Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word – but it’s not always fun, sometimes it’s direct. It sheds light on the inside, it exposes truth or error in the secret place. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable. God’s blessing comes with requirements. He doesn’t bless unblessable thoughts, beliefs or behaviors. His Word is a search-light – it’s uncomfortable sometimes. Proverbs 19:1-3 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. It is not good to have zeal without knowledge or to be hasty and miss the way. A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. There are four powerful truths here. #1 Your lips and your walk are connected. Your walk cannot be different than your lips. Your lips determine your walk. If your lips are perverse – if they reject what God says, or say something different… you will begin to believe it, and your walk will not be blameless. It would be better for you to be poor, and have a blameless walk before God. #2 Misguided passions. Passion without knowledge. Either passion about the wrong thing, passion for what’s wrong, or passion for a good thing but in the wrong way. That's how what starts as good can be used for evil. Zeal without knowledge. #3 Rushed decisions or rushed judgments will cause you to miss the way. You could be in the wrong, or spending your effort in futility. David said, “God, should we go up? (against their enemies) and then he asked God again. “How is the best way to do it, what is Your way, not my way, and what is Your timing for this?” Zeal without knowledge always ends in ruin and regret. Whatever you're passionate about - check with God first. What does He say, what is His heart about this? #4 A fool starts with his lips. His folly brings ruin on his life, yet he blames someone else, not himself – even God. What are you lips saying? Is it true, or not? Where is the evidence? What’s in it for them? What does God say? Some people’s inner voice to themselves is always fear or doubt or unbelief or self-condemnation – or others condemnation, or self-absolving. They speak untruth and discouragement to themselves, and their lives produce the result of what they say and believe. And it’s eventually always someone else’s fault. If my spouse would have done this, or my boss didn’t do that, or my friends didn’t do this, or those people did that, or God didn’t do it the way I wanted Him to… No, your words, and your own folly contributed to your situation, not God’s fault or anyone else. God’s Word is often so uncomfortable. It takes humility and honesty to accept God’s truth. You can tell who does (the humble) and who is already making excuses, or reasons why "this isn’t always true" – (that's what perverse lips do). Instead of accepting what God says and say OK, LORD what would have me do, they focus on the exception to the rule, rather than the truth, saying something different than what God says. “We’ll sometimes it is someone else’s fault… What has that got to do with God's principles for you? Nothing. It only blinds us to our own responsibility. Most people whose folly is causing their ruin, don’t see it or accept it, they continue in it. That’s why they aren’t blameless, they are heading for destruction. Praying that you would choose humility before God, that your lips will ensure your walk – that you would be blameless before God, that you would check your passions, to be sure they are what God is leading, not someone else. That the way you do things would be good and right, God's Way, not yours - that your lips would always be pure truth and love, and life giving – to you and those around you. So you can walk in all the good that God has stored up for you, that you would be like the first light of dawn shining ever brighter til the full light of day. Love you all, dad
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Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. It’s different than you thought, it’s different than what you would do, it’s better than what you think, it’s wisdom for your situation. Psalms 130:5 – I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His Word I put my hope. Are you waiting for something? If you’re waiting for something from the LORD… maybe provision, maybe direction, maybe a breakthrough, maybe the salvation of a loved one, maybe justice or vindication, maybe for a promise or a prophecy, maybe you're waiting for a job, or a house, or a car, or a spouse, maybe you're waiting for a friend who fears the LORD, or a good report, or for God to lift a heavy load. If you’re waiting, if your soul waits – every ounce of your being… then wait in His Word. That’s how you put your hope in Him. Don’t just wait in a vacuum – doing nothing, staring out the window. Be about your Father’s business – know His PiVAT for you today... His plan instead of yours. He has blessing in the waiting, He has growth in the waiting, sometimes He’s waiting on you – to do what you should do, what He told you to do, and you’ll be waiting until you do it. If you find yourself remembering that you’re waiting, or thinking about waiting, or how long it’s been or how long it will be... Here’s how to wait. Wait in His Word. PiVAT is how you wait well, PRISM is how you wait well. Your Daily Call is how you wait well. You might as well be obeying while you’re waiting, you might as well be transformed in your mind while your waiting, you might as well be overcoming while you’re waiting. The more testimony the better the wait, and the more joy that’s added. You might as well be praising, you might as well be thanking, you might as well be believing, you might as well be rejoicing like when the waiting is over… even in the waiting. The longer the wait the bigger the testimony. The more you are in PRISM the more you put your hope in Him. Praying that if you’re waiting, you’re waiting in His Word, and you’re waiting in Obedience. PiVAT and PRISM – may not shorten the wait, but they will enrich it beyond measure. Praying that if you’re waiting, you’re waiting in His Word and in His Will for you… so your testimony grows and your joy grows, and your hope grows – cause you’re putting your hope in Him! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. It is truth and life. It’s examples of faithful and unfaithful. It’s the story of God’s love for you, and His promises for your good. I love the stories of the great men and women of old. Those who put their faith in God. There are the famous ones, and then there are those who aren’t that famous – but whose lives contain examples for us to follow. Caleb was one of those people. He wasn’t an Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob, not a Moses or a Joshua, but he like David, fulfilled his purpose in his generation. He was an example of faith in a sea of doubt and unbelief. Born a slave – 75 years of his life was hardship. He knew the glare and heat of the hot sun, he knew the lash of the slavers whip. He knew what is was to get married, and bring children into a world – where most likely they like he and his father and grandfather and great grandfather before him – would never know a day of freedom in their entire lifetime! Then comes this guy Moses – who spoke of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Caleb saw the miracles brought against Eqypt. He saw the day that no one would have ever dreamed. The entire nation walking out with their families, their livestock and the wealth of their captors. He saw the quick end of the dream – when Pharaoh's army pursued. Wondering how he would defend his family from a brutal death. And then God made the Red Sea stand up on end, and 1.2 million people walked through on dry ground – and watched as their pursuers ill-advisedly tried the same, only to have the waters sweep over them – as an everlasting grave. He was in his early 30’s. All he knew was hardship his entire life. When the nation came to the border of the land God had promised. Caleb was one of the 12 spies that surveyed the land. While the rest save Joshua, saw the fortified cities with walls to the sky, and the giants in the land, he saw the fields, the vineyards and the harvest and the promise of God. Caleb’s Name means forcible – tenacious like a dog with a bone or a toy - who refuses to let go. That’s Caleb. It’s why He took the High Country – His God-promised inheritance - at age 80. Armies and fortresses and giants didn’t deter him. He had some Caleb in Him. He saw the Omnipotence of God, not the obstacles of man. His faith and His hope were in God’s power and God’s promise. He had a hold of that bone – and He wasn’t letting go. It wasn’t his jaw strength – He had a different spirit about him. He was from the tribe of Judah – the tribe of Praise… When the spies brought back their report of fear. Caleb spoke in faith. They said – We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here's the fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw the descendants of Anak there… But Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it." But the other spies over talked them – “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size… we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them. That’s the problem right there, whose eyes do you see yourself through. The people grumbled and complained, if only we had stayed in Eqypt… Caleb with Joshua tore their clothes and spoke again… “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is please with us, He will lead us into that land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." But when they talked of stoning Moses, Caleb and Joshua – God had enough. He would have put an end to them, had Moses not intervened. He spared the lives of the people – but they wandered in the wilderness for 40 more years - and Caleb was stuck with them. God said - not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times – not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly. I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. If you have a little Caleb in you – you will be from the tribe of praise, you will have a different spirit – you will follow God wholeheartedly. So Caleb after 35 years a slave, then spends 40 more years in the desert because of the unbelief of the people. And at 75 years old they took possession of the land. After that five year campaign. Caleb was given the land of Kiriath Arba – Hebron – the high country - as his inheritance. The land of the three sons of Anak – the giants that the spies had once feared - and he took it. Do you have a little Caleb in you? Are you of a different Spirit? Is the Holy Spirit mighty in you – as He was in Caleb? What are you tenacious about? Are you tenacious like Caleb in following the LORD wholeheartedly? Praying that you will be tenacious in PiVAT – so you can follow wholeheartedly what God has assigned to you in this hour! That you would be tenacious in PRISM – to know the heart of God, His love and truth, His wisdom and His good for you. Praying that you are tenacious in 4C’s obeying with His money – that you are tenacious in your Daily Call – overcoming with your testimony, and in your PiVAT Small Group – provoking one another to obedience, in the good works that God has prepared for you. Praying that you’ll have the spirit of the living God, like Caleb – that you’ll see God’s promises, not the obstacles. That you’ll have a little Caleb in you. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word – it’s not just possibilities or platitudes, it’s real stuff, that you can apply right now! It’s success and how to reach it, and how to stay in it. There’s nothing flash in the pan about it, it’s eternal truths and how to walk in them. Psalms 129:2 – They have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me. Praise God, oppressed is not defeated. Just because you’re oppressed doesn’t mean you are defeated. And oppressed isn’t depressed, it’s just something or someone(s) coming against you. That’s life! Jesus said in this world you will have trouble, but be of good courage, I have overcome the world. The oppressor is the enemy. He wants you to reject God, doubt and disbelieve God, and accept sin. He wants you to cede control to your sinful nature, rather than walk in the Spirit. A friend yesterday said something so true… “I often feel like my thoughts betray me." That’s what thoughts and emotions can do sometimes. But there was an even deeper truth in that statement. I often feel like… Feel is different than is. Is – is what is. Feels like - is what it feels like, not what it is. I can so relate, can you? Feels like is just what it seems, not what it really is. The reason that it feels like thoughts betray us, is because God said My thoughts aren’t your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. Praying that PiVAT is your priority. Before dinner for tomorrow and throughout the day for today. PiVAT exchanges your ways for His ways. PRISM exchanges your thoughts for His thoughts. What a trade! That’s like getting the Honus Wagner rookie card for a box of discards. Sometimes people will try to manipulate or criticize or demean or condemn you – but they’re just underlings. The real oppressor is your enemy, the devil. Psalms 129:4 – But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked. Sometimes un-submitted, and un-surrendered thoughts or emotions become the cords the devil tries to oppress you with. Sometimes we even give them credence through our mistakes or poor choices, and the tangle gets worse. But the LORD is righteous and we ride with Him! He cuts us free from those cords of doubt, unbelief, guilt, discouragement, and hopelessness. He said that He will finish what He started, nothing is too great for Him to redeem. His plans for you are good. You are not derailed or defeated by any mistakes or failures. He will turn them around for good! Any cords that bound you – He will cut you free! He does it through His Word of Truth! PRISM is the sword that cuts those cords, that establishes your words on His Word – so your thoughts and emotions are re-directed by His truth. Do PRISM out loud. See what cords He wants to cut off of you today! Praying that you will walk in the momentum of obedience! So the joy that comes with it overwhelms your thoughts, words and emotions – so you will always choose Kingdom thoughts, Kingdom words, and Kingdom emotions - where His truth reigns. That you will seek first His thoughts and His ways – so yours are established. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
Praise God, His Word is so good. So thankful for PRISM that keeps you in it – and teaches you how to hear God speaking to you personally! He’s always giving one more thing! Psalms 128:1 – Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways. To Fear God, means you walk in His ways. First is discerning what they are, next is doing it. Like a running back seeing the opening and making the cut. You can’t walk in His ways if you cannot distinguish between God’s ways, and the way that seems right… If you’re in man’s way of doing things for so long – you become deaf, blind, and numb to the difference. You don't even notice... your discerner is broken - you could be in for a hard landing. Why do people miss God’s Ways – when His Word is so clear? “Well why would anyone do that? It doesn’t make sense, it would cost me more money... nobody else does that, everyone does it this way. I don’t know anyone doing it that way. All kinds of reasons why God’s Ways aren’t discerned or followed. That’s how people’s discerners get broken. That’s why instant in obedience is the most important skill you can have. If you don’t obey quickly, you probably won’t obey at all. The longer you wait, the more you find reason not to. The more you think about it, and roll it over in your mind, the more likely you will end up choosing the contrary. That’s the definition of perversity – a reluctance to obey – thinking instead of the alternatives until you choose them over obedience, or move on to other things without obeying what God told you. Perverse tongue, perverse lips – always finding the reasons not to obey. God hates it. There are always plenty of reasons not to. It’s just that none of them are valid or legitimate. You can tell those who fear God – they walk in His ways. These are the mature – who fear God, who walk in His ways. Hebrews 5:13 – Anyone who lives on milk being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching on righteousness. But solid food is for the mature who through constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. If you have to be trained to distinguish good from evil, it means they are sometimes hard to discern. What seems right, isn’t right, what seems just isn’t just. How do you train yourself to recognize the difference? How do you make sure your discerner is working? Instant in obedience is the constant use Hebrews is talking about. Quick Obedience in the little, the simple, the easy. Don’t just walk away from the mirror and forget what you look like. Obey immediately. That’s why PiVAT is so important – it teaches you to obey in the little – what does God have for you this hour? Do it! Does it really matter what order – yes. You first learn to obey in the little. Ask Him, He’ll tell you – learn to hear His voice, and build the habit of obeying instantly – whatever God tells you. Quick Obedience! It might not even be for this thing – but for the bigger thing that’s coming. Great athletes don’t think, they react – they have trained themselves to respond. The Top 10 highlights – the greatest plays – the great run by the running back – was not a consideration – it was a reaction – his training became his instinct without thinking. Every time you obey immediately you crush perversity – you don't even let it take root in you or come out of your mouth – you are already obeying. It’s how you learn to walk in His ways. It’s how you fear Him. Obey in the little and not only will you discern the big stuff, you will be so used to responding immediately that when God tells you to speak to the mountain, cross the Red Sea, or slay giants, you’re instant obedience will be so ingrained it will be a reaction not a consideration. You will see His power through your obedience before you even consider an alternative to obeying. That’s why PiVAT is so important, and PRISM is so important and 4C’s and your Daily Call. It’s how you learn to Fear God by doing what He tells you – He confirms it in His Word. It’s discernment training – it’s prospering, It’s how you are moving forward in your purpose in all the good He has for you. You get it by obeying. You see it, discern it, and walk in it – by obeying. It’s the joy generator. Praying for you – that you are always obeying, discerning, fearing God and walking in His best for you. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
If you are a little boy or a little girl out playing with friends - out of sight or ear-shot of your parents, it doesn’t take long before you are introduced to new vocabulary. Four letter words. It’s interesting how instinctively you realize – that’s wrong. So why do kids use them? They aren’t particularly expressive, they certainly don’t convey intelligence or mental acuity – in fact just the opposite. You can tell the uneducated, and small-minded by their limited vocabulary. Four letters just aren’t very many… So why do kids use them? Just like adults... To fit in, to rebel, to feel like they are bigger – to sound tougher than they are – when it doesn’t produce the effect they wish – it actually makes them quite transparent. Some of our current four letter words – the Bible is silent on. But one – is still very clear. For centuries – this four-letter word has retained its vulgarity. So commonly accepted in today’s culture – but God calls it a curse. I hesitate to even mention it out loud, but in this context for the sake of authenticity – it must be said. That four-letter word? Debt. What is debt? A voluntary agreement to contractually enter a master-slave relationship – with you on the bottom not the top. Never is this what God has for His people. Not one time in all of Scripture did he ever direct it. Proverbs - The borrower is slave (servant) to the lender – just like the rich rule over the poor. Who would ever enter that agreement? God said you were bought with a price – do not become slaves of men. God said let no debt remain outstanding. That’s not 'make your payments on time' – that means – if you ignored God’s Word – out of ignorance or intention through deception. God says your first priority is to get out of that relationship – like a gazelle fleeing the hunter. Why? Because God said you are to serve only One Master. The One who purchased you at a very high price. Debt - God said it’s the result of sin – those who do not keep his commands, all these curses will come on them… and the grand finale of that list? Debt. “They will lend to you, but you will not lend to them. They will rise higher and higher and you will sink lower and lower – until you are utterly destroyed. Deuteronomy 28. Hosea explains this simply – 4:6 – My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Why? The next sentence… because they reject knowledge. They choose the way of man instead of God’s way for them. You are in one of two places. You are not in debt to anybody – but constantly enticed by those ‘easy payments.’ That my friend, is a lie. Or you are in debt – and everyone says that’s normal, or you need more debt to get out of debt. God says flee. So How do you become free? #1 Accept and Store Up. Proverbs – you gain wisdom by accepting God’s commands and storing them up within you. So you can obey them. God’s Word will change you! You’ll never change your life until you change your mind. God calls this repent – to think differently. When God says something is not OK, or not His best – think differently than you have been taught or come to believe – so your mind will come into alignment with His Word. #2 Ask God for Help - When you are under the curse – you cannot get out by yourself. Master's don't let go easily – you need God’s supernatural power – His grace and His favor. But to everyone who calls on Him – He will deliver you. #3 Be willing to do whatever it takes – only and every thing He tells you. In order for the Disciples to follow Him, they had to leave their nets – that means their old way of living and their old way of thinking. People are in debt because they think like slaves – so they enter the exact same master-slave relationship again and again. Why? Because they think that is the only way – to get what they want. God says you have not because you ask not, and when you ask, you only ask to spend it on your own pleasures. That’s friendship with the world, that’s not the Kingdom of God. When you want to obey – more than you want more stuff – more than you want that thing... then God can deliver you from those chains. The mortgage isn’t the problem, it’s your mind. Not what you’re in, what got you there. God is faithful, and He is Most Powerful. If you are willing to obey – He will show you how strong He is. #4 – Commit to persevere. This is gonna take some perseverance. It took you 10 years to get in to this debt, Give it 10 years to get out. God can accelerate it – and He will – but commit to persevere – no matter what. Give an Account, Know where God's money is – so you can do what He tells you to do with it. Your 4C’s Accounting Tool is Step 1! When God makes your money decisions – you live within your means, you earn, give, save and spend at His direction. Your giving increases, your debt decreases – and your heart is drawn to Him, not money. Finally #5 Know What God has for you. Not Debt – that’s a curse. God wants to introduce you to a new four-letter word that’s not a curse – it’s a blessing. That new four-letter Word? Give. God loved you so much – He gave. He gave His son, He will give wisdom, and every good thing, every thing you need for godliness! God said give and it will be given to you, not borrow and it will be taken from you. Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over – will be added to your lap – for with the measure you use it will be measured to you! Stop letting that old master, steal your measure! God has good for you – It comes when He is your Only Master. When your mind agrees with His, and you are now positioned for Him to bless you! He will do it. Praying if you know anyone in debt to another… that you will encourage them to get out – no matter what. Praying that if you are tempted to become a slave – just to buy something that God knows you need – but has better for you, and better timing... That you would wait on the LORD, and be content where you’re at. That you would rejoice in His promised provision even before it comes! That your testimony would be a laughable testimony. Nothing miraculous about a bank loan, every slave can get one. Praying that you would be debt free for life! That you would give as God directs, and encourage others into the freedom that He has for them! No house, education, car, furniture or any material possession is worth the curse. God has better – if you will just believe Him, and wait on Him! Praying that you will believe His Word – so you can see His power! What good thing would He withhold from you? Nothing. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you...
Eleven Things You Need To Know About Obeying With Money. #1 You will obey God or you will obey money – you can not serve - which means obey… both. Matthew 6:24 #2 What you do with money indicates where your heart is. Money is the indicator of your heart - Matthew 6:21. #3 To serve - means to come under the authority of. You will either believe and obey what money says – or you will believe and obey what God says. You just can’t do both. #4 God wants your heart, He’s already got your money. He owns it all – anything you have He gave it to you, and He can take it anytime He wants. He doesn’t need your money – it’s already all His. He doesn’t need it cause He’s hungry – He said If I were hungry I wouldn’t tell you because the cattle on a thousand hills are mine. He can take it back if He wants to, because He was the one who gave it to you. He gives it to whomever He chooses. #5 The purpose of money is to teach us how to obey. It's so "on or off," yes or no, black or white, there or not. He just uses it to test and train our heart – to hear his voice, and obey His Word. Serve means to obey – to submit to the authority of, to be under the direction of. Money teaches obedience. First you must know where it is, then if you ask Him what to do with it, He will tell you. As you obey with money – you learn to hear His voice. Just like obeying with time in PIVAT or with your mind in PRISM. It's just obeying His Word - that brings success to everything. #6 To obey with money you must Give An Account – know the condition of your flocks. An account is a number, an explanation, a detail of transactions. If you know where God’s money is, you can obey with it. If you don’t, you can’t. #7 If you can be entrusted with the little – (money) you can be entrusted with true riches. Whoever is faithful with little is faithful also in much. And whoever is unrighteous in that which is least (money) is unrighteous also in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? (Luke 16:10-11). #8 The four acid tests of a heart to obey with money: Test #1 Will you Tithe? - God said the first 10% belongs to me, bring the whole tithe to the storehouse, test me in this… (off the top – before anything else) Jesus confirmed it in the New Testament – this isn’t old covenant – it’s before and after. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek before the old covenant, and Jesus said it still remains Do mercy and justice, and don’t neglect the tithe. (Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42. He said test me in it! Test #2 Will you give an account daily? God said – Give an Account (a detail of transactions) He revealed it in a parable (Luke 16) He said know the condition of your flock, give careful attention… for riches don’t last forever and a crown (just like an inheritance) is not secure to all generations. Most people don’t give an account - because they don’t know it’s a principle from God, and second they don’t have an easy way to actually do it every day. The 4C’s Accounting Tool will help you – It’s free. Test #3 Will you sell the car? There is no Bible verse that says – sell the car. But to follow Christ – you have to be willing to do whatever He tells you. God told the rich young ruler, if you want to be complete, sell all you have, give it to the poor, and then come, follow me. But He just couldn’t – he loved that car – more than He wanted to follow Christ. Following Christ doesn’t mean you have to be poor, what rich father – wants their kids to be poor? But if God told you to sell the car, in order to be able to tithe and give offerings that are pleasing to Him, or just to obey His Word – If God told you to do it? Would you? Or is there something that you want or love – more than you want to obey His Word – to let no debt remain outstanding, except love (Rom 13:8) Test #4 Will you refuse the curse of debt? (What are you willing to borrow for? in the future... I know God’s word says clearly the borrower is servant to the lender, you were bought with a price, do not become slaves of men, the man who strikes hands in pledge lacks judgment. And you do obey God’s Word... but what things are your exception? That you think are impossible to do – without borrowing. Is that listed as an exception in the Bible? Proverbs Chapter 6 – clearly distinguish between what the wicked do, borrow, and what the righteous do – like the ant. The righteous work as unto the LORD, they are content with what they have, they save for the future, and they don’t borrow. They don’t need to. If you’re dad was Bill Gates would you take out a loan? Why? Your dad is a billionaire? And He’s nothing compared to your Dad - the Owner of Heaven and Earth. #9 If you obey with money – if you do what God tells you to do with it – (no matter what!) your relationship with God will grow. Your spiritual life will sky-rocket – because you are learning to serve God, not money. #10 You can’t obey with money – if you’re not obeying with time and thoughts. PiVAT and PRISM. Because time is what is needed to earn or spend money, and thoughts transformed by His Word are how you know what His money principles are – which refine your ear to hear and know what He tells you to do with it. He will never tell you to do something with money – that does not align with His Word. And whatever you're doing with money - it either aligns with His Word... or not. Time, Thoughts, and Money – that’s you. And your Daily Call – that’s the testimony that helps you overcome the adversary – so you can obey in all three! #11 What you say about money is more important than what God says. His Word is clear – but If your words don’t agree with His – it doesn’t matter that God says – you don’t do it. You’ll do what you say. So learn what God says about money - and implement it immediately! Praying that PiVAT before dinner has you obeying with time, that PRISM is transforming your mind, that you will Give An Account Daily with your 4C’s Tool, that you will overcome daily with your testimony on your Daily Call – so you serve nothing else, but the One and Only True and Faithful God – whose Word is true, whose promises are sure, and whose ways bring success and ever-lasting joy - the reward of those who diligently seek Him. Love you all, dad I just love God’s Word – there's always one more thing. Every time you do PRISM – He reveals more of Himself, more of who He is and more of what He has for you. That’s why you can come back to PRISM the very next day – and God can bring you back to the same chapter, same verse with a totally new thing for you to SOAP out. A new truth, a new and deeper perspective. His Word is endless – it’s living and breathing. It’s success for you that never runs out! Psalms 128:1 - Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours. This is a promise: Fear God and you will prosper. Blessings and Prosperity will be yours. Prosperity is a funny thing – perhaps one of the most misunderstood things that God promises. If you think prosperity is indulgence - that’s why people condemn what they label the ‘prosperity gospel’ As if God doesn’t want you to prosper? The gospel is prosperity – so why do some misunderstand or misapply it? They think prosperity is indulgence - more money and more stuff... It's not. Prosperity - advance or gain in any thing good or desireable. Prosperity is to go forward, gain and advance - not for the indulgence of personal pleasure - but to fulfill the purpose you were created for! God said, (Eccl 5:10) He who loves money, never has money enough… James 4:2-3 - You have not because you ask not, and (even) when you (do) ask - you ask with wrong motives so you can spend it on your own pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity towards God? Therefore whoever chooses to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. God says the desire for more money for personal indulgence isn't prosperity – it’s enmity - loving the things of the world. That’s not the gospel of Jesus Christ. So what is God talking about? Fear God and you will be blessed and prosperous. Blessed Esher – Happy – deep happiness and true happiness – blessed – to be straight, level, right, happy, always going forward, in honesty and integrity, prospering - True happiness in the widest sense. and the second part of the promise. Things will be well with you! Tobe – Good in the widest sense – beautiful, better, best, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair, favored, joyful, gracious, kind, pleasing, prospering, wealth and welfare, well-favored. This is prospering of character, kindness, goodness, this is prosperity of mind and heart, soul and spirit - for the benefit of others, not the indulgence of yourself. Prosperity and Contentment go together. Godliness with contentment is great gain. (I Timothy 6:6) If you’re not content, you’re not prospering, if you’re not content with what you have, neither will you be content with more – it will never be enough. That means if you Fear God you are blessed! You’re not fearing God to get more money. God’s prosperity is the fullest definition of blessing and happiness. It is prospering just to fear Him. If you get Him, you get everything. You can freely give, because He always gives more. Prosperity is in your mind and heart and soul and spirit in life and family and fruitful relationships, every good thing! Indulgence is never prosperity, it will never bring contentment or happiness. You can’t have true prosperity without contentment. And if you learn to be content like Paul said “in every situation” – just happy that God is leading you forward! Then you are prospering no matter what. Praying that you will Fear God so you are blessed, prospering, content with going forward – in every season!
Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word. It’s truth, and insight, it’s hope and success. It’s the how to and the why to, and most of all, it’s the “How much God loves you!” And How much He has planned for you! And it’s so Good! Some things God says go together. Some things bring another. Some things don’t mix. Some things if you get one you get the other, and some things go together but you don’t usually think about it. So what goes together? First - God is love. We think of God as Holy - He surely is. We think of God as just - He is. We think of God as the Creator, and the Controller, and the Sustainer, and the Deliverer! He is. But first, God is love. That’s just who He is. Enough to send His own Son – to come down himself and take your place – the penalty and punishment your sins deserved - so you could live with Him forever! No other way but through Jesus. Not someone's opinion, He said it, and He did it. He did it willingly – because He loves you. In fact there is no love without God, and you can’t have God without love. It comes with Him, it’s just who He is. Some things brings another. Call and Answer. If you call on Him He will answer you. If you obey Him, if you walk in His ways – it will bring blessing. That’s one reason why PiVAT is so important – it’s calling on Him – it’s Him answering you – and showing you great and mighty things which you did not know! PiVAT before dinner for tomorrow - trains your ear to hear His voice – PRISM confirms it. It happens all the time! It's how you learn what His ways are for you - and it's how you learn to walk in His ways. If not they’re your ways, and blessing doesn’t come from your ways, only His. Pride and downfalls. When pride comes then comes disgrace. Be humble – Humility and the Fear of the LORD. It takes humility to fear Him, and if you fear him – it’s the beginning of wisdom. The right use of knowledge. Choosing laudable ends, and the best way to reach them. All this comes from God because He is Good and He is love. Here are a couple that go together but you don’t really think about it. And some things almost don’t go together – they are actually the same thing. I just love PRISM where God shows you in a verse you’ve read a hundred times – He unlocks a meaning or understanding that was previously hidden to you. Others may have discovered it, but it’s really a new understanding for you, that He give you for today - a permanent change of perspective. Psalms 128 – That whole chapter is awesome! Verse 1 – Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. Blessed are – all. I love that God plays no favorites, not color, not gender, not caste or class. God’s Word is an equal opportunity gift. Whoever hears and obeys – gets what He promises. All who fear Him are blessed. It's not just – if you Fear the LORD He will bless you. That too, God clearly says it. Verse 2 – You will eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours. Are and is – same thing – is means for one person, are – means more than one person. All – Are blessed – who fear Him. It’s not just the fruit that is coming that’s the blessing, even the Fear of the LORD itself is the blessing. The rest of the good stuff - that follows isn’t the blessing, the blessing is the condition or state – the rest follows. Praying that you will fear Him – so you do nothing that would ever displease or disappoint him. But blessed is what you are when you Fear Him, not just what you get… what’s coming as a result. You will then eat the fruit of your labor. That's what comes after it. We always think of the blessing as the benefit. When blessed is the benefit. Even if the rest wouldn’t come. We always think of blessing as when we get something. When the choice to Fear Him – to obey Him, to turn from evil, tremble in His presence, fully obey what He tells you, say nothing harmful, seek peace and pursue it. That is blessed – even before the other good stuff comes. Praying that you are blessed - because you Fear Him - and then - the rest will come right along with it. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
I’m so thankful for PRISM – those five things you can do each day in God’s Word. Not a religion or a checklist just an easy track to run on. All five or just one of the five – structure helps bring consistency so… “Habit prevails where motivation fails.” Truth is – you just don’t always feel like it. That’s where PRISM can help! You just get there – God will do the rest - it's an investment with a guaranteed return. That’s how His Word starts to be on your tongue – so it’s power is used for life! I pray that you are coming back to PRISM constantly. It’s so good to go deeper with S: Study the Word – and SOAP out the verse that God has for you today (or even two verses He has for you.) But I’m also thankful that in your Praise the Word, or your Read the Word, or your Insight from the Word – He sometimes changes things up a bit. Habit’s aren’t ruts, they’re tracks. And PRISM isn’t a rut, it’s a launching pad. Sometimes God will have you do an extract from a chapter or passage. Often God connects things - they go together - for deeper understanding (agreement and application) - several things related to the same thing. God does that a lot. Proverbs Chapter 10... It gives several important instructions for the tongue. Verse 6 – Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. The tongue is meant to bless. Those with a violent tongue - complaining, venting, angry words, slanderous words – those who use their tongue for that, God calls the wicked. Verse 11 – The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. God said it twice in a few verses. Repeats in a chapter are important. Your tongue will bless, and be a fountain of life, or it will be violent – angry, bitter, complaining, slandering. Whatever you use it for, it will be overwhelming – it starts with an un-thoughtful wrong choice, or a thoughtful right choice. But then it overwhelms you - like a runaway train… What you could control at first, you can no longer control, it controls you. Whether death or Life Giving – that train will pick up steam. There’s another repeat in that chapter. Verse 8 – The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. – two verses later… He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin (to come to nothing, become useless). God’s command for our tongue. Speak life – and avoid empty chatter. Don’t be a fool. Don’t think you have to add words to everything. Learn to listen, you’ll hear His commands, so you can accept them. Verse 13 – Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment. This is again talking about your tongue - what you say. Is wisdom coming out? Or do you lack discernment? Verse 18 - He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. Be careful of this waiting trap. Do not speak ill of others… it is foolishness. God hates slander – especially of those in authority, because God has placed them there, and He can remove them. Don’t fall into the trap of slander (saying things that lessen the reputation of another - whether you like, or agree with them or not). Those who fall into this trap, God calls a fool. He hates slander. It is stealing from someone – perhaps the most important thing they have – their good name. Leave slander for the wicked and the fools, not you. If you only speak life – and speak life always – you’ll never have to worry about slander. Your Momma always said – "If you can’t find something good to say, better to say nothing at all." So you never stand up for truth? Of course you do! God says to speak the truth in love - but truth in love is to someone for their benefit, not about someone to their detriment. Verse 14 Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. This is talking about how you become wise, or how you end up a fool. It’s what the wise and the fool do with their mouth. The wise speak knowledge. That’s how they store it up. The fool – speaks foolishness, idle chatter, and death. They store up ruin. Verse 19 - When words are many sin is not absent. What a powerful verse. Better to listen much, say little. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. What you say fills your heart and overflows from it. The wise use their words like choice silver, like the good china – that comes out on special occasions. The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, the lips of the righteous know what is fitting. They just know what to say, and the perfect time to say it. And what need not be said. Now - it comes only from time in His WORD - PRISM is how you store up that wisdom! Praying that when God’s leads you – you will extract passages so you can gather His wisdom, and best practices for success. That your tongue would speak life always, never death, that you would speak blessing, never slander, that your mouth would be a fountain of life storing up wisdom that will become a runaway train. Love you all, dad |
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