In my last post, I started setting the groundwork for teaching on “Your Promotion”. Last week, I was on the road on a ministry trip and had a major computer issue before leaving, so I was not able to send this out; but I am back and away we go!

While away on my trip, I spoke at a youth service in CA on the very topic of Promotion. One thing we must realize about our promotion, is that we have already received the greatest promotion possible on this earth when we made Jesus our Lord. Nothing else can compare to that, but yet many times it’s the least of our focus. The benefits are beyond anything this world could EVER offer or dream of offering and they are eternal! YES, ETERNAL!!! Now I am not saying we should not want promotion in our lives. We live in a world where many people compromise their character to climb the ladder of success only to find that their time at the top is only temporary. I believe that what we compromise to get, we will have to compromise to keep. But through God, success and promotion in this world does not need to come through compromise. His favor can and will open doors no man can shut.

To receive God’s level of promotion, we must have faith and fullness of trust in Him but also walk in excellence in all that we do. Colossians 3:23 (AMP) “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men” . I can hear it now, “I am not going to serve that man or woman like that!” If that’s your heart and level of service, then you have compromised your character. The Bible says in Genesis 1 that we are “made in His image” and if that is true, which it is, then we also have His character. If promotion is not based on character along with ability, then the return on the promotion is not going to be all it should be. Even on the job, I would rather it be God who opens the door for promotion instead of me and my works, because it takes an eternal place in my life if it is from Him.

So the end result of this is, if we don’t make life about us but instead make it about Him and live according to Kingdom design, then promotion and success will come! If you have not yet seen it, be patient and realize that God is not on your time schedule but you are to be on His. Until next time, keep reaching forward!

Debbie and I would love to hear from you. You can post your comments below or send us an email directly through our contact page. Until next week, keep pressing forward!

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When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, or so its been said!  I know you have probably heard this statement many times.  It has a great truth behind it, telling us to take the sour things in life and make them desirable.

Life is not without opportunities no matter who you are or where you are from. Money, fame, and success does not exempt you from them. But no matter what, we cannot make up excuses for as to why these things are happening.  You cannot blame it on your parents, music, this world or anything else, because when you do, you are increasing the power of those situations in your life.  The Bible tells us that we have an enemy but that through Jesus, we have a very sure victory.  At any given moment, a storm can show up on the horizon of life; but we can through Christ Jesus overcome and conquer.  And when others are going through the storms, we need to be supportive and loving even if we do not have the solution or perfect words to say.

Today is a new day and a fresh start is at hand.  You can put behind you whatever it is that has been holding you back. Stop allowing the excuses to have the authority you have been giving them and stand strong and move beyond whatever it is!  But to do this, you must first know Whose you are, so that you can know who you are.  Because Whose you are, sets the stage for who you are able to be and what you are able to do in this life we have been so blessed with.

Today, take a fresh look at yourself and decide once and for all that you are not defined by a past or a person, but instead by design.  A Godly design that goes beyond all natural understanding that is defined in Genesis 1:26-28.

I just heard this statement made, “Sometimes we have to travel a long road to go a short distance”.  No matter how long the road might feel, always know that the end of it is close at hand.

Debbie and I would love to hear back from you , with your testimonies and whatever else you would like to share or even ask.  You can email me at keiths@lwtusa.org or post your thoughts and comments on this blog.  Always remember to keep pressing forward and DO NOT LOOK BACK!

I know that everyone if not at the time of reading this, then at some point in their life, have wondered how to get to the place called THERE.

If you are at this time in your life wondering how to get to that place, again realize that you are not alone.  Also realize that there is no age, race, or gender limitations.  You might be dissatisfied and needing a fresh start or just trying to get to that next place in life.  Whichever it is,  just realize they are both in reach more than you know.  As long as you are breathing, then that place is always just one move closer to you. Now I am not going to say to just walk away from the job you have.  No, because they are investing into your future.  See them as a partner in your success and not a weight that is keeping you from getting to THERE!  If you will learn to manage the here and the now and treat what you already have as I mentioned above, as an investment, then your success is even closer than you think.

Let’s line out some thoughts to better define what I am talking about:
1.  When serving your life investor (your present job) then serve with excellence and as the Bible says, “as unto the Lord”.  When you are there for them, be there for them and them only.

2.  When you are on your own time, use it wisely, balancing it between God, family, friends and dreams.  If you will learn to balance these areas and use them to the fullest, then again THERE is right at hand. I remember reading about a writer who became famous and who was greatly published and movies were made after her writings.  It seemed she had the balance in order and her success came in due season.  You too can do the same because they are principles for all and not just made for one person.

3.  Life and success and the arrival into THERE is not just done by doing what someone else did to get to their THERE.  This journey is not “one size fits all” but instead is about taking the above principles and
applying your life to them; you too can write the book of your life to success.

So this is your wake-up call and the train is now leaving the station to the place called THERE!  Are you ready to board the adventure of a life?

Debbie and I would love to hear back from you , with your testimonies and whatever else you would like to share or even ask.   You can email me at keiths@lwtusa.org or post your thoughts and comments on this blog.  Always remember to keep pressing forward and DO NOT LOOK BACK!

In this post, I want to write about something that is a key to a truly joyful and successful life.  I remember a statement the late Dr. James Zirkle, my father-in-law (and also the Co-Founder of the ministry my wife, Debbie, and I are CEO’s over), used to make.  He would say, “One of the greatest regrets that old people have is that they never took enough chances in life”.  I just turned 44 last month (June 2012) and I know that even in my own life, I have not taken great steps, much less big risks, to fulfill the dreams God has given to me.

But let’s not look at what was, but instead what is and could be.  Today, this very second, is a new moment in your life and it’s time to move forward with a fresh and new commitment to the fulfilling of your dreams.   You are not too old until you are dead and buried!  So if you are reading this, then you are apparently not dead and buried, so toss out the excuses and get on with it.  We have played the “whiner game” long enough.  Most people could not even tell you clearly what their dream is, because although they have one, they have never taken the time to write it down much less count the cost to even start it.

So what do you do from here?  I am glad you asked!  If you are already following the plan I have been proposing through this blog, then you are journaling your life for 31 days.  Well, here is where we start; write your dream down in your journal at this very moment.  Write down your dreams, be detailed, and draw pictures; who cares how it may look or sound.  I am sure when Thomas Edison talked about an object to produce light, all those around him probably thought “you are crazy”, but look at where we are today!  I have a light above me while I type this, because of a man and his dream.

The Bible says “write the vision and make it plain”- so take that to heart this day and act upon it.  I believe there is someone, somewhere, whose dream will make a difference in others’ lives to a greater level than they could ever imagine.  I can tell you this, every time I find myself dreaming, I see the faces of those that my dream is truly there for.  Our life is not about us, but instead about those that we have been called to reach out to.

I can’t wait to hear the fruit of change that will come in the lives of those that are taking this challenge.

Homework:

Continue your 31 day journal, adding into it now your dreams and as you have a dream, write it down in detail and leave nothing out.

Prayers over Aurora, Colorado

As the world saw the horror unfold from the attack in Aurora, CO we witnessed another picture of how badly the world needs to come together in prayer and stay there.  So it is when things get bad, we start praying together, and then after a time, we stop until the next horrible event happens.  I am tired of “we the people” allowing these satanic attacks to happen in a world that God created for us, in which we were made to dominate and not be dominated over.  We need to take a stand once and for all and make Godly values be something we live and not just talk about; we need to not only run to Him in bad times.  Let’s not let Aurora, CO be just another event that after time we let go of, but instead let it be the wake-up call that the world needs to say “ENOUGH”.   It’s time we take a global stand against these things like this that keep happening and pray like never before.  Do not let the lives that were taken or injured go silent; but instead, be the voice of change globally for us all.

As you do pray for the people of Aurora, please pray for the families and friends of those that lost their lives and for those that were injured both physically and emotionally.  Also be praying for the first responders (policemen, firemen, EMT’s and paramedics, etc) who will forever live with the images they saw as they tried to save the lives of those that were alive and also those that could not be saved.  Pray that God would rest His perfect peace upon all their homes and that they can move forward from hurt into a place of peace, victory and forgiveness!  Pray that the victory in this time will be God’s and that the world will finally put aside its selfish wants and desires and that His Kingdom will rise up so that God can be glorified forevermore.

Debbie and I would love to hear back from you , your testimonies and whatever else you would like to share or even ask.   You can email me at keiths@lwtusa.org directly or post your thoughts and comments on this blog.  Always remember to keep pressing forward and DO NOT LOOK BACK!

So how’s your homework assignment coming along?  I outlined this homework in my last blog post, which you can refer back to it from here before you go any further, if need be. CLICK HERE TO READ LAST WEEK’S BLOG POST

You cannot change what you can’t even identify.  By moving forward with this journal, you will see your days unfold on paper right before your eyes.  This will help you make an educated strategic plan of attack which can bring forth much fruit in your lives.

Hopefully, you can now clearly see some areas that might need attention in your life.  It might be in your health with regards to your eating and fitness.  Using someone else’s plan is not bad BUT realize it is their plan and not yours.  Truly “one size” does NOT fit all, but you can gleam insight from what others have done.  Watch out for the failure pit!  The failure pit is a spot in the road of life where disappointment grabs you and you cannot shake it loose.  Sometimes in using someone else’s plan, you might not get the results they got and disappointment can set in and cause you to give up.  This can happen and you never even realize what is happening, until it is too late.  I myself have fallen in this pit countless times; but in June of last year (2011), my wife and I made some changes that just over a year later have been life changing.  (I have to add a note in here regarding how God can also put people in our lives to help.  I had a friend come into my life around June, who was a huge key, in which God used in my health and eating to help me get to the place where I am today.  Michael G., you know who you are and thank you, my friend!)  Now today, Debbie and I feel stronger than we ever have at any other point in our lives.

So what’s the secret plan?  First, you must get some wisdom in the area that you are struggling in and wanting to change.  This wisdom can come from researching how others had success in the area or areas you are desiring to see change; but also, the greatest wisdom comes as you take the time to read the Word of God and meditate on what you are reading.  Then taking that wisdom and through prayer finding out what fits you and your life and then making a plan.  Now it’s time to put your plan into action AND DO NOT LOOK BACK!!!!  Again, this life is NOT “one size fits all”, but you find what fits you and you walk it out into a place of great success.

Now all that I just said can be applied to every area of your life; spiritually, physically, financially, emotionally and socially.  But it’s going to take time, patience, and a willpower that is not going to allow the potholes in the road of life to hold you back or knock you out of the race.  YOU CAN DO IT!

 Homework:

 Stick to your 31 Day journal & take control of the here and now!  Just a side note here about journals; journals are so important and should be a part of all of our lives and you should daily beyond this 31 day journal, be living out your life in its pages.  WHY? For your future generations to know about you and the life you lived.  You should learn from each other’s errors and successes.  So just let this be food for thought.

I would love to hear back from you on how this went, your testimonies and whatever else you would like to share or even ask.   You can email me at keiths@lwtusa.org directly or post your thoughts and comments on this blog.  Always remember to keep pressing forward and DO NOT LOOK BACK!

To help us help others click here.

To read more about the ministry click here.

To see our speaking schedule click here.

Well this blog entry is telling on me, but you might also find “you” in it!

I am guilty, guilty, guilty BUT forgiven, forgiven, forgiven and always and forevermore forgiven!  Do you ever find yourself trying to find the time to get everything done while forgetting what it was that needed to be done in the first place?  Let me explain that a little more.  It’s a new day but it starts all wrong;  first by getting up late and then missing your morning devotional and exercise time.  You rush through the house trying to get done everything that needs to be done, all the time kicking yourself for getting up late for whatever the reason was.   As you go throughout the day, now it seems like everything is out of whack and you are running against the clock and when the end of the day does come and your head hits the pillow, you sigh and ask yourself, “What happend”?!?

Does this sound familiar?   If it does, then lets you and I take a stand for a new day, one we have control over and not letting it control us.  Time is truly the only thing we have that is ours and it is also our most valuable asset being we can’t make more and we can’t get back what we wasted.  Today is the only thing that matters.  I cannot change what was (yesterday) nor worry about a day that I am not guaranteed (tomorrow).   BUT being I am here and now, then today is
what I am to focus on.  God wants us to take this day that He has made, and make the best of it – not on our own abilities and supply, but instead on His and His alone.

So how do we get control of the “here and now” so that we can get to the “yes and amen”?  First, step away from all your previous ideas of how it is supposed to be.  You cannot conquer today with yesterday’s battle plan.  Every day is new and so is the battle plan for the day. We should have a daily AM routine that first creates an environment of peace and gets us into a place where we can get direction.  Taking those first few moments of the day and stretching and getting some exercise, has a two-fold effect.  One is physically – as we stretch and take those deep breaths in and out, our body is oxygenated throughout which brings a renewing to it, head to toe.  Then spiritually – as we take time to read the Word and meditate on it, we also gain mental and spiritual clarity on how to handle the things we might encounter in the day.  Just in these two things, we have set new foundations on which to stand and as we move forward, we are strengthened to conquer and overcome and not be defeated and overtaken.

So let’s move ahead and create a new day of victory and learn from each day what does and dos not work.  This is easily done by journaling your life.

Homework:

Take the next 31 days and journal each day from the time you get up until the time you lay down.  Note your habits, the mistakes you made and the mountains you conquered.  Create a plan and stay with it – that involves both a physical and spiritual kickstart first thing each morning when your feet hit the floor.  Be honest!!!

I would love to hear back from you on how this went, your testimonies and whatever else you would like to share or even ask.   You can email me at keiths@lwtusa.org directly or post your thoughts and comments on this blog.  Always remember to keep pressing forward and DO NOT LOOK BACK!

To help us help other click here.

To read more about the ministry click here.

To see our speaking schedule click here.