Excel Still More

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Our Brand New ESM Daily Bible Devotional has been released!
Daily Devotional on Amazon (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
The ESM 3 Month Journal, also on Amazon

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Well, it just doesn't get much better than this. In fact, outside of Scripture, I think this 1936 book by Dale Carnegie is the most helpful thing someone could read to improve their life. Our lives are composed of relationships. When those relationships are healthy, there is love and peace and things are amazing. When our relationships are damaged, we feel it deeply and in every aspect of life.

Over the next several weeks, I hope to present several episodes from this great book. Today we start with three opening ideas that set the tone. They ask you to consider your attitude, your mindset, and how you see people. When this becomes more Christ-like and humble, a whole bunch of good outcomes become possible. Follow along with me as we look at criticism, compliments, and seeing things from the perspective of others. 

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal at the Spiritbuilding Publishers
Video to describe the ESM Journal.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Here are the 8 Essentials to Strengthening Your Faith:
1) Join God's Team (understanding you are a part of a group)
2) Acknowledge God's Power (He is almighty and always with you)
3) Embrace Spiritual Training (This takes worth and it is so worth it!)
4) Communicate with God (Start your day with God, stay close with Him)

5) Study God's Playbook (Read to learn, to understand, to follow the plan)
6) Team Up with Others (Be a walker with warriors, watchmen and workmen)
7) Know Your Role (Be specific. What is your role right now among Christians?)
8) Share with Others (Nothing will help grow faster than preparing to teach)

Remember: Engage, Equip, and Engage.
This is for students, to help them get strong and to be leaders today.
This is for parents, trying to engage their kids in the world of Jesus.
This is for adults, who can sometimes lose their passion for the plan of God. 

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal at the Spiritbuilding Publishers
Video to describe the ESM Journal.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Here is some information on "The Core: 8 Essentials to Strengthening Your Faith"

Three Objectives regarding the Truth of Jesus Christ:
1) Engage - Get young people, and all people, thinking about spiritual things. Let's challenge our spiritual health and get involved in forming a direction.
2) Equip - We need to get into how to do better. What do we need to know, plan, and refine in order to be able to get closer to Christ and spread Truth.
3) Engage - The mission isn't just to be saved. The mission is to share the salvation of Jesus Christ with others! How do engage younger believers in this work?

In this episode we begin with four Crucial Steps to building a stronger faith core within our young people, and within us all. 
1 - Join God's Team (what is the team element of faith?)
2 - Acknowledge God's Power (is He mighty to save and help you?)
3 - Embrace Spiritual Training (how specifically are you getting stronger?)
4 - Communicate with God (take all we learn today to God in prayer, honestly)

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal at the Spiritbuilding Publishers
Video to describe the ESM Journal.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Hilltops of Glory

Verse 1: Onward rejoicing I tread life’s way, Higher I’m climbing each passing day; Hilltops of Glory now rise in view, where all shall be made new.

Verse 2: Way down in Egypt mid burning sand, Moses has started for Canaan’s land; Never turn backward always ascend on to the journey’s end.

Verse 3: Footsteps of Jesus before us lead, We tread life’s journey, His warnings heed; Evil allurements cannot prevail, I’m on the upward trail.

Chorus: Hilltops of glory I now can see. O brother won’t you come go with me? Safe on the mountain I soon shall stand Hilltops of glory land.

What keeps people from the faithful trail?
- Lack of Understanding
- Fear of Loss/Failure
- Perceived Shortage of Resources

And what habits benefit people in their walk with God?
- Start Early
- Be Consistent
- Don't Panic!

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal at the Spiritbuilding Publishers
Video to describe the ESM Journal.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Shia LaBeouf has had a troubled past. He is still not aware of the fullness of God's saving grace in Christ. But he is on a journey that started with a dramatic turn. This turn is needed in the lives of many, even among our own fellowship. In some ways, abandoning my managerial skills to give God control, is something I need to renew and commit to as well. Maybe we can encourage one another. 

Here is the section from his interview:

My opinion about God before my world had crumbled was – art, love and God – they all mean the same thing, they are synonymous. 

 And I had also been told my whole life, your life is your life, you have to make with it what you can, you know. You’ve got to be a good guy, and then you got to get married, then you have to get a house and you have to get a job, and be good at your job – and like – your life is your life. And things will work out if you put the effort in, and I always really felt that. 

 And it made it hard to believe in God, because it felt like my managerial skills are what are going to amount to a fulfilled existence. When all of my designs failed, when all of my plans went out the window, when my life had led to serious infliction of pain and damage to other people – I threw up my hands like – my plans are garbage and I don’t want to be here anymore. 

 Pain made me willing to go about this in a different way than I had previously. The news that had come out is that I had been abusive to women, and I’ve been shooting dogs, and I’ve been willingly giving women STDs and like – it’s disgusting, it’s depraved. I felt deep shame, deep guilt, shame like I had never experienced before. The kind of shame where you forget how to breathe. 

 It was seeing other people who had sinned beyond anything I could even conceptualize also being found in Christ that made me feel like, okay well, that gives me hope. I started hearing experiences, of other depraved people who had found their way in this. The Gospel gave me this invite to just let go. I came from the school of – God helps those who help themselves. That’s not what I found. God comes to those who ask, that’s what I have experienced. 

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal at the Spiritbuilding Publishers
Video to describe the ESM Journal.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

I'd like to include the excerpts from the Q and A session by Dan Martell. He was asked, "What do you think about cutting out all distractions like social media, video games, and sugar?  He responded, "Awesome question. Whatever you are not willing to give up is going to be the thing that slows you down from achieving your dreams. If that list is really long, it is improbable that you will ever achieve anything important." He went on to say, "People ask me: 'Dan, what did you do to become successful?'" "It's not what I did, it's what I don't do. I don't drink. I don't eat sugar. I don't sleep in... So if you just get rid of all of those vices that hold you back, that's what CREATES THE SPACE for you to become more."

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal at the Spiritbuilding Publishers
Video to describe the ESM Journal.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

For today's notes, let me share with you the four points with Bible passages:

What is God's Grace?
"Grace, Mercy and Peace" (I Tim. 1:2; II Tim. 1:2)

Grace Greater than All My Sin
"grace... more than abundant" (I Tim. 1:12-17)

Granted in Jesus Christ from all Eternity
"who abolished death and brought life and immortality through the gospel..." (II Tim. 8-12)

With You Always
"Grace be with you." (I Tim. 6:21; II Tim. 4:22)

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal at the Spiritbuilding Publishers
Video to describe the ESM Journal.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Idolatry is warned against throughout all of Scripture. As Christians, we see it all around us amongst unbelievers. It often looks like the pursuit of sinful behavior to bring fulfillment that can only be found in God. But among Christians, it can look a little different. Today we examine three different version of idolatry among believers.

For you and me, we have to beware of replacing God with three things: blessings, alternate pathways, and ourselves on His throne of judgment. The first one shows up when we need things and people in our lives, even those from God, more than God Himself. The second one is when God supposedly comes first, but His teachings and ways are placed with alternate paths that fit us better. And the third... oh the third, is when more mature Christians elevate themselves to taking on God's role of judge over others. If our conclusions about others are demanded from God, then that demand is the idol, replacing even God Himself. 

I invite you today to some self examination on what it looks like to put God first in all things, and to flee from all forms of idolatry. 

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal at the Spiritbuilding Publishers
Video to describe the ESM Journal.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

I am blessed to be around a great number of highly impressive, faithful men. Glenn Hyde is one of those people, and today it is my please to share a story he told me recently. This week we are building upon this idea of drawing close to people who can help and listening to their stories and perspective. 

Recently, Glenn met with a group of men and talked about the history of our church here in Lindale. He spoke of the progress he has perceived in broken down fences and constructed bridges. It was uplifting to hear. I'm wonderful if there are walls in your life where bridges should be. I hope this story will be as much of a help to you as it was to me. Jesus, the Carpenter, is ready to do some building, but he's in the bridge business. 

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Click link for ESM Journal Page:
Excel Still More Journal on Amazon.
Video to describe the ESM Journal.

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Jim Spratlin was a great man. I don't mean that in a - say something nice because he has passed - sort of way. I mean I can specifically detail for you areas in his life where he impressed me greatly, specially his faith, marriage and relationship with his kids. I was drawn to him. And I have been changed by him. I needed him.

Do you have people in your life who impress you? I'm talking about people who are where you want to be, who are simply better at something important than you are? How do you approach them? Or do you keep your distance? The way we interact with impressive people says a lot about who we are, and a whole lot about what will happen in you future. Come explore that with me today.