Peace and Joy

 

Well the end of summer is getting closer and my favorite time of the year is drawing nearer. I love the Fall season all the way through to the Spring. I love the colors and the freshness that is in the air. Have you ever noticed how for most, it brings a spirit of peace and joy?

Life is made to be that way for God’s kids 24/7/365 because we are to create an environment of peace wherever we are and wherever we go. But we cannot be carriers of that which we do not have! The Word tells us in Nehemiah 8:10 NIV – “That the joy of the Lord is our strength” and I can’t see my God being anything but joyful.

I recently had a thought, “A critical spirit and a humble heart cannot dwell in the same person”. One of those will take over and that is what will illuminate out towards others, especially those that are closest to us. This is another reason we need peace and joy in our lives, so that our heart is right. A right heart is humble and in that heart you find peace and joy.

So how do we get to a place of peace and joy? I am glad you asked! You have to see yourself as living from there and not as always trying to get there. I know it might sound strange, but in victory is peace and joy but we have to make it our dwelling place and not our destiny. 1 Cor 15:57 AMP – “But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Victory has to be seen as a dwelling place and not as a destiny. Peace and joy are always something we are going to when victory is a destiny. So make victory your home now and forevermore and let peace and joy illuminate out of you for the entire world to see.

Kingdom Thinking Thought Recap for the week of August 27….

Greetings to all our friends and family,

What an awesome God we serve! When we know whose we are, then we
can also discover who we are!

I pray each of the “Kingdom Thinking Thoughts” come alive in you as you
read them.

Monday – Kingdom Thinking: Defeat is a mindset & not a reality!

Tuesday – Kingdom Thinking: Never let need nor schedule detour you
from your dreams!

Wednesday – Kingdom Thinking: One evident fact of a Christian life is
the desire to serve & not be served.

Thursday – Kingdom Thinking: It’s never about “What about me God?”

Friday – Kingdom Thinking: Kingdom minded or need minded?

True victory comes by first making Jesus Lord of your life and then
understanding and walking in Kingdom Reality.

Debbie and I would love to hear from you with your questions, comments, prayer request and or testimonies. We pray you have a truly blessed week in all that you put your hands to do!

Kingdom Thinking Thoughts Recap Week of August 20th

Greetings to all my friends and family. Well I am starting back my recap of the weeks Kingdom Thinking thoughts. I pray this last week was one of great success & victory but if not, a new one is right at hand!

Monday: Kingdom Thinking: victory is not a destination but instead a dwelling place we live from. 1 Cor 15:57

Tuesday: Kingdom Thinking: promotion via the compromising of character is demotion.

Wednesday: Kingdom Thinking: Making Jesus your Lord is the greatest promotion life can offer.

Thursday: Kingdom Thinking: “The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.” not my original statement, but so very true!

Friday: Kingdom Thinking: Our full dependency in God shows our trust in Him.

True victory comes by first making Jesus Lord of your life and then understanding and walking in Kingdom Reality.

Debbie and I would love to hear from you with your questions, comments, prayer request and or testimonies. We pray you have a truly blessed week in all that you put your hands to do!

Promotion – Part 1

 

What is promotion? Webster calls promotion, “the act or fact of being raised in position or rank”. From the very beginning of time, God created a world where all men and women were to be equal. But after the fall of man, that view became non-existent. Man became gods in their own eyes and we suddenly created a ranking system based upon fame, finances, and power. That did not stop in only the world, but it also oozed its way into the life of Christians, as well.

I will try to explain why I made that last statement. If you look at the world and look at the political /government body or the Hollywood wannabe’s, you see people obsessed with status; not love and respect for mankind. You can see it in the events they hold and the social gatherings they attend. The body of Christ is the same in a lot of ways. I watch ministers and business owners who follow the same pecking order; by those who they allow around them and who they associate themselves with. I see ministers run off the platform after ministry time and only allow a select few to have access to them; and again, the same is done in the business world. Correct me if I am wrong….. but, did Jesus do this? Did He have a status list that He went by to who were allowed around Him and who was not? Just in case you are thinking about this, NO and NO! The God kind of love has no boundaries or defining lines for who we allow in our lives. Ask the prostitute, the leper, and the list goes on and on. Jesus had no boundaries on His love as He walked this earth because it was God’s love walking in the flesh. (The greatest example I have known in my lifetime of a man of God that walked in this same excellence as Jesus did, by allowing any and all around him, was my father-in-law, the late Dr. Jim Zirkle).

This really is not the thrust of my post this week. My thrust is really to focus on your promotion. Even though we know His design, the world is not structured around it. So promotion in an earthly sense has become a part of our lives. But know this; nothing in life is worth the sacrifice of your character. If it requires the sacrifice of character, then it is not worth the fruit that will come of it.

So what should promotion be to us? I am glad you asked! Promotion to us should be the reward for a life of character showing through in all that we do. Our character should shout excellence without us speaking a word and via that demonstration of our character, the doors of promotion will open and even in places you never expected it.

There is more to come next week on this subject, so be sure to come back and continue this journey with us!

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!

Kingdom Thinking Thoughts – week 24

Here is a recap of this last week’s Kingdom Thinking thoughts. The last two weeks, I focused on Kingdom Characteristics which is from my teaching on “The Eight Pillars of the Kingdom”. I hope you enjoy them and it would really be a blessing if you could forward these to others you know.

Monday:
Kingdom thinking: Kingdom Characteristic – acknowledgement that Christ is the Lord over your life in ALL areas.

Tuesday:
Kingdom thinking: Kingdom Characteristic – a childlike faith is key. Simple belief because Dad said so, without explanation or concern.

Wednesday:
Kingdom thinking: Kingdom Characteristic – forgiveness – the Kingdom is based on love, and unforgiveness blocks love from ruling our lives!

Thursday:
Kingdom thinking: Kingdom Characteristic – dreamer – you were born to dream. Dreamers are visionaries. So dream, and dream BIG!

Friday:
Kingdom thinking: NON-kingdom characteristics-pride, lies, murder, sin, contention, false witness, Prov. 6:16 describes this!

I would love to hear back from you on your thoughts, prayer requests & praise reports.

His way is perfect…

ImageMany of the issues we have today are the direct response to the fact that people get a glimpse of God and His Son, Jesus, in the church but the revelation of His Kingdom is missed.  We speak on love, grace, faith, prosperity and every other topic we can find, but never giving people a foundation with which to stand on with those topics.  It’s like a car seat with no car or an ink pen with no ink cartridge; it’s only a part of the pieces we need to have completeness.

 In 2 Samuel 22:31AMP version it says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried.  He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him.”  If God’s way is perfect, then His Kingdom is perfect and if His Kingdom is perfect, then everything pertaining to it is perfect.  All the topics I mentioned above are topics of the Kingdom, but they are not the Kingdom.  We need to build people a Kingdom reality and then fill it with the pieces from there.  But, instead, we give them the pieces and hope that they can put them altogether for themselves.  This is where frustration and loss of hope come into the picture. 

 We tell them to pray and receive their healing or financial miracle without teaching them the Kingdom and so they never fully realize that miracles are simply a natural law of the Kingdom and nothing more than luck in the worldly kingdom.  Kingdom reality is the key to walking in what God has for you as either Kings or Priests. 

There is much more to come!!!!  

 

Dominion

ImageDominion

For the last year and a half, I have been led by the Holy Spirit to a place in my studies I had not really thought about.  In all reality, I had thought in that direction, but just not to the depth in which I am now dwelling in it.  I started studying the Kings & Priests (goers and the senders), first as the type and shadow we see in the Old Testament which is still God’s very active design today, just the same as the tithe and offering is.  I moved into the Kingdom thinking, and the government of God, which is the place where I am today.  I have described it to many as “deep sea diving in the Word.” 

 (The last time I spoke on the peace of God, a powerful testimony of the power of God was placed on my blog – which you can read yourself; I know it will bless you.)  We are a people that should dwell in peace 24/7/365, or at least that is what God’s design was to be.  Paul said in Philippians 4:11 “Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.”  You won’t find in the Word that it says anything about having no attacks, but we do have an assurance when they come and the Word says it well.  We know Paul went through so much in his ministry, but we also see the way he responded to the attacks against him, and the right response goes a long way!

 His Kingdom design for us was to have dominion, according to Genesis 1:26-28.  We gave up the right to that dominion, but Jesus paid the price for us to get it back.  However, we still act like we never did get it back.  That plan is described in Genesis 3 where God pronounced a curse on Satan.  Right there in Genesis 3, was the first mention of the Messiah coming to restore God’s Kingdom design.  So what are we to do with His dominion that has been granted to us?  Rule & reign over that which He has entrusted us with: His Kingdom.

 What is dominion?  By definition it is this: “The power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority, rule; control; domination of a territory, usually of considerable size, in which a single ruler ship holds sway; lands or domains subject to sovereignty or control. Government; a territory constituting a self-governing commonwealth.  That’s the dominion we have or at least were created to have and walk in.

 So I want to challenge you!  I challenge you to look at your life, at every area of it.  Then in the Word, find the scripture that relates to that area and declare your authority over it now and forevermore!  You won’t regret it!

 Guatemala Mission Trip, Seminar & Hero’s Outreach

When I started traveling full time for the ministry following the accident, mine and Debbie’s desire was to be a blessing to the ministry and to the places that we go to around the world.  As we travel internationally, although it is a ministry function, I have always stood by faith to raise support for these trips and not have to take it from the ministry.  We are leaving in just 12 short days for Guatemala where we will be doing a 3 day seminar, a Hero outreach to the fire fighters, and then Sunday services before heading back home.  I am so excited about this trip as I will be teaching on Kingdom Prosperity.  The budget for this trip has not been fully met YET, but I know my God is faithful as He has been for all of the other trips in past years.

***Guatemala Trip Budget:  $1,200 Mission Trip/Seminar  plus $500  Hero’s Outreach to the Guatemalan Fire Fighters  – Total $1,700 

But I do also know that He uses us as avenues of blessings & conduits of increase.  By seeding into the ministry He has called us to, you become a partaker of every life that is touched and every soul that is brought to Christ without ever physically leaving your city.  You can sow into this outreach or become a monthly partner by clicking on the partnership page of this blog.

Hero’s Outreach

My background before ministry life was in the EMS/FF/Search & Rescue field.  If you have the desire to help people like this, it never leaves you.  Still to this day, I am the chaplain for the local volunteer FD and continue to have an active Emergency Medical certification and teach throughout the year.  

Some years ago, the Lord opened a door in a fire department in Panama that has remained open to this day.  We train and minister to them and have seen in excess of 300 fire fighters give theirs lives to Christ.  We have also held this outreach in Paraguay and now are very excited about an upcoming outreach in Guatemala next month!  One of our missionaries, Debby Roth, did an outreach last year to the Police Dept. there in Guatemala and she had it on her heart to reach out to the fire fighters, as well.  God sent Debby to talk to the chief and the door has been opened.  This coming May, while I am there to teach and minister in a seminar, we will also be ministering to the fire fighters and imparting Godly leadership skills along with some very needed practical medical skills.   

Here is a link to keep up with this event.  Fire Fighter Outreach  

Special Opportunity 

As you might have noticed in the lower part of our e-mails we have been listing a needs list.  We have had a special opportunity to get two of the items for a great price. We can get a Sony DSLR camera for $300 and a Mac laptop refurbished but still a great opportunity for $500.  So we can get 2 of the items off the list for less than what we had thought we would be looking at for the one laptop.  Thank you in advance for your prayers and support with these items…

I CAN!!!!!

Philippians 4:13 (AMP) I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

Philippians 4:13 (KJ) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

We were watching a movie and this man was making a speech.  He was talking about his dad and a statement that was common to him.  The statement was “What would you do, if you knew you would not fail? Then do it!!!”  We as sons and daughters of the most high God truly do have that assurance.  We read that in Philippians 4:13 and we see that it is not because of our works but through the completed works of Christ.  If God said, “I can do all things”, then that’s what He meant, ALL THINGS!!!!

I remember my father-in-law, the late Dr. James Zirkle, making this statement:  “One of the biggest regrets old people have, is that they did not take enough chances”.  We can no longer let fear rule us!  We have got to take a stand on His Word and move forward with our God given dreams.

What a sad thing it would be to live your life only to get to the end of it and realize that we have never truly lived.

I pray this prompts you to dream at a level like never before and to live life so large that you become a light to a lost and dying world.

So I leave you with these two words…

LIVE UNPREDICTABLE

Ministry Update

What a wonderful year it has been and the best is yet to come!  We are drawing closer and closer to that 32 year mark for the ministry and look what all the Lord has done!!!!  We have seen over 700,000 new births; many of which were one on one and over 31,000 graduates from the Bible Schools in those 32 years.
In 2010, there were 145,448 people ministered to outside of normal church services and not including Bible school classes.  We saw over 20,000 new births from the groups and other such activities and graduated 1,344 Bible Students at our yearly graduation on our campus in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.  During the Shoebox outreach in December, we distributed 12,186 shoeboxes to babies and children in the countries of Guatemala, Panama, and Nicaragua which was combined with over 2,700 new births.
This year, we are believing for more, more, more, more and did I mention MORE?!  In March, we held one of two yearly medical mission trips in Guatemala where we treated 3,313 nationals and saw 347 give their lives to Christ.  In the months of June & July, we hosted our summer mission trips where we ministered to over 8,100 adults and children and saw 4,447 give their lives to Christ.
We are now preparing for our October 17-26 Medical Mission trip, and the December 2-10 Operation Shoebox mission trip.  We would love for you to come and be a part of one of these trips.  For more information, call our US Office @ 903-527-4160 or visit us on the web @ www.livingwaterteaching.org.
Be blessed,
Dr. Keith & Debbie (Zirkle) Spanberger

Hello World!!!!!

What a wonderful day we are resting in.  Did you notice I said resting in?  That is truly how God intended our lives to be BUT we take control of things and the rest is history….

Just in case you are wondering, the purpose of this Blog is truly not about me or a ministry but instead the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.   All that is written on here will be God inspired without any compromise.  So please share this with all that you know to help get the word out so that we can share Living Water with a dry & thirsty world.

Moving forward now…

How many have felt that they have been walking through their very own wilderness experience?  I know that I have, but during that time I have come to know a greater presence of God than ever before.  I am not saying that He placed me here, I needed no help there!  What I am saying is  that as I have pressed closer to Him, I have felt Him closer to me.  Things have become clearer and the Word has become so much more alive to me & in me.  But just a short time ago, all I wanted to do was find a corner and hide and just close my eyes hoping it would all go away.  But it didn’t and I had to shake the dust off and move forward.  Sounds easy, but sometimes we need a loving push and a good kick in the rear and I got it!

We must realize that the Blood of Jesus qualifies us to have constant access to the Most High God.  A 24/7/365 connection to Him, His anointing, His supply, His protection, His peace, His everything; so even in a desert I have ALL I need to enjoy life to the fullest!

So wherever you are today in this great big beautiful world, take hold of what is yours.  Stop looking for the light at the end of the tunnel and start walking in the light through the tunnel of life.  Life is going to have its ups and downs but just make a decision to enjoy the ride no matter what!

Always remember to live Extreme for Him in ALL that you do,

Keith