REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR STUDY AND CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
In every month with five Fridays I’m reviewing Christian music that has really inspired and touched me. Today’s post is the third Music Review for 2021.
Milk & Honey: 12 songs…Running time less that 45 minutes.
If you haven’t heard this album yet… friend, you need to buckle up for a Holy Ghost gospel ride of your life!
Texas-based singer/songwriter known for his wide-ranging fusion of hip-hop, rock, pop, folk, electronic, bluegrass, and gospel, David Crowder comes across very unassuming. Unless you’ve heard his music before, you may be taken by surprise with his country boy look.
Milk & Honey is humble, down to earth, old-time soul music with Biblically sound lyrics telling the sweet, simple healing story of God’s love for us.
An incredibly diverse album; Milk & Honey is edgy yet intimate…. beautiful worship songs with full choirs backing up, country gospel mixed with some R & B, hillbilly rock and a touch of heavy metal thrown in. I fully expect to be singing several of Crowder’s songs in a worship service for years to come!
Incredibly diverse and edgy… yet intimate and personal.
As I was preparing to write this review I realized I could take the titles of some of my favorite songs on Milk & Honey and put them together and basically tell the Gospel story of Jesus Christ….
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the fourth Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying Joyce Meyer’s newest book: Do It Afraid. We’re learning how to understand fear, to recognize how it works in our life and finally how to confront fear. We will learn new mindsets that position us for freedom from our most common fears. Come along and let’s learn something new from Momma Joyce!
This is the seventh post in The Do It Afraid Book Study series.
FREEDOM FROM FEAR OF THE FUTURE
I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering.~ Jeremiah 29:11
One of the strongest fears among people is the fear of the unknown. Add to that our tendency to lean toward negative thoughts of the future. This combination can wreak havoc on the peaceful life available to us. God doesn’t want us to live our life filled with fear and dread. All through Scripture we’re commanded to not fear but trust.
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. ~ Deuteronomy 31:8
If we can push past our human weakness of fearing the unknown future and trust that because God is not only for us, but He is with us, we will find a much more peaceful daily existence. But actually walking in trust is often very difficult depending on our season of life or current circumstances.
We are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good. ~ Romans 8:28
Life is filled with challenging and disappointing situations. But by daily staying in fellowship with God, through prayer and His word, we can transform those negative fearful thoughts into positive trust in God. We will begin to trust God truly has a plan. Soon we will see that He can and will take all things and create something good to bless our lives and the lives of those around us.
Be blessed by this beautifully uplifting song by Gateway Worship!
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.
This is the seventh post in the series. Today we are learning about the gift of wisdom.
The gift of godly wisdom is a combination of the depth of our relationship with God and our ability to bring our experiences into relationship with Him. ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery
WISDOM: knowing what’s right and doing it.
And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace. ~ James 1:5
“All of us have made wrong choices that have led us into trouble, ultimately affecting our relationship with God and with others. When we ask God for wisdom, He is more than willing to give it. Since God is the source of all wisdom, we can make fewer unwise decisions by turning to Hi for guidance. In recovery we are told to improve our conscious contact with God so we can better know His will for us. This can be achieved by studying God’s Word and praying regularly.” ~ The Life Recovery Bible
We develop the gift of wisdom as we seek God’s will and carry it out. Through daily prayer and meditation in God’s Word, His truth will eventually begin to infiltrate our lives. We will begin to make wiser decisions and soon become strong enough to overcome our weaknesses.
One caution is the sneaky false pride that may try to creep in, telling us that we are strong enough to make it in our own power. That’s a recipe for certain disaster and relapse. Scripture teaches us that pride leads to a fall!
When you act with presumption, convinced that you’re right, don’t be surprised if you fall flat on your face! But humility leads to wisdom. ~ Proverbs 11:2
Stay fully surrendered to God. Do whatever it takes to change your life and keep it changed! It takes a humble heart that’s willing to change and continue a life of recovery.
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the second Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying the Holy Spirit. We will learn who the Holy Spirit is, about His gifts and fruit given to us as believers and how to walk those out in our life each day. This is the seventh post in The Holy Spirit Study series.
While the gifts of the Holy Spirit are virtues, the fruit are the resulting moral actions that flow from those gifts. With the help of Holy Spirit we are able to daily walk in these fruit and display them to those around us. In today’s post we will focus on the fruit of peace and patience.
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. ~ Galatians 5:22-23
God has given us the powerful fruit of the Spirit to help us live a life of victory and to protect us from our enemy, Satan. As born again believers we’re all filled with the Holy Spirit and have the ability to walk in His fruit of peace and patience. We also have the ability to squelch the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives with worldly behavior or lack of faith.
THE FRUIT OF PEACE: a state of quiet of tranquility, calmness and rest; freedom from strife or agitation; denotes perfect well-being, health, welfare, prosperity; harmony in all relationships: spiritual, familial, the world and among nations.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!~ Isaiah 26:3
True peace isn’t the absence of problems but rather the presence of God. It’s our job to stay closely connected to God in His Word, in prayer and fellowship so we will remain in the perfect peace that is promised to us.
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. ~ Colossians 3:15
Jesus, The Prince of Peace, came to bring the world peace with God but also peace with themselves and others. Jesus promised us His gift of peace, not a worldly type of peace. He told His disciples the Father would be sending the Holy Spirit to reveal all truth. Then just before Jesus ascended to heaven He breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit.
Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!~ Romans 15:13
THE FRUIT OF PATIENCE: an attitude of cheerful endurance during tests, hopeful forbearance, long-suffering; the emotional and mental strength to face difficulties with courage; the quality that doesn’t surrender to circumstance or under trial.
While all the fruit of the Holy Spirit are available to us when we’re born again, they’re mostly in a seed form and haven’t had time to develop. They need to be nurtured and mature with God’s Word and by exercising them in practical application in our daily lives. That’s where the real learning and growth begins.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. ~ James 1:2-4
The fruit of patience gives you the strength to overcome temptation… enables you to wait faithfully without giving up. It helps you remain steadfast in faith, believing God for the impossible no matter what. Patience is often the key to our prayers becoming reality and the supernatural manifestation of miracles.
Stand firm with patient endurance and you will find your souls’ deliverance. ~ Luke 21:19
These fruit of the Holy Spirit: peace and patience go together in such a perfect way. If we our impatient we’re likely not walking in peace. When we’re not walking in peace we can easily succumb to impatience.
Let’s lean into a closer fellowship with God and His Word. Holy Spirit will lovingly guide us into a deeper dimension and experience of these fruit. As we do, our lives will become a rich walking testimony of God’s goodness for others to witness. And we will have the goodness of God fulfilled in our own lives.
Be blessed by this beautiful video by Hillsong Young & Free.
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR STUDY AND CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the first Friday of each month in 2021 we will be studying Psalm 91. We’ll be learning this powerful psalm and applying its phenomenal promises to our life one phrase at a time. We continue today with verses nine and ten.
When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us? ~ Psalm 91:9-10
In these verses God promises us divinely protected health because we have chosen to dwell in His secret place. We make the Lord our refuge by taking all our cares, fears and needs to Him.
When we spend time with God and trust Him to lead and guide us with His wisdom and good counsel, we’re making Him our primary habitation and safe place. Everyday that we enter that sheltered place we are covered by the promise of good health.
No grave trouble will overtake the righteous. ~ Proverbs 12:21
It’s important that we remember this active abiding defense against inflicted disease is conditioned upon us making keeping the Lord our true refuge and dwelling place. When we step out from that safe shelter, we’re setting ourselves up for an attack from the enemy’s evil plans.
For in him we live and move and have our being.~ Acts 17:28
When we fully live in God’s presence in the safe shelter of His love, we can know and trust we’re in the best Hands.
We don’t have to fear any evil… We can be sure of victory!
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the fourth Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying Joyce Meyer’s newest book: Do It Afraid. We’re learning how to understand fear, to recognize how it works in our life and finally how to confront fear. We will learn new mindsets that position us for freedom from our most common fears. Come along and let’s learn something new from Momma Joyce!
This is the sixth post in The Do It Afraid Book Study series.
FREEDOM FROM FINANCIAL FEAR
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:19
The Bible is full of verses that teach us not only the importance but also the rewards of giving. If we’re having money worries, there’s a good chance we need to either begin giving to others or step our current giving up a level.
I know from personal experience when my husband and I have gotten slack on our giving, we’ve opened the door for the enemy to steal from us. As long as we are faithful in our giving, not just our tithe, but over and above the tithe in a sacrificial way, God has always honored and blessed what we’ve given. We’d rather have 90% of our income that’s blessed, than 100% that’s cursed.
Take a look at this important passage of Scripture from the Apostle Paul:
Here’s my point. A stingy sower will reap a meager harvest, but the one who sows from a generous spirit will reap an abundant harvest. Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity! Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
God will make good on His Word every time! We can take God at His Word!
He said it. I believe it. And that settles it!
There are thing we may have to do afraid in order to be free from the fear of lack. Give, even if you have to do it afraid; spend as you’re led by the Holy Spirit, even if you have to do it afraid, and turn your worries into prayers.~ Joyce Meyer
If you’re struggling with financial fears today, I challenge you to test God’s Word in your life. Pray. Ask Him to show you where and how to give, and in the mean time be thankful for what you have while you are waiting on God to give you more. Always remember you can never out give God!
Soak in this beautiful song by Kari Jobe as you contemplate trusting God for all your finances.
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.
This is the sixth post in the series. Today we are learning about the gift of abundance.
“When we have a scarcity mindset we cling to our possessions and our toxic relationships….The gift of abundance leads us to lives filled with new and fulfilling opportunities that we may never have dreamed of or thought possible.” ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery
Actively living in our addiction we had a scarcity mind-set. We were always making sure we didn’t run out of our drug of choice. We were living guarded lives that robbed us of much joy and pleasure.
The thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter,and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow! ~ John 10:10
When we give our lives over to Jesus Christ and begin the life recovery journey, the gift of abundance begins to emerge. Instead of having a fear-based scarcity mind-set that is focused on losing what we have, we begin to have a grateful heart attitude and appreciate what we do have.
Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. ~ Ephesians 3:20
As we work our life recovery steps, especially Steps 4 (Looking Within), 9 (Making Amends) and 10 (Daily Inventory), we mustn’t focus on what we’ve lost. Instead we can reframe every past mistake and every current problem into an opportunity for something new and good to come about in our life.
“As we learn how much God loves us, we will become confident that He is able to do far more in and through us than we could ever imagine! We can bank our recovery on this truth!” ~ The Life Recovery Bible
As we stay obedient to God and faithful to the life recovery journey we begin to see God’s promised gift of abundance displayed in our daily lives. Soon we will have an abundance of peace, harmony, time, energy, money and health in ways some of us have never seen in our lifetime
Contemplate how the gift of abundance is showing up in your life as you enjoy this beautiful song by Jesus Culture. Be blessed… Tamara
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the second Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying the Holy Spirit. We will learn who the Holy Spirit is, about His gifts and fruit given to us as believers and how to walk those out in our life each day. This is the sixth post in The Holy Spirit Study series.
And to another the gift of prophecy. And to another the gift to discern what the Spirit is speaking. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:10
Many of the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit are very mysterious. Because of that they’re often misinterpreted, misunderstood and even ridiculed in traditional denominational churches. The gifts of prophecy and discerning of spirits certainly fall into those categories.
The gift of prophecy is thought to be about predicting the future. That isn’t what it’s about at all. The gift of prophecy is a person reporting a divine revelation given to them by God. In the simplest of terms the spiritual gift of prophecy is God speaking to people through people.
It is good that you are enthusiastic and passionate about spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:1
Can any believer have the gift of prophecy? Yes. The Apostle Paul encouraged every believer to desire this gift. God wouldn’t tell us to desire something He wouldn’t make possible for us to have.
Are some prophecies incorrect? Absolutely. God’s Word is infallible. But where there are human beings involved there is always a potential for interpretation errors.
Constantly be on your guard against phony prophets. They come disguised as lambs, appearing to be genuine, but on the inside they are like wild, ravenous wolves!~ Matthew 7:15
What about false prophets? Jesus warned us there would be false prophets, especially in the last days. One thing to remember, Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. He only perverts and counterfeits the things that are most valuable to the church and God’s message. Which brings us to the next gift…
The gift of discerning spirits gives a believer spiritual insight regarding another person’s spirit. It may also give them the ability to sense a specific demonic spirit in a place or on a person.
Discerning spirits is imparted by the Holy Spirit and operates only as the Holy Spirit wills, not as a person wills. How it operates varies. Where one person may see things in places with the eyes of their spirit, another believer might only have a sense about things.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. ~ Ephesians 4:11-12
The gifts of prophecy and discerning spirits are both very powerful gifts and extremely important. Not only are they a valuable avenue for sharing the Gospel and draw unbelievers to Christ. They encourage and lift up the church as a whole.
If you have questions regarding these important spiritual gifts, I encourage you to prayerfully do your own study of Scripture. God will honor that and with the help of the Holy Spirit He will lead you to a place of clear direction and understanding.
Be blessed by this lovely worship song by Maverick City Music.
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR STUDY AND CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the first Friday of each month in 2021 we will be studying Psalm 91. We’ll be learning this powerful psalm and applying its phenomenal promises to our life one phrase at a time. We continue with verses seven and eight.
Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed. You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done! ~ Psalm 91:7-8
This portion of Scripture is often quoted. A favorite for many who are walking through perilous times. Even these last several months with the pandemic outbreak, many believers have stood on this verse, myself included.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33
There is much wickedness in the world. And believers are not immune to being attacked. Jesus promised we would have troubles in our world. He also tells us we should take heart because He has overcome the world and the wicked ruler of it.
For I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled. ~ Jeremiah 1:12
God’s Word promises that no matter what calamity, disaster or pandemic may surround us, God is going to bring us through is. It is up to us to believe and stand on God’s promises. And we shouldn’t stop there. We must confess God’s Word in prayer back to HIm. His Words have power. He tells us that He is watching over His Word to bring it to pass.
Thank you Lord, that no matter what may surround me, You will keep me safe. And the wicked will get their just reward! Amen
Enjoy this beautiful song as you contemplate the shelter of God.
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the fourth Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying Joyce Meyer’s newest book: Do It Afraid. We’re learning how to understand fear, to recognize how it works in our life and finally how to confront fear. We will learn new mindsets that position us for freedom from our most common fears. Come along and let’s learn something new from Momma Joyce!
This is the fifth post in The Do It Afraid Book Study series.
Freedom from Wrong Kinds of Fear
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. ~ Proverbs 9:10
According to the Scripture above there is only on fear that is right. And it is more important that we realize. This is the reverential fear of God. It will free us from every other fear we may struggle with. We can literally trade our many wrong fears for the one right fear.
What is reverential fear? It is respectful fear that knows God is love. He is good. He is all-powerful and will always take care of me. A reverential fear of God means His opinion of what I am doing is more important that what anyone else thinks.
“If we care more about what God thinks of our actions than what people think, we won’t fear them because we do fear Him.” ~ Joyce Meyer
As long as we keep our reverential fear of the Lord as a priority in our life we won’t have fear of any other people or challenges that we may have encountered in the past.
We can trust God to bring an extra measure of grace on an issue we may have struggled with in a past season. So that in this new season we don’t have to be afraid that struggle will overtake us with fear and worry.
“F-E-A-R: has two meanings: Forget Everything And Run or Face Everything And Rise. The choice is yours.”— Zig Ziglar
Remember, whatever God has called us to do, He is going to provide the grace, strength and ability to walk it out. When we are walking in the reverential fear of the Lord we don’t have to fear anything else anymore!
Be blessed with this wonderful song by The Afters… I will Fear No More.
FREEDOM FROM FINANCIAL FEAR
