Prepare to be Blessed in 2012!

Position Yourself For Uncommon Favor!

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Tuesday, Feb 21st, 2012 Read Leviticus 11-13

Scripture Revelation 19:11: I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True.

What do Cinderella, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty share in common? Their problems magically disappear. Foes are vanquished. Each tattered dress becomes a breahtaking ball gown. Best of all, they are swept into ever after by a perfect man who will love them forever. 

Hmmmm, somewhere in your innermost heart exists a yearning for a perfect love that brings complete fulfillment. No matter how wonderful, powerful, generous or compassionate your partner, no one is perfect. Indeed most of us struggle with shattered dreams and a devasting disappointments resulting from overrated expectations of a Prince Charming.

We try to give up fairytale dreams. We know we should put away childish reasoning (1 Corinthians 13:11) We fill our minds with the Word of God so we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) But have you looked at Revelation 19:11?

When I read about a white horse whose rider is "Faithful and True" my heart resonates once again with hope. This hope, however comes from a different perspective than the world offers. I have learned to look to God alone as my Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). He solves my problems, vanquishes my foes and clothes me with love, joy, peace and so much more!

Someday my prince will come, riding on a white horse, to carry me close to His heart into His eternal Kingdom to reign with Him happily ever after. This is not "The End" but the beginning!

Let the hope of the Prince of Peace carry you through today and everyday!

Nancy Meyer~

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Wednesday, February 22nd 2012 Read Leviticus 14-15

Scripture Job 36:29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls from heaven?

God has always been faithful to lead His children. He spoke to them as children and just as children  need a specific language to understand a parent's direction, God's children need to hear in ways that accommodate their limited understanding. How the kingdom works is so diametrically opposed to the world they live in that God must continually be instructive.

Am I brave enough to seek God's heart and try to discern His voice above all the other noise clamoring for my attention? God will still direct by unorthodox means. He is still so creative as to use a "cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night," If I but ask for direction and listen with ears that have no preconceived bent, He will speak. It may not always be the answer I like but it is the one that brings me life eternal. He is even gracious enough to give multiple confirmation of His leading.

Is following his lead worth it? I can tell you that it always has been. Today he may tell me to walk in a way that means sacrifice. Perhaps it even involves a movement that takes me way out of my comfort zone. I say to you, by faith, I follow him to such a places. And I say to you by faith, that it has to be the way to eternal life for God does not lead his children anywhere else! Though sometimes I follow with tears on my cheeks, I really would not have it any other way! The feel of my hand in God's is unmatched by any other way!

Christine Wyrtzen~

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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 Read Leviticus 16-18

Scripture John 3;16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

If you Bring Love~ Joseph Campbell

At a certain moment in Nietzsche's life, the idea came to him of what he called 'the love of your fate.' Whatever your fate is, whatever the heck happens, you say, "This is what I need." It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge.

If you bring love to that moment - not discouragement - you will find the strength is there. Any disaster that you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow. Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You’ll see that this is really true.

Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not.

 

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Friday, February 24th, 2012 Read Leviticus 19-21

 The Dew Drop~Peter Hughes

As the sun rose, a dew drop became aware of its surroundings. There it sat on a leaf, catching the sunlight and throwing it back out. Proud of its simple beauty, it was very content. Around it were other dew drops, some on the same leaf and some on other leaves round about. The dew drop was sure that it was the best, the most special dew drop of them all.

Ah, it was good to be a dew drop.

The wind rose and the plant began to shake, tipping the leaf. Terror gripped the dew drop as gravity pulled it towards the edge of the leaf, towards the unknown. Why? Why was this happening? Things were comfortable. Things were safe. Why did they have to change? Why? Why?

The dew drop reached the edge of the leaf. It was terrified, certain that it would be smashed into a thousand pieces below, sure that this was the end. The day had only just begun and the end had come so quickly. It seemed so unfair. It seemed so meaningless. It tried desperately to do whatever it could to cling to the leaf, but it was no use.

Finally, it let go, surrendering to the pull of gravity. Down, down it fell. Below there seemed to be a mirror. A reflection of itself seemed to be coming up to meet the dew drop. Closer and closer they came together until finally...

And then the fear transformed into deep joy as the tiny dew drop merged with the vastness that was the pond. Now the dew drop was no more, but it was not destroyed.

It had become one with the whole.
 

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Saturday, February 25th, 2012 Read Leviticus 22-23

A Very Special Meal~Mirabai Chrin 

 Once there was a very poor and devoted woman who always prayed to the Glory of God, asking very little, if anything for herself. But one thought, one desire continued to recur and finally she asked: petitioning the Lord, that if it were possible she would love to prepare a special meal and have God share at her table. And God, in His Love for this goodly woman, said He would indeed come the next day and share a meal.

Filled with ecstasy, the woman went out the following morning with her meager purse and purchased such delicacies that she felt would please the Lord.

Returning home, she prepared a banquet and waited patiently for her most honored guest. Soon there was a knock on the door, and when she opened it, there stood an old beggar asking for something to eat. Being a woman of God, she could not turn the beggar away, so she invited him in to partake of her table. The beggar felt as if he was in a dream - such a feast set before him. He finished all the food, thanked his hostess and left.

The woman was only slightly disheartened, she gathered up her purse, her coat, and hurried back to town to get more food for her special guest. Her funds were less now and so the food was not quite so elaborate. Nonetheless, she lovingly prepared another meal and sat to await the arrival of the Almighty.

A few hours went by and there was a loud knock on the door. This time it was an old gypsy woman with no teeth, who was deaf, who spoke quite loudly and was, rather rudely, insisting that any true believer in the Lord would not deny her something to eat.

Though the woman had no more money with which to buy more supplies, she invited the woman in and offered her a seat at the table. The gypsy ate everything, did not even thank the woman and left without closing the door.

By now it was beginning to get dark both inside and out. The woman's faith was strong, so that, though somewhat distraught, she did not give up, but rather, looked around her humble house to see if there was anything she could sell in order to buy more food to set before the Lord.

She hurried to town with a little silver cup that had been in her family for several generations, but she was willing to part with it for the great honor that God was going to bestow on her - the sharing of a meal.

Late in the night she rushed home to prepare yet a third meal. She waited and waited until, once more, there was a knock on the door. Holding her breath, she slowly opened the door to find yet another poor man in the guise of a wandering monk, in search of a meal.

Again, she offered hospitality, with as much grace as she could muster in her disappointment. This man also ate all that was set on the table and left after blessing the woman for her kindness. So discouraged and dismayed was she that all she could do was nod slightly, in acknowledgment of the thanks.

Now it was too late, with no way to buy any more food and no more money with which to buy it. She got down on her knees, weeping such heart-broken tears. She asked God what she had done wrong. Why had God not come to share at the table as He had promised?

And God, in all His Divine Compassion and Mercy, lifted the woman off her knees, and holding her close to His Heart, said, "My child, I enjoyed your hospitality so much that I came three times!"

 

ADDRESS: International Praise 5071 Percival Road Elgin, SC 29045

OFFICE PHONE: 803.788.1942 or 803.788.1932

FAX: 803.865.1112

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Sr. Pastor B. Doyle Roberts 803.513.5096

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