A few years ago I took a flight that was scheduled to land at a tiny airport during a winter storm - note to self, never land in winter in storms in tiny airports.Done. So the plane was trying to land and approached, seatbelts locked, trays up, seats in upright positions, etc. Then all of a sudden we shot up in the air again really quickly and the plane began...
Sometimes people like you and sometimes they don't. That doesn't and shouldn't matter. Your work is unto the Lord and must remain at the focal point of every battle you go through and everyone you encounter. Watch that Mood Swing: When you're feeling down because of what people said or did, cancel that devil's assignment and cheer up! Your outlook will determine your altitude and you can go further by not...
If you haven't seen National Geographic's new show, The Raft, you're really missing out on some great entertainment! It's like Survivor with no food and water! Each episode puts 2 people in a raft for a week to see if they can last. That lasts about 30-minutes because after the introductions, they realize, it's time to either A. turn on each other, B. throw up, or C. count the sharks...
Have you ever looked at a potato and said, "Yeah, I can work with that." You might see a baked potato, hash browns, French fries, mashed potatoes, or a paperweight. Whatever it is, it's because you looked at it and knew what you wanted and how to make it work for you. Life is the same way. See yourself back in school. See yourself healed and restored. See your family...
Give Dad a gift that will last long after the barbecue is over. Remind him how much you care. Inspire him with a Dad Mirror Plaque, or Determination Plaque. With God all things are possible! Gift ideas include: Men's ministry prayer cards and seed cards, gift baskets for dads and grandfathers, assorted gift baskets for your Father's Day church celebration, men's t-shirts and key chains. Shop for Gifts for Dad...
Not everyone who needs Jesus will walk right into church. Even when Jesus went into the church, He flipped tables over and was outraged. When Jesus sought out the masses and crowds, He was in the street preaching and witnessing. He spoke to everyone and He walked and witnessed. That's why it's important that we witness, too. When you need ministry tools, use God-Driven-Designs seed cards and prayer cards. They're...
I had a client this week who had a big order for a well known stock company. I gladly picked up the order because I knew the stock company well, had been on their site, bought/sold a few penny stocks, etc., - me, lil' ole me! I don't say it to brag because it's not about bragging. It's about thanking God for what He's equipped us with. NOTHING IS WASTED....
When you were a kid, you probably had an amazing imagination. You could see yourself as a superhero, probably had a towel draped over your neck as you stood on the sofa and jumped from one cushion to the next - that was big stuff when we were kids! You could get caught between the cushions and have your foot stuck forever! You also probably had a big imagination...
Don't let the devil make you think this is the end or you can't go on. Sometimes we reach the end of our rope, and that's okay. We should reach the end of us, so that God's strength can come in. We end up getting tired and exhausted because we're walking in our flesh, trying to to it our way. Just like Peter was fishing and couldn't catch anymore...
Never lose your faith, hope and dreams. Sometimes we get so frustrated that God won't send us a million dollars, when He's give us million dollar ideas we continue to overlook and do nothing about. The Word says 'Don't despise the day of small beginnings.' Recognize that sometimes God sends big dreams in disguise, in seed form. If you see the signs and seeds He provides, then you will know...
Do you remember the date or time you gave up? Maybe it was so gradual, you didn't notice, but somewhere along the line, if you felt like God didn't show up, if you felt like He wasn't there, you may have given up and lost a tiny bit of faith, or all of it. But, you must not lose faith and you must have hope. Like the virgins with oil,...
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs forth! We pray that God will bless you abundantly in 2015. May God fill you with His presence and surround you with angels. May your food basket never run empty. May you always have an abundance of provision and may you always have more than enough money to share. We pray that God will bless you above...
Resolve to trust God more in 2015 and let Him lead you. Remember, God knows the end from the beginning, so He's seen everything you've done your entire life already. That means if He tells you to walk out on water, you can. If He tells you to walk up to the water, He's already made a path to get you through and if He tells you to pour the...
While a lot of people are shopping for big ticket items, for some who are on a budget, you might find that you can get a lot of really great deals at little to no cost! -Start Small: Those .99-Cent and $1 stores do have some things that might surprise you. Some carry gift wrap, tape, batteries, headphones, children's toys, housewares like bath gels and loofahs, kitchen towels, bath mats,...
With the holidays quickly approaching, we've put together a few great gift ideas for everyone on your list and we're giving you FREE cards with every order. Our gifts include inspirational mirror plaques with engraved messages, gift bags with loofah / spa sponges, lotion and shower gel, and FREE cards with every order. Let's take a closer look at our top holiday picks: Shown is Our Butter Cup Inspirational Gift...
When you start thinking about new year's resolutions, remember, not everything has to be done at once. There are so many gyms packed in January and empty by February. If you want success that lasts, steady your pace and work for longevity and consistency. You might want to read the Bible in a year, but maybe you only have time for a few verses each night. That's a start, keep...
We're strong and we know it, but we sometimes forget to leave room for God and listen for Him. We're so caught up in our push to be on top of things, because we're so efficient, it's our self-reliance, our plans, and our checklists that sometimes cause us to side-step what God might want to do in our lives. We worry that He won't show up or make the way...
While we may not think about it, someone out there is in need. Yes, we see and hear reminders to donate all the time, but I learned a very valuable lesson this week, charity doesn't just begin at home, it sometimes comes from the home and can be very close to your heart. I had an old sofa I wanted to get rid of to make room for my new...
STAND FIRM ON THE WORD WITHOUT WAVERING AND SEE WHAT GOD DOES - AWESOME SIGNS AND WONDERS: It's like we're entering into a time when our faith in God has to be stronger because the enemy wants us to think God won't show up and work in our favor/on our behalf. Like a little child waiting outside of school for a parent to pick them up when a bully starts...
We see you, saying a little prayer before you go shopping, trying to make your dollars stretch on discounted items, but there are a few ways to get what you want this year and add savings to your card because this should be a fun and festive time to shop and with a few key pointers, the holidays don't have to put you in debt. There are a few simple...
Get out a piece of paper and write down the desires of your heart. Focus on spending time with God, praising Him, thanking Him for His many gifts and benefits that He provides, how He's blessed us and kept us and made the way, and write down what you need. Read your Bible daily and trust God to help you reach your goals and dreams, to check off everything that...
One of the greatest things about the seasons is that they change. If you are going through a bad place right now, know that you WILL get through. You WILL make it out. Have hope for the future and hang in there. God is with you. There was a story recently on MSN about someone who was diagnosed with a rare sickness. They KNEW they would get healed by God,...
God-Driven-Designs special through the holiday season has to do with giving cool gifts to mom. We've come up with our best gift ideas and we are including free cards with every order. Why? Mom's are cool, they rock, they're great people and sometimes mom does more than dad and this is a great way to say thank you to that special mom for doing so much. Remember giving a gift...
We always look for value when we shop online and finding a store we can trust is sometimes hard. Stores buy their merchandise at low prices but then jack up the rates when they resell to the consumer. Not at God-Driven-Designs. One thing that God-Driven-Designs does differently than the competition is they sell gifts, event materials and all supplies at discount prices. Why do they do this? And aren't they...
Don't faint when God calls you. When He calls you, IT'S TIME. A woman can be in labor 20-30 hours, tired, spent, sweaty, and exhausted, only to hear "It's not time yet." Remember this Beloved, if there's anything we've ever shared with you, sometimes, exhaustion comes when we're tired from our own efforts, doing things the old way, or the devil is trying to defeat us. But sometimes God will...
Let God's grace carry you, and keep your mouth shut or you might curse your blessing. Remember the Children of Israel? Of course you do. We hear about them at church maybe every week and their story is so relevant because they grumbled and complained and didn't make it to the Promised Land. Oops, did I just give the ending away? Guess you already knew that part, too. But here's...
Have you ever seen one of those spy movies where they give (we're changing the characters name to protect their identities), oh say for example, 006 or James Bund, a slip of paper and it reads what their assignment is and they're sent on their way, usually with the paper or suitcase exploding in the background as they dash off in a Porsche - nothing obvious there. Well, in our...
Sometimes we play with fire and it's only then that we learn we can get burned. It happens everyday. Movies come out about conjuring up the devil and kids go home and think they can do it. Then they've got some malevolent presence in their lives they can't control. Or you have these young girls whose mothers work so hard to support the family that all they've grown up with...
We cast in two ways. We can cast a wide net in things like looking for a new job, opening a business, and not limiting our options, but we also cast when we're praying and giving our requests to God, our fears, doubts, worries and concerns. Give and take everything to the Lord in prayer. Sometimes we lose trust in God, we lose faith and we forget that He's the...
Sometimes we're so independent and the second we feel the wind we're ready to take off and hoist the sails, but WAIT! Leave room for God to move on your behalf. Remember the scripture, 'Ye them that wait upon the Lord'? Just because you see a ton of opportunities coming doesn't mean God doesn't want to work on your behalf. Have you consulted Him? Maybe He wants to bless you...
Sometimes we go through the worst trials and the worst mess, but we don't realize until it's over that God was with us, orchestrating it all so we can be a blessing to others and help them get through. We have to see God's hand deliver us in order for us to tell someone and truly testify that they can make it out also. In undergrad I remember reading once...
If you don't know it you might not be studying the right thing. What's your favorite show? Game of Thrones? True Blood? Scandal? Revenge? We have so many streaming services now that we can spend all weekend watching a full season or two, which can be quite entertaining, but not so rewarding when we're faced with obstacles and trials. As the enemy throws fiery darts, we have a defense in...
I read Sheryl Sandberg's book, Lean In, and thought it was inspiring in that it promotes women helping women in business and being strong leaders in their communities. I also read Indra Nooyi's autobiography about how she became the CEO of PepsiCo. She had so many informative bits of knowledge that I was taking notes and highlighting pages, as she came from a very disciplined upbringing that we don't see...
Don't have doubt in your mind when God asks you to do something. You must obey God. Don't go by what it looks like, or how the enemy might be trying to set you up or benefit from you making a mistake, just make sure you obey God. Sometimes it will look like we're walking closer to the fire, but then God sends a ram in the bush, or...
Sometimes people don't mean to say negative things to you. Maybe they're venting, frustrated, or having a bad day. Maybe they're so used to putting others down or griping that it comes naturally and they need to be reminded there's a better way. I worked with a girl who vented everyday by yelling and screaming, slamming her fists down on the counter and getting hostile. And that was her way...
TD Jakes had an excellent message today about not complaining. We rely so much on our own understanding that we want to tell God how it should have been done. We want to correct, critique and complain but we don't realize that it's God's process. Despise not the day of small beginnings. What we have to remember is that as prophets of God we have to be more like...
RENEWAL: Lord, please send renewal and revival to my situation, my mind, my body, my prayer life, my joy, my finances, my job, my family, my studies, my hunger for you, my strength, Thank you Father God in all things...Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those...
There is a Siamese fighting fish called Plakat Thai or Betta, for short, that has to be trained to fight. The owner literally has to swirl his hand around the bowl so that the fish can be trained. The fish doesn't swim with the current though, he's taught to swim against it, thereby strengthening him. Owners are also taught not to over-train these fighting fish. If they swirl the...
Prove the doubters wrong. Keep trusting in God. Keep moving forward and keep taking steps forward. Even if you have to take baby steps, your steps are ordered by the Lord. There's a man in my development who runs maybe 10-20 miles a day. He's definitely a marathon runner, but here's the thing. His knees are very bad and slightly twisted from arthritis, so he runs at times, jogs at...
We have so many opinions about what God is doing in our lives, but when it comes to God, seek God out, then wait for Him. Be still, be quiet and wait for God. When you ask people, they will give you their perspective, which depending on who you ask, might not be a good idea, as in the case of Job. Sometimes, misery loves misery... I read the book...
Why do we have A.D.D. with God? We need to wait for God and that requires time and patience, but it's so important to wait for the Lord. Sometimes we think He won't show up, but God is so big and infinite, He'll show out! We look for God to come to us face to face, but sometimes we don't even know He was there until His glory has passed...
DON'T WORRY: Sometimes it looks like everyone is passing you by. They have new cars, new cell phones, and they're having all the fun, while you're studying, praying and going to church. But that's okay. You're supposed to study and pray. There's an old story about how the Japanese might work their entire lives for one deal that will pave the way for their children, so don't fret over that...
It's hard to make a checklist and keep it for an extended period of time. You almost have to make a second list to remind you about the first one, but keep it, you must. Sundays are easy to serve God and praise the Lord because we usually go to church and are filled and inspired, but the rest of the week we deal with the world: complainers, gripers, strange...
NO WEAPON: We all know the story of David and Goliath. Young kids hits giant with a sling shot and rock. Great. But have you stopped to consider what this has to do with you and your bills, your enemies, your hostile bosses and loud neighbors? David, as young and naive as he was, was also pure in heart. He relied on God to help him kill the lion and...
