Get Up!!! No More Excuses!!

Good morning!
I pray you had a great weekend! Was it productive? Did you get to relax some? Spend time with your family? These things are important in our lives!!

Well, you know what time it is - so let's get going! We are in Proverbs 26 and my bold print is verse 13 in the NLTse & MSG versions.

13 (NLTse) "The lazy person claims, "There's a lion on the road! Yes, I'm sure there's a lion out there!" 13 (MSG) "Loafers say, "It's dangerous out there! Tigers are prowling the streets!" and then pull the covers back over their heads"

We come up with some ridiculous reasons for not getting up earlier to have our quiet time don't we? You might have first looked at this verse and said, "I go to work, Coach! I get up on time to get to work!". OK, that may be true; but in a earlier post we talked about the fact that the Word is primary in our lives and hearing the Word is essential!! Well, do you make it essential by getting out of bed to "hear it" and spend quiet time with the Lord? (I hope you are not trying to have quiet time LYING in bed, Gamers...you know what will (snore) happen............)

OR do you make excuses and say, "just a few more minutes"; and pull the covers back over your head? Then all of a sudden you wake up -- too much time has gone by -- and now you have to fly around around the house so you can get to work on time!! NOW, you haven't heard the Word; you are poorly equipped to enter your day, and make the same ol' dumb mistakes that could be avoided IF you had "applied your heart to wisdom" earlier!!!

This has "guilted" me too, Gamers! I have been undisciplined about getting up earlier and it has affected me as well!! And as I compose this post; I am thinking of ways to get back on track!!! (Like turning off the TV and going to bed earlier the night before............)

So, let's agree together to STOP MAKING EXCUSES!! There are "no lions out there" preventing us from getting up earlier!! The lions "is" US and our ridiculous excuses!!! I know that I like to feeling of empowerment that I have when I get up early; start the day right with the Word & quiet time with the Lord!!!

"Getting up early: hard to do -- the power you receive when you do it -- PRICELESS!!"

Stay in the Game!!

Gamers are Committed To Instruction (Lifelong Learners)

Hello & Good Morning!!
It is a beautiful day to day in NYC! This day is full of potential!! Thank you for committing to applying your heart to wisdom, knowledge, and understanding...

Today we are in Proverbs 23:12, NLTse:

12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.

As those who have committed to applying our hearts to wisdom, we have to become "committed to instruction", i.e., lifelong learners. In 2 Timothy (you find the verse this time), we are instructed to "study to show yourself approved unto God..." (KJV). To apply ourselves to widsom -- to become experts -- if you will, we HAVE to study God's word.

Brian Tracy, another one of my "distance mentors" posted an entry in his blog (3/12/07 - "One Hour Makes All The Difference") about becoming an expert in your field. He quoted renowned motivational speaker and author, Earl Nightingale, who stated, "One hour a day in your chosen field is all it takes. One hour a day of study will put you at the top of your field in 3 years. Within 5 years you'll be a national authority. In 7 years you can become one of the best people in the world at what you do!!!" (I posted a link to the complete entry on the right column)

I hope your mind is spinning like mine is right now! This verse and the direction it takes us in has far-reaching implications! We can become an expert at being wise! This is not an easy process - BUT - we have the added advantage of the Holy Spirit in our lives whose job it is to REMIND us (John 16) of everything Jesus said (found in the Bible). The Bible that we are "committed to studying it's instruction". Remember an earlier post? "The Bible is primary in our lives and hearing is essential") So, we now know that we have everything we need to become an expert at wisdom and understanding. So what's next???

DISCIPLINE: "Discipline is the bridge between thought and accomplishment" - AR Bernard

So, Gamers, let's discipline ourselves anew to be "committed to instruction and listen carefully to words of knowledge".

Stay in the Game!!

Choose your friends wisely - it's very important!!

Good Morning!
I pray that you make sound decisions today!!

Our bold print are verses 24-25 in the NLTse and MSG. Let's get right to work:

24 (NLTse) "Don't befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,"

25 "or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul"


24 (MSG) "Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads"

25 "Bad temper is contagious — don't get infected"

"Surround yourselves with successful people - people with lofty goals and aspirations". How many times have we heard quotes like this? My boldprint today speaks of this and the importance of it.

I have a very interesting thing that happens when I travel. If I stay someplace long enough, I start to talk like the people of the area. When I visit my family in North Carolina (Charlotte) - if I stay long enough; I can begin to hear a southern draaaw-l creep into my speech!! It's funny - it really is...! :)

This passage speaks of the same affect that "hanging with angry people" (I love the way the MSG version puts it) can have on our lives. In the same way that Charlotte, NC affects my speech, hanging around angry or "constantly complaining people" (who are essentially angry too); can have in our lives. What happens when you are hanging out with a chronic complainer? Before long you are complaining about things too - chronically! LOL! Doesn't it make you tired? It affects us, Gamers!!! --- "It's contagious"

Proverbs 13:20 tells us:

(NLTse) "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble."

(MSG)" Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces. "

Isn't our goal to become wise? Don't we want to have the reputation of being wise - making right decisions - of being the "go to person" when other leaders need advice? Well, Gamers, it's really simple: "choose your friends wisely - the results can be contagious"!!!

Stay in the Game!

Gamers pray for their leaders!

Good morning Smart Gamers!!
What a glorious day for our country - "a new beginning"!!! Yesterday felt like a national holiday didn't it? I know many people who stayed home and watched the inauguration with family and friends. What did you do? I would love to hear your "Obama inauguration day" story....

Anyway, we have a chapter of Proverbs to read today and my bold print is verse 1; in the NLTse and MSG versions. This bold print will also take us to Romans and I Timothy. This passage is quite timely for the day after we swear in our new president:

Proverbs 21:1 (NLTse)
"The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases"

Prov 21:1 (MSG)
"Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses"

As President Barack H. Obama embarks on his mission of leading America and the World ("America is ready to lead again"); it is important for us to remember that his "heart is in the hand of the Lord". The Lord guides the king (leader) in the direction that He chooses!

Romans 13:1 reminds us:

"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God"

God placed President Obama in this position! His heart is in God's hands and God is directing it! Our responsibility is to pray for our leaders as instructed in I Timothy:

1 Tim 2:1-2 (NLTse)
1- "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them"

2- "Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity"

We are instructed to pray for ALL our leaders because the way they lead affects our lives!!!

So, let's do our job and pray for our new president and all our leaders, EVERYDAY!

Stay in the Game!

"An Appropriate Pause to Acknowledge History"

God bless our new president!

Celebbrate the day & pray for our President!

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!!!

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I Have a Dream"

delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

Gamers Speak Truth to Power

Good Morning Folks!
I had a little relapse battle with this flu bug and apologize for missing you yesterday. It is hard for me to slow down and rest sometimes. Anyway, it's good to see you again...!

We are in Proverbs 16, looking at verse 13 as our bold print, NLTse:

13- "The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly"

Kings (or leaders) have to listen to alot of stuff - sifting through tons of information. When wise people speak to leaders they should always speak truth. I don't just mean don't lie, but to speak truth about a situation. Sometimes we answer a leader with what we "think he or she wants to hear" - when in essence, leaders wants to hear the truth about a situation!! They need to know ALL the information, good or bad, so they can make the right decision.

The wisdom that God's grants us can give a unique perspective on a situation and even bring order and clarity to chaos! Proverbs 2:6-9 says that "God grants wisdom and common sense" and we will know what is "right, fair, and just, and you will know the right way to go!!!" When you gain the reputation as one who "speaks truth to power"; one that can accurately access a situation & deliver good counsel --- you will become that "go-to-guy (or lady)" that leaders are constantly looking for!!

As Gamers, that is the kind of reputation that we want to have with our bosses, spouses, family and friends, isn't it? So, speak honestly, with wisdom that only God can grant!!!

Stay in the Game!!

Gamers Are Careful (Prudent)

Hello Gamers!
I hope you are all doing well! I am feeling a little better today than yesterday (flu) and wanted to drop a quick bold print on you! Let's get to it, shall we?

We are in verse 15 of our Proverbs-a-day chapter (NLTse)

15- "Only simpletons believe everything they're told! The prudent carefully consider their steps"

There is that word prudent again and I told you we would take a close look at that word. In the KJV you see "prudent or prudent man" throughout the book of Proverbs.

Simply defined: a prudent person is:

• careful and
  
• sensible;
  
• exercising sound judgment.
  
• Attributes (traits) of a prudent person are: foresight, forethought, circumspection, and discretion.

Verse 15 says that "simpletons" (the Bible's way of saying "DUMMIES") believe anything that they're told. "Prudent people carefully consider their steps". This verse instructs the wise (us) to utilize a combination of foresight and forethought -- both KEY things needed to carefully consider our steps. The key word in both attributes is the "fore" --- fore-though or fore-sight means that we use them beFORE we get ourselves into a mess!! It means we don't walk with our heads down...we pay attention to where we are going! Example:

Let's just say you are trying to stop doing ___________ (you fill in the blank). It seems like everytime we start going good, we fall again. If you "carefully consider your steps" right beFORE you messed up (forethought) you will find that you saw that group at work that was going to do __________ and you didn't listen to "foresight" - you know what THAT group of people are getting ready to do and you still walked over to "just say hi"! Ok, ok -- maybe its not a "group at work" -- but if we pay attention to our steps...we will see the "ones that lead us astray", no?? And if you can SEE them beFORE...you can AVOID them beFORE!!

Gamers, as it says in the beginning of Proverbs, "these proverbs are written to teach people to live disciplined lives" (Pro. 1:2-3). We know that discipline isn't easy, but it holds great rewards for those who "apply their hearts to wisdom".

Please, study the bold print today and make "carefully considering your steps" a "daily habit"!!

Stay in the Game!

Gamers Stay Calm!!

Hello Gamers!
Today's post will be short...I am sick with the flu. But, I did want to stop by to encourage you to continue to "apply your hearts to wisdom" today.

My bold print is simple and straight to the point: verse 16 or Proverbs 12 (NLTse)

16- "A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted."

Everyone has SOMEONE in their lives that gets to them. Someone that seems to delight in making us crazy, always needling us, insulting, or condescending. Do you have that person in your mind now?? LOL! Are they on your job? Your church? A "friend-enemy"?

Well, look at verse 16 again, folks, AND BE WISE!!

Stay in the Game!! (pray for me too?...thanks!)

Gamers are Good Ground!!

Hello and Good Morning, Gamers!
I am sorry I missed you yesterday! I really missed our time together!!

So, we are in Proverbs 9, verse 9 today- reading from the NLTse:

9- "Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more"

This verse essentially says that wise Gamers appreciate and benefit from wisdom! In verses 7 & 8, the futility of correcting a mocker is described, but verse 9 says that wise people (us) benefit from wise correction and instruction! As we have already discussed, hearing the Word of God is essential; so then the question is what kind of hearer are YOU?

In Mark 4:1-9, Jesus tells the parable of the sower and the seed. In the New Year's Eve service, our pastor taught that this parable is essentially a "hearing test"!! The different "grounds" described represent different "types of hearing" (ears). We will look at them one at a time to keep this post short...

The type of listening described in Proverbs 9 is the "good ground" described in the sower parable (Mark 4). We have developed such a great relationship with the Word and have trained our minds through repeated hearing that when we hear wisdom or the Word -- we immediately pay attention!! Our "ear is so tuned to wisdom" (Pro 2:2) - that we hear it above all the other "noise" that comes at us!! Thus, making us wiser!!

Are you that kind of hearer of the Word? Are your ears "tuned to wisdom"; do you hear the wisdom from God's Word and allow it to correct and instruct you? OR are you the hearer that is easily distracted by all the other "noise"? We must be disciplined, Gamers...disciplined hearers!!

To be TRUE Gamers, we have to continue developing our relationship with the Word. This makes us "good wise ground" that becomes even wiser!!!

Stay in the Game!!

Practice Essential Hearing

Good morning Ladies & Gentlemen!
It's a rainy morning here in NYC...the kind of morning that makes you want to stay in bed and listen to the raindrops until you drift back to sleep!! But, as a disciplined Gamers, I am up early so we can study together...

We are in Proverbs 7, verses 2 & 3, NLTse:

2- "Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes"

3- "Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart"

In the first two posts of the New Year we have established: a) The Word of God is primary in the life of a believer b) faith comes by hearing - and hearing (repeatedly) the Word; and c) Therefore, hearing is essential!!

Today I would like to follow the lead of verses 2 & 3 and expound on how to make the Word primary and a way to practice essential hearing...

Verse 2 tells us that we should guard the instructions found in Proverbs like our own eyes. I don't think further discussion is necessary about the importance of our eyes! ( "see" my point?)

Verse 3 tells us to "tie them around our finger as a reminder...writing them deep in our heart"!

In an very early post I shared with you that I set "Proverbs checks" on my Blackberry and when it alerts me, I take a few minutes to review my bold print verses. The sound of the alert grabs me from whatever I'm doing, and brings me back to the fact that "the Word is primary". Usually what also happens is I'm in the middle of work, dealing with "stuff" & when I read the Word it creates a soothing and encouraging moment that helps me to refocus on what is important!!!

The Word of God is primary in our lives and while we continue to study it; I wanted to revisit implementing techniques to "write it deep in our hearts". When you set regular reminders for yourself, for anything; soon the mind begins to anticipate the activity because we have "trained the brain". It becomes an autogenetic response (a habit). To develop a good relationship with the Word, we need to make our reading [hearing] of it a habit!!

Build disciplines in your life that make this "habit" part of your life. Tie reminders around your fingers, notepads, PDAs, Blackberrys, iPhones, Outlook tasks, Day Timers...you get the idea right??

Stay in the Game!!!

Don't be lazy, Gamers!

Good Morning!
It's great to see you today!! I hope you are settling in after our "holiday hiatus"!! Time to get back to work and studying the Word together!!!

We are in Proverbs 6, verses 9-11. We will be looking at The Message (MSG) version today:

9- So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed?

10- A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy — do you know what comes next?

11- Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest!

We are picking up from yesterday's post and discussing how the Word of God must be primary in our lives and to our faith. As it says in Romans 10:17: "faith comes by hearing; and hearing by the Word of God".

Soooo, this morning I was trying to steal a few extra minutes of sleep and I decide to start reading chapter 6 on my Blackberry while still lying down. LOL......then I come upon verses 9-11!!! "So how long are you going to laze around and do nothing - how long before you get out of bed??"..........I JUMPED OUT OF BED!! This got me to thinking -- if we treat the Word of God as a "I'll get to it later" thing, or "I can be casual" and laze in bed during quiet time -- we are not treating the Word as primary!!! "A nap here, a nap there"....."I'll read the word a little later" -- at lunch -- then we make phones calls instead...! (you get the idea) Before we know it, a little "slumber" a little putting the Word off even more; and we start to become "biblically illiterate" and miss out on the blessings and possibilities!!!

There is a principle involving discipline we as Gamers need to inject into our lives: we either suffer a little "pain of discipline" -- getting up earlier to study and spend time with God (A SPECIFIC TIME), or suffer the larger, more damaging "pain of regret" -- because we have interfered with our "faith by hearing" and miss out on the possibilities!!

The Bible is a book of possibilities, folks! It is full of stories of what God can do when someone decides to hear God and have faith that He can do anything!! "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God......."

This is a discipline we HAVE to build into our lives: the discipline to "hear" God, everyday -- by His Word!

MAKE IT a great day, Gamers!!

The Word: Primary!!

Hello Hello Gamers!
Happy New Year!! I trust you all had safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year celebrations with your friends and family!! Ours was quiet: with family, and filled with food & fun!!

Well, it's time to get back to studying and forming our Smart Game Plan 4 Life!! For the returning "Gamers" you know we are studying Proverbs in the "proverbs-a-day format" -- corresponding with the day/date. If you are joining us for the first time: WELCOME!

For the first few posts this year, I am also going to be sharing pieces of a tremendous teaching my pastor, and mentor, Dr. AR Bernard, shared with us at the New Year's Eve service. It is a pivotal lesson to take us to the next level in our lives as "smart Gamers"...

OK? So, here we are in Proverbs 5 - my bold print: verses 1&2 (NLTse):

1- "My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel"

2- "Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you've learned"

We cannot be wise unless we are listening to the wise counsel and instruction of Proverbs!! Are we all in agreement? In a previous post called: "What Are We Taking In?", I talked about us closely examining/monitoring/controlling what we are taking into our lives. On New Year's Eve, Pastor AR Bernard reminded us:

1. The scriptures are PRIMARY in the life of the believer!!! The scriptures are - or SHOULD BE - "our source of faith and rule of conduct"!
   
2. The scriptures come to us by "hearing" and hearing and hearing... (Romans 10:17)
   
3. Therefore, hearing is ESSENTIAL!!!

What I am getting at is that WE have to understand the importance of the scriptures in our lives this year and work on "how we are hearing". When we do that, we will become what is described in verse 2 of our passage: "Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you've learned" - making us wise Gamers!!

My question for you today is: what is your relationship with the word of God like right now? Is it primary in your life? Or has it been relegated to "I will get to it eventually" status? Restore the word of God to its rightful place in our lives: IT IS to be PRIMARY! The word is how God speaks to us and shows us how to follow the "Smart Game Plan 4 Life"!! Let's develop the habit of making God's word primary again!!!

Have a blessed day, Gamers!!