In step

[RiverOL]

The Happiness Formula
=================================​

Happiness equals Satisfaction divided by Desires.


So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
(1 Tim 6:8 NLT)

 

[RiverOL]

Failure
==========​

Failure doesn't mean you are a failure,
it does mean you haven't succeeded yet.

Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing,
it does mean you have learned something.

Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool,
it does mean you had a lot of faith.

Failure doesn't mean you have been disgraced,
it does mean you were willing to try.

Failure doesn't mean you don't have it,
it does mean you have to do something in a different way.

Failure doesn't mean you are inferior,
it does mean you are not perfect.

Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life,
it does mean you've a reason to start afresh.

Failure doesn't mean you should give up,
it does mean you should try harder.

Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it,
it does mean it will take a little longer.

Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you,
it does mean God has a better idea!

 

[RiverOL]

The Twisty Path
======================​

"Name one person in the Bible who had a simple life without
twists," I asked Puddin (my wife).

Puddin was responding to a major change that we were making in
buying a house. We were moving to an entirely different
neighborhood and not building on the property that we bought.

It was a Divine direction that I was absolutely sure about.

"Why does life have to be so twisty and why can't God just make
it simple?" was Puddin's question. It was a very good question.

I had already asked God that question.

Thus, my response, name one person whose life had any written
detail in the Bible where it was simple and clear-cut.

"John," Puddin said.

"John!!!" I replied.

John lived in the wilderness eating bugs and honey.
Puddin would have undoubtedly considered locusts bugs.

"How many grasshoppers could you eat?" I asked Puddin.
I am sure many considered John crazy because his behavior and
lifestyle were so far from the norm.

Then there was John's father Zacharias whom God made unable to
speak because he didn't believe the angel about John.
Both Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were old,
and he just didn't believe.

Finally, John was imprisoned then he had his head cut off.
Yet Jesus said there had been none greater than John.
Don't you think John thought his path was twisty at times?

I often wonder why couldn't life be simpler.
Why couldn't all revelation be straightforward.
Why does stuff have to be cryptic?
Why the twists and turns.

Although I wonder, God has always brought us through.
Right on time, in right order, and learning the right lessons.

God will take you through the twists and turns,
if you stay on the straight and narrow.

 

[RiverOL]

People Say
=================​

People say that religion is a crutch.

But there are times in all our lives where our circumstances
cripple us and in those times,

I'd much rather have God to lean on
than any number of less savory alternatives

 

[RiverOL]

PUSH
=========​

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room
filled with light and God appeared. The Lord told the man He
had work for him to do and showed him a large rock in front of
his cabin.

The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock
with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day.
For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders
set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving
rock, pushing with all of his might.

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out,
feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan),
decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary
mind:

"You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it
hasn't moved."

Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was
impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts
discouraged and disheartened the man.

Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your
time, giving just the minimum effort, and that will be good
enough. That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to
make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to
the Lord.

“Lord,” he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service,
putting all my strength to do that which you have asked.
Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by
half a millimeter.

What is wrong?

Why am I failing?”

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you
to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to
push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have
done.

Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it.

Your task was to push.

And now you come to Me with your strength spent,
thinking that you have failed.

Is that really so?

Look at yourself.

Your arms are strong and muscled,
your back sinewy and brown;
your hands are callused from constant pressure,
your legs have become massive and hard.
Through opposition you have grown much,
and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have.

True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be
obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My
wisdom. That you have done.

Now I, my friend, will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own
intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God
wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him.

By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains,
but know that it is still God who moves mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong...just

P.U.S.H.!

When the job gets you down... just P.U.S.H.!

When people don't react the way you think
they should... just P.U.S.H.

When your money is "gone" and the bills are due... just P.U.S.H!

When people just don't understand you... just P.U.S.H.

P= Pray
U= Until
S= Something
H= Happens

 

[RiverOL]

Warning Light
====================​

Today I was driving in my truck up a busy street,
talking out loud to God, as I sometimes do.

I glanced down at my gas gauge for the 10th time only to see
that I was still on empty, and the orange glow of the warning
light was still very much glowing at me.

I had been telling God that I didn't know what to do and that I
was in need of His wisdom.

My car insurance was due yesterday,
my truck payment is 3 months overdue,
my cell phone was turned off,
(I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks so that is a big one
for me).

I am on medical disability for my anxiety, no job and very broke.

I explained to God that something really needed to change,
and that I am at my end and can't do this anymore.

Now, let me explain something to you.

I believe in God. I attend an awesome church but not as
regularly as I should. I have a Bible but don't pick it up to
read it as often as I should. I have so many opportunities to
attend small group studies with my church and even get togethers,
but I don't.

That's when it hit me.

I was running on empty.

My spiritual Warning Light has been glowing orange for months now,
and I have just kept on going; filling up just enough to get
me by, like I do with my gas tank, fill up with just $10.00
worth of gas to get me to the next week.

I didn't get the meaning of it until today. It hit me.

I was actually having a MountainWings Moment, and I was excited.

I pulled over and thanked God for showing me what changes I needed
to make, what I had to do to fill myself with spiritual fuel.
It was so simple that I had to laugh about it.

It's amazing how we talk to God, and yet sometimes never really
open ourselves to listen for his reply.

 

[RiverOL]

Windfall
============​

A recent prayer request was the shortest prayer request
that I can remember reading.

It consisted of one word.

"Windfall"

That was it. That was the entire prayer request.

I knew what they were asking, but I wonder if they knew.

The dictionary has two definitions for "windfall."
#1. A sudden, unexpected piece of good fortune or personal gain.
#2. Something, such as a ripened fruit, that has been blown down
by the wind.

I am sure they "meant" definition number one, but the exact
request could apply to either definition. They didn't specify.

I have learned my greatest lessons, gained my greatest wisdom
and insight, had my horizons broadened the most, not by
definition number one but by definition number two.

When I am flying high with plenty of money and great success,
the problem is remaining humble. No matter who you are, success
can go to your head. Pride makes you ripe for a fall.

I've seen it in other men, and I've seen in myself.

Sometimes we need to fall to be able to truly rise.

The word spirit in scripture is "pneuma," it means breath or
wind. That's why the word for breathing is respiration.

Sometimes we need the wind to make us fall so we won't be so
high and mighty. So we understand we are not fully in charge.

What prayer did I pray?

I prayed for God to send the right windfall.

Sometimes the only way that we can realize some things

is with a windfall.

 

[RiverOL]

All Of Your Strength
============================​

A man and his 10-year-old son were hiking the back trails.

The boy stopped to inspect a medium-sized boulder at the side of
the trail.

"Dad, do you think I can move that rock?"

The man eyeballed the rock and said, "Yes son, if you use all
your strength, you can move that rock."

The boy braced against the rock and pushed and strained with all
his might...the rock didn't budge.

"Well Dad, you were wrong, I can't move that rock."

"No son, I wasn't wrong, I said that if you used all your
strength you could move that rock.

But you didn't use all your strength

...because you didn't ask me for help."

 

[RiverOL]

Choice or Chance?
==========================​

When we meet the right person to love, when we're at the right
place at the right time, that's chance.

When you meet someone you're attracted to, that's not a choice.
That's chance.

Being caught up in a moment (and there are a lot of couples who
get together because of this) is not a choice.
That's also a chance.

The difference is what happens afterwards.

When will you take that infatuation, that crush, that mind-
blowing attraction to the next level?

That's when all sanity goes back, you sit down and contemplate
whether you want to make this into a concrete relationship or
just a fling.

If you decide to love a person, even with his or her faults,
that's not a chance. That's choice.

When you choose to be with a person, no matter what,
that's choice.

Even if you know there are many people out there who are more
attractive, smarter, and richer than your mate, and yet, you
decide to love your mate just the same, that's choice.

Infatuation, crushes, and attraction come to us by chance.
But true love that lasts is truly a choice.
A choice that we make.

Regarding soulmates, there's a beautiful movie quote that I
believe is so true about this: "Fate brings you together,
but it's still up to you to make it happen."

I believe that soulmates do exist, that there is truly
someone made for you. But it's still up to you to make the
choice if you're going to do something about it or not.

We may meet our soulmates by chance, but loving and staying with
our soulmate is still a choice we have to make.

We came to the world not by finding someone perfect to love,
BUT to learn how to love an imperfect person perfectly.

 

[RiverOL]

The Horseman
====================​

It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many, many
years ago. The old man's beard was glazed by winter's frost
while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait seemed
endless. His body became numb and stiff from the frigid north
wind. He heard the faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves
galloping along the frozen path.

Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend.
He let the first one pass by without an effort to get his
attention. Then another passed by... and another. Finally, the
last rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow
statue. As this one drew near, the old man caught the rider's
eye and said, "Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to
the other side? There doesn't appear to be a passageway by foot."

Reining his horse, the rider replied, "Sure thing. Hop aboard."
Seeing the old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from
the ground, the horseman dismounted and helped the old man onto
the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the
river, but to his destination, which was just a few miles away.

As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman's
curiosity caused him to inquire, "Sir, I notice that you let
several other riders pass by without making an effort to secure
a ride. Then I came up and you immediately asked me for a ride.
I'm curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait
and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you there?"

The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse, looked the
rider straight in the eyes, and replied, "I've been around these
here parts for some time. I reckon I know people pretty good."

The old-timer continued, "I looked into the eyes of the other
riders and immediately saw there was no concern for my situation.
It would have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when
I looked into your eyes, kindness and compassion were evident.
I knew, then and there, that your gentle spirit would welcome
the opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need."

Those heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply.

"I'm most grateful for what you have said," he told the old man.
"May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to
respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion."

With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his
way back to the White House.

 

[RiverOL]

Got Risk . . . Discomfort?​

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere—Psalm 84:10​

Years spent in luxury and comfort can’t compare to one day spent with God—in his presence; experiencing his love; living his truth; doing his work. And, astonishingly, God doesn’t offer us just single days . . . mere glimpses, fleeting encounters. He offers himself “more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20-21). He offers all of himself, all the time—as much as we want, as much as we choose. One proven method of choosing him is to strip away worldly comfort, strip away predictability and self-sufficiency . . . and intentionally move into situations we can’t handle on our own. Jesus sent his disciples into such situations: “I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:3). He told them to travel light and resist taking anything that could provide comfort, predictability, self-sufficiency: money, extra clothing, extra stuff (Luke 10:4). They had to rely on him. And they returned full of joy (Luke 10:17). Because they’d been willing to move, in faith, into risk and discomfort, they got to spend precious days with God. Jesus told them: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Luke 10:23-24).

Okay, so what do we do?​ Ask yourself, what am I doing—right now—that requires faith? We get used to choosing risk and discomfort by practicing. So, look for ways to practice, brother. Look today for what moves your heart. Reach out to someone who needs help. Spend time with someone who needs a friend. Commit to a service project. Sign-up for a short-term mission trip. If you do, you’ll too have great stories to tell.

 

[RiverOL]

God Is In Control
As told by Aivars Ozolins
Life is a process, I have learned. But more importantly, I’ve learned that God is in control of that process.

Sometimes when we look at our lives and see the problems or challenges mounting up, we don’t always understand what is happening. We ask “Why?” That’s how it has been for me. In the back of my mind, I had the feeling that God was calling me but it didn’t seem to be working out. But as I look back at my life, I can see everything falling into place. God has been in control, the whole time.

As most of you know, I grew up in Latvia, which was under communist rule for 50 years – until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Since my early years, I have felt God calling me to the ministry. I wanted to study theology and work for the church. But in Latvia, there was no theological training for pastors. They were just trained on the job, with senior pastors coaching the younger ones.

When the church wanted to hire me as a pastor, the KGB said no. You see, at that time, all pastors had to be approved by the KGB. I had started to study English and had friends in the West, so the KGB didn’t like the thought of me being a pastor, possibly bringing in ideas from the West.

My friends in the West knew that I wanted to study theology and contacted a foundation that was willing to sponsor my studies. This foundation didn’t know how to approach the situation, so they sent a letter to the Department of Education in Latvia. The Department of Education didn’t know what to do with the letter, so they sent it to the KGB.

I was summoned by the KGB, who laughed in my face saying, “How are you going to get out of this country? Don’t you know there are soldiers with guns at the border?” It was a bitter experience – being there, and even though I had the money to study, I couldn’t get out of the country.
So I started to study English at the Latvia State University. I pursued my education by correspondence in order to avoid some of the problems. For an Adventist, getting an education was extremely difficult due to Sabbath observance and the fact that Christians just weren’t accepted.

And life went on. I married Juta and we started our family. By that time, the political situation started to change, and the restrictions started to lessen. Gradually, it was easier for people to leave the country.
A sponsor in Finland made another attempt to help me with my education. Although it was still difficult, it seemed more realistic. I saw some chance to get out, so I spent the whole year knocking on the doors of many officials. But everyone kept saying, “No, you can’t go as a student.” Finally someone suggested that I go as a tourist. “We’ll let you out if you go as a tourist,” they said.

So, in 1989, we packed the car and left Latvia to travel to England. At that time, Aldis and Kaspers were ages three and four, and Elvins was on the way. The trip was an adventure in itself. We had just enough money to pay for the ferry from Belgium to England and even had to carry the gas to fuel our car with us. During the four-day trip, we saw many evidences of God’s guidance and protection.

Three years later, I received my Master’s degree in Systematic Theology from Newbold College. While there, I got the idea to come to California, to Fuller Theological Seminary, from a Newbold professor who was a graduate of Fuller. I applied, and we started the next page of our adventure.

This year I will complete my Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies. During my time here, I have had many other experiences. For three years, I was the pastor of the Russian-American church. Then I worked at Fuller in various capacities – as Academic Advisor to doctoral students, Assistant to the Dean of the School of World Mission, and Teaching Assistant. Although I am frustrated that it has taken so long to complete my education, I have learned a lot – not only academically, but also experientially.

I see that God has been preparing me for ministry and letting me minister – both at the same time. It has been a growing experience all the way. And I believe that coming to Vallejo Drive is the next step in this process as God continues to guide me. I am excited about this church and see so much potential in it. I know God will do great things here.

 

[RiverOL]

Ten Lessons My Father Taught Me
=============================================​

1. Pay your bills on time and the bank will make you another
loan when you need it.

2. If you get an education, no one will ever be able to take
that away from you.

3. If you've done your best, then I'm satisfied with what
you've done.

4. If you tear up my car I let you drive, I don't have the
money to buy you another one.

5. Don't throw away the old folks.

6. The harder you work, the luckier you get.

7. Don't gamble the grocery money.

8. Don't be impressed by folks who have a lot of "things."
Most of them are lying awake at night trying to figure out
how they're going to pay for all that stuff.

9. We have plenty of time if we just use the time we have.

10. It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

 

[RiverOL]

No Excuse Sunday
=========================​

To make it possible for everyone to attend this Sunday,
our church is going to have a "No Excuse Sunday."

Cots and hammocks will be placed in the aisle for those who say:
Sunday is my only day to sleep in.

Eye drops and extra coffee will be provided for those with tired
eyes from watching TV or partying late Saturday night.

Day care will be provided as always for those who find it
difficult to worship with their children running amok among the
pews.

There will be a special section with padded recliner chairs for
those who feel that our pews are too hard.

Doctors and nurses will be in attendance for those who feel ill.

We will have steel hard hats and fire retardant suits available
for those who say:
The roof would cave in if I ever came to church.

Or I would spontaneously combust if I ever set foot into a church.

One section will be decorated with trees and grass for those who
like to seek God in nature.

Scorecards and pens will be provided for those who wish to list
the hypocrites present.

Blankets will be furnished for those who say the church is too
cold and portable fans for those who say it is too hot.

Our worship team will play a variety of musical accompaniments
for those who feel that the hymns are too dull or that the
contemporary service is too contemporary or not contemporary
enough.

And finally, the sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas
wreaths and Easter lilies for those who have never seen the
church without them.

See you on Sunday, No Excuses!

 

[RiverOL]

My Ex Got Married
========================​

Last night my ex called me and informed me that he is getting
married.

Before I go any further, let me give you some background on us.
We were going around for three odd years but broke up some six
months ago because of some issues of trust and infidelity.
(I won’t write of whom, because I don’t want to get into a blame
game).

But in those six months there has hardly been a day when I did
not think of him or miss him.

So how did I react when I got the news?

Well, for starters, I said all the right things.

Like I was happy for him, I wanted the best for him and I won’t
blame him for things going wrong. And I did mean every word of
it. I just couldn’t tell him how much I had missed him and how
lonely I was.

Once the call was over, I went on a cleaning spree. I cleaned the
house, the kitchen, everything! I called two of my very good
friends and shared the news, shedding a couple of tears in the
process. I had a large bar of my favorite chocolate and tried
to curl up with a book.

It was then that it struck me that one of the most important
relationships of my life, my biggest investment (as I used to
refer to it earlier jokingly) was over, crushed, and devastated.
However much I try to escape from the fact, I had to admit it
and come to terms with it.

So I was waiting for the flood of tears to erupt.
But it just didn’t happen.

Surprisingly there was no rancor or bitterness in my heart.
All I felt was empty and lost inside. Considering the fact that
I am a very emotional person and so much in love with him until
recently, this new found resilience in strength of mind struck me
as something extra-ordinary and above normal.

It was the MountainWings Moment of my life.

I was so full of His love and grace that even when everything
else around me shattered, I was still smiling and happy.

My faith and love of God had given me the courage to accept
anything as His Will. Not just accept it, but accept it with
joy because now I had the belief that He has a greater plan for
all of us.

He wants the best for me and even if I have no one else in my
life, I have Him and that makes up for it all. I don’t need a
miracle to renew my faith. I don’t need another handsome,
dashing, wonderful guy to love me or a wonderful job to believe
in Him.

The greatest miracle is my spiritual growth, the transformation
of a weak, emotional and possessive woman to someone who has the
faith to let go and be happy in her love for God. This is the
ultimate joy and I can live and revel in it forever.

Thank you MountainWings for helping me to rebuild my spirit
renew my faith and learn to be happy as His precious daughter.

Thank you and God Bless.

 

[RiverOL]

Stop, Look and Listen
=============================​

Stop

Take a deep breath

Where you able to do it?

Did it hurt?

Be Thankful


Stop

Can you see the screen?

Of course you can or else you wouldn't be reading this.

Be Thankful


Stop

Listen carefully

What do you hear?

This is what I hear

1. An airplane overhead
2. Birds chirping
3. The kids voices
4. A chair sliding across the floor
5. My breathing
6 A ceiling fan whirling
7. A tone coming from who knows where
8. The keyboard clicking as I type
9. Faint noises that I can't identify

Be Thankful


Did you Stop, Look and Listen during the last two days?


We take so much for granted.
We have so much to be thankful for.

We rarely stop, look, and listen.

We rarely give thanks to be able to do such simple things as
look and listen.

 

[RiverOL]

THE BUZZARD
​

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner.
The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
------------------------------------------
THE BAT

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place.
If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air.
Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
------------------------------------------
THE BUMBLEBEE

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
------------------------------------------
PEOPLE

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!
That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem....
Just look up!

-------------------------------------------
Sorrow looks back,
Worry looks around,
But faith looks up!
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly, and
Trust in our Creator,
Who loves us.​

 

[RiverOL]

The Twenty and The One
================================​

There was this $20 dollar bill and a $1 dollar bill on the
conveyor belt at the downtown Federal Reserve Building.

As they were lying there side by side the $1 dollar bill said
to the $20 dollar bill, "Hey mannnnnn, where have you been.
I haven't seen you in a long time ?"

The $20 dollar bill replied, "Man I have been having a ball!
I been traveling to distant countries, going to the finest
restaurants, to the biggest and best casinos, numerous
boutiques, the mall uptown, the mall downtown, the mall across
town and even a mall that I just newly built.

"In fact, just this week I've been to Europe, a professional NBA
game, Rodeo Drive, the all-day retreat spa, the top-notch hair
salon and the new casino! I have done it all!!!"

After describing his great travels, the $20 dollar bill asked
the $1 dollar bill,

"What about you? Where have you been?"

The $1 dollar replied, "Well, I've been to the Baptist church,
the Methodist church, the Presbyterian church, the Episcopalian
church, the Church of God in Christ, the Catholic church, the
Mormon church, the church of the Latter Day Saints, the A.M.E.
church, the Disciple of Christ church, the..."

"WAIT A MINUTE! WAIT A MINUTE!!"
shouted the $20 dollar bill to the $1 dollar bill.


"What's a church?"

 

[RiverOL]

The Tongue
================​

It is a helpful tool
That is used as a dangerous weapon

It is so light
Yet we fail to hold it

Instead of using it as a magic wand
To tap a bit of encouragement upon one’s heart
Or a smile upon one’s face
We use it as a sword to cut people down
Leaving their hearts broken
And their self-esteem low

Instead of using it
To turn ourselves into little angels
Placing blessings upon one’s life
We use it to turn ourselves
Into fire-breathing dragons
Who insists on one’s life being taken

We use it to curse others
Not realizing we are really cursing ourselves
We must learn to hold this dangerous weapon
Before we kill others as well as ourselves

We must learn to watch the words
That we allow to roll off of it

We must allow it to be known
As a piece of gold from heaven
Instead of the flames from hell

 

[RiverOL]

The Issue of Money
==========================​

Shortage of money is the number one common factor in the hundreds
of prayer requests that we receive each week at MountainWings.com.

If money is not the central issue, a money shortage is usually
present in both marriage difficulties and health problems.

A sizable percentage of MountainWings' readers deal with money
shortage issues.

Some think it doesn't belong in an inspirational email but let
your money get tight and get an unexpected check and see if that
doesn't inspire you.

I want to address the issue of money as briefly as I can.
For a few, my experience may shed a new light on your situation.
Some may have a radically different opinion, that is expected;
but for many, this will help change your view and possibly your
approach to your money situation.

I deal with more money shortage situations than most people
simply by virtue of being a Pastor of a church and a businessman.
People come to me, both for advice and money in both the church
and business worlds.

Hopefully the eight principles below will help someone reading
MountainWings.

Principle #1 - Hardly anyone has enough money.
-----------------------------------------------------------
At a recent meeting in my company, some thought I was bragging
when I said that I had enough money. I was absolutely serious.
I have always had enough money, but I have not always made a lot
of money.

When I earned less than minimum wage, I had enough money.
When I earned minimum wage, I had enough money.
I have enough money now.

Someone asked the multi-billionaire John D. Rockefeller
the question of "How much money is enough?"

His answer was, "One more dollar than I have."
He therefore, would never have enough, no matter how many
billions he had.

I have seen people earn more than double what they were earning
in the previous year and they still did not have enough money.

Money is one of those things where unless the spirit gets right,
you never have enough. Having enough money is primarily a matter
of spirit, not amount, understand this.



Principle #2 - You are rich when you have enough.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Don't be like Rockefeller or else you will forever be dissatisfied.

Often our change from poor to rich is more spiritual than financial.
It is why Paul could say if you have food and clothing then you
should be content.

Perhaps we should realize that instead of struggling so hard to
get more that we should simply want less. The problem with
wanting more is that it never stops, and most find that even when
they get "the stuff," it's not what they thought in terms of real
contentment.

Jesus said:
a. The Kingdom of God is within
b. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Everyone wants the kingdom, yet everyone also wants to be rich.

I preached a sermon called, "The Roughest Verse in the Bible."
It was concerning this basic principle. You can listen to it on
WMA (best) http://www.theonlineword.com/s/5125.wma
MP3 http://www.theonlineword.com/mp3/5125.mp3

Just maybe, for many of you, you have enough already.



Principle #3 - Neither The New Testament of the Bible or any of
the teachings of Jesus promise nor promote material wealth.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Some will argue against this to an extreme, but I have looked for
it over and over in the New Testament of the Bible. It simply is
not there unless you take a scripture and twist it to mean what
it really didn't say or you must make speculations about things
that aren't written in scripture.

No words in the New Testament promote wealth when looked at in
context. NONE!

"What about when Jesus told the disciples where to fish and they
had the great haul of fish?" you ask.

Read what they did with the increase after they got it. The
disciples ate from the fish then left the fish to follow Jesus.
When you read exactly what they did, the pattern becomes clear.

We can sometimes be masters at making scripture say what it never
meant because it is what people want to hear and it often justifies
our own agenda.

Jesus NEVER pointed us towards material wealth; he did quite the
opposite when you read what he actually said.

Many passages plainly point you away from riches but none plainly
point you towards it, not in the New Testament.

And no, the verse, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou
mayest prosper and be in health," is not talking about riches.

Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:8, that if you have food and clothing
you should be content. I thought about that verse as I was
alone one day. I had a BIG problem with it then, and I still
struggle to fully understand and accept it.

"What about shelter?" I thought.
How in the world does God expect you to be content with no house?
That just didn't make any sense to me.

So I asked God in a quiet moment, "How can a person be content
with no house?" God answered me and though I didn't like the
answer, the minute I heard it, I recognized the truth of it.

The answer was, "Did my son have a house?"

"Whoa!"

Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have
nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
(Mat 8:20 NIV)

Not only are we not happy with food and clothing, we often aren't
happy even in medium or large houses. We want mansions and guess
what? Given enough time, we often aren't happy in those either.



Principle #4 - Rich and poor are relative terms.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I went to the Amazon jungle. I wanted to see the rain forest
before man destroyed it. The children in the jungle were excited
to see an ink pen.

We trekked through the jungle all day with a native guide.
He said our hike would culminate by visiting the rich man's house.

I was expecting a huge mansion overlooking the river. When we
got to his house, it indeed sat on a hill, but it was hardly a
mansion. It was more like a shack on a hill. His house was
distinguished by the fact that it had a generator. The rich man
had electricity. When the rest of the village was dark, he had
light, therefore everyone in the village considered him
"The Rich Man."

I learned a great lesson from that. He had no indoor plumbing,
no air conditioning, no marble counters or carpeted floors. His
house would not even meet minimum building codes in the poorest
neighborhoods in America. However, he had electricity when
everyone else was in the dark, therefore he was rich.

In many parts of the world, what we consider poverty is
considered great wealth. We have so much food in America that
eating too much causes America's biggest health problems.



Principle #5 - Happiness is not dependent on money.
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Amazon jungle was perhaps the poorest area that I have ever
visited. There was no industry. The huts did not even have
doors. Yet, in the midst of what many would consider extreme
poverty by American standards, again I saw something.

The people were quite happy.

The ability to sense spirit is something God gave me long ago.
When I sold newspapers as a boy through many of the neighborhoods
in Atlanta, the minute people opened the door, I could sense
whether the house was happy or sad.

I sold newspapers in the richest and poorest of neighborhoods.
Both had their share of happy and sad homes.

The guide told us as we walked through the village with the
doorless huts, "We marry around 13 or 14."

"13 or 14?" I repeated, amazed at such a young marrying age.

"What is the divorce rate?" I asked.

"Less than 5%," he replied.

Again I saw that material possessions don't guarantee happiness.
We have relatively huge wealth along with a relatively huge
divorce rate.



Principle #6 - One American family has contributed to more
financial disaster than any other.
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Joneses.

Because we often try to keep up with the Joneses, it strains our
finances to the limit and beyond. My father, often quoted,
"If your outgo exceeds your income then your upkeep will become
your downfall."

Too often we live way above our means. I have always had enough
money because I have always kept my expenses well below my income.
Whether you earn millions or minimum wage, the principle applies.

Years ago my wife began selling a nutritional system.
The system had a cassette tape explaining it. She went
throughout several Atlanta upper income neighborhoods putting
the tapes in mailboxes.

She only selected the fancy houses as she only had a limited
number of tapes.

Six people responded wanting the system. The system cost $100.

Of the six people who responded, not ONE had $100. Each had a
story of why they had to wait until payday or could only pay a
part now but none had $100.

"How could that be?" my wife asked. "I specifically only put
these tapes in BIG houses. They all had two fancy cars and
$200,000 plus houses. How could their finances be so tight that
they don't have $100?" she kept asking me.

Because they lived next to The Joneses,
who lived next to The Joneses, who lived next to The Joneses,
who lived next to ...



Principle #7 - Lack of a budget.
-----------------------------------------------------------
At the church, I have a financial expert teach a class each
month. It is a six-part series that we repeat each six months.
It teaches people how to manage their money. We often tell
people in the church to give 10% of their money to the church,
but we give them no knowledge on how to manage the other 90%.

People came to me with testimonies about how the class changed
their financial lives. The first thing the expert did was to
have everyone create a budget.

NO ONE had a budget. No one could say exactly how much they
were spending. Sure, they all knew what the rent or mortgage
was, but it was often the "other" stuff that sunk them. No one
could tell you with any degree of accuracy exactly what they
were spending as a total.

The expert told the story of how one lady had come to him for a
loan. She wanted to buy a car. She was going to pay for the
car by the week at one of those "pay by the week" places.

She got angry at him when he would not lend her the money.
He had her to do a budget. When she did, she was shocked to see
that the weekly payments plus what she was spending on other
stuff added up to more than what she was earning. If he had
loaned her the money for the down payment on the car, it would
have been sure financial disaster.

WRITE IT DOWN exactly how much you spend each month on
EVERYTHING. You may be surprised. Just something as simple as
a two pack a day cigarette habit is $200.00 per month.



Principle #8 - Learn the principle of giving.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I cannot logically explain this, but I know it is true. It is
no accident that the U.S. is the most prosperous country on the
face of the earth, but we also give more than any other country
on earth.

Yes, I know the U.S. has flaws but that doesn't change the
principle or the result. We benefit from our benevolence;
we suffer for our malice.

God spoke a Word of Wisdom to me personally concerning money.

"Anything beyond sufficiency is insignificant."

It has taken me a long time to understand that but the longer I
live, the more convinced I am of that truth.

Money is similar to food. You need it; if you run short, it gets
very uncomfortable and even unhealthy. Yet excess consumption
has great dangers. Having excess food is wonderful if you do
the right thing. The problem is not in having the excess; the
excess is a blessing. The challenge is in doing the right thing
with the excess.

Even the Old Testament of the Bible listed lack of both money and
food as a curse and its abundance a blessing. The problem was
that it wasn't long after the abundance that the people became
corrupt. It is very hard to keep abundance in balance.

That's why Jesus said it was HARD for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of God.

Money has always been and always will be an issue.
It traps most in this world; it even traps most of us preachers.

"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one
and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise
the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
The Pharisees, (ministers and priests) who loved money, heard all
this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, "You are the ones
who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts.
What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.
(Luke 16:13-15 NIV)

The messages of this week have presented you with the principles
for abundance and some guidance for using the abundance.

I wrote an issue on what God specifically spoke to me concerning
how to handle the blessing of money.
Click here to read it http://www.mountainwings.com/past/3249.htm

Remember that a golden chain binds just as tight as an iron one.