7 Lessons for L.I.F.E.; Lesson 7

Lesson 7: Speak to your mountains

Matthew 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (New International Version)

It’s high time that the people of God took charge of their situations by confessing God’s Word over their lives. The Bible teaches us we have the power of life and death in our own tongues and it further continues to emphasize the importance of the words we speak.

Matthew 12:33-37 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

What kind of words have you been confessing? Have you spoken doubt and unbelief? If you continue to say you’re broke, lonely, or depressed, then you will be. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy.

The angels of God have been dispatched on your behalf to help you work out any situation you may find yourself in, but it’s only the Word of God they will hearken to. His word will cause them to move into action on your behalf.

Begin to speak the words God says about you over your life. Affirmations of praise and thanksgiving and words of faith and will obligate our Father to fulfill His promises to us. Start calling those things that are not as though they were. Declare that you are more than a conqueror. Confess that you can do all things through Christ and that He who has begun a good work in you can complete it and watch you life begin to change.
Living a life of favor and expectancy sounds impossible but it’s not. God tells us in Ephesians 3:20 that He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than you could ever ask or think according to the power that lies within you.

By utilizing these lessons, you will activate the power of the Holy Spirit inside you. This will cause you to have favor before God and man. In this manner you can expect God to honor His Word and fulfill His promises for your life.

7 Lessons for L.I.F.E.: Lesson 6

Lesson 6: Seek God’s Wisdom

Proverbs 8:11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Seeking God for wisdom in our day to day activities is not always our first choice. Rather, we generally choose to follow the desires of our flesh.

God has perfect knowledge and insight into our lives. We should not lean on our own understanding but trust Him in everything we do. Focusing on God and seeking His Kingdom first takes the emphasis off of us and our earthly desires and frees us up to receive what God desires for us.

God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Ask God for wisdom.

7 Lessons for L.I.F.E.: Living in Favor and Expectancy: Lesson 5

Lesson 5: Let God’s Peace rule in your heart

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (New International Version)

The end result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace which is usually defined as the lack of conflict, good feelings, or positive thinking this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance. It comes from knowing God is always in control. With Christ’s peace we have no need to fear the present or the future.

Phillipians 4:6-7Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Seemingly impossible, a life free of anxiety can be achieved when you take Paul’s advice and turn your worries into prayers. Our place in God’s heart is sure. Our destiny is ordained, and we can have victory of life’s problems if we let God’s peace guard our hearts.

7 Lesson for L.I.F.E.: Living in Favor and Expectancy

Lesson # 3 be a Faithful Steward over God’s Greatest Creation: “You”

Psalm 8:3-9 (New International Version) When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
It can be easy to feel unimportant in a world so full of people, places, and things. To feel small is a healthy way back to reality. But, God does not want us to dwell on our smallness. Instead, He reminds us in Psalms that He has given us dominion and crowned us with glory. Humility means proper respect for God not depreciation of our self worth.
How could God be concerned for a people who constantly disappoint Him? The answer is simple. God considers us highly valuable because we are His creation. Our true value is God’s estimate of our worth, not out peers’. Other people evaluate and categorize us according to how we perform, what we achieve, and how we look. But God cares for us because we belong to Him. So we can face life without fear.
The next time you question your worth as a person, remember, Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God has declared how valuable we are to Him. Because of His affirmation, we can be set free from feelings of worthlessness.
How do you treat God’s greatest creation, “You”? Use your resources wisely because God holds you accountable for your stewardship, even over yourself.

7 Lessons for L.I.F.E.: Living in Favor and Expectancy

Lesson 2: Be grateful.

Exodus 16:2 in the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.(New International Version)

Once again, we find the children of Israel complaining. Even after the many miraculous works of God, as soon as times got tough, they wanted to go back to the familiarity of slavery.

Truthfully, they didn’t really desire to go back to Egypt, they just wanted life to be easier.

With jobs, children, spouses and the wear and tear of everyday life, it's easy to forget all of the blessings God has given us. We can lose our perspective on God's control of our lives when the physical, mental, and emotional demands or our many roles and responsibilities take their toll. Our perspective becomes somewhat convoluted and ungratefulness creeps in if we focus too heavily on material things while taking what we have for granted. We become complacent and our tendency is to forget that all good things come from God. Our security is no longer in Him but in what we possess. We congratulate ourselves rather than glorify Him.

We must be careful not to see God as a "Sugar Daddy" or someone we call on only when we need Him; neglecting to commune with Him when life is going well. Our relationship with God during the good times shows where our sense of security really lies.

Like the Israelites in Numbers 31: 48-50, we should eagerly offer up a sacrifice and a testimony of praise when God has delivered us.

If we are to truly have a relationship with God, include Him and acknowledge His presence even in the good times.
Be grateful.

Kathleen Moon Co-Author Victorious Living for Women

Kathleen Moon is another of the wonderful Co-Authors of the book Victorious Living for Women. Worth More that Rubies had the awesome opportunity to interview Kathleen for our blog. Tune in Tuesday, January 26, 2010, at 8:00pm CST as we listen to Kathleen deliver a powerful message on Worth More than Rubies Titus Tuesdays. You don't want to miss it! Worth More than Rubies Titus 2 Tuesdays.

In the 20+ years of business and life I have collected, learned, and experienced many things. They come from church life, street ministry, business cultures, corporate settings and entrepreneurial endeavors. This allows me to entertain enlighten and inspire you. I have earned a “Street Degree” in Management (of anything), Sales, and was Ordained in Ministry (1986).

I was voted, “Mom of the Year” for the years of training up 4 kids and posses a great love for Gods kids.

All this experience has taught me to plan strategically, envisioning great achievements, teach people to ‘stand firm’, ‘move slowly’ and live life to its fullest. I get to the core of a problem quickly. “My heart is to inspire, educate, connect and unleash the powerful destiny within each person I meet. We have too much to give and find it hard to open ourselves to that reality. In connecting and discovering, we find our true happiness.”

I have served my community well with many hats; Corona Chamber of Commerce President 2004 with a backup of 4 years serving on the Board of Directors and many committee positions. I also served as a director for many non-profits; Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Association of Realtors, YMCA, National Association of Women Business Owners, and Today’s Youth Organization, to name a few.

There have been numerous awards and accolades along the way from the City of Corona, Riverside County, Congress, House of Representatives, City of Orange and the Presidents Award from the Chamber of Commerce and more.

Contact Information:
Web: www.kathleenmoon.ning.com
E-mail: Kathleen@kathleenmoon.com

Phone: (951) 858-2601

Sunday Sayings: I Made It

Today's Sunday Saying is "I Made It"

Click below to listen and be blessed!

I Made It

Thelma Wells’ Ready to Win Blog Tour Interview

OPENING: I’m delighted to be here today to visit with you and your readers, and share about a topic that is dear to my heart.

Thelma, you have had a successful banking and corporate career. You’ve spoken all over the country and around the world, done a lot of radio interviews, had your own television show, and written a lot of books. Many of our readers will be familiar with you from the Women of Faith conferences. It seems you’ve “done it all.” So when you left Women of Faith in February 2008, what was it that you were leaving them to do?

Actually, I really did not fully understand what I was going to do. I was simply following the very clear instructions of God that it was time to go. I had a few speaking engagements on my calendar but certainly not enough to make ends meet. My total dependence was on God and waiting to see what He had in store for me.

Your new book, Don’t Give In…God Wants YOU to Win!, is based on a real life experience. Will you tell us a little of that story?

I was in elementary school when one of my friends told people she was going to beat me up. I could not understand why but it was real. After school for two days I faced a crowd hungry to see a fight and a girl who I thought was my friend hit me and frighten me to tears. One the second day of my fighting ordeal my great grandmother who raised me gave me some strong advice, “Thelma, the only way to deal with a bully is to fight them. You better fight her tomorrow and beat her up. If not, you’re going to get a whipping when you get home. That was the determining factor. My Granny who had taught me that ladies don’t fight had just reversed the instruction to “fight the bully.”

I did fight her the third day and hit her hard, so she ran home, not me. I learned that when we are faced with the bully, the adversary, the enemy of our souls, the devil himself, the only way to win is to fight him with all the ammunition we have, the Whole Armor of God.

This book is about spiritual warfare, demons, the Holy Spirit, and some pretty heavy-duty areas. Why write on this topic?

In this day and age when all around us seems to failing like our economic system, the government, relationships, health, self-worth, business and workplace situations, the church, wayward children, divorce and so much more, it is imperative that people have something sturdy and reliable to hold on to. Everyday we are fighting some kind of battle small, great or tremendous. When we don’t know how to fight against the disappoint, heartache, confusion, depression, and all the emotional and spiritual fall out from these issues, we become desperate, violent, vicious and vile. John 10:10 tells us that the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy us. But, Jesus has come to give us life and that life more abundantly than the feelings of no hope. This book teaches about the only hope we have and how to use that hope physically, emotionally and spiritually with a guarantee that we are winners when we do.

Will you share with us the chapter titles?
Introduction: Time for Questions
Chapter One: Know How to Fight, but Never Start One
Chapter Two: Fight or Flight?
Chapter Three: Breakdown for a Blessing
Chapter Four: Weeds in the Garden
Chapter Five: Thelma’s Untold Rituals
Chapter Six: The Dynamic Duo
Chapter Seven: The Battle Is Not Yours
Chapter Eight: Winning Weapons
Chapter Nine: Fix Your Hair!
Chapter Ten: Pad Your Bra!
Chapter Eleven: Tighten Your Girdle!
Chapter Twelve: Put On Your Stomping Shoes!
Something Extra: More Winning Weapons

You’ve been known as the BEE lady, but it seems you’re evolving into more than that? Where do you see your ministry heading in the future?

God has so many surprises for me that my heart is overflowing. I have a teaching and preaching anointing that has made my ministry one of integrity and worth. God is doing great things in my life and reinventing some vital things that will be seen by everybody in a few weeks. He has guaranteed me that the international travel I’ve done over the past thirty years, the seeds I’ve sown over my lifetime, the barriers and tough times I’ve overcome are about to pay off in many different ways. He has put Christian people in my life that have and are changing the course of my life in great and wonderful ways. I will be taking a group to Israel next November, on other Ready to Win tours throughout the world, working with World Vision in their child sponsorship program, presenting mini Ready To Win Conferences throughout the world, and whatever else the Lord assigns me to do.

Congratulations on your first Ready to Win Conference. We heard you had an awesome weekend in Garland, TX with a great group of speakers, musical artists, and attendees. Having done so many conferences in the past, why do another conference?

This is not just another conference. This Ready To Win Conference does not just excite people or create positive thinking, it gives everyone, saved and unsaved, the winning weapons to fight off all the wicked in this world. People are not only encouraged to win the war against the evil one, they are given easy to understand tools that they have reported are so vivid in their minds that they can apply every day in every situation. Coming together in a group and learning these tried and true skills is so much easier to understand than writing it in a book or seeing it on DVD. The reports have been that this works because they were able to see it, hear it, feel it, and use it instantly and forever. In today’s world, another conference is not what we are about. We are about people joining together from different denominations, ethnicities, geographic locations, languages, and thought systems and getting insight and instruction that can bring people of all walks of life together to become a mighty army against the forces of evil.

As a follow up, how can people get the Ready to Win Conference to their area?

People all over the world can contact me at contactus@thelmawells.com and we will get back with them with the details of how the Ready To Win Conference can come to their area.

In your book, Don’t Give In…God Wants YOU to Win!, you talk about doing rituals as it relates to fighting the good fight of faith. Will you explain that word to us and give us an example?

The word ritual is used on to denote the routines we have in our daily lives like fixing our hair, dressing ourselves, and being prepared for the day. It means nothing more than that and nothing mysterious that would attract any evil forces.

Spiritual warfare and putting on the armor of God is a daily activity for you. Is this because you’re a nationally known Christian speaker and author, or is this something that everyone should be aware of?

Spiritual warfare is the state of our lives whatever and whoever you are. We fight against anger, gluttony, smoking, frustration, and everything else that can make us less than our best. The warfare that we are in daily is because we live in a fallen world where Satan thinks he has power. Each and everyday he tries to confuse us into thinking that things are unfixable, out of control, etc. He is the greatest liar of all times and he lays tricks in our minds, if we let him. From the moment we were born until the day we die we will be fighting spiritual warfare. However, the good news is…people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior never have to fight alone. The end of the story is that Jesus and His people win and the devil is a number one loser!

Thelma, this book was released at a perfect time. So many people are struggling just to survive. They’ve lost jobs, money, health, marriages, and more. Many just want to give up! What can we do if we are in those situations to prepare for victory in the battle of life?

When you’re in a battle these are the things that must be done in order to win:

• Put on the helmet of salvation to cover your thought life.
• Put on the breastplate of righteousness to guard your heart against devil and sin.
• Put on the girdle of Truth so that you will be able to understand what real truth is and be able to use the Sword of the Spirit (The Word of God – the Bible) in every situation as Jesus did when He was tempted by the devil in the mountain.
• Put on the shoes that have prepared you with the preparation of peace so you can march and stay fit as you tell other people about the goodness and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Hold up the shield of faith believing that God will keep every Promise He made for our good.
• Pray for each other and for ourselves by asking God for what we need, seeking His perfect will in all we do and knocking continually until we know God has answered our prayers. We must realize that God does not answer all our prayers the way we want Him to but whatever way He answers them, they are for our good and for His glory.
• Praise God with thanksgiving for all He has done and will do for us. The worship of God brings us into an atmosphere of being able to fight the good fight of faith and WIN.

Where/how does “submitting to God and the devil will flee from you” fit into spiritual warfare?

God asks us to do a simple thing, trust Him enough to give Him all of us. That’s hard to do when you try to control your life yourself. It really amounts to us (you and me) worshipping ourselves instead of worshipping God. When we live in humble submission to God, Satan will try to attack but God is our Protector. This is not a one-time submission to God. Everyday and sometimes during the day we must ask Him to lead us not into temptation and to protect us from evil because evil is always near. We are told to pray without ceasing. This means that we must stay in the attitude of prayer 24/7. It’s simple but it presents a challenge for us because we are so distracted by our day, our desires, our dreams, our relationships, etc. that we often forget that none of this would be possible were it not for the Lord who grants it. Submission means to let God be the driving force and the guiding force in our lives and trust Him that He will do exceedingly abundantly over and above what we can ask or think according to His power that works in us. The most peaceful, contented condition of my life is when I actually and earnestly turned my entire life over to the direction of God. I can now recognize when Satan tries to tempt me, confuse me, and drive me into doing or saying things I should not. It has come about with trust in God and practice of His word. Satan will attack but God will counter-act.

Most of us are familiar with the list of spiritual weapons available for us to use as listed in Ephesians 6. You have a way to remember these that might be more relevant to today’s woman – as a mom, wife, business woman, etc. Will you share these five things with us that you do daily when you’re getting “dressed” in the morning? [BLOG HOSTS…INSERT CARTOON PICTURE HERE]

Thelma, it seems you are all over the Internet these days. Anyone can find you on your web site, Facebook, Twitter, web casts, a blog tour, the You Go Girl Network, and other cutting edge things with technology. Why is it important for you to use all these various methods to spread your message?

Technology is the way God planned for us to get His message to the world according to Matthew 28:19.

How did you get the name, Mama T?

A young lady in my church named me that because she thought that was a fitting name for me and it has become a loving name for the ladies in my mentoring groups.

So what’s next for the Mama T and Ready to Win?

My website (ThelmaWells.com) is being reinvented to a teaching tool for people to learn more and more about how to win the battles of life. There will be powerful tools available, I will be personally speaking with people and many other changes that will enlighten, encourage, inform, influence and empower people to fight the good fight and win.

Where can our readers buy your new book and register for the webcast?

On my web site, which is ThelmaWells.com. They can click on the July RTW On-line Web cast button to learn more or register for the next series of web casts that start on July 7. You can also watch this video to learn more…click here.

My new book, Don’t Give In – God Wants YOU To Win! is also available online and at local bookstores such as, Family Christian Stores, Lifeway Christian Stores, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble Book Stores, Mardel’s, Anchor Distributors, Christianbook.com, and many other stores and vendors throughout American and the United Kingdom.

Is there anything that we didn’t ask that you’d like to share with us?

In all we’ve said, we need to remember that Jesus loves YOU and has a plan for your life. This plan includes you living a life free from worry and anxiety. God is in control of everything. When we trust in Him, give Him our lives to guide, seek the will of the Father, ask Jesus to be the Lord and Master of our lives, and accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are winners and nobody or nothing can take that away from us!

CLOSING:

Thank you, darling, for having me today on your blog. I hope you and your readers will visit my web site at ThelmaWells.com. And remember always be READY TO WIN!

BLOG HOSTS…OPTIONAL HTML CODE for Ready to Win web cast video.

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Domestic Violence and Child Custody

Domestic Violence and Child Custody
By Steven Carlson

Becoming a witness of domestic violence and growing up in such a volatile and disturbing family environment can have a dreadful impact on the psychological development of a child. Hence, the issue of child custody in situations that involve domestic violence is one of great important.

The US Department of Justice gives great importance towards protecting the rights of children who are exposed to domestic violence. Domestic violence in this context does not necessarily mean the child has actually seen physical abuse or witnessed domestic violence. It may encompass circumstances wherein the child is simply present in the home during an incident of domestic violence. Such type of abuse is commonly referred to as "secondary abuse." In a California case known as In re Heather A., 60 Cal. Rptr. 2d 315, 322 (Ct. App. 1996) the court found that two children were exposed to domestic violence by virtue of being in the same home as their mother ho was physically abused by her boyfriend, even though the children were in another part of the house and did not actually witness the abuse. The two children were removed from the home and made dependents of the court upon a finding that the children were victims of secondary abuse.

Parents experiencing domestic violence within their family home are at risk of losing custody of their children. These children may be declared as dependants of the court, removed from the home, and taken into protective custody of Department of Social services. There are several means by which parents subjected to domestic violence can prevent losing custody of their children. The most important of these is to bring an end to such a violent relationship.

If you are involved in a relationship wherein domestic violence is present and children are involved, you would do well to consult an attorney in your jurisdiction to help you learn where you stand legally on the matter and what options are available to help protect you and your children.

© 2007 Child Custody Coach

Child Custody Coach supplies information, online materials, and coaching services to parents in the field of child custody, namely, divorce, child custody and visitation, child custody evaluations, 730 evaluations, parenting techniques, and all issues related to child custody and divorce. How to Win Child Custody - Proven Strategies that can Win You Custody and Save You Thousands in Attorney Costs! is a unique child custody strategy guide provided as an E-Book for immediate access written by Steven Carlson who is known nationally as The Custody Coach. Custody Match is an online consumer and family law attorney matching service find the right family law attorney, divorce, attorney, or child custody lawyer in your area.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Carlson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Domestic-Violence-and-Child-Custody&id=606449

Women N Power Sunday Morning Glory

Church Services Via Teleconference

Empowering You to Empower Yourself

When each of us is born we are full of God given potential. Ask any young child what they want to be when they grow up and their answers will amaze you; a doctor and a lawyer, a ballerina and a school teacher, a fireman, and a football player. The problem arises when we as adults begin to scoff at their remarks. We're quick to say, "oh sweetie, you can't do all that."

My question is why not? God said we could do all things through Christ who strengthens us. I believe Peter Pan had the right idea about never growing up because growing up causes us to stop listening to the voice within in us reminding us that God's plans for us are good. Instead, we begin to listen to and internalize those voices that say you won't ever amount to anything, or the ones that say you're too ugly or too dumb.

Not seeing ourselves the way God see us, we begin to validate ourselves through the eyes of others. The time has come to create a paradigm shift in our lives. We need to ask ourselves, "Is anything to hard for God? Is this day in my life more than God can handle? Is this habit I'm trying to overcome too hard for him?" Asking these questions prompts us to seek God on His power to help us with the impossible. THe impossible is simply an opportunity for God.

Seek God first and He will add all that you need. Meditate on His word both day and night so that it becomes a part of your DNA.

You have the power of life and death in your own tongue. Begin to speak life into your dead situations. Tell yourself that no weapon formed against you will prosper because greater is He that is in your than he that is in the world. Remember the word says you are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ and you are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath.

This is the word of the Lord. He wishes not that anyone would perish. Hide His words about you in your heart. Walk in His destiny which was designed only for you. Lean not to your own understanding. Trust Him and he will direct your path. Fortify your faith by working towards the destiny God has for you and watch your life begin to change.