​Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It inspires practical things, so we can put truth into practice.  So we can live a life of wisdom, understanding, and effectiveness.  Praying that you will review the Relationship Topic – The Most Powerful Words.  Your words create your life – just like God’s Words created the world.  “Let there be light.”  That started everything.  Two of the most powerful words – What If.  The thirty-first day is one of the best days of the month for those two words.  What if this 31st day of the month – you fully prepared for next month?  What if you asked God for His PiVAT Monthly for September?  It could be any month.  What if you knew The Top 3 Things He has assigned for you before this month is over.  This month could change your life forever.  What if you took the time to recount the things that God did in the last 30 days?  So you could praise and thank him for His great faithfulness to you?  What if you got a fresh PiVAT Journal for the month that begins tomorrow?  So you can obey Jeremiah 30:2 – Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.  So you have a written record of what God said, and you obeyed, as God makes His Name Great in you!  What if you actually printed out your Insert #2 for this month beginning tomorrow.  What if you put in writing your PiVAT Prayer List – so you can pray daily the exact things God wants you to pray?  What if you began a clean PiVAT Maybe for this next month?  From the very beginning practicing Discernment 101, distinguishing between what God told you to do, and what you “think you gotta do.”  That is the first step to actually walking in the Spirit, and presenting your body a living sacrifice – discerning between PiVAT and PiVAT Maybe.  What if you indexed your PiVAT Journal – so you can quickly remember and review what God told you, and what He did – even the little things to establish your praise?  What if you did PiVAT before dinner every single day this month.  Not a religion, but what if you did it?  What could God do with that steady plodding, that consistent daily conversation with Him, getting His download for you for tomorrow?  And recording on the page – your overcoming testimony?  What if you did PiVAT Weekly every Sunday afternoon – to realize and celebrate his faithfulness, your progress, and remember the words He spoke to you in your PRISM times with Him.  What if you started a Daily Call for just one month?  What if you started a PiVAT Small Group this month for just 4 weeks – to help others become so faithful, and to be encouraged in your obedience walk, so the joy of the LORD is your strength this month.  What if you spent 10 minutes with God – seeking His complete will in the first decision you face this month?  So you can see how He gives wisdom and guidance – so your praise and testimony grow!  What if you Took the time to ask God for your Financial PiVAT Monthly and communicated with your spouse – so you grow in your love for God, not money.  What if you did 4C’s daily, so money becomes not a trial, but a testimony. So you actually obey the Word of God, know the condition of your flock, and give and account like a shepherd did – daily?  What if you took the risk to ask God for His PiVAT Progress for you this month – wrote down those things He has chosen for you to do daily this month? That daily rhythm that is so important to your character.  What if you actually did them every day for 30 days and gave an account?  Your relationship with the LORD would accelerate by leaps and bounds.  This would be a month of becoming!  What if you asked God for His PiVAT Projects for you.  What if you wrote down those key milestones in the exact things God has assigned for you to accomplish this month.  What if you took the risk of writing them down, and completing them by His Grace.  What if you could discern what He’s called you to do, and let Him give you the details of the plan?  You might not do every one of these tools, every month.  But what if you asked God which ones He wants you to do this month.  What if you reviewed your Insert #2 every night before bed.  Just for 30 days?  So you could write down all the words that He told you.  And be encouraged by His grace for your progress?  What if you just tried it for this month?  The greatest fruit is not how much you can accomplish, but where He can take you!  Obedience just gets you further.  It gets you deeper.  It’s the discipline that is required for wisdom to take root in you. The accomplishment is phenomenal, but that’s not the goal, it’s the relationship, and the destination, and the joy that He gives – that makes it so worth the effort.  Praying that you’ll ask Him, and just do what He tells you.  So this month is a victory month!  A destination month.  A becoming month.  A month that will take you to a deeper place in your walk with Him.  Like a Super Bowl Champion, once you have done it once.  Your entire career changes, you know what is takes to become a champion.  Not only can you replicate it, you can impact the locker room – you can affect others.  It’s called discipleship – teaching them to obey – every thing that Jesus commands them! 
 
Love you all,
dad 

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It brings light to the darkness.  It dispels darkness with truth, it exposes deception with truth, it overcomes the enemy with truth.  It’s commands are not impossible in Christ, just impossible in your own strength and resolve.  God’s Word says – Without faith it is impossible to please God.  So if faith is how you please God, how do you demonstrate faith?  Action.  It’s the way to prove your faith.  It’s not doing to get something, it’s doing because of what you already have – faith.  No one truly has faith without demonstrating it.  Noah demonstrated his faith by building an ark.  It took a hundred years.  That’s a lot of days with no cloud in the sky, in a place that had never seen rain before.  Moses demonstrated his faith by going back to Egypt, God said He would go with Him.  Abraham demonstrated his faith by leaving his entire life to go to a land God promised to show him.  He demonstrated His faith by offering up his son Isaac.  David demonstrated his faith by picking up those five smooth stones.  Paul demonstrated his faith by going to Rome, knowing what was waiting.  The disciples demonstrated their faith by leaving their nets, to follow him.  Gideon demonstrated his faith by chopping down his father’s Asherah pole, and sacrificing his breeding ox.  Rahab demonstrated her faith by helping the spies escape.  You don’t have faith without action.  You might not have a son to sacrifice, or spies to hide, but every time you respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to do something that God directs, you demonstrate the faith you have.  Every time you praise, when you don’t feel like it.  Every time you choose His Presence or His Word over those things which compete for your attention.  Every time your bring your tithe, every time you give more than what makes sense – if He tells you...  Every time you do PiVAT before dinner – you demonstrate your faith.  #1 Faith that He will speak and tell you His plans for you for tomorrow  – He promised.  And #2 That when He speaks, and He will, that you heard him correctly.  You’ll only know when you do it.  Every time you do PRISM in His Word – you are demonstrating a faith that believes that investment will always bring a return.  That His thoughts are better than yours.  Every time you take the smallest step of obedience.  That is demonstrating faith – that pleases God, that can move mountains.  It might start with a molehill, but it will move something.  And the more you demonstrate faith, the more it can grow.  The more you Ask for His plans, and spend time in His Presence and His Word, the more your faith can grow.  The more you speak with your mouth what you will do, the more your faith demonstration is activated.  The only kind of faith that’s worth anything is demonstrated faith.  If you ask God to show you, the next step to demonstrate faith – He will show you.  He longs to give you the fruit that comes from faith.  Praying that your faith is the demonstrated kind!  An Action Movie!  It’s How He makes His Name great – in you!  Praying that you will ask Him… “God what do you want me to do today that will demonstrate the faith you have given me?”  Praying that you will start with PiVAT before dinner.  You’ll hear His voice, He’ll confirm it in your PRISM time. And whatever He tells you to do – praying that you will do it – because your faith is in Him, and whatever He says – you do. 
 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It tells of people just like us, of situations just like we face.  It tells us what those with faith did, and what those without it, did.  It gives the answers you need by instruction and example.  John 4:46 – Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine.  And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.  When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.  “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”  The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.”   Suddenly, surprisingly, unexpectedly… the moment of truth.  Right now, right here, what will you do.  “The man took Jesus at his word and departed.”  Wow – not another word.  He turned, and left.  Not another prayer, Not another word, not another request.  It’s time for faith, and what you do next will reveal it.  Sometimes we are so used to praying, that’s not really praying at all, it’s doubting and complaining. Sometimes we’re so used to being in bondage, that when the door is opened for our freedom, we don’t take it.  Sometimes, it’s time for not another word.  God told Moses, why are you still praying,  stop praying, get moving.  Get these people across!  And they walked through on dry land.  John 4:51 – While he was still on his way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.  When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.  1:00 in the afternoon – suddenly the fever was gone, and he was completely healed.  Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.”  So he and all his household believed.  Praying that you will ask God, and bring your requests before Him.  That you will petition the One with the power to move mountains, and part seas.  That you would bring your requests to Him, that you will believe His Word, and call on His Name.  But praying also that when the moment of truth is upon you.  That you will not say another word.  That you will just obey.  That you will move your feet, that you will depart when He says depart.  That you will move when He says move, that you will leave when He says leave.  That your faith will get into your feet.  Sometimes it’s time to not say another word.  But to believe what He says – with your feet, with your hands, with your money, with your time, with your obedience right now.   Praying that when He answers your prayer, you will act like it.  So that while you are on your way – your faith will release the power that He has just waiting for you – for your salvation, for your deliverance, for your promise.  So are you still talking, when God said go?  You believe with your words, but you really believe with your feet. Praying that you will ask God if you’ve missed anything. That you’ll never say another word, when it’s time to act. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It tells you how to know Him!  Do you want to Know God?  What if you did?  What if you knew His love for you, what if you had His mind, and knew His thoughts, what if you knew what He was about to do, and could do it with Him?  What if you knew His love for you and His plans for you?  What if you knew His kindness and compassion and the good that He has for you.  What if you knew that He wasn’t mad at you? that He can take you from where you are to places you never dreamed!  What if you knew that His love for you doesn’t depend on you? Not your performance, not your success, not your perfect record...  What if you knew that He loved you enough to correct you, but He longs to restore you, and establish you in joy and His good?  If you know God, you’ll know peace, if you know God you’ll know wisdom, and you’ll know error, you’ll know success, you’ll know how to be established in His Good, you’ll know how to be fully blessed, and how to bless others. If you know God, you’ll know His plans, you’ll know His heart, and you’ll know His Good.  So where do you start - to Know God, or learn to know Him better?  What is the starting point – if you want to know Him?  Psalms 76:1 – In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel.  I love how names are so important.  Your name is important.  A Name is a statement, a definition, and a destiny.  Judah means praise.  God is trying to tell us – In Praise, God is known.  In Praise, you will know Me.   That is THE place to start if you want to know God.  If you know Him, you’ll know his goodness, his kindness, and his plans for you.  Praise – that’s the first step if you want to know Him, or know Him more.  The best news is you don’t have to be good at it.  You just have to do it.  It’s already been done for you.  Just open your mouth, just decide to.  Praise the Word – of your PRISM time is the best praise practice.  Just take a verse or two verses and praise God using the words of that verse.  Or praise Him based on what His Word said, that this verse reminds you of.  See the PRISM Topic – Praise.  The Relationship Topic – Praise the Names of God, or Praise the Jehovah Names of God.  These are all praise tracks to run on.  But then God promises something – that is a guarantee.  If you will just decide to praise – He will inhabit it.  He will come to live in it.  That means all you need to do is open your mouth and do it, and He will send the Holy Spirit to take over.  When the Holy Spirit takes over, you start praising not from your brain, or mental decision or determination, you start praising from your spirit.  And when the Holy Spirit praises – He praises the praise that comes from the throne of God – through your mouth.  He reveals things of your Father in Heaven – through the praise that comes out of your mouth.  He begins to reveal God to you.  It’s how you know Him better – through praise.  Then the second half of that promise.  His Name is great in Israel.  His Name is simply the things He does – to increase His reputation – to add to his fame.  His Name is great in Israel.  Israel means – ‘where He rules as God’  If He doesn’t rule, He’s not your God, but if obedience is your habit.  If PiVAT has you hearing and obeying His plans for you for today, if PRISM confirms them, and reveals His heart for you today – He rules as God in your life – and where He rules as God – He’s about to do something!  His Name is always growing.  Wherever He gets to rule as God, He will bring miracles, and blessing, and joy!  Praying that you will know Him – because you want to, because you decide to start, and grow – in Praise.  Praying that you will know his plans, know His Word, and overcome daily – so He rules as God in you – so His Name is great in you!  So you see the mountains move, so you the sea’s part, and the blind see, and the dead raised.  Praying that you will know Him, and be a part of His great Name – becoming greater!  Praying that you’ll praise – so you know Him! 
 
Love you all,
dad  

​Love you all, praying for you,

​Today is a little longer, but worth the read, and worth the listen. 
 
Eleven Things You Need To Know About Wisdom 
 
First, what are they? And second, what does God say about this?  So what are the Eleven Things You Need To Know About Wisdom?  #1 How To Get Wisdom, #2 Wisdom will save your life and protect you. #3 Wisdom brings wealth, honor, and life.  #4 There are two wisdoms – so be sure you know the difference.  #5 Proverbs will help you get it.  #6 Wisdom has a purpose and it pleases God.  #7 Wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD, it rejects wickedness, and it walks with the wise.  #8 Wisdom operates on the principle of more  #9 Wisdom is better than money. #10 The wise listen and respond  #11 Wisdom speaks.  It reveals itself.  You can tell.
 
So what does God say about these eleven things you need to know about wisdom:   The first thing…
 
#1 How To Get Wisdom.  God says above all else get wisdom, so how do you do it? 1) Ask For It – James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives liberally to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  Do you want wisdom?  Ask God for it.  For the LORD gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  2) Pursue It – Proverbs 4:7 – Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.  (PRISM every day – will help you make the pursuit of wisdom your daily habit) So even if you’re not thinking about it, you’re still doing it.  Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened unto you.  For whoever asks, receives, and whoever seeks, finds, and to whoever knocks, the door will be opened.  3) Seek Godly Counsel – Proverbs 19:20 – Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end, you will be wise.  4) Obey Immediately – instantly apply the first wisdom you receive - what you know so far - so you can get more.  Wisdom operates on the principle of more.  Use it or lose it.  Apply it, or you won’t next time either, so you don’t get any more.  To him who has, more will be given.  But to him who thinks he has, even what he has will be taken away from him.  5) Walk with the wise. Your circle of closest friends should be Obeyers.  Walk with the wise, and you will grow wise.  Your Daily Call is step one.  Ask the wisest friend you have to do a three day challenge with you.  Or pick a friend, and let the Holy Spirit through the word of God – grow both of you in wisdom together. PRISM will do it!  You will both become wiser!  Hear Obey Testify – the key to overcoming.  So how do you get wisdom?  Ask For It, Pursue it – (PRISM makes the pursuit of wisdom a daily habit.)  Seek Godly Counsel, Obey Immediately, and Walk with the wise – so you grow wise.  A Daily Call – will insure that you walk with the wise.  And ask God to bring others.  That’s the first thing you need to know about wisdom – How to get it. 
 
#2 – Wisdom will save your life and protect you – Proverbs 27:12 – The prudent see danger and take refuge but the simple keep going and suffer for it.  Proverbs 1:33 – but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.  Proverbs 2:16 – It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.  Proverbs 7:2 – Keep my commands and you will live.  Proverbs 16:22 – Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools.  Proverbs 19:23 – The fear of the LORD (the beginning of wisdom) leads to life: then one rests content, untouched by trouble.  The #2 thing you need to know about wisdom, Wisdom will save your life and protect you.
 
#3 – Wisdom brings wealth, honor, and life. It will lengthen your life in prosperity. Proverbs 9:12 – If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; but if you scoff, (if you disdain it,  place little value on it, if you think you know better) you alone will suffer.  Proverbs 3:2 – My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.  Proverbs 3:16 – Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Proverbs 8:18 – With me are riches and honor enduring wealth and prosperity.  My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.  Proverbs 9:10-11 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.  The third thing you need to know about wisdom… wisdom brings wealth, honor, and life.  It will lengthen your life in prosperity.
 
#4 – There are two wisdoms – Make sure you know the difference.  True Wisdom from God, and the wisdom of the world.  I Corinthians 3:19 – For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.  As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.  I Corinthians 1:19-20 – For it is written:  “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.  Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?   James 3:15,17 – Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic...  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Romans 1:22 – Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.  I Corinthians 2:6 – Yet among the mature, we do speak words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.  Proverbs 3:7 – Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.  Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  Isaiah 55:8 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  The fourth thing you need to know about wisdom, there are two wisdoms, be sure you know the difference.
 
#5 – Proverbs will help you get it –  Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:  for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;  The #5 thing you need to know about wisdom – Proverbs will help you get it. 
 
#6 – Wisdom has a purpose. And it pleases God – Proverbs 1:3 - for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair. For giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young. And it pleases God.   Proverbs 10:1 – The proverbs of Solomon:  A wise son brings joy to his father…  Proverbs 23:15-16 – My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.  Proverbs 23:24 – The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.  Proverbs 29:3 – A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father…  Proverbs 27:11  - Be wise my son and bring joy to my heart…  The sixth thing you need to know about wisdom.  Wisdom has a purpose, and it pleases God. 
 
#7 – Wisdom begins with the Fear of the LORD, it rejects wickedness, and walks with the wise.  Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  Proverbs 15:33 – the fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.  Proverbs 22:4 - Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth, honor and life.    Wisdom rejects wickedness.  Proverbs 16:6-7 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.  When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.  Proverbs 4:14,15 - Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.  Proverbs 14:7 – Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.  Proverbs 16:17 – The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life.  Proverbs 5:8 – Keep a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house.  The wise walk with the wise.  Proverbs 12:26 – A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.  Proverbs 22:24-25 – Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.  Proverbs 24:1 -  Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company;  Proverbs 13:20 – He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.  The seventh thing you need to know about wisdom.  Wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD, it rejects wickedness, and walks with the wise.
 
#8 – Wisdom operates on the principle of more.  You can gain more, or lose what you have.  You can respond when wisdom calls, or you can ignore it.  Proverbs 2:1-2 – My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding…  Luke 19:26 – “He replied, ‘ I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who does not have, even what they have will be taken away. Proverbs 1:5 - let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.  (You can forget it, or do it and continue in it and get more).  Proverbs 3:1 – My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart…  Proverbs 4:4-7 – “Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.  Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.  Do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you, love her, and she will watch over you.  Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom, though it cost you all you have, gain understanding.  Luke 8:18 – Therefore consider carefully how you listen.  Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he things he has will be taken from him.   The eighth thing you need to know about wisdom, Wisdom operates on the principle of more.  Use it or lose it. Apply it immediately, and God will prepare you for more.
 
#9 – Wisdom is better than money – Proverbs 3:13 – Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.  Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD (the beginning of wisdom) is pure, enduring forever.  The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous, they are more precious than gold, than much pure gold, they are sweeter than honey, than honey dripping from the comb.  If you have money you could easily loose it, but if you have wisdom, you can always get more.  Your house will be filled with rare and beautiful treasures, you will have what you need, you will not be in lack.  Because you walk in the ways of the Almighty, and you know Jehovah Jireh, the God of all supply, and He leads you.  The wise know money is not something you pursue, it’s just something you obey with.  So God gets the glory, and He will always supply your every need.  The ninth thing you need to know about wisdom.  Wisdom is better than money. 
 
#10 – The Wise Listen & respond   Proverbs 10:8 – The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.  Proverbs - 19:27 – Stop listening to instruction my son, and you will stray from words of knowledge.  Proverbs 4:20-22 – My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.  Proverbs 1:22,23 – How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?  How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?  If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.  But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you – when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.  Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.  Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them and the complacency of fools will destroy them, but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.    Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being a priest to me.  And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.  Proverbs 2:9-12 – Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.  Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you.   Proverbs 8:32-36 – Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.  Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.  Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.  But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.   Proverbs 18:2 – a fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but delights in airing his own opinions.  Proverbs 16:22 – Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools.  Proverbs 13:10 – Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.  Proverbs 16:20 – Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.  The #10 thing you need to know about wisdom.  The wise listen and respond.
 
#11 -  Wisdom speaks.  It’s known by it’s words and its ways.  Just as a fool reveals himself as soon as he opens his mouth, wisdom also speaks.  It’s not the first to speak, or the loudest in the room, it keeps some things close to the vest, but it reveals itself with it’s words and its ways, and its fruit.  Proverbs 4:23-24 – Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.  Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.  Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.  Proverbs 10:11 – The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.  Proverbs 10:19-21 – When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.  The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.  The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools dies for lack of judgment.  Proverbs 10:31,32 – The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.  The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.  Proverbs 12:14 – From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.  Proverbs 18:20,21 – From the fruit of his mouth a man’s womb is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.  The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat it’s fruit.   Proverbs 13:2,3 – From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.  He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly comes to ruin.  Proverbs 14:3 – A fool’s tongue brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.    Proverbs 15:2,4,7 – The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.  The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.  The lips of the wise spread knowledge, not so the heart of fools.  Proverbs 16:23,24 – A wise man’s heart guides his mouth and his lips promote instruction.  Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.  Proverbs 22:17-19 – Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.  So that your trust may be in the LORD.  Proverbs 24:7 – Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.  Proverbs 31:26 – She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  The #11 thing you need to know about wisdom, wisdom speaks.
 
Eleven things you need to know about wisdom. Praying that you will get it, above all else. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It addresses things, It gives God’s ways, so different from ours.  It tells you something about something.  And there’s more where that came from, and He has more to say about it.  I love that God brings us the timely word that we need.  But He also invites us to seek and find more.  So thankful for PRISM – that keeps me coming back to what He wants to reveal.  Praying you’ll review the PRISM Topic – Measure – God's Word is clear about the measure you get and the measure you use.  Praise God He has given you the full measure of everything you need.  Your portion is fully sufficient, more than enough, enough to share with others.  God said, "Be careful how you hear – the measure you use is the measure you get.  He said be careful how you measure yourself - Don't think of yourself more highly that you aught, but humbly, according to the measure of faith He has given you.  God said use a small measure when judging others - don't judge, because that's the measure with which you will be judged.  But when it comes to giving use a big measure.  Because that's the measure that will be coming back to you.  God said He has given to every one the measure of grace you need.  And your portion of grace is as big as the gift of Christ.  God reminds us that your life is but a measure, a mere breath.  God warns against an unfair measure - two differing weights, unfair scales to cheat people in money and business dealings – He despises those who deal dishonestly.  God wants us as a body with every member supplying it’s part, to mature to the full measure of Christ.   And about God... "Who has measured the waters (the oceans) in the hollow of his hand?"  His power is beyond measure.  He loves you, that’s why He will correct you, but only in just measure.  He’s a loving and faithful God, compassionate and full of mercy.   He has given you the measure of faith, and the measure grace you need.  (the power to do what He has assigned you to do, and the power to say "No" to the sin that would separate you.  Praying that you will remember - whatever you need - He has given in full measure.  Praying that you will remember that the measure you use will be measured you.  Praying that your giving, your faith and your hearing will always be huge measures, so He can use that full measure to return to you. Praying that you will know that His love for you - just like the Holy Spirit He gives - is beyond measure - you'll never run out.  
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It is the written record of the infinite power and unmerited love of God – for you.  It tells the truth, it doesn’t sugar coat, not even the depravity of man.  It’s not revisionist history, it tells the good, the bad and the ugly.  Some so horrific, it is hard to even read. In one of Israel’s lowest moments when they were at the brink of destruction, people choose what they will do, and what they will believe. I Kings 6 – Some time later, Ben Hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria (the capital city of the divided tribes of Israel).  There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels.  As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”  The king replied, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you?  From the threshing floor? From the winepress?  Then he asked her, “What’s the matter?”  She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.  So we cooked my son and ate him.  The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him, but she had hidden him.”  When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his robes.  As he went along the wall, the people looked and there, underneath, he had sackcloth on his body.  He said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today!”  Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him.  The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Don’t you see how this murderer is sending someone to cut off my head?  Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold it shut against him.  Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”  While he was still talking to them, the messenger came down to him.  And the king said, “This disaster is from the LORD.  Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”  In desperate times people do unthinkable things, utterly foolish things.  And as the king demonstrates, they blame the innocent, and give up on the LORD, they accuse Him instead.  We think we have problems and struggles, but you’ve never faced something this horrific in your life.  An entire city starving to death, only waiting to die by the sword.  II Kings 7:1  Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD.  This is what the LORD says:  About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, “Even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven, could this really happen?”  “You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “But you will not eat any of it.”  People in desperate times, do unthinkable things, they blame the innocent, they blame God, and they disbelieve the Word that God speaks.  They don’t believe the promise of God.  If nothing else, God said “Even in death the righteous have a refuge.”  Like the three young men before the King, Our God is able to save us, but even if not, we want you to know O King, that we will not bow down to your image or serve your god.”  What do you do when trials come, even desperate times?  Do you do unthinkable things to provide for yourself – how foolish, this woman just killed her son for nothing.  A day later God was about to turn things around.  God can change everything in 24 hours.  In a moment of time.  His suddenly can turn certain death into complete victory!  When everything is lost, He can turn it around.  The servant opened his mouth with unbelief, and his words were held to him.  Verse 3, now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die?  If we say ‘We’ll go into the city, the famine is there.  And if we stay here, we will die.  So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender.  If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.  At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans.  When they reached the edge of he camp, not a man was there, for the LORD had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!  So they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys.  They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.  The men who had leprosy reached the edge of the camp and entered one of the tents.  They ate and drank, and carried away silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them.  They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also.  Then they said to each other, we’re not doing right.  This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.  If we wait until daylight punishment will overtake us.  Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.  So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers and told them “We went into the Aramean camp and not a man was there – not a sound of anyone – only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents just left as they were.  The gate keepers shouted the news and it was repeated in the palace.  The king got up in the night and said to his officers, “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us.  They know we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide in the countryside thinking, ‘They will surely come out , and then we will take them alive and get into the city”  One of his officers answered, “Have some men take five of the horses that are left in the city.  Their plight will be like that of all the Israelites left here – yes, they will only be like all these Israelites who are doomed. So let us send them to find out what happened.  So they selected two chariots with their horses, and the king sent them after  the Aramean army.  He commanded the drivers, “Go and find out what happened.  They followed them as far as the Jordan and they found the whole road strewn with the clothes and equipment of the Arameans, that they had thrown away in their headlong flight.  So the messengers returned and reported to the king.  Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans.  So a seah of flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barely sold for a shekel, as the LORD had said.  Now the king has put the office on whose arm he leaned in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the came cam down to his house.  It happened as the man of God had said to the king: “About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.  Whatever you face, you haven’t faced anything like this.  What do you do when you face a trial in your life?  Do you try to provide for yourself? If you do you will sink to unthinkable depravity.  Who do you blame for the problems you face, or predicament you are in?  Do you blame others? The innocent? Do you blame God?  And when a man of God speaks faith or prophesy.  What do you say?  Be careful, your words will acquit you or condemn you.  David was different, He made it a habit to declare the Salvation of God – even when He was still waiting for it.  As for me, I will always have hope, I will praise you more and more, my mouth will tell of your righteousness, and of your salvation all day long, though I know not it’s measure.  David didn’t know yet, the full measure of God’s Salvation – so He kept speaking of the Salvation He has already seen and heard about – until God delivers Him now.  God in a day – can turn your entire situation around.  Praying that you will praise and believe, that you will believe what God says, through whatever person or means he chooses to say it.  That your words will always be faith, that your testimony of Salvation would continue all the way up to the moment – when God comes through again!  He surely will, He’s the God who Saves!  You haven’t seen all of His Salvation yet, but you will, if your words agree.  Give your testimony of the Salvation you know, and the Praise He deserves - until He can reveal again – what He can do in just one day! 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  Straight truth, often uncomfortable, always timely, always crucial.  Proverbs 19:3 – A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.  Have you ever noticed that humans have an amazing ability, and natural tendency to blame other people, for what really is their fault… what their actions caused, or greatly contributed to?  Have you ever noticed that in you?  God said "First remove the log from your own eye, then you’ll be able to see clearly to remove the spec from someone else’s."  Humility is a key to obedience, it’s the beginning of wisdom, it’s a requirement of favor, it’s the hallmark of Christ.  If you are quick to blame, humility is not really your thing.  Some people even blame God.  A man’s own folly… foolishness, lack of awareness, devoid of wisdom, which begins with humility.  What is folly?  A two-sided coin.  Doing something God never told you to do or saying something God never said or told you to say.  That’s one side.  The other side of the folly coin is doing something God said not to do, or saying something God didn’t say, or said not to say.  In other words, folly is doing something God didn’t tell you, or doing something He told you not to, whether thoughts, words, or deeds.  See the PRISM Topics – Say, Shut Up, and Do Not Say...  Folly starts in the thought, and if it becomes word, it will become belief and action.  Have you ever noticed that we as humans always want to assign blame.  Usually as far away from ourselves as we can.  Sometimes blame is necessary – it’s a part of justice, an accountability, that if the offender is not called to, they and others will continue with impunity.  The wicked want to move on, but the righteous know that truth is required.  If the wicked aren’t punished, sin abounds.  But other times, the blame game is fruitless.  The devil is the accuser, always seeking to point out faults.  God said love covers over faults – a multitude of sins.  So how do you know the difference?  You need the Holy Spirit’s discernment.  There is a time for everything under the sun, a time to rend and a time to heal.  Covering over faults, doesn’t mean ignoring, or condoning sin.  It just means that we believe the best, seek and grant forgiveness quickly, turn from anything that displeases God, or mistreats others, and move on in the grace that God gives to prefer others above ourselves.  In this verse – this fool was the cause of his own predicament, yet blamed God, instead of repenting and facing his own intents and actions. It’s easy to see it in others, but far easier to miss it in yourself.  You can’t blame God for self-inflicted trouble.  He will hear you and forgive and save you.  And if you’re humble, you’ll ask Him for an accurate assessment, post mortem.  The younger brother finally came to his senses.  While you might never blame God completely, it is easy to harbor the thought – God could have prevented this.  As if it’s God responsibility to stop you from doing what you want to do, knowing He said not to, or not checking with Him first.  Humility takes responsibility, wisdom is circumspect – cautious before speaking and acting, and cautious in friendship.  Praying that your words will always be humble, that you won’t blame God, but Thank him.  That you'll ask Him first before doing something stupid.  Sometimes things outside your control bring great hardship.  It truly wasn't your fault, but don’t blame God, trust Him, even in the things you don’t understand.  God said in this world you will have trouble, but be encouraged, be of good courage, I have overcome the world.  Praying that you take responsibility for your own actions.  That you won’t be quick to blame, but quick to forgive others, that you won’t be tempted to blame God, but quick to ask Him first, before saying or taking action, and that you will always Trust Him, even when you don’t fully understand yet.  What the devil intended for evil, God can turn it around, and turn it for good.  “Then I went in to your sanctuary and understood the destiny of the wicked.  Surely you place them on slippery ground; You cast them down into ruin.”  Praying that you will ask God first, so you don’t get tempted to blame Him later.  That you won’t ever be foolish, but humble, wise and faithful. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love Gods Word.  I love the instruction, the commands, the principles, but I also love the stories.  Because they reveal so much more than the story line, or the moral at the end.  God can reveal things within the story that the story isn’t particularly about.  He does it through the Holy Spirit – and it’s how the Word of God is alive and active.  It’s His Word, that isn’t past tense, its present and future tense as well.  An amazing story, John 2.  On the third day a wedding took place in Cana in Galilee.  Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”  “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come.”  His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Did Mary sense that God was about to do something.  Jesus said His time wasn’t yet… So did Mary push Jesus into doing something he didn’t want to?  Or God didn’t want him to do yet, but because she was his Mother…   Never.  Jesus only did what God wanted him to do.  It was time now - for Jesus’ first miraculous sign.  But to me, that wasn’t his first miracle or the first miracle surrounded Him.  When Nathaniel asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Phillip called you.”  That’s a miracle.  That would throw you if someone said that to you the first time you saw them.  Immediately Nathaniel said, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”  That was a miracle too.  That God in heaven prophetically spoke through Nathaniel – the truth of who Jesus was.  It came from God, not Nathaniel.  He just opened his mouth – and what God said, came out.  I love that verse from Mary.  “His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  This story is about a lot, but it is Servanthood 101 for those who will see and hear.  That’s what makes you a servant.  Do whatever He tells you.  What a simple job description, what a simple life mission statement.  Do whatever He tells you.  Some people wake up in the morning and say.  “My day belongs to you, Lord,” and they proceed to carry out their own plans.  That’s why PiVAT before dinner is so important.  Getting His plans for you – is how you follow His plans.  It’s how you do whatever He tells you to do.  If you don’t ask Him, you won’t get the plans He has for you, in all the detail that He has for you at this time.  Whoever asks receives.  PiVAT before dinner is Servanthood 101.  It’s how you can do whatever he tells you.  Verse 6  Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.  Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.  I love this.  This is what a faithful servant does.  They hear what God tells them to do, they do it immediately, and they do it completely.  It wasn’t 'think about it for a while,' and it wasn’t fill it half way – or pretty much full.  These guys filled it to the brim.  Other than the surface tension of the water it would probably have spilled over.  They didn’t know why they were doing it, they didn’t know what was about to happen.  They just heard, and obeyed.  Fully, completely, with excellence.  They went above and beyond, all the way - to the Brim.  It’s what servants to.  They do what God tells them, they do it immediately, no debate, and no delay – they don’t have to understand everything right now… and they do it completely.  Praying that you will be like those servants.  That you will hear what Jesus says – because you get His plans for you every day, before you take the first bite of your evening meal.  Praying that you will finish strong what He told you today, completely, to the brim.  That you will trust that He will turn your water into wine.  What you are doing that seems so insignificant, that no one sees, that doesn’t matter, even the mundane things that you feel are so repetitive… Praying that you will hear clearly, obey instantly and obey completely.  Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”  This is servanthood 101 step three.  Hear, obey, and believe.  You want me to do what?  Take it to the Master of the banquet?  You realize this is just water, he will be furious with us.  This is believing enough to obey – when it doesn’t make sense to the natural mind.  This is a faith in what Jesus told you to do – that although you don’t understand it right now.  You fully trust Him to do what He wants, that it will make sense to you in the end.  And if not, if it never does, you’ll obey anyway.  That’s obedience mixed with faith, driven by faith, obedience that comes from faith.   Praying that you will learn to be great servants.  Jesus was.  It’s what He’s calling you to be as well.  And here’s what will happen.  Verse 11 This, the first if his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee.  He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.   Every time you hear and obey because you believe – God reveals his glory!  And many others will come to faith.  Servants help reveal his glory.  Praying that you will be the ones who hear, who believe, who obey, and who fill it to the brim, who share with others.  So your entire life will reflect His glory. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It is truth and light and life.  And I’m so thankful for PRISM – those five things that keep me coming back to His Word all day.  And PRISM Topics – the power of God’s Word, what God says about this!  I love the takeaways God gives.  His Word is not just for information, it’s for application – not just things to do, but things that in doing you become. Something different, something greater, something stronger, mature in your faith and hope and secure in Him.  Not tossed by every wind or wave, but steadfast, immovable, grounded in truth, and growing in discernment.  So you know the truth, and walk in it, and can simply give a testimony of His great faithfulness and goodness.  Psalms 7:4 – But may all who seek you, rejoice and be glad in you; may they always say, “Let God be exalted.”  Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me O God.  You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.  I love David’s writings.  He reveals exactly who God is in our times of trouble, and what we can do, to rise above - in the strength and hope and promise that He gives.  Years ago – as Microsoft was changing the world.  They lunched a marketing campaign on the START button of Microsoft Windows.  They were setting a new culture in the computer world – all beginning with the START button.  The bottom left of your screen – everything begins here.  God reveals through David what your START Button is.  Your Words – are the START Button on your screen, in your life.  Your words decide and direct your thoughts.  It’s hard to think something different than the words you are saying.  Your words initiate your actions – you commit your hands and feet with your mouth creating an obligation for your body to follow suit and follow through.  Your words fill your heart, your words activate your faith, your words are the START button of you. That’s why God says by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned, because everything follows that START Button.  Here God says, May all who seek you… Will you seek Him?  Not everyone does.  Will you rejoice and be glad while you are seeking? Or worry and doubt and look for Plan B?  Will you rejoice and be glad in Him?  How do you remain “In Him?”  In Worship, In His Word, and In Obedience This Hour.  If you are In Him, you will rejoice and be glad.  And will you always say… “Let God be exalted?”  In this situation, in this season, in this victory, in this trial, in this setback, in this crisis, in this desert, in this waiting season – Let God be exalted!”  Your words are the START Button of you.  God created you in His image – you’re just like your Father in Heaven.  His Word is His START button – He has exalted His Word above His Name. Because His Word STARTS it, and His Name flows from it.  Praying that you will know and be faithful with the START Button of your Words.  That you will always say – “Let God be exalted.”  It’s OK to also say, we really need you now!  Please hurry!  But David says, You are my help and my deliverer!  That’s when He’s still waiting.  He’s using his START button to align himself – with who God is, and what He promised!  Praying that your START Button will always be His Words, the words He has for you!  Praying you will review the PRISM Topics – Speak Life, and Say.  So your START Button is always Starting the Good that He has for you!  Even while you’re waiting!
 
Love you all,
dad