of our lives.

Quite often we ignore little things like this. The more we do, the harder it is to develop sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. If someone is on your heart, I encourage you to pray for that person or call him or her and say, "I was just thinking of you." You never know how a seemingly small thing like a phone call can alter a person's day or maybe even change someone's life. Let me encourage you today to keep your heart sensitive to God's voice. He will speak to your heart and lead you in the way you should go.

Trust in Him: Remember this; each time we disobey God, it becomes more difficult to hear Him the next time He speaks; but every time we trust Him, it gets easier to hear and be led by His Spirit. What is God saying to you today?

Daily Devotion

I received this lovely book for Christmas and I absolutely love it. My husband and I are enjoying reading it to each other every night. I didn't realize how crazy I am for devotionals. I honestly think I've reached my capacity at three but it's amazing how much reading can be done in a day.

I wanted to share today's message with you because I thought seems how the weekend is here and the Superbowl is on Sunday, I'm sure you may encounter some decisions that you may want to reconsider. So without further adieu.....here's Joyce:



Give Your Brain a Break--Feb. 1

"Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you." Proverbs 4:25

Are you enjoying the life and blessings of God in your everyday life? Or have you made a series of choices resulting in disappointment, pain, or feeling that everything you do requires great effort and produces little reward? Don't spend your time and energy mourning all the bad decisions you have made; just start making good ones. There is hope for you!

The way to overcome the results of a series of bad choices in through a series of right choices. The only way to walk out of trouble is to do the opposite of whatever you did to get into trouble--one choice at a time. Maybe the circumstances of your life right now are the direct result of a series of bad choices you have made. You may be in debt because you have made a lot of bad choices with money. You may be lonely because of a series of bad choices in relationships or in the way you treat people. You may be sick because of a series of unhealthy choices: eating junk food, not getting enough rest, or abusing your body through working too much and not having enough balance in your life.

You cannot make a series of bad choices that result in significant problems and then make one good choice and expect all the results of all those bad choices to go away. You did not get into deep trouble through one bad choice; you got into trouble through a series of bad choices. If you really want your life to change for the better, you will need to make one good choice after another, over a period of time, just as consistently as you made the negative choices that produced negative results.

No matter what kind of trouble or difficulty you find yourself in, you can still have a blessed life. You cannot do anything about what is behind you, but you can do a great deal about what lies ahead of you. God is a redeemer, and He will always give you another chance.

Trust in Him: If you have a situation that is too big for you to solve, then you are material for a miracle. Invite God to get involved, trust in and follow His directions, make one good choice after another, and you will see amazing results. 

Have a great weekend!!

Spiritual Food

Ahhhh....yes. Here we go with food again. Only this is a little bit different. I'm talking about spiritual food that contains no calories and will help with every situation.

There are numerous outlets for gaining knowledge and more of an understanding about the Kingdom.  The people on my list come from all different walks of life and some are definitely more spicier than others. But I figured I would share so you know where most of my inspiration comes from while writing this blog. I'm sure I'll have more to add as the year progresses but for now, here are my favorites:

• The Bible. Well this one is obvious but just like many other people out there....it can be a difficult read. There are some things that I don't understand but in time, I'm hope I can gain a better understanding the more I mature in the Lord.

• Allen Jackson from World Outreach Church. He has a nice hint of a southern accent and I just can't get enough of his sarcastic humor. He has really helped me grow as a Christian and I have shared his teachings with my family as well. He's was the first person I really connected to on a TV media platform and this summer I plan on taking a road trip to see him in Tennessee.

• Joyce Meyer is quickly becoming my new favorite. I have been reading her devotionals for a year now and while watching her sermons, I didn't realize how down-to-earth-in-your-face she is! I love it and she has an easy way for you to walk away ready to conquer anything. She's holding a conference in a city near me this spring and I can't wait to see her live!

• David Jeremiah has the voice of a soothing angel. He has a lot of seniority compared to the others on the list and I would love to have half the patience I think he has. His approach is very real and I love the real stories he incorporates into his messages. 

• T.D. Jakes from the Potter's House. Wow! Is he a firecracker! I love his excitement in voice. He makes me want to jump out of my chair and clap my hands and say, "Thank you Lord!" I love to listen to him if I need a little pick me up or need some excitement. 

• Chad Brown is the pastor of my church. He is inspirational and very much  in tuned when he gets going.  He's very modern and extremely truthful. I first heard his voice and his message on the radio when I was an unbeliever and I said to myself if I ever went to church, I would go to his. Three years later, I accepted Jesus as my Savior and stepped foot into Cornerstone and have been there ever since. 

Feel free to comment if you have any recommendations. I hope this short list will help you on your journey.

God Bless!

Me + Self-Control

self–con·trol- noun \-kən-ˈtrōl\ : restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires

I’ve discovered lately that self-control is actually my friend—not my enemy. By allowing myself to completely trust in God with my food choices and portions, I am learning that I am not as hungry as I thought I was. One of the best feelings so far is that if I do indulge in something sweet, I pray for control and I eat it and done. I’m no longer being controlled by food; I am controlling the food I eat. So me and self-control, we are like two peas in a pod--my new best friend so-to-speak. Just from these few days of eating healthier I'm having so much more energy and last night was one of the best night sleeps I’ve had in a long time.

What I love most about this new chapter is I feel it's a wonderful relationship we've got going on. With my wanting to change and God's ability to change me, how can it fail? It can only fail if I allow it to. Yes God can change people but there has to be some desire of it because He respects your free will. I want to live up to my end of the bargain....we all know that God can live up to His. 

Here's Joyce's video Part 1 & 2.

Daily Devotional

This year one of the things I'm focusing on is using my words correctly. Trying not to say things I don't mean. Realizing how powerful words are and the damage or the motivation they can carry is tremendous. Seems how I'm being completely honest here, I'm not feeling like my normal thought-provoking-God-seeking self. So today I will leave you with a devotional from Joyce Meyer's "Ending Your Day Right: Devotions for Every Evening of the Year" and see what thoughts you have for yourself.

You Can Have a New Beginning--January 1

"Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing!" Isaiah 43:18-19

God created us to need new beginnings--places where we can release our faith and say, "This is a place of new beginnings for me, a place to have a fresh start." The dawn of a new year is always a good time for a fresh start.

You can experience the abundat life Jesus says you can have, but it requires making a decision to let go of the past. Unless you refuse to go on the way you have been, no change will come. God wants to change things for you, but He is waiting for your total cooperation.

Seldom do your circumstances change without something first changing in you. So if you want to experience God's "new thing" this year, release your faith right now and say, "This is a place of new beginnings for me." Then watch for the results.

Have a happy Monday!