Keeping Your Word

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:5,6

On Saturday, I had to have a little life talk with Carson.  Thursday night he had told us that he was going to go to school on Saturday and work a concession stand for one of the games.  It would give him service hours for National Junior Honor Society.  No problem, Bobby said he’d run him over and then go pick him up when he was done.

But we had a full week this past week and had been out on Friday night at a friend’s for dinner, and when Saturday morning rolled around, Carson was tired and decided he didn’t want to get up and go to school to work, he’d rather stay home and hang out with Chase.  And the more Bobby tried to encourage him to go, the more adament Carson became that he didn’t want to.

I asked Carson if he had committed to working this event.  He said, “No”, he’d just told them he might be there. 

I explained to Carson that he could stay home this one time, because he’d not made a commitment, but that it was very important to honor his word, whether he was tired or not.  If he said he was going to do something, he must honor that.

I work with a lot of volunteers at church.  Some are always on time, always doing what they said they would do.  Others … not so much.

Yesterday, our Pastor was talking about our commitments to God.  We make vows with him on Sunday, when we’re caught up in the emotion of the moment … we say, YES LORD, but then by Tuesday or Wednesday, we’ve let life get the best of us and we are back to … “No God, can’t do that right now.”

I want my little Carson to grow into a man of character … in life and with God.

I want to grow into a woman of character … in life and with God.

Father, thank you for teaching me how to be a woman of character.  I want your character, your spirit to fill me up, to flow through me, to flow out of me.  And Jesus, please teach my little Carson the same lesson.

I love you Jesus!
   In Your Name I Pray,
   Amen

God’s Blessings Upon You!

Love,
Joyce

The Choices You Make Today …
Will Affect Your Tomorrow.
http://www.alifedecision.org

Created For a Purpose

 ”God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission – I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow, I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an Archangel in His. If, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.

Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away.”

~ Henry Newman

Are You Listening?

 

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27

We have a new family member, Jack, a Jack Russell Terrier. Jack is a sweetie pie, cute as a button, the total opposite of Zeke. Jack loves to hunt, he has a field day in our yard running from tree to tree chasing whatever it is that he is chasing. He plays keep away with Zeke, they chase each other around the house, each one trying to keep the ball or stuffed animal away from the other. Jack has never had an accident, he’s not chewed up anything except chew toys. He’s a good dog. But Jack does not listen to me.

I can be calling his name and he’s so focused in on what he’s doing … he totally ignores me. I have to actually go over to him and pick him up for him to stop doing what he’s doing and look at me. Jack does not hear my voice.

Zeke, on the other hand, who has been my best buddy for over five years always hears my voice. Even when I don’t want him to hear me, he does. I cannot say one word without Zeke being at my side. Sometimes I don’t have to even speak, I can just look at him and he’ll come over and lay his head on me. Zeke loves me, he listens for my voice and the second he hears it, he responds.

Sometimes I act like Jack, with God. I am so busy running around doing my thing, I don’t hear His gentle whisperings. He literally has to put a wall up in front of me for me to stop what I am doing and listen.

I want to be more like Zeke in my walk with Jesus. I want to hear His voice, whatever I’m doing – where ever I’m doing it. I want to stay attuned to His call.

I want to be part of His flock. I want to follow HIM.

Father, thank you for allowing me to see this example so clearly. Teach me Lord Jesus, how to hear your voice, no matter what the circumstance.

I Love You Jesus!
In Your Name I Pray,
Amen

God’s Blessing Upon You!

Love,
Joyce

Million Copy Give-Away.
    Will You Help?

http://www.alifedecision.org

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…
   it’s about learning to dance in the rain!

Big Dreams

“For I know the plans I have for you, ” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Carson and Chase spend a lot of time talking about what they want to do when they grow up. Carson wants to be a Veterinarian and live on a farm in North Florida with a lake and raise Guinea Pigs and take care of hurting animals. That is a big dream.

Chase wants to work at Sea World and swim with the dolphins and the whales. He wants to own a preserve and have all sorts of animals there that he and his buddy, Josh, take care of. That is a big dream.

I used to have big dreams when I was a kid. Then I grew up … and I allowed life to steal my dreams.

A few years ago, my life turned around and I wrote a book about the hope and healing I had experienced through Jesus. Most authors dream of selling a million copies of their books. My book was never about the sales, but rather the lives helped.

I had an idea the other day … why couldn’t I GIVE AWAY A MILLION COPIES in E-Book Format? That’s a BIG DREAM … but I serve a BIG GOD!

So … here goes. I am dreaming big. Will you help me achieve my goal?

Please forward this email to your friends and family … let’s see how many lives God can affect through email … through the Internet … through a book about healing and hope!

Chili and Chocolate Cake is not your average inspirational book; and is as unique as the title. The author shares her message of forgiveness, restoration, and hope for hurting women– especially those who have experienced the loss of a child through abortion, miscarriage, or stillborn birth. This book is a shining testimony to the power of God to heal the broken heart. Author Joyce Schneider’s dramatic life and the miraculous change from a tortured young women to a great woman of God will encourage every reader. God even used the stablilty gained from preparing chili and chocolate cake to weave the thread of His grace throughout her troubled life. Get ready for an outpouring–from the barren days of the past, to springs of living waters; rivers that will refresh long after you close the pages of this book.

All the details are on my website:
http://www.alifedecision.org

Thank you for your support!

Father, thank you for dreams. Thank you for giving me the encouragement to step out of my comfort zone and make a difference … for you!

I Love You Jesus!
  In Your Name I Pray,
  Amen

God’s Blessings To You!

Love,
Joyce

 

 

Just As I Am

Have you ever had one of those days when you just felt like a dork? Efforts made – came up short. Comments and actions – seemed to miss the mark. Basically, your self esteem just wasn’t feeling solid on that particular day!

Sometimes I assume that people will see and know my heart and soul. Oh, how I wish they could see into me at times! To know and understand my motives or intent. But, they don’t. And no matter how long I’m alive, I will probably always be astonished that people in my life will continue to misunderstand or second-guess me.

So, yes – today was one of those days for me. I felt like a dork. I just wasn’t able to quite “connect” with a few people, and my feelings got bruised up a bit. I shouldn’t be surprised, actually. I had a few other encouraging things happen this past week and I should have had my armor on and been ready for Satan to hit in retaliation. But, I wasn’t. And oh, how Satan loves to get us where it’s personal – doesn’t he?

How thankful I am, that I can come to God – just as I am. No pressure to perform to certain standards or expectations, no misunderstandings (for He can not only see my heart – He can read my mind!) – and nothing but open arms welcoming me into His presence – wanting to see me, be with me, and love me. How reassuring and thankful I am! Because this evening, I need those open arms. I need His love to remind me that I am not a dork. I need His strength to build me up again and show me that I’m doing okay and I’m on the right track – regardless of responses by others. He can encourage me to stay the course. Because Satan loves to make us feel sorry for ourselves and powerless – doesn’t He? We can’t be used to spread God’s love and cheer if we’re too busy being wrapped up in our own pity party. I know that, and I see that.

It was just a day. One day. And not all days are going to be beautiful, lovely, charming, and lovey. I know that. Tomorrow morning, the sun will rise and I can start fresh.

My soul is comforted by being able to take my feelings of “dorkiness” to the Lord. He is always there for me – ready, waiting, and welcoming.

For God said,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12:9-10

Or – as in my translation -
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in (dorkiness). Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my (dorkiness) so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake – I delight in (dorkiness), in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am (feeling like a dork), then I am strong.”

I don’t have to be perfect. I just need to come as I am.

 

Read Dionna’s blog at http://beautyinthestorm.blogspot.com

Beginnings

Beginnings: the point of time or space at which anything begins, starts. The initial stage. The origin, the source.

Last night our ladies group started reading the Book of John. The first two verses begin: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1,2)

The first book of the Bible, Genesis starts this way: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.(Genesis 1:1)

When I started school, I began in Kindergarten. I didn’t know much at that time, I had to go through the grade levels to achieve knowledge. When I graduated from college, I had a little more learning under my belt, but the years since have continued to be a wonderful teacher … and I’m still learning each and every day.

When I came to know Jesus on a personal level, I began my journey with him. I didn’t understand all there was to know about Him, but I have spent the last nine years gleaming knowledge from studying His Word. There are still many things I don’t understand, but I’m not finished learning yet.

Sometimes in life, we want to skip the beginning, the beginning is always new, sometimes unsure; it can cause us to be uncomfortable, sometimes it might even scare us a little.

We look at others who are farther into their journey and we envy what they have, but we forget that they began at the same place we did, ‘in the beginning.’

I want to encourage you … whatever beginning today brings, embrace it – allow God to use it to fulfill His purpose for you!

Father, thank you for beginnings … thank you that each day we can wake up to a new start with you. Lord, help us to use the past to make our present better, each and every day. Begin in us a new work Jesus, for your glory.

I love you Jesus.
In Your Name I Pray,
Amen

God’s Blessings Upon You!

Love,
Joyce

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…
it’s about learning to dance in the rain!

The Choices You Make Today …
Will Affect Your Tomorrow!
http://www.alifedecision.org

The Lie of Isolation

Have you ever noticed that when you are going through something in your life that is really tough, that you tend to push others away? Do you know why that is?

Think about it for a minute. We are social and relational creatures. God created us to rely on each other to get through life. He says in Hebrews 10:24-25 that we are to spur each other on, to meet together and to encourage one another.  Yet whenever we feel like we’ve messed up in life, or are going through a particularly tough time, why is it that we isolate ourselves from the very people we need to lean on?

Satan loves isolation.  If he can isolate us from friends and family who would be able to help us not feel defeated – then he wins!  He loves to deceive us into thinking that we would be a burden on others or that they wouldn’t understand how we are feeling or what we’ve been through. But it’s a lie.  In all reality, not only would those who love us try to understand, they would be able to encourage us, pray for us, and give us the strength we need to overcome our situation.

I know that it is really good to be by myself sometimes. It recharges me to have some quiet time to myself. It’s good for me to learn how to enjoy my own company and how to schedule my day on MY terms.  Yet I think we need to be careful that an occasional recharging session doesn’t turn into an escape from reality.  We can get to the point that we don’t know how to handle others anymore and then start to think that everyone is out to get us or that no one understands us.  Satan is so good at doing that to us.

We need each other. As much as you may try to deny that fact or ignore it – we need each other. Yes, you may have your husband or your child.  But they are not enough. We need a variety of Godly people in our lives that can help us on this road of life. People who can lovingly be honest to us and help us overcome challenges or issues. (You may think you don’t want to hear honesty but you really do – for how else can you grow and become that person you really desire to be?) 

When we remain isolated, several things happen to us. 

*We are vulnerable to attack by Satan because we don’t have a support system to help us

*We remain in sin and/or poor behavior patterns

*We become “posers.” Showing or acting like all is well in our life because we lose people whom we can really trust to be authentic with or we feel no one will understand.

*We lose touch with real life, real feelings, and real people.

It’s uncomfortable sometimes to start relying on others when you are afraid they will crush your feelings. But I encourage you to take a chance. Pray about it and let God lead you out from your isolated world and into a world of open arms waiting to love you along in life.

Isolation is not good for anyone. It is only Satan’s way of hindering you, deceiving you, and leaving you unhealthy. It’s his way of keeping your thoughts, feelings, issues, and struggles a “secret” when God only wants them out in the open and into the light. 

Don’t reason with yourself about this dangerous stronghold. But make a vow today to run away from your isolated way of living.  Even if you are housebound, there is a way to get the friendship and support system you need. Pray about it and God will answer. Seek and you shall find – never to be off on your own again.

God says, “It is not good for man to be alone.” Do you trust Him? Then make a change today.

 
~ Dionna Sanchez desires close Godly women friendships in her life. She shares with other women from her heart through her blog at http://emphasisonmoms.blogspot.com

Growing Strong

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6

Last night the boys and I were coming back from our walk and as I walked down the driveway, I noticed once more, how large our palms had become. I asked Chase if he knew the story behind the palms, he didn’t, so I shared it with him.

Fourteen years ago, I bought 40 Royal Palm plants. Now, looking at them, you wouldn’t know they were Royal Palms, they looked like a 10 inch blade of grass. But the man promised me they’d grow into trees, so I brought them home.

Bobby and I nurtured those plants, they were our babies as Carson and Chase hadn’t come along yet. We watered, and fertilized them, repotting them each time they grew too large for the pot they were in. A frost came one night, when we weren’t prepared, and wiped out over half of them. We ended up with 16 strong trees to plant along our driveway.

Two hundred feet of hose allowed us to continue to bring the water to them and Carson and I spent hours out there watering those trees during the dry season.

A couple of years ago, I went to get the mail and noticed one of our trees had died. It made me sad … it had looked fine on the outside, but a decay had formed inside and choked the life out of it.

The growth of the palm trees is such a special example to me, of our walk with Jesus. Those trees started out as fragile sprigs, but after years of nurturing, they are now strong vital trees, able to survive the storms. We start out with fragile sprigs of faith, maybe just a glimmer of hope in us. But with constant nurturing, from God and from others who have walked the path before us, we can grow into strong trees of faith. The storms will still come, but we will be able to withstand them.

Father, thank you for letting me see your hand in everything around me. Thank you for protecting me from the freezes and the decay that has tried to steal me from you. And Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me, first!

I love you Jesus!
In Your Name I Pray,
Amen

God Bless You!
Joyce

The Choices You Make Today …
Will Affect Your Tomorrows!
http://www.alifedecision.org

The Jesus Way

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying.
Matthew 5:1

I have been going through the book of Matthew with my Sunday night ladies. Jesus had been sharing His message for about a year when He took his followers up onto the side of a mountain to give them some words of advice.

They had been living the way of the world … now it was time for a change. Time to do things The Jesus Way.

Jesus said:

– the meek would inherit the earth, and the pure in heart would see God. his followers were to be a beacon of light to a dark and dying world.

– getting angry at a brother was not acceptable … forgiveness was not optional. adultery, divorce and oaths were not cool and we need to learn how to turn the other cheek and love not only our friends, but also the ones who treat us wrong.

– give to the needy, but don’t make a show of it … pray to God simply … give him the honor and praise that only He deserves.

– fast for God … not man.

- don’t put your store in things … things will come and things will go. put your energy into heaven, your rewards will be eternal.

– you can love God or money … but not both. money isn’t the root of all evil, but the love of money is where the trouble starts.

– don’t spend today worrying … let today be today.

– don’t judge others … period.

– ask … seek … knock. these are action verbs. do something.

– there is a narrow gate into heaven … and a broad gate to destruction. choose the narrow gate for life eternal with Him.

– a good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

– if you do these things you are wise and your foundation strong.

This is The Jesus Way!

Father, thank you for giving us these life lessons. Jesus teach me to live … YOUR WAY!

I love you Jesus!
In Your Name I Pray,
Amen

God Bless You!
Joyce

The Choices You Make Today …
Will Affect Your Tomorrow!
http://www.alifedecision.org

Lessons From Publix

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13

This week our church family participated in a project called SERVOLUTION. We divided into five teams and went out into our community to serve others. A free gift to another, no strings attached. The purpose was to simply share the love of Jesus, take on his servant heart. The project I was involved with was helping people with their shopping carts at Publix. Sounds easy enough …

When someone walked out of the story, one of our team would ask them if they could take their groceries to the car. And nine times out of ten, the answer was, “No … I’ve got it.”

Ummmm … this was interesting. Not very many people wanted to receive our gift. I guess they thought there were strings attached. But every now and again, someone would let us, and off we’d go, pushing their cart and sharing why we were doing this service.

At one point in the morning, I decided that if the people wouldn’t let me push their cart to their car, I would ask them if they minded if I walked with them, so I could take their cart back to the store. They were fine with that plan and I met the sweetest woman through this experience. As we talked by her car, a tear slipped down her cheek and I ended up giving her a hug when we said good-bye.

The original NO she had given me had turned into a very sweet yes!

This experience, although designed to be a simple blessing to another, turned into a wonderful object lesson for me.

God has a gift of salvation for each of us. He wants to freely give it, but how many refuse to accept it. They are afraid that there may be strings attached. We couldn’t force those people to allow us to help them … God doesn’t force us to receive him.

I never gave up asking to help, regardless of how many no’s I received. But after a time, I realized that my main objective was to simply talk to the people, if they wouldn’t let me help them with their cart, that was okay. I could still chat a bit with them. Not getting into their space, not pushing myself on them, just being friendly to them. They enjoyed that.

If I want to share the love of Jesus with others, I need to build a relationship with them. I can’t just force him upon them, but through the process of being kind and loving to them, they will see Jesus through me.

I want to encourage you today … join the SERVOLUTION … as you serve another, God’s blessings will pour down upon you!

Father, thank you for this opportunity to serve others … to serve you. Jesus, I pray that hearts were touched this week for you. That lives are changed because of you. Thank you Jesus for being the greatest example of a servant for us to follow. And Jesus, thank you for loving me, first.

I love you Jesus!
In your name I pray,
Amen

God Bless You!

Love,
Joyce

The Choices You Make Today …
Will Affect Your Tomorrow!
http://www.alifedecision.org