Day 18, Paragraph 18 of Weekday Blog #1

*Starting our morning and day off great with the 10-minute Weekday Blog*

Our first DAILY blog for each Weekday in JUNE!

Thank you for joining us for this
ground-breaking JOURNEY...
through the 1st CHAPTER of Keith's book,
“Keep the FAITH…Keep Your VISION”!

If you will read this book in its entirety, then you will be equipped
to begin walking with the confidence and authority that Jesus Christ came and died to provide for us, in order that we may work *with* Him, be *fulfilled* in our work, lead a *successful life*, and...
      

Day EIGHTEEN,
Paragraph EIGHTEEN:

    
Saul was making his way, going about to arrest and imprison the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ; or at least that's what Saul thought. The Lord tells Saul that, in actuality, he was persecuting the Lord God, Himself!

Question to ponder:

As a believer who has made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, and His passion your own, have you really stopped to think about the truth of just "who", and "Whose", you really are?   _________________________________________

Keith's "Comments from the Author":

"If you remember Monday's message, we spoke about the unique bond between family members. As the bully at the bus stop was pushing the younger kids around, it didn't really effect me until he shoved my brother. Just as the bully at the bus stop was unaware that I was Bill's big brother, and that I was ready to come to his aid at any given moment, Saul was not aware that the early Christians had a 'big Brother' as well. That is, until his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. You see, there is a dynamic at work that we have to understand. When we commit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, and pursue Him with our whole heart, we become grafted in to His bloodline. A divine connection to God is what now makes us 'family' with Him. Perhaps one of my favorite passages of Scripture that reinforces, yet again, how important 'family' is to God is the one for today. Jesus, while speaking to a crowd of people, makes this point perfectly. Now, as you read this, remember that God is the Consummate Family Man. Everything He does, and everything He ever has done, is all about taking care of His Children and Family."

"Then came to (Jesus) His mother and His brethren, and could not come at Him for the press (crowds pressing in against Him). And it was told Him by certain which said, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to see Thee. And He answered and said unto them, My mother and My brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."  (Luke 8:19-21)


*We look forward to joining together again tomorrow! Please make sure to invite your friends who are lost, or who just need encouragement, too! God bless and keep you!*

________________________________

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We pray God bless you greatly as you have greatly blessed us and the entire Toward The Mark, Inc. Family!

Your friends & servants in Christ,

Take me back to the top of this post.

Take me to the post from yesterday, *DAY 17*.

Take me to the first post of week 3, *DAY 11*.

Take me to the first post of week 2, *DAY 6*.

Take me to the beginning, *DAY 1* of this Blog.

To Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small… 
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc.  Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products.  The complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. are made possible by the prayer and financial contributions of the TTM Support Family.  We'd like to welcome you onboard TODAY!

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~  "Keith Shealy & Wisdom Wednesday" on Facebook 

      

~  "TTM Singing Sergeant" on Twitter
~  "Sharing Messages God Whispers" on the website
~  "Between The Lines TTM Podcast" by Keith Shealy 

      

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Silence the INTIMIDATING Roar of FEAR

It's Wisdom-Packed Wednesday!  Tell us how this blesses you...  
Silence the INTIMIDATING ROAR of FEAR in your life!!

What is "Intimidation" really?

          Do you know that feeling you get in the pit of your gut when you:

    -- ask your boss for a raise;

    -- walk any distance in total darkness;

    -- enter a room of people that you are suddenly CONVINCED are all talking about you; or

     -- step out to share your faith with anyone?

          Intimidation is THAT feeling, and it indicates that what you are about to do is something significant!

          It is the push-back you feel when you begin pursuing something significant!

          Intimidation and fear are among the ranks of demonic spirits whose job it is to "manipulate" us.  They are "lying" spirits that come to keep us from pursuing God and the fulfillment He has for us.  

  

Why is it so important that Keith would say that "Overcoming" it is crucial?

          When asked, "Why did you write your book 'Overcoming Intimidation'?" Keith's answer was different than you might expect.  His response was, "Once I saw how the spirits of 'intimidation' and 'fear' were crippling members of the Body of Christ, I had to expose those spirits by name.  I learned the hard way that, if I was going to do anything substantial with my life concerning becoming one with God and fulfilling my calling IN God, I would HAVE to become proficient at detecting the spirits of 'intimidation' and 'fear' when they come around.  Once I learned how to overcome them, I wrote the book to equip believers of all ages with what I've learned, so they too can identify, and destroy, this most stealthy of wicked spirits."

          Satan and his minions want to steal, kill, and destroy "life" itself.  Consider how abortion and homosexuality are closing the womb of women and stopping the birth of countless children.  In much the same way, the spirits of intimidation and fear come in and attempt to abort (in the spirit) the birth and fulfillment of what God has put in each of us to finish.  Jesus Christ *finished* what He came a long way to do.  And it's very important to note that Jesus suffered and "died" to fulfill His purpose on this earth.  The words "kill" and "abort" have one thing in common:  they both mean to "terminate before completion."  So, you see, Jesus was not killed, nor was his mission aborted!  He *finished* exactly what our Heavenly Father sent Him here to do!
    

        If we are going to *finish* what our Heavenly Father sent us here to do, we are going to have to become proficient at pushing through Intimidation and Fear.

How does my "Overcoming Intimidation" bring victory in my life?

          Diligence in seeking God includes confronting, and overcoming, those wicked spirits of intimidation and fear when they come to hinder you from reaching both God and your full potential IN Him.  Simply put, they are like a huge wall that, on the other side, awaits great reward.  

          Some of the most heartbreaking stories ever told are from people whose lives have been shattered because they ran AWAY, rather than pushing through the intimidation!

          Always confront!  Never run!  Why?

          Keith puts things in proper perspective in his book by sharing how lions pursue and trap their prey...

         
          As amazing as other animals' tactics are, he especially found the lions' method considerably more intriguing since intimidation plays such a primary role in the way they hunt for food.
          As male lions grow old, not only do they slow down considerably, but their teeth also become brittle and painfully sensitive, making it very difficult for them to chase down and kill prey.  In order for the big male lions to be able to eat on a regular basis, they recruit the female and young male lions of the pride to accomplish the difficult task of chasing down and killing their meals FOR them.  Here's how they do it.  With both the female and young males in tow, the big ferocious-looking male lion sets off on his quest for something to eat. Once he has spotted a herd of animals feeding in the distance, they very stealthily sneak up on them.  This is where it really gets good.  The big male, once in position, lies down as low as possible while the females and young male lions approach the desired herd very quietly from the opposite side.  Once they have encircled the herd, the old male lion rises up and lets out a tremendously loud and intimidating roar.  Not knowing that the big male lion is relatively toothless, the herd begins running in the opposite direction of the old male.  Unbeknownst to the herd, the female and young male lions are in position to catch and kill the members of the herd as they come right toward them.  Hence, the intimidating sound of the old lion's roar literally drives the prey right into the jaws of death.         

          The moral of the story is- whenever you are confronted with an intimidating situation, walk straight TOWARD it.  Therein lies your freedom!  If the unsuspecting animals had only run into the intimidating roar of the old lion, more of them would have been around to graze another day. (Hear Keith's "Run TO the Roar" by podcast.)                    On the other side of each struggle lies a reward.  The reward is God and working with Him to fulfill the part that only you, as an individual, can fulfill in God's vision for all of creation!  He is our exceeding great reward! 

Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

Remember, go THROUGH intimidation and fear - not around, not over, not under them - and enjoy the exceeding Great Reward that is God Himself, and the fulfillment of LIFE that awaits you on the other side. 

We leave you with a 3-PART challenge for you to accept and share...

1.) Read this blog, and the scripture, every day this week, even 5x each day, until it becomes a part of your thinking.

2.) If you don't already have a notebook or journal where you keep notes of what God shows you in your life, start one.  Write down the areas of your life where you are struggling most with fear and intimidation, and where you commit to working with God to overcome those struggles in your life.  And...

3.) Remember that we always appreciate hearing from you, if you would like to share your thoughts and experiences with us as well.

Keith's book "OVERCOMING INTIMIDATION" has lots of scripture study and tips that you don't want to miss.  Get your personal copy at TowardTheMark.com.

For more Scripture-based truths to live a whole, wonder-filled life, follow:

"OurYear of Opportunity" website;

"KeithShealy & Toward The Mark" on Facebook ;

"PressingIn Toward The Mark" blogger ; and

"TTMSingingSgt" onTwitter

We look forward to hearing from you.  Connect with us here again NEXT Wednesday,

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