msmaze

[msmaze]

"You are not a victim to your schedule, because your the one creating it." @carolinebarnett || So many times we are quick to blame our schedules for not keeping in contact, not being able to do certain things and we continue to fill it up with things we should have said NO to. At the end of the day its an excuse - it's all about our priorities. If something or someone is important to you, you will make the time or effort. I pray that I learn to say the best YES, am consistent in all things and keep my priorities straight on what God has placed in my life. #Priorities #Schedule #Consistency #BusyIsJustAnExcuse

[msmaze]

Loyalty.

I had the honor and privelage to prepare and give a devotion on Loyalty to God for DCLS Class X last Tuesday. Never before have I felt so confident and just allowed God to speak thru me and use me. I had several people request to see my notes. I ended up writing it just like you would see a devotion in a devotional book or email. I pray that it moves beyond just that Tuesday Devo and speaks to your life as well.... ------------------------------ Devotions: Loyalty to God Megan Maze loy·al·ty ˈloiəltē/ noun • the quality of being loyal to someone or something. • a strong feeling of support or allegiance. plural noun: loyalties - Synonyms: allegiance, faithfulness, obedience, adherence, homage, devotion; steadfastness, staunchness, trueheartedness, dependability, reliability, trustworthiness Mark 8:34-38 NLT // "Then calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Loyalty today has become lost in the world around us. Instead of focusing are allegiance to God, we allow ourselves to become attached to self made gods. These gods can be our family, our friends, our careers, the ministries we are involved in, music and sports. When our loyalty is placed in these things we begin to lose control of our lives even when we think we are in control. What we don’t realize is that placing our loyalty in these things opens us up for hurt, distrust and confusion. We then begin to find our acceptance in people, places and things and it destroys us. This is not what God has designed our lives for, if we focus on the things of Him our loyalty will be where it was designed to be. Our souls will be invested in him and not the things of this world. God is asking us to trust him and to allow him to take the wheel. It comes down to a choice. Everyday you have a choice to pick up your cross and carry it. A choice to focus on the things He has placed in front of you, a choice to follow Him. God wants to build on a solid foundation that will get you to the point of no return in your relationship with Him. One of the main focuses of this program is to lay your foundation down, one that is built on God’s promises and that will not be shaken by the distractions in life. Your loyalty should be to him and the boundaries he has set in your life. It's not about what you want or what others believe you should be. You are either hot or cold not in the middle, you chose to be loyal to him or to the self-made gods you have built into your life. When I came in for my first year I was at a crossroads. I had spent years investing in my church, in my business and in my relationships. My loyalty had shifted to what I was trying to accomplish in those areas and I had lost focus of who God was and what he wanted in my life. Instead of serving God, I was serving out of selfish intentions to gain the position in leadership I wanted. I had opportunities that others only dreamed of and here I was taking them for granted. God had to break me down and strip all those things away from me in order for me to see where my loyalty was. I thought I had lost everything, but in the end I gained everything I never thought I wanted. From that moment on I made the decision to chose God above all things, it has not been without struggle but I continue to press on because following God fulfills me and gives me purpose. Joshua 24:14-15 NLT // "So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Eygpt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." Joshua made a decision to serve the Lord above all else and here he was asking the Isrealites to do the same. Either serve God or the other gods that they have placed in their life, but to make that choice and stick to it - no wavering. God had proven himself to them and he didn’t have to. He knew that it was time for them to let go of the past and what they had become accustomed to. God had rescued them, he had given them provision and refuge in abundance. Joshua knew without a doubt it was his duty to live a life of service to God in return. Loyalty is greatly lived out in service to God. Service is not about us or our selfish ambitions, but it is about serving him wholeheartedly. When we are completely loyal to him pure service begins to flow out of us. We get to this point in our lives where we move because He moves, we love because He loves and there is nothing that can change that. Our complete allegiance and devotion is in Him. And just like that there is nothing we would want more than to obey and please Him. He becomes our life. There was a point in my life that you could have told me this and I would not have believed it, but He changed me and without a doubt this is how I strive to live my life now. It will be lived in service to Him no matter where I have been or where I will go. My life has been completely and utterly dedicated to him, not out of fear but out of complete reverence to Him. That is the point of no return. If you feel like you are stuck in a place of wavering, do not lose hope as God has already provided you a way out. The victory has already been won. He has renewed his covenant with you, just as he did with the Israelites. Take a moment and look back on your life as we go into prayer and see him there, see him in the dark places and the good places. He has brought you right here to this moment for a specific reason. The choice is yours to make. Here at your crossroads - just as Joshua challenged the Isrealites, you are being challenged. You have many different options available to you and it is time to close those options you are keeping open in your life. He is asking you to chose Him, to give Him 100% - I'm every area of your life…. Who will you chose?

[msmaze]

I came across these statistics a few days ago, my heart has always been burdened for those affected by #humantrafficking - but this takes it to another level. No one deserves this and for it to be happening to children as young as 6/7 shatters my heart. But for it to also be prevalent in the 3 cities closest to my heart: Los Angeles, Tampa & Detroit - crushes those shatter pieces. Only we can make a difference, only we can stop this one life at a time. Its out there and it is very real, don't just sit there and pretend its not happening - get up and do something. Give - Serve - Share - Be the CHANGE. We are called to something, let that something be someone else's voice. #enditmovement #a21campaign #hopeforthehopeless #voiceforthevoiceless

[msmaze]

Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. - Romans 5:3-4 Needed this more than I knew it this morning, this has been one of the most difficult seasons in my life - facing a loss I never wanted to happen. But through it all it has only showed me how grounded my faith and foundation in Christ has become. Instead of pushing away from him, I have pushed deeper into him. It is a daily struggle but he is my strength and my sufficiency. Our character doesn't change based on our circumstances and eventually that character produces light, a hope we never knew we had that holds tight onto Christ knowing he will never leave us and we don't ever want to leave him. Thank you @holleygerth for your amazing devo's they always resonate so deep within me. I don't know who else this is for today, but I know he wanted me to share. Keep pushing closer and closer to him, he is waiting for you, waiting to calm your fears and love you right where you are at.

[msmaze]

Everyday I am reminded of the amazing God I serve, the season he has me in and the people who support his dream for me. Today, I reached my goal... I couldn't have done it without you. It's taken 9 months, which is crazy because here I am apart of @thedcls #classIX, giving 9 months of my life to seeking what God has for me. Restoring my soul thru service, community and dedication. I am in awe. I am grateful and for the first time in a long time I have hope again, I am dreaming again and I have so much expectation for all he has for in these last 3 months. Keep praying. Keep seeking. Keep sending the love, because I wast meant to for his without you all by my side. I love you!! (at Dream Center)

[msmaze]

| Tonight you renewed my spirit again, you came in and overwhelmed me with your love after weeks of discouragement, anxiety and depression. Just when I thought I couldn't break thru you gave me the strength to do so. Words can never express how you move in my life, but I want to soak in every moment and live with your grace. I will continue to fight even after the point of no return, my only option is to move forward and deeper into your love | Thank you @matthewbarnett1 for moving to the beat of your own calling and speaking life into the people you lead. It is an amazing thing to see your tenacity and your love for God's people!! I appreciate you!! #restoration #strength #extragear #calling #overwhelmingLOVE #dreamcenter #DCLS #classIX #thischangeseverything (at Dream Center Long Beach)

[msmaze]

It is an amazing thing when you have women who rally behind you and support God's dream for you, wherever or whatever it may be. Whether it be through prayer, encouragement or necessities like this - it is a HUGE blessing even 3,000 miles away. I can't be more honored enough to have these women in my life... Thank you for this beautiful act of kindness and for loving me in ways I never thought possible. I love each and every ONE of you from the bottom of my heart!! @chosen813 @crossover813 @lucyk813 @luzpr @jhelems #wearethechurch #crossoverchurch #carepackage #overwhelmed #family #tampa (at Dream Center)

[msmaze]

Cuddling with this lil one again... So happy to have her in my arms again!! #HomeForChristmas #Niece #Sicily #Family #Tampa #Florida

[msmaze]

Amazing Christmas Service today @angelustemplela - seriously honored to be apart of this place. We gave away 1500 bikes and 1000's of presents totaling $100,000 - no kid went home empty handed!! #christmas #dreamcenter #angelustemple #losangeles #miracles (at Angelus Temple)

[msmaze]

Can't forget about this girl right here 👉👉 @kaeceyskye 👈👈 #dcls #sisters #knottsberryfarm (at Johnny Rockets)

[msmaze]

Knott's Berry Farm with these beautiful ladies 💜 Having so much fun at the @ladreamcenter Christmas Party!! ��🎁 Shout out to @matthewbarnett1 for treating us to an amazing day!! #knottsberryfarm #dreamcenter #christmasparty #amuesmentpark

[msmaze]

It's out, that means YOU need to go get @godchaserz newest single | "LET'S DO IT!" | I promise you won't be disappointed!! It is available on iTunes, Google & Amazon... Don't miss one of the greatest CHH artists out there!! #letsdoit #Brinson #CHH #HipHop #Godchaserz #NewSingle Link is here >> http://goo.gl/dPj9zl (at LET'S DO IT!!!)

[msmaze]

Change may be small steps but you never know the transformation that can take place in that short amount of time... Left pic: August 2013 Right pic: October 2013 Los Angeles has been good to me. Didn't really see the difference until I saw these two side by side. Thanking God for where he has brought me and this is only just the start.

[msmaze]

Some of the amazing families I get the honor to serve here @ladreamcenter - they have forever changed my life 💜😍😘 #family #dreamcenter #dcls #lifechanging #repost Photo cred: @morganogletree (at Dream Center)

[msmaze]

Painting Nails at Koreatown 💅 Love these girls with all my heart 💜💗 #adoptablock #dreamcenter #dcls #classIX #wegettoserve @ladreamcenter (at Koreatown)

[msmaze]

We asked God to break open the clouds for us at our #AdoptABlock site today - He never fails!! The most beautiful circle formed around us & the sun shined on us the whole time!! Take that rain clouds 👊 #Koreatown #nofilter #dreamcenter #losangeles #lookatGod #rainorshine @_setapart @grecogeorge @malorystone @allie_katelynn @jonahmartinez (at Koreatown)

[msmaze]

FOLLOW US! Twitter/IG - @thedcls Like on Facebook - "Dream Center Leadership School" (at Dream Center)