#JOANSTRUTH

Today as we begin yet another journey towards a closer walk with God, we are walking away from what we want for what we need, as we serve a God who takes us into the wilderness not to starve us but to strengthen us. He is the supplier of all our needs and He wants us to be able to command the adversary, with all confidence, to flee from us as Jesus did.  In Matthew 4, the adversary used temptations of different kinds such as: using your own human knowledge and power rather than waiting on God because what we see as success may not be what God ordained for us. He used promotion after denying God, even though the adversary knew that Jesus would sit at the right hand of God and he also wanted Jesus to test God.  So as you go through this Lent season, let it not be the same ol' same ol'.  It is not only abstaining from certain foods but also certain behaviours, thoughts and even people who keep us in a spiritually dry place. L eave E very N egative T hing behind as we gro...

For some it's their knowledge, their smile, being practical, etc. But Acts 6:4 says...  but we will give ourselves  continually to prayer,  and to the ministry of the word. We try to connect to something beyond our reach in the physical realm not realizing that there is something greater than that realm.  God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent and He wants us to connect to Him so that we have the power. He is our power source.  So how is your prayer life? When was the last time you prayed to God for His guidance? and I am not talking about your personal agenda and saying "in Jesus name" as a stamp of approval. We are not promoting slavery with God's stamp on it. God loves us unconditionally but don't believe one second that He is our slave! Sometimes the answer to our prayer will be 'No'.  We envy persons who seem to be in a situation that we were praying for ourselves but as I said, His answer can be 'No', so your succes...

I was heading to San Diego and the plane was caught in a little bit of turbulence. This was not the first time that I experienced turbulence but like every unique situation that is repeated or a book that is read more than once or even a movie that is watched a third time; there is always something that strikes you unexpectedly. It was always there but we never noticed it before. As the plane pierced through the turbulence for a few seconds, the pilot announced  "due to the turbulence,  we are going to go up a little bit higher  but we are advising all passengers to be seated at this time  and fasten your seat belts until the seat belt sign is turned off".  This struck me like a tonne of bricks because as humans we tend to run to and through the turbulence. We ostracize people avoiding conversations and situations but just like this pilot who spotted the trouble ahead, he decided to take us a little bit higher.  The person on the outsi...

What we can do is find time everyday to hit the reset button so that we can stand firmly and upright. We need to not allow our challenges to accumulate and become insurmountable. TAKE CONTROL for "Greater is He that is in me, than  he that is in the world" 1 John 4:4 This scripture was not a mistake, it was placed in plain sight for your mind to digest it. This means, if the world is great, you are greater! If your problems, challenges, arguments, betrayal, disappointments and worries are great, you are greater than them all! Remember "our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure" (Marianne Williamson). The truth is this is really the enemy's deepest fear, so he tries to distract us in order to prove that we are inadequate. Therefore, be empowered and know that God made you in His likeness. He creates and look at the various things that man has created so far! He gave us a choice to be inten...

Why talk about shame? ...because it affects everyone. Even me! It doesn't matter what social level or income level you are at. It doesn't matter what your gender is or even where you come from. What binds people together when talking about shame is that it is based on FEAR .  So, what's your fear? Is it the fear of: Success Failure Being Vulnerable Being exposed Losing people you love, fans, etc. Not being liked Not being right Being uncomfortable...... It is amazing hearing stories about why persons are so afraid of things that other persons see as minor, but the truth is, Wisdom comes from the lessons that we learn from various experiences. This comes with time and exposure; being willing to step out and being willing to leave your comfort zone. I had a big problem with that for a while and it almost paralyzed me because I was so afraid of failing or making a mistake. I did not like the feeling of being vulnerable so it would take me a while to at...

Normally after days, even months of working, we get drained. Our productivity slows down as our bodies tell us it is time to hibernate. However, society tells us that success requires commitment, consistency and never slowing down. We see hashtags everywhere on social media promoting constant work such as #teamnosleep #alwaysonthegrind and the list goes on. These phrases are normally interpreted by us to mean 'never rest or you will lose everything' but even animals have mastered how to operate in this world. After a day of work they all unwind. We too as God's people need to unwind through recreation and rest. Lack of sleep affects our health and our productivity so it is okay to rejuvenate. Do not let society determine who you should be because you are not of this world. I used to think that I was an energizer bunny and I kept going, and going, and going..., but it always led to weight loss, not remembering to eat and even #nosleep. "But what was the purpose of pus...

Today, you may not be feeling like your usual self. You may be down thinking there is no possible way to get back up again. As a result, we continue to feed our disappointments with constant feelings of doubt and hopelessness. Why do we do the things we do? We hope for the best BUT we expect the worst. We start off a task with a Plan A (the ultimate desire of our hearts) BUT, we still have a Plan B "just in case things do not work out". Are we not trusting God enough to order our steps? Are we failing to recognize the fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made? Jeremiah 29:11&12 states.. . " For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the   Lord , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you." As prosperity flows, happiness grows. As pain expands, FAITH demands, so leave everything in God's hands. I thought about som...

The Holy Spirit has a time when it reveals things about our friends, our enemies, family and even our dreams! How many times have we toiled in order to reap the harvest in our lives and in our future. We go beyond ourselves and we run before God, even when God says "Slow Down!". Did you know that God has your worries all figured out? Therefore it makes no sense to worry. You prepare and keep working until it is time to reap but do not try and speed up the process. The quality of our lives are so important yet many of us remember when it is too late. So STOP! SLOW DOWN! TAKE YOUR TIME! God wants to walk with you.  Oh house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah 2:5) At times, the waiting period for our blessings may get us weary, but it is at that moment when we are completely broken that we get our breakthrough. Continue working and walking with the Lord. We all have big dreams, continue to dream big and be not afraid of the endless possib...

It is amazing how we are quick to criticize each other when the other person steps out and does something positive with his/her life. We are quick to give advice and tell them everything that was done wrong.  Have you stopped to think they are still a step ahead and maybe they did something right? We don't want to commend them for their efforts, after all, we were not taught to make mistakes. We were taught to get all A's on our reports. REALITY CHECK: A's on a report does not equal a fulfilled life. Are you at your climax? Or are you at the lowest point of your life watching others succeed .  I DARE YOU TO REACH YOUR CLIMAX! DREAM AGAIN AND GO FOR IT!  Repeat the words of Les Brown :- "It is not over until I win!" #YOUCANDOIT #ReachUrClimax#JOANSTRUTH 

Be faithful with the little things in life and you will automatically open the doors to your biggest dreams. It is the #LawOfAttraction #JoansTruth

Do not live selfishly, believing that everyone one is catering to himself. Be powered by service or your living will be in vain. Inspire others. You were inspired by someone who lived before you. Teach others and your legacy will forever live on! Thank you forefathers! Someday, someone will also tell you #THANKS #LIVEALIFEOFPURPOSE #BEPOWEREDBYSERVICE #JOANSTRUTH

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF because NOBODY is going to believe in you until you accomplish your goals! STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR PROCRASTINATION AND DO IT NOW!!!!!! #DOITNOW #JOANSTRUTH

Do not allow bitterness, anger and ignorance to eat at your emotions. It makes you MORE BITTER, ANGRY AND IGNORANT . Talk about it and LET IT GO! #MoveForward #BeHappy #JoansTruth 

Do not make assumptions or draw conclusions on the behaviours and decisions made by the persons around you because these things DO NOT define who they are. They may shock you, whether negatively or positively! So keep your eyes in the mirror and not on other people. #BeBlessed #LiveYourLife #JoansTruth 

It is a challenge to look in the mirror and analyze how we treat people and how we treat ourselves because we know that w hatever we give, it will always come back to us in one way or another. It is a truth we know but always seem to do the wrong things expecting positive results. But it is true!  LOVE EQUALS LOVE!   Whether it is taking a day (or hour) off to prevent an overload or illness. Or it is a favour for a friend coming back to us in the form of a caring gesture from a co-worker when we needed it, or when we give someone money (especially when we are compelled to hang on to it) and it comes back as a gift from a relative, etc. We often argue about the things persons are not doing for us and we then choose to return that negative energy in the same way which eventually affects everyone around us, but stop! You can change your energy, ONLY if you want to. Let us choose to operate in love! God is love and we were made in His image. Sow love and you WILL reap love i...

We can all know the REAL wealthy persons in this world, the strong ones, the successful ones. They are the persons who do not spend time trying to impress or convince others that they are successful. They are always simple in their demeanor. No excessive jewellery, not a loud speaker (especially in crowds), you never know his or her next move. TIME is a successful person's most important asset and they ensure that they use it wisely. What are you doing with your time? Are you failing or succeeding in life?  #BeTheBoss #BeSuccessful #SayNothingAndDoIt #JoansTruth

Life and death lies in the power of the tongue but Success and failure is ruled by our thoughts! #BeTheBoss #JoansTruth