You're Special

There is no doubt in my mind, I am special. I am special to God in His unfailing love for me.

Psalm 147:11 "The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love."
Wow! Not only that I am special, but He delights in me.

You are special too!

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trust in you." Isaiah 26:3

Rise

Rise

Testing winds blow

And shake lose the waste

And hindering forces

Compelling us to let go

That we may…

…Rise

When we feel life’s hurricanes

And take refuge

In the shadow of the Almighty

We shall…

…Rise.

When the storms rage with

Lighting flashes and the thunder rumbles

Fear not the roaring of a defeated foe

A newness of life is birthing

And shall come forth

And when we endure

We…

…Rise.

Though the storm covers

The skies

And floods the land in which we stand

Left with nothing from the work of our hands

We mount up to like eagles above the circumstances

Through life's storms

…we

…Rise.

Sharon D. Holliday (c) 2009

Fresh Brew!

I'M A "KEPT" WOMAN

I Am a 'Kept' Woman? You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind, But GOD kept me sane. (Isa... 26:3) There were times when I thought I could go on no longer, But the LORD kept me moving. (Gen 28:15) At times, I've wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me wrong, But the LORD kept my mouth shut. (Ps. 13) Sometimes, I think the money just isn't enough, But GOD has helped me to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid, etc.., (Matt. 6:25 -34) When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up. When I thought I was weak, HE kept me strong! (I Pet. 5:7, Matt. 11:28-30) I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you hear me! I'm blessed to be 'kept.' Are you...or do you know a 'kept' woman ? If so pass it on to her to let her know she is 'Kept' I'm Kept by the Love and Grace of God! I am indeed a 'kept' woman and praise God for it! Hope you can share this with other kept women and Sistah.

March Bible Study: Rev. Debbie Howard

Precious Wealth
Precious wealth and diligence are inter-related.
But what does it mean to be diligent? Can this
skill be learned? How can we make the decisions
which produce precious wealth?
Strong’s Concordance defines diligence as a
strict decision; sharp and cutting. It's also interpreted
trench, moat, ditch. A trench is a long,
deep ditch used by soldiers for protection in a
war. A moat is a wide ditch, originally filled
with water, surrounding a fortified ed place such as
a castle.
Jehoshaphat, in II Kings 3:5-9, made a strict decision
to seek the Lord during a time of great
lack. There was no water. He, along with the
king of Israel and Edom, sought out the counsel
of the Lord through Elisha.
Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley
full of ditches. For thus saith the
LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither
shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall
be fi lled with water, that ye may drink,
both ye, and your cattle, and your
beasts. (II Kings 3:16)
Valleys are low-lying areas between two hills
or mountains. Sometimes the word is used to
define times of depression, discouragement or
when we feel pressed in or overwhelmed.
Jehoshaphat received the counsel of the Lord.
Dig ditches in that valley where there is no provision.
Dig ditches? Could this really be the Word of
the Lord? It may have seemed a bit unusual but
they dug ditches…all over the valley.
Amazing isn’t it?
There was no water, no necessary provision. Yet,
they followed the instructions and dug ditches.
They had nothing to drink…but they dug the
ditches. Their cattle had nothing to drink…but
they dug ditches. Moab was set to attack…but
they dug ditches in obedience to the Word of
the Lord. They made a sharp-cutting decision to
follow the instructions.
The next morning their decision to trust the Lord
and dig those ditches paid off. The ditches (decisions)
were filled with abundant provision.
Make a decision, today, to trust the Lord. Dig
ditches of faith, believing God to fi ll those
decisions with a manifestation of His precious
wealth.
Diligence:
1. Careful and persevering in carry out tasks or
duties 2. carried out with care and perseverance:
a diligent approach to work
Take away: Seek the direction of the Lord
Follow through with the instructions with due
diligence, even if it's as mundane as digging ditches.

Heavenly Father, We come to you today facing a similar
situation as Jehoshaphat. The enemy is fast on our heels as we stand
in a valley with no streams of income and no visible supply. We
choose to follow the Jehoshaphat's example and seek the Word of
the Lord at your mouth. We make a sharp, cutting decision to listen
to your instructions. Send the word that will heal us during this time
of economic crisis and deliver us from the destruction of the enemy
that is planning an attack in the midst of our lack. Empower us with
diligence, care, and perseverance needed to attain Your promise of
Precious Wealth.
Prayer

My Valentine

A Valentine’s Reminder


Be My Valentine.
One day?
No way!
My Valentine says
“I love you” everyday.

When I open my eyes
In a moment I realize
how blessed I am,
that I am
here,
to live and share His love
-and every breath I take
is His kiss from Heaven above
-and when I love as he does,
I send others
Expressions, uncritical praise, affection-His love.

You are His chosen Valentine.
His sweetheart, Honey, Darling, Cupcake,
Peaches, and even Boo,
You know the sweet things we say.
The sweetest thing I know,
When Jesus shed his blood upon that cross
Yes, He said to all, Be mine!
When we were lost.

Be My Valentine!

He’s not asking for…
…One day,
No way!
That's love He gives in every breath we take!

And today I want to remind you,
Valentine!
Way back on Calvary’s Cross
Was
When he choose His Valentines
Us,
He died that we would be His
and no longer lost.

by Sharon D. Holliday (c) 2009

February's Evening Comfort

Walking with Him!

The wind will blow and you will feel refreshed
The sun will shine through the trees
Giving light on the path you walk
Instead of getting tired
You will feel your energy
Increasing,
The load you were carrying
You will see,
Suddenly! It’s gone.
Because,
You’re walking with Him.

Now, “whether you turn to the right or to the left,
Your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,
"This is the way; walk in it." Is. 30:21b
By Sharon D. Holliday
(c) 2009

God is able to carry us through all circumstances in life. When we really walk with Him, life still have challenges, but we come out like the three Hebrew boys in the furnace, not even a smell of smoke.
Read the account of this:
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"
They replied, "Certainly, O king."

25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
The same God is able to do what you need and will when you're truly walking with Him.

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Beauty

Beauty!
Beauty comes from the inside,
Really?
but only when it knows love,
like,
kindness.
Authentic love doesn't know how to hate
or to be jealous.
Authentic love doesn't know how to fail,
simply because love never fails.
True beauty comes from the inside
when...
... one has been transformed by love.
God is Love.
Jesus in us,
In total submission
true beauty comes from the inside,
Really!

(c) 2009 by Sharon D. Holliday (Read 1 Corithians13:4-13)

A Blessed Way to Start Everyday

This is the day that the Lord has made...” When the day begins and as it progresses with all the challenges that can come before it’s over, such as a financial challenge, bad news from a doctor, a broken relationship, children, or unexpected car repairs; you know what I mean. God wants you to rejoice, having peace and joy at all times “…Rejoice and be glad in it.” Look at the instructions that the Word of God gives us concerning our day, any day, no matter what occurs. Rejoice and be glad in it! This lets us know two things:

1. A joyous attitude will help us throughout the day.


2. We know that things can happen but God lets us know that through life’s challenges there is a
joy that strengthen us to press through life situations no matter what happens.

The start of any day is God first. He will guide you through it with wisdom, joy and His everlasting love. Pray over your day before life challenges happen and rejoice no matter what happens!

(This Blog is the Mid-day Tea/Preview Issue of Sistah's Cafe) Look for our newsletter around town! RTP, NC