The Lord Will Provide (11/12/2022)

SALUTATIONS:  Hey Fam! Hopefully, you have had a refreshing week thus far, and your weekend will be even more stimulating. Have you ever been in a situation where you didn't know if or how you would get through it? Then lo and behold, someone or something showed up right in the nick of time... Well, today we're going to talk about one of the many names of our Heavenly Father and Friend - Jireh - Provider. Let's get into it.

As a reminder, the Announcements, Healthy Living Tips, and other information that used to succeed the Reflections and Power in Prayer are now exclusively on my blogs (visit my Lnk.bio below). So, at your leisure, be sure to check that out. Also, your suggestions for improvement are always welcome, so feel free to provide feedback anytime. 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 have numerous things to be grateful for, but let me highlight a few: I recently received multiple job offers, which is a blessing, I'm currently on a family vacation, and I have been blessed with a prayer buddy whom I get to pray with every morning during the work week. If you have a specific praise report, please share it because we "overcame [the adversary] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of [our] testimony" (Revelation 12:11, KJV). **NOTE: All praise reports are shared referencing your name unless anonymity is specified**

 
PRAYER REQUESTS: Please pray over the Horton, Stuart, and Allen lineages, as one or more individuals in each of those bloodlines, are under spiritual attack. 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: "We will drink what we thirst for and eat what we hunger for if we allow ourselves to be used for what we were created for!" (Israelmore Ayivor). 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, KJV), 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, and 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. Let's hold each other accountable.
 
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, listen as we hear, and come into alignment with your Word and will. Help us to receive, believe in, and apply your Truth so 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, we thank you, Amen!
 

KEY PASSAGE(S) – GENESIS 22:13-14: "¹³ Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by its horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in the place of his son. ¹⁴ And Abraham named that place the Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, 'On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.'" 

 
**Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations originate from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) ® Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations were retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage regardless of the translation quoted.**

REFLECTIONS: To give context to our key passage, Abraham was directed by God to sacrifice his son, and without hesitation, in complete obedience, he took Isaac to do what he had been asked to do. As Isaac inquired about the whereabouts of the sacrificial animal, unbeknownst to Isaac, he would be the one on the altar, Abraham, confident in God, ensured his beloved son that "God will provide" (verse 8). 

How many of us, in all honesty, can say that when we're faced with trying times, we 100% trust that the Lord will provide? If we keep it 100, we're looking to Google, ourselves, or someone else to come through and turn things around for our situations. When you're about to lose your home to foreclosure and have no job or family to bail you out of a financial burden, your loved one has been diagnosed with stage four cancer, the doctors say they hear no heartbeat during your regularly scheduled prenatal visit, or an emergency expense presents itself but you barely have enough to pay this month's rent, it's incredibly challenging to see the silver lining to an unfortunate circumstance. So, naturally, instead of trusting Jireh, we turn to gurus, YouTube, Google, books, family, and friends in an attempt to improve our circumstances. Yet, when the void is still left unfulfilled, we turn to the Lord and question why He failed to provide.

 

Abraham always answered God's calling with an undelayed "yes," trusting that the Lord would provide without question. His obedience relied heavily upon a relationship cultivated by trusting God's Word as truth and seeking His guidance for his next steps. The vital thing to consider here is that Abraham believed what God promised and took swift action to move forward, whether he understood the why or not. It took 25 years for God to fulfill His promise to provide a son for Abraham and Sarah and then over 400 years to fulfill His promise of deliverance through the new covenant. 

Studying the scriptures, you'll notice that many prominent biblical figures went to their graves, still trusting in the promise. Yahweh promised to provide all our needs, NOT in the pretty picture we painted in our minds, NOT without trouble or pain, and NOT on our own timeline. We often move through life with an expectation that God will move at a speed that we're satisfied with and in a most appealing manner. Yet, we take little to no time taking our concerns to the altar before making pertinent decisions. Still, we question Him when things don't turn out in our favor. Although it may take one day or ten years to see God's promises, patience and trust allow us to recognize and appreciate the bumps we have traveled along the way. Yahweh's path may not always be understandable with human logic, but it always meets our greatest need and is long-lasting. 

Even when we feel like we are running in circles, God is faithful to help us get back on track. We must try our best to seek and obey His will. Our best will never be perfect on its own, but the Bible teaches that when we follow God's word, His love is perfected in us (read 1 John 2:5 here https://rb.gy/nsrcf6). Jehovah Jireh - the Lord will provide - once accepted, sustains all because His power is perfected in our weakness (read 2 Corinthians 12:9 here https://rb.gy/twzbin). That means that NO MATTER what the circumstance is in your life, what makes you weak increases God's strength in you when you pursue Him first. 

We spend countless hours searching for answers when the answer resides within us and relies on an established relationship with the Lord that depends on trusting and believing that what Jireh says is true even when the future is far beyond the horizon to see.

 
POWER IN PRAYER: Jehovah Jireh, Father, Friend, and Creator, your grace is sufficient. Thank you for your continued provision. We appreciate the access to adequate food, clear water to drink and bathe, functioning body parts, and sanity. Thank you for strengthening us in our weakness and being the light in the darkness. We thank you for your direction and clarity of purpose. We plead the blood of Jesus over the Horton, Stuart, and Allen lineages; we rebuke every spiritual attack, harmful word, spell, or curse spoken over these lineages. Please remove any binds to familiar spirits, demonic entities, and generational cycles associated with everyone linked to those lineages presently and in the future. In the name of Jesus, we thank you for reconciling us back to your grace. Thank you for divine appointments, obedience to your calling, and willingness to maintain good thoughts, words, and actions. Continue to cultivate and strengthen our relationship with you. As your angels and Holy Spirit do your bidding on Earth and 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. We ask and thank you for all these things in the matchless name of Yeshua. Amen!

 
As always, be mindful of the things you feed your body physically and figuratively. Be safe, be blessed, and prioritize your health and well-being! #SOW
 
Respectfully,
Tylesha "Tye" Allen   
Author | Mobile Notary | Founder of FMBS Inc.
   · Mobile: (951) 790-2127
   · Address: Los Angeles, CA
   · Lnk.Bio: https://lnk.bio/stronglyresilientizshe
   · 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)

How to Build Faith in Jesus (10/28/2022)

SALUTATIONS:  Hey Fam! Hopefully, you took every opportunity presented this week to spend in gratitude for the simplest pleasures, such as your ability to breathe. Friends, did you know miracles don't establish or sustain faith if you refuse to believe? So, let's discover how to build faith in Jesus. Let's get into it.

As a reminder, the Announcements, Healthy Living Tips, and other information that used to succeed the Reflections and Power in Prayer are now exclusively on my blogs (visit my Lnk.bio below). So, at your leisure, be sure to check that out. Also, your suggestions for improvement are always welcome, so feel free to provide feedback anytime. 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: If you have been unemployed, underemployed, or underpaid for quite some time, yet are still able to pay your bills, eat regularly, and go somewhere or buy something for yourself or someone else on occasion, give God some glory! We often ignore the provision because it's presented as EBT (food stamps/public assistance), twenty dollars instead of two thousand dollars, or purified water vs. Evian. Yahweh promised He would supply all of our needs, not our desires. Do some inventory and acknowledge the Lord's consistent provisions in your life, even if they're minimal. If you have a specific praise report, please share it because we "overcame [the adversary] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of [our] testimony" (Revelation 12:11, KJV). **NOTE: All praise reports are shared referencing your name unless anonymity is specified**

PRAYER REQUESTS: Let us pray for reconciliation in broken marriages, dysfunctional families, bruised relationships, and Yahweh's lost children. 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: "Faith is building on what you know is here so you can reach what you know is there." (Cullen Hightower). 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, KJV), 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, and 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. Let's hold each other accountable.
 
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, listen as we hear, and come into alignment with your Word and will. Help us to receive, believe in, and apply your Truth so 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, we thank you, Amen!
 
KEY PASSAGE(S) – ROMANS 10:17; 1 JOHN 5:5; ROMANS 10:9; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7: "¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ; ⁵ Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?; ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight." 

**Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations originate from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) ® Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations were retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage regardless of the translation quoted.**

REFLECTIONS: In Hebrews chapter 11, we see that every prominent biblical figure is highlighted as doing things in faith. In verse 6 (NLT), we are warned that "it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him."  

We don't even have to turn to the dictionary to define faith because the Bible does that for us in Hebrews 11:1 (KJV), which says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." We are all given a measure of faith (read Romans 12:3 here https://rb.gy/w4yzr0), but to develop it, we must know its origins. Contrary to popular belief, faith doesn't come through supernatural experiences. However, spiritual encounters can enhance your faith and trust in the Lord. Yet, it will not provide the building blocks of foundational faith.  

Many believe that a modern-day miracle will give them the confidence in God they lack. Miracles only boost (source of encouragement leading to improvement) or enhance (further improve the quality) the faith you already possess; they won't establish trust in the Lord. An advantage is that it contains the ability to improve your faith, but it's not the Source. Thus, after witnessing a miracle, whatever trust developed would be fleeting if its sole reliance was on the fate of miraculous occurrences.  

Let me give you Bible. God led the Israelites during the day and night. He provided manna and quail when they were hungry and water when they were thirsty, and He protected them from the plagues bestowed upon the Egyptians (read Exodus 14:21-22; 16:13-15; 17:5-6; and 12:23, KJV, https://rb.gy/rqa0io). Yet, miracle after miracle, their faith would only strengthen for a time before they thirsted for the subsequent supernatural encounter. The inexplicable divine manifestations did not provide sustainable faith in Yahweh. If they, who the Lord physically led, were incapable of establishing a rock-solid trust in the Source of provision, why would we be presumptuous enough to think we're an exception? 

So, how do we establish (achieve permanent acceptance) our hope in the Lord? "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17); we institute our trust in the Lord by listening to and paying attention to the word of God - studying (the devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge) to show ourselves approved (read 2 Timothy 2:15, KJV, https://rb.gy/2itrdd). The key of how to build faith in Jesus is as simple as spending time in the Word; praying for wisdom and discernment, listening to sermons, dissecting the messages and fact-checking against the Bible, and applying its principles. Then, you will gain a more substantial measure of faith. 

POWER IN PRAYER: Abba, Friend and Creator, your grace is sufficient. We thank you for all the provisions, from clean water to functioning organs and limbs, to sound minds, to breath in our lungs. We thank you. We praise your holy name for being the strength in our weakness and the light in the darkness. Thank you for giving us the direction and clarity for the purpose to which you have called us. We thank you in advance for reconciliation in broken marriages, dysfunctional families, and bruised relationships and for reconciling the lost back to you. We thank you for the peace that passes our human logic to be courageous enough to take the steps along the path you have placed before us. We appreciate your continued protection from hurt, harm, danger, and all evil. We thank you for the transformation that has occurred and is currently in motion in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. We thank you for our divine appointments; may we be obedient to your calling and exemplary in our thoughts, words, and actions. May what we do, think and say always be acceptable in your sight Father. Continue to lead us in our dealings so we may see ourselves, our circumstances, and others through your lens to be gracefully responsive, not impulsively reactive. Please help us to keep our focus on you and to prioritize tasks according to their importance. Meet us where we are, Abba, and help us to live a life transformed by your Word and will. As your angels and Holy Spirit do your bidding on Earth and 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. We ask and thank you for all these things in the matchless name of Yeshua. Amen!

As always, be mindful of the things you feed your body physically and figuratively. Be safe, be blessed, and prioritize your health and well-being! #SOW
 
Respectfully,
Tylesha "Tye" Allen   
Author | Mobile Notary | Founder of FMBS Inc.
   · Mobile: (951) 790-2127
   · Address: Los Angeles, CA
   · Lnk.Bio: https://lnk.bio/stronglyresilientizshe
   · 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)

Move the Needle Forward (10/15/2022)

SALUTATIONS: What it do Fam? Have you ever avoided your more arduous tasks to complete the easier ones, only to miss the opportunity to meet them all? Often, we find ourselves occupied or busy with trivial tasks that don't foster the momentum needed to cultivate consistent success. Today we're going to highlight why it's essential to determine the steps necessary to move the needle forward. Let's get into it.

As a reminder, the Announcements, Healthy Living Tips, and other information that used to succeed the Reflections and Power in Prayer are now exclusively on my blogs (click on lnk.bio). So, at your leisure, be sure to check that out. Also, your suggestions for improvement are always welcome, so feel free to provide feedback anytime. 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:  Last week, I received a call that my son's grandma had about seven days to live, so we booked an emergency flight to visit her that next day. However, it was bittersweet because we got to see her and say our goodbyes, but she passed just a few hours later. I praise God that we made it in enough time to see her off before her final rest. You are still here to read this message through your pain and struggles, which means you're in a better position than many. Therefore, you have a reason to shout hallelujah. If you have a specific praise report, please share it because we "overcame [the adversary] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of [our] testimony" (Revelation 12:11, KJV). **NOTE: All praise reports are shared referencing your name unless anonymity is specified**

PRAYER REQUESTS: Let us pray for the Horton, Hudson, and Hogan families as they mourn the loss of my son's grandmother, Sharon Horton. Also, please pray for healing for Julius Philips, Marlene Woods, Justin Davis, Tony Stovall, and Johannie. 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: "If you can't do anything about it, then LET IT GO! Don't be a prisoner to things you can't change." (Tony Gaskins). 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, KJV), 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, and 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. Let's hold each other accountable.
 
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, listen as we hear, and come into alignment with your Word and will. Help us to receive, believe in, and apply your Truth so 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, we thank you, Amen!
 
KEY PASSAGE(S) – PROVERBS 10:4-5: "⁴ Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. ⁵ He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully." 

**Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations originate from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) ® Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations were retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage regardless of the translation quoted.**

REFLECTIONS: If you're unfamiliar with the idiom moving the needle forward, it means making a noticeable change or modifying something so that your action's effect is measurable. So tonight, I aim to get you to understand the significance of developing the drive necessary to optimize your productivity as it relates to your daily (Kingdom) purpose-driven performance.

Proverbs 20:4 says, "The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing." By societal standards, a sluggard is someone who is lazy and doesn't work. However, in that text, I believe it's safe to assume that the writer is conveying that sluggards do work, but they merely miss their opportunities for development and increase. Here, the sluggard is idle instead of working. It sounds like a distraction to me. Think about it like this; you have a deadline to meet for a complex project. Perhaps there was a time limit appointed to you, or maybe you set the deadline for yourself based on your desired outcome. But, instead of gaining momentum by tackling the more tedious tasks, you spend extended time focused on the minor details - a misuse of your time that rushes you to the finish line with a less-than-stellar presentation. Basically, a sluggard is no respecter of time. They are often hesitant and slow to respond; they might eventually convince themselves to do the work, but in their negligence, they miss the season to yield a greater reward. 

Let's look at our key passage: "Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." Now, let's define the terms negligent and diligent. Cambridge Dictionary defines negligent as "not being careful or giving enough attention to people or things that are your responsibility," and diligent as "done in a careful, detailed way and using a lot of effort." In all practicality, this scripture advises you to do the essential things that move you the most progressively in life. Everything outside of that is a distraction from greatness.

Ponder this: what are five moves that must be done to do what God has called you to do? Those essential tasks must be completed first - before the in-between trivial things. They might be more challenging, but completing said tasks will catapult the momentum needed to move the needle forward. Let's take a step back. You're probably trying to figure out how to distinguish which moves are critical and which are inconsequential. Well, that type of clarity will be revealed by Yahweh when you intentionally seek Him for that type of guidance. 

In the meantime, consider your satisfaction with the different values of your life. If you could enhance one of those values, which is the one that would improve all the others? Now, place all your energy into that one because it will pull the others up with it. For example, if your confidence, trust, mindset, courage, and organization require development, focusing on improving your mindset would also enhance your confidence, trust, courage, and organizational skills. Because all of the other values hang on your perceived notion about life, circumstances, who you are, and what you're capable of doing. Therefore, if your mindset remains negative, you'll be riddled with self-doubt, you won't trust yourself, and you will find it difficult to trust others and God. You'll hesitate to move forward out of fear of the negative possibilities because you'll ignore the positive probabilities. The disarray of your mind will most likely show up in your life as clutter and disorganization. These are my present revelations in life, yall! 

Shifting that one thing will change the perspective and trajectory of the others. Knowing which value holds the fate of all the others helps you focus on diligently working to improve the one so that the others will organically come into alignment. As you spend intentional time with the Lord, He'll highlight the distractions you have prioritized over your essentials. He will help you to avoid allowing other people's agendas to supersede His will for you. If you know your distractions already, break ties so they are no longer seeping in before you have spent intentional time with God.

Ask yourself this: is the thing you're prioritizing or spending time doing of greater importance than the thing, content, or impact that will actually help others? Is your involvement in that thing or with that person urgent or necessary?

We are called to be good stewards of our time. To be intentional with our yeses and our nos. Suppose you don't honor and balance your time with God, family, and your essential assignments. In that case, it enables everyone and everything else to disrespect the time you know is sacred but aren't acknowledging as such. Tomorrow isn't promised, so what we put off being idle, sluggard, or distracted could prevent alignment with God and the impact in the world that stems from the relationship and fundamentals established in His direction. Every opportunity has an expiration date, so whatever Yahweh calls you to do in this season, prioritize it as if EVERYTHING depends on its successful execution. 

Let your designated time for God, family, and work be strictly for that without interruption. Honor your breaks - do not allow work to seep into your time for God, family, rest, and recovery, and do not allow the negligence of sluggard behavior to interfere with the work God has appointed to you. Prayerfully, this message has helped you recognize the steps needed to prioritize and implement the necessary efforts required to help you move the needle forward.

POWER IN PRAYER: Lord, be Jireh. Your grace is sufficient. Help us to acknowledge and accept that if you don't grant us another blessing, the gift of salvation is enough. Our daily access to you is enough, Father. We praise you for our ups and downs because we know that we are made stronger in our endurance and trust in you. Thank you for the opportunities you give us to strengthen our faith by allowing your presence to serve as strength in our weakness. Abba, we thank you for giving us the clarity of purpose to which you have called us. We thank you for the wisdom, discernment, willingness, and peace that passes our human logic to move in the direction you lead. We appreciate the clarity of the essential steps and diligence to take those steps necessary to move the needle forward in our lives. Lord, we want to lift the Horton, Hogan, and Hudson families in prayer right now. We ask and thank you for providing peace and comfort in their time of grief. We ask that you will bring reconciliation in their family unit, and may any of them that are lost be reconciled with you. We now ask for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing over each of their family members, but also for Julius Philips, Marlene Woods, Justin Davis, Tony Stovall, and Johannie. Ultimately, Father and Friend, as we plead for your favor, we pray that your will be done and that we will be content and equipped to accept whatever your will may be. Please help us to keep our focus on you and to prioritize tasks according to their importance. Meet us where we are, Abba, and help us to live a life of transformed living. As your angels and Holy Spirit do your bidding on Earth and 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. We ask and thank you for all these things in the matchless name of Yeshua. Amen!
 
As always, be mindful of the things you feed your body physically and figuratively. Be safe, be blessed, and prioritize your health and well-being! #SOW
 
Respectfully,
Tylesha "Tye" Allen   
Author | Mobile Notary | Founder of FMBS Inc.
   · Mobile: (951) 790-2127
   · Address: Los Angeles, CA
   · Lnk.Bio: https://lnk.bio/stronglyresilientizshe
   · 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)

Engaging in the Pitstops (9/30/2022)

SALUTATIONS: Greetings Fam! As a reminder, the Announcements, Healthy Living Tips, and other information that used to succeed the Reflections and Power in Prayer are now exclusively on my blogs. So, at your leisure, be sure to check that out. Also, your suggestions for improvement are always welcome, so feel free to provide feedback anytime.

Now, when you think about a pitstop, what comes to mind? I think about the stops racers make to get their car refueled or checked to increase their chances of winning the race. Well, we as humans require occasional pitstops along the race of life. In this lesson, we'll discover the pitstop's purpose and how we optimize ourselves by engaging in the pitstops. Let's get into it. 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: We have breath in our lungs and the ability to see and read. Hallelujah! If you have a specific praise report, please share it because we "overcame [the adversary] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of [our] testimony" (Revelation 12:11, KJV). **NOTE: All praise reports are shared referencing your name unless anonymity is specified**
 
PRAYER REQUESTS: Let us pray for the Lord to provide clarity of the vision for the calling in which He's purposed us. 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: "Life is like an F1 race, so make sure your pauses are pitstops and not pitfalls." (https://hyderabadyfc.org). 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, KJV), 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, and 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. Let's hold each other accountable.
 
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, listen as we hear, and come into alignment with your Word and will. Help us to receive, believe in, and apply your Truth so 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, we thank you, Amen!
 
KEY PASSAGE(S) – ECCLESIASTES 10:10: "If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success." 
 
**Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations originate from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) ® Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations were retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage regardless of the translation quoted.**

REFLECTIONS: When you hear the term pitstop, you probably think about a quick stop you make before you reach your destination, or you think of the Indy 500. But in today's lesson, we're talking about the pitstops in the race of life. For this reference, let's define a pitstop as an opportunity for you to rejuvenate, reenergize, and recommit to your goal. A pitstop, in any sense of the word, is meant to serve as a brief stop or pause that you make to grab some essentials and refuel (that could be literal or figurative). As a Nascar driver, you would need a quick tuneup, tire change, or refueling. As a parent, you might need a moment of silence or a massage. You might need to stop and commit to a therapy session for yourself as a therapist. It's supposed to be your refresher, not your downfall – a pitstop, not a pitfall (a hidden danger or difficulty). 

So then, a distraction would be the polar opposite of a pitstop. A distraction is when your thoughts or attention is drawn away and hinders your focus. We are responsible for our attention; nothing can present as a distraction unless you give up your focus for a lesser thing that could delay your destiny. Our commitment to our goals depends on where we invest our attention. Your attention/focus is part of your communication to yourself and others; it reveals your level of appreciation and respect for a person or thing.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as multi-tasking – it does NOT exist! You cannot split your attention to multiple tasks at once – instead, you're rapidly switching jobs, leading to possible mistakes and neglect of one responsibility over the other. However, in our neverending attempts to master multi-tasking, we become overwhelmed and exhausted by the experience of doing, forgetting that we are called human beings, not human doings. Herein is where the pitstop comes into play.

Our pitstops are the moments in time that we dedicate to being with God – it's where we prioritize time with Him over doing work for Him. Remember the story of Martha and Mary? Let's read Luke 10:40, "40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.' 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'" Did you notice that Martha was doing a great thing? She was making preparations to be hospitable to Jesus – to serve Him. But did you also peep how her doing a good service became the thing that distracted her?

We often get so caught up in our service to the Lord, serving on the praise team, leading a ministry, helping the needy, lending a helping hand to a loved one, and working a 9 to 5, all while also trying to parent or complete higher education. These are all beautiful things, but have we appreciated or even recognized our need for the pitstop? The Lord commanded us to "remember the Sabbath day and to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8) so that we would find time in His presence to be rejuvenated for the next assignment. This pause is to help us refocus our attention on why we're running the race. In our key passage, we're warned that we "must exert more strength" when we don't keep our edges sharp. For the Nascar driver, the pitstop keeps their car sharp, so their chances of winning remain high. For us, those stops look different from person to person, but their purpose is universal; we are called to be in God's presence so that He can align us with His purpose for the thing(s) He's called us to do. 

Don't let your pitstop become a distraction. If your focus is divided among several things, then nothing is a priority, leading to fear of not getting it all done and burnout. Your work can distract you from God. But suppose you can recognize your need for time with God and commit to engaging in the pitstops (entering His presence with your undivided attention). In that case, Elohim will provide the clarity to recognize and avoid distractions, increase your efficiency, increase your capacity for productivity, and optimize your chances to experience holistic success more often. The gurus teach us to grind and to "live hard or die trying," but there is no refreshing in the grind; don't choose the thing you want (success, money, companionship, etc.) over the thing that makes everything possible (the Source - Yahweh).

 
POWER IN PRAYER: Elohim, Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Nissi, Jehovah-Rapha, help us believe, receive, and accept who your Word says you are in our lives - Provider, Refuge, Healer. Lord, we know that you have assigned us to a greater purpose beyond our human understanding. Please give us the clarity of vision that you have purposed us for; give us the wisdom, knowledge, skill, and willingness to move in the direction you're leading. Equip us with the confidence needed to trust your guidance even when we cannot find logic in it. Reveal our need for pitstops along this race of life, and help us commit to stopping and engaging in your presence so that our pitstops don't become pitfalls. Please help us to maintain our focus on you, and help us to prioritize goals according to their importance, one task at a time so that no duty is left neglected. Meet us where we are, Abba, and help us to live a transformed life. As your angels and Holy Spirit do your bidding on Earth and 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. We ask and thank you for all these things in the matchless name of Yeshua. Amen!
 
As always, be mindful of the things you feed your body physically and figuratively. Be safe, be blessed, and prioritize your health and well-being! #SOW
 
Respectfully,
Tylesha "Tye" Allen   
Author | Mobile Notary | Founder of FMBS Inc.
   · Mobile: (951) 790-2127
   · Address: Los Angeles, CA
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   · 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)