August 2009

AUGUST 2009

outh the

12

Let’s Talk Joyce Meyer

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Worship Under Indian Skies Jed Walker

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You Are What You Eat

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Casting Call Christine Caine

Joyce Meyer

There’s still time to register for Women’s Conference 2009! See pages 6 & 7.

do what’s right now because your life could take an

unexpected turn… any minute

“This is the kind of story that will cause you to question what you can do to make your life matter moment by moment.” —Joyce Meyer

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STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART DEAR FRIENDS, God has taught me many things throughout my years in ministry. I could never pick just one as most important...but I believe learning about the mouth would have to be at the top of my list. Of all the lessons any of us may learn, if we can grasp an understanding of the power of the words we speak, it may just change our course in life! Our mouths are powerful tools, either in the hands of God or in the enemy’s hands. In other words, we can either speak positive, uplifting, encouraging things into existence in our lives or produce negative, gloomy, discouraging things. Now, I don’t believe any of us want to be a mouthpiece for the devil, do we? But the fact is, the mouth can be used for blessing or destruction, not only in our lives, but also in the lives of others. I’ve seen it in my own life. There was a time when pretty much everything I said was negative. I was simply a mess as a result of having been abused most of my life. But the Holy Spirit taught me how to use the creative power of the Word of God. I learned how to speak to the mountains rather than about the mountains in my life. What I mean is, I learned to apply the truth of His Word to my circumstances. And over time, I began to see positive and lasting results.

I’d much rather be a mouthpiece for God! He spoke this whole world into existence with His words, and we are made in His image. I’ve learned that I don’t have to deny the truth of where I am in order to get to where I want to be—I just need to know how to talk about it! Now, I am not saying just “name it and claim it.” Everyone’s situation is unique, so learn to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and you will soon see that your answer is right under your nose! Speak those things...

Some messages seem to transcend any language, culture or people You Are Here—In your neighborhood, in the prisons and across impoverished nations…Providing God’s Word through millions of Joyce’s books in 78 different languages

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Credits

ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE Volume 23 | Number 5 | AUGUST 2009

Publisher Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. Executive Editors Dan Meyer Ginger Stache

CONTENTS

Creative Director Kimberly Zarley Art Director Maria Flores Staff Writers Kacie Campbell Chad Trafton Matthew Loomis Anne Timmerman Graphic Designers Megan Riordan Anna Monette Greg Holtzmann Amanda O’Rourke Amy Roff Jessica Romo Production Supervisor George Dill Production Artists Jeri Icenesse Jeff Douglas Stacy Williams Robert Houston Editorial Proofreaders Carolyn Coley Dar Wood Susan Hutchison Production Coordinators Bill Schlick Monica Johnson Andrea Carpio Jessica Turnbeaugh Photographers Kevin Kelly Dario Acosta Mike Leavitt Sherri Buzby David Dobson

COVER STORY



page 12



FEATURES

12 LET’S TALK

D E PA R T M E N T S

8 Worship

BY JOYCE MEYER

9 Money Management

If Joyce could share just five things with you...this is what they would be.

27 America At Its Best

17 WORSHIP UNDER INDIAN SKIES HAND OF HOPE—Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions

2 9 Across the U.S. 3 1 Conference Tour 32 Live, Laugh, Love

BY JED WALKER

33 TV Broadcast Schedule

Praises burst into the sky at the Festival of Life crusade in Bangalore, India.

34 Real Life Perspectives

All Bible references are from The Amplified Bible unless otherwise noted. In Canada: Publications Mail Agreement No. 40030597 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Joyce Meyer Ministries Canada P.O. Box 7700 Vancouver, BC V6B 4E2 [email protected] Canada (800) 868-1002 Enjoying Everyday Life® is published by Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.®, a nonprofit corp­oration, Fenton, MO USA © 2009 Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. Publications Agreement No. 40030597. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Enjoying Everyday Life has no subscription price and is supported through contributions worldwide. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible (in countries where this applies). Because all Enjoying Everyday Life issues are preplanned, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts. For more information or to order, call locally (636) 349-0303 or toll-free (800) 727-9673. Internet address: www.joycemeyer.org Resource prices are in U.S. Funds unless otherwise noted. Enjoying Everyday Life is a registered trade­mark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. [J] is also a registered trademark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. At Joyce Meyer Ministries, financial accountability is very important. We want you to be confident that your investment is being used wisely to build God’s kingdom. That’s why we are so pleased to be accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability—one of the most widely respected nonprofit accrediting agencies worldwide.

21 YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT BY JOYCE MEYER

You know that old saying, “You’ll eat your words”? It’s time to start making healthier choices.

24 CASTING CALL SPECIAL FEATURE

BY CHRISTINE CAINE

Are you ready for your greatest role—a speaking part with lots of variety and action?

EVERYDAY ANSWERS

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Need a little extra help getting through today or need some extra advice? Everyday Answers provides wisdom from God’s Word to help you deal with life’s difficult issues. Watch a video from Joyce, read related articles, send a prayer request, and more. joycemeyer.org | AUGUST 2 0 0 9 | 5

Worship with... Delirious? Israel Houghton

Joyce Meyer

September 17-19, 2009 EDWARD JONES DOME ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

Paul Scanlon

Christine Caine

Tommy Barnett

Register today!

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worship WORSHIP past twenty years—and why he’s so extremely passionate about this thing called CompassionArt.

A Different DNA “I’ve learned that worship has more to do with what I’m doing off stage,” says Martin. “It’s obeying God in my everyday life. God’s Word says we’re alive to love other people—not to just make life better for ourselves.”

Delirious? In Search of Real-Life Worship BY ANNE TIMMERMAN

The top-selling Christian band Delirious? has been producing world-class worship songs since the early 1990s, including Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?, Our God Reigns, Majesty (Here I Am) and Rain Down. They’ve had a good run—really good. But now God’s calling them into a new season. At the end of 2009, Jon, Martin, Paul, Stu G and Tim will be unplugging from the life they’ve known as Delirious? and starting down exciting new paths to pursue God’s best for them. In the meantime, you can catch them leading worship at the Joyce Meyer Ministries Women’s Conference, September 17-19; and at our Denver, Colorado, conference, October 15-17. We caught up with singer Martin Smith recently to ask what he’s learned about worship in the

And while he’s been called to lead crowds of people in worship through song, he’s also determined to lead his family in real-life worship. “Anna and I want our children to grow up with a different DNA than we grew up with,” says Martin. “We want it to be in their blood that we’re here to help other people. That’s what we’re here for. That’s worship in its pure form.” A charity project called CompassionArt is helping Martin get that message across.

Noting CompassionArt “It’s a music industry miracle, really,” says Martin. “I called some of the best-known writers in Christian music and asked them to join me and Stu for a week of songwriting. Whatever music we produced, we agreed that all proceeds and royalties would go directly to helping people out of extreme poverty.” In addition to big-name songwriters—including Matt Redman, Darlene Zschech, and Israel Houghton—music publishers, managers and agents all waived their rights as well. Basically, every penny the songs generate will help the poorest of the poor through CompassionArt charities, including Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions.

Worship with Delirious? September 17-19

Joyce Meyer Ministries Women’s Conference | St. Louis, MO

October 15-17

Joyce Meyer Ministries Conference | Denver, CO Details are available at www.joycemeyer.org/conference.

“We ended up with some great songs, and whenever they’re sold from now until forever, the entire royalty payment will be used to fight extreme poverty,” says Martin. “I find that really exciting.” CompassionArt books and CDs, available at Christian bookstores worldwide, have already raised millions of dollars for extreme poverty aid. “There’s been talk of another CompassionArt writers retreat,” says Martin. “We’re just waiting to see where God leads.” Visit Delirious? online at www.delirious.co.uk. For more information on CompassionArt, visit www.compassionart.tv.

MONEY MANAGEMENT

A Day in the Life of Money BY BOB KATZ

Money came by the house the other day. As soon as I opened the door, I sensed that something was wrong. He walked aimlessly into the living room and plopped into my favorite chair. “Money, if you don’t mind me saying so, you look horrible. You haven’t been fighting with Greed again have you?” “No, it’s just that I am depressed.” He looked at me with those sad green eyes and continued. “I get blamed for everything. Everything! A man gets himself deep into debt. And he whines, ‘I just don’t have enough Money.’ A woman gets into a terrible fight with her husband. And it’s always, ‘We are fighting over Money.’ I’m hoarded, stolen, wasted and misunderstood.” Just then my wife walked into the living room, “Hey, honey, look—it’s Money.” My sweet wife, Jamie, unaware of what was being discussed, blurted out, “Money, are you feeling ok? You don’t look well.” And he was off again. “I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s people that make me crazy!

“I’m a complex creation. There are over 2,000 verses in the Bible that talk about me, and over half of the parables mention me. “God writes a book that completely explains me, but does anyone take the time to read it? No, they just grab at me…pull on me…and throw me around like dogs fighting over an old bone. “Nobody treats Charity like that, but if it wasn’t for me, Charity would be a nobody.” Jamie and I just listened.

“You know, I really never give or take, I just magnify what is already in a man’s heart. People with anger in their hearts become angrier and use me to dominate others. People with fear in their hearts use me to build a bigger fortress to hide behind… “But a content heart uses Money for great service. Hope with Money gives birth to actions of help and comfort. Humility and Money fills the world with secret acts of kindness. And a heart full of love uses me to create more love, like ripples on a pond.”

“Do the two of you remember Solomon? I gave that boy everything. But he respected me. I can remember like it was yesterday that time we had lunch and he told me, ‘You know, Money, whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.’

Money got up and walked to my front door.

“Now that was a smart kid who really understood me.”

We hugged and as he walked out the door he turned, gave me a little smile and said, “I guess I was just feeling a little spent.”

Money eased back into my chair and for the first time that day, I saw him smile. Thinking about the good old days with Solomon appeared to have a calming effect.

“Money, you feeling better?” “Yeah, I guess it’s not such a bad job after all. It just gets to me every once in a while.”

Adapted from the book Money Came by the House the Other Day and reprinted with permission from DC Press.

B O B K AT Z has worked as a CPA and registered investment advisor for over thirty years. His book Money Came by the House the Other Day was birthed out of a desire to offer Bible-based wisdom on financial planning and stewardship. Bob is a frequent guest on Christian television shows and often speaks at churches around the country. joycemeyer.org | August 2 0 0 9 | 9

Freedom’s sweet.

Freed from a life of prostitution and filled with God’s love, these women have a reason to smile.

On the Web...

tough having A

2009?

If you’re struggling with any major difficulty, whether it’s related to your finances, your health or relationships, we want to encourage you. Find the strength you need to keep going with related articles, TV programs and free resource downloads, plus a special message from Joyce at

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MOUTH OPENER

“What comes out of our mouth reveals the condition of our heart.” –Joyce Meyer

www.joycemeyer.org | MAY 2 0 0 9 | 11

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let’s

talk

If I Could Share Just

5

Things with You…

by Joyce Meyer

Throughout my years of ministering, I have been asked on countless occasions, “What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned?” Well, I can honestly say that while there isn’t one tried and true answer, I have come to the conclusion that there are a few things that I would never want to compromise in my life. As I reflected further on some of the key principles to enjoying a great life in relationship to God and to others, I felt led to share the five most important things I have learned. And I want to share them with you. While I don’t have all the answers, I do have the confidence in knowing that God has blessed our life and ministry as we have been faithful in these areas. My desire is simply to share my heart with you, in hope that it will inspire you on your journey to be all that God has called you to be.

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1.

mind

Change Your

H

ave you ever heard the saying “a mind is a terrible thing to waste”? Our minds have so much capacity for good, to learn, create, think and grow, and it’s a tragedy when we don’t use them to their highest potential. I had allowed too many damaging thoughts to enter my mind—negative, tormenting, guilty, unforgiving, shameful, accusing… The problem was that I had no idea that I could control my thoughts or choose which thoughts I focused on and believed in. I didn’t realize that if I was thinking something that wasn’t true, I had the power to stop. No one ever told me I could win in my mind. Did anyone ever tell you that? The next time you’re wrestling in your mind, I want you to stop and find something specific that you can thank God for. Tell Him how grateful you are for His goodness and all the rich ways He’s blessed your life. As you’re diligent in this, you will see your life begin to change, and things will get better and better. It’s my hope and prayer that you will know the power God has given you and that every day in your thoughts, you will walk in the fullness of His love for you!

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mouth

Guard Your

or years I said things without any thought to the importance of what I was doing. That is, until God showed me 1 Peter 3:10, Let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile…. In other words, I’ve learned that if I want to enjoy my life, then I have to do something about my mouth. In 1989, I went to the doctor for a checkup and two days later found out that I had breast cancer and would need surgery immediately. God spoke to me about controlling my mouth. He said He wanted to hear me saying, “God, I know You love me. God, I trust You. All things work out for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” I repeated these things so much that, as I woke up from surgery, they told me I was muttering them under my breath. The tongue is like a pen and our heart is like a tablet. When you say something over and over, it gets on the inside of you and becomes you. It’s not something you have to try to do anymore; it’s who you are.

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3.

Walk in

love

T

he truth is, no matter how long you and I live, we’ll never stop learning, never stop growing, and never stop changing more and more into the person God created us to be. What God teaches me every day about love continues to change my life. I’ve come to the place where I can honestly say, “Lord, reduce me to love. Bring me to a place where I’m constantly walking in love!” When we get to the place in our lives where we’re constantly walking in love, it’s a lot harder to be selfish. God wants you and me to be considerate of others, to put their needs and desires above our own as we adapt and adjust our lives to demonstrate the love of God. True love will always adapt and adjust to the needs and desires of other people. Learning to recognize the needs and desires of others was very difficult for me. To be honest, I wanted my way and I got upset when I didn’t get it. But as I began to understand more of God’s love, He softened my heart, and gradually, I learned to see the needs of others.

4. emotions E 5. Control Your

arly in our marriage, Dave and I had some rough years, and a lot of it was because I needed God to heal me from my past of being abused sexually, emotionally and verbally by my dad. Through a lot of tears and difficult moments of choosing to forgive instead of getting revenge, God brought me through, and He’s used that situation to bring healing to the lives of so many others. It wasn’t just about me.

Eventually I came to a point where God led me to move my parents to St. Louis and even buy them a home, which was very painful for me. But my dad ended up apologizing to me for all he had done and even received Christ into his life. I experienced a whole new level of emotional health because I went beyond forgiveness and into blessing. You know, we can all hurt in a lot of different ways. Loneliness, disappointment, rejection, fear and insecurity all have the ability to hurt us deeply. But one of the most painful things that we can experience is feeling bad about who we are. If you don’t like who you are…it’s really hard to run and hide from yourself. Before we can love anyone else, we have to learn to love ourselves in a balanced biblical way, and that starts with understanding God’s love for us.

Simply

pray

A

bout twenty years ago, this next sentence changed my life: You do not have because you do not ask God (James 4:2 NIV). I realized that day, as a frustrated young Christian, trying to make all these things happen in my own strength was useless—trying to make my ministry grow, trying to make my husband do this or that, trying to make my kids act a certain way, trying to make people do things I wanted them to do… I needed to quit trying to make it happen and simply pray. When we understand God’s love for us and His plan for us, then we can begin to realize the doors that He wants to open for us. But we’ll only realize these things when we’re constantly talking with Him, listening to His voice, and growing deeper in our relationship with Him. Remember, He promises that as we seek Him, we will find Him. Let’s pursue Him with all our hearts!

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Living What I’m Saying

Testimony Cindy S., Fordland, MO

I recently finished reading Joyce’s book Me and My Big Mouth! and it was the most eye-opening book for me! Before it came out, God started dealing with me. He was telling me it was time for a new level in my walk with Him. It’s no coincidence that shortly after that, I discovered the book, because it was my speech and thought life God was dealing with me about. I was saying one thing but acting another way. I was missing out on every plan and blessing He had for me and I didn’t even realize it! And I never thought of myself as being proud, but when I read that part of the book (and took notes through the whole thing), I had to stop and reread it. God revealed to my heart that I was that person! For the first time I saw myself through

God’s eyes, and I didn’t like what I saw. But praise God! He loves me anyway. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me and the ways He will use me as I continually strive to surrender it all to Him. I am now ready and willing to meet the struggles in life because I know God is with me and He wants the best for me. I’ve already seen progress (and sometimes failures) since I finished the book, and I praise God for it all. When I slip up, He’s quick to point it out to me so I can learn through my mistakes. And He’s just as quick to forgive me when I ask because He knows I’m sincere and I’m taking my baby steps toward growth. Some things in the book were very hard-hitting, but I needed it. Joyce didn’t beat around the bush; she did it all in a loving manner.

Has God changed your life in any way through Joyce Meyer Ministries? Whether it was a TV or radio broadcast, magazine or monthly letter, audio or video teaching, our website or a conference, we would love to hear your story. Go to www.joycemeyer.org/testimonies. Or, mail your testimony to: Joyce Meyer Ministries P.O. Box 1350 Fenton, MO 63026

Joyce talks about the five choices that changed her life forever, focusing on…

1

2

3

4

5

MIND

MOUTH

PRAYER

LOVE WALK

EMOTIONS

New Release

This brand new collection of 5 CDs and 5 DVDs is presented in a beautiful keepsake book, and features ten key teachings based on the five decisions that transformed Joyce’s life forever. Ask for Conversations when you make a donation of $100 or more ($130 or more in Canada).

(800) 727-9673 • In Canada (800) 868-1002

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Offer S1045

B Y J E D WA L K E R

On the last evening of the four-night Festival of Life, Joyce Meyer looked out over a crowd of nearly 300,000 gathered in Bangalore, India. As far as her eyes could see, hands were raised in worship... Indian flags were waving in joyful celebration...and thousands waved colorful homemade signs declaring things like “Jesus Rocks!” and “Shout to the Lord, India.” Joyce said what everyone in the crowd was feeling: “I wish every person could worship God under these Indian skies. I wish everyone could experience what we’ve experienced tonight.”

For four days in January, worship and praise filled the city of Bangalore—the third largest and fastest growing city in all of India. On the vast grounds adjacent Maharaja’s palace, huge crowds gathered to worship the God of the Bible and to hear His Word preached.

Delirious? even translated the chorus of one of their most popular worship songs into Kannada—the local language. The response was overwhelming as hands were raised high and men and women worshipped God in their own language.

From the very first moment, the atmosphere was unforgettable. On the first day, Joyce honored the thousands of missionaries who’d sown sacrifice, passion, and even their very lives to see God’s kingdom established in India.

Providing Strong Encouragement

Tommy Barnett, well-known evangelist and Senior Pastor of Phoenix First Assembly church, joined Dave and Joyce in Bangalore and spoke to the audience about God’s love during the third night of the festival. Tommy first visited India forty years ago, and his aunt and uncle served as missionaries there for sixty years. As Tommy looked out at a sea of Indians worshipping God with all their might, he leaned over to Joyce and said, “I can’t imagine what my uncle would have said if he could have seen this!”

Speaking Their Language Delirious? has had top-40 singles and top-20 albums in the United Kingdom, and they’re one of the most sought-after Christian bands in the U.S. But there was no place they’d rather be than leading worship with Joyce in India. “India is one of our favorite places in the world to play,” said lead singer Martin Smith to a crowd that responded with prolonged shouts. “Joyce looks out for us—she’s really like a mom to us. She challenges us with the Word and encourages Known locally as “Bengaluru.” us to keep pressPopulation: 5.3 million people ing deeper into Local language: Kannada God.”

Bangalore, India

Founded in 1537 A.D.

From riding onstage in auto-rickshaws wearing silver suits to waving the Indian flag during a rowdy rendition of their popular song “History Maker,” Delirious? managed the difficult task of creating rock-concert energy while keeping all the focus and worship on Jesus.

Also known as “The Silicon City of India” because of its vibrant computer industry and “The Garden City” because of its green, floral landscape and many parks and gardens.

“Who wants to be a history maker for Jesus?” Martin asked, with the crowd roaring in approval. “Being a history maker is not about being a rock star or drawing big crowds or being famous. You become a history maker when you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and you love your neighbor as yourself.”

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Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions has been working in India for more than fifteen years and has held several Festival of Life crusades, one of which was in Mumbai, January 2008. However, due to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai this past November, there were concerns that the event would have to be postponed. In other parts of India, Christian persecution by Hindu radicals was raging as churches and homes were burned and acts of targeted violence were growing more frequent. In some areas bounties were even being placed on pastors’ lives. But because of this, Hand of Hope felt that it was more critical than ever for the festival to take place. Darlene Zschech of Hillsong, also on hand in Bangalore to lead worship, recognized how these events impacted the festival. “It’s been amazing,” she said. “We were really excited about coming, especially after the terrorist attacks. What a great opportunity to minister, to worship, and to bring the Gospel. There has been an intense pressure in the air when the people worship. We’re honored beyond belief to be here.” Bangalore is the capital city of the state of Karnataka, where the population is 85 percent Hindu, 12 percent Muslim, and just 2 percent Christian.1 Despite this fact, this area is one of the more active centers for Christians in India—many Christian churches, Bible schools and missions organizations have their national headquarters in Karnataka. David Meyer, CEO of Hand of Hope, said the ministry was thrilled with the support they received from area churches and city officials and how smoothly the event took place. While security was increased, there were no incidents…which allowed everyone in attendance to simply focus on God. “One of the primary goals of these meetings was to provide strong encouragement for the Christians in India,” said David. “Our hope was that we could help build unity and through the worship and the teaching, we could make a great investment in their relationships with God.” With all of the challenges facing believers, David Meyer recognized how difficult it is to follow Christ in India. That’s why he felt it was so important to sow into their lives so they can enjoy everyday life and do what God is calling them to do. “Without this kind of event,” he said, “the believers in India would not have a chance to see a band like Delirious? or experience worship with Hillsong or hear Joyce’s teaching

Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For he loves us with unfailing love; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord! —PSALM 117 NLT

in person. These are gifts that they rarely receive, and to see them experience this is awesome!”

A Message Right on Target Indian culture has been influenced heavily by Hindu beliefs, and central to that religion is the notion of karma, which says if you want to live a good life, you’ve got to constantly do good works. Because this concept is so deep in the culture, it can even be difficult for Indian Christians to grasp the grace and mercy of God. On the second night of the festival, Joyce preached on God’s righteousness and how it’s not something we earn through striving and hard work. “Salvation is the free gift of God,” Joyce taught. “Your good works, no matter how many you do, will never be able to earn it. God gives you His righteousness because He loves you.” This message really hit home.

Delirious? sings Majesty in the local language of Kannada, “Hey Prabhu, Hey Prabhu, Teri daya nay bachaaya mujhe,Tere haato may hi zinda hoo may.”

Mitchelle Rajapakse is a twenty-one-year-old Bible college student in Bangalore. She said that the Festival of Life was an incredible encouragement for her and all of her classmates.

He’s Looking for Worshippers

“For me, it’s a great opportunity to experience this kind of worship and teaching. Joyce’s message on not having to feel like I had to do all this work to please God was life-changing.”

As Joyce brought the meetings to a close, she prayed a blessing over everyone in attendance, the city of Bangalore, and the nation of India, asking God to fulfill the destiny that He has for each of them. She challenged the crowd not to view the festival as the end goal.

After she finishes school, Mitchelle plans to return to her home country of Sri Lanka as a missionary. “Especially as

Want to know more about these great works of love and hope? It’s coming—in the next issue of Enjoying Everyday Life. a Bible college student, I feel like I have to work so hard for God to be pleased with me. But to hear it from her…to hear how someone like her has struggled with this was really encouraging for me in my walk with God.”

“Real worship is more than coming together and singing beautiful songs,” Joyce said. “Jesus said in John chapter four that true worshippers worship in spirit and in truth. God’s not just looking for worship…He’s looking for worshippers!” Joyce said the hope India has is the same hope any nation has. When Christians really worship God with their whole lives and give of themselves to make a difference in somebody else’s life, we’ll see a revolution. And the world will never be the same. 1. P  atrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk, Operation World: The 21st Century Edition, Paternoster Publishing, Waynesboro, GA, 2001, p. 326.

JED WALKER accompanied Dave and Joyce Meyer and our missions team to India, reporting on the life-changing outreaches made possible by our ministry partners.

PARTNER PERSPECTIVE None of us knew what to expect when we landed in India. Our schedule promised us a chance to see some of Joyce Meyer Ministries’ various works—one of many feeding programs in the slums, the hospital in Chandrakal, the Children’s AIDS Orphanage and Clinic, the temporary medical clinics staffed by ministry volunteers from several countries, and the water well projects in rural villages. We were full of anticipation, curiosity and a healthy measure of pride to be associated with these vibrant outreaches in a part of the world so remote and primitive to our American minds.

At the Children’s AIDS Orphanage and Clinic, thirty-eight happy, smiling, thriving children greeted us; thirty-seven of them are HIV-positive. At the Chandrakal hospital, patients met us with stunning gestures of gratitude because their lives had been saved or drastically improved by the medical care they received there. In the temporary medical clinics, approximately 500 people per day received medical or dental care over a period of five days. Each day brought miracles and salvations. On one day alone, thirty people received Christ!

When we visited these ministry initiatives, we saw them as more than “good works.” We recognized each one as a beacon of hope shining against the backdrop of hunger, disease, poverty, sadness and struggle surrounding it.

In all these endeavors, excellence is clearly the norm and the love of God is unmistakable. —Beth Clark, Joyce Meyer Ministries Partner

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A Menu of Options­— Choose Wisely

BY JOYCE MEYER

here are certain topics I feel we need to hear about at least a couple times a year as long as we’re alive. And one of the biggest is the mouth. The gift that God has given me is in my mouth, but it’s also been my biggest problem. I was a complainer, I was critical, and I was a faultfinder. And I had no idea the impact it had on my life. Every word that comes out of our mouths has power in it—creative or destructive, positive or negative. So whether we murmur and complain or we give thanks and keep a positive attitude, we are feeding our body, mind and spirit. So, have you complained or were you thankful today?

Complain or Give Thanks Plain and simple, complaining is a sin! It causes many people a great deal of problems in their lives and destroys the joy of anyone listening. In Ephesians 4:29 the apostle Paul instructs us not to use any foul or polluting language. At one time I didn’t know this included complaining, but now I have learned that murmuring and complaining pollute our lives. We need to ask ourselves, how quick are we to become impatient and begin to complain when stuck in traffic or while waiting in check-out lanes in grocery or department stores? How quick are we to spot and point out all the faults of our friends or family members? Do we complain about our job when we should be thanking God that we have one? The best way to start each day is with gratitude and thanksgiving. Truly thankful people do not complain. They are too busy being grateful for the good things they do have that they have no time to notice the things they could complain about.

Quench Your Thirst When the Israelites were rescued from the rule of Pharaoh, they were led through the desert toward the Promised Land. But they exploited God’s goodness and complained. And God had to repeatedly deal with them about this.

It was an eleven-day journey from Egypt to the Promised Land (see Deuteronomy 1:2), but after forty years the Israelites were still wandering in the wilderness of death and destruction. Can you imagine being in the dryness and heat of a desert for forty years? What an unimaginable thirst you would endure. But what if the Israelites (or any of us for that matter) would have chosen to fill their mouths with thanksgiving and praise to God instead…

If we place a piece of bread in a ziplock bag, it will stay fresh as long as we are careful not to get any air into the bag. But if we allow the seal to be broken, the bread will become stale and hard within a few hours.

On the other hand, Jesus went into the wilderness of affliction with a great attitude. He continued praising God no matter what, refusing to complain, and as a result God raised Him from death to new life. That should be a lesson to us. We should guard against the temptation to complain and grumble, and instead purposely choose to offer up the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving (see Hebrews 13:15).

Philippians 2:14 says that we are to do everything without complaining or arguing. You and I need to make it a daily challenge not to complain or find fault with anything. This does not mean that we don’t correct situations that need to be corrected, or that we live with our heads in the clouds, pretending that nothing negative exists. It simply means that we make it our goal in life to be as positive and thankful as possible.

Sealed Tight If you read Ephesians 4:29-31, you’ll discover that based on this passage, when we mistreat others or talk to them in an abusive way, it grieves the Holy Spirit. Also, based on this passage, we see that we are “sealed” in the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I envision this concept like being in a zip-lock bag. Nothing can get to us that will destroy us as long as we respect our seal.

I think our lives are much the same way. If we respect the Holy Spirit and do not grieve or sadden Him with the careless use of our words, we are protecting our seal.

A Daily Challenge

Try going to bed at night pondering everything you have to be thankful for. Let it be the first thing you do in the morning. Thank God for “little” things or things we take for granted: a parking place that He helps you find, waking up on time for work, the fact that you can walk or see or hear, your children… Don’t be discouraged with yourself when you fail, but don’t throw in the towel and quit either. Keep at

it until you have developed new habits and you are living with an attitude of gratitude. And remember to thank God when the answer to prayer arrives. We enjoy getting our children what they need and ask for, but we feel taken advantage of if they just “grab the goods and run” without stopping to say thank you. And if they say it more than once and are really sincere, it actually motivates us to want to do more for them. God is the same way with us, so be generous in your gratitude. It will sweeten your relationship with the Lord. So my question to you is, what are you feeding yourself? Proverbs 18:21 states, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. You and I go through life with an awesome power—like fire or electricity or nuclear energy—right under our noses. It can produce death or life, depending on how it is used. Begin today to speak life for yourself and those around you.

You Decide What Sticks The Power of Words ~ Synergy Edition by Joyce Meyer

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Your Role: Witness #1 BY CHRISTINE CAINE

Imagine your favorite theatre production or big screen motion picture… The lights drop and the action begins. Every actor has a vital role, no matter if they are the lead or an extra. The people you don’t see are just as important. From lighting to sound to set building…it takes every part to make the production a success. And when it comes to the most important production of all time—where we’re living it and not acting it—we all have an important role to play. 24 | E N J O Y I N G E V E R Y D A Y L I F E

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Can you imagine how quickly we could fulfill Christ’s mission on the earth if each of us took up the challenge to be a witness to the world? Statistics vary, but let’s just assume that there are 2 billion Christians on earth today. If every one of us took seriously our mandate to transform our communities by being salt and light, we could achieve in one week what the greatest preaching evangelist could not possibly achieve in a lifetime. It will take each and every one of us doing our individual part in order for the church as a whole to reach the world. Being a witness is not a one-time part; it’s a lifestyle. God has given us the power to be a witness in our seemingly insignificant dayto-day lives. At the school gate, at mothers’ group, at the grocery store, at the gas station, at the sports club, at the office…there are endless opportunities to bear witness to His truth. We show our “neighbor” what authentic Christianity looks like in a practical way through the way we live. Jesus didn’t just come to proclaim the truth (which is imperative), but also to live, in every aspect of His life, bearing witness to that truth (see John 18:37). Similarly, our lives ought to be bearing witness to the truth of God’s Word. This includes our relationships, our lifestyles, our habits, our spending priorities, the moral choices we make, and our values and dreams. We ought to have a standard that is different from that of non-Christians because we are supposed to be bearing witness to His truth. Our lives should be lived according to the Word of God. If we fail to live according to the Word we preach, then we will have little or no impact on the world around us. This may sound very basic for many of you, but so often we overlook the simple things and miss out on the life of Christian influence we were meant to live. Not every one of us is called to stand on a platform and preach (I can almost hear sighs of relief) or sign up for the church evangelism team, but we are all called to live the role of a witness. It always challenges me when I read what Jesus told His disciples about the harvest of souls before them: The harvest truly is great,

but the laborers are few; therefore pray [to] the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2 NKJV). Notice that Jesus does not say that the Christians are few but rather that the laborers are few. We can only get the job done if all of us choose to participate in Christ’s mission, instead of just sitting on the sidelines. It is a labor to bring in the harvest—one that requires all hands on deck. It’s a common misconception that you have to be one of the gifted few in the church, who have been given some kind of special holy ordinance from Don’t miss Christine Caine at heaven, in order to talk to someone Women’s Conference 2009 about Jesus. Many joycemeyer.org/womensconference of us believe there is only room for the lead or the few supporting members. But everyone is needed. You and I—all of us—are the people Jesus was talking about when He said, “You are the light,” and “You are the salt” (see Matthew 5:13,14). He has no Plan B—no designated understudies are going to appear. Of course, evangelists have a place in the body of Christ, but their primary task is to train and equip the body of Christ to be witnesses. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11,12 NKJV). Nevertheless, we are all responsible for both witnessing and proclaiming God’s truth to a lost world. Admittedly, some are called to do this to large crowds, but most Christians will work this out among the people in their world. You and I must never allow ourselves to forsake our personal responsibility toward those in the world where God has placed us. God did not call me to be a professional Christian or to act like one only when behind a pulpit. I, like you, have been called to be a Christian and to be a witness for Christ at all times.

CHRISTINE CAINE is part of the leadership team at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, and a director of Equip & Empower Ministries. She lives her life to the full as a wife, mother, teacher, preacher and author. www.equipandempower.org

IN THE WORD

The Word of God can change you! As you learn more of it, and see the positive changes in your life, you won’t be able to get enough. These exercises will help you get started. Enjoy!

Never tell lies or be deceitful in

1. As we see in Mark 11:22,23, what does God’s Word instruct us to do when we have mountains in our lives?

what you say. Proverbs 4:24 CEV



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2. When tempted by Satan in the wilderness, according to Luke 4:1-13, how did Jesus answer every trial?

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an

encouragement



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3. According to James 3:4-8, can man alone tame the tongue?

to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 NLT



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4. In Matthew 19:26, Jesus said that we can do anything with

A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything— or destroy it! James 3:3 The Message

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And that includes taming our tongue. Praise God!

Answers: 1. Talk to them. 2. With the Word of God. He repeatedly said, “It is written,” and



quoted scriptures that met the lies and deceptions of the devil head-on. 3. No. 4. God.



Study questions taken from Joyce’s Me and My Big Mouth Study Guide (SG15), available at



www.joycemeyer.org.

joycemeyer.org

AMERICA AT ITS BEST

JOIN THE COUNTERCOUNTERCULTURE Together, We Can Restore American Goodness B Y D AV E M E Y E R

America was once known as a nation of goodness. From the days of the American Revolution till the mid twentieth century, people around the world saw America as a city on a hill, a shining light in a world of darkness—a place where righteousness reigned. Our country was, and still is, based on JudeoChristian principles. There was a different level of respect among Americans back then…people had a firmer sense of right and wrong. But today, Americans have fallen so far morally that they now call “evil” “good”, and “good” is now “evil.” Why did this happen? How did our nation get to this point? To get to the answers, I want to share with you an excerpt from an excellent book called Renewing the Soul of America, written by my friend and fellow patriot, Charles Crismier. It is my hope that what he has to say will inspire people to once again place great value in the principle of virtue. When was the last time you heard someone use the word virtue? Have you ever used the word? Certainly the word virtue has lost its place in American parlance. It has become disfavored as a word because virtue is no longer considered something to be desired or preserved. Virtue became, like a virus, something to be avoided. Morally defined virtue was replaced by morally neutral values. Virtue is not a plague. Virtue is moral goodness. It is purity in heart, motivation, intention. It is morally sound behavior. Virtuous behavior is that which seeks the best for those around us. It is not self-serving but other serving. Virtue is the outward display of inward character.

D AV E M E Y E R is the Vice President of Joyce Meyer Ministries and has been married to Joyce for over forty years. He passionately shares the truth about our rich Christian heritage in conferences nationwide, encouraging people to get educated, pray and take action. joycemeyer.org | August 2 0 0 9 | 27

AMERICA AT ITS BEST Join the counter-counterculture The light of American liberty and virtue has grown very dim. America is quickly gaining a reputation throughout the world for vice rather than virtue.

When the Light of Virtue Dims It is common knowledge that crime increases as darkness falls. With the dawn of light, misdeeds diminish. So it is that as the light of virtue and morality has been quenched by purposeful and systematic snuffing of the candles of individual and social values, we see crime and numerous other consequences of “darkness” flood in upon us.

Virtue Is Not a Four-Letter Word The most vocal elements of our society have these last forty years led us to believe that virtue is “out” and moral neutrality is “in.” Many heroes have been branded with labels for speaking up for that which was right and honorable. Labels and characterizations mold us and make us feel that somehow we are not in the mainstream of society. Because mankind’s greatest needs are to be loved and to be accepted, we have defaulted on virtue and standing for morality to avoid feeling rejected. We have been made to feel as if “virtue” were a four-letter word.

I have good news for you! To quote Forbes business magazine, September 14, 1992, we must “…encourage a ‘counter-counterculture that will resist the now entrenched ‘counterculture.’” Because the word values is morally neutral, many influential thinkers now suggest, “Instead of talking about family values, everybody would be better off talking about virtues...”

“Instead of talking about family values, everybody would be better off talking about virtues.” Let Us Rebuild American Virtue Here is wisdom. The French Nobel prize winner Alexis Carrel, who spent many years in America, stated, “Virtue roots us firmly in reality. A virtuous individual is like an engine in good working order. It is due to lack of virtue that the weaknesses and disorders of modern society are due.” Virtues have morphed into values to camouflage our hypocrisy. Changing the terminology from virtue to value eliminates the stigma of a moral standard for behavior, thus seemingly freeing us to do what we want to do rather than what we ought. Virtue begins at home. It begins with the little things. It begins with not calling in “sick” at work when I want to go shopping. It means not having my secretary say, “He’s not in,” when I don’t want to talk to someone. Give God a crack into your mind, your thoughts, and your inner being—your heart. What does He see? What do you see? What do your children see? Alexis de Tocqueville warned us, “America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” If America’s future depends on your example of virtue and morality, what is America’s future?1

America’s greatest need... isn’t financial.

Renewing the Soul of America 384-page PAPERBACK by Charles Crismier

$18

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1 Charles Crismier, Renewing the Soul of America, Elijah Books, Richmond, Virginia, 2002, pp. 92-103.

ACROSS THE u.s. St. Louis Dream Center

ille, LA

Donaldsonv

Alaska

Nashville, TN

IN OUR BACKYARD

Reaching the United States Through Ministry BY KACIE CAMPBELL

One thing we have realized is, everywhere we go…people are hurting, struggling and just needing help. Whether in the United States or around the world, our goal is to relieve human suffering and take the Gospel to as many people as possible. Through many partnerships and direct outreaches, God has enabled us to impact the United States through disaster relief, feeding programs, inner-city ministry and more. And because we’ve received many letters asking what Joyce Meyer Ministries is doing here in the U.S., we want to share about our outreaches here.

Inner-City America Founded and operated by Joyce Meyer Ministries, the St. Louis Dream Center church and outreach center ministers to thousands in the community through thirty-seven different outreaches—providing food, clothing, friendship and spiritual help. Every Friday night a Dream Center team goes into the streets of the

inner city to minister to the homeless and prostitutes. There are also teams who visit those living in local nursing homes, hold after-school and Saturday programs for local children and youth, provide free clothing and hundreds of thousands of free meals every year, and run a home for men suffering from addictions. But we’re not only helping St. Louis. Through our partnership with Urban Youth Impact in West Palm Beach, Florida, we are helping to provide the tools needed to minister to youth living in the crime-infested inner city. In partnership with the Los Angeles Dream Center, our partners are helping women rescued from a life of human trafficking find freedom.

Disaster Relief When disaster strikes, people’s lives are suddenly turned upside down by forces they have no control over, and often they have nowhere to turn. With Katrina still fresh on our minds while continuing to help rebuild the Gulf Coast, the United States suffered

hard-hitting hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding in 2008 alone. Throughout the Midwest, when a foot of rain and subsequent flooding caused millions of dollars in damage from Texas to Ohio, Joyce Meyer Ministries partnered with Service International and Convoy of Hope to bring immediate relief. When Hurricanes Gustav, Hannah and Ike battered the coastline, we joined with organizations like Healing Place Church, who handed out hundreds of thousands of supplies like water, hygiene products, gallons of gas and tarps to cover damaged homes. Each day they cleaned up more than 300 yards and prepared and distributed 43,000 hot meals. And in partnership with Convoy of Hope, we were able to help provide more than 1.2 million pounds of food and supplies valued at $1.7 million to thousands of families. Through Service International, our partnership worked to help people get back on joycemeyer.org | AuGUST 2 0 0 9 | 29

ACROSS THE U.S.

Pacific, MO

, NC Shelter Rock Baton Rouge, LA

Nashville,

For more information on the outreaches currently happening across the U.S., visit www.joycemeyer.org/handofhope and click on “Outreaches.” TN

their feet—from cutting down trees and cleaning up debris…to rebuilding homes…to offering much needed encouragement and spiritual support.

Free Medical Care In an age where house calls are obsolete, two state-of-the-art mobile medical trucks are bringing free health care, free medicine and renewed hope to some of the poorest neighborhoods in America. In partnership with Healing Place Church, Joyce Meyer Ministries purchased a mobile dental truck, which provides free dental care for so many throughout the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, area. Each month, the truck visits three Healing Place Church satellite campuses. After their physical needs are met, every patient is asked if they would like to talk or pray with someone. Nearly 90 percent of them say yes. As a result, many have given their lives to Christ, people who once knew the Lord are now back in church, and families are being reunited.

Appalachian Outreach Throughout the Appalachian Mountains, ranging from the lower state of New York to the flat lands of Alabama, there are families living in conditions that parallel some of the 30 | E N J O Y I N G E V E R Y D A Y L I F E

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world’s poorest developing nations. More than 100,000 children live in devastating poverty in this region. And that’s why we partner with Shelter Rock. Through this outreach, teams search for families who are living in areas like the abandoned coal mine areas of eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. Those families and many others receive meals, education, clothing, and medical and dental care.

Prison Ministry In 2008, our Prison Ministry traveled to Alaska and brought an important milestone—reaching every state prison in the United States. When God opened the opportunity, we went and distributed 3,596 gift bags, held five services with 295 in attendance, and witnessed 181 men and women give their lives to Christ. At every prison, the team gives a hygiene bag with one bottle of shampoo, one bar of body soap, and one book written by Joyce with an encouraging note inside. In 2008 alone, the team visited 294 prisons and distributed 205,567 gift bags. Through our Correspondence Department, we are able to reach prisoners with letters of encouragement

joycemeyer.org

when they write for prayer and help, as well as send them special mailings.

Mercy Ministries For the past sixteen years, our partners have supported Mercy Ministries—an international outreach for troubled young women who struggle with eating disorders, addictions, physical and sexual abuse, suicide and other issues. With several homes worldwide and throughout the U.S., Mercy offers vital counseling, accountability and training in life skills. But most importantly, the women are immersed in God’s Word and develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. And it’s all provided absolutely free! In all, Joyce Meyer Ministries partners with more than twenty other organizations throughout the United States to ensure that people are receiving the help they need, right when they need it. No matter where we go, one of our goals is, and will continue to be, to meet the needs in this nation.

Upcoming Conferences August 6-8 HERSHEY, PA Worship with Delirious?

Thursday Friday Saturday

7:00 pm 10:00 am & 7:00 pm 10:00 am

GIANT Center | www.giantcenter.com

August 20-22 NASHVILLE, TN Worship with Matt

Thursday Friday Saturday

Redman

7:00 pm 10:00 am & 7:00 pm 10:00 am

The Sommet Center | www.sommetcenter.com

September 17-19 ST. LOUIS, MO Women’s Conference: See pages 6 & 7 for details.

SEE JOYCE LIVE in a city near you— four unique sessions, worship, teaching and a weekend you will never forget. Spanish translation will be available at some locations; please check online for more information. Interpretation for the deaf and hard of hearing will be provided. No registration required. Schedule is subject to change.

wanna volunteer? [email protected] (800) 707-7877 x3516

(866) SEE-JOYCE | joycemeyer.org/conference

LIVE LAUGH LOVE

Joyce Has

Jobs

Once again named one of the best places to work in St. Louis by the St. Louis Business Journal, Joyce Meyer Ministries offers employees 100 percent medical, dental, life and longterm disability coverage, plus benefits that few companies provide anymore. Other “perks” include monthly chapel services, a free library stocked with books and movies, a game room in the cafeteria, and casual Fridays. But most employees agree that the best benefit of working here is being a part of the ministry’s vision—spreading the Gospel and helping others. And we want you to be a part of our team. Check out our website, www.joycemeyer.org/joycehasjobs, to view a list of current openings.

Be a Part of the Love Revolution There’s Still Time to Come to Women’s Conference 2009 You don’t want to miss this year’s women’s conference. It will change everything you’ve ever thought about love and spark a desire in you to share God’s love in practical and creative ways. Joyce will be joined by speakers Tommy Barnett, Paul Scanlon, and Christine Caine, along with worship led by Delirious? and Israel Houghton. Online registration for the event will close on September 3, but don’t worry…you can still register at the door. For more information about the conference, visit www.joycemeyer.org/ womensconference.

Around the World Did you know... Joyce Meyer Ministries will hold a conference in Basel, Switzerland, November 13 & 14. Join Joyce for two days of practical teaching and worship with Hillsong London and Peter Wilson. The services will start at 7 p.m. on Friday, with two sessions on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. From Switzerland, Joyce and the team will travel to Blantyre, Malawi, to hold a three-day Festival of Life crusade November 20-22. The conference will start at 6 p.m. on Friday, and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Worship will be led by Israel Houghton and New Breed. Both conferences are free to the public and all are welcome to attend. For more information on these events, visit www.joycemeyer.org/conference. Also, make sure to check out our travel log at www.worldtravellog.blogspot.com to stay updated on all that’s happening during the conferences. 32 | E N J O Y I N G E V E R Y D A Y L I F E

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There are countless opportunities each day to show the love of Christ to others. Here’s how one person is doing it: Karen M., Stafford, VA The last time I was in Pensacola, I was at Whataburger (a fast-food restaurant), eating with my family. We noticed a homeless man sitting across from us. He asked if we had any money so he could get to the beach (my favorite place in the country). I pulled three or four dollars from my pocket and handed them to the man. He embraced me with a tremendous hug, screaming he loved me and literally began dancing in the restaurant with joy. My brother stated how appropriate the man’s response was, because that is exactly how I act about going to the beach.

T V BROADCAST SCHEDULE DAILY TELECAST Programs air daily, Monday-Friday.

August 3 – 7 Do Yourself a Favor...Forgive —Viewers‘ Choice #4

August 17 – 21 Calm, Cool and Collected —Viewers‘ Choice #2

Do you hold on to hurts and disappoint­ ments or have trouble forgiving yourself for something in your past? Discover how to truly forgive and the many reasons we should. Joyce welcomes R.T. Kendall on Monday and Tuesday. On Friday, discover God’s free gift of salvation.

Situations may go awry, but you don’t have to let them get to you. Learn how to sit back, relax and soak up all the peace that Jesus gives with five days of teachings.

August 10 – 14 The Power of Attitude—Viewers‘ Choice #3 Do you want to move beyond your current situation and status in life? Then it’s time to take an attitude inventory. Joyce welcomes John Maxwell on Monday and Tuesday and then shares three days of teachings on the power of keeping a positive attitude in any circumstance.

August 31 – september 4 The Power of Words Because what we say has power, this message is for everyone. Discover how to use your words to encourage and support, instead of hurt and hinder one another.

WEEKLY TELECAST Programs air one day a week.

AUGUST 2 – 8 How to Handle Your Finances Are you feeling the financial pinch? Learning how to handle your finances God’s way will not only affect your checkbook, but you can also expect improvements in your health, your marriage and your level of enjoyment in life.

AUGUST 9 – 22 Health & Happiness Are you ready to get healthy? Caring for your body is one of the best ways to care for your spirit and soul, and it ensures that you are ready to do what God has called you to do.

August 24 – 28 Eat the Cookie ...Buy the Shoes—Viewers‘ Choice #1

AUGUST 23 – 29 Stress Less Joyce is joined by Dr. Don Colbert so you can discover how to make positive changes to reduce stress in your life before breaking down or becoming ill.

You can wish you had someone else’s life, or you can embrace the grace that God gives and enjoy where you are, who you are and the simple things in your life, like a freshly baked cookie or a new pair of shoes. Discover how, when you give Him everything you are, He’ll give you everything you need and more.

AUGUST 30 – September 5 Living Without Frustration God doesn’t want you to live a frustrated, miserable life! Joyce will share with you that God’s grace is available to help you through any circumstance—big or small—that may come your way.

ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE

PODCASTS R.T. Kendall joins Joyce on the program August 3 & 4.

•E  njoying Everyday Life daily video podcast •E  njoying Everyday Life daily radio podcast •E  veryday Moments 90-second audio podcast www.joycemeyer.org/podcasts

Schedules are subject to change. For stations and program times in your area, check your TV listing or visit www.joycemeyer.org/tvlistings. Watch the Enjoying Everyday Life broadcast anytime you like at www.joycemeyer.org.

joycemeyer.org | AUGUST 2 0 0 9 | 33

REAL LIFE PERSPECTIVES point on, things went downhill. For weeks, Allison cried all the way to work. To cope with her emotions, she began to tell herself, Well, I guess this is what God has for me. I must be a working mom. Meanwhile, I was trying to play “Mr. Mom,” run my business and clean the house. Needless to say, I was failing and feeling miserable. The phone had also stopped ringing, bringing business to a standstill. With each passing day, I became more and more frustrated and depressed. Unaware of it at the time, Allison was losing respect for me because I was doing what she yearned to do. Numbness in our relationship set in, and our communication was virtually cut off. Our marriage was in trouble.

A Life-Changing Conversation

A DEFINING MOMENT How A Difficult Conversation Changed My Family BY VINCENT M. NEWFIELD

Every life has its defining moments—those critical crossroads when a decision is made that affects us the rest of our lives. One of my greatest defining moments came through a conversation I had in April 1995, about three months after my wife, Allison, returned to work after giving birth to our first-born daughter, Victoria.

In His mercy, God sent a friend our way—a pastor friend named Bob Martin. Having deep respect for his godly wisdom, I shared my frustrations with him, especially the struggles I was having with the business since Allison had returned to work. After giving him a brief overview, he turned to me and responded with words I will never forget. In his bold “tell-it-like-it-is” way, Pastor Bob said, “Vincent, Allison needs to come home, and you need to do whatever you need to do to provide for your family. God is faithful. You need to trust Him.” His God-ordained words cut me like a knife. Even though I mentally couldn’t figure out how we would make it, I knew in my heart he was right—Allison needed to come home.

“I was failing and feeling miserable... I was doing what she yearned to do... Our marriage was in trouble.”

Allison was thrilled to be a mother and deeply desired to stay at home and raise Victoria. At the time, however, I was self-employed and our business was struggling. Consequently, we were living off Allison’s salary. As much as she longed to stay at home, I couldn’t see how we would survive if she did. So, in submission to my leadership, she went back to work.

I asked God to forgive me for being motivated by fear and confirm I had made the right decision by blessing our business. Well, Allison gave her notice the next day, and within one week, God miraculously brought in over $5,000 in sales—something that had never happened before. God is faithful!

Motivated by Fear

Don’t let fear motivate or influence your decisions. Pray and get God’s heart in every matter. If need be, seek godly counsel from a trusted friend. As Proverbs 11:14 says, Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety!

Unfortunately, my decision was not Spirit-led—it was “head-led.” Yes, I had prayed about what to do, but my mind couldn’t get past the financial factor. FEAR blocked my way, and out of FEAR, I made my decision. From that

The Bottom Line

VINCENT M. NEWFIELD and his wife, Allison, are founders of Prepare The Way, a teaching ministry dedicated to passionately presenting the timeless truth of God’s Word through innovative messages and illustrations. In addition to speaking in churches, Vincent is a freelance writer for Joyce Meyer Ministries, John Bevere Ministries and other worldwide organizations. www.preparethewaytoday.org 34 | E N J O Y I N G E V E R Y D A Y L I F E

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AUGUST Word Power 60-MINUTE DVD

$20

by Joyce Meyer

Order D283

$26 in Canada

joycemeyer.org • (800) 727-9673 • In Canada (800) 868-1002 If you would like to receive Joyce’s Featured DVD on a monthly basis, without having to order each time, we can automatically debit your credit card each month. Please call our office for details.

ALL NEW INTERACTIVE CURRICULUM FOR INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL GROUPS Packed with extensive resources and teaching materials, this curriculum has everything you need to relentlessly pursue God’s plan for your life.

Never Give Up! Curriculum by Joyce Meyer | Order S1044

$79

Regular price: $119

$102 in Canada Regular price: $154

joycemeyer.org/nevergiveup (800) 727-9673 • In Canada (800) 868-1002 joycemeyer.org | AUGUST 2 0 0 9 | 35

Human suffering is a problem. You are a solution. Take your place in The Love Revolution. Joyce Meyer and other church leaders plead a compelling case—we need a revolution of love— providing simple steps to a lifetime of loving others. Enjoy guest articles by Darlene Zschech, John Maxwell, Tommy Barnett, Paul Scanlon, Martin Smith and others who are living The Love Revolution.

COMING SEPTEMBER 22

Can’t wait? Read a sample chapter at joycemeyer.org/theloverevolution

joycemeyer.org/theloverevolution