January 17, 2011
Categories: bevalued, black history, black woman, empowered woman, empowering women, empowerment, encouragement, weekly devotions, worship . Tags: church without walls, Empo, empowerment temple, Jamal Bryant . Author: fojeane . Comments: Leave a comment
Flickr Photos
“Wherever I go, God will always be with me.”
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
One day, as I arrived at my youngest daughter’s Christian preschool classroom, she rushed up to greet me with a hug and announcement that she had received a sticker. “Mommy, Mommy, I did it,” she proudly said. For weeks the class had been working on memorizing a scripture verse. Joshua 1: 9. Each child took a turn trying to repeat the scripture from memory. That day was my daughter’s turn and she was able to say it in its entirety. The teacher encouraged her to recite it for me.
I must admit, the last thing I wanted was to be delayed any longer than necessary. It was just about the time for the other children to be let out of school, and I was running late for picking them up. I attempted to put on my biggest smile, “Sure honey, Mommy would love to hear your scripture verse,” I said. She began in the most precious, calming and soothing voice I have ever heard. The words pierced straight through to my heart.
God was speaking to me, and the tears began to flow from my eyes. He couldn’t have made it any plainer. My daughter said the words, but God was talking. “Have I not commanded you?” Or, daughter, didn’t I tell you? Don’t be afraid and don’t be discouraged. I’m right here, and I’ll be with you wherever you go.” As I looked into her big brown eyes; God was letting me know that He hears my cries and understands my fears.
I had been feeling overwhelmed with all the responsibilities placed on me since my husband’s stroke. I was overcome with discouragement and fear. I just didn’t feel adequate as a wife or parent. As hard as I tried to hold everything together, it appeared as though the ship was going to sink. The bills were due, the babies needed new shoes, and I was broke. Running from this appointment to that appointment, making sure everyone was where they needed to be and had all their needs met. I was exhausted, weary and scared.
God spoke those words to me not in a scolding way, but a loving way. He let me know that whatever fear or discouragement the devil was trying to whisper to me, He was not letting me face it alone. He will always be right by my side. It doesn’t matter what situation I may be facing, God is with me wherever I go.
Ladies, it doesn’t matter what you are going thru today; God is with you wherever you go. He knows all about your struggles and fears. Joshua was about to face unknown territory. But, God had assured him that He would “never leave him nor forsake him.” Isn’t that comforting?
Just as I heard God’s voice through my daughter that day, you too can hear the calming voice of God assuring you that no matter where you go, He’ll be with you every step of the way. Listen. Can you hear Him?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for understanding and calming my fears. I have some very difficult decisions to make. But, I know that I don’t have to make them all alone. Thank you for giving me the courage and strength to overcome my fears. I receive encouragement from you right now. IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.
Tye Tribbett singing “Everything will be Alright”
The Ultimate Price for Love
Isaiah 53:4 (Amplified Bible)
“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment],…”
You have been called out and separated by God. You were not created to be abused. You were not created to suffer with depression or anxiety. You were chosen to fit in the hands of God who has already accepted you. How you need to know the height and depth of His unfathomable love for you.
Some women have never been secure in the love of their natural fathers, and it affects how they view their Heavenly Father. There is no doubt about His love for you. He made the ultimate sacrifice just to prove the genuineness of His love.
You are so valuable that Satan held you for ransom, requiring that your Heavenly Father pay an unimaginable price. What price would God pay to see you freed? He sent His Son armed with love and wrapped in flesh. He showed how much He loved you and just how valuable you are to Him, by hanging on the cross…beaten beyond recognition, with a crown of thorns on His head. All just because He loves you!
Never again question His love for you. You may not understand it, but believe it. He absolutely loves you. Not only when you are right, but also when you are wrong. You are special and full of potential and possibilities. You are the daughter of a King. He is the King who spared no expense to pay the ransom that delivered you from all that would have you in bondage.
Be Free…and know that your Heavenly Father loves you more than you will ever be able to comprehend.
PRAYER FOCUS: Heavenly Father, thank you for the ultimate price you paid for me. Even when I didn’t deserve it; you sent Your Son to redeem me. There is no greater expression of love than for one to lay down his life for another. Thank you for ALL that you have done for me. Help me to realize Your love for me. IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.
We Are In A War
EPHESIANS 6:10 (NIV)
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
As my son headed out the door, my husband called up the stairs to me, “you’d better pray for him.” I had just gotten the younger children off to school and was headed for my bed. I had taken some pain medication for an ear infection and was going to bed to get some rest. Honestly, it never occurred to me to pray for him. My focus was on the pain in my ear. Just as I was about to close my eyes and drift off to sleep, I remembered last weeks sermon. In which Pastor preached a message entitled; “We are in a warfare.”
Suddenly, it occurred to me that I had better take this opportunity to pray for my son. I wondered, how many times the enemy has taken advantage of times like these to advance his position in the battle he rages against me? It occurred to me that he has been able to deceive me in this area often. I was captured by the enemy. I was not alert. I was unprepared for battle. While I was caught off guard, the enemy may have been able to gain territory in my son’s life.
But, God had a strategy of His own.
Even though I was unprepared for battle, my husband was ready. It always occurs to him to pray. He prays about everything. It doesn’t matter what the situation may be. Sometimes, I pray after the fact. By then, I am sometimes to weak for battle. As Pastor preached; we need to get ready to battle, by putting on the whole armor of God. We are to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. We have unrestrained power in the Lord.
Why are we still weak? There is no reason for us to be weak when we can gain strength. God provides the armor. We need to put it on. Be prepared. The enemy is well prepared. I wonder how many battles we have lost, by being unprepared? The devil uses trickery to fight us. He doesn’t fight fair or by the book. He’s a skilled trickster.
We often get caught off guard by focusing on our problem. Our attention is focused on the problem and not the problem solver. God had given us all that we need to prepare for battle. We need to get ready, its not going to come by osmosis–a gradual absorption. We have got to do something. Once we put on the whole armor of God, we are able to stand against the devil’s schemes .
We can no longer be ignorant of the fact that we a in a war. To remain ignorant is to remain defeated. And that’s just where the devil wants to us to be.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today I put on the whole armor of God. Thank you for not leaving me defenseless against the enemy. With the full armor of God, I can stand my ground. I will not be afraid because Your mighty power is unlimited and unrestrained. Thank you for giving me the strength and courage to fight the battle. IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.
Tap Into God’s Power
Ephesians 3:20 (Amplified)
20Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams.
There have been a lot of amazing technical changes happening in the world today. Just look at the ever changing world of technology. Who would have thought some fifty years ago, that we would be using the telephone without wires? I’m sure Alexander Graham Bell would be amazed to see how far the telephone has evolved. Most of our phones today have mini computers in them. I remember not long ago, cordless phones were a big deal. Certainly, no one expected to have a cordless computer on their lap.
Today, most of us have our own personal phone connected to our hips at all times. We dare not leave home without it. And, we have become so afraid to miss a call; we now have a phone attachment to our ears. Not to mention, almost every home in America has a computer. Amazing!
Moreover, the medical world has made great advances too. Surgeries are much less invasive today. My husband had his appendix removed using a laparoscopic laser; which only requires three small incisions to the abdomen. When I was able to see him after recovery, he had three (small) band-aids covering the wounds. The recovery time after surgery was around two weeks. It would have taken two months if the surgery had been done the old-fashioned way by making a long surgical cut. Totally amazing!
Who would have thought any of these things could be possible? There is an amazing power on the inside of us. A power that is far above all that we could ask or think–above our highest hopes, dreams or imaginations.
What is the power working in us? 1 Corinthians 6:19, tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Spirit of God. We have Almighty God living on the inside of us. Wow! With that kind of power on the inside of you, what is it you are asking God to do?
Is there anything too hard for God? He has no limitations. Often, the only limitations we have are the ones we place on ourselves. Sometimes, the dreams we have are too small. God is able to do above and beyond all that we dare ask or think. What is it you are able to think? God is able to do that too.
God has amazing things He wants to use us to do. Things, we think we can only dream about. The power of God is working in you; pushing you to do the amazing. Are you stopping short of what God has for you? If you would only commit unto Him that which you are hoping and dreaming for, He wants to do amazing through you, for you and in you.
You can be all that God desires you to be. You can do all that God desires you to do, according to the “Power” working within you. Tap in. Don’t faint. Don’t quit. Don’t give-in and Don’t give out.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to tap into the power working on the inside of me. I give you all my hopes, dreams and thoughts. Use me for your glory and honor, that I may fulfill your purpose for my life. IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.
Through a Rapist’s Eyes!!
Worth reading to remind us of things to do and be prepared for. It is the
holiday season and being out shopping and such, they are on the look out for
you.
Through a Rapist’s Eyes (This is No Joke !)
When this was sent to me, I was told to forward it to my lady friends, but I’m
forwarding
it to most everyone in my address book. My men friends have female friends and
this
Information is too important for them to miss.
Please pass it along…
A group of rapists and date rapists were interviewed in prison on what they look
for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:
1) The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are
most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other long
hairstyle that can be easily grabbed. Women with short hair are not common
targets.
2) The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women who’s
clothing can be removed quickly . Some of them carry scissors around
specifically to cut off clothing.
3) They also look for women who are on their cell phone ,searching through their
purse, or doing other activities while walking because they can be easily caught
off guard.
4) Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5:00a.m.
and 8:30a.m.
5) The number one place women are abducted or attacked is: a grocery store
parking lot. Number two is: office parking lots/garages. Number three is: public
restrooms.
6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and
quickly move her to another location where they don’t have to worry about
getting caught.
7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence
but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.
8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it
only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn’t worth
it because it will be time-consuming and difficult.
9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas in their
hands, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance.
10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind
you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look
them in the face and ask them a question , like ‘What time is it’, or make
general small talk: ‘I can’t believe it is so cold out here,’ ‘We’re in for a
bad winter.’ Now you’ve seen their face and could identify them in a line-up;
you lose appeal as a target.
11) If someone is coming toward you , hold out your hands in front of you and
yell STOP or STAY BACK ! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they’d
leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to
fight back .
Again, they are looking for an EASY target.
12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and
carries it with him wherever he goes) , yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY. Holding it out
toward them will be a BIG deterrent. Use it if they continue coming toward you
!!
13) If someone grabs you , you may not beat them with strength but you can by
outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the
attacker either under the Arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the
upperinner thigh VERY, VERY HARD . One woman in a class this guy taught told him
she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her. She was so
upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands – the guy needed
stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it – it
hurts!!! If attacked from the front, hitting a man on the tip of his nose as
HARD as you can with the heel of your hand can stun or even kill the
assailant…
14) The GROIN of a man is a very weak spot. I know from a particularly
unfortunate experience that if you hit a guy’s private parts it is extremely
painful . You might think that you’ll anger the guy and make him want to hurt
you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a
woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble and run away as
he tries to recover from the pain.
15) If a guy puts his hands up to you , grab his first two fingers and bend them
back as far as possible as you push down with much force. The instructor did it
to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles
cracked audibly.
16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your
surroundings , take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior,
don’t dismiss it, go with your instincts!!! You may feel a little silly at the
time, but you’d feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.
1. A tip from Tae Kwon Do : The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If
you are close enough to use it on the face, neck, body or groin, do so!
2. If a robber asks for your wallet or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM . Toss it
away from you….Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet or purse
than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD -TOWARD PEOPLE !
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights
and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like cra zy. The driver won’t
see you, but everybody else will. This has saved many lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working,
etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, powdering their nose, or making a
list, etc.) DON’T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the
perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your
head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS
AND LEAVE!!!
If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO
NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car.
Your Air Bag will save you. The other person will get the worst of the crash. As
soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find
your body in a remote location.
5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage:
A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor,
and in the back seat and floor.
B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door.
Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while
the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C.) Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the
passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, walk
back into the mall, or work, and get a guard or policeman to walk you back out.
IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible
places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at
NIGHT!)
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The
predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times. And even then, it
most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN in a zigzag pattern!
8. Most women are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP! It may get you raped or
killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well-educated man, who
ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or
a limp, and often asked ‘for help’ into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which
is when he abducted his victims.
9. Another Safety Point: Someone said that her friend heard a crying baby on her
porch and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was
weird. The police told her ‘Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.’
The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and
she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The
policeman said, ‘We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open
the door.’ He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby’s cry recorded
and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a
baby.
Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby —-This
should be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on
America ‘s Most Wanted when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana .
I’d like you to forward this to all the women and men that you know. It may save
a life. I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your
mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as
well.
Everybody got a Story– But, God got a plan
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
One day as I hurried through the grocery store, I ran into a friend that I hadn’t seen in a long time. “How’s the family,” I inquired. As we greeted and hugged, he began to tell me what had been happening in his life lately. He explained that things haven’t been going as well as he would like. However, “God has been good,” he said. He had just received word that his seventeen year old son was missing from his ex-wife’s home. It hadn’t been confirmed yet, but it was suspected that he had run away from home to be with a new girlfriend that lived in New York City. So, he was awaiting confirmation that all was well, and that he hadn’t meet with an unfortunate mishap.
He explained that it had been difficult to concentrate on his school studies, with everything that had been occurring in recent weeks. With working fulltime and serving as youth minister at his church, things seemed a little overwhelming. Silently, I prayed for God to give me some words of encouragement to share with him. I told him that I would be sure to keep his family in prayer.
He looked at me and said, “I know, I know, everybody got a story, right?” “Yes” I agreed with him. “But, God got a plan, I assured him. We looked at each other with huge smiles on our faces, and declared “that’ll preach.” I was excited that God gave just the right answer that encouraged him (us) to know in spite of all that was going on in our lives, God had everything under control. Furthermore, He has a plan and purpose for our lives.
This scripture has never been plainer to me than while watching the plan and purpose of Barack Obama unfold last night. After two years of campaigning; He was declared “President-elect” of the United States of America. God has restored “hope” within the hearts and minds of African-Americans. A hope that reminds us, that He hasn’t forgotten and/or left us out of “The American Dream.”
Just like Obama, God has a plan and purpose for each of us. It is a plan for our welfare, not for disaster; to give us a future and a hope. Awesome! You might say, “God has a plan for me? For me?” Yes, and that plan entails all the pieces of our lives. From the moment God knew you, He comprised a plan for your life. And every day since, He has been carefully orchestrating every detail. Your life is a story; a story that involves every detail. God is so precise, that He didn’t exclude one tiny aspect. Not one part of the story was left out. Not one part of the story is insignificant.
Everybody got a story, but God got a plan. His plan is not a plan of calamity or tragedy. Did God plan the evil of your life? No, but He carefully and accurately formulated a plan that included every element; every hour, every minute and every day of you life. Your Story. Did He specifically plan that rape or abuse of your life? Not according to scripture, His plan is a plan to prosper you and not to harm you.
So, you can rest assured, that what ever you have gone through or are going through now, God has already made a provision for you. Because God is aware of all you’re going to face in your life. He knows what tomorrow holds for you. And because he knows, He already provided the solutions.
Now, I don’t know what the story of your life is, but, what I do know is this—it is all apart of His Plan.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that You are in complete control of my life. Help me Lord to accept the plan that You have for me. I place my story in Your capable hands, trusting that all things work together for my good. Thank You Father, IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN. Fred Hammond and RFC singing “your steps are ordered.”
Do You Want to remain Bitter or get Better?
1 Samuel 30: 3-8
3 When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”
“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”
David and his men had every right to be angry, resentful, and hostile. Imagine your entire family taken into captivity. All your possessions taken and your home burned to the ground. There are some things that have happened to us that give us the right to be angry. The pain is so great that we weep aloud until we have no more strength left to weep. We are left feeling distressed, hopeless and helpless. Bitterness sets into our hearts.
Bitterness can leave us angry, resentful, and hostile. And looking for someone to blame for what has happened to us. Bitterness will keep us stuck in our pain. As long as we remain bitter, we stay stuck. We shouldn’t get so caught up in bitterness, that we lose focus on what’s precious. Do you want to remain bitter or get better?
David chose to get better by finding “strength” in the Lord. Strength simply means–He shook it off. Once he found strength, he was able to focus on what’s meaningful and precious. 1 Samuel 30:8 goes on to say “David inquired of the Lord” and then God gave clear direction for him to succeed.
Not only did God give direction but, He returned all the wives, sons and daughters that had been taken by the enemy. According to 1 Samuel 30:18, 19, David recovered all that was taken by their enemy-nothing was missing.
God is calling us to seek Him for strength to get better. He will give us the power to overcome in every situation. Don’t waste time being bitter, the objective is to get better.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help us to get better. We come to you with all our bitterness. We aren’t looking for anyone to blame. We just want to get better. Help us Lord, to understand that all things work together for our good. What the enemy meant for evil, YOU are using for our good. Thank you Father, for soothing all our hurts and pains. In Jesus’ Name Amen.
The Commissioned Reunion singing “Ordinary Just Won’t Do”
Hello to My Sisters from Phoebedee
Hello to my sisters–I’m Phoebedee. 🙂
I wanted to comment on why the “Women in Session” Group. This group spawned out of the necessity for women to become–BECOME all that God wants them to be and says they are. God, has an awesome perspective of His creation “the woman.” He created her to be a participator, innovator, caretaker, nurturer, exhorter, guide, and sound voice. We are not here to challenge women on points of view; we are here to challenge women to understand the vision that God has for us–a vision that has been contorted and changed so often that even in our own thoughts we’ve often lost sight of OUR VALUE and strength.
I am convinced that the ministry of reconciliation needs to also happen between women and women, men and women, along with those of different cultures and backgrounds. There is a strength that the Spirit of God gives to His people that is only at its greatest power, when the walls of separation are torn down. This separation happens on many levels: professionally, economically, educationally, environmentally, and of course spiritually.
Often the work to encourage change is done through the individuals who experience the fallout from ideologies conceived by visionless people. If I cannot speak to other women about becoming enpowered by God, how can we ever speak to those who prefer to control, limit, or remove our power. Graciously, God has given us a voice to be raised and recognized to show His blessings, His love, His Power, His Spirit, and His Grace and Mercy. This mission of God is not one that is easy, because some folk are not ready or do not even realize their own needs. But, like Isaiah, when God sent me to be a spokesperson for Him to the hearts of women, I said, “Here am I Lord, send me!” Even though the messages may be rejected, misunderstood, critized, etc., I understand that it is not about me, but for me first and then it is about what God wants. His love for us is so strong and passionate, so forgiving and covering–that He can only see the best for us, so therefore, may we only see the best for ourselves, even when it is challenging and sometimes almost impossible to look up or beyond.
I know that the God I serve says I am his daughter. And to each of you, you are God’s daughters, whom God is blessing, but wants to bless the more and use everything you have to further His agenda, which is Us!!!! I love you, because God loves me, and He wants you to love yourselves and embrace His image of you. And to my sisters who believe they’ve got it…today, but we will always need a reminder tomorrow!
Be blessed daughters of God!
BEVALUED 