Negative Words

Lisa Young wrote this blog and I simply loved it. Her and her husband pastor Fellowship Church, in Dallas, Texas. I wanted to share it with you so won’t focus on the “one in a million”! Her points are simple but profound. Enjoy! I did!

Continuing the topic of words, I want to pose a question for you to consider: Why is it that out of all the words we receive in a day, the ones we dwell on most are those that are harmful?

Millions of words float in and out of our lives every day. And yet, it is that one negative statement, that one hurtful word that we invest in our minds. And it is negativity that earns a high yield interest rate.  It seems to grow and multiply. Sadly, this is a phenomenon that shapes so many of us in a detrimental way. Rather than seeing ourselves the way God sees us, we focus on the negativity, slander, gossip and hurt caused by others.

For some, it may be continual verbal abuse from a parent or boss that keeps us bound.  For others, like me, it may be that some words are said to you or about you that cut to the core.  These words may not handcuff you from living, but they certainly keep you from experiencing the full, abundant life God wants you to have.

I’ve heard it said that it takes ten words of affirmation to do away with one negative word.  I’m not sure I buy this.  I’m not convinced any amount of affirmation will fully wipe away the pain from a negative comment. The good news, though, is there are some things you and I can do in the face of negativity.

Consider the source
Who is saying this? If the comment you hear comes from the mouth of a person who finds fault with anyone and everyone, don’t put as much stock into those words.  If the hurtful words come from someone you know is fair and balanced, then you may want to see if there is any truth in the statement. That doesn’t mean you harp on the negativity. But you can use it to discover a truth that God wants you to learn.

Leave it behind
Once you’ve considered the source and determined if there is any truth in the words, it’s time to move forward.  If you have learned a truth, make a plan of action to change some things in your life.  If the words don’t have validity, then build a campfire in your mind and burn them.

Rely on God’s Word
In Hebrews, the writer talks about the reality that none of us is alone in life. And because of that, he encourages us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

When you hear negative words, remember they aren’t what define us. God defines us. We have a great purpose to fulfill for Christ, and if we are encumbered by hurt and pain, we will easily become distracted.

Don’t get distracted from the race. Instead, ask God to give you a fresh perspective from His Word.  Forgive the person who spoke the pain into your life (Ephesians 4:32).  Leave the negativity behind. And stick to the purpose that God has set before you to spread His love to a hurting world.

I Am So Thankful For You!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just have to share my heart with you on how excited I am. Last week all of the ladies of Freedom House knocked it out of the park. I came home and told my husband of all the women who worked tirelessly to pull off the woman’s conference. It happened because of an entire team of AMAZING woman; women who joined together, who laughed together, who encouraged together and who changed lives together, decided to use who they were to impact others. How cool is it that when we as women decide that we are the solution (not the problem) to a hurt and lost world and team up, together! We have so much to give as women and I think we are all starting to get it. We are starting to get the fact that we are not each others problem either. We are not each others competition. We are each others solution too.

As I watched each woman in action, it made my heart smile because many of the giftings I saw come out of these precious women were gifts I don’t have.  One beautiful woman made gorgeous gift baskets for all of the out of town pastors wives and for the giveaways of the night. When I saw them, I gasped! I could not have done that. She is amazing. When I saw the organization behind many aspects of the event, down to the seating charts and spread sheets with the budget on it, I knew I could not have done that either.  One precious woman made an array of food for all of the women in ministry around North Carolina,  as well as from around the country. One bite of those delicious morsels and I again said to myself, “I could not have done that!” She even had a beautiful chocolate high heel shoe made for Lisa to take with her. I would not have thought of that (Lisa flipped out over it as we all did, it was almost too pretty to eat-almost).

Upon arriving back at my home after the Sunday event, one of the ladies had been at my home and made the most beautiful flower arrangements with stuff from my yard and around my home! I could not have done that. She had also draped fabric across the counters and had things arrayed in a way that really made my house unrecognizable. Her work was stunning. I could not have done that. When the out of towners came over for lunch, they once again felt like someone had prepared for them. They felt anticipated and appreciated by so many people just using their gifts to be a blessing to others.

Every pastor’s wife and every woman who came to the event or to the Sunday services told me how special they felt and how welcomed they were by everyone. They commented about the environment and how it made them feel like we were anticipating their arrival. WE WERE! Oh how easy it is to minister to people when they know you cared enough to anticipate them.

I was thankful to see women step up and pray for other women, hug on other women, share their heart with other women, exchange phone numbers with other women, and encourage other women.  My heart was so full after seeing that. How beautiful and spectacular it was!

For so long the enemy has had women in a place where we were so busy competing with and comparing ourselves to other women, that we could not appreciate each other. We need each other! The puzzle is not complete without your puzzle piece being in the right spot. Whatever God has placed on your heart,  just be that piece and you will flourish. You don’t have to decorate like someone else, cook like someone else, arrange flowers like someone else or the other array of things I listed. If you just allow God to use you to be what you are good at, then all of us are blessed because we all have a part to play. I believe that is what makes God smile, when we just are what He wants for us to be. Think about it for a minute, what if a painting only had one color?  It would not be near as spectacular without the wide array of colors that could actually make it look more beautiful. Could you imagine if the red wished it could be purple? We gotta have some red! Every color is glorious and needed!

If you just be the you that God created you to be, you simply cannot miss! All you beautiful, warm-spirited, glorious women out there, you have a wonderful part to play that nobody but you can play. I am so glad I am watching you rise up and take your rightful place. You are a beautiful gift from God; you are simply marvelous and I am so incredibly thankful for you!

Japanese Shrimp Sauce

Ever wonder how to make the delicious Japanese shrimp sauce that you get at the restaurant? Here is how!

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 cup mayonnaise (not salad dressing)
• 2 tbsp. rice vinegar
• 3/4 tsp. paprika
• 3 tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 3 tbsp. melted butter
• Plastic or glass mixing bowl

Mix all the ingredients together and enjoy!

Stop Child Trafficking!

As many of you know, we had Lisa Bevere at Freedom House Church this weekend. What many of you may not know is that Lisa fights against child trafficking and is an advocate for those young girls. Well, Saturday night, several girls who now have a wonderful adoptive family that rescued them from child trafficking showed up to meet Lisa. These girls were spared! Here is the picture their mother sent me along with what she said.

We were so blessed! My (4) young, beautiful Cambodian, Thai,& Burmese refugee daughters who have escaped child-trafficking and Rambo-style war, were with me there on Saturday Night!(Lisa is advocating against these atrocities so boldly and powerfully!) Even though there was a language barrier for them, they told me how they felt the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT there! LISA BLESSED EACH GIRL with her beautiful crystal charm bracelet. They love the bracelet so much & especially love Lisa so much! These girls sing like angels & dance before the Lord so mightily!

To join the cause to rescue young girls, visit Messenger International for more information! A young girl like these needs hope. God has a plan and purpose for them! Let’s all join the cause!

Are these girls beautiful or what?

Live, Lisa Bevere! Don’t Miss It!

Don’t miss it! Here is a little sneak peak of what you will see! Get ready, ladies! Your world is about to be rocked! See you Saturday at 7 pm and Sunday is for everyone at 8:30, 10 and 11:30 at Freedom House Church!

Lisa Bevere on Saturday and Sunday!

It is not too late to respond and let me know right here on my blog what you are expecting to hear from God on Saturday night! For all of the ladies who do, your name will go into a drawing for lots of great prizes! What you say? How about a $100 gift card to only the most fabulous restaurant in Charlotte, Nobles! How about a family fun pack with DVDs, free Chick fil a, and popcorn. How about a relaxing spa treatment with candles and a great book to help you unwind? These are a few of the samplings for you ladies, because you are just that special! We love you and cannot wait to see you on Saturday at 7 pm. Doors open at 6:30 so get there early and get a good seat!

Another way to win prizes is to Twitter. If you pump up the event by inviting friends on Twitter simply use the #LBevere symbol so we can track you and your name will also go into a separate drawing for prizes. That means if you do both, you have doubled your chances for winning! Come on ladies, you can do it! Get to blogging and tweeting!

Don’t forget, Sunday is for everyone and the service times are 8:30, 10, and 11:30! See you there, bring some friends! www.FreedomHouseChurch.org

You Are Still Holy!

Sometimes you just have to break open your heart and let God get in all the nooks and crannies. As I sang this song today, it brought me to my knees just thinking about how thankful I am and no matter what may happen in life, God is still Holy! Sometimes we just need to dance at his feet and let go of the confusion that may blind our eyes at times!

Just Admit It!

Admit your weaknesses. It’s not a surprise to others; it’s a relief. They think, “Whew! He/She knows! We can stop pretending!” -John Maxwell

I love this quote by John Maxwell. If we could all do this, could you imagine how healthy we would be? This one area could literally change our life if we just chose to admit where we are and get the right people in our lives who will tell us the truth even when it hurts. The truth does not always feel so good but it sure does help us wake up and face things we might never want to face on our own. That is the cool thing about healthy relationships, they bring out the best in us by making us sometimes see what we don’t want to. Hope you appreciate people like that!

I remember preaching one time and I was telling the men how much women love to see their husbands vulnerability. Actually it is very attractive to us as women (that is a hint guys). Vulnerability is something that is shown to others on purpose. A weakness is something we try to hide but always slips out anyhow. We might as well go ahead and just be vulnerable and let people see inside. They know anyhow, they are just pretending not to see it because they think we don’t.

So let me give you some things that might help you on the journey to “just admitting it”. First, sit down and write down your weaknesses. If you can’t, then put that at the top of the list, “don’t know my weaknesses”! After you write them down, share them with a few friends. I can tell you that they already know them. It wont be a surprise. Try this and see if that is not the case. They can actually help to hold you accountable to work on them. How healthy is that?! That is what I am talking about, yeah!

If you read this and think to yourself that you have nobody that you would share your weaknesses with, my heart breaks for you. Your life will never be full and rich unless you have people in your life who can challenge you and make you face things that could hinder you from becoming more like Jesus. If the thought of that scares you, let me tell you what is even scarier: not fulfilling the potential God wants for your life. That to me is what is scary.

So what will you do? Will you run and hide or will you just admit it? Face it, the man in the bible with the withered hand had to stretch it out if he wanted healing. He had been hiding his withered hand for years but when Jesus called him forth to heal him, he made him stretch it out. Everyone got to see that withered hand. It was probably tough at first but when he stretched it out, God healed him. It might be tough at first, but what is the alternative-keep a withered hand? Do you think that people did not know his hand was withered even though he probably hid it in his coat? People know! So since they do, JUST ADMIT IT!

Lisa Bevere at Freedom House Church!

If you are alive and you are reading this, do not miss this event!

Lisa Bevere will be at Freedom House Church, Saturday, the 24th of October just for the ladies! It begins at 7 pm sharp! Doors open at 6:30 so get there early and get your seat! Sunday, the 25, she will be doing all three services at 8:30, 10 and 11:30. This is open for men and women. She is such a dynamic speaker and you do not want to miss this one either!

Oh and before I forget, if you plan on coming, post what you are believing God to receive that night and all of the ladies who respond on here will go into a drawing for one of our free giveaways! The giveaways are spectacular too! Don’t miss out! Tell me right here what you want God to do BIG that night! Winner will be drawn on the 24th and must be present! So ladies, let me hear your heart!

Best Selling Author and International Speaker

Passionate. Edgy. Relatable. Powerful. Funny. These words describe Lisa Bevere, an international speaker, bestselling author, and co-host of “The Messenger” TV program, which broadcasts worldwide. In her transparent style, Lisa shares the Word of God woven with personal experiences to empower lives with freedom and transformation. Her heart breaks over social injustice, and as an advocate for change she rallies others to be an answer to desperate world problems. Lisa enjoys living in Colorado Springs along with her husband, author and speaker John Bevere, and their four sons— Addison, Austin, Alec and Arden.

The Ultimate Fried Chicken

The Ultimate Fried Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 (3 to 4 pound) chicken, cut up into 10 pieces
• Kosher salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
• 2 teaspoons cayenne
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 quart buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons hot chili sauce (recommended: Srirachi)
• Peanut oil, for frying
• 1/4 bunch fresh thyme
• 3 big sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1/4 bunch fresh sage
• 1/2 head garlic, smashed, husk still attached
• Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

Put the chicken pieces into a large bowl. Cover the chicken with water by 1 inch; add 1 tablespoon of salt for each quart of water used. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

In a large shallow platter, mix the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne until well blended; season generously with salt and pepper. In another platter combine the buttermilk and hot sauce with a fork and season with salt and pepper.

Drain the chicken and pat it dry. Dredge the pieces, a few at a time, in the flour mixture,

then dip them into the buttermilk; dredge them again in the seasoned flour. Set aside and let the chicken rest while you prepare the oil.

Put about 3 inches of oil into a large deep pot; it should not come up more than half way. Add the thyme, rosemary, sage, and garlic to the cool oil and heat over medium-high heat until the oil registers 350 to 365 degrees F on one of those clip-on deep-fry thermometers. The herbs and garlic will perfume the oil with their flavor as the oil comes up to temperature.

Once the oil has reached 350 to 365 degrees F, working in batches, carefully add the chicken pieces 3 or 4 at a time. Fry, turning the pieces once, until golden brown and cooked through, about 12 minutes. Total cooking time should be about 30 minutes. When the chicken is done, take a big skimmer and remove the chicken pieces and herbs from the pot, shaking off as much oil as you can, and lay it on a tea towel or brown paper bag to soak up the oil. Sprinkle all over with more salt and a dusting of cracked black pepper. Repeat with the remaining chicken pieces. Once all the chicken is fried, scatter the fried herbs and garlic over the top. Serve hot, with big lemon wedges.