10.  It’s never too late to turn the dreams of your past into the reality of your future…if you believe and act on them.

  9.  If life is a football game.  God is the team owner.  Jesus is the General Manager.  The Holy Spirit is the coach and the Bible is your playbook.

  8.  If you’re afraid of what’s going to happen…you’re not listening to the One who makes things happen.

  7.  Where you start in life is not of your choosing…but where you finish is.

  6.  What you believe on the inside…will determine what you achieve on the outside.

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

  5.  A problem is an opportunity to rise above average.

  4.  Today…ask God for His direction on unclaimed wealth, unknown ideas and unused potential.          

  3.  Never be moved by what others think or say…only by what God directs you to accomplish.

  2.  It’s not what you know but what you do with what you know that makes you somebody successful.

 # 1 Rich Thoughts Nugget you selected is:

  1.  A foolish man wastes money…an ordinary man spends money…an intelligent man invests money and a wise Godly man sows money.

Have you ever met someone who was educated beyond their intelligence?  People who think they know more than others. . .or they always have the right answer, no matter what.

I’ve met my share of Christians who feel they’re more spiritually mature. . .advanced beyond ordinary Christians. 

Recently, I had a brief conversation with someone who said. . .”I heard you talking about focus but you need to know that word is not in the King James Bible.

I must admit my first mental response was less than spiritual. . .as I’m not amused by pride and conceit.

I regained my spiritual focus. . .and shared that the word focus is in the Amplified (1);  God’s Word Translation (28); Message Bible (28) and the New Living Translation (4).

Your loving Heavenly Father is ready do a new thing in your life in 2015.

Isaiah 43:19 in the Message Bible says:

“Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”

That ought to make you shout HALLELUJAH!!

In order for God to do a new thing in our lives. . .we must be willing to let go of the past.

Good morning and welcome to Rich Thoughts for Breakfast on this glorious Christmas Day….December 25, 2014.

I’m joined this morning by my fine wife Bev….of 42 years….9 months….21 days.

Do you know if you’re receiving that gift this Christmas that you hinted about. . .the one gift you’re believing for?  Perhaps, it’s that one gift you bought yourself.

I was going to wait until the end of the call to share what I know is my favorite Christmas gift this year.

No, it’s not an Audi A8 thought that would be a HUGE BLESSING.  It’s not a trip to Bora Bora though I would LOVE that.  It’s not a cruise for our 43^rd wedding anniversary on March 4^th thought that we be FABULOUS.

It’s not even more time with our daughters who live in Los Angeles or our sons our grand sugars who live in Fort Worth. . .though that would be priceless.

Something to think about this Christmas...from someone named Anonymous.

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

10.  The door of opportunity will not open automatically…you must turn the handle…and walk through the door yourself.

  9.  Who gains control when we “lose it”?  The enemy.  That’s why he wants us angry and filled with thoughts of revenge.

  8.  Never share your problems with someone who is unable to solve their own problems.

  7.  What you tolerate…you accept. What you ignore…grows.  What you deal with…changes.

  6.  Anyone who creates energy, excitement and enthusiasm towards your dreams needs to be in your inner circle.

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

  5.  Purpose in your heart to do something today about your future.  If you don’t…nobody else will.

  4.  People who react in the flesh. . .will never please God. Romans 8:8           

  3.  You will have a mathematical day.  The people you meet will either add, subtract, divide or multiply your life. Choose wisely.

  2.  Wisdom is knowing what God would have you do in every situation you will face today. Understanding is knowing how to do it.

 # 1 Rich Thoughts Nugget you selected is:

  1.  Your creativity flourishes in the presence of creative people.

Sometimes we think we had it tough growing up...but what we faced pales in comparison to what Jesus, the most anointed of all, dealt with when we look at His short life on earth.

Sometimes we may wonder why we have to deal with everything we do...since God has given us a mission, a vision and a calling.  So naturally, we might ask "Why is this happening to me?"

If stuff happened to Jesus...it will happen to you too.  It's how you deal with the stuff when it happens to you...that makes all the difference in the world in how things will work out.

Have you ever thought about what Jesus had to deal with or experienced?  His life certainly wasn't a picnic.

10.  Never allow a fear of failure to keep you from taking a risk for success.

  9.  There's more to living than just inhaling and exhaling oxygen and going through the motions of a daily life. God has a purpose for us.

  8.  God does not want us to just settle for whatever and whoever comes our way.

  7.  Failure is neither final nor fatal. . .but not trying because of a fear of failing is.

  6.  If we allow past mistakes to control our thinking we will miss the purpose for which we were born.

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

  5.  Pride doesn't allow God to receive any of the credit for the things that He has done and is doing in our lives.

  4.  The most important part about CHRISTmas is the first six letters.         

  3.  What he/she doesn't know won’t hurt them. NO money secrets in marriage.  Financial infidelity will ALWAYS be exposed.

  2.  Your energy. . .enthusiasm. . .excitement will draw others to help you fulfill your goals and dreams.

 # 1 Rich Thoughts Nugget you selected is:

  1.  Never create personal limitations based on the opinions of someone else.

Have you ever hesitated…procrastinated about an assignment because it seemed such a mammoth undertaking?

1 Chronicles 28:20 in The Living Bible says:

“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."

Here are seven practical things you can do when you feel frightened by the size of any task.

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 use 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.