Love you all, praying for you, 
 
I just love God’s Word. It gives commands for our good.  It gives habits for success.  The biggest one?  1st Time Obedience.  What you learn as a child, isn’t for the convenience of your parents, it’s to train you to hear the voice of God, and respond immediately. If you learn to obey the parents you can see, you’ll be able to obey the Heavenly Father that you cannot see.  Most parents don’t realize the critical importance, of training first time obedience.  Parents who let kids get away with not obeying the first time, aren’t being kind or nice, they’re actually dooming their child to lost opportunity, and lost blessing at the very least.  And neglect of that moral value in a child could result in far negative consequence down the road than lost blessing or favor.  When training up a child, Dad’s - the best thing you can do for your child is love their Mommy.  Mom’s - the best thing you can do for your child is respect their Daddy.  They will feel completely secure and it will enable and accelerate their growth in every moral, physical, intellectual and social area.  And when it comes to training them.  The foundational moral principle – is first time obedience.  Train them to obey the first time.  If you do not, it will keep them from everything God wants to give them.  This isn’t about you as a parent, or your convenience… this is about them as a child and what they will become.  That’s a challenge to you as a parent, but what about you as a child of the King, how is your 1st Time Obedience coming?  Does God have to count to three before you obey - His command, or His prompting, or His leading?  Some months ago a couple of my grandkids were over at my house playing.  They were behind a chair and started kicking it.  To redirect them, I called one of them by name and said, “Their Name,” Papa says come out from behind the chair.”  Immediately this child came, and I praised them for such a good job of obeying the first time!  And instantly in my mind I decided that I would take them to get some donuts, for their wonderful job of obeying.  So I called the child by name again, and said, “Their Name, come here!  Papa wants to tell you something.”  I was going to tell them what we were about to do.  And their response, they instantly ran and hid in the closet.  Their first time obedience that would have yielded a reward, was cancelled by their disobedience a moment later, because they never came to hear what Papa was going to do.  I wasn’t mad, just realized that it would be better left for another time.  Have you ever considered what could be lost, when you fail to obey the first time?  You don’t get donuts every time you do what God tells you.  Just like everyone celebrates your first steps at twelve months old, and gets it on video.  But when you’re three, you don’t get a celebration every time you walk into the next room.  But there could be - many opportunities for blessing – left on the table – from a Father who longs to bless you, if your first time obedience isn’t an “all the time” habit.  Praying that you will get really good at First Time Obeying.  PiVAT will help you.  One godly young woman said, “PiVAT isn’t just obedience practice, it’s prophetic practice."  She was referring to the verse that says – When the Holy Spirit comes, He will lead you into all truth, and He will show you things to come.”  That’s what PiVAT before dinner is.  Prophetic practice, and obedience practice - as God tells you in part what is coming tomorrow.”  And if you keep coming back PRISM – those five things you can do in His Word, It’s like coming to hear what your Heavenly Father wants to tell you.  He might say, we’re going to the donut shop.  Praying that first time obedience becomes your “every time” habit.  Not off and on, sometimes, sometimes not, but always – instant in obedience!  Not for the donuts, but for the DNA.  The character it builds in you, and the destiny it brings you to. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word. Sometimes is cringeworthy to really think about.  It is real life application.  It’s a choice to make, and instruction to follow - or not.  It requires humility to recognize it, and humility to change.  Thankfully, God’s word is truth, you don’t have to worry about implementing the wrong thing.  His word is flawless – without fault or error.  What He says is completely dependable, it endures throughout every generation.  Have you ever had a Quarterly or Annual Review at work?  An assessment of personal performance?  Here’s one.   James 3:13 - Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  What is this talking about?  Two kinds of wisdom, and the evidence of which kind you operate in.  Who boasts about selfish ambition?  Those who don’t recognize it for what it is.  Some people do things, and conduct themselves in a way they think makes them a man, or an independent woman.  They boast about it, denying the truth, for they falsely think that it indicates success, only to be unaware that it is false wisdom, and a faulty standard.  That’s why they boast about it, reinforcing their habits that bear the wrong fruit. God reveals further, James 3:16 - For where you have bitter envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure (unmixed), then peace-loving (it promotes peace), considerate (unselfish), submissive, (willing to come under, not Lord it over) full of mercy (cause you’ve received it) and good fruit, impartial (no favorites) and sincere (not fake, but truly about them not yourself) Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.  This is truth in practice.  No one is wise without a life that demonstrates it.  Your actions indicate and prove your wisdom, the kind you operate in - God’s Wisdom, or the other kind, which is really foolishness disguised by deception.  Your life reveals if you have wisdom or not, or whose wisdom you have.  Either wisdom from heaven, or wisdom of the earth, unspiritual, of the devil.  Are you wise?  Are you understanding?  Do your deeds show it?  Does your life show it?  Is what you do, done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  If you are expecting others to show humility? Do you show it yourself?   Are you hasty with words?   Or do you make sure you first have the mind of Christ, the counsel of the Holy Spirit and others?  Be humble, so your deeds will come from wisdom, not reaction. Your deeds prove your humility and your wisdom, not just your words.  But your tongue is an indicator.  Your tongue is a fire, don’t just contain it, submit it.   Bitter envying means “sharp tongued,” piercing, ‘heat,’ zeal – it’s a warning sign.  Do not glory in it, and do not think you are innocent.  If you’re full of heat about something, sharp tongued, piercing words, that is a dead giveaway of the other kind of wisdom.  Don’t be pleased with yourself, or deny the truth.  Such wisdom does not come down from heaven.  Back up a little bit.  If your words pierce, (when God says pleasant words promote instruction, and a gentle word can break a bone – Prov 15:1, 25:5), be careful.  If you’re hot - full of zeal, sharp tongued, be careful - you are likely not operating in the wisdom that comes from God.  Be humble, so your deeds will come from wisdom, not reaction.  Is delivery as important as the message?  God’s wisdom includes both.   Is the goal not to offend anybody?  Impossible, but if your words needlessly offend, are you really wanting to help them?  Or justify yourself – and end up scorching them?  Is it really about them and their good, or about you and your desire to be right or honored or respected? Praying that your actions will indicate God’s Wisdom, that you will check yourself before boasting or denying…  that you will notice the indicator of heat!  That your words will sow peace – so you reap a harvest of righteousness.  Praying that the wisdom you walk in will have full evidence of being the wisdom of God.  So God’s message through you can come packaged in the delivery of wisdom, and the sowing of peace, so the harvest will honor God, and position you for greater things. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you. 
 
I just Love God’s Word.  It is truth.  So then why is truth so hard to find?  Why are so many people deceived, thinking truth is a lie, and lies are truth?  Because the father of lies, hates the God of truth, so he attacks it with everything he’s got.  And he is skilled in deception, from the garden of Eden, he’s been perfecting his craft…  Some people don’t believe in God or His principles which have been given to govern human behavior, both personal and governmental.  When God’s principles are followed prosperity results, when they are rejected or rewritten, tyranny and misery are inescapable.  There is a social theory from observing history called mass psychosis that all humans are vulnerable to.  You can actually convince large numbers of people of things that are not true.  In recent human history, the government of a country convinced the nation that a certain race of people were evil, crooked, corrupt, and the reason for their life’s struggles. It was untrue, but a nation came to believe it.  That is why the 1st Amendment of the United States of America is so important.  Without it, those in power control what information is legal, and what information is illegal.  They call it misinformation – if it doesn’t agree with their philosophy, opinion, political position, or with their point of view.  So they first shame, then cancel, then legislate against it, and finally bring the full force of all legal, law enforcement, and military agencies to crush it.  They will use racism, classism, genderism, whatever they can to convince the masses that they are doing what is right in their rewritten definition of justice – supposedly for the benefit of the whole.  History’s example for those in power, once you eliminate dissent, or individual freedoms – as racist, unjust, or un-national, you can control the information flow to convince the masses of complete untruths.  The result is the mistreatment of any group of people, identified by race (or viewpoint).  It is fully justified, and like the examples of History - millions were murdered in gas chambers for the benefit of the nation, or the saving of democracy.  Mass psychosis.  A deceiving of the masses.  It starts with those in power, controlling the news media, controlling the flow of information, controlling the economic opportunity of each citizen, controlling what is taught in the schools, and universities.  They control entertainment and the arts – cancelling those who think differently or dare to question the negative results that occur from the outset.  The nation of Germany did these things, and duped an entire population to hate a certain kind of person, who then could be mistreated with impunity.  Another nation simply controlled the population with the law enforcement agencies and a justice system.  Injustice was considered justice, and those in power never relinquished it.  Germany was defeated in war and the Nazi’s removed.  Russia still rules today with an iron fist, as does China.  And those who question them, or desire freedom of speech or freedom of choice in life are arrested, imprisoned, and executed, like my grandfather.   The socialist mindset – take from the rich and give to the poor, or take from one race and give to another, benefits neither the rich, nor the poor.  The rich become poor, and the poor become poorer.  The only ones that benefit, are those who retain power – they become wealthy off of their position, and no one can stop them.  They will never relinquish it.  Russia used mass migration to control the people.  They imported huge numbers of people, into new areas and controlled them through work and rations.  Millions died from famine.  Real people, just like you and me.  Germany executed millions of Jews, based on lies, and mass psychosis of a supposedly educated people.  God said governments will rise and fall. From the Roman Empire to the Medes and Persians, from Alexander the Great, to Napoleon… from the British Empire which once controlled much of the globe, to the United States of America.  Whenever any government carries out injustice, it cannot bear up under the weight.  And injustice starts with lies. That’s why God hates it, He’s the God of truth.   If God’s principles are followed - they bring freedom, fairness and prosperity to all people equally.  If they are neglected or rejected, rewritten – they bring bondage, injustice and misery to all except those in power.  History offers no other alternative, and God’s Word foretold it.  That’s why those in power today in America are trying to rewrite the Constitution which guarantees the equal rights of every citizen, not rights and benefits for some, and not for others.  So what about you?  Are you part of the mass psychosis?  What are you listening to?  What do you fill your mind with?  News Media of the racist dividers, the socialist apologists, the gender, class, and sex combatants, the victimhood propagandists?  This will destroy a nation, it will result in civil war.  Rather than unity based on the principles of freedom for all - recognized by a United States Constitution as God given rights, not granted by any government… based on the eternal truths of Scripture…  They blame some people for the troubles of others.  And once in power favor those with privileged status created by victimhood or viewpoint.  The German people were victims of the corrupt Jews, and it had to be remedied… it was justice.  Only it wasn’t – it was deception, injustice, and soon, mass murder.  History repeats itself, unless someone rejects the lies, and holds on to truth.  One can blame those in power, but until they rule with an iron fist (and they will).  Until that time, it’s not too late… Each person individually decides for themselves - if they will by choice of ignorance, join in the mass psychosis, or do real research to understand both sides.  To discern, who conforms to the Truth of God which endures forever… and who rejects God and His principles, preferring deception that will not remain.  The wicked will eventually be removed, and righteousness restored, God will see to it.  The deceivers will be exposed, and the deceived will be ashamed.  But that could take generations, if the righteous do not seek the truth, and stand for freedom.  Praying that you are not lemmings, but truth seekers, not controlled by political forces trying to retain power, but submitted to the KING of Kings, and the LORD of lords, who defines truth, who loves every person equally, who saves those who call on Him, forgives those who repent, and delivers those who run to Him.  Blessed are those who Fear Him, and blessed is the nation whose God is The LORD.       
 
Love you all,
dad 

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It gives truth between the lines.  Proverbs 20:1 – Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.  Is this verse about wine and beer? Or is this also about mocking and brawling and being led astray into them?   Mocking God is foolish, allowing sin in your life, or speaking perversely – any word that would delay instant and complete obedience. Mocking God is foolish - whether you drink wine or not.  Mocking others – slander, saying things that lessen another’s reputation – is violating God’s Word.  God said, "Do not slander one another…" James 4:11. God said “Say nothing harmful…" Psalms 34:13-14.  This is the fear of the LORD.  God said, “Who are you to judge another man’s servant..."  Romans 14:4.  Mocking Others is foolish.  Don’t fail to speak up when sin or injustice is encroaching or presenting, but do not judge or malign others, and say nothing that would lessen their reputation.  That’s mocking, slander – it’s evil, whether you drink wine or not.  Brawling – what makes you fight and argue?  If not beer, what is your excuse?  What is the environment that has you arguing and disputing and fighting?  Stop drinking it.  Do not be unwise, do not let foolishness define you, because it comes with fruit that you do not want.  Stay away from wine, and beer.  Leave that for those who are perishing (Proverbs 31:6).  And stay away from the wine and beer that makes you slander or fight, or delay obedience.  Identify those wines and beers (situations, habits, environments, media inputs, maybe relationships) and leave them behind forever.   Anything that makes you mock or brawl, take offense easily, leave it behind.  Even the simple neglect of thanksgiving and praise, could foster a sharp tongue, or soon irritation, or impatience, that results in quarreling or disputing.  Leave neglect behind, be diligent to praise…  Set your mind on things above.  Leave wine and beer for those who are perishing.  That’s not you.  He’s healing and establishing you – in His Word and His Way, His Presence.  Ask God if there is any wine or beer in your life that you are unaware of… things that lead to mocking or brawling, and move on from them.  Leave them behind.  Let God establish you in righteousness, so His blessing surrounds you.  Leave wine and beer for those who are perishing. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It teaches you the unusual.  The opposite of what most people do.  Like God’s ways – are higher than man’s ways, like the heavens are higher than the earth.  One habit that honors God, that few do.  Do you?  Always leave things better than they were before you came.  Is that your life defining habit?  Do you put the grocery cart back, or do you just leave it next to your car, for the wind to catch it so it rolls away and scratches and dents someone else’s car?   Do you wipe the table, clean the floor, and straighten the chairs before you leave McDonalds or Chick Fil A when your family leaves? Have you taught your kids to do that?  Do they know, that’s what our family does?   Or do you leave the table a mess, with crumbs and napkins on the floor and chairs everywhere?  But why would you do that?  That’s what they pay people to do?  Because it reflects excellence, and the glory of God.  When you care for things that aren’t yours, you honor people, and you honor the God who owns them.  Gary Ezzo calls it a “rational preoccupation with those coming behind you.”  It’s a moral beauty, rare, valuable.  It speaks of you, but more of the God who made you, who is the real owner of whatever restaurant you go to, and every grocery cart you use.  Every time you take care of God’s things, regardless of who they belong to here, it honors Him, and honors those coming behind you – whom God loves.  Teach this to your children, it will set them apart, and will teach them to honor God, and bless people, to consider them more highly than yourself.  It’s really worship – it’s glorifying Him - making Him bigger in the eyes of others.  It will start conversations that will enable you to point people to the God who loves them.  Your kids will be impressive, they will make an impression.  They will honor people and things, because God loves them, and God is the true owner of them.  Moral Beauty is rare, but God calls us to glorify Him with it.  Praying that excellence in honor of God, things, and people, will be your daily habit, and will define your family, subconscious, automatic…  People are watching.  So when people watch you – they will see the glory of God, through what you do.  Always leave things better than you found them.  It’s considering others, more important than yourself.  And considering God most important of all.  
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It gives clear simple instruction - for your good!  First things first.  In any person’s life, mis-prioritization, or losing focus on the priority, ends in disillusionment, (disenchanted, disappointed, is this all there is? I thought it would be better than this), even delusion (a misleading of the mind), and disaster – things fall apart.  When you neglect the priority - you soon become distracted, ineffective, confused, lost.  God gives a compass – the true north – the priority to set your life by.  You can measure it, and if you’re off, you can return, and life will become recalibrated to accurate, good, successful.  Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.  Don’t seek after the added.  Don’t chase after what comes free with it.  Get the it.  Seek first – before you do anything else…  the kingdom of God.  Myles Munroe – Kingdom, where the King has dominion.  If the King has dominion, He is in control of you, what you do.   God is making your time, thought and money decisions.  He owns your schedule, His Word transforms your thoughts, opinions, and beliefs,   and He makes your money decisions.  You steward His money – by doing with it whatever He tells you.  You know where it is, and you ask Him, and He tells you what to do with it.  You think like He thinks, Your time belongs to Him, you serve Him as your master, not your own desires or what you want to accomplish in life.  You let Him set your course, you don’t turn to the left or the right. You let Him lead you, you are a follower of Christ.  You do what He does, and what He did.  Followers are like mini-me’s.  They are just like who they follow.  Just like Jesus only did what His Father told Him to do, you only do what Your Father in Heaven wants you to do, as the Holy Spirit reveals it to you.   It’s so easy to stray from a heart after God, from the Fear of the LORD, from the ways of God, His commands, His precepts, living in a way that pleases Him.  But that is the Kingdom of God, Righteousness, Peace, Joy – and those come when you are walking in step with Him, in His ways, His plans, in what He has assigned for you today.  It’s always worth it.  And every day you fully submit to Him, changes your location completely.  Like one small degree to the right, it won’t take long until you are in a totally different place.  Where His blessing can flow, where His purpose for you can be fulfilled.  Praying that you will seek Him First – PiVAT before dinner, so you get his plans.  PRISM – your habit of soaking in His Word – so you continue to think like He thinks!  And His wisdom controls how you operate.  Praying that you will love his presence in worship, and continue constantly in prayer.  Praying you will overcome daily with your testimony, with a Daily Call partner – sharpening each other to remain focused on that priority – First things first. Seek ye first teh Kingdom of God...  PiVAT, PRISM, and your Daily Call.  They will help you live the Kingdom life that He has for you.  Use 4C’s to get God’s plans financially.  Join a group of obeyers in a PiVAT Small Group.  Do whatever you can – to center your life in His Kingdom, where your life is completely directed by Him, where the King has dominion, and every blessing He longs to give you – will become a never-ending river flowing into your life. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It’s an instruction book, a step by step users guide to success.    
 
25 Commands You Need To Know
 
#1 Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.  Acts 16:31
 
#2 Be filled with the Holy Spirit, (Luke 11:13) so you receive power to live your life for Him.  Acts 1:8
 
#3 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your might.  Mark 12:30)  (Learn the Fear of the LORD)
 
#4 Love your Neighbor as yourself.  Mark 12:31  (How to Treat Others, Kindness)
 
#5 Let this Word never depart from your mouth – meditate on it day and night, so you’ll be careful to do everything that is written in it.  For then you will be prosperous, and then you will have good success. Josh 1:8 (PRISM Daily)
 
#6 Go into all the World and share the good news, make disciples (obeyers) – Teach them to do everything Jesus tells them.  Matt 28:19  Let them close enough to see how you obey.  (Daily Call)
 
#7 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…  (Humility) Philippians 2:5
 
#8 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth, someone else, and not your own lips.  Prov 27:2
 
#9 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, test me now in this, declares the LORD, and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour down so much blessing you won’t have room for it.  Malachi 3:10
 
#10 You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you…  Isa 26:3
 
#11 In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you… I Thes 5:18
 
#12 Husbands love your wives, wives submit to your husbands…(as they submit to Christ)  Eph 5:24-25
 
#13 Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
 
#14 Do not slander, say nothing harmful, only use your mouth to build up.  Eph 4:29, Prov 10:18
 
#15 Overlook Offenses - believe the best.  Prov 17:9
 
#16 Keep yourself free from the love of money – be content with what you have.  Heb 13:5
 
#17 Avoid the path of the wicked. Do not set foot on it, go on your way.  Prov 4:14-15
 
#18 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.  Prov 4:25
 
#19 Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.  Ex 20:8
 
#20 Honor your Father and Mother.  Exodus 20:12
 
#21 Whatever God tells you to do, do it with all your heart… the precious possession of a man is diligence – Prov 12:27
 
#22 Without faith it is impossible to please God, and faith without action is dead.  Heb 11:6, Jas 2:26
 
#23 Exhort one other daily – Heb 3:13   Get a Daily Call. 
 
#24 Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened to you… Matt 7:7 -   (Pray without ceasing)  I Thes 5:17
 
#25 Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.  Col 3:2
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It gives secrets.  It gives tools for success, for overcoming the enemy.  And it gives reminders, in case you forgot.  Psalms 8:2 – From the mouths of babes and infants you have ordained praise, because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.  I’ve read this verse multiple times, but the truth of it, and the benefits of it can be overlooked or forgotten.  Like someone who can’t get in the door... when the key is in their pocket.  From the time you were a child, God ordained praise for you.  And you thought it was just for Him.  He established it as a weapon of victory for you in your life.  To silence the foe, the enemy of your soul.  What if you did that?  What if you praised – like it was ordained for… Intentionally, Regularly, Purposefully?  Ordained means appointed, instituted, established.  That was the intent of God to provide this for you.  He set it in place for you. He ordained it.  You are to praise so your enemy is silenced.  It’s an If-Then thing…  If you do it, you get the benefit, what it was intended for.  If you neglect it, you forfeit the benefit and the blessing.  If you don’t praise, the enemy is not silenced – he’ll never shut up.  If you do praise, what does it do?  It silences your foe, the enemy of your soul.  What does he do?  Lies – he’s the father of lies.  If he is silenced, you will no longer hear the lies in your head or from outside sources trying to deceive you into misbeliefs that will harm you, or prevent you from God’s favor or blessing or His good.  Praise will help prevent the lies from coming or taking root in you.  It can even help to dislodge, uproot and evict them.  What else does he do? Accuses – he’s the accuser of the brethren.  Just like the woman caught, Jesus said where are your accusers now?  (No one was left), then neither do I accuse you, just go and sin no more!  (My grace will help you).  Praise will silence the accuser, whether falsely or justified.  What else does he do?  Deceives – he’s the deceiver – he tricks you into believing things that are false, which result in you doing things that are bad for you.  They just seem good, but they’re not, and they result in Gods’ discipline or judgment.  Praise is a protection against getting caught up in sin.  It silences the deceiver.  What else does he do? Tempts – he’s the tempter.  Praise will help deliver you from the sins that can so easily beset you, which could trap you, bringing guilt and shame, which block your blessing, steal your peace, and hinder your relationship with God.  The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  And praise out of your mouth silences him. So nothing is stolen from you, it must be returned, so nothing can end your life, or destroy it.  If he’s not talking to you, he has no effect on you.   Praise shuts him up.  Praise will help you overcome your enemy, so nothing is stolen from you, kills you, or destroys you.  Praise was designed for this, ordained for this.  If your mouth is filled with praise, the devil’s not talking, you are overcoming him.  Praise the Word, it will not only bring honor to God and protection to you, It will fill your heart and mind with His truth – another weapon to overcome with.  It is written!  Praise, and Praise the Word.  Whether Psalms the Praise Book, or any PRISM Topic – the power of God’s Word on a subject will silence what the devil tries to bring against you.  Praying that Praise will be a part of your worship system, and your self-defense system.  So God’s power can protect you and propel you.
 
Love you all,
dad  

Love you all, praying for you.  

I just love God’s Word.  It is the playbook for life.  Do you lead a team, or an organization?  Do you have any responsibility that includes or involves other people?  What are the three keys, requirements for success? 
 
#1  The most important thing to the success of any organization or team - is having the Right People in the right place (or role). Without it, you cannot succeed.  Jesus carefully selected his disciples, Gideon let 20,000 employees go, and kept the 300 he needed. (Not all of them were happy).  The disciples sought the LORD to replace the one destined for destruction.  (Jesus didn’t make a hiring mistake, there was a bigger purpose in play).   Be careful who you hire, or who you add to your team.  Proverbs 26:10 – Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.  Proverbs 10:26 – Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.   If God has called you to lead something, be sure you have the right people on your team.  Letting them go isn’t a bad thing, it could be the best thing for them, and absolutely needed for you.  Faithful leaders are not people pleasers, they please the one who sent them, and love people to excellence.  You won’t make everyone happy, but those you are called to, and are called to you will grow in grace, and fulfill the purpose to which you and they are called.   
 
#2 The second most important thing to the success of any organization or team is Vision.  Without vision, the people perish.  Without revelation the people cast off restraint.  To attract the right people, and retain them, your vision must be clear.  The desired end-state.  State it specifically, communicate it regularly.  Be careful to guard against vision creep, and vision leak.  Don’t get distracted and add things.  Do what you do best.  And don’t let vision wane, by lack of communication, or enthusiasm.  Celebrate the successes, and keep the vision in plain sight. 
 
#3 The third most important thing is Communication. It must clear and it must be regular, scheduled.  You need weekly, even a brief daily meeting to instill accountability, celebrate successes which accomplish the vision, to anticipate challenges and remove roadblocks, and to reinforce the vision.  When Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, he was sure to gather them together at the end.  Communication for the greatest leader of all time, was 1) Daily relationship, 2) Humble service (he washed their feet), 3) He always set the example himself, he didn’t require anything of them that he wasn’t willing to do, or hadn’t already demonstrated.  4) He gave clear assignments, and told them what to expect – what they would face while doing it.  5) He sent them out two by two, so they would succeed.  And 6) He followed up assignments with team conversations.  So they could overcome with their testimony and everyone could be encouraged.  And 7) He also cooked them breakfast.  They shared meals together.   They became like family.  Jesus was the greatest leader of all time.  Millions still follow him today. 
 
If you lead a team or an organization, you need people who share your values, vision, and strategy.  So be selective when you hire.  Ask God to help you, He will.  And if you already have a team… Is everyone on your team on board with you, or are some working against you?  To get everyone on the same page… Organizational Unity – requires these things:    
 
#1  Is the Goal, Expectation or Requirement specifically defined?  (Make it plain on tablets so whoever reads it can run with it).  If it’s unclear, people will define it for themselves, and they’ll be pulling in different directions, rather than moving together toward the goal.
 
#2 Have you clearly communicated it?  Do they understand the expectation and reason behind it?  Regular Communication is required – one time only will not suffice.
 
#3 Do they have the capacity to do it?  Physically or Intellectually?  Can they do it?  They might be in the wrong position or role. 
 
#4 Do they want to?  Are they committed to it? 
 
If it’s not specifically defined, or you haven’t communicated clearly, that’s on you. But if they are incapable, or unwilling – you’ve got the wrong person on your team.  You need to free them up to do something they want to do and are capable of.  It will benefit them, and you. 
 
Praying that you will know what God is calling you to do, select your team members wisely, and love them to excellence.  And if you belong to a team, and are not the leader.  You need to be a great team member.  Remember the law of sowing and reaping.  The team member you are for others, will be the team members you receive when you’re in a position of responsibility.  When you’re not the leader, are you humbly serving them and others, to accomplish the vision God has given them?  If you’re on the wrong team, don’t be a distraction, be a blessing.  You might need to get to the place God has for you.  It’s not quitting, it’s repositioning for your success, and theirs.   
 
Praying you will always be a good teammate, and a faithful leader of great teams. So everything God has called you to do, you do fully and joyfully with excellence.  That is your reasonable act of worship!
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you. 
 
I just love God’s Word.  It confronts you.  Sometimes it’s encouraging, sometimes it challenging.  It’s uncomfortable, but needed.  Proverbs 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.  How well do you hear and heed?  Heed has perhaps more than one application.  Part of the obedience family, but almost a precursor to obedience.  Watch yourself.  Like when Jesus said, “Take heed that you don’t despise one of these little ones, because their angels stand before your Father in heaven.”  Heed is almost like ‘be ready to obey” so you obey.  Heed: to mind; to regard with care, to take notice of; to attend to to observe – either fully implement, or watch to do it.   Sometimes heed means Guard yourself – in general.  Other times it’s specific, adjust course, do things a little differently than what you’ve been doing.  First – Guard yourself – be circumspect, be careful (like when God warned the Israelites to take heed, not to enter into any agreements with the people around them, that God was going to remove from the land.  Or when God said take heed to observe all these commands that I’m giving you today.  That Heed – is guard yourself, be careful to, be ready to.  But the other application of take heed, is hear and fully attend to, apply it completely.  Don’t ignore it, do it.  Some things God gives us are commands.  If you are convicted of a sin, that you’re doing and God said not to.  Stop doing it – or risk the discipline or judgment of God.  But other things God gives us are less obvious or black and white, they might be interrelated with several things.  Sometimes counsel can even come from unexpected places.   Do you hear and heed counsel?  If you hear something new or different.  You obviously don’t agree because it’s different than what you do.  What you do - you agree with and believe, that’s why you do it.  But what you hear, you do not agree with, and do not believe.  You just count it as someone else’s opinion.  Why?  Because you think your way is better?  Everyone thinks that way… it’s just human nature.  But if you remain in that mindset – will you ever learn to heed counsel?   If you hear counsel - separate the message from the messenger.  Delivery may not be perfect, they may have good intent toward you - or even ill intent toward you…  What does that matter?  Critics are notoriously negative, some are just meanspirited, but a wise man sifts through the bad review and extracts any truth it contains – even if it’s only 10% accurate amidst all the hating on you…  Is there any truth in what they said?  What might God want me to learn?.  Is there anything I could apply from this that would be Godly, helpful, or bring me closer to wisdom or excellence?  Here are a couple of questions to ask: when confronted or challenged:  #1 Is it Godly  #2 Is It Necessary  #3 Is it excellent?  (excellent isn’t necessary, its optional but advisable).  #4 What is God telling me to do?  #5 Am I willing to do it?   Hear and Heed often comes down to - Am I willing to do something differently than I am doing right now? If I am, I’ll heed – receive and be attentive to it, do it, implement it.  Mark 4:24 – Take heed how you hear. For with the measure you use it will be measured to you, to him that hears more will be given.  Whoever has will be given more, and whoever does not have, even what He has will be taken from him.  It’s talking about hearing and heeding.  If you hear and heed, you’ll get more – in direct proportion, but if you refuse to hear and heed, even the counsel you once received, will be lost on you.  Hear and Heed builds wisdom momentum in your life.  It’s required to grow in wisdom.  Praying that you’ll sift well, and hear and heed well.  So wisdom can grow in you.
 
Love you all,
dad