Friday with Joyce Meyer-FREE

I had heard that Joyce Meyer's was coming to Long Beach, CA. for a three day conference tour. I first learned about her from my husbands ex-wife. She gave me some CD's to listen to while I was driving my "taxi" around~taking the kids to school, practices and games.

At first I wasn't sure if I liked her. She had a raspy, deep voice, and "told it like it is." I liked what she was saying though and I continued to listen. I eventually went and bought her best selling book...Battlefield of the Mind (Devotional~100 Insights That Will Change the Way You Think).

It was perfect for me. I read one short little devotional story each day. I slowly began to have a different outlook on my life, finances, marriage, and relationship with my kids. It teaches you how to change your old negative way of thinking.

Once I finished it, I wanted to give it to someone else. But before I had a chance to, I found myself opening it up and reading it all over again. I'm now on my 3rd read through. Instead of giving mine away, I've just bought copies of it to give as gifts. I can't part with it. I also started watching (well really listening to her) every morning while getting ready. She has a program called, "Enjoying Everyday Life." It's on every day all over the world. I watch it on Discovery channel 31 @ 8:00 a.m.

I took my husband (yes, he went willingly) to the conference with me and we spent Friday evening with Joyce Meyer. It was free and I wanted to check her out in person. From the moment she started talking, I felt as though she was speaking directly to me. She talked about stepping in and getting your feet wet. Basically, to stop waiting till you FEEL like doing what you were meant to do and start doing it. Step out in Faith! She also said to take some time to celebrate your victories (the small accomplishments.) We get worn out trying all the time. If we stop and take a day to celebrate our victories then we will be more likely to continue pursuing our dreams.

This hit home for me (ie. my book). I always put off writing as often as I should because it seems impossible to finish. Well she kicked me in the butt! I'm going for it and taking time to celebrate at the end of the week. If you want to change your life, get Joyce's book.

The Teenage Street Girl

I saw a girl on the street corner when I went to go pick up my son. She was kind of dirty with dark, matted, hair. I wasn't sure if she was a homeless person or just waiting for a ride. She had on dark clothes and a back pack and was leaning up against the brick wall on the sidewalk.

About two hours later, we were driving home, it was dark and my son said, "There's a person laying on the sidewalk against the wall." It was the same spot that I had noticed the girl earlier. I was a little worried and quickly turned the car around to see if she was okay. She was curled up in a fetal position with her head facing the wall. I pulled over and asked if she was okay. Luckily she said, "Yeah, I'm fine." She was so young...16 or 17. I couldn't imagine what would put her on the street like that. I said, "Are you sure you're okay? Do you want some pizza?"

I had just dropped some off for my husband and the kids at the football field. He had loaded up one box and taken it. There was still another box, breadsticks and some pizza. She quickly got up and came closer to the car, "What?" The tone in her voice burst out louder, anxiously anticipating the question that she thought she heard. I reached for the pizza box, only to find it was an empty box. My husband had taken ALL of the slices. I said, "I'm sorry I didn't know the pizza was gone. Would you like some breadsticks and a Pepsi?" "YES...THANKS" I handed it to her. Still worried about her, "Do you need anything?" Hoping she would burst out with a loud "YES...I'm alone, scared, I have no where to go and no one to turn to, I need help." Of course the only answer was, "No." As I pulled away I saw a policeman driving slowly by.

I got home and couldn't get the girl out of my head. I grabbed a pillow, blanket and this amazing book that I've been reading and re-reading every morning (3rd time), "Battlefield of the Mind," by Joyce Meyers. I drove back to the spot she was laying, but she was gone.

What would drive a young girl with her whole life ahead of her onto the streets? Was it drugs, abuse, fear...she was so young. Whose child is it? Are they worried about her, unable to sleep, driving around hoping to find her? My head just kept going over all these possiblities. As a mother, my first instinct is to save her. I know that some people don't think they need or want help. I know that I can only show unconditional, non-judgemental love by giving what I have to make them see that they are not alone in the world. Maybe someone's act of kindness will reach deep inside their heart and make a difference. I don't know, but my responsibility is to listen when my heart is being tugged...going the extra step to help someone in need, just like others have reached out during difficult times in my life.

The Family Side of Foreclosure (Part 1)

So many times we hear about all off the amazing Foreclosure deals...which I remember thinking, "Wow, if only I had a little extra money stashed away, I could become a Real Estate mogul and when the economy turns around I'll be rich!" I often wonder how many people think the same way?

Now my family is at the other end of the Foreclosure deal. We are struggling to come up with enough money to save our home. Our mortgage, property taxes, credit card bills, food and gas is putting us deeper and deeper in debt. I thought I would share our story...a perspective from a family on the brink of losing their dream.

Here's a little background info:

We are currently almost three months behind on our mortgage, property taxes are due, three months behind on our HOA (homeowners association dues), credit cards are maxed out (supplementing our incoming by using them), the boys are eating twice as much, (they're all growing right now), sports for football season alone is costing us $3,300.00 (3 boys play), and GAS (about $200.00 a week). Our home value has dropped considerably, was worth about $650,000.00, now worth less than we owe. Now that you understand the situation, I'll fast forward to our first attempt to make arrangements with the bank.

My husband called the bank today and told them we would make a payment on the 30th (don't know where the full amount is coming from...but I'm working on the faith thing!) Then they asked, "When can you make your next payment?" He said, "I don't know?" They snapped, "You have to give us another date!" "Okay...I guess the 15th". He called me at work and I asked, "How are we going to come up with it at the end of the month and the 15th and still buy food and gas?" He got ticked off, "I DON'T KNOW, I'm trying to by us time." Hmm, that was a great start!

Usually when finances are tight we are arguing all the time, the stress just gets to be too much, especially when we are working more hours, barely see each other, and still not able to pay our bills. Since becoming Christian (we both always believed but had been doing our own thing), we have really been trying to not rely on ourselves to get us through this...faith, hope and trusting that God has a plan for our lives. But of course we are only human...so the stress of our situation takes over and we have really been going at it lately. I try to lose myself in the computer and writing, while he asks every night, "Do you think maybe we can spend a little time together?" I don't know what my problem is, I just don't want to talk, or be around him right now. I know it's not his fault, and he is working his butt off, but I just want to be left alone! This is how I deal with stressful situations...I push all my emotions deep inside, run around like crazy, don't sleep, become emotionally unavailable for my family and stay on the computer writing for HOURS on end. I try to find a place to hide and escape from my reality.

Then off to work I go everyday...to a luxury Newport Beach, CA office where my bosses are Millionaires and don't have a care in the world about finances, while I try to put on my happy face, and act like my life is perfect too, (I'm really good at fooling everyone.) I try very hard not to feel sorry for myself, I pray, do a Bible study and watch Joyce Meyers every morning before I leave...it really does help! But my human side comes back, and I start to struggle again.

Stay tuned for Part 2....

My Journey
By: Lisa Petrarca

Darkness crowds around me
Squeezing out my air
Take in a deep, cold breath
A few more steps, just walk
Look at the light ahead
Faint but steadily shining
Calling out my name
My feet are slowly moving
It seems far away
My strength is disappearing
The light's calling me to come
The darkness is thick and stifling
It never seems to end
The light is getting closer
My feet begin to run
It overtakes the shadows
The light now surrounds me
I've made it through the dark
The light is so amazing my journey has just begun


Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. (Psalm 107: 13-14)