Days of Elijah by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir (Music Video) Friday, March 27, 2009

Cafe Sozo Celebrates Two Years! Saturday, March 28, 2009

Well, we’ve racked up about 1400 hours of Online writing , researching and presenting and a lot more offline.    There were a lot of lessons and there was a lot of gratification.  As the traffic increased; we struggled to stay current.  (thanks for your patience.)  We can do a lot better and we will.  We are totally committed to you guys.  I’ll probably be out working in a garden trying to get my Master Gardening certification when the clock strikes noon for the two year anniversary of Cafe Sozo.  I’ll be out there praying for you all come rain or shine.  I’ll take the latter.  It’s been an easy two years and I’ve learned some lessons along the way.  Here are just a few:

1.  Some really great people will come your way when you’re blogging…most are just passing through.

2. One can learn a lot from other bloggers…who write in your genre.

3. It’s a lot of work; but it’s gratifying.

4.  Form a network; and set some goals.

5.  One step/post at a time…

6. Videos and color draw people in, but words keep em coming back.

7.  Traffic never wanes on Tuesdays…

8. Technology constantly changes..

9. Try to decide how many years you can do this or just take it day by day.

10. God needs bloggers too.  This is kingdom work.

11. Don’t be too sensitive and when you are…don’t hold grudges…after all faith bloggers are different…love is our operating base.

12.  Can’t get behind on prayer requests.

13.  Going to hit the million mark soon!

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Again, a special thanks to those I’ve met along the way for the things you’ve shared.  A great shout out to:  Yeap Chee Seng, Joanna (wherever you are my friend), Sharon, Bisi, Belinda and my blogging mentor Marta and her hubby Tyson!

And finally, to our entire network and the coffehouse crew and patrons…we say THANK YOU!

P.S. We should hit 3/4 of a million  page views shortly!

Lord Lord You Are Awesome by William Murphy (Music Video) Friday, March 27, 2009

Rescue by Don Moen (Music Video) Thursday, March 26, 2009

Blessed by Darlene Zschech (Music Video) Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Are you tired yet? by Elaine Davenport Monday, March 23, 2009

Are you tired of the way things are in your life?    If you said:  “Yes.”  The good news is that you can change that and it is very simple.

You don’t want change…fine, ignore this message.

Prayer will take you there!

I guess your first question is:  “Where?”

Let’s talk…we get hundreds of prayer requests at this site…and we take them before God immediately and often before we even get them.  And we always will…this is our commitment to you.   However, let me tell you a true story.

Some years ago a friend of mine had a son who was a complete rebel as a teenager.  The stuff that she went through; well most people would have a really hard time…but my friend never gave up on her son.  She always had peace about it.  People were calling her with “their” problems.  She wasn’t calling them.  I asked her how she had so much peace.  I asked her why she wasn’t falling apart.  She said something simple.  It was with quiet resolve that she replied softy:  “I keep my bible in my hands and before my face…open. I read it aloud for all to hear.  I believe what it says and God does the rest.”

Luke 11:9
“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

So now I say to you…get a prayer life.  Just fifteen minutes a day reading from the bible and then 15 minutes or more meditating upon the Word of God.   IT will begin to re-shape your life!  Watch and see…

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I Believe by Darlene McCoy (Music Video) Sunday, March 22, 2009

Why Can’t I Get Peace? by Elaine Davenport Saturday, March 21, 2009

I talk to so many people who are really going through trials and tests and the one thing that they “seem” to say without saying it is…“Why can’t I get peace?”

They already know that faith is believing what they can’t see…or do they?

So many people believe in the “concept” of faith.  Why?  Because they know faith works.  It’s happened to them.  It’s really happened to a lot of other people.  After all, that many people can’t be wrong.  There seems to be no doubt amongst believers that God comes through…they just have a problem with God’s timetable.  They can’t be calm about the situation because they want it to go away…POOF!

In many cases…that is unrealistic. My pastor always says if it didn’t happen overnight…how can we expect God to untangle it overnight.  It’s likely a tangled web with a lot of stuff that needs correction and restoration.   It likely involves more than one party and God will look at and assess all of the angles.  In the meantime…do your part to usher in your breakthrough.

I have a friend whose car has been vandalized for many years.  No, I haven’t seen it but she can’t drive it.  I suppose that she has an idea as to whom the perpetrator is…but, I’m not sure.

I do know this…she wants the wrath of God to fall on that person.  She told me so.  Don’t get me wrong…the person will be caught and they will have to pay seven  fold as the bible says.  However, in the meantime…her charge (my friend’s) is:

1. to forgive them

2. not to worry

3.  make prayer and petition requests specifically

4. Have a thankful heart

5.  Expect and receive peace…

(If you’re not having peace…go back and review the list.)

Philippians 4:6-7 (King James Version)

⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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Philippians 4:6-7 (Amplified Bible)

⁶Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (^[a]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

⁷And God’s peace [shall be yours, that ^[b]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall ^[c]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

***STAND ON THE WORD!   THE WORD IS TRUE!  THE WORD IS ALIVE!  THE WORD WI NOT RETURN UNTO YOU VOID!