Speaking Life Amidst Death

I had made my mind up last night that no matter what I faced today I'd praise God
and speak life into my dilemma of having our house robbed and burned out.

It's hard enough dealing with the reality of a smoked out home, let alone being treated as a suspect and a criminal.

I had a 9am insurance audit (for our business insurance) meeting to start my day. I got up with faith in my mouth! I had to rush out to the house before the meeting to let another team of investigators into the house. These were people from our insurance company and they handled things much different than the county.

As I was driving my car to the house, I turned the channel to the station I used to work at (WWEV-FM91.5)to catch the end of a powerful rendition by Martha Munizzi of "Say the Name...Jesus". If you don't know the song,it has a line that says something like when you are in the midst of a trying time and don't know what to say, just say
the name of Jesus.

Good stuff to fuel my commitment to speak faith!

I was saying the name JESUS as I pulled into my drive way being greeted once again by a packed driveway of cars with "investigators" in them.

I did go back out there after my audit meeting and had to answer more questions. But...The lady who is handling the investigation for the insurance was so reassuring and instantly put into motion the insurance side to helping us.

By the end of the day, I had been contacted about finding another motel with a bigger room to stay in until THEY find us a place to live for the next few months. I was also told I could find financial aid to pay for basic things like food and items we need.

I had some time in the Word earlier on too that was very comforting. And then I got this e-mail that blew me away.I had to share it...IT is long...but it was a NOW word for me and is a NOW Word for so many people I know.

Ok...Thank you to so many who have shared and helped me with prayers and support. I'll be in touch. I hope you'll do the same.

************************************************************************

By Jack Weinzierl



"I have a rather short, but powerful message to share this
morning having to do with getting back what the enemy has
stolen. I don't know about you, but I want my stuff back.
How do we get our stuff back? Through a lifestyle of
praise. And we are not talking about just a song here. We
are talking about putting God first. Numero uno. Read 2
Chronicles 20 today and you will see how King Jehoshaphat
led the army of Judah and put God first appointing singings
to walk ahead of the army. By the way, Judah means praise.
The other armies attacked and killed each other and King
Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. The
Lord gave them victory over their enemies. He is no
respector of persons and will do the same for us.

And make no mistake, the thief's purpose is to steal and
kill and destroy and His purpose is to give them a rich and
satisfying life....not my words but Jesus' words in John
10:10.

And also make no mistake, if satan can get your praise, he
can get your stuff.

Our attention needs to be on God. David's was in 2 Samuel
6:21 when he talks about dancing before the Lord and he
says in verse 22 that he is willing to look even more
foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes.

This message is as much for me as anyone on the line this
morning. It is not to beat you up, but to encourage you.
His grace covers us all. The Bible says that a righteous
man can fall 7 times and gets back up.

We need to not let our emotions be our guide as they will
usually mislead us...let the Word lead you. We need to be
filled up with God's Word so we have joy in the midst of
trials. Devil, you are not getting our stuff and in fact,
you need to repay us up to 7 fold for what you have stolen.
In Job 42, Job received double for his trouble. In
Proverbs 6:31, the thief has to pay back seven times what
he stole.

And Fear is the greatest thief of our future.

Satan comes to rob us from expectation, joy, peace and our
future.

Why does Satan come to attack our praise? He was the
worship leader in Heaven. When he stopped praising God, he
lost everything. That's why he wants you depressed. And
praise is not just a song. Praise is giving Him the
rightful place. When He is #1, we are covered. We can't
just shout on Sundays, and then doubt on Mondays folks.
When we just try to fit him in, we give the enemy place to
get in. We can't fit in God. The bumper sticker that says,
God is my Co-pilot. Well, folks, we better move over and
let God be our pilot as He can drive a lot better than we
can, amen? He needs to be pre-emminent. Praise is a
lifestyle. Is He Lord of our attitude? is He Lord over my
body? I don't do certain things, because I want to honor
God and the motivation is not what the world may promote,
but to glorify Him. Is Jesus Lord over your finances? Are
you honoring Him?

OK Jack, you had me until you talked about finances. Then
folks, that may be a specific area that you need to make
Him Lord over, amen.

So how do we get our stuff back?

1) Praise is the first thing.

God is too big to be fit into our lives, we need to fit
into His. Praise is the anedote. We have to stop
complaining and criticizing. You cannot complain and praise
at the same time. Say I praise you Jesus 3 times right
now.

Did you complain when you were praising Him? You can't.

2) Devil, give me my stuff back, give me my stuff back. We
are not waiting and we are not going to let the Devil get
my stuff any more.


So we need to praise God first, then we need to take action
and demand our stuff back and,

3) We need to encourage ourselves in the Word.

No one can do this for us. In 1 Samuel 30:6 David was
greatly distressed. perplexed, confused, and felt defeated.
His own soldiers talked about stoning him. The very people
you counted on will not be there to encourage you at times.
We have to encourage ourselves in the Word.

If you need encouragement, look to Matthew 9:2 Our sins
are forgiven...I am encouraged

Matthew 14:27 Take courage as I am with you

John 16:33 I have overcome the world

Acts 27:22 Take courage as there will be no loss


Yes, you may be thinking, well he already took everything
and that is temporary. Whatever the devil thinks he got,
you are getting it back. I know I am getting it back. Paul
said, I believe God vs I believe in God. Even the devil and
demons believe in God.

Isaiah 35:4 Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong,
and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your
enemies. He is coming to save you."

Vengeance is His. God will show up with
vengeance--recompense...we are going to be repaid, amen.

How...

1) Speak His Word

2) Job 9:27 Forget your complaint--wow this is a tough one
for me

Leave off my sad countenance. Forget what people have
done...that is not forgetting what our needs are. No room
for whining and complaining. Fast from complaining.

Again, this is as much for me as anyone on this line. I
have allowed the thief to steal in our lives long enough.

3) Sow a sacrificial seed and encourage ourselves

Devil, I demand my stuff back. Loose my stuff in Jesus'
name.

I am going to close this call in prayer and open up for any
comments, but before I do, I want to read a personal
confession and if you have a copy of this, you are welcome
to read along with me. It will be in my notes from this
morning.


This is a new day. Be encouraged and here are some personal
confessions that you are welcome to print and leverage this
next week and every day.

I set the course of my life today with my words:

I declare today that I will not be defeated, discouraged,
depressed or disappointed.

I am the head, I have insight, I have wisdom, I have ideas,
I have authority.

I exercise my authority today with my words and I decree a
thing and it is so.

Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1
John 4:4)...the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the
dead, lives in me... (Romans 8:11)

As I speak words today, they come to pass (Job 22:28); they
go before me, they bring the things to pass that I desire;
and they stop all attacks, assaults, oppression, and fear
from coming to my life.

God is on my side today and, therefore, I cannot be
defeated.

His favor surrounds me today as a shield. (Psalm 5:12 ). I
expect favor today from heaven and from the earth.

Jesus had favor with God and man (Luke 2:52 ), and as He is
so am I on this earth. (1 John 4:17)

Therefore, I have favor today with God and man.

I expect and receive favor in my home, favor in my job,
favor in my business, favor in my ministry, favor with my
finances, favor in every deal I am involved in.

I will think the right thoughts, say the right words and
make the right decisions in every situation I face today.

My mouth speaks wisdom and my heart is filled with
understanding. (Psalm 49:3)

I ask for, and receive, an abundant supply of wisdom and
understanding today from God (James 1:5)...wisdom from
above, wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, unwavering,
willing to yield, without hypocrisy. (James 3:17)

Wisdom and understanding are better than silver and gold
and nothing I desire can compare with them; therefore, I
make it my ambition and desire to have understanding and
wisdom; therefore I know I will have all of the other
desires of my heart. (Proverbs 8:10-11)

My words go before me in securing my divine health and
healing...

I will not be sick today; I will not be sad today; I will
not be broke today; I will not be confused today.

I have health today; I have joy today; I have all the money
I need in the name of Jesus.

My steps are ordered by the Lord... (Psalm 37:23)

I have a covenant with God and by the blood of Jesus I
release my divine protection and divine provision.

I expect to have divine appointments today, to run into the
right people, and to be delivered from the wrong people.

Any adversity, attack, accidents and tragedies that were
headed my way are diverted right now in Jesus' name.

Now I speak to:

every mountain of fear

every mountain of discouragement

every mountain of stress

every mountain of depression

every mountain of lack and insufficiency

And I say, "Be removed and cast into the sea in Jesus'
name!" (Mark 11:23 ) I expect the best day of my life
spiritually, emotionally, relationally and financially
today in Jesus' name.


Dear Heavenly Father, I know I have not always had you as
my first priority and I thank you for your grace. We want
to honor you in all we do and I am committed to not just
fitting you into our busy lives....but making and keeping
you as the priority in our lives. Thank you for your love
and your protection and for the authority you have given us
as a believer as your sons and daughters. We pray for our
enemies this morning that you touch their hearts and minds
and heal them, in Jesus name, amen.

Beauty For Ashes?

It's been a trying day today. The reality of a filthy soot filled house and a basement destroyed...AND add to the fact someone did it on purpose after trying to get valuables is really something (they did not get much).

I saw another area where someone had gone through my bathroom drawers and put all my ear rings out on the counter. Thank goodness I am NOT a diamond and lace girl...All they had were earings that did not match, a fake pearl earing and a couple of rings.... Cheap stuff to say the least. Your are talking to the Walmart girl here....

Dave had to work. My goodness he has to provide for us! He has quite a few jobs lined up...Bless his heart. So I have to be the one to handle the investigators, insurance people and all...What a new role to play.

The investigation continues...Which is so surreal....terrible feeling to be scrutinized like a criminal. They had four more fire investigators from three counties out there, one being the lead investigator in this area.....I stayed outside. Thank goodness Dave's dad came to keep me company.

I am really amazed at how faithful God is to help you through times like this. He has really shown up for me in the smallest of ways (which are big at this time).

I am so glad I got that lesson from Isaiah chapter 7 (which I blogged about below in some posts). Interesting that the threat I was talking about was in the form of a "smoking firebrand"!

And what did God tell Isaiah to say?

"The final word from Isaiah to King Ahaz concerning the attack from these two enemy forces is the same word for you. Whether you are fighting attacks on your children, your family, your finances, your healing, or any insurmountable problem:

"Thus says the Lord God: It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass."

So, I'm walking out this right now. This attack is just that...an attack. I believe what the enemy tries to do to harm you,God can turn around and bring hope and change.

"...beauty for ashes...."

Out of the ash heap, I am believing God for a new thing...As we clean up the clutter, I am believing for a change....No weapon formed against you shall stand...as it says in Isaiah.

The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia...At Our House!

We came home from Louisiana last night to a terrible reality.

Our house had been vandalized and someone started a fire to cover the evil deed in our basement.

The only reason our house is still standing is because it is so well built (by my husband dave), and insulated.

The fire was started underneath the stairs downstairs. I don't know a lot of details because it is under major investigation but I can say it's terrible inside. Everything downstairs is black, melted down to nothing, or burned away.

I was the first one in the house when we came home. I thought the house smelled musty as I turned the alarm off. When my daughter saw the black coach she let out a shriek and yelled mom, the house has been on fire.

About that time I was making my way down the hall and around a corner when I saw the terrible black marks on my hardwood up from the downstairs. It felt warm and I was not sure if the fire was smouldering or going on still downstairs. So I yelled get out as we ran up the drive way and I called 911.

Basically, it's a terrible feeling. It's bad enough your house is full of soot and your basement demolished by the fire but to add insult to the pain, we got questioned one by one by detectives afterward it was deemed an obvious arson. Even my kids got questioned.

Later we went in with the investigators and realized some valuables were stolen from the master bedroom.

So, here we are in a motel...for a week....or how ever long it will take to survey the damage, discover the source of the arson, and deal with the insurance company on the damage.

The fire may have been downstairs but the aftereffects are all over my house. Soot, smoke, grime..UGLY.

So please pray. My kids are resilient but this was a tough one.

I believe God's grace will cover their tender minds.

I am praying for favor with the insurance company....

We have to deal now with the reality of someone stealing from us and trying to cover it up with a fire.

So, thank you for any prayers or advice,

Keys To Begin Your Own Video Ministry

You may be at a crossroads wondering which direction do you take to begin a video ministry.



Do you have a roadmap? Do you have a clear vision in your mind that matches the dream behind the God given destiny?

Understanding the importance of having a "mental map", as Jesse Duplantis explains in his new book, "Evey Day Visionary", is a key beginning point.

You may be convinced of this God given destiny, but you still have to make choices to go in the direction of it. You need purpose and direction. Your thoughts and dreams must have an intent that gets the "ball rolling" to move!

A mental map means you take the time to focus, pray, and allow the idea to develop into action. For our purpose here, it could mean as simple as getting a Flip Video camera and starting to video yourself sharing the Word of God.

The focus coupled with the action produces the roadmap...the mental map, to your final destination of having a video ministry.

I highly recommend you get this book by Jesse Duplantis as you begin your video ministry.




Duplantis gives an example of how he got his dream of preaching to the World on TV started in his book. His beginning actions included sharing the idea with key people and being faithful in in the local area preaching the Word around southern Louisiana. As he preached and shared, people would come up to him and comment on how they were encouraged and could see him on television someday.

With the verbal support came financial support which propelled him to the next step: Hiring the local cable network to shoot him preaching into the camera for a week. He went in with his Bible as they shot the video each day. Duplantis then hired a production company to produce and edit the introductions and closing to his program which had key information of his ministry's address and phone number.
He then purchased air time, once again locally, and then his ministry program began to be aired on the local Cox television station in Louisiana.

Soon people were writing in with prayer requests, support and asking for more material.

The rest is history. Jesse Duplantis is now seen Worldwide on a number of networks. He not only has his ministry program on Christian Networks such as The Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN), Daystar, but also on the major networks of ABC, NBC, CBS,
and Fox Television!

So write the vision out, make it clear, and put some action to the dream!!

Habakkuk 2:2-3

"Write the vision and make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it,
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry."



Click to go tips on Video Ministry

Click here to go to Home page of Ministry-Marketing-Strategies.com

William's YouTube Moment

I was trying to take a nap this past Sunday afternoon. It was just William and me home as Anna was at her friend's playing.

I hear William talking and singing...to someone. I KNOW I had locked the doors so I figured he had let his little friend Hannah in to play.

Nope. He snuck in my room with my Flip camera. After trying to shoot me (he got me), he tossed the camera on the bed.

I decided to see what all he had shot.

I laughed so hard I about fell out a bed.

Check this out!!



Needless to say, he is NOT camera shy. (I wonder why...VideoMOMTee

Sweet Home...Louisiana For Summer

The kids and I are spending some hot "dawg days" of summer not in the "Jaw-juh" sun but in "Weeesiana" (as my son pronounces Louisiana while Dave finishes up a job in Georgia.

William did inform me this morning that he misses Georgia.

Anyway, here's a fun little video montage I made.

Key To Be Free-For Your Children

Isaiah 7:1-9

Today is a special day to the Catholic youth who are celebrating "World Youth Day." Pope John Paul II initiated this occasion 23 years ago as a way of reaching young people with the message of the Gospel. Since that first World Youth Day, millions of young people have been touched and transformed by the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit through this event.




Reading about this today made me think of this point.

The young people of our day are under attack by a vicious enemy that looks to warp their minds and steal their souls. If you are a parent, one of the main battle grounds of the enemy is his precarious plot to kill your seed.

Whether you have children or not, we all have those war zones where we feel the heat of the fire, from the enemy, by our own poor choices, and from the struggles that come with life.

But there is hope! The promises of God are yes and Amen. The Word will not fail us.

I took some notes from Isaiah 7:1-9 which strengthened my heart.

In this passage, King Ahaz is under attack by the Rezin, King of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah. They wanted to to take over Judah to strengthen their own coalition against Assyria.

Because Ahaz, the ruler of the Davidic throne at this time, had no faith in God, the heart of the whole royal court shook--"moved with the wind." (Isaiah 7:2)

Can you relate? I know I can. Many crushing issues from family to financial matters, have made me fearful resulting in my faith being paralyzed.

Back to this Scripture:

So God sent the prophet Isaiah to Ahaz with a powerful word to strengthen their faith. (Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God).

I believe this word is for the young people of our day, for parents who see the warped attack for their children's hearts, and for anyone facing terrible circumstances which seem to never end.

Check out the words God gave to Isaiah to speak in verse 4 of Isaiah 7:

"Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria.....

The instructions are clear:

Take Heed - Be careful, be calm no matter what your senses see or feel.


Be quiet - The power of life and death is in your tongue as Proverbs says. Don't just talk about the problems, have a plan of action and DO something.


Do not fear - Nothing kills faith quicker than fear.


Two Smoldering Stubs - The two enemies appeared to be like firebrands (something that can be used to start a fire that destroys). But these firebrands were merely smoking, about to die out completely.

Yes, the plan to walk through these shaking times are clear. So are God's promises.

In this passage God has HIS Word on the line as He had foretold that Judah was HIS Remnant which would always be faithful to Him, and secure God's Messianic promises to Abraham.

The final word from Isaiah to King Ahaz concerning the attack from these two enemy forces is the same word for you. Whether you are fighting attacks on your children, your family, your finances, your healing, or any insurmountable problem:

"Thus says the Lord God: It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass.

That has got to make you SHOUT! (Or at least run around the house a few times).

So look beyond what you see, even if your "senses give you no assurance."

Continue to dream and believe that the Youth of today will be won to the Lord, that you will have your healing in your body or family, that you will get out of debt, that you will------(you fill in the blank).

Keep dreaming and walking to what God has ordained for you.

"To dream is not the phantoms of our brain but the outline of our divine destiny."
--Jesse Duplantis, JDM Ministries--

One Powerful Secret to Ministry Marketing

This continues the series on video marketing strategies.

For more information click here!

Simple Video Step To Start Ministry Marketing Using Flip Video

Are you ready to enter the video marketing strategy with your ministry or your business?

This is one of my passions. To help Christians find ministry marketing ideas to help them as they look to promote their ministry or raise money so they can minister freely.

I'm in the midst of creating a whole website full of these tips.

It's a step by step process....A real journey. I'm in my beginning stages and loving it.

Why do I like this?

Well, as I said, I love to come alongside and help people. In addition, I am quite serious in looking into marketing strategies, personal development, and increasing skills. All of this comes wrapped in a neat package as I write for my site, read e-books and marketing strategies on line.

God is giving me a season where I can do this. So I'm trying to be faithful with my time, and dig in to get something up and running now. So then when school starts, business cranks up with AMC (http://amcdrywall7.com), I'll have something making treadway on the internet.

Gotta go...Lots of writing still to go!

The Devil Is A Liar...and Mad

I remember this great song by the Christian Rock Group, the Allies, with Bob Carlisle (the guy who sang "Butterfly Kisses"), The Devil Is a Liar.

I don't know. I started to sing this as I was uploading this video here.

A few days ago I blogged sharing that my son accepted Jesus into his heart.

Well I put my new little Flip camera to action and had William share in his own words below...His salvation came about in the midst of his fears from the devil.

I got to go find that song...and play it for William!



This is definitely a Flip Video Moment to Remember!

What Are You Sowing?

I came across a rather somber verse in an even more somber book in the Bible in Amos 8:7:

"They sow in the wind, and reap the whirlwind...

The verse made me evaluate quickly my actions of sowing and reaping, especially in light of goals to be a godly wife and mother, to get out of debt, be a successful coach in ministry marketing and to help others to find the freedom they need in Christ.

What is sowing in the wind?

These things came to mind:

Planting on shallow, rocky ground.

That can be as simple as tithing to a ministry that is bearing no fruit! God trusts us with the discernment to sow our tithes and offerings into ministries that are impacting the world for HIS glory...and not just the glory of a preacher or ministry.

Sowing to our flesh

Not much more needs to be said here. When we let our flesh, worldly desires, the "I want it and I want it now" mentality rule, we quickly can find ourselves captive to debt, sorrow, and emptiness.

Sowing to a fantasy

Lots of temptations assault us everyday with this one. From lottery tickets to get rich quick scams, the carrot of riches dangles in front of us in many forms.

I think of this verse in Proverbs on this issue: "He who tills his land (tends to his business, works in proven methods of attaining wealth)
will have plenty of bread. but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough."

So this made me ask myself the question: "What are you sowing?"

I prayed and asked God to help me with this listI

I need to sow:

*Time in the Word, prayer in my intimate relationship with God

*Time with my husband serving him and his needs.

*Sowing mercy and love in all my relationships, especially as I groom my two children into vessels of honor for God.

*Finances to ministries that are producing a good crop of people finding Jesus, being discipled, feeding the hungry, providing for widows, and serving faithfully God's Kingdom.

*Sowing in the spiritual realm through fasting and praying for others.

*Time spend studying and developing personal development, maybe even a new skill, that is needed as part of God's destiny for my life. It might mean reading a book instead of watching television. Spending money to go to a Dani Johnson seminar, instead of season tickets to see a favorite sports team.

This little verse definitely made me think long and hard this morning.

I desire to continue on a path I believe God has made even more clear in the past year.

I pray what I sow remains and is not just dust in the wind.

Will's Victory Over the Furry Tailed Devil

"My six year old son asked Jesus into his little heart today. He was scared and all upset about the devil.

That lead into a discussion about using Jesus' name to make the devil scram.

He still was so upset. So I said, "You know how you can really make the enemy mad, William?'

"How?", he weakly responded.

"Pray right now and ask Jesus into your heart," I responded gently as I held him to my side.

"Okay...Let's pray mom."

So William repeated the prayer I said asking Jesus into his heart, and confessing Jesus as Lord.

He seemed to settle down...I hugged him and told him I was proud and happy.

I then showed him a few verses in the Bible about believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing Him as Lord. He sat in my lap and read right along with me.

So he went back to playing and talking to his sister. After a bit, he came back a little concerned.

"I felt something mom," he whispered.

"Oh, did you feel the Holy Spirit?" I asked.

"No," he responded with great trepidation. "I felt something...furry. You know mom, the devil has a furry tail."

So we once again had a little talk about Jesus defeating the enemy once and for all on the cross. He listened so with great focus and concentration drinking in each word that I spoke.

I can't help but wonder what God has in store for this little man. I noted in my Journal the date and time writing that William asked Jesus into his heart and had him sign his name below the paragraph.

That seemed to seal the deal.

So on this 7th day of July, my little singing angel man accepted Jesus into his heart.

When he was three years old, I'd repeat this statement to him and have him say it back...

"My name is William James...I am a chosen vessel God. Chosen by God to preach healing, hope and salvation to the world in the name of Jesus!"

The journey to his destiny has just begun!

Captive No More

Captive No More!

"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,
When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
And the treader of grapes him who sows seed,
The mountains shall drip with sweet wine,
And all the hills shall flow with it.
I will bring back the captives of
my people......"

Amos 9:13-14

What holds you captive?

Is it debt...a relationship, unforgivness...or a situation out of your control?

What holds you in a prison could be of your own making, or not.

The real question is will you allow it to keep you tied up and bound?

The enemy wants to use it to quench the Holy Spirit in you. To keep you down and discouraged, wallowing in bitterness thinking nothing can change your circumstances.

God, however, never gives up on you. So you shouldn't give up either.

Just as He gave a strategic plan for Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, so He can give you a plan to bring a flow of blessings and restoration to replace the ruin.

God's final goal is not just to repair the breach in the fortress of your heart, but to make you whole, strong, and able to handle the blessings He wants to pour out.

God's process of perfecting us is always at work, especially amidst the trials and battles you face in life. While the enemy wants to destroy you, God desires to keep walking in faith trusting Him to bring you forth as a vessel of honor that reflects His glory and light to a dark world.

The keys in this process lies with you and me.

Will you walk in faith and obedience? Will you trust God to give you wisdom and a strategic plan to bring you out of that captivity?

Here are FOUR keys that you can use to be free, no matter your situation that has you bound.

1) Prepare and plan. God can give you the exact wisdom in this preparation. Be specific with your goals of action. Make long term goals as well as short. The long term goals help you through the delays.

2)Study-- Make steps to grow in your own personal development. The market place pays for value and your value is your skills. Learn a new skill, if you have to. If you can learn the art of communicating and dealing with people, that one skill alone
can help you wherever you start, from Wal Mart to Wallstreet!

3) Work. Be dedicated to work the plan, disciplined to stretch the mental muscles, and consistent in an effective work ethic. This is not work to be busy, but work that has a proven track record to give the results you desire. (That is why preparation and study goes first)!

4)Walk in close relationship with Jesus. Walk by faith and not sight. Faith comes by hearing ...by the Word of God. God has a way of honoring those who walk closely to Him. One moment of His favor can bring an abundance of blessings that man could ever produce in a lifetime.

It is the middle of 2008. No greater time to start now in this walk toward freedom, and be captive no more!

The Passing of a Friend

It has been over a month since the passing of Hugh Jarrett.

Hugh "Baby" was a legend in his time, singing with the Jordanaires Quartet and backing the KING of rock and roll, Elvis Presley. The Jordanaires and Elvis recorded 50 albums together, and they traveled with him during the 1950's. Hugh and the Quartet, sang backup for Presley on "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," "All Shook Up," "Jailhouse Rock" and "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You."

Hugh could tell you some stories that's for sure. He was the "voice" who would say the now famous saying, "Elvis has left the building." I loved when he'd share stories about how crazy those times were.



Hugh is in the picture on the right here...He's the tall gentleman pictured on the right.

I could write on an on about the famed Hugh Jarrett of old. As a former radio dj myself, I can appreciate his incredible career as a disc jockey, in addition to singing. He was THE most famous radio personality from his days on the radio in Nashville, Tennessee.

Hugh worked for the same radio station as I did just outside of Atlanta, Georgia in the latter part of his life. He'd come into the station with his big smile and warm words. Hugh always had something kind or positive to say.

I can't tell you how many times this man would come into the station and tell me how good I sounded on the radio. He just had this bubbly enthusiasm and appreciation for people. He was amazing in his kind spirit.

To get a compliment from Hugh Baby was rather awkward for me at first. I mean here's a legend in his own time taking time to say something encouraging to me about being on air.

But that was Hugh. He lit up our station every time he came to do his Sunday morning shift (recorded).

My daughter, who is 10, was so sad to hear of Hugh's death. Even though he could never remember her name, he always had something nice to say to her. She was kicking herself for not getting his autograph. When she discovered who "Elvis" was a few years ago and that Hugh sang with the King, she became quite impressed. The Miley Cyrus fan loves to meet singers and anyone who is famous.

It was fun seeing Hugh's face light up when Anna first wanted to meet him. When someone remembered his past, you could tell he appreciated it. We'd have people come in quite often to the radio station when they'd realize Hugh was there. They'd come with their Elvis pictures or the Jordaniares. He'd sign them and share a story or two. (He was part of Presley's famous waist-up appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1956. A skinny, beaming Mr. Jarrett wearing a plaid sport coat can be seen just over and behind Mr. Presley's left shoulder, hand-clapping, finger-snapping and swaying to the music.)

I have been out of radio for a few years now. I miss seeing Hugh. I can't help but sigh when thinking how sad it is that he is not around anymore.

In my mind today, I thought of him and got a vision of him in heaven. He had that smile and was 'be-bopping', in no pain, with the chorus in the heavenly realms singing praises to the REAL KING, Jesus.

And, he was announcing that Jesus WAS IN the building!

Destiny Part 1: Choose Your Friends Wisely

I've been hanging around Psalm 1 all summer.

What power in that one little Psalm!

If you are ever wondering what is your destiny in life, that Psalm has the answer.

Your destiny is to be blessed. This is a kind of "blessed" that is for the whole of your life, as you follow the words to this simple Psalm.

But you don't just "arrive" to your God given destiny. There is a road to travel. And on that road you are going to meet people, all kinds of people.

Some of them will assist you and cheer you on. Some will drag you down and want you to hang in the sewer of life with them.

The people you choose to be with is pivotal on this road.

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.... Verse 1

The friends and associates you hang with can determine which path you choose to walk in life. I don't think this has to be broken down.

We all can think of that one person who started to be around the "wrong crowd" and their life was changed drastically.

Godly counsel is a prerequisite to prosperity. "For by wise counsel you will wage your own war. And in a multitude of counselors there is safety." Proverbs 24:6

He who walks with the wise will be wise.

So you know God has called you to...........something. You may not be "there" yet. You even maybe discouraged by where you are and how slow the process.

Who are you hanging with. Do they celebrate you and your gifts or just tolerate you.

It may seem painful but move away from those who can't appreciate your gifts and talents. Go where you are celebrated. If that means a different set of friends or a different church, go.

Blessed is the man who....

So many blessings for you ahead. Take one step at a time.

I'm a Member of Open

View my page on Christian Market Leaders OPEN On Principle Entrepreneur Network

What Do You Say When....

What do you say to someone who is facing a tragedy.

What do you say to someone who's prayers go unanswered?

I start my work day (from home) today with word of a friend whose 20 something year old son died in a motorcycle accident.

Right after that call, another one from a friend facing another month, another year with no answer to her prayer to have a baby.

What do you do? Rather, what do you say?

I know there is only so much you can say without sounding trite or abrasive. My brain wants to pummel them with verses from the Word. My heart wants to reach out and just comfort them.

I believe a combination of both, minus the pummeling, can help. God's Word does not return void.

So to the friend who lost his son, I ask him if I could pray for him right at that moment as I talked on the phone. I said a quick prayer with the verse "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34). He sobbed and said "thank you."

I can only trust God that was enough.

For the friend who was longing for a child, listening was the best course of action. And then a gentle word simply re-assuring her that God does know the desires of her heart. She said she could relate to Abraham and Sarah in the Bible. That brought an opening to share Romans 4...specifically encouraging her to be like Abraham..."Who did not waver at the promises of God through unbelief, but was strengthened by faith knowing that He who promised was able to accomplish what HE had promised...."

In times like these, I am so thankful for the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

For with His Word and His Spirit, we can be broken bread and poured out wine. We can weep with those who weep. We can be "Jesus with skin on" to a lost and hurting world, or simply to those around us.

My encouragement to you?

As you face the punches of life, and the unfair curve balls that hit your gut, learn to allow the "God of all comfort" be your source of hope and solace amidst your pain.

I know "soaking in His Word" during those terribly painful times have been my only hope. The Word can be like the "Balm of Giliad", which not only takes the sting away but also makes the wound whole again.

So as you allow God to comfort you, you in turn are able to comfort others.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Be Jesus with skin on to someone today.