An eagle has an aire of majesty and beauty

Worldly Success is like the rainbow beautiful for all to see... for a short time. But Heavenly Glory is that ultimate pot of gold, which once found... never decays. (Dr. Strickhausen)

Try my audio-visual version of Matthew 11:28-30 ALOUD with your own mouth: "Come unto me, all ye that are "groan as if you are pushing or laboring" and are "sigh as if you are under a heavy load", and I will give you "aaaahhhhhhhhhhhh" (as if you just drank a glass of iced tea after working in the sun). Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find "aaaaahhhhhhhhhh" unto your souls. For my yoke is "snap your fingers once" and my burden is "blow a puff of air over the palm of your hand as if there were a feather there."

Sandra Scott, author of "Charmers & Con Artists," says, A person who is a Charmer is: 1) Someone who is liked and admired by everyone, but who is privately manipulative, controlling and abusive. 2) Asks, begs, expects you to forgive and forget the same hurtful acts repeatedly. 3) Knows exactly what to say or do to keep you from holding him accountable and in turn makes you look like the problem. 4) Expects his words, or his touch, or his gifts to make you trust him again. 5) Is so beguiling, that when he finally crosses the line either physically, morally, or legally, others either won't believe you, minimize it, or refuse to get involved or advocate for you.

Unconditional Love doesn't mean Unconditional Acceptance of all behaviors of another. (Sandra Scott, author of "Charmers & Con Artists")

A Charmer is adept at NORMALIZING his own behavior. (Sandra Scott, author of "Charmers & Con Artists")

We often remember the positive sides of the divine love definition written in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8b NIV. But we tend to forget, that right in the middle of God's description of love, God also says, "love does not delight in evil." This statement balances the picture of God's Love. Without this ingredient in the love equation, God's love would be reduced to a "sloppy-agap." God's love then, definitely includes a hatred for evil. Agap Love does not delight in evil. Agap Love does not wink at sin. Agap Love demands change and repentance. Agap Love holds another accountable for their actions. Agap Love does not IGNORE or just COVER sin, but aims to REMOVE it altogether.

A Double Negative is a Positive. Hebrews 2:14b KJV - "...through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil."

On the Cross, Jesus did the Double Negative on the devil.

My sin was nailed to that Cross. My sickness was nailed to that Cross. And my poverty was nailed to that Cross.

Since they were nailed to another place, sin, sickness and poverty are now made foreigners to me.

1 Peter 2:24 KJV - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

If you could place a Spiritual X-ray machine up to me, you would see that my spirit is brimming with the very life and nature of God... eternal life... life everlasting... the very substance that God and heaven are made out of.

1 John 5:12 KJV - He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Eternal life, or the Greek word Zoe (pronounced zoe-ay), or the divine nature, is a substance, not a span of time. Everyone is going to live eternally... some in heaven and some in hell. Eternal life then, is the divine nature of God Himself which He deposits into men's hearts at the moment of the new birth. Those who have received life eternal by accepting Jesus Christ are qualified to go to the place made out of life eternal. Those who have rejected Christ are not made of life in their spirits, and thus are rejected from the place of life, and sentenced to eternal hell where the divine nature is absent altogether.

John 5:28-29 KJV - Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Some people have got God and the devil mixed up. Their kitchen-table theology is too complicated. And, of course, the enemy works overtime to confuse people. But the truth remains... "God - good! Devil - bad!" Anything bad happening in your life is coming from below. Anything good happening in your life is coming from above. Simple, isn't it? Light or darkness. Heaven or hell. Faith or fear. Fun or misery. Pleasure or pain. Truth or error. Love or hate. Prosperity or poverty. Health or sickness. Happiness or depression. IT'S SO SIMPLE! "God - good! Devil - bad!"

Acts 10:38 KJV - How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

The early church won their world to Christ with nothing but a simple faith in Jesus and a demonstration of the real love and raw power of God... signs, wonders, and miraculous healings. They did not depend on their brilliant speeches or their savvy programs. Rather they depended on the Greater One within them. They DEMONSTRATED THE REALITY OF JESUS' RESURRECTION by MIRACULOUSLY healing and delivering people, PROVING God's love for them.

When it comes to the spreading of the Gospel, there needs to be both Declaration & DEMONSTRATION, Speaking & SIGNS, Words & WONDERS, Confession & CONFIRMATIONS, Messages & MIRACLES, Preaching & PROOFS, Teaching & TESTIMONIES! Otherwise Christianity is just blowing smoke like any other philosophy or world religion! As they say in the south, "The proof of the puddin' is in the eatin'."

1Co 1:24 KJV - "...Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." Not just wisdom, but POWER too!

1Corinthians 2:4 KJV - "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in DEMONSTRATION of the Spirit and of power."

Evangelicals tend to concentrate mostly on God's Wisdom. Pentecostals and Charismatics tend to focus more on God's Power. Why not have both - Wisdom AND Power! We need both in manifestation.

If I am a Tither, God is ultimately responsible to take care of my needs. If I am NOT a Tither, I have to take care of my own needs no matter what the situation. As a Tither, God is obligated to get me out of financial hot water every time. If I am not a Tither, then I have to get myself out of hot water all by myself. I CHOOSE TITHING!

Rebellious believers cannot stand to be in the presence of someone who represents and carries the true authority of God. The rebellious will do anything to avoid such a person, because the mere presence of the other person, even without speaking words, makes them feel uneasy and reprimanded for their sin. They feel the authority of God begin to confront their heart and wrap itself around them, so in desperation they do anything to either: 1) Run from the authority figure and avoid him at all costs, or 2) Conspire to take down the authority figure and get rid of him altogether. The rebellious will ALWAYS take one or the other of these two actions, depending on how evil their rebellion has become. One who carries such authority from heaven, like a pastor or a praying saint, must understand that the rejection he or she sometimes receives is not truly aimed at him, but at the One who gave him such authority. So Pass the Persecution On... to the One it is really directed! Don't take it personal... you can't help that you represent God's holiness. Transfer the rejection off of yourself onto the shoulders of the One who is able to bear it!

Wrong question: "God, Why can't I get You to do this for me?" Right question: "God, how can I get myself positioned to receive this from You? "

God has not called me to sweat it or fret it! God has called me to let it... go to Him!

Since God likes me, I choose to like me too!

Don't quit, saint of God! Keep walking! Keep serving! Keep believing! Keep sowing! Keep obeying! Your faithfulness is being celebrated by your Father! Your harvest is ripening! Your bumper crop is inevitable!

A Rank Sinner is easier to handle than a Rebellious Christian!

I must receive FRESH MANNA from heaven each day through prayer and Bible reading. Yesterday's revelation was for yesterday.

Make someone your Prayer Project this year!

Go out of your way to make sure the man of God prospers and God will go out of His way to make sure you prosper!

Place God's Ministers 1st in your Financial Priorities and God will bend over backwards to place your family first in His priorities!

Just look around the nation... The churches that grow and become an international influence are those who treasure their pastor and take care of him like he is sent to them as a gift from heaven above.

According to Proverbs 14:26, a child's safety and security is directly proportional to his or her father's spiritual strength.

It takes P.E.P. to be a successful parent! Parents must teach their children by Bible P.recept. Parents must mentor their children by E.xample because as someone has said, "More is Caught than Taught." And finally, no matter how much Bible P.recepts are placed in a child, and no matter how great an E.xample a parent portrays, children need P.rayer from their parents to help them overcome life's hurdles. So Parenting by P.recept, E.xample, and P.rayer equals PEP!

I did not marry to get, but to give! I have not entered my marriage to be served by my spouse, but to serve them instead! Matthew 20:28 NLT - "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

There is a way avoid failure: Never go anywhere. Never accomplish anything. Live for nothing. Die for nothing. Stay in your comfort zone. Cower to your every fear. And God forbid, NEVER take any risks in life! Always play it safe! Take the easiest route at every turn, please. Endeavor to always look good. Its easy and fool-proof... simply use your personal handicaps as excuses to disobey God. I'm sure He understands. Also remember to skip a lot of church services lest some pastor with his head in the sky try to challenge you otherwise. I suggest that you make SECURITY your ultimate goal since there is so much of it here on earth. Forget OPPORTUNITY altogether; that's only for those who believe it's really out there! (And it isn't!) And another suggestion... please brood over your lot in life each and every day. And don't forget to whine about your every misfortune. You may also wish to sit down and throw a Pity-Party every now and then as well. And if that isn't enough, call your doubting and pouting friends over, and make it a Mutual Sympathy Association. Gosh, they are also waiting for their ship to come in just like you, so they are definitely qualified to comfort you and reaffirm your "never-fail" status! And to really guard against making mistakes, be sure you take a cheap shot at anyone else who falls while trying to succeed... that'll make you feel a whole lot better! It might even teach the person who fell how never to fail in life, just like you. And there, now you have it! If you will simply internalize the above attitudes and practice my suggestions, I guarantee that you will never fail in life! Never!

Have you ever noticed "God is the Tortoise, and not the Hare." He is not the least bit intimidated by our demands for Him to hurry up. He is never late, but rarely is He early either. This often drives our flesh insane as we have to WAIT and LEAN on Him the whole time. My conclusion is that God is systematically stripping us of our fleshly dependence. As we are forced to wait and stand on God's Word, it slowly chokes our flesh to death. Then all that is left is childlike dependence on Him! The problem is we often try to squirm our way out of the squeeze on our flesh, not realizing that if we would just cooperate with His process, the finished product is just around the corner! And we will come out all the stronger in Christ!

Our Words determine the Outcome of a Crisis.

As someone has wisely put it, "Confess Abundance in the face of Apparent Lack. Confess Health in the face of Apparent Sickness. Confess Strength in the face of Apparent Weakness. Confess Success in the face of Apparent Failure. Confess Prosperity in the face of Apparent Poverty. Confess Wisdom in the face of Apparent Dilemma. Confess Righteousness in the face of Apparent Condemnation. Confess Favor in the face of Apparent Criticism."

IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE, DON'T LET YOUR MOUTH GO SOUTH! Speak the Word Only! Discount your emotions and your observations, and KEEP SPEAKING WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOUR SITUATION!

Satan plots to bring a "SET-BACK" into our life, hoping that it will convince us to "BACK-OFF" God's Word and God's Plan. The enemy figures if we have a bad experience, it will cause us to throw away our passion for God and give up on our dream for life. But a stubborn refusal to be deterred by occasional setbacks always demoralizes the devil. Satan figured Job would eventually BACK-DOWN, but he figured wrong! So why not prove the devil wrong again, and like Job, experience the sheer delight of having God restore twice as much as you had before your setback!

To listen to some Christians, you'd think God was a mean God with a temperamental disposition. Some Christians think all their problems come from God and that God is always beating up on them. They think poverty is a blessing and that sickness and disease are God's chastisement. Why don't they go ahead and pray "THE TRIBULATORS PRAYER:" "Our Schizophrenic Tyrannical God who art in a temper tantrum, hallowed be thy unpredictableness. Thy pain come, thy turmoil be done, even as it is in the hell you made for the devil and his angels. Give us this day our daily trial and forgive us for trying to squirm out of our problems as we forgive anyone who has tried to help us. Lead us not into too much comfort and please deliver us from peace and joy. For thine is the wrath and the vengeance and the impatience forever. Amen!"