Throne room
- noun
chamber, usually containing a throne, used by a sovereign for audiences.

….

Preface~
“Chatting in the Throne Room” started off by me wanting to get more intimate with God in a brand new, creative way.  The traditional ways are great, but I felt like if this is a RELATIONSHIP, then it’s my responsibility to keep it growing strong & alive, as I would with any relationship.  It was time to get more personal in some little & even big ways.  Not taking away from Bible reading, worship & prayer, but doing them in a different manner. God is always doing things to surprise me, so I figured let me try some unique ways to bond with Him!  So I started text messaging my
friends every Monday with different “Refresh Challenges” I called them.  Refresh is defined as to make fresh again, stimulate, reinvigorate & make new energy.  The challenges consisted of some
type of activity to initiate intimacy with God to be done that week. Whether or not they completed the challenge was up to them.  No strings attached.  After getting some awesome responses, I decided to turn this into a book of love in action.  Notice, I did not say “devotional.”  The Word of God should be your daily source, or choice meal a.k.a. soul food, this should be more like a dessert.  I have a problem with devotionals because they do all the dissecting for you.  Now where’s the fun in that?
Beloved, I hope this book of love in action sky rockets your relationship with God.  I pray you take Him out of the box & get intimate in new, deeper ways.  I pray it stretches your character & strengthens your relationship.  I know some of these things you’ve heard before, but have you ever really committed to it? I hope you are challenged, grow closer to God & truly develop your own special relationship with Him.

Be blessed! And remember, if you’re not having your own intimate time with God, what’s the point of church & church activities?  God says He sees passed the outside & looks straight into our hearts.  He also reminds us to remember our 1st love always.  He wants quality relationship, not quantity of religion.  I have given you some, not all, of my personal examples to guide you.  Some things I do with God are just between us!

Dedication~
This book is dedicated to the King of my heart, Jesus Christ.  Lord, I truly love you, just for you.
To the pastors, leaders & members of New Life Ministries, Miami, FL who have preached the Gospel fearlessly & whose instruction, correction & love has developed me into the woman of God I am today.  Thank You! And finally to my amazing, supportive family, better half husband Kevin & my “punky punky” Sofia.

Week 1: PRAISE

Pick out 5 NEW praise words you normally wouldn’t use to worship God.  Define & meditate on them & use them!

Breathtaking~ thrillingly beautiful, remarkable, astonishing, exciting
*I chose this because that’s how He makes me feel during worship.  Sometimes I just have to be silent & I put the microphone down & cry or be still.

Devastating~ tending or threatening to devastate: a devastating fire.
*Seems like an odd choice, but this word reminds me of my fear of the Lord & how sometimes in His presence I
am devastated at how far I can be from Him.

Captivating~ to attract and hold the attention or interest of, as by beauty or excellence
*Self explanatory, He’s amazing, I think of the sky He created!

Luminous~ radiating or reflecting light; shining; bright.
*HE is the only Super Star!

Incomparable~ not being able to compare or equate
*After reading Ephesians 2, I found this word used twice….once after the word RICHES & the other after POWER.  Rock on God! Nothing compares to you!

“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Psalm 34:1~

Week 2: ARISE

Wake up an hour early this week & pray & worship the Lord. I know it’s a big sacrifice, but remember anything we do for Christ, is really much more of a gain isn’t it? Try at least 1 day. C’mon you can do it! He will meet you there & what a sweet time you’ll have!

“In the morning, O LORD, hear my voice. In the morning I lay my needs in front of you, and I wait.” Psalm 5:3~

Week 3: SING

Pick out your most recent favorite song & worship with all you have till it hurts!

My favorite worship song lately is “Desert Song” by Hillsong.  The musicality is sweet but melancholy to me & the lyrics are fantastically AMAZING!!!  I relate to every verse. It really touched my soul & I find myself closer to God because of it.  That song is found on the “This is Our God” album.

“Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.” Psalm33:3~

Week 4: WRITE

Pick out your favorite Psalm & rewrite it in your own words.

Week 5: WORSHIP

Invest in a new CD.  BUY it, don’t burn it.  Support those worship ministries because if we burn them we are stealing from God’s own people!  Enjoy the new music & be blessed!

I bought the new Group1Crew album “Ordinary Dreamers.” It’s inspired me to make “eye contact” with Jesus! What a clever analogy I love, love, LOVE it!

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.” Psalm 40:3~

Week 6: MEMORIZE

Pick out a favorite verse.  Post it up & memorize it =)

I chose…

“Because, whatever you do, eating or drinking or anything else, everything should be done to bring glory to God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31~

Week 7: HONOR

Let us honor the 4^TH Commandment this week by taking the time to remind
our parents that they are appreciated.  First, in word then, in deed.

I sent my mommy a sweet text telling her she is “a pillar in which my life is built upon” & gave her a 30 min shoulder massage, she loves those! I sent my Daddy a heartfelt letter enclosed with new pictures of my daughter.

“Honor your father & mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12 ~

Week 8: LOVE

LOVE strong this week!  Do something for a stranger & tell them it is from Jesus who loves them, not from you or your church.

Examples:

When I went to Starbucks (drive thru) I gave the cashier $5. for the person behind me. I gave him a card that says “God does provide.” These cards came from a Love campaign we had at our church.

My husband & I also double tipped a waitress & left her a card as well.

“And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other
commandment greater than these.” ~Mark 12:28-31

Week 9: PRAY

Create a prayer list. If you already have one, edit it.  Reflect on what God has done, thank Him & petition for your heart’s desires.

“And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it. ” John 14:13-14~

Week 10: READ

Buy a new book.

I was just blessed & transformed with “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan.  This book has cut
me to the core of my crooked character & it’s definitely changed my perception of God. It has influenced me to analyze why I do the things I do, say the things I say, love the people I love etc. So this week’s challenge is to invest in a godly book.

“A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel” Proverbs 1:5-6~

*This is an excerpt.  For the other 42 weeks you have to buy the book! Release in winter 09!