The days of a blessed person are filled with divine “coincidences”  and heavenly meaning.  A blessed man may or may not be wealthy by the world’s standards, but he enjoys a quality of life that most billionaires would envy.

The Blessed Life by Robert Morris

Comment from a businessman.

The Blessed Life by Robert Morris

Jeremiah 17:8

For he will be like a tree planted by the water,

That extends its roots by a stream

And will not fear when the heat comes;

But its leaves will be green,

And it will not be anxious in a year of drought

Nor cease to yield fruit.

As I was driving recently, I witnessed quite a sight that profoundly moved my spirit.  I saw a rather large tree that was toppled by the strong gusts of wind produced by an incoming weather system.  The mass of tree nearly crushed a car, blocked the entrance of a nearby house and exposed its massive root system in the process of ripping apart the sidewalk.  Even though the tree appeared to be healthy to the eye on  the surface, it however, failed to withstand the force of the wind because its root system was not securely anchored.

Matthew 7:24-27 (The Message)
“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

This made me wonder,  “Are the things that I am building securely anchored in the soil of the spirit or are my endeavors, which appear to be flourishing on the surface, vulnerable to the onslaught of sudden and strong outside forces?  Are the things that I am building securely anchored to the Rock that is Christ?  Am I putting into practice God’s words into every aspect of my life?”

Believing entrepreneurs must make sure that they are securely anchored in the Spirit.  This realm is where great men and women of faith chose to live in.  And as a result, produced great works that are still being felt today.  In fact, we are living in the fruit of their works.  These men and women not only heard the Word but were obedient to put it into practical application in their lives.

Our roots are the unseen connections that we have with the realm of the spirit.   If our roots are not securely anchored in the life-giving source of the spirit, we remain vulnerable to the wiles of the enemy and the dictates of our flesh.  And like the tree, we may be suddenly toppled by the winds of circumstances.
Our outward success as Kingdompreneurs (entrepreneurs who have dedicated their businesses for the benefit of the Kingdom of God) is only made possible through the daily discipline of extending our roots further into the realm of the spirit. Our success in the natural must be preceded by growing our root system in the spirit realm. Our daily acts of pressing into the spirit and remaining connected to the Source, will produce fruit that will last.  The greater the work that is being manifested in the natural, the more we need to diligently seek the nourishment of the stream of the Spirit.  For therein lies our strength, our nourishment and our ultimate success.

Meditate on These Scriptures

Psalm 119:16 (Amplified Bible)
I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Joshua 1:8 (New King James Version)
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 25:5 (New King James Version)
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation; 
On You I wait all the day.

Psalm 92:12-14
The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 
Planted in the house of the LORD,
They will flourish in the courts of our God. 
They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,

Ezekiel 19:10
‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,
Planted by the waters; It was fruitful and full of branches
Because of abundant waters.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.(James 1:2-4 KJV)

Going through is not something that our mind nor body likes to experience.  When we are in the midst of trying circumstances our fleshly nature and soul are under extreme pressure.  The weight of the pressure may cause us to be weary or to be even confused or unfocused in our thinking.  But it is in these times that we can rest in our spirit because of the finished work that is completed in us.  Going through the fire with God ensures that we will not be burned even though to our heightened natural senses it may appear that all may be lost (Daniel 3).

However, there is a work that needs to be completed in the outer parts of our being.  Our mind needs to be renewed in the areas of our will, emotions and thinking to conform to that of Christ.  Likewise, our bodies need to be disciplined and brought under subjection in order to manifest God’s glory in the midst of our trial.

Galatians 5:22-26 (New International Version) – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

There is perfecting work taking place in the midst of our trial.  We must allow it to fulfill its course.  In order for the fruit to appear, there are things that need to pruned away or die off in the refining process of the trial. We will manifest the spiritual fruit of joy, patience and faithfulness when we submit to the process.

Proverbs 25:4 (New International Version) – Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith;

2 Timothy 2:21 (King James Version) – If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

In the midst of your current trial, are you allowing the fruit of joy, patience and faithfulness to be worked out in your life?  Know that the trial comes to shake whatever we are believing God for so that we grow in our reliance on Him and Him alone.  God is with you and is refining you in the furnace of your circumstance so that when you come out you will look more like Christ.  Allow your worth in the Kingdom to be  increased by focusing on the joy of your victory over this present trial.  Ask for God’s grace – His strength in your weakness, His power in your powerlessness and His ability in your inability.  He promises to gladly give you all you need.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (King James Version) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Rest assured  that if you are going through, there is a promise that you are not in it alone.  Sense His presence in the midst of your trial and know that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Know that He will see you through and share with you the joy of your victory.

Additional Scriptures to Meditate on

You have proved my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and find nothing [no evil purpose in me]; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. – Psalm 17:3 Amp

For You, O God, have proved us; You have tried us as silver is tried, refined, and purified. – Psalm 66:10

Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. – James 1:12 Amp

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. – Romans 5:2b-5

Romans 13:8 (Amplified Bible) – Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements].

I have truly been convicted by meditating on this scripture.  I have been rescued from credit card debt but there are other areas in my life where I am still indebted.  I am sensing that the Lord is speaking directly to me through this scripture.  He wants me to be totally freed from the system of debt.

The current financial crisis in the U.S.  is great example of a nation that has been consumed by debt at all levels of society.  We have printed debt with ease and now are enslaved to other nations who now have ownership of our future.  We have acquired the habit of issuing more debt as the answer to pressing challenges in our businesses and society.  Some of the results include:

• Credit card and consumer debt (mortgage debt around $10.5 trillion);
• Government debt (national debt broke $10 trillion on Sept. 30); and
• Corporate debt (in the trillions of dollars).

Proverbs 22:7 (The Message) – The poor are always ruled over by the rich,  so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power.

What happened to the days when we just saved for what we wanted and then purchased it when we had accumulated the funds?  Debt has been promoted as a necessity in the media and have snared many who do not think of its many future consequences.

I believe that the Lord is speaking to many of us in the current crisis and is prompting us to abandon our reliance on the world to support our financial needs and to remain free.  Turning to debt as a solution to our financial need is a temporary fix that only pleases our flesh.  It removes us from focusing on the Source who promises to meet all of our need.  When we trust God in our financial need, we will please Him through our spirit.

Philippians 4:19 (King James Version) – But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Debt is a system of of slavery that is entered into by voluntary participants.  I now realize that in the past, I have sought to have my financial problems addressed by accessing the debt system as a result of not trusting Him to meet my needs.  Today,  I am still paying the price for not trusting God in my past financial challenges.

Matthew 11:30 (Amplified Bible) – For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Debt is a yoke that we choose to put around our necks to the detriment of peace in our lives.  A temporary fix is followed by us shouldering the unpleasant weight of slavery around our necks.  God wants us to be and to only yoke ourselves to Him by trusting Him in all aspects of our lives – including our finances.

Taking on more debt is the price that we pay for not being disciplined.  Our flesh wants to take the easy way out but does not want to undergo the pain of discipline.  Staying free of debt requires that we save more and spend less.  Maintaining these disciplines may not be immediate but will enable us to obtain our financial freedom and to remain for years to come .

God wants us to be free so that the only debt that we owe anyone is the love that Christ has demonstrated to us.  I am making a commitment to reduce and eliminate the use of debt in my life.  I know that this will not be an easy process but in order to remain free, this is the price that I will have to pay.  I am praying that God will give me strength to trust Him more in this particular area.

My Prayer …

Father, I ask that You help me to trust You more in every area of my life; especially in the area of my finances.  Thank You for strengthening me in times of financial trials – both small and great.  Teach me to be confident in Your strength, power and ability to deliver in every situation.  Increase my faith to rely on You and You alone in my times of need.  I thank You for granting this request, in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Philippians 1:6 (King James Version) – Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

When God speaks to us to do a particular work, one of the first things we do is to look at our limitations.  We review our education, pedigree or our contacts and come to the conclusion that we are not able to do it.  Actually, our conclusion is correct.  When God calls men and women to participate in a work on His behalf, it can never be accomplished in human strength or ability.  Our confidence should never be in what we can do or what we have but in the invisible power of God that is at work in us.  The only question that needs to be answered is: “Will I allow God to complete His work through me?”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (King James Version) – And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I am sure that you can think of some of your weaknesses now and you should shout, “Hallelujah!” And be thankful that God will do a mighty work in spite of them.

God can only work through our weaknesses.  It is in a state of weakness that the power of God is perfected and reaches full manifestation.  When God calls someone to do a great work for Him, He chooses the most unlikely candidate.  He does not consider their abilities but looks to complete His work through their availability.  That availability is made only possible by us taking a back seat and allowing Him to work through us in our weakness.  When we recognize our weaknesses and trust God in them that is when we give permission for the power of God to flow through us.  It is only then do we become available to be used by Him.

Exodus 4:10-13 (New Living Translation) – But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”  But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”

The Bible is replete with examples of men called by God who did not have the worldly qualifications of what it would take to get the job done.  Moses is a good example.  But God still called them.  I thought this particular passage was amusing when I first read it but never thought that it would apply to myself.  I believe that God has called me to what I believe is a great work and I made many of the same excuses that Moses made.

God’s call on my life and on your life is the greatest partnership that could ever be established.  It is only when we recognize our weaknesses and walk in the assurance of God’s power can we accomplish great things for God.  We must keep in mind the fact that what God starts He is also able to finish only if we let Him work through our weakness.

Hebrews 4:10-11 (New Living Translation) – For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.  So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

The great act of Kingdompreneurs (those who have a relationship with God through Christ and have dedicated their businesses to the service of the Lord) is to rely fully on God – for everything.  In the world, entrepreneurs are identified by their drive.  Driven is a term most often used to describe the successful entrepreneur.  However, in the Kingdom, entrepreneurs are identified by their desire to seek the presence of God and to enter into His rest.  In the Spirit, entrepreneurs are defined by their ability to hand over all and submit their lives to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified Bible) - Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

Burn-out comes from us holding onto things that should be given to Christ to resolve.  What are those things in your life that you need to hand over to Him?  Have you been or are you currently disobedient to what God has called us to do to get our work done?  We must learn to trust Him to handle the little and great matters of our lives.

As I reflected on the past year, I discovered that I had suffered from several bouts of burn-out.  I now realize the errors of my ways.  There were times when I encountered great external pressures facing our companies.  I did not seek the Lord’s input but forged ahead to get things accomplished the way the world has so modeled.  I worked in my strength and in my own abilities and ended up paying the price for it.  God does not want us to participate in the rat race work of the world.  He wants us to come out of that system of doing things.  We must obey Him and enter into His rest.

Romans 8:14 (King James Version) – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

When we are led by the Spirit of God, we put ourselves in a powerful position  because it is only when we do so can we enjoy the benefits of being a member of God’s family.  The rest in our business and personal lives will only come when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our choices through His inner promptings.  God sees the burdens that we are trying to carry and all He wants us to do is to turn it over to Him.  Let Him solve every challenge in our lives and we will walk free of the hindrances of worldly stress and anxiety.

Through Christ, work has been permanently transformed.  It was a physical act and has now become a spiritual discipline.  No longer do we rely on our own strength and ability to get things accomplished.  But are commanded to enter into the rest that has already been secured for us.  The only labor that we must involve ourselves is the one to enter into God’s rest.  This is work for the new man! We must learn the new way of work – what it is like to work alongside God and not against Him.  In our former lives, we were taught that the only way to accomplish things was to do it on our own.   We must realize that it was all finished on the cross and it still remains that way even to this day.  Our work can be summed up in the following three steps:

1. Seeking His presence;
2. Listening for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit; and
3. Obeying His instructions to the very letter.

All you and I need to do is to grab hold of this great truth in the current year and we will cease from being burned-out again.

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The New Year promises rebirth and resurrection.  It is a time of hope and anticipation.  That is why each year all over the world people mark this one day on their calendars.  The new year is about beginning and ending also.  I usually take the last two weeks of the year to contemplate on the lessons that I have learned.  Some may call it mistakes made and certainly I have made a few in 2008.  Invariably, these mistakes have been caused by not listening to the voice of God or seeking His input before I made a choice.  Not so in 2009!

My prayer in 2009 is to exercise God’s wisdom in all aspects of my life.  This was confirmed in my pastor’s New Year’s Eve sermon.  A greater degree of seeking His presence and a willingness to obey His voice.  I need His wisdom in all the choices that I make this year.

We are just about to complete our year-long series on the My Father’s Business Broadcast called “God’s Wisdom for Your Business” and I will be applying many of the concepts that Eddie, Ella and I discussed.  We need to ask ourselves, “Am I getting older or wiser?”

1 Corinthians 15:31 (Amplified Bible) – [I assure you] by the pride which I have in you in [your fellowship and union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily [I face death every day and die to self].

John 3:30 – He must increase, but I must decrease.

Matthew 16:24 (New Living Translation) – Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.

I also pray that at the end of 2009 that there would be less of me and more of Christ.  I will get out of the way and allow the resurrected life of Christ to live more freely through me in 2009.  God a thank you for a heart to serve more and to love more.  Pride and selfishness must be diminished in this current year in every area of my life.  This includes my family, business partners, customers, my students and everyone else that I come into contact with.  I want to be a disciple, a reflection of Christ in the world.

Mark 10:27  (King James Version) – And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible) – I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

I am expecting the anointing power of God to flow through my life in this current year.  For me, 2009 is: The Year of the Impossible Being Made Possible.  Yes, this will is a year of the miraculous being an every day occurrence.

What are those things in your life that you have determined must die off? And, what are those things that need to be resurrected in your life in 2009?  What things has God called you to that you have allowed to die?  Die to yourself and allow God to resurrect it.  You should be comforted because in the Kingdom of God, every death is followed by a glorious resurrection – to God be the Glory.

In the message, R. Stanley Tam was a young aspiring businessman in the early 1940′s.  However, he was at the point of what seemed to be the sure failure of his business, Tamco.  He had tried everything in his power and still could not see the manifestation of success in his business.  It was at this point that he decided to turn his business over to the Lord.  No longer would he be concerned with the affairs of the business but he committed everything to the Lord.

I will turn my business over to you.  Take it, God, and if You’ll make it succeed, I’ll honor You in every way I can. I promise!

He formalized this commitment by structuring ownership of the business so that God was his senior partner. He accomplished this by allocating 51% of the equity ownership of his business to a private foundation setup by he and his wife, Jaunita.

The Stanita Foundation would receive fifty-one percent of the profits generated by all his business.  And the sole purpose of the foundation was to provide financial support for missionary work throughout the world.

As a result of his obedience, his business took off and he never suffered a year of loss.  How many businesses would love to have both growth and profit each year?  For Dr. Tam, each year was profitable and his business grew into a multi-million dollar enterprise.

In subsequent years, while on a missionary trip, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to give the remaining 49% of equity of the company to the foundation – the full 100% of his business now belonged to the Lord.  Dr. Tam elected to become an employee in God’s company – God truly owned his business.

The impact Dr. Tam’s commitment has  furthered the spreading of the Gospel throughout the world. Through the years,  Dr. Tam’s businesses have sown into the Stanita Foundation over $120 million which has been used for God’s work in the missionary field.

Over the years, God gave Dr. Tam the anointing to win souls for Christ.  Over a twenty-three year period, he averaged three souls a day.  This is over 25,000 people that have been led to the Lord through Dr. Tam and his businesses.  You can read about this great man through his books entitled:

• God Owns My Business;
• God’s Woodshed; and
• Stanley Tam’s Incredible Adventures with God.

These books have had a tremendous impact on my life and are a must read for Christian entrepreneurs.

The message about Dr. Tam reverberated in my heart and I yearned to met this man who gave all to God when he had nothing.  I wondered if Dr. Tam were still alive since he started his first company in the late 1930′s.  By conducting a search on the internet and making several phone calls, I was able to locate Dr. Tam.  Yes!  The 92 year old was retired and still at work in God’s business. After a brief conversation with him, I was then able to schedule a phone interview with him for the following week.

Here are a few nuggets of wisdom from our interview:

As my burden for loss souls grew, my business grew.

Lay up your treasure in heaven – Matthew 6:19-21 (pay your wealth forward so that you can get to enjoy it for all of eternity)

Do not ever use debt to finance your business.  Look to God as the Source and He will meet every need.

The best time to make a decision for Christ is when you do not have anything.  Then He gets all the glory.

Many people have been saved through the sign on our building that says, “Christ is the answer.”

We also put gospel tracts in our catalog that is shipped to businesses and many people have come to know God by reading the tracts.

You can hear the full interview on the My Father’s Business website by clicking on the Featured Broadcast message link.

My life has truly been impacted by getting to know Dr. Tam through his books and the interview.  I knew that God wanted me to do something different regarding the way I conducted my business.  Steps we have taken include:

• tithing on every dollar that comes into the company;
• setting aside a portion of the ownership to be given to a private foundation; and
• setting an exit strategy where 100% of the company would be owned by the foundation.

We look forward to see how our companies will impact eternity by structuring the ownership so that God truly owns them.