As we observe the ongoing changes in our world, nation, and church, I believe God is in the process of reforming and restructuring everything around us, in order to bring about His ultimate will on our earth.

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I believe that right now God is in the process of building up a church that He has ordained, ordered, chosen and desired…and creating a place among a chosen remnant of people that will manifest His presence, power and purpose.

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I believe that if we are to gain God’s greatest blessings for our selves, our families, and our church, we must embrace His highest purpose:

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a)     to conform each of us to the “image” of Christ, and

b)    as Christ-filled individuals, we will transform the church in order to advance the Kingdom of God.

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During difficult and challenging times, His remnant must adhere to God’s biblical principles to overcome and endure – and ultimately see God’s purposes revealed in our destiny.

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I believe there are four critical principles for surviving during the period of reformation and restructuring happening around us – and perhaps, occurring as close to home as in our very lives…careers…and families!

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Principle #1: Outlast It. ....

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James 5:11 (KJV) Behold, we count them happy which endure.  Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of he Lord; that the Lord is pitiful, and of tender mercy.

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To endure is to continue, to last, to bear up under hardship, to preserve, to be strong.  Enduring means that we stay under, remain, undergo, have fortitude. Endurance means to remain standing under heavy pressure. I believe that everything about God is somehow related to endurance!

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Principle #2: Don’t Make a Permanent Decision in a Temporary Situation.....

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In Genesis 16, we read the story of how Abraham’s wife, Sarah, who had no children, convinced Abraham to lay with her handmaid, Hagar, to bear him an heir.  Sarah made an assumption (“the Lord hath restrained me from bearing” vs. 2) – and decided to take matters into her own hands.

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Sarah looked through a narrow capsule and made a permanent situation in a temporary situation.  Often when we make a poor choice or decision in the “heat of the moment,” we have to deal with the outcome and the repercussions of our decision longer than we ever could have imagined! 

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Principle #3: You Must Have an Attitude of Perseverance.

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Persevere combines the word per -- meaning through, or by means of -- along with the word severe: extremely difficult, rigorous; trying; harsh, intense.

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Principle #4: You Must Develop a Band of Survivors.....

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A band is something that binds… a group of people joined together for a common purpose…or that which by something is bound.

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Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”....

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Adversity tells you who your friends are, and who your brothers are – and a friend becomes a brother during adversity.   During difficult times, remain in close association with those who will lift you up with the Word of God, exhort you with His principles, His goodness and His wisdom.  Someone who will do that will help you survive during the storm and walk in destiny!

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Never give up!  Have faith in the divine plan of God at work in your life – because God has a plan…you are part of that plan – and God’s plan is always at work!   

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During God’s season of reformation, activate these principles in your life to achieve the ultimate destiny God wants to bring through you -- one of His chosen remnant!

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I believe a life of success is built on those things that are of great value in the eyes of God.  A life of success will exhibit signs of inner spiritual maturity – not outward signs of material acquisition. 

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The Bible repeatedly describes the behavior, beliefs, and actions that will lead to a successful life.  Some of the most notable marks of spiritual maturity and a level of true success in life include:

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An Ability to Love.  Love is giving.  Love flows from having received love and value from the Lord.  Spiritually mature people are givers.  They are motivated to help others succeed, even more than they want to benefit themselves.

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A Joyful Outlook on Life. True joy is not rooted in the material trappings money can buy.  Spiritually mature and successful people realize that, often, the “things” we think will make us happy don’t. True joy is rooted in an awareness of the greatness of God and the many blessings He showers on us on a daily basis.   Joy flows from the inside out, and is not based on external things, people, or situations.

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A Peaceful Spirit. Striving for “outward success” can keep us restless, always on the hunt for something to satiate our anxiety, fears, or unsatisfied yearnings of the heart.  Genuine peace is a feeling of wholeness and calm that stems from knowing one is in right relationship with God.  Spiritual mature people have a genuine peace that stays with them even when the world outside is falling apart.

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Patience.  Spiritually mature people realize that true success in anything is very rarely gained overnight.  Success comes from being able to persevere, and when necessary, wait for the desired result. Spiritually mature people have learned that long-lasting fixes and cures take time, slow-cooked meals are generally far better than fast food. Rewarding relationships require patience and take time to build. Often, success is sweeter and more sustainable when it comes slowly!

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 Attitude of Kindness and a Humble Stance. True success carries an attitude of humility, courtesy, and respect for others.  A spiritually mature person allows others to express their opinions and make their own choices -- while still being strong enough to express and make best decisions for their own good.  Before God, the successful person meekly carries the attitude, “Not my will, but Your will, be done.”

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Faith in God. The spiritually mature person leads a life of success by putting their trust solely in God. They realize that to trust oneself is folly, and to trust others without question is naïve. They recognize the sovereignty, wisdom, and divine direction of God, and apply His Holy Word to their life on a daily basis.

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Self Control. The successful, spiritually mature person has developed willpower and restraint, seeking what is best for all involved, in the ways and times that are most beneficial and appropriate.

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When we seek to develop these godly characteristics, we are well on our way to creating a life of success – God’s way!

Jesus…said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13-14)....

 

The John 4 illustration of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well is a perfect example of how God “fills us up” with His Spirit while perfecting the Christ in us.

 

When Jesus meets the woman, he already knows her whole story – that she’s been married five times, and is currently “shackin’ up” with another man.  Like many women,  she has searched for fulfillment and happiness in ‘romantic relationships’ – only to be disappointed again and again.

All human beings eventually leave us -- through physical death, relationship endings, or seasons of acquaintance coming to completion. All physical things eventually fall away, just as our physical hunger and thirst eventually returns.  This was as true in Jesus’ time as it is now -- and although the Samaritan woman didn’t know who Jesus is, when she heard that instead he offered “living water” (vs.10) she knew it sounded better than what she had:  “The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” (vs. 15)

Jesus offered her the same thing he offers us today: “living water” that comes from accepting him as our Lord and Savior.  “Christ within” becomes our eternal “well of life” – filling us with joy, peace, fulfillment, purpose, and the ability to live an empowered, authentic, and Spirit-inspired life.  When the Samaritan women finally realized who Jesus was, she “…left her waterpot, and went her way into the city and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” (vs. 28-29)  Better than mere water, from Jesus she’d received her first taste of “the well of life” – and her soul had been transformed by their meeting.

            Are you are being fed by the “well of life” within?  If you’re not filled with the peace, joy and assurance of Christ, it might be time to appraise how your worship is going!  Jesus gave the woman at the well a profound message on the kind of worship God desires – the kind of worship that transforms our soul:

…But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (vs. 23-24)

To refuel your worship and refill your “well,” start by remembering how good God has been to you.  When I think about what the Lord has done for me, I immediately have to let out a praise! Praise and worship usher us into the presence of God – and help us get our joy back!

Take time to read His Word daily.  It is the source of all the wisdom, truth and peace you need to sustain you during every season.  Before you read your morning paper, turn on the news, or surf the web – pick up your Bible for the nourishment that feeds your soul!

Know that God wants to perfect the image of Christ in you, so you’ll no longer need to turn to the worlds’ “imposters” to quench your thirst, or refresh your spirit! Remember: the goal is for your life to “runneth over” so you can give out to others -- from the living spirit of God within you…the “well of life” within!

The daily opportunity to renew, restore, and redirect our lives is one of the most awesome facets of our relationship with God, His Holy Spirit, and our redeemer, Christ Jesus.....

God gives us the power – through His Word, through His Son, and through His Spirit – to rise each day and continue the process of transformation and restoration, as He perfects us into the image of Christ.  ....

Even during seasons where nagging fears, doubts, and worries may lurk in the corners of our minds, there are more powerful forces at work in us, ready to help us rejuvenate our weary souls…replenish and increase our faith…and renew our commitment to find God’s destiny for our lives. ....

Because we are saved by the blood of Christ, led by the counsel of the Holy Spirit, and made strong in our weakness through faith in our omnipotent, omnipresent, and merciful God, it is possible to experience freedom from worry, doubt, anxiety, fear, bad memories or negative self-talk– and pursue our God-given dreams, goals and callings -- even during our most challenging seasons.  ....

Yet, many of us, when confronted by difficulties, struggle to maintain the victory -- of spirit over flesh…faith over fear…and the truth of God -- over the lies of the enemy of our soul.....

Here are three strategies for finding daily spiritual renewal and transformation through the power of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit:....

#1: Stop Dwelling on Past Failures and Injuries.  Failure is a part of life. When you fail, the most important thing is to pick yourself up and choose to move forward. At the same time, recognize that those around you have shortcomings and will fail, and possibly cause you pain, from time to time as well. Don’t get stuck in moments of failure – yours or theirs.  Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:3: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye”?Ask God to forgive – and help you forgive -- what needs to be forgiven, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight on how to move forward. ....

#2: Remain Open to Change. Everything in life changes. Only through learning how to navigate transition will you be able to bend – and not break – when upheaval, loss, and change occurs in your life. Accept change as good. Ask God to help you “change your mind” about change…read God’s Word to learn how Jesus counseled His followers on the changes it would be necessary to make to achieve their destiny and enter God’s kingdom…and listen for the counsel of the Holy Spirit as you prepare for the new opportunities change will reveal!....

#3: Keep an Eye Out for New Opportunities Each Day. God will send you opportunities.  Expect them! Be open to new ideas – and don’t get stuck in a preconceived notion of how God is going to answer your prayers, or bring about the accomplishment of the goals and destiny He calls you to pursue.  Pay attention to the leading and counsel of the Holy Spirit as you maintain an open and willing mind and seek new opportunities in your life. Remember: God’s objective is for you to be transformed, restored, and perfected into the likeness of Jesus Christ a little bit more each day.....

Use these strategies to achieve the daily renewal, transformation, and freedom through Christ and the Holy Spirit that God intends for you.  Your best is yet to come!....

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God Will Use Your Test To Create Your Testimony!....

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God’s purposes cannot miscarry. God will never fail; He will never falter.  And He will be revealed through a remnant that will rise up – that is, in fact, already rising up – to reveal His image, His glory, and His will on earth.

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But that remnant will go through things.  That remnant will be tested.  That remnant will experience loss, trial, shake-up, chaos, and confusion…as God brings changes to our world.   That remnant will have a testimony of God’s power of transformation, salvation, and redemption.

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If you are being tested today…it’s because God will be using your testimony tomorrow!

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We are in a very strategic, critical time in the body of Christ.  Anyone and everyone with any spiritual discernment at all can see that we are in transition – that it’s not like it used to be.  We’ve are in a different place.

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God is raising up a remnant out of the crevices, the darkness.  If you are being tested…going through changes…experiencing a shake-up…and through it all, you are still hungrily seeking what it is He has to say – following His Word… and standing (-- or kneeling -- or laid out on the floor in prayer!) in the face of every attack of the enemy of your soul…then you are part of that remnant.

And right now He is positioning you for destiny…because He is about to have His grandest display of glory on the earth – and you are it!  He has chosen you!   And your test will become part of the testimony He will use so that others might see His glory… His faithfulness…His sovereignty…His grace – in your life.

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God is taking us through a process where those who will rise up to the test will be purified and perfected…they will have persevered – and come forth very powerful.

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God is raising up a people – His People – and they will represent His company.  It is a heavenly summons…this is not the beckon or the call of a man.  This is a moment in God that He chose, He observed, and He reserved.   He placed and He planted you in the earth, and heaven has now summoned you:  it is an upward drawing by the Holy Spirit to the top of Mount Zion.  Zion is a place…and Zion is a people!  And the people of Zion will remain steadfast to share the glory of God and His will -- through their wisdom… …their love…their forgiveness …their testimony.

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So, as part of His remnant of Zion, begin today, to accept your test as part of walking in the destiny He has summoned you for.  And no matter what these days, times or seasons look like, continue to stand firm on His Word and His promise…and you will see God use your test to create your testimony…to bring forth His purposes and His will in your life and on our earth!

Remembering What’s Important

Nobody grows up in a perfect family. Let’s face it…we all have issues. As hard as we try to be “perfect parents” every family will experience some degree of dysfunction…and every parent will make mistakes.

 

Even the best of parents will ask themselves, “Have I been the best parent I could be?” or “If I had been less busy would my child be rebellious?” or  “Have I demonstrated the love of God to my children?” or “Did I push them too hard or limit them in some way?”

 

One of the most important lessons a parent models for their child is the ability to set healthy boundaries: the process of learning what is rightfully yours and what rightfully belongs to someone else. Children learn how to set boundaries based on how they witness boundaries being established at home, and from the verbal instruction they receive from their primary caretakers.

 

As a parent, you have a tremendous responsibility and awesome opportunity to impact our world through the boundaries you set forth for your children. Healthy boundaries are critically important to emotional and psychological health, to establishing healthy relationships, and to enabling us to work and live in harmony with one another.

 

If we didn’t grow up learning healthy boundaries, we may have experienced some boundary confusion in our life and carried those unhealthy boundaries over to our children. Often by not establishing proper boundaries and setting expectations for our children we think we are “helping” them -- when in actuality, nothing could be farther from the truth. We are actually weakening them and preventing them from developing into responsible adults.

 

There are at least eight marks of a family with healthy personal boundaries:

Each person’s opinion is heard.  Each person feels safe to disagree with other family members without experiencing rejection, isolation, or criticism.  Each person is encouraged to think, reason, and learn – and to develop personal opinions without censure.

Each person is encouraged to express her emotions in healthy ways that do not bring injury to other family members, without ridicule or embarrassment.

Each person is encouraged to discover her unique gifts and talents, and to develop them to the fullest.

Each person is given age-appropriate freedoms of choice – such as choices about clothing, food, hobbies, and activities

Each person is given age-appropriate chores and household responsibilities –

so everyone shares in the cooking and cleaning duties – not just mom after she has worked all day. J   

Each person is respected as a member of the family and is shown courtesy.

Each person is encouraged to be quick to ask for forgiveness and to freely forgive.  No one in a family is right all the time, and it’s never right to withhold forgiveness or fail to ask for forgiveness when wrongs are committed.

Each person is encouraged to pray at family gatherings – such as mealtimes – but no one is forced to pray.  Respect is shown for each person’s personal relationship with God.

 

Giving a child these freedoms does not in any way diminish a parent’s right, privilege, and responsibility to provide guidance, direction, prayer, or influence.  Neither does it limit parents in establishing family rules and guidelines.  Setting healthy boundaries at home is vital to positioning your children to become healthy independent adults and sets them on a path to receive God’s best for their lives!

 

 

 

 

Be Fruitful in Every Season!

Wow guys…spring is in the air! Warmer weather, new blossoms, fresh perspectives…who doesn’t love spring? It’s a time of new beginnings!

Of course, there is another question we could ask:…but who really likes “spring cleaning? :=) (JUST KIDDING!)

Actually, many of us meet this season with the annual ritual of throwing open the windows, sweeping out the cobwebs, and lemon-waxing the dust away. It’s a great time of year to air out the house, and dump the “stuff” accumulated through a long, cold winter, often spent trapped inside by frigid temperatures and unappealing weather!

I believe spring-cleaning also gives us a sense of “fruitfulness,” purpose, and meaning as we honor the perfect design God laid out through His changing seasons…

Spring is full of blossoming life…and as I watch tiny buds begin to make their presence known on tree limbs, or watch the clover sprout up over slowly greening fields, I also think about the new life Jesus assured us by His work on the cross. I believe it is a truly powerful message on how we can lead fruitful, meaningful, purposeful lives…no matter what our circumstances.

Of course, some of us are wondering, how do we lead “fruitful” lives in a down economy, when bills need to be paid, when home and career are demanding and challenging…and we just can’t seem to “get it all done?”

I believe fruitfulness is often an attitude. Being fruitful doesn’t necessarily mean doing
big things; being fruitful often means simply carrying out the tasks, roles, and
responsibilities God has given us, to the best of our abilities with an attitude of thanksgiving and appreciation.

I am blessed to do the work of teaching, preaching, and sharing the gospel with people worldwide, and I am honored by the sense of fruitfulness God has given me through this work. But I also feel fruitful when I give of myself in small ways: baking or sharing goodies with those I love…encouraging the sales clerk at the grocery store or talking to the person sitting next to me on a flight…uplifting one another and offering hope to the people God puts in our path is part of His plan for each of us every day.

Leading a “fruitful life” means leading a life that’s whole -- spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally; it means being able to meet the needs of others in appropriate ways, being loving to others, and sharing and displaying that which is good, noble, and beneficial with those around you – friends, family and beyond.

This spring, look for opportunities to be fruitful in every aspect of your life…at work and at home. Looking at your life in this way will bring joy to you and allow you to be blessed as you bless others.
And remember…don’t be afraid to go out on a limb…that is where the fruit is the sweetest.
Happy Spring time!

Love you guys, talk to you again soon…

Paula

Hey Guys!

We’re already well into the second month of the New Year…and here’s what God has laid on my heart to share with you this month:

Never stop daring to dream!

Whatever visions, goals, and dreams God has given you to pursue – go for it! No matter how far off your dreams seem to be right now, don’t give up on them! No matter how bad the evening news is…no matter what’s in your mailbox...no matter what your natural, everyday surroundings look like – keep daring to dream!

Because your dreams are powerful. I’m not talking about the dreams you have at night in bed; I’m talking about your conscious, thought-out daydreams -- of what your future could look like. Your personal goals, inner-visions, and daydreams can inspire you – and hidden within each of them is a prediction of what the future might bring…and perhaps a key to your God-given destiny.

I know…you might be thinking, “But Paula, I don’t have it in me to dream right now -- I have too many bills, too many things stressing me out. Drama, drama, drama…how can I pursue any dream at all?”

The fact is, there will be plenty of times when you won’t feel like your dreams are achievable. People often doubt their capacity for success. However, don’t let that stop you! Don’t be discouraged about where you are right now. Instead, start by simply writing your dreams, goals, and visions in a journal. Then begin to pray about them, and ask God to show you the steps you need to take to build toward them. If you only do one thing toward your dream every day, that’s something. Keep asking God to bless your work, bless your steps, and bless your dreams. Remember every journey begins with a single step!

In order to create dreams and goals for your future…you must begin to nurture them in your present. See yourself doing the things you dream of…being the person you desire to be…going in the direction of your dreams as you begin to lay the foundation today.

Look -- people who see me on television today think I’ve always been a preacher and a teacher. But when God gave me a vision of my future, I knew it wouldn’t come to pass in a week…a month…or a year. I needed time to grow and be processed. But during that time I never lost sight of the vision He had placed inside of me -- and today, over twenty years later, I’m here to tell you – dare to dream!

Here’s my challenge to you: Start today, to do one thing toward your dream every day -- asking God for direction along the way -- I’m convinced that, by the end of 2009, you’ll be able to see definite progress as you move toward your God-given destiny.
Remember, the difference between a dream and a dream-come-true is the courage to follow your heart. Your future begins today…so go for it – and dare to dream!

Love you guys, talk to you soon…


Paula