August Newsletter: Trust God's Timing... August 15 2017

 

 

Our August Newsletter

Happy August from God-Driven-Designs! We hope you're enjoying your summer. It's going so fast! For beach-goers and those with pools, check out our summer safety tips and ways to beat the heat. We're continuing our summer series, Happy, Healthy, Healed and using August to focus on relationships and rejuvenating your mood. Whatever you're going through, you're coming out better...

In this month's issue we cover:

Our August Message: Trust God's Timing; Our August Prayer

Music Spotlight: Gail Holmes: Amazed, Pastor Esther Smith: Prayer of Deliverance; Jess Cass: Good, Good Father

Need a Word? Rejuvenating Your Mood

Upcoming Events: August - Our Biggest Summer Sale Continues; The Total Solar Eclipse and Correlation with Nineveh - Is It a Sign?

News: Teacher Panhandles to Draw Attention to Schools in Need of Supplies; Waiter Gets Blessed in Big Way; Toddler Fist Pumps Flight Passengers; 80 People Form Chain in Water to Save 10 From Drowning

LOL: Buckle Up, Babies!

Houston, we have lift-off...

For Those Waiting for a Miracle, Trust God's Timing...

It's probably happened to you within the past few days. You go into your local coffee shop, place your order, pay, scoot down the line, pick up your order and leave. But do you remember "the old days" when you went into your local deli or restaurant and you had to wait on a pot of coffee to brew? You didn't mind because after a few short minutes, the aroma filled the room and you knew it was "time." As you proceeded to the counter you picked up your order and you were out the door. The problem is, we've entered a new technological era with smartphones where everything is instant.

Instant Gratification Nation

Go into a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts today and you can leave with your order in under 5-minutes. On the other hand, if there's a new barista or cashier, consider how quick we are to "go off" when they're untrained or they take longer than a minute to place or prep our order. "Something must be wrong! I've been standing here for 3-minutes now!"

Let's look at a few statistics about the times we're in where the world thinks that instant gratification is the way to go:

  • To get a cup of coffee, it used to take 6-12 minutes for a pot to brew according to data from Top Off My Coffee.  The average wait time at Starbucks is 2-3 minutes. Think that's too long? You can now order your coffee ahead of time so you don't have to wait, or just buy a Keurig which might take 1-2 minutes if you brew it with a self-serve set-up. But that's not all...
  • According to Psychology Today, 90% of people make fewer than 10 calls per day. Worldwide, Text Request states that there are over 205 billion emails sent each day, 8.3 trillion text messages each day, and the average person sends 88 emails a day. In 2013, there was an average of 128 texts sent per day by users. Teens today have been noted to send 15-20,000 text messages per month if their parents give them an unlimited text plan, how resourceful. But what's the point?
  • Shipping used to take an average of 7-14 days for standard delivery services. But, you guessed it, Amazon now offers 2-day shipping. Think that's something? You can get same day shipping in some areas and even 1-2 hour shipping.


 

 

 

Wait on the Lord, be brave and courageous, and wait on Him...

That brings us to God. In a tech world where everything is instant, and on an app, Houston, we have a problem. We hit a wall when we ask God for something, or do we? While man makes it seem like "you can have whatever you want," the real question is should you? Waiting on God requires patience, time, understanding, and it builds character.

In the Bible, Joseph and David went through this. They were tested for a "season" and had to wait on God. They were destined for greatness, but it wouldn't come right away. God tests the heart and He also allows time to build a person's character, teach them humility, and sometimes even trial by fire.

Everything in God's timing...

One story in the Bible stands out about waiting on God. There was a blind man that would be healed by Jesus. People asked, "Who sinned in his family?" They immediately assumed that there was sin present, hence, the curse of blindness. They didn't know that God was using the blind man "for such a time as this," like the mule set aside for Jesus. In life, people may assume that you did something wrong if you're being tested, but on the contrary, you could be doing everything right when God allows a test into your life. This is what happened with my mom when she was diagnosed with cancer.

 

Was it me? Did I do something wrong?

When my mom received her diagnosis, she was at the height of her career, new job, new city, new apartment, new church, and she was thriving. She was taking sign-language classes at church and helping out with the healing/help ministry. As she received her diagnosis, she  confided to me one day in tears, "What did I do wrong? Why did God do this to me? I'm a good person." If you're going through a test like this, know that it may not have anything to do with what's wrong - which can be challenging to process in our minds, i.e., you reward good behavior, right? But God may be using you because you are strong enough to get through. That's exactly what happened with my mom. She declared, "I don't have cancer," and we stood on that. We went to the prayer services, revivals, and had churches (plural) praying for her. All along the way, people were seeing and hearing about her inspiring story.

At my job I took off almost a year to care for my mom, so they were watching her progress and my employers and coworkers knew I had strong faith in God. At my mom's job, when she took a leave of absence for her treatments, they were watching. Her neighbors were watching. My neighbors who were checking my mail while I was away for almost a year were watching and listening. My professors were even watching. These were all people who were looking to see what God would do. And praise God, He healed my mom!

Now does that mean you should start a Kickstarter campaign with t-shirts reading "Now we'll show 'em, Lord!" Uhh, no. It means to trust God and wait on His timing. Maybe God wants others to see your healing. Maybe He wants you to see your healing as you grow in Him. Maybe He just wants to show you that nothing is impossible through Him. Ultimately though, it's about waiting on God's perfect timing - and He's always on time...

So how do you get through? What do you do so you're not looking at your watch and saying, "Well, Lord? I'm waiting. I prayed, fasted, and cried. Well?" Here are a few things that might help you...

 

Be anxious for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

We've included a clip above for a prayer from Pastor Esther Smith. It looks like a regular video, but she's actually praying. It's a prayer that in essence says, you believe God, you're not moving or wavering, and you're waiting on Him. You're not looking for a microwave God or a 30-minutes or less God because the moment you pray to God in Jesus's name, God hears and your answer is on the way. It's just a matter of the timing. Here are a few tips to help you have that "waiting on God, in His timing" faith attitude...

  • Write down what you want and need from God on a list: Like a checklist, you may find that you have some prayers answered right away and some that take time.
  • Find the scriptures that match up with what you need and recite them daily: With my mom I constantly quoted ONLY scripture when she was down. She would get frustrated with having a feeding tube, and I would remind her, "No weapons formed against you shall prosper. That tube is out. You are healed! Hallelujah!"
  • When you pray, ask for God's mercy: There is so much power in prayer. All God wants is a sincere heart. You don't need a prayer chain, the church choir washing cars, none of that. Just go to God in prayer and say, "Lord, please give me your mercy. Please send healing. By Jesus's stripes, I am healed. I praise you for the victory in my life." Watch and see what God is about to do as He pours out His spirit on us!
  • Look for motivational messages to inspire, encourage, and uplift you: Play Joel Osteen, TD Jakes, Joyce Meyer, and other ministers. You have to saturate your atmosphere with healing messages and inspiring words of encouragement, to block out the devil trying to fill your head with words of defeat.
  • Plan for the future: This is big because a lot of people are tempted to give up because so much time can pass where they've prayed and don't see any changes. When my mom was still sick, I said, "Mom, when you're better, we're going to see Chris Botti, Sade, Hezekiah Walker and we'll go to that Food Network thing." I can still remember her sitting up shocked, "I'm going to need a few dresses!" Get that new thing in your spirit. You are healed. You are favored. You are coming out. Speak the scriptures and stand on them.
  • Plan a makeover and set a few new goals: As you see God bless you and answer your prayers, continue to look ahead and have hope for the future. Go for that makeover, redecorate, update your wardrobe. Look to the future with hope and take your grave clothes off!


Stay encouraged while you are waiting on God to answer your prayers. Know that when you pray, God hears and your answer is coming. Dr. Bill Winston says that we don't walk in time, so don't think of God getting to you in terms of dates, calendars, or hours. See it as you prayed, God will answer. That's it. God is always on time!

 

 

If you need prayer, please call the Bill Winston Prayer Center at (877) 543-9443. You can also check online for Joyce Meyer's prayer request form and other sites that can pray for and with you. You are more than a conqueror and God will give you strength! 

 

 

Our August Prayer

 

Father God, in the name of Jesus, first and foremost, we give you glory, honor, and praise. Lord we thank you that we have an advocate in you. Thank you for being in our lives and being our covering. Lord, we wait on you for the things we need in our lives. We praise you because we know what it's already done! We thank you for healing our lives, healing our hearts, renewing our minds, restoring ministries, finances, homes, marriages and businesses. We wait on your timing, Lord. Please help us to be stronger in you, to walk along the path that you have for us. Help us to keep our hearts and minds "stayed on thee" and on the right path that you have chosen for us. We wait patiently on you and we know our prayers are answered and you will reveal the answer at just the right time. In areas where we need it, please strengthen our faith and send signs of encouragement. Send angels to help guide us and encourage us. We know you will make the window and make the way. We ask for that miracle, Lord. You said in Your Word to David, "All you have to do is ask," so we know we can let our requests be made known unto you and we praise you for the victory and every answered prayer.

Father God, we pray to break generational curses in our lives. Where we may have had sickness because daddy had it or grandma or mommy suffered from it, we know that you can stop that cycle so we praise you because what we decree and pray for you hear. We praise you because our babies won't be sick. They won't lack. They will have a good education. We thank you because our children and grandchildren are blessed and covered by you and we are covered and kept by the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus. We don't have to bear this cross of emotion because Jesus already suffered for us. We have a heart of thanksgiving because with this prayer, good news is coming right away! We praise you because we are cancer-free. We praise you because we are drug-free. We have no alcohol dependency. We praise you because all our debts are paid. We are strong in you Lord and the poverty cycle is broken and every demon trying to block our future and that of our future bloodline is defeated in Jesus's name. We're entering a raining season where you will reign down blessings and provision and no weapons formed against us shall prosper.

We also pray please bring healing to our hearts, Lord. Renew our minds and give us strength for the future. Saturate us with the blood of Jesus and Lord Jesus sit on us and make us whole. Be an advocate where we need it. Give us provision. Show us the way. We hide and stay in your sanctuary and your shadow. We are obedient to you, Lord. Lead and guide us! Give us encouragement. We know judgement is coming to this world, but we have an advocate in you and we can rest safely in your arms. No harm shall come near our dwelling places and no evil shall befall us. No weapons formed against us shall prosper. Satan is defeated in Jesus's name. We curse that devil at the root. May he wither and die. We cut the head off of every enemy in our lives. Lord show us where the devil tries to get in a back doorway so we can seal that, too, in Jesus's name!

Father God we pray also for this world. There is so much evil in this world and we pray and ask for mercy. We know judgment is coming and it is judgment season. Let us witness to as many as we can, Lord. We know that situations will rise where our character is coming into judgment and that is the devil trying to undermine us, but we stand firm on you. We have the Holy Spirit and wisdom to help us in every area where we need it.

We pray for our families, our neighbors, our nation, and our planet. We pray for areas where there are already flood zones. Don't let the banks flow over. Hold the breeches and levies in place, Lord. In areas where there are natural disasters, we pray and ask for your mercy. In areas where there are high flood waters, help these families to be prepared and to evacuate, in Jesus's name. Help families to get their belongings and their pets to safety.

We also pray for family members who are servants of the devil. We pray that they are released from these demons, that they get back in church, that they can run away and escape because there is safety in you. Send these babies back home, Lord. The devil has so many young people feeling like they are trapped and we rebuke the demons of suicide. We pray for suicidal youth, Lord, that feel like they are trapped with no way out. We pray that we shine a light that they know they can come back home, that they don't have to be embarrassed. Reunion is coming for families, Lord. The devil is enticing these babies by saying, "I'm not harming anybody." These kids have scarred their bodies and their minds are damaged. We rebuke these demons of suicide in their minds. The devil is defeated. We pray for their healing and release and restoration of their minds, Lord.

We pray for safety in the malls so families can shop safely again. We also pray for all students getting ready to go back to school at the end of the month. Please bless, cover, and keep each and every one. We pray for the teachers, day care workers, parents, instructors, bus drivers and all those that provide care. We pray for our president, our nation, our leaders, church clergy, military, medical staff, fire and rescue, and those that work to protect us. We bind every hindrance away and release Lord, your favor, covering, and authority to work on our behalf. We ask for your mercy, Lord. We are covered in the blood of Jesus and we love, thank, and honor you, in Jesus's name and the blood of Jesus, amen. 

You are in for a sweet surprise! We pray God opens doors and windows for you! Wait on God!

 

 

 

 

The Prayer of Salvation

If you haven't said the Prayer of Salvation, now's the perfect time: Father God in the name of Jesus, Lord, I ask forgiveness of my sins. Please come into my heart. I turn my back on sin and I make you my Lord and Savior. I want to follow you for the rest of my life. Please give me eternal life through you in Jesus name, amen. 

Re-dedication to Christ Prayer

If you need to rededicate your life to Christ because you feel like you've been sinning or haven't been living right, pray: Father God in the name of Jesus, I ask forgiveness of my sins and I turn my back on sin. Please help me to overcome ---- and I want to lead a better life through you. I decree and declare this day I have overcome ---- and I have the victory in Jesus name, amen. 

Stay in God's shadow, stay away from sin and temptation, keep reading your Bible and keep seeking God first. 

Be ye doers of the Word... We pray this message blesses you today! 

 

Have you heard the news? A total solar eclipse will take place across the continental United States on August 21st. This hasn't happened in almost a century.

On this date, about 60% of the sun will be covered resulting in semi-darkness around parts of the United States. From parts of the Pacific Northwest to South Carolina, if you live within about a 60-mile radius of the total solar eclipse, you may see firsthand as the sky goes dark and the temperature drops. The eclipse should last for an estimated 2 1/2 minutes.

Can you go blind by watching a total solar eclipse?

The danger with a total eclipse is that you can indeed go blind by watching one directly. How? As the full eclipse takes place, your eyes will adjust to the dark surroundings. When you have a sudden burst of light following this, it can damage and harm the eyes.

Is God trying to give us a sign of some sort?

Historically, people have used the heavens, the stars, weather, and sun to look for signs from God. According to Pastor Mark Blitz, a total solar eclipse can be a warning sign to those in its path. It happened to Jonah with Nineveh and before World War I. For Christians, it's a good sign about the end times. Read Joel and Revelation. It's also a sign to pray, repent, and witness to others about Christ.

If you look at this eclipse, it's exactly 40-days (the 1st day of the month of Elul) until Yom Kippur. Jonah's eclipse may not be a coincidence. It happened again in 1914 when war was threatened from June of that year until August. Because these are the end times, scientists and Bible scholars are taking note of the "sign of the times." You see, a month after the eclipse, we start the Days of Awe. This is from Rosh Hashanah which is on Tishri 1 until Yom Kippur on Tishri 10. Some anticipate that a great sign of God...

Read the Full Article here...

 

 

NEWS:  Teacher Panhandles on Side of Road to Raise Awareness for Schools That Need Money

An Oklahoma teacher decided to ask for money on the side of the road to help pay for school supplies this year. The teacher says that normally she spends 10 percent of her income to buy supplies. This year, she decided to ask other people to help pay for them and wow did it pay off!

We're praying for all teachers in need of resources that they receive FREE and unlimited supplies for their students.

 

NEWS: Little Boy Fist Pumps and Shake Hands With All Passengers

Little boy wants to make everyone on flight happy by fist pumping and waving to everyone. God bless him! We pray traveling God's traveling grace and mercy for all those traveling over the summer. It's a reminder to be patient at the airport.

 

NEWS: Man Sows Money Into Waiter's Life with Large Tip - His Reaction: Priceless!

An inspiring video clip as a man sows into a waiter's life. His reaction is beyond belief. Lord, we pray for all those struggling to make ends meet. We pray encouragement and good signs for all those who are doing good and waiting on signs from you. Thank you Lord for favor and for answering prayers every day.

 

 NEWS: Strangers Form Human Chain to Save People Caught in Rip Tide

Strangers are being hailed as heroes after forming a human chain to save people caught in a rip tide in the Gulf of Mexico. We pray for all swimmers and we have a summer safety video on how to swim with a rip current on our home page under 50 Clever Ways to Beat the Heat.

 

LOL: Buckle Up, Babies!

Need a little more LOL? Check out our Best LOL Page here...

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