Just Do Right

Genesis 4:7 "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Is it really that difficult to DO THINGS RIGHT?

We don't really know why God didn't accept Cain's offering, except that God looks upon the heart. This verse tells us that Cain's heart was NOT RIGHT with God when he gave the offering. It was not the gift itself, as we later see acceptable grain offerings in the days of Moses. Cain's offering was a representation of his HEART. He did not do what was right in his heart, and so, his offering was not accepted.

One sin leads to another. That is the warning God gave Cain. In fact, like a lion waiting to devour us, sin waits to devour our lives. The loving heart of God reached out to Cain with the warning that sin would like to dominate him, to be the authority over him, bringing him to destruction. But then God told Cain the correct response is to MASTER it. Don't let it master you.

God has been LONG SUFFERING to you and given you opportunity after opportunity to make a course correction.

Is there sin crouching at your door, waiting to dominate your life? Master it! Don't allow it to master you!

We master it, just as Cain could have, by looking to the work of the Seed to come...the SAVIOR! Because of what Jesus did, we can master it! His resurrected life gives us the power to master it rather than be devoured by it.

Cain was about to plot a murder because of jealousy!

Read the verse again. Think about how this verse applies to you each time that you give in to temptation. You can STOP the cycle or go deeper into it.

Consider: If you are caught in a cycle of sin, you can still master it by the power of the risen Christ, the Seed that CRUSHED the rule of Satan!

Allow Jesus to CRUSH...

• Rebellion
• Jealousy 
• Envy
• Disobedience
• Pride
• Etc.,

Rid your heart of...

• Disobedience
• Roughshod
• Bad Attitude

God is ABLE to receive your sacrifice in the RIGHT WAY if your heart is RIGHT.

JUST DO RIGHT! (It's really not that hard.)

It's All About Relationships

Life never tells you when it's going to teach you a new lesson.  I've seldom ever been able to plan for it.  It likes to sneak up on me when I least expect it.  This is especially true when it comes to RELATIONSHIPS.  With that being said, there have been a few times in my personal and professional relationships that I wish the lesson would have come a little earlier.  It would have saved me from some heartache and wasted time.

However, I'm GRATEFUL for every lesson my relationships have taught me because I'm now better equipped to deal with rough patches when they arise.  

Here are 7 REMINDERS of how to see the GOOD in every situation:

1 We all have a STRUGGLE!

• Everyone has struggles.  We don't know exactly how another person is feeling or what kind of emotional battle they're fighting.
• Before you pass judgment, consider that everyone faces a battle that they have learned to hide behind a smile.

2. Overlook the CRITICS!

• No matter what you do or how well you do, there will always be those who are critical of you.
• Do not let naysayers stop you from becoming what God has destined for you to be!
• If you want to be a singer...then sing!
• If you want to build a business...then build it!
• If you want to have a family...then have it!
• I've learned that it's a lot easier to be CRITICAL than it is to be CORRECT!
• Spend more time with the people who SUPPORT you than those who DISCREDIT you!

3. DETOX!

• Holding on to resentment and grudges is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to grow ill.  It's TOXIC to your spirit!
• Ease your BURDENS by letting go of resentment!
• If you feel them starting to stir back up, STOP and CONSIDER that there's nothing that can be gained by bringing yourself down over what you cannot control!
• Tell the GHOSTS of YESTERDAY that the haunted house is closed!
• Forget about getting even with someone who HURT you, instead get even with those who have HELPED you!

4. FORGIVE!

• When you've been hurt it's hard to be at peace. But you do it anyway because you know peace is the only battle worth waging!  Peace is BEAUTIFUL!  Peace is the manifestation of your LOVE and the best foot forward to a brighter FUTURE!
• Being peaceful isn't always easy.  In fact, I think it's much harder than being ANGRY or VENGEFUL!  It requires you to STAY CALM and LET GO of the pain!
• It requires you to FORGIVE & MOVE ON!
• You don't do it for the person that hurt you...you do it for you!

5. WORK for it!

• No matter if it's a FRIENDSHIP or an INTIMATE relationship, when someone loves you...you'll KNOW it!  It's in the way they LOOK at you, SPEAK your name or EMBRACE you.  You know your SOUL is safe in their care.
• To me, it's much more than any physical interaction...it's a SILENT connection that you can feel in your veins.  You feel at HOME with them.  But this doesn't happen overnight.
• Relationships require growth and often that comes SLOWLY.  It's how two people TREAT each other, RESPECT each other and WORK together over a prolonged period of time...through the GOOD times and the BAD.

6. Embrace the IMPERFECTIONS!

• If you're still searching for perfection in others...please STOP!  You're not going to find it.  In fact, what you're going to find is more imperfections than Baskin Robbins has flavors. :)
• Realize that YOU are just as imperfect as the people who are in your life.  The key to embracing imperfection is finding someone whose imperfections COMPLIMENT your own.
• It takes a lot of LIVING and LIFE EXPERIENCE to realize your own imperfections! Over time, you discover your greatest FLAWS and the QUIRKS that make you, YOU!
• Quite honestly, it's only after you learn those imperfect parts of your own self that you know what your looking for in others!  Someone whose SCARS and FLAWS fit your own...someone who's IMPERFECT in the perfect way for you.

7. Have faith in the POSITIVES!

• Be careful not to continuously doubt the POSITIVES in others while ignoring your own NEGATIVES!
• There is purpose for everyone you will ever meet.  Some will TEST you, some will TEACH you and some will bring out the very BEST in you!

All relationships require PATIENCE and WORK!  Nothing is flawless.  No matter...there will always be difficulties present, but you can still focus on the GOOD!  Look for what IS working instead of what isn't!

What you FOCUS on GROWS!

Blessings!

People Like Hearing The GOOD STUFF Too!

When you meet up with people from your past or that you haven’t seen in a while it's only natural to want to talk and catch up. It can happen at a party, somebody's wedding, the church nursery, Facebook or even when you bump into somebody on the street.. Catching up in itself is not a problem. The problem usually occurs when the topic of conversation turns to people you know. While you may want to share memories about the people in your life, you really need to watch what you say. Something innocently said can lead to misunderstanding & in some cases; cause the end of a friendship.

That's why it's important to remember, these FIVE SIMPLE RULES OF GOSSIP: 

1. Stick to the Facts - When you're telling a story you have your opinion. Unfortunately when you add in your two cents, sometimes it can change a person's perception of the situation. Even when you think you know everything about what went on in someone else's life, you may not have the whole story. So when you're talking about someone else, only say what you know is true.
   
2. Never start with "I heard..." - There's a reason hearsay isn't admissible in court. People sometimes hear what they want to hear. As the story is passed from person to person people forget to stick to the FACTS & the TRUTH can get lost in translation. If you don't have personal knowledge from the source, don't spread the gossip.
   
3. Know When to Keep It Between Friends - It's easy to start a conversation with someone at a party or event & slip in a "harmless" remark about someone. A little gossip to a stranger can be a horrible mistake, one many people have made. Even when what you're saying is an "inside joke" between you & your friends, it may be offensive when mentioned in public. What is shared between friends should stay between friends, unless you’ve agreed that it can be shared with others.
   
4. Don't Take Sides - While you may believe that taking sides will show your loyalty, think about what happens when the people you're gossiping about get back together. Friendships & relationships have their ups and downs. They fight, they argue, they make up. The only person that loses many times is the person who took sides, especially when this was done when gossiping. You can't take back the things you've said.
   
5. Never Try to Get Back at Someone - This often happens when people break up. It can be a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, friendship or a family relationship. After the initial pain is gone, that’s when the claws come out. Don't use false rumors or negativity to get back at the person you're angry with. Break ups can be temporary, but badmouthing someone will definitely make it permanent. Think about that before you say anything.

For some these rules may seem easy. However if you're a full-fledged card carrying gossip, following these rules can be a daunting task. In fact you may have already lost some friends by breaking them. These habits die hard, but they can be overcome. Remember, people like hearing the GOOD STUFF too. Tell them about the great things going on in people's lives & stay away from the negative. Not only will that make you a better friend, in the end it will make you a happier & more positive person.

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Mentorship: Practical & Crucial

Question: How do you define MENTORING?

• Webster's: someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person.
• I believe that mentoring is a RELATIONAL experience in which one person empowers another by sharing God-given RESOURCES.

Question: Is there a difference between DISCIPLING and MENTORING?

• A DISCIPLER could be defined as someone who helps an understudy (1) give up their own will for the will of God, (2) live daily a life of spiritual sacrifice for God's glory, and (3) strive to be consistently obedient to the commands of The Lord.
• A MENTOR, on the other hand, provides modeling, closer supervision on special projects, individualized help in many areas - discipline, encouragement, correction, confrontation, and a calling to accountability. 

Mentoring is a PROCESS of opening our lives to others, of sharing our lives with others; a process of living for the next generation.

My life verse is Psalm 145:4 "One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts."

• This verse speaks of passing something on to the generation following.
• It speaks to me of being generationally minded.

Consider this old Chinese Proverb:

• "If you are planting for a year, plant grain.
• If you are planting for a decade, plant trees.
• If you are planting for a century, plant people."

Planting people takes TIME.  More time spent with fewer people equals greater lasting impact for God.  

While some seek to impact the MULTITUDE, it's the ONE that remains with you till the end. 

Remember that it was the multitude that left Jesus first when He was on His way to the cross...followed by the 70, the 12 and the 3...but only the 1 (John) remained at the foot of the cross.

Your greatest impact is in the one!

• Moses mentored Joshua.
• Naomi mentored her daughter-in-law Ruth.
• Ezra mentored Nehemiah.
• Elijah mentored Elisha.
• Elizabeth mentored her cousin Mary.
• Barnabas mentored Paul and John Mark.
• Paul mentored his spiritual son Timothy.

Question: Who is your Paul?

• Do you have a SPIRITUAL mentor who is pouring his/her life into you the way Paul poured his life into Timothy?
• Do you have someone you can go to for WISE counsel?
• Do you have someone who is a GODLY example for you and a model worth imitating?
• Do you have someone who lives out BIBLICAL values and spiritual maturity?
• Do you have someone with solid SKILLS that can help you improve where you are weak?

JOB DESCRIPTION of a MENTOR

1. A willingness to spend the TIME it takes to build a bonded relationship with the learner.
2. A commitment to believing in the POTENTIAL and FUTURE of the learner; to telling them what kind of exciting future you see ahead for him or her; to visualizing and verbalizing the possibilities of his or her life.
3. A willingness to be VULNERABLE and TRANSPARENT before the learner, willing to share not only strengths and successes but also weaknesses, failures and brokenness.
4. A willingness to be honest yet AFFIRMING in confronting the learner's errors, faults and areas of immaturity.
5. A commitment to STANDING by the learner through trials - even trials that are self-inflicted as a result of ignorance or error.
6. A commitment to helping the learner set GOALS for his or her spiritual life, career, or ministry and to helping the learner dream his or her dream.
7. A willingness to objectively EVALUATE the learner's progress toward his or her goal.
8. Above all, a commitment to faithfully put into PRACTICE all that one teachers the learner.

I believe the best learning doesn't come from a classroom or a book...it must be heard, seen, studied, handled, lived and experienced in order to be PROVEN and assimilated!

Question: Who is your Barnabas?

• Do you have someone in your life to encourage you?
• Do you have someone to believe in you, support you and guide you?

ENCOURAGEMENT is the kind of expression that helps someone want to be better!

Lessons from Barnabas:

1. He was generous with his finances (Acts 4:32-37)
2. He reached out to Paul when everyone else was skeptical about him. (Acts 9:26-31, 11:25-30)
3. He spent time with Mark when he had failed. (Acts 15:36-39)

This was the RESULT of Barnabas' encouragement:

• If it were not for Barnabas we would not have Paul's epistles nor Mark's Gospel; nor the rapid spread of the Gospel!

Four Key's to Barnabas' life (Acts 11:24)

1. He was a man of integrity.
2. He was a man full of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17, 26).
3. He was a man full of faith.
4. He was teachable. (Acts 13:43,50)

Question: Who is your Timothy?

• Do you have someone in whom to invest your own life?
• If married, you should look at your spouse, children or grandchildren as a "Timothy". But is there anyone outside your family in whom you are investing?

2 Timothy 2:2 "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teacher others."

The 6 Keys of Mentoring

1. RELATIONAL - The you in 2 Timothy 2:2 refers to Timothy and the me refers to the Apostle Paul. People LEARN how to better love and follow Jesus in the context of FOCUSED FRIENDSHIP.
2. PERSONAL - The basics that Timothy learned from Paul were mediated through his unique personality, gifting and style.
3. THEOLOGICAL - Paul is faithfully delivering what he himself received from MANY WITNESSES or martyrs. Martyrs became public witnesses to the truth. The meaning of the word martyr literally means that Christian truth-telling could be TERMINALLY costly.
4. INTENTIONAL - All of us are involved in hundreds of unintentional relationships. However,  in the case of Paul and Timothy we see a relationship that was established for a specific purpose.
5. TRANSFORMATIONAL - Mentoring involves study, reflection; action and receptivity.
6. REPRODUCIBLE - Who will be able to TEACH others.

Climbing The Mountain of Humility

Since 1924 till now, 282 people have died trying to reach the top of Mount Everest. Over 4100 have actually reached the summit.

In my opinion, mountaineering experiences are like metaphors for leaders. We must surround ourselves with wise people, who can help guide us, lest arrogance enters in.

Charisma and confidence may be qualifying virtues but they have to be fueled by HUMILITY.

Humility drives high performance. It improves our judgment by taming our EGO. Although we can be good and effective leaders with big egos, making the leap from GOOD to GREAT requires something extra. We must learn to balance ego with HUMILITY.

As a student on the climb to leadership greatness, whenever I forget to balance my ego with humility, I end up learning the hard way.

We never outgrow leadership or our leaders, we simply climb together as a team, with humility, and draw strength from one another.

Self-promotion erodes our HUMILITY. As someone who has an online presence, I realize that it comes with a responsibility. Often, I must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as He reminds me to promote The Lord and others more than myself.

PRIDE is a struggle for many leaders, but we must strive to bring humility to our leadership roles.

What does a HUMBLE leader look like?

1. TRUST - A humble leader will take a risk on others, trusting them with their God given vision, even at the risk of being disappointed.

2. INVESTMENT - A humble leader will continually look for ways to invest in others, raising up and maturing new leaders.

3. STRONG/GENTLE - A humble leader isn't weak, but they keep Jesus in the core of their heart so that their strength reveals gentleness.

4. ADMITS MISTAKES - A humble leader will own up to their part of a situation.

5. FORGIVES - A humble leader will overlook the disappointments from others. They keep a short list and forgive easily and quickly.

6. PROMOTES OTHERS - A humble leader will receive recognition with grace and then quickly divert the attention to others, sharing the limelight with those who many times may have had more to do with the success than they did.

7. ACKNOWLEDGES LIMITATIONS - A humble leader realizes that they cannot do everything. They learn quickly to say "no" or "I can't do that" or "I'm not the one who should, but I know who to ask."

Humility isn't having a LOW OPINION of yourself...it's simply not thinking OF yourself.

IF WE ARE TO REACH THE SUMMIT TOGETHER,
WE MUST REMAIN HUMBLE!

Run Your Own Race

If we believe the lies of the enemy, we will attempt to COMPETE with the people God has called us to COMPLETE.  

Some people feel the need to compete in order to gain popularity, respect and success amongst their leaders, peers and even their family.  I want you to know that you shouldn't be competing with anyone!  

Favor on your life isn't just granted so you can earn recognition.  Jesus already recognizes WHO you are and assigns unmerited favor to you without the need to EARN it through works.

I want to encourage you today to shake off the notion to perform and simply relax in the finished work of Christ.  

Performance based ministry is saturated with the spirit of legalism and does not benefit the Kingdom of God!  

I believe we all struggle with a degree of INSECURITY and PERFORMANCE based ministry because we've all had our true IDENTITIES distorted by the sin we were born into. God created us to be His INTIMATE friends, but sin separates us and makes us feel INCOMPLETE and INSECURE.

That VOID compels us to COMPETE with and COMPARE ourselves to one another. We end up living based on the PERCEPTIONS and unrealistic EXPECTATIONS of others, and we let our SIN lead us there because it feels natural.

Today...I'm FED UP with seeing this need to PERFORM in life and ministry.  Today...I want you to know that you need to RUN YOUR OWN RACE...not everyone else's!

How do you RUN YOUR OWN RACE?

1. KNOW YOURSELF

God has designed us to be FRUITFUL where He has planted us. However, we won't be fruitful if we really haven't discovered who we are and what ministry God has called us to. 

Ask yourself the following questions:

• What are my gifts?
• How do I see God using me now?
• How has He used me to minister to others in the past?
• What message does my life seem to write over and over?

Knowing yourself starts with a SELF-EXAMINATION of your life, gifts and calling so that God will help you see who He has created you to be.  I love Peter's explanation of this in 2 Peter 1:3 and also James 1:5-6.

• By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
• 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

When He speaks to you and you understand who you are, you won't feel the pressure to become someone else. This is the first key to running your own race!

2. BE YOURSELF

It's tempting to watch and analyze other people who are successful and think we have to be like them, especially in the world of Internet overload.  However, doing this FREEZES our fruitfulness because we fall victim to COMPARISON, COMPETITION and other people's EXPECTATIONS and PERCEPTIONS!

FREE YOURSELF by knowing that God only expects you to be YOU!

If you're feeling pressure to become anyone else, then know that that impulse did not come from The Holy Spirit...but rather your old nature!

THROW IT OFF!

God did not FREE you just to make you a slave to sin again!  If the Son has set you free, then you are free! (John 8:36)

Don't throw away your hopes and dreams...I believe God wants to use you beyond what you can imagine!  He can align your hopes and dreams to His so that you're not STRIVING, COMPETING or COMPARING and becoming FRUSTRATED!

Friend, run your own race, 

not someones else's!

You are not equipped to run someone else's...you are only equipped to run the race that Jesus has designed for you.  Only you can run in our lane, so STAY IN IT and don't merge into someone else's. 

KNOW YOURSELF and BE YOURSELF and I believe you will "win the prize for which Christ has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus!" (Philippians 4:13)

I Raised The Rent On Toxic People

A few years ago, I decided to raise the rent on toxic people.  I raised it so high that they can no longer afford space in my life.  

Friends, you don't always know you're in a toxic relationship until one day you wake up with the reality that you're being used for what you can do for someone else. It suddenly becomes crystal clear that you are being manipulated by intimidation and control.

Sadly, there are people who will use you to get what they want...whether it's financial support, association or recognition.  I've witnessed first hand people who used their relationship with me to gain financial support.  They said they loved me, but in truth they loved what I could do for them and when I no longer was willing to do for them, they parted ways.

Based on your personality type, you might be the giver in your relationships.  I've learned that people who are takers will let you continue to be the giver while they keep taking.  

I don't think it's wrong to be a giver but I do feel that giving needs to be reciprocated or it will become one sided very quickly...and that is out of balance. I also think you have to learn how to discern when you're being taken advantage of and stand up for yourself.

It wasn't until that I had the epitome that I was being taken advantage of, in multiple ways, that I decided to make a clean break.  Friends, that decision has gained me so much health! Sure, it was hard to let go of what I was used to...because, admittedly, I am a person that feels secure with familiarity. But it was absolutely necessary! No matter what I seemingly lost, to some, the reality is that I gained more than I have ever experienced in my entire life.

Here's what I had to do...

1. Keep it moving.

• Not everyone deserves access in your life.  Once you decide to remove toxicity from your environment, it becomes a lot easier to breath.  You just have to come to the place where you determine...enough is enough!  Letting go of people doesn't mean that you hate them, or that you wish them harm; it simply means you care about your own well-being.

2. Stop pretending.

• Don't ignore the signs of toxicity. Toxic people will wear you down with their demands and moodiness and it may seem like it's easier to let them have their way than to deal with their aftermath but the truth is they're not going to change when you constantly reward them for NOT changing.

3. Stand up for yourself.

• Some people will make you feel like you're a bad person because you simply refuse to tolerate their expense any longer.  This is where manipulation and intimidation can slip in. They will begin to over talk you, corner you into seeing things their way or false accuse you and try to convince you that you are wrong.  However, you must stand up for yourself anyway.

4. Put your foot down.

• Believe me, when you do this, your character will be attacked.  You will become ostracized by some, false accused, talked about behind your back and people may kill you with assumicide!  However, your character and integrity will remain in tact if you just STAND and let the Lord be honored in your humility and obedience.

5. Recognize who's behind it.

• More than likely, you will be made to feel that you've done something wrong. If you're not careful you'll buy into their notion that you might actually have done something wrong and that itself will hurt your confidence and unsettle your resolve.  Do not let this happen! Don't take it personally especially from people who have never sat where you've sat or handled the amount of responsibility you have handled. They speak from inexperience so don't take it personal.

6. Remain compassionate.

• Those that hate you today will need you tomorrow. Don't lose your compassion or allow your heart to become hardened. Be compassionate and willing to pardon those who have done you wrong.  However, remember the quote "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." - Maya Angelou  You don't have to open the door to them again.  In fact, you wouldn't have the THIS if you would have held on to THAT. Access into your life is a privilege not a right. Be nice. Be kind. Be courteous. But keep it moving!

Say NO to Toxicity! 

Monday Momentum 1-18-16

On Sunday, we continued our ‪#‎everyone‬ series with a focus on "The Adulterous Woman." In this message we outlined Jesus' need to go THROUGH Samaria & not AROUND it. He sat down at Jacob's well..."weary from His journey" (John 4:6)

YES, even Jesus was tired from all the ministry & travel He had been doing. His disciples went to get Him some food while He rested. But, His rest didn't last because ministry called & He was face-to-face with an adulterous woman who was thirsty. Jesus recognized her need & gave her Living Water! She went back into town & told #everyone what had happened to her & as a result, the whole town came out to see Jesus! Thus, what was just a resting place became a two day crusade!

Friends, we are called to reach #everyone, irregardless of how tired we are. Ministry opportunities don't always happen on our time schedule. Often, God allows a divine interruption to advance His Kingdom!

This week, God will send people to your WELL. Will you be available to minister to them?

#everyone

I Love Faithful People

Faithful people are such a blessing. 

- They show up.
- They serve.
- You don't have to wonder where they are.
- They love what they do.
- They are consistent.
- They rarely offer excuses.
- They inspire others.
- They are a good role model.
- They are usually loyal.
- They give more than they get.

Faithful people inspire me to remain faithful myself. Sadly, people who are unfaithful are hard to count on because they are hit and miss and you just don't know if they'll show up.

I want to encourage you to be a person that people can count on. Do things for the right reason. Don't take advantage of people's good nature. Don't use or abuse someone's patience. Just be faithful and God will bless you! After all, one of the things Jesus is going to say to His children is "Well done, good and faithful servant..."

Are you FAITHFUL?

Sow Into Your Future

At age 17, I was working at Baskin Robbins Ice Cream at Rolling Acres Mall.  I made minimum wage, which at that time was $3.35 an hour.  The only real expenses I had, as a Junior in High School, was car insurance for my 1981 Chevy Malibu.

My parents taught me to TITHE and pay my bills!  So that's what I did.

Once a month, we would attend a Youth Rally, in Northeast Ohio for our church fellowship, where I would always prepare an offering to give towards my leader, Rev. Jack Gipson. I brought my TITHES to my local church (which is where your tithes/offerings belong) but I would give a generous offering above my tithes/offering to my leader because I COULD and I WANTED to!

I SOWED into the ministry of my leader because I knew in my spirit it was what God wanted me to do.  There were times that I would write a check for everything I had left in my checking account...because The Lord impressed upon me to trust Him and GIVE.

I SOWED into my LEADER and therefore was SOWING into my FUTURE!  I didn't realize then what God was instilling in me.  He was having me SOW into my FUTURE even when I didn't understand this principle.  

Do you know that that's why it's important to 

be under good teaching and an environment 

that understands Kingdom principles?

God used my leader, to impart unto me WISDOM, GUIDANCE, COVERING, DIRECTION, TRAINING, ANOINTING and so much more!  Today, I'm extremely thankful for the impact that my leader has had on my life.  

Giving COST me!  

Giving was a SACRIFICE!

Giving was an INVESTMENT!

But GIVING gained me what money couldn't buy!  

God used that man to bless me!  I can't begin to tell you all the prayers he prayed over me, while gathered at the altar!  He would lay his hands on my head and speak LIFE!  He spoke into my future!  He spoke into my ministry! 

Friend, if you have a leader that God is using to speak into your future...SOW INTO THEM...because your obedience will put a DEMAND on their anointing and a double portion will overshadow you!

If you don't believe me...just ask the Shunamite woman!  She placed a demand on Elisha's anointing, when she built a prophet's chamber for him.  She didn't even realize that he would be compelled to do something in return for her generosity.  (2 Kings 4)

She did it for the right REASON and in the right SEASON...and look what God did...He gave her...her FUTURE (OFFSPRING)!

I'm not saying you can buy the anointing.  No you cannot.  However, you can position yourself to receive something tangible from God by being willing to SOW your time, talent & treasure into the people whom God is using to prepare the fertile soil of your heart!  

Are you SOWING today?

How's your attitude about it?

If we're not careful, we'll end up having a horrible attitude about SOWING into others, because we think others should be sowing into us, and we'll miss the MIRACLE God wants to release over us.

Don't miss the power of SOWING into your FUTURE!