VL - Issue 6 - November 2012

REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE
Fall 2012
Peace
That Passes Understanding
Dis-Ease
of the Heart
Seeking God
A Change
Of Seasons
Plus…
Breaking The Budget Barrier • In His Wakes Update • Champion’s Heart News

A subscription to Victorious
Living wraps your friends in a
full year of comfort-filled, uplifting
illustrations of God's love at work
in real lives. For a donation of
any amount, you can remind your
friends and family how much
you care four times a year!
Subscribe Today!
There are three ways to
order your subscription:
• Online at championsheart.org
Click the Gift Subscription button.
• Call 352-478-2098 to place your
order. Office hours: Tues. - Thurs. 10-3
• Cut out the form below and mail
or fax it to our office.
Suggested donation $ 12 per gift
__________________________________________________
Name
__________________________________________________
Address
__________________________________________________
City | State | Zip
____________________________________________________
Gift Recipient’s Name
____________________________________________________
Recipient’s Address
____________________________________________________
Recipient’s City | State | Zip
__________________________________________________
Email
____________________________________________________
Recipient’s Email
__________________________________________________
Telephone
❒ Check attached (make payable to Champion’s Heart)
A card will be sent to recipients on your behalf to inform them of your gift!
If you would like to send more than one gift, please list names on a separate piece of paper.
❒ Mastercard ❒ VISA
Cardholder Name (please print) ________________________________________________________________________________
Card Number ________________________________________________________________
Expiration Date ______________
Credit Card Billing Address (required) ____________________________________________________________________________
Signature ________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you have any questions, please contact Renee Harp at 352.478.2098.
Mail completed forms to: Champion?s Heart ¥?PO BOX 968, 205 Magnolia Avenue, Keystone Heights, FL?32656 or fax to 1?888?

The
The Joshua Accounts is a biography, interwoven with Scriptural exposition
highlighting signs, wonders and miracles.
The author, Gary Fuss, is a graduate of Grove City College, PA, and
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and is a resident of the Lake Area
Region. Thirty years of experience in evangelism and pastoring took place
in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Florida. This
includes the United Methodist Church, Southern Baptist, Church of God,
Charismatic, and street ministry to the homeless.
The writer’s passion is for winning souls, making disciples, and exalting
the Lord Jesus Christ. He currently leads interdenominational weekly
“fire” prayer meetings called Ephesians 4. May the believers’ fruits be
clearly manifested, Holy Spirit giftings be in full activation, daily Holy
Communion be celebrated, and “Jesus” journaling abound.
Now Available!
xulonpress.com • amazon.com • bn.com
or call 352.361.7652
www.ephesians-4-prayer-fellowship.com
www.championsheart.org 3

HairbyJen
Free Consultations
at Sandi’s Mane Attraction
in Keystone Heights
352.792.4426
24 Hour Service • Free Estimates
Residential • Commercial • Drainfields
Owner / Operator Sam Nadler
keystoneplumbinginc@yahoo.com
Licensed & Insured • CFC1428583
Master Colorist/Stylist
Specializing in a look for just you...
FREE Customer Gift Package
for New and Returning Customers *
when you mention this ad
352-235-7811
*
New customers may opt to receive
10 % off color service in lieu of gift
THE CLIPPING CORNER
PET GROOMING
When Mater needs a haircut,
he calls Clipping Corner!
Let us treat your
pet like our baby!
2638 SR 21 South, Ste. 2
Melrose, Fl 32666
352-475-5270
C Page 1
ER 0000120
Licensed & Insured
Serving the area since 1972
Offering Energy Saving Products
Installations • Upgrades • Repairs
Residential & Commercial
Jimmy & Tanya Dennis
352.475.1713 • Cell 352.226.9070
RaysElectric2003@yahoo.com • PO Box 857 • Keystone Heights
LAW OFFICES OF
Charles Daniel Sikes, P.A.
Attorney at Law
352.473.0680 • 877.379.6217
Fax 352.473.0687
www.almostfamily.com
105 Commercial Drive • Keystone Heights, FL 32656
Accredited by JCAHO
Criminal, Civil and Administrative
Litigation and Appeals
904.964.2020
daniel_sikes@yahoo.com • Fax 904.964.9400
817 MacMahon Street • Starke, FL 32091
4 www.championsheart.org

FROM THE PUBLISHER
On A Quest!
Is it just me or are our
lives moving at an incredible
pace? It seems that no
matter how hard I try, I
can’t quite catch up, much
less get ahead of life’s
demands. Even now, I sit
here in total disbelief that it is already time for
another issue of Victorious Living!
If this is your first exposure to our quarterly
magazine, WELCOME! I pray the stories within these
pages encourage your heart and spur you on in your
life journey. If you are returning to Victorious Living, I
want to personally thank you for your support. Your
prayers, financial partnership, and testimonies of how
God is using Victorious Living to strengthen your faith
spur us on!
This issue is particularly dear to my heart, as it
deals with a subject that I have struggled with for
many years. It’s the subject of maintaining peace, joy,
and rest in the midst of this crazy thing called life!
I don’t know about you, but as a wife and mother
of three and as a woman who deals with chronic
illnesses, as well as leads a multi-faceted ministry,
I often get overwhelmed, anxious, and just plain
exhausted. It’s all I can do to get through some days,
much less get through them filled with joy and
peace! And rest? What is that?
As I’ve studied the life of Jesus, I can’t help but
notice the drastic difference between his life and
mine. Jesus knew His purpose in life. He also knew
that His time to fulfill this purpose was short. But
even with this knowledge, He was never in a hurry.
He always had time for people… little children,
His friends, followers, even people the world found
annoying and unworthy of time. Furthermore, He had
time for God and for Himself.
What I find incredibly fascinating is how much
Jesus enjoyed life, even though He knew what was to
come… the cross. Nothing and no one ever robbed
“My purpose is to
give them a rich
and satisfying life.”
John 10:10 (NLT)
Jesus of His joy and peace. He walked purposefully
and patiently, enjoying every step.
Like Jesus, I know my purpose in life. He has made
that quite clear. But in the midst of carrying out my
purpose, I haven’t always had time for people, much
less myself. And to be completely transparent, I
haven’t always had time for God either, even in the
midst of ministry. Amazing isn’t it, that I could get so
busy “doing” for God that I could miss Him and the
precious people He has put in my path? No, my heart
doesn’t always burst with joy, my mind doesn’t
always flow with peace, and my soul usually fights
the notion of rest.
Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m alone. In my life
journey, I’ve met many Christians who suffer with this
same disease… or should I say, DIS-EASE of the
heart. It’s ironic that the very things that Jesus came
to give us, so that we can enjoy life are the very
things we forfeit on a daily basis. What are these
things? Joy, peace, and rest.
Over the past few years, I’ve been on a purposeful
quest to take back these precious gifts that I have
so freely given away. I’ve also sought to learn how
to maintain joy, peace, and rest on a daily basis,
regardless of what is going on around me. I’m
realizing that people (and their expectations),
circumstances, finances, and my health do not have
to affect my emotions, which ultimately affects my
level of joy, peace, and rest. By trusting in the Lord
and resting on His promises, I can enjoy every day, no
matter what it brings.
I can’t say that I’ve mastered the art of maintaining
a restful spirit, but I can say with the help of the Lord
and some amazing people, I am getting a little closer
every day. These articles have been a great reminder
of how important rediscovering these gifts are to my
personal victory. I pray they will encourage your heart
and equip you for the battle as well!
God bless,
Publisher/Editor
Kristi Overton Johnson
Assistant Editor
Melinda Rodgers
Publication Advisors
Sandy Burdick
Maureen Lendzion
Contributors
Minta Bennett
Amanda Combass
Karen Dougherty
Bonnie Hagemann
Donna Hannah
Stephanie Hoffman
Maureen Lendzion
Kristi Overton Johnson
Carter McCain
Ivy Miller
Nate Miller
Carey Morford
Rob Morford
Melinda Rodgers
Amber Sapp
Angie Sapp
Barbara Chism Sullivan
Margaret Turner
Creative Director/Graphic Design
Amy Zackowski • amy@whisperingdog.com
Advertising
advertise@championsheart.net
Victorious Living
205 Magnolia Ave. • Keystone Hts, FL 32656
352.478.2098 • fax 888.837.9153
Victorious Living is published quarterly in Keystone Heights,
Florida. ©2012, all rights reserved by Victorious Living.
Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the
written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right
to refuse advertising. The publisher accepts no responsibility
for advertsiting errors beyond the cost of the advertisement
itself. The publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted
materials. All submitted materials subject to editing.
Victorious Living’s
MISSION
The mission of Victorious Living is to
provide hope for the heart and help for life
through the inspirational stories of people
just like you. We commit to provide REAL
STORIES by REAL PEOPLE so you can
experience REAL HOPE!
Victorious Living’s
SUBMISSIONS
Do you have a story of victory? Share it with
us! Your life story can change the life of
another. Submissions should be a maximum
400 to 600 words and are subject to editing.
To send your article submissions, go to
www.Championsheart.org and visit the
Victorious Living Magazine page.
www.championsheart.org 5

REFRESH YOUR SOUL
By Kristi Overton Johnson
DIS-ease
of the Heart
“Rest!”
I cannot tell you how irritated I get when I hear this word. For years, people
have been telling me, “Kristi, you need to rest, you need to slow down.” Even
during my prayer times, I sense God inviting me to “rest in Him.”
In my heart of hearts, I know I need to rest — mentally, physically, and
spiritually — but for the life of me, I haven’t been able to figure out how. I’ve
even studied “rest” from a Biblical perspective, but I have trouble transferring this
knowledge to life.
Recently, due to some unpleasant surgeries, I found myself in a situation where
I had to slow down and rest physically. For a type A person, I gave physical rest
my best shot. But during my “rest” attempts, I realized that physical rest isn’t
necessarily what the Great Physician has ordered.
Prior to my surgeries, I had booked a trip to the West Coast, so that my son
could attend a two-week acting camp. Many people questioned the wisdom of
taking such a long trip so close to my surgeries, but as a mom, I knew this was
something I needed to do. I also knew that it would be an opportunity to get the
physical rest my body needed, as I would have absolutely nothing to do in Los
Angeles, except chill out at the apartment while my son was at camp.
The funny thing is that even in a small apartment, even with no responsibilities,
even with no interruptions, I had found it very difficult to rest. Don’t get me wrong,
I laid low, I chilled out on the couch, I sat by the pool, I took slow walks, I even
took naps. But as I was lying around, my mind was still hard at work creating
things for me to do from the couch.
After a couple of days, I came to the conclusion that I have a disease… an
“I can’t rest” disease. As I jokingly confessed this to a friend, I realized that I truly
do have a disease; it is called DIS-EASE. I have “dis”-ease in my heart and in my
mind. Although I was lying around physically, I still had not found that place of rest
mentally and emotionally.
During my first day in California, I decided to take a walk while I listened to
some music and prayed. As I prayed, I felt the Lord saying, “I brought you out
here to be alone with Me, so that I could teach you to rest.” Crazy isn’t it? God
had to bring me all the way across the country, away from my husband, other
children, home, friends, and ministry, to teach me to rest. Maybe next year He can
take me to Hawaii, (just kidding).
I wish that I could say I mastered the art of rest, but I didn’t. I do feel I was a
good student, however. During my siesta, I learned a few things about myself.
First of all, I realized how hard it is for me to give myself permission to rest. Even
when I headed to the couch to rest my body, I found that I always made sure that
my mind had something to do like read my Bible, work on a project,
answer an email, or return a phone call. I also realized that even in my time of
physical rest, I still placed myself under some “law” that I needed to be doing
something constructive (and spiritual).
To be embarrassingly honest, I have always viewed people who do nothing as
being lazy. Something has to be wrong with someone who chooses to sit and do
nothing when they could be productive, right? As I Christian, I think I even
subconsciously view “vegging out” as a sin. Surely we are called to constantly
improve ourselves or “do” spiritual things like read our Bible, watch Christian
television, or pray.
But throughout the week, I realized that even in the midst of sitting still
physically and filling my mind with good things, I still wasn’t rested; I wasn’t
refreshed. I hadn’t found that place of rest God invites me to enter into in Hebrews
4. Why? I hadn’t found myself in Christ. Yes, I was spending time with Him in His
Word and in prayer, but I still hadn’t let go of my agenda, I still had not accepted
His call to “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
A couple of days into my trip, God revealed something else to me. After
dropping my son off at camp, I made my way to a local bakery. As I walked up to
the bakery door, a handsome, young African-American man greeted me. He had
squeezed himself and his belongings between two newspaper stands. From this
tight position, he smiled brightly, as he greeted those who passed him by.
After indulging myself, I made my way back to my car. Once again, I encountered
the man by the newspaper stands. Amazingly, he was just as full of joy as he was
an hour before. I stopped and we spoke briefly. Based on his countenance, I asked
him if he was a believer. That question sparked something within him that he
couldn’t contain, as he unashamedly began to talk about his Lord right there on
the curb with an excitement and passion that is rare. This man radiated Christ.
For days, I thought about this man. I don’t know his story,
I don’t even know if he was homeless. Maybe he was an
actor just chillin’ out between the newspaper stands, I
don’t know. The point of this story isn’t to make judgments
on his life; it is to reveal something that I learned
about myself through my encounter with him.
continued on page 7
6 www.championsheart.org

After meeting him, I kept asking myself the following questions: Why in the world
was he just sitting down between two newspaper stands? Why wasn’t he “doing”
something? It bugged me! He had so much potential. He had good looks, he was smart,
well spoken, young, strong, and charismatic… I didn’t get it.
As I reflected on this man during my prayer time the next day, a revelation hit me like
a ton of bricks. In the midst of this man’s “doing nothing” (as I would describe it), he possessed
the very things that I had been trying to attain in my “acts of service” for the Lord.
“Where’s MY joy? Where’s MY peace?” are questions I continually asked God. “How
can this man who seemingly has so little, be so full of joy and peace; when I, who as the
world would say, have so much, feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and never quite enough?
We both know you Lord, as our Savior. What’s up?”
God, in His grace, showed me that the answer lies in my willingness to cast my cares
on Him. Joy and peace could be found only when I became willing to rest at His feet. Kind
of sounds like the Mary and Martha scenario from Luke 10:38-42, huh?
Upon studying the word “rest,” I found two interesting facts. First of all, “rest”
in Greek, is a verb, it is an action we consciously choose to do. Secondly, “rest” can be
defined as a decision to “take my ease.” Who’s ease? God’s ease.
“Give me Your ease, Lord, so that I can move away from my DIS-EASE of not being able
to find rest!” That’s the prayer of my heart.
What does it mean to take His ease? I believe it’s coming to a place where we, as
another definition says, are “absent of our own efforts,” both mental and physical. It’s
coming to a place where we cast our cares (our worries, fears, troubles, agendas) on Him,
where we truly put our life in His hands, rather than trying to control it with our own.
How do we do this? It starts with realizing this vital truth: God loves us simply because
we are His children. When we realize God’s love for us isn’t dependent on what we “do”
or what we “become,” a burden is lifted and we are able to find rest.
The Bible says before the foundation of the world was laid, He knew us and He loved
us (Ephesians 1:4). Isn’t it amazing that God loved us before we ever did one thing in this
world? It isn’t our perfect attendance at church, reading our Bible every day of the year,
or abstaining from watching anything other than Christian television that makes God
love us. He can’t love us any more or any less than He already does. It isn’t our actions
that put a smile on God’s face; it is our faith, our trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6). When we
understand His love and trust it, we find rest.
I believe that this man had found such rest. He knew God’s love and trusted His
provision and in that place; he found joy, peace, and purpose. It was there that he was
able to reflect the glory of God from between two newspapers stands on the corner of a
bakery shop. What greater thing can we “do” than that? v
Kristi Overton Johnson is the founder of Champion’s Heart and
In His Wakes, divisions of KOJ Ministries. Kristi currently resides in the
Lake Area Region with her husband, Tim, and three children.
Table of Contents Fall 2012
In His Wakes continues to raise up
champions across the globe as one of the
central ministries of Champion’s Heart!
6 Dis-ease of the Heart Kristi Overton Johnson
8 Super Whatever Carey Morford
9 Peace That Passes Understanding
Stephanie Hoffman
10 This Is The Day That The Lord Has Made!
Barbara Chism Sullivan
11 Hey Sourpuss! Rob Morford
12 Open The Gift! Kristi Overton Johnson
14 All Things Minta Bennett
15 In Daddy’s Lap Amanda Combass
16 Seeking His Face Carter McCain
18 A Change Of Seasons Melinda Rodgers
19 Worth Fighting For Margaret Turner
20 Ministry News
21 The Name Above All Names Nate Miller
22 More Than Enough Karen Dougherty
23 The Most Important Thing Bonnie Hagemann
24 A Bright Star In A Dark World
Champion’s Heart Award
Jacob Jefferson
26 Because of The Anointing
Angie Sapp
read more on page 204
27 Are You A Fish Out Of Water? Ivy Miller
28 We Need To Budget? Amber Sapp
29 Aydin’s Joy Donna Hannah
29 Are You Enjoying The Ride?
Kristi Overton Johnson
30 No Bumps, Miss Kristi!
Kristi Overton Johnson
31 He Has Overcome Maureen Lendzion
www.championsheart.org 7

FRESH PERSPECTIVE
Super Whatever
by Carey Morford
Have we made work (cleaning
our home, finishing that last
project at work, appearing like
we are the indispensable person
in our workplace, running the
kids from here to there, or even
singing in the choir or serving
the poor) our idol? Have we
"carved it in" our lives and then
bowed down to worship it?
Do we think it will save us?
My amazing sister-in-law, who travels the world,
told me that we Americans are the only people on
the planet that work non-stop. Some countries take
two-plus-hour lunches in the middle of the workday
and some countries take a nap in the middle of their
day. I hear that there are a few companies (read
Google) in the US that offer benefits like this, but as
a whole… we are a non-stop-working people. It is a
trait in which many of us take great pride, and it may
very well be the thing that has kept our country
going. I'm in no way trying to make a political or
nationalistic statement, but I wonder if this very ethic
that keeps our country moving, isn't the thing that
will kill us in the end.
We all know that in our culture hard work is
valued. We know this because we feel the pressure.
We feel the pressure to keep up with everything
and everyone. We think our homes should be
clean, dinner should be healthy, every one of
our family’s needs must be well-attended, and we
should be working 8-10 hours at a good paying job
that makes us feel fulfilled and joyous. We think that
if we just work harder, longer, smarter; then we'll
be able to accomplish all of this.
As a follower
of Jesus though,
I know that the
best way to live
includes rest. I'm
not a machine.
I'm a human, made
in the image of God
who rested after creating the
heavens and the earth. I follow the One
True God who said:
“Don’t make idols for yourselves; don’t
set up an image or a sacred pillar for yourselves,
and don’t place a carved stone in
your land that you can bow down to
in worship. I am God, your God.
Keep my Sabbaths; treat my Sanctuary
with reverence. I am God. If
you live by my decrees and obediently
keep my commandments, I will
send the rains in their seasons, the ground
will yield its crops and the trees of the field their
fruit. You will thresh until the grape harvest and the
grape harvest will continue until planting time; you’ll
have more than enough to eat and will live safe and
secure in your land.” (Leviticus 26)
Have we made work (cleaning our home, finishing
that last project at work, appearing like we are the
indispensable person in our workplace, running the
kids from here to there, or even singing in the choir
or serving the poor) our idol? Have we “carved it in”
our lives and then bowed down to worship it? Do
we think it will save us? Isn’t it interesting that in
our cultural context, the commandment immediately
following the one about idols is about the Sabbath?
The Sabbath- a time to rest, a time to remember we
were created, a time to remember we are not God,
but created in the image of Him.
Rob Bell, the author of Velvet Elvis, wrote an excellent
chapter about rest and soul care. He explains
that we often think of the Sabbath as a day of the
week, but it is really about how we live. Before he
describes living in the Sabbath, he talks about idols:
"I meet so many people who have
super-whatever rattling around in their head.
They have this person they are convinced
they are supposed to be, and their
super-whatever is killing them. They have
this image they picked up over the years of
how they are supposed to look and act and
work and play and talk, and it's like a voice
that never stops shouting in their ear.
And the only way to not be killed by
it is to shoot first.
Yes, that is what I meant to write.
You have to kill your super-whatever.
And you have to do it right now.
Because your super-whatever will rob you
of today and tomorrow and the next day
until you take it out back and end its life.”
It can be a little scary to kill our super-whatever, to
knock down our idols; but read the verses again. If
we live His way, we will “have more than enough to
eat and we will live safe and secure in our land.” v
Carey Morford is the Media Specialist at Keystone Elementary and President of Seeds of Grace, Inc.
Visit their site at Seedsofgrace-highridge.blogspot.com. She is married to her very best friend Isaac
Morford, and they have two daughters, Layla and Rigby.
8 www.championsheart.org

Peace
That Passes Understanding
by Stephanie Hoffman
I did not know what this meant until I was alone
in my room one day. I was watching a popular Christian
program when the host spoke words that greatly
impacted my life.
He said, “There is someone listening to the program
that has a lot of fear in their heart. God is
releasing you from these chains right now. In Jesus’
name, Amen.”
After his prayer, I made some tea and sat on the
porch. All of a sudden, a wave of overwhelming peace
came over me. It was like a warmth. I felt as though
God Himself was wrapping His arms around me.
Suddenly, I had the urge to do something for my
parents, so I got up and mowed the lawn. While
mowing, I felt a text come through the phone in my
pocket. I ignored it and continued to praise God while
mowing the grass. I decided that whoever it was, they
could wait. I was enjoying my time with God.
After mowing the grass, I went inside to cool
down. I remembered the text and took my phone out
to read it. It was a text from someone from my past,
someone who would normally cause me to go into
great panic. But instead of panicking and becoming
fearful, I unexpectedly tossed my phone aside. For
the first time in my life, I didn’t feel afraid. In fact, I
ended up having a great time with my family (who
were excited I had cut the grass)!
As a young child, I went through some tough situations.
As I’ve grown into a woman, I haven’t been
able to grow out of the fears that were birthed in my
heart as a child. They often paralyze me, causing me
to panic and often make irrational decisions.
Fear has held me captive for so long. It’s like I am
its prisoner. Because I’ve lived under fear’s control for
most of my life, I’ve never really known any other way.
Until that day when that man prayed for my freedom!
For the first time in my life I experienced peace
that passes all understanding, peace promised to me
in Philippians 4:6-8. I finally felt what it was like to
be free. It was an incredible moment.
I realize now that I don’t have to live in fear. It’s
not where God wants me to live. Isaiah 43:1-4
instructs me to lay aside my fears:
“Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.”
I realize now that because I am a child of God,
I don’t have to live under fear’s control. I’ve been
redeemed from it! Through His Son, Jesus, God paid
the price for my freedom… freedom from sin and
from fear. I’m so thankful my eyes were opened to a
new way of living.
Through my experience, I realize that God has my
back and that He cares about me. He even cares
about my emotions. I also learned the importance of
keeping my thoughts on Him. As I kept worshiping
God, I was given peace. And as I chose to keep my
eyes on Him rather than focus on what could cause
me fear (the text and person behind the text), I remained
in that place of peace. What a wonderful
place to be! v
Stephanie Hoffman grew up in the
Lake Area Region, and is studying
journalism at Santa Fe College. She
dreams of missionary work and helping
people to overcome hardships.
LOST:
peace • joy • rest
We asked our readers to share the
things that cause them to lose
their joy, peace, and rest.
Here are a few of the responses we received:
Kenny from Texas: Fear causes me to
lose my joy and peace.
a
Anonymous from Florida: I lose my
joy, peace, and sense of rest when I do
not spend time with God. I need to get
up early and read my Bible. I need to
spend time hearing what God wants
to say to me. To keep my peace and joy
through the day, I praise Him. I look
for what He is doing around me. This is
not done legalistically, but with joy. I
constantly humble myself before God
and ask Him to show me where I lack
humility. Without this there is no joy,
peace, or sense of rest.
a
K.C. from Florida: I lose my joy,
peace, and sense of rest when I start
to worry about outcomes and results.
My mind then becomes focused on
what could go wrong or what others
might think. As a result, I lose all hope
in what could have been.
a
Margaret from North Carolina: I
have two teenage boys. I often lose
my joy and peace because of my anxious
thoughts about their life. I want
so much for them to love God and to
choose what's right over what’s
wrong. I want them to do well in
school and sports. I pray about these
things daily and lay them down before
the Lord, only to pick them right back
up again! It is a daily struggle for me
to put my son’s lives in God’s hands.
a
Milissa from Caliornia: There is a
marked difference in my overall attitude
when I do not meet with God
regularly. I begin to doubt and lose
confidence in His plan for my life. The
longer I allow time to pass without
intimacy with Him, the more unsettled
and discontentment creeps in.
It is God’s desire that I be free from all
anxiety and distressing care.” 1 Corinthians 7:32
www.championsheart.org 9

THIS IS THE DAY THE
LORD HAS MADE!
by Barbara Chism Sullivan
“Don’t you know how bad things are?” people
often ask.
Yes, I do. I don’t deny that terrible things are happening
every day. But regardless of what I see with
my natural eyes or hear with my natural ears, I know
God is good and I know He loves me. That makes all
the difference in the world.
I don’t need things to be perfect to have a smile
on my face and joy in my heart. Why? Well, because
there is a difference between joy and happiness.
Happiness is dependent on circumstances and what
goes on around me. Joy is in my spirit. Joy is a gift
from God that I chose to receive. It is a gift available
to any believer who will embrace it and walk in it.
I was not born with joy. It is not a part of my personality.
Living in joy was a choice I made when I accepted
Jesus as my Savior. When I made this decision
in 1973, I remember asking the Lord to let me make
a difference in this world. I wanted people to look at
my life and see a real Jesus. I wanted them to experience
His love through me. I knew that as a Christian
I needed to live a life that shined for Him, a life that
looked different than the world’s. Otherwise, why
would the world be drawn to Him?
Upon my asking, the Lord gave me His love for
those around me. He also gave me His joy to be a
witness through every circumstance of life. The really
cool part is that as I’ve been willing, Jesus has
touched many lives. He has done all the work. I just
flow with Him.
In 1973, I didn’t know all the problems I would
face, but the Lord did. His love and His joy have enabled
me to have victory over incredible circumstances,
circumstances meant to destroy me.
In 2004, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I
went through surgery as well as chemotherapy and
radiation treatments. Now that wouldn’t make anyone
happy, would it? Of course not, it didn’t make
me happy either.
But even in the midst of some dark days, I still had
joy because I still had God. I knew He was by my side
and I knew He would never fail me. This fact alone
Circumstances will
come and go, but the
joy of the Lord is forever.
May you experience this
same peace and joy as
you experience a life
with Him.
gave me joy. This joy encouraged my heart and carried
me through. The Lord’s joy also gave me strength
to face each day with purpose and hope.
Not only was my faith in God’s character, a source
of joy, but God’s Word brought joy as well. I clung to
His Word. I chose to believe it over my circumstances
and feelings. Psalms 118:17 was a verse that particularly
spoke to my heart, “I shall not die, but live and
testify to the Glory of the Lord forever.”
I shared this verse with many people during my
treatments. In fact, I backed up the blood draw room
one day because I was sharing it with other patients.
When I apologized to the doctor, he told me to back
it up anytime because people needed to hear what I
had to share. He knew they needed hope and joy.
Later in 2007, I was diagnosed with cancer in my
jaw. As I prayed before the surgery, the Lord gave me
Habakkuk 3:17-19, “Although the fig tree shall not
blossom… and there shall be no herd in the stalls,
yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of
my salvation.”
The jaw surgery made my breast cancer experience
seem like a headache. I found myself on a feeding
tube, hooked up to IV’s, and in a nursing home
for rehabilitation for two months.
One day I was in my room feeling down and the
Lord said, “I gave you my joy and there are people
here who need it.” That was enough to get me up
and moving! I made the decision to go down the hall
and visit other patients. Psalms 118:24 became our
theme verse, “This is the day the Lord has made, [we]
will rejoice and be glad in it.”
What a difference this decision made for myself
and for those around me! As I took my eyes off my
circumstances and put them on God and others, my
joy returned in full measure. As it swelled within me,
it spilled out on others and strengthened them in
their journey as well. It also caused them to see Jesus
at work in me. Wasn’t this the very thing I had asked
God for years before? A life that pointed people to
Him? A life of love? A life that made a difference?
I have no idea what the future holds. I really don’t
need to know. All I need to know is that my Lord is
faithful and He is right here with me every step of
the way. And when my steps on earth finally come to
an end, I know my God will be waiting for me with
arms open wide.
Circumstances will come and go, but the joy of
the Lord is forever. May you experience this same
peace and joy as you experience a life with Him. v
The joy of the Lord
is my strength!
Nehemiah 8:10
Barbara Sullivan has lived in Keystone
Heights, FL., for over 40 years. She is a
retired school teacher who now spends
her time volunteering at Community
Church and other ministries, including
Champion's Heart.
10 www.championsheart.org

Hey Sourpuss!
by Rob Morford
Just one look at television and it’s easy to become
overwhelmed by the news. Elections, wars, unemployment
rates, gas prices, injustices, among other
negative things, make the headlines every day.
Negativity is all around us and this negativity is
infecting the church. I am hearing as much grumbling
and complaining coming out of the mouths of
Christians as I do non-Christians. It ought naught be
so! An “ain’t it awful” attitude has infected the
church and sourpuss Christians are everywhere!
The world is in the “pursuit of happiness” and as
the author of Ecclesiastes wrote, they find “life is
vanity and vexation of spirit.” Many people bring this
same pursuit of happiness into Christianity and end
up with the same disappointing result.
The confusion comes from the interchange of two
words: happiness and joy. They are not the same.
Happiness is the world’s counterfeit for joy.
Happiness is an outward feeling of pleasure or the
contentment of doing well or getting what you
wanted. Happiness is totally driven by circumstances
and so can be associated with good luck or good
fortune. It is a feeling, which makes it flesh-driven
rather than spirit-driven. The world gives happiness,
and the world can take it away.
Joy, on the other hand, is not the world’s and it
cannot be taken away. God supernaturally places joy
on the inside of every believer, and it flows outwardly.
D.L. Moody wrote, “Happiness is caused by things
that happen around me, and circumstances will mar
it; but joy flows on through trouble; joy flows on
through the dark; joy flows in the night, as well as
in the day; joy flows through persecution and
opposition. The Lord gives His people perpetual joy
when they walk in obedience to Him.”
Last year I had the privilege of going on a mission’s
trip to Haiti and witnessing this perpetual joy. When
I got off the plane, I was shocked to witness the
poverty and devastation surrounding these people’s
lives. I witnessed the
same when I visited
the jungles
of Guyana and
built churches
for people who
lived in stick
houses with
no electricity
or running
water.
Circumstances and good fortune had skipped over
these countries. Yet in every church and every
orphanage I visited (where Jesus had truly been
accepted), I witnessed a joy and a peace that was
greater than anything I’ve ever seen here in America.
Their joy had a voice and it came out in praise and
worship. If there are people who should have a right
to grumble and complain, it was these people.
How sad that in a land with so much, we have
such little joy. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “I sometimes
wonder whether all pleasures are substitutes for joy.”
In America, the pleasures of life and the offerings
of the world have become a substitute for joy. We
depend on things, people, and circumstances to make
us feel good and happy. When things don’t go our
way, we complain, we worry, and we grow frustrated.
In doing these things, we miss the one thing that will
give us victory in life… joy.
God has given us the gift of joy to help us
overcome the trials of life. That is why we are told
over and over again in the Bible to rejoice. From
a prison cell, Paul wrote to the Philippians and
commanded them to “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
Paul knew that joy was the doorway to victory.
The ability to make it through any circumstance
is on the inside of every Christian. Nothing we
experience in life ever catches God by surprise. God’s
joy and His peace can see us through anything. We
can find joy in the midst of our messes! Helen Keller
once said, “You will find joy in overcoming obstacles.”
But we must choose joy. We must choose peace.
How? By choosing to trust God.
There comes a time in every believer’s life where
we must decide whether or not we are going to trust
God. We must decide whether or not we believe our
life is truly in His hands. If we trust Him, then we can
live in perpetual joy.
Philippians 4:4-7 says, “The Lord is at hand. Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God, and the peace of God which
surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.”
As we take Paul’s advice and trust that the Lord
is at hand, we will experience joy. And when we
experience joy, we will experience victory. And most
importantly our sourpuss lives will be transformed into
an incredible witness to this lost and dying world. v
Rob Morford is pastor of Community
Church of Keystone Heights. He and
his wife, Dotty have three children and
two grandchildren.
LOST:
peace • joy • rest
We asked our readers to share the
things that cause them to lose
their joy, peace, and rest.
Here are a few of the responses we received:
Paul from Tennessee: My busy life
always makes me feel like I've missed
completing a task. I don’t get the rest
I need because my mind isn’t at ease.
a
Barbara from Texas: When I focus on
the problems, and not the Problem
Solver.
a
Doug from Indiana: Worry about our
leaders, country, fuel prices, changing
government, current events, and notso-nice-to-me
people at work.
a
Kevin from Arkansas: I lose my joy
and peace when I take my eyes off
Jesus… when my heart and mind is not
focused on Him, what He's done for
me, and what He calls me to do. Significant
trials in life whether death, loss of
job, drop in income, family relationships,
etc. can cause my vision to get
fuzzy. Eventually, when I'm at my wit's
end and can't see any other option, I'm
reminded to leave those struggles at
the Cross. At the other extreme, seasons
of good tidings can also cause my
vision to get fuzzy. It's easy to take
things for granted and forget I need
God. The fall is soon to come when the
heart and mind think that way.
a
Kandace from Florida: Unfortunately
I allow other people to steal my joy,
which can lead to unrest and lack of
peace. People can be so disheartening
- even those we call friends. It's hard
when people disappoint you with their
words or actions. For me it takes spending
quiet time with God to find that
peace and joy again. He reminds me
that we are all a work in progress and
we all have flaws. Praying for them
(and myself!) brings peace in knowing
that God can restore all things.
a
Anonymous: People who don’t plan
ahead and expect me to jump through
hoops to clean up their mistakes.
www.championsheart.org 11

Open The Gift!
by
I enjoy getting gifts. I also enjoy giving them. I love
watching someone’s face light up when they open a
package and receive something needed or perhaps
unexpected.
I imagine God loves to give gifts, too. I bet His
heart grows warm when His children accept His gifts
and enjoy them on a daily basis. Don’t you get
excited when you see someone enjoying a gift you
have given them? I believe God is no different.
Did you know that joy is a gift from God? It’s
a supernatural gift. Joy isn’t something we can
drum up on our own accord. “God gives wisdom,
knowledge, and joy to those who please Him” (Eccl
2:26). The Bible tells us that we please God through
our faith (Heb 11:6), so if we have faith in Him, we
can have joy!
So why is it that so many Christians seem to be
missing this incredible gift? If joy is ours for the
taking, why do so many of us have hearts of anxiety,
fear, doubt, or shame? Why are so many of us
running around like chickens with our heads cut off
(sorry, I’m a southern girl) looking confused, tired,
and exhausted? Could it be that we have failed
to open this gift, or perhaps substituted something in
its place?
Lately I’ve spent time studying the gift of joy. I’m
on a quest to discover it, live in it, and ultimately
share it with others. Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
“You make me to be blessed and make me
exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence!”
(Psalms 21:6).
Joy is a natural by-product of a right relationship
with the Lord. When we spend time in the presence
of God through prayer, worship, and meditating on
His Word, joy will naturally bubble up within us and
overflow into the lives of others.
Just like an orange tree naturally produces
oranges, Christians should naturally produce joy. Joy
is a fruit of the Spirit. As God’s Spirit is allowed to
rule and reign in our lives, joy and other great gifts
are produced. “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of
fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”
(Gal. 5:22-23).
As we get rooted in God’s Word and walk in
obedience to it, our lives will bear much fruit
(John 10). I’ve come to realize that my
level of joy is in direct proportion
to the amount of God’s
Word I have stored
in my heart. “The
commands of the
Lord are right,
Kristi Overton Johnson
Shout with joy to the Lord,
all the earth! Worship the Lord
with gladness. Come before
Him, singing with joy!
Psalms 100:1-2
bringing joy to the heart!” (Psalms 19:8). The
more time I spend in the Word, meditating on it and
walking in its truths, the more joy I have.
When we get away from the Word and the will of
God, we lose our joy. Take David for example;
because of his sin with Bathsheba, he had lost his
joy. We can see from Psalms 51 that he desperately
wanted it back. “Purify me from my sins, and I will be
clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh
give me back my joy again!” David knew the only
way back to joy was to get back in the will of God.
These verses opened my eyes to some incredible
truths. If I’m failing to produce joy (and the other
gifts in my life), then something is wrong. Perhaps
I’m not securely rooted in Christ. Perhaps I’m moving
forth in my own reasoning’s and efforts, rather than
trusting the Lord. Perhaps I’m allowing the things of
the world to replace the truth of the Word. Ouch!
Joy is a free gift, but I’m learning that we have to
make some choices if we want to live in it. First of all,
we have to choose God. We have to choose to walk
in His ways and in obedience to His Holy Word. And
when we stray, like David, we must repent; we must
ask God for forgiveness and return to Him.
We must also make a choice to rejoice! Our words
have incredible power. “A man hath joy by the
answer of His mouth” (Proverbs 15:23).
How do we answer the situations of life? Do we
speak negative words? Do we complain? Do we tell
the whole world about all the terrible things that are
going on? Ouch, again!
continued on page 13
12 www.championsheart.org

In Psalms 9:1-2, David says: “I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of
all the marvelous things You have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will
sing praises to your name, O Most High.”
David made a choice to praise God and tell of His marvelous works regardless of
all the incredible circumstances surrounding him. Because of his choice, he was filled
with joy rather than despair.
Right now you may be saying, “But Kristi, you don’t know all the things that are
going on in my life! There’s no way you can expect me to have joy!”
David lived in a cave, hiding from large armies seeking to take his life. His own
son tried to kill him. His spouse mocked him. He lost a child. He killed a man and
committed adultery. David had numerous reasons to wallow in pity and shame. But
nevertheless, he chose joy. And because he chose joy, he was able to rise up and move
forward time and time again.
We can all find something to praise God for. If nothing else, we can praise Him for
saving us! “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For He has dressed me
with the clothing of salvation…” (Isaiah 61:10).
Our circumstances don’t dictate our level of joy! We do. God has already given it
to us, it’s up to us to have it, or not.
I pray we choose joy. Lord knows we need it. As believers, joy is our key to victory.
It is what will help us through this incredible journey called life! It’s our strength
(Nehemiah 8:10).
I know it’s tempting to worry. I know it’s easy to get down. Every day we are
presented with opportunities to just plain freak out! Every day, things and people
come at us, seemingly knocking our feet right out from underneath us.
But life’s surprises don’t have to rule over us. As we praise God in spite of our
circumstances, we will be strengthened for the journey, able to stand, and able to
tread upon the heights (Habakkuk 3:17-19)!
The key to our victory is found in Philippians 4:4-8. If we choose to rejoice instead
of worrying and complaining, if we chose to go to God in prayer with an attitude of
thanksgiving, we will experience incredible peace. And where there’s peace, there’s
power to move forward! “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace…”
(Isaiah 55:12).
If you’re like me, you may not always FEEL like praising God. You may not always
feel like following Him. But it’s time we set our feelings aside. Our victory depends
on it! As we make the choice to rejoice, something inside us will change! Our mourning
will be turned into joyful dancing (Psalms 30:11). I’m ready to dance, aren’t you?
“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come
before Him, singing with joy” (Psalms 100:1-2).
Joy is an inward emotion so powerful that it expresses itself outwardly through our
words, songs, instruments, and yes, even dancing. Even the earth shouts for joy
(Psalms 96:12). When we are filled with joy, others will take note because they will
hear our notes of praise (Nehemiah 12:43, Psalms 100)!
So how about that gift of joy? Have you received it? Are you living in it every day
of your life? Or does life have you by the reigns?
It’s time to open up God’s precious gift and put it to use! As we do, our lives will
never be the same. It truly is the gift that will keep on giving… for generations
to come. v
DON’T GIVE
GOD’S GIFT
OF JOY AWAY!
John 10:10 says that Satan comes to steal, kill, and
destroy the abundant life Christ died to give us. More
than anything, Satan wants to steal your joy and your
peace! He knows joy is your strength and peace is your
power. He knows these gifts are what will keep
you moving forward in life. He knows they are your
witness to the world for Christ.
The awesome thing is Satan has no right to your
gifts. God’s gifts are yours to keep. He gave them to
you for your victory here on earth. The only way Satan
can take your joy and peace is if you give them away.
So what are the things that Satan uses to rob us of
our peace? What are the things we encounter in life
that tend to steal our joy? Here’s a small list:
• Fear, guilt, shame, pride and other emotions
• Expectations that we place on ourselves
• Expectations that others place on us
• Commitments and “busyness”
• Conflict between others and ourselves
• Conflict between people around us
• People’s comments and actions
• Being over-extended financially
• Trying circumstances
It’s time for us to get alert and realize the traps Satan
sets before us. It’s also time to realize our own tendency
to overextend ourselves and put ourselves into
situations that tend to steal our joy. As we become alert
and make changes to our lives, victory will be ours.
“Stay alert! Watch out for
your great enemy, the devil. He
prowls around like a roaring lion,
looking for someone to devour.”
(I Peter 5:8)
www.championsheart.org 13

AllThings
by Minta Bennett
“Oh no, not this again!” That’s all I could say as I
was being hoisted into the ambulance. My beloved
husband stood over me, assuring me that I was all
right and that everything would be okay. When I
asked what had happened, I was told that I had
a seizure. Tears streamed down my face as the
ambulance rushed me to the hospital.
Once again, the smells of the hospital, the polite
hurriedness of the hospital staff, and an overwhelming
feeling of sorrow, embarrassment, humiliation,
and fear were all scenes so familiar to me.
As time passed, my memory started to come back
to me. After what seemed an eternity, my family
finally came into the room. My son and daughter
looked so sad. I could tell that my daughter had been
crying. My husband, Jason, came in behind them.
He had a strength about him, a confidence that reassured
me that everything was going to be all right.
In my heart I kept asking God, “Why?”
Hadn’t I been through enough? Where was my
protection? Why now, when I was finally feeling like
my old self again?
Three years ago, I almost
died. I became deathly ill with
a “condition” most doctors
had never heard of. The treatment
took away my hair and
Minta is married
and the mother of
two teenagers. Her
passion is helping
people walk in victory
through mentoring
and tutoring.
my strength. Most days I was
so weak and sick that I could
barely get out of bed. My
family traveled this journey
with me. They were with me
when I was throwing up so
violently that I could not even
raise my head. For nine months
I was in this condition. It was a
daily battle just to survive. It has
taken me years to recover from the
effects of that “condition” and treatment,
and now this!
I felt forsaken. I was angry that I had trusted
the Lord. I was angry that I thought I was better, only
to be right back in the hospital again. Sometimes I
feel as though every time I rise up and take a step
forward, I get knocked back down again.
Believe it or not, I am
truly grateful for all that has
happened to me for through
my trials, I have come to know
God in an incredible way.
I’ve realized that whether
or not I can see or feel God,
He is with me… Always!
In the days that followed, I had many doctor
appointments and all kinds of tests. With every
appointment, I grew increasingly hurt over the
feeling that God was nowhere to be found. On one
particular afternoon, I had to go through an EEG
(Electroencephalography). I was so frustrated
and angry about having to go through this neurological
test.
As my anger grew, so did the weight on my chest.
I felt like I was carrying a hundred pound weight
around with me. I knew deep down in my heart that
I had to let the anger go. I could not continue
feeling this way.
As the electrodes were being placed on my head,
I started to pray (even though nothing in me wanted
to). I began to remind myself that God had created
me and that He knew I would be going through
these trials. I began to find comfort that none of this
was taking Him by surprise.
During the entire test, I thanked God. I repented
for being so angry with Him. I also began to praise
Him for anything I could think of.
When the test was over and I got up from the
table, the weight was gone. All of the feelings of
anger, bitterness, and confusion were gone. My spirit
was renewed! God had lifted every burden from my
heart. I suddenly knew that I would be all right and
that the Lord was indeed right there with me.
My attitude has changed so much since the day of
my seizure. Believe it or not, I am truly grateful for
all that has happened to me for through my trials, I
have come to know God in an incredible way. I’ve
realized that whether or not I can see or feel God,
He is with me… Always!
Recently while I was reading my Bible, I felt God
leading me to Romans 8:28:
“And we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love Him, who have been
called according to His purpose.”
I had read these words so many times before.
“Really God, THIS is what you want me to read?”
I questioned.
He spoke to my heart, “Read it again.”
As I did, I stopped at these two words…
“ALL THINGS.”
It was like a switch had been turned on. I suddenly
realized that all the things of the last three years…
all the pain, all the sickness, all the experiences…
were being worked together for good in my life. Even
this! These things were perfecting me and making
me more like Him. These things had purpose.
A peace ran over me like never before.
Since that day, my prayer has been for God to make
all things, whatever they are, to work together for my
good, but most importantly, to work together for His
glory. I know that if I let Him, He can use my trials to
make me into a better person and equip me for all He
has for me to do. In the meantime, I’ll continue to
thank Him for every day and everything. v
14 www.championsheart.org

In Daddy’s Lap
by Amanda Combass
A verse was brought up during church one Sunday that stuck in my head for weeks to follow. It comes
from Deuteronomy 33:12 and says, "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him
all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders."
Rest is not something that is easy for most people, and most certainly not easy for me. I like
to have goals and to constantly strive to accomplish that next thing on my list. Too often I feel
useless and insufficient when I do not have something to work on.
For example, my training in the Air Force is on hold until January due to my missing class
start dates because of an unexpected surgery. Do I still go to work every day? Of course.
But is there anything for me to do? Not really. Rather than appreciating the time to
get caught up on college classes and required tests for the military, I have been
driving myself crazy! I keep giving myself a hard time for not being in training,
something I can’t even control.
Why is this? Why is there such an issue when it comes to rest? I don't just
mean physically either, I mean in our relationships with Jesus. Why do we,
why do I, struggle so much with the concept of resting secure in Him?
For me, I think it is that I feel I have something to prove, that I have to
validate myself. I lose sight of the truth that I have nothing to prove! Jesus
took me when I was at my worst, looked past all the dirt in my life, and
chose me to be His beloved. He wants me to stop fighting and to allow Him
to be my validation. Not an easy task, or an overnight one either.
Oh what a beautiful picture… that God wants us to rest securely between
His shoulders and allow Him to be our shield. That's where I want to be. All
this working and running around trying to show that I'm strong enough or
good enough is getting me nowhere. It’s time to climb up in my Daddy's lap and
rest between His shoulders. Will you join me? v
Amanda is a resident of Keystone
Heights, FL. She is currently
serving in the Air Force. You can
follow Amanda on her blog at
www.chosenbytheone.wordpress.com
www.championsheart.org 15