Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.30.11

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” 

Luke 11:33-36 

Pray
Father You woke me today to have yet another moment of learning experiences, another chance to grow more, and share more with others. Thank You. Father thank You for my vision and my other senses. Thank You for discernment to see right from wrong, where and when to go and when to stay put. Thank You for revealing Your truth to me in small enough nuggets so that I may comprehend at a rate more conducive to my learning style, while also molding me to expand my capabilities beyond the limits of my comfort zone. You never leave me, or get tired of me; You are patient and understanding, and I’m humbly grateful Father. 

I pray that my vision is strengthened and that as You make my eyes healthier You also increase the strength and sensitivity of my other senses so that I may be a pure receptacle of Your light. Let me then share this light with others so that they can soak up Your love and then share with others. Let my body be strengthened and healthy, that I might make many long journeys serving Your children until my last breath. 

What I ingest I become, so I pray for the willpower to overcome temptation to consume things that are bad for me. I pray for the energy to get up each day and exercise without excuse for weather or time of day. These things I pray You bless me with today and every day. Amen.

Reflection
Everything we put inside of us we reveal to the world. Choose wisely what you watch, listen to, ingest, and participate in–for you will ultimately reveal this as your truth in the future. Are you a child of the world or God’s child? That is what we must always consider in words and deeds each day. 

Do we fill ourselves with God’s loving light and share this with the world, or do we fill ourselves with the darkness of the world and hurt others who come across our path? Do we strengthen our bodies and senses to be of service to others, or do we allow them to weaken so that we can lazily depend on others until we eventually shrivel up and cease to exist on this realm? 

We say our body is our temple yet we fill it with poisons, we allow it to grow and morph into an unrecognizable blob of fat or deteriorate into nothing but a shell of skin and decaying bones. The poisons inside spew out through our mouths, eyes, ears and pores, and the toxicity becomes repulsive to others…yet we say our body is our temple. Being thin doesn’t make you healthy. Drugs, alcohol, and hard living can keep your body thin while also killing it each day. How can someone do this to their so-called temple?

Such hypocrisy.

 Instead of waiting until the New Year, your birthday, or 30 to 60 days before a big event that you want to look good for, why not start today eating and living healthier? End this year the way you want to begin your 2012–doing and living well!

Lovingly your sister in Christ,

Natasha

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.29.11

With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. 

As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” 

Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. 

Genesis 19:15-17, 24-26

Pray
Father I thank You for yet another day. I thank You for the blessings You have bestowed upon me. I thank You for Your loving kindness and patience that cannot be measured. I thank You for forgiving me even at times when I could not forgive myself. I thank You for granting me the right to live, breathe, and survive through the worst of times. Thank You Father.

Father I never want to look back as Lot’s wife did. I don’t want to be disobedient. I don’t want to agree to do something and then change my mind even for a moment. I want to learn to commit fully. I want to keep my eyes forward and my mind focused on the game plan. There is no need for me to see the changes taking place behind me, because I need to be more concerned with what is going on ahead of me. 

Let my feet, even in my fear, keep running. Keep my head forward so that I never get blindsided looking back. I never want my fear, ignorance, disobedience, or curiosity to be the reason for my demise. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Reflection
When given an order, a command, a charge, to do something why do we find ourselves looking back or trying to figure out our own way? We ignore the blessings that we have received and those that have been promised once we reach our next destination, yet we are overly concerned with what once was, what’s going on next to us, and what someone else is doing…then we wonder and cry about our missed or reallocated blessings. 

We have spiritual attention deficit disorder. God speaks directly to us or sends His angels to relay messages that are specifically for us, telling us what to do and where to go, and for some strange reason we can’t just take these directives and follow through. He will do all that needs to be done as long as we do our small part, and yet we still drop the ball. We complain of being overwhelmed. Have we not considered it’s because we are too busy trying to do both our part and God’s? God has Jesus to show us the way, yet we keep trying to use our own map–and we wonder why we’re lost and confused.

When will we stop and let go?

Love always,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.28.11

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Romans 1:25

Pray
Father there is no better than here, right now– the present–a gift from You. Nothing but good comes from You and there is nothing that I need that does not come from Your provisions. Know that I will not worship or serve another being, deity, or presence but You Father. I forever praise and serve You. Amen.

Reflection
Be careful of the things you want for in life and how you go about getting them. Are they prayed for and delivered by God, or did you take the easy way and sell out because you were impatient and couldn’t wait for your Father? Not everything quickly gained is meant to serve as a blessing. Seek out the truth in all you encounter, whether person or circumstance. 

Love,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.27.11

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 

Hebrews 10:22

Pray
Father another day You have given me to serve You, to share Your Word, to honor my family, to help the least of Your children, and to do so with faith that You will always see me through. Father cleanse me. Cleanse me like the ocean waves pulling out the impurities and bringing in Your goodness. Remove my fear, guilt, and  doubt, and replace them with the strength and determination that comes from having total confidence in You. 

Just as I have faith that as the water of the ocean pulls back from the shoreline, a new wave will roll in–I want that same faith in You and what You can and will do in my life. No matter the circumstances I want to always believe and know that You are right there with a  solution, patiently waiting for me to get out of my own way. Keep working on me Father. I love You. Amen.

Reflection
Do you not believe and have faith that the waters of the ocean will return to the sandy shoreline each time they retract? Out of the hatched cocoon do you not expect the butterfly to emerge? Do you not have faith that the stop light will return to green after it has changed yellow and red? Do you not have faith that the pedestrian crossing sign will eventually return to a white or green indicator light with the word “walk” on it’s screen–after it already flashed red and said “do not walk”? Do you not have faith that the hands on your watch and clock will always run from right to left around in a circle?

Then why do we struggle so hard with our faith in God?

I have shown both natural, God-made examples as well as man-made, God-inspired examples that we naturally and without thought believe will occur without us having to do a thing–yet we frequently doubt what God can do and doubt His omnipresence and omnipotence in our lives. Why do we think He’s too busy to be concerned with what we’re doing or not? Why do we think He can’t be everywhere at once even after He said it thousands of years ago? Why can’t we believe it when He’s healed people of inflictions who were separated by distance at the same time? How can my problem be solved in one location at the same time hundreds of millions of other people’s problems are being solved?

 We are ignorant to believe that it is merely our doing or even worse, a case of luck. 

I don’t believe in luck. I believe in God. I believe in God making things happen when they are supposed to take place and with the depth, breadth, and intensity that He expects. I believe He brings us great fortune and wealth on all levels, not just financially. Luck is temporal. God is eternal. 

If you want to be cleansed from your impurities, your guilt and fear, then you must sincerely seek out and embrace your relationship with God. That is the purest and least complicated relationship you can ever have, yet we complicate it the most. All He expects is that we trust, believe, and obey. We will sometimes selfishly do so in human relationships, but can’t see how selfless it is for us to do this with God. We’re all works in progress, clay that has some rough patches that God needs to add more water to and mold smoothly into the image He has envisioned. But the process is longer the more we resist.

Are you tired of being a mere tenth of what you can be? Let’s take the necessary steps towards reaching that level of faith we’re supposed to have. Are you ready?

Lovingly,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.26.11

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! 

John 13:36-38 

Pray
Father it takes a very special person, a very committed follower, to devote themselves fully to Your son so that they might reach the place and time in life to be promoted to the next level that You have planned for them. As You taught Jesus to understand the human element and what to expect from man and woman, he soon realized that our loyalty could be easily tested and tossed away through fear. 

Father I know that I have not yet reached a point in my life where I am fully vested, fully committed, and most loyal to Christ and walking the path as You have laid it; but Lord You know what’s in my heart, You know my desire to grow and to develop a closer relationship with You and Your son, and You know that each day I work harder to overcome my fears and trust that You will always see me through. 

Father thank You for touching Your children’s hearts and minds that they might record the earliest of days, their experiences in life, parables to teach and warn, while creating the foundation for the rest of us to live by. Whenever I’m in doubt, have question, or am filled with fear I know that I can read the Bible for direction and inspiration. Father I know that I can call on You and You will touch me and bring me calm during the darkest of times, and during the heaviest of storms. 

Father please keep my eyes, mind, and heart pointed in the right direction so that my feet always know where to go. Continue to bless me with discernment so that I use the best of my time living as I should, spending moments with those who are most deserving, and reflecting Your goodness even when I’m not getting it from others. Help me to always see and to always hear Your voice Father. In Jesus’ name I pray to You. Amen.

Reflection
We just celebrated the birth of Jesus (some Christian countries celebrate earlier or later this month, others the first week of January) but we should not cease to celebrate and honor him after one day has passed, for every day is his birthday as it is ours. Every day we are birthed out of experiences, we see things for the very time, we overcome a fear that could have crippled us, and we touch the life of someone new. Every day we should take the next step to be more like Jesus, and to live on purpose with purpose as he did. 

We should not delay what we know is coming, but rather stand firm and face it head on–ready for what will come–and fearless, as we should be, believing and knowing that we are God’s child and always protected. We should each day protect our minds from worldly temptations and the misguided belief that the “liar” would claim to bring us the ultimate level of joy, and a power equal to that of Jesus or even greater, God. The devil is a liar and we are his foolish puppets if we believe that gaining anything without the blessing of God is still a blessing. 

Rise up against crime, addiction, adultery, incest, bigotry, racism, depression, greed, envy, and fear. The devil can only take ahold of what you allow. You have to give in, you have to let “it” in, and you have to give “it” power and dominion over your life. You have to take the time and energy to surrender to darkness and walk away from God’s light. It’s always your decision. Which one will you make?

Merry Christmas (whenever you celebrate it) and Happy Holidays family!

Love always,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.22.11

**Today’s scripture, prayer and reflection was shared with me by my friend Kenya, and so I pass this beautiful message on to each of you!**

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder…”
Isaiah 9:6

Pray
Father in heaven, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, so that I could be free to live an abundant life in You. Fill me with the revelation of Your love and everything that You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen

Reflection
Surrender your life to Him and receive all the spiritual blessings He has in store for you!

Copyright 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.21.11

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 

John 13:21 

Pray
Father thank You for wisdom, discernment, and an ability to forgive those who betray me and cause me harm. Father keep my heart warm, never allowing it to grow cold and hard. Keep me focused on living more like Jesus, realizing and accepting my journey’s purpose, and not being overly focused on the human elements that oftentimes distracts me. Father touch me in a way that I will always walk away from unhealthy situations with my dignity in tact, and with a level of grace that shows that I’m a survivor and never a victim. 

Father I pray today not only for myself but for my loved ones and associates who have been harmed and betrayed by people they trusted. Father free them, betrayed and betrayer, from these shackles and help them to heal and grow.
In honor of all You have ever done and will do, in Your son’s name I pray to you today. Amen.

Reflection
Jesus was never blind to what was going on around him. God kept him spiritually connected to His Mind and wisdom, to see and feel when things were not right; and to discern good from bad, friend from foe, follower from betrayer. Imagine knowing in advance that one of the people closest to you is about to betray you. Imagine how Jesus felt knowing that the time, attention and care that he invested in this disciple, would soon be leveraged against him for monetary gain and to avoid persecution. 

How would things have been different if that disciple had spoken up, confessed, and made right with our savior? 

 A true friend never betrays you, never betrays your trust, and never sells you out. A true friend is there for you in the worst of times, not just the best of times. A true friend gives you their last morsel of food, the last sip of their drink, shelter when you need it, and the shirt off of their back. A friend never kicks you when you’re down, instead they help to pick you up and brush you off. They never remind you of what you promised, what you haven’t done, or what you still need to do–for a friend understands that we all have rough times, and if you were honorable before hard times you will be honorable to the end.

Pray for those people who selfishly choose to betray or harm you because they are more concerned with their needs, their survival, their issues, and how something will affect them. Pray for their hearts, minds, bodies, souls, and spirits. Pray that they see God’s light and choose to follow it to righteousness than place blinders over their eyes and continue walking in darkness.

Pray that God reveals the truth about every person you are involved with and encounter. Pray that He shows you the real them so that you know what you are facing. Pray that He protects you even when you ignore His warnings. Pray that He always shows you the way out of life’s mazes that you actively take part in creating in your disobedience.

Have an amazing Wednesday family!

Love,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.20.11

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 

John 16:21 

Pray
Father thank You for this day and every day. I even thank You for those days that seem unbearable, for after I endure the pain there is joy from the growth and development. Every day life pounds on my head, shoulders and back, I know that I’m being molded to see things differently, behave differently, and work through my issues in a different way. I’m being molded to put my total trust in You that through all things, You will see that I make it to the other end. Thank You Father. In Jesus’ name I pray to You. Amen.

Reflection
We go through ups and downs in life, we give birth to children and ideas, and we are forced to face our biggest fears. While in the middle of the most excruciating pain we could ever imagine all we can think about at that moment is the pain and whether we will survive its wrath; but once the pain has passed a sense of joy fills us and overwhelms us as we realize that not only did we make it through the roughest of parts, something great came from the experience. Whether it be wisdom or something tangible, there is a gift received from surviving life’s storms.

The mother giving birth–in the moment, has mixed emotions about her labor experience. But while holding her baby’s tiny body minutes, hours, or days later– she is less concerned with the pain in her belly, groin, legs, neck, glutes, and back–she is more concerned about the well being of her baby and how best to care for and nurture this new addition to the world.

We must work hard to see life exactly that way…a birthing process. Every experience no matter how intense is only temporary, and afterwards comes some level of peace and joy. So are you ready to take on today? Give life your best shot and embrace these moments, for you will have great success stories to share in the future. God bless you my sisters and brothers!

Love,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.19.11

**Today’s scripture and prayer was shared by a dear friend of mine, Kenya.**

an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit’ ”

Matthew 1:20

Pray
Father in heaven, I choose to trust in You. Even when things don’t go the way I planned, I know You are at work in my life. Thank You for Your perfect love which casts out all fear. I love You and surrender every area of my life to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Reflection 
Isn’t that prayer something most of us need to say, especially right now during times when we aren’t sure if bills will get paid on time or at all? Some of you have been unemployed for so long that you dread going into a new year in the same situation. Some of you own businesses that are struggling, and you aren’t sure if you can withstand the bumps and bruises of another year. But my friend Kenya shared an amazing reaffirmation that is similar to what I have shared with you many times over the years and that is, “Today let me reassure you that God knows right where you are, and He knows how to get you to where you need to be.” 

Let that sit on your mind for awhile, or as I like to say, ‘let it marinate for a bit’.

God knows exactly where you are in every area of your life and is the solution to your problems. He is the answer to your prayers and knows exactly how to get you where you need to be. It is our trust in Him that makes it possible for us to see the path we’re on and where it’s taking us. It is the unconditional relationship with our Father that brings us the abundant and unlimited supply of blessings in many forms. We must trust and believe as Joseph trusted the angels and Mary. Can you put your trust in God, truly?

Can you trust that He will make a way out of no way,  raise you from your despair, heal you from your inflictions, and cast away your fears so that you may rise up and walk in the strength and goodness of His loving light?

How many of you are making New Year’s Resolutions? 

How many of you are trying to lose weight, improve your diet and health, improve your credit, and other things? What if you instead focused on taking the daily steps towards trusting God 100% and reflecting His light through your words and actions? What if every day next year you focused on taking these steps? What if every day you take a step towards trusting Him more and being more loving, kind, and considerate towards others.?Can you visualize the shackles of fear being released from your mind and body? It is possible. Why not make this your resolution for 2012?

Think about it!

Lovingly,
Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 12.15.11

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:12, 13

Pray
Father I am so grateful to You for all that I have, for the person I am, for the lessons learned through joy-filled and painful experiences, and for who You are molding me to be. Father I am more than content with the blessings You have bestowed upon me, although I am not content with moments of mediocrity, procrastination, and fear that I sometimes display which blind me from being fully receptive of my gifts. But I know that You are working on me, molding me, and improving me each day. Thank You Father.

There are things I have prayed for and You blessed me with immediately, and there were other times when You made me wait until the time was right, when You knew I would be ready, receptive, appreciative, and would make the most from those blessings. Father I never want to get to a point and place in my life that I am not more than content with my blessings. I never want to pray for something and not be overly satisfied with what I asked for. I know that You answer my prayers as I have requested, so if I foolishly omit details out of desperation, greed, or fear–You will lovingly keep me in check by making sure that I see the err of my ways, so that I am instead very specific and seek only that which I need and not just merely what I want.

I put my trust in You that the life I have as You have outlined is perfect for me; and as long as I don’t interpret things to mean differently, don’t envy what others have, don’t look to my past thinking I’m missing out on my present–my cup will run over with the gifts of Your love. I have no desire to look backwards like Lot’s wife and destroy my life and future. I have no desire to try and navigate my life on my own because I’m more concerned with what could be in the future, instead of enjoying the abundance of today. I have no desire to disobey You Father.

Humbly I pray that You keep my eyes, heart, and mind focused on today and the present work You have planned for me, so that my future is bright and filled with abundance. The devil is a liar and I refuse to let him tempt me to turn around or run ahead, and disobey Your loving command to keep marching forward on Your pace. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Reflection
Some of us are never satisfied because we don’t place God first in our lives. We have spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) because our focus is first on ourselves and our wants of the flesh, instead of our focus being on God and what He knows we need. Some of us will never be content, never be overjoyed because we have our eyes, minds, and hearts in the future lost without a map, because God didn’t give it to us yet; or we’re glued to the past–backwards–and backwards is how certain aspects of our lives will always be until we shed our ego, pride, and arrogant thinking and lifestyle, and embrace a Christ-centered life that believes that our day begins and ends because of God’s will and grace–and that nothing gained without God is worthy of having.

If you aren’t satisfied with what God has given you then you are indeed living a pitiful life, because this very second He can snatch it all away and show you what a life without His gifts really equates to; He can show you what not living in the present with a mission for the future really means; He can show you how dwelling on the past will age you, limit you, and leave you in constant confusion with a future of nothing but pain and despair. He can show you how only having a focus on the future will blind you because you haven’t taken the proper steps today to be prepared for what’s to come.

Think of losing the very things you value most because you aren’t humbly appreciative for God giving you those things.

I learn the lesson and move forward, not dwelling on what once was because I’m too focused on what I’m doing now and how it can impact my future. I’m not concerned with those I once encountered who I walked away from because if they were meant to be in my life today God would have kept them by my side. I am a child of God whose mission and vision is forward-thinking and fueled by His light, love, and power. The devil has no control over me and I refuse to let him tempt me to turn around or run ahead when God has ordered me to do otherwise.

If you are confused, disappointed, frustrated, dissatisfied with what and who God has placed in your life then you need to seek Him, you need to get on your knees and pray for forgiveness for not trusting Him. For there is nothing better in your past than what you have today, and the joy of your future can only be determined by God…and you don’t have a sneak preview of His agenda.

If you are miserable with your circumstances or the person you chose to walk with, then that’s because you chose to lead your life instead of letting God lead you. God’s blessings are never laced or filled with pain and misery, that is what we bring to ourselves when we think we can do things on our own. That’s what happens when we ignore Him and make our decisions about where to go, who to love, how to do things, and when we do them. We cause our own misery. We allow the devil to lie to us and lead us astray, and then we blame God for allowing us to have free will.

Those who would argue otherwise don’t have a strong enough relationship with God to see the reality that is before them; they are blinded by their self-centeredness fueled by fear, and still have a lot of spiritual work ahead of them as they clear out their clutter and baggage in order to have Jesus serve as the guide leading them to the command center of their life…God!

As we wrap up this year in a few weeks increasingly ask yourself whether you have been living a life of contentment, full and satisfied, and focused on what you can do to serve God; or do you still feel empty and think that life was better in the past or can only get better in the future if you only skip some steps? If you are conflicted then seek out the problem solver that we call by many names…your Heavenly Father! If you think this message is about or for you then it is!

I love you all and pray for peace, abundance, and contentment in your life. God bless you and keep you!

Love always,

Natasha

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.14.11

That we should be saved from our enemies 
And from the hand of all who hate us, 

Luke 1:71 

Pray
Father thank You for the blessings. Thank You for forgiving me for those moments, even today, when I stepped off Your path and disobeyed Your commands. Father, please also forgive my enemies and those who hate me…those I know and those who cowardly hide deep in the pits of darkness. 

Father forgive them for what they do, say, and for what they think. Their minds are tangled up and their hearts have turned, yet in my heart I believe and know that You can save them. I know that Jesus can show them the way to You Lord. Yes, it will be a slow process; yes, there will be rough patches; but there is nothing that You can’t do. 

So knowing that, I trust that those who wish me nothing but harm, pain, sadness, failure, enslavement, loneliness, and emptiness–will be touched by Jesus’s healing hand and guided back to where they belong with You. This I say with the strongest of convictions. Amen.

Reflection
Pray for those who wish you no good. You don’t need to socialize with them to pray for them. If you can’t pray for them then you aren’t where you need to be spiritually. For if you can’t forgive and pray for others you are in no place to ever seek forgiveness. If you can’t pray to God to release someone of their darkness, ignorance, pride, hate, fear, self-loathing, and internal ugliness, then how can you call yourself God’s child? Remember that.

Lovingly your sister in Christ,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.13.11

May you live to see your children’s children—peace be on Israel. 

Psalm 128:6

Pray
Father thank You for another day. So much was done, so much I’ve seen, so much I have experienced and it is because of Your blessings that I am capable of waking each day. I am deeply humbled and appreciative. Father I pray for abundance in all areas of my life. I pray for abundance in the lives of my family and friends. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Reflection
God determines the calendar days we walk this Earth. Live right, treat others as you would want someone to treat the person you love most, and give life your all. May you live to see and spend time with your children’s children’s children’s children…and as many generations beyond as God permits! God bless you all!

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.12.11

“Then the devil led Jesus to the top of a very high mountain. He showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and all the great things that are in those kingdoms. The devil said, “If you will bow down and worship me, I will give you all these things.” 

Matthew 4:8-9

Pray
Father thank You for this day. Thank You for blessing me with abundance in all areas of my life. For those my eyes don’t see bless me to know that they are there. Lord, Your son was tempted more than once by the devil, more than once he was tempted to walk away from You and Your love to kneel down and surrender his soul. Each time, Jesus told the devil that he worshipped and loved only You, and was wealthy beyond imagination with Your daily provisions. 

Father there are days when I want what I don’t have, to the point where I’m focused more on what I don’t have than what I do. Father then You touch my heart and fill me to the point where my joy for life, living, and the abundance of good health, wisdom, knowledge, and love washes away my feelings of need and desperation. Father every time my back is against the wall and the devil tries to tempt me to turn right, Your light points me towards my left and along the path You present me with solutions to my problems, money for my bills, opportunities that I hadn’t considered, and hope for a life of balance and harmony. Father this is only something that You can provide. I love You for always being my constant; always loving me, guiding me, guarding me, and reassuring me that through the grey skies there is sunshine on the other side. 

I love You Father. I need You. With joyful praise I say Amen.

Reflection
Every day we are tempted to stray from God, to leave His flock, to blindly enter a realm we may never return from–just for a life of temporary pleasure, if that. Think of how our lives would be if Jesus had given in just one time to the devil. The shepherd son bowing down and worshipping the cowardly devil…the liar. Would we exist? With Jesus being the wayshower to God, how would we find our way without him? 

Many of us our lost because we have not embraced our relationship with Jesus and God as they have with us. We love and honor them conditionally and in turn love and honor our family and friends conditionally. A lack of loyalty towards God and Jesus results in disloyalty towards family and friends. I can usually tell those who are walking fairly straight on God’s path because those are the ones who bring joy into every environment they encounter, they are the ones that always lift others up and never tear them down, they are the ones who have nothing but good to say about others and refuse to take part in gossip. 

They refuse to deal with nonsense and take seriously their vows to obey God’s commands. They are the ones who are most loyal, obedient, giving, caring, affectionate, and receptive to others and their needs. They are the angelic brothers and sisters who bring hope in bad times and keep us smiling and laughing even in a storm. We can learn a great deal about these individuals for they live like Jesus commanded, and they prove that we too can be more like Jesus if we only follow his lead.

No matter what temptation the devil puts before you, we must consider both the short-term and long-term side effects of walking beside it (him). Only God can heal us, free us, and bless us. Any other source claiming to bring you abundance through worship, alliance, loyalty, or partnership is a big LIE!

I love you all and pray for only the best to come to you today and each day.

Love,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.9.11

He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 

1 Timothy 3:4 

Pray
Father I know that You have amazing plans for me as You willed my eyes open that I might see another day. You kept my heart pumping and blood flowing so that I might live fully another day. I thank You Father. 

I also thank You for my parents, for my family, and for my true friends. I thank You for providing me with loving and nurturing people who surround me and encourage me to be the best person that I can be. Father Your grace placed me in the lives of parents who could command respect because they lived respectful lives, and respected others. Father I thank You for touching them in a way where they applied discipline and structure in my life. The rules of my childhood are still applicable to me this day, and will be applicable to my children in years to come. Thank You Father for the lessons taught for I have learned a great deal about myself, my family, my friends, and the world. 

Even with my father gone physically, I know that spiritually he is and always will be with me. Each day I work a little harder, overcome one more hurdle, challenge one more fear because my father led by example and taught me that nothing can hold us back because You are the problem solver. Father thank You for being my source of love, joy, strength, wisdom, intelligence, kindness, and inspiration. Thank You for loving me enough to never let me go. Thank You for blessing me with an awesome family and encouraging friends. I love You Father. To You I give all the glory. Amen.

Reflection
It doesn’t matter whether you were raised with both parents, one parent, or none–who can you look to as ‘family’ who lifted your spirits when you were down, kept you in-line when you were about to stray far from reach, and made the storms bearable when all you really wanted was sunshine? Who in your life helped you see and appreciate the power in the twisting storm, only to look forward to the rainbow that appeared soon after? Who disciplined you to keep you from running around like a rabid animal? Who dried your tears when the pain was unbearable? That individual or those persons you are visualizing are your family, and you should thank God for placing them in your life. 

Where have we made the wrong turn when parents no longer have respect from their children? Where did we go wrong where kids feel entitled to have whatever they want at their parents and family’s expense, regardless of their financial situation? What mistake did we make where children don’t think twice about striking an adult in anger, and there are no repercussions? When did it become okay for children to talk back to adults without fear of punishment? What has happened where children can use profanity towards adults and get away with it? 

When did it become okay to disrespect our elders? When did a shift occur where women took on every aspect and characteristic of head-of-household, and the men sit by like church mice or disappear altogether? When did we lose control of our families and our children? When did order become chaos?How will we ever regain our proper standing in life and in God’s Kingdom?

Men have always been called by God to lead. God commanded man to honor and respect women, and to treat and love their wives as they would themselves. Women have been called to be the support system, navigator, and co-pilot for the family. Women are to honor and respect the man for his role in their family and in God’s Kingdom. Children are to always follow, obey, and be respectful. A man is to maintain order within his family in a respectful manner, which means in and through love not hate or fear. That means a loving discipline of children, not pacification and spoiling nor does it mean any form of abuse. A man is to lead his wife through loving protection, guarding her from harm; not acting as dictator and bully, forcing her to do as he says when he says it. God expects man to lead in love not force, and definitely not abuse. God expects men to be men and to protect their families, work tirelessly, be respectful of self and others, and lead by example. God expects women to be graceful, respectful, honorable, hardworking, disciplined, and capable of taking care of the family when the man is away working. 

But we shifted from this. We have distractions from the world– when our minds and hearts are to be focused on God, His plan, and what He has in store for our families. The ‘women of the night’ even Biblically were never wives, yet today we have girls and women more interested in being strippers and prostitutes than going to school, yet somehow they think that one of these men throwing money at them will one day be their husbands. We have more women manipulating men into baby traps and marriage, yet they are missing the valuable components necessary to be good mothers and wives. We have men strolling around casually having sex and not concerned about getting a girl or woman pregnant, or contracting a sexually transmitted infection. We have more babies being born into this world by careless individuals who were only concerned about the short moments of passion and not the long-term responsibility of parenthood.

 We have turned to idols in technology and entertainment…no different than the children of Israel turning to various idols after leaving Egypt. We are repeating a cycle. Forty years the children of Israel walked around the wilderness because they just wouldn’t listen and obey. How many years have we been ‘lost’? How many years will we continue to walk around in this ‘wilderness’?

We must reclaim our families. We must live our lives as God intends, living in the world but not of the world. Enjoying the blessings while not worshipping the products. We have to start getting back on track now if we ever hope to see the Promised Land.

Lovingly your sister in Christ,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.8.11

(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 

1 Timothy 3:5 

Pray
Father thank You for today and yesterday, and I humbly give thanks in advance for the tomorrow I hope to see. Father as Your servant I strive each day to overcome temptation, to only say loving things, and to be loving in action towards others. Father there are some servants in Your church who have taken the role of judges and messiahs over Your children. They have decided to tell Your congregation what to do, and when and how to do it, yet they don’t practice in their own lives these very commands. Father some of Your children demand of others what they aren’t willing to do or say. Father some of Your children call things abominations, yet they have been caught engaging with and indulging in these same abominations. 

Lord, I pray that You forgive them as You forgive me. Lord forgive us for what we do, what we don’t know, and for those things we turn a blind eye towards. Father forgive us for our sinful ways, for cursing, manipulating, lying and cheating, and for betraying one another. Father forgive us for those moments we follow the “liar” instead of walking alongside Your son Jesus on the path You have created. Father forgive us for not trusting in You enough to believe that You will always provide, make a way out of no way, and deliver to us the things and people we need and are to have in our lives. 

Father steer those of us who are off Your path back on a straight course towards righteousness and salvation. Realign our minds and hearts with Yours Father. In Jesus’ name I humbly pray to You. Amen.

Reflection
If you can’t take care of your home, your family, and yourself, then how can you tell other people how to run their lives? There’s a huge difference between praying with and for each other, and prophesying to and against others. A preacher, pastor, bishop, minister, priest, nun, or monk is not closer with and doesn’t have an advantage over you when it comes to God. The same measurements He uses with you He uses with them. Some of them were called to serve and some of them chose to serve. The same is true of our everyday community leaders. 

They all are still spiritual beings having human experiences just like you, so guess what? They are still exposed to some of the same temptations as you, and are attacked by the “liar” just like you. They sometimes have to work harder to do right because they have a congregation or community of people that they serve that they must be held accountable to in addition to God and their family. So with that added responsibility shouldn’t they also have their personal lives in order just as they expect and preach to you? They cannot ask and expect of you what they don’t accomplish and maintain themselves. They are not granted a pass by God because they wear a special-made robe and other clothing. They are not granted a pass by God because of a fancy title that leads or follows their name.

We all must take care of our family life and maintain the level of goodness, love, joy, fidelity, honor, light, peace, and harmony that God expects. We must do this and keep this in our lives before telling others how to take care of their own lives and family. Stop giving advice you won’t take. Stop telling people what they should be doing if you won’t do it yourself. Stop claiming to have an insight when your own vision is blurred or blinded. Stop being hard-lined about issues you haven’t even resolved in your own life. 

Pray for those people who judge others. Pray for those people who judge drug and alcohol addicts, adulterers, homosexuals, pornographers, and adult sex workers yet they also indulge and engage in supporting these acts and professions. Pray for those people who call the adult sex industry smut, yet they have a collection of pornography in their homes and/or offices; or get caught with a prostitute or “escort”. Pray for the ones who say homosexuals are going to hell, and then they get caught engaging in illicit “relations” with the opposite sex. Pray for the ones who go on and on about adulterers while claiming fidelity in their own relationships, yet they later get caught cheating on their spouse. Pray for those who seek the death penalty, except when it affects them and their loved ones.

Pray for all of them. If this is also you, then pray for yourself.

Because maybe it is better for these people to be silent than stand on a soap box declaring one thing, yet living secretly another way. These same people who rant and rave about the sins of the world, and then get caught committing these same sins, don’t realize the negative impact they cause to their families, the congregation and community that supported and followed them. How can their families and community trust their own decisions in life, trust their relationship with Jesus and God, if the man or woman that was supposedly called to serve them has been a double-agent for the “liar”?

If you want to turn people towards Jesus you must be more like him. If you want to turn people away from Jesus then make your own rules and then caught breaking God’s. 

If you can’t lead righteously then don’t jump to the front of the pack trying to lead the people to the promised land. 

Let us all work to take care of ourselves, our family, and our homes so that if we are ever in a position to give our opinion or advice, we can do so with a clean heart and no skeleltons in our closets.

Love,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.5.11

They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. 

Luke 4:32 

Pray
Father thank You for Your son Jesus. As Your son, Your reflection, Your wayshower for Your children; he is the shepherd and I am honored to be one of his sheep. Thank You Father for making sure the way to You is always illuminated and accessible. 

Reflection
God isn’t mediocre and doesn’t work in or accept mediocrity, and His son was and is no exception. So why are we amazed yet not committed to following the teachings of Jesus, so that we might be closer to God? Jesus is the ultimate example that this is not a spiritual experience that we are living as humans, but rather a human experience we are living as spiritual beings. 

Our next level of existence will be the return to our spiritual bodies, and shedding this human shell. To get the most from our experience we must gain wisdom and knowledge through the Bible, Jesus, and other great servant leaders of our Heavenly Father Mother. Are you ready for your next level of growth? Then pray on it and awaken tomorrow morning with an improved outlook. Good night and God bless each of you!

Lovingly,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 12.1.11

It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows. 

Proverbs 20:25

Pray
Father thank You for the fuel I need to focus and achieve my goals. Thank You for the strength to get up when I fall down, and for the courage to keep charging forward even when fear creeps up on my back.

Father You know that I have dedicated my life to doing certain things and living a certain way, and I know that in all seriousness that the vows I made are not to be changed in a whim, and are not to be reconsidered every time life gets rough, but are to be clung to and adhered to as my commitment to You Father. 

So please forgive me during those moments when I falter, when I question You, when I try to reconsider taking the easy way or just giving up altogether on doing something or being someone I asked You to help me achieve during my walk. Every day I promise to recommit to my vows so that they are as much a part of me as my name, skin, and eye color. I thank You for this day and every day. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Reflection
We must watch what we are asking for from God. We must think clearly about what we want, who we want to spend our lives with, who we want to be, and where we want to go in life before we jump to make a vow to achieve this goal. 

Our carelessness and casualness is the reason for failed relationships and the high divorce rate; for babies being born out of wedlock after a commitment to marriage was broken;  for fights, battles, and wars all over the world; for sexually transmitted infections and diseases destroying the lives of millions; and for so much senseless pain and frustration that we have brought upon ourselves. We fail to keep our commitments.

We fail to truly commit ourselves. We make promises we can’t keep because it’s not embedded in our hearts to do so. We intend to do many things we call commitments, but a commitment is something you see through, while intent is hoped for but easily disregarded if deemed necessary. You can intend to wake at 6am everyday to work out, but if you don’t commit to doing it you will casually accept waking up at 7am (rationalizing that you now don’t have time to work out) and instead convince yourself you will try again tomorrow. When tomorrow comes and goes, you convince yourself that you will do it another day…and another day. 

When you commit to doing something you see it through until the goal is achieved. When you intend to do something, it’s no “skin off your back” if you don’t get around to doing it on time or at all. But we forget one major component to all of this–God– what about Him? What about our wishes and prayers to Him about those very things we said we wanted and needed, yet later categorized as an ‘intent’ rather than a commitment and vow? Do you think He just casually switches with you in your thinking, or do you think He still views your vow as a vow?  We want God to keep His word to us, yet we feel entitled to switch up whenever the wind gets too cold, hot, or harsh.

We must honor our commitments to God, to others, and to ourselves. Let’s do it. Let’s review our list of commitments and make them stick through fruition or our last breath…whichever comes first. Happy Thursday and happy first day of December my beloved brothers and sisters!!!

Love,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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