joyce meyer ministries | enjoying everyday life - august 2011 (row)

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AUGUST 2011 I Love to Worship CeCe Winans 24 Three Little Tips for Greater Joy Joyce Meyer 22 Making Peace with Making the Right Decision Joyce Meyer 14 The Future of Uganda Ginger Stache 18 Ladies, are you ready to Love Life? Registration ends soon! See page 8. Pump up your faith in this issue! Join Joyce’s Boot Camp to build your faith-filled life!

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Joyce Meyer Ministries | Enjoying Everyday Life - August 2011 (ROW)

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Page 1: Joyce Meyer Ministries | Enjoying Everyday Life - August 2011 (ROW)

AUGUST 11 Foreign FC

AUGUST 2011

I Love to WorshipCeCe Winans

24Three Little Tips for Greater JoyJoyce Meyer

22Making Peace with Making the Right DecisionJoyce Meyer

14 The Future of UgandaGinger Stache

18

Ladies, are you ready to Love Life? Registration ends soon! See page 8.

➻ Pump up your faith in this

issue! Join Joyce’s Boot Camp

to build your faith-filled life!

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Some are as young as 12 when they start in the “business.” Lured by the enticement of a better life or the false love of an older man, girls are trapped in human traffi cking and prostitution. And as you read this ad, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of girls waiting for someone to reach out and rescue them.

Through Project Hope and our partnership with the Los Angeles Dream Center, we’re working hard to reach these girls and provide a safe haven for them to grow into the young women God created them to be. Your partnership will help us reach even more.

When you partner with Joyce Meyer Ministries, not only are you rescuing girls from human traffi cking, your support is reaching millions of people through media broadcasting and Hand of Hope missions outreaches worldwide.

YOU RESCUEGIRLS FROM THE STREETSOF LOS ANGELES

STAND WITH US—BECOME A PARTNER TODAY!BECOME A PARTNER TODAY!

DEARFRIENDS,

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STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART

I think it’s time to get back to basics when it comes to faith in God. I believe faith should be based on certain foundational truths and then it can grow from there. If we want to have a deep, healthy, solid faith in God, we must exercise our faith to make it stronger.

Think of soldiers in the military. First, they enlist in a branch of the service. Then they go through basic training, or boot camp. They are drilled and exercised and trained relentlessly. This is to prepare their minds as well as their bodies to be equipped for warfare. Drill instructors are assigned to do this “equipping” because soldiers need to possess strength, stamina, resilience and endurance. And even when it’s not wartime, they will be strong, healthy—ready for anything.

Let’s think about this in terms of our own faith. First, we enlist—or we give our lives to Christ. Then we begin a regimen of basic training—or faith building. The Holy Spirit acts as our Drill Instructor in this case.

DEARFRIENDS,Now here’s where the training gets more personal. For some it might seem rigorous and to others, rather mild. We may be instructed to increase Bible study, prayer or fel-lowship time. Or perhaps we simply need to do something nice for someone as an act of obedient faith. The point is our Drill Instructor, the Holy Spirit, knows exactly what we each need as a faith-building requirement so we can be prepared in season and out of season. It could be one thing today and another tomorrow. We just need to obey Him, trusting that He always has our best interest at heart.

I want to encourage you � rst, if you’ve never done so, to “enlist” in God’s army. Give your life to Him today. That’s where you start. And even if you’ve been a believer for years, it’s always good to get back to basics every now and then. There are more “training orders” in the following pages. The results—strong, solid faith in God—are well worth the time and effort.

God bless you as you get back to basics!

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You can smell it. You can almost taste it. You’re so hungry for it you could burst—but God’s “miracle” timer is still ticking away. Instead of walking the � oor wondering, When, God, when?, why not pop in Joyce’s latest teaching on patience? It’ll help you stay relaxed and in control of your emotions while you’re waiting on Him. And here’s the really good part…you can order it today.

ON HOLD 60-Minute DVD by Joyce Meyer | $20 U.S. Funds

joycemeyer.org

You can smell it. You can almost taste it. You’re so hungry for it you could burst—but When,

, why not pop in Joyce’s latest teaching on patience? It’ll help you stay relaxed and in control of your emotions while you’re waiting on Him. And here’s the

CreditsPublisherJoyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.

Executive EditorsDaniel MeyerGinger Stache

Creative DirectorSteve DeShetler

Art DirectorJon Richert

Managing EditorDemian Farnworth

Staff WritersKacie CampbellMatthew LoomisAnne Williams

Graphic DesignersMegan RiordanAnna MonetteAmy RoffJessica DavisDanny Mehl

Production SupervisorGeorge Dill

Production ArtistsJeri Icenesse Jeff DouglasStacy WilliamsRobert Houston

Editorial ProofreadersCarolyn ColeyDar WoodSusan Hutchison

Production CoordinatorsBill SchlickMonica JohnsonJessica Turnbeaugh

PhotographersChad Spickler David DobsonKacie Campbell

All Bible references are from The Amplifi ed Bible unless otherwise noted.

Enjoying Everyday Life® is published by Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.®, a nonpro� t corp oration, Fenton, MO USA © 2011 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. Because all Enjoying Everyday Life issues are preplanned, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts. For more information or to order, call (636) 349-0303. Internet address: www.joycemeyer.org

Enjoying Everyday Life is a registered trade mark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. [J] is also a registered trademark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.

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ENJOY ING EVERYDAY L I F EVolume 25 | Number 5 | AUGUST 2011

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 diffi cult issues.Watch a video from Joyce, read related articles, send a prayer request, and more.

EVERYDAY ANSWERS

MAIN FEATURE page 14

CONTENTS

F E A T U R E S

14 MAKING PEACE WITH MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONBY JOYCE MEYER

We could all use more wisdom when it comes to making decisions. Learn how to let the Holy Spirit lead you.

18 THE FUTURE OF UGANDAHAND OF HOPE—Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions BY GINGER STACHE

Watoto, our ministry partner in Uganda, is working to raise the country’s future leaders by rescuing and restoring the stolen innocence and broken lives of some of its former child soldiers.

22 THREE LITTLE TIPS FOR GREATER JOYBY JOYCE MEYER

See how this powerful 1-2-3 combo can play an important part in increasing your joy.

24 I LOVE TO WORSHIPBY CECE WINANS

Award-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans talks about the natural lifestyle of worship she experienced growing up—a lifestyle we were all created for.

D E P A R T M E N T S

6 Next Generation

11 Leader’s Edge

26 A Closer Look

27 Love Walk

31 TV Broadcast Schedule

joycemeyer.org/everydayanswers

CreditsPublisherJoyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.

Executive EditorsDaniel MeyerGinger Stache

Creative DirectorSteve DeShetler

Art DirectorJon Richert

Managing EditorDemian Farnworth

Staff WritersKacie CampbellMatthew LoomisAnne Williams

Graphic DesignersMegan RiordanAnna MonetteAmy RoffJessica DavisDanny Mehl

Production SupervisorGeorge Dill

Production ArtistsJeri Icenesse Jeff DouglasStacy WilliamsRobert Houston

Editorial ProofreadersCarolyn ColeyDar WoodSusan Hutchison

Production CoordinatorsBill SchlickMonica JohnsonJessica Turnbeaugh

PhotographersChad Spickler David DobsonKacie Campbell

All Bible references are from The Amplifi ed Bible unless otherwise noted.

Enjoying Everyday Life® is published by Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.®, a nonpro� t corp oration, Fenton, MO USA © 2011 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. Because all Enjoying Everyday Life issues are preplanned, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts. For more information or to order, call (636) 349-0303. Internet address: www.joycemeyer.org

Enjoying Everyday Life is a registered trade mark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. [J] is also a registered trademark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.

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NEXT generation

SEEKING FORGIVENESS

FROM OUR CHILDREN

IB Y S A N D R A M C C O L L O M

I hate it when this happens… Frustration builds inside me like a perfect storm. My patience wears paper thin. And the fruit of the Spirit is squeezed to the point that I feel I can’t � nd any relief except for one unfortunate act—screaming at one, or both, of my twin daughters.

Believe me, I’m tempted to rational-ize my behavior and say, “Well, they pushed my buttons, and I couldn’t help it.” But that’s not really an option based on God’s Word. Ephesians 5:21 says, Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another (MSG). But you may be thinking, What about them? They weren’t

courteous to me. But as parents,

joycemeyer.org

S A N D R A M C C O L L O Mis Dave and Joyce’s younger daughter. She is a wife and stay-at-home mother of twin girls. Her passion is to see people know Christ and enjoy their lives by applying biblical principles on a daily basis. Sandra and her husband, Steve, who serves on the staff of Joyce Meyer Ministries, live in the St. Louis area.

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this is our opportunity to remember who the grown-ups are. God expects more from us because we are the ones setting the example for our children.

The Need to ForgiveI have always felt that kids deserve the same respect I would give any adult, which is why I cannot accept treating my girls, or any kids for that matter, less than the way my Father in heaven would treat me. Let me be honest: This does not mean I’ve always done this perfectly…

There are times when I am sick (and crabby as a result), hungry and quick-tempered, or tired and grouchy. And who do I usually take it out on � rst? Unfortunately, it’s the people closest to me—the ones I love. The same is probably true for you too.

But I believe this is something we can strive not to do. I was thrilled when God � nally got it through my thick head that when I make a mistake with my children, the best thing I can do is ask them to forgive me.

Treating my kids any other way than God’s best leaves me feeling horrible about myself. That’s why I have to seek forgiveness and move forward. To allow myself the freedom to be imper-fect, learn to seek forgiveness and still like who I am—now that has potential.

Forgiveness in Heavy DosesWe are not fooling our kids. They already know we’re not perfect, yet

I think some parents are afraid to be vulnerable with their children because they feel they will lose their children’s respect if they are open. I have witnessed the opposite to be true. In the McCollom house, we often vocalize repentance and seek forgive-ness from each other. In fact, it’s given in heavy doses at times. My husband, Steve, and I ask for forgiveness from our girls, and they ask for forgiveness from us and one another.

How can I teach my girls to seek forgiveness from others if they do not see that example in me? The last thing Steve and I want is for our children to grow up thinking we are hypocrites because we ourselves did not live the life we tried to convince them to live.

Setting a Godly ExampleUnfortunately, this “say one thing, but do another” example goes on in Christian homes all too often, and I think many times pride can be our greatest stumbling block here. Matthew 7:5 reminds us of this. It says, Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own (MSG). When I am having a bad day or a bad moment, I can totally do this to my girls. I tend to see all the things they are doing wrong instead of seeing my own crabbiness.

But I am so glad I was taught to be open and honest with my kids, because it has de� nitely paid off. Angel and Starr feel comfortable and secure coming to us about anything. Our willingness to seek their forgive-ness when we are wrong has built a trust that makes them willing to learn

from us. On the other hand, if we act all “holier than thou” and never admit when we do something wrong, their hearts could become hard—inevitably losing that trust.

Many times adults are not nearly as gracious as kids because they have developed hard hearts over time. But children aren’t like that—they love people unconditionally. Our girls seem to go out of their way to help us feel accepted when things get off course. They bring us love notes, give us extra hugs, and encourage us. And I believe it’s because we are willing to operate in a spirit of humility, not afraid to ask for their forgiveness when we mess up.

“ How can I teach my girls to seek forgiveness from others if they do not see that example in me?”

Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost. PROVERBS 22:6 MSG

joycemeyer.org

Shaping the Lives of Your Children4-CD Series by Joyce Meyer

$26 U.S. Funds

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Jesus said to [him], “I will go and heal him.” MATTHEW 8:7 NCV

Throughout the year our medical volunteers travel to some of the poorest areas of the world to provide much needed medical and dental care. Physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals are needed.

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FOREIGN

Ladies, this weekend is just for you, so leave the men and children at home and enjoy a few refreshing days away. Registration fees are nonrefundable.

CAN CHANGE

INTO

speakeRs

JOHN & STASI ELDREDGE

JOYCE MEYER

NANCY ALCORN

CECE WINANS

ISRAEL HOUGHTON

Worship with...

Join us for three days this September and you’ll leave refreshed, restored and ready to pursue life with gusto!

joycemeyer.org/lovelifeREGISTER NOW! or call (636) 349-0303

INSECU R I T YISRAEL ISRAEL

SeptembeR 15-17, 20113 DAYS • 5 SESSIONS • $65 U.S. FUNDS

EDWARD JONES DOME ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

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Jesus said to [him], “I will go and heal him.” MATTHEW 8:7 NCV

Be part of a life-changing experience.Volunteer for upcoming trips at

joycemeyer.org/medicalmissions

Throughout the year our medical volunteers travel to some of the poorest areas of the world to provide much needed medical and dental care. Physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals are needed.

Not only will God bring healing through your willingness to serve, these trips are sure to be a blessing to you in return. We hope you’ll join us. For travel dates and more details, visit joycemeyer.org/medicalmissions

Schedule is subject to change.

2011 Medical Missions Trips• Lebanon • Panama• Ethiopia • Guatemala

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FOREIGN

Ladies, this weekend is just for you, so leave the men and children at home and enjoy a few refreshing days away. Registration fees are nonrefundable.

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RENEW YOUR STRENGTH.

REVIVE YOUR PASSION.

LIVE WITH AN UNSTOPPABLE SPIRIT.

NEVER GIVE UP!Packed with extensive teaching materials, this curriculum has the step-by-step instructions you need to relentlessly pursue God’s plan for your life. Learn how to turn adversities into opportunities and trust God to do His part as you run your race.

Perfect for personal or group study, the Never Give Up! Curriculum includes:

• Never Give Up! Hardcover Book – a New York Times Bestseller

• Workbook and Devotional Journal

• 4-DVD Set featuring 10 cumulative teachings

• 4-CD Series featuring audio from the video messages

• Portable Media Disc for quick transfer to your iPod or other MP3 player

• Never Give Up! Flexible Wrist Band

$119 $79 U.S. Fundsjoycemeyer.org/nevergiveup

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LEADER’S EDGE

B Y J O Y C E M E Y E R

ARE YOU ANEMOTIONAL YO-YO?

JJJust because I feel like smacking someone upside the head does not mean that I am supposed to allow myself to do that. I cannot do everything I feel like doing.

God wants us to grow up and realize there are some things in this life that we must learn to control. One of those things is our emotions.

If you and I are to be leaders, we must realize that we will not be able to do or say everything that is on the inside of us.

I remember one time telling my husband, “Dave, do you know what I feel like doing? I feel like running away from home!”

At that time I felt that everything in my life was caving in on me. There were problems at the of� ce, problems in the home, problems everywhere I looked. I thought, I want to get out of here!

RENEW YOUR STRENGTH.

REVIVE YOUR PASSION.

LIVE WITH AN UNSTOPPABLE SPIRIT.

NEVER GIVE UP!

J O Y C E M E Y E Ris one of the world’s leading practical Bible teachers. She has written more than eighty inspirational books and released thousands of audio and video teachings. Her Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs are broadcast around the world. She also travels extensively conducting conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.

joycemeyer.org | AUGUST 2011 | 11

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LEADER’S EDGE: Are you an emotional yo-yo?

to recognize when they are going in a wrong direction and make the appropriate corrections themselves without someone else having to do it for them.

That kind of emotional stability, self-control and self-restraint is not limited to leaders; it is something we all need to develop more of in our lives.

Up and Down Like a Yo-YoI remember the years when I was what I call a

“Christian yo-yo.” I was continually up and down. If Dave did what I liked, I was happy. If he didn’t do what I liked, I would get mad.

I have grown since those days. Dave still doesn’t always do the things I like, but now it doesn’t upset me the way it used to. The reason it doesn’t upset me as much now is that I have learned to exercise self-control.

Sometimes, Dave and I discuss what we see ahead for the ministry. We have many goals, but as the leaders, neither of us does anything beyond our gifts and calling. That’s another key to keeping your emotional stability.

Anyone can acquire stability; it is not limited to those in ministry. In the end, it’s imperative not only for a good leader but for every person to develop stability because God wants to do more with your life than you could ever imagine.

But I knew I shouldn’t do that because I am a leader, and leaders do not run away from things they don’t like. They stay and deal with them—because they have stability, aka self-control.

Stability Is Important for LeadersBefore we talk about why stability is important, let’s de� ne it. Webster’s II New College Dictionary de� nes stability as “1. Resistance to sudden change, dislodgement, or overthrow. 2. a. Constancy of character or purpose: STEADFASTNESS. b. Reliability: dependability.”

If you have stability, you do what is right when it feels good and when it doesn’t feel good—you pray when you feel like it and when you don’t feel like it. You give despite your feelings—and you give not just what you want to give, but what God is encouraging you to give.

Self-Control: The Key to StabilityI love The Ampli� ed Bible translation of Galatians 5:22,23 because it reveals things that I might have missed oth-erwise. It tells me that the Spirit of God on the inside of me is a Spirit of discipline and self-control. But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence)….

God Provides Emotional Stability According to this scripture, self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If you want to be a leader, you must be able to control yourself.

Have you ever known someone who is up and down all the time, like you never know what they’re going to do next? I call them “high maintenance.” They constantly need attention.

People who � t this description follow their emotions rather than following the leadership of the Holy Spirit within them. If they don’t learn to follow the Holy Spirit through the inner knowledge He gives and by reading and obeying the Word, they will never develop into what God wants them to be.

Leaders have to discipline themselves and stay in control. They have to be able

“ Leaders have to discipline themselves and stay in control.”

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to recognize when they are going in a wrong direction and make the appropriate corrections themselves without someone else having to do it for them.

That kind of emotional stability, self-control and self-restraint is not limited to leaders; it is something we all need to develop more of in our lives.

Up and Down Like a Yo-YoI remember the years when I was what I call a

“Christian yo-yo.” I was continually up and down. If Dave did what I liked, I was happy. If he didn’t do what I liked, I would get mad.

I have grown since those days. Dave still doesn’t always do the things I like, but now it doesn’t upset me the way it used to. The reason it doesn’t upset me as much now is that I have learned to exercise self-control.

Sometimes, Dave and I discuss what we see ahead for the ministry. We have many goals, but as the leaders, neither of us does anything beyond our gifts and calling. That’s another key to keeping your emotional stability.

Anyone can acquire stability; it is not limited to those in ministry. In the end, it’s imperative not only for a good leader but for every person to develop stability because God wants to do more with your life than you could ever imagine.

Back to Basics

We all want to be the best example of Christ that we can be in

the world today. So in this issue, we’re focusing on the basics of

living a Christ-centered life. Let Joyce and a few special guests

guide you through the basics of building a faith-� lled life!

Learn how to:

Stay in step with the Holy Spirit // Page 14

Stretch yourself to humbly seek forgiveness // Page 6

Lift up your heart in worship // Page 24

Strengthen your spirit with joy // Page 22

Build up others through giving // Page 18

Back to Basics

Join Joyce’s Boot Camp for additional Back to Basics training

on the Enjoying Everyday Life television broadcast August 1-26.

Check your local TV listing for stations and program times in

your area or visit joycemeyer.org/tvlistings.

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MAKING peace WITH MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION

HOW WISDOM CAN BRING HAPPINESS TO YOUR LIFE

B Y J O Y C E M E Y E R

None of us like discomfort too much. An itch keeps us from sitting still. An uncomfortable mattress keeps us from sleeping. Social pressures and the threat of rejection can lead us to make some really stupid decisions.

When I decided to go into ministry, I think some people didn’t like it because they were uncomfortable being associated with some silly woman who thought she was going to preach the Gospel around the world.

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How Will I Know I’m Hearing from God?Colossians 3:15 clearly tells us how. It says, ...let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with � nality all questions that arise in your minds....]

If you follow the leadership of God, you will have peace, joy, righteousness and you’ll bear good fruit. What you won’t be is confused and frustrated.

God never leads us to busy ourselves so much that we’re stressed out all the time and have no joy. And He won’t try to confuse your mind—that’s the enemy’s job.

To � nd where your peace lies, simply ask yourself: Is there a scripture that applies to my situation? What does the Word say I should do?

For example, if there’s something you want to buy but you don’t have enough in your bank account to buy it, it’s probably best to wait because God doesn’t want us to be in debt (see Romans 13:8).

Many times, God’s Word sounds a lot like common sense. I encourage you to let the peace in your heart decide with � nality every question that arises in your mind.

When Is It Wise to Get Counsel from a Friend?The Bible does say there’s safety in a multitude of counselors (see Proverbs 11:14). But you could ask ten different people about your situation and end up with ten different answers.

One thing you should ask yourself is, Am I seeking wise counsel? A lot of times, we end up asking people who don’t even know what they’re doing. Or they’re someone

“When you have a decision to make, do you normally go with the fl ow—or do you pray for wisdom and weigh your decisions on the Word of God?”

A lot of family turned against me. I was asked to leave my church. I lost most of my friends and my reputation. It was a terrible time in my life. And all I was doing was teaching a Bible study!

Now, what if I’d given up my calling for their comfort? I wonder where I’d be right now…and how I’d feel about my decision to waste all those years wondering: Was it really God?

Think about your own life for a moment. When you have a decision to make, do you normally go with the � ow—or do you pray for wisdom and weigh your decisions on the Word of God?

Every decision we make not only affects us, but the people around us. Even future generations are affected by the choices we make today. So we need to seek God’s Word for guidance, and we need to heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our heart.

It’s Not Too Hard to Hear from GodI think one of the main reasons some people let others make decisions for them is they don’t really believe they can hear from God. They wish they could or hope they can. They wonder if they can but they’re afraid they don’t.

The Word says we can.

1 John 2:27 says, But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anoint-ing] has taught you [to do].

When it comes to the responsibilities and the life God has called you to, there’s an anointing permanently within you, which means the Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you. It’s your blood-bought, God-given right to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

I encourage you to trust yourself with God and tell Him, “God, I want to hear from You. I don’t want to do anything outside Your will. So I’m going to trust that You speak to me, and I am going to trust that I can hear from You.”

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How Will I Know I’m Hearing from God?Colossians 3:15 clearly tells us how. It says, ...let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with � nality all questions that arise in your minds....]

If you follow the leadership of God, you will have peace, joy, righteousness and you’ll bear good fruit. What you won’t be is confused and frustrated.

God never leads us to busy ourselves so much that we’re stressed out all the time and have no joy. And He won’t try to confuse your mind—that’s the enemy’s job.

To � nd where your peace lies, simply ask yourself: Is there a scripture that applies to my situation? What does the Word say I should do?

For example, if there’s something you want to buy but you don’t have enough in your bank account to buy it, it’s probably best to wait because God doesn’t want us to be in debt (see Romans 13:8).

Many times, God’s Word sounds a lot like common sense. I encourage you to let the peace in your heart decide with � nality every question that arises in your mind.

When Is It Wise to Get Counsel from a Friend?The Bible does say there’s safety in a multitude of counselors (see Proverbs 11:14). But you could ask ten different people about your situation and end up with ten different answers.

One thing you should ask yourself is, Am I seeking wise counsel? A lot of times, we end up asking people who don’t even know what they’re doing. Or they’re someone

Joyce teaches more about making right choices on the Enjoying Everyday Life television broadcast August 22-25. Check your local TV listing for stations and program times in your area or visit joycemeyer.org/tvlistings.

“When you have a decision to make, do you normally go with the fl ow—or do you pray for wisdom and weigh your decisions on the Word of God?”

who may have a sel� sh motive. Keep this in mind: True counseling leads you to God; it doesn’t try to run your life.

If you feel something strongly in your heart and you’ve prayed about it and it goes along with Scripture, then follow your heart. If you feel led to make a decision that others don’t like, you shouldn’t have to give an unreason-able amount of explanation for what you feel led to do. Maybe you don’t know why—you just sense that’s just what you’re supposed to do.

God has a plan, and you are part of that plan, but you won’t live it if you live with the fear of man.

Trust yourself. What do you think God is saying to you? What are you sensing from God? Ultimately, you need to take responsibility for making the decision that brings peace to your heart.

It’s Amazing Where God Will Take You!I didn’t even start my ministry until I was forty-two years old. It is unbelievable what God can do through you if you’ll � ght your way through all the mess that comes against you and say, “If God says I can, I can.”

How do you know when God’s called you? All I can say is, when God called me to teach the Word, He gave me an overwhelming desire to do so—and that desire has stayed with me throughout the years.

That Holy Ghost unction, or “umph,” will motivate and en-ergize you to press on through each challenge that comes.

I believe it’s much better to step out and � nd out than to hide in the closet all your life and think what if? It’s not the end of the world if you make a mistake.

I wonder how many people are sitting around right now thinking, Yeah…I think I’ve missed a lot in my life by trying to keep other people happy. And here I am now, and I’m not happy. Well, you know what? God has you reading this for a reason.

It may cause quite a stir when you announce that from now on you’re going to follow the Holy Spirit, but you must be true to your own heart if you want to be happy.

do you know which way to go?Some of the decisions we make are insignifi cant while others change the essence of who we are and what we will become. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference—because the little ones we make can be monumental in God’s eyes. Here’s the comforting thing: If you learn how to follow His voice, you’ll always know what your next step should be.

This teaching series gives you the wisdom and encouragement you need to step out in boldness toward whatever He calls you to do.

Order today!

The Wisdom of Making Right Choices4-CD Series by Joyce Meyer$26 U.S. Funds

joycemeyer.org

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THE FUTURE OF UGANDAWitnessing the Restoration of Former Child Soldiers

THE FUTURE OF UGANDAWitnessing the Restoration of Former Child Soldiers

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STATSPopulation is 34,612,250

Median age is 15.1 years old

1.2 million (6.5%) people in Uganda are living with AIDS.

42% are protestant

35% live in poverty

1.27 million people were displaced as a result of war between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda.

(All stats taken from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html, accessed May 5, 2011.)

PHOTOSTOP LEFT: Once a child soldier, David is now living in a safe home and studying to be an engineer.

TOP RIGHT: Former orphans, who are now brothers and sisters, jump rope outside their home.

CENTER: Each home has a “mother” and eight children.

BOTTOM LEFT: Children are able to go to school and learn about the love of Jesus Christ.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Flavia is now traveling with the Watoto Children’s Choir sharing her story of rescue and restoration in Christ.

Witnessing the Restoration of Former Child Soldiers

B Y G I N G E R S T A C H E

June 2010. It had been two years since our team � rst met David and Flavia, former child soldiers in Gulu, Uganda, and we were anxious to see them again. From the minute they walked up to us, we could tell a lot had

changed in their lives since we last saw them. But in order for you to understand the radiant smiles and

indescribable joy we experienced in talking with them again,

we have to take you back two years earlier. It was here that their

transformation began. It’s what makes their story and

God’s redeeming grace so remarkable…

October 2008. We met David and Flavia when we

visited the outreaches of Watoto, our ministry partner

in Uganda. Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions, had recently

partnered with Watoto to help build a village for widows and orphans of a war that had ravaged the northern part of the country for twenty years.

All war is horri� c, but here it was particularly atrocious. Many people were tortured and mutilated, but perhaps worse of all, countless children were abducted, treated as sex slaves and forced to take up arms and kill.

An estimated 30,000 children were captured and forced to watch their families die; or worse yet, to kill them themselves. They were then initiated—beaten with 100 lashes, forced to carry heavy equipment for days with little food, rest or water, and threatened with their life if they dropped one single item. After more excruciating pain and torture, these children were forced to participate in the torture and murder of one another. They were now soldiers in the Lord’s Resistance Army.

DAVID’S INITIATION INTO THE LRADavid was abducted when he was nine. His initiation into the LRA consisted of dodging bullets from the guns of his captors. Once he proved his worth and had killed a Ugandan soldier, they threatened to send him to kill his

own parents. David was broken, brainwashed and was asked to do the unthinkable. But David didn’t have to kill them—the rebels did it for him so he wouldn’t have anything to go home to.

“If they say that you are now a good soldier…they will come and kill your whole family so that you have no heart to go back home to see your parents. They will give you a message that something has happened to your parents,” David explained.

We don’t know how many people David was forced to kill. But one thing we do know is that when we � rst met him he struggled with forgiving himself. I’ll never forget his words – especially haunting coming from someone so young: “I always thought about committing suicide because I have killed people and done so many wrong things. How can I forgive myself for all the things I have done. I thought my life would actually not be good in the future. I was useless.”

Thankfully, David was rescued from the LRA by the Ugandan army. God had a different plan in store for David.

FLAVIA’S ABDUCTIONShe doesn’t remember how old she was when she was abducted, but it’s a night she will never forget. The fate of many girls in Uganda during the war was to be sex slaves for the rebels in the LRA.

That night rebel’s broke in to Flavia’s grand-mother’s house. When she saw them, she hid under her bed, but it wasn’t long before they found her. Men pulled her by the legs through the house to a group of girls outside. They forced her to go with them, leaving the comfort of her grandmother to live in the bush. “Life was so hard in the bush. If you cried, they would say, ‘You must be thinking of home.’ And then they would punish you. If I wanted to cry I would go hide somewhere and then come back and pretend everything was okay.

“For me the hardest part was seeing all the killings. They would kill whenever they wanted to. One night we were walking and came upon a group of men. They were forced to dig their own graves. The [LRA] killed

STATSPopulation is 34,612,250

Median age is 15.1 years old

1.2 million (6.5%) people in Uganda are living with AIDS.

42% are protestant

35% live in poverty

1.27 million people were displaced as a result of war between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda.

(All stats taken from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html, accessed May 5, 2011.)

PHOTOSTOP LEFT: Once a child soldier, David is now living in a safe home and studying to be an engineer.

TOP RIGHT: Former orphans, who are now brothers and sisters, jump rope outside their home.

CENTER: Each home has a “mother” and eight children.

BOTTOM LEFT: Children are able to go to school and learn about the love of Jesus Christ.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Flavia is now traveling with the Watoto Children’s Choir sharing her story of rescue and restoration in Christ.

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A HOUSE OF PRAYERmiracle village neighbors meet nightly to give thanks

them and buried them. Others were tied to trees and left to die.” Tears streamed down Flavia’s face and mine as she shared her story.

Those days for Flavia were � lled with doubt and constant fear. “I was always worried what tomorrow would bring.” Thankfully one of those tomorrows brought her rescue. An older woman helped her and other young girls escape during the middle of the night.

TWO YEARS OF RESTORATIONWhen we � rst met David and Flavia, they were plagued with dreadful memories. Their lives were shattered, their hearts were broken, and they were understandably hesitant to open up to strangers. But as we began to get to know each other, God did something unexpected, and in the few days we spent together a very special bond developed between us.

That’s why we couldn’t wait to see them again when the time came two years later. Remember those smiles I told you about earlier? The moment we saw them we knew that God’s love has done something amazing. He’s taken two broken children, whose in-nocence was ripped from them, and has � lled them with joy and hope.

The goal of Watoto is to raise future leaders of Uganda. This is accomplished through an as-sortment of programs, but what seems to be one of the most successful is the village where David and Flavia have found their restoration.

The village consists of homes that have one mother and eight children living together. Each morning the housemother does devo-tions with the children. They pick a few verses and teach about God’s Word. The children learn to pray, and they thrive in the atmosphere of love and support. Flavia says she appreciates the advice she receives from her mother. “I love her so very much.” And she’s also getting an opportunity to share her testimony in a bigger way. She was chosen to be part of the Watoto Children’s Choir.

Traveling to England, the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong, Flavia, in addition to singing and dancing in the choir, is sharing her story of captivity and rescue with many around the world. “I want people to understand how God is great and whatever is going on in their lives, they have to know that God is there and He can listen to you. My

hope is in Jesus. I don’t have to think about what’s happening but I look to Jesus because He’s my only hope in my life.”

DAVID’S FUTUREIn the time David has lived at Watoto, he’s begun to see himself as anything but that useless boy he once considered himself to be. “Before, I was dead. My whole world was dead. I couldn’t see anything and I couldn’t do anything, but God knew the plan he had for me. He knew it, and He took me from where I was. Now I can see what I couldn’t see. I can imagine what I couldn’t imagine before.”

David is going to school to become an engineer. He wants to build a stronger Uganda for genera-tions to come. “I want to be a good leader with a passion to follow the Word of God. There are a lot of vulnerable children and mothers that need help. I need to help others like I was helped.”

What we felt during those � rst reunion hugs is dif� cult to express and the transforma-tion in these two children is nothing short of astounding. David who was once full of sorrow and hopelessness is now an eloquent young man excited to share the hope he has found with a still broken nation. And Flavia, the frightened, timid girl, the same age as one of my own daughters, is now an exuberant and outgoing young woman over� owing with the joy of God’s love.

Seeing their genuine smiles � lled our hearts, as did the realization that there are many other children like these two, whose lives have been completely transformed. Children here in Uganda and all over the world have experi-enced the unconditional love of Christ through Joyce Meyer Ministries’ partners.

We’re honored to be part of helping these beautiful children alongside Watato and you. As a partner of Joyce Meyer Ministries, you’re helping us reach children who’ve lost all hope and desperately need to experience the resto-ration that can only come from Jesus Christ.

“WHAT I ’VE PASSED THROUGH AND WHAT

GOD HAS DONE FOR ME…YOU SEE , SOME PEOPLE

DIED, BUT SEE I AM STILL AL IVE . LOOK AT WHAT

GOD HAS DONE IN MY L IFE .” —FLAVIA

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a house of prayermiracle village neighbors meet nightly to give thanks

It’s 7 p.m., and it’s already dark on this Tuesday in Fond Parisien, Haiti. Neighbors living in Miracle Village have huddled together on the front porch of a bright yellow 416-square-foot home to pray.

Every week, Monday through Friday, men, women and children gather around this front porch from 7 to 8 p.m. to pray, learn about God and encourage one another. They all live in one of the first fifty homes built in Miracle Village—all homes sponsored by Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions and built specifically for amputees and those badly injured in the earthquake.

For Haitians, prayer continues to be a vital part of their restoration and healing since the January 2010 earth-quake. Not only do they meet weekly at church and nightly on each other’s porches, but they are commit-ted to pray every morning and night for the village and those who were, until recently, still living in the tent camp. Tonight it’s Paulette’s turn to lead the prayer time. She begins with the Lord’s Prayer…

They had Nowhere else To GoAt 60 years old, Paulette and her husband had a comfortable life in Port-au-Prince. They lived on seven acres of land in a large home. They were on their way to a church meeting when the earthquake struck, knocking them off of their motorcycle. Her husband broke his lower back and Paulette suffered a broken leg and was knocked unconscious. Their home completely crumbled, leaving them homeless

and living in a tent at Love A Child, our ministry partner in Haiti.

But today they have a new home. Their pumpkin-colored home is one of approximately 400 in Miracle Village—100 of which are sponsored by Hand of Hope. Without this home, Paulette and her husband would have nowhere else to go.

Pr ayer has UNiTed Them“I am very happy and comfortable here. It’s very tran-quil,” shares Paulette. She spends her day cooking, sharing vegetables and peanuts with her neighbors and making sure her home is spotless. It’s clear the people in the village treasure their new homes, and the time they spend in prayer has united them more than the disaster that initially brought them together.

“If we think about the bad, we could become dis-couraged. That’s why we pray…to thank God for all the good He’s done. We pray because He’s saved us,” shared Paulette.

ThaNk yoUYour continued support is helping to reach many in Haiti through feeding distribution, medical care and brand-new homes. But you’ve done much more than that. You’ve helped create a village rooted in prayer and the goodness of God. You’ve given them much to be thankful for. And you can be sure that tomorrow night, they’ll be back again—huddled around that same front porch praising God for all He’s done.

H A N D O F H O P E is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

b y K a c i e c a m p b e l l

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Enjoying life is something I think most people want to do. But joy doesn’t just happen all the time on its own. It doesn’t always come naturally. Enjoying life on a consistent basis takes effort. If you want joy, you must make a decision to do a few things. Let’s take a look at some things you can do to enjoy your life consistently. Even if you consider yourself happy, you can increase your happiness by putting all of these three tips into practice.

Joy Tip #1 – Pay Attention to How You Think Thinking is something you can do on purpose. You must think about what you’re thinking about, then decide what you’re going to spend time thinking about, and then think those thoughts on purpose. Why? Because what you think is what you become.

B y J o y c e M e y e r

Three Little Tips forGreater Joy

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This is no joke. You de� nitely CAN enjoy your life consistently. All it takes is a willingness to make a few changes and allow Christ to do the rest. Are you ready to raise your level of joy? This Synergy teaching is packed with tools that explain what those changes are and how God’s power strengthens you to make those changes. You will discover the strategy Joyce has learned from God’s Word over the years on how to increase the level of joy in life.

If you want more joy and happiness in your life, why wait? Start smiling today!

Enjoying Everyday Life ~ Synergy Edition2-Part DVD, 2 CDs and Teaching Notesby Joyce Meyer

$46 U.S. Funds

joycemeyer.org

SERIOUSLY?

You Can Enjoy Life EVERY DAY?

You Must Be Joking, RIGHT?

When it comes to thoughts, you can think whatever you want to think. You don’t have to accept whatever thought drops by for a visit. Do your own thinking, and if you’re smart, you will spend time thinking on things that will add power to your life. You’ll think powerful thoughts, not pitiful thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 says, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

If you think good thoughts, you will increase your joy in life. So why would any reasonable person want to think things that will make them miserable?

I’ll never stop talking about the mind. Last year I wrote a book about it called Power Thoughts. Another book on this subject I wrote years ago is called Battle� eld of the Mind. Many people have found these books to be helpful with changing the way they think.

Joy Tip #2 – Be a Person Full of HopeNo matter where you are right now, you can say, “Something good is going to happen to me.” Before I speak at a conference, I say out loud, “We are going to have a wonderful meeting. I believe that people’s lives will be changed.”

You don’t have to be hopeless because you can hope on purpose. There’s a scripture in Zechariah I love that says we can be prisoners of hope. In other words, I’m going to just hope. I make the decision to hope.

Some of you might say, “What if I hope and then I get disappointed?” Well, at least you were happy while you were hoping.

Joy Tip #3 – Control Your MouthThe mouth is another important tool that can either draw you toward joy or pull you further away from it.

James 3:9 says that with the same mouth we praise God and curse other people. It goes on to say the mouth is like a wild� re that no one can control. But God can help us.

You must be careful what you say. You must think before you speak.

I almost fell out of my chair when I read 1 Peter 3:10. It says, 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 (treachery, deceit).

If you want to enjoy your life—choose your words wisely.

And Don’t Forget ThisChristians must know who they are in Christ and have a balanced appreciation for how God made them. Remember, you were created in the image of God. Having this truth in your heart is healthy and leads to inner peace. And peace produces joy in our lives.

Satan is always trying to take this truth away from you. He’s called the devil, the serpent, the father of lies, and other ugly names in the Bible. And he has little helpers we call demons who try to help spread his lies. I know many people don’t like to talk about this, but I think it’s important for you to know.

You don’t have to just sit back and let the devil do this. We, as believers, have authority over him. You will never gain victory over the devil through passivity. Wishing for joy isn’t going to get it done. You know what I always say—you don’t need a wishbone, you need backbone.

So be sure to not only read these three tips on how to enjoy your life more, but do them. You must put them into practice to see results. To learn additional ways to increase your level of joy, consider getting my Enjoying Everyday Life Synergy Edition teaching package.

Greater Joy

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Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.

Psalm 66:2 NIV

C e C e W i n a n swhose stellar vocal talent has thrived in the Christian music scene over the years, doesn’t boast of her many awards, accolades and accomplishments. Her heart centers on the very presence of God. To her, there’s nothing more important than focusing on Him. cecewinans.com

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I was born in Detroit, Michigan, the eighth of ten children. So as you can probably imagine, lots of noise and recreation � lled our home. My parents were born-again believers and were determined to raise all ten of us in the fear of the Lord.

Being raised in a Christian home, I was surrounded by prayer, praise and singing all the time. I also practi-cally lived in church. My family started the week off early Sunday morning in Sunday school and we didn’t get home until late Sunday night. We had weekly Bible studies on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and more often than not, there was a special weeklong revival going on somewhere. Even though I was constantly hearing praises to God in church and at home, it is something I never grew tired of—actually, I couldn’t get enough of it.

Created to WorshipAs far back as I can remember, I have always loved to worship. Even before I understood what it was or what it really meant, I loved to worship. As a child, I remember loving to cry out to God, praising and magnifying His name, whether it was on the altar at church or alone in my room. I always felt better, safe and right at home after spending time in God’s presence.

Worship brought me so much joy, and I don’t think at the time I gave a lot of thought about how much joy it gave the Father. It wasn’t until I was much older that I began to truly understand why I loved worship so much!

We are created to worship the Father, and that is why it came so naturally and felt like it was something I was born to do. When I read in God’s Word that He inhabits the praises of His people (see Psalm 22:3), it explains the joy that � owed through me like a river whenever I would lift my hands, open my mouth and bless His name. Even at a young age, I adored Him and wanted to show it the best way I knew how.

Experiencing God’s BlessingsGod’s presence and power � lls our hearts when we worship Him. You see, worship is simply loving God with all of your heart, soul and mind, living a life that gives Him glory and recognizing Him as Lord of all. I discovered that singing,

dancing before the Lord, lifting my hands and shouting praises were all expressions of my worship and assisted in ushering my worship straight to the heart of the Father.

And the more I worshiped, the more I fell head over heels in love with Him. When you worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, He releases His love to you, opens the windows of heaven and pours out blessings upon you. Heaven’s best overtakes your whole life.

Scripture says I am blessed coming in and going out, in the city and in the � eld (see Deuteronomy 28:3, 6), and that goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (see Psalm 23:6). And it’s not because I have a gift to sing or that I am better than anyone else, because I’m not. I am blessed simply because I am a worshipper! I love God, and I love to worship Him.

The Power of True WorshipWorship is, and prayerfully always will be, my lifestyle—a lifestyle that re� ects the righteousness of God. Loving God, loving His people and obeying His Word is true worship. Every day is an opportunity to worship. I can change my world and the world of others through my worship. It has been my greatest weapon, comfort and joy, and I don’t ever intend to stop!

Worship keeps the devil under my feet, my marriage strong, my children protected (even from themselves), and it continues to light my path through this journey called life. Everything you will ever need will come through worship, so I encourage you to seek � rst His kingdom and His righteous-ness and everything else will be added unto you.

I know the power that lies in true worship—my life is a testament of that. I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free. But mostly I sing because I’m a wor-shipper. I’m in love with God and I will bless the Lord at all times. His praises shall continually be in my mouth throughout all eternity. Hallelujah!!

Join with me… Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6 NIV).

Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.

PSALM 66:2 NIV

C E C E W I N A N Swhose stellar vocal talent has thrived in the Christian music scene over the years, doesn’t boast of her many awards, accolades and accomplishments. Her heart centers on the very presence of God. To her, there’s nothing more important than focusing on Him. cecewinans.com

Don’t miss CeCe Winans at Love Life Women’s Conference 2011. joycemeyer.org/lovelife

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A CLOSER LOOK: BOOT CAMP FAITH

In order to develop strong faith, we need to get in shape—and stay that way! We need to exercise our faith...train it...pump it up...much like we do our bodies! Read and meditate on these verses, and then answer the questions below.

1. Trust yourself to your Trainer (God). What things is the Holy Spirit teaching you about yourself? About Himself?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How do your thoughts affect your words? How do your words affect your thoughts? How are your thoughts and words affecting your faith?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What, if any, changes do you need to make in the way you think and/or in the way you speak?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Based on the insights above, how will you personally exercise your faith? What thing(s) are you being led to do in faith? How do you know your faith is growing stronger?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

...Christ’s anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.

1 JOHN 2:27 THE MESSAGE

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he....

PROVERBS 23:7

If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.

1 PETER 3:10 NLT

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with � nality all questions that arise in your minds....]

COLOSSIANS 3:15

In order to develop strong faith, we need to get in shape—and stay that way! We need to exercise our faith...train it...pump it up...much

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DEARFRIEND,I’m always amazed when God does something historic.

Years ago when God � rst began to speak to me about the battle� eld in our minds, I had no idea where that journey would take me. I wasn’t thinking about changing the world—I just didn’t want to be miserable anymore.

If you’ve never heard this part of my story, it may be dif� cult to believe, but for many years I was paralyzed and tormented by my thoughts, speci� cally concerning my relationship with God.

The pain and abuse I’d experienced during the � rst half of my life dominated my thoughts and constantly made me negative and critical about everyone and everything—and the worst part was how I felt about myself. I spent way too much time discouraged and depressed, convinced that I didn’t matter and my life was never going to get any better.

LOVE WALK

Why I Wrote Battlefield of the Mind

IT’S YOUR RIGHT TO RETHINK

WORRY, FEAR AND

INSECURITY

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When you change your mind, you can change your life. When you let go of negative, destructive thoughts and embrace the promises of God’s Word—you are transformed.

God frees you to experience all of the wonderful things He’s planned for you—and you begin to love life. But in order to get there, you must make the choice to trust God more than your circumstances—whatever your pain and your past may be.

Sixteen years ago, I took this message and wrote the book Battle� eld of the Mind. It’s my bestselling book ever; more than 3 million copies have been sold, and I believe it’s because this truth applies to all of our lives.

A lot has changed in those sixteen years—email and the Internet have grown, the cost of living has gone up, world leaders have come and gone…but the spiritual battle in our minds has never changed. It is as impor-tant today as it will ever be in your lifetime.

It doesn’t matter what weapons your enemy Satan throws at you, I want to encourage you today—the battle in your mind is a battle you can win.

We believe in you,

Dave and Joyce Meyer

Trapped like a prisoner in my own mind, my thoughts were a never-ending parade of worry, fear and insecurity. I told myself, If I never expect anything good to happen, then I won’t be disappointed when it doesn’t.

My wrong thinking led to unhealthy and dangerous attitudes that kept me from enjoying even the most wonderful moments in life. And the saddest part of my situation was that I remained in this prison day after day when the door to my cell was wide open.

I wasn’t just the prisoner... I was the jailer too!

At one point, I thought if my circum-stances changed, then the thoughts would go away, but after awhile I got so used to being that negative, discouraged prisoner. I didn’t know how to be anything else.

Looking back, the truth was Jesus was there with me the whole time, inviting me to let go and walk with Him in the freedom He had for me.

And that’s exactly what happened. I � nally realized this truth that changed me forever: The mind is the battle� eld where our war with the enemy takes place, and every one of us is destined to win.

LOVE WALK IT’S YOUR RIGHT TO RETHINK WORRY, FEAR AND INSECURITY

“ The mind is the battlefi eld where our war with the enemy takes place, and every one of us is destined to win.”

RENEW YOUR

MINDWIN THE BATTLE.

Last year, I felt a strong leading from the Lord to put Battlefi eld of the Mind back into the hearts and hands of our friends and partners. And because I feel God has taught me so much in the last sixteen years, I prayerfully went back and updated the book.

If you’ve never read it before, or if you’re thinking of a person right now who needs to read it, I encourage you to pick up a copy. This could be the book that sets you free!—Joyce

BATTLEFIELD OF THE MINDUPDATED EDITION288-Page Paperbackby Joyce Meyer

$15 U.S. Funds

joycemeyer.org/battlefi eld

Spend any time in the Bible and this is pretty clear: Christianity is a rescuing relationship. It’s a story about God saving men and women from the inevitable and deadly eternal consequence of their sin. God is a saving God.

But why? Why would He choose to rescue us? Titus 3:4-7 (NIV) gives us a clue:

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justi� ed by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

In other words, He saved us because of His kindness, love, mercy, regeneration, Spirit, Son and grace. That is the sevenfold divine operation that brings about our rescue. Let’s explore each brie� y.

BY HIS KINDNESSThe word kindness literally means “goodness of heart.” It means He has a concern in His heart toward people in misery.

BY HIS LOVELove in this context means “pity and compassion.” And God’s love reaches out with a feeling to act. He is not reluctant to receive the sinner.

BY HIS MERCYMercy relates to misery, and left in our sins, we are miser-able. But God is kind and compassionate and does not want us to remain in our misery.

BY HIS REGENERATIONRegeneration basically means to receive new life—to be born again. It’s a washing away of the old life and the creation of a new one. And only God can do that (see John 3:6,7 NIV).

BY HIS SPIRITThe Holy Spirit is the One who renews us. Because of God’s kindness, love, mercy and regeneration, we are renewed by the Holy Spirit.

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Spend any time in the Bible and this is pretty clear: Christianity is a rescuing relationship. It’s a story about God saving men and women from the inevitable and deadly eternal consequence of their sin. God is a saving God.

But why? Why would He choose to rescue us? Titus 3:4-7 (NIV) gives us a clue:

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justi� ed by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

In other words, He saved us because of His kindness, love, mercy, regeneration, Spirit, Son and grace. That is the sevenfold divine operation that brings about our rescue. Let’s explore each brie� y.

BY HIS KINDNESSThe word kindness literally means “goodness of heart.” It means He has a concern in His heart toward people in misery.

BY HIS LOVELove in this context means “pity and compassion.” And God’s love reaches out with a feeling to act. He is not reluctant to receive the sinner.

BY HIS MERCYMercy relates to misery, and left in our sins, we are miser-able. But God is kind and compassionate and does not want us to remain in our misery.

BY HIS REGENERATIONRegeneration basically means to receive new life—to be born again. It’s a washing away of the old life and the creation of a new one. And only God can do that (see John 3:6,7 NIV).

BY HIS SPIRITThe Holy Spirit is the One who renews us. Because of God’s kindness, love, mercy and regeneration, we are renewed by the Holy Spirit.

BY HIS SONJesus came to pay the price for sin and conquer death. John 1:29 (NIV) says, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” All of the sins of the world were placed upon Jesus so that we might have life.

BY HIS GRACEGrace gives us what we don’t deserve. We are made right with God—we have peace with God—because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, something we don’t deserve. That is God’s grace.

In the end, all of this results in the most immense and most amazing bene� t to the undeserving sinner: We are made joint heirs with Christ of all that God possesses, including eternal life.

Why? Did we make it happen? No. It happened because of God’s kindness, love, mercy, regeneration, Spirit, Son and grace. He did it all.

And so, looking back on this sevenfold divine rescue operation, you should see one thing (and one thing only): God saves us. And when you fully absorb that reality, you should proclaim as the apostle John did in 1 John 3:1 (NIV), See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

HE WANTS TO RESCUE YOUDo you want to be rescued by God? If you desire the great love of the Father mentioned by the apostle John, pray this simple prayer sincerely with all your heart:

Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross so that I may have eternal life. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my life and take complete control. I surrender all to You. Jesus, I love You. Amen.

Congratulations! Eternal life is an incredible gift…and starting today, you’re on a new journey of exciting changes and blessings! If you prayed this prayer for the � rst time, we want to send you a free book: A New Way of Living. This book will help you understand God’s plan for salvation and what the decision you made today means. Just give us a call at (636)349-0303 or visit joycemeyer.org/salvation for this free gift or additional resources on salvation.

HE SAVED USHE SAVED USBY DEMIAN FARNWORTH7 REASONS GOD CHOOSES TO RESCUE YOU AND ME7 REASONS GOD CHOOSES TO RESCUE YOU AND ME

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EXPERIENCE THE

JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES WEBSITE

We’ve made lots of changes that will help make your experience on our website more enjoyable. For example, our enhanced search function makes it much easier to fi nd what you’re looking for.

But that’s not the only new feature. You will also fi nd:

• Broadcast PlayerImproved viewing experience. View upcoming week at-a-glance. Quick access to archived programs.

• My AccountSet up your free JMM account and enjoy faster checkouts when buying resources and access your giving history. Logged in partners will see discounts as well.

• MagazineNew interactive virtual magazine experience.

All of this and more is waiting for you. Experience our new website for yourself.

joycemeyer.org

FOREIGN

was donated to disaster relief efforts worldwide.

$1,110,095 39*

Read more about the lives changed through this outreach and many others in 2010.

*U.S. Dollars

IN 2010

AUGUST

Read more about the lives changed through this outreach and many others in 2010.

*U.S. Dollars

joycemeyer.org/annualreportgenerated at BeQRious.com

Experience the Annual Report on your smartphone! If you have an iPhone, Blackberry or other smartphone, simply download a QR reader app like NeoReader™ and aim your phone’s camera at the symbol.

DID YOU KNOW?

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AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 2 Find Emotional StabilityFind rest for your soul. Monday, Learning from Your Mistakes. Tuesday and Wednesday, Trusting God When You Don’t Understand. Thursday, John and Stasi Eldredge share. And Friday, be encouraged by Nancy Alcorn.

AUGUST 22 – 25 Joyce’s Boot Camp Week 4Looking for answers? We all face tough decisions. What you need is wisdom from God. Find out how to draw from the Lord’s in� nite wisdom, as Joyce teaches The Wisdom of Making Right Choices.

AUGUST 15 – 19 Joyce’s Boot Camp Week 3Your level of faith may surprise you. Monday thru Thursday, Unleashing the Power of Faith. On Friday, discover how to put your faith in action as Joyce talks about “giving.”

AUGUST 26 Discover a Life Without EndJoyce’s Boot Camp wraps up with an uplifting message for everyone called A New Way of Living.

EXPERIENCE THE

JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES WEBSITE

We’ve made lots of changes that will help make your experience on our website more enjoyable. For example, our enhanced search function makes it much easier to fi nd what you’re looking for.

But that’s not the only new feature. You will also fi nd:

• Broadcast PlayerImproved viewing experience. View upcoming week at-a-glance. Quick access to archived programs.

• My AccountSet up your free JMM account and enjoy faster checkouts when buying resources and access your giving history. Logged in partners will see discounts as well.

• MagazineNew interactive virtual magazine experience.

All of this and more is waiting for you. Experience our new website for yourself.

joycemeyer.org

FOREIGN

JULY 31 – AUGUST 13 Don’t Give UpGod has helped Joyce overcome many challenges throughout her life. That’s why when she talks about perseverance and never giving up, people listen. This week’s teaching is Be Determined.

AUGUST 14 – 27 The Truth Makes You FreeGod’s truth is powerful. Grasp it and discover what’s really important in life. See how the truth of Christ leads to a life of simple blessings. This week’s teaching focuses on Simplicity.

AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 10 How to Become a Spy for GodJesus is looking for “spies.” What does this mean? Be sure to watch God’s Secret Service and learn how becoming a spy can revolutionize your own life and the lives of others.

T V BROADCAST SCHEDULE

W E E K L Y B R O A D C A S TPrograms air one day a week.

D A I L Y B R O A D C A S TPrograms air daily, Monday-Friday.

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

www.joycemeyer.org/podcasts

ENJOY ING EVERYDAY L I FE

PODCASTSwww.joycemeyer.org/podcasts

AUGUST 1 – 5 Joyce’s Boot Camp Week 1Discipline helps you grow in life. Stick with Joyce’s Boot Camp the next four weeks and grow spiritually stronger. This week’s teachings include The Law of First Things, The Lord Our Peace and The Lord Our Provider.

AUGUST

AUGUST 8 – 12 Joyce’s Boot Camp Week 2Draw closer to the Lord. Monday and Tuesday, Knowing God. Wednesday and Thursday, The Lord Our Healer. And on Friday, take comfort with the teaching The Lord Our Peace.

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NEW BOOK

BY JOYCE!

Available

September 6

(She actually gets pretty irritable and insecure.)

I wouldn’t say I have any problems with my feelings. (Except when people say things

that hurt her feelings.) I mean, everyone has a bad day, right? (She’s right, we do.) I wouldn’t say it’s really that bad.

(The only thing is, sometimes she lets those

feelings ruin her whole day.)

Maybe you have a couple of feelings that pop up and try to ruin your day too. You don’t have to let them. You can live a stable, peaceful life, enjoying every minute of your day. Joyce’s newest book, Living Beyond Your Feelings, will help you take control of your feelings. You can live beyond.

I am a pretty easygoing girl

Will be available wherever books are sold.

Read a sample chapter now by using a QR reader on your smartphone.

generated at BeQRious.com

joycemeyer.org/feelings