For summer 2016 dnl final

ENJOYING E V E R Y D A Y JOYCE

MEYER

L I F E

MINISTRIES

J U N E / J U LY / A U G U S T

2016

BOOTS ON

the Ground

RESPONDING TO U.S. FLOODING PA G E 1 6

TRUST GOD & DO GOOD PA G E 2 6

EEL 0616 COVER P.indd 1

PEACE IN THE PROGRESS

PURSUING WHAT MATTERS MOST

PA G E 9

PA G E 4

JUN/JUL/AUG 2016 // PAGE 1 // FOR

5/16/16 2:00 PM

“ STRAIGHT FROM THE

Heart Friends,

Have you ever been “hit” unexpectedly with a disappointment or crisis that knocked you down and made you wonder if you’d ever recover? On days like that, it’s wonderful to have the support of friends and family. But more than that, we need the Holy Spirit. Because God is the only one who can really comfort us and bring us the inner strength, healing and total restoration we need to keep going.

God wants us to know we’re never alone. He says in Isaiah 43:2-3, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned…. For I am the Lord your God....

CYAN

BLACK

Rather than worrying about a problem or letting the hardships of life overwhelm us, we can live in God’s peace, knowing He is always with us.

We can even bless others in the midst of it all!

No matter what we’re facing, God can bring us from sad and gloomy to joyful and happy. Job 8:21 (NKJV) says, He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Yellow

Magenta

It’s our prayer that this magazine touches your life and helps you grow in your relationship with God. So, is there something you like? Is there an article that really speaks to you? Perhaps a photo of a child that put a smile on your face?

If so, send us a message on Facebook today at facebook.com/joycemeyerministries. We’d love to hear your thoughts and comments—and you never know...we may even publish your responses!

God can bring us from sad and gloomy to joyful and happy.

The key to having this kind of comfort and peace is knowing the truth about God’s love for us. So whether you’re doing relatively well right now or facing a major life crisis, I encourage you to put God first. Having a close, personal, intimate relationship with Him is the most important thing we can ever have in our lives!

We’re praying for you,

“I got my first one last week.

I am still reading it. I wanted to take my time so as not to miss any morsel of goodness.”

Valerie Williams

“The interviews!

Very in-depth and give the readers a look into ‘Team Joyce Meyer Ministries.’

Bravo and God Bless!”

Darrin Williams Owens

“Thank you so much for the magazine!

I love it all and everything spoke to me. It got me reading God’s Word every morning. It has really changed the way I think and speak to others.”

Dorothy McDonald

2

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 joycemeyer.org

EEL 0616 2-3 P.indd 2

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 2 — FOR

5/16/16 2:12 PM

VOLUME 31

“

No 3

| JUNE / JULY / AUGUST

All Bible references are

2016

from The Amplified Bible,

Classic Edition unless otherwise noted.

Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness....

— Psalm 37:3

Enjoying Everyday Life® is

”

published by Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. ® , a nonprofit corporation, Fenton, MO USA © 2016 Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. Publications Agreement No. 41709522.

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Enjoying Everyday Life has

9

no subscription price and is supported through contributions worldwide.

Because all Enjoying Everyday Life issues are

ng

preplanned, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts. For more information, go to www.joycemeyer.org.

Enjoying Everyday Life is a

d

registered trademark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. [J] is also a registered trademark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.

4

16 Order online 24/7 at joycemeyer.org. Most

Contents

major credit cards accepted. See enclosed form for details.

4 When It’s All Said and Done

13

KEEP CALM AND LAUGH

22

2-MINUTE MISSIONS TRIP

By Joyce Meyer

WHAT DO YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE?

What are you seeking in life? It’s time to take inventory...and learn to pursue what really matters.

9 A Lifestyle of Authentic Peace

October 31, 2016 (while supplies last) and are not available at conferences.

Special offers cannot be combined for additional discounts.

By Beth Moore

By Ashley Wilkins What happens when the person who rescues others needs to be rescued themselves?

20 Everyday Answers

David Dobson Xavier Gonz˜ alez

CYAN

16 When You Pass Through the Waters, I Will Be with You

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Robb Lynch Chad Spickler David Wessler SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES

Magenta

Life can be chaotic! Discover how to enjoy God’s supernatural peace in every circumstance.

BLACK

30

Discounted offers expire

15 - Olga Kovalenko 20 - xtock 28-29 - MSSA

By Ginger Stache

3

ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org

EEL 0616 2-3 P.indd 3

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 3 — FOR

5/16/16 2:13 PM

Yellow

Tackling life’s big questions with a little help from Joyce and you.

BLACK CYAN Magenta Yellow EEL 0616 4-7 P.indd 4

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 4 — FOR

5/16/16 2:20 PM

BY JOYCE MEYER

Don’t get me wrong. It’s okay to want nice things. But there’s a difference between desiring them and seeking them—and that’s something we’d be wise to focus on each day of our lives.

5

ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org

EEL 0616 4-7 P.indd 5

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 5 — FOR

5/16/16 2:20 PM

CYAN

But just like a tree needs deep, widereaching roots in order to support big, strong branches that can withstand the harsh elements of the outdoors, Christians need to be deeply rooted and grounded in the Word of God. It’s His love that sustains us—not our “stuff.”

BLACK

I’m just telling you the truth: Bible teacher Joyce Meyer was a shallow Christian. Although I wanted all of the “fruit” of God’s Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience—operating in my life, I wasn’t seeking it. So spiritually speaking, I wasn’t a very deep person.

I had my priorities backwards…as many of us do at times. We want the money, the house, the promotion or whatever that thing is. So we pursue that rather than the true treasure of God’s presence.

Magenta

Learning to Pursue What Truly Matters

Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you’ve wondered, What’s wrong with me?, like I did. Well, when I asked God that question, His answer to me was, “Joyce, you’re shallow. It’s time to step out into the deep.”

Yellow

WHEN IT’S ALL SAID & DONE

Years ago, I got to a place in my life where things were going pretty well…

Dave and I had a good marriage, we were doing alright financially, our kids were saved and our ministry was growing. Yet I still had this vague feeling of discontentment. Something was just not right on the inside.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING IN LIFE? The word seek is an extremely strong word. It means “to crave, to pursue, to make sacrifices to get or to go after something with all of your strength and all of your heart.”

There are only a handful of things the Bible actually tells us to seek, including God Himself, the kingdom of God, righteousness, peace, and love.1 Never once does it say we should pursue temporary, earthly things.

Every now and then, I think it’s a good idea to do a little soul searching and ask yourself, What am I seeking?

Every now and then, I think it’s a good idea to do a little soul searching and ask yourself, What am I seeking?

In other words, what do you spend most of your time doing? What do you talk about the most? What are you putting most of your energy into?

BLACK

If you realize that you’ve been chasing things rather than God Himself, I encourage you to visualize your final

Yellow

Magenta

CYAN

Why are people hesitant to put God first?

A QUICK Q&A WITH JOYCE ON

priorities EEL 0616 4-7 P.indd 6

I think there’s a part of us that’s afraid that if we give God control of our lives, then we just won’t get what we want.

But God loves us and He wants us to trust Him. Psalm 37:4 says, Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. And that’s a much better way to live—to just go about God’s business and let Him give you the right “stuff.”

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 6 — FOR

5/16/16 2:20 PM

hours. I know it’s not particularly pleasant to imagine, but if we just think realistically about what that day would look like, it might help us change the way we spend today.

HOW WILL PUTTING GOD FIRST CHANGE YOUR DAY? If you have a strong inner life—that is, you know who you are in Christ and you know that you’re right with God—then what goes on around you doesn’t have to matter all that much.

In fact, it’s amazing what you can go through with a smile on your face!

You can be hurting pretty badly yourself and yet have a deep desire to help other people.

That’s when we know we’re mature sons and daughters of God—when our life isn’t wrapped up in what we want, what we think, and how we feel.

Instead, we’re wrapped up in what God has done in our lives and how we can help grow His kingdom while we’re still here on this earth.

You and I can have a lot of “stuff,” but there’s nothing more valuable in this life than knowing God loves us and that we’re right with Him. I believe

that during our final hours, that’s what we’ll find to be truly important.

Matthew 6:33 says, But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

When you chase after God and make Him your first priority, then you’ll really get to know Him and He’ll give you the things that are right for you at the right time, and in the right way.

I’ve been a shallow person and I know what it’s like to need something deeper. I want to encourage you to really chase after God; live each day of your life pursuing what really matters. Don’t spend your whole life in the shallow waters, wrapped up in what you want, think and feel. Let Him be first in your life—and you’ll soon discover it’s the most amazing way to live!

1. See Isaiah 55:6, 1 Peter 3:11, and 1 Corinthians 14:1

Ready to put God first?

Let these teachings speak to your heart and help you move forward.

Pursuing What Matters Most

4 Teachings on CD

by Joyce Meyer

BLACK

$26 U.S. Funds

CYAN

Any words of wisdom for people facing hard times?

Yellow

Magenta

We all go though difficult times in life. And especially in those times, we need to keep our focus on what God is doing for us. Because if we spend our time thinking about what we don’t like about our circumstances, then we can’t really live in that place of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The bottom line is this: If our joy is in God, then there’s absolutely nothing the devil can do to defeat us.

EEL 0616 4-7 P.indd 7

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 7 — FOR

5/16/16 2:20 PM

THANKS TO YOU: 3 Million Gift Bags in the Hands of Inmates “...I was in prison and you came to visit me…. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.” —MATTHEW 25:36, 40 (NIV)

“God really used you to get to me. I was in prison and listened to your tapes every day…. I was listening to one on selfforgiveness and it hit me. I got on my knees and asked God for self-forgiveness and He gave it to me. You see, I’m a recovering addict and that was the biggest turning point in my recovery.”

—GREG, WISCONSIN

Want more info on our prison ministry? We’ll give you an insider’s look on Facebook the week of July 11.

CYAN

BLACK

/handofhope

Magenta Yellow

YEARS

of Prison Ministry

“In my younger life, I didn’t know about God. I didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. I had a sense of doing it on my own and it led me down a path.... I thank God for my loved ones who come and visit me, write to me and encourage me because that gives me hope. I love Joyce’s books too because it shows me that God is able!”

—ERIC, MISSISSIPPI

“I was locked up in 2003 and wrote you a letter…. You actually wrote me back! ...You gave me hope when I had none, you told me how to get control of my life and that I could be whoever I wanted to be. Because of your words of encouragement, I am now a mother and wife and have been clean and sober for over 10 years now! Thank you for believing in little old me who didn’t believe in myself.”

—BRANDY, FLORIDA

Dave gave away our 3 millionth gift bag in Bonne Terre, Missouri on April 20. The bag contained a bar of soap, a book byJoyce and an encouraging note printed on a bookmark.

18

FORMER INMATES SHARE HOW GOD PURSUED THEM

1998 First outreach, in Vandalia, Missouri. Afterward, David L. Meyer—now the CEO of Hand of Hope—asked, “Why don’t we do this for all the prisons in Missouri…and the USA…and other prisons around the world?”

2004 The 1 millionth gift bag was given away.

2007 Every prison in the USA had been reached.

2010 Joyce handed out gift bags in Zimbabwe, including the 2 millionth bag.

Today 3 million gift bags and counting!

8

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 joycemeyer.org

2 EEL 0616 8-15 P.indd 8

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 8 — FOR

5/16/16 3:56 PM

A LIFESTYLE O F AU T H E N T I C PEACE

I

BY BETH MOORE

can’t overemphasize the importance of peace as a real and practical benefit of our covenant relationship with God. His peace should not be an infrequent surprise but an ongoing rule of our lives. The apostle Paul underscored the essential nature of peace in 2 Thessalonians 3:16. Did you notice how crucial he considered peace to be? “At all times.” “In every way.” Peace can be possible in any situation.

BLACK

Isaiah used the word peace twenty-six times. God continually promised peace when His captives returned wholeheartedly to the Lord. The familiar messianic passage, Isaiah 9:6 (NIV), identifies peace with Christ as the “Prince of Peace.”

The next verse connects the Prince of Peace to His reign: Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne… (v.7). Many of us have memorized the words of Isaiah 26:3 (NIV): You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Magenta

CYAN

Did you see any hints of a common denominator tying these scriptures together? Isaiah 9:7 perfectly portrays the key to peace: authority. When we allow the Prince of Peace to govern our lives, peace either immediately or ultimately results. Peace accompanies authority.

2 THESSALONIANS 3:16

Yellow

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you.”

2 EEL 0616 8-15 P.indd 9

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 9 — FOR

5/16/16 3:57 PM

Peace comes in situations that are completely surrendered to the sovereign authority of Christ. Sometimes when we finally give up trying to discover all the answers to the whys in our lives and decide to trust a sovereign God, unexpected peace washes over us like a summer rain. We sometimes lack peace in far less strenuous circumstances because we are not as desperate or as likely to turn them over to God.

right to all authority because of who He is. Allow me to share my outlook on His right to complete authority.

He is God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the supreme Author of all existence. He reigns over all, and in Him all things exist. He is the Lord, the Master and Owner of all living creatures. He is the covenant Maker and Keeper. He is holy. As Lord, He will never ask anything of us that is not right, good, and open to the light.

He is perfect and undefiled. Lastly, He is Redeemer, the One who bought us from sin’s slave master so we could experience abundant life. He bought us to set us free. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

(Romans 8:31 NIV).

I finally had to turn some of the hurts of my childhood over to God’s sovereign authority because I realized they would consume me like a cancer. When at last I allowed Him to govern everything concerning my past, not only did the Prince give me His peace, He actually comes in brought good from something horrible and unfair. If you have not yet situations that bowed the knee to God’s authority over areas of your past, something are completely is holding you captive.

BLACK

Peace

Take pleasure in knowing that God inspired His Word with great care and immaculate precision. He chose every word purposely. When He said we could have peace like a surrendered river, He wasn’t drawing a loose analogy. He meant it. What does Christ desperately wants His to the sovereign it take to have peace? Attention people to experience His peace. to God’s commands (by obedience) I believe Christ grieves when He sees authority of through the power of the Holy Spirit. hearts in unnecessary turmoil. You Christ.

Obedience to God’s authority not only can have the peace of Christ, believer, no brings peace like a river but righteousness matter what your circumstances; but you like the waves of the sea. Not righteous perfection. must believe, bend the knee, and learn to receive.

Righteous consistency.

We must remember that bending the knee is ultimately You see, God’s way is the safe way. The right way. And a matter of pure obedience. You may never feel like the only peaceful way in a chaotic world. I hope you’ve giving your circumstance, hurt, or loss to Him; but you discovered that peace is not beyond your reach. It’s not can choose to submit to His authority out of belief and a goal to meet one day. You can begin a life of authentic obedience rather than emotion. Obedience is always peace today. Right now. The path to peace is paved the mark of authentic surrender to God’s authority. with kneeprints. Bend the knee to His trustworthy authority. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…

Isaiah 48:17 beautifully reveals the relationship (Colossians 3:15 NIV). between obedience, authority, and peace. God has a

Li

C

Yellow

Magenta

CYAN

a “A Lifestyle of Authentic Peace” by Beth Moore, excerpted from Breaking Free: Discover the Victory of Total Surrender (© 2000 Beth Moore, Broadman and Holman Publishers), 41-46. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

GUESS WHAT?!?

IT JUST GETS BETTER. Check out these exciting Love Life conference updates!

2 EEL 0616 8-15 P.indd 10

NEW FRIDAY 2PM SESSION: LIVE & INTERACTIVE Q&A with Joyce, Beth and Chris.

We’re taking your questions at this up-close-and-personal session with some of the best Bible teachers around.

NEW HELLO JOHN GRAY! He’s brave, bold and hilarious. And he’s the lone male speaker following the Q&A session on Friday at 2pm.

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 10 — FOR

NEW LIFE IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL. Joyce has a powerful message to share about healing the soul of a woman. Come hear what God has for you!

5/16/16 3:57 PM

J

JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES

SEP 29 - OCT 1 | ST. LOUIS

BLACK

2016 W O M E N ’S E CONFERENC

Life is not a dress rehearsal…

Come discover how to live on purpose, and seize the opportunities God brings

CYAN

Go on, girl!

Magenta

you each day.

BETH MOORE

CHRISTINE CAINE

KARI JOBE

joycemeyer.org/LoveLife Ladies, this weekend is just for you!

2 EEL 0616 8-15 P.indd 11

(888) 727-5280 (U.S. and Canada) (636) 349-0303 (International)

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 11 — FOR

LAUREN DAIGLE

Yellow

JOYCE MEYER

$69 U.S. Funds

5/16/16 3:58 PM

Beth: Not everyone has a background like ours, Joyce, but no one is exempt from devastations, disappointments…

Joyce: Rejection…

What Women Need

Beth: Right! And one of the most important things we can understand when we come to a conference like this is that our

AND A PERSONAL INVITATION TO THE WOMEN’S CONFERENCE FROM JOYCE AND BETH

who understand you…and who want to have time dedicated to seeking God.

hearts need to be open to the Holy Spirit—to come as we really are so what is cracked and broken deep inside is attended to—and to

Beth: There’s also the beauty

know that His Word is going to speak right into it.

of looking around that arena, seeing all kinds of women

Joyce: Beth, what do you think women need?

Yellow

Magenta

CYAN

BLACK

Beth: I just love that topic. When it comes right down to it, we need to know that our Maker knows we’re alive…that we’re on the planet right now, that we’re dealing with the situations we’ve got in front of us and we’re known

by Him, searched for, and valued

by Him. I think everything comes down to that in one way or another.

Joyce: I think you are absolutely right. We need to feel loved, accepted and that someone really understands us. That’s why there’s nothing more important than our relationship with God. We also need healthy relationships with people that God puts in our lives.

One of the benefits of coming to the women’s conference—whether you come with friends or make new friends when you’re here—is you are with women

and knowing we are sisters —that Jesus Christ has brought us together and we all have that in common. But even with all of our commonalities, He still knows what is absolutely individual to me and what is absolutely individual to you.

When the 139th Psalm says “You have searched me and You know me,” there’s something beautiful about that. God knows exactly what we’ve come from and exactly what we’re going back to—and we have this opportunity to let Him speak individually to us.

I love that!

Joyce: At the end of a conference I like to tell people, “I can’t tell you that anything at home has changed, but you’ve changed; therefore, it’s going to make the way you deal with things at home different.” That’s one of the major reasons for people to come: because they want to change, learn, and grow.

Joyce: It’s always amazing to me how you can have a room full of thousands of people and God is using the same thing to speak a variety of different things to different people. Each person needs to come trusting God to bring them a word in due season—something they need for their life that is going to make them a better person.

Beth: I so believe in events like this! I think of it like that time in Matthew 17 when Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain and they saw Him transfigured. I don’t think they knew what to expect; they just went up with Him because that’s where He was going.

Something like that happens when we come together for a conference. We’re taking the time apart to detach from everything else and see something about Jesus transfigured before our eyes —and we’re going to walk down that mountain changed!

Beth Moore is founder of Living Proof Ministries. She lives with the purpose of encouraging and teaching women to know and love Jesus through the study of Scripture. Beth has authored numerous books and Bible studies that have been read by women of many backgrounds.

2 EEL 0616 8-15 P.indd 12

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 12 — FOR

5/16/16 3:59 PM

KEEP CALM AND

BLACK

BY J OYC E M EY E R

Laughter is the outward evidence of inward joy, and it is proven to make you feel better.

I once heard someone say that laughter is like internal jogging, and I think that is so true.

Laughter improves emotional and mental health, it lifts our spirits, and it dispels worry.

It’s almost impossible to be anxious and laugh at the same time. This is why we would be

wise to express joy in laughter every chance we get.

CYAN

ake a moment and think about how you’ve been approaching life. Do you find yourself just trying to make it through the day? If you’re honest with yourself, can you even remember the last time you had a good laugh? Well, I want you to know that the joy of the Lord can ease any emotional and physical pain and bring you a new level of satisfaction in life.

God has given us the ability to laugh for a reason. It may seem like a little thing, but laughter is vitally important in the battle against stress, anxiety, fear and worry. It’s a tool from God that benefits you in so many ways. That’s why the Word of God says:

Magenta

T

13

ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org

2 EEL 0616 8-15 P.indd 13

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 13 — FOR

5/16/16 3:59 PM

Yellow

LAUGH

H OW F I N D I N G M O M E N TS O F J OY I N YO U R DA I LY L I F E CA N R E L I E V E ST R E S S

Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing.

Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.

(Psalm 126:2) He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.

(Job 8:21 NKJV) A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

(Proverbs 17:22)

Now Available!

CYAN

BLACK

Order your copy today

OVERLOAD Hardcover

$ 22 U.S. FUNDS

Yellow

Magenta

Look for it wherever books are sold.

joycemeyer.org/overload

The Bible says that a happy heart is a good medicine because laughter lifts your spirits, improves your mental, emotional and physical health, and de-stresses your mind. And (here is the best part)... it costs nothing. You’ve got a proven, God-given weapon against stress that is free of charge and that you can use at any time, day or night.

“

You may be thinking, Well, Joyce, I don’t have anything to laugh about! Many times I don’t either, but that is where the list on the next page comes in handy.

Use that list and decide to laugh every day as much as possible. When you do, you’ll be amazed at how different you will begin to view your job, your family, your relationships, yourself and even your walk with God. You’ll become a person whose first response to stressful situations is faith not fear, joy not sorrow. You’ll be a person like Freddie . . .

THE JOY OF THE LORD CAN EASE ANY EMOTIONAL & PHYSICAL PAIN AND BRING YOU A NEW LEVEL OF SATISFACTION IN LIFE.”

Maybe you haven’t laughed—I mean really laughed—in a very long time. If that is the case, it’s probably causing much of the stress you are experiencing today. You will find that you feel better all over after a hearty laugh. Sometimes I feel clean and refreshed after a good laugh. If I am tired and weary from dealing with life’s issues, I often feel like my soul is a dusty closet— stale and in need of fresh air. But when I take the opportunity to have a really good laugh, it seems to “air my soul out,” refreshing me and lifting the load off my tired mind.

One day the schoolteacher scolded young Freddie, by saying, “Freddie, you mustn’t laugh out loud in the school room.” Freddie responded respectfully by saying, “Sorry, teacher. I didn’t mean to. I was smiling and my smile busted.”

That’s my prayer for you. My prayer is that no matter what you are going through in life that you will remember the joy of the Lord is your strength (see Nehemiah 8:10). That you’ll have a smile on your face no matter how intimidating the incident, how stressful the situation or how discouraging the dilemma. And when things get tough, or when you feel like giving up, I pray that your smile would bust.

We don’t laugh about our problems, but thankfully, we can laugh as we trust God to take care of them.

This article has been adapted from Overload

by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © by Joyce Meyer Ministries. Reprinted with permission of FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

14

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 joycemeyer.org

2 EEL 0616 8-15 P.indd 14

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 14 — FOR

5/17/16 9:27 AM

HOW TO

LAUGH ON PURPOSE CHANGE YOUR

LAUGH AT

If you’ll look for the best things in life rather than the worst things, it’s amazing how easy it is to laugh and enjoy life.

When you make a mistake, laugh about the silliness of it, learn from it and move on.

FUNNY AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE Having someone in your life who can alleviate stress with some well-timed humor is invaluable.

PLAN TO LAUGH ...AND THEN DO IT.

Don’t let stressful events get every minute of your day— schedule time for a little fun.

FUNNY MOVIE “A happy heart is good medicine” PROVERBS 17:22

“

One time I went to get a massage and somehow I lost my pants while I was there; they had to give me a pair from the gift shop to go home in!

This was just one of the things I’ve done that I could either laugh at or let it make me feel inferior. I choose laughter!”

— Joyce

are you feeling Sign up for 14 Days of Less Stress

2 EEL 0616 8-15 P.indd 15

ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU YOUR JOY BACK

BLACK

HANG AROUND

“

When I am waiting in the grocery store for Dave to pay for the groceries, I often go to the greeting card rack and look at the funny birthday cards.

I know I will get a good laugh because some of them are hilarious!”

— Joyce

God is willing and able to give you

“...the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit...”

ISAIAH 61:3

overloaded?

joycemeyer.org/LessStress

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 15 — FOR

CYAN

RENT OR DOWNLOAD A

YOURSELF

Magenta

PERSPECTIVE

Yellow

Laughter is vital to your health, your relationships, your inner peace and your fight against stress. Here are a few suggestions to help you incorporate a little laughter into your daily life…

5/16/16 4:00 PM

Yellow

Magenta

CYAN

BLACK

WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS,

I WILL BE WITH YOU Trusting God and holding onto hope in the midst of disaster

EEL 0616 16-19 Flood Partner Ad P.indd 16

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 16 — FOR

5/16/16 4:33 PM

BY ASHLEY WILKINS

FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, ONE OF MY PASSIONS HAS BEEN HELPING OTHERS. BLACK CYAN

It was then that officials upped their water-level predictions by six giant feet. My husband and I tried to return by boat to save what we could, but the intense currents and floating debris made the journey way too dangerous. That’s when we began to digest the heartbreaking reality that our home, and all of our belongings, could be destroyed.

Magenta

The excitement from Christmas hadn’t even settled when the Meramec River, which runs by my family’s home in Missouri, began to swell from days of rain. There was some speculation of flooding, but no one ever thought the river would reach record heights.

Based on early reports, we calculated that the water could fill our basement and climb within three feet of the first floor of our home.

So to play it safe, we over-prepared by putting everything we could in our attic and moving all our furniture up high onto tables. And as the steady rains continued, we were forced to leave our home.

17

ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org

EEL 0616 16-19 Flood Partner Ad P.indd 17

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 17 — FOR

5/16/16 4:34 PM

Yellow

AS THE MEDICAL OUTREACH DIRECTOR

for Hand of Hope, the outreach arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries, I have traveled all over the world, along with our teams of volunteers, helping people by providing the medical and dental care they desperately need. I am much more comfortable helping others, but recently, after historic flooding swept through my hometown, I found myself on the other side of disaster, receiving help in my own time of need.

(left) Ashley Wilkins pulls nails from the floorboards of her family’s flooded home. (top right) A pile of debris sits outside during the cleanup effort. (bottom right) A special photo salvaged from Ashley’s home.

Offering Hope & Help to Missouri Flood Victims Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions partnered with Convoy of Hope and Service International to help thousands of families affected by the historic flooding around St. Louis, Missouri.

More than

135,000

pounds of relief products delivered At least

6,413

BLACK

families served

Nearly

200

CYAN

volunteers helped

88

Yellow

Magenta

properties cleaned

Thank You! In April—when flood waters devastated parts of Houston, Texas, and earthquakes rocked Japan and Ecuador— we were able to respond with your generous support. Thank you for supplying help and hope when families needed it most.

EEL 0616 16-19 Flood Partner Ad P.indd 18

My thoughts ran to the irreplaceable photos hanging on the walls, all the memories, and all the little things that might be washed away forever. But through it all, I made the choice to hold onto hope—hope that some of those little things might survive and hope that our family would make it through the storm.

As the water began to recede, we were able to return to assess the damage. Our house had been submerged in 5 feet of muddy water, making it almost a total loss. And it wasn’t just our home, but my parents’ home and my brother’s home and many more families’ homes throughout the area, that were devastated by the flood.

But hope came in knowing that we weren’t alone in what we were facing.

Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions, Service International,

Convoy of Hope and many others helped us with the initial flood cleanup process—giving us a great start to begin again. Volunteers worked tirelessly to remove drywall and carry our possessions onto the lawn so we could make important decisions about what to salvage. How ironic, all the many times I have traveled around the world to help others in their time of need, I was now on the receiving end of assistance in my own personal disaster.

Going through this flood has given me a whole new perspective for those who are hurting. For me, it’s hard to be the one who’s receiving help. But my family and I were amazed and overwhelmed with gratitude to watch the people of God as a whole come in and reach out to us during our time of need. We’re so thankful for the ways He uses others to surround us with His love right when we need it the most.

EDITOR’S NOTE: One of our own designers, Candace Gerard, who worked on this page, also lost her home during the December Missouri flooding — though you’d never know it by her incredible attitude! Candace is yet another shining example of how we can trust God to bring us through life’s storms. To learn more about her story, visit joycemeyer.org/candace

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 18 — FOR

5/16/16 4:34 PM

Partnership JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES

It’s been said the best rescuers are those who’ve been rescued.

BLACK

That’s the beauty and simplicity of what we call Partnership.

CYAN

It’s looking at the very apparent needs of the world around us...

Hunger, Thirst, Isolation, Fear, Disaster, Sickness... And doing something about it.

Yellow

Magenta

When we come together, everyone doing something, there is absolutely nothing we can’t accomplish.

Join us today by visiting

joycemeyer.org/partnership EEL 0616 16-19 Flood Partner Ad P.indd 19

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 19 — FOR

5/16/16 4:34 PM

A NEW WEEKLY SHOW! WITH JOYCE MEYER

everyday answers New Weekly Show Looks to God’s Word to Tackle Life’s Big Questions

by GINGER STACHE

You can catch up and watch multiple episodes online at joycemeyer.org/ea Or visit joycemeyer.org/tvlistings for stations and air times in your local area.

Magenta

CYAN

BLACK

Find us online!

“Why do bad things happen?”

“How can I hear from God?” “How do I let go of the past?”

“Does God really love me?”

These are all tough questions and life is full of them. BIG questions. The great news is God is bigger than our questions!

He holds the answers and He doesn’t even mind that we ask.

That’s why Joyce and our entire team constantly ask another very important question: “God, what do you want us to do now?”

We could continue doing the same things, but we know that while God is constant, He is also ever creative, always moving, and never stale or stagnant.

God has given us some very big advancements in technology that make for exciting new opportunities.

It is now possible to reach more people than ever before and connect with them on a deeper level. With these opportunities in mind, we have felt God’s nudge to try something new.

Yellow

It is also true that finding real answers takes some work. Studying the Bible is the key–God’s Word is the source of truth and answers for our everyday life. But as you know, sometimes we all need a little help with the search.

For nearly 20 years, Joyce has been teaching the Word of God on her TV program, Enjoying Everyday Life.

Through those years, thousands upon thousands of people have begun a new walk with Christ and taken their existing relationship with Him to new, deeper levels. At Joyce Meyer Ministries, we are all very aware of the huge blessing and responsibility it is to be part of this ministry.

EEL 0616 20-21 EA Article P.indd 20

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 20 — FOR

5/17/16 8:04 AM

“Thank you!

It was so exciting to listen to you simplify how we should pray with faith and patience. I cried!!”

—Michelle

Thus the birth of our new program, Everyday Answers. Each week, Joyce provides answers straight from the Word of God to your questions like, “How do I pray?”

“What is the Holy Spirit?” and “How do I get into Heaven?” We also mix in stories of real-life people who demonstrate how these answers work in practical application. And you all share your thoughts, challenges and victories creating a huge community of brave people tackling life’s dilemmas together.

We launched this new show in February, and since then you have shared your hearts and your lives with us and with one another. We are grateful for the way you have loved and encouraged each other, proving that Christ cares about every question and that we all have the opportunity to play a role in helping others find their answers.

So keep sending in those questions and interacting on social media... and we look forward to tackling many more questions together on Everyday Answers with Joyce Meyer.

join

the Conversation!

“I the Everyday Answers show...

I love the combination of Joyce’s message with the audience and her one-on-one interview with Ginger.” #ea #askjoyce —Mary

BLACK

#ea #askjoyce

Join us online to share your experience, connect with others, or submit a question for Joyce.

CYAN

Why not use these new tools to gather and tackle some of life’s biggest questions, together?

Joyce’s practical, transparent, and honest teachings are a great way to present applicable answers from God’s Word. And we can go a step further by using social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to create an interactive platform where we can all talk about our experiences and encourage one another.

Magenta

joycemeyer.org/ea

EEL 0616 20-21 EA Article P.indd 21

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 21 — FOR

Yellow

#ea #askjoyce

5/17/16 8:04 AM

2-MINUTE MISSIONS TRIP Snapshots of How You’re Changing Lives Here, There, and Everywhere GERMANY The city of Hamburg is home to thousands of refugees escaping dire situations in war-torn countries like Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.

Here, they are safe, yet they still carry the mental and emotional wounds from all of the turmoil.

BLACK

Children are especially susceptible to post-traumatic stress and risk psychological damage that can last a lifetime. That’s why Joyce Meyer Ministries, Hand of Hope has recently

The first Drawing Room was launched inside a refugee home in Hamburg, targeting the poor and homeless. Here, trained staff members help them creatively express what they have experienced by drawing on large movable walls using an assortment of colors. Groups of 16-18 attend for an hour each week.

Drawing helps them recall memories and express their thoughts and emotions. It brings hidden things to the light and gives children a sense of control over their own experiences.

For example, an eight-yearold girl from Syria drew a picture of her family, with the bottom third depicting a fire. She commented on her work, saying, “All is well now.”

CYAN

And it’s just the beginning. Through your support, we recently initiated a “Painting Room” in Hamburg, Germany. We also opened “Kids Clubs” in Bahrenfeld, Bergedorf, and Wilhelmsburg, providing safe places where foreign kids and teens can congregate, feel a sense of security, and learn all about Jesus Christ.

Magenta Yellow

partnered with Stadtinsel in Germany to implement the “Drawing Room,” an outreach to help these children work through the pain.

HAITI

In March, we celebrated a major milestone when our team traveled to Haiti for our 75th medical and dental outreach. Over the last eight years, volunteer medical professionals have donated their time to help us treat more than 200,000 people in 32 nations. Because most of our patients lack the most basic health care and cannot afford to go to the doctor, treatable illnesses often become lifethreatening. Thanks to you, we have been able to offer physical and spiritual healing to so many. To date, we’ve had the opportunity to share Christ and pray with more than 69,000 people.

22

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 joycemeyer.org

EEL 0616 22-23 HOH.indd 22

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 22 — FOR

5/17/16 8:15 AM

UNITED STATES Sometimes it can be hard to see the beauty in North St. Louis, especially with the dilapidated buildings and gang violence. Yet, in the midst of it all, there is hope—and that hope is Jesus.

In 2015, the St. Louis Dream Center, an outreach of Joyce Meyer Ministries, served 912,589 meals to the St. Louis community. This includes nearly 200,000 meals we served to the elderly in area nursing homes...and the nearly 90,000 meals given to children at our after-school feeding program.

Really, it’s pretty simple. We believe restored people help restore communities. The St. Louis Dream Center exists to help people know God, find freedom, discover their purpose, and make a difference. As we help men and women know who God has created them to be, they will in turn help others do the same.

the world. Along with our generous friends and partners, we currently help more than 76,000 children across 33 nations.

In 2015, you helped us bring more people to God’s table than ever before. FIND OUT WHY WE’RE SO GRATEFUL.

Yellow

joycemeyer.org/annualreport We invite you to learn more about the incredible outreaches and milestone moments made possible through your support.

EEL 0616 22-23 HOH.indd 23

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 23 — FOR

BLACK

haven for children around

Since the early twentieth century, Armenian Christians have suffered severe persecution. As a result, many adults flee to England and Russia in search of work, often leaving their children behind in unstable situations or to fend for themselves. Hand of Hope recently partnered with Youth for Christ in Eastern Europe to support seven feeding centers in Armenia.

Based out of local churches, they provide children with nutritious meals, help with their studies, along with special activities and sporting events.

CYAN

regular meals and a safe

ARMENIA

Magenta

Your support is providing

5/17/16 8:15 AM

Medical/ Dental volunteers needed for upcoming trips BRAZIL

A DREAM FULFILLED

BY TORI JONES MEDICAL VOLUNTEER

July 8–17

NIGER Aug 5–14

PANAMA Sep 17–24

NEPAL Oct 20–29

ETHIOPIA Nov 4–13

DO YOU DREAM OF MEDICAL MISSIONS? Learn more about Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions and discover opportunities to serve on our shortterm medical/dental outreaches at

joycemeyer.org/ medicalmissions

Yellow

Magenta

CYAN

BLACK

*Schedule is subject to change.

EEL 0616 24-25 P.indd 24

I KNEW AS A LITTLE GIRL that I wanted to be a nurse. My grandpa had some health issues and after seeing him suffer, I knew I wanted to eventually help hurting people with their physical needs. I also knew I wanted to go on a medical missions trip—preferably to some remote place—someplace simplified to its core.

stress-free. Everything unfolded before my eyes, and soon I was headed to El Salvador.

Shortly after graduating from nursing school, I saw that Joyce Meyer Ministries, Hand of Hope was organizing a medical/dental missions trip to El Salvador. God said, “Now is the time!”

One memory that stands out from the rest concerns this wonderful 97-yearold woman, who came to my triage table as I was taking her son’s blood pressure. She had just had two teeth pulled at our dental clinic. As she waited, she took my free hand and held it in hers. It was a very touching and humbling moment. I knew she was in discomfort, but through it all, she was still so grateful.

I knew it was a God thing because the timing was perfect. I had just graduated from nursing school, but hadn’t found a job. The volunteer ad said they were looking for RNs.

I realized a dream to go on this trip, hoping to reach out to those less fortunate. What I never imagined was what I’d get in return—an experience that changed my life.

It was a huge leap of faith for me, but I applied, was accepted and immediately, the nerves set in! I’d never gone on a missions trip before and I certainly hadn’t done anything like this—a major trip where I knew absolutely no one! It would also be my first experience using my skills as an RN. Yet, with God’s help, the entire experience was virtually

I became a nurse to help people and began my career with some of the best patients I could ever ask for. I went to El Salvador to be a blessing, and ended up being the one who was blessed— you don’t get experiences like this from staying home and focusing on yourself. These trips teach you to put others first.

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 24 — FOR

5/17/16 8:30 AM

Here’s a little book she wrote You might want to read it quote by quote Don’t worry...

N O - FA I L RECIPE FOR PEACEFUL LIVING 1 TSP. PRAYER

NO AVAIL W AB

LE!

FAITH AND PATIENCE 1 PINT OF PRAISE 3 TBSP. OBEDIENCE

$10 U.S. Funds

EEL 0616 24-25 P.indd 25

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 25 — FOR

5/17/16 8:30 AM

CYAN Magenta

Hardcover by Joyce Meyer

Yellow

WORRY-FREE LIVING

Stir yourself up in prayer!

God will supply you with equal measurements of faith and patience. Add those as you go.

(NOTE: Even a small amount of prayer will make your faith expand.)

Put aside the mixture to rest. Meanwhile, whip up a pint of praise. Add obedience as directed.

Soon, your spirits will rise to a new level! Top with a generous amount of laughter and enjoy! Keeps well for 24 hours. After that, begin a new batch.

BLACK

1 GALLON OF LAUGHTER

The Truth About

TRUSTING GOD & I BLACK

’ve been teaching the Word of God for 40 years now, and one of the most life-changing things I’ve learned is that God is always right. No matter what I think, how I feel, or what my circumstances look like, His wisdom and His way of doing things are always the answer to my problems.

CYAN

One message we see throughout the Bible is, “Do what’s right in God’s eyes and you’ll have a life you enjoy that’s worth living. Don’t obey God, and have a miserable life.” See, it’s not the things that happen to us that determine the quality of our lives. It’s how we choose to respond to them that really matters.

And trusting God is the key to making right choices that bring us the life He has planned for us.

Trusting God is a choice we must make. And the truth is, God is the only One we can completely trust to take care of us and do what’s best for us at all times, in every situation.

Magenta

It’s not the things that happen to us that determine the quality of our lives; it’s how we respond to those things…how much we trust God with them. Doing what we want and getting our way all the time isn’t what will make us happy. Being selfish and selfcentered is actually a miserable way to live.

We need the Word of God because as we study it and meditate on it, it renews our minds so we think the way He thinks. It also turns our will in God’s direction so we want what He wants for us.

Psalm 37:3 says, Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. This verse tells us the two things we must do that will solve every problem we face: trust God and do good.

JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE TOUR LONG BEACH, CA

Yellow

get what I wanted when I thought I should get it, the way I thought it should come. But the question is, were you trusting God to give you what you wanted Him to give you, or what He wanted to give you, in His time and in His way?

Maybe you’re thinking, Well, I trusted God and He didn’t take care of me. I understand how you feel, because I’ve gone through hard things and didn’t

God’s Word is medicine that brings healing and restoration to our souls. “Trust God” and “Do Good” are the two prescriptions we all need. Our doctor is Jesus, we are His patients, and we can take His medicine as much as we need to—and refills are endless! But there are side effects. When you trust God, you will experience peace, joy, stability, confidence, and overall better health. When you do good, you’ll have extreme happiness and rewards in Heaven!

I know it’s not always easy to trust God and do good. But it’s the best option because it’s the only thing that will really work. I know it works because I was a mess and learning how to trust God and obey His Word has literally changed my life!

I wish I could get people to understand how pathetic my life was when I received my first Bible from my mother-in-law. It’s so amazing how learning to believe God’s Word—to trust Him and obey Him—has taken my brokenness and turned my life into something that can actually be of value to other people.

26

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 joycemeyer.org

EEL Summer 26-29 ES Article P.indd 26

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 26 — FOR

5/17/16 9:19 AM

“

We can take His medicine as much as we need to— and the refills are endless!”

TRUST GOD

&

DO GOOD

2

are the

prescriptions we all need!

joycemeyer.org/study

confident) in the Lord and do good....

PSALM 37:3

I want to encourage you to trust God completely in every area of your life. Remember that He is always on your side and He is fighting for you as you go through the challenges in your life. He loves you and has your best interest at heart at all times. No matter what you need or what your circumstances are, you can live with peace, joy, stability, confidence and overall better health if you will trust God and do good!

27

ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org

EEL Summer 26-29 ES Article P.indd 27

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 27 — FOR

5/17/16 9:20 AM

CYAN

rely on, and be

Magenta

I remember when God spoke to my heart that Dave and I should take care of my parents in their old age. This meant we would move them to the city where we live, buy a home for them and provide the care they needed. This was so hard for me because my father had abused me throughout my

Trust (lean on,

childhood and my mother had abandoned me by not doing anything to stop it. But God gave me the grace to do it, and one of the results was that my father accepted Christ as his Savior before he died.

This is one of the greatest victories I’ve ever had!

Yellow

Psalm 37:5 says, Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. Life in God is a journey, and we partner with Him by putting our trust in Him (1 Corinthians 1:9). When we’re dealing with a difficult situation, He may show us something we need to do that will help solve our problem.

BLACK

How to Know Jesus.

Building Your New Life with Christ.

30/30 Challenge.

Everyday Study ...and so much more.

GOING DEEPER IN GOD'S WORD. A quick interactive study to encourage your daily walk with Christ. joycemeyer.org/everydaystudy

questi

on

What is your response going to be when you’re going through difficult times and everything around you seems to be falling apart?

“

Rx

for TRUST GOD

God’s Word is

MEDICINE

that brings healing to our souls!”

Study the following scriptures and note the insights you find that help you trust God more: PSALM 37:1-5

✁

—Joyce

BLACK

PSALM 119:11

Yellow

Magenta

CYAN

Are you hurting in some way? What issue are you facing today that you need God’s help to overcome?

ROMANS 8:37

1 CORINTHIANS 1:9

TRUST GOD!

EEL Summer 26-29 ES Article P.indd 28

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 28 — FOR

5/17/16 9:20 AM

Rx

for DO GOOD

the answer to every problem:

TRUST GOD

&

Study the following scriptures to discover how to “do good”:

ROMANS 12:21; 1 PETER 2:23

MARK 11:22-25

...Jesus went around doing good and

HEALING

Think of some practical ways you can do good as you’re trusting God. How can you be a blessing to someone else today? Who is on your mind that you want to encourage or help in some way?

1 CORINTHIANS 1:9

BLACK

all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was

ACTS 10:38 NLT

CYAN

How are we supposed to respond when we’re being mistreated?

with him.

Magenta

1 PETER 2:23

REMEMBER

EEL Summer 26-29 ES Article P.indd 29

God is on your side—He is fighting for you!

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 29 — FOR

Yellow

“One of the hardest things for us to endure is when people are not treating us right and we can’t understand why God is not making them treat us right.” —Joyce

DO GOOD!

5/17/16 9:20 AM

What Do You Want Out of Life?

BLACK

Dear Friends, WHAT DO YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE?

Yellow

Magenta

CYAN

It’s a simple question, yet many haven’t thought too much about it, or if they have, they aren’t sure how to answer it.

I’m asking you today because I believe it’s a question that can shake you out of your rut and set you on the path to your God-given destiny.

Do you go through your days feeling frustrated, worried and depressed, wondering, Is this all there is? Have I

missed my chance? Why is everyone else getting what they want and I’m not?

With God’s help, what could you do if you really set your mind to it? What is the God-given dream in your heart and how can you work in partnership with Him to see it happen?

I know how easy it is to let demanding jobs, hectic schedules, intimidating odds, withering criticism, and so many other obstacles threaten to put your God-given goals and ambitions on hold.

I have been tempted so many times in my life to give up on what God had put in my heart to do.

But if I can overcome the obstacles to pursue my God-given goals and desires, I know you can too!

I believe we need to be active in our faith. We aren’t meant to be passive, just sitting back and hoping something good might happen. We serve an active God. That’s why, with His help, we can actively pursue His best in our lives.

30

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 joycemeyer.org

EEL 0616 30-33 P.indd 30

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 30 — FOR

5/17/16 8:39 AM

I want to encourage you today to be determined to pursue the desires God has placed in your heart. Don’t quit just because they haven’t happened yet. Don’t let discouragement keep you from going after them with all your heart.

But remember, you have a part to play. Like Bartimaeus, there are steps you will need to take to successfully walk in God’s plan for your life.

And here’s the good news: You don’t have to do it alone—God will be with you every step of the way!

Well, I’ve found that God isn’t intimidated by the things we don’t have. Instead, He chooses to work with the things we do have. For me, that was a love for His Word, a desire to serve Him and help people, and the determination to never give up.

If the desire in your heart lines up with the Word of God, then it’s a desire God has given you. He wants to help you see that thing come to pass because He wants you to enjoy the life Jesus died to give you. He wants to work through your life to share His love and help people.

Remember, it’s never too late to pursue the dream God has given you. With God there is no such thing as too difficult, too expensive or too late. He has something amazing in store for your life—go after it with all your heart!

We’re so grateful to be in relationship with you,

This has certainly been the case in my life. More than thirty years ago, God gave me the desire to preach His Word. Naturally speaking, it seemed

God has a wonderful, specific and purposeful plan for your life.

Learn to pursue the desires God places in your heart and see life-changing results.

20% OFF

BLACK

I suppose it would have been pretty easy for Bartimaeus to call it quits. The crowd was large— Jesus probably wouldn’t hear him anyway. Not only that, but people were also rebuking him, telling him to be quiet. But Bartimaeus chose not to give up. He dared to pursue a dream for his life and you can too!

Maybe you know what it’s like to have a desire in your heart but daily reminders of all the reasons why it can’t happen. Not enough talent.

Not enough resources. Not enough connections.

CYAN

“We aren’t meant to be passive, just sitting back and hoping something good might happen. We serve an active God.”

pretty impossible since I didn’t have any money, I didn’t have a college degree, and I didn’t have a team of people supporting me. I guess you could say there were a lot of things I didn’t have.

What Do You Want Out of Life?

3 Teachings on CD

& Have a Dream for Your Life

Magenta

In Mark chapter 10, Jesus said something truly remarkable to a beggar named Bartimaeus. He asked for his sight to be restored and that is exactly what Jesus did. Jesus performed the miracle, but Bartimaeus had a part to play: He called out to Jesus, refused to give up and had the faith to believe God for the dream in his heart.

$21 $26 U.S Funds 31

ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org

EEL 0616 30-33 P.indd 31

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2016 — PAGE 31 — FOR

5/17/16 8:39 AM

Yellow

Single CD Teaching

joyce’s new book

Yellow

Magenta

CYAN

BLACK

now available!

that won’t change. But you can change how you approach the stresses of life.

With Joyce’s new book, you can learn how to unplug, unwind and unleash yourself from the pressure of stress.

now available!

EEL 0616 36 Back Cover OL P.indd 32

Order your copy today! See page 14 for details.

joycemeyer.org/overload

JUN / JUL / AUG 2016 // FOR BC1 // Foreign // Page 32

5/16/16 2:20 PM