Treasures All Around You

We don't have to go far to find the treasure we are seeking. Beauty and goodness are right where we are. Until we see life as beautiful near to us, we will not see it, even in the travels beyond. Look around, see the beauty of creation, and especially the beauty of the people around you, who love you, and are there for you to love and receive love from. They are all free gifts to you in life. Look at them for not what they do, but for who they are in God's eyes. Let's try to see the beauty and goodness in front of us before we go elsewhere to look for it.

Words of Love and Affirmation

Conversations often trend to the latest news, or the what we are doing or plan to do. We often say, "What's up?" and encourage one another to share the details of our daily lives. People want and need to hear, I love you, I miss you, or I am so glad you are part of my life. Words of love and affirmation are healthy essentials. We need to give them and receive them as often as possible as they give life to others, while enriching our own lives.

Words Make a Difference

Because of self agendas and "buy me" language, words have lost much of their power. The Word has the power to create. When God speaks, God creates. For God, speaking and creating are the same. It is this creative power of the Word we need to reclaim. What we say is very important. When we say, "I love you," and mean it, we can give a person new life, new hope, new courage. When we say, "I hate you," we can destroy another person. Let's measure our words, and speak justly in bringing life and freedom to others.

Peaks and Valleys

Peaks and valleys are connected. The mistakes you or others make can take you off the Happy mountain; the wise choices you make in the valley can help create your next mountain experience. The key is to truly appreciate each mountain or valley season, knowing that God's presence remains through it all, and brings you through it all.

God's Eternal Love

What can we say about God's unconditional love? God does not say, "I love you, if ..." There are no ifs in God's heart. God's love for us does not depend on what we do or say, existed before we were born, and will exist after we die. God's love is not bound to time, events or circumstances. God does indeed care about what we do or say, as love without condition does not mean love without concern. Enter into an intimate relationship with God without fear, knowing His love will abound for all eternity.

Leaving an Eternal Legacy

What we do in life echoes in eternity. What are you doing today that can leave an eternal and God glorifying legacy? What will you do tomorrow? Life was given to God's people for His loving purpose, and He has always desired that we live for eternity now. His Kingdom come, and His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. His stuff through our lives goes with us in this life, and the eternal realm.

Living in the Strength of His Joy

God wants His joy made known, and completed in you. Christ brought us the way, the truth, and the life for Fathers joy. Joy in God's people should be continuous in the midst of challenges, knowing that all things work together for good, and for all eternity in Him. Are you living in the strength of His joy? His joy is yours, and as you embrace His Word, you will experience His joy.

From Playpen to Purpose

Some remain in the playpen of life. We have comforts and no responsibility in the protected playpen environment. It can be a place of isolation and self absorption. It is fun, but can delay purpose. You do not need faith in the playpen. God wants us to mature and come out of our playpen prison. Trust Him as you move away from protective or pleasure seeking lifestyles, and into the adventure and joy of serving others.

We Own Nothing

There is a difference between Stewardship and Ownership. Success can be harder to handle than failure. Self deception can come when we become Captain of the ship, and think we own it. What you think you own will turn on you as you declare, "My people, my gifts, my stuff, it's mine." Wisdom comes when you realize you own nothing, and the Lord has given you much to tend, for His glory.

Walking Hand in Hand

Have you ever realized how unique everyone is? No two are alike. Beauty is appreciating and honoring each other in our differences. Ugly can happen when we try to conform people into our image or preference. That remains to be God's job. Manipulation and control of others does not please God. We do not need to see eye to eye to walk hand in hand, and that is community, that is family, and that is beautiful.

Leading as a Servant of All

You know much more than you think you know to make a difference in your life, and the lives of others. Lead well by not how much you know, but through effectual communication of how you live. Constant learners gain wisdom from all of life. Humility, Honoring God and others, and leading as an ambassador of God's love, makes for a good leader, who does not know it all, but is willing to live as a servant to all.

His Song For our Lives

You know the words of the song, but you do not know the song. We can crush each other with words, as the letter of the law kills. The song of heaven is love. Get the song right and the words become power. Words outside of the music and power of of God's love will make the message wrong, no matter how correct the words may be. Lord, may your heart be our hearts, and may you sing your song through our lives.

"Visionary Advancement Strategies" Weekly Articles February 14, 2010

Please click this link to see this weeks Articles and consider subscribing at the very same Link

Safe Havens for the Wounded

People spend needful energy trying to appear normal. They fear what others might think if they really expressed their wounded heart. Self preservation then hinders true healing. What we need is safe people and atmospheres that allow for authentic expression, and welcome bleeding hearts. Embrace healing and reality living today for yourself and for others.

You Are Qualified in Him

You might say the calling of God is what qualifies someone. Many are called and few are chosen. Many are called but fail to respond in obedience to the call. Your qualification remains only in God through Christ. Your identity in Him is far above a calling, yet fuels your destiny. The gift of God cannot be earned and is our qualification, and we remain qualified in Him for all eternity.

Seek Divine Experience

The Dead Sea is dead, because there is no flow of life. In God there is a river of life. Do not look to be defined by others, or by what you are doing, look to be defined by Him alone. Search for Him, look for life, and move away from dead and dull experience. The experience is in the experience, and ask the Lord to direct your steps for His divine experience, and towards the flow of Spirit led living.

Kindness to Human-KIND

Kindness is a beautiful human attribute. In our competitive and often violent world, kindness is not the most frequent response. But when we encounter it, we are blessed. To be kind means to treat another person as your "kin," your intimate relative. All people, whatever their color, religion, or sex, belong to human-KIND and are called to be kind to one another as part of God's created family. There is hardly a moment in life in which we are not called to this.

Faith, Hope, and Love

Three things last forever; faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love. The Kingdom of God has a sure foundation in God's love. God's love is activated by faith in Him. As we love Him, His love becomes a force in us to reach out to others. Hope becomes a real strength for our love that works through faith. Hope that God is with us now, and for every tomorrow, and knowing that all of life is within Him.

Remove the Barrier Called "Fear"

Nothing catches God by surprise. Some fear the global economy and the potential formation of a one world government. There will only be one King on earth, and one Government (His Kingdom). Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. I say bring it on Lord, and let's remove the barrier called fear. Father has all things in His hands, and the Kingdom of God is advancing upon the earth.

Loving the Unlovely

The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies. They are often, and generally, the very same people. They are created by God and loved by Him. Living in God's love is not always easy or convenient. We cannot help conforming ourselves to what we love. If we love God, we will be conformed to His love, by His love. In His loving nature we will be disposed to doing good and loving the unlovely.

Joy in Knowing Who You Are

It seems at first glimpse that joy might come from a compliment, or winning some competition that makes you a step above someone else. However, true and lasting joy comes in knowing who you are when the compliments and awards do not come. Knowing you are part of God's created family. A son or daughter to Almighty God and Father. You are a joy and a winner in Him, come what may!

"Visionary Advancement Strategies" Weekly Articles February 7, 2010

Please click this link to see this weeks Articles and consider subscribing at the very same Link

Choose Joy Today

Joy enhances your life, but for many joy seems hard to find. The fact is, joy is actually a choice, that you can choose in any moment. Two people can be part of the same event. One may choose to trust that whatever happened, painful as it may be, holds a promise. The other may choose despair and be destroyed by it. Choose joy today, you have a hope that is real, and He will make all things work together for good.

Forgiveness Does Not Mean We Forget

Forgiveness does not mean that we forget, but it certainly changes the way we remember. The wound can be very real for years to come. In forgiveness, we release the disabling power of being a victim. We can learn through the pain, as our memories can be healed through supernatural God perspectives. Forgiveness allows us to tap into God's power, and enables past events to deepen His wisdom into our hearts.

Freedom from the Captivity of Offense

When we forgive someone who has hurt us, it is an act of freedom. We first set the person free from the negative influences of conflict between us, but we also free ourselves from remaining a victim. When we do not forgive, we carry a heavy load with us that keeps the offense alive, and allows for a continuous poison to impact to our hearts. There remains a temptation to cling to anger and offenses. There is but one road to liberation in the captivity of offenses, it is called forgiveness.

Giving and Receiving Forgiveness

There are two sides to forgiveness: giving and receiving. It is difficult to offer forgiveness to others when we have not been able to fully receive it. Only people who have accepted forgiveness can find the inner freedom to give it. A humble heart can see the need to be forgiven, and the healing that God provides through it. Forgiveness sets us free to be able to give others the same freedom that forgiveness offers.

Seek Collective Wealth by Robert Ricciardelli

We often can be polishing sand amongst God's precious pearls of creation, and become strengthened as we embrace the divine refining process. As we share our unique life, experiences, revelations, and thoughts, we further become one with God and each other, and able to see beyond the limits of self. When we seek to understand the collective wealth of creation, self must bow to the greater wisdom and glory of God.

Molded by the Master Potter

You are the expression of God's design. He has always had you in mind, for His expressed purposes. As clay in the hands of the Potter, He is working it according to His own mind. He is shaping you as a vessel for His plans. He chose you to be molded, before the work of molding began. It is the good pleasure of God to choose you as a vessel unto Himself, and His goodness will go with you all the days of your life.

Forgive Each Other for Not Being God

Forgiveness brings us to right standing with God, and is key in relating with with one another. Our love is limited, and so we must forgive each other for not always loving like God loves. Our many needs constantly interfere with our desire to be there for one another unconditionally. Sometimes we put people in a place in our lives that they can never fulfill. We need to forgive one another for not being God!