Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
You can choose the maternity ward, children’s ward, or psych ward. God wants us to choose our wards to live in day by day. God is ready to reward your life of obedience and seeking. We must dismiss negative thinking, unbelief, layers of flesh, and put on God’s mind for our future.

What to WARD OFF…
-Awkward
Live in God confidence!
Jn 1:16 “ From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another”
-Backward
Phil 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
-Coward
Prov 29:24 “Befriend an outlaw and become an enemy to yourself. When the victims cry out, you’ll be included in their curses if you’re a coward to their cause in court.”
-Downward
-Inward
Matt 28:19 “GO”
-Warden (Legalism)
Let go of tradition and move in freedom!
Etymology teaches us “tradition” means betrayal of a friend or TREASON
WARD ON….
-Forward
-Onward
-Upward
-Outward
-Reward
-Steward
Stewardship is our obedient witness to God’s sovereignty. He owns we manage!
Not money, but gifts, talents…recognize they are His!
-Toward
-Wardrobe
Lk 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
-Award

Make the trade and Put on the right and Put off the wrong.

Here are the remaining 10…

#11 Marketing Mayhem –
T’s, Stickers, Mugs, Wrist Bracelets, Facebook, etc…Marketing works!
You have the best product on earth, now go tell others about Him.
Silence is agreement with the world’s view, so speak out!
#12 Decide
Don’t sit on the fence…Do something!
#13 Details
Are the Deal Maker. If you are not a detail guy, get around one.
#14 No Collaboration
Equals no Integration. Dream with a Team.
#15 Work Around
Means more Work Abounds…if you are working around someone, release them.
#16 Curiosity
What’s new, changing, innovative…THEN COURAGE TO IMPLEMENT. “What if we…”
#17 Innovation…
More than successful ideas, but DISRUPTIVE VALUE!
#18 Prowess
Skill and Bravery…be skilled in your area of leadership. Read, write, and network.
#19 Tweak
Facebook adds a feature or update that adds Value every time and often. Tweak to a new Peak!
#20 Ideas
The powerful change agent to reach the LAST LOST LEAST. Nothing more powerful than an idea.

Instead getting all passengers to port safely, the captain charted a course to horn blow for a retired captain and drifted to close to danger. We have all been in a season of drifting…engines in neutral, directionless, and drifting away from our goals. I took time to write down 20 ways to prevent drift in my life and ministry.

Here are the first 10…Part 2 tomorrow:

Leadership Lessons that Prevent Mission Drift
#1 Over Communicate
You cannot say it enough.
#2 Listen with Empathy (Hear the Vision ring out)
Complaints are often ones understanding of the vision, don’t fear them.
#3 Tell the Story
Share your story at every opener, meeting, offering, and in every message!
#4 Refuse to let others to Define you
So easy to have a conference, build a building, or start a multi site ministry because of someone else.
#5 Use Authentic Experiences
No one wants to hear the same story, share fresh, this month stories.
#6 Inspire
Inspiration is the lighthouse of hope for many.
#7 Don’t promote a Product you don’t Use! (Prayer, Daily Reading, Tithe…)
Enough said!
#8 Value and Stick to it!
Recognize that value in the scripture is what you and I must place value on.
#9 Open don’t just Operate
Vision opens, Viability Operates…Vision is rarely Viable!
#10 Persuasion
This is an art that keeps you from selling the vision short. You toughest critic must feel the direction in your persuasion. If you are not persuaded, you will not persuade others.

Next tomorrow…

To experience all that God has for you in a 21 day Fast you need to do two things (Daniel 10)…
#1 ASK GOD Don’t just resist from food, ask God for big stuff. Daniel asked, and God answered. Ask for your kids, family, finances, health, church, the impoverished, and the lost. Approach each day with a goal you want to see God accomplish during this 21 day fast.
#2 OPEN YOUR EARS Listen and watch God answer. Don’t ask to receive with a thimble, but with a dump truck! Can you hear that…it’s the windows of heaven opening.

Now that you are resisting flesh here are some recipes to help with menu creativity:

O’Dell’s Favorite Fasting Fast Snacks
#1 Natural Peanut Butter and Banana
#2 Fruit Kabobs
#3 Peanuts, Almonds, and Popcorn
#4 Yonanas makes ice cream out of frozen fruit… @yonanas
#5 Looking at pictures of cupcakes!

Garden Vegetable Soup
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped leeks, white part only (from approximately 3 medium leeks)
2 tablespoons finely minced garlic Salt
2 cups carrots, peeled and chopped into rounds (approximately 2 medium)
2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
2 cups fresh green beans, broken or cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 quarts vegetable broth
4 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes
2 ears corn, kernels removed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup packed, chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 – 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Preparation:
1. Heat the olive oil in large, heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium-low heat. Once hot,
add the leeks, garlic, and a pinch of salt and sweat until they begin to soften,
approximately 7 to 8 minutes.
2. Add the carrots, potatoes, and green beans and continue to cook for 4 to 5 more
minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a simmer.
4. Once simmering, add the tomatoes, corn kernels, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low,
cover, and cook until the vegetables are fork tender, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and add the parsley and lemon juice. Season, to taste, with kosher
salt. Serve immediately.

Southwest Corn and Black Bean Salad
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 (14.5 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed
2 cups shredded red cabbage
1 large tomato, diced
1/2 cup minced red onion
Preparation:
1. Place pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat and cook, stirring, until
fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.
2. Whisk lime juice, oil, cilantro, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the corn, pine nuts,
beans, cabbage, tomato and onion; toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste just before serving.

More recipes on our Facebook Next Thirty Days Page (Don’t forget to click “Everyone Most Recent” to see all of the page)

Church growth and community impact happens one life at a time. No strategy or system can replace pure passion for the lost and The Gospel. I have heard it said, “A message prepared in the mind reaches minds, a message prepared in the heart, reaches hearts, but a message prepared in a life reaches, and changes lives.” That is exactly what happened when we shared Steve’s story at Brand New Church. Using life changing videos and testimonies are a must for every church. Take a couple of minutes to be inspired.

Steve’s Testimony 12-2011 from BNC Global Media on Vimeo.

“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10:2, 3 Ok, I ready to resist my flesh, see God answer huge prayers, breakthroughs, financial blessing, supernatural health, and more. But what can I eat, and what can’t I eat? Here is your answer…

(READ THE LABEL…Foods should be sugar-free and chemical-free)
FOODS YOU “CAN” EAT DURING DANIEL FAST
All fruits These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.
All whole grains, including whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.
All nuts and seeds, including sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.
All Beans. These can be canned or dried. Dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils including olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.
Beverages: spring water, distilled water, or other pure waters.
Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.
FOODS YOU “CAN’T” EAT DURING DANIEL FAST
All meat and animal products including beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.
All dairy products including milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.
All sweeteners including sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.
All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.
All refined and processed food products including artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
All deep fried foods Potato chips, French fries, corn chips.
All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
Beverages including carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.

12 is used with significance all through The Scripture, and I believe 2012 has greatness in store. The 12th son received more than all the rest in Genesis 45:22 “To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.”. One set was given to all the rest, but Benjamin received five. I am ready for God’s Benjamin blessing in my life and ministry this year. I have built a bigger closet, and bigger vision for all God has for me in 2012…what about you?

I leave you with some good preaching material on the #12…
12 son, 12 tribes, Israel broken into 12 regions
12 stones when crossing Jordan
12 spies
12 specific men anointed in Old Testament
12 legions of angels marked as perfect number
12 halved is the number of man
12 years old first time Jesus was in public (Lk 2:42)
12 disciples
12 apostles
12 stones high priest breastplate
12 letters in Hebrew alphabet
144,000 Jews saved during tribulation
12 foundations in Zion
12 gates in Zion
12 pearls
12 angels
24 elders
12 types of fruit
12,000 furlongs wide is Heaven
12×12 (144) size of Heaven’s walls
12 months
24 hours – 12 day 12 night
12 is the largest even number that can be the sum of two prime numbers.
12 is believed to be the number of strength, conviction, absoluteness and finality.

God used His pulpit in miraculous ways this year, but I sensed an extra sense of His presence in three series. I will name these series, and if you want a copy of the notes, artwork, or video tease for any, just reply in the comment section with your email.

#3 The Scarecrow
Why do run from things that are not real in our lives. Fear, Depression, Faith, Lies and more.

#2 The Tabernacle
This series should have been 10 weeks, but 3 weeks of it changed our church. The Lampstand, Shewbread, and Holy of Holies. I breakdown the almond blossom of the Lampstand and share the meaning of the word almond…get the notes!

#1 The Table
This practical message on the power of The Table in your home and in God’s Word was revelatory.

Let me know your favorite message series at your church and let’s get ready for the best preaching of our lives in 2012.

I am not a “leadership” book reader by nature, but this year proved differently. I encourage you to get each of these books and read them slowly…

#3 The Truth About Leadership…Barry Posner
This book drilled down on two areas of weakness in my life…
The first, clear expectations and the second, listening to my gut instincts.

#2 7 Triggers to Yes…Russell Granger
This is a secular marketing/sales read that will open your mind and perspectives. All seven are powerful, but the trigger of persuasion was insightful. Great read!

#1 Great by Choice…Jim Collins
Story after story of success and failure…It’s really is up to you if you will be great. Read this book!

Tell me your top reads this year…

Every person you pass, lock eyes with, text, Facebook or retweet matters to God. They were on the heart of God when He sent His Son to this earth as a child. Beginning Wednesday evening the 21st I will be answering “Who is Jesus” and your friends could experience a life changing moment.

Don’t let anything hold you back from inviting your co-workers, city officials, and peers. Kids choirs, student bands, powerful Christmas songs, and even a harpsichord.

Merry Christmas from the O’Dell’s and we will look forward to celebrating Christmas with you at 9 Locations and 20 Service options. Don’t let distance stop you from attending, iCampus is ready and waiting on you.