Success is useless without a successor!

Success is useless without a successor! 
What the business world calls "succession planning" the church calls "discipleship".
Think of those who've gone before you. Who trained you, poured in to you and discipled you? Now think of those who are to come. Who will train them, pour in to them and disciple them?

It's time for us to start giving back! There are 3 generations in the today's workforce and serving in the church simultaneously.
"Boomers (born 1946 to 1964)
GenXers (born 1965 to 1985)
Millennials (born 1982 to 2000)"

There are a total of five living generations including 
"Builders (born prior to 1946)
and a fifth, yet unnamed generation (born 2000 to present)

Pushing past the generational barriers and moldy methods, we all have the ability to receive much worth one from another, both young and old.  This is our duty and obligation, not only as a Christian, but as a human being. I think of Billy Graham who just preached his final message at 95 years old. Who was his target? Not any certain age group, but mankind as a whole.

I think of Jesus, who came to save us all. Although, He placed strong emphasis on little children, possibly because they are the future. Jesus was a progressive leader who has His mind on all generations! He was the greatest disciplemaker and succession planner of all!

Psalm 145:4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.

What's On My Heart

That desire to seek God comes from Him and it starts from within you, by the Holy Ghost!  Not everybody after receiving Christ is instantly set free!  Even if they were, they would still have struggles that pop up later and continue to until Jesus comes back or they die.
     Romans 10:9 says, If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  You've done this! Right?  God knows your beginning from your end.  He loves you and is your
FATHER He is even when your earthly father forsakes you!
COMFORTER He comforts even when your friends, family, wife, husband, leaves you high and dry! HEALER He heals you from the inside out, even those scars no one else has seen!
PROVIDER He provides your every need & is forever on time in doing so! Even when money fails to support your every need!
PROTECTOR The government can ban all the guns in the world, but still couldn't steal my true source of protection!
     Philippians 1:6 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 
Hold on! The darkness will soon pass. God is not done with you!
Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! 
Hold to this Word and trust that God is all of these things and much more!! God bless :)

Abba (Daddy)

     How can you miss what you've never had?? Although, I've never spent much time, & haven't had much of a relationship with my dad, I still love him & miss when he's not around. This current & next generation heavily consists of fearful children seeking the presence, love & direction of a dad or mom. 

     There is an undeniable void which must be truly filled, not masked with the usual money, sex, drugs, position, careers & one night stands etc.

The only true way to fill that special void is to just receive Christ & God adopts you into His family then you become Sons & Daughters. You can even cry out Daddy & God responds. (Rom8:15)

Even if you grew up with a nearly perfect parental support, you still have room for and need of a Savior in your life.

The Power of Silence

I'm glad I'm not one to get on social media and blast derogatory comments, because the way people been acting..... uhmmmm Thank God for His grace!! Grace is when someone does you wrong, and you could totally take them out, but you don't, because God doesn't do that to you when you act a fool!

It's easy to walk the walk, but sometimes you have to refrain from talking the talk if you know what I'm sayin?

I would rather my heart be bigger than my mouth, and continue to love people, despite their mal intent. 

The Bible says, in Proverbs 10:19 Where there are many words, their is much sin. He who refrains his lips is wise. 

Luke 6:45 Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The words people speak will paint a clear picture of the condition of their heart, whether it be good, or evil.

Those people who always talk a mess trying to run you down in the mud, do what I do. Pray, then back away! When you choose to respond to their insults with silence, it's like sealing their gums with Gorilla Glue.

Random Posts

Wait on God. Many say this as if the purpose can only be attained in the ending. Sometimes there is more purpose throughout the time of preparation than in the end. Yes, we need to wait on God, and He will bring to pass what He promised (Phil 1:6). But, don't discount the purpose of the preparation.

There is purpose through it all! Everything you're experiencing right now, God will use to your good (Rom 8:28).

Through the preparation, comes a restoration!

 

God loves you and He wants the best for you! Look at where you are now compared to the way you were a year ago and tell me God hasn't done a miracle in your life. You might not be where you want to be, but you sure aren't where you used to be. Stop comparing your walk with Christ with everyone else's. What is good for the other guy, is not always good for you.

 It hurts me to see, many who are full... of potential, but short on drive. You got to be in it for the long haul, or you will get burnt out on the 1st lap. Learn to pace yourself allowing God's grace into your life to help you overcome life's pit stops.

These are just personal revelations God gives me during my personal time with Him.My Pastor has taught me if it's a word from God, it's meant for anyone to reach out and take hold of, so enjoy!

 

Be whole hearted in all you do. You are a man or woman of God! Whether you're loading bags, scrubbing toilets, or shoveling manure, do with all your heart and God will bless you with something better. God's got you where you are for a reason.

This is just a season!

You are going through a testing of your faith. God wants to know what He can trust you with and gives you the free will to make the ...decisions. Keep doing what you know is right, let God lead you, and you will go far. I am speaking for myself right now, too!

Sometimes things will seem like a "stand still" that's kind of how I know when I am being tested. God just wants me to "stand" and do what I know is right. Be faithful with a little and he will make you ruler over much. Don't give up! Allow your faith to be stretched a little. Are faith has muscles, too. And they need to be, fed, built up, and stretched. You don't want your faith muscle to atrophy, do you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love

Love is like show and tell. Yeah, you say you love me, but do your actions show it? Yeah, your actions say you love me, but you need to tell me, too.

 If you care for someone let them know. Actions do speak louder than words, but words are good too.

 What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45

 If your married, don't let a day go by that you don't tell your wife or husband you love them. I'm not married, but I'm learning for when I am.

 Children, let your parents know you love them often. Parents, tell your children you love them often. I'm speaking all over myself! A proper expression of love provides affirmation, and affirmation offers growth!'

 

 

He yet speaks

While you're busy having a pity party, those God appointed you to reach, could slip right on by.

 

Be ready in season and out of season--no matter the weather of your circumstance!

The day may come when you are dealing with the most awful hurt ever, and God has you to lead someone to the Lord. However, when you are obedient in that time, wondering how you could speak life and encouragement when you're feelin like you are half dead, God will cause that river of life to flow up out of you. I know it's happened to me many times!
All you have to do is be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to do whatever, whenever, wherever, and with whoever!

Sometimes, God will pull us out of the pit were in by a word He used us to deliver!  Just think though. If you were refuse and not speak to that person you might miss your word and be left in that pit!
It's like this. Have you ever heard the phrase, "love ehm through their mess"? Sometimes, "you gotta love ehm through your mess!"

Right Place At The Right Time! ("the ministry of presence")

This was something that happened to me a few months ago. I actually posted this story on Facebook, but I know many people I know don't have Facebook. So, here ya go!

Ran into Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies tonight. She had ran her Town Car off the road. Thank God I spotted her car in the ditch and that she was unharmed. I called the police then waited for them to arrive. Fortunately we were able to... get her car backed out, but she seemed so upset & confused. She really had no idea where she was at. The officer decided to find her a ride home rather than let her drive. So, I kept her company till they could get ahold of her family to pick her up. Sometimes, the best thing possible is "the ministry of presence"!
All in all my date with 92 year old Granny wasn't too bad ha-ha-ha, and became something I could write about too.

Thank you, Lord for allowing me to be in the right place at the right time. Not always convenient, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Parking Wars!

After running my route this evening, I was pulling back into the BFWC parking lot to drop off the van and I noticed a man asleep inside a parked car. As I was parking, a man walked up to the van almost kind of dazed. I got out, reached to shake his hand and asked if everything was all right.

The man, said "Hello, my name is Gary. I just moved here from out of state, and recently started a new jo...b. I have no family in Indiana, so rather than pay for a motel, I have decided to live out of my truck for a few weeks, until I have the funds to get an apartment. Do you mind if I sleep out here in your parking lot?" I told him, feel free, for as long as you need.

He then went on to say, he had been sleeping in another church parking lot, but was eventually asked to leave, so he came to ours! He stated he was actually drawn to our parking lot, and that he sensed a peaceful atmosphere. He said, he was glad I pulled up and had taken the time to speak with him. Then I began to ask him how he was doing, if he was enjoying life, did he know the Lord, and did he need prayer for anything.
He then pointed to a cross on his arm, and said, "yeah, I go to church." That is not what I wanted to know. I then shared with him what God has done in my life, and just where He has brought me from.
Then I asked him an even harder question. I said, "Gary, I've told you what God has done in my life. Can you honestly say in your heart 100%, that you have fully surrendered your life to Christ, and that God has and is completely changing you from the inside out?"
He said, "no."So, just that quick, I asked him to repeat after me, we prayed and right then he surrendered his life to Christ!

 Give God glory!

What Do I Want To See? "The Unimaginable"

Don't get discouraged with the ministry God has given you! I believe it's going to take individuals with a heart full of passion and a Holy Ghost anointing to hold out, wait on God, continue on in well doing to see God do the unimaginable.

When it's God, it will be the unimaginable!
Don't settle merely seeing your expectations for ministry met!
(Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.)
The harvest spoke of in Galatians 6:9 is not an ordinary harvest!

It's a harvest of Ephesians 3:20 proportion! (Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,)

God can only do in you what you will allow Him to do.
Don't allow poor (lowered) expectations brought on by long periods of waiting, to hinder God's power in your life and ministry. You will be tempted with mediocrity!

If you are believing for souls to be won (which we all should, because all Christians are soul winners), God has called you to believe the unimaginable!
If you are believing for marriages to be saved, God has called you to believe the unimaginable!
If you are believing for your youth group to (just get it) rise to the call of God on their lives, God has called you to believe the unimaginable!
If you are believing for a wife, or a husband, God has called you to believe the unimaginable!
If you are believing for your business to take off the ground, God has called you to believe the unimaginable!

 I could go on and on. This is just something God has revealed to me, and I hope it helps you.
Also, this is not just to be applied in the area of ministry, this goes for any seeds sown, even businesses.

Best believe, if you walking in covenant with Christ, believing God for any increase, or harvest--it will be unimaginable!

What's in it for me?

Right Gift but Wrong Time

If God gave me now, all He has intended for me to have later. I couldn't possibly handle it. (James 1:17) Every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights who does not change like the shadows. God loves us enough to hold things back--even the things we "think we need". God sees our true needs and desires, just as a Father does his own child (Matthew 6:8).

You see God loves us so much! (Psalm 84:11) says that He would withhold no good thing from them who walk uprightly  That word is true! One reason every perfect good and perfect gift is good and perfect is that it comes from the Father above. Another reason is the time in which that gift is given.

Let's look at the story of the prodigal son in (Luke 15:11-16).  The son went to his father and demanded his share of the inheritance. The father reluctantly, but all the more passively gave the son his share of the inheritance. The son left home and wandered to a foreign exotic land where he spent every dime of what his father had given him. When famine hit that land the son found himself working in the pig fields eating slop meant for pigs.  Think about it. This earthly father, rather than putting his foot down, and saying. No! He gave the son just what he wanted, when he wanted it, which eventually harmed everyone in the process.

A new born baby is a good gift. However, if that baby were to be delivered 7 months early you wouldn't call that a good gift. You would call that a tragedy. You see bypassing the time of gestation would cause an otherwise perfect gift to cause grief and pain. The same way we cannot bypass the growth process in our own lives and walk with Christ. Without the proper level of maturity we may wind up being cursed by the very thing we thought was a blessing.

I am extremely grateful my Father loves me enough not to give me everything I want when I want it! Even though He could, the very fact that He doesn't is one of the things that makes Him so great.
Somebody better start thanking God for not sending you that wife or that husband yet. And start praising Him for when He will. Thank Him for not giving you that bigger house yet when you can't pay for the one you've got. Thank Him for not giving you that newer car yet, when you can't keep the two you already have in your garage clean. What?? Appreciate what you do have. Take care of what He has already blessed you with!

Lastly, if you have been praying and asking God for something, but don't seem to be getting an answer. That doesn't necessarily mean NO. It might just be a NOT RIGHT NOW

To everything there is season, and a time for every purpose under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

1. Continue on doing what you know to do is right. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
2. Be faithful where you are at and with what you've got. (Matthew 25:23)
3. Wait on the Lord. (Psalm 37:34)
4. Delight yourself in the Lord. (Psalm 37:4)
5. Do not become weary. (Galatians 6:9)
6. Continue seeking God first. (Matthew 6:33) & (Matthew 6:8)