No Condemnation by Billy Joe Daugherty

I apologize for the lateness, this is actually YESTERDAYS devotion. This is a devotion that I receive every morning via email, from CFaith Devotions. This particular one blessed me, hopefully it will do the same for someone else:

 

 

No Condemnation
By Billy Joe Daugherty
 

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

(Romans 8:1)
There is glorious liberty in the family of God. Our Father does not condemn us for any past sin. All judgment for sin was placed upon Jesus. As you put your faith in the blood of Jesus, you are cleansed from all sin.

The Spirit of God will convict men and point them to Jesus. The conviction of the Holy Spirit will lead men and women into faith and freedom. The opposite is true of condemnation. It causes people to focus on their sin and away from the forgiveness found in Calvary. Condemnation only leads to fear and bondage. Conviction leads to repentance and life and peace. The difference is profound. One leads to life; the other leads to death.

In your acceptance of Jesus Christ, you have received God's grace and mercy. You are now in Christ by virtue of the new birth. There is absolutely no condemnation in Jesus at all. For a brief moment in history, Jesus accepted the sin of the world along with its punishment. Judgment was passed. God is no longer holding the sins of the world against mankind. He is offering reconciliation (forgiveness and pardon) to all who accept His Son.

You are now in Christ and can be free from fear and condemnation. You are liberated from guilt—no matter what you have done or where you have been. Since you made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, there is no condemnation.

The truth of Romans 8:1 will keep you singing the rest of your life. Think on it. Talk about it. Most of all, act on it. Since you are not condemned, you have no need to condemn others. What a freedom to see others reconciled to God and to tell them the Good News!

DECLARATION OF FAITH

There is no condemnation in me. I refuse all guilt and shame over past sins and failures. I am free in Jesus for I have received God's grace.

Devotions of Patience

by Lisa Kennedy

Ahh, patience. If you were to ask me the top five things I struggle with in my life patience would definitely rank in the top five. I am not sure why, but I definitely struggle with patience. Although, with that said, I can see a difference in the amount of patience I have now in comparison with only a few years ago. Things like my dogs teach me patience. Things like my husband teach me patience (I'm smiling on the inside). I am certain that if I am blessed with children, my children will teach me patience.

For many people, the first thing that you think of when you think of Biblical patience might be the Old Testament story of Job. In fact, the New Testament writer James even mentions Job's patience in James 5:11. Job is a wonderful story to study when looking at the topic of patience, and I encourage you to read through the book of Job.

Christians must be patient in many different respects throughout life. Christians are called to be patient in tribulation. Christians are also called to be patient with all those around them. I think that this is where I struggle the most. I find myself becoming easily irritated and annoyed by things that people do around me. Finally, Christians must be patient in awaiting the coming of the Lord.

Here are a few scriptures to consider when looking at the topic of patience:

• James 5:11: "Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful."
• Romans 12:12: "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
• Ephesians 4:1-3: "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
• Colossians 3:12-13: "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Related topics and words which may be useful in study: steadfastness, longsuffering, hope, trust, faith

How do you become more patient in your life? In what ways do you deal with situations which might cause you to lose your patience? Christians must remember that they should put on the characteristic of patience, as part of the new life they live in the Lord.

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

The Power in You

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

When I look back at all that God has done for me, and all that He continues to do, I have no choice but to be grateful. In 2 Timothy 1, Paul tells his son that the Lord did not save us and call us to holy life because of anything we have done. Nobody can say they were owed the blessings that God bestows. God saved us because of His own purpose and grace.

In return, the children of God can not be timid. We can not be ashamed. Everyone has an individual testimony, and that testimony is meant to be shared. There is power in your testimony and there is power in your praise. When you exude love, despite your troubles, you can be ministering to someone's life. And when you follow His commands, despite the daily struggle, people see that. Know the power that you have to bring others to God. The Lord gave us a spirit of power for this purpose.

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Glory to God!

Love,

Angel Vosburgh

DS Fidelity

Make a full and complete stop

Stop

 

 

Look around you

 

Now feel inside of you

 

Take a second to really think about all the tiny blessings we take for granted

 

When God tells us to choose life in Deuteronomy 30:19 He's not just talking about the moment we decided to give our lives over to Him. He's talking about a constant choice of life through Him. Constantly choosing to look at things through God's eyes and not our own. Constantly saying not my flawed sinful will Lord but change my will to Yours. This is the abundant life Jesus promised us. So join me as I consciously choose to live life abundantly, no longer letting moments of praise go unnoticed.

Thank you God for my many many blessings.

Amen

 

--
Samara Pearson

Cell Phone vs. Bible

This is someting I read a while ago...it really makes you stop and say hmmmm???

 

Enjoy:

 

"CELL PHONE vs. BIBLE"
(author unknown)
I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go….hmm…where is my Bible? Makes you stop and think "where are my priorities?"

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. And no dropped calls!

I often read this when I need a reminder that reading my Bible shouldn't just be about fulfilling my daily routine, instead it should be about my heart's desire to hear from the Lord.  Hopefully the next time you open the Word, you'll think back on this and remember the how valuble God's Word truly is to us.

 

Happy Thursday,

Renee

Being Satisfied

THis is a passage from Our Daily Bread. Sit and Reflect. It's always nice to have a friendly reminder to help us refocus.

 

Happy Without

READ: 1 Timothy 6:6-11

Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts. —1 Timothy 6:9

 

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates (469-399 BC) believed that if you are truly wise you will not be obsessed with possessions. Practicing to an extreme what he preached, he even refused to wear shoes.

Socrates loved to visit the marketplace, though, and gaze with admiration at the great abundance of wares on display. When a friend asked why he was so allured, he replied, "I love to go there and discover how many things I am perfectly happy without."

That type of attitude runs counter to the commercial messages that continually bombard our eyes and ears. Advertisers spend millions to tell us about all the latest products that we can't be happy without.

The apostle Paul advised his spiritual son Timothy, "Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content" (1 Timothy 6:6-8). If we become enamored with things, Paul warned, we may wander from the faith and be pierced with the pangs of frustrated desire (vv.9-10).

Let's ask ourselves, "What am I truly happy without?" The answer will reveal much about our relationship with the Lord and our contentment with Him.  — Vernon C. Grounds

Lord, help me not to set my heart
On things that pass away;
Make me content with what I have,
And give You thanks each day. —Sper

Contentment comes not from great wealth but from few wants.

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

Increasing our F.O.L.D.
Fervor-Obedience-Love-Discernment

"I am ALPHA and OMEGA, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the ALMIGHTY" Revelations 1:8

Practice Living Within Today

January 20, 2009. The day a nation, better yet the world, witnessed a change in the way we as humans communicate, believe, stand firm, and stand together as one. With a new head of state administration, graduation around the corner, career opportunities, grad school, and life in general, we at times find ourselves worrying about tomorrow. The focus of this devotional is to practice living within today.

It is possible for us to physically be in today, but mentally be elsewhere. Perhaps we at times fail to remember that we are joint-heirs with Christ and that God shall supply ALL of our needs. Matthew 6:25-34 state it the best. It tells us to TAKE NO THOUGHT in what we shall eat, drink, wear, rest, etc., for our Father knows that we have need of these things.

Anxiety follows us like a shadow every time we have an exam, are anxiously waiting for that special male to call, before we make a big speech, or even when we stand still and think about that one thing that needed to be done but because we were so busy focusing on that other thing, the main thing didn’t get done so now tomorrow is going to be difficult because now we have a million plus one more thing to do in 24 hrs. Did you follow that? Don’t act like is hasn’t happened to you because it’s happened to all of us.

What is bad about anxiety is that is makes us apprehensive of what may happen that we cannot enjoy today because we are worried about tomorrow instead of thanking God for what we do have and where we are. Now, don’t get me wrong, it is important that we make a plan for our lives and in order to do this we must THINK about it; however, we cannot let these thoughts consume us. Meditate on Psalm 118 and recall that it is extremely important that we all have inner prosperity.

Worrying is also an open door for the devil to steal your faith and rob you of your peace of mind, joy, and confidence. To worry is to walk in disobedience. The joy of the lord is our strength, so if the devil takes that, you are vulnerable to satanic attack. Keep in mind that the devil understands that our minds are the battleground. STOP meditating over ‘shoulda, coulda, wouldas!!’ WHY WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING YOU CANNOT FIX? Also, complaining, being ungrateful, and depression, are all in the same family as worrying! Do not get caught being disobedient!

The scriptures tell us to rejoice in the Lord always; which means ALL the time. An up and down believer is one that waivers—one that rejoices when he or she feels like it. The believer that operates in faith is one that will believe God no matter what and realizes that feelings only last temporarily.

My dear sisters, God wants to take us to a place where nothing moves us; but this is not achieved by autopilot. We need to work in order for things to change (a la Obama). This is done by monitoring the way we think. God is going to let us feel some heat, but through it all we must trust Him (Romans 8:28).

Remember that God has to let the devil test us. Now, if He stopped the devil in his tracks every time we encountered a tough situation, God would be operating illegally. God is not in control of this planet—He has a tenant (the devil). First Adam gave the keys to Satan to rule, but thank God that his lease is almost over! The only time that God can be in control is when a believer, that’s you and me, works in faith. WE have to work in faith! When we use what God has authorized us to use, He is able to be the controlling force in our lives. Think about it. Why would we have ministers, wars, ANQ or even President Obama if God was in control of this earthly vessel?

We are in a war and there are casualties in a war. However, in this war that we are fighting in, to die is to gain. The devil’s number one desire is to separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:25-36).

Cast your worries aside—my dear friend—leave them to the Lord, and start practicing living within today.

ONElove,

Brann

Psalm 23

When I became a member of my church, I received a great book of daily devotionals written by Jerome LaMont Rollins. This is his devotional on Psalm 23.
 
When we allow God, our Shepherd, to guide us, we have contentment. Wen we choose to sin, however, we go our own way and cannot blame God for the environment we create for ourselves. Our Shepherd knows the "green pastures" and "quite waters" that will restore us. We will reach these places only by following Him obediently. Rebelling against the shepherd's lead is actually rebelling against our own best interests. We must remember this the next time we are tempted to go out own way rather than the shepherd's way.
 
Some of us probably have never thought nor looked at Psalm 23 in this way...
 
The Lord is my Shepherd... That's Relationship!
I shall not want... That's Supply!
He makes me to lie down in green pastures... That's Rest!
He leads me beside the still waters.. That's Refreshment!
He restores my soul... That's Healing!
He leads me in the paths of righteousness... That's Guidance!
For His name sake... That's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... That's Testing!
I will fear no evil... That's Protection!
For Thou art with me... That's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me... That's Discipline!
Thou prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... That's Hope!
Thou anoint my head with oil... That's Consecration!
My cup runs over... That's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life... That's Blessings!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord... That's Security!
Forever... That's Eternity!

Be comforted by God's presence, rod and staff!

 

With Love,

Angel Vosburgh

DS Fidelity

Key Verses:Isaiah 43:2 (NIV); Isaiah 54:4-5 (NIV) - awesome. 2 Chronicle 20:15

Post blog Reading: Ephesians 3:17b-19; Psalm 27: 1-3, 13-14; Psalm
4:3; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 36:7; Romans 8:35, 38-39; Psalm 103:13;
Psalm 10:17-18; Psalm 146:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Peter 2:5-9; Psalm
55:22; Psalm 34:8, Psalm 91:1,2,14(the whole chapter!) Proverbs 2:
7-9; Jeremiah 50:34; Deuteronomy 3:22; Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 41:13;
Isaiah 35:4

Please follow this link before you read the devotional...

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZKjYR_tCPc

Thank you Father. God we honor you and acknowledge that you are a
sovereign God. You are holy and the entire universe is filled with
your glory. All creation bows before youThe angels in heaven adore
you! Nothing is impossible with you! Nothing is too big for you
because everything was created by you! Help us never to forget who you
are, Lord. May we never lose sight of the fact that you hold our
beginnings and our endings in the palm of your hand. May we always
remember that all things will work together for our best only if we
draw near to the One who holds tomorrow. We praise You, Lord. Yet we
are human and for this reason we need affirmation. We need reminding.
At the end of this blog, remind us God. You are Great... there is no
one else like you. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, we pray,
Amen.

Truth#1: We are all striving. We all have goals, ambitions, desires..
we all have some sort of hope. We all want to believe that we can
attain our dreams through determination, strong work ethic.. burning
the midnight oil.... We just know that we have a plan and if followed
to the T, it will be smooth sailing. And it should, no doubt.
Financial aid should come through on time, our boss should acknowledge
our hard work, our family should always be there for us, we should
receive adequate rewards for our labor, etc..etc.. However, there is
another truth:

Truth #2: Life is hardly rewarding. In fact, life can prove to be unpredictable.

Discounting those who claim a hassle-free life, the majority of us
sometimes find ourselves short of where we want to be. Some may, in
the hustle and bustle of trying to stay on top of things, find
themselves in personal crisis. We may find ourselves alone,
discouraged, or betrayed. We may come to some daunting realizations.
Uninvited sickness may attack us or the ones we love. The economic
recession may sneak its way into our homes. The dreams we've had for
as long as we could remember are now giving way to back-up plans. One
problem ends and two more begins.

The reasons for the majority of our setbacks is simultaneously obvious
as well as obscure. Unforeseen Events... they permeate through our
lives. There's nothing we can do, no plans that we can draw, no
measures that we can take. For some individuals, the unknown provokes
fear and anxiety. My plans didn't turn out the way I wanted it to...I
don't know where to go from here... Or... My loved one has fallen
ill... the doctor has no idea if they'll get better... I don't know
how I'm going to make it through this economic setback..I'm unsure how
to face the day. I can't see what's coming, I don't know what's
happening, I don't know where to start.

Truth#3: We don't know about the future, but we know Who holds tomorrow.

The song that was heard is an old hymn, yes. But the words are
relevant to our circumstances both present and future. These two
verses and refrain are the words of a human being that acknowledged
that life is unstable and recognize that the only hope we have is in
the God who made the days.

I don't know about tomorrow...
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry over the future.
For I know what Jesus said!
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow!
And I know Who holds my hand!

I don't know about tomorrow!
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me! -------------> Hallelujah, right?
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood.
But His presence goes before me!
And I'm covered with His blood!

This is an individual who knows they can't bet on life to be smooth
sailing. This is a person who knows what it's like to be failed by the
people or materials they put their trust in. A person caught off guard
by Unforeseen Events. Yet this individual does not worry about
tomorrow. Although there are many things they do not understand.
Although tomorrow may very well bring poverty, heartbreak, sickness..
they put their faith and trust in the God who feeds the sparrows...

As you meditate on this Truth, find time to read the verses of text.
Search the verses for the assurance that God so desperately wants us
to have in Him. Find confidence in God. Be secure because you walk in
the will of a God who has no creator. A God who is so deeply in love
with you, He told His only Son to take the form of a human for the
purposes of hanging on the cross. To pay our debts. Oh how He loves
you and me!

Have faith in God.

DS Esther Ekpin.

Jesus in Washington

This is a post from RBC Ministries. It's a column called "Been Thinking About..."
Check out the RBC website, it is full of helpful aids and uplifting messages. www.rbc.org

Posted by Mart De Haan
April 16th, 2008
Filed in Social Issues

Imagine Jesus in Washington. Picture him interacting with Senators and Representatives in the chambers of the Capital rather than walking with a group of fishermen on the shores of Galilee. Who would doubt that his conversations with Republican, Democratic, and Independent leaders would sound more like timeless wisdom than political spin? Who could imagine him giving any political party reason to feel morally superior?

Jesus and Washington represent different approaches to change. Washington, like Moses, represents the use of laws to externally regulate social behavior from the outside in. There’s a place for that. But the role of government needs to be the lesser part of our convictions. The Apostle John wrote, “The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). By contrast to moral legislation and enforcement, Jesus represents change– one person at a time– as individuals, like us, voluntarily invite him to change us from the inside out– by his Spirit.

It’s just as true that Jesus might surprise us by the people he would spend time with–on the other side of the “aisle.” He did in the first century. Why would it be different now?
These are some of the reasons I think we need to try to make sure that our influence in society is based more on our individual and collective example, social advocacy, and appeal to reason–than on efforts to use our political power to collectively capture and control public policy. See if you agree that:

1. A political voice often mobilizes support by concealing its own faults while calling attention to the weaknesses and limitations of the opposition. A prophetic voice is first brought to its knees by its own wrongs and failures.

2. A political voice tends to speak for the special-interest groups it represents. As a result, it is likely to confront the sins of the right but not the sins of the left-or the sins of the left and not the sins of the right. A prophetic voice, in the best sense, represents the interests of all. The messenger of God, therefore, can lovingly affirm “a good Samaritan”, and confront wrongs, wherever they exist– regardless of where they show up in the political spectrum.

3. A political voice calls for external regulation and legislation that often focuses on curbing the freedom of its opponents. A prophetic voice calls on all to submit themselves to God for a personal change of heart, resulting in voluntary self-limitation.

4. A political voice often represents the special interests of supporters who expect material benefits or social influence in exchange for their donations and votes. A prophetic voice represents the interests of God in a manner that rises above hidden agendas or conflicts of interest.

5. A political voice may have to settle for strategies of compromise to maintain an adequate base of support. A faithful prophetic voice does not waver from timeless values and perspectives, and is willing to be “one crying in the wilderness” with accountability to God alone.

6. A political voice works for change through the strength of opinion polls, ballots, and governmental appointments. A prophetic voice calls for change through loving confrontation and persuasion-relying on whatever voluntary change the Spirit of God and His Word will make in the hearts of hearers.
7. A political voice rises and falls on the changing tides of public sentiment. A prophetic voice rests on the ultimate and eternal authority of God.

I’m sure there’s a lot that I’m not seeing and getting right, but I’m trying to find a way of expressing that Jesus did not come to build the kind of kingdom that his followers expected. The apostles who represented him after he left seemed far more interested urging people to let Christ change them from the inside out, than in appealing to Caesar for better laws.
So let me ask you now, do you think such distinctions reflect a way of expressing our dual citizenship? Would you agree that a worst case for followers of Christ would be for our spiritual mission to make us no social and political good– or for our political efforts to detract from our spiritual mission?

TIME

How many times a day do we really, really think about how much God has done for us? I want us to look at this picture, and really look...

We like to put God in our little time slots. We don't have time for him during work or play, because that's the part of our lives we believe we can, and should, handle on our own. But really, is there a time or place where God should not always be FIRST in your life?

Look closely at this picture, and reflect upon all the ways God has put YOU first, all the things He has done for you. See if you don't change your mind about how much time you have for God in your life.

DeAnna Rhodes

Dove Sister C.O.R.E. Elixir

Wait

Today at church,the message was titled "Waiting Well". The main
point(s) of the message talked about how as a whole,we live in a
society that wants everything now.We don't like to wait on
anything...but sometimes God calls us to get up,read His
Word,pray...and wait. Waiting can be tedious at time,I know. I would
much rather do something,try to fix it,than wait.But once again we
come to the place where somtimes we try to take things into our own
hands instead of listening to God. As the speaker said,a lot of times
we just need to listen to our Heavenly Father.He is saying, "Wait. I
know the plan I have for you.I know what I'm doing." Next time it
seems that you are praying and praying...doing and doing..but things
are only barely changing,consider maybe He wants you to wait. He said
He will never leave us nor forsake us and this is true. It's hard
sitting back and seemingly doing nothing. But trusting that His plan
is the best plan...is the best something we can do. So just
remember,He's got this. Wait.

It's Personal

Dave Hollister has a song called "The Potter" that is always very uplifting to me. I have the lyrics below:

The Potter, He saw a vessel
that had been broken by the wind and the rain.
He sought it with so much compassion
to put it back together again.

Oh, I was that broken vessel
that no one thought was any good,
I cried, "Lord, You are the Potter,"
"and I am the clay,"
"make me over again today".

Chorus:
Jesus picked up the pieces
of my broken heart,
my broken heart that day.
And He made me a new vessel,
He revived my soul again.

Sometimes when we feel like we are broken and beyond repair, we reach out to friends and family to try to put us back together again, or we try to do it ourselves. And there will be people who will write you off if they feel that you have fallen to far from grace, but we have to realize that we have a Potter who is able and willing to put us back together. When I am at this point, I have to remind myself that this is personal, between My Potter and I. So just pray for me.

Love Y'all,
ChaKia Howard
DS Top Model
Alpha Nu Omega Sorority, Inc.
Lambda Chapter Step Mistress

I'm ok with a loss

So...recently my computer crashed and after talking to my favorite overseas Dell specialists, they have pronounced it as brain dead.  Well, they just said I would have to wipe everything off and it would be as though it just came from the factory.  Oh boy was I mad when I heard that, had an attitude with the man on the phone and everything.  How are you gonna tell me that everything that I have had on my computer for the past nearly 4 years will be wiped out just like that...that's a lot of stuff!  However, after I woke up the next morning, God really had to show me that I wasn't losing anything that I didn't already need to get rid of.  Matter of fact, all of the really important documents that I truly needed right now were saved on a jump drive.  Besides, did I really need those English papers from freshman year, or that fifteen page research paper that I wrote...honestly, not really. 

 

This led me to think about the other things that I have been forced to let go of as my relationship with God grew stronger.  In Philippians 3: 7-9 it states:

 7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

 

To me, this basically means that if what I had was not adding to the purpose that God has for my life, then I'm ok with the loss.  You see, over the years I have had to lose a lack of confidence, low self-esteem, a judgmental attitude, a desire to please others at all times, and many other things.  But those things that I lost and will continue to lose are all worth it because that empty space that was left over was able to be filled with a little more of God in my life. 

 

So, what things are you ready to lose?

 

**A special shout out to all of my graduating seniors...104 days until classes are done (Yes, I have officially started the countdown)!

Renee

Don't make God a to-do on your list...

Hey everyone. Happy first day of school! I apologize for all of the fwd text. However I really wanted to share this article I found with you that talks about how you can improve your quiet time with God. A lot of people have been approaching me lately with the issue of feeling like their devotional or quiet time with God was just another thing to check off on their to-dos. This should never be the feeling...and when it is we should be striving to make sure that our intimate time with Him a spiritual necessity not just physical TO-DO.

Follow the link and hopefully we can all see where we can improve the way we view spending time with Him. Love you all!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <valenciathurman@yahoo.com>
Date: Jan 6, 2009 11:06 PM
Subject: Crosswalk.com | How Can I Improve My Daily Quiet Time?
To: <dsintrinsicforce@gmail.com>

I thought you might enjoy this page I found at Crosswalk.com. Check it out:
http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/article/510484/

Who Are We?

I got this email a few weeks ago and decided to share it with all..


Today as me and one of my sons were sitting down watching the news which was ALL BAD, my son looked at me and said, hey I didn't know that we were in a recession. I then responded, I'm not in a recession but in THE BLESSING! WE as the people of God don't have to participate in what the world is going through, we are in the world but not of the world. Our God is able to do exceedinly, abundantly above all that we can ask or even think, according to the power of God working in us.

It's time we took our place as the blessed of God and expect big things from the Lord, God always moves in the time of famine. This is the time when the Lord is going to show himself strong in the midst of one of the greatest economic down turns since the great depression. Those of us that are washed in the blood and walking by faith, have nothing to worry about, we are the blessed of the Lord, we are empowered to prosper and have good success! They say that the mortgage industry is dead and nobody is buying or selling, well that's a lie! I myself turned in 7-loans in the last 3-days and will have many more coming.

I'm not going to stand-by and let the devil take what belongs to me as a child of God, the Bible tells me that the earth is the Lords and all of the fullness thereof, and that I am a heir to God and a joint heir to his son, Jesus, so everything that belongs to God the father and to Jesus, belongs to ME!

Who are we?
1. We are the head and not the tail
2. We are blessed - empowered to prosper
3. We are blessed in the city and in the field
4. We have more than enough, and are full to the overflow - and have become a blessing
5. We are the lenders and not the borrowers
6. We are in Christ, and in Christ their is no failure, no lack and no want!
7. We have power and authority over ALL the power of the devil and nothing by any means shall harm us
8. We have angelic help, the angels of God who hearken to the voice of God's word as we speak it in faith
9. We have our father in heaven watching over his word that you and I speak, to bring it to pass in our lives
10. We have an high priest Jesus, who is praying for us daily - let's agree with him daily and take the victory and overcome.
11. We are more than able and can do all things through Christ who lives within.

I would like to incourage anyone struggling right now to put the pressure that the enemy is applying on you back on him by the word of the living God. It's time to believe it and to speak it with boldness right in the face of every devil in hell and above hell, we are powerful through Christ and satan can't stand successfully against us. I'm so tired of all the doom and gloom, I have seen so many thus saith the Lords in the past few months that if you paid to much attention to, would make your head spin!

Not everyone that said thus saith the Lord is speaking from the heart of God, many of them may be speaking from their own spirit or just repeating what someone else said. We must be very careful how we hear and what we hear, we must know the real from the fake in these last days. If we are not careful we will find ourselves on the wrong side of the blessing. God is a good God, and a great king, he has made promises from his word towards us that must be received by faith. It dosen't matter what's going on in the world system, you and I don't belong to it, we are apart of a whole different system, we are apart of the Kingdom of God and his kingdom rules over ALL.

So the next time you hear a bad report and the devil tries to use it to tear you down, or weaken your faith, you tell that devil to get behind you because you are the head and not the tail! I look forward to going to work because I know that because favor surrounds me like a shield, I'm going to increase and be a blessing, establishing the kingdom of God in the hearts of men and women. It's time to declare a thing and watch it be established, Jesus is a great God, and he said that he came to give us life, not poverty. He said he came to give it to us to the full, so let's all recieve it by faith and walk it out daily in our lives.

Remember - that the blessing of the Lord maketh rich and adds no sorrow to it! I'm blessed!!


Darryl Johnson Ministries, Int'lAN ENDTIME MINISTRY, PREPARING A RAPTURE READY PEOPLE!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Acts 20:24 (God's Word Translation) - But I don't place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I'm running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus-the mission of testifying to the Good News of God's kindness. 

God has gifted and appointed us all various purposes in life. Whether it is to raise your children, graduate from school, preach the gospel, sing and record an album, teach a class, dance, or build your own business; God has given us all something to do. It may take us a while to figure out what that purpose is, but nonetheless, we are all called to a particular purpose.

Many scholars will argue that the most important thing in life is to realize your purpose and go for it. Now while I agree that those are important steps, I don't believe it's the most important. I believe the most important step is to resolve within yourself to stay committed.

Commitment is one of the toughest words for us to understand, especially in this "microwave" age. We expect everything to be immediate and to move swiftly. We must realize that our purpose is what we are destined to do with our life, not just for this very moment. God has called us to something great, and nothing great happens overnight.

It takes commitment to finish the race. As the scripture says, we need that drive to finish the race. No matter what the obstacle, no matter who discourages us, and no matter how long it takes, we must hold on to a resolve that we will carry out the mission God has placed us on earth to accomplish.

Commitment is simply dedication. Take the fear out of the word today and decide to become dedicated to the will of the Father. Decide today that no matter what, you will be dedicated until you hear the Father say "Mission Accomplished!"

Father today we pray that you open our eyes to the mission you have called us to. Father, resolve within us today to be dedicated no matter what, to the mission you have given us. We know it's not impossible, because through You, oh King, NOTHING is impossible or too hard for you. So today God, give us the extra boost of strength to be committed till the end when we hear you say "well done," or in other words "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!" In Jesus Name, Amen.

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

Happy Nu DAY!

I wanted to focus today's devotion on the key scripture that we used at our New Year's service which was Isaiah 43:18-19:

 

18 "Forget the former things;
       do not dwell on the past.

 19 See, I am doing a new thing!
       Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
       I am making a way in the desert
       and streams in the wasteland.   

As Ade was saying before, this New Year of 2009 is not the only time that God gave us a new start, He cleaned our slates a long time ago.  In fact, in Lamentations 3, it talks about having new mercies every morning.  That means every day is a New day with a New start. Don't get so hung up on the January 1st thing that you think you can mess up your whole year if you didn't do everything perfectly on that day.  In verse 19 of this passage, it says that God is "doing a new thing" and I think that the word "doing" is key because it means that God is presently doing new things in us each and every day.

During the service, one of the things that a minister said which really impacted me was that we cannot be defined by our bondage.  I was like WOW, that is so true.  Sometimes, even though God is trying to do a new thing in us, we get so caught up on our mistakes and our shortcomings that we don't even accept the constant offer He gives us for a fresh start.  In verse 18 it says to forget the former things and don't DWELL on the PAST. Yeah, you might have done some things in '08 that you weren't proud of, and I can promise you that you will do some things in '09 that you won't be proud of either.  The important thing is to not let those things block your sight of the new thigs that God is trying to bring out in you.  Be encouraged for this new year and every new day that God blesses you with!

DS Renee Davis

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! It is hard to believe that we have come 2009
already. A new year offers a chance for a new beginning. A lot of
people like this time of year because it is one time when they can
say,at least in a sense,that the slate is wiped clean. Jesus 'wiped
our slate clean' when He died for us on the cross. Something we
remember and celebrate this season. It is also something to remember
as we go into this new year because while He also cleansed us,He
demonstrated His unconditional love for us.This means also,simply,
that He has wonderful things in store of us and wants to see these
things come to pass. So,today, I just want to remind you that as we
walk into this new year,this new beginning,this year of harvest,don't
let the devil throw you off course. The enemy knows,too, that the Lord
has great things in store for you and will do everything in his power
to stop the manifestation of it.When he comes against us,though,
remember what God promised you in Jeremiah 29:11- a HOPE and a
FUTURE...He said that He knows the plans that He has for us. So when
we come on hard times,do as it says in the following passage:

Psalm 119:169-173
Let my cry come before You,O Lord; Give me understanding according to
Your word. Let my supplication come before You; Deliver m according to
Your word.My lips shall utter praise,For You teach me Your statutes.My
tongue shall speak of Your word,For all Your commandments are
righteousness.Let Your hand become my help,For I have chosen Your
precepts.

One way this can be taken is this: If you have committed your life to
Christ and believe what thus saith the Lord...then when trials and
tribulations come,read the Word! Remind yourself and "remind" God of
what He said. Remind yourself to keep yourself lifted,keep your
spirits up and to combat the enemy. "Reminding" the Lord is not
because He forgets...definitely not...but rather to...petition Him in
a way.Even though He knows all that we know and beyond, Even so...we pray His Word,His words back to Him because that's whatHe responds to...(courtesy of my mother,who put into words what Icould I not).

So remember..when the enemy..when others come against you withmess,with obstacles..recall what the Word says and speak it toyourself and talk to God. Big things are coming in 2009 and in thisNew Year,we must be prepared to fight like never before.

***Adeola Oyelabi******DS Epiphany***

Happy NU Year!

Happy NU Year's Day Everyone!

 

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it!  May this year bring you JOY & HOPE because 2008 was the test of PATIENCE (the only burden God gave man) and 2009 is the year for your MIRACLE!  This is the year of HARVEST! Expect nothing but GREATNESS!