Monday, August 31, 2009

Monday Morning Ponderings: Why me?

Do you ever ask: Why me?

Why am I healthy: physically, and mentally?

Why am I well fed physically, emotionally, and spiritually?

Why am I allowed great opportunity?

Why am I Blessed with money in the bank?

Why am I Blessed with shelter, electricity, plumbing, bed and furniture?

Why am I Blessed with terrific friends and relatives?

Why am I Blessed with a Relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; who supplies All my needs?

Why am I Blessed with a Relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; who directs me according to His Will for my Life in spite of myself?

Why am I Blessed with a Relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; who directs my thoughts and all those who impact my life to achieve His Will for my Life?

Why am I Blessed with a Relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; who disciplines me because he loves me?

Consider these and additional Blessings next time you ask: "Why me?"

Make it a Great Day in Christ!
Rick
Rick E. Meyer Speaking

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Tithe - 10% of Gross Income

Tithing is a question of Faith!

Do you trust your soul to the Lord when you die?

Do you trust your finances to the Lord through tithing?

Which requires greater faith?

Hebrews 11 - Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Tithing is about Your Faith in Christ's ability to provide Your needs.

Do I really need to tithe, giving 10% of God's money back to His ministry?

Malachi 3:6-12 "Will a man rob God......"

"Those who cheat, cheat themselves"
~ Bill "Congo" Congleton (Hall of Fame Coach)

Those who tithe, acknowledge they cannot afford to discontinue tithing.

Is the income I receive, mine, or a gift from our Lord?

Do you Trust the Triune God to provide your needs? Do you Believe Your income is provided from the the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

Christ invites you to Tithe in Faith!

Make it a Great Day in Christ!

Rick E. Meyer
Rick Meyer Speaking

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Truth is Worth It!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Do you recall the Matthew Wilder song in the 1980s including the lyrics, "Last night I had the strangest dream"?

Last night, I had a strange dream!

I was approaching a cabin in the clearing of a forest, several other people stood around, including my dad. Only a few dreams have included my dad since he passed away in December 2006. This dream's reality is amazing.

Dad knew I had been asked to resign due to my unwillingness to lie to clients; others disguise lying with colorful terms such as "B.S.ing", exaggerating, or "stretching the truth"; along with my belief that Biblical wisdom is the foundation of permanent success.

Colleagues within the retail agriculture industry adamantly stated on numerous occasions over the past ten (10) months; that belief in an absolute right and wrong would result in failure in sales. A World Champion speaker personally told me exaggerating and 'stretching the truth' are necessary to win the coveted championship. Are they correct?

Who possess greater wisdom, the colleagues and world champions; or the Holy Spirit?

In the dream; Dad, who passed away at the age of sixty-nine (69), appeared as he did thirty (30) plus years ago. A beaming smile accentuated his radiant face. Dad looked me in the eye stating, "Truth is worth it!" I said, "But dad, I have no continuing income at the moment." He once again penetrated my eyes saying, "Mandating honesty and integrity, biblical wisdom, is worth whatever ridicule you endure on earth." I replied, "Dad, some say you were too honest while on earth, that it hurt you financially." Dad, looking skyward - radiantly beaming, softly quipped "I would do it all the same, it is worth it!"

The dream slowly faded; I awakened reassured mandating honesty and integrity are worth any resulting suffering on earth.

The world will continue to tempt each of us to think and live outside the box of biblical truth. Truth is God, He cannot lie. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth (John 14:16); secular truth is an oxymoron. During the forty (40) days in the wilderness (Luke 4:5-8), Satan offered Jesus the world contingent on Jesus worshiping Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44). Jesus rebuked Satan, "It is written, worship the Lord your God and serve him only." When promised success through dishonesty, by any of its colorful terms, we have a choice on whom to worship, whom to serve.

Will you serve the father of lies, or the Spirit of truth?

May God provide you with the wisdom and strength to choose him, choose truth - Always.

Truth is worth it!

Make it a Great Day in Christ!

Rick E. Meyer
Rick E. Meyer Speaking

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

LukeWarm

Revelations 3:16 "So because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth." God certainly was not lukewarm about you and I in John 3:16!

As I finished lunch today; I conducted a freshly revealed experiment to confirm the results of which I was confident. I collected one (1) cup of cold water from the kitchen faucet, chilling my fingers; pouring this into an empty ice cream bucket. I then captured two (2) cups of steaming hot water from the same faucet, pouring these into the same bucket as the one cup of cold water.

What was the result? As anticipated, the water was lukewarm. Are you any better at drinking lukewarm water than me? I nearly vomited during this attempt.

Do any of us desire to be lukewarm? Most of us agree we prefer avoiding the state of lukewarm. How do we become lukewarm? There are an array of methods in becoming lukewarm; let us quickly examine a method we probably have not previously considered.

If we spend two-thirds (2/3) of each week steaming hot for our passions and beliefs, and one-third (1/3) of our time living outside of our passions; we, like the water, remain lukewarm. Yes, even in sleep our mind pursues our passions.

How do you spend your business day? Are you pursuing and expressing your red hot passions while engaged in your profession? Do you suppress your strongly held beliefs while at work, rendering them cold? Remove the cold areas from your schedule as they, combined with your red hot passions transform you into lukewarm.

Define your red hot passions, determine an avenue allowing you to pursue, and express, your passions.

Submit these plans to the Lord, Christ will guide you as He desires for you to be hot, not lukewarm.

Warning: Be ready for action and opportunities; listen to your hunches as this is the voice of the Holy Spirit if we are in scripture, prayer, and devotions. Permanently leave the world of lukewarm. Talk with Christ, Walk with Christ, be Hot with Christ, Achieve with Christ.

Make it a Great Day in Christ!

Rick E. Meyer


Rick E. Meyer Speaking

Friday, August 7, 2009

What You Say is What You Get!

I wrote the following article as the Stewardship Chairman of my church. It was published in the church's August 2009 Newsletter.

While strolling down 'C' hall at Manhattan High school in Kansas my senior year, a classmate inquired, "Are you going to win state cross country (team title) again?" I humbly replied, " I hope so, we are going to try,." Suddenly I was backhanded across my face. My teammate, Dan (later a member of President G.W. Bush's Cabinet), rebuked me, "We are not trying or just hoping, we are winning!" Dan understood the power of the spoken word, he understood, "What You Say is What You Get".

The book of this title by Don Gossett published in 1976 is powerful! I have given away numerous copies; one friend applied the biblical principles with his faith to overcome advanced Melanoma as a 32 year old husband and father of two.

Stewardship includes the control and proper allocation of our thoughts and words.

As Martin Luther frequently states in devotions, as well as other writings; scripture is the "pure word of God". In Genesis, we learn God created the world with the spoken word. John 1:1-2 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Our faith in scripture and salvation mandates scriptural purity. If the Word is tainted, Christ is tainted; consequently His death would mean nothing for our eternity; moreover a bible of error is no Holy Bible. However, a pure Word is a pure Christ; only the death of a pure Christ cancels the sins of mankind who acknowledge our Lord as their Savior. We must treasure God's Word to value our own conversations.

Don Gosset's, the author, wife was giving birth to their daughter, Jeanne Michelle; born with irreversible club feet. Additionally Jeanne chances of survival were slim. Don earnestly prayed for her survival and the restoration of her feet. Weeks later when the casts were removed Jeanne's feet were miraculously perfectly straight, and her health restored!

The Gosset family's challenges were far from over. Don's wife became ill with Rheumatic fever immediately following delivery. Don was unable to work as an evangelist during these weeks as he had to care for his family. They believed the Angel of Death was at their door. One evening while reading scripture to his wife, a verse in Psalm 27 jumped out at Don. "The Lord is the strength of my life!" His wife began repeating the Holy Word of God; after months in bed, near death, Mrs. Gossett arose, commencing to walk. The pain, discoloration, and swelling diminished before their eyes. What changed? Their belief in the "pure word of God" changed.

Mark 11:23-25 speaks of the power of the spoken word. Malachi 3:17 "You have said harsh things against me," says the Lord. God values on our spoken words. Amos 3:3"Can two walk together unless they agree?". Walking with Christ requires congruency, agreement, with His word.

Yes, we did win the team cross country championship. The entire race I affirmed scripture; "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me" Phillipians 4:13, enabling me to pass people after 'blacking out' for 300 meters. Dan sacrificed the individual championship to assure the team title.

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him". Do you profess faith in Christ's Word in every conversation? Do you profess Christ's power in your life? Stewardship begins with our thoughts and words.

Speak with Christ, Walk with Christ, Achieve With Christ.

Scripture is clear, What You Say is What You Get!


Make it a Great Day in Christ!
Rick E. Meyer

http://www.rickemeyer.com/
http://www.rickmeyer.lifesuccessconsultants.com/