As we begin this New Year as “God Thinkers,” those that are determined to continually learn to think more like God thinks, 2020 Vision in 2021 is the presence and reality of God as El Roi. El refers to God. But Roi brings another attribute of our Lord to the equation. Roi in the original Hebrew can be translated as "shepherd, looking, or gazing." El Roi means “The God who sees me.” 

In addition, 2020 Vision in 2021 is the promise of 1 Corinthians 2:9 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.  As El Roi, the God who sees, Jesus further reminds us this year in Mark 11: 22-24, Have faith in God.  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Whatever things you desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

We know that God “saw” us in the past. And because He doesn’t change, He “see’s” us now. If you can conceive it and believe it, you shall receive it in 2021 because of El Roi the “The God who sees and watches over me. “

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As discussed in the introductory podcast of The Father’s Kiss of Luke chapter 15: 11-32, the Father’s Kiss is God’s grace and empowerment of reconciliation and restoration. We also discussed the make up or nature of what the Father’s Kiss is. It is just as important to establish what The Father’s Kiss Is Not.  The Father’s Kiss is not entitlement. 

A basic definition of entitlement is, “the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.” The Father’s Kiss is not manipulation. To manipulate someone is to “have control over others by having the ability to influence their behavior (emotions) and their actions so things can go in one's favor or advantage.” The Father’s Kiss is not a fleshly Imitation. A fleshly imitation is that which is “not genuine, it is a counterfeit or carnal.”

God is always looking down the road of life, waiting for a son or daughter to come back to His house and you and I have the opportunity to become an example of the Father’s Kiss of grace, reconciliation, and restoration that will change someone’s life forever.

In English the word cause maybe defined as “the reason why something happens. Anyone or anything that brings about a result. Any objective or movement that a person or group is interested in and supports, esp. one involving some type of reform. A reason for a choice made or action taken.”

All that we do—every decision, every action, with every person is to live the cause, serving people everywhere, living what you believe and hope for. As you and I think about cause driven leadership, I further suggest that a cause driven leader is simply being a mom or dad, neighbor, co-worker…fighting for something…fighting for your cause. Whatever your cause maybe. That begins with your family community. Encouraging our sons and daughters, our co-workers and neighbors to dream and to dream big (Joel 2:28-29).

Where are the dreamers of today? The Wright brothers had a dream (cause) and now you and I can literally fly around the world. Alexander Graham Bell had a dream (cause) and from that dream you and I have a cell phone that can reach around the globe. The cause of making our communities, our cities, states and countries better is in our assignment from God.  Cause Driven Leadership is another tool to help us make a difference and we make a difference one life at a time.

There is a war going on and the battlefield is your mind. Romans 12:2 says, Do not be conformed to this world...but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind... (AMPC). We are in a spiritual battle, and we must fight with spiritual weapons. God has given us His Word as our main line of defense against the lies of the enemy.  Jesus tell's us in Matthew chapter 6...."take no thought." In other words, I don't have to take the negative thoughts that arise in my mind because those thoughts did not originate with me! When we do not take the thoughts, this is the path to "Winning The Battle of The Mind."

The Father’s Kiss of Luke 15:20  restores what has been lost. Reconciliation exchanges wrong for right and brings back together that which has been separated. After living his life for a season in self-centered indulgences, the Bible says that when the prodigal came to himself, he went back to his father’s house (Luke 15:17).

Through all that had transpired in his life, the good the bad, and the ugly, when he got back to his father’s house by the endowment and impartation of The Father’s Kiss, there was grace, restoration, reconciliation, validation, and affirmation for the son by the love of his father that changed him forever (Luke 15: 22-24).

If our world and society ever needed effective, people-centered leaders, that time is now.  The word ethnos in the original Greek is defined as "nation" or "people." The Ethnos Leadership Process (ELP) is a model of character development and reinforcement that is established in Purposeful Relationships, and Authentic Accountability that becomes the leader's Professional and Spiritual Responsibility.  

The ELP is further designed to balance and reinforce the importance of balancing our positions of leadership while simultaneously focusing on the diversity of the people that we lead. To assist in this process of balance, leader learners write a Personal Leadership Character Story (PLCS) or what we call an ethnography which is the end state of the 40-hour ELP. The ethnography is a living, continually evolving mindset and leadership philosophy that is centered on mentorship. 

Additionally, the ethnography is a research project about self. Sources for the ethnography may include defining moments in life. It may also mistakes, failures, and uncertainties from which you have learned. The ethnography further answers questions like what and who have helped make and shape you a leader, including past and present lessons learned (good/bad) over the course of life's experiences.

The aim of the final ethnography is developing the mindset, and skill set of an ethnos (people) focused leader. Writing the Personal Leadership Character Story (ethnography) rooted in the self-evaluating, self-reflective process of the ELP  includes a personal perspective of leadership that begins with leading self; further enhancing personal and organizational effectiveness, credibility, and trust with others. Further making a difference in the world in which we live.

The Father’s Kiss is a passionate, earnest love for us as God's people that validates the fact that there is nothing that we could ever do to make God love us, and there is nothing that we can ever do to make God not love us! As the people of God, we have been robbed of receiving and experiencing The Father’s Kiss as the prodigal son did, and many are not even aware that the crime has occurred! The Father’s Kiss series of podcasts is to provide principles of Biblical truth that validates, confirms, reconciles, restores, and renews God’s passionate, earnest love for us! If you have ever been the victim of bad choices, or hurt from the past, The Father's Kiss is the catalyst for turning tragedy into triumph.  As we learn to receive the embrace of His grace the impact of The Father's Kiss will change your life and those around you forever.

In today's session of Overcoming Negative Thoughts, we want to answer the question, What Makes A Dream? The main point or principle we want to discuss is the fact that the Maker of any Dream is God…He is the Dream Maker and the Dream giver.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5: 26-27 in the Passion Translation of the Bible, "You will lead by a completely different model. The greatest one among you will live as the one who is called to serve others. Because the greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one with the heart of a servant. The building of a leader begins with having a servant's heart. A servant's heart is what makes great leaders. Great leaders are great servants because they are determined to be great people through it all "Thinking Like God Thinks." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Everyone experiences fear in their life. There are big fears we are very aware of and little ones we may not even realize we have. Overcoming fear is an essential step in achieving our goals and dreams. We fear failure, or rejection, or being embarrassed, or disappointing or angering other people, or getting hurt. As you study the Bible and meditate on what God says about you, you will be able to recognize the fears in your life that are holding you back and overcome them by seeing yourself in Christ. Simply because "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).