No Subject, Just Venting....

I'm tired! I mean plum physically tired!!

You know, as I sit here in all of my tiredness (borrowed from Tameki), I'm pondering the fact that November 1 is in a couple of days. Immediately after hitting the exclamation point, my mind went to our monthly fast. Generally I pray and ask God to direct me for the fast; asking Him what He wants me to sacrifice. He anticipated my question because with less than 48 hours to go, I have yet to ask (see....tired!). Here is what the Lord nudged in my heart....focus less on what to abstain from and focus more on what to abstain to. Spend an entire day without uttering one single negative word, complaint, vent, or thought. Capture every thought that does not line up with the Word and immediately exchange it for something true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous or praisworthy. Yeah, mediate and think on those things. Don't even say "it's too hot or too cold" but rather thank Him for the seasons, which is vital to life and anything living. Don't say "i'm tired" but rather thank Him that he so strategically crafted our body that it has a built-in system to tell us when it needs rest, food, and water. Does this sound far out, deep even? Well, it may, but this I know, obedience is better than sacrifice - according to the Word:-)

Be blessed,

~bdr

Memory Scripture 6

Matthew 19:26

Message: Jesus looked hard at them and said, "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."

NKJ: But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Ownership

Ownership - having by position and possession

The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof (1 Corinthians 10:26)
We are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)
Peace is ours (Psamls 29:11; John 14:27)
Wisdom, knowledge, & joy is ours (Ecclesiastes 2:26)
Prosperity belongs to us (Deuteronomy 8:18; 3John 1:2)
The list can go on and on.

We own everything God owns by position - because we are joint heirs with Christ through the redemptive blood He shed on the Cross. Having by possession is another issue. How do we as believers connect the dots between position and possession. You do know that we can have by position and not by possession, right? Before I go into more details, I would like to open this up for discussion. What do you all think?

Example - have you ever experienced a lack of peace? Clearly the word tells us that God gives His people peace. Here's a hint of where my thought process is going, the position has all to do with God, the possession has something to do with us.

~BDR

Thanks Ladies

I am writing to update you all in regards to my surgery. I did have a laparoscopic surgery performed on October 4, 2007. My OB/GYN removed a dermoid, an ovarian cyst, two fibroids and determined that one of my fallopian tubes was closed during this diagnostic/operative surgery. I will follow-up with my OB/GYN in 6 wks to determine our plan of action and learn all that I can about his findings from surgery. Nevertheless, as you all can guess my OB/GYN did inform my husband the above infromation and that I will still be able to have those children that I so desire. I thank you all for your prayers. I went into the surgery calm and worry free and am still residing in that state. I have very very little post operative pain. Actually, I am in less pain now than I was prior to the surgery.

Finally, for those of you who participated in our prayer conference call on August 20, 2007 you may remember that I was late joining the call due to a "cycle" surprise. Well Taliah brought back to all of our minds on October 1, 2007, the request to pray for me for my upcoming surgery. On October 2, 2007 I had another "cycle" surprise. Please understand that I have had no "cycle" since our last gathering for prayer and prior to that it had been late June. God is definitely utilizing our prayers in my life. I thank you. Stay encouraged and remember anything is possible!

LaCresha

Memory Scripture 5

Psalms 27: 12 - 13

v. 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
v. 14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Our treasures are not only stored up in Heaven, but also here on Earth. Let's agree with David and believe that we shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Are you excited today? Only God knows how much I wanted to give up at times, many times; BUT GOD!! He had a different plan and now I look back on those years and it seems like they were only days in number (let me tell you, it was years and some of my LLOP sisters can testify to this fact). I urge you today, reach down in your spirit, and pull out a YES. YES God, I'll go where you want me to go, I'll do what you want me to do, I'll say what you want me to say, I'll give what you want me to give, YES God.

Fasting and Praying

Greetings Ladies,

It is the first of October and I am excited about our fast today because I woke up this morning with a spirit of Thanksgiving. I cherish these feeling of pure thanksgiving, love and appreciation for God with no motives.

Yesterday I gave my tithe and today I am fasting and praying for a new and better character that God may release those things that have held me back from the fulfillment of my full calling.

The scripture that I am focusing on today is Romans 5:3-5



3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.



In addition, I am also praying for LaCresha today throughout this week. I hope you will join me in praying for her this week because her surgery is this Thursday. I spoke with her Saturday. We talked about the fact that they will go in Thursday and remove the cyst. But she specifically said that she hopes they see what is "really" going on and be able to assess what is "really" causing the pain she is experiencing.

Please keep Cree in your prayers. Let also remember her previous prayer request and keep it in the front of our hearts and minds:

"Let the very will of God be done in and through me. Allow me not to succomb to depression, self-pity or ignorance of the fact that God is still God. I am his Child. and Anything is Possible." ---August 23, 2007

This reminds me of....
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Ladies, anything is possible with the God we serve! Let's look forward to the possibilities!

Taliah