[10:37am] Father, thank You so much for this new day, and the new contentment in You and Your plans for this little life. I read this by email this morning, which seems so incredibly appropriate for this time in this little life.

When Your Sails No Longer Have Wind

“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.”                          -Psalm 107:29-30

Imagine for a moment you began an exciting sailing adventure. You’ve been trained to navigate and sail on the ocean and be ready should trouble arise. You are confident you can handle the challenge. However, midway in the journey your resources have dried up. It almost seems God has intentionally destroyed all the skills you have to deal with the weather and the obstacles and your sails are now damaged. Even your engine has broken down. And to make matters even worse, your oars were lost overboard. You are stuck in the middle of the ocean and there is no wind to propel your boat. You are, as they say, “up the creek without a paddle.”

All of this leads you to the end of yourself and you say, “Lord, I don’t know why you brought me out here only to die.” The silence is deafening.

Finally, the Lord speaks, “Yes, you are right. I did bring you out here. I did destroy your sails. I did break your engine. And yes, I do want you dead. Not in a physical sense, mind you, but in a spiritual sense. In order that you may LIVE.”

“You see my child, you are nothing without Me. You cannot do anything without my grace and power in your life.” The sailor quietly yields. Suddenly, a gentle wave lifts the front of the boat. An easterly wind blows through the broken sail moving the boat in the right direction. You realize God is moving your boat! Your role now is to steer it.

Do your sails no longer have wind to move you? Is your engine broken? Does it feel like God has propelled you into the open sea only to stop midway with no options? Perhaps He is saying it is time to die in order that He might live through you. Give the Lord total control today and you will see His wind moving through your tattered sails. -Os Hillman

I’m still typing up journal entries, but close to being done over the next few days I would guess. We’re working on Clark’s product today, which is in a partnership with him. We are a few days away from being ready to launch. Most of it comes down to me writing the material and doing the work that I know needs to be done. Right now I was just working on the copy for the order page which Sara is going to design today.

[11:16am] I just finished writing the order page with Your help, dear Lord—thank You so very much! =) (You are welcome, son.) I’m going through the first module of the Forex Income Engine trading course taught by Bill Poulos, which I think is a $2000 or so course [we promoted it last year as an affiliate] and one that is proving to be so very good and encouraging to me. I am so excited and so grateful to be going through it now. =) =) I thank You, Father, for bringing me here, giving the energy and the excitement to do this, and to also give us good motivation, yet patience, for Your future plans. =) =) (You are welcome, son.) =) =) =) =) =) Yay!!! =) =) Thank You again, Father!!! =) (You’re welcome again, son.) =) =) =) my heart delights in the Lord my God!! My cup is full!! =) =) =)

It feels so exciting, the prospect of trading forex, and a chance to really
depend on You, Father. Depend on You for strength, for clarity, for purpose and for directions when trading. What we can earn depends a lot on how disciplined we are and also how large are the trades we place/how much money is in the account. It’s good though, Mr. Poulos recommended trading on paper for at least 3 months. That certainly sounds good to me. =) I am so very grateful for being here, dear Lord. =)

We’re waiting to hear from Tom also about the work on the website with Glenna and him. It could mean for revenue, but it’s all up in the air right now. The partnership with Clark could be responsible for some income as well, but we’re not counting on that money. Tom asked us yesterday if we were ready for some additional blog building, and we told him yes of course. But for now, the buying tour is the next income opportunity.

[2:27pm] We are trying to build out the Panic Attack blog again now with the help of the gentleman You told us to hire on Elance, Father. Thank You so very much for Your instruction, Father. I do hope it may work. Thank You, Father.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” -Mt 6:19-21

[3:19pm] (You’ll open the trading program up today, John. It will go well with you and I will be with you, son. It will go very well with you, son.) =) =) =) yay!!! =) =) thank You, Father God Almighty!! =)

[11:47pm] (10 & 15 minute charts will be best for you, John. I will be with you, son, and it will go well with you.) =)

[12:04am] This is simply amazing—the developments here with the Forex trading are simply incredible with what You have done, dear Lord God. You are the one to be praised, and no other!! =) =)

Below is some journal notes from just about a month ago where You told me to close the global resorts websites and go into the forex trading. But I did not listen. I continued on, opened up an account for Sara, and then came to the end of myself again. Then You had me cancel the accounts after all. This was only just about a week ago, yet these instructions from You were more than a month ago, but yet I did not obey. I am so grateful that You worked and have brought the new life on me so pleasingly and with such grace and mercy. Here are the notes from November 28, 2009:

November 28, 2009

[6:15pm] Thank You so much, dear Lord! =) We earned $350 today by Your blessing! =) Yay! 3 yard jobs. =) What a blessing indeed. =)

[10:39pm] (Go into trading, John.) (Cancel your global resorts websites, son.) Yes, Father? (Yes, son, you have My confirmation, son.) oh my…

Father, will You please, please confirm this in my heart—what (You have My confirmation, John. Share this with Sara, son. I will bless you in this, son.) =….)

[11:45pm]

“It’s like a big weight lifted off my shoulders actually.” -Sara

[about leaving Global Resorts]

“Can I go through the courses with you when you go through it? I want to learn it too.” -love

=) That makes me the happiest husbee there is. =)

Thank You so very much, dear Lord. You have made Sara into such a blessing for me. You have also blessed the work of our hands and been with us through it all.

[2:04am] A turbulent night for me… to write about tomorrow. =) Wonderful conclusion though. =) Your doing, Father. =)

Was like a battle inside though, and came out of nowhere it seemed. There is much to write. The conclusion is to leave global for other things.

This is just about the most amazing thing You have ever done that I can see, Father, in this little life anyway. I praise Your holy name and worship You alone. =) Your mercies are great, Your forgiveness is great and Your compassion is great. You renew me day by day. What can I say but that You’re wonderful to me. =) =) I love You, Father God. Thank You so much for being my Lord. =) =) =) =) =)

[1:39pm] Thank You so much, Father! An email in from the people we did Christmas lights for. They want us to come and take them down, so that’s even more money for us. =) =) =) thank You so much, dear Lord. =) (You are welcome, son. It will go well with you, son.) =) =)

[12:02am] (It is a day off, John.) yay! =) thank You, Father! =)

“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” -Psalm 118:6-9

“Do good to Your servant according to Your word, O Lord. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in Your commands. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word. You are good, and what You do is good; teach me Your decrees. Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep Your precepts with all my heart. Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in Your law. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees. The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” -Psalm 119:65-72

“Seek goo, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.”                             -Amos 5:14-15

[1:34pm] Father, thank You so much—You just gave us another wonderful reminder of the benefit of going into trading. =) A $31 commission just came in from trading trainer. If we started building our own list, maybe next year even, we could be earning money and serving people that way as well. =)

[2:43pm] What is our next most logical step, Father? (a day off, son.) =) Yes, Father. =) Thank You, Father! =) thank You for always instructing us. =) =) Thank You for lunch also, Father. =) =) (You’re welcome, son. You are welcome, John.) =) =)

“O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in—behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.” -Psalm 139:1-8

[7pm] Father, thank You so much. We got a full refund from Cutting Edge Media, which meant for $270 back, which is indeed a blessing. That will cover the 1shoppingcart payment coming out on Sunday, and even gives us money to drive out to St Louis. =) thank You so much, dear Lord. =) =) You are indeed the blessing to us, always providing for our needs. =)

[9:25pm] Father, thank You so much for bringing us to trading here now. We’ve spent just over an hour now watching the training lessons from Bill Poulos. It’s quite something and I’m really enjoying the learning here and now, much moreso than real estate or any other. =) thank You, Father. =) (You are welcome, son. You have found your home, John. I will be with you, son, and I will grant you success and instructions, John.) =) !!!!! ……. wow….. Father, that is overwhelming to me. do You really mean that, dear Lord? (It is for My good pleasure, son. I will be with you, John and you shall see, son.) =) =) Thank You so very much, dear Lord. Thank You so very much. =) =) I am so grateful, I’m close to tears.

[1:11am] Father, thank You so very much!!! I am so very very very very very very very excited about learning forex trading!! =) yahoo!! =) Thank You so very very much, dear Lord God! This feels so incredibly right! I’ve been going through the Forex Income Engine course by Bill Poulos. This we received free as an affiliate and it is such a blessing, thank You, Father. Thank You for bringing me to the course now. For the first time ever I see how to make money in a trade scenario because of the clarity You’ve given and the way Bill is explaining things. It is clear like I have never seen it before and boy am I excited!! =) (You are most welcome, son. Most welcome, John.) =) =) yay!!! =) =) =) thank You!! =)

[1:30pm] Thank You for the resolution with the court date this morning, Father. Thank You for this new day. The ticket cost us $115, which was a little painful because the judge was being lenient actually, but very just with us. He did what was right.

Thank You also for the trading commission of $30 that came in this morning. Thank You, Father. You are great above all and continue to bless us, in small ways and big, each and every day. We only need look to You to see good things. =)

We also get to thank You once again for helping us fix Sara’s computer, it is working wonderfully well. The second is Patches, who has not been throwing up at all the last couple of days! That is so wonderful—thank You so much, dear Lord God! =) =) You have blessed us indeed!

It feels (You would be right, John.) =) =) =) …it feels like we are heading toward real estate wholesaling. And what a blessing that would be for us. =) =)

“I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom I have in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You.” -Psalm 73:22-25

[1:50pm]

It’s Snowing

Where I am, it’s snowing right now. And for my kids, the word “snow” is synonymous with “fun.” I think if they had to choose between a day at a theme park or playing in the snow, they would probably choose the snow.

In a few hours, enough snow will have accumulated on the ground for them to spend the afternoon running and playing in the white stuff.

My work allows me the flexibility to spend time with my children when I want to — such as an afternoon in the snow. I am very grateful for this flexibility. It is one of the rewards of self-employment.

But I still have to make that choice to give my time to my family. I could just as easily spend my afternoon getting “caught up” on work, emails, and other pressing tasks.

My kids would still run out and have a good time without me.

But that’s just it. It would be WITHOUT DAD!

Years from now, when they are grown, I want my children to be able to look back on their childhood memories and remember the times when dad WAS there. I want to model that kind of fatherhood to them so they can model it to their children and pass it down for generations to come.

An absent dad is one of the most damaging things that can happen to a child. It is also one of the most effective tactics used today to break down the family and develop apathy and disrespect of children toward their fathers.

John, I pray you will have many opportunities this year to choose time with your children over your work, hobbies, and other distractions. Your work will always be there, but your children won’t.

Involving your children in your life and investing your time in their lives is something we family dads MUST do! -Joey Watkins

[4:43pm] A very trying day today. Father, thank You for being with us. Thank You for delivering us, though not sheltering us from the pain. Thank You for keeping us afloat.

Sara is very discouraged today, very down and low after the court date today where we were fined the $115. Father, thank You for helping me to be understanding and to encourage her, though it’s not yielded much fruit so far.

[7:51pm] Dear Lord, this I cannot understand. We have limited funds right now, and You’re telling me to take Sara out to dinner. The double hit is that we’ll be driving around the car with the expired license plates. I don’t know what to think, dear Lord. (Think of Sara and think of your instructions in this way, John. Take Sara over to ihop, son.) Yes, Father. Thank You, Father.

[12:39am] Father, thank You so much for this end of the day. It smoothed out—You smoothed it out. =) Thank You so much, Father. Sara and I made love earlier this evening and it was amazing. It changed both of our moods and go us out of our slumps. Thank You so very much for this, Father God. You are wonderful to us.

On the other note, You’ve put trading back on my heart and now I’m actually going through the forex course for the first time. I’ve not put that much attention to it yet, but hopefully we’ll start into it more as we go along and at least I could do my part by finishing this course. =)

We thank You also for letting us make such good progress on Clark’s site today. Thank You so much, Father God. We don’t know where this one is going, but we are grateful so much for Your help. =) =)

[10:25am] Father, thank You for this new day. I am grateful for You above all.

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” -1 Peter 1:13

[1:37am] Father, thank You for this day, just the same with all of its troubles and difficulties. Sara’s computer may need to be totally erased and start from scratch. It’s a big huge loss of time, but the files can be recovered. It is a huge mess, but perhaps a good opportunity for me to focus on the sales page that needs to be done too.

[2:15pm] Father, thank You so very much. Sara is in a good mood about the computer, even though sad about it. It is a hard thing.

On the positive side for today, I was just starting to read through Clark’s book, the one that we’re partnering here with to market, and it is incredibly moving a story, about how he got saved and how he started into ministry work. It is the perfect material for the sales page for the book. It is a few pages long and perfect for the sales page as a preview and to get people excited about the book.

[2:39pm] We’re working on getting the videos uploaded now, testing them out, and we’ve copied the material from the first chapter over to the sales page. There will need plenty of work done on it, but a lot will come down to the design that Sara can do.

[4:34pm] Father, thank You for the discount we just received when picking up the signs from the sign maker. They are a week late and he was okay with the $250 cash that we had, without caring about the other $23 we offered to put on a card. Thank You for this little bit, dear Lord, as the software for Sara’s computer was $25, which You said to buy. We are grateful on the savings on one to pay for the other. =)

[10:23pm] Father, thank You so very very much! Sara’s computer is fixed now!! Praise You, Lord! Praise Your holy name!! Thank You so very much, Father God! Thank You so very much! =) (You are welcome, son. You see now, John, how it doesn’t need to be you to get the credit and the glory for fixing something or making it right, son?) =) yes, Father. Thank You for the lesson also, Father. =) (You are welcome, son. You are welcome.) =) =) =) yay!! =) =) my heart is filled with joy!! =) =)

[11:23am] Thank You, Father, for helping return to us the money for the leads that we bought, paused and then changed direction from.

“Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure…” -Psalm 16:5-9

“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” -Psalm 16:11

Father, indeed You are great! We praise Your holy Name! David knew You full well and had a joy that surpassed the turmoils and situations in his life. You have given me that same kind of joy so much through this little life.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is Your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” -Psalm 19:1-3, 7-11

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” -Psalm 19:14

This morning I woke up kind of fearful, mostly about money—about the plans that we have for our blog business. But who knows what You are doing with the business with Clark?! Who can speak of what You will do!? Who can understand Your ways!? They are so powerful and so high above us! What can we say or what can we do to oppose Your perfect plans!? =) =) Our delight is in You, dear Lord God! =)

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”                             -Psalm 34:7-10

[12:01pm] Thank You also, Father, for the payment from ProfitsRun. It was $65 and it cleared today. We should have some $700 coming in later this month from the same company—and what a great blessing that is! =) thank You, Father. Thank You so very much. (You are welcome, son.) !! =) =) =)

What would You have us to do today, Father God? What shall we do today, dear Lord? (You will work on Clark’s site today, son. It will go well with you, John. Do what work you can with it. Do not be concerned with much else today, son.) =) thank You so much, Father. Thank You so much. =) =)

“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” -Psalm 34:3-4

[4:13pm] Father, thank You for helping us through this day. It’s been another day of trials and attacks.

[4:38pm] But we thank You for bringing us through these things, dear Lord. We just added on the products, a monthly program for $17 per month (add on one more, John, a premium service, son.) Yes, Father. Doing that right away. ($97, John.) =) Yes, Father. =)

[5:30pm] Another wonderful thing happened today that I forgot to write about earlier. Jeff Cawley called and said that the buying tour was still on and that Sara and I were both still invited. The plane tickets came out to about $450 for both, which isn’t bad, but then You were saying to drive. I don’t understand exactly why, but still, what You say is what You say, Father. You said to also leave the decision up to Jeff when I emailed him the information. Is it best to drive, Father? (It is best, son. I will be with you both, son, you and your wife, Sara, John.) =) Yes, Father. =) Thank You, Father. =)

Father, I am also following Your directions for Sara’s computer and it is just now restarting, hopefully, as You’re willing, dear Lord, fixed. (Tend to it, John.) Yes, Father.

[5:50pm] The computer is not yet fixed. This is very discouraging to Sara. Though fortunately she is asleep taking a nap right now as we work on it. Thank You for helping me, Father. (You’re welcome, son.)

[1:12am] Father, thank You so much for this wonderful new business partner that You’ve provided. You are great and mighty and Your plans are so wonderful to us now. The last few hours I edited a video that Clark had sent us earlier this evening, and with his pushing, it turned out incredibly well—the best video I’ve ever made before. What a blessing to have a business partner and a mentor all wrapped up in one. It’s a blessing You have given us, dear Lord, and we are so grateful. =) thank You, dear Lord God. Thank You so very much. =) (You are indeed welcome, son. I will be with you, John, as I have been, son.) yay! =) =) =) how richly blessed am i! =) =) =)

[11am] Father, thank You for this new day, and the new plans we have before us. =) We’re in Job right now, so almost half way across the Bible’s pages, but we’re listening to it. =)

After the vet appointment and the lunch, we hope to get started on the contacting of new leads; also to work on the building of the new ideas that You’ve given, including the one this morning to focus on sending emails and reaching out to a quantity of people—maybe so we’re not discouraged by getting on the phone and having to call hundred to get one new client. =) Perhaps as we go along doing PR emails and other contact calls, we’ll find some old contacts that we used to have and reach out to them.

[11:15am] But I forgot too about the wonderful blessing we might have from You in working with Clark. I do honestly think that we could build a membership to some $10k per month in the fitness industry, using affiliate marketing resources and with Clark’s credibility, previous success, and work ethic, plus good, highest quality content that could power such a membership. Father, we thank You for what You have already done so far for us!! And thank You also for what You might do in the future! =) =)

[11:44am] Father, thank You so very much. My mom is taking marie the cat on her own to the vet. This gives us the time to finish Job before we start into work this day. =) Thank You for the instructions, Father. =) Thank You so very much, dear Lord. =) You told me to finish Job before starting into work.

[11:55am] I find that listening to Job is probably one of the best books for learning the fear of the Lord. You are great and mighty, dear Lord. You are wonderful above all. =) we are so grateful for You, Lord Almighty.

[2:18pm] Thank You so very much, Father… we are now meeting at Panera, the one we usually go to. We heard back from our guy in India early this morning, so that seems good. I’ve sent him half of the instructions back, but not the email.

Here is the email that You helped me to write, just lickety-split just before leaving the house. It’s true sometimes that when you’re in a pinch and out of time, you’re able to get more done faster.

Hi FIRSTNAME,

My name is John and I’m a fellow marketer online. =)

My wife, Sara, and I have started a website and blog design service known as CustomBlogShop.com.

We didn’t want to try and sell you on our services here in this email, but rather just start reaching out to those around us who share similar passions and might be wanting website or graphic design services in the future.

If you do happen to have any other websites or graphic design needs planned for the future, we hope you might consider adding us to your address book and looking us up when those needs arise! =)

Blessings on you and your new year ahead!

God bless!

John & Sara Roney

CustomBlogShop.com

Thank You also, Father, for the two $33 trading commissions that were generated today. I think they are monthly commissions. We’re not likely to see them paid any time soon, but still, it’s a blessing none-the-less. =)

[3:53pm] Father, thank You so much. The lunch went well and we had some good talking time. It was a break from work, which is always good for Mondays it seems. I am so very grateful for Your favor, dear Lord God. (You are welcome, son.) =) Thank You so very very much! =)

[5:14pm] Father, thank You so very much for the instructions to hire Manish. He seems like a he’ll be a great help already! =) Thank You so very much, Father! (You are welcome, son.) =) =)

Also, Father, thank You so very much for the $90 that just came in from Global Resorts as a refund. =) It was a cancellation on the yearly website fee. That is such a great blessing as well! =) Yay! =)

[7:10pm] Father, thank You so very very much for what You have done here! It is incredible! We are actually working with one of the top fitness models in the entire country—Clark Bartram. Father, I will keep my enthusiasm low here, but there is joy and excitement in my heart for what You have brought about. You are glorious, Father. =) We thank You! =) (You are welcome, son.) =) =) =)

[9:58pm] Okay, so we talked with Clark again tonight for a couple of times and he sent over a number of pictures and advertising covers. He said he would do a testimonial video for us tomorrow, so we’re really looking forward to that. And he said he would do the videos for the sales page for his ebook too.

Father, we are so very grateful for these things. You have blessed us so very greatly with contacts and with experience. We so much want the money to feel secure, but we know that’s just a falsehood anyway—the money could never, and would never, make us secure.

[10:29pm] Father, what You have done is amazing! Clark just messaged me and said that he wanted to get together and pray with us over the business. How amazing, dear Lord, that we might have a business partner who wants to go to prayer with us and seek You and Your will for our working together. That is a complete dream come true and we are so very grateful, dear Lord God. I am so grateful for You and for You bringing us together in Your power—and not by the ways of man! =) thank You, dear Lord God! =) thank You! =) (You are most welcome, son. I will be with you, John.) =) =) =) =) =) yay!!

I am still trying not to get excited about this opportunity, dear Lord. I guess I’m just scared of getting my hopes up and being disappointed. You know my heart, dear Lord God. You are great and mighty over all my fears. You know where I am in my relationship with You—You know the deep and dark things in my heart, Father God. You know my sins and my pride, my arrogance and my shortcomings. Nothing is concealed from You. there is no news that will surprise You. I am Yours alone. =) my heart yearns for You, and I am sad that I cannot see You all day long yet, but while here, we long to do the best work for You that we can—hoping that just one, even just one might come to know You because of the work that we’ve done. =) thank You for loving us, dear Lord Almighty! =) =)

[11:04pm] Father, You are so great and mighty! We just prayed with our new business partner for the last 15 minutes, and Sara and I talked some too afterwards. We are blown away by You, dear Lord, for bringing us into this relationship here.

Thank You again, Father, for Clark brought up the design that Sara had done for the DVD covers and told us to send him an invoice. What a blessing, Father. And what a mentor that we can learn from—with such an amazing reputation in the industry that he’s in. He said he would never hurt us, but would rather take the loss himself if it meant not hurting us. He is a leader with Your name on his lips and someone I am already learning measures from as a mentor. I thank You so very much. =)

[12:12am] Dear Lord, we beseech You… Sara’s computer is infected with a bad virus. Attacks from the enemy while we stand on the brink of a business between three believers. Please help us, Father. Thank You for protecting us, dear Lord God. You are the powerful one!

[2;04am] Father, what a wonderful wonderful day with You. =) May You be praised and receive all of the glory. We pray and commit this day and the next to Your perfect will. =) thank You, Lord. (You’re welcome, son. I am pleased with you, son.) =)

[11:23am] First written journal of the new year. We are at Reston Bible church for the service. This is where we’ve come for most of the Sundays. Sara as many friends here, and I know them too. I was thinking this morning about You bringing us together, dear Lord. It is our three month anniversary… Now seven months we’ve been together in total. We do thank You for this, Father. =)

Dani’s five-year-old advice of, ‘prosper where Your planted,’ His was ringing true now for our lives. Youth stripped away global as a business opportunity and we’re so grateful for that. You have also very wonderfully given us some new ideas about how to build sponsor missionary. We have three missionaries at present, each with their own page. We now face the challenge of missionary review, as our third signup is someone we don’t know.

But You have also given us the means of earning income as well. We can, by the numbers, earn enough for our own expenses, about $2000 per month, but that my mom has been paying about $1200 of it and Sara and I barely bringing in any business. We have this new focus and not a steady source of referrals from Tom.

We have a good business and a good focus on what to offer. We have a service—website building, and it seems very good. Tom is one of the direct reasons, other than You primarily, Lord, who helped us get the business going. Father, now we feel our need for You and Your Providential help. We need to now go after finding our own clients.

Action: PR, not sales… Just wanted to let You know were in business, for example.

[12:07pm] our planet present is to hire this gentleman that You said to hire and to contact a certain number of people per day… Perhaps about 10-20 people per day. That would make for 50-1 100^th of new people per week contacted.

Action: need to write promo emails for affiliates to use. Videos too. Create a full-fledged affiliate program, and add in training videos for free, or for a paid membership. In Your hands, Father.

Action: ‘getting used to the dark’ audio-Vance Havener

Action: add statement of faith to custom blog shop

[4:58pm] Father, thank You so much for all the new ideas for the business that You have given Sara and I. it seems such a great blessing that You brought about this business and all the work, Father God. How much of a blessing You are to us! =)

We know that we should focus on the internet marketers and home business people that are out there already doing work online. We should not try to sell them on getting a website so much as on adding a fourth website to their mix.

Why should I hold back marketing training too? Just because Stephen knows ten times more about internet marketing than I do doesn’t mean that what I know is useless to all… why have Tom Challan, Charrissa Cawley, and Clark Bartram all listened to me for advice on internet marketing things?? There have been experiences and skills that You have built in, dear Lord. You have taught me so very many things by much experience. Who am I to reject that and be unwilling to share? May it not be that way, Father God. May it not be that way.

It seems like we get to start tomorrow. =) After having to go on a stupid vet run with Marie the cat we can start into work. Father, we are in Your mighty hands. =)

[7:54pm] Just more proof that whenever there is a plan set in motion, like our new business, there are obstacles that stand up to get in the way. Must have lunch tomorrow with Sara’s dad. That’s more time taken right out of the middle of the day, which I hate. That’s now a vet appointment that’s useless and for no reason other than to spend money and then a lunch date with Sara’s dad. I can’t honestly share what I’d feel about these things. Neither is a good spot in my heart… not by a long mile.

[10:49pm] Thank You so very much, Father, for the many ideas You’ve just given us for the CustomBlogShop.com website. Some of the ideas were to put on the tag cloud cool feature we found the other day, to put some marketing advice on the right column and then link it to other pages and posts along the way, and then from there to the pages where the advice is. Also to include a free CD and probably a membership and so forth, for credibility and for potential additional income. =) Thank You for all of these good ideas, Father. =)

[12:25am] (There will be a breakthrough tomorrow, John.) =) thank You, Father. =) You also said earlier that You would not grant favor. (That is right, John.) yes, Father God. Your will be done.

[1:11am] Thank You so very much, Father!! =) My heart is lifted. =) Clark said that he would record a video for our blog design business as an endorsement, which is a huge blessing. But also, even beyond this, Clark said that we could still go ahead with the SpirituallyFit website and sales process. He asked us what we need. He’s going to record a video for it, or the sales video. We could build a $10k per month membership with the potential that we have here in our laps. Father, this is so far beyond our ability, but with Your help we could do it if be Your will. (You shall see, John, whether it is My will or not, son.) =) Yes, Father, thank You so much, Father. =)

[1:55am] I don’t really want to get too excited about it, but gosh, the potential is huge! =) Father, we’ve been disappointed before, and I know Jefferson has been too. We are both believers and in Your hands. we are grateful for all the blessings You’ve granted us. You are our Lord and God. =)

[2:01am] Father, we are gratefully in Your hands. thank You for lifting my heart, dear Lord. Thank You so very much, dear Lord God. =)

A New Creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” -2 Corinthians 5:17

A mulligan is a golf term which allows a player to play a second shot off the first tee if the first shot is poor. It’s a second chance to get a fresh start without penalty.

Sometimes in life we need a mulligan – a new start. Christ represents the invitation to throw away our first life and begin anew with Him as a new creation.

The Promised Land represented a new life for the people of Israel who had lived a life of bondage and slavery in Egypt. It is also symbolic of a new life in Christ. It says we are no longer going to be driven by the appetites of our old nature, but Christ now lives in us to live a righteous and holy life. It does not mean we’re perfect, we’re just forgiven.

The new life in Christ has nothing to do with church attendance or even doing good things. Christ said there will be many people who will claim Him as their Savior but they never really knew Him. In other words, there was no evidence of the living Savior in them. “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matt 7:22-23).

Jesus invites everyone to partake of the new life He offers. We only must believe, invite him to remove our sins and allow Him to live as Lord through our lives. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me?” (Rev 3:20).

If you’ve never had a mulligan in life, now is the time to let Jesus give you a brand new start. Ask Him for that new start today. -Os Hillman

[11:30am]  Father, I feel at a hard point again now with money, as it always seems to be.  There is no business to look forward to now in global.  There’s not much to look forward to in trading, except the big blessing of $700 due in later in January.  We have a vet appointment my mom set up for Marie, who is Sara and I’s cat left over from a dating relationship with Ashley in high school.  Nothing but trouble is Marie though.  We’ll probably be looking at a $300 bill on Monday which would take all of our available.

“Teach us to number our days right, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”    -Psalm 90:12

[11:48am]  Thank You, Father, for opening my eyes.  The buying tour is in two or so weeks if it still continues on.  Charrissa usually pays me $1500 for going on the tours, which has always been such a great blessing.   =)    Thank You for this Father, and also for the favor You have given us with Clark.  =)   He liked the designs that Sara did on the DVD covers and asked for print-ready files, with one small change.  I don’t know if we’ll receive any income on this one design, but then again, in life how You’ve had it for us is that we normally volunteer first and then become partners second.  It seems that’s just what You’ve got in mind for us here, Father.  (Yes, indeed, son.)   =)  =)   =)   (The income will happen, John; you do not need to worry about it or anxiously advance, son.)   =)   thank You so much, Father.  You have always provided for us—always in the right time too.  Almost always it’s not on the schedule I’d want to see, but it has always been perfect.  You are perfect, dear Lord God.   =)

Sara is so very talented.  She has done a wonderful new design for Clark.  This was such a big gap that I had before with internet marketing work—all the design that could be done.  But now, it perfectly fills the spaces that I had open—not all of them, but a huge part of what I couldn’t do, Sara can do, and she does so well.  How great is Your blessing on me, dear Lord, that I can see every day some of that blessing in Sara, the beautiful and talented and funny wife You’ve given me.   =)

[12:24pm]  Dear Lord, I don’t want to go into this relationship like I have other decisions in the past, not asking You for Your directions and instructions.

“There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”  So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

“On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.  So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.”                                                                                                         -Ezra 8:21-23, 31-32

[12:53pm]  Father, the opportunity in front of us You already know about—I cannot bring any news to You.  But we ask You blessing and Your favor with Clark and for Your instructions for how to do things.  (You have all these things, son.  You will do well, John, with this partnership, son.)  =)    thank You, Father.   =)

[1:17pm]  Should we process the business ourselves, Father?    (You certainly can, John.  It will be priceless experience for you, son.)   Yes, Father.   =)    I am certainly scared of doing it, but if it be Your will and what is best (It is the best solution, John.  It will help Clark in the way he wants, John.)  Yes, Father.   Thank You very much, Father God.  You are holy and mighty and we are so grateful to be serving You, dear Lord God.   =)

[1:42pm]  This is the email we just wrote to Clark and You had us send, Father.  =)   Thank You so very much, dear Lord God.   =)  =)   =)    So very grateful for You.   =)  =)   (Yes indeed, son.)   =)  yay!  =)  =)  =)

Thanks, Clark!   =)

The files are uploading now… both layered PSD for future edits, and PDFs for printing.  Because they’re all high-res now, the files are HUGE, so it will take some time, but they’re on the way!  =)

Sara redid a number of things on the design, subbing out low-quality images for high-quality ones.  Whoever did the initial design had a great idea for the layout and overall design, Sara just gave it a nice tune-up and sharpening.  She also switched it to CMYK (a color coding) so it would print better than the RGB it was in before (Sara’s worked in print and also sign shops before).  Should be ideal for printing now, and also cleaner for future revisions.   =)

We’re grateful for the opportunity to work together.  I guess there are a couple of ways we could easily work together, the main question now would be how you wanted to set up to process orders.  We do have a merchant account and a shopping cart, but those two things wouldn’t be that much work to set up for you if you wanted.  I do definitely want to help in the way that you want the help though, and if you want us to do as much of the work as possible, we’ll aim to do as much as possible on our end if that’s what would help the most.  =)

Are we decided on building out a monthly membership to offer alongside/in-addition-to, other products we could develop like the Spiritually Fit, for starters?   =)

[3:14pm]  Thank You so much, Father.  Thank You for helping Sara and I resolve a design problem and also a problem between us.  Thank You so very much, Father.  (Take Sara out to lunch now, John.)   yes, Father.   =)    Thank You, Father.  =)

[3:29pm]  (It’s a test, John.)   [about Tom having Clark send me some videos to edit that are for Tom’s site that he recorded with Clark.]   Thank You so much, Father.  Thank You so much for letting me know these things—things that are beyond my searching out.   (You are welcome, son.  Take Sara now, John.)   yes, Father.   =)

[5:13pm]  Thank You, Father, for the lunch that You let Sara and I get just now.  It was a good break and helped us recover emotionally from Sara getting upset this afternoon.  Thank You so much for the money to go and buy it, dear Lord, and for the blessing of Your ever-present instructions You’ve blessed us with as well, dear Lord.   =)    You are our great God!   =)   =)    We love and praise You!   =)  =)

[7:53pm]  I feel worthless…  don’t know if this is Satan’s attacks or if I am just being shown my errors in not providing for Sara and myself and not doing the work I could do, not using the talents that You have given me, Father.  (It is from Me, son, not of Lucifer, John.  There is a point and a purpose, son.  It is not easy, John, but I will be here with you.)   thank You, Father.  Thank You for being with me, especially when there is great success and especially when there is great pain.

[8:35pm]  Dear Lord, You have truly given me a comforting wife.  Today was a hard day for us both.  I wish I was asleep still, but You told me to stay up and type up all the written journal pages tonight.  There’s about 100 pages in total to type up, and probably a bit more than that.  Thank You for this, dear Lord God.  I don’t know why, but I trust in You.

[9:22pm]  I am so torn… so very torn.  I want money and success, but then there are many of the parts of the work that I don’t want to do and then there is the other side—the knowing that the money is often the very worst thing.  I just have to remember the video that I watched last night about Britney Spears, set to the Casting Crowns song to see what a disaster money was to that woman.  All that money was the worst thing that ever happened to her life.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.”   -Revelation 3:20

You made today a day off, dear Lord.  I have tried to work away like normal, straining for the money that it seems like we need.  I keep thinking about world ventures now, and about getting a job, and about all manner of other things: jealousy about Sara text messaging with an old friend, about the people we work with and the money they seem to have and the work abilities they have, and about the disaster that money can bring and how I see it have destroyed more lives than not.  Dear Lord, if only that we didn’t have the debt from the foolish decisions that I have made…

“O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of this Your  servant and to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your name.  Give Your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.  I was cupbearer to the king.”    -Nehemiah 1:11

In there anything better that we can do than to build Sponsor a Missionary and help those who need to get to the mission field to get there?

Father, why did You tell me that our business was real estate and Sponsor A Missionary?  (For very good reason, son.)

I don’t get it, Father….   I don’t get what we’re supposed to do.  What I am supposed to do before You.  do I look for a job?  Do we build out the blog business and seek after some business?

[10:45pm]  Thank You for lifting up my heart and encouraging me, dear Lord.   =)

[11:18pm]  but my heart grows heavy again and I wonder about many things, like the guys that we hired when I was working more closely with Charrissa.  She paid them $5k, they built a few pages, and nothing ever turned out.  They had really poor service, but yet they were able to charge so much and I wonder why we can’t do that with our good service.

[11:25pm]  We could have a very simple marketing plan of reaching out to about 20 website owners per day, by email and or phone, and building business relationships with many people per week.  This would be a good marketing approach perhaps, until we have enough business built up from referrals.

“Then He said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after ME, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for ME will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”    -Luke 9:23-25

[12:57am]  Thank You so much for telling me to hire someone on Elance to help contact people about our blog work.  =)   Thank You so much, dear Lord.  He wrote us over the holidays and wished us a Merry Christmas.  His name is Manish and he writes as though he has good experience.  Thank You, Father.  =)   He said in a message to us, ‘may the blessings of Our Lord Father…’  so he may be a believer too, and so much the better.   =)    I’m so grateful for Your instructions, dear Lord God.  =)

[1:19am]  Dear Lord, I’m not really sure what else to do.  I think this day has just about run its course… a hard day none-the-less.  Back to some more journal entering.  Thank You so much for these instructions, Father God.  Thank You. =)  (You are welcome, son.  I am with you and your wife, son.)  =)  =)  thank You!

[2:14am]  For now, we’d be able to hire Manish for 1 hour per day for $5 or $25 per week, which is something that we can afford to do.  I thank You so very much for this new plan, Father.  =)    This renewed confidence and hope too.