Be Careful What You Do in the Storm

By adminon Mon, 29 Jul 2013

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalm 34:8 (KJV)

Have you ever heard the saying, “never make temporary decisions based on permanent circumstances”? When we are in the middle of a stormy situation, often the natural response is to react emotionally rather than respond properly. So we cut people off, cut off from groups and organizations, and even cut our hair. We forget that storms don’t last forever.  Every trouble and trial we face in life has an expiration date. It will end one day and the sun will shine again. The important thing is not to not do something in the storm that you will regret once things are better again. The friends we cut off are the friends we may miss when things change. Learn to whether the storm because joy will come and the sun will shine.

Prayer: Father God, I am so thankful for Your wisdom.  Whatever I face in life, help me stay reminded that it is only temporary. You have my life in Your hands and You are faithful to deliver. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A sincere thank you to our Daughters of the King Daily Devotional Writers.

It Is Written

By adminon Thu, 25 Jul 2013

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 (KJV)

Jesus used the Word to combat the enemy. He could not hope or wish Satan away. Satan tricks are still the same. Satan knows what can cause you to stumble. He knows the Word and how to twist it to get you to unwrap that package. He knows what to pull from your past, what to whisper in your ear, and what to place on your path to keep you from reaching your God-given destiny. God has told us how to defeat the enemy. It is still by three words, “It Is Written”. A sword lying on the desk, a table or a nightstand is no help at all. As long as it is laying, you are vulnerable and Satan will do whatever necessary to keep you focused on anything but your destiny in Christ. As you meditate on scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth to you, you sharpen your weapon. Beloved, pick up your sword and allow the Holy Spirit to make His truth your truth. So when you are confronted, you can boldly say “in the name of Jesus It Is Written.” (Read Matthew 4)

Prayer: Father God, thank You for the power of Your Word. Lord, help me to spend time in Your Word daily so that more of You will develop in me. Father, I seek this to defeat the enemy daily so that I may be counted as one who completed the race in Christ Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A sincere thank you to our Daughters of the King Daily Devotional Writers.

Why pray?

• Prayer not only establishes a relationship with God, it is vital to maintaining our relationship with Him. To illustrate, two friends who are in constant communion learn about each other, do things together, and share problems with each other. Thus, the key element of prayer is that it establishes a relationship with God. Abraham experienced this in Genesis 18:16-33.
  
  This is evidenced in the life of Jesus. He constantly went before God in prayer to determine God’s will and direction, resist temptation, ask for courage, discover what His Father in heaven would do, offer thanksgiving, pray for others, etc. Matthew 26:36-39 and Mark 14:34-41 describe Jesus being very distressed about His crucifixion. He brings this matter to His Father, seeking His will.
  
  Other Scriptures have Jesus directing believers to pray. Mark 13:33 tells us to watch and pray, for we do not know when the time will come for His return.
  
  Jesus offers thanks before feeding the crowd in Luke 9:16. In John 11:41-45, Jesus thanks God aloud for hearing His prayer for Lazarus “for the sake of all these people standing here, so they will believe you sent me." John chapter 17 describes Jesus interceding in prayer for his disciples and all believers. John 17:20 says, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.”
• Prayer is recognizing who God is and offering Him glory, honor, and adoration. Examples of this are found throughout the Bible, especially in the Psalms. Jesus illustrates this in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.
• Prayer is seeking direction from God. In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus talks about asking, seeking, and knocking, “For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.” Jesus encourages us to ask God for things. “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?”
• The Apostles reflected Jesus’ attitude toward prayer and encouraged and commended prayer in their writings. In Philippians 4:6, Paul tells believers to pray for everything with thanksgiving. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul writes, “Keep on praying.” Prayer, for Paul, is the ultimate lifeline for the believer to God. James 1:5-7 says, “If you need wisdom -- if you want to know what God wants you to do -- ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

Why pray? Jesus is a prime example of a life lived by prayer that offers relevance, purpose, answers, and most of all, a relationship with God the Father. Jesus prayed wholeheartedly for every move He made, asking God for guidance, leading, and direction. He prayed prayers of thanks, prayers for healing, prayers for His disciples, and prayers for believers -- present and future.

Prayer is essential to fellowship with God. Not just to have our prayers answered by God, nor just because the Scriptures tell us to, though that is reason enough. God is the Father of the entire human race, and God cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7) This means the child of God can pray, ask, and cast all his care upon God, his Father. Paul states in Romans 8:15, when we are His children, adopted into His family, we can begin calling him, "Father, dear Father."

Why Pray? James 5:16 provides another worthwhile answer. “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” Why pray? God says it makes quite an impact!

A War For Your Soul-Birmingham version

Very Powerful Video

http://vimeo.com/3658572

Our Father

I am your Father-God. Listen to Me! Learn what it means to be a child of the everlasting King. Your richest duty is devotion to Me. This duty is such a joyous privilege that it feels like a luxury. You tend to feel guilty about pushing back the boundaries of your life to make space for time alone with Me. The world is waiting to squeeze you into its mold and to crowd out time devoted to Me. The ways of the world have also warped your conscience, which punishes you for doing the very thing that pleases Me most: seeking My Face. Listen to Me above the clamor of voices trying to distract you. Ask My Spirit to control your mind, for He and I work in perfect harmony. Be still and attentive in My Presence.You are on holy ground.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
—Isaiah 9:6

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
—Zechariah 9:9 nkjv

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
—Romans 8:15–16

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
—Exodus 3:5

Educational and Job Opportunities

1.Wake Forest university has an opportunity for minority students to attend its MBA program for FREE, and so far, the response has been very poor. Please pass along this opportunity to your friends, families. This is a great school and a tremendous opportunity to attend a top graduate school. See the details below the contract person is:
Derrick S. Boone, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing, Rm. 3139, Worrell Professional Center, Babcock Graduate School of Management - Wake Forest University - Winston SalemN.C. 27109-8738
email: derrick.boone@mba.wfu.edu or visitwww.wfu.edu
Phone number toll free (866) 925-3622.

2. Black male Teachers needed. Do you know any black Males who are seniors in high school who want to go to college out of state for FREE? The CALL ME MISTER program offered by 4 historical black colleges in South Carolina, Benedict College, Chaflin University, Morris Collegeand South Carolina State University.
Details onlineapplication visitwww.callmemister.clemson.edu/index.htl or
Call 1-800-640-2657.

3. Harvard University is offering free tuition to families of HONOR STUDENTS and their income is less than $125,000 per year.
Visit www.fao.fas.harvard.edu or call 1-617-495-1581.

4. Syracuse University School of Architecture is desperately seeking young women and men of color interested in pursuing a 5 yr. Professional degree in Architecture.
Contact: mark Robbins, Dean School of Architecture, 201 Slocum Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-1250or go online atwww.soasyr.edu/indes.php

5. A free pair of eyeglasses from Target for any child ages 12 and under brings a valid prescription for glasses from their doctor. You can find stores with optical departments at
www.target.com

6. APPLY NOW - If you have/know young adults between the ages of 18-31 with a High School Diploma. Can earn up to $100,000 and earn benefits. The Federal Aviation Association is taking application for AirTraffic Controller School visit the website at
www.faa.gov/jobs_opportunities/airtrafficcontroller/
 

The Verdict Is In...

Watch: http://vimeo.com/70303281

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. (Jude 1:20-23 NLT)