SALUTATIONS: Hello everyone, happy Sabbath! I hope that yall had a wonderful week. If you have a church home, I encourage you to invite someone to church this weekend, and if you don't have a church home, visit someone else's. That being said, you're always welcome to visit my church's worship service on Saturdays at 11:30 am at Mt. Rubidoux SDA Church, 5320 Victoria Ave., Riverside, CA, 92506; if you cannot make it to church, many churches cast a live stream on their church's website which you can Google. Our live streams and archived sermons can be viewed at http://rubitv.tv. Be safe and responsible this weekend, and try to relax, stress less, and trust God more.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Names escape me at the moment, but there are some who are in bereavement, some who are battling for their salvation, others dealing with depression, and yet and still others suffering from chronic illness and disease; let us pray for their peace, comfort, redemption, deliverance, and complete healing. Also, let us continue praying for one another, 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; you can buy it here https://goo.gl/NWEf7i).
PRAISE REPORTS: GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!
BE ENCOURAGED: NEVER lose sight of God in the midst of adversity … Ponder this: “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws” (Plato). I'm no theological scholar, and even if I were a pastor or an expert on God's word, I would still advise you NEVER to take someone else's word 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 true... 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.
FEATURED SONGS OF PRAISE: "Holding On" by J. Moss you can listen here (https://goo.gl/sSvqRP) and "Give Me a Clean Heart" by Fred Hammond & Radical For Christ you can listen here (https://goo.gl/pJaSF4).
OPENING PRAYER: 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, Amen!
PASSAGE – ISAIAH 33:15-16: "He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure."
**Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible; retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage**
REFLECTIONS:
This week's character check focuses on honesty - how do you rate yourself? I think many of us would like to think of ourselves as honest and upright individuals. But, have you ever told a "white lie," withheld or omitted information to deliver only a partial truth? Guess what, you're guilty of lying. Most people think that "white lies" are innocent and don't cause any real harm, nonetheless, it's still an act of dishonesty or deception, even when it's being used as a tactic in teaching your children a moral lesson.
If we look at our passage in the NLT Bible, it says, "Those who are honest and fair, who refuse to profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong—these are the ones who will dwell on high." To be honest is to be sincere, to be FREE from deceit and untruthfulness, so no matter the color of your lie, its impact on your character is still the same - you can rate yourself a person of deceit. I know that yall may be scratching your heads trying to figure out how a "white lie" can be placed in the same category as a more intricate lie, such as pretending to be someone you are not, to gain the favor of someone else. For one, God can see our truth no matter what we try to convey to others. "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28); we see the act of adultery and the thought - lust - being placed on the same playing field. We have been taught that all sins minus blasphemy, are considered equal, and to a degree that is true. But are "white lies" and severely deceptive lies the same? Yes, and no. Yes, a lie is a lie no matter how big or small, how innocent (playful) or deceptive. However, the CONSEQUENCES vary for obvious reasons. If you tell your significant other a "white lie" such as "I'll clean the dishes after my food digests," when you really intended to take care of that the following day, he/she may be irritated but they will more than likely get over it. Yet, if your lie is "I did not have sexual relations with that individual" when there is proof that you did, then the consequence would be far more severe, would you agree? But do your chronic "white lies" separate you from a habitual liar just because YOU consider them innocent and playful? If the Bible compares a sinful act to the mere thought of it, then I should say not. So again, how would you rate yourself on honesty?
II Corinthians 13:8 (NLT) says, "For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth"; to stand for the truth means to oppose lying and deception, regardless of how harmless YOU perceive it. If our goal is to "lean not unto your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5-6) then the objective should be to take the Word at face value, and to turn away from ALL dishonesty, including the playful "white lies." The Word tells us that one of the six things the Lord "hates" is a "lying tongue" (refer to Proverbs 6:16-20 here https://goo.gl/Y51RxH). Psalm 15:1-2 (NLT) says, "Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts."
I will end this lesson on "honesty" with these corresponding scriptures:
- Colossians 3:19: "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds."
- Ephesians 4:25: "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another"
- Proverbs 12:17: "He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit."
- Proverbs 14:15: "A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies."
- **James 1:26: "If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless."**
- I John 3:8: "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
- **Proverbs 12:22: "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight."**
- **I Peter 3:10-12 (NLT): "For the Scriptures say, "If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil.'"**
- Proverbs 24:26 (NLT): "An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship."
- Philippians 4:8-9: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
** Points out scriptures that are significant to our focal point
POWER IN PRAYER:
Yahweh, we thank you for delivering us from: suffering, bondage of strongholds, addiction, anger, resentment, heartache, disease, illness, pain, grief, financial debt, stress, anxiety, and depression; we praise you for breaking the chains that were attached to us by evil forces, and for removing every demonic presence within and/or surronding each individual reciting this prayer, and for the people that we stand in intercessory prayer for. We thank you for using us as vessels to bring people closer to you; may the lost, the skeptics, the confused, and the non-believers see who you are through us, so that they too may accept your merciful blessing of salvation. We thank you for providing the comfort and complete healing that we have been promised by the stripes of Jesus. In these end times, we ask that you place an extra hedge of protection over our children, our households, our modes of transportation, and our surroundings; may we forever be fixed on Jesus, steadfast on your Word and your will, and may we maintain a strong will to allow the Spirit to control our tongues, so that every thought that provokes our spoken words will be acceptable and pleasing to you Father. Baptize us with your indwelling Spirit, and cause us take heed to His promptings. Keep us humble, focused, disciplined, and driven as we work to become everything you have called us to be. Provide each of us with the skill to balance our personal, professional, and spiritual lives as guided by you. Transform and convert us 100% according to your will. Achieve in us the ability to pray game-changing prayers – prayers that change people, change outcomes, and help your will to manifest. We grant your angels permission to do our bidding on earth and we 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 trusted prayer, we submit to you in the matchless name of Yeshua, Amen!
HEALTHY LIVING TIPS:
Change begins within … Still contemplating that gym membership? Did you fail your New Year's resolution to lose weight or to get in shape? Why? I'll tell you why - EXCUSES! Here are FOUR (4) FREE gyms that you can access 24/7 at your leisure: #4 your neighborhood - you can walk, run, squat, and do push-ups around the blocks; #3 http://HASfit.com - has free workouts and meal plans for men and women in the various stages of fitness (beginner, intermediate, advanced, pregnant); #2 your home - you can do workout routines at home at your own level and pace, using equipment or alternatives that you already have on hand (light hand weights or canned soup); #1 your body - you can do exercises that utilize nothing but your own bodyweight at home, in the park, at the gym, at a friend's house, wherever you want, which simultaneously builds strength and endurance without all of the gimmicks and extra equipment.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Fostering Mind, Body, and Soul Incorporated (FMBS Inc.) is very grateful to the only individual who purchased a Christian based t-shirt or hoodie in support of our fundraising campaign; we only have SIX (6) days left to sell at least 15 items in order for Bonfire to even begin production. This fundraiser is one way for us to raise money to give back to the community – help us reach our goal in the next few days by SHARING this link https://www.bonfire.com/campaigning-4-jesus/ on ALL of your social media networks, and if you’re able, please make a purchase on the preceding link as well; ALL proceeds go towards supplying the needy with food, water, and hygiene items. Recipients are selected by referral, and by canvassing the streets for deserving families and individuals throughout LA County and the I.E. You may also arrange any monetary donations or item contributions at any time via email at fmbsinc_2012@outlook.com. Another way FMBS Inc. raises funds is through the Ralph's/Food 4 Less Community Contribution Program; you must go to their website here http://www.friendsindeedpas.org/get-involved/ralphs-community-contribution-program/ and link your rewards cards or telephone numbers ("Alt ID") to our organization each year, and we will earn money for every purchase made under your linked rewards. I also have a personal campaign, which in a nutshell, I'm raising funds to help illustrate and publish my two inspirational/educational children's books, and to open an e-commerce store so that I can remain a stay-at-home mother and homeschool my son; so far, you have helped me raise $400 of my $6500 goal. If you haven't already, you can make a donation herehttps://www.gofundme.com/josiaskhari, but even if you cannot make a contribution/donation yourself, SHARE these links and info with EVERYONE, and on ALL of your social media outlets because sharing is caring 😊. Your continued support is always appreciated. Please keep spreading the word. #SOW
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, seasonal items (gloves, scarves, blankets, umbrellas, sunglasses, sunscreen), mini Bibles, reading books, etc.; our YEAR-ROUND mission is to serve homeless and/or needy individuals and families in underprivileged communities throughout Southern California. We also need DEDICATED volunteers and members – is this your calling? 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 contact fmbsinc_2012@outlook.com, as our website is currently under construction. Feel free to LIKE our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fmbsinc.sustenance/ and follow us on Twitter @FMBSInc.
Very Respectfully,
Tylesha "Tye" Allen
Owner | CEO, T.Y.E. Childcare | Mobile Notary | FMBS Inc.
· Mobile: (951) 790-2127
· Address: Moreno Valley, CA
· Email: professional1_99@hotmail.com
· Change begins within; work on becoming a better You
· "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118:8)
· Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/fmbsinc.sustenance
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/TyeDreamsBig
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