Shine! (Don’t Whine)

Thank you for your stirring words Michael. This is no positive thinking, this is the edge of those who are accustomed to look beyond the veil of so called \"reality\". The Lord weighs \"the thoughts and intents of the heart\", and at the appointed time releases His favor, and that is when everything happens. Waiting for such a thing is not a passive act, but a decisive and committed pursuit, I would dare say \"violent\" in Diligent Faith. The Lord may give the diamonds or the ore, but we still have to do the digging, and that can be daunting at times, but may we never stop short of the vein of gold. Here an excerpt poem I have beside my desk: Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man. Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup. And he learned too late when the night came down, how close he was to the victor's cup. Yes I believe with all my heart that TODAY is the day of the Lord's favor, and decide to act accordingly and take chances and risks to expand when fear extend its grip and want me to contract. God bless you!

Another timely word Michael. Thank you.

Today you said and i quote: \"Your biggest obstacle in receiving the favor of God is less about faith in God’s ability to deliver on His promise and more about your inability to accept what He gives you simply because He loves you. \" I have been wanting a way to say that for years...i have no problem with His ability to give.....now i see it's more a mater of my KNOWING He's WANTING to give.... just out of love. Like i do as a Daddio to my girls. I will marinate in that all day. Thanksman :)

Michael, I agree that we should prepare for suffering but not for wealth but through suffering, we will shine for Christ, and know Him better, The Bible Promises Suffering for God's People We a need to prepare for suffering. The reason for this is not just my sense that the days are evil and the path of righteousness costly, but the promise of the Bible that God's people will suffer. For example, Acts 14:22 says that Paul told all his young churches, \"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom.\" And Jesus said, \"If they persecuted me, they will persecute you\" (John 15:20). And Peter said, \"Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you\" (1 Peter 4:12). In other words it is not strange; it is to be expected. And Paul said (in 2 Timothy 3:12), \"Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.\" So I take it to be a biblical truth that the more earnest we become about being the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and reaching the unreached peoples of the world, and exposing the works of darkness, and loosing the bonds of sin and Satan, the more we will suffer. That's why we should prepare. One is the moral or spiritual purpose: in suffering we come to hope more fully in God and put less confidence in the things of the world. Second, there is the intimacy purpose: we come to know Christ better when we share his sufferings.

Thank you Micheal for your comforting words, I love God and I need to believe that he wants to bless me and thats not always easy. I look forward to your e-mails as they help me to think positive in a negative world. Thanks so much. God Bless. Vern

what a time to be living in:)...thanx 4 sharing

Thank you for instilling hope in our hearts along with the hope that our Lord is constantly pouring into our inmost parts, as He reminded me this morning: \"some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen and stand upright.\" Trust must be put on Him alone now when all the 'horses' and the 'chariots' are being revealed as false crutches and helpless aids...now they are failing, and now the Lord stands as a lighthouse, a beacon of light in the furious and dark storm of these times. And trust can only be attained if we belief, and to belief we must know why it is 'safe' to trust, and to know Him...well, I guess that is the purpose for our being. Let's seek His presence and breath His Spirit with every breath we take!

Greetings to all of you this morning. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. There is more than one note on the musical scale. Some people can only see suffering in the promises of God but there is definitely more. Yor're welcome Ricky!

You all are some seriously early risin' folks!! Awesome word, Michael. Thanks so much for the words you share - they inspire me constantly to reach down deeper and reach out further. Awhile back, someone commented that we, as Christians, need to \"shine\" during this time of uncertainty so as to be beacons to the lost. We need to reflect hope - not fear!

Spirit-breathed words for sure. Thank you Micheal! The one thing that you said the the Holy Spirit \"bolded\" for me was \"you will miss it if you do not believe.\" Anything and everything (well almost everything, thank God for His mercy) that we receive from God is by faith. Consider this: God desires that everybody be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, yet not everybody is saved. But those who've BELIEVED it are. God's desire is for all to be healed (there's no sickness or disease in heaven, or was in Jesus' live here on earth) but many are sick and weak among us. Why? They don't believe that God said what he meant... \"Jesus went about healing ALL who were oppressed... \" Believing, the action part of faith, is what brings God's desires and promises into our physical realm... the \"door\" so to speak. Jesus conveyed the Fathers heart when he said \"Thy will be done on earth, the same way it is in heaven.\" Yet unless you and I BELIEVE it, it remains an unfulfilled desire of God, and an incomplete task that He's assigned to you and I. When we BELIEVE a promise in order to physically manifest a change here on colony earth, then the Kingdom of God is expanded and occupies more territory. If all of us BELIEVERS were diligent as led by the Spirit of God to do this, (my hand is up, I'm guilty of spiritual laziness) the borders of the kingdom would be much larger than what they currently are. Ok this is turning into a novel, I give up the floor : ) But not before I encourage you all, DO WHAT YOU ARE, ALL YOU BELIEVERS!

Hello Michael, Your words are nothing less than prophetic. They are bold and challenge us to think outside of the norm. It's hard to swim against the waves when it's so easy to allow the waves to carry us in which ever direction it wishes. This calls for a radical belief that the Lord is really good and that he really truly loves us. If an earthly parent (who is evil) would give good gifts to their children, \"how much more will your your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.\" It's a child-like faith that says because my father loves me He is going to give me the treasure just because He wants to. It's like salvation, it's nothing that we earn, \"it is a gift of God.\" The Lord God is so good and He wants to bless us so much, that it would blow your mind if you really just sat down and thought about it. My pastor has been speaking on this very topic this since the beginning of the year. He too believes that the Lord is about to pour a blessing on those of His people who are ready to let God be the Lord of all of their lives. Thank you so very much for allowing the Lord to use you for such a time as this. May God continue to bless you. With much love and appreciation, I am Percy.

Michael, I do enjoy your emails. Some I forward to my boss. I wish he could see how all of these sales principles are biblical principles that people use but dont credit the bible. I have been selling cars for the same dealership for 15 years. God has brought me thru and is continuing to bless me and the dealership. Thank you for sharing and God Bless you and your family, Jfann

Sounds to me like someone is looking to use God as a business partner. Charles

Michael, I was thinking last night about favors dropping like rain. I've really never associated the word \"favor\" with God... but this is why I love reading you. Of course, today, God acts in my life. I think because of my faith and me stepping outside of my routine to help the customer. I feel like I have received a favor and it was a \"by chance\" kind of deal. Obviously God knew my heart and had this planned for me, b/c looking back it's clear now that he did. You mentioned challenges today. It's not an order yet, but a challenging and complicated opportunity that I've been seeking for a long time... one that I think will expand our company's capabilities and sustain us in the future... a fruit tree I've loved and cared for a long time now producing a crop. But I have to put on my boots and get to work to keep my vegetables growing as well. Hopefully shining Christ's light along the way. Thank you for putting hope in our hearts at this time. Kyle

Dear Kern The following scripture declares, “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer� (2Corinthians 1:5-6 ESV) It would be problematic to assume that all suffering is a result of a Godly lifestyle. The following scriptures (a sample of many) show that all suffering is not from God, “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.� (1Peter 2:20 ESV) “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.� (1Peter 3:17 ESV) “But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.� (1Peter 4:15 ESV) “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.� (1Peter 4:19 ESV) On your comments about earnestness. I believe that the mighty Apostle Paul was most earnest about his faith, and yet he recorded times of suffering (his beatings, jail time, etc) and times of abundance. “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.� (Philippians 4:10-13 ESV) All of us would do well to remember that in our world today, a single plate of food on the table to feed a family of six, is hardship to one family and abundance to another. I believe Kern that it is not what The Lord has asked us to endure, but rather how we endure. It is no coincidence that Christianity, was known as 'The Way'. As Paul so eloquently wrote, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.� (Philippians 4:13 ESV) In closing we should use whatever season we are in to fulfil the call upon us all in Matt 25:31-46. (you will have to look this up yourself)

I have learned in the midst of struggles (I wouldn't call my life suffering), I have learned to 'do right', 'do good' and expect from God. For example, next Tuesday I will be $9,000+ short to make payroll. Tonight I received an email from a Customer that they are paying early $11,000+ in invoices. The check will arrive tomorrow. Praise God for His blessings and love that He has for me and mine.

Too many good comments to individually respond to individually. Thank you all for great comments!

A friend forwarded your e-mail to me and I know that it was a Word for me, and from the number of blog's for many others as well. Don't you just love how God does that!!!???!!! My husband and I have both been laid off. We were living in a rental home that foreclosed. Since my husband has worked for years as a General Manager at car dealerships we have always had demo's to drive. No job, no car. The first miracle came when someone heard about our need and gave us a car. Then the bank informed us that we had to be out of our home by the 10th of March. With no place to go we just started walking out the steps that God laid before us. We had 30 days but we started packing immediately. We wanted to be prepared to move when God opened the door. It was not a matter of an if He would have a place for us, we were confident that He was providing a place. 5 days before we were to be out the Lord led me to declare that by that night everything would be in place and we would have all that we needed to move. The next morning we received a call that someone was making a home available to us to use until the end of June. All we needed to do was move in our furniture and show the house as needed (the house is on the market). It is a beautiful home, on a golf course on St. Simons Island in S. Georgia! Also a truck was made available for us to move our things and we could begin moving immediately. The Lord spoke to me this morning and told me that I was to completely enjoy His Favor on us and not to be looking at down the road what are we going to do. If I do that I'll miss this right now. Your e-mail confirmed His Word to me. Thank you and bless you!

I agree Gary. I had more to say on that subject, but time and space were against me. To many talk of suffering in the west when things get tough. Yet our brothers and sisters in other countries are persecuted to death for the same beliefs we hold. It would be an insult to call our struggles, suffering.

Hi Michael, Good and timely word! It all comes down to: \"Whose report will one believe, His arm is revealed to the ones who chose to believe, exercise their faith and corresponding actions in God report, in lieu of the world's negative, sense and fear based reporting! I released an article this morning along these same lines of which you speak concerning the glory of God being revealed in our lives. It's entitled: Grace, Goodness, and Glory. The basic theme of the revelation is simple. Accessing God's grace by faith makes manifest His goodness in our lives. And that goodness in manifestation reveals His glory for all to see! I appreciate your insights, the Spirit is speaking the same flow to my heart. Keep on keeping on, this indeeed shall be a glorious year! Mitch

This will be a tuff year, but if you BELIVE it can get better it will, it might not get better the way you think it should so be open, and learn from everything, good bad or indifferent! be a person who can look for the lesson in everything!