MANAGEMENT BY VISION

Have you ever heard the term "Management by Objective" used in business to describe the integration of a worker's personal goals with those of his company? I believe that God, like the president of a large company, wants us to utilize these goal-setting tools in the building of His Kingdom. But it's hard to be excited about setting goals if you don't have a clear vision of what God wants to accomplish through us! Has lack of vision and, thus, lack of objectives subtly haunted us, night after night, as we've wondered just where we going with God? God has two sets of visions for each one of us. The first is His overall vision that applies to every one of His children. The second is that unique, personal vision of what we, as individuals, are to do. God described His "general" vision for everyone to the Apostle Paul. Referring to the unsaved, Paul said it was, "To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in me. Wherefore...I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision" Pray for God to give us a revelation, deep in our spirit, of the vision He has for us. Once you are under God's "Management by Vision," we'll be surprised how easy "Management by Objective" will be.

TYRANNY OF MOODS

"It takes commitment to be filled with joy. In fact, it takes the dedication of your whole life." My first reaction was, "Isn't joy something that God just gives you? But, as I thought about it, I realized she was right; it does take dedication and commitment to live a joyful life. Why? Because it's so easy to be ruled by the tyranny of our moods! Before we know it, the "I-don't-feel-like-its" can ruin your prayer life, praise life and fruitfulness. What about you? Have you gone to bed tonight completely dominated by one mood or another...so "wound up" that you can't get to sleep...so low that you never want to get up again? If so, God wants to give you a precious gift tonight. He wants to give you a new attitude toward overcoming these moods. He wants you to welcome them as opportunities to take control, His way. Remember that learning to rule and reign with Jesus starts with learning to "rule" our own souls! Jesus promises, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life...He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death...To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna...I will give authority over the nations...I will make a pillar in the temple of my God...He who overcomes will inherit all this..." (