"You CAN!"

I’ve been reading Joyce Meyer’s NEW book “Power Thoughts". I think it’s a really great book. Many have joined me as I’ve been sharing principles in my “Billie Reads" BLOG. I’m up to Chapter 5 in the book which talks about Power Thought #1. Let me share with you some nuggets that you can chew on.

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].” Philippians 4:13 AMP

You can do whatever you need to do in Life through Christ. You must believe this regardless of what comes at you. The moment you say, “I could never do that!" that’s when satan says, “I got you!" But according to the above Scripture, you CAN win. You CAN live. God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say you’ll reach a destination. He never promised that you’ll enjoy the process, but He promised that you’ll enjoy Life. He never guaranteed that you wouldn’t fall, but He guarantees us strength to keep going.

“Nothing is too difficult for you if God is leading you to do it. God will not call you to do anything He will not enable and empower you to do.” ~ Joyce Meyer

God will not lead you to ‘impossibility’. It may be impossible before you get there. But once you arrive, God makes it possible.

Jesus replied, "Why do you say `if you can'? Anything is possible for someone who has faith!" Mark 9:23 CEV

Joyce Meyer goes on to say, “Miracles Come in Cans." Let me explain what she means by that. Many people are used to hearing others repeatedly tell them “You can't." People always tell you what you cannot do. Therefore, many people grow up thinking, “I can't" when that’s the farthest thing from the truth.

“No matter how many times you have heard someone say to you, ‘You can’t,’ I want to say to you, ‘Oh, yes, you can!’ I believe that miracles come in cans – our belief that we can do whatever we need to do through Christ Who is our strength.”
~ Joyce Meyer

God believes that you CAN. I believe that you CAN. Now it’s time for you to start believing in yourself. Today is your day. Come into agreement and say, “I CAN!"

~ Article By Billie Miller To sign up to receive more of these inspirational articles please visit www.TheWordisYourLife.com

To Get Your Personal Copy of 'Power Thoughts' By Joyce Meyer, GET IT BELOW FOR 41% OFF!

Power Thoughts: 12 Strategies to Win the Battle of the Mind By Joyce Meyer / FaithWords Do you want to improve your life? Change your mind, says Meyer! Sharing 12 "power thoughts" to help retrain your brain, she shows how to achieve success by getting your mind to work for you, not against you. Focus on "God loves me unconditionally," "I am disciplined," and other life changing phrases to experience the life you've always wanted! A followup to her bestselling book, Battlefield of the Mind, Power Thoughts is a practical, workbook-style program that compels readers to actively choose positive, empowering thoughts through written exercises, thought prompts, and targeted scriptural "Power Packs" for week-by-week progress. Along the way, readers will learn how to renew their minds and achieve personal goals through the diligent study of God's Word and careful, guided reflection of the 12 Power Thoughts detailed in this book.

We FALL DOWN...But We GET UP

How to Bounce Back after a Setback

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

When I first became a Christian, I thought all of my worldly sorrows would be over. Because I was new in the faith, I didn’t know that God allows adversity in our lives so we can grow and develop in Christ. In my naivete, I thought that any negative experience came from the devil. The truth is, sometimes it’s our own fault. Bad decisions, poor judgment, ignorance, or plain old selfishness will land us in a heap of trouble. I also learned that what satan intends for evil, God will use for good (Gen. 50:20).

The year 1993 was a bad one for our family. Our home went into foreclosure, our car was repossessed, and we were burdened financially. My husband’s business folded and my salary wasn’t enough to keep everything going, so we made the decision to let the house go. We had hit rock bottom, and it was a terrible feeling.

I dreaded going back to work, fearing questions about what had happened. Worse yet, because my job was so deadline oriented, I feared not being able to concentrate. But actually, work was a pleasant distraction – it kept my mind off what was going on at home. I wasn’t given the luxury of wallowing in self-pity or woulda-coulda-shouldas. I had two little boys depending on me for support. I had to get up, get dressed, and go to work every day.

What I learned during that time is that God is bigger than even the biggest troubles. The house and car were just material things, and although we were inconvenienced and uncomfortable, we got over those losses in time. We bought another house a few years later and have had a few cars since then. But I had changed spiritually. One of the Scriptures that resonated with me during that time was Matthew 5:45:

“For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (KJV).

Christians aren’t exempt from hardship. There’s always going to be heartbreak, tragedy, or disappointment in this life. But we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus is there for us through the pain and suffering.

POWER MOVE
Just because you’re down doesn’t mean you’re out, and best of all, it doesn’t mean that your situation will last forever. If you’ve experienced a loss of any kind – material possessions, a relationship, or a job – know that God will be there to comfort you through the process of healing. He is a Replenisher, and whatever you’ve lost, He can restore. It’s His pleasure to bless us, and it’s our job to have faith.

MY CONFESSION
“My God is bigger than any setback or problem I have. I will trust Him to deliver me from any painful situation.”

~ Carol Mackey is the author of Sistagirl Devotions which is a GREAT book for Winning Women. For More Information about Carol visit www.CarolMackeyOnline.com.

What's Your Love Level?

What is your Love Level? You don’t know? Let me help you figure it out. Do you determine your value by what you get on Valentine’s Day? Do you feel unloved because nobody says, “I Love you”? Do you wish that someone would just appreciate you? Then I can tell you that your Love Level is ‘low’. But then again, it could be ‘medium’. Maybe it’s ‘high’. Actually it could be anywhere on the radar because you only received ‘conditional’ Love. When your Love Level is based on condition, it will always fluctuate. It will always move based on what you feel, see, or hear.

“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is Love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of Love. Observe how Christ Loved us. His Love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't Love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” Ephesians 5:1-2 MSG

It’s not until you receive ‘unconditional’ Love from God that you’ll be able to give ‘unconditional’ Love to others. You can’t give what you don’t have. Max Lucado said, “Instructing people to Love without telling them they are Loved is like telling them to write a check without our making a deposit in their accounts. No wonder so many relationships are overdrawn. Hearts have insufficient Love.” It’s unconditional Love that keeps your Love Level high and makes it stay there. Why? Unconditional Love is not based on conditions. It’s based on a promise. Unconditional Love says, “I’ll Love you no matter the conditions.” Although we all like to hear “I Love you", unconditional Love is to be demonstrated rather than dictated (Romans 5:8). It is to be put into action rather than put into words.

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we Love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
1 John 3:18 NLT

Can we Love like this? With God’s help we can. Can our Love Level remain ‘high’? With God’s help we can. Can our Love make a difference? With God’s help, sure we can.


~ Article By Billie Miller
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Not them...YOU!

"You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say. What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words." Proverbs 18:21 Good News Translation

What you say and believe about yourself will determine how far you go in life. What others say and believe about you does not effect you...unless you receive it. If your success depended on what others believe and say about you, you would never accomplish anything. Quit making decisions based on what other people think - their opinions, their judments, their desires. Do what's in your heart regardless of how others feel.

"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does. That's what makes you a winner."
~ Venus Williams, Professional Tennis Champion

You need to understand the 18/40/60 Rule. Let me share it with you.

18/40/60 RULE:

At age 18, you worry about what everybody is thinking of you.
At age 40, you don't care what anybody thinks of you.
At age 60, you realize nobody's been thinking about you at all.

"Most of the time, nobody's thinking about you at all! They are too busy worrying about their own lives, and if they are thinking about you at all, they are wondering what you are thinking about them. People think about themselves, not you. Think about it - all the time you are wasting worrying about what other people think about your ideas, your goals, your clothes, your hair, and your home could all be better spent on thinking about and doing the things that will achieve your goals."
~ Jack Canfield

~ Article By Billie Miller
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YOU CAN'T QUIT NOW!

Imagine yourself walking down the street. Now imagine after walking for some time, you decided to stop walking. Where would you be at? Right where you stopped right? That’s what it’s like spiritually when you decide to quit. To quit is to make a decision to stay in the same position. To quit is to say “Yes” to where you’re at. The worst place that you want to quit or stop at is where you're facing the most challenges. Why stop in the very place that you don't want to be. You’re going after your dream. You’re fulfilling your God-Given vision. You’re striving to win. Don’t think that the devil is going to let you by easy. Don’t think that he’s going to give you a free pass just because you decided to be somebody. Storms will come. Challenges will come. Troubles will come. Jesus said in the Bible,

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NLT

Just because trouble comes doesn’t mean that it has to trouble you. Just because the storm comes doesn’t mean that it has to tear up your house (Luke 6:47-49). Use your ‘situation’ to make you ‘stronger’. Turn what’s meant to ‘break you’ into a ‘breakthrough’. But you can’t do this if you give up. You can’t quit now, because wherever you ‘stop’ at is where you ‘stay’ at.

“Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” ~ Conrad Hilton

You must keep moving. You must press forward. You must keep winning…
so keep winning.

~ Article By Billie Miller
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I'm Thankful for YOU.

I have to admit. I'm a little overwhelmed right now with gratitude.
Just like you, I've had many highs and lows in life. But also like
you, I have survived. I have even overcome. It is such a wonderful
thing.

And now I get the awesome responsibility of helping multitudes of
people thrive, grow and live large. I'm so humbled by the assignment.
Thank you for being apart of my purpose and letting me do my job.

Take care of yourself today. Protect your dream...share it only with
those who can support you. Defend only peace. Even if you are
planning to spend time with folks who get on your last nerves.
Gird yourself. Don't lose your cool, and for goodness sakes stay focused.
Remember, just beyond the corner of this holiday season, you have
a great year ahead of you, we have work to do, and you don't need
distractions.

For now just be centered and grateful my friend.

Hugs & Happiness,
Written by Asha Tyson

Make a Move...It Makes a Difference

Move - to pass from one place or position to another; to go from one place of residence; to advance or progress; to have a regular motion; turn; revolve.

One of the most difficult things to do is change, especially if you've just gotten used to the position you're in and its comfortable. Often though, things don't get better until we 'MAKE A MOVE'. Sometimes we don't do it, or won't do it because of the fear of the unknown.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Tim. 1:7

But when the time is right, whether we want to come out of our comfort zone or what we're used to... we need to MOVE!

Just think, there are so many 'movements' that have made a difference in our lives.

For example:
* The Civil Rights Movement - which helped us achieve and recognize our equal rights as a race.
* The Abolition Movement - which was a movement to end slavery.
* Women's Lib Movement - which helped women establish a sense of self worth.
* Animal Rights Movement - which helped to establish rights for non-human animals.

Or have you ever wanted to get to know someone, but because of fear or shyness you didn't make a move. And the minute you decided after hesitation, someone else moved before you..... they got what you wanted! You moved too slow!

Have you ever thought about how different your life would be if you had 'made a move' earlier than you did... or moved from one place or position to another.

There are times in the Bible when God requires His people to 'make a move' in order for Him to Move!!!

"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

This whole Scripture is about God wanting His people to 'make a move', put forth some effort to cause change in their lives and the world around them.

1. Humble themselves - to lower in condition and importance; to become meek, which is an ACTION, which is a MOVE!!
2. Pray - to offer a petition, thanks, or praise to God; to enter into Communion with God; to open their mouths and speak to God on the behalf of someone else.
3. Seek his face - to search out, look for, to try to find, to ask for (face - presence) of God.
4. Turn - to change, to move, from one direction to another direction.

All these things were actions... movements!
Basically God said, "Only when you move, will I move."

*What if the ten lepers wouldn't have looked past their embarrassment and asked Jesus to heal them. And what if that ONE leper wouldn't have been different from his fellow lepers and went back to thank Jesus. Without that move, he wouldn't have been made WHOLE, just healed, and there is a big difference!

*What if the woman with the Issue of Blood wouldn't have decided to go against what other women in her condition would do. What if she hadn't decided to put forth effort in spite of her pain, her brokeness, her lack of money, probably lookin a mess, and her earlier failed attempts to be helped. She 'made a move' and it MOVED Jesus!

*What if Paul and Silas hadn't made moves.. PRAISE AND PRAYER are moves that caused God to move, and God caused the earth to move (earthquake), and the earth caused the prison to move...They wouldn't have experience freedom at such a time and the others wouldn't have experienced salvation if not for their MOVE!

*What if Naaman had only moved as many times as he wanted instead of the 7 times the man of God said.... he wouldn't had been healed. Yes, at first he was upset because Elisha wouldn't come lay hands on him.. AND then he wondered why he couldn't dip in the rivers of Damascus instead of the Jordan. He had to do something he wasn't comfortable with... but when he moved, when he obeyed... his skin came back to him. Not only did it come back, but it was like a baby's skin! NOW THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT MOVE!!

So how is your life being affected right now simply because there are moves that you need to make and you're not doing it?
Or how many people are waiting on an opportunity to experience salvation?
Or how is the Kingdom benefitting from your MOVEMENTS?

Yes, sometimes it's uncomfortable, its controversial, it may cause a stir, and it may cause a stink. But you're different from everyone else.

~ Article By Jessica Proctor, a Winning Woman