Blog Archives - The Remarkable Blog

Planning ahead.

10/31/2018

We make plans and then we work our plan. It seems the more absolute my plans are the more adversarial attacks I attract. The more focused I am in accomplishing certain goals, the more the assaults from the enemy. I use to get down and depressed because of this. Now I forged ahead knowing I have woke up the enemy of my life. The reason for the warfare is I am engaged. I'm getting use to waking up to warfare. The only way to wage war is to wake up engage and win in the Kingdom. We have Jehovah Nissi the one who is the Banner over us. Jehovah Nissi is a victorious warrior and He is our victory.

ACTION STEP: Regardless of the battle keep forging ahead. Get up and get dressed and start quoting the word of God. Start fighting with the weapons of warfare that Christ gave us when He went to hell, and got the keys. Fight in prayer. Fight in praise. Fight with the word. Fight with faith! Refuse to go backwards regardless of what it looks like. We can not lose in Christ. The enemy knows all of this, but he must be reminded daily that greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.

Staying true to your commitment is costly.

10/30/2018

I visited my brother and sister-in-love today and she had just baked a fresh pumpkin pie, pepperoni rolls with cheese in them and chicken soup. I really wanted to eat, but I started a special eating program 14 days ago. I made a commitment to only eat certain foods on certain days. Those items were not on the list. I felt really bad because she had planned for us to share a meal with them. Still I had made a commitment. Either my word is good or it's not. I choose to keep my word. No one makes you or I do anything. We can’t fear others opinions of us or worry about what others may or may not think. We must be truthful to our word first and foremost. This is really hard if you are a people pleaser or fear confrontation. However, as a child of God and a model to others we have a responsibility to stand on our word just as we stand on God’s word.

ACTION STEP: Today stay committed to your word. Regardless of what transpires, let Jesus be our model, for His word is forever true. When you stay committed to your word, it strengthens you from the inside out to stay committed to his Word. His Word works, so I challenge you today to work the Word!

Why does staying in the right field matter?

10/29/2018

While reading the book of Ruth the words, "stay in the field" stuck with me. For a moment it was as though I was hearing this for the first time. I didn't hear it as a barley field. I heard it for the first time as a profession. Ruth was being told to stay in the field or the profession of a servant, in the field of her kinsman redeemer. We often don't know what profession or field we are to go in to. We need a Naomi and a Boaz in our life to direct us into the field we need to be in. Why work in a field, when there is no future in it for you? Many people waste years working in a field that will never fulfill their destiny, and meet the needs of both themselves, and those they love.

The next thing I noticed was that people from Bethlehem, (The house of bread) know what field we need to go into. People that know Jesus, (The bread of life) and are part of His house, have a sixth sense. This is what I call the Holy Ghost knower. Those that are part of the House, (family) of God have the teacher and friend, on the inside of them. If we allow ourselves to be led of the spirit we won't fulfill the desires of the flesh.

Romans 8:14 (KJV) "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God."

Being a son of God is not about gender, it is about being a family name bearer. We bear the name of Christ. Just as the bride of Christ can be both male and female, sons of God can too. Ruth was lead by those of the house of bread and because she was obedient to those whom she came under, she was able to eat the good of the land.

Isaiah1:19 (KJV) "If ye be willing and obedient,
ye shall eat the good of the land:"

Action Step: Get connected to people who know Jesus. Get connected with those in the house of bread. Jesus is the bread of life. Who do you know that knows Jesus? Begin to serve people in the household of faith. Begin to follow the instructions of those who know more about Jesus than you do. Once you get in the right field--stay there. The right field will bring you into right alignment and that right alignment will put you in a position to birth significance.

Staying disciplined.

10/26/2018

So, as many of you may know I started a new eating program. I measure what I eat, and need to eat at regular intervals. However, life goes on. I am in a hotel for the next two days. No refrigerator. No food scale, not even a microwave. Therefore, I adapt and overcome. Never quit. There is no quit in the word win, warrior, or victorious. Since, quit isn't in those words, it is not in me either.

What do you do when life interrupts your goals? What do you do when there is no easy way? I do what Jesus did! He made a way, where there was no way. He leads and tells us to follow Him. We learn along the way. We cross some bridges together.

Action Step: What bridges are you crossing to get to the goals you want to accomplish? Share how you did it with others. Write a book. Teach a class. Do a webinar or a vlog on the subject that the rest of us would be interested. We are eagerly awaiting what you have to share.

FOCUS

10/25/2018

I began a new diet, a new way of eating for life. It is so new and foreign to me, it consumes me. Yes, I am losing weight but it is work. It is not work to do the things that are required, it is work to think about and then plan what is required.

It is not work to do what God requires. It is work to find out what God requires of us and then, plan to do that, and that only.

Both of the above take FOCUS! You know what I learned about focus? "You forget about other things when you are focused on the one thing."

Action Step: Focus on what you are supposed to do and you won't think about what you are not supposed to do. If you are unaware of what you are to focus on, read the word of God. God's word has a way of boiling it down. Jesus found His purpose in the word. You and I will find our purpose in the word of God. Delay getting into the Word and you will delay your destiny. Do not delay another day!

Intimacy Inventory

10/24/2018

Intimacy has been said to really be "in to me see". When we truly allow people to see in to us and they allow us to see in to them we experience true intimacy. When we are intimate with our spouse we often times are unclothed. We aren't covering up anything, if you will. Trying to make a point here that we see both physically and spiritually or soulishly into the other person. We hold nothing back. Often times at the height of intimacy we become one. This is the kind of intimacy the Holy Spirit desires. The Holy Spirit desires to live inside of us. The Holy Spirit wants to know us and for us to know Him. Then He wants us to know the Father because He and the Father are one too, as well as with Jesus. This is the Trinity.

Intimacy takes time. It doesn't happen over night. Intimacy also cost. There is an investment that needs to be made to become intimate. In order for there to be intimacy there must be trust. We don't trust people we don't know. Many don't really trust God because they don't know Him, and in order to know God, we must know the Holy Spirit. So, how do we know the Holy Spirit? We ask Him to show Himself to us through the word of God, and through the voice of God. We spend time listening to both, and then hearing the Holy Spirits comments on what we have heard. We wait for the Holy Spirit to teach us what we don't know about what we have heard and read. The word of God tells us that the Holy Spirit will teach us.

John 14:26 (NLT) "But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative--that is, the Holy Spirit--
he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you."

Action Step: If you are having difficulty in the area of intimacy ask the Holy Spirit for help. Ask the Holy Spirit to move into you in a deeper way, and to show you what you don't know about people, the word, your circumstances, and whatever area you feel alone or unsure of yourself in. God does not lie. God has sent His Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will do what the word of God says. Don't go through life guessing and wondering if you are truly one in the spirit, know for sure. Let Him look into you and see.

How to get from being discouraged.

10/23/2018

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

There are plenty of reasons to get discouraged. I tell myself, "God's got this!" and I keep going. I don't allow myself to think thoughts like, "What if?" I refuse to get my eyes off what God has called me to do, and on to what others are doing. I found I am too busy to pay attention to others, when I am paying attention to what God has called me to do.

Each day I do what I believe God has called me to do with everything I got. If it's clean house, I clean like it's God's house--because it is! When I cook, I cook like I am serving God because the family I cook for belong to Him. I do laundry as unto the Lord. I look at it like this, if I do everything as unto the Lord then the Lord will be the one that sees it, and rewards it. This keeps me from being discouraged when others fail to notice or applaud my accomplishments. This keeps me from being discouraged because others have more, or get to do more. I tell myself, "The line is moving and I am next in line." This kind of self talk makes me smile on the inside. When I smile on the inside the corners of my lips start to turn up.

Action Step: Today, give it try. Do everything as unto the Lord. See what a difference it makes. Don't stop to throw stones as all the barking dogs, and one day those dogs just might be your friend. Who knows? You may be headed in the same direction. Only difference is their barking and your smiling!

Bridling the tongue

10/22/2018

Have you ever said, "I don't know what made me say that? Whatever "that" was, you knew it was wrong once you said it, or perhaps before you said it? Why did you do that? Reasons may vary, but truth is, we couldn't bridle our tongue. The tongue responded to what was inside of our soul and heart. If we want to bridle our tongue then we must exercise great caution in what we allow to enter into our minds. The Bible tells us to renew our minds daily. Our minds get dirty from being exposed to the world. The Word of God cleanses our minds and guards us from allowing our hearts to get hardened to the things and ways of God. If we don't want to say it, we've got to protect ourselves from thinking it. Bottom line is what goes into us comes out of us.

Action step: Be careful what you allow yourself to watch, listen to, or be around. Filter what you hear through the word of God. What does the Word say about what you are listening to? Who you are listening to? What you are allowing to be said or done in your presence? Where do you go? With whom do you hang out? Would Jesus do the same?

If the answer is no, make some changes. Start today.

Get out there and do something!

10/19/2018

Bad stuff can either be the excuse to why we do less or the reason we do more.

When we compare we always come up short.

"Why do I have such high student loans? It's free to go to college in Sweden." You did not go to college in Sweden. "I should just default on my loans!" No, you could say, "I have a high student loan, so I will work in state and this employer will pay part of my student loan. I can do this for five years then I can go to the job I really want and make more money because I will have more experience too."

The bottom line is, we have choices. Kids raised by absentee parents or alcoholic parents can choose not to drink, or use their parents as a reason to drink. We can use the bad stuff that happens to us as an excuse to do less, or the reason to do more! I choose the latter. We can say that when we grow up in a tough environment it makes us tougher or takes us out. We would be correct in both statements. The question is what do you want from a bad experience; bad life or a good reason?

We make our choices and then our choices make us.

Martin Luther King was able to do what he did because he was optimistic. Not optimistic in the sense that he thought if he just stayed home and played pool all day that things would work themselves out, but optimistic in the sense that he thought we could correct injustice if we pushed hard enough -- that people would come around. Just as Steve Jobs was confident that computing could change the world if enough geniuses put in enough 100-hour weeks. Optimism is believing that going out in the world and doing things is worthwhile. It's the cynics who stay home and do nothing. This is why the most cynical hipsters among us are also the most unemployed.

ACTION STEP: Get out there and do something. Don't use your past or someone else's failure as a reason for you to fail.

Talking trash.

10/18/2018

Today, I want to share a story with you by L. L. Wightman.

George Brown heard the clatter of a wheelbarrow in front of his house. He stepped to the window, wondering who it could be. It was Manley Strong with his wheelbarrow loaded with all manner of garbage. He turned into the yard and approached the front door. His collection of rotten apples, tin cans, ashes, and what not, contrasted strongly with the neat lawn and beautiful flower beds.

“Good morning, Mr. Brown. I’ve brought you a load of garbage, and I’m wondering where you wish to have it dumped.” George Brown’s eyes opened widely with surprise. “Where do I wish that stuff? Have you gone crazy? Do you see any signs telling you to dump garbage here?”

Manley pointed to a beautiful flower bed. “There is room for it there,” he suggested. “I believe that’s a good place to dump it.” George Brown gasped. “You dump that stuff here and see what happens,” he threatened.

“Would you prefer it in the middle of the lawn?” Manley asked. “Say, what’s the meaning of this?” the irate owner asked. The best thing you can do is to get that stuff our of here.

Manley nodded. “I really believe this stud should be taken to the garbage dump,” he agreed, “but I thought if you could dump your garbage where you pleased, I certainly should have the same privilege.”

“What do you mean” George Brown asked.

“Let me refresh your memory. You’ll understand what I mean. Do you remember talking yesterday afternoon with a group of boys? Before you left them you dumped a foul story on them, and also some profane language. Two of those boys are in my Sunday School class. I spend time and effort to keep their lives pure and clean, and they are as much a source of pride to me as your beautiful lawn and flower beds are to you. Yet you dumped your foul garbage on the minds of those boys. Having done so, you laughed and went away, leaving the garbage there to breed evil thoughts and possibly evil deed. You do not wish your flowers buried beneath a pile of garbage; neither do I wish the purity of those boys spoiled by your offensive language. You could remove this stuff from your lawn, but it is more difficult to remove evil thoughts which have been sown in the mind.”

This story illustrates a good point. Each of us are examples to others, and we need to exercise great care in our speech, and never stoop to “dump the garage of speech” on them. The Bible reveals that God places a strong emphasis on the sins of speech.
Two of the Ten Commandments refer to sins of the tongue.

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain...” Exodus 20:7
You shall not bear false witness...” Exodus 20:16

Of the seven things God hates, three have to do with the tongue. Proverbs 6:6-19
1. A lying tongue.
2.. A false witness that bears lies.
3.. And he who sows discord among brethren

ACTION STEP: Speak truth. Watch putting garbage where it doesn't belong.