Dads Blessings

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said "With all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. And as he did, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss Spirit's blessings and answers to our prayers because they do not arrive exactly as we have expected?

Mountain Story

"A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;
Life will give you back everything you have given to it."
YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!"

EAGLES IN A STORM

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?
The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.
The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.
When the storms of life come upon us - and all of us will experience them - we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them.
God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.
Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

Free Favor Abounds

"The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me…to proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound]"
(Luke 4:18–19, AMP).

In the Old Testament, every 50 years the people would celebrate what they called Jubilee. It was a day of freedom and restoration–once–in–a–lifetime event! But now, because of what Jesus has done, we don´t have to wait 50 years to experience Jubilee. We can live in Jubilee every single day.

I believe this is your year of freedom. It´s your year to be released from every bondage, every debt, and anything that would hold you back. It´s your season to be released from sickness, depression, addictions, and worry. It is your year to see the free favor of God profusely abound! It’s your time of restoration.
Let that sink deep down into your heart today. Dare to believe that He wants to see you free. Surrender every area of your heart to Him and watch the bondages of the past break off of you so you can live in Jubilee in every area of your life!

Get into Agreement with God

"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them"
(Matthew 18:19-20, NKJ)

There´s a spiritual principle in the Bible that tells us when two or more agree on something, that thing shall be established. There is great power in agreement. In another verse it says, "How can two walk together unless they agree?" In other words, if we want to walk with God, if we want to see His promises established in our lives, if we want to live in His power, we have to get into agreement with Him. We have to know what He says and make our thoughts and actions line up with His.
For example, God wants His children to live in victory, but in order to experience that victory we have to think it, believe it, and speak it. We can´t go around thinking, "Oh my breakthrough is never going to happen. Nothing works out for me. It´s been too long." No, that attitude will stop the power of agreement. Instead of complaining, get into agreement with God and declare, "I know my breakthrough is coming. I know God hears my prayers. I am in agreement with Him and all things work out for my good!" Choose His words, thoughts, and actions and watch His promises come to pass in every area of your life!

Expect God to Act

Did you know that God loves to hear you call upon His name? He has ways to meet your needs that you´ve never imagined, and He´s just waiting for you to ask expectantly. Are you expecting God to act on your behalf today?
So many people pray with an attitude as if they are trying to hit a dartboard blindfolded! They know the target is there, they have an idea of the general direction; they just hope they´ll just get somewhere close. But understand, when you get into God´s Word and declare His promises over your life, it´s like taking the blindfold off and walking straight up to the bull´s eye! When you pray with expectancy according to God´s Word, you´ll hit the target every single time.
What are your needs today? Find the promise in God´s Word that addresses those needs. Then, expect God to act! He is faithful to His Word, and He´s just waiting to show Himself strong on your behalf.

Set the Standard

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men"(Colossians 3:23, NIV)

In today’s society, many people have accepted mediocrity as the norm. They do as little as they can to get by, always looking for the easy way out. If the boss isn’t watching, they’re playing on the computer. They simply go to work to pick up a paycheck, and then wonder why they’re not promoted and don’t see increase. It’s because God doesn’t bless mediocrity, He blesses excellence.
Whatever we do, we should do it to the best of our ability. We should set the standard. Remember, we are ultimately working for the Lord. He’s the one who put those talents and abilities in us. We are stewards of the gifts He’s given. Other people may show up late. They may complain. They may cut corners. But don’t sink down to their level—you are working for Almighty God. You are called to excellence.
I encourage you today, stay determined. Stay focused. Whether you’re a waitress, a truck driver, an architect, a police officer, or a CEO, do it to the best of your ability. God is the one who brings promotion. When you set the standard, He’ll raise you up and pour out His blessing in every area of your life!

Honor Him in All That You Do

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Remind people to be submissive to [their] magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be prepared and willing to do any upright and honorable work"
(Titus 3:1, AMP)

In what ways do you honor God? A lot of times, people think “I go to church to honor God. I read my Bible to honor God. I sing and clap to honor God.” And yes, those are ways to honor God, but did you know that you honor God just as much when you get to work on time? You honor God when you are productive each day and honor the people in authority over you. You honor God when you excel in your career.
Actions speak louder than words. When you give your very best in the workplace, your whole life is giving praise to God—it’s one of the best witnesses you could ever have. Just showing up with a good attitude, friendly, organized, being your best—people will notice there’s something different about you. They’ll want what you have.
As believers, we should set the standard in all areas of life. People should see the depth of your character and your spirit of excellence and know that you are a child of the Most High God. Make the decision to honor Him in all that you do because you are His representative in the earth today!

Live Excellently

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10a, NAS)

David was a man of excellence. The Bible tells us that David played his harp “skillfully.” He didn’t just play it, he played it with excellence. When he slung the stone that defeated Goliath, it wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t just a lucky break. David had practiced the slingshot year after year out in the shepherd’s fields. He was extremely talented with that slingshot. Some experts say he could hit a small bull’s eye more than 100 feet away!
In the same way, if we want to see God’s hand of promotion, we need to live excellently. In this day and age, if you’re not growing, then you’re at a disadvantage. If you’re at the same skill level this year as you were five years ago, then you are falling behind. It’s time to step it up a notch. Whatever you are doing, do it with all your might! Don’t get complacent. Keep growing; keep learning; keep improving. As you do your best to live excellently, God will bless the fruit of your labor. He’ll pour out His “super” on your natural and cause you to rise up higher into the life of victory He has in store for you!

Be Faithful with Little

"He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much"
(Luke 16:10, AMP)

Many people today are not experiencing God’s favor like they should simply because they’re not passing what I call, the small test. We have to be faithful with the little things in our lives before God will entrust us with bigger things. For example, being excellent in the workplace for you may not mean some huge adjustment. It may just mean leaving ten minutes earlier so you can get to work on time. It may mean not complaining when your supervisor asks you to do something. It may mean not making personal phone calls on company time. You might think, “It’s just a small thing. Nobody knows. It’s not hurting anything.” But the Scripture says, “It’s the little foxes that spoil the vines.” Don’t let the seemingly small things keep you from the big things God has in store. No, it’s time to come up higher. It’s time to be faithful, even when nobody’s looking

I encourage you today to make the decision to come up higher. Choose to be faithful with the little things so that God can bless you and make you ruler over much!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I choose to be faithful in all things. I repent right now for anything that I’ve done that has been displeasing to You. Help me by Your Holy Spirit to rise up higher so that I can be ready to embrace all You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Let Your Light Shine

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16, AMP)

Do the people around you see your light shining? Do they know you are a believer by your actions? Are you setting the bar in your office? Can people see your good works?

I know people who can quote half the Bible and pray two hours a day, but they have no influence or credibility because they’re sloppy in the workplace. They’re always late or wasting time. They’re not productive. They’re not efficient. No one will even listen to them.

I heard somebody say, “Your performance gives you a platform.” When you excel in what you do, that gets people’s attention. The way to gain respect, the way to gain influence is to develop your character and skills in such a way that people want what you have. They may not agree with what you believe, but when you are the best in your company, they can’t argue with that. You’ve earned their respect, not by your words, but by your spirit of excellence.

I encourage you today, don’t settle for mediocrity. You are a child of the Most High God. Make the decision today to let your light shine and bring Him glory in everything you do!