PLANNING FOR THE NEW YEAR: SETTING GOALS

I've been reading EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey. Chapter 2 is titled, "Start with a Dream, End with a Goal." In this chapter Dave talks about the importance of setting goals to reach your dreams. Setting goals appeal to me because I love seeing progress in my life and I can't proceed if I don't have a signpost, which is what a goal is to me.

Dave talks about how important it is to have goals for every area of our lives. The areas of my life are:

1. Spiritual.
2. Health.
3. Relationships.
4. Finances.
5. Ministry.
6. Business.

After reading EntreLeader I felt pretty good about setting my goals for 2012. It is my practice to work on my plan for the next year during the month of December.

On yesterday I listened to Dr Amos Johnson on his video talk about having unfinished goals. Amos confessed that he set some goals this year that he didn't complete. He talked about how he missed those goals and how he wouldn't make the same mistake next year. Amos Videoblogs always has great information that is rich in application.

So I want you to join me in setting your goals for next year. I'm not talking about New Year Resolutions but goals that's going to get you to the dream that's going to change your life. And if you have any uncompleted goals roll them over to next year. That's what I'm doing.

Check out Amos Video blog at http://amosjohnsonjr.com/vblogs.php?=64

Goals are the road map to your future. Your future starts the day you start planning. Make it today.

ANOTHER VISIT TO MY PRAYER JOURNAL

I was meditating today on what I should blog about and I was led by the Holy Spirit to revisit my second prayer journal. It covered the period of the fall of 1994 when me and my family moved to Danville Virginia from Beckley West Virginia after I was called to be the pastor of the New Mine Creek Church.

On November 22, 1994  I wrote in my journal a thanksgiving to Holy Spirit who had revealed to me that the enemy was setting a trap for me by bringing a lot of activities into my life that would cause me to put on the back burner the time that I daily spent with God in prayer. I made a covenant with God not to fall into the trap of busyness but rather to continue to seek Him every morning as I had been doing for more than a year.

I asked the Holy Spirit to continue to give me alerts when the enemy was trying to steal this most precious time from me and thus render me ineffective in the ministry that God had called me to.

I also prayed concerning my dream of becoming a published author. I had not yet buried that dream. I asked God to get the glory from my writing and that He send me another agent to secure a publishing contract for my first novel.

As I read the words in my prayer journal it struck me that I was able to perceive the devil's scheme to fill my time with activities that would steal my time with God but I couldn't see how he was stealing something else from me, my dream to become a published author. I caught the devil coming in the front door but didn't see him coming through the window.

I didn't realize how my enemy eventually caused me to give up dreaming until I read these words seventeen years later while I'm writing this blog. But what was a victory for him became a knockout when my first novel was released in December 2009. What he stole God restored and is continuing to restore as I write my second novel.

I wondered why did the Holy Spirit warn me about his scheme of making me walk away from pursuing God in daily prayer but not warn me about the dream that he was stealing concerning my writing and just as quickly the answer came from the Holy Spirit. The devil could steal my desire to write because I didn't value it enough. In the pastorate I had become satisfied and comfortable being a pastor of a congregation and I told myself that pastoring was all I needed to do. I'd talked myself out of my dreams and made it susceptible to the devil to come right in and steal.

It would take almost a decade for God to resurrect the vision that had died and show me that He had given me many gifts and I would never be fruitful until I used all of them.

 My prayer for you is that you recognize what the enemy is trying to steal from you so that you will guard the precious thing that God has given to you. And if the enemy has stolen your dreams I believe with you that God restore it sevenfold

Elder Bernard Yates Visits the North Carolina/Virginia Primitve Baptist Convention

The delegates of the North Carolina/Virginia Primitive Baptist Convention was thrilled with the news that Elder Bernard Yates, the newly elected President of the National Primitive Baptist Convention was coming to the state convention to preach the final service on Sunday November 6, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.

The sanctuary of the State building was full as the delegation waited with great anticipation to hear the Word of God from Elder Yates. The pulpit was full of Elders, Preachers, and Pastors. The music was provided by the praise team of the Kings Mountain View Primitive Baptist Church,Westfield North Carolina pastored by Elder J.R. Strickland who is in his 55th year  as pastor of that congregation.       

Elder Timothy Lyons, the Vice President of the State Convention and Pastor Elect of the St John's Chapel Primitive Baptist Church of Charlotte North Carolina introduced Elder Yates in his rhmytic and eloquent manner. And then Elder Doctor Thomas W. Samuels, president of the North Carolina/Virginia State Convention for 35 years, took the podium to raise a love offering for Elder Yates. Following the offering Elder Samuels led the congregation in the hymn, "Father I Stretch my Hands to Thee,"  sang in the distinctive style of North Carolina. One of the unique distinction of the Primitive Baptist Church is the richness of the hymns sang in that region's manner. And Elder T.W. Samuels is a master of Primitive Baptist hymnology with his sonorous baritone voice. In a few moments most of the conventioneers were on their feet singing and giving God praise as a couple of hundreds voices blended in song.  

After much rejoicing and praising the Lord Elder Yates took the podium as the members of the convention stood to give him an enthusiastic greeting. Elder Yates expressed his thanks to the North Carolina/Virginia Convention for their support of him and the convention. He stated, "I recognize that the North Carolina/Virginia State Convention is a force to be reckoned with." Elder Yates announced his text from Galatians 1:10-12. His preaching subject was "The Hurdles of Pleasing People."  

Elder Yates is a dynamic preacher with a unique presentation. He expounded the text and explicated it in a serious and insightful way. He strongly exhorted the congregation to please God as he closed in his thunderous style of preaching that is uniquely Bernard Yates.

Elder Yates deserves the support of this entire convention as we move forward into the destiny that God has set for this branch of the body of Christ. I encourage you to pray for Elder Yates as his success is our success.  

Letters to God on a Prodigal Son-Overcoming Addiction through Prayer

Bernard's Word Presents Anita Estes

Today is my pleasure to introduce to you Anita Estes. Anita has written a personal  story about the perils of addiction and how the prayer of faith has the power to destroy the plans of the enemy. I'm asking all the readers of this blog to purchase Anita's book today at http://www.anitaestes.com/landing-page.html  

1. Tell us about your newest book, Letters to God on a Prodigal Son-Overcoming Addiction through Prayer? This power packed journal and guide was birthed from the painful passage I experienced while navigating the minefield of my son's addiction. I kept a diary that contained many insightful prayers, letters and scriptures that I thought would help others navigate the turbulent waters of a prodigal's addiction, so I worked on transforming it into a book.

I added two sections, Lessons Learned and Suggestions that I thought would further help others to avoid the same pitfalls I experienced, while offering a lifeline of hope. At the time that my son was going through this terrible ordeal, I couldn't find any Christian Books on the subject that gave spiritual and practical, not textbook advice

2. What are some of the pitfalls you experienced in dealing with your son's addiction and in writing this timely and powerful book? It is sometimes very difficult for a parent to recognize the warning signs of an addiction in their teenager, especially in this culture today when drinking is so accepted. This was my downfall. I kept thinking my son was going through a stage, especially because he would repent when something bad happened, like losing his license for a year or failing out of college. He would turn back to God and do what was right for a while, but then he would fall again.

One of the pitfalls in writing the book was trying to figure out a way to take my personal experience and help others learn from it. I didn't want to offer just another informational book or book of advice on addiction, so I kept it in a journal format. I wanted others to see that God held me through this very difficult time and that He can do the same for them. I also wanted to be very honest and real because as Christians we sometimes think we need to cover up our pain and even try to keep it form God and fellow believers. I wanted to show people that you can show God your pain, cry out to Him and go through different stages with Him right alongside. The last thing you should do in a crisis is stay mad at God and stop talking with Him.

3. What did you learn from this experience? I learned that God is faithful, even when we're not, even when we get mad at Him and don;t understand what He's doing. God wants us to draw near to Him and cast all our cares, concerns, worries and anxieties to Him. He has very big shoulders to carry our burdens and for us to lean and even weep upon. I also learned that God is true to His word. You can believe His promise as long as you understand them, have faith and continue to trust God for the outcome. I also learned that it's very important to surrender your prodigal to God. That's the best place for them.

You can find Letters to God at www.anitaestes.com and at http://www.anitaestes.com/landing-page.html   Anita is offering a lot of great gifts with your purchase today.         

SUCCEEDING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRAYER

One of the most fruitful and successful groups that I have had the privilege to be affiliated with has been the John3:16 Marketing Network. We are a group of writers and authors from all over the world. Our mission is to combine our marketing efforts to promote each others work. The moderator and visionary of this group is Lorilyn Roberts, author of  Children of Dreams. God gave the vision to Lorilyn to create this place and she has been tireless in leading and helping us.   

John3:16 is unlike any group that I've ever been connected with. God led me here in answer in to my prayers. The love of God connects us and the Holy Spirit has released gifts, creativity and favor on the members. I sense God raising up this group to represent Him well in the years to come.

Of course experiencing favor and pursuing the will of God has not come without a price. Many of us have been been under relentless spiritual attacks from the enemy throughout the year but it seemed to have escalated in the month of October. I don't use these terms spiritual attacks and warfare lightly but this has been the case for the members of John3:16. Many of us have had computer issues. Some of us have seen attacks on our families and there has been other challenges with spiritual oppression and on and on.

As I read what everyone was going through, as well as dealing with the enemy in my life the Holy Spirit lead me to call our group to prayer. In obedience to Him I did with the support of our leader Lorilyn.

On this past Monday night seven of us met via telephone to pray over John3:16. What an experience! The Holy Spirit filled the phone lines as each of us petitioned God for self and others. I know that hell was dealt a great blow by the coming together of God's children.

I can't attest how this prayer gathering affected everyone else but after I got off the prayer call I was revived. I had so much energy that I stayed up to one o clock that morning working. And I was back up at six that morning to enjoy an incredible day in the presence of the Lord.

Our partnership went to another level on Monday night. It only remains to see how God will use these burdens from the enemy and the blessings from praying together to affect a great future for John3:16. I sense 2012 being an incredible year for this group. And our prayer gatherings will be an essential key to the future that God has already prepared for our group as we war in prayer to bring God's purpose for this group to pass.   .

I hope that my blog today will encourage you to connect with praying believers. Especially for you who are pursuing your dreams and other business endeavors. Jesus said and it is recorded in St Matthew 18:19. "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven."

Jesus teaches us this vital key to success. AGREE TO ASK THE FATHER.

All partnerships are founded on the principle of agreement. But when you bring the God of the universe, your heavenly Father into your partnership by asking Him to do what your partnership can't do the sky is the limit to what you will achieve. With God on your partnership team there are no boundaries to what you can accomplish. With Him providing you all the resources in heaven success is yours.

A partnership that includes prayer is a winning a partnership.