Today’s message is extra special. I joined the Army July 17, 1990. My wife Isabella joined April 14, 1994. While our official retirement date is still a couple of months away, our retirement ceremony is today. Today is the “Big Day!” With that in mind, I feel led to simply share a few thoughts with you..
So what does this mean to you today? I could go on for days, but I will limit my comments to seven thoughts.
- Life is all about people. Accolades, awards, and accomplishments don’t mean much outside of the context of the people you touched.
- Don’t rush through life. We are all busy. Everyone I know has more task than time. But God did not put us on the planet to get through a to-do list. He put us here for a reason, that reason is our divine purpose, and our purpose involves spending time with people. Slow down, put your smartphones away, and talk to each other.
- Honor is the missing link. Those who understand honor and who live honorably stand out in this world. Study “honor” in the Bible, apply what you learn, and success will quickly become a by-product of the honor you develop.
- Always be willing to do “One Degree More”. Water boils at 212 degrees fahrenheit. At 211 degrees water is just hot water. But at 212 everything changes. Those who are willing to do “One Degree More” than everyone else will always stand out. God has called us to stand out! We are supposed to be light and salt. You have the grace to do “One Degree More!” Tap into it and bring glory to God.
- You only get one chance to violate integrity, loyalty or trust. Most successful people are paranoid about who they allow in their inner circle. If you are blessed enough to be welcomed into the presence of great men/women, you must never violate the relationship. Once you violate your integrity, loyalty or trust, you will never get it back. This is important to understand if you want the favor of God to continually flow in your life.
- God is a God of no limits. I don’t believe Isabella and I are unique in the fact that we have God-given dreams. We all have dreams. What has made me and my family stand out is the fact that we believe them. If God could use Rick and Isabella — two people who started without the background, connections, education, or money, but who simply believed God — then God can use anyone. There is no limit to what God can do in, with or through you. God is only limited by your capacity to believe Him!
- Live life with a thankful heart. Things have not always been easy for us. Being a dual-military couple has been very challenging at times. But living every day with an attitude of gratitude has kept us in position to hear and receive from God. Never cease to give God thanks. No matter what’s going on, no matter the challenges you may be facing, enter every day with a spring in your step, a song in your heart, a smile on your face, and praise on your lips. If you live this way it will be hard for you to ever have a bad day.
Instead of leading you in a confession today, I will simply pray for you.
My Prayer for You Today: Father, I come to You in the name of Your Son, my Lord, Jesus the Christ. I lift up the person receiving this message. I look back over my career in the military, I think back over all You have brought me from and through, and I give you Praise. I now pronounce blessings and favor over them. Just as You have blessed me, I ask You Father to bless them richly. May You open doors no man can close. May You close doors no man can open. May you cause heaven to shine upon them to the point where they experience heaven on earth. May they live the life You birthed them to live. May they die empty, getting OUT of them all Your poured IN them. I speak life and not death, blessing and not cursing, success and not failure, victory and never defeat. May Your grace and goodness overtake them, empower them, and propel them into their destiny. May the world see Jesus IN them every day and in every way. May they become conduits of Your light and love for all the world to see. I pray this in faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
