“But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by His Spirit, and His Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets.”
1 Corinthians 2:10 (NLT)

JULY 11 - Extending his hands over the uneven tabletop, it would take just a little more work until finally finished. Chairs, chests, tables, beams, and doors—the scent of the forest ran deep within Joseph’s blood. But as his firstborn grew into a man, Joseph began to discover that he was more than a carpenter—he was the earthly father of the King of kings. Everything is created for a purpose. We were created for a purpose just as well. Let’s consider Jesus and His cousin, John the Baptist. They didn’t choose what God wanted for their lives. They searched until they discovered their purpose in the Word of God.

God placed a calling on each and every one of us. All of us are called to obey. There is no exemption from obedience. Only upon the road of obedience do we discover our purpose in life. The Creator decides, while the creation discovers. Many Christians attempt to tell the Creator what they are going to do. This is not the way it is intended to be. Our purpose is discovered, not decided.

This does not mean we sit and wait for God to tell us what to do. We must take action and begin to move in the direction of the desires within our heart. Action causes our purpose to become clear. What this means is along the path we walk, we avail ourselves to the written Word of God, spiritual authorities, and the Spirit. We ask the question, “Father, does this bring You pleasure?”

Father, I thank You for revealing secret things to me by Your Spirit. Through my obedience to You, I discover Your purpose for my life and fulfill what You called me to do.

Family Scripture Reading

Romans 4

Featured Resource

Excellence In Character - Book

Have you tested your foundation lately?

A house built on a faulty foundation soon becomes unfit to live in. Shifting soil causes cracks in the foundation. Gradually those cracks travel upward to the walls and ceilings of the house, causing more and more structural damage — not to mention more headaches to those who live inside. Think of the loss and trouble the homeowners could have avoided if they had only tested the foundation before they moved in!

In the same way, we will save ourselves a lifetime of grief if we will just take the time to test the foundation of our lives — our character — and deal with any cracks or flaws that could later lead to disaster. As author Robb Thompson stresses, “Without a strong, solid foundation of God’s principles undergirding our lives, everything else we attempt to build or accomplish will eventually crumble and fall. In fact, any breakdown in life can almost always be traced back to a breakdown in character.”

Let Dr. Thompson help you explore what God has to say about pursuing excellent character. Then start building a rock-solid, Godly character that will lead you to God’s highest for your life!

Posted under Purpose

“…I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God,through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to Heaven.”
Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

JUNE 4 - The Nativity—a familiar scene of the Savior’s tranquil birth—gives hope to the world by His eventual death, the means through which the darkness of our past is forever erased. And that is exactly why many today do not even wish to celebrate the Nativity scene: they instead choose darkness over the Light. But God went to great lengths to bestow upon us a new future, and is willing to grant it to anyone who embraces it. Enthusiastically He tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you…they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God has a good future awaiting us. But how do we possess that great future? One way is to learn from others’ mistakes. Consider the Israelites. They incessantly looked back on their past rather than hopefully toward their future. They were unwilling to fight for the very freedom for which they prayed.

The future God has for us does not come because we want it—we must continuously fight for it. It takes great effort, but the rewards are well worth the cost. The apostle Paul said it like this, “I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…” Only by focusing on where we are going do we escape where we are. Our entry into the future is dependent upon our departure from our past. We need to open God’s Word and begin to see the tomorrow He has for us. It is a bright and wonderful future!

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that I do not look back, for there is no future in my past. I press forward to the bright future of hope and blessings You have for me.

Family Scripture Reading

Acts 5

Featured Resource

Problem Solving - CD

You might ask, “How does solving others’ problems help me to achieve the life I desire?” The answer is found in one of the powerful principles Dr. Robb Thompson shares in this series. Based on Ephesians 6:8, it states: “Whatever you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.”

Your life will begin to quickly advance as you learn how to become an answer, and not a question, to those to whom you have been assigned. Promotion and favor will chase you down as you implement Dr. Thompson’s practical yet powerful principles. Here are just a few:

• Your value to your employer is in direct proportion to the problems you are willing to solve for him.
• You will only be remembered for the problems you solve or the problems you create.
• When you solve a greater problem, you will receive a greater reward.
• Don’t try to compete with people – compete against mediocrity.

Whether you need to see advancement in your career, business, relationships, or personal effectiveness, don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your life to the next level. The only one who can stop your promotion is you!

Posted under past

“…‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him,
‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”
John 6:67-69 (NKJV)

JANUARY 12 - If God gave us the inherent freedom to choose our destiny, then howcan other people co-workers, family members, neighbors, or just plain friends—determine whether or not we succeed in life? The truth is, they can’t. The outcome of our lives is based solely on the decisions we make. We are actually landlords of the apartment building that gives shelter to our own consequences. Therefore, we cannot blame the unhappiness of our present condition on the actions of others.

As diligent landlords, we must realize that the rewards we enjoy in life depend entirely on us. No longer must we think from the perspective of whether or not a decision is right or wrong. Instead, we must thoroughly contemplate future ramifications every time a decision is made. We can ask ourselves, “What are the long-term effects going to be if I choose this?” It’s time to learn to make decisions based on long-term consequences, rather than short-term gratification. In other words, we must pay the price today, in order to
enjoy the greatest benefits tomorrow.

In the above passage, we catch a glimpse of how our destiny is shaped by “The moment of decision.” Many walked hastily away from Jesus that fateful day, never to return, while the twelve disciples made the astute, heartfelt decision to stay and serve the One who would ultimately save them. It was a moment in time that potently determined the rest of their lives. How often do we, in the course of our bustling lives, experience such life-changing moments?

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You for giving me the ability to choose my destiny.
I know You have a will for my life and I desire to fulfill it.

Day 12: Audio Confession

Family Scripture Reading

1 Kings 9

Featured Resource

Excellence Keys To Change Your Life -CD

3 CDs

Excellence is a journey, not a destination. This journey has no end, and you can expect to encounter obstacles along the way. But as you press toward the goal of daily making your best better, you’ll discover what Dr. Robb Thompson has already experienced in his own life –the rewards of excellence are well worth the price you must pay to receive them. The prize is always greater than the price!

In this series, Dr. Thompson brings to light the ingredients necessary to obtain excellence in your life. If you are ready for a change, this message will set you on the path to experiencing God’s ultimate plan for your life.

Posted under Decision

“He who walks with integrity walks securely,
but he who perverts his ways will become known.”
Proverbs 10:9 (NKJV)

January 10 - If you had the opportunity, would you desire to know the outcome of your life? It’s easy—just closely examine your character, scrutinizing it, as a farmer would search his fields for weeds. It is impossible to
separate yourself from your character. Character is who a person is. The great thing is—character can be developed. You are not born a good person; in fact, you are programmed to fail the moment you are born. The Bible says we are all born slaves to sin. But God sent His Son to die and live again so we can walk as He walked. Jesus’ destiny was predicted long ago by His unwillingness to compromise. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He refused to negotiate His integrity for momentary pleasure.

Your character is a prophecy of your destiny, just as the status of a farmer’s field is a prophecy of the goods he will sell. Choose to break your integrity, and you will alter your destiny for that which is bad. Choose to live according to divine principles, and you will alter your destiny for that which is good. It is your choice!

Through God’s Word, you can cultivate the character of Christ. Heaven and Hell are literal destinies of a chosen path. Walk according to God’s Word and Heaven will be your final destination. Choose to live according to the desires of your flesh, and Hell cruelly awaits you. Today, cross-examine yourself with the precepts of God’s Word. Ask God to help you live like Christ and pay whatever price you must to ensure you never lower your standard of living.

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that I choose to walk in integrity and therefore I walk securely; I choose not to pervert my ways and become known.

Day 10: Audio Confessions

Family Scripture Reading

1 Kings 7

Featured Resource

Excellence In Character -Book

A house built on a faulty foundation soon becomes unfit to live in. Shifting soil causes cracks in the foundation. Gradually those cracks travel upward to the walls and ceilings of the house, causing more and more structural damage — not to mention more headaches to those who live inside. Think of the loss and trouble the homeowners could have avoided if they had only tested the foundation before they moved in!

In the same way, we will save ourselves a lifetime of grief if we will just take the time to test the foundation of our lives — our character — and deal with any cracks or flaws that could later lead to disaster. As author Robb Thompson stresses, “Without a strong, solid foundation of God’s principles undergirding our lives, everything else we attempt to build or accomplish will eventually crumble and fall. In fact, any breakdown in life can almost always be traced back to a breakdown in character.”

Let Dr. Thompson help you explore what God has to say about pursuing excellent character. Then start building a rock-solid, Godly character that will lead you to God’s highest for your life!

Posted under Character, General