The thoughts of the Diligent

I have been thinking about the word diligent this morning:

I read this Scripture, and decided to look up a few more:

Pr 21: 5 ¶ The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

Saw the beaver picture, and my Canadian roots made me think about the industrious beaver depicted on our coins, a symbol of work…

Pr 10:16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Pr 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Pr 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Pr 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Our work produces prosperity, and it seems that when we are diligent in what God has called us to do, we see plenteousness, blessing, abundance, in every area of life. Notice here that abundance begins in our thought life, we need to see it first in our mind, and then in the hustle and bustle of our muscle applied to a dream or a project, great things occur. Notice Proverbs 14:23 here, there is work involved with the dream. Just talking about it doesn’t get the job done, in fact, it leads to poverty.

I could say I’m called of God, and then pretend to be praying, while surfing the internet, watching videos, or being entertained, but there would be no substance to what I teach or preach, you can get by on a few hymns, quips, and quotes to break the ice in a meeting, but God has no dumb sheep, we all have the mind of Christ. If we claim to be leading for God, we need to be going somewhere, and if we claim to be feeding the flock of God, we need to have fresh bread, broken and fresh from the oven of our prayer life, hot from the coals of heaven! No one wants stale, moldy bread, too hard to even break or chew!

Jesus is the bread of life, and I have determined to spend my life, preparing, baking, and serving the fresh bread of His Word to His people, in the heart and center of a God given vision being accomplished progressively for as long as He might leave me here in the earth. How about you?

Are you hungry?

Or are you filled up with the things of this life that will never satisfy…

There is a hunger in every heart, that only Jesus can fill!

Let’s pray:

‘Father, here we are again, hungry to know you more. Show us the area’s were are called to work for you, and help us to be faithful and diligent in them, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.”

Love? or Lonliness?

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain

Don’t allow comparison to replace contentment!

James 3:14-15 (NIV)

14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

There is peace in Jesus, and Jesus alone – and there is a place of contentment in Him, that nothing on earth can satisfy.

No earthly relationship, no movie, entertainment, sport, or activity will scratch that deeper itch down inside. Jesus alone can do that. Problem is, sometimes we need to slow down to speed up. It takes time to get quiet and alone with him, and allow Him to sooth our savage hearts, and to fill every creak and crevice in the deep places in our soul. From this place of rest, there is direction, purpose, power, and true fulfilment – for He is a wonderful Lord!

Feel like your life is on a treadmill? Running hard but going no where?

Try doing it Jesus way, seeking Him first each day, doing a yearly Bible reading plan, and actually making progress on your God given purpose, dreams and destiny.

Let’s Pray:

“Jesus, I need you, now! Prince of Peace, meet with me, in my passion, frustration, and selfish ambition. May I rest in Your leading, free from the tyranny of my own inner drives, and the expectations of others, rule and overrule me Lord, and bring again to me, your person, presence, intimacy, and peace. Amen”

Love? or Lonliness?

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain

Don’t allow comparison to replace contentment!
James 3:14-15 (NIV)
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

There is peace in Jesus, and Jesus alone – and there is a place of contentment in Him, that nothing on earth can satisfy.

No earthly relationship, no movie, entertainment, sport, or activity will scratch that deeper itch down inside. Jesus alone can do that. Problem is, sometimes we need to slow down to speed up. It takes time to get quiet and alone with him, and allow Him to sooth our savage hearts, and to fill every creak and crevice in the deep places in our soul. From this place of rest, there is direction, purpose, power, and true fulfilment – for He is a wonderful Lord!

Feel like your life is on a treadmill? Running hard but going no where?

Try doing it Jesus way, seeking Him first each day, doing a yearly Bible reading plan, and actually making progress on your God given purpose, dreams and destiny.

Let’s Pray:
“Jesus, I need you, now! Prince of Peace, meet with me, in my passion, frustration, and selfish ambition. May I rest in Your leading, free from the tyranny of my own inner drives, and the expectations of others, rule and overrule me Lord, and bring again to me, your person, presence, intimacy, and peace. Amen”

The Chinese Bamboo – a parable of growth

Jesus is Lord of the Harvest – Our job is to grow!

Chinese Bamboo Tree

I like the story of the Chinese bamboo tree: You take a little seed, plant it, water it, and fertilize it for a whole year, and nothing happens.

The second year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens.

The third year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens. How discouraging this becomes!

The fifth year you continue to water and fertilize the seed and then—take note. Sometime during the fifth year, the Chinese bamboo tree sprouts and grows NINETY FEET IN SIX WEEKS!

Life is much akin to the growing process of the Chinese bamboo tree.

It is often discouraging. We seemingly do things right, and nothing happens. But for those who do things right and are not discouraged and are persistent, things will happen. Finally we begin to receive the rewards.

I am now receiving the rewards of seeds that were planted 5 years ago. You are as well. Are you getting the results you want? If not, begin today to sow the seeds of what you want 5 years from now.

Remember, if you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll get the results you’ve always gotten.

By Dan Miller

I love this story – I find it encouraging as a leader, as I have worked for years to build businesses, churches, ministries, often pouring countless hours of hard work, sweat, money, prayer, teaching, and study into the entities  I felt ordained of God to pioneer and grow – and like the farmer in the story who watered and fertilized his seedling daily, saw little growth in the natural, often for years –

Yet, roots were digging down into the earth, building the deep foundation that had to be in place, to support the height and rich fruit that would last for generations.

So what are you building?

What are the spirit-led steps of obedience you need to take, to develop in your gift and calling?

While I am back at school working on a Masters, I realize again, the principal of becoming a student for life at the feet of Jesus. I have not arrived – what I don’t know, I don’t know, and it seems here at seminary, I am revisiting certain truths at a deeper level, and Holy Spirit is answering questions I have had for over 20 years in some cases. Yet, I am a doer – and I study to apply, to help people, to solve problems, to build lives, organizations, curriculum that will equip and empower others in their unique callings and destinies.

So, as we enter into 2017 – what goals will you set before the Lord?

Let’s Pray:

‘Father – You have created me for a purpose, a high calling of heaven, fulfilled only in and through Christ Jesus. How well I know my own tendency to attempt to do this in my own strength. Show me how to obey you in it, to do it Your way, day by day, in intimate steps of obedience to Holy Spirit, seeking you first each morning, and walking with You through each day. Adjust the vision, the plan as You see fit, that I might fully obey You this year. I ask, knowing I am heard and answered, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus. Amen’

Time: https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/06/28/redeem-your-time-eternity-is-counting-on-it/

The thoughts of the Diligent

Pr 21: 5 ¶ The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

Saw this picture, and my Canadian roots made me think about the industrious beaver depicted on our coins, a symbol of work…
Pr 10:16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Pr 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Pr 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Pr 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Our work produces prosperity, and it seems that when we are diligent in what God has called us to do, we see plenteousness, blessing, abundance, in every area of life. Notice here that abundance begins in our thought life, we need to see it first in our mind, and then in the hustle and bustle of our muscle applied to a dream or a project, great things occur. Notice Proverbs 14:23 here, there is work involved with the dream. Just talking about it doesn’t get the job done, in fact, it leads to poverty.

I could say I’m called of God, and then pretend to be praying, while surfing the internet, watching videos, or being entertained, but there would be no substance to what I teach or preach, you can get by on a few hymns, quips, and quotes to break the ice in a meeting, but God has no dumb sheep, we all have the mind of Christ. If we claim to be leading for God, we need to be going somewhere, and if we claim to be feeding the flock of God, we need to have fresh bread, broken and fresh from the oven of our prayer life, hot from the coals of heaven! No one wants stale, moldy bread, too hard to even break or chew!

Jesus is the bread of life, and I have determined to spend my life, preparing, baking, and serving the fresh bread of His Word to His people, in the heart and center of a God given vision being accomplished progressively for as long as He might leave me here in the earth. How about you?

Let’s pray:
‘Father, here we are again, hungry to know you more. Show us the area’s were are called to work for you, and help us to be faithful and diligent in them, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.”

Working on Goals….

Just like God is trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so are we. We are a spirit, have a soul, and live in a body.

Each of these areas need to come under the Lordship of Jesus, and I must admit, I have let my fitness level over the years go to the point, that I had a stroke in 2009, mostly because of violating natural law. Can’t work 80 hour weeks, live on fast food, coffee and energy drinks for a couple years, and expect good results. I’ve now lost 45 lbs, and am yearly, setting fitness goals, as well as spiritual goals.

I have noticed that strength training is all about 3 things: Brutal workouts, clean eating, good rest. Seems as a missionary, it is very difficult to control these three all at once…

My fitness goals are simple: 1. Be able to bench 315lbs, 5 times, 2. Run a 5km run under 25mins.

So, as I read:…
Ecclesiastes 11 (AKJV)

11 Cast thy bread upon the waters:
for thou shalt find it after many days.

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight;
for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

3 If the clouds be full of rain,
they empty themselves upon the earth:
and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north,
in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow;
and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap

You can’t wait for perfect conditions, to do what you can with what you’ve got. Pyramided up and got 315 again on bench this week – one time. Would like to be stronger, but it is better to be doing something with what I can do, than nothing, waiting for perfect conditions…

Whatever your goals are, do SOMETHING towards them, today.

Let’s pray:

‘Father God, You created me, and You gave me today, a clean slate to write upon. Jesus, I submit to Your Lordship, and Your plan for my life, and ask You for direction, wisdom, strength, health, and clarity, to set and work on Your plan and goals for my life today. Amen’