Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It’s always hope.  It tells you the truth, it tells you how things are and how they can be.  Whatever God tells us – you can have!  It’s not unreachable, you’re not unqualified, or disqualified.  You were, but the love of God for you - through the sacrifice of Jesus – cancels your sin, and qualifies you if you receive it.   Praying that you will review – the PRISM Topic – Salvation First.  It’s always good to remind yourself of who you really are in Him.  If you choose His way, and give up yours, there will always be joy, and peace, and good.  All of His blessing and all of His goodness is available to you.  It’s for you! He’s for you! There’s hope, He has a future for you, and it’s good!  Psalms 147:5  Great is the LORD and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit!  Do you need power today... force and strength for something?  Help with something?  Grace for something?  Do you need understanding for something today?  Sometimes the time we need understanding the most, is when we don’t fully realize how much we need it.  What if you had God’s power?  What if you had God’s understanding with no limit?  He has that for you, His power and understanding are for you and they are limitless!  He knows exactly what you should do, and His power will help you do it.  It’s there for the asking and receiving and obeying and rejoicing.  You get it when He’s your LORD, the Supreme Authority in your life.  He is the LORD of Lords.  One day that will be irresistibly clear - every knee will bow.  But for right now, He’s only LORD for those who choose Him.  With your submission comes your success, with your bowing comes your blessing.  When you forsake your way, you get the favor of His way.  Every bit of power and understanding you need today – He wants you to have it.  Praying that you will ask for it, and choose it, so you can walk in it, so He can give you better results than you can imagine.  Praying that His presence is what you live in today.  So His power and understanding flow directly to you and through you.  Praying that you will always enter his gates with thanksgiving, that you would always choose your look and choose your words, that His Word would be your Word, because it is the last word.  Praying that you would ask for wisdom today, that you would choose obedience every time, that you would take joy again, that His praise would be glorious in you, so His blessing will find you, and His joy will define you, that His power and His understanding will bring a new testimony in you. 
 
Love you all,
dad   

Love you all, praying for you,
 
Has God ever told you to do something? (Maybe currently) that in order to do it, something needs to be done first?  Maybe a couple little things, before the big thing, smaller things or initial things that must precede so you can proceed... so you can do what God wants you to do?  Exodus 17:5 – God told Moses, get the rod that you used when you struck the Jordan River, (then) get the elders of Israel, and go before the people…  In other words, don’t just go and start talking, first get the rod and then get the elders – then go before the people.  Exodus 17:9  Moses said to Joshua – choose out some men for us, and go out to fight the Amalekites.  Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.   There was something that needed to be done first.  Choose some men, not all men, just some.  Not any man - the first you come across, choose the right men, and then go out.  But wait until I position myself on the hilltop with the rod of God in my hand.  I love that God doesn’t just tell us to do something, He tells us what is needed to succeed, what we must do first in order for what He told us – to succeed.  David first rejected the armor that didn’t fit, and then he picked up the five smooth stones.  But it didn’t delay him or distract him, he didn’t lose interest, or lose focus, he was as diligent about the preparation as he was about the battle.   Exodus 4:17 – But take this staff in your hand so that you can perform signs with it.   Joshua 8:18  Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Hold out your battle lance toward Ai, for into your hand I will deliver the city.”  So Joshua held out his battle lance toward Ai.  What's that have to do with fighting?  It means a win versus a loss, God didn't say you had to understand fully, or even agree, He just said do it - and then He's going to do something...  If you remember, the first time didn’t go so well, Joshua sent spies, heard the city was much smaller than Jericho, so he sent just a few thousand men. It did not say that He sought the LORD.  This was a major setback.  Thirty-six men were killed, and the people after defeating the defending national champion – were getting blown out in the first half against a cinderella team.  But this was no game, this was life and death, word travels fast, and a spirit of fear was starting to take over the people.  When God tells you to do something, there might be something that must happen before you do that thing?  Did you ask God?  Did He already tell you?  Will you do it?  And how long will you wait - before you do it?  That thing won’t get done until this thing.  Jesus told the people, if you have aught against your brother, (if you’ve wronged someone), leave your gift at the altar, first be reconciled with your brother, then bring your offering.  The thing God wanted was the offering, but first something must happen…  Be careful, don’t let it be an excuse…  Jesus said “Follow me,” but one said, first let me go and bury my parents.  That was not what God said must happen first, that’s what they said,  Jesus said, “Let the dead bury the dead, but you, follow me.”  Be careful how you hear… some are quick to take offense because they are quick to judge other people and their motives or intentions, and they do the same with God...  Jesus wasn't being calloused or unkind.  He was calling out the deception that ruins people, He was giving clear warning and instruction to His disciples, "If God tells you to do something (for us by the Holy Spirit) don’t get delayed by other things."  If God tells you then do it.  Don’t fill the bucket, if there’s a hole in the bottom, God will tell you, first fill the hole.  First be faithful with little.  But that doesn’t mean paint the bucket – fill it, don’t paint it.  Praying that you will know from God, what He wants you to do, and anything He said that must happen first.  The best way to hear from God and discern this – is to get into the habit of hearing God give you instructions daily.  PiVAT before dinner, PiVAT Weekly and PiVAT Monthy put you in position, grow you 'accustomed to' hear and understand so you can discern.  Praying that you will know what must happen, and what He wants you to do.  Praying that you will think and do nothing else and nothing less.  Praying that you will trust Him completely, even if you feel silly - holding your lance in the air...  that you would not ever be discouraged or distracted, but only and fully walk in His order of sequence that He has designed for your success.  And that you would get to it!
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,

There is something in life on earth, that has no equal.  It’s being in the presence of God.  Just you and Him, where His light shines on you, His love fills you, His joy consumes you and overflows.  It’s where His rest removes every earthly burden and obligation, it’s where your focus is zero percent on yourself and 100% on Him, it’s where you hear Him, you can feel Him, and you are in that unequalled place where you don’t want to leave.  It’s not a procrastination of reality or responsibility, it’s just where you finally feel the knowing that this is where you belong…  that this is what you were created for, that this is where you were made to be, fully accepted, fully loved, fully valued, fully immersed in something so much greater than you – that it could have nothing to do with you at all.  But yet, it’s everything that you need, and desire in the purest and deepest and greatest sense.  It’s where you can just be you, but you are consumed with the One who made you and saved you and loves you – even likes you, and is as glad to be with you as you are with Him – but more.   This place can be alone in your room or in your car or in nature, or in the middle of thousands lifting their voices and their hands in Praise to the One who is above everything, who made everything, who designed it and sustains it, who has a plans that will come to pass, that will never fail, that are good, and right, merciful and just, and beyond our greatest imagination.  That place of His presence, where you can’t help but worship, and you are in the greatest place of peace and rest that you have ever known, that is unfindable anywhere else, in any other pursuit or dream in life.  Just being with the One who made you and loves you and likes you and delights in you, and has unimaginably exciting things in store for you – where you are loved completely – where the past doesn’t matter because it’s been covered.  That is a powerful place to be.  Moses knew the power, the significance, the irreplaceable importance of His presence.  Exodus 33:12 – Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me.  You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’  If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.  Remember that this nation is your people.  The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.  Other versions say, I will give you peace, I will give you victory.  That’s what happens in God’s presence.  So how do you get there.  You enter with thanksgiving and praise, when you pray in the Spirit, His presence will fill you, when you spend time in worship – just run a live worship set on your phone, and praise Him, get in that secret place, in that quiet place, in that worship place, and that prayer place, in that Word place, where His Word can change you.  Where His presence can fill you.  It’s a choice.  Praying that you will always go there, that you will always stay there, that you would be so hesitant to leave, that you would be changed there, so God can love others to Himself through you.   Praying for you that God would call you to His Presence, and that His Presence will go with you and give you rest. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
Have you ever prayed just a thank you prayer?  Just thanking God instead of asking Him?  God says clearly in His Word that we are to be thankful, to give thanks in every circumstance – for this is God’s will in Christ Jesus concerning you!  I just love how specific God gets on this one.  He leaves no wiggle-room. Give thanks, in every circumstance, even this one, no exceptions, Because it is God's specific will - for you.  This isn't a someone else command, this one's for you.  Why is being thankful so helpful?  It draws us into God’s presence, and it draws Him to us.  Even in the natural, if one of your own children is thankful, so appreciative...  you are naturally drawn to that child.  You love them all, but you are especially drawn by thankfulness, and will surely give that delightful child everything he or she needs, and probably more.  It’s a delight to give to someone who is thankful of heart.  Thanksgiving is a magnet for God's favor and blessing.  God specifically says thanksgiving is the entry point to His presence - where everything He has for you flows from.  Enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, be thankful unto Him and bless His Name.  There are many things to be thankful for; everything you can think of that God is… everything you can think of that God has done, Everything you can think of that He’s doing right now, and everything you can think of that He promised, so you can know for sure – He will do it.  It’s gonna happen, zero percent chance that it won’t.   Some people don't know a lot about God's promises.  That's why your PRISM time every day is so important, not only will His Word transform your mind, you will learn about Him, what He does, how He thinks, and what He is about to do.  Praying that you will review the Relationship Topic – Thankful 100 -  One hundred things to be thankful for that are not money or stuff.  But have you ever prayed a Thank You Prayer – for all that God will do – that you specifically asked Him for?  Not the new car, the new house, new clothes and new whatever… but those things that He said, that if you ask, He will do.  Have you ever prayed a thank you prayer for the grace that you asked for that He is going to give you (not because of a mess up on your part, but to prevent the next mess up on your part.  Have you ever prayed  a thank you prayer for the wisdom that you asked for that He promised to give you, the strength that you asked for, the heart of thanksgiving that you asked for, the pure heart, the undivided heart to fear His Name that you asked for.  He said ask and you will receive, seek and you will find…  and then He finishes it with "for everyone who asks receives, and everyone who seeks finds," The things that please Him, that draw your heart and mind and will and desire to please Him... when you ask for these – He said He will answer.  I John 5:14 – This is the confidence we have in approaching God;  that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us we know that we have what we have asked of him.  If you know that you have it - it just makes sense to thank Him.  Praying today you will pray thank you prayers for what you asked Him for that He will give you.  Not temporary things of this world, but the things of His Spirit that you want to become… to be more like Him.  And just thank him for answering that prayer – that you have just prayed.  That’s not assuming the sale, that’s the prayer of faith.  Faith pleases God.  He responds to faith more than He responds to need.  If He responded to every need, there would be none.  He responds to those who ask in faith believing.  And if you thank Him already for answering, it will increase your belief and your faith.  He will get bigger, and your request will get smaller.  Your faith will grow, the kind of faith that can move mountains – because it touches the heart of the Mountain Mover. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
One thing I love about God – He is a finisher.  He’s the Alpha and the Omega, not just the Alpha.  Part of the character of God - He finishes.  Finish – to arrive at the end of, in performance; to complete; as to finish a house; to finish a journey.  (Thus the heavens and the earth were finished.  Genesis 2:1) To make perfect, to bring to an end, to put an end to, to perfect; to accomplish.  God is a finisher, He doesn’t leave things undone.  Joshua reminded the people  23:14 – “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth.  You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed.  Every promise has been fulfilled, not one has failed.  Jesus was a chip off the old block.  It is Finished.  Paul – despite warnings of the persecution that awaited him, set out resolutely for Jerusalem.  God’s plans for you are to finish, because you are made in His image, and if you are going to be like Christ, you will be a finisher.  It’s been said, it’s not how you start, its how you finish.  Many start, few finish.  Why don’t people finish?  #1 Reason – they are working on the wrong thing, God never told them to do that, so finishing what God never told you to do is senseless.  Ask God and be sure, time is short, and you have no time to do something that God never told you to do.  PiVAT before dinner will help you get the joy that comes with obedience this hour, but PiVAT Weekly and PiVAT Monthly help you set aside the daily grind, and seek God from a 10,000 foot view, it’s here - where He can refine your understanding so you don’t get caught up in the business of the day, the demands of others, or things that God had you doing, but no longer has for you, and understand what He wants you to finish and when.  #2 Reason – they don’t know what God told them to do, because they didn’t ask Him, so their motivation dissipates.  Fleshly desires don’t last, they provide only temporary motivation.  #3 Reason people don’t finish – they get distracted, they see something else, because there are shiny things everywhere, like a puppy chasing squirrels, He’ll never catch them, and ends up with nothing, just all tired out.  And the #4 Reason that people never finish – is they don’t possess the finish gene.  They have never adopted or developed the adult skill, the faithfulness skill of resolute determination and unquenchable diligence until the job is done.  They won’t shut everything else down until they complete something.  That’s why their life is full of uncompleted projects, a bunch of starts but no finishes.  The biggest tragedy of non-finishers, they can never really enter the next season of their life.  They never make the progress God intends for them.  Because if you don’t finish the last thing God told you to do, what makes you think He will give you the next thing?  So what is the answer if you’ve become a non-finisher?  First know, it’s not Godly, it doesn't represent His Character in any way.  Second, stop everything.  Ask God what do you want me to finish today? this week?  How many hours will it take, and God, what do you want me to say "no" to until I finish it?  (Maybe Social Media, or Television, or Video games, or whatever has expanded in your life – to occupy more time than God has intended for it.) And finally, God what do you want me to do right now!   Praying that you will know what God wants you to finish, that you will do what He has told you to do in this hour, and that you will not stop until it’s done – so He can reveal the next thing He’s just waiting to bless you with.  This is not about the endorphin rush, It’s about full and complete obedience, like Jesus.  John 17:4 – "I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”  “It is finished.”   Like Paul, 2 Timothy 4:7 – "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 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 know what He wants you to finish today, and finish like Jesus, like Paul, and all those who can’t wait for His return!  You can be sure of this... your finishing will be rewarded! 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
Have you ever noticed what one of the hardest things to do in life is? 

Listen.  To truly listen to another person, to truly understand them, their heart, their hurt, where they’re coming from, not just the words they say, but how they feel, and understand what made them feel that way with the compassion and empathy that they need.  Why is it so hard to listen and understand?  First, as humans by nature we are selfish, not self-less.  Its not just that... we want to talk more than we want to listen, it’s not just that... we're already thinking of our response… before fully listening and hearing so we can truly understand what they are saying... It’s not just that... we were not really paying attention to how they feel, because their word choice, is now making us feel a certain way… It may also include the most difficult thing to let stand:  someone’s negative impression about us, or our words or our actions, or our character.  Especially if we feel it is mis-interpreted or undeserved.  In our desire to be thought-well-of, based on our intentions, not our words, based on our intentions, not our actual actions, we cannot help defending ourselves.  In fact I wonder if defensiveness may be the biggest roadblock to communication - to true listening and understanding.  Why is that so hard?  I don’t really know the answer…  I'm so much still a work in progress in this area.  But it might come down to humility and trust.  God says an undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest, do you believe Him?  Does that also include an undeserved negative impression?  What if it is partly deserved, then what?  Romans 12:3 – For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.  God just said that one of the fruits of faith is a proper perspective of others versus you.  Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ESV says in humility count others more significant than yourselves – that means what they feel and they say – consider it more important than what you feel or what you say.  Verse 4 - Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  In your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross.  Jesus was the perfect example of humility – not only in exclusively obeying what His Father in Heaven told Him to do, but also by how He considered himself – in relation to others.  He served others, he laid down his life for them, not defending himself, or His rightful position.  When He stood before Pilate, all the false accusations hurled against him, complete lies from evil-hearted people driven by jealousy and hatred.  Jesus didn’t defend himself, the Bible said, He opened not his mouth, and Pilate couldn’t believe it!  Aren't you going to defend yourself?  Jesus not only knew his purpose, He trusted His Heavenly Father completely.  One of the hardest things in life, becomes a little easier only with perspective.  Sometimes you can win the battle only to lose the war.  Praying you’ll review the Relationship Topic – How To Treat People.  God’s Word is so powerful as an instructor and a reminder.  It reveals God’s ways versus ours, and what humility really looks like.  Praying that the next time you enter a discussion where different perspectives could lead to misunderstanding or conflict, that you will be humble enough and trust God enough to let some things stand, for the sake of understanding.  They won’t stand permanently, if they aren’t really true – but if you trust God to defend you, you won’t have to, you are free to really understand what and how and why a person feels that way.  Sometimes, just the listening and understanding is the only way for new light to come to their understanding.  Yes, speak the truth in love, but only at the right timing... only after first fully listening, fully understanding, and fully trusting God to make things right.  Humility is the key that unlocks and disarms potential conflict.  The war is worth more than this battle.  Praying that God will give you great grace to listen and understand, to trust Him to bring truth in the right time.  That you would speak only what He says to speak, and that you will wait until the timing He reveals.  To walk in the good God has for your life – it includes others too.  Praying that you will see the joy and the beauty in humility, so others feel understood and loved, and as you choose the low place, God can raise you up. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
Nothing in your life impacts you more than the choices you make. They are what make your life what it is, they are what determine your experience, your potential, your ceiling, your limits.  They are what determine your joy, your satisfaction, your reward, and your legacy.  We tend to blame others, but the truth is  - it’s on us.  You can’t change others, what they think or what they do.  You can’t change circumstances, but what you choose is totally up to you.  And that will determine your destiny.  Most choices are not one hundred and eighty degrees, some are just a few degrees.  Some choices are big, but most are small, those little choices, those daily choices, those purposeful choices, that you make when you don’t feel like it, when you might even think you are the only one.  Praying that PiVAT and PRISM are daily choices for you.  Praying that 4C’s and a Daily Call are daily choices for you.  Because God said, and that’s all you need.  Praying that His Presence and Prayer are those choices for you – where the more you choose them the easier it gets and the better it becomes.  These are not a lot, they are not too much to remember or fit in...  You are doing similar things, or other things of far less value on a regular basis anyway.  Choices in life even one degree difference, over time will lead to destinations miles apart.  What has God told you to do daily?  Are you?  Do you have an easy way to continue this practice?  A way that makes it a habit, so you don’t have to choose every time?  Praying that you will review the Relationship Topic – PiVAT Progress, it is extremely helpful with little daily choices that bring you to successful destinations.  What about those choices in the moment.  When the Holy Spirit just nudges you to do something, to stop and pray, right now.  Or pick up your phone and call someone or text them, right now.  Or something God wants you to write down, because He wants to reveal more to you about it later.  That prompting of the Holy Spirit – Do you respond immediately?  At least write it down, and ask God is this for now, or for a specific time that you will reveal?  Some people don’t choose because they don’t realize the choice.  God is speaking to them, but they don’t know it.  They think it’s just a thought – when it’s really the Holy Spirit speaking to them.  They have ignored it for so long, they don’t realize it’s a choice.  Others don’t choose because they are afraid, it’s bigger than their own capability, it’s uncomfortable, and they don’t really trust God for grace beyond their own ability or life experience so far.  Others don’t choose, because they would rather do something else, as if their plans are better than God’s plans – who loves you, has plans for your best, and who knows the future.   Praying that your choice is always humility and quick obedience, that it is steady plodding, and continuous praise and thanksgiving, that you would pray without ceasing, and listen before talking, that you would love God by obeying, and love others by serving and preferring, that like Jesus whatever your Heavenly Father tells you to do, that you would do it so often, that it becomes a foregone conclusion.  There’s joy there.  It’s the choice that enables you to walk in the Good that He has for you!
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
Have you ever noticed how expectations can betray you?  Everyone of us carry expectations into pretty much everything.  The way we want things to go or turn out.  Whether it’s a conversation or an event or a relationship, we have a preconceived notion of how things should go, the result that will come from it, how people should treat us, and how much we will enjoy whatever we are expecting to happen in the future.  Expect means to wait for, to look for, but expectations carry more than an anticipation of a future occurrence alone, they include our own personal preferences about that conversation, event or relationship to be something that we desire or that we would enjoy the most.  Expectations often betray you.  Why?  Sometimes we have the wrong expectations.  We don’t understand the purpose.  We expect things from something that wasn’t designed to give them.  Sometimes our expectations are selfish, sometimes they are unrealistic.  Most often there are other parties involved, and their expectations may be totally different.  Combine that with the lens everyone perceives with – two people can perceive the very same occurrence quite differently.  One of the reasons expectations can betray you – is that they are rarely communicated, discussed and agreed upon.  We just silently assume, which leads to disappointment and often the feeling of betrayal.  Disappointment is OK, but it can lead to discouragement, or bitterness.  It could result in unforgiveness, or a callousness that could prevent us from benefiting from similar things in the future.  Expectations are assumptions.  We expect things from a marriage – that a marriage was never designed to provide for us.  And while we are waiting on our expectations to be met, we aren’t thinking at all about the other person's needs or expectations.  Sometimes a vacation can become a disaster, one spouse expected a fun-filled activity-packed vacation and the other expected just to lay on the beach unplug, and unwind.  Many people take jobs that just aren’t what they expected, and they are soon looking for another job.  Perhaps the greatest miss-expectation of all time, was what the disciples expected from Jesus.  They thought He was going to be the King of Israel, that He would take David’s throne, defeat the entire Roman Empire, and restore Israel to the glory days of years ago.  Jesus was the King of Israel, actually He was and is the King of the whole world, of the heavens and earth... but His Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom far greater than a natural one.  Their expectations blinded them from understanding what Jesus was there to do?  There are some expectations that will always betray you.  The love of money will always betray you – it takes wings and flies away.  Pride will always betray you, it brings destruction every time, only humility will bring you honor.  The pleasures of this world will always betray you – they are temporary at best and entirely unfulfilling, pleasure for a moment, but long term disappointment.  So how do you guard against the betrayal of expectations?  First find out what God expects,  Second – seek to serve, not to be served, and third – communicate beforehand so unity and agreement can bring the best out of every situation – which is merely an opportunity, never a guarantee.   Ask God what He wants from this conversation, event or relationship.  God says guard your time, guard your thoughts, guard your financial obligations – guard your emotional energy, that includes guarding your expectations.  If you know what God expects and intends, what He has purposed this for, and purposed for you... it will save you from misguided expectations which lead to disappointment.  Seek to serve not be served.  Think of others and their needs and their expectations as being more important than yours.  If you spend yourself – for the benefit of others, this is the humility of Jesus who laid down His life for his friends.  But be careful.  Thinking more highly of others, doesn’t mean you allow people to encroach on your responsibility.  God said bear one another's burdens, but each one must carry their own load.  Don’t let others encroach on God’s will for your time, thoughts, money, or emotions.  Don’t be controlled by others, be led by the Holy Spirit.  And finally, have the upfront conversations required which can avoid misunderstanding, and mis-expecting.  Sometimes just sharing your heart for something, and them sharing theirs – helps all parties gain what they need.  Or it could even reveal this endeavor is not what God is calling you to participate in.  Praying that your expectations will be Holy Spirit led - not you led...  His ways are always better.  Praying that you will consider others as more important than yourself, but that you will always establish boundaries that honor God’s will for you – not other’s will for you…  And praying that you will become skilled at communicating in advance with others – (once you already know God’s purpose and expectations for you in this time, thought, money or emotional investment) so you can understand what their expectations are – to choose wisely if this is what God has for you and them at this time, or is another choice the better choice.  Here’s what you can absolutely expect 100% of the time.  If you lack wisdom, you can ask God and He will give it.  You can 100% expect that if you call Him, He will answer, in the best way at the best time.  If you let Him, He will fulfill His purpose in you and His purpose for whatever thing He wants you to do.  You can fully expect that He will instruct you in the way you should go.  You can expect Him to give you counsel in the night season, joy in the morning, and that every time you humble yourself – He will exalt you at the perfect time.  You can expect His love for you will never end.  And you can expect your obedience will always bring His reward.  Praying that you will surrender your expectations to Him, so you can walk in all the good He has stored up for you. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,

I just love God’s Word – not only the written Word in the pages of Scripture, but the Word that He tells you in your spirit.  This morning God put on my heart to declare.  What things does God want you to declare this morning?  God put in my heart this morning, these two powerful words – I will.   David was the best at declaring who God is, what He promised, and what he himself will do in response.  As those two Words were in my spirit from the LORD, I opened my Bible for my PRISM time – and started with P: Praise the Word – the very next verse I came to after yesterday was this.  Psalms 146:1-2  Praise the LORD.  Praise the LORD, O my soul.  I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.  If I had a dollar for every time God told me something, either through my PiVAT before dinner, or in the night season, and the very next morning my PRISM time in His Word – He confirmed the exact same thing…  I’d be a millionaire.  But in truth – just to know God spoke to you – and He will confirm it through PRISM – is worth so much more than a million dollars, I’d never trade it.  To think God loves you enough to actually speak to you – that’s crazy!  So Here’s what God told me to write down for today.  I will bless the LORD at all times, I will work diligently each hour at the thing He has assigned me, I will Praise with every breath,  I will set before my eyes no unclean thing, I will listen first and seek to understand before being understood, I will choose a cheerful look, I will pray without ceasing, I will give thanks in every situation.  David was much better at it than me, but I’m learning.  Here are just a few of David’s declarations…  I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.  I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side, In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation, I will praise you O LORD with all my heart, I will tell of all your wonders.  I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me, I will praise the LORD who counsels me; even at night your teachings fill my mind (Ps 16:7), I have set the LORD always before me, because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  I have resolved that my mouth will not sin, I call on you O God, for you will answer me!  The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.  What might God have you declare today?  Of His character and His promise, and what you will do - that He has called you to do?  Praying that you will declare His Word, that you will commit yourself with your mouth, like David did.  That your mouth will fill your heart, and establish your steps, that it will propel you in the good that He has stored up for you today. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
Praying that one of the PRISM Topics  you use often during your PRISM – M (Meditate on the Word) is PRISM Topic – Starter Verses.  Daily reminders that will establish you in God’s Truth – and direct your life to His success for you.  There are a few about plans and purpose that are so important to remember.  First God has plans for you – they are way better than yours – for your success.  The difference between His way and our way is extreme.  It’s the difference between PiVAT – His plans for you, and PiVAT Maybe - your plans for you.   Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  There’s even better news!  If you just understand the difference between His plans and yours, (PiVAT and PiVAT Maybe) – all you have to do is choose His plans, even just want to choose them, and He will do the rest!  He will help you!  Psalms 138:8 - The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me, your love O LORD endures forever.  Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.   Philippians 2:13 - For it is God who works in you both to will and to act according to his good purpose.  I just love that verse – God’s love and power will take over for you – even when your “want to" is broken.  Every time you do PRISM – M – Meditate on the Word – your mouth is filling your heart, and your words and actions will follow.  Isaiah 48:17 - This is what the LORD says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”  God wants to teach you through PiVAT and PRISM and your Daily Call this week the way you should go.  His plans for you are how He leads you to fulfill the purpose He created you for!  That’s why PIVAT Weekly and PiVAT Monthly are so important.  It’s just listening and obeying practice.  This is not busy work, this is you creating the habit to set time aside to listen to what He longs to tell you - the plans He has prepared for your success!   It is crucial that you know and do His will for you this month – the wonderful plans He has for just you - not someone else!  These are the plans He has for you – for your good, for your benefit, for your blessing.  And why are they so important?  Because your obedience this month, will position you for what God wants you to grow in and become – next month.  Matthew 7:21  Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven – but only He who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  That’s what Jesus did most of all – the will of His Father.  It’s the only thing He did.  Followers of Christ do the same thing.  Praying that you will get His will for you this week, and this month – so you can do it!  He will help you!  He promised!   Praying that you will stop doing things – and ask Him what He wants you to do – and pursue it with all your heart.  Part of that is rest, when He has called you to rest – so you put your trust in him, not your own effort.  Let him make the plans, you just obey – there’s joy there, and success there – the only place you’ll find it.  And sometimes obedience has a domino effect – sometimes others can’t obey – until you obey.  You obedience affects more than just you – it impacts those around you.  It’s how you get the testimony that helps you overcome and causes ripple effect in those around you.  Praying that you will hear clearly, and obey quickly, so His joy can consume you – so He can fulfill His good purpose in you – this week, this month, today – even in this hour.  His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.  He will give you grace to do it.
 
Love you all,
dad