SALUTATIONS: Hey yall! Apologies about last week. I did not manage my time well. I turned 40 and had several unexpected celebratory gatherings to celebrate 40 years of living and 25+ years of friendship. Those events took time from my normal production, which threw all my other days off as well. However, I believe that had I planned better and gotten more sleep, then I would've still been able to do what I do on Sundays. Anyhow, this week we'll be discussing why it's so important to keep it positive amidst the negative. Let's jump into it. As always, take time to review ALL of the Announcements, Healthy Living Tips, and other information detailed below, following the Reflections and Power in Prayer, whenever time permits. Your continued support is always appreciated. Keep spreading God's Gospel and feel free to share the Scripture of the Week with the hashtag SOW. Enjoy! **Disclaimer: Production and distribution days of the SOW are subject to change without warning**
PRAISE REPORTS: I'm grateful because I have been blessed with 40 years of life. I share my birthday with my dad who is still living - both my parents are living and my parents are still together. I have tons of supportive loving family, shelter, clothes, shoes, food, and clean water. I've been blessed with 4 years and 7 months of motherhood, and I kick it with the same 5 friends from high school - 25 years strong, not to mention my best friend who tops the 25 years with an additional two. I am just blessed and thankful for all the Lord has done and is doing in my life. Yahweh, Abba, Redeemer, we thank you through our struggles, we praise you for our past trials, our current obstacles, and our future triumphs. Help us in our unbelief. Hallelujah! If you have a specific praise report, please share, because we “overcame [the adversary] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of [our] testimony” (Revelation 12:11). **NOTE: All praise reports are shared with reference to your name unless anonymity is specified**
PRAYER REQUESTS: I'd like us to pray for alignment with God, for ourselves, and for one another. Let's continue to pray for one another and thank Yahweh for the victory while refraining from confessing the problem caused by the enemy; ALWAYS pray for the desired result, NOT the unfavorable outcome (refer to the book The Tongue – A Creative Force, by Charles Capps; you can download your FREE copy here https://rb.gy/niy4go). If you or someone you know needs prayer, let me know, and your request will be added to the following SOW. **NOTE: All prayer requests are shared with reference to your name and need unless anonymity is specified**
BE ENCOURAGED: NEVER lose sight of God amidst adversity… Ponder this: "Being positive isn't pretending that everything is good, it's seeing the good in everything" (Ask-Angels.com). 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" (2 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, rather than later. If you need someone to help you get there, or you're looking for an accountability partner, you've come to the right place. Here I am.
FEATURED SONGS OF PRAISE: "Smile" by Kirk Franklin (you can listen to it here https://rb.gy/x3939d) and "Brighter Day" by George (you can listen to it here https://rb.gy/9dv01x). I would also like to recommend Classical for Studying Radio on Pandora to better facilitate your meditation on the Word as you study, you can listen to that station here https://rb.gy/wtbmva.
OPENING PRAYER: Yahweh, please let your presence set the tone for how this lesson will flow and how we will grow from it. Clear our mind and open our eyes, ears, and heart so that we may be decreased in self and increased in you. Fill us with your presence through the Holy Spirit to see as we look, to listen as we hear, to come into alignment with your word and your will, to receive, believe, and apply your truth, that we may be transformed by your intended message from this fellowship and become better as a result of it. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!
KEY PASSAGE(S) – PHILIPPIANS 4:8: "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."
REFLECTIONS: Have you ever tried to frown and smile at the same time? Well, you can't. Frowning is incompatible with smiling. So then let's think about the company we keep, are they often negative or positive? If you say your friends are negative yet you think you're different, then you probably need a self-check. Here's the thing, positivity cannot exist in negativity, just as darkness cannot exist in the light. When we're producing the fruit of the Spirit, positivity, joy, and peace are products thereof. Thus, we will naturally begin to disassociate from people, places, and things that do not cultivate those characteristics.
Our passage this evening tells us what types of things we ought to think about; according to Philippians 4:8, we should be meditating on things that are true, just, pure, and of good report. Here's how The Message breaks it down, "Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." Now, take a moment to reflect on the things you meditate on. Are you filling your mind with "reality TV" where everything is scripted to some degree, messy, and full of drama? Is it routine for you to welcome and/or participate in gossip? Are you so consumed by where you THINK you should be that you cannot even recognize the blessings in where you are or where you've come from? If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, then you're not meditating on the right things, and/or you're not surrounded by the right circle.
How would you define a friend? Someone you associate with, chill with, have a good time with? If that's all they add to your life is a turn-up moment, then sorry to break it to you, they aren't your friends; a friend is someone with whom you have a bond of mutual affection. If your "friendship" is one-sided, then you have yourself an associate, not a friend. Friends tell you the truth, they are fair, they consider your best interests, and they support your dreams and aspirations. Friends add to, not take away. Same with your significant other - if who you are surrounding yourself with cultivates the negative behaviors more than the positives, then they are NOT for you and it's time to move on.
Everyone and everything that no longer serves you, meaning, if he, she, it, or they, are not helping to positively facilitate your spiritual, professional, and/or personal growth in some way, then LET GO! You cannot keep it positive while simultaneously keeping it negative. Just like Elijah spoke to the people about taking a stand to either follow God or Baal (read 1 Kings 18:21, NIV, here https://rb.gy/d5ehsg), we have to decide whether we want to walk in peace, joy, and thankfulness, or, stress, hatred, and ungratefulness. Here's the thing, to keep it positive you must think positive thoughts. Those thoughts then form words, and our words then influence our actions. Therefore, the things we listen to (everyone with the sense of hearing can hear, but listening is an act of absorbing and applying that which was heard), the things we allow our eyes to see (the gift of sight allows us to watch anything, but it is the Holy Spirit that allows us to see past the surface of things), and the things we meditate on (thinking is something everyone does, even those with mental disabilities can think, but the act of meditation is our ability to focus our attention on something) ought to nurture our character so that what we think, do, and say is true, kind, necessary, and edifying. Whatever and whoever cannot help to cultivate your character is NOT for you, let them go.
To keep it positive amidst the negative you must be able to distinguish between the two, and when who you are is being lifted, nurtured, and developed by the people, things, and environments you immerse yourself in, you'll start to see the difference. As you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to those friendships, those circles, and those environments, you're connecting with the Father and strengthening your oneness with Him. As He develops you, ONLY when you're willing to work on that spiritual relationship just as hard as you would a physical one, then you begin to discern the best people, programming, music, and activities to develop the most efficient habits, mindset, and actions to keep it positive even when everything else appears to be negative. #SOW
POWER IN PRAYER: POWER IN PRAYER: Father God we thank you for life, for grace, for mercy, and for forgiveness. We thank you that you are our Provider, even when we are blinded by negativity and fail to recognize the blessings and/or lessons within our circumstances. Help us in our unbelief Father, so that we may spend more time focused on your goodness, meditating on your truth, and things that are edifying. Reveal to us the environments and company that are for us, and give us the strength to part ways with those that no longer serve us. We ask that you give us alignment with you so that as your sheep, we recognize your voice even at the slightest whisper. May what we think, do, and say be true, kind, necessary, and edifying, and may we always be pleasing to you. Show us who and what will help to cultivate character traits that mimic yours, and give us the courage and willingness to immerse ourselves in it. May our lifestyle choices be bathed in positivity so that no matter how negative the world around us is, we can keep it positive and continue to give you glory. May your will be done in our lives, and may our trust in you be secure enough to render this request genuine in your sight. As your angels and Holy Spirit do your bidding on Earth and in Heaven, protect us and them with your recourse as you bind, loose, and cast out the demonic spirits of distraction, destruction, retaliation, revenge, and backlash. All these things we ask in the matchless name of Yeshua, Amen!
HEALTHY LIVING TIPS: Change begins within... With all the negatives in the world, it can be challenging to maintain a positive outlook. Here are 4 ways you can keep it positive even when everything else appears to be negative:
- Accept your weaknesses and work to improve them; what's weak can be made strong. Celebrate your strengths and use them to build up yourself and others (i.e. if you're a writer, start a blog giving tips on how to improve your writing).
- Love yourself: no one can love you better than you can; you know how love looks to you - model what and how you want others to value you. Self-care is a part of self-love; if taking care of yourself looks like two scoops of ice cream from 31 Flavors, then go get yourself some ice cream. If it means 10 minutes of me-time, then find your place of peace and do you. If it's watching a movie, do it. Just be sure you're taking time to celebrate yourself. If you've matured and grown from who you were 5 years ago, then that's something to celebrate. Every step towards improvement is something to acknowledge, adding to your self-care.
- Change your language: the more you say something it begins to become a belief, therefore, when you're mindful of speaking positively and edifying, you're cultivating a positive mindset which develops your lifestyle choices.
- Create your own peace: determine NOT to allow others to affect your mood. You choose to react to your circumstances positively or negatively. Be sure the company you keep and the physical environments you enter add to your positive energy not take away from it.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, I invite you to join my virtual support group via Zoom; we meet every 3rd Sunday at 2:30 pm PST. Just text "heal" to (323) 800-8616 to be added to our text notifications/reminders.
- Help me get FMBS Inc. back active in the community yall! I'd like to start regular community beautification projects, homeless outreach, and live workshops that will provide guidance, mentorship, resources, and helpful information for at-risk youth. Here's the thing, I don't know how to do any of this, but I'm willing to learn; if you have any helpful information or affordable training opportunities please share.
- Please take a moment to register your Ralph's, Food 4 Less, and/or Kroger Rewards cards to enroll your member number/phone number for the Ralph's/Food 4 Less Community Contribution Program to help Fostering Mind, Body, and Soul Incorporated (aka FMBS Inc., serving communities throughout Southern Cali since 2012) raise funds to give back to the community; for every purchase you make, a small % is given as a donation to our non-profit organization - your rewards points are NOT affected by this enrollment. To enroll, you must go to their website here http://www.friendsindeedpas.org/get-involved/ralphs-community-contribution-program/ and link your rewards cards and/or telephone numbers (Alt ID) to our organization each year, and we will earn money for every purchase made under your rewards cards. Your continued support is always appreciated.
- Update on my 1st children's book, Color Isn't Who I AM © 2019: I'm still praying for God to come through in the hearts of those at Covenant Books to come down on that hefty price tag and select a reasonable price for my book to be sold so that it's accessible to everyone. When He does, my book will be on a bookshelf near you.
- Be on the lookout for the relaunch of my non-profit organization, Fostering Mind, Body, and Soul Incorporated (FMBS Inc.). Although I am willing to carry out my plans solo, I would be remiss if I didn't extend an invitation to ALL willing volunteers to help me serve our communities by accepting a significant role as a committed and trusted board member, or a contributor of time (physical volunteer work), monies, supplies, and/or resources. My appreciation is extended to anyone that can help facilitate making an impact in surrounding at-risk and underprivileged communities throughout Southern California. Part of our mission is to help supply the homeless as well as needy families with food and hygiene bags throughout the year and especially during the holidays and to serve as mentors and/or advocates for at-risk youth and victims of abuse. Reach out to me regarding your interest in service or to arrange another form of contribution; contact me via email at fmbsinc_2012@outlook.com, or leave a voicemail and/or text at (951) 790-2127.
For more information about our organization contact fmbsinc_2012@outlook.com.
Respectfully,
| Tylesha "Tye" Allen Behavioral Interventionist | Mobile Notary | CEO/Founder of FMBS Inc. · Mobile: (951) 790-2127 · Address: Los Angeles, CA · Website: http://www.ready411.weebly.com | http://sodbytye.blogspot.com · 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) |
No comments:
Post a Comment