Fw: GREAT LEADERS ARE VIRTUOUS!

Team:

Today is the final day of the year. Today is the culmination of all the events in the Playbook.

Did you know the First thing God did for Adam was find him a partner? God knew that Adam's wife Eve would complete him and together they would accomplish great things with their new family.

GREAT LEADERS ARE VIRTUOUS!

The Lord wants us to know how much He loves Great Women and Mothers. This is why His One Year Bible saves the Best for last.

This is my Incredible Wife Jana:

" She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:..."
Proverbs 31:25-31

GREAT LEADERS ARE VIRTUOUS!

On this last day of the year God wants us to know how much He Loves and Honors Women.

"To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it"  --  Mother Theresa

GREAT LEADERS ARE VIRTUOUS!

Just Go! Win The Year!

Rick

Dec 31 Readings - MALACHI 3:1-4:6 | REVELATION 22:1-21 | PSALM 150:1-6 | PROVERBS 31:25-31

ARE WE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK?

Team:

What does the future hold? We are coming to the end of the Bible which is our Playbook.

66 books by 40 authors from all over the world with one single message. The message of Good News.

The Bible has every answer to life's questions: Loneliness, Emptiness, Guilt and Afraid to die.

The Bible also answers the questions about the future. Over 100 predictions of
of the first coming of Jesus Christ and what He would accomplish. (Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 52,53 Micah 5:2, Zech 9:6 Isaiah 7:14 ect...)

According to experts in Probability and Statistics there is no way anyone could predict these things unless they were in connection with a Divine Being from another dimension.

There are over 500 predictions of His second coming and the end of the World. Almost all of the 100's of predictions have happened (Ezekial 36,37 Israel in 1948).

The Bible also has Medical Science. How did Moses know the life in the flesh was in the blood? Lev 17:11

As you know the red blood cells carry the oxygen that keeps the flesh and muscles alive.

Did Moses have a Microscope? How did he know this medical science 5000 years ago yet we didn't find this out until 1921 with the American Medical Association

I only say this because of the verse you are about to read in Rev 20. God has always been right and He will be right again. We need to listen up!

God has given us the playbook for life. There is no other playbook with all of these answers.

In the end it is all about the scoreboard. Did we Win?

Did we take advantage of our resources? Did we accept God's Plan for Salvation now and in the future?

In the beginning of the Playbook we sinned and fell away from God. We are now separated from God for eternity because of sin.

BUT GOD HAD A PLAN!

In the middle of the Playbook God sends His only Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins so we can live eternally with Him.
Then at the end of time and the Playbook God opens up His Book of Life to reveal who is written in it.

ARE WE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK?

Now Please listen up:

"The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."
Rev 20:13-15

Friends, God did everything possible to give us the opportunity to Win and be written in His Bookof Life. We either accepted His gift or rejected it.

ARE WE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK?

I remember when I was in my final semester at Long Beach State University.
I went to my counselors office weekly to make sure I was on track to graduate and enter the Business World at Xerox Corporation.

Why? I wanted to be sure I was in that graduation line and starting my career soon after. If I wasn't I would have to make some quick changes.

In the same way we need to ask God if we are on the right path. If we are not we need to make some quick changes to "graduate." Time is short. The end of time is coming.

ARE WE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK?

Just Go!

Rick

Dec 29 Readings - ZECHARIAH 14:1-21 | REVELATION 20:1-15 | PSALM 148:1-14 | PROVERBS 31:8-9

Fw: GREAT LEADERS SPEND TIME WITH GOD!

Team:

Here is a great message from Adrian Rogers.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"But the LORD is my defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge." Psalm 94:22

GREAT LEADERS SPEND TIME WITH GOD!

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

• When you get ready to really live for God, you are going to face three enemies. You're going to face those who are in despair—they're going to be howling calamity.

• You're going to face those with disdain—they're going to laugh at you.

• And you're going to face those with discouragement—they're going to say that it can't be done.

GREAT LEADERS SPEND TIME WITH GOD!

And you better learn to silence their voices. How do you do that?

Get alone in the secret counsel halls of the Almighty and get your eyes on God. If you listen to what those people say, you're not going to be victorious in what God is calling you to do.

I believe David conquered Goliath because he got alone with God. I believe Joseph survived abandonment and imprisonment because he got alone with God.

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN!

Team:

Here is a great message by Raul Reese on the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has given us this gift so we can represent Him with Honor and Integrity.

We have been given this incredible Power. Are we using this Power effectively in our daily routine?

The key is to Wait on the Lord. The Bible tells us that when we Wait on the Lord we get Strength.

Just Go! Win the Day!

Rick

Be Still and Listen

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting."
Acts 2:1-2

Imagine, they were all sitting in the house at Pentecost, and they did not know what was going to happen. Look at Acts 1:4-8. Jesus was speaking to them, and He promised the Holy Spirit would come upon them, and He would empower them to go out and preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Notice, He did not tell them how or when it would happen. They were just as surprised as the people who witnessed the divided tongues of fire. Look at their faith. Even though they had no idea how the Holy Spirit would come or when, still they waited, all of the same mind in the same agreement.

When the room was filled with the rushing wind, no one panicked; no one went running from the room. There was order as they were sitting. While they were waiting, they were not dancing around or playing. Why?

They were showing respect, sitting as a symbol of order, of meditating, of waiting upon the Lord and being still in the presence of the Lord.

Today, I think people have a hard time waiting upon the Lord. We pray, we ask God for our petitions, and then we say, "Okay, Lord, I am ready; do it now."
It is not enough to pray; we have to take time to listen.

God wants to speak to us. We just have to stop, be still and listen.

How rare it is to find a soul quiet enough to hear God speak! ~Francois Fenelon~

GREAT LEADERS TAP INTO THE POWER!

Team:

Here is a great message from Greg Laurie.

When you walk in the Power of the Holy Spirit there are no "what ifs." God will give you the Power to overcome anything!

"Some people may say it is kind of difficult to be a Christian. But I would disagree. I don't think it is difficult to be a Christian; I think it is impossible—without the help and the power of the Holy Spirit, that is." Greg Laurie

"You can't live your life saying, 'what if!'
You just live your life!" ESPN

When we live with the Power of the Holy Spirit ruling in our lives we will always make the right decision. There are no "what ifs."

If the decision seems wrong at the time don't worry. God will turn our "wrong" decision into a great opportunity in the future. Romans 8:28

Just Go! Win The Day!

Rick

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2011

All the Power We Need by Greg Laurie 

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. —2 Peter 1:3

Human history has been all about power: using it, and sometimes exploiting it. First there was manpower. Then there was steam power. Now we have nuclear power. But what we seem to lack is willpower. Human beings are able to harness the powers of the universe, but we can't seem to control ourselves.

But the good news is that we serve a mighty God who will give us all the power we need to live the Christian life.

Some people may say it is kind of difficult to be a Christian. But I would disagree. I don't think it is difficult to be a Christian; I think it is impossible—without the help and the power of the Holy Spirit, that is.

It has been said that conversion has made our hearts a battlefield. The moment we put our faith in Jesus, we enter into a spiritual battle. We have an adversary, an opponent, an enemy known as the devil. And Ephesians 6:12 tells us, "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

Once a high-ranking angel in heaven, Lucifer, or Satan, rebelled against God. In that rebellion, he took one-third of the angels with him. Those fallen angels are what we know as demons.

The purpose of demons seems to be twofold: to hinder the purpose of God and extend the power of Satan. But we serve a God who has all power.

Psalm 62:11 tells us that power belongs to God. And Jesus said He heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). All the power we need to live the Christian life is available to us through Jesus Christ.

GREAT LEADERS RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Team:

Do you ever ask yourself what does God want me to do with my life?

The future is so vast and big which direction should I go?

Do you ever get trapped in a whirlwind of doubt with little or no faith?

Have you heard he Southwest Airline commercial "Want to get away?"

Sometimes in life we want to escape don't we?

DON'T ESCAPE JUST EMBRACE!

Did you know that some of the greatest heroes in the Bible also wanted to "get away" and escape? These heroes started out with little or no faith before they accomplished Great things for God?

What was the answer?

GREAT LEADERS RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT!

The Heroes of the Bible were no different than us.

Zerubbabel was worried about the future. He had doubts and concerns. He was frankly "wiped out" with no strength. It was very hard for him to get out of bed in the morning.

Maybe Zerubbabel said, "How I Escape?" What drug can I take to make it all go away?

Sometimes life is so confusing with mental pain we want to "get away."

DON'T ESCAPE JUST EMBRACE!

GREAT LEADERS RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT!

One thing Zerubbabel had was a great Spiritual Foundation that was ready to be resurrected. From an early age his mother would read stories of the Word of God to him. Then she would pray for him and his future.

DON'T ESCAPE JUST EMBRACE!

GREAT LEADERS RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT!

While Zerubbabel was in his moment of despair God asked him a question:

He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied. So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:

'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. "What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!'"

DON'T ESCAPE JUST EMBRACE!

GREAT LEADERS RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT!

"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.
Zech 4:6-9

DON'T ESCAPE JUST EMBRACE!

GREAT LEADERS RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Friends, God is also asking us a question: "Do you know what these are?"

Sometimes God will give us a Vision and it will seem confusing. Zerubbabel's Vision was of oil being pumped into some pipes.

What's that?

The Oil is the Holy Spirit being Pumped into our lives to give us Power to Accomplish Great things for God.

DON'T ESCAPE JUST EMBRACE!

GREAT LEADERS RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Have we tapped into the Power of the Holy Spirit in our own lives? When we do the Mountains and Obstacles will be leveled to the Ground.

Just like Zerubbabel would finish his Purpose here on earth God will give us the Power of the Holy Spirit to Continue to Finish our Purpose.

DON'T ESCAPE JUST EMBRACE!

GREAT LEADERS RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT!

We don't need to Escape we need to Embrace the Purpose God has put us here for.

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Phil 1:6

DON'T ESCAPE JUST EMBRACE!

GREAT LEADERS RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT!

JUST GO - WIN THE HOUR!

Rick

Dec 23 Readings - ZECHARIAH 4:1-5:11 | REVELATION 14:1-20 | PSALM 142:1-7 | PROVERBS 30:21-23

Fw: Let the Holy Spirit speak -- Today'

Team:

Do you ever worry about what to say when you are in a tough situation?

Here Pastor Mike shows us when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us we will have Confidence in every situation.

JUST GO WIN THE DAY!

Rick
------ Email ------
But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:11

You don't need to worry if you have the Holy Spirit. Every day and in every situation, you can trust in the Holy Spirit to speak through you.

Isn't that a comfort?

Jesus obviously isn't saying here that a preacher or teacher shouldn't be prepared for a message; the leading of the Holy Spirit is not a license for laziness. Notice that the context is about when someone is arrested for being a follower of Jesus Christ. In other words, when trials come our way as Christians, we don't need to worry. Why? Because God is with us! His Holy Spirit will be our comfort and our guide in those tight spots. And what a place to be when things are not going well.

So often we want our lives to be "figured out." We want our days to be organized, so we devise timelines and schedules for ourselves, and if we don't adhere to them, we get worried, uptight, and fidgety. But God doesn't operate according to our schedules. We need to start seeing life with His eyesight and perspective.

That's what the Holy Spirit does; He gives us wisdom and discernment to see and to hear what God's desires are.

Sure, we can be organized, but we cannot let our well-crafted plans run our lives; we cannot let our "organization" become a god to us. Let the Holy Spirit lead you; let Him move freely in you.

Today I want to encourage you to let the Holy Spirit start moving through you. The end of the age is near and things continue to happen at an alarming rate.

You who love the Lord with all of your heart, let Him unleash the Word of God through you; the world desperately needs it. Let Him bless you by blessing other people through you.

Be flexible. (Loosen up a little bit, even.) Take Him at his word and let Him use you to bless people. The Holy Spirit is going to use you. He wants to speak through you, so give Him the opportunity.