A Fresh Start

Streaming Faith Daily Devotionals   Tuesday, December 30, 2008

A Fresh Start Greg Laurie As we come to the beginning of a new year and the ending of an old one, we often wish we could turn over a new leaf or have a fresh start. No doubt about it, there have been certain things we have said or done in this past year that we have come to regret. Wouldn't it be great to just start over again? In reality, as a Christian you can have a fresh start. The new year is still a blank slate. There are opportunities ahead of you. You decide which path you are going to walk in this coming year. "Thus says the LORD: 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls'" (Jeremiah 6:16). You decide what your priorities are going to be. You decide which direction you are going to take, each and every day. Maybe some of us need a fresh start in this coming year. Here is a great opportunity to make a new commitment. We don't know what the new year is going to bring. We don't know what problems we are going to encounter. We don't know what changes are going to come. We don't know what blessings the Lord has in store for us. But whatever the new year holds, we don't have to be afraid because Jesus Christ is going to be waiting there for us. I like the words of that wonderful woman of God, Corrie ten Boom, who said, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." God is in control of your future. He is ready to bless you in this coming year.   Greg Laurie is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, located in Riverside, California. In 1990, Greg launched Harvest Crusades, an annual evangelism outreach event that has touched the lives of over 4 million people worldwide. For more information on Greg, log onto www.harvest.org. © Greg Laurie all rights reserved

The Struggle Towards Spiritual Maturity

            Rev. Anita J. Gould led a Bible Study at Reid Temple A.M.E. entitled "The Struggle towards Spiritual Maturity." In this Bible Study she listed six growth stumpers that will delay our growth in the Lord.

 

Independence � acting presumptuously, apart from God's leadership.

Impatience � failing to wait on the Lord for direction.

Ignorance � moving without knowledge of what God wants.

Illegality � acting contrary to God's command.

Impulsivity � doing what YOU want; driven by ego, not submission

Insensitivity � paying no attention to God's instruction.

           

            I know everybody thinks it's cool to be "Ms. Independent" these days. Make sure you're being independent from the things you shouldn't rely on, but never try to be independent from God. He has given us everything we have and without Him we would be nothing. Let's not deceive ourselves by believing otherwise. Praise God for his leadership and direction.

 

            We can not be deceived into these growth stumpers. Spiritual maturity is not about knowing it all or beings without fault. True spiritual maturity comes from obedience and faithfulness. In this walk of life, let's remain faithful to God's direction. If you are ever unsure of what God's instruction is, ask Him and search through the word for what He's already commanded of you. (James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.") Still unsure? Wait on the Lord. It's easy to grow impatient and try and decide things on our own, but we have to trust that God loves us enough to see us through.

 

            Most importantly, there is no "age limit" in the Lord. It's not like once we grow to a certain maturity we can stop and get comfortable. We can always submit ourselves more to God's instruction and we can always grow closer to Him so that we can hear His instruction clearer. Continue to grow in the Lord, and if you lack the fervor, remember that when people witness your spiritual maturity, it inspires them to grow as well.

 

With Love,

 

Angel Vosburgh

DS Fidelity

#6ΛFA08

Where is your Weapon?

Hebrews 4:12 (King James Version)

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

WoW! The Word of GOD is QUICK & POWERFUL! How so I wonder...does this mean when I have done wrong the Bible will chase me down and then punish me with force for my wrong doings? Does this mean I can not hide the truth? Does this mean...I dont know, what does this mean? When I look at the Bible all I see is a book; a book with pages and words.  But then I become curious <like Curious George> and read what the words say (in this case, curiosity does not kill). When I read it, I realize it is living and active because of the effect it has on those to whom it is preached.  The seat of our emotions is our soul and the spirit is our mind.

The next time you feel weak, grab you Weapon <the Holy BIBLE> for it is sharper than ANY sword and has ALL the answers to ALL your problems.

MERRRY CHRISTMAS

The Ladies of Alpha Nu Omega Sorority Inc., Lambda Chapter would like to wish Howard University and the surrounding community a JOYOUS and MERRY CHRISTMAS. Thank God for who and what He has blessed you with! We are soooo thankful for you!

Love,
Your Sisters in Christ

The Anointed One

Anoint: b: to choose by or as if by divine election

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it is important for us to remember that He is also the Messiah, meaning The Anointed One. Jesus Christ was God's chosen Son. God chose Jesus to be born specifically for our sins. That was Jesus' appointment.

Thank you Jesus to committing to the assignment.

But God has also chosen us for specific tasks as well for the glory of His Kingdom. I like that the word election is used in the definition of "to anoint" because it shows the importance of the appointment. God chooses us all for different, very important, roles and who are we to deny the most honorable appointment one can receive? I challenge us all to find out what God is calling us to in our day to day lives and to walk in the royal positions we have been appointed to.

Run and Don't Look Back

"But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."

            ~Genesis 19:26

 

            This section of the book of Genesis discusses Sodom and Gomorrah. The details of this section were always fuzzy to me, because they were taught to me in a censored manner. So I decided to delve a little deeper into this topic. I really focused on the story of Lot, especially Lot's wife. First, we have to look at what kind of place Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis chapter 13 describes the people of Sodom as wicked and great sinners against God. When God proclaims that because of the outcry against this place he is going to devour the entire city, Abraham pleads that there may be righteous people among the wicked. God replies with if there are ten righteous people in the city of Gomorrah I will spare the entire city. Clearly there were not even fifty righteous in the entire city. The people committed sexually immoral acts from which the word sodomy originates.

            Now God had sent two angels down to the city to destroy it because of the great outcry. When they arrive at the gates Lot goes to meet them and bows down to them, and insists that they come inside his house so he can wash their feet and feed them. Now when they get into the house, they find that the house is surrounded by the men of Sodom pleading to have sex with his guests. The two angels yank Lot back in the house and blind the men outside so that they can not find the door. After seeing such a spectacle, the angels advise Lot to find his loved ones and escape the city before it is destroyed. Following their advice, Lot goes out to get his son in-laws, who brush him off, his daughters, and his wife. The next day the angels order Lot out of the city, though he hesitated, and requested that they run to safety and don't look back. God destroys the city and as they continue to run Lot's wife looks back and turns into a pillar of salt.

            One would question what would cause someone to look back after being demanded specifically by two angels not to. But you also have to ask how many of us test what the Lord has told us. There may be times where God sees a Sodom and Gomorrah situation in your life, and he advises you to get out quick. How often do we linger and vacillate? We have to take the example of Lot's wife when God says move and He is trying to spare your life, you cannot worry about who or what you are leaving behind. As we go through life there may be some relationships or things that God is trying to destroy, are you going to run and not look back?

 

--
ChaKia Howard
DS Top Model
Alpha Nu Omega Sorority, Inc.
Lambda Chapter Step Mistress

You are a peculiar people...count it a blessing!

Guten Morgen! I jus want to share what's on my heart with you all. 1 Peter 4:12-13 states "Friends, when life gets really difficult. Don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead. Be glad that you are in the very thick of what God experienced. This is a spirtitual refinded process, with Glory around the corner..."(take time to read the rest of this in message of you can....sorry I can't copy and paste it for you)

I was glad God brought me to this scripture this morning although I had my mind set on another passage. But this is just what I needed to reflect on. Not just because it reminds us of why we as Christians should count our blessings and cut our complaining, but also because it reminds us that we are a peculiar people.

It's so funny how even when I was a cussin, fussin, rude, drinkin, and just a down right not walking in my calling chick, people still could not see me as the person I presented. People still saw the Christ in me and I wasn't able to get away with much. My best friend was one of the people who would always keep me in my place. Shout out to ACJ-my partner in crime!
Neway....
This passage goes on to say that we should be okay when people call us out on our misdoings because we are Christians. And even if you are straddling the fence...what they would call a lukewarm Christians it's about time you faced reality and walk into your life with Christ.
Everytime I come home I always have some weird feeling that I won't get to hang with some of my high school friends like I used to. And sure enough I missed one of the main get togethers. Not to say that I can't hang with my friends...but last night God was just reminded me that peculiar people can't do evrything and be everywhere. Of course I would have liked to complain...but I instead counted it a blessing that God knows me so well He knows which environments in which  I can be who he has called me to be. Are you finding yourself being seperated from some of the things you used to be able to do? Or just feeling the need to hold your friends, who call themselves Christians, accountable for the things they do. Remember you are different...you have been chosen to be a mouthpiece for Him...count it a blessing...

Guten Tag!

I/WE/YOU HAVE THE POWER TO OVERCOME!

First I'd like to start off and say that God is really good...like really. One, he keeps building road blocks that prevent me from doing what my flesh really really really wants to do and makes a way for the things that I really really really need and that are according to His plan despite what b.poe may want, feel, think, or do. That's love. Taking care of me when I'm foolish enough to want to do else wise. Thank you dear Lord .

I was blessed on last Sunday to go to my church (Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church) and take a break from west elm. Mind you, this is the 2nd Sunday that I've had off since working there. Praise God that YOU have the ability to be free and go to church. You don't realize what you have until you have no other option. BEING at church is better than WATCHIN it online every week (just my opinion). Anyway...Co-Pastor Susie was preachin and boy did it bless me! I've been meditating on it all week. Here's a lil something from what I gathered...

Title: I Have the Power to Overcome
Scripture: Revelation 12:11
Question: What is the significance of the BLOOD of the lamb and the WORD of one's testimony?

Let's go over a few words first.
1. TYPOLOGY which means and/or represents symbolism
2. RHEMA is the spoken word
3. LOGOS is the idea or in other terms the 'creative power' of the word. Hence, this is God's means of communicating with the human race.

Good, so we have the 3 words down, and you've read the scripture (I don't really paste scriptures too much because I think it's a great habit to open one's Bible).

We know that we speak death or life with the power of our own tongue. This is where the power of God in our lives takes place. If God THOUGHT (logos) about being a man, SPOKE (rhema) the Word, and behold the IMMACULATE (without blemish) conception of Jesus...we MUST conclude that we posses this power as well. Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion: WHAT I THINK AND WHAT I SAY WILL COME TO PASS. Please know that we can defeat ourselves with our own words!

Since we're going to have to fight, we might as well be a good fighter! We HAVE to build up that psyche where we SPEAK victory before ever coming in contact with the struggle. Like a wrestler or boxer. They train and train and train before they EVER get in the ring to fight a match. However, the whole time they are in the mindset of WINNING! They KNOW punches and blows are coming their way but they don't let that prohibit them from ever entering the ring and training to get the victory.

Now, what does overcoming mean? Last time we focused on motivation, but really...what does it mean to overcome? Well, it DOES NOT mean to attain success, recognition, achievement, acceptance, or prestige in the CHURCH or in the WORLD. For, what you may consider success others may see as failure. Hence, those could not possibly represent the ability to overcome.

What is DOES mean is that YOU , I, We will possess the ability to suffer well. Yes, possessing the ability to suffer well. This is the person who will remain loyal to God despite persecution, trials, heartache, no fiances, disrespectful professors, trippin boyfriends, unloyal friends, gossip in organization, etc. This COULD be you. If YOU and I push all of these worries and concerns aside, we could possess the ability to overcome. If we want to overcome, we have to endure hardness like a good soldier and never quit. The Marines say it better: "pain is weakness leaving the body." I believe in this whole heartedly. How can you ever know if you are capable of overcoming or enduring the hard times if you've never went through a cold season? This is why is allows blows to come our way. To test our loyalty to His love, His Word, His authority. In order to comply with authority we must hear the voice of God and comply with His orders. If you are hearing opposite of what the Word is saying. Honey chile'...listen a lil' more clearly til you hear God.

Here are SIX (6) PRINCIPLES TO OVERCOME THE ENEMY:

1. Identify the enemy. How can you say you ready to fight the enemy and you don't even know who he is? Sometimes the devil is NOT THEM, it's YOU! Jesus knew about the enemy too. We can't just hold on to clichés. Clichés don't fight the devil, the Word does. We must use the RIGHT WORD for the RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCE. I don't recall "it is what it is" being in the bible. Perhaps the Message, but i'm talkin bout the WORD! The devil told Jesus that he would GIVE HIM all materialistic things. Sooo lets not get too up and mighty when WE'VE gotten a new car, shoes, money, great grades, etc. The devil has this power too. Make sure you're serving under the RIGHT master and that HE is the one rewarding you for your services and not the OTHER ONE (he who should not be named) lol.

2. Take it to the LORD...and the Lord will work it out! Psalm 121 is a great reflection of this. Leave it to God to work out the situation. Clearly it's still goin on in your life because YOU don't know how to fix it. You didn't create it nor foresee it so of course you don't have the solution. Duh! Leave it to the Master boo.

3. Admit your inadequacies. We're quick to say that someONE or someTHING is whack. How about you? If you/we overcome ANY obstacles it's not by our own power, but it's by the Lord working through us. He is the potter and we are the clay. Let's say this together now.."In my own strength, I cannot handle this." Great! One more time..."In my own strength, I CANNOT handles this!" Muy bien.

4. Rely on God's resources. His ways are not my ways. TRUST in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean NOT onto your own understanding. What the enemy meant for evil, God's resources will make good. What did David use to conquer Goliath? Exactly. How many fish and biscuits were used to feed the multitude? Exactly! God doesn't have to work a miracle every time. He has the resources my love. Let God work on the thing that's working on you. Great! Let's say it together: "Let God work on the thing that's working on me!" Fantastico.

5. Relax in faith. How would we know to relax and not be anxious? The WORD! Be encouraged because the Lord will make a way. He allowed it so He will bring you (me) out of it. God has EVERYTHING under control. NOTHING will overtake you (me) that the Lord has not summoned. Sooo when people are talking about you just know that they are talking about you because they want to get information about you to get to know you...them move on. Brush it off and move on. God's got it.

6. Thank God in advance for giving you (me) the victory. This is a prophetic praise. A praise of prediction. If you want it, speak it. Then thank God in ADVANCE for letting it come to pass. Need a lil help? Flip the record to Marvin Sapp. Ya feel me?

We are able to do ALL these things because of the blood of the lamb. We are able to SPEAK life because of the blood. We are able to call on the Lord because of the blood. We are able to be born again because of the blood. We are able to over come because of the blood of the precious lamb.

Now, how can I, (insert your name here) become an overcomer?
1. the BLOOD of the lamb
2. the WORD of my testimony

Just know that the Lord will PERFECT those things that concern you (me).

Peace and blessings until we meet again...

ONElove.ONEpeace.ONEsoul

b.poe

Video

Greetings Fellow Blog Readers,

Today for something different, I decided to showcase a couple of videos that are encouraging, some of which have encouraged me. I hope you find them just as encouraging. God Bless!










With Love In His Greater Service,
~ Min. Brittany Bibb
Breath of Life Ministries
Alpha Nu Omega, Inc
DS TRUST est.FA06
Lambda Chapter Sorority
2008-2009 Director of Ministry

Surrounded by Fulfilled Promises

So Christmas is officially one week away and I am so excited.  I must say that Christmas is hands down my favorite holiday of the year...I think it may even beat my birthday.  I love to get all corny with the carols, and egg nog, and decorations, and Christmas sweaters, and wrapping gifts, and the list just goes on.  I love being with my family and having conversations that go well into the night.  But most of all I love reflecting on the gifts that I get...no, not just the ones under the tree, but the gifts of fulfilled promises from God. 
 
Numbers 23:19 states...
 19 God is not a man, that he should lie,
       nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
       Does he speak and then not act?
       Does he promise and not fulfill?
 
It's crazy because even though I know that "if God says it, that settles it", I still get nervous in those impossible situations that He already declared I had victory over.  And I even have the nerve to be shocked, at times, when the things He promised me come true.  But can I just say that God is so good, no He's great, He is simply the best.  If someone told me at the beginning of this year I would be where I am today, with the goals that I have accomplished and the positions that I am in, I might not have believed it.  But I'm telling you, EVERYTHING that He told me He would do, He's done that and more.  Specifically in those situations in which I gave up trying and let Him have His way, He truly showed out.
 
So...what promises has God fulfilled in your life?  What gifts are you grateful to reflect on this Christmas?  Even those promises that you have yet to see fulfilled, rejoice in the fact that His word doesn't come back to Him void, and your time is coming!
 
I want to end with one of my FAVORITE Christmas songs...
 
Oh Holy Night (The Mariah Carey Version)
 
 
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Love You All,
 
DS Renee Davis
**Shout out to my big brother who turns 25 today!

Walking By Faith

Hebrews 11:1-Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,the
evidence of things not seen.

This verse I will always remember.For two reasons,aside from the fact
that it is important to remember:first,Alpha Omega Stepper For Christ has a step which
incorporates it & two,at my church back home,my uncle (who is also my
pastor) did a series on it & i think he repeated it every message.That
& "faith comes by hearing & hearing by the Word of God." This verse
can be applied in many ways,I think.1st, it talks about faith being
both substance & evidence.

 

When I think of something that has
substance,I usually think of something that has a basis or a
foundation.Basically when it comes to hoping or better yet believing
God for something,we must have faith.Then it says the EVIDENCE...one i
take this is..evidence is proof of something,it shows something. So my
faith is proof of things not seen.When I pray & believe God for
something ,by faith, I believe that it will come to pass.One thing that
is hard;however, is when you have faith & it doesn't happen.That still
requires faith tho because you have to have faith that if it didn't
happen,if you didn't get it...then it was for a reason.Either God didn't
want you there because He has somewhere better or maybe you have to
wait.Both actions require faith.It also can be used when it comes to
people...because sometimes,as humans,we judge people.& the faith
aspect comes in when we judge them and don't even know them..or when we
think we know them.When we walk by sight,we can only enjoy,we can only
deal with what we can see...but then we are leaving out a lot of stuff
God wants to bless us with,simply because we trust our eyes more than
Him,more than our faith.maybe a little corny,but sometimes when we
by faith,it feels like we are walking down a road blindfolded..the
thing is we get scared that we are going to get hit or wander off
somewhere we aren't supposed to be or somewhere dangerous..but even if
we are blindfolded,what does it matter if our Guide made the road?

Plus,we're not really blindfolded..our eyes are just closed.When our
eyes are opened to the truth,that we must have faith & that if we are
in Christ & Christ in us..we will see things as He does. Road will
look a lot different then..& that's not to say we wont have trials &
tribulations,because if anything with this new found "sight",satan will
be on our heels even more...it just means,in a sense,we have more
opportunities to put our faith into practice.

***Dove Sister Adeola Oyelabi***

Don't get it twisted -- Jesus is NOT the reason for the season!

There is a song that a friend of mine came out with a couple of years ago called "Jesus Is The Reason For The Season". Nice song, nice beat and the whole 29...
but check this out.

I was thinking about that song and realized something. If God didn't see a reason to send down His only begotten son, there wouldn't have been a birth to celebrate. And that reason is You and I.

The first gift giver was God and the first gift recipients are you and I. For God (the greatest power)... so loved the world (the greatest creation)... that He gave his only begotten Son (the greatest act of love)... that who ever believeth in Him (the greatest invitation)... should not perish (the greatest wage of sin)... but have everlasting life (the greatest act of love). -John 3:16

God saw that there was a need for someone to pay for the sins of the world. That an ultimate price had to be sacrificed so that we would be redeemed from the hands of the enemy. For without shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin. (Hebrews 9:21) If He didn't act on that need.... well, you can imagine.

No... Jesus is NOT the reason for the season... I AM... YOU ARE...
WE ARE THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.

A-Nu!!!
Stay Blessed and 4ever Walking on Water
Dickson Guillaume
D.O.M-elect
#2-ESR-FA08
EB Ghost-Recon “The Front-Line”
Not just a line, but a movement

My Box Labeled "God"

My Box Labeled "God"

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass ... Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him ..." (Psalm 37:4-7 NIV)

Have you ever been in a situation that seemed impossible to bear? A paper is due in 4 hours and you have 8 pages left to write? Failing a class and even if you received a 100% on the final it wouldn't make a difference? Money due for school and you don't even have two nickels to rub together?

Sometimes we get into situations like these and we wonder how we are going to make it out. We leap for the opportunity to take care of things ourselves. We run around exhausting ourselves wanting God open one of the doors we are beating down. By the end of it, we are so physically, mentally, and emotionally drained that we give up and figure all hope is gone because the door we chose was never opened.

The problem is that we become too dependent on ourselves because we limit God's ability to move in our lives. It's not that we don't believe God can work it out; we just set up boundaries around what He is able to do. We look with the eyes of our flesh and we lose sight of what God is really trying to do. We rush trying to finish that paper; we drop the class because we are going to fail; we try to take out loans that we can't afford. We do all of this instead of stepping back, having faith, and truly believing God will work things out with our best interest in mind.
We have to start leaning on Him for the answers to our problems. Of course that doesn't mean to sit still and do nothing. But it does mean to wait for his guidance to move.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Don't rely on yourself; rely on the one who knows your beginning and your ending and will only do what is best for you. Proverbs 28:26 says He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe."

To walk in wisdom means trusting God and having true faith.
For all we know God could have made a way that our unwavering professor give us an additional week to complete the paper; our grades could have been miscalculated and we receive a "B" instead of an "F"; or we receive grants for our efforts in school that we never anticipated.

Take Him out of that box you have placed Him in and let Him be who He is: Alpha, Omega, Beginning, Ending,

THE ALMIGHTY!

Brittany O.

DS Quintessence

*~The WILL of God will not take you where the GRACE of God cannot protect you~*

Liselle's Blog

Good girl gone bad?...AS IF!

So, you guys…. I was thinking: What's up with this "good girl gone bad" syndrome? I mean, when Rihanna debuted, she was all sweet and what not, and then she apparently suddenly experienced inner emancipation or whatever and started wearing black and doing all her videos in either something skin tight, or some kinda bathing suit. Of course, her "going BAD" was thoroughly praised by pop culture. At that time I just told myself "Oh well…another one bites the dust"( Shall we pause for eight seconds to muse upon Britney Spears' – "I'm not that innocent", Christina Aguilera's tramp stage, and the disintegration of Halle Berry's decency in Monster's Ball?) Despite the unfortunate nature of the event, I tried not to stress out too much about it, given the fact that I was quite fond of the 'innocent' Rihanna.

However, when Elle magazine featured Beyonce and her new album developed around her badly behaved alter ego "Sasha Fierce", I had to protest! To quote the article, "inside every good girl is a bad girl dying to go off on someone, desperate to shake her booty and sing for more than just a mirror, maybe even itching for the chance to drink and smoke and cuss and sleep around, and not necessarily in that order."

WHAT? REALLY? ..ok…

That generalization inspired to me to write to my sisters and offer a word of encouragement to those of us out there who refuse to 'GO BAD'. The word of God says quite a bit about maintaining sound character

1 Tim 2:9, 10

And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. 10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.

1 Tim 4:12

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity

NLT

These verses describe a good girl if I've ever heard of one.

You know, it's hard for me sometimes when I see all these attractive, young, once-good females turning "bad" all of a sudden. It's as though the world glorifies the loss of virtue and innocence. Sometimes it's hard not to feel as though I'm missing out on the action as a good girl.

Romans 12: 2 encourages me to get my mind right on that

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect

NLT

Renew my mindset…hmmmm. That's deep.

In that case then, I guess that in this new era in which being a cussing, screaming, aggressive sexpot is all the rage- I'm in rebellion.

--
Liselle Coker
DKA Clayborn,Lovely Lambda#08FA08, Reverse Osmosis
Howard University School of Architecture, May'09

The Power of Prayer --- God's 26 Guards

Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and then just put it on a list and said, 'I'll pray for them later?' Or has anyone ever called you and said, 'I need you to pray for me, I have this need?' May this story change the way that you may think about prayer and also the way you pray. You will be blessed by this....

A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan .

While serving at a small field hospital in Africa , every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point. On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital. Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him about the Lord. I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident.

Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, 'Some friends and I followed you in to the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.'

At this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, however, and said, 'No, sir, I was not the only person to see the guards. My friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.'

At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened. The missionary told the congregation the date, and the man who interrupted told him this story:
'On the night of your incident in Africa , It was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong, I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?'

The men who had met together to pray that day stood up. The missionary wasn't concerned with whom they were, he was too busy counting how many men he saw.

There were 26.

This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord moves in behalf of those who love Him. If you ever feel such prodding to pray, go along with it, you don't know what it can mean to that person. Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell. As the above true story clearly illustrates, 'With God all things are possible'. More importantly, God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful. Give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith, for the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles He works in your own daily life. And then pass it on. Who says God does not move on the earth today?

I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today. To guide you and protect you as you go along your way. His love is always with you, His promises are true, and when we give Him our cares you know He will see us through. So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best, just remember I'm here praying, and God will do the rest.

Do YOU understand me?

When I cry, You cry, we cry, together.....or so I thought; but instead, I cry alone. The pain that you may have felt some time ago...I still feel, NOW. But why, when this is your thing, not mine. Why is it that whatever emotion you have seems to trickle down to me. Why is it that the LITTLE things can be overlooked by you but to me they mean EVERYTHING? Why is it that often times, I am stuck in a world all alone, by myself, entangled in a swarm of emotions. At times I may feel like you really don't care and I am stuck to deal with it all on my own. But this isn't me. I am a bubbly person, always smiling....right? I am a kind person, always listening....right? I am a good support system 4 others, always understanding....right? I am a person that feels the emotions you feel....RIGHT! Well, if the 4 statements above are all right, why is it I am not smiling? Why is it I don't care to listen? Why is it, I don't seem to understand? And why is it I really do feel your emotions and not my own?

Maybe it's because I want someone to SMILE at me like I smile at you. I want someone to LISTEN to me like I listen to you. I want someone to UNDERSTAND me like I understand you. I want someone to FEEL what I am going through like I feel what you are going through. But the average person isn't like that; isn't like ME. I have found bits and pieces in the people I have interacted with but the one that seems to lack the most....is my thought process of true understanding.

At times I feel like I am COMPLETELY misunderstood. You say they understand and to a certain extent, you do. But the problem may be, I am comparing me and you. When I am looking 4 understanding, I do not want you to tell me to just deal with it; do not think about it; it's not that serious because when it comes to me, I can't just 4get about it and yes, it is that serious and the reason I feel this way is because I have been trying to just deal with it....and this is what I get. Truth is, I will probably be misunderstood by everyone, unless he/she has gone or dealt with what I am going through now.

A times it can get frustrating feeling as though I are the only one; but then I had an Epiphany (thanks front)! I do not feel this way because I am alone but rather, I have been looking in the wrong places. I have been seeking knowledge, comfort and understanding from the worldly things, people. All people can really do is listen and try to understand, and I thank you 4 being there; but people can not take away the pain, take away the suffering, take away the tears, take away the hurt, take away the fear, depression, anxiety and and whatever else has me so melancholy.

My true healing will ONLY come from my GOD; 1 Peter 5:7 states "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you." (NLT). This means, all along, all I had to do was talk to the Friend that ALWYAS understands my way of thinking, God. I had to talk to Him about my problems, questions and concerns. I had to realize that God will take care of me, through every day, along the way and at first I was completely blind sided by it all. There is nothing wrong expressing myself to you, my friend and it is something I will continue to do but AFTER, I share it with God.

God, save me from my sins; transform me. Take my whole life.
I know Jesus dies 4 me; now empower me to live 4 you.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit so I can follow you.
Thank you 4 NU life; take all of mine 4
the rest of my time on earth,
I belong to You.
Amen

--
Diane C. Bryce
Howard University
Bachelors of Science Candidate, May 2009
Dove Sister Fabergé
Alpha Nu Omega Sorority, Inc.
#4ΛFA08

Keep Your HEART Up

2 Corinthians 4:16,17 state, "Therefore we do not lost heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are acheiving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

Basically this means that we cannot give up. Even though on the outside things may look like they are falling apart, and we have no way out, God is making us new on the inside. He is strengthening us for harder times that will come so we are prepared to continue to fight. We must not give up because God is always on our side to help us along the way. A day doesn't go by without God giving us grace. These hard times that we are experiencing are preparing us for the good times to come and celebrations that we are going to have. The things that we see today are here now but gone tomorrow. Do not lose heart!

Dove Sister Janelle Guy

THANK YOU!

This is the day that the Lord has made WE shall rejoice and be glad in it! Sing unto the Lord a NU song and praise His Holy name! Father, I just want to first of all say THANK YOU. Thank you for looking out for me through out the night and breathing breath into my body! Some folks didn't even make to see December 10, 2009 but you've shown me your grace and mercy, THANK YOU! Thank you for protecting me from being on the streets homeless, diseased, drugged up, crazy, and list goes on and on. Thank you for helping me be unashamed to praise your name ANYWAY, even in my own room in front of my roommate! Thank you for sparing my life and using me as your tool to win souls back to Christ. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I couldn't help myself to start off that way. God has just been that good to me! In spite of me being "in between blessings", God always show himself as Jehovah Jireh. Ladies, when I volunteered myself to write the blog for today, I had no idea what to write. I was actually comparing myself to those who had written before. I just thought they were so deep and I know I'm not supposed to think that way but I did. Then again, I AM MY OWN PERSON! But this blog of mine is going to be dedicated to just giving THANKS.

Sometimes in all of our lives, we didn't acknowledge who was there for us from the very beginning. I know I didn't. When I wake up I don't give a proper acknowledgement to my Daddy' especially when I'm in the dorm room. I say that because this morning, my phone alarm didn't wake me up (it never does but I didn't hear it this time) but when I woke up, I automatically gave thanks! My roommate probably thinks I am a religious freak because I was lifting up my hands saying thanks to Dad and I just happened to turn around and I saw her looking at me and it was so weird. I just turned back around thanking Daddy!

I love the book of Psalms because everyone knows that's the "Praising/Thanksgiving" book. And as I am writing now, I just flipped to Psalm 105:1 and it says O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the people. I guess I did that this morning (lol). But I want to say, whatever your circumstances or situations (good or bad) give thanks to the one who made you in the image of Him. I do not want to take Him for granted anymore, I truly do FEAR Him and if you don't, get with the program!

I love you my Lovely Dovelies. I hope one day I will be able to meet all of you and may God be with you, don't worry because you did AWESOME on your finals! Safe journeys, many blessings over your life and Happy Holidays!!

*~PEACE~*


--
Jeanine Leah Hill
The GREAT Bethune-Cookman University
Bachelor of Science Candidate, Walking it out May 9, 2009
Dove Sister WildFire
Alpha Nu Omega Sorority, Inc.
Daytona Beach Member at Large
#2 FA08

I'm Still In Love with My Ex

Breaking up is the hardest thing to do, but eventually I separate yourself from that person. Seemingly, I move on. There's no more phone calls, text messages, or e-mails. In fact, I've found myself interested in someone else. Months pass and I think I'm finally over him. And then...I see him. All those same feelings start rushing back, I start thinking about all the nicknames we had, and all I can think about are the good times we had. Next thing I know the text messages start getting friendlier and friendlier, which turn into late night phone calls...but we are just friends ;) Diagnosis: I am still in love with my ex.

To clarify my ex isn't a person. My ex is arrogance, fornication, and drunkeness. I broke up with all these things because I realized that they were only for my detriment and I knew that God had somewhere higher for me to go and I couldn't get there with those things weighing me down. So I shook them off. Each and everyone of them. Through that break-up I found myself falling more and more in love with another man. My man. Jesus. Everything was lovely. We were talking all the time. I couldn't get him off my mind. My friends would be like all you talk about is Jesus. I was sprung. I mean how can you not be. He's awesome lol. So Jesus and I are going steady, when my ex starts creeping back into the picture. My ex began to take up thoughts in my mind that were once devoted to Jesus. I didn't know what to do. I found myself still in love with my ex.

I was at a crossroads where I had to decide, which relationship do I value more? Who do I really want to be with? Who is best for me?
Well, the answer was simple. The execution...a little more difficult. I decided that Jesus was the one for me. Yea, He's my boo.

John 14:21-24 says:
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

So clearly, He gave me everything I needed to know about how to love Him right and I just wasn't doing it. I would beg, bargain, and plead with my ex, but Jesus makes it so plain and clear. I'm not saying that loving Jesus is easy for me, because I am human and I mess up, but unlike in other relationships, I know that His love is unconditional, and when I ask Him to forgive me He really does and doesn't hold it against me. If the love is that good from God, I'm willing to put in the work.

Love takes time, patience, and effort, but when you realize that the person on the other end is putting forth 100 times what you are, it makes it easy to love a man like that.

Love you boo!


--
ChaKia Howard
DS Top Model
Alpha Nu Omega Sorority, Inc.
Lambda Chapter Step Mistress

Don't break off at the last second!

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."- John 15:5,8

As we come to the end of this fall semester and finish it out with finals it is important for us to remember that everything we have done up until now that was fruitful was because we did it with God. So anything we do now that is to be fruitful must also be done through God. This is how we should that we a truly Christians and disciples of Christ. As long as we stay in God's Word so we know His voice and can walk in His Will we will continue to "bear much fruit" and bring glory to God.

 

I know it gets really hard at the end of the year and we forgot the basic lessons we learned at the beginning, but we must remember to remain in God because "apart from [Him] [we] can do nothing."

I want to see bunches and bunches of grapes falling off of you at the end of this semester! :)

Much Love,
Samara

Let Me Long to Worship Thee!!

I hope everyone had a blessed Sunday.

This is not the blog for today, Monday.
This blog is for everyone to reflect upon yesterday, Sunday.

Sunday is the first day of the week for a reason. It is the preparation day for the rest of the week. It is the day where we, as vessels, are refilled to overflowing so that as the trials come during the week, we can meditate on what God has filled us with.

So let us reflect on His goodness and mercy. Let us always long and thirst after Him. Amen.

Psalm 63: 1-8 The Message

1 God—you're my God! I can't get enough of you!
I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God,
traveling across dry and weary deserts.

2-4 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
My arms wave like banners of praise to you.

5-8 I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;
I smack my lips. It's time to shout praises!
If I'm sleepless at midnight,
I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
Because you've always stood up for me,
I'm free to run and play.
I hold on to you for dear life,
and you hold me steady as a post.




New International Version

Psalm 42:1-2

1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 63:1-8

1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.

7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.

8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Food for the MIND!!

AS finals roll around…our minds seem to be flying around everywhere. Study sheets, tests, and applications are right in the mix too! It's the end of the semester. For me the end of one of my last here at Howard. Tear…

In the midst of everything, I am trying to keep my head up and enjoy all that God is blessing me with despite the trials and tribulations that 08 brought me. I am looking forward to 2009 with a renewed strength!

In these final days of this semester, I am reminded that in order for my strength to be renewed I need to have wisdom. In order to fight off the sly comments and setbacks that the DEVIL attempts to make I have to seek WISDOM! I'm sick of falling for the devils lies.

Proverbs 1:2-6:

2 Proverbs teach you wisdom and train you.
They help you understand wise sayings.
3 They provide you with training and help you live wisely.
They lead to what is right and honest and fair.
4 They give understanding to childish people.
They give knowledge and good sense to those who are young.
5 Let wise people listen and add to what they have learned.
Let those who understand what is right get guidance.
6 What I'm teaching also helps you understand proverbs and stories.
It helps you understand the sayings and riddles of those who are wise.

It's simple but true. Many times we are distraught and distressed because we often lack wisdom enough to realize that worrying and stressing won't help anything. As my sister Renee said the other day…it's feels good to sit and complain…but once we do that the devil eases his way on in and has a party in our minds.

In this final stretch I have to be careful not to be timid about relying and leaning on God. Whatever damage I have done this semester will not get better with my moping and complaining. I will put my best foot forward today and pray for guidance and wisdom today.

I can't say that I got up early all semester and read my Bible as I said I would. I can't say I stayed up an extra 20 min to pray after being up in the wee hours of the night to write a paper/study. I honestly cannot say that I have done all that God has asked me to do this semester. Nevertheless, wisdom tells me that I am not perfect; I must not beat myself down for it.

"God is not a bully," as one of my dear sorors always says. He is not…and He is not checking my "naughty list" this season to get back at me in the times I need Him most. Although, I am taking one of the hardest test I will ever take in my life today, I WILL call on HIS name with no doubt that HE will hear me and answer my prayer! I refuse to let the devil win and have him make me believe that God is done with me. God made an agreement with this filthy humanity YEARS and YEARS ago when His son Jesus DIED on the cross!

Let's read some more Proverbs…

6 The Lord gives wisdom.
Knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.
7 He stores up success for honest people.
He is like a shield to those who live without blame. He keeps them safe.
8 He guards the path of those who are honest.
He watches over the way of his faithful ones.
9 You will understand what is right and honest and fair.
You will understand the right way to live.
10 Your heart will become wise.
Your mind will delight in knowledge.
11 Good sense will keep you safe.
Understanding will guard you.

I want better understanding, I want to become wise and I want my mind to delight in knowledge! Why allow all this other mess to fill your mind when God wants to fill it with this good stuff. You should be tired right now…you should be sick of school…you should be weary and worn…but will you allow it to stay this way or will you seek to renew your STRENGTH? Will you seek wisdom…or will you stay stuck in your own understanding.

I pray that your final test, papers, and all of your applications go well. Take a break and breath and don't allow yourself to get overwhelmed. Stuff will get done and you will make it through! Just remember to feed yourself some wisdom!

Valencia Caroline Thurman...aka LENCE...aka VAL...

--
Dove Sister Valencia Caroline Thurman
Alpha Nu Omega Sorority Inc. President
Lambda Chapter, Howard University

MOTIVATION TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE

Before you read on, think about what is motivation is to you. How do you describe it? A desire? Plan? Goal? Self-motivation? Accountability?

Have you defined it yet? Good.

Now, continue my love...

With finals, work, dealing with family and friends, and just balancing life in general...there is a STRONG lack of motivation in my life. I'm pretty sure yours too. For example, why should I pray when reality is staring me right in the face with a sensible answer? Why should I mend any relationships with others whether romantic, co-worker, sister, etc. when I'm about to graduate and will probably never see them again in life? Why should I study for this exam when the outcome will end up in a B average whether I get an A or F on the exam? Why should I go to the store to purchase food when I have no money in my account? Most importantly, why should I pray that you get Suma Cum Laude when you could care less that I'm eating Lorna Doone cookies for dinner and can barely say hi or smile back when I greet you on the street? Think about it.

Don't focus on whether the above information is fact or false in my life right now. Focus on YOUR motivation to live a holy life. All in all, your motivation or lack there of is a direct outcome of how you treat others, think, act, etc. Without motivation there is no catalyst to excel, there is no plan or desire to acheive perfection (perfection=Jesus).

Dr. Robert L. Wilks, my home pastor in Riverside, California, taught this series a little ways back. How you live, how you walk, how you talk, and how you are self-motivated will determine 3 things:

1. how you spend your days
2. how and what you receive
3. how God uses you

Understand that a "command" from God is NOT a suggestion. HE is saying, "my child, if YOU DO, then I WILL" (Job 36: 9-11). It's the will of God that we get sin out of our lives and live in prosperity.

Remember that prosperity begins with obedience and obedience (love) begins with a desire to be a mere reflection of God.

The next time we study so deligently for our exams, plan an awesome event, cook the most fabulous meal for a friend, or even put together the flyest outfit, analyze whether or not you're going all out for Jesus. To attend church on time. To pray and communicate with HIM on a consistent basis. To study the WORD as if Jesus was testing us on it the next morning. Let's be sooooooo motivated to be Christ-like that at the end of the day YOU KNOW He is looking down and saying "well done my child." I garuantee that THEE test is the test that you want to be studying all day and night for!

Motivation to Live a Holy Life pt.1

Motivation to Live a Holy Life pt.2

May HIS peace be with you until we meet again.

--DS Brann Poe--

The Fight of My Death

God. I just have to start off saying that I'm forever gonna chase after you. Because you alone God have single handedly saved me. Not just salvation at the cross, but repeatedly saved be from myself. I praise you. Thanks Dad.

Alright, Sorry I had to start it off like that, but God is truly moving people. Like right now the set up is for something greater than what we could ever imagine. It's beyond comprehension. It's sitting, hovering over the earth, waiting for the right time. Hovering over the earth like the spirit of the Lord was in Gen 1:1. And we all know what came after that hovering...CREATION! It's coming people. The only thing I can tell you is that it's coming. And it's not just coming for anyone, but the laborers of the Kingdom. The return harvest is coming.

The blessings that God has given as of recent really have about the comparison as God to a grain of sand compared to what God plans to do in this next year. 2009 is the year of harvest. Those who know me, know I take this prophesy very seriously. Mainly because this year has been the fight of my life. No scratch that, the fight of my death. Let me explain.

I'm not saying that Satan got me, I let go of my dreams, or even that I have a terminal illness. What I am saying is that I've finally done what God called me BY NAME AUDIBLY to do at 16yrs old. I've died. Died in the since that I've finally come to understand and act out exactly what Jesus told His followers in Luke 14:25-33 (Message Version)

25-27 One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple.

28-30"Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.'

31-32"Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce?

33"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.

I had to let God. No literally. Like we always tell God that we'll follow Him, but how many of us beforehand sat down and counted up the cost of our service? The cost of our worship? The cost of our faith? The cost of our praise? The cost of our anointing? The cost of who we are? If you're like me, not many. To be honest, I knew there would be sacrifices, but I never knew it would be like this. I had run from Him for so long, I was just so happy to be back in His presence. I didn't care what it took. I just wanted to be close. I wanted to be intimate with Him again. I just wanted God.

But God wanted more. God wanted and still wants me. All of it, to use as His vessel. Every hurt, every pain, all joy, everything for Him. What I didn't count was what I would have to endure for His sake. It wasn't like God wasn't honest. He had given me a perfect example of the prosecution that would come my way, my big bro Jesus. Jesus walked daily enduring persecution. Yet I never acknowledged that I would have to endure as well.

I came into Howard with a desire and plan on what I wanted to accomplish. I wanted to graduate with honors, because I missed them by .01 points in high school. I wanted to join a certain sorority, which is not the one I'm in now. I already had the money and recommendations lined up. I wanted to graduate on time from the nursing school, a nearly impossible task, and I wanted to excel in everything. I wanted college to be different from High School. I wanted to be known. For Christ this time, but I still had my own agenda, not His.

You see, I was content on doing what God desired. But what I didn't understand was why I had to sacrifice the dreams and ambitions that I had as a child that didn't necessarily cause me any harm, but did good, like graduating with honors. Or keeping up my excellent GPA. But God needed me to see past their intent to the source of my desire. I wanted those things because for so many years I had identified who I was with what I did, and how well I did it. God needed me to see that I have to be willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING for Him.

I was bitter. Still get that way sometimes. I say "God, no one else has to sacrifice like this. Not their grades. They're not fighting like this. Why must I look the part of a fool constantly for you?" I didn't get it at first. But God needed me to die to everything. I have the security in His promise to graduate in May 2009, but I wasn't secure in who I was anymore because of what I felt I was loosing. I was fighting for my life, when God wanted me to just die.

You see, I've discovered now that God needed me to be completely vacant. Emptied out. My dreams weren't God lead, and really only brought glory to my name, not His. I didn't need it. God has always blessed me with opportunities and His favor out weights any honors this stinking University can give me. I didn't get it at first, but I get it now. God requires all of me, and He needed to replace my dreams with His so I can be about His glory, and Kingdom business.

So now I'm re-focused. I've taking my eyes off the material prize, and I now measure myself by the standards of God. No matter how anything in my life looks, I TRUST. I just had to get to a place where I truly am putting Him first and letting everything else follow. (Matt 6:33). I now live what 1 Peter 4:12-13 & 19 say (NLT)

12 Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

So, I've died people. Me and all that the world attached to it, just to be alive in Christ. Love you all. Until next time, I hope I've made sense…lol…Keep Chasing!

DS Brittany J. Bibb, bbibb05@gmail.com

Can I Take A Minute to Complain?

So I've been reading Jeremiah lately and...well its been interesting. As I got to chapter 20 and the subtitle (in the NIV version) read "Jeremiah's Complaint", I kind of got excited. Only because, at the time, I felt that I had a lot to complain about. Its bad, I know, but sometimes it feels real good to complain. I don't really know why since my complaints usually don't solve the problem, but it just feels so good...I promise I'm working on it. Anyways, back to Jeremiah...so he basically says this:

Jeremiah's Complaint
7 O LORD, you deceived [a] me, and I was deceived [b] ;
you overpowered me and prevailed.
I am ridiculed all day long;
everyone mocks me.
8 Whenever I speak, I cry out
proclaiming violence and destruction.
So the word of the LORD has brought me
insult and reproach all day long.
9 But if I say, "I will not mention him
or speak any more in his name,"
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot.
10 I hear many whispering,
"Terror on every side!
Report him! Let's report him!"
All my friends
are waiting for me to slip, saying,
"Perhaps he will be deceived;
then we will prevail over him
and take our revenge on him."
11 But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior;
so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;
their dishonor will never be forgotten.
12 O LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous
and probe the heart and mind,
let me see your vengeance upon them,
for to you I have committed my cause.
13 Sing to the LORD!
Give praise to the LORD!
He rescues the life of the needy
from the hands of the wicked.

In verses 7-10 Jeremiah is upset because God has placed him in this position where he literally feels alone. He has to constantly deal with these crazy Israelites who have totally left the will of God and have no remorse. He's tired of always having to bring a word from the Lord that they choose to ignore, he's tired of the ridicule, and he's tired of always having to go against the grain. Even in those moments when Jeremiah is just ready to quit, he can't because God's words are so forceful in his heart that he can't hold them in...so he's tired of it. I don't know about you, but at the time I was reading that, I could totally relate. I'm tired too...I get tired of always having to do the right thing, I get tired of always having to do God's work. Why am I the one that has to be put in these situations, why can't I let my flesh respond just this once. It's not easy being a Christian, especially when God pushes you to say some things you would rather keep to yourself.

But we can't become weary in well doing. This is where the encouragement comes in, in verses 11-13. I especially like how verse 11 says that God is with us like a mighty warrior. God's got our back, in those times when we feel like we can no longer handle the opposition. Sometimes we get so tired and weary because we're trying to do all the fighting. Granted, walking the Christian walk won't be easy, but its not meant to take you out. The only reason God places us in these situations is to show us that we can't do it on our own.

In verse 9, Jeremiah talks about God's word being like a fire shut up in his bones. So it's not like he doesn't have the passion, he's just losing stamina. With finals just around the corner, I'm losing stamina too. But its in those moments that I have to completely rely on God, because Renee won't make it. I have to realize that I can come to Him and find that rest that I desire.

So go ahead, take a minute to get all those complaints out. Scream, run, do whatever you gotta do, but afterwards, leave it there and trust that God will handle it. He's got our back, and we will make it because He said we would!

DS Renee Davis

life's really not that scary now is it?