CHAPTER 27: THE LIST 2024
I could easily pick and choose from any list, but I’m not talking about any list, I’m talking about THE list. Any list is kind of like needing four tires on my truck and getting two, because I don’t feel like waiting, or a half a tank of gas, same reason. I’ll never buy the other two tires until it’s too late and that could be bad and impatiently stopping at a half a tank of gas when three minutes later it’ll be full, really? Yea, I’ve done it, so have you. What is THE list? The list is people, places and things that God has blessed me with and I am tasked with taking care of all of that every minute of every day and night, blessed tremendous responsibility, trusted by God to manage all that and myself in the process. He helps me do it, cause I can’t do it, I’m not capable of doing it myself without God, the task is too great.
Revelation 3:6-8 New International Version 7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
Or I could just not feel like it. If I have a mind to, I pick and choose what to do, what bills to pay, what bills to collect or what machinery to service or not, what food to eat only my favorites, who to terminate and my personal views on why, what to tell my spouse give or take the truth, and when to go to work if necessary. If I do all that at my leisure, without God and under the power of my own free will, I’ll blow it eventually. Period. I’ll put everything God has given me at risk. I need to take care of what needs to be taken care of, correctly all the time, anytime, not sometime. If I decide what is fair and not fair, good and not good, a gift or a trap, oh my God, that’s a big one, if I decide what is a blessing or a trap, a curse or a gift, without God super bad things I’ll design in my life and the lives of those around me.
Ephesians 1:17-18 Contemporary English Version
17 I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. 18 My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and you will understand the hope given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all God’s people.
Do what needs to be done. Is it that easy? No, it’s not that easy. Commitment must be in place. Will I go to the doctor every year? No, not unless I prioritize the occasion. Insurance, follow-up sales, collections, read the Bible, walk and talk with God everyday, will I do it? No, not without commitment, and not without God’s help specifically. Left on your own, you will fail tasks preordained by God, an anointing given by the Hand of God, to you, on a list He created for you, before time itself.
Before I was a believer did I have a list? Yes. An extensive list. Was it an essential list? Yes. What is the difference then and now? THE LIST is ordained in The Holy Spirit. It’s never hit and miss, might be harder some days than others, but it is never hit and miss. B4 Jesus, hit or miss was the normal percentage for any given effort. THE LIST, is God’s directives today, just for today, to be done by YOU.
So what exactly is on the list? The List is the all-important, quintessential, non-negotiable, must be done, absolutely, this very day, no exceptions. Thinking time included, ah yes. A requirement, includes prayer, meditation and reading. A vital part of preparation before battle, before tasks to be done. Einstein used to sit in a chair and think for days. I’m not Einstein and neither are you. My thinking time however is just as important to me as it was for him. Jesus spent a lot of time, alone, praying, preparing, perhaps, like you and me, planning with God, the great tactician, Lord of Lords, King of Kings.
Matthew 11:25-26 English Standard Version
25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
You want to win, right? You want to succeed, right? You want to be what He meant you to be, right? Well, generally what He wants me to be is better than whatever I think I want to be. Think about that. How do I discover the Original BluePrint of me? Do the list. All of it. No excuses. No good reasons not to, just get it done. He’ll help you, and never you mind about the time it takes, you’ll never run out of time, He’ll get it done, He’ll get you done and back home for dinner. HOWEVER, My heart has to be in the right place for a daily relationship with THE MASTER.
Luke 16:10-13 English Standard Version
10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much,
and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
Things that need to be done, things that absolutely do not need to be done, need to be left alone, i.e. Very important phrase, do not do what is not on the list. Leave the old ways behind.
2 Corinthians 5:17 New International Version
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
If the kids didn’t clean the dishes – you clean the dishes, be grateful you have dishes. If the employees didn’t fill out the paperwork- you fill out the paperwork, be grateful you have paperwork.
Completion, solutions, transitions, updates, deliveries, information retrieval, personal business items, financials, produce, deliver, collect, cash flow, quality control, peacemaker, butler, maid, bible student and prayer warrior. Believe me friends, life is not about options, it’s about obedience. Repeat that sentence. Why? Responsibility to remind me of the People, places and things in my life. Forget about money, property and prestige, God is more than all that. Do not stop moving for any reason, keep pushing, balancing life and all things to be done. Idleness or retirement is time wasting, the thought of it is wasting. If the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll waste your time. Don’t let that happen.
2 Corinthians 11:3 New International Version
3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Moses didn’t retire, neither did David, Isaac, or any of the apostles. Rock and roll until you get There, capital T, and then let the band slam into the enemy, as it is written will happen in the second coming. Let’s talk about “It’ll do Lou.” That mythical character I made up. “It’ll Do Lou” does the job half way and never misses an opportunity to complain. Be not that person! Excuses are for losers.
Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart, is an abomination to the Lord. Be assured, they will not go unpunished.
Thomas Jefferson 3rd U.S. President, Drafter and Signer of the Declaration of Independence “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?
Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever…” —Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, p. 237.
Isaiah 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.
When I look back on those people that failed in Turnaround, they called themselves rule breakers, ragers against the machine, rebels. Unfortunately a rebel against the list was fatal to the company and ultimately the family. The yield of their actions ended in irresponsible, immature and uninformed directives robbed them of a beautiful life, day by day, bit by bit in a horrible slow methodical taking apart of God’s promises. God’s gift not realized. Perseverance is key, dedication and commitment. Common sense is not so common and stupid is very, very expensive.
Ralph Waldo Emerson Without ambition, one starts nothing
Without work, one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you, you have to win it.
We often miss opportunity because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work. Thomas Edison.
Diligence is on the List. For me, b4 a real relationship with Christ, I had no true edge, other than a bad attitude and a life in peril. I called out and got my answer.
John 14:6 New International Version 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I have mentioned “compressing time,” creating enough time to get the job done when it is humanly impossible, that is an experience enjoyed by those who follow the list. Joshua prayed for the Lord to give him more time, i.e., compress time. The Lord granted the prayer.
Joshua 10:13-14 New International Version
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on[a] its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.
Will He do that for me and you? When I’m working His list, His will be done. Pray to Him and ride a miracle.
Matthew 19:26 New International Version 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Psalm 119:18 New King James Version Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
Psalm 119:24 New King James Version Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.
Preparation prior to miracles? Prayer and fasting, something to think about. Prayer, you’ll notice is listed first. Miracles work better in obedience. You and I are on HIS list. Do you have any idea how the Lord could use you, if you allow the “potter’s hand” to form you?
Psalm 119:15 New King James Version I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
We serve a powerful God. How much more will I understand, comprehend and employ if I listen and do His work? He is with you, on an impossible journey made possible in a perfect map, given to you, revealed each and every day called THE LIST.
John 10:28-30
New International Version
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[a]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
The list is as much “to do” as it is what “not to do.” Clearly in obedience He will guide you “to do” swiftly and correctly, safely and effectively. Again, what is the list?
Psalm 119:30 New King James Version I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.
Everything, absolutely everything that needs to be done today, right now, because I get to do it, I don’t have to do anything I get to do it, by the Grace and Mercy of a loving God, because, truly, I deserve none of it. You know good and well when you’re doing what you want to do and nothing else. Start in the morning with the Word and Prayer, number 1 miracle right after getting out of bed. After that it’s one miracle after the next, they come in bundles every day, do the list, and watch what happens.
Isaiah 55:11: “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it”
Proverbs 11:25New International Version A generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Chapter 27: The List 2024, you’re on it. Amen.
