YOU HAVE A PURPOSE

Many people go through life feeling discouraged about themselves and thinking they do not have a purpose in life. But that's not true. Whoever you are—whatever your life experiences, talents, physical ability, or role—you have a purpose.

Let's take a look at Today's mentoring moment with a verse in the Bible:


For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:1).



Notice two points in this verse:




1. God created you. You are not an accident.




2. God has a plan for you. You have a purpose in life.


You are created to know God.

One purpose in life is to get close to God. You can do this through Jesus Christ.


I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again (John 3:3).






I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).




If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Romans 10:9-10).



You are created for God's glory.


One purpose in life is to glorify God in this world.


Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made (Isaiah 43:6-7).


You are created to praise God


You are created to grow the fruit of the Spirit.


One purpose in life is to grow in character.


The type of person you become is more important than your successes and failures in the world.


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).


You are created to spread the Gospel.


One purpose in life is to tell others about Jesus' love for them.


You are created to use the talents God gave you.


One purpose in life is to develop your gifts.


Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8).


Do not minimize your role.


Live life as an adventure—wherever you are.


All Christians collectively form the body of Christ. The body is formed of many different parts (Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). All are important. It does not matter what part of the body you are


Overcome jealousy or bitterness.


Don't be upset if you do not have a place of prominence, for, as you read in the above verse, God gives special honor to people with "less honorable" roles.


Do not downplay the value of what you do.


Don't compare yourself to others or give up if someone seems to do a better job than you. Of course there are others who have more talent! If all the evangelists or witnesses or teachers in the world decided to stop trying because someone else did a better job, where would we be?


What counts is that you be faithful.


God gave you talents and abilities. He expects you to develop them. Study Matthew 25:14-30.


Personal application


Have you felt purposeless in life? ___ Yes ___ No


How will you use the above information to live a more purposeful life?

Your next step: Live life as an adventure.

If God designed you with a purpose in mind and you want to go on the adventure and discover that purpose, I would like to suggest a GREAT study you can do on your own!
click HERE and see!

My friend in ministry wrote this book, I promise it will lead you into the adventure in which God created! 

SOW THE POSSIBILITY

DAILY BIBLE READING SEPT 27 "CLICK HERE"

When somebody asks me the question that I am about to share, I personally explode inside and every fabric in me wants to help them understand this reality.






QUESTION: HOW COME I DON'T HAVE A DREAM? OR A VISION?



Let me first answer the last part of the question. No you are not weird for thinking that, but you are WIRED my friend with many dreams and visions.


Lets now answer the first part of the question.


Most individuals think a dream is a "High Calling" of some sort, they tend to think of high profile people like Olympian athletes, Doctors, Lawyers, Authors, speakers and Big Owners that started well known companies or businesses. When we partner these high details into our mindset we will have misconceptions about our "own" dreams. If we have the wrong picture of a dream then we will never discover "our" dreams!


Today's daily reading partners with today's amazing lesson, I know this passage of scripture can bring many lessons about. But I would like to focus on the area of "sowing a dream"


Galatians 6:7 "For whatever a man SOWS, that he will also reap"




A dream is the (seed) of possibility planted in the soul of a human being, which calls him to pursue a unique path to the realization of his purpose.

I am a visual learner so follow me with this picture in your mind. If a seed is the dream then the dream needs to be planted or (SOWED) into soil. Lets pretend the soil is the imagination that brings the dream to life~ its all about the soil girls!


God wants us to learn to dream because He is a BIG God and wants to do BIG things in our personal lives!


I want each of you to take a personal look at your life and imagine some things with me. I will guide you into some areas of thought and then let your imagination take off.



Do you have an area in your life that leaves you frustrated, brokenhearted or even angry? Can you take that situation and imagine in your mind a picture of "what should be." If we are dissatisfied with the way things are then allow your mind to grab hold of a clear picture or idea of what could or should be!



Examples: A broken marriage- Imagine a clear picture of what should or could be.


An older child that is struggling in life-Imagine a clear picture of what should and could be.


An addiction or stronghold-imagine a clear picture without the addiction and how life could and should be.

A ministry calling- Imagine what it could and should be as God uses your gifts. 







I only listed a few heart broken situations but the point is we may have a passive concern that may need a sense of urgency!

here are a few other areas:

Examples:

 Career-Imagine a clear picture of what you may want. Do you want to become a nurse?

Finances- Imagine a clear picture of what should or could be

Spouse-Imagine a clear picture of what should or could be

Children-Imagine....

Ministry-Imagine....

Special Talents-Imagine....Do you want to pursue a Photography business?



Now I am going to share a few ways I have been personally preparing the soil of imagination in specific areas in my life. I have multiple dreams I am sowing and some are clearer then others. So let me share in hope that this will be a help in shaping the dreams in your heart.


Finances I would like to see myself LEARN how to save and handle money better. This is a very weak part of my life. My husband is not happy with my spending habits and I know he has a good picture of what could and should be. I will not allow my weakness to get in the way of our marriage. I have begun several planning steps and I will learn Gods providential will in the area of finances. I have a dream of what should and could be. Now I have to go after that dream! A dream brings about change for the better.

I dream for my children and Gods will for their lives.

Benjamin, Brittni and Alivia.

I study their talents and gifts and I ask God to help me understand his plans for them. I know my son Benjamin can play the guitar, sing and write music. I have already dreamed a clear picture of him traveling with mom someday as I speak. I also believe He will be part of the worship team in church someday, writing His own songs. I also remind him daily that GOD has a huge plan for His life.

I encourage all the moms today to get a journal and begin to ask God for a clear picture and wisdom on your child's dreams. I promise He will lead you. It may not be easy because the enemy does not want those dreams for your child, he will steal, kill and destroy them any chance he gets. So be ready to fight the enemy in your child's life! If you do not dream and believe with your child then you have left him prey to the enemy!

The key is to ask God to show you His will and help you dream and direct the children accordingly!



Lastly I am dreaming big about my personal calling in ministry. God is calling me to new places and He has placed a clearer picture in my mind of what should and could be. I am now in the planning and pursuing stages and the steps of that dream.

Do you have an area of ministry, a career that you want or a talent that you may need to start pursuing so God then can allow a clearing picture to rise to the surface?
 Once you begin to imagine then you will start to investigate. The dream will then take root and energy mixed with passion will take over. No matter how difficult the situation may look your passion and clear picture will keep you motivated till the end!


The soul is always thinking and it never thinks without a picture.




Begin imagining today in some areas of your life. We all have expectations and it may not be our reality at this time. However, do not let the gap between your expectation and reality bring disappointment. Keep imagining and sowing because you will reap in the end.


I am grateful for a healed marriage, ministry dreams coming to pass, children's talents being discovered along with strategies to move them forward. All because I began to imagine and then Sow.

If you never imagine bigger then your situation you will never reap. God uses everything we SOW to teach us about faith and believing!



Now let me ask you,.. Do you have a dream?

WHERE DREAMS DIE

SEPTEMBER 22 DAILY BIBLE READING, CLICK HERE!

ECCLESIASTES 10:6

 Sow your seed in the morning,



and at evening let your hands not be idle,


for you do not know which will succeed,


whether this or that,


or whether both will do equally well.

DO NOT LET THE DREAM DIE, KEEP PRESSING ON

Take some time and review and examine the thoughts below.
Remember to sow and believe, God will help you succeed according to His will and you will collide with your destiny!



- Dreams die in three places: the beginning, middle, and end.


- Most dreams die in the womb of small beginnings.


- Wanna see a dream die? Send it to a church committee.


- A lot of people choose to stay miserable simply because it’s familiar.


- The resistance is often fiercest on the borderline of the breakthrough.


- Actually, every word of “Where Dreams Die” was a highlight.


- Jesus did not come to fix systems. He came to subvert them with the gospel.


- Too many people confuse supernatural miracles with magic tricks.


- The impossible prayer God wants you to pray will always come with a specific instruction he wants you to obey.


- Nothing you’ve ever done is so repulsive that God can’t redeem your potential & love you through it.


- Fasting isn’t so much deprivation as it is dependence.


- You know God’s will by doing God’s will.


- Any step towards self-sufficiency is a step away from the Savior.


- Audacious faith isn’t the absence of fear and ambiguity. It eclipses it one small step at a time.


- Sometimes when you’re the closest to Jesus, you feel the greatest fear.


- God only asks you to have faith for the first step.


- We’re not interested in looking good, we only want Jesus seen  glorified through our lives.

blessings in your journey!

Heather Baxter

EXAMINE AND TEST YOURSELF

MENTORING MOMENT: SEPTEMBER 21

MENTORING MOMENT

TAKE TIME TO EXAMINE YOURSELVES TODAY FRIENDS.

ARE YOU STUCK BETWEEN TWO STATIONS?

DO YOU HAVE ALOT OF STATIC AND FUZZ IN LIFE?

TUNE IN TO THE STATION GOD HAS FOR YOU!

 EXAMINE AND TEST

Life is full of twist and turns. I have personally experienced crushed, perplexed, struck down and destroyed situations on my path in life. I did not wake up one day and desire to have these obstacles in my life. However, the choices I was making in the game of life was allowing for many of my problems. I was loving the wrong things, living for the wrong things, trusting the wrong things and experiencing the wrong things.

A TIME CAME WHEN I HAD TO EXAMINE MY LIFE

In todays reading 2 corinthians 13:5 it states "EXAMINE YOURSELVES AS TO WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE FAITH. TEST YOURSELVES.

Who wants to live a life that is broken and dried up? Life can bring us crushing news, perplexing situations and struck down disappointments. I personally was broken, dried up and defeated; the game of life destroyed me. I messed up in high school and even more so in college. I carried the weight of sin and bondage into the rest of my travels in life. I was stuck in a messed up world and it kept on spinning in circles.

I did not want this life for me, dreams shattered and hope deferred. I am very thankful for the few divine friends that kept reminding me that I was made for so much more. However, it was not up to them to convince me or persuade me it was up to me to understand that I had the potential for change!



CHANGE is the foundation of HOPE

CHANGE COMES FROM TESTING AND EXAMINING


I was not able to see hope because I was blinded by despair. I was angry at the choices I made in life. I felt like a looser and believed that God had abandoned me. Have you ever felt that struck down friends?


May I please share a truth with you  that I know changed my life? The truth is: we can CHANGE our lives by CHANGING our game. We can easily be conformed to this world, but the morals and ways of this life will blind our minds from seeing the light of the gospel. I was blinded from the real life I was created to live because I chose to play by the wrong set of rules.


Let me share two game changing choices I had to start with......

A decision to stop writing my own story; of imperfection and shattered dreams and allow Jesus Christ to renew my faith, heart, trust and focus. Then I decided to commit and offer everything I had to God.

Friends I am living proof of a NEW CREATION, the old is gone and the new has come. I will admit that I still am messy and sold as a slave to sin and still don't understand why I do the things I do for what I need to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.


But I do know this.... I am CHANGING and being transformed daily because I am committed to Change. Daily God renews my mind and sets me apart more and more.

Friends I urge you to give your heart, focus, faith and life over to Christ. I promise you will see something NEW in the midst of your situation.

 Ask yourself today what you are living for?

What are you living for this week?

I challenge you to make a choice to CHANGE your game.




Stop living the mad life and allow God to transform your life, He wants to come help repair problems in your midst so that your mind, body and spirit can be whole.
 We have to follow His rules for college, jobs, marriage, children and our dreams. If you choose to Change and examine your game you will live the LIFE God has planned for you. This game of life will not be boring but action packed and full of adventure.

EXAMINE YOURSELVES TODAY!


Proverbs 16:9 "A mans heart plans his ways But the Lord directs His steps"



Who's rules are you living by?



Thank God for the friends He may divinely be putting in your life today to help TEST your FAITH.

Life in Him,

Heather Baxter

GOD IS DOING THE VERY BEST IN YOUR SEASON

SEPT 19TH DAILY READING
Accept God's Timing

God gives us hopes and dreams for certain things to happen in our lives, but He doesn't always allow us to see the exact timing of His plan. Although frustrating, not knowing the exact timing is often what keeps us in the program. There are times when we might give up if we knew how long it was going to take, but when we accept God's timing, we can learn to live in hope and enjoy our lives while God is working on our problems. We know that God's plan for our lives is good, and when we entrust ourselves to Him, we can experience total peace and happiness.

The book of Genesis reminds me of the story of Joseph, who waited many years for the fulfillment of the dream God had given him. He was falsely accused and imprisoned before the time came for him to do what God had shown him he was to do. Exodus 13:17-18 tells us that God led the Israelites the longer, harder way on their journey to the Promised Land because He knew they were not yet ready to go in. There had to be time for their training, and they had to go through some very trying situations. They wasted a lot of time wondering about God's timing, but God never failed to take care of them and show them what He wanted them to do. The same is true in our lives.
I received my call from God in June of 2000 and slowly see fulfillment of what God has called me to do. I wish for so much more at times.
 God's training period simply requires us to do what He tells us to do when He tells us to do it...without questioning or trying to figure everything out.

Learn to Rely on God


Proverbs 16:9 says, A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure. Proverbs 20:24 says,Man's steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a man understand his way? When God directs our paths, He sometimes leads us in ways that don't make sense to us so we're not always going to understand everything. If we try to reason out everything, we will experience struggle, confusion and misery—but there is a better way.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. This sounds so simple, yet too many people make the mistake of trying to figure everything out themselves. Most of us have spent our lives trying to take care of ourselves, but when we accept Christ as our Savior, we must learn to trust our lives to His care. When we do, we can say with the psalmist, ...I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God. My times are in Your hands...(Psalm 31:14-15).

Due time is God's time, when God knows we're ready, not when we think we're ready. The sooner we understand and accept that, the sooner God can work His plan in our lives.

Todays Bible reading:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us: To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.
This lets us know that we all don't live in the same season at the same time. You should never be jealous of someone who is enjoying harvest while you're still in the planting season. Remember, they had to go through a season of planting just as you are. Seeing the results they are enjoying should be an encouragement to you. Understand and trust that God is doing the very best for you in your present season. Seedtime represents learning the will of God. Each time I choose God's will instead of my own, I'm planting a good seed that will eventually bring a harvest in my life. If you want to be victorious, you cannot afford to get pulled into the world's system, doing what you feel like doing. James 1:21 tells us what we should do: ...get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.

 Between seedtime and harvest comes a time of waiting.
 I feel like I am here? How about you? After a seed is planted, the heat, moisture and pressure of the ground finally cause the outer hull to crack open. Then roots shoot down, digging their way through the ground. It takes time for this to happen, and it takes place underground. Above the ground, you can't tell anything is happening. That's the way our lives are. After we plant seeds of obedience, we feel like nothing is happening, but all kinds of things are happening inside where we can't see. And like the seed that finally bursts through the ground with a beautiful green shoot, our seeds of obedience finally break forth into a beautiful manifestation of God in our lives.

Are you being obedient?  I have areas to really work on? How about you?

 When harvesttime comes, the desires of your heart begin to manifest—bondages fall off of you and you see your dreams come to pass. Favor, promotion, honor, and all kinds of good things come out in the open where they can be seen. In harvesttime, more than ever before, you hear from God, you enjoy His presence, and you're led by the Spirit. Blessings begin to chase you down the street, and joy and calm delight become your normal mood.

 Are you tired of waiting for harvesttime in your life?
Are you frustrated, crying out, "When, God, when?"
Then you need to understand that God's timing is often a mystery.
 He doesn't do things on our timetable. Yet His Word promises that He will not be late, not one single day. But these things I plan won't happen right away.
Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. They will not be overdue a single day! (Habakkuk 2:3 TLB). WRITE THE VISIONS DOWN AND STICK WITH THEM!

THANKYOU JOYCE MYERS FOR THESE NOTES, A GREAT MESSAGE I  NEEDED TO HEAR ANDPERFECT FOR MY TIMING, MAY THIS BLESS ANOTHER FRIEND!


Keep on friends,

God causes things to happen at exactly the right time! Your job is not to figure out when, but to make up your mind that you won't give up until you cross the finish line and are living in the radical, outrageous blessings of God! The more you trust Jesus and keep your eyes focused on Him, the more life you'll have. Trusting God brings life. Believing brings rest. So stop trying to figure everything out, and let God be God in your life.





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A SPIRITUAL INFLUENCE

Today's Daily Bible Reading

Have you ever had a friend confront you on an issue or uncover a sin in your life?

A person who brings a word of conviction or rebuke is a GOOD friend.

Have you ever experienced sorrow that produced repentance?

Sometimes a friend can help you clear yourself and allow God to care and appear to you.

In today's daily reading a man name Titus was asked to deliver a letter from the apostle Paul to the church of Corinth. Corinth was a community of believers that had serious problems. God wanted to call these people from their sin and rebellion to a NEW and FRESH commitment to holiness and obedience.

In 2 Corinthians 7:8 it states "For you were made sorry by my letter, I do not regret it."

Paul knew this letter delivered by Titus would produce sorrow and conviction. Titus carried the letter from the hand of Paul to the church of Corinth, he had to deal with the fallout, frustration and hurt when the letter was read.

When a friend confronts us we tend to feel hurt and walk away from that friendship or relationship wounded. Many times the person confronting is deeply affectionate toward you but hates the sin. 

I desire friends that confront me with difficult problems that may destroy my life.

How do you feel when you get a word of rebuke or have a sin uncovered? How might you respond?


How do you treat the messenger that brings conviction or rebuke?


God wants our lives to be CLEAR of sin and full of abundant living. When someone influences us, we can turn and then influence others.

Who is the person God is calling you to influence with love?

Could it be your husband?


When I ponder today's devotion I think of a common problem that many women face today.
The pain of a spouse struggling with pornography.
I know countless women in my years of serving in ministry that have been hurt by the pain produced from this issue.
Discovering that your husband is into pornography is like being in a boxing ring with every negative emotion you ever had. Anger, embarrassment, shock, shame and disgust. They all take turn slugging at you until you crumble to the floor.

Begin to Pray and ask God to help you expose your husbands secret and battle with this secret sin. God needs to work through you to influence your husband as Titus did in rebuking the Corinth church. Your Godly influence can help clear your husbands mind from Satan's nature to destroy.
Your reaction is to swing back and hurt but I encourage you to call on Gods strength and begin to confront, rebuke yet influence with affection.

This is hard but I have seen it work first hand every single time.

Blessings,

MY HUSBAND WANTS ME TO WORK

My Husband Wants Me To Work

I came across what I am about to share with you the other day in my quiet time reading. I thought it fit perfect with today's reading and devotional. Please read today's bible reading in the book of Proverbs and then follow up with whats below.
CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S DAILY READING

PROVERBS 14:1 "THE WISE WOMAN BUILDS HER HOUSE, BUT THE FOOLISH PULLS IT DOWN WITH HER HANDS."


I want to share wisdom with you today about this verse relating to the area of finances in the home. I am NO EXPERT in this area just a girl in training and given lots of God's grace daily in learning how to Care for my home and listen to my husband.  A question came in from a regular reader that was looking for wisdom about going back to work. Please read below and then take the Godly truths from http://womenlivingwell.org/  and may they help build your home wiser and stronger! 
Take a look at her site, its full of great wisdom




Anonymous wrote:


Could you talk about how to handle when your husband is not on the same page as you are in feeling God telling you to be home with your children. I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed. I’m afraid I will resent him in this area for the rest of our lives! I’m also afraid when he realizes that I should, it’ll be too late. =(




Dear Anonymous,

No matter what the issue is – when we do not feel on the same page as our husbands it hurts. As women, we have a need to feel understood and being understood completes the intimacy that we long to experience in our marriage. But here’s the kicker…your husband longs to be understood also – actually - he longs for you to highly respect his opinions…just like during the dating days when he could do no wrong. So you are at a stale mate. Let’s consider the situation.



There are a lot of factors that go into making a decision like going to work. How many children do you have? What age are they? Is there a need for childcare? What is your financial situation? Do you have heavy debt, college coming up for the kids, is your husband out of work, ill, or working in a field that is not secure right now? And what is your husband’s reason for your working? Is there some grain of truth or a respectable reason for why he wants you working?



I would suggest that you go to him (after 1-2 weeks of prayer) with creative alternatives that are well thought out and planned to show him. Giving your husband concrete information will help him as he processes your different perspective. Here’s some things you could do:



1. Evaluate places where you could possibly cut back and save money. Make a list to show him the total savings. Read some of these blog posts by Money Saving Mom . She is a Godly woman who writes her blog to help women just like you!



31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget (google this)



Is it Possible to Save Money When We Barely Keep Our Head Above Water?



Less is More!



I highly recommend you look into some of Dave Ramsey’s Resources, subscribe to his newsletter and really focus on showing your husband by your actions (not just words) that you are ready to work hard to cut corners and save money.

This is the Heather Baxter Goal this new season!



2. If your family cannot make it without your income, look for ways you can earn money from home. My oldest sister (who is married to a pastor, home schooled for 7 years, has done inner city ministry with the youth for over a decade and is an amazing cook, keeper of the home, wife and mom) is a virtual teacher from home with a regular paying salary. Nowadays there are many jobs that can be done from home. Pray and look out on the web for jobs you might be qualified to do from home.

Income Earning Ideas



3. If making money from home is not a good option – consider looking for a part-time job. My other sister – who stayed home until her children began attending school full-time, is a beautifully Godly wife, mother, homemaker, and co-laborer with her husband in ministry for over a decade. She is financially savvy and could tell you where to get every deal in town! She works just 2 days a week in her children’s Christian school. It is perfect because she rides to school with them, can see them through out the day, has summer and holidays off with the kids and still has time to keep her home and serve along side her husband at church. Keeping a part-time job could be a good compromise for you both?

PRAY and watch how God leads you!




If none of these solutions work and he is not giving you the option but rather saying ” you must work” then sweet Anonymous… you need to submit to your husband, as unto the Lord.




Ephesians 5:22 says: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.”




Many women are godly wives and mothers and earn income. What this means is your life will be a bit fuller…you will have to be a good manager of your time to keep up with your family’s needs and you may need your husband and children to chip in with housework. While your children are in your home, you will need to say a strong ”no” to many opportunities that come your way for fun or ministry. These “no’s” are only a sacrifice for a season. I have found this to be comforting on days when I must say “no” to fun or ministry opportunities because of homeschooling. The children will eventually grow-up and this guard on my time, will expand to include the things I wish I could do right now.



Your challenge will be finding contentment and joy in the midst of submitting to your husband in this area.




I wrote a post, long ago, about how I dealt with some bitterness in my marriage …here’s how it began…Dare I admit that it was my husband who first detected my bitterness. In the midst of a heated discussion a few years ago – my mouth overflowed and he was shocked and immediately he said – you are really bitter about some things! That was a dagger in my pious heart. In my pride, I certainly was not about to admit that he was right…but when I opened up my prayer journal that night and began to pray and talk to God I was completely convicted. The Lord had used my husband to open my eyes to a poison that was eating me up – bitterness.

Thank you Courtney for you wisdom today!

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Great stuff right? I told you so, it smacked me in the face and gave me a head ache!

In closing, I want to remind you that the Proverbs 31 woman was creatively industrious and brought in an income.


Proverbs 31:24 “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.”

I believe God has given us all a gift. Find your gift and talent and work it and see how God leads you!


Today I am working on a book and speaking ministry. God has lead me down all the paths but its up to me to make it happen when HE lights up the squares for me to follow!

Readers - have you been in her shoes? Do you have some wisdom you could share with women in this position? Please share it in the comment section.


Remember to take your concerns to the throne of Jesus and Walk with the King!

Blessings,

FREEDOM FOR THE TRAUMATIZED

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 DAILY BIBLE READING CLICK HERE!

Today's reading I highly recommend for everyone to read, it's about forgiving the offender. Please take time to read all of 2 Corinthians 2.


TRAUMATIC incidents are those which shatter the soul or mind.  For instance, someone is victimized in a horrendous situation, like being raped by their father or witnessing a murder. This traumatizes and shatters the soul leaving a bruise that never heals. A jolt comes to our mental system.

I remember a couple years ago working with a young women that was traumatized by her father at a young age. Her mental memories needed to be unshackled, the haunted memories of the past rape had stolen her joy in her marriage and family life.

When we suffer from a traumatized incident in our lives, regardless of how the trauma occurred it leaves the victim in an injured state. When we have a crack in our soul it allows the evil spirit to take up residence in those cracks.

ANGER
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION
FEAR
ABANDONMENT
PANIC ATTACKS
REJECTION
DEPRESSION
ISOLATION


Do one of these represent a piece of your brokenness?

God does not want our past to prevent us from moving forward into the future. God also does not want us to create bad habits due to a pain from the past. So what is a start for those shackled to his or her past enjoy true freedom?

FREEDOM ONLY FOLLOWS FORGIVENESS

THIS IS TOUGH I KNOW...

I had to learn to forgive myself and another for hurt in my life at one time. I learned to understand the Jesus sweat great drops of blood out of His brow, He shed those to my mind and soul could be healed. My healing has been paid for and so has yours.

If you decide to never recognize God's solution for your mental healing and hurts you will stay shackled forever. You will become a victim to the worldly methods of healing in the form of sedatives, coping mechanisms and more.

Forgiveness will heal your cracks and God will teach you to forgive through the power of the Holy Spirit.


Let me share 7 steps to help you move forward into Gods plan.
These are only actions steps to help you start experiencing God in your trauma.


Before anything else, you have to know why you’re forgiving someone. You have to see that the person has offended you – did the person take something away from you? Did that person ruin your image? Did that person shame you? Whatever that person did to you, you have to acknowledge that it happened and that it did affect you and you were hurt. Unless you do this, forgiveness won’t seem like an option because there was no offense in the first place.


Know what you’ve lost

Before you build your house, you have to count the cost. Same as when you’re re-building yourself, you have to count what it will take to recover what you’ve lost. What did you lose? How hard did it hit you? You have to know the extent of your loss. Unless you do this, you can never appreciate how much God will move through you when you have forgiven that person.



Focus on God
Forgiving simple, petty things might be easy and doable. But there will come a time in your life when you will face a colossal problem – chances are you will find it next to impossible to forgive a certain someone in your life. When you keep focusing on that person and his or her finitude, you will always be disappointed and you will always opt not to forgive – taking the easy way out.

When push comes to shove and your heart is hardened to forgive, don’t focus on the sins done against you. Focus on God and see how much He’s done for you. Then you will see that your forgiveness is but an easy race for the prize in this track called life.



Confess any sinful reaction towards the offense
Chances are you will take it to heart when you are offended. You might say cuss words, hold on to hate and bitterness, and/or do things that are not pleasing to God altogether. These reactions do you no good. It’s the coward’s way of handling an offense. You have to confess it to God and to a close friend or your accountability partner in order for you to be freed from the burden of your own sins against unforgiveness.

Bitterness and anger are burdens too heavy for you to carry

Ask God to save you and depend on Him
Sometimes you will find yourself far too deeply en rooted in bitterness, anger and hate towards the person who has offended or sinned against you. You can no longer find it in yourself to forgive and to love. This is the time when you ask God to save you – you have to depend on Him or else this sin of unforgiveness will enslave you for the rest of your life. And what a big, heavy burden it is.

I tell you the truth, once you break yourself down on God and ask for His help, He will help you. There’s no magic, but there’s God.


Give it up to God
After you’ve decided to forgive and have asked God to help you, you have to give it up to Him. You have to throw it away, cast it down at His feet, never to remember or take hold of it again. When you’ve really given it up to God, you can’t fish out for it anymore, you can’t dig it up anymore.


Set your heart free
Once you know you’ve given it up to God and He’s given you peace, set your heart free. Know that the guilt of hate and bitterness can be conquered by Him. Trust in Him and hold on to Him rather than to unforgiven.


BE FORGIVEN AND FORGIVE,

GET UNDERSTANDING BUT DON'T LEAN ON IT

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

TODAY'S DAILY READING CLICK HERE

PROVERBS 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart



and lean not on your own understanding;


6 in all your ways submit to him,
 
and he will make your paths straight
 
WHEN WE LEARN TO TRUST IN THE ONE TRUE GOD ONLY THEN WILL OUR LIVES AND SITUATIONS BE TRANSFORMED.

 
Before I share a thought for today's reading I want to thank you for taking the time to stop by and be refreshed.
 We are to get wisdom and understanding in life, yet we are not to lean on it apart from the Lord. The BEST wisdom divorced from God can become a snare and screw up ones entire life.
So again I welcome you to visit daily and be renewed with the right perspective for a brighter future. When you receive Gods word, treasure His commands, incline your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understand transformation will take place.
 
I am stepping into a new season this week with kids back in school, new agendas, new routines and new bible classes for me to facilitate. We as individuals are always growing and need a foundation for our daily decisions. I am so excited to start teaching again next week, I had the summer off and feel like I have become weaker in my wisdom, actions, commitments and more.
 
I encourage you to join me as we roll into a new season. I will be sharing the class through my blog weekly.
 The class is called "Overcoming Challenges" I will provide the verses we will use from the book of Nehemiah which is found in the bible. This class will be about 10 weeks.  I will also provide you still with the routine daily reading for those that follow me in the daily reading schedule. However, my blogs will focus on the book of Nehemiah for the next couple months. I encourage you to order the book by CLICKING HERE. Its super cheap and will help you follow along with me better. We will kick off this study September 13th next Tuesday!

This study and this blog will help you:

1. THINK BIGGER: Realize God's vision is bigger then the life your living.

2.THINK ABOUT OTHERS:Godly thinkers always include others in the mix

3.THINK CONTINUALLY:You will learn to no just satisfy yourself with an uncertain answer.

4.THINK BOTTOM LINE:You will learn to desire results in your life and situations

5.THINK CONTINUAL GROWTH:You will desire change and to keep improving

6.THINK WITHOUT LINES:God works outside of our control

7.THINK VICTORY:Learn to see God's rule come over your life

8.THINK QUICKLY:You will evaluate more quickly and see possible Godly answers.

9.THINK TREASURE: You will learn to hunt Gods word like treasure and though it were diamonds and rubies. Watch the value it adds to your life. This is no Joke!

10. WHAT AND HOW WILL YOU SEARCH FOR ANSWERS AND WISDOM THIS NEW SEASON?
WILL YOU JOIN ME?

When we become wise in our own eyes our life spirals down the stairs! I know this first hand. When I get my life on track with God its health to my flesh and strength to my bones.

What are you planning in order to experience change this new season?

Feel free to leave a comment anytime, just click on the comment link at bottom of post and fill in the box. Others will be encouraged through your words.

Blessings,

 
 

CLEAR COMMANDS COME FROM OUR CLOUDY CONDITIONS

THANKS TO PASTOR STEVEN AT ELEVATION CHURCH FOR THE GREAT WORDS OF WISDOM LISTED BELOW! IT COMPLIMENTS THE BLOG POST I WROTE ON HOW TO KNOW GODS WILL (SEVEN STEPS). PLEASE ENJOY BOTH AND WATCH GOD ADVANCE YOUR WORLD!

When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.



Exodus 24:15-16






I think many people have a major misconception when it comes to knowing God’s will. We often assume that it’s a streamlined, expedient process.






You pray and immediately know what you’re supposed to do.


You fast and the answer you’re looking for magically comes before the second skipped meal.


You open your Bible and it lands on a random verse in Leviticus that tells you exactly what to do.


Sometimes that happens. But not usually. Usually it’s more like what Moses experienced on the mountain.


Moses was at Mt. Sinai to meet with the Lord and receive directions and the Law for the people. He wanted to know the will of God. God wanted him to know it even more. But then Moses just sat there. God eventually spoke to him, but it was only after Moses had had to wait for six days in cloudy silence.


That should be encouraging to those of you who still don’t know God’s will for a particular situation or your life in general and you think you never will. The will of God often takes time to ascertain. Cloudy conditions usually come before clear commands. Sometimes God does speak to you immediately and clearly. When He does, be thankful for those times and act immediately and boldly. But usually, you’re going to spend days, months, maybe even years in the clouds before you hear anything.


If that’s you right now, don’t head back down the mountain just yet. God has clear direction coming for you. And remember, you’re not alone. God’s silence is not equivalent to God’s absence. God’s glory was on the mountain with Moses every one of those six days before Moses heard anything.


God is going to speak to you. He wants you to know His will for your life more than you want to know His will for your life. Just on His timetable.