Scripture of the Week (SOW) formerly known as the Scripture of the Day (SOD): Life in God's love (1/30/2016)

Hello everyone, I hope you have recognized your blessings this week. Me, I want to acknowledge my wonderful family, extended and distant family included, as well as my friends and acquaintances who have been the encouragement I need throughout my life. My present journey isn't exactly 100% clear to me yet, aside from my continuing this ministry and my non-profit organization, but I know for a fact that God is preparing me for something greater. If you have contributed at all to my growth, even via a simple gesture or kind word, I appreciate you. I appreciate you even more for sharing this Gospel with others. Fore it is our responsibility as Christians to bring others to Jesus as we receive Him, otherwise our ministries are in vain. So keep spreading the word, because we as a Church, we are responsible for leading others to God; we must set examples according to His will, but it's also imperative for us to share His word as we study for our own discernment. I encourage you to always read the Scripture of the Week (SOW) in its entirety, though some sections are typically unchanging, it effectively covers significant information that is worth reading; skipping sections may cause you to miss the intended message Yahweh is trying to convey to you or the person you share this with. PRAISE REPORT: I don't know if yall remember praying for my sister's (Keona) job search, but she did get the position she interviewed for, and she began working this past Monday. What's even more rewarding, her baby, my niece, has joined my child care and I get to be a part of her growth and educational development. I wish I would have been able to share such moments with my other niece and nephew too. Nonetheless, I am just as proud and grateful to have spent even just brief moments with them. PRAYER REQUESTS: I have not yet heard a word from God that is clear as day as many say they've encountered, but I do hear from Him. There are two specific prayers that I will leave unspoken. I desire God to provide clear and concise direction for my unspoken requests, because I do not want to make any more decisions in my life or fail to take necessary steps in life based on selfish desires rather than waiting for His confirmation. So please pray on my behalf as I continue to pray for you. Please pray for one another as well, of course as the Spirit leads, thanking Yahweh for the victory while refraining from confessing the problem caused by the enemy; ALWAYS pray for your desired result, NOT the unfavorable outcome (refer to the book The Tongue – A Creative Force, by Charles Capps). ANNOUNCEMENTS: Volunteers are vital to the success of any community service based organization, so I encourage you to volunteer somewhere or join an executive board. Without our volunteers, non-profit organizations such as mine, Fostering Mind, Body, and Soul Incorporated (FMBS Inc.), would not be successful. In fact, the reason you have not seen much regarding FMBS Inc. lately, is because of the lack of participation from volunteers and board members. We are in DIRE NEED of committed board members as well as volunteers, so that we can get out of this rut before we lose our 401(c)(3) status; some people fail to realize that a non-profit organization is an actual business that remains unproductive without true commitment, it's NOT a mere hobby. Don't get me wrong, I was canvassing the streets solo well before I founded FMBS Inc., however, it takes more than one to make a difference in the community. So, if you're interested in volunteering and/or helping to advance this organization and make a mark in our communities, please hit me up ASAP. Your continued support is beyond appreciated, so I give you thanks in advance. This is YOUR OPPORTUNITY to give back.

HEALTHY LIVING TIPS:

Change begins within… Yall know I said I'm trying to transition into becoming a vegetarian or vegan, right? Well I decided maybe just vegetarian, because I love cheese and ice cream too much. However, this journey is super hard because I don't really know how to prepare the food and when I have tried certain alternatives such as tofu, I was less than pleased. I HATE diets and HATE lack of flavor when it comes to the food I consume, so this journey will take longer than I had anticipated, but you can pray for me on this as well. Anyway, I mentioned this because I know that some of you may be on your exercise kick like myself. Thus, you are aware that all nutritionists suggest getting protein in your daily diet. Well, even though you may not be considering vegetarianism or a vegan lifestyle, you should still be aware of more health conscious protein alternatives - instead of consuming meat, plant-based protein options prove healthier and more importantly they are part of the original diet outlined Genesis 1:29... "In the plant world, vegetables, grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds all contain significant levels of high quality, clean burning proteins. If you are concerned about getting adequate protein for athletic performance from a plant-based diet, then eat the following foods with confidence, knowing they are excellent, wholesome protein sources: raw nuts and seeds (hemp seeds, almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds) [protein powerhouses - consume in moderation]; chia seeds [complete source of protein - contains vitamins, antioxidants and calcium]; protein powder [plant-based]; sprouted grains (buckwheat, oats, quinoa, millet) [half the fat as meat - rich in vitamins and amino acids]; vegetables (dark greens, mushrooms, peppers, yams) [dietary fiber - omega 3 and 6]; legumes [high in fiber - similar to probiotics - keeps you fuller longer]; spirulina [super food - contains 60 percent protein by weight and all the essential amino acids your body needs - provides twice as much protein as carbohydrates] (Snyder, K. (2016, January 29). 7 excellent sources of plant based protein [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://kimberlysnyder.com/blog/2016/01/29/6-excellent-sources-of-plant-based-protein/).

JOIN OUR CAUSE: Fostering Mind, Body, and Soul Incorporated (FMBS Inc.) is on a never-ending quest to locate deserving individuals to extend our services to. Therefore we are always in need of monetary donations and/or contributions of hygiene items, sealed snacks, bottled water, winter items (gloves, scarves, blankets), mini bibles, etc.; our YEAR-ROUND mission is to serve homeless and/or needy individuals and families in underprivileged communities throughout Southern California. We are successful because of YOUR continued support. Please continue to back us up through participation, and/or by encouraging others to join our cause!

For more information about our organization, visit our website at http://www.fmbs-inc-bytye.org and/or add our Facebook page, Fostering Mind, Body, and Soul Incorporated (and/or Fostering Mindbodyandsoul), and follow us on Twitter @FMBSInc. On behalf of myself and my team of volunteers, I thank you in advance. ~Tylesha "Tye" Allen, CEO/Founder, FMBS Inc. Est. 2012~

BE ENCOURAGED: NEVER lose sight of God in the midst of adversity… Ponder this: "... If God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him" (C. S. Lewis). Whether you receive your information from a theological scholar, a pastor, or an expert of God's word, I urge you NEVER to take someone else's word, even mine for that matter, as solid truth; "Study to show thyself approved" (II Timothy 2:15), and CHALLENGE EVERYTHING by comparing it to the Word of God. If what you see, hear or read does NOT fall in line with the Word of God, then it is NOT truth... The rest of this day isn't promised, let alone tomorrow, so why not strengthen your faith TODAY? Feed your body healthy nutrition, be cautious of what things you allow your eyes, ears, and spirit to be exposed to (e.g. media, books, TV, music, etc.) so that YOU can start anew and become a better you NOW, not later. Have a blessed rest of the weekend.

Yahweh, please clear our minds and open our eyes, ears, and hearts so that we may see, hear, and receive your intended message from this fellowship. In the name of Yeshua (Jesus), Amen!

PASSAGE – ROMANS 13:10:

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

***Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible***

REFLECTIONS:

When you think about the term "love", what comes to mind? For me, I think of family, my significant other and my dearest friends. But then I get conflicted by the definition of love as it is outlined in I Corinthians 13:4-7, which defines love as "Charity [love] suffereth long [is patient], and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself [does not boast], is not puffed up [proud], Doth not behave itself unseemly [rudely], seeketh not her own [its own], is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil [is not resentful]; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."; love defined in the Bible is that agape love (highest form of love) - UNCONDITIONAL. Can you honestly say that you "unconditionally love" your family, your spouse/significant other, or friends? Sure, you can "say" anything, but break down the Bible's definition of love piece by piece and say that your love is "unconditional" after you have caught your significant other being unfaithful, after your dearest friend has stabbed you in the back, after your family has turned their back on you - is agape love what you truly have in your spirit when your loved ones have broken your heart? Our human nature prevents us from truly living life in God's love - we have a hard time accepting that He loves us regardless of our flaws, so much so that His only begotten Son was sacrificed to save everyone, past, present and future. Even more so, it is difficult for us to fully embrace God's principles of love, especially when it pertains to our neighbors (strangers) and our so-called loved ones who have abused our love or failed to reciprocate. Yet, the Bible admonishes us that "if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful [ungrateful] and to the evil [wicked] (Luke 6:34-35).

Consider this... what if Jesus - God - decided to distribute His love to us based on merit? We would be, as I used to say back in the olden days, buttocksed out... Yes, I said that in real life verbatim, LOL. Anyhow, if we are considered worthy enough for God to love us enough that He gave His Son to pay the debt for ALL sin (refer John 3:16, I John 1:7), we should NOT dare judge others based on their "deserving" behavior. According to God's Word, LOVE does NOT envy, does NOT boast, is NOT too proud, is NOT rude, IS PATIENT, IS KIND, is NOT selfish, is NOT easily angered, is NOT resentful or vengeful, does NOT find joy in other peoples pain, and ENDURES even through the pain. TRUE LOVE FORGIVES and is UNCONDITIONAL - LOVE IS NOT SET ASIDE FOR ONLY PEOPLE IN YOUR INNER CIRCLE, NOR is love based on what someone does or doesn't do for you. If God is love - pure and unbiased - we should live a life in God's love by adhering to the principles in I Corinthians 13:4-7. Thus, "fulfilling of the law," "for all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Galatians 5:14). Now if you don't love yourself, then digress... however, if you care for - LOVE - yourself, your family, your friends and your significant other unconditionally, so should you extend that love to EVERYONE. NOT because I said so, but because GOD'S WORD SAYS "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). So live and embrace your life in God's love.

POWER IN PRAYER:

Yahweh we thank you for life, health, and strength. Thank you for providing the courage and strength we need to remove the guilt we've placed on self, and for removing every negative thought that has held us captive in our own minds. Lord for those of us who require specific answers to unspoken and spoken prayer requests, in a clear and undeniable way from you, provide individual revelations that are concise. Father wherever we need immediate discernment in our lives, please provide truth, clarity and direction that we cannot dispute. More importantly Lord, we ask that you will place in us a strong desire and willingness to abide in your will. We thank you for transforming our image into one that mirrors Jesus, so that His goodness is reflected in all that we do. Thanks for blessing each of us with a double portion of your Spirit, and for closing every unnecessary door that is open in our lives. Thanks for opening supernatural doors to peace, prosperity, clarity, contentment, and happiness. We thank you for providing each of us with the clear and concise revelations we need in order to overcome the adversary. Please continue to help us see, hear, and feel your presence through every trial and tribulation, and for discernment to know the difference between your will vs. our own desires. We take back everything the enemy has stolen from us, and bind every evil and malicious plot, plan and scheme devised against us, in the matchless name of Jesus. We grant your angels permission to do our bidding on earth, and thank you for protecting us from its recourse. For everyone and everything we have failed to pray for, we ask that you do not fail to address the concern. This is our affirmation of faith Yahweh, we submit our petition to you, and claim all these things in the name of Yeshua, Amen!