THE POWER of THREE

I just recently became affiliated with a Network Marketing Company, in a part-time capacity. If we know anything about Direct Sales and the pyramid structure, most people believe that if we’re not on the ground floor there are no opportunities.

However, when we think about the structure of Corporate America, isn’t it really just a network marketing pyramid too? Except the corporate structure has the CEO at the top, with Senior Management, Department Heads or Supervisory personnel coming in down-line, followed by all the worker bees… the Employees at the bottom!

The corporate structure (which most people choose for their primary job) does come with opportunities for advancement, yet few make it from the worker bee status at the bottom, to the top as CEO. If you asked most people, they’d probably say they really haven’t followed their heart’s desire where their job is concerned. Their job is just a way to make a living…not a life. We spend all of our time and efforts working to make someone else’s dream come to pass in the up-line of the Corporate America pyramid? Why?

Direct Sales is a similar pyramid style of management, yet it puts “YOU” at the CEO level of the company right from the very start!
Each client brought into the company becomes the CEO of their own personal business… and so it goes right through the
down-line! Everyone begins at the top with the same opportunity as the next person, if they are willing to work and share until they find a receptive party.

In my particular affiliated company, we often hear the comment “The Power of Three” through personal development training CD’s and Videos. We are encouraged to share the product with 3 people and help them share it with 3 of their friends, who share it with three more friends and the compounded effect begins to take root… building a powerful base to support all of our efforts.

I thought of the Power of 3 in terms of sharing my faith as well. I reflected on how a positive conversation with one friend, one uplifting prayer with a family member, one encouraging text or email to a co-worker, one Faith-filled post on a blog, has the same compounding effect to reach millions and build a powerful base for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom…if we are willing to share it with others.

Jesus confirms this compounding effect with His words from the book of Matthew 18:19-20 (NIV): “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Network Marketing expert, Jim Rohn, shares in one of his motivational CD’s, how you have to talk to 10 people to get 1, talk to 10 again and get 2, talk to 10 more to get 3 who will be interested in your product and agree with your philosophy.

The same goes for winning souls for Christ. We have to talk to people and share our faith to find the ones who need to hear the message and will be receptive to what we have to share. We have to talk to 10 to win 1 soul for Christ, talk to 10 again to win 2, talk to 10 more to win 3!

The Power of Three will improve, compounding the effect as we continue to share our faith! Will you join me today and be one of the three?

Prayer For Today:
Father,
Thank You for revealing the Power of Three and the compounding effect Your words have when we share them with others. Help us not to be timid about what we believe but to speak our Faith boldly to win souls for Your Kingdom.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Power Verse
Philemon 1:6 (NIV) “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”

7 Heaven (Haiku)

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STREETS OF EMERALD
RUBIES, JASPER, GOLD AND PEARLS
AWAIT BELIEVERS
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LINEAR MOMENTS
WHERE TIME AND SPACE TRANSCEND LOVE
ALWAYS, FOREVER
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TAUGHT BY THE TEACHER
EVERYTHING WILL BE MADE KNOWN
TO HIS FOLLOWERS
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PEACE AND LOVE SURROUND
TRANQUILITY RESTS ON THOSE
WHO BELIEVE IN HIM
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ALL THINGS GOOD WILL THRIVE
IN THE LAND OF MILK, HONEY
LIONS SLEEP WITH LAMBS
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OUR SINS FORGOTTEN
MISTAKES REST IN THE SEA OF
HIS FORGETFULNESS
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I’VE CONFESSED MY SINS
FORGIVEN BY GOD’S MERCY
BLESSED ASSURANCE
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Your Chance to Shine

Lost in the Springtime of young dreams and regret
Waitin’ on a train
Ain’t got here yet

Lost in Summer sunsets of days gone by
Thinkin’ over all the past
Wonderin’ why?

Your star didn’t shine its brightest light
Snuffed out
Like hushed breath on candlelight

Say your star fell from grace a long time ago
Barely burning now
Just a soft glow

But those embers are still on fire
Hot to the core
Yearning for the chance to shine bright once more

The dreams and desires of your youth
Still alive today
Let’s don’t deny that truth

If it takes more than fifty years for you to find
The drive to see them come to life
Will you still waste more time?

Can’t you hear the whistle blowin’
Train is steamin’ down the line
Get your ticket in hand… NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO SHINE!

And there is more shocking news
YES! YOUR SHIP HAS COME IN!
It’s docked and waitin’ for you to jump in!

No more excuses about time and skill
Dreams come to pass for those who
“WILL IT TO HAPPEN”… take control over time

GET ON BOARD WITH YOUR DREAM…NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO SHINE!

To His Design

Power Verse:
Romans 12:2 (NIV) “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Feeling quite out of sorts
A malaise of sadness
Your mind contorts
Thoughts twist and turn

Emotions upside down
Dragging your smile
Down
Into a Frown

You can feel the tears
Well up in your eyes
Giving way from
The happy heart

Now disguised
As an unsettled soul
On a rocky path
Searching desperately

For a perfect peace that lasts
More than a week, a day or an hour
Longing for Peace that transcends
From a Higher Power

Are you thirsty for living water
To drench your soul
Then let go of distorted thoughts
When Satan tries to control

Because negative thoughts
Steal your joy without reason
They come and go
No matter the season

But knowing the evil one’s scheme
Is half the battle
Gaining insight and wisdom
You’re no longer saddled

To Satan’s taunts,
Tirades and barrage of despair
When you shut that junk down
Without the slightest care

So don’t conform to this world
In any shape, form or pattern
Allow God to transform your thoughts
To His design and fashion

Hope for Tomorrow

Have you ever felt unsettled? Have you ever been unsettled in your job, or unsettled in your finances? Maybe you are unsettled in your marriage or a relationship with a friend or business partner. Could you possibly be unsettled in your own skin? Do you feel like you are going through the motions and your heart is just not in it anymore?

Webster’s Dictionary defines “unsettled” as: not calm or tranquil, not decided or determined, an unsettled state of mind, not resolved or worked out, likely to vary widely in the near future.

Does that describe any of your current circumstances?

I’ve been “unsettled” occasionally in my own life and it’s definitely not anywhere you want to take up residence. I do know from experience that unsettling times are just that… “times”.

Times are not permanent and just as Webster defined “unsettled”,  “times” too are likely to vary in the near future. It is that we can’t see what’s around the bend that causes the unsettled state of mind.

The book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8  reminds us “There is a time for everything and a season for every purpose under the heavens…”

Thomas Paine, in his The Crisis essays, recounts that “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Paine goes on to say that, “the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

I’d venture to guess those so-called “times” are still trying men’s souls today and those who persevere and exercise their faith through the unsettling trials of life  will live to see the triumph!

Hebrews 11:1 (English Standard Version) tells us “Now faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”

Don’t you just love that verse? Faith is the confidence that what you pray for will come to pass! You have to BELIEVE it to RECEIVE it! I struggle with that sometimes too. I can believe it all day long for You, but sometimes have difficulty believing it for me.

If you are going through an unsettling time right now, won’t you exercise your FAITH with me! No storm lasts forever. This “time” too shall pass!

So, until the next season in our life comes along, with an unclouded view of what has passed, let’s let FAITH lead our hearts and our minds into the tranquil, calm that we will find only… in the unsettled, undetermined, Hope for tomorrow!

 

The Difference Between “A” and “THE”

The Proverbs say there is “a” way

that seems right to a man

but in the end

it leads to death and destruction

We toil and strive for wisdom and pleasure

yet joy often leaves us with the assumption

that we are in control of our own destiny

When we are young

we think we are invincible

But as the years go by

and family and friends begin to die

we see how man’s way confirms the Biblical

For the road to The Kingdom

has a Narrow Gate

and man’s way

only leads to death

But Jesus said, “I AM THE WAY”

so we must follow His path

to peace and rest

Assured in eternity

where His Love abounds

Where the lion

will sleep with the lamb

No one comes to the Father

except through Jesus

Yhwh…The Great I AM

Delete! Delete!

 

Your mind races and your thoughts scatter
Constantly changing, regardless of the matter

You can be happy and extremely upbeat
Yet your thoughts creep in at night and steal your sleep

It’s a battle raging on and on, day after day
Regardless of how hard you try… thoughts overwhelm you this way

The incessant chatter in your head
Will wear you out… turn your hope into dread

But Jesus knew the battle you would fight in your mind
So take up the Sword of the Spirit and you will find

The negative voices don’t have all that much to say
When you let the Holy Spirit lead you through each day!

You can stay in control of all that you think
Hanging on to all the good… the bad? Delete! Delete!

Erase the negative streaming videos
The junk of past day’s guilt

Because as Believers you know
That’s why Christ’s blood was spilt

To cleanse you from all the wrong that you’ve done
Saving you for His Kingdom… Holy Father, Spirit, Son!

So when your mind wanders to a channel on past sin
Don’t watch the reruns over and over again

Lift up your head, turn your face to the sky
And disregard scattered thoughts as they float across your mind

Stand firm in The Spirit and all of its strength
Clinging on to all the good! The bad? Delete! Delete!

Summer Fun on Pickwick Lake

IMG_2671Weekend trips planned at the Lake
With family and friends we celebrate
Summer’s arrival and it couldn’t be hotter
We can’t wait to get in the water

Swim Trunks, bikinis, T-Shirts and tanks
Master Craft and Jetski motors crank
The sights and sounds of water sports
Skiing the ditch clad in board shorts

Barefootin’ early while the water’s slick as glass
Skiing behind The Islands while the late sleepers crash
Hook up after breakfast and wakeboard near the Dam
Tubin behind the Cobalt gettin’ body slammed

Coves brimming over with lots of personality
Dry Creek and Panther and Millon Dollar Zippy
Tie up side by side to houseboats, mega yachts and more
Or Idle near the WaterFall to watch cliff diving galore

The smell of grilled burgers fills the air
The lazy days of summer without a care
Music is thumping at every hotspot
Our Summer weekend ritual & we like it alot

Back at the villa, Sophie’s waitin’ at the door
She’s hoping for a cooler day so she can join once more
Plans for dinner are underway… are we grillin’ or goin’ out
No matter where we dine it tastes better without a doubt

At Pickwick Lake where everything is seasoned
With countless ways and tons of reasons
To hook back up here next weekend
No invitation needed

Cast Fear Aside

How many times
Have you missed
God’s blessings
Because of Fear?

Have you failed to express
Or exercise your FAITH
When confronted with a
Temptation or trial?

Remember Fear paralyzes, Fear destroys
Fear cheats, and Fear deprives
But FAITH BRINGS FREEDOM, FAITH RESTORES
FAITH BREAKS CHAINS THAT IMMOBILIZE!

So when you are Fearful
Whatever the cause
Remember God’s blessings
And take time to Pause

For a moment
And meditate
Ask God for His word
When was the last time that you heard

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

So cast Fear aside and
Get on with the show!

Twirling Skirt

Daddy am I lovely? Am I Captivating?
My twirling skirt
Goes round and round
And my heart is aching

To know if you think I’m pretty
Am I your princess? Your little kitten?
Daddy when you look at me
Is your heart now smitten?

Longing for your approval Daddy
A young girl needs to hear
Your words of love and high esteem
Resonating in her ears

But if your earthly Father never said
Precious words of affirmation
Don’t let your heart, in later years
Get lost in contemplation

Because God The Father
Of all little girls, made you lovely and captivating
Round and round in your twirling skirt
His open arms are waiting

To take your hand and walk with you
Or skip if you feel you must
For our Heavenly Father is the only one
To rely on and place your trust

But we acknowledge our Daddy’s
On this Father’s Day
Those who loved us and cherished us
And helped us along our way

To become the young women
God intended all along
Honoring our Father’s
Both on earth and on The Throne