One thing I do not enjoy is cleaning my oven. Even though I have a self cleaning oven and it is still not a joy for me. There are always places that I need to scrub and scrap to get clean. It is funny how the oven has spills I don’t see until it is yucky! It seems only when I have company does the condition of my oven come to my attention.

Life can be that way. I don’t notice some things going on in my life until it comes out at an inopportune time. There is stuff tucked away in my heart I just don’t see until the “yuck” comes out. Seeing what is in my heart that is not pleasing to God feels a lot like scraping the oven. I have to get into a humbling position to see and scrape out the junk!

As Christians we should live a life style of repentance but as life moves at a fast pace looking at my heart can slip in priority. God directed the Jews to set aside a time of repentance. I like having a scheduled time to stop and do a thorough house/heart cleaning.

We are entering that time of repentance God set for His people. The Jewish New Year is at sundown on September 9, 2010, called Rosh Hashanah. There are ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur called the Days of Awe. The Jews believe on Rosh Hashanah, God records our deeds and on Yom Kippur God decides our spiritual fate for the coming year. Therefore, the Days of Awe are when God judges each person. As we are now under a new covenant through Jesus God does not change He looks at the heart.

Before the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur God’s people would clean their homes of any leavening. It was a remembrance of how God delivered them from Egypt and they ate unleavened bread. In the New Testament it represented the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Exodus 12:37

The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked cakes of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

Matthew 16:11-12

How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Days of Awe were set aside for cleansing of their hearts before God. They remembered the one true and living God who brought blessings and deliverance from their enemies. As I remember the blessings of God in my life and others it gives me strength to believe for today. Seriously looking at where I would be if it were not for His mercy encourages me to be diligent in my repentance.

I personally like this New Testament scripture in 1 John.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

During this special time of repentance I like to use the scripture in Psalm that David used.

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

I ask the Lord to search my heart see if there is any way in me that is not pleasing to Him. Since the heart is deceptive and we really don’t know our own heart I need help in checking out my attitude and motives. I use this time to really evaluate my life with the help of the Holy Spirit to find what is in the oven of my heart that needs to be scrubbed. As God’s children we should seek to please Him.

So I am off to do some New Year cleaning so I can receive a cleansing!

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.

Everyone has something inside them that fuels them to do what they do. When we pursue a vision or dream, whatever you decide to call it, your thoughts center around what you are pursuing. For me, as a visionary my thoughts are casting into the future for tomorrow’s vision. It is preparing for the big picture that keeps my attention. I have found, in my own life, if I am not careful what is happening today will slip by without me noticing.

Life as an adult appears to settle more to one side or the other. On one side of the scale you have people who play all the time and never get serious about life or responsibilities. Then on the other side you have people who never seem to stop working or doing long enough to take a deep breath. I have fallen into the latter category most of my life. Balance is a key component to enjoying life. I’ve noticed at this stage of my life I missed a few recesses so I’ve decided to make up for them now!

I think God gave me grandchildren to remind me how to play again. I enjoy watching my grandson discover the world around him. It is refreshing to see through the eyes of a child and look at ordinary things in a new way. I watched as my 2 year old grandson would run and slide on his feet or stomach on the wooden floor just for the fun of it. I started wondering how much do I do just for fun. Keeping him is the highlight of my week and brings me lots of laughter. On that day of the week I excuse everything to play trucks, swing, dig in the dirt, read a story, or watch cartoons. How sad I didn’t give into doing more of that before now.

I thank God for children. My grandson is teaching me to how to be in the moment. Whatever is going on at that time is important. God has so much for us to enjoy but how much was I missing. They say you never stop learning and I am learning to be as a child and enjoy the beauty of each moment!

Mark 10:15

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.

There is an old saying; “If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.” The truth in this saying is that when you have no convictions you are easily swayed. There are many voices today vying for attention and support. As I watched a television program a subtle message was being acted out. The simple conversations reflected unfair treatment because of their religion.

It seems more and more that Christian beliefs are being crowded out to make room for other religions. Standing for the truth has never been more important in this nation. There is only one that can save a lost and dying world.

Romans 1:16 (Amp) For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,

There is a scripture in Proverbs instructing us to guard our heart with diligence because life flows out of it. When we let down the guard to our heart or do not stand up for our beliefs whatever we allow in will influence our life.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

I believe as a Christian we need to take care to guard our heart with diligence. Let’s not be naïve our children and grandchildren will be confronted with opportunities to hear many other voices. The only way to protect them is to teach the truth of God’s word. It is vital for us as Christians to stand for the one true and living God.

Today as I pondered the vision for this ministry and my life it brought a story to my mind.

I’m not sure where I heard it but it goes something like this: A father and his young daughter were taking a trip by boat. After being at sea for several days some of the passengers were milling around and many hurried to the side of the boat. There was lots of excitement, laughing and clapping going on. As the father walked to the rail he also joined in the merriment. His young daughter standing by his side did not know what the elation was about. She asked her father and he told her there was land in sight. Because of the young girl’s height she only saw the waves of the sea lapping against the side of the large vessel. She asked her father to lift her upon his shoulders and as he did she too became very excited. She exclaimed, as she looked for the land on the horizon, “Daddy, daddy, I can look farther than I can see!”

This story about seeing and looking reminded me of vision. The words “see” and “look” are different. When we see an object up close we see with more clarity and definition. If we look far off like the young girl it stretches or extends our sight. The word look can be used in the same sense as to seek or search. When we look at something it can also mean to observe or examine. God wants us to have a vision for our life.

Habakkuk 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it.

It is important to look, search and seek the vision for our life. Having a vision is more about what stretches us beyond what we can see today. It is really about looking on the horizon to where we want to go. To get the God’s vision for our life means using spiritual eyes. Spiritual eyes reveal what is within our heart. A vision is something yet to be produced in our life. What is in your heart?

May you LOOK farther than you can See today as you write down the vision God has for your life!

As we discuss the shadows in our lives I think it is important to realize that some of our perception is coming from not wanting things in life to change or wanting them to change completely but not doing anything to make that change. (I guess you can tell I have been here.)

The only continual thing in life is change. A river is unique because it is constantly moving you never step into the same river twice. Life is like the river we never live the same day twice. (Except on the movie Ground Hog’s Day.) As life moves on and change continues it is up to each person to extract and embrace the good they can squeeze out of each day. The more we focus on the good the more habitual it becomes. After enough practice soon our focus changes from what we do not have to what we do have in our life. It is a fallacy to believe that we can look at both the problem and the solution at the same time. We can only focus on one thing at a time.

My prayer is that you focus on the great things you have today. The river of life is moving and tomorrow brings another day. Enjoy the journey! Live at peace with yourself, others, and God it makes the journey so much better! I am a witness to that in my own life!! Just a few words I wanted to say this morning and remind you that you are loved by the Heavenly Father very much and we want to show His love for you.

I pray you see the blessings and the good in your life every day.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND LOOK FOR AND EXTRACT THE GOOD FROM EACH DAY!



This morning as I was thinking and praying for family and friends as I do most days. As I pondered how Blessed and Favored we are I thought of the time I could not see the blessings.

You know it is a natural inclination to see the negative things that happen in our lives as much larger than the good things that happen. It is like standing out in the sunshine and looking at the shadow on the ground. The object of normal size can cast a shadow that is much larger. I think of the shadow as how we perceive the bad or negative things that have happened to us. The shadow of disappointing events can capture our focus and appear larger than anything else.

I remember a cartoon that had a little mouse eating cheese standing in front a light and his shadow cast on the wall was so large that the cat seeking him out when he saw it trembled and hid. The mouse all the while was oblivious to why he was able to eat his cheese in peace.

So it is in our lives some things are not as big as they appear. It is our perception of the situation that makes the difference. The funny thing is the shadow itself really has no life to it. The darkness produced by the object is not the object itself. I do not advocate burying our head in the sand and not dealing with reality because that is the road to addictions to find an escape. But I have found that turning around and facing the object brings it down to a size that I can deal with instead of allowing my perception to cast a shadow that appears too big to handle!

Rejection keeps you from hearing and seeing. Example: When someone says, “That was great!” You hear in your mind or your “self talk”: Yeah, right. You start to think or talk about the areas that you didn’t think measured up to what you wanted. Someone else says, “Everyone loves you.” Your thoughts refuse that thought, thinking sure they do. Then someone makes plans to call and get you to come and do something. You think they aren’t going to call. Then someone hugs you and tells you how much you mean to them and you just can’t respond back because deep down you don’t really believe they do… That is the mark of rejection.

It doesn’t stop with the feeling others do not accept you it leads to you rejecting yourself. At this point nothing is ever enough and you are never perfect enough to be accepted. It starts out small and if not dealt with will consume your life. The spiral of rejection can be a speedy path yet the recognition of it can take years. The battle is that you feel great one moment then the next moment you feel guilty that you think well about yourself or your life. It is because the short term memory or conscience memory does not line up with what you have on the hard drive or your long term sub-conscience memory. The long term data needs to be erased so that the file can be rewritten or replaced. So fleeting moments of joy and excitement come and go but elude the fulfillment of a joyful life with good expectations that you can truly have and are meant for you. The elusive butterfly of joy and happiness is overshadowed by the thought of can this really be ok for me? I am not good enough to be blessed. I haven’t done enough to be happy. I am not perfect but the thought may not come in the form of being perfect. The thought comes more in an automatic response so your mind is not conscience of what the thought is. That thought could be I am not doing enough. I should have done this. If I only had this or if I could get this in line and accomplish this then I could be happy or accepted or loved. All the while you are running around a tree of perfectionism that can never be met by you or any other. This activity holds the root of rejection in place assuring that you will never measure up and the root continues to grow deeper.

Rejection is as rejection does to use some wisdom from Forrest Gump’s mother. When we have accepted rejection it doesn’t stop until it has colored every area of our lives. Rejection deals specifically with relationships. So it affects the relationship to God to others, friends and family, coworkers, new acquaintances, and last but not least ourselves. Rejection is not an easy thing to untangle because it has entwined itself into our thoughts about every relationship. The purpose and plan of rejection is to stop any and all appearances of love and acceptance from our Heavenly Father, others, and ourselves. To do this it is important to keep our eyes from seeing the good in our lives. It is the belief that we are never good enough or doing enough that helps keep the root of rejection firmly packed into the soil of our heart. It is the plan of the enemy of our soul. It is the deliberate sabotaging of relationships to open the door to loneliness, fear, insecurities and a whole host of other things. I have personally felt the sting of rejection. It has been generational in our family. How about you? Can you relate to the operation of rejection in your life?

2010 is the year of double.

Double is revealed in Isaiah 61:7 (NKJ) Instead of your shame you shall have double honor. And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. (AMP) 7Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.
2010 is a time to take control of your life by the Spirit of God.

God has had a plan from the beginning and He has not fallen off the throne. Fear will stop our faith. Looking to God in this hour will help us stay in faith. As we look at the world and circumstances around us it can lead to fear. It is a clue to what we are focusing on when we get into fear. It is plain throughout the bible the admonished His people to “Fear Not”. It is a discipline we each need to apply to our thoughts. When there is so much unrest in the world how do we stay in peace within? There is only one answer keep your eyes on the creator and savior of the world He will never leave nor forsake you.
I would like to share a word for 2010 for instructions to keep your hope and faith intact.

The power of the Holy Spirit in you is greater than your flesh. Take charge over your flesh. Those who take control of their lives through the Spirit of God will rise up in this hour. You have the power and might to tell your body how it is going to be. You can rise up and tell your finances how it is going to be by speaking God’s Word into your situation in faith. Do not let life just happen to you. You have the power in the name of Jesus to arise above the circumstances in life. You must believe that what God said He would do He will do. In Jeremiah 29:11 God HAS PLANS TO PROSPER YOU; in III John 2 God wants you to Prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers. Thinking on God’s Word is truth and life and will prosper you and your finances. Look to God for your plans not to the world. It will be different and the world hasn’t figured out since the crash of Wall Street what will work. God’s people will have new inventions and ways that will work and take the wealth of the wicked in this hour. Rise up and have confidence in God. He has not lost control and the world does not have the control. Believe in God and move in authority over your life and the things that concern you. It is not a time to shrink back or pull away in retreat. That is a plot and plan of the enemy. It is time to look from where your help comes from it comes from your Heavenly Father who loves you with an everlasting love. Do not believe that the enemy will take your freedom your freedom is found in God. Don’t let the enemy take God’s Word from your heart stay in faith in this hour. It is imperative to strengthen your faith. Some things will not look like it has before but it doesn’t mean that you cannot rise up in the power of the name of Jesus and enter into this new season in a new way. Be attentive to the Holy Spirit He will guide you into all truth but you must be willing to hear a new thing.

Planning and vision casting are the starting place for you this year. Where are you going? Without a vision God’s People perish. Find the path for you and walk that path. It may not seem like much at first but if you will follow it you will find not only the prosperity but the contentment that balances prosperity. The contentment will come from fulfillment of doing what you are called to do. It may be a different area of tweaking for each so watch and do. Being a watchman on the wall is not just about standing in the gap for others but you will be standing in the gap for yourselves, your business, your families and your health. Many truths will be released into the earth. God desires His people to know them and walk in them for health and prosperity. Come away with the Lord for He has many things to share with you. Just as the stars shine and the moon lights the path in darkness the Lord will come as light and shine on your path with His word of truth. Recognize my voice practice hearing me every day. He will lead you into the Promised Land it may not look different but if you will trust me you will find your treasure hidden within me. The world will enter into fear and hold on to things and my people have learned to give. The Lord’s ways are not the ways of the world. Watch and Pray; Watch and Pray and enter into my rest!