A Short Good Friday Prayer of Thanksgiving by Min. Michelle Goodwine

Thank You, Jesus, for paying the ultimate price for me, a wretched sinner. On this day, Good Friday, you experienced tremendous, undeserving pain and suffering.  Lord, thank you for caring enough about me to come down from heaven, be born to a virgin, live on this earth, and  then die a horrible death for me.  I can only imagine how brutal the beatings you endured that day were.  How humiliating it must have been for you to have been mocked and  heckled. It is so extremely difficult to comprehend how excruciatingly painful it must have been for you to  hang on the cross with nails  in your hands and feet. And even though, at any point and time you you could have decided to end your suffering, you didn't.  Thank You.  Words cannot even express the degree of gratitude that I have for you and the sacrifice that you made on the very first Good Friday for me.  If it were not for the price you paid for me with your blameless, sin-free, innocent blood, that has washed my sinful, guilty soul white as snow, I would not be able to have a New Life Today!!!  And for this, I say, "Thank You".

Source: http://www.sumcct.org/

Lessons Learned from Dr. Martin Luther King's Life

Photo Credit: www.wn.com

Today, if Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was alive, he would be celebrating his 84th birthday.  But, as we all know, Dr. King was slain at the tender age of 39 in 1968.  He never lived to even be middle aged.

Despite this fact, no one can deny that he accomplished a great deal in the less than 4 decades he walked on this earth.  Examining Dr. King's life can help us all in living a New Life Today.  Here are just a few thoughts that came to mind for me:

1. Don't Procrastinate.  
We never know how long we have on this earth.  When we put off what we could accomplish today for tomorrow, we may not ever get it done.  Tomorrow is not promised to us.  Who knows what significant contributions to our society that many of us could have made, if it were not for procrastination.

2. Even imperfect people can be used by God to make a difference.  
Often times many of us don't stand and protest about a situation or condition in our society because of our imperfect lives.  We believe that in order to be viewed as a leader, we must have perfect, unblemished pasts.  But, if we review history closely, we will see that is not necessary.  Despite rumors of infidelity, there is no doubt that Dr. King was one of the major civil rights leaders in American history.  He did not let his imperfections prevent him for contributing to society.

3. Someone will always criticize you.
Let us not forget that even Jesus Christ was criticized, ostracized, and crucified.  Despite Dr. King's contributions to civil rights, even to this day, there are people who disagree with his tactics, strategies, and approach.  There are some African Americans who believe his support of "nonviolence" was stupid.  They could not grasp the "turn the cheek" philosophy.  Instead these individuals embraced the "eye for an eye", "By any means necessary", Malcolm X philosophy.  And there are others, including the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nation, and other racist organizations, that believe that blacks and others don't deserve equal rights.

If Dr. King let his critics control his actions, I doubt he would have participated in the March on Washington, or that he would have spoken out against the Vietnam War, or that he would have travelled to Memphis to help the sanitation workers' union.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4 

Regardless of what we have accomplished to help others in our society, as long as we are still in the land of the living, we still have an opportunity to make a difference.  Let us make a commitment today to ourselves to contribute to society.  We may not get a holiday in our name, but we can still make a positive impact in our families, neighborhoods, and communities.

Editor's Note: I am proud to say "Happy Birthday" to my daughter, Ronelle "Rain" Mirron Lawson.  She was blessed to share her birthday with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and her great uncle, Jesse Lawson.  Today my daughter turned 18!

Inspirational Video Moment: Silent Night

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Jesus Set Me Free by Amber Leggette-Aldrich Testimony Tuesday

I Am B.A.D. (Blessed And Delivered) 

Our church youth group returned from Youth Camp this past weekend. I had been reading some of their posts on Facebook about their experiences, and I could feel the excitement and joy in their hearts. It has always been a tremendous blessing to me to see our young people so full of fire and enthusiasm for Jesus! And their willingness to openly share what God is doing in their lives is something that I deeply admire. These young people are not just talking about God, but they are walking the walk as well.

At the Wednesday night service several of the youths gave testimonies about what they had experienced at the camp. As each one shared, I found myself crying inexplicably. It wasn’t out of sadness, but more from a deep sense of thankfulness. Before long I began to realize that I was remembering what my life had been like before Jesus set me free. There was so much bondage in my life, mostly from my own doing. I can’t even begin to explain the deepness of the gratitude I feel for what Jesus did for me. But when I think about it, and how I have been changed by His love, there is a joy that just explodes inside of me, and I want to share it with the whole world! 

Each new day is another opportunity to let that joy shine into the world. I don’t have to wait for something to stir me up. I only have to think about what the Lord saved me from, and how much He loves me. I can find His goodness in the promises of His Word, and I know where I am going when my race is finished here. My God is more than enough for me! He is bigger than any storm I face! And I am no longer a slave to sin!

I am not perfect, yet. But God is working in my heart, changing me day by day, moment by moment. And I will be made perfect when I enter His gates! Knowing that gives me an assurance and contentment, as well as excitement. I no longer live in condemnation, but in liberation. 

“Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:” (Galatians 4:3 KJV) Things like anger, unforgiveness, doubt, fear, drugs, rebellion, hate, hypocrisy, enviousness and more, were all chains of bondage to me. No matter how many times I tried to change, no matter how hard I tried, I could not do it. Maybe for a day or two in one or two areas, but it never lasted. 

But then I began to learn about Jesus. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32 KJV) “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV) Through learning the truth about His pure and unconditional love for me, I began to trust in Him. I called out to Him for help, to set me free. The chains that had held me hostage for so long were broken. I repented and was baptized in Jesus’ name. My sins were forgiven and washed away. As I opened up my heart to Him, He filled me with His Holy Spirit and great love, and my life began to change.

My journey since then has not always been easy. Many trials and temptations have come my way. But the freedom I have in Jesus replaces the fear I once had with peace and comfort. He is always with me, and He gives me strength and courage to continue on. I remember what my life was like before He saved me, and I won’t go back. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1 KJV) I may fall down and scrape my knees, but He helps me to get back up and keep fighting. He gives me the heart to love others, and to forgive as He has forgiven me. I put my life in His hands, and there’s no better place to be! He has shown me the wonders of His love, and profound miracles too. I AM SO B.A.D. (Blessed And Delivered) Jesus has set me free!

Second Chance to Be Made New -Testimony Tuesday

Second Chance to Be Made New

by Marijo Phelps 

There have been several “second chance” moments in my life. 

Remembering back to those days when we lived for the weekends…. Drinking, playing poker, having bar-b-ques, smoking dope, dancing, baking brownies…. It seemed like fun until we got pulled over by the cops for erratic driving or were in the bathroom lying prone of the floor waiting to throw up yet again. I think the only reason I missed going to jail was because they had no matron on duty that night. I wasn’t driving the car but had passed out in the back seat and Jim was driving only he passed out in the front seat – in the fog on a major California highway. We could have been hit by a semi and killed but fortunately the highway patrol were the ones who saw us and had each of us “walk the line”. I think we both flunked. Jim got a night in the hoosegow and I drove the car home with two policemen following me, in the fog, as I proceeded to run a stop sign but managed to make it home and the officers helped me to my front door.
On that foggy night the party we’d been to didn’t seem so much fun but that didn’t stop me the next time. It was actually a number of years…. The second chance part comes later.

Graphic Credit:  my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com

The next second chance I had involved relationships and doing it right. I certainly didn’t do it right BEFORE. My ex husband and I lived together two years before we finally got married. I was gun shy having been married once before. I messed up that first marriage royally. The divorce was my choice and my fault. The only reason I ended up getting married the second time was because I had asked for and been granted a month vacation in August – during “prime vacation time” only because we were getting married. I had wanted to change my mind about tying the knot but our parents would have been devastated and I wouldn’t have been able to go on that vacation, all great reasons to get married, right?

The second chance came for both of those lifestyles when my little atheistic self began to realize that there was something more. That there was someone who was smarter than I, that there was a being who loved like I had never been loved before. His name is Jesus. I hit bottom one day while walking in a park before going in for PM shift at the hospital. I didn’t cry often but when I did there was usually a relief and release. That day it seemed like my tears were made of mud and the more I cried the messier I got.

I went home to get ready for work and in the bathtub began talking to the God I didn’t think existed… I got to the point where I asked forgiveness and confessed what a mess I was making of my life asking Jesus to take over. I didn’t realize it but I had been in that tub for 1 ½ hours and the water had turned stone cold. I wasn’t emotional when praying but afterwards a huge weight seemed to lift off my shoulders, I felt a solid peace that I had never experienced before and something had definitely changed.

It was after this being “made new” many things fell into place and I got a number of second chances. I was able to go to people I had wronged and ask forgiveness. This led to greater freedom and more release.
Numbers of years later, I met a wonderful guy. We had both been married before and this time wanted to do it right. We wanted to wait until we married to give each other that ultimate gift of intimacy. With God’s grace and help we were able. 

Graphic Credit:  alaknowsbest.wordpress.com

This is a piece I wrote back at that time:
Lord, there is an incredible gift wrapped and set aside for our upcoming wedding from you to us and then us to each other. I beseech you to let your strength be evident in our weakness! Let not even a corner of the paper be torn or wrinkled. Help us, I pray to cherish, trust, WAIT and not gobble. Oh, Jesus, help our focus to always be looking up to you. Father hear my cry. AMEN

Was it easy? Nope. Was it possible to “not awaken our love before its time”? Definitely. 

I was given a second chance at life and also at being able to wait having our honeymoon AFTER the marriage.

All this worked and we were blessed because of our most incredible Lord Jesus and the price He paid to set us free!

Some people never receive a second chance so if you don't know the Lord Jesus please, please take time to make that eternity changing choice today! We do not know how much time we have, do we? He loves you so very much!!!

© Marijo Phelps all rights reserved –

Come visit her blog: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com/

Psalm 70:4-5

New International Version (NIV)

⁴ 

But may all who seek you 

    rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who long for your saving help always say,

    “The Lord is great!”

⁵ 

But as for me, I am poor and needy; 

    come quickly to me, O God.

You are my help and my deliverer; 

    Lord, do not delay.

Inspirational Video Moment: He Has His Hands on You

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Inspirational Video Moment: Near to God

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Sermon of the Week: Waiting on Change, Pastor DeChard Freeman

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Pastor DeChard Freeman
 Abundant Life Community Baptist Church Pflugerville, TX
Video Credit

By Your Side by Roger Horsch

Graphic Credit

There are things in our lives that happen
That can cause us to run and hide
But there is a strength that runs right through us
‘cause we know Jesus is by our side.

He’s always there when times are tough
And when the times are good
We should remember to pull our strength from Him
Because He says we always should.

He gives us the power to overcome
He opens our eyes to see
What it is our lives are now
And what our lives should be.

Our time is only temporary
As we walk upon this earth
He’s been guiding our lives to be the best we can
From the time of our own birth.

 So, find some happiness within yourself
‘cause you know how hard you’ve tried
Then, take peace in knowing the Lord is here
And that He’s standing right by your side.

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Inspirational Video Moment: Never Give Up

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Monday Inspirational Video Moment - What Does the Bible Say About Fear?

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Inspirational Video Moment: I Look to You

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MORNING WARFARE PRAYER by Ladonna Frasier-Hayes

Publiisher's Note: Ladonna Frasier-Hayes shared with New Life Today Blog her Morning Warfare Prayer.  It is posted to allow all of us to be blessed by the reading and praying of this phenomenal prayer.  Please feel free to share this prayer will all of your friends and family.

Good morning Jesus.

I first repent for any word, thought or deed overnight that has been displeasing to You and 

I ask you to wash my body, soul, and spirit with the blood of Jesus.

I curse every corruptible seed that has been implanted overnight that is not of Christ Jesus and 

command them to wither and die, 

so Your righteous seed can grow and spirit that has attached itself to  me over night and send it back to dry places and loose me in Jesus’ name.

I bind the powers  of darkness, principalities and strongmen over the land, sea and air and sever their cords from the heavenlies.

Holy Spirit come and help me pray,

That I put on the whole armor of God.
1)      The Helmet of Salvation
2)       The Breastplate of Righteousness
3)      Shield of Faith
4)      Sword of the Spirit
5)      Belt of Truth
6)      And the Shoes for the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace.

I plead the blood of Jesus over the members, memories, possessions, spirit, soul and body of my past and present.

Lord, I surrender myself to your perfect will.

Bend me, make me, break me, mend me and use me so I can be closer to you.  

Empty me completely and fill me with the spirit of the Lord, The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, The Spirit of Counsel and Might, The Spirit of Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord. 

Lord, keep me on the path You have laid for me today and show me Satan’s tactics in advance and heal every memory that hold me back from me being all that You want me to be. 

Lord, please send the Holy Spirit to muzzle my mouth and mute my voice to stop me before I’m to do or say anything that will out of your timing, displeasing or offensive to You. 

Lord, please don’t let me be just a warrior in your kingdom , but a mighty warrior and front line soldier so when I see You face to face You will say “Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into my rest.” And I pray this all in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Inspirational Video Moment: I Need You Once Again

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Inspirational Video Moment: God's Will in Our Life

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Life's Changes by Roger Horsch

Graphic Credit

When our hopes and dreams are shattered
And they seem to be out of range
It’s the ability to know what we need
In our lives to make a change.

We must find out what’s important
Not what we want, but what we need
Our lives should be filled with love and joy
Not anger, lust or greed.

So fill your life with things that are new
And get rid of the bad and the old
‘cause it’s always hard to take criticism
Or to do what we are told.


But the change is deep within us
If we look we just might find
The key that unlocks the door to change
So we won’t be left behind.

So when you let God change your life
Your life will start to change you
And when it is all said and done
Your life’s changes will be new.

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My Daily Prayers: Spritual Words of Wisdom by Joyce E. Adejumo

Publisher's Note: Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Joyce E. Adejumo, author of My Daily Prayers: Spiritual Words of Wisdom, Volume I, owner of Mitchie's Gallery in Austin, Texas and Executive Director of the Mitchie Mitchell Foundation.  

Please support Ms. Adejumo and all the work she has been doing over the years to help survivors of drunk driving accidents and prevent DWI. Buy her book, or purchase something from her store, or send a donation to her Foundation. 

Mitchie's Art Gallery, Austin, TX

Her story is a compelling one.  Her son, "Mitchie" Mitchell, was paralyzed from the waist  down at the age of 3 as a result of an automobile accident. His biological father was driving - drunk! "Mitchie" passed away at the age of 21 in January 2008.

Since February 7, and for the first Tuesday of the month for the remainder of 2012, New Life Today Blog will publish a prayer for Ms. Adejumo's book.  

I am certain that all who read 

Ms. Adejumo's prayers will be blessed:

Father in Heaven, 
thank You for always opening up new routes in my life and directing my path, 
so that I travel on the correct roads. 
You have planned for me. 
Help me to have a perfect heart for You, Father and to walk in ways that are pleasing to You. 

Thank You, for knowing the solutions before I have the problems and allowing your divine plan for my life to supersede my mistakes. 
I stand ready to receive Your mercy. 
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

I Want A Do Over, or Do I? by Bob Valleau

Is your life like a roller coaster -- a never ending ride of ups and downs with a few sharp turns now and then? When you left home to embark on living your own life, were you prepared for such a tumultuous experience? Yet, if you could go back in time and had the ability to change your destiny, would you?

How many of us wish we had a life "do over"? Oh, some of you would say you are happy at this point in your life, and, as believers, you may quote how we are commanded to be content in whatsoever state we find ourselves.

Still, haven't you ever wondered where you would be if you had the ability to choose your own destiny? I have, and, I must admit, it's scary. I have often wondered, "What if?" And then there are the "could've, should've, would've" possibilities that run through my mind. I know. I live dangerously because entertaining such thoughts border on the edge of plain fiction or total lunacy.

Well, call me crazy for being human and nonsensical. But my wandering mind has never steered me wrong. It has always led me back to the most sensible and logical conclusion: my destiny is not a destination but a person, Jesus Christ. My rambling thoughts have helped me to see how God does not live in our "what ifs." Nor does He live in our "could'ves, would'ves, should'ves." He lives in our here and now, always drawing us closer so we can experience a more intimate relationship with Him.

You see, I'm glad God never gave us the power to chart our own course. I'm glad He wraps our life's journey in a mystery which forces us to place our trust in Him. I'm glad He knows the end from the beginning and only reveals what He has to at just the right moment.

So no, I don't want a life "do over." The only power God has given me is what I do with each day and whom I will serve. In reality, isn't that what our destiny is all about anyway?

Copyright 2012 by Bob Valleau. Bob has over 25 years of writing experience for the Christian market. He was once named Christian Writer of the Year by the American Christian Writers Association. Currently, he freelances and lives in Texas.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

Gonna Make A Change by Edwin Tillis

Editor's Note: The following essay was recently written by a Christian who is graduating from a residential drug residential treatment program based on the 12-step process.  It is hoped that this essay will inspire and motivate others looking to overcome an addiction to drugs and alcohol.

I write this for myself, as well as my loved ones, who have been subjected to my using, and have loved me enough to suffer along with me for years until GOD has relieved me of the obsession to use drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.

Not too long ago I heard a man say that his drug of choice was not worth the ink to even write to and I totally agree with him. So I write this to you LORD, to my family, love ones and to myself.

For more years than I care to remember, my drug use and the lifestyle that goes along with it, has taken so many things away from me that are irreplaceable. When I speak of these things it is not the tangible items, such as cars, money, clothes, or household goods. No, I speak of wasted time, energy, relationships gone bad, and repossessed Blessings that were from GOD!

Today, with GOD’S Direction, Grace, Mercy, and Second chance’s, He has brought me from destruction to reconstruction. Today He is revealing His purpose for my life. And for this I praise you FATHER.

The things that were lost - tangible and non-tangible, I have faith that The GOD that I serve today shall replace and restore them in HIS time and according to his purpose!

Today I realize that I am not cured and all I have is a daily reprieve contingent on the daily maintenance of my spiritual condition and conditioning. Every day is a day that I must carry the vision of GOD’S will into all my activities and interactions with others.

The choices that we make in life determine our destiny. So today I choose hope instead of dope. And life instead of death. I choose relationships instead of isolation. And I choose to live life on life’s terms.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Overcoming Addiction through God's Strength! by Michelle Goodwine

In 2009, Whitney Houston's comeback from a bad marriage and drug addiction was underway. With the release of her CD and the single "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", it was hoped that Whitney had once again returned to her thrown as the Queen of Pop.  Unfortunately, in the meantime, her road to recovery, like many others with addiction problems, was paved with many potholes.  And on Saturday, February 11, Whitney came to the end of her road.

What is truly sad about Whitney's fall from grace is that she was a believer who lost her way. While it is too late for Whitney to start a New Life Today, perhaps her life can serve as a lesson to us all.  

Below are some Bible verses that will hopefully help other Christians who are trying to Start a New Life free from drugs and alcohol:

Lesson #1: Our Strength Comes from God

Isaiah 40:28-30 (NIV)

²⁸ Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,  the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary,   and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD    will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Lesson #2: Your Body is a Temple

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Lesson #3: Don't Get Drunk

Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)

¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,  
¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lesson #4: We are Not of this World

Romans 12:1-3 (NIV)

¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  
² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For those Christians struggling to overcome a drug and/or alcohol addiction, remember Philippians 4:13 (KJV):   ^"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."   With the Lord's help, we accomplish anything.  Unfortunately, it appears that Whitney forgot this.  It appears that instead of looking up, should looked inward.  And I am certain that she, like other addicts who have lost their way have found, overcoming addiction requires more than self-control. To overcome addiction, one must rely on God's strength.

(Photo: Reuters/Ygal Levi)

Whitney Houston emerges from the waters of the River Jordan during a Holy Land pilgrimage, May 29, 2003.