Hey everyone,

Yesterday, Sarah and I were having lunch and I overheard a conversation from a table nearby. A man was telling his co-worker to be more "proactive" in his business endeavors. The word "proactive" stuck out to me but I didn't think much of it at the time. Later that evening, I felt compelled to pick up a book I've been reading called "Chasing Daylight" by Erwin McManus. The very place I opened to read said this:
"There is a direct relationship between passion and initiative. The more passionate you are, the more proactive you will tend to be." I knew the Lord was saying something important to me about being more proactive with the opportunities He is bringing.
An honest confession is that during that same lunch hour, I received a word for a lady in the restaurant but wasn't proactive to give it away. There are so many divine opportunities all around, waiting for us to engage them. My prayer is that the Lord would embolden us with such a passionate confidence that we step out with even greater faith as these days unfold.
I also want to encourage us that as we fast and as the disciplines grow in intensity this week, for us to anticipate the Lord's Presence to increase among us with new intensity as well. Ken Helser used to tell me, "The key to discipline is desire." May the Lord fan our desires for Him into such a burning flame, we don't even notice anything else (such as hunger or sleepiness) from under the shadow of his Great abiding Presence.
Rick Joyner says that often the manner in which an endeavor begins, will reflect the quality of how it will proceed. We have begun this year from an amazing place together and I am excited to see where the Lord takes us from here.

Stephen

Day 7

Hey everyone,

Each day is becoming more and more exciting to see what the Lord has up His sleeve. Directions that begin with "Go to a coffee shop..." are always adventurous! I pray that today as we step out to go past our comfort zones and encounter the Lord in new ways, that He would truly meet us and expand our borders beyond what we thought possible.
Be encouraged that with each day's events, we are digging canals in our lives where the living water can flow through us freely and have access to those who are thirsting. Keep going!

Jan 6 - David Olinger

Hey everybody! Can you believe that we are already at Day 6! Week One is almost complete. Today in another great day to dive into God, receive from Him, and give it away to others.

I was reading a few days ago in Jeremiah and I noticed that the Lord told Israel that they had forsaken the Fountain of Living Waters for broken cisterns that can’t hold water (Jeremiah 2:21). A few verses later, he told them that he planted inside of them a “choice vine, a completely faithful seed.”

As I read these passages, I noticed that in the Kingdom we actually begin in a place of abundance! Our starting place is a place of having EVERYTHING that we could ever want or need from the Lord. In a world where one must “climb the corporate ladder” to reach the top of his/her field, this is a total contrast. How often have I tried to exchange the unlimited flow of Gods living water for a mindset or “cistern” that can’t even come close to containing the blessing and the kindness of God!

When you came to know the Lord, he planted a completely faithful seed of the Kingdom inside of you that keeps growing bigger and bigger everyday! Jesus Christ is living inside of you!!! God put His best right inside temples of skin and bones! You have every spiritual blessing in Christ! You are seated in heavenly places! (Ephesians 1)

There is so much more the Lord has for you today! Keep digging into God and pouring out on others. There is a fountain of Living Water flowing through you!

David Olinger

January 5

Today is an exciting day – especially for those of us who may be giving a word of encouragement to a stranger for the first time today. Just remember to relax, the pressure is not on us. The Lord will provide the words, if we’ll be faithful to step out.

I’m going to Stein Mart tonight to make a return. I’m already asking the Lord for a word of encouragement for someone at the store. It helps me feel a little more relaxed to get the word ahead of time, instead of trying to get something in the moment. And it also gives me time to write it down for the person – maybe in a card or just a piece of paper. Speaking the word of encouragement is very powerful & sometimes it’s nice to pass it along in written form after you share the word too. You may want to try it. Most people are starving for encouragement – we have the BEST “bread” to share. Enjoy your day! Can’t wait to hear about your adventures!

Jan 3

As I'm writing this, my phone went out, followed a few minutes later by the power going out. The enemy will always try to deter us from doing what we set out to do in God, giving us reasons to quit, abandon course. Fulfilling our purpose on the earth means that we climb over everything the enemy throws at us, keeping our eyes on Jesus and keep moving forward. Hebrews10:35-38 says "Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." A large part of this 21 day time is learning to persevere under all circumstances....We all need endurance and perseverance to get to where we are called to go. This race God has us running in is a marathon with prizes along the way and a huge reward at the end.

Listening to God for 10 minutes or so could be as important as anything else we do in this 21 days......There are many noises, voices, demands and anxieties vying for our attention..Learning to quiet our soul is absolutely essential for us to hear heaven. Today is the first practice of that and though it is difficult, I encourage you to quiet your soul, cast all cares upon Him, receive His peace and "wait on the Lord." He will cause you to rise up like the eagle when we wait on Him...
While exercising, see what it's like to "pray without ceasing" by speaking in the spirit under your breath while walking, running, etc....Prayer will become like breathing to us over time....

You are awesome in HIM! Really.....Our confidence is beginning to grow in who He is in us. Poverty mindset take a hike. Inferiority complex and insecurity depart my life....In Him you live and move and exist.

As my friend Matthew Manigat says "I am keeping the faith, and the faith is keeping me."

"It's not how you start, but how you finish...let's finish well and watch this 5 minute video to encourage you to get up and keep going..."

M

Wilberforce's Speech

When reading about William Wilberforce's speach to Parliamentl, I found this recap from a local English newspaper; The Morning Star

2. From The Morning Star, 78 (Wednesday 13 May 1789)

Mr. WILBERFORCE then called the attention of the House to what he was about to propose. He said that he rose with a confession of what operated in his mind relative to the abolition of the Slave Trade. When I consider, says he, how long this has been suggested by many, and of what importance it is to a race of men, possessing qualities equally commendable with our own—how many millions are at present involved in the decision of the question—it is impossible for me to object in being instrumental to the business. He then remarked, that he was convinced, whatever should be the decision, that in bringing forward the discussion, he performed nothing more than his duty; and he was so fully persuaded of the rectitude of his conduct, that no consideration whatever would make him swerve from his honour so far, as to dissuade him from marching boldly forward on the occasion...

I can't wait to say that "it is impossible for me to object in being instrumental to the business" of the Kingdom. Let us all be so convinced of the goodness of the Lord that "no consideration whatever" would make us swerve or dissuade us from marching boldly forward.

Jan 2nd

I hope you enjoyed yesterday and our first day into this. Giving yourselves afresh to the Lord and pressing through will produce some amazing things in our lives, beyond what we see or feel. 10 minutes of praying in the Spirit or several minutes of singing today may feel like a long time as we start out. But if we will press through, connecting in Spirit and doing it with our heart, this time will come alive. Paul said that "I speak in tongues more that ya' all" (or something like that). He had pressed through and discovered some treasures in speaking the language of the Spirit. We will too.

As I did this today, I realized how long it has been since I have loved on God in this way - too long. The Holy Spirit does things we cannot see as we pray in Him...

You will see some brand new things in Matthew 4 & 5 that you have never seen before as the Holy Spirit bring revelation to what we read...

Today will be a day to give some money away. Whether it's $1 or $100, people will be surprised at your giving, and will probably ask you why. Have fun w ith this and release love and light to them. Money often opens up hearts of people and your generosity will get their attention. Money is the love of the world and the currency of the world's language - so as we give someone some money, use it to then give them the currency of heaven - genuine love.

This is going to be a great day...

Matt