Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.31.13

because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him.
 
 Romans 6:9 HCSB
 
 Pray
 Father I pray for strength and courage, and a freedom from spiritual bondage. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
 
 Reflections
 When death has no control, it has no power. If it has no power then it can’t be a real threat, and can’t be something to fear—because it can’t do anything to us. Christ taught that we have eternal life and after this level of existence is yet another level—not darkness or emptiness, but light, love, and an even richer life. We must value and take care of this life so that we can prove we deserve the next one.
 
 Love,
 
 Natasha
 
 
 Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
 breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
 
 
 Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
 
 
 

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.30.13

He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me? ” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.” “Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.
 
 John 21:17 HCSB
 
 Pray
 Father may I always remained focused on my tasks to fulfill Your mission. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
 
 Reflection
 If we truly love Jesus and our Heavenly Father then we will take care of the least of God’s children, share God’s Word, and love even the unlovable.
 
 Love,
 
 Natasha
 
 
 Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
 breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
 
 
 Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
 
 

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.29.13

Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your view? Yes, I too have seen it.” This is the Lord ’s declaration.
 
 Jeremiah 7:11 HCSB
 
 Pray
 Father mold into me the strength, courage, and conviction to always stand up for what’s right, to confront the wrongdoing and the doer, and to accept those things that I cannot control—but rather release them to you. Father give me the strength and courage to set boundaries in my life, boundaries with other people, and to create a healthy distance from those who live toxic lives. Help me to let go of and heal from my hang ups, issues, insecurities, and sinning ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
 
 Reflection
 Has a loved one ever stolen from you? Blatantly lied to you? Been abusive towards you? Coldly disrespected you? Manipulated you into believing that they were a certain type of person, or lived a certain type of way? Have you suspected that they were stealing from you and others but your interventions fell short of any real results? Do you have a loved one who is abusing drugs and/or alcohol yet you keep ignoring the problem? How many times have you known that this person has been behind the wheel of a car? How many times have you witnessed the aftermath of their binging behavior? How many times have you bailed them out of jail or financial binds?
 
 I just spent the past hour reading forum threads about family members, young children and adult children, who stole from their family, were abusing drugs and/or alcohol, were blatantly disrespectful and sometimes abusive, and their family didn’t know what to do. I read of parents and other family members who just couldn’t take the betrayal any more and they kicked the perpetrator out of their home and forbid their return for any reason. Then I read of instances where people continued to forgive and let “slide” the offenses even when extremely valuable and sentimental items were stolen.
 
 Have you ever experienced this phenomena? Are you experiencing it now? It’s painful to have a stranger steal from or betray you. But it feels like your insides are being gutted when it’s done by a loved one.
 
 I wonder how God feels.
 
 How does God feel when those perpetrators commit those acts? How does He feel when we too disobey His commands? Do we not also justify our actions much like the lying, cheating, stealing, abusing/abusive family member who is tormenting us?
 
 I think that just like God lovingly allows us to stumble and fall into valleys, yet never completely cutting us off, we too must lovingly let our perpetrator-family member go so that they can stumble and fall—-because we can’t go farther down when our faces are on the ground. We can either stay there or get up, and we can’t get up without God.
 
 Lovingly keep those who are inflicted with the thieving, lying, abusing/abusive “bug” at a safe distance, so that you can allow God to have complete access without your interference. Every time we interfere and think that we can do God’s job and fix something faster, we end up being the victim. There’s a big difference between an intervention with tough love, and trying to “fix” someone. Set and stick by boundaries and rules to protect yourself and other family members, and let God handle the details. The perpetrator will only get and accept help when they want it and see the need for it. Until that time they are like a nonstop tsunami that will destroy anything and anyone in their path.
 
 Let go.
 
 We also must own up to our sins, large and small, and determine whether or not we will continue doing these things and deal with the immediate and long-term consequences, or cease all activity and earn back the relationship God wants to have with us.
 
 Let go.
 
 Love,
 
 Natasha
 
 
 Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
 breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
 
 
 Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
 
 
 

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.28.13

But look, you keep trusting in deceitful words that cannot help.
 
 Jeremiah 7:8 HCSB
 
 Pray
 Let me not be deceived. Amen.
 
 Reflection
 Seek out God to reveal the truth in all things, and for all circumstances.
 
 Love,
 
 Natasha
 
 
 Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
 breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
 
 
 Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
 
 
 

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.25.13

Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. And while He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven. After worshiping Him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were continually in the temple complex praising God.
 
 Luke 24:50-53 HCSB
 
 Pray
 Father please continue to mold me and build me up so that I am strong physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
 
 Reflection
 Before this moment the disciples stayed hidden because they feared repercussion from the Jews who had just arrested, crucified and killed Jesus, their beloved Master and Savior. The disciples feared that they would be next because of their affiliation with him, their earlier declaration of him being the Messiah, and because they too had performed acts of healing.
 
 After Jesus appeared to them, proved who he was, blessed them, and then ascended—they then had the courage and faith to let go of their fear, and return to the temple complex to praise God, and share Jesus’ teachings. What if Jesus had never returned and visited them? What if they hadn’t believed?
 
 The spreading of the Gospel, the sharing of Jesus’ life and teachings were made possible by the disciples. The printing and publishing of the Bible made it possible for us to read both the Old Testament and New Testament, to capture moments in history (even when large chunks were omitted), and learn what it means to be a Christian and servant of God. Had the disciples and apostles not shared their stories what would we have, know, and do today?
 
 Think about it.
 
 Love,
 
 Natasha
 
 
 Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
 breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
 
 
 Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
 
 
 

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.24.13

Message from Natasha:
I want to apologize for not staying up on my posts. I haven’t been feeling to well and haven’t focused my days on my posts, as I should. I will however be posting for the days missed because we never know when we need to go back and reflect, or search deep for something…anything.

I received today’s message and instead of searching for my own scripture to pray and reflect upon, I chose to follow my heart and gut and post this one instead. It rings true for me and hit deep. Please share it with others after you have had chance to study and pray. God bless you all!

Natasha

Stay Focused on What He Can Do

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

Hebrews 12:2, NKJV

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

In John Chapter 4, Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well. He asked her for something to drink. She was a little surprised because in those days the Jews didn’t have anything to do with the Samaritans. She said, “How can you ask me for something to drink?” Jesus said, “If you knew who I am, you would ask of Me, and I would give you Living Water.

She immediately began to look in the natural. She said, “But, sir, you don’t have anything to draw water with. You don’t have any kind of bucket or pail. How can you give me living water?”

How many times do people do the same thing today? God tells us He is going to do something great in our lives, and we start looking at things in the natural, and before long, we talk ourselves out of it! But we have to remember, God can take something that is ordinary, breathe on it and turn it into something that’s extraordinary.

With God, all things are possible! Don’t just look at things in the natural, look at the greatness of God. Stay focused on what He can do and embrace all He has for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I lift my eyes off of my circumstances and set my focus on You. I know that with You, all things are possible. Show me Your ways. Show me Your love and all of the good things You have prepared for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.21.13

Lack No Good Thing

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.”

Psalm 34:10, NLT

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
It’s easy to think, “If I had more money, I could accomplish my dreams. If I had this or that, or knew the right people, then I could do something great.” But as long as you feel like you’re lacking or that you were shortchanged, then you’ll make excuses to be less than your best.

Today, get a new perspective. God has given you exactly what you need for the season that you’re in. You have the talent, the friends, the connections, the resources, the experience you need for right now. It doesn’t mean that’s all you’re ever going to have. You may need more next month or next year. When that time comes, God will make sure that you have what you need. Because your trust is in the Lord, you don’t have to worry. You lack no good thing.

Remember, you are equipped, empowered and anointed for this moment. You are not lacking. You have what it takes. Rejoice because increase is coming. Promotion is coming. New opportunities are coming. You are ready for whatever may come because you put your faith and trust in Him.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for Your provision in my life. Today I declare that I trust You! You give me everything that I need as I rest and hope in You in Jesus’ name. Amen!
— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
K

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.15.13

As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.

Matthew 28:11-15 HCSB

Pray
Father I pray for the strength and courage to always stand up and speak out against injustice, lies, evil, and wrongdoing. Father mold me to see past myself, my wants, my fears, and my weaknesses and instead see closely the tools that You want me to use to help make this world a better place. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Reflection
What if the soldiers disobeyed the priests and elders and instead told the people and the Governor the truth? What if the soldiers went a step farther and admitted that the priests told them to lie and even bribed them? How would history’s account of Jesus’ human and spiritual life been portrayed?

What events and circumstances have you shown yourself to be more of a coward, sell out, and crowd follower, than a soldier for Christ? What if you didn’t give in to temptation, pressure, and intimidation? How would your life have been different? How would the circumstances played out had you not sold out?

Pray for the strength and courage to do the right thing even if the initial outcome doesn’t seem in your favor.

Love always,

Natasha

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.14.13

Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty! ”

John 19:25-28 HCSB

Pray
Father mold me to be as loyal, faithful, dependable, and humble as the three Mary’s in Jesus’ life.

Reflection
These women did not hide or deny their affiliation and relationship to Jesus, instead they bravely came and stood by his cross. If only the missing books of the Bible were shared with the world so that we could read more about the women in Jesus’ life.

Think about the brave women in your life. Salute them. Honor them. Thank them.

Love always,

Natasha

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Happy Saturday family! Are you ready for the recap? Here you go..

Monday- 10/7/13

Read the daily message here:
https://breakingbreadwithnatasha.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/natashas-daily-scripture-prayer-and-reflection-for-10-7-13/

Tuesday- 10/8/13

Read the daily message here:
https://breakingbreadwithnatasha.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/natashas-daily-scripture-prayer-and-reflection-for-10-8-13/

Wednesday- 10/9/13

Read the daily message here:
https://breakingbreadwithnatasha.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/natashas-daily-scripture-prayer-and-reflection-for-10-9-13/

Thursday- 10/10/13

Read the daily message here:
https://breakingbreadwithnatasha.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/natashas-daily-scripture-prayer-and-reflection-for-10-10-13/

Friday- 10/11/13

Read the daily message here:
https://breakingbreadwithnatasha.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/natashas-daily-scripture-prayer-and-reflection-for-10-11-13/

Don’t forget that tomorrow is Sunday Sermon Share Day. If you hear or take part in an awesome sermon, please share your notes, highlights, scripture, or reflections with the rest of us. I don’t care if it’s a sermon from an online or televised broadcast, please share with us. I intend to do the same.

God bless you all!

Natasha

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.11.13

Even my friend in whom I trusted, one who ate my bread, has raised his heel against me.

Psalms 41:9 HCSB

 

Pray

Father I pray to have enough love, compassion, and grace to not lash out at my betrayers but to be more like Jesus who lovingly walked away, knowing his fate. I want to know and embrace that it is more important to honor him and his sacrifice for me, and to love You first and fully, than to be concerned with what others say or do to me. I pray for the added layer of armor that protects me from giving in to the enemy because of pain subjected by someone I would call a friend. I humbly pray for these things in Your son Jesus’ name. Amen.

Reflection

Imagine spending time with, praying with and for, breaking bread, and traveling with someone you called a friend knowing that they are going to betray you. Imagine knowing in advance that this betrayal will cause a devastating ripple in your entire “world”. Consider what’s going through that person’s mind each time they interact with you, and their motivation for betraying you.

How does it make you feel? What emotions begin to stir up inside of you when you think of this person?

Now try to imagine yourself being Jesus. He knew he would be betrayed and knew who would betray him. Judas’ betrayal was the worst because he did so out of greed and envy. Basically for a month’s worth of wages he betrayed the man he knew to be the Messiah. The other disciples betrayed Jesus after his arrest out of fear, because they weren’t truly willing to be crucified and killed next to him. They simply disassociated themselves from him.

We’ve all been there, on both sides of that equation. You get busted with a group of people, if you’re the ring leader most of your buddies will split out of fear of punishment. And most of us have also been the buddy who says, “man I’m not about to get busted with you for this. You’re on your own!” We’ve seen people protest in the streets, participate in sit-ins and marches, and then flee when they see the police. It’s not as though they didn’t mean well in their protest, they just don’t have the resolve and armor to deal with the consequences.

The Judas Iscariot’s of the world on the other hand, those are the ones who will participate in all of the planning, do their part with zeal and passion all the way up to a certain point, and then they sneak behind your back and contact the ones who want to see you fail, in jail, or dead. Then they take it a step further and play a integral role in having you “taken down”. This has happened in personal and professional relationships for thousands of years.

Think about Samson. His wife Delilah sold him out for “chump change”. She took part in destroying a man who was focused on doing good in God’s name. She kept bugging him trying to find out the source of his strength, and even manipulated him by saying if he truly loved her he would tell her. Look what that got him! Let’s not forget Joseph and the betrayal of his brothers who tossed him in a pit/well to die, then later decided to sell him as a slave. They were jealous of Joseph because he was their father’s favorite. They smiled in his face and it wasn’t until they grabbed him did he realize how they truly felt.

But here’s the difference even with those two examples, both Samson and Joseph were clueless about the betrayal until it happened. Jesus knew all along. He knew what the prophesy called for, and he had already said how each disciple would betray him. That’s a considerable amount of time to walk around contemplating when the day would come, how things would unfold, and how he would respond.

How many of you would have ‘snapped’ immediately when you realized you were about to be betrayed by a so-called friend? How many of you would wait to see how the betrayal would unfold, and then ‘snap’? How many you can honestly say that you would have handled things just as Jesus did?

Well only time will tell because we all will be put to the test. Some of us more times than once. But none of us will ever have to walk squarely in the shoes of Jesus. You can thank him for that.

 

Love always,

Natasha

 

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.10.13

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross.

Philippians 2:8 HCSB

 

Pray

Father You know my weaknesses and fears. Help me to be the servant You have called me to be. In Jesus’ name I humbly pray. Amen.

Reflection

We may never be as obedient as our Savior, but we can try.

 

Love always,

Natasha

 

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

 

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.9.13

Jesus went into the temple complex and drove out all those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers’ tables and the chairs of those selling doves. And He said to them, “It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of thieves!” The blind and the lame came to Him in the temple complex, and He healed them.

Matthew 21:12-14 HCSB

Pray

Father help me to clean house, clean out the clutter and negativity, and clear out those individuals who are sapsuckers. Help me to align myself only with people, groups, activities, and organizations that meet Your requirements. Father help me to move past nonsense so that I can focus on my purpose and Your mission. Let me grow to take on life with the passion and energy as my shepherd Jesus Christ. I give You all the glory. Amen.

Reflection

Jesus was not playing around that day. He came in there tossing things around and kicking folks out. The church is a place of refuge, healing, teaching, prayer, and worship. So he kicked out the money hungry opportunists that preyed on others, and opened the doors to those who actually wanted a relationship with Christ. He kicked out the have’s and elitists and welcomed the have not’s—the “least of these” who were oftentimes ignored, overlooked, ostracized, and mistreated.

Let us not forget the purpose of the church.

Let us not be consumed by what outfit Ms. So-and-so is wearing, the committees and activities that we are involved with, or the chicken dinners sold after service. Let us not be consumed by filling the church with and catering to celebrities and politicians who get front row treatment both in the parking lot and in the sanctuary. Let us not be consumed with finding and raising money to buy the pastor a brand new luxury car.

Let us not be consumed by any of these things especially if we aren’t first (and mostly) obsessed with filling it with and taking care of the sick, poor, shut in, black sheep, homeless, parolees, those with limited abilities, and the disenfranchised.

A larger church means nothing if you aren’t doing major outreach to the community. Building a huge monument while you drive by chaos shows God your priorities. Putting your mostly impoverished congregation further in debt to pay for another location, the pastor’s car, or something else superficial places the church in the same shoes of the money changers and dove sellers Jesus kicked out.

A large congregation is an amazing thing if the community that surrounds the church reflects the same awesomeness, and you see members of that community thriving within the church. Think about it.

Love always,

Natasha

 

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.8.13

A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting: Hosanna to the Son of David! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One! Hosanna in the highest heaven! When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken, saying, “Who is this? ” And the crowds kept saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee! ”

Matthew 21:8-11 HCSB

Pray

Father let me have the discernment and foresight needed to navigate through life, realizing that there will be times when I will see in advance something unfavorable but realize that I may have to walk on the path in order to reach the place You have chosen for me.

Father give me the strength and compassion to accept others even when I know they have bad intentions, will falter, or will eventually betray (or disappoint me). I pray for these gifts because I know that no matter what they are a Your children, and You are working to mold them just as You work to mold me. I trust that You will always protect me and guide me, and that You will make sure that I both see and feel Your Light always.

I pray for these things as Your humble servant and a follower of Christ. Amen.

Reflection

Think about this—-many of the same people who cried out “Hosana” to Jesus, and spread their robes and branches across the ground for him to cross, were also the same ones yelling, “crucify him!” later. It’s as though Jesus was on a road show and they were expecting him to do some electrifying circus act to prove who he was and to Whom he belonged, and because he wouldn’t pull out the fireworks to their level of amusement, they quickly turned on him and called him a fraud.

He was already dealing with plots to kill him (because so-called religious leaders were insecure and intimidated by him and his ability to heal and restore people, proving that he was the Messiah) and then he had to deal with townspeople begging for saving and healing, which meant he risked being murdered every time he stepped into a town. He couldn’t refuse to help God’s children.This truly was a double-edge sword. This is the best example of a person getting cut no matter which option they choose. And we think we have it hard!

Now think about this—Jesus knew in advance that this would happen as it had already been prophesied. Jesus knew what was going to happen but allowed things to unfold so that he could fulfill the prophesy. He didn’t disrupt things, alter them in any way, or try to get God to ‘fix’ things so that he didn’t have to go through the pain, humiliation, torture, and physical death that he knew awaited him.

I won’t lie, I don’t think I could continue walking down a path that I knew no one else could endure or survive. I don’t think I have the courage to walk knowing that what awaited me was a cruel and brutal death, and that along the way I would be ridiculed and tormented. Talk about being a radical. Jesus is the epitome of radical thinking and living. He knew as a child that he was going to be ridiculed, tormented, betrayed multiple times, crucified, and left to die—but he continued living his purpose focused on God’s mission.

What would you do if faced with the same circumstances?

Love always,

Natasha

 

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.7.13

Thank you Juanita Bryan for sending me this today.

Unshakable Confidence

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”
Hebrews 10:35, NIV

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
When God places a promise in your heart, you have to come to the place where you believe it’s going to happen so strongly that nothing can talk you out of it. It may seem impossible. All the circumstances may tell you that it’s not going to happen, but deep down you have to have this confidence, this knowing, that God is still on the throne. He is bigger than any obstacle. He already has a way, and at the exact time, what He promised will come to pass. You have this unshakeable confidence. You know that God is fighting your battles, arranging things in your favor, making a way even when you don’t see a way.

Instead of being discouraged, you get up in the morning thanking God that the answer is on the way. Instead of talking about how big the problem is, you go through the day talking about how big your God is. Your mind is set in one direction: victory, favor, healing, restoration. It may be taking a long time, but God didn’t bring you this far to leave you. You’ve seen Him do it in the past, and you know He will do it again in the future. You are fully persuaded because when you know your God, you have unshakeable confidence!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I profess that my hope and confidence is in You! I choose to believe Your Word which says You are faithful and Your Word is forever settled in heaven. Show me Your love as I keep my heart and mind stayed on You in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
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Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.3.13

I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, love the Lord your God, obey Him, and remain faithful to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land the Lord swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Deuteronomy 30:19, 20 HCSB

Pray
Father I choose life and blessings, and pray that I don’t take either for granted. May I live each day fully recognizing the blessing of life, and being grateful for each blessing You gift to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Reflection
We all have choices in life and whether we know (and fully comprehend) this or not, we help in our own success or failure, longevity or demise. We choose to either be grateful or doubtful, positive or negative, confident or a coward. We choose to either have faith and believe that God has it all figured out, or we go through life like a roller coaster–conditionally believing in Him and what He can do.

Choose.

Love,

Natasha

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer, and Reflection for 10.1.13

But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on those who doubt;

Jude 1:20-22 HCSB

Pray
I won’t ask for more than what You see fit to give me Lord. I pray for strength, courage, confidence, patience, discernment, perseverance, and the ability to forgive. Father may I see and embrace all of your children as a You do.

I pray that I learn to seize every moment of opportunity that You present. May my lessons build my character, wisdom, and worth. May I live my purpose on purpose. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Reflection
The title and role of a Christian is a heavy burden to carry. Our role model is Jesus Christ, and he set a high benchmark that we are expected to emulate. The vast majority of us fail every single day, and mostly because we fail to love ourselves and others as God loves us.

I used to have a difficult time forgiving others. Now I have learned to forgive and move on, and yes, sometimes that means moving on without those people in my life, but I do so without carrying the burden of holding a grudge and I free them from my burden.

I also used to be one of those people who wouldn’t discuss two sensitive topics in public, religion and politics. The reason I avoided these topics is because people are so passionately blinded by both that they can actually become belligerent and even violent all in the name of their religion or political views. In my walk over the years I have become more comfortable and confident speaking with people about both topics because I have learned to speak and listen in love, and not on a soapbox only focused on my beliefs, or feeling like I have to speak above a whisper timidly fearing attack.

It’s my spiritual growth that allows me to feel comfortable with all people regardless of how they look, sound, speak, act, or even smell (yes, some people disconnect with others because of these shallow reasons). God is in all of us, we see Him more in others because they have their filters removed and embrace the Light within.

Ask yourself if people see God fully in you.

Do you walk around frowned up, dark and gloomy, whining and complaining, harboring on the past, holding grudges, cussing about what someone did or said to you? Do you blame others for why you are in a rut? Do you find yourself gossiping, bad mouthing, or nitpicking others, sometimes for long periods of time? Do you find yourself sitting at home a lot, disconnected from socializing and experiencing new things? Do you make excuses for your overweight body, lack of social life, and why you are either in the same miserable place you were last year (or worse)?

If you do any of these things then how can anyone possibly see the Light of God within you? How are you possibly loving yourself and others as God loves you? Think about it and then do something to change your circumstances, and the image you are portraying to the world.

Love always,

Natasha

Copyright 2013. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted.
breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.