SOAR Women's Ministry of Bethany Baptist Church WLA

11/19/2021

Rest at the Beach – Beloved Women by crosswalk – November 18, 2021

READ: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: Some days I just dream of being on the beach. It doesn’t matter which beach - Florida, California, Jamaica, or the French Riviera. I just want to go to the beach.

The color blue in the ocean water is associated with feelings of calm and peace. The smell of the ocean breeze soothes our souls. The up and down of the waves allows us to relax. The sand between our toes brings us joy.

So now that you have envisioned yourself on the beach and know all its wondrous powers, soaking in God’s sunlight, peaceful waves, and warm sand, reflect on the Bible verse, Matthew 11:28-30.

When the news gets too much and the busyness of our new normal encompasses you, go to God. He will give you rest. It may be in the form of a walk around the neighborhood, a bubble bath, a cool drink on your porch, or the mental imagery of the beach as you meditate and pray.

As you go about your day, join me from time to time at the beach. I will surely be there resting in God’s sweet embrace, focusing on His Word and relying on His promises.

PRAY: Dear God, slow me down and help me see You every day. When the world consumes me and I am overwhelmed, bring me into Your arms for rest. For Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

REFLECT: Take God’s yoke upon you and lean on Him. You will find rest for your soul and joy in your heart.

11/16/2021

God Is Our Strength! – Beloved Women by crosswalk – November 16, 2021

READ: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 ESV)

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: I believe with all my heart that God is with me every day. Apparently though, I still like to hold on to fear and be dismayed when life decides to turn up the heat. It’s hard not to fear when every day brings some more bad news or something else to worry about it in the world. But I want to live life differently. More boldly in the Truth I say I follow.

By God’s grace, things are getting better for me. One of the reasons I can point to without hesitation? Time spent with Him. I’ve been able to dive deeper into prayer and reading my Bible. Working from home and stay-at-home orders helped me to develop a more consistent pattern than before, but I can say with all honesty, as the weeks continued, it was His truth from these times that kept me reading and going. His Word gives me strength and upholds me. My prayer time has drawn me closer to Him. I know if I was left to my own devices, my daily thoughts would have led me down a path of constant worry, fear, and anxiety over things that I had no control over. But instead, He has kept me grounded. I know He wants to do the same for you!

PRAY: Lord, thank you that we can turn to You for strength at any given moment. Today, I ask that You would fill our hearts with Your truth and strength so that we can get through whatever the day holds for us. In Jesus Christ’s Name, I Pray, Amen.

REFLECT: How has the Lord encouraged you through His Word recently? If you haven’t had time recently, set aside time to spend in the Bible. I encourage you to schedule 10 minutes sometime this week.

11/11/2021

Happy Veteran’s Day to our ladies who served; thank you for your service 🙏🏾🤗❤️

11/08/2021

Cultivate Peace – Beloved Women by crosswalk – November 8, 2021

READ: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18 ESV)

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: With so many platforms available for online communication, it is easy for people to insult and mock others while hiding behind a screen. For as much as social media can bring us together, it can easily cause chaos and division. It has become increasingly difficult to live harmoniously with others when differences may be condemned instead of celebrated.

Paul reminds us in this verse that living in peace depends on each one of us. We have a responsibility to treat others with respect, to effectively manage conflicts, to encourage open dialogue and to create a positive environment. Note that this verse does not specify that we have to live peacefully only with our family and friends, or only with those that agree with us, but rather it says to “live peaceably with all.” Regardless of what others are doing around us, we are called to be peacemakers whenever possible.

So today let us practice kindness and cultivate peace. Let peace begin with each one of us.

PRAY: Father, thank you for being a model of peace. Help me to live peacefully with others and to always treat others with kindness. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.

REFLECT: In what ways can you show kindness to others today? How can you cultivate an environment of peace in your home, on your job, or in your community?

11/05/2021

Gospel DJ Sista Roz is in Santa Barbara, California.
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🙋🏾‍♀️Hello to all of my new listeners from Nuggets of Inspiration! It was such a blessing being your speaker on yesterday! Remember, Breathe In God's... & Breathe Out...!
🎊Blessings as I acknowledge October Celebrations on today's show!
The Experience with Gospel DJ Sista ROZ includes a variety of Gospel Music & Words of Wisdom
🎙Thursdays
12-2pm, PT
1-2pm, MT
2-4pm, CT
3-4pm, ET
Listen LIVE or on REPLAY 24/7 for up to 2 weeks, also at www.KCSB.org
📖Oct. 28th Scriptures:
Daniel 2:19-23
Daniel 3:14-28
Psalm 34:19
🎵 All of Playlists are available at www.KCSB.org
🙏🏾 DJ Voicemail Line:
(805) 253-3091
For Prayer Requests, Praise Reports, Song Requests, or Just To Say Hi.

KCSB-FM 91.9. Independent, non-commercial, and educational community-college radio based at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

11/05/2021

Are You in a Church Bubble? – Beloved Women by crosswalk – November 5, 2021

READ: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6 ESV)

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: As a Christian, it is easy for us to stay within our own respective church bubbles. We have our different communities that we fellowship with according to the day of the week: - Mondays are for our prayer groups, Tuesdays for our discipleship group, Wednesdays - for our parenting group, Thursdays - the young adult group and so on. It’s safe to say that we are in community with fellow believers who don’t have it all figured out, but they’re connected to the ONE who does, Jesus Christ.

This verse is often preached as a reminder of what Christ has done for us and what a wonderful act of love that was. I’d like to offer an alternative. Let’s meditate on this verse and look at it through the lens of the “ungodly.” Those who “oppose religion” as the Bible Hub Concordance defines it which we can humbly say isn’t us, per se, even in our humanity. While we may not always get it right, we genuinely seek to glorify Christ. There is another translation that uses sinners but for this example, I am using “the ungodly.” This encouragement is for our brothers and sisters, for the sake of argument - the ungodly ones. The ones we sometimes neglect, the ones we may banish to hell as if we’re the judge, the ones we exclude from the table, the ones who don’t believe as we believe - they are the ones Christ died for. We are the ones Christ died for. I pray that we would be more intentional within our communities and who we fellowship with and how we view the “other.” That through our life, they may see Christ in a manner in which they have never heard of Him. We may be on the narrow path, but it isn't too narrow to allow them in and to walk alongside them. Let’s be for them what that special someone was for you - a friendly neighbor.

PRAY: Lord, I thank you for dying for me and my brothers and sisters when we were at our lowest and mired in sin; thank you for being our Savior. I ask that the spirit of unity would allow me to see my brother and sister and welcome them in. I pray that You would give me opportunities to love on my neighbor that I may have overlooked. I pray that love, which covers a multitude of sins, would be my guiding light. Remind me that people need love, connection, and comfort more so than they need me talking down to them about the love of God. May my actions, display Your everlasting love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

REFLECT: Think of the people in your community, consider the pariahs. Consider those who have been pushed by church traditions. How will you show up for them today? This week? How will you show that Christ died for them?

11/03/2021

Continue Steadfastly – Beloved Women by crosswalk – November 3, 2021

READ: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2 ESV)

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: Our devotion to prayer should be the heartbeat of our lives. Prayer is how we communicate with God, and seek His will and instruction to help navigate our lives on earth. Paul writes how we should be watchful in prayer with thanksgiving. The truth is we are undeserving to pray to our King, yet we are given direct access to do so. The enemy would love for us to sit back and live a life calling ourselves a Christian, yet dismissing the access we get from being connected to God through prayer.

Be watchful my sister as the enemy would like for you to not see the value of prayer. Continue to keep a heart of thanksgiving, knowing how grateful you are to communicate directly to your Savior.

Protect your prayer life and do not allow anything to get in the way with your time with God. Be watchful and be thankful in prayer. I believe if prayer wasn’t so powerful, the enemy wouldn’t be working so hard to make it seem like you do not have time to do it.

PRAY: Father, I thank You for the access You have given us to pray humbly before You. I know we tend to dismiss the value, but help us to continue steadfastly with our prayer life; understanding how we cannot do life without You. It is through prayer that we gain the power and instruction to walk into all You have created for us. Let us not give into the enemy by being passive towards prayer, but let us stay committed to talking and listening to You. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

REFLECT: Will you stay devoted to prayer even as life becomes hectic?

11/03/2021

Nuggets of Inspiration Wednesday 10/27/21

Rosalyn Collins' 4 Take Away Nuggets from "The Afflictions of the Righteous & God's Deliverance" Talk:

1) Your afflictions may not be a punishment because of a sin you committed, but for a testament of God's glory! What does God say about your situation? Psalm 34:19
2) Remember the true biblical stories of the Hebrew boys in the furnace, Daniel in the Lion's Den, the Blind man, Job's afflictions & others. What's your story?
3) The Breath Prayer: Breathe In God... & Breathe Out...
4) Tune in for a variety of Inspirational Music & Words of Wisdom with me every Thursday, 12-2pm (PST) on "The Experience with Gospel DJ Sista ROZ", on KCSB-FM 91.9fm in Santa Barbara,
www.KCSB.org

KCSB-FM 91.9. Independent, non-commercial, and educational community-college radio based at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

11/02/2021

Courageous Faith – Beloved Women by crosswalk – November 2, 2021

READ: “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (Psalms 27:14 ESV)

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: There are a lot of things in this world we have to wait for. Time passes and we wait. Sometimes we feel like the time we are waiting is wasted time. But in God, nothing is wasted. As you read this today, realize that God wants you to wait for Him. Sometimes, we get ahead of God. We get out in our own plan.

This scripture above states that we are to wait for the Lord. It also tells us how we wait. Why? Because waiting is hard. Sometimes in our waiting, we get impatient and frustrated and lose courage.

If you are waiting for something, here are two things you can do while you wait. One, be strong. Don’t give up. Don’t weaken your belief that that thing will come. Be strong. Hold on. Don’t let the dream go. Two, make sure your heart stays out of fear. Be courageous. A lot of things will come to make you afraid. Don’t let them in your heart. Fear will come. But that is not the problem. Do not fear what comes in your heart. Stay courageous at all times.

God is faithful. If He said it, He will do it. You just need to wait.

PRAY: Lord, help me to wait for your promise. Help me to not faint, not to give up, and to be courageous no matter what I see or don’t see. I will trust You Lord for the promise. I will stand and see your faithfulness. In Jesus Christ name, Amen.

REFLECT: In what ways can you not let your heart fear today as you wait for that promise from God?

11/01/2021

Studying and Praying in all Seasons – Beloved Women by crosswalk – November 1, 2021

READ: “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” (Psalm 119:15-16 ESV)

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: In this life, we never know when the unexpected will come. In an instance, sometimes our lives can be turned upside down for the good or for the bad. In those times when we have a lifestyle that is centered on His Word and praying, we stand in the midst of the change. It may not be easy, but when we are grounded in His Word and have an active prayer life, we should respond differently. In Him, we can give praise and thanksgiving, and we can say use me for Your glory. But when we lack that fellowship with God through His word and Prayer, it is not easy to come through the “unexpected.”

In Psalm 119, we are reminded to meditate on His precepts, fix our eyes on Him, and take delight in His statutes. We need to be ready and in His Word, in all seasons of life. By having an active study and prayer life, we know the character and nature of our God, and we can respond with a steadfast spirit and eyes set on the One that is unchanging.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, help me to have a lifestyle of praying and Bible study. I need You in every area of my life. Give me a heart that longs to be in Your Word and to talk with You. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen

REFLECT: What do I need to change in my day to have time in the Word and to Pray?

10/30/2021

Nuggets of Inspiration Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Through Trials and Tribulations Trust That God Is There
By: Erica D. Loyd

There are three essential nuggets that stem from my favorite scripture and one of my favorite songs. My favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-8 and my favorite gospel song is For Every Mountain.

1st Nugget:

Be Strong In Your Trust – Isaiah 41:10 states “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. I faced a difficult time in college. I did breakdown a little but God helped me to broaden my shoulders to stand upright in strength and address the situation. And in return I received many blessings while in college. I still praise God for these blessings because I trusted Him and His guidance while remaining firm in His way and His will for me. God was there.

2nd Nugget:

God Will Fight Your Battles – Deuteronomy 20:4 states “For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” This scripture reminds me of law school. During my last year of law school we had to prepare for the infamous bar exam. Yet, it was at this time I realized that there was extensive doubt that African-Americans could pass the Bar. Instead of being offended, I studied and I mean studied hard. I prayed and communicated with God. I passed two bar exams in two different states on the first time. These two moments brought me so much joy that God had me the entire time through the study and the exams all while fighting with the naysaying enemies that doubt the advancement of African Americans. In that moment I learned to trust God through these trials because He is right there with me always.

3rd Nugget

Cast Your Cares Upon God – 1 Peter 7:7 "Casting all your anxieties upon Him because He cares for you." This small scripture allows me to recall the largest trial I have endured to date. After eight years of practicing law, I was tired, anxious and overwhelmed with horrible habits and relentless headaches. Anxiety increased to the point that I broke down crying and begging God to save me because I cannot save myself. But God knew exactly what to do. My parents and I soon discovered I had a brain tumor. While this may seem like a heavy burden I think of this experience as a demonstration that God cares for me. He answered my prayer, my call for help, my distraught begging to Him. God was there; he saved me with many miraculous blessings. Now, my relationship with God has become stronger and definitely more fortified in trust and faith because I casted my cares upon God.

These three trials and tribulations I have steadfast faith and trust that God is and will always be there for me, for you, for our church, for our families and for all of His children, followers and believers even when times are rough and we face heavy trials, tribulations and burdens; remember God is always there with you.

--
Erica
Proverbs 3:5-8