Ralene Faye Berry's Blog, page 2

How to Walk in Your Calling!

Each of us have a divine calling upon our lives that we were created to reach our full potential. We often limit ourselves by not recognizing that we have a calling and walking boldly in it.
There are three ways successfully walk in your calling to reach your divine purpose:
1.  Humbly walk promoting unity and love!     Know your self-worth yet be humble and not prideful that you elevate yourself by devaluating    others. Have a spirit of love, giving and togetherness welcoming the gift of reciprocity. 
2. Gently approach life with an attitude of compassion and grace!    Find the balance between being one who is angry all the time and one who is never angry compassionately understanding and loving others.
3. Patiently endure all situations to the end!    Recognize situations may come but they do not define you but are only temporary to build your endurance. With patience and focus, perservere to the end.
Today, I encourage you to walk in your calling and be who you were created to be! You are Beautiful!!

Never forget As I encourage you, I encourage myself. Be encouraged!Check out our page atWww.facebook.com/RaleneBerryAnd our new book at www.RaleneSpeaks.com

Sparkle & Shine

As motivational speaker, minister, encouragement author, mother and grandmother, I periodically have those days where I ask, "Who encourages the encourager?" 
Those days that if we hear our name called one more time! If our phone rings one more time! If one more problem needs to be solved, we may runaway! 
Despite those moments, we must choose to keep sparkling and shining, not just for others but for ourselves. Each morning when I wake up, I am blessed to see another day and realize that is the purpose for my sparkle. I sparkle to embrace each day with vibrancy, joy, and sunshine. So when someone or something comes to steal me of my sparkle, I take myself back to that moment when I woke up and refocus! I answer my original question, "I must encourage, the encourager!" Talking to myself, I readjust, realign, and recapitulate! My purpose! 
Today, I encourage you to keep sparkling and do not let anyone EVER dull your SPARKLE! You were designed to SPARKLE!

Never forget As I encourage you, I encourage myself. Be encouraged!Check out our page atWww.facebook.com/RaleneBerryAnd our new book at www.RaleneSpeaks.com

GOD's NOT DEAD: More than a Movie

Recently, our brief study of evolution in my Man, Sin and Salvation Course intrigued me despite my firm belief in creation based on biblical teaching.  I recall Dr. Dean Haywood’s lecture where he taught us the evolution theory that “several billion years ago, chemicals in the sea, acted on by sunlight and cosmic energy, formed themselves by chance into one or more single-celled organisms, which have since developed through beneficial mutations and natural selection into all living plants, animals, and people.”  I also listened closely as he shared with the class about those that believe that God directed the process to create the world that which is the process of naturalistic evolution. If I am honest, even though I was intrigued, I glossed over this part of the information because if it was not my belief system why must I know it? I understood it yet did not get too deep into it.As I sat in the movie theater ready to be “entertained” this weekend, everything I learned in class came back to me and I realized what God was saying to me. Evangelism! How can we share the faith with non-believers if we are unaware of their beliefs? The movie, God’s Not Dead, chronicled the journey of a young college student who challenged his Philosophy professor who required all students in his class to write that “God is Dead” on a paper at the beginning of the class. This student, as a Christian, could not write such a thing and stood up for what he believed at a great cost. In the process, he evangelized many souls that did not know God including the atheist professor. The young student was challenged to address the evolution theory, the same ones that I learned in class, and refute it not just with biblical truth but moral and ethical findings. He even used the words of trusted scientists and philosophers that the professor and his peers could relate to. Often when evangelizing we must meet people where they are in order to reach them, as God meets people where they are. People do not believe for many reason therefore as believers we must have an understanding first of God’s Word, the fall of man and finally what they believe in and do not believe in. After the movie, I came home and immediately downloaded the book with a thirst for more. It is not like the movie which pleased me because my thirst was centered on the message God had for His people. By understanding what others thinks we can evangelize and win more souls for Christ which is what we are all called to do. We spend a great deal of time doing other things yet this is the great commission. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 (NLT), “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Allow God to transform those as they learn who God is. The books official website states, “God’s Not Dead serves as a guide to understanding the arguments of new atheists such as Dawkins, Harris, Krauss and Mahrer, and an easily digestible reference to the teachings of scholars such as Darwin and Nietzsche.”
I was transformed and blessed by the movie God’s Not Dead.

Purpose Driven Life: Day Five

"God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out" 1 Corinthians 10:13 (TEV)
Day Five of Purpose driven life blessed my soul. The point to ponder is Life is a test and a trust.  
What stood out the most about life being a test was that despite the numerous tests we may endure God has given us everything we need to pass the tests. No matter how painful the tests may seem at the time we can TRUST that through our faith in God we have the strength to endure. Wow. That mean we do not need to do any but rely on God! That should take weight off of us when we are worrying about if we are going to make it.  The answer is already YES!  He is just watch to see how you respond during the process.  Learning to dance in the rain truly does produce joy in the sunshine!
Life is a trust spoke personally to me because I trully believe to whom much is given much is required.  We much learn to careful over a little before God can entrust more to us.  It reminds me of when I was little and my parents bought me a camera.  I wanted a fancy camera that did all the nice cool functions so I was disappointed when I got a simple plain jane camera.  Look at the test there. God was watching me for gratitude but here I was being disappointed. The real lesson was that my parents sat me down to explain that as much as they desired to purchase the fancy camera I needed to demonstrate to them my ability to take care of the simple inexpensive camera before they entrusted me with the fancy one.  The fancy camera came with greater responsibility. God handles the gifts that he entrusts to us the same way desiring us to be good stewards. The lesson shows the more God gives, the more responsible he expects us to be.
As we change how we view life we can begin to become more fullfilled.
Points to ponder: Life is a test and a trust. 
Verse to Remember: "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones."  Luke 16:10a (NLT)
As I encourage you, I encourage myself. Be encouraged!Check out our ministry page at http://facebook.com/ForHimMinistryAnd our new book at www.ForHimMinistry.org

Purpose Driven Life: Day Three

Day three was a lesson that made me really stop and think about the things that drives us. 
Guilt, Anger, Fear, Materialism, Approval
These five driving forces have the ability to hold on to us and allow us to lose focus of our God given purpose in life. I recall a season of each of these forces and I strive daily to keep my eyes on God that I do not revisit these seasons again.  
Like Isaiah, "I have labored to no purpose, I have spent my strength in vain for nothing."  
I remember a season when I worked diligently trying to acheive more and more financially believing that the more I had the happier my household would be. Actually this was far from the truth.  Yes we tell ourselves this. If I had this I would be happy. If God would bless me with a husband I would be happy yet complain when we get him. If God would only allow me to get this house yet we do not care for it. Happiness is not tied to those things. Our joy comes from aligning ourselves with what God has for us.  
Day one's lesson speaks of It not being about us. It is not! God will not force anything on you as He gives us free will to accept what He offers by divine revelation.  As Jeremiah says "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
If we trust God and allow our lives to align with His will our driving force shifts giving us peace!
Verse to Remember: "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3 (TEV)
As I encourage you, I encourage myself. Be encouraged!Check out our ministry page at http://facebook.com/ForHimMinistryAnd our new book at www.ForHimMinistry.org

Purpose Driven Life: There are no coincidences

Yesterday, prior to deciding to blog about my 40 day journey with Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life, I was awaken and wrote several messages about "It's not about us!"  God was revealing to me that when we refocus our lives on Him that our life purpose falls into place.  Each morning about 5am, God wakes me with a word that I share on various social media groups as well as blog as directed by the Holy Spirit. Some mornings my musing takes an even deeper study of what God is saying as this mornings message was to me. I was lead to write this photo post:
I was not aware until I lied down to study Day one of the Purpose Driven Life at bedtime that the first words of the chapter would be "It's not about us." Wow! Is God truly speaking? I do not believe in coincidence. I believe that God's word always confirming itself.  
Day one's lesson shows us that when we realize that our purpose is define by God and not centered around us our lives change.  We do not have the power to change ourselves only God can. This will eliminate some of the frustration we experience in our lives when we feel helpless to change.  It's not about us!  Wow! Thank you God for loving us enough!  Day one has blessed me even before I realized what it was about.  Thanks for confirmation!

Purpose Driven Life

I am blessed to participate in the Facebook group Purpose Driven D.I.V.A.S. Divine Intervention Victoriously Aspiring Sisters that represent the true Divine women of God. This group aligns with the goals and missions of For Him Ministry and Powerful Women of God which God has called me to facilitate to empower women tobe all that God has designed us to be through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Over the next 40 days, the group will be reading Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. You may ask why 40 days, which is a great question as we know that as God prepares His people for their purpose He usually does it in 40 days.  I have chosen to blog about my exploration as it I pray it blesses all that's seeking their purpose in life or seeking direction. There is alwaysthat one thing we could all use a little clarity on.  I pray that you are blessed on this blog journey.  I invite you to join our group to follow along as well as join Purpose Driven D.I.V.A.Son Facebook. 
As I encourage you, I encourage myself. Be encouraged!Check out our ministry page at http://facebook.com/ForHimMinistryAnd our new book at www.ForHimMinistry.org

Featured Article

I am so honored to be featured in Women's Voice Magazine!

CLICK LINK TO READ ARTICLE: #WomensVoicesMagazine The Power To Heal Your Soul "AS I ENCOURAGE YOU, I ENCOURAGE MYSELF". In life we go through trials and tribulations on our journeys to peace and happiness. Sometimes on our journey of this narrow path our feet get weary, but we have to keep the hope alive and keep our faith. This faith helps us to stay and to be encouraged in this life. 
This next story is about a woman named Ralene F. Berry. She kept her faith, to stay and be encouraged throughout her various trials in life. She is the author of the book As I Encourage You, I Encourage Myself. Here is Rae’s story in her own words. ~Alonda London Columnist.http://www.womensvoicesmagazine.com/2014/03/01/as-i-encourage-you-i-encourage-myself

It's Not About You!

In 2006, as I was separating from the love of my life, I had to learn my new identity. I was no longer Tim's wife and exclusively Timura's mother as she too was growing up. I needed to learn to focus on me for a change.  This is very important especially for a person like me who is a giver and did not know how to take care of herself. God showed me I needed a season of self reflecting and learning boundaries in order for Him to prepare me for the calling He had kon my life.  
I recall a scrapbook I designed that blessed me. I encourage all to do the same. Visit www.MsRaesCustomDesigns.com for an example.  If you are not a scrapbooker then write down and reflect on the items in an All About Me album.  This book will allow you to truly see what you desire, like, dislike, crave, etc. You may choose to do it every so often as a Ebenezer Stone tool to see how far   God has brought you. You will be amazed. 
This scrapbook helped me put in perspective my purpose but I never wanted to lose focus of my God given purpose! This was an All about Me album but I must remember IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!  IT'S ABOUT HIM!  Once I truly realized this the fulfillment of my life's destiny came into focus.  When all that we do we recognize that it is for His glory, the manifestation of His glory unfolds in our lives. We have more joy, peace, and happiness despite our circumstances.  Kevin Hall, Author of Aspire, says, "A life of significance is about serving those who need your gifts, your leadership, your purpose." 
 I believe Apostle Paul says it eloquently, "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." 
It's not about you! It's about bringing glory to our Father. Today, I encourage you in everything you do to excel that it glorify your Father in Heaven. When we change our motive and perspective, I promise you our lives changes.  Don't forget as I encourage you I encourage myself! Be blessed.
Check out our ministry page at http://facebook.com/ForHimMinistry And our new book at www.ForHimMinistry.org

Follow your Dreams

Proverbs 29:18 shares with usthat "where there is no vision, the people perish." God has designed us all to lived a fullfilled a purposeful life on this side of heaven giving Him the glory.  Salvation awards us eternal life but it also awards us an abundant life according to John 10:10. What does that look like for you? Is it a dream job, an excursion to an exotic location, completing that degree program, writing that book God placed inside of you, owning your own business, having a child, marrying or living as God desires? What ever it is you must envision it to conceive it or you will never receive it! 
This Friday, I received a proof copy of my book, As I Encourage You, I Encourage Myself, and the reality of God's goodness hit me. It was not because of anything I had done except my belief in His promises that allowed this lifelong dream to become a reality.  I had seen the book on Kindle and Nook but it was not until I had the physical book in my hand could I acknowledge the full manifestation of Gods glory working in my life. 
I challenge all who may reading this blog to follow your dreams. Do not allow the chatterbox of your negative thinking, the enemy, your friends, your family, your finances, or the worlds standards keep you from the promises God has for you! We truly can do all thing through Christ that gives us strength.  Keep pressing towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus! Not only am I a new Author but a publisher! But God! Never forget as I Encourage you, I Encourage myself!  Be blessed! 
Books available on www.forhimministry.orgAmazon.comBarne...