When You Think or Feel Forgotten

I remember being in second grade and sleeping in an attic bedroom. I felt alone, scared and disconnected from my mom, stepfather and my brother—my father's biological child.

I remember being in sixth grade and feeling too chubby and awkward for anyone to like me. I wondered if I could ever capture a guy's attention or a guy's heart. 

I remember being a senior in high school, but instead of being at school I was sitting at home, depressed and pregnant. My boyfriend already had a new girlfriend. I wondered if there would ever be a man who would love me and my child.

And during each of those times, I prayed. I prayed to belong. I prayed to be chosen. I prayed to be worthy of a lifelong commitment.

I'd forgotten about those times until just this morning, when I read in Bible about Joseph locked in prison. Joseph hadn't done anything wrong. God had even granted him the ability to interpret the dreams of the chief baker and cupbearer. Joseph only asked for one thing: not to be forgotten. He simply wanted the men whom he helped to remember him and offer help in return. But it didn't happen.

"Pharaoh's chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought" (Gen. 40:23, NLT).

Joseph may have felt forgotten for a time, but God remembered him. God knew exactly where Joseph was. God was with him, and when the season of Joseph's kingdom service came, God helped the chief cupbearer to remember him, too, and within days Joseph went from prison cell to palace seat.

Do you feel forgotten?

Have you prayed to belong? Have you prayed to be chosen? Have you prayed for a spouse, a child or a long-desired dream?

People may forget. You may have pushed your prayers to the back of your mind, but God remembers.

We have to trust God even when we feel forgotten: "Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!" (Hab. 3:17-18).

And in your waiting, also have the faith to look ahead: "'The time will come,' says the Lord, 'when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine!" (Amos 9:13).

Do you feel forgotten? God remembers.

Do you feel alone? God remembers.

Do you feel that someone who should be on your side isn't giving you another thought? God is there.

Keep turning to Him. Keep praying. In the right moment, God's timing will come and His purpose will be displayed. You will enjoy a harvest of blessings in a way you couldn't have experienced unless you'd walked through the silent days.

Now, how about you? When is a time that you felt forgotten? How did God show up? 

By Tricia Goyer

STAND FIRM - LET YOUR COURAGE ENCOURAGE SOMEONE!

Thus says The Lord your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb; I am The Lord who makes

all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; Who confirms the word if His servants. He says to Jerusalem 'You shall be inhabited; And to the temple 'Your foundation shall be laid." Isaiah 44:24-28....

Indeed, The Lord, He is God. He sees, He knows, He cares, and He is with us. Why are we weeping; why are we frustrated; why are we afraid; why are we cursing; why are we hiding; why are we fighting by our strength; why are we lying down; why are we hopeless; why are we giving up?

Don't cry so much over afflictions. In fact, Paul made it clearer when he spoke in Romans 8:18 that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in ‘us.

Your afflictions are only pushing you harder, stronger, & faster towards your destiny. You'll be wiser, much stronger, & well equipped by the time you get there. And if you are able to stand to the end it will give you a better glory and eternal life. Make sure you learn from every experience you encounter on the way. There is truly a lesson in every experience. Only trust the God who has called you. He indeed knows the end from the beginning.

There is no limit to His Power at work in you. He rules and reigns over all. He is the one, who, in spite of Moses’ weaknesses used him to obtain independence for a whole nation (Israel); He is the One who made and immigrant (Esther), the First Lady in a foreign land; Who used Gideon (who’s family is classified under Minorities, Low Income group, of a nation), to lead the nation into victory;

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:1. He rules and reigns over all. The bible calls Him the ‘God of all flesh’, and that there is nothing too hard for Him.

Be bold, be strong for The Lord your God is with you. The Lord our God in the midst of us, He is Mighty. He can do all things. He will come, And He will save you.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego caught this revelation when they had to answer the king in this manner – “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3: 17, 18. How many of us are ready to say ‘BUT IF NOT….’ to our oppressors? If you take courageous enough to stand, your courage will encourage some generations after you.

Don't be afraid, child of God. Your affliction is not breaking you…. It is making you….. in fact, into a better person…… It is sending you…. in fact, into a better promise. Jesus said “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11. This promise is also true! Stand firm. For you have a better promise awaiting you. If you stand firm you will receive the crown of glory. He who has promised, He is faithful and He also will do it. You are truly blessed and highly favored.

Prayer and Declarations for new week

The Lord, will help you to be responsible for every promotion He give you and He will help you to upgrade every promotion He has given unto you today in Jesus name.

The God that raised David, will raise you and help you this week.

The car you drive now is the least you will ever drive.
The house you live in now is the least you will ever live in.
Your hands are blessed.
Whatever you lay your hands to do will prosper.
Whatever is committed to you prospers.
Your prayer life takes another level. The least level you will ever be is the level you are now
You are a soul winner.
Your enemies will see your exaltation.
Your elevation will turn your enemies to the Lord.
Those who are angry at your present elevation, God will answer them with another elevation. Claim and receive it in Jesus name.J

Happy New Week from us ASB-World. 

The Right Kind of Fear

TEXT: PSALM 112:1-10

KEY VERSE: “Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments” (Psalm 112:1).

God is great and holy. His divine attributes are exclusively incomparable. As Creator of the universe, He alone deserves to be held in awe and with reverential fear the Psalmist is calling for today.

The text is about the blessings of the man that fears God. Fear, in this sense, does not mean being afraid of or being frightened by God for that is a negative emotion. That kind of fear will only make us to run away from Him. The fear described in the text implies holding God in awe - a positive feeling that even draws us closer to Him even as we hesitate, out of reverence, to get too familiar with Him. This blessed man fears God and therefore delights to obey His word. The proof of godly fear is wholehearted obedience to God’s word.

Also note that this blessed man is both gracious and generous. His blessings are innumerable and apply in time and eternity. Some of these blessings are listed in our text: a blessed posterity, inward and outward prosperity, comfort, wisdom, stability and honour. This man is so established that neither men nor devils can remove him from his rightful place. His blessings are also enduring. Contrast this with the wicked who, with envious grief, “shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish (verse 10).

Does your life square up with that of the blessed man? Do you fear God? No one can truly manifest godly fear until his life is manifestly regenerated and has profitably benefitted from entire sanctification. These blessings can be yours today if you truly and sincerely pray in faith to receive.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Godly fear honours God.

Try this Infused Blender Chocolate Mousse

Infused chocolate mousse. It’s intensely chocolatey, with bergamot–laced tea and freshly grated orange zest contributing notes of sophistication to show her just how much you’ve matured since those teenage days of class cutting and door slamming. A dollop of mascarpone (or Greek yogurt or whipped cream) offers an extra layer of decadence, because why not? And now for that shortcut: The mousse is made in a blender, which makes your life a heck of a lot easier.

Ingredients:

6 ounces high quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped (or 2/3 cup chocolate chips)
1/2 cup boiling water
1 Earl Grey tea bag
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
4 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
Lightly sweetened whipped cream, mascarpone, or Greek yogurt (for topping)

Preparations:

Bring water to a boil. Add tea bag, orange zest, and sugar. Cover and steep for five minutes.

Place chopped chocolate and vanilla extract in blender. Strain steeped tea into blender (you want just the liquid in the blender, not the zest). Let sit about 30-60 seconds to allow the chocolate to begin to melt. Cover the blender and blend on high for 15 to 30 seconds.

Add egg whites to the blender, cover, and blend on high for about 60 seconds.

Divide mousse between 4 small serving containers. (Get creative! Think 1/2 pint mason jars, tea cups, cute bowls, etc.) Cover and refrigerate until set. This usually takes about 3 to 4 hours, but can be done up to 2 days in advance.

Top mousse with a dollop of lightly sweetened whip cream, mascarpone, or greek yogurt, and serve. I used greek yogurt with a pinch or orange zest and a splash of orange juice quite successfully, but play around with your own favorite flavorings!

BY YAHOO.COM

Do you think is too LATE, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE (Read)

It was an unusually busy day for the hospital staff on the sixth floor.

Ten new patients were admitted and Nurse Susan spent the morning and afternoon checking them in.

Her friend Sharron, an aide, prepared ten rooms for the patients and made sure they were comfortable.

After they were finished, she grabbed Sharron and said, “We deserve a break. Let’s go eat.”

Sitting across from each other in the noisy cafeteria, Susan noticed Sharron absently wiping the moisture off the outside of her glass with her thumbs. Her face reflected a weariness that came from more than just a busy day.

“You’re pretty quiet. Are you tired, or is something wrong?” – Susan asked.

Sharron hesitated. However, seeing the sincere concern in her friend’s face, she confessed, “I can’t do this the rest of my life, Susan.

I have to find a higher-paying job to provide for my family. We barely get by. If it weren’t for my parents keeping my kids, well, we wouldn’t make it.”

Susan noticed the bruises on Sharron’s wrists peeking out from under her jacket.

“What about your husband?”

“We can’t count on him. He can’t seem to hold a job. He’s got . . . problems.”

“Sharron, you’re so good with patients, and you love working here. Why don’t you go to school and become a nurse?

There’s financial help available, and I’m sure your parents would agree to keep the kids while you are in class.”

“It’s too late for me, Susan; I’m too old for school. I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, that’s why I took this job as an aide; at least I get to care for patients.”

“How old are you?” – Susan asked.

“Let’s just say I’m thirty-something.”

Susan pointed at the bruises on Sharron’s wrists. “I’m familiar with ‘problems’ like these. Honey, it’s never too late to become what you’ve dreamed of. Let me tell you how I know.”

Susan began sharing a part of her life few knew about. It was something she normally didn’t talk about, only when it helped someone else.

“I first married when I was thirteen years old and in the eighth grade.”

Sharron gasped.

“My husband was twenty-two. I had no idea he was violently abusive. We were married six years and I had three sons.

One night, my husband beat me so savagely he knocked out all my front teeth. I grabbed the boys and left.

“At the divorce settlement, the judge gave our sons to my husband because I was only nineteen and he felt I couldn’t provide for them. The shock of him taking my babies left me gasping for air.

To make things worse, my ex took the boys and moved, cutting all contact I had with them.

“Just like the judge predicted, I struggled to make ends meet. I found work as a waitress, working for tips only. Many days my meals consisted of milk and crackers.

The most difficult thing was the emptiness in my soul. I lived in a tiny one-room apartment and the loneliness would overwhelm me. I longed to play with my babies and hear them laugh.”

She paused. Even after four decades, the memory was still painful. Sharron’s eyes filled with tears as she reached out to comfort Susan. Now it didn’t matter if the bruises showed.

Susan continued, “I soon discovered that waitresses with grim faces didn’t get tips, so I hid behind a smiling mask and pressed on.

I remarried and had a daughter. She became my reason for living, until she went to college.

“Then I was back where I started, not knowing what to do with myself – until the day my mother had surgery. I watched the nurses care for her and thought: I can do that.

The problem was, I only had an eighth-grade education. Going back to high school seemed like a huge mountain to conquer. I decided to take small steps toward my goal.

My daughter used to laugh at how our roles reversed. Now I was burning the midnight oil and asking her questions.”

Susan paused and looked directly in Sharron’s eyes. “I received my diploma when I was forty-six years old.”

Tears streamed down Sharron’s cheeks. Here was someone offering the key that might unlock the door in her dark life.

“The next step was to enroll in nursing school. For two long years I studied, cried and tried to quit. But my family wouldn’t let me.

I remember calling my daughter and yelling, ‘Do you realize how many bones are in the human body, and I have to know them all! I can’t do this, I’m forty-six years old!’ But I did.

Sharron, I can’t tell you how wonderful it felt when I received my cap and pin.”

Sharron’s lunch was cold, and the ice had melted in her tea by the time Susan finished talking.

Reaching across the table and taking Sharron’s hands, Susan said, “You don’t have to put up with abuse. Don’t be a victim – take charge. You will be an excellent nurse. We will climb this mountain together.”

Sharron wiped her mascara-stained face with her napkin. “I had no idea you suffered so much pain. You seem like someone who has always had it together.”

“I guess I’ve developed an appreciation for the hardships of my life,” Susan answered. “If I use them to help others, then I really haven’t lost a thing.

Sharron, promise me that you will go to school and become a nurse. Then help others by sharing your experiences.”

Sharron promised. In a few years she became a registered nurse and worked alongside her friend until Susan retired. Sharron never forgot her colleague or the rest of her promise.

Now Sharron sits across the table taking the hands of those who are bruised in body and soul, telling them, “It’s never too late. We will climb this mountain together.”

Credit: By Linda Carol Apple

We will be glad you share your experiences with us.

Recipes: No-Sugar Sugar Cookies

Good news: for your next occasion, you can still enjoy the delicious sugar cookie taste without all the calories from added sugar. Try Vanessa Williams’ favorite No-Sugar Sugar Cookie recipe. Made with SPLENDA®  No Calorie Sweetener, these tasty cookies only have a gram of sugar and less than four grams of fat per serving. Also, if you’re decorating your cookies for a holiday, lightly sprinkling them with colored SPLENDA® Sugar Blend is a great alternative to frosting.

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup light butter

1 cup SPLENDA®  No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 tablespoon vanilla extract 

1/4 cup egg substitute

1/4 cup water

3/4 teaspoon vinegar (white or cider)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups cake flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet and set aside.

2. Blend together butters, SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer, or by hand. Blend until butter is softened. Add egg substitute, water and vinegar. Mix briefly. Add flours, salt and baking powder. Mix on low speed, until dough is formed. Do not over-mix.

3. Remove dough from bowl and place on a floured work surface. Divide dough in half. Pat each half into a circle and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate approx. 1 hour, allowing dough to chill.

4. Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out on a floured work surface to desired thickness, approx. 1/4 inch. Cut with cookie cutters. Place cookies on prepared sheet.

5. Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned on the back. Cool on a wire rack. 

BY yahoo.com