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Dear sister, I have to tell you that poor is not what I feel from your words here, but on the complete contrary, I sense a very wealthy spirit about you. I have often been known to say, "I'm not poor, I just don't have any money." This sounds like it might fit your situation as well, for while you or I might not have any money, are we not the richest women ever because we are daughters of the King?
I realize that in this truth lies much comfort, but when money is tight and shut-offs or repossessions are impending, we still fight the urge to stress out over it. I do, at least. My Jesus is far from finished with me and is still teaching me how to cast my care and wait patiently for Him to work out the kinks in my financial life. But praise Him, He always comes through, and I'm betting the same is true for you, for our God never lies.
I pray you will take heart in the promise that He has plans to "prosper you and not to harm you ... to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). I don't know where this falls within prosperity evangelism, as I don't pay much attention to anything other than scripture, if you feel me on that, but I do know that during some of my darkest and financially bleak moments, I have prayed these words, reminding the Lord (ha ... as if He needs to be reminded of His promises =) that I am standing firm on them.
I have also prayed the prayer of Jabez, (1 Chronicles 4:10) "Oh that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory" etc. and I have to say that I most definitely see a difference in the results of my life efforts when I am praying "promises" and claiming them than when I am simply beseeching Him to gimme, gimme gimme. Know what I mean? (Not that I'm saying that is what you are doing, just sharing a little with you in hopes of encouraging you.) You are not alone in your struggle, is what I mean to say. But the outcome of my situation is always blessed. Always. He is indeed faithful to provide my every need as I thankfully acknowledge that I KNOW He will keep His every promise to me. Luke 12:22-24 also springs to mind for me very often: Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Yeh ... I really love that one.
I want to welcome you to CB, and my intention here is to encourage you, not to just blithely point out scripture that you probably already know. The Lord has simply lain it upon my heart to remind you of these things this morning ... so ... hopefully it will cheer you and lift you up.
I look forward to reading more of your thoughts and writings.
God be with you and bless you abundantly. May you be pressed down, shaken together and overflowing!
Much love in Him, Mona
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Posted 07/02/2009 05:38am
Author: ilovehimso
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Hey queen. Poverty seems to be a stronghold in our minds and hearts that is a tough one to break. One thing I have learned is that the more I fight to believe God's Word (on any given subject be it money, love, faith, etc.) the more Satan turns the heat up every time. Practice giving (even what seems insignificant to you .. it can be money, time, material things and such). Poverty is like a small little tiny room that is closed up and giving will open up a door and give some relief. Renew your mind as often as you can to think more like a person that has some sort of financial relief (don't try to take on a mansion-type mentality). I agree with Mona, it seems you have much more going for you spiritually than you think you do. Speak to your mountain as well. Tell depression and poverty and such to take a hike. Say aloud, "I am a daughter of the most High God! God favors me and I am the apple of His Eye!". Renew your mind to what God says about you.. He tells us all through the His Word. Be diligent in your Bible reading. Ask God for understanding when reading the Bible. God bless!
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Posted 07/02/2009 08:56am
Author: debradoo
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I have to say I was very poor as a child. I lived in orphanages and I married at 18. I studied for a BA in Business Studies and went down the materialistic road, only to discover that there was still something missing. Lord be the centre of my life for everymore, you fill all the gaps, and supply all my needs Isaiah 58:11.
I enjoyed talking with you very much today. God Bless You with all your needs, not wants.
Love, hugs & kisses
Alison McQueen
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Posted 07/02/2009 10:14am
Author: alisonwhitefordmcq
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Thank you all for you sharing the Bread (God's Holy Word) with me. Behold, how good and how pleasant itis for brethern to dwell together in unity! I is like precious oil upon the head...(Psalm 133:1-2).
I was really feeling down yesterday because my vehicle was reposssesed. I simply was unable to pay the bill and had resorted to hiding it. I felt in my spirit that I needed to simply let it go, but I suppose fear gripped me into to thinking that the car was a main resource for my family and I needed it to transport my children and look for employment. I kept praying and believing God for a breakthrough to clear the debt. The night before last, I decided not to hide the car anymore, I lifted my hands in surrender and said, "Lord, I am trusting You". I woke up the next morning and the car was gone. I know that I still have to trust the Lord, but I felt like my pit had just deepened.
However, after I wrote the blog, I felt a release, I was able to leave out and accomplish the work that the Lord set before me today, which was to attend a local church's vacation bible school with my daughters, I ended up teaching the youth class a lesson from John 1:10. The church is located in one of the poorest sections of town and many of the children really needed to know that Jesus loves them. We sang, "Jesus Loves Me" and the spirit of the Lord really moved there for us. I was truly blessed just as I am blessed by the love and encouragement being showed here today.
Thank you for being the light and salt that I need. Your words have brightened my dark preceptions and perserved me from the snares of the enemy.
When I speak of prosperity gospel, I realize that the Lord has promised us many riches in His glory. However, I have heard some preach that if you are a true child of God, operating in the gift of faith, than you should not experience material lack. This ideology has tripped me up in the past because I use to look at my material/ financial status and say, I believe so why am I not recieving. I am now learning that God's timing is not my timing and God's ways are not my ways. I have recieved, and now, as Ilovehimso stated, is the time to wait patiently for Him to bring it to pass.
I also appreciate the comments of debrado and alision, that I must ask to Lord to help me increase in the Spirit of giving, count my blessings, and remaing focused on God as the center of my life. God is Good. Be Blessed.
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Posted 07/02/2009 01:21pm
Author: queendwta
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Thank you all for you sharing the Bread (God's Holy Word) with me. Behold, how good and how pleasant itis for brethern to dwell together in unity! I is like precious oil upon the head...(Psalm 133:1-2).
I was really feeling down yesterday because my vehicle was reposssesed. I simply was unable to pay the bill and had resorted to hiding it. I felt in my spirit that I needed to simply let it go, but I suppose fear gripped me into to thinking that the car was a main resource for my family and I needed it to transport my children and look for employment. I kept praying and believing God for a breakthrough to clear the debt. The night before last, I decided not to hide the car anymore, I lifted my hands in surrender and said, "Lord, I am trusting You". I woke up the next morning and the car was gone. I know that I still have to trust the Lord, but I felt like my pit had just deepened.
However, after I wrote the blog, I felt a release, I was able to leave out and accomplish the work that the Lord set before me today, which was to attend a local church's vacation bible school with my daughters, I ended up teaching the youth class a lesson from John 1:10. The church is located in one of the poorest sections of town and many of the children really needed to know that Jesus loves them. We sang, "Jesus Loves Me" and the spirit of the Lord really moved there for us. I was truly blessed just as I am blessed by the love and encouragement being showed here today.
Thank you for being the light and salt that I need. Your words have brightened my dark preceptions and perserved me from the snares of the enemy.
When I speak of prosperity gospel, I realize that the Lord has promised us many riches in His glory. However, I have heard some preach that if you are a true child of God, operating in the gift of faith, than you should not experience material lack. This ideology has tripped me up in the past because I use to look at my material/ financial status and say, I believe so why am I not recieving. I am now learning that God's timing is not my timing and God's ways are not my ways. I have recieved, and now, as Ilovehimso stated, is the time to wait patiently for Him to bring it to pass.
I also appreciate the comments of debrado and alision, that I must ask to Lord to help me increase in the Spirit of giving, count my blessings, and remaing focused on God as the center of my life. God is Good. Be Blessed.
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Posted 07/02/2009 03:25pm
Author: queendwta
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I am going through something similar right now, so lets swap prayers.
Don't feel bad about feeling a burden for providing for your children, that's just your God given motherly instincts, just give most of that burden over to Jesus,
they were His children even before they were yours.
It sounds like you are doing your part, and Jesus (Your Husband) will do His part.
However, He has this habit of always coming through at the very last minute, (in some unusual way) just when our faith is beginning to waver.
That is how He builds our faith, through alowing it to be stretched until it is almost ready to fail.
Please do a follow up post and let us know how He does this for you. Vance
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Posted 07/02/2009 05:34pm
Author: disciplevance
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there has been much debate and controversy about God, prosperity and its' place in the life of a Christian...as a Child of God you have a covenant, written and sealed with the Blood of Jesus Christ, that if you do your part, live holy, tithe Malachai 3:10, Luke 6:38, and trust in Him He will prosper you... He has to... He promised in Genesis 15 with the covenant with Abraham... and included us in that covenant in Galatians 3:13... what trips folks up is when we don't see prosperity when we think we need it.. But He does supply all of our needs according to His riches in Glory... Phil.4:19, we have to build faith in His promise to prosper us...
and don't be intimidated... a lot of us try to be good at bible study... . it takes time!
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Posted 07/02/2009 09:54pm
Author: blackrose65
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Log Into Chatroom 
