In His Presence by Joanne Green
Today’s guest blogger is Joanne Green. Intrigued with the world of fashion, Joanne became a runway model for the exclusive Lord and Taylor brand in New York and Boston. While enjoying her modeling success, her college studies reflected that interest and she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fashion Merchandising. While managing her home life as a wife, mother and budding designer living in Dallas, Texas, she embarked upon her entrepreneurial skills and launched “Ezra “a unique custom clothing line that was designed for women and children which she sold to Boutiques and marketed at Trade and Trunk Shows. Joanne quickly discovered that her work was thrusting her into the brokenness and spiritually bankrupt lives of professionals from corporate backgrounds and lifestyles. Her work evolved from designing for the outward individual to ministering to the inward and thus sharing the word of God became an ensuing passion.
In 1981, she acknowledged and prepared for the prophetic call on her life by attending Word of Faith Bible School. She was licensed to preach and teach in 1984 by her Pastor, Ron Shaw, Light Church, Dallas Texas, and later in 1994 was ordained by Bishop D. W. Washington, Good News Church in Houston, Texas, where she also served as an Associate Pastor for more than twenty years. Her professional experience includes Sales and Marketing Management as well as Human Resource Management. She is an Executive Board Member of L.I.F.E. Inc. and is currently serving as Executive Board Member President of True Vineyard Ministries, San Marcos, Texas, which is a non-profit organization, that meet fundamental needs and provide sustainable income projects to widows affected with HIV/AIDS living in Rwanda.
Her community involvement included being a Juvenile Volunteer in the Fairfield, California Correctional System, Religious Program Coordinator, Galveston Texas Prison Medical Facility and Fort Bend Women’s Center for Battered and Abused Women, where she currently offers Inner Healing classes. She has traveled domestically and globally sharing the Word of God, volunteering and serving in mission outreaches. In 2005 “Ezra” became Ezra Ministries taken from the scripture found in Ezra 7:10 and in 2014 Ezra Ministries became a non-profit organization. Joanne has been called to be a modern day Ezra with the mandate to impact lives through her gifting to preach the uncompromised truth, teach the word simply and to provoke people to become passionate and purposeful about kingdom principles.
You can reach Joanne at: 512-270-9059 or www.ezraminisriesinc.org
When I find my thoughts and life’s challenges closing in on me and I struggle to find my voice; King David reminds me that In God’s Presence, there is fullness of joy.
Joy unspeakable cries the Apostle John, the same John whose love and affection for Jesus was deeply rooted and palpable at the Cross. The unspeakable joy that is hard to articulate, yet can be found in melodies playing in my heart, my mind and soul. Melodies and lyrics, penned in songs like “I Just Want You” and “You Amaze Me” by Vicki Yohe, have become my doorway to the throne room of Heaven.
What songs bring you joy?
Once I am in His presence, I bow at the Almighty’s feet so I’m in the appropriate posture of prayer. There, His love washes over me, yet I find any words I attempt to utter are inadequate to express my deepest desire to worship my Lord and King. I have come to rely on the Holy Spirit and His ability to help me convey my innermost feelings as I find my way to the secret place of His presence, a place David uncovers for us in Psalm 30:20 (NKJV).
“You shall hide them in the secret place of your presence; from the plots of man; you shall keep them secretly in a pavilion; from the strife of tongues.”
His words assure us that God’s secret place is a pavilion and a canopy of safety. It is a safe haven from hurtful words aimed at destroying and robbing us of joy or peace.
I embrace and meditate on the words of Psalm 65:4 (Complete Jewish Bible) “How blessed are those you choose and bring near, so that they can remain in your courtyards! We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the Holy Place of your temple.”
Do you spend time in God’s Secret Place?
We are “Blessed” to be extended an invitation to approach God and to dwell and abide with him when he summons. There is no greater joy than to be His invited guest and to know that is our special, secret place where intimate communion awaits us. Today I am thankful for the songs in my heart and melodies in my mind that bring me into His presence.
It is a place where His joy strengthens me.
Joanne Green, Ezra Ministries, Inc.