iWill Grow Up

September/2014

iPray eVotional iPray eVotionals exhorts those who pray.  It's the glass of water held out around each month's turn for the runners who can use a quick and easy quench in order to finish strong. iWill Grow Up Approx. reading time: 10-12 minutes iWant to grow up I often pray about what I want and desire.  Most of the time when I ask God for something, I'm not aware of what first has to happen in me.  Why is it so hard to grow up and out of bad habits?  Sometimes I get resentful when God seems to be urging me to change something I really don't feel like changing while ignoring what I really want to talk about.  Truth is what I desire requires and rewards change.  Real change!     Emma wants to grow up When Emma's best friend, Kaylee, had stripped her room of princess decorations and replaced them with all kinds of sick items, Kaylee's room turned into the coolest place ever!  All of their friends would meet up at Kaylee's house and chill in her room.  She had a door bell, lava lamp and even a little disco ball.  Polk-a-dots were everywhere; on her bedspread, walls, ceiling and she even had peal-n-stick spots on her window, making it the perfect "spot" to hang out. Emma's room was babyish and had usually been a disaster.   When Kaylee was over at Emma's house this past summer, Emma had avoided hanging out in her room, knowing how inferior it was to Kaylee's.  Emma tried her hardest to make everything outside of her room seem more interesting.  She didn't feel like doing it, but she insisted on throwing a softball around in her back yard. The last thing she had wanted was for Kaylee to walk into her room and think that she was a slob, or even worse, a baby with her My Little Pony bed covering. Her efforts had been for nothing when a freakish summer flash flood had singled out her house and Emma's mom had insisted the girls do something indoors...in Emma's room.  Emma had tried to think of other options but she couldn't change her mom's mind without looking desperate for no good reason.  With a cringe Emma had lead Kaylee into her kindergarten-style room.  A painting of Elmo over her bed had never looked more awkward in all her life.  Kaylee had jokingly said that she felt like a pony was about to eat her bottom as she sat on Emma's bed.  They had both laughed, but Emma really felt like crying. After Kaylee had left, Emma had what her mom likes to refer to as a teen-centered emotional breakdown.  "Mom, I can't believe you made me sit in my room with Kaylee!  Why couldn't we have just played Minecraft on your computer in the kitchen?" "Emma, you know you didn't have any computer time left," Emma's mom had patiently said while pointing to their earning chart on the refrigerator, "I'm not going to change the rules just because Kaylee is over." "But mom! It was like showing up to school in my underwear, having to walk Kaylee into my plain, white-walled room with clothes scattered around and embarrassing pictures of my naked two-year-old body in the bathtub displayed like a..." Emma had struggle for the right word, "...like an award, framed and on my dresser.  I hate my room, it makes me look like a nerdy kid who can't grow up." "Would you like to change your room?" "YES!"  Emma's heart had filled with hope. "Okay, if you can keep it clean for a whole month then we will give it a make over."  Her mom's words had dampened Emma's hope, how could she do that?  "As for Kaylee, she has been your friend for years and I don't think she sees you as a nerdy kid who can't grow up just because your walls are white and you have some memorabilia displayed." Emma didn't think her mom had understood.  She hadn't asked Kaylee to come to her house for the rest of the summer.  But now she wanted to create an opportunity to casually inform Kaylee that she too had stylish ideas and that they were about to be set free. Although Emma's room was still lacking style, it had been clean for over a month and she had been dying to redeem herself after Kaylee's last visit over the summer! Emma couldn't wait to show Kaylee her bedroom and give her the exciting news. This morning Emma had made her bed but carefully flipped her bed covering over so that the pink cartoon pony was prancing out of sight.  She had looked around at her babyish room but this time she was not as embarrassed.  Kaylee had been bothering her about coming over, Emma thought of every excuse in the book, waiting for just the right moment where she could truly redeem herself.  The time had arrived.  They were well into the new school year and Emma finally asked Kaylee to come over.  There they were, heading up the stairs towards Emma's room. As Emma and Kaylee walked into her room, Emma watched Kaylee for any sort of reaction. "Emma, your room is clean!"  Kaylee said. "I know, I was really busy last time you were here and that is why it was so messy."  Emma knew Kaylee could see she was fibbing. "It was summer the last time I was here," Kaylee interrupted, "you're more busy now with all the softball games you have every single weekend.  We barely found time for me to come over today because you are always at practices." "Okay, the truth is I wanted to redo my room.  It was not really reflecting my stage of life or my personality.  My parents informed me that I couldn't do any major make over until I could first prove to keep my room in order.  I guess leaving a few socks on the ground turns it into a pigsty, and if I don't make my bed it's like a tornado just hit." Finally, Emma got to say it without saying it...I'm not a slob and this room does not reflect who I am! "I know what you mean." Kaylee responded.   What? Kaylee could relate?   Kaylee continued, "My mom gets on me just because I take off my socks at night while I'm sleeping but in the morning I forget they are under the covers and I just make my bed right over top of them." Emma laughed like she understood completely but was secretly thankful Kaylee had never seen the pile of clothes that used to reside on the other side of Emma's bed.  Last time Kaylee was over she had skillfully covered the pile with her grandmother's quilt, the one made from all of Emma's old baby clothes.  Thank goodness Kaylee had never wondered what was under the quilt that rose higher than her mattress.  Emma had kept Kaylee focused on their last school yearbook, making constant comments about pictures and events. Kaylee went on, "I kick my socks off in my sleep all week and when my mom is taking my sheets off to wash them she's like, 'Kaylee, why on earth are there a pile of dirty socks under your covers?'" It was nice to hear that Kaylee had bad habits too.  "Socks piled under your covers, that's hilarious."  Emma said. "Yea. I tell my mom that I'm half asleep, I don't know what I'm doing." "Me too,"  Emma agreed, "I mean I wasn't half asleep but I tried to tell my mom my side too!  At first I was like, 'This is my room. I should be able to keep it the way I want.'  So I didn't make any effort to change my 'bad habits.'  Why would I make my bed just to show off a My Little Pony bedspread?"   Emma lifted part of her bedspread to reveal the butt-eating pony hiding on the underside and made some eating sounds.  Emma and Kaylee burst out in laughter as Kaylee pretended to be scared of the pony. "Seriously Emma, when I came into your room over the summer I was a little jealous that your mom didn't make you spend hours cleaning your room." Emma felt a relief come over her, Kaylee had not judged her.  Emma continued talking as she put the pony back in it's place.  "Well, I figured that at some point my parents would see that I am a grown teen now and would have to support that.  After a few days of standing my ground I casually brought it up at dinner, I just said, 'You know, a fresh coat of paint would really clean up my room.'" "What did they say?" Kaylee asked. "Mom casually responded, 'Paint has nothing to do with keeping your room clean.'" "Awe, she's good!" "I know!" Emma agreed, "Maybe she doesn't make me clean my room but she sure does know how to guilt me about it being messy.  Summer was almost over and I just couldn't see myself cleaning up after a tornado so I said, 'Mom, can't I keep my room as tidy as my personality?  You know the personality that would rather get her homework done?'" Kaylee laughed, "Good one," which gave Emma the green light to continue with her story. "My mom didn't even skip a beat, she's like, 'It's time to grow up Emma.  You can't ask for teenager privileges without being willing to demonstrate the responsibilities that come with them,' and I was like, 'If making my bed every single day and keeping clothes off the ground is growing up, then I won't grow up! I'll just stay the way I am and at the same time I want a room that reflects my mature age!" Kaylee's laughter tapered off as she thought about what Emma just said.  She just stared at Emma, confused.  "That makes no sense.  How are you going to get a new room if you don't want to grow up?" "I know," Emma quickly said, thinking of a way to redeem herself.  "Right when it came out of my mouth I thought the same thing.  You sound like an idiot!  My dad couldn't let my lame statement just slide, 'Honey," he said, "you got it!" Kaylee looked satisfied with Emma's answer.  Emma sat down on her bed and looked around.  "Yea, he was right. I wanted a room that reflected my maturity and in that moment I realized that I had a room that reflected my maturity." "So what did you do?"  Kaylee asked. "It turns out that picking up after myself and pulling my covers up every morning was not so hard."  Emma said, "In fact, I started to care about what was out of place in my room.  After my brother, Conner, borrowed my book the other day I asked him to put it back in the right place and not just throw it on my bed..and that's something my mom would say!" "Yea it is! It's annoying but it's probably good my mom makes me clean my room."  Kaylee said, "I need to just check under my covers for socks before I make my bed in the morning.  The socks make it look like my covers are all squished down there." Emma chuckled but continued on so she could get to what she really wanted to say.  "So last weekend my parents came to me and let me know that I had been doing a great job in keeping my room all tidy... yada yada yada... and went on about how a child talks like a child, thinks like a child and reasons like a child... blah blah blah... and that they were proud to see me maturing, and putting my childhood ways behind me, and so on..." Emma trailed off and almost forgot that she was trying to impress Kaylee.  At that moment she realized a mature change had taken place.  She didn't need to act like she was just as put together as Kaylee, she really was just as put together as Kaylee and even more so maybe.  Emma realized that she didn't have socks hiding anywhere, like under the covers. She realized that didn't have a clean room because her mom made her clean it, she had a clean room because she wanted it that way. "It felt sorta good to hear it," Emma said as if she was talking to herself more than she was to Kaylee.  "It was nice, making them proud of me like that. I guess I will grow up." Emma looked at her bookshelf with all of her books in line.  She thought about the day her softball game was canceled and she had spent all day straightening her room.  She had found some of her favorite books hiding under her bed.  One book she had gotten at the beginning of the summer and she found it still in the bag it came in.  She had been looking forward to reading that book all summer and had forgotten where she put it.  The summer had passed and she didn't even get to open it.  Yesterday she didn't have much homework and when her mom said to go read in her room, there it was on the shelf, standing straight up in perfect view with all of her other books.  She didn't have to search for it or settle for a book she really didn't care to read.  She read for 70 minutes straight and had a hard time putting it down when Conner had peeked in and said, "Mom says dinner is ready."  How's that for a reward for having a clean room, where she can find whatever she wants in two seconds flat! "Emma."  Kaylee's words brought Emma back to earth. "Sorry,"  Emma remembered what it was she wanted to announce to Kaylee for almost a week, "what I'm trying to say is I'm old enough to say that I'm a teenager, and apparently I'm also mature enough for a new bedspread and a fresh coat of paint!  Yes, that's right, this weekend I only have one softball game and it's really early in the morning so we are going to give my room a real teenager make-over!" Emma jumped off the bed and grabbed Kaylee's hands to cheer.  Kaylee did not miss a beat in the excitement of getting a bedroom make-over.  They both jumped around in circles. "I love bedroom make-overs!"  Kaylee shouted, "What are you going to do to your walls?" "I think I'll go black, with white stripes.  Or maybe white with black stripes. " "What? How are those different?"  Kaylee said playfully, she caught the humor of Emma's statement and it made Emma feel great. "Either way, I know it's going to be slick and clean!"  Emma said. "For sure!  We should make a design, that's what I did when I came up with my room's theme." For the rest of the afternoon Emma and Kaylee huddled around Emma's iPad looking for inspirational pictures to design her new grown-up teenager room.  Emma was super excited, she thought that maybe, just maybe, her room would end up being a hang-out "spot" as well. iGrow Up The process of change is the hard part, but God is so good to hold our hand every step of the way, making it completely possible.  Isn't it great that He does not give up on us?  We can look back and realize that we are not who we used to be and recognize God's whispers, saying that He is proud of us.   Michelle Swanepoel, who faithfully sends charges out to women of the world, says it like this.      "If you submit to God for this - God WILL change your world through YOU - you will be healed, your family will be restored, where you go - God's light will change the atmosphere - and ALL things that you desire (because God has given us dreams and desires) will be fulfilled by God alone. Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and ALL things will be passed onto you - do you understand the sequence of events that needs to take place?"   To read two of Michelle Swanepoel's charges click below: A Charge for Women  Another Charge for Women  It is humbling when I realize that God started answering my prayers the moment I prayed them.  When He addressed my bad habits, He was answering my prayers. God fulfills our heart's desires and makes our life-work matter!   iPray... iPray that you will talk to God, that you will be real with Him about what you want and desire. iPray that you won't be afraid to ask for big things to take place. iPray that you will never mistake God's urging as ignoring. iPray that you will grow up in your thoughts, actions and considerations. iPray that you will not compare your room to others rooms, or consider theirs better because it looks more mature. iPray you will instead embrace what God is asking of you in the room you live in right now. iPray that you will be patient in the process of change, that you will be quick to grab hold of what needs to happen in you and through you. iPray for revelation moments, where you look at a bookshelf with all the books in line and realize the transformation made was deeper and more real than you could have ever dreamed or imagined. iPray that you will be filled with gratitude when you realize that God does answer prayers. iPray God will fill you up beyond measure! iPray God will fulfill your heart's desire and make your life-work matter! In Jesus Name iPray, Amen ALL for Him, Michelle Fozounmayeh

In This Issue iWant to grow up Emma wants to grow up iGrow Up iPray... Join iPray eMailing List Michelle Fozounmayeh Michelle Fozounmayeh A joy filled wife and mom that enjoys writing, praying, speaking at women events and being an Area Coordinator with the ministry Moms In Prayer International. Blog: 7tothirty7.blogspot.com Website: http://7tothirty7.com/ 4 Traditions 4 New Years 4 Traditions 4 Valentines 4 Traditions 4 St. Patricks 4 Traditions 4 Easter 4 Traditions 4 Mother's Day 4 Traditions 4 Father's Day 4 Traditions 4 Fourth of July 4 Traditions 4 Summer 4 Traditions 4 Back to School 4 Traditions 4 Halloween 4 Traditions 4 Thanksgiving 4 Traditions 4 Christmas       iPray Links: Dec. 2011 iPray link: iTeeter-Totter   Jan. 2012 iPray link: iPray Newness Feb. 2012 iPray link: iLove DEEP and WIDE March 2012 iPray link: iPraise April 2012 iPray link: iEmbrace May 2012 iPray link:   iSmell a Stain June 2012 iPray link: iPray 4 Purity July 2012 iPray link: iPray 4 Protection August 2012 iPray link: iReminisce September 2012 iPray: iWork Out   October 2012 iPray:  iFollow November 2012 iPray: iThank God for That December 2012 iPray: iFinish Strong   January 2013 iPray: iNeed a Reminder   February 2013 iPray iPray in One Accord March 2013 iPray: iRest April 2013 iPray: iListen May 2013 iPray: iHold On June 2013 iPray: iStretch July 2013 iPray: iDream   August 2013 iPray: iGet Dressed September 2013 iPray: iSurrender October 2013 iPray: iSpill November 2013 iPray: iMad Pray December 2013 iPray: iMine January 2014 iPray: iColor February 2014 iPray: iClip Show March 2014 iPray iShelve Not April 2014 iPray iKnow in Part May 2014 iPray iRespond June 2014 iPray iHope July 2014 iPray iPray Head To Toe August 2014 iPray iPromote Up Poem links: Time to be Free Ms. Marry McMoo Only You I Delight in You A Bat's Perspective The Ins and Outs Green Things Treasures in the Darkness To My Mom No Longer Hidden 70 Years of Marriage Saint Sadie Discovering Little One Wide Long High and Deep My Son Knowledge Hoard Short Stories: Cream of Corn Battle of the Food Face Singing the Night Away See You Later, Alligator Don't Touch Fried Nuts Annoying Brother Missy's Puppies High Dive Something Big! Stretching First Rainbow Promise

Another Charge for Women

In June 2013 Michelle Swanepoel, a German living in Africa, had a visionary dream about a women's role in a man's life.  I found scriptural truths weaved through her message and it blessed me to read it.  Here is what she wrote:

Click: A Charge for Women

Today, Monday Septmeber 8, 2014 she has again shared a charge for women around the world.  It's all about taking the weaknesses that Satin uses against us, handing them over to God and allowing Him to change us completely!  Dead to sin and alive in Christ!  It's about living in unity with other women so that we may encourage one another and find victory over our strongholds!

I see it as God's daughters "growing up" in our faith walk.  Be encouraged by Michelle Swanepoel's words.

ALL for Him, 

Michelle Fozounmayeh 

iPray eVotionals


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Michelle Swanepoel writes:

Good morning,

I realize that we are on a journey so I would like to share with you the things that God is showing me along the way.

This morning God said that we are His secret weapon....He made me recall that in the Garden of Eden the devil used Eve's "weaknesses" to lure her into sin and that caused many repercussions .....but nothing that God is not able to change so that His glory will still be revealed at the end.

So, if our weaknesses or let me call it vulnerable side (need for love, need for beauty, need to be spoiled, need to want to manipulate and control....at times, etc.) gave the devil a foothold into our choices -then guess what - this is exactly what God is going to use to bring total restoration and healing by showing the devil that He did not have victory, but that Jesus has covered us in our weakness and that Jesus will help us overcome and make us stronger and able to not fall for his ploys the second time around. What is amazing is that we as women are weak when we are alone.....and that is why God says that he wants women to stand together, to support each other and to help each other get through the trying times so that we can all become the mighty force that He is busy creating to bring about massive changes in His kingdom. So expect to be challenged in all the areas that have been mentioned above....your beauty routine, your identity as a women, wife, mother, friend, daughter, manager, employee, your expectations in terms of romance and love, your needs in terms of the way your home should look, the way you spend money, they way you serve in your community or your church, your current ministry, your role as a friend, the way you think about food, cooking, health and fitness, they way you spend your time - the way you crave acceptance and acknowledgement or perfection and performance or achievement, expect to be challenged in the deepest thoughts, feelings and emotions - don't run from this process - allow God to meet you there - then be still and just listen to Him as He gently washed away all of the pain, all of the hurt all of the layers and masks and false security blankets that you carry. Allow Him to cleanse you and purify you completely - because you know what - you are a vessel of glorious proportions - you are a vessel that has the capacity to carry God's beauty and glory and you are the vessel that God is using to change this world. If you submit to God for this - God WILL change your world through YOU - you will be healed, your family will be restored, where you go - God's light will change the atmosphere - and ALL things that you desire (because God has given us dreams and desires) will be fulfilled by God alone. Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and ALL things will be passed onto you - do you understand the sequence of events that needs to take place? Can you make this your own? Are you willing? You are not alone.....yes, God is removing loneliness from off us!

Have you read the book "Lioness arising" by Lisa Bevere? She studied female lions and how they live and especially how they hunt - they never hunt alone.....they always team up with other lionesses and then they become a force to be reckoned with. She describes the lioness character so beautifully, especially also with regards to the love and tenderness they have for their children and then also the respect they have for the male lion (Jesus).

I am in no way discrediting the role of our husband or of men - in fact, God needs us to become the pure vessels so that He can heal the men and also our children - we have been given the ability to give birth....do you realize that this is a gift that God want to use to birth newness, light , peace, love, joy - He wants us to birth in the Spirit.....please don't get me wrong - but I think many of us women have wasted so much time trying to find fulfillment in our husbands....and often walking away more hurt and more disappointed. I woke up this morning and asked God to fill up all the places that are empty and that I always want my husband to fill - so that I can be a full vessel in my family and just shine God's light and grace and glory - until my entire family is filled with His light. I want to be able to love my husband the way God loves me - but that means that I need to let go of my idea of love and marriage and let God change me to become who He wants me to be. I need to shift my focus off my husband and totally onto Jesus. Yes, it sounds like strang that we have heard so many times before - but God wants it to become practice not just theory anymore. And you know what - my desire for a physical experience of God is busy manifesting - we as women are becoming God's physical manifestation - we are becoming His hugs, His gentle and encouraging words, His caring and tender presence when we feel alone, His acceptance when we feel rejected, His provision when we feel poor and hungry.

So God challenged me to let go of all bitterness and unforgiveness towards any woman that has ever hurt me - our strength as women is held in working together and sticking together - not in criticizing, back-biting and being jealous of each other. I challenge everyone of you to look at your lives - how many women have you written off - what if those women are the warriors that you need to fight with - ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts to every single situation where another woman was involved - repent, ask for God's forgiveness and let's stop giving the devil the power to destroy our unity as women - let's allow God to form His Bride through us - God promises us so much - is our hurt more important than the task at hand? Can you honestly sit down in front of God and say - My hurt is much more than the task you have for me......lay down your hurts my special friend - I know it hurts, I know the pain is so deep, I know that we as women have been beaten and battered - the devil has made a right mess of us.....but God's word also says that when we are weak then He is strong and that He creates Beauty from Ashes....are you willing to expose your every hurt to God the Father? Do not be afraid - God will bring all the support you need - you are not alone.

I feel this incredible sense to bring us together - I hope you are willing to join hands and walk with us.

Lots of love

Michelle Swanepoel
Cell 081 323 3756  |  Email virtualconsulting@mtcmobile.com.na

iPromote Up

August/2014

iPray eVotional iPray eVotionals exhorts those who pray.  It's the glass of water held out around each month's turn for the runners who can use a quick and easy quench in order to finish strong. iPromote Up Approx. reading time: 10 minutes One belt leads to the next   I was to test for my next Karate belt in a few short days.  At my last class before testing a fellow student watched me review my one steps, forms, defenses as well as my hands and feet combinations. "I feel like I've got this but at the same time I hope I remember everything."  I confided. He said, "I know what you mean."  He went on, "It's funny because I feel like I know so much as I prepare for testing. I'm confident on test day, but after I promote up and start to work on the next belt level, I am immediately reminded of how much I do not know and how much more there is to learn.  It all starts again." The reality of that one statement sent my mind on a journey.  When are we ever in a place where we know everything there is to know?  God prepares us for each season so that we can perform the duties and tasks of the present belt around our waist with the ability to confidently promote up to the next.  By staying focused and dedicated to mastering the requirements, the present belt's completion will end with a culmination of one belt and the beginning of another.   The learning process starts again. When test day came I felt ready.  "I've got this!"  Confidence seemed to beam from my every pore while another part of me didn't want to mess up.  "I hope I remember everything." Most of the elements I had repeated a number of times and the delivery felt natural.  One element I had only recently learned but it was fresh in my mind.  I knew what was going to be asked of me and I was ready! As the testing began I performed each task.  Until a weaponry defense was asked of me that I had not yet learned.  My partner went first and performed perfectly.  I couldn't believe that I was being tested on something I had not learned.  I did the best I could to copy what my partner had done before me, relying on the awareness I had gained from my training.  After the test I stood up tall, hoping that the one unknown element would not make everything else I knew and worked so hard for stand for nothing. My name was called. I approached my Sensei. "Congratulations."  I was presented with a new belt. "What an accomplishment," I thought. Then the moment was flavored with new information.  Before the promotion had a chance to set in, my Sensei gave a summary of what I would be required to learn and achieve while wearing my new belt.  "You will have new forms, kicks, weaponry..." As I listened I realized my moment of excitement seemed brief.  I held everything I needed to know just a moment ago.  In a matter of minutes I was being told of new things I would be required to master.  There was work to be done! "Always a student," I thought.  "No room for a cocky know-it-all attitude.  Not in training, nor in testing, and especially not when promoting up." After the promotion I took pictures and was congratulated but in the back of my mind I knew that with the new belt also came new challenges, additional layers of knowledge and a new set of requirements that must be achieved. Life is full of promotions.  Walking into High School for the first time, getting a first job, getting married, or my latest promotion, becoming a mom of a middle schooler.  God's training and our preparations include all kinds of elements.  Many times we are not even aware that what we are learning is related to a promotion, but it usually is.  The testings are rarely a predictable experience.  Rather they always seem to contain some unknowns. Promotions bring excitement and joys flavored with the knowledge of new challenges and amazing life lessons to come. When I look at past belts, I am excited at all God has achieved in and through me.  It reminds me of God's faithfulness, how I can trust His training in my life to see me through every test, and if I can get past those belts then surely I can master all that is involved in wearing the next.    Prepared, Tested and Promoted Up Daniel 1-3  Prepared... Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in the middle of being typical teenagers unaware that they were in training, preparing for belts they never dreamed they would have to wear.  The boys were soon stripped from the life they had known, taken from their homes and became slaves in the courts of Nebuchadnezzer. They were forced to obey, respect and humble themselves to the ones that enslaved them.  During a three year training period the boys received an education that would determine where their services would land. God allowed Daniel and his friends to excel in their training.  It must have been difficult to be educated by a people that did not fear or know God.  Still the boys humbled themselves and worked as if they were working for God.  He had mighty plans for them to be an example of faith and devotion to Him over man, even while they were serving men.  Can you imagine how easy it would be to slowly let your guard down and compromise in thoughts and actions while gaining in status?  Instead, when it came to the things that they felt would cause them to sin against God, the boys stood strong and promoted up to the next belt. Tested... The first test we read about comes when the boys were given food designed to keep them healthy and strong but Daniel felt that eating it would defile themselves before God.  When Daniel asked if they could eat only vegetables their caregiver knew it would be the end of him if the boys started to become weak as a result of the food they were not eating.  God gave Daniel the courage to ask if they could be tested for 10 days, eating only the vegetables.  If they became weaker then they would eat the food they were told to eat, but if they were not weaker they could eat how they wished.   God showed favor to them!  Not only did the caregiver agree but at the end of 10 days Daniel and his friends were stronger and healthier than all the other servants. They were allowed to continue to eat in a way that honored God and they were promoted up. Next we hear about how the boys were educated in Neb's way and God gave them discernment, knowledge, understanding in what they had to learn, Daniel even had the gift of understanding visions. At the end of the three years Neb could not find any men equal and they went into high service. The test came when Neb had a dream that none of his men could figure out.  Daniel was brought before him as one who could interpret.  Daniel boldly gave God all the credit as the one who would reviled the meaning of the dream.  Daniel and his friends asked for God to give the meaning and He did.  Daniel gave God the credit and the glory for He had given him the answers.  Daniel was promoted up. In karate, a white belt would never test for a black belt without first passing the other colored belts.  They would fail the test.  God built Daniel and his friends up to the point that they could trust God over the threat of loosing their very life.  Several times Daniel was plotted against, his faith used against him to eliminate his influence and his life, yet his faithfulness always ended with a new "belt". (See Daniel 6)  He was continually promoted up! Promoted Up... It really doesn't matter how wonderful they performed to Nebuchadnezzer because Daniel and his friends remembered that ultimately they were to obey God. Although they gained so much favor and were put in the highest place of service that many would only hope for, they remembered that it was God who held the authority to promote up. The Bible tells us that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made the choice not to bow to a statue made by human hands.  Worshiping anything other than God was idol worship to them.  A law was passed that whoever did not bow would die.  They did not have to cause a riot or turn tables, all could see the stand they made. Many around them were astonished at their boldness to show that they would only bow to God at the risk of facing death. That it was not out of disrespect to the earthly people they were serving, but out of respect and obedience to their God. The boys obeyed God first and accepted the consequence for not bowing to Nebuchadnezzer and were put into the fire for not bowing. In all earthly understanding they deserved it.  No matter the high position they were in and how great Nebuchadnezzer once thought they were, it was the consequence.  The king was furious and his attitude toward them changed.  What kind of promotion was this? As they were in the fire they did not burn and God showed His presence with them while in there.  The King was surprised and humbled to the point of recognizing that no other God could save in this way.   God set things right not at the point of not bowing, but at the point of full submission and climbing into a fire raised to a heat that no man could bare, so that He could be seen. The Bible tells us that the boys were again promoted up. iPray   iPray you will STAND strong to earn your next belt. iPray you will STAND and not compromise in your training. iPray you will STAND with confidence when testing. iPray you will STAND strong in your faith when the test is less than predictable and in the face of unknown elements. iPray you will STAND and rely on your training, trusting everything you worked so hard for stands for something. iPray you will STAND when the rest of the world sits down. iPray you will STAND knowing that it may mean the death of an earthly position or title for a season. iPray you will STAND in devotion to God above everything else, trusting Him over the seen and unseen, trusting that God IS being seen. iPray you will STAND when God chooses you to make a stand. iPray you will STAND by remembering past belts God has seen you through, believing you can master all that is involved in wearing the next. iPray you will STAND and be promoted up. In Jesus name, amen! ALL for Him, Michelle Fozounmayeh

In This Issue One belt leads to the next Prepared, Tested and Promoted Up iPray Join iPray eMailing List Michelle Fozounmayeh Michelle Fozounmayeh A joy filled wife and mom that enjoys writing, praying, speaking at women events and being an Area Coordinator with the ministry Moms In Prayer International. Blog: 7tothirty7.blogspot.com Website: http://7tothirty7.com/ 4 Traditions 4 New Years 4 Traditions 4 Valentines 4 Traditions 4 St. Patricks 4 Traditions 4 Easter 4 Traditions 4 Mother's Day 4 Traditions 4 Father's Day 4 Traditions 4 Fourth of July 4 Traditions 4 Summer 4 Traditions 4 Back to School 4 Traditions 4 Halloween 4 Traditions 4 Thanksgiving 4 Traditions 4 Christmas       iPray Links: Dec. 2011 iPray link: iTeeter-Totter   Jan. 2012 iPray link: iPray Newness Feb. 2012 iPray link: iLove DEEP and WIDE March 2012 iPray link: iPraise April 2012 iPray link: iEmbrace  May 2012 iPray link:   iSmell a Stain June 2012 iPray link: iPray 4 Purity July 2012 iPray link: iPray 4 Protection August 2012 iPray link: iReminisce September 2012 iPray: iWork Out   October 2012 iPray:  iFollow November 2012 iPray: iThank God for That December 2012 iPray: iFinish Strong   January 2013 iPray: iNeed a Reminder   February 2013 iPray iPray in One Accord March 2013 iPray: iRest April 2013 iPray: iListen May 2013 iPray: iHold On June 2013 iPray: iStretch July 2013 iPray: iDream   August 2013 iPray: iGet Dressed September 2013 iPray: iSurrender October 2013 iPray: iSpill November 2013 iPray: iMad Pray December 2013 iPray: iMine January 2014 iPray: iColor February 2014 iPray: iClip Show March 2014 iPray iShelve Not April 2014 iPray iKnow in Part May 2014 iPray iRespond June 2014 iPray iHope July 2014 iPray iPray Head To Toe Poem links: Time to be Free Ms. Marry McMoo Only You I Delight in You A Bat's Perspective The Ins and Outs Green Things Treasures in the Darkness To My Mom No Longer Hidden 70 Years of Marriage Saint Sadie Discovering Little One Wide Long High and Deep My Son Knowledge Hoard Short Stories: Cream of Corn Battle of the Food Face Singing the Night Away See You Later, Alligator Don't Touch Fried Nuts Annoying Brother Missy's Puppies High Dive Something Big! Stretching First Rainbow Promise