Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. Hebrews 4:1

Busyness is an effective thief of joy during the holiday season.  We simply spend too much of our time running from one party to another, tramping through malls looking to finish our gift lists, and trying to remember who we still owe a Christmas card to.  The final result is exhaustion, disappointment, and often irritability.  If we’re not careful, exhaustion enters our marriage.  We begin to snipe, argue, or just ignore the other person in plain indifference.

There are practical steps you can take to break the cycle of busyness, overcommitment, and holiday burnout.  Create  margin for the two of you in order to sp end unhurried time together.  Limit your engagements.  Say no to some invitations.  Don’t leave everything to the last minute.  Most important, decide as a couple to spend time together in the presence of God.  Sit down and read Scripture to each other.  Listen to soothing and uplifting music that celebrates Christ’s birth.  Rather than go shopping, use the time to pray in an
unhurried fashion.  God rest ye merry spouses.

We were making last-minute preparations when we heard a loud knock at the front door. Another interruption, we thought as we trudged toward the door. When we opened the door, we were greeted by two delivery men from Sears.

“Will you sign for this?” one of the men asked as he shoved a clipboard my way.

“Sure, what is it?”

“A freezer,” he answered.

“We didn’t order a freezer.”

“Someone did,” he said. With that, he and his burly partner pushed past me and wheeled a full-length deep freeze up the steep steps and into our church.

As we studied the invoice, we discovered a sister church had purchased the appliance for us. That’s strange, we thought. They never told us it was coming.

Our minds returned to the Thanksgiving dinner. Within a few hours, the first flakes of snow started coming down. In Minnesota in late November, that can mean anything from a dusting to three-foot snow drifts. On this particular day, it meant the worst. By 4:00 p.m., the flakes had turned into a major-league blizzard. The timing couldn’t have been worse. By that late hour, all the food for our dinner had been prepared—a dozen turkeys, nearly a hundred pounds of mashed potatoes, and scores of piping-hot pies.

But we had no one to eat any of it. All our food and effort was about to go to waste.

That’s when we remembered the gift we had received only hours earlier. We wrapped the food and carried it upstairs to our new storage freezer. One week later we held the postponed dinner and served a hot Thanksgiving meal to a church packed with grateful neighbors and needy friends.

Looking back, we realize we received more than an appliance from a department store that day. We received a postcard from God.

What’s a postcard from God? It’s one of those providential, serendipitous events that appear in our lives, marriage and family—a reminder that God has not forgotten us. For us, it’s like receiving a short note that reads, “Dear Cheryl and Bob, I was thinking of you today. Just thought I’d let you know. Love, Your heavenly Father.”

The ways in which he sends these timely postcards are as unpredictable as they are amazing. The net effect seems always the same: to encourage and strengthen us, often when we need it the most.

POSTSCRIPTS
Piles of unwanted junk mail are delivered daily.  As catalogs, sales brochures, newspapers, and a host of other materials accumulate on our desks, our goal is to dispose of the piles as quickly as possible. In the same way, our lives and schedules can become cluttered with carpools, shopping, taking care of kids, committee meetings, weekly deadlines, and urgent calls to make. Our goal can become simply to get through the day.

In the midst of sorting through such clutter, it’s easy to overlook the simple notes our heavenly Father sends to remind us of his love. When we take the time to sort through “coincidences” of my life, we discover simple but much-needed messages reminding us, “I love you. I haven’t forgotten you.”

Signed, Your God.

About the Authors:
Bob and Cheryl Moeller are marriage conference speakers and authors (as well as columnists for cwahd and cwahd). Learn more at www.marriagevine.com
Cheryl’s latest book is Baby Saves Christmas, written with daughter Melissa,
http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=25973&it=1

I felt that you would find this new concept financially rewarding especially in these challenging economic times. When I was first asked if I thought it was actually possible to pay off my mortgage & debts  in ‘less than half the time’ it would normally take – without refinancing or making changes to my current standard of living, I must admit, I was skeptical (as you probably will be too.)

But after realizing they could show me and prove to me how by ‘using the banks money’ to dramatically reduce my principal, and I could save tens of thousands of dollars of interest on my current mortgage and debts. … I was really surprise at the great results that was achieved.

Needless to say, I’m strongly recommending that my clients take the opportunity to hear about this amazing program and have their free analysis done!

I am sure you too will appreciate the enormous amount of cash you will save using this program.   It is time
to put your money into your pocket.  The banks have ’stolen”  too much already.

Contact me to set up a convenient time for us to gather some updated mortgage and debt information and a time for you to see how this service could be beneficial to you.

Of course you need to make up your own mind, but it is my sincere belief that you will find the short period of time it takes to learn about this exciting new program – to be time well spent!

Interest cancellation is the fastest way out of debt and paying off your mortgage.

Our 30 minutes together may be your best investment in 2008.

See the videos here then contact the author for your specific situation.

A dollar saved is a dollar earned. But in this case a dollar saved may be two dollars earned.

- Walter Seward

Email   6m4cash@gmail.com

So,  when things started going bad again, we  prayed. God  led  us to a small town called Clifton.  We prayed for our daughter, who is now 7, to be able to  find some good friends.  Even  though they  fight sometimes (we all do that) that’s our nature and even though they are  a couple of years older than she is,  they are some  really nice girls.  Our prayers have been answered  again.

I think that  when we  want something, and it never comes to pass it  is  perhaps simply a wish (not a need).  When  we  pray about it, sometimes  God says no. Not now, Later  or I have something better in mind for you.

Matthew

Freedom project

My first ‘no brakes ‘ experience was about the age of 10 riding a bicycle that belonged to someone else. We were riding in another part of the country away from home and familiar roads. John suggested let’s ride over to the river. Now the road is through country farm land on gravel – dirt roads. Suddenly the view of the river was before us. We overlooked the river from a much higher level. There was a road going down to the river.Well, let’s take it. We did. Loose gravel, winding, steep decline. Very soon I discovered my bike had “NO BRAKES”.

No brakes on our 1936 Chevy pickup. My brother purchased this pickup for $25. It ran very well, that is is would start easily at minus 20 F with a crank. The three speed gearshift on the floor was sloppy but worked fine. The steering system had enough play in it we could spin the wheel before the wheels changed direction.Brakes? The brake pedal would sit on the floor board connected to air! How do you stop such a vehicle? It is easy, downshift to 2nd then 1st gear, then while still rolling shift into reverse!

Free-wheeling is about the same as having no brakes. I was riding with a friend in the mountains in Ecuador.Now get this picture, the road drops rapidly from 11,000 ft to sea level. There are no such thing as guard rails, curve signs etc. Some people know that when driving down a steep incline it is a good idea to shift down at the top of the hill.

In the USA, there are signs for truckers to check their brakes and to gear down before starting down the incline. Well my friend has a “better” idea. No gears. Just free wheel in neutral! Now you are trusting the brakes only, to slow you down – until they fail! Not a good plan. We did survive.

Building a business with no brakes? If you knew you could have a profitable business in just 12 months, what would your “Do List” look like? What would be your activities today? Would you free-wheel with no brakes and move rapidly forward, with no brakes applied?

About the Author:
Walt Seward is a network marketing success story. Now is the time to shorten the life of your mortgage by using a proven interest cancellation system.

]]> http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/10/01/no-brakes-brings-success-in-creating-income-at-home/feed/ 0 http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/09/29/new-contract/ http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/09/29/new-contract/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:32:58 +0000 Matthew http://cwahd.com/wordpress/?p=1480 Well okay we have a new contract on our house. So  now we pray this  one stick.  I’m looking  in to  ways  to expand  the business in a  new town. I hope i can  figure it all out.  I did  get  one contact from CWAHD which is great.

Matthew

Freedom Project

If you’re a husband, it’s a good exercise from time to time to try and follow your wife’s schedule for a day. If she works an outside job, you’ll quickly realize that household chores don’t just disappear because she’s put in eight hours at an office. If she works primarily at home, you’ll soon discover how many roles she’s expected to play in just one day: banker, nutritionist, counselor, interior decorator, chauffeur, educator, and the list goes on and on.

Yet a wife’s work often goes unnoticed or unrecognized. Ingratitude is wrong, if not sinful. So what are two ways to express true appreciation for all the work your wife does on behalf of your marriage and family?

1. Praise her for her resourcefulness. In any given day, wives solve numerous difficulties, problems, and crises. Ask what dilemmas she faced that day, then praise her for her ingenuity and resourcefulness in solving them.

2. Notice the small things. As you walk through the house, notice all that’s orderly. Imagine the state of affairs if you had to manage everything. Thank her for the small things she does each day to make life so much better and easier for the two of you.

—Bob Moeller
www.forkeepsconference.com

Marriage Minutes, Moody Press

If you really loved me, you’d know what I was feeling.” “If I have to tell you what I’m thinking, I won’t do it.”

Have you ever said things like that to each other? It’s not uncommon for hurting spouses to expect their mates to know exactly what they’re feeling and why. It’s also very unrealistic. The truth is we can’t read each other’s minds. (Would you really want anyone to have complete access to your mental data files?)

The apostle Paul offers a wonderful alternative to the impossible task of reading minds: speaking the truth in love. He tells us to “put away all falsehood and ‘tell your neighbor the truth.’”

When we’re upset with our wife we should quit expecting our spouse to read our mind. Instead, we should say something like, “Dear, when you walked ahead of me through the mall, I felt unimportant to you.” Or, “when you criticized how I painted the eves, I felt unappreciated.” That will end the guessing game and let the reconciliation begin in your marriage. So what’s on your mind today?

—Bob Moeller
www.forkeepsconference.com

Adapted from: Marriage Minutes (Moody Press)

Hurricanes destroyed businesses and homes along the gulf.  Networkers who had a solid online business continue to receive weekly checks while they worked to clean up their homes and help their neighbors rebuild their communities.

Networkers are not concerned about opening their business and stocking the shelves with products and food the local community needed.  They were not concerned about the payroll of their employees.   Being self-employed has advantages.  They work from anywhere where they may connect to the internet.  They have a global business that generates a royalty income.

Then the financial market took a major tumble over the waterfalls.   Floods of stocks went over the falls taking with it your retirement funds, your life savings, your child’s education.     Tears are being shed, creating another waterfall.   Some people have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in a few short hours.

How do we recover from all this?

Is it possible to recover?

Those who have a royalty income will survive well.  They will continue to receive a check in their mail box every week.just as does Michael Jordan, J.K.Rowling, and Lisa Marie Presley.

Robert Kiyosaki endorses network marketing as a new and revolutionary way to achieve wealth.   He said, “The richest people in the world build networks, everyone else looks for work.”

Now is the time to increase your royalty income through networking.  Get involved in a solid company that has at least a  five year track record of success.  A company that has products reasonably priced so that the average person, your neighbors will buy them.

About the Author:

Walt Seward is a network marketing success story.

Now is the time to shorten the life of your mortgage by using a proven interest cancellation system.

This morning I was up at 4:30 to help my wife get ready and take her to the airport for an early morning flight to North Carolina.

I am an early rise, but not usually THAT early!.

Have you flown lately? Have you checked your suitcases in?    The airline now wanted $15 for the first suitcase checked  and $25 for the second suitcase. That is, if they were not more than 50 lbs each.!

Well my wife decided,  last minute at the ticket counter to check in the smaller suitcase without wheels and carry on the suitcase with wheels. All is well and she rolled on up to the gate and to security.

What did security find? hair gel,  toothpaste, shampoo all in  “oversize”  containers. Now what? There goes  $30 – $40 worth of personal stuff.

Now let’s see she could have driven her car but with gasoline at $4.00 a gallon  we  thought flying was cheaper !

I work from home and work on the internet to save the frustrations my wife experienced this morning.

There are other reasons why I work from home:

The cost of “going” to work takes a major portion out of each paycheck.

“Going” to work,  takes me away from the home and my family.

“Going” to work means buying  pretty clothes to wear.

My business on the internet is international. I have customers around the globe.   The advantages are many.
When the economy is down in my neighborhood, it may be booming in another community.  I may have a product for which there is a starving crowd in another country.

My working hours are flexible. I am my own boss! I work in comfortable clothes and I work from anywhere.
That may be at home,  at a resort,  at the beach or even from a foreign city.

Life is good.   I love working from home.

Join me.  I  know you too will love the benefits of working from home.

For Your Success
Walter Seward
Email: 6m4cash@gmail.com

The truth is most people fail in this business. The steps to failure are easy. That is the bad news. The good news is that in knowing how to fail will give you direction and guidance in knowing then, what you must do to succeed.

Failure in 7 easy steps:

1. No experience. Internet marketing is a profession and just as any other profession, it is learned through experience and education. Think about your medical Doctor, the election who wired your home, the professor at the local university, all of these are professionals who have been educated in their vocation. Successful marketing on the internet is learned through observation, classes or by a mentor who has a proven system.

2. No testing or research. Is there a screaming demand for your product or service?
Successful marketers are continually testing through multiple articles and ads to see if there is a hungry crowd looking for your product. Will your product or service market best through direct advertising or through articles in ezines or by videos on youtube? Have you tested various methods to find the starving crowd?

3. Lack of funds to start a home-based business. Do you have the funds and resources available to see you through to success? A sure fire way to failure is to cut off your primary source of income and leave your job without adequate reserve of funds available to you.

4. No System. Marketing on the internet requires following and using a proven marketing system. Successful marketers use a formula, a system that is tried and proven to achieve success. Without a proven system, failure is certain.

5. No Leadership or personal coach. Just as Michael Phelps had a coach that guided him to win 8 gold medals, Success in marketing requires a personal mentor who is committed to your success. This is very important, not just for you, but as you help those who will follow in your footsteps. You must have a coach/mentor who has walked the path before you. Those following you will ask, ‘how do I succeed?”

6. No detailed plan of action leads to failure. You must be held accountable to your coach and follow a specific daily plan of action. Imagine this. You have the funds and now want to have someone build you dream home. You hire a builder. You have the dream home pictured in your mind. However, without detailed drawings, plans, the builder cannot produce what is in your mind. Your business will succeed when you follow a daily action plan.

7. Not learning the skills along the way. Attending seminars and workshops of successful people and learning the skills of marketing is critical to your success. Can you write an article that will be published and read? Can you produce a video that thousands will watch on youtube? Can you write a creative ad that will draw a swarm of people to your website to purchase your product or service?

Failure is not an option. You will not fail when you find a Mentor who seriously has your best interest at heart. A mentor who will provide coaching and resources without selling you items which will benefit him/her financially. A good mentor will teach you the skills you need for success in an online business.

Walter Seward offers a FREE copy of the legendary Networking recruiting & training ebook where he regularly analyzes & comments on MLM lead generation.

Wayne found a 1926 Star Coupe in a garage. Because this car had not been driven for 65 years, it had deteriorated immensely.    It took 20 years searching for replacement original parts, replacing rotten out wood frame work with new hard wood, carved and shaped for the roof structure.

Many hours of work has paid off, the 1926 car runs like it did 82 years ago when it was new! I know it takes time to build a home-based business. However, I also know it will not take 20 years to make a very good profit when you have the right tools. When you have the right system to follow.

The production of the Star automobile only lasted two years. Like many other car manufacturers of that era, it ceased to be. Why did this car manufacturer fail when Ford prospered? Ford used and followed a system. Like Ford your home business will only prosper when you follow a proven system.

Systems are the keys to a life of prosperity and abundance.

Now you too can enjoy life as much as Wayne and Sheila enjoy their 1926  Antique Car, a 1926 Star Coupe. Did you click on the link to see their car?

I don’t know about you – but my story could be this.

I get up early, 5 am before most of the world gets turned on. Before God turns the lights on, outside! I have plans, I have a project scheduled to do before the world wakens.

Coffee is perking, I turn my computer on, the project to work on is on my desk, which is also giving a yawn and waking up to the smell of coffee.

Distraction.

My computer tells me there is an important email from a colleague. Read it now. I do. He has given me a link to another website I really need to review – now. I do.

Distraction.

It is now 9 am, time for another cup of coffee. And to make my wife her breakfast cup of tea. She loves her cup of tea while doing the bathroom getting ready for the day stuff a wife does.

Distraction.

It is now 9:45 am – must finish up the project that my colleague directed me to before he calls me about 11 am to review.

My personal to do project is patiently sitting on my desk taking another stretch and smiling knowing that sooner or much later I will get to her.

Distraction.

An hour with my colleague on his project well that was not the plan for today. However, it was important.

Distraction.

Noon and I always eat lunch right at 12 noon. Never a minute late either.

This day is going by quickly and really so far all I have accomplished were the Distractions.

Distraction

Afternoon, Oh, the ballgame is getting started. This is a very important game this season. I know I have a priority project sitting on my desk ….. but…….

A Distraction is always a distraction.

My success is following a system and being focused on “this one thing I do”.

Life quickly passes by – with Distractions unless I make certain that PRIORITIES supersedes the Distractions.

The apostle Paul once found himself in a terrifying storm at sea in a ship filled with criminals,
mutinous sailors, and ruthless Roman soldiers. The sailors were about to abandon ship,
the soldiers were about to spear all the prisoners, and the boat seemed about to break up
like a matchbox underneath a truck tire. The despair and gloom on that ship was so thick
you could cut it with a chain saw and stack it.

Notice Paul’s response. He told everyone to keep up their courage because God had assured
him no one would drown. Why did Paul, at this time a prisoner, get a word from God when no
one else did? Because he belonged to God.

Can you say that? Can you say that your marriage and children belongs to the heavenly Father?
If so, you are a servant of God. And if you are His servant, you have every reason to be filled
with hope for this coming year. Not sure? Get on your knees and trust your lives, marriage,
and children to Him today.

By Bob Moeller
You can check out Bob Moeller’s books and conferences at www.forkeepsconference.com

When you are trying to promote your website using online marketing techniques, you can do many things that you may not have thought of. One of those things is using articles and the signature boxes to help direct people to your business website, but you may not realize how to do it and what to write about. Here are some tips to help you get started on your way to internet success.

What To Write Your Articles About

You may not know what you should write about but when you stop and think about it, you may be able to come up with something that is so simple for you and your site. Some ideas are:

• What can you do to help people achieve their goals – This is one of the most obvious things to write about because it’s highlighting the business that you offer people in and even more so, what you do.

• What you believe most about – People want to read about what people like to write about. This can be something that never really came to you when you started, but by being happy about helping others you will write a killer article that is easy to read and loved by others.

• A Hobby – One of the best ways to draw attention for your business is to find a niche that kind of fits into what your business is about. Writing about this will help get free traffic to your site as well as make for some really killer articles.

Why You Want To Write An Article As A Direct Marketing Technique?

There are many reasons that you would want to create an article as a direct marketing technique, but the most straight forward is probably for a boost in your sites overall traffic. You may not realize how much good this type of direct marketing can do, but if you focus on a couple hours a day and get good articles going, then you can create an amazing traffic driving machine, just from articles.

As mentioned previously, it can be really helpful if the article that you are writing is something that you believe most about because it shows in how you write and what you say in the article.

As you can see there are many avenues you can follow when you are getting ready to create your articles for direct marketing purposes. If you are not sure of your ability to write then you can hire a professional writer to help you with your ideas or to even do them for you. This will make your article more informative then you may be able to write it.

———-

This article has been written by Walter Seward. To learn more great direct response marketing tips, tools and tactics for free, please visit http://www.zoom4Cash.com

Feel free to reprint this article with permission so long as this resource box stays in tact.

Gotta go

Matthew

Freedom project

You have heard it said. Get involved in network marketing and “fire your boss”, work for yourself and make more money. We all have that dream. Oh to be self-employed and get rich!

That is a dream.

The reality is this.

Yes, do add a second stream of income working from home.

At the same time Do NOT fire your boss. Keep your present job.

Those who are accumulating wealth say this:

“I am working full time at my job –

and part-time on my fortune”

You see, your full time job pays the mortgage, car payments

and normal household living expenses.

Your part-time working from home income will build your

fortune when you invest that income to accumulate wealth.

Investing your part-time income into your mortgage, paying it down;

paying off other debts then investing into other real estate etc

will create for you a fortune in a few years.

The prudent and wise person will not “fire their boss”.

What if… the part-time income from home does not work out?

What if…. you need the benefits that “the boss” provides?

The prudent and wise person will keep his job

until the commission checks from working at home income

doubles the job income for at least six months.

“Wages make you a living

Profits make you a fortune” - Jim Rohn

Be wise in choosing a home based business.

Work with a company that has long term (more than 5 years)

integrity and a proven track record.

Who are the principals of the company?

What do they know about working from home?

- Walter

http://www.zoom4Cash.com

-

-

What is the Secret to a life of Abundance and Prosperity?

Is there a secret? Is there a plan?

God’s ability to meet any need. That is prosperity.

However, it is conditional.

1. Meditating and delighting on His laws, His Word day and night.

2. By being a generous giver. Principle of sowing and reaping.

My life of abundance and prosperity ( A&P) is limited only by

my capacity to receive from God His unlimited abundance.

Prosperity is my ability to use God’s ability to meet any need.

The 4 keys to increasing my capacity for abundance are:

1. My ability. What am I capable to manage well?

What are my skills and talents? How responsible am I?

a) My passions. What am I passionate about? What do I love to do?

What excites me? What things do I naturally pursue?

b) What are my skills or talents? What strengths do other

people see in me?

c) What are my values? What is really important to me?

Is there something that I would risk my life for?

d) What was I born to do?

God is the holder of it all, of everything. He created it all.

I just get to hold some of this for a while.

How much I am entrusted with and how much I get to hold is

dependant upon by capacity, my trust worthiness and my dependability.

2. My resources.

As I increase my value to others, my prosperity will increase.

Leaders are readers. Therefore as I become educated through books and CD’s,

doing something each day to increase my personal value – my ability

for a life of abundance and prosperity also increases.

3. My attitude. My attitude comes from my self-image, the person I think I am.

I am of much greater value to others when I see myself as God sees me.

My attitude determines my altitude suggested Earl Nightengale.

How I feel about myself determines the impact I have on those around me.

My attitude also determines what I will do and be.

Phil 4.13 “I can do all things……”

4. My Stewardship. My capacity to hold and be responsible for

what God provides me. Am I trust worthy and dependable?

Abundance is the result of having something of value that others want.

Prosperity is the result of increasing my value (my personal worth to others)

Stewardship involves doing. Faith + Action = Results.

Stewardship involves responsible giving.

Stewardship involves managing the increase that follows.

Abilities + Resources + Attitudes + Stewardship = my capacity.

- Walter

‘

walter@waltseward.com

* excerpts from “Greatest Secret” by Ron McIntosh.

]]> http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/07/15/secret-to-a-life-of-abundance-and-prosperity/feed/ 0 http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/07/14/law-of-attraction-is-ask-believe-and-receive/ http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/07/14/law-of-attraction-is-ask-believe-and-receive/#comments Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:14:13 +0000 Walter http://cwahd.com/wordpress/?p=1316

The Law of Attraction is Ask, Believe, and Receive.

Why is it that the law of attraction seems to work for some

people and not for others?

What are the three keys to results and law of attraction?

1. Ask. To ask means to want or desire something

for which I am willing to sacrifice. It is asking specifically

for something. It is to be razor focused on my desire.

One reason I do not receive what I want (desire) is because

I have not determined my God-given goals with clarity.

I must know what I want.

When I am focused and know precisely what I want (desire)

then I will recognize the people and the books that will

provide the information I need to make receiving happen.

Desire means “to long, wish for, want or crave.”

Psa 37.4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will

give you the d e s i r e s of your heart”

2. Believe. To believe means to “ take as truth or real”.

The law of belief is “what I believe in my heart with

conviction becomes my reality”.

Why is belief so difficult?

Is it that I don’t have enough faith?

My belief (faith) is negated because it is mixed

with unbeliefs. Unbeliefs that were taught me

as a child by parents or in school. Now my mind is

confused between what I believe and what I want to believe.

Comments were made such as: “This is our ‘lot in life’”,

“don’t try this”, “don’t try that” “money does not grow

on trees”.

It is like having two ropes to pull a heavy object.

I am not successful in moving the heavy object, not

because it is too heavy, but because I have one rope

tied to opposite ends and pulling in opposite directions.

My faith (belief) is negated by my unbelief.

What I believe (expect) in my heart with conviction becomes

my self-fulfilling prophecy.

What I believe becomes my reality.

3. Receive. When I know the truth of what God desires for me,

I need to accept and take action towards my convictions

and my priorities and follow through with action.

When I ask, knowing what I want (desire),

and believe, God will give me the direction and strategy

to bring my desires to arrive.

Now that I have asked, believed and received,

I need to be thankful and thank God for His truth and

provision.

My continual attitude of thanksgiving will keep me

from being distracted by any unbelief.

I possess the faith (belief) to be productive

and to receive a life of abundance God intended for me.

The law of attraction is Ask, Believe, and Receive.

Adapted from “The Greatest Secret” by Ron McIntosh

Walter Seward.

]]> http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/07/14/law-of-attraction-is-ask-believe-and-receive/feed/ 0 http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/06/14/peanut-butter-pornography/ http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/06/14/peanut-butter-pornography/#comments Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:08:28 +0000 GodlyDads http://cwahd.com/wordpress/?p=1285 I have to admit one of my guilty pleasures that I didn’t realize was considered disgusting until I went away to college. It’s something that I feel no shame for even though other people try to judge me for it. My favorite food on the face of the earth is a peanut butter and Miracle Whip sandwich. I know what you’re thinking, “This guy is insane!” But, there’s something about the magical combination of peanut butter’s sweetness and the tangy zip of Miracle Whip-it’s like nectar of the gods! What’s even better about it is that it’s a utility meal; you can eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

My wife is absolutely repulsed by the thought of a “PBM” and refuses to try one-even though she eats peanut butter and pickles! Recently I was eating one of the tasty morsels of supple goodness when my son starting begging for a bite. He liked it so much that I ended up making him one of his own. I couldn’t help but laugh, not at the fact that my wife was dry heaving, but, rather because I came to know and love this treasure because my father used to eat them.

It got me thinking about the things that we pass on to our children. Not just looks, allergies, hairline cowlicks, and awesome sandwich preferences, but, spiritual strengths and weaknesses, too.

In the Bible, Abraham was deceitful when asked about who his wife was and his son Isaac did the same exact thing in telling a king that his wife was just his sister. Isaac had a son named Jacob who developed a shady reputation and lied to his face about being his brother Esau. Jacob’s sons lied to him and told him their brother was killed by an animal when they actually sold him as a slave. A little later King David had an affair with Bathsheba and the two eventually had a son named Solomon who became King and had a major weakness with women.

As a pastor I’ve watched as men who struggle with depression or self-esteem issues often have children who struggle with it as well. Those who are alcoholics pass on a much greater chance of their kids being alcoholics and those who struggle with pornography very often have children who confess to their youth pastors the same vice.

The fact is that we must learn to break the cycle as fathers and deal with our issues effectively and thoroughly. I believe Hebrews 12:1-2 gives us the best place to start, “let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith”

If we keep ourselves focused on and actively growing in our relationship with Jesus we will find ourselves able to shrug off the sins that plague us and possibly our children. I know this is a task that is easier said then done, and this article, although lengthy by Internet standards, cannot adequately help you slay your giants. However, if you are constantly struggling with something, run towards Jesus and seek help from a pastor or counselor or whoever you can find to help you through this. I know the words, “help me” are very rarely found in mans vernacular, but, I think our children are worth the step.

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads!

]]> http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/06/14/peanut-butter-pornography/feed/ 0 http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/06/05/one-reason-behind-trouble-in-our-marriage-might-be-pride/ http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2008/06/05/one-reason-behind-trouble-in-our-marriage-might-be-pride/#comments Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:45:17 +0000 cwahd http://cwahd.com/wordpress/?p=1273 “God opposes the proud but gives Grace to the Humble” James 4:6

Our financial plans collapse. We suffer unexpected setbacks in our career. We have a house that won’t sell. How can we explain such difficulties in life? They may have a number of causes. But one overlooked explanation is our pride. The Bible teaches us that God opposes the proud. When pride enters our heart, He blocks our advance, frustrates our plans, and lets us spin our wheels. It all adds up to God saying, “I’m not letting you go anywhere until you humble yourselves before Me.”

We went through one particularly difficult period of life where we couldn’t understand why one calamity seemed to pile on another. We had to replace an engine and a transmission in our car; some of our kids got lice; and every major appliance in our home needed repair. At the end of this incredibly hard time we realized God had been working to break us. God was telling us it was time to pray. Only when we began to seek Him
together in brokenness and humility did the light break through in our lives once again.

We would never suggest all trouble in anyone’s life is caused by pride. But if we’re not praying and seeking God with all of our hearts, pride may very well have slipped into our lives. The remedy is to humble ourselves
before God this very hour. Seek His forgiveness. The choice between God’s opposition and God’s grace is clear to us. Which do you want?

About the Author:

But first we need to get away from here. I’m also looking in to a lot of new ways to make money.

I already run A vending business and a online distribution company. I’m thinking of expanding into other things.

I’ll keep you posted.

Matthew

Freedom Project

By Nick Higgins

We had been there a few months earlier and Judah really enjoyed playing. They have the soft floor and the soft play equipment so kids can run around unhindered and crash into anything they want. There’s a slide that is kind of steep that Judah was too afraid to go down the last time without us holding his hand.

It was a great day overall. Except there was one mother who was one of “those” moms. You know the kind where they ask you a bunch of questions about your kid just so they could brag about theirs. Her kid might be potty trained already, but, my kids will have the distinct advantage of not having her as a mother!

Psycho competitive moms aside, I was really proud of him for conquering that slide. I know it’s a very small feat in the grand scheme of life but there’s just something about watching my son learn to overcome obstacles that makes me smile. He might not be the greatest athlete, or the smartest person in the world, but so long as he tries to overcome the things that give him trouble he’ll be more than successful.

About the Author: Nick Higgins is a husband, father, and pastor who also runs GodlyDads.com — a blog about being a Godly Father.

Matthew

Freedom Project

(This is what moms look like on the inside)

By Nick Higgins

I’ve realized something about women: during child birth when the fetus leaves the body something amazing and indescribable happens. Right about the time when the doctor tosses the slimy, still attached and bloody baby on the mother’s stomach like a proud fisherman tossing his catch into a boat to get a good look at it, something changes in a woman’s genetic makeup. Her DNA, like, transubstantiates its molecular structure into that of some sort of half-human, half-mutant-superhero chick. All of a sudden they know and can do everything!

“Honey, where’s the glue?”

“It’s in the coffee table drawer from two months ago when you tried to hide the fact that you broke the vase by unsuccessfully gluing it back together and eventually just buying one identical to it and replacing it.”

How did she know about that? I’m not kidding, they become like a Shaolin Monk, completely aware of everything in their surroundings.

“Drive around to the other side of the mall. Someone is leaving and a spot will be open in the front.”

“Yes, dear.”

One time I realized it had been a while since my wife and I had been out on a date. I love my and appreciate my wife so much! She takes such good care of our home! But, she’s always in Mommy-mode with our little boy and being pregnant with another one I noticed she could probably use a night out on the town. So being the hopeless romantic that I am I told her, “baby, get your dancing shoes on, we’re going out tonight…to Applebee’s…for half-priced appetizers…and we can’t afford a sitter.”

So, we went out with some friends and we were having a good time when suddenly our son, Judah, starts choking on a French fry. His little face started turning red and his eyes started watering. Being the man that I am, I sat there frozen in panic-it takes a little longer for the “dad changes” to take place. You know, the pot belly and receding hairline.- As calm as can be, my wife grabs him out of his seat and starts the whole “Aim him down and smack him on the back” trick. Not wanting to be rude, she is continuing to listen to the story that our friend wasn’t even sure if they should still be telling at this point and she is smiling and nodding in polite conversational etiquette.

Meanwhile, she realizes the French fry is not coming out and goes into “Manual Tracheal Obstruction Extraction Mode” and reaches her fingers down his throat and pulls the deep fried piece of potato out and casually sets it on a napkin. Literally as she does this the waitress, completely unaware of the near death experience we just evaded, and my freshly soiled pair of pants, strolls up and asks, “Is everyone doing okay? Can I get you anything?” As my wife nonchalantly returns our son to his high chair she asks for another Mango Lemonade and, like nothing ever happened, restarts the conversation by asking, “So, did you go with the 5 year ARM or the 30 year fixed?”

I’m telling you, mothers are not human! Happy mother’s day to all you moms out there.

About the Author: Nick Higgins is a husband, father, and pastor

The other day I had the privilege of holding my son during worship in our Sunday evening service at my church. I used to hold him regularly during worship at our former church, but, since moving to pastor our own church I have been leading most of it myself and wasn’t able to hold him. It was such a delight! At times he would lean his head into me so that his ear was up against my mouth. I’m not the most talented singer, but, my year and a half old son doesn’t care—he’s my biggest fan. At one point he began just singing gibberish trying to emulate the sounds his dad was making. Then, as I was lifting my hands I opened my eyes and saw him holding his arms up copying me. He had no clue what he or I was doing. But, he knew if dad was doing something it must be something worth doing.

I spent 5 years as a youth pastor and honestly the most frustrating thing for me was when spiritually retarded parents, whose own relationship with God were a half-hearted and emotionless Sunday experience, would drop their kids off and look at me like, “Here you go. Fix ‘em.” Out of the 168 hours that are in each week I only got to spend a couple of them with the students who spent much of that time being influenced at home.

The Bible says in 1 Kings 22:52 about King Ahaziah that “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, because he walked in the ways of his father and mother…who caused Israel to sin. 53 He served and worshiped Baal and provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.”

The reality is that our children will learn a lot about how or how not to serve God based on observing their parents. Obviously each person is accountable for their own choice and I have known many people who serve God despite ungodly upbringings and vice versa. But, as I held my son in my arms with his hands raised he taught me that I have already begun to teach him about being a Godly little man before his mind can even understand a single theological thought. Take advantage of your time and don’t forget that it’s never too late to start living a life of inspiration!

About the Author: Nick Higgins is a husband, father, and pastor

My son was born on Good friday at 7:17 PM We named him Luke Ryan.

Matthew

Freedom Project