Part 2: Democrat or Republican.

At 10:00 pm last night, the race was too close to call. Some stayed up to realize victory, some stayed up until defeat was inevitable. While yet even others called it a night early heading to bed. The Democrat & Republican alike saying "I'll find out in the morning." 

The iPhone alarm sounded. Rolling over, he turns off his alarm. Immediately feeling the pit in his stomach return. "Did my party win last night?" He sighed and wondered, "Do I even want to look?" It won't take long to find out. In the darkness of his room, he pulled up his twitter feed, then Facebook feed.... 

Let's jump into the word this morning. 

Romans 13:1 - Let every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment. 

Romans 12:15-16 - Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 - First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people;  for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct. 

Some, woke up to a day of rejoicing, while others woke to mourning.  Nonetheless, for the Christian, Democrat and Republican, we have a great responsibility to pray for our leaders and our country. It's easy to remember during such a crucial time for our country as an election, but it is actually a responsibility that is ours day in and day out of every year, not just an election year. 

If you follow me via our social networking options, you may already know how I felt this morning upon waking up. Whether my party came out victorious or not. But Tyler, as he always does, reminded me of a good verse. Romans 13:1, For there is no authority except from God, and those (authorities) that exist do so by God’s appointment. Like it or not, authority is put in place according to Romans 13:1, by God's appointment. Did you not like the results? Then pray. Allow your prayers to work and effect the next election. Allow your prayers to raise up the the Christian man or woman after God's heart. 

In response to taxes? :) What a fun subject, huh? I have an interesting view, that out of pure frustration, can forget at times. Often, when I look at the amount of money that comes into our house, sometimes I'm really excited until I look at the large chunk that is taken out to go to taxes. Argh. You may feel the same. Well, that brings me to a story that may help on the issue....

Several years ago, when we lived in an apartment, Tyler's vehicle got broken into for the second time. He walked out to see the window broken, the multi-disk CD player still in tact, but had obviously been pried, jimmied, and ratcheted until to no avail, the thief could not get it out. All of the ministry CD's were left untouched in their spot, but one main thing was missing. At that time, iPod's were a high commodity, just having come out. His new, shiney, sleek silver iPod was gone. It made him sick. 

The police came. A report written up. We were one of many in the area who had been broken into. 

Days went by. Nothing. Tyler was still angry. All of the valuable things he had loaded onto the iPod were important to him. He was frustrated. It was disrupting his normal routine of it's use. Until one conversation changed everything. Not naming any names or anything (uhhh, emmmm) but the most wild idea came out of the frustration. "Tyler, why don't you forgive the person and willingly sow the iPod into him? Sure it wasn't right, what he did, but God can turn things around in your favor." Tyler thought on it and decided it was a great idea! So that is exactly what he did. He prayed, forgave the thief, and though the iPod was already gone, in his mind and spirit willingly sowed it into the person. Knowing God is a God who operates on laws, one law we are familiar with is the law of sowing & reaping. Tyler sowed and was expecting to reap a harvest from that iPod he sowed. He believed for something better. He believed that he would receive something better than the iPod that he "sowed." :) 

I don't remember the exact timing of it, but about 1-2 weeks later, Tyler received a phone call. He had been chosen from a company we do business with to receive free cell phone service and the hot, new  iPhone that was getting ready to come out. He was going to be piloting an app, and they wanted his feedback. So... within days, my techy husband opened a box and drooled over his new iPhone. The gadgets, the apps, the features and even the free service were all part of the Blessing of the Lord! 

Call it coincidence? I don't. I believe because Tyler forgave and Tyler chose to sow, he reaped something better! And FREE cell phone service to boot! 

I say all that to say this. What about taxes? Each month, what if instead of grumbling and complaining about the big chunk of money going towards taxes, why don't you take on a new attitude? What about when you see the money go out, you verbally say, "Thank you Lord! I sow this money into our government. I gladly give and pray that you would bless our government. I pray that this money would bless everything it touches. I pray for a nation that has come back to you. I sow this money! I lift up President Obama, I lift up those in authority and thank you IN ADVANCE for a nation coming back to YOU!! In Jesus Name, Amen!" 

Try that and see how long it takes for the Blessing of the Lord to find you! For a raise at your job. For the new job you've been wanting. For blessings to find you wherever you are! Because last I checked, The BLESSING of the Lord makes rich and He adds NO sorrow with it! (Prov. 10:22) 

Even though you have no choice whether to pay your taxes or not, it's coming out regardless, but choose a different attitude. Like Tyler chose to do. Give with a cheerful heart, not begrudgingly and WATCH what happens.  

Deuteronomy 15:10 - You shall give to him freely without begrudging it; because of this the Lord will bless you in all your work and in all you undertake. 

2 Corinthians 9:7 - Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].

2 Corinthians 9:7 (GNT) - You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly.

#248 - The Christian or The Government?

Question: Whatever you are doing, whatever you are pursuing in your life right now, if you could ENSURE the Lord would bless & prosper it, would you want to know how? 

Question: If you could have your business blessed, would you want to know how to ENSURE the blessing of the Lord? 

Question: If you could have your finances blessed, would you want to know how to ENSURE the blessing of the Lord in this area?

Question: What about your relationships, would you want to know how to ENSURE the blessing of the Lord in this area? What about the dreams you have of being a successful writer? A cook? A teacher? A model? A realtor? An entrepreneur? Would you like to know how to ENSURE the blessing of the LORD on whatever it is that you are pursuing? Then today, this devotion, is for you!!  

Let's begin...

Deuteronomy 15:7-10 - If there is among you a poor man, one of your kinsmen in any of the towns of your land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your [minds and] hearts or close your hands to your poor brother; ⁸ But you shall open your hands wide to him and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.....¹⁰ You shall give to him freely without begrudging it; because of this the Lord will bless you in all your work and in all you undertake.

Proverbs 22:9 (NIV) - The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. 

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit]. 

James 1:27 - External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.  

Have you ever heard it said, 'The two things that you should not talk about with people are this: Religion & Politics?' In all actuality, those are the two most important topics. Today's post is not about whether you are democrat or republican, but today's post is about what YOUR RESPONSIBILITY is as a Christian, as the church, as the Body of Christ. Today is about you! Today is about stacking the cards in YOUR FAVOR to accomplish your goals & dreams. Today is about getting the WORD of God & God Himself working on your behalf!

This message is unsung! I've never really heard ministers talk much about it. I've never heard anyone emphasize it's importance. As Tyler & I sat this morning, drinking our coffee & having our respectable quiet times, he continued to interrupt my time with a statement like this, "Ooooh, this is good." Now, what do you say to that? :) "No Tyler, keep it to yourself, I don't want to know what is so good over there!" No, I definitely welcomed him to share, and he did. Then a minute later, "Oooooh, this is good." - "Alright, come on. Bring it," was my response.  So, he proceeded to share verse after verse after verse. And.... oooooh, it was good! I wasn't planning on writing a blog post this morning, but this was all just too good!

Whose responsibility is it anyways? With politics, debates, bumper stickers.... all in full swing shouting for one political candidate or another, where does the Lord fit into all of this? As believers, if we all have the same Bible, the same God, the same Holy Spirit, shouldn't our views be the same? Because my God, is the SAME God as the Baptist or Methodist down the road. Right? We serve the SAME God. So, I return to the question, "Whose responsibility is it anyways?" Is it the responsibility of the government to help the widow? Is it the responsibility of the government to help the poor? Is it the responsibility of the government to help the orphans? No, it is the responsibility of the Believer. It is the responsibility of the church. It is the responsibility of the Body of Christ.

Wait! Don't turn me off! Keep reading.... if you, like me, are thinking, "Oh great... one more responsibility to pile on my plate." And literally, it's like you are beginning to turn the nob to "off." Just wait... THERE IS SOMETHING IN IT FOR YOU!!!

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? So... what IS in it for you? Why should I be excited about yet ANOTHER responsibility? I know, you are a busy mom. Maybe a single mom, going to school, working full time, making dinner, doing laundry, and still trying to spend quality time with your kids... I get it! I get it! WHY should we be excited about this word, that in our busy lives, sometimes seems like a dirty word because we don't want any more of it.... you may have even said this, "If only I could go back to being a kid, being in elementary school when I had NO responsibilities!" I have definitely said that comment before. :)

OK... let's get into the GOOD news! WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?

When you give to the poor, when you give to the needy, when you, the believer, give to the orphans, THIS is what happens:  

THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU in ALL your work and in ALL you undertake.

Hey guys! I'm not making this up! I didn't come up with that statement! It came straight from the Bible.
And....we're not talking about greed here. We're not talking about being "greedy" because you are doing the right thing. It's OK to be excited about GOD HIMSELF blessing ALL of your work & ALL you undertake! It's OK to be excited about that. You SHOULD BE!

Look at the string of events...

• A. You Bless the poor or needy by giving them some money... maybe helping with some monthly bills... a house payment, a car payment... maybe buying some Christmas presents for their children...
• B. You are a teacher, not making a ton of money to pay your own bills.... but wouldn't you know it, THE LORD lays it on the heart of the administrator at your school, they take notice of you & what a great job you are doing and Whaaa-Laaaaa.... you get a raise at your job! You receive INCREASE! 
• C. With your INCREASE, not only do you tithe off of it (give the top 10%)... but you also decide to sow some MORE money into the Kingdom of God... maybe a ministry that is having a great harvest in seeing people saved. 

Do you think GOD is OK with you being EXCITED about your INCREASE? I would say a hearty, ABSOLUTELY! :) 

As a Believer, as a Christian, it is OUR responsibility to help the poor. It is not the governments responsibility to raise taxes, implement more policies to get more of our money to put it towards this or that. It is the Christians responsibility to help the poor. The guy standing on the side of the road with a sign, it's your responsibility to help him. It's my responsibility to help him. Sure, we can't determine... is he just a "con-man." Once that money is out of our hands, we can just commit it to God. God, I did my part. I saw someone in need, and I gave. 

What's good for you? Check this out, Deuteronomy 15:11 says, "For the poor will never cease out of the land." The poor will always be here. What does that mean to you? According to the Word of God, there will NEVER be any shortage of blessings available to you. Do you need to be blessed? Do you want God to help in the current thing you are undertaking? Give. Reach into your wallet, roll down your window, the guy holding the cardboard sign... yah, him... today, choose to give. Or like my dad did... take him into McDonald's, buy his lunch. When you do that, when you GIVE, you put into affect this principle! You put into affect, GOD blessing YOU in all you do! And God's Word works, it does not return void!

What about the church? What about America? It's not the governments responsibility... but so many Christians aren't doing their part. Well then, let it start with you! Let it start with you. Remember & get excited about this....

THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU in ALL your work and in ALL you undertake.

Then, if you have a need in your life, put God in REMEMBRANCE of His Word! "Lord, I gave!" Stand by and watch Him work on your behalf!

#243 - Are You a Go-Giver?

Luke 6:38 - Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour ^[a]into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

Have you ever "given" something that someone does not want? Maybe it's been time. Maybe you wanted to help so bad so you've given your time, all the while it was more than a burden to the recipient than a gift. Maybe you've given a gift. Something that you thought was truly awesome and the recipient SHOULD want it, they SHOULD use it, it would help them out a lot, but it was something they did not want or need at all. Maybe you've given someone an opportunity. Maybe it's an opportunity to be a part of your Bible study, play group with kids, craft group, business expansion, but all the while, they were not looking for that at all. Maybe they were just looking for a friend. Maybe they were just looking for an ear to listen. Maybe instead of the gift, they really just needed help paying a bill.

I read an amazing book, several times, called the Go-Giver. It was a quick read and so inspiring. It talked about giving. It talked about providing a service that people want. Answering a problem that people need help answers to. It encompassed Luke 6:38, GIVE and it shall be given unto you. Give and you will receive in direct proportion in which you give. Provide a service, and you will receive in direct proportion to the number of people that you help. Whether you will receive back in friendships, in monetary means, in respect or honor.

I've caught myself at times trying to give. I'm trying to give, give, give. But looking back, it is not something that the person wants at all. They are not looking for what I am trying to give. So here I am, trying to force them to receive, but they just want a friend. Or... maybe I'm put in their life merely to connect them with someone they need to be connected. The whole idea? Be a Go-Giver! GO and GIVE. Give what people need. Find the need that THEY have and try to connect them with the answer. Try to connect them with a person who can help.

As I was reading this morning, and asking the Holy Spirit some questions, like He usually does, He reminded me of some things. Basically this, just because someone comes into my life does NOT mean that they are there to help me accomplish MY goal or MY objective, but maybe, just maybe I am there to help them with their need, their goal, their objective. Maybe I am there to give not the other way around.

For me, that means a change of mindset. Being focused not on, "How can I GIVE YOU what I WANT to give," but changing that to, "How can I give you what you NEED and what you are looking for?"

The Proverbs 31 woman is doing just that. She is giving to those in need. She is giving an ear to listen to, to the one who needs someone to listen. She is giving of her physical labor, to the one who needs physical help. She is giving of her money, to the one in need of money. She is giving of her time, to the one who needs quality time. She is giving of her love, to the one who needs love. Giving "physical labor" to the one who needs "love" would be a vain use of time. It would be "giving" to a close fist, because it is not what they need.

So... a new focus? Today or this week... how can we GIVE what someone is truly in need of? How can we give the gift that someone truly needs? A compliment. A helping hand. Paying for their lunch. Or just being a friend. It may take asking some questions. It may take not talking at all and listening. It's all about finding the need and filling it. How can we GIVE the gift today that someone really needs? Are you a Go-Giver?

#242 - Let the Blessing Work

Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

This morning these words have been ringing in my mind: Be a value adder. Allow the Blessing of the Lord to work for you. 


Here in Proverbs 31:20, we see our Proverbs 31 friend doing both. Not only is she being a value adder, giving to the needy in heart, in spirit, in physical necessity, but she is allowing the Blessing of the Lord to work for her. She is allowing the Blessing that is on her life because of the Lord, to bless others. She is open to bless. She is not so caught up in her own world, life, family, circumstances, "drama" of life, that she misses the opportunity to be observant of what is going on around her. She is aware. She sees a need and fills it. She is being a Value Adder.

No sorrow is added to The Blessing. No toil is added to The Blessing. The Blessing of the Lord, is just that. It is all blessing! It is encompassed with good things, not sorrow. It is encompassed with joy.

Where can you add value today? Is it in prayer? Is it a financial gift to someone? Is it in friendship? Is it in time? Is it in babysitting and giving a friend a 'date night'? Where can you add value? Or... is it merely recognizing the BLESSING of the Lord in your life. The Blessing of the Lord that has been all around you. The Blessing of the Lord. Are you a Christian? Can you see where and how the Blessing has been working for you? Can you see it? If you took the time, could you slow down enough to recognize the Blessing?

#216 - "But I'm Not Good Enough"

Proverbs 10:6 - Blessings are upon the head of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God)...

Proverbs 31:29 - Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

Proverbs 24:16a - For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again... 

Have you ever read the Bible and come across a scripture and thought, "But, I'm not righteous. I've messed up. I guess this verse doesn't apply to me." With your head hung down a bit in defeat, you just accept that maybe the "blessings" in the Bible don't apply to you because you are just "not good enough."

As I began reading Proverbs this morning, I honestly couldn't get past Proverbs 10:6. I got a whole SIX verses into reading the Bible until I had to stop. "Blessings are upon the head of the [uncompromisingly] righteous." I sat and pondered that word, righteous. Racing into my head came all of the most recent times I've messed up. Maybe done something that I shouldn't have done, maybe having not been as patient as I should have been, maybe I said something that was 'off-color', maybe I acted out of selfishness. Immediately, the enemy wanted me to reject Proverbs 10:6 for myself, to hang my head in defeat and just accept the fact that the verse is just not talking about me.

I decided to look up "righteous" in the Hebrew to see what the original meaning was talking about. The same Hebrew word was used for both Proverbs 10:6 & Proverbs 24:16. Tsaddiyq. It's pronounced, sad-eek. Tsaddiyq in the original Hebrew means right in one's cause or righteous in conduct & character. I was interested to find that no where in the original meaning for this word did it say "PERFECT."

"But, I'm not perfect. I've messed up. How can I be considered righteous? 

How can these verses actually include me??" 

I have good news for you! Proverbs 24:16 says, For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again. The righteous. The tsaddiyq man falls. Falls. What does "falls" mean in the original Hebrew? It is the Hebrew word naphal and the definition includes "to fall short, to fail."

This righteous person, right in his/her cause, righteous in his/her character & conduct MESSES UP, FALLS SHORT, FAILS! Usually this righteous person has good intentions, but the bottom line is that he/she falls short and sins. Here is where grace & faith come in. Romans 3:24 & 28 remind us that we are justified FREELY by God's grace... man is justified by faith.

Though we may fall, we can KEEP GETTING BACK up! Though we may sin, the grace of God is there every time to forgive us and draw us back into right-standing with Him! Matthew talks about how many times you should forgive... not just 7, but 70 times 7. Forgive your brother over and over and over. If he/she is willing to come for forgiveness, forgive! And God is the same. If we are willing to come and ask for forgiveness, he will heed His own Word! He will forgive. Restoring us to a place of right-standing with Him.

What of the Proverbs 31 woman? She excels them all.... but just by knowing Romans 3:10 & 12, we know she is not perfect. "There is no one righteous, not even one... ALL have turned away...." Even the woman who appears perfect, she was not. She has also messed up! She too, needed to cling to grace & forgiveness.

You are deserving. Jesus went to the cross for YOU. You are the child of the Most High God! Being a child of the Most High God, makes you an HEIR! Have you ever thought about the rights of an Heir? Not just ANY heir, but the heir of Jesus. A "co-heir with Christ" as it says in Romans 8:17. Because of the grace of God, you ARE good enough! Receive the blessings that are yours today. And if you mess up, go to the throne of grace & receive the forgiveness that God is waiting to give you. He desires your humility to Him. Your humble spirit. He desires to forgive no matter how great or small the sin. Don't let Satan talk you into thinking you are not good enough! Because of Jesus, YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH! Go out today and be blessed!

#176 - Accompanied by Favor

Good morning! It feels like a Monday. We got back from a conference around 3:30 a.m. yesterday.... so, it ended up being a day of catching up on some Zzzzzz's. :) Praise the Lord! It's great to associate with winners in life, people who are interested in more than just being average, but really aspiring to something great and doing something about it. Isn't it great to be around people who stretch you to want to be better?!

Well... let's get going today.

Proverbs 3:3 (AMP) - Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.

Proverbs 3:4 (NKJV) - And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.  

Proverbs 31:26 (NKJV) - She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. 

The power of kindness. I confess Proverbs 3:4 over my life all the time. Tyler and I often shout it out to each other when one of us is leaving for a meeting, or just to go out to the grocery store. We'll say, "You have FAVOR in the sight of God & man!" We confess for, and believe for favor as we just live our lives. Favor in appointments, favor in the grocery store, favor with people that we meet.... heck.... even favor at Subway! Friday we ate at Subway and I asked the gentleman checking me out if it was "free-cookie" day. I just believed for favor. Guess what? I got 2 free cookies! It wasn't "free cookie" day for anyone else, but it was for me, because I expect favor.

One thing as I was reading Proverbs 3:4 that I noticed was this... it was not the beginning of the "thought," something came before it. There was a "prerequisite" to receiving what it mentioned, "favor & high esteem in the sight of God and man." I had never really noticed it before today. It noted in Proverbs 3:3, "Let not mercy, kindness & truth forsake you." Basically, don't leave home without them. Let them be a guide to your life. Those will lead to the "favor & high esteem" that we desire. I noticed also that our Proverbs 31 friend has the law of kindness on her tongue. She is operating in this "kindness," and from her many great accomplishments,  since she is abiding by this principle, I'm sure she received favor with God & man on her many exploits. Favor when she was buying land. Favor when she was selling her garments to the merchants. Favor as she assigned work to her maids. Favor as she sewed & created things. Favor as she woke up early & spent time in the Word. Because of operating in the "law of kindness" she experienced favor and so can we!

I remember a time last week... hopefully you weren't the person I was following. There was a mini-van in the median waiting to merge into the lane I was driving on.... Me, being the KIND, UNSELFISH person that I am... slowed WAY down, practically slamming on my breaks to let this vehicle merge. It was most definitely one of those times when I felt like I was going out of my way to be nice. What did I expect in return? Simple, just a friendly wave to acknowledge my kindness. You know the wave. The wave that says, "Hey! Thanks for letting me in! That was nice!" When I didn't get the wave I expected, the "nice gesture" since I slammed on my breaks to let this man in, what did I do? The "kind, unselfish" me, in all the sarcasm I could muster, went ahead and waved vigorously to this man. He may not have seen me, but, out-loud I also shouted in sarcasm, "YOU'RE WELCOME! NO PROBLEM! MY PLEASURE for letting you in!" I was basically ticked off at his lack of the "Thanks Wave." OK... not that I'm all proud of it or anything, and I'm sure you've never done that. But as I read Proverbs 3:3, this scenario went through my mind and replayed. I would anticipate the "mercy & kindness & truth" that Proverbs 3:3 is talking about is not associated with "what do I get in return?" Or "what's in it for me?" Sure, I was only looking for a "Thank You wave" as a gesture... but, if I were truly operating in pure, unselfish, kindness, even that wave would have been unnecessary for me. But instead, like when I was a child, I defiantly acted out like a kid! Probably looking & sounding totally stupid if you could have seen or heard me with my sarcasm. All over a wave?! How ridiculous!

The amplified version of Proverbs 3:3, talks about "shutting out selfishness." Living a selfLESS life instead of a selfISH life. Focusing on "I, me, mine." We are encouraged to shut out, to forsake, to put away the selfishness. To not consider the "what's in it for me" or "what will I gain if I do this unselfish act?" The prerequisite to gaining the favor in the sight of God & man that Proverbs 3:4 talks about is AFTER selfishness has been put aside. AFTER the selfish motives have been put away.

The cool thing with God... just because you may screw up once, doesn't mean you are written off all together. Sure, until this morning, I didn't even remember my obnoxious act from last week. But, Sunday night I received great favor in the sight of God & man. Basically received the opportunity to talk to a very influential person on the phone for an hour. Receive guidance & counsel, receive direction. It was nothing beyond an act of God to have this amazing opportunity. It was one of those moments in life that you write down. A moment that you mark up as a "life-changer".... a "game changer." Favor so great that it's unexpected. But what does the Word tell us? Ephesians 3:20 basically says this: "Now to Him Who, by the power that is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and far above all that we DARE ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams." OUR God can & will do MORE than we could even expect for. Even in our "positive expectation of favor," He can even exceed that! That is what he did for Tyler & I on Sunday night. Praise the Lord!


So friend, how about we team up on this together? How about we work towards acting out in kindness. Letting our kindness outweigh our sometimes selfish or childish acts? That even if we are just conscience of it, we can focus on the good, the positive, the kindness. Sure... those mini-van's of life experiences may pop in every once and awhile... but, maybe next time you will think about it before retaliating. I think I probably will. It was like that 5 year old just came out in me! 


Well, have a blessed day! And believe today that YOU will have favor in the sight of God and man! Whatever you are doing, wherever you are going, believe that the FAVOR of God will accompany you! 

#167 - Because of HIS delight...

What a beautiful day to be alive! We serve a God who is ALIVE, not only is His Word alive & active, like a two-edged sword, but HE IS ALIVE! Jesus is no longer in the grave, he's no longer on the cross, HE HAS RISEN! He is alive and well STILL sitting at the right-hand of our Father! Isn't that good news! That is worth being excited about. I believe you will be encouraged today. If you need encouragement, if you need hope, I believe you are in the right place. Let's get into the Word.

2 Samuel 22: 1a, 2, 20b, 21, 32-33,  - DAVID SPOKE to the Lord...The Lord is my Rock (of escape from Saul) and my Fortress (in the wilderness) and my Deliverer... He delivered me because He delighted in me. ²¹The Lord rewarded me according to my uprightness with Him; He compensated and benefited me according to the cleanness of my hands. For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? ³³God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free. For You girded me with strength for the battle!

Man! What an amazing chapter! 2 Samuel 22 just blessed me this morning! So many verses, which to choose?!?!

For starters, look at how the chapter starts.... even David, who has been anointed to be the future King, it says that DAVID SPOKE to the Lord. As a quick tangent, we look back at the life of King Saul & David. From the day the people began to sing "Saul has Slain thousands, David tens of thousands." It says in 1 Samuel 18 that from that day Saul was angry & jealous towards David. It goes on to say, "THE NEXT DAY" an evil spirit came upon Saul. Wow! Because of Saul's anger & jealousy he held toward David "out-doing" him, from that day forward, an evil spirit was upon him! The POWER of offense can change a persons life! And for Saul, He went to his death holding offense against David, in hot pursuit to have him killed. But DAVID was delivered because the LORD delighted in Him!

Anyways... that was a freebie... let's move on.... David SPOKE to the Lord. He is reminding God of how He helped David escape from Saul, He delivered David! David is recounting the goodness, the blessings, the benefits of God his Father! Then my favorite line.... He delivered me because He delighted in me.  Wow! What delight just to read that! Just think about it, because of the Lord's pleasure and delight in YOU, His child, he delivers you from your TRIALS, your enemy... maybe it's debt, whatever it is.... because of HIS delight, He delivers you! That's exciting. In verse 21 it goes on to use some words that are exciting to me.... rewarded, compensated, benefited. By staying in right-standing, in a "seeking position" with our Father, in a "pleasing/serving" position with our Father, we can receive the benefits that He has in store. And it is a DELIGHT to Him to deliver us, and bring us into benefits!


Ultimately.... as we enter in to our day, whether completing a battle or entering into one, we can take JOY in knowing that we have been GIRDED, PREPARED, CLOTHED with strength for whatever we are about to go up against! Like David, killing the lion, the bear & Goliath, He was prepared!

In the last 2 days, I have heard not one, but two stories that make me want to shout! AND, I believe it was because of the Lord's DELIGHT that He chose to lead the events. One friend of mine told me that just this past week, her parents came to town with a new van. It had the remote to open the doors, and the back. It was nice. She said they walked in and handed them the keys. "We have done for the others, and haven't really ever done much for you. Here. We bought this for you. We want you to have it!" Fully paid for, taxes for the next 6 months, tags, insurance! PRAISE THE LORD! What a blessing of the Lord! God is good! The cool thing is, He is NO respecter of persons! What can happen for one, can happen for the next! He can do that for YOU! OR maybe, YOU will be the GIVER! What a joy to have the goal of being able to bless someone in that capacity who is in need. Maybe that is a new goal, to be the one in the position to GIVE! But if you need to receive it! Receive it for yourself! Receive what YOU need from the Lord!

Another awesome story.... a friend of mine was in need of money to get her vehicle fixed. She was without a vehicle! She had to resort to walking her kids to school, or where ever they needed to go. Well, wouldn't you know it, someone felt led to give her $2500! He just felt like the Lord laid it on his heart to GIVE to her. PRAISE THE LORD! I can only imagine that tears must have welled up in her eyes as she must have said or thought, "THANK YOU LORD! You HAVE heard me!" She was able to get her vehicle fixed!

Another friend was talking about donating plasma to have money to buy groceries. If she donated twice a week, she could get enough money to get groceries, with a little left over. Plasma! Needles! And that is definitely a viable way to get some extra cash when needed, but PRAISE GOD, our God even has MORE THAN ENOUGH for her! He has MORE THAN ENOUGH to provide for her needs, her husband and her small children! GOD has MORE THAN ENOUGH! And BECAUSE of HIS delight, we can walk in HIS favor, HIS blessing, HIS rewards, HIS abundance, HIS benefits!

Pray this morning! Maybe you are the "more than enough" that God wants to use to bless someone. And  maybe you are on the "need" side. KNOW that as you seek the Lord, delight yourself in Him, HE will delight in you! He will lead you, He will guide you, He will show Himself strong in being YOUR Jehovah Jirah, God YOUR Provider! You have been girded up and made ready for battle. And with GOD on your side, is there a chance you will loose? NO!

#150 - Call those things SO!

Good morning! All is well here in Columbia, South Carolina! What about where you live? I'm sitting here enjoying the nice singing tunes of Tyler Jr. He just woke up and is laying in his bed just talking and singing. It is quite funny! I think he gets his ability to sleep from his MAMA! :) What can I say?!

OK...well, let's get started today.

Romans 4:17 (amp) - As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.

Romans 4:17 (kjv) - (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 

Over the years, the latter part of Romans 4:17 has really become part of our daily confessions in any and every circumstance. Some may call it being legalistic, we choose to believe that we are just careful with our  words that the words we speak line up with the Word of God. That our words are not contrary to God's Word! Sure, there are times when maybe we have to be cautious not to "call anyone else out".... even though people may speak things they really don't want to receive.... let's just say it's been a learning process over the years.

Let me tell you a story... I used to work at a youth camp in the summer. We did lots of activities each day, soccer, capture the flag, tennis, etc. Well... on this particular day, we were playing capture the flag... and I always played with the kids. As we were playing, I pivoted on my foot and turned my knee. It just happened to be the same knee that I tore my ACL & miniscus when I was in High School. I fell to the ground and all I could do at the time was scream. Some of the staff, and one of the parents carried me and got me into a vehicle to bring me to the Emergency Room. Shortly after arriving at the ER, Tyler showed up. The doctor on call, said things did not look good. In the mean time, some close friends waited in the waiting room... their words were something like, "Oh man, I just know she tore her ACL. That is a real bummer. She'll probably have to get surgery & go through therapy again."

Tyler came back to where the Doctor was... I would have to go see a specialists once the swelling went down, but the Doctor said there was an 80% chance that the ACL did look torn. When Tyler overheard our friends saying they were sure I tore my ACL, he just made a simple comment to the tune of, "Well, she's my wife and I call her knee healed. I call it fine because by Jesus stripes she is healed." Though the circumstances looked pretty dim, and even the words of the Doctor sounded bleak, Tyler chose to believe the WORD of GOD over the word of the Doctor.

During the next week, we spoke and called my knee healed. Though I was on crutches, we called my knee fine. We called it whole in Jesus name. We called it well! Perfect! That everything would be lined up as GOD had created it to be lined up. Fast forward a week. I went to see the specialist, and do you know what the outcome was? All is well. Everything looked good. Everything looked fine. No tear. ACL in tact.

What are some other common things you may hear around our house?

• Instead of, "I have a headache." We say, "By Jesus stripes I am healed of this headache! Since headaches have a name, and EVERY NAME has to bow to the name of Jesus!"
• Instead of, "We don't have any money." We say, "We have more than enough because MY GOD shall supply all of MY needs according to HIS RICHES in glory!" 
• Instead of, "This situation doesn't look good." We say, "I have the favor of God and God even makes my mistakes to prosper."

Over the years, we have just chosen to find our answers in the Word. Has it seemed radical to some, I'm sure it has! But, it has brought VICTORY in our lives and in the situations we have gone through that we have chose to speak the WORD, instead of what looks like the situation really is. We have chose to speak those things that BE NOT as though they were! Like in Romans 4:17. If we feel sick, we speak we are healed and walk in divine health. If we have been broke or without money, we've spoke, we have MORE than enough because OUR GOD owns the cattle on 1,000 hills! We have just taken scripture and spoken it on our behalf and it has brought VICTORY to our lives!

I encourage you.... next time you are tempted to speak the grim circumstances that you may be going through.... choose to speak the WORD! Have GOD'S WORD and POWER work on your behalf! Did you know that the ANGELS are dispatched by the Word of God!??!!!! Angels are empowered to GO FORTH when the Word of God is spoken. I just choose to have them working on MY behalf, so I speak the WORD! :)

Have a blessed day!

#126 - Sinner Saved by Grace?

Good morning! :) What a blessed day it is going to be!! I'm excited! Are you? Today, you are accompanied by the ALMIGHTY GOD! You are walking with the KING today! Don't you feel special? You are accompanied by the Almighty One who is above HEAVEN & EARTH! Ruler over all... and HE has chosen to be with you! Equally as important, YOU, as a believer and child of God, have made the decision for Him to be with you. That is something to SHOUT about! WOW! You are so special that you are accompanied everywhere you go by the KING! If you receive it... it's like, as he walks with you, he dubs favor everywhere your hands touch, everywhere your feet tread. Like He said to Joshua in Joshua 1:3, wherever your feet tread, the land is YOURS! I picture a King in a mighty robe with his scepter....walking along side you dubbing people, places & things to turn in your favor. Why? Because you have earned it? No, because you are HIS HEIR! Heir to the throne, CHILD of a King! Today.... you can choose to live your life with the glass half full, the glass half empty, or the glass overflowing! If your glass isn't overflowing in the natural, just choose to expect it! Just choose to say, I'M ACCOMPANIED BY THE KING! I HAVE FAVOR IN EVERYTHING I DO! I WALK IN ABUNDANCE & LIVE IN THE BLESSING! THEREFORE, MY CUP RUNNETH OVER!


Now all of that, that is shouting grounds! That is good stuff. That was worth coming for, and was not in my "mind" when I sat down to the keyboard.... so I believe that was from the Holy Spirit to my fingers, to YOU! Receive it today!


Let's get in the Word:

Psalm 47:1, 8 - O CLAP your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph and songs of joy! God reigns over the nations; God sits upon His holy throne.

Psalm 77:13 - Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary [in holiness, away from sin and guilt]. Who is a great God like our God? 

Proverbs 31:25 - Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure... 

SHOUT to GOD with a voice of VICTORY! HE Reigns and since HE lives inside of you via the HOLY SPIRIT, YOU REIGN TOO! You walk in Victory also because the Mighty One lives within you. 


Man, this is good stuff! God's way, is in the sanctuary.... away from sin & guilt. When we were forgiven, when we were born again... our old lives were washed white as snow, we were recreated anew. We were given a NEW, CLEAN, spirit, free of sin, bondage and baggage. We were given a fresh start. Our slate? PERFECT! Wiped clean! So... what happens when we mess up? What happens when we sin? Does sin after sin begin to dirty our perfectly white slate? Does it just pile up until it is again, like it was before we were saved? Does it just continue to get dirty and tarnished? It does not have to! That is what repentance and forgiveness is! When we fall into sin, or fall short, that is why our heavenly Father allows us to come before the throne of grace and repent. The moment we repent, our spirit is completely white again. Our responsibility? To continue, through the Word, to RENEW our Minds. Our Spirit already carries the Almighty One, we just have to renew our mind so that our mind will fall into line with what our spirit already knows! That is why being in the Word on a daily basis is so crucial! It renews our mind, then, gradually, sin gets further and further away from our desire. Our desire gets to a point that we just want to please our Father. We just want to make our Father happy & proud of us, so the temptation of sin, gets lessened. 


It appears that the Proverbs 31 woman has figured this out. She walks around with strength and dignity. She KNOWS who she is. Her position, her stance, in the natural & in the spiritual is STRONG & SECURE. She knows who she is and whose she is and because of that she is able to operate with confidence and authority. 


An Un-Victorious Focus: Something I believe in some circles is dwelled on too much... tell me if you have heard this line before.... "Well, I'm just a sinner saved by grace." I picture a woman with a cane in a feeble voice saying that line. But often, when it is said, the person is focusing on the SIN. We WERE sinners, but NOW by grace we are saved. I AM NOT A SINNER. I am the REDEEMED! By Jesus stripes I have been redeemed from my old life. I have been redeemed from the life I lived before Jesus, the life of sin. I am now the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God and have been saved! Praise God! Not by anything I could have done to earn it, but I was saved because of the Almighty Grace of God!!! I WAS a sinner, and NOW I am HEIR TO THE KING! I'm CHILD to the KING OF KINGS! I am now the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD THROUGH Christ Jesus! Do you see the difference in thought process? Do you see how radical of a difference these two people must live? One focused on the "sin".... wallowing in how they are "not worthy", and the other focused on the "grace" and because of the VICTORY Jesus had over the cross, death, hell & the grave.... because of THAT victory, this person too is now living and walking with a VICTORY MINDSET. 


What a revelation! This is GOOD stuff! Like Psalm 47 says, SHOUT to God with a VOICE OF TRIUMPH! That is what I feel like doing NOW! PRAISE GOD THAT WE ARE VICTORIOUS! Isn't that good?!!! I know it is! Amen! God is good! He reigns! He is Victorious AND HE LIVES INSIDE OF ME SO I CAN BE VICTORIOUS TOO! PRAISE THE LORD!


Have a great day! Hold your head up higher today. Be WHO YOU ARE! You are ACCOMPANIED BY THE KING! Act like it!

#100 - Relax WITHOUT Toil!

Good morning & hello HEAT! Hip Hip Horray! We have heat! That's a good thing! I'm thankful for several reasons....but, it brings me back to a time when the heat may have stopped working because we weren't able to pay a bill, or did not have the money to fix it. Praise God, I'm thankful to say that God has brought us out of a time of lack. I'm thankful that God has MORE THAN ENOUGH to supply us with our needs and wants out of HIS ABUNDANCE. AND, with God's hand there is no shortage. He doesn't run out. There is pure abundance and overflow with Him. Praise the Lord. So... it makes me thankful that the heat did not go out because our lack of ability to pay for or fix something. Praise the Lord for growth & progress. From moving to revelation to manifestation. Walking in the blessing, that we can abide there. Praise God! What does it say, "abide in the shadow of the Almighty." With the Almighty is abundance of blessing, abiding IN there is accompanied with fullness and everything we need. I can't imagine "abiding in the shadow of the Almighty" and being hungry? Can you imagine that? Or not being able to afford clothes that fit. Abiding, living with God, and there being LACK in HIS house!??!?! That just doesn't line up. So I commit to STAYING in the shadow of the Almighty and abiding there forever! So long LACK! I've tried lack and I didn't like it, it only brought sorrow, frustration & tears. I choose ABUNDANCE! I choose prosperity! I choose to LIVE in the BLESSING!


OK... that was worth coming for, but let's jump into some MORE Word! :) 

Proverbs 10:22-23 - The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it]. It is as sport to a [self-confident] fool to do wickedness, but to have skillful and godly Wisdom is pleasure and relaxation to a man of understanding.

Wow. That is good stuff. As I was sitting down to read, I just thought, "Wow God! There is so much good stuff here! Where do you even start? The WHOLE chapter 10 is loaded! I didn't even get to read anything else. I was swimming in amazing verses that were jumping off the page, all of which I won't discuss in this devotion. 


As I was reading, my mind began to race at my schedule for today. To be honest, I was basically just toiling in my mind. Not completely "stressing", but my mind was definitely racing! And then the Holy Spirit said to me, "Amy, don't be so busy in your mind. Pleasure and relaxation. You can accomplish a lot & still be relaxed! Don't toil in your mind & thoughts. The blessing of ME makes rich. I add no sorrow. No need to toil, even in your mind!"  


Then... He told Tyler a pretty amazing thing too... as Tyler read it to me, I honestly thought he was reading a quote out of a book. It was good. This one is noteworthy enough to write down and keep somewhere as a reminder! He said, "When you plant & water, you put a lot of things into motion & sometimes you just need to relax & let the seed do it's own work." 


WOW! Relax. Don't toil. Trust in what you have sown that the law of sowing and reaping won't stop working with you. It's a law. Trust that once the work is done, the seed will grow and then RELAX! 


What a blessing that the Lord adds no sorrow with his blessings. And by us TOILING, living in frustration, or rush rush rush, go go go, constant toiling in our mind... that is NOT FROM GOD. Like He told me, we can STILL accomplish a lot without having to toil, but to be at peace moving from accomplishment to accomplishment. HE will direct our steps if we listen! HE will make the way plain. HE will make our plans succeed! How do I know that? It says it in his word! (Go study Proverbs 16 also!)


Bless you today! I've already wrote in my book, made meatloaf, made 48 ounces of baby food, been in the Word, wrote this blog, and now getting ready to go to MyGym with the boy. Blessed to listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit! Praise GOD that HE speaks to us today!


XOXO, 
Be Blessed!
Amy J

#86 - LIVE in the BLESSING ** A MUST READ! **

OK.... WHOA! I almost feel like just bypassing the whole "Good morning" stuff... I'm just going to skip to: WHOA! I want to prepare you... what you are about to read is REALLY REALLY GOOD STUFF!!! You may have to read it more than once to allow it to sink in, but if you grab it as revelation to YOU then it could really change your whole life, how you think about things and what you accept as truth! It is good. So... let's get started. Well first... let me just pray, "Lord, I thank you for your AMAZING Word... please allow Your word today to flow out in a way that is easy to receive. Thank you that the words will all be in the right order and will FREE people. That they will allow people to truly grab hold of YOUR blessing that You have given to them. I pray this all in JESUS MIGHTY NAME, AMEN!"

Proverbs 15:15 - All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].

Psalms 105:6,11 - O you offspring of Abraham His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones... He is [earnestly] mindful of His covenant and forever it is imprinted on His heart, the word which He commanded and established to a thousand generations, Saying, Unto you will I give the land of Canaan as your measured portion, possession, and inheritance. 

Proverbs 31:21 - She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet. 

Let's first look at the word forebodings... you probably have a feeling of what that word is... this is the definition from the dictionary: prediction, a strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune, evil. Just look at the POWER of your thoughts. This goes along with the devotion from the other day that talked about having a PMA, Positive Mental Attitude. All the days of the "desponding & afflicted" .... Desponding. Not a word you probably use every day. The dictionary terms it as: to be depressed by loss of hope, confidence, or courage. So, if you put that verse into words and terms that WE use it would say: The depressed CAUSE evil to come upon them by allowing themselves to be stressed (anxious thoughts) and by predicting evil in their life, allowing their inner feelings to think negative & dwelling on the possibility of future misfortune. WOW! That is a load! Do you ever drive around and your mind is racing on how bad this "situation" COULD turn out? STOP IT!!!! STOP! Choose to have a glad heart regardless of your circumstance! Choose to see the good! I'm going to tell you why that's important... 


Offspring of Abraham. Check this out... the offspring of Abraham are experiencing AMAZING things. I mean, think about it..... they are receiving an INHERITANCE that consists of the NATION of CANAAN!!! So much for your mom's china cabinet or wedding ring, Abraham's offspring are receiving an inheritance of a WHOLE NATION! WHOA! Ok... you may be thinking... "OK Amy. That's great for them, back in that day. Hip hip horray for Abraham's offspring. Now, how does that affect me?" 


OMG! Let me tell you!!! YOU ARE ABRAHAM'S OFFSPRING! IT'S TALKING ABOUT YOU!!!! It doesn't matter if you haven't traced your family tree back to Abraham, if you are a born again, child of God, YOU officially put yourself in this lineage! Let's go back for a short history lesson. Go with me to Galatians 3:29 - And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed], then you are Abraham's offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise. In other words, IF YOU have accepted Christ as your Savior, YOU are now Abraham's offspring. You have been grafted into and adopted into the family! You are an HEIR! 


Let's look further, let's continue to see what this entails! Galatians 4:4-7 - .... God sent His Son...To purchase the freedom ...that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God's sons]. And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father! Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir by the aid of God, through Christ.


Brother or Sister, do you get this? GOD IS YOUR FATHER! REALLY! He is your FATHER! Therefore, when you read about the blessing of Abraham, of the benefits of being an HEIR, it is talking about YOU!!! A Covenant. 1000 generations. What's a generation? How many years is it? Approximately 20-30... so let's just call it on average that a generation is 25. 1000 generations would be approximately 25,000 YEARS!!!! So, GUESS WHAT?!?!? YOU fall in that time period of what it is talking about in Psalm 105!!


Therefore, your inheritance? CANAAN! NATIONS! Having a hard time paying your bills? Grab hold of the concept of WHO YOU ARE! Brother, sister, this is HUGE - YOU ARE ABRAHAM'S SEED and HEIR, or RECIPIENT of EVERY GOOD BLESSING AND GIFT!!! If you want a LIST of the blessings that belong to you, go check out Deut. 28:1-14. Here are a few just to give you an idea... GOOD stuff!!! Blessed shall be the fruit of your body (Want kids? Told you can't have them? That's not what my Book says!!!) The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face... The Lord shall COMMAND the blessing upon you in your storehouse (aka: bank account in our day) and in ALL that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God GIVES you. And the Lord shall make you have a SURPLUS of prosperity, through the fruit of your body, ...lifestock, ...ground, in the land which the Lord SWORE to your fathers to GIVE you. YOU SHALL LEND to MANY NATIONS, but you SHALL NOT BORROW. 


WORD!!! Friend! Meditate on this!! There is NOTHING to big for God. Receive this as a revelation. Sit on it. Think on it. Dwell on it. Let it permeate in your WHOLE BEING! THIS WORD is talking to YOU! This is YOUR INHERITANCE NOW! This belongs to you NOW! Are you living in an area of LACK in ANY area of your life?? Bills? Mortgage? Vehicles? Relationships? Then you need to GET A REVELATION where Deut 28 is concerned!! I am PREACHING to myself too!! I need to get a greater revelation of what belongs to me!! Because guess what?! When this revelation is lived out in it's fullness, that means you OWN NO MAN NOTHING. You own your cars, you own your house and houses, you own your land. You LEND money not to just your "brother-in-law", but NATIONS are asking to borrow money from you, and you LEND TO THEM! 


WOW! Get this! This is good stuff! Now let's get it and live it! The Kingdom of God NEEDS US, God's Children to be living in the FULLNESS of the blessing, of our rightful INHERITANCE that has ALREADY been given to us. The WORLD needs us to live like that!! WHY? Because Jesus is not coming back until the whole world has been preached the gospel! And that takes DOE RAY MEE!! GREEN BACKS! DINERO! CASHOLA! CASH! MONEY! To preach the gospel to ALL the ends of the earth takes money! Let's DO OUR PART and LIVE IN THE BLESSING!