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A few weeks ago, a friend asked me if I was interested in getting a P.H.D. I told her not if I had to pay to get it, but I should have said, "I already have one." I have a P.H.D. in overcoming obstacles. I have overcome the obstacles of being bullied as a child and as an adult, experiencing various forms of abuse, rejection, racism, sexism, health challenges, divorce, marital problems, low self-esteem, anxiety, motherlessness, fatherlessness, loneliness, anger, fear of public speaking, having a learning disability, working in a toxic work environment, financial problems and one of my most recent obstacles was breaking my femur. I fell and was home alone; I had to crawl to the back of my house to get my phone and then crawl back to the front of my house to unlock the door. The pain was excruciating, but I did it! After completing left hip replacement surgery, I worked very hard in physical therapy to attend my son's wedding two weeks later in another state. I know how to overcome obstacles! What I have learned about overcoming obstacles is not buying into the illusion that I will not have any obstacles. Scripture clearly says, “…in this life, you will have trouble.” (John 16:33b). Being upset that an obstacle shows up in our lives only creates more suffering. The obstacle often will create enough suffering on its own. Obstacles generate a crisis. A crisis is a time when your normal is interrupted. The crisis that is produced thru the block can be a crisis of limits where your resources run out, like loss of finances, or a crisis of forced detachments which happens when we are forced to let go, like the death of a loved one, loss of a job, kids going to college, getting married. Every obstacle invites us to transcend and move beyond what limits us. Every obstacle is an invitation. I love how Paul describes his invitation to transcend his limitation in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 in the Message Translation. "Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." I also love the New Living Translation of 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Paul said that through his suffering and limitation, He discovered that God could give him the power to transcend. It is the obstacle that reveals God's power, and it's through the obstacle that he is empowered to transcend! This is our good news! So when an obstacle appears in our lives, we must not yield to the temptation to believe the lies it brings; it’s an invitation to believe the Truth about the One who empowers us to overcome every obstacle. In every obstacle that God empowers you to overcome, you will see the splendor of your unique communal life call, the virtues of humility and detachment will be cultivated, and you will begin to appreciate your suffering because your obstacle would have transformed you. So the next time you experience an obstacle, don't resist it. Greet it warmly and say, "Well, hello, obstacle; in what ways will God's grace use you to empower me to transcend my limitations today?" Reflection: 1. What are the obstacles in your life that God is inviting you to transcend? 2. What virtues are being cultivated in you through your obstacle(s)? 3. What scriptures combat the lie(s) that the obstacle brings? Don't forget to share this blog with someone and check out our Resources.

What is my purpose? This question seems to be on the minds and hearts of many people. Many people are struggling because they are not clear about their purpose. Purpose is not a career path, a vocation, or a ministry. Those things are ways that your purpose is expressed. Your purpose is the lens you use to observe, interpret, and respond to yourself, others, situations, and what's happening in the world. For example. I am a teacher, an encourager, a leader, an innovator; I have wisdom and keen perception or discernment. Therefore when I find myself meeting with various people or in various situations, I am generally wondering how I can take what I'm learning and share it with someone else or encourage someone to be their best selves; as a leader, I may offer guidance, as an innovator, I might be offering ideas, while sharing some wisdom and what I am discerning or perceiving. I do not work at doing these things; they come "naturally" without effort. All are attributes of God. Your purpose anchors your life in the attributes and communal call of God. This blog is the way my purpose is expressed, but doing a blog is not my purpose. My purpose is to teach, encourage, lead, innovate, offer wisdom, and be discerning. These are how I reflect God's image in the world. It's a few ways that God has formed and is forming me. I love what Proverbs 29:18 says in the Message version: If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. Did you read what that verse said? If you can't see what God is doing, you are going to stumble over yourself. The first principle for clarifying your purpose is that you must see what God is doing. As this relates to your purpose, you must see what God has done and is doing in you, how he forms you into Christ's image and creates you into Christ's image. You are made in His image. He has put gifts, talents, longings, and desires in you to fulfill Ephesians 2:10 in your life: which says that you are God's masterpiece. He has created you to do good things. The second principle for clarifying your purpose is that you will have peace when you see that you are a masterpiece. You will have a sense of stability. Proverbs 29:18 says that you will stumble over yourself if you can't see what God is doing. There is no peace in stumbling because of its instability. Stability brings peace. Peace comes from living out of who you most deeply are. Isaiah 61:3 says that you are an oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord, and a display of His splendor. I want to ask you a few questions to help you see how God has created you. What motivates you? What energizes you? What does your heart long for? What have you wanted and never gotten? What kind of people do you enjoy being with? What kinds of people and situations get under your skin and frustrate you? What is the thing that you can do that is effortless that brings you joy? If you could do______________for the rest of your life and get paid for it, what would that be? What is the one thing you could do for the rest of your life, and it wouldn't matter if you got paid? How would you describe the lens you use to filter the world? See (Romans 12:4-8, 1 Cor. 12:4-11) These questions are designed to help you to discover your purpose. What did God reveal to you about yourself? Proverb 29:18 says that when you focus on what God is revealing, you will be blessed! Spend some time focusing on what makes you God's masterpiece! And then GO AND BE a display of His splendor and be blessed and be on purpose! Don't forget to share this with someone. If this blog resonates with you check out the Soul Salon

Have you ever had a time when life is happening, and you are struggling to get your time in with God? Of course, you can pray throughout the day, but there are days when it seems that getting more than five minutes of concentrated time with God is hard. Yes, we can say, "Make time, take the time, make spending time with God a priority, but there are times in your life when that's not even the issue. I want to offer you a resource, 40 Ways to Spend Five Minutes With God. This is an excellent resource, and I am all about being a resource and providing you with resources. We need to prioritize spending time with God, even if it's just five minutes. Five minutes can still bear fruit in your life. Enjoy! Don't forget to share this blog with someone and check out the RESOURCES.

“...you are not the person Satan says you are. You do not have to listen to that condemning voice in your head or those negative feelings in your emotions. Do not trust them. They are his lies. He would like nothing better than to get you to doubt yourself and the God who created you. Satan likes to hang identities on us that are not who we really are at all. For instance, he likes to call us Sinner Disappointment Failure Weakling Doubter Most of us have been all of these things at one time or another. But they do not define us. They are not who we are. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God instead sees us as Righteous Achiever Overcomer Strong Faithful” Quote from: Robby Dawkins, Identity Thief: Exposing Satan's Plan to Steal Your Purpose, Passion and Power In what area of your life is satan trying to steal your identity in Christ? It's not who satan says you are. It's who God says you are! Your identity is in Christ alone. God deeply loves you, and you can overcome satan's lies. You are more than a conqueror! No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 Take some time to read the 100 Identity Truths; which one does God want you to know that needs to bear fruit in your life? Spend some time meditating on it, and may your life reflect the truth of God's Word about you! Don't forget to share this blog with someone and check out our RESOURCES.

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 Let this song usher you into the presence of God. Speak The Name! Sing along with the Lyrics. This is a song you will want to sing!

In coloring, there are no mistakes, just unique creations. Quote from Cleverpedia When was the last time you colored in a coloring book? I don't do it as often as I would like, but I enjoy coloring, and sometimes, when my grandchildren are coloring, I will color with them. Coloring slows down our minds and taps into our creative side. Being creative is a stress buster! So, go to the Dollar store and buy a coloring book and some crayons, or get you a plain piece of paper or maybe even draw a picture in your journal and then color it! It will help you to bust some stress! Print out the page below and color it! Enjoy! You should also check out this creative way to pray called Praying in Color. Share this blog with anyone who needs to bust some stress! Don't forget to check out our RESOURCES.

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. Colossians 1:9-10 (NLT) Take a pause to just breathe - set a timer for 10 min. simply breathe Inhale and exhale Notice any tension or pain in your body.. ask the Lord to relax you or to heal that area. Notice your thoughts.... Release all that will distract you by simply saying silently or out loud "Lord, I releaseto you." When the ten min. is up sit silently until you are fully present at this moment. Then........ Read the scripture above 3x out loud or silently. As you enter into the weekend, consider these reflection questions: 1. As you read the scripture, what word or phrase speaks to you in this season of your life? 2. In what area(s) of your life are you seeking the knowledge of his will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding? 3. In what area(s) of your life are you bearing fruit in your attitude and actions? 4. In what area(s) of your life are you struggling to honor and please the Lord? 5. As you have spent time journaling, what is God speaking to you about what is on your heart based on the abovementioned scripture? 6. Write a prayer of response. Share this blog with others. Coming Soon, I will share my insights from the book of Job! Keep Checking back or subscribe today so that you won't miss out!

I am so grateful for the people who are reading my blog posts. Today I am sharing some articles that were sent to me and some that I found while researching this topic to help those following my blog. I pray they are helpful. If you want to send me articles or resources that will be helpful to others, feel free to send them to me @ joycelyn@joycelynlewis.com When Your Pastor Lies To Your Face For Five Yours What Should I Do If I See Moral Failings in My Pastor? How To Recover From Spiritual Abuse Recognizing Warning Signs of Spiritual Abuse in the Church What are Signs of Spiritual Abuse, and How Can We Recognize them in the Church? Six Ways To Heal and Recover from Spiritual Abuse Should a Church or Christian Ministry Cover Up Abuse? Share this blog with others, and don't forget to check out the Resources.

On July 4, 2023, one of the sweetest women I have ever known passed away unexpectedly. My friend and I decided to drop by her house so that I could offer my condolences to her daughter and grandson, as well as any other family members and friends. At the conclusion of our visit, I was led to pray with those who were present. Later that evening, my friend shared with me that when I finished praying, one of the gentlemen made a comment about me. He said, "She's the real deal." After the prayer, I heard a few remarks, but I didn't focus on them until after my friend told me about them. I am not sharing the comment to give myself any accolade; I am sharing it because it reminded me of what we as believers need to do whenever we are in one another's presence and the presence of spiritual leaders. On the surface, the gentleman's comment may appear to be an accolade, but that's not what it was; it was an assessment. 1 John 4:1 says, "Don't believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit, but we must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God." (NLT); Scripture also says, "Just as we can identify a tree by its fruit, we can identify people by their actions." (Matthew 7:20). The gentleman was right to test my spirit. He was right to check out my fruit and assess whether or not he discerned that I was the "real deal." My friend also told me that those who knew me confirmed I was "the real deal." This is also an excellent lesson; even when we "test" someone's spirit and inspect their fruit, we should not just go on what we assess. We must receive confirmation from others. We can be deceived and allow many things to get in the way of our assessment, whether good or bad. We all have had times when we thought we were discerning something bad about a person and discovered that we were wrong, and we've also had times when we thought we discerned something good about a person and realized we were wrong. We should always talk with trusted friends when discerning people's spirits to ensure that we are discerning accurately. The enemy can try and deceive us into believing that someone good is bad and that someone bad is good, so ask someone to help you discern rightly. This is what is required of the body of Christ. As believers, we should all pray that when we meet people, pray for people, preach, teach God's Word, encourage people, visit the sick, lead others, and witness to others that when we leave those encounters, someone will have assessed our spirits and inspected our fruit and say that we are the "real deal" because our "realness" is a testimony that our God is real! It's all for His Glory and His glory alone! Get Ready! Over the next few weeks, my blog posts will be related to the book of Job! Journey with me. Don't forget to share this blog with others and check out our RESOURCES.

Take a pause and remember that it is finished! Share this with someone who needs to be encouraged today. And Don't forget to check out the Resources.

On Wednesday, June 28th, I was driving to my hometown with my two grandchildren. About two and a half hours into my trip, something hit my windshield and put a small chip in the glass. This caused me to slow down and find an exit to check out the chip. As I was getting over into the far-right lane to take an exit, my “check tire pressure” notification came on, and I determined that one of my tires was going flat. Just as I pulled off onto the shoulder of the highway, just in front of the exit, I heard a pop. The blessing was that I was right in front of the exit sign, Exit 30, Bowling Green. I didn’t have to determine where I was, and no one had to try and find my location; I was praising God. I also contacted a towing company, and the tow truck arrived within 30 minutes. When we arrived at the Tire Discount store, a gentleman named Isaiah waited on me, and I immediately looked up what Isaiah meant, and it means “salvation of the Lord.” One of the other employees asked me, “Have you had a bad day?” I said, “Oh no, sir, this isn’t a bad day; this is a great day. I’m grateful that this happened in the daylight, I’m grateful that my grandchildren and I are safe, and I’m grateful that I was able to get a tow truck within 30 minutes; no, sir, this isn’t a bad day; it’s a great day.” He responded with a smile, “I like your attitude.” After the tow truck driver put my SUV in a parking space and handed me my receipt, I asked him what his name was, and he said, “Steve,” which means “victorious, garland, or crown” because a crown was given to competitors for victors to reward them for their success in a competition. We had to wait about an hour and a half for the tire to be repaired, but God had provided a Cici’s Pizza within a short walking distance with a game room to keep my grandchildren occupied while we were waiting. As I took some time to reflect on that day, what was brought to my remembrance was that the night before, when my grandson was saying his prayers, he asked God to “protect us” while we were traveling and about thirty minutes before we had our blow out, the words, “flat tire” came to my mind, so I prayed for protection over us and over the other cars. The small chip caused me to slow down, which ultimately protected us when the tire blew. Sometimes God will show you something small to protect you from something big, so we must pay attention. I also assumed that it was a rock that hit my windshield, and in the words of one of the deacons from my church, “I am thankful for the rock!” The rock who is my salvation and the rock who not only gives me victory over the adversary but He rewards me with the crown of life! I thank God for the rock! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. 2 Corinthians 2:14 As you go throughout this day, do not discount the small things and the small nudges from the Spirit, they just might save you from being harmed. To God Be The Glory! Share this blog with someone and don't forget to check out our Resources

Watch this inspirational video by Motion Worship. And on that day, you will say, "Give thanks to the LORD; call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted." Praise the LORD in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth. Isaiah 12:4-5 Don't forget to share this Sunday Morning inspiration with someone and check out our Resources.