From inside a teenager's heart...

It is with great honor that I get to share this with you today because it comes from inside a teenager's heart. One heart that happens to be within the confines of the high school in which I teach. It's good to know we have caring children this day and age that really makes your heart smile. This video that you are about to see is about one of our seniors (Raven Johnson) who has a life-threatening disease that could have taken her out years ago. But she's a fighter and also God's very own. I cried when first seeing this video, one because it happened with one of our kids, but also because it shows the testament of God's divine love for His own. He will use people for His glory to bring about change, restoration, and his greatest gift--His love. I won't tell you the details of the video, or even the circumstance regarding her illness (I'll leave that for you to see). However, I will say, please remember not only this story, but this young lady because it will indeed warm your heart. It makes me praise God even more. Our complaints of what we don't have should cease knowing that if God never did another thing, He has done enough! We have life, health, and strength, and we should give God all the glory for it!

Be blessed!




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Of Loaves and Fishes

Of Loaves and Fishes
5.17.09 By Heather Goodman

We've heard the story dozens, maybe hundreds, of times. Five thousand men (not to mention the thousands of women and children) listen at the feet of Jesus. They get hungry, as humans tend to do, and Jesus decides to do something about it. He turns to his disciples and inquires as to their suggestions. Using logic and simple math, they respond with the impossibility of the situation. Jesus works a miracle, and everyone eats.

Pastors and teachers elaborate on different points, mainly around God's sufficiency and power.

All very well and good, but what about the little boy, the one who offered up his five loaves and two fish? What happened to him? Sure, he ate that meal along with everyone else, but then what?

Truth be told, that little boy would have eaten a hearty meal anyway, one of the few—perhaps one of the only—able to do so. And his five loaves and two fish might have fed him for another couple of meals. That boy had planned ahead.

So I wonder, did Jesus give him a basket or two of the leftovers? Or did the boy walk away wonder-eyed and empty-handed?

How could these gospel writers omit such an important detail?

Recently, my husband and I joined the ranks of those experiencing reduced income. We scrutinize every nickel that leaves our hands. "Could we have saved it?" we ask, and "What can we cut?" Superfluous expenses fall to our feet like branches from a pruned tree. We figure and refigure our budget on spreadsheets, trying to make the numbers match.

And in our examination, we consider our giving. We need this meal. We need it for lunch, and we need it for the next few days. How can we afford to offer up our last bit of fish and loaves?

So when I read this passage, the question nags. What happens to the boy on the other end of the miracle?

The biblical writers offer no answer to the question. What they don't say:

"And the boy left with a basket forever filled with fish and loaves."

Or, "As Jesus lifted the food from the boy's hand, he promised the boy a secure future of full fishnets and in-demand business."

Or even, "After the disciples collected the twelve baskets full, they returned five loaves and two fish to the boy who gave his lunch."

Given these lines, dropping our check into the offering plate would present no problem. But God doesn't promise a comfortable life. He doesn't promise cable or sushi or new books. Instead, he promises life, and life to the fullest. Christ said, "I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly" (John 10:10 , NET). This life abounds in the hope of the resurrection, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the peace of Christ that transcends all understanding. We give out of this abundance. We give joy, peace, kindness, love, but we always give time, commitment, and money.

At some point in our lives, we all step into the well-worn sandals of the boy in the story. Times are hard. We barely have enough for ourselves, but Jesus asks us to give anyway. We don't know what happens economically on the other side of the giving, but our hope is not in economics. Our hope is in Christ.

Heather graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary and is a writer and speaker on The Hero's Journey, Art and Theology, and Incarnating Christ's Love. You can find her at her blog, L'Chaim.

I am Officially a World Changer!

Many wonderful things have happened to me since my arriving to Atlanta, GA back in 2007. But nothing compares to the awesome ceremony that transpired today as I walked across the stage, shook Pastor Creflo A. Dollar and Pastor Taffi L. Dollar's hand, and became an Official World Changer, --ready to make a mark in this world that will not be erased!

The first class of 2009 was a big one! All of us in our blue cap and gowns initially embarked on a ten week journey through Christian Education at its best. Our class, as Pastor Dollar calls it, is a class of "Wisdom"- we possess and strive to search feverishly for the knowledge, WISDOM, and understanding to make sure our destinies and callings from God line up with His will.

This is a day that starts the rest of our lives. We will take up our crosses and follow Jesus knowing that in the following is life, healing, deliverance, an increased anointing, and wisdom that will carry us into our eternal life with Christ!

Proverbs 4:7 --Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

God is All-Powerful!

No matter what your struggle, no what what sin you have committed, no matter is you turned and walked away from God even years ago, God is there, waiting for you to call Him Lord over your life! He loves you with an everlasting love! Even when you thought you were too far gone, and that God would never love you because of what you have done, He said He would never leave you, nor forsake you (Hebrew 13:5).

So many people are hurting in this world. Please if you see others around you that are in need or hurting from this life, be the brother or sister that may help them see Jesus! Pray for them, encourage and uplift them. Be a witness to them, and show love for God is love (I John 4:16).

Many of you may have seen this video below before, but sometimes we have to be reminded of the goodness of Jesus, especially when situations may deem itself as if Jesus may be far from us in our times of need. But He is there, and He knows about all of our concerns. As a matter of fact, He said that he would perfect that which concerns us (Psalm 138:8).

I pray this video will bless you as much as it blessed me!

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39).

Promise Yourself

A Motivational Poem

Promise Yourself
By Christian D. Larson

Promise yourself….

To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Get Your Inheritance

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1: 12-14 KJV).



Too many times in our lives, we have committed wrongdoing, been subjected to shame, intimidation, and utter despair, all because we felt that we didn't deserve to be loved by God. We consistently do what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans:

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me (Romans 7:19-20).

We constantly remind ourselves through our actions that we were born in sin, and shaped in iniquity. However, God chose us (we didn't choose Him) from the foundations of the world, to be used for His glory! Even in our mess, He still has a plan for us. It's amazing how we always want to beat ourselves up for the things we have done.

When God chose us---after we realized who God was in our lives, we came into the knowledge of Him and we finally accepted Him as Lord over our lives to receive His salvation, He immediately clothed us in righteousness. We were forgiven from all of our sins, washed by the blood of the lamb, and positioned for all of the wealth, riches, and inheritance, including His grace and mercy. The word says we are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ! So we are positioned for our heavenly reward! Thanks be to God!

But not only that, God wants to bless you right now! However, what we say out of our mouths will be the determining factor as to what kind of blessings we will receive, if any at all. The word says in Colossians that if we continue to walk worthy of the Lord and be fruitful in all we put our hands to, while increasing our knowledge of the Lord (the word), He will give us power from on high to endure the tests and trials that we face. We are to do it joyfully, never doubting, worrying or wavering, because we are already delivered from the hands of the evil one (Satan). We have been transferred from darkness into the light! Amen! We have been redeemed! So get your inheritance! Everything that the devil has stolen from you--say STOP, NO MORE!

Satan does not have a right to your children--say STOP, NO MORE! He has no authority over your finances--say STOP, NO MORE! If you are wanting a new job, declare that it is so, and say to the devil, STOP, NO MORE! We are partakers of the divine inheritance!



Psalm 112:3: Wealth and riches [shall be] in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

Ecclesiastes 5:19: Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this [is] the gift of God.

So stop thinking negative of yourself and your situation. God loves you! You are His! He calls us His friend. Don't you know He will always take care of what's His! So, what are you declaring out of your mouth?

In His Love,

Nothing to Fear

There's nothing to fear ---
you're as good as the best,
As strong as the mightiest, too.
You can win in every battle or test;
For there's no one just like you.
There's only one you in the world today;
So nobody else, you see,
Can do your work in as fine a way:
You're the only you there'll be !

So face the world, and all life is yours
To conquer and love and live:
And you'll find the happiness that endures
In just the measure you give;
There's nothing too good for you to possess,
Nor heights where you cannot go:
Your power is more than belief or guess ---
It is something you have to know.

There is nothing to fear --- you can and you will.
For you are the invincible you.
Set your foot on the highest hill ---
There's nothing you cannot do.

-- Author Unknown

A Manual for Today's Modern Working Christian

Don't we all wish many of our job descriptions came with a manual on not only how to do our jobs, but also how to handle and communicate with many of our colleagues and co-workers, and even our bosses? Take a look at this article, written by Tom Petersen of The High Calling of Our Daily Work Devotional Site. What a wonderful and life-changing way of looking at our responsibilities as working Christians. Enjoy!


The Romans 12 Employee Handbook

How do you make your workday fruitful and serve God at the same time? Should you focus primarily on doing quality work? Should you try to strengthen relationships with coworkers? Should you only speak in scriptural parables?

Sure, the Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom, but sometimes biblical examples seem more applicable to life two thousand years ago. Yet when Paul writes the 12th chapter of his letter to the Romans, his advice on relating to Roman society contains some practical tips for today. Fifteen practical tips, in fact. Consider it a handy condensed employee handbook for modern working Christians.

1. Love must be sincere. (12:9a)

(Whom do you need to sincerely love at work? If no one comes to mind, start with the legal department.)

2. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (9b)

(Don't allow everything to fall into that nebulous moral gray area. Know your right from your wrong, and follow the right path consistently.)

3. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. (10a)

(It's tempting to only relate superficially to coworkers. After all, it's not like they're family. On the other hand, name a family member that you spend eight-plus waking hours a day with.)

4. Honor one another above yourselves. (10b)

(Seek out opportunities to give your teammates credit for their good work. It's unlikely that you did every project, presentation, and paper all by yourself. Even Jesus delegated important tasks.)

5. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (11)

(On Monday morning, "zeal" may not be your predominant attitude. But it's a lot easier to be zealous when you see work as worship.)

6. Share with God's people who are in need. (13a)

(Who among your fellow Christian coworkers needs encouragement? And be careful you aren't only "encouraging" people who are in a position to promote you. That kind of encouragement is called something else.)

7. Practice hospitality. (13b)

(Think of every day as the office Christmas party, and you're the host. How would your workday be different if you worked hard to make sure everyone was comfortable, well-fed, and having a good time?)

8. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (14)

(Find ways to bless those who criticize you, see you as competition, or just derive some strange pleasure by making others unhappy. You can take some comfort knowing that these types of jerks have been around since Roman times.)

9. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (15)

(Be so sensitive to your coworkers that you are attuned to their life events. Simply attending the birthday cake cutting in the conference room doesn't count.)

10. Live in harmony with one another. (16a)

(Pointing out the shortcomings of someone else's work may make you feel superior, but helping create an environment where you and your colleagues get along will have much longer term benefits.)

11. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. (16b)

(Don't spend your workday angling for your next promotion. Do your best work right here.)

12. Do not be conceited. (16c)

(Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought. God cares more about your heart than your employee-of-the-month plaque.)

13. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. (17a)

(Every day brings a million opportunities for offense. Instead, have an attitude of grace—even when someone drains the last drop of coffee and doesn't make another pot.)

14. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. (17b)

(While God's opinion trumps all, your coworkers expect "good" people to act a certain way. Doing right by your coworkers may be the best way to get their attention.)

15. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(18)

(Don't pick fights. Especially not with anyone in the legal department.)


Paul amplifies his last instruction, urging us to overcome evil with good. As a result, we set ourselves apart from society and point others to Christ.

Those are great ideals. But where do you find the strength, courage, and discipline to do these on a daily basis?

Paul provides guidance here too. In the midst of all these instructions for interacting with others, he calls the Romans—and us—to follow three inward, personal activities: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (12).

Take strength from the hope we have in Christ, persevere even when it's challenging, and actively pray to keep your own zeal. In the process, you may even make some friends in the legal department.

Tom Petersen works in an office building in the Midwest, where he attends meetings, crafts action plans, and formulates management objectives. His passion is using humor to encourage people to find the balance between their work and faith. You can see more of Tom at his website, www.HisWorkInProgress.com, or his periodic blog, HisWork.blogspot.com.