Devotionals And Ministries For Worldwide Market-Place Business Success
These are devotionals from God and the Ventures Global Network. We’re Calling, Equipping and Releasing God’s Kingdom Business Entrepreneurs into the Marketplace... Worldwide! Resourses that are work-related, are hard to find in your local Christian bookstore. This is why we provide an online bookstore with hundreds of excellent devotional and hand-picked resources for workplace believers. Global Shipping Available! The Bible tells us to come out of Babylon. Babylon is a system of work and philosophy that is contrary to God's ways. Are you operating in any aspect of work from a Babylonian value system? Ask the Lord to reveal this to you. Begin to walk in the freedom He has given us in our work life. The Lord is able to do far exceeding above what we think. Jesus does not remain in the places where there is fear of His goodness. It is often subconscious fears that prevent us from going to a deeper level with Him. The people in Gerasenes could not benefit from Jesus' presence because of their fears.
Have you feared Jesus because of what He might require of you? Have you feared that He might ask of you something you are not prepared to give? Do not let your fears drive Him from your presence. His motive is always love for His children. You can trust Him. Devotionals are a great way to draw closer to God
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Many people go through the process of having their "colors" analyzed. This means an expert will study your hair color and skin tone and help you decide which colors of clothing you should wear to help you look your best. People today have a horror of wearing the wrong thing. Yesterday we read about what Paul tells NOT to wear. In today's devotionals we're going to look at what he tells us we SHOULD wear (see Colossians 3:10-14). "And (you) have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge. Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved: 1. Bowles of mercies (a forgiving and compassionate nature) 2. Kindness (being courteous and thoughtful of others) 3. Humbleness of mind (don't think too highly of yourself) 4. Meekness (a gentle, self-effacing personality) 5. Longsuffering (patience) 6. Forbearing one another (putting up with the foibles and quirks of others) 7. Forgiving one another (offering forgiveness to those who offend you) And above all things... 8. Put on charity" (strive to love one another). When you have put on the above "clothing," you will be at peace in your heart and have the confidence you need to see you through your day. Just as a well-dressed, well-groomed person can relax and forget about his appearance and move forward with confidence to tackle the day's business, so will YOU be able to relax and forget about your own problems and concentrate on ministering to others. "I counsel thee to buy of me...white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed" (Revelation 3:18). Also read: Matt. 6:25-34; Is. 61:10; Rev. 3: 4-5 REMEMBER: THANKS TO PAUL, YOU KNOW WHAT TO WEAR TODAY Devotionals for yesterday: What You Shouldn't Wear Today! Devotionals for the day before yesterday: How You Can Be Glad On Your Sad Days! Scripture links by Blue Letter Bible (c) Devotionals by Lowell Lundstrom 1983-2006
`````Eph. 6:13-20 "...Therefore take up the whole Armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with Truth, having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, and having shod your feet with the Preparation of The Gospel of Peace: above all, taking The Shield of Faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take The Helmet of Salvation, and The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in The Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.--And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the Mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an Ambassador in Chains;that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak..."
................................................................ “2007-You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!” by Bret A. Wade (www.bretwade.com) contact_us@bretwade.com
Another year has come and with it comes a new time of devotionals, focusing and reflecting to position ourselves for prophetic fulfillment. It's for those who desire to flow with God in what He desires through devotionals. The kingdom of God is always advancing; we chose to advance with it. What is communicated during these times has to be entered into by choice and cooperation. Often times, we will hear and see the beginning of things that God will do. Some may be evident to everyone and some may be subtle and seen only by those who are looking for it. Then still there are seasons which continue. We will see much continuation this year with increase. It’s a time of intensifying the process that the kingdom is taking the sons of God through. Preparation for manifestation! Over the past couple years, the Lord has been continually speaking to me that it was a time of devotions, recalibration, refitting and retooling. Let’s explore a little on each of these. Recalibration For the last several years, the Lord has been speaking often about my focus and how it works. Strategic advances are requiring recalibration. Recalibration is for accuracy. Hitting the mark! An example would be zeroing in a scope on a rifle at the shooting range. We have to allow the intricate adjustments for precision. The optics are only as accurate as the adjustments. No adjustments equal inaccuracy of Christ’s representation in our lives. Pressure can be placed on the trigger and fired but it's the accuracy of the aim that hits the mark. Recalibration is necessary to make your aim effective every time your sights are set on a target. Fixation for manifestation! We will continue to be instructed on our focus and how it produces demonstration of the Spirit. “If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 AMP Refitting "Refitting" is also part of this. Longevity is the result of being made fit again. Areas that we have rested in will be challenged, re-approached and rethought. We’re experiencing pruning both personally and in our corporate lives.
God has been removing the lawlessness in us and our environments – homes, businesses and ministries. This is to prepare us for the outpouring of Retooling God is also "retooling". Factories retool to produce an updated product line as in automobiles. They have to retool inside the factory to consistently produce the same model (fruit) every time. A consistent quality controlled product can be then distributed without concern. We’re being updated. Overflow will overwhelm! Our progression will continue to be learning to live the reality of overflow in every aspect of our lives. Overflow is a kingdom reality of living out of a greater resource than the natural realm. We have the opportunity to live in miracles and favor allowing it to be the flow of success in our daily lifestyle. God lives abundance! It’s time to begin living from the unseen realm - Heaven. It’s time to live daily from Heaven’s perspective.
Season of the Cocoon This is the season of the cocoon. During this New Year some shall enter the cocoon and some shall exit theirs. While there may be a coming and going in this twofold time of direction, there’s one purpose without contradiction. The entering is a time of consecration and isolation. The exiting is to come out of the caves of protection and preparation to be released into kingdom purpose and destiny. It’s the narrow place that leads to the enlarged place. It’s time to begin. The veil between Heaven and Earth is getting thinner. It’s as if Heaven’s womb is becoming dilated about ready to deliver and bring forth the expectation of the ages. The Body of Christ has been experiencing a time of transformation that will bring us into the fulfilling of the purposes of God individually and corporately for this history making generation. We are destined to be far more beautiful than caterpillars. We were destined to fly as butterflies. In the cocoon, some have been hidden without a lot of activity but now we will see beyond our own confined situation. We knew we had destiny but our imaginations cannot even compare with that which is about to be revealed. “For I calculate that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to compare to the coming glory to be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18. We knew we couldn’t get there on our own. We are learning to abide. An understanding of discovering the reality of Christ and His kingdom in us has prevailed during this time and shall continue to become the prevailing thought. “Remain in Me, and I in you. As the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself, unless it remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.” John 15:4 LITV. Jesus told Nicodemus that no one could see the kingdom of God without being born again. We are being presented with an open door to see, understand and live the kingdom in a greater fashion than we have up to this moment. For so will be richly furnished to you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:11 LITV There will be the entries furnished for those who live an obedience based lifestyle serving Christ. We are shifting from prophetic promise to prophetic fulfillment. We will live out much of what has been prophesied to us personally and corporately as we walk into this realm of grace called fulfillment. The time to fly is at hand. We’ll discover all the glorious wonders of the transformation after coming out of the cocoon. It’s in our spiritual DNA. It’s our destiny! Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it was not yet revealed what we shall be. But we know that if He is revealed, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2 LITV
Heaven Is Invading Earth! Fresh Release of Heaven It’s a time for miracles, signs and wonders to increase as Heaven reveals itself. Interaction between Heaven and Earth will increase being heavily marked with angelic visitation and remarkably unusual experiences. Portals of God’s glory that are being poured out will manifest stronger among those who have chosen to be true worshippers. The earth shall see increased groaning with the shaking of all things. As Heaven touches earth all natural patterns shall experience disruptions and upheavals – weather and natural disasters. This will also manifest in the nations in their economies, governments and religions. Shaking will reorder the kingdoms of men and their priorities. We must be found in Christ and His kingdom to be solid in the shaking to come. Fresh Revelation and Understanding of Heaven. Revealing of religious mindsets with revelation of spiritual realities will bring much deliverance and the abandonment of religious orders. Religious detoxification will increase and become widespread among those who chose it. This will produce a major shifting and redefining of “church”.
Fresh Identity from Heaven
Who we are and our role will be experientially revealed as Christ is revealed as the King over the Church. Relationships will take on a new form as true covenantal understanding begins to infiltrate the Body to become the norm rather than the exception. Covenant lifestyle and principles will continue to be thrust into the forefront as the prescribed way of life that the Lord endorses. Divinely arranged heart connections will be the primary source of commerce and networking for business and ministry success. Kingdom connections will be established with increased regularity. These connections will cause the global Church to function in a greater way as manmade limitations are transcended. Collaboration to achieve God’s purposes will disregard boundaries and borders. Our effectiveness will be determined by our cooperation with God and His body.
Fresh Passion for Heaven
A new wave of those who love God and chose Him above all will arise with a contagious passion that will spread like an epidemic. Churches will reorder their relationships out of obedience and love for Jesus. New functioning structures of church, business and government built on Heaven’s standards will arise. There’s a new model of ministry to be released. Fresh Sourcing from Heaven We will learn the difference between Heaven and the “source” versus Heaven as a “resource”. We’ll experience an increase in those who live out of Heaven’s perspective rather than earth’s limitations. Financial dependency on the world system will be challenged to shift to Heaven’s treasury. Our Master will instruct us on where to throw the nets. God is about to increase the frustration level on those who chose to represent Him without waiting upon Him. We will learn to wait upon Him for directions to go and do in the power of His Spirit. The Word became flesh – incarnation. Focus will change on Christ using our abilities working through us rather than an external experience. We’ll go from visitation to habitation. We’ll experience the reality of Jesus doing the greater works through us!
John Wesley: Man of Devotion “O BEGIN! Fix some part of every day for private exercises…. Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way: else you will be a trifler all your days.” These words of John Wesley, written to one of his itinerant preachers, show the importance of the devotional life. Even today many in the Wesleyan tradition are aware of his long-standing commitment to Christian devotion. We know of his practice of early rising and perhaps several of the devotional works he used. But often that is the extent of our knowledge. Consequently, Wesley’s example is of little concrete help to us as we wrestle with our own spiritual formation. This is unfortunate. Wesley’s devotional life can be a rich source of help and inspiration to us as we search for our own particular patterns of devotion. This article is an attempt to bring to light some facets of Wesleyan devotion which can still serve to enrich our relationship with God. The particular focus of this article is on the means of grace, which formed the basis of Wesley’s devotional practices. However, as we begin it is important to know why we are looking to John Wesley as a relevant guide for our devotional pilgrimage today. We begin to get an insight by remembering his primary scripture verse: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matt. 22:37-40).” Wesley’s devotional life was one means of fulfilling this goal. It became an avenue for him to more perfectly love God and others. Certain key elements stand out in his devotional practices, which can help us as we seek to love God and others in the same way. First, Wesley’s devotional life has a realism about it. When we study his devotional life, we sense we are following a fellow pilgrim in the faith. Wesley had ups and downs just like we do. His devotional life was not perfect just as ours is not. He made his share of mistakes as he went along. One of the most graphic errors occurred around 1732. Wesley’s devotions took a turn toward extreme self-examination. He became preoccupied with taking his spiritual pulse. At the back of his personal diary he devised a system by which he could evaluate his progress, or lack of it. This was done by measuring his spiritual life against a set of predetermined questions. For each time Wesley failed to live up to a particular question, he put a dot on a chart. At the end of the week he totaled up the dots for each question in order to see how many times he had failed in that area. As we can plainly see, his system caused him to emphasize his faults. Wesley was practicing defeatist devotionalism! This should be a warning to us. It is easy to slip into a devotional pattern which accentuates the negative. This is especially the case if we already have some problem with low self-esteem. We too easily practice the first half of James 5:16, “Confess your faults to one another,” but leave out the last half, “and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (RSV, italics added). As a result, our devotional life degenerates into spiritual neurosis. Certainly we should not ignore the negative areas of our lives. We must continue to take failure and sin seriously. But Wesley’s example does remind us that we find positive spiritual formation not by amplifying our problems but by applying God’s grace. We can be thankful that Wesley corrected his mistakes and abandoned the keeping of his “failure chart.” We must also find a devotional style that accentuates the healing, restoring grace of God. Wesley’s devotional life has a realism about it. He did not have it all neatly worked out so that his devotional life hummed along for sixty years like a finely tuned automobile. He had to make adjustments along the way. At times he had to abandon some practices. He reminds us that we have to do the same thing in order to have a meaningful walk with the Lord. Second, Wesley’s devotional life has a discipline about it. The fact that he made some mistakes did not prevent him from continuing. He knew he had discovered the essential element in the Christian life, and he was determined to see it through. Wesley’s resulting witness is remarkable. His daily diary entries indicate that for more than sixty years he faithfully practiced spiritual disciplines. To be sure, he varied the format and content from time to time. He was willing to experiment now and then. But his basic intention to relate to God personally did not waver. Again, it is necessary to balance this long pattern of faithfulness with a note of realism. Wesley knew dry times just like we do. In fact, he had a symbol in his diary to record the fervency of his prayers. Many days show that his prayers were “cold” or “indifferent.” But he kept at it knowing there would again be times of warmth and rejoicing. I’ve heard more than one person say, “Well, I’m not getting much out of my devotions right now, so I’m going to eliminate them for a while until the warmth returns.” While I can certainly empathize with these people, I have come to see that this approach can be spiritually devastating. It is in the dry times that we need to remain disciplined and faithful. In fact, true prayer grows out of a sense of the absence of God and our need for God. If we give up in the times of dryness and weakness, we will miss the joy of meeting the God who comes to us in our need. And we will fail to gain insight into the cause of the dryness. This will cause us to make the same mistakes again and again. Wesley addresses this issue and reminds us that we cannot base our devotional life on our emotions. We will center it in our will. It must flow out of our sense of need. We know what is right and we do it. We trust God to supply the appropriate emotions. Even in the absence of emotion we trust God to be at work in our lives. Discipline becomes the method by which our devotional life keeps going through fair weather and foul. Third, Wesley’s devotional life has a breadth about it. Beyond a doubt, he based his devotional life on the scriptures. He once remarked. “My ground is in the Bible. Yea, I am a Bible-bigot. I follow it in all things, both great and small.” He continually referred to himself as homo unis libri – a man of one book. But by these words Wesley only revealed the touchstone and standard of his faith. He did not limit himself to the Bible. His scriptural foundation gave him a place to stand in his quest for spiritual life, but he was free to search for meaningful inspiration through a wide range of devotional material. Wesley knew the classics. He drew on Anglican, Puritan, Moravian, and Roman Catholic sources. Consequently, his devotional life had a depth and variety which no single source could have provided.
Using the Bible as his focus, Wesley was able to achieve a useful synthesis of spiritual input from these sources. Here is another important word for us. Too many in our time have limited themselves to a particular perspective in devotional content. More than that, some have settled for a devotional life that is based in what I call “pop-spirituality.” By that I mean it is trendy and grounded in the latest books from popular authors. There is a greater need to discover the wealth of devotional material that spans the centuries of Christian history. We stand on the shoulders of spiritual giants. Wesley challenges us to break out of a devotional narrowness and listen to the saints of the ages, all the while testing all things by the Bible. Fourth, Wesley’s devotional life has a community nature about it. He never allowed his spirituality to deteriorate into private religion. Whenever he could, Wesley shared insights with others. His diary is filled with references to his reading devotional works to others and discussing the implications. Wesley’s letter are illustrative documents showing how he guided the spiritual progress of others. In these ways he was not only ministering to the needs of others but also receiving help and inspiration from them as well. Wesley’s concern for corporate spirituality is most clearly seen in his formation of societies where people could find group support. These groups became the hub for Methodism’s life and growth. The late Bishop Gerald Ensley was correct when he observed that Wesley gathered believers through his preaching and nurtured them through the societies. It was through the societies that Wesley demonstrated the social dimension of spiritual formation. It was inconceivable to him that true devotion could ever remain individualized or internal. Authentic spirituality always thrust one into a community and life of “social holiness.” Wesley’s prayers constantly reminded him that the world was his parish. His actions through the societies were the logical out-workings of genuine devotion and testimonies to the corporate nature of the devotional life. Fifth, Wesley’s devotional life has a church dimension about it. It is important for us to remember that Wesley never allowed his personal spirituality or the societies to become “substitute churches.” He found his place in the regular worship of the Church of England, and he intended his followers to do the same. Wesley faithfully observed morning and evening prayers. He received the Lord’s Supper an average of once every four to five days, usually at an Anglican altar. And he kept the festival and fast days of the Anglican Church. Wesley did not do these things because he believed the Anglican Church was a “pure church” or that its principles and practices were beyond question. He did not remain an Anglican because everyone believed like he did. No. Wesley did it all for one reason – he knew that to be a Christian is to be a functioning member of the body of Christ. No one can be a Christian in isolation. Wesley’s devotional life reminds us that there is no such thing as authentic spirituality apart from the church. God has called us to be in fellowship with the rest of the people of God. Our devotional life should motivate us toward that kind of body-life, not away from it. In our day there is a renewed interest in spiritual formation and the devotional life. We are coming to see that we cannot meet the challenges of our age unless we are strengthened with inner resources. In the church we are coming to see that no amount of activity can substitute for a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The example of John Wesley as a man of devotion is relevant for us as we look for insight and motivation in the spiritual life. The needs are as great now as then. God is as near now as then! (Author Unknown, but blessed)
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Now, condemned is a pretty soft word in the English language. I actually like the King James Version, where it says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Condemned or damned, it means eternally separated from God with no opportunity of rescue or retrieval. Forever lost. Think about it! Do you recall the story Jesus told of the rich man who died? It ought to send a shudder through the heart of even the most brazen sinner. Jesus tells us that the rich man died and was in torment, in flame. Jesus goes on to say that the rich man lifted up his eyes, and begged for mercy. But no mercy came, even as it says in Revelation 14:11, “The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.” I know it is not a popular subject in the Church to talk about hell, but Jesus talked more about hell than He did about heaven. It is a very real place. If we would consider just for a moment the end of the man or woman who rejects Christ, it ought to cause our hearts to be stirred with compassion. When was the last time you and I shed a tear over lost humanity? When was the last time you and I were truly broken with the things that break the heart of God? {Till next time God Bless] August, 2008
The Right Motivation "What is the right motivation?" All we need to do is look at what motivated God to give. It is found in John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. God so loved that He gave. And, yes, God certainly did reap a harvest when He gave His Son. He reaped a harvest of sons and daughters. You should give out of love and devotion for God. Give because you do not want people to go into an eternity without God, because you love humanity, because you have mercy and compassion for broken, dying people. That is the right motivation for giving. When you give with that motivation, your reward will be great. God will see that it comes back to you multiplied. That is a far cry from what many emphasize when it comes to giving today. It appears to me that a lot of people, when they teach on giving, are just pushing people's greed buttons. It seems that the main motivation that some leaders are teaching for people to give is, "Hey, give because God will bless you." And there is no doubt that God blesses those who give. The Scriptural promises are clear. But what about the weightier matters? Remember how Jesus rebuked the Jewish leadership in Matthew 23:23 because they, "Neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith"? God looks at the heart. Our hearts ought to be like that of our heavenly Father, who is merciful, kind, loving, and generous, even to the most thankless and evil among us. That is the right motivation. Visit www.answersBC.org for more resources to encourage you in your relationship with God. {Till next time God Bless]
 Mission Statement: To help spiritual seekers through devotions to become transformed believers modeling Christ in culture and encouraging others to do the same. (
Vision Statement: To see people saved and in a growing healthy relationship with Christ; to see them serving Christ in a meaningful way and ultimately winning others to Christ. To be spiritually unemployed is just as bad as being economically unemployed. Spiritual unemployment leads to a lack of spiritual productivity and maturity. "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:17) CCC has many areas of ministry for your participation and involvement. Ask God to guide you in finding an area of ministry through which you can start serving him. . . . the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules, like the one who serves. (Luke 22:26) .................................................................................................................................. Also visit our bookstore and cultural teaching series and thanks for your interest ..................................................................................................................................
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