Friday, June 24, 2005

InVision: It keeps you going.

I have recently taken on a second job to bring in more income. It can be challenging, let alone tiring, to do home improvement after working for 8 hours sitting at a desk job. Although I enjoy doing the work, I would rather be at home, sitting on the sofa and watching HGTV.

Why do I do it? What keeps me going? My InVision for success and prosperity. I want all of my family's needs to be met. I'm not talking about being greedy; I'm talking about having enough for us and plenty to share.

But my focus is not on things; I am focusing on my vision. The biblical character Job was known for having great wealth, but he was known by God for his righteousness and integrity. As long as we live righteously and with integrity we will find ourselves succesful. Proverbs 22:4 states: By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life.

Humility and the fear of the Lord are key ingredients for success. Success is often measured by things and titles accumulated, but Job's greatest honor came from God when He said, "Have you considered my servant Job?" This is the prize that keeps me going; I want to have God say about me, " Have you considered my servant..."

Thursday, June 09, 2005

With All Your Heart

I Chronicles 31:20 NKJV Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.

King Hezekiah had a vision of restoring his people to the God of Israel. His vision was broad enough to extend to restoring the whole house of Israel to Davidic worship in the Temple. He was successful because he followed his InVision with all his heart.

In the years since the division of Solomon’s kingdom between Judah and Israel, the two kingdoms had fought together and against one another, but they had ceased worshipping together. Hezekiah sent messengers throughout all of Israel inviting everyone to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. He gave generously to support the Passover feast. There was so much joy and gladness that they kept the Passover for two weeks.

The greatest joy in his life came when he followed his vision. He was passionate about following after God. Shortly after this Passover, Sennacherib, king of Assyria gather a multitude of people against Judah, specifically Hezekiah. His response was to build up their defenses and gather everyone together.
Once they were together he encouraged them with these words, “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles” I Chronicles 32:7-8. That’s InVision!!

Friday, June 03, 2005

Test of InVision?

How do you know if your vision is inspired or not?

Can you do it alone or are you and those who are with you, dependant on God for success? God inspires those with limited potential to achieve things greater than themselves. We do our part and God will do His part.

Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, was a man of InVision. He was inspired to bring revival to his nation, as well as to his neighbors in Israel. But after he found success in leading his people back to the God of their fathers, he found his nation under attack from his enemies. He gathered all of Judah together to call upon their God for help.

Jehoshapat lead the nation in a prayer that moved God to help them. He had done his part, then he reminded God of his covenant with Israel and declared their dependance on Him to keep His word. Leaders today would do well to follow his leadership.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

Vision Vs. InVision

Vision is important, but Inspired Vision or InVision as I call it, is far better. Hitler had a vision that produced monsterous results. Marx's vision of Communism when carried out by Lenin also had a tragic outcome.

By contrast, consider the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Their vision of a free people, living in a democratic republic governed by a constitution, has lasted over 200 years. The USA has been responsible for the spreading of freedom around the world. Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison and Adams had a vision that was inspired as you can see by their writings. They gave credit to the Creator who endowed us with rights.

InVision does not come easily and is not "free". Those who want it and pursue it have to pay a price. It was InVision that kept Washington going through the winter at Valley Forge. The vision of a free people. InVision is not for the small minded; it is for the bold, who have open eyes, open hearts and open minds.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Jabez - A Man of InVision

I Chronicles 4:10 NKJV
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,"Oh that you would bless
me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me,
and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God
granted him what he requested.

Jabez was a man of InVision. This brought him more honor than his
brothers (I Chr.4:09). Jabez, whose name means pain, was determined to
not cause pain to those around him or himself.

Inspired Vision, or InVision as I call it, led Jabez to ask God for
help. He wanted to have a larger territory and to achieve a higher
destiny than his name would give him. Greatness comes easy to some by
virtue of the name they are given or by the name of the parents. Jabez
wanted to overcome his own name.

InVision is a requirement to the one who wants to overcome and succeed.
We must overcome our propensity to think less of ourselves and our
abilities. In order to do that we need to see things from God's
perspective. Jabez went to the source of vision and help, to achieve his
goals. In doing so, he overcame his difficulties and exceeded his
goals. Jabez succeeded when he submitted himself to God, kept himself
from evil and trusted in God's power.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

The Big Picture

Vision is inspiration given by God to accomplish great things for God. With InVision (Inspired Vision), we see that God has prepared us to do good works (Ephesians 2:10) and that He will empower us to reach our destiny. With InVision, we can see the "Big Picture".

What you are doing now might not seem that big, but it is part of a bigger plan. Whether it is working 9 to 5, watching the kids or scrubbing toilets, don't lose sight of your purpose in life. Get inspired! Ask God to open you eyes to His "Big Picture" for your life and then stay focused on the your current responsibilities with that vision in mind.

Give it all you've got! Whatever you are doing now, do it with all your might and glorify God!

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Welcome to InVision

InVision is the name I have given my new blog. I believe that Inspired Vision will lead you on the path of wisdom and understanding towards success. I have found that Inspired Vision is a gift from God. The Bible is the manual for receiving inspiration and vision; examples of the successful are found within. I hope that this blog will encourage you to find the treasures that can be found in God's Word.