payday

Today, payday, I thank God for His abundant provision.

rain

I recently called in to Kenneth Copeland Ministries talking about how I told the rain to stop by such and such time and it did, and the prayer minister reminded me that that is subject to the will of the Holy Spirit. It's good to be reminded that, by my own power (and I knew this), I couldn't affect this thing. The minister said you get that unction by the Holy Spirit--so the Holy Spirit says, "Command the rain to stop", and the person obeys, believing, and it stops. By ourselves, we can't even wake up in the morning. But with God, all things, truly, are possible. Glory to God!

doer

Listening to Keith Moore's message "Doer of the Word, part 2", I was struck by how one can gain victory in areas of one's life by seeking first the Kingdom of God--which means putting God first. In money, put God first--this is done by giving the tithe right off the top of whatever comes in. I knew that for years. Here's the kicker: in an area of addiction, you put God first--what does God's Word say about sexual sin, about alcoholism, about lying and so on? Know that and do what that Word says and you'll get free of in that area.

Thank You, Father, for Your Word.

protection

Listening to Billye Brim on "The Believer's Voice of Victory" and she is talking about some things to which I relate that I went through a lot of some years ago--demonic influences and suggestions, bad inclinations--it reminds me of how protected was that I didn't go farther down those roads than I did and how protected I still am and still need to be. Thanks, Father, for Your vigilant protection.

Lord

Listening to Keith Moore--difference shown between Lord and Savior--Lord is boss, the one you obey. Savior is the one who saves you. I know He's my Savior. Today, I reaffirm Him as my Lord. I thank God for that admonition. :)

unbelief

I just got a bit of comeuppance: as Smith Wigglesworth said, "If you've prayed seven times about the same thing, you've prayed six times in unbelief." Listening to a Kenneth E. Hagin message, he reminded us to pray once, believe God heard you, and then if you pray about it again, do it just in a way to remind Him and thank Him for it. See, I knew the Holy Spirit had been on me about that--sometimes, when we're not listening to the Holy Spirit, God resorts to other people to remind us or catch our attention.

Thanks for catching my attention, Father. :)

"accidents"

I don't believe there are such things as accidents. I believe they're hits. Everybody has a spiritual hit put out on them by Satan. Thankfully, many are protected.

protection

I wondered how many times Satan has tried to take me out. God said, "You don't want to know."

Thanks, Father, for the protection.

name it, claim it

So my income might be going down because of getting fewer overtime hours, and I was concerned about that, but, bless God, my job is not my source of supply--God is. The job is where I get the seed, so I'm going to sow and plant that seed and expect a great harvest. Amen.

Thank You, Father, for taking care of me.

Also, thanks to Him for my school loan payments being reduced--I'll just pay interest for now so that won't bite as much as it otherwise would, and that payment is more easily handled than the regular payment. Thank You, Lord, for arranging that.

today...

Today, I thank God for a good trip to and from the Bare Bones Film Festival in Muskogee, for me not freezing onstage, for meeting some cool people, some of whom I already knew, for a trusty camera, Jon letting me use his camera (now I want one!), for a day off Monday, a nice suit, shoe polish, toothpaste and deodorant.

I also thank Him for a nice talk with my boss (no, I'm not in any trouble) and for my boss being cool.

One thing I've also noticed--I've been getting more stuff offered to me since I started sacrificially financially giving more. It works, and it's, for me, the right thing to do. I'm just sayin'... :-)

grace

Today, I'm grateful for a certain grace shown to me. Thanks, Father.

more thanks

I thank God for forgiveness and the new used iPod I just got...for $20.00. Very cool.

thanks

Today, I thank God for Nanos, things working out, getting to perform, YouTube, ease, money, good slippers, a nice shower, my phone and reliable hair clippers.

sufficiency

I am sufficient in Christ. That means I don't need anything more than Christ because He provides all my needs. A car won't make me happy. A fine suit won't make me happy. I can't (or won't) eat a fine house. But through Him, everything I need on every level is met. Pretty cool, huh?

Thanks, Father.

Yesterday's post

See the previous (timewise) post. I keep doing these because I'm led to, and if one person dediates their life to the Lord, it's worth repeating these posts.

salvation prayer

If you feel led to pray this, then do so, out loud: "Jesus, take my life and do something with it. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' Name, amen." If you prayed that and meant it, congratulations. You're saved. Welcome to the family of God. Now find a church that preaches the Bible and get into it, and get a good translation of the Bible and start reading it. There are lots of reading plans online.

words

Amazing how the Holy Spirit gives us just the right words for situations if we'll just let Him, as He has recently with me. Thanks again, Father.

vegetables

I usually hate vegetables. Had some baby carrots and ranch dressing today. Not so bad. Kinda good, actually. Thanks for helping me decide to like them, Father. :) "Baby steps," God said. :)

defend

I just read something I had a problem with and wanted to defend. God said, "I can defend myself." I accepted that, which is a different level for me. Thanks again, Father.

wow

Wow. Just thinking of what I was like in college, stuff I used to do and still call myself a Christian and comparing that with now (still a problematic enough time). I'm amazed I got through. Thanks, Father, for your patience and forgiveness.

thanks

I thank God for technology that works, for my sister Jeri and conversation, my brother Todd and same, for his children (of which I am privileged to be uncle), for my job, for the church service this morning, for my pastor, my knowledge, my computer and for bipartisanship and for political independence.

gratitude

I also thank God for iMovie, ease of use of technology, the film being done, help from others, a good recreational movie, time to relax, the drive not to do so too much, understanding of lyrics of certain songs, ease of communication, and resolve.

Thank You, Father.

pride

I thank God for swallowing of pride and for help.

I thank God

Today, now, I thank God for correcting me and encouraging me to keep my word.

healing

Right now, I praise God for manifested healing. There was an injury, self-inflicted, to my hand. It's about cleared up now. :)

Thank You, Father.

salvation prayer

I feel led to share this: If you feel like you should pray this, then do so out loud: "Lord Jesus, take my life and do something with it." If you prayed that and meant it, congratulations. Welcome to the family of God. If you're not in one already, find a good church that preaches the Word of God and get a good Bible, one you can understand, and get in it. There are many resources on the web. Myself, I like Biblegateway.com, though I'm not shilling for them. Again, welcome. We love you.

Job

God guided me to read the third verse of Job. I assume He meant chapter 1, verse 3. As I did, it said how much stuff Job had. However, I read further and saw that Job offered sacrifices after his sons' feasts in case they had sinned and cursed God in their hearts. In case. He didn't know. He probably thought he was just being careful. He was acting out of fear.

He had no evidence that they had done something wrong; He just thought maybe they did, and that's a fear-based thought. Oftentimes, what seems good can be just based in fear. That's not good.

Thank You, Father, for that light.

The Word is not software

I believe God said it to me as I was listening to Copeland: "The Word is not software. It doesn't need an upgrade."

Thank You, Father, for Your Word.

actually

Actually, I don't know for sure whether "and to give you have to receive" was from me or from God--either way, it's true. I suspect, after all, it was probably me just because of how I sorta grinned, not in a good way, at the thought of receiving...As you can tell, I'm still very much a work in progress.

I asked God, and I feel like He said, "Yours, Sean; that thought was yours. All I said was 'give'."

Thank You, Father, for clearing that up. :)

giving and philanthropy

I was just watching a clip with Eastman Curtis on "Making it Happen", and I was reminded of how I found out what I was to do with my life; I wanted to be the world's biggest philanthropist. I remember I was walking by a bookstore, which has little to do with the vision but just was where I was, and God said "Give". This was in answer to what to do with my life. And then I thought I had added, "And to give, you have to receive--you have to have something to give." All this time, nearly 15 years, I doubted the validity of that because I thought maybe I had been the one to add that. Turns out I wasn't--I think God might have said that. "Give. And to give, you have to receive." I thought it was me because it seemed like a greedy thought--I'll get all this stuff and then give it away, but the emphasis was on getting all this stuff. Well, now I have stuff, and I am reluctant to give it away, but if God gives me clear direction to give it, then I will. Giving is so important, and so is receiving.

I also remember I was planning how to get lots of money. Writing--pursued that for a while and got little monetary compensation but a lot of experience. Acting--they get rich--which I do now. And I know not all actors get rich. Not that many of them, actually. What I need to do, and I probably knew this for some time, as to follow God's leading, look at my talents and abilities and use them for God. That's all. The money will follow. Like Steve Jobs says, if you take care of the top line, the bottom line will follow.

I don't know if I'll ever be the world's biggest philanthropist money-wise, but then it doesn't take all that much. The biggest philanthropist I know of was the widow referred to by Jesus in the Bible--and all that took was two mites.

Thank You, Father, for perspective and proportion.

God's blessing

Sometimes, as I'm listening to this Kenneth Copeland Ministries message, we think that the way God's going to bless us is that a bag of money will show up at our doorstep, that we'll win the lottery, blah, blah, blah. What actually happens, although that stuff can happen, is more likely that God will work through the avenues we have open. Better job salary, more hours, other things just in our everyday life. As we listen to Him and follow Him, He provides--maybe not in a spectacular way, but He gets it done.

Thank You, Father, for getting it done.

"how much more..."

In Luke 12:28, the Bible's talking about how valuable we are and how God will take care of us when we follow Him. I was, until today, doubtful about that "how much more..." part, as though it was an add-in or a question. Today, as I was listening to a message delivered by Kenneth Copeland, God showed me that that part was left in by God; it is something He meant us to know and take hold of, an illustration of how generous God is--that His care for the lilies of the field is such that they look even better than Solomon in all his splendor, and that God cares for us much more than flowers. It's awesome how much God cares for us and the level to which He wants to bring us and on which and how much He wants to bless us. I think I'm starting to get it.

Thank You, Father, for showing me that You meant that "how much more" part in a generous, not a questioning, way. :)

provision

Today, after I got prayer for God's provision, I thank God for His provision. Turns out I have more than I thought.

Thank You, Father. :)

blessing

"Blessing: a vessel of God that prevents misfortune in the lives of others."

Father, thank You that I am blessed to be a blessing.

thanks

Today, I thank God for: healing in my body and healing in a friend's body after prayer; for ice cream, twice-baked potatoes, tater tots and eggs, Facebook, shelter, my car, Winona Ryder, Sigourney Weaver and reasonable leadership.

Thank You, Father, for all of these/them.

encouraging news

Got some encouraging news from my actor's union today. Very honoring. I thank God for it.

Thanks, Father. :-)

and

I also thank Him for showing me a tax form I needed. Seems a small thing? It's not.

Thank You, Father, for that, too.

provision

Today I also thank God for His provision--provided without me even noticing. :)

Thanks, Father, for that.

Jeremiah 1-7

Just read Jeremiah 1-7 as part of a reading plan I'm following. Out loud. Wow. Try it. God was sooo mad at Israel and Judah, but he had Jeremiah write all this stuff, this onslaught of words from Him, down because it still applies, what they were doing, today. He had Jeremiah write it down for posterity--for us--to take warning from. I take it by faith.

Thank You for the warning, Father. Wow.

God reassures

Today, God reassured me.

Thank You, Father, for that.

the God Who forgives

God said to me, "I am the God who forgives." and "the reason you think I don't forgive you is because you don't forgive yourself."

Thanks for pointing that out, Father. I forgive myself.

God did it again

I was having some unusual pain in my shoulder and hand (though the hand had happened before)--prayed for them and believed I received peace (wholeness) on them. Now, maybe two hours later at most, they're better. Thanks, Father.

one blessed dude

I tell you what, I'm watching "WWE: Smackdown!" and a clip from "Monday Night Raw" where Shawn MIchaels, a mainstay in the professional wrestling world is saying goodbye and people are saying "Thank You, Shawn". I'm not drawing a comparison between Shawn Michaels and myself except to say this: it made me appreciate once again the favor shown to me--people have, in the main, treated me well, treated me favorably, sometimes I don't even know why. They say I'm likable, I guess. I say I'm thankful.

Never forget to say "thank you".

To everybody I know: Thank you.

As ever, especially to God: Thank You, Father. In You, I am truly blessed.

grace

Got some more grace shown to me--I called a guitar store saying I wouldn't be able to make a payment on the guitar I have on lay-away until a certain date range. They said they would just not mention it and that it would probably be okay. Even if not, I can get it online when I have more money, and I haven't sunk that much dough into it yet.

Thank You, Father, for grace and understanding.

-love, Sean

willing to be willing; or: obedience

I was taking out my trash in several trips and noticed the light in my neighbor's car was on. Had been for awhile. I didn't want to disturb them but felt like I should warn the owner, so their battery wouldn't be dead by the time she got on her way home. So I went over and knocked on the door. No answer. Not long before I would have knocked again, I looked at the car again. The light had gone off.

God said, "I just wanted you to be willing to inconvenience yourself for somebody else. Congratulations; you've passed the test."

I don't know what test that was, but I thank God for being able to be willing to be willing. And obedient.

God just told me what that test was: obedience. Thank You, Father. :-)

Ken Hagin quote

Listening to Ken Hagin--"the Church does not exist for the saved but for the unsaved." Wow. When you think about, that'll get one's attention.

Thank You, Father, for Ken Hagin and for speaking through him.

today

Today, remembering Jesus' resurrection, I'm reminded of what really happened today--Jesus rose from the grave, part of what saved us. The most valuable thing I can offer is this prayer, and I invite you to pray it aloud: "Jesus, come into my heart. Take my life and do something with it. Thank You, Lord Jesus." If you prayed that prayer just now, congratulations and welcome; you're saved. Now I suggest you get into a good church where the Word of God is preached and get a good Bible, one you understand and get into it. Again, welcome. God bless you. :-D

priorities

So I agreed to work for a co-worker today, not remembering that this is Easter. Why? Easter wasn't important enough to me, though it's the most important holiday to me. Easter needs to be more important to me, just as God needs to be more important to me, even though I don't want to imagine life without Him.

Father, please bring me to the place where I do not forget Easter. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Thank You, Father, for reminding me and showing me why this happened. :-)

politicking

Something God showed me while a prayer minister at Kenneth Copeland Ministries was praying for me: (for the Christian) all advancement comes from Him, so no politicking.

Thanks, Father.

He does make things simple if we let Him. :)

grace

Got some grace on some payments because, in one case, of stuff out of my control. Glory to God for that! :) God always provides, one way or another.

Thanks, Father!

and another thing

Here's more good news: when I came in to work today, I found that, during the next two weeks, I'll be getting 92 regular hours plus about 16 or so overtime hours, and a lot of this with that 8% raise! This is very good news and will help a lot.

Thanks again, Father. :-D