Now is The Time

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to live. There is no time other than the present. The past is a memory and the future is never here. Now is when you can make a difference, and now is when you can fulfill your dreams.

If you wait until the time is perfect, you’ll wait forever. If you think you don’t feel like taking action, and that you’ll wait until you feel like it, you won’t ever feel like it. If you make excuses, you’ll end up watching your precious time slip away with nothing to show for it. Instead of sitting around waiting for enough energy to get going, go ahead, get yourself moving and you’ll create the energy necessary to keep you in motion. If you just do not feel like doing anything, that’s the time when you can make the biggest positive difference for yourself by going ahead and taking action anyway.

Now is the time that matters. In ways small and large, your world right now is filled with opportunities to make a difference. Take the initiative. The only thing necessary to take the first step is your decision to do it.

Make that decision. Take that first step and put momentum solidly on your side. If you think you can’t do it, stop thinking and start doing. The smallest positive action can begin to erase even the biggest doubt.

When you find yourself making an excuse, take a good, careful look at that excuse. What if you could transform it into a powerful reason for stepping forward? Whatever serves as an excuse for not taking action can instead serve as a compelling reason to go ahead and act. It all depends on how you choose to see it.

Stop and listen to the excuses you make. You’ll realize that they’re only excuses because you cast them as such. But you don’t have to do that. The events and circumstances in your life are what they are. What makes them meaningful to you is the way you choose to see them and respond to them. There are plenty of perfectly reasonable excuses for not moving forward, if you decide to view them as such. However, it is just as realistic to see those same factors as reasons to take action without delay, as reasons to go ahead and make the most of now. The amazing thing is, whatever may be stopping you could be pushing you forward.

Make the choice to let that happen. Transform the excuses into powerful, compelling reasons to take action. Instead of being stopped by why you can’t, be energized by why you must.

Remember, success does not come to those who merely have great ideas. Success comes to those who have great ideas and who follow through on them. Your carefully crafted plans bring value only when you put them into action. The best of intentions are useful only when you follow through on them. During the course of the day, many thoughts cross your mind. Yet just as easily and quickly as those thoughts come, they recede, so it’s crucial to begin acting on the best ones right away. Before a valuable and meaningful intention gets pushed out of your mind by another thought, do something about it. Set the process irrevocably in motion and begin to bring that intention to life. When you think of doing something, there’s a reason why you have that thought. Listen to what the thought is suggesting, and take action immediately.

Don’t let the idea or the intention or the vision slip away. Take action and make it real. Now is your moment to create value. The thoughts that come to you now are the thoughts that are best acted upon right now

— Ralph Marston

Enjoy Now

Life is better, you are better, things are better, your outlook is better, your attitude is better, your work is better, you’re more effective, you’re more positive, more motivated, more inspired, more energetic, when you are enjoying yourself. So here’s a plan. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy what you’re doing. Enjoy where you are.

Enjoy what you have. Enjoy what you see. Enjoy what you know. Enjoy the people you’re with. Enjoy your life now. Don’t wait for some imagined utopia. Don’t wait or wish that you could be somewhere else where you could really enjoy yourself. Instead, enjoy where you are. Stop worrying or complaining about what you have to do. Get busy, do it, and choose to enjoy it. It may not be fun, it may not be exciting, it may not be glamorous, yet you can still enjoy it. You can still enjoy it, and by enjoying it you’ll be better at it.

But how can you enjoy yourself when you have bills to pay, when your house is at risk of foreclosure, when you’ve lost your job, or you have a serious medical condition, or there are problems with family members?

How can you enjoy yourself in times like that?

Well, the question is, how can you afford not to enjoy yourself? Because enjoying what you’re doing is going to help get you through. Finding things in your life to enjoy and to treasure will give you the motivation and incentive to address those difficult problems and to get beyond them. You don’t have to pretend that everything is great to enjoy yourself. You can actually enjoy the challenges. You can enjoy the fact that you’re able to make a difference, and that you’re able to successfully take on the challenges that come up. It’s not easy to do that. It’s probably not very comfortable to do that. It could be complicated, and messy, and frustrating. And yet, you can take great satisfaction in creating value. You can take satisfaction in starting with a difficult situation and transforming it into an achievement, transforming it into a life that you desire to live, a life that you enjoy living. You can take satisfaction and enjoyment from working your way through the difficulties.

-Ralph Marston 

Set The Direction

What you think of yourself has a major impact on what you do with your life. Think more positively about yourself and your world, and every area of your life will reflect it.

All day long, every day, your mind is active, with one thought after another. Instead of making those thoughts judgmental or despairing, choose to make them thankful, loving and accepting.

It’s really very easy to aim your thoughts in a positive direction. Just remind yourself to do it, and it’s done.

Think more highly of yourself, and you’ll soon find yourself living up to your improved self image. Expect the best in every situation and you’ll uncover new value wherever you look.

Just one simple, positive thought can turn your life in a more productive, effective and fulfilling direction. Imagine what a continuous flow of positive thoughts can do for your day.

What you think sets the direction for where you’ll go. Make the commitment to think the best, and enjoy reaping the rewards of a more positive, purposeful you.

— Ralph Marston

Devon Franklin Preaching at One Church International

Click Here to Listen & Watch

Beautiful You Are

By adminon Sat, 14 Sep 2013

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)

A man picks up a diamond, and out of ignorance or not being able to see well, tosses it to the curb. Does that say more about the man or the diamond? It actually speaks a great deal, not of the diamond, but of the man that tossed it. When we attach our self-worth to the acceptance or approval of others, it has damaging effects. The truth is, nothing can change your worth. A diamond tossed to the curb is still a diamond. A diamond in a pile of garbage is still a diamond. A diamond thrown in a sewer is still a diamond. Nothing can change who you are and what God has designed you to be. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, God’s masterpiece and His incredible design. No matter how you are treated by others, it doesn’t change the fact that God loves you, accepts you, and likes you. He has a plan for your life. See yourself the way God sees you and you will live happier and free!

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your love towards me. Help me to always see myself the way You see me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

A sincere thank you to our Devotional Writers.

Great Christian Artist

GLOW CONFERENCE 2013 & Updates

The conference was awesome!!! God was definitely in the BUILDING!!! Thanks Jami for inviting us!!! Thanks to all those that came as well!!! 

As you all know I will be giving birth to my son in less than 4 weeks!!! Yaya!! October 12th!!   Baby Brock will be here!! Woots Woots!!! Soooo Rickeysha has graciously agreed to lead  for the month of October so look forward to hearing a powerful word from God on October 10th! Location TBA. In the meantime  stay tuned for more encouraging posts!! 

Remember: "It's not enough for us to have the light switched on, we need to live in the light; the light isn't just meant for u... "

GLOW Conference! Free Admission for Night Sessions!!!

Hello Beautiful Ladies!! Our Beautiful Sister Jami has invited us tonight to attend the GLOW Conference hosted at Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, VA. Instead of having Women's Release at the Community Center we will be traveling to the Conference. The doors open at 6:30p.m. and it starts at 7:30p.m. anyone interested in riding with me I will be leaving my house at 7:00p.m. txt me and let me know if you want to attend! The address is listed below... HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!! :)

Calvary Revival Church

5833 Poplar Hall Drive
Norfolk, VA 23502

Power in Your Worship- Kari Jobe

Part 1 
Part 2
Part 3

All He says I am - Cody Carnes feat Kari Jobe - Gateway Worship 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfFyqSkMiUw

Don’t Play the Part

By adminon Thu, 5 Sep 2013

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:13-14 (KJV)

The word “hypocrite” in the New Testament means an actor under an assumed character. The movie industry thrives on actors and actresses. The better they can play the role, the more money they make. Not so in the Kingdom of God. If we play the role of a follower of Jesus, while our behavior and way of life shows differently, we become what the Bible calls a hypocrite. We become in danger of experiencing God’s wrath and judgment because of a life of disobedience. Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could experience a real change from the inside out, so that we can walk free in Christ, not bound to a life of sin and self-gratification. If we are going to follow Him truly, we must follow Him in public as well in our private lives, in our thinking and in our speaking, in business ethics and in our relationships, in church and at home. Our lives and example must show that we truly love God so we can be true lights in the world shining bright for the glory of God!

Prayer: Father, forgive me for any hypocrisy in my life. I receive Your grace to be real and holy, to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk. Be glorified in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What's in a Name?

By Matt Bancroft
July 27, 2012

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 9: 10 TNIV

Our identity is something that we want to discover and maintain. We write books on the topics of searching for significance and finding our life's purpose, but perhaps we have missed it. Maybe God doesn't want us to search this world for meaning and purpose. Could it be that God wants us to find those things in Him?

God has quite literally stolen our identity. To steal means to take something with no intention of returning it. That is exactly what we asked Him to do when we accepted Him and chose to follow Jesus. The sin that was bored into our soul was replaced by the law of God, written onto each of our hearts. That same name was a refuge to an army of Israel, it defeated a giant, rescued God's people from Egypt and the name was nailed to a cross for my sin and yours.

That name is etched into our hearts. God has stolen our identity. We are representatives of the most powerful name in the universe. That is the name I call upon when I am weak. That is the name that has redeemed my soul and cleansed me. That name is everything.

This devotion is adapted from an article on RELEVANTmagazine.com.

Talk About It

How can surrendering your identity to Christ's empower you to find an even greater sense of personal identity?

Yes, Millennials, You Need the Local Church

By James Dwyer
September 5, 2013

4 reasons Millennials should stay plugged in.

If you were asked to picture the regular attendees of an average local church, a few things might come to mind:

You might think of a quaint, middle-class family who bring their 2.5 kids to church every Sunday before heading back to their mundane jobs Monday morning. You might picture a gaggle of teenagers who came just to see their friends or the occasional college student who still goes to church out of habit.

But chances are, you don’t imagine world changers, visionaries or even fired-up young people sitting in those pews every Sunday morning. And maybe you think that if you join those people you just pictured, you’ll become just like your caricature of them: flat and apathetic or unaware of the needs around you.

The local church holds a key place in the life of any Christian—Millennial or not—and its impact, importance and influence should not be dismissed.

Many Millennials fear being “domesticated” by the local church—that being involved will quench any passion for God or put out the flames of faith. For many, it’s not God that is the issue, it’s the Church. The idea of living an adventurous life for God, following where He leads and stepping out in faith is, for many, a juxtaposition of what life in the local church is like.

Yet the local church holds a key place in the life of any Christian—Millennial or not—and its impact, importance and influence should not be dismissed. Here are a few reasons Millennials need to be involved in the local church.

The local church roots Millennials in a community

Millennials are, more than any other generation, prone to not putting down roots. The tendency among Millennials is to drift—to find satisfaction wherever it appears best, and then to move on when the grass gets greener on the other side.

The local church, by its nature, is deeply ingrained in its community. The local church is known by those around it, and in return knows those around it. The ability to know those to whom you are ministering is deeply impactful. It allows for relationships to be built, nurtured and maintained.

Many Millennials are, in fact, looking for this deep level of community, but sadly do not see the local church as providing it. There is a sense of belonging and doing life together that can only be found in the local church. For a generation looking for community, integrity and authentic relationships, it doesn’t get much better than the local church.

The local church provides Millennials with wise people to learn from

The rise of the Millennial generation—and the potential that comes with them—is one of the most exciting and exhilarating factors the worldwide church faces at the moment. The local church offers a safe environment for Millennials to grow, develop fruits and discern their paths—all the while supported and equipped by wiser figures who have been there and done it before.

This element of local church life is one of the most under-exaggerated, and yet has an impact that is almost impossible to quantify. Having older, wiser figures around allows Millennials the space to push themselves, receive counsel and— importantly for this perfectionist generation—fail.

The local church gains as much from Millennials as they pour into it

Millennials want to contribute. They want to change the world and be part of making the world a better place. For many, that passion is a key component behind their motivation to constantly seek new challenges and fresh situations.

Being part of a local church allows Millennials to pour themselves into that which they are passionate about—social justice, education, charitable work, ministry and so on. As a result, almost every time, there is a noticeable effect on the church.

Service in church should certainly not be carried out with an end goal of gaining praise in mind, but at the same time, there is a huge benefit to the wider church body of having a core of Millennials. This younger generation constantly pushes the boundaries, pushes the church forward and often has a vision bigger than many others. This will inevitably lead to times where they bite of more than they can chew, but the positive impact and surge in excitement felt by the wider church is unquestionable.

The local church provides millennials with a safe, secure place at a time of transition

The impact of being part of a local church is transformative.

Those in the Millennial age bracket face a huge time of transition. Finishing school, starting work, finding a partner, starting a family, buying a house—these are only some of the major life events Millennials encounter. At a time of life when there is so much in flux and so much uncertainty, having a local church to call home, surrounded and supported by a community on your side, has invaluable benefits.

Those not plugged into and rooted in a local church face the risk of letting church attendance slip when life gets busy—the tendency being that of all the things to give up, church goes first. Millennials at the heart of a local church are much more likely to be supported, convicted and challenged to ensure their faith and relationship with God is at the heart of all they do.

There is no such thing as a perfect local church. But the impact of being part of a local church is transformative. It is tragic to see so many—millennial or not—abandon the local church in search of either a perfect church (of which there are none) or a lifestyle outside of church.

Bill Hybels was right when he said, “The local church is the hope of the world.” That is a truth the Millennial generation must grab hold of and fully embrace. If they do, they and their churches have the potential to change the world.

5 Lies Every Twentysomething Needs to Stop Believing

By Paul Angone
September 3, 2013

Sarah had been told all her life she could do anything she wanted, that success was right around the corner. But now, stuck in a menial job at 25, with no big career in sight, she—like many twentysomethings—was feeling the pangs of disillusionment.

This sense of disillusionment often stems from the lies we’ve been told and have told ourselves. We’ve been lied to, and these lies are holding us back.

You are not alone in your struggle, questions, wondering what’s next?, now what? or do I have what it takes?

Too many twentysomethings are driving through the twists and turns of their twenties with windshields covered in mud, lies and half-truths. And then we wonder why so many of us have crashed?

We need to hose these lies off right now or spend our twenties stuck on the side of the road.

If we’re going to walk forward with the answers to the major questions we should be asking, successfully navigating our twenties, then we need to stop believing the following lies right now:

1. I’m the Only One Struggling

I would love to lock this lie away in a Serbian prison and give the key to a pack of Arctic wolves to defend. You are not alone in your struggle, questions, wondering what’s next?, now what? or do I have what it takes?

Our twenties are tough. That’s the truth. Too many twentysomethings are struggling through a quarter-life crisis all alone.

We all need help. We all need support. We all need nudges, prompts, advice and encouragement.

No one has it all figured out. The twentysomethings who think they do are in for the biggest shock of all.

2. I Should Be Successful by Now! Like Right Now!

I fully expected to walk straight into a crazy-successful twentysomething life with accolades, salaries, bonuses, a big-old-fat-book-deal, and a plethora of people who wanted to learn my secrets to success, all by 23 years old. Maybe 25 if I really hit some serious setbacks.

I didn’t realize that success takes time—loads of time.

Success is not an Egg McMuffin, delivered to us for a $3, three minute investment.

No, success is the Sistine Chapel—it takes years, pain, frustration, thousands of brushes, colors and crumpled up sketches before you have your masterpiece.

Countless famed figures we idolize—such as Abraham Lincoln—failed drastically in their twenties. Even Jesus, who never failed at anything, didn't begin his active, recorded ministry until he was in his thirties.

Success is not a sprint, it’s an Ironman marathon, and our twenties aren’t really about running the actual race. No, our twenties are simply about building our endurance so that we can run the race in the future.

If you take one step towards your dream today, you are a success. Success happens in the details.

3. Life is Not Turning Out Like it Was Supposed To

Well, kind of. Yes, life is not turning out like it was supposed to, but what the heck is supposed to? There is no supposed to. Supposed to is a lie. Supposed to is built on the perception of someone else’s perceived success.

Live your life right now exactly as it is and do your best to keep moving forward into where you want to go. That’s what you’re supposed to do.

4. I Don’t Have What it Takes

I 100 percent guarantee you have what it takes. I triple-stamp a double-stamp, 100 percent money-back guarantee you have what it takes. It’s just going to take some time to figure out what exactly “it” is.

Our twenties are a process, not a surprise party. You don’t just walk into the door and all of the sudden your calling jumps out from behind the couch. God has put all of us on a journey and as much as we might want to dash to the finish line, we're going to have to take our time to let Him teach us what exactly that finish line is.

Our twenties are a process, not a surprise party. You don’t just walk into the door and all of the sudden your calling jumps out from behind the couch.

You are extremely talented at something. We just need to start pulling off the layers to get a glimpse of what that something is.

5. I am a Failure

The only failure of our twenties would be if we never had any.

The only failure of our twenties is if we fail and then call ourselves failures.

Our twenties are going to be riddled with failure. Anyone that tells you otherwise is a liar. But you don't have to define yourself by your failures.

Failure is not a period, it’s a comma. And only if you stop trying will you really fail.

There’s only one way to be successful in our twenties—fail, tweak, then try again.

Friend To Friend

Today’s Truth
To one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him, it is sin (James 4:17, NASB).
Friend to Friend
Procrastination is one of the greatest sources of stress in life. I once heard a preacher tell the old story of three demons who were arguing over the best way to destroy the Christian movement. The first demon had it all figured out. “Let’s tell all the Christians that there is no heaven. If we take away the reward incentive, their movement will collapse,” he said. The second demon responded with, “No, I have a better idea. Let’s tell all the Christians that there really is no hell. If we take away their fear of punishment, their movement will collapse.” The third demon offered, “Both of those are great ideas, but there is a better way. Let’s tell all the Christians that there is no hurry.” The other demons applauded in delight! “That’s it!” they said. “Our best weapon of all is procrastination.”
Procrastination is understandable and normal – humanly speaking – but procrastination is not part of God’s best plan for our lives. We don’t often view procrastination as sin, but it is. Sin is not merely doing wrong. It is failing to do what you know you should do – when you know you should do it. Knowledge equals responsibility. Procrastination and disobedience are just opposite sides of the same coin.
Sin usually brings pleasure for at least the moment. If you are on a diet and want to have just one bite of a chocolate candy bar – but end up eating three chocolate candy bars – it is because you wanted more of that chocolate pleasure and simply could not make yourself stop at one bite – right? Or maybe you go shopping with a set amount you can spend on a new pair of shoes and end up buying three pairs of shoes only to realize that you need a dress to go with them, and a new purse to go with the dress, and new jewelry to match the shoes, purse and dress and … well, you get the idea. It is easy to understand how we get caught up in sins like gluttony, lust and greed because they all bring momentary pleasure. 
Procrastination is different in that it helps us avoid doing the things we don’t want to do – the tasks that require personal discipline and a commitment to godly goals. Wasting time often creates a restless feeling that produces a sense of failure. When the deadline we were supposed to meet has come and gone, or the dreaded task we keep putting off spirals out of control – guilt sets in. We try to rationalize it away when the simple truth is that we have sinned.
The key to dealing with procrastination begins with a commitment to obey God and exercise His wisdom. Joyce Meyer once said, "Wisdom always chooses to do now what it will be satisfied with later on."
We can choose to be led by wisdom rather than our momentary feelings.
We can choose to make right choices.
We can learn to be good stewards of the time God has given us. 
I once attended a leadership conference that changed my life in many ways. The speakers did not talk about money or success. They focused on the fact that God created each one of us in response to His unique plan for our lives. One of the simplest but most powerful mottos I came away from that conference with was: “Do it now!” Do you realize that it takes as much energy to avoid a task as it does to do it? Procrastination drains energy while action produces energy. God empowers us to do what He calls us to do.
Matthew 6:33 (NCV) “The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.”
Truth is for now. God is not impressed with good intentions. Obedience today is the greatest preparation for every tomorrow. So do what you know to do today! The Proverbs 31 woman did. In fact, Scripture tells us she could “laugh at the days to come” (Proverbs 31:25). In other words, this woman fully lived in the present but carefully planned and prepared for the future. Proverbs 31:19 indicates that she made thread with her hands and weaved her own cloth: “In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.” Notice she only made thread and cloth – not the finished product of clothes. That was a task for the future. She was simply getting ready today to meet the needs of tomorrow. The result was a life filled with hope and lived out in purpose.
Let’s Pray
Father, please forgive me for putting off what I know You want me to do. Help me learn to be more disciplined with my time. Teach me how to find and live by Your priorities for my life. I want to do what You created me to do, Lord. Show me how to live a life of power and purpose.
In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Procrastination is really about loving self and pleasing self above others. Romans 12:10 tells us that we should love each other deeply and honor others more than ourselves. The moments God give us really do matter now and eternally. We are responsible for how we spend them. Each moment in time represents an eternal opportunity. Evaluate your life in light of these truths. How well do you invest your time? What one change can you make this week to overcome procrastination? Ask a friend or family member to hold you accountable to make that change.