Tag Archives: Living Water Teaching

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.

Kingdom Thinking Recap for Week 1

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Wow, it’s so exciting that 2013 is here! I am truly excited about this year. I have been hearing in my spirit, that 2013 would be the year of great Kingdom Revelation. But it will not come to those that are not seeking Him. He has to be your priority!

I was ready to start the Kingdom Thinking thoughts back into full speed ahead mode and so here is the first recap for this blessed new year!

Monday: (Blank on purpose).

Tuesday: Kingdom Thinking: Allow no regrets from 2012 into 2013.

Wednesday: Kingdom Thinking: Make it a point to find the good in every day, no matter what! It’s simply your decision to make.

Thursday: Kingdom Thinking: Excuses for why you’re not in your YES are nothing more than anchors of weakness.

Friday: Kingdom Thinking: Procrastination if allowed becomes the silent killer of our peace.

Well the first week has come and gone and week two is already here. So eyes ahead 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!

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.

The art of learning to cast…

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The art of learning to cast

 

I had a gentleman last week propose a suggestion on my blog post that prompted this week’s post. The suggestion in a nutshell was to tell people “how to cast” and not just telling them “to cast”. Have you ever been to a service or meeting and heard a teaching that just seemed so right but never quite made it home? Well I have!!!! In areas of grace, finances, health, or even relationships, I find teachings that have a great start but they never make the full circle of bringing it home to really be applicable in one’s life. I never want to do that here with the Kingdom Thinking Blog.

So how do you learn to cast? I’m sure any true fisherman would tell you that you can’t just grab a pole and start throwing. There is a seeking of the perfect rod and reel and then the perfect line and finally to the lure and then patiently taking the time to learn and grow. Well honestly, there are some great Kingdom principles in that. God has fully supplied all the tools you need to live a Kingdom life to the fullest; not in just one area of your life, but in every area. BUT, you have to take those tools and patiently study them and allow them to become a part of your life so that you can use them as designed. As a fisherman, you are daily perfecting your casting skills through seeking Him in the Word and trusting Him in your actions.

So how do you cast the cares that so easily weigh you down? First, you must take your eyes off of the cares and get your eyes on Him. When I say “get your eyes on Him”, it is not a reference of looking at a physical man but instead to do as He said in the Word. 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 cannot be the carrier of a problem and a seeker of the Kingdom at the same time. As you seek the Kingdom, you are actually seeking God and as you seek Him you find a peace that truly does surpass all understanding if you allow what you read to seed in you.

Getting back to the fisherman; as long as they are simply carrying the tools of a fisherman and not using them, they will never find themselves in that place to get the perfect catch. It is the same for you; until you let go of the baggage you are carrying, you will never really find yourself in a place of growth and increase. God has so much for you and to live a life not partaking of them is like paying for your dream car or home, but never being able to enjoy them. Here are couple of great casting scriptures to fill your tackle box with:

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.

Psalms 55:22 (AMP) Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).

And as you cast, you are perfected by the completed works of Christ at the Cross. Psalms 138:8 (AMP) The Lord will perfect that which concerns you; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever–forsake not the works of Your own hands.

I will close with this; a very close friend of mine just texted me with a thought as I was writing this post. This text was perfectly timed because it talked about Galatians 6:2 (AMP) “Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].” Now you must ALL know that when you read the words “the law of Christ” that you are reading about the love of Christ. He is not telling you to carry one another’s baggage, but instead to be carriers of a love for others; a love so great that you can’t stand to see them not whole and complete.

So it’s time to cast from you all the heaviness of life and reel in the fullness of His peace that passes all of your natural understanding. There is no bigger catch!

Pursuing Your Passion

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I recently read a quote online from the iconic Steve Jobs. It went something like this, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you have not found it yet, keep looking, and don’t settle”. It is true, we need to find our passion and pursue it.

I read one definition of passion that describes it as: “A strong and barely controllable emotion”. So what is your passion? Mine is to touch lives in all that I do.

Whether you love or hate Apple and the late Steve Jobs, he was a man with passion. People like Bill Gates, Katy Perry, Henry Ford, Walt Disney; the list goes on and on with names of people who have followed their passions. History is full of men and women that had passion to change the present time they lived in which impacted the future that was ahead of them. But only one had enough passion to impact the past, present and future all in one life. His name was Jesus, and He is my all in all in everything!

Passion is what pushes us beyond to think about others almost to the point of risking our own lives. Passion is what pushes a fireman, law enforcement officer or a soldier to put their lives on the line and risk all to save a life that they do not know. Passion moves mountains and changes the here and now and affects the outcome of tomorrow.

I urge you to daily pursue your passions with all your heart.

 

I CAN!!!!!

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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

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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