STEPLADDER TO SUCCESS

Step 1: free your mind from negativity!

Step 2: cast out self doubt!

Step 3: cast out procrastination!

Step 4: free your mind up for success!

Step 5: cease your friendship with misery!

Step 6: free your mind up to become financially free!

Step 7: ask yourself, “Are members of your family or any of your friends, "helping you stretch your vision" or "are they choking your dream?"

Step 8: if your family or friends are “helping you stretch your vision", embrace them with all your heart!

Step 9: if your family or friends are "choking your dream", cast them aside, drop them like a hot potato, because they will bring you down!

Step 10: learn to recognize opportunity when it presents itself! The revelation should hit you so hard that it moves you to act swiftly and decisively, knowing and believing that success awaits you at every turn!

Step 11: don't let anyone hold you back or destroy your dream!

Success Declaration

I am breathing in new health, gratitude, peace and strength.

I have the tenacity to solve my challenges and achieve my goals.

I declare and decree that I am a conqueror, victorious, wise, successful and blessed.

I am covered by the Lord’s sovereign power, peace and provision to endure any challenges, enjoy life and excel in my purpose.

I feel worthy of receiving respect, peace, love and the abundant life.

I follow through on what I start.

I am worthy, loving and capable of achieving my personal definition of success.

This is a brand new day to live without apology and to live with gratitude, courage, hope, love,self-control and faith.

I am growing each day with inner strength to overcome the challenges of life.

I'm learning everyday to forgive myself and draw emotional boundaries around those who have hurt me as I release my anger and forgive them.

I am taking better care of myself.

When I experience the "joy stealers" of depression, guilt, low self-esteem, clutter, fear, doubt,temptation or procrastination ...

I am willing to recognize and resolve my unhealthy patterns.

I can come out of any cave of dark depression and into the light to enjoy the many blessings and promises of God for me and my family.

I'm learning that all relationships are teachers.

I am developing wise judgment and boundaries to know which people in my life are the lifters and which ones are the leaners.

I am using my time, talent and treasures in better ways because I realize that each day is a gift.

Today I am focused on my goals and priorities because I am learning how to keep the main thing...

THE MAIN THING!

I can say “no” to unnecessary demands of my time, money and energy.

I can say “yes” to; God, success, my destiny and my well-being.

I am open to receive "unusual blessings of favor."

I am too blessed to be stressed.

I see and feel something new in myself and in those around me. My possibilities and potential for success are unlimited.

I am discovering the truth that sets me free to be more whole, relaxed, trusting, active and optimistic.

I am always in the right place at the right time with the right outlook.

My very presence impacts others in a positive way.

I am attracting into my life people and circumstances to take my life to the next level of awareness and abundance.

Those things that use to tempt and tear me apart, no longer hold so much power over me because I am learning each day how to stay in the light of God's power, peace, protection, provision and a positive state of mind.

This is a brand new day and I will be glad in it.

Yes, there will be issues out of my control and yet opportunities to grow in my faith and courage.

No matter what challenges or changes I must face today, this is the day the Lord has made.

All my needs are met.

I am still here and there is nothing that is going to happen today that my God and I together can't handle.

I will do my best to reduce my stress and until further notice...

God is in charge.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, your words can bring life or death, peace or stress, sickness or health into yours and or someone else s life. please promise to read these "Affirmations and Declarations" above a minimum of twice a day. In case of emergency read it three times a day to continue building up your immune system against the attack of doubt, fear, procrastination or stress.

Polish up your faith. Let your light shine. God bless you. I love you all.

Thank you Jewel Diamond Taylor. The past five years, you've been a tremendous blessing to me and my ministry.

Why Should Christians Attend Church?

For believers, there is no substitute for attending church. Besides something that pleases God, it is necessary for a believer's spiritual well-being. For shut-ins or invalids who aren't able to go to church, the ministries on radio or TV might be the only kind of fellowship or spiritual nourishment that they get. God certainly understands the circumstances of these people, and recognizes the sincerity of their hearts. However, it is a different matter for those who could attend church but are too lazy, or put other things such as entertainment and amusements before God, or who harbor bitterness or indifference toward other believers.

It is important to attend church for the following reasons:

(1) It is an Expression of our Love for God

Going to church is a visible, tangible expression of our love and worship toward God. It is where we can gather with other believers to publicly bear witness of our faith and trust in God, something that is required of all Christians (Matt. 10:32-33) -- and it is where we can bring Him offerings of praise, thanks, and honor, which are pleasing to Him. The psalmist wrote, "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You" (Psa. 22:22). People are often motivated toward church attendance for how it will bless themselves, however we should remember that the primary purpose of the corporate gathering is to bring "service" to the Lord as a blessing to Him (Psa. 134:2). Indeed, the Lord is deserving of our time and energy to honor Him with our service of devotion. "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created" (Rev. 4:11).

(2) It builds up our Spiritual Strength

Receiving the preaching and teaching of the Word of God increases our faith and builds us up spiritually. Every believer knows what it is to face spiritual conflicts to their faith, and must realize the importance of being fed spiritually so that they can overcome the challenges. Paul states that Christians face a wrestling match with the Devil and his evil spiritual forces, and warns that the church must put on spiritual armor for protection, as it will take everything at our disposal to stand (Eph. 6:10-18). How important that we take every opportunity available to receive ministry and strength from God's Word. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

(3) It brings a special visitation of the Lord's Presence

There is the promise of a special visitation of the Lord's presence whenever two or more gather specifically in the name of Jesus. By implication, this means whenever "Jesus" is the object of gathered prayer, worship, praise, preaching, etc. Even though Jesus resides within the heart of every believer, he honors a gathering in his name by coming in the "midst," with his power, awareness, and anointing. In such a gathering, Christ is able to do things in hearts that he may not at any other time. The scripture says that God inhabits the praise of His people (Psa. 22:3), and in such an atmosphere the Holy Spirit will often manifest spiritual gifts that minister to the body of Christ. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20).

(4) It provides fellowship with other Christians

Gathering together also has compounded importance to the relationship of the Christian brethren. The Bible makes it clear that a right relationship with God requires a "vertical" and "horizontal" alignment -- that is, we must have a vertical fellowship with God and a horizontal fellowship with other believers. It is not possible to love God and refuse to love the brethren. If you have a problem loving other Christians, you have a problem in your relationship with God. Scripture warns us that unforgiveness toward others will void God's forgiveness of our own sins (Matt. 6:15). John wrote, "He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him" (1 John 2:9-10).

One of the most important reasons that we go to church is to practice love toward the brethren in the form of fellowship. The Bible clearly shows that if we have a right relationship with God, we have fellowship with others believers. "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). Keeping ourselves in love and harmony with other believers keeps us humble before God so that Christ's blood can continue to cleanse us from our sins.

(5) It is an act of obedience to God

Not to be forgotten, going to church is also a matter of obeying God's Word. The writer of the Hebrew epistle tells us not to forsake assembling together, implying that continued absence can lead to willful sin. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins," (Heb. 10:24-26). Once again, we are reminded that a great part of the purpose of the gathering is for the consideration of our brethren, coming together to help motivate and encourage one another. This is a responsibility charged to every believer. To reject church attendance, is a rejection of one of the sacred duties of the believer. "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

(6) It provides accountability to spiritual leadership

More strong evidence that proves that we're to be a part of a church fellowship, is that we're told to submit to the authority of spiritual leaders (within the boundaries of God's Word). "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you" (Heb. 13:17). God designed this system of accountability for the progress and protection of His flock. Obviously, this really isn't possible unless we are a part of an organized fellowship which has identified elders, pastors, or leaders. It is easy to see that one cannot genuinely be under submission to a TV pastor who has never met you. Nor is it possible to be under submission by visiting a different church each week. The Bible tells us to know them that are over us in the Lord (1 Thes. 5:12). Submission necessitates a commitment and relationship to a local body of believers and to their spiritual leaders.

(7) It combines our spiritual strength in prayer

The Bible indicates that agreement in prayer with other believers has special favor with God. "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" (Matt. 18:19). There is multiplied strength in the combined faith of God's people, and it is clear that greater spiritual gains can be realized through corporate prayer and worship. This agrees with how God has historically blessed the union of His people in battle against their enemies. "Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you" (Lev. 26:8).

(8) It honors the Lord's Day

The fourth commandment of the law that God gave Moses was to set aside the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as a holy day to the Lord. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8). This was, and will always remain, the official Sabbath. However, after Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday, the early Christians began meeting together on this day as well as with the Jewish community in the synagogues on the Sabbath. History indicates that due to the enmity of the orthodox Jews toward the Christian Jews in their midst, the Jewish Christians were eventually ostracized. And although they were no longer bound to a rigid code of laws (Gal. 3:10-11, Col. 2:16), it is believed that they came to view Sunday as a combined observance of the Sabbath and the resurrection day of Jesus (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2). This day of Christian worship came to be called the Lord's Day (Rev. 1:10), a day to fellowship in celebration of the resurrection, to worship, pray and study the Word together.

Today, the Christian Jew or gentile, is free from the bondage of the old law. The indwelling of God's spirit has brought a new way for Christians to fulfill the desires of God through His love (Gal. 5:18, Rom. 13:8-10). However, the new covenant does not invalidate the relevance of the ten commandments as they pertained to God's wishes for His people. As much as it remains God's desire for man not to kill, steal or commit adultery, God is still very much pleased for believers to honor Him on a day reserved for Him, out of their love for Him and His people.

Thank you Dr. Dale A. Robbins for your insight.

No God, No Point

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Joe, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.

'And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said,
'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT!!

Remember...Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Every saint has a PAST...
Every sinner has a FUTURE!
Now it's your turn... Share this poem.

Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil...

IT HAS NO POINT!

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will not read this nor share it with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for my brother, Ernest, my sisters, Leticia, Alicia and Olga and each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly.

This is my prayer.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.