God's Timing

Genesis 21:2  (NIV) – “Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.”
     We have all said it… some phrase that let others know we plan to do something but not immediately.  We tell them – “In a minute”, “hold on”, “ I’ll get back with you” and although no specific time is given it is generally known that at some point the issue or response will be completed. 

     When we enter an establishment expecting service we are often satisfied by a simple head nod or gesture from the salesperson, maitre’ d, or clerk that our presence has been noted and soon our needs will be met.

     Why then do we get anxious with God about his timing of events, blessings or prayer answers?  Why do we seem to trust that men will do right by us when we make requests known and we will usually patiently wait our turn; but when it comes to God we want to put him on the ‘clock’.  We pray and then expect as soon as we open our eyes or get up off of our knees or finish the final ‘AMEN’ we expect – waa-laa – for the answer to appear immediately.  Yes, God is capable and powerful enough to make anything happen in the blink of an eye, but he is also loving enough and wise enough to know that most of our requests should be tempered with time.  Not our ‘chronos’ time; but his ‘Kairos’ time. 
     My mantra is very simple – “Relax, everything is in Divine Order”.  Not only does this mean that the events are unfolding as God has ordained; but also it encompasses the fact that the timing is also under his wise control.  When we get anxious and cannot always see the steps of God’s divine order progressing; we must trust God’s heart and be patient.  His timing is perfect.  
     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day!  Have an awesome weekend.  Be blessed and bless a church service with your presence this weekend.  See y ou on Monday.  Dr. JoAnn

Lift Up

Good morning! It is Flashback Thursday.  Today's power scripture comes from Genesis 13:14(NIV) – “The Lord said to Abram after Lot had left him, Lift up now your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
Things had gotten a bit sticky and touchy between the servants of Abram and the servants of Lot because they were having clashes over grazing land for their flocks and herds.  Abram gave Lot the first choice of which area he would select and of course he chose the prime, well-irrigated land of the Jordan Valley.  As soon as Lot left, God spoke to Abram and reiterated his promise.  He told Abram to lift up his eyes and to look in all directions.  God would bless him mightily. We can take a few lessons from this scripture.

First of all let me point out that it states that when Lot left then God spoke to Abram again.  Earlier in chapter 12 we see God visiting Abram and telling him to leave his home and countrymen and go to a land where God would direct him.  He was instructed to separate himself from his family and follow God’s command.  Well… in comes Lot, Abram’s nephew… throwing a monkey wrench into the operation. So we see from the beginning that there is a fly in the ointment.  Who do you have tagging alongside you that might be hindering your progress?  They are familiar; they are loved; they mean you no harm, but their very presence might be slowing God’s promise for you to a standstill.  Re-evaluate your purpose in life and the promises and instructions given to you by God.  Do they include any special clauses that need to be adhered to specifically?  Be careful for God does follow his own rules, even if we don’t.   If God told you to attend a certain school or work at a certain job or avoid a certain activity and you alter your ‘assignment’ -your blessings may be hindered.

Secondly, God told Abram to lift up his eyes and see his future.  Sure, we must live in this world and be in this moment, but God gives us the authority to look beyond our circumstances and see the hope of our future. We need to stop focusing on where we are at ground level and peer into the starlight. We must look above the storms and see the calm of the heavens and forget about the mischief, mayhem and mockeries of everyday life. What we see at ground level can deceive us into believing there is nothing greater. Don’t worry about taxes or bankruptcies or unplanned pregnancies or medical reports - these are all lower level concerns. Think on the lovely things, the promises of God, the things of a higher calling.  When we focus on these, the other ‘stuff’ falls into place.

Lastly, Abram was told to look in all directions.  We sometimes are so focused on pinpointing one specific way of doing something that we get pigeon-holed into believing that our blessings are only going to come through one particular avenue.  There are some who think that it is only by working hard, long, unrelenting hours, that they will be successful in caring for themselves and their families.  God’s grace could provide a new concept or idea that could make them a millionaire overnight if they looked up long enough to see it.  Some might believe that it is only through education or through marriage that they will be able to achieve their dreams and desires.  God’s plans may be in a totally different direction.  So look up and look around – great things are on the horizon.

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn 

When Healing Hurts

Numbers 12:13-14 - 3 So Moses prayed to the Lord, “God, please heal her from this sickness!” 14 The Lord answered Moses, “If her father spit in her face, she would be shamed for seven days. So put her outside the camp for seven days. After that she can come back into the camp.”

     Miriam and Aaron were whispering about Moses behind his back and thought they had gotten away with their murmuring; but God heard it and brought their indiscretions out into the light.  As punishment Miriam was stricken with leprosy.  Moses prayed for her healing and she did receive it but with a banishment.  Her healing came with a bit of emotional hurt and isolation. 
     After a week of going through the ravages of recovering from a raging sore throat, I know the pain of both hurt and healing.  While my body fought off the inflammation and my fever subsided; I still had to deal with the pain of swallowing my medication and food as my throat fought to return to normal.  In the beginning I was not sure what was involved in the onslaught of the sore throat so I isolated myself away from others to narrow the chance of passing on any potential contagion.
     We have all experienced the pain that healing can bring.  Whether it is the pesky itch of a healing scab that forms over a scar or the pain that comes later as sore muscles and joints reestablish themselves from a fall or overwork. And who hasn’t fallen asleep in an awkward position and awaken to find that a hand or limb has ‘gone numb’ and the revitalization feels like ‘pins and needles’ as it comes back to life. 
     When life’s problems arise, and yes they will come, it is not for us to fret or lose hope, but to seek solutions through Christ and then prepare for the healing and restoration.  Both of which can be sometimes hurtful.  As God heals your physical, emotional or spiritual pain be aware that some healing will be a little uncomfortable but that does not mean that it will not be whole or effective.  God does not do anything half-way; his promises are sure, so do not lose heart if the ‘way back’ seems difficult.  Sometimes the restoration from a problem may seem like more punishment itself, but rest assured if God sent it, in the long run it will make you better than before.  Hang in there..

     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day!  Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn 

Don't Be Afraid to Ask

Matthew 20:31-32 (ESV) – “31The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?”

     If there is something on your mind or in your heart that you keep pushing to the background because is ‘feels’ as if it is too overwhelming or even too trivial to bring up – go for it.  Our God is concerned about ALL aspects of our lives and he yearns to have the type of relationship with you in which you take all of ‘you’ to him in prayer.  There is nothing too hard for God.  We instinctually want to get rid of heavy things that burden us and will throw all the ‘ton-age’ on the altar, but what about the small ‘gnat-like’ things that just seem to pester us?  They might not occupy a full measure of concern, but they definitely fly about and cause distraction and discomfort.  The Holy Spirt might be bringing these small things to your attention so you will address the issues and bring them before the Master. 
     Don’t allow your own feelings to override the fact that God loves you so much he wants to be involved in all that concerns you.  Yes, he is concerned about the small pebbles in our shoes; the nearly invisible dust particles in our eyes and the other life nuances that irritate us and keep us from being 100% on task.  God is concerned about these distractions; even if the world thinks they might be trivial - call on the name of Jesus and ask him for relief.  Call on the Master and seek his guidance and help.  Call on the one who loves you more than life itself and proved that on the cross.  Call on Jesus and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day!  Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn 

Take My Breath Away!

Genesis 2:7– “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

     For the past five days I have been battling, winning and learning from a bad bout with a sore throat.  In spite of the pain of the inflammation, tenderness in swallowing, aggravation of not being able to eat; the biggest challenge has been the infection’s affect on my breathing.  As my body has fought to regain its stability and the symptoms and discomfort have waned; the lasting and nagging cough and shallowness of breath reminds me of how precious it really is to move and process life-sustaining air.

     Our scripture today tells of the wonder of God’s ultimate gift of love as he breathed into man the essence of life.   With each breath that we are able to take; with every step we are able to make; with every hand we are able to shake – GIVE THANKS!  Until you have had the wind knocked out of you – or suffered a bout with pneumonia or felt the side effects of a chronic lung debilitating disease – or had what you thought was a simple sore throat caught from sleeping under a fan – you might not realize the anguish many go through just to draw breath to call on the name of Jesus.  Remember them in prayer today.   Give thanks to our awesome God who orders our steps, collects our tears, numbers our hairs and knows our every breath!

     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!  Be blessed. Dr. JoAnn

No Doze

Today's power scripture comes from Judges 16: 19-20 (NIV): “¹⁹After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.²⁰Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.”

     This of course is the story of Samson and Delilah or what we can call Devilish Delilah and the fall of Samson.  After many other attempts to find out the source and secret of Sampson’s strength, Delilah kept nagging and persisting and needling Sampson until she wore him down. All the times before he was on his P’s and Q’s but finally he let down his guard.  In similar fashion the devil is unrelenting.  He wants you to fail and he will continue needling and nagging and prodding and pursuing you until he wears you to the point of fatigue…then he lulls you to sleep.  And he will put you into a deep sleep and steal what is rightfully yours if you try to operate in our own strength.

     Samson became cocky and this arrogance led to him thinking he was in command of his gift instead of realizing that the gift was a point of grace to be used by God. Do not be deceived that the power, poise,  intellect, charm, commanding voice, melodious tones, speaking prowess, healing hands, leadership ability, cooking dynamics, hair styling wonderment, academic skills, athletic ability, acting acumen, business savvy, curvy body, smooth skin, tall statue,  or ability to whistle and chew gum at the same time has anything to do with you….
All of what we are, do and can become is for the glorification of God.   When we lose sight of that we become easy prey to the devil to use our very gifts against us.  In your own time, read the entire passage about the wiles of Delilah, you will see that in every other instance when she asks Sampson for his secret of this strength she did the deeds herself; whether it was binding him with bowstrings or braiding his hair. But when she realized that she had finally gotten the real truth from him….she called for reinforcements. The devil will do the same. As long as you stand strong in the Lord the devil will keep chipping away because he knows that even if he brought an army of thousands against you as long as you are operating in the strength of the Lord - he is defeated.  But when you lose that edge -  and he knows it - he rushes in with reinforcements to make sure he cuts you from your source.   
       Stay on guard. Do not be caught sleeping. Remember that the battle is the Lord’s and do not try to operate in your own strength, relying on your own abilities and instincts – you will lose every time.  Abide in the Lord and he will abide in you.

     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Have a productive weekend; see you on Monday! Be blessed!   Dr. JoAnn

Don't Be Stingy - (Flashback Thursday)

Luke 6:38 (KJV) – “[G]ive, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

When we were kids we might not have known the terms ‘hedonism’, ‘greed’ or ‘avarice’;  but it definitely did not take us long to understand the concept of ‘selfishness’ or ‘ being stingy’. When we had limited resources (just a few pieces of Now and Later or a handful of Nerds) and minimal access to disposable cash (hard to stretch that $1.00 allowance); we found ourselves hoarding.  We place tremendous worth on some things that intrinsically have little or no value. 

Seed is expensive, yet when he buys seed, the farmer does not hold on to it for dear life.  He prepares his field to receive the life giving vessels and when the sowing process begins, the farmer does not hoard the seed, no matter how expensive it might be.  He lavishly throws the seed into furrows in the rich soil because he knows that each seed has the potential to produce a yield far greater than his investment.  As he gives to the land freely, soon the seeds will take root, grown, blossom and bear fruit.  If he sows 5 seeds and only one grows to become an apple tree; that tree will more than abundantly give him a greater return than what he invested.  One apple will have more than 5 seeds in it; and surely that tree will bear more than one small solitary apple. 

We must be willing to give freely and with a good heart and spirit.  God promises that if we do this, our return will be not only ‘good’, which means we will be pleased with the initial harvest but then he sweetens the deal by saying we will gather even more to the point that it will spill over.  When you give, whether it is your tithe, sacrificial offering, love offering, benevolent offering; offering of your time, talents and skills be sure to do so with the ‘measure’ that you want to see come back at you again. 

If we are stingy and unwilling to share or if we do share but complain about having to do so…then the measure of our return will be limited, scattered and issued under duress and contention.  And don’t worry if you only have a small amount to share.  When God urges you to give, then do it with a pure heart.  Think about the lad with the fishes and loaves whose lunch served more than 5,000 with scraps left over.  When you place your gift in God’s hands he will make it more than enough.  You will be blessed; those around you will be blessed and God will be glorified.  There surely can be no greater return on your investment. 

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day.  Be blessed!  Dr. JoAnn. 

Tell Your Face

Exodus 34:35 (ESV) - " the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining.  And Moses would put the weil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him."  

      When I ask someone how they feel or how things are going and their answer and facial expression do not match, I often tell them to “tell your face” how you feel because it appears it does not know.  When our actions and our words do not match it is confusing to our subconscious which runs on commands.  If we keep telling ourselves that things are good yet we scowl, frown and grimace at every turn in the road; our body language will override our consciousness and implant deep-seeded reactions. 

      It is great to practice what you preach.  If you say that you feel well; make sure you match that with a smile.  If you profess to be ‘blessed and highly favored’; then align that with bright eyes and an unfurrowed brow.  God tells us when we are fasting to not look desperate or hungry; so the opposite is also true; when you are doing fun activities and feeling on top of the world- be sure to tell your face.  

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn 

Whose Report Will You Believe?

2 Corinthians 5:7 – “ . . . for we walk by faith, not by sight.” –

     The other day a friend and I were comparing notes about career and financial changes that bombarded us over the past few years; and we eventually ended up laughing so hard we almost cried.  It was the reality that on paper we really don’t look "too good".  Our credit scores are not supreme and work histories have a few hiccups; even our updated resumes could use a good bit of polish.  What really made us chuckle was the fact that we have a few projects on the front burner and we don’t care what our paperwork says. 

     Potential employers, credit managers, real estate brokers and even business ventures depend upon what is written in reports about our abilities to manage our finances, our time and our lives.  On paper we look a bit shaky in some areas; but on the wonderful parchment that lies between Genesis and Revelation it is clearly written that we are the head and not the tail; we are the lenders – not borrowers. God’s word tells us that we can claim the victory over what the world thinks about us and walk in total peace as we are led by faith and not by sight. 

      What is staring you in the face and daring you to make a change in your life?  What is trying to occupy all of your time to keep you distracted and unfocused?  What report is lingering over you trying to keep you from pushing ahead and setting into motion things that you know God wants you to complete?  We owe it to our Savior Jesus who died for our sins; we owe it to God whose grace and mercy keeps us when all else abandons us; we owe it to the guiding arm of the Holy Spirit to ignore the world’s opinion of us and remember that God says we are a peculiar people; a royal priesthood; favored above all men. So what if your grade point average or credit score is below what they say they will accept; apply anyway.  So what if your work history is sporadic; go after that promotion.  We may not look so good on paper; but we look great covered in the blood of Jesus. 

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!.  Be blessed. Dr. JoAnn

Help Is Here!

Help Is Here!

Isaiah 41:10- “[F]ear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

            Yesterday I was blessed to attend two inspirational church services. My church, Manifested Word of God Ministries (Lithonia, GA) had a surprise visit from a wonderful woman I came to know as Prophetess Janet.  She spoke to us about the state of the church and for believers to remember the words of Paul to the Galatians; to not grow weary in well doing. The second service was the culmination of the General Assembly for Faith Temple Pentecostal Church (Lithonia, GA) and the Apostle reminded the congregation of our duties as ministers, evangelists and elders of the church.  All believers are given the great commission to tell the good news of Christ.
            From both services I gleaned and want to share with you renewed hope and invigorated faith. Whatever is on your plate or on the front burner or top of your to-do list, be assured that if it is in alignment with God’s plan for your life – He will strengthen you for the task; provide your resources and uphold you through whatever processes or procedures you must endure for its completion.
            God is faithful and long-suffering.  He will not allow you to fail as long as you do not give up or give in.  He will uphold you with his grace, mercy and power.  Give God thanks today for his help and watch him make your tomorrows a reality.

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn 

Walk In Love

Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV) – “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

        It is Friday and for most of us this is the end of a long work week.  If we had a productive week then most of us will finish most of our assigned tasks and by close of business be ready to “live for the weekend”.  Whatever your plans or whatever your work schedule, be conscious of how blessed we are to be able to live in the freedom of God’s love.  We must strive to copy and be great imitators of God, especially when it comes to loving God.  How can we do that?  Easily… love God with all of your heart, mind and soul. Follow his teachings and love each other. 

    In all that you do think of what would glorify and please God.  Think what would make him happy and proud to be called your father.  Think of the great feeling you get when you complete a task and can walk away from it knowing you did your best and that your work is appreciated.  Well each time you encounter someone who has been ‘assigned’ to you by God to show love…be diligent to do your best.   As it is written, we never know when we are entertaining angels.  Someone that you will encounter today might just be that ‘opportunity’ from God to show your loving nature.

     Enjoy the day; find someone to bless and show the love of God and watch how quickly and productively your day will progress.

    Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!  Have a great weekend.  Be blessed!.  Dr. JoAnn

And then. . . (Flash-back Thursday)

Today's power scripture comes from Job 1:17 – “Before this man finished, still another messenger rushed in: ‘Three bands of Chaldeans have driven off your camels and killed your servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” (TLB)

     Poor Job was bombarded with bad news after bad news.  Before one servant had the opportunity to completely report all that was dismally happening within Job’s household, yet another calamity was on its heels.  Each servant was frantic to tell Job of the disasters they had witnessed and that they alone barely escaped with their lives to report back to him.

     Local, national and global news reports, commentaries and documentaries relate how the slings and arrows of misfortune are bombarding our human existence.  Many would say that the world is going to hell in a handbasket doused in gasoline.  We will not give Satan any publicity but we do know that he is busy running to and fro stirring up trouble. 

    God reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (NKJGF)  Regardless of the pattern or uncanny circumstances surrounding your daily walk with God, stay steadfast in your faith. Yes it is true, for some of us tragedy, disagreement, chaos and frustration seems to be a norm.  If we rejoice always, we do not have time for despair and depression.  If we pray without ceasing, our minds are occupied and unable to process negative thoughts.  In everything we must give thanks. The simplicity of its power is just awesome.  A simple ‘thank you’ can open doors of hope and shut windows of downheartedness. God reminds us that he is still on the throne and that nothing is ever outside of his watchful eye.  God does not slumber nor sleep. And aren’t you glad that God never has an ‘A-ha” moment.  Nothing comes as a surprise to God or catches him off guard! We get caught up quite often.  We fix the dishwasher and then a pipe ruptures; we expensively service our car engine...and then we find out we need new brakes. One bad issue following another… and then, and then, and then.  Although you might feel as if things are just mounting up and piling up around you  - relax …AND THEN consider your options (praise, prayer and  give thanks)  When you take your hands off of your problem, then God will put his hands in it to win it!

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day!  Be blessed!  Dr. JoAnn

Shame the devil

Psalm 52:2-3 (ESV) – “Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right.”

     Older members of my family used to taunt one another when they were spinning tales of unbelievable exploits or fabricating details of ordinary events.  When one of them caught another stretching the truth a bit they would quip – “Tell the truth and shame the devil”.   We need to follow this example even more stridently.  We must endeavor to squelch the propagation of falsehoods, lies and deceit.  The devil loves gossip, slander, lies and misdirection and will use these tools to bring division and derision to those who love the Lord. 

     Small indiscretions can lead to full blown mockery if we do not nip it in the bud.  Our scripture tells of how the evil one can influence deceit and thrive on controversy.  When we make a conscious decision to tell the truth, stop slander and ignore gossip; we stop the devil in his tracks.  He comes only to kill, steal and destroy.  He wants to kill relationships; steal our joy and destroy our destinies.  He will not stop; so we must be ever vigilant to his crafty and sly ways.   Tell the truth. It takes work to remember lies; but the truth is always the truth and easy to recall.  Exercise discretion and live in the freedom of doing the right thing; shame the devil. 

    Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!  Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn

Seek First!!

Good morning! Today's power scripture comes from Matthew 6:33  (ESV) “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

We use our education and our experience and even our hunches to decide the best courses of action… only to discover that no amount of forethought or critical thinking can outweigh the power of seeking God’s guidance in any situation.  No matter what the toil, trial or challenge, God’s way is always the best way.  No need to try all the other alternatives before we finally give it to God. Our God is a God of FIRSTs.    We offer first fruits…. We pass down special blessings to our first born, so why should we bring our concerns to God last?  We try to fix things ourselves, over and over again; then finally we ask a close friend for their advice.  When that seems like a dead end, we ask other friends and family and eventually we even seek outside advice from self-proclaimed experts, counselors, and even self-help books.  

Don’t let intellect overrun intelligence.  Our brains tell us we can figure it out given enough time, but our hearts know that it is best to go to God FIRST and ask for his guidance.  We are not to be so concerned about things; but focus on the main thing. . . the progression of God’s Kingdom here on Earth.

Everything we need God has already provided. Much like how our parents would shop early for our Christmas gifts and hide them in the house until the appropriate time to reveal them; God has great answers to prayers and wonderful gifts to bestow, often right within reach, but out of view.  He is more concerned with the proper timing than he is with our impatience.  As we continue to seek his righteousness, he moves certain prayer answers or gifts from the attic to the top of a hall closet and eventually when we are ready we will find it sitting right on the kitchen table fully accessible - and we will be able to say that the Lord has prepared a table before us, even in the presence of our enemies, our impatience and our struggling faith.

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day!  Be blessed!  Dr. JoAnn

I Shall Not Be Moved!

Today’s power scripture comes from  Isaiah 54:17a

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.” (KJV)

     There are some people in this world who are just plain mean and nasty.  Their behavior is sociopathic and their evil is deep rooted.  We see countless examples of parents who starve, abuse and torture their children or men who would kill their estranged wives rather than see them happy with someone else.  We hear reports of genocide for the sake of a few parcels of land and we tremble when we learn of unprovoked public shootings.

    As children of the Most High God we hear of these conditions and our hearts have empathy, care, concern and sympathy for the victims, their families and the populace at large; but our mind set should still be that we are protected.   Life is not without its trials and perils and surely there are those whose actions negatively impinge upon our lives; but we must not resort to becoming agoraphobic and sequester ourselves away from living.

   We have alarm systems, closed circuit cameras, guard dogs, and motion sensor flood lights canvasing our properties, but have we covered our domicile with the blood of Jesus?  Have you prayed at your front door and rebuked any negative powers that might try to enter whether on their own or trailing along with guests who harbor negative energies with them?  Have you anointed the rooms and hallways of your home and invited guardian angels to reside with you?  Have you blessed the beds that you and your children sleep in and asked God to put his hedge of protection around you from not only illness, but fire, burglary and abuse?  It might sound funny, but I would rather depend on an ‘all-present’ God than to wait on the response time of the police to my burglar alarm.   Don’t get it twisted…people are nuts…keep your security system intact, but put your trust in God!

Every day is a good day it is up to us to make it a GREAT power-filled day.  Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn

Keep At It

Keep At It

Philippians 1:6 (ERV) –“I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again.”

We are well into approaching the middle of the first month of the second half of the year and there are some great accomplishments we have done since the beginning of the year and there are other works, tasks and activities we are striving to complete before year end.  In looking at our daily walk, we are sure to see areas where God has empowered us to make many inroads and achievements and also yet other areas requiring advancements and improvement. In the process of working out our salvation we will encounter many stretches of time and many miles of road where our actions may seem fruitless, ineffective or futile.  We might even feel like we are going in circles and making very little if any progress.

Do not lose heart; but keep at it and keep striving.  God is there even in the times when we feel unsuccessful. Emotions and feelings are often predicated on false perceptions and we know that we walk by faith and not by sight; therefore what might seem like wasted time or unproductive and fruitless performance, in the palm of God, is incubating into something marvelous.  Be patient; do not let the evil influences of this world mislead you into believing your work is unneeded or vain.  Keep at it and soon you will see how things will blossom. 

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Have a wonderful weekend.  See you on Monday.  Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn 

Express Yourself

Isaiah 38:2 (KJV):  “Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord.”

      When the prophet Isaiah proclaimed unto Hezekiah that his life was soon to end, Hezekiah  did not accept what seemed to be the inevitable.  He ignored the bad report, tuned out the world by turning his face to the wall and then he cried out to God.  He expressed himself and reminded God that under His grace he had walked closely with Him and had lived a good life.  God heard his petition and extended his life. 

      When ‘terminal’ reports come to you bringing bad news (medical test results, layoffs, betrayals, foreclosures, sickness); openly  express yourself to God. Of course He never forgets but remind Him of your love for Him and your   desires.  Recall scriptures of His promises that support your decrees and stand in faith that God is generous in His mercy and righteousness.

      Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Dr. JoAnn

Be Responsible

Galatians 6:5(KJV) - “For every man shall bear his own burden.”

     In the aftermath of the shooting in South Carolina, two poignant points arise in the future of all who seek justice—Responsibility and Faith. The ways and the means by which we have grown more like Christ have been guided by the measure of faith that has been given to each of us.  It is our responsibility to nurture and strengthen that faith to spurn us on to greater heights and deeper depths.  Each of us must bear the joy and pain that comes with the responsibilities we share.

     We are our brother’s keeper; we are responsible for the upbringing of all youth for it does take a village; we are responsible for the heath of our community and the comfort of our elders; we are responsible for our attitudes and our behaviors.  Just as Christ bore the burdens of a sin sick world to grant us the opportunity for eternal life; we must fulfill our charges to aid others to help make their lives better.  Who are you responsible for? Who depends on you to keep your promises? What burdens do you bear that aid those in need.  Do not despair if your obligations seem overwhelming.  If God has entrusted you to take on the duties, he will provide what you need to complete your tasks.

     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT power-packed day!  Dr. JoAnn

Balance

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 (New Living Translation) - “¹For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.  ⁴A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”

        Have you ever heard the phrases “I have to keep laughing to keep from crying” or “ I am so far down I have to climb up to reach rock bottom.” or “I am too tired to sleep.”   Well when we use these retorts we are reflecting on a state of imbalance that has consumed our lives to the point that the illogical seems commonplace.  An abundant life requires that we have a balanced life.  We work therefore we must also play.  We keep active; so there must be adequate rest.  We are constantly surrounded by people and activity; so we need quiet and rejuvenation time.

       God provides us with examples of how to live a balanced existence.  Our all-knowing, all-powerful God, in his sovereignty still created the world and all its inhabitants in a process.  He could have easily completed everything in the blinking of an eye, yet he chose to do it over a series of several ‘days’.  At the end of each creative spurt he analyzed his progress and stated that ‘it is good’.  We need to take the time to find and maintain a healthy balance in our lives and to be sure to take time out to analyze and evaluate our progress. It is amazing how quickly time can fly by when we get sucked into a rut or routine that can drain us.  Take some time today to slow down and smell the roses.  You are worth it. You can not give God your best when you are riding on empty.

    Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT power-packed day!

Be blessed!  Dr. JoAnn

Walls

1 Samuel 25:15-16(AMP) –”But David’s men were very good to us, and we were not harmed, nor did we miss anything as long as we went with them, when we were in the fields. They were a wall to us night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep.”

What seems to be blocking your path? Your progress? Your development?  We all speak about things that stifle or hinder our promotion or advancement and often refer to them as walls.  We constantly ask God to open windows and doors of opportunity to give us access to what lies beyond the walls.  But for a moment let’s look at walls in a different manner. Do you see walls as barriers or as protectors?  I guess it all depends on which side of the wall you stand. 

As the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, scripture refers to the towering water as ‘walls’ which provided protection for them and doom for the Egyptian army that pursued them.  In today’s scripture we see reference to the protective nature of walls when David’s men aided those in need by serving as a wall by day and by night. In our modern world we see the use of climbing walls to help athletes and those in training develop stamina and strength.  Walls themselves are neither good nor bad; they are inanimate objects that we can either use to our benefit or allow to stifle our advancement. Make the innovative choice to use everything that comes your way to your benefit; good, bad or indifferent.  When we come upon something that appears to halt our forward movement maybe the right move is to chance direction.  Instead of trying to go forward, change your direction…why not go up!.  Up and over!  Look at your obstacles in a different way; as a challenge to help change how you look at things and opening you up to higher heights.  When you hit the wall – look up and get over it!

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn 

S.O.S. - Flash back!

Good Morning - Today’s power scripture comes from Matthew 14:30 (Contemporary English Version)  “But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.”

       The timing seemed right; the opportunity had presented itself; all things considered it felt like it was the right move to make and so you jumped out of your safety boat and plunged into the deep to chase after your dream.  You were fully confident that you had heard the voice of God calling you into your next venture; you had weighed the odds and saw that others were aware of the same options but were not willing to take a chance –so you took chance by the horns and made the move.  What appeared to the natural eye to be impossible did not deter you.  You had mustered the courage to grab the ball and take the shot.  And now here you are making the impossible seem easy…walking into places where more skilled, more experienced and better trained people rarely get an opportunity to go.  Here you are running with the big-ballers and the shot-callers.  Everyone is in awe of what you have accomplished…but then…it happens.
      For a brief moment, we take our eyes off of our destiny and we look around at the tumultuousness of how far we have come and we become self-aware and we panic.  Like Peter, as long as we maintain eye contact with that which glorifies God, we are able to do tremendously, supernatural things.  Grace and mercy seems to follow along with us like love sick puppies. We escalate to heights we could not even imagine and do things we could never fathom.  But…oh but when we lose our focus we will falter, we will fall prey to the storms of life and we will sink.  We have all been in situations where we let our gaze falter and the waves took us under…but I encourage you to do as Peter did…GET HELP!.  
         And take after Peter’s example…as soon as he realized his dilemma he cried out for help; don’t’ wait until your near dead, lifeless body has washed ashore and needs mouth-to-mouth before you realize the waves have gotten too high and the winds are too brisk.  Peter was brash enough to jump out of the boat but he did not let his strong will and pride swell up and keep him from seeking help when he needed it.  So what if you jumped out there and now things are a bit tight…so what if naysayers said ‘don’t’ do it’…great reward requires great risk…but when you need help…ask for it. Then regroup and try it again.    

 Every day is a good day it is up to us to make it a GREAT power-filled day.  Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn

Restoration

Leviticus 6:4 (ASV) – “… then  it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found.”

       Yesterday I received some unexpected and quite surprising news.  As many of you faithful readers remember, my home was vandalized a few months ago and the perpetrator(s) stole my laptops, iPad, digital camera and many irreplaceable jewelry pieces.  My initial reaction of course was of anger and hurt, that someone’s evil spirit had come in and violated my living space and took things that were precious to me.  After getting over the ‘mad’ I started praying for the thief/thieves because from the manner in which they entered they had to be either my neighbors or associates of my neighbors.  My prayer was that their total being, spirit, soul and body would be uncomfortably restless until they had a better relationship with God.  Their thieving actions were reflections of their separation from the Lord of provision.  Well yesterday, I received a call from the detective who was assigned to my case and he had recovered one of my laptops.  Praise be to be God. 

        I continually pray for total restoration and for those involved to find peace in Christ.  I encourage you to trust God that the things in your life that are broken, misplaced, lost, abused, taken or misused will be restored in multiples.  God is a healing, restoring and revitalizing God. He wants us to be whole and as we wholly lean upon him and trust in his ways, he will reestablish us in his image.

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn