Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word. It is success for life. It’s truth on a page, practical for today. The commands of this Book bring life! - safety and protection, guidance and instruction, humility and favor. I’m also thankful for four additional tools I always use in my PRISM Time with God. Those Five things you can do every day in God’s Word. The first tool is www.startpage.com – the secure search engine I vastly prefer over Google or Bing. Anytime I think of a Bible story or a character or principle and I can’t remember the verse – I just use startpage.com. Any phrase or close to it - like “so loved the world” and it will pull up John 3:16. The second tool that has helped with PRISM is www.biblehub.com Type in a verse and it will give you another fifteen versions that you can look at simultaneously – just scroll down. Very helpful, quick and easy, I use it almost every time I do PRISM. The third tooI that is helpful with PRISM – is www.webstersdictionary1828.com – the first published version by Noah Webster. The definitions of words are explained as they were back then, using Biblical references - the foundation of all truth completely abandoned by our schools today. And the fourth tool so helpful for PRISM Time In God's Word – is e-sword. This isn’t a website, it’s a program that is run locally on your PC or Mac. It lists every book of the Bible in the left column. Click on Psalms and it lists every chapter in Psalms. Click on Psalms Chapter 150 and it lists all the verses in that chapter. If you’re in the King James+ Tab, Click on a verse – and it lists every word in English with Strong’s Concordance Links – to mouse over or click on to see what Hebrew or Greek Word was used and it’s definition. Extremely helpful. Often there are no words in English – that fully capture a word used in the Bible – Greek or especially Hebrew. But they had to pick on. It’s ok to see some of the other words that additionally reveal the meaning. God can use this to broaden your understanding of what He wants you to know. You can download e-sword for your PC or MAC for free from www.e-sword.net I use this often - especially for “Study the Word” the S: of PRISM which uses S.O.A.P. to study. S:Scripture “God what verse do you have for me to dig deeper in today?” He will always tells you. Write out the reference and the verse on a PRISM page in your Conversation Log. Then O:Observation – “God would you show me something I’ve never seen before? (or need to be reminded of?) Just start writing what the Holy Spirit reveals. This takes faith. If you ask Him – believe what He promised and just start writing. He will bring across your mind and through your pen, the truth He has for you – that you wouldn’t have thought of naturally, with your mind. It’s how you learn to hear His Voice. He will 100% speak to you. He promised. Believe that God will answer your prayer and show you new things. Start writing what He brings to your mind. Remember there are two ways to do PRISM. Some people try to do it with their brain. Never use your natural mind for PRISM – you’ll just get your opinion. There’s no power in that. Are you saying we shouldn't use our intellect when reading God's Word? Of course not - just don't approach it with the finite limitations of mental understanding. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to those things God says can only be discerned by your spirit. Then God can bring them to your mind. Your spirit taps into God's infinite - by the Holy Spirit - then your mind can process what God just revealed to you. Only do PRISM in the spirit... Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s truth. That’s what Jesus said His Father sent The Holy Spirit to do. This is foolishness to the unspiritual mind they just can't understand. But it's the secret to hearing God speak - God is spirit, and He speaks by His Spirit. (That's why you must be born again - to be born of the spirit, not just the womb and be filled with the Holy Spirit - so you can see and hear what God sees and says, not just what your mind can see. When you ask Him, He will speak. Write down what He reveals to you in your PRISM Time with Him. It’s better than Oswald Chambers – This is God speaking directly to you! My Utmost For His Highest – was really good. That was Oswald Chambers’ PRISM for the day. God will give you one just like it - but even better! He knows what you need today – because He already knows what will happen. He will confirm through your PRISM time in His Word – what He told you last night – when you did PiVAT before dinner – to get His plans for you for today – as much as He chose to reveal so far… And when I’m done writing what the Holy Spirit reveals – Sometimes I will then use e-sword on my computer to look up that verse. It can really surprise you. Psalms 37:4 – Delight yourself in the LORD – and He will give you the desires of your heart. As a kid, I always thought that meant – be happy about reading the Bible and God will give you what you want. Then God showed me through e-sword what that word really meant. Delight. It’s the word anag <aw-nag’> and it means - to be pliable – not just happy. Really? I never knew that. 1828 Webster – Pliable – Easily bent, yielding to pressure, flexible. Readily yielding to moral influence, persuasion or discipline. Wow - that word delight yourself in the LORD isn’t just happy about His Word – it means to be humbly mold-able – willing to change your mind or opinion to conform to His Word and His Way. That’s why David constantly committed himself with his mouth. Psalms 86:11 - Teach me your way O LORD and I will walk in your truth. What was David doing when He committed himself with His mouth? He was delighting himself in the LORD – being pliable! That’s why he got what He asked for – what His heart desired. That’s why he always obeyed – it’s how he became a man after God’s own heart. Because if you delight in His Word – fully humble and fully moldable – your desires will change to His desires! And THEN everything your heart desires will surely come to pass! Praying that PRISM is an insatiable hunger in you today, that worship and praise in His Presence is an insatiable thirst. That you would keep coming back and getting everything God can’t wait to share with you – so you will know His ways – so He can prosper everything He put in your heart to do today. Love you all, dad
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Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word – it tells us what is true and what is not. It tells us what to desire, and what is not worth our interest or attention – what brings life and what brings death. It also connects things. Some things go together, some things are preceded by another – and some things always follow another. God’s Word always connects things – it explains progressions, and preconditions, and rewards. God’s Word always brings you to good, to a good life, and the good in life! I’ve found that things worth doing, important to do, necessary to do, even enjoyable to do, may not always be at first. Sometimes you have do something before you you become willing to do it, and learn to love it. Getting up early – you don’t want to… Running, or working out. It is so enjoyable, refreshing, mind clearing – strength giving, stamina increasing, but no one wants to do it. You have to get it done once, and then once more – before you can get on a roll. When you get on a roll, you grow your willing. It doesn't start with willing, just enough will to start. The runners high – doesn’t happen the first day or two after a long layoff. You can never get to – "Why would I ever not do this?" Until you first decide to do this. Do it first, then you become willing. You do it before you're willing to do it, before you love doing it. Are you willing to do? Then will you do? Then you become willing, and then you love it. Get PiVAT – His plans for you today. God’s plans for you will always include what you need to become willing to do. Walk in His plans – and you walk in His will, Walk in His will, and your willing will grow. Psalms 119:108 Accept O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth and teach me your laws. How willing is your praise? It’s so interesting what God connects together. In this verse – praise is directly connected with God teaching us – and us learning His laws – the secrets that always bring success. In order for praise to be willing it has to first be praise. First you must be willing to decide. Then you can decide. Then you can become willing. And when you’re willing – the decision becomes way easier. Will you? Praying that PRISM: P: Praise the Word – becomes one of your greatest joys. That you would spend time directly Praising His Word. The Holy Spirit inhabits your praise – God promised. And it’s the Holy Spirit who leads you into all truth – that’s why they’re connected. That’s why Praise the Word – always leads to understanding the Word because that’s what the Holy Spirit does – always leads you to know Jesus – the giver of all life, everything good – the source of abundance. Praying that PRISM is always that runners high in His Word – that has you never doing anything else instead. That you would love His Word – that His Praise would always be on your lips – that your heart and mind and life would be transformed and conformed to His truth – so His Good just keeps coming to you! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
There’s a two letter word – that’s pretty important. The Word “IN” is mentioned 12,674 times within 9526 verses of the Bible. But there are three 'IN's that are secrets to your success. In Christ, In the Spirit, and Remain In. First you have to be in Christ – for your story to have a happy ending. How to be in Christ? The ABC’s - A: Admit you’re a sinner. That’s easy – have you ever done anything wrong? That makes you a sinner. B: Believe that God Raised Jesus from the dead – that His death in your place paid the price for your sin. That’s easy also – God planned it since before the earth began, Jesus told His disciples that is why He came. There were over 500 witnesses by historical record – even the Pharisees tried to pay soldiers off to deny it. And centuries later people are still giving up their lives rather than deny the truth that they have experienced - the risen Christ. The truth is always easy to believe – if you want to. And C: Commit your life to His control. That means a change of ownership – Time, Thought and Money decisions (your entire life) you give to His control. He gets the drivers seat, you move over to the passenger's seat - so you go where He wants you to go. That’s the first “in” being 'in Christ.' You will be a new creation – old things are passed away and everything becomes new! The Second “in” is In the Spirit. Once your life is made new in Christ – your old nature still wants control back. Temptation will always be there – you just now have the Grace (Divine power and favor) to overcome it! Walk in the Spirit – Ask Him To Fill You – Luke 11:13 – Let Him lead and you won’t fulfill the desires of your old nature. And finally -the final ‘in’ – is “Remain in” John 14:15 - Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (What I tell you to do). John 15:4 – Jesus said - Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. He’s talking about success in life – no tree is successful without fruit. John 15:7 – Jesus said, ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. Remain in me is PiVAT - doing what He told you to do. My Words remain in you - that's PRISM - transforming your mind with His Word. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my followers. In John 15:9 – Jesus said “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” And then He gave the secret. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. Jesus' whole life – all He did was obey His Father in Heaven. He only did, and said, and went – where His Father told Him to. His Father was in the driver's seat - just like He now is with us. Jesus did PiVAT every day – that’s how He remained in Him. He gave up His own plans – and followed His Father’s plans for him. And Jesus said – that’s the secret – if you will obey what I tell you – you will remain in me. Just like I remained in my Father and obeyed – you do this to! Then He said why: Verse 11 - I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be full – complete! That’s a life like no other! Praying that you will always know that you are In Christ, praying that you will always walk in the Spirit. So while your old nature would like to regain control – it will always fail. And praying that through PiVAT before dinner you always hear His plans for you. And through your PRISM every day – you always hear the why to and how to. So His Word is always in you – so you remain in Him – producing fruit like crazy – and walking in the complete Joy that He gives! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
I recently spoke with a Godly young woman who shared what God was revealing to her. Proverbs 21:31 – The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD. God gives the victory – but we prepare the horse for battle. What has God told you to do today – to prepare for the battle? If the battle comes – and you don’t even have your armor on, the breastplate of righteousness, you can’t find your other shoe, or your sword – it’s around here somewhere… you will not likely do well in the heat of battle. Ephesians 6:11 – Put on the whole armor of God so that you can stand firm against all the strategies of the devil... v13 Therefore put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil, and after you have done everything, to stand. You're fully persuaded that the LORD will bring you the victory. So how do you prepare for the day of battle? The first thing that new recruits learn in boot camp – is how to obey orders. Sir, yes sir. It may seem meaningless in training, but one day your life will depend on - how quickly and completely you obey. PiVAT is how you walk in righteousness – blameless - when you’re walking in His plans for you today – not your own. He will reveal the times He has assigned for you today for PRISM – those 5 things you can do in His Word – the Sword of the Spirit – so you gain wisdom, discernment, understanding, and skill. So His Word can confirm the plans that He just gave you last night before dinner for today. Romans 12:1, and Romans 12:2. Your Daily Call has you overcoming every day with your testimony – just like God specifically commanded you in Hebrews 3:13: to exhort one another daily – so you will never become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. And your PiVAT Small Group – each weekend – sharing His plans that He revealed for you this coming week, and the wonderful things He did and revealed last week while you were learning to obey. It’s where you get counsel and encouragement from others who are preparing for the battle just like you! What’s the point of the battle? Overcoming. How did God say to overcome: Your Daily Call – exhorting one another daily. Daily Obeyers – overcoming with your testimony – full of the Word of God and the Spirit of the Almighty – who share the incredible things that God is doing even in the preparation, and in the midst of the battle. Praying that you will know what God has told you to do today to prepare for the battle, and that you would always know the joy – of doing what He told you! Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist. That's PRISM – putting on the belt of truth. And the breastplate of righteousness. That’s PiVAT – not just hearing the Word – doing what He told you – when He told you to do it. With your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. PiVAT trains your feet – you are so used to getting and doing His plans for you today – that your feet are always ready to go where He sends you at a moment’s notice. In addition, take up the shield of faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD. Your PRISM every day is faith building – your shield of faith, by which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – which is the word of God. This is PRISM – those five things you do every day in His Word – you never forget where your sword is, it’s always with you – you keep using it all day long! And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests - praying the complete will of God for you. And keep on praying for the LORD’s people. This is your Daily Call and PiVAT Small Group – praying for each other in the preparation and in the battle – and praying for the body of Christ with your PiVAT Prayer List – those things that He was put on your heart to pray – His prayers for you, not yours. That seems like so much – it’s nothing, it’s easy, it’s just habit, just getting ready for battle. God not only gives you victory in the battle, He gives, direction, joy and victory in the preparation. The greatest players love practice. Because they know it translates to Super Bowl victories. Praying that you will love the preparation – so you know the love of God, the heart of God, and the Good that He Has for you. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Have you ever been waiting for something? Something to begin, something to end, something to happen, a problem to be resolved, your ship to come in, an answer to a prayer, or an action or reply from someone else? Waiting for something – that you are powerless to bring about? What do you do when you’re waiting? What kind of waiting does God want us to do? How do you wait well? Some people wait complaining, other people wait doubting, some people wait paralyzed – as if there’s nothing else they can do – until that something happens. In life, sometimes waiting is required, sometimes there is no other option. But the question is – what are you waiting on? Are you waiting on something or someone to do something? That’s inactive waiting. God never tells us to do that. Proverbs 8:13 – Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway. The waiting that God has for you is waiting on Him, not stuff, or people, or situations to change. Waiting on Him is active, not passive. Waiting – shamar <shaw-mar’> to attend to - to hedge about, guard, to take heed. When you are waiting on something – focus your wait on God. Attend to Him! PiVAT is so important – when you’re waiting. Because God’s plans for you today – that He knows (Jeremiah 29:11) that He has for your good – are always active even when you’re waiting. He has things for you to do – while you’re waiting. PRISM is so important – while you’re waiting. Those five things you can do in His Word – it sets your mind on things above, It gives you God’s heart, His mind, He reveals the truth you need for today – while you’re waiting. If you wait, like God says to wait – active waiting, not passive waiting, attending to Him – He acts! He moves, even in the waiting. Luke 2:25 – At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him, and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So what was Simeon doing – while he was waiting? (Even waiting a long time...) He was righteous – (right standing and right doing). He was obeying. And he was devout - dedicated and diligent– He was serving – attending to the heart of God, and the work of God. And the Holy Spirit was on Him. When you are waiting on things – you’re just waiting on things, but when you wait on the LORD, The Holy Spirit comes on you – you get insight and revelation. So what can you do while you’re waiting? What brings 'active' to your waiting? #1 Praise. Praise like He promised! Praise like it’s happened! Praise like He’s worthy, Praise like what He deserves – even if what you’re waiting on never happens – or happens the way you prefer. Praying that you will review the PRISM Topic - Praise. That’s active waiting. Wait in Praise. Because when you do – He inhabits your praise with His Holy Spirit. #2 Pray – When you’re waiting, now is the time to pray. Prayer is the only way – to know how to wait on Him, to attend to Him. The first three parts of PiVAT is prayer. And don’t just pray for what you’re waiting for – pray for what He’s waiting for. Sometimes you’re waiting for God to do something – when He’s waiting for you to do something! And don’t just pray for you – Ask Him what’s on His heart – Pray for others. Many people are waiting for things far more critical than what you are waiting on. Praying that you will review the Prayer Packet. That you will get a PiVAT Prayer List – (not rote and repetition) but a track to run on – getting God’s plan for you to pray, and helping you remain persistent in praying the things on His heart for you to pray. #3 Declare – David in Psalms declared things about God, and about himself. Read through Psalms and start declaring what He declared. Not I am this, and I am that, - but God is this and God is that – And I will do this and I will always do that! #4 Obey – When you wait well, you obey well. To attend to God – you need to know His plans - PiVAT before dinner – starts everything. He will reveal the plans He has for you today – for your good, for your blessing – both in the receiving and in the waiting. When you wait the way God wants you to wait. You get joy in waiting, just like you get the joy in receiving what you’re waiting for. He has so much good for you – in the waiting. Praying that you will wait on Him today, attend to Him today. That you will Praise, and Pray, and Declare, And Obey – so your waiting goes quicker, so your joy is fuller, and your testimony is greater! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Was in my office this morning, just walking out my PiVAT that God gave me for today. And I looked at my left hand. I’ve done that a million times – but paid no attention. But today I noticed two white lines like a sideways 'y'… I instantly remembered the frustrating day that produced that scar. A minor injury doing something I normally didn’t do, wasn’t skilled at, and smashed my hand which made the rest of my day – a pain in the hand. I’m a little embarrassed because – compared to the scars some people carry, it’s not even worth mentioning. But I noticed that God healed it completely. Yet there is still the white line as a reminder - which becomes more noticeable in summer - the tanner my hand gets. The scar is still visible – while completely healed. And God told me of the choice presented with every scar - the opportunity... I can remember the pain, and the frustration, or I can remember what God saved me from. That injury could have been severe, it could have been crippling. No matter how bad the scar – it could have destroyed you - but it didn't. You're still here. God saved you. You could have lost you your life, or it could have caused your life to be utterly ruined! But God not only saved me physically from serious harm, He saved me from every effect of what the devil intended for evil. And the only thing left – is this scar – to remind me not of the pain, but of His promise. He never left me, He never did forsake me. Some scars are self inflicted – our own poor choice, carelessness or stupidity. Other scars are caused by situations beyond our control, or other people – even those with evil intent. They say some wounds never heal, some scars never heal. But don’t believe what people say. God says, "I will wipe away every tear from their eyes." He does it down here, not just up there. Jesus had some scars. They were reminders not of his painful suffering, but the salvation it brought! Thomas, put your fingers in the nail holes, put your hand in my side. Every scar – has a salvation story. What God brought you through, and saved you from. People say time heals all wounds. Time never healed anything. Only God can heal. Only God can deliver. Only God can change your mind to see the salvation that is so much greater than any scar. Genesis 41:50 – Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and my father’s household.” (God’s made me forget the scars.) The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” Praying that every time you see your scars – they would remind you of God’s faithfulness, and His fruitfulness for you – even in the troubles that come. That they would always cause you to praise, to be grateful, that you would always have a heart of thanksgiving. Someone without scars – hasn’t seen much salvation. It’s harder to relate to someone who has never gone through anything. David said Psalms 30:11 – You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy. God turns our morning into dancing. Isaiah 61 – The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor. Praying that every scar – will turn you to praise, that you would know the God who loves you, and saves you, and has fruit for you even in suffering. Praying that every scar – will release your praise. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God – He is so different than the enemy. Just the opposite. He is so different than what we would think or expect. He doesn’t have the sinful response of humans. He is pure and loving and completely good. It is interesting to me how the enemy tries to steal the impact of what God says. There are some tough verses in God’s Word – very direct. And the devil always interprets them to you – as condemnation – when God intended them for conviction. Condemnation always looks backward, focuses on the past – makes you think – it’s over – there is no hope, you’re undeserving. That’s just like the devil. But it’s not at all like God. Conviction moves you forward, it is full of hope! Conviction is an invitation to change what you are doing – so the fruit will change, so the blessing in your life will change! It’s an invitation to leave your simple ways and live! Conviction is always God’s love moving us forward, it’s the first step to His deliverance. Realizing what we are doing or thinking or saying is not what He does, or thinks or says. Recognizing that anything other than what He says – leads to death not life. Convict and condemn are actually legal terms. Convict: to determine the truth of a charge against one; to prove or find guilty of a crime charged. To convince of sin, to prove or determine to be guilty. Conviction is when the Holy Spirit makes clear that we are in the wrong, that we fell short of God’s Word, Gods Will, or God’s plan for us. Condemn – pronounced to be wrong, guilty, worthless or forfeited; sentenced to punishment. You've seen gladiator movies with their opening statement – ‘We who are about to die salute you.’ Those condemned to death – have been irrevocably assigned to their end. That’s what the devil wants you to believe. And it was so, before Jesus came and took your place. The devil still wants you to believe you have made one mistake too many, one choice to sin – too many, and now it's over... God wouldn’t accept you now. Here’s what Jesus says. I John 1:9 - If we will confess our sin, (meaning admit it and turn from it) He will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That means make us clean – as if it didn’t happen. There is no statue of limitations on this verse. When the Holy Spirit convicts you – it’s not to condemn you – but to invite you to walk in His grace - the power to set you free from the sin that tries to control you. God’s Word is clear – John 3:17 - For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. So if you choose to sin, instead of to be pure (unmixed). You are convicted, but not condemned. The devil wants to condemn - to bring death, but Jesus (the Word) always brings life. When they brought the woman caught in adultery – they wanted to condemn her to death. "She’s guilty, go ahead…" is what Jesus said. "But let the one of you without sin, throw the first stone." One by one they dropped their rocks and went away. Looking up, Jesus said, where are your accusers? (where is the devil now?) If no one is left to accuse you – than I don’t accuse you either. Go and sin no more. Jesus didn’t excuse the sin, He was going to pay for all sins forever… but conviction is always an invitation to go and sin no more - along with the power to do it! God said He gives grace to say no to worldly temptations. Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people (what salvation – the salvation that saves you from sinful choices that you used to always make!) It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. You can’t do it by yourself – but if you will yield to His grace – the next time you are invited to sin (that’s what temptation is) then you accept His invitation to walk in victory – by the overwhelming power of Grace that helps you resist it. Sin always starts with a thought – a lingering over an invitation to sin. Fear God – turn from evil instantly. Move your feet. Don’t go down that path. Speak the life of God, don’t let your thoughts lead to words and actions that will displease or disappoint Him. It was impossible before – but since Jesus died and was raised to life – sin no longer has control over you. And every time the devil tries to condemn you – Jesus says – come on – lets go – I’ve got grace for you! to have victory the next time and every next time you chose my grace. The devil wants to condemn you – but Jesus convicts you – so you can turn – so you walk in the victory that He has. So the next time you get a thought of guilt. Sometimes it’s cause you’re guilty! Repent – turn from your sin, and receive the power of Grace to overcome every next time. But if your thoughts are moving your backward instead of forward - that's probably the devil's condemnation, not the Holy Spirit's conviction. Salvation isn’t just for heaven for eternity – it’s freedom from the sin that once controlled you! A warning to consider: Busyness and Idleness can both be breeding grounds for temptation. Busy-ness because if you neglect your PRISM time, your mind won’t be transformed, you could slip back into old thinking. And idleness – if you don’t know the PIVAT God has for you today – His plans for you in this hour – the devil will surely suggest other plans – that your old nature will be drawn to. Here is a secret for success over temptation. PiVAT and PRISM will put your feet and your mind in the right place. You won’t have time for sin – you will be too busy doing what God told you to do, and thinking like He thinks. Another secret - your Daily Call - Hebrews 3:13 - but exhort one another daily, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Your Daily Call is God's design to help you overcome with your testimony! God's secret weapon to guard your heart against that temptation (the invitations to sin). The sin that used to define you will no longer be a part of your life. He will transform your mind, your mouth, your hands and your feet – and you will walk in the joy of an overcoming life! It's how you get to the Good that He has waiting for you! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. It’s not just his commands that are to be fully obeyed, it’s how to, and why to and “I’ll help you” and those who walked with Him, and how they did it. God doesn’t just tell us what to do He tells us how, He promises to help us – and He reveals the eternal blessing and the blessing down here. It illuminates the truth that anything we might think is a sacrifice – is truly so miniscule compared to the reward! David revealed his secret – to a heart after God. Psalms 119:110 – The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. Your statutes are my heritage forever, they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end. David’s Secret to a heart after God? He trained his heart with his mouth. His words always committed himself to obey. It didn’t matter what others were doing, what the enemy was doing against him. He would always tell himself. “I love God’s Word and I will always obey whatever He tells me!” God has two words for you. And they overlap. His first Word is Logos – His written Word. PRISM – immerses you in His written Word – the truth and love that is really life - the only true success! His second Word is Rhema – which the Holy Spirit speaks in your spirit. Things spiritually discerned, not mentally determined. PiVAT is Rhema – God’s plans for you for today. They come from the Holy Spirit – not your mind. His plans and assignments for you today come from His Holy Spirit. If you ask Him, He will tell you. God promised. PiVAT before dinner is a change of direction from man’s way (what your mind can come up with – that seems right to you) to God’s Way – the good that He has planned for you. You can only do one, not the other. He leads you, or something else does. PiVAT is a change of ownership – you no longer set your day plan – He does. PiVAT before dinner gives you God’s plans for you for tomorrow by His Spirit, and PRISM – those 5 things you can do in God’s Word every day – confirms and instructs you in the plans that He has revealed to you. Here is the overlap. Just as the Holy Spirit reveals God’s plans for you – His PiVAT for you for today. So the Holy Spirit reveals His Word to you. Your PRISM for today – can be done with your mind, your opinion, or done with your spirit - through yielding to the Holy Spirit and just ask Him to show you. Not what you think, but what He thinks! He is the One who reveals the mind of Christ, and the plans your Heavenly Father has for you! It’s how your mind is transformed by His Word! Without the Holy Spirit revealing the Rhema Word of God to you – so you hear and understand and receive it… you would just read the Bible with your brain. Your brain cannot understand the Bible, only your spirit does – when the Holy Spirit reveals its truth. The Pharisees knew what the Bible verses said, but they did not understand, so they twisted, and misused it. I Corinthians 2:14 - The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. So never do PiVAT and PRISM with your brain, do them with your spirit – in the Holy Spirit. God loves you. He promised the Holy Spirit to help you – if you ask. Luke 11:13 – If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children; how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. Praying that like David – your mouth will always commit your obedience… that your words will commit your hands and feet… that you will always ask the Holy Spirit to do PiVAT for you – to reveal the plans from your Father for you today. And that He would reveal PRISM to you – what God is saying by His Spirit – through His written Word. If you ask – He will surely do it. God promised. It’s how you walk in the Spirit – in God’s Ways for you, not yours. His plans for you are good! More than you could ever imagine. Praying you always walk with someone on a Daily Call – overcoming together, walking in the good that God has stored up for you – and them! Praying that you will join or lead a PiVAT Small Group - especially in these times. It will help you encourage many to walk daily with another - to fulfill His command in Hebrews 3:13 to exhort one another daily - so they can overcome! Your PiVAT Small Group lets you overcome yourself! and see what God is doing in the lives of other obeyers like you. It’s God's fuel for your fire! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
Have you noticed some people are always stuck in the mud? Have you noticed how easy it is to get stuck yourself? How do you get stuck in the mud? You take the wrong path, you’re careless on the turns, or you’re unguarded. A friend came over to help me recently and I asked him, “How are things going at work?” He shared with me that the hospital he works at – is a hard place to work – because all people do there is complain. He said, I tell them we should be thankful – we have a job! That pays well! Have you been around people like that - who constantly complain? It's exhausting. With your friends, you can just choose different friends, but you can’t just choose different co-workers. Have you ever seen older movies about road-rallies? Long races where the villain is always the guy with dark hair and a mustache – and his henchman either switches the direction signs, or pours out a 55 gallon drum of oil – and one by one every car that comes around the corner – slides right into the ditch. Complaining is a popular ditch. It’s so easy to slide into. People at work who complain all the time, and when they’re out of work – guess what they do? Yep. They complain. Maybe it’s not the job or the situation, maybe it’s you. Several things are easily observed, complainers are never achievers, they are never leaders. Complainers never led anybody, except other complainers. Complainers never improve anything, they don’t come up with solutions, or bring about positive change. One characteristic of great leaders – they never complain – they are too busy bringing change. If you’re surrounded with complainers – you are highly susceptible. Complaining is contagious – talk about a virus. At least with a cold, it runs it’s course. Complaining doesn’t. It’s like the flu for the rest of your life. It won’t kill you, it just kills your potential – and is 'just killing' those around you. What is complaining? Speaking what’s wrong, instead of what’s right. Speaking what’s bad instead of what's good. Speaking the problems instead of the solutions. Complain – Webster – to utter expressions of censure or resentment, to murmur, to find fault. To charge, to accuse of an offense. Complaining really – is a subtle part of accusing... veiled accusation. When you complain, it’s never about yourself, about what you didn’t do that you should have done… the mess you caused. It’s always complaining about something that’s happening, that someone else did, or should be doing more to fix. Complaining, is part of accusing. The devil is the master-accuser, the accuser of the brethren, just like He’s the father of lies. God said to the devil (who had snuck in with the angels) Have you noticed my servant job? He’s blameless and upright a man who fears God and shuns evil. And what did the devil do? He complained. Well that’s because you give him everything, no wonder… The devil was complaining because he’s the accuser of the brethren, and the accuser of God. He was accusing God of playing favorites. When we complain about our situation - we are really complaining against God - that He hasn't fixed it, that He's not doing enough about it - what we think He should do. Maybe because of our "extensive knowledge and understanding - of what the God of all Creation, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the sustainer of all life – and the giver of everything good – should really be doing with His time and efforts." Complaining isn’t just unproductive, it’s a favor repellent, and a joy-stealer. It doesn’t draw people to you – or make them want to help you, or make them want to be around you (except other complainers – stuck in the ditch with you). And it repels the favor of God. Numbers 11:1 – And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. It was the Israelites in the wilderness always grumbling and complaining, that if it weren’t for Moses standing in the gap for them, God would have destroyed them all, He had finally had enough. So how do you get to that point? You don’t start there – you slip there. Complaining starts little by little, until you are so deep in the mud – you can’t get out - you are just spinning your wheels getting deeper and deeper. So you do you guard against complaining? Speak life. Praise! In everything Give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus – concerning you. You must actively employ your mouth to fill your heart and set your mind on the Good that God is and the Good that He does, and the Good that He has for you! In your PRISM M: Meditate on the Word - Soak in PRISM Topics – Speak Life, Praise, Life Purpose and Direction, God has Good For You. Focus on His promises and you won’t focus the situation that everyone else is complaining about. You can’t - not do something. It’s what you do – that prevents the other. Praying that you will always be thankful, always praise, always rejoice, always declare the Good that God is and the good that He does. You’ll not just stay out of the ditch – but God will set you on the highway. PiVAT and PRISM – His plans for you and His Instructions for you in them, your Daily Call – and a PiVAT Small Group of other obeyers just like you - not complainers. Testimonies will replace complaining. You’ll be so busy in the pace and progress that He has for you, that complaining won’t even be a temptation. It will be so foreign, you’ll sense it instantly, and choose different words immediately. So His favor rests on you, not his displeasure – so you can walk in the fullness of joy that comes when you obey, and the hope that He gives when you believe what He says. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
Sometimes in life – you get suspended – what you would normally do, you can’t do. This reality begins early in life. Your first experience was when Mommy put you in a time out. She told you not to do something, but ya did it anyway, and now here you are… Hopefully, your best friend is with you. Then in school, you were talking when the teacher said not to, and you got put in detention. If you did worse – you might have gotten a suspension. You didn't really like school, so now you get to miss it for a few days. Mom and Dad are not happy. If you don’t learn these lessons as a kid you will eventually experience incarceration - another suspension. What you would normally do, you can’t do. But sometimes suspensions come from no fault of your own. A traffic jam – in the morning on the way to work. Or a fender-bender when you're heading down for Spring Break that holds up traffic for miles. Or a snow or ice storm hits the pause button for a week. Suspension – hung up – caused to cease for a time. Delayed. Prevented from… Sometimes the union will go on strike, or the players will experience a lock-out. Sometimes a government will quarantine everybody to avoid the spread of something. Suspension. When time is suspended, when your normally scheduled programing is suspended… What do you do? When you can’t do – what you normally do? Some people complain (a complete waste of time), others worry (an activity that has never brought a positive result – in all of human history). Some try to fill the time with things, Netflix, Solitaire. Others tackle projects that they have had for a while on their PiVAT Maybe List. The perfect opportunity to get the garage clean, or the swing set built. So what do you do when you’re suspended? Make good use of the time? Use the time wisely? That's the commonly accepted best practice. But I don’t really want to do that. Why? Because of the greatest choice in life – God’s Way – may not be my way. Don't just go crazy on your PiVAT Maybe List... what seems right to me (Proverbs 14:12) may not be what God has for me. If your suspension is self-inflicted, maybe God is trying to get you to humble yourself and change some patterns of behavior that got you here. Why spend sunshiny Saturday mornings in detention? Learn to heed instruction. Times of suspension are always an opportunity! If there ever was a time to do PiVAT – to get God’s plans for you for today… now is the time. One thing about time - it passes. Opportunities come with time, and it always is a revolving window. If there ever was a time to do PRISM - those five things you can do in God's Word every day - now is the time. God's best for you - will always flow out of these two. When God tells you - and you do it - you redeem the time. God says several things that can help. Ecclesiastes 7:14 - In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider... God has made one as well as the other. Another version says... When things are going well for you, be glad, and when trouble comes, just remember: God makes them both, you never know what is going to happen next. Step One when suspended: Consider. Not only that God makes good times and bad times, but that God has a purpose for this time. Not just consider what is happening - but consider what He wants you to do - when these things are happening. Ecclesiastes 3:1 - There is a time for everything, a time for every purpose under heaven. God does nothing without purpose. He has a purpose for you in this time. When suspended, or fully activated - the question with time always is... His Way or my way? What seems right and best or what He reveals - is right and best. Praying that you will use this time - not wisely - but prayerfully and obediently - letting God reveal what the best use of this time is - what He has purposed for it. And if you don't know what to do. Praise is always the best first choice. Praise the Word! He inhabits your praise! Think about that - we don't control God in any way. But we can do things that bring the response He promised. When you praise - He inhabits it - His Holy Spirit will take over. Let him lead you in praise - and He will lead you in prayer. Get His mind and His heart - and when you pray what is on His heart to pray - you will join with Him in the great and mighty things that He is working out in this time. Finally - know this - just because you are suspended, doesn't mean He is. He has a purpose for you in this time. It is good! That's all He is, and all He does. Praying that you will take joy - rejoice - even when you are suspended. That the joy of the LORD will be your strength, that you will rest in Him, and seek His plan, and do what He says. So He shows up - and your testimony brings you to overcome - so others can be encouraged as well. Your Daily Call - is overcoming - in times of suspension - just like every other time. Praying that times of suspension are always times of significant growth for you. Hear and Obey is the growth accelerator! Let Him lead, follow His plans - let Him show you how to redeem the time - so He can bring fruit in this time! Love you all, dad |
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