Grace

I'm always appreciative of new angles or perspectives on things that may have become common or ordinary. At the training course I attended last week, we began each day with devotion. During one of the devotions, the training leader shared this acronym for grace....

God's Riches At Christ's Expense

I'm not sure who came up with the acronym but I thought it was absolutely wonderful.

~barbara

Worship & Laughter

Every now and again I need a little refresher course in the "basic" things of God such as worship, prayer, etc. This video on worship says it all: http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/9109/the-gift-of-worship/.


Laughter is medicine accordingy to the Bible. Here's a good one for anyone who has ever felt intimidated or shy about sharing your faith. http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/722/evangelism-linebacker-no-excuses/.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

~barbara

Memory Scripture 4

John 15: 7 & 16 (message bible)

If you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.
You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

He Knows What He's Doing!

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out --- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)

I cannot get this scripture out of my head! Thank the Lord for His Word and thank you, Barbara, for sharing this translation of the verse.

It has rejuvenated my spirit and helped carry me since I heard it, especially now as Michael and I anxiously look heavenward and try to see what God is doing concerning our family. We have experienced some tough times as we have sought to follow the Lord and establish a new ministry, but we cannot deny the wonderful change we see in our hearts and minds, marital relationship and family. We were talking just yesterday about how what we've been through, although trying, has so tremendously strengthened our mission, message, walk and talk for Him.

However, back to this word that Barbara helped embed in my spirit... I feel like, finally, my "walk is tight," so I can't help sometimes but wonder what the holdup is concerning the provision for this vision that God has given my husband and I concerning our minstry, marriage, and family. But lately, every time I want to wonder about the "when?" and the "how?" I remember this in-my-face translation of Jeremiah 29:11. It was already one of my very favorite scriptures anyway, but the Lord used Barbara to help me really hear what He is saying.

That shared, I now need to ask you to please stand in agreement with me through prayer.

I had the blessing recently of having some money come in to my hands. The Holy Spirit had been speaking to me about it and telling me the money was to be a first fruit offering. I was excited about the opportunity to be able to give such an offering, as in the past I didn't really understand the significance of this offering but had recently had it explained through some awesome Bible studies and Christian financial education classes.

I didn't have any idea what the amount would be, but determined to give it whether it was $10, $100, or $1000. (NOTE: We needed the money in our household, whether it was $10, $100, or $1000. I wasn't sure if it was exactly the right thing to do at the time, but I did not share with my husband what the Holy Spirit had shared with me because I did not want to be talked or rationalized in to bringing the money to the household now and giving a different first fruit offering later. I am a submissive wife but God's desires trump hubby's, always).

When I received the money it turned out to be almost the exact amount of money we needed for a bill that needed to be paid THAT DAY. However, I decided to trust that God knows what He's doing and took the money and went straight to our sister church and mentor, Bishop Reece. He travels a lot and I really didn't expect to see him or his wife who is also a pastor, but I determined to leave the money with a note on the inside asking him to pray Proverbs 3:9-10 in agreement with us. He is a man who believes God's principles work when you apply them so I knew I could trust him to pray with us. But, glory to God, Bishop Reece was there and prayed with me agreeing in prayer, establishing by our earthly dominion God's will for our family here on earth, and speaking the blessing of the first fruit offering in to our lives.

When I got home and shared with Michael what I had done, he blessed my action as I hoped he would. We have, for the last several years, always needed at home whatever money had come our way and had not yet had the knowledge (combined with the opportunity to) put our faith in to action in such a way so I was very relieved that he was able to stand with me in spite of the pressure of needing the money right then.

We have not yet seen the glorious increase and multiplication that is ushered in by a first fruit offering. But we know that the Lord's Word is true and that He is true to His Word. Please stand with us in agreement (Proverbs 3:9-10 and Romans 11:16) for His promised change in our life.

Thank you and bless you,

Theresa

(first-time blogger, long-time LLOP blog reader)

Reconnecting

I woke up yesterday depressed. Then my depression led to frustration because I remebered during my fast on the 1st that I prayed for renewed strength and encouragement. My depression was due to my weariness toward the continuous battles I have been facing. I should also say that there have been victories along the way...just short lived.

Because I know that I am in my promise land I have to keep going back to the story of Joshua. There were so many obstacles the Israelites had to defeat before they could really enjoy their promise. And though God gave them victory and they won many battles, the reality that they still had to GO AND FACE THE ENEMY IN BATTLE still remainded.

So when I talked with Barbara yesterday morning, trying to pull on her joy because I couldn't fine mine, she reminded me to look within myself. I am not going to find it in what's happening around me...happiness is attached to the happenings. Joy is different and it is not the absence of trouble. I did what Barbara suggested and went to find scriptures about joy in a different translation than what I am used to.

I found 1 Thess. 1:5-6 (The Message Bible)
5 When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn't just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.
6 and determined to live that way yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit! - taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble.

I had to go and read the whole chapter and that WORD really blessed me this morning. It reminded me that I am a light to others...Barbara even reminded me of that a few days ago :)
Please take some time to read this chapter of 1 Thessalonians and you will see what I mean.

I am going to keep that prayer that was posted on September 2nd Colossians 1:9b, 11 - 12.
I ask that you please pray for me. Specifically pray that I remember that my joy is in me because the Holy Spirit is in me and I can take joy from the Holy Spirit.
Also, I am about to go through a tight financial season to sell my home in Lithonia, GA. Please pray that God helps me and those working with me to see my way clearly through this process and that I come out on the other side better off financially than when I came in.
Finally, please pray that these fibroids melt away and my uterus is healthy and normal. I started my healing regimen of vitamines and herbs and natural foods two weeks ago. I am praying that we see progress at the end of this first three months. I am looking forward to giving you all a praise report in the near future.

I know that my ladies in my prayer circle can get a prayer through. I appreciate what we all have brought to each other's lives through this blog. And I renew my commitment to stay connected.
Thanks for your prayers!

Taliah

Memory Scripture 3

Colossians 1:9b, 11 - 12

The scripture is re-written as a prayer here, feel free to fill in the blanks with your name or the names of others. The Message bible is the reference for this prayer.

Father,
I pray that You give ________ a wise mind and spirit attuned to Your will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which You work. I pray that ________ will have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting my/his/her/their teeth but the glory-strength that You give. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking You, our Father, who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that You have for us. (colossians 1:9b, 11-12)

Be blessed!