Love you all, praying for you.
From the time you were little children, every time we went to church on Sunday morning, we always asked you… “Why are we going to church today?” And even as little children you knew why. We came to Praise and we came to Serve. We didn’t come to church this week - to see if we like the music today, if it’s too loud, or too soft. We didn’t come to evaluate and critique the sermon. We didn’t come to make an appearance, to look good, or see who else looks good, or who’s with who or who’s wearing what. We come to worship – to praise the One who is worthy of every praise, and we came to serve. That’s what we go to church for. But where else do you go? And what did you come to do? What if anywhere you ever went, every time you leave the house – no matter what your destination... What if you came to praise, and you came to serve? Why else would you come? You could at least tell one person something that God has done, or even help them notice or discover what He has done for them! That’s why God gave you a testimony – to encourage their obedience, and solidify your victory – it’s overcoming for you! And the more you obey this week, the more praise and testimony you will have. Did you come to praise? Did you come to serve? Then why are you here? Here is a truth to remember – the very next place you go. If you don’t come to ;praise, if you don’t come to serve, then you come for yourself… to rest, to enjoy yourself. You’re really about you. “But this is my day off, or my vacation.” One of the biggest lies the devil tells is that if you serve you’ll be tired, or not rested, or not enjoy your time. But in truth, the time you invest in serving others, is the most rewarding, fruitful and enjoyable time you can have – because God fills you with joy and gladness, and being a blessing is the biggest blessing. Just living for yourself, is no blessing at all. Praying for you today… that everywhere you go, every thing and every place God sends you and sends you, and sends you to do, that you would do it the way you were trained to go to church. If it’s a wedding, and you’re just a guest. You can serve somebody. You can help somebody, you can encourage somebody. Your testimony can help someone, and it always helps you. Your work to help others, to lighten their load or their responsibility, God will always return to you many times over. What you sow you reap. If you sow serving, you will reap reward. If you sow praise, God will inhabit it. So what did you come to do? Praying that you will come to praise, and come to serve. Love you all, dad
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Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word. It is truth and life, and it gives the secrets of success. Praise God, He doesn’t play favorites. God’s Word says, He is no respecter of persons, not color or gender or geography. Even God’s chosen people – were chosen to bring the good news of Jesus – the Savior of the whole world. Before His throne one day will be those from every tribe, tongue and nation. He doesn’t play favorites, but He favors the obedient, and the intimate. Those who are intimate with God get favor, and favored. Those who are with Him more, get more of what He’s doing. Those apart from him miss out. If you’re with your Dad when He stops for ice cream, you get some, every time He gets some. If you’re off doing your own thing, you miss out on the ice cream. His favor starts with His presence. The more time you spend with Him, the more of Him you get… His thoughts, His plans, His wisdom, and His affection. His love for you is the same, whether you are near or far, but His favor increases the closer you get. Intimacy with God starts in His presence, and then requires obedience. You can not be intimate with God without obedience. Disobedience separates you, obedience draws you closer. What if you had God’s favor? Nothing between you so you are joined with Him in everything that is on His heart, and everything He is doing right now! If you’re available, He’ll use you! And the complete power of His ability secures your victory, and along with it comes all of the blessing that He longs to give you. That doesn’t mean you get ice cream for breakfast every morning, what kind of father does that? But He will favor you with His abundant goodness. Sometimes that good for you shines through trial, and struggle, and often a whole lot of hard work. Would your favor rest on a child who doesn’t work? Doesn’t obey? Or doesn’t believe what you say? God is a good, good Father, and He’s also a wonderful and merciful Savior. He’s getting ready to do amazing things right now. Those closest to Him will get to go with Him while He’s doing it. Praying that you will always position yourself close to Him, so His favor rests on you, and His power fills you, His peace remains, and His joy overflows through you to everyone around you. So they see the favor of God, and the love He has for them too! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Has God ever revealed something to you, and He came back the next day and revealed even more, clarified it, added to your understanding of it, reinforced it? What He says is important. Sometimes He says it again. Yesterday’s Daily Huddle, Weeds. Today, just a little more. Have you ever had a weed problem? Weeds will absolutely take over, if you don’t stop them. If you don’t pull them early, remove them, and prevent them, they’ll destroy a yard, a garden, a flowerbed or a field. And they will choke out what was planted. How do you stop weeds? Thick grass. That’s the best weed prevention. The second best weed prevention is daily removal. If you get the sprouts, they will never be able to take root and grow. If they do, and you pull them later, they will remove large chunks of dirt with them, and even uproot the plants along with it. Thick grass in your yard gives the weeds no place to sprout, take root and grow. And pulling them every day before or after work, before you come in the house. Your yard and flower beds will be weed-free, and the flowers and plants will be able to grow, get stronger and bring beauty for all to see. So what are the weeds in your life and heart? Sin. The weeds of thought, the weeds of word, which become the weeds of deed, of action. These are all sin, missing the mark, a falling short of God’s will, God’s way, and God’s best. The best way to guard against weeds in your life, is the Word of God – that’s the thick grass. Any other seed is quickly recognized as foreign and you can reject it. You are too busy reading, studying and speaking God’s Word of truth and wisdom into the soil of your heart and life. That’s how any other seed you can easily recognize and reject instead of think about and give credibility to and a place for in your heart, by giving thought and words to it. Reject it immediately and it can never grow into actions that displease God and distance you in your relationship with Him, and which separate you from success. Weeds of thought, Weeds of Word, and Weeds of Deed. First weeds of thought - Perversity – is a contemplation of anything other than immediate obedience. Considering any other alternative to obeying what God said. God hates a perverse heart. Always turning it over in your mind until you rationalize doing the opposite of what He said. That’s a perverse heart that God hates. It is the weed of thought. Another weed of thought is considering the pleasures of sin. Thinking about what it would gain you, how fun or pleasurable it would be if you did it. Letting other voices keep talking - who are trying to draw you in. Sin is pleasurable or no one would commit it. Its just that the pleasure is cheap and temporary, and the curse that goes with it is disproportional. It’s never worth it. That’s why when Amnon let his thoughts obsess with the beauty of his half-sister, deceptively got her alone, and despite her pleading with him to just get married, when he raped her instead, he instantly felt the curse, and immediately despised and hated her in his heart, when he was the evil one. His brother Absalom killed him for it. Sin never ends well. Balaam started contemplating the reward that the messengers of the King of Moab sent to him, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. And he ended up going with them. Instead of shutting the door in their face, he listened to them, started imagining, and he allowed the weed of thought, the lust for money and wealth and fame lure him. After thinking, He started rationalizing, the perversity of contemplating something other than obedience. “I’ll just go and talk to the king…” and the thought of pleasure, the perverse thought of what he could do, became the action that led to his demise. God was angry. His donkey smashed his foot against the wall, the Angel of the LORD almost killed him, if not for his donkey. But in the end, though he couldn’t curse the Israelites, but ended up blessing them instead… He was the one who informed the King of Moab to lure the Israelites into sin with the women of the land,. And ultimately Balaam and his whole family were destroyed with all the other Moabites. Rahab joined the Israelites, with her family. Balaam and his entire family were executed. If you allow those weeds of thought, you will eventually lose everything. Once the weeds get so tall, Jesus told the parable, just let them be, or you’ll pull out the plants as well. At harvest the Master will take care of it, the harvest will be brought in but the weeds will be thrown into the fire. Don’t let the weeds get too far. Pull them daily while they are sprouts. God said – Don’t harbor this evil thought in your heart. “It’s almost the seventh year” – when all debts are cancelled. He warned against the weed of thought, a hard heart in lending to a brother in need. PRISM is your thick grass. If the Word of God isn’t in you, you won’t be able to reject other words, you won’t recognize them, you’ll give way to them, and they will take over. The loss will be severe. PRISM is your thick grass. And Prayer and Repentance is your weed pulling. Search me O God and know my heart, see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Pull those weeds every day. Ask God to reveal any weed of thought, word, or action that tried to creep in today, so you can repent and reject them. If you get them every day, they won’t even be able to take root. Ignore them, and they will take over, to your ultimate destruction. PIVAT before dinner is your thick grass. The foolish young man didn’t do PiVAT before dinner so after work today He didn’t know what God called him to do… Instead at dusk he was heading down the road near her house. He knew that’s where she was, and he had entertained those weeds of thought in his mind all day - the pleasures of sin. And now he was walking headlong into a trap that would soon destroy him. Like a bird walking toward a net, or a Lion walking toward a concealed pit – there is no escape. Weeds of thought – contemplating the pleasures of sin, instead of Fearing God and turning from them instantly like a putrid smell. Finally Joseph when cornered by sin, a perfect opportunity, no one around to see, and a willing participant – knew that God sees, and the Word of God that was such thick Grass in his heart – made it impossible for him to contemplate or consider. How could he dishonor his boss, and dishonor God – unthinkable. He chose never to think about it. So when it cornered him, he rejected it outright. And when ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,’ landed him in prison, he didn’t grumble or complain or entertain the common thought invitation that comes to every generation…Is Godliness even worth it? – why even bother if I just end up in prison? He rejected outright – that weed thought as well. And in the end – God took care of it. Even then another test was waiting, the test of taking revenge, or of believing and obeying what God said… Vengeance is mine saith the LORD. Can you imagine Christmas Party of Pharoah’s Court, the first time Joseph attended – as everyone’s boss. Officially introduced to all the staff and their spouses as the supreme authority in all of Egypt next only to Pharoah himself? You don’t think Potiphar not to mention his wife were sweating bullets. And everyone knew what had happened. Joseph’s thick grass – never allowed weeds, so the habits that protected him from little sins, now were able to protect him from the big ones. The Israelites soon started grumbling and complaining. Those weeds of word – they even started saying “We were better off in Egypt – at least there we had fresh fruits and vegetables.” Are you kidding me? Did you possibly say anything that stupid? You were slaves, you sent your wife and children out to find your own straw to make bricks and meet the same quota - getting beaten for any infraction. Did you just repeat something that stupid? Weeds of Word – those stupid thoughts that you give words to – will eventually be your undoing. That whole generation of ungrateful, unbelieving slaves – set free, but preferring slavery – died in the desert without ever seeing the promised land. Weeds will keep you from the good land God has promised, His purpose for your life. Praying that PiVAT before dinner and PRISM in His Word, and your Daily Call of overcoming testimony - will be your thick grass – blocking any weeds. That you will be busy about God’s plans for you today – not walking down the road near her house. That you would transform your mind constantly with His Word – so you recognize any weed seed and evict it. That you overcome with your testimony with another obeyer sharpening one another daily. That you will ask God like David – if any weed sprouts have shot up today. So that if there be any wicked way in me – that God will cleanse it and remove it so you will grow unhindered, unimpeded to be prepared for the palace. Even if this season seems like a prison. Weeds are not from God, not weeds of thought, or of word, or of deed. They are never worth it. Prevent them, and reject them, get rid of them early. He has a harvest for you if you will pluck the weeds and plant the seed, so your grass will be thick, so your thoughts, words, and mind is secure. He will bring you victory after victory, you will get stronger, and the future He has for you – will surpass even your wildest imagination. His thoughts and His Words and His ways – are that much higher. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Have you ever had a weed problem? They will definitely grow if you let them. If you don’t remove them, they will become out of control. They will take over an entire field, or yard, or garden or flower bed – and they will choke out what was planted. A weed can be sin that pops up in your life. Unaddressed, it will take over. But the first weed is a word, of doubt or unbelief, or compromise, or excuse (it’s called perversity), or a lie. The first lie the devil tries is to get you to believe is “God didn’t really say that.” Oh yes He did. The second lie that the devil will try to get you to believe is that God is not good, or He doesn’t have good for you. He did it first with Eve in the garden. The third lie he tries to get you to believe is that God doesn’t care, either about sin, or about you. But just because He is silent, doesn’t mean he is pleased. He is long suffering and patient, but He will not be silent forever. Psalms 50:21 – “While you did all this, I remained silent and you thought I didn’t care. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.” So don’t worry about the wicked, they will eat the fruit of their ways, let God handle that… just be sure you are careful yourself. Do not allow weeds in your life, either false words or compromised actions. The best weed prevention is thick grass. If you are full of the Word of God – overdosing, consistently, that’s your PRISM time with Him… a weed can never get a foothold. But have you noticed wherever there is sparse grass, with bare patches, weeds are sure to fill them. If you neglect His Word, weeds will surely pop up. If you don’t remind yourself who God is, what God said, what God promised, other words will soon fill the void. The same with actions… If you fully know and are fully doing God’s plans for you today (that’s PiVAT before dinner) then you are so engaged with God’s good for you, the preparation, planting, watering and harvesting, that the weeds of sin cannot take root. Idle hands or your own plans attract sin quickly, but if you know what God has told you to do and are doing it with all their heart, and mind, and praise, and testimony – it leaves zero room for the weeds of sin or compromise to take root. And the blessing of God can flow freely in your life, wisdom will take root, the wisdom you gain from God’s Word, and the discipline that you walk in it with. Thick Grass is the best weed prevention. You get thick grass from His Word (that’s PRISM) and His plans for you (PiVAT). But if weeds do come – and they will always try. The best way to deal with them, is daily. You can spend 5-10 minutes plucking the sprouts or you will spend an entire weekend digging out all the weed plants. And they can become huge! It’s painful if you wait until then. They will stick you and prick you, and after all that work, you realize the blank places that could have been good plants already growing. Now new seed has to be planted, and waited on for growth, with those same weeds trying to come back again to the same place they occupied before. David dealt with weeds like this. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word... My eyes anticipate the watches of the night that I may meditate on your word. God’s Word became David’s thick grass. And here’s how he pulled weeds, those sin habits always trying to form - starting with just a little compromise, that you then go on to become comfortable with. David pulled those weeds every day. Here’s how he did it – through prayer. Search me O God, and know my heart, see if there be any wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting. God, is there any compromise in me today that I’m not seeing? I repent and turn from it immediately. That’s David spending just five minutes each day pulling the weed sprouts so they don’t become weed plants that choke out the fruit, require repentance, often consequence, shame and lost time. Praying that you will plant thick grass through PRISM in His Word so any weed word you eject immediately. And praying that you will plant thick grass by PiVAT before dinner every day. So you’re so busy obeying that sin doesn’t have a chance to take root. Praying that you will pull weeds every day – and ask God if there is anything in you displeasing to Him from today, so you can repent, and turn, so you can reject the curse to walk fully in His blessing and the joy that He gives. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Have you ever felt a little short on faith? Finding it hard to believe something, or believe for something God said or promised? What do you do? Let doubt creep in and remain? Wait and See? Or Stand Strong, and move forward in faith? What if you’re a little short? There is one thing you can know for sure. Your faith is not missing, you’re not missing faith, it’s just missing in action. Faith requires action. That’s what proves and strengthens your faith. James 2:17 – In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” He went on to say verse 21 – Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? That means you’re not short on faith… inactive faith isn’t short, its just underemployed. Jesus said, to grow your faith, just do your duty. God’s got the rest. He already gave you a measure of faith. That’s what He said. So that’s what He did. God either speaks in His Word, or He speaks to you, or He speaks to someone else. If you feel a little short on faith. Put some action to it. Go back to what He said. Either in His Word, to you directly, or to someone else. Read it again, Listen to it again. Most of the people in the Bible who experience great miracles from God didn’t hear from Him directly. They heard about him, or heard someone else give their testimony and they claimed that same promise for their own. The woman who was healed from an issue of blood for twelve years (making her a complete outcast in her family and community). Jesus didn’t speak to her, and tell her what He was going to do for her. She just heard about what Jesus did, and decided that promise was for her too. She just chose to put her faith in the goodness, the promise, and the faithfulness of God. So she came, and pursued, and pushed through the crowd until she finally touched him. And instantly power rushed through her body, and she was healed. Jesus noticed it immediately. The release of power from his body, activated by faith. Not short faith, but active faith. She heard, she believed, and she went. What have you heard? Go hear it again. What do you believe? If He is trustworthy, trust him. And what should you do. First go and hear, then pray. And when you pray, pray in faith believing. Third, do the next thing. Maybe it’s go where Jesus is. Maybe it’s keep going - building that ark. Maybe it’s just keep working, keep serving, keep praying, keep praising and keep thanking Him. That’s not wait and see, that’s standing firm, and taking the next action – while you wait. Maybe it’s finish strong in this season, trusting God fully for the next. Maybe it’s obey something He has been prompting you to do for a while. Maybe it’s just being thankful for the season you are in. But when you’re a little short on faith. Just put a little action to it. Active faith is never short. He makes it enough. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word. It gives warnings. Important ones. Just in time. God knows what the devil will attempt to trip you up with today. That’s why God gives you the answer, before the test. He does it through your PRISM Time (those five things you can do in God’s Word every day), or your Daily Call, (to exhort one another daily, and to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony) and through PiVAT before dinner, so He can counsel you in the night season, and confirm the plans He has for you. What a blessing. Proverbs 11:2 – When pride comes then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. If you see pride coming, go the other way; because it comes with disgrace. Not just humiliation and loss of reputation, but the removal, the loss of grace. Pride comes. And it always brings disgrace with it. You might not even be prideful – you might be pride-empty. But be on your guard. Pride is coming and it wants to fill you – and disgrace you. It wants to distance you from God’s grace (Divine power and Divine unmerited favor). It wants to dismiss grace from you. Sometimes you just don’t see it coming. Pride is the high place, humility is the low place. It you allow pride to come, disgrace comes with it. But if you seek humility – wisdom comes every time. Every time you choose humility, the low place – you can know for sure – wisdom is coming. Choose humility and you choose wisdom. So how do you see pride coming? #1 Not listening is the first sign of pride coming. It’s the first step, the first choice of pride. Instead, make it a habit to ask a clarifying question, instead of responding with your answer, or your opinion. And it will build a habit of listening and understanding, and humility in you. #2 Hearing something, and immediately thinking – you know better. Before forming an instant opinion from what someone says. Always ask God first: “God is this true? And is this You?” Just because it’s true, doesn’t mean it’s You. Every accusation of the devil, has an element of truth to it. Sometimes it’s true, but it’s not the time yet. It’s time to pray, not to say. Ask God, He will show you. And if you’re asking God rather than speaking your natural opinion or reaction, it is a buffer for you, a shield against pride coming. #3 Every opportunity to take the high place, rather than the low place, the bigger piece instead of the smaller piece, to be served instead of serve – It could be pride coming. And you remember what comes with it. You don’t want to be distanced or separated from grace, disgrace is no way to live. It is a guarantee of failure. #4 Seeing someone do something and comparing. The trap of comparison. “They’re not all that.” (They never said they were all that… you said that.) “I’m better than that, I wouldn’t have done it that way.” That’s pride coming. #5 Hearing someone say something negative about another. Do you join in the gossip? Did you leave it unchecked? Do you think and speak or repeat the slander? That’s pride coming. Praying that you will always choose humility, so pride cannot come. That you will always ask a clarifying question before answering. That you will always ask God – Is this true, and is this you? That you would always choose the low place, the smaller piece, and look for every opportunity to serve someone else. That’s humility, that’s wisdom coming! You can hear it like a freight train. Praying that you will avoid the trap of comparison. God told Peter, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You just follow me.” (John 21:22) Praying that you won’t compare, but just follow Jesus on the path He has set for you – it is the best path possible. It fits you – it’s way better than anyone else’s path. You can trust Him, His love for you is endless! Praying that you will never join in gossip or slander, but believe the best, give the benefit of the doubt, and redirect the conversation towards speaking life. You don’t need to confront or embarrass the one trapped in gossip, just gently defend the absent party, giving the benefit of the doubt, and fully refocusing the conversation. Sometimes with an entirely new subject question or invitation. Praying that when pride comes, you will see it coming, and go the other way. So you will grow in grace not be distanced from it. That you will always choose humility – the low place, so wisdom will always catch you. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word. It has simple truth for each day. Just what you need. It gives a new perspective, a different perspective, God’s perspective, and God gives it to set you free, to give you understanding, to build your faith, and to establish you in His Good. John 1:5 – The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. If you are in darkness in any area of your life, if you allow it, you will not see the light, or not understand it. Light shines in darkness, it removes it, it keeps it at bay. Light is for seeing and understanding, but it is also for darkness – to defeat it. His Word is light – it pierces the darkness. The Holy Spirit gives understanding to His Word. His Word is light and any other word is darkness. That’s what keeps you from seeing and understanding… other words, not His. You live in light or darkness depending on whose Word has the most impact, effect, and grip on you. Are you struggling to see light right now at the end of the tunnel? Or are there things you don’t understand? Go back to the light, Go back to PRISM, do extra, one more verse of Praise the Word, one more chapter or book of Read the Word. One more verse if you will Ask God to soap it out, and show you something new. Ask Him to give you a hunger and thirst for His Word which is light for you! Busyness will always dim the light. Sometimes we come to the Word just to get something we need. But the more you come to the Word – just to be with Him, just to remain in His light, the more He can unfold to your understanding, and prepare you in advance for the understanding you will soon need. Praying that His Word today – is the light you walk in, that you keep coming back to. That it pierces and removes every other word, every other darkness that keeps you from the good that He has planned and stored up for you. Praying that you will love His Word more and more. It will be light for you! It will help you see, and understand. The darker the days, the more His light shines. The more you need to understand, the more His Word shines. Praying that you are always drawn more and more to the light – so darkness is evicted, and understanding remains. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word. It gives truth, secrets, promises - that will set you free. Psalms 68:19 – Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Praise God! All of my burdens are borne today. Every single one, He has beared them all. He’s carrying them right now! That makes today a burdenless day. What burdens you today? What is it that the devil is trying to make you think you must carry yourself? Is it a grip of the past? A failure, or a grief, or an unfulfilled dream? What is it that your enemy is trying to hold you back with? When God said different… Is it a fear in the present, a mountain you are facing? Or something that you heard might happen, a danger that might be lurking? Is it the pressure of performance, from yourself or others? Is it a weariness, or a dryness, or a struggle to hope or believe? A provision you lack or a direction you need? What is it that the devil is trying to make you think you have to carry, when God said, He is the Lord, He is God your Savior – who daily bears your burdens. That means He has designed and ordained your day, this day – to be a burdenless day, a burden-free day. And He even tells us where it starts. Praise be… to the LORD, to God, your Savior, who daily bears your burdens. Praise be - the only way Praise will be – is if you praise. It’s the start of letting Him take the burdens that He daily carries for you. The devil wants you to take them back, God wants you to leave them with Him, so you can run free, so you can dance, so you can rest, so you can walk, and run with Him. His plans for you today don’t include burdens, He carries them, and you Praise Him – it keeps you from taking them back. You praise Him, or the rocks will cry out, as the devil tries to put the burdens back on you. Praise Be – Go ahead and praise Him. Tell Him, you are the LORD – the Supreme Authority, You Are God, You Are My Savior, You Daily Bear My Burdens. Today you carry them all. Praise be! If you give Him your praise, you give him your burdens, He takes them in your praise. Just claim His Word and His promise. You can even identify them if you have to. Thank Him for carrying each one. That’s not for you to carry, that one either... That’s for Him. He handles the heavy lifting, so you can rest and walk and run with Him. Praying that you will Praise Him, so Praise will be – to the LORD, to God your Savior, who today and every day bears your burdens, so you have yet another – burdenless day. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Have you ever noticed, that there is a fundamental principle that even the world has figured out? Especially money people. It’s called the principle of delayed gratification. Giving up the lesser now, for the greater later. That’s why you don’t see Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos walking around with $10,000 gold chains around their neck. Those guys can end up broke, the other guys end up buying islands, corporations, countries, and economies. Bobby Bowden passed recently, and in a tribute they shared some things He said. One of the winningest college football coaches of all time. And he didn’t lead by abuse and fear, but by inspiration and belief. He said an interesting thing in an interview. (That’s why interviews are so informative. People talking about themselves can’t help but reveal what they really believe, and who they really are). Coach Bowden said this. “Reputation is what people think you are. Character is who God knows you are.” He was after the building of character, more than the building of champions. It seems he may have achieved both. The principle of delayed gratification, giving up the lesser now, for greater later, is without exception a pre-requisite for every Champion, Gold Medalist, or Championship Team. In simple money terms, some people want to look rich now, rather than be rich later. And it is possible. It’s called debt. Debt is the exact opposite of the principle of delayed gratification. Rather than giving up now to gain later, it is giving up the later, to gain now. It enables what seems to be accelerated gratification rather than delayed gratification, only to find out it’s forfeited gratification. Some people want to live like they are fifty, when they are twenty. Not realizing the fifty year old lives like that now, because they chose not to when they were twenty. Even the world has figured that out. But when it comes to the spiritual world, the Kingdom of God itself is based on delayed gratification. Paul said I count all things (down here) as loss – that I may gain Christ. He was more consumed with how He will live up there forever, than down here right now, which is so temporary, and extremely fickle. The reason the devil wants to keep you from learning delayed gratification, is if he can bind your money, your income, and cash flow, he can keep you from God’s best. Debt steals the seed. If you owe, you can’t give, God cannot direct resources that He has given you – that you have obligated to another, every month. And if the devil can steal your seed, he can steal your harvest. Give and it shall be given to you - is delayed gratification. It’s Kingdom focus. Delayed gratification applies to Time, Thoughts, Money, Relationships. If you give God your time decisions, He will invest your life seed to bring a harvest. If you learn to think like He thinks, instead of how the world thinks, He can direct your thoughts and words and heart so he can change your desires – to give you His best. If you let Him make your money decisions (you have to know where it is first, so you can ask Him what He wants you to do with it) you might not look successful at first, but He will direct your seed in the best soil. You will be free to give, so He can bring a harvest... good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. Delayed gratification, don’t look for your own spouse, or get into physical and emotional obligations with your body, let God consume your heart until He can bring you together with the one He has chosen for you. The entire kingdom of God is predicated on that principle of delayed gratification. Give up what seems good now, to get the best He has later. No one who has done it has ever regretted it. 2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Praying that you will not live for the now, but the then. If you do, your now will be so fruitful, and your then will be beyond your imagination. Your now will not be wasted, boring, or lacking. He knows how to give good things, even in the waiting, and the planting, and the sacrificing season. No sacrifice is too great for what He has in store for you. Praying that you will wait when He says wait. That you will delight yourself in him, rather than the things of the world. And you’ll get a little stronger, you’ll get a little wiser, you’ll get a little further, and you’ll get a whole lot better. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word. It gives clear commands. Do Not Let. Some things in life will happen if you let them. Like the school bully will take your lunch until you no longer let them. God gives some clear commands. “Let” – to permit, to allow, to not prevent. The devil is the ultimate bully, he will steal, kill, and destroy unless God or you stop him. You have the power that God gives you. Sometimes, it’s time to stand up. God’s Word tells us of some things that will happen if we let them, and it tells us what not to let happen. Let not your hearts be troubled. It means do not let it happen! Sometimes God troubles you – because He wants you to do something about it. If you are troubled by sin – there’s a reason for that. Repent and be forgiven. Don’t go there anymore. Sometimes God troubles you – because He wants you to act. The devil troubles you – to keep you in that state of troubled. Sometimes it’s a lack of faith (which can never please God). There’s a difference between trouble and troubled. God said “In this world you will have trouble, but be of good courage, I have overcome the world.” As my Daily Call Partner said recently – My Dad can beat up your dad. God’s power over the devil is eternal. It has never changed. It never will. The authority He gives you – enables you to do it. If God says let not your heart be troubled, then it’s your job to prevent it, to stop it with the truth of His Word, and the authority He gives, and doing something different, than allowing it. Here are some great Do not Let verses – that will bring stability to your faith and life. John 14:1 – Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. The devil wants to trouble you. He wants your heart to be troubled. It will be if you let it. Some things God does, some things He leaves up to you. Jeremiah 51:46 – Let not your heart faint, and don’t believe the report. In this case it was about rumors in the land of violence coming. God said one year one rumor comes, another year the next. In the end He will bring justice. His faithfulness requires it. Other times it’s a doctor’s report. Luke 8:49 – While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead.” He said, don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Hearing this Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed. The devil wants to trouble you by every rumor or report of sickness. Don’t let him. Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Some people’s words become prophetic. That self-fulfilling prophesy. According to your faith, be it unto you, and according to your words, will it happen. Matthew 12:35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. Don’t let your words agree with what comes from the evil one. Let your words of faith declare what God said! What anyone else says doesn’t matter. “Well you have to be realistic” Faith always flies in the face of reality. Miracles always supersede reality. Don’t let unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, unwholesome words... They will, if you let them. Don’t let them. Joshua 1:8 – Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth. But you shall meditate on it day and night, so you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. God says – stay in my Word. Keep PRISM your priority. Speak His Word out loud. Don’t let it depart from your mouth. Keep it on your lips, on your mind, and in your heart. Exodus 23:33 – Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you. There are some things that you cannot allow to have influence in your life. Some people, and some habits have to go. Do not let them have influence. They will as long as you let them. Praying that every time you sense yourself becoming troubled. That you will ask God, it this you troubling me? What is it that you want me to do? Repent and Confess? Take a stand for truth or righteousness? Help someone in need? Be fervent and effectual in prayer? Any trouble that comes from God – comes with a next step. Ask Him, He’ll reveal it. The trouble that comes from the enemy is a dead-end. So you lose heart, and lose hope. He will take whatever you let him. Praying that you will not let anything the devil wants for you to stand. But that you will walk in the peace and promise of your loving Heavenly Father – who has all authority, who loves you, leads you, and will fulfill the purpose He has for you. Praying that you will never let your heart be troubled, but that your faith will rise, your obedience will be swift and complete, your words will align with his Word, so your fruit remains, and your joy is full. Love you all, dad |
AuthorKelly Kamentz - Jesus follower, husband, father, and friend, helping others surrender time, thoughts, money, and testimony, to fulfill their purpose! Archives
April 2024
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