"Little" is the Doorway to Much

Good Morning! I am still "out here." :) I know over the last 6 months, my 4 time/week blog has dwindled to maybe once per week....sometimes once per month. Well... let me just assure you... I'm still out here, and I am still spending daily time in the Word. I just wanted to let you know I haven't fallen off the deep end! :) It is an interesting and new season for me. I'm very excited about that, but at the same time, much change has been and continues to come. With a change of season requires a change in activities, schedule and a continual reevaluation that I am indeed on the right track. My goal, as I'm sure yours is, is to not miss ANYTHING the Lord has for me. Thankfully my husband has "cast me onto the Lord" (which he did a long time ago, PRAISE THE LORD!) and allows me and the Lord to work out what "AMY" needs to be doing.


Anyways... with all of that said. I believe I have a good Word for you today. The Lord continues to give me incites as I dig into His Word. It is so good! Constantly new.


Let's dive in...

Psalm 40:5,6b - Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered....You have given me the capacity to hear and obey...

God's thoughts towards you. Did you know that they are HUGE! Did you know that as the SON or DAUGHTER of the Most High God, that His Plans for you are great! The "greatness" or "legacy" that you leave here on this earth are in direct proportion to your ability to hear and obey. What could that mean? Maybe that means "hearing once" and fulfilling one specific calling with greatness. Maybe that means "hearing daily" and accomplishing a lot in many venues.


In Psalm 40:5, it talks about God's thoughts towards us being too many to be numbered. Imagine a room filled with all the things that you are suppose to accomplish. Maybe it's developing witty inventions, as Proverbs 8:12 says. Imagine in this room, there are shelves full of your inventions. Great inventions, not just one, but MANY. Really, cool, great ideas, just sitting there on the shelves. Multi-million dollar products. Products and inventions that really help people. Just think about peanut butter alone. George Washington Carver invented peanut butter in 1876, and went on do invent 300 other products using the peanut. A devout Christian, Carver considered his laboratory "God's Little Workshop." Maybe in your "room" there are books that you have written, great books. Maybe there are products you have sold. Business' you have started. Engineering firm, photography business, a marketing company you've expanded, a restaurant or chain of restaurants. Maybe it's a dessert you've made famous, or a sauce? Maybe it's your artwork, work and designs that are so exceptional that they are known worldwide for how extraordinary they are. What is in your room? God's thoughts of you are too many to be numbered. That includes that great plans He has for you! His plans for you are for you to prosper! (Ps 1:3, 35:27, Proverbs 16:3, 16:9) There are SO many places that talk about how the Lord's plans for YOU, as His child, are for YOU to SUCCEED!!!!! For YOU to WIN! For YOU to be PROSPEROUS! Healthy! Wise! Wealthy! Third John 1 verse 2, Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.


THE KEY HERE? Psalm 40:6b. You have the CAPACITY to HEAR AND OBEY! If you don't feel like you have been able to "HEAR" the direction or Voice of God (the Holy Spirit)... then guess what? That hearing ear can be developed! You can begin the process of practicing to listen! You will be amazed that as you pursue God, as you seek out Him & His treasures, He WILL make Himself known to you! Your life, your direction, your calling does not have to be a mystery to you! It is not suppose to be a mystery! He has HIDDEN TREASURES for YOU! They are HIDDEN for YOU to find them! They are HIDDEN from the enemy FOR YOU! But you have to seek them out, listen and obey! 


So... in your room.... in this room that has "all God has for you".... what is going to come to fruition here on the earth that is in YOUR ROOM? Are all the inventions, business', churches that you help build, books that you write....are they going to be left on the shelves? Or are they going to come to fruition here on earth? I believe that your capacity to RECEIVE those inventions, ideas, successes are based upon your ability to be obedient with the FIRST ONE! If you don't take the first idea, or the first business or the first book and do anything with it, WHY would God give you the next one? When you have not been faithful with the little, the ONE, why would he give you the rest of the AWESOME ideas? 


It begins with 2 things. Listening & Obeying. 


Can you do that today? Can you Listen? Can you obey? Can you take the first step to being obedient to what God has called you to pursue? Just like the story we've heard many times. The servant who was faithful with little, was given much. 


Servant. Child of the Most High God. Will you be faithful with the little He is trying to give you today? That "little" that you are faithful to is the doorway to much. Will you be faithful?

#160 - I AM VICTORIOUS! I FEAR NOT!

Good morning! Praise God! It is THURSDAY, MARCH 31st!!! The long awaited for day has passed... Tyler & I had our 2nd audit appointment yesterday with the IRS. Praise the LORD, all went well! We were audited for 2 years! We definitely learned a lot and praise the Lord we keep good records. We had TOTAL favor and not only did all of our records substantiate our expenses, BUT THEY owe US more money! Praise the Lord! What the enemy meant to throw us off course and distract us, we passed with flying colors. Let me tell you though, I am thankful to have all of that in the rear-view mirror!! NOTE to Tithers (which should be all Christians): If you are tithing 10% of your income, and maybe even giving an additional offering...YOU are going against what the WORLD says is normal! That's kinda good news! We don't want to be normal to the world! The IRS doesn't think it's normal either, so if that's YOU... just keep good records. WE ARE GIVERS! AMEN!?!? WE GIVE and it is GIVEN UNTO US, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER & RUNNING OVER! AMEN? It feels good to be different from the world!

Well... let's get started... today... the 31st.... a great day to fully look at the life of the Proverbs 31 woman! She is so amazing!

Proverbs 31:21 - She fears not....

Need I say more? The verse goes on to say that she fears not the snow for her household because her family is clothed with scarlet. But she FEARS NOT! She fears NOT! If we made a list of things we do not fear.... what would be on the list? What would be on your list? If you made a list, to remind YOURSELF, to remind GOD and to remind your enemy, Satan, what would be on that list? What would you be reminded on that you WILL NOT FEAR? Let's list out some possibilities!

1. I FEAR NOT my future, the goals & dreams I have. For GOD began a good work in me and WILL CARRY it out to COMPLETION! (Phil 1:6)
2. I FEAR NOT time! I fear not timing! For GOD'S timing in my life is perfect. I am in the right place at the right time ALL the time! I am learning what I need to learn now. God is positioning me in the perfect place to accomplish ALL He has called me to do.
3. I FEAR NOT our finances! My GOD LIBERALLY supplies ALL of my needs according to HIS riches in glory! (Phil 4:19)
4. I FEAR NOT stagnation. I know that there is a season for all things (Eccl. 3:1) I will walk out this season of my life with JOY. I will walk out this season of my life with expectation, knowing God has great and mighty things in store for me! I will walk out this season of my life as a LIGHT to the WORLD, like a city on a hill! (Matt. 5:14-16)
5. I FEAR NOT what my kids, my spouse, or I shall eat, drink or wear (Matt 5:25-26) I choose NOT to be anxious! For GOD clothes the birds of the air & as a child, He loves me much more than even those! I will not fear. I will not be anxious. 
6. I FEAR NOT my marriage. I call my marriage blessed, growing & prosperous. I call it a fulfilled relationship where I am married to my best friend!  
7. I FEAR NOT my health, or my families health! I call each of us healthy and whole. I SPEAK to our bodies that we operate in DIVINE health, how GOD created us to function. I speak to my body and any infirmity that may be there, I tell you, "INFIRMITY, SICKNESS, ARTHRITIS, KNEE PAIN, HIP PAIN, HEADACHE, You are NOT welcome! You are trespassing. You must LEAVE my body in Jesus Name! My body is the TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit and sickness, disease and pain, you have to GO in Jesus name!"
8. I FEAR NOT my growth or progress. I thank you God that YOU place those things in my path in which I need to learn. You place the people, books, CD's, studies, programs in my path to help me progress down the path I need to go! 
9. I FEAR NOT debt! I call my bills paid in full. I thank you Father that YOUR WORD says that YOU GIVE me HOUSES filled with GOOD things, that I fillest not (Deut. 6:10-11) Thank you for NO MORTGAGE! Thank you that you set me up to own NO man nothing, but to love him! (Romans 13:8) Thank you Lord for giving me the ability to be FREE from owing any man anything! I call myself DEBT-FREE!
10. I FEAR NOT relationships. I call myself a good friend to others. I am a friend to them, and therefore, they are friends to me. I call myself friendly! I call forth those IRON-SHARPENING relationships into my life (Prov. 27:17)! I call forth the God type of friends that I need in my life! I call my relationships blessed!
11. I FEAR NOT my weight! Like the Proverbs 31 woman, I am going to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT (Prov. 31:17)! I subject my body, I get fit, I get healthy, I make my arms strong, I eat healthy. When I am old in my years, my eyes will not be dim, nor my natural forces abated (natural vigor diminished) (Deut. 34:7)! My body will OPERATE like I am young, I will have strength like I am young! I choose to take care of my body now instead of having doctors to have to take care of me later. 
12. I FEAR NOT the enemy, Satan! Because MY JESUS DEFEATED HIM! I am ALREADY VICTORIOUS NOW! Jesus defeated DEATH, HELL AND THE GRAVE so that I could walk out my life, in EVERY AREA in VICTORY! I AM VICTORIOUS therefore I WILL NOT FEAR!

Well... I think it is a good starting list! What do you think? Did we leave anything out? Is there anything that you are holding onto that causes that seed of fear in the recesses of your mind? Add to it! What else should we NOT FEAR? 

I FEAR NOT what the future holds! I will have joy today! I will have strength & power today! Because of what Jesus did, I am victorious today! THE WORD says it, therefore I BELIEVE IT! 

I AM VICTORIOUS! 

I FEAR NOT!

#138 -Do NOT Grow Weary!

Well... I began to read and journal this morning and after reading Proverbs 8... felt led to some reason to go read the Beatitudes... or if you remember... the "Blessed's" that Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount (beginning in Matthew 5). So... as I began to read it was quite interesting. As you know, I usually read out of the Amplified, and it amazes me how things are so amplified. Here's how it starts out... 

Matthew 5:3 - Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

Proverbs 8:35 - For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord. 

It goes on through verse 12, and continues talking about the "Blessed." SEVEN times throughout this part it lists out how the "blessed" are "happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions." Seven times it repeats itself. Before it even gets to the "feeling" or "the who." ie: Blessed are the "poor in spirit", Blessed are they that "mourn", Blessed are the "meek", etc... 


As we read over Matthew 5:3-12, it is pretty amazing. Before even getting to the "subject" of each verse, we can see what our take should be on LIFE! We are BLESSED. We are spiritually prosperous. WHY? If we are born-again, know that we are going to heaven when we die, have the Holy Spirit living inside of us... we are BLESSED! WHY else? As a believer, we have GOD's FAVOR. God favor's us! His plan is to set us up to WIN! He wants YOU & I, His children to WIN! He's positioned us in a place of favor! WHY ELSE? We have God's SALVATION. Despite what is going on in our day to day life, ultimately we have won the ULTIMATE prize. Our eyes have been opened to our need of a Savior. We have chose Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our life! We have chose Jesus to be our Shephard, to guide us, to lead us. We have chose Jesus to be #1. We have chose Jesus to guide our decisions. When we have a question, we CHOOSE to say, "What would Jesus do?" As a believer, what should I do? So before Matthew 5 verse 3 even gets to the subject of "what person" it is even talking about, it is telling us first of all, reminding us of WHO WE ARE! We are the BLESSED! 


What else? REGARDLESS OF OUR OUTWARD CONDITIONS. That was a kicker to me. Life happens. And with life, their is a continual learning curve. Life happens. But REGARDLESS of our OUTWARD Conditions, circumstances, we can know the outcome for us is FAVOR. Whether money is tight, the outcome is favor. Yah, we may need to learn how to get our finances in order, but we can thank God for favor. Maybe it's family, friends, children, job, car, house, clothes, health... whatever the need, whatever the CIRCUMSTANCE OR CONDITION, we can be thankful that we have FAVOR. "Satisfaction of God's favor." That is good stuff. We may know the end from the beginning, but sometimes not see everything that is going to happen along the way. But praise God that we CAN know that the "duration", the "path", the "journey", the "day-in/day-out" for US, GOD's CHILDREN, includes favor. We can have SATISFACTION of GOD's FAVOR. During those days when you just feel a little bit discouraged... you feel like you are going through the motions, the little things you are doing is going unnoticed... or the little things you are doing have not yet catapulted you to the destination where you desire to be, just KNOW that God's Favor is upon you. Continue being faithful in the little things and it is a PROMISE in God's Word that when you are faithful in the little, you will be given much. Prove yourself now. Prove yourself faithful. God has GREAT and mighty things in store for you. Do not grow weary in well doing. Do not grow weary right now, while you are in the midst of doing what seems like the "menial" tasks that need to be done. Do NOT grow weary. Continue! Continue my friend. God will SHOW HIMSELF STRONG! 


Great and mighty things are in store for you. Do not grow weary!

#128 - Faithful, No Matter the Cost!

Good morning! :) Well... let's just say it has been an interesting morning as normal! :) I've had a chance to talk to my husband A LOT! :) (HA!) During my quiet time, he wanted to share all the stuff he got out of his quiet time... and wanted to share a funny reprimand that happened to him yesterday... OK.... let's just say, it looks as if "THAT" will all be a part of today's devotion. We will be veering a little of our "regular" reading schedule. 


We were both sitting in the living room with our Bible's and journals, having our own separate "Quiet Time." Tyler piped up and said, "Do you mind if I share some of what I'm learning right here. I mean, this is good stuff!" So.... I stopped my own reading.... I had just written down a key verse that had jumped out at me, then I put my pen down to give my undivided attention to my excited husband. :) As he started to read, I recognized the verse as the one I had JUST written down. 

Proverbs 19:21 - Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand.

He proceeded to talk about Proverbs 19:21, and we jumped over to a couple other places that also applied: 

Isaiah 46:10 - Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose .

Isaiah 29:11 (NIV) - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

As Tyler started talking to me... he made a statement that is a GREAT statement to think about EVERY time one gets in the Word. Good enough to even write it down on a post-it note, include it with your Bible, so every day when you open up your Bible, you have THIS thought in the back of your mind. This is what he said: "As I was reading, I was looking for the word behind the Word." That, my friend, is what it means to meditate. That, my friend, is what it means to allow the WORD to speak to you! TO LOOK FOR THE WORD BEHIND THE WORD!  What exactly does that mean? Well.... obviously, we know that not even a pen-stroke should be added or taken away from the Bible (Matt. 5:18), right? So how can we get more than what is there? Well, since when we are saved, the Holy Spirit now LIVES within us, He has the ability to make known to us all things, IF we are willing to ask, seek, meditate, etc. So... when reading... it is a matter of reading with purpose, reading with a desire to see the "hidden treasures" that are locked away in the Word. (Prov. 2:4, Is. 45:3)


With the scriptures from today... the bottom line is this: The Lord's purpose will stand. He has a plan! We have our own will, but He has a plan. We have the ability to choose His plan, or choose our will. If we choose our will over His plan, He will find someone else to carry out the Ultimate Purpose! Tyler made an amazing point as we were talking! He said, "Look at the life of Joseph! Look at when Joseph is in Potiphar's house and Potiphar's wife continually tries to get Joseph to go to bed with her. Well, after continual refusals, she finally tears of Joseph's cloak one day and accuses him of trying to get her to go to bed. So, Joseph is wrongfully accused. Well, look at this. Joseph didn't try to defend himself, THOUGH he was innocent. He was then thrown in prison and remained their for a couple years. Well, think about this. Why didn't Potiphar just KILL Joseph right there? Maybe Potiphar had some doubt that what his wife said was true. Maybe Potiphar thought, 'This is totally against Joseph's character. What if he did not do this?' Then, if Joseph, would have slept with her, he probably would've died! Potiphar would've probably had him killed!" If you remember the rest of the story, Joseph ends up rising to power, 2nd in charge only to Pharoah, and because of the plan Joseph receives from the Lord, in a time of famine, that plan SAVES NATIONS!


God's divine plans will stand. He will see that someone who is willing to be faithful, will get the job done. We just have to remain faithful to HIM and HIS direction. He declares the END and the RESULT from the beginning. So, as we start down our path of following him, from the BEGINNING He has already declared what the end & the result will be. IF we stay on HIS path, the end will prove to be thoughts and plans to prosper you! Now, that is good stuff! IF we, follow HIS plan, the ending has already been determined! The end our OUR story as a faithful, child of God are plan of prosperity, plans of success! Praise the Lord! 



I definitely can't take any credit for all this Joseph information! Tyler has been meditating on it for over a year now. He continually sees new insights, information, nuggets, treasures. It is a story packed with amazing things!


Well....let's wrap this up. God is God. His purpose will stand. The question is, will you be faithful to HIS plan no matter what the cost? Will you be faithful? 

#110 - Leading by Example: Tyler McCart

Good morning! Bath morning again for the boy! I guess that means that it's time to go up a size on his diapers?! Argh. :) He's so cute when he wakes up, but definitely cuter if he's not wet up to his NECK! Nothing like fresh sheets everyday! Ha! 


Well... I already know this mornings devotion is going to be a bit unconventional. I have done one like it before....it will be good though! 

Psalm 1:1-3 - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ²But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. ³He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 

I've been thinking about this for the past several days. I didn't necessarily plan on writing about it, but the Word this morning leads right into it. What a great opportunity to share. It could be called "A Tribute to My Husband", or "All the Great Things I've Learned from Tyler".... you get the idea. 


As the verses this morning talked about meditating on the Word day & night, the first person I thought of was Tyler. If you haven't ever met my husband, I hope one day you will be blessed with the acquaintance. He is the most amazing person I know. In Psalm 1:2, I have watched my husband live this verse. I have watched him take a scripture and meditate on it for days, weeks and even months. I've watched him take something and keep going over and over it. Looking at it, reading it outloud, praying about it. I've watched over the last couple years the Lord reveal amazing revelations to him through him taking the time to meditate on the Word. When we first got married, for our first year we were both pretty consistent with taking a Day of Rest. Then, we got caught up in life for 4-5 years and just worked, worked, worked. Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit, but about 3 years ago, we got back into the habit of taking a Day of Rest. What a blessing! I remember coming home from work on the day Tyler would take his Day of Rest. It was always my favorite day of the week! Typically it was Wednesday. But HIS Day of Rest was my FAVORITE! Why? Because we would go out to dinner, and I would just sit there .... typically at Carrabba's pasta bar, I would just sit there and take it all in. Tyler would just tell me all about what the Lord revealed to him that day. The revelations, what he learned from some broadcasts online, through all of our dinner he would just pour out what he had learned. What had be revealed through meditation. I just sat there like a thirsty kid, drinking it all in. I marveled at how he learned and the revelations God gave him. Tyler taught me how to meditate. He taught me how to do what Psalm 1:2 says. 


"Nor sits in the seat of the scornful..." - Tyler had lunch the other day with a guy who I used to work with. This guy is quite an extraordinary person in the corporate arena, very driven, very goal oriented and with a great desire to lead a life of significance. As Tyler returned from their lunch appointment, I was just again amazed at his desire to pour into the lives of others, to add value, to encourage, to build up & to help provide resources that Tyler knows will be able to help people. This person is definitely not a "scornful" type of person, but optimistic and ambitious. As I listened to some details of their lunch appointment, I just heard of "friends" having lunch, but Tyler pouring out some situations from his day, and being able to bring it back to the Word... what he had received from meditating and how the WORD completely turned around his morning. Tyler was not trying to teach or preach, but just sharing. And I found it pretty interesting that at the end of their lunch the guy asked, "So, do you read your Bible every morning?" Even that question just made me smile. This gentleman, probably a Christian, but most likely doesn't read his Bible every morning. In how Tyler lives his life, he was attracted to it. He was attracted to what Tyler received from the Word. He was attracted to how the Bible is not just words on paper to Tyler, but that it is ALIVE and LIVING, ACTIVE. For someone desiring to live a real life of significance, he was drawn to the Word, because the Word has a way of revealing the depths of true significance. A life built on the Word. 


"Whatever he does shall prosper." - Over the years, I've obviously watched Tyler. Even when I first met him, I was drawn to him. I knew he was going to do really great things for the Lord and the Kingdom of God. I was drawn to that. I was attracted. It was more than his build and good looks (hehe!)... Tyler was going places and I wanted to be a part of that. I've watched set-backs over the years, but I've watched Tyler press forward. I've watched him not wallow in discouragement, but continue to put his trust in the Lord. I've watched him continue to dig deeper into the Word to find answers to situations we may have been going through. When things got hard, Tyler got in the Word more. When he got squeezed, the WORD came out of his mouth. He is such an amazing example to me. Even recently, I mentioned to him some things that were noticed by some close people to us. It wasn't something easy to tell him, nor was it probably something easy to receive. But, it was a perception. And whatever someone else's perception, is their reality. He didn't get mad, but he said, "Well, I guess I will just need to work in that area so it does not things are not perceived in that light." He took something hard to receive and did not get defensive, but said, "I'm going to work on that!" Talk about humility. Talk about laying down ego. 


"Whatever he does shall prosper." - Tyler, I know you will read this at some point... and I want you to know this. From the day I met you, I KNEW that this verse was you! I knew that WHATEVER you did, you were going to prosper. I just want you to know that I am so thankful to be on this journey with you. My train will always be linked up to you because I know where you are going, you are making a difference. You are doing things that matter and you are prospering! I'm so blessed to be married to a man that continue to move forward. That continues to lead by example and press forward. I AM SO BLESSED! I feel like the most blessed life in the world! Thank you for pouring into the lives of so many men who need it. I've watched you pour yourself out unselfishly to help other people. You are such a blessing to me! Thank you Tyler for always leading by example! I love you!


----- If you are not linked up with someone who you KNOW is doing things that are going to matter! You need to meet Tyler! You need to link up with HIS train because I know he is going to do great things for the Lord & Kingdom of God! 


Here is a recent "VLOG" Tyler did on the Life of Joseph. It's good stuff! Check it out!


Bless you all! Have a great day! Time for MYGYM! :-)

         

#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! 

#77 - Prosper & Walk in the Blessing

Good morning! It is definitely a chilly day here in Columbia, SC. I'm sitting on the porch in JEANS and a JACKET! WHOA! Can you believe it?! It actually does feel like fall. How awesome is that?! I could even sit out here in a sweatshirt and it would be super comfortable. I love fall. What a great season! Fall clothes are just awesome. Sweatshirts and jeans, does it get much better than that?!?

Alright... I have an appointment, so we are going to jump right in! (Also...side-note - The bug man was here today and sprayed! Can we all say PRAISE THE LORD! We're sending ALL those cockroaches to meet Jesus!! HALLELUYAH! Especially after I was interrupted in my BATH last night by an intruder who wanted to swim! I yelled! Tyler had to come running to help me! YUCK!!) Ok... focus Amy, focus! They just have a way of getting me FIRED UP! Urghhhh! Let's get into the word!

Proverbs 28:13 - He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy.

Psalm 118:8, 18, 25 - It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. The Lord has chastened me sorely, but He has not given me over to death. (25) Save now, we beseech You, O Lord; send now prosperity, O Lord, we beseech You, and give to us success!

Psalms 148: 13a, 14a - Let them praise and exalt the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted and supreme! He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them power, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence]...

Proverbs 31:10 - A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. 

Who knows that prosperity is a good thing? I would venture to say, not everyone thinks that. Some people have grown up with the thinking that there is something pious or religious about having less than you need, or not having very much money. Like there is something godly about living in lack. If money is so bad, why isn't Satan pounding down your door to give you some? Because he knows that money in the hands of good, God-fearing people can make a BIG dent in his plans to bring people to hell. Prosperity, wealth, in the hands of Christians who are SOLD-OUT to helping the gospel reach the ends of the earth is a threat to Satan's game plan. 


I like Psalms 118:25, O Lord; send now prosperity, O Lord, we beseech You, and give to us success! - Give us SUCCESS Lord! Give us PROSPERITY! That's a prayer. Have you prayed that before? Good for you! We serve a God who loves to bless his children. Who loves to bring them success and prosperity! 


We do get a key here to how NOT to prosper... check it out: He who covers his transgressions will not prosper. Once you have sinned, if we try to cover it up, that is one sure way not to prosper. Even the hidden sin, that maybe NO ONE knows about. Maybe it's just a secret that only we know.... well... news flash, God knows! There is no sin that is hidden from God and if we try to hide or cover up a sin that we have committed, He knows. It is still sin. 


When we are living in sin, it may happen that we are chastened by the Lord. Like when your child sins, or when you were growing up and sinned, mom and dad may have spanked you. You may have gotten grounded, but one way or another, you were punished. That is why it is so important for us to immediately run to God and ask for forgiveness. He is a God that will forgive, no matter how big of how small the sin, He will forgive. When we walk in that forgiveness, blessings are able to flow. When we walk in sin, blessings are blocked from our life. 

We pray Lord that you would forgive us of any sins we have committed. Lord forgive us. Forgive us Lord! We desire to bless and honor You! We desire to do YOUR will and grow Your Kingdom! Father, thank You that YOU are a Lord that forgives! Help me Lord to not sin, help me to crave you so much that I am far from sin. That I would hunger and thirst for righteousness. That is my prayer. That my greatest hunger would be for you, to please you Father. Lord, forgiven, we come to you and pray, SEND NOW your prosperity, we pray, GIVE to us, your Children success! Thank you that it is YOUR desire to bless us, to give us success and prosperity. It is your desire that we, your children live in the blessing. We love you Father. We thank you. We pray this all in the MIGHTY Name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen!

#21 - Plan to Prosper

Good morning to all! Already taken down 2 cups of yummy coffee, and have done a lot this morning. It's amazing how much you can do when you wake up early!! Love it! Well... I am guessing that many of you that are reading this blog have been reading it on a somewhat regular basis. Would you consider "following" the blog? Or... when something really jumps out to you let your friends know about it... forward the link. (www.amyjmccart.blogspot.com) I'm excited about what God is doing & is going to do as I am in the process of writing a few books right now. "Blog followers" help when I do get to the point of talking to publishers. So only IF you feel these posts have added value to you and are beneficial, JOIN as a follower & invite your friends! :)  


Well, let's go ahead and get rolling. Yesterday's post really just floored me. To me, it was quite a revelation.  Quite a revelation that God truly wants us to get past having to "sacrifice" things in our life. That he wants to know He already has our Isaac, that He already has all of those things closest to our heart. And with Him already having ALL of those things it truly makes "sacrifice" a null thing. He already has it all. Then, it just gives us the opportunity to walk in the blessing, being directed by Him. I'm still getting stuff out of it! It's amazing how the written word can really make revelation jump out at you! Now today.... there was a TON of stuff in Proverbs 22... but, the Lord led me down a certain path.... it wasn't the "fun" path that "I" wanted to choose...but I guess He feels like it's an important one. So, if you have some steel-toed boots, you may want to get them out. I may be stepping on toes this morning! :( I guess ultimately it will be good. Let's get started...

Proverbs 22:7, 26-27 - The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. Be not one of those who strike hands and pledge themselves, or of those who become security for another's debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?

Proverbs 31:16b - ...with her savings she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

The American Way. That is a source of our conversation today. How "The American Way" is different from "The Biblical Way." So, as we read... we see how the borrower is servant to the lender. Or another plain way to put it is this.... the credit card owner who does not pay their balance off every month is a SLAVE to the credit card company. Here Martin Luther King went to great lengths for the Civil Rights movement... to bring about full freedom to the African American population and here we are, white & black alike, walking right back into the bondage of slavery. We have chosen to enslave ourselves. We have put the shackles on our wrists, the shackles on our ankles... we are marching in a straight line all the while typing quickly on our new iPhone, carrying our iPad or new NetBook. As we are walking in line, we turn around to see the person who is shackled behind us, and check it out... the lady behind us pushes up her Chanel sunglasses and slings her Kate Spade purse over her shoulder to show us her new Droid she is playing on. As she pulls out her Coach wallet, she says "Pick a Card, any card".... we see an array of credit cards, lots of pretty colors in lots of styles... Visa, MasterCard, Discover.... oooohhh and the pretty one..... American Express. She puts them back in her Kate Spade, and we all continue trudging along, chains clinking & dragging as we walk. 


As I was reading & listening to the Holy Spirit about this... hum.... what seems a bit of an "un-fun" topic, He revealed to me this: 

Amy, many people who have a $30,000 or $40,000 income will never have more. Not because I don't want to bless them with more, but because they can not manage what they have. They live beyond their means, not below their means. They seek to please themselves instead of pleasing Me. It takes having a plan. Most people do not have a plan so they will continue to live in the land of "not enough." I have laid out a plan for them. I have also laid out a plan through many men, many books. The resources are available. If people would become resourceful, I will lead them to what is right for them. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. I am ready. Will My People ever decide to appear? 

If you know me or Tyler well, you know that we like quality things. I enjoy my Kate Spade diaper bag, Coach purse, Maui Jim sunglasses (and Coach sunglasses before they got lost in Las Vegas)... we enjoy quality things. We enjoy the best of life. And, I believe that the good things are made to enjoy. They are made especially for people like me (and you) who love the Lord, who are ministers of the Gospel (in our respective fields of work). I believe God WANTS us to have the best. Let me add this... those items above, we paid cash for. If it was on a credit card, it was paid off when the bill came in the mail. And for us.... most things are acquired after we have set and accomplished a goal. 


But let me be transparent... some of our mistakes..... maybe you can learn from & apply a solution now? Before resigning from my job in Corporate America, I made more than most people, more than the "average" income. When you added my income, my husbands income & the income of our business that we run.... that most definitely added up. Transparency: in retrospect, over the last 10 years if we could go back and do anything different, what could we have done differently during those years? It's one word, one plan, operating off a what? A BUDGET. 


Tyler was reading recently that out of a large selected group of millionaires, many of them brought home only between $70,000-$90,000/year. Well... obvious math, Tyler and I easily brought more than that home. What is different from these millionaires & Tyler & I? They had a plan. Yes... we were still living below our means, but without a true budget, without a true plan. As I was listening, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that many people have the ability and income to be millionaires, but never will be simply because they do not know how to handle the income they bring in now. They have NO plan. 


So, what did we decide to do? We decided to itemize our income & spending... as we looked through our bank statement, categorizing where money was going... we found what was not too surprising: $5.00 to fast food here, $15.00 to fast food there, $46.00 to a decent restaurant here, $35.00 to a decent restaurant there.... another $7.00 to Firehouse Sub here, a quick $8.00 to Chick-Fil-A there. Our money had quickly dwindled, disappeared with nothing much to show for it. Not much additional in savings. No "rocketing" investment portfolio. Not to mention our waistline increased as well. All due to one thing, Lack of Planning. Lack of a Budget. Lack of having groceries in the house, fruits & vegetables for a healthy snack, breads & meat for sandwiches.... healthy food for a good dinner. We were operating like the article said, and were indeed on our way to become a statistic. 


Resources are available. People that have been called by God to write anointed books & material in the realm of finances. They are there for you. 


We know that our Proverbs 31 friend was not a woman of the "World's Statistic." Not only did she buy land, own business'.... but we see in Proverbs 31:16 that she did have a SAVINGS. She did set money aside. Their is wisdom in setting money aside. Their is wisdom in preparing & planning. When the Lord does call you to complete your assignment, or brings you to the next position in life, will you have been prepared for it? If your assignment calls for money, He may not even move you to the next position in life until you are able to get your finances in order. 


I believe that the best of the best was made for Men & Women of God to have & use. But, I also believe that IF we are going to partake in these goods, we should be able to pay for it now. "The borrower is subject to the lender." I prefer not to put myself back in the shackles of bondage. I enjoy being out of debt. And I am excited to be on the path where we are responsible and diligent with what God has given us, so He is able to bless us with more. Like the servants who were given the "talents" (Matthew 25:14-30), the servant who buried his talent and did not increase it was called a "wicked & lazy servant." His master said: "...at least if you had put it on deposit with bankers I would have received it back with interest..."


I believe their are million dollar ideas, inventions, business', and books within the Men & Women of God. Money can do a lot of good thing. Will you be one that will be able to take care of more than just yourself. Will you be able to help others & bless others with your overflow? 


So... make a plan. Plan to take an inventory of your income. What comes in and what goes out. Make a budget. Use the "envelope system" if you need too.... put cash in an envelope... label them: "Groceries", "Date Night", "Bills", etc, until you get your finances under control. 


Make a plan. Set a budget. The best is there for you. Will you position yourself to have it? To stroke a check cash for that designer pocket book? For your next car? For your next house? Do you believe God can do it? I do.


Are you "planning" in order that you may prosper?


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A few books that have helped us:

• Richest Man in Babylon
• Become a Millionaire God's Way
• Trust God with your Finances