Love you all, praying for you,  
 
Have you ever noticed some people.  Their but’s too big.  Have you also noticed, it’s easier to notice others, than it is look in the mirror?  Those three little letters – that can be so big.  God I would follow you – but…  God, I know you said tithe, but…  I know I should do PiVAT before dinner to get Your plans for me for tomorrow, but… God, I know Your Word says to give an account financially – but…  Your but’s too big.  That little word is quite powerful.  But - is a turning word.  It always turns you from one thing to another thing.  Some people even use the word “yes” in front of it.  Talk about an oxymoron.  Yes, but…  (Yes – has no but)  Yes means I will.  "Yes, but" – means I should but I won’t.  The word and… that’s different.  That three-letter word is a continuing word. ‘and another thing…” that means more is coming.  However but, is a turning word.  If you’re not careful your but can turn you away from the Good God has for you.  How do you know if your but’s too big?   First – it may be small comfort to know, you’re not the only one.  That’s not an excuse, it lets you know there’s hope, you can change – God’s grace is sufficient – even for buts.  Luke 9:59 – He said to another man, “Follow me.”  But he replied, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.  Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.  Luke 14:16 – Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.  At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’  But they all alike began to make excuses.  The first said, “I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’   Another said, “ I have just bought five yoke of oxen and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’  Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.'   There’s always a but…  How do you know if your but’s too big?  #1) If God tells you to do something, and the first word out of your mouth is "but"… it’s an excuse - your but’s too big.   #2 If your ‘but’ is followed by the word “I” or "first" that’s an excuse – your but’s too big.  “But I already… But I promised so and so.  But first let me...  #3) If your but is followed by the word "what" – it’s probably an excuse – your but’s too big.  But what if I can’t, but what if I lose my job, but what if I run out of money, but what if someone gets upset, but what if...  If you’re not careful your but can keep you from following Jesus, from obeying what He said, in this hour.  It will keep you from His best, from His blessing, from the good that He has stored up for those who obey him.  It’s not that they have no but… it’s that they use it for the right thing.  God has a purpose for everything – even for buts.  God is a basketball player - In the natural – God made your but for a purpose – to box out with.  To get the rebound – so we can go the other direction!  Your But was created for faith.  It was to box out with – to get Satan behind you.  Your but was made for faith!  I know I’m a hundred years old, and Sarai is 90 – But God said.  I know that the mountains are on one side, the desert on the other, Pharoah’s army closing in behind us – and the Red Sea in front of us – But God will deliver me!  I know it’s only five loaves and two fish, but God will multiply the little - He feeds stadiums with a lunch box!  But - is the ignition switch of faith.  It will turn you from what appears real – to what is real.  Matthew 19:26 – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.  Praying that you will never let your but get too big…  that It will never keep you from obeying what God said.  Praying that your but will always turn you to faith, and away from doubt.  That your but will always turn you to obey.  That it will turn you to His ways – and the good that He has stored up for those who will obey His Word.  Praying that PRISM – has you believing what God says to believe, and PiVAT has you obeying where God says to go.  Praying that the only but you use - is the but of faith, the boxing out of the adversary, that your but will keep him behind you, that the only but you use, is never for an excuse, or delay – but for faith and obey. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,  
 
I just love God’s Word – it’s His love for us, it’s His nature, His character and His Heart.  It’s success on a page.  It’s truth, it distinguishes from error, mistake, and deception.  I love that it has commands, and stories, and examples.  It doesn’t just tell you – it shows you what it looks like.  It’s one big distinction between God’s Way and man’s way.  It is love and joy, purpose and destiny, hope and promise.  God is so faithful.  If He didn’t love you, He wouldn’t show you the best way.  Psalms 119:9-10 – How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart, do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  I don’t know how young David was but by the 119th Psalm – He might not have been young anymore.  Yet the very next sentence He shares how to do it - the practice of a pure heart.  I love God’s Word – so often when He instructs – the very next verse tells how.   First, David loved God’s Word – it was a hallmark of His life – He delighted in God’s laws, His commands, His principles and instructions.  He said it all the time – not just to God and to us, but to himself.  He fed His appetite for the Word of God by his own mouth.  If you don’t love God’s Word, what God says won’t be of very great interest or importance to you.  First you have to care.  David was talking about how to be pure.  You have to want to – first.  You have to want to not grieve the Holy Spirit, you have to know how much sin disappoints, grieves and offends God.  If you don’t care, it won’t matter to you.  Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?  Wherewithal – mah <maw> what, (including when, why, how? How long, how often, to what end, what good, what purpose?  How does this happen?  How do you do this?  Wherewithal...  Cleanse – to be translucent; figuratively to be innocent, to be or make clean, to cleanse, be clear, pure.  His way – orach <o-rakh>  a well-traveled road – a manner, a path, a way of living, how you roll.  David is saying – so how do you live a pure life?   What’s pure?  Unmixed – undefiled, of the same kind, not of different kinds – homogeneous, not heterogeneous.  Noah Webster defines it as separate from all heterogeneous matter – which simply means of different kinds.  Free from mixture as pure water, pure wine, pure gold.  Free from moral defilement, untarnished, incorrupt; genuine, real, true, unadulterated, unmixed, separate from any other subject or every thing foreign.  Free from guilt, guiltless, innocent, unpolluted, free from any thing improper.  How can a young man keep his way, his life, his lifestyle, pure?  By living according to your Word.  Not just reading it – implementing it immediately and consistently – until it becomes not just what you have heard, or what you know, but what you do repeatedly.  Why is pure so important?  God said the pure in heart will see God.  Those unmixed with other things – motives, desires, entanglements – the pure in heart will see God – what He sees, what He thinks, what He values and desires.  What if you didn’t see Him?  What if you missed Him?  What if He passed by and you didn’t notice, or He was moving and you were unaware?  To live according to His Word, you have to feed on it, Speak it into your heart, tell yourself beforehand that you will obey no matter what – and obey instantly, repeatedly, continually.  David said the way to do this – to be pure in heart – Seek Him with all your heart – His Presence and His Word being your first reaction, your goto, your come back to constantly. Feed on it, soak in it, obey the 1st little thing so you overcome inertia which is always opposed obedience and establish momentum.  There’s David – committing himself with His mouth again.  Your mouth forms your thoughts, it directs your mind and fills your heart.  Testimony is telling what happened.  Good things always happen when you obey – God blesses obedience every time – first internally, then externally.  But if testi-mony is after the fact, than Pre-mony – is before the fact.  Can we make up a word?  Pre-mony is saying beforehand what you will do, so you do it, so you can say afterward what God did.  Premony increases your testimony.  It prepares you – it purifies you.  David kept saying what He will do.  The more you seek Him, the less you stray.  Because His Word – becomes valuable to you – and the other things lose their luster – you can see through the cheap veneer – the surface shine – that quickly wears off.  Praying that PRISM will be your constant practice - those five things you can do every day in God's Word... so PiVAT becomes more important to you - getting His plans and doing them.  Being fully about your Father's business - His plans for you - pursuing His heart and His will.  Praying  you would read His Word – again and again, that you would hide it in your heart – that you would write it down so you can remember and rehearse it – that you would declare it, and do it, so you become less mixed with any other thing – and completely consumed with One Thing.  His Word – so His nature and character will be reflected in you – and His love for others will be demonstrated through you. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,  
 
Praying that you'll stay with me today. Funny what people say.  Sometimes they say silly and meaningless things, but sometimes they say things that have more meaning than first meets the eye.  It’s all good.  I kinda like that one.  It’s used pretty often, it could mean – I forgive you - It's all good.  It could mean – things are going to work out, don’t worry "It's all good."  It could mean things could be worse – we should be thankful for what we do have.  "It's all good!"  Have you ever thought about why that statement holds true?  It’s all good.  The reason – is because He is all good.  God is all good.  If there’s one thing to know about God – (that sounds ridiculous – He is infinite - all of eternity couldn't reveal the extent of Him) -  But God is good, He is love, He is Holy, He is forgiving.  His love is Good.  God is good.  It’s why you can trust him with your life.  Psalms 119:68 – You are good, and what you do is good.  Teach me your decrees.  David is speaking to God and reminding himself of the first and fundamental truth – God is good.  It’s His nature and His character.  What He said is good, what He did is good.  Creation… “It is good.”  What He does is good.  If your character and nature is good, that’s all you do.  You do who you are.  I was shocked at the definitions of Good – extensive… and everything that Good is – that’s God!  He’s the perfect example.  Good – Tob <tobe> Good in the widest sense, well, beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair, be in favor, fine, glad, graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh best, loving, merry, most pleasant, pleaseth, pleasing, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, well-favored.  It comes from the word to make good or well.  To be or go well.  God is good and has good for you!  You can trust Him.  You walk in His Good by walking in His Ways – (they are way better than yours)  And you walk in His Ways by walking in His Word.  PiVAT will help you walk in His Ways – His specific plans for you today.  And PRISM will help you walk in His Ways – the understanding of the nature and character of God’s good.  Noah Webster in 1828 had multiple descriptions of what Good is – and they all reflect who God is.  Good – valid, legally firm, not weak or defective – a good title, a good claim.  Good – valid, sound, not weak, or false – a good argument.  Good – complete or sufficiently perfect in it’s kind, having the physical qualities best adapted to it’s design and use – good soil.  Good having moral qualities which God’s law requires, virtuous, the opposite of wicked or bad - a good person.  Good – a proper fit, convenient, seasonable, well adapted to the end.  He arrived in good time.  Good – convenient, useful, expedient, conducive to happiness – it is not good that man should be alone.  Good – sound, perfect, undamaged, uncorrupted,  the corn in the silo will keep good the whole year.  Good – pleasant to the taste – a good apple.  Good - convenient or suitable – a good harbor for ships.  Good - promoting happiness, pleasant, agreeable, cheering, gratifying – how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.  Good – great or considerable – a good amount.  Good – favorable, benevolent, humane – the men were very good to us.  Good – benevolent, merciful, gracious.  Truly God is good to Israel – even to such as are of clean heart.   The definitions of Good are extensive.  It surprised me.  Basically – everything desirable without negative effect - that’s Good.  So what does this mean?  If God is good, and does good, what He says is good, and what He has is good, that means He has good for you!  Beautiful things for you, best, better things (even greater than now).  He has bountiful things, and plans for you.  Cheerful things for you – things to put you at ease.  Things aren’t always easy, but He has ‘at ease’ for you in them.  He has fair things, favor for you, favorable things, fine things, glad things.  He has good things for you.  Gracious things, joyful and kindly things for you.  Things you will like best!  He has loving and merry things for you, most pleasant things, that will please you, delight you, bring pleasure in your life, precious things for you.  He has prosperity for you – not just money – but in every area of life.  He’s ready, He has sweet things for your wealth and welfare, well-favored things, because that is Good.  It’s who He is and what He does for you.  Those good things come from His Word, and they are activated through your obedience.  He tells us how to activate these things so we can experience the good that He has!  Where it’s found, and how it can come to you.  When we choose His Word, we choose His Good, or we can try to find good in our own way, in things other than Him.   Can we go one step further?  Are you still with me?  The first thing the devil tries to do – is to make you question God’s Good.  He did it with Eve.  “Did God really say that?  Well that’s cause He knows that… (if you ate that tree you’d be like Him)  Part truth – full deception.  If He can get us to question His good, He can get us to question His Word.  Then He can offer other considerations – different that what God says - to make our words and thoughts perverse - reluctant to obey - which will delay or cancel God's Good.  Praying that you will live in PiVAT – His plans for you today. They are so good!  That you will live in PRISM – His Word and His ways.  Praying that you will be faithful with 4C’s obeying with money decisions – so God can multiply His good for you financially.  Praying that your Daily Call has you overcoming with your testimony as you walk in every good thing He has reserved for you. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,  
 
It’s so interesting to me how God’s truth always applies - deeper than the surface.  If God's Word is true, it applies all the way deep.  His truth applies all the way through.  Not just the action but the motive, not just in this situation or example, but in every situation or example.  Praying that your life will always fully represent His truth - all the way through.   Proverbs 11:1 – The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.  Abhors, this is not "isn't the biggest fan of" this is extremely strong distaste for – dishonest scales – measures that are not equal, (false equivalents), your piece verses my piece.  God hates dishonest or unfair or unequal measures.  This goes beyond a single action – but to the very  core of every transaction.  Do you give more than you receive – or do you try to receive more than you give.  This is more than intention in the moment – this is a lifestyle – the habit of what you always do - your way of living.  Praying that you will always give more than you receive.  Never take more than you give.  God hates double-standards.  Injustice – whether in business transactions or social transactions.  Part of the fear of the LORD – is to say nothing harmful. Even in your word transactions just like money transactions, use fair scales – not dishonest ones, unequal ones.  You’ve heard it said – we judge others on their actions, but we judge ourselves on our intentions.  We always look better that way.  In work, in money, in thought, and in conversation – God wants us to use fair scales.  Always be willing to give more than you receive.  This is not just acts of charity – this applies to every act that you do.  When in conversation – do you always believe the best, give the benefit of the doubt?  Is your first reaction to overlook offense?  Don’t take it up, and certainly don’t take it up for others - God says that's unwise.  Instead, give more than you receive – don’t repeat unfavorable things about others.  Pray don’t say.  And in any and every human interaction and transaction that you are in – give more than you receive.  Give them the better deal, the better half, the bigger piece.  Give them the better assumption - whether your spouse or a stranger.  Dishonest scales are the opposite of giving.  God is giver not a taker.  Some won’t cheat in money, or steal something outright, but they cheat in words, they steal other’s reputation – even by a facial expression, an eye roll, or a critical glance.  Love always gives.  Praying that you will always give more than you receive.  That promise of giving – those who give - more will be given to them.  Some call it the law of giving.  It’s not just what you donate or share with others – it’s how you conduct yourself in every business transaction and human interaction.  So when you go to work today - will you more than you expect in return?  Will you give the company more than they give you in a paycheck?  Give and it will be given to you... When negotiating - are you first and more concerned with their needs, or yours?  Meet their needs and God will make sure yours also are always met.  In the next conversation you have - will you believe the best - will you give them the benefit of the doubt that you always give yourself?  Are your scales honest?  Praying that you will see others – through the eyes of God’s love for them.  Praying that your scales will be honest – that you won’t tip the scale with your thumb in your favor – but you would bless others - and trust God to bless you and give you the favor that He has promised to those who give.  It’s not that you let yourself be cheated, that’s not Godly.  But it’s that you always make sure your heart is to bless, to give more than you receive.  If you do – God will make sure you have everything you need, and He'll give you extra to give to others. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,  
 
Proverbs 13:1 - A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.  Have you noticed how there are always many truths tied into one verse of God’s Word.  His Word is so much more than just face value.  The Words convey more than just meaning, God’s Words convey principles and concepts that He has also addressed in other places.  There is value in the instance of His Word – but great additional value in the sum total of His Word.  The more you soak in it – the more He can speak to you through it - that's how the Holy Spirit can jump it off the page in you.  Praying that PRISM is the foundation of your seeking and learning.  Five things you can do each day in God’s Word – the return on that investment is beyond words.  This verse isn't about mockers, it's about you and the choices available to you.  If you don’t listen to a rebuke, you’re a mocker.  But rebuke only comes to certain people - those who don’t heed instruction.  Had they heeded instruction, they wouldn't require a rebuke.  Hopefully you don't have to work on listening to rebukes...  If that's the case - you're in the wrong zip code.  Heeding is both a desire and a skill.  If you don't desire it you won't.  If you do - you will become skilled at it, and the rewards are not only unimaginably good, they are eternal.  Just because instruction is available doesn’t mean you hear it.  If you respond to instruction (that’s a smarter choice) you will also likely respond to rebuke, but if you don’t respond to instruction – neither are you likely to respond to rebuke. (it's that 'faithful with little' principle again)  And if you don’t respond to rebuke – that natural or structured consequence is sure to follow.  God loves you too much to let you continue down a harmful path.  If you’re a son, you are wise, or not.  What makes a wise son?  They heed… They listen carefully already pre-disposed to obey.  A good father instructs.  He wants you to succeed.  Your Heavenly Father is better than a good father – He’s the best example of a Father that any human has ever known.  He is completely self-less.  A Pure Father – whose only interest is the best for His children.  That’s why He gives instruction.  The wise heed.  It means - to have in mind (to put in mind, to keep – top of mind, to regard with care, to attend to, to keep or adhere, to put into practice.  Instruction isn’t always obvious, sometimes it’s gentle.  Sometimes it comes from unusual sources.  A good father doesn’t instruct you only in one way.  He is after your learning, your growing and maturing.  And a rebuke isn’t always harsh.  If you only listen to harsh rebukes, you are missing out on the good stuff.  You missed the instruction, so you’re already at the next level.  Just because instruction is available doesn’t mean you hear it.  Just because instruction is given doesn’t mean you’re instructed.  Instruction doesn’t mean instructed.  Heeding instruction means – instructed.  God’s direction and instruction comes to those who seek it.  The one’s closest to their Father – get the most and best instruction.  And those who heed the best – always get more than the rest – they can be trusted to take the next step.  Direction is where to go, Instruction is how to get there the best way – so you don’t just arrive – you arrive in style (with character and quality developed in you).  Some of the best instruction isn’t formal, it’s in the moment… along the way.  Proximity affects instruction.  Hang out with God and you’ll get the instruction which is constantly flowing from His mouth.  Ask.  Those who ask, receive.   Seek – those who seek, find.  Knock.  Those who knock – doors will be opened.  Don’t knock on doors – knock on His door.  He knows what’s behind every door and He will lead you to the right door for you - past doors that aren’t for you.  Isn't it funny how the doors that aren’t for you – still tend to open...  Let God lead you past them.  Praying that you will be consumed with Him – so you will be instructed by Him.  PiVAT and PRISM are first steps to help you.  Your Daily Call will help you overcome and walk in the instruction – it’s even a way God instructs you – through the obedience of others.  Praying that you will be fully seeking, fully instructed, taught, trained, and actively implementing all that He has planned for you – so you always walk in His Good.  He’s just waiting! 
 
Love you all,
dad

 Love you all, praying for you,  

One of the greatest truths to know is the purpose of a thing.  If you don’t know your purpose – how can you fulfill it?  If you don’t know what the purpose of a thing is – what God intended it for – you might ignore it, use it incorrectly, or never realize what it could have been used for.  And if you are ever not sure.  Just ask Him.  God said He gives wisdom to those who ask – no qualifications required.  Just asking.  He said it.  He will surely do it.   Psalms – One of the greatest books of the Bible.  Kind of funny to say – because all of them are the greatest books of the Bible.  Every Word that He speaks is Life!  Psalms – the book written by the man after God’s own heart.  If you want a heart after God’s heart – this is the book for you!  Psalms is the Praise Book.  It’s a relationship tool with God and others. It’s a success tool for you.  It has power to bring success.  There was a story written from years ago – a story of a poor farmer in the great depression – the land swept with drought.  Nothing would grow.  After struggling for years – this man finally and sadly died – in poverty.  Not long after the land was sold it was discovered that under the dry and parched ground lie an expansive crude oil reserve sitting right under the surface of the land that he had been living and laboring on for all these years.  The man that died in poverty – was actually a millionaire many times over – he just didn’t know it.  He thought it’s purpose was farming – when it was designed to produce so much more than vegetables.  Psalms is like that. God's Word is like that.  It’s purpose is powerful.  Psalms contains David’s declarations of God, David’s conversations with God, David’s declarations to himself, and David’s instructions for us – for those who Fear God – like David did.  What can you do with Psalms?  You can Read it, yes… But you can Praise the WORD with Psalms (I pray that PRISM is your daily commitment – it’s where your life is transformed by His truth), You can Praise the WORD with someone  (He inhabits the praise of His people).  You can pray the Word over yourself, with Psalms.  You can pray the Word over someone else.  You can pray the Word of Psalms with someone else (if two of you agree as touching anything on earth, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven).  When you pray the Word – you are praying His perfect will.  You can declare the Word – you can declare David’s declarations to yourself.  You can declare the Word over someone else.  You can declare the Word with someone else.  Both of you declaring for yourself, for each other – for the city and nation you live in.  So the earth is filled with the knowledge of the LORD.    You can declare the Word about God – He will surely do it.  You can declare David’s Words about himself  - it will increase your resolve and your habit and determination to do it – to obey these things that will always position you for the goodness of God.  Why praise His Word? He told us to!  Psalms 56:4  In God whose Word I praise; in God whose word I praise, in God I trust I will not be afraid…  Why pray the Word – It is the complete heart and will of God for you and those around you.  He inhabits the prayer of His people, He answers the prayer of His people.  He brings to pass what He has promised.  Praying that you will know the purpose of Psalms so you can walk in – the power of praise, the power of prayer and the power of prayer and praise together with someone else – where God promised He will be in the midst. 

Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
Praise God!  He gives revelation.  He reveals things.  That means he uncovers what was once hidden from your eyes or understanding.  The truth that’s been there – that you now can see.  He gives this by His Holy Spirit – through His Word.  I hope you’re walking today in PiVAT (what He told you to do) and PRISM (His Word, and His Love for you).  Praying that you are overcoming with your testimony – walking daily with another.  Praying that Worship is your default, and Praise is your habit, and prayer is your priority - before trying to figure it all out on your own.  Psalms 119:67 - Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word.  Have you ever been afflicted?  You’ve been through some hard stuff.  Afflicted – experiencing continued pain, either of mind or body.  Affliction comes in two flavors - natural consequence and structured consequence.  Sin causes pain.  It always causes pain, it has pleasure for a season, but always ends in pain.  That’s why the devil's temptation is always false advertising.  Temporary pleasure but long term consequence - and it's never worth it.  Sin always causes separation – in your relationship with God – and the further you are from Him and His truth, and His Word of life – you experience the natural consequence of sin.  Most affliction is self-inflicted.  Poor choices have results.  Psalms 107:17 – Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities are afflicted.  (brought low).  Sin will always bring you low.  Some affliction is common to man.  That is also part of the  natural consequence of Adam’s choice to disobey which allowed sin to enter the world – the devil gained legal ground to operate in darkness.  And sometimes the devil brings affliction, not even because of sin, he even tries to bring it on the righteous.  That's still part of the natural consequence of Adam’s decision.  The other type of affliction is structured consequence – when God chastens you – brings correction into your life.  If affliction is of natural consequence (God says don’t sin – cause it’s not good for you!)  It has negative results – it ends in affliction!  Don't be fooled by it - it prevents the Good that He wants to give you.  Or if affliction is structured, God loves you too much to let you keep doing things that are bad for you and others – going down the path that leads to destruction.  He will bring correction into your life, to redirect you to His path for your good.  The purpose of affliction is so we don’t stray, so we aren’t led astray by the lies of the enemy.  God’s Word says – be patient in affliction – that’s the kind the devil brings against you even if you are walking in righteousness... God will take care of it - wait on Him.   God also talks of the affliction of His doing - Psalm 119:75 - I know, O LORD, that your judgments are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.  God’s laws, rules, and decisions in your life are right – He will bring correction through affliction to turn you back to His good!    Here’s the final purpose of affliction – no matter how it comes.  Psalms 119:71 – It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn your commands (your enactments – your appointments).  God doesn’t want affliction for us – but if we choose it – He can save us from it.  If the devil brings it - He can save us from it.  And if He brings it – it’s to save us from more of it - from worse of it!  Affliction has purpose – it’s so we remember that His ways are so much better that that other stuff.  Praying that you will remember – even in affliction – God has always been faithful to you.  Praying that one memory will prevent you from ever going back.  And if affliction comes – it would only be because the enemy is trying to attack you for righteousness, not because it's self-inflicted, or God’s correction.  You can know for sure that God saves and delivers all who call on Him.  He will never leave you or forsake you – and when you are fully obeying Him, even in affliction – God brings joy that is more than words can describe, and full of His glory.  If you are afflicted now – God hasn't forgotten you.  Praying that you will know the source of it. Whether self inflicted, or inflicted for righteousness.  Praying that you will Call on His Name - He will surely hear you and answer - He promised.  Praying that you will seek God, turn if He tells you to turn – or wait patiently, joyfully and praise-fully for Him to show Himself strong – that you would always walk in the joy and the peace that obedience brings. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you
 
I just absolutely love God’s Word!  It is success on a page – it is so practical – it is do-able.  God tells us what is success, what brings success – and exactly what to do to get it!  It’s like the professor giving you all the answers for the Final Exam.  Have you ever been in school when you were a kid – and were just honestly wondering -  why do I have to learn all this – I’ll never use it!  God’s Word is not like that.  It’s meaningful – practical, applicable, and absolutely successful!   Psalms 119:65  Do Good to your servant according to your Word. Teach me knowledge and understanding, for I believe your commands.  Anything and everything God is and has – is good.  And anything and everything Good that God wants to do for you is according to His Word.  All Good will come according to His Word.  His Word says what the Good is, and where the Good comes – so you know where you need to be – so the Good can come to you!  God cannot do good for you apart from His Word.  Because there is no good apart from His Word. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him!  His Word and Good are synonymous.  To see God’s Good you must see God’s Word.  It will tell you what Good is, and where to be to get it.  It will help you get there, and recognized it when it comes.  Sometimes good comes in unexpected packages.  Good is not always what you want – not even always what you prayed for.  But God’s good is always what you need.  God can even bring good from what the devil wanted for bad, or from choices that you made - that were bad.  He’s the fixer, repairer, forgiver, redeemer, and restorer.  He can restore to you - what the locusts have eaten.  But even the "bad turned to good" that He does is according to His Word.  His Word is always a developed taste, an acquired appetite.  No matter what your appetite is for His Word right now, it can increase.  Ask God to increase it in you!  He will.  Take the first step.  If you increase His Word, you will increase His good.  That’s How He delivers good to you.  First you hear it, then obey it, then become it, so you can walk in the Good that It always produces!  Praying that PRISM becomes an increased appetite in you.  That you would grow your taste for His Word and your commitment to it.  Praying you'll always do PiVAT before dinner so God can reveal the times He has chosen for you to be in His Word.  His Word is how He brings you His Good.  "Teach me knowledge and good judgment for I believe in your commands." I just love what God always does.  He tells us what to do, so we can receive what He wants to give us!  This is do-able!  You don’t have to swim an ocean or climb a mountain!  #1) Just ask Him for knowledge and good judgment.  Good starts with Good judgment.  Then just read one more thing in His Word (Just come back to PRISM for a few extra minutes today!)  So He can give you the knowledge and judgment that you're asking for.  #3) Declare that you believe His commands.  Just say it out loud – to yourself as much as Him.  When you say “I believe your commands, it will increase the probability of you doing them!  Belief precedes action.  Praying that you will ask, that you will soak, that you will believe and you will act.  So the Good that God leads you to do – becomes the Good that He brings to you!  That this becomes your daily life!  No greater joy than that!  That’s good! 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you
 
I’m amazed at the difference of God and His Ways versus me and my ways.  There is nothing selfish in Him.  There’s still some selfish in me.  I love how PRISM changes your perspective.  His Word just does that – it helps you see, and see differently.  Psalms 119:64 – The earth is filled with your love, O LORD; teach me your decrees.  David knew a secret – to know the love of God – you need to know His decrees – they are His love!  That’s why He asked God to teach Him.  The earth is filled with His love – because He fills it.  His Love that fills the earth is His character and nature – evidenced through all He has created.  He sustains it – He gives it breath.  His love is His forgiveness for all who repent, His salvation for all who call on His Name, His Spirit for all who will walk in Him, and His grace to overcome – for all who will receive it and choose it.  All of creation is His love for us.  Every sunrise and sunset, every seed time and harvest, crops that grow, trees that bear fruit.  Every breath you take – is the earth filled with His love - sustaining all things by His hand.  His love for the world started with creation.  He doesn’t love the earth – He loves you.  He fills the earth with His love – so we will know it.  And He fills us with His love – so He can fill the earth with His love - through you and me.  His decrees are His love for us.  Everything He says is good – for our good!  So to fill the earth with His love He must fill it with His Word – that’s where we come in.  He wants to fill you!  That’s how He does it.  If His Word fills you (His decrees) than His love fills you.  His Word tells you not only how to love Him, but how to love others.  That’s how He fills the earth with His love – through Him and through you!  His mercy, and forgiveness, His patience, His grace, His favor.  You can’t know His love without knowing His Word – That’s why PRISM is so important.  It’s how you know Him and His love for you.  And then He fills the earth with His love – through you.  He said love one another, love your neighbor as yourself, love your enemies, those who mistreat you, and love your wife as Christ loved the church.  His creation is His love for everybody. He makes rain fall on the just and the unjust – the warmth of sunshine, or the warmth by the fire – all of which He created.  But there’s another level of love beyond his creation and the breath of life He gives.  There’s a demonstration of His love – that only comes through obedience - through walking in His Ways – to see what He does to show Himself strong on behalf of those who fully obey Him.  His decrees reveal how to succeed, how to avoid harm, ruin and death, they keeps us safe, from foolish decisions, from deception.  His decrees are protection from harm but they also reveal what He blesses.  What increases the outpouring of His love on the earth.  His love is His Word - when we obey His Word – we see His love fill the earth – that’s why PRISM is so important, when we obey his Word to us – put it into practice – that obedience lets us see a whole new level of His love for us.  That’s why PiVAT is so important – His plans for you are His love for you!  Obeying what He has for you today – will release new demonstrations of His love that are only revealed through obedience.  If you didn't ask, you wouldn't know, if you didn't obey  - you couldn’t possibly experience – the earth would be less filled.  He looks to show himself strong on behalf of obeyers – to pour out his love in bigger ways - to fill the earth!  He’s looking to show off – his power and his favor on those who will let him lead, who will do what He says, just like He did what His Father said.  God fills the earth with His love – through the blessing that he pours out on obedience.  His love for you has no limit.  The more you obey – the more you experience the depths of His love for you.  The more we obey the more the earth is filled with His love.  Praying that PRISM and PIVAT – have you learning His decrees, His love for you - and how to love others - so he can fill them with His love through you.   Does God’s Love fill you?  Does His Word fill you? Are you obeying the next step He reveals?  Then his love fills you and can fill others.  Praying that you will ask God today - what He wants you to do – so His love can pour out on you - and how to love others – so He can fill the earth with His love - through you!
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you
 
Praise God!  Nothing He ever does is without purpose.  He has a purpose in everything.  Even what the devil intended for evil, God intends for good.   Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night?  Maybe the baby was crying or the dog was barking, did you ask God for His purpose for you – even in this?  Psalms 119:62 – At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.  When you wake in the middle of the night, do you rise and give him thanks – for his righteous laws?  For His principles, for His Words and His Ways and His judgments in your life?  His decisions – some you understood, some you just couldn’t at the time…  But they are good and kind, and loving and right.  He saved you from sin, from slavery, from guilt, from everything the devil planned against you… from grief, from loss, from betrayal, He turned the dessert into springs.  Whenever David would awake, he would rise – to give Him thanks.  He spoke out loud – that he would continue to do it.   It’s amazing to me – how many times PRISM – Praise the Word – ties directly to what God reveals in Read the Word, or Insight from the Word, Study the Word or Meditate on the Word.   Isaiah 22:10 - Now will I arise,”  says the LORD.  “Now will I be exalted, now will I be lifted up."  God just said "you rise," now He said – "I will rise."  We always ask God “ When will you arise?  When will you get up and do something – this thing...  that I want you to do – for me…  When will you arise and show your strength?  When will you fix this – and turn my situation into what I want it to be?  "Now I will arise, now will I be exalted."  He doesn’t get exalted by doing what we want – He always gets exalted by doing what He wants.  If you want Him to arise – you do it.  Whether midnight, or mid-day – you can rise to give Him thanks.  You do it, right now.  Then God says – “Now will I be exalted”  when you do it!  He is telling you to do it.  Exalt Him, and He will be exalted – right now.  Lift Him up, and He will be lifted up right now.  In our culture – virtual reality has exploded – a multi-million dollar industry.  Why – because your life is really experienced, really determined in your mind – more than in your circumstance.  Just like people want to escape their reality and take on another – your mind determines your life – not your physical circumstance.  Paul and Silas were in stocks – still praising God!  Their physical condition – could not limit their spirit and their mind.  Their words directed their praise to God - and their praise to Him affected their mind, their heart - their soul and their situation.  They were in chains – but free in their spirit and in their mind – to praise.  Do you remember when you were little?  You were poor, but you didn’t know it...  Are you really poor if you don’t know it?  You lived with all those kids in that little house.  You were lucky to get a little toy for Christmas – but you were thankful - you didn’t know you were poor, your life was wonderful.  You had food to eat, even if it was just soup beans.  God provided and you took joy in the little things.  You didn't know you were poor until you went to school and saw all that the other kids had.  Your life is in your spirit and your mind, not in your physical situation.  If you rise – to give Him thanks.  He will arise to show himself strong.  And if you see Him how He truly is – high and lifted up – it doesn’t matter what timing He chooses to move in the natural.  You already see in the Spirit – what will surely come to pass in His perfect plan, and His perfect time.  When you rise to praise Him, to give Him thanks – He rises to inhabit your praise – and bring you peace in any storm.  If you have peace – the storm is all but over - already.  It’s just a matter of the reality of earth – catching up with the reality of heaven.  Praying that when you wake up – you would awaken praise.  Praying that your PRISM time – would fill your mouth with His Word – to fill your heart.  Praying that your PiVAT before dinner – would have you hearing His plans, but also remembering His faithfulness as you write out the testimony of what He did and revealed.  Praying that every day you will overcome with one other – just as He commanded.  To exhort one other daily.  Praying that you will rise to give Him thanks.  He promised that He will rise to come and live in it.  When He takes over your praise – you see Him in new ways – you see His promises that are true and His victory that is sure, His help that is already on the way – and His joy for you right now.  Right where you are, in this day and this hour. 
 
Love you all,
dad