Learning to Commit

Commit Everything to God (Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths - Proverbs 3:5-6 Commitment involves trusting - trusting the One who has proven Himself to be trustworthy. What does it mean? Commit means to pledge to do something, to make a binding declaration, to be bound, to trust. Commitment involves trusting in God and placing everything and anything that would distract you, or be an obstacle to you. Acknowledging that everything you are and everything you have belong to Him. Why do we do it? Committing everything means to put all you have in its rightful place and adjust your perspective. Turning over all you have to God will keep you growing, it’ll cause you to experience rest and you’ll ultimately shine His light to those around you. If I leave everything I have in my hands, I’ll get my results; if I leave everything I have in your hands, I’ll get your results; but I if I leave everything I have in God’s hands, I’ll get God results. How do we do it? The test: 1. Distractions: what are certain distractions that move us away from the Spirit? 2. Obstacles: what obstacles keep us from moving forward in the Spirit? 3. Assaults: what areas are being used by the enemy to assault you and keep you away from the Spirit? The process: 1. Revelation: ask the Lord to show you where to start 2. Repentance: repent for those things you’ve made an idol or put as priorities before God 3. Release: begin to exercise faith; and trust God in those areas and make a choice to release them to His care Begin by choosing to trust Him. Let yourself lean upon His ways as they are revealed to you in His Word. Acknowledge Him by bringing your life - everything you face - before Him, and allow Him to direct your walk on His path to fulfill His perfect plan. Commit daily; moment by moment and practice thankfulness. It’s an ongoing process!

Gang Tactics

Subject: Ladies please take note of the following gang initiation tactic, please discuss with female colleagues who do not have email On the way to Canton , driving on Michigan Avenue , on Thursday morning, I saw an infant car seat on the side of the road with a blanket draped over it. I did not stop, even though I had all kinds of thoughts running through my head. But when I got to my destination, I called the Canton PD and they were going to check it out. This is what I was told... "Several things to be aware of .. gangs and thieves, are now plotting different ways to get a person to "stop" their vehicle. "There is a gang initiation reported by the local police department that gangs are placing a car seat by the road...with a fake baby in it...waiting for a woman, of course, to stop and check on the baby. Note that the location of this car seat will usually be beside a wooded or grassy (field) area ...and the person - woman - will be dragged into the woods- beaten and raped- usually left for dead. DO NOT STOP . DIAL 9-1-1 AND REPORT WHAT YOU SAW. "IF YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND EGGS ARE THROWN AT YOUR WINDSHIELD. DO NOT OPERATE THE WIPER AND DO NOT SPRAY ANY WATER BECAUSE EGGS MIXED WITH WATER BECOME MILKY AND BLOCK YOUR VISION UP TO 92.5% YOU ARE THEN FORCED TO STOP BESIDE THE ROAD AND BECOME A VICTIM OF THIEVES. THIS IS A NEW TECHNIQUE USED BY GANGS. PLEASE INFORM YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. THESE ARE DESPERATE TIMES AND THESE UNSAVORY INDIVIDUALS WILL TAKE DESPERATE MEASURES TO GET WHAT THEY WANT." Please talk to your loved ones about this. This is a new tactic used and I would hate for anyone to fall victim to this kind of crime. Please be safe Ian Chapman District Manager Eastern Michigan

June 26th Meeting

Location: 153 Thousand Oaks Oakland, CA 94619 Saturday, June 26, 11:30AM to 1:30PM Commitment can be a risky and fearful word for all of us. We have so many ideas on what this means. Ideas that have been developed from our past or current experiences, our emotions and our decisions. Hopefully, during this time together, we'll be able to listen to each other and help re-define what commitment truly means to us as women; and most importantly, as God-fearing women. Note: on the day of our meeting, please call 510-969-5260. Looking forward to it!

How do you stay focused?

After you have prayed and fasted, and then prayed some more and fasted a little more...then you pray one more time, hoping that the breakthrough would come....and then it doesn't. What do you do then? Staying focused on God's promises is a very practical thing. These are the times that the test is real! You know how it is....when you want God to do some particular thing in your life, you go to God with that particular request. And then after you have done what you know to do...(the praying and/or the fasting part), and the results show up....but the results are not what you were looking for! This is the time to stay focused! If God shuts a door, it is a guarantee that He is doing what's best for you! It will not feel good, it will not sound good, and it will not look good but don't get hopeless and think that God is not near. Only God knows the beginning and the end...therefore, He is your best answer! Rehearse the good things that He has done, remind Him of the victorious things that He will do for you, and in the meantime, stay in a place of worship and thanksgiving. Don't get carried away by your carnal feelings. Don't get all mixed up in the ways of men. Don't fall away from the presence of God by having non-Godly thoughts. The Lord tests us always, and we never know this until we are in the middle of it. When one door closes, God opens up another! In time, you'll see the goodness of the Lord. Be strong, and stay focused in Him!

Thoughts to Values

Keep your thoughts positive Thoughts become your words Keep your words positive Words become your behaviors Keep your behaviors positive Behaviors become your habits Keep your habits positive Habits become your values Keep your values positive Values become your destiny

The Sound of Revenge

I have found that the fastest form of revenge is deliverance. My deliverance. Deliverance from wrongly spoken words. When someone does something crazy to me, I usually eventually pray that God delivers me quickly....just as soon as I hear the accusation and right before I think of a response. God is our Rock, our Defense and our Shelter. It is to Him, we are to run to. He will lead and guide us, protect and watch over us. He is quick to show Himself faithful. And then I pray that God takes me out of the box. The box that the different people have put me in, and the expectations that have been attached to me. See, God knows our hearts when its in trouble and when it has been wounded. But we have to be willing to go to God with all of the troubles and choose to walk away from manly accusations. God is ever near and ever ready to take care of us and take care of the situation that lies before us.

Today I wait

Today I wait I wait patiently For the time of my departure The anticipation of my heart is to take off Into the world of design Surrendering myself to the hands of the creation of order So today I wait I wait carefully Carefully because others have been taken foolishly They have followed the imitation of character Torn into the music of deception Surrendered themselves into the lies of the winds of look-alikes To the waves of breaking tides So today I wait I wait cautiously Cautiously because others are gone and a few remain Cautiously because I cannot afford to be driven by ...the sounds of water, or the gifts of pleasure, or the looks of treasure Today I wait Comfortably because I know that when the original creator comes, HE KNOWS ME! Because He planted me in the very soil that He toiled Himself. He sounds the same and no one has and can ever come close to the sound of His voice! Comfortable, I am.....because I know Him Today I wait Endlessly Settled that I will be taken into the arms of creative destiny I will be washed in the rivers of cleansing rain Wrapped in the rays of the one Himself Not falling for any other but Him Today I am a fruit, planted and destined From the beginning, from the foundations of the earth

The Process of Change

The process of change is "to". To takes you from one stage to another. It is the bridge that connects the past and the future. A walkway that leads you away from the present. The number 2 expresses an exchange of position, or a move of location. 2 opens up the change of state. To is the catalyst of transition.

Different People

I was watching a show on OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) with my husband a couple of nights ago and I really like watching things like that because I love studying different personalities and it helps me to go into someone else’s world and see how they think, function and work. Just seeing the different personalities and their different behaviors and traits, just really took me to a place of awareness. You know, you never know what people are going through. We see so many of them everywhere we go: catching the Bart, waiting on the bus, driving, walking to school, coming out of libraries, waiting on someone to pick them up, in the grocery stores, at the park, at the beach, going to work etc…I mean, all types of people. And we really do not know what challenges people are having. Well, I was awakened to be more aware of how I pray for people that I pass by each day. I mean, when I am going through the streets and running around and doing things, I am really just thinking about me and all my errands and I hardly stop and see anything else. Someone might be contemplating suicide, or dealing with a terminal disease, or dealing with a sad news, or working through a hard divorce (not that any divorce is easy), or just stressed out with work or whatever. I need to be more prayerful when I am out and about because for some of those folks, that might be their only chance to get prayed for… you know J Just thinking out loud…

Worship, a cycle?

We often get in a cycle, or a routine of doing things; and I find that the only thing that can get me out of those cycles, is worship with the Lord. The cycle of life is predictable: wake up, dress up, go out, make something of the day, and then come home. That’s just the pace of living. And then, the mistake we make is that we transfer that practice and pattern into our worship. When, on the contrary, worship is not supposed to be predictable and organized. Real worship keeps us going; and rejuvenates us. It breaks the chains of routine and removes the comfort of familiarity. Somehow, in between, we misunderstood the reason for freedom. We have used worship as the substitute for cycle; instead of the answer to the cycle! I pray that the Lord breaks our cycle of routine, familiarity, self-satisfaction and the daily series of life!

The way He loves.....

God's love to us is just like water to a thirsty soul; food to a hungry heart; clothes on your body; protection and shade on a hot sunny day; air to your lungs; a cool cloud on a bright afternoon; blood to your veins; arms to run to on a weary day! How is it possible that God loves us that deep and that wide? How could it be that He chose to die for each and everyone of us, so that we might ultimately be in eternal living? Meditate on that....

Faith - Short & Sweet

Faith comes by hearing …and hearing by the word of God. Faith is the means by which we hear and receive from God. By means: is the form of transportation of something from one place to another. It could be by bus, car, air etc. It is the revolution of something from one realm/location to another. Faith is our transformation power that moves us from one spiritual territory to another. It is our key for change! Posted by Alice (a fellow RW)

How to prevent breast cancer

Q: Why is breast cancer usually found near the armpit? A: Some time ago, I attended a Breast Cancer Awareness seminar and I asked why the most common area for Breast Cancer was near the armpit. My question could not be answered at that time.This e-mail was just sent to me, and I find it interesting that my question has been answered. I challenge you all to rethink your every day use of a product that could ultimately lead to a terminal illness. As of today, I will change my use. I showed it to another friend going through chemotherapy & she said she learned this fact in a support group recently. The leading cause of breast cancer is the use of anti-perspirant. What ??? Yes, ANTI-PERSPIRANT!! Most of the products out there are an anti-perspirant /deodorant combination, so go home and check. Deodorant is fine, anti-perspirant is not! Here's why: The human body has a few areas that it uses to purge toxins; behind the knees, behind the ears, groin area, and armpits. The toxins are purged in the form of perspiration. Anti-perspirant, as the name clearly indicates, prevents you from perspiring, thereby inhibiting the body from purging toxins from below the armpits. These toxins do not just magically disappear. Instead, the body deposits them in the lymph nodes below the arms since it cannot sweat them out. Nearly all breast cancer tumors occur in the upper outside quadrant of the breast area. This is precisely where the lymph nodes are located. Additionally, men are less likely (but not completely exempt) to develop breast cancer prompted by anti- perspirant usage because most of the anti-perspirant product is caught in their hair and is not directly applied to the skin. Women who apply anti-perspirant right after shaving increase the risk further because shaving causes almost imperceptible nicks in the skin which give the chemicals entrance into the body from the armpit area. Food for thought….

Happy Mother's Day

TO ALL THE GREAT, WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL - NATURAL & SPIRITUAL MOTHERS OUT THERE, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU! A Mother ' s Love Her love is like an island in life ' s ocean, vast and wide A peaceful, quiet shelter From the wind, the rain, the tide. ' Tis bound on the north by Hope, By Patience on the West, By tender Counsel on the South And on the East by Rest. Above it like a beacon light Shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer; And thro ' the changing scenes of life I find a haven there. Author Unknown

God’s Little Notes

• Don’t let worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case • Some people are kind, polite and sweet spirited until you try to sit in their pew • It’s easier to preach 10 sermons that it is to live one • When you get to your wit’s end, you’ll find God lives there • Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever • God himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you? • Peace starts with a smile :) • Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous • Don’t put a question mark where God puts a period! • God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called • God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage • The will of God never takes you to where His grace will not protect you • If God is your co-pilot, swap seats! • Prayer: don’t give God instructions, just report for duty! • Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain • The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us • You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him/her

Anxiety and Worry

Anxiety and Worry are both attacks on the mind intended to distract us from serving the Lord. The enemy also uses both of these torments to press our faith down, so it cannot rise up and help us live in victory. Some people have such a problem with worry that it might even be an addiction. If they do not have something of their own to worry about, they'll worry over someone else's situation. If you constantly worry about something, you'll never enjoy the peace that Jesus died for you to have. It is absolutely impossible to worry and live in peace at the same time. Peace is not something that can be put on a person; it is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and fruit is the result of abiding in the vine (John 15:4). Abiding relates to entering the "rest of God" spoken of in Hebrews 4 as well as other places in the bible. There are several words in the Bible that refer to worry, depending on what translation you are reading: words like "fret not", "take no thought", "be careful for nothing", "cast all your cares"..etc. Webster's dictionary defines worry as: to feel uneasy or troubled, to cause to feel anxious, distressed, a source of nagging concern, to torment oneself with disturbing thoughts. One definition that really hit home for me: to seize by the throat with teeth and shake or mangle, as one animal does another, or to harass by repeated biting and snapping!!! Now, this is definitely an attack from Satan upon the mind. There are certain things the believer is instructed to do with the mind, and the enemy wants to make sure that they are never done. So the intention is to keep the mental arena busy enough with the wrong kinds of thinking so that the mind never gets around to being used for the purpose for which God designed it. Worry certainly never makes anything better, so why not give it up? When worry comes, speak the Word of God out of your mouth. It is a two-edged sword that must be wielded against the enemy (Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17). God has given us His word, use it! Counter the enemy's attacks with the same weapon that Jesus used: THE WORD!

Atmosphere

As women, we ought to be diligent in maintaining a life of holiness and righteousness. We will not be perfect, but we can give 110% towards it. In everything we think, say or do; we need to be led by the Holy Spirit. We need to be careful that we do not create an atmosphere that will cause us to fall into any form of temptation. Temptation is defined as the act of tempting; enticement or allurement; something that tempts, entices, or allures; the fact or state of being tempted, especially to evil; a cause or occassion of enticement. Temptation comes to distract you, and to cause you to fall off. If we choose to entertain it, it'll destroy us. It'll change everything, get you off course, and move you further and further away from your destiny. The bible tells us in Luke 4:13 that after the devil tempted Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came. That tells me that the devil is not capable of creating a temptous situation for us, but he is however waiting and hoping that we will, so he can in fact tempt us. The enemy does not have any power over us. He can only tap into a condition that he is allowed into. Righteousness is a way of life, a choice in living, a decision for your lifestyle. If you decide to do it, you'll continue to strive towards it!

Writing as a skill

As a writer, I often go through periods where I don't write anything. Sometimes I want to write, but I lack the inspiration. Sometimes I have nothing to write about, so I do a lot of reading instead. And then, sometimes I feel hopeless because I have not written anything in a little while. BUT, then I remind myself that these are all regular emotional ups and downs of any writer. I have found though (with age, I guess), that writing all the time does not validate you as a writer. It certainly is a plus, but not THE plus! On the contrary, the "dry spells" that we experience are a part of the creative process. Of course when you start writing, it is exciting to keep doing it but the test is when you cannot or when you will not or when you do not want to write. Writing is a lifetime skill. Once a writer, I believe, is always a writer. How often you do it, will depend on where you are (emotionally), what you see (physically/spiritually), and your state of mind (mentally).

Dealing with a LET-GO

Have you ever been faced with a situation where you had to make a difficult decision that was going to affect you/your family/your loved ones and/or your future? Have you ever had to let someone go OR have you found yourself a result or the product of a let-go? I've been there a few times but I just had another revisit. I just recently had to face a very tough decision like that (of letting someone go) and although it was hard, it was well needed. In fact, I felt a huge burden released off my shoulder because without my knowledge, I had been emotionally abused by this for years and had been completely blind to it (in this particular situation, that is). It took me until maybe a few weeks ago to see that this abuse had been a huge stronghold in my life. I had no idea that there was still some of that going on in me. But I thank God that He is faithful to bring it to the surface and graceful to show me an exit plan. Letting someone go or being a product of a let go is just not something that is tackled in the natural. You also NEED to apply a spiritual seal to your natural decision. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The spiritual seal is not to physically remove you from that situation/person but it is to emotionally seperate you from its effects and dangers. It also prepares you for the natural encounter with the person involved or the conditions around it. Know that every battle you face is not yours, but the Lord's. You are not alone in this. If you try to conquer what I like to call mulitple tiny demons, by yourself, it'll eat you up and make your physically and emotionally sick. Realize that you are a spiritual being, working with the Holy Spirit inside of you; therefore, let God fight your battles. Let your daddy handle it! Letting a negative person/situation go is a healthy process but go a step further and put on your spiritual armor so you can be ready for the natural encounter! Pray for me, as I pray for you on this one...cos you know its not gonna be easy! :)

Walking in Alignment

Purpose: Our conduct being pleasing to the Lord Observation: Watching for distractions, obstacles and assaults Balance: Going forward with discernment and determination Action: Step by step, decision by decision, choice by choice DEFINITION: What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? It is walking spiritually with purpose, observation, balance and action. It is keeping our eyes upward and winning the tug of war to be led by the Holy Spirit rather than allowing our soul to rule over our choices and decision. It is a process of our souls learning to relinquish control and let God take charge of our lives. Always remembering, that we are His work in process! Some things that may cause our souls to want to rule over our choices and decisions are:

• Desperation
• Discouragement
• Fear
• Pride
• Being in the wrong relationship
• Being in covenant with a person that is unequally yolked
• Our own insecurities
• Control
• Having someone else think for us
• etc....

REASON: Why do we walk in the Spirit? It allows us to experience intimacy with the Lord, which releases His power in our lives so that we can fulfil our destiny in Christ - Jeremiah 29:11. There are certain things that can deprive us from this:

• Fear
• Self
• Comparison i.e. we compare ourselves with others
• Pride
• The lack of .....
• etc...

APPLICATION: How do we walk in the Spirit? We walk daily, watchful and vigilant, step by step, listening for His voice with purpose and thanksgiving; therefore, choosing to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit instead of the desires of our flesh. Some choices that we have to make in order to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit are:

• Restraining ourselves
• Self-Control
• Choosing to overcome

Ladies, know that each step we take and make are small beginnings to greater things in life. If we choose to make the step, God will meet our feet. _____________________________________ RSVP to arighteouswoman@ymail.com if you'll be joining us for the May 8th outing. More information to follow.