Investing In The Future
Over the past several months, I’ve heard numerous sermons about investing in
the future. The first one was called “Miraculous Change,” by Pastor Dan
Hicks. He said, we must keep going—we must go further than where we are
right now, and he quoted the poem, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.
In the poem and in Pastor Dan’s sermon the point is; the road less traveled is
where our lives make a difference—to us and to others.
Too often we get to a crossroad in life and take the familiar way, the one that makes more sense on paper, or the one everyone else takes. Oh that we might adventure into unknown places, where new and fresh discoveries are found; a place where life isn’t just maintained, but advanced.
Thomas Edison was forty-six years old when he discovered the light bulb. His famous quote was, “I never failed, but found a thousand ways that didn’t work.” Thank God he continued to take the road less traveled because eventually he changed our lives with his invention. One of Edison’s mentors during those early years was a fellow telegrapher and inventor named Franklin Leonard Pope, who allowed the then broke youth to live and work in the basement of his Elizabeth, New Jersey home. This man not only invested in a young Thomas Edison, but in the future of the world.
Pastor Dan was preaching out of 2 kings 2:1-14. In this scripture, Elisha made a fresh commitment to follow Elijah no matter where he went. Even though the people warned Elisha his master would be taken from him, he proclaimed more than once he would not leave Elijah’s side. As a result, Elisha eventually received a double portion from the Lord as Elijah was taken up to heaven. Here we have a tenacious young man choosing the road less traveled; and an elder imparting wisdom to the next generation. Pastor Dan fervently admonished those who neglect this biblical calling.
Then, about a week or so later, my lead pastor, Ricky Temple preached out of Matthew 13:3-8. You all know the message about the Sower who sowed seed. The first seed fell by the way side, and the birds devoured them. The second seed fell on stony places; they grew but were scorched and withered away because they had no roots. The next seed fell among thorns and the thorns sprung up and choked them. But the last ones fell on good ground and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold and some thirtyfold.
He went on to say that our seed or investment in the future doesn’t always have an immediate return. In fact, he pointed out how long the Lord sows into our lives, knowing He might not receive a return for many years. In my case thirty-eight years; at which time I finally surrendered my whole heart. It’s amazing that only one-fourth of the Sower’s seed brought forth fruit, yet He continued to sow anyway. So I ask you, are you sowing seed into someone’s life for a future investment?
I’ll never forget a story Anna Hayford told years ago. A young person approached her with a story about praying for a particular relative for three weeks with no real evidence of change. To which she replied, “Young man, I prayed for one family member fourteen years before I realized the fruit of my prayers.” Why do we always want an immediate return for our seed? I’m sure it’s because we are a microwave generation—we want instant results to everything. The Word actually says we will live in houses we did not build—that means we will partake of the fruit of someone else’s labor.
A month or so later, I went to a Celebrity Bible Study where I heard Tim Storey say, “You have to believe God for more. Leave all the elementary thinking behind and believe God to do miraculous things in your life. Dream bigger, but give more and it will be given back to you.” He said he needed a permanent building for his meetings, and believed God for two point five million dollars to buy the building. That may sound crazy to you, but Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas prayed the same prayer and God paid cash for his building. Of course the law of sowing and reaping always applies in these situations, but Tim said, “If God can give other religions great elaborate temples funded by huge corporations and celebrities, why is it so hard to believe God for a building that would further the Gospel?” My question is—why is it so hard to give more? It’s a proven fact that no one can out give God. He always gives more in return. Also, when you think about giving, it’s not just about our money, it’s also about our time and resources.
Then my girlfriend posted a video on my Facebook page. A message from Tyler Perry titled “Only Believe”. Tyler talked about sowing seeds into your future and believing God for the return even if it takes years; and like Thomas Edison the odds are you’re likely to fail a few times before you succeed. I was starting to see a pattern and I knew God was trying to tell me something. It all came together when I prayed about joining a TV Show called "New Generation" on the International Christian Family Network; a show that ministers to the next generation.
I received the scripture in 2 Corinthians 9:13,14 that says, “While through the proof of this ministry they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for your liberal sharing with them and all men—and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.” Sometimes you know what God is asking you to do, but you are hindered by your own negotiations with God and giving—so to move you, He allows you to hear different messages with the same meaning. I suddenly realized I wanted to go further, take the road less traveled, dreamer bigger, believe for more, give more and seed into the next generation.
This month I will join the program as a Guest Co-Host with great joy in my heart; believing many souls will be affected for the Kingdom. I hope to impart the wisdom God has given me to these precious young sisters in the Lord and in return glean from their beautiful spirits and kind hearts. This new journey will be educational, fun, entertaining and of course godly. I’m excited to see what the Lord will do in this next season as I sow my seed---Investing In The Future! Won’t you join me?
Stay tune for channels, dates and times…
Rev Daina House
8/30/13
Too often we get to a crossroad in life and take the familiar way, the one that makes more sense on paper, or the one everyone else takes. Oh that we might adventure into unknown places, where new and fresh discoveries are found; a place where life isn’t just maintained, but advanced.
Thomas Edison was forty-six years old when he discovered the light bulb. His famous quote was, “I never failed, but found a thousand ways that didn’t work.” Thank God he continued to take the road less traveled because eventually he changed our lives with his invention. One of Edison’s mentors during those early years was a fellow telegrapher and inventor named Franklin Leonard Pope, who allowed the then broke youth to live and work in the basement of his Elizabeth, New Jersey home. This man not only invested in a young Thomas Edison, but in the future of the world.
Pastor Dan was preaching out of 2 kings 2:1-14. In this scripture, Elisha made a fresh commitment to follow Elijah no matter where he went. Even though the people warned Elisha his master would be taken from him, he proclaimed more than once he would not leave Elijah’s side. As a result, Elisha eventually received a double portion from the Lord as Elijah was taken up to heaven. Here we have a tenacious young man choosing the road less traveled; and an elder imparting wisdom to the next generation. Pastor Dan fervently admonished those who neglect this biblical calling.
Then, about a week or so later, my lead pastor, Ricky Temple preached out of Matthew 13:3-8. You all know the message about the Sower who sowed seed. The first seed fell by the way side, and the birds devoured them. The second seed fell on stony places; they grew but were scorched and withered away because they had no roots. The next seed fell among thorns and the thorns sprung up and choked them. But the last ones fell on good ground and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold and some thirtyfold.
He went on to say that our seed or investment in the future doesn’t always have an immediate return. In fact, he pointed out how long the Lord sows into our lives, knowing He might not receive a return for many years. In my case thirty-eight years; at which time I finally surrendered my whole heart. It’s amazing that only one-fourth of the Sower’s seed brought forth fruit, yet He continued to sow anyway. So I ask you, are you sowing seed into someone’s life for a future investment?
I’ll never forget a story Anna Hayford told years ago. A young person approached her with a story about praying for a particular relative for three weeks with no real evidence of change. To which she replied, “Young man, I prayed for one family member fourteen years before I realized the fruit of my prayers.” Why do we always want an immediate return for our seed? I’m sure it’s because we are a microwave generation—we want instant results to everything. The Word actually says we will live in houses we did not build—that means we will partake of the fruit of someone else’s labor.
A month or so later, I went to a Celebrity Bible Study where I heard Tim Storey say, “You have to believe God for more. Leave all the elementary thinking behind and believe God to do miraculous things in your life. Dream bigger, but give more and it will be given back to you.” He said he needed a permanent building for his meetings, and believed God for two point five million dollars to buy the building. That may sound crazy to you, but Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas prayed the same prayer and God paid cash for his building. Of course the law of sowing and reaping always applies in these situations, but Tim said, “If God can give other religions great elaborate temples funded by huge corporations and celebrities, why is it so hard to believe God for a building that would further the Gospel?” My question is—why is it so hard to give more? It’s a proven fact that no one can out give God. He always gives more in return. Also, when you think about giving, it’s not just about our money, it’s also about our time and resources.
Then my girlfriend posted a video on my Facebook page. A message from Tyler Perry titled “Only Believe”. Tyler talked about sowing seeds into your future and believing God for the return even if it takes years; and like Thomas Edison the odds are you’re likely to fail a few times before you succeed. I was starting to see a pattern and I knew God was trying to tell me something. It all came together when I prayed about joining a TV Show called "New Generation" on the International Christian Family Network; a show that ministers to the next generation.
I received the scripture in 2 Corinthians 9:13,14 that says, “While through the proof of this ministry they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for your liberal sharing with them and all men—and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.” Sometimes you know what God is asking you to do, but you are hindered by your own negotiations with God and giving—so to move you, He allows you to hear different messages with the same meaning. I suddenly realized I wanted to go further, take the road less traveled, dreamer bigger, believe for more, give more and seed into the next generation.
This month I will join the program as a Guest Co-Host with great joy in my heart; believing many souls will be affected for the Kingdom. I hope to impart the wisdom God has given me to these precious young sisters in the Lord and in return glean from their beautiful spirits and kind hearts. This new journey will be educational, fun, entertaining and of course godly. I’m excited to see what the Lord will do in this next season as I sow my seed---Investing In The Future! Won’t you join me?
Stay tune for channels, dates and times…
Rev Daina House
8/30/13
posted by Rev. Daina House at
7:52 PM
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