How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

Earlier last year my husband and I adopted a dog from the animal shelter. Our hearts set on a cocker spaniel, Gregory logged on to petfinder.com and behold a cocker resided in our area. We drove over to the animal shelter to meet “Brownie”. The shelter was full of dogs 3 and 4 to a cage. It smelled and the short staff made it difficult to for dogs to get adequate exercise; the cage served as their eating, sleeping, and pooping facilities [so it smelled]. Initially the pet counselor told us that “Brownie” was not on the list. We walked around the shelter just to check the other dogs out when out from around the corner walks the pet counselor with “Brownie”. The stay or his past life had definitely taken a toll on him. He fought each step as the counselor pulled him in our direction. We looked at each other with a worried glare. So we sat with the dog for a while; despondent with fleas crawling through his fur, brownie sat in the cage with us. The counselor kept insisting that “Brownie” would make an excellent addition to our family; his assistant assured us that if “Brownie” didn’t work out, we could return him in exchange for a voucher for a new dog. For some reason, we decided to try him out. We filled out the paperwork and set an appointment to pick him up after his surgery.

A few days later, we arrived to pick up our new family member. We changed his name to Canon; not only did we not like the name Brownie, but he didn’t respond to it and we read that it’s pretty easy to teach a dog to answer to a new name. They could not tell us whether or not Canon was house trained, but turns out he is! To make a long story short, Canon has transformed into the perfect family member. Had we let his first impression skew our decision we would have missed out on a great experience. Canon loves people, but he loves us the most! He is not destructive, plays well with other animals [even cats], and is a fast learner. If you are looking to purchase a new pet, skip the pet store. Head over to the local animal shelter and your new family member maybe locked up in doggie jail like our Canon was. When you walk into the shelter you may be scared or even grossed out, but persevere!

The fees differ but pet adoption usually cost $100 or less up front. 

It's Under Your Feet

Lakewood Church

Joel Osteen

• How you see your difficulties determines how you react to it.

• The first place that I lose the battle is in my mind.

1 Corinthians 15:25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.

Psalm 59:10 In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me.He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.

Nehemiah 8:10 And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!"

• Joy is an emotion but it creates something physical.

2 Samuel 22:40 You have armed me with strength for the battle;you have subdued my enemies under my feet.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. [v.11-20]

• I'm armed and dangerous

Psalm 110:1 The LORD said to my Lord,"Sit in the place of honor at my right handuntil I humble your enemies,making them a footstool under your feet."

• When something is a footstool, it serves you and makes your life easier.

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a feast for mein the presence of my enemies.You honor me by anointing my head with oil.My cup overflows with blessings.

• The people who tried to push you down will see you when you reach the next level.

• Peace is a position of power.

• God knows how to apply pressure.

Isaiah 54:17 But in that coming dayno weapon turned against you will succeed.You will silence every voiceraised up to accuse you.These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD;their vindication will come from me.I, the LORD, have spoken! (NLT)

• Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. (KJV)

• Just because a problem forms doesn't mean it has to prosper.

• God will vindicate me.

Ramiro was born with no ears and the doctors gave his parents a grim prognoses. The problem had formed, but they saw it as under their feet!

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm Pre

Forsake Not The Fellowship

Pictured Above: me with Bishop Goodman and his lovely wife.
Today I have arrived at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church to celebrate the homegoing of Bishop Dan E. Goodman. He served here on earth as a student, a scientist, a teacher, a pastor, a father, a friend, and so much more; from the remarks I heard at his wake he served well in each role.

Wakes and funerals always make me a little sad until I remember my Uncle Ray who departed his earthly vessel some time ago. In reference to wakes, Uncle Ray said, "Niggas always doing stuff backwards. They want to come and have visitation with someone after he dies. The person been alive all this time and you never want to come see them..." It makes me smile a little. I'm glad to say my husband and I didn't do things bacwards when it came to Bishop Goodman. We had just visited with him less than a week before he passed.

Unfortunately, we can't say that about a list of family and friends far too long to count. At the beginning of this year, during our Family Vision Casting Session, we resolved to visit family and friends regularly. We want to put our friends and family on the schedule. We don't want to do things backwards.

Hebrews  10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm Pre

Deal With It

Lakewood Church

Deal With It
Pastor Joel!

1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

1. Suffer through being uncomfortable and/or not getting your way so you can strengthen your character.

• Starve the flesh and feed the spirit.

• The pain of discipline is temporary, the pain of compromise is permanent. (my destiny is worth that much)

2. Be sensitive to God's voice.

• Genesis 20:6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the INTEGRITY OF THINE HEART; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

3. Do what you can in the natural so God can do the supernatural.

• With every step of obedience a blessing comes.

• Abraham and Isaac: It isn't natural for rams to climb that high.

4. When you don't deal with it, you may not reach your destiny.

• Sampson

• Saul

• Gehazi: 2 Kings 5:20-27 He was in line to receive a double portion and ended with Leprosy

• Song of Solomon 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

5. Humble yourself and don't settle for partial victory.

-- Follow me on twitter @orinej

iPray Conference 2012

@LakewoodChurch

"Between Two Laughs"
Christine Caine

1. Stir up a passion for prayer.

• Sometimes you can live vicariously through someone else's prayer life.

• You do what you want to when you have passion.

Psalm 127:1 Unless the lord builds the house,the builders labor in vain.Unless the lord watches over the city,the guards stand watch in vain.

Hebrews 11:11 And by faith even Sarah, who was PAST the childbearing AGE, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

• God's promises are eternal.

• God cares about the details of my life.

• It took Sarah 25 years to receive the promise. Sarah laughed when God made the promise and it took her that long to strengthen the womb of her faith.

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

• God doesn't work in due dates, he works in due seasons.

Galatians 6:14 Is anything too hard for the lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

• Sometimes we rely on the circumstances and not God.

• Prayer is one way to ensure that we rely on him.

James 4:2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

Genesis 16: Ishmael

• When we take things into our own hands we do crazy things that will give birth to an Ishmael.

Matthew 11: 28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

• When things get hard it's because I'm trying to do things in my own power.

2. God doesn't do things the way we would.

Isiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,"declares the lord.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER that is at work within us,

POWER PLAYS

Carla Harris

"Carla's Pearls"

Proverbs 4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

1. Perception is the copilot to reality. What lens is the organization looking through when they are looking at me. I can train people to think about me the way I want them to think about me.

• Pick 3 adjectives that I want people to use to describe me when I'm not in the room. They must be valued in my "organization". They must be associated with success for the seat that I'm sitting in or aspire to be seated in.

• Innovative, Resourceful, Efficient...

• Be authentic: If I can't be myself, then it's not the right place.

• Be consistent.

• Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

• Fear has no place in my success equation.

2. Advisor, Mentor, & Sponsor Relationships

• Advisor: You can ask discrete questions.

• Mentor: Share the good, the bad, and the ugly. Someone you trust. If you don't know the person well, he can't be your mentor. This person gives you tailored advice they you can execute toward success.

• Sponsor: The person you tell the good, the good, and the good. This person will argue passionately on my behalf. The sponsor must be in your organization. *People who can open access to funding and new clients.

° Get Data: If I don't know, then I can't fix it.

° When you can tap into someone's need to be needed, and they are helping you then you can recruit them to your success team.

3. Be comfortable taking risks.

• It's either a blessing or a lesson. What is a lesson today is leverage tomorrow. Failure always brings you a gift, and that's experience.

THREE QUESTIONS TO EVALUATE A RISK

• Will the new thing give me skills and experience?

• …create new branches on my decision tree?

• …create new relationship?

4. Authenticity

• Don't submerge that which is uniquely me.

• Bring all the Jeanicia's to the table.

• That includes my Christianity

5. Expect That I Will Do Well

• I have everything that I need.

TOOLBOX

• Spiritual Word

• Academic Background

• Experiential Background

• Network (Don't be afraid to ask for help.)

6. Most precious pearls.

• I can do anything through Christ who stengthens me. Phil 4:13

• No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Is 54:17

• Psalm 91

What does success look like in our family?

You constrain growth if it's all about "you".

THE POWER COUPLE
Clayton and Ashlee Hurst
"Building Strong Marriages and Families"

1. Wisdom

• Pray for wisdom.

• Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as an action. (I need insight)

• Seek mentors.

SCRUPTURE
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Proverbs 2:6 For the lord gives wisdom;from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Daniel 2:22 He reveals deep and hidden things;he knows what lies in darkness,and light dwells with him.

• We were created to please God and it is impossible to please God without faith.

MARRIAGE:

FAMILY: Pray for an abundance of wisdom at EACH stage.

2. Authentic/Integrity:

SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 2:7 He holds success in store for the upright,he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

Lamentations 3:24 I say to myself, "The lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him."

MARRIAGE: Be the same wherever you are.

FAMILY:

3. Modeling

SCRIPURE
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

MARRIAGE:

FAMILY: Learing scriptures. It's never too late. Take advantage of drive time.

4. Communication

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 119:33 Teach me, lord, the way of your decrees,that I may follow it to the end.

MARRIAGE: Effective communication impacts everything.

FAMILY:

-- Follow me on twitter @TheJRochelle

Hitting the Delete Button

Lakewood Church
Pastor Joel!

• Just like a virus can slow down a perfectly good computer so can negative thoughts slow down a perfectly good believer.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

• Words are like seeds, if we dwell on them too long they will take root and develop a stronghold.

• Take inventory on my thought life and determine whether or not it lines up with God's word.

Genesis 3:11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

• God wanted to know who told them that something was wrong with them.

• No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me,the lord will receive me.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart."

• Sometimes God will drop something in your spirit that doesn't seem "logical".

• People who knew how to hit the delete button:
Emmitt Smith, Dr. Seuss, Pastor Joel, Fred Smith, Dannel Malloy

-- Follow me on twitter @orinej

Bold Prayers

Lakewood Church
Pastor Joel!


Matthew 9:29 ..."According to your faith let it be done to you"...

Psalm 81:10 ...Open wide your mouth and I will fill it...
• How wide is my mouth open?

Luke 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Matthew 20:32-34 Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
• They could have asked for "help around the house", "a seeing eye dog", etc...But when you've been blind your entire life it takes a lot of boldness to ask for your sight.

Psalm 2:8 Ask me,and I will make the nations your inheritance,the ends of the earth your possession.

-- Follow me on twitter @orinej

Increasing in Favor

Keith Craft @ Lakewod Church
New Years Eve 2011/*New Years Day Service

*It's not just about family of origin, but family of choice.

Favor: divine assigned advantage!

Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in FAVOR with God and man.

• Jesus was the Lord and he had to increase in FAVOR.

• That means I should and need to too!

*msg: Love and Loyalty kjv: Mercy and Truth

Proverbs 3:3-6 Let love and FAITHFULNESS never leave you;bind them around your neck,write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win FAVOR and a good namein the sight of God and man. Trust in the lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.

1. Discover the secret.

• There is a secret to increasing in favor, you don't

Deuteronomy 29:29 The SECRET things belong to the lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Psalms 25:14 The SECRET of the Lord is with them that HONOR him; and he will shew them his covenant.

* Get Motivated Seminar

Enthusiasm: Overflowing with eager enjoyment or approval.

•This place was called a church before it was. It had been devalued and now it has been resurrected for God's glory.
* Inspiration or possession by a divine afflatus or by the presence of God.


2. Develop your mercy quotient: choose to see the best in others.
* The pathway of favor is found through the gateway of mercy.
* Extend a latter past a person's sin into the pit their sin got them in so they can climb their way out of it.
* Some people find fault as if there's a reward for it. -Zig Zigler

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

• Ignore the worse.

Genesis 39:1-6 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found FAVOR in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

• People are blessed because they are in your presence when you have favor, and you're okay with that!
* We give honor because we are honorable.
* Mercy empowers me to give honor.
*Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
*2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

• Mercy breeds honor and honor breed favor.

• God doesn't curse, we curse ourselves. Judgementalism breeds dishonor and dishonor breeds a curse.

*You bring on yourself a curse of disobedience


3. Deploy your greatness: Do more than you're asked to do.
* I can leave an imprint that no one else can.
* John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (KJV)

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY BEYOND all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

•Favor is reserved for those who honor Him!

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm Pre