We are "naked and not ashamed"(Genesis 2:25), coming together to share our journeys in the spirit of transparency, accountability, and encouragement to all writers, whether published or aspiring. Join us in our moments of truth.
I don't know about you but as we have reached the midpoint of 2024, I can testify that God is so good and gracious. As we near Father's Day, I celebrate and rejoice knowing that our God is a good, good Father. One of my favorite characteristics of God is that He is a loving, patient, and gentle God. God is also a jealous God that doesn't want us to place other gods and idols before Him. Those things that we constantly worry about, he wants us to give to Him for He will bear our burdens and make things better and new. Most of the population that is withdrawing from God and the church are Millennials and Gens. According to many funny memes on social media, millennials have survived several decades, 9/11, recession, COVID-19, etc. all before the age of 40. This is true and through it all, God remained the same.
June's book club selection, Give It To God: How To Pray in the World Today by Quneshia T. Waddell, centers on providing an understanding on how to pray as a millennial and gen. Check out the interview of Waddell during the online book of the month forum.
When we truly give our cares to the Lord, we release and relinquish control over those things and allow ourselves to be fully transformed and healed by God's word and guidance. Trust in His hope, peace, joy, and strength.
Hey #JustWrite! I'm pretty sure you all have noticed a pattern these last few months with the book selections centered on prayer and the emphasis on its power. During this time, it's important that we recognize that we are in an intense season and commission to seek God through prayer and His Word. As time progresses, the spiritual warfare continues to increase and as the Word states, we have to pray without ceasing, in and out of season. A dear sister of mine challenged me recently to join her in a 24 hour fast and to also incorporate the 24 hour fast regularly. I was grateful to reconnect through her nightly prayer call which has provided an extra layer of accountability, prayer, and intercession outside of my Sunday community group and in between midweek duties. To know that other believers continue to remain in tune with God and the Holy Spirit during these times is comforting.
The book selection, "The Power of Crying Out: When Prayer Becomes Mighty" by author Bill Gothard details how the power of prayer and crying out moved the early church. He assures readers that the blood still works today and that trusting God's timing with our prayers and petitions is the antidote and answer to all of us who are in distress, dealing with life's trials.
Check out this message from the Scribal ministry, The Writer's Inkhorn. The message is centered on Luke 18:35-43, which says, "Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God."
This is just one of many testaments of trusting God through crying out. I have been reminded constantly that God does care about the little things, the small details that many may view as minor or less important. Remember God wants it all and nothing is too miniscule or puny for His majestic touch. Trust Him with your cries.
Hey #JustWrite! God is not surprised that we are currently living in the age of constant information being accessible through so many mediums: news (live broadcasts, online, and paper), magazines, blogs, social media, podcasts, and the old fashion casual conversations. Throughout this plethora of information overload, the constant processing of daily content of this caliber impedes one's thoughts and affects our actions. When those actions go against what the Word says and pushes us further away from God, we have to reexamine where we are and replace those thoughts with God's Word. We take captive those thoughts and renew our minds like Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." That is the premise of this month's book club selection,"Take Every Thought Captive" by Kelly Balarie.
Our daily lives are a mental battlefield and in this read, author Balarie helps the reader to utilize the Bible to combat those attacks by recognizing the enemies' lies and fighting back spiritually. The following article provides more insight and practical tips on how to take one's thoughts captive. Here's a video podcast by host Joanna Weaver featuring commentary from Balarie:
"Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you seeking the strength and wisdom to take my thoughts captive, as your Word encourages me to do. Help me, Lord, to recognize and reject thoughts that are not aligned with your truth and righteousness.
Grant me the discernment to identify negative, anxious, or sinful thoughts as they arise, and empower me to replace them with thoughts that are pure, lovely, and praiseworthy, as your Word teaches in Philippians 4:8. May my mind be a dwelling place for your truth and light.
I surrender my thoughts, fears, and anxieties to you, knowing that your presence and guidance will help me overcome every mental battle. Strengthen me to resist the schemes of the enemy and to hold every thought captive under your authority."
Happy March #JustWrite!! In this season of prayer, we are 'marchin' along as we are more intentional and discerning with our prayers. Around this time of the year, we always lose an hour of sleep as we 'spring forward' into Daylight Savings Time. However, that loss of one hour of sleep shouldn't affect our prayer life. It's actually an extra reason to pray even more. If you're like me, you've had moments where you couldn't sleep and found yourself in a state of insomnia. I remember as a teenager and my early adult years always opting to either watch a movie or write/blog, especially if something was heavy on my mind. It's during these instances that God is nudging us to come before Him more in prayer. So many of us are suffering mentally, physically, and spiritually so it helps to know that our comfort and safe space is found in God and through our prayers to Him. This month's book selection is Prayers That Bring Healing by best-selling author John Eckhardt of Prayers That Rout Demons.
Eckhardt states that no matter what ailments we deal with in our bodies, it is never hard for God to conquer because He is our healer. As you read, you will learn 12 scriptural ways that healing takes place including the following:
•Healing through the laying on of hands (Luke 4:40)
•Healing through deliverance (Matt 8:16)
•Healing through breaking curses (Gal. 3:13
•Healing through anointing oil (Mark 6:1)
•Healing through faith (Mark 11:23)
•Healing through prayer (Matt 21:22)
In the following video, be prepared to hear 4 hours of specific and powerful prayers complemented with scriptures for healing:
Healing is available to all and is not limited by status or accolades. Trust God for your healing!
Hello #JustWrite!! We are in February and I don't know about you all but every book that has been presented thus far with the book club discussions and within the monthly blogs always meets me where I'm at currently. This month is no different. Upon looking at the current selection of the month, my spirit quickened because as we began this year with the posture to pray more, one of the specific areas that I've dealt with for many years, was breaking generational curses. I remembered in 2010, A New Birth sister and leader told me in my Discipleship class that I was called to be a light in my family. From that day, I recognized that all of my experiences, regardless of how it felt to me were part of God's plan and purpose to heal my family and bloodline from generational curses. As a believer, it is my charge to stand in the gap for family. This month's book club selection, "Prayers for Cleansing Ancestral Bloodlines in the Courts of Heaven" provides guidance and prayers on how to intentionally intercede.
Check out this video that goes more in depth about Dr. Cook's teachings.
Another video to view comes from the late pastor Stephen Darby who I discovered in November 2017 during a wilderness season of seeking and searching. Although Pastor Darby unexpectedly passed in December 2017, his videos are still relevant today and always in rotation on my YouTube timeline. A family member and I recently talked about his ministry. This particular video popped up in my feed one day and gave an eye-opening insight to the spiritual realm and the destruction from ancestral curses.
Remember whatever is in the family, it ends with you!
Happy 2024 Just Write!! We are 15 days in the new year and the charge for many of us is to go deeper in our Word and prayer. We all can agree that throughout our walk with God, there is a purpose for prayer and there is power in prayer. Whether a few words or a soliloquy of details, prayers are powerful and can transform any mindset or situation. This month's book club selection is Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer: How to Call Heaven to Earth by the late great author, Dr. Myles Munroe. The book provides biblically-based principles about prayer and how it exists to help us. Feeling worried? Pray! Feeling angry? Pray! Feeling joyful? Pray! In all seasons and circumstances, regardless of feelings, our mandate is to pray!
Below is a video interview of Dr. Munroe speaking and teaching from his book about prayer while unfolding the concepts of knowing the purpose and power of prayer.
As you go through the book and video, stay tuned for this month's book review interview taking place on the last Thursday, January 25th with Pastor Bryant. Throughout 2024, these interviews will be monthly and led by members of the pastoral team. As the year unfolds and we are reminded that prayer is purposeful and powerful, may we all be intentional in praying for God's divine purpose and power within all areas of our lives and throughout the nation. See you all in the next blog.
#JustWrite, we have made it to the final blog of 2023!! Estrangement, Forgiveness, Reconciliation. These three words are the subject of this month's book club selection, "I Thought We'd Never Speak Again," by author Laura Davis. These three words are also words that we are all familiar with throughout our relationships with others: family, spouses, co-workers, etc. If you are on the brink of rekindling an estranged relationship or torn between whether you should forgive and reconcile, this is a great read to help jumpstart the process. The book is a combination of transparency, inspiration, and practicality with personal stories and a self-assessment activity.
As we come into the Christmas season, this book will help spark a much needed conversation, with loved ones of course, with the leading and wisdom of the Lord. Will it be easy? No. Is it worth it? Absolutely! So many people leave this world with unfinished business between loved ones: anger, bitterness, and unspoken words due to pride and unforgiveness. "Ephesians 4:32 NKJV says, [32] "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
Join our last conversation on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 6pm. As you celebrate Christmas, be inspired by the redemptive story of Christ and His birth which brought forth a reconciliation for us to the Father.
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! See you all in 2024!!
