Power Thoughts by Joyce Meyer book study

Now that we have all purchased or downloaded our books, it's time to dig in.  We want to encourage you to read at your own pace, as fast or as slow as you may need, but keep reading, daily.  As you read through the book, look up the scriptures Joyce Meyer refers to.  Look them up in your favorite Bible, whether that's The Message, the Amplified, or King James, or one of the many others.  If you don't understand one version, look it up in another, and another.  http://www.biblegateway.com/ is a fantastic resource for looking up Scripture in many many many versions!  If you are using your Smartphone, http://www.youversion.com/mobile is a great app for both IPHONE and ANDROID.

Check back here often to see what we are drilling into with our Power Thoughts.  It's fantastic that so many of you show up month after month to our Woman of Joy meetings.  We want to take you a step further and offer you daily and weekly encouragement, advice, and of course God's Word. You are doing the work, you are renewing your mind, we will attempt to lead,guide, encourage, and connect with you on YOUR journey.  We will share from our hearts...sometimes stories from our own lives or what God has planted in our heart.  We hope to hear from you as well...God is going to move mightly through Women of Joy as we move along in this book and root ourselves in His Word.

We are praying for each of you and devoting ourselves to shepharding you through this book.  You will get out of this study what you put in.  As you begin, ask God to reveal to you anything you can put to the side to really devote some time to Him and this study He has planted in your life.   

We love hearing how your journey is going.  You can alway leave comments here on the blog under each post.  You can also connect with us on the Women of Joy group page on FACEBOOK. Let us know what God reveals to you and what stands out as you read!
Ready? Set? GO!

Expect The Blessings

Expect the Blessings

When I left the house the other morning, I knew I had a busy day ahead of me.  I was already pressed for time, so I said, “Lord I really need to get front row parking at the first couple of places I’m going.  I need to be able to get in and get out.”  Well that’s exactly what He did!  I immediately started praising Him and then I said, “Lord while you’re at it go ahead and bless me with front row parking at the next two businesses as well!  I was expecting and believing this to be and it was!  Thank you Lord for your unmerited favor!

You see, there was a time in my life when I wouldn’t dare ask for a parking spot, let alone something bigger, because I thought you had to “work” for your blessings.  By “work” I mean put your time in with the Lord, such as reading so much of the Word and praying for a certain amount of time each day. If I “worked” hard enough, then I believed that I deserved the blessings and if I didn’t then I thought I was unworthy to be blessed.

Well, that is a lie straight from the pit of hell!  We do not have to work for our blessings!  Jesus already paid the price on the cross for us and blessings are part of that price!  In Deuteronomy 28 it says that the blessings of God are chasing us down and knocking us over! King James uses the word “overtake” which can be interpreted as SURPRISE.  God loves to continually surprise His believers with his loving kindness and blessings. Read Deuteronomy 28 in several different versions, I suggest The Message and The Amplified. The list of blessings given to Israel goes one and on. To the children of Israel everything in Canaan belonged to them. To you and me (heirs to the promise as it is written in Christ’s last Will & Testament) it means that God wishes to continue His covenant with you as it was with the children of Israel. The only action required of us is to obey His commandments, expect, believe and receive!

 The Lord would love nothing more than to bless your socks off…so what are you waiting for…obey, expect, believe and receive!

Spring is here!

It doesn't matter what the groundhog says each year, March marks the start of Spring for me.  Whether March comes in like a lion or lamb (or is it out like lion or lamb?) it always gets me on my Spring Cleaning campaign.  How about you?  Do you do a large overhaul in Spring?  

Setting up a cleaning schedule is key to balancing things whether you work or not.   I'm talking a year round, daily, weekly, monthly schedule. I've experienced first hand how letting it all pile up and trying to tackle large amounts of cleaning in a few hours.  I end up frustrated and mad at the people who made the mess!  This creates strife in my life and Satan uses that to attack me, my kids, my marriage. I can overcome that by taking action to avoid the massive amounts by tackling something everyday. 

 When Spring arrives, I can focus on the big once a year items.  Writing down a schedule will helps me stay on task.  If I miss something today, I make it a point to catch up the following day.  My schedule is in my Home binder and attached to my weekly calendar. 

I searched for my favorite cleaning schedules (because it's nice to have the work done for you) available to print....FREE!  Here is my top pick:

A Real-Life Housewife created these schedules and gracioulsy posted on her blog so that you may print them.  If these aren't fitting with your needs, she also has blank ones available!  How great is that?  Just click on the picture above to be taken to the page containing the links to her free printables. 

Freebie Friday - A roundup of free stuff

I hope you are having a marvellous week!  It's hard to believe another week has gone by...wait another month just ended!  HELLO MARCH! 

I am not sure if its all the research I've been doing lately for Women of Joy items, or if its just becoming readily available, but I am seeing a lot of Faith based freebies.  Now, those who know me or read my posts on Facebook, or on my other blog know I can spot a freebie from a mile away.  Not really, but I do love free things!  And I love sharing free things with my friends and family.  And you, my dears, are family, my family in Christ.  So, I am gathering up the Free things I find around the net, mostly faith building freebies, but not always faith based.  I may throw in a free food item every now and then... we gotta eat right!?
Getting Free Stuff Safely

Most freebies require that you simply sign up for the item. Items to be mailed will require a valid mailing address, usually PO Boxes are not accepted.  Anything you receive via email would require a vailed email address.  To protect yourself from identity theft, spam, or unwanted offers, consider using a free e-mail server instead of your regular every day e-mail address.  I have a hotmail account that I use for all my freebie stuff.  I periodically go through the account and delete everything, scanning quickly for any coupons or other free offers.  Limit the amount of personal information you put on that "junk" account. Never give out your social security information or a credit card number for any freebies!  NEVER EVER NEVER.  Avoid anything that requires you to download a program.  For digital books, printables, music, etc. you may have to download a file, but never a program.  You should already have a program on your computer if you own a kindle or MP3 player for which you are downloading a free item. 

I've received many free items over the past 10 years and I've never had an issue.  I never do anything that requires a credit card number or requires me to cancel something after so many days. 

Not all Freebies show up with a week or two.  Don't give up on free stuff if you don't start getting your litle gifts in the mail immediately.  Some take a really long time.  

{FREE FAITH STUFF}

Enjoying Everyday Life magazine  

Free gifts from Kenneth Copeland Ministries. 

Free Mp3s: Christian Music
Kindle Reading Apps for any Device

{FREE OTHER STUFF}
I know coffee isn't a faith item, but if you drink a cup of coffee with your morning devotional...well then its helping right?  I know I need my cup of joe every morning!  

Free Sample of Gevalia

{FREE PRINTABLES}

Wall art "WORRY" Print          Book Labels printable