SacBee: Classified Ads

SacBee: Classified Ads

"Parker's Racing for the Cure"

My step-daughter Emily and I teamed up with Team Legacy last year and walked the entire 3.1 miles at Cal Expo in Sacramento, CA. This year we decided that having two teams will enable us to raise more funds to "Make An Impact." Please join us as we walk the 15th Annual Komen Sacramento Race For The Cure as team "Legally Pink Parker's," at Cal Expo on May 7, 2011. May God bless all of you for your support whether it is financially or prayerfully.

Please feel free to visit our blog at: westsacparkers4thecure.blogspot.com

New NOOK Books

New NOOK Books: "

April, as T.S. Eliot wrote, is the cruelest month. It’s also
National Poetry Month, so if you haven’t yet added some verse to your NOOK,
now’s your chance.

While many poetry fans favor the classics, it’s always
interesting to support burgeoning poets as they hone their craft. One such
American poet is Anthony Carelli, whose first collection, Carnations, is
available now. Carelli’s work—which has appeared in The New Yorker, among other prestigious periodicals—rivals the
depth and skill of poets twice (or three times) his age. He confidently explores
pedestrian subjects—like a game of Frisbee—and finds the small instances of the sublime within them.

Poetry lovers should also follow us on Twitter—@BNBuzz—as
we tweet 4 poems, including one of Carelli’s works, throughout the month.

NOOK owners: go to shop, and search “Anthony Carelli“ to
download this debut collection.

"

Rebecca St. James – “I Will Praise You” {GIVEAWAY}

If you are a fan of Rebecca St. James, you will be thrilled to know that she is back with her first studio project since 2005! If you are not yet a fan, I am so pleased to introduce you to her beautiful voice, inspirational lyrics, and heart of praise and worship. She calls this collection of worship songs “her most personal recording to date”.

I was so thrilled to be able to review her CD before its release! The cover is beautiful and her voice is exquisite!
In the CD booklet, she writes “Our mission statement as a ministry team is to serve the church and point people to Jesus.” I have to tell you that is exactly what this CD does.
“In a Moment” and “You Hold Me Now” describe in a breathtaking word-picture what it will be like to praise the Lord after He comes for His people. One of my favorites on the CD is “The Kindness of Our God” which reminds my heart that “He sees our tears and dries our eyes“. Each song is a beautiful reminder of God’s love and care for us.
For a sneak peak, visit the Rebecca’s listening party and let me know your favorite! Be sure to visit the Rebecca St. James website, Facebook page, or connect with her on twitter to learn more about this great CD!
The “I Will Praise You” will release on Tuesday, April 5.
{GIVEAWAY}
If you would like win a free copy of this beautiful collection of worship songs, please leave a comment below.
For additional entries (please leave a comment for each of the following so that you can have up to 5 “extra” entries)
1. Follow Rebecca St. James on twitter
2. “Like” the Rebecca St. James Facebook page
3. Sign up to receive “Only A Breath” updates by email or RSS reader
4. Follow “Only A Breath” via Google Friend Connect
5. Tweet, blog, or share on Facebook about this giveaway!
This giveaway will end on Saturday, April 9 and is open to U.S. residents only, please.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Susan G. Komen for the Cure | Thousands Race for the Cure in Israel

Susan G. Komen for the Cure | Thousands Race for the Cure in Israel

"In October 2010 Susan G. Komen for the Cure® partnered with the City of Jerusalem, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, health advocates and scientists for a week of events in Israel to examine major scientific issues in breast cancer while advancing the international breast cancer movement. The leading breast cancer organizations of Europe and Canada as well as long-term Komen for the Cure partners joined in generating participation for this historic trip."

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Susan G. Komen for the Cure | $1 Million Grant from KeyBank Foundation Will Fund Breast Cancer Education and Support Programs Through Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Largest-ever KeyBank Foundation National Grant to Reach 100,000 Medically Underserved Women

CLEVELAND – March 31, 2011 – A $1 million grant from KeyBank Foundation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® will fund a training and outreach program potentially reaching more than 100,000 medically underserved women in selected communities that KeyBank serves. The grant, announced today by Susan G. Komen for the Cure and KeyCorp, is the Foundation’s largest-ever grant at the national level and will be used to establish the .....

Refreshing Fruit of the Spirit

We all know how refreshing fruit is, especially the Fruit of the Spirit.  Everyone should be refreshed spiritually? There have been plenty of times that I needed to be; invigorated, reminded to get back on God's path,  need to be prayed for, need to kneel before God and ask for His help and forgiveness. Also, to be reminded that God is here to help me and I can't do anything without Him. 

I need to be stimulated by reading the Bible, to refresh my memory of who is in charge of my life, God. Always reminding myself that only God knows what's going to happen next and it's my job to remember to say to myself or out loud, "the Lord willing," will I get anything done.  Need to replenish myself spiritually and be restored by His word. 

There are times that I need to humble myself, ask for help. It's okay for me to ask for prayer or go to the alter during alter call and kneel before our Lord, Jesus Christ. I need to always pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New King James Version)

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Found that reviewing the "Fruit of the Spirit" helps me to check myself. Am I bearing good fruit? 

Remember that you need to concentrate on bearing good fruit and that each tree is recognized by it's fruit. You are the trees, do you have good or bad stored up in your heart? Do you need to clean out your pantry and replenish it with what is good for you spiritually and emotionally? 

No one is perfect and without sin, so let's clean out those pantry's and don't forget to stock it with the Fruit of the Spirit. God bless you!

Love: Love is not based on emotions or feelings. It's making a commitment to focus on the well being of others without conditions or circumstances. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Joy: More than happiness, gladness not based on circumstances, good health, wealth, favorite, or popular. You will experience joy when you believe, obey and receive God, minister to others, fellowship with other believers and share the Gospel. Jesus said: " I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them." John 17:13

Peace: Contentment, unity between people, a state of being assured and lack of fear. Peace is harmony, fellowship and unity between people. No worries, can't be disturbed and unable to be suppressed or have oppressive thoughts. "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." Romans 14:19

Patience: Slow to speak and slow to anger. Restraining one's self from speaking or acting hastily when they disagree, oppose or persecuted. Having patience and bearing problems or pain without any complaints. "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." Proverbs 14:29

Kindness: Merciful, sweet, tender an eagerness to put others at ease. "A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.  A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.  Proverbs 11:16-17

Goodness: Generously giving person and open hearted. A selfless desire to be generously open hearted to others, above what they need and deserve. "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23:6

Faithfulness: Dependable person who keeps up with their responsibilities, loyal to their friends and firmly devoted to God. "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3

Gentleness: Someone who's demeanor is humble, calm and non-threatening. Speaks of God in a gentle way with respect. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." Philippians 4:4,5

Self Control: A well behaved person who restrains their emotions, actions and desires. In harmony with our Lord. Doing God's will by controlling their self, not living for their self.

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28

This is a great Blog!

While checking out an email from Women of Faith I came across a wonderful blog page, "Only A Breath". Not only are the blogs great, the page is so wonderful to look at! It really made a stressful day easy to deal with.

Click on the image below and I guarantee the page itself will take your breath away. Hope you enjoy Melanie's blog page as much as I did :)

 

Only A Breath

Celebrate Each Breath

by Melanie on March 18, 2011

My heart breaks today, and I ask you to pray for a dear, Christian family from my home church. A young mother prepares to do the unimaginable tomorrow — bury her youngest son, only 15 years old who passed away suddenly.

I can’t even begin to imagine her pain — the pain of the entire family — over the loss of this precious gift of life. My heart is a mother’s heart. I would give my life in a split second to spare the life of either of my children, as I know this mother would have. As I waited in bed last night for sleep to come, my mind spun around the circle of “Why?”. Why did this happen to such a precious family? Why so young? Why did God not heal this boy for His glory?

Is it wrong to ask the “why’s”?

In my heart, I believe that even as the psalmist cried out to God and asked the “Why’s?” and “How long’s?”, that God hears our pleas. He understands that we can only see a small glimpse of His bigger plan. Our minds may never understand the “why’s” of life, but we will still trust Him. Just as this family is trusting God, even in their darkest moments, it is a reminder and an example to us all.

A reminder to celebrate each breath of this journey…

I don’t know if I, too, will one day have to stand weeping over the grave of my own child — Lord, I beg not.

I don’t know if cancer will strike, or an earthquake will come, or if I will lose my job and home and the list goes on and on. I pray even now that if those things happen, that I will still trust Him.

Only by His grace. Only by His strength. Only by His unfailing love…

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10

Hug your children a little tighter today, and tell them how much you love them. Drink in the sunshine and fresh air and praise God for another day to live for Him. Thank Him for His many blessings and for health to enjoy each day.

And pray for those who mourn.

“Show me, LORD, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
… the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure”

~ Psalm 39:4-5

Only A Breath

Don’t Make Me Come Up There! {Giveaway}: "

One of my favorite blogs to read is “We Are That Family“. Kristen is a Christian mom and wife who blogs about faith, family, and her heart for helping expectant mothers in Africa.

I have read Kristen’s blog for quite a while now, and have loved her decorating projects and hilarious stories. She honestly makes me laugh so hard that tears roll down my face. She is just very honest about parenting, and I love her perspective.

Then, Kristen went to Africa with Compassion International. I read her blog updates during her trip and when she returned home, and I could tell that something had changed. She had seen slums which I will probably never see, and met people whose eyes I will never look into. But with the power of words, I visited those slums and I saw, with my own eyes, the need in the eyes of the children. I am so thankful for her trip and the change that took place in her heart.

And now that change is impacting the world.

Kristen and her family started “The Mercy House“, a maternity home for pregant girls who would otherwise be living in the streets of Kenya. From the Mercy House website “The Mercy House will aid them in nutrition, housing, prenatal care, counseling, Biblical teaching and job skills for sustainable living.” Please visit The Mercy House online, on Facebook, or on Twitter to learn more about this wonderful mission!

These are just a FEW of the statistics from the Mercy House website which amazed (and appalled!) me:

• Annually, 21,000 women are hospitalized from having an illegal, unsafe abortion in Kenya. (Center for Reproductive Rights)


• 25% of pregnant women in Kenya are HIV positive (ObGyn in Kenya)


• Every 30 minutes, a woman is raped in Kenya. (Nairobi Women’s Hospital)


• More than 20,000 children are sex trafficked in Kenya (Human Trafficking)

Praise the Lord for the Welch’s and the work He is doing through them in Kenya:

The Vision of Rehema House (supported by Mercy House):

• Provide a safe place-a guarded home with six maternity beds


• Partner with local churches


• Prenatal Care-vitamins, checkups


• Proper Nutrition-protein and regular meals


• Counseling-post abortion/prostitution


• Ministry-prayer, Biblical teaching


• Skills-jewelry, soap, sewing (future products will be sold here)


• A nurturing environment in-which to give birth


• A safe place to stay and learn and heal until they graduate from the program


• An account to start small business or go to school (from products they make and sell)

Kristen recently published her first book, a devotional for moms, and all of the proceeds go to the work of The Mercy House.

She recently held a “book launch” contest on her blog, asking readers to re-create the book cover for a fabulous prize, including two copies of her new book, along with several other fun goodies. And, guess who won??? …..

Yours truly!!!!! (and please… don’t hate me because I’m beautiful! HA!)

I read the book and LOVED it. The devotions are really appropriate for mothers or women even without children. I loved her honesty and some devotions made me laugh, some made me cry, but all of them pointed my heart to the Father.

So…. I would like to share with you!!!!

{GIVEAWAY}

I have one copy (signed by the author!) of “Don’t Make Me Come Up There” by Kristen Welch, author of We Are That Family.

To enter, please leave one comment below telling me why you would like to read the book.

For extra entries: (please leave a separate comment for each and this includes if you already follow, receive emails, etc.)

1. Sign up to receive updates from my blog via email or RSS.

2. Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect

3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway! Please be sure to include a direct link to this post.

This giveaway will end on Friday, April 1 — No foolin’. Giveaway open to U.S. Residents only please.

Don’t forget to enter the “Most” giveaway (you MUST see this movie!!!)! I love to offer giveaways to my readers…make sure you never miss one! Or, get blog updates delivered to your inbox!

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Only A Breath

Weekend Retreat for Bereaved Parents: "

This week, I had the wonderful experience of meeting Jill Sullivan while I designed some blog buttons for her site. Jill and her husband Brad have gone through the unimagineable, the loss of a child. Their 17 year old daughter, Hannah, passed away two years ago after a year-long battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.

The Sullivan’s are hosting the “While We’re Waiting” Weekend Retreat for Bereaved Parents. Their website shares information about the purpose of the retreat and some of the topics that will be discussed. The following description from their website gives more information about the retreat and welcomes all couples, in any stage of grief:

“This is a faith-based retreat, and it is designed for couples with strong marriages, and for those whose marriages are struggling under the load of grief. It’s for those whose faith has grown through their loss, and for those who still have questions. It’s for those who want to talk about their experience and their child, and for those who feel like they can’t talk anymore. It’s for couples whose grief is fresh, and for those who’ve been walking on this road for quite some time.”

The retreat will be held April 1-3, 2011, and it will be held in the lodge at Family Farm in Glen Rose, Arkansas, about 45 minutes southwest of Little Rock.

If you or someone you know is walking this extremely painful path, please consider this retreat. For more information, please visit Jill’s blog where she blogs about her family’s journey and the powerful grace of God.

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Healthier Packaged Foods - Erin Kelley, MS, RD

Healthier Packaged Foods: Ice cream...cones!: "Ok, I realize I'm getting picky here, since cake-type ice cream cones are akin to Catholic mass communion wafers, which taste like they mixe..."

John 3:20-21, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, 1 Peter 2:9-10

John 3:20-21

The New Birth

 ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

 Stand Fast

¹³ But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, ¹⁴ to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  

1 Peter 2:9-10

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰ who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

We need to shine bright for our Lord! His son, Jesus Christ, sacrificed his all for us, for our redemption as His Father watched! This is what gives us worth, Jesus' life which was sacrificed for us and in turn we need to shine bright for our Lord. We need to glorify the Lord, rejoice in Him for He has done mighty and great things for us. We are the children of God in a world of darkness and we need to minister His word and shine bright for Him. God has entrusted us to  be the shining light for His son, Jesus Christ! Let's not forget to practice peace as Jesus Christ is peace. Start each new day with our Lord and pray. With this you will practice peace and when unrest or discouragement is at your door you will not be easily upset as you will have the armor of God on. 


Remember to keep your light shining in the name of the Lord and live peacefully with each other. God bless you!

Psalms 91

New King James Version

Psalm 91

"Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

 ¹ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
 ² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
         My God, in Him I will trust.”
         
 ³ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
         And from the perilous pestilence.
 ⁴ He shall cover you with His feathers,
         And under His wings you shall take refuge;
         His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
 ⁵ You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
         Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
 ⁶ Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
         Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
         
 ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
         And ten thousand at your right hand;
         But it shall not come near you.
 ⁸ Only with your eyes shall you look,
         And see the reward of the wicked.
         
 ⁹ Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
         Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
 ¹⁰ No evil shall befall you,
         Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
 ¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you,
         To keep you in all your ways.
 ¹² In their hands they shall bear you up,
         Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
 ¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
         The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
         
 ¹⁴ “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
         I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
 ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
         I will be with him in trouble;
         I will deliver him and honor him.
 ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”"

Where is your dwelling place? Is it with God? Are you resting in the shadow of the Almighty?

We all need to look at ourselves and ask these questions. We need to have faith in God and make Him our constant shield. Read about the unchanging promises He has made us if we choose to follow Him.

May God bless you and your family's

I'm Not WONDER WOMAN BUT GOD MADE ME Wonderful! by Sheila Walsh

Insecurity with one's self:

While going through my calendar I realized how many graduation party's and anniversary party's we are to attend these next three months. I started asking myself, "What am I going to wear?" Which made me realize how insecure I am with what I look like, after talking to someone from the past I really didn't feel comfortable with myself. I opened up Sheila Walsh's book which made me realize that I'm not alone. A lot of us women feel the same way but not all of us have God in our lives. For me, God has always been here with me but have I always been there for Him. That's the question I had to ask my self, because if He was always on my mind, if I did everything in His name I wouldn't feel this way about myself. He asks us to take care of the temple He's given us, our body's. 

Now that I have opened up my eyes again, I can see that God is here for me and will help me to better myself physically. I'm sure glad to know that God will always be here for me, now I need to show Him that I will always be there for Him.  

I recommend Sheila's book to all women! I've taken the first paragraph from Chapter One to share with all of you!

"Insecurity:

I've got nothing to wear!

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me, get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of  grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. 

-MATTHEW 11:28-30 (THE MESSAGE) 

I am woman, hear me roar!

-Ray Burton and Helen Reddy, 1972

America is a couples' culture. If you are over the age of twenty-one and not married or heading in that direction, friends and family will attempt to fix you up with Mr. Right. If you are widowed or divorced, it is assumed that Mr. Next is just around the corner......"

I'm Not WONDER WOMAN BUT GOD MAD ME Wonderful! by Sheila Walsh

A Quick Word with Beth Moore

Scripture & Quotations from, "When Godly People Do UnGodly Things."

Change

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

We can't change anyone else. We can't even change ourselves. But we can allow God to change us. He can give us courage to put distance between us and any relationship that is a seduction waiting to happen. 

MuddyPuppy's

Gourmet Natural Organic Apple Pie Stars Dog Treats Wheat Free Bulk: "
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Healthy, Oragnic, All Natural Dog Treats, Wheat Free,Soy Free, Corn Free

This is a Cute Gift wrapped package of 40 treats!Perfect for any size Dog, can be broken for the smaller breeds. Baked Crunchy to promote tatar control. Makes a great gift!

Shelf Life- 10 Months, and no need to keep cold.

Ingredients: rye flour, applesauce, rice flour, oatmeal, rice bran, peanut butter, flax, honey, blueberries, cranberry fiber, dried eggs

Can make any of items in larger amounts, and Love to do custom orders. Convo me with any questions. Combine shipping for a great deal!"

www.avirtuouswoman.org

Heading Home

What Does Love Look Like?

“What does love look like?

“It has the hands to help others.

“It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.

“It has eyes to see misery and want.

“It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.

“That is what love looks like.”


Love is a verb...

Love gives...the best of time, energy, and possessions
Love walks...alongside, to uphold another
Love acts...to encourage the discouraged
Love offers a hand...up

Love offers a shoulder...for another to cry on
Love believes...the best of another
Love blesses...no matter what
Love honors...one’s spouse

Love supports...when another’s strength is lacking
Love cheers...when laughter is needed
Love praises...rather than tears down
Love comforts...a hurting soul

Love carries...when another’s steps falter
Love commits...to a lasting relationship
Love remains silent...when necessary
Love communicates...with kindness

Love cares...enough to do something
Love shows...grace and mercy

Love in action...“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)

“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” ~~Amy Carmichael

“For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11 NKJV)

What does love look like to you?

(This post is part of Christianwriters.com blog chain on the topic of love. See the other entries listed in the left sidebar.)

Joyce Schneider - He Restores My Soul

" He Restores My Soul

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.

Psalm 23:1-3" continue reading by clicking on the following link

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/He-Restores-My-Soul.html?soid=1101436758261&aid=t621nYOCBUc

General Conference Church of God 7th Day

Conference-wide
Prayer and Fasting

Annual Prayer Initiative
January 15 - February 5, 2011 

"The General Conference’s 2011 Annual Prayer Initiative
will take the form of a Conference-wide Call to
Prayer and Fasting for 21 days, January 15 – February 5.
Fasting is not required of New Testament believers, but it
is a source of rich blessing — an effective weapon of spiritual
warfare available to the church. Jesus’ language, “When you
fast” (Matthew 6:16-18), suggests He expects His followers to
engage in this practice. It is to this end that this time of fasting
has been scheduled.
Fasting, the practice of abstaining from food for a time in
order to focus entirely on the Lord in heartfelt prayer, fi nds
much support in Scripture. Prominent Old Testament characters
such as Nehemiah, Esther, and Daniel fasted during times of
spiritual need and corporate crisis and when making important
decisions, breaking spiritual bondage and oppression, and
seeking God’s favor for His people. In the book of Acts,
fasting is notable in the spiritual formation of the early church.
In both Testaments, prayer combined with fasting resulted
in repentance, revival, restoration, and refreshing for God’s
people, personally and corporately.
Various types of fasts are observed in Scripture, including
absolute -abstaining from both food and water (“Do not eat or
drink for three days, night or day,” Esther 4:16, NIV); normal
- abstaining from food only (“[Jesus] ate nothing during those
days . . . ,” Luke 4:2, NIV); partial -restricting one’s diet to
certain foods (“I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched
my lips,” Daniel 10:3, NIV).
Regardless of the type of fast, careful consideration should
be given to one’s health and any physical and/or medical
concerns that could be compromised by extended periods of
abstinence from food and water. Those dealing with pregnancy,
diabetes, chronic illness, and other conditions are discouraged
from fasting. Should they choose to fast, they must seek
medical advice.
Unlike in previous years, specifi c prayer focus is not provided
for each day, except for Sabbaths when the Church is gathered
corporately. Additional prayer needs are listed, but participants
are encouraged to pray as they are led.

Sabbath, January 15
The Church gathered today provides a unique
opportunity to launch this corporate spiritual exercise
together. Pray that many will be drawn to prayer and
fasting over the next three weeks, resulting in corporate
repentance, renewal, the outpouring of the Spirit, and
God’s supernatural favor upon the Church of God
(Seventh Day) in 2011.
Read Isaiah 58:1-7.

Sabbath, January 22
Pray for corporate renewal through the rediscovery of
God’s Word in its power and centrality in the life of the
Church. For focus, pray through the “Year of the Bible
Declaration,” published in the January-February Bible
Advocate.
Read 2 Kings 22.

Sabbath, January 29
Health, uncommon wisdom, prosperity during drought,
and the restoration of family relationships are promised
in Isaiah 58, that well-known passage dealing with the
fast God delights in and the blessings that flow from our
delight in the Sabbath. Review these blessings and claim
them in prayer.
Read Isaiah 58:8-12.

Sabbath, February 5
Give thanks for the blessings received during this time,
and pray for ongoing spiritual renewal, that the blessings
of the Lord upon the Church will continue unceasingly
and in increasing measure: “Now to Him who is able to
do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory
in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever
and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20, 21, NKJV).

Suggested Prayer Needs
• Individual and corporate repentance, and spiritual
renewal.
• Emotional healing, forgiveness, and restoration of
broken relationships.
• Spiritual fortification of families and marriages.
• Breaking of bondages, repairing of breaches,
reversing of curses.
• Revitalization of fledgling congregations.
• Re-energizing of pastors and lay pastors through the
pursuit of personal holiness and walk in the Word,
preaching from the overflow of intimacy with God.
• Spiritual insights into addressing the Church
leadership crisis.
• A sense of calling on a fresh crop of young men and
women to the Church’s vocational ministry.
• Supernatural release of resources for developing the
professional ministry.
• Care and spiritual nurture of the Church’s children
and youth and the bridging of generational barriers.
• Breakthroughs in children’s curriculum development.
• Unity of the Church.
• Battling spiritual apathy and doctrinal confusion.
• Greater organizational accountability and
commitment, and cultivation of a culture of
excellence.
• Guidance and wisdom for board of directors,
executive leaders, and Denver office staff.
• God’s special favor upon the Conference Vision
and the tangible reflection of its values in the life of
the Church: Christ-centered; Bible-based; Sabbathobserving;
Spirit-formed; Distinct, Not Exclusive;
Passionate in Worship; Compassionate in Service;
Aggressive in Witness; Strong in Fellowship;
Committed to Discipleship.
• A new season of fruitfulness.
• Blessings upon this year’s Biennial Convention.
Pray that the Church will experience the blessings of
“prevailing prayer” all year long.
Thanks for praying
Denying our physical appetites in order to address our
spiritual needs, saying no to the flesh so we may say yes
to the Spirit, looking steadfastly upon the Lord by turning
away from our temporal concerns, are keys to unlocking
the resources of heaven. Doing so corporately poises the
Church for uncommon blessings. And doing it early in the
year sets the spiritual course for the remaining months.
The Church of God (Seventh Day) will never be the same
because you prayed. Thank you!

Praying,
Whaid G. Rose
Conference President"

(In)Courage

Left Overs: "

The teller at the bank. The cashier in the grocery store. The gentlemen who held my door open for me. The barista who made my latte. The neighbors down the street. The co-worker a few classrooms away from my own. The contacts in my cell phone. The strangers on a daily basis.

They do not know.

They do not know that the life I currently live consists of a full time job, a fathers terminal sickness, the lack of conversation for over a week and the moans, groans, aches and agony he faces by the minute leading up to his last breath. They do not know of the selfishness I feel as I reminisce and grieve the memories I will never experience. They do not see the despondency in this daughters’ eyes as they hand me a drink, give me a greeting or watch from afar.

But likewise, their story is unknownst to me.

How often do we give our left overs to those whom we come in contact with on a daily basis? How many times than not do we help one another, love one another, serve one another, as long as it be of no inconvenience to our own personal lives, plans and schedules? Isn’t it hypocritical to know that we live in the knowledge of our omnipotent God who is the King of Kings yet treat one another as to less value than we would ourselves? We say we believe in a God and love Him greatly, yet do nothing to live out His following commands. We give less and think more. We write more and preach little. We speak of love, hope, new mercies, sovereignty and peace; yet do a microscopic amount to the furthering of Gods kingdom through our love for eachother.

“Your love for one another will prove that you are my disciples.” John 13:35



When will our leftovers be too little and a 5 course meal become barely enough?

By Aurora Mckeehan, Put on LOVE, Aurora

"

A Virtuous Women

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: "The Book of Revelation: Study #3
The book of Revelation begins with these words: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ…” The book of Revelation is a book about Jesus! Jesus is the main focus of the book – not to mention the entire Bible! Jesus is mentioned by His name or other title, or pronoun – 137 [...]"

5 Minutes for Books

Cute Books for Kids: "

A few weeks ago, a package arrived from Simon and Schuster with two books that appealed to me immediately. The first is I Must Have Bobo!. To give you a little background information, I have a daughter who loves her blankie. White Blankie is practically a member of our family (in fact, my daughter would choose White Blankie over her family sometimes). Since my daughter started kindergarten, White Blankie and my Best Girl have had to separate during the day, and this has not been easy. I had to smile as soon as I started reading I Must Have Bobo!.

Willy, the young boy in the story, has a monkey named Bobo. Bobo helps Willy with everything, and Willy “MUST HAVE BOBO!” Unfortunately, Earl (the cat) also loves Bobo. As you can imagine, this causes friction between Willy and Earl. Whether it is a white blanket or a stuffed monkey, some things are hard to share. Children understand this better than anyone, and this is a story that will make them laugh. The sparse text and simplistically modern illustrations are appealing and add to the humor while leading children to predict what will happen next. If you have a child who has a favorite item or toy, I Must Have Bobo! is sure to be a hit.

The second book, Say Hello to Zorro! is about Mister Bud, a dog whose life is perfect. He has his schedule just the way he likes it. Then, Zorro shows up. Zorro is a bossy little pug who destroys Mister Bud’s idyllic life. When Mister Bud and Zorro find something in common, however, they realize they can survive together and have a little fun at the same time.

Although it is about dogs, Say Hello to Zorro! would be a great book for children who are about to become big brothers and sisters. For a child, a new sibling can be threatening, and a new baby in the house can destroy the comfort of familiarity for a time. This story is funny and would enable a lighthearted discussion about how things change when we welcome new people into our lives. The illustrations and text in this book are also simple, yet appealing. The characters remind me of the dogs from UP, which makes sense considering the author, Carter Goodrich, is an award-winning animator for Pixar.

Both Say Hello to Zorro! and I Must Have Bobo! are fun new books for kids. Be sure to check them out!

Lauren is a wife, mother of two, and an avid reader. She thanks Simon and Schuster for the review copies of these books. Lauren blogs at Baseballs and Bows.

"

The Journey of My Heart

Give God your Whispering Thoughts: "I've needed to take a little blog break to review my book manuscript for final edits, but it's taking much longer than I expected. It's due Friday.

Like most of the southeast, we got LOTS of snow Monday, and the kids have been out of school all week due to ice on the roads still. So it's been a little distracting around here.

Today I went into hiding. For over 8 hours. Only came out to get some kisses and bedtime snuggles with baby girl and have dinner with my bear cubs. Just took a short break tonight since my eyes are crossing as I sit here in my little corner of the world, reading 60,000 words spread across 137 pages. This hibernation is hard for a sanguine girl like me who's been snowed in for days. So, I asked Jesus to meet me in this kinda hard place and speak the words my heart needed to hear. I knew He knew better than I did.

And He gently lead me to this from one of my favorite writers who always knows just what to say and just how to say it:

How do I live in God’s presence? How do I detect his unseen hand on my shoulder and his inaudible voice in my ear? Here are a few ideas:

Give God your waking thoughts. Before you face the day, face the Father. Before you step out of bed, step into his presence.

Give God your waiting thoughts. Spend time with him in silence.

Give God your whispering thoughts. Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God.

Give God your waning thoughts. At the end of the day, let your mind settle on him. Conclude the day as you began it: talking to God.

Just Like Jesus
~Max Lucado

Give Him your thoughts sweet friends. Each and every one of them.

I'll be back next week,

"

The gospel.com Blog

Today’s devotional: who is this God who is present in our lives?: "

Christians talk a lot about the nearness of God—we take comfort in the fact that “God is with us;” we talk about feeling God’s presence in our lives. But who exactly is this God who is “near” us? The understanding that God is present among us could be comforting or terrifying, depending on the nature of God and the purpose behind that closeness.

Today’s Slice of Infinity devotional talks about this mysterious “nearness,” and explains why God’s watchful presence is encouraging rather than frightening:

There are many who take comfort in the thought that God is among us, comforting our fears, quieting our cries of distress, standing near those who call, moving in lives and history that we might discover the God who is there. Knowing that Christ is with me in struggle and darkness is one of the only reasons I don’t completely surrender to my fears and stop moving forward….

But what good is it if there is a throne but it is empty, a kingdom without a king, a god who is close but like straw? Who is it who is near us? If god is an impersonal force, or a tyrant, or a distant, semi-interested being, the kingdom is no refuge.

The promise of God’s nearness is one that Christians rightfully utter as encouragement and cling to in joy, in fear, and in sorrow, knowing the face and character of the one who is near. When God promises his presence in Scripture it is more than just a promise of proximity and intimacy. There is a purpose for God’s nearness, the pledge of relationship, the promise of community. It is not an empty or superficial presence, having taken on the things humanity itself to draw intimately near.

How do you discern, on a daily basis, God’s presence in your life? How would your life be different if God did not promise to walk beside us in such an intimate way?

"

The Daily Beast

This Week's Best Journalism: "From the Boston Review's history of the shifts in marriage to David Brooks' survey of what brain science is teaching us about human nature, check out The Daily Beast's favorite longform journalism pieces from around the Web this week.
This weekly..."

Take Root and Write

Remembering Who We Are: "

As I was driving to the grocery store one day, the Lord asked me a question: "Do you know who you are?" I was taken back for a minute. This wasn't a question I thought he'd ask. Yet, as I went through the answer in my mind, I realized this question was actually an answer to the petitions I had laid before his feet.

Lately, the enemy had been inflicting a spirit of oppression and depression on me due to a severe blow in my marriage relationship with my husband. But, this question about knowing who I was, was really God coming to my rescue! He was answering my prayers and quite literally saving my sanity.

In the natural, it may have appeared that God was insensitive to my petitions, only answering my questions with a question of his own. I really wanted to whine about him asking me a question. I needed answers and directions, not another question I couldn't answer. But, that attitude was like a poison in my mind.

Because I felt God's answers were not coming fast enough, I had already fallen prey to the enemy's tactic of depression. But, this wasn't God's plan! He had renewal and hope for me through his question, reminding me that my worth was complete through him.

Have you ever wallowed in the winds and waves of this earthly life? Perhaps the pressures of your problems have caused you to forget who you were? Like me, you may have even suffer from low self-esteem.

There is good news women of God! Even in the midst of our circumstances, God reminds us that we are a friend of His (Psalms 8 KJV). He says that we are a royal priesthood; a peculiar people; a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). And since we are a child of the king, we have access to peace, power and joy that will help us be victorious in striving for oneness in our marriage. Because we have been fearfully and wonderfully made, (Psalm 139:14) we have unlimited supernatural power on the inside of us giving us the ability to do all things through Christ (Philipians 4:13).

When we don't remember who we are in Christ, this allows the enemy trip us up. The goal of Satan is to make us forget who we are. But there is power in our words. If the King dwells inside of me, he dwells and speaks in you too!

With God's question to me, and me understanding that I am complete in Him, it caused me to declare to the enemy in a loud roar "It is over." I repeated this phrase continually until it was in my spirit. I'm certain people driving in their cars next to me were staring at me like I was crazy! But, I didn't care. My spirit was mended and lifted from the graves of hell.

As you begin to realize who you are, your outlook on life, health, home, and yourself will change too. Your confidence will skyrocket because you will be persuaded that nothing can seperate you from the love of Christ. (Romans 8:35) With Him, we are complete; there is nothing lacking. Our true identity is not based on what we have done or cannot do. And the trials and cares of this world do not dictate who we are. As the angel appeared to Gideon in (Judges 6:12) and called him a "mighty man of valor", so I call you mighty women of valor.

Like Gideon, you may have viewed yourself as weak. You may have also been ready to throw in the towel because God was not answering my prayers fast enough. Well He is here! He wants to lift our heavy burdens. Our petitions have been heard so look up mighty women of valor!

Everything I need to be successful in my marriage-- and everything in my life -- is on the inside of me. God will come to your rescue as he did for me. I have to remember to walk in what he has called me to do, right now, and for today. By remembering who we are, we won't forget who we are: complete and wonderfully made in Christ.

"