Breakfast of Champions: Wednesday 30th June

Good morning, Champion.

As we discussed yesterday, let's ask some important questions about what you are wearing in life.

Does what you are wearing compliment you?

Luke 15:22-24
But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

More specifically we should ask this – is what you're currently wearing in life complimenting the decisions and resolutions you have made recently in your life?

In our text today we read the account of the wayward child, specifically the part when he returns home after coming to his senses. In brief, he had been raised in a great home with a great father; he then foolishly decides to go and see if the "grass on the other side is greener", loses everything and ends up in a pigsty desiring to eat pig food. While in the pigsty, of his own foolishness, he is wearing the clothes that would be suited to living with pigs. They must have been so filthy and so very smelly! When He came to his senses and makes some resolutions, he comes back to his father's household. His father welcomes him with love and adoration – his lost son had returned. Notice what he does next: he re-clothes him! He takes away his old pig-dung-smelling clothes, replacing them with the garments of a king's son.

Why was this change of clothes so important? Because the clothes he was wearing associated him with where he had been, not where he was now or where he was going next. Those clothes always would have reminded him of who he used to be and the dumb and filthy things he had done; they would have also always reminded the father, who wanted to forget and move on.

This is a great picture of our lives, that we were also once clothed in garments that were filthy and sin-stained, but when we came back to the Father He took our old garments, washed us clean and clothed us in His righteousness. We need to constantly remember what we are now wearing (garments of white); as we do it will effect where we chose to go in life. When we remember we are no longer wearing mud-stained clothes we will be more likely to keep away from muddy puddles – the thought of rolling around in pig waste while wearing a white suit should have a whole new impact in your reasoning.

The prodigal son clothed himself in garments that complimented the resolutions and decisions he had made. We would be wise to do this also – don't wear what associates you with where you came from, wear what declares where you are at today!

Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)
Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, " Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=84a1f0e51e

Breakfast of Champions: Tuesday 29th June

Good morning, Champion.

Dress for where you're going

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

These verses speak about wearing the right garments or thing for the moment you're going into. They remind us that, if you're going into battle, make sure you wear the suit of armour you need for that battle. I want to challenge you over the next couple of days concerning what you're wearing in life, and ask you whether or not it's what you should be wearing for where you say you want to go next?

We all wear stuff naturally (which is good, because otherwise we would be nudists, getting arrested!) but the truth is we also all have the potential to wear other stuff too. Just as we choose what we are going to wear in a natural sense, we also have a choice what other non-clothing related stuff we wear. For example, stuff like guilt, depression, sarcasm and unforgiveness, to name just but a few. The truth is none of these things suit you anymore now that your life is in Christ! So it's time for you to look in the mirror and ask yourself, "Does what I am wearing in life suit the season I am in?" Also, "Is it what I need to wear for where I am saying my life is going next?"

These are good questions that could really help you to redress your life for the success that God has for you next. Obviously we have to be honest with ourselves: if you find you're still wearing some of the stuff you used to wear, that used to really suit the person you were but not the one you are now, then let the Holy Spirit help you redress your life so that you wearing what you need and what suits you for your today.

You would not go into a battle with swimming shorts and flip flops, even if you had just came from the beach! You would change what you had on to fit where you were going next. This is what we always need to be doing with our walk with God.

So tomorrow we will begin to look at your wardrobe – see you there!

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=b299c37a25

Breakfast of Champions: Monday 28th June

Good morning, Champ.

That's what Fathers do (Cont'd)

Hebrews 12:5-8 (NKJV)
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

Lets continue to consider what we can expect from God as our heavenly Father. We have established that He is there as our protector and provider – let's now look at another great and very important characteristic of a great Father.

Great Fathers chasten (discipline)
This is the one most likely to cause the greatest reaction in people, again because of bad experiences they may have had. But we need to define what chastening really is so that we can understand that chastening is an important part of parenting. A great parent is a parent that will love a child enough to chasten them, not just let them get away with anything.

As well as being protectors and providers, fathers should be a figure of loving discipline. Come on, very few of us never heard this statement when we were young: "Wait till your father gets home!" That was the ultimate sentence spoken by mothers who had been taken to the edge, right?

Great fathers chastise, they don't abuse – these are two very different things. Chastisement, defined correctly, means to discipline or to child raise, not to abuse. This part of understanding great fathering can be the hardest one to talk about if the hand behind the chastisement you have known was not driven by love but by something else. When God, as our Father, disciplines or chastens there is nothing but love for us behind it, a love that will deal with something potentially harmful in us while it is still the size of a seed.

A great father will have the courage to deal with the seedlike form of bad or harmful behaviour instead of visiting it when it is in prison or hospital, when it has fully grown. Correct chastening is actually a demonstration of love – it may not be fun but what is behind it could save your life or mean the difference between a great one and a difficult one. Hebrews teaches us that if we understand that a part of God's fathering in our lives is to discipline, or "child raise", us when needed we are indeed sons (or daughters), but if we refuse to allow Him to correct us we are actually Illegitimate (the King James version actually uses the word Bastards). I don't know about you, Champion, but I don't want to be illegitimate in any area of my life. I'd rather be a son who knows that all that God does to me is for my good. I trust the hand that chastens me, knowing that it is only ever fuelled by love – you can trust Him too.

Proverbs 3:12

For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.

God bless,

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=7553d14031

Breakfast of Champions: Friday 25th June

Good morning, Champion.

That's what great Fathers do

Matthew 6:31-32 (NKJV)
Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

We have been taking time to consider again the life-changing truth that God is our heavenly Father, and also that knowing Him as your heavenly Father who adores you is the most fundamentally important building block to your Christianity. So God is your heavenly Father – what can you expect from Him? Here are a few things I think a child can expect from a great dad, so we should be able to expect them from an extraordinary, divine one.

Fathers Protect
I believe that it's in the very DNA or fundamental wiring of a father to protect in their children; whether its in a bear, a lion or human, the instinct to protect your children in every way is not something that is taught. Have you ever seen a father's posture change when harm is around? They position themselves in front of their kids and get ready to protect them, right? I know I do!

You need to know that God is very protective of you. When sin came to take its owed payment from us God, in Christ, stood in front of it and us and took the hit for us. God's love is that 1 Corinthians 13 love that is, among other things, always protective.

Fathers Provide
Again, I believe this characteristic is in the natural DNA of any father. They will always live to provide for their kids, even if it means they themselves experience self-lack or suffering. A fathers delight is to know his family are safe and taken care of.

This is also, I believe, a characteristic of Father God. One of the biblical names that He uses to reveal Himself to us is Jehovah Jireh – this name means "God the provider, the one who provides". Our text this morning reminds us of this fact – as with any loving parent, Father God knows what we need and has already made plans to make sure we have what we need.

I love to watch my kids living with confidence under my care, knowing that their dad (me) will make sure they have what they need. I have thankfully never had to watch them panic or worry concerning this, but rather see that they have a confidence in their provision. We too can live confident knowing we have a heavenly Father that is committed to providing for us, a Father who is both willing and able. Even if your natural father did not provide well for you, your heavenly Father will. He is indeed a father to the fatherless. Here is a another great promise to end this morning's breakfast with, especially if you never knew the provision of a natural father:

Psalm 27:10

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me.

Know today that His heart is to protect and provide.

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=6ee7fea260

Breakfast of Champions: Thursday 24th June

Good morning, Champion.

How much more is God?

Matthew 7:9-11 (NKJV)
Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Yesterday we considered the incredible truth of God being our heavenly Father. When the reality of this truth continues to drip feed into your spirit a great confidence and authority starts to manifest and you will find yourself walking through life with a whole new stride!

I am conscious, when you mention the title 'father', that it can cause different reactions in people. The reaction depends on what a person's experience of a natural, earthly father was. For one the name 'father' will cause a smile, to another a sense of a key person being absent, and to another, sadly, the thoughts of cruelty and abuse. Many of us would have experienced so many different things from the person we knew as our earthly father. So when we come to a point of being told that God is our heavenly Father, not everyone smiles.

But the truth is you do now have a heavenly Father, and all of us have the potential to understand Him as a great father because we all have an internal picture of what the perfect father is. For the person who had a good dad He is all that your dad was and so much more; for the person who had a not-so-good, or even a terrible dad, He is everything you imagined a great dad to be. You see, you must have had an ideal of what a perfect father was for you to judge that yours was no good, right? He is everything you imagine that perfect Father to be, and so much more.

I have a really great earthly dad who always did his best for me and my brother, and I also believe that in my own way I am a great father. I do my very best for my five kids and love them so much, but I am so aware that even after my best day of fathering I am nowhere near as good a father as God is. In today's verse it compares the love and care of a human father to the love and care of a heavenly one and asks the question, "How much more is God?" The answer is simple: "So much more!" Whatever your experience of a natural or earthly father, I encourage you to open up the gates of your heart to a heavenly one that truly adores you and really is "so much more". Whatever your ideal of a perfect father is, either because you experienced one or dreamed of one, He is all of that and so much more. Let Him love on you today.

God bless,

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=6e7f2dedcf

Breakfast of Champions: Wednesday 23rd June

Good morning, Champion.

His Father is our Father

Matthew 6:8-9 (NIV)
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

One of the most important things to grasp concerning your Christianity is the simple yet profound truth that you have a heavenly Father that adores you. You may know the exact dimensions of Noah's ark off by heart, be able to recite the books of the Bible backwards and even be able to name the major and minor prophets in alphabetical order, but if you don't understand this simple truth your relational foundation with God will always be more wobbly than what it could be.

Champion, you have a heavenly Father that adores you! In these verses Jesus is reminding us of something very powerful, and that is "His Father is now our Father". Notice how Jesus uses the words your and our instead of the words mine or my. What He was saying in choosing to use these specific words was, He is now your Father too!

This thought of Jesus saying "our Father" really caught my attention, so I started to look through the Bible to see when "our father" was first or most often used. I looked real hard but only found it used in the context of people having a heavenly Father in common when Jesus used it. There are other times in the old testament when "our father" was used but it was always regarding two children sharing an earthly father (like Esau and Jacob), not the sharing of a heavenly one.

It was only used by Jesus because He was the one who qualified us to stand again as sons and daughters of a living God and heavenly Father. His perfect work at the cross was what removed every barrier that stood in our way and re-positioned us as heirs to the Father and joint heirs with the Son, so that we too are now children of God.

Romans 8:17

Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Wow, that's a thought worth pondering – His Father is now your father also. You have a heavenly Father that adores you!

God bless, go ahead and enjoy that thought

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=62872935fd

Breakfast of Champions: Tuesday 22nd June

Good morning, Champion.

Something different this morning – someone sent me this account, I liked it so thought I would share it with you. Be blessed.

The Silent Sermon

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realised it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday'.

We live in a world today which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

Bless you, stay in God's fireplace.

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=db439dd4d3

Breakfast of Champions: Monday 21st June

Good morning, Champion – breakfast is served.

Where does your help come from?

Psalm 121:1–3 (NIV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber;

The first three verses of this Psalm start with a question, and then the Psalm ends with a statement of persuasion and a declaration of faith! Have you ever asked yourself the question, "Where does my help come from?" Or maybe, "Where will my help come from in this situation I am facing right here, right now?" The answer given in this Psalm is your answer too, Champion. Your help, whatever that help needs to look like, comes from the Lord. He is and will always be the source of your help, so don't look to the hills with question marks, but rather look to your Lord with an exclamation mark, for He fails not!

Those are some great qualifications God has, "… maker of heaven and earth." When I think about that, it makes Him totally overqualified to help me with my current situations. He who threw the stars into space cares for me and has appointed Himself my Helper and strong refuge. Another great part of this promise is, "He will not let your foot slip!" Remember, the steps of a righteous man (which is what you are through faith in Christ) are ordered of God. Where you are walking at the moment may feel a bit slippery but He will keep your foot from slipping.

He is your never-sleeping help! He that watches over you does not slumber, so He has your back, Champion, and never takes His eyes off of you. Thank God He does not nod off but is constant in His help and assistance. He alone offers an infallible 24-7 service. Today He is your Help! Again, let the confidence of David be yours, and even when you are in the midst of stuff, even stuff that may feel like a valley of death, don't turn your eyes to the hills, but look further upwards and turn them to the God who will save the day!

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=60f34aa538

Breakfast of Champions: Friday 18th June

Good morning, today a true story to inspire you.

A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was 'too crowded.' 'I can't go to Sunday School,' she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kind-hearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: 'This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.' For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there...

A newspaper learned of the story and published It. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.

Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. 
Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00 – a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

If you ever visit the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, where thousands of students are educated. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time. In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, Acres of Diamonds.

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.

Hey guys, don't underestimate what your giving can create.

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=0b6fc83dee

Breakfast of Champions: Thursday 17th June

Morning, Champ!

Pride ain't no friend of mine (cont'd)

Humility always wins!

2 Kings 5:13-14 (NKJV)
And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

After storming off in a huff a servant helped him to reason what his pride would equal in his life, which was basically a very painful and embarrassing death. Naaman responds this time with a humble heart and does what was prescribed, and the result was exactly what had been originally promised.

Notice that God did not play with or barter with Naaman's pride, but simply waited for his response to change. As soon as it did the promised miracle was released.

What was the problem with the Jordan
The problem was that it was a public place, which meant this great commander had to de-robe himself to get what God had promised. When he took his robes and armour off a couple of things would happen:

1. He would be the same as everybody else. There would be no uniform to separate him. But that is how we are isn't it? We all stand before God the same, needing Him to do something for us?

2. He had leprosy which meant people would have seen he had a need, but maybe he did not want people to know he was needy?

We need to understand that we are all the same and God does not regard the uniforms or titles of men. Secondly, we all have needs and everyone of us are depending on God for something.

I am so glad he dealt with his pride and did not leave and die, but rather humbled himself and lived. He learned that day that his pride may have made him feel important but it could not get him what he needed from God.

Walk with humility before your God, Champion.

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=0cf94b7b78

Breakfast of Champions: Wednesday 16th June

Morning, Champion, breakfast is served.

"Pride Ain't No Friend of Yours" (cont'd)

Proverbs 16:18 (The Message)
First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

A real sobering thought this morning is that pride can actually keep you from Miracles that God has for you!

2 Kings 5:11-12 (NKJV)
But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.' Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.

We read here the pride-filled response of the Commander of the Syrian armies, a man by the name of Naaman. Yes, a very important man but one with a big problem: he had leprosy!

He may have been a high-ranking army commander but he was also a man dying on his feet with an incurable body-eating disease, which meant, just like anyone else with leprosy, he needed a miracle from God.

This much-needed miracle was not a problem. He sent for Elisha to come help and Elisha sent a note (prescription) for him from God concerning what to do to get healed. When he read the prescription he got offended instead of excited! Why? Simple because of his pride.

· He was offended that Elisha did not come but sent a note.

· He was offended at what God expected him to do.

· He was offended at where he was expected to do it, and felt he knew better.

Read it again and listen to the tone of pride that may have made him feel important, but sadly left him separated from the God-intended miracle for his life. Pride always has a distinctive sound and a tone to it, always be careful when you hear it and be sure to deal quickly with it when you do.

He turned away in a rage – why? Because he felt what God had asked him to do violated him in some way. Can you see how pride can keep you from things that God has for you? God did not want to violate him but make him better. But God also had a plan to heal him of his unhealthy pride at the same time which, like leprosy, was not doing him any good.

To be continued . . .

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=fc26fee25f

Breakfast of Champions: Tuesday 15th June

Good morning, Champ.

"Pride ain't no friend of mine"

James 4:5-6 (NKJV)
Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

The Message:
It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."

It is good for us to remember that pride is no friend to our life. It will cause you to know the resistance of God's hand rather than the lifting grace of it.

I don't know about you, but I do not want to live my life with God resisting me – but I certainly want to experience His grace daily assisting me. The key is very simple: keep pride out of your heart and let humility (not false humility) reign in the corridors of your being.

Pride and arrogance are the forerunners to stuff we really do not want.

Proverbs 16:18-19 (NKJV)
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

There is nothing wrong in taking a healthy pride in what you do, but that is so different to the unhealthy pride that tries to stand arrogantly in the face of God and His wisdom and knowledge. Remember, it was pride that deceived satan concerning who he really was, and was the doorway to him getting kicked out of heaven.

He had a pretty good job – he was head worship leader, given the priviledge of reflecting the worship of heaven towards God. One day he decided he did not want to pass it on but own it. At that very moment destruction came to collect Him!

May we all today again purpose to walk humbly before our God, not being scared to celebrate who He has made us to be but ever conscious of what we would be without Him!

Bless ya,

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=d412b7a2bd

Breakfast of Champions: Monday 14th June

Good morning, Champion.

That's how to talk to your giants

1 Samuel 17:45–46 (NIV)
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

Here David gives us a lesson on how to talk to giants. We have spoken about mountains the last couple of days so now let's speak of giants or, in other words, those situations and things that stand in front of you threatening and intimidating you, and whose sole purpose it is to create a life-freezing fear within you. Look how David approached Goliath. What gave David the confidence to approach this giant with such authority? Yes, you guessed it. He had been basking in the bigness of his God.

The Israelites, on the other hand, had been basking in the bigness of this giant for many days. He came before them daily and threatened them with intimidating statements. When you read this chapter you see that they had become experts concerning this giant. They knew his size and how much his spearhead weighed. They had spent days basking in his bigness, which had produced fear and caused them to totally forget how awesome their covenant God was. David wasn't having any of it! He was a shepherd boy who spent years staring into star-filled heavens worshipping God, and he had spent years basking in the bigness of God, so that when this moment arrived there was no competition. His G.O.D was B.I.G! He just ran at the problem from his correct godly perception and dealt with it in no time at all.

Champion, when, like David, you make it your habit to bask in the bigness of God and not become an expert concerning the giants of life, you too can run at any giant as David did and tell them their destiny and then take them out.

Remember, we are in covenant with the same God that David trusted. In fact, we have a superior Christ-based covenant with Him! Stop studying the giant, but rather let God's bigness get into your heart!

Hey Champion, why not go tell a giant what you and your covenant God are going to do to it!

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=e6fe9489cc

Breakfast of Champions: Friday 11th June

Good morning, Champion.

Make sure your behaviour fits the moment

Numbers 14:1-3 (NIV)
That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?"

When you read these verses you could be mistaken to think that something awful had just happened, when bizarrely it was quite the opposite. They had just returned from looking at the land the Lord had promised them. It was a land flowing with milk and honey, and they were loaded down with goodies from it.

Yes, there were a few obstacles that would need to be removed, but think about it: if God had given them the land then He had already guaranteed the victory over those obstacles. Joshua and Caleb had come back with a faith-filled response with behaviour to match. Sadly, the other spies came back filled with dread and woe (unbelief).

If you read on, their behaviour caused the children of Israel (except Joshua and Caleb) to miss out on what God had set up for them as a massive blessing. What should they have been doing? They should have been excitedly packing, getting supplies ready, and mobilising Israel for the big cross over. Instead they behaved with unbelief, sowing fear and doubt, starting rumours and causing a mutiny that totally dishonoured God. Their behaviour disqualified them!

A good lesson to learn here is to always let your behaviour be fitting the moment at hand! Whenever you are standing on the edge of a God-promised miracle there will always be a healthy tension. It is in these moments that we need to choose to behave in accordance with what God has promised and not in accordance with soul-based panic and unbelief (unless you purpose to miss out).

When right behaviour and a God-appointed moment stand in unity together you will always experience the manifestation of what God has promised. When you read on concerning Joshua and Caleb you see they got what was promised. Why? They watched their behaviour!

HOMEWORK
Why not read through Numbers 13 and 14. There is a lot to learn in these two chapters about faith and attitude.

Bless you,

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=d703af8593

Breakfast of Champions: Thursday 10th June

Good morning, Champion.

Put your praise at the front

2 Chronicles 20:21-23 (NKJV)
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

I just want to encourage you again today, Champion, regarding the power of your praise. Whatever challenge or situation you may be facing, either right now or at another time, always remember to put your praise at the front of the armies of your life.

In these verses we see Jehoshaphat do something very wise which can be wisdom for us again today if we choose to learn from it. He appointed the praise to be at the front and not in the middle or at the back.

When they began to praise from the front God set ambushes against their enemies and great victories were had. How about you? Do you want God to set some ambushes for the enemy of your soul and set you up for a win? Then get your praise out in the front of your life again today.

• Put it in front of every other activity and praise Him first!

• Put it in front of every other plan of attack and praise Him first!

• Put it in front of every other ability and resource you have, because nothing else you have in the arsenal of your life is as powerful as your praise.

Praise belongs in the front of who we are and what we desire to do. Praise is the overflow of a forgiven soul and a declaration of faith in a never-failing God. Praise changes the atmosphere of any battlefield or life.

Get your praise on! Appoint it to be positioned at the front, and then expect a victory.

Bless you,

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=51bdb83788

Breakfast of Champions: Wednesday 9th June

Good morning, Champion.

Give God today what is reasonable

Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

As we said yesterday, if you have a pulse then you are alive and if you're alive, that is down to God's faithfulness and goodness, not your healthy lifestyle habits alone.

Life is an awesome gift from God given for us to enjoy, not endure. It is also given to us so that we could have something effective to offer Him as a sacrifice. Notice He wants a living sacrifice and not a dead one. God had generations of dead sacrifices (Genesis-Malachi) and now wants some sacrifices that can walk around giving Him the glory He deserves.

Today you are a Living, Holy and Accepted sacrifice because of what Jesus has done for you (Romans 11:16). He has determined your holiness and qualified your acceptance by His completed one-time sacrifice, done on your behalf. He knew death so that you could know life.

God now wants you to offer to Him what He has given to you (life). This is not unreasonable and sounds like a very fair deal to me. Think about it, if you did not have something to offer Him as a sacrifice you would not be doing too well.

As believers, it is more than reasonable for us to daily offer our lives to God for Him to position and use us as He desires, and as we do this, it is perceived by God as an act of worship to Him. Look at how that verse sounds from another translation.

Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.

· In view of (take a good look at it again) His mercy, offer yourself back to Him alive and ready.

· This is your spiritual act of worship.

Hey Champion, again today, offer God the sacrifice of your life as a living sacrifice. As you do, you are being reasonable and worshipping Him at the same time.

Bless you,

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=c7cebcf5f8

Breakfast of Champions: Tuesday 8th June

Good morning, Champion.

Check for a pulse

In any good movie when someone gets hurt the first thing they do is check the person's pulse to get a good picture of how serious things really are.

Isaiah 42:5 (NIV)

This is what God the LORD says — He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:

This morning let's start with an experiment. Take your forefinger and put it on the wrist of your opposite arm, move it around till you feel a pulse – got one? Good. Here are two good thoughts concerning what you have found:

1. You are already better off than some people! Remember, we need to always hold all challenges and momentary situations we may be facing in their true perspective. Yes, they may be very real and even very painful situations you are going to have to walk through, but think about this: some do not even have the option to have a challenge today. When you choose to look at it this way you realise you are doing alright, and if your pulse is a nice strong pulse then you are doing a whole lot better than a whole lot of other people who are struggling with poor health today. Maybe this day is better than what you first thought?

2. Remember, God is the one who gives you that pulse today. It is a sign of life and the evidence of blood being pumped round your body, enabling you to live another day. Don't ever get so impressed with yourself or what you have achieved that you leave God out of the applause. The bottom line is that if He was not faithful to give you a pulse daily then nothing else in your life would work well or mean much at all. I spoke to a young man today who is destined to be successful and I asked him if he prayed and he replied, "Yes". I said, "When you pray each morning, feel for your pulse and that will remind you that everything we have and could ever have is because God has again faithfully given us life". We all need to have a go at that – especially in tough or very successful times – and then give credit where credit is due.

Have a great day, and remember the Lord your God is in it – for He is the one who gives you breath and He gives life to those who walk the earth.

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl02@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=8e2c366bd2&c=89840ebae5

Breakfast of Champions: Monday 7th June

Good morning, Champ.

Faith sings before it happens

Isaiah 54:1 (The Message)
Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth! You're ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women. God says so!

Imagine if you could not have children (being barren) and you went to the doctor for help, and he looked at you over his glasses and said, "Sing, woman, sing!", and then gave you a prescription to sing songs about how many kids you were going to have and how awesome they would be!

You may think that is kind of strange, but that is the point of this verse. It is reminding us that people of faith do not just sing songs of thankfulness after things happen but can be heard singing songs of faith and thankfulness when they seem impossible!

Remember, faith is the substance of things hoped for and not of things seen or experienced (Hebrews 11), which means when we are believing God for something He has promised us, we do not need to wait until we handle it before owning it and singing about it. In fact, the prophet instructs us to sing from the position of apparent lack and barrenness. That's faith.

We read about Moses parting the Red Sea with his faith, and when they get to the other side his sister, Miriam, got out her tambourine and started to play and sing songs of thankfulness to God. Well done, Miriam – but really, think about it: anyone can play the tambourine on the victorious side of the miracle. God is looking for some people who will play the tambourine of faith before the miracle happens and when it looks impossible.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, so sing Him a song that pleases Him today. Sing Him a song of faith. Yes, sing it from the middle of that place of apparent barrenness because He told you to.

Bless you,

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl01@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=959d22e910&c=875f42d86a

Breakfast of Champions: Friday 4th June

Good morning, Champ, and welcome to another Friday fry-up!

Do you want to be amazed at what comes out of your mouth?

We have spoken about the power of "saying nothing at all" but what about when you have to say something? We know that according to Ecclesiastes there is a time for everything, "a time to be silent and a time to speak". What about those times when silence won't serve you best and you need to say something and you know that what you say could have a serious effect?

Jesus gives some great advice in the Gospel of Luke

Luke 21:14-15 (NKJV)
Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

Jesus gave this promise to His disciples as He spoke to them on the subject of the signs of the end times. He spoke of people betraying them and setting them up with loaded or trick questions intended to incriminate or defame them and their God. He told them not to worry about it but rather, when they found themselves in one of those awkward moments, to open their mouth and listen to what comes out.

The promise He made to them is still valid for us today. Why? Because His Spirit (the spirit of wisdom and revelation) lives now in us and is not dumb but He speaks. When we dare to take our minds out of gear and listen for Him it is amazing the answers and responses we suddenly have to give that appear seemingly from nowhere.

Consider the promise and its implications for you today.

• Jesus promised that He would give "the mouth (courage, eloquent ability) and the wise answer (truth for the moment)" to those who would dare not to pre-meditate responses but simply trust Him in those moments for the perfect answers.

• Not only will He give you the perfect answer but an answer that will not be able to be contradicted or resisted. Now that is a great response.

So remember, sometimes it is better not to speak, "to say nothing at all", and other times when words are needed, why not let His wisdom become the "appearing seemingly from nowhere" words you use? As you do, you will leave your hearers unable to contradict why. That is what truth does when it is spoken with wisdom!

Luke 21:15 (The Message)
Make up your mind right now not to worry about it. I'll give you the words and wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and stutters.

Blessing and have a great weekend.

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl01@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=959d22e910&c=0c7694ee80

Breakfast of Champions: Thursday 3rd June

Good morning, Champion.

You say it best when you say nothing at all (Cont'd)

Let's think again about the power of silence and look at these verses using the modern Message translation from this account this in the book of Matthew.

Matthew 15:3–5 (The Message)
The high priests let loose a barrage of accusations. Pilate asked again, "Aren't you going to answer anything? That's quite a list of accusations." Still He said nothing. Pilate was impressed, really impressed.

In not speaking He impressed Pilate and, more importantly, was actually fulfilling what Isaiah the prophet had prophesied concerning Him, validating His identity (the truth of who He was) to those who had ears to hear and eyes to see.

Isaiah 53:7 (NIV)
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Jesus knew exactly what He was doing and was able to trust His Father God in the midst of it. A good leadership lesson is that, when we know what we are doing, there is no reason or purpose to justify it to everyone.

I am sure you have learned, as I have, that speaking when you don't need to or shouldn't can get you into the position where you find yourself digging yourself out of a hole you never needed to be in. Have you ever dug your way out of pointless holes? You can't change them but you can stop yourself from digging others.

If He would have gotten himself into a conversation or debate concerning the what and why of all He was doing, He would have stepped out of Isaiah's prophesy concerning who He was and positioned Himself in a place where He could jeopardize the redemptive plan that would be carried out. By not verbally justifying who He was or His actions He more clearly showed that He was the One whom God had chosen to redeem the world, according to Isaiah's prophetic word. His silence was the fulfillment of the scripture and the Jews who were there watching would know this and see prophetic fulfillment happening before their very eyes.

Leadership lesson:
As we lead in life for God let's be wise with our speech:

1. Have different responses for different people, depending on who they are in your life and the situation at hand.

2. Remember, different people can handle knowing different things. What can they handle? Don't give them what they can't!

3. Certain people deserve to know certain things and others don't and need to wait and see, so be wise with your words!

Have a great day and lead well in it.

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl01@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=959d22e910&c=e2a1f015ef

Breakfast of Champions: Wednesday 2nd June

Good morning, Champion.

You say it best when you say nothing at all

Mark 14:57–62 (NIV)
Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.'" Yet even then their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

In this account Jesus has been arrested and is being falsely accused by people whose stories could not hold water. He had been dragged before a kangaroo court of false testimonies and made-up tales. Like any TV courtroom scene, accusations and allegations were being fired at Him from every direction and He found Himself right in the middle, although innocent of the charges and lies.

In the middle of this trial of errors we see Jesus choose to say one of the greatest things of all. He said nothing at all. He knew what we all need to discover, that in a battle of words, often silence can be the winner.

The greatest statement He could make to the false things being said about Him was to say nothing. Why? He did not need to justify the lies. He needed only to stand confidently in the truth of what He knew was real.

As we make the decision to live for God, we too will be falsely accused and, just like Jesus, we will have the option to fight back verbally. Maybe we will find ourselves or our reputation being defamed or set up. We may have the potential and opportunity to verbally give the best defense ever given but we need to ask ourselves if it will match the power of silence? Remember, one of the greatest statements Jesus ever made was to say nothing.

• Sometimes the use of words tries to justify something that does not qualify justification.

• Truth does not need to be justified to everyone, just confidently rested upon – "time will tell your story".

• Truth is like a beach ball being held under water in a swimming pool. It is only a matter of time before it comes to the surface. The pressure working for it is greater than that working against it!

Make the decision not to always fight your own corner when you don't need to. Try not to get into a verbal wrestling match when silence is clearly the best contender.

Sometimes, like Jesus knew, and the singer Ronan Keating once sang, "you say it best when you say nothing at all". Think about that.

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl01@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=959d22e910&c=e0bd1932d7

Breakfast of Champions: Tuesday 1st June

Good morning, Champion.

Take God and His Church personally

Psalm 69:9 (NIV)
For zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.

• King David was a man who was extremely passionate about His God and the House of His God. In this verse you can hear very clearly that David took God and His house personally.

• Zeal – "passion" – consumed Him. It "ate Him up". How about you, Champion? Do you have a zeal and "passion" for God that consumes you?

Are you Consumed or a Consumer?

There is a big difference between the two. One pours themself into the house and the other takes things from the house. A consumer, as we understand it commercially, is someone who goes somewhere to get what they need. Too often, sadly, Church has plenty of consumers and not enough people who, like David, are consumed.

It will be a people who are consumed for God and His house who change this generation, so make the decision in your heart that you will be one of them.

I love the heart of David in this Psalm. David says that His (God's ) house is my (David's) House, His (God's) insults are my (David's) insults. Wow! That is taking God personally. How do you feel when people insult your God? Do you take it personally? If you do, you could well be like David who was a nation-changer.

Again today, Champion, let love for God and His house consume your life and don't settle for being a consumer when you can be the consumed.

Bless you,

Andy
==============================================

Unsubscribe andy791.gbl01@blogger.com from this list:
http://greatbiglife.us1.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=25c0f3189b58b697b3da13e3c&id=943136c5b5&e=959d22e910&c=6b0e495bbd