Goals; Vision; Future, Hope...

It's not OK

It's OK to be ignorant. It's not OK to be stay ignorant. You will not Succeed in life unless you are constantly examining what you know to see if you could know it better and learn things you don't know. The worst contributor to a persons lack of success is not knowing what they they don't know, and not caring to find out.

I deal with people every day who have no passion or drive of their own. I ask "What goals do you have for yourself?" or "What would you like to accomplish this year?" And they have no answer. It frustrates me to no end. How can you live with no passion or desire beyond your next meal and cold beer?

Then I ask myself? What goals do YOU have? It's at that point that I realize my hypocrisy. I have goals. I have things I want to accomplish. I have a list, well actually I have several disjointed lists in multiple places and I don't know where half of them are. I could cite all the things I want to do. But I'm not doing hardly any of them. I keep thinking that I'm going to use my days off to work on some of them, but the two days come and go and nothing happens.

Have Goals; Write Them Down

It's OK for your goals to change, to adapt, to conform, to morph, etc. But you should have some. It's OK to realize that certain goals were not God's plan or will for you.  It's OK to realize that other goals require the help of other people to bring to pass. It's OK to start with one vision and have the vision become clearly, more defined, and even change tone or color as it develops. Having Goals is important. That's what seeing this photo today on Pinterest did for me.

The other thing it makes me realize is that I should have all of those goals written in one place. It's OK for me to keep separate logs or diaries for each goal as I expound on them. But there should be ONE place I have them all in writing and at least defined as Bullet Points or Highlights. I enjoy blogs. You can create your own blog, keep it private so only you can see it. Use www.blogger.com. They can be accessed anywhere in the world, maybe you would prefer a journal, a scrap book, or a poster wall. Maybe for you it could just be a small index card that has been laminated for travel.

Whatever and Wherever you post it, there should be a single repository of all your goals, dreams, and vision for your future. That future would include your immediate future (ie This Year) and your moderate future (Next Five Years) and your long term future (I don't know when but someday I'd like to....). They should be out there in an easy reached place, reviewed and seen daily, and talked about often. If you write it down and forget about it for 6 months, it was not effective. You should always be looking to the future with expectation and know what you are expecting.

What do I mean by Goals?

What is a goal? What do I mean by that? A goal can be anything you want to do, be, or accomplish. Do you have a dream to own a restaurant, be the best sales person at your company, produce/record your own music album, be a better Father or Mother, Own your own businesses and/or properties, etc. Write all of those things down. This is the first step in accomplishing what you see. Pray about them. Writing them down isn't dedicating that you are doing them, it's putting them out there for review, prayer and pondering. You may find that some of those goals are not in line with what God has called you to do/be. You may find that He wants you to do all of them, but in a specific order. That order may not be the way you had planned. Putting them out there allows an open dialogue between you, God, and those involved to start to take shape and form.

In her article "Nine Things Successful People Do Differently" Heidi Halvorson points out that the number one  key to success is getting specific in your goals. She notes "I will loose 5 pounds" it more specific that "I will loose weight this year" So start to get specific for yourself. What do you want to see happen. What do you feel God has called you to do? Do you know what HOPE means in the Bible? It means to expect, trust, and rely on. If you have nothing you are expecting than your faith has nothing to work on or work with. You may have faith well enough, but it's useless. It's like having a power saw but no wood to measure and cut.

Hebrews 11:1
1NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. 

Those specific goals should also have specific time frames and deadlines. The more immediate the goal is, the more specific the assisnged tasks should be. Give yourself assingments. "I'm going to write one blog post per week, I'm going to do it every Monday unless I get to it earlier." Another assignment could be, "I'm going to spend 2 hours writing on my book". The more specific it is the better it will be for you. In fact, as soon as I publish this post, I'm going to take a break and say hi to my family, then come back in here and set up a vision book for myself. Maybe I'll even let you see it when It's done?

Conclusion

You must have goals. You must write those goals down. They must be easily retrieved  often reviewed, and they must be specific. But I will leave you with this additional thought. What impact will your goals have? Are your goals only for you and your family? What other people will be impacted by your goals. When you see your multi billion dollar business do you see buildings, structures, systems, and money... do the people working that business just feel like tools or pawns on your chessboard. Or are the people that you are providing jobs for the most important aspect? Christians do not use people to get things, we use things to love on people. So ponder the lives changed, and hearts healed, and finances restored of the people you are creating all of this for. Our motivation for accumulation, is distribution. Always remember that.

Partings Thoughts

• Write down your
• Dreams
• Vision
• Goals
• Desires
• Post them in a place that:
• Easily seen
• Easily retrieved
• Often reviewed
• Consider other people
• What is God's opinion about this?
• What are the others involved saying?
• How will this affect other people?
• Motive
• Use things to love people, don't use people to get things.
• Our Motivation for accumulation is distribution!

Have questions about anything I said here? Want to share your story? Comment Below!

I call you empowered 2 prosper with good success!

N2 Good SuccessDarrell G. Wolfe
Blog: http://n2gs.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/n2goodsuccess
Twitter: http://twitter.com/n2goodsuccess

See Also:
Books by Darrell G. Wolfe: Amazon.com/author/darrellgwolfe 
Book Suggestions from the N2 Good Success Amazon Store
Brand and Product Offerings from N2 Good Success Zazzle Store




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The Word of God is the Will of God.

The Word

The Word of God is the Will of God.

A passing search of all verses that contain both the words “Word” and “God” reveal an overwhelming picture of the value God places on HIS word. If you combine that with a study of every verse that uses the words “Word” “Words” “Commands” “Law” etc… you find a definite picture developing. God takes HIS word seriously and He takes YOUR words seriously. Let’s examine the Word of God.

The worlds were framed and made through and by the Word of God. The Word of God was in the beginning, the word was with God and was God. ALL things that were created through the Word of God and nothing was created without the Word of God. The Grass may wither but the Word of God endures forever. Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  The Word of God will NEVER fail! The Word of God is a seed. The Word of God is to be obeyed. The word is the will of God. The Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

We are born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God. The Word’s of God are the Words of the AMEN (SO BE IT)(Make it so), the faithful and true witness the ruler of God’s Creation (Jesus). The Word of God cannot be Changed, Added to, or Subtracted from. The Word of God is sweeter than Honey.

Despite all this the Word of God can be nullified (Made of no useful effect to the hearer) through traditions of man.

God is His word… The Word of God IS God… Jesus and His Word are one.

If this sounds odd to you then consider for a moment that you are your word as well. You can sign your name to a binding contract and it will speak for you long after you are dead. Because you agreed to those written words. You’ve heard the saying “A man’s word is his bond.” This is speaking of the closeness words have to our very being. Words are so powerful that the universe was created from them. You hear many Darwinian believers mock Christians accusing us of  saying that the world was created from nothing. They are right to mock us if that is what we say. The bible does not say that the world was created out of nothing. It was created out of that which is not visible:

Hebrews 11: 3

³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Words are not visible… but they are the most powerful creative force on this world or any other. Having been created in His Image and His likeness (Gen 1), man’s words are also a powerful creative force. They can be used to tear down or build up. Satan instructs Whiches and Warlocks to cast spells because he understand the power of words spoken by a believing heart. Unfortunately they are often better at using words on purpose then Christians are. We use silly saying such as “Sticks and Stones may break your bones but words can never hurt me.” Nothing could be further from the truth. You don’t have to believe the words of a fool or allow them to hurt you by any means. But they can and will hurt you if you are not aware of this principle.

If we are to understand the Will of God we must begin to take much more seriously the WORD of God. If God said it, that settles it! There is no theology or debate. If God says a matter than it is forever settled in heaven and earth. So in Order to find out what the Will of God is we must see what the Word of God says. Once God settles a matter in His word, all that is left is to believe it, and act on it.

Hebrews 11:1-3 (New King James Version)

¹ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained agood testimony.
³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

John 1:1-4 (New King James Version)

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

Psalm 18:30
As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 56:4
In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Proverbs 30:5
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Isaiah 2:3
Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 8:20
Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

Jeremiah 15:16
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD GodAlmighty.

Micah 4:2
Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth ofGod.’ ”

Matthew 15:6
they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Mark 7:13
Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

Luke 1:37
For no word from God will ever fail.”

Luke 8:11
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

Luke 11:28
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

John 10:35
If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—

Acts 20:32
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Acts 22:14
“Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.

Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

1 Timothy 4:5
because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 5:12
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’sword all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

Hebrews 6:5
who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age

Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word ofGod.

2 Peter 3:5
But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.

1 John 2:5
But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:

1 John 2:14
I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one

Revelation 1:2
who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:18
[ To the Church in Thyatira ] “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

Revelation 3:14
[ To the Church in Laodicea ] “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

Revelation 19:13
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

Revelation 20:4
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God

Revelation 22:9
But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

Revelation 22:18
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.

Revelation 22:19
And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

Psalm 119:103
How sweet are Your words to my taste,Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

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If God Wills…

James 4

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will^[g] go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Among the most misused and abused scriptures in the bible is James 4:15. People throughout the world of Christianity, especially in this culture of not wanting to be bold or step on anyone’s toes, pray this prayer… “God… we desire you to do…(Fill in your need here)… if it’s your will.” We have taken a look at how seriously God takes His own word. It would appear to a casual observer that this verse in James is instructing us to pray this way. This is not so. This verse of scripture is addressed to Christians who are wrapped in pride and not interested in the will of God. The emphasis is on “I”. “I, without prayer or consideration of the Will of God, will do such and such.”

John 7:17 tells us that if anyone wills to do His will (wants to do right by God and wants to do what God wants) he shall know…

There are instances, such as travel, where the Word of God is not clear and therefore the Will of God is not clear. For example, unless you had received instruction from God to go to a city, you could not know that you were for certain supposed to be there. Thus Paul in a few instances said that he would come visit if it was the will of God, indicating that God had not given him clear direction as to whether he should go or not.

The concept James is bringing to the table is a fundamental one. Find out what the Will of God is, confer no longer with men or women, and do what it takes to accomplish that at any cost. Before praying, before asking for anything, before taking a step… go to the Word of God. Find out what His word has to say about the matter. If He hasn’t said anything about it specifically, such as “Go to Kansas St. and take a left”, He has still laid our principles in His Word that cover ALL life situations.

1. John 7:17
   If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
   John 7:16-18 (in Context) John 7 (Whole Chapter)
2. 1 Corinthians 4:19
   But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
   1 Corinthians 4:18-20 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 4 (Whole Chapter)

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WILL

Come with me on a journey to the middle east. The time is at or around the 40 AD’s. There is a man traveling with a group of people through the dusty roman built roads from Jerusalem to the town of Damascus. He is steadfast and resolute in his drive and passion to end the sect called “The Way”. He is a Pharisee, a conservative. The liberal wing party of the Sadducee  have been tearing down the fabric of the Torah. They deny the miracles of the prophets such as Elijah and Elisha. They have turned the worship of the One True God into a social gospel of morals and religious power. The signs of the Torah point to the coming of a great Messiah.

When Messiah comes he will set things straight. He will come and remove the Roman oppressors. Finally after centuries of disobedience the Jews are no longer being pulled away by useless idol worship. Then he came. There have been many false Messiah’s over the last few decades, but this one has turned the entire nation of Israel on it’s head. They thought they’d dealt with him by killing him at the hands of the Roman Guard, but then his disciples came and stole his body. Now they spread rumors everywhere of his resurrection which has served to spread this malicious sect all over the known world.

Now Saul finds himself on the dusty Roman Road to Damascus. He has papers in hand to arrest or kill man, woman, and child who would dare to follow this “Way”. He feels it’s his personal mission to see that the way is paved for Messiah to come and free us from the Roman oppression. Messiah must not come and find us yet again distracted by other pretend gods.

Suddenly a bright and blinding light!. The light is not just bright but it comes with a presence. The power emanating from it can be felt through his entire body. It pulsates and warms his very bones and spirit. He cannot stand under the power of it. He is not just caught off balance. The power of the presence so overwhelms him that he cannot stand. His legs become weak beneath him and he falls to the ground as though he were a dead man. There, laying on the ground surrounded by this light, this presence… a voice…

“Saul… Saul… Why are you persecuting me?”

That voice penetrates the soul and therefore must be heeded. He responds to this by a logical question:

“Who are you Lord?”

The voice responds: “I am Jesus who you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads. “

What response can he have to that type of power and authority? When all the religious trappings have been torn away and all the pretense removed… what is the response of this man who’s soul has been laid bare?

“Lord! What would you have me do?”

In our modern vernacular we might phrase it:
What do you want? or What is YOUR WILL?

Jesus doesn’t leave him there… he tells him that he will be shown what to do. Jesus doesn’t lay out the entire plan for Paul’s life there on the road. He simply gives him instructions to follow, which will lead to more instructions.

The Will of God is among the most sought after answers a new christian seeks and among the most confusing for many. What is the will of God? What does God will? What is He like? What is His will for mankind, for my family, for me? Do I have a call on my life? Does He have a perfect choice? If I’m offered two jobs how do I know which one God would will for me? Or do I simply sit back and observe my life as many do assuming that whatever happens is the will of God because it happened? This is a topic that need not be confusing at all. But there are foundational matters that must be settled to understand it. Therefore come with me on a journey to the Center of God’s Will!

Darrell G. Wolfe

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