Open Your Heart

Thank God we have persevered and survived another year! Yes, each of us endured many challenges and obstacles in 2003. But 2004 is a new year, a new beginning. 2004 is the year to soar. Be encouraged and stay renewed. God is still sustaining us and is still working through us. We must continue to trust in him and allow him to lead us.

A resolution for 2004 can be to govern our choices; live for Christ; be a witness; and become stronger prayer warriors. I encourage each of us to use whichever gift we have to spread how much Jesus loves us. The God we serve is the God of numerous second chances. 2004 for is our second chance to glorify God. This is only the beginning of our journey.

In Christ,

Rashauna

Think you've run out of chances with God? Think again.

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness:

according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1-2

Heart’s Guide

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An Adventure in Scripture: Just click a link to start your journey!

“Resist the Devil”

James 4:7-8

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

You only lose when you stop caring and quit.

Heart’s Message

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Deception’s Whisper

By Rashauna

Have you noticed Satan rarely attacks us when we are happy or satisfied with our life? No, he waits until we feel insecure or until we face trials in our life for him to rear his ugly, deceptive head. His words are powerful, negative, and suggestive. And, unfortunately, we listen. Why? Perhaps we feel the need to justify our feelings or to understand why difficult situations are happening to us. Do you recognize any of the following? “I’m worthless.” “It’s always my fault.” “No one will love or like me.” “I’m not beautiful/handsome enough.” “I’m dumb.” “I’ve messed up so much already, God won’t forgive me anymore.” Or “I’ll never amount to anything, so why even try?”

Listen to me. Don’t pay any attention to these suggestive, deceiving lies from Satan. The devil is patient and waits to feed on our insecurities and shortcomings, always ready to remind us. We don’t have to take that from him! One of his ploys is getting us to think we are weak. Wrong. We are powerful beings. We have God and his mighty army on our side! Recognize him (the devil) for what he is and denounce him. He will flee. Once he knows that his ploys will not work, he will leave. Our best defense is surrounding ourselves with God’s protection. Along with reading and meditating his Word, strengthen yourself by reading uplifting, Christian material; speaking with other strong Christians; or praying. Since we are created in God’s image, any lie the devil whispers to us is therefore invalid. Our God is not worthless. Our God will always love us. Our God is powerful. Our God will always forgive us if we come to him with a repentant heart, and will give us another chance.

I will admit that it’s easy to agree with whatever emotion you feel when you are down. We are human. We have strong emotions. But the key is don’t stay down. “Resist the devil, and he will flee.” Recognize him and those condemning feelings for what they are… emotions. We are stronger than this. We won’t lose until we stop caring and quit, so never give up. Hold your head high and smile. The next time you are having a rough day and those negative thoughts come to you, speak against them. Isaiah 30:19 states, “…How gracious he will be when you cry for help. As soon as he hears, he will answer you.” Bring your emotions and situations to God. He is the perfect source of comfort, peace, and guidance.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28-29

A Prayer from the Heart

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New Year's Dawn

with Rashauna

When the sun rises, O Lord, you paint the sky with a beautiful array of colors. Dawn is beginning of a new day, a new chance. Thank you for leading us into a new year - a new dawn - where no day or year is the same. We enter 2004 stronger than ever before. Help us to realize this, Father. Guide our paths as we begin another year for you.

From the Heart

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The Eyes of a Praying Woman

Mama Dee

What do I see? I see emptiness. Emptiness… she has lost so much of herself trying to nurture everyone else’s needs and wants. She is void of her own strength, but wants and desires the strength of others. She isn’t sad but a little disappointed because she has so much to give and nurture, but receives nothing in return. There is determination, hope, and assurance for that one-day when things will change and her hope will be manifested.

In those eyes behind the film of cloudiness is blessed assurance of one day, not a fantasy of untruth, but promises that God has preserved and prepared her for. What promises? Those promises that were assured to her… she waits and waits for it. She held on to the promise. The promise was her strength, her hope, and her assurance. She is viewed as powerful— not almighty— but admired. Admired for her strength because she has endured many adversities, yet is always willing to go on and not give up and die.

Who is this woman? She’s the woman you see every day when you look in the mirror. She looks just like you. She knows her God shall and will supply all her needs, and he does. She’s the woman who always seems on top of the world, but isn’t. She just has hope and faith to believe in the impossible. She has faith in her God. Faith is her strength. Faith is all that she knows. Faith is her lifeline—faith won’t fail her, and faith allows her to wake up and live. Faith.

Where does she get this faith? Was it taught to her as a child? No, it’s from her many life’s experiences. She really had no choice it was destined for her. “Faith is the substance of things hope for the evidence of things not seen.” There is no evidence or blueprint for her promise, but in her heart she knows what God has promised and believes with all of her might that she will be rewarded. God has proven to her many, many times of who he is and what he can do.

I believe in this woman because she wants what God says that she can have, and she trusts him. She cares what others say about her, but she doesn’t live by what they say. Every morning she wakes up with the same agenda of hope and promise. It will not die in her. She believes because it will manifest as promised. She is determined to hold on.

In those eyes, I see determination. I see her determination not to give up. She doesn’t believe that her hope is hopeless. She believes her hope is hopeful, believable, possible and near. The praying woman believes in the relationship she has with her God. She depends on him and trusts in him. That’s all she knows, the praying woman who believes. Just look into those eyes and see her journey, travel with her if you can. Learn of the virtues of this praying woman and if you can, receive from her and if at all possible leave her some of your strength and encourage her and continue to pray for the praying woman.

The Master’s Mind

With the Winnerman

Being able to express ourselves is an awesome gift. Many of us live our lives, never really able to connect with our true-selves. This world often encourages us to suppress our feelings until they turn sour. The act of expression is a doorway to freedom. Everyday, make it a goal to express yourself to someone else. However, finding someone else to listen to our hearts is not always easy.

Because our hearts (or spirits) belong to God, opening up and expressing our innermost thoughts with Him is what He really wants. So… let’s come to God, just as we are, and give Him our innermost thoughts. Give God the thoughts that are buried deep within our hearts and watch to see what will happen. Whenever we come to Him and share our true and intimate self, we are actually leaning upon Him and trusting in Him. God is always listening.

~Join the Winnerman in the Message Forum

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Phil 2:9-11

About Us

Gabriel Communications Network

Gabriel’s Ministries

Open Your Heart

Rashauna: The editor

Gabriel Communication Network is still being created and defined by its founders, Anthony “Winnermanwon” and Rashauna. GCN sponsors various methods of spreading the word of God. Some of these include the written word (The Gabriel Newsletter), the Internet outreach (Open Your Heart), audio/visual, and publishing (Christian fiction). Our goal is to inspire, to enlighten, and to encourage people to discover and to use their God-given gifts to glorify HIM. Join us in prayer that we will grow and develop into what God has envisioned for us and that we will be obedient to what he has called us to do.

The Gabriel Newsletter specifies in sending its readers inspirational and encouragement letters. We coined the title "GABRIEL" because Gabriel is an angel from God who delivers important messages to the people God has chosen to serve him (check out Luke 1 where he visits Mary, mother of Jesus). Like the angel, we as Christians should become messengers for Christ and we should use the various gifts that God has given to us to spread his word.

Open Your Heart was created in 2003 for Internet readers because we want them to open their hearts to Christ so they may receive their salvation, a personal friend and counselor, and a promise of a glorious future with Christ in eternity. OYH is our Internet outreach division of GCN. We'll have various topics throughout the year. Our mission is still to spread the word of GOD and to let everyone we know that our time here on earth is coming to an end. It'll be time for a new heaven and a new earth (REV 21). EMAIL the staff: [email protected] or join our e-zine mailing list.

Rashauna , the editor, has been writing for several years and has chosen to use her gift to glorify God. She's nearly a college graduate and writes when the time permits. She has written the majority of articles published by GCN and will continue to do so. Besides writing for Gabriel, she is working on various fiction novels and short stories.

God has a plan for your life.

Yes. You.

God will use anyone to glorify him.

But it’s up to you.

God has given you the choice to choose him or the world.

What’s so great about him is that he won’t force you to do anything.

When he created you, he gave you a will and a desire to choose your path in life.

How about giving him a chance and try to honor him by living for his glory?

Just try it.

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Last updated January 2004

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