QUOTE OF THE DAY

"OUR LIVES REFLECT OUR BELIEFS -

UNLIMITED SUCCESS COMES FROM

AN UNLIMITED BELIEF SYSTEM"

(How to Think Like A Millionaire)

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

FASTING FROM TWITTER!

I attended church service on January 2nd and the Pastor announced starting January 3rd we were embarking on a 21 day fast. I immediately knew I hadn't prepared myself to give up food and I also realized that food wasn't keeping me from hearing from God. So at that moment I decided to give up twitter. Since I was giving up twitter, I also gave up FaceBook and then I decided to throw alcohol in as well.

One week into my fast I attended a Bad Girls Club Season Premiere party to support a friend Tiffany who was on Season 3. I brought a bottle of liquor as requested by Tiffany for all who were attending yet I didn't partake. A friend of hers asked me why wasn't I drinking and I told her I was fasting. Her initial response was for what? I just began to laugh. Then she said it isn't lent. I told her I know and I am not catholic. Considering the atmosphere and purpose I didn't feel the need to go into my purpose for fasting with her at that moment. Nevertheless it was interesting to see her take on fasting, its purpose, and when she thought it should be done.

Giving up alcohol was easier than giving up twitter (as I rarely drink even socially). Admittedly twitter consumed A LOT of my time. Before this fast, I would wake up in the middle of the night roll over and check my twitter. Before brushing my teeth in the morning, I was checking my twitter. On my way to work on the train, in my car, while sitting at my desk at work I would be checking my twitter. Twitter had become somewhat of an addiction to me.

My purpose for giving up twitter specifically was to remove the one thing out of the way that was keeping me from spending daily quality time with God therefore hindering my spiritual growth.

During this time, I have realized that I can live without twitter but I definitely cannot live without God (I knew that already yet I was taking Him for granted). Twitter was replacing God and other things much more important in my life. I do confess though I miss tweeting random things that happen/I experience and cannot wait to get back to that. I also have a twitter account that I only tweet inspiration, uplifting things so if you do tweet feel free to follow @epiphanyessent! I follow TD Jakes, Creflo Dollar, and other uplifting inspirational people/ministers that send a word sometimes that seems tailor made for me. There are also ways to make $ on twitter so there are good benefits to twitter.

The time is nearing for the fast to end and I confess that I have been 100% successful. During this time I have spent more time with God. Instead of reading tweets on the train I read the chapters of the scriptures referenced during church the previous Sunday. I also read my spiritual scriptures that I receive via email.

This fast has definitely drawn me closer to God and has allowed me to see the need for balance and the importance to always put God first.

So if you want to hear from God and draw closer to Him, I encourage you to think about what may be keeping you from Him and considering fasting.

A brief explanation of Christian Fasting from www.allaboutgod.com:

Christian Fasting - What is it? What is Christian fasting? Biblically, fasting is abstaining from food, drink, sleep or sex to focus on a period of spiritual growth. Specifically, we humbly deny something of the flesh to glorify God, enhance our spirit, and go deeper in our prayer life.

However, the purpose of fasting is to take our eyes off the things of this world and instead focus on God. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God and to ourselves that we are serious about our relationship with Him. Although fasting in Scripture is almost always a fasting from food, there are other ways to fast. Anything you can temporarily give up in order to better focus on God can be considered a fast (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Fasting should be limited to a set time, especially when the fasting is from food. Extended periods of time without eating are harmful to the body. Fasting is not intended to punish our flesh, but to focus on God. (www.allaboutgod.com)


Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

SPIRIT OF THE PROPHECY BULLETIN

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- 1/19/11:

Beloved, I have gone before you to open avenues of opportunity necessary to fulfill your purpose on the next leg of your journey. The doors are opening for you even now, but you must be alert to the possibilities and be aware of the leading of My Spirit. This will be true in the small or seemingly insignificant things of life as well as the things that could bring broad, sweeping changes. Your part is to go with the flow keeping your focus on Me, says the Lord, as you maintain complete trust and faith in Me alone. I want you to be like clay, malleable and willing to yield to the pressure of My hand through your circumstances, for there are things that still need to be reworked, shaped, and transformed into My image as you progress.

Jeremiah 18:2 -6 "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD.
"Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

LISTENING TO GOD - FROM PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES

Listening to God
Renee Swope

"The Son can do nothing by Himself; he can do only what He sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son does also." John 5:19 (NIV)

Devotion:I want to be a woman who listens to God. But, sometimes I'm not sure if it's God talking or just me thinking. And if I'm really honest, when I do sense Him whispering to my heart, I'm not always crazy about what I sense He's telling me to do. Like the time I knew without a doubt God was calling me to share my testimony publicly. I pretty much ran from that assignment for a decade.

Yet, I've learned over the past twenty years that when I listen to God I discover His best for me. And, I grow my trust in Him. I've seen again and again that His ways lead to His goodness. And when I follow Him, His mercy follows me.At the end of my ten-year spiritual sprint away from what scared me most — sharing the story of my brokenness with others — I surrendered to what God was calling me to do. I started listening closely to Him and trusting completely in Him, so that I could experience a day-by-day abiding in His presence and promises. From there, His plans unfolded day-by-day.

Honestly, I thought I had been listening to Him all that time. But one day while I was praying about God's direction in some decisions, the Holy Spirit showed me that I had a habit of asking God what He wanted me to do and where He wanted me to invest my time. Then I went about doing that, without depending on Him for direction each step of the way.

Oftentimes, I would seek God for the larger plans in life, convinced that if I figured out what He wanted me to do then I could become the person He created me to be and fulfill the calling He had for me. Have you ever thought: "If only God would show me what job to take; what man to marry; what church to attend, what ministry to serve in - then my life would be complete and I could trust Him with my whole heart"?The problem is that sometimes we get a glimpse of where He wants us to go and then assume we know how to get there. Or we get a peak at what He wants us to do and think we know how He wants us to get it done. How many times have I made that mistake and then wondered why I wasn't getting anywhere?

Over time, God has taught me that He wants my spiritual ears more than my spiritual efforts. He wants daily dependence, interaction and intimacy with me. And He is more concerned with my character than my calendar.You know, Jesus depended on the Father for the large and fine print written in His life plan. He listened closely and obeyed quickly. In today's key verse, John 5:19, we see His absolute dependence: "The Son can do nothing by Himself; he can do only what He sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son does also."Like Jesus, we will discover God's purpose for our lives through dependent hearts that seek to listen to His — day by day, moment by moment. Let's position our hearts, minds and souls to hear Him speak to us today.

Dear Lord, I want to become a woman who listens to You. I come to You today with a seeking heart, asking not only for direction but for discernment, humility and dependence on You -- each step of the way. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:

Rest Assured: How to Rest, Be Renewed & Remain in God's Promises and Plans a message on CD by Renee Swope

Do worries and distractions ever drown out your ability to hear God's voice? Visit Renee's blog where she's talking about how we can quiet our run-away thoughts and learn to discern God's voice.

Renee's giving away a copy of What Happens When Women Say Yes to God, by Lysa TerKeurst. Click here to find out more.

Shaped with Purpose: Finding God's Purpose for Your Life workbook and message on CD by Renee Swope

When you buy resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity! Each purchase supports the many areas of life-changing ministry we provide at no cost. So, we are extremely grateful when you shop with us!

Application Steps:
Take time today to pull away from distractions and quiet your thoughts, even if it's just 10-15 minutes. Tell God about your desire to hear Him speak to your heart through a verse, a song, a person or a whisper in your soul. Talk to Him about your plans for the day and ask Him to show you His. Give Him permission to interrupt your thoughts and agenda and lead you in a different direction if He wants to. Get ready for a day filled with adventure and companionship as you walk hand in hand with your Maker.

Visit Renee's blog to find out how you can discern God's voice and recognize His promptings.
Reflections:Do I read my Bible so that God's words and ways are familiar to me? Do I intentionally listen for God's voice, or do I assume I know what He wants me to do?

Power Verses:
Psalm 119:16, "I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." (NIV)John 14:31a, "but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father." (NLT)

1 Samuel 3:10, "The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (NIV)

© 2011 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill RoadMatthews, NC 28105http://www.proverbs31.org/

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

QUOTE OF THE DAY - EXCUSES!

Excuses are tools of the incompetent

which create monuments of nothingness

those who specialize in them

are seldom good in anything....

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

HOW TO PRAISE HIM!

Psalm 150

1 Praise the LORD.[a]

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epihany Essentials

FAITH FRIDAY'S - DISCIPLINE NOT DESIRE DETERMINES DESTINY

This morning as my stylist and I were talking about the messages we have been receiving during church service and our own personal growth/development. She quoted something to me,

"Discipline NOT Desire Determines Destiny"

Unfortunately I do not remember the originator of the quote. Now you may ask me how does that tie into Faith?

James 2:18 "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do"

James 2:22 "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."

Faith and works go hand in hand, James 2:17 "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

I was able to accept that quote and let it marinate in my spirit as it lines up with the Word of God. If you have been following the blog this week it is focused on the importance of the Word that we speak. We also must be mindful of the words that others speak to us and determine if we will allow them to enter into our spirit (heart). We must learn how to rebuke those things that are contrary to and do not line up with the Word of God.

Lets look at one of the famous stories in the bible briefly, David and Goliath:

Goliath said to David 1 Samuel 17:43-44 "43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

David's reply 1 Samuel 17:45-47 "45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (Now that took courage and faith, thank goodness God didn't give us a spirit of fear! (2 Timothy 1:7)

David didn't argue with Goliath he simply told him what the Lord God Almighty was going to do through him and to Goliath and his entire army.

When people speak things to you contrary to the Word, speak the Word back and the Word only.

The discipline that must be perfected in order to fulfill our destiny is to speak the Word only, have faith and do not doubt!

Therefore I encourage you to "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials