Gary Keesee Ministries

You Were Created to Live Free From Fear

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:38:28 GMT

Reading Time 4 mins 25 secs –

Fear feels real.
It talks loudly.
It paints pictures.
It rehearses worst-case scenarios.
And if you do not know how to stop it, it will try to script your future before you ever get there.

But fear is not truth.
Fear is not fact.
And through God’s Word, you can live free from it.

Scripture says plainly, “ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4a, NIV).

Notice that carefully.

It does not say fear is unavoidable.
It does not say anxiety is your permanent condition.
It does not say torment is part of your identity.

It says, I will fear no evil.

That means freedom from fear is possible.

Fear Works Through Images

Fear often begins with a thought, but it does not stop there.
It immediately tries to form a picture.

The doctor says something concerning, and fear paints the ending.
The bank account drops, and fear paints the ending.
A symptom shows up, and fear paints the ending.
A problem hits your family, and fear paints the ending.

That is how the enemy works.

He presents an image and tries to convince you it is reality.
But just because something enters your mind does not mean it is true.

Fear is an imagination.
It is an illusion.
It may feel convincing, but that does not make it a fact.

The enemy wants you to meditate on what could go wrong.
God calls you to stand on what He said.

The Real Battle Is at the Root

Fear is often treated like the main problem.
But fear is really a symptom.

Like a fever in the body, it points to something deeper that needs attention.
The deeper issue is what you believe.

If fear keeps dominating your thoughts, then somewhere a lie has been accepted as truth.

That is why the answer is not just trying harder to calm down.
The answer is renewing your mind.

You must identify the lie.
Then you must replace it with truth.

Second Corinthians 10:5 reminds us that we are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

That means you do not let fearful thoughts sit in your mind and build a home there.
You reject them.
You replace them.

You do not fight fear by admiring it, analyzing it, or entertaining it.
You fight fear by confronting it with truth.

What You Are Anchored to Matters

Life will always present moments that seem dangerous, uncertain, or impossible.
The question is not whether you will face pressure.
The question is what you are anchored to when pressure comes.

If your confidence is anchored to circumstances, you will always feel unstable.
Circumstances change.
Reports change.
Emotions change.

But God’s Word does not change.

Truth can hold you.

Just as a climber trusts the anchor that keeps him from falling, you must learn to trust the promises of God more than the pictures fear is trying to show you.

When your life is anchored to truth, fear loses its power to dominate your thinking.

Renewing Your Mind Changes What Feels Possible

There was a time when many things people now accept with confidence would have seemed impossible.

Flight looked impossible.
Certain athletic feats looked impossible.
What changed?

Knowledge.
Training.
Repetition.
Confidence in a higher law.

In the same way, many believers still live under the assumption that fear is normal, fear is wise, fear is protective, or fear is just part of life.
But God’s Kingdom operates differently.

In Romans 12:2a (NIV), it says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Transformation does not happen by accident.
It happens when you retrain your thinking with truth.

The world trains people to expect loss, danger, failure, sickness, and defeat.
God trains His people to expect His faithfulness, His promises, His strength, and His victory.

If you keep feeding on fear, fear will feel natural.
If you feed on truth, freedom will become normal.

You Must Replace the Picture

You cannot simply tell yourself not to think about something.
You must replace the wrong picture with the right one.

If fear says, “This will destroy you,” answer with what God says.

If fear says, “You are going under,” answer with what God says.
If fear says, “You will never recover,” answer with what God says.

Truth is the antidote.

When God promises healing, provision, peace, protection, and victory, those promises carry pictures.

They are meant to shape your imagination.

Too many people meditate on everything that can go wrong.
But faith grows when you meditate on what God has already said in His Word.

The enemy wants your imagination captured by fear.
God wants your imagination renewed by truth.

Your Future Does Not Belong to Fear

Many people have lived so long under fear that they assume it will always define them.

It will not.

You can be free.

Your life does not have to be governed by fear of sickness.
Fear of failure.
Fear of rejection.
Fear of lack.
Fear of loss.
Fear of the future.

God did not create you to live tormented.
He created you to live in His Kingdom, under His rule, with His peace, and in the confidence of His promises.

The future belongs to those who believe what God says more than what fear suggests.

So, start again.

Open your Bible.
Find out who you really are.
Train your mind in truth.
Reject the lie.
Hold onto His promises.
And refuse to let fear write a story God never wrote for you.

A Simple Prayer

Father,

Thank You for not giving me a spirit of fear. Thank You for giving me power, love, and a sound mind. Help me recognize every lie the enemy tries to plant in my thoughts. Teach me to renew my mind with Your Word and to reject every imagination that rises against the truth of who You are and who I am in Christ. Strengthen me to stand on Your promises, speak with authority, and live in the freedom You have given me. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Choose Your Circle, Choose Your Future

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:53:43 GMT

Reading Time 4 mins 40 secs –

If you want to see your future, take a look at your friends.

Scripture says plainly, “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV). That’s not a suggestion. That’s a warning. And the deception is thinking your good character will automatically change the people around you.

Sometimes it can. But often, it’s the other way around.

Who speaks into your life matters.
Who challenges you matters.
Who flatters you matters.
Who you follow matters.

All of it shapes where you end up.

The Deception About Influence

Many people fall into what’s called false responsibility. They want someone else’s success more than that person wants it for themselves. They believe they can fix, carry, or rescue someone who isn’t willing to change.

You must understand something clearly: God sends people, and the enemy sends people.

Not every opportunity is from God. Not every relationship is divinely aligned. One of the clearest warning signs is constant flattery. When someone continually builds you up without ever challenging you, pay attention. Flattery often hides motive.

That’s why you must judge your friendships carefully.

Fear Is Contagious, and So Is Courage

Before Israel went into battle, Moses gave a striking instruction: if someone was afraid or faint-hearted, send them home. Why? Because fear spreads.

Fear talks.
Doubt talks.
Unbelief talks.

But courage talks too.
Faith talks too.
Vision talks too.

The people around you will either magnify the obstacle or magnify the promise. They will either rehearse what could go wrong or remind you what God said.

Choose wisely.

Proof That Who You Follow Changes You

After David defeated Goliath, King Saul pursued him. David escaped to a cave. Not a palace, not a resort—a cave.

And 400 men followed him. The Bible describes them as distressed, in debt, and discontented.

That doesn’t sound like leadership material.

But something changed.

Those same men became David’s mighty men of valor. They performed exploits. They accumulated wealth. They became strong, disciplined warriors.

What happened?

They followed someone who carried covenant confidence. They followed faith instead of fear.

And they were transformed.

Who you follow will change you, either for good or for worse.

The Cost of the Wrong Circle

You don’t have to make the wrong decision yourself to feel the consequences of being in the wrong environment.

Association carries weight.

When you attach yourself to people who are reckless, careless, or spiritually drifting, their choices begin to affect your direction. Influence is subtle at first. It doesn’t feel dangerous. It feels normal. Comfortable. Accepted.

But over time, conversations shape thinking. Thinking shapes decisions. Decisions shape outcomes.

That’s why Scripture says not to be deceived. The drift rarely feels dramatic in the beginning. It feels gradual.

You may never intend to compromise your standards. You may never plan to move away from your convictions. But proximity has power. What you tolerate eventually influences what you participate in.

This is not about isolation. It’s about discernment.

You can love everyone.
You can minister to anyone.
But you must be wise about who has consistent access to your life.

Because you don’t have to commit the act to feel the consequence of the association.

Choose your circle carefully.

Not Everyone Qualifies for Close Access

There are people you minister to.
There are people you love.
There are people you encourage.

But not everyone qualifies to be your close companion.

Ezra warned Israel not to make treaties of friendship with those whose practices would corrupt them. The principle still applies: don’t make agreements with influences that pull you away from God.

There are relationships you need to:

Increase
Maintain
Or discontinue

And you must discern which is which.

The righteous choose their friends carefully.

What Healthy Friendship Looks Like

The right people in your life will:

Encourage your walk with God
Strengthen your faith
Uphold your marriage and family
Believe in you
Challenge you past your comfort zone
Correct you when you’re wrong

A true friend will tell you the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. An enemy flatters. A friend sharpens.

If no one in your life can correct you, you’re vulnerable.

Hold Unswervingly

Hebrews instructs us to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess and to encourage one another toward love and good deeds.

“Unswervingly” means steady. Unwavering. Not drifting.

The right friendships help you stay steady. The wrong ones slowly pull you off course, usually so gradually you don’t notice until you’re far from where you intended to be.

Make a decision: as for you and your house, you will serve the Lord.

And build your circle around that decision.

A Simple Prayer

Father,

Thank You for guiding my steps and ordering my relationships. Give me wisdom to choose my circle carefully. Help me discern the voices that strengthen my faith and the ones that pull me away. Surround me with people who challenge me, correct me, and encourage me to follow You fully. Give me courage to walk away from anything that hinders my walk with You. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Finding God’s Path for Your Life

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:40:29 GMT

Reading Time 5 mins 59 secs –

Most of us have asked it, sometimes out loud, sometimes in frustration: Are we there yet?

Not just about a trip but about life. Calling. Direction. The future.

The problem isn’t that you want clarity. The problem is thinking God will hand you the whole map up front.

Proverbs instructs us to give careful thought to the paths our feet are on and to be steadfast in all our ways. This isn’t passive language. It assumes intentional movement, focused direction, and refusal to drift. Staying on the right path requires attention and discipline, not just belief.

That means the focus isn’t anxiety about the destination; it’s attention to the path under your feet today.

Look Straight Ahead

Proverbs gives a simple instruction that’s easy to skip over: “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Do not turn to the right or the left” (Proverbs 4:25, 27a, NIV).

So, what are you supposed to look at?

You’re not meant to stare at fear, compare lanes, or obsess over what might happen way in the future. You’re meant to keep your gaze fixed where God is leading you now and to keep your foot from evil by refusing distractions that pull you off course.

God’s Word is described as a lamp: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105, NIV).

A lamp doesn’t show you everything. It shows you just enough, a few steps ahead. That’s exactly how God often leads, especially when you’re going somewhere you’ve never been before.

That’s why Abraham’s story in Hebrews 11 is so relatable. Abraham obeyed and proceeded, even though he did not know where he was going.

And if we’re honest, neither do we.

When the Water Doesn’t Part Until Your Feet Touch It

Joshua 3 shows what trusting God often looks like. The Jordan was at flood stage. It wasn’t a convenient crossing. But the instruction was still to move forward.

And the river didn’t part while they stood on the bank thinking about it.

It parted when the priests’ feet touched the water.

God’s path often requires motion before you see the breakthrough.

The same principle shows up with Peter. He didn’t walk on water; he walked on the word. When Jesus said “come,” that word carried him.

You may feel like you’re facing impossible valleys, things that seem like they have no way around them, but if God said “go,” then the obstacle is not proof you missed Him. Sometimes, it’s part of the plan.

Don’t Misread the Process

Many believers get discouraged because they mistake the beginning for the end. They assume that if God spoke, it should happen immediately.

But Scripture shows something else: God often leads with glimpses and dreams, not full explanations. He gives you enough to move and enough to hold on to.

That’s why many people quit too early—not because they don’t love God, but because they don’t understand the process.

Joseph: Dreams, Training, and the “Pharaoh Moment”

Joseph had two dreams at 17. Then life took a hard turn: betrayal, slavery, false accusation, and prison.

And yet later, Joseph said something shocking to his brothers: “It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you” (Genesis 45:5b, NIV).

That means the path, including the painful parts, was not random. It was preparation.

Joseph couldn’t have gone straight to the palace. He needed training, exposure, language, protocol, and wisdom. God positioned him in the house of a high-ranking official so he could learn what he’d need later.

Then came the moment everything was aimed toward: standing before Pharaoh.

When that moment arrived, Joseph didn’t just interpret a dream; he had a plan. And the plan seemed good to Pharaoh.

There’s a practical takeaway here: sometimes God develops you in places you don’t enjoy so you’ll have something to offer when the door opens. Your faithfulness now can become your credibility later.

When You Don’t Like Your Job, You Might Be in Training

It’s easy to say, “I hate my job.” But a hard season doesn’t automatically mean you’re off track.

Sometimes the question is: Can God trust you where you are?

Can He trust your integrity when nobody’s impressed?

Can He trust your obedience when you don’t feel like it?

Can He trust you to stay out of sin when it would be easier to compromise?

This is the kind of training that happens before anyone knows your name.

And when you consistently show up with excellence and bring solutions, your gift becomes visible. The value is sometimes found in the training season. You’re being prepared for a season to come, and everything you learned in that training season will not be wasted.

Sometimes the First Step Is to Sit

After a message about vision and purpose, people can get anxious: “I need to do something right now.”

But sometimes wisdom says: be still and sit for a minute.

Many people come to Christ carrying an “earth curse system” mindset of work, labor, perform, and strive because that’s all they’ve known. But learning the Kingdom takes time. Identity comes before assignment.

Simple Ways to Stay on the Path This Week

Fix your gaze. Stop demanding the full map. Stay faithful to today.
Keep moving. Don’t get stuck replaying the lies of the enemy.
Step in before you see it. Some waters part after your feet touch them.
Honor the process. Training seasons are not wasted seasons.
Write it down. Keep a record of dreams, words, and reminders from God.

A Simple Prayer

Father,

Thank You for leading me on the right path. Help me fix my gaze straight ahead and follow You one step at a time. Give me the courage to move forward even when I can only see a few feet in front of me. Strengthen me in the process, teach me what I need to learn, guard my integrity, and keep me steady when I feel delayed or discouraged. Remind me of what You’ve spoken to me through Your Word, through dreams, and through moments you’ve marked in my life. I choose to stay on the path and trust You with the destination. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

A New Year, A New Alignment

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:18:47 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 59 secs –

A new year isn’t just a change on the calendar; it is an opportunity for alignment. God is always moving, always advancing His Kingdom, and always inviting His people to come into agreement with what He’s already established.

Scripture tells us that God’s throne is established in heaven and His Kingdom rules over all. That means heaven is not distant, theoretical, or reserved for later. The Kingdom of God is active, present, and meant to be experienced now.

When you understand that you are a citizen of God’s Kingdom—not someday, but today—it changes how you think, how you pray, and how you live. You stop reacting to life from the outside and start governing from the inside.

This is how heaven touches Earth.

You Were Created to Rule, Not Struggle

From the beginning, God gave humanity authority. He didn’t create people to survive on Earth; He created them to steward it. Dominion was always part of God’s design.

Genesis tells us that mankind was created in God’s image and crowned with glory and honor. That crown wasn’t symbolic. It represented authority backed by heaven itself: authority to subdue, to bring order, and to enforce God’s will in the earth.

Although that authority was lost through rebellion, Jesus legally restored it. Colossians reminds us that we were rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of God’s Son.

You are not waiting to enter the Kingdom.

You are living in it now.

Citizenship Changes Everything

Citizenship isn’t just identity. It’s access. When you were born again, you didn’t just receive forgiveness; you received legal standing in God’s Kingdom.

Ephesians tells us plainly that we are no longer strangers or outsiders but citizens and members of God’s household. That means the benefits of the Kingdom belong to you now, not later.

As a citizen, you have:

A right to provision.
A right to healing.
A right to wisdom and direction.
A right to peace and freedom.

You don’t approach God as a beggar hoping for mercy. You approach Him as a son or daughter who understands covenant.

That perspective alone will change how you pray.

Stop Running. Start Seeking.

Jesus told us not to run after provision the way the world does. Anxiety-driven effort is not Kingdom living. Instead, He instructed us to seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness.

Seeking the Kingdom doesn’t mean begging God to do something He already said yes. It means learning how the Kingdom operates and aligning your life with its laws.

In God’s system:

Seed produces harvest.
Faith releases authority.
Agreement allows heaven to move.
Truth drives out fear.

Everything you need already exists within the Kingdom structure. The issue is rarely whether God is willing; it’s whether we understand how to receive.

Understanding Produces Confidence

Many believers love God deeply but live unsure of their rights. That uncertainty shows up in prayer filled with desperation instead of confidence.

Scripture tells us that when we ask according to God’s will, He hears us, and if He hears us, we already have what we’ve asked. That’s not hope; that’s assurance.

Confidence grows when you stop allowing vague ideas about God to shape your thinking and start grounding your life in what His Word actually says.

You are not disconnected from heaven.

You are not powerless.

You are not at the mercy of circumstances.

You are a citizen with authority.

Agreement Unlocks Heaven on Earth

Jesus demonstrated how the Kingdom works everywhere He went. He didn’t plead with the Father to act. He acted in agreement with the Father’s will.

When people received healing, freedom, or restoration, it wasn’t because God suddenly decided to intervene. It was because someone came into agreement with what heaven had already established.

Heaven moves when faith agrees.

Heaven advances when truth is believed.

Heaven manifests when authority is exercised.

Disagreement—whether through fear, doubt, or false teaching—blocks what God desires to release.

Agreement opens the door.

Simple Ways to Align with the Kingdom This Year

If you want to experience heaven on Earth more fully, start with these practical steps:

Renew your thinking daily. Keep God’s Word in front of you morning and night. Truth recalibrates faith.
Pray with confidence, not panic. Stop begging. Start agreeing.
Expect God’s direction. He knows what you need and how to lead you there.
Guard what you believe. Don’t entertain ideas that contradict God’s character or promises.
Act on what you know. Authority works when it’s exercised.

A Simple Prayer

Father,

Thank You that I am a citizen of Your Kingdom and a member of your household. I choose to align my thinking, my words, and my actions with what You have already established. I release every old mindset that limits Your work in my life. Teach me how Your Kingdom operates. Lead me by Your Spirit. Let this be a year of clarity, confidence, and forward movement. I receive what You have already given and step into the life You’ve prepared for me. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Thankful Hearts and Victorious Lives

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:58:16 GMT

Reading Time 4 mins 6 secs –

Thankfulness isn’t just good manners; it’s a spiritual posture. It’s how your faith stays strong, your heart stays aligned, and your life stays connected to what God is doing.

In a world that constantly pulls on your emotions, drains your joy, and fills the air with fear and pressure, thanksgiving becomes how you stay connected to the victory Jesus has already won for you.

Second Corinthians 2:14 reminds us that God always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through our lives, He spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere we go. That’s not just poetic language. That’s a description of your life in the Kingdom.

You were designed to walk in victory, carry the fragrance of heaven into every room, walk in faith and not fear, and bring evidence of God’s goodness wherever you go. And the doorway into that life? A thankful heart.

Thankfulness Is Your Position of Strength

You don’t wait until you see victory to thank God. In the Kingdom of God, thankfulness comes before the breakthrough.

First Corinthians 15:57 reminds us that God gives us victory through Jesus. Not someday, not eventually, but as a present, active reality. When you say, “Thank You, Lord, for leading me into victory in this situation,” you are aligning your heart with what God has already spoken.

You are:

Agreeing with His Word.
Positioning yourself to receive.
Stepping into alignment with His promises.

Philippians 4:6 tells us to bring every request to God with thanksgiving. Gratitude is not the result of answered prayer; it’s part of how we pray.

If someone handed you a check and you said, “I’ll see if it clears, and then I’ll thank you,” how eager would they be to bless you again?

In the same way, when we approach God with “Father, thank You that You always lead me into victory,” we’re not pretending. We’re trusting His character before we see the outcome. That is faith.

Gratitude Changes the Atmosphere

You don’t just walk into a room; you carry an atmosphere.

We’ve all stepped into places that felt heavy, tense, or anxious without anyone saying a word. But God designed you to carry something different:

Peace instead of pressure
Freedom instead of fear
Victory instead of defeat
A sound mind instead of anxiety

When you adopt a posture of thanksgiving rather than one of complaint, your home changes, your conversations change. Psalm 100 reminds us that we enter God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise. Gratitude isn’t just something we do; it’s how we step into His presence and shift the atmosphere around us.

How We Limit God When We Forget to Say “Thank You”

Psalm 78 tells us that the people of Israel limited God not because His power failed but because they refused to agree with Him.

God wanted to bless them. He had good plans for them. But instead of aligning with His promises, they complained, focused on what they saw instead of what He said, and talked more about giants than about God.

Grumbling doesn’t just make you miserable; it closes your hands. Thankfulness opens them.

The same is true for every promise in your life—provision, wisdom, direction, breakthrough, and peace. Ask yourself: Am I agreeing with God or resisting Him with my words? Do I talk more about the problem or about His promise? Have I been limiting God by withholding my thankfulness?

Simple Ways to Practice Thankfulness Every Day

You don’t have to wait for Sunday to live a thankful life. You can practice gratitude right where you are.

Start with these 5 simple rhythms:

Thank Him before you see the answer. When you pray, don’t just ask. Take time to thank the Lord that the answer to your promise is already yes.
Guard the atmosphere of your home. If voices, media, or conversations are feeding fear and heaviness, turn them off. Make room for worship, the Word, and encouragement.
Say “thank you” out loud. To God. To people. For big things and small things. Train your heart to respond with gratitude instead of suspicion or resistance.
Worship on purpose. You don’t need a worship team to praise. Turn on worship in your car, your kitchen, your living room. Lift your voice. Let His presence fill your space.
Check your heart often. If thankfulness and gratitude haven’t been on your heart much, don’t condemn yourself; just correct your course. Let God restore your joy.

A Simple Prayer

Father,

Thank You that in Christ You always lead me into victory. I repent for every time I’ve complained, drifted, or agreed more with fear than with your Word. Today, I choose to be thankful. I say “yes” and “thank You” to Your promises, Your plans, and Your goodness.

Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Lift off all heaviness. Fill me fresh with Your Spirit. Let my life carry peace instead of pressure, praise instead of complaining, faith instead of fear. I receive Your wisdom, Your strength, and Your direction for every situation I’m facing. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

The Stewardship of Strength

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 23:24:28 GMT

Reading Time 2 mins 59 secs –

Health isn’t just about how long you live; it’s about how well you live the life God’s called you to. You were created with a purpose, and your body is the vessel that carries that purpose forward. When your body is weary, your mind drifts, and your spirit feels disconnected, it becomes harder to walk in everything God has assigned to you.

That’s why good health isn’t optional in the Kingdom. It’s stewardship.

God Cares About How You Feel

All through Scripture, God shows concern for His people’s well-being, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Jesus healed bodies, calmed minds, and restored people to community. Health in His Kingdom is wholeness, not just healing. It’s walking in peace instead of pressure, strength instead of survival.

When you take care of your health, you’re not just maintaining your body; you’re honoring your Creator. Every time you rest when you need it, fuel your body with good food, or take a walk instead of worrying, you’re saying, “Lord, I trust you to sustain me.”

Health Is a Faith Decision

Faith and health are connected. When you believe God for provision, you also believe Him for energy, renewal, and longevity. Your health journey isn’t about control; it’s about alignment with the Holy Spirit.

Romans 12:1 tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. That’s not a verse about restriction; it’s about devotion. Your body is a place where the Holy Spirit dwells, and how you care for it reflects your faith.

Ask yourself:

Am I fueling my body for the calling I’ve been given?
Do my daily choices create strength or drain it?
What does obedience look like in this area of my life right now?

Small acts of obedience like drinking more water, sleeping enough, managing stress, and choosing gratitude are seeds of faith that produce lasting fruit.

The Rhythms of Renewal

God designed life in rhythms: day and night, work and rest, sowing and reaping. When you move with His rhythm, you live from rest instead of running on empty.

Here are a few rhythms that restore strength:

Rest intentionally. True rest is more than sleep; it’s trust. It’s the decision to stop striving and let God restore what effort cannot.
Eat with awareness. Food was meant to nourish you, not control you. Choose what fuels your body for purpose rather than what comforts it in pressure.
Move with joy. Exercise isn’t punishment, it’s a partnership. Every step, stretch, or breath can be an act of worship when done in gratitude.
Renew your mind. A healthy body begins with healthy thoughts. Replace “I’m so tired” with “God strengthens me daily.” What you repeat, you begin to believe.

When You Feel Stuck

There will be days when progress feels invisible. Maybe you’re waiting for healing or battling habits that feel impossible to break. Don’t quit. God doesn’t measure health by perfection.

Philippians 1:6 reminds us that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion. As you continue showing up with faith, the results will follow.

A Simple Prayer

Father, thank you for giving me this body as a gift, not a burden. Teach me to care for it with wisdom and gratitude. Strengthen me to make choices that bring you glory. Renew my energy, restore my joy, and remind me that you are the source of my strength. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Remember This

Health isn’t about chasing balance; it’s about choosing alignment. When your spirit leads, your soul settles, and your body follows. Walk with God, and you’ll find strength that doesn’t fade, energy that renews daily, and peace that carries you farther than willpower ever could.

Success That Lasts: God’s Blueprint for Your Life

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:21:23 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 42 secs –

When most people hear the word success, they picture a number in a bank account, a title on a door, or applause from a crowd. Those things aren’t wrong, but they’re not the whole story. Kingdom success is the fruit of living aligned with God’s presence, God’s purpose, and God’s principles. It’s success that sticks in your family, your finances, your calling, and your soul.

What God Calls “Success”

The Bible defines success as prospering in what God has assigned you to do. Joshua was told to keep God’s Word front and center.

You shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

—Joshua 1:8b (NIV)

Success begins with alignment, not achievement. When your ways line up with His ways, outcomes change.

Success Grows Where Purpose Lives

You weren’t designed to drift; you were designed to steward. Deuteronomy 8:18 says God gives you the power to create wealth—not so you can worship wealth but so you can build, bless, and advance His Kingdom. Purpose answers why you’re pursuing something. When your why is right, God can trust you with more.

Ask yourself:

What problem has God wired me to solve?
Who gets helped when I win?
How does this goal move God’s purpose forward?

Three Pillars of Kingdom Success

Presence – Success starts by seeking God first (Matthew 6:33). In His presence, you get clarity, courage, and correction.
Purpose – Your assignment sets the target. Aimless motion is not momentum.
Practice – Faith works when you work the principles. Plan, sow, and act; God multiplies.

Principles That Produce

God’s system isn’t random. There’s a time to plant seeds and a time to harvest. If you plant the right seeds consistently, a harvest is inevitable. In Proverbs 16:3, we’re reminded to commit whatever we do to the Lord, and He will establish our plans. Think like a steward and ask, “What have I been given?”(such as time, gifts, relationships, and ideas). Manage them with excellence. Choose excellence daily and do your work heartily as for the Lord, because excellence attracts opportunity.

Prioritize wisdom by reading, learning, and surrounding yourself with people who sharpen you. Guard your words; there’s power in the words you speak, so take time to intentionally speak truth. Speak words that are in line with God’s promise rather than with fear. In Luke 16:10, we’re reminded to take faith steps, because small obedient steps multiply, and the servant that is faithful with little can be trusted with much.

Break the Success Killers

Break the success killers by refusing comparison, which steals both joy and peace. Instead, stay focused on running your own race and celebrating progress over perfection. Avoid hurrying, because quick fixes create fragile results, while patience and process create durable success. Replace excuses like “I can’t” with the empowering mindset of “How can I, with God’s help?” Finally, reject isolation, because lone wolf living limits growth, while community, mentors, and partners in purpose accelerate you. When you consistently choose these healthier patterns, you build the resilience and clarity needed to sustain long-term success.

A Weekly Success Rhythm

Seek (Daily): 10–15 minutes in the Word and prayer to align your heart and hear strategy.
Plan (Weekly): Review your goals and priorities to ensure alignment. Decide your top three Kingdom outcomes for the week.
Sow (Consistently): Give, serve, and invest in your skills.
Measure (Weekly): What moved forward? What needs adjusting? Celebrate progress, then iterate.
Rest (Sabbath): Rest is not wasted time; it’s faith in action .

When Progress Feels Slow

Psalm 1 paints a picture: a person planted by streams, bearing fruit in season . Not every day looks like a harvest day. Some days are root days. Stay planted. Keep sowing. Harvests have a schedule, and God is never late.

A Simple Prayer

Father, thank You for calling me to succeed Your way. Align my heart with Your presence, clarify my purpose, and teach me to practice Your principles with diligence and joy. I commit my plans to You. Give me wisdom, clarity, and strength to steward what You’ve placed in my hands. Use my success to bless others and advance Your Kingdom. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Carry This with You

Success in the Kingdom isn’t a finish line; it’s a faithful life . Start where you are. Work with what you have. Obey what God says. Expect His favor. As you align with His presence, purpose, and principles, you’ll see results that last, results that outlive you, and point people to Him.

Rooted in Faith for Everyday Moments

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 17:18:28 GMT

Reading Time 2 mins 56 secs –

Take a moment and think about this: faith isn’t just for the mountaintop moments. It’s for Mondays. It’s for traffic jams, unexpected bills, and the times when you’re just trying to get through the week.

God never designed faith to be complicated or out of reach. He designed it to be your everyday operating system.

Faith Is for Today

Sometimes, we picture faith as something we have to “muster up” for significant challenges, like praying for healing, believing for a miracle, or asking for a breakthrough in a crisis. And while faith absolutely applies to those moments, it’s also for the little ones.

Faith is choosing to trust God with your attitude in a tough conversation.
Faith is deciding to believe He’ll provide, even when your budget looks thin.
Faith is remembering you’re never alone, even when you feel overlooked.

Second Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) says, “ For we live by faith, not by sight. ” Notice it doesn’t say “visit by faith” or “use faith once in a while.” It says live. Faith was always meant to be your way of life.

Small Steps, Strong Roots

Faith doesn’t usually grow in leaps; it grows in steps. Little, steady decisions that put your trust in God day after day.

Opening your Bible instead of scrolling on your phone first thing in the morning
Speaking truth over yourself when your feelings want to run the show
Praying before making a decision instead of relying only on logic

These may not seem dramatic, but they lay a strong foundation. And just like a tree with deep roots, your faith will keep you standing strong when storms come.

God Is Faithful, Even When Life Isn’t

Here’s the best part: your faith doesn’t rest on your ability to figure everything out. It rests on God’s ability to be faithful. And He is. Always.

When you feel shaky, remember this: God is steady.
When you feel uncertain, remember this: His promises are sure.
When you feel small, remember this: faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.

You don’t need giant faith for God to move. You just need real faith in a giant God.

Faith That Shows Up in Action

Faith isn’t just belief in your heart; it’s trust that shows up in your choices. James 2:17 says, faith without works is dead, which means faith comes alive when you act on it. That could look like forgiving when it’s hard, giving when it feels impossible, or stepping into an opportunity that scares you, but you know God is calling you to.

Every time you take action in faith, you’re making a declaration: “God, I trust You more than my feelings, more than my circumstances, and more than what I see.” That kind of faith not only changes your life, but it also inspires others to believe.

A Simple Prayer to Start With

“Lord, thank You that faith isn’t complicated. Teach me to live by faith in the small things and the big things. I trust You with my today, my tomorrow, and every detail of my life. Strengthen my heart and remind me that You are faithful. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

Take This with You

Faith isn’t a moment. It’s a mindset. It’s not about pretending life is easy. It’s about trusting God, no matter what life looks like.

Friend, you don’t need to wait for a crisis to practice faith. You can start today, right where you are, with whatever you’re carrying. Take a step. Speak His Word. Trust His heart.

Because faith isn’t just for the extraordinary, it’s for the everyday. And your everyday is exactly where God loves to show up.

Everyday Healing: God Cares About the Little Things

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 19:50:15 GMT

Reading Time 2 mins 49 secs –

Okay, let’s take a breath.

Not everything has to be heavy, and healing doesn’t have to feel impossible or mysterious.

Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that God actually wants us to feel better.

Yes, you included.

God Cares About How You Feel

We can get so used to pushing through that we forget God never designed us to live burned out, worn out, or always dealing with pain.

Third John (NIV) 1:2b says, “ I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well .”

God’s heart is not just that we survive life. His heart is that we thrive—spirit, soul, and body.

That includes your sleep.

That includes your energy.

That includes your mind and your moods.

Healing Isn’t Just for Emergencies

Most of us wait to think about healing until something significant goes wrong.

A diagnosis. A surgery. A crisis.

However, healing is an integral part of your daily life as a believer. You don’t have to wait for something to fall apart to lean into God’s promises. It’s kind of like drinking water; your body needs it regularly, not just when you're dehydrated.

The Word is the same. It brings strength, clarity, and peace to your health before the storm hits. You’re allowed to believe in a life where you’re not constantly recovering—you’re well.

Small Shifts, Big Results

Maybe you’ve been dealing with something for a while—nothing catastrophic, just something that lingers. A chronic ache. Fatigue. Brain fog. A stress habit that’s hard to shake.

Can I encourage you?

You don’t have to settle for “just getting by.”

Start speaking life over your body.

Make simple changes in faith; walk a little more, drink more water, eat a bit better, get quiet with God. Healing isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes, it happens gently. Daily. Gradually.

The power of God isn’t always loud, but it’s always effective.

The Best Kind of Doctor

He doesn’t rush your appointment.

He’s never stumped by your symptoms.

And He doesn’t hand you a bill at the end.

He simply says, “Come to Me.”

Come tired. Come unsure. Come with your questions.

And He’ll give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Yes, He heals in big, miraculous ways—but He also heals in little moments of laughter, sunlight, worship, and truth.

Let’s Make This Simple

Healing isn’t about performance.

It’s about proximity—staying close to the Healer.

So, take the pressure off today. You’re not failing if you’re still waiting.

You’re not disqualified if you’ve had some doubts.

You’re growing. You’re learning. And most of all, you’re loved.

Let healing be a conversation you have with God, not a crisis you fear.

Let it be part of your everyday life with Him, not just a 911 prayer when things feel scary.

A Simple Prayer to Start With

“Lord, thank You that You care about every part of me.

You know when I’m tired, hurting, anxious, or overwhelmed.

Thank You for being my Healer, not just in emergencies but in the everyday.

I receive Your peace and Your promises.

I speak life over my body and my mind today, in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

Take This with You

Healing doesn’t have to feel far away or hard to reach.

It’s not reserved for the super spiritual or the desperate.

It’s available, it’s real, and it’s for right now.

You don’t have to make it complicated.

Just take one step. Open the Word, talk to God, speak life over yourself, and trust that He’s working behind the scenes.

You don’t have to live in survival mode.

You were made for wholeness.

And friend? You’re allowed to feel better.

Faith Walks Before It Sees

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:00:24 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 46 secs –

Picture this.

You’re standing at the edge of a foggy path that winds through a forest. You’ve never walked this path before. You can’t see more than a few feet ahead. There are no signs. No map. No flashlight. Just a still, quiet voice inside telling you to start walking.

Would you?

Most people wouldn’t. They’d wait until the fog clears. Until the way is visible. Until they feel “sure.”

But that’s not how the Kingdom works.

Friend, faith walks before it sees.

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) tells us this plainly: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Not what we can see.
Not what we understand.
Not what’s guaranteed.

Faith is walking when it feels like you’re walking blind, but you’re actually walking guided.

Let’s talk about Abraham for a second.

God said to him, “...Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1, NIV).

God didn’t show Abraham the land first.
He didn’t explain all the details.
He didn’t promise a step-by-step plan.

God simply said, “ Go, ” and Abraham went.

He didn’t argue. He didn’t delay. He didn’t ask for the weather report or route details.

He trusted the voice.

He walked before he saw.

And because of that one step, a generational promise was unlocked.

Now, let’s fast forward to the New Testament, to the story found in Matthew 14. Jesus came walking on water in the middle of the night, and Peter saw Him. Peter said, “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come.” And Jesus said, “Come.”

What did Peter do?

He stepped out of the boat and onto the water.

Pause and think about that.

Peter walked on water—not because he had magic in his feet but because he trusted the One who called him forward.

Peter walked before he saw.

Yes, he started to sink when he looked at the waves, but before that, he did what no other human besides Jesus had done: he walked on water by faith.

Friend, your boat might feel safer. It might feel familiar. But if God is calling you out of it, staying there is more dangerous than stepping forward.

Let’s get real for a second.

There are seasons when God will not show you the full picture, on purpose.

Why?

Because if He showed you everything, you’d try to control it instead of trusting Him with it. Faith is trusting His character when you can’t see His hand.

It’s saying yes without having every answer.

It’s building the ark before the rain comes.
It’s marching around Jericho before the walls fall.
It’s digging a ditch before there’s a drop of rain.

That’s the Kingdom.

Here’s what the Bible says: “For we live by faith, not by sight,” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV).

That’s not a metaphor. That’s a lifestyle.

You don’t wait until all your fear is gone to obey.
You don’t wait until you’re certain to trust.

It means you don’t wait until your finances line up perfectly to give.

You walk before you see.

Let’s look at one more example.

In Acts 9, Saul, who later became Paul, was traveling to Damascus while persecuting Christians when, suddenly, a blinding light stopped him. Jesus spoke directly to him, and Saul was blinded.

God then instructed a man named Ananias to go and pray for Saul and restore his sight. Ananias was hesitant because he knew Saul’s reputation for harming believers.

Despite his doubts and without any guarantees, Ananias obeyed and went to Saul.

He stepped out in faith before knowing the outcome.

That single act of obedience set the stage for Paul’s powerful ministry and the writing of much of the New Testament.

So, let me ask you…

Where is God asking you to walk, before you see?

To step into a calling that scares you?

To give up something you’ve leaned on for security?
To trust Him with your finances?
To forgive someone you haven’t gotten an apology from?

Whatever it is, I want you to hear this.

You don’t have to see the outcome to take the next step.

You don’t have to understand the entire path to move forward in obedience.

Faith walks before it sees.

That’s where the miracles are. That’s where the provision is. That’s where peace is waiting.

Your comfort zone won’t get you there.
But your obedience will.

God doesn’t need your full understanding. He needs your full surrender.

So today, let this be your reminder…

You don’t have to feel brave. You just have to follow.

Even in the fog.
Even in the unknown.
Even when it doesn’t make sense.

Because God is already in the place He’s calling you to.

He’s gone ahead. He’s prepared the way. He’s waiting at your next step.

So, take it.

Because faith? It always walks before it sees.

People Don’t Know Who They Really Are

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 16:44:05 GMT

Reading Time 4 mins 58 secs –

Friend, I’ve been thinking a lot about identity lately. So many people are walking around without a clue about who they really are. They’re trying to find their identity in the world’s system, in what other people think, in how they look, in what they own—and they’re completely missing the revelation of who God created them to be.

You Were Created with Intent

Let me tell you something powerful: you are not here by accident! Before you were created in your mother’s womb, God knew you. He created you with intent, just like he did with Jeremiah.

The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

—Jeremiah 1:4–5 (NIV)

Now, I believe this isn’t just about Jeremiah. I believe every single person was created with intent by God. He designed you specifically with your uniqueness in mind. If you have more than three or four kids, you know they’re all completely different even in the same household! As they get older, you begin to see their unique bends and talents that you had nothing to do with. That’s because God made them for certain things and put His design in them.

It’s sad that most people never discover this because their life of survival holds them in places they were never intended to be.

Your Uniqueness Defines Your Value

Anyone who collects something knows that the uniqueness of an item dictates its value. But here’s the thing. It’s YOUR uniqueness that God put there to be seen. People want to fit in because they don’t know who they really are.

Getting Back to Basics

When we look at 1 Corinthians 3, we see Paul dealing with this exact topic. This new church in Corinth was worldly; they had no concept yet of who they were. They were baby Christians, still in spiritual diapers, yet they wanted to be grown up. They wanted to drive the tractor, be seen, and have identity. They were jostling for position, all fighting over spiritual gifts, all trying to judge who was more spiritual.

Paul had to write this letter to give them wisdom. He said:

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly.

—1 Corinthians 3:1–3a (NIV)

Friend, we have to go back to the basics. We've got to get this thing fixed.

Finding Your Place in the Body

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains how the body of Christ works. The foot can’t say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body.” It would still be a foot no matter how much it decided it wanted to be a hand. Why? Because God made it a foot.

The ear can’t say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body.” It was created as an ear with a very distinct purpose.

Psalm 139 tells us:

You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. ... My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place... Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

—Psalm 139:13–16 (NIV)

Wow! The place where you’re going to end up has already been decided. All your days have already been ordained by God for your life. What you’re going to end up doing was written in His book before you were ever created.

Discovering the Mystery of You

It’s sad that so many people never discover themselves. You’ll hear me say many times that God will help you unravel the mystery of you to you. The world has raised us to bounce off the mirror: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” And besides you in the mirror, there are a ton of comparisons.

In Ephesians 4:11–13, we learn that Jesus gave the church five ministry offices: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Their purpose is “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith.”

Here’s what’s important. These offices are not something you pick like a job opportunity. Jesus calls people to these offices. I know when I was called. I remember that day when I had the open vision and God spoke to me saying, “I’m calling you to preach My Word” three times.

Standing in Your Place

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

—Romans 12:4–8 (NIV)

I was obedient to what God called me to do. I am no better than you. I am just standing in the place God told me to stand. You need to stand in the place God told you to stand.

If all of us stand in the right place, the body will function, and great things will happen. That’s only going to happen when you understand that your function is needed. It’s not a popularity contest. It’s by revelation, and you’re doing it as unto the Lord.

Friend, it’s a great journey discovering who God created you to be. Don’t try to be someone else. Be exactly who God made you to be.

You Have a Mission: Understanding Your God-Given Purpose

Mon, 12 May 2025 15:30:00 GMT

Reading Time 6 mins 30 secs –

I’m constantly asked the same question as I travel around the country speaking to people: “Gary, what am I supposed to do with my life? What’s my purpose?”

But I’m going to tell you something right now. That’s actually the wrong question to start with.

See, before we can talk about what you’re supposed to do, we need to establish who you are .

We live in a world that evaluates people by what they do, not who they are. That’s completely backward from God’s perspective! This broken thinking started back in the Garden when Adam lost his identity and purpose and became a survivalist.

The Earth Curse System We Grew Up In

God told Adam,

“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground.”

—Genesis 3:17b–19a (NIV)

I call this the “painful toil and sweat earth curse system.” That’s the system you and I grew up in. It creates a survivalist mentality instead of an assignment mentality.

What’s the first question people ask in this system? “Where’s the money? Where’s the provision?”

Adam had an original assignment—to represent God’s Kingdom on Earth and take care of God’s stuff. But he abandoned that created purpose and became a survivalist. And friend, we’ve all inherited that perverted view of life.

We Need to Fix Your Identity First

Now, here’s the thing. We have no business talking about your assignment or purpose until we get your identity fixed. Why? Because anything God has for you to do will be bigger than you! It’ll take more money than you have and more people than you know. It’ll take faith in God’s grace. As Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) says, “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Our identity has been warped. Just like Adam covered himself with fig leaves, we try to cover ourselves with wealth, position, and the pride of life. We don’t want people to know the real us because we fear shame.

The Prodigal Son’s Identity Crisis

In Luke 15:11–24, Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son. This is really a picture of what happened to Adam—leaving Father’s house full of provision and going to a place he thought was better, only to find it bankrupt.

For the first time, this son had to be “hired.” Previously, he worked with his father in the family business. But then he had to take on an assignment that was disgusting to Jews—feeding pigs. He was totally out of position.

When he finally came to his senses and returned home, what did he say? Luke 15:21 (NIV) tells us: “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” He wanted to be made like one of his father’s hired servants.

He didn’t understand who he really was! And even though the father restored him as a son, he carried this “I am not worthy” concept with him.

Friend, this is what happens to us! When you feel unworthy, what do you want to do? Perform! You want to earn respect. You want people to acknowledge you’re worthy. And you perform for God.

Even though we’re born again, even though we’re in Father’s house, we carry this survival mindset into our new life. And unless that is fixed, you’ll never be able to receive freely from God.

Your Real Identity in Christ

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.

—Romans 8:28–29a (NIV)

You’re a coheir with Christ—part of the family!

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

—Romans 8:31 (NIV)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

—Romans 8:37 (NIV)

Those are powerful statements, but it’s problematic because most people aren’t confident that God is actually for them.

Religion has taught you that you’re nothing but a worm crawling in the dust. But that’s not what the Bible says!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

—2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

—Romans 6:6–7 (NIV)

You’re not a measly sinner who can’t stop sinning. You’re free from sin!

Created with Divine Intent

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

—Jeremiah 1:4–5 (NIV)

I believe this applies to every person. Before you were created in your mother’s womb, God created you with intent. You’re not here by accident! If you have multiple children, you know they’re all different, even in the same household. Why? Because God made them for certain things and put His design in them.

Unfortunately, most people never discover that because their life of survival holds them in places they were never intended to be at. You are extremely unique! So why is everyone trying to be like everyone else? Because no one knows who they really are.

Your Unique Function in the Body

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

—Romans 12:4–5 (NIV)

I’m not a pastor because I chose to be. I was obedient to what God said. And I’m no better than you are. I’m just standing in the place God told me to stand.

You need to stand in the place God told you to stand. If all of us stand in the right place, the body will function and great things will happen! But that’s only going to happen when you understand that your function is needed.

Ready for Your Mission?

So, friend, before you ask what you’re supposed to do, make sure you know who you are in Christ.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

—1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Until you’re absolutely convinced of your identity, we don’t need to be talking about facing your Goliath. Your Goliath knows who he is. You have to know who you are!

Your purpose isn’t a career choice. It comes by revelation.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

—Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

—Psalm 139:16 (NIV)

Only the Creator knows why something was built. Only God knows exactly why He created you and what He designed you to accomplish.

Are you ready to discover your true mission? It starts with understanding your real identity in Christ.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 3:14 (NIV)

When you do, you’ll stop trying to survive and start thriving in your God-given purpose! Remember John 10:10b (NIV) where Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Are You Taking Care of God’s Business?

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 21:44:27 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 8 secs –

Let me ask you something. Are you truly concerned about God’s business? Or are you more focused on your own? That might be a tough question, but it’s one we all have to answer at some point. The truth is, when we align our lives with God’s agenda, everything else begins to fall into place.

Jesus made it clear in Luke 2:49 (NKJV) when He said, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” He was focused. He understood that His life was about fulfilling a divine purpose, not just going through the motions of everyday existence. And guess what? The same applies to you and me.

God’s Business First

A lot of people are trying to build their own lives, solve their own problems, and make their own way—only to end up frustrated, tired, and lacking. But Matthew 6:33 (NIV) gives us a powerful principle: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

That means if we take care of God’s business, He’ll take care of ours. I’ve seen this firsthand in my own life and in the lives of countless others. When we align our time, energy, and resources with what God is doing, He ensures that we never lack what we need. Provision follows purpose.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV) reminds us, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” When we prioritize His business, He supplies all we need.

What Does It Mean to Be About God’s Business?

Being about God’s business isn’t just about working in ministry. It means bringing Kingdom principles into everything we do—our careers, our families, our finances, and even our daily conversations. It means:

Using your talents and skills to make an impact for God’s Kingdom : “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23, NIV).
Handling your finances according to His Word, not just worldly wisdom : “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9–10, NIV).
Being led by the Holy Spirit in decision-making, rather than reacting to circumstances : “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14, NIV).
Viewing your work as a mission field, wherever you are.

Stepping into Your Kingdom Assignment

Too often, people are waiting for God to bless them before they take action. But that’s backward! When you step into your Kingdom assignment—when you take that step of faith and prioritize what God is doing—then provision, opportunities, and success start flowing your way. That’s how the Kingdom works.

James 2:17b (NIV) tells us, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” God has called you to make a difference, to live with purpose, and to operate in the blessings of the Kingdom. But it starts with a choice: Will you focus on His business, or will you continue trying to figure things out on your own?

Make the Shift Today

If you’ve been struggling, feeling stuck, or wondering why things aren’t working, take a moment to check your focus. Are you aligned with God’s business? Are you seeking His Kingdom first?

Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) encourages us, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” When you trust Him and put Him first, He will lead you to success.

I challenge you today: Make the shift. Start putting God’s agenda before your own, and watch how He transforms every area of your life. His business is the best business to be in!

Let’s go after it together!

Watch the full message here: Are You Concerned About God's Business?

Occupy Your Destiny: Finding Your Purpose in a World of Distraction

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:00:02 GMT

Reading Time 2 mins 52 secs –

Have you ever felt like there’s more to life than what you’re currently experiencing? That nagging sense that you were created for something greater, yet you’re not quite sure what it is or how to step into it?

You’re not alone. Many people go through life knowing deep down that they have a specific purpose—a destiny to fulfill—but they struggle to identify it and take the necessary steps to walk in it.

But here’s the truth: You weren’t just saved to survive; you were saved to occupy! You were created with a unique assignment and a position of influence in this world. Your destiny isn’t just about achieving personal success; it’s about fulfilling your Kingdom purpose.

Moving Beyond Deliverance to Destiny

One of the biggest traps believers fall into is celebrating deliverance but never stepping into their destinies.

Think about it—have you ever experienced a breakthrough in your life? Maybe you got out of debt, overcame an addiction, or walked away from a toxic situation. But instead of pressing forward, you found yourself simply enjoying your newfound freedom without any real direction.

Here’s the problem: Deliverance is never permanent unless you learn to occupy! The enemy will always try to reclaim territory in your life. If you don’t move forward into your destiny, you risk falling back into old cycles.

Your breakthrough is just the beginning, not the end. God didn’t free you so you could sit still. He freed you so you could step into your purpose and advance His Kingdom!

Understanding Your Authority

To occupy your destiny, you have to understand the authority God has given you. Too many believers live far below their potential because they don’t recognize the authority they carry.

Authority isn’t about how powerful you feel; it’s about knowing your legal standing.

Think about a police officer directing traffic. Cars don’t stop because the officer has the physical strength to stop them. They stop because of the badge —the authority the officer represents.

It’s the same with you. Your authority doesn’t come from your abilities. It comes from the One you represent. But here’s the key: You can’t walk in authority unless you’re also submitted to authority.

Finding Your Place in God’s Organizational Chart

Have you ever considered where you fit in God’s organizational chart? Your destiny is directly tied to understanding your role and responsibilities in the Kingdom.

Ask yourself:

Where has God called me to be?
What unique gifts and abilities do I bring?
Who has God placed in authority over me?
Who has He placed in my care?

When you’re in the right place—operating within your assigned role—things work smoothly, and God’s authority flows properly in your life .

The Power of Staying Submitted

One of the biggest challenges in stepping into your destiny is staying submitted —especially when you disagree or face correction.

Your maturity isn’t measured by your talent or your age. It’s measured by your ability to remain submitted even when it’s difficult .

Think about how quickly you want to defend yourself when criticized. Do you get offended? Do you want to quit? That’s a sign of immaturity that can derail your destiny.

Submission isn’t about control; it’s about protection. When you remain under authority, you position yourself for greater authority and greater Kingdom impact.

Moving Forward with Confidence

As you step into your destiny, God will provide everything you need —the right people, the right resources, and the right opportunities to fulfill your assignment.

The double portion is already yours! When you align yourself with God’s plan and operate under His authority, you’ll find that He supplies “exceedingly, abundantly above all that you could ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

So, are you ready to move beyond just celebrating your freedom to actually occupying your place of influence ?

Your destiny is waiting. It’s time to take possession of what’s rightfully yours!

What area of authority has God placed in your hands? How are you occupying that space for His Kingdom?

Leave the Junk Back in 2024 & Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:00:02 GMT

Reading Time 4 mins 39 secs –

You know, every January, people talk about starting fresh—setting New Year’s resolutions and trying to reset their lives physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. And that’s great. But how many times have we found ourselves setting the same resolutions year after year, only to abandon them a few days, weeks, or a month later?

This year, I want to challenge you to think differently. Instead of focusing only on what you want to achieve in 2025, let’s also take a hard look at what you need to leave behind in 2024. Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come not from what we gain but from what we let go of.

Here are three things to leave behind as you step into God’s best for your life in 2025:

1. Insecurities

Let’s talk about insecurity for a second. It’s a sneaky thief. It keeps you stuck, paralyzed, and doubting whether you’re capable of doing what God called you to do. Insecurity is not from God. It's the enemy’s tactic to rob you of your destiny.

God made you on purpose, for a purpose, and He doesn’t make mistakes. Genesis 1:27 says you were created in His image. That means you have His DNA—His creativity, power, and potential—inside of you.

Stop comparing yourself to someone else’s highlight reel. Stop trying to fix yourself with things that don’t matter—more stuff, more status, or other people’s opinions. God has already given you everything you need to walk confidently into your calling.

Here’s what to do:

Spend time reminding yourself what God says about you. When insecurity tries to creep in, stand firm on the Word of God.
Write down affirmations based on Scripture, and speak them out loud! Your words carry power.
Be confident in this truth: God chose you for this moment, this season, and this purpose.

Let 2025 be the year you leave insecurity in the rearview mirror. You have too much ahead to let fear hold you back.

2. Complaining

I’m going to be real with you: complaining is one of the fastest ways to keep yourself stuck. It focuses all your energy on what’s wrong instead of what God’s doing. And the Bible makes it clear: “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21a, NIV). What are you speaking over your life?

Complaining doesn’t just create negativity; it’s a mindset. When you constantly dwell on the problems, you miss the solutions God is already providing.

So, what’s the alternative? Gratitude. Gratitude is a weapon. It shifts your focus and aligns your thinking with God’s promises.

Here’s how to flip the script:

Start a gratitude list. Write down three things you’re thankful for every day. Train your mind to focus on what God is doing, not what isn’t going right.
Catch yourself. When you start to complain, pause and say, “What can I be grateful for in this moment?”
Get perspective. Ask yourself, “Is this going to matter a year from now?” Most of the time, the things we complain about aren’t worth the energy.

When you retrain your mind to focus on the good, you’ll find that joy and strength naturally follow. The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b, NIV). Let’s lean into that joy in 2025.

3. Toxic Relationships

We’ve all been there. Relationships can be a blessing, but some relationships weigh you down, pull you away from God’s plan, and drain your energy. Toxic relationships aren’t just in romantic settings. They can show up in friendships, family, or work environments too.

If someone is constantly pulling you away from your purpose, making you question your worth, or keeping you from stepping into God’s best, it’s time to set some boundaries. And listen: this doesn’t mean cutting off people entirely. Boundaries don’t mean you stop loving people. They mean you stop letting their dysfunction control your life.

Ask yourself:

Is this relationship pushing me closer to God or pulling me away?
Does this person consistently build me up, or do they tear me down?

When you let go of relationships that aren’t aligned with where God is taking you, you make space for the right people—people who will encourage you, challenge you, and grow with you.

I’m Sure You Can Think of More Things to Leave Behind…

This list is just a starting point. Maybe for you, it’s leaving behind procrastination, negative thoughts, or the fear of failure. Maybe it’s doubt, pride, or the need to control everything. Whatever it is, take some time to reflect. Ask yourself: What’s holding me back from stepping into the life God has for me?

We all have things we’ve been carrying for far too long—things that don’t belong in the next chapter of our lives. This year, don’t just focus on what you’re reaching for; get intentional about what you’re letting go of. There’s power in leaving behind what no longer (or never did) serve God’s purpose for you.

Stepping Into 2025

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to navigate this alone. God didn’t design you to do life by yourself. Surround yourself with people who will speak life into you, remind you of God’s promises, and stand with you in faith.

You won’t always get it right—and that’s okay. Nobody succeeds at everything all the time. But when you fall, God’s grace is there to pick you back up. He’s cheering you on, and so are Drenda and I.

As we move forward into 2025, let’s leave behind insecurity, complaining, and toxic relationships. Instead, let’s embrace God’s truth, walk in gratitude, and surround ourselves with the right people.

This is your year to step boldly into what God has called you to do. Let’s make it count.

Want Peace in Your Life? Here’s Where You Can Find It.

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:57:55 GMT

Reading Time 6 mins 37 secs –

What does “peace” look like for you?

An illustrated children’s book that came out years ago told the story of an elephant mom who just wanted “five minutes’ peace” away from her energetic elephant children.

For her, “peace” meant escaping alone to a warm bath with something to read, a cup of tea, some cake, and no interruptions. But in the end, she barely managed to get three minutes and forty-five seconds of the peace she sought. (And moms everywhere can probably relate to that.)

Everyone’s definition of “peace” is different. For some people, peace does mean finally getting five minutes alone, but for others, it means being surrounded by family and friends. For others, finding peace means a getaway or a vacation, reaching a certain point financially, traveling less for a job, traveling more for a job, living closer to family, living farther from family, laying under the stars, feeling settled in a decision… the list is truly endless.

If you had asked me years ago what peace looked like for me, I probably would’ve told you that it looked like getting out of the financial black hole I was in. But there was even more to it than that.

You may have heard our backstory, but when Drenda and I got married, we were broke. I made money. I just didn’t make enough. Everything we had was used, broken, or worn out. We owed a lot of people a lot of money.

Yes, we loved God. We really, truly loved God. I had an Old Testament degree, and we even led praise and worship at our church, but fear was my middle name. Everything that happened that required money set off emotional fires.

I was having panic attacks. I couldn’t sleep at night. I had no peace.

You may have also heard me tell a story about a time I had a tooth infection during those chaotic years, a really painful tooth infection. It was so painful that I couldn’t sleep, and I couldn’t think straight. To fight the pain, I took two Tylenol every four hours for several days in a row.

One night, I was up trying to cope with the pain when I decided to read the Tylenol box for some reason. You can probably guess what happened. I read on the box that you’re not supposed to take Tylenol as frequently as I had been taking it.

And that’s when fear really set in.

OH NO, GARY! YOU’VE TAKEN TOO MUCH!

I called Poison Control and told them I had taken two tablets of Tylenol too many for the last three days. The girl on the other end of the line said, “We have never had someone live that took that dosage. Either you drive yourself to the hospital, or I’m sending an ambulance after you right now.”

No, I’m not kidding. She actually said that, and I actually believed her.

So there I was in complete fear and panic, and I drove myself to the hospital. When I got to the emergency room, two guys were pacing back and forth out front, waiting for me. When I walked in, my name was already on the dry-erase board. It said, “Keesee—overdose.”

Obviously, I didn’t overdose. In fact, a doctor came in after they ran a bunch of tests and asked me why I was even there. He said, “You don’t even have enough Tylenol in your system to cure a headache.” Yes, it’s funny now, but it sure wasn’t in the moment.

My issue, however, was way bigger than a Tylenol scare. I was desperately trying to survive financially, emotionally, and even physically. I couldn’t seem to find peace, no matter how hard I tried.

I know I’m not the only one who has been there.

People are always looking for peace.

There’s the mom whose kids keep fighting, the businessman with an unstable career, the young woman on antidepressants, the teenage boy on drugs, the couple that can’t ever agree on their finances, the grandmother who can’t sleep at night because she’s worrying about her family—they’re all hungry for peace.

The world is hungry for peace.

People will spend a lot of money and time searching for peace. We buy things, try to find moments, or strive to achieve something because we believe those things, moments, or achievements will bring peace.

But peace can’t be found in any thing, place, or achievement.

The word “peace” in Hebrew is “shalom,” which means wholeness, completeness, harmony, prosperity, welfare, security, and tranquility . Nothing is missing, and nothing is broken. It’s freedom from the distress experienced as a result of sin. Peace covers all of that.

Jesus came to give us true peace.

In John 14:27, Jesus tells the disciples that He’s leaving, but He’s leaving His peace with them.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

—John 14:27 (KJV)

Can you imagine what the disciples were thinking and saying?

He can’t leave! He calmed the storm when we were on the boat!

But He always knows how to calm our fears!

He helped us understand priorities and what life was about!

Every time we were afraid, He gave us courage!

He healed so many and raised them from the dead! We can’t be confident without Him around!

Do you remember when He told us how to pay our taxes? What are we going to do?!?

You and I probably would have reacted the same way. After all, if you had one person to go to who had all the answers for every situation, who could calm your fears, and who could calm the storms in your life with just one word, how do you think you’d react if they said they were leaving you?

Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” because the disciples WERE troubled and afraid.

Jesus was their peace. They didn’t know how to function without Him, or at least they thought they didn’t. But Jesus was trying to tell them He was leaving them a great gift. Yes, He was the Prince of Peace, but He had peace because of what He had on the inside—the Holy Spirit. And He told them, “My peace (Holy Spirit) I give to you.”

The Holy Spirit is the One who counseled Jesus. Jesus walked by the power and peace of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38 tells us that Jesus was anointed by God. Jesus was one with the Father and could hear His voice.

And He passed that on to YOU and ME .

In John 14:26, Jesus says:

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

—John 14:26 (KJV)

See that? God is the God of Peace because He’s the God of answers . He has given us the Holy Spirit, who knows exactly how to handle every situation. The Bible calls Him a “Comforter.” To comfort doesn’t mean to console, hug, and show your love for someone.

What comforts you when you’re sick? Healing .

What comforts you when you need money? Money .

What comforts you when you need answers? Answers .

Friend, the search for peace is over.

You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

—Isaiah 26:3 (AMP)

You DO have someone to go to who has every answer for every situation in your life . One who will calm your fears and the storms in your life and One who says He will never leave or forsake you.

Is Your Life Being Polluted? How to Fight Back Against the Enemy’s Lies

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:55:25 GMT

Reading Time 5 mins 10 secs –

They didn’t know the water they had been drinking, bathing in, and cooking with was packed with poisonous chemicals and carcinogens.

But then the symptoms started to surface.

You’ve probably heard at least one news story about contaminated water.

A million marines, sailors, and their families were exposed to carcinogens after the military allegedly dumped fuel and cleaning agents near two drinking wells in Camp Lejeune, which is in Jacksonville, North Carolina, from the 1950s through the 1980s.
So many people were sick and dying in Hinkley, California, that the small town is now nearly nonexistent.
More than 400,000 residents from the greater Milwaukee area were infected, and 100 people died after bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illnesses invaded the water supply—making it the largest documented waterborne disease outbreak in U.S. history.

Come on, Gary. Where are you going with this?

(Stick with me. There is a really good spiritual point coming.)

I’ve done an illustration during weekend services at Faith Life Church several times where I asked for a volunteer who would like to make a quick $20 or silver coin to help me.

I asked one woman who had raised her hand to come up front, and I opened a brand-new bottle of water and asked her to take a drink. She did.

Then, I told her I was going to add something to her bottle of water—a sample of water from a dirty pond behind our church building. The water was nasty!

Then I asked her to drink it.

Of course, she refused.

And, of course, I still gave her the $20.

The point was made though. No one wants to knowingly drink contaminated water.

But without knowing it, many people are.

Here’s where I stop talking about water contamination and start talking about the things that might be contaminating your soul, your mind, your body—your LIFE.

Because the culture is out to get you—to contaminate you—“to make you impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance.”

Satan is out to get you—to contaminate you. He is set on killing, stealing, and destroying you (John 10:10).

Are you unknowingly drinking the “contaminated water”?

I love this illustration our son Tim once gave using the game of Jenga.

Have you ever played it? Basically, you have a big tower of blocks that have been stacked in opposite directions to allow pieces to be poked at and pulled out one by one without having the tower collapse. Only you have to stack the blocks you’ve pulled out on top of the tower, which means the block tower gets more and more unstable as the game goes on, because it’s getting taller and balancing on less and less stable blocks.

At some point during the game, the tower collapses.

Some of us are building our lives like that.

We think we’re building this strong tower day after day and year after year.

But Luke 22:31 tells us that Satan desires to sift us as wheat. Too often, we forget we’re in a spiritual battle, and we don’t take the spiritual adversary we have seriously. All of our lives, we’ve seen too many TV shows and cartoons that downplay the enemy as some creepy guy with horns and a red cape. But Satan is alive and demons are real, and they don’t want to see you prosper and live the destiny God has for you.

Satan wants you to fail. So, he’s always looking for loose blocks to poke and pull at—those little areas of your life that aren’t so sturdy and stable, those little areas that are contaminated—in his effort to make your whole tower collapse.

And he knows he doesn’t have to come at your tower of blocks with a full-on wrecking ball. That’s why the Bible tells us to watch out for the little foxes.

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

—Song of Solomon 2:15

Here’s the thing: Satan uses a lot of little foxes, a lot of tactics, to try to trick us out of our dominion. He knows that faith—your heart being in agreement with heaven—is the currency of the Kingdom. And he knows that if your heart holds on to the Word, it’s going to produce. He also knows that it’s imperishable, and it’s always going to produce after its own kind. Guess what? He doesn’t like that. He claims this place as his. So, he has tactics he uses to get you to agree with him—to contaminate your life with what he says instead of what God says.

And he’s pretty sly. He takes a little bit of the principle of God, a little bit of the Word of God, and twists it. He uses it to deceive, to contaminate. But if we know the truth, we can discern for ourselves.

But if you don’t know the truth, as Satan works on knocking out loose block after loose block, there will be more openings in your tower, more places for him to get a foothold, more opportunities for him to make the whole structure—your whole life—more rickety and ready for collapse.

And that’s the point.

Satan is after your fruitfulness. He’s after your assignment. He’s after your purpose. He doesn’t want you to be useful to the Kingdom of God. He wants to prevent you from being a demonstration of the Kingdom of God to other people.

So, he keeps going after your heart.

Just drink this little bit of contaminated water. It won’t hurt you.

Our culture, the earth curse system, is full of perverse ideas that they say won’t harm you.

That’s a lie.

What you think about, what you feed yourself, and what you look at all put images into your heart, for good or for bad. If you’re contaminating your heart, it’s going to be drawn away and produce what you’re putting into it.

You have to CHOOSE to turn your ears to the Word of God and CHOOSE to guard your heart, or you’ll begin to buy into the lies that the enemy and our culture are constantly screaming at us.

Ready to Break Free from Limiting Beliefs and Live a Better Life?

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 14:00:01 GMT

Reading Time 8 mins 34 secs –

Have you ever felt stuck?

Do you feel stuck right now?

You’re going to want to stick with me for this one. Keep reading.

Drenda once knew an elderly lady who lived through the very tough times of the Great Depression. We would often see her wearing a pair of tattered gloves. Drenda wanted to bless her, so she bought her a new pair of gloves and went to visit with her.

When the lady opened Drenda’s gift, she thanked her and took her over to show her something in her dresser. When she opened the top drawer, Drenda was shocked at what she saw.

Inside the drawer lay SIX other pairs of brand-new gloves. SIX!

The lady laid the pair Drenda had just given her alongside the other six pairs and closed the drawer.

Drenda couldn’t believe it. The lady was wearing an old, tattered pair of gloves and not using or enjoying any of those new gloves because she just couldn’t. Her mind was STUCK. Her fear of not having enough had led her to hold on to nearly everything too tightly, even if it meant having six brand-new pairs of gloves sitting in a dresser drawer. She had a wrong pattern of thinking and acting that was holding her back in life.

Friend, just like that pair of gloves, God wants to give YOU good gifts. He wants to promote you. He wants you to win in life.

So, what has you stuck?

What behaviors, habits, and old patterns of thinking and acting are holding you back from being the best you can be and living the life God wants for you?

That’s way too intimidating.

It’s too late. I’m too old.

I don’t have enough money.

I’ve made too many mistakes.

I don’t have the right experience to take that on.

Have you said any of those things to yourself? If you’re like most people, you have. Or maybe you’ve been telling yourself that you’re too young, or too shy, or don’t have the talent, or that you just don’t have what it takes.

Drenda and I have both been there. Throughout my life, I’ve had all sorts of reasons not to move forward with the things God was calling me to do. In fact, at one time or another, I’ve probably told myself every one of the reasons I just gave you and more.

My ears stuck out when I was a kid. I was overweight. I was so painfully shy that I didn’t talk. In fact, I pretty much did whatever I could to avoid talking and to avoid people. Yes, I’m a pastor and a speaker, and I used to avoid people. I admit it.

I talked so rarely that when one of my teachers in high school walked by me in the hallway and heard me talking to a friend, she stopped and said, “So, you CAN talk!”

It was really bad. I played football in junior high and high school—I was a starting player—and my sisters were cheerleaders. My mother would have parties after the games, and I would hide in my room. Not only did I go through high school barely speaking to people, but also I had really poor grades. I graduated with a 1.3 grade point average. There was only one other guy who had a lower GPA than I did. I was definitely not voted most likely to succeed.

Do I need to keep going? I have a long list of reasons I could give for why I thought I could never win in life.

But most of those reasons were really just excuses I kept giving myself because I was afraid. Like the elderly woman with the six pairs of brand-new gloves tucked away in a drawer, I was the one holding myself back with my thoughts. I was the one keeping myself from doing what I wanted to do in life. And I was the one keeping myself from doing what God had called me to do.

Is that you?

Of course, we sometimes need to be patient with our aspirations. But most of the time, our problem isn’t that we’re trying to move things ahead too quickly. Rather, it’s that at some point, we adapted to cope with negative situations in life and then we parked there, or we got stuck.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds . We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

—2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (NIV)

A stronghold is something you’ve believed for so long that it becomes the truth in your life. It becomes the truth even if it’s really a lie.

And if you allow yourself to believe a lie, it might as well be the truth.

Because if you believe something is too intimidating, it will be. If you believe you’re too old, or too young, or too inexperienced, then that’s exactly what you’ll project. If you believe you can’t do something, you’re probably not even going to try to do it.

Moses was a perfect example of this. When God called him to become a great leader, we see that Moses had allowed himself to believe lies that were clearly holding him back.

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

—Exodus 3:11 (NIV)

Who am I that I should take this on, God? I’m a nobody… I don’t have what it takes.

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

—Exodus 4:1 (NIV)

Why would they listen to me? No one listens to me… I’m not a leader.

What’s holding you back from the promotion God is calling you to?

“It’s too late.”

Did you know Laura Ingalls Wilder was 43 years old when her daughter, Rose, encouraged her to write a memoir about her childhood? Her first attempt at writing her autobiography was rejected several times. ^{1, 2, 3}

Determined to succeed, she spent the next several years improving it. The publishers agreed to publish her work as a fiction story for children when she was 65 years old. She finished the final book in the Little House series when she was 76.

Have you ever had a piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken? In 1952, at age 65, living on his $105 a month Social Security check, Colonel Harland Sanders decided he wanted to try to sell his chicken recipe to the world. He was met with little enthusiasm. ^{4, 5, 6}

Colonel Sanders was turned down 1,009 times before his chicken recipe was accepted by one restaurant. When he passed away at age 90, there were around 6,000 KFC locations in 48 countries. As of 2023, there were 29,900 KFC outlets in 149 countries and territories around the world. ⁷

“It will take too long.”

You might know that Bill Gates founded Microsoft in 1975, but did you know that it was six years later before he managed to land a contract with IBM? And it was another five years before Microsoft went public, making Gates a multimillionaire. He became a billionaire just a year later. ⁸

Have you ever heard of Gladys Burrill? She completed her first marathon when she was 86 years old. At 92, she completed the Honolulu Marathon. Winners of the Honolulu Marathon usually come in under two and a half hours. It took Gladys nine hours and 53 minutes to finish the race. ^{9, 10}

“I don’t have what it takes.”

That’s one we usually think but don’t necessarily say out loud.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Susan Boyle, right? She was 47 when she auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent. When she took the stage, both the judges and the people in the audience rolled their eyes. Susan didn’t look the part.

As soon as Susan hit the first note, all doubts turned to awe. Not only did she receive a standing ovation from the audience, but she also got three yes votes from the judges. Susan’s first album, I Dreamed a Dream became the United Kingdom’s best-selling debut album of all time. She’s since released a total of eight albums, gone on tour, and written an autobiography. ^{11, 12, 13, 14}

Are you getting this, friend?

You’re not stuck. It’s not too late for you. It won’t take too long. You DO have what it takes. God is on your side! He is bigger than your past. He’s bigger than your failures. He’s bigger than your shortcomings. He is always faithful. He has a plan. He knows all of the details, and He has the answers. Ask Him.

It will take faith to get unstuck and to step out into the unknown, but God wants to lead you. He’s promised never to leave you nor forsake you. And if God is for you, who can be against you?

So, get up and GO! Stay the course. Don’t stay stuck. Don’t give up hope.

You can still live an incredible life with God—if you decide for it to be so.

Sources:

1. “15 Facts You May Not Know About Laura Ingalls Wilder,” AOP Christian Homeschooling, https://aop.com/blogs/lesson-plans/15-facts-you-may-not-know-about-laura-ingalls-wilder, March 25, 2024.

2. Catherine McHugh, “5 Facts About Laura Ingalls Wilder,” https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/laura-ingalls-wilder-biography-facts, June 11, 2020.

3. “Laura Ingalls Wilder Documentary,” https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/laura-ingalls-wilder-documentary-2/, December 25, 2014.

4. “Colonel Harland Sanders,” University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, https://uh.edu/hilton-college/About/Hospitality-Industry-Hall-of-Honor/Inductees/Colonel-Harland-Sanders%20/

5. “The Real Story of Colonel Sanders Is Far Crazier Than This Bland Inspirational Meme,” The Verge, https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/5/12096466/colonel-sanders-kfc-meme-life-story

6. J.Y. Smith, “Col. Sanders, the Fried-Chicken Gentleman, Dies,” The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/12/17/col-sanders-the-fried-chicken-gentleman-dies/64925eb3-3a20-4851-afbc-ba4fe16e9770/, December 17, 1980.

7. “Number of Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurants Worldwide from 2010 to 2013,” Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/256793/kfc-restaurants-worldwide-by-geographic-region/#:~:text=Global%20fast%20food%20chain%20KFC,year%27s%20total%20of%2027.7%20thousand, March 8, 2024.

8. Taylor Locke, “How Bill Gates’ Mom Helped Microsoft Get a Deal with IBM in 1980–and It Propelled the Company’s Huge Success,” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/05/how-bill-gates-mother-influenced-the-success-of-microsoft.html, August 6, 2020.

9. “Oldest Female Marathon Finisher: Gladys Burrill Set World Record,” https://www.worldrecordacademy.com/sports/oldest_female_marathon_finisher_Gladys_Burrill_set_world_record_102023.html, December 19, 2010.

10. “Reports & Top Finishers,” Honolulu Marathon, https://www.honolulumarathon.org/key-information/history-statistics/reports-top-10-finishers, December 8, 2024.

11. Jeannette L. Nolen, “Susan Boyle, Scottish Singer,” Encyclopedia Brittanica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Susan-Boyle

12. Davy Leyland, “Susan Boyle - Britains Got Talent 2009 Episode 1 - Saturday 11th April,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk, April 11, 2009.

13. “Susan Boyle,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Boyle

14. https://www.susanboylemusic.com/about/#

How Your Words Can Wreck Your Life More Than Anything Else

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 14:00:00 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 22 secs –

“These people are killing me!”

“We can’t afford that.”

“I have such a hard time losing weight.”

“My husband doesn’t want to do anything.”

“I’m so sick and tired of this.”

How many of those statements sound familiar?

Think about it. How often do you hear things like that said by someone on television, by a coworker, or by a family member?

How often do words like that come out of YOUR mouth?

Take a few minutes to really think about everything that has come out of your mouth in just the last 24 hours. Either make a mental note of all the things you’ve been saying or actually write them down. Then, come right back to this blog, because you have to know how important this is.

Your words are setting the course for your life.

What have you been saying, friend?

Maybe you’re thinking: But, Gary, I REALLY don’t mean those things when I say them.

Maybe you’re like the guy I was flying with one time who started cussing left and right as soon as we took off. There I was in the jump seat hearing everything. When he remembered I was there, he covered his mouth and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. Excuse my French.” He said he didn’t mean to say that.

Oh, but he did. Because here’s the thing: You can’t fool your heart.

Romans 10:10 (NIV) says, “ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess and are saved. ”

You can go to church on the weekend and sing songs about your authority and say, “In Jesus’s name” all you want, and play the religious game, but what is really in your heart will be what comes out of your mouth. It may not come out every day, but it will come out eventually.

And whatever you believe in your heart and say with your mouth is what you’ll have— good or bad .

Proverbs 18:21 says that YOUR words have the power of life and death.

Your mouth is literally releasing life or death with Every. Word. You. Speak.

That’s where so many people are messing up.

So many people want to win in life, but they’re killing God’s promises and their futures with their own words.

Jesus showed us this in Mark 11 when He cursed the fig tree and it died.

Your words are just as binding as Jesus’s words. In Matthew 18:18 (NIV), He said, “ Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ”

You HAVE to be careful about what you’re saying. You will walk in EXACTLY what you decree.

Don’t say, “Well, I’ve tried that ‘faith stuff,’ but it hasn’t worked.” Don’t say you don’t trust God or you aren’t seeing results. What have you been decreeing over your life? What is really in your heart? Are you saying what you really believe or just saying what you think you’re supposed to say?

What comes out of your mouth when the pressure hits? What are you saying in the middle of the night when you couldn’t pay your electric bill and you know they’re coming the next day to shut it off? What are you saying when the pain or the sickness seems downright unbearable? What are you saying when the picture you see doesn’t yet match the promise?

God gave YOU the keys. The authority is in YOUR hands. James 3 tells us that we are setting the course of our lives with our words , but most people have no clue how this works. They’re trying to get to one place and end up somewhere else, and they wonder why. It’s like setting out for London and ending up in the Philippines.

Friend, you’re the one steering the ship.

What are you saying? Make it only good things! Say “yes” and “amen” to every promise! Decree provision, healing, direction, wisdom, and health over your life! Use your words wisely.

“I Just Thought…”: Why What You Think Matters More Than You Know

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:42:09 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 19 secs –

We’ve all heard stories about people making questionable decisions. What makes a person have an affair? Why would someone who was created as a man decide he wants to be a woman? Why are people putting their Bibles down and walking away from church? What causes any person to be willing to do something they know could destroy their reputation, their family, or their business?

The answer is deception.

To be deceived means to believe what is false to be true, to be misled, or to be ensnared. We’ve all heard more than a few stories of deception—the woman who found out her husband had another family, the politician who got caught in a web of lies, or the older neighbor couple who was cheated out of thousands of dollars by a contractor.

But did you know that the Bible says that we can deceive ourselves?

I bet you don’t know of anyone sharing those stories.

We can easily deceive ourselves.

It just takes a thought.

See, thoughts are not innocent.

They’re seeds.

They’re pictures.

What you listen to, what you look at, the things you do, and the friends you hang around all produce thoughts—pictures—in your mind, whether you realize it or not.

When you begin to concentrate on those pictures, they produce desire, and desire can get you into trouble. The Bible says that desire drags us. It produces a plan to get what it wants, and that plan can take you to a place you never thought you’d be.

Don’t get me wrong—that’s a good thing if you’re thinking about good things. Your good desires can drag you to succeed and to win.

The problem is that your heart can’t tell the difference between a good desire and an evil desire.

That’s where you have to get a handle on things because this is nothing to play with.

It’s life and death.

So, what do you do? How can you figure out if you’re deceiving yourself when deceived people don’t usually even know they’re deceived?

You start by being careful about what you look at, what you listen to, and who you talk to. This is what the Bible calls “guarding your heart.” Then you decide to choose what you’re thinking about.

Yes, you can choose what you think about.

No matter what pops into your head, the Bible says that we must take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ. Plain and simple, your brain does not have the authority to think anything it wants. You can choose what you think about.

So, test every thought you have against God’s will for you. How do you know His will? Read your Bible. Measure everything against what God says. Umpire your thoughts. If they don’t align with what God says, get them out—replace them with the right thoughts.

How do you know what the right thought is to think? Read your Bible.

This is why I say that memory verses aren’t just for kids; they’re for everyone. If you memorize some Scriptures, you’ll have them ready and waiting to replace those negative thoughts.

When you analyze what happens in stories of real change in people’s lives, you’ll almost always find the same scenarios. They decided to change their thoughts. They took the time to make a change. They turned the TV off. They started reading their Bibles. They elevated God’s Word above the other voices in their lives and set their hearts on it.

Are you ready for real change in your life?

Then, make a decision to change your thoughts, to change your pictures. Ask yourself: What have I been looking at? What have I been watching? How much time have I spent in the Word of God this week? Who am I listening to? Who is giving me advice? Is it someone who has failed or someone who has walked it out and can show me which way to go? What am I focusing on? What am I thinking?

Ask yourself these questions, and you’ll see your future.

Your Spouse Feeling Like Your Enemy? 13 Surefire Ways to Build Unity.

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:00:02 GMT

Reading Time 4 mins 26 secs –

By Drenda Keesee

“I’m so tired of picking up your laundry!”

“You overspent again!”

“You never make time for me!”

How many times have you said something like that to your spouse? Or wanted to say something like that to them?

How often do you allow yourself to get into a pattern of bickering with your spouse over things like money, household responsibilities, how often you talk to your mother (yes, I wrote that), how often you have sex (yes, I wrote that too), or other issues?

If you’ve ever fallen into a pattern of bickering with your spouse, you know how easy it is to stay there.

And that’s just what the enemy wants.

Because he knows that if he can keep you fighting over the dirty laundry, who’s on bath duty, who spends more money, or anything else, then he can keep you out of unity and away from your inheritance in the Kingdom of God.

The enemy’s greatest goal is to divide and conquer; and too often, we let him into our marriages.

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our fight is not against human enemies but against the rulers of the darkness of this world.

Why do we forget that? Why are we willing to practically wage war with the person we’re supposed to love the most over the most insignificant things?

Are the petty things like him not emptying the trash or her buying that extra pair of earrings really worth you missing out on the promises of God? No!

So, how do you stop looking at your spouse as your enemy and build unity in your marriage? Here are my top 13 tips:

1. Make sure there’s no sin in your life. 

Sin destroys unity—not just between you and your spouse but between you and God. Confess it, and eliminate it from your life.

2. Don’t compare yourself or your spouse to others. 

No couple is perfect, and no person is perfect. Don’t be deceived into believing the grass is greener anywhere else. Remember, you only see people’s public faces, not their private struggles.

3. Focus on the positive in your spouse. 

We ALL have faults. Sadly, it’s human nature to hide our own faults but to point out the weaknesses in others. God sees both you and your spouse as valuable. Try looking at your spouse the same way. Find positive things to focus on and things to be grateful for.

4. Pay attention to what you’re saying. 

Use your words to build up, not tear down. Your words are seeds that will produce fruit. Don’t say things like, “You never …” or “You always ….” Realize how much power your words have to build unity in your marriage or destroy it.

5. Pray together.

If you’ve never prayed together, or if it’s been awhile, it WILL be awkward and uncomfortable. Do it anyway.

6. Learn more about the differences between you and your spouse as a man and a woman. 

It’s not hard to see that we communicate differently. The more you understand that, and work on it, the less communication breakdowns will occur in your marriage.

7. Squash selfishness.

Really think about whether you’re placing your needs over those of your spouse. Selfishness can easily squash any hopes of unity. Squash it first.

8. Forgive.

Holding onto an offense or hurt does nothing to help you. It only turns into bitterness. I love this quote from Ruth Bell Graham: “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.”

9. Apologize.

Say you’re sorry first. Being too prideful to admit when you’re wrong only builds walls of separation in your relationship.

10. Work at being a good friend.

This is a big one. All too often, we work more at being a good friend to our friends, but we stink at being a good friend to our spouse. Change that. Figure out your spouse’s love language and communicate it. Make plans to do something fun together. Be the friend to your spouse that you want him/her to be to you .

11. Set goals together and accomplish them as a team.

Many of us show ourselves as valuable team members at work, in class, and in sports, but we’d be downright embarrassed if those same people saw how we work ( or don’t work ) together with our spouses. Change!

12. Have sex!

It’s sad that I even need to include this, but it’s an issue that impacts the unity of so many marriages! Remember that the marriage bed is the healing oil that makes the two one flesh.

13. Commit, or recommit , your marriage to God.

Last, but definitely not least, this is the most important tip . God can help you recognize when your marriage is under attack, free you from any insecurities or failures that are preventing you from being one in your relationship, and give you an understanding of His design for marriage.

Marriage isn’t always sunshine and butterflies. There will be bumps in the road. There will be times when all you want to do is give up. But as someone who has been married for more than 41 years, I can tell you that working through your differences and fighting for your marriage is well worth the effort.

The reward is so much greater than the struggles.

Make the decision to apply these tips to your marriage regardless of whether your spouse reciprocates or is accepting of the change in you. It’s YOUR actions that will win his/her heart over.

How to Hear from God & Know His Plan for Your Life: 3 Quick Tips

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 14:46:52 GMT

Reading Time 7 mins 0 secs –

Should you marry him?

Should you quit your job?

Should you move?

As Christians, we want to follow God and serve Him with our lives. But how do we know what God’s plan is for us?

We may not be sure which decision to make, what God is calling us to do, or whether we’re doing the right thing or not. So, how do we discern what God wants for us without letting our thoughts or feelings get in the way?

Here are three tips on how to hear from God and discover your purpose.

1. Spend time with Him.

In order to know God’s voice, you have to spend time with Him. You can’t expect to discern His voice if you are unfamiliar with what it sounds like.

“How do I hear God’s voice?”

I get asked this all of the time.

So many people have told me they feel like they can’t hear God. They’re expecting the loud, booming voice they’ve heard in old Christian movies that says, “Thus saith the Lord,” but it never comes.

The reality is that God is trying to speak to them every day, so where is the mix-up?

Most of the time, God does not speak in an audible voice. My husband describes God’s voice as sounding like a thought but with a different twang or conviction behind it. It’s often hard to shake, let go of, or you feel it in your gut.

The more you take the time to listen to God’s voice, the more you’ll learn to recognize it! And on the flip side, when we never take the time to listen for God, our spirits become quiet and His voice gets softer.

A great place to start is by reading God’s Word! God will speak to people in different ways, but if you want to learn His voice, spend time in the Bible.

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

—Romans 10:17 (NLT)

When we are consistently spending time in God’s Word, we will be able to recognize His voice when He speaks.

2. Be still and listen.

We live in a culture that is constantly giving us ideas on how to live, dress, talk, and everything in between. We are constantly being bombarded with ads on TV, online, and on social media.

Let’s face it: our culture is afraid to be bored. We put on music in the car, look at our phones 24/7, and sometimes even juggle multiple forms of entertainment at one time. Nowadays, we hardly go to the restroom without our phones!

When we constantly surround ourselves with noise, it can be hard to hear the still, small voice of God.

It’s easy to miss the voice of God in the midst of all of our entertainment. With all the noise coming at us, it’s more important than ever that we take TIME to listen for God’s voice.

Set aside a certain amount of time each day to spend with Him. If you miss it some days, that’s okay. Don’t be too hard on yourself. But it’s important to make God your priority if you expect to hear from Him. David describes God’s Word as his guide in Psalm 119:105, and that is what the Bible is meant to be. It will guide us through life and help us learn about God and His character.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

—Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

Relationships are a two-way street. That goes for our relationship with the Lord as well. God is perfect, and He is always there for us. If we want to turn to Him at any point in the day, no matter what we have or have not done, He will be there to love and support us.

Still, relationships require effort on both ends. If we are not spending time in prayer, worship, reading the Bible, and learning more about God, then we won’t be able to recognize His voice. The more time we spend with God, the more clearly we will hear Him and recognize His voice—just like in any relationship.

“For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”

—Jeremiah 29:11–13 (CSB)

God tells us in His Word that we WILL find Him when we seek Him. He is not hiding from us. He wants us to seek Him, and He wants to lead us. He has a plan for our lives, and He wants to support and guide us on it.

3. Let go of whatever is holding you back.

Not spending enough time with God isn’t always what is holding us back from hearing Him. Sometimes, we have to cleanse our lives of things that are not of God.

We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But sometimes, living in sin or unforgiveness can keep us from hearing God. If we are pursuing worldly things that are not of God, we may have a hard time hearing God and being able to fully commit to following His plan for us.

We may say we want His plan in prayer or in a small group, but if how we spend our time, money, and resources is toward a worldly lifestyle, then our lives will be headed in that direction.

Everyone faces different temptations in life. No matter what temptation you may be facing, the Bible tells us to get rid of everything that is slowing us down in pursuing God’s plan for our lives.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

—Hebrews 12:1–2a (NLT)

The Bible commands us to throw off everything that causes us to stumble. It also tells us in Romans 14:13 (NLT) to “ live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall .”

Ask the Holy Spirit what you need to get rid of in your life. It may be a habit, the TV shows you are watching, what you spend your time thinking about, or even a group of people with whom you may need to limit your time. All people are created in the image of God, and He loves them all, but if they are hindering you from following the Lord, then it may be time to limit their access into your life.

Why is it important for you to know God’s plan for your life?

If you don’t know where God is leading you, then how will you be able to follow? You may be confused as to what your purpose in life is. I want to assure you that God has a plan for your life. He has had a plan specifically for you since before you were born, and He wants to see you walk it out. He won’t abandon you either (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Stepping out in faith and following God’s plan can seem daunting. But if God is leading you to something, you WILL have peace about it. If you are unsure, continue to seek God about it, along with consulting with other believers. Ask them to pray for you as well. That’s why Christian friends are so important! If you aren’t a part of a small group, join one today and get connected with some like-minded people!

It’s never too late to step out and follow God. He will meet you wherever you are in life. You may have missed out on previous opportunities, but it’s never too late to follow Jesus. If you ask Him to lead you, He will. That’s why God sent us the Holy Spirit—to be our guide in life. God wants to guide you and to see you fulfill the plan He has for your life.

The Power of Choice: How to Choose Happiness in Every Situation

Wed, 08 May 2024 15:21:19 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 43 secs –

Are you happy right now? Or are you feeling a little grumpy, or negative, or sorry for yourself?

We’ve all been there.

Years ago, I had one of those months. Yes, I said months , not days.

I was negative. I was feeling sorry for myself. The weight and pressures of life and certain situations were bearing down on me. For some reason, during that time, I went to a conference I really didn’t feel like going to, and the speaker got up and said he was going to talk about being thankful.

Great , I thought. Just what I want to hear.

What I really wanted was for someone to join me in my pity party. But that wasn’t happening.

Because God knew that wasn’t what I needed. He knew I needed someone to tell me the truth.

See, I had taken my eyes off of all of the blessings of God. I had stopped remembering all of the amazing times He had come through for me. I had taken my focus off of His promises and put it on my problems.

That message was just what I needed.

The Holy Spirit dealt with me right then about my heart and how I had been ungrateful. I had to repent. God set me free that day.

Here’s the thing: studies show that when you’re happy and thankful , you have 17% more friends. When you’re happy, you live longer and you have less health problems like heart attacks, strokes, colds, the flu, and even pain. Being grateful also strengthens your emotions, makes you more optimistic and less self-centered, improves your sleep, increases your self-esteem and your energy, helps you bounce back after a setback, reduces feelings of envy, helps your marriage, makes you look better, and makes you more productive.

Proverbs 17:22 (KJV) says, “ A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones .”

See that?

Happiness is like medicine.

Discouragement sucks the life out of you.

Are you reading this and thinking, “ Gary, you don’t know what I’m going through. I have serious problems” ?

I understand.

But here’s the thing: happiness is not circumstantial. Happiness is a choice you make.

I hear it all the time…

“Gary, you don’t understand. I hate my house.”

Sell it.

“Gary, you don’t get it. I hate my job.”

Quit it.

Find a new one.

“Gary, I just hate my life.”

CHANGE it.

You’re not stuck. You have options. Every single day, you make choices to do something or NOT do something. And you have plenty of reasons to be happy.

Stop thinking you can only be happy when everything seems “perfect.”

Because “perfect” is really rare, and I do mean really rare. In fact, odds are there will always be something in your life that isn’t “perfect.”

The good news is, no matter what you go through or deal with in life, you can still be thankful and happy, because you can always trust God despite your circumstances.

Philippians 4:6 (NIV) says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God .” Wait. Did you see what that said?

Notice it didn’t say, “Only be anxious about the big things you can’t handle on your own.” Nope. It says don’t be anxious about anything . It also says by prayer—and with thanksgiving —present your requests to God. That means you should be thanking Him for all He’s already done and for what He’s about to do in your situation. You should be thanking Him before your answer shows up, because He’s faithful and good.

Look at Judges 20:19–25. There, we see the nation of Israel suffering great loss after a huge battle. They had lost 22,000 men. 22,000. Can you even imagine? I’m sure you’ll agree that that was a really bad day.

Then, on the second day of battle, they lost 18,000 more men. 40,000 men lost in two days.

The Bible tells us they took a day off at that point. They stopped and regrouped. Then, in verse 26, we see that the entire army presented offerings of thanksgiving to God. Things had gone really wrong, and they needed to remind themselves that God was for them, that He is good and faithful, that He was with them.

And the next day, they went out and won the battle.

So, what about you, friend?

Do you need to stop? Do you need to take your mind off the negative and remind yourself that God is for you, that He is good and faithful, and that He is with you?

5 Steps to Release the Kingdom in Your Life

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 14:38:12 GMT

Reading Time 2 mins 13 secs –

In John 6, we read the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Do you know it? It’s where we see Jesus teaching the disciples how to release the Kingdom of God into the earth realm.

Basically, a large crowd was following Jesus, listening to Him teach, and watching Him perform miracles. It got to a point where the people needed to eat, and Jesus asked the disciples what they planned to feed the people.

Of course, Jesus knew the disciples would freak out. They couldn’t feed 5,000 people. In fact, they started talking about how it would take more than half a year’s wages to buy just a bite for that many people.

Jesus was teaching the disciples, and He was teaching us— the Kingdom of God has all the answers you need .

How can you release the Kingdom of God into your life?

Here are the five steps Jesus took.

1. Look at what you have.

Jesus asked the disciples what they had to feed the people.

What do you have in your life that you can give God to work with?

Jesus multiplied bread into bread and fish into fish.

What do you need multiplied in your life?

Find some of it. That’s your seed. Also, remember that money can be named. You don’t sow money to believe for more paper or digital money. Money represents your life and can be named to be the thing you need multiplied.

2. Make sure you’re in faith.

“To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see”

(Hebrews 11:1, GNT).

You have to know how to judge whether or not you’re in faith.

How?

Do you have the right picture? When you close your eyes, what do you see? Do you see yourself with the thing you’re believing for?
Can you defend your position? Why do you believe it? Prove it! Because you can be sure that between the “Amen” and the “There it is!” the enemy is going to contend for it, so you better be able to defend it.
Do you have joy, expectancy, and peace?
Are you in agreement with your spouse?

3. Confess over what you have, and release it in faith.

Be specific. Say exactly what you’re believing for and release the seed to God.

4. Get the plan from God.

Be ready for new direction, new ideas, and new concepts by revelation from the Holy Spirit. Carry a notepad and a pen. Write everything down.

5. Act quickly!

When God gives you the plan, MOVE!

It’s wise to have counselors and get wisdom, but you need to act swiftly on any direction you receive from the Holy Spirit.

Want Growth and Success? Here Are 10 Steps to Help Take You There

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:51:03 GMT

Reading Time 2 mins 34 secs –

How can you make sure you’re equipped for the growth coming your way this year?

Here are my 10 steps to posture yourself for opportunity and success.

1. Ask yourself how you’re handling your current responsibilities.

Don’t run from your responsibilities. No matter where you are or what you’re doing, you should be a success. People will still see the evidence of God even if you think you’re in the wrong spot.

2. Detox your life of the things that keep you from having time to think.

We live in a fast-paced world. There are plenty of things that can keep you distracted. But it’s in the moments that you stop to think that you’ll find ways to solve problems, and that’s where the opportunities are. So figure out what is consuming your time. Start saying no to some things. Find time to think.

3. Don’t hang around people who are always losing.

I know people hit rough spots, but if the people in your life are chronically losing, it’s time to expand your circle. Hang around people who are better than you are, who don’t see things as impossible, and who have vision. It may be uncomfortable for you, but their influence will cause you to think differently.

4. Write down EVERY idea that you have, no matter how strange it seems.

Most people filter opportunities and ideas through what they perceive their ability to be. This means most people discard ideas by the dozens because they don’t think they can do them. But God isn’t limited to what you know how to do. The ideas He gives you might seem so weird to you that you can’t process them fully. Write them down so you have time to think about them.

5. Research. Research. Repeat.

You don’t need to know how to do something; you need to know how to learn how to do it. Research until you find what you’re looking for.

6. Count the cost before you jump.

A lot of Christians hear God and jump out too soon, resulting in catastrophe. There are seasons for everything. God will prepare you for where He wants you to go. Be patient.

7. Always be in agreement with your spouse.

Never, ever march out into battle without your spouse being in total agreement and your faith aligned.

8. Ask God for direction.

Ask Him to help you, to show you where to go, and what to do. And always remember that prophecy from other people shouldn’t lead you; it should only confirm what God has already said to you.

9. Commit to never quit.

Quitting is not an option. Once you’ve moved, don’t move again until God speaks to you. Stay with it. Walk it out. Don’t quit. So many people have so much potential, but they get uncomfortable and they quit. If you want to win, you should always be stretching.

10. Get ready to embrace bigger things.

Your ability to see the big picture will keep growing as you change and grow on the inside. You’ll pick up on even more opportunities.

For more principles, check out this FREE video on success.

The Consequences of Strife: Why You Should Never Allow It in Your Life

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 15:00:00 GMT

Reading Time 2 mins 59 secs –

A stuffed toy laid in the road at the scene of the accident.

As we passed, the Lord spoke to me, “ Okay, this is your last warning. Are you going to continue this? You know you are opening the door to the enemy.”

Gary and I had had a disagreement just before we had left the house for our family road trip. And there we were six hours in and we’d barely said a word to one another. Six hours.

You think driving from Ohio to Tennessee is a long stretch of highway? Try doing it while giving someone the silent treatment.

One word: torture.

Then we passed the accident.

Gary and I both felt the same conviction when we passed it, especially because it clearly involved children.

But... pride.

We knew what we were doing wasn’t good. (What kind of example is it to your children to ignore each other?)

But neither of us wanted to lay down our pride. I kept hearing the voice of the Lord, and I’d think, No, I’m not going to fix this thing, because then I’ll have to talk to him.

It was almost a competition to see who could hold our grudge for the longest.

But strife is dangerous stuff.

What is strife? Drama, conflict, friction, disagreement, bickering, arguing, bad blood, disputes… whichever words you use to describe it, it’s dangerous.

Whether it’s between you and your spouse, you and your child, you and a friend, you and a family member, or you and a coworker, you don’t want to let strife remain in your life.

The Bible says that where there is strife, there is confusion and there is every evil work (James 3:16).

Our small argument between Gary and I had gone unchecked and had escalated, and neither one of us were listening to the voice of the Lord.

And there were consequences for our strife and outright disobedience.

About an hour after we passed the accident, a car pulled out in front of our vehicle, and we were in what could have been a very serious car accident.

I started yelling the name of Jesus, and God supernaturally protected our entire family.

Initially, it looked as though there were going to be serious issues. They told us our son’s spleen might rupture. I was pregnant, and the doctors worried that I might lose the baby. Through all of these things, we stood on the Word of God, and we all came out unharmed, including the young preacher’s son who had pulled out in front of us (he was in disobedience at that moment too).

Even in the midst of this difficult situation, through our prayers, standing on God’s Word, and our children’s words to the medical personnel, we had opportunities to minister and impact the little county hospital we had to visit.

The enemy tried to take us out, but he lost.

We were responsible for opening the door to the enemy. But the name of Jesus is more powerful than our mistakes and circumstances, and that is what kept us protected.

You MUST stay on guard and not allow strife in your life, with anyone.

How? Here are just three quick tips:

Bite your tongue. You don’t have to say everything you think.
Don’t lash out or give the silent treatment. Work on communicating with others in a healthy way.
Repent quickly and forgive quickly. Take responsibility; admit when you’re wrong. Say you’re sorry and ask for forgiveness. Don’t hold onto hurts. Forgive as you’ve been forgiven by Jesus.

Your Purpose: Make 2024 the Year You Invest Your Time and Invite

dsimpson@faithlifechurch.org (Faith Life Now) — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 15:06:03 GMT

Reading Time 4 mins 7 secs –

Are you saved?

Have you forgotten how that happened?

Think about it. Did someone preach hellfire and brimstone to you, or did someone show you they loved you?

Did they hand you a Bible and send you on your way, or did they spend some time with you?

Did their example make you want to run or make you want what they had?

Which of these people are YOU for other people?

It’s easy to forget that WE have what the world needs. It’s easy to get focused on ourselves, on our busy lives, and on just doing life and church.

It’s very easy to forget what we’re here for.

As “The Church,” we’re called to live lives of worship and of service and to show Jesus to others. We were made to glorify God, know Him, be involved with others in the church, and to go out into the lost and dying world, sharing the love of Jesus, and making a difference.

I talk about “marketplace ministry” often, because God didn’t create everyone to work and do ministry in a literal church building. No, He created each of us to minister to others in the marketplace—in places like our jobs, our businesses, our neighborhoods, and our schools.

Look at Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus is talking to His disciples. He had spent three and a half years investing in their lives, and He had something important to say.

He told them to GO and make disciples of all the nations. He told them to reach OUT.

That’s the same directive you have as a modern-day disciple of Jesus. That makes a lot of Christians uncomfortable. After all, we’re not all evangelists, right? Studies tell us that only 2-3% of the body of Christ are actually evangelists. And the Bible only mentions it twice. So, most of us aren’t evangelists. But there is a difference between a gift and a role . The gift of an evangelist is a gift from God where you’re anointed to be and do something, but we’re ALL called to fulfill the role of evangelism.

So, how do we do it? How do we avoid all the uncomfortable, awkward moments?

It’s very simple. You invest your time and you invite .

Invest your time in people. Spend time with them. Invite them to have a cookout or get coffee. Invite them to come to church. Invite them to join a small group. Invite them to meet you at the playground with their kids or to bring their kids to VBS at your church.

Investing in someone else takes intentionality and effort.

We’ve got to invest some time in people’s lives. Sure, cold turkey evangelism works some of the time, but what works ALL of the time is when people find genuine love and concern.

Think about it. What might happen if you began to invest in those relationships that you already have and reach the people you already know?

What might happen if you started to really pay attention to the people where you live, shop, play, and eat?

When was the last time you invited someone to church? When was the last time you sat down with someone that doesn’t go to church and had a coffee and mentioned God?

Do you even know anyone who doesn’t go to church?
(Are you starting to sweat?)

Friend, we HAVE to show people that they matter, and we HAVE to show people that we’re normal. We’re here building families, doing life, and overcoming struggles by the grace of God, and people need to see it.

Otherwise, they’re completely entitled to think Christians are weird.

Seriously. Most people out there in the world think that we’re nuts. They think we don’t have any answers. There’s usually one quack “Christian” out there at their school, their job, or in their family—somebody that’s crazy, that doesn’t honor God, or love people—and that’s the only example they’ve seen.

The world needs to see Jesus.

The woman at the well knew this. After she talked to Jesus, she went back to the city and told the men to come and see the man who told her everything she ever did. She told the guys, and they headed to see Jesus. At the same time, the disciples were talking to Jesus. He told the disciples to lift up their eyes and look because the harvest was white right now. It was ready, and He wanted them to stop waiting. Right then, a flood of men with white turbans on their heads was coming out of the city. They were coming to see Jesus. They were the harvest.

But they were Samaritans—they didn’t get along with the Jews. The disciples saw them as problems.

Who do you see as a problem?

See, too often, we’re blind to the harvest. That’s why Jesus said, “ Lift up your eyes. ”

Don’t live blind to the harvest, or focused on yourself, or too busy, or just “doing” church.

Lift up your eyes.

SEE the overlooked, underappreciated, hurting, rejected people around you.

And get busy investing and inviting.

Afraid to Fail? Five Ways to Get Over It and Move Forward

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 18:54:39 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 51 secs –

When was the last time you failed at something? Was it something small or something big?

Was it fun?

Of course, it wasn’t. Failure is never fun.

Here’s the thing: it’s not just a cliché to say you can always learn from failure. It’s true.

In fact, having a proper understanding of failure is vital to your success.

I’m sure you’re familiar with the Honda Corporation. Honda has a proper understanding of failure. I read that their engineers spend 95% of their time studying their failures—why the lawn mower wouldn’t start the first time or why the gas mileage is higher on their new car model than on the old one.

Why? Because they know that their success lies in those failures.

You have to look at failures the same way.

We’re all going to make mistakes. Most of us come into God’s Kingdom, and we don’t know how to live life, so we fail. And the enemy loves to pervert our failures. He wants us to hesitate in moving forward, so he tries to get us to rehearse our failures over and over again, or he paints a vivid picture of the risks. He tells us that our failures are permanent.

And, all too often, we believe him.

Then, we stop. We don’t move forward because we’re afraid we’ll fail again.

Or the enemy has another tactic—blaming the failure on God . That’s one of his favorites.

Why? Because it makes us question God.

The enemy used this tactic on Joshua. In Joshua 1, Moses died and God put Joshua in charge. Joshua led the people to Jericho, and the walls came down. Things were working just like God had said… until chapter 7.

That’s where failure happened. There was a guy named Achan in chapter 7. Achan had stolen some of the spoils from battle, and Joshua had no clue. Unaware of Achan’s failure to follow God’s instructions, Joshua sent men on to the next battle at Ai only to see his men killed.

Everyone has a chapter 7.

We’ve all had those moments when we begin to follow Christ, and something happens that doesn’t match the picture, or the promise, in the Bible or what we know God has said. And if we don’t understand how to deal with failure, those moments may make us lose our courage. We might hesitate, or we might set up camp and never try again, or we might just try to run back to Egypt.

So, we have to understand failure and how to deal with it.

Joshua had to learn. At first, like we all do, Joshua reacted . The enemy’s plan to have him blame God worked. Joshua questioned God.

Ever done that before? Ever blamed God or questioned Him? We all have.

But God wasn’t having it. He told Joshua to GET UP!

See, people say that they wish Jesus would just show up. Trust me, you DON’T want that. Jesus isn’t going to show up and say, “Let’s have a group hug.”

When the disciples freaked out that they were going to drown in the storm at sea, Jesus didn’t get up and coddle and comfort them. No, Jesus said, “Where is your faith?”

In the same way, He’s probably not going to baby you if you experience failure. He’s going to say, “GET UP! Have you not read MY WORD? I already paid the price!” He will correct you.

That’s exactly what God did to Joshua. He told him to get up . Then, He told Joshua exactly what had happened. See, the failure wasn’t just on Achan’s part. It was also on Joshua’s. Joshua hadn’t sought instruction from God before he engaged Ai. If he had, God could have told him about Achan before they went to battle. Instead, Joshua just assumed .

You can NEVER assume things in the Kingdom. You can’t do anything based on your past victories. The enemy is already wise to them, and he’s already changed strategies.

You don’t have to fail. If you go to God first, failure doesn’t have to happen.

But even if you do fail, there are steps you can take to overcome the failure and move forward:

1. Ask God what happened.

If the Word says it, it’s God’s will. There are a lot of variables—things like unbelief and wrong expectations—that mess with the heart and can short-circuit faith. If it didn’t happen, you need to ask God why.

2. Pinpoint the short circuit.

Know who, what, why, when, where, and how so it doesn’t happen again.

3. Ask God how to fix it.

4. Get the plan from Him on how to restore the loss.

5. GET UP and take action.

Sure, you’ll probably feel afraid. Ignore your feelings. God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. You will have to be too. You can feel afraid, but don’t act like it.

Remember, if you’re not doing the hardest thing in your life, you’re not growing.

God has already prepared a way for you to go and succeed in a big way. Be confident and let the Holy Spirit teach you, train you, and reveal unique strategies to you. Keep your vision in front of your face. Write it down! Believe it’s possible; otherwise, you’re destined to stay right where you are.

God wants to advance His Kingdom in the earth through you. He’s depending on you to overcome failure and take territory for Him.

What You Need to Know to Find Your “Big Catch”

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 15:00:06 GMT

Reading Time 5 mins 22 secs –

No, This Isn’t Actually About Fish

Imagine this.

You’re sitting in an auditorium with hundreds of other people getting ready to listen to a speaker, and someone walks out on the stage and tells the audience that they’ve hidden a treasure underneath one of the seats.

Would you jump up and look under your chair? Would you start looking under the chairs around you? Would you crawl around on the floor, under multiple rows? Would you keep looking for the treasure until someone yelled they found it, or until you found it?

Here’s the thing: Your treasure is already out there. You just need a Word of Knowledge from God to uncover it.

No, I’m not talking about under some chair in an auditorium. I’m talking about something you don’t know before it is revealed to you, so you can move on it and do whatever it takes to capture it.

Look at Luke 5. Jesus borrowed a boat from some fishermen. He sat in the boat and taught the people on the shore. Then, He gave the boat back to the fishermen and told them to go out into the deeper water and let down their nets. And they caught so many fish that their nets began to break and their boat began to sink.

The fishermen hadn’t caught any fish that day. It wasn’t due to their lack of knowledge or experience. They were professional fishermen and had grown up on the lake fishing, but they had labored all night and caught nothing.

I love this story and reference it often—because something significant happened on the lakeshore that day.

The fishermen—Peter, James, and John—went from catching nothing during what was probably an exhausting all-day or night fishing trip to filling TWO boats with fish in a matter of minutes. They filled two boats so full of fish that they almost sank!

So, how does that apply to you? How are you supposed to know where your “big catch” is?

Colossians 1:12-14 say, “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Do you see that? God rescued us and brought us into the Kingdom of His Son—His Kingdom—His realm of power and authority, and He’s given YOU citizenship, legal rights, and authority in His government. Ephesians 2:19 says, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.”

As a son or daughter of God with the Holy Spirit living inside of you, you have the ability to tap into the secret wisdom and knowledge of the Kingdom and to find the fish (treasure) you need, too.

And “treasure” doesn’t just mean monetary things; treasure is anything you find valuable, like great health, a happy marriage, a stable family, or success.

Just like Peter, James, and John, you can find YOUR hidden treasure.

As part of the Church, the hidden things—the things God knows that you don’t know—are supposed to be revealed to you.

One of my favorite examples of “hidden” things being revealed is in Daniel 2.

King Nebuchadnezzar had some disturbing dreams that really upset him, and he couldn’t sleep. When he called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, they expected him to tell them the dream so they could interpret it. But King Nebuchadnezzar threw them all a curveball and told them they needed to tell him what he had dreamed and the interpretation. And, if they didn’t, he would have them “cut into pieces and their houses turned into piles of rubble.”

How’s that for an impossible demand? I mean, really. Can you imagine someone saying, “Tell me what I dreamed and what it means or I’ll have you killed”? Clearly, King Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t rational. The guy wasn’t getting any sleep, and he was losing it. When the guys couldn’t do what he demanded, he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon—which included Daniel and his friends.

Daniel asked for more time. Then, he went to his friends and told them to pray so they wouldn’t be killed.

Daniel wasn’t just in a hard spot. He was facing a death sentence!

But Daniel knew there is NOTHING that is hidden from God; he knew NOTHING is too hard for God.

Daniel 2:19 tells us that the mystery was revealed to Daniel during the night. In verses 20-23 Daniel praised God, saying,

Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.

Daniel went to the king and asked that he not execute anyone. He revealed the dream and interpreted it. And King Nebuchadnezzar honored Daniel and promoted him.

Stop here for a second. Because I need you to realize that this isn’t just a great Bible story— this applies to YOUR life.

See, Jesus made our access to the Kingdom legal, yet most people read the stories in the Bible much like our ancestors viewed things like electricity and lightning—acknowledging that, yes, the events happened, but never envisioning the POWER of those things for themselves.

You may not be facing a death sentence like Daniel was, but you still need powerful answers from God; you need Him to direct your steps.

That’s your victory—your secret weapon. Jesus said that the same things that we see Him doing, we have the ability to do as well. The Kingdom of God has already been given to YOU. You just have to understand its laws. Because it’s the Kingdom in you that gives you access to the secret knowledge—the hidden knowledge.

I’ll say it again: your treasure is already out there. You just need a Word of Knowledge from God to uncover it. You just need something you didn’t know before to be revealed to you, so you can move on it and do whatever it takes to capture it.

You’re Not Stuck. 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Life

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:28:58 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 7 secs –

Wherever you are in your life, know this: you’re not stuck.

You have before you a great opportunity with great rewards. You may not feel capable or strong enough, but with God, change is possible.

It will take some work. There is a price involved. It may take some time, but it will be worth it.

So how do you get there? How do you move from where you are to where you want to go?

Look with me at Judges 6 and the story of Gideon. There, you’ll find five simple steps to improve your life.

1) Recognize where you are.

Gideon was an Israelite. The Israelites had done evil in the sight of God, and He had turned them over to the hand of their enemy, the Midianites, for seven years. The Israelites had resorted to living in caves in the mountains. They were in survival mode. They were impoverished and oppressed, then, finally, they cried out to God.

Is there a gap between what the Word of God says you should have and what you actually have? Are you living the promises? Or are you missing it? Have you been accepting dysfunction as normal? It’s amazing how many people put up with living in lack and with dysfunction. Stop and figure out where you really are, because if you don’t recognize where you are, you can’t recognize it’s not where God wants you.

2) Ask God for help.

The Israelites asked God for help. Cry out to Him. He’s your answer and your source.

3) Listen.

God sent a prophet to the Israelites when they cried out to Him. The prophet told the people they hadn’t listened to the Lord.

If you’re going to change things, you’re going to have to trust God with your whole heart. You can’t lean to your normal understanding anymore. You need new direction. This is where you’re going to have to let Him teach you and tell you where you need to change things.

Gideon was in a winepress threshing and hiding wheat. He had learned a system. He was oppressed and impoverished. He wasn’t where he was supposed to be. He had learned to cope. The people knew the promises of God, but they weren’t living it. So, the angel of the Lord came and spoke to Gideon.

Gideon was the smallest in his family, and his family was the smallest in the clan. But the angel of the Lord said he was a mighty warrior and told him to, “ Go in the strength you have .”

4) Go in the strength you have.

No matter how impossible it seems, do what God directs you to do. Recognize He’s with you. God told Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal. That was a big deal for Gideon. It was personal and difficult. But notice that God didn’t tell him to take on the whole army. Gideon didn’t need strength to win the battle by Himself; he only needed strength to make the decision to do what God said.

5) Change your allegiance and adjust your priorities.

What has no place in your life? What do you need to change? Anything that’s not prospering you or is deceiving you needs to be destroyed. Realign and reestablish your foundation and your heart.

Once Gideon tore those things down, he was positioned. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. See, it’s never God’s intention that you have to do this yourself. He has a plan. You just need to posture yourself so that you can receive the anointing. Get your home right and get your heart right so that when you face the battle, the anointing of God will come upon you and give you the victory.

Your success is going to require these two things. Take notes.

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 18 secs –

Grab a sheet of paper and write down these two words somewhere: strategy and timing .

They’re both essential to every area of your life. In my opinion, The Mystery of Strategy and Timing is one of the greatest mysteries in the Word of God, and it’s one you have to understand if you expect to capture the valuable opportunities God will show you.

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

—1 Corinthians 2:6-8 (NIV)

So, we read here that if Satan had figured out the plan of God, he would have never killed Jesus. Do you see that?

The devil would have adjusted his strategy if he had picked up on the plan of God. This is true for you too.

Satan will adjust his strategies against you if he can pick up on God’s plans for your life.

God’s primary tactic against the enemy is to surprise him with unusual strategies, which God gives a man or woman in the earth to bring His will in any given situation.

Read 1 Samuel 17 and you can clearly see that David’s victory against Goliath was accomplished by using an unusual strategy. David had a plan that caught the enemy off guard. Many Christians don’t understand this vital law of spiritual warfare.

We also procrastinate.

Most of us get an idea from God, and we procrastinate. As a result, we lose valuable time, AND we risk tipping off the enemy. Then, by the time we move on the idea, we run into all kinds of issues and problems because the enemy has had time to line up interference against it. Because it isn’t just the unusual strategy that makes you successful, it’s the timing.

Timing is key.

David ran to meet Goliath.

So, two of your key weapons against the enemy in any area of life are:

1. Use a unique strategy that the Holy Spirit gives you.
2. Act quickly (timing) once the plan is revealed to you.

Friend, get the strategy from God and act quickly so you don’t give Satan the chance to figure it out.

When I was in severe debt, I was the poster child of what not to do with money . Then, Drenda and I made a commitment to the Kingdom and began to gain knowledge of how it worked. But we didn’t suddenly have more money. I still needed to create or capture money from the earth realm.

ME. Not God.

Because God doesn’t have any money.

He does know where the money is and can give you a plan to capture it. In my case, He gave me a dream one night to start a company that would help people get out of debt. He gave me that plan while I still had plenty of debt of my own to pay off. It didn’t make a whole lot of sense—me helping people get out of debt—but God was using the foolish to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27).

When God uses the foolish, it also confounds the enemy, who isn’t anticipating that strategy.

The devil never had a clue that I would someday be out of debt and declaring the Good News of the Kingdom in the area of money. Neither did I. But as we followed God and let God show us how to proceed, it worked!

To win in life, you need a plan, a unique path to run on, a niche that God will give you to own and occupy as your own.

At first, the plan probably won’t make sense. You may have never thought of doing what God shows you to do. That’s the point: The devil has never thought of it either.

________________________________________________________________________
The Mystery of Strategy and Timing is just one of the money mysteries you need to know and understand. I’ve shared everything I’ve learned about the mysteries of the Kingdom of God in my book Money Mysteries from the Master: Time Honored Financial Truths from Jesus Himself .

How Government Affects Your Life More Than Anything Else

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:00:00 GMT

A picture is worth a thousand words.

So every so often I share this powerful image:

PHOTOGRAPH BY EARTH SCIENCE & REMOTE SENSING UNITY, NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

This is a night image of the Korean Peninsula taken several years ago.

Look closely. What do you see?

North Korea is almost completely dark compared to neighboring South Korea.

In North Korea, where there is an ongoing shortage of electricity, the streets become too dark for people to walk at night. Lights aren’t on in homes, let alone televisions.

But South Korea has light. They have prosperity.

You can plainly see how drastic the difference is between the two.

Why?

Government.

Government will affect your life greater than anything else in the earth realm.

Government decides how you live and the benefits and opportunities you have.

Government ensures your freedom, or takes it from you.

But too many Christians don't talk about government. And that's just what the enemy wants—because if we won't even talk about government, we definitely won't get involved enough to change anything.

And his plan has been working.

Think about it — how many times have you held back on sharing your opinion in just the last few months?

How many times have you bit your tongue at a family gathering, with a group of friends, or on social media?

That’s exactly what the enemy wants. He wants us to be too worried about upsetting an opinionated coworker, or an opposite-leaning family member, or all of the people that “like” us or follow us on social media, to speak up.

The fear of persecution has silenced The Church for long enough.

We’re politically correct or culturally correct. We’re afraid to speak up. We don’t want to talk about or give our opinions about politics, or religion, or who uses what bathroom, or say the name of Jesus, because we don’t want to cause trouble, or bring trouble on ourselves.

So, we’ve been putting up with everything.

We’ve been clapping our hands in worship, while Satan has been working behind the scenes to change our laws and enforce his legality and authority in the land.

We’ve become complacent. We’re being lulled to sleep by the low standards of the world.

They’ve told us not to judge them and we’ve listened. And all the while, those that don’t want righteousness are continuing to take our freedoms.

And they will continue to take our freedoms until we have none.

If there were an army from another nation attacking one of our cities right now, we would all be mobilizing ourselves, preparing to fight a battle.

But what many don’t realize is that an army IS attacking our country right now—not a physical army, but one that is steadily and deceptively using our technology, and carefully placed people, to strip us of our freedoms little by little every day.

Oh, and the enemy has done a great job of keeping you silent. He wants you to be easy to get along with. He loves that you’re afraid to rock the boat—afraid of confrontations, and afraid of being persecuted.

But Matthew 5:10 says, “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

Whether you like it or not—whether you want to be or not—you are already in a battle.

This conflict is no different than other conflicts that have faced our nation.

It’s not too late to fight.

This isn’t about political parties or ideals. This is about right and wrong. This is about the standards set for us by the Word of God.
This is about valuing freedom, and the price that is paid for it, because true freedom is never free.

There is no freedom without responsibility. We must stand against everything that is against Christ. We must rise up for the souls of men and declare righteousness and be willing to engage conflict—even physical. We’re here right now for such a time as this.

Souls are at stake. Your freedoms are at stake. America is at stake.

So stop trying to be comfortable. Don’t say, “Whatever happens happens.”

No.

Know the facts, and SPEAK UP! Take a stand. Vote.

Don’t be afraid of being politically incorrect. Stop shying away from conflict so you can be liked. Embrace and honor the Word of God. Teach your children to stand for truth, righteousness, and honor. Be willing to intercede and fight the good fight.

Be bold and courageous. Don't let the threat of persecution silence you.

Jesus defended freedom and truth with His LIFE.

Will you?

I couldn’t even afford to buy a postage stamp

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Reading Time 4 mins –

I couldn't even afford to buy a postage stamp.

Then, everything changed.

We finally had rest.

We could think about our future and not just about paying the bills.

We could dream again of good things instead of worrying how we would survive one more week.

Do you know my story?

Many years ago, well before we were in ministry, we lived hand-to-mouth. We lived in downright poverty. We were believers, and we had a great family life. We enjoyed our marriage and our family, but we were struggling. Really struggling.

We went to a church that taught us how God loves us and that He has great things planned for our lives, but we weren’t living it. We weren’t experiencing God’s promises in our lives.

We were barely surviving.

Pawnshops were a way of life. We didn’t own anything new. Everything we had was used, very used. The carpet on my kids’ bedroom floors had been retrieved from a trash bin. Their mattresses came from a nursing home. We had two cars that each had more than 200,000 miles on each of them and had definitely seen better days. The floorboards in both of them were rusting out; they were beat up and the frames were bent.

The little, 1800s farmhouse our family of seven lived in had also seen better days. We had weeds growing through any cracks that could be found in the window frames.

For years, our finances had been on a slippery downhill slope. Working on straight commissions in the insurance industry had left us with too much month at the end of our money time and time again. And while I always intended to pay off our debts, or whatever we may have borrowed each month, we only ended up further behind.

For nine very long years, we were in financial chaos. Not only did we owe on our broken-down farmhouse and two rusted-out, bent up, high mileage cars, we also had ten maxed out credit cards, three finance company loans at interest rates of 28%, more than $13,000 owed in back taxes, more than $26,000 owed to relatives, and judgments and liens filed against us.

Intense financial pressure anyone?

I remember one specific time I had to mail an envelope. Not a $10 envelope. A regular envelope. A letter.

But I couldn’t even afford the stamp.

We had borrowed money from anybody and everybody we could. We had exhausted all of our options. In fact, we owed money to nearly anyone you could imagine—hospitals, dry cleaners— everyone.

I had to call my dad to ask if he had change I could have to buy a stamp.

Let that sink in: I couldn’t even afford to buy a stamp.

“Do I have breathe for you, too?” my dad asked me.

Ouch.

My dad was funding everything, and he wasn’t a believer at the time. Drenda and I were the believers. But for nine years we lived like that.

I was sick during those days, too. I was miserable. I lived in stress. I was anxious and fearful. The doctors put me on medication to deal with the panic attacks I was having, but that only seemed to make things worse. Fear consumed my life. I even got to the point of not wanting to leave my house.

You can imagine how much that was helping my sales business.

Everyday life became a game of survival, and I was constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for the next thing to go wrong or blow up.

I had no joy, no peace, and no rest.

I reached the end of my rope when an attorney called our house one morning and warned me that his firm was going to file a lawsuit against me if I didn’t give them $1,900 within three days.

I was desperate. I had exhausted all of my options. I knew it was over; I had nowhere to turn.

I clearly remember collapsing on my bed, desperately crying out to God. To be honest, I was shocked that God spoke to me immediately. He told me that I had trusted in debt to meet my needs and that I had never taken the time to learn how His Kingdom operated. He then went on and told me that most of His body, the Church, was in debt and that He wanted them free financially. He said, “Take the time to learn how my Kingdom operates.”

My life completely changed after that. Drenda and I began to learn how the Kingdom operated, and what we learned was amazing. When we discovered and began to apply Kingdom principles, it was like a light switch came on.

We truly began experiencing the promises of God in our lives.

In less than three years from that day, we were completely out of debt. We started new businesses during that time that kept growing. We paid cash for our cars, cash for our 55 acres of land, and built and paid for our new home. We were extremely excited, and still are! In fact, we’ve been on a mission ever since to help others experience the Kingdom of God.

Of course, all of those things were really exciting, but the best thing about our journey was that we finally had rest.

We could think about our future and not just about paying the bills.

We could dream again of good things instead of worrying how we would survive one more week.

Friend, that is real rest, and that’s what I want for you this year.

You may find it hard to believe right now, but I assure you that what Drenda and I discovered is just as much available to you as it was to us.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The power of rest is a law of God’s Kingdom that frees you to stop chasing after money. It’s one of the most life-changing principles God has ever taught me and I share it in my book Your Financial Revolution: The Power of Rest . I really believe the Holy Spirit has given me a message that is going to change the way you work forever! Get your copy of Your Financial Revolution: The Power of Rest today!

Want your life to actually improve? This has to be your first step

Wed, 10 May 2023 16:25:49 GMT

Reading Time 2 mins 30 secs –

What have you been battling this week?

Anger? Grief? Fear? Anxiety? Insecurity? Depression? Sin?

Or have you been battling bad habits like complaining, or gossiping, or watching too much TV, or eating too much sugar?

We all have something, or some things, we’re battling or trying to overcome.

Especially right now when there are so many things going on in our world, so many external battles.

But here’s the thing:

You HAVE to win the internal battles before you can win the external battles.

You have to win the battles within FIRST.

When God called Moses to become a great leader in Exodus 3, we see that Moses had an internal battle.

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

—Exodus 3:11 (NIV)

Who am I, God? I can’t do something like that!

You can bet Moses was afraid. It’s clear he was insecure. He doubted his ability, and he doubted that anyone would listen to him. And those battles didn’t just go away because God spoke. Moses still battled himself even after God said HE would be with him and gave Moses instructions on how to move forward.

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

—Exodus 4:1 (NIV)

Look at what happened next:

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.

—Exodus 4:2-3 (NIV)

Did you catch that? Moses RAN. He RAN AWAY! And he didn’t just run away from the snake. He ran away from what God was calling him to do!

But then God told Moses to reach out his hand and take the snake by the tail. And Scripture doesn’t tell us, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a pretty long pause after God told Moses to do that. Moses might even have told God, “No way, God. I don’t want to. I’m not touching that thing.”

It may have taken a few minutes, but Moses ended up stepping into the position God had called him to. He grabbed hold of the snake and subdued it. He brought it under the authority of the Kingdom of God.

Listen, I know what it’s like to face things that seem so much bigger than you. And I know what it’s like to want to run away. But, friend, you need to know that God leads you to the battles for your promotion, not to harm you.

So, know from this point on that you WILL have days when you will have to fight your emotions and your flesh—when you will have to battle yourself.

That’s when you’ll have to remind yourself WHO you are and WHOSE who are, no matter how the situation looks.

The Real Value of Time and How to Stop Wasting Yours Away

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:00:04 GMT

Reading Time 2 mins 39 secs –

Are you wasting your time?

I know. I’m not making friends by asking that question.

But really, have you ever thought about how much time you’re wasting?

There’s an Inc. article about how we all have enough time to read 200 books a year.

Yep, that says 200.

See, we say we’re busy, or we just don’t have enough time, or we wish we had more time. But there’s research to prove that’s not really the truth. Because, according to statistics, most of us are wasting a lot of time.

In fact, stats show the average American spends more than two hours per day on social media and that on average , Americans watch three hours of television every single day.

Of course, the point of writing this isn’t just to help you find time to read more books.

I want to help you live your God-designed purpose.

And you’ll never live your God-designed purpose, or enjoy the good life He has for you, until you understand the value of time and stop wasting it.

Look at 2 Kings 4:1-7 with me.

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your
servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his
creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your
house?”

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for
just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil
into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to
her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring
me another one.”

But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your
debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

Now, what would you say is the most valuable thing in that story?

I’ll give you a hint: It wasn’t the oil.

It was time.

Because if you could talk to that widow now and ask her what she would change if she could go back, I guarantee she would say she would have taken more time to gather more jars.

More time.

Looking at it now, knowing the opportunity, she would probably say, “I’ll tell you what. I’ll be back in a few days.” She would’ve taken more time to gather more jars. She would’ve loaded semi-trucks with jars. And she would’ve been recorded as being the wealthiest woman on the face of the earth.

So many of us are like the widow—only understanding the value of time when we look back, when we’re confronted with our ticking clock, or when time runs out.

Years ago, just before my grandpa died, I had a conversation with him. He said, “Where did my life go?” He was in his 90s. I didn’t get it then, but I do now. What he was saying was, “Pass me another jar!” But there were no jars left.

Friend, time is valuable, and it can never be recovered.

How are you spending yours?

This is your time.

This is your life.

Ask God to show you how you should be spending your time right now. And if you haven’t already, ask Him to show you your purpose. Because when you know your purpose, you’ll have clarity and a sense of urgency. You won’t want to waste time.

Today, take a hard look at how you’ve been spending your time. Clear the clutter and the distractions from your schedule and from your life. Make the uncomfortable decision to stop wasting your precious time. Change it now. The clock is ticking.

What's Wrong with Having a Backup Plan? Answer: Faith Doesn't Need One.

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 14:35:39 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 17 secs –

I had questions about what had happened, but I didn’t take time to ask God about it. Like most Christians who encounter disappointment, I did nothing but accept failure as a puzzle I would figure out later, instead of seeking God about it right then.

One of the most important lessons God taught me concerning how faith works happened way back in 1993.

Two full years before, I had been talking to some local police officers when they shared with me about how many deer were typically hit on the roads every year. I asked them what happens to the deer that are hit and killed, and they told me about “The List.” It was a list of people they would call to come and tag the deer. Apparently, in Ohio, there were special tags for deer that were hit on the road.

That would be a great way to get some extra venison , I thought.

I wanted on that list.

So, I got on the list. And before deer season ever began that year, I had already butchered five deer. My freezer was full of venison.

We were stocked up, so when the season started, I wasn’t really that excited to go hunting. In fact, I went into the season without even praying or asking God for my deer. And I didn’t sow any seed either.

But I still went out on opening day and every day of the weeklong season. Apparently, I hadn’t learned that it was a waste of time to go out without releasing my faith. I look back and realize how hardheaded I was. I got up every morning that week, went to the effort of hunting, and got exactly what I had released my faith for— nothing .

Pay close attention to my mindset at that time—I knew something was wrong, but since my freezer was already full, I wasn’t that concerned about it. But I still wanted to have the victory of getting a deer myself. I should’ve prayed and asked God about it, but I didn’t.

Jump ahead to the 1992 season. I was confused about what had happened the year before, but I still didn’t bother to pray and ask God about what had happened. Since I hadn’t received any calls yet about roadkill deer before the season started, I sowed my seed and prayed about getting some venison.

After multiple attempts at getting a deer that season, and some missed shots, I knew something was really wrong. God had taught me so much about faith through hunting just a few years before. What was the problem?

I was fighting discouragement when the phone rang. It was the police department, and they had a deer that had been hit just 100 yards down the road from my driveway. I glanced out the window and could see the flashing lights outside. When they asked me if I wanted the deer, I eagerly agreed to take it. It ended up being a plump button buck, and the meat was in perfect condition. While I was bringing the deer back to the house, I realized God had in fact blessed me with the deer Drenda and I had asked Him for, but it didn’t come in the way I believed it would— or did it ?

It wasn’t until the beginning of the 1993 season that I truly sought God about the previous two seasons and what had happened. In prayer, He clearly said, “ The police list. ”

What?

The Lord clearly showed me how being on the list had affected my faith and divided my focus.

The list was a backup plan.

I knew that if my faith in God didn’t come through with a deer, I could always get one from the police department.

I had divided faith—two completely different visions of how to get my need met. I believed in my own method (the roadkill list), and yet I wanted to trust God to bring my deer through hunting.

I was wavering in where I placed my trust, and I ended up receiving those two years from where I had the most confidence—the list. My faith had operated, but not how I had wanted it to.

The Bible says a man who is double-minded should expect to receive nothing from the Lord. A good illustration of this principle is the person who asks God to meet a need and believes to pay cash for it, yet knows all along that if God doesn’t come through, he’ll just use a credit card to get the need met.

If you have a backup plan, you’re not walking in faith. Faith doesn’t need a safety net. And you’ll always find that your alternative plan is really the one you’re trusting.

As humans, we like to have everything in place so we feel secure. But God wants us to realize that there is no place more secure than resting in faith.

It's controversial, but there’s only one truth you really need to hear.

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 19:13:33 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins 30 secs –

Ready to talk about a controversial topic?

It’s time to talk about healing.

Healing isn’t a popular subject for most people, and it’s definitely not a popular sermon for most pastors. But that doesn’t make sense to me, because health is a really big deal.

So, maybe you’ve talked to some people in your family about health, healthcare, and maybe even healing. Do you know what your family thinks about all of that? What about your friends? Where do they stand on the important issues? How about your church? What do those people think? And how about your elected officials? What are they saying?

Because if you know all of those views, you’ve got it covered, right?

Well, wait just a minute.

Can you tell me what the Bible says about it?

If you’ve ever heard me speak, you know that I’ve said that healing is a promise from God. You may know of a few specific places in the Bible you can reference, like Isaiah 53:5, which tells us that by Jesus’s wounds, His stripes, we are healed. But there is more. There is so much more.

So, go get your Bible and give me just a few minutes of your time. (Go on and get it. Really, I’ll be waiting right here.)

You have to have your Bible with you because this is warfare, and your Bible is your weapon. Sickness and disease are spiritual battles. When you’re fighting those battles, you have to know your legal rights. You have to know what the Bible says. You can’t try to fight just knowing what I say or what some other TV preacher says. You have to know the Bible for yourself.

Let’s begin by looking at Matthew 8:16. It says in my Bible that Jesus restored to health ALL who were sick. What does your Bible say?

How about Matthew 4:23? What does that say?

Matthew 9:35? Matthew 12:15? Matthew 14:14? Matthew 15:30? Matthew 19:2? Matthew 21:14? Acts 10:38? I could keep going.

“But that’s Jesus,” you say. “Of course He healed everyone, Gary.”

Well, look at Luke 9:1. Jesus gave the disciples the same power He had to heal people. Now, look at Luke 9:6 then Luke 10:1-9. This is where Jesus appointed 72 others to carry on the mission of preaching the Gospel and healing people.

In Mark 16:15-18, we read that Jesus authorized and deputized the church to do the exact same thing. He said if WE believe and are baptized that WE have His power, His Spirit, and that we’re to go out and lay hands on the sick so that they will get well.

You see, the promise of healing is everywhere in the Word of God.

What’s the deal then? Why are some people healed and others are not?

One critical thing that prevents us from receiving our healing is our lack of confidence. When you’re not sure what you believe, you’re not confident. We have to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s God’s will to heal every time or we can’t possibly be confident. If we’ve been taught that God allows sickness, that He uses it to teach people things, or that He’ll heal when He’s ready to heal, we’ve lost confidence. None of that is Scripture. None of that is the will of God.

Once you know the will of God, you can know that justice will be served for you. The only way you know the will of God is to study the Word of God.

Another thing that prevents us from receiving our healing is tradition. The Bible says in Matthew 15:6 that tradition nullifies the Word of God. What is tradition? It’s the passing on of beliefs or customs from generation to generation. How many times have you heard, “I don’t believe like that” or “My church doesn’t teach that”? Well, brace yourself—who cares what your church says? Who cares what I say? You need to know what the Bible says about it!

What has been set up in your mind about yourself? What have you learned or possibly adapted to that does not line up with God’s Word?

Let’s change it. Let’s change your mentality. Let’s stop saying, “Help me” and start saying, “Let’s find out what God’s will is.” Let’s get to where you’re thanking God that you’ve already been helped.

How do we do that? Get in the Word of God. Guard your heart, and make sure you’re putting ONLY faith in there. Use your words. Enforce the promise. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t let the situation appear bigger than God.

Right now, you might not be there. You might be intrigued, but that’s about it. Just wait a little while. Keep digging into the Word of God. Let faith build in your spirit.

Put faith and the Word of God in your heart before anything comes into your life. Because sometimes you don’t have time to get your Bible, and you need to be prepared. Have the Word of God in your heart so you can get to it if you can’t get to your Bible. Know and be convinced of what the will of God is.

Are You Too Comfortable? God Has Something Important for You to Do.

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 22:59:16 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins –

Going to church is the easiest part of being a Christian.

Well, maybe not the actual getting there part if you have a job conflict, kids who lose their shoes, or a transportation issue.

But going to church is the easiest part of being a Christian. It’s the comfortable part.

Maybe too comfortable.

Because too many Christians are hiding their light behind the four walls of the church building.

Are you one of them?

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

—Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

See, people don’t need to see religion. They need to see the proof of God in your life. They need to see the evidence.

They need to see answers.

They want to know how your marriage is no longer falling apart, how you got out of debt, or how you were healed. They want to know how you’re demonstrating results that are different from what the world normally sees.

Oh, and you can stop thinking you’re not much of an example. You’re a child of God. It’s God’s grace that does the work—it’s His light that shines through you. It’s not about you—it’s about you AND God.

It just takes a willingness to step up and say, “I’ll do that.” It just takes saying YES to God.

Look at Gideon. He was hiding out in a winepress when God called him to do something really important.

The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

—Judges 6:11-16 (NIV)

Gideon was hiding his light. He didn’t see himself as anything important, let alone the mighty warrior God was calling him to be.

The enemy was trying to steal Gideon’s future and the future of the Israelites.

The enemy is trying to steal your future.

It’s time to stop hiding out.

Just like Gideon, you are called. You are that mighty warrior. You’re not to hide out or run away; you’re called to release the Kingdom of God into your situation and occupy.

You’re called to be a light.

Don’t be afraid. Know that you are sent.

Want to know something? There's tremendous power in being thankful.

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:35:38 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins –

Are you happy right now?

Or are you feeling a little grumpy, or negative, or sorry for yourself?

We’ve all been there.

Years ago, I had one of those months. (Yes, I said months, not days.)

I was negative. I was feeling sorry for myself. The weight and pressures of life and certain situations were bearing down on me.

For some reason, during that time, I went to a conference I really didn’t feel like going to, and the speaker got up and said he was going to talk about being thankful.

Great , I thought. Just what I want to hear.

What I really wanted was for someone to join me in my pity party. But that wasn’t happening. Because God knew that wasn’t what I needed; He knew I needed someone to tell me the truth.

See, I had taken my eyes off of all of the blessings God had given me, and I had stopped remembering all of the times He had come through for me.

I had taken my focus off of His promises and put it on my problems.

So that conference message was just what I needed. The Holy Spirit dealt with me right then about my heart and how I had been ungrateful. I had to repent. God set me free that day.

Here’s the thing: Studies show that when you’re thankful, you’re happier, you have more friends, you live longer, and you have less health problems like heart attacks, strokes, colds, flus, and even pain. Being grateful also strengthens your emotions, makes you more optimistic and less self-centered, improves your sleep, increases your self-esteem and your energy, helps you bounce back after a setback, reduces feelings of envy, helps your marriage, makes you look better, and makes you more productive. Who doesn’t want all of that?

It’s no surprise that Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) says, “ A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones .”

See that? Cheerfulness… thankfulness… gratefulness are like good medicine. But discouragement sucks the life out of you.

Are you reading this and thinking, “It’s November, Gary. I know this is another blog about how I should be thankful. But you don’t know what I’m going through. I have serious problems.”

I understand.

But here’s the thing: You have a choice.

It might not be easy, but you can make the choice to be thankful no matter the circumstances.

Stop thinking you can only be thankful and cheerful when everything seems “perfect.”

Because “perfect” is really rare, and I do mean really rare. In fact, odds are there will always be something in your life that isn’t “perfect.”

The good news is, no matter what you go through or deal with in life, you can still be thankful and cheerful, because you can always trust God despite your circumstances.

Philippians 4:6 (NIV) says, “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ”

Wait. Did you see what that said?

Notice it didn’t say, “Only be anxious about the big things you can’t handle on your own.” Nope. It says, “Don’t be anxious about anything .” It also says, “By prayer, and with thanksgiving , present your requests to God.” That means you should be thanking Him for all He’s already done and for what He’s about to do in your situation. You should be thanking Him before your answer shows up, because He’s faithful and good.

In Judges 20:20-21, we see the nation of Israel suffering great loss after a huge battle. They had lost 22,000 men.

22,000.

Can you even imagine? I’m sure you’ll agree that that was a really, really bad day.

Then, on the second day of battle, they lost 18,000 more men.

40,000 men lost in two days.

The Bible tells us they took a day off at that point. They needed to regroup.

Then, in verse 26, we see that the entire army presented offerings of thanksgiving to God.

They stopped everything and reminded themselves that God was for them; that He is good and faithful; that He was with them.

And the next day, they went out and won the battle.

So, what about you, friend?

Do you need to stop and offer thanks to God?

Take some time to remind yourself that God is for you; that He is good and faithful; and that He is with you. Remind yourself of all you have to be grateful to God for, and watch how your cheerfulness becomes good medicine.

Why Allegiance Really Matters When It Comes to Your Possessions — and Your Life

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 15:25:50 GMT

Reading Time 3 mins –

Are you happy right now?

Or are you feeling a little grumpy, or negative, or sorry for yourself?

We’ve all been there.

Years ago, I had one of those months. (Yes, I said months, not days.)

I was negative. I was feeling sorry for myself. The weight and pressures of life and certain situations were bearing down on me.

For some reason, during that time, I went to a conference I really didn’t feel like going to, and the speaker got up and said he was going to talk about being thankful.

Great , I thought. Just what I want to hear.

What I really wanted was for someone to join me in my pity party. But that wasn’t happening. Because God knew that wasn’t what I needed; He knew I needed someone to tell me the truth.

See, I had taken my eyes off of all of the blessings God had given me, and I had stopped remembering all of the times He had come through for me.

I had taken my focus off of His promises and put it on my problems.

So that conference message was just what I needed. The Holy Spirit dealt with me right then about my heart and how I had been ungrateful. I had to repent. God set me free that day.

Here’s the thing: Studies show that when you’re thankful, you’re happier, you have more friends, you live longer, and you have less health problems like heart attacks, strokes, colds, flus, and even pain. Being grateful also strengthens your emotions, makes you more optimistic and less self-centered, improves your sleep, increases your self-esteem and your energy, helps you bounce back after a setback, reduces feelings of envy, helps your marriage, makes you look better, and makes you more productive. Who doesn’t want all of that?

It’s no surprise that Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) says, “ A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones .”

See that? Cheerfulness… thankfulness… gratefulness are like good medicine. But discouragement sucks the life out of you.

Are you reading this and thinking, “It’s November, Gary. I know this is another blog about how I should be thankful. But you don’t know what I’m going through. I have serious problems.”

I understand.

But here’s the thing: You have a choice.

It might not be easy, but you can make the choice to be thankful no matter the circumstances.

Stop thinking you can only be thankful and cheerful when everything seems “perfect.”

Because “perfect” is really rare, and I do mean really rare. In fact, odds are there will always be something in your life that isn’t “perfect.”
The good news is, no matter what you go through or deal with in life, you can still be thankful and cheerful, because you can always trust God despite your circumstances.

Philippians 4:6 (NIV) says, “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ”

Wait. Did you see what that said?

Notice it didn’t say, “Only be anxious about the big things you can’t handle on your own.” Nope. It says, “Don’t be anxious about anything .” It also says, “By prayer, and with thanksgiving , present your requests to God.” That means you should be thanking Him for all He’s already done and for what He’s about to do in your situation. You should be thanking Him before your answer shows up, because He’s faithful and good.

In Judges 20:20-21, we see the nation of Israel suffering great loss after a huge battle. They had lost 22,000 men.

22,000.

Can you even imagine? I’m sure you’ll agree that that was a really, really bad day.

Then, on the second day of battle, they lost 18,000 more men.

40,000 men lost in two days.

The Bible tells us they took a day off at that point. They needed to regroup.

Then, in verse 26, we see that the entire army presented offerings of thanksgiving to God.

They stopped everything and reminded themselves that God was for them; that He is good and faithful; that He was with them.

And the next day, they went out and won the battle.

So, what about you, friend?

Do you need to stop and offer thanks to God?

Take some time to remind yourself that God is for you; that He is good and faithful; and that He is with you. Remind yourself of all you have to be grateful to God for, and watch how your cheerfulness becomes good medicine.There are answers in the Kingdom of God—answers that work the same for anyone and everyone who will take the time to learn them and apply them.

Although there are many Kingdom principles that are part of living a successful life, if I could only share ONE principle with you, it would be the power of allegiance.

Take a few minutes and look at Genesis 39 in the Bible with me. It’s one of my favorite chapters. It’s the story of Joseph.

Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery to the Ishmaelites. They took him into Egypt, and sold him to Potiphar, who was a captain in the Egyptian army.

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.

From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. – Genesis 39:1-7

Notice that says, “ The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered .” What does this mean? Isn’t God supposed to be with everyone?

No. See, Abraham’s faith and the covenant that followed gave God legal access to be with Abraham and his heirs only. God being with everyone isn’t the same as God loving everyone; He does love everyone. But for those without a legal standing before God, His hands are tied. He doesn’t have the legality or jurisdiction in the earth realm without a legal agreement, a covenant in place, with a man or woman on the earth.

Because God was with Joseph, helping him in life, he had success in everything he did, so much so that his unbelieving master, Potiphar, saw a huge difference in Joseph’s ability compared to the many other men he had seen.

When you prosper with God’s help, the people who are living under the earth curse system of survival notice the difference.

Potiphar was so impressed that he put Joseph in charge of his entire estate.

There are many Kingdom principles revealed in this passage of Scripture, but the key of all keys is revealed here. I call it “The Power of Allegiance,” or “The Potiphar Principle.” It’s found in Genesis 39:5:

I want you to get a clear picture of what is happening here. The blessing of the Lord came on all of Potiphar’s stuff, his entire estate. But Potiphar didn’t know the God of Joseph and wasn’t part of the nation of Israel, so how could this happen and what does it mean?

When Potiphar put his estate under the authority of Joseph, without knowing it, his estate came under the covenant that Joseph had with God.

Joseph wasn’t special. He was a believer just like you. As a believer, you have a covenant with God, and the blessing of the Lord—the covenant of God—legally supersedes the earth-cursed system. So, just like the Lord was with Joseph, He’s with YOU.

Potiphar’s possessions—his stuff, his estate, and property—all changed kingdoms

Until it came under Joseph’s care, Potiphar’s property was still tied legally to the earth curse system. When Potiphar placed his estate under the jurisdiction of Joseph’s authority, he didn’t realize he was also placing it under the influence of the blessing of God.

The Bible goes on to say that with Joseph in charge, Potiphar did not have to concern himself or worry about anything except the food he ate. He had no worries. With no worries, Potiphar only had to focus on his assignment and purpose as a captain in the Egyptian guard.

That same worry-free focus—that same rest —is available for you.

There is a lot here to see, but what Potiphar experienced, without knowing it, was what Hebrews 4 calls the Sabbath rest , and it’s available to you as a believer.

If you study the Sabbath, you will find that God didn’t allow the Israelites to do any work on that day; no sweating or painful toil took place. The Sabbath, of course, was the seventh day of the week, and it corresponded to the seventh day of creation. You might remember that the seventh day of creation was the day God declared as a day of rest. It wasn’t because God was tired; it was because He was finished. Everything was complete.

The seventh day was the day in which we were originally designed to live.

A day with no worries.

A day with everything we needed already in place before we needed it.

But of course, we know that Adam lost that rest when he rebelled against God. By rebelling against God, Adam cut off God’s ability to provide for him. He lost the place of provision God had previously supplied. Adam was forced to provide for himself, spending all his time working just to survive.

But God didn’t leave us without hope. He gave us a picture of the rest that He would someday restore—the Sabbath day.

When Potiphar tapped into the blessing of the Lord that Joseph carried through that covenant, he tapped into God’s ability to provide through Joseph and found rest. Everything was taken care of; he had no worries.

So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. —Genesis 39:6

But how was the Sabbath day possible when, under the earth curse system, man would toil and sweat every day just to survive? The Sabbath was made possible only because God blessed the sixth day with a double portion, or more than enough. Let that phrase roll around in your mind a bit.

More than enough.

Isn’t that what every man and woman is longing for, more than enough? When God gave man a double portion on the sixth day, He was reminding man that He was their provider, and He always provided more than enough.

More than enough provides freedom from the rat race.

More than enough takes you from being enslaved to having options.

More than enough frees you to find and prosper in your purpose and passion.

This is what Potiphar enjoyed. No worries. Every need he had was taken care of. The only thing he had to focus on was his purpose. I always say that, “Until you fix the money thing, you will never be able to find your purpose.” The great news is that you can fix your money thing and live in your God-designed purpose. The Sabbath rest is still available today, and it offers a place where your needs are met and you can prosper past survival.

How do you move from wherever you are now to financial freedom?

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 01:25:11 GMT

Reading Time 4 mins 30 secs –

God wants you to be able to:

Dream dreams — BIG dreams!.

Walk out the calling He has on your life.

Do the things He prompts you to do, like pay for someone’s gas or groceries, sponsor a child who needs help, advance the Kingdom….

How much time do you spend doing any of these things ⇧⇧⇧ when you’re worried about paying your bills or having enough just to get by each week?

So many people are under great stress in their financial situations because of debt.

Debt steals your peace by demanding more and more of your labor, of your life.

Debt keeps you from fully serving God.

Debt keeps you from following the path God has for your life.

Debt keeps you enslaved.

That’s why I talk about money and finances.

The enemy has schemes and tricks designed to put us into servitude to debt or anything else we’ve made a master in our lives. He wants us strapped financially so we don’t have the freedom or time to have relationships with God and the people we love, or to do what God is calling us to do.

I talk about money and finances because I care about your freedom, friend— your freedom to follow God, to make choices, and to pursue your dreams and your God-designed destiny as YOU desire, not as your bills and debt dictate.

That’s why you’ll also frequently hear me share my story.

The Bible says that God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). That means He doesn’t play favorites. What God has done for Drenda and me, He will do for you.

Research tells us that most people need to hear/read/see a message between 18 and 20 times before they really get it. So Drenda and I keep sharing—for you and for anyone who hasn’t heard the Good News of the Gospel and the Kingdom principles that completely changed our lives, so that you can GET it and live FREE too.

See, Drenda and I know what it’s like to feel hopeless.

When we were first married, we had no money. In fact, we borrowed $500 from a friend to even get married, so we really started out in debt. We lived on commissions from my work at an insurance company, but my commissions just weren’t enough to keep up with life.

Not knowing better at the time, we started using credit cards to buy what we needed. Then, when we ran out of credit card options, we used finance company loans to consolidate those cards. When money got tight again, we’d get new credit cards.

We also had two car loans. Then, of course, we bought a house, which we didn’t really qualify for. Drenda’s parents loaned us the down payment, and my boss wrote a letter, which actually exaggerated our income, to the mortgage company. The mortgage company approved the loan. But when the first payment came due, we didn’t have it.

We scraped by. And when things broke, we used more debt.

Then, there were taxes. Working on commission means you pay your own taxes, and since we didn’t have the money to pay them, I didn’t file. I really thought I’d get around to it when the money was there. But the money just never was there.

Eventually, we had to file, and we ended up owing thousands of dollars, which led to tax liens and extreme stress.

After just six years of marriage, we had accumulated 10 maxed out and canceled credit cards, two car loans on old run-down and broken cars, three finance company loans at 23% interest each, judgments filed against us, and thousands of dollars in tax liens. On top of that, we owed our parents tens of thousands of dollars, which we had borrowed from them just to survive.

Life was horribly stressful, and I was having trouble coping.

I ended up having panic attacks and being put on antidepressants. One day, I woke up to find my body paralyzed. I couldn’t move. Fear had a death grip on me. I lived so stressed out that I even became afraid to leave my house. Drenda even began to plan how she and our children would survive.

It was hell on earth. I wasn’t living life. I wasn’t at peace. I couldn’t even rest, let alone dream dreams, walk out the call God had placed on my life, or do even little things to help others financially. I had no freedom.

Fixing our situation looked impossible. We were beyond desperate. We knew we must have been missing something.

And that was when God revealed several life-changing things to us.

First, He told me that we trusted debt and the world’s system more than we had trusted in His Word and His Kingdom.

God said, “Take the time to learn how My Kingdom operates. Most of My church is in the same situation that you are … I want my people free financially. ”

We went from financial ruin to being completely debt free over the next two and a half years!

I can’t even describe how that feels. We went from feeling completely hopeless to the elation of being able to pay cash for our new cars, building and paying for our dream home, and prospering at a level where we were actually giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to various ministry projects around the world.

We’re not exaggerating whatsoever when we say our lives drastically changed. Our memories of those nine dark years gave us a passion to teach people about the Kingdom of God.

Drenda and I are on a mission to help people all around the world experience the same financial freedom that we experienced.

YOU can be financially free too.

That’s why we frequently share our story, and why I frequently talk about money.

As a friend of Faith Life Now, we want to help you.

Financial freedom doesn’t just happen. We’ve been there. There are some steps to take. It will take some work. There will be a price involved, and it may take you some time.

But know this… Your FREEDOM is worth it.

So, how do you get there? How do you move from wherever you are now to financial freedom?

#1 You have to learn what the Bible says about money and how to apply the financial
principles of the Kingdom to your life.

Matthew 6:33 tells us that if we seek His Kingdom first, “all of these things will be given to you as well.” If we take the time to see knowledge regarding His Kingdom and how it works, then we can access it and walk in it. For your life to change financially, you must take the time to study, write down, dissect, and understand the function of the laws that govern the Kingdom of God, specifically in the area of finances.

#2 You have to make important practical decisions to change your financial future.

We are born into a world that survives through the debt system. It's natural to trust it to meet our needs—especially when the going gets tough. In order to operate in God’s system, we must turn away from that system and learn to exercise faith in God’s Kingdom.

This can be YOUR YEAR!

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Take steps today to live financially free; to build the life you want; to make 2021 your best year yet—the year you experience financial freedom.

Order the complete Your Financial Freedom Package here. These tools will help you dramatically change your financial situation and future!

Have you settled for less than all God has for you?

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 23:04:22 GMT

Reading Time 5 mins 30 secs –

Is there evidence of the Kingdom of God in your life?

Are you moving forward?

Or have you stopped?

Are you sure?

Stick with me for a few minutes and we’ll find out.

Start by imagining something with me.

Get a picture in your mind of the most beautiful, most comfortable, most accommodating house you would ever want to live in.

Now, imagine I handed you the keys and told you it’s all yours—the entire house.

You’re beyond thrilled, right? So, you run up to the door, put the key in the lock, open it, and step inside. And it’s everything you imagined!

You take a few steps inside and can’t stop grinning from ear to ear. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted.

You take a deep breath and thank God for all He’s given you.

Then you stop and sit down.

You decide the foyer is good enough for you, that you will never go farther than the foyer; you’ll just stay right there where you are.

Okay, Gary, come on. That’s crazy. Why would anyone do that?

Good question. But as children of God, that’s what we do ALL OF THE TIME. God has SO MUCH more for us, but we stop and settle in the proverbial foyer.

You might have heard both my daughter Amy and I use this illustration before, but I want to expand on it even more here.

Because Drenda and I care about you, and we want to make sure you haven’t stopped short of ALL God has for you.

How can you know? Keep reading! ⇣

You may know the story of the Battle of Jericho in the Bible (Joshua 6). But there’s a critical key in this story that will help you right now. Take a look with me.

Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”

When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding.

But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!” So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.

Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding.

So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”

When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.

Pause for just a second. Do you see that last (bold) line? ⇡

The victory wasn’t that the wall collapsed. The victory was that they took the city.

But, as Christians, we tend to focus on the walls falling down. We can get so wrapped up in praising God for the victory of the walls falling down that we forget to move forward and take the city, or we don’t know that we have a part to play in capturing territory.

You probably noticed that when the walls came down, Joshua and the army didn’t just sit down and have some lemonade. (They didn’t stop in the foyer.) They moved forward into ALL God had for them. They took territory.

Friend, it’s so critically important that you get this!

When Israel came out of Egypt, there was a mighty deliverance at the Red Sea. But they weren’t delivered just to stop in the wilderness. They were delivered to go someplace.

So are you.

Yes, you should praise God for the victory of the walls in your life crumbling to the ground—“walls” like debt, addiction, fear, health issues, and anything else that is hindering you from reaching your destiny.

But God has so much more for you!

You are delivered to go someplace.

The walls are down! It’s time to move forward and take territory! ⇢⇢⇢⇢⇢⇢⇢

You should have evidence of the Kingdom of God in your life, Friend.

Your life should be exciting! You should be moving forward; you should be advancing!

You should be taking territory!

IT'S TIME TO CHANGE YOUR THINKING.

God wants to put opportunities in front of you.

Too many Christians focus on stopping the devil instead of embracing the abundant life God has for them.

Don’t let that be you.

The Bible says that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church (Matthew 16:18).

See that? Gates are not offensive weapons.

The enemy has no authority to interrupt your life or cause destruction.

Sure, like a barking, growling, yapping dog that believes a road or a sidewalk belongs to him, Satan will come at you trying to rattle you, throw you off, or make you give up. He wants you to be happy in the “foyer.” He wants to make sure you don’t “charge right in and take the city.”

So what should you do?

James 4:7 (NIV) says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

I used to think that meant I was just supposed to avoid the devil, avoid the confrontation. But that’s not what it means. No, resist means to oppose or set against. It means to stop or block, to hit hard.

You should resist. Because Satan has NO right to your life.

So, when the enemy comes at you, you have to resist. You have to engage.

Taking territory doesn’t happen when you’re sitting on the couch. Taking territory only happens when you engage , when you take action.

Look through the Word of God. It doesn’t talk about spiritual warfare against Satan.

Because he’s already been defeated. He can’t stop you.

Friend, the walls are already down. Praise God for that, but move forward! Go take the territory God has called you to occupy!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are you ready to change your perspective and move from the “foyer” and into ALL God has for you?

Download Gary's new, five-part mentorship series, The Walls Are Down! What Are You Waiting For? now , and learn how you can position yourself for success and take the territory you’re called to occupy—so you can charge in and take the city!

Make today the day you move out of the foyer and into the abundant life God has for you!

Download The Walls Are Down! What Are You Waiting For? now!

Five quick tips to get prepared for your "suddenly"

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 04:36:11 GMT

Reading Time 5 mins 30 secs –

What can you expect in 2021?

Buckle your seatbelt friend!

You may have heard me talk about how God gave me several dreams concerning the direction of our country over the last year. The first one was on New Year’s Eve 2019 and was a prophetic glimpse of what would spiritually occur in 2020.

In the dream, I was in a major city that was empty of people. From building to building hung spider webs. And on one skyscraper sat a huge spider. The city was vacant of people except for one young guy who was headed directly toward the spider’s web. In the dream, God said, He doesn’t understand the danger of this deception. You need to tell him.

I never expected to see anything like that happen—cities vacated and Satan bringing such deception.

The dream didn’t end there. I heard the words Rosh Hashanah bellow, and the power of God knocked me down.

What does Rosh Hashanah mean? Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection, prayer, and repentance. Rosh Hashanah was symbolic of repentance and the power of God coming into the situation.

The other two dreams I had in 2020 were warnings for America that I felt I needed to share publicly.

The second dream was of socialism coming into our nation, and God instructed me to tell people the danger of this agenda. Drenda and I took that very seriously and launched out together on television and in daily updates to warn and instruct people about what was happening.

It’s critically important that the Body of Christ understands the dangers of what we’re hearing and seeing in our culture.

In the third dream, I saw our United States Constitution under attack and our guns being taken away. Russia and China were somehow involved.

Since then, God has spoken to me TWICE more concerning the future and about 2021.

Before I share what He showed me, I want to remind you that God’s Word does not change no matter what is changing in the world. God does not lie, and He cannot fail.

We don’t need to look for a prophetic word to help us know our future. His precious promises already tell us our future. Many times, though, God sends a prophetic word to encourage us amid our battles. He gave me an encouraging word for you for 2021 on September 4, 2020.

We celebrated Faith Life Church’s 25th anniversary that night with a banquet with some of our church leaders. During the evening, several people gave Drenda and me cards and gifts and thanked us for the impact Faith Life Church has had on their lives.

One family walked up and handed me a container that held 25 one-ounce silver coins. The minute I laid my hands on the container, the Spirit of God spoke to me. I knew there was more to the gift. I opened the container and was surprised to see that the front of each coin had an image of a prospector mining, or panning for gold, on them.

Instantly, I remembered a dream that I had many years ago when we were building The Now Center, money was very tight, and I was under a lot of pressure.

In the dream, I saw two mining carts that were each completely overflowing with silver coins. At the time of the dream, I was confused as to why the carts were full of silver coins instead of gold coins.

After a bit of research, I understood.

Silver is used as currency in everyday life. Gold is used primarily as a way to hold wealth. I understood then that those two carts full of silver coins meant that money— provision —was going to come in and take care of our needs. And the second cart represented God’s promise of double portion, overflowing provision, more than enough.

As I held those 25 silver coins in my hands that night and reflected on that dream from years ago, the Lord spoke to me:

In this season, I am going to bring great prosperity to my people, to the ones who know My Voice and follow My Spirit. They will be as the ones who came out of Egypt.

He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold and from among their tribes no one faltered. - Psalm 105:37 (NIV)

To be “laden” means to be heavily loaded or weighed down. Think of the Hebrew slaves coming out of Egypt—they were weighed down with gold and silver. They had one chance to carry the wealth of Egypt with them. They were loaded up with prosperity!

Think of the boats in Luke 5, when Peter, James, and John caught so many fish that their nets almost broke and their two boats began to sink from the weight. Those nets were laden with prosperity.

Of course, overflowing prosperity is already a promise for every child of God, but God wants to use this as a sign:

God is going to bless His people in this season.

There will be a distinct difference in how God’s people—YOU—live in 2021.

Just before Christmas, I had another dream concerning 2021. It was a simple one. I just heard the word “contend” and saw a picture of the communion table with the bread and wine and heard the word “covenant.”

Of course, a covenant is a legally binding agreement. But what does contend mean? It means to struggle or strive to overcome a problem or difficulty.

I know that definition sounds negative, but God didn’t mean it that way.

He said:
You contend and I will show up.

You step into the chaos, to where I lead you, and I will meet you there. I will back you up.

You have an enemy that wants to stop you. Spirits and demonic forces are real, and satan wants to distract you, deceive you, and discourage you.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8 that the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Do not fear. You have a covenant with the Lord Almighty. You can resist the devil and his lies.

The culture keeps telling us to back down and back off, but that is NOT what God is telling His people to do.

This is the time to go forward and CONTEND.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Friend, no matter what you faced in 2020, God STILL has a great plan for your life.

He wants you to live a full, supernatural life in 2021, and to leave room for the SUDDENLY!

He wants to defend His people and show Himself strong just like He has time and time again—when the walls of Jericho fell; when Goliath fell dead from a stone—when situations looked impossible, then… SUDDENLY!

How can you CONTEND in 2021?

How can you posture yourself for the SUDDENLY God wants to bring you in 2021?

Here are five quick tips:

1. Make sure you have a faith picture. Know in your heart what the Word of God says about you and your situation.

2. Spend time in His Word and hear His voice. He has instructions and encouragement to give you.

3. Reject anything that doesn’t line up with what God says. Keep the Word in your heart and take every thought captive. Cast down negative, toxic, fearful, and lying thoughts. Stay in agreement with what heaven says about you and your situation.

4. Exercise your spiritual authority. CONTEND! Stand boldly on the promise that God is for you and no one and nothing can stand against you. Stay the course. Don’t let discouragement set in. Persevere with the Word!

5. ALWAYS be in agreement with your spouse. Never, ever march out into battle without being in total agreement and faith with your spouse.

Agreement with your spouse is required in order for you to see Heaven move in the earth realm. We can’t stress enough how important it is that you and your spouse are in agreement and that your family is on the same page spiritually.

Friend, our nation is at a crossroads. The world is growing darker. You are called to be a light in the darkness. You are called for such a time as this.

Contend, and release the Kingdom of God into the earth in 2021!

This can be your greatest year, IF you refuse to do THIS

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 05:39:28 GMT

Reading Time 5 mins –

$75 million.

That’s his net worth. Years after he passed away, his legacy is stronger than ever.

In 2000, when Publishers Weekly compiled their list of the best-selling children’s books of all time, 16 of the top 100 hardcover books were written by this man. More than 600 million copies of his books have been sold, and they have been translated into more than 20 languages. You may have even watched a film or play based on one of his books just last month.

Who am I talking about? Theodor “Ted” Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.

I’m sure you know who Dr. Seuss is, but did you know that his work was rejected by 27 different publishers before his first children’s book was published?

Twenty-seven , friend.

And did you know that, before he drafted his first children’s book, he drew political cartoons and made short films for the United States Army?

Why am I telling you all of this?

Well, first, because I love to share stories to help encourage you. I love to share how people overcame struggles and failures, how their lives were changed, their bodies were healed, their marriages and families were made whole, and their finances were fixed.

Because stories give you pictures of hope. You can read about or listen to someone’s story—like Dr. Seuss’s—and be encouraged.

I also shared his story because I want to give you an example of what can happen if you don’t settle.

Dr. Seuss could’ve settled for drawing political cartoons or making short films for the military instead of writing children’s books. He could’ve quit when he was rejected by publishers the first time, or the second time, or the twentieth time. But he didn’t. (And his story doesn’t even tell us he trusted in God.)

This is the first quarter of a NEW YEAR. Wherever you are in life right now, wherever 2020 may have left you, I want to make sure that you don’t settle for less than God has for you this year.

2021 can be your greatest adventure. But… you’re going to have to REFUSE to settle.

In Genesis 11:31-32 (NIV), it says,

Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.

Not exactly a great story, right? In fact, this is the only reference to Terah made in the Bible.

Why? Because Terah

settled . He never reached Canaan—the destination God had for him.

Adventures or journeys can often be long, hard, and tiring. Maybe Terah got tired. For whatever reason, instead of pursuing his destination, he settled in Harran. It was a trading center, a place that I’m sure had many provisions and offered rest from his journey. Harran probably felt safe and comfortable.

But Harran wasn’t the best God had for Terah and his family.

Like Terah, I have seen so many people with great God-given visions, ideas, and plans who have ended up settling when the journey got tough. They lost sight of their destinies, and they stopped.

Now, look at the story of Joshua with me.

Joshua had been mentored by Moses, and Moses had died. So Joshua was supposed to take over. He was suddenly responsible for this huge nation of people—millions of people—in the wilderness. It was a big job.

Now, Joshua could have looked at his situation and said, “You’ve got to be kidding me, Lord.” He could have looked at the millions of people surrounding him and said, “You want me to do what with these grumblers? With all the problems Moses had? This is impossible! I’m not even going to try.”

But he didn’t. Joshua knew what God said. God told him that no one would be able to stand against him all the days of his life. God even promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

God knew the pressures, temptations, and struggles Joshua had to overcome.

God reassured Joshua that he wasn’t alone.

God encouraged Joshua to trust Him.

God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous.

Just like Joshua, GOD IS WITH YOU!

But again, you need to do a few things.

1. You have to take your eyes off of who you think you are and set them on who God says you are.

God told Abraham to lift up his eyes (Genesis 13:14), and Abraham obeyed. Abraham was called by God to leave his family, his hometown—everything (Genesis 12:1)—because he was promised something that wasn’t even possible in the natural. He willingly gave up everything to walk out the promise.

And the Bible says God blessed Abraham in EVERY WAY.

Galatians 3:14 says YOU have the SAME blessing through Jesus.

So, if you want God’s best for your life in 2021 , that’s the first thing you must do— lift up your eyes from where you are.

We have a tendency as human beings to pay attention to the details around us, or to what was behind us. But to GO anywhere, you have to leave where you are.

God wants to show you something brand new this year. He wants you to trust Him outside of your “normal.”

So, where do you look? To God! Let Him show you who you really are and who He has made you to be. Look to Him and His Word, and let Him affirm you.

2. You’re going to have to hear what He says and walk it out. Because, more than likely—like Joshua and Abraham—He’s going to call you to go someplace you’ve never been before. And just like Joshua and Abraham (and even Dr. Seuss) had to walk out their adventures with God, so will you.

3. You have to know that God has promised to be with you , to give you the direction you need, and to make your best life happen with you, no matter what problems may arise.

Frankly, God loves when the odds are stacked against Him because that’s when He really shines. After all, you don’t need God if you’re going to walk in the possible. You don’t need Him if you’re going to play it safe, never venture outside of your comfort zone, or settle.

If you want a life full of stories, adventures, and victories —stories you want to pass on to your children and grandchildren— you must also learn to be uncomfortable.

Stepping into new territory can be unsettling.

But God is always faithful.

God has a plan. He’s not caught off guard or taken by surprise. He knows all the details, and He has the answers.

It will take faith to step out into the unknown, but God wants to lead you. After all, He’s promised never to leave you nor forsake you. And if God is for you, who can be against you?

So, get up and GO! Stay the course. Don’t settle like Terah did. Don’t throw in the towel.

You will want to quit, but don’t. The journey with God is ALWAYS worth it.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We want to see you live your own adventures with God. That’s why we want to get my new teaching series, Get Up and Go! The Road to Finding Your Purpose and Drenda’s Ready, Set, Run into your hands.

Drenda and I want to impart the wisdom and revelation that will give you the motivation you need to see your purpose come to fruition in 2021!

You Can Change a Life

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 21:20:09 GMT

Reading Time 5 mins –

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas season has always been one of my absolute favorite times of the year. For me, it’s always been a great time to slow down and really reflect on what God did through Jesus. This year, it seems even more important that we take time to do that.

Of course, I also love all the extra time with my family and the special traditions we’re making, especially now that Drenda and I are grandparents (of nine, and soon to be 10 next year!).

How do you celebrate Christmas? Are you like me and desire to slow down, or do you prefer to load your calendar with parties, activities, and events through New Year’s Day? Do your holiday celebrations involve family, friends (old and new), or strangers as you serve others somewhere?

Here’s the thing: No matter how different or alike we are in the way we spend the Christmas season, there is one thing most all of us share more so at this time of year than at any other, and that’s a desire to bless and care for those who are less fortunate or hurting.

This has been a hard year for a lot of people.

We’ve been through a lot in 2020.

But at Faith Life Now, we’ve seen and heard SO MANY incredible stories of people helping people— with generosity, kindness, and love.

It’s Christmas time. This is when everyone seems to pay a little more attention to their loved ones and those in need.

That’s why I’m writing a blog like this...

As a friend and supporter of Faith Life Now, this Christmas season, you can change a life.

There are so many people all around the world who are hurting and desperate for help and for hope.

You can do something about it.

My heart is to get the principles and promises of the Kingdom of God into your hands and heart. I love to tell the stories of people whose lives have been radically changed after they learned how the Kingdom operates.

Drenda and I have said that just ONE experience with the Kingdom of God can completely change a life.

That one experience doesn’t have to be huge; it can be as simple as having a need met—a need for a hot meal, a personal care or hygiene item, a need for school supplies—or as simple as supporting a community by providing Christmas care packages to children and their families.

That’s what your giving is doing. YOU are helping to draw people into the Kingdom of God.

YOU are making a difference every day .

When you give financially to Faith Life Now, your gift contributes to worldwide outreaches that feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, rescue those trapped in human trafficking, provide safe homes, care for orphans and abandoned children, share the Gospel in prisons, translate teaching materials into multiple languages, provide disaster relief, and so much more.

When you support Faith Life Now, you GIVE HOPE and REBUILD LIVES.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

I look at missions and outreaches in a similar way—through missions and outreaches, we give men, women, and children food, water, shelter, and clothing to “feed” them for a day, to satisfy their immediate needs, so that we can “teach them to fish” by sharing the Word of God, how the Kingdom of God operates, and how they can tap into the Kingdom to obtain God’s provision.

Every year at Christmas time, I read Isaiah 9 with my family. It’s one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. —Isaiah 9:2-7 (NIV)

These Scriptures are so powerful, and not just because they’re about the celebration of Jesus’s birth. There’s much more history here.

See, the Israelites were being oppressed. They had done evil in the sight of God. He had turned them over to the hands of their enemy—the Midianites—for

seven years. The Israelites had been outnumbered thousands to one. They had been held hostage. Nothing was working in their favor. Desperate, they had resorted to living in survival mode in caves in the mountains. They had no hope for their futures.

Then, God showed up. He used a man named Gideon to defeat their oppressors and to make things right despite the Israelites’ past mistakes.

The battle was finished, and an entire nation was set free.

The Bible says the birth of Jesus is like that day—a day of GREAT FREEDOM, a day of salvation and rejoicing.

God sent Jesus as a baby as a part of His greatest undercover rescue mission, to usher His government back into the earth realm and to rescue ALL OF US from the darkness.

Like the Israelites, you have been set FREE!

Just as God empowered Gideon, He will empower you—to help others experience freedom and to bring hope to those who have lost hope.

As sons and daughters of God, we are called to help the hurting and those “walking in darkness” to see The Great Light that is Jesus.

It’s so important that we’re boldly asking for you to give a special, generous financial gift today . Your gift to Faith Life Now ensures that the mission projects and outreaches reach farther and deeper into the world. .

Thank you in advance for your generosity. This is an exciting time as we join together to change even more lives in 2021!

As a special thank you, we’ve opened the Faith Life Now vault for YOU …

When you give your best gift of $35 or more this month, we’ll immediately send you THE LIFE-TRANSFORMING SERIES THAT STARTED IT ALL— The NOW Revolution 2.0 .

The NOW Revolution 2.0 is where it all began. This teaching will take you back to the basics. It’s packed with the Kingdom principles that set Drenda and me free. In fact, The NOW Revolution 2.0 is THE SERIES that prompted the launch of both Faith Life Church and Faith Life Now. It’s the perfect companion for your kingdom learning to pull from the Faith Life Now vault to refresh you for the year ahead.

Plus, as an additional bonus when you give your best gift of $35 or more this month, you’ll also receive our brand-new 2021 Kingdom Thoughts Wall Calendar !

Want to help support these outreaches and missions but can’t give $35?

When you give your best gift of ANY AMOUNT this month, we’ll send you Drenda’s teaching Setting Your Life Goals as well as our 2021 Kingdom Thoughts Wall Calendar!

Thank you in advance for your generosity! Remember, you ARE changing lives!

Merry Christmas, and God bless you!

Now, More Than Ever, You Need to Know This Principle

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 22:05:20 GMT

Reading Time 4 mins –

It's been a weird year. Things have been really different.

Things have been so different that, for months, I’ve heard people wishing 2020 away—wanting the year to be over as quickly as possible, so they can just move on.

Let’s look at an important story in the Bible about someone who had every right to wish away time.

In fact, this guy's life, as he knew it, seemed to be over not just once but TWICE.

Who am I talking about? Joseph.

Because now more than ever, there’s an important principle you need to know from Joseph’s story.

Joseph’s family was dysfunctional. He had one brother and 10 half brothers that hated him, partly because their father seemed to play favorites and partly because Joseph would tell them the dreams he had about them bowing down to him. (Who does that?)

His brothers hated him enough to kill him. They actually debated it. But instead, they sold him into slavery and pretended a wild animal had killed him.

The comfortable life Joseph had known seemed to be over.

Sound familiar?

As a slave, Joseph ended up working for a man named Potiphar. And something pivotal happened:

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.

Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

—Genesis 39:2-6 (NIV)

Things started to turn around for Joseph. He was in leadership. He was trusted. Things were getting better and better.

But then more trouble came at Joseph—Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him, and he was thrown into prison.

And once again, life as Joseph had known it appeared to be over.

Do you think he sat in prison wishing the time away—wanting it to be over as quickly as possible?

No, he didn’t.

The Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

—Genesis 39:21-23 (NIV)

Even in prison, Joseph prospered. He had success in everything he did.

Just like Joseph, you can have success in everything you do.

So we’ll fast forward to Genesis 41:41. Look what happened:

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt."

Wait, what?

How does a guy go from being a slave to being in charge of the entire land of Egypt?

It’s quite a story. And it only gets better.

A seven-year famine hit that no one saw coming. It was a terribly hard time for several nations. But because God had continued to be with Joseph, Joseph was prepared.

For seven years, Joseph accumulated piles of grain for the Egyptians. Those piles of grain didn’t just mean life for the people of Egypt during the seven-year famine that followed; the piles of grain meant success.

THIS is the principle YOU MUST KNOW RIGHT NOW, friend.

Take a minute right now and close your eyes. Get a mental picture of what “success” looks like for you for the rest of 2020.

(Yes, stop reading and take a minute.)

Write it down somewhere. Go on. I'll wait.

Just like Joseph, God has promised YOU that He will be with you wherever you go and that you can be successful at whatever you put your hands to.

It’s not too late for your 2020.

Ephesians 3:20 tells us God is about to do more than all you can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within you.

You can still see the promises of God come to pass in your own life and the works of your hands blessed in 2020.

Making something out of this year may be impossible in your own strength, but it’s not impossible with God.

Just like Joseph, no matter where you started or where you are now, you have the ability to be successful. GOD IS BIGGER than anything you’re facing.

Joseph was in impossible situations, hopeless situations. But Joseph didn’t give up hope; and time and time again, God made a way THROUGH for Joseph, and he prospered.

God will make a way THROUGH for you too. Just like God was with Joseph, He is with you, and you can prosper.

Now that you’ve written down your picture of success, how can you see it come to pass?

Answer: You learn more about this important principle I call The Grain Pile Principle .

Why call it The Grain Pile Principle?

Because God used piles of grain in Joseph’s story to show us a clear picture of His promises to us.

Friend, there is so much more you need to know about this life-changing principle .

You especially need to know how you can apply the FIVE crucial steps that led to Joseph’s extraordinary success to your own life and see YOUR OWN picture of success come to pass.

Like Joseph and the grain piles, we want to help you increase your success so much that it can’t be contained, let alone counted.

We want to see you win, not just in 2020—in LIFE .

Click here to get your instant download of The Grain Pile Principle series.

Or click here to get your CD copies, plus Drenda's incredible mentorship teaching, Hearing God's Voice .

Vote for Liberty at the Ballot Box — Do We Really Want to Change the Fundamental Principles of Government?

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 03:35:50 GMT

Reading Time 6 mins 30 secs –

Special guest post by Team Revolution Mentor Dan Pilla.

The upcoming presidential election is certainly the most important of my lifetime, and perhaps any since the Civil War era. The winner will not just direct policy over the next four (or more) years, but will affect the fundamental structure of our nation. Indeed, many of today’s candidates, following the lead of former President Obama, wish to “fundamentally change America.” But they don’t tell you what that means.

That’s the purpose of this blog. My goal here is not to tell you whom to vote for, but rather, to argue what to vote for. To begin with, let us understand exactly what the fundamental principles of America are. Only then can we make an informed decision about whether to vote to change them.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence sets forth the principles upon which America is built. It states, in part:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

This simple statement sets out five fundamental truths about our beliefs, which are:

1. God created man,

2. We are all equal,

3. God (not government) grants humans certain rights, in particular, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,

4. Those rights cannot be taken away, and

5. Governments are created to protect those rights.

As you go into the voting booth this November, ask yourself, which of these fundamental principles do you wish to alter or abolish?

Let’s discuss them in more detail.

THE RIGHT TO LIFE

The great William Blackstone, the English jurist and legal philosopher, wrote in his Commentaries on the Law, that life is the “immediate gift of God.” He declared that the right to life is one that is inherent in every individual. Blackstone noted that that no man has the power to destroy life, but through the law of God, “who is the author of life.”

Many politicians today argue that there is an individual choice whether an unborn child should live or die. Many such politicians argue that this choice exists right up until the moment the child is born, and perhaps, astonishingly, even immediately after the child is born.

Instead, God tells us we are not to kill the innocent (Exod 23:7). Rather, in Deuteronomy 30:19, he says,

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

God is so concerned with life that he created human life in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27); He sustains life (Job 12:10); He redeemed life (II Corinthians 5:19); and He sent his Son not only that we may have life, but have it to the fullest (John 10:10).

Would you vote to fundamentally change the idea that humans have an inherent right to life?

If so, in whom would you vest the power to decide who will live and who will not?

What government bureaucracy would you trust to make that decision about your life and that of your family?

If you said “no” to my first question, then you must vote to uphold the right to life.

THE RIGHT TO LIBERTY

If man is created by God, as so stated in the Declaration, and if man has an absolute right to life, then it naturally follows that he also has an absolute right to liberty. Man is born free of bonds. In a state of nature, as explained by John Locke in his first Essay on Civil Government, men are free to “order their actions” as they see fit.

This is the essence of liberty: the freedom of every person to make full use of his own God-given gifts and talents. As explained by Frederick Bastiat in his classic essay, The Law, liberty is the union of all other freedoms. It is the combination of the freedom of conscience, education, association, travel, press, labor and trade.

God placed a call on every human. He endowed each person with unique gifts and talents, as well as vision, drive, courage and commitment. He expects each of us to use those gifts—each according his ability (Matthew 24:15)—to build God’s Kingdom.

Yet a bevy of today’s politicians somehow believe that you are not smart enough to carry out God’s call on your life.

Rather than recognize the liberty that naturally flows from the gift of life, they intend to intervene in the conduct of your personal affairs, using the force of government to direct your life. We see this in the areas of the education of your children, your ability to contract with others for goods, service and compensation, your capacity to provide for your own medical insurance and healthcare, the management of your retirement savings and investments, your general business practices, and so on, with an endless list of government regulations ostensibly intended to protect you from yourself.

To borrow Bastiat’s phrase, this “philanthropic tyranny” is merely the means by which governments make despotic inroads into every aspect of your private life.

The net effect is to reduce people “under absolute despotism” (Declaration of Independence). People are thus denied their natural, God-given right to liberty and are instead subjected to a growing list of whimsical social programs dreamed up to supplant God’s call on your life. In this way, political elitists seek to “arrange, organize, and regulate it according to their fancy” (Bastiat).

Would you vote to fundamentally change the idea that you have an inherent right to liberty?

If so, in whom would you vest the power to determine how your life should be run?

What government bureaucracy would you trust to make critical decisions about every aspect of your private life?

If you said “no” to my first question, then you must vote to uphold the right to liberty.

THE RIGHT TO THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

The right to the pursuit of happiness flows directly from the right to liberty. If one is free to pursue God’s call on his life in an honest and peaceful manner, he has the natural right to the ownership of the property that grows from such exercise. In fact, in his Essay on Civil Government, Locke used the term “property” and the idea of property ownership to describe the essential liberties with which every person is born. The American Founders chose to use the phrase “pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration expressly to broaden the idea of this natural right, not to limit it.

Yet we have a strong movement of existing and aspiring politicians whose philosophy directly and violently at-tacks the concept of private property ownership. We see this chiefly in tax policy, with proposals for wealth taxes, confiscatory estate taxes, and a graduated income tax system. All of these policies—admittedly—have little to do with raising revenue to fund legitimate functions of government as expressed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. Rather, they have everything to do with destroying the wealth of individuals which was earned lawfully and peacefully, and purportedly transferring that wealth to others who did not earn it.

The clarion call of Socialism/Communism is the destruction of private property rights.

The first plank of Marx’s Manifesto calls for the abolition of private property in land. The second plank calls for a “heavy progressive or graduated income tax” to purposefully transfer wealth to the state. This is done, according to Marx, by making “despotic inroads on the rights of property.” In other words, Socialism/Communism stands for the outright theft of private property by the government.

Would you vote to fundamentally change the idea that you have an inherent right to the property you peace-fully acquired through your honest labor?

If so, in whom would you vest the power to determine how the fruits of your labor will be allocated or distributed?

What government bureaucracy would you trust to make the final decision about what your labor is worth, and what of its fruits you are allowed to keep for yourself?

If you said “no” to my first question, then you must vote to uphold the right to the pursuit of happiness—the right to own and control the fruits of your own labor.

What is the current mind of America?

In 1825, Jefferson wrote a letter to Henry Lee to explain the thought processes behind the language in the Decla-ration of Independence. Jefferson, the chief author of the document, said the intention was to capture and present to the world “an expression of the American mind.” That is to say, the Founders intended to craft a “plain and firm” statement to the world about the British government’s destruction of the rights to life, liberty and property in the Colonies. On this matter, Jefferson said, “there was but one opinion on this side of the water.” That opinion was that these rights were granted by God and no government had the lawful authority to usurp them.

Is this no longer the mind of America? Do we now truly wish to fundamentally change America ?

Are we to divorce ourselves from the principles of liberty and limited government that made us the freest and the richest nation the world has ever seen?

And what would we have replace our fundamental principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

Would we be better suited to the European models of hereditary monarchy and tyrannical dictatorship that looted and oppressed populations for centuries?

Or would we leave the development of our system of government—like so many nations of the world throughout history and even today—subject to the whims of war, chance, and conquest?

As Patrick Henry said in his famous “Liberty or Death” speech, “Forbid it Almighty God!”

When you cast your vote in November, whether at the national, state, or local level,

I encourage you to vote for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Learn more about Dan Pilla here .

Want more mentorship from Dan? Become a Team Revolution Partner now .

You have legal rights. Do you know how to enforce them?

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 20:05:16 GMT

There’s never been a more important time than right now.

SO many things have happened this year. And things only seem to be ramping up.

The world has been in turmoil… our nation is screaming for justice to be served… an election is coming...

We need truth.

We need answers.

We need healing .

I don’t like to give the enemy any attention, but there’s something I have to talk about right now.

We HAVE TO WAKE UP and see EXACTLY what he is doing.

The enemy has come at us in 2020 more than ever. The Bible says in John 10:10 that he comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. And he’s come from every side with his attempts this year.

He’s tried to take lives. He’s attempted to shut down churches. He’s worked to divide our nation, our communities, our churches, and our homes.

He will never stop trying to destroy .

BUT there’s a second piece to that Scripture we should be focusing on—

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10:10

Do you see that?

Jesus came so that we may have life and have it to the full—no matter what the enemy tries to throw at us.

You’ve probably heard me talk about how I used to be sick and on antidepressants.

What you might not know is that, when I received my healing, God told me not to pay attention to my emotions or feelings… because it was a LEGAL matter.

A LEGAL matter.

Now, I always talk about being a “spiritual scientist,” because I want to know everything I can about God and His Kingdom. So, of course, when God said my healing was a legal matter, I had to find out exactly what that meant.

What I discovered was life-changing—

God operates by justice, and justice had ALREADY been served on my behalf.

Stick with me on this.

Because I know people have been talking and you've probably been hearing a lot about justice in our nation for months, and it’s a painful topic for many people.

But here’s the thing, friend—

The only way we will ever truly see justice in this world , in this nation , or our lives is by exercising our legal rights as believers .

Because as believers, justice has already been served on OUR behalf.

That’s a bold statement, I know. This is where I’m going to need you to really stick with me because we’re going ALL IN.

It’s like this: imagine that you’re sitting in the defendant’s chair in a court of law. Since the Bible tells us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren, picture him sitting on the other side of the courtroom as the plaintiff.

Do you have the image in your mind?

Now, imagine Satan telling the judge over and over again that you belong to him.

Only he’s wrong. Because, as a child of God, you have someone who stepped in on your behalf and paid the price for you to walk away, FREE AND CLEAR, from Satan and ALL of his taunting and tactics.

That someone was Jesus.

Jesus was already judged by The Law and pronounced innocent. He didn’t sin. In fact, in Acts 8:32 we read that Jesus was deprived of justice.

Jesus—the only one who wasn’t guilty—was deprived of justice and crucified as guilty… FOR US.

Jesus was the only man on the face of the earth that could give God His legality back in the earth realm after Adam gave it away to Satan. See, God had crowned Adam with glory and honor, and Adam ruled in the earth realm under delegated authority. But when he sinned, he gave his crown of authority away to Satan.

But God sent Jesus to restore His delegated authority, and because of His death, we were saved.

Friend, Jesus IS the answer to every injustice the enemy tries to throw at you.

1 John 5:14-15 says, “And this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us . And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”

See the phrase “hears us”? It isn’t referring to God hearing your voice . It’s referring to a legal hearing . So, when you ask something of God, He immediately takes the case and begins to enforce His justice.

Because as far as God is concerned, whatever you're dealing with is a legal matter that was ALREADY settled 2,000 years ago in a spiritual court of law.

So, when I received my healing, it didn’t matter how I felt or what I saw. I had to simply agree with what Heaven said and declare it.

I was healed.

And that wasn’t all.

Once Drenda and I understood that we have legal, enforceable rights as believers—our rights to justice and how to enforce it—we started experiencing victories in every area of our lives.

We finally understood that it didn’t matter how long we prayed or when we felt like we had received; we received God’s promises based on spiritual law.

The same goes for you.

Your victories in your marriage, your family, your finances, your business, your faith, your health— in EVERY area of your life—will be determined by your understanding of justice and how to enforce it.

So many people have just been surviving life in 2020. That doesn’t have to be your story.

You don’t have to put up with division, dysfunction, chaos, stress, or fear.

You just need to know how to enact justice and enforce your legal rights as a believer.

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God is the God of Justice and His Kingdom is one of laws that do NOT change. You don't have to put up with things like dysfunction, chaos, or fear.

Click here to download The Cry for Justice series now and learn your legal rights in the Kingdom of God, how you can enforce them—how you can stand on the promises of God and live in victory in every area of your life.

Friend, NOW IS THE TIME for us to rise up and tell the world about our God of Justice, to see His healing in our world, our nation, and our lives!

Join us in the fight FOR UNITY. Get a copy of Drenda’s brand-new book, Nasty Gets Us Nowhere with your The Cry for Justice six-part CD series. Don’t miss what is being called one of the most thought-provoking books of the year.

Is Your Plan B Really Just a Lack of Faith?

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 18:11:48 GMT

I had questions about what had happened, but I didn’t take time to ask God about it.

Like most Christians who encounter disappointment, I did nothing but accept failure as a puzzle I would figure out later, instead of seeking God about it right then.

One of the most important lessons God taught me concerning how faith works happened way back in 1993.

Two full years before I learned that lesson, I was driving home and was almost to our driveway at the old farmhouse when I saw police lights up ahead.

It was nothing new. I just assumed someone had been pulled over for speeding.

But as I came up on the police car and slowed down to pass it, something caught my attention. There on the side of the road was a beautiful eight-point buck. It had been hit by the other car that I had just seen pull away.

I pulled over and asked the police officer what he was going to do with the buck. Since my driveway was only about 400 yards down the road and I had kids to feed, I thought I would ask if I could have the deer. The police officer actually seemed relieved that he didn’t have to deal with the disposal of the deer.

Just before we parted ways, he shared with me that deer were hit on the roads often and, if I was interested, he would be happy to put my name on “The List.” It was a list of people the police would call to come and tag deer that had been hit on the roads.

That would be a great way to get some extra venison , I thought.

So, I got on the police list. And, within a few months, and before deer season ever even began that year, I had already butchered five deer. My freezer was full of venison.

We were stocked up. So, quite frankly, when the season started, I wasn’t really that excited to go hunting. In fact, I went into the season without even praying or asking God for my deer. And I didn’t sow any seed either.

But I still went out on opening day and every day of the week-long gun season.

I hadn’t yet learned that it was a waste of time to go out without releasing faith.

I look back and realize how hardheaded I was. Every morning that week I got up and made the effort to hunt.

And got exactly what I had released my faith for— NOTHING .

Pay close attention to what my mind-set was at that time. I knew something was wrong. But since my freezer was already full, I wasn’t that concerned about it. But I clearly still wanted to have the victory of getting a deer myself.

I should’ve prayed and asked God what was going wrong, but I didn’t.

Jump ahead to the next season. I was confused about what had happened in 1991, but I still didn’t bother to pray and ask God about what had happened. Since I hadn’t received any calls yet about road-kill deer before the season started, Drenda and I prayed in agreement and sowed our seed for a buck.

After multiple attempts at getting a deer and some missed shots, I knew something was really wrong.

God had taught me so much about faith through hunting just a few years before. What was the problem?

I was fighting discouragement when the phone rang. It was the police department. They had a deer that had been hit nearly right in front of my driveway. There were the flashing lights outside our windows.

I was shocked.

When the officer asked me if I wanted the deer, I eagerly agreed to take it. It ended up being a plump button buck, and the meat was in perfect condition.

While I was bringing the deer back to the house, I remember thinking God had in fact blessed me with the deer Drenda and I had asked Him for. But I was confused on why it hadn’t come in the way I believed it would.

Or did it?

It wasn’t until the beginning of the 1993 season—a full TWO years later—that I truly sought God about the previous two seasons and asked Him what had happened.

I was out jogging and praying when it clearly came to me— the police list.

It was then that I realized that my confidence hadn’t been in God’s Word or in His Kingdom, but in “The List.”

The list was a backup plan.

I knew that if my faith in God didn’t come through with a deer, I could always get one from the police department.

Being on the list had affected my faith and divided my focus.

I had divided faith—two completely different visions of how to get my need met. I believed in my own method (the road-kill list), and yet I wanted to trust God to bring my deer through hunting.

I was wavering in where I placed my trust; and those two years, I ended up receiving from where I had the most confidence —The List.

My faith had operated, but not how I had wanted it to.

The Bible says a man who is double-minded should expect to receive nothing from the Lord.

A good illustration of this principle is the person who asks God to meet a need and believes to pay cash for it, yet knows all along that if God doesn’t come through, he’ll just use a credit card to get the need met.

If you have a back-up plan, you’re not walking in faith.

Faith doesn’t need a back-up plan or a safety net.

And you’ll always find that your alternative plan is really the one you’re trusting.

As humans, we like to have everything in place so we feel secure. But God wants us to realize that there is no place more secure than resting in faith.

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What did I do about the police list?

How does this story apply to YOU and YOUR life?

Get the answers to these questions and many more in my brand new book, Your Financial Revolution: The Power of Provision .

Discover the importance of faith, how you can tell when you’re not in faith, and how you can build faith. Plus, learn the FIVE BASIC STEPS you can take to receive the provision you need! Click here to order your copy of Your Financial Revolution: The Power of Provision now .

Nasty Will Get You Nowhere. What Should You Do Instead?

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 19:41:59 GMT

There I was getting my nails done when I remembered…

I had left a pan of boiling vinegar on the stove! Almost TWO HOURS AGO!

FIRE!

Would the fire department be at our house for the SECOND TIME in the same week?!

You’ll want to read this whole crazy story in my brand new book, Nasty Gets Us Nowhere , but I want to share it with you here because it really shows something we ALL have done, and maybe still do...

...something critically important that we need to talk about, especially right now, with the direction our culture has been going.

I was away from Gary ministering in Puerto Rico for a Happy Life kids’ outreach event, helping restore hope to a community that had been ravaged by hurricanes, when I got a call from our home security company.

Mrs. Keesee, a fire has been detected in your home.

What?!? A FIRE?!?

I knew Gary was supposed to be home, but the home security company hadn’t been able to reach him. I told them that he might be deer hunting and told them to go ahead and dispatch the fire department. I was concerned and I prayed, but knew there was nothing else I could do from that far away. So I turned my focus back to the children’s event.

Later, Gary texted me that everything was okay. He told me he had just started to cook his breakfast and left it to simmer while he stepped outside to hang up his deer. What he didn’t realize was that the simmer setting was hot enough to burn his food, let alone start a fire.

A few days later, Gary picked me up from the airport and we had breakfast and did some much overdue Christmas shopping. When we arrived home that evening, I knew right away that something was terribly wrong.

Smoke.

If you’ve ever burnt a bag of popcorn in the microwave, you know what our house smelled like.

Well, this smoke stench was WAY WORSE than burnt popcorn, and it was in every room of our house.

I couldn’t hide that I was annoyed. It was a week before Christmas and the house smelled terrible.

“I can’t believe you almost caught our house on fire! I better not leave you home alone again,” I teased Gary.

I knew he was already embarrassed, but he could’ve burnt the house down a week before Christmas! I thought I needed to remind him of the lesson he had already learned. Ugh.

The rest of the evening, I searched for ways to get the smell out of our house. Several websites suggested boiling white vinegar with water, so that’s what I did. The following morning, I did it again, but it wasn’t helping. Our house still reeked with that awful, smoky smell.

Later that morning, while I was getting my nails done, my nail technician asked if anything exciting had happened that week. I began to tell her about the kids’ event in Puerto Rico and then Gary’s pan fire. (I don’t make it a practice to share my husband’s mistakes, but with the smell still stuck up my nose, the fire was still very much on my mind.)

FIRE!!!!

That’s the moment I remembered I had left a pan of boiling vinegar on the stove! Almost two hours ago!

You’ll have to read the rest of the story in Nasty Gets Us Nowhere , but I will tell you this:

Our house smelled worse than ever.

And what did I learn?

I had done the SAME thing Gary did. I almost burned our house down.

I had teased him and shamed him a bit for what he had done, and now I had done the exact same thing.

We do this same thing all too often—we judge, blame, and faultfind, but we make the same mistakes others make or do the same things we complain about them doing.

Rather than seeing ourselves clearly, we MAGNIFY and emphasize the failures and shortcomings of others but minimize our own.

And sometimes we get downright nasty with each other.

Think about it. How many times have you been trying to get your point across with a neighbor, a coworker, the server who messed up your dinner order, the customer service rep on the phone, the combative person on Facebook…?

Or maybe you’re always kind to the people outside of your home, but it’s a slippery slope with the people you live with and are supposed to love the most?

The bottom line is that being nasty gets YOU nowhere.

AND NASTY ISN’T GOING TO GET US ANYWHERE AS BELIEVERS RIGHT NOW IN OUR NATION AND IN THIS CULTURE.

What WILL get us somewhere?

What will change things?

Is there ever a time you should be nasty?

I answer all of these questions and more in my brand new book, Nasty Gets Us Nowhere . But let me share this:

For us to see real change in our world, we MUST heal our fractures and unite as women and men succeeding together for the kingdom of God.

We are living in the hour in which God desires to pour out His Spirit on all the earth, through His sons and daughters, but it won’t happen unless women and men under His voice are unified for one purpose.

We can’t fulfill our God-ordained destiny without working together, and we MUST start in our marriages and families or we will never be able to impact our nation.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

Friend, people are flawed and imperfect, but treating each other with nastiness is never the answer.

I know it’s been really easy, with everything going on in the world, to get caught up in emotions and to easily MAGNIFY and emphasize the failures and shortcomings of others.

But nasty has gotten us nowhere. It’s only resulted in even more stress, confusion, and brokenness. We have to stop being nasty before we destroy everything.

We CAN succeed together … and much of our happiness depends on it. Working together won’t always be easy, but I believe with the grace of God backing you, it is possible!

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Marriage, and other relationships, don’t have to be hard. Drenda's brand new book, Nasty Gets Us Nowhere , promises to be one of the most thought-provoking books of the year. Learn how you can succeed with the men and women in your life! Get your copy here.

5 Quick and Simple Tips to Get Out of Debt

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 21:33:12 GMT

When Drenda and I started our company many years ago, we decided to give people a simple outline of the things they would need to do to get out of debt.

With some time, effort, and thought, we eventually condensed our advice down to five basic, simple tips people need to master to change their financial future.

They’ve worked for others, and they will work for you.

#1 - Seek first the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:33 tells us that if we seek His Kingdom first, “all of these things will be given to you, as well.” If we take the time to see knowledge regarding His Kingdom and how it works, then we can access it and walk in it.

For your life to change financially, you must take the time to study, write down, dissect, and understand the function of the laws that govern the Kingdom of God, specifically in the area of finances.

#2 - Stop using debt.

It sounds simple, but this is the first thing God taught me in prayer on the pivotal day I finally came to the end of myself. It was the day God said, Gary, you trust in debt more than you trust in My Kingdom .

It was painful to hear, but it was true.

The debt system is one almost all of us were raised in, so it’s naturally the one we tend to trust in the most to meet our needs, especially when the going gets tough. But to walk in God’s system, we must turn away from that old system.

Set a budget.
Live below your income level.
Set goals for saving.
Don’t make impulsive purchases.

#3 – Cut off debt options.

You must get drastic with steps to protect yourself from ever being forced or tempted to use debt again. Acknowledge that you can’t trust yourself in the early days of your decision to turn away from debt.

Cancel the credit lines. Cut up the credit cards. Don’t give yourself any room for error.

#4 – Give.

Consistently through the New Testament, we see Jesus teaching about giving. Paul did so as well.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 we read: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

See, giving is the doorway that gives God the opening to bless you with opportunities, direction, concepts, and ideas that will propel your life financially.

View the tithe as a fence. If you had a garden, and you had animals that would likely eat your produce, you would put up a fence. In a similar way, the tithe, as the Bible tells us, opens the windows of Heaven and sets a guard around your financial life. But the fence doesn’t grow anything itself. That’s where offerings come in. Putting tithes and offerings into place allows God to bless the work of your hands.

#5 – Write your plan.

Having a written plan that you can frequently refer back to, take direction from, and find comfort in will help you gain confidence that financial freedom is possible for you.

A written plan will help you stay on track when life’s pressures and temptations attempt to distract you.

Above all remember that you CAN be free.

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You can get more information about how to fix YOUR money thing in Gary’s book, Fixing the Money Thing: A Practical Guide to Financial Success .

What Do You See for the Rest of Your 2020?

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 18:09:10 GMT

Partial paralysis.

An accident during his birth had severed a nerve and left the lower left side of his face (including parts of his lip, tongue, and chin) paralyzed. He was left with a permanent snarling look and slurred speech.

He was bullied as a child, and at 15, he was told his brain was “dormant.”

After being told his mind was no good, he decided to focus on his body and started pursuing bodybuilding. Then he decided to pursue an acting career, with little success.

“When I would try to get jobs in commercials, the director would go, ‘What are you saying; what language is that?’” he said. But he wasn’t speaking a foreign language.

Years later, after taking as many steps backward as he had forward, things finally changed.

After watching a highly anticipated boxing match in 1975, he went home and wrote a script for a movie.

He attempted to sell the script to multiple studios, with the intention of playing the lead role himself. In fact, he refused to sell unless he played the lead character; and eventually, after a substantial budget cut to compromise, it was agreed he could be the star.

That film is now considered to be one of the greatest sports films ever made.

That “guy” I’m talking about is Sylvester Stallone, and that film is Rocky .

Rocky gained Sylvester Stallone worldwide fame, and the Rocky film series has grossed more than $1.7 billion dollars at the worldwide box office.

What does his story have to do with YOU, especially right now?

His story illustrates something very important you really need to get right, friend:

Your VISION determines your outcome.

It’s mid-July. It’s been a completely crazy year.

If you’re like most people, you probably set some goals at the beginning of this year, wrote out some New Year’s resolutions, or made a list of things you wanted to get accomplished in 2020.

That’s all great. Goals and desires are good.

But goals and desires aren’t the same as vision.

We get it mixed up sometimes. We think vision is the same as goal setting. But it’s not.

Vision is what you actually SEE .

So you may have a goal or a desire to lose weight, but do you actually SEE yourself at your goal weight? Have you been envisioning yourself fitting into that smaller size, getting exercise, eating healthier, or doing what it will take for that goal to actually happen?

Or maybe you have a goal or a desire to be self-employed. Do you actually SEE yourself owning your own business, cashing the checks, making your own schedule, and celebrating your wins?

Sylvester Stallone SAW himself as the lead in Rocky.

His vision determined his outcome.

What about you? What do you see for the rest of this year? Are you having trouble envisioning much of anything for the rest of 2020?

If so, it’s time to change that.

Reactivate the vision you had for this year. It’s not too late.

What do you want the rest of your year to look like?

Do you want to be financially free? To get organized? To learn a new skill or hobby? To quit a bad habit? To travel more? To become a morning person?

Friend, whatever it is, YOU MUST SEE IT.

Your vision determines your outcome.

You have to know how to activate your vision in order to get things done and see real change come to pass in your life.

I should know. I had to learn this myself (again) not too long ago.

Earlier this year, I shared how, for 18 YEARS , I didn’t believe the financial services company Drenda and I had started before we began pastoring could be in the top 10 for production.

Sure, before we pastored, our business had been ranked number one out of the 5,000+ offices that offered the same types of services worldwide. But then we started the church, and the business went on the back burner. It’s how I thought it had to be.

It wasn’t until God asked me why I wasn’t onstage at a convention getting recognized and making His name known that my vision for our company shifted.

Suddenly, I could SEE our company being in the top 10 with God’s help. I could SEE myself on that stage making His name known.

Just like Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can't , you're right,” when I couldn’t envision our company in the top 10, I was right.

And when I started envisioning our company in the top 10, I was right.

In both cases, my vision determined my outcome.

Friend, your vision will ALWAYS determine your outcome.

For years, the only vision I had for my life was ruin , and that was the outcome I was getting.

You’ve probably heard at least parts of our backstory, but many years ago, Drenda and I lived in downright poverty. Yes, we were believers, and we had a great family life. We enjoyed our marriage and our family, but we were struggling. Really struggling.

We went to a church that taught us God loves us and that He has great things planned for our lives, but we weren’t living it. We couldn’t SEE it. We were barely surviving .

Back then, the only vision I seemed to have was for finding used stuff that could still be used and for selling stuff at pawnshops to try to get money for a tank of gas or to pay a bill collector .

I couldn’t SEE getting a new house even though the little, 1800s farmhouse our family of seven lived in had seen better days. Not only did we have weeds growing through the broken windows, but also it seemed we were living in a house that already belonged to families of spiders and bees. In fact, there were so many wasps and yellow jackets coming into that house that we would have to pull our sheets down on our beds at night and check for them!

Many times, when we were getting dressed for church, we would hear a scream because somebody would put their arm in a sleeve or a jacket, and there’d be bees in there! Our kids got stung all of the time!

I couldn’t SEE getting new cars either, even though the two we had had also definitely seen better days. They each had more than 200,000 miles on them, the floorboards in both of them were rusting out, and they were beat up and bent.

To say we lived under intense financial pressure would be an understatement. Not only did we owe on our broken-down farmhouse and two rusted-out, bent up, high mileage cars, but we also had ten maxed out credit cards, three finance company loans at interest rates of 28%, more than $13,000 owed in back taxes, more than $26,000 owed to relatives, and judgments and liens filed against us.

I remember one specific time I had to mail an envelope. We had borrowed money from anybody and everybody we could. We had exhausted all of our options. In fact, we owed money to nearly anyone you could imagine—hospitals, dry cleaners—everyone. So I had a letter I needed to mail, but I couldn’t even afford the stamp .

I called my dad to ask if he had pocket change he could give me to buy a stamp.

A stamp , friend. A stamp .

And as if calling him for that small amount wasn’t humiliating enough, what he asked me in response made for one of the lowest moments of my life.

He said, “Do I have to breathe for you too?”

For nine years we lived like that. Fixing our situation looked impossible.

I couldn’t SEE us getting ahead financially, let alone living FREE financially.

Until I finally reached the end of my rope, and God said, Take the time to learn how My Kingdom operates.

With those words, we suddenly had hope for our future. We had vision .

Suddenly, we could SEE ourselves living free financially.

Of course, there’s much more to our story, but our lives drastically changed. We went from financial ruin to being completely debt free over the next two and a half years.

Our NEW vision determined our NEW outcome.

Friend, that’s what we want for you.

YOU CAN ACTIVATE YOUR VISION, get things done, and STILL see real change in your life THIS YEAR, despite all we’ve been through.

It’s not too late.

What do you see for the rest of YOUR 2020?

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IT’S NOT TOO LATE for your 2020! Activate your vision and see change in your life this year!

Let us help! Click here to get your Your Vision Determines Your Outcome 5-CD mentorship set and Better Than You Think book now!

What Happens When You Silence Your Conscience

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 20:16:35 GMT

I’m sure you’ve heard it.

It may have been a really long time since you heard it, but I’m sure you’ve heard it.

That little voice in your head...

The one that told you not to take the pens home from work that one day...

…not to tell that lie...

…to change the channel...

…to stop flirting with that person...

...to speak up and stop the dirty joke, the gossip, or the racist comment...

...to pray for the woman in the grocery store...

That was God.

See, most people think God speaks in a big, booming, thunderous voice like Hollywood portrays in the movies.

But God really speaks in small whispers.

When I was in college, I didn’t like to write. College is a great place to be if you don’t like to write.

I had an assignment due for a class that, conveniently, my roommate had had the semester before me.

Do you see where this is going?

I copied part of his assignment from the previous semester without him knowing it. Yes, I know, it's bad. There I was called to that university because I was supposed to preach. Aren’t you glad I wasn’t preaching yet?

So, there I was. I had copied. I had cheated. And, man, was I stressed out about it. I couldn’t sleep. I was miserable. I knew I had sinned. I woke my roommate up and told him what I had done. Honestly, he didn’t even care.

But I did. I had the voice on the inside reminding me of what I had done.

You have it too. It’s called your conscience .

Your conscience isn't a little mini-angel version of you that stands on your shoulder and whispers in your ear.

Hollywood uses the images of a little devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, but it’s way more serious than that.

Your conscience is the inner voice of God within you. It exposes the darkness. It urges you to obey Truth and turn from evil.

The word con-science means “to know with” or “to have knowledge.” One author calls it the hidden part of the human soul which most reflects God, that acts as the moral judge within people’s hearts. The conscience is based on knowledge and functions off the highest standard it knows.

God made you. Your conscience is His imprint. It’s His voice.

He’s placed it in each of us. But often, we silence it.

We choose to ignore the still, small voice.

We choose to still do that thing He tells us not to do, say the thing He told us not to say, not speak up when He told us to, not pray for the person

We stuff the voice down, and it gets quieter and easier to ignore.

Don't be deceived: “Just once won’t hurt” and "It's not a big deal" are usually sin’s deceptions.

You believe you’re in charge, and that you can stop at anytime. But “just once” can quickly turn into "way too often."

And before you know it, you’re somewhere, and someone , you didn't expect to be.

Like setting out for Italy without a compass or a map and ending up in Iceland, enough “just onces” or "it's not a big deals"—enough silencing your conscience—and you'll end up at a place you never planned to go.

That’s a sobering thought, but it’s meant to positive. Think of what you and God can do together! Don’t silence His voice in you. Thank Him for it, and listen .

You Should Be Trying to Win People, Not Debates

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 22:01:22 GMT

This blog was originally shared in our exclusive Team Revolution Partnership articles, but I went ahead and shared it as a special feature around the holidays this past year, just to remind us what we're really here for as we got together with family and friends who we may not always see eye-to-eye with.

Now, in light of all that is happening in our world, we need to be reminded of this more than ever.

Enjoy this special guest post from my friend, Dave Anderson.

You're here for the people.

In this emotionally charged age of liberal versus conservative; atheist versus believer, or pro-this versus anti-that, it’s easy to get so caught up in rhetoric, invective, and the belief that he who talks the loudest and longest wins the debate that you can lose sight of the what I believe is a more relevant objective than winning the argument; winning the person.

And I’m not just referring to the person with whom you’re having differences but also winning those who witness the exchange.

This is why, when watching a news show where there are “experts” on both sides of an issue interrupting one another— shouting out zingers and elevating a normal speaking tone to a series of hysterical shrieks—I change the channel so that whatever intelligence I have left isn’t insulted further.

To be a more effective proponent for causes you are passionate about when you come face-to-face with someone who believes otherwise, I’d like to share some wisdom gleaned from the book Hell? Yes! by Dr. Robert Jeffress.

Influencing vs. silencing

Remember that the goal is to keep the dialogue going with the other person, not to shut him or her down.

People with strong personalities and rhetorical ability think that if they can silence their opponents they’ve won the argument. But any married person knows that’s not the case. If you’re having a disagreement with your spouse, it’s easy through intimidation or insult to cause them to disengage from the discussion. But you haven’t persuaded your spouse of anything, except that you’re a jerk.

For too many people, silencing, rather than influencing has been a primary tactic when discussing sensitive issues like abortion, politics, religion, and the like.

But no one is really heard or understood. The debate diminishes into cheap shots and name calling and the lines separating two sides become a gulf.

Take steps to win the person.

1. Engage with those who hold opposing points of view.

This was a key principle Jesus Christ used for winning people instead of just winning arguments. Jesus went to some places where he was not particularly popular, because to “catch fish” He had to go where the fish were. His goal was not isolation but influence .

2. Listen to other people’s stories.

The way to influence others is not by cornering them and then dumping your own “stuff” on them. Rather than unload your spiritual or political dump truck of arguments and answers to unasked questions, carefully listen to the other person you’re trying to influence. It is only after they feel understood that they’ll be willing to understand .

3. Let your walk speak louder than your talk.

A debater’s goal is to win the argument . A disciple’s goal is to win the person .

Far too many people who share my own Christian faith have learned that they can win a war of words but still lose the war over someone’s soul by being unnecessarily harsh and judgmental. Many non-Christians have rejected the Gospel not because of the offense of the Gospel, but because of the offensiveness of Christians .

Arthur Burns was a Washington power broker who served in prominent governmental positions from the 1960’s through the 1980’s. He was a counselor and confidant to a number of U.S. presidents during his career. Arthur Burns was also Jewish.

That is why his regular attendance at a weekly Bible study and prayer meeting at the White House in the 1970’s was a surprise to many. Although he was warmly welcomed, different members of the group who took turns leading the meetings never called on him to pray.

One week, however, a newcomer leading the group asked Arthur Burns to close in prayer. The other members shot nervous glances at one another, wondering how Burns would respond to this awkward situation. Burns never hesitated. Instead, he joined hands with the others in the group, bowed his head, and prayed:

The Samaritan woman at the well was ultimately drawn to a Person, not to a dogma. When she ran into the city to tell people what had happened to her, she did not shout, “Come and listen to these ideas that have change my mind”, but “Come see a Man who has changed my life!”

Winning an argument is a tactic. Winning the person is a strategy.

Tactics win battles . Strategies win wars .

How Are You Handling This Important Responsibility?

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 01:52:11 GMT

Get ready. This statement might shock you:

God is limited to where WE go.

He can't go any farther than where WE—the Body of Christ—go.

So if your body can’t do the job it’s supposed to do, God can’t do what He wants to do. This is where we have to get a proper perspective. We have to know what and who we really are.

First Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that we’re to honor God with them.

That means that our bodies carry the presence, the authority, and the nature of God wherever we go.

You've probably read (or heard someone preach)—that your body is a temple—before, but what do you do with that info?

I mean, I'm sure you realize your body is important, but do you think about your body as honoring God ? Do you think of your body in terms of worship ?

Most people think worship is about music and goose bumps. But if you want to worship God you honor Him and do what He says, with everything .

So what does it look like to worship God with your body?

Well, Ephesians 5 tells us that we are to respect our physical bodies as Christ respected the Church. He made the body of Christ holy. Your physical body is holy unto God. It is separated and consecrated.

Imagine that you’re looking at the most beautiful building you've ever seen—that’s how God looks at YOU. He bought you with the blood of Jesus. There is no one like you on the earth. He made you radiant. Before you were born again, you were alive, but you weren’t alive in Him. When you were born again, you became radiant. And then, holy and blameless.

We are to keep our bodies holy and blameless. That is our act of worship to Him—keeping ourselves holy and blameless.

Note: It doesn’t matter if you agree with that or not. That’s what the Bible says.

So we see that we have an important responsibility to God to handle our bodies properly. We see that our bodies are extremely important to God.

The enemy hates you, and your body.

So, I’m sure you can imagine why the devil hates the body so much. In fact, he wants to destroy your body. He wants to dishonor it. He wants you to misuse your body. He hates that you're holy and blameless in God's eyes. He wants to make you filthy. He wants you to hate yourself and your features; to think your body is ugly or worthless; he wants you to devalue yourself. He wants you to defile your body.

Because when you defile your body, you give Satan legal access to your life.

Norville Hayes tells a story about two parents who called him because their son was in a trance. Something had happened to him. He was away at college and he had fallen into this trance and no one could get him out. When Norville arrived, he found out that this young man had streaked across the campus naked, and at the end of the run he had basically became a zombie. Norville began to pray for him. He prayed for eight hours . At the eighth hour, green foam began to come out of that young man’s mouth, and he finally came out of the trance. It sounds like a simple prank, streaking across campus naked, but that young man had defiled his temple and given Satan legal access to his life.

Now the culture will help you with this. They’ll tell you that sexual sin is the norm. They’ll try to get you to believe that mutilation is trendy. They’ll tell you it’s just fun and games to run across campus naked. But you need to be aware.

The culture degrades the body.

We need to be modest. We’re the temple of God. Only our spouses should see us without our clothes on. We need to teach our young people to dress modestly because the world definitely doesn’t teach it.

I know I’m stepping on toes here, but I’m going to take it one step further. Don't decorate your body with anything you might wish you could change later in life. You need to be wary of those things. Count the cost. Be careful. Your body is God’s. Keep a proper perspective. Don’t just buy into the culture and do what seems cool at the moment.

I’m not telling you any of this stuff to make you feel condemned.

There is no condemnation here.

We all fight this in some way. That’s why one of the fruits of the spirit is self-control. The spirit of God will help you—all you have to do is bring it to him. Maybe you don’t think you have the strength. Maybe you’ve been doing the same things for years and you don’t know how to stop it. Maybe you have a chronic habit. Something is out of whack.

Maybe the Holy Spirit has been dealing with you about it and you’ve been neglecting it.

Ask God to help you. Above all else His desire is to prosper you and be in health.

I want to see you healthy, too. We’re known for teaching you to prosper, but you can’t do that if you’re not healthy. Yes, God is a healer, but He made your body to heal itself and you can avoid a lot of things if you’ll take care of it the way you should.

I know all about that. I've been overweight before. I haven't taken care of myself in the past. I've run on too little sleep. I've enjoyed my share of good Chinese food buffets, root beer floats, and White Castle burgers. I've gotten out of whack.

And when I have trouble, or I get out of balance, I ask God to help me. I know that with God I can do anything, but I have to give my life and my body to Him.

So do you.

Remember that your body is a member of Christ Himself. Stop doing anything with your body that gives Satan access to your life. Take this important responsibility seriously.

See your body as a temple.

Filter life through that, and make the changes you need to make.

A few quick tips to help you:

Try fixing your lifestyle before you try quick fixes.
Find balance in every area of your life.
If you smoke, stop.
Think about what you’re eating and when you’re eating it.
Make changes to your diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables.
Get out there and get moving. Make exercise a way that you worship God.
Try to cook at home as much as possible. Home cooked meals have less preservatives and less harmful ingredients.
Eat regularly during the day. Your body is an engine that requires fuel. You need to fuel your body. Make sure that you’re eating small meals during the day.
Stop focusing on your weight and focus on your temple. When you are doing healthy things for your temple, you’ll see the results.

It’s NEVER too late to make changes.
You’re in charge. No one has the authority over your body but you.

Did you miss any part of the LIVE WHOLE! series? Download your copy of the life changing 10-part series here now.

No One is Exempt. Be Quick About This.

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:19:26 GMT

It was Father’s Day, and I was frustrated.

We were visiting Drenda’s parents and going to church with them. We were running behind, and my son Tom, who was about four-years-old at the time, couldn’t find his shoes.

Not again. We don’t have time for this.

Tom was always losing his shoes. It was the last straw. A four-year-old should know better, right?

So, I talked to Tom, and I was harsh. I didn’t use bad language, but I did say things like I can’t believe you always do this , and why can’t you just....

He cried.

My words and actions made Tom cry. He cried hard .

His big sister found his shoes, and we loaded into our van to get to church. Tom was in the backseat still crying. At the time, I remember thinking it was good for him. He needed to learn a lesson.

So, he went in to the kids area at church still crying, and I went in to the adult area without us saying a word to each other.

Remember, it was Father's Day?

Man, the Holy Spirit completely nailed me as the pastor read from God’s Word and shared what it meant to be a good father. The Holy Spirit whispered to me, Gary, you have a problem. You have to deal with this.

Then, I was the one crying. And I was the first one at the altar. I knew I needed help. I knew I needed God to teach me how to be a good father.

Service ended, and we were waiting for the children to be released. I spotted Tom right away. He was jumping up and down in the crowd of kids.

He was looking for me.

When he spotted me, his little face just lit up, and he ran directly to me and hugged my leg and started crying again.

Now, this is where I always fall apart when I tell this story. Because even after all of these years, it’s still a painful reminder of the way I was.

Tom looked up at me and said, “Daddy, I’m sorry I lost my shoe.”

The little guy had sat through the whole church service thinking there was something wrong with him ; that his daddy was mad at him; that he can never get things right. I had made him feel condemned because he misplaced his shoes.

I can’t even find my keys a lot of days and I made a four-year-old feel condemned.

Then, Tom showed me what was in his little hand.

The little guy had drawn me a Father’s Day picture to try to make me happy, to try to make me happy with him .

I was so wrong.

I picked Tom up and hugged him and told him, “No, Tom. Your daddy is wrong. I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?”

This lesson I learned the hard way—ask for forgiveness and forgive—goes hand-in-hand with Lesson #4 from 6 Things I Learned the Hard Way , “You can’t do it alone.” Because people get on each other’s nerves. We don’t see eye-to-eye. We talk too much. We get things wrong. We do things that offend each other.

We must be quick to ask for forgiveness and quick to forgive.

Why?

Jesus instructed us in Mark 11:22-25 to:

Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Unforgiveness stops the Kingdom of God in your life. That alone should prevent forgiving others from ever being optional for you.

In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'

The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.

Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'

In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

You and I are represented by the servant who had all of his debt forgiven.

And, just like that guy, we have absolutely no excuse not to forgive others after all that we’ve been forgiven for.

If we don’t forgive, we separate ourselves from God and give Satan an advantage over us (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).

And if stopping the Kingdom from advancing in your life, separating yourself from God, and giving the enemy an advantage over you aren’t enough to make you go around forgiving everyone for everything, you should also know that unforgiveness is poison . It will eat at you from the inside out like a spiritual cancer. It will affect your health and every other relationship in your life whether you intend it to or not.

It’s life and death.

You must deal with it on both sides. Ephesians 4:26-27 says not to let the sun go down on your anger or give the devil any such foothold or opportunity.

Say you’re sorry to those you’ve hurt or offended, and forgive others quickly when you’ve been hurt or offended, whether they’ve said they were sorry or not.

Jesus told us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) And He didn’t mean financial debts.

Romans 13:8-10 says,

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

We’re expected to love others. There are multiple Scriptures that also tell us to feed our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless them that curse us, and do good to those who mistreat us. Why? Because if you can feed someone and do good toward them, it demonstrates that you have no unforgiveness toward them.

See, Satan doesn’t have to tempt you to murder someone or steal. He just has to get you offended and walking in unforgiveness. Then, he has you outside of love and outside of God’s legal jurisdiction. That’s why 1 Peter 3 says that husbands and wives need to walk in love with each other and not to let unforgiveness hinder their prayers.

We have the potential to pick up an offense every single day, multiple times a day —in traffic, with our family and friends, at our jobs, in line at the post office. In fact, offense is the most effective way the enemy pulls people out of the Kingdom of God’s legal jurisdiction. And he’s not going to stop trying. He’ll keep using people to try to get you walking in unforgiveness, and he’ll use you to offend others. No one is exempt. He even tried it with Jesus.

Don’t give in.

Ask God to help you overlook offenses and be quick to ask for forgiveness and forgive.

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Excerpted from Gary's book 6 Things I Learned the Hard Way , a small book guaranteed to make a big impact on your life.

11 Tips to Increase Hope and Fight Depression

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 18:53:22 GMT

Depression drains you mentally, spiritually, and physically. Even energetic people who were once full of hope and drive can have trouble getting out of bed when suffering with depression.

More than 38 million adults in the United Stated have experienced depression at some point during their life and women are twice as likely to experience it.

While overcoming depression isn’t quick or easy, it’s not impossible.

Here are 11 simple steps you can take to start increasing hope and fighting back against depression:

1. Say what God says about you.

Find Scriptures that you can repeat throughout the day. Say them out loud. Write positive affirmations from God’s Word on paper and post them throughout your home in places you will look often.

2. Set the stage.

Keep background music on in your home that sets the stage for a peace-filled and positive atmosphere. Try eliminating television programs for a few weeks and introducing them one at a time to truly gauge your mood after watching them.

3. Watch your thinking!

Pay VERY CLOSE attention to the times that you tend to dwell on the negatives in your life — both real or imagined — and stop them in their tracks. Replace those thoughts by speaking what God says about you (tip #1). It will take work and persistence, but you can stop rehearsing the negatives.

4. Look ahead.

Stop looking at your past and let go of regrets. Move forward by writing down a list of dreams you have for your future.

5. Do something new.

Pick up a new hobby. Volunteer. Change your routine. Challenge yourself with something you never thought you could do or something you always wanted to do.

6. Get outside.

Make sure you’re seeing daylight for at least 30 minutes a day (sunlight or a light made for imitating the effects of sunlight.)

7. Exercise.

Getting in 30 minutes of cardio activity at least three times a week means those “runner’s high” endorphins get released regularly and help you work through and release stress. You don’t have to run a marathon to feel results. Walking works wonders! But be sure to get your doctor’s approval before starting an exercise program.

8. Eat right.

The importance of what you're putting in your body can't be underestimated. Pay attention to what you're eating and what foods you might be turning to for comfort. Start a good multivitamin and avoid overly processed foods and added sugars. Fill your diet with complex carbohydrates (whole grains), fish, lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.

9. Sleep.

Everyone knows how critical a good night's sleep is to our well-being. Do whatever you need to do to make sure you're getting enough good sleep. Change your sleep routine so that it’s more conducive to a good night’s rest. Turn your lights down and try to go to bed at the same time every night. Remember, a tired body and quiet mind are the requirements for quality sleep. Turn the television off and engage in calming, quiet activities like reading, taking a warm bath, etc. Don’t work late or do other stressful activities that cause your mind to race, and avoid caffeine, and alcohol too close to bedtime.

10. Laugh.

The Bible says a merry heart does well like medicine. Figure out what it is that makes you laugh and take a daily dose.

11. Spend time with people you enjoy.

Spend FACE time, not Facebook time, with close friends and family, and just have some fun! You don’t have to engage in heavy conversations about everything that is going on in the world or even your personal plight. Keep it simple and go to dinner, a movie, a sporting event, or just grab a cup of coffee together. Being with other people helps diminish feelings of isolation. Do this regularly.

Of course, this list isn’t comprehensive, and you may find that these tips aren’t getting you to the place that you really want, or need, to be.

If you find that your depression is getting worse, please seek professional help.

Even if you’re receiving professional help, these tips can be part of your treatment plan, speeding your recovery and preventing depression from returning.

Justice: Have You Demanded It In Your Own Life?

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT

It has been an incredibly difficult last few weeks in our nation.

As human beings, we get upset at injustice. If you’re like most people, something in you rises up when you see something unfair, or unjust, or you see someone hurt by someone else.

Movies and television play on that. Just think about how many movies or television shows you’ve watched in the last six months that were about good vs. evil, or about justice being served.

It’s a natural instinct to want to see justice served. Romans 2:14-15 says tells us the law is written on our hearts and our consciences and thoughts bear witness.

We were created in the image of God and have a natural desire for justice.

We want and need to see justice in our nation right now.

But you should also be demanding justice in your own life.

Because your victory in this life will be determined by your understanding of justice and how to enforce it.

You’ve probably heard me talk about how I used to be sick and on antidepressants. I fought fear every day , so much so that it caused paralysis in my body.

What you might not know is that, as God began to deal with me as I received my healing, God told me not to pay attention to my emotions or feelings… because healing was a legal matter.

Now, I always talk about being a “spiritual scientist,” because I want to know everything I can about God and His Kingdom. So, of course, when God said my healing was a legal matter, I had to find out exactly what that meant.

What I discovered was life changing— God operates by justice, and justice had already been served on my behalf.

It’s like this: imagine that you’re sitting in the defendant’s chair in a court of law. Since the Bible tells us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren, picture him sitting on the other side of the courtroom as the plaintiff.

Do you have the image in your mind?

Now, imagine Satan telling the judge over and over again that you belong to him.

Only he’s wrong.

Because, as a child of God, you have someone that stepped in on your behalf and paid the price for you to walk away, FREE AND CLEAR, from Satan and ALL of his taunting and tactics.

That someone was Jesus.

Jesus was already judged by The Law and pronounced innocent. He didn’t sin. In fact, in Acts 8:32 we read that Jesus was deprived of justice.

Jesus—the only one who wasn’t guilty—was deprived of justice and crucified as guilty… FOR US.

Jesus was the only man on the face of the earth that could give God His legality back in the earth realm after Adam gave it away to Satan. See, God had crowned Adam with glory and honor, and Adam ruled in the earth realm under delegated authority. But when he sinned, he gave his crown of authority away to Satan.

But God sent Jesus to restore His delegated authority, and because of His death we were saved.

Justice demands an answer. Jesus IS the answer.

As believers, justice has already been served on OUR behalf. Religion teaches you that you can keep praying and begging and hoping something will change. But that’s not the way it works.

1 John 5:14-15 says, “And this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”

See the phrase “hears us”? It isn’t referring to God hearing your voice. It’s referring to a legal hearing. So, when you ask something of God, He immediately takes the case and begins to enforce His justice.

As far as God is concerned, whatever you might be dealing with is a legal matter that was already settled 2,000 years ago in a spiritual court of law.

So, when I received my healing, it didn’t matter how I felt or what I saw.

I had to simply agree with what Heaven said and declare it. I was already healed.

And that wasn’t all.

This revelation was life changing for Drenda and I on our journey to financial freedom as well.

In fact, once we began understanding justice and how to enforce it, we started experiencing victories in every area of our lives.

Not only did my body respond to the revelation that we have legal, enforceable rights as believers, but our finances responded to it. We finally understood that it didn’t matter how long we prayed or when we felt like we had received; we received God’s promises based on spiritual law.

The same goes for you.

Your victories in your marriage, your family, your finances, your business, your faith, your health—in EVERY area of your life—will be determined by your understanding of justice and how to enforce it.

See, you don’t have to just survive life.

You don’t have to ask God to do things for you or beg Him for anything that has already been given to you. He’s given you delegated authority.
You have the same authority that Jesus demonstrated.

Psalms 89 tells us that justice and righteousness are the foundation of God’s throne. You need to know these scriptures so that you know how to defend yourself with spiritual law.

James tells us that every good and perfect gift is from above.

Romans 1:20 tells us that God doesn’t change; His laws do not change.

You don’t have to put up with dysfunction, chaos, stress, or fear. You just need to know how to enact justice and enforce your rights as a believer.

I’ve heard people say, “I wouldn’t trade what I went through.” But I don’t get that. Why would anyone want to go through stress, fear, sickness, or anything that isn’t what God promised?

I know I would trade the nine years of financial chaos, sickness, and stress I went through if only I had known then how the Kingdom of God operated!

Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”

You have legal rights in the Kingdom of God, and you need to know what those rights are and how you can enforce them—how you can stand on the promises of God and live in victory over the enemy.

No matter what problem you’re facing—in your marriage, in your family, in your finances, in your business, in your body— you can be confident in your legal right that justice will be served on your behalf as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

You don't have to beg and cry to convince God.

Paul teaches us in Ephesians 6:10-13 what we need to do:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground , and after you have done everything, to stand .

Take your legal stance friend. Administer God's justice in the earth realm, and watch the enemy move.

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God is the God of Justice and His Kingdom is one of laws that do NOT change. If you're putting up with things you don't have to like dysfunction, chaos, unrighteousness, and fear its because you don't know who you really are and the authority you have in this life.

You have a legal right for justice to be served on your behalf. You can stand on the promises of God, justify yourself, and overcome the enemy.

Download Gary's life-changing series, The Cry for Justice , NOW and learn how the Kingdom of God operates and how to enforce justice and see victory in your life!

Do You Know the Truth?

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 17:49:08 GMT

They didn’t know the water they had been drinking, bathing in, and cooking with was packed with chemicals and carcinogens.

But then the symptoms started to surface.

You’ve probably heard at least one news story about contaminated water.

A million marines and sailors and their families exposed to carcinogens after the military allegedly dumped fuel and cleaning agents near two drinking wells in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from the 1950s through the 1980s.
So many people sick and dying in Hinkley, California that the small town is now nearly nonexistent.
More than 400,000 residents from the greater Milwaukee area infected and 100 people dead after bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illnesses invaded the water supply—making it the largest documented waterborne disease outbreak in U.S. history.

Where am I going with this?

(Stick with me. There is a really good spiritual point coming.)

Last year, during weekend services at Faith Life Church, I asked for a volunteer to help me out with an illustration—someone who would like to make a quick $20.

I asked one woman who had raised her hand to come up front, where I opened a brand new bottle of water and asked her to take a drink. She did.

Then, I told her I was going to add something to her bottle of water—a sample of water from a dirty pond behind our church building.

The water was nasty!

Then I asked her to drink it.

Of course, she refused.

And, of course, I still gave her the $20.

The point was made though— no one wants to knowingly drink contaminated water.

But without knowing it, many people are.

Friend, here’s where I stop talking about water contamination and start talking about the things that might be contaminating your soul, your mind, your body—your LIFE.

Because the culture is out to get you—to contaminate you—“to make you impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance.”

Satan is out to get you—to contaminate you. He is set on killing, stealing, and destroying (John 10:10).

Are you unknowingly “drinking the water?”

I love this illustration our son, Tim, once gave using the game of Jenga®.

Have you ever played it? Basically, you have a big tower of blocks that’s been stacked in opposite directions to allow pieces to be poked at and pulled out one by one without having the tower collapse. Only, you have to stack the blocks you’ve pulled out on top of the tower, which means the block tower gets more and more unstable as the game goes on, because it’s getting taller and balancing on less and less stable blocks.

At some point during the game, the tower collapses.

Some of us are building our lives like that. We think we’re building this strong tower day after day and year after year.

But Luke 22:31 tells us that Satan desires to sift all of us as wheat. Too often, we forget we’re in a spiritual battle, and we don’t take the spiritual adversary we have seriously. We’ve seen too many TV shows and cartoons all of our lives that downplay the enemy to just some creepy guy with horns and a red cape. But Satan is alive and demons are real, and they don’t want to see you prosper and live the destiny God has for you.

Satan wants you to fail. So he’s always looking for loose blocks to poke and pull at—those little areas of your life that aren’t so sturdy and stable; those little areas that are contaminated—in his effort to make your whole tower collapse.

And he knows he doesn’t have to come at your tower of blocks with a full-on wrecking ball. That’s why the Bible tells us to watch out for the little foxes.

“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” – Song of Solomon 2:15

Here’s the thing: Satan uses a lot of little foxes, a lot of tactics, to try to trick us out of our dominion. He knows that faith—your heart being in agreement with heaven—is the currency of the Kingdom. And he knows that if your heart holds onto the Word, it’s going to produce. He also knows that it’s imperishable and it’s always going to produce after its own kind. Guess what? He doesn’t like that. He claims this place as his. So, he has tactics he uses to get you to agree with him—to contaminate your life with what he says instead of what God says.

And, he’s pretty sly. He takes a little bit of the principle of God, a little bit of the Word of God, and twists it. He uses it to deceive, to contaminate. But, if we know the truth, we can discern for ourselves.

But if you don’t know the truth, as Satan works on knocking out loose block after loose block, there are more openings in your tower, more places for him to get a foothold, more opportunities for him to make the whole structure—your whole life—more rickety and ready for collapse.

And that’s the point.

Satan is after your fruitfulness. He’s after your assignment. He’s after your purpose. He doesn’t want you to be useful to the Kingdom of God. He wants to prevent you from being a demonstration of the Kingdom of God to other people.

So he keeps going after your heart.

Just drink this little bit of contaminated water. It won’t hurt you.

Our culture, the earth curse system, is full of perverse ideas that they say won’t harm you.

That’s a lie.

What you think about, what you feed yourself, and what you look at all put images into your heart, for good or for bad. If you’re contaminating your heart, it’s going to be drawn away and produce what you’re putting in it.

You have to CHOOSE to turn your ears to the Word of God and CHOOSE to guard your heart, or you’ll begin to buy into the lies that the enemy and our culture are constantly screaming at us.

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What you think about, what you feed yourself, and what you look at all put images into your heart, for good or for bad. So, without realizing it, you might be contaminating not just your body, but your soul, your mind—your life.

You have to know the truth and know how to protect yourself.

Get your instant digital download one of Gary's most powerful, honest, and hard-hitting series, The Antidote: Finding the Cure to the Human Condition , now and learn the truth you must know so you can combat the lies of the enemy and the culture, protect yourself, and qualify for the success God has for you.

We Have a Real Problem

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 04:09:00 GMT

Have you ever seen this image?

PHOTOGRAPH BY EARTH SCIENCE & REMOTE SENSING UNITY, NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

Look closely.

Once a year, I share this image. It’s a night image from several years ago of the Korean Peninsula.

What do you see?

North Korea is almost completely dark compared to neighboring South Korea. In North Korea, the streets become too dark for people to walk at night. Lights aren’t on in homes, let alone televisions.

But South Korea has light. They have prosperity.

You can plainly see how drastic the difference is between the two.

Why?

Government.

Government will affect your life greater than anything else in the earth realm.

Government decides how you live and the benefits and opportunities you have.

Government ensures your freedom, or takes it from you.

And our culture wants us to stop talking about it. The enemy wants believers to stop talking about government, and he definitely wants us to STAY out of it.

And it’s working.

Think about it — how many times have you held back on sharing your opinion in just the last few months?

How many times have you bit your tongue at a family gathering, with a group of friends, or on social media?

That’s exactly what the enemy wants. He wants us to be too worried about upsetting an opinionated coworker, or an opposite-leaning family member, or all of the people that “like” us or follow us on social media, to speak up.

We have a real problem.

The fear of persecution is silencing The Church.

We’re politically correct or culturally correct. We’re afraid to speak up. We don’t want to talk about or give our opinions about politics, or religion, or who uses what bathroom, or say the name of Jesus, because we don’t want to cause trouble, or bring trouble on ourselves.

So, we’re putting up with everything.

We’ve been clapping our hands in worship, while Satan has been working behind the scenes to change our laws and enforce his legality and authority in the land.

We’ve become complacent. We’re being lulled to sleep by the low standards of the world. They’ve told us not to judge them and we’ve listened. And all the while, those that don’t want righteousness are continuing to take our freedoms.

And they will continue to take our freedoms until we have none .

If there were an army from another nation attacking one of our cities right now, we would all be mobilizing ourselves, preparing to fight a battle.

But what many don’t realize is that an army IS attacking our country right now—not a physical army, but one that is steadily and deceptively using our technology, and carefully placed people, to strip us of our freedoms little by little every day.

Oh, and the enemy has done a great job of keeping you silent. He wants you to be easy to get along with. He loves that you’re afraid to rock the boat—afraid of confrontations, and afraid of being persecuted.

But Matthew 5:10 says, “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

Whether you like it or not—whether you want to be or not—you are already in a battle.

This conflict is no different than other conflicts that have faced our nation.

It’s not too late to fight.

This isn’t about political parties or ideals. This is about right and wrong. This is about the standards set for us by the Word of God.

This is about valuing freedom, and the price that is paid for it, because true freedom is never free.

There is no freedom without responsibility. We must stand against everything that is against Christ. We must rise up for the souls of men and declare righteousness and be willing to engage conflict—even physical. We’re here right now for such a time as this.

Souls are at stake. Your freedoms are at stake. America is at stake.

So stop trying to be comfortable. Don’t say, “Whatever happens happens.”

No.

Know the facts, and SPEAK UP! Take a stand. Vote.

Don’t be afraid of being politically incorrect. Stop shying away from conflict so you can be liked. Embrace and honor the Word of God. Teach your children to stand for truth, righteousness, and honor. Be willing to intercede and fight the good fight.

Be bold and courageous. Don't let the threat of persecution silence you.

Jesus defended freedom and truth with His life.

Will you ?

Are You Losing Sight of Your Why? Do This.

Fri, 29 May 2020 18:51:19 GMT

I used to waste a lot of time trying to change people instead of holding out the life-giving Word of God and letting people choose change for themselves.

I thought I could change people and keep them from making bad decisions. I would give everything I had—pouring out all of my energy and time to help someone—and when they chose to not follow God, I would face overwhelming discouragement.

I felt so ineffective as a believer and as a minister.

Have you ever felt ineffective?

That’s exactly what the enemy wants. He wants to distract you, deceive you, disillusion you, and derail your faith.

He wants to make you ineffective.

We all have been given only so much time. At the end of my life, I want to know that what I lived for—how I invested my time and effort—really mattered, that it made a difference, built a legacy, and left the world a better place.

How you invest your time really does matter, and what you choose does make a difference.

The enemy will try to pull you off what matters and get you to invest in the wrong things, the wrong people, and the wrong choices and decisions to shipwreck your faith and your life.

Gary and I made plenty of mistakes while learning how to operate in God’s Kingdom in the early days of our ministry, ( I'm so glad God is bigger than our mistakes. ) but one big way the enemy was able to distract us was by getting us to take false responsibility for people and their choices.

Because of that, we were always dealing with dysfunction and problems instead of doing more of what really mattered. In fact, we almost quit the ministry over some of them!

More than 20 years ago, for example, there was a lady who would come to the altar for prayer on a weekly basis. I prayed for her every week for freedom from evil, but she would come back week after week and month after month for the same prayer.

We tried to help her. We even gave her a part-time job at the church to help support her. We tried everything we could to help her family. It was discouraging and exhausting because things never got any better, and I couldn’t understand why.

Eventually, we discovered that she was intentionally deceiving us and living a very different life than she had portrayed to us. I have since learned that a person can never be free unless they decide they want change in their life.

There were others, too. We had people who would come and disrupt worship services and try to draw attention to themselves. We once had a man come to a youth event at our home and start running all over our yard during worship time. And our cat chased him as he ran! When he came up our hill, he fell backwards and started rolling. No, I’m not kidding.

He rolled 40 feet and, when he stopped, our cat pounced on his chest and started pawing and purring. Needless to say, the youth were no longer worshiping God.

Each time these kind of things happened with people, I would ask God, “Why did you send us these people? What do we do with them? How could you put us through this week after week?”

God simply answered and said, WHO SAID I SENT THEM?

The enemy had been eating our lunch, and all along we thought it was God who was doing it.

In our lack of understanding, we were allowing people to take the focus off of God’s Word and worship. Meanwhile, we were only becoming more and more discouraged thinking that God was not doing what He promised.

We must become wise to the enemy’s schemes to steal, kill, and destroy.

The devil will never give up his efforts to steal your time and distract you from what really matters.

When we neglect where we should invest our time and finances, and something goes wrong, God is usually blamed. This is a tactic of the enemy.

God is wise with His investments. You and I need to be too!

Shortly after these events, the Holy Spirit took me to an example in the ministry of Jesus where a rich young ruler proclaimed he had followed all of God’s commandments since childhood. Jesus then tested the heart of the rich young ruler before he was willing to take him on as a disciple. He told him, “Go, sell your possessions and give them to the poor, and come follow me.”

Jesus put a requirement on him that would hold him accountable and would show his heart and motive. Up to that point I had never really thought about how Jesus tested the hearts of men to reveal their real intentions and motives. We know now that if the ruler had followed Jesus, the reward would have been greater than anything it would have cost him.

But when his heart was tested, he was all about himself.

Jesus wisely saw this. Jesus didn’t invest His time in the wrong places!

The Bible tells us to “redeem the time for the days are evil.”

So how can you navigate through this time with wisdom and discernment so that you are investing where God would have you?

Here are some tips that the Holy Spirit gave me that have helped me be more effective for God’s Kingdom:

1. BE BIGGER THAN TIME STEALERS!

Invest your time wisely.
Become established in your faith.

We've all made mistakes, but at some point we must grow up! We can’t always just hear the Word of God; we must come to understand the Word. We understand by DOING IT, even when it’s not easy.
Avoid compromise .

There are no shortcuts to true success without living the principles of God’s Word.

2. BE BIGGER THAN THE WORLD’S DECEIT!

The Bible tells us that the natural man (or carnal man) doesn’t receive the things of God.

Colossians 2:6-10 says,

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus our Lord, so we walk in Him rooted, and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit (vain deception), according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and NOT according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

I have seen Hell prevail in people’s lives when Jesus is no longer Lord over their lives.

People betrayed Jesus, and people will also betray YOU.

People aren’t always faithful, but GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL!

The disciples hung out with Judas every day in the ministry. Jesus knew Judas was cheating, stealing, and would betray Him, but the
other disciples had to decide whether they would follow Judas or Jesus.

You have to decide, too!

3. BE BIGGER THAN DECEIVERS!

We all have to decide who to listen to and who to follow.

Stay the course! Persevere with the Word!

What did God say? Do it! Stay with it!

Keep sowing and growing.

Everything you do IS important and is, literally, sowing your future harvest.

Every action has a response of reaping, so make sure you sow good things out of a good heart. Live your life with purpose and make a decision to do it God’s way.

4. BE BIGGER THAN PROBLEMS THAT DISCOURAGE YOU!

Grow in grace. Grace is God’s ability and empowerment; it is not mercy.

You grow in grace by recognizing His power over your own rights. We are dead to ourselves, so we don’t use grace as a means to argue
our rights to live marginal lives, or play with sin.

5. BE BIGGER THAN COMPROMISE AND SIN!

Live in a God-empowered state where you don’t even want to have a hint of anything sinful in your life!

First John 5:17-18 says,

We know that whoever is born of God does not continue in sin, but he who has been born of God KEEPS HIMSELF, an the WICKED ONE DOES NOT TOUCH HIM.

We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may KNOW HIM who is TRUE; and we are IN HIM who is true, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life! Keep yourselves from idols, dear children.

Some believers look at grace like teenagers look at turning 18.

Many teens think that turning 18 means that they come out from under their parents’ authority and are free to do what they want.

Instead of showing that they are adult-like and can honor their parents as a young adult, they are actually proving how immature they
really are. That’s the way a lot of Christians look at grace; but grace is not freedom to sin; it is freedom from sin.

You don’t want to play with anything that even resembles a stumbling block. ( Yes, this even includes missing church and not reading and
studying the Word. ) You are empowered to live a life that has no hint of sin! You are to have freedom from sin and live as an example!

When people start to justify playing around with sin, they get snared. Just admit it, quit it, and forget it!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Learn more about how to overcome all that the enemy tries to throw at you in every area of life in Gary and Drenda's Faith Over Fear Package.

In Shark Proof , Drenda combines her wit, humor, and life experience from 23 years in ministry to create a captivating book on overcoming one of the greatest problems we face: dealing with difficult people.

And, in Gary's Faith Over Fear 6-part series , you'll learn how to handle EVERY fear, so fear doesn't handle you.

Get your complete Faith Over Fear Packag e today!

How to Make Sure You Don't Become Dull and Ineffective

Wed, 27 May 2020 18:04:13 GMT

Have you ever tried to use a dull knife to cut steak, or chicken, or even bread?

It’s useless, right? You might as well pick up whatever you were trying to cut and rip it with your bare hands.

Because when a knife gets dull, it can’t fulfill its designed purpose.

Use makes a knife dull.

Life makes us dull.

We get distracted. We fall into routines and habits. We go through the motions. We stop pursuing our dreams. We tuck our to-do list in a drawer and sit down on the couch with a bag of chips. We give up on things when the going gets tough.

Like knives, we need to stay sharpened.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17

See, on its own, iron is actually pretty soft. So, it’s mixed with carbon to make it stronger. And that fusion can actually make it up to 1,000 times stronger than it is on its own.

You’re thousands of times stronger with God than you are on your own. But you can still be dull and ineffective.

God puts people in your life to sharpen you.

He puts people in your life to speak the truth to you, to file you, to sharpen you. He uses people who have walked stuff out; people who have been down the path already; people who are a little bit “sharper” than you are— to get you to think, and dream bigger, and become the person He has created you to be.

And that’s where things can get messy and uncomfortable.

Because when you rub two blades of iron together, the edges do get sharper, and the iron pieces do become more effective at doing their jobs, but there are also some other things that happen in the process.

There’s heat, and sparks, and friction, and filing, and pounding…

And we don’t want to be uncomfortable. We don’t want to be pushed. We don’t want to engage in the sharpening process.

Your wife asks you if you’re going to take the trash out, because you said you’d take care of it.

Heat.

A mentor asks you how you’re following through on a goal you made.

Filing.

Your small group leader asks you if you did your homework for the week.

Friction.

A friend asks you how you’re doing with your workout…not yelling at your kids…staying off your phone…

Sparks.

It can get ugly.

But you need those people. You need people in your corner who will challenge you to run your race and engage in the process. So you can be put to good use.

2 Timothy 2:21 says, “Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

Dull iron isn’t effective. It can’t do what it was created to do, let alone be “an instrument for special purposes.”

But sharp iron is effective. It can be used for special purposes—as a tool for building up (the Kingdom of God) or as a weapon used for tearing down (the kingdom of darkness).

You and I are to engage in the sharpening process so we can do both—build up the Kingdom of God and tear down the kingdom of darkness.

And you need people in your life to help, to bring the heat and the sparks, the filing, the friction, and the pounding.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says,

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Life wasn’t meant to be lived alone.

Engage the process so you can stay sharp and run the race God has called you to run.

What to Do When You Get Your Feelings Hurt

Fri, 22 May 2020 19:28:35 GMT

Hurt feelings destroy so many relationships.

We all do and say things that often unintentionally hurt another. And in the course of life and relationships, our own feelings get hurt.

Most of these slights and misunderstandings are just that, misunderstandings. There is the occasional intentional offensive action, but much of the time it's unintentional.

At least that's the way it used to be.

Today we see people taking to social media to say abusive things, curse profusely at those who don't agree with them, or say things with innuendos because they are too cowardly to discuss their offense one-on-one with the person ( which is the only way to seek resolution by the way ).

It's sad to see how mean-spirited and intolerant some people can be while demanding tolerance for "their" views.

While we can't change this in others, we can work on our relationships, and ourselves.

After years of working with people and observing my own shortcomings, I've come to the conclusion that our egos (pride) gets in the way of relationships.

We're all looking for others to make us feel special, valued, and even exceptional; and when others fail to do what we need, we get our feelings hurt, we retreat, or sulk, or punish the other person with our withdrawal.

I've watched friendships be destroyed, marriages broken, families devastated, businesses fail, and worse, God's Kingdom hindered, because we bruise easily and our pride keeps us from mending the hurts.

Social media has created an opportunity for people to take their hurts to a whole new level of name-calling. For a generation that has been indoctrinated with tolerance messaging, when their toes get stepped on, they are the most intolerant versions of themselves.

It's that type of pride that makes us expect the OTHER person to fix things while neglecting any personal responsibility. Of course that's the message being pushed in this hour, to live for the moment and do what feels good instead of what is right because it's right.

The culture is out of control, and we can't afford to fall into their divisive worldly attitudes, which lead to rebellious ways.

There is a way that seems right but ends in destruction.

If we follow celebrity culture, we will end up with their results—over 80 percent divorce rates and the highest incidences of drug/alcohol abuse and early deaths/suicides.

And these are our role models? They're the ones who tell us how to believe and how to vote, what's right and what's wrong?

They’re supposed to be role models for our lives and children?

I don't think so!

Yet they are fueling the division they scream against.

That's the confusion of the hour. In the last days, people will be lovers of self, lovers of pleasure, lovers of money, abusive, slanderers, disobedient to parents, boastful, and proud. Sound familiar?

To stay true to God's purpose for lives, we must divorce celebrity values and realign our beliefs and actions with something higher than paid actors.

I've been married 34 years and have raised a successful family and experienced solid financial freedom while all along the way struggling to swim upstream—with the culture quick to mow my family down if allowed. We continue to experience a good life because we didn't take the short route to success through compromise. We were tempted at times, and, yes, there was a price to go against the grain, but I'm grateful we did! Sure, we've made some mistakes along the way, but God has a way of helping us all course correct when we correct our attitudes and humble ourselves before His Word and ways.

A female minister said on social media, "We don't need more truth tellers..." I couldn't disagree more.

We do need to tell the truth (with love). It is the truth that sets people free.

Jesus is not a way to truth; He is THE way.

We must be careful to say the truth with the least offense, but it has to be truth nonetheless. And expect it will often be offensive to those who are rebelling against it.

I'm so glad someone told me the truth when I was a mixed-up, young woman headed down a road of destruction. I heard it. I heeded the correction, and today my life has the fruit of my changed choices.

We must make sure our ways mirror the Word of God if we are going to live free and inherit the blessings of God for our lives.

This is not the hour to compromise to keep from getting our feelings hurt. And at the same time, we shouldn't be on a mission to blast people with offensive actions or attitudes.

The enemy is looking for an open door in all of our lives. Getting our feelings hurt and harboring an offense over it is the number one way I know he enters lives—next to blatant disobedience or rebellion.

What should we do when we get our feelings hurt?

First, pray.

Pray and ask God to help you sort through your hurt. Hurt usually leads to offense, then anger, and then paybacks through disloyalty and betrayal. Which phase of the pathway are you at?

God always helps us see things through His eyes. It minimizes the offense and helps us see our lack of innocence in the situation.

I once saw a Facebook post where a Christian was calling out another Christian for saying some offensive things and for judging a situation unfairly and being insensitive. Of course, people began to pile on the offenses, insults, and judgments and suggesting paybacks to justify their friend's hurt. It was clear that they were all guilty of the very thing that they had accused the other person of in the first place.

Prayer helps us see things as they are, not as we justify ourselves to "feel." It's much easier to forgive others when we realize just how much forgiveness we need.

Pray and then choose to forgive just as God chose to forgive us through Jesus.

Forgiveness is different than compromise. We cannot compromise what God says about a subject in order to "love" someone. We love the person, and we can embrace a person but not embrace sin as acceptable. But first, we must get the plank out of our own eye.

Once we choose to forgive by faith in the work of Jesus, now we have a right mind and heart toward the other person. If we need to talk this situation out, then the Holy Spirit will show us how to go about it in a spirit of love and will also show us the right timing.

There are situations that are better left unspoken—when we have harbored something in our heart, we can deal with God alone. Then there are times we must go and talk through situations with others in a true spirit of humility and desire for reconciliation. We must hear how and when to do this from the Holy Spirit.

Regardless of how other people may get offended or react in life, we can stay free from offense when we honor God and the people He made and loves. The Golden rule to “do unto others the way you would want them to do unto you” is still golden.

Next time you are hurt (and there will be a next time) , don't take to social media to air your grievances.

Take the following three simple steps instead:

1. Pray.

2. Forgive.

3. Develop a “Plan of communication and restoration.”

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

For more help with keeping your feelings in check, download Drenda's book, Better than You Feel.

There Will Be Pressure: How to Stand Your Ground

Wed, 20 May 2020 17:00:42 GMT

How is everything that has been going on affecting you? Have you lost your job? Lost hours at work? Is your family in financial trouble?

Are you having trouble believing you can get out of this?

Please listen to me. It has never been as important as it is right now that you learn how the Kingdom of God operates.

Now, more than ever, you need to know who you are in Christ, and know the promises of God.

Because, now, more than ever, you have to be able to stand your ground.

In Luke 6, Jesus talks about a man who dug deep and built the foundation of his house on a rock. When a flood came, the house couldn’t be moved. Then He tells us about the man who built his house on the ground, without a foundation. When the flood came, his house collapsed and was ruined.

Now, you might have heard that story or even sang the song as a kid. The wise man built his house on the rock and the foolish one built his on the sand, right?

But, did it sink in? Did you take the time to build a firm foundation? Have you been confident enough to be able to stand your ground in the midst of this storm, or the pressure it may have caused in your life, your job, your marriage, or your relationships?

Maybe this whole COVID-19 situation hasn't felt like a storm for you at all.

Maybe you were dealing with problems prior to having to stay in your house.

Or maybe you haven't really faced any hard things... yet...

We’re all going to face storms in our lives at some point. And sometimes they’re even going to catch us off guard, like this one likely did. But if our foundations are strong, like strong trees weathering a storm, we’ll still know how to stand our ground.

Years ago, Drenda and I we were invited to a birth. We thought it would be a normal delivery, and we got there just as the baby had been born. The baby girl was extremely pale, and several doctors and nurses came running.

We watched as they started CPR on her. She was in cardiac arrest.

For more than 30 minutes , her heart stopped beating.

But as I watched these things happening, the Spirit of God said, YOU HAVE AUTHORITY HERE.

We couldn’t go in the room, but her dad and I stood outside the entry doors on each end, laid our hands on those doors, and began professing life over her, declaring what the Word of God says over Baby Holland.

We were praying.

We were standing our ground.

Then, we heard the beep of the heart rate monitor.

That was more than eight years ago now, and Holland is a healthy, thriving little girl.

But, as you well know, every story doesn’t end that way.

Sometimes we miss it. Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we let what the world is saying sway us. Sometimes we panic.

But it’s all part of the learning process. And, if we learn through the small things, we just might not miss it when it’s a life and death situation.

How do we keep from missing it?

We have to learn what the Word of God says. We have to know how the Kingdom of God operates.

The church… the TV preachers… the people representing God, most haven’t done a good job of teaching people to recognize truth. Instead, they’ve taught people that God makes decisions on the run. It’s “if” He’s going to respond, and “if” He’s going to rescue them. We think we have to beg, and cry, and somehow convince God of our need.

But that’s not what the Word of God says, and that’s not how the Kingdom of God operates. So it never works, and that house crumbles and falls in the storm.

One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 12:2:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect.

See, most of the time our problem isn’t the enemy—it’s our lack of understanding.

Of course, the enemy is going to contend for every piece of ground that you try to take, but the Bible says the enemy is under our feet.

So the problem really is that people don’t know who they are. They give too much credit to the enemy. If they would understand the truth, and the authority they have, they would know exactly how to stand their ground in every situation.

We can’t know the truth without knowing the Word of God.

First John 5:14 says that the confidence we have in Him is that if we ask anything according to His will, He listens and hears us. But if you don’t know the will of God, you can never be confident. And, if you’re not confident, you can never stand your ground.

We have to know how to build our houses on the rock. We have to be an example. This isn’t the time to play church. There’s no time for riding the fence. When everything is on the line, you can’t sit around wondering where God is. You have to know the Word. And you have to be courageous enough to wade into the face of circumstances—into the pressure—and DECLARE THE WORD.

Oh, and there most definitely WILL be pressure.

You’re just going to have to be confident that you can take it because, many times, your victory is based on that—on whether or not you can hold onto it under pressure.

See, Satan fears the Word. He fears the living Word of God. He knows that if the Word is incubated by your spirit, there’s no stopping it. It will produce every time.

So the only thing he can do is bring pressure against you to make you give up—to make you let go of the Word.

He wants you to think it can’t be done. He wants you to think the times are too scary. He wants you to think you’re not strong enough. He wants you to think it’s too late.

Years ago, a woman in our church found her four-year-old son at the bottom of a swimming pool. Her thirteen-year-old niece was with her. She screamed, “Call 911!” But her niece had been in church. She had learned that we have authority. So, she told her aunt, “We have authority here.” I believe God placed that niece with that mom at that very moment for that very purpose.

They began praying in the spirit and nothing was happening. The niece said, “We need to speak life to him.” So they said, “In the name of Jesus, wake up!” Immediately, he spit the water out and woke up. Today, that boy is an adult.

Now, I don’t know what the outcome might have been had they called 911. And, I’m not against doctors and medicine, but I do know that the right person was there—someone that understood the Kingdom of God and how to operate in the authority of the Kingdom at the right moment.

Could you handle that?

Are you so confident that you can look your situation in the face and declare what God says, even though the facts seem to say otherwise?

That’s the definition of faith: being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He said even though there are facts saying otherwise.

You don’t have to be moved by facts. The Word of God is true. God doesn’t lie.

We need to be aware of facts, but they don’t dictate the end result. God is the final authority. And, if we’re the agent of God in that particular moment, we’re the final authority.

I knew why I was there at that exact second when Baby Holland was in cardiac arrest. I know why the niece was there when the little boy was found lifeless in the pool.

Friend, YOU are here for such a time as this. You can either look at the situation—at what the facts might appear to be—and miss it. Or, you can know the Word of God, feed your faith, doubt your doubts, starve your fears, dig deep, and stand your ground.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It has never been as important as it is RIGHT NOW that you learn how to resist the enemy and take territory for God.

Because you have an adversary, and he doesn’t care if you go to church every week. He doesn’t even really care that you’re going to heaven. What he does care about is whether or not you’re influencing the world. He doesn’t want you to exercise your authority as a child of God.

It’s time you did.

Download Gary's life-altering four-part series Taking Territory now , and unpack all you need to know about using your authority, enforcing your rights, and taking territory in life!

Get the spiritual knowledge YOU need for YOUR battle!

Now More Than Ever, You Need to Be Convinced of This...

Fri, 15 May 2020 23:29:14 GMT

At the beginning of the year, our team planned about six months out what we thought you might like to hear from us about. We thought we’d share one of our ministry’s most life-changing series— Live Whole —with you around mid-July.

But I decided to change course and send you a letter about Live Whole NOW because of everything that has happened in our world over the last few months.

See, Live Whole is about healing .

When I taught Live Whole years ago, I focused on physical healing. But right now, the Live Whole series means so much more.

Emotional healing…

Spiritual healing…

Financial healing…

For YOU, for your family , and for our nation .

Friend, I’ve been in places like this before in life. I’ve been so sick I didn’t know if I was going to die. I’ve been so broke I couldn’t feed my family. I’ve been so low that I had no hope for my future.

It was at that point that God taught me some things, and I want to share those things with you.

Because God wants you to live whole.

His promise of healing is everywhere in His Word.

Jesus restored health to ALL who were sick (Matthew 8:16).

Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and HEALING ALL KINDS OF SICKNESS and ALL KINDS OF DISEASE among the people (Matthew 4:23).

There are so many Scriptures I could reference here, but there is one that undeniably PROVES that the Lord has not only PROMISED healing but also that healing is your legal right as a child of God—that’s Isaiah 53:5 (NIV):

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we ARE HEALED.

Pause for a second.

Did you see that?

Go back and read Isaiah 53:5 again. Do you see it?

It says you ARE healed.

See, so many Christians say, “I believe that God is going to heal me,” or “I’m waiting on God to heal me,” but they’ve got it wrong.

Jesus ALREADY paid the price for your healing—physically, emotionally, financially… in every area of your life!

You don’t become healed. You already WERE healed—2,000 years ago.

Friend, faith is not coming . Faith will not be eventually . Faith IS !

Faith IS the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1, KJV).

Of course, this is where things can get difficult, because our natural minds want to see things. But we know faith is the evidence of things not yet seen . When you have faith for what the Word says, you enact a spiritual law that brings it into existence. You won’t see it come to pass unless you have faith when you can’t yet see it.

That was a revelation to me. I was one of those people who thought I was waiting on God, not the other way around!

You may know my story. My wife, Drenda, and I had a hard time with money for nine very long years. I was always putting out fires and trying to survive, and that lifestyle left me in an almost constant state of fear. It wreaked havoc on my emotions. Then, it wreaked havoc on my body.

I started having panic attacks and heart palpitations. Doctors put me on medication, but the medication only made my symptoms worse. Something was going on with my body that the doctors couldn’t explain.

I was terrified. I didn’t want to die. I wanted to see my kids grow up.

So, I did the only thing I could do—I began to search the Word of God like never before.

I would get up and study the Word first thing in the morning. I wanted to know what the Bible said about healing, and I knew I needed God to teach me. Then, when Drenda and I heard about a healing conference in a nearby city, we went. And I went up for prayer. The anointing was very strong, and I believed I received my healing.

But when I walked out of the building that night, I still felt sick.

Before I went to bed that night, I asked God why I still felt sick. While I slept, a Scripture kept coming up in my dream. It wasn’t familiar to me, but when I told Drenda the next morning, she said it was Mark 11:24 (NIV):

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

All of a sudden, a lightbulb went off. I got it! The Word of God told me I WAS healed, but I wasn’t acting like it. I would say, “Okay, I’m healed,” then the symptoms would come back, and I would think, No, I guess I’m not or I’m still waiting for my healing. But I was ALREADY healed!

I just had to walk my faith out. I had to become convinced that healing is a PROMISE from God; I had to get fed up!

That’s exactly what happened to Amy T.

Amy was battling migraines. She would wake up every morning and go to bed every night with a migraine. She was a newlywed, but she couldn’t enjoy time with her husband. They would sit in the dark because any amount of light would trigger another migraine. She’d have to wear sunglasses even to drive AT NIGHT. If someone took her picture, she would instantly get a migraine.

She was withdrawing from life. She couldn’t work. She didn’t go outside. She was paralyzed by pain.

So Amy did the thing we all do—she went to see several specialists, and they sent her for tests. The specialists looked for answers and came up with nothing. They told her they didn’t know how to help her. They told her she should just try to “manage her pain.”

So she went to a pain management specialist. The program they put her on required that she receive shots of medication into her skull. (Yes, her skull .) And we’re not talking about one, or two, or even five shots of medication.

They put 23 shots of medication into the back of her skull at her first appointment.

At the second appointment, it was 15 shots. She was getting shots of medication in her forehead, in the back of her head, and in her neck.

But she wasn’t getting any better.

So, now you’re waiting to hear how Amy started believing God and then everything changed, right?

Well, that’s not the story.

See, Amy had always believed God. She had believed God when the migraines started and through the doctor appointments. She had believed God through the testing and through the shots of medication. She knew the Word and that Jesus had already paid for her healing. But it wasn’t happening.

She got fed up. She decided that she didn’t want to live the rest of her life “managing her pain.” She knew better. She just had to do something about it.

Amy’s story is in the Live Whole series, along with probably a dozen others.

In fact, that Amy’s story in the Live Whole series is the one that ignited the fire in my own daughter Amy, encouraging her to grab hold of the promise of healing for herself and see it come to pass in her own body after years of suffering with pain and issues.

Now, my daughter Amy’s healing story is one of hundreds of healings that have taken place as a result of people listening to the Live Whole mentorship series and applying what they learned!

I’m convinced that Jesus already paid the price for YOUR healing in EVERY area of your life.

I know because I’ve experienced it myself.

YOU need to be convinced too.

In order to walk out your faith effectively, you need to be COMPLETELY convinced that healing is God’s promise to you—that it is your legal right to be healed and live whole in EVERY area of your life.

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Friend, I want to share with you everything God taught me about healing.

I created the Live Whole mentorship series to do just that. It's a 10-part series packed with everything you need to know from the Word of God about how to walk out your healing and amazing stories of healing that will encourage you on your journey.

So many healings have taken place as a result of people listening to the Live Whole mentorship series, including what I said earlier is THE MOST INCREDIBLE HEALING STORY WE HAVE WITNESSED IN THE MORE THAN 20 YEARS WE’VE BEEN IN MINISTRY.

It’s the healing story of my oldest daughter Amy.

Amy shares her incredible story in her book, Healed Overnight .

Healed Overnight is the perfect companion to the Live Whole mentorship series. Not only does Amy’s story further reinforce the healing principles you’ll learn in the Live Whole series, but it also provides practical examples of how to apply these principles to your life, as well as answers to questions you may have concerning miracles and healing and much more!

The bottom line of all of this is that your health—in every area of life—is a big deal.

I know that from experience. I also know that you don't have to believe the lies of the enemy.

The Bible says that Jesus ALREADY paid the price for your healing!

Request your copy of my life-changing, 10-part Live Whole teaching series, along with Amy’s Healed Overnight book, plus our Healing Scripture Cards to build your faith and give you the knowledge on how to LIVE WHOLE TODAY!

Get ready to see the evidence in the Word of God that proves that it’s possible for you to LIVE WHOLE! Be ready to be convinced!

Honor and Respect: You Need to Know the Difference

Wed, 13 May 2020 21:15:07 GMT

Mark 6:5-6 tells us that Jesus couldn't do many works in His hometown. You might even remember that the Bible says it was because of their ‘lack of faith.’

But the problem wasn’t that the people in Jesus’ hometown didn’t believe God; it was that they didn’t honor Jesus.

Jesus was too familiar.

They knew his family. They thought they knew as much as He did. They didn’t value anything He was saying or doing. They told Him to prove himself.

They didn’t honor Him.

We’ll never be able to receive from someone that we don’t honor.

Take the example of Elijah. During the time of famine, God sent Elijah to a widow in Zarephath for help.

Why Zarephath? Wasn’t there a widow in Israel that could’ve fed Elijah?

Apparently there was no widow in Israel that honored Elijah enough for God to be able to use her. But the widow in Zarephath did honor God and Elijah and, in turn, she received.

Peter is another example. The guy had fished all night. You know he had to be tired. He was done for the day. They were cleaning their nets when Jesus told him to go back out.

Peter honored Jesus. He obeyed, and he received.

Can you imagine how different the story might have been if Peter had acted like we do today? Imagine Peter saying, “I’m sorry Jesus. I’m really worn out. This will have to wait until tomorrow. I’m going to get some rest.”

Are you shaking your head?

You should be.

This is what has been happening for years in our country and in the church. We have thrown aside the culture of honor.

The Bible says that "the wicked freely strut about unopposed when what is vile is honored among men." (Psalm 12:8)

This is what is happening right now. The enemy has always tried to devalue and dishonor authorities. He uses gossip, slander, and offenses to gain influence in our culture. He has a heyday when people lose sight of what is true and what is honorable.

We have to fight to reestablish a culture of honor—a place where integrity means something.

Clearly just knowing that God has placed authorities in our lives to help us isn’t enough. We have more to do.

But what? Well, in Romans 13:7, we see that God directs us to ‘render respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.’

So how do we do that?

The first thing we need to do is understand the difference between respect and honor. Don’t mix them up.

Respect is earned . Honor is given .

We respect people for what they do . Honor, however, is a necessity—a requirement we give to an office, to a position.

You may not respect a person, their beliefs, their ideas, or their expectations, but if they have authority, they deserve honor.

When you honor something, you treat it as if it’s valuable. You esteem it. You look at it. You set it someplace safe. You lift it up above other things. It’s important to you.

Honoring a person is no different. When you honor a person you serve them. You value them. You tend to the relationship. You encourage them. You elevate them. You esteem them.

So "The Honor Code" is about more than leaving the right amount of money for the candy you took in the unattended box at the office. It’s about more than being trustworthy and honest.

The Honor Code is about choosing to live your life to please God.

It’s about realizing that you can’t receive from the people you aren’t willing to honor, and that God might just be trying to use those very same people to get something amazing to you.

We have so much stuff and things that take our time that we don’t honestly know what to honor. Thank God He tells us, because in the end we’re going to stand before Him thinking we’ve done this great work and He might just ask—

"How did you honor your kids ? Did you spend time with them?

Did you honor your marriage ? Or did you look at pornography, make comments about people that weren't your spouse, or sit around watching movies where the people committed adultery?

Did you honor your body ?

Did you honor others as better than yourself? Or did you gossip and devalue others?

Did you honor your father and mother?’

When it’s all said and done, will you be able to answer ‘Yes’ when God asks you, “Did you render honor to whom honor was due?”

You Have Never Had More Opportunities to Be Offended

Fri, 08 May 2020 19:20:00 GMT

Offense – a breach of a law or rule; an illegal act; a thing that constitutes a violation of what is judged to be right or natural; an affront; a slap in the face; annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles.

Offended – upset, resentful, or annoyed, typically as a result of a perceived insult.

You have never had more opportunities to be offended than right now.

No, not by this blog ... by all of the things happening in our world right now.

And it just seems to get worse each day.

You name it, and someone is offended by it.

And it doesn’t stop there.

Today, people take to social media to air their offenses. Under the guise of “venting,” they take to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to use innuendoes, question the people who don’t agree with them, or blast, name-call, and downright abuse anyone with opposing views.

And Christians are just as guilty as non-Christians. (Yes, I actually typed that.)

Here’s the thing friend: WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFERENT.

First Peter 2:9-23 tells us exactly what we should be doing right now:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light . Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people .

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s servants. Show proper respect to everyone , love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

Servants, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called , because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate ; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

So, what’s your purpose as a believer?

TO BE A WITNESS OF HIM IN THE EARTH REALM—

TO DECLARE HIS GOODNESS AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

How are you doing with that?

Are you too busy venting your frustrations, annoyances, and offenses for anyone to see God in your life?

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. — Matthew 5:14-16

What does it mean to be the light of the world?

Being the light of the world means that there are deeds that match up.

Philippians 2:14a tells us we should “Do everything without complaining or arguing , so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

You don’t have to purpose to see the stars in the dark night sky. And you don’t have to work to convince other people that the stars are there. Religion is like that—always striving to prove to people that the stars exist, instead of just showing them the light.

People don’t need convincing; they just need to see the light in your life.

People need to see the proof of God in your life.

The demonstration of the Kingdom of God speaks FOR us. In John 10, Jesus told the disciples that even if they didn’t believe Him, they should believe the miracles—the deeds .

Acts 8:6 tells us that multitudes of people paid close attention to what Phillip had to say because they heard and saw the miracles he performed in Jesus’s name.

That’s the light people are looking for. They want to be an eyewitness to the glory of God.

They want to know

how you’re not living in fear...

how you’ve been healed...

how you’re keeping your peace when everything feels chaotic...

how your marriage is staying together...

how your family actually likes one another...

how your business is still successful.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

People are watching.

My own dad was one of those people.

See, growing up, I couldn’t talk about the Bible, or church, or God. My dad wouldn’t listen. He was one of the most cynical people ever.

It was so bad that I had a terribly hard time believing that my dad could ever come to know the Lord personally. I would pray that he’d receive from someone, anyone, because he just wouldn’t hear it from me.

But one day, without my knowledge, he started watching our television show, and listening to the stories of lives changed by God and His Kingdom principles.

Then, he came to our church.

And, after years of thinking it was hopeless, my dad gave his life to Christ at the age of 80.

I walked up behind him one day at church as someone asked him what had changed and he answered, “I’ve just seen too many things…”

Friend, you’re the only credibility God has with the unbelievers you encounter.

Are you attaching Jesus’s name to good things?

The enemy is looking for an open door in all of our lives.

Harboring offenses is THE NUMBER ONE way he enters lives.

First Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

You’ll have plenty of opportunities to repay evil and insults. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to be annoyed, frustrated, and offended.

But that chapter goes on to say,

For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

Friend, don’t take things into your own hands.

Seek peace and pursue it.

Don’t let people or their actions get you so stirred up that you step out of the love walk and begin to judge people and criticize people and gossip about people and vent about people. Don’t step out from under the authority of God.

Choose to trust God in these situations. Let Him deal with it.

Be an example. Be the light.

To this you were called.

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Get more encouragement right now!

Download your copy of 8 Attitudes for a Good Life , one of Gary's most powerful and popular mentorship series'!

Six Ways to Stay Up in Down Times

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 02:14:09 GMT

Enjoy this special feature article from my friend, and Team Revolution expert mentor, Dave Anderson. - Gary

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Tough times are one of life’s givens. As much as we may hope, life is not an infinite trajectory of ups. Somewhere along the journey we’ll have our share of down times. They may affect us personally or professionally, locally or globally, directly or indirectly.

But just as certain as death and taxes, so too can we expect down times.

In the 21 years that LearnToLead has been in business, times like 9/11, the financial crisis, and meltdown in 2008, (and on a local level here in Southern California) the wildfires that nearly destroyed my home and business come to mind. It’s a topic that has been in the news recently, too, obviously, with the turbulent times concerning the COVID-19 virus crisis we’re all facing.

How well we’re personally able to manage the up and down times enables us to maximize the ups, and marginalize the downs. And given that down times are a certainty, one of the first things we should be asking ourselves is: How do I stay up during a down time—how can I bring more of the eight game-changer traits so I can get to or stay at game-changer status during this situation I’m facing?

Recently, I recorded a podcast titled “Six Ways to Stay Up in Down Times,” which you can listen to here , but in our time here I’d like to share a brief synopsis of its points:

Don’t overload on media.
Now don’t mistake this for me telling you that you need to be ignorant and live under a rock. Simply put: stay informed but don’t become obsessed. It’s all about guarding your mindset and choosing not to overload on the things that will cause you to shift your focus away from the things you can control. Instead, shift your focus and any newfound down time into prime time by doing something positive and productive: reading that book, learning that new skill, reconnecting with others, or helping a friend out, etc.
Don’t engage in doomsday dialogue.
All this does for you is create needless stress and worry for things that may never even happen. Remember: focus will only work in your favor if you’re focusing on the right things. If your focus is on the doomsday dialogue that surrounds you instead of on the next right action that you can take in the moment all of that negativity will cloud your mindset and affect your thoughts, words, and actions. Keep the garbage where it belongs!
Do speak in terms of possibilities, of hope, of lessons you’re learning, and opportunities you’re seeing.
Again, focus on the next right action you can take, no matter how small it may seem . Keeping your mind clear of the negativity and filled with what’s positive, possible, and productive will keep you up and moving forward. In being a purveyor of positivity you will also be a guiding force to those around you facing a similar situation.
Take an inventory of benefits that the situation you’re facing will bring you.
Because you can’t be grateful and possess a negative attitude at the same time, look for things to be grateful for in your current situation . Now before you dismiss this and think that there’s no possible way any good can come from your current situation, take a moment to pause and reflect how you can make this thing that appears to happen TO you and use it to happen FOR you.

To help give you an idea, here are a few sample personal benefits that I see with the current coronavirus crisis. Now you don’t have to like or love these because what benefits you see are up to you and your current situation, but this will get you thinking more deeply about reframing a seemingly negative situation as a positive.

Personal benefits of the current virus crisis: less traffic on the road and in airports (in the LA area, this is a HUGE benefit); stock market swings are enabling opportunities to buy and sell stocks at prices and variations I’ve never seen in my lifetime; additional funds from this investing has freed up money to give to our non-profit Matthew 25:35 foundation to help more people during this down time; I’m finding myself with more opportunities to show grace, love, encouragement, and generosity to those I deal with daily; it’s given me an opportunity to have more gratitude for my faith in the midst of loss, and to share my faith with others who ask how I can be peaceful and encouraging during this time; it’s given me a greater appreciation for my philosophy to maximize the moment; I’ve taken this opportunity to check in more with friends and family, to look for ways to lift them up; it’s given me more time to read, to write, to study, and to plan, and more.

Now, quickly grab your pen and paper and jot down whatever benefits—small or large—came to mind as you read through mine.

With this simple exercise, you’ll find yourself immediately shifting your mindset from being a victim to being grateful.

Focus on the things you can control.
During a down time, much of your life may feel as though it is out of your control. It’s easy to feel as though you're powerless and thereby assume a victim’s mindset. The beauty of focusing on the things you can control (your discipline, your mindset routine, your attitude, your character choices, your associations, and more) is that you retain your power, stay in your zone, and can be more productive as a result.
Help someone else.
There’s no better time than a down time to reach out and lend a hand, to be courteous, to check in on others, to be selfless. Doing this just flat out FEELS GOOD; and, in reality, it helps two people: the person you’re doing it for and yourself .

Remember that when times are tough, where you are isn’t who you are.

You may be in defeat, but you aren’t defeated until you quit.

Stay up, stay positive, and keep going forward.

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For more tips and tools to help you stay up and productive in tough times, listen to Dave's special “Stay UP” series on The Game Changer Life podcast .

SPECIAL FEATURE - Understanding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security Act

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 19:14:50 GMT

Critical Help for Individuals and Businesses

On March 27, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This is a massive stimulus package designed to mitigate the horrific economic damage inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill provides for about $2.2 trillion in spending, cash rebates and loans to businesses intended to help keep them afloat during this time of unprecedented upheaval to our social and economic culture.

In addition to providing loans (some forgivable, as discussed below), the package provides money for the IRS to carry out new administrative duties under the law. The IRS’s funding looks approximately like this:

• $293.5 million for IRS taxpayer services,

• $170 million for IRS operations support,

• $78.7 million for the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service,

• $38 million for the Social Security Administration, and

• $37.2 million for IRS enforcement.

Let’s examine some of the key elements of CARES as it relates to individuals and businesses.

Economic Impact Payments

The Centerpiece of CARES

The centerpiece of CARES is the so-called “economic impact payment” that will be handed out to most Americans. This combination stimulus/relief payment is intended to provide families with immediate cash to hold them over while businesses are closed because of the “stay-at-home” orders in effect throughout the nation.

The IRS stated on March 30 that the distribution of checks will begin by mid-April, and as of this writing, money is being deposited into bank accounts. It is estimated that 165 million people, or 93% of all tax return filers, will get some cash. About 140 million will get the full amount of $1,200. The payment is actually considered a credit against your 2020 income tax liability. As such, it is not subject to being taxed. Even if you don’t owe taxes, you could get cash because the pay-ment is considered a “refundable” credit. As such, it’s treated just like the Earned Income Tax Credit.

You must have a Social Security number to get paid. That includes the SSN of the taxpayer and his spouse, and the SSNs of any dependents. Without a valid SSN, you will not receive a payment. See: new code §6428(g).Here’s what you can expect in the way of payment. If your adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than $75,000 for a single person, or $150,000 for a married couple filing jointly, you’ll get $1,200 per individual. Plus, you get an additional $500 for each child under 17. A family of four will get a check for $3,400. There is no limit to the number of children to which the $500 applies. See new code §6428(d).If your AGI exceeds the above amounts, the credit is phased out. Under the phase-out rules, the credit is gradually reduced to zero by the point at which AGI exceeds $99,000 for individuals, $146,500 for heads of household, or $198,000 for joint filers.

The rebate is based on your 2019 tax return or your 2019 Social Security statement, if Social Security is your only income. If you haven’t yet filed the 2019 return, the rebate is based on your 2018 return. As you know from last month’s Pilla Talks Taxes, the filing deadline for 2019 returns is moved to July 15, 2020 (see my update on this article below). The best bet is to get the return filed as soon as possible, especially if your 2019 income is lower than 2018 such as to impact the amount of the rebate you’re entitled to. The IRS will process the rebate checks through the end of 2020.

The IRS intends to deliver the checks via direct deposit. They will put the money in the account indicated on the tax return to which the tax refund payment was made. If no bank account information was provided, you should provide that information to the IRS to get your money as fast as possible. The has a portal on its web site al-lowing individuals to provide their current bank account information. If there simply is no bank account available, the IRS will mail you a check.

If you filed neither your 2018 tax return, nor your 2019 return, you need to get busy. It appears that you will not get a rebate check if both of these returns remain unfiled through 2020.

Earlier in the week of March 30, the IRS said that if a person didn’t file a return because their income was too low to require filing, that person would have to file an “abbreviated” return to get the payment. I don’t know what an “abbreviated” return is. I assume the IRS meant you must file a return to prove you don’t have to file a return, for the purposes only of providing proof of your income and bank account information. Those receiving only Social Security payments might fall into this category.

As of April 1, the Treasury reversed itself on that point. The most recent guidance states that, at least for SS recipients, some veterans and others not otherwise required to file, no return is necessary. The IRS will simply deposit their checks directly into their bank accounts where the SS or other federal benefits are paid. There now is no need for these people to file an “abbreviated” return, whatever that is.

The Paycheck Protection Program

Guaranteed and Forgivable Federal Loans

If the $1,200 refundable credit for individuals is the centerpiece of the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protec-tion Program (PPP) is a close second. And for small businesses, it will very likely prove to be much more valuable than the $1,200 credit. This is especially true since small business owners with AGI above certain limits aren’t getting the $1,200 credit anyway.

The PPP authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. That’s right. I said “forgivable” loans. In fact, not only are the loans forgivable assuming you use the proceeds as provided by law, but further, there is no personal guarantee or collateral required by a business owner to obtain the loan. And what’s more, the Small Business Administration (SBA) “shall have no recourse against any individual share-holder, member, or partner of an eligible recipient of a covered loan for nonpayment of any covered loan” except to the extent that the proceeds were used for a purpose other than those authorized under the law. See: CARES Act §1102(a)(1).

Let me say all this another way. The loan doesn’t have to be paid back if you use the proceeds as authorized. You don’t need to personally guarantee the loan. You don’t have to put up any collateral. You can’t be sued for not paying the loan. Furthermore, it is not necessary to first seek a loan from some other source before applying for a PPP loan. The SBA waived the usual requirement that you seek funding from other sources before coming to the SBA. To top it all off, if the loan is forgiven, the forgiveness does not constitute “income” for tax purposes. And, there’s already talk about adding another $250 billion to the pool of resources available for these loans.

The Paycheck Protection Program is effective for loans made from February 15, 2020, through June 30, 2020. The loan terms are the same for everyone.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR A PPP LOAN?

Any type of business qualifies, including nonprofits, veterans organizations and Tribal businesses. Quali-fied businesses also include sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals and independent contractors. As long as your business has 500 or fewer employees, you can apply. Even certain businesses with more than 500 employees might qualify if they meet applicable SBA employee-based size standards for specified industries. Check the SBA’s website for more details on this.

AUTHORIZED USES OF LOAN PROCEEDS

The loans issued under the PPP will be forgiven as long as you use the proceeds for specifically authorized purposes. The law describes the following as authorized uses of loan proceeds:

• Payroll costs;

• Costs related to the continuation of group health care benefits during periods of paid sick, medical, or family leave, and insurance premiums;

• Employee salaries, commissions, or similar compensation;

• Payment of interest on any mortgage obligation (but not prepayment of, or payment of principal on a mortgage);

• Rent (including rent under a lease agreement);

• Utilities; and

• Interest on any other debt obligations that were incurred before “the covered period.” See CARES Act §§1102(a)(1), amending §7(a) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 636(a).

The “covered period” is defined as the period beginning on February 15, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2020.

WHAT CONSTITUTES PAYROLL COSTS?

Payroll costs include any of the following items:

• Salary, wages, commissions, or tips (capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee);

• Employee benefits including costs for vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave;

• Allowances for separation or dismissal benefits;

• Payments required for the provisions of group health care benefits including insurance premiums;

• Payment of any retirement benefits; an d

• State and local (but not federal) employment taxes assessed on compensation.

Sole proprietor self-employed persons and independent contractors are included in this program, even if they pay no wages to other employees. For this purpose, commissions earned by, or net earnings from self-employment (as reported on Schedule C), are considered “payroll costs.” Such earnings are capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each self-employed person.

Payroll does not include employment taxes imposed under the Internal Revenue Code, compensation paid to an employee who lives outside of the United States, qualified sick leave wages for which a credit is allowed under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, or qualified family leave wages for which a credit is allowed under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

What we are talking about here are the payments due and made to employees for their services to your company.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU BORROW?

PPP loans are based on your average monthly pay-roll costs for the preceding twelve months from the date of application. The amount of the loan is equal to the monthly payroll average, multiplied by 2.5. For example, if your 12-month average payroll costs from February 2019 through January 2020 equal $10,000, your loan amount is $25,000 (10,000 x 2.5). The total amount available to any one business under the PPP is $10 million. The lender determines the precise loan amount you will receive based on the documents you provide .

Payroll costs are limited to $100,000 annualized for each employee. So, for example, if you have an employee who earns $120,000 a year, the amount of “payroll” for this calculation is capped at $100,000, or $8,333 per month. This applies to self-employed and independent contractors as well.

HOW MUCH OF THE LOAN CAN BE FORGIVEN?

Forgiveness of the loan is tied directly to how you use the money. The loan will not be forgiven if you use loan proceeds for anything other than payroll costs, mortgage interest (not principle), rent, and utilities payments over the eight-week period after getting the loan. The loan will likewise not be forgiven if you don’t maintain your staff and payroll.

The loan forgiveness amount is reduced if you decrease your full-time employee headcount. Likewise, you will not be forgiven if you reduce salaries and wages by more than 25% for any employee that made less than $100,000 annualized over the past twelve months. If you lay off workers, you have until June 30, 2020 to restore your full-time employment and salary levels for any changes made between February 15, 2020 and April 26, 2020.

WHAT IF THE LOAN IS NOT FORGIVEN?

If the loan is not forgiven, the remaining balance is nevertheless guaranteed by the SBA. It then converts to an amortized loan payable within two years at an interest rate of 1%. Loan payments are deferred for six months.

WHEN TO APPLY

Small businesses (corporations, partnerships, etc.) could submit applications starting April 3, 2020. As of April 10, 2020, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply for PPP loans.

WHERE TO APPLY

Apply for a PPP loan through any existing SBA lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make PPP loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. Check with your business bank right away to see whether it offers PPP loans. If it participates with the SBA in any way, it is likely already participating in this program. Go to sba.gov for a list of SBA lenders.

HOW TO APPLY

You must complete the Paycheck Protection Program loan application. It gets submitted to your PPP lender. Include the documentation sought in the form. The application must be submitted so that it can be processed by June 30, 2020. Included here is a copy of the application. You can take out just one loan under this program.

Note that the application, page 2, requires several “certifications.” You must certify “in good faith,” that:

• Current economic uncertainty makes the loan necessary to support your ongoing operations;

• The funds will be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or to make mortgage, lease, and utility payments;

• You have not and will not receive another loan under this program;

• You will provide the lender with documentation to verify the number of full-time equivalent employees on payroll and the dollar amount of payroll costs, covered mortgage interest payments, covered rent payments, and covered utilities for the eight weeks after getting a PPP loan;

• All the information you provide in your application, and all supporting documents and forms, are true and accurate;

• Knowingly making a false statement to get a PPP loan is punishable by law;

• You acknowledge that the lender will calculate the eligible loan amount using the tax documents you submit;

• You affirm that the tax documents are identical to those you filed with the IRS; and

• You also understand, acknowledge, and agree that the lender can share the tax information with the SBA’s authorized representatives, including authorized representatives of the SBA Office of Inspector General, for the purpose of compliance with SBA Loan Program Requirements and all SBA reviews.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

You will need documents to prove,

1) the number of full time employees on your payroll,

2) the dollar amount of your payroll costs,

3) covered mortgage interest payments, or covered rent payments, and

4) covered utility costs for the eight-week period following the granting of the loan.

As to the number of employees, the Forms W-2 that you submitted to the Social Security Administration for 2019, and the Forms W-4 submitted to you by your employees, will help prove that issue. Also, your internal payroll records, including checks issued to employees for January and February 2020 will prove this point.

As to the dollar amount of the payroll, Forms 941 for all quarters of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020 will prove this, as well as current payroll data for the second quarter 2020.

Interest on loans, rent and utility bills can be document-ed from information on hand for each of these items.

Note that interest on any loans, rent or utilities that you cover with PPP loan proceeds must be paid pursuant to mortgage obligations, rent agreements or utilities for services which began before February 15, 2020. You can’t pay for a new loan or make rent payments per a lease agreement entered into on or after February 15, 2020.

HOW LONG DOES THE PROGRAM LAST?

The application process is open through June 30, 2020. However, there is a cap on the amount of money appropriated by Congress for these loans. Once the money is gone, it’s gone, unless Congress appropriates more, which is distinctly possible. In the meantime, you should apply as quickly as possible.

HOW TO REQUEST LOAN FORGIVENESS

A request for loan forgiveness is submitted to the lender servicing the loan. The request must include documents to verify that the money was used only for authorized purposes. You must prove the number of full-time employees and their pay rates, and, of course, that you paid those wages. You must also prove the payments you made on eligible mortgage interest, lease, and utility bills. You must declare under penalties of perjury that you used the loan proceeds to keep employees on staff and to make eligible mortgage inter-est, rent, and utility payments. To the extent that you used the money for other purposes, the loan will not be forgiven and there may be other legal consequences for misusing the money.

The lender must make a decision on the forgiveness within sixty days. In the meantime, the interest rate is 1% and is fixed. You must begin paying interest on the loan after six months, which is the deferral period. However, interest accrues during the deferral period. The loan must be paid within two years. It can be paid in full earlier as there are no prepayment penalties or fees.

CONCLUSION

Assuming you use the money as specifically dictated by the terms of the PPP program under the CARES Act, this loan is in fact a gift. There’s $349 billion (and likely more) available in bailouts to small businesses under this program.

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Learn more about Dan and your rights as a taxpayer at www.taxhelponline.com

How to Make Sure Your Emotions Are Working For You - Part Two

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 19:04:09 GMT

You can manage your emotions and take control of your life.

You don’t have to deal with mood swings, fly off the handle, or feel out of control.

Read Part One here.

So what happened?

The day we reached the breaking point and desperately cried out to God was the day He said, Take the time to learn how my Kingdom operates.

And that was when everything changed.

It was like someone flipped a light switch.

We could finally see.

We began to learn how the Kingdom of God operates, and it was like someone turned on the lights in a dark room.

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. – John 8:32

We could see truth, and it’s the truth that sets you free.

And just like you have to introduce your mind to the truth, you have to introduce your feelings and your emotions to the truth. You have to introduce your mind, feelings, and emotions to what God says, and allow Him to govern them.

Plain and simple, you don’t have to let negative emotions and feelings run your life. You can manage your emotions.

As we started to truly understand how the Kingdom of God operates, Drenda began putting Scriptures everywhere. She put them in the kitchen, in our bedroom , and even in the bathroom.

The Scriptures were our reminder that we were already free in our spirits, and that God was working on freeing our minds and our emotions as well.

You can be free too.

You don’t have to deal with mood swings, fly off the handle, or feel out of control.

And you don’t have to try to pretend you don’t have any emotions or feelings.

Drenda and I both tried pretending. For years, we tried stuffing our feelings and emotions down, burying them, and becoming emotionally numb to everyone and everything. Trust us when we say that ‘Fake it till you make it’ doesn’t work when it comes to your emotions.

What does work is what we learned—

There are practical and spiritual principles you can use to manage your emotions, make better decisions, and take control of your life.

Now, Drenda and I want to share everything we’ve learned with you.

As a friend, we want to help you truly understand the role your emotions and feelings are playing in your life. And we want to help you make sure you’re managing them instead of letting them manage you, so you can move toward God’s best for YOU.

You CAN understand your emotions and feelings and use them the way God intended, to:

Help fuel your relationships
Bring passion to your daily routine
Infuse your life with energy to help you pursue your God-designed purpose, manage your priorities, and discover His plans for your success.

Now, I also want to talk to you about the power of what you’re saying when you have certain emotions or feelings.

Pause for just a minute and think about what comes out of your mouth when you “feel” angry, or rejected, or disappointed, or frustrated.

Do you know your words hold the same power as God’s?

It’s true. That’s why you should be very careful about what comes out of your mouth. Especially in those moments that your feelings and emotions are trying to get the best of you.
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Together, Drenda and I want to help you understand how important both your emotions and your words are. We want you to know the crucial keys that might be working against you right now. You need to know how to harness their powers!

That’s why we created an incredibly powerful mentorship package for you—Drenda’s book, Better Than You Feel , paired with my two-part series, Your Words, Your World .

I’m confident that these two resources—the Better Than You Feel book and the Your Words, Your World two-part teaching series—will change your life for the better.

Request your copies here!

How to Make Sure Your Emotions Are Working For You - Part One

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Have you ever said anything like this?

Everything feels like a mess.

I can’t control how I feel!

I just wish I didn’t feel this way.

Do any of those statements sound familiar?

If so, you’re not alone.

We’ve all been there.

Everyone has let their feelings or emotions get out of hand at some point in their lives.

But what happens if your feelings and emotions keep making you lose your cool or shrink back from opportunities?

What happens if they’ve started negatively affecting your relationships with family, friends, or coworkers, or your life seems stuck because you haven’t been able to stay motivated?

First, know that it’s perfectly normal to have feelings and to feel emotions.

Your emotions are actually powerful TOOLS God gave you for your success.

God created positive emotions to help you:

Stay motivated to work toward your goals.
Push through circumstances.
Chase after your dreams.
Forgive more easily.
Love others.
Laugh.
Speak up and act against injustices.

But, negative emotions are a different story.

Negative emotions:

Are toxic, to you and to everyone around you.
Can stop you dead in your tracks, or send you down an undesired path of self-destruction, and you may end up taking others along for the ride.

So, what can you do?

How can you make sure your emotions and feelings are working FOR you and not against you?

The Bible tells us how in 1 Thessalonians 5:23:

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

So, we see we need to sanctify our emotions and feelings , but what does that mean?

It means that we need to:

Submit our emotions and feelings to God.
Set our emotions apart.
Clean up our emotions.
Manage our emotions as God would, so they can propel us toward our destinies the way He intended them to.

Now, we get to the point where you’re probably thinking: Sure, that’s just great, Gary. If I knew how to do all of that, I probably wouldn’t still be reading this.

I get it.

We were there for nine very long years.

Maybe you know some of our story, but Drenda and I spent years on a roller coaster of ups and downs with our feelings and emotions.

For nine very long years, we lived hand-to-mouth—in what could only be described as financial chaos.

I couldn’t even afford a postage stamp at one point. For years, we could barely afford our rent of $300 a month on our falling-apart farmhouse that had weeds growing through its windows, let alone the upkeep on our two rusted-out, bent up, high mileage cars.

We had also racked up 10 maxed out credit cards, three finance company loans at interest rates of 28%, more than $13,000 owed in back taxes, more than $26,000 owed to relatives, and we had judgments and liens filed against us.

I battled almost constant feelings of fear, discontentment, and failure , and Drenda would fight feeling overwhelmed by and unhappy about our circumstances. She also feared that she’d appear weak if she shared her feelings with anyone.

Not only that, but I also felt physically sick during those days. ( You can imagine the added emotions and feelings Drenda was dealing with in trying to deal with me. )

You name the negative feeling and either Drenda or I probably had it—no, lived it—during those nine long years. We were both constantly fighting the downward spirals our emotions and feelings tried to take us on.
We were believers, but we were miserable.

It felt like wishful thinking to think we’d ever have joy and peace.

What happened?

Did You Forget About This on Easter?

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 19:13:27 GMT

How did you celebrate Easter?

Yes, Easter. The day that is usually about egg hunts and baskets and candy and the Easter bunny and dressing up in fancy outfits and going to church.

Because, we all know, this year was drastically different. With most Americans under orders to stay at home, how we celebrated Easter changed for maybe the first time in our lives. Church services were online, or listened to from parked cars drive-in-theater-style. Dresses and cute little Easter hats and bow ties and vests for the kiddos were left in their closets. Egg hunts only happened in our own yards, not in communities.

So much about how we celebrate Easter changed.

But why we celebrate didn't.

Maybe you only took communion with Saltine crackers and grape juice from your living room in front of the TV, but why you took communion didn't change.

Maybe you joined your church's Easter service online while you were still in your pajamas, but why you chose to join in didn't change.

Because on Easter we celebrate that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We take communion. We stop to think about the horror He went through for us, and we're grateful He took our place.

But this Easter especially, I want to make sure that no one forgets that Jesus's death isn’t the most important part of the story— it’s that He rose from the grave.

Imagine with me for a minute that you’re sitting in the defendant’s chair in a court of law. Since the Bible tells us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren, imagine he's sitting on the other side of the courtroom as the plaintiff.

Now, imagine Satan telling the judge over and over again that you owe him. He is taking you to court, accusing you in front of the judge, because he wants you to pay the price for what you've done. He wants justice. In his mind, the only way for you to pay for what you've done is for you to belong to him .

But you have the best attorney possible.

Your attorney tells the judge that He already stepped in on your behalf and paid the price for you to walk away from all of Satan's accusations, taunting, and tactics.

The judge bangs His gavel and says, "Case dismissed."

And you walk away FREE and CLEAR.

Jesus is your attorney. He is the one who already stepped in on your behalf and paid the price for you to walk away free and clear.

Only Jesus could live up to the Law. He was judged by the Law and pronounced innocent. Jesus didn’t sin. He was tempted as we are, but He had a nature of light. His death was a set-up. In Acts 8:32 we read that Jesus was deprived of justice. Jesus, the only one who wasn’t guilty, was crucified as being guilty FOR YOU AND FOR ME .

Satan had done something illegal in the spiritual courts of law. He deprived Jesus of justice. Satan thought he was getting away with something because Jesus was innocent. And Jesus didn’t even open His mouth to defend Himself. He was silent, willfully walking into His death.

Because God had a plan.

Yes, Jesus paid the price in our place. Justice demanded an answer. Jesus was the answer. He was the only man on the face of the earth that could give God the legality in the earth realm. Because of His death, the Bible says that you now rule as kings and queens.

Because of His death, you now possess the righteousness of Jesus. You stand before God innocent. It’s not an emotional thing. No matter how you feel or what you see or how much dysfunction, chaos, pressure, stress, or fear Satan tries to throw at you, you can enforce your legal rights as a believer, because Jesus already stood in the gap.

Jesus gave His life on the cross to buy us back from evil.

Then He ROSE from the grave, defeating death, and EVERY other lesser work of darkness.

Jesus didn't just pay for our sins. He OVERCAME death. He gave us liberty. He made us sons and daughters of God Almighty. He gave us amazing benefits.

There is nothing greater that has happened in the history of the earth.

So, as far as God is concerned, whatever you might be dealing with is a legal matter—a court case—that was ALREADY settled ( dismissed! ) 2,000 years ago in a spiritual court of law!

It's already DEFEATED, CONQUERED !

No matter what problem you’re facing—in your marriage, in your family, in your finances, in your business, in your body— you can be confident in your legal right that you will see justice served on your behalf as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

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God is the God of Justice and His Kingdom is one of laws that do NOT change. If you're putting up with things you don't have to like dysfunction, chaos, unrighteousness, and fear, it's because you don't know who you really are and the authority you have in this life.

You have a legal right for justice to be served on your behalf. You can stand on the promises of God, justify yourself, and overcome the enemy.

Learn how to enforce justice and get your victory in this life!

Download your copy of my The Cry for Justice mentorship series now.

Want to learn step-by-step, what Drenda and I learned about the Kingdom of God and how it completely changed our lives?

Click here for your FREE access to the first month’s module of Provision Institute !

Why Leading By Example is So Important

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 00:33:50 GMT

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Actions speak louder than words,” but did you realize that was some of the best parenting advice you could ask for?

It’s true!

A mom called me distraught about her son. He had been out drinking, stopped attending church, and turned his back on God.

Through tears, she said, “I don’t understand how this happened! We raised him in church! What did we do wrong? Why is this happening to us?”

I comforted her and prayed with her for her son.

But what happened with her son?

She was right; they did attend church pretty regularly. That wasn't the problem. The problem was this woman and her husband said the right words on the weekend, but their ACTIONS preached a different message all week.

Which do you think had a bigger impact on their son?

Their son never saw them pursuing God or making Him a priority outside of Sunday morning. In fact, if sporting or social events came up, they were quick to take priority over church.

From her son’s perspective, God was just an optional weekend activity.

You can preach to your children every day about what they should or shouldn’t do, but the greatest influence on your children’s lives won’t be what they hear you SAY—it will be what they see you DO.

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” —Brennan Manning

My daughter Kirsten used to work in preschool at our church on the weekends. When she got done, she would often tell me about the cute and funny things children said to her.

One day, she told me about how she was serving in the three-year-old class with another teacher when a child became unmanageable. He was going into fits of rage, falling on the floor screaming, trying to hit other children, and stealing their toys. They called his parents back to get him.

As they began to explain what happened to the parents, the father didn’t seem surprised or concerned at all. He not only made excuses for his son, but he gave him candy to make him happy!

The mom, who hadn’t said a word, timidly spoke up. “Well, he is acting very disobedient...”

Her husband started yelling, pointing his finger in his wife’s face, and told her not to talk about their son that way. He backed her into a corner, and continued to yell at her. The mother didn’t act as though any of it was an unusual occurrence.

Suddenly, the little boy’s actions made complete sense to my daughter and the other teacher.

He was only acting out the behavior he had seen modeled for him by his father.

Children reflect their home lives.

Your children don’t just need to hear you talking about God or what’s right and what’s wrong—they need to see an example of it in your life.

I can be a bit of a talker. Whenever I had something I wanted to instill into my children, my first instinct was to verbalize it in a million different ways until they got the point. The thing is, our children don’t act out what they hear, they act out what they see!

The best approach we can take in investing the right qualities into our children is to make sure we are modeling those qualities for them in ourselves.

If you want to instill the importance of honoring God and being in community with other believers by attending church, you need to make church a priority over everything else on the weekends, including sporting or social events.

If you want your children to have a relationship with God that extends beyond church on Sunday, then you need to model a relationship with God that extends beyond Sunday in your own life.

If you want your children to spend less time on their phones, then you have to spend less time on your phone.

Do you see the pattern?

Kids reenact what they see , not what they hear .

Of course, no one is a perfect parent. Thankfully, your children can learn from your mistakes as well.

There were many times when I fell short when my children were growing up. But when I messed up, I had to make the decision to use my mistakes as a learning opportunity for my children, and then I had to make the effort to do better moving forward.

Most importantly, your children need to see the evidence of God’s goodness in your life. They need to see your faith in action.

When Kirsten was younger, I asked her why she served God. She told me, “Growing up, it worked all the time. We lived by God’s Word. We always prayed. We always saw God come through. And that’s how I grew up. I never expected anything else.”

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

If there’s something in your life communicating the wrong message to your children, today is the day to change it.

Lead by example.

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In a world that has traded the ability to mentor children God’s way for a world of distractions and instant gratification, we need real answers to the struggles we face as parents.

Get your copy of The New Vintage Family: A Vintage Look for the Modern-Day Family , and learn to use the four pillars of family to effectively communicate, and to fit the pieces of family mentorship, business, and home life together for success!

4 Secrets to Strengthen Your Family

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 23:59:34 GMT

Good parenting is all about being intentional.

Here are a few secrets to strengthen your family and help you make the most of your time as a parent!

1. Trust yourself.

Our culture is filled with distractions, opinions, offenses, and debates. It’s exhausting!

Parents today are bombarded with worry and criticism, and it can be easy to start doubting:

Am I choosing the right school?

Am I doing enough to further their faith?

Am I buying and preparing the right foods? Organic? GMO? Gluten-free? ?

Stop! Read these words carefully, so they sink in:

You. Are. Enough.

You are doing a great job.

Don’t let things like approval seeking or people pleasing stand between your family and its purpose.

2. Tune in to God.

Tune out the voices and demands of the culture, and tune into God’s voice. Go to His Word to seek clarity. His Word always produces returns! Get in His presence with any concerns about your children, and He will provide answers.

Proverbs 3:6 tells us, “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

The enemy uses distraction to get us away from the truth and knock us off our purpose.

Don’t let that happen! Your children are counting on you to give them security, and there is no real security apart from God!

3. Know and pursue God’s purpose for your family.

Part of providing your children with security is having a vision for your family. The vision should be the compass for all of the decisions you and your spouse make.

Gary and I raised our children to know God, to be secure in His love for them, and to have faith in His purpose and assignment for their lives. Of course, we still made our share of mistakes, but we always taught them that their security, and their identities, are safe in Christ.

Go HERE for my full YouTube teaching on how to build your life and family right.

The culture is raising scared kids—kids who don’t believe there is a purpose for them, kids who feel lost and hopeless and angry because they are getting fed lies.

I want to encourage you to get clear on God’s vision for your family, so you can truly enjoy each step along the way.

You can’t be present in the moment unless you are trusting the outcome.

Trust God. Allow the Holy Spirit to move spontaneously through your day, and you will see amazing results.

4. Never pass up an opportunity to laugh.

I have so many amazing memories of sitting around the table and just laughing with my kids. I mean sides-hurting, tears-streaming-down-cheeks—mascara-stained tears/please don’t post that picture on Instagram—laughing.

Laughter solves a myriad of problems. Did you know that when you laugh, it releases feel-good endorphins in your brain?

There was one night my kids and I, who are all grown now, started talking about what we had learned over the years, and we just laughed and laughed! I went to bed feeling so happy.

God is so good!

Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

So today, put down your list of to-dos or expectations for the perfect frameable photo and let go! Show your children your silly side. I guarantee your family will experience amazing joy and, hopefully, some belly laughter of your own!

Never miss the chance to enjoy those moments; they are memories in the making.

5. Be an example.

You can preach to your children every day about what they should or shouldn’t do, but…

The greatest influence on your children’s lives won’t be what they hear you SAY—it will be what they see you DO!

Build your family right by being an example.

If we want our children to have a relationship with God that extends beyond church on Sunday, then we need to model a relationship with God that extends beyond Sunday in our lives.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to be a perfect parent. Your children can learn from your mistakes as well! If you lost your temper, take accountability.

Admitting to your family that you're not perfect is a good thing: it’s an opportunity to show your children that we all need God’s grace.

There are always going to be tough seasons as parents. I want you to know I am praying for you, and God is more powerful than any circumstance!

Leave the mistakes in the past, where they belong.

Be present today and every day.

Be the example of joy to those around you.

Your Stay-at-Home Survival Guide

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 22:53:46 GMT

With most of us on some sort of stay-at-home order, or being forced to homeschool your kids, or fill the hours with things to do, odds are you're looking for ideas to keep stay-at-home life from feeling like stuck-at-home-forever life.

In an ideal world, extra family time sounds great. But practicing social distancing with your family for an indefinite time period can seem daunting. And what happens when everyone goes stir crazy and there's nowhere for you to go?

Just because you have to stay home doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time.

Here are some tips and ideas for how to make the most of your time while you’re staying at home!

Remember, be mindful.

Nobody wants to live in isolation. Be mindful of how your children are processing this. It’s important for them to be aware that something is happening and that's why they must change their routine. But it’s also important for parents not to place their stress and concern on their children.

Here are some stay-at-home survival tips!

1. Come up with a post-quarantine bucket list.

Make a post-quarantine bucket list with all the things you wish you could be doing right now!

Many of us are wishing for the simple things right now, like going out to eat together, going to the movies, shopping at the mall, watching March Madness, preseason baseball, or going to a park.

Every time you or someone in your family wishes they were doing something that you can't do right now, put it on your bucket list for a future family day. Once the stay-at-home order is over, work through the list, and be grateful for the simple things most of us used to take for granted.

2. Have a game night.

Break out the puzzles and board games! With all of the technology available today, it can be tempting to just let our kids play XBox or binge watch Netflix or Disney+ all day. Even though you may all be in the same house, it's still important to interact. Play some games, even if it’s just a few times a week. Plan times to set aside all of the devices, turn off the news, and spend time together.

Movie nights are also a fun idea. There are so many ways to digitally access movies from your home. Many streaming services even offer a free trial period. Find a movie to watch as a family, or a TV show to watch a few episodes of together each week. Having something to watch as a family will be a lot more enjoyable than each person watching their shows individually.

3. Maintain some kind of structure, including time to get energy out.

It can be really tempting to just stay in pajamas all day, not set your alarm clock, and let everyone just do whatever they want. One day or an occasional day like that is fun, but you should try to keep your kids on as close to a normal schedule as possible for the most part.

Don’t get stuck in the habit of sleeping in, staying up late, snacking all day, and not doing any physical activity. Go on a walk and get some fresh air. It’s okay to bend the rules some, but acting like it’s eternal spring break will cause you to feel sluggish and create habits that will be hard to break when this has all passed.

Have everyone wake up at a consistent time, eat meals on your normal schedule, complete their schoolwork before playtime, or with scheduled breaks, and plan for recess. Let your kids play outside to get their energy out!

4. Tap into resources online, then take them offline.

Homeschooling can be challenging when you're not forced to do it, let alone being mandated to educate your child. Cut yourself some slack. Be sure to look for resources online to help you, as well as what the schools are providing.

When possible, look for ideas to have your kids get creative or learn a new skill offline. It’s much easier said than done, but it is possible to encourage learning offline. Try teaching your kids how to cook a meal, how to garden, even a chore that needs done!

5. Take time for yourself.

This is important. You need this time to prevent burnout. Go for a walk, wake up early to have some quiet time, or take some time to yourself when your kids are having screen time. Take a nice bath, spend time in prayer, do a project on your own, or get some things done that you need to do.

It’s important to take care of yourself during this time so that you can take care of your family as well.

6. Do a family Bible study.

This one is simple, but it’s probably one of the most important stay-at-home survival tips there is!

Church is now online, so watch as a family and spend some time discussing it!

If you have young kids, we have free children’s programming available at faithlifenowTV.com . Watch some programs together or pick a book of the Bible to read and discuss. There are also lots of online resources available on how to do a Bible study with kids. Get creative!

7. Practice gratitude.

You may be feeling overwhelmed with everything that's been going on and life being turned upside down, but I want to encourage you to practice gratitude during this time. See the extra time you have with your family as a blessing. Think about the people who have to stay-at-home alone during this season and how (most) of them would give anything to have other people with them.

Take advantage of the family time. Go on a hike, watch some movies, just be together. Use this time to learn a new skill, start a new task, or go further in your walk with God—this time will pass, and life will get back to normal!

What Happens When We Don't Pray

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 19:36:47 GMT

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).

Sometimes we get distracted, and our heart begins to callous toward hearing God’s voice, and we get of the mark. Life’s pressures have a way of choking out God’s Word, and so we have to reestablish our relationship with God and listen for His direction.

The busier we are, the more we need to pray.

There are always more journeys and challenges in life. We will never get to a place where we don’t need to continually follow God in our lives.

Your flesh doesn’t want you to pray.

The enemy doesn’t want you to pray.

The odds are against you. In fact, I guarantee you that every time you go to pray, something or someone will be available to distract you.

Why? What happens when we don’t pray?

Our trust is misplaced. We put our confidence in ourselves, or others, or things . We think things are going well. We’re handling it, or we have confidence that someone else is. We think our jobs are stable and we have enough money in the bank. Our needs are met.
We act rashly. We fly off the handle. We say things or do things we might regret. We break promises.
We can miss God’s will for our lives. Decision-making can be paralyzing. There is almost always more than one factor to consider. We can be blinded by our emotions, our intuition, or even deadlines.
We encounter troubles and hardships that could often be avoided. We go in circles that could be avoided or we’re pulled in different directions. We waste time and energy.
We lack direction to act or seize opportunities.
We become weighed down with fear, anxiety, and stress.
We lose our peace and joy.

So, how do you change things? How do you pray?

How do you make sure you don’t get distracted for hours, days, weeks, even months?

Just start.

Take the first step. Prayer is just talking to God.

The Bible says draw near to God and He'll draw near to you.

If you need help knowing what to pray, start by praying His Word—the Bible. It gives you everything you need to get started.

When you pray, you get God's perspective on life. God sees things differently than you, and when you get His perspective, fear goes out the door; worry goes out the door; answers start to come; and you see things clearly.

So don't stop. Let God be in the driver's seat. Let Him be with you and walk the day out with you. Seek Him. Seek His will for your life.

Pray without ceasing.

Are You Passing This Test Right Now?

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 02:00:04 GMT

GARY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THE GUY OBVIOUSLY ISN’T BORN AGAIN! YOU’RE A PASTOR!

When was the last time you were offended?

Today?

Yesterday?

We have the potential to pick up an offense every single day our lives.

We can get offended by something we heard on the news.

We can get offended by family members ( especially when we’re supposed to stay in our houses with them for very long periods of time ).

We can get offended by another driver on the road or in a parking lot.

We can get offended by people at the grocery store who don’t want to move their carts out of the way, or who are taking too many packages of toilet paper, or all of the frozen chicken packages...

Or the customer service rep on the telephone at the bank or the cable company, or…

See how long the list can get?

That’s because the enemy will do whatever he can to try to pull us out of love and out of peace.

And none of us are exempt. Not even pastors.

That Time I Took the Bait

Many, many years ago, after I first began to pastor, I let the enemy pull me out of love.

I was backing out of a driveway and I saw a bicyclist coming down the hill in the distance. But apparently, he was closer than he appeared, or going faster than I estimated, because when I backed out there he was.

And he was angry.

I hadn’t hit him, but he decided he was going to hit me .

He took his bike and kept beating it against my van and using words that weren’t appropriate and showing me his finger puppets.

So, I did what a lot of people would do.

I got offended.

And I thought I’d teach that guy a lesson.

The devil will set you up. It’s up to you whether you take the bait.

I took the bait.

I made a little plan to ambush the guy. I backed into another driveway down the road and waited for him. Then, I did something my wife can tell you that I’ve never really done in all the years we’ve been married—I rolled down the window and spoke his language for a few minutes.

Then, I hit the gas and grazed his bicycle.

I was so proud of myself.

For about thirty seconds.

Until I heard God YELL in my spirit, GARY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THE GUY OBVIOUSLY ISN’T BORN AGAIN! YOU’RE A PASTOR!

I had blown it.

Yes, then I tried to find the guy. Yes, I felt terribly guilty. But I also know I had felt justified when I was in the middle of it.

And that’s how most of us are, because we’ve all been trained in selfishness, not love.

God is Love

Romans 13:8-10 tells us that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. It says love does no harm.

2 Corinthians 5 says we are Christ’s ambassadors. We represent the government of God, and GOD IS LOVE.

So, if we step out of that—out of love—it’s exactly the same thing as committing adultery or murder as far as the Kingdom of God is concerned.

See, Satan doesn’t have to tempt you to murder someone or steal something. His job is much easier than that— he just has to tempt you to come outside of love and he’s succeeded at getting you to step outside of God’s legal jurisdiction.

That’s why love is a decision made one moment at a time.

It’s not about how you feel or your emotions; it’s about making the decision to walk in love instead of allowing yourself to be lured into offense.

Because Satan will continue to use people , and he’ll keep trying every day all day.

He’ll keep setting up schemes and people to try to pull you out of love, especially right now when so many other things are going on around you.

AND HE’LL TRY TO USE YOU TO OFFEND OTHERS, TOO.

Offense is one of the enemy's greatest missions— he even tried it with Jesus.

But Jesus passed the test.

In the midst of the greatest betrayal, Jesus still taught love and forgiveness, and gave Himself for it. He didn't take any of the bait.

What about you? Would you take the bait? Would you pass the love test, especially right now?

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Hear more on this critical topic in one of THE MOST well-received, most talked about series of any I’ve taught— Why? Big Questions for God

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An "Act of God"? What Do YOU Really Believe?

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 20:15:12 GMT

What do you think when you hear someone talking about an “act of God”?

You know, the things the insurance companies and news stations label like tornadoes that destroy entire neighborhoods, floods that completely ruin towns, and viruses that run rampant around the globe?

What do you really believe about God and about His character when you hear things like that?

Because so many people have been tricked into believing that God isn’t good. Satan has worked overtime for more than 2,000 years telling people lies and distorting the character of God. It’s his goal to convince as many people as possible that God isn’t good or trustworthy.

Satan wants you to believe that God is unpredictable; that He’s good to some people, but that He “allows” bad things to happen to teach people lessons or to punish people for wrong choices; that He takes people from earth early because He “needs another angel in heaven”; or that He just flat out expects too much from us.

But those are all lies.

That’s not God’s character.

Why does it matter what you believe about God's character?

Because in order for you to live in all that God has for you, you must have a right perception of who He is.

How you live your life and the outcomes of your life are dependent on how you view God.

You must have a proper perspective of His character.

How can you find out what's true about His character?

1. Read the Bible.

We learn about God’s character from His Word. His Word shows us clearly who He is:

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. - James 1:16-17

For everything God created is good… - 1 Timothy 4:4

GOD IS GOOD. He is always the same. He does not change.

And He doesn’t do bad things to people.

To say that God does bad things to good people doesn’t match what the Bible says about Him and who He is.

Acts 10:38 says Jesus went around doing GOOD and healing ALL who were oppressed of the devil.

It’s Satan who oppresses, not God. God doesn’t’ change depending on the situation. His character will never change. He is ALWAYS good. You can trust Him.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

2. Ask Him.

God is the God of answers. He wants us to understand His Kingdom and how it operates so we can experience His promises in our lives and effectively walk out our God-designed futures.

You need knowledge of who God is and how His Kingdom operates. You can't receive from Him or fully believe His promises to you if you have a faulty picture of Him and His Kingdom.

Have you ever built something that ended up not working? Ever stood back and looked at something you did and said, ‘Wait a minute. Something is wrong here?’ You got frustrated, right? Then you went back to the instructions you never bothered to read in the first place and you start dissecting everything and you realize you have a screw in the wrong place, a wire disconnected, and that you need batteries. When you finally fix the issues, and get it in alignment, it works just like it was supposed to.

The BIBLE is just like that. It’s supposed to work just like it says. If there’s a malfunction, it is NEVER on God’s end.

He wants to tell you WHY it’s not working. He wants to help you make changes, tell you exactly where you missed it, and give you the right picture of Him and His Kingdom. So, ask Him! Pray and ask Him where the malfunction is!

Friend, what you believe about God and His character sets the stage for your entire belief system.

No matter what may be going on around you—what trial you may be facing or situation you might be in— you can stand steadfast knowing that God is good and faithful and that His plan is to work in everything for your good.

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Want answers about who God is and the incredible things He has for your life?

Get them now—

Download Because You Asked: Faith instantly for your gift of any amount.

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Is Fear Trying to Beat Down Your Door?

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:59:43 GMT

As I listened to it, the Holy Spirit suddenly filled the room. Immediately, I knew that I had to get this out as soon as possible.

Just CLICK HERE and use promo code: NOFEAR for your COMPLETELY FREE instant download of the MP3 version of Revolution of the Mind: Fear !

Please download it, listen to it, and share the link and promo code with everyone you know.

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There was a time in my life when fear didn't just try to beat down my door every single day...

I let fear in.

I was so afraid, I didn't want to leave my house. I was so overcome by fear that my body was nearly paralyzed. I had numbness in my face and other parts of my body for two months!

Then God showed me the strategy I needed to fight and silence fear.

I want to share it with you.

But first, I want to remind you that YOU WERE CREATED AND ANOINTED FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.

What should you do when fear is consistently knocking on (or trying to beat down) your door?

1. Stay in faith—in agreement with what God says about you, your future, and your life.

Let me just say it— you can't watch news reports 24/7 and expect to stay in faith, especially right now.

Turn the television off. Put down your phone. Unsubscribe to the updates.

Don't just find something else to do; spend time saturating your mind with the Word of God.

You've probably heard me talking about how important your "picture" is—the picture you see of yourself and your life when you close your eyes.

As you allow the Word to sink in to your heart and mind, when you close your eyes, you'll see the picture of what God says about you and your future. You'll have faith for that picture. And fear cannot overtake your faith!

2. Spend time praying in the Holy Spirit—asking God for insight and wisdom in this time.

There are a couple of reasons you want to do this:

1) To stay strong in the presence of God for yourself; and

2) To be aware of incredible opportunities.

You'll want to get direction from the Holy Spirit on how to minister to those around you.

The world’s language is fear. The Bible says that fear is torment . You probably know that, especially if you've ever battled fear yourself.

You probably also know that a lot of people are really scared right now.

As I was rummaging around my office the other day, I found a Scripture project I did a couple of years ago titled Revolution of the Mind: Fear .

As I listened to it, the Holy Spirit suddenly filled the room. Immediately, I knew that I had to get this out as soon as possible.

Just CLICK HERE and use promo code: NOFEAR for your COMPLETELY FREE instant download of the MP3 version of Revolution of the Mind: Fear !

Please download it, listen to it, and share the link and promo code with everyone you know.

Praying in the spirit will also help you see some of the amazing financial opportunities in the days ahead, and there will be many!!!!!

Remember, you are the light in dark times!

God did not give you a spirit of fear.

He has already equipped you to overcome every strategy of the enemy! You have the victory!

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Get more encouragement! Go to Faith Life Now TV for FREE 24/7 livestreaming of our services, Scripture readings, mentorship teachings, and children’s programming!

How to Conquer Your Fears

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 18:45:38 GMT

“Coronavirus will change the world permanently.”

“Everything is going to be shut down.”

“You might already have the coronavirus without knowing it.”

We’ve all lived through several weeks of being bombarded with one negative report after another, with stats and charts and dire predictions, with our lives slowing to a crawl, or flat out coming to a complete halt, or being turned upside down.

Right now, you might even feel like you’re in the fight of your life against fear and hopelessness.

When you hear negative reports everywhere you turn, it’s easy to bow down to fearful thoughts. Fear is a real emotion, and it will try to paralyze you if you let it.

God has plans He wants you to fulfill that are bigger than you could imagine, but fear will keep you from stepping out in faith.

Fear makes us focus on the problem or circumstance instead of the future God has for us. Fear makes us think of the worst-case scenarios instead of what we can be doing right now to share the love of Jesus and see people saved. It makes us lose sight of reality and the promises of God.

BUT OUR GOD IS BIGGER. He knows what is happening, and there is NO problem He can’t solve.

You don’t have to live as a slave to fear.

God Has Called You to Greater

God has called us to live extraordinary lives. He wants to use us to promote His Kingdom and share His love with the world. God is still moving and is still performing miracles today!

God wants to move through us and demonstrate Himself to the world! Jesus told His disciples before He left, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father” (John 14:12, NLT).

Satan knows that God has incredible plans for all of our lives. One of the methods he will use to keep us from following God’s plan is fear . He will use fear to convince us that we are not capable of all that God has for us, or that the risk isn’t worth stepping out.

If you’re looking for a path to your purpose that doesn’t require you to take any risks, you’ll be waiting forever.

You will never be able to pursue the destiny God has for you without the courage to step out in faith.

How Satan Uses Fear

Fear works little by little. It starts with allowing one thought of worry to live in your head and slowly tries to grow until fear becomes a way of life. Fear will hold you captive if you let it.

My mama used to always tell me, “Now Drenda, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.”

That is such a great analogy for what fear does in our lives. Fear turns small problems into huge, paralyzing obstacles.

When fear tries to rise up inside of you, take a step back and get a God perspective on the situation.

Fear can manifest in many different ways. It can lead to stress and anxiety, as well as impact our overall mental health.

Think about it: How different would your life look today if you were completely fearless? If you had NO FEAR, what would you do differently?

How to Overcome Fear

So, how can you overcome fear?

Use the Word of God as your weapon.

The Bible tells us to cast down every imagination that goes against what God’s Word says (2 Corinthians 10:5). That means when you start to imagine symptoms of sickness, you have to make that imagination line up with the Word of God that says by His stripes you are healed.

Use the Word of God as your weapon against fear by renewing your mind to the TRUTH of His promises!

When you know that you know that something is true, it doesn’t matter what the news says, what a doctor says, or what you read on social media. You know the truth!

That's why it's so important that you renew your mind with God’s truth MORE than you renew your mind with the world’s facts.

When you renew your mind and spirit with God’s Word, you are literally rewiring your brain to think like Jesus.

Need help with this?

Go to FaithLifeNow.com/TV NOW for FREE resources designed to help you renew your mind, including Live Whole, a free 24-hour streaming of Scriptures read out loud about healing , and Fear Not, a free 24-hour streaming of Scriptures read out loud to help you have peace !

Friend, I know that having confidence in God’s plan can be scary, especially when you don’t have an alternative option. No backups, just God. There have been many instances in my life where Gary and I have felt called to something and people looked at us like we were nuts! But each time God showed up, it increased our confidence that the next time He called us to do something, He would show up again.

After years of following Christ, I can confidently say that He WILL show up every single time. I’ve seen it not just in my life, but I have seen it in so many others’ lives as well. It might not happen the way you pictured it, but God’s plan is better than anything you could ASK, THINK, or IMAGINE (Ephesians 3:20)!

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27, NLT).

It's Not an Accident. You're Being Set Up.

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 23:49:00 GMT

We really rattled the audience with the set up…

I stood at one side of the stage holding a rifle, and my son, Tom, stood about 100 feet away on the other side of the stage, and he was holding a balloon.

Do you see where this is going?

But the audience didn’t have all the facts. See, it was pellet rifle I was holding, and there was no pellet in the gun.

Tom had a little pin in his hand.

The moment I pulled the trigger on the empty pellet rifle, Tom used the little pin to pop the balloon.

So to the audience, it LOOKED like I had shot at the balloon.

We had effectively set the stage. We evoked emotions. We got a reaction. We really rattled the audience.

But it was all just a set up.

We were making a point.

See, you and I have an enemy that despises us, and he’s not playing games. He wants to take us out. He wants to stop the Kingdom of God from manifesting and he wants to hinder the plans of God for your life.

He is against you.

It’s war.

1 Peter 5:8 warns us: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

He’s not looking for the unbelievers, because he already has them. No, he’s looking for the believers.

He’s looking for you.

So what should you do?

How can you be alert?

First, you need to know what you’re looking for. You’ve got to know his tactics. You’ve got to understand his methods. Because he can really set you up if you’re not paying attention.

And that’s exactly the point Tom and I wanted to make.

Just like our little set up with the empty gun and the little pin, the enemy will set up schemes and scenarios to play YOU like a fiddle if you don’t know the truth.

John 10:10 tells us that the enemy only comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

But you don’t have to fear.

Satan has no authority—ZERO. And he has no right to your life.

The Bible says in Hebrews 2:7 that God put everything under our dominion.

God crowned Adam with glory and honor, and he ruled in the earth realm under delegated authority. Adam had delegated authority until he sinned. Then he gave his crown away to Satan. But God sent Jesus to restore the delegated authority.

Look through the Word of God. It doesn’t talk about spiritual warfare against Satan.

BECAUSE HE'S ALREADY BEEN DEFEATED.

And because you’re in the Kingdom of God, Satan can’t touch you.

The King James Version of 1 Peter 5:8 says, “ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he MAY devour.”

“May” means expressing the possibility, expressing permission, or expressing a wish or hope.

That’s why Satan has to set up schemes and tactics. He has to lure you OUTSIDE of God’s legal jurisdiction—outside of God’s safety, protection, and authority—so that he MAY devour you.

In Genesis 3, we see one of the tactics he’s been using since man was created— deception.

Satan asked Eve, “Did God really say you must not eat of any of the trees in the Garden?”

It was a set up.

And it’s a trick he’s still using.

You don’t have to look any further than popular television programs or the top-grossing movies or popular music lyrics to really see that.

The enemy portrays what is good as bad and what is bad as good, and people keep buying it.

It’s not an accident; it’s a tactic; a set up.

Satan wants to desensitize you.

Because what you consider normal, you’ll never fight against.

Satan is also deceiving people into thinking that what they drink, eat, snort, shoot, chase, or go into debt for will make them feel happy, glorified, worthy, and accepted. And those “carrots” he dangles can all look really good in the moment.

But those are set ups too.

Because Satan knows that if he can get people to forsake what God says and go after what he says instead, they’ll reap his destruction.

Here’s the thing friend: You are the door of your life.

You have the authority.

You just have to know what to stay alert to and how to stay alert.

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Friend, you’re in a battle.

You need to know you’re in a battle—that Satan and his demons hate you with a passion because you’re made in the image of God. Satan wants to destroy God’s plan—His creation—and you’re it.

But you’re not alone. The entire government of God is backing you up.

God has angels on assignment specifically to help you fulfill your God-designed assignment.

You’ve been given authority.

You can live a fearless life.

You just need to know how to be alert and on guard and stay alert.

GOD IS BIGGER THAN THE CORONAVIRUS

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 05:50:29 GMT

With President Trump asking us to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, schools shutting down all over the U.S., and negative reports on repeat about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), a lot of unrest and fear has hit our nation.

I want to encourage you with Psalm 23:4 (ESV) today:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

As believers, we don’t have to live in fear of the coronavirus. God is bigger than the coronavirus! It’s easy to have peace when things are going well, but only the peace of God can carry us through even in the face of difficult circumstances.

I want to encourage you that God’s healing power is still alive and present today, and the same God who raised Jesus from the dead is watching over you during this national crisis! God wants you to be healed emotionally and physically, and it is His will that you walk in freedom and in health!

Healing in the Gospels

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus healed all the sick around Him. He never refused to heal someone. Anyone who sought Him for healing was healed.

Matthew 15:30 (NLT) says, “A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all.”

We see a variety of individuals with illnesses and health problems brought to Jesus, and He healed them ALL . There was no one He refused to heal and nothing He was incapable of healing. And that same healing power is available for you today!

We can find examples throughout the Gospels of instances where Jesus healed all those around Him who needed healing. (See Luke 4:40, Luke 9:11, Matthew 9:35, Mark 6:56, and Luke 6:19, to name a few.)

There are many other verses where we see Jesus healing ALL of those who came to Him. And God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8, NLT). And as God’s children, all of His promises are “Yes” and “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Based on the Bible, it’s clear that God wants us to live healthy and whole lives. His healing power is still present and at work today.

Healing Today

What if I told you that with God you don’t have to accept the diagnosis from the doctor and live with sickness?

First Peter 2:24 (NIV) says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

Beyond reading any Scriptures, I know that God still heals today because I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes over and over again!

Amy's Story

For nine years, our daughter Amy knew something was wrong with her body. Over time her body became disfigured, with her spine full of knots and her stomach so swollen that people constantly thought she was pregnant.

After believing God for healing, she woke up one morning, and she was completely healed overnight ! She was thirteen pounds lighter, nine inches smaller in her waist, and pain free!

That’s just one of many, many stories I have seen personally of God’s power to heal. I have seen God heal people of cancer, M.S., heart disease, and more—and He can heal people from the coronavirus!

God wants to heal you, but you have to believe that He can and will. It takes faith to believe for your healing, and the enemy does not want you to believe that God is still actively healing today.

God's Will Regarding Healing g

God wants His children to be healthy. It’s a common misconception that God causes sickness to teach us something or to use it for His glory. He does NOT cause His children to suffer.

The Bible tells us in James 1:17 (NLT) “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”

God gives His children good things. And when He heals you from sickness, He will use it for His glory and as a way to reach others and bring them to Him. Who wouldn’t want to follow a God who heals?

Your healing testimony can greatly impact the world for God, so Satan does not want you to believe that God still heals today. In fact, he will try to convince you that it’s God’s will for you to be suffering. It’s important for you to spot the lies of the enemy and know what is true!

When negative thoughts or fear try to speak into your life, choke those thoughts out with the truth of God’s Word!

God is Our Healer

Whatever the future holds, I want you to know that GOD IS BIGGER THAN COVID-19.

Choose faith over fear today, and trust in the promises of God for your healing, health, and protection. Luke 1:37 (NIV) says, “For no word from God will ever fail.”

If you need healing today, believe God for it. It’s wise to seek the advice of medical professionals, but we do not have to accept what they say as our ultimate fate. Pray and meditate on what God’s Word says about the situation!

Your healing may happen instantly, but it may not. Don’t get discouraged if you are not instantly healed. There may be a short time between the “Yes” and “Amen,” but beneath the surface, know that you are already healed when you pray, even if it takes a little bit for your physical body to show the results of what has already happened in the spiritual!

Remember that you are God’s child and He loves you. The victory is already won, and death was conquered when Jesus died on the Cross and rose from the dead.

GOD IS BIGGER than the coronavirus!

It's Time to Snap Out of It

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 05:32:52 GMT

There was a wedding ring in the offering bag.

Do you know that story?

Years ago, back before we started television, I was a guest speaker in Albania. The Lord had told me to share the principles of His Kingdom with the nations, so there I was in Albania.

Now, Albania is a very poor nation, so I had absolutely no plans to take an offering while I was there. I was the guy that gave the money, not the one who accepted money. But God spoke to me that evening and told me to take an offering so the people would have an opportunity to respond to what they had been taught.

So, I was obedient; I took the offering, and the Spirit of God fell in that place and there was an anointing there like I had never seen before.

Later, when the leader emptied the offering bag, there in the pile was a wedding ring.

It was a powerful message from the Lord. He clearly told me that the ring represented the covenant that I was to teach people about.

He said, Let this ring be a remembrance to you Gary.

Now, I wish I could tell you that getting that ring and that word from God “sealed the deal” for my faith—that I never, ever, ever struggled again with staying in faith. But I can't.

See, Drenda and I are walking this faith journey out just like you are.

We’re in this together. We face the same kinds of situations you do.

And sometimes those situations take more courage than faith.

When we first started television in 2005, we were only on once per week. Our bills were doable. Of course, television bills only get higher every year, especially if you make the switch from weekly broadcasts to daily broadcasts, which we did.

That basically meant that our television bill more than doubled overnight.

We got about six months into doing daily television and things weren’t going as well as I had hoped; in fact, the situation was downright difficult and not getting any better.

That’s when I stepped out of faith.

I just couldn’t see a way out of the difficulties. I had let the situation fog my mind.

When you step out of faith and get a foggy mind, you stop taking territory and start looking for ways to take a step back.

That’s what I did.

I let the situation fog my mind. My perspective was off. I even started to think, Maybe we should just go back to weekly television.

The fog of fear and unbelief was distorting my perspective. Much like the captain of a ship can’t get his bearings in the fog, I had lost my reference point.

I knew what God had said, but I had let the voice of the situation become louder than His voice.

Is that you? Have you let a situation in your life fog your mind?

Have you let the voice of a situation become louder than the voice of God?

Because that’s exactly what the enemy wants. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy (1 Peter 5:8), and he starts by distorting things to get you in a fog.

He wants you to stop taking territory. He wants to stop you; he wants your mind foggy and your perspective to be off so you can’t be effective.

It’s time to snap out of it!

You can move forward in the face of fear.

Don’t just sit on the sidelines wondering what’s going to happen.

Don’t let the enemy get on your case or put you in fear—

YOU PUT FEAR IN HIM!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Want to know how you can do more than "cope" with fear, anxiousness, worry, and doubt?

Download your copy of Gary's Fear Not series now!

No More Missing Out on All God Has for You

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 17:51:32 GMT

“Why aren’t you up there?” I (Gary) heard the Lord ask me as I sat in the audience watching the top 10 business owners get recognized onstage.

“What, Lord?” I thought. “I didn’t think I’d need to explain it to You! You know how busy I am with the ministry and pastoring now. You’re the One that called us to this! The business had to take a back seat.”

But before I had a chance to argue with Him, He said, “I want you up there. I want My name known.”

What?! It was already late February! Getting on that stage next year would mean doing $10 million in business, more than DOUBLE what we had done the last few years.

I had sat in that audience FOR 18 YEARS, perfectly content with just being on the trip. After all, I was already at capacity.

I had no idea how in the world we would get on that stage the next year. It looked impossible.

But God knew.

You might already know that long before Drenda and I started ministering and pastoring a church, we had started a financial services company. We’ve had that company now for about 37 years.

Through that company, we have a lot of different vendors we work with, and many of those companies offer reward programs for doing business with them.

Before we pastored, our business was a top producer for a lot of those vendors. In fact, for years, we were ranked number one out of the 5,000+ offices that offered the same types of services worldwide.

But then we started the church, and the business went on the back burner. Of course, we were perfectly fine with that. We were being obedient to God, launching a church, and homeschooling our five kids. I loved the new call of God on my life, and I had accepted the fact that our business wasn’t ranked number one anymore.

Over the years, there has been one vendor in particular that we worked with that had these conventions in great locations every year, and they would offer an expenses paid trip to the convention as a reward each year.

During those conventions, the company would always recognize the top 10 producing business owners from the previous year on stage. Those business owners would get a chance to share their stories, and they would each receive a $100,000 bonus check.

FOR 18 YEARS , I sat in the audience at those conventions just thankful to make the trip, because we were busy pastoring our church.

And then God asked me why I wasn’t up there on the stage.

You can be sure that His question rattled me. Sure, God wanted me on that stage, but I had no clue how it would happen. I was already at max capacity! I didn’t have the time or the energy to work toward that goal.

But God had bigger plans.

Because Drenda and I know anything is possible with God, we sowed a seed and believed God would show us exactly what to do to make it happen.

And He did.

It all started with a UNIQUE STRATEGY.

God gave me a dream in the night that showed me one small tweak to make in how we had been running our company.

But that small tweak—that UNIQUE STRATEGY —made a tremendous difference that year, and our company made the $10 million we needed to be in the top 10.

We got up on that stage and gave God all the glory.

GOD HAS A UNIQUE STRATEGY FOR YOU, TOO, FRIEND.

He wants to help you.

In Matthew 13:11, Jesus said the knowledge of the secrets , or mysteries , of the Kingdom of heaven has been given to US but not to them.

You aren’t supposed to just stumble through life hoping things will work out or sit in the audience watching everyone else get recognized when you could be making His name known.

God wants to show YOU the secrets, or mysteries, of the Kingdom so you can advance and win in life!

One of those secrets—a KEY secret, or mystery—is the POWER OF STRATEGY.

See, too often, we forget we’re in a spiritual battle, and we don’t take the spiritual adversary we have seriously. We’ve seen too many TV shows and cartoons that downplay the enemy to just some creepy guy with horns and a red cape. In fact, you wouldn’t believe the number of Christians who don’t believe Satan is real.

But he is. And so are his demons, and they don’t want to see you prosper and live the incredible life God has for you. This is the reason the Bible says Jesus spoke in parables—it was God’s unique strategy to keep things from the enemy.

Think about it. You have an enemy that wants to stop you dead in your tracks; that would love to keep YOU sitting in the audience of life (like me for 18 YEARS!) instead of making God’s name known and telling the world that He is the reason for your incredible success.

That’s why God uses UNIQUE STRATEGIES.

UNIQUE STRATEGIES from God are YOUR SECRET WEAPONS.

Friend, God has the answers you need. He wants to give you direction for your life. He wants to help you have the incredible life He’s designed for you. He wants to get you out of the audience!

YOU must step out in faith and trust Him to show you exactly what to do.

Let Him help you.

Ask Him to tell you what you need to do and where you need to go.

Ask Him what you need to tweak, or change, or adjust so YOU can go where He is calling YOU.

And just so you know in advance—a God-inspired strategy might seem foolish to your way of thinking. Just like I never would’ve thought that making one small tweak to a business process would help make a $6 million difference. Or how Peter probably never would’ve thought that he could get a coin out of the mouth of a fish…

“…go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

—Matthew 17:27b (NLT)

How’s that for a UNIQUE STRATEGY? Have you ever heard of anyone else anywhere in the world catching a fish with money in its mouth?

That story shows us more than just how amazing Jesus is; it teaches us a critical lesson:

We have to be willing to listen and obey when we get unusual instructions from God.

Granted, Jesus still had Peter catch a fish, which he clearly knew how to do as a professional fisherman. The enemy knew that. It wasn’t a big deal for Peter to be fishing. As far as the enemy was concerned, Peter was just going about his normal day.

But God was using a UNIQUE STRATEGY to meet their need.

God will do the same things for you that He did for Peter and for me!

YOU can get the exact answer you need exactly when you need it.

God knows where your provision is, and He wants you to have the answers you need!

He has hidden the secrets of His Kingdom FOR you, not FROM you.

Psalm 23 says God delights in preparing a table for you in the presence of your enemy . God uses UNIQUE STRATEGIES to advance His cause right under the enemy's nose. He loves that. (We do too. It makes for the best stories!)

And that’s how God wants to use YOU.

That’s how He used Drenda and me.

The devil never had a clue that I would someday be out of debt, let alone declaring the good news of the Kingdom in the area of money, or standing on a stage giving God the glory for our incredible, impossible-without-God success! Neither did I. But as we followed God and asked God to show us how to do things, everything changed!

YOU need YOUR UNIQUE STRATEGY from God.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE POWER OF STRATEGY!

Understanding how God works undercover using THE POWER OF STRATEGY is one of the single GREATEST keys to your success and victory in life.

It’s critical that you understand this if you want to capture the opportunities God has for you.

That’s why we’ve created not just one, but TWO incredible Power of Strategy package options for you this month!

No more missing out on the great things God has and wants for you!

God has your plan, friend! He wants you to have incredible stories of UNUSUAL STRATEGIES to share too!

Don’t wait another day. Get the Power of Strategy mentorship package that is right for YOU TODAY and see how the power of strategy can change your life!

The Power of Strategy Complete Package

Already have The Power of Strategy book ? Get your Power of Strategy Workbook and How to Navigate Life CD series here.

Virus Alert! When Should You Panic?

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT

I'm just going to go there right away...

You shouldn't panic.

Yes, you should be taking precautions. But you shouldn't panic.

Why?

I'll show you. But you need to go get your Bible.

Go on and get it. I’ll wait...

You have to have your Bible with you because this is warfare and your Bible is your weapon.

Sickness and disease are spiritual battles. When you’re fighting those battles you have to know your legal rights. You have to know what the Bible says. You can’t try to fight just knowing what I say or what some other preacher says.

You have to know the Bible for yourself.

Let’s begin by looking at Matthew 8:16.

It says in my Bible that Jesus restored to health ALL who were sick. What does your Bible say?

How about Matthew 4:23? What does that say?

Matthew 9:35?

Matthew 12:15?

Matthew 14:14?

Matthew 15:30?

Matthew 19:2?

Matthew 21:14?

Acts 10:38?

I could keep going.

But that’s Jesus , you say. Of course He healed everyone.

Well, look at Luke 9:1.

Jesus gave the disciples the same power He had to heal people. Now look at Luke 9:6, then Luke 10:1-9. This is where Jesus appointed 70 others to carry on the mission of preaching the gospel and healing people.

In Mark 16:15-18 we read that Jesus authorized and deputized the church to do the exact same thing. He said if we believe and are baptized that we have His power, His spirit, and that we’re to go out and lay hands on the sick so that they will get well.

You see, the promise of healing is everywhere in the Word of God.

What’s the deal then? Why are some people healed and others are not? Well, look at Tracy's story:

In 1997, Tracy Pickett started going numb in her toes. She was afraid. The numbness would start in her toes and would travel up her body. She compared it to having a stroke. It would strike the right side of her body and she wouldn’t be able to walk or use her body properly. She couldn’t even brush her hair.

That went on for three years. Then she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Tracy knew she needed God. She went to her mom’s church for prayer, but then her mom told her she needed to find Jesus for herself. And Tracy listened. She says she sat on her bed and started reading her Bible from the beginning. Then, Tracy found what she was looking for. She saw that Jesus had healed all of our diseases and that the word ‘healed’ was past tense .

But Tracy says she was still really dealing with symptoms – symptoms so bad that she felt her life was being stolen from her. She says she kept on asking God to heal her, begging Him, and trying to be "good" in order to get healed.

But it wasn’t working.

In 2007, a friend told Tracy that she should watch what she was saying out of her mouth and to find more teaching on healing. She did. She learned that God is not a liar—He’s a healer— and even though she was still dealing with symptoms, she was already healed.

Tracy has been walking in health ever since.

She received her healing.

Notice this: Tracy stopped trying to GET healed. She had revelation that she was ALREADY healed.

But what was the catch?

She had to enforce it. She had to start saying out of her mouth that God had healed her regardless of what people might have said to her, what it might have looked like, or what she felt like.

Tracy found out exactly what the Bible says. She became confident when she began to study the Word of God.

She learned what is legal and not legal according to God. Then she began to enforce it.

One critical thing that prevents us from receiving our healing is our lack of confidence.

When you’re not sure what you believe, you’re not confident.

People aren’t confident that it’s God will to heal because they don’t know the Word.

We have to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s God’s will to heal EVERY time or we can’t possibly be confident.

We’ve been taught that God allows sickness, that He uses it to teach people things, or that He’ll heal when He’s ready to heal.

We’ve lost confidence.

None of that is Scripture; none of that is the will of God.

Once you know the will of God, you can know that justice will be served for you. The only way you know the will of God is to study the Word of God.

Another thing that prevents us from receiving our healing is tradition.

The Bible says in Matthew 15:6 that tradition nullifies the Word of God.

What is tradition? It’s the passing on of beliefs or customs from generation to generation. How many times have you heard, “I don’t believe like that,” or “My church doesn’t teach that?”

Who cares what your church says? Who cares what I say? You need to know what the Bible says about it!

What has been set up in your mind about yourself? What have you learned or possibly adapted to that does not line up with God’s Word?

Let’s change it.

Let’s change your mentality. Let’s stop saying, “Help me” and start saying, “Let’s find out what God’s will is.”

Let’s get to where you’re thanking God that you’ve already been helped.

How?

Get in the Word of God. Guard your heart and make sure you’re putting faith in there. Put faith and the Word of God in your heart before anything comes into your life.

Because sometimes you don’t have time to get your Bible and search for verses.

They need to be tucked in your heart so you’re prepared.

Have the Word of God in your heart. Know and be convinced of what the will of God is.

Use your words. Enforce it. Don’t be intimidated. DON'T PANIC.

Don’t let the situation appear bigger than God.

I hate what the devil does to people. I hate sickness. I hate what people put up with. They need to be taught there is a new way of living that Jesus ALREADY paid for.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Need some encouragement during this turbulent time?

Download Gary's life changing Live Whole series and examine the evidence in the Word of God that proves that it is possible to live a life free from health concerns.

Are You Feeling Stuck?

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 17:43:39 GMT

Have you ever heard the word “doldrums”?

As in, “She’s stuck in the doldrums,” or “He has a case of the doldrums” ?

You can call it a pit, a funk, or whatever you want, but the real definition of doldrums is a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or depression.

That speaks volumes doesn’t it?

The word “doldrums” has an interesting history. It’s actually an old term coined by seafarers and sailors that referred to parts of the ocean where there are no winds.

The doldrums were a dangerous place to be. Because when the winds disappear, sail-powered boats would be trapped for days or weeks.

Trapped.

Stuck.

We’ve all been there at some point.

Maybe you’re there now.

How do you know if you’re stuck in the doldrums?

1. You've been faking it. You've been acting like everything is going great, but it really isn't.

2. You've been putting stuff off, and avoiding. You know something isn't right, but you're not doing anything to fix it. In fact, you really just keep distracting yourself.

3. You've given up. You have no hope. You don't see how things are ever going to get any better.

If that’s you, you need to wake up right now. You need to get some wind back in your sails. You need to get unstuck.

Because what happened to the ships and the sailors that would get stuck in the doldrums?

They were lost.

So, what can you do to get out of the doldrums?

1. Think about what you’ve been thinking about.
Your thoughts are seeds. They’re pictures. What you listen to, what you look at, the things you do, and the friends you hang around all produce thoughts— pictures —in your mind whether you realize it or not. When you begin to concentrate on those pictures, they produce desire. And desire can cause you some serious trouble. In fact, the Bible says that desire drags us. It produces a plan to get what it wants and that plan can take you to a place you never thought you’d be. Don’t get me wrong—that can be a good thing if you’re thinking about good things, like the promises of God. Your good desires can help guide you toward success.

So, what are you thinking? Does it line up with God’s Word?

2. Ask yourself some questions.
What have I been looking at? What have I been watching? How much time have I spent in the Word of God this week? Who am I listening to? Who is giving me advice? Is it the enemy, who will lie to me? Is it the world? Is it my problems? Is it Facebook?

If so, it’s time to make some real changes.

3. Start seeing things from God’s perspective.
The goal of the enemy is always to make your problem or circumstance look bigger than God. Train yourself not to be moved off of what God says. Stay in faith with what heaven says about you, about your situation, and about the Kingdom of God. Cast those thoughts that don’t line up with what God says down. Tell the enemy to shut up.

4. Reflect on what God has already done in your life.
Remember the times He’s done small things, or big things, or amazing, incredible things—so you can remember that God was with you then and still is now. Think about the love He has for you and how far He’s brought you.

Each memory builds on the last, and you can’t get out of the doldrums if you don’t spend time reflecting on all God has already done.

If you have a hard time remembering things, keep a journal. Write down the stories, or even just a sentence. Hold onto mementos. Rehearse memories and victories every chance you get.

5. Know that the light is in you.
Stop thinking you’re not much of an example. Remember you are a child of God. Our tendency as human beings is to look at the natural, to trust in the natural, and to look at our past failures. But the Bible tells us that the promise comes by faith and it’s guaranteed by grace. It’s God’s grace that does the work. It’s not about you—it’s about you and God . That’s what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is all about. You shall receive power to witness , to be the light , to be the demonstration.

It just takes a willingness to step up and say, “I’ll do that.” People all around you have problems. They need God and God needs you. All you have to do is step into their lives for a second. You don’t have to have it all together or even know what to say. God knows. All you have to do is be available.

It will take courage, so make a decision that you won’t be intimidated. Remember that darkness is intimidated by light. Remember that YOU are the light.

Remember that you’ll never change your life until you change the way you think.

Who You Partner with Can Make a Huge Difference in Your Life

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 17:32:13 GMT

When their father-in-law realized that his new sons-in-law—a candlemaker and a soap maker—were competing for the same raw materials, he suggested a partnership.

Today, that company is more than 170 years old and is one of the most successful in the world. It has more than 97,000 employees in 80 countries, sells more than $70 BILLION per year of the hundreds of brands they own, including Tide, Gillette, Oral-B, Pampers, Charmin, Mr. Clean, Vicks, Bounty, and Swiffer.

That company is Procter and Gamble (P&G).

And it all started with a partnership.

Partnership is powerful.

Think of the incredible things we’ve gained through partnerships like those between Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard; Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak; brothers Sam, Jack, Albert, and Harry Warner; Henry Wells and William Fargo; and, of course, one of my personal favorites because I (Gary) am a pilot and love flying—Wilbur and Orville Wright.

Who you partner with can make a huge difference in your life!

Partnership can produce powerful results in the world’s system, but the principle of partnership in the Kingdom of God can take you to a level the world can’t even fathom.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

—Ephesians 3:20

You probably know at least some of our story, but it’s important that you really understand where we came from.

Years ago, my wife, Drenda, and I were in financial chaos. Not only did we owe on our falling-apart farmhouse that had weeds growing through its windows and on two rusted-out, bent up, high mileage cars, but also we owed on 10 maxed out credit cards, three finance company loans at interest rates of 28%, more than $13,000 in back taxes, more than $26,000 owed to relatives, and on several judgments and liens that had been filed against us.

We went to a church that taught us how God loves us and that He has great things planned for our lives, but we weren’t living it. We weren’t experiencing God’s promises in our lives.

We were barely surviving.

Pawnshops were a way of life. Everything we had was used, very used. The carpet on our kids’ bedroom floors had been retrieved from a trash bin. Their mattresses came from a nursing home.

Pause right there and think about that one—our kids’ mattresses had been used in a nursing home.

I was sick during those days too. I was miserable. I lived in stress. I was anxious and fearful. The doctors put me on medication to deal with the panic attacks I was having, but that only seemed to make things worse.

Fear completely consumed my life.

Drenda and I can tell you story after story about the things we went through during those nine very long years. We can also tell you story after story of how our lives were completely transformed as we learned about the principles of the Kingdom of God and how to apply them, including the principle of partnership!

Everything changed!

Now, we want the same for you; we want you to have story after story of how YOUR LIFE has been transformed by the Kingdom.

That’s why we started our Team Revolution Partnership program—for you.

We want to see your life changed.

We want to see you achieve your dreams.

We want to mentor you in the things God taught us.

What is Team Revolution?

Team Revolution is a unique partnership program God laid on our hearts to MENTOR YOU in Kingdom principles and toward success in the areas that are important in your life, like faith, family, marriage, business, and finances.

As your partners, we’ll be there to share every bit of what we’ve learned about the Kingdom of God and His promises and to provide ideas, support, experience, and wisdom to help you capture the opportunities God has for you so you can win in life.

And, because we believe effective mentoring takes a network, in addition to sharing our own personal experiences, we also draw from the experiences of other entrepreneurs, experts, and leaders in their industries to provide you with the knowledge, support, and resources you need to go to the next level.

Team Revolution partnership can change your life.

See, Team Revolution partnership is about MORE than you partnering with Drenda and me to carry the vision God has given us; it’s a mentorship program designed to help you discover the life-changing power of God’s Kingdom for yourself.

Partnership is about you tapping into something bigger than yourself—it’s about enacting powerful spiritual laws that will take you to levels with God WAY beyond what you can ask or imagine on your own!

God gave us Paul as a very clear example of the importance of partnership in the Bible. God gave Paul the directive to travel and preach the Gospel, but Paul’s God-given assignment was too big for him to do on his own. He needed prayers and financial support.

He needed partners.

Paul was overjoyed that the church at Philippi partnered with him. As his partners, they shared in the responsibility of helping him accomplish God’s assignment. Paul tells them in Philippians 1:5-7:

… because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.

“Grace” means God’s EMPOWERMENT, or God’s ABILITY—His POWER—made available to US and to YOU.

To be clear, Paul was saying that the same grace that God gave him was shared with them because of their partnership. That’s incredibly powerful!

Matthew 10:40–42 also tell us that, because of their partnership, they would share in the same reward that Paul would receive for being faithful to his assignment. And, because they were walking in partnership, Paul could also declare,

“And MY GOD will meet ALL your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Notice that Paul didn’t say “ your God will meet all your needs.” He said, “ MY God will meet ALL your needs.” This is a powerful declaration, because Paul is stating that God will supply all of their needs because of HIS FAITH, not their faith!

It works the same for you! As you sow into Faith Life Now as a Team Revolution Partner, the grace that is on our ministry—the incredible anointing God has given this ministry to prosper and to succeed—works the same for YOU as our partner! This is the spiritual law of partnership!

This is how the principle of partnership in the Kingdom of God is on a level the world can’t even fathom.

Because as our partner, the grace of God that Drenda and I walk in—His POWER to accomplish greater things than you can do by yourself—is YOURS to walk in!

This may be a completely new concept, but this principle is in the Word of God, and it will change your life.

Every day, Drenda and I get emails and letters from people just like you and me from all around the world who are experiencing victory as they discover the laws of God’s Kingdom for themselves.

You can have your own success story!

Make the decision to become a Team Revolution Partner and see what incredible things God wants to do in your life in 2020.

AND your Team Revolution Partnership won’t just help you.

While you’re being mentored for greater success, your partnership giving will also help take the message of God’s Kingdom around the world. For instance, in the last year, we’ve helped provide Bibles for distribution in Kenya, supported churches and ministries in multiple nations, provided loving care and a safe place for victims of sex trafficking, provided a safe environment for expectant mothers to be able to focus on their health and the health of their unborn children through a transition home for expectant mothers in difficult circumstances, gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to help share the love of God and the Good News of the Gospel around the globe, and much more!

You can make 2020 your best year so far—the year you decide to change your future and impact more lives around the world for God!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Don’t wait! Become a Team Revolution Partner today . We look forward to helping you discover all God has in store for you in 2020!

I Swam with Sharks

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 19:57:18 GMT

Never in my life did I picture myself swimming anywhere surrounded by sharks.

But that’s exactly what I did.

I really only went out on the boat because it was free excursion. I’m a frugal person and figured I’d at least ride along in the boat and watch everyone else.

But then my husband got in the water and started swimming around with these Manta rays, and I decided to do it too. I admit, though, when one man in the water was screaming, and a ray brushed by me in the water I did climb on Gary’s back like a scared little girl.

Once I pulled myself together, it ended up being really exhilarating.

But then I was back in the boat trying to decide if I could handle the next spot, which involved swimming with sharks.

Because, you know, sharks can EAT you.

I looked around me in the boat and realized that the only people who were still sitting there were the people who had been screaming and freaking out while we were swimming with the Manta rays. And I thought: I don’t want to be in the boat with these people. These are the people who were afraid.

Get in the water Drenda.

After all, there were about 40 other people in the water at that point, and I figured the sharks would get one of them before they got me. (Yes, that’s called courage.)

You need courage to swim with sharks—the sharks that live in the water and the ones that live on land and have two legs.

Because you’re going to encounter sharks during your journey to do big things for God; you’re going to face situations and circumstances and people that bother you and hurt you and try to hinder you .

Several months before I was to give my high school graduation speech as class valedictorian, a few people went to the principal and tried to have me removed as the valedictorian because I had graduated early. The principal called me into his office and told me about their efforts to strip me of the honor.

But I wasn’t prepared for what he told me.

He said that he had polled several classmates to get their opinions and that the only people who had a problem with me holding the honor were my close friends.

My “friends” were the ones who had gone to him with the complaint in the first place.

I was crushed.

The girls I had considered to be my friends were really just competitors— sharks —in disguise.

It’s really hard not to care about what people think about you. And it’s a rude awakening when you realize somebody doesn’t like you, for whatever reason.

And everybody isn’t always going to like you.

There are sharks out there; there are people who are jealous and envious and hurt and who want to hurt others. People aren’t always going to be who you thought they were going to be, bad or good. Sometimes situations and people you thought were innocent will turn out not to be, and sometimes the very people you thought were difficult and rough around the edges will turn out to be the most caring and loyal.

That’s why we can’t judge. We need to really seek God and find out what He is saying to us about situations and relationships and people.

God has a great plan for your life and He wants you to dream big and accomplish incredible things. He knows where the sharks are and who they are. He knows you’ll have to swim with some of them, and He knows exactly how to handle them.

Trust Him, and get out of the boat and into the water.

Step out and be the best you that you can be.

Even if the sharks are circling. Even if you’ve dealt with criticism, or you’ve been hurt, or someone hasn’t liked you, or someone has misunderstood you, or you’ve flat out fallen on your face.

Don’t stay in the boat. It will always be worth it to get in the water.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You don’t have to live in fear of sharks anymore!

Learn how to overcome one of the greatest problems we face—dealing with difficult people—in Drenda's book Sharkproof: How to Deal with Difficult People .

Why You Should Pay Attention to the Unusual Strategies – Part One

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 18:30:00 GMT

You can get the answers you need for life.

I know what you need.

Please trust me.

Learn from me. Let me tell you how to handle it. It will save you so much time. – God

God has the answers you need. He wants to give you direction for your life.

There’s still plenty of time left for you to have what God wants you to have. But you’re going to have to do it His way.

You just may have to change the way you’ve been thinking and the way you’ve been seeing things.

There’s a story about the owners of Reed Farm in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1799, that has always stuck with me.

In 1799, gold mining was the second largest business venture after agriculture. Apparently, the owners of Reed Farm were oblivious to that, because when they found a big “rock” on their property, they didn’t think twice about it’s potential.

They only saw a rock.

“That rock will make a great doorstop,” they said.

And for three years it was a doorstop. Until the evening a local jeweler was at their house for dinner and noticed it.

The 17-pound nugget of 24-carat gold “rock.”

It’s true. And once those owners were finally aware of what was on their property, everything changed.

By 1831, they had found more than $10 million in gold on their property.

Imagine how many times they had walked around that gold nugget doorstop oblivious to what it really was.

How many times do you think they moved it in and out of place to hold the door, never knowing what they had their hands on?

In fact, according to the story, they sold that gold nugget for pretty cheap. You know that jeweler wasn’t about to tell them what that rock was when he bought it from them.

They didn’t know what they had.

Are you living that way—oblivious to the fact that you already possess something incredibly valuable?

See, Jesus laid down His life to empower you and give you an amazing inheritance.

You are supposed to have creative ideas.

As a child of God, you have the favor and wisdom of God operating through the Holy Spirit. There is NOTHING more valuable.

If you’ve been missing it, it’s not too late. You can get the answers you need.

You just need to learn exactly how the Kingdom of God operates. Because the Kingdom of God doesn’t work like the earth realm. It functions on different laws than we’re accustomed to.

Look at Mark 6:35-44 with me:

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.

So, the disciples went to Jesus with a big problem. There were 5,000 men at this gathering that needed to eat. That means there could’ve easily been 20,000 people there counting women and children. The meeting had run late, and the people were hungry.

They had a real problem, right? They needed answers.

Notice Jesus didn’t say, “Oh, wow! I totally lost track of time; let’s close down the meeting right away.”

He said, “You give them something to eat.”

Jesus had to know that the disciples were going to freak out. They couldn’t possibly feed that many people. In fact, they started talking about how it would take more than half a year’s wages to just buy some bread for that many people.

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

The disciples immediately looked at their problem like most of us do—in the natural, earth curse system. They could only see things the ordinary way—the way that looks at how hard and how long it would take them to come up with the resources or how they could try to solve the problem, instead of looking to God for the answers.

But Jesus was teaching them. He was showing them how the Kingdom operates.

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Read part two of this post here.

Hear more! Get your download of Gary’s complete Gold in Your Backyard series now.

Want to Have Real Success This Year?

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 18:30:00 GMT

You can have real financial success this year.

I’ll never be out of debt.

I’ll be paying bills for the rest of my life.

I don’t even know where to start trying to get out of debt.

Do any of those statements sound like you? Have you spoken words like that or thought that way about your financial situation?

It’s easy to talk and think that way when you’re facing what looks like an impossible mountain of debt and have no solutions.

I’ve been there.

You’ve probably heard parts of my story. I made plenty of mistakes with money in the early years of marriage and raising a family. Sure, I worked hard, but I just couldn’t seem to get ahead. I soon found myself in a financial pit, owing on 10 maxed-out credit cards, three finance company loans, two car payments, back taxes to the IRS, judgments and liens, and $26,000 to relatives.

Drenda and I lived with our five children in a small, broken-down, 1800s farmhouse, complete with weeds growing through the broken windowpanes. We barely had money for food, let alone home repairs. Our cars were broken-down, too—with bent frames, rusted out floorboards, and more than 200,000 miles on each of them.

Our situation was so bad that… well, here’s an example:

One day, my mother-in-law called Drenda and asked how we were doing.

“We’re doing great, Mom,” she told her.

“Is that so?” her mother questioned. “Go to the refrigerator and open the door,” she instructed. “What do you see?”

With quivering lips, Drenda barely managed to sputter out the words as she choked back sobs, “An empty mayonnaise jar!”

It wasn’t as simple as us needing to do a run to the grocery store, friend. We lived that way for NINE VERY LONG YEARS—strapped financially, with our debts just piling up more and more year after year.

Just fixing our situation looked impossible; I had no hope for real success.

We knew we must have been missing something. We found out that when we get desperate enough to get serious with the Word of God, the answers are there all along. And that was when God revealed several life-changing things to us. To begin, He told me that we had always trusted in debt and the world’s system more than we had trusted in His Word and His Kingdom.

God said, “Take the time to learn how My Kingdom operates.”

He then told me, “Most of My church is in the same situation that you are … I want my people free financially.”

There’s so much more to our story, but we went from financial ruin to being completely debt free over the next two and a half years!

We had real success.

I can’t even describe how that feels. We went from looking like it was too late for us to ever get our finances in order to being able to pay cash for our cars and to build the house we had always dreamed of having.

Our lives drastically changed.

Ever since then, Drenda and I have been on a mission to help people all around the world experience the same financial freedom—the real success—that we experienced.

We want to help you be financially free too. We want you to have real success in your life.

No matter how bad your situation looks right now, it is fixable.

This can be your year.

2020 can truly be YOUR BEST YEAR YET.

Here’s the thing though: financial success doesn’t just happen.

You have some steps to take. It will take some work. There will be a price involved, and it may take you some time.

But I promise you it will be well worth it.

So, how do you get there? How do you move from where you are now to where you really want to go in 2020?

#1 – You have to learn what the Bible says about money, and you have to learn how to apply the financial principles of the Kingdom to your life.

You have to truly trust the One who made you, the One who created the earth, the One who has the power to prosper your finances, to build your business, to build your life, and to take you from being the tail and make you the head.

Colossians 1:12-14 says, “And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Do you see that? God already rescued YOU and brought YOU into the Kingdom of His Son—His Kingdom.

Here’s the thing: if you left your country to live in a new country and you never studied the laws of that new country, you would never know how to enact those laws—you would never stand for what was legally yours because you would still, in your mind, be living under the training and ways of the previous government.

Romans 12:2 tells us clearly: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

You have to renew your mind to the Word of God.

The Word of God tells you your legal rights as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. It’s the Word of God that trains your heart and renews your mind.

See, Jesus made your access to the Kingdom legal, yet most people read the stories in the Bible of what Jesus was able to do much like our ancestors viewed things like electricity and lightning—acknowledging that, yes, the events happened, but never envisioning the POWER of those things for themselves.

But Jesus said that the same things that we see Him doing, we have the ability to do as well.

The Kingdom of God has already been given to YOU. You just have to understand its laws.

We’ve heard SO MANY incredible stories of people whose lives have been dramatically changed once they gained an understanding of how the Kingdom of God operates and started implementing its principles in their lives. Our personal story is just one of thousands!

#2 – You have to make important practical decisions to change your financial future.

This can be YOUR YEAR, friend.

We can help.

We purposely put together a special package this month to help you take the steps today to build the life you want tomorrow—to make 2020 your best year yet.

It’s called the Start Your Year Right Bundle and includes two resources—my 9 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom: Your Interactive Guide to Living Debt Free book and Drenda’s Setting Your Life Goals teaching—have helped hundreds of people dramatically change their financial situations and their futures!

Don’t wait! Take your first step toward making 2020 your best year yet!

Request your copy of the Start Your Year Right Bundle now!

No matter your financial situation, you can have hope for this new year, friend.

God has so much more for you. You can take the steps today to build the life you want tomorrow.

No More Dysfunction: Functional Families Don’t Have to Be Rare

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 14:19:00 GMT

“Putting the ‘fun’ in dysfunction.”

That’s been a joke for years, but it’s not funny.

Family life doesn’t have to be dysfunctional.

Years ago, shortly after I became a committed believer in Christ, I heard a message preached that rocked my world. It was the kind of message that catches you completely off guard and leaves you undone by the presence of God, knowing you will never be the same.

I was so struck by the words in Malachi 2:15,

Years of feminist training and dysfunction melted away.

My years of feminist training—to reject marriage and family as a less than noble pursuit compared to the ventures of making money or becoming famous—all melted away in that powerful encounter with God.

My pursuits completely changed from that point on. I was suddenly aware that this idea of family—being in God’s family and creating a godly family—was near and dear to God’s heart. Through a transformation, it became near to my heart, too. I didn’t know how to accomplish it, but I knew it was worth pursuing.

Throughout the last 50 years or more, our country lost the importance and foundation for family. Almost every problem we see today is a result of family problems and issues. Yet the more problems we have, the less focus or interest there is in family. People have become more self-absorbed, and as a result, we’ve been spiraling downward as a nation, as individuals, and as families.

It’s time to change things.

Love is the greatest thing one can experience, and love begins in a family.

We weren’t made to have a relationship with technology, or to be self-absorbed.

God made us for family— His family and the one we would create with Him .

I remember a time when we were in Taco Bell eating lunch as a family. We prayed over our food, ate, and talked. Afterward, a couple approached Gary and me. The lady had tears welling in her eyes.

“I’ve never seen a family like yours,” she said. “The whole meal my husband and I couldn’t do anything but watch your family. I’ve never seen kids get along with their parents like yours, or talk and get along with one another so well. What’s your secret?”

We had an opportunity to share God’s love with that woman. We didn’t have to go to her table and preach to her. Our family opened a door for us to witness simply by being ourselves.

People want good families, not dysfunction.

How sad that a functional family is an anomaly, a rarity!

That’s why your family needs to shine in this time.

The light shines brightest in the greatest darkness. We aren’t a perfect family, but we tried every day to cultivate an atmosphere of love and peace.

Don’t expect your family to be perfect either, but cultivate an atmosphere of love and peace.

Whether people realize it or not, they yearn for the vintage family model. That’s why family shows and shows with lots of kids and family life are so popular, because they give a glimpse into families that relate, that are real, and working through problems , not running from them.

Amidst so much dysfunction, people are craving healthy relationships.

It’s time to reinstate the principles of the vintage family; to protect the future of all children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; to invade the culture that is trying to twist and dilute families; and to bring in the strongest, clearest form of the family system—the one that works.

Won’t you join me?

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Excerpted and adapted from Drenda’s book, The New Vintage Family .

The post No More Dysfunction: Functional Families Don’t Have to Be Rare appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Win the Person, Not the Debate

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 13:09:00 GMT

Enjoy this special guest post from my friend, Dave Anderson.

Yes, you do want to win the person.

And I’m not just referring to the person with whom you’re having differences but also winning those who witness the exchange.

Influencing vs. silencing

Remember that the goal is to keep the dialogue going with the other person, not to shut him or her down.

For too many people, silencing, rather than influencing has been a primary tactic when discussing sensitive issues like abortion, politics, religion, and the like.

But no one is really heard or understood. The debate diminishes into cheap shots and name calling and the lines separating two sides become a gulf.

Take steps to win the person.

1. Engage with those who hold opposing points of view.

2. Listen to other people’s stories.

3. Let your walk speak louder than your talk.

A debater’s goal is to win the argument. A disciple’s goal is to win the person.

Far too many people who share my own Christian faith have learned that they can win a war of words but still lose the war over someone’s soul by being unnecessarily harsh and judgmental. Many non-Christians have rejected the Gospel not because of the offense of the Gospel, but because of the offensiveness of Christians.

Winning an argument is a tactic. Winning the person is a strategy.

Tactics win battles . Strategies win wars .

You Don’t Have to Be Alone to Feel Lonely

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 14:26:00 GMT

Yesterday, I wrote about loneliness.

Here’s the thing about loneliness—you don’t have to be alone to feel lonely.

You can have thousands of Facebook friends and Instagram followers, and be in the company of people constantly but still not feel emotionally close or connected to anyone. That’s how people can “party” constantly and still feel lonely.

There are so many ways to connect to others through social media. But people are reporting feeling more lonely than ever. How is this possible?

We have an innate need to connect with others on a human level. Yes, social media can help us keep connected with loved ones. But it can also help establish a fantasy where we put our best on display for others to see, and avoid face-to-face relationships where people can see our humanity, with all our faults and failures. It can also make others’ lives look more glamorous and enviable in comparison to our own.

Not the real deal.

Social media gives us the opportunity to build superficial “relationships” with acquaintances, or “friends,” by the boatload. But it can actually inhibit us from connecting on a deeper level with the people we have the greatest opportunity to find real depth with.

Studies actually show that addictions to social media sites actually trigger people to isolate themselves.

Social media should be one small aspect of your social life. If the sites you’re visiting aren’t improving your relationships or your quality of life, it’s time to make some changes.

Social media can even become an escape from face-time with family, children, and friends. Perhaps the real lure of social media relationships is to avoid having to build close relationships in-person and day-to-day. After all, superficial relationships don’t face the challenges that real relationships do.

It’s easier to “friend” someone on Facebook than to actually build a friendship, mentor others, or touch lives, and be touched as we do so.

Relationships require work. And that can be intimidating.

We risk rejection. Disclosure can be risky, and it’s usually easier not to take the chance. Fears of all kinds can keep us from sharing our hearts with others or caring and deeply trusting anyone. The fear of not connecting or being rejected by someone can cause us to put up walls, or worse yet, be competitive to prove our worthiness.

But building real, valuable relationships can only happen in a non-competitive atmosphere, where no one is trying to prove they’re worthy of love or have something to offer. Competition for acceptance can undermine honesty, trust, and loyalty—the stuff that all healthy, solid, and satisfying relationships must have to grow. Competitive relationships just aren’t satisfying. But yet we compete.

We’ve lost our way!

God created us and only He knows what will fulfill each of us and bring lasting peace and happiness to our lives. But we’ve ignored His design for life and lost our way in this world. Today, we have so many breakdowns in relationships that it’s no wonder so many people are unhappy with life.

We were created for relationship.

This just seems to be the time of year when it’s most evident that people all around us are missing out on the very relationships God intended each of us to have.

So many people today are lonely because they lack the mentorship and friendships that make this world navigable. These relationships give us people to celebrate life with, and people to support us in the hard times.

It IS possible to live life the way God Our Creator intended it to be lived and have the happy, healthy relationships He intended us to have.

We just need to turn our hearts to His Word and regain the “Titus Tradition” of the spiritually older women teaching the younger how to live life and love their husbands and their families (Titus 2:3-5). This holds true for men as well.

Women and men both need mentors .

God gave us incredible examples of mentorship in the Bible. Paul mentored Timothy as a son in the faith and helped him become his best, reaching his potential in Christ. Paul had to be willing to invest into Timothy, and Timothy had to be willing to receive instruction from Paul. And, instead of competing with his spiritual elder, Timothy submitted his heart to be trained by Paul. He didn’t resent Paul’s correction, but welcomed it with respect, acknowledging God’s plan to train him toward his destiny.

Ruth told Naomi that she would follow her and that whatever she chose, she would choose also. She said,

Both Ruth and Timothy found God’s blessing and provision because they were both loyal to their mentors and were willing to serve beyond what most people would do—they went beyond the call. It wasn’t just about what they could each get for themselves. And their mentors wanted the best for them.

Paul exhibited honest leadership in his relationship with Timothy, and Timothy’s respect toward Paul earned him a place to be mentored. Paul’s mentorship of Timothy helped to carry the gospel further than Paul could reach by himself. Both were the benefactors of a healthy relationship.

You don’t have to do life alone.

Like Timothy and Ruth, we were never intended to carry the difficulties of life alone. There are those who have gone before us (mentors), and those who are walking the same path we are walking (friends). We need them both in order to become our best and enjoy the journey.

Sure, there are challenges to overcome in nearly every relationship. But if we choose our friends and mentors wisely, and make the commitment to be loyal, honest, trustworthy, grateful, and faithful, God can bless our lives with these relationships, and we can enjoy the journey together.

You can make real friends, laugh heartily, learn truth together, live whole, and love freely. When you come into God’s Kingdom, you come into a family—the family of God. This transformation should impact every relationship in your life. You can learn how to walk in the grace and empowerment that is yours in your marriage , family , home, friendships, and life.

God has answers for your connections to people.

Ultimately, our greatest joys come from relationships with those we love. There is an anointing from God to enjoy relationships. And you can have tremendous joy as you are empowered to be the friend, wife, husband, father, mother, mentor, and minister that God has called you to be.

Five Quick Tips to Build Healthy Relationships

1. Accept God’s love for you.

Grow in self-acceptance because you know He loves and accepts you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by Him.

2. Let God be the master architect in your life.

Let Him direct you to mentors and friends that can help you grow and change.

3. Be willing to submit your heart.

Be open to being trained and sharpened by others in a loyal, committed exchange, accepting that God will ask you to invest in and befriend others as you have been mentored.

4. Be friendly.

Remember, the Bible tells us that to have friends we must be friendly. Competitive jealousy, controlling behaviors, bad attitudes, gossip, pettiness, and self-centered demands are relationship killers.

5. Be found faithful.

When you blow it, as we all inevitably will at some point , forgiveness and humility are the glue that will hold the relationship together. Invest in people God’s way. Free yourself from wrong expectations and hurtful words and actions.

The post You Don’t Have to Be Alone to Feel Lonely appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Are You Lonely?

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:00:00 GMT

Feeling Lonely?

It’s that time of year again—the beautiful decorations are up in homes, stores, and churches; Christmas carols are playing on nearly every radio station; thousands of last-minute gift idea emails and articles are flooding your inbox and newsfeed. It’s a joyous time of social gatherings, shared rituals, and reminiscing for many people. But have you found yourself feeling lonely?

While it’s a myth that there are more suicides in December than at any other time of year, it is true that more people experience loneliness during the months of November and December than any other time of the year.

Why?

Because we’re bombarded with images of bonding families, laughing friends, and fun work parties. The entire season is supposed to be about being with others, giving to others, and loving others, but more and more people only feel more alone and isolated during the holidays. In a time when there are more ways than ever for us to connect with others, people feel more lonely.

That’s because so many of the ways we “connect” with others can easily become superficial.

Our need for intimacy can’t be satisfied by the superficial.

We were created for communion—for an exchange with God and others on a much more personal level. True intimacy comes from being known and understood and knowing others on that same level, and that doesn’t come easy in a fast-paced, competitive world, where it’s hard to know who to trust or to find time to invest. Close relationships have become harder and harder to build in the midst of our super busy lifestyles.

So, what can you do if you’re feeling lonely during this season, or any others for that matter?

1. Take a hard look at your expectations.

Are you:

Society sets high expectations for ALL of us during this time of year. Examine your own expectations. Don’t fall into the trap of comparison or setting your expectations too high. Make sure you’re being realistic.

2. Practice thankfulness.

It’s harder to think about how lonely you’re feeling when you’re focusing on things you’re thankful for. Think of the things you value in your life and are thankful for and write them down in a “gratitude journal.” Read through it when you’re feeling down or lonely.

3. Don’t withdraw.

Oddly, we have a tendency to isolate ourselves more when we’re feeling lonely. But avoiding social gatherings during the holidays will only make you feel more alone.

Don’t be afraid to initiate contact with people. Reach out to others no matter how difficult it may seem, and go out.

4. Take care of yourself.

A healthy diet, a regular sleep pattern, and exercise can all help improve your perspective. Be sure you’re eating right, getting enough sleep, and doing some sort of exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

5. Volunteer.

Get your mind off of yourself by getting it on others. Work at a soup kitchen, organize a food or coat drive, or help an elderly neighbor. Find a cause you believe in and give your time.

And most importantly…

6. Connect with God

Get in the Word and pray . Don’t pull away from God. No one knows you better than He does or understands loneliness more. Jesus experienced the ultimate loneliness of the cross, but His sacrifice cleared the way so you can go to God and experience His presence when you feel lonely.

Jesus is a dear friend who will never leave you or forsake you.

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Please note: Sometimes loneliness is a symptom of a greater problem. If you have ongoing feelings of loneliness or depression, it may be time to seek the professional help of a pastor, Christian counselor, or medical professional.

The post Are You Lonely? appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

That Time I Shortcut God, and What Happened

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 22:12:00 GMT

It’s so much better when it comes God’s way.

There will always be things that we want and deals to be had, but we should never shortcut God and let the desire of the moment jeopardize our future.

Years ago, Gary and I won a trip to Acapulco, Mexico through a business endeavor. The trip didn’t include free airfare.

We didn’t have the money for our house payment that month, let alone tickets for the trip.

We were in the process of learning about faith, so I prayed for the money for the airline tickets.

Wouldn’t you know it—just before the deadline, a random offer came in the mail from a finance company. It said all we had to do was call and activate the offer, and then we could use it to buy our tickets.

I thought: This MUST be God!

Of course, I’d like to say that Gary and I had a divine revelation and said no to the whopping 28% credit option, but with the lure of the trip and a lack of understanding concerning God’s Kingdom, we activated the offer and packed our bags.

We should never shortcut God.

It was a terrible trip.

Once we got to Acapulco, Gary was so nervous neither of us could relax. He was preoccupied and checked our accounts every morning to make sure we weren’t bouncing checks. I was physically ill during part of the trip.

To add to our tension, there was political unrest in Acapulco at the time, and ARMED GUARDS walked the beaches with machine guns!

Then, when it was time to go home, we discovered there was a tariff to leave Mexico. We had to borrow the money from someone just to get out of there!

We couldn’t have been happier to get home. When our flight landed in Texas, Gary said, “I could kiss the ground!”

So many times we ask God for things we aren’t ready to receive, and without considering the consequences of our decisions.

We take a shortcut and use a questionable method that violates God’s principles.

Just because we’ve prayed for something and an answer seems to appear doesn’t mean it’s God’s plan.

I love John 15 in the Bible and, in particular, verse 7:

We must learn to “abide in Christ,” to LISTEN as we pray and come to know His voice and His ways.

Then we’ll no longer be tossed to and fro by every circumstance of life… and every credit offer.

We had to face the consequences.

It took us several years to pay off the loan for those airline tickets. The problem wasn’t the destination, but the manner in which we got there! God wants to give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4), but unless we abide in Him those desires can turn into traps that mimic our prayers.

Gary and I learned God’s ways and eventually became debt free, went and stayed at that same resort, and enjoyed a very memorable time with great friends.

The difference? The second time we went, we were abiding with God.

There will always be things that we want and deals to be had, but we should never shortcut God and let the desire of the moment jeopardize our future.

Keep your dreams and desires in check until it’s God’s correct timing.

Pray about the things you want, and be patient. Then, watch and have fun as it comes through God’s way!

The post That Time I Shortcut God, and What Happened appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

God Cares About the Little Things in Your Life

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 15:06:00 GMT

God cares about the little things in YOUR life .

He wants you to experience His Kingdom in your life.

And He will meet you right where you are.

For me, it happened through deer hunting.

Don’t stop reading if you don’t hunt.

Because these principles apply to every area of YOUR LIFE.

It was 27 years ago or so, and I had a young family to feed. Like T.B., we were struggling. I had a job, but we had gotten ourselves in a financial pit. Extra money was nonexistent. We could barely keep our heads above water.

We knew very little about the Kingdom of God back then. Sure, we knew a lot about church and the Bible. We had even gone to a “Bible college,” and we were members in a church. In fact, I was leading worship in my church.

But I didn’t know much about the Kingdom of God.

Now, when I say “Kingdom,” I’m referring to the laws that govern the Kingdom of God; I’m referring to how it functions.

See, every kingdom operates through government and using laws. God’s Kingdom is no different; its spiritual laws can be learned and applied to your life .

When I say I didn’t know much about the Kingdom of God, I mean I had never learned those laws or even understood that I could learn them. I still thought, like most Christians do, that God does what He does because He is God, and no one can really be sure exactly what He will do or when He will do it.

I loved God, but I was broke and busted. I couldn’t even afford to buy a postage stamp. To make matters even worse, I was sick physically and emotionally and living totally in survival mode, always looking over my shoulder waiting for the next thing to go wrong.

But God had a plan to get my attention, and it involved a small thing—one of my passions—deer hunting .

See, I used to hunt with no success. In fact, I had hunted for several seasons and came up empty-handed. But one day the Lord spoke to me and said, Why don’t you trust Me for your deer this year?

Of course, I really didn’t know what that meant, but the Lord continued. He said, I want you to sow a financial seed for that deer and, when you sow that money toward the deer, call it done according to Mark 11:24.

Now, I knew Mark 11:24 said, “THEREFORE I TELL YOU, WHATEVER YOU ASK FOR IN PRAYER, BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT, AND IT WILL BE YOURS.” So I wrote out a check and wrote on the bottom of it “for my buck.”

To make a long story short, that year I went out and bagged a six-point buck within just 40 minutes of being in the woods.

Of course, that caught my attention. But our minds always try to tell us that things could’ve happened by chance, like T.B. and the apple butter story.

I had to know for sure that God cares about the little things.

So the next year, I tried it again. I sowed specifically for my deer just as the Lord had instructed, and, again, I had my deer in less than 40 minutes. I did the same thing the next year with the same result. Now, I’ve been doing that—receiving my deer within 40 minutes of going out—for more than 27 years!

When I first saw this law of the Kingdom in action, I was shocked!

I knew that I had discovered something about the Kingdom of God and how it worked.

This law of the Kingdom in action proved that God cares about the little things in our lives.

Know this, friend: This principle of the Kingdom that God showed me for something “SMALL” like deer hunting, works for ANYTHING !

Using the principles that God taught us about His Kingdom, Drenda and I got completely out of debt in just a few short years, and we began to tell everyone we could about the laws of the Kingdom we were discovering.

God cares about YOU.

He wants you to experience His Kingdom in your life.

And He will meet you right where you are.

We see evidence of that throughout the Bible.

Peter is just one example.

You probably know the story. Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. We don’t know how many nights he had fished and come back to shore empty-handed. But Jesus met Peter right where he was that day.

I imagine Peter was feeling pretty tired and defeated when Jesus showed up and told him to let down his nets.

That’s when something shocking happened.

Peter caught SO many fish that his nets began to break and his boat began to sink.

That’s one heck of a catch! I imagine Peter didn’t even have time to think about what was happening because the weight of so many fish was straining the nets and causing his boat to nearly sink!

Frantically, he yelled out to his partners, James and John, who were on the shore, to bring a second boat and help him. And, as they helped Peter, their own boat became so full of fish that it was in danger of sinking too!

After the men made it back to shore with the tremendous catch, they stood in front of Jesus stunned at what had just happened.

They knew what they had just experienced wasn’t normal. God was clearly involved.

God cares about the little things in your life.

That’s the moment Jesus invited them to follow Him. And the Bible says they didn’t hesitate. They left their boats and nets and followed Jesus. On their own, the night before, they had fished and caught nothing. With Jesus on the scene, they saw something incredible happen.

Jesus met them where they were, and that one experience with the Kingdom of God changed the entire direction of their lives.

It just takes one experience with the Kingdom to change your life too!

Just like God used hunting to get my attention and demonstrate the principles of the Kingdom, or a simple jar of apple butter for T.B., or an incredible catch of fish to get Peter, James, and John’s attention and demonstrate the principles of the Kingdom, He will use situations in the natural realm to get YOUR attention and demonstrate the Kingdom of God to you in a real and tangible way too .

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There is so much more I want to share with you about this.

I want to help you learn what Drenda and I learned!

That’s why I wrote my first book, Faith Hunt , years ago.

Faith Hunt includes so many remarkable stories about the principles of the Kingdom of God and the impact they had on my life. Like the time the buck I knew was mine was heading in the wrong direction, directly away from me. As I sat there helpless, watching my harvest just walk away, the Lord spoke to me and said, Tell the deer to come to you .

What happened?

You need to read the rest of the story in Faith Hunt !

Faith Hunt is for everyone, not just for hunters ! It will teach you how to apply the principles of Kingdom faith to any area of your life.

Just as our lives were completely changed by the Kingdom, yours can be too!

It’s time for you to have an experience with the Kingdom that changes your life!

Plus, we just released the brand-new Your Faith Hunt 21-day Devotional and Prayer Journal !

Your Faith Hunt is loaded with remarkable stories submitted by friends of Faith Life Now who are experiencing the Kingdom in their own lives after applying the principles they learned from our teachings.

In just a few hours of reading, you can discover what took me years and years to learn!

Request your Faith Hunt book and the Your Faith Hunt 21-day Devotional and Prayer Journal today! You’ll be amazed by how quickly you can learn to put into operation these powerful principles of faith for every area of your life.

The post God Cares About the Little Things in Your Life appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Need Something? This is Who has Your Answers.

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:17:00 GMT

God has your answer.

Imagine with me for a minute that you’re sitting in an auditorium with hundreds of other people getting ready to listen to a speaker when someone walks out on the stage and tells the audience that they’ve hidden a treasure underneath one of the seats.

What would you do?

How far would you go to find the treasure?

Would you keep looking for the treasure until someone yelled they found it, or until YOU found it?

Here’s the thing friend:

YOUR treasure is already out there. God has your answer. You just need a word from Him to uncover it.

No, I’m not talking about under some chair in an auditorium.

I’m talking about your answer, what you need to know from Him, so you can move on it and do whatever it takes to capture it.

Take a look at Luke 5.

We read that Jesus borrowed a boat from some fishermen. He sat in the boat and taught the people on the shore. Then He gave the boat back to the fishermen and told them to go out into the deeper water and let down their nets. And they caught so many fish that their nets began to break and their boat began to sink.

The fishermen hadn’t caught any fish that day. It wasn’t due to their lack of knowledge or experience. They were professional fishermen and had grown up on the lake fishing. But they had labored all night and caught nothing.

I love this story and reference it often—because something significant happened on the lakeshore that day.

The fishermen—Peter, James, and John—went from catching nothing during what was probably an exhausting all-day or night fishing trip to completely filling TWO boats with fish in a matter of minutes.

They filled two boats so full of fish that they almost sank!

So, how does that apply to you? How are you supposed to know where your answer is?

Do you see that?

God rescued us and brought us into the Kingdom of His Son—His Kingdom—His realm of power and authority.

He’s given YOU citizenship, legal rights, and authority in His government.

As a son or daughter of God with the Holy Spirit living inside of you, you have the ability to tap into the secret wisdom and knowledge of the Kingdom and to find the treasure (answer) you need, too.

And “treasure” doesn’t just mean monetary things; treasure is anything you find valuable , like great health , a happy marriage , a stable family , or success .

Just like Peter, James, and John, you can find YOUR hidden treasure—the answer you need.

As part of the Church, the hidden things— the things God knows that you don’t know —are supposed to be revealed to you.

One of my favorite examples of hidden things, of answers , being revealed is in Daniel 2.

King Nebuchadnezzar had some disturbing dreams that really upset him, and he couldn’t sleep. When he called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, they expected him to tell them the dream so they could interpret it.

But King Nebuchadnezzar threw them all a curveball. He told them they needed to tell him what he had dreamed and the interpretation.

Oh, and if they didn’t, he would have them “cut into pieces and their houses turned into piles of rubble.”

How’s that for an impossible demand?

I mean, really. Can you imagine someone saying, “Tell me what I dreamed and what it means or I’ll have you killed”?

Clearly, King Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t rational. The guy wasn’t getting any sleep, and he was losing it.

When the guys couldn’t do what he demanded, he ordered the execution of ALL the wise men of Babylon—which included Daniel and his friends.

But Daniel asked for more time.

He knew he needed an answer.

So he went to his friends and told them to pray so they wouldn’t all be killed.

Daniel wasn’t just in a hard spot. He was facing a death sentence.

But Daniel knew something the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers didn’t know:

There is NOTHING that is hidden from God; NOTHING is too hard for God.

And we see that the mystery—the knowledge—was revealed to Daniel during the night. In verses 20-23 Daniel praised God, saying wisdom and power are His. God gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things and makes known to us what we ask of Him.

God has your answer.

Daniel went to the king and asked that he not execute anyone, and then he revealed the dream to the king and interpreted it for him.

King Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed that he honored Daniel and promoted him.

Pause here for a second. Because I REALLY need you to realize that this isn’t just a great Bible story—

This applies to YOUR life.

You may not be facing a death sentence like Daniel was, but you still need knowledge and answers from God, and you need Him to direct your steps .

That’s your victory—your secret weapon.

Jesus said that the same things that we see Him doing, we have the ability to do as well. The Kingdom of God has already been given to YOU. You just have to understand its laws. Because it’s the Kingdom in you that gives you access to the secret knowledge—the hidden knowledge.

I’ll say it again:

YOUR treasure is already out there. God has your answer. You just need a word from Him to uncover it.

Who wouldn’t want something they didn’t know before to be revealed to them? Don’t you? Ask God, so you can move on it and do whatever it takes to capture it!

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There is so much more I want to share with you about this. Because I know if you get this— really get this —it will completely change your life just like it completely changed mine!

I want you to know everything you can about how the Kingdom of God operates, and how you can discover and uncover the hidden knowledge and direction you need to reach your destiny.

Together, the Hidden series and Your Financial Revolution: The Power of Allegiance book cover all of that. Request your copies today!

The post Need Something? This is Who has Your Answers. appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Your Success and Piles of Grain? You Need to Know This.

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 15:54:00 GMT

Do You Have a Picture of Your Success?

If you close your eyes and picture yourself as “a success,” what does it look like for you?

I hope you have a clear picture in your mind.

Now, I want you to get another picture in your mind. Imagine with me here for a few minutes.

Piles of grain.

Piles and piles and piles of grain.

Imagine piles of grain SO large that they can’t be contained, let alone counted.

Why am I asking you to imagine piles of grain?

Because God used piles of grain to show us a clear picture of His promises to us—His promise to be with you wherever you go and His promise that you can be successful at whatever you put your hands to.

Let’s start at the beginning.

You’ve probably heard me talk about Joseph. He has an incredible story, and it has everything to do with grain piles and everything to do with your success.

Bear with me for a few minutes because we need to start at the beginning.

Joseph’s family was dysfunctional. His brothers hated him. They hated him so much that they sold him into slavery and pretended a wild animal had killed him.

Things didn’t look good for Joseph’s future.

But he ended up working for a man named Potiphar, and the Bible tells us that the Lord was with Joseph and he prospered. In fact, Genesis 39 tells us that Joseph had success in everything he did, so much so that Potiphar put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned.

But then Joseph dealt with more issues. Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him, and he was thrown in prison.

But Joseph’s story didn’t end there. Genesis 39 tells us that the Lord was with Joseph in prison, and Joseph prospered there, too.

He had success in everything he did.

Fast forward to Genesis 41:41 and look what happened:

That’s quite a story, right?

It gets even better.

Because God was with Joseph and he prospered, Joseph was able to accumulate piles of grain for the Egyptians ahead of a seven-year famine no one else knew was coming .

Those piles of grain didn’t just mean life for the people of Egypt during the seven-year famine that followed Joseph’s seven years of preparation; the piles of grain meant success .

And like Joseph, YOU have the ability to produce “grain piles” in your life.

Ephesians 3:20 tells us God is able to do more than all you can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within you.

You can see the promises of God come to pass in your own life and the works of your hands blessed.

You can prosper and be generous.

This is a very important Scripture. It tells us that this is our confidence—our firm trust . We may not have the evidence, but we know God has already taken the case.

Jesus has already paid the price.

You have the ability to be successful.

No matter where you started or where you are now, you have the ability to be successful. I don’t know what kind of situation you may find yourself in right now, but let me encourage you: GOD IS BIGGER than anything you’re facing.

The task before you may be impossible in your own strength, but it’s not impossible with God!

Joseph was in impossible situations—in the house of the ungodly and in a place where he really had no chance of success. In places where there seemed to be no potential, Joseph still prospered.

Just like God was bigger than Joseph’s ugly past and bigger than his dysfunctional family, GOD IS BIGGER than YOUR past.

And just like God was bigger than the rejection, betrayal, false accusations, and seven years of lack Joseph faced, GOD IS BIGGER than YOUR situation.

Time and time again, things looked completely hopeless for Joseph, but God made a way for Joseph through all of those hardships, and Joseph prospered.

God will make a way for you, too.

Just like God was with Joseph, He is with YOU, and you can prosper. You can get through any situation and be a success.

God has a plan for your life. He made you for a special purpose. As a child of God, He made you to have success in everything you do. He created you to win.

So, how do you step into God’s plan for your life?

Download your copy of my series, The Grain Pile Principle , and learn the five steps that led to Joseph’s extraordinary success and what you need to know to increase YOUR success—to see “grain piles” by the truckloads in your own life.

The post Your Success and Piles of Grain? You Need to Know This. appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Fear is a Liar — You Don’t Have to Be Afraid

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 14:12:00 GMT

We All Face Fear

The news is getting more intense every day.

It can be hard not to feel fear every single day about the things that are going on in the world.

Luke 21:26 warns us that in the last days the hearts of men will fail because of fear.

There are a lot of negative and horrible things going on, and it’s also all being amplified by the media.

You have to know how to handle fear.

Fear is the Master of Distortion

To distort something means to pull or twist it out of shape; to give a misleading or false account or impression of something; to change the form of something.

That’s what fear does.

Fear makes every problem seem larger than it is. Like when you think a hypothetical worse case scenario could actually happen. Or when you hear scary sounds at night at your heart rate goes up.

It makes us lose sight of reality.

Jesus’s own disciples weren’t even exempt from facing fear.

They had witnessed Jesus ministering and healing sick people. In fact, they had just witnessed Jesus healing Peter’s own mother-in-law.

Jesus had cured lepers, rescued the centurion’s servant from death, and cast out demons. You would think that the disciples’ faith would’ve been unshakable.

But then they got in a boat to go across a lake, and fear started talking.

Matthew 8:23-27 says:

Now, before you think these guys were spooked by a little storm on the water, keep in mind that they were experienced fishermen. They had seen many storms.

So, this one had to be pretty terrible, because it helped fear get the best of them.

Jesus was with them in the boat, and they were still freaking out!

But Jesus wasn’t; He was sleeping. And when they woke Him up, He didn’t sit around wringing His hands or saying, “I wish I would’ve checked the weather forecast before we left!”

No, Jesus rebuked the disciples.

See, they had left the shore on Jesus’s command, but instead of standing on Jesus’s word that they would make it to the other side, they looked at the reality of the storm. They felt the waves and the wind and heard the thunder, and fear set in.

One of the Enemy’s Most Effective Tactics

Fear is one of the enemy’s greatest and most effective tactics. He works really hard to set up the perfect scheme or scenario so he can play you like a fiddle if you don’t keep your eyes on the truth.

It worked on the disciples. Has it worked on you?

The disciples forgot everything they had just seen Jesus do for the Kingdom, and they focused on the storm .

What storms have YOU been focusing on?

God has already given you everything you need to overcome. You have been given His great and awesome authority in the earth realm. He is the God of answers, and He has given you the Holy Spirit to help you.

There’s no problem the Holy Spirit can’t solve.

Jesus brought Lazarus, who was dead, out of the grave. He performed miracle after miracle, healed all, and demonstrated the Kingdom everywhere He went!

So, as you hear the negative news reports, or as bad things happen that catch you off guard, you have to know what to do.

You have to be able to face the facts happening in the physical realm without being spooked, without wavering, and without allowing circumstances to yell louder than your faith or what God says.

Fear is a liar.

You don’t have to be afraid.

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God has called you to be strong and courageous, to confront the lies, the insecurities, the inferiorities, and the intimidation of the enemy.

You can learn how to move forward in the face of fear.

You can learn how to handle fear so fear doesn’t handle you.

Our brand-new Faith Over Fear 6-CD series can help.

So can Drenda’s newest book, Sharkproof: How to Deal With Difficult People

These two mentorship materials will help you STOP FEAR in your relationships, in your finances, and in your life.

Get the downloadable versions here!

The post Fear is a Liar — You Don’t Have to Be Afraid appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Stealing the Word from Your Heart—The Tactics of the Enemy

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 12:41:00 GMT

You have an enemy.

Satan knows that faith is the currency of the Kingdom of Heaven. He also knows that the living, active Word of God planted in your heart has the power to produce what it has promised.

So he uses tactics to come in and steal the Word of God from your heart.

In Matthew 13, Jesus told the Parable of the Sower, which talks about the conditions of the heart and how things come into our lives to choke the Word out of us.

One of the greatest battles I faced in holding onto the Word of God was many years ago when I was pregnant with our third child.

An exterminator had come in and sprayed for fleas brought in from a couple of Cocker Spaniel puppies we had gotten for our children. Within a short time of his leaving, I began to feel sick. Initially, I thought it was pregnancy-related, but I got sicker throughout the day, even hallucinating.

The next day, trying to figure out what had happened, we called the exterminator and discovered he had incorrectly sprayed chemicals to get rid of termites in our home instead of fleas.

Our unborn child had been exposed to the chemicals.

Battling Fear

I tried to keep fear out of my thoughts.

To battle, I wrote many Scriptures on paper and hung them on the ceiling of our bedroom. I would lie in bed and read them aloud.

One morning, I woke up and a particular Scripture seemed to jump off the ceiling at me.

It was at that moment that I realized that I was bleeding and had symptoms of miscarriage.

I held tight to the words concerning life and death being in the power of my tongue.

My fight could only be with spiritual weapons.

By faith, I began to thank God that my child was fine and that it was well.

I had never been in a fight like that, and I was so glad that my heart had been prepared in God’s Word.

When fear tried to hold me captive and get me to hand over my child’s life, faith was there to answer.

Over the next two days, I bled as if having a miscarriage, but I continued to say the words, “My child shall live and not die and declare the works of God!”

Finally, the bleeding stopped, and I continued to full term.

Our son was born healthy and whole.

Fear is just one tactic the enemy will use to try to steal the Word of God from your heart.

Your enemy will use anything he can to get you to let go of the Word including trouble, the opinions of others, strife, conflict, even busyness.

You must stay on guard and hold onto the Word, never letting it out of your heart.

How to Hold on to the Word

1. Start by making sure you’re praying and reading God’s Word.

Set times that you will read your Bible and pray, but also pray throughout the day as you encounter life. Talk to God and do life with Him. He isn’t a 10-minute devotion. He’s a relationship partner who is with you all day .

2. Place scripture promises around your home and small scripture books in nooks and rooms that can speak into your spirit throughout the day.

3. Put biblical teachings on in your car and while you’re doing things around the house.

4. Go to church weekly.

Since we were designed to live out of our spirit, we need to make drawing life-giving nourishment from God and His Word a priority daily. This strengthens our mind (thought life), causes our will to align with God’s will, stabilizes our emotions, and helps bring life and health to our body as the temple of God.

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Friend, you’re in a battle—a spiritual battle.

You MUST be alert and on guard.

You must understand this clash of kingdoms and the tactics of your enemy.

Learn more. Click here to request your copy of the Shadow War: Good vs. Evil five-part CD series now.

The post Stealing the Word from Your Heart—The Tactics of the Enemy appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Join the Faith Hall of Fame

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 13:40:00 GMT

It Takes Courage

You’ve probably heard me say many times that your mission on earth is going to take more courage than faith.

Because it takes courage to act on your faith, to step out of the boat, and to walk on God’s Word.

It takes courage to leave the familiar.

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Hebrews 11, because it’s the “Faith Hall of Fame.” It lists all the people in the Bible who acted in faith and changed their world as a result.

When you study this chapter, you recognize that there are certain traits that all people of faith exhibit.

People of faith:

1. View things differently than people who are surviving. Survivalists run and take cover. They don’t engage.

2. Look for the open doors. They’re constantly expecting God to fling open a door any second, so they are always conscious of their surroundings.

3. Are characterized by optimism because they serve a God who never has a bad day.

4. Put themselves in a place to hear revelation from God in their spirits and to act on that revelation in this natural realm. They hear from heaven and act it out on earth.

5. Leave behind familiar ground for unknown territory. If you want to do the impossible, you have to let go of the possible. We can’t camp out in yesterday’s victory. God is always on the move.

6. Act in courage, even though they may feel afraid. I’ve learned that you’ve got to be aggressive in this life. You’ve got to be on the ball. You’ve got to be looking, seeking, and on a mission to respond to God’s direction every day.

7. Cause lost people around them to ask questions because they receive God’s voice. By revelation, you should be an island in the midst of a dark place, where people can say, “There is something about that person. I’ve got to have that. Let’s go find out what it is.”

8. Have BIG vision because they believe in a BIG God. I always say that your vision needs to be past you. Why would God give you a life vision that you could complete in your own resources and strength? He’s going to give you a God-sized vision.

9. See possibility and work hard to make it a reality. They seize every opportunity. I’m amazed at the way some people just won’t MOVE. This usually means they have a poverty mind-set. God could be waving a flag and saying, “Hey! Over here’s a gold mine!” But people with a poverty mind-set think, “That’s too much work. Surely that can’t be God.” They don’t even get the picture of possibility.

Your Story is Being Written Right Now

We are people of faith, and we have the same anointing that Jesus had to change our world.

Just like Abraham, we’re leaving behind the places we’ve camped out, and we’re heading toward the bright future God has for us. I look forward to celebrating the great things God does as we step out in faith!

Take action! Read Hebrews 11 and write a sentence or two about yourself—your story—for the Faith Hall of Fame.

What do you want to be said about you when you’re gone?

Then make this your confession today: “It’s me and God changing my world, releasing the Kingdom, tearing down the kingdom of darkness, changing my surroundings, changing my circumstances, and re-defining my world.”

The post Join the Faith Hall of Fame appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

How to Move Forward in the Face of Fear

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 12:43:00 GMT

Facing Fear

It’s Funny Now, But It Wasn’t Then

Apparently, our neighbor’s large brown Lab had wandered onto our front porch. (Yes, this was at our house with our youngest daughter.)

Our front door has sidelights (windows) framing it, and when the neighbor’s dog looked inside and saw the three dogs in our house staring back at him, he clearly got excited.

Evidently, in his excitement, he had also jumped up on the windows and the door (the odd banging.) And, because he was such a large dog, his paws hit the doorknob as he jumped (the jiggling.)

We can laugh about it now, but the combination of all of those little things added up to make it seem to our youngest daughter that someone was trying to break into our house when she was home alone that night.

But it was all just false evidence that appeared to be real in those moments.

That’s exactly what fear is— F alse E vidence A ppearing R eal.

What the Enemy Loves to Do

Satan loves to set up— false evidence —smoke screens and setups and shadows that all appear to be much bigger and scarier than they really are.

Why? Because he despises us, and he’s not playing games. He wants to take us out.

He wants to stop the Kingdom of God from manifesting, and he wants to hinder the plans of God for your life.

So he pushes your buttons. He knows what to say to make you afraid. After all, you’ve been trained by our culture to fear. Fear permeates our culture. Movies, television, news reports—they’ve all helped train us to fear or to react to circumstances in fear.

That’s why 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

You Don’t Have to Fear

You don’t have to fear the enemy or evil.

Look at Psalm 23:4:

See that? God is with you.

So, as a believer, the real battle against fear occurs in your mind.

That’s the ONLY way Satan can gain entrance.

And that’s why you have to take your thoughts captive. You have to be the one to draw the line and stand your ground.

You have to have courage.

How to Have Courage

Here’s the thing: Courage isn’t the absence of fear. No, courage is actually defined as the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.

Courage is moving forward in the face of fear.

If you know anything about my story , you know that years ago I had real issues with fear.

Growing up, I was painfully shy and insecure.

I survived life by withdrawing. In fact, my plan was to just get done with high school and live in the woods, away from people.

I hadn’t learned how to handle fear, so fear was handling me.

God had to fix me. He had a specific purpose for my life, and He wanted to help me get there. When I was 19 years old, God called me in a vision to preach— to people . So I had to change. After all, a preacher who is afraid of people would live a miserable, unproductive life. There was only one answer: I had to have courage. I had to move forward in the face of fear again and again and again. I had to keep moving forward to get where He wanted me to go.

Friend, you have to learn how to move forward in the face of fear.

Learn How to Handle Fear So Fear Doesn’t Handle You

The Bible is full of examples of courage. Joshua is one of my favorites.

Moses had mentored Joshua to be a successful leader. Then, Moses died. Suddenly, Joshua was responsible for a huge nation of people and a wilderness journey.

Joshua could’ve easily looked at his situation and freaked out. He could’ve said, “You’ve got to be kidding me. I can’t do this. I’m not qualified.”

But he didn’t. Instead, Joshua focused on the promises God had made him:

I need you to see something really important in those verses: God mandated that Joshua be courageous.

That means courage isn’t a feeling; it’s a choice , a decision to move forward in the face of fear.

No matter how impossible the situation may look, God said He is with you.

It doesn’t matter how weak you feel or how afraid you are. God said He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.

You can be courageous not because of who you are but because God is with you.

That was me after God called me to preach—being courageous ONLY because He was with me. Because when He told me to go to college, I really had to move forward in the face of fear.

After college, God told me to go into life insurance sales. That’s a fantastic job for someone who is afraid to talk to people, right? I died at least a thousand deaths every week during those years I sold insurance. I’d lie in bed at night shaking in fear. It was the fight of my life.

But that was when things really began to change—when God began to reveal all of the larger-than-life shadows for what they really were— lies from the enemy…

F alse E vidence A ppearing R eal.

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God has called you to be strong and courageous, to confront the lies, the insecurities, the inferiorities, and the intimidation of the enemy.

You can learn how to move forward in the face of fear.

You can learn how to handle fear so fear doesn’t handle you.

Our brand-new Faith Over Fear 6-CD series can help.

So can Drenda’s newest book, Sharkproof: How to Deal With Difficult People

These two mentorship materials will help you STOP FEAR in your relationships, in your finances, and in your life.

Get the downloadable versions here!

The post How to Move Forward in the Face of Fear appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

How to Make Sure You’re Connected to the Power Source

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 12:03:00 GMT

The power isn’t in the formula.

Many years ago, a lady emailed me because she wasn’t happy. Someone on a Christian TV program had told her that if she gave $72 she would receive a breakthrough in 72 hours. Apparently someone thought the power was in the amount of $72.

The lady didn’t have her breakthrough in 72 hours, and she wasn’t happy.

It’s not magic.

Some people on Christian TV will still tell you that you can give and everything will be taken care of. As if it’s magic.

Yes, giving is vital, and sowing and reaping are important principles in the Kingdom of God.

But we have to do a better job of how we explain it.

Giving is a formula.

The Bible says you can give everything you have away, but it won’t make any difference if you don’t have faith.

Now, I’ve seen God do some amazing things in finances , but the risk for someone that doesn’t understand is that they try to copy the formula thinking that things will happen exactly the same way for them as it did for someone else.

But the power isn’t in the formula.

Think of the formula as being like the power lines that carry electricity. You can drive down the street and see power lines and know that all of the houses on that street are lit up because of those power lines.

But the power lines are just the conduit. They carry the power. They aren’t THE power.

If those power lines aren’t hooked up to the power source , then the houses wouldn’t be lit.

And just like that, the formula of giving can work for you too IF you’re hooked up to the same power source.

Are you hooked up to the power source properly?

Like a radio that works great but isn’t tuned into the right frequency, you can function perfectly, but not be tuned in properly.

It even happened to the disciples .

In Mark 6:45-52, Jesus had just got done feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Then He sent His disciples ahead of Him in a boat and He went off to pray. Later that night, they saw something on the water.

It was Jesus.

And they were afraid.

Here they had lived with the guy and they were afraid.

We can say we would have reacted differently, but we probably wouldn’t have.

Why?

Because most people posture themselves to receive from the familiar . Just like the disciples, you would’ve thought Jesus would show up next to you in a boat, not walking on the water.

Is that how you are with new ideas?

If you’re in construction, do you only believe for more construction jobs?

If you’re a waiter, do you only believe for more tips?

Do you dismiss ideas that are outside of your comfort zone?

Do you say, It’s bigger than me , or I don’t have any experience with that , and set the ideas aside?

Are thoughts whirling past you, but you tell yourself, It’s not my field ?

Have you trained yourself to look for Jesus coming only by boat?

Three Very Important Things

Jesus said three very important things that night from the water that we can learn from.

1. Take courage.

Any new assignment will be a bigger area of responsibility, and you’ll be tempted to be afraid of that. You can’t look at the work involved in taking that on. If you’re truly anticipating increase, you’ll think different thoughts and embrace opportunity.

2. It is I.

New ideas aren’t always going to make sense to you. It’s not important that they make sense to you. The voice of God can be easy to miss. He works with our passions and our make up. He works with things we don’t even know about ourselves. Those ideas are always going to be bigger than you are. You just need to pay attention and write it all down.

3. Don’t be afraid.

Do something God thinks you can do, not something you think you can do. With God all things are possible, and He’s going to strengthen you. If He gives you an idea, He must think you can do it with His help. You’ve got to train yourself to be open to new, unusual, weird ideas. Don’t miss the direction and the timing.

You must understand how the process operates. Remember, Abraham believed God, but that wasn’t all there was to the process.

Abraham received the promise, but he had to DO something. He had to act on his faith. He had to raise Isaac.

Don’t get discouraged. God is interested in the beginning and the end, but He’s most interested in the journey in-between.

Take courage. It is really Him. Don’t be afraid.

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It’s critical that you learn how the Kingdom of God operates in order to live the great life God has planned for you.

There is SO MUCH MORE I want to share with you about this to help you and bless your life, SO MUCH MORE about faith and about how to move forward and live the great life God has planned for you.

As a friend of Faith Life Now, Drenda and I want to help you.

That’s why we’ve put together a new, POWERFUL mentorship package for you this month. It’s designed to help you MOVE PAST disappointments and FORWARD into the incredible future God has planned for you.

You can get your INSTANT DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of the NEW four-part teaching set, Disappointed Faith , and the two-part CD set, Help, God! It’s Not Working here.

The post How to Make Sure You’re Connected to the Power Source appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Do You Know the Truth About the Story of Job?

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 13:06:00 GMT

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name.

You’ve probably heard that popular Christian song.

But don’t sing those lyrics.

Because they’re a lie.

If you know anything about the Word of God, you’ve probably heard about Job, about his entire family dying; him being covered in boils; and what “God did” to him.

Well, maybe you didn’t know all of that, but you probably know he endured more than any one person should ever have to.

But what you really should know about the Book of Job isn’t how well he teaches us to persevere.

No, what you really need to know about the Book of Job is that it’s a whole book of the Bible that has been used to deceive people, especially when it comes to healing.

(So here’s where we’re going to tear it apart.)

In the first chapter of Job we learn that he was a very wealthy man. We’re told that his sons and daughters took turns hosting feasts in their homes and that Job regularly offered sacrifices on behalf of his children. Then we see that Satan came to God and they talked about Job. God gave Job accolades. He said there was none on earth like Job.

But Satan disagreed.

Before I go into this further, go take a look at Luke 22:31.

That’s where Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked to sift him as wheat , but that He prayed for Peter so that his faith would not fail.

What does this mean, and why am I throwing it in right here?

Well, when Satan asked to sift Peter as wheat that meant he wanted to have dominion over him.

And that’s what Satan was gunning for with Job, too.

Satan wanted dominion over Job. He thought it was unfair that God had put a hedge of protection around him. He pretty much told God, “Why wouldn’t Job serve you? Look at what you’ve done for him! If you’d allow pressure to come against him, we’d really see where his heart is.”

The First Lie

This is where the first lie about the character of God is pulled from. It does appear that God allowed Satan to harm Job.

But that’s not true.

God didn’t have a choice.

Satan had every right to go to God and complain, and he had every right TO Job.

Satan has legal dominion in the earth realm after all. Remember, Adam gave it to him in Genesis 3. And because there was no intercessor at that time— there was no Jesus —Satan had a legal right to mess with Job.

God couldn’t say no.

So Satan went after Job’s provision and his children.

The Second Lie

That’s where the second lie comes in—another Scripture used to deceive people about the character of God.

Yes, Job lost his children, but notice he didn’t lose his own life, and he didn’t lose his wife.

So, why did he lose his children?

Go back and look for yourself. It’s really interesting to see that Job offered sacrifices for his children continuously. Why? Because he knew there were some things going on in their lives that weren’t right, and the Bible says he was fearful for them.

He was fearful for their lives.

We get confirmation of this later in Job. His children paid the penalty of sin.

The Third Lie

We see another lie about the character of God in verse 20 when Job said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.” (Remember the lyrics I mentioned?)

Man, that song grieves me every time I hear it.

Friend, know this:

Just because something is written in the Bible doesn’t mean it’s proper.

You have to take everything in context. It’s in the Bible for a reason, but that reason just might be to teach you what NOT to do, what NOT to say, or how NOT to act.

You MUST look at the person you’re quoting and really make sure they had a proper perception of God when they said whatever they said.

Job didn’t have the right perception.

He lacked knowledge of the character of God. He lived in fear and gave offerings out of fear. His perception was that God gives and takes away.

That was Job’s understanding, but that is NOT true about God.

Think about how great that sounds. Doesn’t that make you want to serve God? He gives and takes away? Wow. Thanks! I can do that myself! It’s a phrase you hear often, but that doesn’t mean it’s truth. That’s just where Job was. That was his perception.

Now, back to the Bible.

Satan comes back to God and tells God Job isn’t as righteous as he appears, and he wants to be able to attack Job’s body.

Once again, God has to say yes. And Job develops boils.

Then we begin to hear some stuff happening. We really start to see Job’s heart.

A Heart Issue

In 3:25, Job says what he has feared has come upon him.

And there it is.

Job didn’t have peace before. He was consumed with doing things right and giving offerings and trying to do things religiously correct.

Job didn’t know God’s character. He was afraid of God. He dreaded these things happening. He gave offerings in his limited knowledge thinking they would appease God.

When his friends came along to talk to him about his heart and his understanding, Job went on a tangent of severe and serious misrepresentations of God.

He said God destroys both the blameless and the wicked.

Do you see anything wrong with that?

I do.

Job had a completely wrong picture of who God is.

If this was what you thought of God what would you do, you’d give offerings everyday all day long too!

If this were the God you were serving you would think you have to appease him nonstop too. If this is the kind of justice God has then you have to continually perform, right?

Job had God all wrong.

Now let’s jump to where God starts talking to Job and dealing with his perception. God shows him the goodness of creation—His goodness, His faithfulness, and what He’s done.

God taught Job about Himself, and Job finally saw that God is good.

Then he repented—from his wrong perception of God; his wrong image of God; a works, fear-based, religious mentality of God, which gave the enemy access to his life. And God blessed Job more than ever before.

What Have You Believed?

Have you believed a lie about the Book of Job? Do you know why those things happened? Do you know the end of the story?

Get your Bible and read the whole thing.

See what you learn.

Then ask yourself if it was God’s will to bring destruction to Job’s life. Ask yourself if it’s God’s will to bring destruction—to bring sickness—to your life.

The Bible says that what God was able to bring about was a good thing. God was faithful to bring wisdom and knowledge to Job. He kept him from incurring destruction.

Job had the victory in the end. And so can you.

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It’s critical that you learn how the Kingdom of God operates in order to move forward when you face trials, struggles, or disappointments.

As a friend of Faith Life Now, Drenda and I want to help you.

That’s why we’ve put together a brand-new, powerful mentorship package for you this month. It’s designed to help you move past disappointments and FORWARD into the incredible future God has planned for you.

You can get your INSTANT DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of the NEW four-part teaching set, Disappointed Faith , and the two-part CD set, Help, God! It’s Not Working here.

The post Do You Know the Truth About the Story of Job? appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Does Your Faith Need Fixed?

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 06:45:00 GMT

Have you ever felt desperate?

I mean really desperate.

Like the I-need-God-to-do-something-and-quick kind of desperate, where faith has to produce, where God has to show up?

I’ve been there.

Here’s the thing friend, God has to have someone in the earth realm who will come into agreement with heaven and carry the anointing.

Your heart is the interface for that agreement. When you are fully persuaded in your heart, and you pray, the anointing flows. Without that agreement, prayer is just a religious exercise.

Now, once you get it in your heart, that doesn’t necessarily mean that things are going to change right at that moment.

There are things that need to be done.

There’s more to it than just having faith. You weren’t saved just by faith, but by doing also. We can have faith, but there are some things you have to DO in order for your picture to match what’s in heaven:

1. You have to believe God.
2. You have to have direction from God.
3. You have to take action on that direction.

The woman with the issue of blood believed God. She saw Jesus right in front of her and she took action.

Sometimes we believe our heart is right, so we step out in faith, and we take action and… nothing happens.

So we get frustrated, disillusioned, and disappointed with God’s Word because we’re not seeing the results that the Bible clearly says are legally ours.

But, that’s a great place to be.

I know. You’re thinking—this guy is nuts. How could he say that’s a great place to be?

Because frustration is the breeding ground of change.

Think about it. Have you ever built something that ended up not working? Ever stood back and looked at something you did and said, “Wait a minute. Something is wrong here?”

You got frustrated, right? Then you went back to the instructions you never bothered to read in the first place, and you started dissecting everything. That’s when you realized you had a screw in the wrong place, a wire disconnected, or that you need batteries. When you finally fixed the issues, and got it in alignment, it worked just like it was supposed to.

The BIBLE is just like that.

It’s supposed to work just like it says.

If there’s a malfunction, it is NEVER on God’s end.

So, now you know. If you’re there at the place of frustration, disappointment, or desperation, you have some changes to make.

Think about what you really believe. Find the malfunction.

Drill down until you figure out where you’ve missed it.

Go back to the Word of God and make sure your heart is right. Read the instruction manual and make sure you have the right picture on the inside.

Go after the picture as hard as you can. Then watch the changes that take place. Watch the stories show up. Watch the mountains move.

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Have you ever found yourself asking, What happened? Where did I go wrong?

It’s critical that you learn how the Kingdom of God operates in order to move forward when you face disappointment.

There is SO MUCH MORE I want to share with you about this to help you and bless your life, SO MUCH MORE about facing disappointments and about how to move forward and live the great life God has planned for you.

As a friend of Faith Life Now, Drenda and I want to help you.

That’s why we’ve put together a POWERFUL mentorship package for you this month. It’s designed to help you MOVE PAST disappointments and FORWARD into the incredible future God has planned for you.

You can get your INSTANT DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of the NEW four-part teaching set, Disappointed Faith , and the two-part CD set, Help, God! It’s Not Working here.

The post Does Your Faith Need Fixed? appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Disappointment Doesn’t Have to be the End

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 17:25:00 GMT

When was the last time you were disappointed about something?

Was it about something minor, like a purchase you made that didn’t work out like you had hoped or a meal you ordered that didn’t taste as delicious as you had expected?

Or were you disappointed about something more major, like a relationship with a friend or family member, a doctor’s report, or something that happened at work or in your business?

Here’s the thing, friend: we’ve all been there. We all know what disappointment feels like.

No one gets through life without facing disappointment on some level.

It’s How You Handle It That Makes All the Difference

Disappointment is defined as the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations.

We all face disappointments, but it’s how you handle disappointments that will determine if you’ll be stuck or if you’ll live the great life God has planned for you.

How Will YOU Handle It?

You’ve probably heard of Milton Hershey , or at least the company he founded—Hershey Company. But did you know that, before that, Milton Hershey was fired from an apprenticeship ?

Did you know that he started THREE separate candy-related ventures before the Hershey Company, and they all failed ?

How about Soichiro Honda , the founder of Honda Corporation? Did you know that five of his eight siblings died in childhood, or that he dropped out of school at age 15 to become a mechanic, but ended up just being a babysitter?

Did you know his factory was destroyed THREE times —twice by bombs and once by an earthquake ?

I’m sure you’ve heard of J.K. Rowling , the author of the Harry Potter books. But did you know that she was jobless, divorced, and broke before she wrote the Harry Potter series? Did you know twelve publishing houses rejected her first book?

Twelve!

I’m positive you’ve heard of Walt Disney . He’s a person I like to reference often. Why? Because he faced years of criticism, failure, and disappointments.

If you don’t know, he was fired from a newspaper for “not being creative enough”— Walt Disney ! He was rejected more than 300 times by bankers who thought his ideas were ridiculous.

Time and time again Walt faced disappointment.

All four of these people have incredible stories.

But why did I want you to know about them specifically?

Because, just like you and me, they faced disappointments. Some of those disappointments even had dream-crushing, life-ruining potential.

But disappointment wasn’t the end for any of them.

In fact, Walt Disney said,

No matter what you’ve faced, or are facing, disappointment doesn’t have to be the end for you either.

God knows where you are and where you’re headed.

We Were Broke

When we first moved to Ohio, we were broke. We were just starting to truly learn about the Kingdom of God.

You may know our story, but Drenda and I lived hand-to-mouth for years. We lived in poverty.

For nine very long years, we were in financial chaos. Not only did we owe on our falling-apart farmhouse that had weeds growing through its windows and on two rusted-out, bent up, high mileage cars, we also had ten maxed out credit cards, three finance company loans at interest rates of 28%, more than $13,000 owed in back taxes, more than $26,000 owed to relatives, and judgments and liens filed against us.

We had a friend of the family call us for investment help ( yes, ironically I was broke and working in the financial services industry ). He had inherited more than $500,000 and wanted assistance on where and how to invest it. I was happy to help, and thrilled because Drenda and I desperately needed the commission from the case to make ends meet.

So I spent hours with the client, hours researching and preparing plan options for him, and hours laying out the strategy that would best help him.

Hours upon hours.

Do you see where this is going?

I presented the options to him, and told him I could help him get everything set up if he wanted to move forward. He called me a week later and told me he took my strategy to his local bank and they followed it exactly, investing his money precisely as I had instructed.

In other words, I didn’t receive a penny because his bank received the commission check on my work.

I was devastated.

But it’s how we handle disappointments that will determine if we’ll be stuck or if we’ll live the great lives God has planned for us.

Disappointments can slow you down. They’ll try to tell you, You’ll never have another opportunity like that .

Disappointments can lead to discouragement, depression, and hopelessness.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Disappointments will come, friend, but there’s always a tomorrow.

Years ago, I knew a family who hit a deer and totaled one of their two cars. Then, two weeks later, the engine blew in their second car. That’s not a good place to be, right?

But this family didn’t get stuck on disappointment. Instead, they decided they were going to believe God and not use debt to replace those vehicles.

The day before their rental car had to be turned in, they got a phone call from a friend who didn’t know what had happened. That friend wanted to know if they knew of anyone who needed a car. When they explained what had happened to them, the friend gave them the car.

A few weeks after that, we stopped by their house, and on their refrigerator was a big picture of a Honda Odyssey. Each time they opened the refrigerator, they would lay their hands on that picture and thank God for that van.

About a week later, my secretary called me and said, “We had an unusual call this morning. Someone called and said they want to give the church a van.” Of course, she didn’t know what this family was believing God for, so I asked her, “What kind of van is it?”

And, you can guess the rest of the story. That van was actually in really good condition.

When Drenda called the woman to share the news, she first asked her how they were doing with the car situation. The woman said, “We’re one day closer.”

That family knew that how they handled the disappointments they were facing would determine if they’d be stuck or if they’d live the great life God had planned for them. And they decided to believe God.

Now, I don’t believe that Honda Odyssey showing up was a coincidence. I know better. I’ve experienced the promises of God over and over again, and I’ve heard too many stories of the Kingdom operating in other people’s lives.

It’s critical that you learn how the Kingdom of God operates in order to move forward when you face disappointment.

As a friend of Faith Life Now, Drenda and I want to help you.

That’s why we’ve put together a BRAND-NEW, POWERFUL mentorship package for you this month. It’s designed to help you MOVE PAST disappointments and FORWARD into the incredible future God has planned for you.

You can get your INSTANT DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of the NEW four-part teaching set, Disappointed Faith , and the two-part CD set, Help, God! It’s Not Working here.

The post Disappointment Doesn’t Have to be the End appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

How to Stop Being a Slave to Your Paycheck

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 16:21:00 GMT

Are your dreams on hold because you’re a slave to your paycheck?

Every day, millions of people show up to jobs they hate just to get a paycheck. They’re slaves to their financial situations.

When you’re a slave to your paycheck—chasing after money—it’s hard to pursue your dreams, let alone be obedient to God.

Think about it. Why do you show up at work?

Do you actually like your job, or do you just show up because you want, or need, the paycheck?

It’s okay to admit it. A recent study shows you’re not alone—nearly 70% of Americans don’t like their jobs, and out of those 70%, 30% hate them.

Here’s the thing:

Money is a tool meant to serve you and your assignment, not the other way around.

When Drenda and I were buried in debt and searching our couch cushions for spare change to buy our kids’ dinner, I wasn’t dreaming about God’s assignment for my life. All I could think about was how we were going to survive one more day. My mind was bombarded with tormenting thoughts.

How will I pay the bills tomorrow?

How am I going to feed my children?

How can I get out of this mess?

I’ve shared before how I couldn’t even afford to buy a postage stamp. (And they cost less back then than they do now.)

So many people are looking for a way to escape the financial pressure. That’s why winning the lottery and get-rich-quick schemes are tempting to so many.

What about you? Are you desperate to find rest? Do you only look forward to the weekend, your next vacation, or even retirement?

Because that’s when you can finally stop running and start doing what you’re passionate about?

If that’s you, I understand.

No one wants to keep waking up with the weight of finding provision on their shoulders.

When you’re living that way, your life is stuck on pause—every day you’re waiting for a breakthrough so you can finally start living.

The good news is you don’t have to live that way any longer.

You don’t have to put your dreams on hold while you struggle paycheck-to-paycheck.

God didn’t design you to spend your whole life chasing after money.

Your life is about so much more than a paycheck, a bigger house, or a fancier car.

He didn’t create you to survive through life—He created you to thrive .

He created you with a specific purpose for your life, and when you tap into the laws that govern His Kingdom, you can stop chasing after money and start accelerating toward your destiny.

When God showed me that He had a plan to meet my needs that didn’t involve me working longer and harder, I felt like I could dream again.

I want that for you too.

If you’re tired of your need for money driving your decisions, know this: It doesn’t have to be that way.

You don’t have to be a slave to your paycheck.

You can see real results in your life.

The power of rest is a law of God’s Kingdom that frees you to stop chasing after money. It’s one of the most life-changing principles God has ever taught me.

I really believe the Holy Spirit gave me this message that is going to change the way you work (and live) forever!

Discover how YOU CAN STOP BEING A SLAVE TO YOUR PAYCHECK and start experiencing God’s rest in your life.

Request your copy of the life-changing message, Your Financial Revolution: The Power of Rest book (paperback).
You can also get the ebook , the audio series , or the USB with both the audio AND video mentorship teachings of The Power of Rest .

Don’t wait. Get the version of this life-changing resource that’s best for you TODAY.

Need the complete set? We’ve got you covered here.

The post How to Stop Being a Slave to Your Paycheck appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Looking for a Great Return? You Need to Know This Principle

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 14:23:00 GMT

Do you know how to use biblical partnership to your advantage?

Do you even know what biblical partnership is?

The principle of partnership in the Kingdom of God is really powerful.

But many people don’t understand it, let alone use it to their advantage.

In fact, if you’re like many people, you probably think “partnering with God” means giving to the poor.

It’s true that the Bible says that if we give to the poor, we’re lending to God and He will repay us (Proverbs 19:17).

But giving to the poor—or meeting a need—is a different principle than the partnership principle.

When you give to meet someone’s need, or to help someone, you’re partnering with God and reaching out to that person in love and helping them, but you’re not partnering in their vision .

When you give this way, you’re usually moved by compassion, or by God speaking to you, to help fill a need.

This type of giving is based on your own developed faith .

But when you partner with a ministry, you’re partnering with their vision and their faith and, as a result, there is an increase in the grace of God.

This is because your faith works together toward a certain result.

But here’s an IMPORTANT KEY you better know:

In order for this partnership to have a positive impact in your life, you want to be sure to partner with someone who has faith, who knows how faith operates, and who has demonstrated good results.

If you’re looking for a great return, the ground where you sow is just as important as the seed you sow.

I get letters all the time from people who are so excited about the Kingdom and want to begin sowing and giving in partnership. But in the same letter, they tell me they don’t like their church because it’s a dead place where the people are against faith, against the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, against prospering, against healing…(the list goes on!).

Why in the world would they continue to sow their seed there, believing for a return?!

In many cases, a return does come because of their own faith, but there’s a difference in return when you partner with someone who’s on the same page, knows how faith works , agrees with you, and expects the manifestation.

(Read that again—that last paragraph.)

Because THAT’S the type of ministry you want to partner with.

Because when you partner with a ministry, you’re partnering with their grace —the anointing on their assignment—and that is a powerful combination.

You can and should sow to those in need around you.

But when you want to sow for specific financial increase, you need to partner with someone who has demonstrated faith and financial integrity.

God calls each of us to support and partner with different people and different ministries. Before you sow for increase, just be sure you’re sowing into good ground. This brings the overflow so that you’ll have the ability to be generous to the poor.

Learn more about partnering with Gary and Drenda through Team Revolution.

Portions of this article have been excerpted from Gary’s book Money Mysteries from the Master .

The post Looking for a Great Return? You Need to Know This Principle appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

It’s Life or Death. Who is Really Teaching Your Child?

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 01:04:00 GMT

We Are Responsible

Every child has a destiny and a calling, and WE are responsible for them.

Are we doing a good job?

Look around you.

Did you know that when Hitler took over Germany, he began with the youth core?

He realized he had to capture the hearts of the youth to have the nation .

We’re seeing that in America now.

No, I’m not being extreme.

Who is Teaching Your Child?

Sure, changing some song lyrics may seem innocent, but it’s really life or death.

It’s just one more subtle tactic the enemy is using to get to our children.

Because the enemy knows the best way to affect our lives—the best way to corrupt or pervert our entire culture—is to start with the children.

God created family, and He takes how we train our children very seriously.

Family is God’s system of transferring knowledge from generation to generation.

Everything flows out of family.

The promises of God for our lives are still dependent on US following after God, mentoring and demonstrating righteousness (what God calls right), justice (what God says is legal), and His ways to our family.

We have to teach our children to think, talk, and act like God designed us to think, talk, and act.

God holds us responsible.

He sees children as precious gifts. The Bible tells us that children are a reward—they are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.

Think about that.

How vital is an arrow to a warrior? How much care and protection does a warrior give to his arrows because he knows his life depends on them? How well is that warrior going to protect and oversee the value and condition of his arrows?

Are We Paying Enough Attention?

Do we pay as much attention to young people today as a warrior would to his arrows?

Are you nurturing and raising those arrows up straight—with a righteous mindset and a spiritual worldview? (Or are you calling them brats and wishing the summer school vacation were over so that they would be out of your hair?)

Kids aren’t stupid. They watch us, and they will follow what we do , not what we say .

If you have a heart for God, they’ll know it.

If you don’t, they’ll know it.

So, make the decision for you and your house that you will serve the Lord. Follow God, and be the person He has called you to be. Be trustworthy with your family.

Make sure you’re the one teaching your child.

_______________________________________________________

There’s more we want to share with you about this.

That’s why, for your best ministry gift of just $45 or more, we want to send you a powerful and practical LIMITED EDITION package we created called the New Vintage Family Package .

The New Vintage Family Package contains Drenda’s book The New Vintage Family , as well as a teaching she did on how to take vacations with your family called Make It Fun.

You need real answers to the modern-day struggles we face in parenting and teaching our children. This is crucial mentorship material that offers both the practical and spiritual actions you need to enjoy the promises of God in your family.

Don’t wait! Request your copy of the New Vintage Family limited edition package here.

The post It’s Life or Death. Who is Really Teaching Your Child? appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

How to Make Sure You’re Releasing the Right Kind of Power in Your Life

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 13:29:00 GMT

The famous story of Jesus walking on the water is in Matthew 14. The disciples saw Jesus coming out to them on the lake and thought He was a ghost. Peter called out to Jesus, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come,” and Peter walked out on the water.

Notice, though that Peter didn’t walk on the water until Jesus spoke . Peter knew he couldn’t walk on the water, but if Jesus told him to walk on the water, he could.

Peter knew Jesus’ words were that powerful.

But as soon as Peter lost sight of that Word, and felt the wind and the waves, the water became the water again. He got scared and started to sink. When Peter turned from the Word of God and put his focus on his circumstances, he couldn’t walk on the water.

When’s the last time that has happened to you?

Not walking on water, of course, but when you acted on a word from God?

Maybe God told you to get a new job or to move to a new state, and at first everything was exciting. You were walking on the Word fearlessly, because you knew what God had told you.

But then, one day, you forgot it. In just a short day’s time, your job and your house were no longer the exciting thing that God had called you to—they became just a job and just a house. Suddenly the new coworkers and neighbors you wanted to minister to became annoying neighbors and coworkers you couldn’t wait to get away from.

Like Peter, you stepped away from the Word of God … and you ended up in the water.

That’s exactly what Satan wants to do—get your attention off the Word of God and back on your circumstances.

Satan wants you to sink.

Sure, all things are possible to those who believe, but if Satan can get you off of agreement with God’s Word— you no longer believe—the power of God is cut off from your life.

When you talk, you’re releasing power into your situation—for good or for bad.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

Now, that can work in your favor. But if you aren’t using your words wisely, it can cause you a lot of troubles down the road.

When some people pray, their perspective is that it’s like writing a letter of requests to Santa Claus. People don’t realize that God ALREADY gave them the keys of the Kingdom, and they are always releasing the Kingdom through their words.

Matthew 18:18 says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Wow! Did you get that? Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.

That means that you directly control the blessing in your life.

That gives a whole new revelation to the power of your words, right?

So if blessing is being short-circuited in your life, guess who is binding that blessing?

And if unfortunate circumstances are overrunning your life, guess who is loosing permission for Satan to attack?

Yep. You.

The law of releasing life or death in your life is in the power of your tongue, and it is operating all the time.

Your words are weapons. Are you using them against Satan, or against yourself and the people you love?

The post How to Make Sure You’re Releasing the Right Kind of Power in Your Life appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

Is Your Comfort the Enemy of Your Progress?

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:38:00 GMT

Have you ever heard this quote: “Comfort is the enemy of progress”?

There are so many phrases in our culture that use the word comfort as a positive, but God didn’t create us to be comfortable. He challenges us to get uncomfortable, so we can go out and do the impossible.

Over the years, Gary and I have both been called outside of our comfort levels and outside of our abilities as well. That’s because God is not going to give us assignments that we can walk out on our own. He’s going to push us to do things that only He can help us achieve.

Marriage and family are two of God’s most amazing blessings , but they can also be challenging assignments.

When Gary and I first got married, over 35 years ago, we were both naive. We thought, Hey, we love God; it’s gonna be all good… right? Ha!

Of course, loving God is important, but that doesn’t mean you just put up your feet and get comfy. Like any good thing, it takes work to keep a family together and strong, especially when storms come against you.

Now, as you may know, Gary and I are no strangers to challenging circumstances.

You’ve probably heard our story—years ago, we lived hand-to-mouth. For nine very long years, we were in financial chaos. We were living in a small, broken-down, 1800s farmhouse, complete with weeds growing through the broken windowpanes and trying to raise five children! We owed on two rusted-out, bent up, high mileage cars, 10 maxed out credit cards, three finance company loans, back taxes … it was a nightmare.

That was also a difficult time in our marriage. Gary was sick during those days, and we were both miserable because we were in a state of constant financial stress.

I’m sure many of you know that financial stress can create a lot of marital pressure.

Luckily, no matter how much pressure or discord there is, God is always ready and willing to help us get things back on track!

Once Gary and I began to look to God’s Word to see what He said about marriage and family and learned to unleash the Kingdom of God in our family AND in our finances, it was like a light switch was turned on!

In less than three years, we were completely out of debt, and we went from surviving our marriage to thriving as a husband and wife, and as parents.

Why???

Because we were doing it God’s way!

I want you to know, no matter where you are in your marriage, God wants to take you even further!

God has more for you than just being comfortable. He wants your family to excel in its purpose. Once Gary and I got on the same page, started praying, and expecting answers, we received instructions on the next steps in our assignment every single time.

Now, I’m not saying there weren’t challenges, but once we stopped trying to do it ourselves and realized that we needed to go to God for everything, and do it His way, that was the moment everything changed .

We started new businesses during that time that have only kept growing. We paid cash for our cars, cash for our 55 acres of land, and built and paid for our new home.

If we hadn’t gone to God for the vision, we never would have been able to do all those things. Part of providing your family with security is making sure you’re being consistent with God’s vision.

His vision should be the compass for all of the decisions you and your spouse make.

God brought you and your spouse together for a reason. He has an incredible plan for your life. The enemy wants to put a wedge between you and your spouse. Don’t let him! Keep the devil out of your marriage by keeping the Holy Spirit strong in it!

Trust God with your relationship, and turn to His Word for guidance. Read it, pray it, and speak it over your marriage.

I want to do all I can do to cheer you on, so you can have peace and happiness in your family and experience victory in any circumstance.

Once you get clear on God’s vision for your family, you can tackle your purpose and truly enjoy each step along the way.

God created you to live a life that would be a light for the world.

You must get uncomfortable to live that life. Once Gary and I got out of our comfort zones, we were able to accelerate in our God-designed purpose, AND we knew we were demonstrating faith through our actions to our children.

Instead of talking to them about being secure in God’s love and having faith in His purpose and assignment for their lives, we showed them.

Children model what they see. What are you modeling to your children every day?

_______________________________________________________

There’s so much more I want to share with you about this!

That’s why, for your best ministry gift of just $45 or more, I want to send you a powerful and practical LIMITED EDITION package we created called the New Vintage Family Package .

The New Vintage Family Package contains a teaching I did on how to take vacations with your family called Make It Fun , as well my book, The New Vintage Family .

The New Vintage Family is a dynamic book packed with critical lessons for helping you embrace God’s design for family and, at the same time, have fun!

You need real answers to the modern-day struggles we face as parents. This is crucial mentorship material that offers both the practical and spiritual actions you need to enjoy the promises of God in your family.

So, don’t wait! Request your copy of the New Vintage Family limited edition package here.

With this offer, you’ll also receive my Make It Fun mentorship CD, and Your Love Story , a powerful teaching by Gary, that will help you navigate your marriage and your finances using powerful tools like knowing your love languages and more!

God wants to take your family to places beyond your wildest dreams this year.

I believe these resources will help you get uncomfortable, so you can start seeing the “impossible” as wonderful opportunities that God put in front of you.

The post Is Your Comfort the Enemy of Your Progress? appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

How to Deal with Difficult People

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 13:08:00 GMT

Let’s talk about sharks…

Stick with me, this is going somewhere.

I’m not talking about the kind of sharks you see on Shark Week. I’m talking about the kind of sharks you meet in the workplace, in relationships, and even at church. (Yikes!)

Have you ever met a difficult person?

Somebody who was hard to please, critical, controlling, negative, or even rude?

Did a few people come to mind as soon as you read that?

When we meet sharks (note: it’s not usually obvious), we often try to jump through hoops to keep them happy. Been there, got the t-shirt, went back and got a few thousand more.

Gary and I have had to swim with many, many, MANY sharks in business, ministry, relationships, and friendships. During the first few years of running our business, our life often looked like a shark-feeding frenzy.

Honestly, a lot of it was my own fault.

Because I used to be a serial people pleaser. I hated making people unhappy.

Saying no was hard for me. Disappointing people was hard for me. Both of those things made running a business and ministry really hard for me.

When I met somebody who wasn’t happy with me, it became my personal mission to make them change their mind. Hello, can you say disaster waiting to happen?

I was performing for their approval.

It was like dropping blood in the middle of the ocean.

Sharks seemed to be coming from every direction to get a piece of me. As an insecure, timid leader, I was the perfect shark bait.

Gary and I agonized over putting our trust in the wrong people. We faced betrayals, accusations, and let people manipulate us out of time and money.

One day Gary came to me with tears in his eyes. “I wrote my resignation letter today,” he said, trying to fight back the crushing disappointment in his voice.

We were so close to giving everything up because of sharks.

It was CRITICAL that we learned how to deal with difficult people.

It’s critical for you too.

You may feel like quitting today, but I want to encourage you; there are answers.

Redefine Your Role

As a Christian, I used to think it was my job to make everyone happy.

NEWS FLASH: it’s not your job to make everyone happy. Only God can do that—He’s their answer, not you.

Through the years, I’ve learned a powerful secret about sharks…

Sharks don’t eat fish because of anything the fish do. They don’t eat fish because those fish aren’t good enough fish, or because those fish aren’t nice enough to the sharks.

Sharks eat fish simply because they’re SHARKS!

I learned this lesson the hard way. I didn’t know how to separate somebody else’s reactions from my identity.

Jesus was a perfect leader and friend, and even He offended people. John 15:18-19 (NIV) say,

There are people you will meet in life who will get offended with you no matter what you do. If you exhaust yourself trying to please them, you may delay it for a day, but the inevitable will come.

Pay special attention to the middle of that Scripture: “As far as it depends on you. ” Peace in every relationship is not always within your power. People have responsibility too. Do as much as you can to live at peace with everyone, but don’t live in a state of people pleasing, fear, or intimidation.

You have to learn how to separate other people’s actions and reactions from YOUR identity.

And for the record, we can all demonstrate sharklike qualities from time to time. Especially when we’re hurting, tired, or operating out of our emotions.

Keep the Vision Ahead

When dealing with difficult people, you have to remember…

You can’t make everyone happy, and that’s okay. God never asked you to.

You’re on a mission.

You’re on assignment.

You can’t compromise your destiny to please people.

Jesus gives us an example of this in Luke 4:42-43 (NIV):

How someone reacts when your obedience to God and the priorities He has placed in your life interfere with what they want from you isn’t a sign of your failure or unworthiness. It’s simply an indicator of an immaturity in them .

You have to stay obedient to the will of God anyway.

Give people grace, patience, and love, but don’t take false responsibility for other people’s offenses.

Keep swimming!

The post How to Deal with Difficult People appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

3 Signs You’re Being Manipulated (and How to Break Free)

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 12:26:00 GMT

“She won’t return my calls or texts because I wouldn’t reschedule the party to a date that works for her.”

“I don’t even want to answer the phone or read his texts because he’s always hinting around that he needs help with something.”

“I really don’t want to go to that dinner, but I’m afraid she’ll be mad if I say no.”

“I couldn’t believe it when I found out all she had done to give management a negative opinion of me and my skills.”

Would You Recognize a Shark?

Do you know when you’re being manipulated or intimidated by somebody?

Manipulation is defined as control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly or unscrupulously; to control or play upon by unfair, or insidious means especially to one’s own advantage, so as to serve one’s purpose.

Some people treat us this way naively. They’re simply motivated by feelings of jealousy, control, insecurity, or anger.

Others do it compulsively.

I call those people “sharks.”

We can all be sharks or demonstrate shark-like qualities from time to time.

But real sharks have the same behaviors consistently . They’re maliciousness isn’t an accident on their part—it’s a habit .

We all like to think we’re the masters of our lives and that we don’t allow ourselves to be manipulated or controlled by anyone, but that’s rarely the case.

Even people’s unwilling social cues can cause us to make decisions we otherwise wouldn’t.

In most cases, we become shark bait by taking false responsibility.

Have You Become Shark Bait?

You’re probably being manipulated or intimidated by a shark if:

1. You have dread.

Dread is often a symptom of being shark bait. I remember a time when I experienced dread every time I had to speak or step out in my calling. I felt like I couldn’t do anything right.

And the reason why? I dreaded hearing the opinion of a specific woman who always gave me her two cents worth on how she thought I did. We were “friends,” so I thought she had my best interests at heart.

Wrong.

I remember talking to Gary one day and saying, “They’re going to think…”

My husband interrupted kindly, “Honey, who’s they? ”

I finally took a step back and realized this “friend’s” criticism was a huge source of anxiety in my life.

See, when a shark has influence in your life, it makes you want to stay in the boat. They make you feel intimidated, trapped, can take the fun out of your calling, and, ultimately, make you want to quit or give up.

2. You’ve been doubting yourself.

Another symptom of being shark bait is self-doubt . Sharks make you feel like you aren’t capable, so you want to just give up before you even try. When a shark has influence in your life, you may find yourself quick to turn down opportunities and afraid you’ll invite their criticism and upset the waters.

Self-doubt is like poison —if you tolerate it, even just a little, it will kill your confidence and can even make you feel paralyzed.

3. You’ve compromised on your dreams, or just given up on them.

“The only thing wrong with trying to please everyone is that there’s always at least one person who will remain unhappy—YOU.” —Elizabeth Parker

Once dread and self-doubt consume you, you’ll find yourself surrendering your dreams at the altar of fear. You don’t think you’ll ever achieve your dreams, so you start to settle for what sharks tell you you can do and have.

Friend, only God can tell you what you can do, who you are, and what you have through Him.

Recognize when you’re dealing with the symptoms of being shark bait and get out of the shark-infested waters as quickly as possible. Change direction and swim to free waters!

_________________________________________________________

These are just three out of the six signs you’re being manipulated by a shark that Drenda shares in her book, Shark Proof: How to Deal with Difficult People. She also unpacks:

If we would have known these things sooner, it would have saved us thousands of dollars and years of wasted time.

Order your copy here now.

The post 3 Signs You’re Being Manipulated (and How to Break Free) appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

God Has Called You to Do Something Great

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 12:16:00 GMT

The warning shouts from air traffic control were clear in my (Gary’s) headset, “CHANGE YOUR HEADING! YOU’RE HEADED STRAIGHT FOR IT!”

But there was no way I was turning back. Determined to reach my goal, I gripped the yoke and headed straight into the massive storm.

Seconds later, a bolt of lightning struck the right engine, sending the plane into a nosedive. It looked like there was no way I was going to make it out…

Of course, I didn’t really fly a plane into a massive storm at all. That was just part of the action-packed story our team dreamed up, and filmed using special effects, for our 2019 Provision Conference.

I did make it out of the crashing plane in the story. In fact, you should see what happened in the video. There’s much more to the story.

And that was the point of the video—to encourage YOU and to let you know that there’s MUCH MORE to YOUR story, too, friend.

And I want to make sure you don’t miss out on it.

Because God is trying to get something to you!

He told me , “YOU’RE NOT DONE. YOU’VE GOT TO KEEP GOING. REMIND THE PEOPLE THAT THERE’S MORE OUT THERE THAN THEY’RE TAPPING INTO.”

God has MORE for you .

Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

He has more for you— immeasurably more.

It’s time for you to think higher, dream bigger, take territory for the Kingdom, and occupy your God-designed destiny.

That’s the point of the video, and the goal of the 2019 Provision Conference.

Friend, you have something the world needs—something specific God designed you to do.

Whether you realize it or not, you have incredible potential. God has called you to do something great. He has given you gifts and talents that the world needs. He has a dream and a plan for your life.

You have a purpose and an assignment , and it’s time for you to ignore the roadblocks the enemy has been trying to put in your path and push the accelerator toward what God has for you!

As an important friend of this ministry, we want to help you.

We want to help you see the opportunities God has for you and walk them out. We want to help you jump-start your future and go to the next level!

You don’t have to keep doing things the hard way, the small way, or the slow way.

Of course, God’s system isn’t instantaneous. Success in the Kingdom of God happens one small decision at a time. You have to walk it out, get the training you need, and pass some tests to keep moving toward your God-designed destiny. We all do.

But God will train you and grow your capacity to handle the specific assignment He has for you, and He’ll also line up people to help you along the way.

That’s where the 2019 Provision Conference comes in.

Every year, God brings together an incredible team of people for the Provision Conference— a team of people whose mission is to COACH YOU TO YOUR NEXT LEVEL and to help you live out your God-designed destiny and accomplish your assignment for the Kingdom . The 2019 Provision Conference was no different.

You need to get these life-changing messages in your hands and in your ears !

You need to hear for yourself everything that was taught at the conference about the principles of the Kingdom of God, knowing who you are and what you’re uniquely designed for, how you can become all God created you to be, become an influencer, make an impact for the Kingdom, how to deal with difficult people, the power of strategy, and so much more!

Even if you were at the conference, you should get your copy so you can listen to these messages again and again!

“ But isn’t Provision your ‘entrepreneurs’ conference, Gary? I’m not an entrepreneur.”

It’s true that the Provision Conference does draw a lot of entrepreneurs, but the conference is really about success and business—and not just any business, but specifically helping YOU in the business of taking territory for the Kingdom of God.

And whether you recognize it right now or not, YOU have the power to produce something, make something, or do something to capture money, change your life, and help further the Kingdom of God just as much as any other entrepreneur or business owner.

We ALL just need mentoring and coaching to go to our next level.

That’s why we’re sending you this letter. Because mentoring and coaching you is exactly what the Provision Conference was designed for.

And this isn’t just your day-to-day mentoring and coaching. No, we specifically line up the best of the best —leaders in the faith and prominent leaders in their industries, leaders with amazing stories who are doing extraordinary things— to help you become all God created you to be, become an influencer, and make an impact for the Kingdom of God.

This year, we lined up three of the best keynote speakers: Dave Anderson, Dr. Dean Radtke, and Dan Pilla.

Dave Anderson is president of Dave Anderson’s LearnToLead, an international sales and leadership training and consulting company. Dave has given more than 2,000 workshops and speeches over the past two decades on sales and leadership development and has spoken in 17 countries.

Dave is the author of 14 books and authors a monthly leadership column for two national magazines. His interviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of publications, including: The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, and US News & World Report . He was a featured speaker at the NADA Convention for 10 straight years and is a frequent panelist on MSNBC’s Your Business show.

The thing I respect and love most about Dave and his teachings is that he doesn’t like fluff. He just tells it like it is, and he hit some serious home runs with each of his two main sessions about performance mentalities. He’ll have you taking an honest look in the mirror to get yourself right. Both of his sessions about knocked me out of my chair; I couldn’t take notes fast enough!

Dr. Dean Radtke is the Founder and CEO of The Institute of Ministry Management & Leadership, and has more than 35 years of senior corporate and ministry leadership and management experience. Having worked directly for Admiral John S. McCain, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; James E. Preston, Chairman, Avon Products, Inc.; Les Wexner, Chairman, The Limited, Inc.; multi-billion dollar, Fortune 500 companies; and as Executive Director for Pastor Rod Parsley, Breakthrough Television, and World Harvest Church, Dr. Radtke is in great demand as a professional and personal performance coach.

We’ve had the privilege of knowing Dean for many years now. Dean is an incredible coach and mentor, especially for leaders and pastors who are on the brink of quitting and are in desperate need of hope. I should know; I was one of them .

Dean and his systems completely changed our lives years ago when we found ourselves needing better processes in place to help us more effectively lead our growing ministry and an infusion of hope that things could eventually get better. It was a great honor to have him at the Provision Conference both to encourage everyone there and to share his tremendous knowledge on business, management, and leadership in his main session and in his workshops.

Dan Pilla is regarded as one of the country’s premier experts in IRS procedures. He has helped countless thousands of people solve personal and business tax problems they thought might never be solved.

As the author of 15 books, dozens of research reports, and hundreds of articles, Dan’s work is regularly featured on radio and television as well as in major newspapers, leading magazines, and trade publications nationwide. He is a frequent guest on major talk radio programs and media outlets, including CNN, CBS, CNBC, Fox News, C-SPAN, the CBS Radio Network, the USA Radio Network, and many others. His books have been recommended by prominent magazines and financial publications such as the Wall Street Journal , Money , Family Circle , Investor’s Business Daily, and more.

Dan was a consultant to the National Commission on Restructuring the IRS. He works with numerous public policy research institutes and presented testimony to Congress on several occasions. His testimony to the Senate Finance Committee blew the lid off IRS abuse and led to many new taxpayers’ rights and protections.

Dan is also an incredible teacher, and he didn’t talk about tax law! His main session hit hard as he talked about what’s impacting our culture and how we can take dominion, become influencers, and take territory for the Kingdom of God.

Dave, Dean, and Dan packed so much knowledge and wisdom into their sessions—you MUST hear them for yourself!

In addition to the four main sessions with Dave Anderson, Dr. Dean Radtke, and Dan Pilla, Drenda also shared a powerful main session message about the MOST-OFTEN-USED tactic of the enemy to get you off of your God-designed mission and how you can spot it. You need to see the old photos she shared and hear the stories she shared . It’s an incredible reminder of how far God has brought us.

I also led two critically important main sessions about the double portion (remember, God said, “ YOU’RE NOT DONE. YOU’VE GOT TO KEEP GOING. REMIND THE PEOPLE THAT THERE’S MORE OUT THERE THAN THEY’RE TAPPING INTO”) and The Power of Strategy. You absolutely need to hear these sessions! You need to learn how to gather all God already has for you!

There were also incredible, inspiring, and practical conference workshop sessions at this year’s conference.

You need a copy. Really. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that you get your own copy of the 2019 Provision Conference main sessions and workshops.

I promise you these teachings will help you change your life.

_______________________________________________________________

Get your choice of these conference packages now:

Don’t miss this opportunity.

Get your 2019 Provision Conference package.

Say yes to the IMMEASURABLY MORE God has for YOU! Take advantage of this offer; get the answers you need; and occupy your God-designed destiny!

The post God Has Called You to Do Something Great appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

It Just Takes One: Why You Need to Write Down Every Idea

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 18:30:00 GMT

When do you usually get ideas?
When you’re in the shower?
In the middle of the night?
When you’re on vacation?
When you’re driving?

Do you pay any attention to them?

Do you write them down?

Because ONE of those ideas could be THE ONE that completely changes your life.

That’s how God works.

What, Gary? God doesn’t just bring me money if I wait long enough?

Nope.

This may come as a surprise to you, but God doesn’t have any money. The only way He can get money to you is to help you capture it in the marketplace with ideas, concepts, and strategies.

It just takes ONE.

Look at Curtis’s story.

Curtis had just started a new sales route for a company. As he listened to the representative that was training him tell him about some of the clients that he serviced, Curtis had an idea. He asked the trainer why their company didn’t have the account from the biggest company in town that could benefit from using their product.

The trainer told Curtis there was no point in pursuing that account because their competitor already had a relationship and long history with the company. The trainer admitted that he hadn’t even bothered trying to get that account.

But Curtis had had a God-inspired idea , so he told the trainer to drive over to the company immediately. The trainer wasn’t optimistic, but drove over to the company’s location anyway.

And the man who ran the company just happened to be there when Curtis arrived. Curtis was able to talk to the man about the products he thought would benefit the company, and the man said he’d be willing to look at a bid from him.

Long story short, Curtis got the account—and the $40,000 a year increase in commissions that the account brought in.

Here’s the thing: If you’re like most people, you’re just like that trainer, constantly filtering God-inspired opportunities and ideas over and over again through what you perceive your present abilities, or limitations, to be.

But God isn’t limited to what YOU think you know how to do.

Look at me. God gave me a dream one night to start a company that would help people get out of debt. Me— THE poster child of what not to do with money. In fact, He gave me that idea while I still had plenty of debt of my own to pay off. It didn’t make a whole lot of sense—me helping people get out of debt—but God was using the foolish to confound the wise.

The ideas God gives you might seem weird or completely unrealistic to you, too. Write them down anyway, and give yourself some time to roll them around in your mind and your heart.

As you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, you’ll find that He keeps giving you ideas and solutions to problems that are all around you. That’s business at its most basic definition—solving problems and serving people.

And people will often pay BIG money for someone who can solve a problem they’re facing, or provide them with something they need.

If you’ve read my books or you’ve watched Fixing the Money Thing , you’ve probably heard me say, “We don’t find money; we create wealth.”

But have you really heard me?

Have you started thinking differently for yourself and your family?

Have you started thinking about how to create wealth?

Better yet, have you started a business?

See, God has the answers for you, but you have to think differently. You need to get new ideas, concepts, and vision.

That’s what the Provision Conference is about.

The Bible says that all things are possible to those that believe. It also says that God can do immeasurably more than all we can ask or think. Peter had taxes to pay, and God told him to catch a fish. A woman was in debt, and God told her to gather pots.

God always knows where the money is. He knows how to help you create it. You just have to be able to hear from Him and know how to implement the God-inspired ideas in your life.

Get your choice of these 2019 conference packages now:

Don’t miss this opportunity.

Get your 2019 Provision Conference package.

Say yes to the IMMEASURABLY MORE God has for YOU! Take advantage of this offer; get the ideas and answers you need; and occupy your God-designed destiny!

The post It Just Takes One: Why You Need to Write Down Every Idea appeared first on Gary Keesee Ministries .

God Has Called You to Do Something Great

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 14:05:00 GMT

The warning shouts from air traffic control were clear in my (Gary’s) headset, “CHANGE YOUR HEADING! YOU’RE HEADED STRAIGHT FOR IT!”

But there was no way I was turning back. Determined to reach my goal, I gripped the yoke and headed straight into the massive storm.

Seconds later, a bolt of lightning struck the right engine, sending the plane into a nosedive. It looked like there was no way I was going to make it out…

I did make it out of the crashing plane in the story. In fact, you should see what happened in the video. There’s much more to the story.

And that was the point of the video—to encourage YOU and to let you know that there’s MUCH MORE to YOUR story, too, friend.

And I want to make sure you don’t miss out on it.

Because God is trying to get something to you!

He told me , “YOU’RE NOT DONE. YOU’VE GOT TO KEEP GOING. REMIND THE PEOPLE THAT THERE’S MORE OUT THERE THAN THEY’RE TAPPING INTO.”

God has MORE for you .