January Newsletter... January 15 2018
Our January Newsletter
Happy New Year from God-Driven-Designs! This month we're celebrating a fresh start to the New Year. That means, close the door on 2017, and move forward with God. With Martin Luther King Day, on the 15th, it's important to press forward towards the mark and not take on the spirit of offense. Let nothing stop you from receiving all the blessings that God has for you.
In this month's issue we cover:
Our January Message: Protect Your Blessings, Father, Forgive Them, Don't Worry, and Our January Prayer and Prayer for Puerto Rico
Music Spotlight: Aaron Cole Featuring Toby Mac: Right On Time; Yolanda Adams Featuring Donnie McClurkin and Mary Mary: Lift Him Up: Bishop Hezekiah Walker: Better
Inspiration Station: Myron Rolle: From the NFL to Neurosurgery
Need an Uplifting Word? Bishop T.D. Jakes: No Matter What Don't Withdraw In Fear
Money Central: 25 Top Tips to Save More Money
News: Puerto Rico; Utah Deputy Breaks Through Ice To Save Dying Boy
Our Latest Book: Pray It By Ear
Valentine's Day: Cards and Gifts
LOL: Dad Can't Get a Break...
Buckle up...
Protect Your Blessings...
So, how cold was it?
Yup, that sounds like the line for a joke, but it was that cold that people all over the country were experiencing the frigid air.
While it snowed in Tallahassee, Florida and Boston saw cars engulfed in an ice flood, animals were hit the hardest. We saw images on TV of the alligators that froze in the water with their snouts out so they could still breathe, and we saw the eagles hovering over frozen nests blanketed in snow to protect their eggs. This brings us to our message, "Protect Your Blessings".
I once saw a lady at a bus stop and she was upset because as she scratched off a lottery ticket, she hadn't won. I told her, "But look, the bus is right on time." Sometimes people don't realize that God sends blessings we don't even see. God sometimes sends us a window or a seed, and He can make the way for anybody. He's no respecter of persons. It's what you do with the opportunity that can bring about change. That seed needs to be planted, you have to go through the door, and so forth.
A while back we referenced the stories in the Bible about the babies. One story was about the 2 mothers: One mother fell over on her baby while sleeping and the baby died. She took another woman's baby and pretended it was her own. They went before King Solomon who saw the women fighting and he said, "Fine, split the baby in two," but the woman who was the baby's real mother cried out, "No, don't do that! Let her have the baby." King Solomon knew she was the real mother and gave her the baby back. In looking at this story, consider your own life and your blessings, or babies.
Think about who might try to take what you have or destroy you because they can't have their own. This was a move that we saw in Genesis when Abel gave an acceptable sacrifice, but Cain didn't. All Cain had to do was give the same type of offering. It's a reminder to be careful with who is around you because while you came through 2017, there are haters and people that won't like you because God has blessed you and like that eagle, you have to protect your blessings.
Father, Forgive Them: How to Block the Spirit of Offense
With so many people trying to offend you, it's important to press forward towards the mark and not let the spirit of offense stop you. People are talking about "slaves" and "lynchings" and using demeaning and hurtful words, but recognize that's a trap of the enemy. Let nothing stop you from receiving all the blessings that God has for you.
WARNING ABOUT WORDS:
Please be very careful in this season with "offending words". People will try to offend you and it's all over the news. They're calling people slaves, attacking their character, and using words that are highly offensive and downright ignorant and pretending it's nothing or didn't happen to throw you off and offend you. This is a sabotaging attack by the enemy to try to block your blessing and it happened to me. Read the full message here...
Have you HEARD Aaron Cole and TobyMac? Love the lyric:
"Don't worry. Just lay it down. It's not your fight. Don't worry. His love is always right on time."
Don't Worry...
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint - Isaiah 40:31
A funny thing has been happening outside our apartment building. It happened last year, but I guess it happened again just so I could use it in this message - God has his hand in everything!
Our building has a runoff problem with water. There's a wall just behind the building that's full of cracks. It's kind of sad because it's creating more work for the maintenance men. You see, every morning in the winter, the sun comes up, shines its light and the snow and ice melt and run through the cracks in the wall and over it, and by the end of the day, there's a big icy mess. So the way they've tried to resolve the problem is to go out every day and chip at the ice for hours, clear the ice, put down salt, and then come back the next day and it's pretty much the same thing. It's really backward, in my opinion, because what they're doing is in retrospect. They need to repair the wall and run a new drain line. They even mentioned that they needed to repair the wall and run a new drain line, but did nothing all year long and now, every day, you hear the chipping again and the guys standing around suggesting to one another that it's probably time to move to Florida, which brings me to my point.
What are you "chipping away at" that God is telling you to fix or walk away from? What did He tell you to do a long time ago that you're now trying to address, but not the way He asked? We all do it. It's us using our flesh or our thoughts and thinking it will be a temporary fix, but that's not the point. What did God say to do?
Bishop TD Jakes had an interesting message at the beginning of the New Year on the subject matter. He said that this year would require you to get in praise and worship to commune before God in the middle of the mess and the storms or else this year will be a repeat of the last year. ("Chip, chip!")
In the story of Mary and Martha, Martha was moaning because Mary worshipped the Lord when there was work to do. Jesus told Martha to leave Mary alone because she was worshipping Him. There will be things this year that you need that you can't get with an easy fix by chipping away at it (flesh) and throwing down a little ice. You are going to have to walk away from some things and people, and lay your burdens down and obey God and praise God.
It sounds weird, right? A flood of water is coming in and I'm telling you to leave it there and go put on praise and worship music. Yup. That's exactly what I'm telling you to do.
Just like that eagle is covering her babies against the elements, know that God is already working to protect us and what's ours, but we have to spend time with the Father. I can't stress it enough this year: Whatever it is that you have, your business, your ministry, your new book, your education, dedicate it to God and go spend time with Him. Line up with God's purpose and His plan so you can be in alignment with Him and His work and His will. His will. When you do, the Angel of the Lord helps you because then you are working to do the will of the Father, not the work of the flesh, and no Word of God ever fails! He will make the way and you'll see that icy mess you were worried about isn't a problem at all - Do like Jesus and rebuke the storm, the wind, the waves, and the ice!
Don't worry. Just do what God says to do!
Our January Prayer...
Father God, in the name of Jesus, Lord we thank you for another year. We thank you for preparing us for the coming blessings. We thank you for rebuking the storms in our lives. Thank you for your love, Lord. Please arm and equip us and help each and every one. Help us Lord with the floods. In areas that are low-lying, help to protect them, areas that have run-offs, send help right away, Lord. We pray for our year to be blessed, Lord. Please show us the way and we renew our vows to you, Lord. We're so excited about what you have in store this year. Help us to do your work and your will.
Father God, we pray for our nation, our leaders, and our planet. Help keep us on one accord, end the violence, fighting, and violence against the police. We pray for peace on our streets. Bless and be with each and every one, Lord. Show us the way we pray and we ask for open doors and windows. Help us to fast and please direct us when to fast and for how long and direct our church leaders. Our hearts, minds, mouths, and arms are wide open for you! We need you, Lord. Less of us and more of you. Show us the way, Lord. Tell us your desires. Tell us what's in your heart, Lord that we might commune with you. We pray, Lord, please increase the anointing in our lives. Please show us our purpose. We praise you and thank you for your covering and for the gift of Jesus over each and every one. The devil is defeated in our lives and we walk away from anything that is not you, in Jesus's name, amen.
Anything in bold above is something the Holy Spirit may have mentioned or revealed in a dream to pray about.
Prayer for Puerto Rico
The Holy Spirit asked us to include a special prayer for Puerto Rico. We pray,
Father God in the name of Jesus, thank you for protecting and covering the island of Puerto Rico. I can still hear so many saying "It's not fair," but Lord, please heal their hearts so they don't have any bitterness or take on the spirit of offense. It was horrible how they were ignored by the government and how long they've had to wait on aid and help, but we know that you know all and see all and we have an advocate in you. We praise you, Father God, because when men turned their backs, you made the way. Father, there are still so many without, but we know to speak in advance of what they need, so we pray and stand in the gap for Puerto Rico. Change their situation, Lord. Give them a reason to rejoice. Give them victory. Let it be in their voices, Lord. Let the money be loosed into their atmosphere. Open the supply house. The news is saying $2 billion is being held up. The devil is a liar. We don't receive that. Puerto Rico has their money and every resident can apply for grant money. We also pray for accountability, Lord. There are demons in government that are purposely holding back their money. I know one story on Facebook was a man that said his family received a tarp and a $200 loan and nothing else. Lord, let the news media do special coverage to spotlight where the money has gone. Let people open their homes for Puerto Ricans while they make repairs as the money comes in, and please protect the island, protect the family members, and reduce crime so that people can go back to their daily living with safe streets. We praise you for the victory and we have an advocate in you and angels are around Puerto Rico. Lord, have mercy. Lord, we praise you for the victory. Lord, we give you glory and we lift the island of Puerto Rico up to you. We don't say, "It's not fair." We say, "It's God that supplies our needs." We love you and praise you and thank you for covering and restoring Puerto Rico, Lord, please renew their minds, protect their vision (not sure if this is physical eye vision for the elderly or focus vision), and bless the military there that have helped out so much and we cancel every demonic attack against Puerto Rico in Jesus's name, amen. What they sowed in tears, may they reap a harvest and bountiful blessings in joy! Wipe every tear, Lord. Wipe every tear! It's already done!
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!
Bishop Jakes: No Matter What, Don't Withdraw In Fear
In order to have transformation in your life, you have to go where God says go and do what God says to do.
Inspiration Station: The Myron Rolle Story
The Myron Rolle story: If you haven't heard this young man's inspiring story, Myron Rolle was an NFL player who went on to become a neurosurgeon. We pray for this young man and for anyone who has a dream. Always surround yourself with people who are like-minded and can inspire you. Check out his inspiring story here...
25 Top Tips to Save More Money
Even if you're on the tightest budget, we have great ways for you to save more. It's not that hard once you get started:
1. Sow to Save: By giving a tithe or offering, you are activating a faith-based response from God. When you sow, you reap, so this is a quick way to say, "Okay, Lord, I am giving as I know it shall be given back to me." That's what the woman with the 2 mites did in the Bible. Even if you have a small seed, like $5 or $20, whatever the Lord puts on your heart, sow it and trust God to bring it back to you.
2. Save Coupons - Online and in the Paper: Coupons can help you get all kinds of offers and they are now offered online to simplify your savings. Use your favorite grocery store's online flyer to add coupons to your rebates/rewards card. That way when you check out in the store or online, you'll already have the coupons ready to be applied. Click here for the full article...
In a world that wants us to tune into man or machine (electronic devices), it's important to hear from God.
God-Driven-Designs has created a prayer inspired book that gives:
- Simple prayers to call on God,
- Sample prayers that have worked,
- God's sense of humor: funny stories about answered prayers,
- How to ask for God's mercy and scriptures to rely on,
- Prophetic words that God has shared that have come true about the recent earthquakes, Puerto Rico, cruise ship accidents, the travel accidents, and mass shootings,
- Steps to help you pray for others and have your own prayers answered, and
- An inspiring Foreword with the message to never give up by God-Driven-Designs
.
Order your copy of our latest and most powerful eBook which will be released shortly.
We can't wait to share it with you!
News: Prayers for Puerto Rico
While prayers are still needed for the island, a glimmer of hope.
We posted a while back that the Holy Spirit said "Don't worry," recently. Bishop Hezekiah Walker was singing at the Dove Awards recently and Jonathan McReynolds said in the middle of the song "Don't worry about Puerto Rico," meaning God's got it. Then on January 12th, the lights went on at Academia Bautista de Puerto Nuevo, a school that had been without power 112-days. Praise God for answering our prayers! We continue to pray for the 45% still without power. Sign our Petition for Puerto Rico here...
Hezekiah Walker: It's Gonna Get Better God is in Full Control...
Have you heard Hezekiah Walker's Better video? With guest stars like Anthony Brown, Jekalyn Carr, and Bri, there's a moment when guest star Jonathan McReynolds says, "Don't worry about Puerto Rico," which is what the Holy Spirit has been saying.
News: Utah Deputy Breaks Through Ice to Save Dying Boy
Shared Via Yahoo News: (NEW HARMONY, Utah) — A Utah sheriff’s deputy said Tuesday he was desperate and numb from the cold as he punched and stomped his way into a frozen pond on Christmas Day to pull out an 8-year-old boy who had fallen through the ice while chasing his dog.
With cuts on his forearms, Washington County sheriff’s Sgt. Aaron Thompson said at a news conference that rescuers believe the child was in the 37-degree water for about 30 minutes until the deputy rescued him.
“As the ice got thicker, I couldn’t break it with my arms and my fists anymore, so I had to jump up on
top of the ice, putting my weight on it, and then pound on it to get it to break.”
“I couldn’t feel anything. I didn’t notice anything when I was doing it,” Thompson said. “I knew that time was of the essence. I had a very short window to get that child out of the water.” Sheriff’s Lt. David Crouse said the boy was hospitalized in Salt Lake City but he didn’t have details on his condition. Thompson said deputies were hopeful.
The boy fell through the ice in the town of New Harmony, north of St. George. After arriving at the scene, Thompson, who had served on a search and rescue dive team, began searching an area where a woman reported seeing the boy’s hand flail about four minutes earlier.
The deputy stomped to break through the ice and work his way deeper, pounding with his hands and fists. “As the ice got thicker, I couldn’t break it with my arms and my fists anymore, so I had to jump up on top of the ice, putting my weight on it, and then pound on it to get it to break,” he said.
When he went into the water, his toes brushed against reeds growing on the bottom of the pond and water reached his neck. He swished his arms and legs around before finding the boy beneath the ice about 25 feet from the shoreline. Thompson was treated for symptoms of hypothermia and released from a hospital Monday night. He said he lost feeling in some fingers but sensation had returned by Tuesday.
He expects to return to work by early next week.
The Spectrum of St. George reported that Sheriff Cory Pulsipher praised the deputy.
“He hates having the spotlight on him, but he’s a hero,” Pulsipher said.
LOL of the Day...
Dad just can't get a break. Wife films husband's comic attempt at throwing out the dead Christmas tree dogs weren't ready to part with...
