Joy in Pressing!

As a chronic pain sufferer, when I am asked "how are you today?" my response is joyfully "I'm pressing!" There is not a day I am not in pain some days are greater than others but I have learned to press on in spite of pain, in spite of problems, in spite of panic.  I have learned that peace, purpose and potential is on the other side giving me something to press on for with joy. 

I am reminded of Paul in the Book of Philippians who was experiencing a great deal of panic, problems and pains at the hands of others but specifically in the name of Christ. He desired to encourage the saints at Philippi on how to live a life pleasing to God despite the things we go through. He opens chapter 3 with "rejoice in the Lord!" His focus is joy in the Lord will help us make it through.  Our joy will not come from material wealth, as this will pass away. Our joy will not come from idolizing others as man will let you down. It will not come from the many titles you carry because the greatest title is "chosen." He continues by providing examples of how to find that joy. I rejoice when he says, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14 NASB) He identifies that there's joy in pressing.

So, how do you experience joy in pressing?

1. There is joy in maturing – I often hear people say "I am not perfect." This is true as no matter how good we are we won't be perfect until, as Christians, we see Jesus face-to-face. In the bible, the word perfect means "mature, complete, bring to an end, finish, accomplish." I love the word mature as each day we are maturing getting more and more like Christ and we should find joy in this maturity by striving to living a life pleasing to God. No, you're not perfect yet, but you are maturing and growing to perfection, daily!
2. There is joy is forgetting  – We all have a past but our past does not define us! Our past is only a tool to be used to teach us not hold us back. Paul tells us:  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, (Philippians 3:13 NASB). He is speaking of perfection. He confesses he's not there yet but he forgets those things behind him to reach the things in front of him. My pastor says, "we can't move forward while looking backwards." Have you tried walking full steam ahead while your head is turned backwards? It's virtually impossible.  We have to learn to let go of our past.  Forget what you couldn't do last year! Forget what people said about you! Forget about the mistakes you have made! The joy in forgetting is it allows you to see the dream and vision fully. 
3. There is joy in pressing  - Yes, we may experience pain! Yes, there may be problems along the way! Yes, it may not feel comfortable and we panic but imagine for a moment what you are missing out on.  There is an ultimate goal that each of us must keep in perspective.  Mine is ultimately please God.  I cannot do this if I succumb to pain or the things going on around me. The joy in pressing is that pleasing God brings us joy. (Art of Reciprocity). Yesterday in pain, I spent the day working my business side by side with my daughter. Watching her shine as she shared her business with others was worth the pain of getting out of bed and making the two hour drive. I share this because sometimes we never know what we are missing until we get up and keep pressing. Don't miss the mark of the higher calling! Keep pressing! There's joy in them there hills!

Remember the joy of the Lord is our Strength! Even when we are tired He provides us the joy to keep pressing! 

I encourage you to keep pressing in all you do knowing that there's joy! Propel Your Problems to Potential!

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

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You are a Kingdom Woman!

I am currently performing my ministry internship at Community Baptist Church, The Woodlands as God is using me to expand my territory teaching the Tony Evans Kingdom Woman Series. As a student at Grace School of Theology, students preparing to graduate must participate in a semester long internship program. 

As we study Kingdom Woman, it is apparent that Christ sees our worth and has a role for every one in His kingdom. He is calling His divinely purposed women who are daughters of Abraham to step up and take their rightful place in the Kingdom. As diamonds that Christ has seeked, He is refining us daily. Despite a little dirt we are still a diamond in Christ's eye.  

As diamonds in the rough, we should allow our actions, thoughts and words reflect Christ.  In doing so we become the rare, refined, and renewed diamond that only a Kingdom Woman is destined to be.

I encourage you to be like the woman at the well and acknowledge when God is seeking you! Also, you do not have remain bent over. Tony says, “Before you check out, check up.” 

Tony tells the story of a child who wants a chocolate-chip cookie and badgers her mother into 

buying her some at the grocery store checkout line—the child did not give up. Likewise, kingdom women should not give up but instead look to God to meet their needs. 

You are a Kingdom Woman! 

I Encourage you to Shine like the Diamon you are! Propel Your Problems to Potential!

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

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There is a blessing in a NO!

Propel Problems 2 Potential Series

Situations come in our lives where we have prayed and it seems God has no answer. Yet, we fail to realize He answers in three ways:

• Yes!
• No!
• Not Yet!

Personally, I have learned that there is a blessing in each answer requiring us to have faith in God believing that He has our best interest at heart!

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 KJV)

How do we recognize God is working things out for our good when His answer is No or Not Yet?

1. No! is for Protection – Recognize that No is for your protection. There is something in what you are asking for that God is protecting you from.  As a little girl wanting to ride my bike around the corner with my friends, my mom often said no. At the time, I thought she was being mean but she was shielding me from the things that lurked around the corner. What's important is that I had to trust her intuition of things lurking as we need to trust God's all-knowing nature.  He loves us enough to say No to protect us. Don't get mad. Thank Him for the Protection! 
2. Not Yet! Is for Future Provision – God is asking us to be patient. Wait for it. There maybe several reasons for you to wait: you are not ready, God has plans for your latter seasons, etc. Remember that a Not Yet is God saying the best is yet to come, wait for it! Trusting God's provision for your not yet will provide greater potential. 
3. Remain Focused on the Promises- God has promised us He would never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6) even when the answer is No! It is easy in the midst of our trials, situations, and problems to focus on it instead of God's promises. Remind yourself, God is never truly silent. He hears your cry. Remain Focused, Faithful, and Fervent on the Promises. They are yours!

God answers prayer yet not always as we desire.

Recently, I prayed over a particular opportunity to manifest in my life and was disappointed when God said no. Initially, I admit, all I saw was the world rejecting me instead of the fact that God was preparing me for a bigger opportunity He had in store that I had no idea was on the horizon. As God began to reveal more and more of His plan and purpose it was apparent why He said no. I had to trust Him or I would have missed out on the greater blessing.  

I encourage you to keep praying. God hears you. Thank and appreciate His No! Rejoicing in His Yes!

You are wonderfully and fearfully made! 

I Encourage you to Shine like the Star you are! Propel Your Problems to Potential!

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

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And our new products at www.RaleneSpeaks.com

Generational Problems to Potential

Propel Problems 2 Potential Series

I have experienced chronic pain and sickness my entire life. I recall as a little girl in kindergarten visiting the nurse’s office doubled over in pain but because I did not have a fever or visible signs of distress, I was dismissed. This pattern followed me into my adulthood until I collapsed.

My mother was a beautiful woman who took great care of her family and those around her while silently suffering with diabetes. My youth was marked with incidents of her debilitating silent strokes yet I watch her continue to work, care for home, church, loved ones in the midst of her own personal struggles.

In writing my family history in my book, "Connected by Grace," I learned that my grandmother, my mom’s mother, suffered a fatal stroke at the age of 42. She is remembered for the love she showed for her 7 children, husband, and others. Her children loving describe her as one who suffered in silence and yet she died young.

This past couple of weeks, as I watched my daughter suffer through health issues, wishing I could take away her pain, I realized that her problems, pain, and panic mimic my own and, generationally, my mother’s and my grandmother’s. It has even been seen in my beautiful five year old granddaughter. We often see the pattern and wish that we can break the cycle. I never desired to endure what my mother endured even though I recognized how she overcame her own adversities. I can only imagine that my mother felt the same about her mother, as my grandmother felt for her mother before her.

How do we propel ourselves from the generational pattern to reach our own personal potential?

1. Acknowledge the Problem (Houston, we have a problem!) – Recognizing that a problem exists is generally the hardest thing for many of us. We must know that we have problem but our problems do not have us. Problems do not define us. It is ok to realize you have depression but depression does not define you. When you acknowledge the problem you can begin to seek assistance from others to live a productive life. Hiding from the problem keeps you stuck in bondage to it.
2. Positively embrace the Transformation – There is help for most situation even cancer. A positive attitude changes our outlook on life. The potential to live a fulfilled life even while facing terminal illness is based upon attitude. While participating in my first cancer walk as a survivor in 2012, I chatted with other survivors about their success through radiation, chemotherapy, and surgeries. The common factor among most was attitude! Change your focus from your problem to your potential.
3. Allow Patterns to Teach- Those before us endured much yet have taught us what to do and not do. We can learn from their lessons by choosing wisely to embrace the positive from their lives. We have the advantage of looking at our loved ones lives on a movie screen, seeing the beauty that made them who they are. Open-mindedly, embrace their struggles of endurance! You can do it too.
4. Revel in the Differences – Be excited that despite the problems that may appear to be handed down, you have options available that were not available generations ago. Doctors, medication, counseling, 12-Step programs, medical studies and so much more are yours! This makes you able to… Choose differently. Live differently. Grow differently. Be different!

Generational patterns do not have to be curses. They are sequence of evidences of behaviors that is repeated until someone says stop! You have not been cursed! Recognize that a pattern exists, embrace it for change as it teaches, and know what makes you different as it propels you to your greatest potential!

You are wonderfully and fearfully made! 

I Encourage you to Shine like the Star you are! 

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

Check out our page at Www.facebook.com/RaleneBerry

And our new products at www.RaleneSpeaks.com