God's Preparation for Moving Out - when God decides it is time to move you into a larger place of His calling, He has the ability to provide the resources you need to support the call. Be sure the strategy is born from above, and not from self-effort - learn the difference between the strategies born of God versus the strategy of self-effort

"In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys." - Genesis 30:43

Jacob left his homeland after suffering a broken relationship with Esau for stealing the family blessing.

He went to work for his uncle Laban where he stayed for 20 years. 

It came time for him to leave, but he had no physical assets to show for those years under Laban. 

Laban had taken advantage of his nephew in every way. 

(In some ways, Jacob was reaping the seed he had sown his entire life as a manipulator and controller.) 

Nevertheless, God's hand was on Jacob, and He had plans to prosper him.

However, Jacob had one problem - he had no resources of his own. 

For Jacob to launch out on his own, he would need resources. 

In those days, resources often meant large flocks of animals. 

God gave Jacob a dream that resulted in a strategy for creating wealth by multiplying his sheep. 

Even though Laban sought to thwart Jacob's efforts, God overcame the evil in Laban to allow Jacob to prosper.

There are many important lessons for us in this story.

First, when God decides it is time to move you into a larger place of His calling, He has the ability to provide the resources you need to support the call. 

God gave Jacob a dream that resulted in a strategy never used before to build wealth. 

It was totally from God's hand. 

It was creative and new. 

God called Jacob to move out after he had demonstrated his faithfulness in 20 years of serving Laban. 

He learned to live under authority and served Laban faithfully, even though he knew he was being taken advantage of.

God will do the same for you and me. 

However, a word of caution: Be sure the strategy is born from above, and not from self-effort.

The difficulty for most of us workplace believers is to learn the difference between the strategies born of God versus the strategy of self-effort.

Os Hillman

Os Hillman is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and consultant on the subject of faith at work. He is the Founder and President of Marketplace Leaders Ministries, an organization whose purpose is to train men and women to fulfill their calling in and through their work life and to view their work as ministry.

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

tgif@todaygodisfirst.com

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Seeing the Face of God - there is a time in a believer’s life when he meets God face to face. That is when he comes to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior

Wrestling with God - often difficulties and crises are used by the Lord to bring us closer and to develop intimacy with Him

Reuben Found Mandrakes - this discovery becomes contentious, because sisters Rachel and Leah are engaged in a bitter competition to produce children for their mutual husband, Jacob

Distraction is a common tactic in warfare - our enemy is constantly seeking to distract us, both to divert our energies and to keep our eyes off his attack strategy. He wants to distract us from our calling and set us up for the kill. We need to constantly refocus our attention to the things that truly matter as we fight the good fight. Be aware of this tactic of the enemy. Check your activities and priorities for distraction and see if it's being used against you. Then refocus your energy towards the good fight. "... lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices"

Don't get distracted!

"... lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices." - 2 Corinthians 2:11 

Toward the end of 1941, as the second world war was raging in Europe, the Japanese ambassador was sent to Washington D.C. apparently seeking peace; however back in Japan, the emperor was planning the attack on Pearl Harbor.  

The Japanese empire sent their ambassador to D.C. as a distraction, so the sudden attack on Pearl Harbor took the United States completely by surprise.

Distraction is a common tactic in warfare. 

Our enemy is constantly seeking to distract us, both to divert our energies and to keep our eyes off his attack strategy.  

He wants to distract us from our calling and set us up for the kill.  

Whether it's things of this world, getting caught up in issues that are really not our business,  personal rivalries, pointless worrying, or fruitless endeavors -- let's face it -- we can be easily distracted! 

We need to constantly refocus our attention to the things that truly matter as we fight the good fight.

Friend, be aware of this tactic of the enemy -- learn it well. 

Take a break, check your activities and priorities for distraction, and see if it's being used against you. 

Then refocus your energy towards the good fight!

                                                              Worthy Brief

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgCzEJ58gKw

War Song 

lyrics

We have a weapon of warfare
The praises of God in my mouth
We have sword of the Spirit
The word of truth, the word of God

For no weapon formed against us will prosper
For the battle is the Lord's and he'll not fail
We will go forth and praise the name of Jesus
And execute His vegeance on the powers of the air...

As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The host of the hell will flee...

As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised
And with a shout of victory (wooo)
His name will be praised...

We do not fight with earthly weapons
But with the weapons of the Lord
We are the church the mighty army
A people of praise, a people of war

For no weapon formed against us will prosper
For the battle is the Lord's and he'll not fail
We will go forth and praise the name of Jesus
And execute His vegeance on the powers of the air...

As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The host of the hell will flee...

As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised
And with a shout of victory (wooo)
His name will be praised...

As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The host of the hell will flee...

As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised
And with a shout of victory (wooo)
His name will be praised...

As we clap our hands
We will strike the enemy
As we dance with joy
The host of the hell will flee...

As we lift our hands
His banner will be raised
And with a shout of victory (wooo)
With a shout of victory (wooo)
With a shout of victory (wooo)
His name will be praised...

Song by Robert Gay