Facing Boldness

It's kind of like..instead of saying, " Lord take this cup from me" you are saying, " Lord give me the courage, boldness, and strength to drink from it." All that are willing, please read Acts Chapter 4.

The Apostles found themselves being threatened by the high priests and Sadducees for preaching the resurrection of Christ, going and baptizing in the name of the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST. They could not find fault in the Apostles because people were indeed being healed by this name and believing in this name, the same name of the one they crucified. Instead they chose to make a threat, threatening Peter and the others to attempt the halt of the the spread of the Gospel. What I like about this story, and what I hold on to, is the fact that the Apostles did not leave afraid,  they went to pray. AND when they went to pray they did not pray for the mind change of the Sadducees and High Priests; they did not pray for the persecution to be stopped. Instead they prayed for the courage and the boldness to continue on with the work in which they had been called to do.

 Many of us find ourselves in fearful situations where the decisions in which we have to make, because of this life that we have been called to live, may possibly lead to us being heart broken, being set aside, or just plain left out. Know that if your heart is broken, you serve a God that can heal it. Know that if you are set aside, God is sitting there with you. Trust that whatever the obstacle, God has the power to take you through it. Job says in 23:10 BUT HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT I TAKE, AFTER HE HAS TRIED ME, I SHALL COME FORTH AS GOLD.

 As I write this to you, I also speak to myself. Even though you may hurt from it, you may cry, it may frustrate you, and you may not understand it, know that nothing is in vain. If you are a believer in God, you are also a believer in His word and it states that ALL things work together for our good (Romans28:8). All means everything under the sun, even your personal hang ups. Know that it is all for a greater purpose. Pray for the boldness to move when He says move, to speak when He says speak. Even pray for the courage to remain silent, be patient and be still, because believe or not it takes strength to do those things as well. Pray for the boldness to live this life that He has chosen you, personally, to live.

I love you,
Editor in Chief Macy C. James

P.S
Here are some songs that may encourage you along the way:

• Fred Hammond: All Things are Working

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyHIzQvKhcE&feature=related

• Fred Hammond: Your Steps are Ordered

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxVFmvgJPuI

• Kirk Franklin: Always

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlK6n2iicSk

Who's way?

  It amazes me that we as a human race go through hell and high water before we finally realize that God's way is the correct way. In 1 Kings 18:20, Elijah states to King Ahab and the people of Israel, " How long will you falter two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." This  to me parallels with Joshua's demand to the previous generation of the Israelites to "choose you this day whom ye will serve." (Joshua 25:19). To bring it today's reality, which way will you go,or which path will you take? The path that God has set before you, or do you prefer to follow only what's convenient for you on the path that you have chosen for yourself?
  After the prophet presents this "ultimatum", if you will, he then challenges the god Baal to compete with His God. He does this by charges the 450 prophets of Baal to  pick a bull for sacrifice, chop it up, prepare an alter with wood, but with no fire. When they call upon Baal, if he is a god, the alter will catch fire. Elijah, one man, will do the same, except he will call on the name of the Lord.
  The story goes on to describe the process of the prophets of Baal. They called on their god for hours; no answer. They then began to cut themselves with knives; still nothing. In verses 36-39, Elijah, with his alter drenched in water does one thing. He calls upon the name of the Lord. Instantly fire came down and consumed the entire alter. Wow!!!
 There are so many unnecessary obstacles and problems we face because want to do things our way or the way that is approved by those around us. I beg you to "try Jesus" as the seasoned saints often say. And see that even though His way is different and challenging, He does not waist our time. He'll always show up and show out on our behalf if we allow Him to do so. Do things His way! If He tells you to wait; wait. If He tells you to move; move. Just know that whatever you do in obedience to God is never in vain. Never!

Something to Meditate on:
1 Cor. 15:58

I love you with all my heart,
Editor-in- Chief Macy C. James

Signs and Wonders

Why does God have to show us signs and wonders in order for us to believe? Why can't we just take Him at His word? Isn't His word the only confirmation needed? (St.John4:46-51) What's your opinion?

Do Unlovable people exist? What do you think?

Shh!!

Lamentations 3:26
" It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord"

What does it mean by quietly? "Am I not supposed to pray?" " I can't talk to anybody?"
In my opinion, we are supposed to be quiet when it comes to our actions. It's telling us not to run around like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to find or make our way out. Let God do His job. Someone told me that when prophesy comes,there are tests that come before it is fulfilled. She told me to ask God, " What do I need to learn from these tests?" Being a Macro visioned person, when the word comes forth, I see only the big picture or the great outcome and forget about all of the in betweens.  I know how it feels to grow impatient but I say to you as I say to myself: Although you may not understand what's happening at this very moment and your pillow may be wet with tears. You should know that God's word is true when it says,"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Rom.8:28. The same things that have you crying now will be the things that you will thank God for later. I heard a man say, "In a storm, you don't move. Stay on that rock until the storm passes." Again I say as Jeremiah says " it is good that a man should both hope and QUIETLY wait for the salvation of the Lord! Please! Please! Hold out! You will not be disappointed, God will honor your trust and confidence in Him.

Love you so much,
Editor-in-Chief
Macy C. James

Fill free to add your interpretation!!:) What do think it's saying?

Created to be....

    I was sitting in my house one night, flipping through channels, and I came across a special nature program on PBS. Some where off the cost of Australia, I think once a year, many different types of animals both land and sea come to eat. I thought to myself, " These animals gather at the same place every year without any doubt of whether or not they will be fed." Now I understand Matthew 6: 25-26 more clearly. It says "If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds." -> Message Translation. Surely these organisms are not doing all that we do. So you may ask, "What are they doing?". It's simple; THEY ARE ONLY BEING WHAT THEY WERE CREATED TO BE!! Can a fish be a snake? Can a shark decide that it wants to be crocodile? No, they will die and so will we if we continue to operate outside of God's divine will. If we follow these examples and be who we were created to be, we will soon realize that God will do everything else.
   I Kings Ch. 17 starting at verse 2 reads: " and the word of the Lord came unto him (Elijah) saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide theyself by the brook Chrerith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord; for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And  the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook." We see here that as the prophet Elijah moved in obedience, there was already a way made for his survival. Maybe God has not told you how He would do it, but He told you that He would do it. He told you that He would supply you with all that you will need. Why wouldn't He! You've moved in obedience! Walk the path; provision is already in place. Protection, opportunity,and favor, God has been there and has lined it up. The vision that we have looking foward may not be clear but go in faith. God honors those that trust and obey. Let's stop going against the grain. Let's stop doing all of this extra stuff, therefore making our lives more complicated. Let's be what we are supposed be, the people that God himself has called us to be. I say this to you while saying this to myself first. "Everything is already there; just move and stop trying to figure it out.You'll go crazy."
Editor-in-Chief Macy C.James

Love you so much!

Make a Move:)

 " Anyone who keeps on watching the wind won't plant seeds.

Anyone who keeps looking at the clouds won't gather crops.

You don't know the path the wind takes.

You don't know how a baby is made inside its mother.

So you can't understand how God works either.

He made everything.

In the morning plant your seeds.

In the evening keep your hands busy.

You don't know what will succeed.

It may be one of the other.

Or both might do equally well."

-Eccl.11:4-6 New International Reader's Version-

        "Step out on faith; you never know what God has planned!"

"For we walk my faith and not by site" 2Cor.5:7

Don't wait for perfect conditions to act on your God given dreams because you will never get it done. Step out on faith. Who knows, that one step of faith could be what God is waiting for in order to open up those windows and doors of opportunities.  Ask God to change your perspective. Let this year be a faith filled year. A year of progress, a forward moving year. No more being paralyzed by fear but moved by faith, believing God for the extraordinary.

Editor-in-Chief  Macy James

Love you and God bless you!!!!