"Year 2011: God is doing exceedingly, abundantly, above all you could ask, think, or imagine in your life!"

It’s hard to believe that 2010 is almost over. So much has happened in our lives, in the ministry, and in the lives of those who are a part of this ministry. Since the beginning of the year, Joel has been declaring that 2010 would be an “Ephesians 3:20” year — that God would do exceedingly, abundantly, above all you could ever ask, think or imagine — and the testimonies have been pouring in!

Recently, in our women’s ministry at the church, one of our staff members shared her perspective on what it meant for her to have an Ephesians 3:20 year. She didn’t receive an unexpected amount of money. She didn’t win a trip or get a new car. In fact, this year she was facing a very difficult trial in her life. She shared that as she looked around at the prosperity of her friends and fellow church members, she asked the Lord, “Where is my Ephesians 3:20 year?” It didn’t feel like a year of blessing to her, it felt like a year of hardship. But the Lord spoke gently to her heart and showed her that because she drew close to Him during her time of difficulty, she received the true riches that will last through eternity. The insight she received from the Word of God as she studied and meditated on the scripture carried her through which is a testimony of God’s “exceedingly, abundantly, above all” blessing in her life. She is stronger in her faith, she is more alive in her love, she has peace that surpasses understanding and that is beyond what she could ever ask, think, or imagine!

This week, as you make the transition from 2010 to 2011, take some time to reflect on what God has done in your life this year. Maybe some things didn’t turn out the way you expected. Maybe some unfair things happened, but know this: God is at work in your life and He is drawing you closer to Him. You are here on purpose for a purpose, and if you look with your eyes of faith, you’ll see how He’s kept you and brought you through so much! Ask Him to show you how this year has been an Ephesians 3:20 year for you and then thank Him for His faithfulness in this year and in the years to come. Remember, God is working all things together for your good and He is doing exceedingly, abundantly, above all you could ask, think, or imagine in your life!

“And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart.” (II Corinthians 7:11, The Message)

-Victoria Osteen-

"Forget what hurt you in the past.. but never forget what it taught you"

” If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail"
-Abraham Mashlow -

” What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything."
- Vincent van Gogh -

"Why is it hard to be happy? Maybe we refuse to let go what make us sad.."

-Sifa-

"Love doesn't hide. It stays and fights. It goes the distance, that's why love is strong. So it can carry you all the way home."

-Angel-

Footprints

"Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrong doing. It does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres.. And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest is love."

-1 Corinthians 13-

"Fear not when men speak evil of you.. Fear lest you should do evil."

-Tante Abi's book-

"Men must set their minds on being honest & straight forward."

-Tante Abi's book-

"I thought we would be last, but we ended up being first.."

I've found that a lot of times life works out just like that. You may be headed somewhere in your life, and it looks like people or circumstances are pushing you back. It may seem like you're getting further and further away from where you want to be. But all God has to do is change the direction of the wind, and you'll be first in line. That's God's favor on your life. He can turn things around and make you first in line for a new job opportunity, a new home, a new relationship or a medical miracle. Today, you may feel like you're in the back of the line and nothing is going your way, but get ready because God is about to turn things around for you!

So the last will be first, and the first will be last (Matthew 20:16, NIV).

-Joel Osteen-

"Change Your Reality!!"

I was reading about this doctor in Europe. He had patients who were very sick. They had been treated through traditional methods but had not gotten any better. So this doctor gave them a very unusual prescription. He had them say three or four times an hour, "I am getting better and better, every day, in every way." Over the next few months, he saw remarkable results. The same patients who had not improved with traditional medications, all of the sudden, began to get better and better. What happened? As they heard themselves saying over and over, "I'm getting better. I'm improving. My health is coming back," those words began to create a new image on the inside. Before long, they started seeing themselves strong, healthy and whole. We see this principle all throughout scripture that once you get a picture of something on the inside, then God can bring it to pass on the outside.

I know so many people who would go to a whole new level in life if they would just practice this principle. We all know people who are always tired and rundown. And what are they constantly saying? "I'm so tired. I just don't have any energy." They've talked about it so long that it's become a reality.

The more we talk about something the more we draw it into our lives. If you get up in the morning and just talk about how you feel, how you're tired and how you're not going to make it, you are digging your own hole with your words. Instead of talking about the problem, talk about the solution! That's why the Scripture says, "Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'" Notice it doesn't say, "Let the weak talk about their weakness. Let the weak call five friends and discuss their weakness." "Let the weak complain about their weakness." No, it says in effect, "Let the weak say exactly the opposite of how they feel." In other words, don't talk about the way you are, talk about the way you want to be. If you get up in the morning feeling tired and lethargic, instead of complaining, more than ever you need to declare, "I am strong in the Lord. I am full of energy. My strength is being renewed. This is going to be a great day."

When you declare what God says about you, not only will it change how you feel, it will change how you think, and it will change how you act. It will change your reality! You won't go out with a weak, defeated, victim mentality. You'll go out with a victor's mentality, strong and well able to embrace the blessings God has in store for you!

-Joel Osteen-

"Don’t Let the Naysayers Talk You Out of Your Dream"

I have a friend who had a dream to start his own business. He had a plan, but he needed a bank to get behind him so he could get a loan to get the business off the ground. First, he went to his bank that he had used for many years, but they turned him down for the loan. They said his idea wasn't a good idea. He went to another bank and another. They all said the same thing, "It's never going to work." In fact, thirty-one banks told him "no." Thirty-one banks said, "It's not a good idea. It's never going to work." But when you're in circumstances like this, you have to decide, are you are going to believe the report of people or are you going to believe the report of the Lord? This man chose to believe what God had placed on the inside of him. All he had was $150. Really, he needed several hundred thousand dollars to get the business off the ground the right way, but he took what he had and bought a few supplies to do what he could to get the business started. His first client liked his work so much that they gave him a one-year contract. He took that contract to the bank. Thirty-one banks told him "no," but bank number thirty-two said "yes." Today, this man has a multimillion dollar, growing, successful business. What happened? He used what he had in his hand. When he recognized what he had and took a step of faith in spite of what his circumstances were saying, that's when God showed up and started breathing in his direction.

You may have a dream right now, but like this man, every voice is telling you, "It's never going to work. It's not a good idea. You don't have enough people behind you." No, God wouldn't have given you the dream; He wouldn't have put that idea in your heart without giving you the resources to see it come to pass.

Now is the time to look around because when God gives you a dream, He gives it to you in seed form. In other words, if you have a dream to have a big oak tree, God is going to give you an acorn. Everything you need to see that dream come to pass is within your reach right now. Don't just sit back and say, "Well, I don't have the connections, Joel. Everybody tells me it's not a good idea. All I've got is this little bitty 'acorn'." No, use what you have because God has already lined up the right people, the right breaks, the right resources. Thirty-one banks may have told you "no," but let me tell you, bank number thirty-two is coming. Thirty-one banks may have said, "Not a good idea," but bank number thirty-two is going to say, "Great idea. We're on board." Don't let people talk you out of what you know God placed in your heart because He is faithful, and He will fulfill every promise He has deposited inside of you!

- Joel Osteen-