Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Monday 6/1/09)

Today's Blog was Written By Tracy Koweh, A young Women God Is yet Revealing Himself To.

Who is in the Number One position……….

Philippians 4:19 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁹And my God will liberally supply (^[a]fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

   Today’s message in the music comes from the song “Boyfriend Number Two” by Pleasure P. The song is about a man who is not ashamed of being a woman’s boyfriend on the side. His selling point is that her current boyfriend is not taking care of all of her needs. He assures her that he will do everything he won’t.

 

   The problem with this concept is that if boyfriend number one was really THE ONE, she wouldn’t even have an ear for boyfriend number two. The first point we can learn from this is that we should be waiting on the one from God to enter into lives so that we don’t need to fill voids and lacks in our relationships. We should stop settling for just any one for the sake of having someone.

 

   The second lesson we can learn from this is that if we allow God to be in first position in our lives then we won’t have ANY voids or lacks at all. No man will ever be able to come close to what God can do for us, but so many times we place God in the boyfriend number two position and want him to fill in the gaps of whatever we’re missing from who or what is in the number one slot in our live.

 

   As we start this week off let’s check the top of our priority list and make sure God is at the head of it. How would we feel if we asked God for something and He replied, “Go ask your number one”. If we don’t make Him a priority and first in our lives, why should He do it for 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Friday 5/29/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Devoted and Inspired Young Woman...Tracy Koweh

What Wash are You?

Joshua 24:15 (New Living Translation)

¹⁵ But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

I was doing my laundry last night and I had a flashback from growing up. I remember watching my mother separate the clothes into many different piles, based on color and material. I remember thinking to myself, “why does it matter, they are all dirty”. So when I became an adult and got out on my own I carried over the tradition of sorting the clothes into several piles.

 

Well, I can remember the day I was tired of washing clothes for hours , and decided to just throw the clothes in the washing machine all at once. Yes, the clothes came out clean but boy was I upset. My whites had completed faded and became dingy, because I didn’t use any bleach, and the dye from the colored clothes had faded into the fabric.

 

In life we can say that believers and non-believers are whites and colored laundry. Yes, we are all dirty and can be cleaned with soap and water. However, whites need a squirt of bleach and HOT WATER to maintain its white color and to remove the deep stains. As believers we need the power of the Holy Spirit and the blood of the lamb to make us white as snow. Without them the deep stains and scars from our past would never go away.

 

In our lives we try to blend in with the crowd all week long, and then come to God on Sunday to get cleaned up. Well, if you let a black sock slip into your white load, it can cause permanent damage. And if you get thrown into a load of colored clothes, you will slowly start to lose your radiance- - - - -and you will be absence from the bleach and the hot water.

 

Today as we prepare to head into the weekend, let’s make sure that we are hanging with like colors. If we have the hot water of the Holy Spirit cleansing us and the power of Jesus Christ “bleaching” us, no one should be confused about what cycle we belong in. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Thursday 5/28/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Fresh Anointing, In The Person Of Tracy Koweh...

Marked to be a Millionaire

 

Philippians 1:6 (New Living Translation)

⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

 

   I recently watched the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" and I must admit it was a very moving movie. It is rumored to be based on a true story. I believe it actually tells our story as Christians.

 

   The basic theme is that a little no body from the poor side of the tracks goes all the way on India's version of "Who wants to be a Millionaire." No one believes that it is possible for him to achieve this, so they torture him to find out how he cheated.

 

  The amazing truth of it all, is that he simply knew the answers from the things he had experienced in his life. He had been through hell and back his entire life, but everything he went through prepared him for his miracle. No one believed it was possible but it was.

 

   In life we may not always understand what God is doing, but if we hang in there and trust him, He will place us right where we need to be to receive our miracle. People in our life may not understand it, or think it’s possible for God to elevate us..........but that’s their hold up, not yours.

 

  Today as we look back on our lives, let's thank God for every trial and tribulation that He is using to set us up for the rest of our life.   

 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Wednesday 5/27/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Fresh Anointing, In The Person Of Tracy Koweh...

The First Time

1 Samuel 15:22 (New Living Translation)

 ²² But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice?  Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

    A few days ago I finally turned my daughters crib into a day bed. The process was very simple. In fact it only required two steps: take off the front rail and then attach the small rails. Piece of cake………..a 15 min job, worst case scenario. Well, two hours later I was putting the sheet on the mattress and putting her to sleep.

 

    What went wrong? I had no distractions, no missing parts, and a step by step instruction manual. What I didn’t have was the frame on right. Some how when I originally put the crib together I missed the two large “BOTTOM” stickers looking straight up at me. The crib worked perfectly fine for more than two years so I never knew something was out of place. It wasn’t until time to transition into the next phase that the problem became evident. By me putting the frame on backwards, the new rails were unable to attach. So I had to re-do the frame of the bed and then go forth from there.

 

    So I learned that doing it the wrong way can actually work for a moment, but it will hinder your transition later in life. This is true in our walks with Christ. Living outside of His will, can make us feel good for a moment. We can even function in society and no one notice our frame is upside down. But when its time to transition, you won’t be able to make it fit. So not only will it have added years of wasted time, you’d still have to go back and do it right the second time around.

 

    Today as we head into hump day, let’s determine in our heart to do it God’s way the first time. He’s given us a step by step instruction manual, we just need to open it, read it and execute it. Let’s not have to be spit out of a whale’s stomach, to land in the place God destined us to be. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Tuesday 5/26/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Fresh Anointing, In The Person Of Tracy Koweh...

He Wants to Break You, Before your Breakthrough

            2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (New Living Translation)

⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

   This past month has been a very strange one for me. The closer I’ve gotten to God, the crazier my thoughts have become. A part of me feels a sense of disconnect from God throughout the day, but a part of me feels so close I can feel his pulse. During my morning prayer I have had to really focus and push through. The enemy has been attacking my mind with thoughts of giving up on my salvation. The funny thing is that I literally can see the battle within myself. I’ve been here before.

 

   It’s almost like I see the bus coming straight at me, but I can’t move out of the way. I’ve cried a few times and each time the thoughts come they last a little bit longer the time before. This Sunday when I got up for church I went back and forth with the idea of just not going. My flesh was saying God doesn’t speak to me anyway, and my spirit was saying I’m in vain. Well, I pressed through and won’t you know that right after the blog on Friday dealing with strength, Pastor Brown spoke on discovering your strength.

 

   He used the scriptures to show that God will allow us to be broken down to strength us up. I needed that message. I had been questioning God to show me why I was going through everything I was going through. Why I had to continue to repeat test that I thought in my mind I had passed. Well, He confirmed that not every trial that comes our way, is a backlash of a sin from our past. Some times it’s nothing more that God breaking us down, and putting us in position for our breakthrough.

 

   Today as we head back into our normal routine of things, let’s continue to exercise our muscles of faith and stay strong in the Lord. It’s not easy and God never promised it would be…………. but its right when we feel ready to give up, that God is getting ready to lift us up. Don’t let go- - - - right before God lets go of your blessing. Don’t fall down- - - - - right before your miracle falls from heaven and don’t stop trusting- - - -right before God entrusts you with all that He has waiting for you. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Monday 5/25/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Fresh Anointing, In The Person Of Tracy Koweh...

Proud to Be a “Christian”

John 3:16 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁶For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (^[a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Today’s message in the music comes from “Proud to Be an American” by Lee Green Wood. All around the world we as American’s are celebrating our troops who have given their lives, to protect us. People are drinking, grilling, biking, and shopping- - - -all in the “spirit” of the holiday.

 

Like so many other holidays in the world, the true meaning of this day has been lost for many. For those who have lost a family member to war and for those who have loved ones fighting at this very moment, today is a time for reflection, tears, and memories. Today as we go to different homes, and eat lots of bar-b-que, let us remember those who have lost their lives for us to enjoy the many freedoms we take for granted. We live in a country were women can work and speak freely, we can serve the god of our choice openly, we can say what we want, and we can make a difference by the power of our vote.

 

As we enjoy the last day of a long weekend, let us take a true moment to remember those who gave up their live for us. Let us remember the true history of the day - - - - -the death on Calvary. There was a war between good and evil going on and Jesus stepped up and laid down his life for us. He sacrificed his perfect life so that we may enjoy living in our imperfect selves. Jesus was the first person to give up his life so that others may have a better future. He gave us our first “freedom”- - -and that was the freedom to choose to serve Him or not. No matter the choice we pick, He died so that we could make it.

 

Happy Memorial Day to all the men and women who followed in Chirst’s steps, and gave their lives for people who may never thank them, appreciate them or even remember them. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Friday 5/22/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Devoted and Inspired Young Woman...Tracy Koweh

Psalm 89:17-18 (New Living Translation)

 ¹⁷ You are their glorious strength.
      It pleases you to make us strong.
 ¹⁸ Yes, our protection comes from the Lord,
      and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.

Clark Kent Physique, but Superman Strength

 

I have a co-worker who is from the streets of Compton and boy does her past live up to everything I’d ever heard about that place. She is a beautiful black woman and strong in her in beliefs and values. She has been David in previous relationships that forced her to take down Goliath. There isn’t much that scares or shakes her. She is not intimated but anyone’s rank, position, title or education. She is secure in the woman, wife and mother God created her to be………………….but the sight of a baby spider will send her running.

 

It’s funny that no matter how big and bad we are, we all have our kypronite, but with God by our side we can accomplish all things. Last night as I prepared to write this blog I was so tired. Not sleepy tired but drained with the cares of the world. Most days I can do the full-time work thing, come home and do the full-time single mom to a two year old, and it not phase me. But there are those nights when I feel like I just can’t do it any more. The dishes have piled up, Jaida is destroying one room- -- -just as I’m finishing cleaning another, I have to pack her stuff for tomorrow, take out the trash, and get ready for work ……..and all by myself.

 

So just as I was ready to get down with my sad self, and throw a pity party. The Lord showed me that I was by myself, only cause I had chosen to be. The Bible says that He will never leave nor forsake us so that means- - -we are the ones who leave. That’s when I decided that even though I have a Clark Kent physique on the outside, I have Superman strength dwelling on the inside because “greater is He that is in me, than he that is in this world.”

 

Life is not always going to be the fairy tale we had envisioned it would be, but it doesn’t have to be a miserable one either. As we head into this holiday weekend, let a kiss from the Prince of Peace revive us and send us into our happily ever after. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day 9 Thursday 5/21/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Devoted and Inspired Young Woman...Tracy Koweh

DNA Testing in Progress…………

Isaiah 43:6-7 (New International Version)

 ⁶I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'  and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-    ⁷everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

    I remember when watching the Maury show on television was actually a very touching hour of the day for me. Now its one DNA test after the other. It’s the girl from the city testing up to 15 different men to see who the father of her baby is. It’s men calling the female all kinds of names, and saying they can’t be the father for several crazy reasons: they don’t make girls, the baby don’t look like them, or they other 8 kids all have one trait alike and this new baby don’t have it.

 

     It’s always funny to see the different reactions when Maury reads “You ARE the Father”. The man is now apologetic and asking for forgiveness. He wants to see “his” child and promises to be there. Now on the other hand when Maury reads “You are NOT the Father”, everybody goes crazy. The audience is sympathetic and sorry for booing the guy, the girl runs off stage and cries and then the male does his victory dance and says “I told you”.

 

     If you watch closely the women who truly know they are right, carry them selves completely differently. They simply tell their story and then let the man come out. They normally are emotional, but they try to maintain a state of calm. On the other hand, the women who test 15 different men are loud and screaming. They call the new woman all kinds of names, and say they are “150%” sure this man is their “baby daddy”.

 

     The question I want to pose to you is- - - - - If there were DNA tests done at the pearly gates, what would Maury read back to you. Would he say that God IS your Father, or would he be 99.9% sure that He is not? Would you be calm while waiting on your results, or nervous and praying that the results will allow you to enter in.

 

     Today let’s know that we know whose child we are. Let’s make it known by our actions, words, thoughts and deeds that we are a child of the King. Live under the blood, be protected by the blood, so that when the time comes for your DNA test, your blood type will come back GOD positive.

 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Wednesday 5/20/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Devoted and Inspired Young Woman...Tracy Koweh

Disorder Diagnosed

James 1:8 (Amplified Bible)

⁸[For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].

I was talking to Lisa last night and I told her that the Lord will not leave me alone about this personal ownership issue. We talked about how one person can have two totally different lifestyles, and not think anything about it. Some professions require you to live the life of a double agent, but in other cases its identity theft. They look like, sound like and even walk like the person they are dwelling in, but their actions don’t line up or fit the usual profile of the individual.

 

A famous example of this is Beyonce. She has created this stage persona of Sasha Fierce and people are just eating it up. The truth of the matter is that its still Beyonce. No matter how wild and crazy she gets, its Beyonce. She says that her alter ego allows her to be free and to perform at a level that shy and timid Beyonce can not reach. Sounds like she is “blaming it on the alcohol”. Does she think that people will think something is wrong with Beyonce performing half dressed on stage, but embrace a Sasha Feirce doing the same thing.

 

See when we hide behind our false identity, we do what we want, and as long as we don’t get caught or caught up by anybody we don’t see anything wrong with it. We want to be the saint on Sunday morning, and the ain’t all week long. Our church members see a side of us that our co-workers don’t, and our co-workers see a side of us that our children don’t, and then our children see a side of us that our non-saved friends don’t. At the end of the day when we look into the mirror, who is looking back at us. Will the real YOU, please stand up.

 

God is not concerned about what’s on the outside. How loud you can “Praise Him”. How long you can keep your hands in the air. Or how holy you appear to be to the world. God is concerned about what’s on the inside. The core of our being. The true motive and intent of our actions, choices, and decisions. We can’t hide the truth from God, so let’s stop trying.

 

Today as we continue to purge out our multiple personalities, let’s begin to get honest with ourselves and our creator. Its time to pack away the masks, peel away the layers, and remove the excess make-up that is covering up our true beings. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Tuesday 5/19/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Devoted and Inspired Young Woman...Tracy Koweh

Genesis 2:25 (New International Version)

 ²⁵ The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Naked and Not Ashamed …….. Part II

 

Yesterday as I was writing the blog, the story of Adam and Eve dropped into my spirit. Then, all throughout the day I thought about Adam and how different the outcome of the world could have been, had he been man enough to take the blame for his actions, but instead he blamed Eve. For years, women have joked that if only Adam told the truth instead of pointing the finger.

 

Well, what if Eve was woman enough to take ownership. How different could our lives as women be- - -labor pains to name one. Eve followed the same path her husband did, she blamed the serpent. So God just decided to punish everybody in the garden. It reminds me of growing up when something in the house got broke, and no one would fess up, everybody got a beat down.

 

We could save ourselves and those around us a lot of time, energy and heart ache if we all learned to step up and take ownership of our faults. The Bible says that before Adam and Eve feel into sin, they were naked and NOT ashamed. When we do things out of the will of God or contrary to His word, no amount of clothes or make-up will be able to cover the true feelings on the inside, so we should just skip all the mess in the middle and deal with the root of the problem head on.

 

I don’t normally play the “what if” game, but just for thinking purposes……….”What if” Adam or Eve had just admitted the truth to God. “What if” He would have shown His merciful side and given them and mankind another chance right there in the garden. The ironic thing is this- - -the more we try to hide from God, the greater the exposure when the truth comes out.

 

So, today as we continue to own up to our own faults and choices, let’s begin to get naked before the Lord. Let us strive to live a life were we can be naked and not ashamed. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Monday May 18, 2009)

The Words Of Encouragement Written By My Anointed God Daughter Tracy Koweh...

Matthew 7:3 (New International Version)

 ³"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Who’s Fault is It?

 

Today’s message in the music comes from Jamie Foxx’s new hit song “Blame It”.  In the song he gives a girl he met at a club, permission to do whatever she wants to do, and then tells her to blame it on the alcohol. The girl is most likely worrying about what he will think of her in the morning, so he tries to calm her fears by telling her “it’s just the alcohol”.

 

In our lives we all have “an alcohol” we would love to continue to blame our behaviors and choices on, but now is the time we stand up and take blame for our own decisions. These past few months of my life I’ve been going through this process of personal ownership, and it’s not an easy road to travel on, but its making me a better person. A stronger woman and an even greater mother. It’s giving me the strength to turn my weaknesses into a witness and the ability to transform my faults into my future.

 

For so long I had blamed my first husband for not having my degree yet, but the truth is I should have went straight to college after high school but I didn’t. I blamed Kelly for not being married and pregnant with my second child by now, but the truth is I should have gotten out of that relationship so much sooner than I did. He was not dragging me along with him, I just wouldn’t let go. I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve went through in my life, but I’m learning that not all life lessons are from God’s doing, sometimes they are from lack of allowing God to do it.

 

Today as we begin a new week, let’s begin to take blame for our own actions so that we may begin to change. If you drink, it’s because you choose to, and not because your dad use to all the time. If you cheat, it’s because you choose to, and not because all men are dogs. If you lie, it’s because you choose to, and not because you don’t want to hurt someone. The bible says that IF we are in Christ the old things have pasted away, so if you’re still doing it the way you use to……………………maybe Christ is not IN you. In the words of Ice Cube……..Check yourself, before you wreck yourself. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Friday 5/15/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Woman Of God That God Is Surely Using To Bring Realism And Practical Knowledge For Living: Tracy Koweh

Matthew 18:20 (Amplified Bible)

²⁰For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them.^(A)

Who Are You Rolling With?

 

We’ve all heard the sayings that “one bad apple spoils the bunch’ and “flocks of a feather, stick together”. In most cases, scenarios and situations this is true, but sometimes we have the power to change this.

 

The other night as I writing the blog about my ex’s car, the Holy Spirit stopped me on the part about the flat tire. God showed me that no matter how many tires are on a vehicle, all it takes is one to blow out and the entire ride is demobilized. Man that got me to thinking. So sometimes it’s not the power of numbers, but the influence of just one. If you have a group of 5 married individuals and just 1 of them is cheatsl- - -if the faithful 4 are not careful they COULD all be influenced but the one.

 

Now the twist in all of this is that if we have the power of God on our side and living in us and through us, we should be able to change the entire atmosphere of any circle we find ourselves in. If we are the odd ball out, the power of God that should be in us, will come in and transform. God is not intimidated by numbers and neither should we be. As Christians its time for us to stop being afraid of the world and what the people in it will think about us. We need to start speaking the word into situations around us, and stop folding under pressure. If something is wrong, call it out and trust God to bring about the deliverance.

 

We confess how great and mighty our God is and then we turn into squeaky mice when confronted with “cheesy” situations. I recall a conversation with a friend of mine in Georgia and she said “I had to cut that relationship out, because I could not co-sign for the way she was living”.  See she was more concerned with losing her self values and morals than losing a friendship. Some of us need to cut out some friends in our circles but we are afraid of what others will say.

 

Today as we enter into the weekend, lets choose wisely the people we let into our inner courts. And if God has called you to be the light in the midst of darkness, make sure you are shining bright and that you are not letting the darkness dim you. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Thursday 5/14/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Woman Of God That God Is Surely Using To Bring Realism And Practical Knowledge For Living: Tracy Koweh

1 Timothy 5:13 (Amplified Bible)

¹³Moreover, as they go about from house to house, they learn to be idlers, and not only idlers, but gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say and talking of things they should not mention.

Time for a tune-up.....

 

A few years back my ex was deployed for a year overseas. He had asked me to keep his car in the driveway,  start it once or twice a month, and take it for a drive around the block to keep it running. I agreed and all was well until his cousin borrowed the car after 3 months. When he returned it was on a flat tire. I wasn't going to go through the hassle of fixing it so I just let it sit idle for the next 9 months.....what harm would it do?

 

Well, upon his return I decided to give it a quick start and drive around the block, and to my surprise the automatic door unlock didn't even work. I was so scared. I thought his car was completely gone. Nothing worked. The car didn't make one sound when I attempted to turn the key. I couldn't get the lights to come on, or a tune out of the radio.

 

Needless to say, when he got back, he had to do ALOT of work to his car. His car hadn't had an oil change, tire rotation, fluid check, nothing. Fortunately, there wasn't as much damage to the car as I had originally imagined in my head, but doing nothing at all was just as harmful to the car as being in an accident. Plus, the cost would have been a lot less had I maintained it throughout the year.

 

Our spiritual lives operate the same way. We can't get saved one Sunday morning after service and then just sit idle. We have to make sure we are checking our fluids, rotating our tires, and getting regular maintenance done on our walks with Christ. It is just as dangerous for us to sit and do nothing, than to be out with Satan.

 

Today let's take our souls in for a spiritual check-up. God is the greatest mechanic and a touch from him will transform you from a junker to a keeper. No need to lie to God about the problem, He already knows what’s under the hood. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Wednesday 5/13/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Woman Of God That God Is Surely Using To Bring Realism And Practical Knowledge For Living: Tracy Koweh

2 Timothy 2:15 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁵Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

Whats your credit score?

As a loan officer I've seen credit reports from all walks of life. I remember growing up that my mother would say "When you get older, your credit is your life". People and lenders pull your credit report for everything from leasing you an aparment, hiring you, to selling you a car. The higher your score the lower your risk and your interest rates. Lenders caution us to check our reports periodically to make sure no one is using our identity or charging us for something we never authorized. This morning on my drive to work, the Lord asked me if I knew my Spiritual Credit Score?

Man, I didn't know how to answer that. In the natural a late payment can destroy a good score and it could take months to repair it back. The same is true in the spirit. One missed tithe payment could be costly. You open yourself to be a target of the enemy, and it could take months (even years) to repair. Then we have the spiritual identity thefts in the world. They are trying to look like you, talk like you, and enjoy the fruits God has blessed you with, but what they are not willing to do what you did to get you in the place that you are. They want to be seen with you , so people assume they got what God has given you.

If we don't take a periodic check into our spiritual reports, the enemy can slide a whole lot of junk that we never authorized. We can find ourselves slowly not reading the word, skipping church services, and not praying like we should. We have to make sure our giving and living is on track with the Word of God. When God goes into his files to pull us, we should have a score high enough to be instantly approved for a breakthrough, a blessing or a battle. Our score should not need a second review or interference from Jesus on our behalf. We should not be considered a high risk. When God gives us an assignment He should be able to rest assurded that we will do what He asks of us and what we say we are going to do.

Excuses, ignorance and laziness are all factors that will drop our credit scores. Today let's determine in our hearts to be credit worthy in heavens books. In the world when we don't meet our financial obligations, the world takes our material possessions away from us. Don' t make God have to do a spiritual foreclosure on you.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Tuesday 5/12/09)

Today's Devotional Written By a Rare Beauty Inside And Out, Tracy A Koweh...

Job 1; 8,12

 ⁸ Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

¹² “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

 

Could God bet on you?

 

Sometimes we go through things in our lives, and it causes us to question God. But I’ve discovered that we should tell God “Thank You” for our trails and tribulations. Everything that comes at us has to get His clearance. Every trick of the enemy has to get the Fathers seal of approval before it can be launched in our lives.

 

When Satan attacked Job, God’s faith in Him never wavered. Each time Satan said “If I do this, it will surely make him turn from you.”. The Father boldly told him to give it his best shot. That’s the kind of confidence we should all shrive to build up in the Father. We should live our life so that no matter what comes at us, we say “For God I’ll live, and for God I’ll die.”

 

Job’s wife, family, friends, nor his health could turn him from God. How many of us turn away because He didn’t bless us with the car we wanted, or the house we felt we so rightly deserved. Job was truly tried and tested, yet he stood. As Christians in the 21^st century we have become weak and influenced by this world we live in.

 

God is calling us to stand upon His word again. God needs to know that we have His back, just like we expect Him to have ours. What a privilege and an honor it is for God to believe that we are strong enough to conquer anything that comes against us. What an insult that He has equipped us with everything we need for victory, and we won’t even put on our armor.

 

This morning on my ride to work I heard a song that said “Thankful for the things that I went through. Then I wouldn’t know you like do.” The words just blew me away. Our trials and test, if we trust in the Lord to bring us through them, will set us up for the greatest blessing of all…………….getting to know and love Him even better. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think Job had a second thought about anything He lost, when the Lord blessed him for his obedience.

 

Today let’s earn God’s vote of confidence. No matter what comes our way, let’s stand so we can hear our Father say, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Monday 5/11/09)

Today's Blog Written By Tracy Koweh.....

Luke 10:19 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁹Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

That’s The Best You Can Do……..

 

Today’s music in the message comes from Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”. The title of the song says it all. Have you ever watched a fight scene in a movie and no matter how many times or how hard a character was hit, he just kept getting up again? Well, that’s the attitude we have to have in life. We have to say to the enemy, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”

 

I recently found out that the man I had been with for 2 ½ years was cheating on me from day one (Shot one). He introduced me to his family and friends and I let him into my daughter’s life. I trusted him and gave him everything I could but it still wasn’t enough. After exposing him, he is still lying (Shot Two). Well, if you have been following the blogs you’d know that it didn’t break me. That I choose to stand with God and walk in my healing and freedom. I didn’t do into a depression or lose any sleep. So I guess that upset the devil cause less than 4 days later he brought out the big guns.

 

While at work and discussing the whole situation with some co-workers/friends, I found out that he had tried on more than one occasion to hook up with them (Shot three and four). This was a double hit because I trusted him, but more importantly I thought my girls would have been honest and upfront with me…………..whether I would have believed them or not. So I immediately called Lisa. I felt the ball of hurt in my throat. The pain was so real I could barely swallow. I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t. I became overwhelmed with gratefulness and humbled. I was glad to have found this out now, that to have been married with two kids and have to try to mend together a broken relationship.

 

So I calmly hung up the phone and asked …………….was that the best you could do? This man was not going to be my kryptonite. When the devil tempted Jesus after his 40 day and nights fast, he kept coming at him with different things, but Jesus never gave up or gave in. Instead He fought fire with water. He spoke the Word and nothing but the Word back at Satan. In the end, Jesus lost not a hair off of his head and the devil crawled back to his cave to brainstorm his next attack. So many times in our lives we let the enemy get us down, AND KEEP US down with just one blow. He is not that strong and he knows it, the problem is we don’t.

 

Today let’s begin to walk in the truth that nothing and no one is bigger or badder than our God. Trust in God to get you through any and every trial you may be going through. Satan’s best day, can’t touch your worse day with the Lord. It’s time to dust off your boxing gloves and fight back.  

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Friday 5/8/09)

Today's Devotional Is Written By One Who Posses An Unbreakable Lova and Spirit, Tracy Koweh

An Unbreakable Love

Ephesians 3:19 (New Living Translation)

¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Until I became a Mother, I could never understand how my Grandmother continued to let her drug addicted son live at home. He had stolen from her, lied to her and allowed very dangerous people into her home, but still she was always there with open arms when he would come crawling back. My grandmother is still living this same cycle and my uncle is almost 50 years old.

 

My grandmother is one of the wisest women on Earth, but when it comes to her kids she has to put her education and pride to the side. A mother loves like the Lord loves us. It’s unbreakable no matter how many times we continue to screw up. No matter how many times we run away from home or lash out, He is always standing at the door with His arms open wide.

 

A woman brings a child into this world, but a mother nurtures. The birthing process doesn’t make or qualify a woman as a mother. It’s what’s done after the child is here. There are adoptive mothers, play mothers, step-mothers, and biological mothers all over the world whose love has been mistaken for weakness and taken for granted.

 

The strength of a Mother surpasses superman. The roar of a mother is louder than the lion. The fight in a Mother could take down Goliath with her bare hands. The tears of a Mother could flood an entire galaxy. The faith of a Mother can move mountains. The love of a Mother can change the world.

 

Now that I’m a mother, I understand how the bat of an eye can melt your heart. Or the words “Sorree Mommie”, can make the broken wine glasses seem so trival. God is like that. We can mess up so bad that He wants to unleash His wrath on us, but with one “Father I’m Sorry”, we can melt His heart. Now the twist is this………………it only works when it’s your child. So if you are unable to melt His heart, maybe He doesn’t consider you one of His……………

 

This weekend and everyday, honor the mothers (and single fathers), in your life. God has placed a special anointing on Mothers that could mold your entire destiny. Happy Mother’s Day. 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Thursday 5/7/09)

Today's Devotional Is Written By a Woman WHo Is Healed and Truly Free

Healed in a Heartbeat

Philippians 2:27 (New Living Translation)

²⁷⁾  And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

 Have you ever hit your toe on the edge of your bed, and in the first few moments felt pain - - - - - -but then you stopped, caught your breath, and realized it was nothing? Have you ever slowing tried pulling off a band-aid, only to realize that it made it hurt worse? Have you ever just ripped off a band-aid, took the initial sting, and then kept it moving.

 

Well, sometimes in our lives God rips the band-aid off. Its not that He is trying to hurt us, but that He wants to stop the pain as quick as possible. The last few weeks of my life have totally messed my mind up. After ending a 2 ½ year relationship I’m doing better than ever. I didn’t understand how I cried less than 5 mins. and was ready to move on. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t cry anymore or why I wasn’t sad. I kept waiting and waiting on something to happen to me, and then it hit me. When God revealed the true soul of the person I was dating, the band-aid was ripped off.

 

Yeah, it stung for a few seconds, but after that I dusted myself off and got back up. I had no hatred or revenge in my heart at all. I had been here before but I wasn’t going to come out defeated this time. I wasn’t going to waste anymore energy or time on this scar from my past. Talking to friends, they asked “don’t you think its too early for you to move on” or “make sure you take some time to heal”. So I told them just like God told me. If God can heal you from Cancer in the blink of an eye, make a lame man walk with a snap of a finger, and heal a woman with just a touch of his garment, why can’t he heal a broken heart in a pump of a heartbeat.

 

I am so grateful that God decided to rip off the band-aid and expose this person for the lying and cheating person he really was because I’d still be picking at a scab I wouldn’t leave alone to heal on its own. Had He slowly pulled it back, I can only imagine how much deeper into this relationship I’d be, and how much harder it would have been to let go. The saying is so true, that He may not come when you want Him too, but He will be on time.

 

So today as you go about your daily routine, look inside yourself and ask God to rip off the band-aids that are slowly keeping you in agony. It could be an old scab you keep picking at or a fresh cut. Either way God is the ultimate healer and He only needs one instrument to do surgery with……………your permission. Whatever it is, big or small, give it to God and know that the second your ready to turn it over, is the exact moment He’ll take it away. 

Words Of Encouragement To STart The Day ( Wednesday 5/6/09)

Today's Devotional Is Written By Tracy Koweh Of Woman Of Value!

Settlements are for Court Cases NOT Life Decisions

John 10:10 (New Living Translation)

¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

   

In my job I meet a lot of different people from different walks of life and its amazing what complete strangers will share with you. I met an elderly woman whose husband could possible be facing the last weeks of his life, yet that was not the man on her mind. When we were alone in my office, she shared with me, that although she loved her husband- - - - he was not the love of her life. She remembered this other mans name, how old he’d be today, and the last time they spoke. For whatever reason she did not marry that man, but she decided to settle for the man she did. After 50 years of marriage, she can’t let it go.

 

  This story touched my heart because I just recently made the decision to not settle for anything less than what God had for me. It’s a beautiful thing to have a man/woman in our lives, but its draining when they are the wrong one. Life is too precious for us to just except whatever comes along the way. We have to exercise our common sense and patience to wait on the Lord. We have friendships/relationships that we know are only bringing us down, but we choose to stay out of fear of being alone.

 

   As Christian’s we claim to be children of God, but we live like orphanages. We settle for the first job that calls because we don’t have faith enough that God is setting us up for something great. We settle on issues with our children, because we are afraid they will get mad at us. We settle on how we let people talk down to us or at us, because we don’t have the boldness to stand up for ourselves. We settle on the car we drive because it gets us from point A to point B. We settle for a man/woman in our live, because we feel like somebody is better than nobody.

 

   We settle, and settle until we get set in situations, relationships, and circumstances that eat away at the core of who we are. We find ourselves unable to move forward and enjoy life to the fullest. If we learn to truly trust in God and wait on him to move, we will be able to experience abundant life and happiness.

 

Today let’s choose the Sheraton over the Super 8. Let’s realize that we are worth more than minimum wage and that we deserve more than someone’s minimal effort. If you’re a child of God, start living it today. Stand up for yourself, your savior, and your future. Americans have the Bill of Rights, Christians have the Word of God………….Know your rights and exercise them. You have the right to live in the castle if you’re a child of the KING………………

 

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Tuesday 5/5/09)

Today's Blog Written By A Woman That God Is Using To Grow Others Through Her Own Growth And Development: Tracy Koweh

The Cost of Following Jesus

 ⁶⁰ But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!^[a] Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdomof God.”  ⁶¹ Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”  ⁶² But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

 

 

Have you ever been walking around your house, gotten distracted, turned around to investigate, only to turn back around and be a breathe away from slamming into a wall or door? Have you ever been driving on the highway and trying to look at an accident, only to turn around in just enough time to slam on your brakes to avoid your own accident?

 

The problem some of us have is not leaving our past behind us. Not trusting that God has our back and everything behind us is for Him to deal with. If we can learn to focus on the things ahead of us we could so much farther in our spiritual, emotional, and physical lives. Sometimes God removes things and people that are holding us back from our destiny, and instead of letting God and trusting that He has something better- - -- - -we hang on and try to drag it with us to the next level.

 

Some times we are able to turn around with just enough time to slam on the brakes, but some times we won’t be to and the outcome could be fatal. Anything behind you, is not meant for you. Cars are designed to be operated with you facing forward to arrive to your destination.  The radio is in the front of you. The steering wheel, the heat, the windshield, the rear view mirror, the glove department, all in front of you. The radio is God the Father- -the voice that plays throughout the journey. The steering wheel is Christ- - -It directs the path of the car, but we decide how much control to give it. The heat/air is our attitude/choices because we set the temperature in situation and circumstances in our lives. The windshield is the Word of God- - -It allows us to see every situation clearly. The glove department is our salvation- - - - -it’s where we keep all of our important documents that shows who has ownership of the vehicle. And then all the mirrors are the Holy Spirit- - - -they show us the things that we in our own abilities, can not see.

 

Today as we prepare to reach our destiny…………………..open your hands and let go of the past- - - - - so you can use both hands to grab all that God has for you!!!!

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Monday 5/4/09)

Today's Devotional Written By A Woman That God Is Using To Reach The Generations, Tracy Koweh

Empty Excuses

Ezekiel 33:31 (Amplified Bible)

³¹And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear the words you say, but they will not do them; for with their mouths they show much love, but their hearts go after and are set on their [idolatrous greed for] gain.

Today's music message comes from Sunshine Anderson's "Heard It All Before". The surface of the song is about her ex trying his hardest to explain that he hadn't cheated on her, even though she had seen it with her own eyes. However, the underlying meaning of the song is that she is finally able to stand her ground. She is no longer moved by his charm or his deceptive ways. She is finally able to truly see him for the boy he really is.

 

Throughout the song he offers every excuse in the book to her: "It wasn't me", "She means nothing to me", "It wasn't my car", and so on and so on. You can tell this is not the first time they have been here, but that she is finally strong enough to face the truth about him and the situation. This is a hard place to come to, especially when you love someone, but it is also a very freeing place to be in. When you can let go of the fear of hurt and rejection, you can stand in the strength God gave you and shut down every lie that attempts to manipulate you. God is not a God of confusion, so if it doesn't feel right, trust the Holy Spirit inside of you and stand firm.

 

As I was "getting my jam" on in the car, and singing to the top of my lungs, the Holy Spirit showed me how God feels this way about us at times. We say things like “Lord if you heal me, I’ll serve you for life”, “God if I get this promotion or pass this test, I’ll start to go to church again”, or “As soon as I turn ?? years old, I’ll get my spiritual life in order”, but God knows when its from the heart or when its simply lip service. For some of us God is at the point where He “Has Heard it all Before”.

 

What if God flipped the script on us? What if He promised to heal our bodies from cancer after we’ve attended 8 worship services and paid our tithes for 1 year? What if He told us He would save our home, job, and family just as soon as we spent 30mins a day in prayer with Him for 6 months? But worse, what if God made us these promises, let us hold up our end of the deal, and then He just decides to change His mind. That could be crushing to some of our worlds, and even fatal.

 

So today as we start this week off, let’s say what we mean - - -and mean what we say. And since actions speak louder than words, there’s no need to speak- - - -our actions will show who we REALLY are.