FEAR has no POWER!

Yesterday's entry focused on not being afraid of a do-over yet the key is being afraid. Fear is what keeps us from so many God given dreams that I would be remiss in not addressing it separately. I purposely say us because I know that fear has personally held me back for more years that I care to remember. 

While training to become a Christian Counselor, the instructor focused two entire sessions on fear because it is the root of most people problems even when they do not want to admit it or cannot place their finger on it. FEAR can be defined as False Evidence Appearing Real. I love this definition as it epitomize the essence of fear to me because it is those things within our mind that appear so real and control our reality yet are not factual. 

In 2007, after an accidental overdose, I experienced a period of homelessness that was real as the hair on my head and the eyes on my face yet fear controlled me and held me in bondage. It was keeping me from that do-over that I speak so boldly about today. My homelessness was real. My medical issues were real. My lack of finances were real yet this is not where fear had me bound. Fear had a hold of me that I could not get out of being homelessness. Fear had me believing that my health would never improve. Fear told me that no one loved me and would help me. Fear drove me to believe I would never be anything but what I was at that moment. Fear had me blinded to the fact that I was once a successful business woman, mother, wife, and Christian. Fear felt so real to me that I saw nothing but what my mind told me to believe. 

So you ask how do you overcome fear? 

1. Realign your thinking – I absolutely love Joyce Meyer's Battlefield of the Mind and Power Thoughts as they books show Gods way of realigning our thinking. In Power Thoughts, she tells us that we can teach our mind to work for us. Most importantly is that the brain is an every maturing organ that never stops until death. I hear people in my business say often that I am just a negative person. This does not have to be the truth. You can relearn your thinking to be positive. Begin by thinking positive thoughts even in the midst of your circumstances. 
2. Rewrite the story  – Fear is those stories we tell ourselves. If it is that simple then rewrite the stories. Find a new story to tell yourself. I began telling myself that I was going to get through this. I am loved. I am wonderfully and fearfully made. (Psalm 139:14) Guess what my story changed because I was now living a new story. Rewrite your story and begin to live! 
3. Reignite your passion - Find that fun thing to do and fear cannot stop you from being you. I know you will laugh but while homeless, I danced! I took dancing lessons for free (find them in your community) and danced. I learned Salsa, Tango, Ballroom, Tap and more. I had the time of my life. I frequently quote from my book Dancing in the Rain produces His Promises! Yes, I was experiencing the most difficult time of my life but found out I could dance and enjoy life. Reignite your passion. It's burning inside you! FEAR has no POWER! 

I Encourage you to enjoy life to the fullest! It is too short to allow fear to write the story. Write your own story! Propel Your Problems to Potential!

Never forget, As I Encourage You, I Encourage Myself!

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Follow your Dreams

Proverbs 29:18 shares with usthat "where there is no vision, the people perish." God has designed us all to lived a fullfilled a purposeful life on this side of heaven giving Him the glory.  Salvation awards us eternal life but it also awards us an abundant life according to John 10:10. What does that look like for you? Is it a dream job, an excursion to an exotic location, completing that degree program, writing that book God placed inside of you, owning your own business, having a child, marrying or living as God desires? What ever it is you must envision it to conceive it or you will never receive it! 

This Friday, I received a proof copy of my book, As I Encourage You, I Encourage Myself, and the reality of God's goodness hit me. It was not because of anything I had done except my belief in His promises that allowed this lifelong dream to become a reality.  I had seen the book on Kindle and Nook but it was not until I had the physical book in my hand could I acknowledge the full manifestation of Gods glory working in my life. 

I challenge all who may reading this blog to follow your dreams. Do not allow the chatterbox of your negative thinking, the enemy, your friends, your family, your finances, or the worlds standards keep you from the promises God has for you! We truly can do all thing through Christ that gives us strength.  Keep pressing towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus! Not only am I a new Author but a publisher! But God! Never forget as I Encourage you, I Encourage myself!  Be blessed! 

Books available on www.forhimministry.org

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Upcoming Book Release March 1, 2014

I cannot begin to explain to you the feeling I have at the release of this book. As God has called me to encourage others through my own personal struggles, testimonies, and life experiences, I am learning daily that God truly can and will do the impossible.  There is no challenge too big or no person too small. He kept lil oh me for a purpose. 

This books objective is to encourage you to be all God designed you to be in spite of circumstances and situations. It shows how you can continue to dance in the storm because there is sunshine tomorrow. Not only do I share parts of me but my goal is to use the work God is doing in my life to encourage all, believers and unbelievers, to never give up. Yes, it looks dark sometime, it even seems too difficult to bear, yet God is building our endurance and making us new creatures in Him. We can't lose hope. 

I invite you to join me for an online book party to celebrate what God is doing! Join the live event for cool giveaways and an opportunity to chat about the book. Sign up at https://m.facebook.com/events/250199621825598/?source=1

Never forget As I Encourage You, I Encourage Myself

Love is in the Air!

 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.' (Acts17:28 NASB)

Happy New Years! 

As 2014 rang, unlike most, this year I spent the evening home alone.  I have been sick for the last several days recouperating so I was still tired and really wanted to be alone. I spent the evening wring and reflecting on the past year and God's promises.  It is true that for in Him we exist and have our being. As His children we recognize our existence in Him and our need for love and His love.  

I hear Christian women say that the only man they need is Jesus but as I watch they are the same ones seeking for the love of a man.  I believe they are deceiving themselves.  God made each of us to need each pther through the love of Him.  It was God that Adam was not complete and needed woman. Through His love for His children He provides us with each other to love.  Women, we deceive ourselves and men. Also, men need to feel needed! It is how God made them. 

As we have our existence in Christ, know we were created to love and be loved! Love God with all your heart this new year and seek His face while not allowing fear to rob you of loving like you have never loved before. Remember, God is love! You can not really love without knowing Him! 

As I encourage you, I encourage myself! LOVE is in the air! Happy New Years! Be blessed! -rfwb

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Coming Forth as Pure Gold!

"He knows the way that I take, and when his has tried me, I shall come forth as gold"... Job 23:10

Job was tried but yet he persevered and kept pressing forward. Paul, while imprisoned, wrote words of encouragements to the various churches motivating them to keep pressing towards the mark. We too must keep pressing and we shall come forth as gold.

I started this year off fasting and praying as I have the past 5 years, seeking God's face for guidance, direction, and continued protection. Within the last ten years, I often feel like I have been tried through the fire but yet God's magnificent glory shines brighter than the rain from the storm. Following the words of the prophet Habakkuk, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I wrote down the visions that God had given me some twenty years ago but fear kept me from realizing them. Thankfully, God has strategically placed people in my life who have encouraged me, supported me and given me the motivation to start grasping the dreams God had invested in me. Utilizing my spiritual gifts, this year I humbly feel honor in how God has used me for His Glory.

I had three major goals that only God could help me through this year and He has done exceedingly and more abundantly. Through, obedience, much prayer, sacrifice and sheer walk of faith, I initially accepted my call to the ministry by surrendering my life to God and became a licensed minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I learned that God does truly qualify the called, even when we run.  Secondly, I entered theology school and I am very excited knowing that I can almost taste the degree. Only by His grace and mercy. Finally, that book that has been inside of me for more than twenty years has been written. My soul rejoices at the glorious work of our King through me.  It was definitely not by my own doing.

In the spring of 2014, watch for the release of my new book at For Him Ministries

Despite the storm and rain, I thank God He's allowing me to tell His story. All that I do is for His glorification and edification. Never ever forget that, "As I Encourage You, I Encourage Myself!"  Be Blessed

Like Job, we all shall come out like pure Gold!!!!

Take the Limits off

"Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" Psalm 78:41 NKJV 

In our daily lives, we become forgetful of God's miraculous powers and all things He has done in our life.  Our forgetfulness limits God's ability to do more for us because we are unable to see past the here and now.  The Israelites were a forgetful people because they continuously through their complaining and murmuring failed to recall it was God that provided manna when they were hungry.  It was God who delivered them from the wilderness and forgave them despite their sinful ways.  As much as they tempted God, he still cared and loved them.  Their actions limited God's actions because they failed to see how big God was. 

As we prepare to enter a New Year, we too can fail if we do not open our hearts and take the limits off of God! We limit our own potential, dreams and visions when we limit God! God has plans to prosper us in all areas of our lives only if we trust and believe Him at His word. Embrace the New Year with passion, zeal and a renewed love of Christ by taking the limits off. Start making preparation today! As I encourage you, I truly encourage myself. Be blessed. -rfwb

Whole armor of God

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:10-12 KJV)

Recognize the closer you walk with God and do His will, the attack of the enemy will be intense. We are not fighting an ordinary battle here.  The attacks will come when you least expect them.  One thing you must keep in mind that its not personal! It really isn't about you! The enemy doesn't want anyone to have any joy. Do not think you are special because he's picking on you. You are special because, The Lord said "the battle is mine!"  It is not our battle to fight! But while God is fighting this battle, don't stand there unprotected and think you will not get harmed.  Paul encourages us that as we stand allowing God to fight the battle we must put on the whole armor of God!  

Those wicked attacks will bounce off God's armor! Now remember the attacks are gonna come, especially the more you do His will! Actually that is a sign of God's favor and the enemy's anger.  I'd rather have God's favor over the enemy's anger any day.  I encourage you to stand, be protected, let God do the fighting and never forget "You're already victorious in Christ Jesus!"  

As I encourage you, I encourage myself. Be blessed -rfwb

Encourage your Ownself!!!!!!

Sometimes you have to encourage your own self in the Lord! 

Why do I share this? Not to discourage or hurt but to strengthen. Even the strongest need encouragement. Often we seek encouragement from others and there is a price to pay to receive. In friendship and in relationships, one must give to receive. I have found myself seeking encouragement but spend more time encouraging that individual or listening to their problems than receiving what I desired. One night it was so bad I decided to tell the dog all my problems. She seemed to listen intently, with her ears alert at the appropriate spots, tail wagging even shaking her head for me to realize I had to pay a price for her encouragement too! She wanted a treat for her attention! Lol. I say this to say, the joy of the Lord is our strengthen! We must continue daily to encourage ourselves! 

Also for me as I encourage you I encourage myself! (Sharing that treat made my day!). 

Be blessed -rfwb