We’re at the beginning of a new year and most of us are still exited about the possibilities of making 2008 a better year than 2007. We’ve all taken our personal inventories and had the "keepin’ it real" sessions with ourselves. We’ve examined what we did well in 2007 and also acknowledged what we could have done better. We did what we always do; we promised ourselves that we wouldn’t make the same old mistakes this year that we made last year. All of this is great because these are the essential first steps in doing the necessary work to improve lives. Maybe you’re still working out and sticking to your new diet. Perhaps you’ve shown great will-power and not picked up a drink or a cigarette this year. For that I applaud you and I encourage you to continue to do your best to continue moving forward. After you really can do whatever you put your mind to!

In my life as a minister and spiritual advisor to many, I have come to understand that many times our greatest challenges are not always the flaws that meet the eye. Most of the time, the things that wreak shear havoc in our lives are those hidden dysfunctions that lye just beneath the surface; the things that people will never see unless we allow them to get close to us.

My heart’s desire for you this year is that you would be empowered to open and honest with God, with yourself and with the people around you. One of the first steps that we’re going to take on this journey is learning the power of the word "NO"! One of the most destructive behavior patterns in the lives of same-gender-loving people is our tendency to say "yes" when we should be saying "no". What I mean is that many of us are struggling today because we didn’t hold ourselves in high enough regard to take care of ourselves first.

Many of us are suffering financial difficulty today because we said "yes" to loaning money when the truth of our situation suggested that we should have said "no". Some of us can’t enjoy our own lives because we’re bogged down with catering to everyone else’s needs and not taking care of our own. Collectively, we have countless unfinished degrees, missed business opportunities and unfulfilled dreams all because we failed to say "no" to things that had nothing to do with what God ordained for our lives.

Because many of us struggle secretly with issues of low self-esteem and insecurity, we believe the way to gain acceptance and affirmation is to never disappoint anyone in our lives. We don’t want to let anyone down or offend anyone by saying "no". We’re afraid of what someone will think of us if we don’t do what they think we should do. Well I want you to get free today! You have my permission to say "NO" when "NO" is what’s in your spirit.
I don’t advocate not being a loving and giving person; I believe that God wants us to be generous and concerned for those around us. I don’t believe, however that He wants us to do it to our own detriment. We’ve got to learn to take care of ourselves, do what we’ve been called to do and then bless those around us out of our abundance.

Here’s how we do better:

• Find your purpose in life and be committed to it. If people, or situations come about that are pulling you away from what God has for you to do, reject it and be okay with saying "NO"!

• Lean to be okay with the confrontation. Don’t be afraid of what will happen if you say "NO". Many times the confrontation is the key to helping those around you grow and become self sufficient. The confrontation many times will free you up to do the things that you need to do!

• Invest in yourself first! If you plant all of your seed in someone else’s field, they’ll eat and you’ll starve – THINK ABOUT IT!
  

Peace Prosperity and POWER,
Pastor Will

Will Horn, Pastor
Power Center Christian Church
PO Box 162242
Atlanta, GA 30321
www.thepowercenter.org