prayer need:

Religious freedom is virtually nenexistent in North Korea, where Christians are either in prison for practicing their faith or forced to worship in secret. For the next month, please pray that:

> dictator Kim Jong-il will allow the practice of religions other than Kimilsungism

>that the underground church would be courageous in the face of persecution

>that Christians in North and South Korea would reconcile and be healed of wounds created generations ago.

to get more prayer needs go to www.prayerinitiative.com

especially when we are going through a storm or in my case stormsssss, :) it really takes the focus of your own storm to start praying for others. and it makes your storm seem a lot smaller. (at least for me) have a blessed day. Love in Christ, Michele

Romans 5:17

For if one man's offence meant that men should be slaves to
death all their lives, it is a far greater thing that through
Another Man, Jesus Christ, men by their acceptance of His more
than sufficient grace and righteousness, should live all their
lives like kings!

Phillips, 1947

another life that shows God's miracles are for me and you and for the
here and now!

Jason Black is just happy to be alive. A professionally trained opera
singer, Black faced death twice before reaching the age of 25.

In 1999 the California-based tenor was left with the mental capacity
of a 2-year-old after driving his compact car into the back of a
stalled truck. "I pretty much ate the engine," Black says. "Everyone
said they were amazed that I was alive." He not only survived; he
recovered in a fraction of the time doctors had estimated.

After his release from a rehabilitation facility, Black finished
college, married and began his singing career. Then in 2001, while
moving into a new home, he was nearly decapitated when a glass table
fell, causing a piece of glass to crash into his neck. Doctors
considered it a miracle that he survived, but they said Black would
never talk again, much less sing.

Six months later, Black spoke. Today he is again singing
professionally and sharing his testimony in unlikely places, such as
on the TV program Untold Stories of the E.R.

"If I trusted in what the world said, I would have committed
suicide," he says. "But I knew I was in God's hands, and I knew that
if I didn't speak again that it would be God's will. I am beyond
blessed, and my gift is completely restored." (written by Michelle
Lovato)

JUST BELIEVE!!! LOVE IN CHRIST, MICHELE

i just read this about Sonicflood's lead singer. it reminds me that miracles happen today, Jesus hasn't changed, and that miracles are for me and you!! always believe!!

Sonicflood lead singer Rick Heil grew up in a church that taught that miracles had ceased. So when at age 11 he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, he thought he'd never be free of the debilitating chronic illness. Then in 2005, with the pain unbearable, Heil opted to try yet another surgery. Dr. James Church, who is a Christian, removed two inches of scar tissue from previous surgeries then looked around for traces of the disease. He found nothing. "I grew up going to a church where they taught...that miracles have ceased," Heil says. "Having experienced miracle after miracle in my life, I would have to firmly disagree. My Lord Jesus has not changed. He is still doing mighty miracles." written by Leilani Haywood.

JUST BELEIVE!!! love in Christ, michele

If you suffer from self-doubt or self-hatred, abuse your body with bad food or bad habits, or regularly find yourself at the bottom of the list of people you do things for, then you do not understand your own value.

I believe that many people today are experiencing a self-respect crisis. This condition has to change in order for us to lead effective Christian lives.

I'm talking about striking a balance that allows us to be involved in good works while tending to our own basic needs. Only by keeping our entire being in tip-top condition can we truly do God's work the way He intends. Through much study, prayer and personal experience, I have discovered some keys to enjoying a healthy life now.

One of the most important things I have learned is to let God do the heavy lifting. Jesus said in John 15:5, " 'Apart from me you can do nothing' " (NIV). We all try to be self-sufficient, but we need to let God supply the ability to energize our choices. Willpower and determination will get us started, but they've been known to quit in the middle and leave us stranded.

We can learn to enjoy the life Jesus died to give us by inviting God to become involved in every aspect of it. Jesus said, " 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest' "(Matt. 11:28).

We are not made to function without God. Yet with Him we can break the bonds of overeating, substance addicition, poor personal maintenance and other problems we have struggled with.

Some of us haven't learned how to love our bodies enough to properly care for them. To change that, we must discover why we are not taking care of ourselves. Only the truth sets us free, (Jesus said, " ' and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.' " John 8:32 (RSV)). In fact, facing the truth is one of the bravest things we can do.

We simply cannot look great if we don't feel great. How we feel shows up somewhere : in our body language, in the dull look in our eyes and even in our skin tone. It is in our nature to care for ourselves, so why don't we? I came up with several reasons:

>>We don't know how to care for our bodies. Bad diets, misinformation, and fast foods have confused people about what a wholesome diet is and how to eat the right foods in proper amounts.

>>Our view of body image is skewed by media and advertising. We're bombarded with unattainable ideals of beauty, while obesity is so pr ... ent that it's almost considered normal. We need to rediscover what a healthy person looks like.

>>Exercise is nearly obsolete. We've invented enough conveniences that we often live completely void of exercise. We don't even walk anywhere we don't have to! It turns out a good deal of our well-being is dependent on exercising our bodies.

>>We're stressed out. The pressure of juggling careers and parenting has taken a heavy toll on us. Life is a gift to be enjoyed. It should be pleasurable--not chaotic and out of control. It's up to us to set our priorities and live with them.

>>Some have an unhealthy view of selflessness. It feels so good to do for others--it makes us feel important. But I often see people who routinely ignore their own basic needs. Everything in life must be balanced.

>>We have lost our support. Maintaining a good support network is a terrific way to prevent the formation of bad habits. We need to spend regular time with God and be accountable to others.

>>We have forgotten our worth. As I mentioned earlier, if you misunderstand your own importance in God's big plan, taking care of yourself seems pointless. God has a great future for you and you need to be ready for it!

As you set reachable goals for yourself, I encourage you to take small steps, laugh at setbacks, make it convenient and reward yourself. Taking responsiblility for you is the focus. To that I say, "Go for it!"

(taken from an article "Straight talk by Joyce Meyer - Respect Yourself!" in Charisma magazine August 2006. Joyce Meyer is a New York Times best-selling author and one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. She has written more than 70 books, including the popular Beauty for Ashes and Battlefield of the Mind, and her most recent, Look Great, Feel Great (all Warner Faith). She is also the founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries Inc. and the host of Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. To read other articles in Charisma by Joyce Meyer, log on at www.charismamag.com/meyer.)