Matt compared taking care of your spirit consistently like you take care or your physical body. He emphasized the importance of journaling to REMEMBER and to record your journey with God. He talked about the value of 2-way journaling.

Here is an outline of Matt’s message:

1) Check my spiritual breathing
a) Exhale – Confess sin (1 John 1:9)
b) Inhale – Ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18)
c) Permission Prayer – “Whatever You tell me to do, I’ll do.”

2) Read/Listen to the Bible

Hebrews 4:12a – For the word of God is LIVING and powerful

a) Realize God is speaking to you as you read.

The Bible is more like a love letter than a manual for life.

“The Bible is not something that leads to a connection with God. It is the connection with God.”

b) Read 1-4 chapters daily as you systematically read through the Bible.

3) Journal – Write out the completion of these statements:
a) The most meaningful statement or verse that I encountered today is …
b) Today, God I hear you saying to me: “[Your name], …”
c) In response to You, God, I want to …

4) Memorize scripture (Joshua 1:8)
a) Write out th most meaningful verse of the day on a 3×5 card
b) Read the verse out loud 10 times each day
c) Repeat; Repeat; Repeat
d) Share this verse with someone else today!

5) Pray to God – Writ out your prayers to God.

6) Praise God!
a) Tell God how great He is!
b) Thank Him for what He has done!

COMMITMENTS
1) When am I going to meet with God EACH day?
2) Where am I going to meet with God EACH day?
3) How long am I going to meet with God EACH day?
4) What resources do I need to meet with God EACH day?

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, I want to draw closer to You. I want to spend more time in Your holy temple, dwelling under the shadow of Your wings. Help me with my spiritual breathing, meditating on Your holy Word morning and night, and praying to and praising You more consistently. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Blessings to honor God in your most important workout!

Joseph Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR and The Journal Guy
Founder and Executive Director of Webinars777
Changing Lives to Disciple Nations
Community Transformation Specialist

P.S. Sign up TODAY for my free E-course ““30 Days To Breakthrough” God wants to transform your life NOW!

P.S.S. Spiritual Journaling will transform your life!

UNCOMMON Journaling is the key
to unlock YOUR dreams!

Welcome to Day #2 of your “30 Days To Breakthrough” journey.

Yesterday, we began addressing the issue of Stewarding Your TIME. We learned the importance of Redeeming The Time, what that means, why it’s so important, and some simple ways to do that.

If you missed that lesson, please go back and catch up. Do it NOW!

Here is your daily quote, lesson, question, link, and prayer.

QUOTE
The unexamined life is not worth living! — Socrates

LESSON
In his book “The Life You’ve Always Wanted,” John Ortberg teaches spiritual disciplines for ordinary people.

In Chapter 5 titled “An Unhurried Life,” John explains “the practice of ’slowing’.” He states that not long after moving to Chicago, he called the wisest spiritual mentor he has ever known to ask for spiritual direction. John described the pace at which things tended to move in his current setting. He told about the rhythms of his family life and the present condition of his heart. Then John asked what he needed to do to be spiritually healthy. After a long pause, the wise mentor answered “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” After writing down that lesson, John asked “Now what else is there?” Another long pause and then the answer came “There is nothing else.”

John states: “The lives of the hurry-sick lack simplicity. Hurried people cannot love. Today we have largely traded wisdom for information. Love and hurry are incompatible. Jesus never hurried. Solitude is the remedy for the busyness that charms.”

To be spiritually healthy, you must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life!

And journaling is one of the best disciplines to slow down your RPM’s from 10,000 to 5,000 to 500.

QUESTION (write down your what comes to your heart)
Lord, what one simple action step can I take to slow down the pace of my life.

LINK of the Day
An Unhurried Life

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I praise as the great I AM, the God who wants me to be still to know You. I confess that the pace of my life is too fast. It seems the harder I work, the further behind I get. Will You help me to slow down to smell the roses. I need your help. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Blessings to use journaling to slow down and reflect!

R. Joseph Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR and The Journaling Guy

TEAM DESTINY

P.S. Sign up TODAY for my free E-course ““30 Days To Breakthrough” God wants to transform your life NOW!

P.S.S. Spiritual Journaling will transform your life!

UNCOMMON Journaling is the key
to unlock YOUR dreams!

An Unhurried Life

In leadership and management the talk is about the “tyranny of the urgent” – when you put off doing the most important thing because you are too busy with taking care of details around you. Companies spend millions of dollars investing in training leaders how to keep from “being busy at the expense of being productive.” Why are we surprised at that? Look at the way we live! Is an unhurried life possible? Or, to put it another way, “Is it possible to live a productive life in an unhurried manner?”

I think most people think that when I speak of an “unhurried life,” I mean one that is laid back and almost lazy. In America to be successful is to appear to be “busy”, especially when you live in the suburbs. There are more good things, good in and of themselves, to be involved in as suburbanites that we try to be involved in everything possible. We end up feeling like we live life on a treadmill. The more I think about it, the more I have come to realize that “busyness” – living in a hurry – is the easiest thing we do. In fact, it takes more diligence to live an unhurried life than to live at seventy miles per hour day in and day out. Recently I realized that for the past few months I have unreflectively lived a very hurried life. I was thinking about this when my mother pointed it out to me, and I knew it was time to slow down, take inventory and use available resources to figure out how to get off the treadmill.

Jesus got a lot done, but he never seemed to be in a hurry. He had time to work and time to build meaningful relationships with the people around him. When he was with people he was “in the moment.” He was focused on them and not rushed to get on to next big ministry. With only three years to do his life’s work, he got through it with integrity. So forget all your theology for a minute and just look at Jesus. The way he lived his life should serve as an example to us. His was an “unhurried life.” He lived in our humanity with all the limitations of time and space. He had the same twenty-four hours that we do, and yet his pace seems to be, well – human. Jesus reminds me that ultimately the “Jones” are not the model for my life – Jesus is, and I will never be happy and holy unless I am willing to look to him as the model for my life and not the latest book of how productive I can be.

The second place I check when my navigation is off and I am feeling rushed by the cares of the world is Eugene Peterson. In Subversive Spirituality, he is brutal when it comes to busyness. When asked the question: “How does busyness affect our spiritual lives?” He says this, “Busyness is the enemy of spirituality. It is essentially laziness. It is doing the easy thing instead of the hard thing. It is filling our time with our own action instead of paying attention to God’s actions. It is taking charge.” Ouch! Busyness is basically an unreflective life. A life lived at break-neck speed is a life that is not asking the important questions like – “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose?” “Who are the people that need me the most?” Life that is lived in a hurry, always running from one thing to the next, is the surest way to never progress in the gospel!

Development of the soul – a well-lived life with God, building relationships with people and work are the hardest things we ever do. It is a pilgrimage that demands constant attention and constant questioning. The models of success we see flaunted in the culture and the ones we see written across Scripture are simply not the same. When we get busy, whether at work, church or with anything for that matter, what always suffers are the relationships of people closest to us – our family and those people around us. Yesterday, my son’s friend drove our four-wheeler through a chain link fence. It is only by God’s grace he wasn’t hurt badly. (And that he didn’t tear up my four-wheeler!) He did mess up the gear shifter though, and when I went by the house today, my neighbor, who is an airplane mechanic, was fixing it. I have lived across the street from him for six years and today was the first time I ever engaged him in authentic conversation. Why? I am too busy! Am I so busy that I can’t even know my neighbor? Is that what I learn from Jesus? Is that the gospel model want to leave to my children?

I don’t much think that an unhurried life is much of an ideal any more. If not, who will model a life well-lived in a culture that is moving so fast it has to have a nervous breakdown if something doesn’t change? I wonder what would happen if there was a community of folk who decided to examine their lives and, with God’s help, chose to live at a human pace. I don’t know. Would they be thought of as weird? Maybe. Would they be thought of as lazy? Some would. Would people begin to wonder how this was possible and ask how? Absolutely! It would be the most radical thing to ever hit suburbia America.

An unhurried life will only come out of reflection and diligence. It will be far easier to stay busy or say it is a luxury you do not have to actively reflect on the pace and priority of your life. Peterson is right; if we chose to stay busy we are indeed lazy.

Article by
St. Patrick Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 1087 Collierville, TN. 38027
www.stpatrickpres.com

Randy, good morning to you. Thank you for meeting with me first thing this morning. Thank you for your attitude of gratitude and heart to praise Me. I AM the God of peace. I AM He who weeps with those who weep. I AM My Spirit. I AM gracious. I AM the forgiver of all transgressions. I AM the manna that came down from heaven.

Randy, yes, that was Me who just spoke to you. I want You to do a teleseminar interview of John Paul Jackson. I want you to start doing weekly teleseminars or BlogTalkRadio shows with Christian celebrities. That will create tremendous attraction marketing. These leaders will be interested in what you do. I also want you to start weekly teleseminars with Pastor Baker Rigg. He wants to move forward with Web 2.0 technology. I want you to start going to his weekly worship and prayer gatherings on Monday evenings. I AM raising you up to raise up a new standard of prayer in your community.

Randy, it is Me who is making you smile. I AM smiling down upon you. My favor is upon you. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. I AM the God of your salvation.

Randy, right now, I want you to paste your notes from the Utah trip into your journal. Enjoy. Be blessed. Receive what I AM giving you. I AM your protector. My favor will protect you from your enemies. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. I AM smiling down on you. With you I AM well pleased.

Randy, what you have done with the 6 new people in the Prosper Now 777 course is huge. You and your team have helped them load their own space shuttles on the launching pads and now their rockets are firing to launch them forward into their destinies. That makes Me smile. I have blessed you to be a catalyst to release My UNCOMMON favor into My children’s lives. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. I AM smiling upon you.

Wow Jesus. What great encouragement. Thank You. I love You so much. You are the reason I breathe, move, and have my being. You are my morning joy. You are the delight of my days.

I AM your God of promise. I AM returning. I AM He who places your tears in My bottle in My book. I AM God who shows you things to come. I AM the seven spirits and they are Me. Me secrets are with those who fear me.

Randy, it was Me who led you to listen to the I AM – 365 Names of God this morning. I wanted to remind you who I AM and who you are in Me. Victory is here.

Randy, I want you to follow up with the Chamber prospects today. I want you to go to the Culpeper lead share meeting this morning as Chris’ guest. Taste and see that I AM good. I AM the LORD; he who is joined with me is one spirit with Me. I AM the spirit of counsel. I AM your provider. I AM tenderness. I AM the true shepherd. I AM the dispeller of all fear and doubt. I AM interceding for you right now. I AM love.

“I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” – John 10:11

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your practice of STILLNESS?

In December 2006, I stepped away from the highest paying, easiest, most enjoyable anesthesia job of my career in obedience to the Holy Spirit to make 2007 a sabbatical year.

On December 30, 2006 the LORD gave me my theme verse for 2007 – “BE STILL … and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10a).

On January 1, 2007, I began a 21 day fast. On the very first day of that fast (and sabbatical year), the LORD gave me a song — “BE STILL.” That was the only song I received from the LORD that year, so I figure it’s quite significant.

Also on January 1, 2007, I sent a YDB devotional to my followers titled “Be Still.” In that I wrote: “Today begins day #1 of my sabbatical year – a year of rest. Each year since 2003, I have chosen a theme verse for the year. Until just two days ago, I was asking God to let me know His choice for a theme verse for 2007. After watching the “Be Still” DVD on December 30, I immediately knew my theme verse for 2007 is “Be still and know.” That is God’s message for the entire world!!!”

CLICK HERE  to read the rest of that profound message.

This morning (May 26, 2009) while I was journaling, Jesus told me to record the song “BE STILL” and post it online. So I did. Enjoy!

 
Prayer Power
Jesus, we praise You as the God of stillness. Thank You for my practice of being still to know You – the great I AM.

Blessings to BE still and know!

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:20)

What are the current barriers to spiritual health in your life?

Today is Day 4 in our 30 days series titled “One Month To Live,” based on Kerry and Chris Shook’s book by that same title. “One Month To Live empowers you to focus on being who God created you to be – passionate, fully alive, living without regrets.”

I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t settle for an ordinary life anymore. After experiencing the power of God in my life, how could I settle for anything less.

In Chapter 4 of their book, Kerry and Chris talk about the importance of relying on God’s power to accomplish His purposes in our lives. Here are some excerpts:

We need the power to change. The problem is, we often think we can make the necessary changes with a little willpower, and we don’t see how dependent we are on God’s power.

We have to move from willpower to the real power that comes from a connection to our Creator. If you have come to the end of yourself and are exhausted from trying to control your life, Jesus offers you the invitation of a lifetime. In Matthew 11:28, He says “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Spiritual Energy: While our lives include many facets, our spiritual energy is more important than the others, because everything else hinges on it. We usually put a great deal of emphasis on our physical health, and that’s important, but many people completely neglect their spiritual health because they can’t see it… The key to spiritual health is maintaining a strong relationship with your Creator.

Fruitful Living: If you want to reduce your stress, for this month and beyond, then realize your role in life is to stay connected to the vine. Sometimes, I forget my role and try to be the vine. I come up with a plan and a schedule, goals, and an agenda. Then I try to work my plan and make everything happen according to the timetable I’ve set. Finally I get so stressed that I lose all my energy.

Perennial Pruning: Any gardener or vintner knows that pruning is the key to producing the best fruit… Our heavenly Father, the Master Gardener, is an expert pruner. He knows when to cut, where to cut, and how much to cut to produce the best in our lives. The pruning process is always painful, but it’s always productive.

Constant Connection: How do we maintain our connection to the ultimate power source? We need two connections to remain healthy, grow, and produce the best fruit. Constant communication is first. We maintain this connection through conversational prayer. When you wake up in the morning, it’s vital to start your day right by just talking to God. Begin the day with God!

The next element for a healthy spiritual connection is constant confession. When you become aware of something you shouldn’t have said or done, or something you didn’t do but believe you should have, just confess it and move on. We’re all works in progress. Confession simply means you take responsibility for failing and admit it to God rather than making excuses or comparing yourselves to others you think are doing worse.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for this important reminder to stay connected to the Source. Forgive me for times when I try to be the vine. Guide me to let go and let God each day. Jesus, thank You for being my Vine, the Source of everything good within me. Amen and Hallelujah!

Blessings of the Day
1) Make It Last For Life – 3 simple action steps to apply today’s message [see below]

2) Affiliate Marketing free webinar at 11 am EDT today – Learn to leverage other people’s time, money, talents, ideas, and relationships

3) Experiencing God Through Journaling free webinar at 8 pm EDT today. Virginia Morton will be sharing the amazing story behind the Marching Through Culpeper movie project.

“If we don’t act on a good idea within 24 hours, we are less than 50% likely to ever act on it. If we haven’t acted on it inside of days, then we are less than 2% likely to ever act on it.” – Bill Gates

Blessings to stay connected with the ultimate Source!

Randy Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
The Connector – connecting people, ideas, and resources in Christ through the POWER of the Holy Spirit

P.S. At the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders in the U.K. earlier this year, the primary word received was “no more business as usual.”

Zec 4:6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.

——————————————————————————————–

Make It Last For Life – 3 simple action steps to apply today’s message

1) What are the current barriers to spiritual health in your life? In other words, what keeps you from connecting to God as your primary source of spiritual life?

2) Write a letter or prayer to God, being as honest as you can about your present disappointments and frustrations. Consider how those problems or issues might be preparing you for a more fruitful season.

3) How are you doing in the areas of communication and confession? How would you practice them differently if you knew you only had one month to live?

Ex 12:13 ‘Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

What friends do you want to bring to Jesus?

Today many Christians around the world celebrate Holy Thursday in remembrance of Jesus’ “last supper” (Pesach/Passover eve). It’s interesting that this year the Jewish and Christian celebrations of Passover nearly coincide.

Yesterday morning I received an email from Jeff Bernstein sent to his Gates of Zion followers stating:

“Tonight is Pesach/Passover eve. Today on the 14th day of what is the 1st month of the year at twilight each household of Israel killed the Passover lamb and put its blood on the doors of their homes. Passover as far as I know has been celebrated longer than any event in history. Jewish people have observed Passover for over three thousand years! How do we know it is Passover? Look outside this evening. The moon is full. When Israel departed from Egypt they did not have flashlights. God timed it perfectly. A full moon gave light so the entire nation could pack up quickly and leave 400 years of bondage in Egypt. Passover is a powerfully significant feast for both Jews and Gentiles who are grafted onto Israel’s olive tree. It is not that Passover points to the Messiah nor that the Messiah is found within the elements of the Passover Seder Meal. It is more powerful than that. Messiah Yeshua is the Passover!”

On Sunday April 5, Pastor Matt Gregory preached a powerful message titled “Contagious Christian Commissioning.” During that, he laid our four basic objectives that make up the “Job Description of a Contagious Christian.” Those included 1) Deeply understand the substitutionary atonement by Jesus, 2) Always remember what Jesus did, 3) Passionately share about Jesus, and 4) Expectantly live.

At the end of the worship service, Matt commissioned everyone to come forward and nail a card to a large wooden cross with the name of at least one friend they want to bring to Jesus. As part of this commissioning service, Matt challenged each of us to commit to:

1) Pray daily for my friend(s) by name
2) Invest in them as a good friend by caring and serving
3) Invite them to attend the worship service on Easter
4) Fast on Good Friday (April 10)
5) Share my story and God’s message with my friend

Prayer Power
LORD Jesus, thank You for the feast of Passover to celebrate the greatest gift ever given. Thank You that through your death and resurrection, all those who believe and willingly receive your grace have resurrection life in You. Help each of us fully grasp the signficance of this momentous day and Holy Week. Transform us into contagious Christians, not just with the words we share, but with the lives we lead. Amen and Halleluah to You, the Passover lamb.

Blessings of the Day
1) 55 Maxims for Christian Living [see below]

2) Watch “God Pursues A Loving Relationship” – recorded Camtasia video for Week 3 of Experiencing God Through Journaling

3) Receive FREE Chapter 1 of UNCOMMON Wellness Coaching e-book

Blessings for a joyful, meaningful and blessed Passover to all!

———————————————————————

Paideia
Fr. Thomas Hopko’s 55 Maxims for Christian Living
Source: http://dangreeson.tumblr.com/post/31558579/fr-thomas-hopkos-55-maxims-for-christian-living

55 Maxims for Christian Living
by Fr. Thomas Hopko
1. Be always with Christ.
2. Pray as you can, not as you want.
3. Have a keepable rule of prayer that you do by discipline.
4. Say the Lord’s Prayer several times a day.
5. Have a short prayer that you constantly repeat when your mind is not occupied with other things.
6. Make some prostrations when you pray.
7. Eat good foods in moderation.
8. Keep the Church’s fasting rules.
9. Spend some time in silence every day.
10. Do acts of mercy in secret.
11. Go to liturgical services regularly
12. Go to confession and communion regularly.
13. Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings. Cut them off at the start.
14. Reveal all your thoughts and feelings regularly to a trusted person.
15. Read the scriptures regularly.
16. Read good books a little at a time.
17. Cultivate communion with the saints.
18. Be an ordinary person.
19. Be polite with everyone.
20. Maintain cleanliness and order in your home.
21. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby.
22. Exercise regularly.
23. Live a day, and a part of a day, at a time.
24. Be totally honest, first of all, with yourself.
25. Be faithful in little things.
26. Do your work, and then forget it.
27. Do the most difficult and painful things first.
28. Face reality.
29. Be grateful in all things.
30. Be cheerful.
31. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small.
32. Never bring attention to yourself.
33. Listen when people talk to you.
34. Be awake and be attentive.
35. Think and talk about things no more than necessary.
36. When we speak, speak simply, clearly, firmly and directly.
37. Flee imagination, analysis, figuring things out.
38. Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance.
39. Don’t complain, mumble, murmur or whine.
40. Don’t compare yourself with anyone.
41. Don’t seek or expect praise or pity from anyone.
42. We don’t judge anyone for anything.
43. Don’t try to convince anyone of anything.
44. Don’t defend or justify yourself.
45. Be defined and bound by God alone.
46. Accept criticism gratefully but test it critically.
47. Give advice to others only when asked or obligated to do so.
48. Do nothing for anyone that they can and should do for themselves.
49. Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice.
50. Be merciful with yourself and with others.
51. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath.
52. Focus exclusively on God and light, not on sin and darkness.
53. Endure the trial of yourself and your own faults and sins peacefully, serenely, because you know that God’s mercy is greater than your wretchedness.
54. When we fall, get up immediately and start over.
55. Get help when you need it, without fear and without shame.

then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. (Hebrews 10:9)

Who do you know that will benefit from participating in this new online community to experience God in fresh and exciting ways?

Will you invite them? If so, when?

I’m thrilled to report what the Holy Spirit birthed this morning. The outcome from this will be extraordinary.

Tomorrow (March 24) I’m launching a brand new, 12-week series of webinars on Tuesday evenings covering much of the material in Henry Blackaby’s book Experiencing God. You, your family, and your friends are invited to participate in this world-wide, online LIFE group. This is free and will be inspirational and transformational. To learn more and register, see today’s Blessings of the Day.

What makes this LIFE group different than most, if not all, previous Experiencing God life groups around the world is that this one is online and will integrate online journaling. Because it’s online, people from different countries will be able to interact live during each webinar. God will use this venue to build and unite a vibrant online community of disciples of Jesus. And through the life and leadership coaching by Jerry Graham and me, participants will be propelled forward into their destinies.

In his outstanding book “Experiencing God,” Henry Blackaby writes, “In the mind and teaching of Jesus, a church was a vital, living, dynamic fellowship of believers. The Greek word “koinonia,” most frequently translated “fellowship,” is the best way to describe what a church ought to be.”

Henry Blackaby writes, “When God speaks, it is important to write down what He says.” While Henry talks some about journaling in his book, he doesn’t go into nearly the depth we will. Bruce Wilkinson, in his book “Secrets of the Vine,” shares how journaling played a key role in him breaking through to a deeper abiding in Jesus and a life filled with fruitfulness. Yet, Bruce doesn’t explain how to journal strategically.

On several occasions during my 2-way journaling, Jesus has told me, “Coaching people to journal to hear My voice is your sweet spot.” The LORD has wired me to be an UNCOMMON Journaler, spending hours each day journaling strategically. Why? Mark Jarvis says if a leader must jump six feet if he wants his followers to jump six inches.

There’s a huge miracle story behind the Experiencing God Through Journaling series. I’ll share more about that later this week.

Prayer Power
Most gracious and merciful heavenly Father, we praise You as the Master with the master plan. Thank You for birthing this UNCOMMON idea and opportunity today. May you bless the launch of this new online community. Thank You for the many, many people around the world who will be transformed as a result. Jesus, we humble ourselves before You acknowledging that You are the King of kings and the LORD of lords, the Holy One of Israel. Amen and hallelujah!

Blessings of the Day
1) “The Birth of Life Skills Coaching” [http://webinars777.com/the-birth-of-life-skills-coaching/] – free webinar at 11 am EST on Tues March 24, featuring Ben Stewart, my top business coach

2) “Experiencing God Through Journaling” [http://webinars777.com/gods-will-and-your-life/] LIFE Group – Tues March 24 (8 pm EST) is the launch of a vital, living, dynamic fellowship of believers, featuring a 12-week series of webinars

3) Download free Intro to UNCOMMON Journaling For Breakthroughs

4) Invest in my “UNCOMMON Journaling For Breakthroughs” ebook with audio

5) Begin 45 day free trial of The Journal software

“If we don’t act on a good idea within 24 hours, we are less than 50% likely to ever act on it. If we haven’t acted on it inside of days, then we are less than 2% likely to ever act on it.” – Bill Gates

Blessings to learn to discern God’s will as you live your everyday life!

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Ephesians 3:20)

Are you chasing the Wild Goose?
If not now, when?

I’m so excited. My spirit is jumping with joy. This week I’m on the verge of perhaps the greatest breakthrough of my life and I see breakthroughs happening all around me. I see the favor of God upon TEAM DESTINY and JIREH Marketing Members. I’ll be sharing about some of those this week and next. The keyword for this week is “WILD GOOSE.”

My prayer is that you will catch the Holy Spirit fever and choose to jump into His flowing river of living water. The Wild Goose chase has begun and we’re going after Him. Incidentally, Mark Batterson wrote a sequel to his “Chase The Lion” book called “Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God.”

In that book, Mark shares: “Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit –An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….

Today, allow me to share an amazing God story about Dewey McDonnell that is unfolding quickly. For more than 3 years, Dewey McDonnell has played a lead role on our core team for Pray Culpeper. He was one of the first people to sign up to be on my intercessory prayer team for Your Daily Blessing when that was formally announced in November 2008.

When I asked people on my intercessory prayer team to submit their own prayer requests so I could pray about those, Dewey responded asking me to pray for 3 things. One of those was for multiplication of the Experiencing God LIFE groups that Pastor Mark Jenkins had helped ignite back in September 2008.

Little did I know that I would become part of one of those Experiencing God LIFE groups and that we would meet at Elizabeth Powell’s beautiful home, just one mile from where I live. As a result of the first meeting, the “Experiencing God Through Journaling” webinar series was birthed. Two days ago, I emailed Richard Blackaby to open a door to discuss partnering with Blackaby Ministries and Lifeway Christian Resources to launch “Experiencing God” webinars world-wide.

Because of my involvement with the “Experiencing God” LIFE group, I learned that Katherine McDonnell, Dewey’s daughter competing in the ACC Championship swim meet taking place on Feb 20-21.

On Sunday Feb 22, Dewey sent an email sharing that Katherine helped lead her University of Virginia (UVA) swim team to a second straight ACC Championship. Her IM medley team broke UVA’s all-time record. Katherine also place second overall in the 100m breaststroke and third in the 200m breaststroke, eclipsing her previous best times and qualifying her for the national meet in Dallas.

Prayer Power
Daddy, thank You for inviting me to take part in the Wild Goose chase. Thank you for the thrill and unpredictability in chasing Him. Please invite my followers to join in this chase of their lifetime. Jesus, you’re the best! It’s in Your precious and mighty name I pray. Amen and hallelujah!

Blessings of the Day
1) “Journaling For Breakthroughs” – FREE webinar at 3pm EST on Tuesday March 3. Lynne Lee, a certified life coach, avid journaler, and Web 2.0 authority from England. will be interviewing me. This is the inaugural Launch of Christian LIFE Coaching Cafe. This is the first time I am being interviewed over the web about journaling to hear God’s voice.

2) Highlights and breakthroughs for me during the past 3 weeks (see below)

Blessings to join the Wild Goose chase!

Breaking News
Culpeper gets hit by its first major snow storm of the year

Randy Peck’s update for his Relational Coaching Network (RCN) cell group meeting on Feb 26, 2009

1) What have you done or what is going on in your life in the areas we discussed in our last call?

• I’ve been working feverishly to prepare the way for mass marketing of my journaling e-book. Lynne Lee has helped to propel me forward.
• Jerry, Sharon, and I recorded 3 more Wellness webinars together in the process of creating a Wellness e-book and paid course
• I interviewed Deb Smith having her share her God story and vision to create an e-book to monetize her coaching business through an Information product.
• Julia and I are continuing with our Finance LIFE group on Saturday mornings led by Pastor Matt and benefiting greatly

2) What is new in your life since we last met that you’d like the others in the group to know?

• Lynne Lee is a mother of 5 in England, certified life coach, avid two-way journaler, and Web 2.0 authority. As a result of Lynne asking to interview me on her inaugural webinar for her new Christian Life Coaching on Mar 3, I had 2 long and extremely valuable online strategy sessions with her in the past 2 weeks. As a result of that, I opened a KickStart (1shoppingcart) account 2 days ago to not only sell products, but to manage all my contact lists and handle all my autoresponders. I now have my free ebook and $77 version available there for purchase. I have substantially improved my Lead Generation and Sales pages.
• I connected at the heart level with Debra Bosacki, an avid journaler for 29 years. As a result Jerry and I interviewed her on our “Experiencing God Through Journaling” webinar on Feb 24.Because of that, I discovered Xiosoft Audio. That has the best Sales page I have ever seen. Jesus told me to invite Debra to a Joint Venture opportunity to co-host weekly “Journaling Cafe” webinars at 3 pm EST on Thursdays starting in March.
• I emailed Mark Virkler Jerry and my “Summary proposal for Joint Venture between Christian Leadership University and JIREH Marketing”
•  Through Jack Stagman, I connected with Chauncey Hutter, one of the leading marketplace ministers in the state of Virginia
• I began helping Mike and Valerie Webb launch their marketing campaign via Web 2.0 for Great Outdoor Endeavors
• The LORD revealed His assignment for Marching Through Culpeper to Virginia Morton and me – “Bringing truth, understanding, and reconciliation”
• Through Twitter and my weekly webinars, I connected personally with Chicke Fitzgerald, perhaps the greatest connectors I have ever met

3) What’s a win or good thing that happened that you’d like to celebrate with us?

• Dewey McDonnell’s daughter, Katherine, helped lead her team to a second straight ACC championship in swimming. Her IM relay team won first place and broke the all-time ACC record. Katherine won second place in the 100m breast stroke and third place in the 200m breast stroke. Dewey is part of the core team for Pray Culpeper.
• Jesus told me to partner with Henry Blackaby, his son, and Lifeway Christina Resources to launch world-wide “Experiencing God Through Journaling” webinars! By combining online journaling, life coaching, and Web 2.0 with what they already are doing around the world, there will be Explosive Kingdom Impact.
• GW Dameron, pastor of City on a Hill Church in Culpeper, found a new job after being laid off in Nov 2008.

4. What’s something that you might like to bring to the group this week?

a) Need continued prayer to complete my “UNCOMMON Journaling For Breakthroughs” ebook. Completing this will release a log jam of ideas and opportunities that God has been waiting to birth.
b) UNCOMMON Favor for webinar interview by Lynne Lee on Tues March 3
c) Need lots of prayer for God’s favor to effectively market “Experiencing God Through Journaling” webinars. That might well turn out to be my bread and butter business opportunity.

We have a living God, a speaking God! One who loves us, His children, and He particularly loves to speak to us! He can speak to any one of us who love Him.

“In the Last Days I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17).

You might be thinking, “I read the Bible every day, so I’m hearing from the Lord every day.” While it’s good to read the Bible, the recorded Word of the Lord, which is the foundation of our Christian faith, it’s wonderful to also hear straight from the Lord and “take heed to His sure word of prophecy, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in our hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).

His Word says to “Stir up the gift of God which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6). So, every day should be a new experience for us, a new listening to the Voice of the Lord. Why live only on yesterday�s spiritual food, when we can have fresh “manna from Heaven” (John 6:58) every day? Jesus still speaks today! Listen to what He told me on June 15, 2008:

I have the KEYS – simple keys to BREAKTHROUGH. It’s not complicated. You have to trust me on this. Just keep writing down what You hear me saying. I know what works and what doesn’t. I am the Alpha and Omega, so I see the end from the beginning. I have to show You before you can show others. What you shared at Soul Purpose Church today was good. Even though it seems that most people didn’t get it, seeds were planted. You have a generous heart. What you’re doing in secret, I will reward openly. That’s My word – that’s My promise.

BREAKTHROUGH RESOURCES

• #WFJ: THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS IS CHRIST! (Dec 19, 2009)
• #WFJ: The $14,400 Miracles (Dec 12, 2009)
• #WFJ: The Spiritual Triangle Between Virginia, the U.K., and Italy (Dec 5, 2009)
• Opportunities to invest in yourself and the Kingdom of God (Nov 4, 2009)
• The Angel Breakthrough and the $14,400 Miracle (Sep 14, 2009)

Words from Jesus to R. Joseph Peck, “a pen in God’s hand, giving love a voice”

• #WFJ: Praise Me with your whole heart! (April 23, 2010)
• #WFJ: Rejoice Greatly (April 21, 2010)
• #WFJ: Keep my words, and treasure my commands within you (April 8)
• #WFJ: Thank you for your willingness to go a NEW DIRECTION (March 31, 2010)
• #WFJ: You are a COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION SPECIALIST (March 14, 2010)
• #WFJ: Can A Nation Be Born In A Day? (March 3, 2010)
• #WFJ: I ALWAYS bless My Word (Feb 16, 2010)
• #WFJ: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard (Feb 15, 2010)
• #STJ: Open my eyes LORD that I may see (Feb 9, 2010)
• #WFJ: Thinking Big and Acting Small (humility) is the key to every highly successful business (Jan 22, 2010)
• #WFJ: VISION CASTING for the next decade (Jan 20, 2010)
• #WFJ: Randy, you have discovered the key to opening the door to anyone or any organization (Jan 19, 2010)
• #WFJ: My sheep are hungry for more of Me and My holy Word (Jan 18, 2010)
• #WTJ: I Stand Amazed In All Of Your Glory (Jan 17, 2010)
• #WFJ: I AM a warrior and My kingdom is spread by force (Jan 11, 2010)
• #WFJ: I AM married to Israel (Jan 9, 2010)
• #WFJ: INTIMACY is the keyword for this year and decade! (Jan 8, 2010)
• #WFJ: The fear of Me is a fountain of life (Jan 7, 2010)
• #WFJ: I AM the cup of the blood (Jan 5, 2010)
• #WFJ: I AM the liberty you seek through my Spirit (Jan 4, 2010)
• #WFJ: I have been guiding you each and every day of 2009 (Jan 1, 2010)
• #WFJ: Come Home My Children – I AM Throwing a Party! (Dec 25, 2009, Nancy Slocum)
• #WFJ: Cherish Julia. Honor her. Treat her as you would Me (Dec 23, 2009)
• #WFJ: I have been enlightening you (Dec 21 2009)
• #WFJ: Let Freedom Ring (Dec 18 2009)
• #WFJ: I AM a God of miracles (Dec 17 2009)
• #WFJ: What if I blessed you with something much better (Dec 16 2009)
• #WFJ: Randy, please tell me what you want for Christmas (Dec 15 2009)
• #WFJ: I have called you friends (Dec 12 2009)
• #WFJ: BE in Me and in My Word (Dec 5 2009)
• #WFJ: I AM the Alpha and the Omega (Dec 4 2009)
• #WFJ: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge (Dec 1 2009)
• #WFJ: Praying in My name, seeking My face with others births My Father’s visions (Nov 30 2009)
• #WFJ: I have shown you the Secrets of the Vine (Nov 29 2009)
• #WFJ: When My people start to tithe their time for Me (Nov 28 2009)
• #WFJ: Communion with Me is where the abundant life starts (Nov 27, 2009)
• #WFJ: Thank you for opening a gateway to heaven consistently (Nov 26, 2009)
• WFJ: Awake! Arise! (Nov 25, 2009)
• WFJ: Rest in Me! (Nov 21, 2009)
• WFJ: I AM your good Shepherd (Nov 20, 2009)
• WFJ: UNLEASH YOUR SPIRIT (Nov 18, 2009)
• WFJ: You are ready now! So am I! (Nov 15, 2009)
• WFJ: God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him (Nov 14, 2009)
• WFJ: You’re being a know-it-all is what’s getting in your way! (Nov 11, 2009)
• WFJ: Love always and blessings for God’s peace that passes all understanding! (Nov 5, 2009)
• WFJ: I live within you, deep within your heart of love (Oct 16, 2009)
• WFJ: In My presence is fullness of joy (Oct 13, 2009)
• WFJ: STILLNESS is a key to pressing in to Me (Oct 12, 2009)
• WFJ: Two Way Journaling – God’s SUPERNATURAL “HIGH”-WAY to His Heart (Nancy Slocum, Oct 8, 2009)
• WFJ: I AM Smiling Down Upon You (Oct 2, 2009)
• WFJ: Randy, write the vision down! (Utah, Sep 22, 2009)
• WFJ: The Dam Is Breaking (July 27, 2009)
• WFJ: I have specific instructions to give You each day (June 18, 2008)
• WFJ: I have the keys – simple keys to breakthrough (June 15, 2008)
• WFJ: I want you to dine with Me this morning and each day! (June 10, 2008)

Blessings to CHOOSE a LIFE of abundance!

R. Joseph Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR and The Journal Guy
Changing Lives to Disciple Nations
Community Transformation Specialist
www.empower2000.com

Note: On February 27, 2010, I officially began using my middle name (Joseph) instead of my nickname (Randy) per the Lord’s prompting.

P.S. Sign up TODAY for my free E-course ““30 Days To Breakthrough” God wants to transform your life NOW!

P.S.S. Spiritual Journaling will transform your life!

UNCOMMON Journaling is the key
to unlock YOUR dreams!

And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Mark 9:7)

How often do you journal and what do you do with it?

In the past few weeks I have journaled extensively and reflected on the past year, It was an aha moment when I realized Mark Virkler had the greatest impact on me in 2008 of all the new people I met or connected with. Yet we only spoke for one hour on June 9, 2008. How could that be? It’s because Mark taught me four simple keys to hear God’s voice and followed up with an email which I reflected upon.

The next morning (June 10), the Holy Spirit woke me up around 4 am. He immediately prompted me to go to my desk to design a new computer desktop image (“You Can Hear God’s Voice”) with an image of Jesus, a list of the 4 keys, and Habukkuk 2:1-3. (See today’s Blessings of the Day). After doing that, I began 2-way journaling for the very first time in my life.

After doing this, I emailed the desktop image to Mark along with my journal entry for that morning. He responded promptly with a very encouraging email, counseling me on how to make my prayer even more personal.

On June 17 Jerry Graham and I officially launched our 35 day course titled “UNCOMMON Journaling For Destiny.” Each day during the 35 days, students and coaches were given one question to ask Jesus and then apply two-way journaling. Everyone who took our course and completed the assignments experienced substantial breakthroughs.

On June 18, I entered Destiny course Question #1 into my journal – “Lord, why do You want me to learn to hear Your voice?” Jesus responded, “Because I love You and I have specific instructions to give You each day – not vague thoughts, but specific things I want you to know and to do. Randy, I know what works and what doesn’t. I want to take you to an entirely new level of abiding in Me. I want you to experience My love like never before. I want You to know that I’m not just here beside You, but I’m here to answer questions that You have. I’ve been waiting.”

Since then, it’s been a journey of deeper and deeper intimacy with Jesus and richer relationships with people. By visiting today’s Blessings of the Day, you can read Mark Virkler’s simple message he emailed to me on June 9 teaching the 4 keys to hear God’s voice, Enjoy and be transformed.

Prayer Power
Jesus, thank You for using Mark Virkler as Your vessel to teach me the 4 keys to consistent, powerful, life-giving conversations with You. Thank You for our daily dialogs. Guide my followers to learn to hear Your voice consistently too. Thank You Jesus. I love You. You’re my all-in-all. Amen.

Blessings of the Day
“You Can Hear God’s Voice” desktop image (see below)
You Can Hear God’s Voice! (4 keys) – by Mark Virkler (see below)
Four Keys to Hearing God’s Voice

Blessings to learn to journal 2-way to hear and obey the voice of the LORD!

 

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You Can Hear God’s Voice! (by Mark Virkler)

The age in which we live is so married to rationalism and cognitive, analytical thought that we almost mock when we hear of one actually claiming to be able to hear the voice of God. However, we do not scoff, for several reasons. First, men and women throughout the Bible heard God’s voice. Also, there are some highly effective and reputable men and women of God alive today who demonstrate that they hear God’s voice. Finally, there is a deep hunger within us all to commune with God, and hear Him speak within our hearts.

As a born-again, Bible-believing Christian, I struggled unsuccessfully for years to hear God’s voice. I prayed, fasted, studied my Bible and listened for a voice within, all to no avail. There was no inner voice that I could hear! Then God set me aside for a year to study, read, and experiment in the area of learning to hear His voice. During that time, the Lord taught me four keys that opened the door to two-way prayer. I have discovered that not only do they work for me, but they have worked for many thousands of believers who have been taught to use them, bringing tremendous intimacy to their Christian experience and transforming their very way of living. This will happen to you also as you seek God, utilizing the following four keys. They are all found in Habakkuk 2:1,2. I encourage you to read this passage before going on.

Key #1 (STILLNESS) – I must learn to still my own thoughts and emotions, so that I can sense God’s flow of thoughts and emotions within me.

Habakkuk said, “I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart…” (Hab. 2:1). Habakkuk knew that in order to hear God’s quiet, inner, spontaneous thoughts, he had to first go to a quiet place and still his own thoughts and emotions. Psalm 46:10 encourages us to be still, and know that He is God. There is a deep inner knowing (spontaneous flow) in our spirits that each of us can experience when we quiet our flesh and our minds.

I have found several simple ways to quiet myself so that I can more readily pick up God’s spontaneous flow. Loving God through a quiet worship song is a most effective means for me (note II Kings 3:15). It is as I become still (thoughts, will, and emotions) and am poised before God that the divine flow is realized. Therefore, after I worship quietly and then become still, I open myself for that spontaneous flow. If thoughts come to me of things I have forgotten to do, I write them down and then dismiss them. If thoughts of guilt or unworthiness come to my mind, I repent thoroughly, receive the washing of the blood of the Lamb, and put on His robe of righteousness, seeing myself spotless before the presence of God (Is. 61:10; Col. 1:22).

As I fix my gaze upon Jesus (Heb. 12:2), becoming quiet in His presence, and sharing with Him what is on my heart, I find that two-way dialogue begins to flow. Spontaneous thoughts flow from the throne of God to me, and I find that I am actually conversing with the King of Kings.

It is very important that you become still and properly focused if you are going to receive the pure word of God. If you are not still, you will simply be receiving your own thoughts. If you are not properly focused on Jesus, you will receive an impure flow, because the intuitive flow comes out of that upon which you have fixed your eyes. Therefore, if you fix your eyes upon Jesus, the intuitive flow comes from Jesus. If you fix your gaze upon some desire of your heart, the intuitive flow comes out of that desire of your heart. To have a pure flow you must first of all become still, and secondly, you must carefully fix your eyes upon Jesus. Again I will say, quietly worshiping the King, and then receiving out of the stillness that follows quite easily accomplish this.

Key #2 (VISION) – as I pray, I fix the eyes of my heart upon Jesus, seeing in the Spirit the dreams and visions of Almighty God.

We have already alluded to this principle in the previous paragraphs; however, we need to develop it a bit further. Habakkuk said, “I will keep watch to see,” and God said, “Record the vision” (Hab. 2:1,2). It is very interesting that Habakkuk was going to actually start looking for vision as he prayed. He was going to open the eyes of his heart, and look into the spirit world to see what God wanted to show him. This is an intriguing idea.

I had never thought of opening the eyes of my heart and looking for vision. However, the more I thought of it, the more I realized this was exactly what God intends for me to do. He gave me eyes in my heart. They are to be used to see in the spirit world the vision and movement of Almighty God. I believe there is an active spirit world functioning all around me. This world is full of angels, demons, the Holy Spirit, the omnipresent God, and His omnipresent Son, Jesus. There is no reason for me not to see it, other than my rational culture, which tells me not to believe it is even there and provides no instruction on how to become open to seeing this spirit world.

The most obvious prerequisite to seeing is that we need to look. Daniel was seeing a vision in his mind and he said, “I was looking…I kept looking…I kept looking” (Dan. 7:2,9,13). Now as I pray, I look for Jesus present with me, and I watch Him as He speaks to me, doing and saying the things that are on His heart. Many Christians will find that if they will only look, they will see. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23). It is as simple as that. You will see a spontaneous inner vision in a manner similar to receiving spontaneous inner thoughts. You can see Christ present with you in a comfortable setting, because Christ is present with you in a comfortable setting. Actually, you will probably discover that inner vision comes so easily you will have a tendency to reject it, thinking that it is just you. (Doubt is satan’s most effective weapon against the Church.) However, if you will persist in recording these visions, your doubt will soon be overcome by faith as you recognize that the content of them could only be birthed in Almighty God.

God continually revealed Himself to His covenant people using dream and vision. He did so from Genesis to Revelation and said that, since the Holy Spirit was poured out in Acts 2, we should expect to receive a continuing flow of dreams and visions (Acts 2:1-4,17). Jesus, our perfect Example, demonstrated this ability of living out of ongoing contact with Almighty God. He said that He did nothing on His own initiative, but only that which He saw the Father doing, and heard the Father saying (Jn. 5:19,20,30). What an incredible way to live!

Is it actually possible for us to live out of the divine initiative as Jesus did? A major purpose of Jesus’ death and resurrection was that the veil be torn from top to bottom, giving us access into the immediate presence of God, and we are commanded to draw near (Lk. 23:45; Heb. l0: 19-22). Therefore, even though what I am describing seems a bit unusual to a rational twentieth-century culture, it is demonstrated and described as being a central biblical teaching and experience. It is time to restore to the Church all that belongs to the Church.

Because of their intensely rational nature and existence in an overly-rational culture, some will need more assistance and understanding of these truths before they can move into them. They will find this help in the book Communion With God by the same authors.

Key #3 (SPONTANEITY) – God’s voice in our hearts sounds like a flow of spontaneous thoughts. Therefore, when I tune to God, I tune to spontaneity.

The Bible says that the Lord answered me and said…(Hab. 2:2). Habakkuk knew the sound of God’s voice. Elijah described it as a still, small voice (I Kings 19:12). I had always listened for an inner audible voice, and surely God can and does speak that way at times. However, I have found that for most of us, most of the time, God’s inner voice comes to us as spontaneous thoughts, visions, feelings, or impressions. For example, haven’t each of us had the experience of driving down the road and having a thought come to us to pray for a certain person? We generally acknowledge this to be the voice of God calling us to pray for that individual. My question to you is, “What did God’s voice sound like as you drove in your car? Was it an inner, audible voice, or was it a spontaneous thought that lit upon your mind?” Most of you would say that God’s voice came to you as a spontaneous thought.

So I thought to myself, “Maybe when I listen for God’s voice, I should be listening for a flow of spontaneous thoughts. Maybe spirit-level communication is received as spontaneous thoughts, impressions, feelings, and visions.” Through experimentation and feedback from thousands of others, I am now convinced that this is so.

The Bible confirms this in many ways. The definition of paga, the Hebrew word for intercession, is “a chance encounter or an accidental intersecting.” When God lays people on our hearts for intercession, He does it through paga, a chance-encounter thought, accidentally intersecting our thought processes. Therefore, when I tune to God, I tune to chance-encounter thoughts or spontaneous thoughts. When I am poised quietly before God in prayer, I have found that the flow of spontaneous thoughts that comes is quite definitely from God.

Key #4 (JOURNALING) – Journaling, the writing out of our prayers and God’s answers, provides a great new freedom in hearing God’s voice.
God told Habakkuk to record the vision and inscribe it on tablets…(Hab. 2:2). It had never crossed my mind to write out my prayers and God’s answers as Habakkuk did at God’s command. If you begin to search Scripture for this idea, you will find hundreds of chapters demonstrating it (Psalms, many of the prophets, Revelation). Why then hadn’t I ever thought of it?

I called the process “journaling,” and I began experimenting with it. I discovered it to be a fabulous facilitator to clearly discerning God’s inner, spontaneous flow, because as I journaled I was able to write in faith for long periods of time, simply believing it was God. I did not have to test it as I was receiving it (which jams one’s receiver), because I knew that when the flow was over I could go back and test and examine it carefully, making sure that it lined up with Scripture.

You will be amazed when you attempt journaling. Doubt may hinder you at first, but throw it off, reminding yourself that it is a biblical concept, and that God is present, speaking to His children. Don’t take yourself too seriously. When you do, you become tense and get in the way of the Holy Spirit’s movement. It is when we cease our labors and enter His rest that God is free to flow (Heb. 4:10). Therefore, put a smile on your face, sit back comfortably, get out your pen and paper, and turn your attention toward God in praise and worship, seeking His face. As you write out your question to God and become still, fixing your gaze on Jesus, Who is present with you, you will suddenly have a very good thought in response to your question. Don’t doubt it, simply write it down. Later, as you read your journaling, you, too, will be blessed to discover that you are indeed dialoguing with God.

Some final notes: No one should attempt this without having first read through at least the New Testament (preferably, the entire Bible), nor should one attempt this unless he is submitted to solid, spiritual leadership. All major directional moves that come through journaling should be submitted before being acted upon.

For a complete teaching on this topic, order the book “How to Hear God’s Voice” at www.CWGministries.org or call 716-681-4896. Online catalog of 60 books available by Mark & Patti Virkler as well as 100 college courses through external degree: www.cluonline.com