BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

We’re getting out there in our communities and in the world, resting in the blessing as we go. We are being planted in the world as visible signs of the Garden, recouping and recovering all that was lost. We see the desolate places and hopeless situations, hear what God has to say about them, and follow the example. No toil. Just completing His plan to reveal His Garden wherever we are! And here’s the best part—people are becoming curious as they watch us receive such great results without toil, seeing what the Lord is doing. They are asking, “How is this happening?” And isn’t that God’s real plan? “Be fruitful and multiply,” He said. "Replenish the earth." He’s talking here about people reproducing people. The time has come for His people to truly be His people—for the Church to be the Church. People all over the world are waiting to see something in our lives they can’t see in their own. God has planted deep inside all people the desire to see the Garden of Eden in their lives. They want rest. As we progress in the rest of God and work without toil alongside Him, people will be lined up to get into our churches. The healing in our churches—the prosperity, the joy, the peace, the rest—will draw them. They will come through the doors of our churches…and even through the doors of our homes, our businesses, our schools…wherever God’s people are at rest in Him. They will step through the doors in wonder and amazement to be part of heaven on earth…to be part of God’s plan for His man in the earth…the plan that will let them rest in Him and receive the life of God with no more toil! V ABOUT: Bill Winston is founder and pastor of Living Word Christian Center, an 18,000-member church located in Forest Park, Ill. He is also the founder and chairman of The Joseph Center® for Business Development. For more information or ministry materials go to bwm.org. ************************************************************ Commander Kellie’s Corner Speak the Truth in Love Hey, Superkid! I have something different on my mind this month. Let’s see if you can guess what it is. Here are some clues: • It’s a very frustrating activity • Even though people can come closer together while engaging in this, often it drives them further apart • People think they are showing great wisdom while doing this, but they are often making fools of themselves. What is it? Arguing. We all do it. Some of us are experts at it, because we’ve been doing it since we were little! Let’s break down the idea of arguing, and see if it is a helpful thing to do. Why is arguing such a temptation? The biggest reason is we want others to agree with our opinion on something. Our real desire is for agreement, but instead we focus more on, “YOU need to agree with ME!” Think about how arguments progress. I say, “The sky is blue.” You say, “No, it’s gray.” The more we disagree, the more I argue my viewpoint, which can cause you to want to argue yours. By me arguing, I’m really causing you to defend your point. The results: We both end up holding on to our opinions rather than coming into agreement. Actually, it’s crazy that we even bother to argue. People don’t often change their minds because of an argument. Superkid, it comes down to this: Arguing really comes from our own selfish desire to win—to be the one who is RIGHT. When we understand this, we can make some powerful decisions about whether or not we will be known as argumentative or just confidently truthful. My dad used to say to me, “Kellie you would argue with a stump.” Although I just wanted him to understand what I was saying, because I was argumentative that’s not what came across. It’s easy to slip into a place where you argue about everything, no matter what someone says. One day I had a freedom idea. I decided it didn’t matter if people agreed with me. I decided I could tell someone what I thought in a calm way, without caring whether they agreed or not. I thought, It’s really none of my business what someone else thinks. This was like “Kellie’s Freedom Day!” But the real change has been in MY heart. I am more filled with love and peace than ever before. Why? Because I decided that walking in love is more important than winning an argument, or having someone agree with me. The more I put my opinions in the Lord’s hands, the more right I really am, and the more useful I am to Jesus. Romans 14:1, "New Living Translation," talks about this very thing: “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.” Later in that chapter it says we are accountable to God, and what’s really important is that we live in such a way that we help each other and not cause others to fail. Your Superkid mission this month is to put this into practice. Decide to put a stop to your automatic argument reflex! This doesn’t mean you can’t express your opinions. Just learn to speak the truth in love. Tell others what you think without being responsible for whether or not they agree! Stop BEFORE expressing your opinion and ask yourself: Why do I want them to know what I think? Am I just wanting to disagree, or do I really have a different opinion? Often we get in what I call “automatic negative response mode.” No matter what someone says, we have a different opinion. Practice having a positive response to others. Who knows, you might learn something new, experience something exciting or enjoy a whole new adventure when you just smile and say, “Sounds great!” The real bonus is what this change in attitude will do for your relationship with God. When you tear down those automatic arguments you’ll find that you are more open to His voice. And when that happens, well, you know what I always say—stay tuned! ♥ ABOUT: Kellie Copeland Swisher is an outreach minister at Kenneth Copeland Ministries and developer of the Superkid Academy curriculum. Through her ministry and as “Commander Kellie,” she fulfills the mission of drawing people of all ages into a personal, growing and powerful relationship with Jesus Christ. BVOV : 27

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