ISSUE 24 ~ SEPTEMBER 2011
peace MAKING
WITH MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION
HOW WISDOM CAN BRING HAPPINESS TO YOUR LIFE BY JOYCE MEYER
03
Three Little Tips for Greater Joy Joyce Meyer
05
I Love to Worship CeCe Winans
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Ashirwaad: Alleviating the Crippling Effects of Starvation Shirley Bobby
A Closer Look: Get in Shape and Stay that Way - See page 10.
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The Future of Uganda Ginger Stache
DEAR FRIENDS, I think it’s time to get back to basics when it comes to faith in God. I believe faith should be based on certain foundational truths and then it can grow from there. If we want to have a deep, healthy, solid faith in God, we must exercise our faith to make it stronger. Think of soldiers in the military. First, they enlist in a branch of the service. Then they go through basic training, or boot camp. They are drilled and exercised and trained relentlessly. This is to prepare their minds as well as their bodies to be equipped for warfare. Drill instructors are assigned to do this “equipping” because soldiers need to possess strength, stamina, resilience and endurance. And even when it’s not wartime, they will be strong, healthy—ready for anything. Let’s think about this in terms of our own faith. First, we enlist—or we give our lives to Christ. Then we begin a regimen of basic training—or faith building. The Holy Spirit acts as our Drill Instructor in this case. Now here’s where the training gets more personal. For some it might seem rigorous and to others, rather mild. We may be instructed to increase Bible study, prayer or fellowship time. Or perhaps we simply need to do something nice for someone as an act of obedient faith. The point is our Drill Instructor, the Holy Spirit, knows exactly what we each need as a faith-building requirement so we can be prepared in season and out of season. It could be one thing today and another tomorrow. We just need to obey Him, trusting that He always has our best interest at heart. I want to encourage you first, if you’ve never done so, to “enlist” in God’s army. Give your life to Him today. That’s where you start. And even if you’ve been a believer for years, it’s always good to get back to basics every now and then. There are more “training orders” in the following pages. The results—strong, solid faith in God—are well worth the time and effort. God bless you as you get back to basics!
Credits
E N J O Y I N G E V E R Y D AY L I F E ISSUE 24 | SEPTEMBER 2011
CONTENTS
Publisher Joyce Meyer Ministries - Asia Executive Editors David Meyer Prem Sukumar Graphic Designers Christopher S.K. Rozario Sarah Sofia Kalpana John Dandem A. Vijaya Kumar Anand Paul Staff Writers Samson Madella Shirley Bobby Photographers Edurolu Raju Pavithran Golconda Production Coordinators Mani Kumar Pavithran Golconda P. Praveen Mittal Jain Every Nation . . . Every City . . . Every Day . . . All Bible references are from The Amplified Bible unless otherwise noted. If undeliverable return to: Joyce Meyer Ministries - Asia, Nanakramguda, Hyderabad - 500 008. E-mail: enjoyingeverydaylife@jmmindia.org Enjoying Everyday Life is published quarterly by Joyce Meyer Ministries, Hyderabad, AP INDIA © 2010 Joyce Meyer Ministries. 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. Because all Enjoying Everyday Life issues are preplanned, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts. For more information or to order, call: Locally 040-2300 6777 or Toll-Free 1800-3454-007. Internet address: www.jmmindia.org
FE AT URE ST ORY
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D E PA R T M E N T S
FEATURES
03 THREE LITTLE TIPS FOR GREATER JOY
10
A Closer Look: Faith
BY JOYCE MEYER
11 Festival of Life
See how this powerful 1-2-3 combo can play an important part in increasing your joy.
13 Asia Missions: Ashirwaad 21 TV Broadcast Summary 22 TV Broadcast Schedule
05 I LOVE TO WORSHIP BY CECE WINANS
Award-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans talks about the natural lifestyle of worship she experienced growing up—a lifestyle we were all created for.
07 MAKING PEACE WITH MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION BY JOYCE MEYER
We could all use more wisdom when it comes to making decisions. Learn how to let the Holy Spirit lead you.
15 THE FUTURE OF UGANDA HAND OF HOPE—Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions
BY GINGER STACHE
Watoto, our ministry partner in Uganda, is working to raise the country’s future leaders by rescuing and restoring the stolen innocence and broken lives of some of its former child soldiers.
WATCH JOYCE'S MESSAGES IN A VARIETY OF LANGUAGES Visit tv.joycemeyer.org
Three Little Tips for
Greater Joy BY JOYCE MEYER
Enjoying life is something I think most people want to do. But joy doesn’t just happen all the time on its own. It doesn’t always come naturally. Enjoying life on a consistent basis takes effort. If you want joy, you must make a decision to do a few things. Let’s take a look at some things you can do to enjoy your life consistently. Even if you consider yourself happy, you can increase your happiness by putting all of these three tips into practice.
Joy Tip #1 – Pay Attention to How You Think Thinking is something you can do on purpose. You must think about what you’re thinking about, then decide what you’re going to spend time thinking about, and then think those thoughts on purpose. Why? Because what you think is what you become.
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When it comes to thoughts, you can think whatever you want to think. You don’t have to accept whatever thought drops by for a visit. Do your own thinking, and if you’re smart, you will spend time thinking on things that will add power to your life. You’ll think powerful thoughts, not pitiful thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 says, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. If you think good thoughts, you will increase your joy in life. So why would any reasonable person want to think things that will make them miserable? I’ll never stop talking about the mind. Last year I wrote a book about it called Power Thoughts. Another book on this subject I wrote years ago is called Battlefield of the Mind. Many people have found these books to be helpful with changing the way they think.
Joy Tip #2 – Be a Person Full of Hope No matter where you are right now, you can say, “Something good is going to happen to me.” Before I speak at a conference, I say out loud, “We are going to have a wonderful meeting. I believe that people’s lives will be changed.” You don’t have to be hopeless because you can hope on purpose. There’s a scripture in Zechariah I love that says we can be prisoners of hope. In other words, I’m going to just hope. I make the decision to hope. Some of you might say, “What if I hope and then I get disappointed?” Well, at least you were happy while you were hoping.
Joy Tip #3 – Control Your Mouth The mouth is another important tool that can either draw you toward joy or pull you further away from it. James 3:9 says that with the same mouth we praise God and curse
other people. It goes on to say the mouth is like a wildfire that no one can control. But God can help us. You must be careful what you say. You must think before you speak. I almost fell out of my chair when I read 1 Peter 3:10. It says, Let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). If you want to enjoy your life— choose your words wisely.
And Don’t Forget This Christians must know who they are in Christ and have a balanced appreciation for how God made them. Remember, you were created in the image of God. Having this truth in your heart is healthy and leads to inner peace. And peace produces joy in our lives. Satan is always trying to take this truth away from you. He’s called the devil, the serpent, the father of lies, and other ugly names in the Bible. And he has little helpers we call demons who try to help spread his lies. I know many people don’t like to talk about this, but I think it’s important for you to know. You don’t have to just sit back and let the devil do this. We, as believers, have authority over him. You will never gain victory over the devil through passivity. Wishing for joy isn’t going to get it done. You know what I always say—you don’t need a wishbone, you need backbone. So be sure to not only read these three tips on how to enjoy your life more, but do them. You must put them into practice to see results. To learn additional ways to increase your level of joy, consider getting my Enjoying Everyday Life Synergy Edition teaching package.
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Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. P SA A L M 6 6:2 N I V
I was born in Detroit, Michigan, the eighth of ten children. So as you can probably imagine, lots of noise and recreation filled our home. My parents were born-again believers and were determined to raise all ten of us in the fear of the Lord. Being raised in a Christian home, I was surrounded by prayer, praise and singing all the time. I also practically lived in church. My family started the week off early Sunday morning in Sunday school and we didn’t get home until late Sunday night. We had weekly Bible studies on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and more often than not, there was a special weeklong revival going on somewhere. Even though I was constantly hearing praises to God in church and at home, it is something I never grew tired of—actually, I couldn’t get enough of it.
Crea ated to Worship As far back as I can remember, I have always loved to worship. Even before I understood what it was or what it really meant, I loved to worship. As a child, I remember loving to cry out to God, praising and magnifying His name, whether it was on the altar at church or alone in my room. I always felt better, safe and right at home after spending time in God’s presence. Worship brought me so much joy, and I don’t think at the time I gave a lot of thought about how much joy it gave the Father. It wasn’t until I was much older that I began to truly understand why I loved worship so much! We are created to worship the Father, and that is why it came so naturally and felt like it was something I was born to do. When I read in God’s Word that He inhabits the praises of His people (see Psalm 22:3), it explains the joy that flowed through me like a river whenever I would lift my hands, open my mouth and bless His name. Even at a young age, I adored Him and wanted to show it the best way I knew how.
Expe eriencing God’s Blessings God’s presence and power fills our hearts when we worship Him. You see, worship is simply loving God with all of your heart, soul and mind, living a life that gives Him glory and recognizing Him as Lord of all. I discovered that singing,
dancing before the Lord, lifting my hands and shouting praises were all expressions of my worship and assisted in ushering my worship straight to the heart of the Father. And the more I worshiped, the more I fell head over heels in love with Him. When you worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, He releases His love to you, opens the windows of heaven and pours out blessings upon you. Heaven’s best overtakes your whole life. Scripture says I am blessed coming in and going out, in the city and in the field (see Deuteronomy 28:3, 6), and that goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (see Psalm 23:6). And it’s not because I have a gift to sing or that I am better than anyone else, because I’m not. I am blessed simply because I am a worshipper! I love God, and I love to worship Him.
The Power of True Worship Worship is, and prayerfully always will be, my lifestyle—a lifestyle that reflects the righteousness of God. Loving God, loving His people and obeying His Word is true worship. Every day is an opportunity to worship. I can change my world and the world of others through my worship. It has been my greatest weapon, comfort and joy, and I don’t ever intend to stop! Worship keeps the devil under my feet, my marriage strong, my children protected (even from themselves), and it continues to light my path through this journey called life. Everything you will ever need will come through worship, so I encourage you to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and everything else will be added unto you. I know the power that lies in true worship—my life is a testament of that. I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free. But mostly I sing because I’m a worshipper. I’m in love with God and I will bless the Lord at all times. His praises shall continually be in my mouth throughout all eternity. Hallelujah!! Join with me… Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6 NIV).
CECE WINANS whose stellar vocal talent has thrived in the Christian music scene over the years, doesn’t boast of her many awards, accolades and accomplishments. Her heart centers on the very presence of God. To her, there’s nothing more important than focusing on Him. www.cecewinans.com
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peace MAKING
WITH MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION
HOW WISDOM CAN BRING HAPPINESS TO YOUR LIFE BY JOYCE MEYER
None of us like discomfort too much. An itch keeps us from sitting still. An uncomfortable mattress keeps us from sleeping. Social pressures and the threat of rejection can lead us to make some really stupid decisions. When I decided to go into ministry, I think some people didn’t like it because they were uncomfortable being associated with some silly woman who thought she was going to preach the Gospel around the world. A lot of family turned against me. I was asked to leave my church. I lost most of my friends and my reputation. It was a terrible time in my life. And all I was doing was teaching a Bible study! Now, what if I’d given up my calling for their comfort? I wonder where I’d be right now…and how I’d feel about my decision to waste all those years wondering: Was it really God? Think about your own life for a moment. When you have a decision to make, do you normally go with the flow—or do you pray for wisdom and weigh your decisions on the Word of God? Every decision we make not only affects us, but the people around us. Even future generations are affected by the choices we make today. So we need to seek God’s Word for guidance, and we need to heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our heart.
It’s Not Too Hard to Hear from God I think one of the main reasons some people let others make decisions for them is they don’t really believe they can hear from God. They wish they could or hope they can. They wonder if they can but they’re afraid they don’t. The Word says we can. 1 John 2:27 says, But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do]. When it comes to the responsibilities and the life God has called you to, there’s an anointing permanently within you, which means the Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you. It’s your blood-bought, Godgiven right to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to trust yourself with God and tell Him, “God, I want to hear from You. I don’t want to do anything outside Your will. So I’m going to trust that You speak to me, and I am going to trust that I can hear from You.”
How Will I Know I’m Hearing from God? Colossians 3:15 clearly tells us how. It says, ...let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds....] If you follow the leadership of God, you will have peace, joy, righteousness and you’ll bear good fruit. What you won’t be is confused and frustrated. God never leads us to busy ourselves so much that we’re stressed out all the time and have no joy. And He won’t try to confuse your mind—that’s the enemy’s job. To find where your peace lies, simply ask yourself: Is there a scripture that applies to my situation? What does the Word say I should do? For example, if there’s something you want to buy but you don’t have www.jmmindia.org | SEPTEMBER 2 0 1 1 | 08
enough in your bank account to buy it, it’s probably best to wait because God doesn’t want us to be in debt (see Romans 13:8). Many times, God’s Word sounds a lot like common sense. I encourage you to let the peace in your heart decide with finality every question that arises in your mind.
“When you have a decision to make, do you normally go with the flow—or do you pray for wisdom and weigh your decisions on the Word of God?” When Is It Wise to Get Counsel from a Friend? The Bible does say there’s safety in a multitude of counselors (see Proverbs 11:14). But you could ask ten different people about your situation and end up with ten different answers. One thing you should ask yourself is, Am I seeking wise counsel? A lot of times, we end up asking people who don’t even know what they’re doing. Or they’re someone who may have a selfish motive. Keep this in mind: True counseling leads you to God; it doesn’t try to run your life. If you feel something strongly in your heart and you’ve prayed about it and it goes along with Scripture, then follow your heart. If you feel led to make a decision that others don’t like, you shouldn’t have to give an unreasonable amount of explanation for what you feel led to do. Maybe you don’t know why—you just sense that’s just what you’re supposed to do. God has a plan, and you are part of that plan, but you won’t live it if you live with the fear of man. Trust yourself. What do you think God is saying to you? What are you sensing from God? Ultimately, you need to take responsibility for making the decision that brings peace to your heart.
It’s Amazing Where God Will Take You! I didn’t even start my ministry until I was forty-two years old. It is unbelievable what God can do through you if you’ll fight your way through all the mess that comes against you and say, “If God says I can, I can.” How do you know when God’s called you? All I can say is, when God called me to teach the Word, He gave me an overwhelming desire to do so—and that desire has stayed with me throughout the years. That Holy Ghost unction, or “umph,” will motivate and energize you to press on through each challenge that comes. I believe it’s much better to step out and find out than to hide in the closet all your life and think what if? It’s not the end of the world if you make a mistake. I wonder how many people are sitting around right now thinking, Yeah…I think I’ve missed a lot in my life by trying to keep other people happy. And here I am now, and I’m not happy. Well, you know what? God has you reading this for a reason. It may cause quite a stir when you announce that from now on you’re going to follow the Holy Spirit, but you must be true to your own heart if you want to be happy. 09 | E N J O Y I N G E V E R Y D AY L I F E | www.jmmindia.org
A CLOSER LOOK: FAITH
...Christ’s anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught. 1 JOHN 2:27 THE MESSAGE
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.... PROVERBS 23:7
If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 1 PETER 3:10 NLT
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds....] COLOSSIANS 3:15
In order to develop strong faith, we need to get in shape—and stay that way! We need to exercise our faith...train it...pump it up...much like we do our bodies! Read and meditate on these verses, and then answer the questions below. 1. Trust yourself to your Trainer (God). What things is the Holy Spirit teaching you about yourself? About Himself? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 2. How do your thoughts affect your words? How do your words affect your thoughts? How are your thoughts and words affecting your faith? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 3. What, if any, changes do you need to make in the way you think and/or in the way you speak? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 4. Based on the insights above, how will you personally exercise your faith? What thing(s) are you being led to do in faith? How do you know your faith is growing stronger? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
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a look back at 2010
itement in the air. Some claim what they felt was the exc S rship. Some claim it was the electrifying wo my heart and onto But I know that what I felt moving into the crowds was God’s Holy Spirit. Samuel Paul*
Joyce Meyer visited India last year to bless the people of Kolkata with powerful teachings from the Word and uplifting worship led by Hillsong’s Darlene Zschech. Hear what those who attended Joyce's Festival of Life last year had to say: “Let me come right out and say how wonderful the Festival of Life Conference has been for the people of Kolkata and the hundreds who I am sure, traveled across India. My spirit is alive and on fire. The teachings spoke lessons to me that have changed the way I am going to live my life from now on. Thank you so much for blessing India and bringing us the Word. It is my prayer that all those who attended the conference or watched the broadcast will be blessed with the love, peace and joy of Christ.” Anand*
“The inspiring messages and best-selling books by Joyce made available to all of us who attended have spoken clear and bold messages of love and forgiveness. Be assured of our prayers for you and for the entire team who flew to India to deliver the Gospel of Jesus Christ to us. You stayed focused on God’s task given to us in Mark 16 to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. I heard about the service you provided for underprivileged people in need of medical care. By giving them free medical treatment, you really showed them that God loves each one of us, no matter how big or small, rich or poor.” Stanley*
“My life will not be the same anymore. All it took for me were three days of God inspired messages to transform my life! My prayer now is that I too can serve the people of this world with love. How can I begin to thank you, Joyce Meyer, for being such an obedient and faithful messenger of God’s Word? Through you, so many people are changing their lives and looking to Christ, not to the world, for inspiration.” Esther* *Names changed for privacy
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Across the GLOBE there are over ONE BILLION people living in POVERTY - a condition leading to malnutrition, all manner of illness and DISEASE, and even DEATH. Of this colossal number, many are in India.
BY SHIRLEY BOBBY
In the backdrop of these grim realities, Joyce Meyer Ministries launched Ashirwaad, an initiative to provide a healthy meal and academic tuitions every day to underprivileged children who do not have access to life’s basic ingredient – food. Through this effort, Hand of Hope is determined to alleviate the crippling effects of starvation and plant hope in the lives of children throughout India’s villages, towns and cities. Molly* never had wants in her childhood. Barely supplied with her needs, this malnourished 7 year old struggled 13 | E N J O Y I N G E V E R Y D AY L I F E | www.jmmindia.org
for days with no food to eat. Years of being ostracized by a society repulsed at the sight at her leprosy-stricken father left Molly in constant expectation of rejection. But on her first day at the Ashirwaad Feeding Center she had an encounter previously unknown to her – she was accepted with love. Molly now eats every day and can live in the confidence that God loves everyone. Millions of children die of hunger each year. Solving the problem of hunger reduces a host of infectious diseases and deficiencies; a dangerously common occurrence in developing countries such as India.
For as long as she can remember, eight year old Malliga* has never eaten anything other than bowls of mashed rice in hot water. Her worried mother could not bear to see her frail and weak daughter frequently faint and suffer with stomach infections as a result of irregular eating habits. But with a meager income, a cup of rice a day was all she could afford. When she heard about the Ashirwaad program she enrolled Malliga, who started gaining weight and is now healthy enough to attend school again.
forward to eating healthy meals and sits eagerly with a teacher who helps her study every day. She is performing exceptionally well in school, having recently scored good grades in her exams. Jyothi now walks to school with a spring in her step, evident to all who see her that she is destined for a good future all thanks to your generous partnership with Joyce Meyer Ministries’ Ashirwaad project. There are no limits to what a little help can do.
In addition to healthy meals, the ASHIRWAAD FEEDING CENTERS have books, educational supplies and teachers to help the children study well in school. Furthermore, it was found that there were children who never had an education. But once they started attending the Ashirwaad Feeding Centers, the daily lessons gave them the required foundation to join school. Fourteen year old Jyothi* is a bright child but hunger prevented her from doing her very best in school for a long time. She longed to study but without a daily intake of food, she was often dizzy and unable to focus on her work. So she closed her books and quit school. While walking back from the auto repair shop where he works, Jyothi’s father was stopped by some of the other mechanics. They knew he had a big family to feed and that most of the time his children starved. So they told him about the Ashirwaad Feeding Center located right in their village. Now a member of the Ashirwaad program, Jyothi looks
The aim of the Ashirwaad program to reverse the cruel cycle of poverty and illiteracy in children is substantiated by the changes evident in them. The children are healthier, studying well and are now on their way to becoming productive members of society. But the number of children still to be restored to good health and provided with educational opportunities runs in the millions and Ashirwaad is committed to accomplishing this objective, one center at a time. * Names changed for privacy
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THE FUTURE OF UGANDA Witnessing the Restoration of Former Child Soldiers
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BY GINGER STACHE
June 2010. It had been two years since our team fi rst met David and Flavia, former child soldiers in Gulu, Uganda, and we were anxious to see them again. From the minute they walked up to us, we could tell a lot had changed in their lives since we last saw them. But in order for you to understand the radiant smiles and indescribable joy we experienced in talking with them again, we have to take you back two years earlier. It was here that their transformation began. It’s what makes their story and God’s redeeming grace so remarkable… October 2008. We met David and Flavia when we visited the outreaches of Watoto, our ministry partner in Uganda. Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions, had recently partnered with Watoto to help build a village for widows and orphans of a war that had ravaged the northern part of the country for twenty years.
own parents. David was broken, brainwashed and was asked to do the unthinkable. But David didn’t have to kill them—the rebels did it for him so he wouldn’t have anything to go home to. “If they say that you are now a good soldier… they will come and kill your whole family so that you have no heart to go back home to see your parents. They will give you a message that something has happened to your parents,” David explained. We don’t know how many people David was forced to kill. But one thing we do know is that when we first met him he struggled with forgiving himself. I’ll never forget his words – especially haunting coming from someone so young: “I always thought about committing suicide because I have killed people and done so many wrong things. How can I forgive myself for all the things I have done. I thought my life would actually not be good in the future. I was useless.” Thankfully, David was rescued from the LRA by the Ugandan army. God had a different plan in store for David.
FL AVIA’S ABDUC TI O N All war is horrific, but here it was particularly atrocious. Many people were tortured and mutilated, but perhaps worse of all, countless children were abducted, treated as sex slaves and forced to take up arms and kill.
She doesn’t remember how old she was when she was abducted, but it’s a night she will never forget. The fate of many girls in Uganda during the war was to be sex slaves for the rebels in the LRA.
An estimated 30,000 children were captured and forced to watch their families die; or worse yet, to kill them themselves. They were then initiated—beaten with 100 lashes, forced to carry heavy equipment for days with little food, rest or water, and threatened with their life if they dropped one single item. After more excruciating pain and torture, these children were forced to participate in the torture and murder of one another. They were now soldiers in the Lord’s Resistance Army.
That night rebel’s broke in to Flavia’s grandmother’s house. When she saw them, she hid under her bed, but it wasn’t long before they found her. Men pulled her by the legs through the house to a group of girls outside. They forced her to go with them, leaving the comfort of her grandmother to live in the bush. “Life was so hard in the bush. If you cried, they would say, ‘You must be thinking of home.’ And then they would punish you. If I wanted to cry I would go hide somewhere and then come back and pretend everything was okay.
S TAT S STATS Population is 34,612,250 Median age is 15.1 years old 1.2 million (6.5%) people in Uganda are living with AIDS. 42% are protestant 35% live in poverty 1.27 million people were displaced as a result of war between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda. (All stats taken from https://www.cia.gov/ library/publications/ the-world-factbook/geos/ ug.html, accessed May 5, 2011.)
PPHOT HO T OS TOP LEFT: Once a child soldier, David is now living in a safe home and studying to be an engineer. TOP RIGHT: Former orphans, who are now brothers and sisters, jump rope outside their home. CENTER: Each home has a “mother” and eight children. BOTTOM LEFT: Children are able to go to school and learn about the love of Jesus Christ. BOTTOM RIGHT: Flavia is now traveling with the Watoto Children’s Choir sharing her story of rescue and restoration in Christ.
DAVID’S INITIATION INTO THE LR A David was abducted when he was nine. His initiation into the LRA consisted of dodging bullets from the guns of his captors. Once he proved his worth and had killed a Ugandan soldier, they threatened to send him to kill his
“For me the hardest part was seeing all the killings. They would kill whenever they wanted to. One night we were walking and came upon a group of men. They were forced to dig their own graves. The [LRA] killed
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them and buried them. Others were tied to trees and left to die.” Tears streamed down Flavia’s face and mine as she shared her story.
hope is in Jesus. I don’t have to think about what’s happening but I look to Jesus because He’s my only hope in my life.”
Those days for Flavia were filled with doubt and constant fear. “I was always worried what tomorrow would bring.” Thankfully one of those tomorrows brought her rescue. An older woman helped her and other young girls escape during the middle of the night.
DAVID ’S FUTU RE
T WO YE ARS OF RESTOR ATION When we first met David and Flavia, they were plagued with dreadful memories. Their lives were shattered, their hearts were broken, and they were understandably hesitant to open up to strangers. But as we began to get to know each other, God did something unexpected, and in the few days we spent together a very special bond developed between us. That’s why we couldn’t wait to see them again when the time came two years later. Remember those smiles I told you about earlier? The moment we saw them we knew that God’s love has done something amazing. He’s taken two broken children, whose innocence was ripped from them, and has filled them with joy and hope.
In the time David has lived at Watoto, he’s begun to see himself as anything but that useless boy he once considered himself to be. “Before, I was dead. My whole world was dead. I couldn’t see anything and I couldn’t do anything, but God knew the plan he had for me. He knew it, and He took me from where I was. Now I can see what I couldn’t see. I can imagine what I couldn’t imagine before.” David is going to school to become an engineer. He wants to build a stronger Uganda for generations to come. “I want to be a good leader with a passion to follow the Word of God. There are a lot of vulnerable children and mothers that need help. I need to help others like I was helped.”
“W H AT I ’VE PASSED T H ROU GH AND WHAT G OD H AS DON E FOR ME…YOU SEE, SOME PEOPLE DI ED, BU T SEE I AM ST I L L AL I VE. L OOK AT WHAT GOD H AS DON E I N MY L I FE.” —F LAVIA
The goal of Watoto is to raise future leaders of Uganda. This is accomplished through an assortment of programs, but what seems to be one of the most successful is the village where David and Flavia have found their restoration. The village consists of homes that have one mother and eight children living together. Each morning the housemother does devotions with the children. They pick a few verses and teach about God’s Word. The children learn to pray, and they thrive in the atmosphere of love and support. Flavia says she appreciates the advice she receives from her mother. “I love her so very much.” And she’s also getting an opportunity to share her testimony in a bigger way. She was chosen to be part of the Watoto Children’s Choir. Traveling to England, the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong, Flavia, in addition to singing and dancing in the choir, is sharing her story of captivity and rescue with many around the world. “I want people to understand how God is great and whatever is going on in their lives, they have to know that God is there and He can listen to you. My
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What we felt during those first reunion hugs is difficult to express and the transformation in these two children is nothing short of astounding. David who was once full of sorrow and hopelessness is now an eloquent young man excited to share the hope he has found with a still broken nation. And Flavia, the frightened, timid girl, the same age as one of my own daughters, is now an exuberant and outgoing young woman overflowing with the joy of God’s love. Seeing their genuine smiles filled our hearts, as did the realization that there are many other children like these two, whose lives have been completely transformed. Children here in Uganda and all over the world have experienced the unconditional love of Christ through Joyce Meyer Ministries’ partners. We’re honored to be part of helping these beautiful children alongside Watato and you. As a partner of Joyce Meyer Ministries, you’re helping us reach children who’ve lost all hope and desperately need to experience the restoration that can only come from Jesus Christ.
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LOVE WALK
IT’S YOUR RIGHT TO RETHINK WORRY, FEAR AND INSECURITY
Why I Wrote Battlefield of the Mind
DEAR FRIEND, I’m always amazed when God does something historic. Years ago when God first began to speak to me about the battlefield in our minds, I had no idea where that journey would take me. I wasn’t thinking about changing the world—I just didn’t want to be miserable anymore. If you’ve never heard this part of my story, it may be difficult to believe, but for many years I was paralyzed and tormented by my thoughts, specifically concerning my relationship with God. The pain and abuse I’d experienced during the first half of my life dominated my thoughts and constantly made me negative and critical about everyone and everything—and the worst part was how I felt about myself. I spent way too much time discouraged and depressed, convinced that I didn’t matter and my life was never going to get any better.
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LOVE WALK IT’S YOUR RIGHT TO RETHINK WORRY, FEAR AND INSECURITY
RENEW YOUR
MIND
WIN THE BATTLE.
“The mind is the battlefield where our war with the enemy takes place, and every one of us is destined to win.” Trapped like a prisoner in my own mind, my thoughts were a neverending parade of worry, fear and insecurity. I told myself, If I never expect anything good to happen, then I won’t be disappointed when it doesn’t. My wrong thinking led to unhealthy and dangerous attitudes that kept me from enjoying even the most wonderful moments in life. And the saddest part of my situation was that I remained in this prison day after day when the door to my cell was wide open. I wasn’t just the prisoner... I was the jailer too!
Based on the One-Million-Copy Bestseller, the Battlefield of the Mind devotional will help you identify the distorted stinking thinking; effectively confront destructive thought patterns and help you find victory in transforming you inside out. BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND DEVOTIONAL Available in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam, this resource can be yours for a donation of `100/- only.
At one point, I thought if my circumstances changed, then the thoughts would go away, but after awhile I got so used to being that negative, discouraged prisoner. I didn’t know how to be anything else. Looking back, the truth was Jesus was there with me the whole time, inviting me to let go and walk with Him in the freedom He had for me. And that’s exactly what happened. I finally realized this truth that changed me forever: The mind is the battlefield where our war with the enemy takes place, and every one of us is destined to win.
When you change your mind, you can change your life. When you let go of negative, destructive thoughts and embrace the promises of God’s Word—you are transformed. God frees you to experience all of the wonderful things He’s planned for you—and you begin to love life. But in order to get there, you must make the choice to trust God more than your circumstances—whatever your pain and your past may be. Sixteen years ago, I took this message and wrote the book Battlefield of the Mind. It’s my bestselling book ever; more than 3 million copies have been sold, and I believe it’s because this truth applies to all of our lives. A lot has changed in those sixteen years—email and the Internet have grown, the cost of living has gone up, world leaders have come and gone… but the spiritual battle in our minds has never changed. It is as important today as it will ever be in your lifetime. It doesn’t matter what weapons your enemy Satan throws at you, I want to encourage you today—the battle in your mind is a battle you can win. We believe in you,
Dave and Joyce Meyer
(Product Code - M8 2011)
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WORLD MISSIONS
T V BROADCAST Summary Joyce ministers the life-changing truth of God’s Word through world-wide conferences.
SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER ’11 | DAILY TELECAST
Are You Too Busy? 2nd – 4th September
Joyce with Guests on Grief 10th - 16th October
Everybody these days seems to be “busy”. The interesting thing is that God didn’t ask us to be busy. He wanted us to be fruitful instead. There’s a huge difference between being busy and fruitful. Find out more from this week’s teaching.
Wounds can take years to heal, but be assured that Jesus can heal you everywhere you hurt. Grief is something that you are going through right now, but you don’t have to go through it forever. Healing hearts is God’s desire.
The Power of Words 5th – 11th September “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” Through this familiar verse, the Bible talks about weapons. Our weapons are the Word of God in a song; speaking the Word; reminding God of His Word and dwelling on His Word. Learn more about the power of words through this week’s telecast. Be Yourself 12th – 18th September Satan is a thief and one of the things he wants to steal from you, is you. Jesus has set you free to be yourself. You don’t need to compare yourself with everybody else. Your individuality is an amazing gift from God. You are what you are! What's Been On Your Mind Lately? 19th – 25th September You have to be careful about your thoughts. No matter how spiritual you become, your mind will be injected with wrong thoughts. It’s up to you to cast down those thoughts and produce thoughts that will benefit you and the Kingdom. Thoughts produce attitudes. Managing Your Emotions 26th – 2nd October God gave you emotions; otherwise, you would never even know when you were being mistreated, or couldn’t feel joy or pleasure. But you just have to make sure that you don’t let those emotions manage and rule you. Manage your emotions rather than your emotions managing you. Don't Give Offense 3rd – 9th October God is your vindicator. If you don’t get from one person what you should have, if you refuse to get offended, if He has to go through a thousand people, God will still get you what you need and what you want and what you should have because God, is in control!
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Number One Hindrance to Being Blessed 17th – 23rd October God called us to be fruitful, not busy. Follow God in humble obedience and learn to rest and relax and how to say NO to the things God says NO to. Joyce with J. John on the Ten Commandments 24th – 30th October J. John says that the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai are just as relevant today as they were back in the day. J. John has been teaching on this subject in a very unconventional way for years. Join him this week on Enjoying Everyday Life to know their relevance in the lives of believers and non-Christians. Joyce with Mark Hankins 31st – 6th November Living by faith is just simply believing that the ‘unseen’ is greater than the ‘seen’ and by faith you pull unseen realities into your arena and into your life. Join Joyce as she dialogues with Pastor Mark Hankins on the topic of faith. Learning How to Rest 7th – 13th November God doesn’t want us to worry about yesterday or be anxious about tomorrow. Discover what it means to find true rest in your relationship with Christ. Pursuing Excellence 14th – 20th November Laziness and mediocrity are the enemies of success and progress. God gives everybody the same opportunities; same ground rules. All you have to do is chase after these opportunities with excellence by your side. Through this telecast, learn how to press toward excellence. Testing Your Level of Humility 21st – 4th December Pride has the brute power of creating stress in your life. God wants us to humble ourselves under His mighty hand so he can promote us, so he can exalt us. Learn about the power of humility and the dangers of pride through this telecast.
Channel
Time
Days
Language
Zee TV India
07:00 - 07:30 am
All Days
Hindi
Zee Marathi
06:30 - 07:00 am
Monday - Friday
Marathi
Zee Bangla
06:30 - 07:00 am
Monday - Friday
Bengali
Zee Telugu
06:30 - 07:00 am
Monday - Friday
Telugu
Zee Tamil
06:30 - 07:00 am
All Days
Tamil
Zee Studio
07:30 - 08:00 am
All Days
English
DDK-Jalandhar
09:30 - 10:00 pm
Tuesday - Saturday
Punjabi
DDK-Ahmedabad
07:00 - 07:30 am
Wednesday - Sunday
Gujarati
DDK-Guwahati
10:00 - 10:30 pm
Monday - Friday
Assamese
DDK-Orissa
10:30 - 11.00 pm
Monday - Friday
Oriya
Surya TV
06:00 - 06:30 am
Monday - Friday
Malayalam
BROADCAST SCHEDULE
TELEVISION BROADCAST IN INDIA
RADIO BROADCAST
Radio Station
Time
Days
Language
All India Radio (India)
09:30 am
All Days
Telugu, Marathi, Punjabi, Bengali
Prasar Bharati (India)
09:30 am
Sunday
Hindi
TELEVISION BROADCAST IN OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES
Channel
Time
Days
Language
Country
CGN TV (Korean)
03:00 - 03:30 pm
Mon, Wed & Fri
English (Korean Subtitles)
Korea
CBS TV
05:00 pm & 02:30 am
Friday & Monday
English (Korean Subtitles)
Korea
C3 TV
10:30 am & 10:30 pm
Mon, Wed & Fri
English (Korean Subtitles)
Korea
CTN Network
05:00 - 05:30 am
Wed - Sun
Khmer
Cambodia
Sril Lanka - TNL
05:30 - 06:00 am
Monday - Friday
Sinhala
Sri Lanka
Nepal One
06:00 - 06:30 am
Monday - Friday
Nepali
Nepal
Channel - 11
03:30 - 04:00 pm
Tuesday
Thai
Thailand
CH 11 / Cmai - Chiangmai
04:00 - 04:30 pm
Wed, Fri & Sat
Thai
Thailand
Myawady
06:00 - 06:30 am
Monday - Friday
Burmese
Myanmar
This schedule is subject to change. For stations and program times in your area, check your local listing or log on to www.jmmindia.org
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Joyce Meyer Ministries - Asia Nanakramguda, Hyderabad - 500 008 www.jmmindia.org