Tag Archives: increase

Gear Up!

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Gear Up

 

The term “Gear Up” can mean many different things, depending on the person and the field of expertise they walk in. No matter who you are and what you do, we need to daily “Gear Up” for the day. My life is diverse in so many ways and how I gear up depends on what I am doing that day.  I am the CEO of an International Missions Ministry ( http://www.livingwaterteaching.org ) and travel and minister. I am also the Co-Founder of MedCo International where we do Basic through advanced First Aid/CPR training, as well as Emergency Response for special events. Another position I hold, is I am the EMS Coordinator/Chaplain for the local fire/rescue service where I could be called out at any given moment for local emergencies. And the list could keep going. Above all these, I am a husband, dad, friend and Kingdom Kid of the most high God.

All this said, I have to gear up in many different ways depending on the moment; the same as many who are reading this blog have to do, as well. But there are some consistent daily steps that I take in gearing up my day, no matter what I am doing or what is going on. They are in my time of spiritual and also physical growth. I try to always start each day with time in the Word and getting fresh direction from God and clarity for the day, as well as put in some physical exercise to keep myself strong and healthy. I call this “taking care of the temple”.

So let’s focus on the spiritual gearing up process. First, who are you? Genesis 1 tells us “We have been created in His Image and likeness”. How cool is that? God did not just “throw us together” but instead, He “molded and perfected” us in His image. When I read this, I see we are a people whose intelligence, perception and determination far exceed any other being on this planet.

We can read another part of the daily gearing up process in verse 28 of Genesis 1: He said, “I have given you dominion”. What does that word dominion mean? Glad you asked =) It means: to rule, power, reign, authority, control. That word dominion was not given in reference to rule over each other, but instead, to rule this beautiful planet and the life He has given to each of us. We are to dominate and not be dominated; but so much of the time, people are dominated because they never gear up for the day. They wake up and wonder what is wrong with themselves or God or whoever they find to blame other than themselves.

I am not trying to be hard, but facts are facts and we have to take responsibility for ourselves at some point. The statement “how you see the glass – half full or half empty” speaks volumes!!!

So I will bring this to a close for this week with this thought. What are you doing to gear up for the day? How we start our day, speaks volumes for how we will finish it. But with that statement, I will add this. It’s never too late to make a fresh start. If you need a fresh start, then just close your eyes right now and picture yourself taking your life and putting it over into God’s hands where it belongs, anyways. Now take a fresh breath and ask God, “What would you have me do?” I have found that God is not moved by lengthy and proper sounding prayers, but instead, by an open heart calling out to Him like any other father. He is always there, no matter how things might feel.

But before all this, we have to leave the “old us” behind and make a fresh start by making Jesus the Lord of our life. That happens with just a few words, simply by saying something like: “Jesus, I am sorry for the life I have lived and ask this day for you to come into my life and make me new. I receive this now, in Jesus name, AMEN”. It’s that easy!

I want to end this post with the statement that I always close my weekly Kingdom Thinking Thoughts recap with. “So eyes up and gear up to take this new week gladiator style. Rule and dominate every second to it’s fullest and end each day with not a single regret!”

So GEAR UP and be ready, for the best days of your life are at hand NOW!!!!!

Please share below, your daily process for “GEARING UP”

Kingdom Thinking Thoughts Recap from Week 4

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I spent last week at a Minister’s Conference, sitting under some really anointed “life changing” teaching.

I made the decision last week to not post on the blog other than daily thoughts, because of something I heard in my spirit. John 12:49 (AMP) “This is because I have never spoken on My own authority or of My own accord or as self-appointed, but the Father Who sent Me has Himself given Me orders [concerning] what to say and what to tell”. V:50 “And I know that His commandment is (means) eternal life. So whatever I speak, I am saying [exactly] what My Father has told Me to say and in accordance with His instructions.”

This blog is not now nor has it ever been about me; but instead, it is a journal of my walk in and through the Kingdom.

So what I post on this blog, will be only as always – what I hear from the Throne-room.

Here are last week’s thoughts and my desire is that you will be blessed as you read through them. It does not matter what path you are walking, whether as a King or as a Priest; true and eternal success will only come through Kingdom Revelation.

Monday: Kingdom Thinking: Life is for living, so live it!

Tuesday: Kingdom Thinking: If God is not remembering your sins, then why should you???

Wednesday: Kingdom Thinking: We are the only one we can blame for unfulfilled dreams.

Thursday: Kingdom Thinking: By God’s example, words are for creating so start speaking.

Friday: Kingdom Thinking: Your dream does not have an expiration date on it.

Well that’s it, but another week is now here….   So eyes up and gear up to take this new week gladiator style. Rule and dominate every second to it’s fullest and end each day with not a single regret!

Kingdom Thinking Recap for week 3

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Sorry for my delay with this post!

I truly hope that each day with the thoughts that I post, will in some way inspire you. Every thought is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Honestly, I am posting nothing more than my life and growth of the Kingdom.

As you read them, open yourself up to receive inspiration for yourself in that day.

So enjoy this recap of week 3’s God inspired thoughts.

Monday: Kingdom Thinking: Don’t base your dreams on a budget.

Tuesday: Kingdom Thinking: Start where you are, but your increase is in where you are called.

Wednesday: Kingdom Thinking: The path to success is already established but you must walk it through! 1 Cor 15:57

Thursday: Kingdom Thinking: Be sure you never put man’s written word over God’s Kingdom Word.

Friday: Kingdom Thinking: Never limit the size of your dream based on your present economical status.

Well that’s it, but another week is just around the corner…. So eyes up and gear up to take this new week gladiator style. Rule and dominate every second to it’s fullest and end each day with not a single regret!

Living Your Dreams

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So when is it too late to start fulfilling a dream? The best answer I can give you is this: “When you are dead and buried”. Honestly, it’s never too late to start or even start over!

The race to complete a dream is not a time race as much as it is an endurance race. Now don’t get me wrong, we need to live our dreams and not dream about living them. What I mean by that, is that we do need to get going on the path that leads us to fulfilling our dreams BUT do not put a time limit on yourself or God. Setting goals is good, but putting a time limit on things can build discouragement which is a killer of great dreams! We must realize that our life and all that we do, is on God’s time schedule and not ours. So our part is to take our dreams and live them, but be patient in their completion.

We can look at the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis, starting in Chapter 37 and see a man with a dream, but not a schedule. What if he would have put a schedule on his life and then that deadline day came and nothing had come about yet? He would still be looking at the same prison stone walls and nothing would have changed. Joseph had to know that God had given him a dream and that God had a plan to see that dream come to pass.

Just like Joseph, you have to know that you have a dream and that God has a plan. Your primary part is to seek first the Kingdom Matthew 6:33 (AMP) “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.” You must have a dream and then start down the highway to fulfilling it and seeking Him for His plan every step of the way and not yours or someone else’s.

So how can we keep from letting discouragement creep in? We must first know that it’s God’s way we are going and not our own. We can look at the life of Gideon and see how this process works best. Starting in Judges 6, we can read about Gideon and his walk to completing what God had called him to do. In the end, Gideon finally had to realize that it must be done God’s way and not his own way. God’s way is perfect and ALWAYS brings success through an already completed victory. We can read that in 1 Cor 15:57.

(I encourage you to go back and fully read both of these stories.)

So you might be just now starting or making a completely new fresh start, but whichever it is, make it the right start.

Feel free to leave your thoughts below.

Prayer

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Prayer

So how’s your communication pathway with God? I hear so many saying they “just don’t know how to pray” while with others they say “I don’t have time to stop and pray”. Then we have those that when they pray it becomes nothing more than a venting session of how bad their life is.

I know God is not moved by long, drawn-out, whiny prayers no more than He is with one filled with a lot of theologically sounding babble But we can still find ourselves rambling in our talk time with Him to a point of honestly getting lost in Words. I found myself recently reading Matthew 6. It’s funny how things strike us differently at times, because I have read this many times, but as I was reading this chapter, it truly reached out and grabbed me differently. When I got to verse 5, my spirit surged and I was off on a journey. I got to verse 7 and saw the words “vain repetitions” and I could see this referring to endless babbling and long, drawn-out prayers that confuse. One thing I believe Jesus taught, was focused prayer. Prayer is a matter of the heart; a conversation if you will.

So let’s take a journey through this prayer in Matthew 6 starting in verse 9.

9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
(Honestly, as we talk to God, it’s not about how holy you can sound because God already knows the real you, so be that who He knows. It’s all about relationship!)

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
(In this verse the reader is recognizing God’s way as the way; not just later but in the here and now in every situation.)

11 Give us this day our daily bread.
(We recognize in this verse that God is our supplier. The Bible talks more about your prosperity than anything else. God has more than shown His constant desire that you be fully taken care of. It’s not by obligation He fills this but instead because of love.)

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
(This scripture, just as in Mark 11, states that we are forgiven but also that we must forgive.)

13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
(Let’s not get confused here in thinking that God brings things on His children. If He was going to do that, then why would He want to send His son Jesus to pay a full price for us? We are recognizing and declaring a hedge of protection around us and our families.)

Again, this is just one area that my daily journey took me to in simplifying my life. How do you find yours? By daily seeking Him and refusing to be a carrier of the weights of life.

If you would like to partner with us as we fulfill the calling that God has placed on our lives, then click here.  In the memo area of the donation page note #25000.  Living Water Teaching is a 501c-3 and all donations are tax deductible.

So leave your thoughts on prayer below.

Simplify

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sim·pli·fy (ˈsimpləˌfī) Verb – Make (something) simpler or easier to do or understand.

I have been focusing in my last two blogs on casting the cares and not being carriers of them. We are still going to be on that same path even with the title I chose this week.

1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

The word “care” – Merimna (Strongs #3308) from meiro “to divide” & noos, “the mind”. The word denotes distractions, anxieties, burdens, & worries. Merimna means to be anxious about daily life.

So now that we have done that little word study, let’s move forward with this thought to simplify even deeper. When I talk about simplifying, we could actually take that in so many different ways. It could be in how we are looking at things or how we complete a started task or project. To others it might mean lightening the loads of life. Honestly, the true meaning of simplifying one’s life, is found in them and them alone. We can seek the help of others and we can read all the self help books that are written, but until we first find ourselves, nothing else can eternally be done.

I love Matthew 6:33 (AMP) “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”

The focus is to seek the Kingdom and via that journey, we find His ways. When we find His ways, we too then can find our way and by Grace we can complete His calling for our lives. Life was never meant to be complicated, but by decisions made, it becomes that way. By decisions, we can now simplify that which was made complicated. HOW? By casting the cares, anxieties, burdens, and worries that so easily complicate daily life, if we allow it to.

Please leave your thoughts below.

Eyes Up!!!

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When I think about an Air Force fighter pilot, I can’t imagine their focus is on anything other than complete victory and the taking down of their enemy. They have to rely on their talents and tools to fulfill the mission.

The same is true with you; you have been fully equipped with ALL you could ever need to live each day in full victory no matter how the battle may look. I just read Psalms 121 again, but this time it ignited within me. Let’s look at it together.

Psalm 121:1-8 KJV “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”

The following are thoughts that came to mind as I read this:
V:1 hills, refers to hills of Zion & Jerusalem which was seen as the dwelling place of God.
V:3 Hebrew word for “keeps” (preserves) is used 6 times which emphasizes the care of God.
V:6 sun & moon represents His 24 hours a day protection over us.
V:7 we are preserved – not that things won’t come but that we can go through them in assured victory. 1 Cor 15:57
V:8 the keeping power of God sustains us 1 Thes 5:23

We must be like that fighter pilot and know who we are and use the equipment we have been given. From Genesis to Revelations, we get Kingdom Revelation of who we are and how to use the equipment that we have been given to live in complete and total victory.

So “eyes up” and be extreme about this day and all that you do for Him!

Please feel free to leave your thoughts, and/or comments below or e-mail me directly at keiths@lwtusa.org .

Kingdom Thinking Thoughts Recap for the Week of September 9th

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Greetings to all my friends and family,

Well another week has come and gone! For some, the week might have
been great and for others, you might be thanking God that it’s over.
Whichever one you are doing, it’s now a part of your life’s history. I
read a statement that said, “Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a
mystery, but today is a present, so make it count”. This is so true,
today is what you make it!

Here is a recap of last week’s Kingdom Thinking Thoughts. I pray each
one comes alive in you as you read them.

Monday – Kingdom Thinking: Make your mindset “I am Royalty by Kingdom
design, not words of man”!

Tuesday – Kingdom Thinking: Clarity of you is key to success in Him.

Wednesday – Kingdom Thinking: If your plan is about you and your
increase, then discard & start over! It’s not about you…. John
3:16 is our example.

Thursday – Kingdom Thinking: The reality of wholeness and completeness
in the Kingdom, must become functional reality and not just theory. Col.
1:12,13

Friday – Kingdom Thinking: Victim or conqueror – your choice. Take
this day “gladiator style”.

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 requests and or testimonies.

We pray you have a truly blessed day and week in all that you put your
hands to do!

Kingdom Thinking Thoughts – week 24

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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.

Dominion

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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…