Tuesday, November 1, 2011

21 Days of Praise

Recently, my brother, Rev. Kenneth E. Copeland, the pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Rockford, Illinois sent out an invitation on Facebook to join his church as they study "The Power to Prosper: 21-Days to Financial Freedom" (click the link to see CNN interview) by Michelle Singletary. For the 21 days of this fast, they are asking folks to not use credit cards or debit cards and only purchase necessities (grocery, gas, medication).

"From November 1st through November 21st we are trusting that God will give us the discipline to break the bondage of debt and to put our money where our values are. I DARE YOU TO JOIN US!"

U.S. consumer debt is more than 2 trillion dollars. That's trillion--not million. We are drowning in a sea of debt. For many, not using credit for 21 days would be a great challenge. Being financially free is important. God wants us to be free in every way, emotionally, spiritually, physically and financially. In order to take control of our finances (and other areas of our lives) we must be disciplined. That financial challenge gave me an idea for another challenge. A challenge to 21 days of praise.

I invite you to join me on At the Well to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4).

For the next 21 days (November 1-21) join with me in posting praise and thanks on At the Well (online or Facebook).

For the first seven days, list three things:

I praise God for His (fill in the blank)
I thank Him for (fill in the blank)

The next 7 days list 7 things.

And the last 7 days see if you can list 12 things a day.

The challenge. Don't repeat but you can go from general to specific. For example, I thank God for my health. Then later you may say, I thank God that I was able to walk under my own strength or I thank God for the ability to see, etc.

When we start thinking about and saying all of the things that we have to thank God for, I believe it frees us. Our problems become small in light of an awesome God who loves us.

Maybe you'll do both--the financial fast and 21 days of praise. Either way, at the end, I'm sure we'll have many praise reports of what the Lord has done.

Here's my first list:

1. I praise God for salvation
2. I thank him for my husband.
3. I thank him for my children.

Top At the Well postings for October 2011

Here are the top At the Well postings, for October 2011. If you're reading them for the first time or again, enjoy and please share them with your friends via email or on your Facebook wall.


Note: A week or so after I wrote this post, I was watching Good Morning, America (something I don't usually do) and they were talking about a book named, Dear Me, A Letter to My 16-year-old Self. I had no idea. This post came to me out of a conversation I had with my soon-to-be 16-year-old daughter. I wish I had thought of this posting and a writing book last year! At any rate, that book highlights the letters of 75 celebrities writing to their 16-year-old selves. I guess great minds think alike or at least more than one-person can have the same idea. 

What letter or advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?





No cupcakes at school for birthdays? What is the world coming to? Should schools ban sugar?
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