Dr. Anita McLaughlin -- A M Ministries, Inc.

The air is thin which eagles fly and everyone can not go there.

Back Seat Drivers... this term was used to describe a person who was usually a passenger in a car; who felt the need to instruct the driver on where the car was to go, how fast to drive, where to turn, when to break, in short how to drive.

Usually the Back Seat Driver, didn't own the car, they didn't pay the note nor the insurance on the car.  Did not have to maintain the car, with oil, gas, tune-ups.  They didn't provide any assistance on the up-keep, when it was time to wash and wax the car, they were no where to be found, nor were they the first one out of the car to help if it broke down.

Their sole purpose was to instruct the one who was in charge. The usual course of events was the driver simply ignored them, with the understanding that they were just "bossy".  On occasion there would be a small upheaval as the unwanted and many times unwarranted instruction was heard. Usually it's outcome was nothing that would not be soon forgotten, if not joked about.  

Usually the Back Seat Driver was just so used to voicing their opinion , that sometimes it just seeped out almost without their even being aware of it.

The problem occurred when that Back Seat Opinion was followed and it was not the right place to turn, their take on how fast the car was going was incorrect, they yelled stop too late, or they didn't know how to drive at all.

Watchman Nee wrote a book on Spiritual Authority-- the premise is that "All authority is given by God". In resisting the authority that you have been placed under you are actually resisting God.

I frequently read  blogs, see YouTube videos on noted Pastors and /or celebrities, posted by undeniable "Back Seat Drivers" who wouldn't have a clue on where to start, how to proceed, what to do, or when to do it. They haven't started anything, have nothing to show for their time on the earth, but their critical view of another, and how they should live their lives, raise their children, or run their organizations.

I say... Mr. or Ms.  Back Seat Driver get up and get your own car.

To the Drivers who have successfully navigated strong winds, torrential rains, circumvented accidents, missed  striking pedestrians, paid the car notes, insurance bills, made it to the shop when something didn't sound right, all on your own, without anyone telling you what to do, and when to do it,  Bravo!!

Keep on Driving you are doing a great job.

If you are thinking about buying a car, count the cost. Remember this, you don't have to allow back seat drivers to ride-- there are things called bus stops.

The air is thin where eagles fly and everyone can not go there.

Are you willing to do what ever it takes to get the job done?

There are hindrances to our progress which  can be attributed to others, and there are hindrances which come from us. Let's take a moment to evaluate what might really be going on.

I can stop my progress through, procrastination, and disobedience to the voice of God in my life.

Procrastination - to put off to a later time, to defer.

I am sure if we are honest we can all say there are times when we are procrastinators of the highest degree, able to divert a task through any means necessary. 

In your defense, there are times when the Spirit of God will slow our

progress because the season is not quite right, or the opportunity is not yet at the point of maturity so all the roads are not open. We may move out in our enthusiasm without the unction that "this is the time". 

I am not referring to those times, I mean when every sports event, movie, telephone conversation, or the slightest hint of doing something else, anything else seems so much more desirable than the thing that lays before us.

When it is easier to say, I'll do it later just rolls through your mind, and out of your mouth seemingly without thought, know that This may very well be an attack of the enemy (of our soul) to abort the promise of God in the very area you need most.

When the idea of deferral (putting off) seems the only thing that is viable it is time to do what the Word says to do "Submit yourself therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Sometimes the attack is on just getting started.  At those times, when it seems you just can't lift a finger, push past where you are, and do one thing.

Make one phone call.

Open one letter

Begin to organize your day, (be careful, not to just think about organizing the day, but get your appointment book, and get started).

Allow the Spirit of God, to direct you.  Be open to hearing God's direction in your morning quite time. (If you don't start out each day quietly, listening for the voice of the Spirit,  try it.) Set your clock for a few minutes earlier than you must get up and settle yourself, calm your heart and mind, maneuver around the hustle of the morning stand still and hear God.

Determine YOUR priorities (not someone else's), what really must happen and what can truly wait.

Set up a definite time to begin each day.

Within the day, determine what you will accomplish if nothing else on that day.

We all have voice mail, and sometimes calls can be returned later.

Once you have your direction, be obedient to the voice of God.

Remember it's not by might or by power but by my spirit says the Lord.  A carefully thought out plan given my the Spirit of God, will do more in an hour than a self-motivated hodgepodge of our fleshly ideas will ever bring. 

Our heavenly father, know what we have need of, and is the one who causes us to will to do of his good pleasure. Don't fail to do what you have been instructed once you have quieted your spirit and have received the plan.

Be easy on yourselves, when you try and still can't seem to get things together, sometimes that is also in the plan of God.

Once you have learned the lessons for this season of your life, share them, someone else is in the same shoes you were in and needs to hear a word from YOU, that will help them move out.

If you are blessed, you will get old!

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, why our elderly are so devalued in our society. What makes life less valuable when we have lived to be over 70 or 80 years old. When do we determine that "Oh, just let them die" is not an option? When do we fight for the lives of those who have given everyday of their lives loving and caring for us?

There is a big debate going on now over health care, what is needed, who needs it, and what that care will look like in the future. Many are concerned ONLY with what it will cost, but having had the opportunity to see the health care system operate from the inside out, I know that waste abounds. There are seemingly more health care  providers that saw a check and went for it, than those with a heart for those suffering with infirmities and answered the call of God to be an advocate and help to the patients who so desperately need them.

Why should you get the same test over and over again, because the hospitals, doctors, care providers don't want to take the report of the prior provider, because if they did they wouldn't get P-A-I-D!!!

Every time the same test is repeated, they get mo' money, mo' money-- Mo' Money! and when the medical benefits run out you are left with mo' bills, mo' bills-- and Mo' Bills. When your benefits run out, so will your life, unless you have someone fighting for you.

Be careful how and where you stand because-- If you are bless you will get old.

June 25, 2009 We have recently seen several high profile celebrities who are now no longer with us.  They say, as we live our lives, the people we touch in our lives, are forever changed by our existence.  Let us be comforted by the Word which tells us "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord".

We never truly know what a person believes, I have seen saints die at young ages, and wicked men live long lives.  What we must remember is that "man looks on the outward appearance, and God looks on the heart".

We don't know what goes on behind closed doors, who has received the Lord and who has not. Let us in the Body of Christ allow our hearts to be touched by the loss of great talent, and allow our mouths to remain closed in judgment of that life.

I know that members of a family can change their personal views on our Lord, we don't know how anyone really feels because we don't have privy to their personal thoughts or their intimate relationship with our Lord.

We will know as we are known, and at that time we will have all our questions answered.

The air is thin where eagles fly and everyone can not go.  Repeatedly I run across people who either have not counted the cost, or are working under a false assumption that ministry, is so easy anyone can do it.  God always makes it appear that way, because when he is involved; HE makes it look easy. What is impossible with man-- is possible with God. 

When the rubber meets the road, some find out that the air is thin where eagles fly.  The eagle has been adapted to fly where other birds can't and with out that adaptation by God they would not be able to fly there either. Unfortunately in the process of getting that revelation, many innocent people are hurt, disillusioned and come away thinking all Church leaders are that way.

It is time for the body of Christ and its leaders to truly count the cost. There is nothing we get from God that does not have a price.  Everyone is forwarding excerpts from Bishop T.D. Jakes' sermons, either honoring him or having some kind of opinion on what he is doing or not doing. I heard Bishop Jakes say once, "if I threw the keys to this church to you, you need to duck." You cannot know from the outside what it takes for a man or woman of God to do what they do.  Jesus was the Savior of the World, and it cost HIS LIFE!  There are those who think the Blood of Jesus came easy because he was God, forgetting that at Gethsemane he sweat blood.  He did cry out asking for the cup to pass from him, then he surrendered in "never the less not my will..."  There is a cost for everything you are asked to do for the Lord, for some it is time, for others financial gain, for some not going in the direction they had purposed, but in an entirely different direction which is unfamiliar and at times intimidating. 

Knowing there is a price and paying the price is two different things.  We have all seen beautiful homes or cars, and have thought I would love to have one of those, but we are not there when the owner gets the payment notice in the mail-- good economy or bad.  We are not responsible for the mortgage payment EVERY 30 days.  We only see one side, that being, how big and beautiful that home or car seem. 

It is time to grow up-- and move up a little higher-- and realize that the air is thin where eagles fly and everyone can not go.

Why are you bring up this topic I hear you saying?  Because too often the head (and ego) allows the mouth to make promises, that the body can't keep. Be careful when you see a vessel being used by God that you don't think-- "if you can do that-- I know I can".  Because when it is time to pay for what your mouth (and ego) have ordered-- you will find yourself needing to run and hide.  It's time to realize that God said, we are accountable.  After you put your hand to the plow (or opened your mouth) don't get frightened then-- it's too late; that is not time to look back, God said if we did-- he would not be pleased with us.  We need to realize that God said "we had to count the cost" BEFORE we commit." 

I have recently been stood up by four ministry leaders who gave their word to me, in projects that they didn't know that really were not that important. Preparations were made because they gave their word, and then they just disappeared.... What they didn't know is-- those projects were in preparation for really large future projects.

I don' have a problem when people can't keep a "man made promise" but to make a phone call, or even return a phone call, and say "I can't make it" should not too much to ask .  It is time that we all use the Spirit of God to direct us; utilize his unction in discernment and then ask ourselves a question-- being prepared to tell ourselves the truth-- "is this really something I want to do?", and if the answer is no-- say NO!  Realize that your integrity is involved, and when you just don't show-- IT SHOWS!. 

When we make a promise and fluff it off without even a word, it is an issue of ethics.  I don't fault someone who forgets; I have many items on my to do list  within the work of the ministry, and know that without making a notation in my calendar that it is easy to overlook things; but when you do remember-- CALL! 

There is another way to look at these minor lapses in behavior--  maybe God is trying to show you-- YOU! 

Did you underestimate the cost-- if you did say so, repent and honorably excuse yourself, find the door and get out. 

Did you think that "if you can do that-- I know I can" and then found out it wasn't as easy as the "Holy Spirit" made it look when "they" did it?  If so-- repent and honorably excuse yourself, find the door and get out. 

Maybe greed pushed you into a place you didn't know you would go, if it did-- repent and honorably excuse yourself, find the door and get out. 

Realize that the air is thin where eagles fly and everyone can't go.

At this point in my ministry I can't do what Bishop T.D Jakes can, and I don't have a problem with that and until God says so I will not try. I have learned to be true to me and who I am. Be true to yourself and who you are, if you make a mistake admit it. Allow this to be a training session for you and from this point forward, don't move until the Spirit of God tells you to move.  Don't be motivated by what anybody says but God.  Don't let anyone change who you are, and what ever you do don't forget, just because "they can do that-- doesn't mean that you can". 

Rom. 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So, we being many, are one body, in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Cor. 12:4-7 Now there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1 Cor 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?  If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set the members everyone of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

There will always be someone who tries to stop the move of God in your life.  There will always be someone who doesn't think you can do it.  There will always be someone who thinks it is not time.  There will always be someone who tries to stop your plan. There will always be mean spirited people.  There will always be people who try to hurt you for no reason.  There will always be whose who are envious.  There will always be those who are negative. There will always be people who try to pull themselves up by attempting to pull you down.

Above All

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE GOD...

• Christ in you the hope of Glory!
• Greater Is HE who is in you than he who is in the world!
• You will reap in due season if you faint not.
• When you have done all to stand-- stand!
• He will always cause you to triumphant in Christ Jesus!
• He has given you all things that pertain to life and Godliness!
• You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
• He has give you authority over all the power of the enemy and nothing by any means shall hurt you.
• You can decree a thing.
• God will cause your hands to war and your fingers to fight.
• He will make you walk on your high places!
• He gave you the ability to make a choice... Choose Life!

Casting all your care on him for he cares for you.

In the activity overloaded world we live in today, how do we best utilizewhat we have?  As with anything we do it is necessary to evaluate theplan and purpose God had when he-- gave you the assignment... put youin contact with... associated you with... united you to...?

We must be  totally honest with ourselves, was this God or was it ME! 

• Am I overwhelmed because I have yet to learn organization, I don't knowhow to say no-- because "they" might not like me any more if I don't orwon't.
• Am I rebellious and will only do things my way? 
• Do I listen to instruction or am I so strong willed that I enter every endeavor like a"bull in a china closet"?
  
• Am I an explorer that must take the lead? 
• Am I a follower who only does what I see others do? 
• Am I a self-seeker,looking to benefit myself only? 

Look prayerfully and carefully--because this is something that ONLY you can answer.  Seek the face of God who will allow you to fully, honestly and unguardedly look in to the mirror or the Spirit and behold what manner of man you are. Until you make an internal investigation of why you do what you do--you can't do more, you can't move, you can't _____ you fill in the blank.

So often what seemed like a good idea is not a God idea, and we must be able to repent when it is necessary.  Remember pride goes before the fall.  Once you have determined that-- no, that was not indigestion; I did hear God and this is the way for me to go, get ready... Get Ready... GET READY!....  Bishop Jakes used this term, but it can take on a different meaning if you will allow it.

Get Ready... for real work.  There are some who will do NOTHING more than what is required on a 8 hour; pay me for showing up, (you won't get a second more from me than what I agreed to give you for the days of my life in exchange for your money)-- J-O-B!  The only way to be successful in the plan of God is to allow the chains and fetters which bind you to fall off in complete surrender of God's Plan. One of the primary principles of higher education is to teach you to get it for yourself, leave behind friendships, get up for that 7 am class, stay up all night if you have to and write that paper, get yourself prepared even if you are tired-- you still have to study for that test-- Do What You Have To Do/Make It Happen (principle)!

Get Ready... to pay the price.  If you have an assignment from God it will take more than you could have ever guessed.  Remember the rich young man, Jesus required everything from him, some things he was ready to give... others he wasn't-- "money" (representing: prestige/societal esteem, privilege, popularity, security, family position, creature comforts,self worth/identity, hopes, plans... everything). For him it was too great a sacrifice and he went away sad. There is a price that we pay for everything.

Get Ready...  to go well beyond your comfort zone.  You have to be willing to look "crazy" before your friends and family.  You must be ready for Holy Ghost wake up calls.You must move when the cloud moves-- by day, and the pillar of fire--by night. Once you hear-- be ready it is time to DO!  What difference does it make if the Spirit of God speaks to you 24/7/365 and you never get up and do the first thing He said?  Sometimes you must be prepared for a 24 HOUR WORK DAY.  Wake up at 4 am, work until 8 am, sleep until 2 pm, go back to work until 7 pm, eat (probably crackers, or something that will allow you not to starve), and keep on working, then sleep again until 1 am, get up at 6 am, work until 12 pm,.... until you give birth to the plan and purpose of God, until you get it (that thing you so dearly want) DONE! You have to be willing to abandon everything and have an ear to "hear what the spirit would say... He who has a ear to hear, let him hear!

Get Ready... to fight the enemy "the enemy in me".  How do you do that-- it is simple-- it is in the principle of repentance.  To repent = turn and go the other way.  If you would go right, repent and go left.  If you have always done something one way, it's time to do things differently. When everything inside is screaming NO-- I CAN NOT DO THIS!  THIS IS TOO HARD! Then and only then will you know that you have done the right thing and are now headed in the right direction. When nothing around you seems familiar you have hit the "new path" and that is the place to be, to achieve-- you are in the place of faith not in you... but in HIM.  It is impossible to please God without faith... Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Because the things which are seen were made by the things which do not appear, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Get Ready... to Grow UP! If you have been unorganized in the past-- no problem because you have repented and have turned the other way, you made a 180 and organization is no problem.  Know that clutter is a symptom of spiritual oppression,remove the clutter and you also remove the demon of "I can't... find it... do it... be it" and see how much more you have, when you can forget those things which are behind. Once you become an adult you must put away childish ways.  It is only a child who can't pick up after themselves. It is only a child who thinks it is too much trouble  to take care of their surroundings because they want to go "play" (which is representative of anything that is not what you know you could or should be doing). To him who know to do good and does not, to him it (what ever it is) is sin...  It is time for real work... inside and out.

Get Ready ... to leave behind the Flesh!  Temper tantrums are over...overspending and selfishness has ended... my way or the highway is a thing of the past... leadership through intimidation has been driven far from you... in its place-- the love of God... by this shall men know that we are his disciples, for we have love one for the other and through His peace.

The peace which passes understand, will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.... And the Rest... for there remains a rest to the people of God. You will never know if you are on the faith path until you enter into his peace and his rest through love.

Get Ready ... to Get UP! How much more could you do with an early morning start. It's o.k. to take a break now and then sleep late, really relax, sometimes God requires it.  When you have been diligently working on your assignment, he will call a "Sabbath day" but "remember the ant you sluggard".  Utilize everything including your time...  we must work while it is day, because the night comes when no man can work...

Get Ready... for Naysayer?s, player haters, false friends, envious people,covetous and jealous associates, and treacherous voyeurs-- it comes with the territory. For the devil as a roaring lion roams about seeking whom he may devour. If you don't have any lions roaming, it's because you have no"spiritual meat" to devour. The devil isn't looking for "tofu"(processed soy protein which some substitute for MEAT). When you set out to do anything for God, there are those who will smile in your face while wanting and waiting for you to fail (sometimes its your closest friend or family)-- they are acting/speaking/hoping out of fear.  Jealousy/envy/covetousness  is fear motivated-- it thinks "if God givesthat to you, or does that for you, there won't be anything left for me". There are billions of people on the earth, I know he has someone that wants to hear that word from you... if you have a word.  God said he will cause it to rain on the just and the unjust. He gives as he sees fit.  Standing against someone God is using,doesn't hurt them, it hurts YOU!  Even Jesus had a Judas! Yes, he got the 30 pieces of silver-- but he also had to die and forever he will be know as Judas Iscariot which also betrayed him!  

Get Ready... You will find people who want to be able to use you in whatever way they can.  They are not willing to do what must be done to have a "original thought" they are there to use the witty invention or gift, talent and anointing on you for themselves.  How will you know who they are... you will know them by their fruit.  Don't worry, no one, and I mean NO ONE will be able to take advantage of  you.  Who you are, what you are called to do, is uniquely yours. For the gifts and anointing of God is without repentance. The world didn't give it and the world can't take it away. Remember Jesus said, he laid down his life, if he wanted he could have called 12 legions of angels (72,000).  It is all under control for Jehovah Nissi goes before you (to battle).  If you don't know anything else know this... "God's got you!" He said "No weapon formed against you would prosper"... he didn't say THE WEAPON  wouldn't be formed.  That is why we need to remember at all times that you can "Be confident in this very thing, that he which begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."  If he hasn't come, he is yet performing that thing in you.

Get Ready... There is more to come... 

Wisdom comes with mentors? Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace where in we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience, and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in your hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.) It?s time to add to your experience-- hope.. We are here to help you.

As a small child, my father was an avid television news viewer.  He loved the news, he watched the news shows back to back, having us (his personal remote controls) turn the channel from network to network, so that he wouldn't miss anyone or anything.  Dad loved the news so much, that I vowed when I "grew up" I would never look at it.  For many years I stuck with that vow, until my life began to be affected by the issues addressed in the daily news.  My father was and remains a major influence in and on my life.  Since he passed away in 1996, I have had to bring to mind his words many times to help me find direction, give me counsel, and to strengthen me in difficult times.

I asked my Dad once, "why do you look at so many news shows" (I wanted to free up our only television to see cartoons), he said because each news caster brought about the news from their own experience, background, and political view point.  He said he watched so many news shows so that he could gather the "real story" in the bits and pieces which correlated in each rendition of the news. He said he was using the news to see how to lead his family, and to keep us safe.  I would like to bring to you my Dad's instructions to much of what we are seeing played out in the daily drama we call  "Network News".

First lets look at that name, "News" the Network must report news stories, whether it is truly news or not.  If the First Lady goes sleeveless or not, has become news.  The President wearing a tie in "his own office" has become news.  When their family gets a dog has become "news"; which is right along side, the economic challenges and war, all this is "news".  I don't know about you, but I would like the Obama's to be able to wear what they want, get the dog that they want when they are ready and not be reported that they have gone back on a promise to their children. I want him to have more than one month to solve the world's problems.  I think it is ignorant to scrutinize someone who probably hasn't had a chance to go into every room of the house he live in yet; and feel that he should have already solved all of societies problems, and that someone would go on television and report that he has gone back on his campaign promises is absurd.  When we come to the point that he has been on office over 3 years and it is time to vote again, lets evaluate at that point if campaign promises have been reneged on.  Until then give us all a break, and report what is real.

The reality is that "there has not been anything like this since.... 1986, 1991, 2001...  (when the shifting of the wealth went to the wealthy, not the everyday common man).  Let's also point out that many days have come and gone since 1986, 1991 and 2001 and we are still here.  There has not been this kind of financial climate since the depression of the 1920, and again I say, many days have come and gone since 1920 and we are still here.  This is the highest unemployment rate since the Nixon era, and the Nixon era has come and gone, we saw the unemployment rate go back down and we are still here".  There are still 95% of our country which is employed.  There are 95% of the people who have purchased homes that are still in their homes and not in foreclosure. Are we viewing our collective future through the eyes of a news anchor who we don't know, who may see everything in their life as "half empty vs. half full". As Dad would say, take the bits and pieces of these stories and bring out what is real and not "N-E-W-S!!!"

Our vision is being clouded to overlook that "the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just".  We in the body of Christ should be investing our nickles and dimes NOW!!!! We should be purchasing property, NOW!!!!  This period in time is no different for us, than the gathering of gold seen in Exodus was for the children of Israel.  They were instructed to borrow gold from their neighbors before God lead them out of captivity and into their promised land, because when they got to their land, they would need it to build the Temple of God.  We are being instructed to gather wealth, because it is time to build "the Kingdom of God". Stop majoring on the minor, and move when God says move.  Have faith in God, purchase what had been out of reach, if you are 20, 30, 40 realize that investments are a long term vehicle.  If you are 50, 60, 70 purchase property and turn it over when as the market changes, for short term investments which will put you in the middle of scripture. "A Good man leaves an inheritance to his children and his children's children". Let's start living like we are blessed of God, and lead by the Spirit, not just in our clothing but in our pockets.

Get out of fear and walk by faith.  This is one of the greatest periods ever presented us (the ordinary citizen) and we are standing in fear generated by a news commentator (whose job it is to make news-- out of real news or contrived news). We are listen and allowing a person who falls in the upper levels of our financial structure, to speak into our lives his/her own fears, when we have nothing to loose, since we have the promise of God, that we would be in health and prosper as our souls prosper.  Don't leave your soul's prosperity to someone who may not even know our Lord.  Let the Body of Christ move forward, and begin to take the "land" of the financial forefront and begin to walk in the prosperity which has been prophesied for years.  We were taught by so many to "walk by faith, and not by sight" so what are you waiting for.  Allow God to prove himself real in your life, allow yourself to be lifted up, enlarge your tent and increase your territory, NOW!!!

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Think it not strange regarding the fiery trials which have come against you.  Do you remember the song by Earth, Wind and Fire, called Devotion, its opens by saying, "anything you want to do in life takes devotion".  Truth is truth, no matter who says it.  The Word says we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers-- and that is true.  It seems just as we are about to take a step, something comes (or tries) to come to knock us off balance, push us out of our place, divert our focus, so.... if you want to accomplish something in life.... You must devote yourself to it. 

Make a commitment to success-- someone told me something a few days ago which apparently was a revelation to them, "this is hard work!"  Anything you do that is designed to take you from one point to another, will be hard work.  Nature teaches us that only the fittest survive, Business says those who will persevere and grow will overcome.  My Dad taught me that "Success is the place where preparation and opportunity meet.  The Word says "you will reap in due season if you faint not".   Now there in lies the rub... and this is where many lose out of the opportunity they have worked so hard to reach.  You can't give up, you must remove those words from your vocabulary.  Until you reach that place when your preparation and your opportunity meet, you can't give up.  Sometimes it only takes one more try, if you stop short you will never know if the next thing you do, the next person meet, the next try you make will be the one that places you squarely in front of your opportunity.

Know that God is working on your behalf, He will do what he promised, the word says that Your "gift" will make room for you, and bring you before great men, and that God can not lie, (nor does he repent) it is going to happen, just "Keep Moving Forward".

Moving forward doesn't mean going a thousand miles per hour, every hour of every day.  It does mean, don't stop. One step is moving you forward, one phone call, one visit, one question, one class, one more event may be the one more thing you need before you find what you have been praying about.  So before you call it a day, quit, give up, stop... realize that anything you want to do in life requires DEVOTION!

You will make it because you can!

Continue in what you have been taught.

2 Tim1:6, 14  Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  We do not serve a god who would lie or one who needs to repent (apologize because he made a mistake). What God called you to do did not change-- you did. You are the only one that is able to stop your assignment.

JON 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
JON 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
JON 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
JON 1:4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
JON 1:5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
JON 1:6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
JON 1:7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
JON 1:8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
JON 1:9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
JON 1:10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him. Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
JON 1:11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
JON 1:12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
JON 1:13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
JON 1:14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
JON 1:15 So they look up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
JON 1:16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
JON 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
JON 2:1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
JON 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
JON 2:3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
JON 2:4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
JON 2:5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
JON 2:6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
JON 2:7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
JON 2:8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
JON 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
JON 2:10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
JON 3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
JON 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
JON 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
JON 3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
JON 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
JON 3:6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
JON 3:7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
JON 3:8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
JON 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
JON 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
JON 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
JON 4:2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
JON 4:3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
JON 4:4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?
JON 4:5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
JON 4:6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
JON 4:7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
JON 4:8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
JON 4:9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
JON 4:10 Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
JON 4:11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?


Even after the whale his assignment didn?t change.  Through his history making ordeal the only one who changed was Jonah. The difference was Jonah's disobedience was replaced by obedience.  His disdain replaced by reluctant compassion, his repentance brought about God?s kingdom in a land that prior to this time was outside of man's ability to imagine their great evil being overcome by God. I am sure the world (as did Jonah) thought their sins were too great even for God's forgiveness and surely He would not overlook all they had done. No one would have thought God's blessings would be given to these people.

Jonah?s assignment didn?t change and with God?s plans now manifest, an entire region was changed for ever.

Instead of coming up with a "New" New Years resolution, why  not Continue...

Continue in the assignment you have been given, continue moving toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.  Continue so that your disobedience will not have to be corrected as Jonah?s was through the types of  ?history making correction" which have dominated the news concerning both world and Christian leaders.  Continue in fasting , prayer and stir up the gift that was given by the laying on of hands.

Selah!