Joyce and the Girls!

I love being with girlfriends. I’m still astounded by all the excitement of praising God with thousands of faith-filled believers at the Joyce Meyer Conference last weekend in Phoenix. Wow…all the great teaching…I’m laughing because I said that whatever the message topic would be, it would be handpicked for me. So what did God send me to hear? She spoke all weekend on Strife!

Just before I drove off, I read your comments to my last blog post and so appreciated your love and encouragement, my friends. Likewise, I would like to share my conference notes with you and hope you are blessed.

Notes from Joyce Meyer Conference Feb. 2011

Strife is an angry undercurrent while everyone thinks everything is just fine; it’s dangerous and it’s an evil spirit.

Choose upon awakening each day not to be touchy. Use God’s Word like a medicine and ask God for the grace to forgive and set myself free.

When I don’t get my way, have a good attitude. Say “I guess it’s good for me.” Don’t get mad at God. It is the enemy that is the source of the problem.

Peace does not just happen; we have to choose it.

Why do so many people choose anger and offense? Would they choose to receive a snake?

If the horse is dead, dismount.

I can get along with anybody; contention comes by pride.

Love gives up its right to be right.

Strife should be feared – it’s poison. There is power in agreement. Don’t give the enemy a foothold. It will turn into a stronghold.

Jealousy is caused by greed and strife.

God is always working even if my breakthrough seems long in coming. Keep serving Him!

Want the devil to leave you alone? Love! Increase in love!

Are you discontent? It’s because you’re not trusting God. Be content, even when you’re slandered. If I do what I can do, God will do what I can’t do.

What is so amazing about Joyce is that she demonstrates the Word as well as preaches it. My heart went out to her all weekend suffering with an abscess tooth and yet, she continued on. I woke up the morning of the last day with a migraine; it would have been so easy to stay under the blankets, but my girlfriends prayed and I went to the conference despite feeling fragile. There is such amazing power in God’s Word!

I hope you are as encouraged as I am. The Lord did amazing things not only on the stage, but in our hotel room, in the lines we stood in and our seats. It was the place to be to pray, fellowship and make new friends!

The Venomous Intruder

It’s the middle of rattlesnake season here on the ranch. The local news anchor confirmed it. I’ve seen two already. While driving along our dirt road yesterday, I mistook a virulent enemy for a branch. I backed up the car, looked again and noticed the branch shifted revealing a rattle at its end. At one of our road association meetings in the barn, Shelby stood up and shouted, “ BOB !” to my next door neighbor. He’s our vice president and the one all eyes were on as he gave a presentation in the middle of the room. I sensed fear in the way she yelled his name. I learned after the meeting that Shelby called out to him like that because she saw a rattler slither in the barn door where she and I sat. Bob yielded to the interruption and quietly dispatched the enemy. Ten minutes later, this tough guy was back to center stage falling right back in step with the business at hand. Bob is my new best friend. ...

Let's Live Together

I took a Ziploc bag of frozen pork chops out of the freezer and set them in the refrigerator to thaw. I decided to make one of my favorite crock pot recipes with them. I threatened the husband with a black eye if he ate the last of the sour cream because I needed it for that simple recipe. The next day, I carried my crock pot to my island in the kitchen and mixed the sour cream with an envelope of onion soup mix and decided to rinse the defrosted meat at the sink before adding to my recipe. Then I noticed something. They weren’t pork chops. To my surprise, I witnessed defrosted chicken thighs. Very big chicken thighs; it must have been a hippy chicken. The freezer bag’s label read Dec. ’15 in the husband’s writing. I assumed it contained pork chops. I was wrong. Write it like a man. Thinking like a man would think, he probably guessed that any fool could see these are chicken thighs when he placed them in a clear gal...

Marriage Tip #44: Do What He Wants

I thought about our upcoming anniversary. I prayed one morning for the marriages in my family, and a sentence about my own dropped in my spirit: “ Do What He Wants .” I paused, “Really?” He’s his own man. What if I end up in the wilderness camping by night and target shooting by day? What if a coyote decides to have me as a late night snack? We celebrated our anniversary early this year, Before the kids come next week. And we did it his way . This is how it happened. I never asked him about a plan or even mentioned our day. I remember how it all unfolded at the roundabout just as we drove into Sedona. He asked me if I would like to go to a baseball game. I responded excitedly, “Yeah!” Before the day was over, he purchased tickets for a Diamondbacks home game. He printed them out. He booked a hotel room so we wouldn’t have to drive home from the city after the late evening game. ...

SharonMarch 1, 2011 at 2:54 PM
Mary, sounds like you had a fabulous time! Wow, loved your notes - I think the one that spoke most to my heart was this - "Peace does not just happen; we have to choose it."

Yes, that really made me stop and think. I want peace - but I want it to come without working at it. Choosing peace is intentionally letting go of the things we can't control, and letting God take over. Trusting Him with the process and the outcome. I struggle with that. But this was a good reminder to make peace something that I work at - something that I attune my will toward, in spite of circumstances.

GOD BLESS!
Joyful in His PresenceMarch 1, 2011 at 3:44 PM
I was hoping you'd share some notes from that fabulous conference, girlfriend!

Isn't Joyce just such a blessing? I've read a number of her books and always been blessed each time.

Welcome back...glad you had a safe trip!
Mevely317March 1, 2011 at 6:08 PM
There's so much truth here ... I need to print this, to pause and reflect.
Thank you for sharing these notes; I'm soooo glad you had a good time, in spite of the migrane.
lioneagleMarch 2, 2011 at 8:44 AM
Hi Saleslady371 -

Glad you had fun and got filled with the Words of our Lord with signs following!

Joyce Meyer has a practical potent way of reaching people. It is a pleasure to hear her describe her experiences with GOD in the mix.
LorenMarch 2, 2011 at 10:12 PM
I can't even tell you the times I have gone to Joyce and leave just in AWE of God, in Awe of HIS Word and so thankful for Joyce's obedience and anointing!

thank you for sharing these notes ~ I will definitely be printing these off and digging in!

So thankful for all did in and for you Mary! I know when I have gone in the past the Lord did amazing things in the hotel and in line! It is just soo awesome to experience isn't it :)

Love you
Kathleen March 3, 2011 at 7:33 AM
Such practical wisdom! Even so, it's also the timeless & powerful truth that always invades God's wisdom. I'm so glad you got a heavy dose of it, and some laughter to boot. Conferences of this sort always leave me feeling like I've just had a thirst quenching drink from a fire hose :)

Blessings,
Kathleen
DeborahMarch 3, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Sounds like you were meant to be there!
Thanks for giving us a piece of the conference...great thoughts and truths!
So great you got to get away with the girls and be with Him!

Deborah xo
Deborah AnnMarch 3, 2011 at 8:22 PM
That sounds utterly awesome! I have never seen Joyce before. I went to a Healing rooms conference once, and was attacked all weekend with headaches, stomach aches...you name it. That's when you know the enemy is shook up, I guess.
Susan Marlene March 8, 2011 at 5:49 AM
I love Joyce M's teahings!! Yes where there is hate sow love. Love is more powerful and we need to be so strong to avoid strife! Thank you for this post!

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