According to a survey by researcher George Barna, the first two thoughts most people have about Christians is:

• They attend a lot of meetings, and
• They are opposed to many things.

Is that tragic or what?! Rather, what we hope they would notice about us is our,

• Love
• Humility
• Compassion
• Graciousness
• Integrity
• Servanthood (John 13:34, 35; Philippians 2:5-8; Matthew 9:12, 13; Colossians. 4:5, 6; Job 27:3-5; Philippians 2:17; Isaiah 61:1, 2)

To be sure, non-believers are "taking a read" on us, "You… are [a] letter… known and read by everybody." (2 Corinthians 3:2) And they are picking up our fragrance, "We are… the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:15) The question is whether they are smelling a sweet scent or a stench.

Paul observed that it is only when we stop arguing and complaining about our situation in life that we will effectively "shine as lights," and minister God's Word to the lost among us. (Philippians 2:14-16). In our whining, pampered society, anyone who exhibits a positive, grateful mind-set will stop traffic!

So tell me, how do the folks in your office, your neighborhood, or at your athletic club view you?

As humble, compassionate, gracious, and honest? As one who is sacrificing his life for others?

Or as stiff and arbitrary? As a grumbler? As someone racing here and there, with Bible and notebook tucked under your arm as you attend (what they often view as) another "pious party"?

Hindu India mourned the death of Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun of a totally different religious persuasion. Her powerful demonstration of compassion for their "least" simply could not be ignored.

QUESTION: What will the lost people of your "world" do at the news of your death?

Michael Stanley

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."                     Matthew 23:23

MATTHEW 23:23
Some have taught that Jesus did away with the tithe since it is not a specific part of the New Testament teaching. But in this instance, Jesus made reference to the scribes and Pharisees tithing and implied that they were right in doing so. The New Covenant did not do away with the tithe but it clarified what the motives for tithing should be.

Abram tithed over 430 years before the law was given. Jacob also tithed approximately 300 years before the time of the law. Therefore, tithing was a Biblical principle that didn't begin or end with the law of Moses. However, the law of Moses did include tithing as part of its commandments and attached were stiff penalties for those who failed to comply. It was concerning these punishments for not tithing, that the New Testament differed from the Old Testament. Malachi 3:8-9 says that if a man doesn't tithe, he has robbed God and is cursed with a curse. Therefore, people gave out of the motivation of debt and obligation. Jesus redeemed us from this and all the other curses of the law, so that God will not curse us for not tithing.

The apostle Paul also made it very clear that any type of giving motivated by anything less than God's kind of love is useless. He went on to explain in 2 Corinthians 9:7, that God wants us to give, "not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." The type of giving that God loves is cheerful, freewill giving. This does not mean that tithing is contrary to the New Testament. It is the "fear of punishment" motive, that the Old Testament law attached to tithing, that has been done away with. Giving and tithing are still very much a part of the New Testament doctrine, and if done with the New Testament attitude, are still acceptable to God. Be a giver.  "Enjoy Your Coffee" 
by Andrew Wommack

Michael Stanley

"David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?"        Luke 20:44

LUKE 20:41-44
Jesus took an apparent contradiction in scripture and through combining these paradoxical statements (concerning the humanity and deity of Christ) brought forth the truth that Christ is God in human flesh. Both assertions (the fact that Jesus was David's son and yet David's Lord) were right at the same time.

It was correct that Christ was David's son and it was also correct that Christ was David's Lord. This meant that Christ also was God. However, Christ was not exclusively David's son nor was He exclusively David's Lord. These two truths had to be combined to arrive at the whole truth. No truth of God's Word stands independent of the other truths in God's Word.

A lack of balancing truth with truth is usually the cause of much contention among men when interpreting scriptures. Some argue that everything is by grace, while others emphatically state that without faith it is impossible to please God. The Bible teaches us that we need both grace and faith to be born again - not one without the other. The same is true of faith versus works, and many other truths in God's Word. Error can simply be truth taken to an extreme at the expense of other truths.

One of the concerns of many Christians is, "How can I know I'm thinking and acting properly?" If we seek the Lord with a pure heart and singleness of purpose, then the Lord will show us anything we need to change. In other words, all we have to do is focus on the Lord with a pure heart, and He promises to show us any error. The only people who need to fear that they might be deceived are those who are not seeking the Lord with a pure and single-minded heart.  "Enjoy Your Coffee"
by Andrew Wommack

Michael Stanley

Hello  Everyone,
Perhaps you remember the old Western ballad that depicts a lone cowboy plodding across a parched desert, near death in search of water. To his delight he happens upon a well that is equipped with a hand pump. A note is attached to a cup of water:

"Friend, you can drink the water in the cup and quench your thirst, but you'll die before reaching the next water hole. If you will pour the cup of water into the well to prime the pump, water will gush out, and you'll have all the water you can drink. And, kindly refill the cup for the next thirsty traveler."

Likewise, Jesus calls us to pour out our lives in selfless service to others for Him. But we will never know whether He'll return our lives to us until we offer them up to Him.

Early this morning, I lay in bed reflecting back over some 40 years, where as a youth, I gave Jesus that cup of water — my life, and in effect said, "Pour it out… Do with it whatever You choose." Of course, I had no idea whether it would dissipate into oblivion, or return to me in gushes of life-giving water.

Recalling His faithfulness, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude, and compelled to offer up prayers of thanks, not only for watering my dried out soul, but for allowing me the privilege of watering other weary travelers along the way.

QUESTION: Today, are you willing without reservation, to offer up your life to Him in selfless worship and service? If you are, then here is His promise to you:

"If you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." (Isaiah 58:10, 11)

It is a certainty that if you don't offer up your life, you will shrivel and die in the deadly desert of self-centered existence:

"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant." (Jeremiah 17:5, 6)

"Enjoy Your Coffee"
Michael

Businesses large and small are gradually discovering the power of video marketing. If you have an online business then you really should be promoting it via video. Even an offline business can get in on the act. You really need to get web video marketing revealed to you so you can experience just what it can do for your sales.

Chances are you have heard of YouTube. You will be aware just how popular this site is worldwide. This is where you should be hosting your video so that it can be seen by a worldwide audience at any time of the day.

YouTube has really grown in popularity over the years and now has moved into the big time. If you want web video marketing revealed then don't be afraid to dip your toe in the water here.

Bear in mind that the world is made up of time zones and while you are asleep at night, it may be morning or afternoon somewhere else, where someone is happily watching your video. You may wake up to a sale from another country. Now how good would that feel?

Some people use YouTube to promote their product or drive traffic to their website. Others may use it to raise awareness of their brand. In fact if you have had web video marketing revealed then you will be aware that your video subject could cover a wide range of things such as a presentation to recruitment advertising.

It really does not matter what kind of business you run or how small or large it is. You can create engaging videos to drive traffic to your website and improve sales. Any business can benefit from this and it is in your interest to get started today. This in essence is why it is important you get web video marketing revealed to you as soon as possible.

Realise that people prefer to watch rather than read long text. It is natural for us to respond better to visual things. With traditional text sales pages for example it is tempting to skim through it and go to the end to look at the price.

People won't be too interested in watching your video if it is overly promotional in nature. You need to subtly introduce your sales pitch. It probably is better to leave it until the very end of the video.

You could even leave out the sales pitch altogether and simply tell them to visit your website for more details. You could direct them to a sales page within the video itself. If you want to get web video marketing revealed to you then follow this plan for the best results.

Give people a reason why they should check out your website. In order to do this effectively you need to make an engaging video. This is not as hard as it sounds. Offer value to your audience and leave the sales pitch for later on in the video.

If someone likes what you are offering they will buy it. It's as simple as that so don't be too salesman like in the video. You are now starting to get web video marketing revealed piece by piece and are beginning to see the whole picture.

Keep the length of the video to around two minutes. Any longer and you risk the person clicking on another video or somewhere else completely. It is vital you keep the focus on your video so don't make it too long.

Social media video marketing

When you have a completed video you are then ready to promote it. One great way to do this is to take advantage of social media. If you have used either Facebook or Twitter you will be only too aware of the massive worldwide audience these sites have. If you need web video marketing revealed using social media you will find it gives you a whole new audience to tap into.

You can share your video to social media sites at the click of a button. Imagine your video going out to masses of people worldwide. You can certainly expect a bucket load of traffic to come to your website as a result.

You can even add your video to your blog or website. It is important that your website has some kind of video content. You can get the video embed code from YouTube and copy and paste it into your blog.

Curated content will always look good in the eyes of Google so try and diversify your material. These are the fundamentals of web video marketing revealed to maximize your profits so ensure you incorporate video into your website.

Video instantly increases your authority and relationships with your customers. Imagine how they will feel when they see you incorporate video into your follow up emails and support.

They are so used to receiving boring old text follow up material and now you send them an engaging video. So now instead of reading, they are watching and listening. By doing this they are getting to know your personality and feel a connection with you.

You may be asking what is video marketing going to do for us? The more trust you build the better the chance of a sale. Can you see how getting web video marketing revealed gives you more ideas for promoting your material?

If you have an autoresponder then you may send out an email daily or weekly. In this message you can provide a link to your video. You could also if you so wished, host the video on your own site and provide a link for your subscribers to download it.

A good tactic that I have found to work quite well when I got web video marketing revealed to me, is to provide a PDF file that explains a particular subject and also provide an accompanying video.

The video I send out can bring the PDF alive by giving a visual experience of the subject. By doing something like this you are also providing great value to your customers and they will appreciate you for doing this. Keep any testimonials that you get via email as these also can be used within videos to provide social proof.

Your customers are important to you so don't you feel they deserve the best you can offer them? Engage with them using video and see the difference.

Conclusion

Successful marketers are making use of internet video to increase their sales and subscribers. You have now had web video marketing revealed to you and can see what benefit your customers are likely to gain as a result.

Imagine how you would feel if you could use video to raise your sales. What would it mean to you to be able to connect with your customers on this level?

Say goodbye to the same old tired marketing techniques, many of which are now out dated. Give the power of video marketing a chance and see what it can do for your business today. 
"Enjoy Your Coffee"

Michael Stanley

 "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:"                         Matthew 22:11

MATTHEW 22:8-14
In this time, it was customary for the host to provide their guests with wedding garments to wear to the wedding. It was an insult of the highest degree to refuse to wear the clothing provided since the guests were brought in directly from the highways and streets. The wedding garment speaks of the righteousness of Christ that God so graciously provides for all who accept His invitation into the kingdom. It must be put on by both good and bad (Mt. 22:10).

Right standing before a holy God is not to be achieved in keeping the law but in humble trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. No one, who is trusting in his own righteousness, can have the benefit of Christ's righteousness. The righteousness that gives men relationship with God is the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, and it comes freely through faith in Jesus Christ.

The way we obtain this righteousness is by putting faith in what Christ has done for us. When we place our faith in Christ, then the righteousness that Jesus obtained by His faith becomes ours.

Through faith in Jesus, we can receive the very righteousness of God as a gift. God's righteousness is infinitely more in quality and quantity than man's puny righteousness. No one can ever be justified in the sight of God based on his own righteousness which comes through acts of holiness. One must have God's righteousness which only comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Paul said in Philippians 3:9, "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." This is "the righteousness of God."  
"Enjoy Your Coffee"                by Andrew Wommack

Michael Stanley   

First, simply because of who you are:

"He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight… I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness… You [God] created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful… " (Ephesians 1:4; Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 139:13, 14)

Second, because of what you cost:

"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed… The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all… Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God… " (Isaiah 53:5, 6; 1 Peter 3:18a)

Third, because of what you can become:

"The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation… If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundation… " (Isaiah 60:22a; 58:10-12)

Why not take a moment, right now. Go over to the mirror and look at that unique individual whom God has beautifully crafted. Wow! Created in His image! Try to imagine the billions of DNA that have singly been arranged in accordance with His perfect plan. Because He delighted in creating you just as you are, there is no one quite like you in all the universe.

And He knew from eternity past that the Savior would go to the cross for you.

In His infinite wisdom, He has set forth a marvelous blueprint for your life that perfectly coincides with His eternal purposes, plan, and glory. No one else can, or should do what He ordains for you.

Why don't you pause for a moment now and thank Him. 

Facts of the Matter: Daily Devotionals.
Michael Stanley

"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."   Mark 11:25

MATTHEW 21:20-22; MARK 11:20-26
There are qualifications for believing and receiving as well as restrictions for receiving answers to prayer. Unforgiveness in our hearts will keep our prayers from being answered.

We should forgive others as quickly as it takes to make the decision to pray. The Greek word for "when" means "whenever, as soon as, or while." When we stand praying, we must forgive if we have ought ("anything at all, the least little part; whatsoever") against anyone.

When we are offended or hurt, we often feel justified in holding a grudge.

The Old Testament law expressed this when it stated, "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Ex. 21:23-25). Until the offense was paid, we did not feel free to forgive. However, God dealt with all men's offenses by placing sin upon the perfect Savior who was judged in place of every sinner of all time. To demand that others must earn our forgiveness is not Christlike. Jesus died for every man's sins, extending forgiveness to us while we were yet sinners, and we should do the same.

It is doubtful that a person who refuses to forgive has ever experienced forgiveness himself. This is comparable to the servant that Jesus talked about in Matthew 18:23-35. He was forgiven a debt of over $3,000,000,000 and yet he refused to forgive his fellow servant who owed him $3,000. The forgiveness that we have received from the Lord is infinitely greater than any forgiveness we will ever be asked to extend to others. Freely forgive as you have been forgiven.  "Enjoy Your Coffee"
by Andrew Wommack

Michael Stanley

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done."       Matthew 21:21

MATTHEW 21:21
Jesus makes it very clear that we must have faith and doubt not. Every believer has faith, but most believers also have an abundance of doubt that negates their faith. It is when we purify our faith and only believe, that victory comes.

Every Christian is at war. There is a perpetual struggle against Satan and his kingdom where there are no "leaves" or "discharges." Our enemy goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour .
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Those who resist the devil will see him flee (Jas. 4:7).
James 4:7 (KJV)
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The only ones whom he devours are those who don't actively fight against him.

The mind is the battlefield where thoughts and reasonings that are contrary to God's Word, need to be captured and submitted to Christ, our Commander.

Just as enemy soldiers are captured in war, so rebel thoughts must be taken captive and made to submit to Christ. Our battle against the devil takes place right between our ears. The spiritual weapons given to us are designed for the express purpose of taking EVERY thought captive and making them obedient to Christ. Keeping our minds completely stayed upon the Lord is an obtainable goal.

These weapons of ours are for the casting down of two things: Imaginations; and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Both of these areas are dealing with the mind. Focus on the good in every area of your life. Failure to recognize God's blessings in every day living will cause care and anxiety. Recognizing God's hand in even the smallest thing will cause peace and keep our hearts and minds following hard after the Lord.  "Enjoy Your Coffee" 
by Andrew Wommack

Is there a time limit on losing our lives for the Gospel? I don't think so. (Luke 9:23, 24; 14:33; 1 John 3:16)
Luke 9:23-25 (KJV)
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Luke 14:33 (KJV)
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

1 John 3:16 (KJV)
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

When does one fold up his tent to go and play?

In my weariness, I dreamed of hitting that magical age of retirement and cruising a bit. You know, buy the big sedan, throw in the "sticks," and meander across the country. Ease up. Back off. Slow down. In a word, "retire."

Then I read of missions expert, Dr. Ralph Winter, who along with his wife, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. His response? "I can see the finish line, and I've decided to sprint for it." Retirement? No way.

I thought of Billy Graham, who, in his late-80's, with Parkinson's disease, is still holding city-wide crusades and satellite conferences that affect millions… or more. Retirement? No way.

Or Bob Cockerel, who, in his 40's took time away from business to make trips to Africa to teach in a Bible school. When in his 60's he was diagnosed with cancer, he bought a one way ticket and disappeared into the bowels of that continent to finish what he had started. Retirement? No way.

Or Mother Teresa, who died at 87, with 3 garments to her name, and $100.00 in the bank. Herself feeble and ill, she continued feeding and loving the disenfranchised to the very end. Retirement? No way.

I am reminded of that farmer who made it big. Or rather God allowed him to make it big by blessing his land. So he dreamed of larger barns and "party time". Wanted to cruise. And God's answer? "No way!"

"The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself… 'I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods… Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you… ?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.'" (Luke 12:13-21)

QUESTION :  Tell me, is there a fire burning in your soul for the things that break the heart of God? Most everyone in the world knows about Coca Cola, but have yet to once hear the name "Jesus." Yeah, let's visit the grandkids, take the cruises, and play golf now and then. But retire? No way! Personally I have made a decision to sprint for the finish line, giving it 110% until I drop. How about you?  "Enjoy Your Coffee"      by FOTM Devotionals

Michael Stanley