January 15 & 22 2017 Getting Where You Want To Be

GETTING WHERE YOU WANT TO BE

Decade of Destiny - Part 2

GENESIS 24:1-57

1. Determine your present position

Ask 

-Where Am I Now?

-What Would I Like to Change?

Gen. 24:1"Abraham was now old and well advanced in years., and the Lord had blessed him in every way."

2. Describe exactly what you want.

Gen. 24:3-4 "Don't get a wife for my son from the Canaanite girls who live around here. Instead, go back to my country, to the land of my relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."

Ask

-What do I want to be?

-What do I want to do?

-What do I want t to have?

-Why do I want it?

Gen. 24:5 "The servant asked Abraham, 'What If the woman is unwilling to leave her home and come back with me to this land?"

3. Find a promise from God

Gen. 24:7 (NCV) Abraham said "The Lord brought me from the land of my relatives to this land and he

SOLEMNLY PROMISED me that he would give this land to my descendants. So, he will send his angel before you, So that you can get a wife there for my son."

4. Ask God for help. 

Gen. 24:12(NLT)"Then Eliazar prayed, '0 Lord, God of my master Abraham. Give me success and show this kindness to my master, Abraham. Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey.

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we wil/find grace to help us when we need it."

5. Identify the barriers.

Ask: Why don't I have it already

vs. 21 - Finding the right girt

vs. 58 - Getting her to say yes in faith

vs. 49 - Getting the parent consent

6. Create a step by step plan.

Ask

-How do I intend to get there by the end of this decade?

-How long will it take?

7. Be patient and persistent.

Hab. 2:3 (LB)"These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!"

8. Enlist a team for support.

Eccles. 4:12 (NLT)"One person standing alone is easily attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three people are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Mal. 18:20 Jesus: "Wherever two or three come together in my name, there iwill be with them!"

9. Pay the price

Gen 24:53 "Then Eliazar brought out gold and silver and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave expensive gifts to her brother and her mother."

Ask 

-What will it cost?

-What am I willing to give?

-Is it worth it?

November 15 2015 Managing My Money

MANAGING MY MONEY

Wiser- Part 5 of 8

FIVE FOUNDATIONS FOR FINANCIAL FREEDOM

Rule #1: Keep Good Records

Proverbs 23:23 (LB)"Riches can disappear fast ... so watch your business interests closely. Know the state of your flocks.  "

Proverbs 23:23 (LB)"Get the facts at any price!"

Rule #2: Plan Your spending

Proverbs 21:5 (GN) Plan carefully  and you will have plenty; if you act too quick, you will never have enough.  "

Proverbs 21:20 (GN)". . . stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.  "

Rule #3: Save For the Future

Proverbs 21:20a (LB)"The wise man  saves for the future. . . "

Proverbs 13: 11 (Jerusalem Bible) "He grows rich who accumulates little by little.              

Rule #4: Enjoy What your already have

Proverbs 21:17 (Good News) "Indulging in luxuries, wine and rich food will never make you wealthy. 

Hebrews 13:5 "Be content with what you have. .  

Rule #5: Give At least 10% back to God

Memory Verse: Proverbs 3:9-10 (LB) "Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part  of all your income and He will fill  your barns to overflow. 

Proverbs 10: 16 (Living Bible) "The good man's earnings advance  the cause of righteousness. 

Proverbs 22:9 "A generous man will leave God's blessings.  

Isaiah 55:2  Why spend money on what does not satisfy. "

February 15 2015 Getting Unstuck In My Future

Getting Unstuck In My Future

FOUR APPROACHES TO MY FUTURE THAT LEAD TO BEING STUCK:

• WORRY
• ASSUMPTIONS
• PLANNING WITHOUT PRAYER
• PROCRASTINATING

Definition of UnStuck: Moving forward in my life because I am willing to give God complete control.

HOW TO GET UNSTUCK IN MY FUTURE:

1. RECOGNIZE THAT I AM STUCK.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” – 1 John 1:9

“...We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.” – 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

2. REMEMBER GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN MY PAST.

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you...” I will put my hope in God! – Psalm 42:5-6

“Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” – Deuteronomy 7:9

3. REFOCUS MY MIND ON THE HOPE OF HEAVEN.

““Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” – Colossians 3:2

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians 4:8

4. RESPOND OBEDIENTLY TO GOD’’S DIRECTION.

““The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers.

But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” – 1 Peter 3:12

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”” – Matthew 6:33

5. REPLACE MY THOUGHTS WITH GOD’S THOUGHTS.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:1-2

Memory Verse: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’’” – Jeremiah 29:11

January 19 2014 The Great Influence

The Great Influence 

Matthew 5:13
4 Pillars of Truth

1. Christian influence is a positive force.
Verse 13 – You are the salt of the earth.

• Salt preserves
• Salt makes people thirsty

Matthew 23:4 – (Jesus) They crush people with impossible religious commands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

2. Christian influence is permanent.
Verse 13 – But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

John 17:15-16 – My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world.

3. Christian influence is precious.
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 – But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are.

Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.

1 Samuel 17:40 – He took a staff in his hand; choose five smooth stones from the stream.

Luke 2:7 – She gave birth to her first-born, a Son, she wrapped in clothes and laid Him in a manger.

4. Christian influence must be planned.
Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy and pleasing to God.

Prayer:
Lord take my life and make it wholly thine,
Fill my poor heart with Thy great Love Divine,
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride,
I now surrender, Lord in me abide.

December 29 2013 Mistakes To Avoid In 2014

Mistakes To Avoid In 2014

"Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow." Joshua 7:13 (NIV)

FOOLISH MISTAKES TO AVOID

1. USELESS WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE

Matthew 6:27 (NIV)"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Matthew 6:30b-33 (NCV)"... Don't have so little faith! Don't worry and say, `What will we eat... or drink...or wear?' The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you."

Matthew 6:3 (LB)"So don't be anxious about tomorrow -- God will take care of your tomorrow, too. Live one day at a time."

THE WISE WAY: TRUST GOD

2. ARROGANT ASSUMING.

Proverbs 27:1 (NIV)"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."

Isaiah 56:12"’Come,’ each one cries, ‘... Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even better!’"

James 4:14 & 16 (NIV)"Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil."

Proverbs 22:3 (LB) "A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."

THE WISE WAY: PREPARE

3. FAULTY PLANNING.

James 4:13 (NIV)"Now listen, you who say, `Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.’"

Ecclesiastes 8:7 (NIV) "Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?"

James 4:15 (NIV) "Instead, you ought to say, IF it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

THE WISE WAY: PRAY AS YOU PLAN

Proverbs 16:1 (GN) "We may make our plans, but God has the last word."

Proverbs 16:9 (LB) "We should make plans – counting on God to direct us."

4. LAZY PROCRASTINATING.

James 4:17 (NIV) "Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it sins."

Proverbs 3:27-28 (NIV)"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, `Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow' -- when you now have it with you."

THE WISE WAY: DO IT NOW

1 John 2:3-4 (NIV)"We can be sure we know Christ if we obey His commands. The one who says `I know Him' but doesn't do what He commands is a liar."

2 Corinthians 6:2 (LB)"RIGHT NOW God is ready to welcome you. TODAY He is ready to save you!