More Gems for the Journey - Hardcover

Johnson, Vikki

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1583146687 ISBN 13: 9781583146682

Publisher: Harlequin Kimani New Spirit, 2006

Synopsis

Ordained elder and radio personality Vikki Johnson has delivered another collection of spiritually enriching and heartwarming gems. A seasoned motivational speaker and guest lecturer, she has pulled from her own experiences on her journey through life and delivers an abundance of captivating and life-affirming messages of healing wisdom. These inspirational nuggets of advice are broken into two categories — gems that cater to your soul and spirit and they will indeed add comfort and delight to — your daily meditations. The spirit-filled reflections are designed to inspire, uplift and encourage you to seek out and enjoy your best life. Vikki Johnson masterfully touches upon a number of subjects and will add clarity to your physical, mental and emotional health. No matter what turmoil you may be experiencing, the precious jewels in this faith-based book will provide you with a greater sense of self-awareness and personal strength.
As you read through and reflect on these positive messages, you may be motivated to take notes about your own experiences. On each page, there is a special section provided for you to write your own "Journey Notes." You will find peace, hope and courage in these pearls of wisdom, and will feel encouraged to lead a more fulfilled life.
Vikki Johnson is an ordained elder, as well as a manager of public affairs and special events at a major entertainment company. She is also an entrepreneur, author, public speaker, and radio personality on Heaven 1580 AM in Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of Howard University, and pastor of women at Kingdom Worship Center in Towson, Maryland. Her commitment to sisterhood is evident in her affiliations with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, NABFEME (National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment) and the Sista Girl Network. For more information, please visit her web site at www.eldervikkijohnson.org.

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Today's Gem

Sis, do you know you have the power to create? Yes, women are the incubators of life and the vessels God designed to bring forth children. But you have a birth canal on the opposite end of your body, too, your mouth. Your words have the power to create life or death; light or darkness; good success or bad success; victory or defeat; sickness or health. In her book, Your Life Follows Your Words, Darlene Bishop shares that your confession opens a door — either for God to work or for Satan to work. Honey, your miracle is in your mouth. Job 22:28 declares, "Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways."

Journey Note

Today's Gem

There is a line in a TLC song where they sing repeatedly, "The Girls Are Talking" and everyone knows that women can and do enjoy conversation. Proverbs 6:2 says, "You are snared with the words of your lips; you are caught by the speech of your mouth." Proverbs 15:26 says, "But the words of the pure are pleasing words to God the Father." Proverbs 21:23 states, "she who guards her mouth and her tongue keeps herself from troubles." Proverbs 12:8 declares, "The tongue of the wise brings healing." Words are important and very powerful. Jesus said in Matthew 12:37 that "our words will condemn us or make us free." Be careful what you say from this point forward — your mouth is an overflow canal of what's going on in your heart.

Journey Note

Today's Gem

Welcome to another day! God is going to complete some things in your life. He is going to tie up some loose ends. The promise of your future is going to erase the pain of your past! As women, we feel very deeply the pain associated with feeling abandoned. Whether it was a father, a husband, a boyfriend, a friend — at best it can be described as feeling left alone, frightened, empty and hopeless. But Hebrews 13:5 states, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Girl, get excited — you are never alone. You are His woman — and there is nothing He won't do for you!

Journey Note

Today's Gem

Psalms 139:14 declares, "I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works and that my soul knows very well." Okay, it's another day and you still think you should be anything but what you are. Everyone else seems to be happier, smarter, richer and better off than you. It's like they have a secret to success and you are still looking. But the answer is inside you. When you lack belief in yourself, you lack belief in God. The Father is a Master Artist and you are one of His finest creations. So embrace Hebrews 10:35-36 — "Don't throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."

Journey Note

Today's Gem

Life is full of trauma and drama. But life is also full of love, joy and peaceful moments. Don't relinquish your right to wholeness and happiness during special occasions by focusing on what you don't have. You have so much to be thankful for. Girl, get yourself together and listen for a moment! You may not have the money to buy all the gifts you want, but you have the gift of eternal life. You may not have family to love on you —  but Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother and the hug you receive today is the Father's gift of love to you. Today, take a deep breath, that's a precious gift, unzip your soul and give God access to your spirit. In addition to the precious gift of His unconditional love, right now He says rest, be refreshed, be renewed, be restored!

Journey Note

Today's Gem

God is releasing revelation in the earth. This revelation knowledge is raising a Kingdom generation that is "no-nonsense." This remnant of daughters are feminine warriors with an ear to hear what the Father is saying. These warrior women have tapped into their God-given femininity and nestled into a place of intimacy that restores order. Order restores authority. Authority releases an anointing to obey God. Today, sis, do like Jesus did in John 17:1 — "Lift up your eyes to heaven and declare — Father, the hour has come." For what? For the revelation to release a revolution!

Journey Note

Today's Gem

Why are you trying to please God without faith? Hebrews 11:1 states, "Faith is the assurance of the things we hope for." Verse 6 tells us, "But without faith, it is impossible to please God. For whoever would come near to God must believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out." God has not moved and has not changed. So, why don't you believe Him when He says you are free? Why don't you trust that if you were born without it, you can live without it; without him; without them. Today, ladies, I challenge you to believe God and allow your hope to be the proof to the devil that if God said it, that settles it.

Journey Note

Today's Gem

Many of us use church as a trampoline out of our emotional and psychological valleys every week. We start from the bottom every Sunday morning, and consequently, church becomes a routine that never seems to satisfy. We expect the worship experience to lift us out of the low place we settle into — sometimes before we leave the parking lot. Thus, it's hard for us to comprehend that life can be lived in the high places ordained. Truth is, you can live in the high places of God when you expect an encounter with God on Sunday. This encounter is not just for an emotional release —  it's to give you exciting revelation of who you are in Him. Habakkuk 3:19 says, "The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me walk upon mine high places. Once God lifts you — keep going up."

Journey Note

Today's Gem

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son — that whosoever believes in, trusts in, and clings to Him, should not perish but have eternal life." Jesus loves you unconditionally. His love for you is not based on what you've done, but on who He is. Even when He is disappointed by your behavior, He still loves you. God's love for you is perfect. Even when you mess up — He keeps on loving you. You've been accepted in the beloved. An old African proverb says, "He who conceals his disease cannot expect to be cured." Once you believe and accept that you are loved by God, you then can begin accepting and loving yourself. His love will help you turn. Turn from what? Only you know what or who that is, back to where you belong — abiding in the love of God.

Journey Note

Today's Gem

We must do the work. The word of God works if you work it. Hebrews 4:12 declares that the Word of God is quick, powerful and full of life; sharper than the sharpest dagger; it penetrates deeply, even to the dividing of soul from spirit; yes, to the inmost parts thereof. It is skilled in judging and sifts the purpose, intents and thoughts of the heart. Follow the instructions in Psalms 119:11, which instruct us to hide the word in our hearts that we might not sin against the Lord. Find a scripture, commit it to memory and watch it work wonders in your life. Remember, we must do the work.

Journey Note

About this edition

• Publisher: Harlequin Kimani New Spirit
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1583146687
• ISBN 13: 9781583146682
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224