Today (or yesterday if you are in the UK since it's five minutes past midnight), it's my Birthday and I have a lot to be grateful for.

I have been thoroughly spoilt today beginning with my husband who gave myself and our daughter breakfast in bed.  My sister prepared some food for a family get together and then my family including my mum, dad, siblings, nephews and nieces and, my friends who have just howered me with love.

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This is the first episode of the Women of Influence podcast episode (#1) and today I want to share with you that although it's Easter Monday, Jesus is still very much alive and despite the fact that we are no longer celebrating Resurrection Sunday, Jesus was not raised from the dead for the one day … He arose FOREVER to redeem … YOU and me.    

Jesus came to restore the kingdom that Adam lost and, the life they enjoyed in the Garden of Eden before the fall.  And, it is this Good News message of the Kingdom of God that Jesus came to preach and died to restore, not a religion. 

Can you imagine it, Mary and Elizabeth's conversation when they met after their conceptions.

Elizabeth saying, "I could never imagine at my age that I would ever be able to bear a child, particularly since the doctors have told me I'm barren."

And Mary saying "but Elizabeth, who on earth has ever heard of someone conceiving a baby without having sex first,"  (blush, blush).  "I'm not even married!"

Here we are in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke looking at two impossible situations … impossible to the humans anyway, and as for poor Zachariah, despite the fact that he had been praying for a child (verse 13: "your prayer has been heard"), he was still in disbelief when the angel Gabriel told him that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son.  

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born
I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations”
                                                                                                                     Jeremiah 1:5

This was God’s message to the prophet Jeremiah.  But as God’s chosen women, we shouldn’t make this a gender issue – it applies to you too! 

But just in case you're unfamiliar with the story of Jeremiah, Jeremiah was appointed by God to be a prophet both to Judah and to the nations.  However, he objected to his appointment as a prophet on the grounds that he did not know how to speak because he was only a child.  In other words, he felt he wasn't eloquent or experienced enough to accept his appointment.

After Moses had died, God said to Joshua, his successor …

This book of the Law (the Word) shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it.  For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.  [Joshua 1:8 - Amplified Version]

Many Christians stumble on the part that says "that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it."

In 2006, Chris (my husband) had to spend some time in hospital in London after being referred from one specialist to another regarding the Chronic Fatigue he was suffering. 

During one of his consulting sessions, he was told to "watch what he said."  The specialist told him that despite the fact that he may not mean what he says, the inner brain that controls your emotions, can't tell the difference between what you say and what you mean.  As an example, if you say "I can't do this" when what you really mean is "I'm having some trouble doing this," because the brain can't tell the difference between "can't" and "having some trouble," you're more likely to struggle which, could ultimately result in you giving up.

When was the last time you told your soul to bless the Lord?  And how many times have you read Psalm 103?

This morning, I saw the first verse of that passage of scripture in a new light … I started reading …

BLESS THE Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me bless his holy name.

And then I read it again ….

BLESS THE Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me bless his holy name.

And again …

BLESS THE Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me bless his holy name.

It's true, every one of us has a ministry and I pray that through this post, you'll be taken nearer your destiny, nearer your purpose and nearer the person you want to grow up to become.

I know the term ministry is used very loosely and for most people, when they think of ministry, they think of Pastor's, Church Leaders, Evangelists and more important, people who work within the Church.

But ministry goes way beyond all of this. 

Ministry simply means service.

On the side wall of one of our stores, someone has defaced it with graffiti which says…

"The Future is Unwritten."

And I admit, I've used language in the past such as "you can write your own story," but the truth is that your future has already been written and it's an amazing story of happiness in every dimension!

I have no idea what you're going through right now, but I do know that if your situation isn't giving you peace and happiness, you're not living the story that God wrote for you. 

Hold on, you're time to shine is coming!

This is what Job said when he was under fire …

"But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it].  When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous]  Job 23:10, Amplified Version

The Church's Equivelent of Rich Dad Poor Dad

And, if you don't know what I'm talking about, head over to Amazon.com and check it out, it's a great book.

First of all, I have to say that I wrote this blog post back in 2006 and never felt it was the right time to post it.  Today it feels right so be blessed…

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I've been working on my next project for adding some more content to the Women of Influence website, including what will be a subscription membership website, which will be aimed at the entrepreneurial woman as well as the women who acknowledges that worship is more than a Sunday ritual since Christ should permeate our lives which means that wherever we walk, we should leave footprints. 

Over the past few months, I've read, reread and listend to Andrew Wommack's "Spirit, Soul and Body" book and CD series.

In essence, this series has had a profound impact on my life.  It's changed the way I see God, read my Bible as well as how I overcome day-to-day situations that arise.  And, I'm going to recommend that if you want to know and understand what true prosperity - peace, happiness and wealth is - that you read this book!

Notice that I put "wealth" last!   Because if there is one recurring theme that I find when speaking to Christian women, it's that they don't have peace and they don't know how to find it. 

Laying a foundation of Blessings for 2007

First of all, a very Happy and prosperous new year to all of my readers.  I pray sincerely that this is the year that not only will you find your purpose, but that you will live it to the max so that you get results in every area of your life.

Now, as much as I wanted to go in depth into this issue of Blessings and Cursings, Chris and I have decided to turn it into a teleseminar (telephone conference) which will be free for you to participate in and free for you to download.

When our self-assurance is from God, it will create fearlessness that can often resemble arrogance

Check out Paul the apostle.  I'm sure many thought he was arrogant and full of too much self confidence but Paul didn't need to glory in himself, God did it for him!

I go on to many of the Christian forums and see some people criticising faith teaching on the basis that they 'pounded' God with his Word and never got what they wanted to receive.