Love you all, praying for you. Have you ever received a call from someone who just called to pray over you? Because God put you on their heart, and because they love you? Powerful. God told me this morning to invite you to The Two Minute Challenge: - For 120 Seconds PRAY THE WORD over someone God loves. Don’t just pray for them, pray the Word of God over their life. Just like PRISM – Praise the Word – where you praise God using the words of that verse (converting even questions or complaints into the positive). Do the same in prayer for someone. First practice on yourself? Have you ever prayed the Word of God over yourself? Start with your Spouse, and your Daily Call Partner, or your Children - and then ask God for the person He wants you to call today – that the Holy Spirit wants to pray over - through you. And then ask God What Chapter or PRISM Topic to pray over them. Here are a few suggestions: Psalms 34, 40, 15, 16, 119, Matthew 5, I Corinthians 13, Hebrews 11, So many chapters in the Bible – are powerful things to pray over someone. PRISM Topics – are also Straight Word of God – that you can pray over someone. PRISM Topic - Peace, PRISM Topic - Life Purpose and Direction, or Relationship Topic – How To Pray For Someone You Love. PRISM Topic - Apostolic Prayers - Or God may have another one for you. Just ask Him - He knows what they need. Here’s God’s Promise for your Two Minute Challenge: Isaiah 55:11 – So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. The Two Minute Challenge .1) Ask God who He wants you to call – and what Chapter or PRISM Topic He wants you to pray over them. .2) Tell them “God just told me to call and pray for you, is this a good time? Do you have a few minutes right now? If they say yes – Ask them What They Need Most From God Today? This will engage them and get their attention – and you can pray for their greatest need as you begin. .3) Then - Spend the next Two Minutes Praying the Word over their life and situation. Ask the Holy Spirit to pray through you – He will. Pray the WORD verbatim where you can, pray any complaint or question into the positive – using other promises from His Word) And trust that God will bring a blessing from your obedience. There is nothing more powerful than prayer. Someone once said, “When we work, we work, but when we pray – God Works.” Praying that God will work today through you by His Word, in the lives of those that He loves so dearly. Love you all, dad Photo Credit: Jack Sharp
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Love you all, praying for you. God is incredibly practical – uncomfortably practical at times - but so loving. He was showing me recently… Proverbs 19:11 - “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Interesting – patience comes from wisdom. Wisdom produces patience. If you lack patience, really… you lack wisdom. It’s the thing that brings the thing. What irritates you? How long does it take for you to become irritated. Not long? How quickly impatience can surface and become a stumbling block for us. Impatient – One who is restless, uneasy or fretful under suffering or delay. (Is this you?) Not bearing pain with composure. (Ouch) Not enduring discomfort without the desire to be rid of it. Not enduring quietly. Hasty, eager, not enduring delay. “The impatient man will not wait for information, he often acts with precipitance. (Precipitance – falling or rushing headlong, rashly hurried or hasty) We are impatient of restraints, or of wrongs or of delays. Impatient at the delay of expected or desired good. Impatient for the return of a friend, the arrival of the mail, or impatient under evils of any kind. Wow, how often is this me? Not enduring well, uncomposed, restless because of delay or unfairness. But the fruit of the Spirit is patience – it’s the opposite of what comes naturally. Patient is not complacent - just like meek is not weak. Impatience is a squander of time, a foolish use of energy, a missing of the opportunity of which God allowed this circumstance – to produce in you. Impatient is – truth be told – a lack of submission. And can even become an accusation of God. Job 40:8 Would you really accuse me of injustice, so you can claim you are right? Prov 19:13 – A man’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord. Here was God’s answer to Job. Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? (Oops – I was impatient about what? I started to doubt God because of… what was that again? Never mind.) Sometimes we suffer ironically from self-inflicted impatience. Sometimes delays that you are impatient with - are caused by your own inaction. The ball is in your court! God (and everybody else) is waiting on you to act! Ask Him! Or as is often the case, He told you what to do – some time ago – when are you going to do it? Is there anything in your life right now that is a delay? Something you are waiting on? Frustrated about? How should we handle the temptation of impatience? First - Is there anything that God told you to do that you have not done yet? Ask Him to remind you - then do it! Next Ask God to reveal His purpose in this circumstance of waiting - so you don't miss anything. Praise Him, Thank Him, and focus yourself – your mind and your effort on what He has told you to do – in the meantime. Start with that sacrifice of praise. And as you get busy doing what He told you to do – impatience melts in the light of obedience. Patience. Enduring evil or delay without murmuring or fretfulness. Sustaining afflictions with fortitude, calmness and submission to the divine will. Not easily provoked, calm under suffering of injuries or offenses, not revengeful. Persevering, constant in pursuit or exertion, calmly diligent. Not hasty, not over eager or impetuous – waiting or expecting with calmness – without discontent. Patient – to compose one’s self. The devil wants to drain you and ruin you with discontentment – impatience. Praying for you that you will always praise – that you will seek God’s will in every delay – and be fully focused on what He has for you in the moment – in this hour. You’ll see impatience be dispatched, and you will see patience grow in you. You will be busy in the joy of obedience. PiVAT before dinner is the start. And PRISM throughout the day – keeps your mind on Christ – the source of your joy, and the key to your success. Praying that you will be thankful and full of praise under every pressure, and any delay. God has good for you – even in this! Love you all, dad Photo Credit: Kwan FungLove you all, praying for you.
Are facing a decision right now? Or will you be facing one soon? You need to know... In every decision of life – large or small – in every area of life… There is God’s Way, and man’s way. One way seems right, the other way is best for you. So how do you discover God’s best for you? Certainly pray! But how do you arrive at that decision in a way that honors God – so not only what you do, but how you arrive at that decision – follows God’s Word – so His blessing is a constant in your life? Recently - an unexpected opportunity arose which required travel, and a complete re-arrangement of this week’s plans. April and I were not in agreement. We agreed on the intent, but not on the implementation. I could feel the temperature in the room rising... so what do we do? Both of us truly - only want to do what God wants us to do - but we think and process very differently. So how do we discern God’s will for us - and walk in unity as a married couple, without killing each other in the process? (OK, so you're a better Christian than me, stop hating) And if you end up doing what God wants – but go through a relationship crisis in getting there… how can that truly - fully - be choosing "God’s Way?" We want to honor God - not just in the decisions we make, but "how we get there." Praise God - He clearly reminded me what to do in that moment. I asked April, “Would you be willing to do a PiVAT Decision Tool with me? You do yours, I’ll do mine, we’ll compare notes – ask God together, and we’ll do whatever He tells us." Within 10 minutes we had finished the PiVAT Decision Tool – and as we shared our answers and perspectives together – not only did God’s will become absolutely clear as to what we should do, but our path of discovery brought us into complete unity. The funny thing, as it turned out – the opportunity changed less than 2 hours later and our new plans were postponed anyway. So did we miss God on the decision we made? Absolutely Not! We sought His will, we shared things together that neither one of us thought of ourselves, and we let God lead us into unity in reaching the decision He had for us. What ended up happening in the end, was immaterial. We fully obeyed in the discovery! If you have never used the PiVAT Decision Tool for a decision, or if you haven’t used it in a while, Would you pray about reviewing it right now? Every decision that we have struggled with, large ones or little ones, this simple form – guided us through seeking the LORD for it. Enormously helpful! This is truly a life-changing tool - just like PiVAT and PRISM - It has blessed many others as well. I’m praying that you would right now click on the How2 PiVAT Decision Tool online. This explains the concepts – it’s a short read, but insightful, and you can download the actual PiVAT Decision Tool – (a Word Doc) and print it out for any actual decision you now face. Even if you do not have a decision due today - the truths within this How2 explanation will encourage you greatly and prepare you for the next time you will need the mind of Christ on something important. It's probably closer than you think... And really - even little decisions are important - what you do, and how you arrive at the decision. It’s not the size of the decision – but the size of your obedience that matters. Praying that God’s Way will be your heart’s desire – in every decision – even how you arrive at it. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Today is full of God’s grace for you, His promise, His goodness. It’s only found in Him, and in doing what He tells you to do. Praying that you will be found in Him today – that you will find Him! And that He will lead you – every hour – even in the little. God was showing me recently. Proverbs 16:13 – “Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.” It’s easy to flatter and... it’s easy to say nothing. But speaking truth when it is needed, when it may not be popular, takes courage and skill. The first reaction may not be the final valuation. You have to know what to say, you have to know when to say it, and you have to know how to say it. What to say. Many people can’t speak truth even though they have the courage to, because they don’t seek it or walk in it themselves. So when they speak, it’s not really truth – just partial truth or lacking truth – both are deception. Honesty that is valued is the honesty based on wisdom. And the only wisdom that is true wisdom is the wisdom that comes from God – by the Holy Spirit. “I’m just being honest” – “I just tell it like it is.” No, you’re rude, and you’re just sharing your opinion, your judgment of others. You just tell it like “you think it is,” but you’re in error… No-one needs friends like this, and please don’t do this to others. Better to listen, and not talk. But for leaders or even friends to be blessed by your honesty – it needs to be based upon wisdom. That’s why PRISM every day is so vital! Don’t miss. That I: Insight from the Word – through Proverbs - will establish you in wisdom. This will be of infinite value in your life, and others. When to say it. This takes great discernment. You need to ask the Holy Spirit. Just because something pops into your mind, or is a strong reaction inside you – doesn’t mean it’s from God – or it’s for you to say right now. A friend once said. Sometimes God gives you something to say, but more often, God gives you something to pray. Make sure your default is "pray before you say." One of the greatest impacts of correction in my life was from a young couple, friends of ours, who approached me on something that was a miss in my life. They had first prayed about it together, they didn’t just bring it up the moment they thought it. Their humble approach invited me to seek God and make the corrections He had for me. Timing is everything. Be sure the Holy Spirit is leading you – on when to say, not just what to say. How to say it. This too requires great discernment, as well as courage - the clear and specific leading of the Holy Spirit. Check your motive first. Have you taken care of the log in your own eye, before addressing the speck in theirs? But equally important, just because you’re not perfect, doesn’t mean God does not want to use you to say something. Are you sharing this for their benefit? Or just to get something off of your chest? Is this love? Or subtle retribution? God gives instruction for these situations – whether addressing peers or superiors. Ephesians 4:15 – “Instead (of being deceived by every opinion or doctrine- even your own), speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect, the mature body of Him who is the head, Christ.” Our responsibility is to speak truth out of the motivation of love. And here is how God instructs us to do this. Proverbs 25:11 – A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. This “word” (dabar, daw-bawr) - means a “matter spoken of,” not just a side-comment - it’s weightier than that. “Fitly” spoken means – in the appropriate season - in the proper and best timing to be received and effective. The word “apples” – tappuach <tap-poo'-akh> interestingly - also indicates the apple “from its fragrance” – not just the apple itself – but the aroma that accompanies it. (Like the smell of bushels of apples in a barn on a fall day). “Pictures” (maskiyth – mas-keeth) are carved images – which figuratively mean - “imagination, the image of what could be...” So the message delivered includes not only truth, but timing, presentation, and the senses - imagery as well as the fact itself. I love the next verse, Proverbs 25:12 – As an erring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. Ok, the receiver must be humble, to hear intelligently – predisposed to obey – but that’s not on you if you are the reprover that God wants to use. A wise reprover is one – skillful at bringing needed correction in a kind and convincing manner. Only the Holy Spirit can help you do this. This begs a few questions. Are you a wise reprover? (Do you have wisdom? Do you wait on God’s timing? Do you pray before you say? Do you obey with courage when He says now is when to speak? and Do you ask the Holy Spirit to deliver the message through you with love and fragrance? And as always – put the shoe on the other foot - when a wise reprover addresses you and something in your life – are you defensive? Or has God finally matured your default to be humility – pre-disposed to obey? Praying for you all – that you will not miss even one day of PRISM. The best way I know to grow in wisdom – so you have something to say when it’s needed! Your Daily Call gives you daily practice of the Holy Spirit’s timing and delivery! You have to do PRISM every day! The Word of God is the only source of wisdom. Give the Holy Spirit something to work with! Do PiVAT every day before dinner– wisdom that is not put into practice never becomes understanding for you - only hearsay. Would you rather hear something from somebody that has “heard this advice somewhere before,” or from an obeyer - who is walking in the fruit of it every day! And finally. Your Daily Call is “Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver”-practice – for both of you! This is how you yourself receive counsel from trusted and honest lips – a Daily Call Partner who is an obeyer, who knows and loves you. This is how you get daily practice in speaking the truth in love for them. And even greater than that - when you pray for each other at the end of each Daily Call – the Holy Spirit speaks His Counsel directly through you! Praying that you will have the courage and skill to share what God wants you to share in any situation that God may lead. First practice in your Daily Call, so God can then use you in other situations. Praying that your love for God would overflow into love for others. That your Daily Call would build in you the joyful obedience that results in wisdom and blessing, the discernment of when, what and how to say, and the courage to speak blessing to others – as you walk in his infinite blessings for you. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
God put this in my heart this morning. How do you handle adversity? What does that even mean? There are two kinds of adversity. (tsarah, and ra-ah) Threat of Loss, and Actual Calamity. Truly the 80/20 rule applies here. Even 99% to 1%. Rarely does actual calamity come – adversity we face is by vast majority the “threat of loss.” Regarding actual evil or calamity happening? What does God say about this 1%? This kind of adversity is Ra-ah <raw-aw> actual bad, evil, calamity, hurt. About this Ecclesiastes 7:14 says – In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity (evil) consider (see, perceive, advise self). God has made the one as well as the other, so that man should find nothing after him. (meaning – our human understanding cannot know the future) So in the rare occurrence that true adversity becomes a physical reality – and you are actually “going through” what threatened to overtake you - (not in your mind, but in reality) what do you do? God said - Advise yourself! Perceive! - the power of God, the goodness of God (despite any circumstance), that He is always with you in trial. Remember how Paul advised himself (and by the way, Paul faced far more adversity than you or I will ever face.) Here’s how He advised Himself – in that ‘actual adversity’ he occasionally experienced... 2 Corinthians 4:17 – For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. The NLT says – so we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. You can put your trust in God – even during the 1% of actual adversity that may come into your experience. Now let’s talk about the 99% of the time where adversity is the other kind - (tsarah) the threat of loss – the thoughts the devil perpetually tries to trick you into wasting mental energy on – the threat of loss… loss of health, loss of security, loss of sovereignty, liberty or freedom, loss of advantage, loss of protection, loss of hope, dream or desire, loss of money or benefit, loss of comfort, loss of customary rights and privileges, loss of reputation or honor, loss of relationship. Funny thing about adversity – it’s always mental before its physical. Long before adversity is a negative occurrence, it is the threat of negative occurrence. This adversity is (tsarah – tsaw-raw’) tightness, figuratively trouble, adversary, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble. Most adversity is of this kind - in the mind. Tightness – the threat of loss. So how do you handle this? The devil always brings adversity, to try to ruin you – by devouring you – causing you to fret. That’s why God’s Word says, Do Not Fret, and Fear Not. Often we shallowly view adversity as the ultimate struggle against an evenly matched opponent in the Championship Game. Down 10 in the Fourth Quarter – time to play defense, get every rebound, hit shots, and believe you can win. “Whoever wants it the most…” But this is not real adversity – that’s just competition – opportunity. Adversity comes when the devil comes in like a flood. When it is not evenly matched - it’s not 5 on 5 - it’s hundreds against one – and what’s at stake is not merely a game that few will remember even a year or two from now… What do you do when real adversity comes? - the threat of significant or irreplaceable loss? Proverbs 24:10 – If you faint in the day of adversity (tsarah), your strength is small. Another version says – if you are slack in the day of adversity, your strength is limited. This is talking about the tsarah kind of adversity – tightness – the threat of evil. To Faint <rafa – raw-faw> means to slacken, let go, let up, let off, let down, forsake, be slothful. Strength – koach <ko-akh> is force, vigor, to be firm, strength, substance, power - your capacity to produce. God is telling us - under threat of loss – adversity, if you slack off – your power to overcome is limited. Slack off what? THE WORD! The devil wants you to be always under adversity. Always fearing and fretting the loss which could possibly occur. God wants these times to be non-existent, He wants you to perpetually overcome! If actual adversity occurs then you can “consider”… but the 99% of adversity – is just the devil trying to devour you. Here’s how you do not slacken! Get your Mouth Moving! Speak God’s Word into your mind, heart and spirit. 99% of the threats of harm – do not occur! That’s just the devil trying to steal your peace! It’s time to mature in the LORD! Here’s what God says. Isaiah 26:3 – You will keep in complete peace, those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. That’s how you do not faint in the day of adversity (tightness, looming threat) you stay your mind, you fix your mind on Him, Jesus, THE WORD. This is how to thrive under adversity – it’s not toughness of body, but toughness of mouth that protects your mind. His Word in your mouth! Which directs your mind and fills your heart. Prov 15:15 – The days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. The devil wants to bring adversity – tightness – threat of harm, continually - to ruin you with fret, he wants you in a perpetual state of adversity – fully oppressed so your life is wretched. But the Word of God on your tongue is how you overcome. This is overcoming the adversity in your mind. This is the mind of Christ – and it translates to your face. A cheerful look, a cheerful heart. Adversity of threat is nullified by The Word of Life. It is hope, it is truth, so we are not ruined, but overcomers – in complete peace. God’s Word overcomes all adversity. He is with you. He promised. He has peace for you because He is your peace. All praise to God! Praying for you – that you will not let adversity reign – ever. But you would dispatch it quickly because His WORD reigns in you by your mouth – so adversity melts in the blinding light of His promise. Praying that you would know in your mind, and in reality - the God who saves, the God who delivers you from all kinds of adversity – every threat of loss, and every loss itself. Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD and He answered me, He delivered me from “everything (the devil wanted to make me fear)” Praying that every weak attempt of your enemy to bring you adversity of mind... you would drive out with the mind of Christ. So what adversity are you facing? It has no effect on you. Fix your mind on His truth with your mouth! Be overcomers! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
What PRISM Topic – does God want you to meditate on today? (for your PRISM M: Meditate on the Word) God drew a correlation for me this morning. Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof produces wisdom, but a child left to himself brings disgrace to his mother. Then God showed me that your mind, is like that child. A mind left to itself will bring disgrace, not wisdom. Perhaps because the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. The mind is suspect… just like a child – it needs to be trained. The mind is what the devil attacks. That’s why God tells us - I Peter 5:8 Be alert, and sober of mind. Your enemy the devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. That is so interesting. God is telling us – Train your Mind! Don’t leave it to itself! That’s on you! That’s your responsibility! So interesting, that word devour… means to waste, to consume, literally to ‘cause to fret’ - distress ones-self (devour) – get worked up about, lose sleep over. That’s all the devil can do. This verse is talking about the mind. Your enemy cannot do anything to you. He needs God’s permission – just like Job in the Bible. So he keeps firing those darts at you. False threats. Things he wants you to get consumed with – that are not the truth of God - to ruin you. So what is the devil attempting to consume you with? What is he sending – to unsettle your mind? That’s the enemy. You need to train your mind. That’s why every day – Get the PRISM Topic that God has for you – and keep coming back to it. Every day God has one for you. Some are for emergency needs - when you are already in the emergency room - where the devil has already begun to devour you. But if you know and continue in the PRISM Topic that God has for you each day - your mind will be transformed. When the devil's attempt to devour comes, your mind will quickly recall the Word which combats it - and it never becomes an emergency room situation. So what does God really say about this? Click PRISM Topic – Do Not Fret - This is a critical topic - part of “Train Your Mind 101” Here’s another, PRISM Topic – Fear Not. These two are commands, not suggestions. Do not let the devil get a foothold. It’s the Word of God that will train your mind. When you establish your mind with truth, your enemy cannot ever cause you to be devoured. God’s Word eliminates any foothold. Praying that you will ask God every day what PRISM Topic – He has for you – to build you up, to encourage you, to protect you - to establish you in His truth! It is Life for you! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you –
When was the last time God had you review - The Fear of the LORD? What if you learned it - and continued in it? How would that impact your life? The Word of God says - If you will learn the fear of the Lord… God will take pleasure in you, God will keep his eyes on you, God will instruct you in the way chosen for you, God will bless you, God will provide food for you, You will lack nothing! God will fulfill your desires… See the rest - it's crazy! PRISM Topic - You Are Not Fearing God For Nothing. What if God did these things in you? - the things reserved for those who fear Him. See further the PRISM Topic - The Fear of the LORD, and the PRISM Topic Packet - The Fear of the LORD (scroll down to click the links) Some blessings of God are generic - "the rain falls on the just and the unjust" Some blessings of God are positional - like the ones reserved for those who fear Him. I pray that the Fear of the LORD will always be your DNA - it's the beginning of wisdom and it positions you for His greatest blessing. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
God invited me yesterday… Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. To heed is to listen intelligently with a predisposed heart to obey. Not listening is a mocker, one with disdain for authority and His Word – it’s of little value to him. Not heeding makes you a mocker. So why do mockers not heed? I’m sure while some hear and reject what God says, perhaps most don’t heed because they don’t hear. They are not paying attention. They never pause to consider, or ask, or seek, they are too preoccupied pursuing their foolish self-serving path (even busy doing “good things”) They aren’t predisposed to obey, they are pre-disposed to ignore. Ignore enough and you won’t even know you are ignoring. One choice to not obey is an easier choice next time. Make obedience a habit. If nothing else, to sharpen your ears. The wise son not only is disposed in his heart to obey (put there by his own mouth) but he obeys as a habit, and He is constantly looking for, seeking, the next instruction from His Father – so he will never – “not listen or not hear.” Ask and you will receive. You don’t even have to wait for God to come and instruct you. Just ask for instruction right now. Get His current instruction, and Do It right now! To heed – listen intelligently with a pre-disposed heart to obey – is a mindset and a heart set that you have to maintain. PRISM will help you do this. PiVAT before dinner will help you do this – especially check in with Him throughout the day – every change of activity – Praise Him – and double check that you are still on track. He loves the close communication. A wise son – makes heeding a habit – before He needs it! Be careful – Heeding is not permanent – it must be pursued. Just cause you did, doesn’t mean you will. II Chronicles 14-16 tells an incredible story of starting strong but falling away. Asa King of Judah – served God with his whole heart. He broke down the foreign altars in the land, removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones. He even deposed his own grandmother for building an Asherah pole. He basically made Judah covenant with God to follow His ways. When the Cushites came against him with an overwhelming army, this is what Asa prayed. “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD or God, for we rely on you, and in your Name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God, do not let man prevail against you.” God answered by utterly destroying the enemy that came against him. God was pleased and encouraged Asa, “Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” How do you make heeding your Father’s Instruction permanent? Don’t give up seeking Him, always stay close – so you get the instruction from your Father that others don’t – cause they’re not around! Seek His instruction right now. There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.” Think about that - God gave them peace – 20 plus years! Then in the 35th year of Asa’s reign - Baasha King of Israel comes against him. And the next verse was mind-numbing… I Chron 16:2 Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram… Let there be a treaty between me and you, he said… break your treaty with Baasha King of Israel so he will withdraw from me. “ Are you kidding me? You’re giving God’s gold to a foreign king to help you? The Word of the LORD came to Asa - v7 “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushities and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand… You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” Asa got so angry he put the prophet in prison. Then in the 39th year of his reign he was afflicted with a disease in his feet. V12 says. “Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from physicians.” What happened to this guy? One day He is trusting God fully against overwhelming odds, and just a few years later he falls off the wagon. What happened? He lost the habit of heeding his Father’s Instruction – He lost the habit of seeking Him for the next instruction that God had for him. A king once wise – became foolish. A wise son heeds his Father’s Instruction – because He stays near His Father’s Instruction – He stays near His Father. If there is no great crisis in your life right now – now is the time to heed – before you need it. Now is the time to seek before you need it! So when the day comes – God’s power is displayed even greater than before. He will take you from glory to glory. Praying for you that heeding will become a habit – because seeking is your habit. Praying that PiVAT will direct you in His Instruction for you – that PRISM will reveal His heart for you, and His wisdom for you. Seek Him today – Ask for His Instruction – you’ll make heeding a habit, like wise sons do - so His blessing will come on you - for life! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Praise God. Whenever God reveals something to you. It’s truth, it’s for your good, it is to be obeyed, it will change you. AND whenever God reveals something to you; if you will obey – He will tell you the next thing. God reminded me of “The Precious Possession” Daily Huddle a couple days ago. Just look back and review it – it only takes a few seconds. God reminded me of another truth. Occasional diligence isn’t diligence. God’s diligence for us is permanent. It’s called perseverance – it brings character. The relatively minor suffering of diligence (choosing to do what God told you) pales in comparison to the ridiculous fruit of diligence. Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. Here “loves” means to value something highly – as opposed to “hate” which means to place little value on it. Here is a crazy hopeful truth! You can learn to love something - happens all the time. The more you do it, the more familiar, comfortable and successful you become in it. It starts to define you, and before you know it - you wouldn’t think of doing without it. Discipline is simply a pattern. Discipline makes Diligence permanent! Discipline is always a correction because discipline is unnatural. It doesn’t come naturally, it goes against natural tendency. Discipline requires revelation, decision, action, repetition, and perseverance. But the fruit of Discipline is crazy! Discipline is what the Holy Spirit leads us to, and leads us in. Discipline is Holy Spirit led; because one fruit of discipline is mentioned in this verse – knowledge. One of the parts of the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Knowledge. So if you’re disciplined, you’re being led by the Spirit. He has knowledge and understanding for you! (If you will let Him lead). What disciplines in your life are non-negotiable? Ask Him, He’ll tell you. Then do it with joy! And see what the Holy Spirit’s influence can produce in you! Perseverance in Godliness comes from God - those habits that He instills in you. Here’s a secret – Discipline starts early. Kinda funny how that works. One thing that is so important in discipline – motivation – feed it. Praise is a great way, as is personal declaration. And another secret is Habits. Habits make you or break you. Discipline is patterns, habits are the action that turn God’s patterns into discipline and perseverance. Please read PRISM Topic – Habits this morning. It starts with secular quotes that have discovered God’s truth, followed up by God’s Word on habits. Praying for you that you will love discipline so you will love knowledge. Praying that the patterns of PiVAT before dinner – getting God’s plan for you, PRISM – getting God’s mind in you, and your Daily Call – overcoming by the word of your testimony – will become a Highway of revelation from the Holy Spirit. Praying for you that the Holy Spirit will establish the disciplines that He has for your success – Praying that your love for God will grow through obedience. Praying that the Holy Spirit will not only reveal to you, but lead you in - and fill you – with joy in the perseverance that positions you for God’s blessing; that molds your character, and humbles your heart – so His fruit can explode, and His Good can chase you down, so your Testimony gets crazy! It’s a magnet. God’s goodness will draw people! Starting with you! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
What a gift! Of all the natural gifts that God gives – how many have more lifelong impact than the influence of a mom? Funny thing about moms – you either have one, you are one, you are raising one, you will marry one, or you will become one. How closely we are tied to Mom’s. They’re important! Few things have more influence than Mom. Mom’s love you unconditionally, like God does. Mom’s feed you and clothe you and listen to you, like God does. They take you where you need to go, they hug you and they correct you, like God does. They always have band-aids, whether you are two or twenty-two, like God does. They are a daily example of the love that God has for you. Mom’s have so much influence that with few exceptions, when you are a Mom, you will probably be a lot like yours. I was wondering and asking God – what makes a Great Mom? Of all the things that Mom’s do… what could be the most important things that make a great Mom? Here are the three things – that could be most important. 1) They believe God, 2) They believe in you, and 3) They pray. If you want to be a great mom - these three might be what separates the good from the great. There is perhaps no greater influence in early life than Mom. She’s the one with the closest proximity in the foundational years. Some studies say that personality is fully developed by age seven, others say evidence of character is formed by three years of age. Who is typically most responsible for this? Mom. That’s why those three things are so vitally important. You see, if mom believes God, you believe God, if mom believes in you, you believe in you, and if mom prays – well… that’s when God moves. When Mom prays… maybe that why she believes God, and believes in you. When Mom prays – God moves. When Mom prays – those prayers are never lost – ever (like that selfie you knew you never should have taken, now forever enshrined on the internet) In the Spiritual realm - Mom’s prayers spoken into the atmosphere remain for eternity. God hears, He gathers them, collects them – He remembers them. That’s why a praying mom – is a world changer. Because a praying mom is a child changer. Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. OOOH – moment of truth, no advance warning. What will you do? “I am the LORD’s servant.” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said…” Great Mom’s believe God. They believe what He says. Even if it sounds crazy. Mom’s like that impact you – they change your life. When Mom believes like that – you see God do crazy things – and you start to believe God – like mom believes. John 2:1-5 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, why do you involve me? Jesus replied. My time has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” I love this. This mom believed in her son. Now granted it was God who led him and empowered him to do that great miracle. But it reveals a mom who believes in her son. And it wasn’t just her son that she believed in… It was the power of The Almighty God in her son. Now, we’re not talking about mom’s who really should please tell that poor child – ‘Sweetie, American Idol is not for you… honey you can’t sing…” We’re talking about a Mom who believes God, no matter what He says, and that belief has translated into that child. This is a mom who believes that whatever God has destined that child to do – if they will obey - nothing will stop them. 2 Timothy 1:5 – “I am reminded of your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” This was a great mom, who’s daughter became a great mom. These women believed God, they believed in their son, they prayed, and their faith was birthed in a young man – that God would use to impact an entire city of Ephesus. One more thing that is so encouraging. Paul was instructing Timothy. I Timothy 4:7 – “Have nothing to do with godless myths and fairy tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” So maybe your mom wasn’t even a believer, or wasn’t present in your life – God was still faithful. Or maybe your mom wasn’t perfect, and you don’t have a great example to follow. God says the past does not equal the future. You can be a great mom. God says – just train yourself in Godliness. Let PRISM transform how you think and how you act. Do PiVAT before dinner and God will direct your steps. And if you have a Daily Call with another Mom – God can show you together what great mom's look like and become - so you can be like a Mary, a Lois, and a Eunice. Your life on this earth is so fleeting, but how you believe God, how you believe in that child, and how you pray - those prayers will continue forever before the throne, and in those who come after you. To the Greatest Mom’s I know, Levina, Darlene, April, Adair, Haleigh – and others like them – Happy Mother’s Day! And for the great Mom’s that are soon to be – Kelsey, Jibby, Arden, Allie, Ariella - Happy Mother’s Day. I’m praying that you will be Great Mom’s who make great mom’s and powerful young men and women who believe God like you, who believe in their children like you, and who pray like you – to impact generations! Love you all, dad PS: Praying for you! that you will remember PiVAT Weekly – today. You can’t follow God’s plans for you this week unless you know what they are. He wants to tell you, He can't wait for this week! He has ridiculously good things for you! PiVAT Weekly will help make you a great mom, a great dad, a company changer, a nation changer, a world changer. Love you all, dad. |
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