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Tuesday, June 23

Day 17, Paragraph 17 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 SEVENTEEN,
Paragraph SEVENTEEN:

    
Saul of Tarsus (later to be known as the Apostle Paul) was dramatically confronted with an important truth prior to his conversion. Acts 9:1-5 brings this truth to light saying, "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." (Acts 9:1-5)

Question to ponder:

In Acts 9:5, what does Jesus mean by "...it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks"?  _________________________________________

Keith's "Comments from the Author":

"If you read yesterday's message about the bully who picked on my brother at the school bus stop, you see a modern day bully who compares to a bully in the Bible who was consumed with finding, imprisoning, and destroying the followers of Jesus Christ. His name was Saul of Tarsus. Not only was he consumed with these evil tasks, but he had been given the money, written permission, and troop support to pull it off. Although the High Priest and his ruling party had been able to manipulate Rome into doing their dirty work for them, having Christ crucified, they made a monumental mistake! They underestimated how deeply Jesus Christ had impacted the people of the region! And, now, the Person of the Holy Spirit had come to continue carrying the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people near and far, all over the world. It would be Saul's lack of knowing and understanding this fact that, ultimately, led him to the life-altering encounter he had with the One Who confronted him, face to face, similar to how I stuck up for my brother at the bus stop. Now, concerning what Jesus meant by saying to Saul, '...it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks', there's a definite image that I received the first time I studied this Scripture passage. When I was a young boy, I used to camp out with a few of my friends in my neighborhood. One evening, just as the sun was starting to set, the guys and I launched out on one of our deep-woods adventures, exploring some new terrain. Before we realized it, we had gotten ourselves trapped in a thick briar patch that we were standing in waist-deep. Of course, having left our hunting knives back at the campsite, we were forced to kick our way through those thick briars until we could reach a clearing. So, now, sporting jeans with thorns and holes all in them, and drops of blood running down our legs, we all came to the conclusion that we would never again go somewhere without making sure to carry along our hunting knives. When you find yourself in a painful, no-escape, 'prickly' situation, confronted by a commanding force that leaves you basically powerless, you begin to get the picture of what it means to 'kick against', as Jesus said, 'the pricks'. In essence, what Jesus was saying to Saul was, 'Because you have chosen to persecute Me, by choosing to fight against My children, now you have to deal with me!' If you find yourself trapped, in any way, by sin, you will know just how painful a life can be that runs contrary to the life-giving ways of Jesus Christ. We encourage you to seek to find wisdom and understanding from the Word of God to be sure you will not be one who is, 'destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge...' as Hosea 4:6 clearly explains. What are you waiting for? There's no better time than n-o-w. Selah. Amen (so be it)!"

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. . (Matthew 28:18-20)


*We look forward to joining with you again tomorrow, and please take a few minutes to invite for your friends who are lost, or who just need encouragement! God bless and keep you!*

_____________________________



This book is based on real-life matters that are crucial for each of us to address in our life. To ask questions, make a special donation, order a special quantity of books, or to share a testimony or prayer request, please click for e-mail, or write a letter and mail it to the address shown on this blog below, and on our website.
We pray God bless you greatly for taking part in this important project, as you have greatly blessed the 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:
      
      
http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/3603186



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 22

Day 16, Paragraph 16 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 SIXTEEN,
Paragraph SIXTEEN:

    
What does Romans 15:3 mean by, "The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me"? The Lord is saying that when someone persecutes any of the children of God, they are actually persecuting God Himself! He takes it personally. The Lord identifies His people, as He does Himself. This principle is also seen in the Parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:40, "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Question to ponder:

How would you describe the way God identifies with you, and cares for your needs and well-being?  _________________________________________

Keith's "Comments from the Author":

"When I was in my first year of senior high school, I didn't have any upperclassman friends with a driver's license and a car who I could get a ride with to the school, so I had to ride the bus. Though my younger brother, Bill, was still in junior high, both of us caught our buses at the same bus stop, and at the same time each morning. One day, as we were waiting for our buses to come, we noticed a new kid who showed up to wait for the senior high bus. Without knowing that I was Bill's older brother, the new kid walked over to the group of junior high kids, and started to bully them around. As I observed him trying to basically intimidate each of the younger kids, one at a time, when he got to Bill he pushed him and said, 'Hand over your lunch money!' Of course, seeing this happen, I ran over to the bully, shoved him to the ground, and bluntly told him, 'If you know what's good for you, you'll never bother my brother again.' Isn't it interesting how we can watch other kids get pushed around by someone and not feel the obligation to intervene? However, when one of the kids we see getting pushed around is one of the members of our family, it's a completely different story. Have you heard the phrase 'blood is thicker than water'? That phrase refers to the strong 'blood bond' that runs through those who are members of the same family. If you've read or listened to many of my messages over the years, most likely you've heard me explain God as being 'The Consummate Family Man' that He is. You see, everything that God does, and has ever done, is for the purpose of taking care of His Family. In fact, God so loves His Children that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to make a way for every one of us to receive Him as Lord and Savior of our life, and to then be grafted into the Family of God, as a member of God's Family. And, when you're in God's Family, you have the most wonderful benefit of enjoying the most loving and protective 'Big Brother' in the entire universe! Simply put, the devil knows, better than anyone else does, that picking on those who belong to God and His Family is, in fact, picking on God Himself. Rest assured, there will be a reckoning! To quote what my brother said to the new guy who bullied him, after I had confronted and corrected him on my brother's behalf, 'Boy, if you EVER pick on me again, you're NOT gonna like it when my big brother gets done dealing with you!'"

"The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Psalm 121:7-8)


*We look forward to having you join in again for Day 17, paragraph 17, tomorrow! Make sure to invite your friends to join in too! God bless and keep you!*

_______________________________


This book is based on real-life matters that are crucial for us to address in our lives. To ask questions, make a special donation, request a large quantity of books, or if you would like to share a testimony or prayer request, please click for e-mail, or write a letter to mail to the address below, or as displayed on our website.
We pray God bless you greatly as you greatly bless the Toward The Mark, Inc. family by taking part here!
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:
      
      
http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/3603186



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!


Friday, June 19

Day 15, Paragraph 15 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 FIFTEEN,
Paragraph FIFTEEN:

    
Consider what the enemies of God said to those who were reviving the wall of Jerusalem in obedience to the great calling of God. God had put the calling into the heart of His servant Nehemiah as he described in chapter 2, verse 12, "And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon." Then, observe the import of the lying words of the enemies of God in Nehemiah 4 (scripture in bold below). "The thing is too great for you!" they said. Nehemiah and those with him were seen as small and despised in the eyes of their enemies. What is not so evident is this: because God was with Nehemiah and the builders, their enemies were actually saying that the thing was too great for God. Hence, God was small and despised in their eyes, and all of their words of condemnation applied directly to the Lord God, as Scripture says in Romans 15:3, "For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me."

Question to ponder:

What are some of the lying words that are aborting the gifts and callings of God in the lives of people today?  _________________________________________

Keith's "Comments from the Author":

"One of the most important lessons, among many, that we can learn from Christ Jesus and His making His way to the cross, is that He 'finished.' I can remember when I managed an RV dealership, there was a young man who needed help to get back on his feet and I hired him to help out in our service department. After his first week on the payroll, I learned about a disturbing pattern in his work habits. One day the manager of our service department came to my office and asked me to step outside where she had something she felt that I needed to see. She led me to the service area, pointed at two of the motor homes, and asked me what I saw wrong with that picture. After taking a moment to look around, I answered her saying, 'Judging from the parts and tools laying on the ground around those two coaches, they look to still need to get finished. Is that what you are referring to?' She said, 'Exactly! The coaches are NOT finished because the young man you hired talks like he knows what he's doing, but, after he gets a good start on a job, he drops what he's doing and moves on to something else or another job.' She was telling me that the young man did not know how to 'finish' what he starts. Luke chapter 14 addresses the importance of counting the cost of a task, and making sure to be equipped to finish what we start, '...which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?' (Luke 14:28) Counting the cost includes measuring the resistance that we will likely have leveled against us, both by people around us and by satan's wicked spirits working against us in word and deed. It is crucial that we understand that, when we start to do something, if we don't 'finish', it discredits us and God in the eyes of those watching. Our unfinished project gives satan an occasion to accuse God of not being able to fulfill His promise in the lives of those people who observed our lack of following through and 'finishing'. The young guy I hired, in the eyes of those watching his incomplete work, was discredited, and I was discredited as the hiring manager. Additionally, in the eyes of the customers we were serving, who didn't receive the product we promised them, the entire company was discredited. Opposite of the example of the young service department worker, Jesus set the example for us to count the cost, and to 'finish'! So, my word of advice is: If you believe that God has called you to do something, put your hands to the task, press through the resistance and criticism of those who come trying to defeat you and abort your calling, cross the 'finish' line just as you were called by God to do, and watch God be glorified! The calling fulfilled will be something that you 'finished', working together with God - you IN Him, Him IN you, the two of you in ONEness. Selah."

"But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they receive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. (Nehemiah 4:1-3)


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 pass a personal invitation to your friends! God bless and keep you!*

_____________________________


This book is based on real-life matters that are crucial for each 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:
      
      
http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/3603186



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 18

Day 14, Paragraph 14 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 FOURTEEN,
Paragraph FOURTEEN:

    
In order to be truly successful, we must know what manner of being we truly are. The spirit comes first, the soul next, and the body last. When we are born again, God recreates our spirits in His image. The next order of business is the remaking of our souls. This is where the will of God is to be fulfilled in us, and because of this, the soul is where the enemy focuses his attacks. Even as there are abortion clinics working round the clock to terminate the lives of countless thousands of God's young ones, there are even greater attacks being waged against God's people specifically for the purpose of aborting the gifts that He has placed in each of us for the fulfillment of His will while we are here on the earth. This may be surprising, but it is nonetheless true: the vast majority of abortions that assail humanity on a daily basis are not being performed with a scalpel. They are actually being performed with something much sharper: the wagging tongues of ungodly people! For it is by lying words that the gifts and callings of God are aborted in the lives of people.

Question to ponder:

When you look at children and others around you, do you see them through God's eyes, or do you see them through your own?  _________________________________________

Keith's "Comments from the Author":

"One of the things that I remember from my many years of playing the sport of football is how crucial to success the art of the 'fake-out' is.  Boxing is another sport that depends on that same art.  Just like a football player, the greatness of a good boxer is his ability to convince his opponent that he's about to get hit with the left hand when, in fact, the hit actually ends up coming from the right hand.  If there's anyone who has ever mastered the art of the 'fake-out', it's the devil and his wicked spirits.  You see, just as we mentioned in today's paragraph, the devil and his minions know that, if they can get people so focused on thinking abortion solely taking place in abortion clinics, then he has succeeded in the art of the 'sucker-punch'.  While everyone is focused on the terrible death of little baby bodies, a mass slaughter of infinite proportions is being conducted by the wagging tongues of the ungodly people on the gifts and calling of God in the lives of others.  For example, Brenda and I were just talking the other day about how grateful we are for our dads.  My dad, though he wasn't physically home with us during the week much, because of his job, whenever he was home he was always encouraging me in whatever I was doing at the time.  If he ever condemned me for anything I was doing, I can't remember it.  I was always free to do whatever I had an interest in doing and being a part of.  See, Dad released me to excel in whatever I was interested in doing, unlike many of my friends who lived under the heavy hand of parents who, for lack of a better way of explaining it, wanted to accomplish through their children what they couldn't, or didn't, when they were young.  Just think about the millions and millions of dollars parents spend every year on educating their kids to do things that God never intended for them to do and to be. Most of those parents believe they are doing a good thing, hoping to lead their children into a good career field, but it so often turns out to not adequately prepare that child for what they're truly called to.  So often, the abortion of God's will and calling for children's lives, sadly, begins right in their own homes.  Having said that, we encourage you with all of our hearts to take another look at each of your children; take another look at other people around you; and ask the Person of the Holy Spirit to impart to you the purpose for which God has impregnated each one of them to fulfill with Him.  And, as soon as He reveals that to you, begin to encourage the gift and calling out of them and INto full fruition.  When the Lord returns, we pray He finds you 'speaking life'!"

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:17-20)


*See you tomorrow, and invite your friends to join in 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:
      
      
http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/3603186



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!