Help

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me be patient.

Don’t Be Limited by the System

Do you ever feel like you are limited by the system of this world? You go to work, get a paycheck, and that determines your limits. Maybe you have dreams and desires, but you don’t feel like you have the right connections. Or maybe you don’t have the right education. It’s tempting to think, “I’ll never rise any higher. I’m limited to the system that I’m in.” But you have to remember, God likes to go outside the system! He likes to do unusual, extraordinary things. You may have a dream in your heart that’s bigger than your finances. It’s bigger than your education, bigger than anything that your family has ever done. And it’s easy to think, “Well, I don’t have the expertise. I don’t have the connections. I don’t have the right people behind me.” It may be bigger than your system but be encouraged today. You may not have the right connections but you have God—you and God are a majority! Your dream is not dependent on other people. God loves to take ordinary people and use them to do extraordinary things. You have not seen your best days yet. No matter where you are in life, no matter what environment you’re in, no matter how impossible your dreams may seem. You need to know God already has a plan. He already has a way. If you will stay in faith God will go outside the system and take you places that you never thought possible! He’ll take you way beyond your system and you live the life of victory He has in store! - Joel Osteen

Treasure the Word

Today's Scripture

“But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God …” (I John 2:5).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

How much do you treasure the Word in your life? When you treasure something, it’s valuable to you. You handle it carefully and protect it. When you treasure a person or relationship, you give attention to them and think about them constantly! When you treasure the Word of God, you are expressing your love for Him. You treasure the Word by meditating on it or thinking about it all throughout the day. Remember, your life will go in the direction of your most dominant thoughts. When your dominant thoughts are the Word of God, you will be empowered to follow and obey His Word. Make God’s Word a priority in your life today and allow it to shape your thinking. Choose to treasure the Word today and everyday and you will be empowered to move forward into the abundant life He has for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, today I choose to focus my thoughts on You. I choose to treasure Your Word so that my actions will show how much I love You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Confidence in Him

Today's Scripture

“My soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You…” (Psalm 57:1).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Do you need more confidence for something specific in your life today? Confidence is strength in knowing that God has chosen you and equipped you for everything in life today. It doesn’t matter what you may be facing, you can find confidence in God. When you understand how much God loves you and that He desires to empower you, every obstacle will become smaller and smaller. Know this, for every challenge, God has a solution. He wants to turn your obstacle into opportunity. He wants to bring you out stronger than before. He wants to take you to higher places. Your soul can find refuge and shelter in Him. That means, you can rest, even in the midst of the storms of life. Take a step of faith today and begin to thank Him for working your life. Thank Him for the confidence that He has promised you. Remember, God is at work on your behalf. He will fill your heart with His peace, confidence, and power to move forward into the abundant life He has for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, I come to You today with a humble heart. I give You my concerns and worries and ask You to fill me with Your peace and confidence today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. - Joel and Victoria

Choose Peace

Today's Scripture

“Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Holiness is so important to God. The Bible says that holiness is the key to seeing the Lord. When you obey the Word of God and allow Him to work in your life, you are pursuing holiness. You will see the Lord working in your life. Notice this verse starts by saying that we should live at peace with the people around us. When we have peace in our lives, in our homes, and in our relationships, it opens the door for God to work. But when we have strife, bitterness, anger or resentment in our relationships, it blocks God’s blessing. Remember, when it comes to disagreements in relationships, it doesn’t always matter who is right, it matters what is right. And choosing peace is right. Is there someone in your life today that you need to restore peace with? A simple act of kindness, a note or small gift, can open the door for restoration in your relationships. Step out today and let the peace create a foundation for the blessing God has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, today I open my heart to You. I choose Your way of peace. Show me how to live at peace with the people in my life so that I can honor You in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. - Joel Osteen

Keep the Truth

Today's Scripture

“Guard and keep [with the greatest care] the precious and excellently adapted [Truth]…”

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

The Truth of God’s Word is a precious treasure entrusted to us. It empowers us to overcome every obstacle. It’s important to keep this Truth in your heart and establish it in your life. How do you establish the Word in your life? When you make a habit of praying and reading God’s Word it becomes more and more alive to you. When you choose to obey it, you are guarding and keeping the Truth. For example, the Bible says that love covers an offense. When you choose to walk in love even when someone has offended you, you are guarding the Truth. When you choose God’s way, instead of the world’s way, you are guarding the truth. Society has so many different ideas of what is right and acceptable. We have to always choose God’s way. And when you choose God’s way, you get God’s results! God’s results include a blessed and happy life. Start today by asking the Lord to show you His Truth by the power of His Spirit. As you keep the precious Truth of God’s Word, you will be empowered to live the life of victory the Lord has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Truth which sets me free. I invite you to search my heart and mind today and lead me in Your ways. I bless You today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. - Joel Osteen

Home

When I come home, open the door and there are my hudband and my mom. It feels so good. There is warmth in the atmosphere. You don't feel lonely. I can enjoy the food well prepared and don't need to wash the dishes. What a luxary life! You know someone cares about you. This is the harbor for me no matter what. Home is good. God said: it is not good to be alone by himself. So He created Eve to company Adam. And she is his bones in bones, flesh in flesh. Oh, I wish my baby boy will feel the same way as I do today.

Separate Yourself

Today's Scripture

“So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself…be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes…” (II Timothy 2:21).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Are there people or activities in your life that you know you need to separate yourself from? The Bible says that bad company will corrupt good morals. God wants you to constantly be growing and rising higher in life. That’s why this verse encourages us to separate ourselves from corrupting influences. And those influences are more than just the people in your everyday life. The influences are anything that influence your thinking. Be careful about what you are allowing into your mind. Be careful about what you read and what you watch. Don’t give your attention to things that are going to drag you down. Choose to separate yourself today. Remember. God wants you to live an abundant life. He wants you be separate so that He can work through you and fulfill his purposes in you life. As you cleanse yourself God will work in and through you so that you can live as an over comer the way God intends!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word which is the Truth that sets me free. Give me strength to separate myself from anything that does not honor You. In Jesus Name. Amen. - Joel Osteen

Be Strong in the Lord

Today's Scripture

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Everyone has times when they feel weak or discouraged in life. But you don’t have to live that way! You can be strong in the Lord and in His power. You don’t have to walk around defeated and depressed. You can have joy today! In fact, the Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. God’s joy isn’t based on circumstances. It isn’t based on the news, the stock market or the housing economy. God’s joy is based on Him. When you think about what He’s done for you—that He’s given you life, that He’s cast your sins as far as the east is from the west—you can’t help but get happy! You can’t help but have joy inside of you. That supernatural joy on the inside of you is supernatural strength. The enemy can’t take away what God has given you deep on the inside. So put a smile on your face today and rejoice in the Lord no matter what battles you may be facing. The joy of the Lord will give you strength, and you’ll live the life of victory God has promised you!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for joy which strengthens! Thank you for empowering me today no matter what I may be facing. Fill my heart with Your supernatural joy so I can stand strong in all things. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. - Joel Osteen

Reaching Your Highest Potential

It’s easy to get stuck in life thinking you’ve reached your limits, or that you’ve gone as far as you can go. But the truth is, as long as you’re breathing, you have potential inside of you that you haven’t tapped into yet. There are gifts and talents that you haven’t discovered. You can rise higher in life! You can go further in your career. You can have better relationships. You can experience greater success in every area of your life. When God created you, He not only breathed His life into you, He deposited a part of Himself inside of you. He placed within you everything you need to fulfill your destiny. Right now you have seeds of greatness inside waiting to take root and blossom. In order to tap into this hidden treasure, you have to have a pioneering spirit. It doesn’t matter where you were raised, or what anyone in your family has accomplished—you can rise higher! You can accomplish things that you once thought were impossible. You have talent and ability that has not yet come to fruition. Don’t die with the treasure still buried inside! Start taking steps of faith and believe that you can rise higher. Get up every morning and declare that your best days are ahead of you. As you develop an attitude of expectancy, the seeds of faith inside will grow stronger. You will begin to accomplish things you never thought were possible. You’ll tap into that potential inside and live the life of victory God has in store for you! - Joel Osteen

His Power at Work

Today's Scripture

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…” (Ephesians 3:20).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God is able to do more than you could ever ask or imagine! But notice that this verse says it’s according to the power that is at work within you. How does God’s power work within you? God’s power works in you when you are walking in love. God’s power is at work in you when you choose to forgive those who have wronged you. God’s power is at work in you when you bow before Him with a humble heart. He is at work in you when you are serving others by putting their needs above your own. Remember, God wants to move on your behalf. He loves to bless you! Choose today to let God’s power work in and through you! As you allow Him to work in your life, He promises blessing beyond your wildest dreams! He will do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine. He’ll cause you to live the abundant life He has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, thank You for choosing to bless me. I invite You to work in my life today. Show me how to walk in Your love so that Your power will flow through me today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. - Joel Osteen

You Are Alive

Today's Scripture

“And you He made alive, when you were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Aren’t you glad that Jesus came to give us life? Think about that for a minute right now. You used to be dead in your sins and trespasses; you used to have no hope. You used to live in fear. But once you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you weren’t dead in your sin anymore. You now have hope for the future. You are alive in Christ! God wants you to live life to the fullest today. It doesn’t matter how you may feel or what you are facing, start thanking God for giving you life. Even if He didn’t do another thing for us, giving us eternal life is more than enough reason to praise and thank Him every day. Thank Him for eyes to see and ears to hear. Thank Him for the air that you breathe. Thank Him for loving you and giving you life today. Praise opens the door to blessing. As you thank Him for the little things, you’ll begin to see God moving in your life in a big a way. He’ll pour out more of His favor and blessing on you, and you’ll move forward into the abundant life He has for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for making me alive in Christ today. Thank You that I am new. Show me how to live every day to the fullest so that I can enjoy life the way You intended. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. - Joel Osteen

Question

How to deal with those "don't care students"?

Xiaoming Engaged

I've been praying for this for a long time and God listened and fulfilled. I am so happy.

Living a lifestyle of Giving

One of the greatest challenges facing our society today is OUR tendency to live self-centered and selfish lives. But did you know that God created us to be givers? John 3:16 tells us that God showed His love to us by giving His Son, and we show our love to others by our giving too. You can experience a new level of God’s joy, blessing and favor when you step out and begin giving of yourself to others in a greater capacity, learning how to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to meet the needs of those around you. - Joel Osteen

Letting go of the past

God has a new beginning in store for you! To live a life of victory you have to let go of the past and move beyond disappointments, hurts, pains and failures. God said in Isaiah 43:19, “Behold I am doing a new thing. Can you not perceive it?” God is doing a new thing in your life right now. Stop focusing on the past and begin to see the goodness of God. You’ll learn valuable keys to experiencing the hope, victory and purpose Christ has prepared for you. Discover biblical principles that will help you overcome the past so you can live an abundant life. Letting Go is Your First Step Toward Victory! -Joel Osteen

The Power of Words

Your words have creative power. Your words can build up or tear down. Your words can bring victory or defeat. Your words affect your future. You can speak life and encouragement, or strife and division. When you speak God’s Word over your life, you set into motion the very thing you declare. What are your words producing in your life today? You can change the direction of your life by changing the words you speak! Develop a deeper understanding of The Power of Words and set yourself on a path to victory today! - Joel Osteen

Prayer request

I sent prayer request to Joel ministries and I got the following response:

I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be Joyful always; pray continually; giving thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will for you in Christ Jesus.

Today

I don't feel energetic today, a little bit tired, maybe it is Friday. I want the students to be more active and care for their study, but it is not that way. I want to one that not only teach them math but help them stretch themselves to be a better learner. Oh, God, please help me, give me wisdom. Or I shouldn't focus on the students, work to honor God and God will make the way. I shouldn't be easily discouraged. I am blessed and chosen.

Job

It seems this year's job market is not good. I am thankful that I have a job and I like it. Last year I wanted to quit and it was stupid. I am grateful God saved me and is changing me from the inside.

「靠着爱我们的主，在这一切的事上，已经得胜有余了。」（罗八章三十七节）

First snow in 2008

The second day after we know our baby's sex.

It is a boy!

We know it is a boy today! We are so excited and thankful! He is wonderfully and fearfully made in my womb by God.

Reading

「我…常与你们同在，直到世界的末了」（马太福音二十八章 二十节）。

  不要带着惧怕的心去看前面将临的事。要带着盼望去看它们，因为

主是我们的主，必要带领我们一步一步过去。他常与你同在；你只要紧

紧抓住他的手，他会引导你安然经过一切的；当你软弱无力，站立不住

的时侯，他会将你怀抱在他大能的膀臂中。



  不要为明天忧虑。永活的神今天既然看顾你，明天，每一天，也必

定会同样看顾你。有时他不叫你遇见试探，有时他加你力量使你能忍受

试探。所以放心，抛弃一切焦急的意念和烦恼的理想。～赛而斯



  “耶和华是我的牧者”（诗篇二十三篇一节）。



  “是”字在原文是现在式；不是过去式“曾是”，也不是将来式“

将是”，也不是未定式“或是”，“耶和华是我的牧者，”他现在是，

他永远是。在主日是，在星期一也是，在一星期中每一天都是；在正月

是，在十二月也是，在一年中每一月都是；在家里是，在外乡也是；在

平安时是，在危险时也是；在丰余时是，在缺乏时也是。在任何环境中

都是。～戴德生

Jazz

We went to our school's Jazz series last night. Jeff Coffin is Grammy winner for Alto and Tenor Saxaphones. He is enthusiastic and talented. I am amazed that the graduate students of Jazz major are so good, the small band did a great job with Jeff.

I am not good at music, but I can feel the rhythm, saxaphone, trumpet, guitar, piano and drum. It is interesting and I was imaging what kind of instrument my baby would play.

Be a Professor

Still remembered from my visa interview, I was asked "what are you going to do when you graduate?" I said: "To be a professor in college or university" and I was declined the visa for the first time.

Now I am a professor in a big university and it is changing from a teaching school to a research one. I didn't like my job last semester, it was new, my adaptation is not good.

But this semester I love my job so much. I want every student in my class to enjoy math, notice: not only do good in exams. It is a God-given life I am enjoying and trying to find my potential and purpose of doing it. It is so exciting and of course a lot of times discouraging. I am good at it.

Cold

I am having a cold recently, about a week, for a pregnant woman, it is not good. I cannot take any medicine, only drinking water, ginger and brown sugar soup, pear with crystal sugar soup, rest. All the symptoms are coming: sore throat, coughing, running nose, watering eyes and some heat. I don't know how much tissue I used to blow my nose, it is terrible.

I prayed that I know God is in control, that without His permission nothing would happen to me. I pray in His name, His almighty name, that I will be cured. He raised the dead, healed the leprosy , opened the blind eyes, walked the paralytic etc. And I believe He can cure me. After my prayer, my cold is getting worse, I taste all the flavor of cold. My mom and husband take good care of me. I didn't miss any class, even helped a student outside my office hours. I am still in recovery, and my husband seems catching the cold, and I had some bad tempers these days but I believe I did a good job, with God's help, I will do better next time.