This Lost and Dying World Needs You...

Do you know how I know that God has put something in you that is crucially important to the fulfillment of His plan for all of creation? You're HERE!

I (Keith) once had a very sobering revelation of what it would be like to stand before the almighty, all-loving God without having finished the things for which He had put me here on earth to do. To say the least, just the thought of not finishing and being abundantly fruitful, made my heart sick! There I was, standing before the all-loving God, "Love" Himself, not having been fully "about" my Father's business while on earth. I had not multiplied my talents, nor used the abilities God had given me for His purpose, for glorifying His matchless Name.

I can remember being overwhelmed with grief, not from being condemned by God, but from a deep regret and sorrow I felt from within me, the likes of which I had never known. I found myself wishing I could just have a second chance to go back and work WITH GOD to use the gifts the way HE had planned for me to use them. I had used my talents for my own purposes, rather than God's; I had wasted too much time. I can now tell you, without a doubt, that when my time on earth is done and I stand before God I will have given everything I had within me and "DIED EMPTY!"

Before our college football games at Ferrum, we used to say to one another, "Leave it ALL on the field!" Now, with all of our strength, we encourage you to do the same, while you still have the game ahead of you! Overcome the intimidation, fear, and procrastination, and get on course to finish what God has so richly programmed you to fulfill from the foundation of the earth. Before it is too late, get the things that God has richly deposited in you, out, into the hands and hearts of others who need it. Don't take the books, the music, or anything else God has planned for only you to complete, to your grave! This lost and dying world needs you to "keep your head in the game!" This lost and dying world needs you to "leave it ALL on the field!"

For more about fulfilling God's Plan, more like this message and with more details, email us your request for your copy of TTM Magazine. When you do, mention our special offer to include in your mailed package a special copy of our book, "Letters From The Front" and twelve of our most requested teaching messages, in their entirety, contained inside our "Letters From The Front" book. We will be glad to send your copy along with your TTM Magazine request, and also a copy for your friend(s) and loved one(s), all for your donation of any amount that The Lord puts on your heart to give to support this work. We appreciate you and your joining us here on our Pressin'IN TowardTheMark blogspot.

~ Hear our podcast:  Don't look to Dad for what only your Father has!

~ Listen IN by clicking:

~ Check us out at "Keith Shealy & Toward The Mark" on Facebook

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We couldn't do this without the help of our friends!

This blog post, along with each of our original podcasts, music and video recordings, books, magazines, and other resources in our ministry collection, is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Family of Sponsorship Partners. If you would like to become a part of the TTM Family, your monthly financial support of any amount will help toward fulfilling God's call on our lives to make Holy-Bible-based messages available to the churched and un-churched individuals alike. You are invited to partner with us in working with God to fulfill His desire for everybody to know Christ Jesus as He IS... The Way, The Truth, and The Life... personally. We will remain steadfast to "... press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14)." Would you consider helping us expand our outreach capabilities by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will help toward providing effective, practical outreach tools for ministering the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ.

Help fan the flame in the hearts of those who are looking to increase in their faith, courage, and strength through Christ Jesus!  Give your tax-deductible gift today and help make more messages and resources like this possible!  Become a part of The Family of Toward The Mark, Inc. Sponsors.

CLICK HERE to make a tax-deductible contribution securely by PayPal.

Every gift is appreciated and helps.

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check to the order of:

Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152. 

Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the fertile soil of this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

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        Take me back to the top of this post.

        Take me to "Is GOD accelerating time?" post.

        Take me to "WINNING THE LOST *Part III* Count The Cost..." post.

        Take me to "WINNING THE LOST *Part II* We Can Only Give What..." post.

        Take me to "WINNING THE LOST *Part I* Throw off Religious..." post.

        Take me to the "Gratitude is Literally The KEY" post.

        Take me to the "Award Shows and Idols" post.

        Take me to "What Quality Guitars & Instruments Should Be" post.

        Take me to the "HAPPY BIRTHDAY American Flag & USArmy" post.

        Take me to the "D-Day 75th Anniversary" post.

        Take me to the "Out of the Shadows" post.

        Take me to "What is God's View of Abortion" post.

            Our sincerest hope is that you are encouraged as you take in this blog. We'd like to invite you to take advantage of even more messages of encouragement, for you and your friends and family members, specially available now in one of our most-requested Toward The Mark books entitled, "Letters From The Front." We want to personally invite you to get your personal copy today.

            Our book  LETTERS FROM THE FRONT is a special collection of 12 of our most-requested teaching titles:

Sin Makes Ya Stewpit	The Cart's Before The Horse;
The Crisis of Eroding Integrity	The Fruit's at the End of the Limb
Too Quick to Compromise	The Rarest of All Breeds
Please...Stop Stinkin'	3 Keys to God-Pleasing Faith
Let It Go!	Understanding the Fear of The Lord
Into The Secret Place	Give to Give!

This collection of twelve teachings, when taken to heart, will help you emerge triumphant over seemingly impossible situations... click here to e-mail us your request.

Would you write and let us know how this message has fanned the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His Ways, and God's Plan for your life? If you would like to request a special order of "LETTERS From The FRONT" or another of Keith Shealy and Toward The Mark's resources, mention "COMPLIMENTARY COPY PLEASE" for an extra THANK YOU book copy that we will be happy to include with your order. Also, if you have questions about our work, resources, or giving tax-deductible donations, please click here to e-mail us. We welcome you to also feel free to write us a letter and mail it to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

May you be greatly blessed as God writes this message in your heart. We are eternally grateful for our loving Toward The Mark Family of sponsors who, without their friendship, financial support, and faithful prayers this work would not be possible!

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Get TWO STEPS You'll Need so You Can Be "Made Free" from a Terrible "RUT" Where You're STUCK

Are you stuck in a "RUT"? Get the TWO STEPS you need to BECOME FREED.

    I once heard it said that, "A 'rut' is a coffin with both ends kicked out." Because the person is stuck but still "kickin'", the coffin is left "open-ended". While the person's life, goals and dreams are trapped and contained, there is life that awaits them when they are able to become free, and begin making their way forward again.

            Whenever we are confronted with issues that could potentially pin us down to the ground, we must know the right choices to make by following the Biblical point of view on the issue. Any choice we make apart from the Biblical mandate will have consequences that abound to the choice. In the circumstances we deal with to become "free" or unstuck from the rut, we can rest assured that it'll be worth it to pursue all that gives our life real meaning!

            You probably well-know what it is that got you stuck in the rut, but now you need to know what it will take for you to get out. What doesn't really matter is whether the consequences abound from your own poor choices, or from the poor choices of others. Either way, there are two liberating steps we are about to share with you that are absolutely guaranteed to help get you on your way to becoming "free". However, before you go any further, it is crucial that you first meet one foundational requirement. Without possessing this one most important and pressing need, there's simply no way you'll be able to succeed. You n-e-e-d to have "the want-to"! Have you got the all-important "want-to" you need for the pursuit of the way to being freed? If not, you need to get it, or this is as far as you are effectively able to go.

            I'm glad to see that you have decided to continue on this journey with us. Having "the want-to" for being free makes the pursuit worth paying almost any price that comes with it! As much as we would rather find ourselves "set" free from our issues and struggles, that is not the way God works. We must respect time, and remember that it is "time" that plays the biggest part in God's law of process. God chooses to gradually work things out from within us, 99.9% of the time. Instead of our being "set" free, it is His Word that "makes" us free. Jesus teaches us,  "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) In other words, if we truly want to be free to "live" the life of fulfillment that God intends for us, we must be prepared to be "made" free over time. Ready to get started? Okay! Here we go...

            1st) STOP TALKING ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS... the more we talk about a problem, the more we breathe life into it, and the bigger it grows! On the other hand, STOP discussing things that keep it alive (how bad it is, what might happen to make it worse, the ifs, ands, and buts about what caused it, etc.) and watch it become smaller and smaller, and soon come to "die"! It's really that simple! So, the next time you're about to pick up the phone and talk to a friend, go, instead, to the ONE Who is waiting with your problem's solution; go directly to Jesus Christ. When you look to the Scriptures, there you will find, the Lord Jesus resides "between the lines".

            2nd) GO INTO YOUR PRAYER CLOSET... ask the Person of the Holy Spirit to help you clear out any un-forgiveness in your life. There are three parts to this, each of which IS A MUST! First, pray for Holy Spirit to bring to mind anyone in your life that may have been offended by you in any way. Secondly, pray to forgive anyone in your life who has done you wrong or offended you in any way. Thirdly, and vitally important to getting unstuck from a rut, pray to be able to forgive yourself! When we talk about forgiveness, we so often overlook the importance of forgiving ourselves. And it's quite often that, what put us in the rut we find ourselves in is, a decision we made by our own poor choosing. We MUST learn how to forgive ourselves, just as well as we learn to forgive others. NOTE: Be prepared for this part to be difficult, or challenging to say the least, because we will be forced to confront our pride and subdue our ego. Dropping your pride is crucial to going back to those you have offended, and also to those who have offended you. We can't emphasize enough how crucial this is! Un-forgiveness is like a wall that separates us from God and others. Un-forgiveness keeps us isolated, unproductive, and incapable of moving forward to fulfill what God is waiting for us to fulfill with Him. Un-forgiveness will serve to keep you down, and in a pit of lifeless existence. We must realize, and always remember, that the "rope" God throw to us, to deliver us from out of our ruts, is the Person of Jesus Christ. Trust me, once you have cleared out all of the un-forgiveness in all three parts of your life, you will experience a newness in your ability to move about "freely"! The air will smell fresher! Colors will seem brighter! Even your steak will taste better! By the way, if you look to the Scriptures, then you will find, the Lord Jesus resides there "between the lines".

            We pray that this blog message helps fan, into flames, your passion for loving, trusting, believing, and following God wholeheartedly. We especially pray that you will become "unstuck" from any rut you may be in now, and that you will also learn what you need to remain "freed" from "ruts" to begin with. If you will constantly seek direction from the Person of the Holy Spirit, your life will be ever better; I guarantee it!

Keep PRESSIN' IN!.

            "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)

            "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." (Proverbs 11:14)

________________________________

           We thank you for joining together with us for this message! We hope this, and each of our blog posts, helps fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full ways, plan, and purpose for you in this life. To ask questions about our work and organization, to make a special tax-deductible donation to help in this work, to place an order for our special "Keep the FAITH, Keep Your VISION" book offer, get another Keith Shealy & Toward The Mark book or CD, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please click here to e-mail us. If you prefer to write a letter, mail it to the address found below & on our website.

We pray God bless you greatly in carrying this message in your heart. Thank you for taking part in this blog, and in each of our blog posts, made possible by the faithful support of our loving Toward The Mark, Inc. Family of sponsors!

Your friends & servants in Christ,

Take me back to the top of this post.

Take me to the previous post.

Take me to the Journey through Chapter ONE of Keith's book, *Keep the FAITH*.

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.  Our constant prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that we 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. has been made possible by the prayer and financial contributions of the faithful family of Toward The Mark, Inc. We'd like to welcome you on-board, as a family member also!  Join TODAY!

We INVITE You ... to follow and share these tools and resources as well:

~  "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 

      

This blog message, along with the rest of our inventory of Bible-based resources, is made possible by the support of our faithful monthly partners. Would you consider helping us expand our outreach capabilities by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools, available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, for getting to know the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us as we "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

CLICK HERE to make a tax-deductible contribution securely by PayPal.

Every gift is tax-deductible and helps, and we thank you for it!

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check to the order of:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152. 

Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the fertile soil of TTM, Inc.! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

True Happiness - The Secret to a Happy Life

  What if you were to randomly stop people on the street and ask each of them, "What is true happiness?"  We can anticipate that, with very few exceptions, the responses would include such answers as...

  

.

"Happiness is :

-- being independently wealthy";
-- having a new house, boat, or car", 
-- finding, marrying, and settling down with the person of my dreams"; or
-- achieving success and fame in business, sports, music, school or even church."

  However "good" all of these things might seem, they simply can NOT produce true happiness.  They may bring temporary pleasure, or even elation for a time, perhaps, but never TRUE happiness.



TRUE happiness is the product of the following 5 SECRETS TO A HAPPY LIFE!  From the very start, we want to encourage you to read and re-read each of the five secrets slowly and intentionally for detail.  Also, take time to print out several copies to post in places where you'll regularly see them, as well as, to have handy to pass on to others in a moment's notice.  Lastly, and as importantly, begin praising God, in advance, for developing in you the personal experience of "Pressin' In" and putting these secrets into action, step by step.  And, as you do, watch what remarkable things He will do as He moves and blesses you! 

~The Secret to a Happy Life is printed in its entirety, with 11 additional messages in Keith's book "XII SMOOTH STONES". Be armed and ready for battle against the giants in your life with your book copy available for a tax-deductible contribution to the ministry at Keith Shealy & TowardTheMark books  Remember, every gift helps, is tax-deductible, welcomed, and much-appreciated!~

#1: BE RECONCILED TO GOD. You must be born again! This requires true repentance: the turning away from all sin in your life. Sin is anything that separates us from oneness with our heavenly Father. So, sin is not limited to overt vices such as illicit sex or abuse of drugs- those are simply examples of ways we are prevented from being one with our Creator. Sin is anything that builds a wall between us and God. A wall that can only be torn down as we turn our back on our old way of life, find new friends who love Jesus, and seek God with our whole heart.

#2: BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD. This step is crucial to achieving the happy life, yet it is one few believers take. Remember, the Word tells us that we reap what we sow. If we sow of the Spirit, then we shall reap of the Spirit. So what is a new-born believer to do to sow of the Spirit? “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” (1 Peter 2:1-2) So, fall in love with God's Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to tutor you. And don't become frustrated if you can't figure something out where the Scriptures are concerned. Just READ, RELAX, and ENJOY, and especially remember this, God requires, not that we figure out His Word, but that we do it. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves!" (James 1:22)

#3: BE THANK-FULL. It is one of the hallmarks of the truly happy life, and as such, is a major indicator of walking in the Spirit. For how can we enter His gates and go into His courts except it be by the Spirit? Conversely, the absence of thankfulness should be regarded as a warning sign that repentance is in order, because departing from iniquity includes departing from un-thankfulness. A heart that is full of thanks will express gratitude freely, both to God and to others. The un-thankful heart will not. Finally, the thankful heart is a place of joy. "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." (Psalm 100:4) As a crucial side-note, remember this: praise is not what we do; praise is a "result"... A result of what? Praise is like a sweet-smelling, invisible smoke that goes up before God's Throne from a heart that has become filled, to overflowing, with gratitude for Who He is, more than for what He does. This "sweet-smelling fragrance" is pleasing to God. So, be thankful or, as we like to say, be filled with thanks.

#4: BE IMMERSED IN THE JOY OF THE LORD. Why is this? When we walk with God, it fills His heart with joy unspeakable and full of glory. He, in turn, bestows the same upon us (1 Peter 1:8). It is when we actually see Him happy that we experience for ourselves what true happiness is. Without the joy of the Lord, we will never experience a truly happy life. Moreover, the joy of the Lord makes us strong. “For the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:9-10) In other words, when we are blessed to see God happy, it results in our being made strong.

#5: RECOGNIZE THAT THE PLEASURES OF SIN ARE SHORT-LIVED LEADING TO LONG-TERM SUFFERING, WHILE THE TRIALS OF GODLINESS ARE SHORT-LIVED LEADING TO EVERLASTING HAPPINESS! Trials are a necessary part of the happy life. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4) “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17) While not all trials are the Lord’s chastisement, both chastening and trials are used by God to work the character of Christ into our souls. As James wrote, “the trying of your faith works patience”; but only if we “let patience have her perfect work.” Why? When we allow patience to have her perfect (aka: complete) work, then we will be complete, wanting (or "lacking") nothing. Such is the state of godly contentment which is yet another sign of walking in the Spirit. If there has been one thing that I would place at the very top of the list of reasons why so many Christians today are not happy, it would be that, when the trials of life come, they run. The trials of life, and "the baptism of fire" as Scripture refers to it, are *priceless gifts* from God. Without them, dying to our sinful ways would not be possible. So remember, when the trials of life come, resist the temptation to run away from or escape them. Let them do their perfect work. You'll be *happy* you did!!

We invite you to read and share the details of Keith's 2nd most-requested book "XII SMOOTH STONES" on page #67 of  TTM Magazine  available by clicking here to request your copy by e-mail request.  We thank you in advance for connecting with us.


Consider "XII SMOOTH STONES"  for  your next classroom group or Bible study; It's an excellent resource for church leaders and those who aspire to become leaders in the body of Christ."


We accept financial contributions that help support the work of the ministry, and your tax-deductible gifts are as you feel led to give. We will be eternally grateful for your support and sponsorship!



Keep PRESSIN' IN! 

 

As you listen in to "The Secrets for a Happy Life" podcast, which is also, like this blog message, based on Chapter 12 of Keith's Book XII SMOOTH STONES, you'll hear Keith's original song, "I'm Gonna Follow You" as well.  From Keith's newest CD entitled "Between The Lines," here is a sneak preview of a few of the lyrics:

"I don't wanna do it if it ain't right;
 I just want to stay well in Your Sight.
 I don't even care what they might say-ay;  I'm just gonna follow You... anyway! " ...

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 3:13-14)   #PressTowardTheMark

________________________________

          We thank you for joining together with us for this message! We hope this, and each of our blog posts, helps fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full ways, plan, and purpose for you in this life. To ask questions about our work and organization, to make a special tax-deductible donation to help in this work, to place an order for our special offer of "Keep the FAITH, Keep Your VISION" or another Keith Shealy & Toward The Mark Inc. book or CD, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please click here to e-mail us. If you prefer to write a letter, mail it to the address found below & on our website.

We pray God bless you greatly in carrying this message in your heart. Thank you for taking part in this blog, and in each of our blog posts that have been made possible by the faithful support of our loving Toward The Mark, Inc. Family of sponsors!

Your friends & servants in Christ,

Take me back to the top of this post 

Take me to the "What the devil DOESN'T Want You to Know" post

Take me to the Journey through Chapter ONE of Keith's book, *Keep the FAITH*.

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.  Our constant prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that we 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. has been made possible by the prayer and financial contributions of the faithful family of Toward The Mark, Inc. We'd like to welcome you on-board, as a family member also!  Join TODAY!

We INVITE You ... to follow and share these messages and resources:

~  "Keith Shealy's Toward The Mark" on Facebook      

~  "TTM Singing Sergeant" on Twitter

~  "Sharing messages God Whispers" on the website

~  "Between The Lines (TTM) podcast" by Keith & Brenda Shealy       

This blog message, along with the rest of our inventory of Bible-based resources, is made possible by the support of our faithful monthly partners. Would you consider helping us expand our outreach capabilities by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools, available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, for getting to know the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us as we "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

CLICK HERE to make a tax-deductible contribution securely by PayPal.

Every gift is tax-deductible and helps, and we thank you for it!

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check to the order of:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152. 

Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the fertile soil of TTM, Inc.! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

Toward the Mark, Inc. © 2005 - 2022 | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply | Visit TowardTheMark.com website |  Connect with TowardTheMark on e-mail.

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