God is almost always speaking to us. If we aren’t hearing His voice it’s usually either because we haven’t obeyed His last instruction and He’s waiting patiently for us to get in line with His prophetic prompting or because we haven’t done the four things I discussed in the first article of this series.

If you’ve positioned your heart to hear from God and you still aren’t hearing—and you are walking in obedience—it’s possible that you just don’t recognize His mode of communication. There are many, many ways God communicates with His people. In Part 1 of this series, we’ll look at five common ways God speaks. (Be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you can get Part 2 in your email inbox.)

1. The Holy Spirit speaks through supernatural wisdom.

In Ephesians Paul prayed that the Father of glory would give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus (see Eph. 1:17). Jesus is our wisdom (see 1 Cor. 1:24, 30). I believe sometimes God speaks prophetic wisdom to our hearts, but we reason ourselves out of it. We block the supernatural wisdom of God by letting our mind rule over our heart. That’s why I take a hint from Solomon and pray for wisdom.

I believe that if we pray more for spiritual wisdom—even if it means praying less for natural needs—we’ll receive more wisdom and our natural needs will be more than met. I also believe that as we pray in faith for wisdom, we’ll have the faith to receive it however it comes, whether through a flash of inspiration; a still, small voice; a dream or vision; or some other mode of heavenly communication.

2. The Holy Spirit speaks to dreams by night and visions by day.

Dreams and visions weren’t just an Old Testament phenomenon. We know that Peter fell into a trance (see Acts 10:10). Paul had supernatural encounters—whether in the body or out of the body, he did not know (see 2 Cor. 12:13). And John wrote the entire book of Revelation based on a supernatural vision. God is still speaking through dreams and visions today. I am a dreamer myself and have had a number of visions that I discuss in my YouTube series on the topic.

Of course, we can’t assume every dream we get is a godly dream. The enemy can invade your dream life with troubling dreams or even full-blown nightmares. Our subconscious mind processes life events while we are asleep and can offer some vivid scenarios. There are also what I call “pizza dreams.” If you eat a heavy meal or something spicy before bedtime, it can give you some pretty strange dreams. (I speak from experience!)

How do you know if a dream is from God? Briefly stated, there are three general guidelines: (1) It won’t contradict the Word; (2) God will give you an immediate interpretation; (3) You just can’t shake it. It stays with you to the point that you are compelled to pray it out, seek God for an interpretation or submit it to elders for review.

3. The Holy Spirit speaks through practical surroundings.

Although you have to be careful not to tie a prophetic implication to anything and everything, God can and does speak to us through nature, through practical situations and through our every day surroundings. I always point to Proverbs 24:30-34 as an example:

“I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles covered its surface, and the stone wall was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it; I looked on it and received instruction: Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, so your poverty will come like a stalker, and your need as an armed man.”

God spoke to Solomon through this practical experience. It wasn’t a still, small voice or a supernatural encounter. He was just passing by the field of a lazy man and he prophetically received a powerful bit if wisdom from God. If you keep a listening ear, you’ll discover that God will speak to you through and about many things just as you go about your everyday life.

4. The Holy Spirit speaks through peace.

The Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us into all truth (see John 16:13). One of the ways He leads us into that truth—or prophetically speaks to our heart about a decision we have to make—is through peace. Your soul may still be wrestling with a situation, but you’ll have peace in your spirit. This takes some maturity to discern, but as you continue walking with Him you’ll recognize His peace.

The Amplified translation of Col. 3:15 says, “Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] … .”

Also, when we are facing a difficult situation or need to make an important decision, we can put Philippians 4:6-7 into play and receive peace of mind that positions our hearts to receive His wisdom: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will protect your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (MEV).

5. The Holy Spirit speaks through the Bible.

And this might be the best place for you to start. God is always speaking through His Word. Apply what you read to your life and you’ll position yourself for additional truth and wisdom—no matter how God communicates it to you. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Amen.

I produced a YouTube video series on how to hear God’s voice in times of crisis that you can watch if you want to go in-depth on this topic, and I’d recommend checking out my new prophetic devotional, Mornings With the Holy Spirit: Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God, if you want practical examples of how God speaks in the every day life of a believer.

Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale and author of several books, including Satan’s Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft, and The Spiritual Warrior’s Guide to Defeating Jezebel. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

Every year we set our hearts on a new beginning of some sort—but 2015 is different than 2014, 2013, 2012 and the years before. That’s because 2015, as the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, is the year of new beginnings.

The most significant new beginning of my life happened in a jail cell about 15 years ago. I was falsely accused of a crime I didn’t commit. After losing my husband the year before, I lost just about everything else I had during the 40 days it took to see my vindication. I lost my apartment, my job, my savings, my dog—it sort of sounds like one of those sad country songs. (You can read my entire testimony here.) But I gained Christ and I consider everything else worthless compared with the value of knowing Him (Phil. 3:8).

Nothing can top my salvation experience, but I do believe 2015 will prove to be a year of new beginnings—notice the Holy Spirit told me beginnings (plural) and not beginning (singular). In 2014, many in the body of Christ sensed they were being prepared for something—something they couldn’t articulate. Many felt like they were being stretched beyond their natural limits. Many thought felt they were pregnant with something big and felt the pain and frustration of being past due.

A Year of Birthings

I believe 2015 is a year of new beginnings and that means birthings. Last fall, Ken Malone had a prophetic vision that shook him and the Lord impressed upon him that we are in a season of giving birth.

“I saw and heard the radical remnant of the Lord pregnant with the dreams and visions of the Lord. They were pregnant with the purposes of God in the earth. Many are pregnant with awakening revival for their nation, cities and families. Others are pregnant with a harvest of souls. Still others are pregnant with signs, wonders and miracles. Then there are those who are pregnant with His presence, intercession and gifts of the Holy Spirit,” Malone writes.

“The radical remnant I saw and am seeing is beyond full term. Something is keeping them from delivering God’s purpose. The remnant is not able to deliver. Groaning and travail as with a woman in pain of childbirth is on the remnant. But no one can deliver. Suddenly, I began to see why we could not deliver. The accuser of the brethren was standing there making accusation against the remnant. Dreams and visions from the Lord are being held hostage in the womb of the sons and daughters of the Lord by this accuser.”

Preparing for New Beginnings

You can read the rest of his vision, which will encourage your heart, but I would encourage you to get ready for the birthing that will bring the new beginning. 2015 is a year of new beginnings. That means some of you are going to birth some things. That means you may be a little uncomfortable in 2015. It means you will face some transition. It means you may enter into travail. It means you will face the accuser of the brethren and engage in spiritual warfare at new levels. But you will win! It will be worth it!

What is your part to play in this birthing unto new beginnings? Let me get real practical with you and offer four keys to equip you for this season.

1. Give your will over to the Lord. 

What you are birthing may seem scary to you or it may seem insignificant to you. It may seem overwhelming to you. We can take a lesson from Mary. It’s time to face your fears—fear of the unknown, fear of failing, fear of rejection, fear of transition. When the angel came to Mary and told her she would birth the Son of God, she ultimately responded: “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

2. Be willing to adjust your schedule.

When you are expecting a baby, you are preparing for its birth. Women, we change the way we eat, the way we sleep, how we spend our time. As we prepare to enter a year of new beginnings and birthings, we must be willing to adjust our schedules and  to spend more time in the Word, in worship and in prayer. That may mean giving up other things. “Therefore, since we are encompassed with such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1, emphasis added).

3. Be willing to shift your direction.

I’ve had a number of baby dreams over the years. In one of my baby dreams I was nine months pregnant but the baby had stopped moving. The baby wasn’t kicking or rolling or showing any sign of life. I thought the baby was dead and I panicked. Then, suddenly, I had the unction to shift the baby’s position with gentle pressure from my hand. (I later researched this and discovered there’s a name for it: the Diaphragmatic Release.) When I did, I could feel the baby kicking again. I knew all was well.

Sometimes things look dead but you just have to reposition yourself for life. It doesn’t always take much. Just one gentle movement in the right direction can cause God to breathe on that thing again so you can birth it and begin nurturing what God has given you to steward. But you need to hear from the Lord about which way to shift. Remain close to the Holy Spirit, and “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left” (Is. 30:21).

If God has given you something to birth, it may be time to pull an Ezekiel and speak to those dry bones. It may be time to pull an Elijah and raise it from the dead. It may be time to walk away from the Ishmael. Refuse to abort and just reposition yourself to receive what God intended all along. You could just be in the wrong place or in the wrong time or with the wrong people. Listen to the Lord.

4. Embrace the transition.

Transitions are difficult. This is the place where people tend to grow weary and faint. The moments right before you give birth to that new thing—before you enter that new beginning—are the hardest of all. I’ll write a follow up  article in the coming weeks on transitions that will equip you as we move into this year of new beginnings. Amen.

Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale and author of several books, including Satan’s Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft, and The Spiritual Warrior’s Guide to Defeating Jezebel. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

I have started and stopped and deleted posts about a million times in the past few weeks. I meant to write about our Christmas and how I spent my month off of work, about Steve and his journey, about my shiny, new in-development grandbaby (eek!) … so many things.  But words felt slippery and pale.

Any attempt to rope them together and form complete, cogent sentences was—and I do not overstate this—absolutely dismal. Not just in terms of the writing (though the writing was bad, bad, bad), but also in terms of how I felt as I trudged through the tunnel of emotions and angst that seems to lead from where I am right now to anywhere I want to go.

Want to remember something good from the past? Gotta go through the tunnel. Attempting to dream about the future? Tunnel. Figuring out how to manage life in the here-and-now? Well, I think that part actually is the tunnel.

I’m not apologizing for not writing and I know nobody is wringing their hands, wondering what in the world is happening in my life. But I sometimes wish I was able to record this season more consistently. Not for you, but for me. For my family. For a day when it won’t be as painful to look at. But the fact remains, I didn’t. Not in journals. Not on napkins. Not on this blog. There was virtually no writing in December.

Quick recap: Christmas was good. My time off has been … hard. New Year’s was … especially hard. I’ve always loved the newness of New Year’s. I love setting goals and dreaming dreams and making new, fresh systems which I probably won’t sustain, but it’s fun to create them. I’m a dreamer/planner by nature and I love fresh starts. Mondays and New Year’s were made for girls like me.

But this year it was sort of awful because this year, it’s just been really hard to dream. Reasons abound. You can probably figure them out even better than I can, but I’ve felt very stuck in a land with no dreaming.  

Right now, my family feels wedged in a narrow passageway between earth and heaven, unable to move forward or go back. People—countless people—encourage me to absorb every moment, to savor this time and I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m telling you, it’s harder than it seems. It’s like labor.

You know it’s leading to something so beautiful—fresh, new life—and you even know somewhere in your pain-addled mind that the process itself is beautiful, but had someone told me to relish every moment of those contractions I would have punched them in the eye. Watching my beloved suffer as he is right now is … um, wow, I have no words.

Watching his body betray him as he desperately tries to hold onto the things that make him real and alive and Steve is more painful than I have ever imagined anything could be. That’s not to minimize the grace that God has given us to endure this—it’s there and I can feel it—but I would be lying if I told you there were no moments when I feared the grace would run out before the day was done.

Many days, I fear it will run out before the day has begun. Every night, we are exhausted and thankful that we made it through another day. Every morning, I beg for strength for the hours ahead. No drama here, I promise, just real talk from our real life.

All that to say: I felt fairly stumped as I attempted to establish some New Year’s goals or resolutions. I read several blog posts from people I respect, some convincing me I should achieve more in 2015, and others telling me to do less and be more.

Some inspired new fitness goals. Some laughed calorie and carb-counting off the to-do list. None of them were wrong, but none of them were me. What did happen in reading other people’s resolutions, though, is a determination inside of me to flat-out refuse to live a life with no dreams. Without vision, we die. We fall asleep with our eyes wide open.

So, I guess my first resolution of 2015 is simply the decision to dream again. To look through the tunnel and into the future, understanding it is murky and muddled, but it is still mine and I am still alive and life is for living. I’ve opened the door to vision that seems small (watching all of Friday Night Lights with Steve) and vision that seems big and impossible (spending some extended writing time in Italy).  

I’m dreaming through prayer and my Pinterest boards. I’m dreaming with trusted friends who hold my heart and secrets safe. And I’m dreaming with Steve, who knows me better than anyone and understands my need to toss some lifelines out beyond our stormy seas and onto the unnamed, unknown shoreline. He more than anyone is able to help me weed out the flimsy, flighty stuff that sparkles on the surface but produces little and get through to the meaty and meaningful stuff that he knows will produce something eternal and deeply satisfying. I am soaking in his wisdom and so thankful that I have it while I look out into the great unknown.

That’s my update. It’s not pretty, but it’s real.

Bo Stern is a sought-after speaker and writer, and a teaching pastor at Westside Church in Bend, Oregon. She is passionately involved in raising awareness and funding for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) research, with which her husband was diagnosed in 2011. For more info and to follow her story, visit .

I started hearing God speak to me as soon as I got saved—and I needed to. It would be an understatement to describe my situation as desperate.

See, I got saved in a county jail. I was falsely accused of a crime I did not commit and the state wanted to send me to prison for five years. (You can read my entire testimony here.) God had a different idea and sent a group of evangelists to the jail to offer testimonies of Jesus’ saving grace.

I was sold on the gospel—and sold out to Jesus—but I was still facing five years in prison on a false charge. I didn’t know what to do, so I just started reading the paperback Bible they gave me after the jailhouse crusade, praying and attending any sort of quasi-church service I could find behind those cold hard walls.

Then He spoke to me. God made it clear that I would be released from that jail on the 40^th day. I told everyone who would listen that I would be released on the 40^th day. I told my “bunkie.” I told the correctional officers. I told my mother.

I didn’t know it, but I was warring with the prophetic word—and I won. I was released on the 40^th day, completely vindicated. It was just as God said it would be. I write more about my testimony—and share daily prophetic words that Lord used to inspire, comfort and counsel me—in my new devotional Mornings With the Holy Spirit. But in this three-part series I want to share with you some fundamentals of hearing from God.

1. Believe That God Wants to Speak to You

If you don’t believe God wants to speak to you, it’s likely that you won’t hear His still, small voice. The key here is that you expect Him to speak. David said, “O Lord, in the morning You will hear my voice; in the morning I will direct my prayer to You, and I will watch expectantly” (Ps. 5:3). The Holy Spirit lives inside you and may be speaking to you more than you realize. Jesus said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you” (John 14:26).

2. Position Your Heart to Hear His Still, Small Voice

Jesus Himself said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Our part is to position our hearts to hear His still, small voice, or to recognize the other ways in which He communicates with us. (God can speak to us in many ways, which we’ll discuss in later articles in this series.) Practice the presence of God. Cultivate an awareness that the Holy Spirit dwells in you and He longs to fellowship with you daily. Pray that He would make you sensitive to His Spirit and His voice.

3. Learn the Fine Art of Listening

Many people talk to God but they don’t stop to listen—or they don’t develop listening skills. Listening truly is a skill that you can learn, whether in your natural relationships or your spiritual relationship with God. You need to “have an ear” to hear the Holy Spirit and that may mean training your spiritual ears to recognize the ways He is speaking.

Jesus said, “He who has ears [to hear], let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing” (Matt. 13:9, AMP). Solomon prayed that God would give him a hearing heart (1 Kings 3:9). Many translations say “understanding heart” in that verse but the Hebrew word translated “understanding” in that verse is shama, which translates to hear, understand, listen or obey. Pray that God will give you a hearing heart, then listen and obey.

4. Fellowship More With the Holy Spirit

This is fundamental. If you want to hear from God more clearly, spend more time with Him and His Word. Paul told his spiritual son Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17, MEV).

Knowing the Word guards us from deception—and from falling into the trap of listening to other voices or even following vain imaginations. If you seek God, you will hear His voice. You don’t have to be in a quiet room to hear from God. Your soul just needs to be quiet and focused on Him. Let your spirit dominate. Listen with spiritual ears. You can hear Him!

In my book, Mornings With the Holy Spirit, I share with you many of the words the Holy Spirit spoke to me in my times of devotion, worship, prayer or just everyday living. My hope is that this book will not only inspire you but also show you one way the Holy Spirit speaks. In the next article, we’ll look at four ways God speaks to His children. Be sure to sign up for my Plumb Line newsletter so you’ll get Part 2 of this series on hearing God’s voice. You can also download a sample chapter of Mornings With the Holy Spirit by clicking here.

Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale and author of several books, including Satan’s Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft, and The Spiritual Warrior’s Guide to Defeating Jezebel. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

She stood there lost in her own thought as the worship service was going on. I have seen that look over and again; the face of the wife whose heart, womb and hands yearns for a child of her own. I thought of what she was going through tears filled up my eyes. Not of pity but of compassion.

She was just an acquaintance, I had known for barely a year. “How can I reach her?” I asked the Holy Spirit to for the right words to say. I struggled within me as the Lord prompted me to speak with her.

“What if she scorned me?” My fears were getting a better hold of me. “I can’t do this right now, Lord. Please give me time to pray for her” I begged.

As the music played on, my heart grew heavier. I had to speak with her. I was reminded of the scripture “the spirit of God will give me utterance”.

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: Luke 21:14

I beckoned her. As we left for a quiet place, I prayed in my heart. I was filled with strength and boldness. “How are you?” I asked gently as I reached out to pat her back. She opened up like a loose cannon. She was depressed and forlorn. She spoke all that was in her heart as I fixed my eyes on her without uttering a single word.

I was taken aback by how lonely she felt in the midst of the friends she had. As she poured out her heart, I prayed in my heart. I couldn’t understand what she was going through emotionally but I trusted God knew what to do.

There are eight acts of faith for women waiting on the Lord for fruitfulness;

1. Pray and trust God for his master plan.
He has a plan and his will be done in our lives if we believe. He is prepared to give you a “Samuel” or an “Isaac”. Don’t doubt his promise for your life.

2. Write out scriptures that pertain to this and prayerfully confess them into your lives. There are a lot of scriptures regarding this issue. I took the liberty to write out some. Psalm 128:3, Isaiah 54:1, Exodus 23:26, Deuteronomy 7:14, Psalm 113:9, I Timothy 2:15

3. Your husband can stand in the gap for you in prayer. Isaac prayed for his wife and God answered him.

And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.  Genesis 25:21

4. Don’t overlook your health exams. Prayerfully go to the doctors to do all the examinations necessary.

5. Seed sowing in the children’s ministry as an act of faith. Giving opens up closed doors. You can also give to children within your family and neighbourhood.

6. Praise God with all your heart. When you have prayed and given, start praises. Praising God moves Him to do the supernatural in our lives. When the Israelites praised God, the walls of Jericho crumbled. Allow your heart be filled with joy at all times.

7. Make love with your husband and enjoy it. Don’t make just love with your husband for the sake of making babies alone.

8. Build up your faith. Allow the Holy Spirit direct you. Some women have been blessed with their own kids by simply caring for adopted children, kids with less privilege, preparing your heart and home to receive a child.

Do you wonder how you can help these women in this situation?

Here is how:

* Reach out to those among us who are yet to have their own children.

* Pray constantly for them in our prayer groups

* Encourage them with kind words, messages and gifts.

* Don’t assume they are okay; always show them love.

This was a personal story of someone dear to me. Thank God that after that encounter, God visited her. God has visited several of these women I know and will do much more.

Let us also do same especially to those around us and in our local assemblies.

Adapted from A Little R and R blog managed by Rosilind Jukic. Click here for the original post.

When we took the kids to Disneyland for the first time, they were in high school. As we talked about our trip to California, our son was excited about Disneyland, but our daughter acted cool.

Disneyland was for little kids, you know.

Until we got there, and you should have seen her face on the Toy Story ride. She smoked us all with the Astro Blaster, and from that moment on she gave up her too-grown-up bravado and enjoyed the wonder of the place along with the rest of us.

My favorite ride? Soaring over California. You can smell the orange groves as you fly over. I was 5-years-old on that ride.

Disney invented the word “Imagineering”, and first of all, I respect them for making up a new word.

Second of all, I think they are amazing people who come up with new ways to make even adults smile with delight.

Followers of Christ have to imagineer.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

Peter Pan. He only had to regain his imagination.

You’re doing it, Peter!

Peter remembered how to see what wasn’t there, and that’s when Neverland displayed all of its color and delight.

One time I watched my mother-in-law and her sister walk among Alzheimer patients at the nursing home, talking to each resident with the most tender love and cheerfulness I have ever seen. Some residents drooled and could only make unintelligible sounds. Some stared, seemingly lifeless. What an imagination it took, to picture those end-stage Alzheimer patients as people.

Like a boring adult, I tend to see the people in my world only as who they are at that tick of the clock.

Broken, annoying, dishonest, angry, lacking.

But Jesus looked at people and saw what they could be.

Whole, joyful, clean, pure, complete.

What an imagination He had, to see me as someone who could one day be holy.

Tomorrow is the beginning of a new year, and we could try this exercise on Day 1:

Let’s sit down with a piece of paper and make a list of the people in our lives (including most especially the people who make us crazy), and let’s use our imaginations. Who can each person be if Jesus transforms their lives? Let’s pray for what they can be instead of what they are right now.

What a year it could be.

Christy Fitzwater is the author of A Study of Psalm 25: Seven Actions to Take When Life Gets Hard. She is a blogger, pastor’s wife and mom of two teenagers and resides in Montana. Visit  for more information about her ministry.

“You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand my thought from far off. You search my path and my lying down and are aware of all my ways” (Ps. 139:2-3).

Once, as I prepared my house for a visit by my father, I began to clean and straighten my house. I even bought fresh flowers and plants to place around the rooms to make them seem more lovely. I wanted my home to look as inviting, comfortable and pleasing to his eyes as I could make it. Then it struck me—if I felt this way about my earthly father’s brief visit, how much more care should I give my home every day since my heavenly Father lives here?

I am not a good housekeeper. But motivated by the thought that my house is His home also, I try hard to keep my house clean and neat. It is not professionally decorated with all the latest gadgets, but it is as pleasing to the eyes as my time, energy and budget will allow.

I want those who walk through my door to know that the Lord God lives here. And I hope the reality of His presence is evident to all by the beauty of the outward appearance and the quality of the inner atmosphere of warmth and love they find here.

 Anne Graham Lotz is the founder of AnGeL Ministries. She is also the author of several books, Heaven: God’s Promise for Me and Heaven: My Father’s House.

Shine is my word for 2015. I must admit, I didn’t like this word when I felt it was God’s direction for the New Year. Shining feels like it means everyone will be looking at me. I’ve spent my life behind the scenes, writing about others.

Since writing about my 250-pound weight loss in my memoir Sweet Grace, I have been speaking, coaching and being interviewed on television and radio. I am finding I like all of these things, but I still don’t want everyone looking at me. I really don’t.

Really God?

Then, God gives me the word for the year. I always know it’s the word because when I hear it, it resonates even though I may not like it. See, I don’t aspire to shine. It’s never been on my rather lengthy to-do list.

However, on one level the reason I know this is my word for 2015 because it stretches me. I am more of a planner and implementer, but not an upfront person. I like to be in the background doing the work or telling others what to do.

The Star

In November I went to Tribe Intensive, a weekend filled with tons of good information for writers led by Jeff Goins.  It was held at an extremely busy time for me, the middle of November. I was working hard on Sweet Change book and really had no extra time, but it was one of those God things. I knew I needed to attend.

During the weekend, Jeff talked about what kind of writer you are which will determine how you build your platform. The choices were The Journalist, The Prophet, The Artist, The Professor and The Star. The Journalist asks questions. The Prophet tells the truth. The Artist sees beauty in the ordinary. The Professor teaches something. The Star connects people, builds community and is famous.

I thought I could fit in any category, except the star. Then, he further defined the star as the type of person who shows the world, “I did it and so can you.” My heart fell to my stomach. I knew was me and it scared me.

Not the Former Fat Lady!

I knew I could be any of the others. I am and always will be a journalist. Speaking truth is a core value of mine as it is the prophet. I am very visual and see beauty in everyone and everything. I am also a teacher and love giving step by step instructions. But a star? It didn’t seem logical that the former fat lady would ever in a million years become the star.

I sort of accepted that definition, but really placed myself more in the journalist category. Still there was this nagging thought in the back of my mind that The Journalist definition was too easy. It was akin to just getting up in the morning and putting on my favorite jeans and t-shirt. It was something I could just fall into because I had done it for 40 years.

I knew “The Star” was somewhere in my future and as I do with most new concepts, I resisted it at first. I even told God, “Please do not make me a star. I don’t want to be a star.”

Why the Word “Shine”?

And now God gives me the word “shine” for 2015. I am more comfortable thinking this word means I will shine for Jesus. I will lift up others so they can shine. I will shine so others can find Jesus. I believe all of those are part of the meaning of “shine.”

I thought of the verse I memorized as a child. “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”1 I could accept shining if it is God shining through me. As a matter of fact that would be a desire of my heart.2 And I know having the desire filled only comes when I delight in the Lord.

What it Says to Me

This word says to me this is a year that God shines through me, not that I shine. Not that there is anything good in me to shine. It is only by the grace of God that I have shed 250, now 260 pounds.

Where I was and where I am now may make me a star in others’ eyes, but to me it only makes God a star. Without Him I would be dead by now. Doctors told me as much.

Paul says it best in 2 Corinthians 12. A self-proclaimed boaster, Paul says God gave him a thorn in the flesh, a weakness so he would have to rely on God’s strength and couldn’t think he had done everything by his own effort.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”3

I don’t know what Paul’s weakness or thorn in the flesh was, but I know mine. I am a processed sugar and flour addict. I need God’s strength every day to stay the course and resist foods made with those things. When I want His strength more than I want what I crave, God always delivers.

Shine!

If there is any shining to be done this year, it will be God shining through me. It makes me think of the Newsboys song back in the 1980s or ’90s. “Shine, Make ’em wonder what you’ve got. Make ’em wish that they were not on the outside looking bored. Shine. Let it shine before all men. Let ’em see good works, and then, let ’em glorify the Lord.”

I prefer to think my word means many more opportunities will be coming my way so that God will be glorified and He will be the star. After all, that’s the purpose of my life. It is not mine, but His.

My prayer this year is that I am so close to Him I can’t help, but radiate His light and shine for Him.

I hope you join me in shining strongly for Him this year.

Shine!

1 Isaiah 60:1 NKJV

2 Psalm 37:4 NKJV

3 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV

Teresa Shields Parker is an author, coach and speaker. Her new book, Sweet Change: True Stories of Transformation tells weight loss stories along with tips for embarking on a healthy lifestyle change. She blogs at  where you can get a free chapter of her book, Sweet Grace.

We play at weight loss, kind of like a game. Can I eat this and not gain weight? So we get on the scale the next morning and we haven’t gained an ounce. So we keep eating and eating. In a week we step on the scale again and find our game has caught up with us. We lost the game and added lots of extra pounds in the process with no way to get rid of the fat.

We are now captives to our own game and we don’t know how to stop. We are stuck in a rut we made for ourselves. We always know where a rut will take us. Sometimes such as a shortcut across a beautiful yard, it seems like the quickest destination. However, if we get stopped by a security guard it can take us much longer.

Ruts begin to define us. We stay in them because they have become comfortable. However, if we wish to change ourselves into better, more environmentally conscious individuals, we are going to have to reprogram our brains to not take the rutted shortcut that seems the easy way out. We have to change our minds.

Changing your mind can be challenging, but just like that brain teaser puzzle you got for Christmas, it can be fun to figure out. You can play a game with yourself to convince and change your mind.

Maybe you want to lose weight for the new year, but you love sweets. So you challenge yourself and say, “You can have one sweet thing this week.” And every day you make a choice. Will this be the day I eat my treat?

You decide to wait and you put it off as long as you can. You convince yourself it’s not worth wasting your one moment of treat on this particular item. And before you know it, you’ve gone weeks without it and you realize, this is not that hard. This works for some, yet it’s still a game that can have reverse consequences.

For me, I have to completely change my mind. I have to say no to all processed sugar. I say yes to fruit and no to processed sugar. That’s the game I play with myself. It can be a fun game to play, especially when I begin to see the pounds melting away. It’s also fund to realize I don’t have to listen to that other person who seems to be talking in my brain. I can switch to a higher, more amazing mind gear when I get in touch with what God is showing me.

I understand, though, that many have tried to convince themselves to change and they understand they need to change, but there are deep, deep emotional ruts we are stuck in and the process seems impossible. Ah, but I know a God who says with Him the impossible is possible.

When you are stuck in a deep rut, the truth is you need some help getting pulled out. That’s what Sweet Change Weight Loss Coaching and Accountability Group is all about. We help you figure out ways to change your mind, to get unstuck, to look at weight loss differently. Many of us are like that stubborn old uncle who will never see things our way.

At times there seems like we have two brains and one of them acts like that stubborn old uncle. There’s the stuck old uncle who doesn’t want to change and there’s the real you who cognitively knows you are going to die quicker if you keep eating that way and sitting on your behind all day long without moving except to get another piece of cake or bag of chips and a super-size drink. We have to kick the uncle out or at least silence him. It seems cruel because he is part of us. However, he is doing us no favors.

Sweet Change Group is so awesome in that those in the group are on the journey with you and dealing with their old stubborn old uncles. I’m there to help you think about your choices and encourage you to look at things differently, tap into the power of God and the resources He has blessed you with to take you to your destiny.

The truth is God wants this more than you do. Why? Because before time He planned your destiny. “Your eyes saw me unformed, yet in Your book all my days were written, before any of them came into being” (Ps. 139:16). We are pretty good at messing it up though. We want our destiny, but we also want our cake too. We have to learn how those two things do not go together. We cannot have both.

Change is not easy. We talk a lot about that over at Sweet Change Group. I’d love for you to experience the group and see how it’s not like any weight loss program or group you’ve ever been a part of. So, now through Jan. 3 I’ve reinstated the lowest monthly rate on Sweet Change for only a two-month commitment.

After two months we’re sure you’ll want to stay, but you can opt out any time after that. It’s my way of introducing you to this amazing group of women who are going forward on their journey with others (peers), another (a coach who’s been successful on the journey, that’s me) and the Other, God Almighty. With that crew on your side, you’ve got a head start on your weight loss and healthy living lifestyle change.

What if this time next year, you could well on your way to freedom from foods you crave controlling your life? It is possible. It really is. Go here to get more information.

It’s really not a game, though. It’s death or life stakes we’re talking about here. We can’t keep playing with our health. We have to make some hard decisions. If you’ve read either of my books, my blog posts or follow me on Facebook, you know I don’t pull any punches. I shoot straight. The truth is weight loss is not easy, but it is the easiest hard thing I’ve ever done when I follow what God shows me.

Trying to win at the weight loss game is a lost cause when you continue to try in your own strength. But when you accept you have a weakness, an addiction where certain foods are concerned, you take the first step out of bondage. And then if you surrender what you crave and accept God’s strength and power, you will find amazing things happen in your life.

So, what’s it going to be? Isn’t it time to invest in yourself and take a Sweet Change journey. You are worth it. Aren’t you?

Teresa Shields Parker is an author, blogger, editor, business owner, wife and mother. Her book, Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor is available on Amazon in print, Kindle and Audible HERE. This story is from her blog, .

It’s been a month since Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel’s controversial article, “Why I Hope to Die at 75” was released. But I still feel compelled to comment. For those who haven’t read it, check out the October issue of The Atlantic.

Dr. Emanuel, the director of the Clinical Bioethics Department at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, believes 75 years is plenty of time for anyone to spend in the “land of the living.” Why? For several reasons, one of which is health care cost. The chronic diseases that come with age can be pretty expensive to manage.

But he gives a few other reasons such as:

• PRODUCTIVITY. Dr. Emanuel notes productivity peaks around age forty to fifty. From there, it goes downhill.
• SPEED. Here, he uses his father’s experience as an example. At age 77, the senior Emanuel suffered a heart attack. Afterwards, he walked and talked at a noticeably slower pace. Though still able to live independently, Dr. Emanuel’s assessment of his Dad was that “everything seems sluggish.”
• MEMORIES. Here’s the rationale on this one: After we’re gone, our kids and grandkids will be able to reflect on times when we had energy and vitality. Nobody should want to be remembered as being frail and sick.

Of course, I was disturbed by the article. I was especially troubled because Dr. Emanuel has a significant influence on health care policy. What I found most unsettling was the question of value, specifically, what makes a life valuable. And if we base value on age, then it won’t be long until we add other criteria like race, ethnicity, IQ, disabilities and socioeconomic status into the equation.

In his article, Dr. Emanuel does not address the question: Who determines the value of a human life? So let me give the answer. God. Only God. Our heavenly Father has already assessed our value, and called it good , even very good (Gen. 1:27, 31). And because His agape love is unconditional, we can be confident that nothing will diminish our value in His sight. So whether we are young or old, rich or poor, black or white—God loves us!

Our challenge then is to see other people the way God sees them: Made in His image, and valuable!

Kara Davis is a doctor of internal medicine and a former assistant professor of medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She currently practices at the Christian Community Health Center in the Chicagoland area, and she is also the author of Spiritual Secrets to Weight Loss (Charisma House).

For the original article, visit .