Hello Family...

So for about 3 of the last 14 hours I have been soaking up the word through a series that Joyce Meyer is currently presenting on imitating God. It has truly been a blessing. But what I wanted to point out just briefly is that you can't not imitate or be a copy of someone who you don't know--Joyce agrees. Think about when you were little and you had to have your parents sign that test or report card that didn't look too hot. What would happen? You'd take a black or blue pen and copy to the best of your ability that signature that you knew you needed. Now, while that isn't the right thing to do there's truth there. Because you KNEW--you had a relationship--with that parent you were able to replicate what they do for your situation and your circumstance. When we truly commune and worship and have a relationship with Christ we can and we will be able to duplicate what He does and use it in our favor. Isa. 54:17 says: "No weapon formed against you shall prevail and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me. " That verse is a promise to us that IF we become a servant of a Lord by replicating the ideal servant then we shall prevail and receive the blessings of God. So Family, lets work on becoming imitators and good ones of God.

Sidebar...

So later on today I'll have my newest lesson, but right now I just want to talk about breakthrough right quick. I take my inspiration from Luke 1: 63, 64. That verse spoke to me especially after the rough day I had. My flesh was feeling down and out, but this communing with the Lord should me that sometimes he puts up roadblocks in our way to make sure we don't get in the way of our own blessing. And lets talk about that word "bless". My Word tells me that to be blessed is to have divine favor. So a blessing is tangible evidence of Christ's divine favor. People always think of a blessing as something that we want or say we need like money or a new car or job, but no. If you learn patience or kindness or gratefulness after a trial that's a blessing! God is bestowing on you, your situation and your life, divine favor. No one works with someone that doesn't want to be worked with or on. So be grateful and reassured that if at the end of the day "all that happened" is that you learned something, praise God and rejoice in His blessings.

Awesome God

Something to lift your spirits. God Bless

JVKK793CHYCM

Auntie Ellen Speaks of Temptation

For my devotion today, I chose to read from the Desire of Ages. In the chapter on temptation, Auntie Ellen talks about Christ and His struggle in the desert with satan (I prefer not to capitalize that coward's name). The verses she draws from are Matt. 4:1-11; Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1-13. If you'd like more summary, that's too bad! I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. GO READ THE CHAPTER! :) But I will tell you what I felt the Lord was hoping I'd get from this.

1. The reason I have been feeling down is not because of my circumstance, but because of my lack of connection to Him. satan takes us and our weakness and exploits it to only worsen our situation and lead us to depend on our own strength--rebuking God.
2. Aunt E talks about how Christ never did anything for his own glory: "Neither here nor at any subsequent time in His earthly life did he work a miracle in His own behalf" DoA p. 119. This here is power to me. How many times do we, in the church, do everything but paid commercials when nominating committee comes around. We claw, bite, and scratch our way to become the Assistant to the Treasurer of the Choir that only practices with the Choir that sings Sabbath Morning. Yet, what is that doing to glorify God? How are the things WE accomplish for ourselves drawing us nearer to HIM?
3. Finally, Ms. White dwells on the fact that Christ was fasting and at his weakest during temptation. She reminds the reader of Deut. 8: 2,3 and even brings up how important a relationship is with Chris during the time of trouble. Well it was impressed upon me that these topics are related. And no, not because they're located in the same chapter. Fasting has been really prominent in my thoughts recently and my devotion revealed to me why. God's intention with the practice of fasting and prayer is not only to deepen our connection with Christ but also to condition us. He is conditioning us through the prayer and fasting mentally and physically for the Time of Trouble. By rationing our meals or how much tv we watch, we practice a similar control and restraint that Jesus maintained in the wilderness and strengthen the lines of communication between ourselves and the Father.

But I'm not going to say anymore cuz I want others to go kick it with Auntie Ellen and maybe give me some feedback. Let me know, I want to hear from ya!

Man shall not live by bread alone...