“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit”.  ~Romans 8:1

For many years, I struggled with the fear of disappointing others and the possibility of losing relationships.  What’s funny is that I had no idea that this issue was so powerful in my life until I found myself at the ER, having an extreme anxiety attack.

Because of this experience and years of battling to overcome this issue in my life, my heart’s desire is to see people set free of “people pleasing addiction”.  So ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I in constant fear of what others think about me or my decisions?
2. Do I make decisions based upon what I believe God calls me to?  Or do I make decisions based upon what others expect of me?
3. Am I willing to change?

There are two major influences in people’s lives which cause them to become “people pleasers”.  One is Fear.  The other is Insecurity.

Fear has many facets…..fear of other’s being angry because of your decision; fear of disappointing others; fear of rejection; fear of loss; fear of failure.

Insecurity is based in fear but presents itself when our sense of security and self-worth is based upon what others think of us, our social status, our job/career, and even our marriage.

We have to make a conscious choice to overcome “people pleasing addiction”.  I believe God creates EVERY person with a special purpose and plan.  We are created with value – a free gift from God.  It is not determined by people.

To overcome in this area of our lives, we must:

•  
  • Decide to CHANGE our way of thinking
  • Have POSITIVE self-talk (Speak outloud – positive things about ourselves)
  • Choose to LEARN from the past, but REFUSE to allow the past to determine the future (Let go of the guilt and/or unforgiveness)
  • FACE your fears – Joyce Meyer writes, “We are held in bondage by what we refuse to face and deal with.”
  • Strive for BALANCE

YOU CAN DO IT!

Let today be the day you decide to move into your destiny by focusing more on pleasing God and less on pleasing others!

Three books I highly recommend:

“Approval Addiction” by Joyce Meyer, “Breaking Intimidation” by John Bevere, and “Failing Forward” by John Maxwell.

   “The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice.” ~John 10:3-4

Over the years, there have been times when I honestly believe I heard to voice of the Lord telling me to do or not to do something.  For some, this may seem difficult to believe that the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords would speak to an individual.  However, I believe that it’s scriptural and that God desires to speak to each one of His children.

Maybe you’ve never experienced this type of relationship with God.  Or maybe you’ve had a close relationship with God in the past but have drifted away because of hurts, doubts, or disappointments.

God wants to be your closest, most trusted Friend.  He wants you to talk to Him; and yes, He wants to talk to you, as well.  How?  It’s simple:

First, return to Him.  Isaiah 30:15, 19 says, “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.  Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me….Cry for help and you’ll find it’s grace and more grace.  The moment He hears, He’ll answer.”   

Second, let go of distractions.  I find this the most difficult in my own life.  I often say “yes” to too many things, then find myself frustrated with life. 

Take an honest look at your life….

Let go of what is not God’s will for you.  Don’t settle for what’s “good” when you can have God’s best!

Third, spend time with Him.  As John 10:3-4 says, the sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice.  We can only become familiar with the voice of God when we spend time listening.

Many times, we come to God with our list of wants and desires.  But when we come to Him with “listening ears”, He will share HIS wants and desires for our lives. 

When we submit to His will and obey, His anointing and blessings will flow in our lives.

We must “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6).  It’s time for God’s people to seek Him and desire Him above all things.  It’s time for each one of us to walk in honesty and integrity.  And, yes, it’s time for us to put aside our selfishness and move into what He has for our lives.

I encourage you today, learn what His voice sounds like.  Once you know His voice, you can safely move from the “good” to His “best”!

“Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over….”

We are still in need of 60 blankets and non-perishable foods for Thanksgiving Baskets.  If you can help, please contact our office at 863-294-1130.

If you would like to give a monitary donation, please go to our Mission page and issue a donation via PayPal OR mail a check payable to BWM to PO Box 2232, Winter Haven, FL  33883-2232.

All donations are tax deductible.

Blessings to you and your family!

    WE NEED YOUR HELP!

On NOVEMBER 21st, we will be holding an Outreach to the Homeless Community in our area.  We will be giving away bagged lunches, drinks, blankets, and Bibles.

On NOVEMBER 25th, we will be going into a local community and giving away Thanksgiving Baskets to families in need.

Please pray about giving a donation to help us accomplish these outreaches.

All donations are tax deductible.

To make a donation, go to the “Mission Page” and scroll down to PayPay or mail a check or money order to BWM, PO Box 2232, Winter Haven, FL  33883.

Thank you, in advance, for “planting seed in fertile ground”.

Many Blessings!

    “You were once darkness, but now you are the light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”  ~Ephesians 5:8-10

Have you ever sat on the beach and watched the sunrise?  Reflect back for a moment…..Do you remember the peace you felt?  The excitement?  The awe?  The amazement?  Watching something so beautiful take place, as darkness fades and light enters, is an experience you never forget.

If you’ve ever watched a sunrise, you understand the awesomeness of it’s beauty!  Darkness turns to light in seconds when the Hand of the Father “reaches down and lifts the sun” over the horizon.

Our walk with Christ is much the same.  Before Christ enters our hearts, we are filled with darkness.  But in that moment when we invite Him in, His glorious light begins to shine.   He wants us to have more, be more, and do more than we’ve ever had, been, or done before.  He wants us to begin to “walk in the light”.  I’ve heard it said that we should “live in a glass house”.  Think about that….living in a glass house means complete transparency in our daily walk.

I’ve often said, “If you’re afraid someone’s going to find our what you’re doing, it’s being done in darkness not light”.  Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Do I tell the truth – even when I’m in difficult situations – or do I lie?
• Do I operate in integrity in all of my personal and business dealings or does the “end” jusify the “means”?
• Do I embellish my “story” to make me look better than someone else?
• Am I motivated by selfishness and greed?  Or do I put the needs of others before my own?
• Do I think I’m better than, smarter than, or more anointed than someone else?  Or am I willing to recognize that God created every person with giftings and talents?
• What do I do when no one’s looking?  Would I be embarrassed for somone find out?
• What or who do I worship?  Money?  My spouse?  TV?  My job/carrer?    My accomplishments?

These are all tough questions but ones that we all need to be honest with ourselves and God about.  You see, God expects us to walk in the light.  He expects us to put HIM and HIS WILL for our lives before anything and anyone else.  It’s not OK to live our lives anyway we want and rely on His mercy to forgive our lack of self-control.

Does God forgive?  Yes! 

However, I believe that He desires for His children to walk in truth.  The Word says,  “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.  That TRUTH is the LIGHT of God and His Word.

I encourage you today…..Take time every day to “self-evaluate”.  Allow God to make the changes that need to be made in your life.  Afterall, it’s HIS NAME that gets tarnished when we don’t “walk in the light”.

Donations: 

We are praying for 50 people who will commit to give $10 per month for one year to Step By Step. 

This money will be used to help us complete a HUGE OUTREACH PROJECT that we’re working on.  All donations are tax deductible.  To make a donation, go to the “Mission and Ministry” tab and scroll down.

Featured Author

In her book, “Elephants and Angels”, Marcia Miles Ramsey writes:

“Elephants and Angels” describes the emotional spectrum of our time together.    It symbolizes the mix of earth and Heaven we experienced during Dana’s seven and a half years; times when all was well and our spirits soared with laughter; times when death came near, pressing us into the depths of grief.  It represents the mystery of Dana; the things I knew; the things I missed.  As you read her story, I pray you will feel God’s love even though the way was dark, frightening and often isolated.  To those who are living where we onced lived, I wish I could tell you this book will answer your heart’s cry, “Why God?”, but it will not.  The road you are on is not an easy road.  It has not been; it will not be.  What I can promise is, “Jesus walks beside you to brighten the journey…to lighten every load that you bear.“

Experience this family’s journey through the difficulties, blessings, heartaches, and triumphs of having been trusted with a child who was born with “challenges”.

Your life will never be the same again!

To order this book or connect with other parents of children who’ve been born with special challenges, visit:  http://www.marciaramsey.com.

Blessings,

Brigette

Click the link to make a donation to Step by Step Ministries http://www.brigettewagner.com, “Mission and Ministry Tab”.  All donations are tax deductible.

     “REACHING OUT TO THOSE IN NEED…”

“Step by Step Ministries” is raising funds to help the homeless and less fortunate in our area.  We will be having a HUGE GARAGE SALE on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH. 

If you live in our area and have items that you would like to donate, please call us at 863-294-1130.  If you would like to donate monitarily, please mail your payment to Step by Step Ministries, PO Box 2322, Winter Haven, FL  33883-2322.

All donations are tax deductible.

*Photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

    What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when asked this question:  “What is it that you REALLY desire?”  Fame?  Fortune?  Material possessions?  Ministry opportunities?  Relationships?   

It’s ok to want better things or a better situation.  However, our heart’s should long for God and His presence above all other things.  He loves us more than we can even begin to comprehend.  When we accept His love and long for His presence, He is always faithful to never let us down.

Have you ever been so thirsty that all you could think of was getting a huge cup of ice-cold water.  Nothing else would satify your thirst…..not soda, not tea, not sport drinks…..only water.  That’s how God wants us to be for Him – so thirsty for His presence that nothing and no one else can satify.

“As the Deer panteth for the water so my soul longeth after thee.  You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee.

I want You more than gold or silver, only You can satisfy.  You alone are the real joy giver and the apple of my eye.

You’re my friend and You are my brother, even though You are a King.  I love You more than any other, so much more than anything.

YOU ALONE ARE MY STRENGTH MY SHIELD; TO YOU ALONE MAY MY SPIRIT YIELD.  YOU ALONE ARE MY HEART’S DESIRE AND I LONG TO WORSHIP THEE.”

Worship Song Written by Martin Nystrom

I want to encourage you today….If your “thirst” is for anything other than God and His Will for your life, ask Him to forgive you.  Then, begin turning your focus on HIS Will, HIS desires, and HIS voice.  In doing so, you will experience His presence like never before!

~Photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

   “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”   ~Eph. 2:10

A few weeks ago, I felt impressed to read again “The Prayer of Jabez”.  I’ve read this book several times over the past few years, but decided to go ahead and read it again.  After reading about 1/3 of the book,  felt impressed to start over and re-read all that I had read to that point.  I don’t think I’ve ever done that before, but I believed God was trying to get my attention for something, so I obeyed.

To my absolute amazement, I realized that I had totally missed several key elements of the book!  I couldn’t believe I had read this book so many times and yet missed so much.  But the “nuggets” I’ve discovered have “set me on fire”.  I want to share some of those with you over the next few weeks.

In Chapter One of “The Prayer of Jabez”, Bruce Wilkinson tells about a dinner he had with his family.  Everyone was seated around the table, enjoying their meal.  His son, however, seamed exceptionally quiet.  Suddenly, David (his son), said “Dad, I want to ask you a question.  Will you bless me?”

Bruce Wilkinson assured his son that he continually blesses him, but his son wanted more.  Mr. Wilkinson writes:

 “”David, you know I do bless you, ” I said.  “No, Dad.  I want you to really bless me.”  Then he stood up, walked to the armchair where I was seated, and knelt in front of me.  Then he waited, head bowed, without even looking up”…..I felt a tremendous desire to bestow on him every possible good thing!”"

Do you get that?  Here was the son desiring more than anything his father’s blessing.  Oh my goodness, if we can just grasp that concept.  If we can simply learn to humbly kneal at our Father’s feet with a true desire for HIS WILL in our lives, HIS FAVOR to guide our steps, and HIS MERCY to carry us through, our lives will be forever changed!

God’s favor is the most important favor you’ll ever receive.  The acceptance and complete satisfaction that comes with His favor cannot be compared to that of anyone else in our lives – not our friends, not our spouses, not our children, nor any other source or relationship we have.

Friend, be encouraged today…..Your self-worth doesn’t come from another person;  your destiny isn’t determined by your relationship with certain people; and your level of blessing isn’t based upon what someone else thinks or says about you.  Your Heavenly Father is your source of blessing, acceptance, victory, and abundance!  Look to Him to be your supplier!

  “A woman’s family is held together by her wisdom, but it can be destroyed by her foolishness.” ~Proverbs 14:1 (Contemporary English Version)

I was at the public library yesterday when I heard several loud “slaps” followed by a child’s uncontrollable wailing.  I waited a few moments to see if it would stop, but it continued.  So, I went into the restroom to see what was happening.  When I entered the restroom, a mother and daughter were standing in one of the small cubicles together.  The child’s pants were down around her feet, while the mother stood over her degrading her because she had wet her pants.

I “busied myself” – so as not to be SO obvious – while I “monitored” the situation.  The mother kept on and on towering over the little girl and telling her how horrible she was for wetting her pants at 7 years old, insinuating that the child had intentionally messed up her clothes.  I tried to “lighten” the situation by making a remark that “accidents happen”, but the mother’s eyes were fixed upon this child.  She simply continued glaring down at this little girl, while continuing her ugly remarks.

As a mother of two girls (now 13 and 10), I’ve made many mistakes and am certain that I’ll make more in the future.  But as I watched this situation take place yesterday and saw the look in that little girl’s eyes, I was reminded of a time when God spoke very clearly to me about allowing my children the privilege of making mistakes.

You see, you and I make mistakes everyday.  When we do, we want God’s grace to cover those mistakes and hope that the people around us will also extend grace to us when we fall short. 

In that same manner, we MUST extend grace to our children when they make mistakes.  We MUST let them know that making mistakes is simply part of life and that they don’t have to be “crippled” by those mistakes.

As mothers, it is our responsibility to turn our houses into homes.  We are the ones who “set the atmosphere” in our homes. 

So let me ask you a few questions:

• Do you allow your children “room for error”?
• What is your response when your child makes a mistake or a wrong choice?
• Do you encourage your children to reach THEIR destiny in Christ?
• Do you speak positive or negative words over your children?
• Do you respond to your children’s mistakes the way you want others to respond to yours?

Let me encourage you today….You CAN be the kind of mother who helps your child reach his/her destiny in Christ.  You CAN be the one they trust to call when a party goes the wrong direction or friends engage in things they shouldn’t.  You CAN be the one they talk to when difficult situations arise.  But it won’t happen if you don’t set that atmosphere.

Maybe you need to step back and look at things a little differently.  If you do, then do it.  You’ll be glad you did.  And in so doing, you’ll build a home where your heart of love shines brightly into the lives of those you love most!

*photo above taken from www.freefoto.com