Are you willing and ready to be the change the world needs?

The real question is. . .are you willing to change regardless of what other people think or the consequences that will happen around you?

Exodus 2:14 in the New Living Translation says:

“The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?”  Then Moses was afraid, thinking, “Everyone knows what I did.”

Moses wanted to change the plight of the children of Israel.  In a fit of moral outrage he slayed an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite.

As he began to fully realize the implications of his actions. . .he knew things were going to change.

There are times when we want change to come but we must also be willing to consider the consequences of our actions.

Despite spending years on the backside of the desert . . . running from and making excuses to God . . . Moses was used to led the children of Israel through the wilderness for forty years until he delivered them to the door of the Promised Land.

Exodus 3:17-20 in the New Living Translation says:

Are you breathing a sigh of relief that 2015 is almost in the record books?

Has it been just an okay year. . .and you’re so ready for something new?

Are you ready to leave the pains and hurts of 2015 in the rear view mirror?

Are you ready to move to a spiritual place you’ve never been before?

Do you remember ever driving to a place you’ve never been before . . .found yourself not knowing if you were heading in the right direction but you still continued on?

I think this is particularly true. . .of most men. . .there is a hesitancy to stop and ask for directions. . .until it’s clearly obvious that you’re headed in the wrong direction.

There is an amazing parallel in life where some people know they’re headed in the wrong direction but they keep hesitating to make the decision to turn things around.

Jeremiah 8:4 in the Contemporary English Version says:

I remember years ago, traveling to the mountains of North Carolina with my fine wife Bev and my parents for a long weekend get-away.

We started looking for a hotel room and were unable to fine one for over 60 miles along Interstate 40. 

The clerk at the first hotel we stopped at told us that we would have a problem finding accommodations.  He informed us that the annual Furniture Market was taking place in High Point, North Carolina and there wasn’t a sleeping room to be found within 60 miles in any direction of that huge event.  We found out he was right.

This particular journey was before the days of cell phones and computers.  If you wanted to call ahead you used a pay phone.  We stopped at exit after exit only to hear the same message. . .there was no room in the inn  . . . Holiday or otherwise.

We had the money but there was no room to be found.  At least, my fine wife Bev wasn’t about to give birth.

10.  What's in our hearts will determine what comes out of our mouths.

  9.  We are not what or who others say we are...we are who and what God says we are.

  8.  What you think matters. . .what you do matters even more.

  7.  Praying for everyone to achieve success and not tolerate failure...to feed on the Word and not take somebody else's word for it.

  6.  Your first step to success is when you get disgusted and totally fed up with not having achieved it...yet.

Here are the Top 5 Rich Thoughts Nuggets of the week.

  5.  We will never possess what we criticize and condemn.

  4.  Whether we become grasshoppers or giant killers is based on how we see ourselves. Numbers 13:32-33; 14:8-9

  3.  Be the change you want to see. “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.” (Max DePree, businessman)

  2.  Forgiveness gives us back control of our lives.

And the # 1 Rich Thoughts Nugget you selected is:

  1.  The enemy wants you to believe that where you are in life right now is where you’re going to stay. That’s a lie of the devil.

Who do you expect to receive gifts from this Christmas?

Your spouse, if you’re married?  Your parents, if they’re still with you?  Your children?  Other close relatives? Your co-workers?  Your neighbors?  Your friends at church?  Your best friend?

What about those gifts?  How often do you have to return a gift?

Have you ever received a gift that was the wrong size?  The wrong color? 

Have you ever received a gift that you had no idea where to put it?

Have you ever received a gift that truthfully you couldn’t figure out what it was or even why someone would give it to you?

Have you ever received a gift that you already had?  Maybe two or three of them?

Have you ever received a gift that you didn’t want. . .but you couldn’t return for fear of hurting someone’s feelings so it was relegated to the back of your closet, the attic or the garage?

How often do you receive the perfect gift?  Can you remember one thing you received last Christmas?

Sadly but justifiably, the news is filled with talk about the threat of ISIS. . .we should be concerned and praying for our leaders to take a firm, victorious stand against these Islamic extremists.

I was recently reminded by the Lord that you and I have immediate and continual access to weapons that are stronger and more effective than any WMD (weapon of mass destruction) or the vest of a suicide bomber.

The Lord also reminded me that we already have a coalition in place to defeat ISIS and every other enemy the devil sends our way.  The will power of our coalition does come and go. . .it’s constant. . .never-changing. . .always available  and powerful.

Our coalition consists of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost and our battle plan for victory is found in the Word of God.

This Word not only prepares us for. . .but protects us in battle. . through every attack of any enemy. . .natural or spiritual.

10.  Changing where we are in life requires us to change what we’re thinking.

  9.  Show me a winner and I'll show you a loser who never accepted failure as final.

  8.  Look beyond where you are. . .to what might have been. . .and still can be.

  7.  God allows each of us the opportunity to rewrite our destiny as long as we follow the instructions in His Word.

  6.  Seizing greater opportunities to learn will increase our ability to earn.

Here are the Top 5 Rich Thoughts Nuggets of the week.

  5.  Your future starts today. Visualize it...embrace it...plan for it...confess it...and manifest it.

  4.  When we change how we think and what we speak, then we will never have to worry about saying things we shouldn’t.

  3.  One way to get high blood pressure is to spend your time worrying about something you can do nothing about. Pray instead.

  2.  Make the tough decisions now. . .so you don’t have to live a life without choices later.

And the # 1 Rich Thoughts Nugget you selected is:

  1.  When we refuse to allow fear or doubt to enter our thought life. . .we’re ready for a miracle. Meditate on 2 Timothy 1:7.

The story of David and Goliath is probably a favorite story of most all children. . .I know it was mine.

The giants that you and I face define our identity and establish the reality in which we’ve chosen to live.  The giants we face and defeat outline the places and spaces where we’ve chosen to live.

The giants in our lives. . .are determined to keep us out of our promised land where the promises of God are manifested.

By the way, you’re in promised land right now. . .the question is whether or not we embrace His promises to make it a land flowing with milk and honey. . .abundance and success.

Our ability to face and defeat our giants. . .will determine the extent of the success we achieve.

Jesus is our Great Physician and His power, knowledge and abilities are without limitation because He is Jehovah-Rapha, our God who heals.

Exodus 15:26 says:

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

According to Strong’s Concordance. . .the very name of God. . .Jehovah-Rapha reveals He is “. . .the Lord that healeth thee.” (H7495)

The fact that Jesus would pay the price for our healing was prophesied 700 years before His birth by the prophet Isaiah.  In fact, Isaiah 53:4-5 says:

“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (pains); yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

Isaiah prophesied long before Jesus ever walked the earth as a man. . .long before He was crucified and resurrected.  That’s why some people who don’t believe in divine healing cite this verse as historical fact with no spiritual application.  However, we cannot ignore the words of Matthew 8:16-17 which says:

10.  There is a defining moment when we decide to take control of our own lives and embrace the success God wants for us. This is that moment.

  9.  Fear cannot thrive...where faith is alive.

  8.  God's plan for you today is to make the impossible...possible.

  7.  Prosperity is a scriptural mentality before it’s ever a financial reality.

  6.  You have the God-given ability to perform at a level you may never have thought possible. Romans 12:6 TLB

Here are the Top 5 Rich Thoughts Nuggets of the week.

  5.  Whatever your need...a seed is always your ticket out of trouble.

  4.  Invest your time in acquiring knowledge that will encourage, empower, enable and enrich you in the things of God.

  3.  God can’t do a new thing in our lives as long as we are living in the past.

  2.  I'm praying for you to think like you've never thought…do what you've never done...be what you've never been...all for His glory.

And the # 1 Rich Thoughts Nugget you selected is:

  1.  Just led of the Lord to give you a word He wants to you become familiar with. SURPLUS. Confess this: I'm living in SURPLUS.