Increase Your Vision: Favor, Faith, and Your Future. Why You Must Be Firmly Planted...

Looking to fulfill your dreams but worried that you have to go it alone? You don't have to go it alone. In fact, God wants to direct us and He wants us to trust Him and let Him have His way. That means take your hand off of it and let God lead and guide you to a great future. You can achieve your goals - at any age. To increase your vision, check out these great stories and messages about changing your perspective. Trust what God has for you. It shall come to pass. 

Favor...

Favor is coming. You better believe it, but it's not just for you to enjoy. It's to be shared and for God to get the glory.

T.D. Jakes had an amazing message about favor. While we think God's doing all this great stuff to elevate us so we can look good in front of our enemies, it's so we can give Him the glory and show others that God is in charge and on the throne...because they can be delivered, too.

Six deputies showed up to enjoy a cool drink in the summer heat, station KVUE reports. The deputies showed Chloe and her siblings the inside of a deputy's vehicle. "It means the world to us. It shows us that everybody is here for us, and I appreciate it, and we're here for them," said Precinct 3 Deputy Constable Ray Helm.

Chloe is raising money for Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors, but wanted to help all first responders after Thursday's shooting.Her sweet gesture is a reminder that we can pay if forward and be a blessing to others.

 

It starts with a dream, a vision, a plan and sometimes a drawing...

On a recent walk in Yonkers along the waterfront, I met Ciara, a very cheery and friendly nine-year-old student who was selling her artwork. She and her mom, Ms. Debra were displaying some of her art and it reminded me about the verse, "Don't despise the days of small beginnings." I can remember having my artwork on display and people buying it. Then I would get upset because I wouldn't see my art again. Fortunately, Ciara makes copies of her work so she can always remember her pictures and drawings! She wants to share them with others so she can make someone else smile.

Always remember when we give to others, it's about releasing the blessings and gifts to them. Even at a young age, with an artist like Ciara and Ciara's Artwork, we know the Bible says, "Your gifts will make room for you." We pray for her gifts to grow as her drawings are already beautiful and her artwork so colorful.

What is it that God has gifted you with? What ways can you share your gifts? Just like that Bible verse about small beginnings, don't worry if you're starting out small. Do what you can and let God do what you can't. Your potential is limitless with God on the throne! He will always make the way for you!

Foundation...

The lyrics in Jonathan McReynolds song read, "One day I'm going to be big. One day I'm going to be famous. One day I'm going to say, "I made it. I made it!" It wasn't me, but God that gets all the glory!" Enjoy this inspiring song and know that with God all things are possible...

Finding the Determination to Press On...

There's an old saying, Do what you can and let God do what you can't...

It's true. It takes strength, determination and sheer will to keep pressing on - and you need a little hope and faith, too!. Without faith it's impossible to please God.

Check out this amazing story about a young man, Fred Barley, who persevered. He not only rode 6-hours in the heat to get to college, but he slept outside - in the heat. His goal was to apply for school in August - Yup. He planned to sleep in a tent until then, but neighbors contacted the authorities as they weren't sure who was on the school grounds and his story has turned into an outpouring from strangers who gave over $200,000 online to help him find housing - and now he can pay for school. Read his miraculous story here...

Deitrick Haddon has a song and the lyrics are, "Don't give up on God and He won't give up on you. He's able!"    

Focus...

What happens when you try and fail and try and fail again? Get up, dust yourself off and get back in there.

Falling down isn't the problem. It's getting back up again and again. We turned to Entrepreneur.com for details on a few great pioneers and innovators. Check out these inspirational leaders who increased their vision, had faith and kept on going despite their obstacles, setbacks and being told no...

Milton Hershey

The man who blessed us with the sweet milk-chocolate treat we all love wasn’t a hit the first time around. Before launching his own candy business, he had worked for a local candy factory. But when he decided to go out on his own, he failed miserably.

Despite two more failures, he returned to the family farm and perfected the art of making delicious milk-chocolate candy, which we enjoy in the form of Hershey chocolate today. If you have time, read about Milton Hershey and how he not only built plants for his workers, but built their housing, schools, and churches on his property so they could work and still be close to their families. Why? He used to sit with his workers and ask what they needed. He learned that they traveled a great deal and missed their families, so he was pivotal in making the difference for them.

Oprah Winfrey

To many, losing a child is worse than losing a business. Oprah lived through this hellish reality after giving birth at 14. She managed to not only overcome this, but also being repeatedly molested by her cousin, uncle and a family friend. Despite her tragic past, she has worked hard to become a success and amass a net worth of $2.9 billion.

Her history didn't dictate or determine her destiny and neither should yours. If anything, sometimes the pain from tragedy helps you identify and relate to others who you can help later in life. Sheryl Sandberg's book, Lean In is about helping others with what you've learned...

Thomas Edison

Edison may just hold the record for most failed attempts before reaching success on a single project, having failed several thousand times before inventing a functional light bulb. His response has become famous to entrepreneurs: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

If God puts a dream in you, never give up until it comes to pass. Sarah was in her 90s when she gave birth to Isaac because God is faithful...

Michael Jordan

As a kid, Jordan loved basketball and knew he wanted to make a career out of it, though no coach would give him a chance because although he would grow to 6'6", when he tried out for basketball, he was short. After using an inside connection to get into a basketball camp from which players for college teams were chosen, Jordan got noticed by a coach -- who still chose not to invite him to the team.

Jordan returned home discouraged, but decided to prove the coach wrong. Now a member of the NBA Hall of Fame, just about everyone would agree he succeeded.

Nothing is impossible with God and Christ. Jesus said, "Whatsoever you desire when you pray, believe you have it (already) and it shall be yours."

May your dreams and visions come to pass...

Walt Disney

Disney began his career by being fired by a newspaper for not being creative enough. Later, his Mickey Mouse cartoons were rejected because they were deemed to be “too scary for women.” If that wasn’t enough, "The Three Little Pigs" was also turned down because it only had four characters.

Thankfully, we have the Disney company today because Walt chose not to listen to any of his critics and press forward towards his dreams.

Family...

We love this dad trying to communicate with his adorable baby. Yes, sometimes we're on completely different pages entirely, but remember to enjoy life and have fun - even when it seems like everyone else is just babbling on...

Faith...

Remember out of the heart, the mouth speaks. We need to speak life into every situation so our words will be made manifest. The words you speak are like seeds being planted and you want them to work on your behalf and be the change you seek. Speak hope, speak love, and speak life. Have faith. What you speak shall come to pass.

Be Firmly Planted...

Don't feel defeated in life. The Bible indicates, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers us from them all." That means you must have faith and be a tree firmly planted in Christ so your roots can go deep and sustain you. While you may fail, get back up. When it looks dark, turn on the light. When people say no, remember God said yes. Keep moving forward towards your dreams. Keep drawing. Keep praying. Keep writing and keep looking for the doors and windows that God provides to increase your vision and all that God has for you! 

We pray this message inspires you and helps you lead and encourage others! Let us know how we're doing and if you've enjoyed our July messages. We'd love to hear from you!

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