You only have one Father (11/6/2021)

SALUTATIONS: What's up yall? I know some of yall are probably tired of the inconsistency with these SOWs, but let me tell you, so am I. God's still working on me. I appreciate your patience with my pruning process. A lot has gone on since we last met. Rona's ugly face is still everywhere, establishing unwanted new norms. I lost hella family members back-to-back to various ailments, none covid-related, however. I endured a case of inexplicable, painful, itchy cystic acne that covered my entire lower face and kept me awake at night for over two months. But on the up-and-up, I published my first children's book; it's available for purchase online (details will be in the Announcements). A former shipmate is working on the illustrations for the 2nd children's book; out of six already hand-written, I plan to publish the 2nd using a traditional publisher as I did with the 1st. I wrote a 7th children's book that I plan to self-publish soon, just searching for an illustrator for that project. I've also completed several training courses to enhance my impact.

Lastly, I am working on the 1st installment of books for teens and adults to assist in their spiritual and emotional healing process. So, I've been busy. However, I am always thinking about yall and my 1st assignment from God - this ministry. I declare that I will get it all the way together by this time next year. Hold me accountable, yall. Now, I don't know if any of you have ever run across the scripture that says "do not call anyone 'father' on earth," but I have, and it had me switch my vocabulary completely when referring to men with the title of father. But I believe that the Holy Spirit revealed to me the proper context of this verse. Tonight I'll bring attention to the fact that you only have one Father.  Let's get 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 thank God that my entire household survived covid at the end of last year, and despite my being high-risk, I am doing well with no residual side effects from the virus. Thank the Lord that the acne on my face has finally cleared, and now I can focus on reversing the scars. I praise God that my 1st children's book is finally available for purchase. I thank the Lord that He is stirring up impact in me in ways that far exceed what I ever considered for myself and my God-driven ministry. Father God, we thank you for every 'no' you have and will give us because we now recognize that a better 'yes' is just around the corner. 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 referencing your name unless anonymity is specified**

 

PRAYER REQUESTS: I ask that you pray for my complete surrender to God as well as total trust in His will and timing. I am believing God for activation and acceleration of His character in me so that I will be a beast in Spirit-led action and execution of God's instruction. I'm believing God to do a new thing in me so that once I am completely transformed, I will relinquish the power of my default setting. Let's pray over the current state of our global livelihood and economy; that despite the mandates, those who are exercising what should be honored as the right, the same system that is removing it once created, are allotted adequate alternatives to live freely. Let's continue to pray for one another and thank Yahweh for the victory. Refrain 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 referencing your name and need unless anonymity is specified**

BE ENCOURAGED: NEVER lose sight of God amidst adversity… Ponder this: "A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way" (Author Unknown). I'm no theological scholar. 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: "Father Can You Hear Me" by Tamela Mann feat. Tiffany Evans, Terrell Carter, and Cheryl Pepsii Riley (you can listen to it here https://rb.gy/qdvmrs) and "Our Father" by Hillsong Worship (you can listen to it here https://rb.gy/3zws4y). I would also recommend Classical for Studying Radio on Pandora to facilitate your meditation on the Word better 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 minds and open our eyes, ears, and hearts 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, and to come into alignment with your word and your will. Help us to receive, believe in, 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) – MATTHEW 23:8-10 (NIV): "8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and He is in Heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah." 

 

**Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations originate from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible and retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage regardless of the translation quoted. Copyright © by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.**
 

REFLECTIONS:  As I studied the key scripture, it was amazing how clear the words resonated with my spirit. In the past, I had read those words "do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and He is in heaven," and I thought, oh my gosh, I used to call the priest at work 'father' out of respect. But then I would be confused because I have seen the word 'father' throughout the bible used in the contest in which we are most familiar with on earth; when did it become a sin to call someone 'father?' Good thing I've always called and refer to my earthly father as 'daddy.'  

This time, I understood that verse much differently. For the heck of it, I read it in The Message, and it read, 8-10 "Don't let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let Him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and He's in Heaven. And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ" (Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson). Notice that the terms "Teacher" and "Father" are distinguished by the use of capitalized first letters, which we've grown to understand in reading the word, are associated with God and Jesus. But what stood out to me was "don't set people up as experts over your life." The Holy Spirit has been nudging me to stop worshipping the other G - Google in this season. That means that I need to stop turning to the internet for answers and turn to God. Google has become like a god to me because instead of seeking God's Kingdom first, I've sought those computer keys to type my concerns for diverse answers that usually add to my problem rather than solve it.

 

Anyone else bold enough to confess that they have idolized Google? Are you honest enough with yourself to admit that you have acknowledged other people or objects before God? As the ultimate authority in our lives, Abba - Father, our Teacher has advised us to "seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33). Jesus "set an example that you should do as [He has] done for you" (John 13:15, NIV), trusting that "everything that was written in the past was written to teach us" (Romans 15:4, NIV). So any time we run to doctors, Google, relationships, substances, food, or materials before we turn to the Lord, we have titled that thing "Father"; that thing now becomes our authority, influence, idol, and god. 

 

The first commandment is, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3, NIV). We aren't supposed to put more faith and trust in the internet, YouTube gurus, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, preacher or priest, and especially not ourselves - "lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5, NIV). Instead, we are instructed not to be "anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6, NIV). Our Father in heaven provides FREE counsel for every concern and confusion; allow Him to direct you with the most valuable instruction so that you might strive to emulate Him.

 

As you usher others into the Kingdom, you have to know the Lord and trust His direction so that you're not developing more hypocrites (read Matthew 23:15, MSG, here shorturl.at/bwzAB). Use your ministry to spread the Gospel - to teach doctrine NOT tradition. Abandon your religion because it's a stumbling block (read Romans 14:13-23, NIV, here shorturl.at/qsGIU). Get intimate with God in the spiritual. "The Spirit of truth, will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come" (John 16:13, NIV). "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:14, NIV). However, as you commit to leading others, be sure that your walk is internal, not external (read Matthew 23:25-26, MSG, here shorturl.at/sC027). You may have a biological father, an adoptive father, or a father figure, but you only have one Father; seek Him first, then everything else will come to you (see Matthew 6:33 here shorturl.at/fsNT9). #SOW

 

POWER IN PRAYER: POWER IN PRAYER: Lord, we praise you for your discerning Spirit that leads us down a path of righteousness and molds us into men and women after your own heart. We're thankful for healing, for your yeses, and the nos that lead to better yeses. We thank you for activating and accelerating your character in us so that we will be beasts in Spirit-led action and execution of your instruction. We're thanking you for doing a new thing in us so that we step into a complete transformation. We thank you for the direction and clear instruction that provides our breakthrough to conversion. Lord, we praise you for being in control despite the current chaos in our world; we are believing you for providing a way out of no way, hope out of hopelessness, peace out of worry, and strength out of weakness. If we trust you, you are the bearer of good news even when man rejects your word and fails to believe in it. For those who choose to exercise their right not to be vaccinated, grant them access to facilities and resources that support and protect their beliefs. We declare your word to be accurate, and we pray that everyone reading this right now who shares the same desire will submit to you, live in alignment with your will, and trust that your promises apply to each of us. May we acknowledge you as Father and Lord over all; may no person, object, or belief become more significant than you. May we be wise in our dealings, knowledgeable in your word, discerning in our decisions, and full of your understanding. May the words we speak and the thoughts we meditate on be acceptable and pleasing to you always. As your angels and Holy Spirit do your bidding on Earth and in Heaven, protect them and us 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 and thank you for, in the matchless name of Yeshua, Amen!

 

HEALTHY LIVING TIPS: Change begins within... Contrary to popular belief, self-care is the opposite of being selfish and self-indulgent. Self-care is about taking care of your well-being before trying to help manage someone else's mess. There is a reason flight attendants tell you, "Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the mask over your mouth and nose before assisting others"; if you're incapacitated, what help are you to the one you're supposed to assist? Taking care of yourself first is a critical element of conquering daily stressors. With or without the assistance of a healthcare provider, self-care consists of promoting health, preventing disease, maintaining health, and coping with illness and disability. Anything related to your physical, mental, and emotional health is part of self-care; good nutrition, relaxation, deep breathing, meditation, laughter, exercise, massages, quiet time, and medical attention all equate to self-care. What are you doing to take care of yourself?

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. My 1st children's book, Color Isn't Who I AM by Tylesha aka Tye is finally available online at Target (https://rb.gy/d2l2oz), Amazon (https://rb.gy/h1vywc), and Barnes & Noble (https://rb.gy/johsuh) in multiple formats. Disclaimer: A couple of scriptural errors were overlooked on the illustrations; a reprint will occur once I can fund that project. 
2. If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse or needs general support, I invite you to join my virtual support group, The Curse is Broken, via Zoom; we meet every 3rd Sunday at 2:30 pm PST | 3:30 pm MDT | 4:30 CST | 5:30 pm EST. Just text "heal" to (323) 800-8616 to be added to our text notifications/reminders.  #thecurseisbroken 
3. Your mental health is detrimental to your quality of life. If you need to connect with people or groups that can help facilitate your healing, access https://www.mentalhelp.net/mental-health/hotline/ or call their 24 hr mental health hotline at (866) 299-4557. 
4. If you're looking for a writing journal or two, check out the Resilient-R-Thee Brand I created through Amazon. They're compact and can easily fit into a purse, messenger bag, or backpack. They're 110 pages to write about anything that tickles your fancy. Some of my designs are for regular journaling, and some are for sermon/bible study, note-taking, prayers, and journaling. Get your copy(ies) here https://rb.gy/fz6azc.
5. In these uncertain times, many of us are looking for ways to walk boldly in our faith. One way to represent is the Lord is by wearing your favorite Christian novelty t-shirt or novelty accessory. Check out the Resilient-R-Thee merch available for purchase here https://rb.gy/ojt3av. Use PROMO CODE "RRT5" at checkout for a 5% discount.
6. Please take a moment to register your Ralph's, Food 4 Less, or Kroger Rewards cards to enroll your member number/phone number for the Ralph's/Food 4 Less Community Contribution Program. You will be helping Fostering Mind, Body, and Soul Incorporated (FMBS Inc.) raise funds to give back to the community. For every purchase you make, a small % is donated 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 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.
7. Fostering Mind, Body, and Soul Incorporated (FMBS Inc.) helps make an impact in surrounding at-risk and underprivileged communities throughout Southern California. Part of our mission is to help supply the homeless and needy families with food and hygiene bags throughout the year and especially during the holidays and serve as mentors and advocates for at-risk youth and victims of abuse. But we've been on hiatus due to a lack of support from volunteers and board members. Please help me get FMBS Inc. back active in the community, yall! I have tons of ideas yet, little know-how. However, I'm willing to learn; if you have any helpful information or affordable training opportunities please share, and 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 or text at (951) 790-2127.

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. We are always in need of monetary donations and contributions of hygiene items, sealed snacks, bottled water, seasonal items (gloves, scarves, blankets, umbrellas, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, etc.), mini bibles, reading books, and so forth. Our YEAR-ROUND mission is to serve homeless and needy individuals and families in underprivileged communities throughout Southern California. We also need DEDICATED volunteers and members – is this your calling? Eventually, when we have met our need for volunteers and board members, we will extend our services to assist and address some of the needs of our veterans and their family members. We are successful because of YOUR continued support. Please continue to back us up through participation or by encouraging others to join our cause!
 
For more information about our organization contact fmbsinc_2012@outlook.com. 

 

Respectfully,

Tylesha "Tye" Allen    Life Coach | Mobile Notary | Author | Founder of FMBS Inc.   ·Mobile: (951) 790-2127   ·Address: Los Angeles, CA  ·Website: http://www.ready411.weebly.com | http://sodbytye.blogspot.com     ·Email: tyeallen99@yahoo.com    ·Change begins within; work on becoming a better You, now not later.   ·"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118:8)