Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Friday 10/30/09)

Are You Standing In The Gap or Are You Widening It…

Job 16:1-5 (Amplified Bible)

¹THEN JOB answered,

²I have heard many such things; wearisome and miserable comforters are you all! ³Will your futile words of wind have no end? Or what makes you so bold to answer [me like this]? ⁴I also could speak as you do, if you were in my stead; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you. ⁵[But] I would strengthen and encourage you with [the words of] my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would soothe your suffering.

James 5:15-16 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁵And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

¹⁶Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

My daughter has had some interesting relationships (friendship wise). God created her a nurturer and one who cares for others, even most times before she will care for herself. She will ensure the well being of those around her (often times) even when they do not reciprocate. My daughter has had some friends that she has gone to bat for, prayed for, accommodated, loved on unconditionally, sacrificed for, advised and even wanted to take in to get them out of stressful and sorrowful circumstances. She has stood tall for many, but rarely had the beauty and love that she has shown, come back to her, in her time of struggle and need. When I first noticed these behaviors, and the way she was often served up as the sacrificial lamb, it angered me. No mother wants to see their child hurt (it brings out the momma bear syndrome in us). I would sometimes out my own anger and hurt advise her to just say “the heck with these individuals, and let them fall.” But I knew that was not what God was trying to teach her and it was surely not what I was suppose to be seeing and teaching her either. I was suppose to be teaching her the heart of God, the ways of God and “what would Jesus do?” After the last incident like this, my stance, and advice was a lot different. God allowed me to see that in spite of their behavior that we both still had an obligation to pray for them, and to intercede for them when calamity or disappointment hit, not to talk about them or rejoice in their struggle.

This probably sounds pretty familiar to many of us. The Bible says “Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you], (Luke 6:28). It is not our place to widen the already existent gap between people and God. It is our responsibility, not respond in kind, or to judge people’s situation. Instead God is looking for us to bridge the gap that is there, to stand in where our brothers and sisters in Christ, friends and family members may be lacking. When our words become many, sin is present, we need to stop talking and get to praying. It is the Lord’s will that we love and pray for those around us and those we encounter even when it is someone that has gone out of their way to leave us hanging or mistreated us. When Jesus was dying on the cross He set the ultimate example, He prayed for those who had persecuted Him and sentenced Him to die as a common criminal. He uttered the words, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Another example of this is when Stephen was being stoned to death and he prayed the same prayer Jesus had prayed, and it moved heaven’s occupants so much so, that Jesus stood at the right hand of the Father.

Our flesh can lead us to want to talk about people, pay them back for hurting us or even discard them for their behaviors and maltreatment of us. But it is our responsibility to stand in the gap and pray for them, to carry them and whatever their circumstance and issues are to the throne room of grace and leave it in God’s presence ( for He is more than capable of handling them). It is not for us to encourage a wedge between them and God or even pray ill or speak ill of them, God is the only judge that all of us need. If we can only remember that we are saved by grace, and that His mercies are renewed over us every morning we would be slow to speak, act, judge and pay back but quick to hit our knees for the lives of others. Today, as this work week comes to a close look real hard to see if you are the one building the bridge for others or the one blowing it up?

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Thursday 10/29/09)

Is It A Blessing Or An Allowance?...

Isaiah 63:16-18 (New Living Translation)

¹⁶ Surely you are still our Father!
Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us,
Lord, you would still be our Father.
You are our Redeemer from ages past.
¹⁷ Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path?
Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you?
Return and help us, for we are your servants,
the tribes that are your special possession.
¹⁸ How briefly your holy people possessed your holy place,
and now our enemies have destroyed it.

I remember a time in my life when I wanted something so bad. I was in a season in my life where my life was not totally aligned with God, but I had confessed the Lord, and knew bits of Him, nut not all of Him. I had chosen to live in a place that was not totally in veil of safety that our Heavenly Father provides. I wanted a man; I thought I had fallen in love with someone that ultimately was not for me. God tried to warn me, He tried in so many different ways to deter me. He sent all sorts of warning signs, and there were things out of this individual’s past that were being revealed that had once been hidden. For me though, I could not see why God was trying to deny me, this love that I felt was so real, so relevant and so needed in my life. I remember praying and asking God for this individual. I remember crying over him, praying for him and even whining to God about unfair it was that He would deny me this person who I felt could heal some broken areas in my life and love away my past…I believed when I was allowed to marry this individual that it was God blessing me, but as I now know and soon found out after the I do’s it was an allowance and not at all a Blessing from the most High…

So many times in life we see where we want to be and we think we know what is best for us. For many of us it is because we have not totally yielded to God or we are still lacking the truth that when we choose to follow Christ that we should become a yielded vessel that, has surrendered in death with Christ to rise in the newness of God’s spirit and truths. Many times we miss the important elements and steps in the process of becoming a believer, and a Christian. It is that our convictions are still just that “our convictions,” our mind has not been renewed to the point that we lay down the “me and my wants,” for “God and His will.” We have not, at this point grasped the knowledge that, “Father really does know best,” we are still trying to have our way. When we fall into this type of stubbornness and the place where we become that spoiled child that nags our Father, He sometimes will give in and give us just what we are asking for, but this is far from Him blessing us, it is an allowance that often turns into a nightmare. We can become captives to our own request. Bound to the will and walls we have erected.

As I sat and thought about the times in my life where my request and my begging God had yielded my request, but not His will, I thought how much easier things would have been for me if I could have only uttered in that moment, “not my will but yours be done.” If I could have just been the child and let Him be my Daddy. If I would have just let Him do what He does best which is parent, teach, guide and provide…It lead me to ask this question of myself “does a lump of clay ever speak back to the potter or does it just yield to the creators touch?” If only we can learn to yield to the Master so that His Blessings would be manifested and not an allowance that was never in His plan. Today is a good day to recognize who’s your daddy!

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Wednesday 10/28/09)

Today’s Devotional Written By A Journey Woman that is Following God’s Lead: Tracy Koweh

Cherish the Journey………….

Deuteronomy 8:2 (New Living Translation)

² Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.

Yesterday I attended a Breast Cancer Awareness symposium, and although there were several speakers, I was blown away by the cancer “Thriver”. She was a remarkable woman who was on her second battle with cancer. She had been prior military and very successful in her life, and she choose to have that same spirit in terms of her cancer.

She had determined early on that she would not deal with cancer but that cancer was going to have to deal with her. Yes, she admitted to having some bad days, but the recognition that it all was apart of her journey is what kept her grounded. Listening to her battle made me see that although my journey has been rough, it could be a lot rougher. It also made me see that it’s all about how you look at a thing.

She started her testimony off with showing some optical illusion pictures. The point she was making was that how you see the situation, isn’t always what it is, and that you have the power to see something totally different. Most people see there trials or diagnosis as a death sentence or a lost for the team. Others see it as a challenge and a chance for God to show up and show out. If you’re looking at what you’re going through right now as a means to break you down, then it will. But if you look at it that God is breaking some stuff in you down, then you will fight to get back up.

Today as we head into this hump day, let us cherish the journey. Let us recognize that we all have our own journey to complete, and that every step of it, is for our betterment. Let us thank God for having enough faith in us, to test us along the way. Lastly, let us cherish that the journey we are on, no one can finish or abort it but us. Every journey is a custom made fit just for you. Today cherish the journey not just the jackpot!!!

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Tuesday 10/27/09)

Today’s Devotional Written By The Inspired Heart and Mind of Tracy Koweh

Who Do You Look Like?

Mark 10:13-16 (Amplified Bible)

¹³And they kept bringing young children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples were reproving them [for it]. ¹⁴But when Jesus saw [it], He was indignant and ^[a]pained and said to them, Allow the children to come to Me--do not forbid or prevent or hinder them--for to such belongs the kingdom of God. ¹⁵Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive and accept and welcome the kingdom of God like a little child [does] positively shall not enter it at all. ¹⁶And He took them [the children up ^[b]one by one] in His arms and [^[c]fervently invoked a] blessing, placing His hands upon them.

Its funny how a woman can carry a child for 10months, go through morning sickness, food cravings, mood swings, and labor pains………..just to give birth to a child that looks nothing like herself. Well, that’s my story. My daughter looks nothing like me, but if you ever saw Zubah, her biological father, in the street alone one day, you’d point and say, there goes Jaida’s father right there.

So fast forward to two years later. I’m now divorced from Jai’s biological father and in a relationship with a man who doesn’t even look like he could be Zubah’s fourth cousin. The funny thing is that several people have made the comment, “She looks just like her daddy”, when we are out doing the family thing. We just smile and give each other that look, because we know that they share no genetic ties what so ever.

But then it hit me this weekend. It’s the love they have one to another that makes people say that. It’s the way he smiles at her and the way her entire face lights up when she sees him. It’s the way she runs to him when she is hurt or the way his voice changes to console her. It’s the difference in how she responds to a command he gives her almost immediately, after repeatedly ignoring my requests. It’s the unconditional, unbreakable bond they have formed between just the two of them.

God showed me that this is how our lives should be. When we get cut off in the middle of rush hour traffic, talked about behind our backs, hurt on the job, kicked by someone we trusted, attacked in our bodies, and the list goes on……….we should respond in such a way that people are able to see who our Daddy truly is. They should see us turn to Him and not to anger, revenge or unforgiveness.

Today as we begin another day, let us make our Daddy proud. Let us strengthen and nurture an unconditional and unbreakable bond with Daddy. When people see you and how you live, let them part from you saying, “That child look just like they Daddy”.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Monday 10/25/09)

Today’s Devotional Written By A Sensitive Soul that is Listening: Tracy Koweh

What Are You Really Saying???????

1 John 3:17-18 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁷But if anyone has this world's goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and ^[a]fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him? ¹⁸Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).

Today’s message in the music comes from Stevie Wonder’s “These Three Words”. The three words are- - -I LOVE YOU. The song is about the last time you’ve told the people in your life that matter how you feel

We’ve all heard the saying that actions speak louder than words, and that’s the twist that God put on the song to me. Its not that we don’t speak the words, but we don’t follow up with the actions. God didn’t just say He loved us, He gave us the life of His precious and innocent son, so that we may have a chance at eternal life with Him again. A lot of times we use and abuse those closest to us and feel like if we say we are sorry or we love them enough that it will make it better, and have absolutely no follow up, or show any real remorse.

We have to begin to get to a place where we appreciate our relationships with the people God have placed in our lives. We have to be able to give and receive forgiveness. We need to let go of that stone we are throwing at people in our lives, and check out our own glass houses. So many times we go to God to prove His love when we ask Him for His love, His forgiveness, and His grace and mercy, but when He requires us to give those same gifts to others, we won’t do it.

Today as we begin another week, let us not take another moment for granted. Let us not need a death, or a tragedy to show God and the people that matter most to us how we feel. Today let us decide to do as Christ did, let us give up our own wills out of the love we have for the Father, in order to show someone else we love them and they are worth it. Remember that God loves us all, even when we don’t accept it, want it, or reciprocate it. Let God be your example, your strength, and your inspiration as you step out on faith and love like you never have before.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Friday 10/23/09)

Today’s Devotional Written By The Inspired Heart and Mind of Tracy Koweh

T.G.I.F……….Tell God It’s Finished

John 19:28 (Amplified Bible)

²⁸After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished (ended), said in fulfillment of the Scripture, I thirst.

A few weeks ago God had me strategically send three very special women in my life a series of daily text messages in the morning. To me it was a simple act of obedience but for the ladies receiving them, they were words of encouragement, hope and a sign that God knew what they needed and hadn’t given up on them. Well, as the week closed out He told me to tell them………….T.G.I.F….Tell God It’s Finished.

I had just dropped Jai off at school when He spoke the words into my spirit and what a release I had felt. I instantly got the revelation He was giving me. Not that what I was going through was over, but that my part in fixing it was. To tell God it’s finished means to turn it all over to Him. No matter the outcome or the journey to get there. To tell God it’s finished, means your finished trying to handle it, correct it, understand it, change it or alter it. It means that you are finished messing with His plan, His purpose, and your destiny.

Letting go of our power in any situation is hard to do. Giving up the little sense of control we have is a difficult process, because we move into a place of the unknown. We don’t know what’s next, or what is waiting around the next corner. But when we get to a place where we can trust God, it moves us into a position of peace. Because even though we don’t know all of what God’s plan entails, we know that He is faithful to see us to the end.

Today as we head into the weekend, let us let go of our fears, our false control over the situation, our judgments, our thoughts, and our interference with His blueprint. Most times when we attempt to “help” God, all we do is “hinder” ourselves. Today, let us be finished with trying to help God, and let us begin to just let Him have His way.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Thursday 10/22/09)

What You Needed Most…

Luke 7:47 (New Living Translation)

⁴⁷ “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

When I was active duty military, there was something that we use to observe a lot as people aspired to meet their career goals and aspirations. When an individual was enlisted and then decided to finish or go to college to obtain a degree and become an officer, you would get one of two things, you would either be met with someone who was one of the most qualified and well rounded officers, or you would meet officers that had simply chosen to forget where they came from and put on a title and an heir that was near impossible to work with and miserable to encounter on a daily basis. The officers that had become the best and most qualified had remembered their days in the enlisted ranks and were thankful for the knowledge gained and the days that were spent in the place of humility that taught them so much and prepared them to be a better officer. The ones that simply disregarded their prior enlisted service and experience and chose to forget it instead of draw upon it, usually ended up miserable and making everyone that worked for them the same.

I have had this experience, as well in my civilian and personal life. I have encountered and met individuals that have been forgiven much. They have lived, lives (at a time) that were less than stellar, but yet when they came to God, they did not forget what He had delivered them from, and where He had brought them from. They are grateful and they live in a place of gratitude. But I have also met individuals who have lived a less than stellar existence that have chosen to live a life where they have disregarded their past all together to walk in arrogance, or have chosen to think that because they have overcome they are so much better, because the assumption was that they had come further than others because others were not delivered from as much as they. Instead of an attitude of gratitude they carry a spirit of pride and demeanor of haughtiness. But Jesus even though the Son of God robed in human flesh, knowing that He was King of Kings and Lord of Lords did not come in arrogance even when He had every right to, he came exhibiting love and humility. David, who was a beloved of God, a man after God’s own heart but that was because even though David was chosen by God and became King, he was forgiven much, many sins, but even though He had obtain a certain status he still maintained humility before the Lord and even before the people sometimes to his own undoing.

Today look back over your life and see where God has brought you from. Recognize that God did not deliver you from much to be a hindrance, to be unforgiving and to lord your success over others. He delivered you and loved you into place to give all that He has bestowed upon you. He wants you to love without condition and to forgive without question. Remember what you needed most, God gave you, why is it that you are not giving it to others? Remember pride really does come before a fall!

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Wednesday 10/21/09)

Mind Your Emotions…

Psalm 7:8-10 (Amplified Bible)

⁸The Lord judges the people; judge me, O Lord, and do me justice according to my righteousness [my rightness, justice, and right standing with You] and according to the integrity that is in me.

⁹Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the [uncompromisingly] righteous [those upright and in harmony with You]; for You, Who try the hearts and emotions and thinking powers, are a righteous God.

¹⁰My defense and shield depend on God, Who saves the upright in heart.

I remember growing up with my Grandmother and Mom in the same household. So we children had double the accountability. Whenever we would go over to friends and acquaintances houses alike, we were told to mind our manners. We were reminded not to bring shame upon the family name and to act as if we had some home training. I remember thinking to myself, what the heck is minding my manners, and what did it have to do with ensuring that I did not bring distain upon the family? I understood as I grew and the concept became clearer when I became a parent. My children have always been great kids, don’t get me wrong the devil has gotten busy in them on occasion, but nothing that drove me drink, drugs, alcohol, murder or nailing them to the alter, literally. Although they have had their occasional flare up at home they seemed to (in most cases) have redeeming qualities while they were out of my presence away from home with friends, they have never shamed the family name. Thank God for Jesus!

Today was one of those days where my emotions seemed to running crazy. I know that I am an intercessor and I often feel the struggles and burdens of others, and if not handled correctly, (by giving it over to God completely) you can find your own emotions being tried and on a run away freight train. You can find yourself looking at areas of your own life with eyes of scrutiny and harsh judgment, and throwing your own life into turmoil. But it is not just those called to pray for others, but I have talked to so many this week that have been experiencing the same dynamics, emotional highs and lows, emotionally drained and taxed, all because of trials, test and tribulations that they are facing, themselves or with family members, and for some it is just LIFE itself! As I sat with God today, and I cried and prayed, I came to the understanding that I needed to “mind my emotions.” I needed to realize what was spiritual, what was not and to deal with them accordingly. You see often times we try to lump everything we are going through in a box, and label it “the enemy,” but that often times is further from the truth. There could be a range of reason why things are happening, but it is our job to settle down at the feet of the Master and find out the origin, the lesson and how we are suppose to proceed. But if we are allowing emotions to become unruly and the center of attention they will many times distract us from what God is trying to do, and even cause us to bring distain upon the family name, the name of Christ!

Today when you feel that rush of emotion come, stand back from it, and see what’s up with that. You may find it necessary to check it at the door, before you enter the throne room to spend time with the Father so that you can effectively hear what God is saying about your situation, or what He may be teaching you through that circumstance, or even where all that may be coming from. It may be time to get some home training over those emotions, and the state they leave you in and learn better how to “mind your emotions.”

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Tuesday 10/20/09)

My Heart Has Been Restored Once Again…

James 5:16-20 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁶Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

¹⁷Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months. [I Kings 17:1.]

¹⁸And [then] he prayed again and the heavens supplied rain and the land produced its crops [as usual]. [I Kings 18:42-45.]

¹⁹[My] brethren, if anyone among you strays from the Truth and falls into error and another [person] brings him back [to God],

²⁰Let the [latter] one be sure that whoever turns a sinner from his evil course will save [that one's] soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins [procure the pardon of the many sins committed by the convert].

Some weeks ago, my sister and I were having a conversation about faith and conviction. She was sharing with me that she was having some challenges in reference to feeling as if God was leaving her hanging. As we continued to talk we conversed about, being in the midst of struggle and feeling as if God was not present or just silent, when we are crying to Him. How it becomes so hard to get up dust ourselves off and move forward, especially feeling forsaken. I told her we all have been there, we all go through periods when life gets rough, crazy and out of our hands as we are trying to do all we know to do and it seems as if God is quiet or even as if He has pulled up stakes and moved away. We get frustrated trying to hold onto the promises of God, our prayer life and His word, it seems like we are just slipping. It seems like we have really “fallen and can’t get up.” For both of us we had found ourselves doubting (at one time or another), God’s existence, to our salvation and our sanity. In these moments it felt for both of us as if our hearts, had broken, or had been ripped apart and everything that once was a certainty became a question at best. What do you do when it seems all assurance is gone?

I was speaking with a friend and during her conversation as she expressed her frustration over a situation, the statement, “How quickly they forget all we have done for them.” came out, I heard myself breathe deeply, because in that moment the Holy Spirit convicted me. When we are stressed out, stretched to the max, and can not see clear or hold on, it has a lot to do with the fact that we have forgotten, all that God has brought us through to begin with. We have forgotten that God’s word has worked in times past and it will work again. It is in those moments when we fall and feel we have no energy to get up that we have forgotten in our weakness He is made perfect, and that God has promised to never leave or forsake us. That as He was in the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew boys like wise He is with us in our fiery and contentious situations. As my friend and I talked and as with my sister I realized it is not for us to struggle to get up, but it is for us to stay down and die to our flesh and allow the spirit of God to rise up big in us to handle and see us through these times. When confess our feelings with wise counsel pray and immerse ourselves back in God and His words that are heart can become strengthen and restored, once again.

So today no matter where you are, if you are in a going down, all the way down and in a place where you feel as if God didn’t show up for duty. Know that restoration is ours; it is available when we are in need of it. Don’t stay down pinned by shame, doubt or confusion, find a friend a sister or brother in Christ that can help you up, give you a ear and reassure you that no matter how bad it gets, God is there, and He isn’t going anywhere; that this too shall pass and you will make it to a new day, new level or new season. Someone that can remind you that God is real and He is neither a man that He should lie nor the son of man that He should repent. For God is there waiting to restore you heart, once again…

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Monday 10/19/09)

Today’s Devotional Written By A Young Woman of reflection and Introspection:

Tracy Koweh

Keep Hope Alive

Isaiah 38:18

¹⁸ For the dead^[a] cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise.
Those who go down to the grave, can no longer hope in your faithfulness.

Today’s message in the music comes from a few lines in Smokey Robinson’s
“The Tracks of My Tears”. There is a line in the song where Smokey says, “Outside I'm masquerading, Inside my hope is fading”. Sunday my Pastor spoke about keeping your dreams alive and not giving up hope. He spoke about how everybody won’t have your back. Everything won’t work out the way you had originally envisioned it, but that if your dreams are from God, He will make a way.

The message hit home with me mainly about finishing my college degree. I had a plan and a timeline all set in place. I had the finances and the time arranged, but life decided to get in the way. Different circumstances and outside situations put an instant holt and dent in everything I had planned. Personal failures and disappointments caused me to get discouraged and frustrated so I just let it go. I just gave up and let the anger of the past take root and grow, until the dream had completely became dormant in me.

Well, I still don’t know how it’s going to happen, but God has awaken that and so many other dreams in me. My prayer for you and me is that one day, the beautiful and picture perfect face that you see, is what is really going on in the inside. If we perpetrate for too long, we may be falsely lured into believing a fake reality…………. that can cause us to wake up in a real nightmare.

Today as we begin another week, let us 1. not pretend to have or know all the answers, and 2. let us not lose hope in God. No matter what we are dealing with, as long as there is breathe in our body and God on the inside, there is a chance for change. You can fool a lot of people some of the time, but God none of the time. Stop fronting and let God restore your hopes, dreams, destiny and smile today.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Friday 10/16/09)

Today’s Devotional I wish I could claim as my own, because of the power and insight it is written in, but it belongs to God first through the mind and Heart of a Young Lady that Can feel The needs of those around here and Hear God’s voice to Minister: Tracy Koweh!

Here Too Stay………..

Hebrews 13:5-6 (Amplified Bible)

⁵Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] ⁶So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

Wednesday night at gender specific Bible Study, a woman got up and shared her very powerful testimony with the ladies about her childhood with a distant father. Not distant in the physical but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. She recalled being taught not to show emotions to others, not to allow herself to be vulnerable, and never to let others know she cared.

She went on to tell that the husband God sent her is the EXACT opposite. He never leaves home without saying good-bye, he always gives her a hug and a kiss, and no matter how she acts…………he always shows her love. Now by this time we all are sitting there in awe that a human like this exists, but then came the bomb shell. One day he tells her, “I’ll never divorce you. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you. If you leave and decide to come back, I’ll be right here. But no matter what you do, I’ll never leave you.”

I could end the blog right there, but I won’t without reminding someone today that what that man spoke to his wife, is EXACTLY what God is saying right now to you. He wants me to remind you that no matter the storms or trails that you are going through He will never divorce you. If you decide to leave, He won’t stop you. If you decide to come back, He’ll be right there with open arms. But no matter what you do, He’ll never leave you. Sometimes this walk with God is hard, unfair, misunderstood, and down right unbearable…………..but it’s in these times when we need to be reminded that God is there. When we can’t see Him, hear Him, or understand what He is doing…………He is still there. God gave me the words for this Friday’s blog last week, and this morning He changed the agenda just for you. He wanted you to know, that you’re worth just that much to Him. He decided to send you a word to remind you that He is right there with you. Hold on and don’t give up when you’re so close to the end.

Today as we prepare to head into the weekend, let us request physical evidence that God is still with us. Let us bang on heaven’s door until God reaches down and touches those areas in our lives that are trying to kill our joy, rob us of our destiny, and flat out take us down. Let us strive to get to a point where we can tell God…………..we are here too stay!!!!!!!

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Thursday 10/15/09)

You’re All I Need To Get By…

2 Corinthians 9:8 (Amplified Bible)

⁸And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

Last night I heard a Hip Hop song that was set over an old song that was sung by the Marvin Gaye and Tammy, “You’re All I Need,” as I heard the chorus being now replayed behind the lyrics of a rap artist who had put his own spin on it, I found myself unable to focus on the rap lyrics being spit (said) over the words, “you’re all I need to get by,” those words had me mesmerized, they captivated my very attention and seemed to drawn out all else being said. I found myself stuck right there, in that moment within my spirit I could hear, “I am really all you need to get by, but not just get by but to be all I need you to be.” I found it almost funny how God would take the lyrics of this classic R&B hit to minister to me and remind that He really is my all and my sufficiency even, when I have no idea how it will all work itself out, and even when clarity in a particular situation I do not possess.

I have found myself on many occasions, trying to find a way to ensure that I have all that I need; whether it has been my pursuit of education, or trying to excel on my job. I have attempted to be find love on my own and to fill myself with accomplishments big and small to make sure that all I need and that my kids needed (and so many other people in my life) was in place in order for us to get by. But in all of my efforts I have sometimes found myself coming up short, missing my own personal goals, feeling empty, or even having unforeseen events cause some wants to go unmet and needs to be delayed. But when I think of the scripture in Philippians 4:19 which says, “¹⁹And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” I realize it is on God! You see it is for us to submit and love God with our whole heart and for us to look to Him as our source, knowing that He is capable of giving us everything that we need. We need to grasp, that God would never leave us in a place of lack if we are looking to Him, and following His Word, “And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive,” (Matthew 21:21). God is concerned about every area of our lives, it is not just the things, such as the basic needs, that attracts His attention, but it is all that we have need of, from emotional needs, to the monetary and material needs. God knows what is on our hearts, and minds. He knows what we have need of and what we are concerned about and He will take care of us, if we would look to Him.

So today, as you are trying to figure out your next move, and trying to figure out how every need is going to met, how about turning it over to the one who really has the capacity to give you all you need and a lot of what you want. Delight yourself in Him; cast every care over on Him, because He really does care for you! For truly God is ALL we need to get by!…

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Wednesday 10/14/09)

If Your Heart Isn’t In It…

Psalm 119:9-11 (Amplified Bible)

⁹How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it].

¹⁰With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments.^(A)

¹¹Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

I was having a conversation with my God daughter recently about the church we attend. I live down the street from where we go to church, whereas she has about a 20 to 30 minute drive to church. She told me when she first began to attend our church, the thought of that drive to church would about stress her out because of the length of this one road that she had to take and because where she use to go to church was only five minutes from her home. At that point I remembered our Pastor one Sunday pointing out a couple that drove three hours to church each way, I thought to my self that is sold out. Today, as I began to think to myself if I ever moved away but I was within two to three hours would I find a church closer to home or would I make the trip, my answer came easy and without hesitation, it was a definitive yes I would make the drive. As my God daughter said as her heart became atoned to the ministry, and the work of God was doing in her there, the drive became a piece of cake. I realized in that instant your heart set will dictate your mind set.

So often we find ourselves struggling in marriage, relationships, obedience on our jobs and to God, because our heart is far from it, and total obedience to God. We are so consumed with the effort we must put forth, how time consuming it is or how tired we are that we struggle with things that would other wise be cake if we would only atone our hearts to the task at hand, the rest of us would follow. I have heard people say I am so tired of the struggle, I am tired of the pain, I worked all day, I never have any time to myself ( I too have been guilty of these words), but the question I see in this is “Must Jesus bare the cross alone? Oh there is room for everyone.” How much did God give up to ensure that we had salvation available to us if you chose? How much love did He exhibit to us even when our choice was to love ourselves, others and things over Him? How many times has He kept us when we did not deserve to be kept? But yet when He commands us to love Him with our whole heart we offer Him only what is convenient, when He instructs us to love our neighbor as ourselves, we tell Him He never had a neighbor like ours. When He instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church and gave himself for it, we tell him that He just doesn’t understand who we are married to or we have grown tired. When He instructs us as wives to submit to and under gird our husbands, we tell him we can’t because I am no ones door mat. When He tells us to submit ourselves to those in authority over us, we say but you see how they treat me.

When do the excuses stop and the obedience and will of the Lord begin? It will only happen when we are whole heartily submitted to the Lord in every area of our lives not just the areas that are easy for us, not just in the areas we have mastered, not just the areas that we can submit to without a struggle, it is EVERYTHING! If our heart is out of alignment then the rest of our lives will be to. If our heart is focused on all else but God a 20 to 30 minute drive to church will seem like a lifetime. Isn’t it time to see where our hearts lies? Heart check, one, two, one two…

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Tuesday 10/13/09)

Today’s Devotional Written By A Young Woman of reflection and Introspection:

Tracy Koweh

Look Harder…………….

Proverbs 2: 1-7 New Living Transalation

¹ My child,^[a] listen to what I say, and treasure my commands.² Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. ³ Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. ⁴ Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. ⁵ Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. ⁶ For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. ⁷ He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

The past few months I’ve been having a huge struggle with my daughter. At first I chalked it up to the “terrible two’s” and then she took it to a whole new level. I just couldn’t get it. She is not a bad child, but a very hyper and curious one. Her new thing has been going in the fridge and taking out any and everything she can get her hands on. I found myself at a breaking point. I had tried everything I knew to do. I beat her, I talked to her, I prayed over her, I sent her to stay with friends for a few hours, I tried time out…..I tried everything and she still continues to do her own thing.

Well, some time last week God used a scene from one of my all time favorite movies, Disney’s The Lion King, to give me some better insight into the situation. He showed me the scene where Simba is looking at a reflection in the water because the baboon Rafrika has told him he’d be able to see his deceased father. At first Simba tells Rafeeka that he is crazy and that it’s nothing more than his own reflection. Then Rafeeka tells Simba to look harder. To look deeper inside and he’d find him. Of course after a few more seconds he sees the image of his Father and hears his voice.

God showed me that I have been like Jaida to him. Not in all areas but that there is that one thing I won’t let go of. I won’t give up and completely turn over to Him. Told me He has tried everything. He has “beat me”, “forgave me”, “interceded for me”, put me in time out, talked to me and that my options were running out. He showed me that the same way I get frustrated and upset with Jai is the way He feels towards me at times. Said that when I look at her, I should see me in her. I should see how my disobedience is trickling down to her. The same way my praying and praise does, so does my willful disobedience and stubbornness.

Today as we look at ourselves, let us “look harder” and determine to see the Father in ourselves. Let us live a life where our kids can follow us, as we follow Christ. The next time we are frustrated and disappointed with those around us, let us first make sure that we are not frustrated with the truth it may be revealing about ourselves.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Monday 10/12/09)

Today’s Devotional Written By A Woman Who Can Read Between The Lines:

Tracy Koweh

In “__???___” I Trust

Proverbs 3: 5-6 Amplified Bible

⁵Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. ⁶In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Today’s message in the music comes from Keyshia Cole and Monica’s song “Trust”. In the song the two ladies are trying to convince the man in Keyshia’s life that he can completely trust her with his heart. She alludes to the things from his past that he’s been through………….his disappointments, hurts, failures, and unfilled dreams. The first line of the song says “Let me be the one who can take you from all the things you've seen. And if you trust in me. I can be there for anything you need” She wants to be the one to change his outlook on life and love. She wants him to be able to move forward despite his past. She wants him to be able to start fresh with her and not let the past hold him hostage.

The other day I was watching Jaida play with her second dad on the couch. He was holding her while she stood up on his legs. She then without warning just threw herself back. As a bystander looking at the situation, she seemed to be in a potentially dangerous situation. But for Jaida she had no worries or fear, because the man whose hands held her, had proven to be a safe place for her. She never doubted for a second that he would not catch her, or release the hold he had on her. In Jaida’s eyes, she was with her daddy and nothing or no one would hurt her. See for my babygirl, every man in her life has come and gone. Whether her dad stopping by for a visit, her granddad, someone I was seeing or just a brother from our church. She has always seen them in and out. But what I love about her is her ability to start fresh with each one. She loves freely and doesn’t let the mistakes or disappointments from the last one affect the next one.

In our spiritual lives we should be like Jaida when it comes to Christ. God has proven himself over and over in our lives that when we are in His arms we should have no fear of falling. We should have faith enough in our God to trust Him. If he says let go, we should whether we understand it or not. When He says walk away, we should, even if we have no idea what the next thing we will be walking into will be. Despite the things we’ve been through, God has been there. Whether we were able to recognize Him or not, the fact that we are still here right now is evidence that He has kept us.

Today as we begin another week, let us let go of the fear of what was, and trust God to give us the what will be in His time. Let us enjoy being His son or daughter and spend a little time in Daddy’s lap.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Friday 10/09/09)

Today’s Devotional Written By An Inspired Soul: Tracy Koweh…

Mirror Mirror on the Wall...............

John 16:13 (Amplified Bible)

13But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

Sunday night while clearing out my TiVo, I watched an episode of Tool Academy. Tool Academy is a reality show where women, in a last attempt to save their relationships, sign up their deadbeat partners to go through a series of tests, therapy, and confessionals in hopes of transforming them from tools into tokens. On this particular episode, the men had to stand in front of a mirror, in front of all the attendees of tool academy, and say what they saw in the mirror.

Trina (the professional therapist) begins the assignment by proclaiming that people who spend so much time focusing on their looks and bodies, are really masking a problem with self esteem. As the men of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds begin to take their turn at the mirror, the results were so shocking. Some men chose to blame their girlfriends for their insecurities. Others blamed their childhood and society. Some wouldn't allow their ego to lay down and fully grasp the point of the exercise. However, their were a few men that really looked deep down and truly exposed themselves. They broke down, they admitted to not being happy with who they really were and how that had made them incapable of making someone else happy. They admitted that their excessive tattoos and piercings were to cover up or attempt to change the way they saw themselves.

As I watched the men look at the mirror I realized that what people see on the outside with me, is not really what I see when I look in the mirror. I'm not as put together and on top of the world, as my outward appearance and personality would show. I'm not as close to My Jesus as I would like to be. The reflection the world sees doesn't show how stressed out and on the verge of losing my mind at times I feel. But the reflection that shows when I look in my spiritual mirror, shows me every great thing that God created in me, and it also shows me every crack that still needs to be repaired by the Potters Hand. It shows me every damaged area that still needs to be healed. You can hide and conceal a lot of things with make-up, clothes, accessories and personalities, but when you get brave enough to stand before the true mirror naked and not ashamed, then and only then....will God be able to fully begin the process of molding you into your destiny.

Today let us be brave enough to face the true reflection in the mirror. When God asks, “Do you see what I see?”, we should be able to say YES.

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Thursday 10/08/09)

What Did The Contents Of Your Alabaster Box Cost You?

Mark 14:3-6 (Amplified Bible)

³And while He was in Bethany, [a guest] in the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining [at table], a woman came with an alabaster jar of ointment (perfume) of pure nard, very costly and precious; and she broke the jar and poured [the perfume] over His head.

⁴But there were some who were moved with indignation and said to themselves, To what purpose was the ointment (perfume) thus wasted?

⁵For it was possible to have sold this [perfume] for more than 300 denarii [a laboring man's wages for a year] and to have given [the money] to the poor. And they censured and reproved her.

⁶But Jesus said, Let her alone; why are you troubling her? She has done a good and beautiful thing to Me [praiseworthy and noble].

God has graced my life with many people. I have traveled to different parts of the world and encountered many people from many different walks of life. But I feel honored and Blessed to have the Pastor I have and to have met four truly inspiring and anointed Sisters in Christ that are called to and have answered the call to the ministry. The uniqueness of these individuals is beyond there character integrity and the way that they live it has been in what they have endured. I Timothy 2:3-4 says, “³ Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.” This has been something that I have watched each one of these individuals do, they have chosen the gospel in spite of everything thrown at them. I know most are reading this and saying it could be that bad, well, one has ministered through Chemotherapy, not once, not twice, but several times, one was sick and did not know what was going on in her body for years, and still answered the call, and when they found the source of the problem found that her internal organs were mangled and fused together to the point she almost lost her life. One has over come different types of cancer and has ministered so weak she could barely speak, from a wheel chair, lastly, my heart and mentor, had miscarriage after miscarriage and still chose God’s call in spite of her losses.

Many times I looked at my Pastor and hid dynamic ministry and I have witnessed the anointing and served under these four anointed sold out women and often thought in a fleeting moment, I wish I was as anointed as they are. But in the moment, when the oils of God’s anointing oozed from their very being and the fragrance of His power filled every nostril in the room, I did not ever give thought to what the oil, the spikard, the spices in them cost them. It something to desire a call of God that is poured out like water to the people of God, but it comes with a price. For it is not just the suffering but the time spent in study, consecration and prayer that moves us up in the ranks of God’s anointing and makes what we possess become more fragrant, special and costly. It also comes with the sacrifice of doing things God’s way no matter what.

For many of us what we carry can be purchased at the dollar store. For there has been nothing that has been endured, sacrificed or stripped away, for others ( like those mentioned above), the cost has been great and they still walk through fiery furnaces, lions dens and beds of affliction to pour themselves out before their maker. So looking at what theirs cost, how does yours measure up? Where much is given much is required. Where fragrance is plentiful and spices are rare the cost is high, are you willing to pay?

Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Wednesday 10/07/09)

What Is In Your Alabaster Box?

Luke 7:37 (Amplified Bible)

³⁷And behold, a woman of the town who was an especially wicked sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment (perfume).

My mother is a teacher, she has been teaching some thirty some odd years. I had the extreme pleasure of spending a year in the classroom with her as her assistant teacher, while she was experiencing some medical challenges. It was an experience to be a part of shaping and molding the lives of an up and coming generation. It was one of the most interesting dynamics to watch children as the progress from insecure, unsure beginners that enter the school year to proficient or advanced learners at the end of the school year. But one of the things that I noticed, was what one child may have walked away from an exercise, experience, or examination with, another child did not. It became apparent to me that what they placed in their backpacks (of experience), were totally relevant to how they viewed their experiences and the value placed upon each occurrence. It also had everything to do with how pliable the child was, how badly they wanted to walk away from the experience bettered; if they were able to yield themselves totally and reap the benefits in their entirety or not.

Isn’t this just like us what we gain, what we learn, what we experience in God is total up to us. It is total up to if we can trust God enough, whether we were forgiven much or forgiven little, whether we bent a little or whether our experiences broke us to bring us to the point of retention. How strong our faith, how obedient we became, how precious our praise and how humbled our worship is all about our experiences, and how we allowed God to effect change in us during these periods of time, or whether we allowed Him in at all. You see that light, the love of Christ, and the ability to give forgiveness, those precious oils of compassion and the fragrant scents of obedience have everything to do with us and what we carry in us as a result of our experiences, test, trials and our living. We have a choice to present piousness, pride, self righteousness and judgment to God as we tell Him how we avoided the ills and pitfalls of this life, or we have a choice to pour before Him our humility, our brokenness, our repentance, and our willingness to admit that we are yet one saved by grace not one that saved face.

As you evaluate what you carry in that private place, that protected place, that instrument that we hope to offer unto God, begin to look at who you are and how you got here. Begin to see what oils and fragrant abide there. Are they ones that are created by human means or ones that come only from allowing God to make us over again? When your box is opened will it wreak of flesh or will it, tantalize the nostrils with heavens glory and redemptions story? God knows and so do you, it might be time to replace the oils, perfumes in your box for something new…something fragrant and something fit to be poured out in God’s presence, instead of what is present right now!