Stepping Into the Darkness

Image by loswl via Flickr

Alan Riley

Have you ever heard the story of the man who slipped off the edge of a cliff and was desperately hanging on to a rope to keep from falling? The man screamed at the top of his voice, "IS THERE ANYONE THERE WHO CAN HELP ME?" A calm, reassuring voice answered back, "It is the Lord. Let go of the rope."

The man thought about it for a moment, looked down to see how far he would fall. Then he yelled out again even louder, "IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THERE WHO CAN HELP ME???"

Have you ever been at a place in your life where you felt the Lord was telling you to let go of the rope, but all you could see was how things looked from a logical, human perspective? I know I have, and I was really tempted to ask for a second opinion like the man in the joke.

Everything about our human nature wants to see it first and then respond based on what we see. We want to see it then believe it. We want to know where we are going before we agree to start the trip. That is our human nature. And it flies in the face of what God calls us to do and who God calls us to be.

Look at the heroes of the faith and you will see people who believed it before they saw it. You will see people who went when God said 'go' even though they didn't know where they were going or what it would be like when they got there. You will see people who walked by faith and not by sight.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He allowed and encouraged Thomas to experience what he had said he needed to see to believe that Jesus was alive. Thomas physically saw and felt the wounds in Jesus' hands, feet and side. When he did so, Thomas fell down on His face and declared, "My Lord and My God!" Jesus responded by saying, "Thomas, you believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). The New International Version translates that verse this way: "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Far too often, I find myself walking only by sight. But I know it is those times when I step out into the darkness in obedience to God's call that He blesses me, and grows me, and stretches me.

What is God calling you to do that will require you to step into the darkness?

A Lifestyle Of Giving

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Tanya James

“Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38

“…whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7b

When I read those two scriptures, I get very excited about giving. I mean uncontainable excitement and guess what, I am not even thinking about financial giving. It seems sometimes we get stuck there – believing the only way we can give is with money. This means if we don’t have any money, we may feel that we have nothing to give.

However, there are so many other ways to give. Matter of fact, giving should be a part of your lifestyle. It should be something that you do so freely and regularly that it’s just a natural part of who you are.

So you ask, "How can I give something other than money?"

You can give of your time by serving in a ministry within the 4 walls of your church or even volunteering with an organization in your community. Going even further than that, make sure you are giving your time to your family. Don’t always give the best of you to everyone else and only give your family your leftovers.

You can give of your heart and compassion to those that may simply need someone to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on or someone to pray with them. Sometimes giving of your heart may be sharing an encouraging word or even a simple hug or hello to a stranger.

Of course, you can also give of your money – in addition to your regular tithes and offering – you can give to some of the special projects your church may be working on. You can give to that youth trying to save money to go study abroad. You can give to that family down the street that may be struggling due to someone being laid off. You can give to your local homeless shelter or children’s hospital …

Needless to say, daily we are presented with opportunities to give – lets all make an effort to give something of ourselves daily until it becomes a lifestyle. I guarantee you will find out what it means to be blessed to be a blessing!

Investing With Confidence

Image via Wikipedia

Lisa Crum

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. - 2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV

Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns. Don't hoard your goods; spread them around. Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night. - Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 THE MESSAGE

Several years ago, shortly after my husband and I got married, we had the opportunity to have dinner with a friend who is a financial planner. Naturally, before the evening was out, we were asking him the type of questions any couple might who’s getting older and barreling toward retirement like a runaway train. Between dinner and dessert, our friend graciously explained to us the difference between investing in mutual funds and stock picking.

Later, when I went to work briefly at a financial advisory firm (as office help, not as an advisor, I might add…my disclaimer being to take this as an object lesson in Christian living and not financial advice!), I learned a little more about the subject…but it pretty much just boils down to this.

Passive investing in a mutual fund or an exchange traded fund is a hands-off approach, where you place money in an indexed pool of investments of a particular kind, managed by a fiduciary who is experienced in investing, and you let it ride over the long haul during good times and bad; the idea being that the good times do outweigh the bad and eventually you come out on top.

Active investing, also known as market timing or playing the stock market, might put you more in charge of calling the buy/sell shots, but often places you in a situation where you’re a day late, and then a dollar short. You see something doing well, you buy stock in it; but by that time, everyone else knows it’s doing well and therefore the value (and the price you’ll have to pay for it) goes up.

You find one of your investments doing poorly, you hurry up and try to sell the stock before it bottoms completely out, and then you wind up losing money because you often must sell it for less than you paid. There are endless reasons argued by pundits on both sides why one or the other is the better method, but like a cheesy slogan I’ve heard on TV about some unknown gadget, it sounded pretty good to me to just “set it and forget it.”

If you can forget it, that is…You know, kingdom work is a lot like financial investing, and there’s a lot to learn from examining the parallels. I don’t know about you, but one of the things which drives me regularly to the cross to ask for forgiveness is my tendency to try to play “stock market” with the love of God.

Jesus chose to invest in a very diverse group of people, and then let His decision rest in the Fiduciary’s hands. Some would serve Him forever, would spread His message into all the earth, and many would even die a martyr’s death in His name. Some, however, He knew might never straighten up and fly right, yet He loved them and was good to them anyway, giving them every opportunity to do right until the very end.

He included a Judas when He ordained the twelve. He healed all ten lepers, knowing only one would remember to come back and give thanks. What Jesus taught us through His example leaves us inexcusable for our finicky, selective doling out of the love of God to people in this mixed up, dying world. He’s telling us to love others as much as we love ourselves…and to love God even more than that (Matthew 22:37-40).

Since He did not give us any footnotes to clearly define which of our “neighbors” might fit that love-your-neighbor commandment, we must take it that He means to love them all! Yep, not just the trusted one next door who lends you his cordless drill when you forget to put yours on charge…but also the one who plays his music way too loud and lets his dog come over to “do its business” on your lawn!

The same goes with family, coworkers, and the like. We’re called to love not just the grandchildren whose voices on the other end of the phone send our heart soaring, but also the co-worker who would lie on us and make us look bad just to advance herself. The outcome may not always be what we wish, but people can’t help but be impacted by the love of God if you’ll dispense it and not sparingly.

Your grandchildren and your co-worker may remember that love for two entirely different reasons, but you can be certain that neither will be in vain, and neither will go unnoticed in heaven. It’s a hard discipline to learn, isn’t it? But it works consistently because Jesus modeled it with perfection.

After mingling with saints, sinners, temple-dwellers, and tax-collectors, He said to His Father regarding those with whom He’d been entrusted, “…not one of them got away, except for the rebel bent on destruction (the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).” John 17:12 THE MESSAGE

Know this: your love and prayers perpetuate beyond your earthly life, and the returns on your investment will not be fully realized until you meet some of your “shares” in eternity! Not one ounce of it is wasted, so you can’t afford to write off one single person on your prospectus.

There are always going to be some folk with whom you prefer to surround yourself (as do all of us), but never let it be said that you hoarded up the love of God to use on just those people you thought were most deserving or who are the most likely to become followers of Christ. You’re not the Fiduciary, so instead of analyzing who’s worth the trouble, who will or will not ever change, or who will be the most appreciative, just permit Him to use you as a conduit to make this priceless gift available, as Jesus did, to whosover will.

He’s well able to take care of the rest of the details. “…I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.” - 2 Tim 1:12 NLT

Invest liberally, and with confidence!

The Do-Good Seed

Image by BusNikon "Take a picture it will last longer" via Flickr

Dr. Creflo A. Dollar

If I were to ask if you believed in sowing seeds you’d probably say, “Oh, yes amen, Brother Dollar. I give money every time I go to church, hallelujah!” It is good for Believers to be stirred up about giving their finances into the work of God. But I need to shed some light on a misconception that has taken place in the Body of Christ. We have limited seed to being just money. Think about it. Every time you hear a preacher talk about sowing seeds, most likely money is the first thing that comes to mind. Although money is a powerful seed to sow, it is not the most powerful. There is a seed that will always produce and is often overlooked. I call it the do-good seed. It is birthed out of the love of God.

In the beginning God created us in His image, which means we are godlike and we’re His reflection in the earth. In Christ we are restored to the position of power and authority that Adam lost to sin in the garden. Now that we are bought back from the curse of sin, God wants us to use the same two free gifts that He gave to Adam and Eve—dominion and seed (Genesis 1:28, 29).

The Bible says that God is love and God made man in His image, which is love. Now isn’t that interesting? God made man in the image of love and in the likeness of love. It is through the walk of love that we gain complete mastery and dominion in life. If we master love we can walk in our God-given authority like never before, because love is where our true power lies.

You may be thinking, “Well, Brother Dollar, I understand the love of God, but what does that have to do with sowing seeds to get a good harvest?” Love has everything to do with sowing a seed and getting the desired results you want in life. Why? Jesus said that all the laws and prophets hang on the commandment of love, which is first loving God and then others (Matthew 22:40). The law of seedtime and harvest works by this greater law—love. Seedtime and harvest means whatever thought, word and deed you sow—good or bad—you will reap the results of it. Simply put, what goes around comes around.

Love is an action word and can be expressed in many ways. It is the most powerful seed you can sow into the life of another. In Luke 6, Jesus gives the law of love. We’ve become so familiar with this passage of scripture that we’ve missed what God wants us to understand. Jesus said to love your enemies and do good to people that hate you. He says to pray for those who despitefully use you (Luke 6:27, 28). Jesus wanted us to understand the importance of demonstrating love to the unlovable.

When you release the love of God into the lives of others, God is released. The do-good seed is the action of love you extend to another person who has done you wrong and doesn’t deserve your goodness. If there is someone in your life who irritates you, add his or her name to the top of your Christmas list this year! This is not a sign of weakness. It takes a powerful person to do right by someone who has done them wrong.

I have probably been ripped off more than the U.S. Internal Revenue Service by people who said that they loved me. One man stole thousands of dollars from me and it cost me the exact amount of money he had stolen from me to bail him out of jail. That was hard on my flesh! But I’ve discovered whenever I sow a do-good seed, God rewards me.

The seed you sow in response to how another person treats you becomes the deciding witness of the harvest you will receive. If someone sows hate and you retaliate and sow hate in return, there are laws that have been released. Hate will be your harvest because “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them…” (Matthew 18:19). When someone hates you, you have the power to determine your own harvest by responding in love. Don’t use your opportunity to sow love to come into agreement with selfishness by responding negatively. Your seed will have authority over their hate if you'll retaliate with good. This is how you overcome evil with good—sow a better seed than the seed that was sown toward you.

Believers must understand and operate God’s principle of seedtime and harvest. I’ve taught for years that the law of seedtime and harvest is an established law God intends for man to use to create any outcome he desires. The Bible says whatever a man sows is what he will reap (Galatians 6:7). Most Believers assume that when the Word of God speaks of seedtime and harvest, the only seed that exists is money. The truth of the matter is our words, thoughts and actions are also seeds. However, according to Jesus, the most powerful seed is the Word of God. It is the seed that must be planted in order for all other seeds to produce, including the do-good seed.

Everything in the Kingdom of God works by seedtime and harvest. You could be sowing positive or negative seeds, but your love walk will determine the growth action and harvest of what you sow.

When it comes to sowing, God is not requiring anything of us that He hasn’t already done. When He saw mankind in a sinful state, He sowed the ultimate do-good seed—Jesus—as an expression of His love for mankind. Even though humanity deserved eternal damnation, God gave His most valuable and precious possession. As a result, He has reaped a harvest of sons and daughters. Love is the key to experiencing fulfillment and satisfaction, and should be the motivation behind every seed you sow.

Sow the do-good seed and from it you will reap a harvest that will affect every area of your life including your health, finances, relationships and more. Purpose to share His love through acts of kindness and He will overtake you with His blessing!

A Consistent Pursuit Of Excellence

Image by midiman via Flickr

Dr. Robb Thompson

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

They're open, 24/7-all-night gas stations, round-the-clock supermarkets, year-round pharmacies. As believers, doesn't God also call us to faithfully press forward, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week? Many believers are content to stay as ordinary as battery-run wall clocks, only enjoying fleeting moments of greatness, without ever living a fantastic life. The common visit excellence momentarily, although in their minds, they think they do great all the time. They always think about the nice things they did last week or last month. At the same time, they wonder why they annually wait in vain for someone to finally recognize their vast achievements. But what they don't realize is that their pride and their refusal of correction make them utterly unapproachable.

This is a sad observation, but it still stands true-there is absolutely no advancement or promotion without embracing correction. Without embracing the correction and modification that Captain Wingate made in Moshe Dayan's military life, certain battles might have never been won, and where would Israel be today? Remember, none of us are perfect. Every one of us has imperfections we must face. However, as long as we continue to pursue excellence, we are headed in the direction that will consistently make us more like Jesus.

Father, I thank You that I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus takes hold of me. I do not count myself to have apprehended. But this one thing I do, I assign to oblivion those things that are behind me and I press on to the things before me.

Ask God For What You Want!

Image by marcp_dmoz via Flickr

Bishop E. Earl Jenkins

"The reason you don't have what you want is...you don't ask God." James 4:2 TLB

Imagine walking into a restaurant on a whim and asking if your order is ready. "When did you call it in?" the server asks. "Oh I didn't," you reply, "I just thought perhaps you'd have something with my name on it." Sound ridiculous? No more so than expecting God to answer requests you haven't made - or made in faith believing. James says, "The reason you don't have what you want is...you don't ask God." Does that mean He'll automatically give you everything you ask for? No. James adds, "Even when you do ask you don't get it because...you want only what will give you pleasure" (Jas 4:3 TLB). Your motives need to be in tune with what God knows is best for you. John says, "This is the confidence...we have in Him...if we ask anything...according to His will...He...hears" (1Jn 5:14 AMP).

Sponsor AdLamentations 3:25 says, "The Lord is good to those who wait...expectantly for Him" (AMP). Expectant prayer demonstrates confidence in God's goodness. Instead of fretting and taking matters into your own hands, when you say, "Lord, I'm going to trust you with this, regardless of the outcome," He'll honor your faith. Paul says, "Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks" (Ph 4:6 NCV). Do you need a job? Help overcoming a problem? Salvation for your loved ones? A deeper walk with God? Physical or emotional healing?

Jesus said, "It gives your Father great happiness to give you the [benefits of his] Kingdom" (Lk 12:32 NLT). God wants to be good to you, so tell Him the "desires of your heart" (Ps 37:4 NKJV). And thank Him that the answer will come - in His time!

Storing Up Treasures

Pastor Marvin Williams

I know a man who has built a small empire of wealth – several large houses, cars, trucks, and large envelopes filled with thousands of dollars in cash. In addition to having a few thousands in his house, last year, he resorted to hiding a large sum in cash, under a doghouse in his yard.

No, I am not giving you his address (Smile).

When I think about him and people like him, my heart breaks because, he has pursued and accumulated wealth here and failed to build a relationship with Jesus. I imagine this is exactly what Jesus was talking about, in Matthew 6:19-21, when he said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

To understand what Jesus meant, we need to know what he did not mean. Jesus was not saying we could not have nice things, or that we could not engage in wise financial planning (life insurance policies, 401K/403B, or other investments). Moreover, he was not saying we could not enjoy wealth and the good things in life that God gives us, or we could not run our businesses profitably.

What did Jesus mean?
Jesus is talking about two types of treasures.

The first type is the kind we accumulate on earth. These treasures are vulnerable to all kinds of decay and theft. Jesus is saying, don’t make acquiring and accumulating these types of treasures - houses, cars, degrees, prestige, popularity, vintage comic books, coin collections, paintings, CDs and albums - our main concentration, obsession and addiction, at the expense and neglect of the most important treasure – God and helping those in need.

We should guard our hearts against the addictive pursuit of material wealth because of its dangers – the love of them is the root to all kinds of evils, may hinder people’s response to the gospel, create false security, make people proud, cause excessive worry, and lead people to forget God. Working for them may cause excessive tiredness, enjoying them too much may lead to self-indulgence, and misusing them may foster oppression and injustice.

The alternative, is laying up treasures in heaven. He is not saying people can buy their way to heaven. However, he is calling his followers to simplify their lives and leverage their time, and wealth for the sake of people in need (Matthew 19:21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19). When his followers, with pure motives (Matthew 6:1-4), do good, are rich in good deeds, are generous and willing to share with the marginalized, they will be laying up treasures in heaven.

Jesus goes on to say wherever our treasures and wealth are, our whole selves will be entwined with them. This verse becomes a gracious mirror in which we can see where our hearts really are. Jesus is warning us against being totally earthbound at the neglect of eternal values.

So, how can we determine today if we are pursuing wealth at the expense of God? How can we understand where our hearts really are? I believe the following questions can help us:

What occupies my thoughts and daydreams when I have nothing else to do?
What do I fret about most?
Apart from my immediate family, who or what do I most dread losing?
What are the things I measure others by?
What is it that we know we cannot be happy without?

Let’s pray about and determine how much is enough and release the rest to build the kingdom and help others find the real treasure: Jesus.

King Solomon and The Wealth Resource

Image by Der Ohlsen via Flickr

Latrice Pace

With the instability of today‘s economy, the pursuit of wealth has seem to become the priority of many. Wealth provides stability and security, that safety net of protection against an unforeseen decline in one’s living standard.

Everybody wants to feel safe and secure.

The concept of wealth has varied across time. It can be categorized into three principal categories: personal property (homes or automobiles); income (the accumulation thereof and monetary savings); and the capital wealth of income producing assets (real estate, stocks and bonds).

All of these are of great economic value and an important part of our social classes; However, I believe wealth can be defined as either an abundance of the aforementioned things or resources.

When thinking of resources, the ancient Chinese proverb immediately comes to mind. “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish (equip him with resources) and he will eat for a lifetime.” What better resource do we have than King Solomon.

At the age of 12, he ascended the thrown of Israel. God appeared to him and offered to grant him one desire. Honestly, at the age of 12 I probably would have asked for an iPod, puppy, digital camera, a bike, clothes, or video games. Solomon asked for wisdom. Wisdom will not only cause you to acquire these things, but I‘ll give you insight on how to create your own brand of these things.

God gave Solomon wisdom—the deepest of understanding and the largest of hearts. There was nothing beyond him, nothing he couldn't handle. Solomon's wisdom outclassed the widely praised wisdom of wise men of the East, outshone the famous wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone. He became famous among all the surrounding nations. He created 3,000 proverbs; his songs added up to 1,005.

Even then he knew the wealth to be acquired in songwriting. Sent by kings from all over the earth who had heard of his reputation, people came from far and near to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.

He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless people and pursuits will have poverty enough. (Proverbs 28:19- Amplified)

Solomon warns us against following worthless people, people with no added value to their life. I’d even say people with no integrity for they will have more than their share of poverty. There are so many schemes today guaranteeing instant riches with little or no work. Those who work hard will reap the rewards of their efforts.
The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24 - Amplified)

Simply put, there is an old adage which says, “He who has the gold makes the rules.”

There are 2,998 other proverbs (resources) we can learn from. Solomon was the richest man who ever lived and was never in pursuit of the wealth and riches he obtained. His true wealth was in his Godly wisdom.

How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?... poverty come like a robber or one who travels [with slowly but surely approaching steps] and your want like an armed man [making you helpless] (Proverbs 9,11- Amplified).

No more procrastination, no more excuses, no more laziness and slothfulness for poverty will surely sneak up on you and render you helpless.

WAKE UP
SEEK GODLY WISDOM
GET A DREAM, A VISION, A PLAN
BE DILIGENT
DISCERN: PARTNER/SOCIALIZE WITH SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE
WATCH GOD GIVE YOU INSIGHT AND INSTRUCTION

If any lacks wisdom, let him ask of the giving God who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproach or faultfinding, and it will be given him. (James 1:5- Amplified)

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You will get His help.

Get It To Give It

Pastor Andre Butler

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” --2 Corinthians 9:8

There is no more important time to line up with God’s financial system than now. In this time of financial crisis, many are in fear. They are concerned about how the struggling U.S. economy is affecting them. The thing about fear, though, is that it is selfish. It only thinks about me and mine.

Fear is the opposite of faith, and it is motivated by selfishness which is the opposite of love. Yet, God’s Word teaches us that we receive from him by faith and that our faith works by love.

God’s financial system works for you when you focus on the needs of others rather than your own. Matthew 6:33 teaches us to ‘seek first the kingdom of God’ and then ‘all these things will be added to you.’ Philippians 4:19 has a promise from God to meet all of our needs regardless of what’s going on in the economy.

God’s ultimate goal for your financial life isn’t that you just receive abundantly but that you give abundantly. God’s plan for your life is that you be a generous giver-- someone who is so abundantly blessed that you are able to give abundantly for God’s purposes. Jesus said in Acts 20:35 that it is better to give than to receive.

God wants you going through life experiencing the superior joy that comes from giving and that is one of the reasons why He wants to get abundance to you. Even more importantly, He’s thinking of those who are without in this life, especially those without Him, who will benefit from your generosity.

God understands that for you to be able to give abundantly, you must receive abundantly. You must Get it to Give it! One of my desires is to get to a place financially where I can GIVE $1 million a year for God’s purposes. My goal is to give abundantly, not just receive abundantly for my purposes. And when (not if) the time comes that I am receiving from Him on that level, it will be vitally important that I remember the purpose for it coming into my life.

Whatever God has given you, some of it is in your hands simply for you to give to His purposes. Remembering the purpose for the money God has given you is an important step in lining up with God’s system. It’s when God knows that you truly understand this principle that He will trust you with more.

In this time of recession stop focusing on your financial needs and look around for someone that you can help with whatever God has placed in your hands now. Doing just that will position you to GET even more so you can GIVE more in the days to come!

Isaiah 54:17

Isaiah 54:17 “No Weapon” Shirts Available

Posted using ShareThis

A Life Of Success

Aqualyn Toi Jones

If I had the desire (or the patience) to count the number of books on success, I’m sure the number would reach well into the thousands (and possibly hundreds of thousands). Everyone claims to know the way to success.

There’s probably a “Success for Dummies” book. Not to mention the countless number of “steps” to success. I don’t mean to negate the value or validity of such tools. I just want to bring a different question into view.

Instead of asking, “How can I become successful?” maybe we should ask ourselves, “What does it mean for me to live a life of success?” Although the two questions maybe sound similar, they are not.

You and I can be successful in a number of things: education, career, or business ventures. But a life of victory and triumph (pretty good synonyms for success) cannot be measured solely by our mental, physical, or tangible prosperity.

If we allow ourselves to be deceived, we’ll think that success is measure by material things. Becoming a homeowner, though notable, is not synonymous with success. Neither is buying a car, losing weight, purchasing a new wardrobe, or investing in the stock market. Those things are accomplishments and by-products of a successful soul.

Many people prosper financially. Many people prosper vocationally. Some are fortunate to prosper relationally. Yet, our souls are supposed to prosper as well (3 John 1:2). In this verse, John indicates that his prayer is for us to prosper in all things, just as our soul prospers. He believed that the prosperity of our souls is just as important as other things. And I believe that is the key ingredient to a life of success and not just moments of success.

It is also important for us to remember that failure is a part of the life of success. Times of weakness, pain, heartbreak, illness, and sin (yes, even sin) are all things we will experience along the way. But these should be regarded as defining moment and not defeating moments.

It’s quite simple for us to chare our own course and set goals for the next five, then, and fifteen years. With discipline we can succeed in anything we put our minds to. Let’s give an even greater amount of energy and determination to making sure our souls prosper.

As we become better individuals, better children, better spouses, better parents, and better leaders we will undoubtedly lead lives of success. It starts with the soul.

Free Scott Sisters- Song and Video

Free Scott Sisters- Song and Video

Posted using ShareThis

God's Way

Image by E_TAVARES via Flickr

Pastor Paula White

I believe a life of success is built on those things that are of great value in the eyes of God. A life of success will exhibit signs of inner spiritual maturity – not outward signs of material acquisition.

The Bible repeatedly describes the behavior, beliefs, and actions that will lead to a successful life. Some of the most notable marks of spiritual maturity and a level of true success in life include:

An Ability to Love. Love is giving. Love flows from having received love and value from the Lord. Spiritually mature people are givers. They are motivated to help others succeed, even more than they want to benefit themselves.

A Joyful Outlook on Life. True joy is not rooted in the material trappings money can buy. Spiritually mature and successful people realize that, often, the “things” we think will make us happy don’t. True joy is rooted in an awareness of the greatness of God and the many blessings He showers on us on a daily basis. Joy flows from the inside out, and is not based on external things, people, or situations.

A Peaceful Spirit. Striving for “outward success” can keep us restless, always on the hunt for something to satiate our anxiety, fears, or unsatisfied yearnings of the heart. Genuine peace is a feeling of wholeness and calm that stems from knowing one is in right relationship with God. Spiritual mature people have a genuine peace that stays with them even when the world outside is falling apart.

Patience. Spiritually mature people realize that true success in anything is very rarely gained overnight. Success comes from being able to persevere, and when necessary, wait for the desired result. Spiritually mature people have learned that long-lasting fixes and cures take time, slow-cooked meals are generally far better than fast food. Rewarding relationships require patience and take time to build. Often, success is sweeter and more sustainable when it comes slowly!

Attitude of Kindness and a Humble Stance. True success carries an attitude of humility, courtesy, and respect for others. A spiritually mature person allows others to express their opinions and make their own choices -- while still being strong enough to express and make best decisions for their own good. Before God, the successful person meekly carries the attitude, “Not my will, but Your will, be done.”

Faith in God. The spiritually mature person leads a life of success by putting their trust solely in God. They realize that to trust oneself is folly, and to trust others without question is naïve. They recognize the sovereignty, wisdom, and divine direction of God, and apply His Holy Word to their life on a daily basis.

Self Control. The successful, spiritually mature person has developed willpower and restraint, seeking what is best for all involved, in the ways and times that are most beneficial and appropriate.

When we seek to develop these godly characteristics, we are well on our way to creating a life of success – God’s way!

Have It All

Pastor Andre Butler

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” --3 John 1:2

Have it all! Isn’t that what the world is striving for? People read books, chase money, fame, and sex all in a futile effort to have it all in life. Sadly, they don’t realize that the only person that can bring them to a place of satisfaction is God.

The good news is that we can tell them about Jesus and demonstrate to them what God can do with a life that is totally sold out to Him. We can tell them that they can have it all in God! They can have a life of satisfaction and significance! A life worth living!

To be effective in our witness about God, we need to allow God to develop our character so that we are enjoying the rich life He desires us to have for ourselves. The rich life is where you prosper spiritually, emotionally, physically, professionally, and financially. It includes growing spiritually through a life lived in the Word and daily fellowship with Jesus.

It also includes consistently enjoying the blessing that comes from being a blessing to others, especially in leading someone into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Living a life of significance is the key to living a life of satisfaction.

In giving us the greatest gift of Jesus, God has demonstrated His great love to us. His Word teaches that He will give good things to His children, and that He’ll withhold no good from those of us who will walk right before Him. In short He desires that we have it all. When I married my wife Tiffany, I gave her my heart. And after 10 years, that is the greatest gift I gave her--myself.

Sure, buying her material things to fill her needs and wants has shown her how much I love her, but those things are just bonuses. This is what God has done with us. He gave us Jesus, and with this greatest gift came the ability to receive from God in every area of life. God has demonstrated to us that His desire is that we enjoy the life

He intended for Adam and Eve to have all along, and we can start living it now. Of course, we have to deal with the enemy in this life but ‘greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world’ (1John 4:4). We have the tools to defeat him every time!

Today is the day to start having it all!

Choose to give up control of every area of your life to God. Say yes to Him about everything! Never tell God no. And as you grow in your relationship with Him and fulfill His plan for your life, you will be able to witness to the world around you that it is possible to have it all in this life.

You Can Have It All in God!

A Life Of Success

Image by jeloid via Flickr

Bonnie St. John

Sponsor AdAnd He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NKJV)

How does a person achieve extraordinary success? Ken Kragen, a major Hollywood agent, took talented performers like Kenny Rogers, Travis Tritt, and Lionel Ritchie and made them superstars. His observations on what makes the difference between a star and a superstar might surprise you.

Lots of people sing beautifully, work hard, and stay focused, yet still don't make it to the top. According to Ken, author of Life is a Contact Sport, superstars are usually the people who get the most help. He taught his clients to cultivate help by making more contacts, sending more thank you notes, and just being nice. Being "helpable" is key to achieving your full potential.

God answers a request from Paul in 2 Corinthians with the phrase we all know so well, "My strength is made perfect in your weakness." In other words God is saying to Paul, "By admitting you have weaknesses and need help, you can be so much stronger. If you try to do everything on your own, you'll only get so far."

Paul may not have been able to accomplish what he did for the Kingdom of God if he had not understood this message. By opening himself up to God's help, Paul achieved superstar status in the Bible. He appreciated God's direct help spiritually, as well as the help he received through the people God had placed in his life. In most of Paul's letter we see him thanking his brethren and asking for continued help and support.

By admitting you have weaknesses and need help, your life will be so much more successful. By allowing God to work with you and through you, achieving success is not only easier, it's more lasting and more fulfilling. Being created by God, we all have the potential for being superstars in the kingdom if only we allow ourselves to accept His help.

Three Key Weapons of Spiritual Warfare

Image by Loci Lenar via Flickr

Pastor Paula White

Many Christians often wonder why they are still struggling with a myriad of issues, although they have been saved and born again through Christ.

Why are so many of us are still living with illness and disease...addiction...fear and anxiety...depression...emotional scars...negative childhood memories...and more?

I have often said that it’s not always what we’re doing wrong – sometimes it’s that we’re not doing enough of what’s right.

The fact is, in the natural world we live in, we will still have to struggle against many spiritual attacks, weaknesses of the flesh, and strongholds/negative mindsets. And during certain periods of difficulties we must use the extra defense, inspiration, and intervention that comes from the power of the Holy Spirit within.

In other words: to overcome certain barriers to our victory through Christ, we must be prepared to engage in spiritual warfare!

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is filled with commands and strategies for achieving the victory He so dearly paid for.

In the sermon, there are three powerful keys for achieving victory through Christ – three eternally vital and life-transforming strategies for overcoming the challenges of life. Separately, I believe each is as important to the believer as eating or drinking. But combined together they cleanse, purify, and prepare the believer for battle -- and fill you to overflow with the power of God’s Spirit.

Together, the three become spiritual weapons that will help you break generational curses, overcome bad habits and negative self-talk, and achieve the true freedom God intends for you.

The three keys that will prepare you to battle your obstacles through spiritual warfare are giving, prayer and fasting. These are not suggestions that we are given to follow -- Jesus makes it clear that God expects us to do these things by using the word “when”:

• Jesus instructs us that we are to give love offerings (alms).

But WHEN thou doest alms…thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:3 - 4

• Jesus instructs us that we are to pray.

And WHEN thou prayest…enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:5 - 6

• Jesus instructs us that we are to fast.

Moreover WHEN ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance…and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:16 - 18

When these three vital Christian principles are followed, together their combined power provides life-transforming “weapons” for engaging in spiritual warfare.

And even during periods of peace and tranquility, you will deeply benefit from engaging in a period of spiritual practice that combines these three acts.

By combining giving, prayer and fasting, you will pave the way to walking in the true freedom God intends for you. You will be equipped for spiritual warfare that will break every yoke and destroy every stronghold in your life!

Chose to live a victorious life in Jesus!

Isaiah 54:17

Isaiah 54:17 “No Weapon” Shirts Available

Posted using ShareThis

Isaiah 54:17

Isaiah 54:17 “No Weapon” Shirts Available

Posted using ShareThis

Isaiah 54:17

Isaiah 54:17 “No Weapon” Shirts Available

Posted using ShareThis

One Ticket Please

Pastor Marquis Boone

The word of God tells us about spiritual warfare in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NKJV) “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.”

This scripture is so power, and filled with nuggets to help us as we face this thing called spiritual warfare. See I have learned that when God is moving in your life that’s an indication to get ready for the warfare. When things seem to be going great that’s a representation to get ready for the warfare just ask Job. When you’re doing what God said that’s a motion to get ready for the warfare.

I don’t know about you but it seems like since the start of this year the warfare in the believers’ life has intensified. To intensify means to make something greater or stronger, or to increase in strength.

When you break the word warfare down it becomes two words. The first word is “WAR” which means conflict, struggle, and battle. The next word is “FARE” which means charge, price, cost, and ticket. Basically the amount charged for a journey. When you put the word back together it is the battle price, the struggle ticket. No matter how you say it, what you’re going through your a paying passenger.

This spiritual warfare is the amount you charged for your journey; your conflict is the amount you charged for a journey; your struggle is the amount you charged for a journey; your battle is the amount you charged for your journey.

You want to know why spiritual warfare is necessary. You pay a fare to ride a bus, plane or train with a destination in mind. After you have your ticket anything can happen. There could be a delay, a crash, or just a smooth ride, but at the end you still get to where you wanted to be.

I just want you to know that even though you are going through this spiritual warfare, trust God, and know that you are on your way to your destiny.

Spiritual warfare – the amount charged for a journey.

Isaiah 54:17

Isaiah 54:17 “No Weapon” Shirts Available

Posted using ShareThis

Become Uncivilized

Image via Wikipedia

Milan Ford

It is very rare to encounter any one my age or older that was not a huge fan of the Rocky movie series growing up. The popular boxing saga starring Sylvester Stallone, consisted of six films over the span of thirty years. Although many would agree that the last few installments weren’t exactly fan favorites, the first three films were truly awe inspiring.

My favorite of all the films by far was Rocky III.

Now just in case there may be someone reading this that has lived on the planet Mars for most of their life, and did not see that movie, here’s a brief summary:

Rocky Balboa, a once struggling Italian boxer from Philadelphia, who used to work in a meat factory and serve as a debt collector for a city crime boss, has recently been given a shot to compete for the boxing heavyweight championship of the world by Apollo Creed, the champion at the time. As the ultimate underdog, Rocky Balboa shocks the world and defeats Apollo Creed after only two attempts.

And now, with newfound fame and riches, Rocky Balboa sets out to defend his title as the new world champion. For three years, Balboa successfully defends his title without very little effort. But then (insert suspenseful music here) Clubber Lang appears on the scene.

Lang, a flamboyant and powerful boxer in his own right, has become the No. 1 contender, and has issued a challenge to Rocky Balboa to compete for the crown. Just as Rocky prepares to accept Lang’s challenge, Rocky’s trainer, manager, and mentor, Mickey Goldmill, stuns Rocky when he tells him that he should not accept the challenge.

Despite Rocky’s ability to defend his title successfully in the past, Mickey explains in the quotation below why this new challenge would result in a tragic defeat.

“...the worst thing happened (to you) that could have happened to any fighter – you got civilized.”

I just love that quote.

Simply because as it relates to matters of faith and our individual pursuits of God’s purpose in our lives, the worst thing you and I can ever become as believers is civilized.

Now I realize that this may come as a slight surprise since we tend to use the word civilized as something we should encourage others to aspire to, but when it comes to the many obstacles you and I must face in this life, obstacles that we must fight and conquer, a civilized faith and posture in God will result in defeat time after time.

According to Webster’s definition, the world civilized means to be easy to manage or control; to bring out of a primitive state; to be marked by refinement in taste and manners; to become cultured.

Do you remember when you first became a follower of Christ? There was absolutely nothing on earth that could stop or derail you from your relationship with God.

No co-worker.
No family member.
No crazy church usher.
No job layoff.
No credit report.
Not even the devil himself could distract you from the good fight of faith.

But after a few rounds in the ring of life, after knocking out a few goals and competitors off our list, and after hearing the roaring sound of applause over the years, many of us have become civilized and settled in a pattern of faith that will no longer yield us the victory we are looking for now.

This quest for civilization and normalcy in our lives has unfortunately plagued many of our churches as well, causing our gatherings on Sunday morning to often be filled with retired fighters longing for a glimpse of their glory days, rather than being filled with hungry, uncivilized believers of God, ready to knock down the very gates of hell.

Today, there is very little reason to ring the fight bell, because very few believers today want to fight any more. In fact, very few even want the training necessary to win.

Today, I pray you will become the exception to the rule. The world is waiting ringside to see what authentic, committed, and uncivilized faith in God really looks like.

So, if you’re up to the challenge, but just in need a little inspiration to get you started,I believe I have just the thing for you.


Now, let’s get ready to rumble!!
(Sorry. I've always wanted to say that!)

Are You At War?

Tanya James

As Christians, there are some things you can be sure of … battles will come, the enemy will try to take you out, people will come against you, and life as a Christian will not always be easy. There is simply no denying that spiritual warfare is real and present.

However, you can find encouragement in the fact that you will get through it. It’s one thing to be at war and not know the outcome. But how awesome is it to know that we have the victory in God? Even when it seems impossible … ultimately, we win.

There is a scripture that I absolutely love because it seems to sum it all up for me.

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” II Corinthians 4:8-9

When I find myself in the midst of spiritual warfare, I go straight to God’s word. (This is a good time to have some scripture hidden in your heart). It’s true - you must put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11-18)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

“…If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

“I have called you by your name, You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43:2-3

You can fight me. You can talk about me. You can run my name through the mud. You can hurt me. You can betray me. You can deny me. You can mistreat me. You can take everything I own. You can try to destroy. You can plot against me. You can misuse me. You can lie on me. You can try to kill me.

..and even if through human eyes it appears that I’ve been conquered – I can continue to stand firm on what GOD said. Yes, you may appear to win a battle here and there … but the war … you can’t win!

“No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” Isaiah 54:17a