May 21, 2013
God's Love Blog/Podcast
When unexpected things happen — trials, difficulty or tragedy — the enemy sends a whirlwind of fear to try to shake our faith and steal our focus.
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His goal is to take our eyes off of God and cause us to feel overwhelmed by circumstances. But if we will choose to stay focused on the love of God, if we choose to meditate on His goodness, the truth will set us free from fear and ground our hearts in confidence. Today, know that God loves you perfectly. He is a good God. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that His plans for us are for good. He has thoughts of peace, not for evil. He wants to give you a future and hope. Anytime thoughts of fear come, replace them with words of love. Just say, “Thank You, God, for loving me. Thank You for leading me into peace. Thank You for hope for my future.” As you think on His love and goodness, you’ll feel faith rise up in your heart. You’ll feel hope, you’ll feel strength, and you’ll feel empowered to move forward in the good path He has prepared for you. Do you know that God loves you today?
May 14, 2013
Life in Words Blog/Podcast
All over the world, there are people who are lonely, they’re hurting, they’ve been through disappointments; they’ve suffered heartache and pain.
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God has given us something to offer them. We have life-giving, refreshing water in us. With our words, we can bring healing. With our words, we can lift them out of depression. With our words, we can tell them, “You’re beautiful. You’re amazing. You’re talented. God has a bright future in front of you.” Those life-giving words will break the chains of depression. They will break the chains of low self-esteem. You can help set people free from the strongholds that are keeping them back. You may not know all that is happening, but God can take one compliment, one encouraging word, and use that to begin the healing process and set that person on a brand new course. And when you help break the chains off of others, any chains that you might have will be broken off, too! Today, choose to speak encouragement. Choose to speak life. Tell others what they can become, give compliments, and live life as a healer. Pour out that life-giving water with your words. What are you speaking to others today?
May 7, 2013
What Are You Looking At
What are you looking at today?
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Not in the natural, but with your spiritual eyes. In other words, what is in the forefront of your mind and in your heart? Are you constantly dwelling on your problems or things that have happened in your past? In the natural, you will move in the direction that your eyes are looking. In the spiritual, it works the same way. Whatever you focus your mind and heart on, you will move toward. That’s why you need to look straight ahead. If you are constantly dwelling on your problems or things in your past, wondering “what if,” then you will stay right where you are. But if you choose to forgive and release the past, then you can focus on what is ahead of you, and you’ll begin to move forward. You don’t need to live in the past. Keep growing and moving forward. Look straight ahead so you can move forward into the life of victory promised to you. Are you are looking at today?
April 30, 2013
Who Not Do
The people who find their identity in what they do, are the ones who struggle with life. The person who knows God loves them, life is good.
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Have you ever noticed that when you ask someone “Who are you?” a lot of times they’ll say, “I’m a salesman.” “I’m a teacher.” “I’m a coach.” “I’m a teacher.” Many people find their identity in what they do. The problem with this kind of thinking is that people identify themselves with their negative habits and strongholds, too. I hear people say, “I’m an alcoholic; I just can’t beat it.” No, that’s not who you are, that’s what you do. But if you keep thinking that way and talking that way, it will become so ingrained on the inside that you’ll convince yourself that it’s true, and it will keep you from rising higher. One time somebody told me, “Scott, I’m an addict.” He was embarrassed by it. He didn’t want to live that way. I told him what I’m telling you, “That’s not who you are. It’s time to start acting like you have a destiny to fulfill.” Do you know who you are today?
April 24, 2013
In Your Heart
When you are so tired you can barely get up, fans are booing, it’s late in the game, your team is down. That’s character exposing time.
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When the pressure is on, the bills are due, the doctor’s report is not good, kids not acting right, school is tough, that is when you see what you have on the inside and it will be exposed. When pressure is applied the inner most character will come out. What is in your heart will just jump out of your mouth. You will do and say things you never thought you would when life gets tight. Make sure you are putting the truth inside you every day. Lies and facts will leave you disappointed and looking for more when it’s getting late in the game. When you are so tired you can hardly get back up, what then are you relying on? Last weeks, last year or even yesterday’s stuff won’t keep you today. Everyday put truth in your heart. Refresh and replenish it. Be character ready each day. There will come a time when life hits hard but you will be able to hit back harder and longer with the truth. What is in your heart today?
April 2, 2013
Let Go of It Blog/Podcast
It’s difficult to focus on your past mistakes and change in the now.
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When we make mistakes in life, there are three main things that we need to do. Number one, ask for forgiveness. Number two, receive God’s mercy. And number three, move forward with your life. Let it go and press ahead. So many people today are still beating themselves down over something they did five years ago. They’ve asked God to forgive them a thousand times, but can’t let it go. They go around living depressed, defeated and feeling unworthy. If that’s you, realize today the price has already been paid. The first time you asked God to forgive you, He forgave you. Now you’ve got to receive God’s mercy and press ahead. That mistake did not change who you are to God. You may have made mistakes today, but still have God’s plan for your life intact. You are still the apple of God’s eye. You are still His most prized possession. God may not be pleased with every action, but He is pleased when you receive His forgiveness by faith. Are you still holding on to past mistakes rather than holding on to your destiny?
March 26, 2013
Load Lifter Blog/Podcast
Few things are better for cultivating character and developing humility than serving others. Putting others first shows we care.
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When we live in peace and unity, it pleases God. When we love and serve others, putting their needs above our own, we are honoring Him. When we carry each other’s load, we are fulfilling the Golden Rule, which is to love others. What does it mean to carry each other’s load? There are many ways to reach out to people and help shoulder their load of life. Just by giving an encouraging word or smile, you can help lighten the load for someone. When you pray for others in their day of difficulty, you are helping to carry their problems. Maybe there are other ways to help the people around you. Maybe you can pay for someone’s groceries or give someone cash at the gas pump. Anytime you help others and reach out to those in need, scripture says you are directly lending a hand to God Himself. Today, look for ways to lighten the load for the people around you. Be a load lifter. Remember, in what you sow, you shall reap. When you help others, God promises to repay you. He’ll pour out His victory and blessing upon you all the days of your life. Are you being a load lifter today?
March 19, 2013
Easy Does It Blog/Podcast
Don’t force the issue; just let it happen.
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I have a friend who has developed several top college quarterbacks who have gone on to play in the NFL. One of his favorite sayings is, “Quarterback is too hard to play hard.” In other words, when someone is doing too much or doing more than his process can handle–and thus is forcing something to happen, as opposed to letting it happen–then it never happens. You name it–marriage, parenting, teaching, stock-brokering–all are too hard to play hard. All you have to do is get your process in front of you and let it happen, not force it to happen. In other words, play easy. Truly successful people have an ease and grace about the–they make it look easy. After you declare your process, “it” should all be “easy does it.”
March 12, 2013
Focus Changes Blog/Podcast
Often it takes a bad experience for us to face the changes we need to make in our lives.
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I know people who feel like they’ve wasted years of their lives because of poor choices. They spent years in a relationship that was toxic, years with an addiction, years at a job where they weren’t fulfilled. But you have to realize, nothing you have been through is ever wasted. Your past experiences, good and bad have deposited something on the inside of you. Those challenges have sharpened you to help make you who you are today. When the enemy brings hardship into your life, God has a way of taking that experience and turning it around for your advantage. You may think you’ve hit a dead end, but if you’ll stay in faith, you will see God begin to open up a new route. He’ll put the right people in your path, the right opportunities, the right circumstances to move you forward toward your God-given destiny. Today, don’t focus on what’s happened in your past, focus on what God will do in your future. He wants to restore your soul and revive your dreams. Keep believing, keep expecting, keep hoping because God has a new route for your future. Are you focusing on the changes to make in your life today?
March 5, 2013
Created for Success Blog/Podcast
God chose you before you were ever born to be successful.
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Before the worlds were ever formed you were chosen. He didn’t create you to be average. He didn’t create you to barely get by. No, He created you to excel! Not only has He chosen you, but He has equipped you with everything you need to live His abundant life. He has deposited seeds of greatness inside every person. But in order to tap into those seeds of greatness, you have to believe this and act on it. Too many people today are going around with low self-esteem, feeling inferior like they don’t have what it takes. They are living a lie. And as long as we have a poor self-image, we’re not going to experience God’s best. In order to be all that God has called us to be, we have to see ourselves as chosen, valuable and victorious. Today, meditate on this truth. Let it sink down deep into your heart. Let it build confidence and security in you. As you understand your value, you’ll rise up higher and higher into the life of victory He has prepared for you. What is it you believe about yourself today?