Isn't It Wonderful!

Women | by Jackie Garner, Director of Women's Ministry

2 Corinthians 7:11 (The Message Bible), “And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God?  You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible.  Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart...”

How many of us can say we think distress in our life is wonderful?  Most of the time we don’t want to face it, we want to run from it.  We ask God, “Why is this happening to me?”  I know of very few people who can say, “Isn’t it wonderful!”  However, the more and more I read God’s Word the more and more I am convinced that if we really knew how we were going to “look” once we came through on the other side, that we would all be saying “Isn’t it wonderful!” 

Just like the scripture describes:  more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible…” God promises in His Word that He will never give us more than we can handle.  When He allows distress in our lives, He wants to give us MORE!  He is using the situation to strengthen and refine us so we shine like gold in a darkened world.

The Bible promises us that we will have trouble – NO ONE is exempt!  But what if we determined in our hearts to look at it in a completely different way - in a wonderful way?  Not wonderful because of the irritation and pain it could cause, but wonderful because through it we pulled ourselves in closer to God knowing that He was going to turn our distress into success!

Watching and Waiting - Twisting and Shouting

Women | by Jackie Garner

We live in a “now” society where things come to us quickly and many times with very little effort.  For example, we can send a note with a few strokes of the keyboard.  Longhand writing, stamps, envelopes, mailboxes and days of waiting have been replaced with quick, convenient emails - instant results.  In fact, successful marketing almost always includes phrases like, “Same day delivery”, “fast-food”, “high-speed” and “express lane”.   In the process of adapting quite nicely to our modern conveniences, we have lost our patience somewhere along the way.  Many of us live our lives not really knowing how to wait, or should I say we struggle with knowing how to successfully wait without losing our momentum or temper!  Our impatience is the devil’s playground! 

Most of you reading this can identify with me when I say that watching for and waiting upon the Lord to move on our behalf can be very trying at times.  We can begin to lose not only our momentum and our temper, but we can also begin to lose our faith.  It’s not a new thing; in fact many people in the Bible had the same struggle.  That is why scripture tells us to walk by faith and not by sight.  The real question most of us have is, “What do we do while we wait on the Lord?”

The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31 (Amplified Bible), “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power…” The word “wait” in this scripture in Hebrew means to bind together by twisting, to expect and to serve (as one waits on tables).  Envision with me for a moment two pipe cleaners.  If you took the pipe cleaners and twisted them around and around each other, this would represent what the word “wait” means in this scripture.  This is what happens to us as we wait on the Lord in expectation of His work in our lives - we become bound to Him.  Our minds begin to think His thoughts about our situations, our will becomes His will and our emotions become controlled by the Holy Spirit and our feelings start to line up with our faith!

While we are waiting on the Lord we should also be shouting the victory!  Praise always precedes the victory and it keeps our hearts and minds on Jesus.  God inhabits the praises of His people.  Praise leads you to joy and the joy of the Lord is your strength.  When you feel weary or feel as if you are losing heart – praise the Lord!

As long as we are “Twisting and Shouting” while we are “Waiting and Watching” on the Lord, the gates to the enemy’s “playground” will be locked and we will lead a more freeing and fulfilling life.  We will receive all the peace and patience needed to live victoriously!

The Influencer!

Women | by Jackie Garner, Director of Women's Ministry

Did you know you were created by God to influence others for His glory and for their good?  Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s own workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

It doesn’t matter if you are the President of the United States or a stay-at-home mom; whether you are a CEO of a major business or the one who cleans the building, you never know how God is using you to influence people for His glory and what purpose God has for you!  Remember the verse says that God has prepared in advance the good works we are going to do.  Since that is the case, I plan to focus on God!  He is the “Man with the Plan” and He will lead us to good works no matter what position we hold.  Are you ready? 

Much of the time we focus on ourselves which shifts our focus from God.  An “all about me” mentality decreases our position and power of influence because self looks at what it does not have and becomes discontent.  Discontentment only spreads negativity and that is NOT the influence we want to have on those God has placed around us. An influencer keeps their eyes and heart focused on God!

Everyone reading this has an impact on someone’s life; whether families, friends, acquaintances or the grocery store checker. Everyone we come in contact with is influenced by us!  God uses our smile, our kindness, our laughter, our gentle quiet spirit, our compassion, our mercy, our strength and much more to influence others and to bless them.  Our positive influence will not go unnoticed by God! 

When my husband and I first started attending Lakewood Church, we would get there early so we could sit close to the front.  Week after week I would enthusiastically join into worship with an open heart and I received every word that was being spoken by God through Pastor Joel.  I had no idea my demeanor and countenance was influencing Him.  I later found out that when he would look into the audience and see a smile on my face and my head nodding it was encouraging him as if to say, “Come on, Joel.  Tell me more.  You’re doing a good job.”  My joy was influencing him and I didn’t even know it.

When a staff position became available in the Women’s Ministry, the first thing Joel said was, “Somebody go find that lady who sits down front.  There’s nobody I would rather have represent us than somebody like her!”  My door of opportunity opened not because of something I planned, or sought out.  It opened by me simply allowing the joy God had placed on my insides to show on my outside to encourage and influence those around me.    

One more thing I want to stress:  Don’t allow your past to dictate your future.  If you are thinking you have blown your position, power and influence with your family, friends and co-workers – don’t!  It is NEVER too late with God for a second chance.  If doesn’t matter how young or old you are; if you are breathing at this very moment, you have the opportunity to step into your position of power as an influencer! 

Take a moment and think about your sphere of influence!  Now everyday, ask to help you recognize and consciously step into your position of influence so that you can have a positive effect on the character, thoughts and actions of those around you!

Do You Know the Secret?

Women | by Jackie Garner

Are you going through a battle in your life?  Do you feel weak, unqualified or ready to give up?  Sometimes we see people who seem to sail through tough times and we wonder, “How do they do that?  What secret do they possess that makes them succeed?”  As believers, we are all qualified to be mighty in battle.  We all can possess the “secret to success”!  Let me explain.

Of all the great men of the Bible there was one who God called “A man after His own heart”.  In 1 Samuel 13:14, the Bible says, The Lord God sought out David, a man after His own heart and the Lord commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people.”  If you are like me, you are asking yourself, “What can I do to cause God to seek me out and bless me like He blessed David?”

  Let’s take a brief look into David’s life:

David was a shepherd boy; the youngest of 8 brothers and assigned by his father to tend the sheep while the other brothers joined the army and went off to war.  David used this time alone in the hills of Bethlehem to become intimate with God.  Through music on his harp and the words from his heart he sought after God, delighting himself in the presence of his Heavenly Father.  During this time God imparted wisdom, guidance and strength in David that would carry him through all of his life circumstances.  David fought confidently and victoriously against lions and bears that tried to harm his sheep.  He even defeated a giant that none of the Israelite soldiers had the confidence to fight with 5 stones and a slingshot- while he was a still a teenager!

What did David know that the others didn’t?   David knew who his God was and he knew who he was in Him.  David knew the battle was the Lord’s and he knew His God was bigger than any enemy he would ever face!  How did he know that?  I mean really KNOW that? - By spending time with God. 

David could have spent his time tending sheep thinking, “I am just a shepherd boy.  My life isn’t important.  All I do is sing and make up songs.”  The key is that David didn’t look at his circumstances and allow them to define him.  Instead, by spending time with God, he began to see himself from God’s perspective and when faced with a battle he saw his enemy as God’s defeated foe. David’s image of God and himself were no longer limited by his circumstances, his place in the community, his age or his lack of experience. 

David sought God daily and when it came time to anoint a future King, God sought David – the man after His own heart!  This was David’s “secret”.  The same intimacy that brought David favor and made him a mighty warrior is also available to us by simply getting into the presence of our Heavenly Father daily and worshipping Him!  I understand that taking time in your day to get into the presence of God is a discipline and discipline is always hard, but your reward will always be great!

All of us have demands on our time and they can take a toll, but when you spend time communing with God you will find a place of refreshing and renewal for your Spirit as well as your body and soul.  You will be blessed!

Positioned for Greater Prosperity

Women | by Jackie Garner

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be born into a very wealthy family with great influence, power and abundance?  Beloved, when you are born again into the family of God YOU HAVE BEEN born into such a family!  Want to know more?

In the Bible, the apostle John gives us the key to prosperity.   3 John 1:2 tells us, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper in everything and be in good health even as your soul prospers.”  We know that our soul is our mind, emotions and our will.  That tells me that our prosperity is directly linked to the prospering of our soul.  Simply put, “If we prosper on the inside we will prosper on the outside.”

Prosperity doesn’t depend upon being born rich or poor, it doesn’t depend upon our earthly lineage; it doesn’t matter if we have success or failure or if we are living in a time of war or peace.  It is our internal self that shapes our external circumstances by our mind, emotions and will. 

What we think, how we feel, and what we chose to believe about our circumstances will determine our position for prosperity.  That is why the Word of God says we will prosper and be in good health to the extent that we prosper in our soul (our mind, emotions and will).

When we become believers in Jesus Christ every thought or habit doesn’t automatically change; we are to renew our minds daily through reading and studying the Word of God so we start to think like the new person in Christ we have become.

Keep in mind that prosperity is not only financial blessings – it is much more!  Prosperity means to succeed or thrive, be favored; to flourish, to cause others to succeed, advancing in growth and to have economic well being, prospering financially.

Many people believe that to prosper in their life they have to go to the right college, land the right job, impress the right people etc.  But the truth is that prosperity in every area of your life is not based what you have done or not done; prosperity is based on accepting the righteousness of Christ and what He did on the cross for you.  Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God!  Not of works, least any man should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

If there is any area of your life where you would like to be more prosperous (relationships, job etc)?  If so, begin to declare with me out loud “I am the righteousness of Christ and I am positioned to prosper in everything, even as my soul prospers!”