​Love you all praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It’s for the hearer.  He that has ears to hear, let him hear.  Have you ever noticed part of the human condition, is hearing things for others, but not yourself.  How many times have you read through the God’s Holy Word, and come across a verse, with the immediate thought, “so and so should read that one.”  No, that’s for you!  Any Word of God combined with faith, will produce a harvest. His Word is the seed, your faith is the planting of it in you, your soil – (His Word, and your word in agreement), the watering and the harvest comes from Him. Just like the farmer who does nothing to make the crop grow, God grows it. You just have to receive the seed, get it planted in you.  That’s faith, and then the first step of obedience. Jesus was healing, but not everyone got healed.  Those who came to him in faith, and received His Word in faith saw their healing become reality.  Like the woman who just wanted to touch the edge of his coat.  And power came out.  Immediately healed of her years of suffering.  How many others in that crowd could have used healing, if not for them for a loved one.  But they went home without it.  Jesus proved the needer, need not even be present, children and servants were healed through their parents or master’s simple faith and obedience.  That wasn’t even for her, He wasn’t talking to her.  But she knew who He was, and she thought in her heart, “I’ll take that, thank you, that’s for me!  Whoever comes to Him, and has ears to hear, and faith to believe, and the obedience to prove it, it’s done for them.   God is no respecter of persons, but He favors the faith-full.  God’s truth applies to everyone, but the hearer and doer receives it.  Here’s something that God challenged me with.  Proverbs 31 – The woman of noble character.  Half the population would think, that’s not for me.  Probably not.  But noble character applies to the hearer.  What could you learn, even if you are not a woman?  Notice the qualities of nobility of character…  It adds value always (all the days of her life).  It brings good, not harm.  It rises early, provides food for the family, it works, and earns and saves.  It buys assets that produce, It works with vigor (determined energy), it is strong, it trades profitability, win-win, (so it keeps record, gives an account – so profit actually occurs).  It stays up late if needed, to finish.  It is skilled (because it took the time to develop them). It gives to the poor, with open arms.  Noble character doesn’t fear hard times, it prepares in advance.  It dresses well.  It’s real clothing is strength and dignity.  Noble character has hope for the future. It is filled with the laughter of joy, the laughter of faith, It’s words are wisdom, and faithful instruction, so it loves God’s Word.  Noble character has learned The Fear Of The LORD.  It’s the beginning of wisdom, and blessing, it’s a protection, You are not fearing God for nothing.   Praying that you will develop a noble character, and praying that you will understand what applies to you when you read God’s Word.  So that whatever is true and good, that you will have ears to hear what the Holy Spirit reveals.  I’ll take that, Thank you!  That’s for me!
 
Love you all,
dad

​Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It tells you when you’re off, when you’re upside down.  And it tells you what to do.  Romans 8:24:  “For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?”  A promise is hope.  If you don’t have a promise, there’s no hope.  Do you hope in that promise?  Do you believe it?  What He said?  Then your hope is sure.  A promise fulfilled is a blessing, not a promise, an answer, a harvest.  Its not a promise if you already received what was promised.  It’s whatever that promise guaranteed… provision, strength, wisdom, healing, direction, revelation, understanding.  A promise is a guarantee in the future.  Some promises are for a set time, other promises have no set time.  A set-time promise, we wait for that time (in hope).  An unset-time promise, we wait for His timing (in hope).  Both are hope, both are faith.  The stronger your faith is, the more sure your hope.  And your words determine your faith, not God’s Word.  His Word is absolutely true.  It will build your faith, but your words determine it.  The question is:  Do your words agree with His Word.  If they don’t, your faith is weakened, and what little you have (which is all you need) will waste away, be ruined.  If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. (Isa 7:8).  So be sure to soak in His Word, so your words match it.  Your moment of truth, is in your words.  If they are set on His Word or other words, different words – someone else’s words other than God’s Word.  Never let your own words, be different from God’s word.  Why curse your seed, why nullify the promise?   I rejoice in your promise as one who finds great spoil.  If you’re rejoicing in a promise – like you already received the fulfillment of it… you’re not wondering if it will happen, or when it will happen.  You’re getting a cash advance on your paycheck – in your spirit.  A cash advance on the celebration!  You’re rejoicing now, like you will then!  David encouraged himself in the LORD, and He rejoiced in God’s promise, like He would if it came right now.  He said He would rule on the throne of His father David, forever.  And then He gets crucified by the Romans.  Would you doubt His promise?  It sure looks like that one failed.  So much for that promise… What do you believe when His promise fails?  Can you at least wait until Sunday morning?  For the first Easter ever?  Then your eyes will see, what could only so far be seen in faith.  He has never failed on His promise.  Not one.  Is it taking a long time?  Abraham waited twenty-five years, only to have God tell him to sacrifice His son. Would you believe His promise?  God told Isaiah within sixty-five years this powerful enemy that threatened their destruction will be no more.  There’s something bigger than you at work.  God’s plan!  His promise is sure, He has never failed one.  Build your faith so your hope will be sure.  Rejoice in His Promise like it’s already happened.  Think of God’s love for you for even giving you one?  Who said He had to do that?   God, we thank you that you are faithful!  not one word of your promise has not been fulfilled, or will not be fulfilled, You are a God of your Word.  If you said it, you will do it.  And we believe you, forever. If we see it in our day, or if we die in our faith.  You will surely fulfill what you promised.  We rejoice in you, and we rejoice like we have received it.  Because as soon as you said it, it was already done.  Time just has to catch up, second by second, and minute by minute.  Meanwhile, we’ll be rejoicing! 
 
Love you all,
dad

​Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It challenges you.  What you always thought, or were always taught. and if you hold onto those things closely, it could offend you.  Have you ever heard people tell you to dream big?  “Because dreams turn into goals, and goals turn into plans, and plans turn into action and the diligence required to accomplish anything, so you make something of yourself.  So dream big, if you fall short, at least you came close… at least you did something… nothing was ever achieved that was not first conceived.  What the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve.”  Are you familiar with that sermon from the lions of the world, the dream biggers, the millionaires, the world changers, the money makers?  Have you ever considered what God thinks?  I considered, and then remembered the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instruction to his disciples on big dreams and goal setting… Hmm, wait a minute, it wasn’t about that.  So I looked for that sermon - from Jesus to His disciples… about dreaming big, and setting goals.  But I couldn’t find it.  He never taught it.  What is a dream? A mental picture that affects your subconscious when you’re asleep.  Sometimes God appears to you in a dream, other times they are just a hodge-podge of thoughts or experiences, the movie you watched last night, or the pizza you ate…  or even attempted intrusions into your thoughts and heart, that don’t come from God at all, but from the enemy of your soul.  But those are not the dreams we’re talking about – these ‘dream big’ dreams are dreams when we’re awake, our own imaginations and machinations – conjuring up greater ideas.   But what if they could actually become just selfish ambitions in disguise? Jesus never taught on goal setting, or dreaming.  But He did teach on following.  In fact it’s all He ever did.  He followed His Heavenly Father.  The first call of his disciples was not to dream, conceive, or achieve.  Just, “Follow me” and I will…  Not dream big so you will.  The problem with dreams, they can be deceiving.  Like your heart is deceitful above all things…  It can fool you.  Misguided intention, which corrupts implementation.  You could dream things God never had for you, and end up on a twenty year wild goose chase, with nothing to show for it but a mouth full of feathers.  God actually warned about it.  James 4:13 - “Come now you who say today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there and make a profit. Why you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow, (implied, much less a year from now).  Instead you ought to say, Whatever God’s will is, that is what we will do.”  David said, I don’t occupy my mind with things too wonderful for me. (Psalms 131:1) Some of the crowd surrounding Jesus got to dreaming big.  They tried to talk Jesus into their dream of Him replacing Caesar.  Now that’s a big dream, nothing bigger than becoming ruler of one of the greatest world powers in human history – the Roman Empire.  And Jesus certainly had the chops to do it.  If he could feed thousands from a lunch box, and raise the dead, who could ever defeat that army?  But that was not what He was called to.  Jesus didn’t accomplish what He dreamed, He just listened and obeyed.  He was a seeker, not a dreamer.  Seeking the will of His Father in Heaven, and doing it completely.  The world would think that would limit you.  If you don’t dream, how will you accomplishing anything?  How will you make something of yourself.  Jesus knew better.  God’s plans for you are so far more than you could ever dream or imagine – it’s not even close!   God said,  No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.  And love is clearly and simply – obey.  John 14 and 15, mention it numerous times in a row.  Love God, Obey Him, Seek His plan for you, and your life will be crazier than anything you could ever dream up.  Dreams of you – can be deceiving, and derailing.  Dreams God has for you – those are plans that will surely succeed.  Praying that you would replace dreaming, with seeking – to see the wonderful things He has in store for you, and then - just get busy with what He told you to do first.  You can trust him with the rest.  Doesn’t mean you don’t work hard, you work harder, but no rabbit trails, no wild goose chases – just a direct line from point a to point b – where you are, to where He’s taking you – today, and tomorrow, this week, and next week, preparing you for more than you can imagine.  And it is good!  His plans will prosper you!  Praying that PiVAT before dinner, PiVAT Weekly, Monthly and Yearly – will be your lifelong commitment – seeking the will of your Father in Heaven.  If you ask Him, and obey each time, He will tell you, He will lead you to the rest.  It will let God pour His dreams into you.  Dreams beyond what you could ever imagine.  Not pipe dreams, dreams He will surely fulfill.  Then you can dream his dreams!  But you probably won’t, because you don’t dream His plans, you just do them, and you’ll be fully occupied with the joy of obedience, and the overcoming testimony of the journey!    
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It gives light and life!  Have you ever felt a little sluggish? Low energy, weak, soon tired or distracted, not physically or mentally sharp?  Nutritionists will tell you.  It’s probably your diet.  You are what you put in.  A junk food diet won’t lead to a sharp and fit mind and body.  You need a food check.  Your body needs the right fuel, and it needs exercise.  A latent body is soft and weak.  But with use and the right fuel - your body becomes strong, resilient, capable, and it affects your mind as well.  That same truth applies to your spirit as much or more than it applies to your body.  You are what you eat.  What are you eating?  What is fueling your spirit? Perhaps, you need a food check.  What influences you the most?  Probably the things that influence you most often.  What are you feeding on?  Are your inputs spirit or flesh?  Here’s a quick way to do a food check for your spirit.  Take a PiVAT What If – this week, and write down your diet.  Not the food you eat, but the input and influence you eat.  If Tik Tok is your diet, if the news cycle, or the Top 40 on iTunes, if video games, and Social Media is your diet. that junk food will make you soft in spirit.  Easily weakened, frustrated, discouraged, angered, easily deceived, lacking wisdom.   And before you know it, you are a slave to the system of that other kingdom, that makes you ignorant, and powerless.  Seems good, sounds good, entertaining, enjoyable for a season, but underneath the oversized sweatshirt, is just flab, soft.  Buns of marsh mellow, not buns of steel.  When it comes to influences that you allow in your mind and spirit, what you watch, listen to, what preoccupies you, it will determine your life, even more than your physical diet.  It’ll slip into your mouth, what comes in goes out.  And before you know it, you words are condemning you, and bondage is inescapable.  But if Worship, that Time in His Presence with thanksgiving and praise, PiVAT before dinner getting God’s plan, not yours, and doing it…  If His Word becomes your preoccupation, over the inputs of this world… soaking in truth until it runs over into, and then overruns from your mouth, you will grow strong in wisdom, discern deception, it will make you wise, strong, diligent, humble, kind, selfless, effective, powerful, in Spirit.  Iron Relationships – Iron sharpening iron – Daily Time with people who are pursuing the excellence and wisdom of God, not the pleasure seekers of this world…  If you are feeling weak, frustrated, unsatisfied, fearful, prideful, sluggish, ineffective, or after all that chasing and doing and enjoying -  still just feeling an emptiness, still lacking true victory, and true joy, and you know that there’s got to be more than the life you’re experiencing so far, and the harvest you’ve been reaping.  There is.  That’s not what God has for you… You need a change of diet, and exercise.  PiVAT What If – can help you track your hours of influence.  Are you being influenced by the world? or influenced by the Word – and what it says that will make you grow strong in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.  Have you ever seen someone who completely transformed their body, from the ninety pound weakling to blown up, and ripped with guns and an eight-pack? or from extra everywhere… flabby and overweight to strong and toned, just rocking it in that black dress?  Those body transformations that are so obvious – are equally obvious in the spirit, but far more important.  How do you get there from here?  Food Check, a decision, then, a change of diet and exercise.   Worship (Praise and Thanksgiving), Pray in the Spirit and you’ll grow in the Spirit!  Seeking His plans daily! and being diligent in them, His Word and Prayer, and Overcoming with someone – The system that God designed for your victory!  This is the change of diet and the exercise that makes you buff in spirit.  Full of energy, and powerfully effective.  But in order to gain it and maintain it, your real food intake has to surpass your junk food intake.   Spiritual Calories, you’re at a surplus or deficit.  John 4:30 – They came out of the town and made their way toward him.  Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”  Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?  (Did He get Door Dash or Uber Eats?)  - Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.  He knew the will of the One who sent Him, because He asked – He got God’s Plans, and the Word of His Father, He had a different diet.  And He did what His Father Told Him – that’s the exercise that removes the weakness, the flab, the under-performance, or the lostness, and brings strength of spirit soul, mind and body.  Obeying His Heavenly Father, walking in the plans God had for Him, and the inputs that come from God - is real food.  Praying that PiVAT, PRISM, and your Daily Call – increase this year as your habit.  Praying that His Presence consumes your downtime, that you would be fervent and effectual in prayer, that your praise and thanksgiving would be excellent, and your words to yourself and others would reflect it.  Praying that His real food, will become your new diet, which will replace and far outweigh the junk food.  So you grow strong in spirit, effective in prayer, established, and producing fruit that will last – even after you’re gone!  Just Ask God, what change He wants? He’ll tell you.  You don’t have to be Mr Universe, or Miss Universe – just buff in spirit! It’s not a competition, it’s an invitation, to life that is truly life! 
 
Love you all,
dad

​Love you all, praying for you, 
 
I just love God’s Word.  It is Logos and Rhema.  God recorded it in Scripture, and He reveals it in your heart.  Have you ever asked God for a Word for the coming year?  I have in the past… And I did again for this year.  God is not obligated to give me one.  Maybe He’s still waiting for me to implement the last one He gave me… but God’s Word does say if we ask we will receive, if we lack wisdom, and we ask Him, He will give it.  So I just asked, and the day before the New Year began – God revealed the Word that He has for me this year.  And I’m praying it over you as well.  Have you ever noticed when we ask God for a word for this year, we want those words that are for us, some good thing.  Like breakthrough, or prosperous, or vindication, or promotion, or millionaire.  But that’s not always what God gives – what we want or expect.  He gives what we need most, the Word we need most, if we will ask.  I asked Him, and here is the Word He gave:  Love.  It took me a little by surprise, and as my mind raced to process, he immediately explained further.  “You shall love the Lord your God, with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind.”  – Matthew 22:37.   And then I felt Him asking me… “What if this year, more than any other year that you have ever lived, more than you ever have before.  What if you learned to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind?  It stopped me, and made me consider… Have you asked God for something this year… other than a Word for this year?,  I did.   And as God always does, He answers.  This is a part of His answer – to the other thing I asked, just not what I expected.  Because everything you need from God, starts with you becoming, not what God brings.  He wants to become, so He can bring you to the place, where He can bring things to you.  Praying that you will love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  The second thing God said.  “A new command I give you.  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  God wants us to love him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and then love one another – like He loves us - completely, sacrificially.  God said, love your neighbor as yourself.  And God said even love your enemies.  Love Him, Love one another (your family, your brothers and sisters in the kingdom of God).   Love your neighbor, (who’s that – he gave the example of the Good Samaritan, any person next to you, the person wounded and bleeding by the side of the road, when everyone else walks past)…  And love your enemies – even those who hate you without cause, and try to harm you.  What if we loved God this year? – more than we ever have in any year of our life?  And what if we loved each other, and loved our neighbor, even our enemies?  What could God do through that kind of love.  His love is so much higher and deeper and greater, and He pours it out freely on all of us.  Praying that you will love this year, that you will Love God more than ever before – with all your heart, all of your soul, and all of your mind.  That you would love those around you – so well, like Jesus did.  Like He still does, like He loves you.  Praying that you will know the Word that God has for you this year, that it will be light and life for you, that you will walk in it fully – Logos and Rhema.  You can trust Him.  He has good for you!
 
Love you all,
dad

​Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It is truth.  Do you know that God loves you?  Have you ever felt unloved by God?  Could it even be the deepest struggle of your soul?  “I know it intellectually, I know He loves everybody, or He wouldn’t have sent Jesus, but over time my thoughts of doubt became a structure, then a stronghold, and I just don’t feel that God really loves me, or really could… because I know me.  And I know that He knows me…” So what is true? Does God really love you?  Here are the receipts.   
 
Matthew 3:17 – “This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.”  Did you notice when God said that… Jesus hadn’t done any miracles yet, it was before he even had one disciple.  He hadn’t done anything!  God loves you because you are his son, just like He loved His Son Jesus.  You aren’t Jesus, there is only One.  But you are loved as His child.  He loves you.   
 
John 1:12 – Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.  If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sin, and your eternal salvation, you have become a new creation, and you are now a child of God.  And God surely loves His children, more than you love yours.
 
John 16:27 – For the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me, and believe that I came from God.
 
Jeremiah 31:3 – “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with unfailing lovingkindness I have drawn you.  “Therefore, I have drawn you in compassion, therefore I have dragged you to grace, therefore I continue to show you my constant love.” He keeps showing you, so you’ll know… He loves you.   
 
Ephesians 5:1-2 – Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
 
I John 4:10-12 – This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. If His love is made complete in you, you’ll know that you are loved by God.  Love one another! Just follow His command, it always benefits you more than others… 
 
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. (If you believe in Him, you believe His Word, so you will not be ruined in your thinking.  Do you believe that He loves you?  He said it.  It’s more than a feeling, it’s knowing and believing.
 
I John 4:16 – And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.   
 
1 John 4:19 – We love because He first loved us.
 
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 – May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us everlasting comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and (every) good work. 

God wants you to know He loves you.  It’s part of the comfort and hope He has for you.  Your words and your works can reinforce your knowing and understanding of God’s love for you.  Words because that’s what He said, He doesn’t lie… and works because his love shines through you!  And in loving others, His love becomes complete in you.  So Speak His Word, and go love somebody! Let Him love somebody through you… And you’ll grow in your knowledge of His love for you.
 
Romans 8:37 – Yet, in all these things we overwhelmingly have victory through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not even the powers of hell, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will ever be able to separate us from the Love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 
Deuteronomy 7:7-8 – The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you (because of how strong you were, you were the weakest).  It was because the LORD loved you, and because He was keeping the oath he had sworn to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand from your slavery, from the oppression of (the enemy king). For the Israelites, Pharoah.  For us, the enemy of our soul, the accuser, the one trying to make us doubt God’s love for us. (As if any action of ours could be more powerful than His sacrifice of love for us.)
 
Deuteronomy 23:5 – But the LORD your God refused to listen to Balaam.  But turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you. The accuser, is your enemy, God doesn’t listen to him, He turns curses into blessing for you – because He loves you.
 
Deuteronomy 33:3 – Surely, He loves his children; all his holy ones are in his hands.  They follow in his steps and accept his teaching.  (Know His Word, Follow His Commands and you’ll Know His Love.)
 
John 17:26 – And I have made Your Name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I may be in them.  Jesus revealed that He made The Father known to us, so that God’s love for us, might be in us. And Jesus too would be in us.)
 
2 Chron 20:20 … Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established (you will be able to stand firm in truth). But the Israelites would not listen.  They were as stiff-necked as their ancestors who refused to believe in the LORD their God.  Declare His Word, and you will believe what He says.  He loves you. 
 
Acts 16:31 - Believe in the LORD, Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.  (From your sin, from an eternity apart from God, and also from every wound caused by sin, even the deepest wound of feeling unloved, unlovely, or unlovable.  God loves you because you’re you, not because of what you do…  You can believe it. 
 
John 15:9 – “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  Not only does God love you, it should bring constant joy in you!  You are loved by God.  Just keep His commands, and you will know His love even more!  His love for us is the greatest motivation to do what He commands.  To Love Him is to obey him, and we love because He first loved us…
 
John 13:1 – It was just before the Passover Festival.  Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.  Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.  Jesus proved it, that God’s love will never end.  He loved you to the end of his life on earth, like God loves you to the end of eternity.  And it will never end!
 
John 15:16-17 – You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.  This is my command:  Love each other.
 
Eph 2:3-8 - All of us used to live that way, gratifying the desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.  Just like everyone else, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our sins – it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
 
Revelation 1:5-6 – …To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
 
God loves you!  It will never change.   But our feelings can.  That’s why it is so important to speak the truth of God's Love to yourself.  His Word is the receipts.  He said it, He proves it constantly. 
 
Psalms 51:6 – Surely, you desire truth in the inward parts; and in the innermost being, the hidden part, you will make me to know wisdom.    God wants us to know and speak the truth of His love for us – that’s wisdom.  Believing our feelings over His Word – that’s foolish.
 
God wants you to speak the truth that He loves you. The more you declare His Word, keep His commands, and love others – the more you will understand, know, and believe that He loves you.  You can take comfort in His love for you.  The more you know Him, the more you will know His love for you, and your joy will be full. 
 
Love you all,
dad  

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It tells you the truth.  Have you ever struggled with feeling loved by God?  That He really loves you?  Why do some people think that God doesn’t really love them?  #1 They think their past sins are too bad for God to forgive.  or #2 They’re still sinning.  The pull of the world is too strong for them, they allow their old nature to be fed, they don’t feed their new nature instead.  They don’t walk in the Spirit, they walk in the flesh, so their sinful desires control them, they are losing the battle.  They haven’t learned to choose God’s Grace to say ‘no’ to sin, they have not yet learned the Fear of the LORD.  They don’t instantly turn from every evil, they entertain it, it still holds some attraction, and they’re worried that they might be nearing the end of their “seventy times seven” with God.  They’re worried that at some point, they will sin one to many times, and that will finally be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.  These are real feelings, but what does God say?  And can you believe Him?   God’s Word says He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west, and He remembers them no more.  So regarding past sins, Jesus’ blood is enough.  God’s Word also says – if we will confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin, and cleanse us from all unrighteous.  Sin that you confess and forsake isn’t the problem, sin you excuse is.  First, Jesus death, covers all sin.  Not only every sin you ever committed, but every sin you could ever commit.  (I wouldn’t try it, because God said those who continue in sin, have neither seen him or known him.  Not those who ever commit a sin again, but those who choose to continue in a lifestyle of sin. Either denying that they are doing it, or telling themselves that God is ok with it, He’s not. He didn’t make you that way - whatever sin you are enslaved by.  You were born in sin, and you gave way to it, and now it controls you. But it doesn’t have to.  If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sin, you are free, (certainly free to sin again), but you don’t have to, it doesn’t control you anymore, only if you let it.  If you have been filled with His Spirit – you have power to overcome! Walk in the Spirit!   Choose Grace, to say “No” to sin.  Move your feet!  Learn the Fear of the LORD.  Walk in His plans for you, and the sins you used to do will fade from view.  Regarding the sins you have committed or could commit, Jesus blood is enough.  Not just for you but for every human that has ever lived or will be born.  He bore the weight of the sin of the world on the cross.  And He has freedom for you!  Just start walking in His Plans, PiVAT before dinner is how you start.  Soak in His Word, transform your mind!  PRISM will help you, Overcome daily with a Daily Call – it’s what God designed for your victory.  Worship, and Praise, stay in His presence – it changes you, your appetites and desires.  The real becomes what you desire, and the fake is exposed for the cheap substitute that it is.  Learn the Fear of the LORD.  Ask Him, He’ll help you. And sin will stay in your past, not your present or future.  You won’t doubt God’s love for you.  You’ll know His love is above your actions, and it's His love that has provided for your victory! 
 
Love you all,
dad    

​Love you all, praying for you. 
 
I just love God’s Word, it is truth, and life, and it is love.  It teaches you to be more about others, than you are about you.   Are you going on a trip soon?  Do you have car time with someone, or coffee time?  It’s so easy to become occupied with the trivial, and not really get to deeper places.  Thoughts, to feelings, to emotions, to core beliefs, to heart attitudes, and core identity which affects your God view, and your world view.  The next opportunity you have for conversation time with a friend new or old.  Here are 11 Questions To Ask, to honor others, to discover them and yourself, and just go, a little deeper…  Once you answer,  it's a new opportunity to hold up your answers to the lens of God’s Word – The Truth that comes only from Him.  So God can transform not only your thoughts and feelings, and beliefs, but your identity…  So you truly become seated with Christ, in Heavenly Places.
 
11 Questions To Ask – that God can use
 
1 What Do You Need Most From God Today?  
Praying that you’ll review The Best Question Ever.  Praying that you will ask that of yourself and at least one other person, every day.  Ask God for yourself – every PiVAT before dinner, and ask someone else, whether a close friend, or a perfect stranger.  It will open a window into their heart.  Ask God to give you the opportunity.  He will, He wants to give truth and life to them, through you!
 
2 What are you most looking forward to? 
This is an open ended question, let them take it anywhere they want.  Listen well.  See 11 Things… about listening!  So you remember to do it well, so the natural tendencies that are ineffective don’t surface. 
 
3 What is the one thing you would change if you could?  (In the world, or about yourself) 
This is an identity revealer, and a worldview revealer. What burdens someone - may indicate part of the  purpose that God has for them…  This insight into how you or they view themselves, can then be compared to what God says.  It doesn’t have to be in this conversation, you might need to pray and search it out later.  For now, pray before you say.  This is just to listen, love, and affirm them.   
 
4 What is one thing you would do over if you could? 
This isn’t to circle in regret, or pain, but it can provide insight… wisdom from a lesson learned that God gave them.  Transparency can begin the healing process, and can lead to God’s Truth if you choose to look.
 
5 What is your greatest hope or dream? 
This gives you insight in what God might be leading them to, so you can help them get there, through prayer, Godly counsel, and encouragement.
 
6 What is your greatest success in your life?  
This is a perfect opportunity for you to help them discover their testimony.  Because every success they ever experienced, when it comes down to it, was God’s blessing, whether resource or ability… Any success is really a testimony of God’s favor and provision.  A great opportunity to just rejoice with them, affirm them, and give God the credit He deserves.  “God must really love you, He gave you x, y, and z to do this!”  Our successes are always testimony starters – that we can overcome with… or praise starters – And God can go places with that!
 
7 What are the things that have made you successful? (That have most contributed to your success.)
This isn’t bragging, this is just giving them the opportunity to put into words the things that God taught them, so they can be reminded, and keep doing them! You could learn as well.
 
8 What is your favorite thing to do? (Top 3)
This draws to mind some great memories, and reveals how God made them, it helps you get to know them better. 
 
9 Who is your best friend and why?
It’s not the who that’s the most important here, it’s the why.  It reveals what they value, what value they place on themself, and what they think friendship is.  It reveals what they need in a friend, or what they think they need.  It will tell you some things you can do, that will bless them, and make them feel valued and loved.
 
10 What is your family like? 
Their view of their family will indicate who they think they are, who they want to be or don’t want to be.  And even what they feel about themselves.  Family is so important.  And if this is a wound, or a need in them, you can help fill that need with the help of your Father in Heaven.
 
11 What makes you the happiest?  (Top 1, 2 or 3)
They’ll share what they value, and what makes them feel valued.  It will give you insight in loving them well – to demonstrate the love of Jesus. 
 
Praying that God will give you the opportunity to make a great investment in someone.  The investment of questions that enable listening.  Praying that you listen well, and love well, so you can point them to the One who loves them most!
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you. 

I just love God's Word.  It is truth, and life, and wisdom.  Have you ever been invited to someone’s house?  For dinner, an afternoon, or a few days? 
 
Eleven Things You Need To Know As A Guest -  1 Pray, 2 Communicate, 3 Bring, 4 When You Arrive, 5 Serve, 6 Listen, 7 Pray Over Them, 8 Inspire, 9 Leave It Better, 10 Sow A Seed, 11 When You Leave 
 
#1  Pray.  Pray for them before you arrive.  Start praying for them and their family from the time you know you will be visiting.  Your love for them will grow by the time you arrive.  It will greatly impact your time together.  Ask God to use you to bless them, and to show you how to serve.  Every visit in someone’s home is a mission’s trip.  Matthew 10:41 – “Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person, will receive a righteous person’s reward.”  God has good for them!  He will use you to bless them!  Pray first, and His blessing will come. 
 
#2 Communicate. Communicate your arrival and departure plan, and any changes as they occur.  Honor their time by allowing them to prepare for your arrival.  Don’t surprise them by being too early, and don’t leave them hanging in limbo, waiting for you to show up.  Give them a thirty minute warning.  I Corinthians 16:5-7 – “After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you – for I will be going through Macedonia.  Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter…  I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord permits…”  Time with people is valuable.  As a guest, you’re on a mission.  God is sending you to love them! 
 
#3  Bring.  Bring a Gift as God leads, and a thank you card with you.  Ask God what meaningful gift you might bring; whether monetary (God is not running low) or a personal gift suited to them, or a spiritual gift of some kind.  It doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy, God has the perfect gift to bring.  He is a Giver, He loves us.  Romans 1:11 – For I long to see you, so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord.
 
#4  When You Arrive.  Pray before entering – ask the Holy Spirit to help you show the Love of Jesus in every interaction. Pray that every word out of your mouth will only be life, and submit them to Him.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will lead every conversation.  Appreciate – Thank your host, and find something about their home to genuinely complement them about.  Notice – Read the room – listen spiritually, what are you walking into… peace, contention, discouragement?  God will reveal to you how to minister to the needs of this family and the people who are there.  They are precious to Him.  Notice the need.  John 5:6 – When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew he had been in that condition a long time, he said, “Do you want to be made whole?”  Be sure you greet everyone personally.  Play the 100 Game – Eye contact communicates the love of Jesus for them.  100% eye contact for the first six seconds, with increasing warmth in your eyes and smile -  so they know you really see them, are focused on them, and value them.   Six to seven seconds is good, long enough to make them feel like they are important, but not too long to make them feel awkward. The way you greet them, is their first impression of you and opens the door for further conversation as God provides the opportunity. 
 
#5  Serve.  You are there to serve, ask God to show you how.  Matthew 20:29 – Just as the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 
 
#6  Listen.  Listen to their heart.  Review the Relationship Topic – 11 Things... About Listening.  Go Five Deep.  Five sincere follow-up questions prompted by their last comment, to encourage them to explain further what they just shared with you.  It doesn’t have to be five exactly – Five Deep means your goal is to go deeper.  Briefly interject you own thought as it relates to what they are saying, so they don’t feel like they’re being interviewed… But sincere further questions reveal your interest in them personally.  Invite them to share the joys and challenges they are facing in life right now.  Love them by hearing their heart.  Give the gift of listening.  What is the goal of Listening?  To love them.  What is the goal of each conversation?  To help them discover their testimony.  The things God is doing in their life because He loves them - whether they know Him yet or not.  Why is that the goal?  Because when you’re gone, it will remain.  They’ll overcome with it. 
 
#7 Pray over them – Ask God to reveal His perfect timing.  And ask the Best Question Ever  (Review the PRISM Topic – Best Question Ever).  “What do you need most from God today?” (or this week), as God leads.  If it’s not a close relationship, you might preface it by asking, “Can I ask you a personal question?" (Don’t wait for the answer just go right into the best question ever).  God so often uses this question to open the window to their heart.  He will use you in this moment to minister His love and truth and grace, praying over them by the Holy Spirit, the very words of God into their life.  God will use your faith and obedience, to literally speak His words to them through your voice.    
 
#8 Inspire – Inspire them to complete a project they wouldn’t have undertaken without your motivation and help.  Let the Holy Spirit lead this opportunity – don’t force it.  When most guests leave, there is work to be done.  You can be the opposite.  Be the guest that helps them get work done!  More than they thought!  you can marshal the troops, as God leads, bring great enthusiasm and fun to a project that can be a great blessing for your host. 
 
#9 Leave It Better  – than you found it.  Whatever room you stay in,  leave it looking cleaner than when you arrived.  Make the bed, straighten the furniture, clean, dust (find a dust rag, or a sock, or your towel, they’ll wash it when you leave anyway).  Declutter without re-arranging their stuff.  Be sure you do a ‘final glance.’  When anyone comes into the room you left, they should say, “Wow, what a blessing to have them come.”  Give the parents the opportunity to train up their children, by pointing to your example. 
 
#10 Sow A Seed  – Leave a gift as God directs.  Ask God, confirm with Him.  At least leave a Thank You Card, expressing your appreciation.  Ask God what you could say that would encourage and speak life into them.  
 
#11 When You Leave  – Express your sincere, heartfelt appreciation, it’s not convenient having guests.  Affirm them in the things they do well, and how God is using them greatly to bless others.  Help them discover their testimony, direct their attention to Him and His love for them.  Pray over them before you leave, their family, and their children, God’s purpose and plan for them.  Declare His promise for their good. 
 
Whenever God sends you as a guest to someone’s home whether for a meal or for a week, He is sending you on a mission.  Know the purpose that He has for you in this visit.  Ask Him, He will tell you.  Ask God to direct your steps, how to serve, and what He wants you to leave behind.  Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, to the needs of your host, and be quick to obey.  Be the hands and feet of Jesus.  You represent you and your family, but you really represent Christ.  Jesus only did what His Father told him to do.  He laid down his life, He always preferred others over himself.  He loved the unlovely.  He washed feet.  He ministered to needs, he brought healing and words of life.  He fulfilled His purpose everywhere He went.  Likewise, God is sending you as a guest.  

Love you all, 
dad​

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It is truth and life.  Have you ever overdone it?  What happened the next morning?  Have you ever decided to go on a hike, having not walked in a while?  Have you ever eaten the whole thing… when you should have understood the wisdom of portion control?  God said there are some things that can be too much.  Proverbs 24:27 – It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.  (Let another praise you, not your own mouth, someone else and not your own lips).  Proverbs 25:16 – If you find honey, eat just enough – too much of it, and you will vomit.  Proverbs 25:17 – Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house – too much of you, and he will hate you.  You can have too much of even a good thing.  You can have too much honey.  You can have too much of your neighbors, they can definitely have too much of you.  Proverbs 23:4 – Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint (be wise enough to restrain yourself).  Workaholism isn’t a man-made concept.  God said if you’re working to get rich, you are working too much.  If you don’t have the wisdom to get rest, you are sabotaging yourself.  That’s why God made the Sabbath – and for the believer we should live in a sabbath rest – what is that?  That’s letting God set your schedule, not you.  That’s PiVAT before dinner– getting God’s plan, not making your own - going to this city or that city, having to spend a year there just to make a profit...  Proverbs 23:20 – Do not join those who drink too much wine, (or eat too much) gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.  God said a little sleep a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit, and scarcity like an armed man.  You can sleep too much, sluggards do, that’s not for you.  Get to work.  Know God’s time for things, and be diligent to do them.  You can keep too much.  The rich fool said I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones and there I will store my excess grain.   And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years.  Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.”  The rich fool kept too much, he was not willing to give.  God said tonight your very life will be required of you, then who will get all you have kept for yourself.  First he said too much, then he kept to much, so he could sleep too much, eat and drink too much, and revel too much.  And he ended up with nothing.  2 Corinthians 8:15 – As it is written, “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no lack.”  It didn’t say he who didn’t gather sponged off of those who did, it said he who was unable to gather enough was still sufficient. Because verse 14 At the present time, your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.  Don’t keep too much, be willing to give.  Don’t dream too much, and Don’t talk too much.  Eccl 5:7 – Much dreaming and many words are meaningless, therefore stand in awe of God. (instead Fear the LORD).   Some people are always dreaming, always talking, but never doing.  God said don’t talk too much.  God said when words are many, sin is not absent.  Ecclesiastes 12:12-13  The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails – given by one Shepherd.  Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.  Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.  Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:  Fear God and keep his commands, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing.  Whether good or evil.” You can even pray too much.  Are you sure?  Exodus 14:15 – Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?  Tell the Israelites to move on!  Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.  God told Moses – Stop Praying, Start moving!  If God tells you to do something, stop praying, and just do it.  Don’t pray when it’s time to obey.  So if these are things that can be too much, what is not too much?  Is there anything that you can never get enough of?  Actually, there is.  The Word of the Living God – never returns void. It means no matter how much you get, you can’t get too much of it.  It’s not like honey that will make you sick if you eat too much.  God’s Word – is truth and life and wisdom.  It will always yield a return. Love His Word, and eat all you want.  Don’t worry, it will never be too much.  Praise -  Every time you praise God – you forget about your problems, and focus on the problem solver.  Your problems shrink, and his power expands.  And God promised – He comes to live in the praises of His people.  Just be careful that like prayer, sometimes it’s not time to praise, if God told you to do something, go do it – you can praise Him, but praise Him while you’re doing what He told you.  Some people say you can’t give too much, you can’t out give God.  Actually, you can. You can give too much.   It’s his money, and if you are giving it to be seen by men, or to get something in return, or if you are giving under compulsion of others or so you feel good.  You can give too much, you can out give God, cause He didn’t tell you to do that – you did that on your own.  God said, they have received their reward in full.  Don’t give if God doesn’t tell you, that’s just stealing his money so you look good.  Usually if you feel prompted to give, it’s God, because people are selfish by nature (not realizing it’s not even their money).  So usually, that prompting in your heart to give is God, just be sure it is.  How? Ask Him.  There are things that you can do too much.  But there is one thing you can never do too much of.  His Word – coming out of your mouth, and into your heart, the power of truth into the atmosphere around you, and the words of Praise.  That He comes to live in, that His power flows through.  Don’t worry about those two – you are never in danger of getting too much of His Word, and Praise.  Hoping and praying they will become your habit.  And praying that God will reveal to you, how to put guard rails in your life against the “too much,” so you don’t talk to much, eat too much, sleep too much, work too much, or even study too much.  The best Guard Rail against too much, is PiVAT before dinner.  Just do in this hour what God told you to do.  If you’re doing that – you won’t be doing too much – just the right thing at His perfect time.  It’s a walk in the Spirit life. That brings His Good.  God is the God of more than enough, not the God of too much!  He has a purpose for your increase, and will increase you by His Word!  So you have more than enough, but never too much! 
 
Love you all,
dad