National Day Of Prayer

You can do it bowing on your knees, postrated or standing. You can pray out loud or you can be silent. Prayer is man way of conversating with God. He’s waiting to talk to you.

It’s been a while: Evicted from Egypt

It’s been a long while since I been here. My have there been changes sinceI last logged on.  Last time I reported, ironicly was on New Beginnings; indeed it has been. Things have shifted. I’m in a state of transition, I am headed in the direction of the promise-land. The Land that is flowing with milk and honey. I was evicted from Egypt (translation: I was laid off), and now on a journey through the wilderness. I think God, decided not to take me straight through; but is taking me on the backside as he did with the Children of Israel. I looked in the book of Exodus for a road-map for this journey because I don’t want a eleven day journey to be a forty year process.

I must admit though, me and the C.O.I very well have similar characteristics, so I understand the reason for not sending me with a non-stop flight to destiny.  I  hate uncertainty with a passion. I am analytical, which does not mesh with the unknown. I have to see everything laid out in plain English with step by step instructions. Legends will be helpful to. 

But that don’t fly with God, that’s not operating in faith and he never reveal the whole plan. He only reveal the step your suppose to take and you want get the next step until the one you were given is complete. Wait! He then put us on a scavenger hunt. You won’t get the next clue until you reach the place that holds it.

Am I the only one that think God, got jokes!

Now that I think about it, I must be heading out to get my clue! I’ll let you know what I discovered.

 

Hunting for clues,

Danietra

Success is the reward of…Diligence

Diligence never hurt nobody.

The word speaks volumes about a person of diligence. One thing that is reoccurring when speaking of diligence, is…Reward and Satisfied. Solomon, talks in great length about diligence and slothfulness in the book of Proverbs.

He points out the contrast between a person of diligence and slothfulness, he even address, “How much talk leads to penury”.

 Ponder upon the following scripture verse and allow it to minister to you.

Proverbs 13:4

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

This scripture sums it up. Your goals, dreams, or aspirations will not come to fruition, with nothing short of hard work, diligence and perseverance. Success comes at the price tag of inconvenience. If success came with convenience, then every one will obtain it. You have to strive and work for what you want.

Success is not given; it’s earned.

Don’t talk about it.. be about it.

The book of James declared it best, “Show me your faith by your works”.

Faith and Works go hand-in-hand. They work in conjunction with one another for manifestation. Faith, can not work alone, in the sense that its a verb which require ACTION on your part. I know Romans 4:17 states …”call those things that be not as though they were”. However, be sure to quote this scripture as you work and walk in the direction of success.

Points to Remember:

~There is reward in diligence; the diligent shall be fully satisfied

~ The sluggard (lazy person) craves and gets… NOTHING

~Don’t talk about it (All talk and no game)

~Faith and Works need to marry in order to produce…Results

             Success is expecting your Arrival…

Be Blessed,

Danietra

Happy New Year…Happy New Beginnings

IT’S OFFICIAL

We are thrust into  2008…The doors of 07 is officially closed.

What does the year of 2008…BEHOLD???

One thing I am for certain that this year will produce NEW Beginnings. Keep your eyes  open cause if you blink. You will miss out! Watch, I say.

2007 produced completion and perfection. 2007 had it’s perfect work so that you will be ready to launch into New Beginning in the year of 2008.

2008 will render restoration, revelation, responsibility, release and reward. There will be the restoration of families, restoration of health, restoration of lost goals and dreams.

There will be an out pour of fresh revelation. Revelation and insight to things that remained a mystery, revelation will shine forth to all that seek it.

There will be a out break of responsibility. People will take responsibility for their families, lives. Responsibility will be first to ones self and extended out ward. The ownership of seeing the cause and effects of situations, taking responsibility for the family, the role one play in the relationship that of husband and wife, parent and child, and being a member of society.

There will be a spirit of release. Everything that was hindered in the previous years, the goals that went unfilled in-spite of your effort and diligence, that you sowed. The sowing was not in vain and there is a release of seeds sown and planted.

Finally, there will be reward to the diligent, those that are faithful shall see the reward.

Because you have stood fast and have lived an unstoppable path of faithfulness, despite all trials and tribulations that entered your life to deter you, you stood the course and ran the race, with all opposition against you and for that reason your reward, shall manifest.

I declare and decree that  2008:

Will bring marriages back together. There will be a restoration in the marriage relationship. Marriages shall live and not die. Marriages is an institute that is established by God for, His mission and purpose. Marriages shall be fruitful. I speak life into every marriage and estranged marriages shall be reconciled.

Salvation for the masses: There will be a spirit of receptivity to salvation. So every watch man of the Kingdom, it is time to be positioned. God desire to use you as a witness, to plant the seed or water the seed sown that He may give the increase. Position yourself to be available because the harvest is ripe and there is an equal amount of laborers, cause the prayers have already been made to the Lord of the harvest, to send forth laborers. Guess what…He’s sending you.

The Now Generation will stand and proclaim the works of the Lord, the manifestation of Joel 2:28. And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams,  your young men shall see visions.

This is the year that this prophecy shall began to unveil, with power and authority in the earth. Your sons and daughters shall live a life of faith.

There will be a confrontation for the sake of purity, the truth of sex will be exposed and there will be an alertness and a standard of purity. Purity will be honored and there will be a reformation unto Purity as a life style.

Those that are chaste and pure unto the Lord, will walk undignified…Promoting A Life Style of Purity… There will be a stand: Purity As A  Way Of Life.

People will not perish because of the absence of a VISION. There will be a realization and pursuit of purpose. There will be a gaining of Knowledge that none shall be destroyed for the lack thereof.

Finally, what I desire to leave with you on this first day of the New Year is. Make Matthew 6: 33 your MISSION.

“But SEEK first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness…

Let this scripture be the thread that interwoven the pattern of your year.

Happy New Year and New Beginnings

Be Blessed,

Danietra

Let The Count Down…BEGIN!!!!

 

10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2… Poof!!! 2007 is the thing of the past and the doors of 2008 are…Open.

Release and launch…

As we are suspended between 2007-2008. We will bring one year to a close and enter into another.

Out with the old in with the… New

December 31 serves as two parties into one, the close of one year and the count down to the New Year.

 

It serves as a Release and a Launch Party.

Release the year 2007…Reflect over the past year, appreciate the good, learn from the bad and prepare for the Launch of 2008.

Wipe the slate and begin a fresh. 2008 offers you a new beginning. You are blessed with another year to get it right.

There will be New Years Resolutions that will be made. I have recognized, that at the beginning of each year, our church is populated with people, who have made resolutions to come to church. For the first four months are so, you can see the commitment, but by month six the attendance is slacking and dwindles through, the year-end.

Many will plan to read the bible through. This is one that I tend to make and fall short on. I have made the choice not to make a resolution, I will not make a resolution to read the bible through, but I have come to the resolve that I will read daily.

Another big resolution is to lose those unwanted lbs. the year starts off with good intentions, to do and become, however, there are a few that has the fortitude to accomplish the goals that they set to achieve and for others to no avail.

So how do you keep the stamina through out the year, to fulfill the New Year, “Resolution” made?

8 Tips for keeping your New Years… RESOLUTION!!!

1. The #1 way to keep your resolution is “Commitment”. You MUST make the decision to see the fulfillment of your goals.

2. Write your goals and aspiration out and define a road map. Write the details.

3. Keep your goals in view…that they will be in remembrance. 

4. Keep a checklist to see how you are doing

5. Find an accountability partner, a person that is determined to see you succeed at your goals.

6. Work every day towards the accomplishment of your goal. Make your goals a priority.

7. See yourself at the finish line.

Taste the sweet victory of…Success

8. It takes 21 days to introduce a new habit. Practice makes permanent. Enforce your Resolutions for 21-Days that it will become routine and when it’s your routine…it becomes a life style.

I have given you 8 tips to make your Resolution life span, last longer than the first six months.  8 Represent New Beginnings…we are in the eight-year… Old things have passed away…behold ALL Things are…NEW!!!! Happy New Year!!!!

 

 Be Blessed,

Danietra

Boiling Point

 

 Are you in a heated situation, and you are at your boiling point?

The lesson I learned from boiling water and pinto beans…

When boiling water after a long period, there is a white film that rises to surface, after the water has reached a degree of boiling. I have also noticed while cooking pinto beans; that once you put the beans into the water particles of beans floats to the top.

 In looking at the similarity of what takes place when you boil water and pinto beans in contrast to the life of a believer. The boiling water and beans conveyed a spiritual truth. 

  God, places us into boiling situations to deal with the film or particles that arise. He does this with the intention of confronting areas in our lives, that will other wise go unnoticed and unchecked.

Unless the heat was on!  So think it not strange that you have found yourself in a heated situation. Now you need to ask the question. What does God desire me to confront and deal with in my life?

Become aware of the film of: a bad attitude, bitterness, quarrelsome or maybe particles of: worry, fear, disbelief or doubt these are just to name a few. When you are boiling it causes all the impurities to surface to a visible level to be dealt with.

When it floats to the top, do not ignore it. They arose for the very purpose for you to take action in confronting, dealing and eliminating them. If they continue to go unchecked, then they will boil over to other areas of your life and the clean up will be greater than if you would have addressed it when they started to arise.

Now that I think about it MTV, use to air a show titled Boiling Point. The theme of the show was that they send a decoy out, and this person would go up to random people and aggravate them for a period of time, if the person respond negatively, before the allotted time expire then they are disqualified, but the person who successfully endure the antics of the agitator would be rewarded with a $100.00.

In either situation win or lose the decoy wait until the time lapsed to disclose to his target that he/ she is from MTV’s show Boiling Point. That show tells a lot about a person. What was in them; was made apparent from what did or did not come out of their mouth.

Rather it was anger, frustration or patience, it was made known. Like the show…

Decoys enter our life in the form of situations; trials and sometimes-even people to assist us in the areas that God desires to grow us in.

When you reach your boiling point be aware that what’s in you will definitely come out and if it’s negative then that is the very thing God wants you to confront.

Like the show you do not know the purpose of the testing until it’s over. Pressure always has a tendency of exposing, the truth.  

 

FIT Friday: Recovering from Thanksgiving indulgence

Because we know that Thanksgiving, is all about the food…The turkey, ham, calorie induced stuffing, mash potatoes, macaroni, greens,cakes and pies…alone would damage a diet.

So below are a few tips on how to recover from the feast of Thanksgiving.

Information is courtesy of John Hopkins Medical as a service to Yahoo.

• Drink plenty of water and other low-calorie, non-caffeinated fluids. Fluids help to flush out toxins from our body. Our kidneys must do the hard work of filtering out the toxins and they need water to their job. Drink as much fluid each day as is comfortable for you. 
• Choose lower-fat foods. Our bodies have to work longer and harder to digest higher-fat foods. Give your digestive system a rest and choose low-fat alternatives. 
• Include high-fiber foods. Fiber is the body’s scrub brush; it can help sweep out your colon. 
• Aim for lots of fruits and vegetables. These foods are not only naturally low in calories and fat but also high in fiber. Over these three days, eat less protein and starchy foods and fill up on fruits and vegetables — aim for six to eight servings per day.
• Don’t forget about exercise. Exercise itself is a great way of detoxifying the body. Plan to go for at least a 30-minute walk each day.

And what about all the Thanksgiving leftovers? You can save and freeze some of them, but don’t feel guilty about tossing away the sweets and higher-calorie and -fat foods. This will save you the calories later and you will be the healthier for it!

Having an Attitude of Gratitude

  Happy Thanksgiving

In all things give thanks for this is the will of God….

As we prepare for the holiday season and on this particular occasion Thanksgiving, keep in mind all that you have to be Thankful for. This is a special time to care, love and give. Let the people in your life know that you love them. With all the festivities that this joyous occasion shall bring it also serve as a difficult time for some. This is the season when depression is at its peak.

Over a course of a year a lot can change. As you celebrate take time to call and console those that has lost a love one, encourage those that are facing hardship and pray for those that have a need.

If we reflect over our life there is always something to give thanks for. If you need a few reasons why you should be thankful, here are a few good reasons: If you woke up this morning than that is a good reason to be thankful. If your body is functioning than, that is a good reason to be thankful.

Did you wake up in a warm bed, than that is reason enough to be thankful? Can you walk through a door and call it your home, than that is a reason to be thankful. If you have clothes on your back, food on your table and a job that’s meeting your obligations than that is a good reason to be THANKFUL…

I once had a conversation with a man name Mr. Grey; he had approached me on my way exiting the Mini Mart after paying for gas. He asked, “If I can spare some change.” I had just received change back from the attendant so I said sure and gave him what I had. He looked at what I gave him and he responded with a God Bless you. He assured me that he was going to purchase something to eat with the money I had given him. As I returned to my car, he accompanied me and I looked in his cart and there laid a bible. He had told me that he visits a local church. As he began to speak he had this over whelming joy; as he talked about how God provides for him on a daily basis. His joy was infectious. My joy was full because of him.

From the way that he was talking it made you forget about the raggedy attire he was wearing and the fact that he was living on the streets. He talked as if he had money in the bank and a roof over his head. He talked about what lead to his life of homelessness and that he knows, that this was something he had to go through. 

He shared with me a few days earlier a couple had seen him and they asked him what size shoe he wore. This couple came back to give him a bag filled with shoes and sweaters. He began to show me. You would think that he was a kid showing off his Christmas gifts.

When I left this man, I had a very Fresh Perspective. I was not facing half of what he was facing and he was thankful. It is my prayer that his story inspires you.

You may not be where you desire to be in life, but be thankful for where you are. You may not have all that money can buy, but be thankful for what you have.

May you celebrate Thanksgiving, in the spirit of Thankfulness.

Be Inspired,

 

Danietra

 

F.I.T. Friday:Nutrition is a big factor in your Success

****Information is courtesy of 50 Million Pounds Weight Lost Challenge********

Basic Nutrition

There are small things you can do as far as making nutritional choices that can yield BIG RESULTS. Below you will find a nutritional strategy that will help you make smart, tasty choices that will help you shed those stubborn pounds, feel better, look better, and become healthier. This is not about drastically changing your eating habits, but making a few minor substitutions and compromises so that you can still enjoy the foods that you like, but in a healthier way. Open your mind to the possibility of trying different foods and different ways of preparing them.

 

Some Basic Guidelines
The quantities listed below are the maximum amounts that you should have at one sitting. If you want to eat less than the maximum amounts shown, you’re allowed to do that. But don’t skip meals! Remember, avoid eating fried foods as much as possible and watch how much salt you eat. Try not to consume more than a teaspoon of salt per day.

 

BREAKFAST		QUANTITY
Eggs		2
Cold Cereal		1.5 cups
Hot Cereal
Oatmeal		1 cup
Farina		1 cup
Grits		1 cup
Cream of Wheat		1 cup
Pancakes		2 (no more than 5 inches across)
Waffles		2 (no more than 5 inches across)
Yogurt (low fat)		6 oz. (in regular package)

 

Instructions:
Choose only one of the items above to have for breakfast. Always eat one piece of fruit in the morning. Pay attention to the quantities listed for each item. Don’t skip breakfast. Even if you’re not hungry, try to at least have a piece of fruit in the morning. You can add berries or sliced fruit to your low-fat or fat-free yogurt and sprinkle it with some granola. The hot cereal should measure only 1 cup AFTER it’s cooked. You’re allowed to have a small amount of butter (1 pad size) and 2 tbsp of syrup.

 

More about cereals:
The best to eat: Bran, Corn Flakes, Cherrios (plain), Shredded Wheat (not frosted), Total, Puffed Rice, Puffed Wheat, Oatmeal, Farina, Cream of Wheat, Grits

 

Avoid: Those cereals that have sugar added to them or have the word frosted in their title.

 

FRUITS
Instructions:
Fruits are full of powerful vitamins and minerals that can help fight disease and make you feel better as well as increase your energy. Eat as much fruit as you like. There are, however, some fruits that are better than others when trying to lose weight.

 

Best to eat: Strawberries, blueberries, apples, oranges, cherries, plums, grapefruit, pears, grapes, peaches, cantaloupe, and honeydew melons

 

Eat less of these: watermelon, pineapple, avocado and those juices that are marked “made from concentrate.”

 

BREADS
The best to eat: Whole Grain, wheat, whole wheat, multi-grain or Rye Pita Bread

Avoid: White and sour dough

 

Instructions:
Breads can be high in something called the Glycemic Index (For more about this, read Extreme Fat Smash Diet). You should limit the amount you consume per day to no more than 2 regular slices.

 

MILK PRODUCTS	QUANTITY
Milk: Skim, 1%, 2%, Fat-free	2 cup
Low-fat Cottage Cheese	3 tbsp.
Yogurt: Low-fat plain yogurt, Low-fat fruited yogurt	12 oz.

 

MEATS	QUANTITY
Chicken (not fried)	4 oz.
Turkey	4 oz.
Sirloin	4 oz.
Beef	4 oz.
Ham	4 oz.

 

Instructions:
Meats when eaten in proper quantities are part of a healthy nutritional plan. You should consume no more than two servings of meat in one day. Please pay attention to the quantities that have been listed. 4 oz is approximately the size of 1 and a half decks of playing cards. Remember, try to limit your fried foods. Grilling, baking, sautéing are healthier ways to prepare your meats and they can be just as tasty!

 

VEGETABLES/GRAINS
Good to eat: All vegetables except those listed below. Don’t fry your veggies. Bake, grill, boil (not too long), sauté, steam. Don’t cook with bacon or other fats. Use a small amount—1 tbsp—of butter if you like. Add some spices for flavor.

 

What to avoid: white rice, white potato (white is the color of the pulp, not the skin. A red-skinned potato is still a white potato, because the pulp is white). Instead, have brown rice and sweet potatoes/yams.

 

BEVERAGES
Best to drink: natural juices, freshly-squeezed juices, water, flavored water, unsweetened tea, herbal tea, diet soda

 

Try to avoid or reduce your consumption of: regular soda, alcohol, sweetened drinks, drinks that are marked “made from concentrate.”

F.I.T. Friday: Taking Control/ Authority

…. Be ye transformed in the renewing of the mind…  Romans 12: 2b

In order for you to have a successful journey in conquering the bulge, you must first deal with the core source of your issues. Which all trace back to your way of thinking. Your perception; your mind-set is a key component in the outcome of your success.

You have to transform the way you think, in order to see the pounds; drop. The biggest battle is not losing the weight, however, it is in the ability of you taking captive your thoughts that inhibits your efforts. Thoughts that is self-defeating, the voices that tell you to give up, go ahead and eat that hamburger that’s induced with a lot of calories instead of a healthier alternative. Not only that but the many excuses of why you can’t prevail over the weight. Take those very thoughts and bring them into subjection. Instead of your mind telling you what you can and cannot do or feel, begin to declare to it the way you want it to feel and do and it will align itself accordingly.

 Note: Many have shed excess pounds only to regain it again. The mind-set did not change, so the pounds came back.

Transforming your mind:

Its not going to only take will power to defeat the unwanted pounds, but you are going to need to be conscience of implementing changes to your diet. Your old nature is ever present and it is/will be continually at war with your new lifestyle, in addition to your body fighting you, when you introduce it to an exercise program. Once you begin an exercise regiment, your body is going to reward you by aching. Preserver through the aching its just responding; alerting you it’s shocked.

The saying of, “old habits are hard to break.” Does have some truth to it. On the other hand it is also said, “That it takes twenty-one days to enforce a new habit”.

The only way to break an old habit is by introducing a new one. Fair exchange is no robbery.  For Example: If you eliminate soda replace it with water and add (Crystal Light).

Small changes can yield, big impact. Word of CAUTION!!! Make changes that you will keep to, do not attempt to go gun ho and over exert yourself. Gradually make changes in your diet and workout plan.

 Putting food in its place:

Our bodies need food, but it wants “Junk Food”.  When we begin to break the chain that links need and want, the battle is half way won.

Implement changes that you will be satisfied with. Food is a drug, in the sense that it is addicting, especially “Junk Food”. It is the answer for many things and it is often used when celebrating, in need of comfort or boredom.

One or many of them is the case for those that are struggling with obesity. Food becomes a friend to many, and they turn to it. While it is a friend in that moment, its effect is an enemy to the body. Our bodies need food, but it wants “Junk Food”.  When we begin to break the chain that links need and want, the battle is half way won.

Go forth and be prosperous in your pursuit of a healthier you!

 Be Blessed,

Danietra