“There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” - Bryant H. McGill

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:8)

What sin do you need to confess?
Who do you need to ask for forgiveness TODAY?

Last night I went to bed around 10:00 PM. Because I felt quite tired, I chose not to set my PDA alarm for 5 AM as usual, but to get up when I felt well rested. Well, wouldn’t you know, I woke up at 5:08 AM feeling well rested. Just that 8 extra minutes of sleep felt like I had a new beginning.

I came downstairs, went to My Secret Place, knelt down, and began praying. One of my prayers, which I pray almost every morning, was this, “O Holy Spirit, Soul of my soul, I adore Thee. Enlighten, guide, strengthen, and console me. Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to accept everything You permit to happen to me, only show what is Thy will.”

Then I came to my desk to journal. The Holy Spirit prompted me out-of-the-blue to go to my basement to find two music CD’s by David Teens and load those into my iTunes. I hadn’t listened to those for 3 years since losing my iPod on an airplane when flying to Italy in March 2005.

Within seconds of listening to Credo, the very first song on David’s CD titled “Scars and Stripes,” I was ushered into the presence of God and overwhelmed by His mercy and grace. Quickly, I was convicted of failing to show mercy in a particular situation yesterday and instructed to ask that person for forgiveness later today.

Then as I was listening to the rest of the songs on the “Scars and Stripes” CD, I was prompted to sort some of my files related to my journaling. While doing that, I came across a document from my recent Life Focus leadership coaching course titled “Value and Pattern Statements.” Here is what my first value statement said:

1) Spiritual Life: I value PRAYER and my personal relationship with Jesus above all else; time alone to think, dream, reflect, distill, pray, and simply enjoy His presence. My active life flows out of my relationship with Him. I believe the whole duty of man is to enjoy God’s presence. I believe I will fulfill my destiny simply by obeying the Greatest Commandment - loving God while all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and with all my strength. Loving my neighbor as myself flows naturally out of my relationship with Jesus. If there is ABIDING, JOURNALING, and REST, I’m good to go.

Reading this prompted me to start a blog at randypeck.com to share the rest of my value and pattern statements. I also wanted to share a powerful email I received from Anne Alder on Jan 30. May the blog at today’s Link of the Day bless and refresh  you as the dew unto Israel.

Prayer Power
Come, Holy Spirit, come! Come! Sweet, sweet Spirit, come! You are welcome in this place!

Link of the Day
Dr. Randy Peck’s blog  [see below]

Blessings to be healed by His scars and stripes!

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Dr. Randy Peck’s Value and Pattern Statements

1) Spiritual Life
Value Statement: I value PRAYER and my personal relationship with Jesus above all else; time alone to think, dream, reflect, distill, pray, and simply enjoy His presence. My active life flows out of my relationship with Him. I believe the whole duty of man is to enjoy God’s presence. I believe I will fulfill my destiny simply by obeying the Greatest Commandment - loving God while all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and with all my strength. Loving my neighbor as myself flows naturally out of my relationship with Jesus.

If there is ABIDING, JOURNALING, and REST, I’m good to go.

Pattern Statement: I have lengthy daily quiet time with extensive journaling. Spiritual journaling is the lead domino for my life. Daily journaling ensures I pray, read my Bible, meditate on God’s Word, and share with others. It helps me be still to hear God’s whisper and then apply what God is teaching me. Detailed journaling reminds me what God has asked me to do and allows me to track what God is doing. As I journal and set down “stones” to remember what God has already done in my life, my faith grows progressively. I develop clarity of thought and clarity of purpose. “The whole discipline of life is to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ.” (Jan 17 - “My Utmost for His Highest”). I obey God to the best of my ability no matter what the cost. I participate in serval weekly prayer calls or meetings. I pray with people on the phone numerous times every day. I pray throughout the day, almost everywhere I am. I am constantly aware of God’s presence.

2) Marriage
Value Statement: I value PRAYER, UNITY, AUTHENTICITY, and SERVING my wife. I believe the best way to show my love for Julia is to pray for her because prayer undergirds everything else in the natural realm. I believe that unity in my community begins with my own communion with God and then eminates out from my marriage. I believe that my ministry in the marketplace will only advance to the extent that my marriage permits. I believe the best father is a good husband. I would give up everything I have (except my relationship with Jesus) to hold onto Julia.

If there is PRAYER, UNITY, AND SERVICE, I’m good to go.

Pattern Statement: I start most mornings praying for Julia for 10-15 minutes. I intentionally look for opportunities to spend quality and quantity time with Julia. I give Julia hugs and tell her I love her several times each day. I make almost daily journal entries that begin with “Family (Marriage).” I go to events that Julia enjoys (e.g triathlons). I go on vacation to places that Julia likes to go. I take a stand on righteousness in our home to protect Julia from the consequences of unrighteousness. I seek agreement in decisions. Julia and I are hosting a marriage LIFE group at our home. I expect respect and will withdraw from a conversation if that’s not shown.

Uncommon revelation: I will fulfill my mission by serving my wife! (11-15-07)

3) Family and Children
Value Statement: I value PRAYER, FAMILY TIME, HONORING MY FATHER AND MOTHER, and RESPECT FROM MY KIDS. I believe that honoring my father and mother is the lead domino for my other family relationships. I believe my kids will ultimately honor me as a result. I believe God intends for families to serve together - to be in unity. I believe the greatest legacy I can leave my children is passion for the Word of God.

If there is LOVE, UNITY, and HONOR, I’m good to go.

Pattern Statement: I start most mornings praying for my children at least 10 minutes per day - usually using The Power of a Praying Parent audio-book, but also my own prayer lists. I pray with my kids almost every time I talk to them. I visit my parents 2-3x/month. I call them weekly or so. I listen well to them and pay heed to their recommendations. I pray with them at meal time. I listen intentionally for what’s most important to them so I can pray specifically for those things. I discuss spiritual matters with them. I write many devotionals about the positive impact they have had on me. I’m formally coaching my son (Robbie) 3x/month. When my kids call, I almost always make it a priority to talk to them and help address their needs when possible. Julia and I try to take at least 1-2 vacations each year with our children. I visit my parent’s home when my brothers and their families are visiting. I frequently share stories of how God is moving with my children, parents, and other family members. We take most vacations with other family members.

4) Work
Value Statement: I value LOVERAGE, SIMPLICITY, EXCELLENCE, COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS, INTEGRITY, NETWORKING (UNITY), ORGANIZATION, and free expression of my faith. I am only content in an environment that encourages prayer. I believe that if the answer is not simple, it’s probably not God’s way. I believe that when I’m in alignment with my assignment, God’s provision will follow. Loverage is doing what you love to do and leveraging it.

If there is LOVERAGE, SIMPLICITY, and EXCELLENCE, I’m good to go.

Pattern Statement: I am extremely loyal, not just to people, but to businesses and organizations. I bend over backwards to ensure that my clients are delighted with my services. I resist things that complicate my life. I stepped away from my high-paying anesthesia career because I do not have passion for that and don’t feel I can do that with excellence as a result. I love the web and all the doors it opens. I recognize it’s God’s supernatural highway of communication. I seek to develop new streams of residual income. I desire strongly to be an entrepreneur. I’m in the process of developing systems for my businesses. I intentionally leave big holes in my schedule to allow God to work.

Goal: To experience extreme success in the marketplace, I will establish COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS with trustworthy and fruitful coaches, mentors, and counselors.

5) Church / Ministry
Value: I value DAILY SHARING of my faith and being an active member of a healthy local church family. I believe that to effectively pray for my city to be transformed, I must first pray for my family, my neighbors, my pastor and members of my congregation, and then the pastors of my city. I believe I am always on  assignment for Jesus, even when on vacation or alone.

Pattern: I prioritize my daily e-prayer devotional (Your Daily Blessing) above almost everything else because I sense it’s the most important thing God wants me to do to share and encourage others. I attend church faithfully, give generously to it, encourage others, and assume leadership roles. I’m on the Teaching Team for Soul Purpose Church.

6) Financial Stewardship
Value statement: I value EXTRAVAGANT GIVING and BEING DEBT FREE. I believe that financial freedom leads to time freedom which leads to relationship freedom which leads to spiritual freedom. Jesus came to set me free in all ares of my life.

Pattern Statement: I keep a detailed budget to plan my expenses, save, invest, give more, and better direct where my money goes. I seek to have a high income to be able to bless many more people in extravagant ways. I leverage my time and talents by developing affiliate and covenant relationships with people who are passionate to expand God’s Kingdom.

7) Physical Stewardship
Value Statement: I value REST and WELLNESS - complete health in all areas of my life. I believe that by Jesus’ stripes, I am healed. I value taking care of my body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Pattern Statement: I ruthlessly eliminate hurry from my life. I avoid too much noise, even for 1-2 days in a row. I exercise 2-3x/week. I used to do pushups and situps weekly, but I’ve slumped this year. I keep a log of my exercise. I shop for foods that I think are healthy. I usually avoid foods that I think are unhealthy. I began taking nutritional supplements recently. I take regular walks. I have not been stretching regularly, nor doing as much strength training as I’d like.

Goal: To stretch for 10 minutes 3x/week starting January 1, 2008.

8) Personal Development
Value Statement: I value INTENTIONAL GROWTH. I lead from who I am.

Pattern Statement: I read or listen to 1-2 new books every week. At any time in my life, I seek to have a mentor, peer, and disciple (someone I’m mentoring).  I listen to audio messages and sermons of leaders I respect. I maintain relationships with mentors, peers, and disciples.

9) Social Stewardship
Value Statement: I value BLESSING others. My life slogan is blessed to be a blessing. I value loving my neighbor as myself. I value ACCOUNTABILITY and CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS.

Pattern Statement: I speak blessings over people throughout my days, both privately and publically. I close all my emails with “Blessings,” which I view as a type of prayer. I participated in a weekly coaching group for 5 years. Now I participate in a weekly accountability relationship with Jerry Graham, a certified life and leadership coach. I attempt to disciple and bless almost everyone who works for me. I limit the number of close friends I have to less than 10. I maintain loose ties with most people through my daily devotional. I look for ways to bless others. Julia and I are hosting a marriage LIFE group at our home. Because I value loving my neighbor as myself, I leave holes in my schedule to be able to minister to people that God puts into my path.

10) Recreation and Hobbies
Value Statement: I value REST, RELAXATION, and VACATIONS. I believe that God wants my life to be fully integrated. Doing something fun is just as spiritual as anything else.

Pattern Statement: I walk with Julia several times each week. I read for hours every week. I bike 1-2 times per week. I enjoy encouraging people, in person and by email. When I travel, I prefer to stay put in 1-2 places, rather than being on the road a lot. I go with Julia to lots of different places where she competes. I typically take at least 3-4 vacation each year with Julia. I travel out-of-state 5-7x/year.

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From: Anne Alder
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 7:32 AM
To: Peck Randy
Subject: “I Will Be As The Dew Unto Israel”
Importance: High

Randy

This is from my STREAMS IN THE DESERT devotional. Thought you would be blessed.

The dew is a source of freshness. It is nature’s provision for renewing the face of the earth.  It falls at night, and without it the vegetation would die.  It is this great value of the dew which is so often recognized in the Scriptures. It is used as the symbol of spiritual refreshing.  Just as nature is bathed in dew, so the Lord renews His people.  In Titus 3:5 the same thought of spiritual refreshing is connected with the ministry of the Holy Spirit - “renewing the Holy Ghost.”

Many Christian workers do not recognize the importance of the heavenly dew in their lives, and as a result they lack freshness and vigor.  Their spirits are drooping for lack of dew.

Beloved, fellow-worker, you recognize the folly of a laboring man attempting to do his day’s work without eating.  Do you recognize the folly of a servant of God attempting to minister without eating of the heavenly manna?  Nor will it suffice to have spiritual nourishment occasionally.  Every day you must receive the renewing of the Holy Ghost.  You know when your whole being is pulsating with the vigor and freshness of divine life and when you feel jaded and worn. Quietness and absorption bring the dew.  At night when the leaf and blade are still, the vegetable pores are open to receive the refreshing and invigorating bath; so spiritual dew comes from quiet lingering in the Master’s presence.  Get still before Him.  Haste will prevent your receiving the dew.  Wait before God until you feel saturated with His presence; then go forth to you next duty with the conscious freshness and vigor of Christ.  DR. PARDINGTON

Dew will never gather while there is either heat or wind.  The temperature must fall, and the winds cease, and the air come to a point of coolness and rest - absolute rest, so to speak - before it can yield up its invisible particles of moisture to bedew either herb or flower.  So the grace of God does not come forth to rest the soul of man until the still point is fairly and fully reached.

“DROP THY STILL DEWS OF QUIETNESS.
TILL ALL OUR STRIVINGS CEASE:
TAKE FROM OUR SOULS THE STRAIN AND STRESS.
AND LET OUR ORDERED LIVES CONFESS
THE BEAUTY OF THY PEACE.

BREATHE THROUGH THE PULSES OF DESIRE
THEY COOLNESS AND THY BALM;
LET SENSE BY DUMB, ITS BEATS EXPIRE;
SPEAK THROUGH THE EARTHQUAKE, WIND AND FIRE,
O STILL SMALL VOICE OF CALM!