Be the Miracle

“To discipline a child produces wisdom….” (Proverbs 29:15 NLT) So often people think discipline is punishment, to discipline your children you punish them for their wrong doing. This is not really the case. The root word of discipline is disciple. What is a disciple? A disciple is a follower, someone who follows a particular way of life. That is what you as a parent really are; you are making disciples of yourself. Our children today, especially those in the inner city, lack anyone they can really follow. When you as the parent decide that you are going to have a plan in place to help your child grow you are disciplining them. You are guiding them.  You have a routine that will set them up for success. Think of a professional athlete.  His coach sets up the plan for him to follow a strict nutrition, fitness, and study plan in order to master his craft.  The same goes for you as a parent. What do you want your children to be like In ten years? Start thinking abou...

“But the Glorious One said, ‘Son, you are welcome.’  But I said, ‘I am no son of yours, but a servant of Tash.’  The Great Lion responded, ’Child, all the service done to Tash,  I count as service done to me.'  Then he breathed upon me and took away my fear.”  ( Lewis ) One of the great things about knowing the Great Lion is that he can reveal himself in many ways and many forms. Some religious denominations are very exclusive and rigid about who can come to the Great Lion.   The truth is all are welcome, no matter what you have done, where you have been, or the family background you come from. Even more so, it doesn't matter who you serve.  There will be those in The Great Lion’s country who never knew the Great Spirit or The Great Lion personally, but but knew him by their hearts pursuit of good.  They may even have been serving another god or been in another religion. It doesn't matter, the Great Lion calls to them. Their hearts were see...

I Persevere I persevere I am still. I stay quietly focused on the task at hand. I know the outcome I desire. I stay the course. I do not quit. I persevere I am not like most people. I am stronger than most people.  I am accepted, approved, self-disciplined, and favored. I continue when I am tired. I know when times are hard; I am close to my victory. I persevere I focus on the big picture.  I am full of hope and in my future I will prosper. I persevere I am able to believe the impossible.  I take charge of what I expect in my future. I work with excitement.  I expect miracles because I have the power to be the miracle. My reward is to see the future I dream about.  I continue despite being tired. I focus on the big picture. I am the miracle. I persevere

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22, ESV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Throughout life, there will always be something that will try to take our joy. If it’s not a grumpy sales person, it’s a family member aggravating you, traffic is backed up, your flight is delayed, or your spouse is taking too long. Don’t go the next 20 years allowing the same people and the same circumstances to frustrate you. Change your approach. What’s upsetting you now doesn’t have to upset you anymore. You can choose to keep your cool and stay calm and steady. Remember, a relaxed attitude is going to lengthen your life. The next time you’re tempted to be upset, ask yourself, “Is this really worth giving up my joy over?” If you’ll make this decision not to give away your joy and live each day happy, God promises you’ll be strong; you’ll have more peaceful relationships, and you’ll accomplish more. He says a joyful heart is good medicine! Hold ...

“A wise youth harvests in the summer…”  (Proverbs 10:5 NLT) How you spend your time will often determine the direction of your life.  Isn't it  interesting how the Creator talks about time management in today’s verse? It says a wise person harvests in the summer. Often times harvest doesn't happen until autumn. However, the wise person doesn't just wait until fall; they are on the lookout for the fruit of their labor. In the same way, we need to not just be waiting for the harvest date, but to be looking out for the fruit that is growing today. When we harvest in the summer, which means we are diligently at work. We are being our best, being the miracle for our world. We are not just sitting around. Take some of your money you earn and store it away, prepare for the winter in the summer.  How you spend your time will help you to overcome obstacles in the future. When you spend your time being prepared you will set yourself up for a life...

“Leave your simple ways behind and begin to live…” (Proverbs 9:6 NLT)                                                  So often we get stuck in a rut, always thinking, “When are things going to change? Why can’t I ever get ahead?”  The Creator refers to this kind of thinking as “simple ways.” Simple ways are thoughts and behaviors that we have that are opposite of  the resurrection power inside of us. We all still have simple thinking that holds us back. To leave your simple ways behind does not always mean to stop behaving in an immature fashion. It really means to get a bigger vision for your situation, turn it around, and think differently. Rather than always thinking and speaking how bad something is, start talking about what...

“The fears ….. will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.” (Proverbs 10:14 NLT) Our life will always move to what we think about most, which is why it is so important to guard your mind. If you are not careful you can think about only negative things and you become a negative person. Have you ever been around that person who only has the news channel on in their house? They are always talking about how bad things are, how things just seem to be getting worse, the world is coming to an end. That person over time, if you take notice, will become a very cynical, negative person. Why? They were moving toward what they were watching and thinking about.  We also know those people who let their fears take hold of their life, “My car is going to break down this week, and I just know it”or“I knew we wouldn’t be able to go on that vacation, I just knew I would get downsized.” What happened? Your fears were fulfilled. ...

“As evening came, The Great Lion said to his followers, ‘Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” (Mark 4:35 NLT) In today’s story from the Great Lion, he was taking his followers across a lake, but at the same time there was a terrible storm. While the Great Lion was sleeping in the boat his followers got scared. They had never seen a storm like this before. Then he woke up and spoke to the storm, “Be still.”  Often times on the way to your goals you will face trials. In your marriage you may hit a rough patch. You may get a negative report from the doctor. “This is so unfair. How can this happen to me now?” That is merely a storm, but you have to remember the big picture. You are crossing over to a new level of your destiny. Your trials are not going unnoticed. Rather, you are seeing an opportunity to use the power to calm the storm. Speak to your trial by saying, “I will overcome this by the sacrifice of the Great Lion and the power of my testimony.” No weapon formed aga...

“Again and again he rescued them.” (Psalm 10:43 NLT) One thing that is certain in this life is that we will make choices that can set us back. We all have bad habits that turn into a character trait that begins to define us. Some of us it is a temper, others of it could be we tend to work too much. There are people who seem to always fall back into their addiction and it oppresses their very bein g. The Great Spirit is the giver of the second chance. Today’s encouragement says that He rescued them again and again. That means, no matter how many times you fall, how many times you mess up Great Spirit will rescue you. He will turn this situation into something positive. He will use it to show His power off in you. It may seem like you are miles away from Great Spirit, but that sometimes is when we realize how close He really is. You may struggle with discipline in an area of your life, but know this , you have been given a second chance. No matter what happens, you will be resc...