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Friday, June 5

Day 5, Paragraph 5 of Weekday Blog #1

*Starting our morning and day off great with the 10-minute Weekday Blog*
Our first DAILY blog, every 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 FIVE,
Paragraph FIVE:

    
Now, 
when we commit ourselves to God for the fulfillment of His will, there is something that is of utmost importance for us to understand.  We must expect to be confronted, and to face attacks, by the enemy as he comes to abort God's will for our lives.  I use the word "abort" quite deliberately here.  Abortion is an inflammatory term, one that stirs the emotions.  The Church (the True Believers in Christ) and many folks in secular society view the abortion of an unborn child as a great evil.  There are many other people who view abortion as a "bad thing", at worst.  Those who do not know God or His ways cannot understand that "abortion" is one of the "Seven Abominations" as written in God's Holy Word in Proverbs 6:16-19, "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

Question to ponder:
When we turn to God for the fulfillment of His will, what are some examples of how the enemy might attack or confront us in our life?  _________________________________________

Keith's "Comments from the Author":
"As crude as this may be as an example of the enemy's resistance to our turning away from him, I would like to draw your attention to the young ladies who get drawn into the bondage of prostitution and of pimps.  When a young lady who has gotten herself caught up in prostitution decides she wants to break out of it, her pimp is going to be standing between her and her freedom from the control the prostitution has taken over her life.  She must want out very badly to accept the resistance that she will face before she can be free.  Why?  The pimp makes a whole lot of money by keeping control over her life, her work, and her staying right where he wants her.  If the pimp loses that control over her, he loses the money that comes to him through her, and he would rather kill her than let go of the money and power.  There are stories we hear about a pimp relentlessly chasing the woman down for trying to get out of the ring she has become bound to.  He torments her in horrific ways to convince her that she will not be able to survive without him and he will kill her if she doesn't come back.  Just as the pimp will use brutal or deadly intimidation and fear tactics to keep the prostitute from getting away from him for good, satan uses those same tactics to keep folks away from God.  In my experience, I know this to be true of satan and his ways.  When I left the secular rock-n-roll business to pursue God with all of my heart, satan and his wicked spirits relentlessly attacked my mind using the fiery darts of thoughts, tempting me to return to my old ways and sinful nature.  In great part, that battle I fought, the battle we all fight, to put to death the old sinful nature to make way into God, is what Paul referred to when he said, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith' (2 Timothy 4:7).  I would also like to note how important the next thing is that Paul referred to, ‘the crown of righteousness' that the Lord God has laid up for 'all them that also love His appearing'.  Paul is not only referring to Christ’s 'appearing' to all of us at His second coming before judgement, but to all who are constantly looking to see Him, themselves, personally.  Much like a child looks, with great anticipation, for their daddy to come through the door at the end of each day, the person who constantly looks for God to show Himself in person, place, or circumstances within their life, is the one who lives with expectation and joy in each day here on earth, in this earthen vessel.”

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."
(2 Timothy 4:7-8)


WE PRAY YOU HAVE A FUN WEEKEND...
... FILLED with fresh visions of God!
... FILLED with unfathomable joy in Christ Jesus!
... FILLED with wisdom that only the Person of The Holy Spirit brings!


*See you Monday, and invite your friends too! God bless and keep you!*

_____________________________



This book is based on real-life matters that are crucial for each one of us to embrace in our life. To ask questions, make a special donation for a large quantity of books, or if you would like to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please click for e-mail, or write a letter and mail it to the address shown on our website, and as provided below.
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,

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!

We INVITE You ... to follow and share these resources that are available as well, for helping build your faith in God, His Will, and His Ways:


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 this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!


Thursday, June 4

Day 4, Paragraph 4 of Weekday Blog #1

*Starting our morning and day off great with the 10-minute Weekday Blog*
Our first DAILY blog, every 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 FOUR,
Paragraph FOUR:

    
The truth is, without God we can do nothing!  Another way to say that truth is to say, *on the outside* of God we can do nothing and, conversely, *with*, or *on the inside* of God we can do all things.  The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can begin accomplishing God's purpose for creating us.  Until then, we cannot truly be fulfilled.  However, when we do realize that truth, then is when we can live genuinely successful lives.  For us to fully understand and truly realize our dreams and visions, we must work within the context and fulfillment of God's vision for us.  In other words, it is only by fulfilling God's Will and Purpose for creating us, so specially and intricately as He has each one of us, that we can be fulfilled, that we can live successful lives.

Question to ponder:
What is one thing that you have done in your life that gave you a sense of satisfaction? Did that accomplishment give you a sense of fulfillment, or lasting satisfaction?  _________________________________________

Keith's Comments:
"This I have learned:  In order to walk in fulfillment, we have to realize that God is the Consummate Family Man.  The reason that you are here, and the reason that I am here, is to walk with God and to work with Him to fulfill His plan and purpose for all of His Creation.  To take what God has given us, when the Scriptures say, ‘God created us for His good pleasure,’ what does that mean?  In short, it means that God created us to work with Him 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.  He created us to not only work *with* Him but, just as importantly if not more importantly, to rest and trust *in* Him and to *dwell* in Him continually.  Think about that for a moment.  The ‘good pleasure’ that God receives from us is not in our fulfilling things f-o-r Him; it’s to be *with* Him constantly – God IN us and us IN Him.  I struggled to understand this, early on in my Christian walk.  I wondered, ‘How is it that God actually receives pleasure and joy from *spending time* with me?’  This is exactly the point God wanted to get across to each of us.  And He wanted us to understand it so much that He sent His One and Only Son to fulfill His desire and passion to be able to be with us continually, us *in oneness with Him*.  This means that, even though we live on earth, we can, simultaneously, live *in God*, and it is Christ Jesus Who made the way for us to be in this world and to have a dwelling place in God at the same time.  Fulfillment is when we use the gifts and the talents that we enjoy the most in our lives, and we use them *with* God. To relay to those around us who don’t know that reality that GOD IS WAITING with open arms to lead them, too, into fulfillment, is fulfillment as well.  When I accomplished things in my business career, using the skills and talents God had wired in me, satisfaction was always temporary and sometimes even painfully so.  Where I was channeling my abilities is what needed adjusting, by God.  When I asked Him for and received His adjusting, that is when fulfillment came, and it was a lasting feeling like I had never imagined, and continues without end.  I consulted Him as ‘Chief Operator’ in my life, as well as ‘Manufacturer’ of me and my life.  And He continually fills me up, full to overflowing.”

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
(Romans 12:2)


********************************

This book is based on real-life matters that are crucial for each one of us to embrace in our life. To ask questions, make a special donation for a large quantity of books, or if you would like to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please click for e-mail, or write a letter and mail it to the address shown on our website, and as provided below.
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,

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!

We INVITE You ... to follow and share these resources that are available as well, for helping build your faith in God, His Will, and His Ways:


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 this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

Wednesday, June 3

Day 3, Paragraph 3 of Weekday Blog #1

*Starting our morning and day off great with the 10-min Weekday Blog*
Our first Daily blog, 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 THREE,
Paragraph THREE:

    
When it comes to success, what about the people who have written hit songs or best-selling books?  Are they successful?  If those things were done with God, the answer is, yes, they are successful.  They are not successful if those things were done apart from God.  What the ungodly understand as success is not success at all.  While it may be true that they pursued their dreams and accomplished some, or all, of their vision, whatever someone accomplishes outside of Christ is not in the will of God, but is achieved by the arm of carnal flesh.  Such efforts are the abuse, or abnormal use, of their own being.  Those efforts are the abuse, or abnormal use, of God's original intent for the gifts and talents that He placed in each of them for His purposes and for His good pleasure. 

Question to ponder:
What is it that you are most passionate about and that you enjoy doing the most?  Are you leading others away from God with it or are you using it to lead others into God's loving and waiting arms? __________________________________________

Keith's "Comments from the Author":
"This I have learned in my early years while touring with secular rock-n-roll bands:  The more the Holy Spirit tugged on my heart, the more clear it became to me how many talented people were using the talents God put into them, but in environments and ways that lead people away from God, instead of leading them toward Him, for His glory.  I remember clearly the first time that a thought came to me from something that I had heard, years prior, in Sunday school.  It was the thought that Lucifer was the ‘Chief Musician’ or ‘Worship Leader’ in Heaven, before he came to rebel against God and was cast out of Heaven.  Reflecting on that, I realized how much sense it makes, that whatever someone is good at is what that person will use as the primary means of leading others either toward God or away from Him.  For example, someone who is a talented author will, in the titles and content they choose, use their ability to write to either focus others toward God or away from God.  When the time came for me to step out in faith and leave the secular rock-n-roll business, which was a financially lucrative business I might add, I naturally gravitated toward using that same talent in music, but in a whole new way and with a new purpose and intention.  I can remember thinking about how I had been using my talent and abilities to lead others in the direction of Hell and, just before I made the big step of faith to leave that secular work and job, I thought how it’s time, now, to take them and turn them into a means of leading others out of Hell.  How about you?”

"Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)


__________________________________

This book is based on real-life matters that are crucial for each of us to consider and address.  To ask questions, make a special donation for a large quantity of books, or if you would like to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please click to send us an e-mail, or mail us a letter at the address shown on our website, also provided below.
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,

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!

We INVITE You ... to follow and share these resources that are available as well, for helping build your faith in God, His Will, and His Ways:


This blog message, along with the rest of our inventory of Bible-based resources, is made possible by the support of our faithful 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 this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

Tuesday, June 2

Day 2, Paragraph 2 of Weekday Blog #1

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

Our first DAILY blog, every 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 TWO,
Paragraph TWO:

    
Why does it happen that so many people end up taking wonderful visions and dreams, things they carried with them through life, to the grave?  Why is it those people talked about doing great things, but never put them into action to get them out from within their hearts where God placed them?  The answer is simple.  They never found out what God's purpose was for putting them on earth to begin with, so their lives were mere shadows of what they had the potential to be, having no real meaning.  They did not fulfill the purpose for which God created them.   because only in His purpose is the secret to a successful life to be found.

Question to ponder:
What is at least ONE thing that you hold as a passion or vision in your heart, that you haven't done anything with in your life yet?  _________________________________________

Keith's "Comments from the Author":
"This I have learned:  ‘Succeeding’ in something like sports, business, music, and the like, cannot be enjoyed fully based on the world’s standards for success.  True fulfillment can only be enjoyed as you gain those 'successes’ at the same time as you are finding out from God how He wired them in you to be.  And, working *with* Him to fulfill those purposes for which He created your talents and abilities within you to use toward your successes, as you work *with* Him.  Though I won awards for success in the business world, there was always underlying discontentment.  Though I achieved success in the world’s eyes, the fulfillment I was seeking came only when I sought God and what only He could reveal to me as 'Manufacturer' of all I am and that He wired in me to do and to be, *with* Him.  Until that point, succeeding in achieving high-dollar sales and production teams was not enough to override my feeling miserable doing it.”

"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. &nbspBut seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
(Matthew 6:31-33)


______________________________

This book is based on real-life matters that are crucial for each one of us to embrace in our life. To ask questions, make a special donation for a large quantity of books, or if you would like to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please click for e-mail, or write a letter and mail it to the address shown on our website, and as provided below.
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,

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!

We INVITE You ... to follow and share these resources that are available as well, for helping build your faith in God, His Will, and His Ways:


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 this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

Monday, June 1

Day 1, Paragraph 1 of Weekday Blog #1

Our first DAILY blog, every 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, you will be equipped with the confidence and authority that Jesus Christ came, died, and rose again to provide, in order for us to lead successful lives and ...
      


Day ONE,
Paragraph ONE:

    
Did you know that there are areas of real estate in your own community that contain something so valuable that all of the world's money, diamonds, gold, and precious minerals pale by comparison?  Where are those areas?  They are found in your local cemeteries!  They are the most wealthy places of all because, buried within the graves, there are songs that were never sung, books that were never written, businesses that were never started, and encouraging words that were never spoken.  All of those wonderful things, and countless others, too many to list, never became more than good intentions, and now lie buried six feet underground.

Question to ponder:
What is at least ONE of the wonderful things that you are personally passionate about doing, but have yet to begin working on it?  _________________________________________

Keith's "Comments from the Author":
"Just one facet of God’s beauty is His ability to create so many things so differently; that includes us.  There are no two people who are created alike, or who are wired for the same purpose.  Hence, there are no two people alike in their gifts and abilities.  We are each uniquely designed to fulfill a part in God’s plan and divine purpose for all of His Creation.  There were monumental times in my life when I stepped out in faith to multiply my talents as an offering of love and gratitude to God.  Through my life, I took advantage of tremendous opportunities where God would be magnified in the eyes of those who saw, or heard, what I was stepping out in faith to accomplish *with* Him.  I am compelled to set out and use my talents, IN WHOLE, because it was God Who wired them in me to begin with.”

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man travelling into a far country...
(We encourage you to pull up the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25. As you read it and meditate on it, take notice of the parallels between the three men and their talents, and the talents that God has given you and each one of us. I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t want to find myself standing before our Almighty, Loving God having made the same mistake that the man who buried his talent made. Let's multiply our talents as an offering of love to God. There’s nothing more wonderful than working w-i-t-h God to fulfill the plan He has made for our lives.)
...and cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:  there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:14-30)


______________________________

This book is based on real-life matters that are crucial for each one of us to embrace in our life. To ask questions, make a special donation for a large quantity of books, or if you would like to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please click for e-mail, or write a letter and mail it to the address shown on our website, and as provided below.
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,
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!

We INVITE You ... to follow and share these resources that are available as well, for helping build your faith in God, His Will, and His Ways:


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 this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

Wednesday, May 27

Keith and Brenda Shealy--TOWARD THE MARK: TTM Pays Tribute to ALL Who Answer Their Call



Keith and Brenda Shealy--TOWARD THE MARK:  Answering The Call: AMERICA IS THE SUM OF HER MEMBERS! Because of those who fulfilled their call ... America's freedoms are enjoyed by us ALL!