Goals That Overflow

Goals That Overflow
I Will Give You What You Have Not Asked For

Fish or fisherman – We all have desires and aspirations. Some of us even have goals written down. Why is it that some people seem to have an ability to create wealth and others don’t? There is even a political movement that concludes this scenario is unfair and wealth should be “redistributed.” I want to suggest that it is much more benevolent to teach people how to move from poverty to wealth; giving to the poor is Biblical and appropriate in some circumstances but it reinforces poverty and is never a long-term solution. Continuing to give wealth to the poor without teaching them to multiply money themselves is the modern equivalent to slavery. It keeps people in bondage. This newsletter is simply about one aspect of the Gospel… the good news of how and why you can turn poverty into prosperity.

What if? – It’s OK to have a focus on meeting your personal needs and those of your family. Imagine the bills are all paid and you’re wish list for house, car, hobbies and business are fully funded and your personal needs for the rest of your life are covered. Now imagine more money comes; first an extra $100k comes. What would you do? Think about it? Now imagine an extra $500K comes in… What would you do?… now $1M. What would you do?... now $5M. What would you do? Now $10M… What would you do with money if it no longer had value to you personally?

The good news - At some point all our needs are met and we run out of ideas on how to get rid of the money. That’s where the Kingdom comes in. Here’s the secret (really, it’s the gospel), wealthy people always have a purpose for wealth that is bigger than their personal needs. It’s “poverty” that is focused inward in a selfish way. If we can’t honestly come up with any reason for wealth beyond our personal needs, our hearts will naturally sabotage our attempts to multiply finances. Jesus said it this way:

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt 6:31-34

The nature of poverty is that its inward focus is self-defeating. The nature of a prosperous business is simply to find a need in someone else’s life and fill it. Can you see that successful business and ministry are the same thing? It is only our cultural bias that separates them (dualism). Opportunities for spiritual ministry and financial increase are found together when that wall comes down.

Hearts – Why does this work? Your heart was designed by God to bless others; to bless the nations in fact. If that dynamic is missing then your heart is really working against the goals you may set in your mind. It doesn’t mean your personal needs go wanting. It means your cup was designed to continually overflow so that your personal needs are never part of the equation. You live continually in a place where your anointing and your finances are far beyond your own needs… “Immeasurably more”… “a river of delights.”

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Ps 23:5 NIV

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, Eph 3:20 NIV

They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; Ps 36:8-9 NIV

Delight the Father – When our hearts do what they were designed to do (bless the nations) the Father gets so delighted that cups start running over. Solomon had his own needs met and simply asked God to give him wisdom to be a good leader. God got so excited; He gave Solomon what he had not asked for in both wealth and honor. I hear that prophetically for Kings right now. “I will give you what you have not asked for.”

I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for — both riches and honor — so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 1 Kings 3:12-13

Solomon was the wealthiest man on earth. Did he feel guilty about it? No… the context was blessing a nation. He led the most blessed nation on earth. God really takes care of those that take care of His business. Wealth and anointing flow toward Kings with those desires in their heart.

Leadership – Leadership is simply the same phenomena. Wealth and anointing and people flow toward Kings that have a vision to bless people, build the Kingdom, and bless the nations. All of us have hearts that are designed to get excited about blessing people. When someone designs a great way to do that, we are all happy to help that person. They become a “leader” because they are greatest in serving or blessing people; finding a need and filling it. That’s why leaders make money too. God delights in them.

Get Started - Write you goals down for 2010 and carry them with you. Put them in the past tense as though they had already been acheived. Read them to yourself out loud serveral times a day. The generousity and Kingdom orientation we've dicussed in this newsletter do open a door in the Spirit for your blessing. But, it's not majic! Your initiative is still required to work, start the business, or make the investment. Your efforts will be blessed.

Recommended Reading – Living On The Third River by Craig Hill describes the principles in this newsletter. Special thanks to Dan Gaub for sharing these concepts in his seminar.

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John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com

Your True Colors

Your True Colors
By James Ryle www.truthworks.org

“You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.” (James 1:3, The Message)

During a pregame talk with the Colorado Buffaloes some years ago I asked the question, “What do you get when you squeeze a lemon?” Of course the standard answer fired back from coaches and players alike, “Lemon juice!”

But what nobody knew that morning was that I had filled the lemon with ketchup. When I squeezed it tight and the red liquid oozed over my hand, they were all taken back.

“You’re wrong,” I then said. “The actual answer is that you get whatever is inside it.”

At that point I had them right where I wanted them, and then asked, “So, what’s inside you? What are we going to see when pressure puts the squeeze on you?” The answer is the same to the lemon question; we will see whatever is in you.

The great C. S. Lewis said, “A sudden provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man. It shows what an ill-tempered man I am.” James tells us in his letter that “under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.” Maybe this is why the Lord provides so many wonderful opportunities for us to be squeezed.

The origin of the phrase “true colors” comes from naval parlance back in the days when pirates sailed the high seas. Vessels would always fly on their topmast the flag of their country of origin. But pirates were notorious for hoisting the flags of different nations so as to gain an advantage against unsuspecting vessels. However, under no circumstance would any honorable Captain ever fly false colors. Thus, the phrase “true colors” indicates authenticity in both motive and manner.

The Lord wants to make us truly authentic men and women, but to get us there He has to squeeze out the other stuff – and He will do so with unrelenting pressure until there is nothing left to ooze.

So, you been feeling squeezed lately?

Giant Number Two - "Feel Good"

Giant Number Two - "Feel Good"
By Bob Mumford www.lifechangers.org

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3

The Feel Good Giant seeks to control our emotions, mind, and heart. This Giant has kept more people from freedom than anyone can imagine. Feel Good involves avoiding pain or discomfort at any cost, is fully committed to personal pleasure or gain, and is given to the senses or is sensual. This Giant is the epitome of what Scripture identifies as sensuality, causing us to seek gratification of the senses in such a manner that it controls us, effectively becoming our governing force. Feel Good operates on the pure pleasure principle. It is the source or first cause of all compulsive and addictive behavior. Our whole society is quickly moving toward addictive and compulsive behaviors that, directly or indirectly, will eventually touch all of us. The individual has trained himself to respond to whatever gives him pleasure. Anyone controlled by substance abuse understands both the authority and the power of Feel Good.

Modern psychology and cultural preoccupation with feeling good are the source of much of our anxiety. Our society is rooted in feeling good in one way or another. This Giant is why we sit in front of the television like “couch potatoes”—we want to escape reality and feel good. Feeling good must be guarded and protected; it cannot be disturbed. We do not want to hear what God may be saying because, not only will it bother us, but, it may not feel good. Entire religious movements, individual churches, and particularly doctrinal emphases are constructed on the premise of feeling good. The Feel Good Giant gives us the sense of actually ceasing to exist if we do not feel good. It may be okay to be wrong if we can just continue to feel good. We may even consider that impossible choice of refusing to look good in preference to feeling good because feelings have now become the ruling force. Preservation of Feel Good is worth risking anything, because immediate gratification is the insatiable goal. However, there are not enough drugs, alcohol, gambling, shopping, attention, or sex to satisfy this Giant. This is called the universal law of reduced return: the more Feel Good is used, the less results are produced, leaving us in increasing pain and frustration. The frightening truth is that God has not designed us to feel good all the time.

I have repeatedly watched powerful men and women of God lose their ministry and marriage for a sexual encounter with someone else’s spouse. Someone once said, “The chase is long, the expectation great, the pleasure momentary.” These are descriptions of an immature personality that is ruled and directed by hedonism, which is the philosophy of pleasure or the pleasure principle. We all know that sometimes our feelings lie to us. When we are in a situation that makes us uncomfortable, we can move toward freedom in the Kingdom of God by opposing the demand of the Giant Feel Good.

Analogous conduct of Feel Good: happiness, entertainment, fun, comfortable, pleased, pleasurable, gratification, satisfaction, diversion, and recreation.

QUESTIONS & THOUGHTS
• Explain why Feel Good can become a governing force.
• In what ways has your life been motivated by “I feel like” rather than facts of a situation?
• What has Feel Good cost you?

Manage Your Destiny

Manage Your Destiny

Fundamentals - The difference between servant and King is like a structure with a foundation that starts with our heart’s desire. When things go against us in life it’s wise to reassess that foundation. We all “labor to enter into rest.” The sweet spot in life is when building the Kingdom is fun; our heart and God’s heart are both on the same path. We feel the favor of God, the wind is in our sails, divine appointments flow toward us, ministry happens, people are blessed, and finances grow in abundance. In short, life is a lot of fun.

What if it’s not fun? Kings engage in big dreams, take big risks, and engage the enemy in big battles. It’s not too surprising to experience seasons when things are not “peachy.” Kings are typically blessed with a level of tenacity that gets them through challenges. That perseverance can be good and bad; good if the foundation is in order and bad if the Lord is really knocking on our door to make an adjustment. Sometimes we try to wear optimism when it’s just a cleverly disguised form of denial; an excuse to maintain the status quo when change is needed. All of us are currently at a self-imposed station in life that is exactly where our attitudes and actions have led us! If we want a different result in the future then it’s time to tweak the foundation or we just end up with more of the same… for years at a time.

Laying that foundation, or checking up on it once in awhile, goes through a discreet series of steps that you and I can "manage" to make sure our Kingly foundation is on the Rock. This progression is the birth process for a level of creativity that will lead us into managing our destiny instead of “hoping and praying” things will go well... and whining when they don't.

#1 Heart’s Desire – The Kingdom lifestyle begins when we give ourselves permission to pursue our heart’s desire. Self discipline is good but you cannot make sacrifice a lifestyle – that’s religious bondage. You have to enjoy what you do and have fun at it. Jesus endured the ultimate sacrifice but his motive was the joy set before Him (Heb 12:2). It was one lousy day followed by a party for the rest of eternity!

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Ps 20:4-5

You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. Ps 21:2-3

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Ps 37:4

Here’s the first foundation stone for life in the Kingdom; Go shopping for the will of God inside the desires of your heart! Give yourself permission to get totally excited when you find those desires. Run after them with all of your heart. Fervent prayer that avails much is rooted in strong personal desires. Do you have any? Strong feelings are the seed bed for the nest step - imagination.



#2 Imagination (the eyes of your heart) – The second step is dreaming about how you want to see your heart’s desire manifest. You have to see your dream in your heart and mind. Paul prays that the “eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” We “picture” in our mind the desire of our heart. Without that “vision” of how we want the future to go, we are prone to perish (Pro 29:18). Take the time to meditate, daydream, imagine… it’s key to creativity and an integral part of how faith works. What do you want your future to look like?

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance… Eph 1:17-18 NIV

We get what we focus on. If our eye is good, the whole body is full of light. But when the eye (focus) is bad the whole body is full of darkness that produces evil (Lu 11:34). Jesus counted "looking" as adultery because he understood thoughts produce actions. Lesson learned; manage your focus; manage your thought life. ...think on these things (Phil 4:8). Use the power of your thought life to produce the fruit you want.

#3 Affirmation – Learn to put your dream into words and in a journal or prayer diary. We devoted an entire newsletter to this step in Use Your Words that is well worth reading. Confessing the desire of our heart is a huge reinforcement to our faith and an important step in the creative process. We believe, therefore we speak. Affirmations are self-talk. Praise is God-talk for giving and granting our personal desires; a natural expression of our words that is very powerful.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 KJV

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak 2 Cor 4:13 NIV

Caution: make sure your words have roots in the foundation of your heart’s desire and in the heart of God's desire. Affirmation is the 3rd step – not the first. Godly desires conceive to expand the Kingdom just as lustful desires conceive to produce evil (James 1:14-15). It is possible to use words and imagination to build a tower of Babel and have God working against you – that’s when it feels like life isn’t flowing in your direction.

#4 Proclamation – Hearing our own words express our heart’s desire resonates in our spirit with what God is doing. When it dawns on our hearts that those desires really are rooted in God’s will, a whole new level of boldness and authority comes into our lives. We don’t just confess those desires, we speak things into existence creatively the way God does. Notice the power of words in the verses below. Proclaiming, releasing, and binding with the spoken word are the keys to this Kingdom lifestyle. It’s like getting the keys to dad’s car!

…the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. Rom 4:17

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him." Luke 8:24-25 NIV

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:22-24 NIV

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." Matt 16:19-20 NASU

#5 Creation (work) – Many believers think God is going to perform miracles for them. He does, but we have to realize that “signs follow” our initiative. The final step in this process is action; sometimes referred to as work. However, for Kings this process of working to create something feels more like recreation than work because it’s all about manifesting the desires of our heart! It's what we naturally want to do and enjoy doing. Get it? It’s fun!!! Work and wages are for servants; creation and recreation and profits are for Kings. The joy of the Lord really is our strength. God delights in this final step of bringing things into reality with us because He knows the connection with joy.

In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:23-24 NIV

In the Greek, ask means "to require" or "a demand for something due" and is also translated as “desire.” Aiteite is the same word used in James 4:2, “You do not have, because you do not ask (require of) God.” Jesus paid the price for life more abundantly. Your inheritance is due to arrive the minute you step out because Jesus already paid for it. Possess your land. It will please your Father and you will have fun doing it. Too often “asking” stops at a beggar's request and becomes “faith without works.” The balance is asking plus initiative and work… get out there and do it.
I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates — all the Hittite country — to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous... Josh 1:3-6 NIV

Let these five steps lead you through a Business Plan.

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John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com

Marketplace Fathers

Marketplace Fathers

What’s fathering? – When we start our discipleship process in church we learn to serve and we get our spiritual mentoring from the pastoral covering in our church. It’s a healthy process that works. At some point our maturity takes us from servant to friend (Jn 15:15) and we develop Kingly aspects in our ministry. We give ourselves permission to pursue the desire of our hearts and we begin to take land; usually in another mountain.

It’s at this point that fathering takes on a different look. As servants in church we only looked for spiritual mentors. As Kings the wall is broken between spiritual and natural and we value our vocational pursuits and find ministry in them. Doctors “minister” to their patients; Teachers “minister” to their students; businessmen “minister” to their customers. Marketplace ministry crosses back and forth between natural and spiritual ministry so often that the lines get blurred and one leads to the other routinely. Doctors can prescribe medicine and heal the sick through prayer all in the same day – get it?

Back to Fathering… Learning how to be proficient and prosperous in your vocation is greatly enhanced by a mentor. A spiritual brother or sister who has flourished in his field can show you how to succeed in the same area in terms of financial prosperity and ministry opportunities. Listen to “fathering” in the Bible.

"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." Mal 4:5-6 NIV

And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Luke 1:17 NIV

Seasons – I believe we are in a season where the Lord is highlighting fathers and mentors. We are learning to network; there is a hunger in Kings to receive the wisdom of fathers. Fathers are hungry to find their sons and help them succeed. It’s just something the Lord is placing on hearts right now.

We are at a point in history where the need for fathering has never been greater. For decades our society has been ravaged by the affects of war – not just physical war where we lose men, but spiritual war that has come against the family and men, specifically. Divorce has torn homes apart and left millions of children without a consistent, positive father figure. The “sins” of our society have caused men to sell their souls for a bowl of pottage or stripped them of their manhood. All of this and more has left a generation crying ‘where are our fathers’. God is answering this call by raising up men and women with a passion for the next generation of Kings. They are not motivated by profit but by a true father’s heart that is committed to his children and by their dreams and the desire to see others achieve theirs for the benefit of the whole world.

What does your Father look like? He or she has the vocational wisdom to propel you into your future. They have done it before (experience) and they have been prosperous. They are spiritually mature, but they don’t wear their spirituality on their sleeve. In fact, I don’t need them to teach me what I already learned as a saint equipped in church; I need them to teach me how to apply those truths and relationships in the marketplace.

Note: Just so you know this isn’t just theory, my mentors at the moment are Dan Gaub, Nathan Gaub and Greg Dalessandri… all great brothers with a huge vision who know how to prosper in my area of interest. They are teaching / fathering me to be successful in a very specialized area of day trading. I know that’s not generally applicable to others, and this is not a recommendation, but it’s a big deal for me.

These Fathers are excited about God, but they are also excited about their mountain and the sphere they’ve been called to minister in. Fathers of Kings know how to work hard, find success, multiply money, convert money to ministry, and have fun doing it. People are drawn to them because they are not “religious” in the sense of forcing themselves to do things they don’t enjoy. They are pulled ahead by the natural desires of their hearts and they enjoy life at that foundational level. They don’t have separate boxes for spiritual and vocational and ministry.

Andrew - I met Andrew Ferguson at a Brian Klemmer conference (recommended by one of my mentors). Of course our mutual friend was the mentor. As we got acquainted, I realized Andrew was a father to Kings in the business mountain. He’s currently CEO of Mobile Spike, but he’s had experience starting and running other companies and he’s the perfect guy to review a business plan and improve it. I believe he’s one of many that the Lord is raising up to help the next generation of Kings building the Kingdom of God. Andrew’s vision is to help entrepreneurial people find success and connect with their Kingdom purpose.

In the future he will gradually move from CEO of one business to mentoring multiple businesses (fathering) with four simple goals:

* Help business startups to become profitable by assessing the business plan, cash flow and strategic relationships
* Find the Kingdom purpose in the marketplace ministry of the business
* Connect people with angel investors who can take them to the next level quickly, and
* Assist investors in finding well-managed and profitable opportunities with a ministry ingredient

You’ll enjoy his interview.

How to Find Your Father – The first step toward being Kingly is finding your heart’s desire and deciding what you want to do. A father or mentor will appear when you have that direction and decide you want one. God himself will assist on that front with divine appointments.

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John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com

The Next Great Idea

The Next Great Idea

Creativity - I interviewed a business CEO this week whot has an amazing story. We’ll feature him in a future newsletter. One of the things he mentioned was very profound. Andrew has been through an amazing number of ups and downs. He learned that failing a business is not the “end” of an entrepreneur – it is simply a launching point for his next idea. Kings are not immune from setbacks; but they do know how to rebound (resurrect - "though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again" Prov 24:16). Andrew understands the nature of Kings. They are creative; able to come up with the next great idea.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Prov 25:2 NIV

Note: Our web provider is able to track hits on our archived newsletters. By far the “best seller” is one on Cultivating Creativity. It's worth reading again because it pertains to this theme.

Examples – Solving a problem involves three things: #1) We have to believe that we can find a solution (or we won’t look). #2) We have to frame the problem correctly to answer the right question, and #3) We have to know where to look for a solution. We have some great political debates raging in America right now. They share a common denominator – the real solution hasn’t shown itself yet!

Terrorism – Our president and his predecessor are bringing justice to terrorists through military action. I’m not suggesting that’s wrong, but I am amazed that we aren’t dealing with the root issue. Every time we kill a terrorist two more spring up in some other part of the world. As explained in the Starfish and the Spider, we’re fighting an ideology, not a nation… and we’re doing nothing to combat the ideology (the motivation to kill infidels). We don’t have the initiative that competes with a bad idea / a bad ideology. We're prone to try and buy favor

What’s missing? #3 We’re looking for a solution in the wrong place.

Global Warming – The reason the debate is difficult is because the argument isn't really about global warming... science has very little to do with the ideology and the motives behind this one. The middle ground between neglecting our environment and trying to leave it untouched by humans is to simply manage it. We have done some good things to mitigate pollution but we are not addressing the “religious fervor” that opposes industrialized society, opposes resource development and insists that animals have the same rights as humans. The core of this idea is that humanity is a bad influence on the earth!

What’s missing? #2 We’ve framed the problem so that we can’t reach agreement.

Health Care – This debate is centered on the degree of government control in providing health care. One side says the government should provide it or mandate it and the other says too much government is bad. I personally haven’t heard the free market idea that provides the solution. That’s what is missing. Everyone wants improved health care. No one believes the same entity that gave us the postal service will actually deliver health care on schedule and within budget. Absent the real idea, we’re going to compromise so we can get poorer health care at a higher cost with bonus points for increasing the entitlement mentality behind poverty. Thank you, Congress!

What’s missing? #1 We don’t believe a free market solution exists.

Poverty – To date, the only political solution to poverty has been to move capital from the wealthy and give it to poor people, poor states, and poor nations. The argument is always framed around how much we should give. I’m not opposed to helping people in need. I do it myself. However, giving money never removes poverty because poverty is a welfare state of mind that simply keeps a person from doing the things that produce wealth. We’re doing nothing to reduce the roots of poverty at a national level.

What’s missing? #3 We’re looking for a solution in the wrong place.

New ideas – Can you see the need for Kings to search out these matters and find the solution? These are all solvable and relatively simple problems! We need Kings in the media mountain to expose the missing ingredient in our debates. We need Kings in the business mountain to offer free market solutions. And finally, we need Kings in the political / government mountain with integrity and vision to maximize freedom and justice for all… as opposed to maximizing government control.

Can Kings rise up with the new ideas that represent a solution for everyone? Yes we can! “and” yes we will.

We all face personal road blocks. Here’s the take home message. You are more than a conqueror. You are able to come up with the next great idea that will take you to the next level. Men and women with imagination, creativity and enthusiasm will rule and reign with the King of Kings. We have the keys of the Kingdom and we’re called to bless the nations. Let’s get started… rise above whatever stands between you and the next step toward your dream.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Eph 3:20 KJV

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Cor 2:9 NIV


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John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com

Observations and Ponderings For 2010

Observations and Ponderings For 2010
By Robert Ricciardelli www.vision2advance.com

I love to ponder the possibilities and creative ways we can please God and serve others. I love to reflect on how things are, and “what if” we changed them. How can we further align ourselves toward His Most Excellent Ways. We only know in part, so it is always good to check what we think that we know often.

These are observations and ponderings can be purposeful to challenge existing paradigms, while firming up Kingdom foundations. Many of these are happening all around us, but what if they were not just the exception, but were consistently happening. What will Father do as His children grow up in becoming more like Him? My prayers are to continually stimulate possibility thoughts towards ways that bring forth His Kingdom through our lives.

Here are my Observations and Ponderings as we move into 2010:

Pray for our leaders rather than complain about who we have or don’t have in office.

God is on the throne and will have His way, regardless of who is in office and we are called to pray for His will and for His purposes to be accomplished for our nation.

Give to Caesar (government) what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is His, which are our very lives.

Jesus was consumed with His Father’s Kingdom being brought to the earth, we must focus on that rather than political processes, and give that burden to Him. Do what you are called to do, and leave the rest to Him.

Governmental systems have many elements behind the scenes that control what laws are passed, and even influence and control leaders. May God's people be aware so they do not look to government for answers but ask God on how they may lead and help others in societies future.

May the Lord begin to raise up new leaders who will stand for righteousness in the realms of government. For the Daniels and the Josephs to be raised up and take their place in leading nations with Fathers influence, presence, and wisdom in governmental offices.

Father is shaking all foundations that are not built upon the Rock of Himself. How are we responding to the shaking all around us?

Be active in using what we do have, and quit wasting time worrying about what we don’t have.

We will not fear any longer, we will not fear life or death, because we are in His hands.

“Stop it, just stop it” in our negative thought patterns. “Stop it, just Stop it”, thinking that way, in Jesus name!

We must understand and activate true repentance in every area of our lives, truly turn away instead of just feeling sorry for our patterns of sin.

We must forgive every wrong committed against us in the past and more swiftly in the days ahead.

We will allow His presence to eradicate bitterness from the depths of our souls.

We must understand and apply His freedom from every deliberate and unintentional wounds from our past.

Choose to never live as victim again, because the revelation of Christ and His grace suffices daily for us. Live as a victor and flee from the victim mindset.

Forgive ourselves, and move on past the shame simply because Jesus has forgiven us, and His work in forgiveness is complete.

We will accept and believe with all of our heart, soul, and mind that Jesus loves us, accepts us, and is for us, every moment of every day.

HE ACCEPTS US AS WE ARE to the point that it overwhelms the fact that we do not accept ourselves sometimes. You are growing but you are also complete in Him NOW.

We will live the way of the cross, knowing persecution and trials will come. We will die more to self, because it is the narrow way He asked us to follow.

As we die to self more, Christ lives through us more, and every single need will be met as our joy is made complete in Him.

Rest in who we are in Christ, rather than running around doing activities He never called us to do. Being rather than doing!

God loves us, and it has nothing to do with our past, or our future performances. Rest in Him daily!

Pastors and leadership teams around the world need to train and release every member of their church into the ministry the Lord has called them to. This training and release goes beyond the four walls of organized church.

We need to pick up our mats and walk in obedience after the Lord’s deliverance, rather than come back for prayer and healing for the same things week after week.

God’s true leaders will seek to always serve beyond ever having to be served.

Leaders will train and lead others in the vision God has for them as individuals, and trust the Holy Spirit to move on them to support community or corporate vision. Manipulation and control must go, while faith arises in leaders.

Leaders must not respond to the fear of rejection and failure. Growth is not about numbers. They must trust the Lord for any perceived growth in numbers they expect to see, or better yet, consider to not look at numbers at all. Look to God, He will do what only He can do for their community.

Citywide transformation can begin to take place when each individual realizes his or her purpose and calling, and are released to fulfill it in every day life.

Church pastors must seek relationship with the other pastors of the community to fulfill a citywide vision beyond their own ministries. They must know that the vision for the city WILL NOT be realized without partnering with others. These concepts of futility must not continue to be perpetuated in our cities.

The Lord owns everything we have and asks us to steward everything He has given us. We must ask Him how much to give and to where, always willing to give 100% if He were to ask that of us.

The orphan spirit in many are looking for fathers who will love them, and disciple them to their Heavenly Father. The Father’s heart will rise up, and we will begin to see kingly & priestly fathers in the order of Melchizedek, in the ways of Christ.

Children of God must understand and operate more fully in the authority that Jesus Christ sacrificed for them to have. It is He that performs it through their lives.

Kingdomized people will continue to bring godly influence and leadership to all the gates of the city. Kings and priests of God need to lead by serving in His wisdom and strength in government, business, healthcare, media, law, and educational jurisdictions of our cities.

Every believer must not settle in how they view themselves, while ever seeking the Father to know the full potential of what He sees in them.

We must accept others and the blessing that they are, rather than being offended by them in their differences.

Choose to see the good in people, pray for the rest in them, and love them regardless if they change in the ways we think they should. Believe for the best in others.

Mammon and control must continue to be exposed and deposed in godly leadership systems. The release of Father’s saints upon the earth will increase as the chains that bind are removed. Accountability through relationship, and the righteous fear of God is far more impactful than ungodly control and manipulation.

We must be willing to serve in every phase of our lives rather than being served.

Every believer must understand the eternal process they are in, and walk without judgment beside those not as far along in the process.

We look at many things as realities that are not. As more exposure comes to false realities, the more we can live in the reality of His eternal Kingdom.

Choose to have an un-offendable heart. When offenses come, let go of them quickly.

Forgive in every situation and not only because the Father said He would not forgive you unless you forgive, but because it is in your heart to love in that way.

Be excited about the uniqueness of each other’s differences, and the value of each expression of God's people.

Spiritual Fathers should have a heart of giving to their spiritual sons that surpass any thoughts of what they would receive in return.

Shepherds, (pastors), must be willing to run after the few of the flock that have been hurt, isolated and in need of life giving expressions of our Saviors love.

God's people should pray and communicate intimately with the Father on a daily basis.

Daily people are gathering both missionally, and relationally in homes, coffee shops, and businesses.

Believers need to be concerned with their own end time, which could end at any moment. If we are more concerned with our own end time rather than THE end times, it will become more productive.

We must live each days as it is our last day, and continue to build each day for a better tomorrow for future generations.

The perceived rapture could be a long ways off, or not come at all in the timing and ways that some may think. We must not consume ourselves with such thought and seize the day for God and doing His business of establishing His Kingdom upon the earth.

Do not fear dying. In fact, in living for Him, choose to die to self daily. As you do, you will truly live in and through Him in powerful ways.

Live and move and have your being in the Holy Spirit, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week. Oh what a standard to move towards.

Receive every word or deed with the Father's eyes and with His heart. Then Father can also engage you in a response to life and bring forth words and deeds that bring life to others, and bring Him glory.

Authentic servant leaders will rather have a towel (servant), than a title in leading others. We do not need titles, we need obedience to serve and give as He directs.

We must seek to trash every idol in our life to be free in serving effectively in the army of our Lord.

The greatest idol that we battle is the idol called "self", continue to lay down self and become selfless in our pursuit of Christ and His Kingdom.

Believers must realize that their obedience to all that they do each day is ministry to God and His kingdom.

Housewives’ and mothers are in a valuable full time ministry in keeping the home, and raising the next generation in the pursuit of the will of God.

People of God need to see more fully the ministry the Lord is doing through His daughters. There is a need for further freedom from limited mindsets regarding the Father’s potential and ministry in women. Women have no limits in what the Lord may call them to do, and people must not get in the way of God’s desire for them.

The Kingdom of God is beyond race, gender, or age, but is a diversity of expression in His glorious Kingdom. In the Kingdom male, female, Greek, and Jew can work together in the fullness and likeness of Christ.

Business owners and all workers must realize that in Christ, they are full time ministers in their calling.

For the business owner, people are their greatest resource and they can be an effective pastor for their businesses.

Those in business should look at co-workers, vendors, and customers, as potentially part of their household of faith, or sphere of godly influence.

Christian business owners can look at their businesses as an impact for the community. Churches, homes, businesses, are redeemed and moving in God’s glory throughout the community.

There should be synergy and acceptability in viewing the spirituality of organized church pastors and those who may pastor their homes, businesses, and others in the community.

God speaks in relevance for today beyond the written word in alignment of the written word. In other words, many services and ways that the Father has given us stewardship over is beyond biblical context, but will be in alignment with the Word of God contextualized for today.

So many are operating in the prophetic, as we are a prophetic people. But we are people that can be subjective. Therefore we must find godly ways to enhance prophetic accountability.

When a prophetic people can apologize when they have spoken amiss, God’s glory is revealed. It is okay to make a mistake; it is not okay to cover it up. We must acknowledge equally what we have gotten right and what me may have gotten wrong. This encourages others, and creates an audience that is more willing to listen.

We will worship the foundation of all orders, all systems, all expressions of faith, (Christ Himself), beyond the order or perceived order of things that man has built.

We must have fellowship and connections with others during the week instead of relying on one Sunday Service, which was never designed to meet our ”one anothering” needs.

The earth continues to be filled with the glory of the Lord and He is just waiting for more of us to get involved.

True wealth is measured in what you give away, and not what you keep.

Love as He loves, speak as He speaks, and do what He does, and we can change the world.

Your opinions are okay, because they are your opinions. It would be nice to be loved regardless of how different we all perceive life.

Appreciate the different cultures and expressions in God’s Kingdom, regardless if you understand them, or fancy them.

Understand the commandment to love. Choose to love, even if you do not feel the return of love from others.

Our prayer is that many of these become realities in people's lives, enabling them go out and make a bigger kingdom difference.


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