Joyce Meyer Page 19

July 2007

People Do What People SeeJohn Maxwell

11 Raising the Standard for Youth MinistryRon Luce

17 29

Register NOW for the 25th Annual Women’s Convention! See pages 15 & 16 for details.

A Heart for AmericaDave Meyer

27 What Makes a Great Man or Woman Great?Joyce Meyer

1 www.joycemeyer.org

StraightFromTheHeart

For Americans, July is a month when we cele-brate our independence as a nation. We enjoy gathering with friends and family for picnics, parades and fireworks. Other countries around the world also celebrate the birth of their nations in different ways.

At times like these, it is important to remember that other people have often paid a high price for the freedoms we enjoy.

Throughout history, many men and women of excellence and integrity have served their countries to the point of laying down their lives. It is because of such servant-hearted people that America has been one of the greatest countries in the world, with the greatest freedoms. You and I can celebrate now because they fought for what they believed was right then. Their sacrifice was great and required great effort—the same kind of sacrifice and effort that Jesus made when He died on the cross to set us free from the power of sin.

I believe that excellence and integrity are vital ingredients for greatness, and you and I can also leave a heritage of greatness as we choose to make them a priority in our lives. When Dave and I started in ministry over thirty years ago, the Lord told us three things we must always do to be successful—pursue excellence, maintain integrity and avoid strife. The fact is, whether you are running a ministry or a business or leading a family, excellence and integrity are of vital importance to your success.

This is what sets us apart from the world and builds our testi-mony for Jesus. If we refuse to be dishonest, manipulate others or compromise, we set ourselves apart from the crowd. Each

time we make the right choice to maintain ex-cellence and integrity, we make the statement that we are living for something greater, bigger and better than just money, position or things.

This gets people’s attention, and it’s then that we can say, “Jesus makes me different. There’s nothing more important to me than pleasing Him. And because I trust Him to take care of me, I don’t have to do things the way everybody else does to get what I need.”

I believe that many people in the world are tired of fighting for what they need and are ready to see an example of a better way of living. By God’s grace, you and I can show them a better way by walking in excellence and integrity.

As you read July’s magazine, I pray that God will encourage you to become the great man or woman that He died for—an uncompromising citizen, employee and family member with an outstanding reputation for high standards of excellence and integrity.

Love,

JOYC

E MEYER

PHO

TOG

RAPH

ED B

Y DAR

IO AC

OS

TA

July2007 2

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CreditsPublisherJoyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.

Executive EditorDan Meyer

Managing EditorMischelle Wieczorek

Director of DesignBrian Illig

Production ManagerTammy Roller

Staff WritersVincent NewfieldChad Trafton Teri Rowe Alisa Folkes

Graphic DesignersAlicia Reed Dan McCullough Greg Holtzmann Kevin Kelly

Production ArtistsGeorge Dill Jeff DouglasMarissa SchaeferStacy Williams

Editorial Proofreaders Carolyn Coley Jana Picou Susan HutchisonAndrea GoodsonDar Wood

Production CoordinatorsBill Schlick Monica Johnson Andrea Carpio

PhotographersBen MossWayne ArmstrongDario AcostaJon ShulerMeoli StudioMike Leavitt

Every Nation . . . Every City . . . Every Day . . .

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 CanadaLambeth Box 1300London, ON N6P 1T5cpcreturns@wdsmail.com

Enjoying Everyday Life® is published monthly by Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, Fenton, MO USA © 2007 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 1-800-727-9673. Internet address: www.joycemeyer.org. Enjoying Everyday Life is a registered trademark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. [J] is also a registered trademark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.

ContentsVolume 21 | Number 7 | July 2007

Straight From The Heart

World Missions Update

TV Broadcast Schedule

Health Matters

Conference Calendar

Real Life Perspectives

Ask Joyce

Jesus In Everyday Life

1

3

8

13

25

31

32

33

More Than Enough

By Margaret Feinberg

Page 9

Is a fear of lack haunting you? Discover how God lives up to His name, Jehovah Jireh—our Provider of more than enough.

People Do What People See

By John Maxwell

Page 11

John examines the one thing you have absolute control over as a leader and how it affects every aspect of your life.

Raising the Standard for Youth MinistryBy Ron Luce

Page 17

Why is it so important for us to provide our teenagers with a first-class youth ministry?

Living Life on a Whole New Level By Joyce Meyer

Page 19

Don’t settle for average. Learn how to live life on a higher plane and experience the rich rewards that come with it.

A Heart for America

By Dave Meyer

Page 27

Discover three key ingredients needed to make a positive impact on the shape of our nation.

What Makes a a Great Man or Woman Great?By Joyce Meyer

Page 29

True greatness—what’s it based on? Is it education, money, influence…? The answer may surprise you.

Guest Feature The Leader’s Edge Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

Feature Article America At Its Best Bonus Feature

W o r l d M i s s i o n s U P d at e

3 www.joycemeyer.org

July 2007 4

Roy had never seen so much security at a prison before. Sure, he was used to the usual questioning and checkpoints, but here, as he prepares to enter the maximum-security unit, he is forced to comply with several pat downs and a magnameter screening before making his way through three separate gates. Finally, escorted by a group of officers, he descends down a long flight of concrete stairs leading to El Salvador’s notorious underground prison. In this “dungeon” live some of the country’s worst criminals—most of whom are gang mem-bers that remain faithful to their colors even behind bars. Leaving their cell blocks, they hesitantly approach Roy. Here, visitors are even more uncommon than sunlight. Separated only by steel bars, Roy begins telling them about Jesus as his team passes gift bags through the openings. Quickly realizing their bodies are covered with tattoos, he starts to talk to them about the marks Jesus received on His body. He tells them about the whips that were used, the pain that He endured, and the death that He suffered. He then tells them why Jesus suffered and explains how valuable and loved they are by their Father in heaven. After several minutes, he asks who would like to become a Christian, a brand-new child of God. Knowing that raising their hands would bring certain death for a gang member, one by one they begin making eye contact with Roy to signal they just gave their hearts to the Lord. And although the prison doors are still guarded and locked, they are more free today than they’ve been their entire lives. That day in El Salvador, our ministry team delivered hygiene gift bags—containing an

ENJOY ING EVERYDAY L I F E

encouraging letter from Dave and Joyce, soap, shampoo, and a Joyce Meyer book—to 1,200 prisoners. We also brought the love of God and shared a message that would change many of their lives forever. Friends and partners, thanks to your incredible support, we are excited to announce that Joyce Meyer Ministries’ prison teams, in partnership with Dan Salas Ministries, have successfully distributed hygiene gift bags to every single prisoner in Central America! Spanning the countries of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, we personally delivered these care packages to 58,965 prisoners in 102 prisons. And these visits were more than just drop-off points. While there, God also provided us with many opportunities to hold worship services, preach the Gospel and share His love with these precious people. Like El Salvador, a high percentage of the prisoners in Central America are serving time for gang-related crimes or drug activity. But these prisoners, notoriously hardened, have surprisingly been very receptive to the Gospel. “Spiritually, these guys are just so hungry,” says Roy Lormis, Joyce Meyer Ministries’ prison ministry supervisor. “A lot of times they are hanging on your every word. You would never imagine it, but nearly everywhere we go, we are allowed to hold services and between 40 and 60 percent of the prisoners give their lives to Christ! God makes a way where there seems to be no way.” And our impact doesn’t end with the prisoners. Many times, the guards, staff, and even the wardens begin to inquire about God and the resources we are delivering. In fact, in El Salvador our team was invited back for a second day to minister specifically to the security guards and administrative personnel. There’s no doubt that God has opened unexpected doors of opportunity for us throughout the region; however, our progress hasn’t come without a lot of hard work and even some opposition. Often, our incredible times of ministry are preceded by weeks of planning and simply trying to gain permission to enter the prisons. This is one reason why our partnership with Dan Salas Ministries has been so vital. For several years now, we have joined forces with Dan Salas Ministries to reach the people of Central America through

Opposite Page: Prisoners in Guatemala immediately sit down to start reading their books and letters. Above Left: Dan Salas takes the opportunity to share the Gospel. Above Right: Escorted by a guard, Roy Lormis goes cell to cell handing out hygiene gift bags.

(continued on page 6)

See partnership section of the enclosed order form to become a partner with Joyce Meyer Ministries.

1-800-727-9673 | www.joycemeyer.org/partnership

Compassion multiplied

Whenever I’d see sufferIng on Tv, I’d alWays WIsh I could help. one day I realIzed, If a bunch of people parTnered To do even a lITTle bIT…Then a lITTle bIT could do a loT.

Loren, AGe 48PArTner

July 2007 6

lifesaving feeding programs, the distribution of Joyce’s books, and other successful outreaches. For these groundbreaking prison visits, they have not only helped distribute the packages and minister to the prisoners, but they have also worked tirelessly to make the needed contacts with government and prison officials. “I want to personally thank the friends and partners of Joyce Meyer Ministries for remem-bering those behind bars,” says Dan Salas. “You are truly impacting the world with the Gospel, and we are honored to be a part of it. There was much opposition, but the rewards have been great. We pray that the Lord would multiply it back to you a hundredfold.” Our last stop in Central America this past March was in Guatemala. There we reached out to the entire prison population, touching the lives

of more than 6,000 inmates in sixteen prisons. And the things we saw left us with a lasting impression. For years, Guatemala has been a hot spot for trafficking drugs from Colombia to the United States. It’s no surprise then that approximately 90 percent of all the inmates in Guatemala are incarcerated for drug-related crimes. And in almost all of the nations’ prisons, we encoun-tered segregated gang communities that had been isolated from the rest of the inmates. Yet, when we came bearing gifts and the love of God, all of their walls suddenly came down. “It is so amazing to see the initial shock on their faces when they realize we are there to give them something and not take from them,”

says Roy Lormis. “In their world, everybody has an angle…every-body wants something. But we are there to simply give, and our actions push the door wide open for the Gospel.” In fact, as our team distributed the gift bags, we were actually stunned to see the prisoners immediately sit down and look through the enclosed books. Lining the prison walls, they quietly sat next to each other reading Joyce’s teachings. And during the worship services, hundreds gave their lives to the Lord. One man even fell to his knees in front of the rest of the inmates, asking for prayer to press on with God. And so, after seven countries, 102 facilities, and 58,965 prisoners, we left that final prison in Guatemala with a sense of tremendous satisfaction, knowing that we had advanced the kingdom of God and brought eternal freedom to thousands. We had truly made a connection with people that the world had written off…people so desperate for the love of God. Friends and partners, you are the ones who have given these precious men and women a reason to hope. Your support has put

the fuel in the tank and has mobilized our teams to accomplish an almost unthinkable task. To date, through your generous giving, we have distributed hygiene gift bags to more than 1.3 million prisoners in twenty countries over the past eight years. And for many, this act of love represents the only visitor they may receive all year long…and possibly their one single chance to hear the Gospel message. So for all those behind bars…for all those who needed a fresh start…for all those who have been given new life and new hope, we say thank you. Your support has meant the world to so many who need a second chance. E

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Above: This past March, our prison ministry team reached out to the incarcerated in Guatemala, reaching more than 6,000 inmates. Hundreds of prisoners, like those pictured center, made a decision to receive Jesus Christ.

(continued from page 4)

7 www.joycemeyer.org

W o r l d M i s s i o n s U p d at e

EachweektheSt. Louis Dream Centerchurchand outreach facilities, founded by Dave andJoyceMeyer,touchthousandsofinner-cityresi-dentsandtheirfamilies.AndattheheartofitallaretheMinistryAcademyinterns… TheMinistryAcademyisanaggressive,nine-monthinternshipfocusedonraisingupleadersto reach the world for Jesus Christ. Throughhands-on ministry, classroom instruction andsmallgroupaccountability,theSt. Louis Dream CenterpreparesthesemenandwomentogotothenextlevelandmeetthechallengesoflivingforGod. Throughout theweek internsare immersedin many cutting-edge outreaches that impactthecity.Whattheyseeandhearforeverchangesthewaytheyviewministry. Every Friday night they set out in Dream Center vans to reach out to hundreds of men,womenandchildrenlivingonthestreets.Manytheyknowbynameandvisittheir“homes”madeof old milk crates or cardboard boxes. Otherstheymeetfortheveryfirsttime.Toeachonetheybringfriendship,encouragementandprayer,aswellasfood,clothesandblanketsthatmayliter-allysavetheirlifethatnight. Each week they also minister to more than400kidsandtheirparentsthroughourKidzJamoutreaches.Heldinpublicschools,parksandatneighborhood apartment complexes, KidzJamuses entertainment, music, games, sports andprizestoreachthecommunitywiththemessageoftheGospelanddiscusspertinentfamilyissues.But just as important, for these few hours, theinternshavetheopportunitytogivelotsofloveand attention to the many kids who so desper-atelyneedit.

Theinternsalsoparticipateinstreetevangelism,ministrytonursinghomeresidents,fooddistributiontothepoor,andevendynamicoutreachestohelpbringprostitutesanddrugdealersoffthestreets.Inaddition,theytakepartinmorningdevotionals and one-on-one question and answer sessionswithDream Centerministryleaders. TheMinistryAcademyismanythings—challenging,instruc-tive,rewardingandevenexhilarating.Butaskanyinternandtheywilltellyou…morethananything,itislife-changing.That’sbecauseonadailybasis,theyseethepowerofGodtransformeventhebleakestofsituations.Peoplearetouched, livesarechangedandthingsareneverquitethesame. “Before I came, Inever thought Iwouldbe so free,” saysLilyRamirez.“Beinghere,intheMinistryAcademyprogram,Ihave learnedsomuchaboutGod’s loveandaboutservingHimwithallmyheart.MywalkwiththeLordhasdefinitelygottenbetter,andmyintimacywithHimhasbeenincredible.Itisgoingbysofast,anditissogratifyingthatIdon’twanttoleave!” TheDream CentertakesinnewrecruitseachSeptember—and there is still plenty of time to apply for enrollment.Toparticipate,youmustbeatleasteighteenyearsoldandhaveyourhighschooldiplomaorGED. The cost of the Ministry Academy internship is $3,000.*Thiscovershousing, tuition,utilities, curriculumfees, retreats,classmaterialsandotherprogramrelatedexpenses.MealsareprovidedbytheSt. Louis Dream Centeratnocost.Formoreinfor-mationortoapply,youmaycall theSt. Louis Dream Centerat(314)381-0700ext.8029orvisitwww.stldreamcenter.org. Ourministryacademywebsiteiswww.dcministryacademy.org. E*Cost does not include additional expenses for mission trips, basic personal items, personal travel, long-distance calling, laundry care, car insurance or gas (if applicable). The majority of interns meet their financial obligations through fundraising and monthly supporters. Due to the intensive nature of the program, outside jobs are not allowed.

Raising Up LeadeRs foR TomoRRow

by Chad TRafTon

JUNE 24 – JULY 21RELEVANT CHRISTIANITYBreak free from generational curses and religious attitudes that bring heartache and division. And learn how you can break down man-made walls of separation and pass the baton of your faith to the next generation.

JULY 22 – AUGUST 11BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPSJoyce welcomes special guest Dr. Paul Meier, founder and director of Meier Clinics, to talk about the importance of having and maintaining healthy relationships.

JULY 2 – 6 VIEWERS’ CHOICE #8AMBASSADORS OF HIS LOVEDon’t miss this power-packed week with special guests, J. John, Reinhard Bonnke and Ray Comfort, as they talk about reaching the nations for Christ and what you can do to be an ambassador of His love.

JULY 9 – 13 VIEWERS’ CHOICE #7DEVELOPING DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CONTROLLearn what real freedom is and what it is not. These messages of truth will help you develop the restraint you need to experience victory in every area of your life.

JULY 16 – 20 VIEWERS’ CHOICE #6GRACE, GRACE AND MORE GRACESpend this week with Joyce and her special guest, Pastor Joel Osteen, as they discuss Joel’s book Your Best Life Now and the blessing of God’s grace in our lives.

JULY 23 – 26 VIEWERS’ CHOICE #5I BELONG TO GOD AND HE LOVES MEWe have been created for God’s acceptance and love. This is a foundational truth. Learn how to experience the joy that comes from knowing you are accepted by Him.

JULY 27HOPE CAMBODIAOne of our ministry’s largest outreach endeavors yet. Hope Cambodia begins soon, offering the Cambodian people thirty days of ministry. Find out all about it with David L. Meyer, CEO of World Missions, who will be Joyce’s special guest.*

JULY 30 – AUGUST 3 VIEWERS’ CHOICE #4RESISTING THE BAIT OF SATANLearn how to manage your emotions when you are hurt and develop the ability to recognize and escape one of the enemy’s deadliest traps—offense. John and Lisa Bevere join Joyce for two days to discuss this vital topic.

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.

*Europe will receive alternate programming.

T V BROADCAST SCHEDULE

DAILY TELECAST Programs air daily, Monday–Friday.

WEEkLY TELECAST Programs air one day a week.

Ray Comfort talks with Joyce about being an ambassador of God’s love.

Watch and listen to the latest broadcasts using iTunes.

Visit www.joycemeyer.org/podcasts for details.

FREE PODCASTS with

JOYCE MEYER MINISTR IES

G U e s t F e at U r e

9 www.joycemeyer.org

AfewyearsagoIreachedafinancialbreakingpoint.ThoughIwasowedthousandsofdollarsbyclients,theyhadfallenbehindontheiraccounts,andnowIwasfallingbehindonmine.ThoughIcutbackoneveryexpenseIcouldthinkof,Istilldidn’thaveenoughmoneytopaymybills,includ-ing theelectricbill.Worse, Ineeded tomakeataxpaymenttothegovernmentthatcouldn’tbedelayed. As the deadline for the taxes approached, Ifeltfearandanxietygripmysoul.Ibegantopray,

askingGodtoprovide.Formorethansixtydays,Iwalkedtothemailboxhopingandprayingthatacheckfromaclientwouldarrive.Formorethansixtydays,Iwenthomeempty-handed.Twodaysbeforethedeadline,Ijustcouldn’ttakeitanymore.Iwasexhausted.Iwasfrustrated.Iwasbrokenontheoutsideandbrokenontheinside.IcriedouttoGodinprayer,andallIheardwassilence. I was ready to give up, but something keptme going. On that final day of the deadline, Ifollowedthewell-wornpathtothemailboxonly

I was broken on the outside and broken on the inside. I cried out to God in prayer, and all I heard was silence.

enJoY inG eVerYdaY l i F e

July 2007 10

todiscoveracheck—onethatmorethancoveredall my expenses, bills and needs—waiting forme.OurgenerousGodhadprovided. ThroughthatexperienceIdiscoveredGodasmy provider in a way that I had never knownHimbefore.Thoughmy fearof lackwasgreat,His provision was greater. My need did notescapeHisnotice. All of us will face a fear of lack sometimein our life—whether it’s a lack of money, lackof relationships, lackofhealthor lackofbasicsupplies.Nomatterhowmuchorhowlittleyoumakeeachyear,oddsarethatinsomeareaoflife,you’lldoubtandask,“Willtherebeenough?” The truth is that no matter what we maybe facing, our God is more than enough.Whenfearof lack tries togripourheart,God invitesus togrow inour faithandknowledgeofHim.ByturningtoHiminprayerandHisWord,wediscoverthepowerofHisprovisioninourlives. ThroughouttheBibleGodiscomparedtoashepherd—one who provides and protects. InPsalm 23, we discover just how active God isin our lives. The psalm opens with The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in wantandgoesontodisplaythemanywaysGodprovidesforus, includingguidance, leadership,restoration,protection, comfort, blessing and assurance.God is active and engaged in every situationandeverylife.Infact,Healwayshasbeen. Likeafaithfulshepherd,Godisalwayswithus. He doesn’t just go with us, He goes beforeus intoeverysituationandrelationship in life.Heisconstantlypresent,speakinglifeandhopeandwisdomtousaswelistentoHisvoice.HeisnotonlyourGuide,He isourProvider.Andwhenwecangonofurther,Hecarriesuslikeagoodshepherd. HaveyoueverconsideredjusthowactiveGodisinourlives?Considerforamomentsomeofthe verbs that describe His character found inScripture: God answers, bestows, blesses, blots, calls,cares, cleanses, clothes, comforts, corrects,counsels, covers, delights, delivers, disciplines,encourages,fills,forgives,gathers,gives,guards,guides, heals, hears, helps, holds, increases,keeps, knows, leads, lifts, listens, loves, opens,pours, preserves, protects, provides, purifies,rejoices,remembers,rescues,restores,rewards,satisfies, saves, speaks, strengthens, sustains,teaches,upholds,watches,andworks.

Margaret Feinberg is a popular speaker and author of over a dozen books, including the critically-acclaimed The Organic God (Zondervan). She was recently named by Charisma magazine as one of the “30 Emerging Voices” who will help lead the church in the next decade. www.margaretfeinberg.com

God answers (Isaiah 58:9) God bestows (Proverbs 8:21) God blesses (Deuteronomy 14:29) God blots (Isaiah 43:25)God calls (1 Thessalonians 4:7)God cares (Nahum 1:7)God cleanses (Jeremiah 33:8) God clothes (Isaiah 61:10)God comforts (Isaiah 51:12)God corrects (Job 5:17)God counsels (Psalm 32:8)God covers (Psalm 91:4–6)God delights (Zephaniah 3:17)God delivers (Psalm 37:40)God disciplines (Proverbs 3:12)God encourages (Psalm 10:17)God fills (Job 8:21)God forgives (1 John 1:9)God gathers (Deuteronomy 30:4)God gives (Matthew 11:28)God guards (Psalm 97:10)God guides (Psalm 73:24)God heals (Hosea 14:4)God hears (Psalm 69:33)God helps (Psalm 37:40)God holds (Psalm 73:23)God increases (Deuteronomy 7:13)

God keeps (Deuteronomy 7:9)God knows (Matthew 6:8)God leads (Isaiah 42:16)God lifts (Psalm 146:8)God listens (Psalm 10:17)God loves (Psalm 37:28)God opens (Deuteronomy 28:12)God pours (Isaiah 44:3)God preserves (Psalm 41:2)God protects (Psalm 41:2)God provides (Psalm 111:5)God purifies (1 John 1:9)God rejoices (Isaiah 62:5)God remembers (Psalm 111:5)God rescues (Psalm 91:14)God restores (Psalm 71:20)God rewards (Proverbs 19:17)God satisfies (Psalm 132:15)God saves (Isaiah 49:25)God speaks (Isaiah 30:21)God strengthens (Isaiah 40:29)God sustains (Psalm 55:22)God teaches (Isaiah 54:13)God upholds (Psalm 37:24)God watches (Genesis 28:15)God works (Romans 8:28)

No matter what fear or doubt you maybe facing—no matter what lack—you can beassured that you have not escaped His notice.He is actively engaged and working on yourbehalf.Godhasnotjustgonewithyouintothissituation—Hehasgonebeforeyou.AndHewillprovideandprotect.Sodonotfear!Choosefaithoverfearinstead. E

STUDY CORNER

Throughout the week, study the verbs of God in the Bible. Reflecting on God’s work in your life will help you overcome every fear and doubt with faith. Here are some to get you started!

All verbs describing God’s character correspond with the NIV Bible.

11 www.joycemeyer.org

by dr. John C. Maxwell

Inyourlifeasaleader,manythingsarebeyondyourcontrol.Youcan’tcontrolwhatpeoplesayorthinkaboutyou.Youcan’tcontrolthedecisionsprospective clients make about your company.You can’t control your competitors’ marketingtactics.You can’t control the national economy,thestockmarketortheweather. But in the midst of an ever-changing, oftenuncertain environment, there is one thing youhave absolute control over—your integrity.Whenitcomestobeinghonest,principledandethical,youarethemasterofyourowndestiny.Otherpeopleandexternalforcesmighttestitinvariousways,butattheendoftheday,youalonecontrolyourintegrity. Integrity is all-encompassing. It’snot some-thing you demonstrate at home or church andsetonashelfatwork.Peopleofintegritydon’tliveseparatelives;theirmorals,ethics,treatmentof others and overall character are the samewherevertheyare,whateverthey’redoing. This foundational element of leadershipcrosses geographic, religious, cultural andsocioeconomic boundaries. As Federal Expressfounder Fred Smith says, “If you look at everyreligionintheworld,theyallhavetheidenticalGoldenRule, almostword forword. Itdoesnotmakeanydifferencewhatreligionorgeographyit is. There are universally transferable funda-mentaltruthsabouthowyoutreatpeopleinboththe business world and in the larger schemeofthings.” When you follow the Golden Rule and livewithintegrity,yousetanexamplethathasafargreaterimpactthananywordsyoucouldspeak.Why is leading by example such a powerfulconcept?Icananswerthatwithfiveshortwords:Peopledowhatpeoplesee.Itsoundssosimple,butit’sabsolutelytrue.Anditappliestosomanyareasofleadership. Firstofall,it’sthenumberonemotivational principle.Ifyouwanttomotivateyourpeopletogotoawholenewlevel,getmotivatedtogrowand develop yourself. Remember—people dowhatpeoplesee.

Second,it’sthenumberonetraining principle.Whensomeoneasksme,“Howdoyoutrainyourpeople?”Idon’thavetothinktwiceaboutit—peo-pledowhatpeoplesee.If theyseetheir leadersconstantlylearningandacquiringnewskillsandcompetencies,they’llbeinspiredtodothesame. Thirdly, “people do what people see” is thenumberonementoring principle.Whatdoyoudo when you mentor someone? You flesh outyour life for them—you give them an insider’sviewofwhatyou’reexperiencingandhowyou’rehandlingit.Thegoal,ofcourse,isforthepersonyou’re mentoring to learn from your mistakesandsuccessessothatwhentheyarefacedwithsomethingsimilar,theymaketherightchoices. Finally,it’sthenumberonevalues principle.A company might spend a great deal of timeformulating impressive-sounding values state-mentsandcorebeliefs,buttheseprinciplesdon’tmean anything unless the leaders in the com-pany—from the corner office on down—modelthemconsistently. Why isadhering to therightvaluessuchanimportant part of leading by example? PaulO’Neill, retired Alcoa chairman and formerTreasury secretary, gives us a clue: “If peoplecanfindeventrivialexamplesofdeviation,thosedeviationswillbecomethenorm,”hesays.“Youreallyhavetobealmostreligiousinmakingsurethatyoudon’tdosomethingsomebodycanpointtoinanegativeway.”Inotherwords,ifyouwanttoleadbyexampleinapositiveway,youmustbecommittedtolivingalifeofintegrity. When you’re right on the inside, you leadcorrectly on the outside. It starts with you andspreads toeveryone inyourcircleof influence.Ifyouwanttobeasuccessfulleaderinturbulenttimes, live with integrity and lead by example.Remember—peopledowhatpeoplesee. EThis article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell’s free monthly e-newsletter, Leadership Wired, available at www.injoy.com.

John C. Maxwell, PhD is a dynamic speaker, bestselling author and founder of several leadership organizations, including INJOY Steward-ship Services and EQUIP. He communicates his principles to Fortune 500 companies, international marketing organizations, professional sports groups and church leaders worldwide. www.injoy.com

t H e l e a d e r ’ s e d G e

People Do What People See

Featured of the Month

Go the Extra Mile60-Minute DVD by Joyce Meyer .

$20 U.S. Funds Order resource #D220

To order using MasterCard, VISA, American Express or Discover, call 1-800-727-9673 or visit

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July 14 - August 12, 2007 | www.hopecambodia.org

Later this month, Joyce Meyer Ministries will launch Hope Cambodia—30 Days of Hope…an exciting new outreach designed to bring healing and restoration to a nation once devastated by the horrors of genocide.

Over these next several weeks, we ask you to keep this outreach in your prayers. Please pray that God would give us great favor with the people of Cambodia and that He would open their hearts to receive the ministry we have planned. Please also pray that lives would be changed, souls would be saved, and thou-sands would receive healing and restoration from the hurts caused by the genocide.

James 5:16 says, …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available…. We wholeheartedly agree, and we thank you in advance for your prayers that will powerfully impact the nation of Cambodia.

For continuous updates throughout these thirty days of hope, be sure to visit www.hopecambodia.org to discover how your prayers and support are making a lasting difference.

God Bless You!

Joyce Meyer

D2 2 0

13 www.joycemeyer.org

H e a lt H M at t e r s

Caffeine: Many people sabotage their sleep by consumingcaffeineincoffee,softdrinks,chocolateandover-the-counterheadachemedicines.Caffeineincreasestheproductionofthestresshormones,adrenalineandcortisol,andcanremaininthebodyforuptotwentyhours!Morethan80percentofAmericansconsumecaffeineonaregularbasis,andtheaverageAmericandrinksthreecupsofcoffeeaday!Ifyouaredrinkingtoomuchcaffeine,youcannotexpecttogetagoodnight’srest. Medications:Quiteafewmedicationscanalsocontributetosleeplessness. Decongestants, appetite suppressants, predni-sone, thyroidmedications, hormone replacements, somepainrelievers,asthmaandbloodpressuremedications,andcertain

antidepressantsmaycauseinsomnia.Ifyoutakethesemedica-tions,don’tbediscouraged;askyourdoctorforadviceifyou’reexperiencingtroublesleeping. Food Insomnia: Eating too much high-sugar food close tobedtimecancauseyourbloodsugarleveltoriseandgiveyouaburstofenergythatmakesitdifficulttofallasleep.Afewhourslater, it cancauseyou towakeup in themiddleof thenightwhenyourbloodsugarsuddenlydropsagainandyoufeelhun-gry. Low-carbohydrate diets can also cause a drop in bloodsugarlevelsthatwakesyouupduringthenightwithhunger. Exercise:Exercisingstimulatesthelevelsofstresshormonesinyourbody,whichmayhinderyourabilitytofallasleep.Toavoidthis,donotexercisewithinthreehoursofbedtime.

Whateverthecause,ifyouarehavingtroublesleeping,therearesomesimplethingsyoucandotohelpremedythesituation.Andthefirstthingistodetermineifanyofthemostcom-mon sleep thieves are robbing you of muchneededrest.

Rest Robbers Stress and Anxiety:Thisisbyfarthegreatestsourceofinsomnia.Peoplelieawaketryingtowork out their problems, mourning the pastandworryingaboutthefuture. Painful Physical Conditions:Anynumberofpainfulphysicalconditionscanrobapersonofsleep.Someofthemostcommonsleeprobbersarearthritis,backpainandtensionheadaches.Virtually any painful condition can rob anotherwisehealthypersonofagoodnight’srest.Formanyoftheseissues,youneedadoctor’scare and possibly some help getting properrest. If you would like information on sleepaids—natural and medical—see my book The Bible Cure for Sleep Disorders.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to sleep well, but the fact is that many people can’t. The reasons range from troubling life situations to physical problems and poor eating habits.

did YoU KnoW?Light slows the production of melatonin, which is the reason you

are more alert and energetic on sunny days and more lethargic

on cloudy days.

July 2007 14

And…There are various other issues thatcandisturbyoursleep,suchasabadmattressorpillow,asnoringspouse,newbornbabyornoisy neighbors. For middle-aged men andwomen, things like enlarged prostate glandsand hot flashes can disturb sleep patterns.Eachofthese“restrobbers”isresponsibleforcountlesshoursoflostsleep,productivityandcreativity,andreducedmentalhealth.

Planning a Perfect Night’s Sleep We’velookedatwhatcanrobyouofagoodnight’ssleep,andweknowthatgettingsuffi-cientrestisvitaltooptimaldailyperformance.Now, let’s lookathowwecanplanongettingenoughsleep.Thefirstthingyouneedtoknowisthatpreparingforagoodnight’ssleepbeginsduringthedaytime.

Diet and Exercise Affect Sleep Many people don’t connect what they eatwithhowtheysleep.Butthefact is,whatyoueatandwhenyoueatcanhaveadefiniteeffectonyoursleephabits.It’sbesttoeatamodest,healthydinnerfourhoursbeforeyougotobed.A light snack before bed is acceptable, espe-cially if it is correctlybalancedwithproteins,carbohydratesandfats.Therighttypeofsnackcanactuallyhelpstabilizebloodsugarthroughthenight,encouraginguninterruptedrest. Daily exercise is one of the best ways toimprove thequalityofyoursleepbecause ithelps you fall asleep faster and stay asleeplonger. People who exercise also spend agreater amount of time in stages three andfour sleep. These are the stages when thegreatestamountofrestorationandrepairtakeplace in the body. Remember, exercisingshould be done at least three hours beforebedtime.

Light and Thought Affect Sleep Youaredesignedhormonallytostayinsyncwiththecyclesofnature.Asthesungoesdown,yourbodybeginstorelaxnaturally.Asthelightfades, the hormone melatonin is released intoyour bloodstream making you sleepy. Theamount of melatonin your body produces isaffectedbytheamountoflightgoingintoyour

eyes.Sofollowyourbody’ssignalandturndownthelightsintheeveningtohelpgetreadyforagoodnight’srest. It’salsoimportanttotakecontrolofyourthoughtpatternsintheeveningbyfocusingonthingsthatpromoterestandrelax-ation.Don’twatchanaction-packedmovieortheeveningnews,whichcanbefullofviolentstories,justbeforebed.Ifyouneedhelp relaxing, try listening to calming music, taking a warmbathorevenwatchingsomethingfunnyonTV—laughterhelpstorelaxyourbody. Manyofusnaturallytendtothinkoverourdaybeforebed.Ifyouareexperiencingdifficultcircumstances,it’simportantnottoletanxietykeepyoufromgoodsleep.Eventhoughtheremaybeupsettingthingsgoingoninyourlife,youcantakecontrolofyourthoughts.Losingsleepwillonlymakethingsworse.Switchfrom anxiety and worry topraiseandthanksgiving.Trykeepingalistofthingstobethankfulforbyyourbedanddwellonthosebeforefallingasleep insteadofyourwor-ries(seePhilippians4:6,7).

Setting the Stage Make your bedroom ahaven for relaxation andsleep. It should look likeaninviting place of rest—not astorage unit, office or giantlaundry basket. Make sureyou have a mattress andpillow that are comfortablefor you. Also, equip yourroom with soft lighting andmake it as dark as possiblewhenyouarereadytofallasleep—nonight-lights.Ifnoiseisaproblem,invest inagoodpairofearplugs.PleasurereadingorwatchingTVareacceptable,providedtheyhelpyourelaxanddonotaddstress. Robbingourselvesofsleepcomeswithaprice:itdamagesourhealth,ourrelationshipsandourability tofulfillGod’scallonour lives. Begin making changes now that will help you get agoodnight’srest.You’llbepleasantlysurprisedasyoubegintofeel revived— body and soul—and your ability to enjoy lifeincreases. E

enJoY inG eVerYdaY l i F e

APPROVEDBEDTIMESNACkS:• A piece of fruit with a small

handful of nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pecans)

• Low-fat, whole-grain crackers or bread with a teaspoon of organic peanut butter or two ounces of turkey

• One-half cup organic skim milk, low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt (no sugar added) with fruit

• A small bowl of whole-grain cereal (about 1/2 cup) with organic skim milk

did YoU KnoW?Before Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in

1879, Americans slept an average of ten hours

a night!

This article is developed from information in Dr. Colbert’s book The Seven Pillars of Health: (Siloam, Lake Mary, FL 2007).

This article is not intended to provide medical advice or take the place of medical advice and treatment from your personal physician. Readers are advised to consult your own doctors or other qualified health professionals regarding the treatment of your medical problems. Neither the publisher nor the author takes any responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, action or application of medicine, supplement, herb or preparation to any person regarding or following the information in this article.

Dr. Don Colbert is a graduate of Oral Roberts School of Medicine and shares his years of experience and research in nutritional medicine in all of his work. He is a national speaker, bestselling author and host of a national talk show titled Your Health Matters. www.drcolbert.com

Joyce Meyer T.D. Jakes Chris Caine CeCe Winans special musicthroughout the

weekend

Delirious? leading worshipat all sessions

Register Today!www.joycemeyer.org/wc07

or 1-888-727-5280

Registration FormYou may register online at www.joycemeyer.org/wc07. Or, mail this form along with $55 per person (U.S. Funds only) to: Joyce Meyer Ministries, P.O. Box 1348, Fenton, MO 63026, USA.

WC2007

(Please supply your email address — both U.S. and non-U.S. residents.)

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Make all checks payable to Joyce Meyer Ministries. Registrations are limited, accepted on a first-come basis and are nonrefundable. If you register on or after August 22 and live outside the U.S., or if you register on or after September 7 and live in the U.S. or Canada, you will need to pick up your registration card(s) at the Information/Registration booth at either entrance A or B. Your registration card(s) will not be sent in the mail. If you have already preregistered for this convention, it is not necessary to register again.

Register Today! CosT: $55 per person (U.s. Funds only)Register online by visiting www.joycemeyer.org/wc07. You may also call 1-888-727-5280 in the U.S. and Canada or (636) 349-0303 in all other countries. Or, mail the form below along with payment to Joyce Meyer Ministries. This is a women’s convention; therefore, we are unable to accommodate men or children.

2007 Convention schedule Thursday, september 20 7 pm Bishop T.D. Jakes

Friday, september 21 10 am Joyce Meyer 7 pm Joyce Meyer

saturday, september 22 10 am Christine Caine 2 pm Joyce Meyer

• Delirious? will be leading worship at all sessions. • CeCe Winans will provide special music throughout the weekend.

Interpretation/Translation

Interpretation for the deaf and hard of hearing will be provided. Spanish translation will also be available. These sections will be reserved until the start of each session. Las reuniónes serán traducido al español y también habrá servicio de interpretación en el lenguaje de señas. Estos asientos estarán reservados hasta el comienzo de cada reunión.

Travel Arrangements Make your hotel accommodations through the housing bureau from our website or by calling 1-888-597-7473 (U.S. and Canada) or (330) 425-9330 (all other countries). A deposit of $125 (U.S. Funds only) is required and is non-refundable after August 7. Helpful information with flight & rental car arrangements can also be found on our website. Complimentary shuttle to and from the Edward Jones Dome is available for most hotels located downtown and near the airport.

Volunteers

Want to be involved? We are in need of committed people to become a part of Joyce Meyer Ministries’ Helps Team by serving as ushers. You must first be registered. For more information, please contact us at volunteer@ joycemeyer.org or call our office at 1-800-707-7877 ext. 3516.

For more information, go to www.joycemeyer.org/wc07 or call 1-888-727-5280 in U.s. and Canada. In all other countries, call (636) 349-0303.

Ron Luce is the president and founder of Teen Mania Ministries, a Christian organization reaching millions of young people worldwide. He passionately de-clares the Gospel through Acquire the Fire TV broad-casts, youth events, camps and media resources, challenging teens to take a stand for Christ. www.teenmania.org

17 www.joycemeyer.org

B U i l d i n G t o M o r r o W ’ s l e a d e r s

Fortoolong,youthministryhasbeenat thebottomofthetotempole.Toagreatdegree,thisreflectsthevalueweasadultshave placed on teenagers. When others—especially churchleaders—don’t treatyouthministryas if itwere important, itoftencausestheyouthpastorandthepeopleinthecongregationtodothesame.Asaresult,wefailtogiveourteenswhattheydeserve—aworld-classyouthministry. Manytimespeoplegetinvolvedinyouthministrybecausetheyseeaneedandwant tohelp.ThankGod thatenergy isbeingusedtotouchlives.However,there’softenadownsidetothis that we must guard against—we must be careful not todevelopamindsetthatdoingsomethingisbetterthannothingandthenfeeljustifiedaboutthemediocrejobwe’redoing.Yes,givingourteenssomethingisbetterthanwhatteensoutintheworld are getting, which is often nothing. But we need todevelopamindsetofexcellence—awayofthinkingthatsaysthisgenerationisworthrallyingaroundandgivingourbestto.

God’s Word declares that He is worthy of our best.Whilewewouldneveractually tellGod thatwearen’t givingourbest, inmanycaseswedojustthat,withtheministryweprovidetoourteenagers in America. For example, a typical highlight of theWednesdaynightyouthserviceisservingpizza.Amessageisoftennotprepared,themeetingroomismessyandthehandoutcopiesarecrooked.Excusesforthislackofexcellenceareeasytofind,suchasalackofmoney,timeormanpower.Thetruthis,though,ifit’sworthdoingforGod,it’sworthdoingwithexcellence. AfewyearsagoIwasinDisneyWorldwithmyfamily,andeverywherewewent, itwasexcellent—first classall theway.Theworldwillworkhardtocreatesomethingexcellentforthesakeofmoney,adreamanda creative, imaginativeplace.AsChristians,weshouldstrivetodothesame. I’mtiredofseeingpeopleoftheworlddothingsinaworld-classwayandChristiansplayingcatch-up.MTVworksdayandnighttomaketheirshowslookfirstclassandthenfeedittoteensinawaythattheyfeelimportant.Atsomepoint,weasthebodyofChristhavetorealizethatweshouldn’tbetheonesplayingcatch-up—weneedtosetthepaceandshowtheworldwhatexcellenceis.

In2000Teen Maniaheldanevent at the Pontiac SilverDome.Therewere64,000teensinattendance.ItwastherethatIspokewithaneighteen-year-old young lady who hadcommittedherlifetotheLordlongagobutwasbackslidden.She walked in with many ofher backslidden friends andwatchedasthevolunteersandstaffsetup.Shebegantoweepuncontrollably. She told me itmade her feel so loved andimportant to see that adultscared that much for her andhergeneration.

Excellence makes people feel valued. Thisyoung lady felt valued before the event everstarted,anditpreparedherheartfortheWord.Aftertheevent,thepersonwhoranthestadiumcalledourchiefsoundandlightmanager intohisofficeandsaidthatinallhisyearsofman-agingthevenue,hehadneverseenaproductionthat excellent. He then asked if we would bewilling to rent our equipment and people tocomeandruntheirotherproductions.Thisisagreatexampleofthewaythingsshouldbe. Mostpeoplewhogetsaveddosobeforetheage of twenty. Right now there are about 33million teenagers in America. The world ismarketingchips,shoes,clothesandeverythingelse to thesekidsbecause theyknow if theycanget them tobuy their stuffwhen they’reyoung,they’llbuyitfortherestoftheirlife. In the same way, it’s important that asChristians,wereachouttotheseyoungpeoplewith excellence. If we don’t, in a few years,therewon’tbeanyoneinourchurches.Whetheryou’reaparent,avolunteer,ayouthpastorora member of the body of Christ, I challengeyoutoknowthekidsinyourcityandchurch.Godiscountingonyouandmetoprayforandreach out to this young generation. If we’rewilling and available, God will help us puttogether world-class youth ministries in ourownneighborhoods. E

Raising the Standard for

Youth Ministryby Ron Luce

WILLYOUDARETOLIVELIFE

LIkEYOUMEANIT?

Available September 4

NEWBOOk

RELEASE

F e at U r e a r t i C l e

19 www.joycemeyer.org

You and I have been given a tremendous gift—the freedom of choice. And with every choice we make, there is a certain consequence we can expect. I believe there are three main choices that are constantly before us: the choice to be lazy, the choice to be mediocre, and the choice to be excellent.

Whilethemajorityofmankindisstuckinthe“mireofmediocrity,”thosewhopursueawalkofexcellencefindtherealrewards.Theylivelifeonawholenewlevel,experiencingtruefulfillmentandsatisfactionthatmanyothersmissouton. Inordertocultivateadesiretocomeuphigherand be the best we can be, we need to have aclear understanding of the differences betweenbeinglazy,mediocreandexcellent.Althoughwemaynotfitentirelyintothecategoryoflazinessor mediocrity, I think all of us have room forimprovement.

Leave the Lower Level of Laziness Of the three choices, laziness is the mostdestructive.ThebookofProverbshasalottosayaboutthelazyman.Proverbs24:30,31says,I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles were covering its face, and its stone wall was broken down. This description reminds me of manyneglectedhouses I’veseen.Thewindowswereboardedup,thegrasswasn’tcut,andtherewastrash all over the yard—everywhere I looked,therewasamess.Itisasadsighttosee,butitisaperfectexampleofthefruitoflaziness. Alazymandoesjustwhathefeelslikedoing,whichisusuallynothing.Hewantseverythingtobeeasy.Asaresult,hewindsupgoingthroughlifeunhappyandusuallyfilledwithjealousy,envyandresentmentoverwhatothershave.Heisnor-mallynotalert,doesn’tplanaheadandfailstotakecare of things. Sooner or later, everything fromhischeckbookto the livesofhischildrenwindsupinamess.Justasthescripturesays,…a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man(Proverbs24:33,34).

Even though most of us don’t fall entirely intothiscategory,Ibelievethattherearecertainareasofourliveswherewemayhavealazyattitude—we’repassive instead of active in the way we deal withthings.For instance,wemaywishwehadapastorwhowasapowerfulpreacher,butwe’renotwillingtomaketheefforttoprayforHim.Wemaywishwehadabettergovernment,butwewon’ttakethetimetobeinformedontheissuesandgetoutandvote.Orwemaywishwehadvictoryovertemptationssuch

asgossip,worryandfear,butwearenotwillingtostandagainstthembyspeakingtheWord.Inotherwords,werecognizethatthereisaproblem,butwearenotwillingtocommitourselvesandputforththeefforttobeapartofthesolution. The only way to see this mindset change is torecognize what we are doing wrong and submitourselvestotheinnerworkingoftheHolySpirit.Ididnotovercomefifteenyearsofabusebywishingthingswouldchange.IlearnedtotakeholdofGod’sWordandapplyittomylifedayafterday,situationafter situation. In time,Hebroughtaboutchange,andHewillfaithfullydothesamethingforyou.1Hewilltakeyour“wishbone”andreplaceitwith“back-bone.”Hewillsubstitute thesluggishnessofyoursoulwithadeterminationtoseetransformation.

Cut Out the Middleman Although many people struggle with laziness,I believe the area that people wrestle with moreoftenisthetemptationtoaccepta“middle-of-the-road”mentality.Thisisthemindsetthatsays,“I’mokay—I’m just as good as anyone else. Besides,

enJoY inG eVerYdaY l i F e

Lazy: resistant to work or exertion; sluggish or slow-moving.

—Webster’s II New College Dictionary

July 2007 20

21 www.joycemeyer.org

everybody is doing it.” This mediocre type ofthinkingiswhatisplaguingthemajorityofoursociety,includingmanyChristians. Mediocritymeansaverage,statusquo,mod-eratetolowinquality.Themediocremanisnotreallybad,butheisnotreallygoodeither—heisnotworsethananybodyelse,buthe’scertainlynotanybetter.He is apersonwho ishalfwaybetweenfailureandsuccess,andasaresult,heisfrustratedandunfulfilled.This“averageguy”does justenoughtogetbybutnevergoes theextramile. Themediocremanisthetypeofpersonwhomisusesandabusesthehotelroombecausehedoesn’thavetocleanit.Hewillsetawetdrink-ing glass on the wooden furniture in anotherperson’shomewithoutasecondthought.Whenhegoesgroceryshoppingandrealizeshehaspickedupmore thanhecanpay for,he takesthingsoutofhisbasketandputsthemdowninthefirstavailableplace.He’llputaheadoflet-tuceinthefreezercase,acanofcleanserbythebread,andabunchofbananasbythedogfood.Why? Because he doesn’t care. He feels like,“It’s not my job, so why should I worry aboutputtingthingsbackwheretheybelong?”

I remember a time years ago when I waswalking down the hall of a hotel after finishingameeting. Istopped togetacup fullof ice fromthemachine,andasIturnedtowalkaway,apieceof ice fell out of my cup onto the floor.With myhands fullandmy feethurting, Idecided tokicktheiceofftotheside.Well,IgotafewfeetdownthehallandtheHolySpiritsaid,“Gopickitup.”Iresponded,“I can’t pick it up. My hands are full,andbesidesthat,myfeetaretired.”Again,Hesaid,“Pickitup.”Isaid,“ButLord,it’sdirty.WhatamIsupposed todowith it anyway?”Hesaid,“If thiswasyourhotel,wouldyouwantpeoplekickingiceintothecorners,leavingittomeltandmessupthecarpet?”Obviously,myanswerwasno,soIputmystuffdownandpickeduptheice. Now some may think I am being ridiculous,butIdon’tthinkso.Mediocritymaybeacceptablein society, but I don’t believe it is applauded inheaven.Ifwewantourlivestomakeanimpactonthosearoundus,thenwehavetochoosetomovebeyondmediocrity.Thinkaboutit.Average,medio-crepeoplearenotremembered.Theheroesfoundin history books and the Bible are not averagepeople—they are people who did extraordinarythings. They are the ones who went above and

F e at U r e a r t i C l e

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own posses-sion, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. —1 Peter 2:9 NASB

(continued on page 24)

July 2007 22

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I came across your TV show in December 2001, and your message grabbed my atten-tion to such an extent that I have never looked back. Years later you not only still have my attention, but God has my life…all of it. For the first few years, I studied the Word about overcoming fear, how to go “through” instead of “around” trials, and how to live in the spirit of excellence. Bit by bit God changed me. At first I spent my time with Him talking about my messes, especially trouble at work. But then I began praying blessings over my coworkers in Jesus’ name and inviting God into our office and into their lives. I also began doing this for previous employers. Suddenly, I saw my job as a mission field! Every day I rely on God to help me with my work. Once, when I thought there wasn’t any reason for me to stay, I asked God if I could leave. He said, “Not yet.” He told me to stay a bit longer so He could give me victory and

God is in MY liFe, and tHroUGH tHe HolY spirit, i aM praYinG and BlessinG otHers

HAS GOD CHANGED yOuR LIfE

in any way through JoyceMeyer

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 1350fenton, MO 63026

Testimony

Michelle C. Mill Valley, CA

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no one could say I was incapable or insult my character after I left. Although God’s grace is on me and He’s prospering me in my current job, I know this isn’t always what I’ll be doing. He’s impressed upon me that He’s going to promote me; however, until that day comes, I will keep doing this job with excellence as unto Him. Joyce, thank you for introducing me to the real and true God. You’ve helped me remem-ber to leave things better than I find them and embrace God’s will for me to be a good steward of all He gives me.

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July 2007 24

beyondwhatwasexpectedofthem.IfyouandIwanttoberemembered,wearegoingtohavetochoosetobepeopleofexcellence.

Become a Person of Excellence Apersonwhoisexcellentisonewhoexceedsthe status quo—he does more than what isexpected of him. As people of excellence, youandIneedtodowhatisrightevenwhennooneelseisaround.WeneedtorealizethatGodseeseverything,andthateverythingwedoinsecretwill eventually come out into the open—bothgoodandbad.Sowhatevertaskweworkat,weneed to…work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that [we] will receive the inheritance…(Colossians3:23,24). Excellenceshouldbeseen ineverythingwedo—ourconversation,ourdress,thewaywecareforourhomeandcar,thewaywetreatpeople,andsoon.Ifwearepeopleofexcellence,wewillbeexcellentemployees.For instance, ifwearerequired to work from 8 am to 5 pm, then weshould strive toget therearoundaquarter tilleightand leaveaboutaquarterafterfive—notclockinateightandstartstraighteningourdeskfifteen minutes before five. In other words, aspeopleofexcellence,weshouldmakeitourgoaltogotheextramile.2

Thefactis,youandIdonotserveanaverageGod.We serve a God of excellence—OneWhodoesexceedinglyandabundantlyaboveallthatwe could ask or think.3As His representatives,we are called to show forth His character ineverythingthatwedo.Andwiththatcall,wehavebeenequippedwithHisSeedofgreatness—theCreatorHimselfislivingontheinsideofus,givingusthepowertobeextraordinarypeople. Excellence is not perfection. When I saywe should choose to be people of excellence, Idon’t mean that we try to be perfect—that hasa tendency to overwhelm us and those aroundus.WhatIdomeanisthatwechoosetohaveanexcellentspirit.Therearerichrewardsforthosewhochoosetohaveanexcellentspirit.TheBiblesaysinDaniel6:3,that…Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. I believe thatthisexcellentspirit ismany times justamatterofhavinganexcellentattitude.This is thekindofattitudethatsays,“I’lldowhateveryouneed,howeveryouneedit,andwheneveryouneeditdone.”Thepersonwithanexcellentattitudetakeswhathehasanddoesthebesthecanwithit.

GodworkedtobringaboutchangeinmylifeformanyyearsinprivatebeforeHeelevatedmetothepublicpositionI’minnow.Iwasprobablynottoolazy, but I was definitely mediocre and did whateverybody else was doing. One of the things thatGodtoldDaveandmeearlyinministrywasthatifwewantedtohaveasuccessfulministry,weneededtobepeopleofexcellence.Iamhappytosaythatourchoicetowalkinexcellencehastrulypaidoff.Ilovemylife,andIammoreblessedthanIcouldhaveeverimagined.

The Choice Is yours God ordains a destiny for each of us, but justbecauseHeordainsitdoesn’tmeanitisautomatically

goingtohappen.ItisuptoustocooperatewiththeHolySpiritandmakerightchoices,andthechoicetowalkinexcellenceisextremelyimportant. Whereveryouarerightnowinyourlife,yougottherebyaseriesofchoices.Irealizethataschildren,other people made choices for us that may havebeen unwise or damaging. However, just becausewestartedoutsomewheredoesn’tmeanwehavetofinish there. God doesn’t show partiality—He setsthesameopportunitiesforsuccessbeforeeveryone.5HispromisesareavailabletowhosoeverwillbelieveandobeyHisWord. Ifyouwantyourlifetochange,thenyourchoiceshavetochange,andtodayisthebestdayofyourlifetobegin.Ichallengeyoutodrawalineseparatingyoufromyourpast,andmakethechoicetomoveforwardasapersonofexcellence.Surrenderyoursoul—yourmind,will,andemotions—toGod,andlet Him give you His grace to see and choose themoreexcellentways.Startdoingwhatyouknowinyourheartisthebetterthingtodo.Don’tchoosetobelazyormediocre.Choosetobeapersonwhowillgotheextramile—apersonofexcellence! E(1) 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24 (2) Matthew 5:41 (3) Ephesians 3:20 KJV (4) Philippians 1:10 (5) Romans 2:11

enJoY inG eVerYdaY l i F e

Whatever you pursue in life is what you are going to receive. So …learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences]….4 When you do, you will reap the rewards of excellence!

(continued from page 21)

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*See ad on page 34. **See pages 15 & 16 for more details.

July 12-14LOS ANGELES, CA*

Worship with Hillsong’s Darlene Zschech

A special Friday night concert with Delirious?

Thu July 12 7 pm Fri July 13 10 am & 7 pm Sat July 14 10 am & 2 pm

StaplesCenter1111SFigueroaStLosAngeles,CA90015

(213) 742-7340 www.staplescenter.com Spanish translation will be available.

September 6-8 St. PAUL, MN

Worship with Hillsong London

Thu Sep 6 7 pm Fri Sep 7 10 am & 7 pm Sat Sep 8 10 am

XcelEnergyCenter199WKelloggBlvdSt.Paul,MN55102

(651) 265-4800 www.xcelenergycenter.com

July 19-21EASt RUthERfORd, NJ*

Worship with Hillsong’s Darlene Zschech

A special Friday night concert with Delirious?

Thu July 19 7 pm Fri July 20 10 am & 7 pm Sat July 21 10 am & 2 pm

ContinentalAirlinesArena50StateRoute120EastRutherford,NJ07073

(201) 935-3900 www.meadowlands.com Spanish translation will be available.

September 20-22St. LOUiS, MO**

Worship with Delirious?

Special music by CeCe Winans

Thu Sep 20 7 pm Fri Sep 21 10 am & 7 pm Sat Sep 22 10 am & 2 pm

EdwardJonesDome901NBroadwaySt.Louis,MO63101

(314) 342-5036 www.edwardjonesdome.org Spanish translation will be available.

October 12 & 13JOhANNESBURG, SOUth AfRiCA

Coca-Cola Dome www.joycemeyer.org

July 26UtiCA, NY

Generation Church Youth Conference Pastor Michael Servello, Jr www.generationconference.com

international Conferences

August 10–12 CAMBOdiA

Festival of Hope Phnom Penh National Olympic Stadium www.hopecambodia.org

October 5 & 6 ESSEN, GERMANY

Grugahalle Essen www.joycemeyer.org

Get Involved We are in need of committed people to become a part of Joyce Meyer Ministries’ Helps Team by serving as ushers at all U.S. conferences. If you plan to attend a Joyce Meyer Ministries conference and would like to get involved, please email us at volunteer@joycemeyer.org or call 1-800-707-7877 ext. 3516.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Come Together—with One Heart, One Voice Be a part of genuine worship and relevant, inspiring messages. Where thousands of people unite to experience real moments, real change—this is your defining moment.

Ready to find out more? Catch up on the latest conference tour updates by visiting www.joycemeyer.org/conferences.

August 13–15INDONESIA

Festival of Hope Bethany Church Indonesia www.bethanygraha.org

August 18 & 19 SINGAPORE

City Harvest Church www.chc.org.sg

October 4kIEv, UkRAINE

Hillsong Conference Kiev ’07 - Palace Ukraine www.hillsong.com.ua

October 10LONDON, ENGLAND

Hillsong Conference Europe ’07 – ExCel London www.hillsongconference.co.uk

Admission is free, no registration required. Schedule is subject to change. Interpretation for the deaf and hard of hearing will be provided.

For more information, go to www.joycemeyer.org/conferences or call 1-866-SEE-JOYCE

*See ad on page 34. **See pages 15 & 16 for more details.

free

ADMISSION IS

27 www.joycemeyer.org

Today,however,AmericahasfallenfromherhighpositionofintegrityandhonorthatwasbaseduponthefoundationofGod’sWord.Hercharacter,whichwasoncethetalkofthenations,hasfadedbecauseshehasturnedfromtheOnewhomadehergreatand gave her such honor. The only way we can reverse thedilemmaofmoraldeclineisforeachofustoseriouslyseekthefaceofGodandtakethestepsnecessarytoseechange.

GAINING KNOWLEDGE is the first step to seeing change inAmerica.Hosea4:6saysthatwithoutknowledgeofthetruth,wearedestroyed.Sincetheearly1920s,thedevilhasslowlyworkedthroughdifferentpeopletoremoveeverytraceofourChristianheritageandthefaithofourFoundingFathersfromourhistorybooks and learning institutions. We need this vital informationbecause it showsushowour forefathersdealtwithsomeof thesamekindsofproblemswefacetodayandwhattheydidtoover-comethem.KnowledgeofAmerica’strueChristianrootsandhowthey’vebeenremovedwillgiveyouthefuelyouneedtoknowhowtopray.

PRAyER is the secondmain ingredientneeded tobringaboutchange.TheBiblesays,If My people, who are called by My name,

shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land(2Chronicles7:14).Ibelieve that without prayer, the hand of Godstops,butwithprayer,thehandofGodmoves.Throughprayer,youandIcanaskGodwhattodoandhowtodoit,andHewillshowus.

ACTION is the third key element needed tobringaboutpositivechange. IbelievevotingisprobablythemostimportantactionyouandI can take. Voting for godly candidates whostandforbiblicalstandardsofrightandagainstwhatiswrongisoneofthebestwayswebringabout God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.Another type of God-inspired action we cantake is to stand against immorality in ourcommunities. Whether it is an ungodly TVshow,commercialorbillboard,weneedtoletour voice of disapproval be heard. Throughemails, letters, telephone calls and verbal

a M e r i C a at i t s B e s t

God established America, working in and through ordinary men and women who trusted in Him. They were Christians who had character, honor and high moral standards—people of prayer who put God first and sought Him continuously for direction and intervention. I believe because of their commitment to Him, America has been greatly blessed.

byDaveMeyer

expressions, we can make a difference. Andwedon’thavetobeafraid,becausewhateverGodasksustodo,Heempowersandanointsustodo. It’stimetostandupandbecountedandletyour voice become God’s voice. GAINKNOWLEDGE,PRAYandtakeACTIONastheLorddirectsyou.Don’tlettheenemiesofdoubtand discouragement deceive you. Your voice is important, and together, we can make a difference! This month we are offering a specialAmerica in Action package. It includes theDVDsAmerica: Rescuing a Nation at RiskandWhat Kind of Influence Are You Having?,theCDAmerica Needs You!andAmerica’s Providential

enJoY inG eVerYdaY l i F e

(1) William J. Federer, America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations (St. Louis, MO: Amerisearch, 2000) p. 82.

DID YOU KNOW…

Throughout America’s history, people have prayed, and miracles have happened. Washington’s escape from Long Island, the miraculous provision of fish at Valley Forge, and the miraculous calming of the storm that allowed our troops to land on the beachhead at Normandy in World War II are all examples of answers to prayer.

HE SAID WHAT?

“Allthatisnecessaryforeviltotriumphisforgoodmentodonothing.”1

—edmund Burke, orator, author and leader in Great Britain during the revolutionary War

Not long ago, I sat and thought about this powerful statement. Why do good men do nothing? For the most part, I believe it is because they know nothing—that is, they don’t know the truth about our Christian heritage or the faith upon which America was built. And because they know nothing, bad men—those with evil, selfish intentions—deceive them. Deception thrives on ignorance. Deceived good men then become passive and controlled by fear. Deep inside they know instinctively that the proposed decisions and actions of the bad men are wrong—the problem is, they don’t know why they’re wrong. Instead of “rocking the boat” and fighting for what they believe is right, the good men give away the country piece by piece. We need to realize that it’s easier to maintain the liberties we have than to try and regain them once they’re lost.

−Dave Meyer

WHAT YOU CAN DO

To help you voice your concerns to elected officials, as well as to advertisers and media personnel, we have developed an extensive, user-friendly America section on our website. When you go to www.joycemeyer.org and click on America, you have access to detailed information on all your elected officials, current issues and legislation, local and national media outlets, plus action alerts explaining what’s going on in the country and how you can voice your concern. Just enter your zip code, and you’ll find out who your local, state and national officials are and how they voted on key issues. You’ll also be able to instantly send them an email to voice your encouragement or concern for their position.

History,whichisoneofthemostinfluentialbooksIhaveeverreadinmylife.Iencourageyoutogettheseresourcesforyour-self, your family and your church. They will help open youreyestothetruthofourChristianheritageandgiveyouaheartforAmericalikeneverbefore! E

If we pray, God will give us direction.He will show us what to doand give us the strength to do it.

America’s Providential History 304-Page Paperback by Mark A. Beliles and Stephen K. McDowell America: Rescuing a Nation at Risk 42-Minute DVD by Joyce Meyer Ministries America Needs You! CD Teaching by Joyce Meyer What Kind of Influence Are You Having? 70-Minute DVD by Joyce Meyer

AMERICA IN ACTION PACKAGE OVER $50 VALUEAn incredible offer available for a LIMITED TIME

For your gift of $35 or more U.S. Funds ($42 or more in Canada), you’ll receive these resources.

Book, CD and DVDsOrder offer #S1005

To order using MasterCard, VISA, American Express or Discover, call 1-800-727-9673 or visit www.joycemeyer.org. American Express and Discover accepted in U.S. only.

29 www.joycemeyer.org

B o n U s F e at U r e

I believe that God has placed the desire to be great inside each one of us. Whatever you and I do in life, we should aim to be great at it.

positionofpowerbyallowingthemtositonHisrightandleftintheKingdom. Jesusrespondedandexplained thedifferencebetween leader-shipintheworldandthekingdomofGod.Hesaid,…the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men hold them in subjection [tyrannizing over them]. Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant(verses25,26). InorderforyouandmetoattaingreatnessinthekingdomofGod,wemustfirstbecomeservantsofGodandoneanother.Let’slookatsomeimportantcharacteristicsofservantsthatwillhelpusbecomegreat men and womenofGod. Firstofall…

Servants Walk In Humility Ibelievethatdevelopinganattitudeofhumilityisthefounda-tionforgreatness.EvenJesus,theSonofGod,walkedinhumility.

Whetherwe’re a mom or dad, a minister, adoctor, a lawyer or anything else, we shouldmakeitouraimtobethebestatwhatwedo. In seeking to be great, however, we mustunderstand that God’s idea of greatness andthe world’s idea are two very different things.In Matthew 20:20-28, we read that the motherofJamesandJohnaskedJesustogivehersonsa

enJoY inG eVerYdaY l i F e

What is greatness?Find out how God defines true greatness, and challenge yourself to come up to new levels in Him.

To order using MasterCard, VISA, American Express or Discover, call 1-800-727-9673 or visit www.joycemeyer.org. American Express and Discover accepted in U.S. only.

What Makes a Great Man Great?5-Part Series by Joyce Meyer CDs $31 U.S. Funds Order resource #C173

Cassettes $26 U.S. FundsOrder resource #A173

Philippians2:5says,Let this same attitude and purpose and [hum-ble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:].Verses6and7goontosaythateventhoughJesuswasequalwithGod,Hebecameaservant.Tobecomegreat,wemustchoosetofollowJesus’examplebyhumblingourselvesandbecomingaservant. InJohn13:4-13,Jesuswashedthedisciples’feet.Thiswasagoodexampleofhumility for thedisciplesbecausewashingsomeone’sfeetwasconsideredoneofthelowestjobsforahouseholdservant.Inverse14,Jesusinstructsustodothesame,saying,If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought…to wash one another’s feet.JustasHecamefromheaventoserveus,soweasbelieversareintheworldtobecomelikeJesusandserveothers. Inordertodothat,wemust…

Walk In Obedience JesuswalkedinobediencebydoingwhatevertheFathertoldHim, no matter what the cost. In Philippians 2:8 it says, …He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedi-ence to the extreme of death….JesussetanexampleofgreatnessforusbywalkinginextremeobedienceandlayingdownHislifetoserveothers. You and I may not physically lay down our lives for others.However,every timewechoose to resistourfleshly tendenciestobeunforgiving,unkindandimpatient,layingdownour livestoserveothers,wearetakingupour crossandchoosingdeathforourflesh,whichiswhatwewant,thinkandfeel.AgreatmanorwomaninthekingdomofGodmakesobeyingtheSpiritofGodahabit—regularlychoosingGod’swillovertheirowndesires. Irememberbeinginchurchasayoungbeliever,singingaboutlovingotherswiththeloveoftheLord,thengoingouttolunchandgossipingwithmyfriendsaboutthesamepeopleIwassupposedtobeloving!GodconvictedmethatIwasbeingahypocrite.AtthatpointIhadachoicetomake—chooseGod’swayandrepentorcontinuetofollowmyfleshbyjudgingandcriticizingpeoplewithmywords. Thetruth is,weare facedwithchoices towalk inobedienceeveryday.Thequestionis,areweinthehabitofobeying?DowedowhatGodasksus todoandwhatweknow inourhearts isright?IfyouwanttowalkinthegreatnessGodhasforyou,youmustserveGodbymaking obedience a habit. So,inordertobecomeagreatservantlikeChrist,weneedtowalkhumbly,obedientlyand…

With Integrity IntegrityisvitalifwearegoingtobeaservantGodcantrust.Inordertoserveotherswithintegrityandhonesty,wewillhavetofightforit.God’sWordtellsusthatalthoughwelivein the world we are not of it(seeJohn15:19).Andtheworld’swaysoftenincludedishonestyandmanipulationtoobtainplacesofgreatnessorlead-ership.Theproblemis,ifwegetintoleadershipthatway,wewillhavetokeepourpositionthesameway.Ontheotherhand,ifwefocusonbeingaservant,maintainourintegrity,andallowGodtoplaceusinpositionsofleadershipthenHewillkeepusthere. IrecalltheemotionalturmoilIexperiencedyearsagowhenamanIworkedforaskedmetodosomethingdishonest.Hewantedmetoforgethebookssothatacustomerwouldnotreceivethe

creditowedtothem.IthoughtforsureIwouldlosemyjobifIrefused.IreallystruggledwiththedecisionbutknewthatIhadtodowhatwasright.AlthoughhewasirritatedwithmewhenItoldhimIwouldn’tdoit,hedidn’tfiremelike

I thought. In fact, I ended up getting severalpromotions during the time I worked for thatcompany. BecauseIchosetowalkinintegrity,mybossknewhecouldtrustme.Godfeelsthesamewayaboutuswhenwechoosetowalkinintegrity—Hecantrustuswithgreatopportunitiestoserve.Icanhonestlysay,Idon’tknowifIwouldbedoingwhatIamnow,ifIdidn’tdotherightthingwhenIwasaskedtocompromisemyintegritythen.

Great Attitudes Make Great People Ibelievethathumility,obedienceandinteg-rityarethreekeycharacteristicsthatcontributetothemakingofagreatmanorwoman.IfyouhumbleyourselfbeforeGod,developahabitofobedience, and choose to walk in integrity ineveryareaofyourlife,youwillbewellonyourway to showing the world what really makes a great man or woman great. E

THEWAYITWORkS:

In God’s Kingdom…• If you want to have more, give away some of what you have. • The first will be last and the last first.• “Down” is the way “up.” Humble yourself, and He will lift you up. • Servanthood is the way to greatness!

31 www.joycemeyer.org

r e a l l i F e p e r s p e C t i V e s

As a teenager, did you ever ask the question, “How far is too far?” I did, and I wasn’t the only one. “What can I watch and listen to and not sin? What places can I go and what things can I do and still be okay with God?” And here’s the biggie: “How far can I go with a girl and it not be wrong?” I was living life on the edge—pushing the envelope of pleasure to find out what I could get away with and still be accepted by God. Haveyoubeenthere…areyouthererightnow?Compromise—it’soneof thegreatest temptationsweface. It’s thesilentkillerthatisslowlybutsurelysuckingthelifeoutofanybelieverwhowillgive it the timeofday.What iscompromise?Basically, it isknowinginourheartwhatisrightbutchoosingtopushbeyondthatstandard.Peoplecompromiseeverydayforallkindsofrea-sons,anditisdestroyingtheirlivesandthelivesofothers.

Compromise Dilutes and Pollutes.DoyourememberdrinkingKool-Aidwhenyouwereakid?Ah,therewasnothingquitelikeacoolrefreshingcuponahotsummer’sdaytoquenchyourthirst.ButonethingIreallyhatedwaswhenmymomaddedtoomuchwater. Do you remember what that tasted like?That’s right—atasteless,coloredliquid.Themixturewassodilutedthatithadlostitsflavor,andquitefrankly,leftuswantingwaterinstead. Ithinkthat’swhatcompromisedoesinourlivesasChristians—itcausesustobecomewatereddownandtasteless.Wehaveanappearanceofbeingrefreshing,butwelackthetrueflavorofourSavior.Asa result,manypeoplewould rather reach for some-thingelsetoquench their spiritual thirst. Bydefinition,todilutemeans“tolessenthestrengthofbymix-ingwithsomethingelse.”Compromisedilutesourlives…itlessensourspiritualstrengthbymixingitwithsin.Asaresult,weexperi-enceunsatisfied,“tasteless” lives,andallwehave tooffer thosearoundusisaformofgodlinessabsentofpower.

What’s the Cure for Compromise?The strongest weapon Iknowagainstcompromise is tobeheadoverheels in lovewiththeLord.Nothing isgreater. I’llnever forgetonefatefulFridaynightBiblestudyattheendofmyfreshmanyear.GodmetmeinawaylikeHehadnevermetmebefore.ThateveningHegentlybutfirmlywhisperedinmyearthatHelovedme,andwiththosewordsHedepositedadeepsenseofHis lovewithinme.WordscannotdescribewhatIfelt.Liketheintenseheatofthemiddaysummer sun, God’s love melted the hardness of my soul.All IcoulddowascryundertheweightofHisaffection.

Thatexperiencechangedmylifeforever.Forthefirst time,IhadafreshawarenessofGod’spassion formeandHisdesire tobemyfriend.InsteadofwantingtoseewhatIcouldgetawaywith,Iwantedtogetasfarfromsinaspossible.InsteadoffeelinglikeIhadtodowhatwasright,I now wanted to do what was right. His sweetexpressionofloveformecreatedadeepdesireinmetopleaseHim. That was over twenty-two years ago.TherehavebeensomeupsanddownsinmydevotiontotheLord,buttherehavealsobeenmanyfreshinfusionsofGod’slovealongtheway,eachonepullingmecloser toHimwithgreaterpassion.AsaChristian, Ihave learned that theanswertothequestionhow far is too far?isalreadyinus. Oh, it’s not in our head…it’s in our heart.Whateverwehavepeaceaboutinourspirit,wecando.Butanythingwedon’thavepeaceabout,weshouldn’tdo.Andwhenindoubt,don’t. Myprayerforyouis[that you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for your-selves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! (Ephesians3:19).Yes,thetugoftemptationisstrong,butit’snomatchfortheoverwhelmingpowerofGod’slove! E

Vincent M. Newfield and his wife, Allison, are found-ers of Prepare The Way, a ministry dedicated to pas-sionately presenting the timeless truth of God’s Word through innovative messages and illustrations. In addition to being a creative communicator, Vincent is a freelance writer for Joyce Meyer Ministries and other organizations worldwide. www.preparethewaytoday.org

by Vincent M. newfield

ask joyce

July 2007 32

Your question, with an answer from Joyce, may appear in an upcoming issue of Enjoying Everyday Life magazine. please be aware, however, that due to heavy mail volume, we may be unable to respond to every question.

Barbara,

The apostle Paul tells us that we should not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. He also said that darkness cannot truly fellowship with light (see 2 Corinthians 6:14). What Paul said is not a law, but it is wisdom, and if you don’t follow wisdom you may suffer as a result. Many people are living miserable lives today because they followed their emotions rather than the wisdom of God. Wisdom leads us to a confident, quiet, peaceful life. But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil (Proverbs 1:33). Foolishness, however, leads to turmoil and destruction. We always want to believe that someone will change when we love and desire them, but I highly recommend that you see the fruit of change before making any permanent com-mitment to the man in question. It is foolish to merely assume that the person will change after you make a permanent commitment. God may use you to lead unbelievers to Him, and for that reason we should not entirely avoid fellowship with them. My personal guideline for spending time with unbelievers is this: I make sure that I am affecting them in a positive manner and that they are not infecting me in a negative way. Our ministry in the world is one of reconciling the unbeliever to Christ. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him] (2 Corinthians 5:18). I recommend making your position clear. Let the gentleman know about your new re-lationship with Jesus and what you believe. Don’t compromise just to keep him happy. Proceed with caution and be committed to follow the Holy Spirit in this matter. He leads us through peace and wisdom. He may want to use you to lead this individual to Jesus, but if at any time you lose your peace or feel that the decisions you are making are not wise, you should sever the relationship.

dear Joyce,

if i was dating a non-Christian before

i was saved, do i need to break up with him

now that i am?

barbara

Want to ask Joyce?

send your questions to:

Joyce Meyer Ministriesp.o. Box 1350Fenton, Mo 63026

Irene,

I believe that God knows what people need to hear at a certain place and time and that He has called me to serve Him and bless people by teaching His Word. I also believe He’s eager to help me fulfill His call on my life and do it with excellence. As I depend upon Him, I trust His Spirit to lead me to teach what is needed each place I go. Many times, the Lord is speaking to me about things I’m dealing with in my life, and that’s how I know that other people need help in the same area. So I will share from the things I’m learning at the time. Other times, God just impresses me to teach on a particular subject, and I teach on that by faith, knowing He will anoint what I say and people will be helped as I obey Him. After thirty years of teaching His Word, I have learned that He loves to help and bless people every chance He gets. As I stay close to Him and walk in obedience, I trust that He will always lead me to choose the best topic for whatever situation I am in.

dear Joyce,

how do you decide what topics to teach on?

irene

33 www.joycemeyer.org

J e s U s i n e V e r Y d aY l i F e

Recently, Wendell Geist, creative director at InProv, Ltd., was able to attend our conference in North Charleston, South Carolina. The follow-ing article is a testimony of his experience.

by Wendell Geist

Having been to only one Friday morning session of a Joyce Meyer Ministries conference in Dallas, this was my first “full-mealdeal.”AndI’vegottosay,yougetmorethanyourmoney’sworthatoneofherconferences—especiallyconsideringthey’reFREE!There’s theT-shirt “throw” at every session—and thesefolksgocrazyforashirt!Itremindedmeofthemen’senergyataPromise Keepersconference.ItamazesmehowamancangotoaJoyce Meyer Ministriesconferenceandgetsomuchoutofit.Hercrossoverinfluenceisquiteaplus,andIwouldsayunique,inministrytoday. Thelevelofenthusiasmgoingintotheeventwasquitehigh.Youcouldfeeltheanticipationasyouwalkedwiththecrowdfromtheparkinglot.Andforme,afteryearsofwritingaboutandattendinglarge“religious”events,itwasquiteafascinatingcomparison.

The Enjoyment factor In the past, events were“crusades”—a religious connotationforameetingbasedontheopportunitytohearaboutandfollowasetofguidelines.TheJoyce Meyer Ministriesconferencewaseverybitasspiritual,buttherewassucharelevanceandanenjoymentfactor.Youfindyourself laughingsomuchatwhat Joycehas tosayoratthevideoannouncements(suchasthe“JoanandJoyce”talkingheads). Sittingonthemainfloorneartheproductionbooth,asIwas,Iobservedanauditoriumriggedformusic,video,lightingeffectsandalivepresentationthattakes a backseat to only a few in entertainment today.ThereisnodoubtthatthoseresponsibleforJoyce Meyer Ministriesconferencepresentationsareahighlytalented group.And yet, I didn’t feel it was overproduced.The“gameshow”timewasclearlyacrowdfavorite,andothervideosmadesuchgooduseofhumorwithoutoverdoingit.Butassoonasthatwasdone,thetransitiontookplace.

The Opening Video Touched My Heart… You could sense the power of God in theroom. This transitional time from the openingannouncements to preparing for worship wasreallyamazing,andIwatchedseveralintheau-diencewhoweredeeplytouchedbythespiritualmessagesandencouragement.

Saturday Morning Prayer Igrewupwithawonderful spiritualheritageand certainly understand the importance of ourrelationship to the Holy Spirit, as well as theculture of worship and expression found in thebaptismoftheHolySpirit.Joycedidanamazingjobofexplainingthepowerandpresenceof theHolySpiritandleadingpeopleinprayertoreceiveagreateranointingontheir lives.She laid itoutlikeshedoeswithallherteachings—fromabibli-calpointofview.Ithoughtthiswasapowerfultimeofprayeramongbelieversofallbackgrounds. Well, I could go on and on, but suffice it tosay, I was blessed and refreshed while on thisassignment. I’ve worked with many Christianorganizationswheretheleaderisputonapedestalbecauseofhisorhergiftingandcharisma,butwithJoyce’scrowd,they love her because she’s so transparent about her sufferings in life, and they love to hear her stories of overcoming through the Word.Iheardcountlessladiessay,“I loveherbecauseshe’s real.Shecan tell youexactlyhowitisbecauseshe’sbeenthere.” GoingtoaJoyce Meyer Ministries conferenceismanythingstomanypeople,including: Refreshing… Renewing… Re-energizing… Redemptive.WhencanIreturn? E

LOS ANGELES, CAJuly 12-14

wOrShIp wIth hIllSONg’S

darlene zschech

delirious?A NIght Of evANgelISM wIth

EASt RUthERfORd, NJJuly 19-21

Together Again. Two New Cities. Two Unforgettable Conferences.Unite with thousands to hear cutting-edge messages by Joyce Meyer and Hillsong’s Pastor Brian Houston. Experience powerful worship with Darlene Zschech and a special evangelistic concert by Delirious? after Joyce’s salvation message Friday night. So, be sure to bring your unsaved friends and family.

When we unite, we are changed—so come expecting!

Los Angeles, CAStaples Center 1111 S Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90015

(213) 742-7340 www.staplescenter.com

East Rutherford, NJContinental Airlines Arena 50 State Route 120 East Rutherford, NJ 07073

(201) 935-3900 www.meadowlands.com

Conference ScheduleThursday 7 pm Brian Houston

Friday 10 am Joyce Meyer 7 pm Joyce Meyer

Saturday 10 am Brian Houston 2 pm Joyce Meyer

DON’t MISS the SpecIAl cONcert wIth

Delirious?frIDAy NIght!

For more information, go to

www.joycemeyer.org/conferences or call 1-866-SEE-JOYCE

free

ADMISSION IS

MeSSAgeS by

Brian houstonAND

Joyce Meyer

IN cONcert Friday At 7pM

A captivating story that’s sure to inspire readers everywhere.

Pick up Joyce’s very first novel, based on real events in her own life, and discover how God is at work in even the smallest details—even something as small as the penny.

AVAILABLE NOW! order YoUr CopY todaY!

NEWBOOk

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J O Y C E ’ S F I R S T N O V E L

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To order using MasterCard, VISA, American Express or Discover, call 1-800-727-9673 or visit www.joycemeyer.org. For mail orders, see order form enclosed. American Express and Discover accepted in U.S. only.

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