Scripture of the Week (SOW) formerly known as the Scripture of the Day (SOD): Make an Impact (2/7/2016)

Hello everyone, I hope your weekend has been blessed thus far. For those who intend to participate in Superbowl festivities, please be responsible. 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. PRAYER REQUESTS: I am still seeking very clear and concise answers from God regarding some unspoken prayers, so please remember me in prayer as well as one another, and pray 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: I am still in NEED of SERIOUS and DEDICATED volunteers, and more importantly board members for my non-profit organization, Fostering Mind, Body, and Soul Incorporated (FMBS Inc.). Volunteers are vital to the success of any community service based organization, so I encourage you to join my team or at least volunteer somewhere and/or join an executive board. Without our volunteers, non-profit organizations would not be successful. The reason FMBS Inc. has been on hiatus is because of the lack of participation from volunteers and board members. Our need is DIRE and immediate; we need committed board members as well as volunteers, so that we can get out of this rut before we lose our 501(c)(3) status. Non-profit organizations are NOT mere hobbies founded and operated by individuals, they are actual vital businesses that are dependent on the participation of their volunteers and board members. As a whole, the founders, CEO's, volunteers and board members work together to establish and implement programs that effectively benefit our communities. Otherwise, with lack of truly committed team members, these businesses will remain unproductive, or will fail in their attempts. It is only so much that one individual can do alone; it takes a team of people to make an impact. So, if you or someone you know is interested in volunteering and/or helping to advance my organization and make an impact in our communities, please hit me up ASAP. This is YOUR OPPORTUNITY to give back. Your continued support is beyond appreciated.

HEALTHY LIVING TIPS:

Change begins within… if you're looking for FREE workout routines, FREE gym memberships, FREE meal plans, and workout routines that require use of equipment that can be found in the comfort of our own home, then look no further... check out http://HASfit.com. This site offers tons of workouts and meal plans for men, women and even expecting mothers. This site also offers a variety of meal plans that range from weight loss diets, to vegetarian and vegan meal plans. Each workout program ranges from 30-90 days with a variety of time frames (3-30 minutes), or you can choose individual workout routines from a host of featured people on the site. The videos allow you to workout in the comfort of your own home. Even the interval jog/sprint can be completed in-home. Although, such as today, I do often take to the street to complete the interval jog/sprint (outdoor workouts help to increase your endurance and lung capacity). However, do NOT ever be discouraged about a routine. If you are NOT advanced, they offer modified movements. They also suggest alternatives for the equipment they use, such as soup cans instead of dumbbells. So this year NO EXCUSES, the site admonishes that "the only bad workout is the one you did not do", start at your own pace but challenge yourself to GET better, BE better, LIVE better and LOOK better.

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: "The best way to find out if you can trust someone is to trust them" (Ernest Hemingway), so why not start with God? 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 week.

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 – MARK 10:51-52 (NLT):

"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked. "My Rabbi," the blind man said, "I want to see!" And Jesus said to him, "Go, for your faith has healed you." Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road."

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

REFLECTIONS:

Back in Jesus' day people assumed that the sick, poor, troubled and "hood" individuals were unworthy to receive support; they were often quieted in the presence of Jesus when they intended to bid their requests; they were shunned by those whom considered themselves "holier than thou" and/or whom were in a higher economic status than them. Yet, EVERY time Jesus found someone who fell into the category of the condemned, the frowned upon, the lowly and poor, He met those individuals where they were. Jesus laid down His crown and His position to lend a hand to ALL whom placed enough faith in Him to do so. As a people - the Church, Jesus is our example for how we should be living our lives. Jesus put such a dent in this universe, that centuries before and after His death He is still remembered by ALL generations. Our duty as His followers is to impact our communities today, so much so that we put the fate of this world back on the right path. Currently, our world is full of destruction. Every prophecy is manifesting itself in each moment passing; the longer it takes the Church to spread God's Gospel so that it is heard in every nation and every tongue, the longer it will take for Jesus' return. But is our sole objective to merely get "everyone" to hear the Gospel, or is it our duty to take spreading the Gospel one or two steps further?

If Jesus - Yeshua the Son of God, King of Kings - lived a life of servitude to the poor, the diseased and the most offensive sinner, how much more is it our duty to live the true meaning of Christianity and demonstrate a lifestyle that is actually Christ-like? Pastor Kelly had us consider something in church this past Sabbath... how can we expect to impact the community if we are providing services that are not needed? If you give a millionaire $10, what benefit aside from being ten dollars wealthier, would that bill really have for him/her? I remember canvassing the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, with the Community Service Committee for Breath of Life Seventh-Day Adventist Church in search of homeless people to feed. You would think someone who is homeless would appreciate a free meal, but many of them were ungrateful and very picky. I realized that there were so many people that canvassed that area, that the homeless people there were accustomed to fancy left-overs and hand-outs, so our sacked lunches and homemade meals were not good enough for them. In fact, I recall one individual accepting a hot meal and then throwing it on the grass to feed the birds. I was appalled. However, upon realizing that their need wasn't really for food, I was more understanding of their rejection to our services. Had we taken the Pastor's approach and simply asked the way Jesus asked the blind man, "what do you want me to do for you?" then we would have been more effective in providing needed services in that community. In fact, I am almost certain that if we canvassed every community with that same approach, we would be able to impact more individuals because we would be providing services that are actually needed. Jesus asked the blind man what he needed Him to do, and upon providing that service, the blind man "instantly... followed Jesus down the road." I am not saying that through our "what can we do for you" service, we can convert someone into Christianity. I am saying however, that through our efforts to provide services that are actually needed, we will be able to impact the community in a manner that is memorable and effective. The only way to make an impact - a strong effect - in our communities is to provide; we need to SERVE our communities with services that are needed, rather than services we assume are needed. When you want people to recognize you for a specific characteristic or attribute, you accentuate it to bring attention to it, right? Well as the Church, we want to bring more people to Christ, and we want to be known as "good and faithful servants" (see Matthew 25:23), NOT hypocrites. In order to be recognized for our good instead of our bad, we must live like Christ did, and make an impact in our communities; to make an impact, we must ask "what do you want us to do for you?" Upon the response of the people, we must ACT, we must PROVIDE, and we must SERVE.

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!