Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady once said:

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; and small minds discuss people.”

If you’ve got a great mind. . .focused on ideas. . .raised your hand.

Yes, I know we can’t see you but. . .God can.

And He’s the One that counts.

People who think about and act on ideas. . .are the ones who become winners in life.

Henry Ward Beecher once said:

“The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret of outward success.”

Some years ago, I read where ideas go through three stages.

First, it can’t be done.

If you’ve been trying to stay afloat in the storms of life. . .if you need encouragement for the battles you’re in. . .then. . .tonight’s teaching is just for you.

Mark 4:35-40 in the Amplified Bible says:

“35 On that same day [when] evening had come, He said to them, Let us go over to the other side [of the lake].

36 And leaving the throng, they took Him with them, [just] as He was, in the boat [in which He was sitting]. And other boats were with Him.

37 And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled.

38 But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the [leather] cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing?

39 And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness).

40 He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)?”

No matter how spiritual you are or aren’t. . .there will come a time in your life when the storm clouds will fill your horizon, darkening the view of your destination, beating your ship of state. . .making you wonder whether you will survive the winds and the rain.

If you draw a breath. . .you’re considered dangerous to the devil. . .you will face a crisis in life from time to time.

The question is not whether or not you will face a crisis but rather how you will respond to it.

But in every crisis. . .you can find opportunity.

I’ve been teaching people how to get out of debt for 30 years.  I was doing so before it was cool, fashionable or even profitable.

Over the years, I’ve resisted the temptation to align myself with financial planners, insurance agents, real estate brokers and others in the financial professions to make money off referrals from those who follow this ministry.  I have at times recommended them as good … but not for a profit.

The Bible is an instruction manual for success. . .revealing how to walk in God’s blessing flow and experience the good life He envisions for us.  It’s all in the Word.

God’s instructions are not situational. . .they don’t vary based on current economic conditions, which party is in power, your personal circumstances or  unrest anywhere in the world.  The principles in his Word are clear and absolute.  This is important to know … now more then ever.

If you want to experience God’s power. . .you must know His Word.

Matthew 22:29 is so powerful that I’m going to read it to you in four translations because if you get nothing else but this scripture then this teaching would have accomplished its purpose.

I’ve got a word for you. . .whatever you’ve been believing God for. . .it’s going to happen.

It’s not a question of if. . .but when.

I remember when my fine wife, Bev, shared a scripture with me that ignited in my spirit and strengthened my belief that . . . whatever you’re believing for. . .trusting God for is going to happen. . .is going to manifest.

1 Chronicles 28:20 in The Living Bible says:

“Then he continued, “Be strong and courageous and get to work. Don’t be frightened by the size of the task, for the Lord my God is with you; he will not forsake you. He will see to it that everything is finished correctly."

In this powerful verse. . .we find seven reasons what you’re believing for. . .is going to happen.

1.     Be strong

In 1 Chronicles 28:20 the Hebrew word for strong is chazaq (ha zak) (H2388) and it means:

As you looked at the title of this teaching...you might assume that I'm going to teach on the second coming of Jesus.  Not true.

Many of you know already that I don’t spend a lot of time reading, wondering or worrying about the end-times.

I’m more concerned about growing up in Jesus than going up to meet Him.  If I live the kind of life I should. . .then I will never have to worry about going up.

I think everybody would agree. . .Jesus is coming soon. . .He’s coming for His bride without spot or wrinkle. . .if you’ve been born again and are living a righteous life. . .you’re going up to meet Him. . .whenever He comes.

So I’m ready. . .to go up. . .when He shows up.  How about you?

However, God expects us to be prepared to facilitate His return and the advancement of His Kingdom here on earth while we’re here.

Here are two quotes to stir our faith and expand our vision.”

President Abraham Lincoln once said:

Every serious student of the Word knows the enemy wants to control and direct our thought lives.

However, there is someone else undergirding you…giving you what you need to keep from being led astray.

Jeremiah 29:11 says:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Now I realize you’ve heard this scripture probably more times than you can remember, but I want you to pay particular attention to what I’m about to say. . .it can be a life-changing revelation.

If you’ve heard it. . .you probably need to be reminded of it.  But if you don’t know it then GET READY. . .your life is about to change.

The verse says God knows the “THOUGHTS” that HE “THINKS” toward you.  I find it interesting to note that He didn’t say the thoughts He thinks about you.  No, He said, “The thoughts that He thinks toward you.”

Simply said, the Master of Universe is sending thoughts your way.

Did you get what I just said?  God is sending thoughts your way.

As I was preparing this teaching. . .the following sentence stirred in me.

“God wants us to dream bigger…speak boldly…think creatively…associate higher…do more…never give up and start today.”

I thought. . .that would be a great Facebook post and Tweet for Twitter. . .but the Lord clearly impressed upon me an urgency in writing it for RICH THOUGHTS TV.

Here’s what I know. . .this teaching is especially for some of God’s choice chosen vessels. . .like you.

# 1   Dream Bigger.

In my mind. . .I was seeking to find some fresh revelation on dreams but then I realized the vast majority of us. . .don’t perceive or receive the truth God wants us to get. . .with just listening to something once or twice.

You’ll never succeed in achieving your wildest dreams. . .unless you have some wild dreams to begin with.

My Mom recently celebrated her 93rd birthday and I can tell you she’s still dreaming about where she wants to go and what she wants to accomplish for the Kingdom of God.

John Barrymore, the actor, once said:

“A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.”

Have you ever heard or said the expression “Just get a grip?”

Have you ever said, “Well, I can’t seem to get a grip on this situation?”

Have you ever told someone, “You need to get a grip?”

This morning as I was meditating. . .it stirred in me that believers need to get a grip of what’s been holding them back from achieving what God created and endowed them to do. . .and from fulfilling His vision for their lives in 2021.

If you were to look up get a grip in the dictionary. . .you would find two definitions.

“to make an effort to control your emotions and behave more calmly” and “to understand how to deal with something.”

There is one person. . .only one. . .who can help you get a grip.

Many people have friends and/or family will listen to your dilemma. . .but you can’t be assured they won’t judge or talk about what they’ve heard.

 Matthew 11:28-30 in the Message Bible says:

There are 64 times in just the King James Version of the Bible that the word blessing is used.  The word bless appears 463 times.  It is obviously a word God likes to use.

A blessing is something we all enjoy receiving from God. It’s also what we are called to do and be to others. 

Yet when you look around today there is a something that touches lives everywhere even in Christian circles.   

I call it “blessing abuse” or the sin of ingratitude.

When we forget who brought us to the dance. . .when we forget who has delivered us out of trouble. . .time after time. . .who has answered our prayers and blessed us daily. . .who healed our bodies. . .lifted us up when we thought we were sinking.

We have abused the blessings that God has given us by a lack of appreciation, recognition or a forgetful memory.

Would you like to have spiritual boldness?

Developing spiritual boldness is not an outside job. . .but rather. . .an inside work.

Ephesians 3:12 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).”

2 Corinthians 3:12 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly.”

Confidence in God and His Word gives us a boldness to be about His business.