Planning Your Life for Next Year

Jeremiah 29:10 and 11    This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Here we are another year is about gone and looking back I see victories whether small or large.  The plan for my life on January 1st 2011 was one of hope anticipation for our business.  I had made plans of where we were going to take the business and how to get to the end of the movie successful.

But several new buyers later and the frustration of in store tests and poor results because of product not going on the shelf but staying in back rooms or being placed in the wrong spot has made this year more frustrating than ever before. 

We have to rely on others for financing our orders where everyone else makes a lot of money and we struggle.  Lord, it is not fair.  Yet no planning could ever make this change.  So we have been on this road to understand the verse today.

So often we only read verse 11 of Jeremiah when we struggle to understand why good things are not happening.  Yet verse 10 says a lot to help us understand how the Lord in in the middle of our plans for next year.  God had promised that after seventy years he would show up for His people of Israel.  Therefore we need to realize that everything that happens is in God's time. 

If you have had a bad year, just know that God has not abandoned you but His timing is perfect for your life.  Make plans for the next year.  Write them down and get into a plan for your life beyond your work. 

Check out this website and get your copy of this book, "Plan For Your Life".  Dr. Chris Stephens Book
This is one of the first books that not only gives you the written word but also gives you a CD for you to incorporate your personal plan for next year.

Verse 11 of Jeremiah can make your year the best ever.  Just believe, " I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

Now get to planning and not just for a New Year's eve celebration.

Star Light Star Bright!

It has been six years since I lived in a a big city area but being in Orlando today, I looked up to see the stars at 4:30 this morning.  As the clouds passed slowly by I saw a few dozen stars and thought back to being at home in the mountains. 

It was just last week as I got out of the car to go into the house about 9:30 in the evening, I looked up to the sky to see the heavens exploding with stars, satellites, and planets.  You can clearly see the constellations and the entire belt of the Milky Way.

Have all the stars just settled over the mountains of East Tennessee?  Now I know that is not true, but the light contamination found in the large cities drowns out the view of the stars.  

Then I thought, "That's how a lot of people think about God."  They say, "I can not see him so he does not exist.  I can not touch Him so everything has just came out science and random actions."

These people are viewing the world around them through the light contaminated glasses.   So sad!

People live their lives never going out in the country away from the light distractions to really see what the Lord is doing and understanding the magnificence of His creation.  When you see this with your naked eye you have to say, "Thank You Lord for caring and loving me amidst all the vastness of your creation."

Look up tonight and say "Thanks!"

Look for The Star

It Doesn't Feel Like Christmas

I heard someone say this morning on the television. "It can't be Christmas, its too warm".  They were sitting in New York City and noted that it is only Christmas if it is snowing.  In fact they were flying out to Denver this afternoon so they could experience snow and make it feel like Christmas.     Humm... so we can have no celebration unless it is cold and snowing?   If that is true many people today might as well take all the presents back, call off the evening celebrations and just sleep in tomorrow.  Being right now in Orlando and it's going to be 80 degrees today, I think people in the TV studio should get a life.  

Even if you do not hang onto the true reason for Christmas,  you know it is Christmas!  The lights, the decorations, family gatherings and Christmas Eve services are signs that a special day is coming tomorrow.

So today as you get those last minute gifts or prepare for family and friends, finish plans to a party, get out your nice Christmas outfit for church servcies tonight or even go see Micky Mouse Santa, realize that this day of Christmas is real and has nothing to do with the weather!

Most important just take a minute and know that the Creator of the Universe was so passionately in love with you that He sent His son to bond a relationship that will last throughout eternity. 

Killing Volunteers

When you read the title today you may think if has something to do with the University of Tennessee and a sports activity.  Being a Tennessee Volunteer that is the farthest thing from my mind.

What is on my mind is how leaders in volunteer organizations sometimes kill the spirit to serve through their words and actions.  Churches and organizations like the Salvation Army call for volunteers to serve in some capacity.   The Prime leader who encourages people to get involved is normally never the one to lead the volunteers on a day to day or event to event activity.  Instead they assign another leader for that task.

Way too many times, the assigned leader treats the volunteers like employees.  They are talked down to and given assignments that not any leader would attempt.  Then they openly criticize the person or persons before other volunteers individuals and when the number of volunteers diminish, they can not understand why they no longer get volunteers.  One verbal "You did terrible" will kill five "great jobs done".  Sometimes it just has to be overheard by the volunteer or if you are a volunteer who hears a leader talking about another volunteer, you may wonder, "What do they say about me when I am not around?"

Usually they assign blame in every direction except back at their leaders and techniques.

The main leader of an organization needs to make sure their leaders are well trained and sensitive to the feelings of the volunteers.  Understand that volunteers are NOT paid staff.  In reality, I have always hoped leaders never treat their employees the way some volunteers are treated.  We are not in the 50's where it was thought that yelling or talking down to employees made them stronger.

Volunteers are exactly that, volunteers who give time, effort, sacrifice, and money to an organization out of the goodness of their heart to serve and use their talents.  Never a doormat to build up another leader.

Therefore I encourage each leader to look at his or her organization and get the subordinate leaders trained in how to lead volunteers.  You may lose a few leaders in the process of training, but your volunteer core will thrive.  People naturally serve where they feel desired and needed. 

Just a thought for today!

Grandchildren Personalities

Have you ever noticed how different your children are?  One may have an outgoing personality while the others are quiet and to themselves.  One thing I remember saying to my daughter when see was young, who was always mischievous and active from the time her eyes opened until she fell asleep at night,  "The Lord has a great sense of humor and will give you a child that is exactly like you."  In watching all six grandchildren this weekend, I see their personalities coming out strong.

To share a tidbit of their  personalities -
One like to be in control - both of herself and others and knows what she wants and pushes hard to get it.
Another is quiet and likes doing things without all the commotion.  Reading is as much fun as playing in the yard
Still another one is so sweet and quiet but takes everything to heart and ponders them within her.  She loves interaction but when it gets too much, she is OK to be to herself.
The third from the youngest is a bundle of energy and can't get enough of having a good time.  This is the one I told my daughter that God would bless her with.
Then the youngest can get away with about anything because he knows how to smile and bat his eyes in a way that not only melts your heart but allows him to get away with almost anything.

I won't take the time to describe each personality in depth but one of my son's daughter's has a very strong will and demonstrates it often.  This loving child who loves to hold hands, kiss you, talk to anyone and finds no strangers, can turn in a heartbeat to a strong willed, "No way" attitude.  Her eyes tell the story as she tilts her head down and gives you a look to let you know she is in rebellion mode.  Then for the first time this year she points her finger at you and shakes it just so you know she does not approve of what or how you are dealing with her.  So watching this personality grow will be challenging and fun at the same time.

In spending time with each one, I marvel at the what God has created with similar environments but very different outlooks and actions that demonstrate who they are.  

We need to appreciate the differences  people have and try not to change them but help them realize the person that the Lord created.  Our goal should be to channel the strengths  and encourage the weaknesses so that each child can be the best person as an adult as they are when young.

Today, are you encouraging the weaknesses of people or are you making them "come in line" with your thinking.  I look at it that this world would be insane if everyone was like me.  Still, as an older adult, I want to be encouraged to do better and not told what I HAVE to do. 

Encouragement is what grandparents are suppose to do but then again, parents should sometimes step back to make sure that the child is not living out their wish lists but taking the best in each child and helping them to take giant leaps into the future.

Just a thought out loud.

When Sleep Evades You

When do you have your creative juices flowing?  Here it is, a little after 4:30 a.m. and I could not sleep any longer.  I could get ready and go to work, but its Saturday and being in a hotel room and not being able to go back to sleep made me begin to dream.

Some of my best ideas pop into my head at this hour and some of my quiet times with the Lord are at the same time.

I could lay in the bed and toss and turn but then everyone would be awake and that is not fair.  I come to the computer to check out the morning mail, find the news, and have some quiet time.

So I ask you, what do you do when sleep evades you?   Are you a morning person who is wide awake when your eyes open or someone who can sleep until noon and has to have two cups of coffee before your can think about anything?    Sometimes, I wish I could sleep longer and envy those who sleep long hours but that is not how the Lord wired me.

So here I sit typing and getting the dreams that have haunted me during the night to the forefront.  They go down on a list until I take the time to develop them more fully.  Do you have ideas that come to mind?  At any hour?    Never let them fade into forever but instead start a list of those ideas and check them out from time to time.

You never know if the next big idea is in your dreams.

Political Attack

I was going to hold off talking about this until next year during the heat of the political races, but my thoughts just could not wait.

Being in politics for four years, I can understand the pressure that is placed upon a person either running for an office or in that office.  But in 1974 the media and special interest groups were not so vicious as they are today.  I began being Mayor in a small town near Cincinnati, Ohio the same time Jerry Springer was  stepping downs as Mayor of Cincinnati. 

Each quarter we would have a regional Mayor's meeting to discuss ways we could help each community.  It was one my first meeting that was so memorable.  Jerry had been caught writing a check for a prostitute and what other Mayors ask Jerry was, "How could you be so stupid?"

 I'm sure if that had happened today, the media would have had a field day and Jerry may not be the TV personality we know of today.

Look at any politican.  They are human and make mistakes, but that does not matter because if the media can not find something, they make it up knowing that it is a lie but figure the damage will be done before the public finds out the truth.  Then stand on the First Amendment to protect their lies.

So here's what I believe.  If Jesus ran for a public office and as we know, had never done anything wrong, then the media would make something up to discredit him.  Yet in my reading of the New Testament I find that our religious and political wolves  are one in the same between over two thousand years ago and now. 

He was found guilty for no guilt.  They did not have the US constitution to say, "Innocent until proven guilty".  It was the voice of the  few that controled the results. 

In the voice of public opinion today our politicans are "GUILTY until proven innocent.

So the question for today is why does anyone want to run for the highest office in the land?  Maybe its to bring about change, or for their ego, or for helping the country get back on its feet.  My running for political office was to bring respect to the office of Mayor in our community and develop methods of progress for the people.  I got in, made the changes and set up the organization, then left.  So many of our leaders today have lost the desire to serve in place of the desire to be rich and famous.

Just knowing that if Jesus could never be accepted by the few and was killed because of the media in His day.  What makes you thing we can find a person to help us get back on our feet?

In conclusion today, find a person who has demonstrated success by incorporating ideas and get out and support him/her in spite of what the media says.   Let the Constitution live within you.

What Do You Need for Christmas?

Philippians 4:19 “God will give you all you have need of from the wealth of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

As we approach Christmas, it is great to hear the old carols and songs of the season. The other day, one song came to mind when I studied this verse: “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth.” It sounds like such a silly song, but I caught myself singing along.

Another day, Lynnette asked what I needed for Christmas.  “Where’s the paper to write my list?” I said. There are so many new things on the market! Yet the paper was blank for a long time as I considered what I “needed” for Christmas.

Over the years, the Lord has blessed me with so much, yet I began listing “stuff” that I thought I needed to keep up with today’s demands. But once I reflected on the partially completed list, I crumpled up the paper and threw it away. None of it was a need, merely “wants.”

Experience has shown me that if the Lord had given me everything I ever wanted, I would have made terrible mistakes and forgotten who was really responsible for the increase in my life. These experiences extended from relationship issues to financial decisions that failed.

When we look forward to this Christmas, we can all take a look at our needs versus our wants, and realize that it is because of the love that the Lord has for each one of us that our needs will be filled.

The bonus is that He also gives us many of our wants. If we concentrate less on what needs the Lord will give us then we can spend time on giving others their wants.

Things like friendship, time with friends and family, peace in our lives, joy in our children, and letting others see Christ through us.

Now thats a list I can fill up quickly.  How about you?

A Troublesome Past

Can it be that our leaders know that he really is the Messiah?  But how could it be?  For we know where this man comes from.  When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.  John 7:26-27

Others said, “He is the Messiah.”  Still others said, “But he can’t be!  Will the Messiah come from Galilee?”  John 7:41

The scriptures are clear: Jesus was perfect. So, obviously the critics couldn’t point to any of his actions as being evil (although they tried on several occasions).  So they did the next best thing, they called attention to the only imperfect thing associated with him.  His hometown, Galilee. 

Located well to the north of Jerusalem, the spiritual home of Israel, Galilee was an easy target for the mean-spirited religious leaders.  The simple truth was that not much good did come out of Galilee. It was a rural area with the lower region (near Nazareth) known for its fishing villages along the Sea of Galilee.  The residents of this area were generally uneducated and not nearly as refined as the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jerusalem.  So they questioned his credibility because of his birthplace, not his life.

They said the same thing about Darrell. 

Darrell was born in the bluegrass hills of Kentucky and was raised in the church. He confessed Christ as his Savior when he was young, and then forgot about Him as reflected in his lifestyle.  Thousands of dollars lost to gambling, a 60-day stint in jail, and a steady diet of drinking, drugs, and loose women were the trophies of a wasted life.  Darrell heard it from everyone: “What good can come from him?”

Until one day when he gave the carpenter from a small town in Galilee a chance and got a relationship that was not a religion.  The transformation was real. The impact on friends and family was significant. Nobody now remembers much about his past and it haunts him no more.

Do you have a past that you are not proud of?  Do you come from a place that has been condemned by others?  Has your credibility been attacked by mean-spirited religious people?  If so, then just remember who, and Who’s you are.  Remember that you are a new creation.  Remember that He has erased your past. 

And, remember that it’s not where you came from but where you are going that really matters.

A Blessing and A Curse

Many people who know me know that the Lord has blessed me with thinking outside the box.  Part of the blessing is that ideas and things come to my mind long before others imagine the an idea or a new way of doing something.  Often I thank God for this blessing.

One such event took place over a year and one half ago.  I was on the Board of Directors of a major corporation and brought a suggestion for action on program before someone else came up with the idea.  I was given the head nod and a table action by the then President.   A new president took over nine months later and I mentioned the idea as I was leaving the Board.  Before she could bring it up before the new Board for action, she copied me on an email and guess what?  An individual had the very same idea and acted upon that idea to create an application that did exactly what I mentioned to the corporation.    I was happy for the person who created the application and will make a lot of money but sad that so many cannot see potential and act on that potential.

Some strangers, family and friends try to "change me" rather than accept who I am so I become someone they want me to be.  I need to act and do things which do not make them uncomfortable.

A wise friend many years ago said that if 34% of my ideas are accepted then I will be successful.  I want 100%  because it has been revealed to me in depth the development of an idea but he reminded me that a professional baseball player who hits a 340 average during his life is in the hall of fame.  So don’t worry about those who cannot understand, it’s just that they have not received the Lord’s gift of perceiving and understanding a vision.

Then another event recently did not make me angry but quite hurt and sad.  I was having a conversation with a person and had previously told him about a marketing idea that is outside the box.  But this conversation with this senior staff person was one of appreciation for some work that the individual had done.   Within a minute, another staff member came up to this man and said, “I need you over here.”  As they walked away, I heard the staff person saying, “I had to get you away from him.”  I was quite hurt but did not show it and thought maybe I did not hear correctly.  As I looked over my shoulder from across the room, this senior staff person I had been talking to was making coffee.  I keep thinking, I was just imagining things but this is not the first time I have been dismissed for thinking outside the box.  Makes me believe that maybe this my reputation?

I’m tired of hurting being in tears, and in being hurt. 

The Lord continues to give me ideas beyond day to day activities, but these recent events have me withholding the sharing of anything anymore.  Instead I have begun a private listing of what God places in my heart and mind.  Once the Lord has called me home, then someone else will know what God had placed on my mind and I hope that something can be used.  My focus then will be on a wonderful Heaven and not what people here might have missed.

Even though you may not undersatnd a person, please do not just avoid them but try to see what they are really trying to say and not dismiss them and try and make them to what YOU want them to be.  

I encourage you to appreciate your blessings that God gives you but realize that a gift or blessing can be misconceived by others and it becomes a curse.   Persevere and try to focus on what the Lord is doing and not what people may be saying.  Trust me that the Lord will comfort.   Psalms 23:4

What has This World Become?

As a Dreamer you are drawn to events and thoughts that many "normal" people may not think about.  For me I stumbled across a 4:00 a.m. morning radio show on the way to the airport where the host was talking to a book writer that we are involved in a Cosmic Chess Match (The name of his book).  Quoting the Old Testament he talked of the fallen angels and the need for God to Destroy the entire world. 

Not really believing everything that was being said, I looked up details on fallen angels and their interaction on the earth.  Click on the link and see how the scripture fits so well.  Fallen Angels having sex with women  

Once I read this I recalled what this man was saying on the radio.  Quoting the New Testament, "The coming of the Son of Man will be like what happened in the time of Noah.³⁸ In the days before the flood people ate and drank, men and women married, up to the very day Noah went into the boat;³⁹ yet they did not realize what was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes.  Matthew 24:37-39

He noted that  when the UFO aliens show themselves to the entire world, the end is near.  In the Chess Match between God and Satan, the fallen angels will show themselves like they did in Genesis 6 and be so smooth in their approach to "Save the Earth"so that most people will follow them because of their abilities and power.  This may happen in our lifetime or the lifetime of your children.

Reading Matthew 24 can develop a pattern between Genesis 6 and End Times. 

The focus from this Dreamer is that you just go forward with your eyes wide open.  It may be a Dream thinking or it may not.  Just read further and be prepared. 

Dunamis - From which we get Dynamite

I found this article recently and it explains a lot.   See if this makes any sense to you.

In 1864, a nitroglycerine factory in Stockholm belonging to Dr. Alfred Nobel exploded, killing his younger brother Emil.  In an attempt to make his factories safer, Dr. Nobel stumbled upon an invention that would allow nitroglycerine to be used for explosive purposes in a controlled environment.  While searching for a word to his new discovery, he came upon a Greek word called dunamis from which translates to our English word of dynamite.

In Romans 1:16 the Bible uses the term "dunamis" to refer to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This the phrase "The gospel is God's power (dunamis) unto salvation".

Humm. . . The gospel of Jesus demonstrates God's dynamite for salvation.  Image that kind of power.   Yet most people today either try to water down the dynamite, put it out of their minds, deny it ever existed, try to dictate it to others from yelling sermons or making it a cure all for any ills.  But they miss the real power (dunamis).

When you think about what the writer in Romans was saying this dynamite was being seen in the world at that time.  Jesus's journey set off an explosion that is still going on today.  As much as people want to water down the message, when you take it into your heart, an explosion of love, compassion, and desire comes into you.  You do not find this explosion in Religion but in that one on one relationship with the Creator.

Do you have a case of dynamite within you?  Has it exploded yet.  Take out a stick by reading or listening to some on line messages.  You will feel the dynamite exploding in your heart.  click here:  BRB

Love Ya!

Interviews to Destroy

 Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. Even while I served in a political office for years I hated “politics”.

Recently I heard a person interviewed on the television and I felt sorry for the man. The interviewer was not asking questions for the man to answer, but instead he was trying to trap the individual to make a mistake.

Later that night I saw the “commentary” of the interview and they had pulled six words out of the interview and for the next three minutes they proceeded to tear at the man’s character over how he phrased those six words.   Thinking a few minutes about what was miss-spoken, I wondered how an interview with Jesus would be accomplished.  

Then I heard a lady reporter make an observation.

She noted that she had already prepared a list of questions that would prove him not to be anything but a terrorist that incited people to rebel. Questions included those like, “How did you fool all those people into thinking you were dead?” “Did you have a twin that walked the city after your death and stole your body to fool people into believing that you were the Messiah?’ “Why didn’t you stay on earth and lead the nations, heal the sick, or do Godly stuff?”

Her list of questions went on and on and her co-anchor noted that she would give Him an interview He would never forget. Shocking as it may seem, I believe she would do everything in her power to destroy the character of Jesus for her own satisfaction and political gain. What have we shrunk to as a nation?

It seems that God is not feared, reverenced, or respected by our media. They do not conceive “faith” or “grace” in any part of their imagination. They are so set on self gratification and the humiliation of others which does not build up people but destroys them. If I sound frustrated, it is because the Lord told us to build people up and not tear them down.

We will not agree with everything they say or do, but we are called to love them as Jesus loves us. Through my frustration with the attacking portion of the media, I am sad because I know that one day they will get a chance to talk to Jesus face to face and he will interview them. Matthew 7:23. “Then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”

We need to pray for our nation.  There are demonstrations in our own cities with no direction but they want everything to change. Funny, but they have that freedom to protest because people fought battles for our freedom.

As for me, I have starting praying for our media, even the ones that want to interview Jesus. 

Do You Hate Upgrades?

Sitting in front of the computer, I am working away in a given program and then I get a pop up screen that says, "Upgrade available".    My mind is on what program I'm using and so I say, "Later".  Well sometimes you get an email that says, "You have a FREE upgrade for _____ program."  So you think, I guess I need to upgrade and reply to the email only to see the blue screen of death flash in your face.

Naturally you become slow to upgrade your computer because you are not sure of the results.

Well we all get the upgrade message every morning when we get out of bed and get started for our work.  The Lord nudges us with the thought "Upgrade available".  That upgrade comes from spending time in His word and having a little talk with Him each day.  Yet many of us normally hit the delete button in our minds or the "later" button.

It does not take long for us to start and finish each day without an upgrade to our lives.  Then we wonder why we get sluggish, frustrated, insecure, anger easily, and many times depressed.  It is because you did not get today's upgrade to spend a little time with the Lord.  It does not have to be hours on end but just to do two things.  Open your heart to learn something from Him and to communicate with Him.  He will dump his love, direction, and peace on you for today.  Then tomorrow you will be ready for your next upgrade. 

As for me I am getting upgrade 21,535.0.  I have not uploaded each one since becoming a Christ Follower, but I know the Lord has had that upload there for me.

Are you going to hit the "delete" button each day or maybe the "later" button.  Why not just hit the "Upload Now" button in your life and see what happens next.  You will be amazed at the great program the Lord has for your life today.