Reading

I had to share that I've just discovered (or maybe rediscovered) that I LOVE to read.  I'm going through books so quickly nowadays.

I recently completed If You Want To Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat and THe Shack.  Today, I began Understanding the Kingdom: Kingdom Principles- Preparing for Kingdom Experience and Expansion by Myles Munroe.  He's mission is Purpose and he writes in such a way that you will think and apply it to your life.  It's based on the Word, and can always be crossed checked with the Bible-as I have read several of his books in the past.

Up on deck:  I'm really interested in getting in the mind of President Barack Obama.  So I'm reading The Audacity of Hope, Change We Can Believe In, Dreams of My Father, and Team of Rivals.

I'll be sure to share any tidbits I find interesting and worth noting.  But I just wanted to share this reading kick I'm on.  I love it!

Grace & Peace

God's Permission

Do not accept things for normal just because everyone else is doing it.  Did God say that it was right?  Did you read that in His Word?  When we live in confusion and false notions, we can't get where we're supposed to be.  Think about it: Everyone in this entire world can tell me that God does not exist.  That does not make it true. The Word is Truth and you have to start there, if you're going to grow in relationship with God.

PRAYER: LORD Your children are suffering, they are being confused, they are being mislead, they are losing heart which is leading their faith to weaken.  LORD I bind the devil up in each of their lives right now!  I pray that they allow the Spirit that lives within them, Your Spirit to make a home in their whole hearts and not just in one section.  LORD, I pray that each child is enlighten to where all the pain is really coming from.  I pray that they each call out to You, in the name of Jesus.  That they stop relying on the words of people and their own minds and really seek to hear a Word from You.  I pray that they learn that You are real ALL of the time.  Not just when they're hoping, wishing and praying for something.  LORD continue to love on Your children and move their hearts to really experience what the love of  the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end is really about.  In Jesus' mighty name I pray.  Amen.

MATTHEW 17: 1-13

THE TRANSFIGURATION: part 2

PLEASE READ THE VERSES DIRECTLY FROM THE BIBLE: 

These verses may be broken up to discuss each point.

(Emphasis v. 1-4) After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses, Elijah, talking with Jesus.  

Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."  

What I love about Peter is that he always asked for permission.  He asked Jesus for his permission to walk on water and in the verses above he says to Jesus, "If you wish..."  So many of us do not ask for permission.  We just act and then suffer the consequences afterwards; giving God the glory when it turns out successful and growing angry and tired of Him when it fails.  What is wrong with us?  LOL  Will we ever learn? Will we learn that God is real?  Just because we can't see Him, nor do we always understand or agree with His ways and commands-this does not mean He does not exist.  This does not mean that His ways are not right.  Because they are!  It's time to stop treating God like a genie that we can place back into a lamp when we want to save up our wishes.  It's time to stop abusing out relationship with Him.  If anyone should come first in our lives, that should be God.  And this affects how we treat ourselves, how we treat others, the decisions we make, how much time we spend in the Word, when we pray, what we receive from church service and fellowship, our outlook on life and specific situations, the hope we have and so much more.  Don't be afraid to let God correct you.  Wouldn't you rather walk in light than be blind in darkness?

PONDER THIS:

WHAT HAVE YOU ASKED GOD'S PERMISSION FOR LATELY?

ACTION:

CONSULT GOD BEFORE MAKING YOUR MOVES.

The Office and Heroes

How hilarious was The Office from Sunday night?  I don't think I've seen an episode of late that had me laughing so hard.  Don't get me wrong, I love The Office.  But this episode seemed to pack everything that made you smile, chuckle and just fall on the floor laughing all rolled into one.  

Take the opening scene.  The methods everyone had to get out of that office was just priceless.  Oscar falling out of the roof.  Angela throwing the car.  Jim using the copy machine to open the door.  I mean the list goes on and on an one.  I can watch that episode again and I probably will.  Because that scene was no joke.  Or was it? LOL

Heroes- This show just can't get it all right.  Started off the episode well.  It had action, my mind was excited to see what was going to happen next.  But then the story just doesn't make sense.  Why is Nathan locking everyone up?  He has abilities himself.  And whiny Claire, who now knows martial arts.  And "I want to save the world" Peter.  No wonder their a couple in real life.  They must have bonded over their terrible characters.  And Sylar.  Is he going to be the only bad guy in this entire series.  There is no other that can trump him.  Please!  This show needs to give me something more, and now!

But you know me, I'll keep watching it- even if I'm daydreaming through most of it LOL.

Good night!

P.S.  Obama is too cool!

Jesus

I don't know about you, but I am really digging into the Word.  This time around the Holy Spirit is telling me there is no time to mess around.  It's time to be serious about learning the Word, devoting real time to it, studying it, praying for understanding, never to let anything discourage me and never giving up on it.  This is the time to join with friends and spiritual colleagues in reading and talking about the Word.  It's time to ask questions and throw out all of the misconceptions that we've been taught.  "Only You can prevent forest fires!" LOL That relates somehow...but if it doesn't make sense-it felt like the right time to say it :)

PRAYER: There is none like You, no one loves me the way that You do.  I can search through all eternity LORD, and find, there is none like You.  How true these lyrics are.  There is no other God in this universe for me.  You are all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.  GREAT is my God!  And I thank You for always having me on Your mind.  You teach me the true meaning of love, patience and understanding.  You teach me forgiveness and acceptance.  You teach me how to appreciate me and all that You have created in me.  You have begun a good wok in me, and You will carry it on to completion.  Everything You create is good; therefore I am good because of the blood of Jesus.  Thank You Jesus, Your sacrifice should never be taken lightly or be forgotten.  Thank You for showing us how to be fully human and rely totally on the Spirit of God.  What Would Jesus Do? He would always turn to the Father.  You are a mighty Savior.  In Your name I pray, amen.

MATTHEW 17: 1-13

THE TRANSFIGURATION: part 1

PLEASE READ THE VERSES DIRECTLY FROM THE BIBLE: 

These verses may be broken up to discuss each point.

(v. 1-13) After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"

Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

There is a lot going on in these first 13 verses of chapter 17.  First, the transfiguration-it was a vision, a brief glimpse of the true glory of the King.  This was a special revelation of Jesus' divinity  to Peter, James and John; and it was God's divine affirmation of everything Jesus had done and was about to do.

Moses and Elijah were the two greatest prophets in the Old Testament.  Moses represents the law, or old covenant.  Elijah represents the prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah.  Moses' and Elijah's presence with Jesus before Peter, John and James; confirmed Jesus' messianic mission; to fulfill God's law and the words of God's prophets.

Michael Phelps

"yeah...I knew Michael Phepls was BLACK!!!! He from B'More, he smoke weed, he chill in Vegas..what more can I say"

Are you kidding me?  The above is a quote from a random comment after the story broke that Michael Phelps had a picture of him smoking from a bong.  First, the person spelled Michael's last name wrong.  But what's really sad about this comment is that it is an opinion shared by many ignorant people.  People think to be Black you need to smoke weed?  I tell you, having a Black President has done nothing for a lot of people.  They're not aspiring to more because they're afraid to fail, they're too comfortable living in below 0 standards.  And I'm tired of it.  So tired of it.  The devil has been so busy allowing people to forget how God created us.  He created us in His image.  We are wonderfully and fearfully made.  God doesn't make ugly, we may have our dumb opinions but He does not make UGLY.  

When I found out what God thought about me, my whole outlook on myself changed.  I love me because of all that I am-because God knew who I was before I was even formed.  No one can tear me down, because I don't allow people to build me up.  God's Word builds me up and that is everlasting.  Learn who you are in Christ and allow the lies that have been embedded in your mind be washed away with the blood of the Lamb.  I can't wait for the day when people know who they are, and all they can be.  I can't wait for the day!!!!

Let's begin to pray about it prayer warriors.

Also, just because Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals, doesn't make him a role model.  I'm not disappointed in the kid, because that's what he is.. a kid.  He's going to make dumb mistakes.  Whether he did it before or after the 2008 Olympics-no one asked him about his moral character.  They were too busy asking "Who do you listen to in those headphones?"   He has done something great by accomplishing his goals-but that's it.  Who knew who he was before then?  This world does not uplift people because of their moral standards.  We are made to envy people who are not thinking about you or changing this world for the better.  They are mostly all about self.  They are drugged out, sleeping with any and everyone.  They go out every night, shop all day (for free!), vacation all week and donate money strictly for tax purposes.  Yet, they make the most money and get the most attention.  Aren't you bothered by this?  I know I am.  I will live to see a major change in this world, I believe God for it!

The Good News to come next.

Kings of Leon

I LOVE Kings of Leon, I have since the Jetta commercial with "Molly's Chambers."  I had never seen them live, so even if I had to buy a ticket (which I did- but they were cheap), I was going to be there.  There is only one other concert that made me feel like this one.  Like I was going through a spiritual revival- and that was Mary J.  Kings of Leon are now the second.  What I love about them is that they just play.  And they play well!  They don't have much corny small talk with the audience...stupid banter with one another.  It's just the music.  And great music.  they are absolutely amazing as a whole.  The drummer is phenomenal.  Lisa and I were watching him the entire show.  I like to look at who everyone isn't.  We already know all the girls and guys have their eyes on Caleb, so I'll look at Nathan and all his mad skills.  Learning drums is still one of my dreams, I am committed to learning before I pass onto Glory.

Anyhow, I found this article below.  I think it's great that their next album is going to be a gospel jam.  They're a band that doesn't want to do the same thing-and giving praise to God is awesome in my eyes.  It's a bold move, but if you're making any bold moves they should be for God.  So I wish them all grace, peace and favor over their next album.  

http://www.rollingstone.com/blogs/smokingsection/2009/01/the-kings-and-the-knicks.php

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's the night!

In just a few hours the Kings of Leon will headline a totally sold-out gig at the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.

Yesterday, three of the Kings -- Jared, Nathan and Caleb -- got a whiff of the Garden when they watched the Knicks outlast the Hawks, 112-104, from their courtside seats. 

We happened to be at the game, too, and afterwards we met the boys at the bar of their Midtown hotel, where we drank into the wee hours.

We wouldn't mention it, though, unless Nathan hadn't told us two very interesting bits of news:

One, he says to look out for an album of remixes of Kings tunes.

Two, he told us about the Kings next studio record, which they hope to start in November. "It's a straight gospel album," he said.

Interesting! 

Sunday Pray- Pray for Men

Dear God, I lift up men to you today. I pray that you will continue to reach out and draw them to you. I pray that every man will have his deepest spiritual need met...to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I pray that men will stand up and be strong Christian men who live their biblical values, who are loving and full of your joy, who are disciplined and focused, who are honest and just. May you touch them today. Anoint them to fulfill the special purposes and tasks you have planned for them. Guide them, direct them, protect them as they go about your business and as they live each day as beacons of your love and examples of your strength. May they become great men of integrity and influence, great leaders in their homes, communities, nations or the world--according to your desire for them. May they give and receive respect for others, as they respect your Word and your will. We love you, Father, and thank you for hearing our prayer. In Jesus' name, amen.

Prime Time With God Prayer 2/1