Love you all, praying for you.
Today's Huddle isn't short, but it's important. I love the quick easy encouraging ones... but Praise God, sometimes He just gives us real talk. It's funny - every time He does - we always think - "It's for someone else, not me." You all know well - my prayer for you is that you would do PiVAT and PRISM for the rest of your life. Why? Because they help you obey, and obedience is everything. PiVAT will reveal God’s plans for you, and PRISM will transform your mind to the mind of Christ. Romans 12:1 is PiVAT, presenting your body as a living sacrifice - and Romans 12:2 is PRISM – transforming your mind so you understand what His will for you is – that He told you in PiVAT before dinner. The only thing Jesus did in His entire life was obey. He said multiple times – I do not say anything on my own, I do not do anything on my own – only what my Father in Heaven tells me to. That’s what a life like Christ looks like - you live on earth as He did. So when do PiVAT and PRISM not work? One of the four foundational principles: In everything in life - There is God’s way, and there is man’s way. When it comes to PiVAT and PRISM – there are two ways you can do them; flesh and spirit. You can do PiVAT and PRISM with your mind, or with your spirit. If you do them with your mind – you’re just writing down what you think God is saying, and your opinion of what His Word says. Anyone can do that – even Pharisees can, and the devil wants to trap you in it. What could cause this? What could make PiVAT and PRISM that which God has given you to help you lead a Spirit-led life - to become merely a mind exercise instead of the Holy Spirit's leading? Any area that you refuse to obey in - will then default PiVAT and PRISM to a mere mind exercise. Do most people deliberately disobey God - no. They just say things with their mouth that they begin to believe. "God wants me to be happy - and I'm just not happy in this marriage." That's not PiVAT or PRISM - that's not God speaking - that's you. God never said He wants you to be happy - He said He wants you to be holy - and joy will come whether you're happy in this moment or not. Do you remember the rich young ruler? Mathew 19:21 - Jesus answered, "If you want to be complete, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. So what if this young man who turned away from Jesus – started doing PiVAT and PRISM? When He turned away from Jesus – He didn’t go join another religion, He probably still went to church (the temple), but if He did PiVAT and PRISM – it would just be him, not the Holy Spirit speaking... Because If you turn away from Jesus, and don't do what God told you - everything really stops until you do. That young man could keep searching for something else to please God that would be more palatable to his liking, but it wouldn’t be God telling him – because what God told him, he refused to do. That’s what happens if you do PiVAT and PRISM, but don’t obey – they soon become a figment of your imagination - what you can come up with. What about Jonah – would PiVAT and PRISM work for Jonah in Tarshish? He could convince himself in PIVAT before dinner that God told him to start a soup kitchen ministry in Tarshish. It seems Godly, but that’s not PiVAT, that’s not what God said – that’s just what you have convinced yourself that God said. PiVAT and PRISM won’t work for everyone. If you are not obeying – you’re not hearing. The rich fool – wasn’t a heathen, he wasn’t a Gentile, He probably went to the temple, and even gave some alms to the poor. But His heart was for bigger barns, to be rich for himself, not the things of God. PiVAT and PRISM for Him would just be an empty exercise. So how do you know? Years ago a popular sermon warned of three pitfalls. The Gold, the Glory, and the Girls. If you are in Tarshish – PiVAT and PRISM won’t work. Go To Nineveh. If you refuse to do what God told you to do, PiVAT and PRISM will become your own ideas, not the Holy Spirit speaking to you. If you are living with your girlfriend, PiVAT and PRISM won't work. God said very clearly that the only sexual relationship He has designed is a man and women in the covenant marriage – not outside of it. If you are a pastor, and your church isn’t really growing, but you want that new church building, you’ve convinced yourself that it will bring more people – so you go to the bank for help. That’s not what God told you in PiVAT for today – that was you. Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the obstinate children, declares the LORD, to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me, who look for help to Pharoah’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge. But Pharoah’s protection will be to your shame, Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace. God loves us enough to tell it to us straight. The disciples were all wanting the highest position, but Jesus said, that’s what the world does, they want to lord it over others, not so among you – Be servants. In James 4:13 - Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money..." "Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." And then seek Him for it. It’s easy to confuse God's voice with yours if sin is clouding your judgment. Deception sucks. What will prevent PiVAT and PRISM from working? Sin. God even said, I Peter 3:7 - Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. If you are not obeying God, your prayers are hindered, what you think He’s saying in PiVAT – isn’t Him, it’s just you – convincing yourself it’s Him. The first thing to do – is humble yourself. Ask God, Help me be humble, and completely lay down my plans, or my opinions… and Holy Spirit – will you lead me in all truth – just like Jesus promised. Then ask Him honestly - if you're willing to hear his answer... "God am I missing something? Is there anything I am doing or planning or pursuing that goes against your word - or doesn't align with it? Are there some worldly beliefs – ways of thinking that I’ve had my whole life, or have crept in recently – that are not you – that don’t line up with your Word. Third – do a gold, glory, and girls check - the pitfalls of life. Ask yourself, what are my financial goals and plans? What does the Word of God say about that? If you are not tithing – your plans aren’t working. God said you are robbing me. Malachi 3:9 Bring the whole tithe into the store house, test me now in this. Gold Check – Are you honoring God with tithes and offerings, and your financial plans – do they reflect His Word or the world... Or Pastor are you going to Egypt for help? Glory check – What are your ambitions - your career, ministry or life ambitions. Are you looking for the high place, then it’s not God speaking. PiVAT and PRISM won’t help you – you’ve probably already convinced yourself it’s God. What are you pursuing? What does God’s Word say about it? Is that what Jesus was after? Did He teach it to his disciples? Or have you convinced yourself of something that is of the world, not of God? Girl Check – are your physical passions under the authority of Christ. Are you sexually pure, do your relationships please and honor God? Are you honoring your wife, and treating other women as sisters in Christ, or other men as brothers in Christ. Do you love God more than you desire to be in a relationship – of if you’re married, do you lay down your life for them, as Christ has for you? Daily Huddles – that just encourage are so much more fun. But I’m praying for you - that you will humble yourself, that you will do a Gold, Glory and Girl check – so money, ambitions, and relationships honor God. Praying that you will honestly and humbly ask God – am I missing something that you have for me? Am I in Tarshish without knowing it? Am I pursuing my own plans and calling them yours. And four – praying that you will humble yourself and seek counsel from a trusted friend who is an obeyer. Have the courage to ask them, am I missing something? Do you see any blind spots in me? If you don’t examine yourself – you could find you’re doing PiVAT and PRISM with your mind, not by the Holy Spirit. Praying that you will ask God, that you would be completely humble, and willing to check yourself, and make any corrections He reveals - even if it’s a complete do-over in some areas of your life. Are you willing to fully obey what He tells you, and what His Word says? If not – PiVAT and PRISM will become just an empty ritual, not the life- giving, walk in the Spirit relationship that God desires to have with you. Don’t ever be discouraged! Just humbly ask – and obey no matter what. Walk in the Spirit and He will write your PiVAT and write your PRISM if you let Him. No matter what you have to change or re-order in your life – nothing is worth more than your obedience. It’s the key to walking in the plans He has for you. And they are so very good! Love you all, dad
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Love you all, praying for you.
Have you ever forgotten to pay a bill? God reminded you, but you didn't do it when He reminded you, and you got caught up in other things, maybe were out of town, and by the time you remembered again, you were a day or two late. God was trying to save you the late fee, and the reputation, but your response was lacking. You could have had one of two responses, but you didn't respond at all. That's just something small. God in His great love for us, gives us warnings, reminders – not to worry us, or frighten us, but to encourage us to fully obey His commands – so we can walk in the blessings He has for us. He wants us to respond to reminders, that's why He gives them, but our response can be one of two things; an immediate response, or a permanent response, a temporary response or a continual response. The first is good, the latter is better. Psalms 106:12 – Then they believed his promise and sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. So they started out well – they did good. God destroyed the most powerful army on earth at that time, without one shot being fired. They did nothing to defeat this army. God did it by himself. He parted the Red Sea and 1.2 million people and their animals and all their belongings (the riches that their enemies gave them when they left town) all passed through on dry ground while their enemies were destroyed. THEN they believed God’s promises and sang his praise. So they did good at first… But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel. That means they weren’t looking to Him, and remembering what He had done, and in a short time they tested him by going their own way, craving worldly things, instead of desiring every good and perfect gift that comes from Him. God is reminding us – Don’t soon forget. You can remember in the instant - "Thanks God for the reminder, thank you for your goodness and your kindness to me…" and then continue on with business as usual until we again soon forget… Or we can be like David. He become good at not just immediate response to God’s reminders, but intentional continued response. David said – “Seven times a day I will praise you for your righteous decisions.” He was not just responding to a reminder – He was establishing a pattern for himself – to continue to obey. He was setting a pattern, a habit in place so he would always remember. He setup a life skill – to make it difficult for him to ‘soon forget’ because he created habits that would ensure he would always remember. If someone reminds you to pay the light bill, you might say – “Oh thanks for reminding me, I would have forgot.” You could go online and pay the bill, or better yet, you could set up an autodraft. Because if you set up autodraft, you will not soon forget – you will always remember to pay that bill. It’s what David did. He established a pattern, a structure to help him obey. It was His autodraft. Praying that PiVAT before dinner will be your never-miss habit, your autodraft. So you never forget - that His Ways are different than your ways (they're higher)... that if we ask for His plans for us- He will reveal them - because He loves us and wants us to succeed. Not only will it put you in position to seek God so He answers you and shows you His plans for you for tomorrow, but it will have you fill out your testimony for today - the wonderful things He has done for you, His provision, His kindness, and His goodness to you. So you always remember and never forget. Praying that a Sunday will never pass by – until you have spent time in His presence seeking him for PiVAT Weekly – what He has purposed for you to do this coming week. Every time you do PiVAT Weekly – not only do you get His plans for you for the coming week, but you recount, you remember all the things He revealed to you in this week that just ended – the revelation and encouragement and wisdom and provision He gave you through your PRISM time in His Word every day. And the things wonderful things He did as you are learning to obey. Praying that you will always remember with others - in your PiVAT Small Group - the awesome things that God did and revealed this week - the things He always does for obeyers! So you overcome with your testimony and theirs! It will remind you again of what God can do - if we will just simply hear and obey. Praying that you will be faithful and joyful in PiVAT before dinner, PRISM throughout the day, and your Daily Call – It's your autodraft. It will help you not only obey what He tells you for your own good (so you walk in His way for you - which will always be successful), But that you will also write down every day and every week – the things He did and the things He revealed from His Word – as you are learning to obey. It’s how you will always remember and never forget. It’s a different kind of life. It’s the life He has for you – infinitely better than any life you could come up with on your own. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
God keeps reminding me of patterns. Your life is in a pattern. A pattern of thought, a pattern of belief, a pattern of behavior. Your pattern is either God’s Way or man’s way. It’s a pattern of obedience, or it’s a pattern of self-direction, or a pattern of no direction, or a pattern of misdirection, but it’s a pattern. Psalms 106:7 – When our fathers were in Eqypt they gave no thought to your miracles, they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. Patterns always have ends, they lead somewhere. Praying that you will give thought, so you remember, so you obey. If not, you won’t give thought, you won’t remember, and you won’t obey – you’ll rebel. If you don’t give thought, you won’t remember. Praying that PiVAT before dinner – will be your never miss habit. It will help you give thought daily – to His Ways versus your ways - the way that seems right. Praying that PRISM will be your daily thirst, that always helps you remember the kindnesses of the LORD - to you. Praying that as you give thought, and remember, your Daily Call Testimony establishes your overcoming, as you give words to the thoughts that you give, and His kindnesses that you remember, so you will never rebel, but always obey. There is such a difference between obeyers, and rebellers. Those who give thought and remember, and those who don’t. Their life is completely different. Those who are focused on God’s Will and His Word, and the testimony of obedience that overcomes – live a completely different life. They might even be sitting next to each other in church, but their lives are total different. Listening to God's Word for us – is how we know Him, how we walk in wisdom, and His specific plans for us. Praying that you will give thought, and remember, and walk daily in all that He has for you. It is absolutely and completely good! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
What do you do in the storm? If you live for any amount of time – you will face storms in your life. Some are from outside forces – things which transpire through no fault or action of our own. A loss, a setback, a difficulty. And others are self-inflicted – poor judgment, and poor decisions due to ignorance of God’s Word and His principles, or disobedience on our part that has us facing a storm of our own making or exacerbating. No matter what the source or the cause – what do you do in the storm? What do you stand on? What do you look to? And how do you respond when the waves start crashing in. Many people panic – and they start digging – figuring out a way out – only to dig themselves deeper. Others throw up their hands as if the Ostrich – “head in the sand" method has ever been effective. But those who run to the Rock, who humble themselves, who fully commit to obeying His Word no matter what the consequence, who put their trust fully in Him, their emotions are at rest. They are not tossed by the waves, their face is seeking Him, and their heart is surrendered to whatever He says – no matter what. God delivers, He rescues, He saves – for His Name’s Sake. What do you do in a storm? Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which thou knowest not. That means whatever the source of the storm – there were some things you didn’t know. If nothing else – what was on the horizon. If self inflicted – that you were ignorant of – of God’s Way’s which would have avoided that situation. Or you were ignorant of the full repercussions of your disobedience. There were some things you didn’t know as the storm was coming, or the things you were about to do that were sure to cause a storm. Maybe He was trying to tell you, but you didn’t listen. And whatever you didn’t know – about the coming storm, or that led you to this storm, there are also some things you don’t know from here. What to do now? What to do next? Not what you think you should do, (that may be the reason you're in the storm in the first place) - but what God has for you to do. If you call on His Name, He will answer you, He will help you, He will show you, He will tell you. Many people in trouble just call out for an escape, until the pressure is off. But the value of the storm – is the heart change – the refinement, the turning and the tuning. It may be the humility required to finally completely obey the LORD – and seek and follow God’s ways instead of man’s ways. It may be to learn to trust him at a deeper level, or to not fight the rescuer. Some people, God is trying to rescue them, but they’re still fighting it - tied to their old way of thinking that causes storms in the first place. God will show you which way to go from here. If we lack wisdom, and ask Him, He’ll give it. But the best thing you can do in any storm - fully resolve in your mind – “I will trust, and I will obey – no matter what He says, and no matter what the cost.” Increase His Word. PRISM is a shelter in the time of storms. His wisdom is in His Word – His instruction for you is in His Word. PiVAT is even more important in storms. And your Daily Call - is even more important in storms - you need the overcoming, and you can use the prayer, encouragement, and counsel. The devil wants to isolate you in the storm, don't let him. Be faithful with your Daily Call. They might be facing storms as well. If nothing else - encourage others in the middle of your storm! God will direct your steps as you seek Him - exactly what to do, when to wait, and when to move. Be fully obedient in the storm, and you will be able to follow when He leads you out. Seek counsel from the Godly - obeyers not just church-folk. Seek counsel from those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. They give the best counsel. If your storm contains decisions to make – take a PiVAT Decision Tool before the LORD. Seek Him again. God will reveal not only what to do, but when to do it, and how to respond in the process. There is a big difference between those standing on a rock – and those standing on sinking sand; those resting and then acting, and those just floundering. Praying that you will put your trust in Him when facing any storm. Praying that PiVAT and PRISM and your Daily Call – will bring you to a place of obedience, testimony and praise – that will avoid the needless storms, and set you as a shining example of God’s power and faithfulness as He brings you through. He is not only faithful in every storm, He is faithful to bring you through! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Recently I was unexpectedly out of town for about eight days, and I was shocked upon my return. My granddaughter – about 14 months old – was a completely different child. “Hi Papa!” She had said it before, but it came out immediately now. I couldn’t believe how much she had grown! In just one week! How she moved, what she understood, the words she was starting to speak, her awareness, her interaction, her mobility – her volume - everything about her had changed in just a week. It made me wonder about me. I was gone for a week. Did others notice the same about me? Did I grow as much as she did? Did my words reflect a change, was I more mobile, did I move better, was I more aware – of the things of God, of what He was saying and doing? I had the same week that she did… It made me wonder about growth. What makes fast growth versus slow growth, verses no growth? First God makes it clear – it is God himself which causes things to grow – Mark 4:27 talks of the farmer – “Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.” That’s why the Word of God – never comes up empty it always produces a result. God tells us to grow in grace, and into the Head – which is Christ. That means – the more we grow in Him – the more He is in control, and the more we yield to His control, the faster we grow into Him. God said - Psalms 92:12 - The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; Who is the righteous? Those like Abraham who walk in faith and as James explained – who also prove their faith through their obedience – the works that faith produces– just like Abraham. To grow you need Sun - that's the love of God, seed- that’s the Word of God, rain – that’s the Spirit of God, and soil – that’s the condition of your heart. The parable of the sower talks of the different kinds of soil, hardened soil, which has been trampled into a path, where the birds can easily steal His Word – His instruction for you – that could make you grow – (before it can even take root); It talks of the shallow soil – that receives the word – but it doesn’t take root - it quickly withers in the heat. It talks of the soil full of weeds – the desires of the world, that compete with and choke out His Word – His instruction that could make you grow. And finally rich soil – which produces one hundred times that which was sown. The rate at which we grow – depends on how we often we hear and how quickly we obey. In God’s kingdom maturity is a function of obedience – not time. He that has ears to hear, let him hear. James says – be doers of the word, not hearers only. Our righteousness is in Christ – and our obedience produces the fruit of righteousness. Praying that PiVAT before dinner is your never-miss habit. So you can hear and immediately obey what He tells you to do! So you grow quickly! So thankful last night – I had a desire to do some things but I needed to make sure it was God’s will and His timing. Just cause I think it’s good doesn’t mean it’s God’s will for me, or His will for me right now. So I just asked Him to confirm what the number one thing He wanted me to do was… And once again in the middle of the night - He made it clear – which set my course for the next day. I wanted to do something else, but God made it clear – to do this… You can’t grow – unless you hear and obey – you ask and do what He wants you to do. Separating between your plans and His plans for you is the first step of growth. Praying also that PRISM throughout the day is your addiction – it’s how you grow in the knowledge of Christ. The more you come to His Word – the more of Himself He reveals – and the more you understand the plans He has for you (Romans 12:2). Praying that you are consistent on your Daily Call where your words commit your obedience, and your testimony makes you to overcome. To grow – means to enlarge, to increase, to get bigger, stronger, more mature, more capable, more prepared for what God has for you next. Praying that God will give you grace to hear often, and grace to obey quickly – so you grow quickly. Praying that you’ll do PiVAT Weekly – so He will reveal how fast and how far and how much He wants you to grow you in just one week! You’ll be surprised! So will those around you. Obedience will take you to the next place He has for you. And there’s always joy there! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
God reminding me recently… Proverbs 15:2 – The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of a fool gushes folly. What are you talking about? When you open your mouth what comes out? Needless drivel, or does your mouth - at every opening – establish knowledge? Does it always seed and reseed the Word of God in your heart and mind and life? The wise use their tongue - to commend knowledge. That's how you know who the wise are - and who they are not. They use their tongue to maintain and increase their wisdom. They employ it, invest it, they know it’s a powerful weapon. They do not misuse it – they are not ignorant of it’s power or purpose. The wise always commend knowledge with their tongue. They do not use it for anything else. That’s what identifies them as wise, and that’s what establishes and continues them in wisdom. They do not allow it to repeat foolishness, or babble idle, empty words, needless or useless conversations. They establish, they contribute, they align it with God’s truth and His purpose. It is the greatest weapon of their body. Every word has a source. Is it light or darkness? Is it from God or the other guy? Is it an idle word, an empty word, a useless word? Or is it a useful word, a life-giving, faithful-building, purpose-full word - that gives hope, and faith, and courage, and truth and love and life? God says we will have to give account for every idle (or careless) word we speak. To Commend knowledge – starts with PRISM out loud. Knowledge only comes from One Source. The Giver and Speaker of all truth. All other is false truth. Our words align with His, or they are different. To commend means to speak, approve of, give testimony to, give affirmation and recommendation. To put your support and reputation behind it. To represent as worthy of notice, to speak up in favor of, to commit to, to praise. There are some things the wise do – that make them wise, that keep them wise, that reveal them as wise, and prove them wise. Their tongue is always speaking knowledge, attesting to it, repeating it, giving testimony to the truth of it, and the life of it. Their commending knowledge – increases knowledge in them. Are you wise? Or are you not? You can tell by your words. So can everyone else. They tell by your words if you are wise. What your tongue says – you believe. What your mouth says you get. What your lips utter – you walk in. The wise commend knowledge: Speak it, repeat it, preserve it, increase it. They never do anything else. Praying that you will never open your mouth – unless knowledge comes out. To do this - you must soak in the WORD – or this won’t happen. Do PRISM throughout the day, keep coming back to it - or you'll just speak what is natural, not supernatural. Most people soak in the world – not the WORD! No wonder knowledge doesn’t come out of their mouth – they only speak idle words, foolishness. Praying that you will do PRISM like your knowledge depends on it, like your wisdom depends on it. Praying that you will overdose on PRISM – That you would do PRISM out loud – so your tongue gets used to commending knowledge. Praying that you will not allow one idle word, needless word, empty word. What’s the point of this conversation, or this comment? Does it lead to wisdom or foolishness? Is it faith or is it doubt and unbelief. Does it promote the things of God? the truth of God, or the foolishness of the world. Praying that you will never speak the worthless. The things of the world - are not worth repeating. Praying that you will repeat knowledge – God’s Wisdom – because you are full of it. Praying that you cease and desist from any idle or empty words – and instead – that you will use your tongue to make you wise. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
If you are doing PiVAT before dinner and PRISM throughout the day – God is speaking to you. In PiVAT – He is telling you His plans for you and His timing – that’s how you present your body as a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 – says present your body as a living sacrifice – holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable act of service. If He doesn’t decide your day planner, that’s not a living sacrifice. No one would say – "God I give you my whole life – except my calendar." That is your life! If He doesn’t have your day planner – He doesn’t have your life. And if you are doing PRISM – 5 things you can do every day in God’s Word – God is revealing His heart to you, His truth, and His love for you. It transforms your mind so you begin to think like He thinks. Romans 12:2 says - Do not be conformed to this world (in it’s way of thinking) but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may be able to test and approve what is that good and acceptable and complete will of God. You need both! What He tells you in PRISM – will confirm – test and approve – the plans He gave you in PiVAT before dinner. Your Daily Call – in obedience to His direct command in Hebrews 3:13 to exhort one another daily – gives teeth and testimony. It keeps you faithful to seek His will for you every day, to transform your mind with His Word, and it keeps you overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of your testimony. So if you’re doing PiVAT and PRISM with a Daily Call – God is speaking to you. He tells you things you need to know – of His love for you – and the truths that will make you successful. He tells you how to think like He thinks, how to treat those around you - family, friends and even enemies. He tells you what you should do in this moment – the specific answer to the challenge you now face. And sometimes He tells you things you need to do regularly, over time. If you look back through your Conversation Log – just at the A: Application of the verses you S.O.A.P.ed out each day - you will get some powerful takeaways. Sometimes God wants you to go back and combine them. Take them several at a time, put them in combinations. Boxers understand this. They can throw a jab, which is effective… it keeps the opponent at bay – but you will rarely knock them out with a jab. You gotta throw combinations. Not one-off’s but punches in a row. Punches in bunches. Basketball players do the same thing – a crossover move is great – but sometimes a hesi-crossover, before a spin move – is what has them tripping over their own feet, while you are already at the rim. God’s instruction to you is similar. It’s even more effective in combinations. God reminding me of a few combinations. A cheerful heart is good medicine. You can choose your look. You can choose to rejoice today. It’s really a choice. How come some people are happy – even though they face far more difficult circumstances than you or I will ever face? Because they have learned to take God at His Word. They don’t look at the situation – they keep their eyes on the Provider. They don’t look at the mountain – they look to the one who moves them! They look to the LORD and His strength – they choose to rejoice – because they see not what’s in front of them, they see through the eyes of faith. They rejoice. Praying that you will choose to rejoice today – that you would choose that cheerful look that brings health to the bones. Jesus said – in this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. He didn’t say – just hold on – it’ll be bad, but eventually I’ll show up… He said be of good cheer. Be cheerful – choose to rejoice – in the waiting. I’m coming! I have overcome the world – and in me you will overcome! The second combination I pray for you today: from Psalms 105:1 Give thanks, Call on His Name, and Make Known. If you are facing the biggest challenge at work or school or home or relationships that you have ever faced in your entire life. Or if you had the worst day ever. You can still Give Thanks – the list of what God has done for you is unending! You could give Him thanks for the next 10 years without even taking a breath! Call on His Name. When a challenge comes – our natural reaction is to figure it out, make a plan, or figure out a work-around. How am I going to do this? Only when we find out that its impossible do we finally think of asking God. But running to Him for refuge means – run to Him first – not as a last resort. Praying that you will Call on His Name – first, not try to figure it out first. His Name is beyond understanding. Nothing you could face in a million lifetimes – could ever even scratch the surface of the power of His Name. Call on His Name first – not last. And make known… Don’t just thank Him – tell somebody. You overcome by your testimony. Let them know what He has done for you – make it known. And the third combination… Psalms 76:1 - In Judah God is known, His Name is great in Israel. Every time God shows up – it adds to His Name – every new testimony – adds to His Name. His Name is great in Israel – He is known in Judah. Judah means praise, and Israel means – “Where He rules as God.” Do you want to know Him? Praise Him – that’s how He will be known by you. Do you want Him to show up and put His Name on display in your situation? Be Israel. Make sure your life – is where He rules as God. Fully obey. Know his plans for you for today, be transformed by His Word – overcome by the Word of your testimony. You will see His Great Name on full display in your life. Praying that you will choose a cheerful look, that you will Give thanks, Call on His Name, and Make Known, and praying that you will Praise so you know Him – and Obey so His Name can be made great in your life. And praying that you will get really good at combinations. The things He reveals – putting them together – so you can put them into practice. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
If you have little ones, you change diapers. And with the Pampers – you will soon need some cream. Their little bottoms just get sore, and it’s not comfortable. But there is something worse than that. It’s the rash of the tongue… Proverbs 13:3 - He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. God reminding me how easy it is, to develop a rash – of the tongue. A habit of speaking rashly – thoughtlessly, needlessly, ill-advisedly, without thinking, rushing head-long, speaking without due deliberation. Some say "think before you speak", but most people think and then they speak. It’s not that they speak without thinking, they speak whatever they think - without waiting. That’s how they develop that rash of the tongue. God gives a warning – if you get that rash – you will be ruined. The word used is mchittah <mekh-it-taw’> which comes from the word chathah <khaw-thaw’> to pick up fire. (Sounds like diaper rash) Fire consumes, that word means dissolution, (to dissolve - the separation of the parts of a body which are naturally united). It means ruin (destruction, overthrow, defeat, as the ruin of a house) to be destroyed, utterly defeated – so that it no longer exists. That’s a warning. Those who speak hastily, without due deliberation – come to ruin – disunity – everything falls apart. I always thought as a child, that if you speak rashly to someone – you might run into someone bigger than you and get punched in the nose. But speaking rashly doesn’t just apply to others – it even applies to yourself. What you say - to yourself – you begin to think in your heart. And as a man thinketh in his heart so is he. You will truly get what you say. What you say you will believe, and what you believe you will see. Belief produces something, the blessing of God, or the curse of sin. So God says guard your lips – and you’ll guard your life. There are two best ways to guard your lips. The first is to Engage Them. Just like idle hands get into trouble, so do idle lips. But if you employ your lips in praise, truth, and love – they will be active for good! And then to speak rashly – they would have to first be unemployed from good, and then employed for evil - much harder to do. Don’t worry about doing something wrong – if you are busy doing what God told you to do. PiVAT before dinner has you finishing all of God's plans for you for today, and receiving His plans for you for tomorrow. PRISM out loud will activate your lips in transforming your mind. The principle of employing your lips for good – will prevent that rash of the tongue – which leads to ruin. It’s just like the best weed prevention is thick grass. Use your lips for good – Praise, Truth, and love – always build up - and you will be far less likely to speak rashly. The second way to guard your tongue is equally important. Don’t think and say – think and wait. Don’t just think before you speak, Think and Don’t Speak! You don’t have to say anything yet… Don’t speak the moment you think… wait on the LORD. Don’t even speak after deliberation – only speak with permission. Let the Holy Spirit control your lips, and you will always speak Praise, Truth, and Love. Sometimes it’s good to honestly ask yourself – or better yet, ask God… "Am I starting to develop that rash of the tongue?" Praying that you will guard your lips and guard your life – that you will engage your lips in good, and that you would speak not with deliberation, but with permission led of the Holy Spirit - that He would guard your lips. Praying for you that you will receive wisdom from God for not only what to speak but when to speak - so your lips will never cause ruin, but always build up - both yourself and your family – and everyone that God sends to you. Praying that your lips will always bring life! That you would always praise – and your first reaction to whatever you think - would be wait, not speak. God will tell you when and what – and your lips will always Speak Life. You won't come to ruin, you will build blessing. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Some things just strike you as strange. How can the easiest thing in the world to do – also be the hardest thing in the world to do. It has to do with the opposition. The easiest thing in the world to do: PiVAT before dinner. It only takes 5 minutes, literally, it’s not difficult, it is not physically strenuous, it doesn’t take special skill, it’s something you’ve done many times before, it’s not painful, it’s immediately applicable, it’s eternally beneficial. So why is PiVAT before dinner the hardest thing in the world to do? Because your enemy is in full opposition to it. If you do PiVAT before dinner, you will receive God’s plan for you for tomorrow, and you will commit yourself to do it, you will get counsel in the night season from the LORD - He will confirm His plans and affirm you, you’ll be on the same page with your spouse, you will start the first thing in the morning – with the first thing God told you to do, you won’t miss anything He has for you today. You will walk in His will, and His purpose for you and His blessing. So why is it so hard? The devil will do anything he can to stop you from doing this. If you do PiVAT before dinner – you will definitely not miss your PRISM time tomorrow, or even today – at every time God has for you to come back to it, getting His revelation to transform your mind - and understand His will for you. If you do PiVAT before dinner, you will write down your testimony so you can have it on your lips – so you overcome! You will finish strong before the evening is over, you will get to bed at the time God has appointed for you. You will leave nothing undone, you will be focused on Jesus, and God’s will for you today, you will become skilled at ignoring distractions, fully focused on His best. You will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. You will ingrain even deeper - your life-long commitment to fully obey – even in the little things. And God’s blessing will be on your house – your children, and their children after them. If you don’t do PiVAT before dinner – you may not get to it at all - your enemy will provide many distractions. It will likely be morning before you think of it again, or you’ll be too exhausted as you drop into bed. You will have not recorded and rejoiced in your testimony of His goodness today, you won’t get confirmation in the night season of what the Holy Spirit revealed during PiVAT before dinner, because you didn't do it. You’ll get up in the morning – wondering what God wants you to do, instead of already doing it! You may get up late and miss it again in the morning – and before you know it – the devil has you living again by your own plans and the priorities that others have for you – when God longs to give you His plans for you for today that will establish your success. So how do you make the hardest thing in the world – the easiest? Make it your never-miss habit. How? #1) Commit yourself out loud with your mouth - to always do PiVAT before dinner. Put on your PiVAT for today (“PBD” at 5:30 pm when you leave work. #2) Ask God to help you never miss! #3) Tell someone else your commitment and ask them to help you if you forget #4) Text your Daily Call Partner when you do it – “PiVAT done -Praise God!" (It will establish you, and encourage them). And #5) Absolutely Refuse to eat one bite of your evening meal – until you do PiVAT before dinner. If you forget your Conversation Log – do it in your phone, and as soon as you get home, transfer it to your Conversation Log. Nothing in life is more difficult than doing PiVAT before dinner – even when it's the easiest thing to do - because your enemy will do anything to distract you or stop you. He knows nothing is more important than you receiving God’s plan for you for tomorrow. How can you walk in His plans for your life, if you don’t even know His plans for you today? So is PiVAT before dinner - a religion? See I told you! Praying that you will not let the devil deceive you – I warned you He would do anything to stop you from PiVAT before dinner (your conversation with your Heavenly Father) – even trying to convince you that it’s religion. Any habit - you do religiously – that’s what makes it a habit. Occasional is not habit. Just because you do a habit religiously doesn’t make it religion. You get flowers for you wife every Valentines day – no one talks about religion then. God said exhort one another daily. A Daily Call helps you practically fulfill God’s instruction. It’s not religion, it’s relationship. God says "Call on me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things – which you do not know." PiVAT is not religion – it positions you in your relationship with God – to hear the great and mighty things He has for you! Nothing is better than hearing His voice – and walking in His plans! How would you know what they are – unless you ask? And why wouldn’t you ask every day. What day would you not want to know His will for you? Its where the blessing is! Praying for you - that you will Commit yourself - out loud to PiVAT before dinner - for life! Praying that you will ask God to help you – that you will ask your spouse or roommate to remind you. Praying that you will take two seconds every time you finish PiVAT before dinner and text your Daily Call Partner – "PiVAT done! - Praise God!" - It will keep you accountable - it will establish you in faithfulness, and encourage them as well. Praying that you will not miss one thing that God has for you today – that you will be consistent in hearing and obeying his plans for you – and writing down the testimony of what God did as you are learning to obey – in the big things, and even the smallest thing. Praying that in the same way – you will have a set time - for life! every Sunday afternoon – to do PiVAT Weekly – PiVAT for this week – before the week begins. Maybe 3:00 pm, or right when you get home from church, or maybe before you watch the first minute of the football game. (Just hit the pause button, do your PiVAT Weekly – Get God’s Plan for you – and write down your testimony!) You can come right back to the game, and fast forward through all the commercials. The hardest thing in the world – becomes the easiest when it becomes your #1 Priority Habit. But I thought PRISM in God’s Word is more important. Do PiVAT before dinner – and your consistency in PRISM time will increase. Because you will know the specific times God told you to do it, and come back to it. If you’re too busy for PiVAT before dinner – you’re probably too busy for PRISM as well. Busy doing what? What could I be busy doing that’s more important than getting God's instruction for what I should do? (the way chosen for me, the way best for me). Praying that you will walk daily with someone on a Daily Call. God commanded it (Hebrews 3:13) for your own good – to bless you! It’s how you overcome! And if you have an opportunity to have a PiVAT Small Group – the encouragement you will receive is far more than you would expect. God will speak – every time! He’s just faithful like that. What if you and your best friends became complete obeyers! Your life and your future and your future generations - would completely change! So would theirs! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Praise God – He reminds us of things – from long ago. Sometimes to remember, sometimes for new meaning or new application. There’s a sermon I remember from when I was young – from well over 30 years ago. It’s had an impact on me. I can’t really remember one thing the preacher said… but I do remember the sermon title. If anything is worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly. I think preachers sometimes choose sermon titles that almost seem opposite of what one would expect, even not Biblical, perhaps to get attention, or attendance. What was interesting about this title – it seemed to fly in the face of everything we’ve been taught. Clearly God expects our best. He deserves it. God told the Israelites to give Him their best – their first fruits, a tithe of all of their increase, the lamb had to be spotless, the best one, not the leftovers. Absolutely God wants excellence from us. He is excellent. But excellent in obedience, precedes excellent in effort, and excellence in effort precedes excellent result. Praying you’ll review the PRISM Topic – Diligent – a good reminder to do everything to the glory of God. But this sermon title has stuck with me because while it seemed opposed to what God’s Word teaches us – it perhaps is really not. God often challenges us with something that doesn’t seem right at first glance. That's because His ways are higher than ours. Sometimes the biggest enemy of the best is the good. Just because it's good, doesn't mean its God's best, or God's best or God's will for you right now. That’s why PiVAT before dinner is so important. You need God’s plan for you for tomorrow – not yours. His ways are higher than ours. Not that we couldn’t think of anything good to do, it’s just that His ways, His thing for us to do – His way of doing it and His timing are infinitely better than ours. Sometimes good is the biggest enemy of the best God has for us. But also, sometimes the biggest enemy of the good God has for you – is the risk of doing it poorly – which means you won’t even start. Have you ever been afraid to start something God put in your heart to do you, or do something God definitely told you to do – because you don’t feel you are talented enough? That it wouldn’t be good enough? Not worthy of the best God deserves? Others or someone else can do it so much better than me… He devil wants you to think that doing it poorly means - not worth doing it at all. But God says – don’t despise the day of small beginnings. Sometimes God just wants you to do it. Here's what God says. Zechariah 4:10 - Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin… Maybe its PRISM, maybe it’s praying in the Spirit, prophecy, Evangelism, or even beginning a ministry. You don’t need a 501c3 to start a ministry. What is ministry anyway? Anything that serves others – or shares the Gospel – the good news that Jesus loves them, and died in their place so they could spend eternity with Him. Ministry is anything that demonstrates the love of Jesus, like He did – when He washed His disciple’s feet. You don’t have to be Billy Graham – to tell someone about Jesus. You don’t have to be an expert – to lead someone to Christ? And you don’t have to have memorized the latest evangelistic method or strategy. Just give your testimony. Just tell someone what God did. Someone said, “They can argue your theology, but they can’t argue your testimony.” Do you want to be in ministry? To share the good news of Jesus? To be used of God? Just try the Best Question Ever – praying that you’ll listen to that PRISM Topic today. When God tells you to do something, you won’t be excellent at it yet. He doesn’t call experts, He calls the “whosover will.” The first time you do it, won’t be your best ever. The mere fact that the more you do something God told you to do, the better you will get at it – also means comparatively – how you did it the first time – kinda sucked. It wasn’t that good – but God can still use it. He always honors obedience. So I think that preacher was right. If it’s worth doing – it’s worth doing poorly. Praying that you’ll review the PRISM Topic – Progress. The mere fact that God has progress for you – means you will get better at it – then you were at first. It might not start out the greatest. But the Greatest can use it for His Glory. Praying that you’ll ask Him today? Is there anything you told me to do poorly? Not badly, but poorly. With all my heart and ability - when my ability isn’t that great… small beginnings. That something you’re not really good at yet, but He wants you to begin. Don’t let the devil steal God’s beginnings for you – just because you’re not great at it yet. David killed Goliath with a sling shot – but the first stone he slung was probably not too great. I wonder how many windows he broke – before He finally hit what he was aiming at. The sheep were probably nervous at first, but one day a Giant would fall. Praying that whatever God tells you to do in your PiVAT before dinner – or His Spirit leading throughout the day – that you would never delay obedience, just because you aren’t good at it yet. Praying that you will obey no matter what He tells you – no matter what it looks like the first time. Love you all dad |
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