Blog Archives - The Remarkable Blog

Holy Friday

3/30/2018

As followers of Jesus, we need to embrace Good Friday, which is a little bit like saying we need to embrace torture.

Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God but the things of men."

Then Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 16: 21–25 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

Good Friday is the day we remember the crucifixion of Jesus, but there’s more to it than remembering; our task as preachers is to call people to the Cross. We want to embrace the resurrection, but Jesus calls us to the Cross, too. The famous sermon says, "It's Friday, but Sunday's coming!" More properly, the point of the story is that Friday is the road to Sunday. There's no Easter Sunday without Good Friday. There is no resurrection without the Cross. Our job as pastors is to tell the truth to His people: there's a Good Friday for all of us.

Blessings to you and yours. Thanks for following me. I pray you enjoy this weekend that Jesus made famous because of His love for us.

Happy Ressurecction Sunday! Too!

The Blessed life

3/29/2018

Here we are on Holy Thursday. Tomorrow will be Good Friday. We are looking forward to Resurrection morning. As I was working in the office I realized how many people it takes to keep a church running. After 20 years of putting together a Resurrection morning service this is what I have found, it takes several people to do the Children's Program and several people to do the Praise and Worship segment of the service. Then it takes several people to serve everyone communion. The picture of the Body of Christ came to my mind as never before. It takes the head, the hands, the feet, the organs, every body part, doing it's part, to make the Body function as it should.

Living the blessed life is available because of the blessing. The blessing came when Jesus arose from the dead. Jesus did His part. Jesus's part was harder than ours will ever be. Jesus served because He loved His Father. When we love something we are willing to pay the price, whatever the price may be. When Jesus paid it all--He got it all. Being and doing what we are called to do may cost us everything, but when we are willing to pay that cost, then the promises of God come to pass in our lives. We can not out give God.

Mark 10:28-30 (Berean Study Bible) Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.” “Truly I tell you, said Jesus, “- no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions—and to receive eternal life in the age to come...

As Resurrection Sunday drawls near ask the Lord what is you are to be doing? What part do you play in the bigger picture? As part of the Body of Christ, where do you fit? What is your function? When someone has some skin in the game they play differently, they practice harder, give more, and gain more. How much more the game of life? Because in reality life is more than a game, it's a war. We need everyone to suit up in the armor of God and get involved if we are to win the battle for souls. Jesus died that all may live. He is our model.

What are you doing for Resurrection Sunday?

3/28/2018

As I prepare in greater depth for this coming Sunday I was asking myself questions about how to connect with everyone. My mind drifted and I thought to myself, I haven't even thought about what I will be serving my family for dinner, or where will we be eating. I called a few places and they were all booked. Then I realized I was more concerned about what I was feeding people's spirit, than their stomachs. It's not that family is not important before you throw tomatoes at me, I just realized how far my mindset has changed. This scripture came to my mind was Matthew 6:31-34, "“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

If this then, is called Holy Week I am going to do everything in my power to prepare my heart, and mind to be Holy as He is Holy. 1 Peter 1:15 (NIV) "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;"

I am choosing to focus on Him. There was a time I couldn't even spend time with God unless my house was clean, and all my laundry was done. I've come a long way. I want to encourage you because this has been a long journey for me. Please don't condemn yourself if you are not there yet. Be gentle with yourself. Jesus loves us no matter where we are in life. You may be in the whirlwind stage of raising children--it's okay! You may be in the working and building a life stage--God understands. No matter where you are in life find some time this week, to focus on what happened, and why it happened.

Jesus was focused on us. That's why He did what He did. Love compelled Him to do whatever it took to save us. It is love that compels us to do what we do. Sometimes it just takes time to change what we love and get things in the right order of priority.

So, what am I going to do? I am going to focus on Jesus. I am going to choose to believe the word of God. Phillipians 4:19 (MSG) " You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus."

I am choosing to believe this will be the best Resurrection Sunday I have ever had personally, professionally, and spiritually. I know that God works all things for good, for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 says, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV). ... They only work together for good for those who love God and trust him with their plans. This is one of the basic truths in the Bible. Choose to trust! I am working on it!

I'm touching Heaven

3/27/2018

I just keep climbing higher. God is calling the body of Christ to higher heights. Many will refuse to move up the mountain. We have got to have hind feet in high places. As the deer pants after the waters, we have to breathe in and breathe out. Moses knew there was something more. When we first get something in our hands we don't always know the value. Often times things have to be broken in order to realize the worth. I am gladly broken that what the Lord has to do will be done. Let's let our weaknesses be exposed so that His strength can be revealed. I know that when I am weak He is strong. Something is happening inside of me. My body is wracked with this cold and I realize I can't even heal myself of a cold, without His power and intervention. He is my healer. The only healing I can do is when He flows through me, because I've been with Him, and He trust me.

I invite you to climb with me this week. Enjoy this beautiful song as you go for Him with all you've got. Don't stop. There is no end in God. He is infinite. There is no end to his love. Reach up and touch heaven. Reach out and touch others with what He does through you.

In God's House there are many Gifts

3/26/2018

This weekend was a really busy one. We had our 5-Fold School of Ministry called Arsenal. It is a two day that focused on training God's Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors and Teachers and the Body of Christ about the Offices and gifts God has placed in the Body to bring the Body to maturity. We brought together some great people of faith and had an intense time with God. We have it each year and if you are interested it will be the 22nd and 23rd of March 2019, and you can get more information at www..restorationchurchintl.org as the event draws closer.

Some of the topics were about the opportunity we now have, to do what God has called us to do. Another topic was the importance of spending time with God, how being with God changes us, and the fact that not everyone will change their life to fit the call. Then the relationship between Prophets and Apostles was discussed. One of my personal favorites was about "Be Like A Tree" by Apostle Mike Robinson. It was about what we go through as individuals, not just in ministry. His text was taken from Psalm 1:3 (NKJV) "He 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.

Apostle Mike Robinson was our speaker for this session and plans to write a mini book on this subject. He explained as only Mike can about the years that we live and how like a tree many things can affect our growth actually leave a mark telling a story about what we have gone through during the years. He explained that the same things that affect trees can affect us. I will never see a tree ring the same. It was a life changing message.

I personally can hardly wait to get it in my hands. Here is his contact information: https://www.anchorchurch.live/about Contact him directly for any information about the book or to have speak.

For a CD set of the entire Conference please contact us at 304-292-7283 to order your copy of go to our web site and order from our store. https://squareup.com/store/rci-bookstore

What we are all still learning about Book Writing and somethings I learned the hard way.

3/23/2018

Today, I will end my week long series on Book Writing with a word of caution and a great article someone much more seasoned than I sent me to read.

First, a word of caution. Order books as you need them, or just let your readers order them online themselves. Here is why:

Books get old and fade or loose their color. Unless it's a collectors edition, or your dead, no one wants to purchase an old book.
Money sits in your basement or garage. You have saturated your market and now you are stuck with boxes of books.
The cover gets old. If it sells well, or if it doesn't, it may still need updated in a few years.
It cost money to get a book published. If you are a new writer with a small following it will probably cost you more than you will make to get your book published. The main reason being, you are so excited you wrote a book you give everyone you know a free copy.

Some of the above mistakes I know first handed. Smile, it is a great learning experience and unless you write you will never know how it may have turned out.

https://www.selfpublishedauthor.com/node/474?utm_source=My+Identifiers+Registrations+-+US&utm_campaign=05db8f6a48-SPA_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b7c5ec599b-05db8f6a48-158655593&mc_cid=05db8f6a48&mc_eid=324473e77d

7 Book Marketing Trends That Are Changing This YearThe world of book marketing is moving and shaking, and as with all things, change is inevitable. Part of my job is to embrace change and ensure that we are on the front edge of book marketing trends so that we can be the most effective marketing team for our clients. And although changes don’t mean the “old ideas” no longer work, it does mean that there are some exciting new ways to do things. So with that said, I’d like to share these 7 changes you can expect to see this year.

Collaborative marketing: While not a new trend, I think you’re going to start seeing a lot more of this in 2018. In the past, we’ve seen authors do combo book bundles – books bundled together from a variety of authors. In addition to that, I think we will see more collaborative marketing efforts such as bundled freebies, samplers and joint ads. There is power in numbers and this year, more than ever, we’re going to start seeing that this type of networking is no longer an option, but a necessity.
Less social media: People are getting social media weary. I even know of a few authors who have completely closed several social accounts. More and more authors are going to get away from being everywhere.
Seasonal romances: The Hallmark Channel is known for their marketing focus. If you follow them, or have ever seen a Hallmark Christmas movie (it’s ok to admit that you have), you’ll notice that nearly all of their movies are now tied to a season. And while this trend began in television, it has now extended to books; I’m seeing more and more romances with seasonal angles: New Years, summer holidays like Memorial Day and July 4th, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and of course, Christmas. Then the cycle starts all over again. And while I focused on romances here, it’s not unreasonable for this trend to reach further into genre fiction, too.
Print books will pick up steam again (but not for fiction): Interesting to note that so much of what’s being sold in fiction is not in print, meaning that eBooks are killing it in genre fiction. Dataguy from Digital Book World talks about this in his report: http://digitalbookworldconference.com/index.php/whitepaper. He notes that 70% of adult fiction sales were from eBooks. Seventy percent. And, in fact, several major publishing houses have set up digital-only divisions for this very reason. But for non-fiction I’m seeing a totally different trend. Print is still a strong staple of the non-fiction market. If you’ve released a book in eBook only, maybe now is a good time to put it out in print, too – a new edition can give you some new promotional opportunities.
Mobile: Do it or die (or at least your books may). You need a site that is designed for mobile, even if it’s just adding a Wordpress plug in. Mobile can’t and shouldn’t be ignored, but if you don’t get this handled this year, you’re going to lose a lot (a lot) of potential traffic and new readers. Plus, your book covers MUST look good on mobile browsers. If you have to pinch and pull the screen to be able to even see what your cover looks like or how it reads, you may be in trouble. Most new readers will simply move on.
The Long Haul: We love viral, I mean who doesn’t? That thing that just goes crazy and gets everyone talking, like the Gilmore Girls reunion. It’s on every social media feed everywhere. The only thing is this: with so many books being put out daily, this kind of “magic” is not really something that we’re going to see a lot of anymore. This doesn’t mean that books won’t sell well, but it’s much more about the long haul (which I know sounds like a horrible amount of work) that’s going to get your reader excited. So now that I’ve gone all buzzkill on you, let me explain what I mean by “long haul.” It’s time to prepare for the “after the honeymoon” phase, post 90-day mark when you’d normally expect to see things take off. That’s just not realistic anymore.More and more in my firm, I see authors spending their budget dollars very wisely. They know they shouldn’t just blow it all in the first week of promotion, and they pace themselves and their budget. Be sure to plan for the long-term because short, power bursts just aren’t getting the kind of traction they used to. In fact, I’m seeing this a lot in the way of eBook promotions. Remember when you used to be able to do one eBook price discount and see a flood of sales? Now I’m seeing authors do two and three of these to hit the same numbers. It’s all about saturation and if you stick with it, your book will hit its stride. Bottom line: Prepare for the long term and don’t give up.
The Netflix effect: Some years ago, I talked about how Netflix was going to start reinvigorating old shows. We see this with a number of 90s hit shows that have made recent comebacks, but what Netflix has also done is create “binge watching,” an often-used term. This has turned serialized content on its head with sites like Wattpad really pulling in the views. As authors, we should be doing something in serialization. And due to the growth of audio books, I think the next level of this might be serialized audio content. So, consider a chapter a week or a day, dumped into a subscriber feed (sort of like a podcast) to help you build listeners and maybe entice them to buy the full audio book version, or your print book. Be aware that while doing this could be a lot of fun, you’d better have a good reading voice to pull it off.

Although it’s hard to say whether or not all of these things will come to pass this year, you may be surprised to learn that many of them are already happening. It can be hard to see too far ahead, but again, the one thing that’s certain in book marketing (and life) is change. Don’t get caught by surprise when things you know to work well are no longer as effective (although most likely they will still work to a degree). The key to success will be your willingness to change with the times.
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Penny C. Sansevieri, Founder and CEO Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an Adjunct Professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU.
Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Social Media/Internet book marketing campaigns. She is the author of twelve books, including How to Sell Your Books by the Truckload on Amazon and Red Hot Internet Publicity, which has been called the "leading guide to everything Internet."
To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at www.amarketingexpert.com.

Sending your book to your publisher..

3/22/2018

Once your book is written and you have chosen a publisher now what? Some publishers want you to send them a chapter at a time. Other publishers want you to send them your manuscript all as one document. The publisher you choose will let you know. Then the code on the back is the same way. Some publishers order the bar code for you and they purchase more than one at a time, so you will have some left for your next book. Other publishers have you order your own Barcodes. Again, all publishers are a little different. You get to choose a few categories for what area of a bookstore your book will be placed. The categories you choose also go on the back of the book above the ISBN number. Palmtree Publishers with Wendy K. Walters does all this for you. She and her daughter and husband all work together and make a great team.

You can design your own cover which I did for my first book or you can have an outsider design your cover. You may also ask your publisher to design one for you. Once the front cover is designed be sure if you had someone do this other than yourself give them credit for it, discuss payment, and get it in writing before you go to print what the arrangement will be.

It is much more difficult to include photos in your book. Of course anything can be done, but the more you do, and the more specific you are wanting to be, the more expensive it can become. Some publishers packages include 100 to 500 copies of your book within the publishing prices. Other publishers do not include any books in the publishing price. Again, ask questions and get things that you agree upon in writing.

I've attached both the inside cover where you can see the credit for the cover given to Wendy Walters the publisher that I used. Also below is the ISBN code and the subjects my book would fall under. I hope these are helpful so that you are beginning to understand the process more. Wendy Walters also has a Writers Workshop you can attend. Here is her website link: http://www.wendykwalters.com

I will finish up the subject of writing a book tomorrow. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me here at RPMDaily.net. If I can not help you I will refer you to someone that prayerfully can.

Looking back to my first writing experience it was scary and overwhelming. Today, I am working on two at a time. So, just write. Just do it by faith. Do what you can do. God will meet you. He met me, and He is no respecter of persons.

Questions, questions, questions? Just write the book.

3/21/2018

Before I wrote my first book I had so many questions. I had no idea how to begin. I was asking questions that didn't need an answer. What are endorsements and who should they come from? Who writes the forward and do I need one?

What I have been trying to share with you is just write. All the answers to your questions will be answered as you write.

Do doubt the first book you write will probably be a book you self-publish. There are lots of self-publishers out there. There are also lots of packages to choose from. Some you do a lot of the work and the publisher does very little. Other publishers do most of the work for you. Just ask lots of questions. Then ask them, "What questions should I be asking, that I don't even know to ask?" I found out there were lots of those. Pick a publisher you trust. Pick a publisher that someone you know has used, and they trust. Here is a link to the one I trust: http://www.wendykwalters.com/publishing.html

Once you know what you want to write about and have it on your laptop, saved as a document, print it. Look at it. Make your corrections and edits, and reprint. See where you maybe want to shift or move things around. What did it say to you? Who else writes on the subject you are writing, or knows you well enough to say something of value about what you have written, or you personally? That's who you ask to endorse you or write your forward. Send them your manuscript to read. Give them plenty of time to read it and a deadline to get back with you. Know your deadline. Have a published by date in mind. Ask yourself why that publish date? Will it be a good Christmas gift or a Wedding gift? Will it be a seasonal book or a new baby gift? Who again are you targeting? That helps you pick a publishing date..

I have noticed as a writer if I get bogged down by all the questions, and the "what I don't knows", I won't write. I can't. The floodgate of creativity slams shut. I just shut down. In a case like this, find someone who cares about you, and about the subject you are addressing. Tell them you need help. Most writers are not good editors. Creative people have trouble organizing their ideas sometimes. So, get help. You would be amazed at what people will do if you just ask. My husband always says, "The only stupid questions are the ones you fail to ask." That always makes me feel better. So I ask questions.

I have friends that encourage me. I have other friends that I ask to pray for me. I pray for myself. I pray for those that I write for. I literally ask God to help me write something that will not just bless people, but give them hope. I want to help build the people of God. I wanted to build mothers in my first book. I wanted to build marriages and give couples hope for a lasting marriage in my second book. In one of the books I am writing now, I want to open the eyes of God's people to see the enemies of God that are being unleashed and gaining power in these last days. The books that are not finished yet are still on my computer and in my heart. I talk to people about them. I am still asking questions.

There are a lot of people that know a whole lot more than I do about writing. The difference is, I am doing it. So just do it! When you need help, ask for it. Do all that you can do and God will bring people into your life to do what you can't. God won't do however, what you can do. So what are you waiting for?

So your writing a book? What's the title?

3/20/2018

The thirty-five missing years. That Title alone makes me wonder how and why were there thirty-five missing years? What happened in those years? Who missed the years? Was someone sleeping and then woke up? Exactly. We want our title to provoke thought. Like my latest book, "Moments that Matter", why do moments matter? Who do moments matter to, and why? Would they matter to me? I believe that moments do matter. Marriage matters. Relationships matter. So, it was easy to title my latest devotional, because the very point I was trying to make was addressed in the title.

Often times I write the book first and then the Title comes to me. I will hear someone tell me the story of their life and think, "Wow, that would make a great book and I would title it"________". Someone once shared their life history with me and immediately I wanted to write their book. I had the title and everything. It was so exciting I couldn't wait to read it, and I hadn't even written it...yet!

The next thing you may want to think about is, "Who is your audience?" Who are you trying to communicate with and why? What do you have to share with people? What experience do you have, that set's you apart from all the others. What is burning in your heart to share with others, because you know that reading your book will give them hope or help set them free?

I invite you to travel with me all week while I share with you, what I have learned about writing books. I will even share a little about the books that I am currently writing. Everyone has something of value to share. Timing is everything. I have been right on time, late and early. Right on time is the best. See you tomorrow.

It's not about faces but the places.

3/19/2018

In His presence is fullness of joy. In His presence I become more than I am. In His presence I receive revelation about subjects I'm not even thinking about. Today I'd like to share with you what He spoke to me about yesterday, during the corporate time of praise and worship.

"It's not about the face but the place." In my spirit I knew the Lord was talking to me about Moses. He went on to tell me that so many are caught up in the face; the face of their pastor, the face of the latest and greatest praise and worship leader, the face of the most prominent politician of the day, the face of their favorite movie star or actor/actress. Then He said, "It's not about the face it's about the place."

Moses had to climb the mountain to meet with God. It was more about the place Moses had to get to, than the way his face looked when he returned to the people he was called to lead. Then God went on to tell me, few are willing to make the climb. Few are willing to put forth the effort to go where He is. God wants us to pursue Him, not just the transformation of our outward appearance, but that which happens on the inside of us that can't help but to be seen on the outside.

We have got to get our eyes off the faces and find the places God wants us to go to.Those places where we can climb up out of the generational curses... of empty purses. He wants us to climb out of sickness and disease, and seek His embrace and then His face will be reflected in our face. That place, that embrace, will not just change our face, but call others to make the climb so that they too, will testify of His unfailing grace to change their face.

1 John 3:3 (Youngs Literal Translation) "beloved, now, children of God are we, and it was not yet manifested what we shall be, and we have known that if he may be manifested, like him we shall be, because we shall see him as he is;"

This is what I was talking to you about yesterday. If you want your writings to be fresh then you will have to seek Him, and when you make the climb to meet Him remember what He said. Write it down. Meditate on it. Let God know you appreciate Him sharing fresh revelation with you. Let Him know you will share it with others. Learn from Him it is not all about the faces but the places where you meet with Him, and He changes you.

Today I pray you make the climb. I plan to make this a little mini book, because it's not about just me, and my face, it's about where He wants us all to go to meet with Him!