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Here is this week's Yearly Cycle Update.
This time of year is a reminder that times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord. The spring is a reminder that God makes all things new and he wants to bring some fresh energy into our lives. This rekindled energy comes from his presence.
Acts 3:19 says, therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
In the Abundant Life Blueprint, there are what I call refreshing pairs:
Purpose and finances refresh each other -
Health and order refresh each other
Family and time refresh each other
If one of these areas needs some refreshing spend some time focusing on the other area that it is paired with and bringing God's presence into these areas.
Last week we talked about installing a weekly filter at the top of our journal every night. The filter is just a short phrase that we write that serves as a reminder...
In the Old Testament when the people crossed over the Jordan River into the promised land one of the first things that had to happen was all of the men had to be circumcised. Circumcision was a symbol of their covenant with God and it also symbolized a cutting away, leaving the past behind, as they prepared to enter into what God had for them.
Colossians 2:11 tells us, "In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands."
Romans 2:29 says, "No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God."
Deuteronomy 30:6 says The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
We have a circumcision of the heart that...
Honey is one of the few foods that if stored properly doesn't expire. Archeologists have found honey that was thousands of years old, and it was still good. Everything God created is meant to teach us about Jesus and I think it's no coincidence that he calls the promised land a land of milk and honey. The land he has for us doesn't expire. Even when we feel we have missed it or we are taking too long... it doesn't expire. It is still waiting for us.
As I was thinking about honey I started researching verses on honey. Here are some of the verses that came up...
Proverbs 24:13-14 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Psalm 81:16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
Deuteronomy 32:13 He made him ride on the heights...
2 Thessalonians 3:3 says But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen(establish) you and protect you from the evil one.
Some versions of this verse say strengthen, while others translate it as establish. Recently I felt like God told me that I didn't understand how to be strong...so I asked him to teach me. Like the verse above, many of the New Testament verses on strength can also be translated as establish. To be established is to be fixed and immovable.
Being established always makes me think of trees. For a tree to be established, means that it has roots that are just as wide as the canopy on the top of the tree. Therefore, for a tree to be established has to do with the underground system we can't see being strong. And it takes time for the root system to develop, often years. In our own lives, while our roots are developing and the New Covenant is getting established in our heart, there may be the temptation to grow weary, because there is a lot...
Reading through the book of Ecclesiastes we see King Solomon chasing after all sorts of things to find meaning and fulfillment, but all of it he says is meaningless and chasing after the wind. But over and over he repeats this phrase... There is nothing better than for people to eat, drink, and find enjoyment in their work. this is a gift from God he says, because who can find enjoyment without him.
I think there is a lot of wisdom in what Solomon is saying, because it takes so much pressure off and greatly simplifies life when we simply focus on finding the joy in whatever we are doing.
Today's communion is a time of gratitude that God is the source of our joy, and in his presence, there is fullness of joy. And we are asking for his help to eat, drink, enjoy our work, and do good.
Here are some scriptures from Ecclesiastes to meditate on today...
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satis...
Yesterday we were painting my daughter's room and I was reminded of the difference that the right tools can make. I was trying to paint the corners and edges, and we had two different tools that were meant for this. One of the tools was not very good, which caused us to make some mess. The other tool was much better and made the painting so much easier and more efficient.
In the Abundant Life Blueprint, we are building a house, which means we need the right tools. Currently we have tools like the Daily Prayer, Yearly, Cycle, Workouts, Daily Communion, and Journaling.
In today's communion we are asking God for all the tools we need to build our lives and for the knowledge and skill of how to use all the tools the right way.
Today's Workout/Health Tip
In our exercise the tools or equipment we use also makes a difference. Currently I do most of my workouts at home and here is the equipment that I have. A barbell with plates, a few dumbbells,...
This time of year is a reminder that God wants the culture of Heaven on Earth. I view culture as one of the biggest keys to accelerated growth. To see true transformation, we often must change the culture.
Here is a short excerpt from my book The 8th Date on the Culture of Heaven...
All bodies have a culture. A human body has a culture: think about probiotics and antibiotics. Churches, businesses, communities, organizations, and countries also have cultures. Culture is the unseen force that causes a body to grow and thrive or to decay. Culture is something that is hard to put your finger on and measure, because it is an unseen force that is either bringing life or death.
A good culture will increase productivity and efficiency while eliminating waste. A bad culture will waste resources, time, and, most importantly, the potential in people.
The world we live in has a culture of stress, striving, and struggling for every inch of progress. As we abide in...
Yesterday finished the 7 day Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was a reminder to clean out our old ways of doing things. Today is like a fresh start, and God wants to help us implement a new culture into our lives. Every business, ministry, organization, community, and nation has a unique culture. Culture is how things are done and it is an unseen force that is very, very powerful. Jesus often said Heaven is like a country, and it also has a culture. God wants to help us implement the culture of Heaven into our lives, or Heavens way of doing things.
Today's communion is a time of gratitude that God has released us from darkness and transferred us into the light. And we are asking for his help to clean out our old way of doing things and for His culture, the culture of Heaven to be functioning in our lives.
Today's Workout/Health Tip
Our physical bodies also have a culture, think antibiotics and probiotics. This culture is one of the most powerful...
Here is this week's Yearly Cycle Update.
This is a time of year when God likes to accelerate. It was during this time of year that Jesus began to appear to the disciples and teach them about the kingdom of God, and the church was about to greatly accelerate. This acceleration happened by God sowing the Spirit of Jesus into people and people working together in unity. People working together is the greatest accelerator there is.
Lately we have been talking about installing monthly filters at the top of our journal every night. These filters serve as new standards that we are committing to and can help navigate us through the day.
Something I feel like God is nudging me toward is using our Weekly Yearly Cycle updates as a second filter that is written underneath the monthly filter.
As an example, here is what I will be writing every night for the next week...
Monthly Filter - Bring out the best in my family today by cherishing them.
Weekly...
About a week ago one of our partners reminded me of a very important principle, which is that the first thing out of our mouth every morning sets the tone for the whole day. He was telling me what a difference it had made in how his days were going by immediately praising God when he wakes up in the morning. To be honest, I had taught this for years, but had kind of forgotten it. Over the last week I started implementing this again, and I am amazed at what a difference this makes. It is a very small thing that makes a big difference. After implementing this for a few days I started seeking God on what we should be speaking first thing in the morning.
Here is the answer I feel God is showing me on this... "Let there be light."
In the Bible the very first words God speaks are, "Let there be light." This one short phrase sets the tone for the rest of the Bible. Like little kids we can imitate our father and have the very first words we speak every...
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