"Surviving Today's Economy" - An Evening of CONVICTION and HOPE!

WOW! - If you missed last evening's Weigh Down LIVE Webcast, "Surviving Today's Economy," you missed an evening of CONVICTION, REALITY...and ultimately, HOPE. You might ask, "What hope is there in a REALLY DOWN economy...not just here in the United States but on a global scale?" What Gwen explained in such a CLEAR, CONCISE, and POWERFUL way was that OUR hope rests in ADHERING to GOD'S commands and staying within His boundaries in our spending and investments and our FOCUS on putting Him FIRST in EVERYTHING. She charged us to "have FAITH" in GOD'S system of laws and principles. His boundaries SURELY DO fall in "pleasant places," as the great King David wrote in the 16th Psalm.

Gwen's Message was backed up by Testimonies of several participants who have saved LOTS of money and been blessed in so many other ways by putting all of this into practice. AGAIN, it was an evening of CONVICTION to go FURTHER in our relationships with GOD...and an evening with PRACTICAL advice as to HOW we can accomplish this. It was, indeed, "MUST-SEE TV"...via your internet connection of course. You can see it again...or for the first time...by clicking HERE. It has been amazing as a STAFF for us to witness the countless ways that GOD has used Gwen and this Ministry to change lives for the better. It truly is about SO much more than weight. It has something for EVERYBODY!

Remember that today on WDWB LIVE, at 3:30pm CST, we'll be talking about feeling GOD'S pain...HIS grief...HIS sense of loss...what HE goes through on a daily basis. And given last night's eye-opening Webcast about the state of today's economy, it is OBVIOUS that GOD has MANY lessons to teach us. May we see it as a humbling HONOR to learn ANYTHING more about His personality...His joy and His pain...His likes and His dislikes...His Truth and Righteousness!

TEACHABILITY from GOD - A Golden Virtue, A Key to Salvation

DON'T FORGET! - We have Weigh Down LIVE, our free online webcast, scheduled for TOMORROW (Wednesday) evening at 7:00pm CST! The THEME is "Surviving Today's Economy." We'll have tips, testimonies, and encouragement. CLICK HERE for more info!

Now, on with the Blog...

"TEACHABILITY" - From www.dictionary.com - A couple of strong definitions to get the Blog going this morning - "Able and willing to learn"...also..."Capable of being taught, as a subject."

That's a great launching pad for some thoughts for today...and in fact, that PLAQUE you see at the top of today's Blog is a quote from michelangelo, renowned Italian renaissance artist. He was in his 80s (age-wise) when this quote was recorded.

Have you noticed, whether it's in business, sports, TV, movies, music, medicine, etc......how the "hungry pupil" often times starts in very low, humble, wanting to SOAK UP every bit of learning he or she can absorb circumstances...then rises through the ranks into positions of fame, management, recognition, etc...then because of PRIDE and a love of the PRAISE of MAN, CEASES to become "teachable." Here are some examples from a variety of perspectives...LOSING teachability versus REMAINING teachable...

• LOSING TEACHABILITY - In the most recently released "Star Wars" movie - Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith - Anakin Skywalker goes from humble protege, thankful for Obi Wan Kenobi's teaching, wanting to learn from the "Jedi Council"...to becoming GREEDY for more position and power. He even ADMITS to his wife that the way he's beginning to feel is WRONG. "Something's wrong. I'm not the Jedi I should be. I want more. But I know I shouldn't..." He LOST his humility and turned to the dark side. The SUBJECT LOST his ability to be TAUGHT in the RIGHT way.
• LOSING TEACHABILITY - You see and hear the sports stories about hungry-to-learn football players, overcoming odds and difficult upbringings...only to get to the NFL (National Football League), get the big contract, become stars, then HOLD OUT while still UNDER contract because they "want more." Greed...pride...wanting more..."I know better..."
• REMAINING TEACHABLE - King David. We bring his name up FREQUENTLY in these Blogs because he truly was a "man after GOD'S own heart." From a quick rise to fame with the slinging of a stone and the slaying of the giant Goliath, the Israelites were singing SONGS about him! He could have gotten the "big head" and followed a path of pride to his own destruction. But NO, the jealous King Saul pursued David out of JEALOUSY and David SPARED Saul out of fear of the LORD and RESPECT for Saul's position as "GOD'S anointed" King. He wouldn't DARE lay a hand on Saul...even though Saul was in the wrong by pursuing David and trying to kill him. READ the PSALMS! They are FILLED with humility and teachability. He NEVER stops crying out to GOD for MORE wisdom and love and mercy and he gives GOD this never-ending, beautiful PRAISE...to his final days on the earth. And King David did this in even INCREASING measure! TEACHABILITY to the CORE!

Gwen has always led this Ministry...from its very beginning foundations to this very day and even MORESO every day...with a humble spirit of hungering and thirsting for MORE teaching from GOD. With the unparalleled success of Weigh Down, she has SURELY sought GOD MORE and MORE...in INCREASING measure. And He continues to bless all of the teachings, testimonies, and music coming from this Ministry. The example set for us as a Staff is to love and need and want and desire GOD MORE with every passing day. We truly do "need Thee every hour" (as the old hymn goes..."I Need Thee Every Hour.")

Those are just some examples and thoughts to think about as we ALL examine our OWN hearts. "Am I MORE teachable...MORE hungry for wisdom and godly counsel...MORE humble and wanting DIRECTION as I'm getting older?" Or is it, "I'm at a pretty good place...feeling good...moved up the ladder in life...I'm set." That's a very DANGEROUS place to be. Amos 6:1 - "Woe to you who are complacent in Zion..." May we NEVER fall into this UNteachable, horrible COMPLACENCY. TEACHABILITY...examples of the BLESSINGS of EMBRACING it versus the CONSEQUENCES of SHUNNING it...that's what we'll be talking about TODAY on WDWB LIVE at 3:30pm CST. We hope you'll join us!

HUMILITY - A Precious Jewel & Key to SALVATION

HUMILITY versus PRIDE...The great, recognized, uplifted, and remembered men and women of GOD had HUMILITY in ABUNDANT quantities. They exuded it, breathed it, spoke it, lived it. They ascribed to the LORD all of the glory, honor, and praise DUE Him. They lived a life that reflected the attitude..."GOD is GOD and I am NOT. Therefore, I will DO as He asks." JESUS, the most humble man who ever lived, sits at GOD'S Right Hand because of His humble love for and obedience to GOD. He DAILY cried out to GOD, desperate for time with Him and needing and wanting GOD'S leading. King David's life and the Psalms GLOW with his HUMILITY...his crying out to GOD both in PRAISE of and in NEED for GOD. They went hand-in-hand! CONTRAST - Think of the men and women, not just in Scripture but in history SINCE the Bible was published and even to this very DAY who have had PRIDE...Stories abound of unhappy, untimely, humiliating life events...even in many cases leading to early death. And the LEGACY left behind always is...SAD. You read about Absalom and you shake your head. WHY, if you're the son of the great and revered KING DAVID...and you're handsome and respected...WHY would you UNDERMINE your father and King? He died humiliatingly and tragically. Think of Belshazzar, son of King Nebuchadnezzar. He followed his father into becoming King. He watched his father go through SEVEN YEARS of insanity and isolation from his throne and his people. And in his PRIDE, he learned NOTHING from his father's HUMBLE example of REPENTING and ACKNOWLEDGING that HEAVEN RULES! "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin...GOD has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." King Belshazzar died that night...The list in THIS day and time is LONG. Just read the news...

For years now, Gwen has been crying out to anyone who would listen to ask America to "HUMBLE OURSELVES." LEARN from the events that have happened to us. REVERSE the trend of increasing SIN in this country...and MORE specifically the CHURCHES...which now MIRROR SOCIETY...STATISTICALLY being the SAME...on divorce and pornography and oveweight and substance addiction and too many other things. HUMILITY is a HUGE KEY to SALVATION...eternal life with GOD. Read these Scriptures for BACKUP...

• Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life. - Proverbs 22:4
• Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger. - Zephaniah 2:3
• When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. - Proverbs 11:2
• You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. - II Samuel 22:28
• Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. - Deuteronomy 8:2
• For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. - Psalm 149:4
• I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. - Isaiah 13:11
• And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! - Philippians 2:8

That last one, from PHILIPPIANS, speaks of course of JESUS CHRIST...CLEARLY equating HUMILITY with OBEDIENCE to GOD. POWERFUL!

Those familiar with this Weigh Down Ministry for a while know of MARCUS FRANCIS, one of the most humble men ANY of us know in this life right now. His HUMILITY has been on display as he has JOYFULLY EMBRACED the life that GOD has chosen for him, a life that has had him battling cancer for 12 years on and off. NEVER have any of us seen Marcus with anything but PRAISE and JOY about his life. He understands that GOD has given him a mission of PRAISE...of EMBRACING his life and the example he is called to set. And he genuinely LOVES it! We have the privilege and honor of conversing with this dear friend on today's WDWB LIVE at 3:30pm CST. We greatly look forward to hearing more PRAISES to GOD and a true PERSPECTIVE that all of us need to have. If it's a KEY to SALVATION, then regardless of the life that GOD has specifically designed for each of us, we've GOT to find that HUMILITY that keep us in our right place under the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. We hope you'll join us!