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The Marketplace Psalm
“LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?” (Ps 15:1). In February 2001 Sales and Marketing magazine did a survey and found that among those surveyed: 58% cheat on expense reports 50% work a second job on company time 36% rush closed deals through accounting before they were really
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, there are consequences to giving fear a place in your life. When I told Moses to send 12 spies into Canaan, it was not to determine whether they could take the land. That had already been settled. I wanted them to go to prepare them for what they were going to receive and to
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The Spirit of Competition
“I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” – John 17:23 A story is told about F.B. Meyer, the great Bible teacher and pastor who lived a century ago. He
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Avoid the Escape Mentality
“Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle” (Ps 144:1). One of the best-selling American books of all time is a fiction series that focuses on the end times called Left Behind. It deals with the rapture of Christians from the earth before the final end-times
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Life in my kingdom can feel like a contradiction. My son Paul was able to rejoice in the midst of many horrible and life-threatening situations. Listen to his words, son, and seek to emulate his perspective on contradictory circumstances of life. Look beyond this life and see my grace to carry you through your darkest
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Special Callings
“Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.” 1 Corinthians 7:17a – 1 Thessalonians 5:24 Each of us is called to relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are called by Him, to Him, and for Him. Once we enter that
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Insecure Leadership
“When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi” (Matt 2:16-17). Any leader who is not secure in
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, my desire is to reveal my power and glory through each of my sons and daughters. Adversity is actually the atmosphere and forerunner to a miracle. Do you remember Moses pinned against the Red Sea? The Egyptians were on their way to kill my people. There was absolutely no way out. “Then Moses stretched
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Living Forward, Understanding Backward
“The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24 When I was in my 20’s, I participated in a wilderness-training course in a desert and mountain area. For our “final exam,” we were blindfolded, placed in the back of a pickup truck, and taken to a remote area.
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Adorned by the Doctrine of God
“Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (Titus 2:9-10 NKJV). The island of Crete was known for its corruption and many false gods.
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A Prophet Without Honor
“Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among
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Obedience-Based Decisions
“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” – Acts 5:32 So often we as a society equate numbers with success. The larger the conference, the more successful we deem it. The larger a church, the more we believe that God is
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, affirmation from your earthly father is such a vital gift. When an earthly father fails to express words of love and validation, sons and daughters are left vulnerable to an identity crisis. Unsure of who they are, they become susceptible to allowing the world to define them through ungodly influences. I audibly affirmed my
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A Heavenly Strategic Planning Session
“And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ One suggested this, and another that. – 1 Kings 22:20 There are few times we get a glimpse of what goes on in Heaven. Here is one instance when the angels were conferring with the Lord about
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Building a Mighty Team
“These are the names of David’s mighty men…” (2 Sam 23:8). David and Jesus pulled together two teams that were the most unlikely groups to accomplish what they achieved. David’s small army of men became known as “David’s Mighty Men” because of their extraordinary exploits. However, they were the rejects of society. Jesus’ team was
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, there is one thing that my Son and I find more detestable than just about anything. Do you want to know what that is? (Yes, please). Religion. I hate religion! The enemy has made people religious, instead of loving and being intimate with me. Religion puts people in bondage; relationship creates freedom to live
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The Power of Serving Others
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:9-11). There is a Kingdom principle I find few others really understand. The principle is this: When you focus on serving others, your need is often met through God’s supernatural law of serving.
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Signs and Wonders Today
“The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.” – Acts 15:12 “I was a pastor for 19 years before I went into business,” said the man sitting across the table from me as we were sharing
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, when you abide in me, and my words abide in you, I will protect you against the enemy’s accusations. They may come to you, but I will shield you from their affect. His nature is to be an accuser of the brethren day and night (Rev 12:10). But I am your shield. The only
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Unwholesome Talk
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph 4:29-30). The way you interact with fellow employees at work can often determine whether you will be the leaven for Christ in your
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Staying Connected
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.” – Psalm 143:8 Two of the greatest inventions of my time have been the laptop computer and e-mail. The laptop means I
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, I always have the highest good in mind for all my sons and daughters. One way I demonstrate this is by giving you my Word, spoken through my Holy Spirit personally to you. My Word is powerful. When I founded the earth, I simply spoke it into existence. Life itself resides in my Word.
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, did you know that there’s a world economy and there is a kingdom economy? In the world’s economy people must strive, sweat and toil to receive their provisions. But in my kingdom economy provision is always the result of obedience. When my people came into the desert after their deliverance they had to trust
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Going Beyond Your Paradigm
“So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, ‘Is Saul also among
