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30 Day Prayer Challenge

7/29/2013

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them." 1 Timothy 2:1(NLT)

For the last month I had been contemplating organizing a group prayer plan to kick off the second half of the year. Last week I received inspiration from the Holy Spirit based on a 30 day challenge concept I heard about from a colleague.

This 30 day prayer challenge will take place during the entire month of August. Since many of us have children going back to school at some point during the month of August, this is a great time to PRAY EVERYDAY! And if your children start in September, what a great way to GET PRAYED UP! Let's use this time not only to kick off the new school year, but to also rejuvenate and refocus for the remainder of 2013!

Our prayer challenge will be based on our focus verse, 1 Timothy 2:1, and this is how it works:

Beginning August 1st,
1. Keep handy a list of names written down on a sheet of paper
2. For 30 days ask God to help them
3. For 30 days intercede for them (protection, provision, direction, etc.)
4. For 30 days give thanks for them

Friends don't do this alone and don't keep it to yourself! Get a group of friends, co-workers, or church members together...pray for each other and help one another PRAY EVERYDAY!

God Bless,
Dawn~

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Favor Ain’t Fair…But it Sure Feels Fabulous!

7/23/2013

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“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” ~ Psalm 84:11 (ESV)

Favor means to give special regard to; to treat with goodwill; to show exceptional kindness to someone. Sometimes, it means to show extra kindness in comparison to the treatment of others; that is, preferential treatment. Who is it that you show favor to? Deuteronomy 28:50 warns of judgment by "a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young." Though it is natural for us to favor the young in times of affliction or judgment, this nation will not give such favor. Esther received royal favor above all the other virgins in Esther 2:17. It is from this use of favor that we get the word, favorite. The greatest favors are shown to the favorite…But just know that favor ain’t fair!

However, favor is not always used in a comparative way toward others. It sometimes simply means that the one favored is shown kindness and treated with a generosity and goodwill far beyond what would normally be expected. This is generally the favor that we receive from the Lord. We are treated much better than we could expect. Of course, every believer is favored to some degree. Therefore, we must understand God's favor in degrees. The more we please God, the more we will be favored by Him. Also, it is important not to think of this favor in material or worldly terms. God's favor most likely will be given in spiritual blessings more than in material blessings.

Here are some of the ways by which we obtain the favor of the Lord:

By praying unto the Lord (Job 33:26).
By keeping the commandments of the Lord (Proverbs 3:1-4).
By seeking and finding God's wisdom (Proverbs 8:35).
By diligently seeking good (Proverbs 11:27; 12:2).
By living righteously (Proverbs 14:9)

Favor should not be looked upon as some sort of secret formula for getting everything we want. For purposes of His own, God sometimes takes those He loves through special trials. Job is the primary example but similar instances happen in the lives of many. However, if we continually draw closer to the Lord, we will come to dwell in His favor and in His favor is life (Psalm 30:5). It won’t be fair…but when you get it…it will sure feel fabulous! Make it a great week and Make Monday Matter!

God Bless,
Angela

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Greatness in you, God's gift to the world! Part V

7/16/2013

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“Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you...”~1Tim. 4:14a (NASB)

To truly display Greatness, confidence must be woven into the fabric of our character like the engine that drives a plane... Proverbs 28:1 says, " The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions." (NLT)

The first step to walking in confidence begins with deciding what kind of person you are going to be; and then decide to be ok with it. Make your decisions on right and wrong. How are you going to let the past and your experiences factor into your future? Clarify your views on family, Faith, finances, "success," and priorities. Put an end to indecisiveness, and make a stand on the choices that will become your values. Too many people change their values and definitions of right and wrong based on situations and circumstances; who comes and goes in their life; the trends and views of society. It’s refreshing to meet someone who will not change with every opportunity or setback. And that person’s essence screams of confidence!

Secondly, and most importantly, confidence comes from a knowing of who God created us to become, and what He hid inside [of us]. What passions and talents lie at the core of who you are? God has given each one of us the ability and opportunity to effect change. He has placed in us a gift and talent that we have the ability to be passionate about. It may take no time or a long time to uncover that passion – that thing we would give up everything for; that which we would do for free if we could. But no matter how long it takes, it is important to make both of these steps happen! Much of the Greatness God desires to ignite in the world doesn't happen because many of us either don’t have the confidence, or we don't have the character (i.e. integrity -- which we will discuss next week) to achieve true greatness. As a result, opportunities and generations are lost without heroes. Ideals and standards become blurred. Values are lost to superficial desires. True greatness becomes the exception when in reality it is not for the exclusive – it is highly inclusive.

To wrap up, a great key to helping us on the road to confidence is to remember that GOD is the one who designed us for greatness, so let HIM lead and not the voices and opinions of others. Get those blinders back on! ALL EYES ON HIM!!!

God Bless,
Dawn~

"Run Your Race"
I have put the blinders on
I am coming around the home stretch
Finally the race has come down to
the battle between what I have accomplished
and what I am capable of
I have never bet more on the latter
Risking it all has never felt more right
The goal never more in sight
Throwing off weariness, discouragement,
distractions has never been more vital
I'm running my own race now.
~dlb

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Greatness in you, God's gift to the world! Part IV

7/8/2013

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“Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you...”
~1Tim. 4:14a (NASB)

Today Heavenly Father I pray that you would bless us, bless us indeed; and, increase our work in influence and impact. Let us live a life of Purpose and Grace. Let our hearts, minds, and spirits be fulfilled in Kingdom and personal business. Let us find Peace on the path that you have prepared. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Greatness Displayed
The most basic display of greatness is confidence. In any person who has been hailed in a display of greatness, there lies at the heart of that person confidence: a boldness to grasp and assume the calling of their heart; the courage to step out on the wind and take flight; the surety to rise above mediocrity.

True confidence comes from an internal compass that directs the path of those who possess it.
True confidence is birthed out of a firm grasp of self and one’s purpose.
True self confidence is internal – has no need to be displayed – and therefore has nothing to prove and no one to impress.
True confidence is only concerned with living up to the internal values, standards, and abilities dictated by its owner.

But true confidence only comes when we take the time and effort to define ourselves; when we know who and whose we are, confidence becomes a natural byproduct of who we are. To do this takes, first of all, making a clear stand within ourselves about what we believe about life, and how it should be lived. Next week we will go into further detail about gaining the confidence to live out the Greatness God has planned for us. Please join us, and make it a GREAT week Friends! D~

"Run Your Race"
I have put the blinders on
I am coming around the home stretch
Finally the race has come down to
the battle between what I have accomplished
and what I am capable of
I have never bet more on the latter
Risking it all has never felt more right
The goal never more in sight
Throwing off weariness, discouragement,
distractions has never been more vital
I'm running my own race now.
~dlb

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Greatness in you, God's gift to the world! Part III

7/1/2013

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“Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you...”
~1Tim. 4:14a (NASB)

Good Monday Morning! Today we are picking up from last week and finishing out the first leg of our series on Greatness. Last week we spoke about understanding and embracing whatever degree of complexity God has designed our "Greatness." This week we find that the first key to our Greatness is identifying the gifts and talents God gave us.

Whether we find ourselves among those who are "labelled" or not, one thing is true, God has given each of us specific “talents.” He has entrusted us with these valuables to benefit us and mankind; and, they have been given to us freely. It is our responsibility however to recognize, cultivate, and utilize these gifts. What a waste if we are not aware, or worse, too afraid to acknowledge the gift within. And what a blessing for mankind, yes even a miracle (as we have pointed out above), when we confidently embrace and lovingly share our treasure with those in need. Acknowledging and embracing our greatness is not arrogance, it is humility. Leaning on that greatness keeps us both humble and submitted. It helps us realize that greatness is nothing we have done, it is simply what was given to us as the likeness and image of God. And then it compels us to use that greatness in honor of the One who gave it. That is true humility!

So to wrap of defining Greatness I will say this: The true definition of greatness is as unique to each individual as the individuals themselves are unique. It is to be defined for the individual, by the individual, based on their internal gifts and talents that become worth pursuing and sharing with passion and the intent of making a difference. Although our greatness can not be defined or restricted by life, it can be stagnated by we ourselves. We are our only hindrance to greatness as we can often be our own biggest skeptic. Therefore, once we realize that we have the ability to achieve greatness (by using what God gave us), and that only our personal definition of greatness is what really matters, then we can begin to actively engage in the practice of being that great individual we were designed to be.

So, Friends, as we continue this journey by moving on to "Displaying Greatness," please remember that Greatness is not defined by those you compare yourself to. Greatness is just part of who we are and how we are designed; we all have one Gift that is universally the same: We are all created "In God's Image!" What a GREAT blessing to have that understanding!!!

"Run Your Race"
I have put the blinders on
I am coming around the home stretch
Finally the race has come down to
the battle between what I have accomplished
and what I am capable of
I have never bet more on the latter
Risking it all has never felt more right
The goal never more in sight
Throwing off weariness, discouragement,
distractions has never been more vital
I'm running my own race now.
~dlb

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30 Day Prayer Challenge

Favor Ain’t Fair…But it Sure Feels Fabulous!

Greatness in you, God's gift to the world! Part V

Greatness in you, God's gift to the world! Part IV

Greatness in you, God's gift to the world! Part III

Make Mondays Matter

~dlb~
dawnlbedingfield

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30 Day Prayer Challenge

Favor Ain’t Fair…But it Sure Feels Fabulous!

Greatness in you, God's gift to the world! Part V

Greatness in you, God's gift to the world! Part IV

Greatness in you, God's gift to the world! Part III

Make Mondays Matter

~dlb~dawnlbedingfield

Archives

Categories

~dlb~
dawnlbedingfield