1. HE IS IT. THERE IS NO “THIS” IS IT. He is the SOURCE, GUIDE AND GOAL of all there is. He what I am looking for, who I was created for, and why I am here. I spent much of my life finding out what wasn’t IT by the process of elimination.
THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE IS THE HEART OF A FATHER that motivates all he says and does. When man makes himself the center, everything spins out of control. The goal is not to get to heaven, but to be with our Father.
HE WANTS ME WITH HIM, NOT WORKING FOR HIM. “Father, I desire that those whom you have given me be with me where I am.” (Jn. 17:24)
2. MEDITATE ON THE WORD DAILY AND KEEP A JOURNAL. The Word is the root of true success in life (Josh. 1:8; Psa. 1), and is the most valuable resource for truth in a world of lies. I have learned to slow down and read to understand, not to “get there.”
3. RELIGION IS THE GREATEST ENEMY OF LIFE IN GOD. The letter kills, the spirit is life. Religion is a prison; life in Christ is the freedom of authenticity. Our Father loves real and hates phony religion. Many reject Christ because they have linked Him to religion, and that is one of the great tragedies of Modern Man.
4. THE COSMIC BATTLE IS BETWEEN LIES AND TRUTH. Not with Satan, the flesh, or the world which are already conquered. When the eyes of my heart opened to truth belief follows automatically, and belief is the source of all action.
THE TRUTH IS STILL TRUE. It doesn’t matter if I don’t feel good, if there is a dark cloud over my head, if God seems far away, if I have a different opinion, if I forget the truth, if I don’t believe the truth, or even if the whole world says it is a lie – the truth is still true. “For after all we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.” [II Cor. 13:8] Even if I don’t believe the truth, it is still true, so I might as well accept it.
5. IT IS FINISHED “ONCE FOR ALL.” (Heb. 10:10) Jesus has paid for the sins of the whole world. (I Jn. 2:2) His kingdom is already here in us. All that is left to do is believe it.
6. LIFE IS IN THE NOW. Living in the present takes me out of the places I don’t belong: the past with its regrets and the future with its worries.
7. I AM WHO I AM. I AM NOT MY STORY, EXPERIENCES, OR THOUGHTS, BUT THE OBSERVER OF THEM. When I bring my thoughts into the light, it dissolves the false and magnifies the true.
8. THE GREAT SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE IS THAT THERE IS AN ETERNAL LAW OF UNITY THAT SUPPORTS THE TRUE AND LETS THE FALSE DESTROY ITSELF. This is the kingdom of God and it is unshakable and the way the universe works.
9. I BELONG TO HIM AND EVERYTHING BELONGS TO ME. [I Cor. 6:19] I am his problem to fix, and provide for, and take home when he decides.
EVERYTHING IS OURS. “You never enjoy the world aright, till the Sea itself flows in your veins, till you are clothed with the heavens, and crowned with the stars: and perceive yourself to be the sole heir of the whole world, and more than so, because men are in it who are everyone sole heirs as well as you. Till you can sing and rejoice and delight in God, as misers do in gold, and Kings in scepters, you never enjoy the world.” (Thomas Traherne, “Centuries”) “So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” (1 Cor 3:21-23 NIV) This eliminates the division of “mine” and “yours.” Everyone and everything is a gift from God.
10. EVERYTHING STARTS WITH ONE. – ONE THOUGHT, ONE WORD, ONE STEP, ONE PERSON. The best way to get something done is to START and then keep doing the NEXT THING one step at a time.
Right on Jim: Huckabee interviewed a young man who has a blog named, I Hate Religion but love Jesus. He has had over 21 million hits which puts him in the major leagues. He is a youth pastor in Oregon or Washington and his interview was great as he simply explained the gospel good news!
Thanks for this Dad great timing as usual! Miss you and love you!