A year to remember...

John Gray @ Lakewood Church

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: "The  Spirit of the Lord  is  upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to  the  poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to  the  captives And recovery of sight to  the  blind, To  set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord ." Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

Luke 4:16‭-‬20 NKJV

Jesus made sure to remain in community.

Can we recognize when we see the thing that we've been reading (prayer journals, prayer notes, scripture, etc...)

2018 was a year of exposure.

God loves me too much to let me linger in a relationship that isn't pushing me forward.

You can't argue with people who are committed to misunderstand you.

Stop showing a filtered version of yourself.

Don't throw out the whole year because you had a few bad days.

And he said to him, "Say now to her, 'Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can  I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?' " She answered, "I dwell among my own people." So he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gehazi answered, "Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old." So he said, "Call her." When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. Then he said, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my Lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!" But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.

II Kings 4:13‭-‬17 NKJV

1. What was God trying to teach us?

• You've been putting people on pedestals who don't belong there.

• 

People will judge your entire book based on the chapter they walked in on.

The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

Proverbs 29:25 NKJV

2. How was God trying to reach us?

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2‭-‬4 NKJV

Remember vs. Dismember

God had all the pieces to put 2018 together.

God pruned and planted.

Miracles In Your Mouth

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church 

The spirit of faith is in our words. Thinking positive us great but until you speak it, it may not come into fruition.

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak,

II Corinthians 4:13 NKJV

Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, 'I am strong.' "

Joel 3:10 NKJV

It doesn't say let the weak talk about the weakness and call 5 friends to discuss it. This doesn't mean that you lie, it means that you say the things that God says about you. 

When David faced goliath he understood that the miracle was in his mouth.

Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

I Samuel 17:45‭-‬46 NKJV

"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:19 NKJV

There might be times when no one is there to agree with you. That's when you need to get you heart and mouth in agreement.

You don't need people to agree with you. 

We give life to what we speak. Your words can keep you from your destiny.

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."... And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."

Luke 1:13‭, ‬18‭-‬20 NKJV

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

Being directed to "hold fast" implies that something will try to take ot away.

Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."

Psalms 35:27 NKJV

Words are seeds.

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Hebrews 11:22 NKJV

There may be no sign of your God given heart desire but you should speak of ot before it happens.

Psalm 91 says "I will say of the Lord , "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

Psalms 91:2 NKJV

It then goes on to list great things that will happen. But in verse 9  Because you have made the Lord , who  is  my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

Psalms 91:9 NKJV

Use words to confirm what you heard not to argue it.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus . Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:31‭, ‬38 NKJV

Words are seeds.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

Proverbs 13:2 NKJV

God said let the be light before he created a light source.

(Day 3)

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

Genesis 1:3 NKJV

(Day 4)

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.

Genesis 1:14‭-‬15 NKJV

Old Covenant 

So Moses cried out to the Lord , saying, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!" And the Lord said to Moses, "Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Exodus 17:4‭-‬6 NKJV

New Covenant

Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals." So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."

Numbers 20:2‭, ‬7‭-‬12 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/num.20.2-12.NKJV

Water can flow without too much effort.

The Danger of Dry Places

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

It's easy to lose our passion when things don't turn out the way you thought. When you're dry, you lose the flavor of life.

"When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.

Matthew 12:43 NLT

It's easy to live on autopilot and think whatever thoughts pop up.  If you fill your mind with positive thoughts then there won't be any room for negative thoughts. 

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

Acts 26:2 KJV

We were created with natural endorphins that we need to take steps to activate: get some sunlight, eat healthy, exercise, etc...

You can't override natural laws and expect to feel good. 

Find happy positive energetic friends.

"Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.

Isaiah 60:1 NLT

You walked into that dry place so you can walk out of it. 

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and

Psalms 42:5 NLT

God has never abandoned us but we've walked away. The flesh loves to feel sorry for itself.

Like David you may have seen God do amazing things but the discouragement test comes to everyone.

You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land.

Psalms 68:9 NLT

God knows your circumstances and will send the things you need.

Research shows that most people are their 2nd happiest at 20 and happiest after 70.

Sylvester Turner

"My mom became the CEO of the Turner household. With no high school education, working as a maid at the Rice Hotel a few blocks away, never learning how to drive, she raised nine sons and daughters. She saw to it that they were educated, and when times were rough, she told us that tomorrow would be better than today. Today, it is evident that what my mom said is very true."

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

Proverbs 4:18 NKJV

Elijah witnessed a great miracle but still felt like his life was in danger and ran into the desert hoping to die.

And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord  came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

I Kings 19:9 NKJV

You don't make good decisions when you're hungry, dehydrated, and worn out. 

When you're in a dry place it's easy to think no one is in or has ever been in your situation. But the truth is God has brought many people out of your same situation.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

Matthew 4:1‭-‬3 NKJV

For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread."

Matthew 4:2‭-‬3 NLT

Put yourself in a position to leave the dry place by thinking positive, keeping yourself nourished, and .keeping yourself in good company

From Finish to Start

Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Philippians 1:1‭-‬6 NKJV

Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there  is no other; I  am God, and there  is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,' Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.

Isaiah 46:9‭-‬11 NKJV

This requires that you shift your mindset, you aren't waiting for your destiny, it is already finished.

Sometimes our plans don't work out because things shifted. It looks like life is random because things don't seem to make sense but there isn't one detail in my life that God didn't plan.

I'm not a cosmic accident.

I'm a spirit having a human experience.

God wrote my life backwards so I could live my life forward.

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 13:8 NKJV

1. A finishing praise. A praise that acts like it's done even in the middle.

2. A finishing posture. 

3. A finishing perspective.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:2 NKJV

The best traffic reports come from above because you can see what's causing the problem and where it ends! It gives you hope.

The Lord can resurrect anything that is dead.

When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him." So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Jesus wept. Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"  Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"  And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."

John 11:4‭-‬7‭, ‬11‭, ‬14‭-‬15‭, ‬17‭, ‬35‭-‬35‭, ‬40‭, ‬43‭-‬44 NKJV

The Place of No Return

Bishop TD Jakes @ Lakewood Church

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?   Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.  And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.  And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.  Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.   Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.  And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Matthew 26:36‭-‬47 KJV

Gethsemane was beautiful but people bring and undercurrent of pressure.

Gethsemane appears in the Greek original of the Gospel of Matthew^[1] and the Gospel of Mark^[2] as Γεθσημανή (Gethsēmanē). The name is derived from the Aramaic ܓܕܣܡܢ (Gaḏ-Šmānê), meaning "oil press".^[3] Matthew (26:36) and Mark (14:32) call it χωρἰον (18:1), meaning a place or estate. The Gospel of John says Jesus entered a garden (κῆπος) with his disciples.^[4]

A fish and a bird could fall in love but where would they live? This is the conundrum of our relationship with the Lord.

What happens in private determines the power of what happens in public. If Calvary is the light that changed the world then Gethsemane is the light switch.

The disciples were under a lot of pressure.

And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.  And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

Matthew 26:21‭-‬22 KJV

The garden is where the problem started (Genesis 3).

Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Genesis 3:23‭-‬24 KJV

Sometimes in order to advance you have to be lonely. Don't stop where others have stopped.

Jesus was in the right place struggling to get in alignment with the will of God.

Disappointed evolves out of what you had in mind. (Not my will) Jesus is praying to get over what he had in mind. 

Everything in life is on hold because we're worshipping what we had in mind.  We're asking God if there is any way that we can win if we do it our own way. But Jesus broke the curse with a decision and that's what we need to do. (Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done." Matthew 26:42 NLT But Jesus prayed this one more time)

The most powerful tool you have is a decision.

A bad decision in the garden messed everything up so it's going to take a good decision in the same place to turn things around.

You are one goid decision away from turning everything around.

Some people will sleep on you but you have to go a little further.

Then he came to the disciples and said, "Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Up, let's be going. Look, my betrayer is here!"

Matthew 26:45‭-‬46 NLT

Light was made from oil. The Lord says He will not crush you without bringing you out shining.

Blessed Out Of Season

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

Sometimes circumstances will say that it isn't our season but God doesn't wait for all of the conditions to line up...He isn't on a "normal" timetable.

It's important to be faithful but be careful not to endure without expecting.

Sarah gave birth to a son passed the normal age.

David was a teenage shepherd annointed as the next king.

But Moses responded to the Lord , "There are 600,000 foot soldiers here with me, and yet you say, 'I will give them meat for a whole month!' Even if we butchered all our flocks and herds, would that satisfy them? Even if we caught all the fish in the sea, would that be enough?"
Numbers 11:21‭-‬22 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/num.11.21-22.NLT

Moses was looking at things practically in response to God's promise.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!"
Numbers 11:23 NLT

So the people went out and caught quail all that day and throughout the night and all the next day, too. No one gathered less than fifty bushels ! They spread the quail all around the camp to dry.
Numbers 11:32 NLT

Quail don't usually fly so far away from the sea but God controls the wind.

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
John 5:4 KJV

Jesus healed him in a way that he wasn't expecting. He didn't have to wait for the angel or find someone to help him into the pool. It was also the Sabbath.

God will make rivers in the desert.

Just because you don't feel favored doesn't mean that you're not favored.

Pastor Joel was living a country western song and in the middle of that he received a lucrative media deal.

Mrs. Dodie received a terminal prognosis.

When you speak negative words they get into your spirit.

Don't put God in a box. God isn't waiting on "the angel" to stir anything. God might be planning to use people and means that you never imagined.

Peter was a seasoned fisherman so it would have been understandable for him to disregard the advice of a carpenter.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.  And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Luke 5:4‭-‬6 KJV

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
Luke 5:9 KJV

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:2 KJV

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2

Victoria Osteen @ Lakewood Church

God Always STARTS Small

God does things with seeds that multiply so when you put small things in God's hands he can do big things.

Learn to handle the small first.

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.  But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.  And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.  He said, Bring them hither to me.  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
Matthew 14:15‭-‬20 KJV

What the disciples thought they couldn't handle a big task with such little resources. But God blessed it and they had leftovers.

Don't overlook the small things because ALL things matter to God.

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

Even negative things (bitterness, envy, etc...) can go big if we don't give them to God.

We'll never get rid of the small stuff and when we handle that, He will increase our capacity.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1 Corinthians 3:6‭-‬8 KJV

Even the largest tree started from a seed.

Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

Keep Your Seat

1. In the old testament the priest had to go into the temple to offer sacrifices for people's sins at a certain time. When Jesus was crucified he said "it was finished"
1. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, Hebrews 10:12
2. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6
2. When you live seated you keep your peace.
1. Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. Psalm 138:7
1. You can work hard and dream from a place of rest knowing that God's favor is on your life.
1. Inner rest is just as important as physical rest.
2. Live from a place of Trust.
2. …28 After this, Jesus, knowing[a] that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
3. It Is Finished
1. John 19:28-30 New King James Version (NKJV)When Pastor Joel first started ministering from the pulpit he's worry about whether or not he'd be successful. After every sermon he'd be relieved for a few hours then he'd 
4. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10
3. It's easy to LET your mind play all of the "what ifs". 
1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart  and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
4. The first thing you should do when you're under attack is put your feet up.
1. The Lord says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." Psalm 110:1
2. It takes work to stay seated
1. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:11
5. Living guilty is NOT resting
1. The priest had to make a sacrifice every day
2. WE HAVE new grace and mercy that is available for every day.
6. You are working FROM victory not for victory.
1. Be faithful when nothing is changing.
2. Sometimes we are frustrated because we are trying to change something that we can't change.
7. Don't focus on pleasing others
1. Some people aren't being disciplined to manage their own lives
1. When you run to help others you are enabling their dysfunction
2. You can't fulfill your own destiny if you are allowing others to pull you out of rest
3. Co-dependent relationships
1. Be nice but be firm
2. It may be uncomfortable at times
3. Sometimes you have to ignore some text messages and phone calls
8. VIII.Don't give away your joy to someone who you don't even know'
9. Be an eagle not a crow
1. The crow is a smaller bird with significant maneuverability. The eagle is a large bird with great physical strength.
1. Due to physical strength, eagles have been spotted flying much higher in the air than a crow. Rising above the conflict, to an altitude where the crow cannot fly is an interesting method of dealing with the conflict. And it communicates a different demeanor than the direct aggressive frontal attack.
2. Rise Higher

Victoria Osteen @ Lakewood Church

Staying Strong in God Through Joy

I Life tries to show us difficulties and heartaches but Jesus wants to show us that we have what it takes to handle those difficulties.

A Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

II The joy that Jesus gives doesn't have anything to do with what is going on around us.

A I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11

B God's  blessings start on the inside but then they show up on the outside.

III When Victoria got a lemon tree it didn't have any lemons on it. Victoria cultivated and developed it so now it has produced fruit.

A Victoria didn't put her lemon tree in the ground when she needed lemons because it would take time to grow those lemons.

B Store up the word on the inside for use when needed.

IV Rejoice means to brighten.

A Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

B You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12

V Facial Feedback Theory

A Your brain is constantly monitoring what's happening in your body. It analyzes things like muscle tension, posture, heart rate, breathing, and, yes, facial expressions, to judge how you are feeling.  Put yourself in a happier position, and you can boost your mood. Practice a depressed face and slumped posture, and watch the gloom set in.

B The pencil trick

1 Put a pencil between your lips in just the right way, and you'll feel happier

2 Forces your face to mimic a genuine smile, recruiting just the muscles of the mouth, cheeks, and eyes that come to life when you are happy.

C Don't let life's difficulties push your joy down

1 Joy signals victory

1. 

--

#ElderPartyMonth

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude, don't complain.
Maya Angelou

Vision without action is a daydream.
Action without vision is a nightmare.
(which one is worse?)

Do you tweet? Me too, find me here. Also, find me on Facebook.

TheJRochelle about.me/jeanicia.elder

The Power of the Soil

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

A good seed planted in bad soil will not thrive. Soil can be a limited environment or even bad company and if you stay there those weeds and rocks will choke the life out of your seed.

He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.  As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.  Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.  But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died.  Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.  Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

Matthew 13:3‭-‬8 NLT

Thorns: Toxic Friends

Weeds: Messy Coworkers 

Rocks: Negative Family members

People are contagious. Don't spend a lot of time with people who have things that you don't want to catch. 

It's not enough to focus on self-development, you have to focus on soil development.

God will never ask you to give something up without giving you something else in return.

The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

Genesis 12:1‭, ‬4 NLT

God told Abraham to leave with ONLY his immediate family but he took his nephew Lot.

Lot means veil or covering.

Are you holding on to what God asked you let go of?

Be selective about  what you can. 

When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. "Get out!" he told them. "The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!

Matthew 9:23‭-‬25 NLT

In 1896, Henry Ford attended a convention in Manhattan Beach, New York, where the honorary guest of honor was no other than the renowned Thomas Edison. During the night, a friend pointed out Ford to Edison telling him, "There's a young fellow who has made a gas car." The defining moment of the evening came after Edison asked young Ford poignant questions and showed his satisfaction by banging his fist down on the table. "Young man," he said, "that's the thing! You have it! Your car is self contained and carries its own power plant."

Nay sayers are a dime a dozen. You have to find the 20% of positive people.

Find a mentor.

Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!" The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!" Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

Acts of the Apostles 3:4‭-‬8 NLT

You need friends who won't just pray but they will also lift you up. 

Sometimes you can't go to the next level without someone pulling you up. Adicted people can't help adicted people. Maybe you need to change who you're spending time with. Stay away from people who are enabling the dysfunction.

The God Who Crosses His Arms

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

God has things in store for me that I don't see coming.

For many years Jacob thought that his favorite son was dead. 13 years later he found out that not only was he alive but he was in a position of power and he had 2 grandsons. Things were way better than he thought.

And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

Genesis 48:5‭-‬6 NKJV

God doesn't disqualify you because of the way that you were raised. Ephraim and Manasseh were not raised in the faith and insteas of waiting another generation they received an inheritance in their youth and were thrust 40 years down the road.

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ephesians 1:5 NKJV

"So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant— when you have eaten and are full—

Deuteronomy 6:10‭-‬11 NKJV

God is not holding my background against me. God's going to do a quick work in my life.

Don't waste your time on people who won't celebrate you. Where your blessings well.

God crossed his arms.

Jacob was about to bless Josephs son and Ephraim (the oldest) was seated at his right hand while Manasseh (the youngest) was seated to the left. Traditionally the oldest received a double portion but Jacob crossed his arms and layed his righth and on the younger son.

Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one  is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations."

Genesis 48:18‭-‬19 NKJV

So the youngest grandson receiving this blessing shows that God can take someone who is in the back, at a far disadvantage and thrust them forward.

God can reach you no matter where you are.

And the Lord said to Moses, "Has the Lord 's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not."

Numbers 11:23 NKJV

God chooses to bless us, it's not about earning anything.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Luke 1:30 NKJV

Pastor John Osteen

No one in his family believed in God and he didn't grow up in church.

David was a shepherd with no millitary experience and Samuel came looking for him and annointed him, the youngest son in Jesse's house, as the next King

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord ; and he said: "Who am I, O Lord God ? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

II Samuel 7:18 NKJV

Victoria Osteen's Exhortation

Don't allow busyness to overwhelm our lives. If we're going to see our dreams come to pass then we're going to have to make room for them.

You have to set priorities because if we let everything take our tine we can get off course.

Sometimes multitasking is not productive. Hurry and do this so I can hurry and do that and then other people had to hurry. Activity doesn't necessarily equal productivity.

MOSES

So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalms 90:12 NKJV

He was the one who heard from God and who everyone came to him for answers. So that was his prayer and the wise counsel from his father-in-law Jethro may have been his answer.

So Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to  be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Exodus 18:17‭-‬18‭, ‬21‭, ‬24‭-‬25 NKJV

God should be the first thing on the list. So put the God rock first and he will help us to prioritize. 

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:6 NKJV

TheJRochelle: Your Girl Friday

Allow me to reintroduce myself! My name is Jeanicia Elder I am Jeniro (on the go) The J Rochelle! Born and raised in Houston, TX I'm a media producer, a photographer, a graphic designer, an event planner, a fitness professional, a PoundPro, and so much more. I'm basically your Girl Friday mostly because I've never been able to find a home and I just can't sit still.

Right now my life is pretty mellow but there was a time in my life when I was going to school, working in 2 cities, volunteering, and traveling. How did I do it all? God multiplied my time or something because these days it seems like the hours get away from me.

These days I'm people watching with both of my Canons and leading Pound Classes in Houston.