MARCH/APRIL 2009
8 Days in Africa
Joyce Meyer
Page 17
He Lives! Celebrate easter!—page 7
12
I Am Relentless
Joyce Meyer
22
How Much Is Too
Much?
Joyce Meyer
25
Wanted: People
of Honor
29
Faddy Diets
Jordan Rubin
John Bevere
Join us for our special day of prayer—March 11 See page 11.
Straight From The Heart
Friends,
In the world we live in, we are going to have all kinds
of problems, frustrations and difficulties. That’s just
life. Realizing this and knowing that we can’t make all
our problems just go away, what do we do? In response
to that question, I think of words like diligent, relentless,
persistent, fixed, steady. We must remain steadfast...and
persevere. In other words, the answer is...never give up!
No matter what’s going on
in our lives, the victory is
in refusing to quit.
Keep in mind that in
the heat of our struggles,
the Holy Spirit is probably
doing His greatest work
within us. He is not moved
by the circumstances. If
you and I really trust Him, we shouldn’t be either! He’s
not in our lives for good times only, but for the difficult
times as well. He will lead us through anything if we’ll
just hang in there and follow Him. This means being diligent in prayer, relentless in our resolve, unwavering in
faith, and determined to stand firmly on God’s Word and
promises to us.
So many times we can be sidetracked by how slowly
things seem to be going. In fact, the enemy loves to point
that out! But remember, God may be doing some of His
No matter what’s going on
in our lives, the victory is
in refusing to quit.
greatest work, and if we let the enemy trick us
into giving up, we’ll miss our blessing! Not only
that, but we might also hold up someone else’s
blessing. You see, it’s not just about you and me.
The Lord’s work in us is preparation for the work
He wants to do through us!
Don’t get me wrong, I am not belittling anyone’s trials. I know life can be hard sometimes.
But I also know that God will give us double for
our trouble when we remain steadfast in obedience to Him. Let’s stand on Galatians 6:9: So let’s
not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right
time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t
give up (NLT).
And, even more important than that, how do
you think it will feel to stand before Jesus when
the time comes and hear Him say, “Well done,
good and faithful servant!” He was crucified and
buried…He rose again and now lives in us to
empower us to be relentless. What better way to
celebrate Easter than honoring His sacrifice by
living a life of relentless determination to stand
in His presence and hear those words!
So now, let me ask that question again. What
do we do? My answer is, never give up! What’s
your answer?
Love,
|
www.joycemeyer.org
JOYCE MEYER PHOTOGRAPHED BY DARIO ACOSTA
2 | ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE
Credits
ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE
Volume 23 | Number 2 | MAR/APR 2009
Publisher
Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.
Executive Editors
Dan Meyer
Ginger Stache
CONTENTS
Managing Editor
Brenda Barnes
Creative Director
Kimberly Zarley
i n e v e r y i ss u e
Staff Writers
Chad Trafton
Lynette Kittle
Matthew Loomis
Anne Timmerman
Kacie Campbell
5 Live Laugh Love
31 Conference Tour
33 TV Broadcast Schedule
34 Real Life Perspectives
Graphic Designers
Maria Flores
Greg Holtzmann
Amanda O’Rourke
Anna Monette
Amy Roff
Jessica Romo
page 17
Production Supervisor
George Dill
Production Artists
Jeff Douglas
Jeri Icenesse
Stacy Williams
Robert Houston
Editorial Proofreaders
Carolyn Coley
Phyllis Stokes
Dar Wood
Susan Hutchison
Production Coordinators
Bill Schlick
Monica Johnson
Andrea Carpio
Jessica Turnbeaugh
Photographers
Kevin Kelly
Dario Acosta
Mike Leavitt
Sherri Buzby
David Dobson
Kacie Campbell
All Bible references are from The Amplified
Bible unless otherwise noted.
In Canada: Publications Mail Agreement
No. 40030597
Return undeliverable Canadian
addresses to:
Joyce Meyer Ministries Canada
P.O. Box 7700 Stn Terminal
Vancouver, BC V6B 4E2
[email protected]
Enjoying Everyday Life® is published by
Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.®, a nonprofit
corp­oration, Fenton, MO USA © 2008
Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. Publications
Agreement No. 40030597. All rights
reserved. Reproduction in whole or in
part without written permission is
prohibited. Enjoying Everyday Life has
no subscription price and is supported
through contributions worldwide. All
gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible
(in countries where this applies).
Because all Enjoying Everyday Life
issues are preplanned, we are unable
to accept unsolicited manuscripts. For
more information or to order, call
locally (636) 349-0303 or toll-free
1-800-727-9673. Internet address:
www.joycemeyer.org
Resource prices are in U.S. Funds
unless otherwise noted.
Enjoying Everyday Life is a registered
trade­mark of Joyce Meyer Ministries,
Inc. [J] is also a registered trademark
of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.
17 8 Days in Africa
HAND OF HOPE—Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions | By Joyce Meyer
Joyce shares powerful stories from the mission field that prove one person really can
make a difference.
12 I Am Relentless
By Joyce Meyer
You just might have to start living with an aggressive, fired-up spirit…but it’s definitely
going to be worth it.
22 How Much Is Too Much?
By Joyce Meyer
Although they seem to get a bad rap, boundaries aren’t always bad.
25 Wanted: People of Honor
SPECIAL FEATURE | By John Bevere
God is looking for people who will genuinely treat people with respect and value. Will you
turn yourself in?
27 America: Past and Future — Part 2
America At Its Best | By Dave Meyer
Now that you know the past (check last month’s issue), it’s time to discover your role for
this country’s future.
29 Faddy Diets
HEALTH MATTERS | By Jordan Rubin
You might be surprised to know…it’s not the fat that’s making you fat.
EVERYDAY ANSWERS
www.joycemeyer.org/everydayanswers
Need a little extra help getting through today or need some extra advice? Everyday
Answers provides wisdom from God’s Word to help you deal with life’s difficult issues.
Watch a video from Joyce, read related articles, send a prayer request, and more.
www.joycemeyer.org | MARCH/APRIL 2 0 0 9 | 3
Stepping Out from Behind the Camera
by Kacie Campbell
1
2
3
1 Partner Jonathan James traveled to
India with the team in 2008 to
personally meet and work with
many of the people he is impacting
through his partnership with Joyce
Meyer Ministries.
2 Joyce Meyer Ministries partners with
Mercy Ministries to reach the lives of
young women all across the world
struggling from eating disorders, low
self-esteem, abuse and much more.
3 Dave and Joyce, along with partners,
opened a Transformation Center in
India that will house women and their
children who have been rescued from
the sex industry.
The sounds of rickshaws echo along the road; cows let out a
boisterous moan as they plop down in the streets; the bright
colors of the women’s saris bring a punch of light to the village;
and excited children run about giggling with delight as the
new visitors arrive—partners with Joyce Meyer Ministries.
You rapidly snap photos, hoping to capture the essence of
this moment—to never forget how this trip and these people
will forever change your life.
But even amidst all this beauty, there is a looming sadness—a void. The people of India need to be fed, need quality
medical care, need to be rescued, and most importantly need
to know Jesus. And this is why you are a partner and why
Joyce Meyer Ministries has come to this nation, to bring hope
and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
You watch hundreds of thousands filter in to Joyce’s three
day Festival of Life crusade. You see families receiving quality
medical care. And as you dish the food onto their plates at the
feeding centers and visit the women and children living in
the transformation centers, you are bombarded with grateful
children, squeezing in a hug around your knees and posing
for pictures as they play games that seem to transcend any
cultural barrier.
To India and Beyond
But India is not alone. Every country, every people group,
every village, every person needs hope, and because of the
partners of Joyce Meyer Ministries, they are able to receive it.
When you give, you are not only sending financial support
to reach nearly 200 countries around the world, you are allowing hope to fill the hearts of people who felt they could
have none. You are supporting feeding centers, orphanages,
freshwater wells, medical care, prison outreach, rescuing girls
from the sex industry, disaster relief, reaching the homeless
in inner-city America, and sharing the Gospel worldwide
through radio, television, print materials and conferences
around the world.
You Are Here
And although you may never board a plane with the team,
through your partnership, you go with them because without
your support—without all the partners around the world—none
of this would be possible. Please join us in changing lives around the
world. To find out more about the benefits of
partnership, visit
www.joycemeyer.org/partnership
4 | ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE
|
www.joycemeyer.org
L I V E • L AUGH • L OV E
Jesus in
Everyday Life
When Joyce said that we
don’t have to settle for
second best in our life, it
really hit home with me.
I’ve struggled with that
for awhile, because I’m
forty-five and I feel like
I’ve missed God along
the way.
I was called to ministry
when I was younger and
I guess I thought I had
missed out, but I learned
that I can still have God’s
perfect will at forty-five.
Kelly I., Hobbs, NM
Women’s
Convention 2008
Conference
News
Don’t miss one of your last
chances to see Delirious?
Delirious?, who has traveled
with Joyce Meyer Ministries
since 2005, will no longer be
touring as a band after the
2009 Conference Tour year.
Make sure to see Delirious?
in Long Beach, CA (March
19-21); Tulsa, OK (May 14-16);
San Antonio, TX (July 9-11);
Hershey, PA (August 6-8); St.
Louis, MO, (September 17-19);
and Denver, CO (October
15-17).
For more information about
Conference Tour ’09, visit
www.joycemeyer.org/conference.
ask
? Joyce
If you tithe on your
gross income, do
you still tithe on your
income tax refund?
–Carolyn
Around the World
Joyce Meyer Ministries recently traveled to
Bangalore, India, to spread the Gospel message,
provide vital medical care and change people’s
lives through various outreaches, including
feeding programs and rescuing women from a
life of prostitution.
Joyce held a three-day open-air Festival of
Life crusade January 15-18, which ministered to
hundreds of thousands. The medical missions
team provided vital medical care and shared the
Gospel message of Jesus Christ. The team also saw
firsthand the impact that our street ministry and
feeding programs are having on the lives of many
throughout India.
Please be sure to check future issues of Enjoying
Everyday Life for more information about this
exciting outreach.
Carolyn,
If you tithe on your
gross income, you don’t
necessarily
need
to
tithe on your income tax
return since you have
already tithed on that
money. However, if you
want to give extra, there
is nothing wrong with
that. I believe in going
the extra mile, and it
is possible, since you
brought up this question, that God might be
testing you just to see if
you will do it.
Of course, I am not
saying that is the case
since I don’t know what
prompted the question,
so you feel free to follow
your heart.
Want to
ask Joyce?
Send your questions to:
See Joyce
in Kahului, Hawaii!
Sunday, April 5 at 6 pm
King’s Cathedral Maui
www.kingscathedral.com
Joyce Meyer Ministries
P.O. Box 1350
Fenton, MO 63026
Your question, with an
answer from Joyce, may
appear in an upcoming
issue of Enjoying Everyday
Life magazine. Please be
aware, however, that due
to heavy mail volume, we
may be unable to respond
to every question.
www.joycemeyer.org | MARCH/APRIL 2 0 0 9 | 5
CHANGING A CITY
Education Beyond the Academy Walls
by Kacie Campbell
W
When interns at the St. Louis Dream Center Ministry
Academy show up each year, they are in for far more than
just a classroom experience. What they see and hear will
forever change the way they view ministry. They take
what they learn and put it into action…literally changing
the lives of thousands in inner-city St. Louis. And they
want you to join them.
The Program
Now a one- to four-year degree program, an intern
will be able to earn either their undergraduate and/
or graduate degree in ministry. To participate in the
Ministry Academy, interns must be eighteen years of
age or older, with a high school diploma or GED.
Another option available is Accelerate, a nineweek summer program for students sixteen
years of age or older.
Using a hands-on i nterac t ive
approach, each student receives
practical classroom instruction,
pa r t ic ipate s in m or n i n g
devot iona ls and is given
the opportunity to use their
specific gifts and
passions doing
real ministry.
Interns participate in street evangelism, ministry to
nursing home residents, food and clothing distribution
to the poor, and weekly visits to neighborhood residents
to see what needs can be met through the Adopt-ABlock program.
Whether it is serving in one of the various
children’s ministries, preparing meals in the
cafeteria for the homeless or assisting in the
media department, they are consistently
making a difference in the lives of many.
The Ministry Academy is many
things—challenging, instructive,
rewarding and even exhilarating. But
ask any intern and they will tell you…
more than anything, it is life-changing.
That’s because on a daily basis they
see the power of God transform
even the bleakest of situations.
People are touched, lives are
changed and things are
never quite
the same.
The Mission
The Ministry Academy
has one purpose—to know
God and make Him known.
They do that by giving each
student nine months to do
nothing but pursue God and
follow His commission without
distractions.
Every week, the interns participate
in cutting-edge ministries through the
St. Louis Dream Center church. Dave and Joyce Meyer
founded the Dream Center in 2000 and have a passion to
teach others how to reach their world for Christ.
“There is no
amount of money
or education that
c ould c ompar e
with the hands-on
experience I have
had through day-to-day
activities and from our
outstanding leadership.”
—Third year intern Melissa B.
The St. Louis Dream Center Ministry Academy is now accepting applications.
The program begins each September and January, so there is still plenty of time to apply for enrollment.
Call (314) 381-0700 ext. 8032 or visit www.dcministryacademy.org.
d
n
u
o
F
d
n
a
Lost
Returning to the God who
loves you
by Brenda Barnes
D
Do you remember the overwhelming panic that came over
you as a child when you realized that your parents were
nowhere in sight? But then…do you remember the joy and
comfort that came when you saw their smiling (or even not
so smiling) faces once they found you? That is what Easter
is and should be all about—coming back to the God who
loves us and sent His Son to reconcile us back to Him.
Every year we celebrate Easter in remembrance of the
death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ—a
celebration of victory over death, hell and the grave (see
Revelation 1:18). It’s a time for all Christians to rejoice…a
time to honor everything God’s plan of salvation provides
through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
The Son Returns
By God’s design, the resurrection of Jesus provides us
with the blessing of reconciliation to the One who created
us…the One who longs to fellowship with us…the One for
whom we will always yearn. So Easter is a time to celebrate
the spirit of reconciliation. And it involves our own personal experiences of dying to the flesh—things like anger,
unforgiveness, pride and selfishness—and receiving the
resurrection life of Jesus in our heart.
So just what does it mean to be reconciled to God? It’s
kind of like the story of the prodigal son found in Luke
15:11-24. A young son, wanting to live life on his own,
petitions his father for his portion of an inheritance. The
father complies, and the son sets off to live his life as he
chooses. Sound familiar?
When all is spent and the young son finds himself in
total despair, he decides to humble himself and go home,
hoping only to be allowed to return. Much to his amazement, his father welcomes him with open arms and even
calls for a feast and celebration. He who was lost…is
now found.
This is what the death and resurrection of Jesus means
for us. Although we may wander away from the safety
of our loving Father’s arms, He longs and waits for us to
return—to be reconciled to Him—so He can celebrate our
death and resurrection to new life in Christ with us (see
verse 24).
God’s Open Arms
So this year as you plan to celebrate your Easter season,
consider celebrating a relationship with Christ, perhaps
your own or that of a loved one. God’s arm is not shortened
that He cannot reach out and meet your every need, nor His
ear deafened to the cry of your heart (see Isaiah 59:1).
It’s time to remember where you’ve been and how God
was there waiting, longing to wrap you in His arms of love,
longing for you to be reconciled to Him for all eternity.
Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is
forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He
sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he
has given us the work of making peace between himself and
others. What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering
peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he
has given us the work of sharing his message about peace
(2 Corinthians 5:17-19 CEV).
Lost
and
Found
www.joycemeyer.org | march/april 2 0 0 9 | 7
September 17-19, 2009
EDWARD JONES DOME
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Refuse to do Nothing
Register at www.joycemeyer.org/womensconference
They turned off the so
und…
but she kept talking.
More than 4,100 people gave their hearts to Christ during the Hope Cambodia outreach in 2007.
www.joycemeyer.org
Encouragement served fresh daily, 24/7
• New Day, New You daily devotional
• Everyday Moments audio devotional
E
IV
E
C
E
R
O
T
T
E
MARCH 11: GET S
s for prayer.
ecial request
sp
r
u
yo
to
in
g
in
n
We’re tu
by Anne Timmerman
When Joyce Meyer Ministries employees go to work on Wednesday, March 11, it
won’t be just another day at the office.
March 11 is this year’s annual Day to Heal and Restore—a day we set aside beyond our regular prayer times to pray for the needs of our partners and friends. If
you contacted us with a prayer request, we’ll be praying specifically for you!
The focus of this year’s Day to Heal and Restore is Spirit, Soul and Body. Joyce
often says that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy
you. We fully believe that God wants to heal every part of you—from your emotions to your physical body, from your relationships with others to your relationship
with Him. And we’ll be asking Him to bless you—spirit, soul and body.
First John 5:14,15 says, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that
if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears
us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him (NIV).
Prayer is a special gift from God. Let’s trust in Him…and receive.
March 11: Mark your calendar today!
www.joycemeyer.org/dayofprayer
A day to
&
HEAL
RESTORE
Did you know?
ds every day!
We pray for our partners and frien
cifically for
On March 11, we will be praying spe
l and body.
sou
it,
spir
r
God to heal and restore you
www.joycemeyer.org | march/april 2 0 0 9 | 11
Comments by relentless women at the 2008
Joyce Meyer Ministries Women’s Convention.
12 | E N J O Y I N G E V E R Y D A Y L I F E
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www.joycemeyer.org
DETERMINED, DECISIVE, BOLD.. .
RELENTLESS MEANS SHOWING NO ABATEMENT OF SEVERITY, INTENSITY,
STRENGTH OR PACE IN WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. If we
want to possess God’s promises, we’re going to have to do more than just
talk about them—we are going to have to be relentless in our pursuit of
them. It also takes living an aggressive, on-fire, stirred-up love walk to
defeat self, because selfishness is the root of most of our problems. Self
is always going to be there, but we can make a choice to rise above it
and refuse to live a self-centered lifestyle. It’s something we have to be
relentless about every single day of our life.
by JOYCE MEYER
www.joycemeyer.org | MArch/AprIL 2 0 0 9 | 13
Relentless means showing no abatement of
severity, intensity, strength or pace in what
we’re trying to accomplish.
Experience Real Freedom
Relentlessly pursuing God is not necessarily easy, but it’s definitely worth
it, especially if we’ve been in bondage and never experienced real freedom.
God is in the business of setting us free, and it’s glorious to be free from guilt,
condemnation, and always wondering what people are thinking of us—to have
courage to be able to step out and do a new thing in our pursuit. We’re set free
from the concern of failing when we know who we are in Christ. And if we step
out and try something and it doesn’t work, big deal! Being free gives us liberty
to be creative and expressive.
One of the greatest freedoms God has given me is the freedom to be me. For
years I tried to be something I wasn’t, feeling like I needed to be like this or
like that, all the while knowing I wasn’t like everyone else. Yet, I kept trying
to be like others. I’m also very excited to be free from me. Being free from me
is a daily walk.
Complete God’s Call
Relentlessly pursuing God’s promises also means we are going to finish what
He’s called us to do. Several years ago I read a verse that caused me to weep
before the Lord. In John 17:4 Jesus says, I have glorified You down here on the
earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do. Ever since reading this
verse, it’s become very important to me that I not just do what God has called
me to do, but that I complete what He’s called me to do.
There are a lot of people who step out on the journey with God, but I don’t
think there are nearly as many who finish it. The apostle Paul said, …if only I
may finish my course with joy… (Acts 20:24). I’m determined to not only finish,
but to enjoy the journey. That’s what I want for you, too—to enjoy every single
day of your life. Jesus paid a high price for your freedom, so you can have His
peace and joy and know who you are in Him.
But most of it is up to us. It’s not all up to God. He has done His part and
given us everything we need in Christ. It’s up to us to keep learning, growing,
and letting the Spirit of God work in us. If we want to put a smile on God’s face,
then we need to be determined to grow up spiritually and spend every day of
our life pressing in to be more like Christ. It takes having an attitude and a
mindset of relentless determination, and saying, “I will never give up!”
Check Your Spirit
Do you and I have a relentless spirit? In Psalm 51:10, David said, Create in
me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. A right spirit is
a persevering and steadfast spirit. If our spirit is discouraged, depressed or
downtrodden, then it’s not right. If it’s filled with fear or anger, it’s not right.
We have to be determined to keep a right spirit. We’re not going to do anything
for God if we’re not determined. Like exercise, if we aren’t determined, we’re
not going to do it. Or if we don’t determine to clean our house, it’s not going
to be clean.
I’m the kind of person who won’t be distracted from a goal. It doesn’t matter
how many times I fail either; I don’t shut up until God helps me to get victory
over it. One of the goals I have is to stop murmuring. You may wonder what
14 | E N J O Y I N G E V E R Y D A Y L I F E
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God is a rewarder of
the relentless, of those
who are determined,
persevering, steadfast
and faithful.
I have to murmur about. Not one thing—but I keep doing it and it’s mostly
about stupid little things, like sitting at a traffic light that’s broken or when my
computer is running slow. But I’m determined to stop murmuring. And the
really great thing is that we don’t have to live in condemnation in the meantime. God knows our hearts, and He’s not mad at any of us if we haven’t arrived
yet. But if somewhere along the path we just sit down and quit, I believe He’s
disappointed that we’ve stopped trying. He wants us to relentlessly pursue Him.
I think it’s good to put up a few signs around our house that say, “I will never
give up. When I get knocked down, I will get up again. I’m not going to give up!”
Live Determined
Philippians 3 says Paul was determined, or relentless, to have the things that
Christ Jesus died for, to know Him and the power of His resurrection. I believe
when we are born again, there is a spirit of determination that comes in us. We
can call it Holy Spirit “oomph”, passion or zeal. It’s when a little fire starts in our
belly at the time we receive Christ as our Savior.
We can have every promise in the Word of God, but we are going to have
to be relentless to get them. It’s a decision each one of us has to make for
ourselves. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves and be determined at the same
time. It won’t do us any good to be pitiful. We have to be determined.
The Bible talks about people who were determined. Daniel was determined
not to defile himself or to break his commitment to God, and he kept getting
promoted. Solomon was determined to build a temple for the name of the
Lord. Job was determined to not turn away from God. Moses and Abraham
are examples of people who were determined. Remember Zacchaeus, who was
too short to see Jesus through the crowd? Instead of feeling sorry for himself
because he wasn’t tall enough, he climbed up in a tree. And when he did, Jesus
saw him and visited his house.
Like these men, we need to have a powerhouse determination, and no one
can do that for us. When it comes down to it, we have to do the doing. You and
I have to find determination inside of us during our midnight hours, when
tears are streaming down our face and every feeling we have is trying to get
us to give up. It’s then when we decide to say: “I will not give up on having an
intimate, passionate, deep, personal relationship with God. I will not give up on
being all that Christ wants me to be.”
Keep Your Eyes on the Reward
Real Christianity is for those who are prepared to be relentless. We need to
start living with an aggressive spirit. Hebrews 11:6 is a wonderful scripture
that says without faith it is impossible to please God. Those who come to Him
must believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. We could
easily say God is a rewarder of the relentless, of those who are determined,
persevering, steadfast and faithful.
There is no reward in giving up. God
promises us a reward and we dare not
lose sight of it because everyone who
works hard wants a paycheck at the
end of the week. We need to see the
promises of God fulfilled in our lives
and see Him doing outrageous things
for us. We need to see the favor of
God on our lives because these things
keep us encouraged. I want all of us
to believe for God’s reward in our life
because it’s not wrong to believe for it.
I can tell you that if we are relentless and refuse to give up and keep
putting one foot in front of the other,
even when we don’t feel like it…even
when you and I don’t see where we’re
going…or don’t feel like what we’re
doing makes sense…or when it’s
taking twenty years longer than we
thought it would take… If we just keep
going, all of a sudden, we’ll run into
our reward because payday is coming.
Be relentless to stay in faith and
receive God’s promises. I pray that
each one of you will remember the
spirit God’s put within you, to know
you belong to Him, and to never give
up, but to have a relentless spirit—a
new spirit of determination!
Join Joyce on Enjoying Everyday
Life as she shares more on being
relentless, March 30-April 3.
We can have every promise in the Word
of God, but we are going to have to be
relentless to get them.
www.joycemeyer.org | MArch/AprIL 2 0 0 9 | 15
Ready to Give Up
Testimony
Christine D.,
Olathe, KS
I went to the 2008 Women’s Convention in
St. Louis because I had already bought a ticket
and didn’t want to waste it. I was ready to give
up on God and my church. I felt I had tried to do
everything and I was still alone. I felt abandoned
and thought that God didn’t want me.
I hadn’t given much thought to the word
relentless, so I came without a good knowledge
of what it even meant. Right from the beginning,
I realized that relentless meant to never give up!
What a great word! I was at the end of my
rope. I was ready to walk away from God and
church, and here was a convention about not
giving up. God really had a purpose for me to be
there. God told me to give Him everything and to
come back to Him. He told me that He wants me
to soar like an eagle over the storms of this life.
I have decided that I am not giving up—I am
not going to surrender to what my mind and flesh
say. I am going to stand on the Word of God and
begin to live a life that shows God’s love. It is
time for us to show God’s love to everyone in
this world.
Has God changed your life in any way through Joyce Meyer Ministries? Whether it was a TV or radio broadcast,
magazine or monthly letter, audio or video teaching, our website or a conference, we would love to hear your story.
Go to www.joycemeyer.org/testimonies. Or, mail your testimony to:
Joyce Meyer Ministries
P.O. Box 1350
Fenton, MO 63026
YOU CAN DO WHAT YOUR HEART TELLS YOU TO.
Refuse to give up on you.
Never Give Up!
272-Page Hardcover
by Joyce Meyer
Order BK86HOH
Receive Joyce’s
new book for your
donation of any
amount!
All proceeds go to Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions.
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The People, the Places, and the
Experiences I Will Never Forget
by Joyce Meyer
Dave and I have traveled all over
the world, but we can honestly say our
recent trip to Africa was one of the most
amazing and fulfilling journeys we have
ever taken. Some experiences brought
tears, some brought incredible joy, and
some just left us absolutely breathless.
Our team here at the ministry has been
busy putting together some incredible
stories and video footage that we will share
with you in the upcoming months. But in
this issue, I want to share with you some of
my personal thoughts as I experienced eight
unforgettable days in Africa.
Sunday, Oct 12 — Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
10am - After a fifteen-hour flight, we finally arrived in the capital of
Addis Ababa. This was my and Dave’s first time in Ethiopia, and our
anticipation was extremely high.
4pm - You never truly know what to expect, but the people welcomed
us with open arms. This afternoon, about 15,000 people packed the Full
Gospel Church for our meeting and many more had to be turned away.
FEATURE ARTICLE
Dave and I took a ride in an
old Russian helicopter to get to
Hosanna, Ethiopia.
Monday, Oct 13 — Angacha, Ethiopia
11am - This morning Dave and I took an hour ride in an
old Russian helicopter to the remote town of Hosanna,
where more than 30,000 people showed up to welcome
us. In fact, the government closed all of the schools and
businesses and declared it a holiday. The people here call
it “Thanksgiving Day” out of gratefulness for the medical
care Joyce Meyer Ministries has been providing since
February 2008. Right there on a makeshift stage, I was
able to tell the crowd that the love of Jesus is the reason
we do what we do.
12:30pm - We got to see our new medical clinic in action
for the first time. It was once run by the government, but
very few people could afford to pay for their care. Now
it has become a vital health center, offering free care to
Angacha and others for miles around. The change in their
general health has been astounding since we took over.
Our medical missions team traveled with us—including a
surgical team for the first time—and they will be treating
people and performing surgeries here all week long.
2pm - A couple years ago, we joined with International
Crisis Aide (ICA) to begin feeding thousands in Angacha
dying from hunger. Families here are in desperate need of
food, and we determine the degree of their malnutrition
by measuring their upper arms. Some children measure
only 7 or 8 centimeters. But while the need is great, we are
making great progress! Today, I scooped out bags of flour
for these precious people…what a privilege!
Our homes in
Ethiopia rescue
girls from
prostitution
and even offer
them training
in a skill like
sewing.
Tuesday, Oct 14 — Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
10am - This was one of the hardest, but greatest days of my trip. Here in Addis Ababa, we are
partnering with ICA to rescue women and young girls from sex trafficking and prostitution. So
far, we have opened two homes that can accommodate about twenty girls. I had the chance to
speak to the women, sharing my testimony and how God’s love has transformed my life.
3pm - There is simply no way to describe what these women go through in these red light districts.
Today, I went there with our team and could feel the spiritual oppression. It’s said that more than
200,000 women are a part of the sex industry in Ethiopia. But you and I are changing that. Even
while we were here, our team was able to rescue two more girls and bring them to safety.
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Our feeding program
at this Kigali school
has made such a difference. These children
are now free to learn
without being distracted
by hunger.
Wednesday, Oct 15 — Kigali, Rwanda
10am - Our plane landed in a torrential downpour, and it
didn’t look like the rain was going to let up. We were set to
visit a school where we are providing meals and building
more classrooms, but there was literally a river of water
running through the grounds. But thank God, just as we
arrived at the school, the rain suddenly stopped!
11am - At the school, we got to see the faces of those
you are allowing us to help. For years now, children
from poverty-stricken families have been attending the
school. Some even walk up to fifteen miles each way!
But teachers found that many of them were too tired and
hungry to learn. That’s why we established our feeding
program here—to provide a way for these kids to receive
a good meal and an education at the same time. Today,
more than 550 children attend the school and feeding
program, and together we are increasing that number.
4pm - This afternoon I had the opportunity to minister
to more than 6,000 people at Kigali Christian Center.
These people have endured so much since the genocide,
and it is an unbelievable privilege to be able to minister
comfort and healing.
When the rains beat down
The wind pierces through
Their foundations tremble
And the flood waters rise…
Thursday, Oct 16 — Kampala, Uganda
11am - After a late flight into Kampala last night, we got
up excited to check out a couple amazing outreaches—the
Bulrushes babies home and the Watoto children’s village.
The babies home is filled with one precious child after
another—about 80 to 100 in all. These children were
unwanted by their families and would have surely died
without intervention. We are thrilled to now partner with
Watoto in a new work in Gulu, Uganda.
1pm - When a child is about four years old, they can go to
live in the Watoto children’s village. This well-organized
community contains almost 100 homes, with eight kids
and a house mother living in each. Here, they will grow
up in safety—receiving love, spiritual guidance, and a
great education.
6:30pm - This evening I preached at a women’s meeting
at Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC) and the crowd was
overflowing into the streets. In all, I think there were
more than 7,000 women!
This Bulrushes home in
Kampala is a model for
our new outreach in Gulu.
Friday, Oct 17 — Gulu, Uganda
9am - We got up bright and early and flew to the famous
city of Gulu. It was the center of the twenty-two-year
war between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the
Ugandan government. Here, the LRA notoriously abducted
children and turned them into brutal killers. There’s been
a cease fire for the past two years, but it’s left the entire
region devastated beyond what you can even imagine.
My son David, CEO of Hand of Hope,
got to spend some time hanging out
with the children at the IDP Camp.
11am - Today, we cut the ribbon on the new Watoto village.
Several homes have been built, and people are already
living here. We also plan to duplicate the Bulrushes babies
home here. These outreaches are so vital. Most children
have lost their families and have been shunned by their
villages because of their involvement in the war. We will
cater to these former child soldiers who have been so
emotionally traumatized.
12pm - Today we visited an IDP Camp (Internally
Displaced Peoples), and it was truly one of the most horrible things I’ve ever seen. They call it “the land of children”
because more than 8,000 kids now live here primarily on
their own. These kids have nothing to play with…nothing
to occupy their time…they simply have nothing. But there
is hope. Our new village will be the new home for some of
these precious children and others just like them.
2pm - This afternoon kicked off our two-day open-air
crusade in Gulu, and the crowds were amazing. These people
have been so scarred by the war, and I believe the Lord has
brought us here at this specific time to bring new hope.
More than 20,000 people showed up for
our service in a Kampala stadium.
Saturday, Oct 18 — Gulu, Uganda
12pm - We visited the new Watoto village and handed
out toys, clothes and other necessities. I met several of
the children who were abducted and forced to become
soldiers. What an honor to be able to help them here.
2pm - For the second day in a row, we’ve had good
weather and massive crowds at our crusade. Our team
estimated that over 200,000 people attended in all. There
has been such a sense of destiny on this whole trip and
today was no different. I taught on the power of forgiveness and the need for us all to give our pain, bitterness
and resentment over to God.
Picking up the pieces
and rebuilding hope…
and so much more.
Dave and I laughed and played
with children at our new ministrysupported village in Gulu.
Sunday, Oct 19 — Kampala, Uganda
10am - Back in Kampala, we concluded our journey
with one final service. Hosted by KPC, more than 20,000
people attended a local stadium where I taught on obedience and going deeper with God.
2pm - We are getting back on the plane, headed for
home…leaving Africa and all of the amazing people we
have talked to, ministered to and even cried with. But
even as I leave, I know these people and experiences
will never leave my heart. We plan to return as soon as
we can, but in the meantime, I will not forget these eight
wonderful, life-changing days in Africa.
Our partners go where we go—feeding
the hungry, adopting children in
countries like Cambodia, sharing the
Gospel in many nations and rescuing
people from unthinkable situations.
We are all here together…
Will you join us?
FREE for new monthly partners!
Thank you for helping us reach the world. Please
enjoy this copy of the teaching package, Are You
Too Busy?—Synergy Edition, which includes:
• 2 CDs
• 2 DVDs
• Teaching Notes
(Available in U.S. and Canada only.)
For more information about Hand of Hope’s worldwide
outreaches, visit www.joycemeyer.org/handofhope.
Become a Partner today!
1.800.727.9673
www.joycemeyer.org/partnership
Find God’s Way of Staying Sane in Tod
ay’s World
by Joyce Meyer
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T
There is a place where we can live and
be safe. But there are also things we
do that will set us up to be unsafe. As
Christians, the Word of God establishes
the necessary boundaries to keep us in
God’s safety zone. It tells us what we
can do to be safe and what we better not
do if we don’t want to be unsafe.
Where are your boundaries?
You and I need to make a decision that
we are going to get our life in order.
Exercising self-control, self-discipline,
and establishing boundaries and
borders in our life are some of the most
important things we can do. A life that
has no discipline is one that’s filled with
carelessness.
As Christians we can think it’s kind
of exciting to live life on the edge. We
like the image of “Yeah! That’s me!
Living on the edge! Woo-hoo!” It’s
become a popular way to look at life. But
to be honest, God doesn’t want us living
on the edge. If we’re living on the edge,
then we have no margin for error.
Highways have lines, one on each
side and in the center. The lines provide
margins for our safety while we’re
driving. If we go over one side, we’ll go
into the ditch. If we cross over the line
in the middle, we could get killed. And
we like those lines because they help to
keep us safe. Sometimes we don’t even
realize how lines help to keep us safe.
It’s like that in our personal lives, too.
When we begin to have boundaries,
borders and margins, we feel much
better and experience God’s peace.
Have you checked yourself?
Here’s a question we can ask ourselves:
“Am I living an unsustainable life?”
This means, do we find ourselves saying
things like, “I can’t do this much longer.
I just can’t keep this up forever. If I
have to live like this one more year, it’s
probably going to finish me off. It’s all
too much!” If we’re making comments
like these, what we’re really saying is, “I
know I have limits and that I’ve reached
them, but I’m going to ignore them and
see if or how long I can get by with it.”
I’ve taught on how our body gives us
warnings when we’re pushing too hard,
like an ache here or a pain there. But
we think, Ah, I’ll be alright, so we ignore
the warnings until we can’t ignore them
anymore. I’m not proud of this, but for
the first twenty years of my ministry, I
felt horrible physically most of the time.
I ran to doctors, trying to make myself
feel better through pills, vitamins,
natural stuff and anything I could get
my hands on. Some of the doctors would
tell me, “It’s just stress.” That just made
me mad. I thought stress meant you
don’t like what you do or can’t handle
life, and I love what I do. One doctor
told me, “You’re a rather intense person,
aren’t you?” And I snapped back, “No,
I’m not intense and I’m not stressed!”
Coming from my abusive background, I had a lot of insecurities and
didn’t understand that even though God
had called me, I still had some wrong
motives and mindsets. I kept pushing
to let us know they’re not happy in our
relationship with them. But how many
people do anything to make their relationships better before it’s too late?
If we discover we are living unsustainable lives, we need to stop putting
off making the necessary changes until
we have a nervous breakdown, a heart
attack, fall apart, or lose everyone in our
life, and start making changes today. We
need to make changes to live the kind of
life God wants us to live. He wants us to
live a peaceful and powerful life. Jesus
said, …My [own] peace I now give and
bequeath to you… (John 14:27). We’re not
supposed to be stressed out, frustrated
and just hanging on by our fingernails,
trying all the time to make it through
one more day.
Where is your balance?
In Numbers 11, Moses gives us an
example of what we can do when we’re
under stress. Talk about pressure—he
was leading the Israelites through the
wilderness on what should have been
an eleven-day trip, but took forty years.
Here’s a question we can ask ourselves:
“Am I living an unsustainable life?”
myself, traveling, doing meetings,
speaking engagements, and so on—
simply exhausting myself. It was just
dumb on my part. I look back and think
if it wasn’t for the mercy of God, I’d be
dead. After twenty years of thinking the
doctors were all wrong, I finally realized
that we can’t break God’s spiritual laws
or His laws of health and rest and not
pay a price. So I made some changes!
Well…it’s like that with relationships, too. Our friends and family will
start saying things to us like, “I feel like
I never see you, and when I do, that you
aren’t listening to me. I feel like you
never have time for me. You’re always
late every time we’re supposed to do
something.” People give us warnings
Because of it, the people were depressed
and weeping over their situation. In
verse 14 Moses tells God, I am not able to
carry all these people alone, because the
burden is too heavy for me.
Like Moses, it’s okay for us to say,
“I’ve reached my limit.” Yes, scripture
says I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me (Philippians 4:13 NKJV),
but that’s really referring to times when
we face various trials and situations
that God will help us through. It doesn’t
mean we take on so many responsibilities like the woman who works full-time,
while raising five kids, serving on the
church board, etc. Maybe all this is easy
for a few people, but for most of us, it’s
too much. And that’s okay.
www.joycemeyer.org | March/april 2 0 0 9 | 23
Here’s a newsflash: You and I don’t
have to be like everyone else or keep
up with anyone else. Each of us needs
to be who God created us to be, and we
don’t have to apologize for it. We’re not
all alike and we need to find the comfort
zone God has established for us to live
in, so we can enjoy our life, instead of
making ourselves sick with an overload
of stress and pressure.
Sanity is just around the corner!
Psalm 91:1 says, He who dwells in the
secret place of the Most High shall remain
stable and fixed under the shadow of
the Almighty [Whose power no foe can
withstand]. We’ve probably wondered
what that secret place is, and I’ve
taught that it’s God’s presence. I’ve
also taught that it’s His peace, and I
think it’s both of those things. But in
a broader sense, I believe the secret
place is the Word of God, which sets
safe boundaries for our life.
I love, too, that the Word of God is
not a prison. There is a gate where
we can get out if we want to leave the
safe boundaries God has established
in His Word, because God is not into
controlling us contrary to our will. He
gives us guidelines and commandments to help us have a better life,
and every single thing He tells us to
do is for our benefit.
• Establish boundaries
• Notice warning signs
• Make changes
• Set limits for yourself
• Be yourself
• Find a balance
• Stay stable in God’s Word
Watch Enjoying Everyday Life
March 23–27 for more on
setting proper boundaries.
GET ThE BOOK
ThaT iNSpirED
JOYcE’S
TEachiNG SEriES
FrEE!
The Safety Zone
4-CD series ~ by Joyce Meyer
FREE GIFT
Boundaries
320-page paperbaCk
LOVE
COMES BACK
TO YOU Experience
the rewards
of putting
others first
Loving God, Loving
Yourself and Loving
Others
4-CD series ~ by Joyce Meyer
Honor’s Reward
by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
240-page harDCover
Offer S1140
Donate $40 or more* and
get both resources!
For your donation of $30 or more,* get the CDs and free gift!
*$33 or more in Canada
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by John Bevere
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WANTED
PEOPLE OF HONOR
To Treat People with Value, Respect and Kindness
by John Bevere
H
onor. Though it is almost extinct in the twenty-first century, the concept still
holds the power to move us. In movies a display of honor can bring us to tears
when we witness true courage and sacrifice. We applaud its virtue, but where is
honor in our everyday lives?
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www.joycemeyer.org
| march/april
| FEBRUARY 2 0 0 9 | 23
25
FEATURE ARTICLE
What is honor?
The Greek word for honor is time (pronounced tee-mee). The
literal definition of time is “a valuing.” To a Greek man, this
word means “something valuable, precious, and weighty,”
such as gold. To better understand the word, look at its
antonym dishonor. The Greek word for dishonor is atimia: “to
not show respect or value; to treat as common, ordinary, or
menial.”
Honor means “to value, esteem, respect or treat favorably.” Honor can be displayed in action, word and even
thought, but all true honor originates from the heart. This
is why God says, “These people come near to me with their
mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far
from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught
by men” (Isaiah 29:13 NIV).
If you try to give honor without it residing in your heart, it
will come out fake, or at best shallow. It is imperative to ask
God to develop true honor in your heart and then let true
honor flow from that source.
You need to be aware of how much honor you are bestowing, not only to God but also to the people around you.
Believers should value and honor everyone. Why? Because
the Bible says in 1 Peter 2:17,
Honor all people (NKJV).
Show respect for all men [treat them honorably] (AMP).
Treat everyone you meet with dignity (The Message).
Respect everyone (NLT).
This means you should honor, esteem and respect everyone—those you meet in the grocery store, at the bank and
at work! You interact daily with lonely, hurting people who
long to be valued. Are
you too focused on accomplishing a to-do
list? Do the people you
encounter every day go
unnoticed?
Think about your
life, the people you work
with, your friends, your
wife and children, and
even the waiter at the
restaurant. Do you treat them as people created in the image
and likeness of our God, or do you act as if they are common
and unworthy of your favor? Is it hard for you to genuinely
smile at people? Is it difficult to say kind words to strangers?
Do people know you care about them? If not, it might be that
honor is lacking in your heart.
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate
what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other
with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other
(Romans 12:9,10 NLT).
How can honor be applied to everyone in your life?
It begins with receiving the charge to “honor all people.” If
you know you lack honor, pray and ask God to put genuine
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honor in your heart. He will do it because it is His desire for
you. After God puts honor in your heart, your life will change.
You will become more aware of and sensitive to people. Your
simple words of kindness
will bring healing and
strength to those who
are weary. The Spirit of
God will lead you, and
everyday life will become
continuous ministry.
Just think… You are
God’s link to people who
need to know He values
them. The love of God
can flow from your heart
and sow eternal seeds that will one day produce fruit. If you
receive this truth, you will live in the supernatural power of
God and bring life to people. For we are to God the fragrance
of Christ among those who are being saved and among those
who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:15 NKJV).
God’s love creates a desire to honor others.
Once when I was walking in a park in London, an older,
Middle Eastern woman was coming my way with her head
down. I was moved with compassion toward her. I imagined she wasn’t accustomed to being treated as valuable.
My heart went out to her, so I purposefully said a cheerful
good morning. Her eyes looked up at me almost in disbelief.
I could almost hear her thoughts: Why would a Western man
speak with kindness to a female stranger? But before she could
dwell on those issues, her desire to be valued took over, and
her entire countenance changed. She timidly returned a
greeting. I most likely will not see her again, but I believe the
love of God planted a seed within her.
The amazing thing is you will receive heavenly rewards
when you embrace honoring all people. The amount of honor
you give to people will be a reflection of the reward you will
receive from God. When you fully receive this mandate, you
will walk in God’s will for your life and experience His favor
and presence flowing in your daily interactions.
What is the reward of honor? Being honored by God!
Those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me
shall be lightly esteemed (1 Samuel 2:30 NKJV). You don’t
need to hear a word from God, nor do you have to pray about
honoring individuals you come in contact with daily. Out of a
heart of love, compassion and respect, it will simply flow.
John Bevere is an international bestselling author, conference
speaker, and cofounder of Messenger International with his wife
(also bestselling author), Lisa Bevere. His desire is to equip people
with truth so they can fulfill their God-given potential.
www.messengerintl.org
A ME RICA : PAS T A N D
Assignment Two:
Plug In to Tomorrow
by Dave Meyer
Most Americans, if asked, would say that they want to
leave a better nation and community to their children
and grandchildren. But are we doing that? What sort of
country will they inherit? Will it be a free and prosperous
one? Will it be safe and secure? That really depends on us.
Unity is the key, and its going to be very important for us
to stay connected.
Think of Your Posterity
When I reflect on the call of John Quincy Adams to think
of your posterity, the first thing that comes to my mind is
our nine grandchildren. Joyce and I love them dearly and
we prayerfully consider their futures. We also pray for
the future of all our young people in America and their
descendents.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “Indeed, I tremble for my
country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice
cannot sleep forever.”1 As a parent and grandparent, I have
never been more concerned for our nation’s future than
I am today. With the constant attacks on our religious
freedom, the rampant immorality taking place, the threats
of terrorism, and the shaky economy, I am naturally
concerned about what sort of nation our descendents will
inherit from us. We are literally at a tipping point today—
America will either swing back to its Christian heritage or
fall further into becoming a secular/pagan nation.
What We Can Do
The direction that our country is destined to take is
completely in our hands. Educating ourselves and others
about America’s Christian heritage is the number one thing
we can do to bring about change. God says in Hosea 4:6, My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.… As long as we
know our providential history, we are properly equipped
to carry out our sacred duty as U.S. citizens. We can pray—
and that’s a good thing to do—but prayer without historical
knowledge makes us irresponsible. Knowledge stokes the
fires of righteous anger in us that cause us to take action.
That is why God told us to get wisdom and understanding
(see Proverbs 4:7).
Here are three other points of action we can take to
restore our country:
1. Pray— The Bible says, If My people, who are called by My
name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require
of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then
will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land
(2 Chronicles 7:14). Prayer is a crucial element to bring
about godly change.
www.joycemeyer.org | March/APRIL 2 0 0 9 | 27
FEATURE ARTICLE
2. Vote— It’s shameful how many Christians don’t exercise
their right to vote. If Christians would keep their voting
numbers consistently above 60 percent, our nation’s leadership
would be much stronger in standing up for godly standards.
3. Hold Your Elected Officials Accountable—Once we
elect someone to public office, we have a moral obligation
to hold them accountable. Are they conducting themselves
with integrity? Are they making decisions that reflect
our Christian values? If not, then respectfully voice your
displeasure through email or by telephone. And also
remember to let them know when they do something good.
We shouldn’t forget that those who are in office are human
and face the same temptations and challenges we all
face. Our state and federal elected officials are supposed
to represent their constituencies and reflect their views.
When citizens fail to keep a close watch on what their
government leaders are doing, then corruption flourishes
and our freedoms can be lost.
In an effort to help you and other concerned citizens
voice your concerns to elected officials, we have an
extensive, user-friendly America section on our website.
How to Use Our Website Resources
By visiting www.joycemeyer.org/america, you have access
to detailed information about all of your elected officials,
current issues and legislation, local and national media
outlets, plus “Action Alerts,” which explain what’s going
on in the country and how you can voice your concern.
By simply entering your zip code, you can find out who
your local, state and national officials are, how they voted
on key issues, and instantly send them an email to voice
your encouragement or concern for their position. If you
haven’t explored our America pages online, I encourage
you to do so. You will be amazed at all the information that
is available and how easily you can let your voice be heard
through the click of your computer mouse.
Please realize that it’s easier to maintain the liberties
we have than to try and regain them once they’re lost.
Don’t let the enemy of doubt and discouragement deceive
you. Your voice is important, and together, we can make
a difference!
Having trouble
recalling American history?
Here’s a little
backup.
(1) David Barton, Original Intent, Wallbuilders, Aledo TX, 4th Edition
2005, p. 334.
The American
Heritage Series
10-dvd series
by David Barton
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$90
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Dave Meyer is the Vice President of Joyce Meyer Ministries and has been
married to Joyce for over forty years. He passionately shares the truth
about our rich Christian heritage in conferences nationwide, encouraging
people to get educated, pray and take action.
faddy diets
It’s not the fat that’s making you fat
by Jordan Rubin
In the 1990s, you probably read influential articles in newspapers and glossy fashion
magazines about how bad fat is for you. These
stories planted the notion that if you wanted to
lose weight, eating foods without fat would do
the trick. Young girls took that advice to heart,
believing that if they eliminated fat from their
diets, they would be as thin as a supermodel.
In a demonstration of the law of unintended
circumstances, however, the result was an unprecedented leap in anorexia and bulimia among
weight-conscious teen girls.
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Fad Diet
Young adult women were also greatly influenced
by best-selling diet books that focused on a lowfat, high-carb diet. Some approaches involved a
diet based on vegetables and fruits, mostly raw,
as well as whole grains and some meat. Others
advocated the elimination of sugar and white
flour, which pretty much eliminated all processed
foods. Others were closer to a vegan diet.
The low-fat, high-carb diet found enthusiasts,
and food manufacturers in Europe and the United
States, responding to this expanding market by
flooding grocery stores with thousands of low-fat
and reduced-fat products. Restaurants revamped
their menus with low-fat entrees to suit the
changing tastes of health-conscious consumers.
The Statistics Weigh In
Did low-fat blueberry scones and reduced-fat
ice cream make us any thinner? Not at all, especially when you note how common “globesity” is
around the world. For what surely must be a first
in the annals of recorded history, demographers
have determined that there are more overweight
people living among us than those who are
undernourished.
According to the World Health Organization,
1 billion adults worldwide are overweight (of which
300 million are obese), meaning they weigh at
least 23 kilos (or 50 pounds) more than their ideal
body weight. At the other end of the spectrum, the
number of rail-thin starving and undernourished
individuals remains steady at 600 million.
Why the Diets Didn’t Work
Those following a low-fat diet had several things
working against them. First, most people couldn’t
stay on them for any length of time, especially
teen girls in the throes of adolescence and hormonal changes. In addition, those who possessed
enough willpower to remain fat-free for any
length of time often complained of low energy,
difficulty with concentration, depression, weight
gain and mineral deficiencies.
In my view, low-fat diets failed to distinguish
between the so-called “good fats” in food (includwww.joycemeyer.org | MARCH/APRIL 2 0 0 9 | 29
There are more overweight people (1 billion) living among
us than those who are undernourished (600 million).
ing olive and flaxseed oils; tropical oils, such
as coconut oil; and fish oils) and the “bad fats”
(hydrogenated oils found in margarine and most
packaged goods) associated with clogged arteries, heart disease and other health problems. We
need certain fats in our diet to provide a concentrated source of energy and source material for
cell membranes and various hormones.
The Problem with “Bad Fats”
The fats we don’t need are hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats found in processed foods.
These horrible, artery-clogging fats are produced
by heating liquid vegetable oils in the presence
of hydrogen to make them solid at room temperature—a process known as hydrogenation. Food
conglomerates routinely utilize hydrogenated oil
because it allows them to produce a more competitively priced product with a longer shelf life.
These processed foods often contain trans fat,
the type of fats you really want to run away from.
The list of foods containing trans fats is endless:
vegetable shortening, frozen pizza, ice cream,
processed cheese, potato chips, cookie dough,
white bread, dinner rolls, snack foods, cakes,
candy, salad dressing, etc.
Fats You Want to Keep Around
Although trans fats are horrible for your health,
God created some wonderful fats that benefit the
body and aid metabolism. Extra-virgin coconut oil,
extra-virgin olive oil and flaxseed oil, as well as
almonds, avocados and organically produced butter
contain the fats you want to include in your diet. I
urge you to stock your cupboard with these foods.
Extra-virgin coconut oil is excellent for cooking
scrambled eggs or heating up leftovers. Use
extra-virgin olive oil when making homemade
salad dressing and as a great addition to warm
foods after they’ve been cooked.
Now that you understand the deception, be
sure to read your ingredient labels, and if you see
the words hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated
listed, understand that you’ll be ingesting some
amount of trans fat, no matter what the colorful
label promises.
Jordan Rubin is the author of more than eighteen books,
including The Maker’s Diet and Perfect Weight America. He
is also the host of the popular television show Extraordinary Health and founder and CEO of Garden of Life, a
leading health and wellness company.
www.perfectweightamerica.com
The Genesis of Our Downfall
In the beginning, God created the heavens
and the earth, and He populated the earth
with green, yellow and red vegetables, fruits of
all kinds, seeds and grains, and healthy animals
to provide meat and dairy products, all so
that Man and Woman could live long and
healthy lives.
Then Satan created ice cream and glazed
doughnuts. And Satan said to Man, “You want
chocolate with that?” And Man replied, “Yes!” and
Woman said, “As long as you’re at it, add some
sprinkles.” Man and Woman gained ten pounds,
and Satan smiled.
So God said, “Try My fresh green salad,”
and Satan presented bottled dressing, greasy
croutons, bacon bits and white rolls on the
side. And Man and Woman unfastened
their belts.
God then said, “I have sent you
heart-healthy vegetables, coldwater fish, and cold-pressed
oils in which to cook them.” But
Satan brought forth deep-fried
breaded fish, french fries, and
hush puppies. So Man and Woman
30 | E N J O Y I N G E V E R Y D A Y L I F E
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by Jordan Rubin
gained more weight, and their cholesterol levels
went through the roof.
God then created whole-grain pasta that was thin
and delicious, and He called it angel hair, topped it
with organic tomato sauce, and declared, “It is good.”
Satan then created chocolate cake and named it
“Devil’s Food.”
God then brought forth running shoes so
that His children might lose those extra pounds.
But Satan gave them satellite TV with a remote
control so Man would not have to toil changing
the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and
cried before the flickering blue light and gained
another twenty pounds.
God then gave grass-fed beef, rich in iron and
zinc and low in fat, so that Man and Woman might
consume more minerals and fewer calories and still
satisfy their appetites. But Satan created fast-food
restaurants and ninety-nine-cent double cheeseburgers. Then he said, “You want fries with that?”
“Yes! And supersize them!” Man replied.
Satan said, “It is good,” and Man went into
cardiac arrest.
God sighed and created quadruple bypass
surgery.
Upcoming Conferences
MARCH 5-7 PHOENIX, AZ
Worship with Matt
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Redman
7:00pm
10:00am & 7:00 pm
10:00am
Phoenix First Assembly | www.phoenixfirst.org
MARCH 19-21 LONG BEACH, CA
Worship with Delirious?
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
7:00pm
10:00am & 7:00 pm
10:00am
Long Beach Arena | www.longbeachcc.com
APRIL 16-18 HAMPTON, VA
Worship with Darlene
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Zschech
7:00pm
10:00am & 7:00 pm
10:00am
Hampton Coliseum | www.hamptoncoliseum.org
MAY 14-16 TULSA, OK
Worship with Delirious?
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
7:00pm
10:00am & 7:00 pm
10:00am
BOK Center | www.bokcenter.com
SEE JOYCE LIVE in a city near you—
four unique sessions, worship, teaching
and a weekend you will never forget.
Spanish translation will be available at some locations,
please check online for more info.
No registration required.
Schedule is subject to change.
Interpretation for the deaf and hard of hearing will be provided.
wanna volunteer?
1.800.707.7877 Ext. 3516
[email protected]
1.866.SEE.JOYCE | www.joycemeyer.org/conference
FEATURE ARTICLE
Never Say...
No Way!
75-MiNUTe DVD
by Joyce Meyer
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and keep it set.
I Am Determined
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T V BROADCAST SCHEDULE
DAily TElECAST programs air daily, Monday-Friday.
MARCH
MAR 2 – 6
Partnership:
You Are Here
As a partner with
Joyce Meyer Ministries,
you never know
where you will end
up. On Monday,
hear testimonies
of partners who
are changing lives
around the world.
On Tuesday, get a
behind-the-scenes
look at the cuttingedge outreaches in
the inner city. On
Wednesday, see
how young girls
are escaping a life
of harm through
Mercy Ministries. On
Thursday, travel to
Cambodia to witness
how Hope Cambodia
is still changing lives.
And on Friday, witness
how Urban Youth
Impact is raising up a
generation for Christ.*
MAR 9 – 13
Surviving the
Media Culture
Join Joyce and Phil
Cooke on Monday and
Tuesday to discuss
the impact that media
has on your family
and what steps you
can take to control
what your family
watches, including
some helpful internetfilter websites. On
Wednesday, Joyce
shares a special
program dedicated
to Joyce Meyer
Ministries’ special day
of prayer by praying
specifically for your
healing and the many
requests that have
been submitted.
And on Thursday
and Friday, Joyce
shares teachings
on living a life filled
with excellence and
integrity.
MAR 16 – 20
What’s Been
on Your Mind
Lately?
Your thoughts have
a powerful effect on
every aspect of your
life. Joyce shares
four days of practical
teachings focused
on the mind. And on
Friday, she answers
viewers’ questions
about the power of
partnership.*
MAR 23 – 27
Boundaries
Did you know that
boundaries and limits
in your life can actually
bring you peace and
security? Monday
through Wednesday
Joyce welcomes Drs.
Henry Cloud and John
Townsend, authors
of Boundaries. On
Thursday, Joyce
answers viewers’
questions and shares
a teaching on Friday
about staying in the
safety zone—the
boundaries set by
God.
MAR 30 – ApR 3
Relentless
This week will help
you persevere through
anything that comes
your way with Joyce’s
teachings recorded at
Women’s Convention
2008. Also, Joyce
welcomes Lisa Bevere
on Tuesday and
Wednesday.
ApRil
ApR 6 – 10
Armed and
Dangerous
As a Christian, you
have the greatest
weapon ever needed
to defeat the enemy.
For four days, Joyce
teaches on the
authority and power
that we have as
Christians. And on
Friday, tune in for
a special Easter
program with special
guest Nicky Gumbel.
ApR 13 – 17
Living a Blessed
Life
WEEKly TElECAST
Join Joyce for a week
of teachings that will
reveal that blessings
come in many shapes
and forms—and it’s
not always in paper
and coins.
MARCH 1 – 7
Healing the Wounded Spirit
ApR 20 – 24
Never Give Up!
When people say it
can’t be done—just
do it anyway! Joyce
shares four days of
teachings that will
encourage you to
never give up. She
also shares a teaching
and answers your
questions on Friday
about her newest book
Never Give Up!
Programs air one day a week.
MARCH 8 – 14
The Hope of Seeing Change
MARCH 15 – 21
Healing the Wounded Spirit
MARCH 22 – ApRil 4
Are You Ready for a Change
Yourself?
ApRil 5 – 11
A New Way of Living
ApRil 12 – 18
Easter Program
ApRil 19 – MAy 2
Restoring Fellowship with the
Father
ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE
ApR 27 – MAy 1
Choosing to
Live Healthy
Joyce welcomes
Dr. Don Colbert on
Monday and Tuesday,
during this week full of
teachings covering the
importance of living a
healthy, happy life.
PODCASTS
• Enjoying
Everyday Life
daily video
podcast
• Enjoying
Everyday Life
daily radio podcast
• Everyday Moments
90-second audio podcast
www.joycemeyer.org/podcasts
*TBN will receive alternate programming.
Schedules are subject to change. For stations and programs times in your area, check
your TV listing or visit www.joycemeyer.org/tvlistings. Watch the Enjoying Everyday Life
broadcast anytime you like at www.joycemeyer.org.
www.joycemeyer.org | MARCH/APRIL 2 0 0 9 | 33
continue...
Pressing on through the hard times
by Vincent Newfield
Job has been there. Elijah has been there. Jonah has been
there too. Where have all these men of God and many
others like them been? The place is utter despair—a point
in life where the circumstances are so devastating and
dismal that the desire to quit is overwhelming. I’ve been
there; maybe you’re there right now. But God has a word
for us: CONTINUE.
Now, the word continue may not seem profound, but it
actually carries a lot of weight. It means “to keep on, persist,
maintain, remain, endure, or persevere.” Colossians 2:6,7
says, So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened
in the faith as you were taught…(NIV). The Living Bible
says, …Just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him, too, for
each day’s problems; live in vital union with him (verse 6).
What kind of things make you want to quit?
I have been walking with the Lord for over thirty-five
years. During that time, there have been many occasions
when I wanted to quit—especially when the surrounding
circumstances
were
overwhelming
and
made absolutely no
sense whatsoever. From
the years of struggling financially while
self-employed, to the
—John 12:26
devastating disappointments of fighting and
failing in some of my personal battles…from the two
miscarriages my precious wife and I experienced, to the
multiple hurts and offenses I’ve encountered…the desire
and opportunity to walk away from God has definitely
knocked on my door many times.
If anyone serves Me,
he must continue to
follow Me....
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What empowers us to continue?
It’s the power of God’s Spirit living in us—nothing else. But
in order to receive this life-giving strength and motivation
to carry on, we must stay connected to Christ. Jesus says in
John 15:5, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives
in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However,
apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can
do nothing. Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches, and the
supernatural “sap” that flows through the Vine giving life
to us is His precious Holy Spirit.
Without question, there is no way I would still be
serving the Lord today if it was not for Him loving me and
drawing me to Himself by His Spirit. I don’t know about
you, but when I get battered again and again by a barrage
of blows from the enemy, my faith is shaken to the core. I
would love to tell you that I immediately sought the Lord
in these situations, but the truth is I often became discouraged, depressed and even angry at God. It was God who
pursued me first—it was the Holy Spirit who moved on me
and melted the hardness of my heart by the intense heat of
His unconditional love.
Are you struggling to continue in your walk with God?
Don’t listen to the enemy and pull away. To whom else will
you go? Only the Lord has the words that give life (see
John 6:68). Instead, get alone with God and tell Him how
you feel. If you’re angry at Him, tell Him. He will not be
shocked and He will not push you away. On the contrary,
He will love you and nurse you back to spiritual health.
Vincent M. Newfield and his wife, Allison, are founders of Prepare
The Way, a teaching ministry dedicated to passionately presenting
the timeless truth of God’s Word through innovative messages and
illustrations. In addition to speaking in churches, Vincent is a freelance writer for Joyce Meyer Ministries, John Bevere Ministries and
other worldwide organizations. www.preparethewaytoday.org
God’s gifts are waiting for you...
will you answer?
MARCH
APRIL
Receiving and
Giving Grace
Jesus Is the Door to
Everything You Need
70-MiN dVd
by Joyce Meyer
55-MiN dVd
by Joyce Meyer
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Excellence and integrity
require constant attention.
NeW!
Living with
Excellence and
Integrity
4-cd series
by Joyce Meyer
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If you knew the difference you could make—
you’d never give up!
“Soar above life’s tests and trials…increase your
determination…turn adversities into opportunities…
You can do it if you never give up.”
—Joyce Meyer
Never Give Up!
272-Page Hardcover by Joyce Meyer
Receive Joyce’s new book for your donation of any amount.
All proceeds go to Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions.
(Will be shipped on or after the book’s release date of April 1)
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