nycu newsletter 1

Restoring A Vision Evangelizing Nations Issue #1 February 18, 2013

NEW

S YO

U CAN USE

Devotional 2 The Superwoman vs. The Supernatural Woman!”

Devotional 6 “Believing God Enough To Remain Seated!”

Inspiration 7 Featured book, song, and joke of the month!

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We all want to be a disciple of Christ, right? Well, what does that mean exactly? This month’s treasure is found in Luke 9:23. It gives three specific instructions for us who want to be disciples:

1. Deny ourselves

2. Take up our cross

3. Follow Him

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Deny your desires, your pursuits, your flesh, and any and everything that goes against God and His Word. Take up your cross! The

cross has the “I Die Daily” message written all over it (1 Cor. 15:31). By taking this up you have set yourself apart. You have decided to not follow your will, feelings, or

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emotions and to Instead follow Jesus no matter what! And lastly, just follow Him. Follow His Word, His plans, and His agenda! Obey Him! Walk and talk like Him! Let’s make a deal! Everyday let’s start our day by denying ourselves,

surrendering to Him and living in the power of the Holy Spirit! Let’s

be disciples!

Pg. 4

This Month’s Treasure: Then He said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up

their cross daily and follow me!”

Luke 9:23 NIV

Restoring A Vision Evangelizing Nations

Issue #1 February 18, 2013

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“The Superwoman vs. The Supernatural Woman!”

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing!” John 15:5 NIV

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to

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help me!" “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-‐42 NIV "Jesus is coming. We must clean the house, get new linens, cook a huge feast…..let's go, let's go, let's go!!" Two sisters: Martha and Mary. One is the "superwoman" and the other is the "supernatural woman." There were two different responses to Jesus' arrival. One

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responded by working the other chose what was needed….what was better. The first is Martha. Many of us can relate to her. If you are like me you have about 5 calendars/planners. One of which is on your phone and constantly sends you reminders. lol! Or (also like me) you have a planner that you write everything in. 6am -‐Wake up 6:30am-‐Time with the Lord 8am-‐Workout 10am-‐ Class 11am-‐Tour 12pm-‐Meeting 1pm-‐Class 3pm-‐Meeting 4pm-‐Class 6:30pm-‐ Meeting 8pm-‐Home 8:30pm-‐School work 2am or 3am-‐Sleep

Praesent pretium lectus a dui.

byline Lorem Ipsum



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Now, this is my schedule two times a week….(thank God for a free day on Friday) but your schedule maybe even more busy. You could be a mom who has to juggle taking care of the kids, cooking dinner, taking care of your husband, and having a full-‐time job. Or maybe you are a single mom or just a very busy and ambitious lady. No matter what your story may be we all try to be superwoman. When I was in high school I "thought" I was this woman. "I got this" and "I can handle it" became my anthem and song. But college…..Spelman college has shown me more and more each year that I AM NO SUPERWOMAN. Truth is, I cannot handle it by myself. I do not always have this. I NEED JESUS! And girlfriend, YOU DO TOO! The superwoman thinks that she can do it all by herself. She wears many hats…all at the same time. The problem with this woman is that she becomes so engulf in her work and herself that she often forgets what is needed and doesn't "choose the better part." We work and we work and we work. Just like Martha, we get frustrated when someone seems to be "slacking." We serve and we serve and we serve until we wear ourselves out resulting in us not being the effective fruit bearers that we were created to be. Hear this: The Superwoman is a media myth. Her strength is limited. She will get tired. She will not "bear much fruit" (John 15:5) or do

all things" (Philippians 4:13) because she possesses the "Me, myself, and I" attitude. Now don't get me wrong, the superwoman is not a bad woman…..she usually has good intentions. Back in high school, I had good intentions, but even though I was saved and loved God with all of my heart many times He was the last thing on my agenda/calendar. I would work and work and work for everyone else….but would slack on my quiet time with Him because I was too tired! Martha also had good intentions…..she wanted to "serve" God and she wanted to be the best hostess! Just like Martha and just like me back in high school, many of you have good intentions. You just want to help, make a difference, or serve. But I have one question for you sister: Are you serving more than you're seeking?

In order to get done what Christ has called us to….we cannot be superwomen. As stated before the superwoman is a media myth. We must take the pressure off and go after being a supernatural woman. What is a supernatural woman? She is a woman who realizes what is needed and what is better! She puts first things first. She walks and lives in the Spirit. She never ever has the "Me, myself, and I" attitude because she knows that it is through Christ that she can do all things and bear much fruit. She realizes that apart from God she can do nothing. She seeks God's face daily and if anything or anyone stands in between her

and her King she will gladly walk away! Mary…exhibits a "supernatural woman." She "chose the better part." Have you? Our first scripture text tells us the key to bearing much fruit. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5 NIV) Sister…..let this sink into your spirit. Apart from God YOU CAN DO NOTHING.

You might be the best planner, organizer, or teacher. You may be the smartest, the most talented, or most gifted…..but none of that will matter if you do not abide in Christ. Not only can you do nothing a part from God, but truth is you are and will be nothing without Him. Sure, people may sing your praises and applaud you…but what does God say about your agenda/calendar? What does He say about your job in the Kingdom. As I stated in "Dear Sis" what will others be able to tell the young man that finds you about your work ethic in the Kingdom? Will they say that you have been seeking God's face consistently? Will they say that she seeks God's face "part-‐time" or will they say that you are not even an employee? It's time for us to surrender our all to Jesus. Our plans, agendas, and calendars. Our will, feelings, and emotions. Our hearts, our minds, and our bodies. It's time sister to live through the power of the Holy Spirit………….Continue Reading at www.newsyoucanusersj.weebly.com



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"If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sakes in the presence (and with the approval) of Christ (The Messiah). To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions." 2

Corinthians 2:10-11 AMP

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I forgive you. I forgive you. I FORGIVE YOU! Those three words have so much power. Christ said on the cross, "…Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." 1 John 1:9 says that God is faithful and just and will forgive… God had placed it on my heart to write about forgiveness one night and while sitting in the hair salon getting my hair done and talking about life with my fabulous hair dresser Brittany Adams God then used little miss fierce Brittany to confirm the word! Oh how thankful I am for confirmation! At the time you feel unsure God will use somebody that you least expect to confirm what He told YOU. Amen to that! Now, let's dig in shall we! Have you ever been madder than a hornet? Have you ever been having a great day and then you ran into a person that hurt or offended you and your whole mood changed and the rest of your day was completely ruined? Has someone ever hurt you so badly that you felt as though it hurt you

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to your core? Have you ever put a period where God has put a comma because someone did something that you did not like? Have you ever spoken ill of someone to another person trying to get that person to see that individual in the same negative light that you do? Have you ever judged someone prematurely because they reminded you of someone who hurt you? Maybe….maybe not. I can let you know that Raven Symone Jackson has been madder than a hornet! Oh yes, the girl who is madly in love with Jesus has been upset!! I share this small story because I want you to know that you are not alone and that the same God that healed me from hurt and transformed my life can do the same for you! I am generally not an angry person….matter of fact…many would say that they have never seen me upset. In the past, people would hurt my feelings or do something to me that was down out right mean and uncalled for and I would just brush it off. I never



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(Continued)

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ever could or would retaliate or speak ill of the person. But boy oh boy some things my friend, we must seek God's face for! Some things we must let go of and allow Christ to heal and restore us! Some things cannot and will not be let go of unless you are handing them to Christ! To make a long story short, a friend that I love made me very angry. And I did not realize it until I saw this individual and suddenly my whole day was RUINED! Friend, I think my blood pressure rose and I broke a sweat! I rehearsed the situation to my then 10 year old sister (she is now 12) 50 times until this 10 year old going on 30 said two profound words. She did not say, "get over it RAVEN!" She did not say, "let it go RAVEN!" She did not say, "It's not a big deal RAVEN!" Jayla Rose Jackson said, "BE DELIVERED!" To this day….we still clown about this moment; especially because a 10 year old had to tell her 20 year old sister the truth! Friend, today in the words of Jayla I say to you, if any of the above scenarios apply to you…...BE DELIVERED! Now, please don't get me wrong. Things hurt! As my cousin would say, "People are something else!" I know. Trust me. But today, friend no matter what scenario fits you at this moment and no matter who hurt you or what they did you must forgive them!!! Yes, it is true that Christ forgave us; so why not forgive others. Yes, it is true that

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not forgiving can and will block your blessing. Yes, it is true that forgiving is the right thing to do. But you may be wondering and asking yourself is your forgiveness of that particular individual relevant? The answer to this question is a huge YES! When I read 2 Corinthians 2:10-‐11 I immediately had to repent for my anger towards this person and seek God's face even more than before. These two sciptures tell us that if we don't forgive, satan will have an advantage! My friend that is not how God has called us to live as believers; Satan is to have no advantage over a blood bought believer….unless we give it to him! I know you heard this before so I'll just repeat it (sometimes we need to hear things more than once) FORGIVING HAS A LOT MORE TO DO WITH YOU THEN IT DOES THE OTHER PERSON! Don't think that you are doing someone a favor by forgiving them…most of time that same person doesn't even know they needed forgiveness. Know this: FRIEND YOU ARE DOING YOURSELF A FAVOR BY FORGIVING that person. And if you continue to walk in un-‐forgiveness you are doing the devil a favor! "Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing you were the prisoner." Our text today in 2 Corinthians 2:10-‐11 speaks about forgiving; "in order to

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keep Satan from getting the advantage over us for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions." So how do we give satan an advantage and do him a favor by walking in un-‐forgiveness?

1. Our vision changes

2. We become woefully obsessed with all things self

3.We become ineffective in ministry

4.Our relationship with God suffers…………….

Continue reading at www.newsyoucanusersj.weebly.com



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Scripture Text:

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more

than all we ask or imagine, according to His power

that is at work within us!" Ephesians 3:20

Believing God Enough To Remain Seated!

Are you believing God for something so great, something so big; something that others say is impossible? Friend, I have in the past and I am currently doing so. At New Years Eve service my dad said that this would be the year of great grace. My Pastor here in Atlanta (Pastor Creflo Dollar) had been preaching about grace for the whole year of 2012. And then, my peers who went to Passion 2013 (wish I could have gone) here in Atlanta said that Pastor Louie Giglio said," This is the year of God's favor! What do you want?" Whew….I almost started to shout on that one! Grace is defined as unmerited; undeserved favor. So….friend, what do you want? What do you want God to do for you and are you in the right position to receive it? Let's dig in! Please read John 6:1-‐15. Here we see a great crowd of people who all have a great need. They needed some food. Now, although I am not in need of food, I can relate because I have a great need. I am reminded of the quote that says, "I have a great need for Christ. I have a great Christ for my need!" This quote became reality for this great crowd and friend, I am believing God that it will become reality for you and I. So now let's talk about that great need you have. In order to receive friend, we must be in the right position. We see here that there was not enough food for these 5 thousand people. Among this

great crowd, there was only 5 small barley loaves and 2 small fish. Notice that in verse 5 Christ asked Philip," Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" Verse 6 blessed my life….."…….for He already had in mind what He was going to do." God already knew what He was going to do. I am reminded of 2 Peter 2:9 which says, "The Lord knows how to deliver the righteous from trials." Do you believe God's word? Do you believe that God knows what He is doing and that He already has a plan not just for your life, but for your day and circumstance. Do you believe it? Anytime friend you are trying to figure out how you are going to do it…..immediately say…." THE LORD KNOWS HOW!"

Now let's check out Philip's response in verse 7, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!' Does Philip's response sound familiar to you? Maybe you shared your great need/desire that you are believing God for with someone and they said, "Boy please, that's impossible." Or, "Girl, that won't happen no time soon! It will take forever!" Maybe you have even said, "Lord, how in the world are you going to do that. That's impossible. How are you going to use me, open up that door, restore that relationship, heal me, how…..how….how!?!?!" Continue reading at www.newsyoucanusersj.weebly.com

Restoring A Vision Evangelizing Nations Issue #1 February 18, 2013

R.A.V.E.N. The News You Can Use Newsletter (February 2013)

Featured Book Of The Month:

"Not A Fan: Becoming a Completely

Commimed Follower of Jesus!"

By Kyle Idleman

Featured Song Of The Month: "Break Every Chain"

By: Jesus Culture Tasha Cobbs

or United Pursuit

Funny Picture Of The Month:

LOL!

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