March 15, 2013

Growing Season

No matter what you have gone through in life–or what you are currently going through–you have the opportunity to grow from it.

There will always be situations facing you that you don’t like. You will have the opportunity to complain, whine and make excuses about it. You will also have the opportunity to grow from it. You are heard that you grow during the tough times in your life. Take advantage of these tough times. Learn from whatever it is you are going through. It could teach you how not to go through it again. I see people, including myself, going through the same difficult seasons over and over again, because they didn’t learn and grow from it the first time. God will not put anything in your life that you can’t over come, but you will put stuff in your life that you can’t overcome. Make sure you are walking where God has instructed you to walk. Find out the plan He has designed for your life. When you are walking in God’s plan, life is much easier. It may not be easy, and that’s fine, but it is definitely easier. You can do this. You can make a difference. Your life is not a waste. Learn from where you are today. Are you learning and growing?

March 14, 2013

Victor Not a Victim

People who overcome bad experiences avoid the label of “victim” and take responsibility for moving forward.

God called Gideon a mighty man of fearless courage. Now Gideon looked around and said, “God couldn’t be talking about me. I come from the poorest family. I’m the least one in my father’s house.” Gideon saw himself as weak, defeated, and not able. But God saw him as strong, confident, and being more than a conqueror. The question is are we going to believe what God says about us, or are we going to believe what we feel, what we think, or what the circumstances look like? You may feel weak today, but God calls you strong. You may feel like a victim, but God calls you a victor. You may be afraid, but God calls you confident. You may be in debt, God calls you prosperous. You may be sick, God calls you well. You may be addicted, God calls you free. You may feel inadequate, but God calls you well able. Today, get into agreement with God. No matter what the circumstances look like, you’ve got to dig your heels in and say, “God, I agree with what You call me. I’m free, forgiven and full of purpose. Are you seeing yourself as a victim or victory today?

March 13, 2013

In Charge

The next time you find yourself in the midst of a bad experience, remind yourself you can take this time to learn and grow from it.

I want you to live an abundant and satisfied life. I want you to enjoy the fullness of  life and experience God’s goodness everywhere you go. It’s easy for people to get stuck in a rut, doing the same thing the same way all the time. But when you open yourself to new people, new experiences and new ideas, you are making room for God to reveal Himself to you and work in different ways in your life. When you stretch yourself, you increase your abilities, and you increase your influence in the world around you. This week, make the decision to explore something new. Take a different route home from work. Try something new on the menu at lunch. Be open to new people who may not necessarily look like you or act like you. Let God direct your life. Look for new opportunities to grow and stretch so you can live the full, satisfied life the Lord has in store for you. Are you letting God be in charge of your life today?

March 7, 2013

Focused on the Journey

Life is much more about embracing the journey and much less about reaching the destination. We’re learning to appreciate and live in the now.

No matter where you’ve been, no matter what you’ve done, realize today that your destiny supersedes your mistakes. When God designed the plan for your life, it wasn’t dependent on you being perfect, never making a mistake, or never taking a wrong turn. No, God knew we would all make mistakes. He knows how to get you back on track no matter where you are in life. Just like there are many routes on a map, God has a plan to help you reach your destination. He has detours, shortcuts and bypasses. He has already calculated the entire route for your life. If you’re feeling like you’ve blown it, if you feel like you are too old, too far gone or too off track, know that nothing you’ve done, no mistake that you’ve made — or ever will make — is a surprise to God. He’s already got it figured out. He’s arranged a comeback for every setback! He has grace for every weakness. He has mercy for every failure. Receive it today and move forward with boldness into the destiny He has for you! Are you letting your detours stop you from staying focused on your journey?

February 17, 2013

Freedom From Your Fear

The habitual choice to let fear and comfort determine your decisions will prevent you from living an extraordinary life.

So many people today are living with less than they should be because they’ve allowed fear to creep in and take root in their lives. Fear is the greatest weapon the enemy uses to try to hold us back. Fear is not from God. Fear brings torment. It’s designed to paralyze us and keep us from living our destiny. The good news is that God is greater than fear. His power in you is greater than any power that comes against you. But, in order to walk in His power, you have to close the door on the enemy. See, the enemy can’t have access to your life unless you open a door and give him access. That’s why we have to be careful about what we watch, what we listen to, what we read, and what we say. When we open ourselves to fear, we give the enemy opportunity. If you’ve allowed fear to steal from you in any area of life, today you can be free — you can be finished with fear. Conquering the enemy starts by making the choice to close the door on fear by receiving God’s love and meditating on His promises. Keep working your process free from fear.

February 13, 2013

Let Your Light Shine

Most of your fear is not that you are good enough, but that you may be too good.

Your deepest fear is not that you are inadequate. Your deepest fear is that you are powerful beyond measure. It is your light, not your darkness, that most frightens you. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so other people do not feel insecure around you. You were made to shine as children do. It is not just in some of you. It is in everyone. And as you let your own light shine, you unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As you are liberated from your own fear, your presence automatically liberates others. Are you letting your light shine to the fullest?

February 6, 2013

Facing Your Tough Situations

It’s one thing to know that you’re going into a challenging season.

You get prepared for it. You get mentally ready. But what about the difficulties that we don’t see coming? The unexpected crisis that catches us off-guard? Sometimes, it can seem so overwhelming that it almost knocks the wind right out of us. The Bible says that we shouldn’t be surprised by tough situations. That’s because the forces of darkness would not be fighting against you if they didn’t know that God has something amazing in your future! Sometimes, those unexpected difficulties are just a sign that you’re on the right track. It’s always darkest just before the dawn appears. The enemy always fights the hardest when you are closest to your breakthrough. The key is to stay the course and keep fighting the good fight of faith. Keep your joy and keep declaring God’s Word over your future. God has promised that you will overcome every obstacle. You will defeat every enemy, and right now, I declare that you will fulfill your destiny in Jesus’ name. Are you ready to attack your tough situations today?

February 1, 2013

Be Your Best

Nothing is more scary than the thought of being mediocre. Always, always strive to be the best you can possibly be.

God has given you all power and authority to overcome every obstacle you may face in life. That means you are well able to do what you were called to do. You can accomplish your goals. You have the ideas, the creativity and the talent to be successful. You have been armed with strength for every situation! God has already lined up the right people to come across your path; He’s already lined up the right opportunities. You have everything you need to live a victorious life. Not an average life, not a barely-get-by, mediocre life — you were created to excel. You have greatness on the inside. You may not have seen it in the past, but if you’ll keep working your process, it’s just a matter of time — victory is on the way. Don’t settle where you are. Rise up in strength today. Are you ready to be your best today and every day?

January 29, 2013

Destiny is a Choice Blog/Podcast

Your destiny is a choice, shake off bad decisions and keep going.

Click to listen to podcast

I know people who feel like they’ve wasted years of their lives because of poor choices. They spent years in a relationship that was toxic, years with an addiction, years at a job where they were miserable. You have to realize, nothing you have been through is ever wasted. Your past experiences, good and bad have deposited something on the inside of you. Those challenges have sharpened you to help make you who you are today. When the enemy brings adversity into your life, God has a way of taking that experience and turning it around for your advantage. You may think you’ve hit a dead end, but if you’ll stay in faith, you will see God begin to open up a new route. He’ll put the right people in your path, the right opportunities, the right circumstances to move you forward toward your God-given destiny. Today, don’t focus on what’s happened in your past, focus on what God will do in your future. He wants to restore your soul and revive your dreams. Keep believing, keep expecting, keep hoping because God has a new route for your future. Is your past keeping you from seeing your future?

January 28, 2013

XL Living

Living large means having a life that is full of meaning and purpose. I want Extra Large living!!!

One thing I’ve noticed is that so many people are walking around who aren’t really living to the full the way God intends. Do you ever notice that many people quit living around thirty, but yet they are still alive until after they’re eighty? Maybe they went through a disappointment or had a failure. Someone hurt them, and now they’ve lost their joy and settled where they are. No, God has another victory in store! You wouldn’t be breathing unless God had something amazing in your future. It’s time to get your passion back and be determined to really live out all of your life. God wants to bring you to a flourishing finish, not a fizzled-out finish. Don’t let disappointment or self-pity hold you back. God has promised that what was meant for your harm He will turn around and use for your good. Not only will He bring you out, but He will bring you out better off than you were before. Receive it by faith today and press forward into the abundant, fulfilled life He has in store for you. Are you really living XL life today?