Tag Archives: rich

Are You Really Secure?

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secure

Are you really secure? What a profound question to ask!

Let’s first define the definition of secure: Free from danger, attack, loss, free from fear, anxiety, or doubt, stable or firmly fastened, reliable and dependable.

I remember Debbie’s dad, the late Dr. James Zirkle, making this statement: “If you want to succeed, then help someone else succeed”.

I believe discipleship means you are always leading others to a place called there or their yes. You are to be helping others find their way. Here is a link to my first Podcast title: “Are you a beacon of light for the lost?” – Which focuses on this very topic. I have made some awesome new friends lately and everyone is always so eager to help one another succeed at their dreams and the group just keeps growing with other like-minded individuals.

But you don’t always see this attitude around you; either Christian or not. You can look at the businesses, churches, and ministries and find insecurity that speaks out in the inability to work with others in fear they might lose something or someone. Insecurity creates a wall that keeps you from advancing and at some point you will be the one thing that kills your own dreams if you were to continue in that insecurity.

I myself want others to succeed and I want to rejoice with them as they are rejoicing. I have a friend named Kimanzi Constable and he just moved to the next level of his dream by moving to Hawaii. Another new friend I consider to be close has two successful businesses; he also blogs weekly and his name is Zech Newman. Another good friend is Kent Sanders, who to me is the king of Evernote, which I love and use it ALL the time. (CLICK HERE to visit his Evernote training site.) I will be spotlighting more and more of these friends as we go, because that’s what we are to do – help others, not with an agenda but because we are called to help and lift one another up. (Side note – You all who are my dreamer friends and you know who you are, I want say thank you so much for all you have done to bless my life!)

Now how do we do this? How do we put ourselves to the side and openly help each other achieve their dreams? By letting down the walls and letting others in so we can help them be all they dream and desire to be, by being secure in who we are and also whose we are. I’m a Christian, no apology and no hiding it. That’s who I am and what I am. I’m secure in who I am and also whose I am because of Christ in me, the hope of glory, Colossians 1:27.

I started the http://www.kingdomthinking.org blog for one reason and that is to share my Jesus as I grow in His Kingdom. Hopefully by doing this, others will be able to learn because we spend so much time recreating a wheel that is already built and perfected.

So I ask you again, are you secure? Can you wake up each new day and take it head on with no regret or condemnation? If not, allow me to give you a good starting place. Grab any Bible and turn to Matthew 6:33 and start there and move forward.

You are highly favored and deeply loved beyond anything you could ever imagine.

So eyes up and gear up for the best is right at hand. Take this day gladiator style, ruling and reigning, dominating it and not letting it dominate you!

CALL TO ACTION

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Long before the posters of Uncle Sam came to be, a call to action was pronounced.

UncleSamWantsYou

Before we charged the front lines of any battlefield or charged the beaches to take back what our enemies had taken, a battle cry was proclaimed.

vietnam-war-01

Now please do not think I am putting down our military, because I love our men and women who are holding the lines around the world – I even have two boys doing their part in the Air Force. But long before any of this was even thought of, a battle cry went around the world and called ALL of mankind to rise up and take their place to live a life with purpose and vision for the lost and lonely who had no hope.

As we daily walk the battlefields of life, many turn a blind eye to what’s going on around them. They live life as if everything is ok, but it’s not. People daily make decisions that will affect them beyond this short time they have here on earth. They live for themselves as if they don’t need an eternal savior but when they find themselves lying at the threshold of life and death, they find themselves crying out for a person they never took the time to know. They might have even found their way and maybe are even living their dream, but if it never impacts the lives of the hurting and hungry souls, then what good is it?

But at the same time, I know there are those that proclaim Him as their savior, but never take the time to really get to know Him. God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him; not a “fly by” one that drops an empty prayer filled with empty words spoken from an empty heart. After all these years, I seem to daily find something new about Him!

Why don’t you start your journey right this second? Set your spiritual GPS; grab a pen, paper, and get ready, because an EPIC adventure awaits you!

So eyes up and gear up for the best is right at hand. Take life gladiator style, ruling and reigning forevermore.

We would love to hear from you on this post or any older ones. Maybe you have a thought about a future blog post; please share it.

Until next time, live Xtrem4Him!!!!!

Gear Up (Part 10) – “CHANGE”

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change

The word “change” is defined by Webster as: “The act or instance of making or becoming different”.

The greatest change we will ever make or deny, is making Christ The Lord of our life. Now I know me making that statement will automatically make my blog not for everyone; but on the flip side, it is a blog that ALL need to read because of our overwhelming need for Christ and the understanding of what a Kingdom life really is. You can spend 1 minute on any social media site and see that most people, even many Christians, have no clue on Kingdom living! This is what this blog is all about.

Have you ever found yourself at a point in your life where you needed things to be different? It could be because of your health or career situation; but whatever the reason was, you just needed change. I have found myself at this cross-roads many times, but I have not always been willing to make the needed changes. A few years ago, I made some eating and exercise changes that after time, reaped some benefits. However, because of not allowing those change to become habits, I wavered and never really stuck to things. Over this year (2013), I have done better; but, there is always room for more growth and improvement. Other changes I needed to make have become evident lately, as well, and I wanted to share some of them in this blog post.

I will start with yesterday: Sunday, November 17th. I have read many articles this year on unplugging and the benefits of it. When I say unplugging, I’m talking about not checking e-mails, not even looking at social platforms, texting with non-family members, or anything that has to do with work and unplugging from it. In the day and time we live in with smart phones, tablets, and laptops in every person’s hands almost globally, it’s created an addiction – like movement that we feel like we HAVE to check these things . I have set in restaurants and watched couples on dates and also families, engrossed on their phones, instead of living in the moment with those they are with. How many lost seconds, minutes and hours have been given to this addiction? So I took a stand to unplug and it was refreshing! My new commitment is that every Sunday is my unplug day. I would encourage you to set at least one day a week to do this and make it a day for God, family, friends, or maybe even just a book day!

Next is keeping a journal. I believe we should have a work journal to help us track our work, but more importantly, we should have a journal for life. I have heard it said, “No one will be interested in reading about my life after I’m gone”. If that is the case, then we are at fault for not making our life an extraordinary one. I might not have lived a life that others would want to read about up until now, BUT as long as I’m still breathing, that book is still being written. I also want my future generations to know who I am – not just by what others say or don’t say about me, but by my life lived out in my journals. Plus, it also gives me a way to go back and relive those special moments. I have notes, thoughts, scriptures, pictures, movie tickets, etc. pasted on the pages. My new commitment is to journal more often than ever before, because my life is extraordinary. I have the most AMAZING wife, children, family, friends. I spend my life reaching out to others and God is daily showing me something new in His Kingdom. My late father-in-law, Dr. James Zirkle, once said this, “The shortest pencil is better than the sharpest mind”. My journals in a nutshell, are my life lived on paper. Your life is worth that, also. You must see the value of you and a journal can help with that.

Last thing for the post is exercise. I’m daily getting up and doing something to better my body. Stretching, lifting weights and/or just simple core work, helps me kick start each day – just like my Word time. Something is better than nothing and once you start, the benefits seem to push you to do more.

I really hope this post helps you get a new view of how to live a Kingdom life. God has prepared a life just for you and it is AMAZING if you can simply get past the junk of this world.

We would love to hear from you with your questions, prayer requests, and/or praise reports.

So until next time, eyes up & gear up for the best is right at hand!

LivXtreme4Him

What would you do?

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question-mark-1

It seems like forever since I last posted, but actually, I posted “Redeemed” on July the 9th. I wanted to share something in this post that I feel God revealed to me on a recent vacation. A few months ago, we had a cruise booked with some close friends and as it got closer and we were preparing to leave on our trip, we heard some very disturbing news. Our cruise ship had become crippled at sea and the rest was history; most all know how this story went… So fast forward to current time; we decided to go on a family cruise this time and we found a really good deal on a ship. YES, the ship was that very same ship we had booked before, but it had been restored to what was supposed to be better than ever. A “multi-million dollar face lift” is what we heard. So let’s stop here for right now with this story.

So what would you do? Would you say, “Well I am not setting foot on that ship!” OR would you say, “It’s all new, I’m in!”? Would you allow the fear of the past dictate the decision of the present? As for us, we were in and ready to go and so away we went. We are now back home again from our amazing trip with tons of new memories that we will not soon forget. (Just a side note, the ship was everything and then some!)

So here’s my thought in this. How many times has fear held you back? How many times has fear or rumors made you reconsider? We are told in 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

Fear should never be allowed to give direction in our lives. We should be a people that live and dwell in peace and then when we hear that voice inside of us speaking, then we stop, listen and obey. In every area of our lives, that voice will speak IF we recognize it. We recognize it from a relationship; that is the fruit of Matthew 6:33.

In a nutshell, we must not let anyone or anything stop us from moving forward in what GOD has called us into. Once you know it’s from Him, then the approval of others is not needed nor should that direction be questioned. So MOVE forward and never waiver or look back.

July Mission Trip Update:

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Below is a link  to pictures from the Living Water Teaching July youth group to Guatemala. They ministered the drama 13 times to 2,221 people and the results were: 1,157 Salvations and 45 Reconciliations. PRAISE THE LORD! Email us at lwt@lwtusa.org to find out how you can go and be a part of one of the life changing mission trips LWT holds throughout the year.  click this link to see the pictures: http://goo.gl/SJMbzy

Redeemed

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redeemed

Redeemed (Verb)
1. Compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something).
2. Do something that compensates for poor past performance or behavior.

Psalm 107:2 (AMP) “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”

Galatians 3:13 (AMP) “Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse.”

What an amazing gift redemption is. There is nothing like it and only one that could ever give it. Christ paid a price no other could or would pay. I read those two scriptures and the many more that are throughout the New Testament talking about our redemption and can’t imagine life without it.

You and I are redeemed from a past, present, and future; not so we can live a reckless life full of sin – but instead, a care-free life purchased by His Grace. Can you even wrap your mind around what the word “redeemed” even encompasses? Honestly, no one could ever truly do that because once you think you have then something else comes under the price paid. Your life is no secret to the Father but yet He still allowed His Son to die for you and me. Many think they can hide their life and skate by, but life is an open book and nothing is hidden from God. He loves us so much that even for the worst sinner the price is paid in full once Christ is made Lord over their life.

You are redeemed from the struggles of the past and released from the bondages of what was. Jesus has washed away the stains with His precious blood so that each day is a new one and every second you live is free.

So today let go of those unlocked shackles and move on. Receive your redemption!  Therefore, say this with me: “Lord Jesus, I ask you to come into my life and make me new. I confess you as my Lord and Savior now and forevermore. I now call myself the redeemed of the Lord as your Word says. In Jesus Name – AMEN!”

We would love to hear from you with your praise reports, prayer request or anything else you would like to share below.

HE STOPPED THE SUN….

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He stopped the sun

Joshua 10:13 (AMP) “And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed”

I would love to have seen that miracle play out.  I can just picture all those that day watching & wondering what was going on!

Have you ever wondered what He would do for you to see you succeed in the task at hand?  His reach is limitless, so there is no boundary that can stop Him from moving heaven and earth or even stopping the sun to see you succeed.

Most think too small, but I can picture Joshua that day just looking up and saying, “Hey God, will you do me a favor and stop the sun for me?”  Can you imagine God doing that very same thing for you?  Oh, I can and so much more!  We don’t need to waste time with flowing tears, screaming voices and lengthy theological words; but instead, all we need to do is just talk to Him.

Honestly, is stopping the sun such a great miracle compared to the miracle that manifests when we make Jesus the Lord of our lives?  I never negate the power and awesomeness of any miracle, but can there be one greater than the forgiveness of every sin and the transference into eternal life?  If you are pausing and thinking, let me answer for you.  That’s a big NNNNOOOO!!!!!!  There is no greater miracle – past, present or future.  So whatever you need, even the stopping of the sun, you have it.  You should go through the Word and find all the scriptures that have to do with the power of your words.  One of my favorites is found in Mark 11:23 & 24 (AMP) (23) “Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.  (24) For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].”

We would love to hear from you with your praise reports, prayer request or anything else you would like to share below.

I want to end this blog saying Happy Fathers Day to all the guys out there who are blessed enough to be called dad.

Kingdom Thinking Recap – Week 24

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Well its time to say good-bye to another week, but the posted Kingdom Thinking thoughts from it are nuggets of Kingdom wisdom you can always use.

Please forward them to others you know, because we can always use a touch of the Kingdom!!

Monday: Kingdom Thinking: Make this a supernatural “I AM” day with all that is spoken from you mouth!

Tuesday:  Kingdom Thinking:  How big is your picture of God?  Then that’s how free He is to move in your life!

Wednesday:  Kingdom Thinking: In hard times, do you start thinking HOW or do you look to HIM?  Matt 6:33

Thursday:  Kingdom Thinking:  Godly boldness shows your trust in His covenant promise. Read Mark 5 & see this in action.

Friday: Kingdom Thinking:  Kingdom success is measured by the life you give and not what you get in life.

Well that’s it for now, 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!

 

Gear Up! (Part 5) “Purpose”

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Gear Up

 

What is purpose? It’s the reason for which something is done or the reason for which something exists.

I just wrote a partner letter for the ministry, in which I talked about David and the five stones he went into battle with. While I was in prayer this morning, the Lord started speaking to me about this once again.

Do you think that the stones that David pulled from the brook in 1 Samuel 17:40 where there by accident? Of course not! He did not grab just any handful of stones, either. The verse reads, “He chose for himself five smooth stones”. He made the decision on which stones he would use based on their design.

Let’s now look at another one of God’s creations that is designed for a purpose just as those stones were. YOU!!!! You were designed by God Himself, in “His Image”; not just any image. God does nothing randomly or by accident, but instead, with purpose, and on purpose.

Until David selected the stones and put them in his sling, and then released them, they would never serve their purpose. But when they were released, a giant that put fear into an entire army fell for good! One young man and one stone with direction, anointed for a purpose, and history was made. You have a purpose! You are not an accident or mistake, no matter what you have ever been told. God has designed you to live a Kingdom life and today is the best day to start. It’s time to forget about what has been and step into what really, really matters. Our purpose is revealed through a relationship with God. Matt 6:33 says, “Seek first the Kingdom” and in this instruction, our purpose is revealed.

Get alone with God and find your purpose, your specific task in the Kingdom; step into it, and never look back. It does not matter what life has been like until this day; with Kingdom purpose you can be more than your have ever imagined! Doing more! Going further! Living life larger than you ever thought possible, while making a greater difference for His Kingdom!

So “EYES UP & GEAR UP” for the best is at hand!

Please feel free to leave any comments you have below.

Gear Up! (Part 4) “Battle Gear”

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Gear Up

 

Every day we are all engaged in an active battle, BUT not in a physical sense.  The battle is spiritual.  (I touched on what the Word says about this in last week’s post.)

Ephesians 6:12 (AMP) “For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotism’s, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere”.

If you were going into a physical battle, you would gear up from head to toe in full armor.  Well then, why would you not enter into a spiritual battle in the same way?  You should gear up for Kingdom warfare!

So, let’s take a look at our Kingdom battle gear! Ephesians 6:

V:14 “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”

Truth and sincerity are the girdle which holds the spiritual armor together.  Then the breast plate of righteousness fortifies the heart against Satan’s attacks.

V:15 “and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

Obedience & peace in the midst of the trials of life only comes from clear knowledge of the gospel.  This takes us back to seeking Him first, Matthew 6:33.

V:16 “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

Faith is relying totally on the unseen with a trust that says “No matter what, I will not waiver!”  Life is full of fiery darts that are daily trying to side track you and take you off course.

V:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”

The helmet covers that place which becomes a battleground of some really great wars.  All sin starts as a thought.  So it makes sense that we most protect the mind.  The last piece of gear, but certainly not least, is the Sword of Spirit.  It is the very Word of God, the instruction book of life.  There has been no greater success book, romance novel, or adventure ever written.  Matthew 6 verse 33 tells us “to seek first the Kingdom” and that is done through prayer and study time in the Word.  Every question and every problem has an answer to it, and it is in the Word.

All the Armor of God works from the inside out, which again is where Satan works.  I believe this is why in verse 13 where it says “take up”, we must make the decision to “take up” the Armor of God.  The gear has been issued and the battlefield is in full swing, but only the strong kingdom minded ones that take up their armor, will be victorious.

All the pieces of this Armor have such great detail and importance.  Therefore, I encourage you today to “take up” the Sword of the Spirit, the Word; to read it daily and meditate on it.  This is an investment that will yield back into your life a bountiful harvest forevermore.

So eyes up, and gear up! Take the battle of life head on! Live each day with no regrets!

Gear Up! (Part 3) “Being Battle Ready”

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Gear Up

 

In part 3 of the Gear Up series we are going to focus on being battle ready.  What is battle ready?  Well,  it means what it says, being ready for the battle.

I believe too many Christians live unprepared for battle, they wait for the battle to hit and then scramble to maintain.

What if our soldiers on the front lines never prepared for battle? All of a sudden the enemy is right on top of them, pounding them with all they have.  What would you say the price of that battle would be?  I would venture to say it would be one epic failure full of great loss.

John 10:10 (AMP) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Ephesians 6:12 (AMP) For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotism’s, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

The above scriptures state the fact that we do not fight an enemy that is touchable in the natural. Instead, through deception, the enemy creates a war that we do not need to take part in.  I know each person reading this post might say, “But you do not know my spouse, boss, co-workers, etc.” and this is true, but I know this, they are not the enemy.  Life is full of choices and the most important decision you make today is not about your hair, your car or even your spouse. The most important decision you are going to make is choosing to serve God or the devil. That choice decides the kingdom you are going to partake in.  You might be saying, “Well, I don’t believe in God.”  and that is your right, but it is also your decision and does not change the fact that God is real. That decision, who you choose to serve,  will affect you for the rest of your life.

So, if our enemy is not flesh and blood, then the fight, no matter how it may feel to our senses, is not physical. The fight is spiritual, as are our weapons.

The Word says that we have been equipped for battle.

Ephesians 6:10-17
10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12)For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13)Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14)Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16) above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Just as our military is prepped and made battle ready, so are you. I will end here for now. Next week I will be taking Ephesians 6:10-17 and breaking down your battle armor in detail.  But until then, remember, it’s time to “Gear Up” and make yourself battle ready.
Please share your thoughts & or questions below.