RACISM

"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring." Acts 17:24-28 (bold/italics mine)

There is a commentary in my Bible that I read this morning that I have to add here before I go any further. It's too good not to quote.

"The Unity of the Human Race. HUMAN WORTH. Here the unity of the human race is clearly stated, for through Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:20), and then the sons of Noah (Gen.9:19), all races and nationalities of men came forth. We all proceed from one blood, both figuratively and literally, for the same blood types are found in all races. Humankind is a universal family. "Have we not one Father? Has not God created us?" (Mal.2:10). We live in a single world community. No race or nation has the right to look down or disassociate itself from another. The apostle Peter said, "God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean...In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation, whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" (Acts 10:28, 34,35). There are only two divisions of humankind: the saved and the unsaved. Other differences are merely skin deep or culturally flavored, but all people are relatives. (Gen 9:5,6/ 1 Cor. 12:12)"

We need to view each other through the lens of Jesus Christ who died for every race, nation, and people.(John 3:16) There is no partiality. When I see my brother and sister, the only colors I should see are RED and WHITE. RED represents the blood of Christ, and WHITE represents their sins being washed WHITER than snow by the blood of Jesus. (Psalm 51:7)

We don't have a skin problem. It's a sin problem. Jesus Christ is the only answer for racism. He is the Prince of Peace, and is the only One that can bring true Perfect Peace.

FAITH

Speak the Word of Faith.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. By my God I can run through a troop and leap over a wall! He makes my feet like hind's feet; He makes me walk upon high places. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible! All things are possible to him who believes. If I have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, I can say to a mountain, "Move," and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for me. I'm a believer, I'm not a doubter. I know that whatever is not of faith is sin. I know that without faith it is impossible to please God. I know I am to live by faith, and if I shrink back the Lord has no pleasure in me.

Every man has a measure of faith; I'll develop my faith to the glory of God. I have faith towards God. My faith is not in my faith, but in the living God who said He would never fail or forsake me. Therefore I choose to walk by faith and not by sight. I trust in the Lord with all my heart and don't lean to my own understanding. I'm not ruled by my feelings. I'm not in bondage to my emotions. I'm not under the circumstances; I'm above the circumstances. I'm seated with Christ in the heavenly places. The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

A righteous man may fall seven times, but rises again. Champions don't give up, they get up. One thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, my Lord. I put my hand to the plow, and I don't look back. I run to win. It's not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit says the Lord. He ever lives to make intercession for me. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I can ask, think, or imagine, by the power that works in me. He who began a good work in me will complete it until the day of our Lord Jesus.

Boldly, I can approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and grace for help in time of need. I'll be anxious for nothing. He will keep me in perfect peace for my mind is stayed on Him. Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even my faith. I choose this day to live by faith, to walk by faith, to see by faith. Therefore, I am an overcomer. I'm going from faith to faith, strength to strength, glory to glory. The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that shines brighter until the full day!

Confessions: Biblical Prosperity

I continue to keep my way of life free from the love of money, I cannot serve God and money, I am entrusted with true riches. I do not rob God in my tithes and offerings, therefore, I'm not cursed with a curse and the devourer is rebuked. I put the Lord to the test, and the Lord opens the windows of Heaven and pours down an overflowing blessing.

I do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season I will reap because I do not lose heart. I cas my bread upon the waters, and I find it after many days. One man gives freely yet grows all the richer; another witholds what he should give and only suffers want. The generous man will prosper and the one who waters will himself be watered.

I've been young and now I'm old(not too old), yet I've not seen the righteous forsaken or His children begging bread. I am ever giving liberally and lending, and my children become a blessing. My God supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. I give and it is given to me, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. If I sow sparingly, then I will also reap sparingly. So I will sow bountifully and therefore, reap bountifully. God loves a cheerful and hilarious giver. He is able to provide me with every blessing in abundance so I may have enough of everything in order to provide in abundance for every good work. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply my resources and increase the harvest of my righteousness.

I do not see godliness as a means for selfish gain. My passion is to see the Gospel of the Kingdom preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations.

VICTORY-Confessing the Word

The power of life and death is in the tongue. Speak this life over you, and let the Word of God encourage you. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Faith come by hearing and hearing by the Word.

Victory-Confessions

I'm not just an ordinary man; I'm a son of the living God. I'm not just a person; I'm an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. I'm not just an old sinner; I'm a new creation in Jesus, my Lord. I'm part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; I'm one of God's people.  I'm not under guilt or condemnation. I refuse discouragement. There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Satan is a liar. I will not listen to his accusations. I gird up the loins of my mind. I am cleansed in the blood of Jesus. No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against me in judgement You shall condemn. My mind is being renewed by the Word of God. I pull down strongholds; I cast down imaginations; I bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

I am accepted in the beloved. If God be for me, who can be against me? Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world. Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. As the Father loves Jesus, so Jesus loves me. I'm the righteousness of God in Christ. I'm not a slave of sin; I'm a slave of God and a slave of righteousness. I continue in His Word; I know the truth and the truth has set me free. Because the Son has set me free, I am free indeed. He who is born of God keeps me, and therefore the evil one does not touch me. I've been delivered out of the kingdom of darkness. I'm part of the kingdom of God. I don't have to serve sin anymore. Sin has no dominion over me.

I will not believe the enemy's lies. He will not intimidate me. He is a liar and the father of lies. Satan is defeated. For this purpose the Son of God came into the world, to destroy the works of the devil. No longer will he oppress me. Surely oppression makes a wise man mad. I will get mad at the devil. I defeat him by the blood of the lamb, by the word of my testimony, not loving my life even to death. I will submit to God. I will resist the devil and he will flee. No temptation will overtake me that is not common to man. God is faithful; He will not let me be tempted beyond my strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape that I may be able to endure.

I will stand fast in the liberty with which Christ has made me free. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Christ always causes me to triumph. I'll reign as a king in life through Christ Jesus. I am strong, the Word of God abides in me, and I have overcome the evil one. I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me. I am an overcomer. I am invincible. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thanks be to God who gives me the victory through Jesus Christ, my Lord!

How To Study The Bible For Yourself (Inductive Study Method)

Approach the Word: 1) Prayerfully, Ask for the Holy Spirit to teach you. 2) Expectantly

• Observation

What do you see? You are a detective...Find the Facts.

Questions to ask: Who, What, Where, When

Place yourself in the text...How do you feel?

• Interpretation

What does it mean? Ask lots of questions? Using Why and How

Remember to always study in context. Let scripture interpret scripture.

What did this passage, verse mean to the individual(s) in their day?

• Application

How does it work in my life?

8 questions to ask yourself:

Is there an example for me to follow?

Is there a sin to avoid?

Is there a promise to claim?

Is there a prayer to repeat?

Is there a command to obey?

Is there a condition to meet?

Is there a verse to memorize?

Is there a challenge to face?

• The ultimate aim of Bible Study is to know God.
• The Bible was not written to be studied but to change lives
• The Bible was not written to fill your head with a lot of facts, but to transform your life

Born for Adversity

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

This verse stumped me for a long time. Why would my brother be born for adversity? My brother and I would fight a lot growing up, and we had some crazy sibling rivalry going on at our house. If you have brothers or sisters than I'm sure you can relate. At the same time, I was sure that wasn't the reason my brother was born, so we could fight and drive each other crazy.  As I thought about this verse, I realized that I was way off on my interpretation of this particular scripture.

The verse is a prescription for a health friendship. What this verse is really saying is that friendship is at it's best, not in good times, but in times of trouble. A true friend is going to love at ALL times, not just in the good times when nothing is wrong, or everything is right with the world. If a friend leaves you when times get tough then they're not really your friend at all. You're probably better off without those types of "friends". The Bible tells us that we should choose our friends carefully. "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray." Prov. 12:26. This verse tells us that even the righteous are in danger if they don't choose their friends wisely.

The best and truest friend is one that is there for you no matter what you're going through. A brother or sister that is born for adversity. When you're going through an adverse situation, when you're going through the battle, and when you're going through a war. The friend that is there for you is the truest friend. We can't make it alone as a christian. We're called to do life together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let's listen to the advice of the wisest man, besides Jesus, to walk this earth-King Solomon.

"Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls. For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can they keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecc. 4:9-12

I'm thankful for my brothers in Christ that I can call, hang out, and pray with. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and any other Social Media is very superficial and not your answer. You need real face to face friendships, brothers, and sisters in Christ. If you have small groups at your church, get plugged into one. We're called to do life together.

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7

Naughty And Nice

You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town. He's making a list, and checking it twice. He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice. He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake. Santa Claus is coming to town. 

We all know the song, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. It's played a lot on the radio this time of year. I was thinking about the lyrics of this song today, and I realized that a lot of people have the view of Jesus that He is keeping a list and waiting to punish us if we're "Naughty". This view of Jesus is completely a lie from hell. A trick and deception from the enemy to get you to see Jesus in a unfavorable light, and make you feel unworthy, depressed, and hopeless. Or it will make you become totally motivated by works, and trying to earn your way to heaven-which you can not do.

I have some bad news and some good news for us all. The bad news is that we are all on the naughty list. Paul says in Rom. 3:10, "There is none righteous, no, not one." Rom. 3:23,"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Isaiah 64:6 says, "Our righteousness is as filthy rags.". On our best day, we're not worthy to be on God's "Nice" list. The good news is that Jesus Christ made a way for us to be worthy, righteous, and have our names written on the only list that matters-The Lambs Book of Life. 

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. 3:23

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Eph. 2:8-9

The only way for us to be on God's list-The Lambs Book of Life-is to receive His gift to us this Christmas season. His gift is the greatest gift ever given to mankind. What we earn from our sin is death, but God gave us the gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus. How do I get this gift? How do you get any gift? You receive it. Gifts don't cost anything, so you just receive it.  

"That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Rom. 10: 9-10

"For whosoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." Rom. 10:13

If you're ready to call on Him this morning, and receive the greatest gift ever given then pray this prayer with me.

"Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that the separation between us is because of my sin. I confess that I have sinned and have fallen far short of your glory. I thank you that you sent your Son, Jesus to pay the penalty for my sin. I believe that He died on the cross for me. I believe that you raised Him from the dead. I am sorry for my sins, and I ask you to forgive and cleanse me. I want to turn away from everything the Bible calls sin and receive you as my Lord, Master, and Savior. Help me to love, serve, and obey you for the rest of my life in Jesus's name, Amen!" 

If you've prayed that prayer with a sincere heart then a party has broke out in heaven, and your name is now on God's list. He calls you righteous. You are now His son or daughter. He loves you, and nothing can separate you from His love. Rejoice this Christmas. Jesus was born, so we can be born again. 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Cor. 5:17

Jesus is much better than Santa Claus. I hope you have a wonderful time this year celebrating the true meaning of Christmas.

Prayer

The key to prayer is to start simply and quietly. Prayer is the primary way of connecting to the infinite, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God. Without prayer you can never get close to God. Prayer is like a muscle. If you exercise it regularly your prayer muscle will gain strength and your appreciation for God will grow immeasurably. On the other hand if you don't use it, your prayer muscle will shrivel up and your capacity for God will shrink. And in those times of crisis when you suddenly feel compelled to pray, it will likely be painful experience. The good news is God doesn't put conditions on your prayer life. His feelings don't get hurt when you don't pray. But when you do, He connects with you in a powerful way. Prayer changes things. Pray for people who dislike you. Pray for people you dislike. Prayer without effort will be insincere. Effort without prayer will be ineffective. Don't pray for a lighter load. Pray for a stronger back. Prayer involves listening to God as well as speaking to Him. You can't stand up to satan if you know kneel before God. Pray with perseverance and expectancy. At its core, prayer is giving yourself to God.

Prepare Well | Preach Well

Eight key components to help you communicate the Word of God better:
1) Consecration 2) Compassion 3) Credibility 4) Connection 5) Creativity 6) Clarity 7) Cheerfulness 8) Conviction

1) Consecration
Bathe yourself and your message in prayer. Pray hard and pray long. There are no shortcuts when it comes to prayer and time with God. The Holy Spirit must be our focus and not us. He's the one that draws and leads and gives us the power to communicate His message the way He wants. Commit yourselves and your message to God's purpose and pleasure. This deals with you motives. Do you seek God's approval or man's. Do you draw attention to yourself or God. You must choose one because you can't have both.

Give the Holy Spirit room to guide you in the delivery. Sometimes you need to leave your notes and pursue new direction that God gives. This doesn't mean that you're not prepared. On the contrary, being very prepared allows you to free yourself mentally and emotionally to hear prompts from God to make changes during the message.

2) Compassion
A minister without feeling is no better than a book. You either care or you don't. To truly care means to pay close attention to people and their needs. This brings heart to your message.

3) Credibility
"You are the message" The Kingdom needs you to stay strong. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." 1 Peter 5:8-9

4) Connection
Connection is vital because it is the key component that grabs the hearts of the people. Without connection no matter how great the message it will fall on deaf ears. Connection is not possible without being in touch with others, being honest with yourself, and being willing to speak the truth in love. Connection is basically the availability of two human hearts to understand  each other. Without connection your message is worthless.

5) Creativity

Creativity is available to any communicator who is willing to ask God, the creator, The creative One for help. Creativity comes from a lifestyle of soaking and saturating yourself in the Holy Spirit's presence.

6) Clarity

"I don't mean any disrespect, but there are far too many messages I've heard upon there conclusion, I silently commented to myself, "What the heck was he trying to say?"

Bill Hybels has a predetermined focus, a thought-through flight plan, and a pre-arranged place and purpose for landing the plane-Every Time! Clarity requires discipline and lots of it. Discipline is a challenge because you can wing it, but I assure you, while you get away with it you will not have near the impact you would if you added disciplined thought preparation into every message every week. Furthermore, no matter how good you are, cutting corners will eventually catch up with you.

Writing out your message in detail, even if you don't use your notes in the pulpit, is the greatest tool to help you clarify your thinking. Another tool is to let someone else read your message and have them tell you in a sentence or tow what they perceive your primary thought to be.

7) Cheerfulness

No one wants to listen to a serious stick in the mud. Take God seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously because no one else does. Lighten up. It will help your communication immensely. This doesn't mean you need to be a comedian and tell jokes. Please don't. It means to look for the humorous, light-hearted side of life and tell stories. Life will provide all the humor you will ever need. Remember people need to laugh. It's important to their soul and even their physical body. People need to see the joy of the Lord alive in you and your messages. Life is often tough, and humor is medicine to the soul.

8) Conviction/Passion

When the heart is afire some sparks will fly out of the mouth. Have you ever heard a pastor deliver a message that he or she seemed completely unmotivated about? We all know some communicators are more lively than others; that is style. I'm talking about conviction-a fire in the belly-a leader who is willing to risk to see God's work go forward. Don't mistake this idea of conviction for yelling or screaming. Volume has nothing to do with passion or conviction. Conviction comes from the heart and leads to courage and boldness in the pulpit.

Maximized Manhood

The world makes the bad "good" and the good "bad" in our minds through television, media, and other stuff. We as Christian men need to make the "Godly" hero's in our homes. It is the aim of every seducing spirit and doctrine of devil to demean, degenerate, and debilitate your manhood, to sap your christian virility. In so doing, they cause the power of Christ to have little effect in your life. We need to reject such spirits and doctrines. Cast them from your home and family.

As a man, we have three functions in the home and community. We are to guide, guard, and govern. The greatest addiction in America is not marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, or other drugs. It's television. Don't be the absentee father even though you might be present. Don't go to work, come home and watch TV. Be involved w/your wife and kids life. The best daddy is the one that uses TV to make the godly of the land his hero's. Men produce Nations. A Nation is great because it's men are great. For America to recapture its greatness, its men must recapture their manhood. Manhood is in spirit. It has nothing to do with physical size but strength of character. While men look for better methods, God looks for better men.

The greatest thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Life and death are in our words and decisions. Today's society is suffering from absent fathers. The absentee father is the curse of our day. Quality time is when the family eats together, prays together, works together, and shares friends together. The prayer that produces intimacy between a man and a woman does the same in the family. The man is the leader. A fathers noblest action is giving himself to his wife, his children, and to God.

"I'm convinced that the major reason for so much counseling in Christian lives today is that there is so little praying. When people spend time in the Word of God, meditating in it, praying over it, confessing it, the Word will become their counselor." Edwin Louis Cole

When the charm wears off, you have nothing but character left. Men have conquered mountains, oceans, and outer space, but the greatest achievement of all is when man conquers himself. Better is he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. There is a difference between reading the Bible and living it. As much difference between heaven and hell, Egypt and Canaan.

Don't let someone else create your world for you. For when you do, they will always make it too small. God has big plans for you. Enjoy Canaan land in the totality of your life. Marriage, parenting, profession, finances, education. In every area of your life. Be a Man. Live the life of Maximized Manhood.

Manhood and Christ-likeness are synonymous. The man dependent on Christ has the amazing ability to maintain a steady ship on a stormy sea.

Maximized Manhood by Ed Cole

AMBUSH

 We can expect three major ambushes as we attempt to finish strong.

1) Ambush of another woman.(Not a question of will it happen but when)
2) Ambush of money
3) Ambush of a neglected family

What shall it profit a man if he should win the world yet lose his family. Our wives can not be our gods. Our children can not be our gods. Only God can be our God. He wants to know that He is first in our lives, and there will be times He'll test us.

"I believe the family was established long before the church, and that my duty is to my family first. I am not to neglect my family." D.L. Moody

"A man who will not provide for his family is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8

Guys who screw up are guys who willfully and purposefully remove themselves from the protection of Jesus Christ. Guys who finish strong are "Stayed upon Jehovah."
4 Things:
1) Stay in the Word (Scriptures)
2) Stay close to a friend (Accountability)
3) Stay away from other women especially being alone.
4) Stay alert to the tactics of the enemy

He who ceases to be your friend never was a good one.

A woman who is allowed to see inside her husbands heart is a woman who will become a friend for life.

Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar

Free Will & Love

Why does God give us free will? Why does He give us freedom to reject Him? The answer is simple: If you want a world where love is real, you must allow each person the freedom to choose. Love complicates the life of God as it complicates every life. Power can do everything but the most important thing: it cannot control love. Love is chosen. You cannot in the end, force anyone to love you.

Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar

Strength & Courage

Strength:

If you want to grow in true masculine strength, then stop sabotaging yours. We must let our strength show up. A man's addictions are the result of him refusing his strength. Let people feel the weight of who you are-and let them deal with it. Don't refuse your strengths. Without Christ a man must fail miserably. Ask yourself, "Where am I deriving my strength from?" Choose humility and take a back seat. If you want to know what the world feels about you then live out your true strength. The world of posers is shaken by real men. Many of us are afraid to let our strength show up because the world
doesn't have a place for it. Fine. The world is screwed up. Let people feel the weight of who you are.

Courage:

Courage is the strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. We give half-hearted attempts at our quiet time when the only reason we have is we "ought to". But we'll find a way to make it work when we are convinced we're history if we don't. The whole point of a devotional life is connecting with God. If we do not have God and have Him deeply then we'll turn to other lovers. It is an honor to be wounded in the service of the Lord. What makes Maximus or William Wallace so heroic is simply this: They are willing to die to set others free.

The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet. Frederick Buechner.

Life is not a problem to be solved; it is an adventure to be lived. Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive. Don't listen to what the world tells you to do. Can a world of posers tell you to do anything but pose yourself? Two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

In the christian life its not how you start that matters its how you finish. For winning is not more than this-to rise each time you fall. Have the courage to rise up, and keep fighting.

Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

2003 Journal Archive | Quotes

Do you believe in your ability to deal with the major challenges of your life? If you don't others won't either. They will watch you carefully to see what you think of yourself. Your own insecurities and doubt will translate directly into the attitudes of your peers. This is not talking about pride, arrogance, or even self-esteem. We're focusing on the inner peace that comes from knowing you are a child of God, and with His help handle whatever He asks of you. It is a refusal to wallow in the sewer of self-hatred. It is believing in your worth as a human being regardless of the pain and rejection inflicted on you by others. It is, in a word, confidence. We are often our own worst enemies when it comes to the undermining of confidence. We are His chosen disciples today-His people. Wen our little bit is combined with His greatness, the team is unbeatable. Together you and God are a majority. I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength. Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly your doing the impossible.

Whatever a person hungers for, Satan will appear to offer. Remember Satan comes in as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14), which means he counterfeits the voice of God. If he can get you to accept your impressions uncritically and impulsively, then he can confuse and disillusion you.

How can I deal with my own insecurities? Comparison is the root of all inferiority.

5 ways to discern the will of the Lord
1) Begin on your knees (Matt. 7:7)
2) Examine the scriptures for principles that relate to the issue at hand
3) Seek counsel from those who are spiritually mature and solid in their faith
4) Pay close attention to "providential circumstances" The Lord often speaks through doors that open and close.
5) Do nothing impulsively. Give God opportunity to speak. Until He does stall for time and concentrate on the first four approaches.

Never underestimate today, or overestimate tomorrow. Heb. 3:12 "See to it brothers that none of you has a sinful unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is today, so that none of you be hardened by sins deceitfulness. Today if you hear My voice do not harden your hearts.

2002 Journal Archive | Quotes

Faith - Confidence that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He has promised to do.

Acting on your Faith is the ultimate expression of devotion, admiration, and adoration. Acting on your faith demonstrates you believe who God says He is. You become doers of the word not just hearers. James 1

Regardless of your role, we are never the focal point of a God-ordained vision, He is.

You can't be solely dependent on your preparation or talent. You must be dependent upon God.

The rewards that accompany success can turn a humble man or woman into a tyrant.

Rare is the successful individual who has not lost sight of what he would be without God.

The depth and authenticity of our faith determines in part our ability to handle success.

Faith focuses on our inadequacy and His adequacy.

Rare is the visionary who is able to maintain a spirit of dependency and humility in the face of public success.

What could be and should be won't be until God allows it to be.

We must trust God and love people and never turn that around. Of course, if we are to love God, we must put our ultimate trust in Him. Peace is broken when we depend on people to provide what only God can provide. Prov. 3:5-6

People were never meant to be our sources of security.

Whatever He withholds is always to draw us closer to Him.

Integrity - Consistency between what we believe and what we do.

Integrity means putting lofty concepts of our faith to work.

There will never be a time when what we've done or who we've been can be our security. What would you do if you had the peace of trusting God completely? You never know how far you can travel until you start the trip.

"Without God we can not; without us He will not." St. Augustine

The very nature of sin is that it dulls our desire to seek forgiveness and a right relationship with God. We simply cannot diminish God's supply of grace.

Receiving grace is like draining water from the Atlantic Ocean with a teaspoon. The supply of Gods grace exceeds the waters of all the seas.

Peace is the equal balance of our needs with the inflow of Christ's love, wisdom, and strength.

2000 Journal Archive | Quotes

I found three of my journals collecting dust in my closet this morning, and I wanted to type out some of the highlights that God has spoken to me over the years.

To stay alive in my spirit; I have to stay alive in God's Spirit. That's the only way to defeat the devil every day. Zech. 4:6 "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

The devil doesn't mind me coming to church. He just doesn't want the church-the Spirit of God-to come into me.

I have been favored by God. (Psalm 41:11-12) - Satan wants to keep me from knowing the favor of God is upon me and that I have been touched by Him. Satan's lie is that a man has no purpose, power, or potential. He will try to bring back childhood memories and past sins, but God has forgiven me and put his favor on me to become a success.

Do not have "Will Worship". Your willpower isn't the answer to solve or overcome your problems. It will make you have an external righteousness, but you need an inward change. Willpower has no defense against the careless word, the unguarded moment. Willpower is incapable of transforming the inner man.

I have to thank God that He is still at work in me. I have to refuse to give into the devil. I have to fight him, but before I let him take me out, I'll tie a rag around my head put a knife in my teeth and wait for him in the bushes. Everyone's got to have a little Rambo in them. I think that came from a T.D. Jakes book. :-)

Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight in in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth int fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

The Discipline of Silence is a person who can say what needs to be said when it needs to be said. Prov. 25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."

The purpose of spiritual disciplines is freedom. Our aim is the freedom, not the discipline.

Self-denial means freedom to give way to others. To hold others' interests above our interests. When we live outside self-denial we demand things go our way. Then I resort to self-pity. Outwardly I submit but I do so in a spirit of martyrdom. Leadership is found in becoming the servant of all.

The man who hates himself cannot love another person. How can you give someone what you can't even give yourself. Self-image is the next impt thing you need to have besides your faith. It doesn't matter what others think of you. It only matters what you think of you based on what God thinks of you.

Confession begins in sorrow, but ends in joy. Do not have self-condemnation

Even though I am like grass that withers away and God is so big and strong and remains forever-He loves me and will take care of me, so I need not to worry about life because my life is in His hands.

I need to keep silent and listen to God to hear Him-then I will renew my strength and then I can speak. Isaiah 40:31 "But those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Jesus said in Mark 1:17, "Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men"
So, as I come after Jesus, He will make me become a fisher of men.

Differences between legalism and discipline. Legalism is self-centered; Discipline is God-centered. Legalistic heart says, "I will do this to gain merit with God. The disciplined heart says, "I will do this thing because I love God and want to please Him.

Apart from the Spirits assistance, our prayers are limited by our own reason and intuition. But with the Spirits help they become informed by heaven.

The backbone of any work done for God is prayer.

God can have our money and not have our hearts, but He cannot have our hearts without having all our money. Matt. 6:21 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Success is remaining faithful to the process God has laid out of your. (Stay the course)

Confusing success with the rewards of success is one of the primary reasons people abandon their dreams.

In the light of divine vision our daily faithfulness takes on new significance.