We all look for a hero. When I was very young it was my Dad. As I got older my hero’s changed. Wonder Woman, Cat Woman, Captain America are a few that come to mind. Then once I was saved my hero’s changed again. Katherine Kuhlman, Marie Woodworth-Etter, Amie Semple McPherson became my hero’s. Still as time goes by I like to read the biographies of these great heroes of faith but Chapter 11 of Hebrews holds a few of my current hero’s.

How about you? Who do you hold as your hero? Who we want to be like says a lot about who we are. If you want to know a little about your future then take a good look at who you are following.
Jesus told His disciples, “Come follow me and I will make you…” Matthew 4:19 in this verse there is an implication that you become what you follow after.  I have noticed that what has your eyes and ears usually has your heart.  Then the word of God tells us in Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
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One of my personal quotes is, “More is caught than taught.” I tried to find out who originally came up with this and couldn’t. Maybe you will be more successful than I was, if so please Post for all of us.  This however I do know. It is true. So watch who has your eye. Pay attention to who has your ear. Guard your heart with all diligence.  The direction our hero’s go in can take us off course or to our God given destiny. 

Today is part 4 of our 4 part series on the book by Renee Swope a Proverbs 31 Ministries Radio Show Co-Host and author of the book A Confident Heart. I encourage you if you’ve just joined us to look back at the previous three blogs. Today we look at “When Doubt Whispers”. I pray you have enjoyed this series.

The small voice of doubt whispers all day long. Every time we set out to do a new thing, every time we venture out into an unknown area of growth, every time we go somewhere we haven’t gone before or meet a new person the whispers start.  Every time you try a new style, a new exercise class, a new project the voice that we are so familiar with begins to whisper how we will fail. How bad it’s going to go, and why would anyone in their right mind would do that? Because we can! Because you can!

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) “13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
 
If you are not familiar with the spirit realm or you are a new Christian you may not realize that the whisper of doubt comes from the enemy of our soul. I refer to him as the devil because that is who Jesus called him. The job description given to the devil is stealing, killing and destroying. (John 10:10)  So when we hear whispers or even a shout for that matter that is trying to steal, kill and destroy, know that it is the devil.  The Bible also states that there is no truth in the devil. That being said we can rest assured that when he speaks he is lying.  This truth has brought me great courage to silence the whispers and press on.  The only way that I can fail is to fail to try. Once I have tried and failed I must get back up and try again, that is success--refusing to fail permanently.  
 
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” - Robert F. Kennedy
 
Allow me to share this from John Ortberg, Faith & Doubt (Zondervan, 2008), pp. 139-140

"As long as you have faith, you will have doubts. I sometimes use the following illustration when I'm speaking. I tell the audience that I have a twenty-dollar bill in my hand and ask for a volunteer who believes me. Usually only a few hands go up. Then I tell the volunteer that I am about to destroy his (or her) faith. I open my hand and show the twenty-dollar bill. The reason I can say I am destroying his faith is that now he knows I hold the bill. He sees the bill and doesn't need faith anymore. Faith is required only when we have doubts, when we do not know for sure. When knowledge comes, faith is no more."
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"Sometimes a person is tempted to think, I can't become a Christian because I still have doubts. I'm still not sure. But as long as doubts exist, as long as the person is still uncertain, that is the only time faith is needed. When the doubts are gone, the person doesn't need faith anymore. Knowledge has come.
I tell the audience that this is exactly the point Paul was making in his first letter to the church at Corinth: "Now we see [that a 'knowing' word] but a poor reflection [now we have confusion, misunderstanding, doubts, and questions] … then we shall see face to face [we don't see face-to-face yet]. Now I know in part [with questions and doubts]; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (13:12).
John Ortberg, Faith & Doubt (Zondervan, 2008), pp. 139-140

I challenge you to allow Him to deal with you, all of you.  Not in who you think you are but who you really are.  Take a minute and watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4-tYS_6c5c   and give yourself a gift by purchasing this book.  You can get it anywhere including our bookstore or at our upcoming Women of Witness meeting this coming Saturday. For more information click here: http://www.mfcministries.net/ministries/wowitness.shtm

This ends our Confident Heart Series. Be sure to comment in your browser for a chance to receive a reminder of your God shaped void. You must be present at our upcoming meeting on February 13, 2016 at 10AM at Lakeview Resort and Spa in Morgantown, West Virginia. This is a free meeting and open to the public. 
 

Today is part 3 of our 4 part series on the book by Renee Swope a Proverbs 31 Ministries Radio Show Co-Host and author of the book A Confident Heart. I encourage you if you’ve just joined us to look back at the previous two blogs. Today we look at seeking validation. Usually when we are insecure we need more validation. If we didn’t get it from those important people in our lives we will find ourselves seeking it in inappropriate ways from others. If you are a female and did not get it from your father you may look for it from older men. Seeking for validation in all the wrong people can get you in all the wrong places that you may find it hard to get out of.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 (NIV) “And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

John 12:42-43 (NKJV) “42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
 
Seek to please an audience of one. If you please God that is all you have to do to assure yourself that you are doing all that is required of you.  God adores you just like you are but He also loves you too much to leave you as you are.  We are to be changed daily into the image of Christ.  Give God all of you and He will give you all of Him.
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Matthew 25:21 (KJV) "21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

I challenge you to allow Him to deal with you, all of you.  Not in who you think you are but who you really are.  Take a minute and watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4-tYS_6c5c   and give yourself a gift and purchase this book.  You can get it anywhere including our bookstore or at our upcoming Women of Witness meeting this coming Saturday. For more information click here: http://www.mfcministries.net/ministries/wowitness.shtm

Tomorrow we will look at (part 4) in our Confident Heart Series. Be sure to comment on your browser for a chance to receive a reminder of your God shaped void. You must be present at our upcoming meeting on February 13, 2016 at 10AM at Lakeview Resort and Spa in Morgantown, West Virginia. This is a free meeting and open to the public. 

Yesterday we began looking at a book by Renee Swope a Proverbs 31 Ministries Radio Show Co-Host and author of the book A Confident Heart. We discussed knowing our worth is from who we are, not what we do.  Today we are looking at our abilities.  When we know everything we have comes from God including what we can and cannot do it takes the pressure off.

Hebrews 10:35-36 (NKJV) “35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:”
 
When we feel as though we are incapable of doing things well or fulfilling the call of God upon our life we are more apt to cast away our confidence. On the other hand when we are confident in Christ working through us we can endure to the end. Doubt and insecurity cannot co-exist in our hearts and minds if we are to receive the promises God has for us. Just like light expels darkness when the light switch is turned on, so insecurity and doubt flee when we are confident in Christ.

God is not a band aid God. He doesn’t want to temporarily fix a problem we have. God is a God of permanent solutions. In doing so God goes after the root of our insecurities that threaten and erode our confidence.  Pretending and performance are not what God desires for us. He wants us to own our anointing, our calling, our family, and our positions in Christ and in the world.  So our ability matches what our creator had in mind for us He begins to deal with our heart.

I challenge you to allow Him to deal with you, all of you.  Not in who you think you are but who you really are.  Take a minute and watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4-tYS_6c5c   and give yourself a gift and purchase this book.  You can get it anywhere including our bookstore or at our upcoming Women of Witness meeting this coming Saturday. For more information click here: http://www.mfcministries.net/ministries/wowitness.shtm

Tomorrow we will look at (part 3) in our Confident Heart Series. Be sure to comment on your browser for a chance to receive a reminder of your God shaped void. You must be present at our upcoming meeting on February 13, 2016 at 10AM at Lakeview Resort and Spa in Morgantown, West Virginia. This is a free meeting and open to the public. 

For next four days we are going to look at a book by Renee Swope a Proverbs 31 Ministries Radio Show Co-Host and author of the book A Confident Heart. You may be asking why I am blogging on a book about a Confident Heart for women.  One of my life visions goes beyond pastoring a local church or founding Women of Witness. It is my desire to empower the Body of Christ. One way I am doing that is having the women that attend a monthly meeting I host is to read books, listen to podcast, CD’s, watch DVD’s, attend conferences and read articles just to name a few things. It is important as well that people have an outlet in which to share what they are learning with others. “To teach is to learn twice.” Joseph Joubert  This month this is the book we are reading at Women of Witness. For more information click here: http://www.mfcministries.net/ministries/wowitness.shtm
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We are to stop doubting ourselves and live in the security of being a vessel filled with God’s love.  There is nothing that can fill the God shaped void on the inside of us except God.  The wonderful thing to know is that because God’s love is perfect we don’t have to be. Taking the pressure off ourselves to be perfect gives us the peace that allows us to be creative, merciful and operate out of the gifts and callings God has placed within us.

Philippians 4:7 (NIV)” And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

We get our worth from who we are, not what we do. (Proverbs 3:15)  Just as we love one another, our children and family members because of who they are and not what they do for us.   God feels the same about us. When we have a “less than” day or perform at a sub-standard level than what we’ve set for ourselves, it does not cause God to love us any less. He (God) doesn’t say “Ughhhhh”.
 
My two year old grandson had heard a number of our family say, “Ugh” when we are disgusted or something goes wrong. Well, he has caught on to that quite well. It was one of his first words, sorry to say. I say quite often, “More is caught than taught.”   If we are hard on ourselves and give ourselves an “Ugh” instead of an, “at a boy” or an, “at a girl” then we reproduce after our own kind.

Today I encourage you to take “Ugh” out of your vocabulary and capitalize “YOU GO GIRL!” and make sure you add the exclamation mark. After all you are created in HIS image.

Tomorrow we will look at (part 2 Abilities) in our Confident Heart Series. Be sure to comment on your browser for a chance receive a reminder of your God shaped void. You must be present at our upcoming meeting on February 13, 2016 at 10AM at Lakeview Resort and Spa in Morgantown, West Virginia. This is a free meeting and open to the public. 

​Yesterday we were discussing 2 Timothy 2:2 (KJV) “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
We looked at the word FAITHFUL, ABLE, and today we look at the word TEACH.  

We looked at the word FAITHFUL, ABLE, and today we look at the word TEACH. 
This definition from Merriam Webster of the word Teach:

•  to cause or help (someone) to learn about a subject by giving lessons
• to give lessons about (a particular subject) to a person or group
• to cause or help (a person or animal) to learn how to do something by giving lessons, showing how it is done, etc.

 
I’ve heard it said many times, “To teach is to touch a life forever.”  I am not sure where I heard it or who said it, but I do believe it. The things I have learned have changed my life and as I look forward to living in eternity I have people who taught me the word of God to thank.

"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others." It also dispels darkness in a person’s life. We have even said things like, “When I heard that the light came on.”  As faithful, able followers of Christ we have the opportunity to light the way for others. We who once walked in darkness are now referred to from the word of God as the Light of the World and have a responsibility to share that light.
(John 8:12) “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

(2 Timothy 2:2)  (NIV) “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
According to Homer's Odyssey, when King Odysseus went off to fight in the Trojan War, he left his son Telemachus in the hands of a wise old man named Mentor. Mentor was charged with the task of teaching the young man wisdom. More than 2,000 years after Homer, a French scholar and theologian by the name of François Fénelon adapted the story of Telemachus in a novel titled Télémaque. In it he enlarged the character of Mentor. The word mentor soon came to mean "a wise and responsible tutor"—an experienced person, who advises, guides, teaches, inspires challenges, corrects, and serves as a model. In Second Timothy 2:2 Apostle Paul describes spiritual mentoring, and the Bible gives us many examples. Timothy had Paul; Mark had Barnabas; Joshua had Moses; Elisha had Elijah. 
Action step for today-teach someone something that will change their life, but oh—make sure they are FAT.

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Yesterday we were discussing 2 Timothy 2:2 (KJV) “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
We looked at the word FAITHFUL. Today we look at the word ABLE.

This definition from Merriam Webster:
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Full Definition of Able
1:  having sufficient power, skill, or resources to accomplish an object, susceptible to action or treatment
2:  marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence
 
It is God within us that gives us the power, skill or resources to accomplish anything and everything. Every breath we take is because He allows us to do so.  God gives the ability but we need. We must be available and submitted to what He calls us to do.  Many are able, but not all do what they are able of. Therefore the Church many times does without.  An example is someone may be able to sing, but they are not on the Praise Team because though they are able, they are not available or submitted enough to do so.
If you want to be used of God and have Him commit a responsibility to you that you may bring Him glory with your life that He has given you here on earth, then you will need to make yourself available and submit yourself to the necessary character grooming process that will be needed.  We all shout at the TV on Super bowl Sunday telling the players how to play or what to do but many of us have never played Pro-Football or even attended a Super bowl.  The point I am making is God has not only played Super bowl but he designed the game, players, ball and the TV from submitted individuals that have gone through and continue to go through incredible processes.  Saved and unsaved alike if you want to accomplish something great you must go through a process.  

2 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV) “2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

Well if you were brave enough to journey with me today or at least curious to find out how in the world I was going to make something worth reading and un-offending out of FAT I congratulate you.  It’s not so bad being FAT. In fact God is looking for someone who is just that. Things haven’t really changed that much since Paul was writing to Timothy. There is a leadership vacuum in America today. I could have probably said the world has a leadership vacuum. I know for a fact the church at large has one. It is very hard to find someone (male or female) who is faithful.  Add to faithful, able and teachable and faithful to teach what was taught them without adding to or taking from and the choices get slimmer.  Paul found what he was looking for in Timothy so he encouraged him.

Today we will look at just being Faithful. Sometimes we need a little encouragement in what we are doing. Usually the squeaky wheel gets the oil. If you don’t squeak and are simply faithful you may feel as though you are overlooked. God does not overlook anyone. He has got our number.

Proverbs 28:20 (NIV) “A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”

Keeping faithful to the word of God as a precious jewel entrusted to your care. Refusing to be disloyal, treacherous, or one who would betray the word of God given to them to give to others exactly as it was given to you not adding to it or taking from it.

Revelation 22:19 (KJV) “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Having trouble in the area of faithfulness? Get more of God. Get into His word and get His word in to you. Easy to do. Easy not to do. The choice is ours. We make our choices and then our choices make us. Eat more in the natural get fat in the natural. Eat more in the supernatural get FAT -Faithful Able to Teach! I will take the later.

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV) “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

With Christ in us we can be faithful.  Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 of 3 Being Able.

​John Maxwell said, “The one who achieves the dream sees the journey differently.”
Instead of thinking, "Not enough people believe in me. I'll never make it," think, "My belief in myself is big enough; I can make it."

Instead of, “It’s taking too long to realize my dream,” think, “Dreams are realized one day at a time.”
Rather than, “Enough is enough! I’ve taken enough hits!” think, “I’ve come too far to give up now.”
Instead of, “I don’t have the strength to hold onto my dream,” think, “Hold on a little longer. The darkest hour comes just before the dawn.”

Joseph no longer saw what his brothers did to him as something mean and awful that they did to destroy him. He saw it as God sent him ahead of his brothers, so in the time of famine he would be able to do exactly what he did. It wasn’t a failure or a time to quit, but a set-up to get-up over what the devil meant for evil.

Genesis 50:20 (NASB) “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result.”
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For the last couple of days I looked at this subject of Quitting. I hope you enjoyed the journey and invited a friend to travel along with us. Please continue to get the word out by Tweeting, Quitting is not who I [email protected] #womanofwitness, #remarkablewoman, #renaperozich or reposting this article to Facebook. 

See you tomorrow for a New Series on BEING FAT.
 
If you want to continue along these lines I encourage you to get John C. Maxwell’s newest book JumpStart Your Thinking which outlines 11 types of thinking to strengthen your mind and change your behavior in ways that will help you achieve your goals. This book gives 90 days of fresh perspective and reflective questions to keep you on track and help you through failure to reach success. 

Get JumpStart Your Thinking today for only $8.50 in print or $11.95 in audio book format. 

I ordered mine so expect to hear more on this subject as we journey together for the better.

​John Maxwell said, “Those who achieve their dreams don’t have an easier path than those who do not.”  They just have a different internal attitude about the journey. The great artist Leonardo da Vinci once declared, “Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields to stern resolve. He who is fixed on a star does not change his mind.”
Pushing past our failures and being able to strengthen our weaknesses is a daily battle. One of the many ways we can do this is to renew our minds daily. (Ephesians 4:23) Another way to push past failures is for us to rehearse our past victories. (1 Samuel 17:36) When we are fixed on our eternal victorious God who cannot fail and will not leave us we become stronger; knowing He is with us and will not leave us. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
For one more day, I will be looking at this subject. I hope you will join the journey and invite a friend to travel along with us. Start by Tweeting, Quitting is not who I [email protected] #womanofwitness, #remarkablewoman, #renaperozich or reposting this article to Facebook. 

See you tomorrow for Why Quitting Is Not The Answer (Part 3 of 3).

John C. Maxwell’s newest book JumpStart Your Thinking outlines 11 types of thinking to strengthen your mind and change your behavior in ways that will help you achieve your goals. This book gives 90 days of fresh perspective and reflective questions to keep you on track and help you through failure to reach success. 

Get JumpStart Your Thinking today for only $8.50 in print or $11.95 in audio book format. 

I ordered mine so expect to hear more on this subject as we journey together for the better.