<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352</id><updated>2011-07-30T21:25:56.338-07:00</updated><category term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>101 Days to Be Encouraged</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>18</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-3277928788939018847</id><published>2010-01-20T20:58:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-20T20:59:32.208-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Welcome!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"&gt;Thank you for stopping by this site for 101 Days to Be Encouraged! I am excited to share this book with the world because the message is one of hope, encouragement and trust in the Lord. It is a book that will inspire you and enlighten you on your journey of life so that you may become all you were created to be. It is not a book that I can take the credit for because even though I wrote it, I only wrote what I felt God spoke to me in order to encourage me on my journey. As you will read in the book &lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/intro-letter-from-author.html"&gt;intro&lt;/a&gt;, in 2005 I began to journey to know more of God and there were many times I became discouraged and it was then in my everyday life that I was encouraged. In return, I share the encouragement with you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"&gt;Learn more about the book on these pages and make sure that you &lt;a href="https://www.createspace.com/3399807"&gt;Get a copy today&lt;/a&gt;! Read it for yourself and share it with others then stop back by and share your &lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/praises.html"&gt;praises&lt;/a&gt;!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"&gt;Until next time, may God bless you by showing you more of Him as you begin your 101 Days to Be Encouraged.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"&gt;~ Monica A. Johnson&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-3277928788939018847?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/3277928788939018847/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2010/01/welcome.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/3277928788939018847'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/3277928788939018847'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2010/01/welcome.html' title='Welcome!'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-7113805499698604787</id><published>2010-01-03T21:26:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T16:55:58.610-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Excerpts</title><content type='html'>Start your journey by reading some excerpts from the book!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/intro-letter-from-author.html"&gt;Intro: A Letter From the Author&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-1-butterfly-in-glass-jar.html"&gt;Day 1: Butterfly in a Glass Jar&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-2-better-than-imagined.html"&gt;Day 2: Better Than Imagined&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-3-your-next-destination-is-being.html"&gt;Day 3: Your Next Destination is Being Prepared&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-4-way-you-do-not-know.html"&gt;Day 4: A Way You Do Not Know&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-5-trust-in-who-he-is.html"&gt;Day 5: Trust in Who He Is&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-6-you-already-have-enough.html"&gt;Day 6: You Already Have Enough&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-7-secret-desires.html"&gt;Day 7: The Secret Desires&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-8.html"&gt;Day 8: Suddenly&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-9-god-at-work.html"&gt;Day 9: God at Work&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-10-hearing-your-part.html"&gt;Day 10: Hearing Your Part&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-7113805499698604787?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/7113805499698604787'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/7113805499698604787'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2010/01/excerpts.html' title='Excerpts'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-4760465457137023992</id><published>2005-01-20T22:36:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-20T22:39:22.702-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Join Our Email Listing</title><content type='html'>Sign up to receive book updates, events and know all about the next book projects.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;form action="http://kontactr.com/euser.php" method="post"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;table border="0" cellpadding="10" style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td align="right"&gt;Your Name : &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;&lt;input autocomplete="OFF" name="sender_name" style="width: 250px;" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td align="right"&gt;Your Email : &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;&lt;input autocomplete="OFF" name="sender_email" style="width: 250px;" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td align="right"&gt;Subject : &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;&lt;input name="subject" style="width: 250px;" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td align="right" valign="top"&gt;Message : &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;&lt;textarea cols="40" name="message" rows="10" style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 13px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px;"&gt;&lt;/textarea&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td align="right" valign="middle"&gt;Image (case-sensitive): &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;&lt;img src="http://kontactr.com/captcha.php" /&gt; &lt;input name="captcha_code" style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px;" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td align="center" colspan="2"&gt;&lt;input id="send" name="send" style="font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 5px; width: 100px;" type="submit" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/form&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-4760465457137023992?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/4760465457137023992'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/4760465457137023992'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/join-our-email-listing.html' title='Join Our Email Listing'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-6174538253065570266</id><published>2005-01-10T16:53:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T16:53:42.645-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Day 10: Hearing Your Part</title><content type='html'>Dear Friend,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Every weekend, our choir marches onto the platform and leads the congregation into worship. The congregation sees us (the choir) in our beautiful uniforms, smiling faces, uplifted hands and hear a well together song but what they don't see are the Tuesday night rehearsals. This is the time where we get together and break down or learn our parts. But how we are able to come together, as a whole, is not by singing the song as a whole but yet separately learning our parts. After each section (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone etc) has learned their part, the music is played as a whole and gone over several times (just to get the feel of it). Without this separation, you could easily find yourself singing someone else's part (believe me- I know) Friend, I want to encourage you by saying -if you are feeling a separation- maybe God has stopped the music so that you may learn your part and then he will turn it back on and you will join in; knowing your part in order to edify the whole!! Continue to seek him and allow him to do a work in you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;" And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God------that we-- may grow up in all things into Him who is the head"&lt;br /&gt;Ephesians 4:11-13, 15&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Call to action: when away from the crowd, listen for your part in life&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-6174538253065570266?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/6174538253065570266/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-10-hearing-your-part.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/6174538253065570266'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/6174538253065570266'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-10-hearing-your-part.html' title='Day 10: Hearing Your Part'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-8565496836072150453</id><published>2005-01-10T16:52:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T16:52:43.849-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Day 9: God at Work</title><content type='html'>Dear Friend,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My church was hosting its monthly young adults fellowship in which I felt a strong unction to attend. They had a guest band/worship group that was really awesome but as I stood there worshiping, my spirit was not drawn to the lead worshiper but yet the violin player (a female) in the back of the stage. I was trying to keep worshiping but the Holy Spirit kept unctioning me to watch. In my spirit, I could feel the purity of her heart and I felt as if the spirit was saying that he was going to continue to bless her. Something in my mind said to tell her but the thought left me after the service. It was late so I left. As I was walking to my car, I ran into a couple that asked me if I had just come from the church. I told them yes and they asked if I knew where a certain parking level was located. Instead of pointing, I told them I would show them. We began to talk on the journey. The lady asked me if I had just attended the fellowship because the violin player was their daughter. In amazement, I told them what I felt the spirit was saying during worship and they asked if I would call her (their daughter) to give her the word of encouragement. They mentioned how she was at a period where she was really seeking the Lord with her whole heart! As the couple left, they jokingly stated that now they should be able to find their car and perhaps they couldn't find it for this very meeting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Friend, as I replayed the series of event of the night, the Holy Spirit reminded me of some things and I want to encourage you by mentioning them. First, if you allow him, the Holy Spirit WILL show you things to come. Second, he'll order your steps so that you can fulfill the vision and third, it doesn't matter where you are in the mix of things. You can be in the very back of a room or behind closed doors. If your heart is after the Lord, he will draw the right people unto you! Keep seeking the Lord; trusting that he will add all else to you!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you"&lt;br /&gt; Matthew 6:33&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Call to action: trust God to order your steps&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-8565496836072150453?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/8565496836072150453/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-9-god-at-work.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/8565496836072150453'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/8565496836072150453'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-9-god-at-work.html' title='Day 9: God at Work'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-928318094845514252</id><published>2005-01-10T16:50:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T16:51:27.849-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Day 8: Suddenly</title><content type='html'>Dear Friend,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One morning, my son and I, decided to make breakfast together. Devan (my son) was in charge of the sausage and I was in charge of the rest. I took a break while Devan remained flipping his sausage. There was a silence followed by this statement: “Hey, I just now noticed that we have a brick wall in our kitchen!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You see, we had been living in our apartment for 3 months and Devan has been in the kitchen numerous times but he was just now noticing the brick wall. Maybe it was because he was now placed in a position where the wall was right in front of him or maybe it's because he had become still enough to notice but whatever the reason, suddenly, what has been there the whole time- he has taken noticed of it. Friend, I want to encourage you by saying maybe there is a position you have been wanting or someone special that you've had your heart set on and even though it is right in front of you- it hasn't seemed to notice you- but because behind the scenes God has been preparing you, suddenly it/ you will be noticed. Almost like a light switch coming on. All you have to do is keep doing what you are suppose to be doing and at God's right time, it will fall into place for " promotion comes neither from the east nor west but it is the Lord who exalts one"(Psalm 75:6-7) And on another note; remember that Jesus said he will never leave us nor forsake us so we may not notice him at work in our lives but suddenly we will.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. ---And all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly"&lt;br /&gt;2 Chronicles 29:.35-36&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Call to action: expect a suddenly in your life&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-928318094845514252?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/928318094845514252/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-8.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/928318094845514252'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/928318094845514252'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-8.html' title='Day 8: Suddenly'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-3570730101611348388</id><published>2005-01-10T16:44:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T16:45:18.992-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Day 7: The Secret Desires</title><content type='html'>“Delight in the Lord and He'll give you the desires of your heart"&lt;br /&gt;Psalm 37:4&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dear Friend,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; I remember a time I was sitting at work pondering if I was in the right place to do what the Lord had placed in my spirit. He had placed so much in me but instead of trying to make them happen I felt like He had told me to just plan and wait. I sat there battling because I thought that it was the enemy trying to keep me from stepping out in faith. I asked the Lord to let me know that I am doing what he told me to do. I then went to lunch and after eating, I had a strong desire for chocolate. (Whenever I want chocolate- I want M’M’s). I looked around to see if anyone had any but I didn’t see anything. I didn’t want to be late from lunch so I went back to work. As I sat down, a co- worker came in and I could see him piddling around in his desk. He asked if anyone wanted any candy. I looked up and he had a bag of M’M’s! I asked him where did he get them and he said that someone gave him two bags so he had an extra bag. When I grabbed the bag, I felt as if the Holy Spirit was saying, “this is just a reminder to let you know that God knows the secret desires of your heart and when you do what he tells you to do, he will bring them to you! Be anxious not and enter his rest!”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Friend I want to encourage you the way God encouraged me. You may be at a place in life where you are doing opposite of what you want to do but know that God knows the desires of your heart and when you are faithful doing what He has called you to do, He will bring it to you.&lt;br /&gt; Call to action: believe for the desires of your heart&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-3570730101611348388?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/3570730101611348388/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-7-secret-desires.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/3570730101611348388'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/3570730101611348388'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-7-secret-desires.html' title='Day 7: The Secret Desires'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-2845485357112020293</id><published>2005-01-10T16:43:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T16:43:33.546-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Day 6: You Already Have Enough</title><content type='html'>Dear Friend,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was thirsty and really wanted to buy a soda. The machine in my area has sodas for 1.25 but I only had 1.00. You should have seen me scraping for change. I searched every purse and drawer but could not find 25 cents. I walked to my car and began to talk to God; "God I need 25 cents and I know you can provide. Now maybe I'll see it on my way to the machine but I know I'll find it."  I walked all the way to our soda machine and did not find any change. A little disappointed, I said, "Ok God. What is the message in this because I didn't get my 25 cents and I don't know how I can obey you in the little things if I can't believe you will give me 25 cents." At that moment, I looked at the soda machine and saw that there was bottled water for only 1.00. I smiled because I was reminded that it has been in my spirit to stop drinking sodas and begin to drink more water so God was actually keeping me from doing what I was not suppose to do.Friend, with that, I want to encourage you by saying to you that "you already have enough". I know how easy it is sometimes for us to keeping working towards something but the truth of the matter is that that isn't what you really need. You may be "looking for more money" for a particular relationship or a particular job. Maybe you think you have to go back to school or buy more clothes but God is saying "you already have enough. You are already approved.” The person that God wants to bring in your life likes you just the way you are. You are already qualified for the job that God wants to give you. You have enough. You are enough. So continue to trust God, knowing that His grace is sufficient for you and you too will have all that He has promised!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Call to action: be content with what you have; resources, talents, family etc&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-2845485357112020293?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/2845485357112020293/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-6-you-already-have-enough.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/2845485357112020293'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/2845485357112020293'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-6-you-already-have-enough.html' title='Day 6: You Already Have Enough'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-8989483486166997785</id><published>2005-01-10T16:41:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T16:41:38.948-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Day 5: Trust in Who He Is</title><content type='html'>Dear Friend,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; I love taking pictures of trees and my father mentioned to me that our neighbor that lives across the street from our house has a huge tree in their back field. My dad told me that if I wanted to go see it then he would go with me. We decided to walk so my father, I and Devan set off for our little journey. We got close to the tree when we noticed that there was a huge dog in one of our other neighbor’s yard. Now, neither I nor my dad are afraid of dogs but this one seemed different. He didn’t even bark. He just walked with boldness like “yeah you’ve come on my territory and I’m going to get you.” It startled me and I began to pick up the pace (Ok I was about to run) but my dad quickly stopped me with an abrupt, “Don’t run. Don’t show him fear.”  We kept moving forward and made it to our tree destination but then we had to turn around and come back home… the same way we came… by the dog. As we got closer to the dog’s yard, I had to make a decision because this time the dog was walking towards us: was I going to take my chances and run or was I going to stay put; close to my father. I looked at my dad and it was like something broke in my spirit. I saw him as MY FATHER; a man whose role and title says that he must protect me. He must look out for me. He must care for me. I turned to my dad and said, “Ok daddy, I am trusting you. I won’t run because I am trusting that if the dog comes over here, you won’t let him get me and even if for some reason he does get me, you will get him off”. We walked a little further and the dog came closer. My dad grabbed Devan’s bike to use as a defense mechanism and about that time the dog owner came outside and called the dog into the house.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Friend, I want to encourage you by saying sometimes in life we come to a situation where all we can do is put our trust in the name of the Lord; that He is our father and He cares for us. The enemy (of your natural circumstances) is all around you and everything within you is saying RUN…..SCREAM……HOLLER…. but you must STAND and say my only chance of survival is to stay under my father’s protection. You may not truly think He can but His name says that He is Jehovah Jireh your provider. He has to take care of and provide for you. His name says that He is Jehovah Nisse your battle fighter so He’ll fight it for you and bring victory. His name says that He is Jehovah Rophe your healer….Jehovah Shalom your peace….El Elyon…..God of the most high that has the last word…the final word.….Jehovah Rohi…your shepherd that is guiding you and leading you.  You see, we did not choose God but rather God chose us and just like a parent having a child, there are responsibilities that make a parent a parent. I know you may be scared but place your trust in the name of the Lord. At least place your hope in His name; meaning you may not believe or think He can do it but you will remain because you hope that He can and just to let you know on a little secret….HE CAN and HE WILL!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;         My God, in Him I will trust.”&lt;br /&gt;Psalm 91:1-2 (I encourage you to read the whole psalm)         Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to remain in peace where you have me…trusting that you will work everything out because you care for me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Call to action: instead of running away from your problems, run to the arms of God and let Him fight your battles for you&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-8989483486166997785?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/8989483486166997785/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-5-trust-in-who-he-is.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/8989483486166997785'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/8989483486166997785'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-5-trust-in-who-he-is.html' title='Day 5: Trust in Who He Is'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-8630935190250865427</id><published>2005-01-10T16:39:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T16:40:43.421-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Day 4: A Way You Do Not Know</title><content type='html'>“He will bring the blind by a way that they do not know and will lead them in paths that they have not known. He will make darkness light before them and crooked places straight. These things He will do for them and not forsake them”&lt;br /&gt; Isaiah 42:16&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dear Friend,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; I went to go visit my sister in the Fort Worth (TX) area. She had just moved so I actually had to follow her there from my parents house in East Texas. I planned to visit for a week and then drive to Houston (for a meeting etc) and finally arrive back at my parents’ house but on the day that I left, my car began leaking oil. Me being as bold and courageous as I am( or just really set in my way to do what I wanted), was still going to drive the 4 hr drive to Houston but my oil light started coming on and people were telling me that I was leaving oil puddles in the driveways. I called my sister to ask for directions to just go back to my parents’ home from where I was. My sister gave me the directions…we hung up and I proceeded only to call a little while later: “I think I missed the exit what do I do, I asked?” She (what didn’t sound to confidently) gave me a different route to take saying that it will be quicker than turning around. I drove her way for about 45 minutes when I saw a familiar highway. I just knew that she was going to tell me to go that direction but when I called she told me to stay on course. I have to admit thatI argued a little because I was looking at the original highway that she had told me to go on and I was familiar with it. Her answer was, “I told you what road to take. Do what you want.” I decided to trust my sister; trusting the fact that she knew the city better than me and would have no reason to get me lost. I traveled down what seemed like literally a wilderness; a deserted pathway. Not only were there not any houses and businesses but I really didn’t see other travelers. I called my sister back but this time she didn’t even answer. I prayed, "Lord please let me make it.” About that time, my oil light came. “Lord, please give me a gas station so I can buy some oil,” I pleaded harder but He did better than that. He gave me a Wal-Mart. I was able to buy gallon size oil containers and get directions from the employee’s. (I was on the right path and it was quicker than turning around.) I made it home- safe and sound!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Friend I say again, “He will bring the blind by a way that they do not know and will lead them in paths that they have not known. He will make darkness light before them and crooked places straight. These things He will do for them and not forsake them” Isaiah 42:16. Maybe you are on a path that seems completely desolate, not everyone is traveling that way or things are completely different and based off of your own understanding, you feel like going a different direction but once again: God is in control! Rather the reason is because you missed your exit or this is just the way to go (because there are many stories where God redirected His people’s journey in order to save them) God is still trying to get you to your destination and you’ll arrive safe and sound! It might even seem like "no one is answering the phone but it's because you're on the right track. Also, along the way, He is faithful to provide you a “Wal- Mart”; a place to refill what you need and confirm that you are going the right way. Continue to “humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and in due time He will exalt you.”  “Lean not on your understanding” but surrender and trust Him!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction…..”&lt;br /&gt; Matthew 7:13&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Call to action: remain on the path that God has chosen for you and complete your assignment&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-8630935190250865427?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/8630935190250865427/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-4-way-you-do-not-know.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/8630935190250865427'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/8630935190250865427'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-4-way-you-do-not-know.html' title='Day 4: A Way You Do Not Know'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-2986096616890344307</id><published>2005-01-10T16:38:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T16:39:21.212-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Day 3: Your Next Destination is Being Prepared</title><content type='html'>Dear Friend,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My son, Devan, wanted a pet guinea pig and the only pet store that carried one was an hour away from our home town. I decided to make the special trip. When we arrived at the pet store, Devan immediately found the one that He had wanted. I admit that it was love at first site for me too as the chocolate colored guinea ran after another guinea pig in the cage. After letting the sales attendant know which animal we wanted, Devan and I went to the cage section in order to pick out its new home. We found an all in one cage that came with the cage, bedding, food and treats. We could not place the guinea pig (which Devan has selected to be called Shadow) in the cage so the salesperson gave us a small animal carrying box. With our new pet and his future home, we set back towards my parents’ home. On the way home, the guinea pig scrammed in the box. We finally made it home in which it still had to remain in the box until we set up his new home. After setting up the cage with the extra treats inside, we placed the guinea pig in his new home and he began to eat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Friend, I want to encourage you by saying you may be scramming right now because it seems like you have been taken away from your familiar home but God is taking you to a better place. You are in the carrying box. Don't worry because just like we had the cage all set up before placing the guinea pig in it, God will have your new place all set up for you- for He "goes before you and prepares the way". God has great things in store for you and your path will get brighter and brighter!!&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;Call to action: believe that God is preparing your next destination&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-2986096616890344307?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/2986096616890344307/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-3-your-next-destination-is-being.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/2986096616890344307'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/2986096616890344307'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-3-your-next-destination-is-being.html' title='Day 3: Your Next Destination is Being Prepared'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-8203330196606970418</id><published>2005-01-10T12:51:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T12:52:15.859-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Day 2: Better Than Imagined</title><content type='html'>Dear Friend,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I decided to move forward with creating a website for The InLight™; my writing ministry, so I contacted the person that agreed to help. I gave her the vision behind The InLight™ and answered questions to help her create it. After that, I began to work on the content so that she would have it once ready. After awhile, I didn’t hear anything from her and began to waver in what I wanted the site to look like.  I began to create an intro site using a program that I had until she finished hers. I thought to myself that mine was looking really good. Then one day I received an email me saying, “God gave me the vision of what the site should look like and here is the link” (Thank God that she waited on the Lord). When I opened up the link, I was blown away. There was no comparison to what her site looked like and the one I was creating. Hers inspired me. It captured my vision. It was beautiful! It was literally above and beyond what I could imagine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Friend, sometimes God tells us that He is going to do something for us but because of timing, we begin to do our own thing or lose hope but know that God is working on your promise behind the scenes and I just declare that when you receive this promise that you have been waiting on…it is going to surpass your expectations. Like my website, it is going to be everything you asked for plus what you didn’t know how to ask for. Friends, you are going to know that you know that you know that it is of God and what you are supposed to have!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Elyon: god of the most high. If he said it…it will be done!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On another note; because I had begun creating my own website, I had content to submit to my website designer so know that nothing you have done is in vain. God is going to use all of it for the glory of Him and towards the promise He has given.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Call to action: believe for the promise that God has given you and, in faith, prepare for it so you’ll be ready&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-8203330196606970418?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/8203330196606970418/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-2-better-than-imagined.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/8203330196606970418'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/8203330196606970418'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-2-better-than-imagined.html' title='Day 2: Better Than Imagined'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-7677202140488470814</id><published>2005-01-10T12:49:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T12:50:44.794-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Day 1: Butterfly in a Glass Jar</title><content type='html'>Dear Friend,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I remember a time when my son (Devan) and I found a caterpillar on my car tire. Devan was excited so immediately I thought to get a jar and allow him to see the transformation of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. We got a glass jar and placed the caterpillar in it. Gradually, we added tall sticks so that it could crawl up and leaves so that it could eat. We found a particular leaf that it liked and we watched in amazement to see it actually chomping on the leaves. Throughout the days, we would refresh its food supply with fresh leaves. Then one day, I knew the caterpillar needed some water but I didn’t want to give it any tap water. At that moment, I looked outside and noticed it was sprinkling. Anticipating seeing the caterpillar drink water, I picked a fresh leaf that had water droplets on it and placed it gently in the jar. The caterpillar was currently trying to get out of the jar but when we placed the leaf in the jar, he fell and landed in the water puddle and began to drink! My mother, looking at our new found friend, “mentioned” that we needed to have the caterpillar outside. I told her that, “it’s ok this time. We know caterpillars are made to be outside but I want Devan to see the transformation.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Friend, some of you may currently feel like a caterpillar in a glass jar. You can look out but you can’t get out. It feels like everyone around you is being blessed and that your dreams aren’t going to come to pass but let me encourage you by saying God is still in control. You see, sometimes we are “captured” so that God can get the full glory. People are watching your transformation and God has also allowed you to be captured for your own good. (Remember that I found the caterpillar on my car tire). But while in this jar, God is faithful to provide fresh food and water for you, to take care of your needs and to look out for your best interest. Maybe you have even tried to climb out your jar reaching a little bit of success only to fall back in. Relax! You think you have fallen but the truth of the matter is that while climbing you never really left the jar. You are still in the same place as from the beginning: in a glass jar waiting till your transformation takes place so that your father may release you!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Be encouraged to know that God has chosen you, to keep you and to protect you. Continue to glorify and lift up His name! Continue to seek and trust him; waiting on Him! Even when things seem like they can’t get any worse, God is still in the picture as He was with Job (God told Satan he could do anything but kill Job) or when He was in the process of Jesus (He was buried for 3 days). Know that after God is finished “perfecting you”, you’ll come out more beautiful than when you entered this period!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”&lt;br /&gt;Philippians 1:6&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Call to action: be still and know that God is God and working on your behalf.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-7677202140488470814?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/7677202140488470814/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-1-butterfly-in-glass-jar.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/7677202140488470814'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/7677202140488470814'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/day-1-butterfly-in-glass-jar.html' title='Day 1: Butterfly in a Glass Jar'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-7435998118987537345</id><published>2005-01-10T12:47:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T12:48:34.238-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Book Excerpt'/><title type='text'>Intro: A Letter From the Author</title><content type='html'>Dear friend,&lt;br /&gt;In 2005, I decided to follow hard after God and lay hold of everything He had for me. I was at a point in my life where nothing could fulfill me. On the outside, everything seemed ok. I was a college graduate, in a relationship with a good guy and working in a job that made a difference yet on the inside something was missing. I had lost that child like connection to my heavenly father and knew that I was not living up to my full potential. I knew that there were areas in my life where I was living in shame, fear and defeat and I was trying to fill that void with relationships and success. Tired of living the way I was living, I cried out to God, “I refuse to be in this same place this time next year”. For me it wasn’t necessarily a physical place but rather a spiritual place. I would begin to take my place in His kingdom. I ended the relationship that I was in and begin to be more sensitive to God’s leading. It was at that time that the inner lack of peace began to get stronger. For some “crazy” reason, I felt that I needed to let go of my current job. I thought that this was me so I resisted the urge and held on, yet the feeling got stronger and stronger. Not wanting to feel like that anymore, on a lunch break, I told a co-worker that “if God didn’t want me working at my job anymore then, He was going to have to fire me himself.” That was at 1pm and at 3pm my supervisor called me in the office and stated that the company no longer needed me. It was a bitter sweet moment for me as I felt like God answered me yet at the same time; I was now without a job. For me the next step was to move to Houston, Texas to get involved with Lakewood Church because I had visited several times before and it always felt like home, or go back to school to get my Masters in Biblical Counseling at Dallas Theological Seminary. I sought the direction of the Lord on my first 3 day fast and it was during that time, that I felt He directed me by asking the following, “If you move to Dallas, what would you be seeking?” I answered, “even though it would be a Christian career, it will still be a career.” “And if you move to Houston, what would you be seeking”. My reply was, “because I don’t have any family, friends, or a job in Houston….I would only be seeking you”. The Lord answered by saying, “there you go….seek God first and all else would follow”. I began to take steps to move and a few months later was moved to Houston and involved in the church.&lt;br /&gt;From there, God began to show more of Himself to me. When I needed money and provision, He would lay me on someone’s heart or open a door to an opportunity. He would answer my heart’s desire by bringing me things that no one knew I was thinking. I saw His grace, favor, mercy, heart but I also begin to know more about me; who He created me to become. I began to overcome some of my fears and insecurities and made great friends with people who were beautiful, talented, and strong in the Lord. To where I once longed to be…the Lord now had me living that dream. I was now connected back to my heavenly father.&lt;br /&gt;But friend, I can’t say the road was totally easy. A lot of the decisions I made didn’t make sense to others and sometimes made no sense to me. I had doubts, worries, concerns and became tired. I even made a few bad decisions along the way. Some of those closest to me felt like I was crazy yet all I could do was continue to trust God; trust that I heard from Him, He was guiding me and that He had me even when I didn’t have myself. It was always at my times of low, doubt, worry, confusion and weary that the Lord would encourage me. He would drop things in my spirit and then confirm that I was hearing from me. He would bring great people across my path that showed me more of Him.  I would feel His presence and joy in supernatural ways. Like water to a marathon runner, food to a hard worker, a soft pillow to a homeless….God and His encouragement became to me. I knew that whenever I got the chance, I too would encourage others on their journey to see more of Him just like He encouraged me. I wanted to let people know that they aren’t crazy and they can lay hold of WHATEVER God puts in their hearts. I wanted to provide the tools and resources….even if that is just a place to stay and food to eat until they get back on their feet and that is why I am writing this first book of many.&lt;br /&gt;On the next pages, I have taken 101 messages from my everyday life. These were the actual ways that God would encourage me on my journey. I’ve also added what I call “Call to action” tips. These are little steps; mental and physical you can take to fight discouragement and continue to believe that good things are ahead. I am excited to share with you and I truly pray that during the next 101 days….you will Be Encouraged.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Trusting God,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Monica Johnson&lt;br /&gt;The InLight Writer&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-7435998118987537345?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/7435998118987537345/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/intro-letter-from-author.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/7435998118987537345'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/7435998118987537345'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/intro-letter-from-author.html' title='Intro: A Letter From the Author'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-8137773578461959827</id><published>2005-01-03T22:37:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-03T23:42:03.253-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Author</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0Gbs2vE1OI/AAAAAAAAAJk/8GrcJUUNfak/s1600-h/author+photo.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422786621240300770" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0Gbs2vE1OI/AAAAAAAAAJk/8GrcJUUNfak/s400/author+photo.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Check back soon to read about the author Monica&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-8137773578461959827?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/8137773578461959827'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/8137773578461959827'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/author.html' title='Author'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0Gbs2vE1OI/AAAAAAAAAJk/8GrcJUUNfak/s72-c/author+photo.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-5449533613520920509</id><published>2005-01-03T21:30:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-16T21:01:17.160-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Buy</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0p96y-ftlI/AAAAAAAAAKk/z-lZtIpzn4Q/s1600-h/book+cover.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425287150190966354" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0p96y-ftlI/AAAAAAAAAKk/z-lZtIpzn4Q/s320/book+cover.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 158px;" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Make everyday a day to be encouraged by getting a copy of 101 Days to Be Encouraged! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;$12.95&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Order &lt;a href="https://www.createspace.com/3399807"&gt;Direct Link&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/101-Days-Encouraged-Encouraging-enlighten/dp/1449513581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;s=books&amp;amp;qid=1263173234&amp;amp;sr=1-1"&gt;Amazon.com &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Coming soon to bookstores everywhere!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-5449533613520920509?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/5449533613520920509'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/5449533613520920509'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/buy.html' title='Buy'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0p96y-ftlI/AAAAAAAAAKk/z-lZtIpzn4Q/s72-c/book+cover.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-5790584850580570594</id><published>2005-01-03T21:27:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-03T21:29:00.099-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Praises</title><content type='html'>Read what others are saying about 101 Days to Be Encouraged and share your praise as well!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-5790584850580570594?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/feeds/5790584850580570594/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/praises.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/5790584850580570594'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/5790584850580570594'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/praises.html' title='Praises'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884724765364477352.post-1338277056648103097</id><published>2005-01-03T21:14:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-13T18:14:47.117-08:00</updated><title type='text'>About</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0GbY4o7AHI/AAAAAAAAAJc/Cy5hI0UbNcA/s1600-h/ThumbnailImage.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422786278153977970" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0GbY4o7AHI/AAAAAAAAAJc/Cy5hI0UbNcA/s400/ThumbnailImage.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 158px;" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0GbHHxul4I/AAAAAAAAAJU/SDXQrbqwq20/s1600-h/book+cover.jpg"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0GbAP9KXDI/AAAAAAAAAJM/e6TOaFU9zHc/s1600-h/book+cover.jpg"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Do you have a dream or a promise in your heart that you are working towards?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;Maybe to be a better mom…husband…parent…start a business…become a minister….lead a nation…write a book….create a film. By now, a part of you probably have realized that it is not going to happen overnight. There is a process; a journey; a waiting and even actions to take. On this journey a wide range of emotions, thoughts and decisions come about. Or maybe you no longer have a dream and are just living day to day.Like a caterpillar in a cacoon you can often feel closed off from the rest of the world and that life has ended. It is easy to feel tired, hopeless, confused and even doubt that you have a good future. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Do you desire to see more of God in your everyday life?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;101 Days to Be Bncouraged is a collection of the actual everyday life events of god working and speaking through his children to encourage them on their journey. Each&amp;nbsp;message is written in a conversational, down to earth yet enlightening style so that you may immediately apply the truth to your life. As a friend writing to another friend is how each message is written to you. If you are a pastor, teacher, &amp;nbsp;speaker or leader you can use these stories as an intro to your messages to encourage your listeners&amp;nbsp;or as one who is on a journey…you can directly apply them to your situation to have hope and be encouraged that God is working everything out on your behalf and you too will fulfill every promise he has given you. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How to Read Them?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;This book consist of 101 short devotional style messages. No matter who you are, what level you are on or what walk of life you come from, after reading each, you will feel inspired, encouraged and know more of God and enter a restful confidence in the hope of the good things to come no matter what the situation. You can read them daily, all at the same time or on occasion for encouragement but as you read them….know that during the next 101 days/times you read them….you will Be Encouraged!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Call to Action!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;At the end of every message is a call to action tip which offers a simple action you can take to be encouraged for the day. This way you not only a hearer of the message but a doer also which brings about change.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/buy.html"&gt;Get your copy today to begin your 101 Days to Be Encourage Journey!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7884724765364477352-1338277056648103097?l=101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/1338277056648103097'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7884724765364477352/posts/default/1338277056648103097'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://101daystobeencouraged.blogspot.com/2005/01/about.html' title='About'/><author><name>Monica A. Johnson</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/Sz-4d8ZlAEI/AAAAAAAAAHY/c0xBuHN05aQ/S220/author+photo.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ERlniHsC4o0/S0GbY4o7AHI/AAAAAAAAAJc/Cy5hI0UbNcA/s72-c/ThumbnailImage.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry></feed>
