Challenge of the Day: Go to church

So before you ask, yes I realize today is not Sunday, but the challenge still stands, go to church.  Most churches I know have something going on on Wednesdays, whether it's bible study or fellowship.  If yours doesn't, I'm sure there's one close by that does.  If not, just go sit in the parking lot and pray.  I challenge you to do this because I know how uncomfortable we have gotten with the church lately.  It has become a ritual or an obligation and most people can't even force themselves to go on Sundays.  So let's break up the monotony a little bit and go on Wednesday.  It's usually a smaller group so maybe you won't feel so intimidated and there's usually not as much praise and worship so it may be easier for you to learn.

For my seasoned Sunday saints think of Wednesday as another chance to re-energize and sharpen your weapons for warfare.  Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching (NIV)".  Let's not be the "some" that the writer mentions in these verses.  We need each other, and we will need each other more and more as the day of Christ's return draws nearer.

I encourage you all, Do Not Be Intimidated.  I don't care if you don't know one bible verse, if you're still entangled in the sins of the world, or if you're not even sure if this God exists; you have just as much right as anyone else to be there, just go. 

As always, I love you and I hope many blessings find you today.
Kalonda

New Page: Pray for the Saints!

Good morning, good morning, good morning!  I know I promised to keep you all updated with prayer requests from the persecuted church so I decided to add a page dedicated to these Christian soldiers.  I will try to update it weekly.  Please remember to keep these saints in your prayers.

Pray for the Saints

Love you,
Kalonda

Challenge of the Day: Develop a bible reading plan (12/7/10)

Good morning fam!  I hope everybody was able to find a bible to suit them yesterday.  Now that that's done, we will move on to the next challenge:  Develop a bible reading plan.  This is important now because we have become such a busy people.  We are always running from one activity to the next, and if we don't come up with a definite reading schedule, our daily bread will very quickly be pushed out of our life.

So how do we make a bible reading plan?  Well I wish I could give you a definite answer, but I can't.  Different things work for different people.  When I first decided to read the bible, I read one chapter a day and went straight from Genesis to Revelation.  I had another friend who found a plan on-line that took her through ten chapters a day from ten different sections of the bible.  You have to figure out what works best for you.  I've included links to a couple different bible reading plans, but feel free to research yourself or make up your own.

52 Week Bible Reading Plan

Multiple Bible Reading Plans

But deciding how to read is just step one, we also have to decide when to read.  I know this may sound elementary, but as I mentioned earlier we are a very busy people.  Personally I prefer reading first thing in the morning.  I know this means working people may have to get up a little earlier, but I think it's a great way to focus the rest of your day.  It reminds you that above all things you are an extension of Christ's body, so you can't be gossiping about the boss or cheating on your timesheet.  Reading in the morning may also strengthen those who struggle to get through each day.  The scriptures remind us things like we are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37), everything works together for our good (Romans 8:28), and we can never be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:38).

However some people prefer to read at night.  They feel at that point they can let go of the worries of the day and focus on God.  The Word reminds them that they can rest in God's security.  Scripture says, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures;  He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul... (Psalm 23:1-3)."

Now I'm going to warn you ahead of time that maintaining this plan will not be easy for everyone.  You have to force yourself to do it until it becomes habit.  Pray for God to give you a desire for His word and have faith that He will do it.  Then, in faith, continue reading until it becomes uncomfortable for you not to read.  I got to the point where I felt like something was missing when I didn't read.  Believe me, that was nothing but the work of God.

Helpful hint:  Take notes while you are reading.  This will help you actually study the word and keep you from falling asleep or getting distracted.

New Devotion and Song of the Week! (12/6/10)

Good morning again fam!  We have a great devotion and song this week.  The devotion comes from the book Bible Promises for You and it focuses on praise this week.  The song comes from the mixtape Best of Both Worlds by PDub and Bizzle.  The artists are allowing a free download of this mixtape:  Best of Both Worlds:  Knowledge and Zeal.

Devotion:  Praise

Song of the Week

Challenge of the Day: Find the right bible for you

Good morning family!  I hope everyone is having a great start to this week :)  The challenge for this Monday is to find the right bible for you.  I propose that one of the most important responsibilities of a Christian is to read the bible.  Why?  Because God's word says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)," and, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17)."  So knowing the Word of God is instrumental in pleasing God.  Many of us are not confident in the promises of God because we don't know what they are and we don't know how they apply to us.

Not only does knowing the Word of God increase our faith, but it also prepares us for war.  Many of us don't realize that everyday we wake up, we walk through multiple battlefields.  Not only does our Spirit fight our flesh, but it also battles Satan's demonic forces.  Ephesians 6 tells us that we don't battle flesh and blood but the principalities of darkness.  In order to defeat these forces we need the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. 

When Jesus was starving and tempted in the wilderness, He told Satan, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (Luke 4:4)."  If knowing the Word of God was that important to the perfect Son, how much more important should it be to us? 

So I implore you, don't settle for the family bible that's been decorating the coffee table all your life, or the pocket bible the street evangelist was able to shove into your hand.  Find a bible that you can understand.  There are many different translations and even bibles with pictures.  There are study bibles, bibles on tape, bibles on the internet, and even bible applications for your phone.  But please don't go buy a bible that is so pretty you don't want to mark on it.  The Word says we are to study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).  For most of us this means our bible will probably need some underlining, highlighting, page folding, or note writing to really be useful.

Prayer for the Saints: India

Two years after the worse anti-Christian violence in India, Orissa Christians still live in a state of insecurity and danger. "The Christians of Kandhamal are still living in a situation of discrimination. Sometimes the government food supplies, and other assets that should be distributed among the poor are not delivered to the Christians. In some villages Christian children are not allowed access to government schools," unnamed sources told AsiaNews.
"There is no violence, but there is no peace," Archbishop Raphael Cheenath said. "About 16,000 families have no homes and Christians are not allowed to return to 20 villages unless they convert to Hinduism. In many villages in Kandhamal, Christians live with mistreatment and humiliation every day. They are not allowed to take water from the village well, collect firewood or buy food from shops. The authorities do nothing to prevent such abuse, even if we have made complaints. Their silence is disturbing."

Source: AsiaNews

Please Pray!

Please pray for the Christians in Orissa who are displaced or otherwise suffering in the aftermath of the 2008 riots. Winter is upon them and relief aid is needed. Pray that the Lord will supply all their needs according to his riches in glory. Pray that the authorities will take action on behalf of the Christians.

VOM provides assistance to persecuted believers in India by supplying Bibles and other resources. VOM's Families of Martyrs fund is used to assist families who have lost loved ones in attacks.

Information provided by the Be A Voice network

Challenge of the Day: Get Busy

I’m going to make a bold assumption and say that if all you do as a Christian is go to church, you’re probably being a little selfish.  More than likely you’re going to church to be motivated,forgiven, or inspired.  But what are you doing with these feel good emotions when you leave the building?  If you’re not motivating, forgiving, or inspiring someone else in Jesus’ name then I wonder what you went to church for.
We have to wake up!  Time is limited and Satan is busy.  It seems I am seeing more and more people celebrated for evil everyday.  Pride, greed, and adultery are running rampant while abortion, homosexuality, and fornication are accepted as personal choices.  We have grown apathetic while Satan is running around killing saints and raising demons.
Church is great for informing us and strengthening our individual resolve, but we should also be strengthening each other outside the church.  The end is coming.  I don’t know what day or time but the bible promises us that it is coming.  And this is my personal belief.  If the Lord chooses to start the persecution tomorrow and I’m still here, I would rather be surrounded by strong Christian soldiers than to be running scared alone.  But whatever position I find myself in, I will be ready.  Will you?