EXTREME MAKEOVER

E’YEN A. GARDNER

Extreme Makeover Kindle Edition

Copyright © 2011 by E’yen A. Gardner

Printed Word Publishing

PO BOX 360812

Columbus, Ohio 43236

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eyengardner@yahoo.com

All Scripture bible references are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.

Book Editing & Cover Design: Maia R. Gardner

To my love, Maia, and my children,

Arin, J’sun, Raya, Lesa, Kyan, and Bria,

You are my inspiration for writing.

I love you dearly.

Extreme Makeover

We are living our lives on a collision course with

destiny.  Our destiny is chasing after us and we are

yearning and searching for it.  In route, we are

introduced to The Maker.  We envision our destiny with

joy, excitement, happiness, and fulfillment.  However,

The Maker sees a need in us; a void that needs to be

filled in order to prevent being derailed by the “train”

of destiny, so He stands between us.

The Maker blocks us from what we desire most until

we are made fit to handle it. His love towards us is so

extreme that He will not allow even our destiny to

destroy us.  The corruption that has polluted our lives is

about to be eradicated and all that stands against our

design will fall so the Maker can construct us and

prepare us for our destiny.

Day 1

Design & Planning

Those who are living out their dream inspire you;

but why aren’t you living your dream?

Why are you still looking for the perfect opportunity

to do what you love?

Your opportunity is now.

Start Now!

“What can I do, now?”  That is what you must ask yourself.  You start with what you have, now.  Many of us won’t do anything fulfilling because our dreams are dependent on others.  We want the perfect situation to embark on the journey of our dreams.  Bill Gates did not graduate from college but something inside of him drove him to live his dream and ultimately become one of the richest men in the world.  How?  He started with what he had.

“What do I have? What have I been given?”

These questions will lead you to your purpose.  It is not hidden somewhere in the world, but rather hidden within you.  Your purpose yearns to be released from the prison of your fears and ignorance.  It desires to be exposed so that all can appreciate and love it.

There was a woman whose husband died and left her with a debt that she could not pay.  So, the creditors were going to take her two sons as payment for the debt.  She decided to go to a preacher and ask for help.  Much to her surprise, the preacher did not give her money to pay the debt, nor did he collect an offering for her.  He asked the widow, “What do you have in your house?”  (Most of us would probably think, “This guy is a joke. What do you mean what do I have in my house?  If I had something in my house I wouldn’t have come to you.”)  Her reply was, “I have nothing but some oil.”  The preacher then told her to borrow and bring home as many empty vessels as she could.  The woman began to pour her oil into the vessels as instructed and filled every vessel she had gathered.  The oil was then sold and the revenue not only paid the debt she owed but the profit was more than enough for her family to live on.

In this story, the miracle was not in what the preacher possessed but in what the woman possessed.  She heard and obeyed the instructions, and poured out what she possessed into all the vessels she could find and filled them.  Though you might think that what you possess is of no use, you won’t know the depth of what you have until you “pour” it out.  The woman was looking for a miracle but the miracle was in her house the entire time; she just needed the proper instructions.  What we need is not a tangible solution; we need a word of wisdom that can enlighten us to what is already inside of us.

Something I did not share about the story was that the preacher told the woman to first shut the door, and then pour the oil.  It is important to know that everything she needed was inside the house; she did not have to look outwardly but inwardly.

One of the main reasons we live with our needs not being met is because we look outwardly for the solution to our problems, but no one in this world seems to be able to solve our problems.  However, when the door is shut from the “outside,” we have nothing to focus on but what is “inside.” People’s opinions remain on the outside as we are left alone with the miracle we possess and instructions on how to use it.

Day 2

Secure the foundation

Pour It Out!

Only you can “pour out” what is inside of you.  Regardless of how many motivational speeches you hear or inspiring books that you read, you have to choose to pour out what you have; a power that we all possess.  You determine what comes out of you.  No one is the same; we are uniquely constructed to fill the voids in one another.  However, the creation you carry is of no value to anyone until you release it.

We would not have wonderful things like computers, televisions, or cameras had someone not took the time to “pour out” their idea.  They were so inspired that they believed their idea was possible even though it had never been done before. They closed the “door” to logic and did the illogical.  Great rewards are in store for those that commit to pouring out all that is within them.

If “pouring out” brings so many benefits and rewards, then why are we afraid to do it?  Why do we value what others have, greater than what we have?  We are not constructed to carry another person’s possession, and when doing so their possession can destroy us.  Instead, it is easier to just watch others use their gifts than to use our own, for we do not believe we possess anything.  So, we praise the efforts of others and settle for an average life.  However, being great is using what you have been given, to its fullest capacity; the more we “pour out,” the more we are filled.

You have to overcome your fear, that what you have is not good enough. We all have voids and are in need of something, but the needs are met by using what we already possess.  When you “pour out” what you have, in essence, you are “pouring” into holes that you were afraid to expose.  Trying to deal with your need externally only covers it from plain sight.  It does not fix the problem; it just allows you to live with it.

If there is a hole in your wall, you may put a picture or a piece of furniture in front of it to hide it from others.  Yet, the hole remains as you live as though you don’t have a problem.  “Pouring out,” what is inside of us, helps to fill the voids in others.  At the same time as others “pour out” what they possess, our voids are filled and the cycle continues.  With each of us “pouring out” our gifts, we not only enhance life in general, we make it fulfilling.

From God

Remember whose you are, and from where you came.  You did not come from your mom and dad.  You did not come from a poor neighborhood or from a family that does not love you.  You came from God.  God sent you into this world to fill a need.  A need that is so huge, it will take your entire life to fulfill.  You have been sent into the world to make a difference, to do the impossible.  Not born within the confines of religion, but born in faith to make the unseen seen.  If you do not know where you’ve come from, you will be defined by the seen elements of this world.  You were constructed to use what you have to fill the needs of all that are empty and in need.

Out With the Old, In With the New

In sports, there is a saying, “Records are meant to be broken.” No matter how great the record may be, someone eventually breaks it.  The standard is measured by what has been done before and we were created to raise the standard.  We, then, become the next generation’s “measuring stick” that propels them to achieve the impossible.  What is impossible in our generation becomes possible in their generation.  What is in you that we have not seen before?  What is hidden in you that has the potential to change the limits of our imaginations?  Don’t cheat the world from knowing the depths of what you been created to do.

The reality of life is that we are our biggest obstacle.  Nothing can prevent us from reaching new heights and depths.  Circumstances can hinder us but they cannot stop us.  It is when we believe that it can’t be done, that it won’t be done.  However, when we passionately go forward, even when the odds are against us, we see that the “obstacles” were not there to harm us but to develop us.  We overcome the challenges in life by moving forward in spite of the pitfalls.  Although it is uncomfortable to deal with challenges that expose our vulnerability, a weakness that is exposed is a weakness that is strengthened.  We must press forward into the “new!”

Get Over Yourself

Many times, the greatest challenges – When we confront them – can bring us the greatest excitements.  Remember the times when you learned how to ride a bicycle, learn to read, or you went to school for the first time?  In every challenge of doing something new, we have to learn how to take courage in spite of our fears of the unknown because the reward is worth the risk.

Most of us are afraid of things that stretch our capacity.  It is much easier to live within the boundaries of our comfort. The problem, however, is that what we’ve been created to do can’t be restrained by our comfort zone; our purpose thrives and depends on us expanding beyond what we have ever seen or done.  Our purpose pushes us beyond the boundaries of our past and drastically changes our environment.  When we fall into comfort again, it pushes even further, keeping us on the “edge.”

Part of the adventure on this journey is not in knowing, but in not knowing and still doing anyways.  What we see is not the extent of what exists, which is why we constantly are in pursuit of what we don’t see.  No matter how wonderful your life is right now, eventually, what is new will become old.  We are made to learn, grow, and experience a greater level of purpose and happiness.

Leave a Print

For centuries, people believed the world was flat until a man decided to believe in what he could not see.  His determination pushed him to risk his life, in order to see what he thought.  From one man’s thought, the world saw that the earth was not flat but round.  Our purpose is not given by man but from within.  We have been made with a purpose to fill the needs of the world’s ignorance.  The same people that scrutinize you for doing something “crazy,” will be the same people that will be so thankful to benefit from the results of your risk.

Most of us would look at Thomas Edison – and many probably did – as if he was a crazy man if we knew him before his invention of the light bulb.  Now, the world is so thankful that his determination birthed an invention that most of us could not see ourselves living without.

Many people hated Jesus Christ because they did not think as He did.  In spite of what others felt, He sacrificed His life for the whole world and through that sacrifice; the world is cleansed from sin.  Sometimes we can be agents of hatred to things that are different from ourselves but those differences are necessary for us to see the true reflections of who we are.  Our differences reveal the uniqueness and necessity of us all.  When we hide our unique qualities, we literally rob the world of our “fingerprint.”

Your “fingerprint” is not for you, it is for others.  Your “fingerprint” reveals the design and plan for your life.  No one has a “fingerprint” like yours and no one can take it from you.  You ever wonder why you have feelings that other don’t seem to share.  Or why you yearn to do things that are “crazy” and radical to the majority of society?  It is because your unique “fingerprint” has been constructed to bring radical and exponential solutions to the world’s problems.

The cure to a disease is within you.  Songs of liberty flow through your veins.  Movies and shows that inspire infiltrate your dreams.  There is a power inside you that yearns to be released from it captivity.  It is time to fly!  It is time to release what we are afraid to set free; time to pour out our hearts.  Procrastinating is no longer an option; now is the time to tear down the “walls” that separate us from our destiny.  It is time for an Extreme Makeover.

Day 3

Demolition & Waste Removal

A potter holds a cracked vessel. Examining the

vessel, the potter sees that even when sealed, the

vessel will eventually crack again.  In spite of its

former beauty, the potter cannot allow his creation

to exist with cracks.  He decides to start over.

Therefore, the potter holding the vessel breaks it

and it shatters to pieces.  The potter hastily gathers

every piece to put it back together again.

Discovering “I AM”

“Starting over” is not an easy process.  At times, it can even be agonizing.  Things that we are accustomed to having are taken and our way of living is stripped down to the essentials.  Though the process is painful, it is necessary in order to fulfill our heart’s desire.  As our life is broken into pieces, we look for a glimpse of hope and find ourselves; our true selves.  Not the person we tried to appear to be, but the person that we are.  Being who you want to be or who others want you to be has left you unfulfilled, but it has led you to the place of discovery.  “It is not about who I want to be, it is about who I am.”

Our future existence rests on who we are, not on what we have done, and we realize that we aren’t who we thought ourselves to be.  “I am not as strong as I thought I was; I am not as perfect as I perceived myself to be.”  There is no pride found in a pile of “broken pieces.”  However, in spite of the tragedy of being broken, we are not “gathered and thrown away.”  The holes, the decay, and the corruption are evident and we are left naked with no means to “cover” ourselves; there is no hiding from the truth.  The Maker picks up every “broken piece” of our lives and we are placed in His hands to be made over.  We come from God and we are in His Hands.

Some of us think we knew God while others just deny His existence. Nevertheless, we all find Him in our brokenness.  With His loving hands, He takes us and begins to create again.  When broken and everyone has turned their backs on us, God picks up the things we have lost sight of and puts them before us again.  The dream that we gave up on, He gives back to us.  The gift that we hid, He uncovers and reveals our purpose.

While we are being judged and condemned by others, the Maker takes His time to reveal to us who we really are.  Once, ignorant to our purpose and blinded by the opinions and labels that others have given us, we now begin to understand the “I AM.”  No one can handle our brokenness but God, and He reaffirms what He sent us into this world to do.

Be Complete

Abraham Lincoln known by many as the greatest president of the United States had a nervous breakdown before he became president.  If he never was defeated, if he had never suffered loss and if he had not lost his mind, would he have been the president that he was?  Would he have been strong enough to endure a civil war?  It is nice to think he would have but the truth is none of us can handle the position we are born to fulfill without being made over.

Our downs in life prepare us for the ups.  No matter how great we think we are, we will eventually be destroyed by our greatness because of pride.  Pride blinds us from seeing where we can improve and learn.  With pride, we remain incomplete.  It is like putting a puzzle together and when you get to the last hole you find you do not have the last piece.  The puzzle is incomplete.

Teachers hate receiving incomplete work for it hinders them from properly evaluating the work.  Our incompleteness prevents people from seeing the greatness that was made for them to appreciate.  Our brokenness reveals the missing puzzle piece that completes us. What is missing?  Love is our missing piece.  It does not matter how much we fight against our need, it remains we need love.

Forsake All

More than anything else, we must remember that God loves us, period.  Through the difficulties, His love remains strong.  Knowing that we are unconditionally loved gives us peace in the next step in our makeover process:  forsaking everything, to follow our destiny.  We can say that making the decision to forsake all will be easy, but it is no easy thing.  Forsaking all is a heart issue.

Many of us own things in our homes right now that are broken and useless, yet, we still can’t throw away these things.  Not only that, but we are also holding on to thoughts and memories in our minds that, just like the useless things in our home, that have no purpose in our lives.  When we live according to things and people that surround us, we are living a lie.  By forsaking all – all that we have and all that we know – we can be established by the truth and develop into who we truly are.

Forsaking all is painful because it means change, but it brings the greatest return; peace and joy.  At times, forsaking all can drastically seem to turn for the worse.  It may be in your heart to leave the job that has been your primary source of income for years.  It has helped to provide you with your cars, house, and all your possessions, but you know that the job is not your true calling.  Left with a decision to leave your job and pursue something that is only in your heart is tough, and it is a decision that only you can make.  Nevertheless, a choice must be made because we can’t travel on two different paths at the same time.  Unfortunately, many chose not to forsake all and continue with their lives, missing the opportunity to pursue their dreams.  The decision is critical; it’s either all or nothing.

There was a young man who heard that a great teacher was in the city.  On his way to hear this teacher speak, he wondered if all the great things that he had heard of the man were true.  All doubt was put to rest when he finally heard him; he knew that something was special about him.  As he listened to the message, the young man was desperate to know how he could acquire such a life the teacher was sharing.

The young man already possessed everything possible; but the message pulled on his heart to want this new life; a life that would give him everything from the “inside-out.”  The teacher saw the good qualities in the young man and the desire he showed for wanting a new life.  The teacher loved it and told him, “Give all your possessions away, come with me, and I will show you this life, first-hand.”  The young man’s heart faints and he thinks, “How can this man expect me to give up all of my possessions and my position in society to follow him?”  He wanted to keep his possessions and continue in a successful life.  In complete agony, he felt the dream of this new life evaporate and was left speechless as he turned and walked away from the teacher.

His possessions and social status were too great to forsake and pursue after the life he really wanted.  To be without those things, was a price that he was not willing to pay.

Are you willing to pay the price?  Are you willing to lay down the titles and the possessions that you have been hiding behind, in order to pursue the true you?  Are you willing to make the vow of forsaking all others, to be “married” to your true heart’s desire?  For the young man, the answer was, no.  Could you imagine a world where every person pursues his or her purpose?  It would be a power that the world has not seen, but it is exactly what God desires for each one of us.

I AM Condition

When Moses asked God what the people should call Him, God said, “I AM That I AM.  Tell them I AM sent you.”  God is “I AM” and he does not change.  Any condition that proceeds “I AM,” is given power by the unchangeable I AM and only exists because of I AM.  When we confess, “I am sick,” we are coming into agreement with what we confess and believe to be true.  However, the moment the word “sick” is replaced and forsaken, another word can be put in its place.  We are subject to the condition we are in until a substitute word, a “fresh wind,” is given for which we can then believe.

We find our substitute word in Jesus Christ; His name changes our condition.  He proceeds after “I AM” and takes permanent residence; His name removing whatever condition it was that we were in.  We must forsake our condition because every good word is found in Jesus; we just have to believe.

We have to forsake and let go of the words that we have been living under and choose to live in the word that we have been given. We are empowered by our relationship with Jesus and He brings stability to our unstable lives.

I AM – Jesus Christ – Us

Where Jesus is, there we find life.  He is the way but we must choose to forsake our way.  Our way has done nothing for us.  Our way has caused us to go through unstable relationship after unstable relationship.  No matter how much we try to fix our problems and cover our mistakes, we are still left looking for the presence of God.  Now is the time to forsake our perspective and focus on God’s vision.

Forsaking all, places our will in the works of the spirit to draw the world to Jesus Christ, its Savior.

“Us” Makeover

When God created the heaven and earth, He formed them with the words He spoke.  On the sixth day, God said, “Let us make man in our image.”  Who is “Us?”   Where did “Us” come from?

‘Us” is the spirit of God in every man.  It is the seed of God that created humanity.

(I AM, The Father → Jesus Christ, The Son → Us, The Holy Spirit.)

We are all children of God and His Spirit dwells in “Us.”  His Spirit reflects who He is as well as who we are.  When God created man, He placed in man His Spirit, to mold and make humanity into His image.

I AM (God) → Us (Man)

Adam had the nature of God dwelling inside of him, and named the animals by that same power.  The Spirit in Him was performing God’s will.  All the while, Adam looked within for guidance and understanding.  He received wisdom and lived in complete harmony with the spirit because he was naturally accustomed to listening and following the Spirit that dwelled in his heart.

Adam and Eve were tempted to look outside of themselves for knowledge, to give them power that they already possessed.  By yielding to what they saw instead of yielding to the Spirit, they rebelled against who they were.  Separated from the truth, they began living externally instead of internally.  They lived in fear and shame, and the voice that was once within Adam was now in the garden searching for him.  Adam no longer living by the Spirit, feared the Spirit.

When Adam was in complete harmony with God, the world was in complete harmony.  When Adam separated himself from life, life left the world.  Leaving us the example to live by what we see and to learn from our external surroundings; cursed and living with an incomplete image of God.  Ignorant to the power in us, we conform to the environment we live in.  We follow the rules and laws afforded, but they are ineffective.

By following Christ, the spirit of God leads us into all truth, freeing us from our ignorance.  A wall separated “Us” until Jesus Christ came and reconnected “Us” back to God.  His sacrifice quickened the spirit within “Us” that it may accomplish what it was sent from God to do.

We are not equipped to change ourselves, yet we still try and fail.  We never break free because the results of our methods are only temporary.  When we cease from the method, we also cease from getting results.  Imagine a world that is not subject to the laws of limitations but open to the possibilities of freedom.  Jesus said the truth shall make you free.  Truth does not change it only changes us.  The Spirit is the truth of who we are and who God is, not the externalities that we see.  The truth unleashes the power that changes our existence and bears fruit from the freedom that we live in.  We no longer fight against truth, for it changes our minds and shows us that we are made the right way and we live the right way.  When we know the truth about something it gives us the power to make the right choice.

Our identity can not be found in the volume of a textbook or through the address of a speaker, it is revealed within.  No one can tell you who you are; they can only express what they see.  However, God looks at your heart, and when truth is revealed, a transformation begins that defies all that we have known and experienced.  I AM becomes our existence, instead of I was.  We bury our past and live in the truth that we are now.

Day 4

Construction

Fresh Wind

We are all in need of a “fresh wind.”  We need something so powerful that it will propel us to making our dreams come true.  We are holding all of ingredients and tools necessary to make a dish, but have no recipe.  The recipe is the “fresh wind.”  It gives details of the exact measurements and reveals the secret ingredient that will draw many to enjoy what you have made.

Without a “fresh wind,” we have no substance and what we have will not stand out amongst others.  Already equipped with most essentials, a “fresh wind” is the only piece that we do not already possess; it has to be given.  A “fresh wind” is what unlocks the code to our dreams, and what makes our “dishes” memorable.  It is a key in our lives because without a “fresh wind,” without a word from our Maker, we will improperly use what we have.

When we try to make sense of our purpose, we try to create a solution or “pathway” to achieving our impossible dreams but only end up with frustration.

It is in our nature to overcomplicate everything.  Our budgets are complicated, our jobs are complicated, and our relationships are complicated.  To make sense of the things that we have complicated, we need a word from someone who is not limited within the walls of our complicated cells.

It could be spoken to us by our spouse, a child and even by a character in a movie.  The person speaking does not always know what has transpired, but what they have spoken brings clarity to your confusion.  It is a miracle; personal and powerful.  When you receive that “fresh wind,” it blows your mind, knocks you off of your feet and changes everything.

Years ago, there was a woman who was diagnosed with an incurable disease, causing her to be the subject of ridicule from everyone around her.  She invested all of her money on medicines to rid herself from the disease.  All of the doctors that she went to did all they could but the disease remained.  Ultimately, she was left broke, in pain and alone.

At her lowest point, she received a “fresh wind,” one that to most would think to be foolish and dumb but to her it was life and hope.  She did not want to die suffering from this disease she wanted to live.  She received her “fresh wind,” it ignited something in her that was already there, and she received her healing.

It was not the doctors, the medicine or her money, it was the “fresh wind” that showed her how to properly use what she possessed and brought her to her healing.  She was broke, left for dead, but a “wind” blew her way, and she was healed.  In extreme situations, we need the “wind” to blow on us so we can use what we have the right way.  God allowed that woman to go through an extreme situation that she may realize what she possessed.  The solution was not from an external outlet but rather from within.  She had the power to be healed but needed a “fresh wind” to reveal that power.

Imagine living and knowing that what is in you is greater than anything that stands before you?  The blueprint is not revealed through the lives of others it is written on our hearts.  There is no plan that fits everyone, for everyone is different.  The world is full of people that yearn to know their purpose in life.  That is why people are so often are drawn to things like books, magazines, or websites that give principles on how to find your purpose.  Millions of books are sold but those same people who were inspired and encouraged by the books still don’t pursue their dreams.

No matter how many books or articles you read, no matter who you talk to or listen to, the solution is connected to your heart.  That is what is so wonderful about the “fresh wind,” it is special and personal.  It assures us that in spite of the challenges and fears ahead, we are more than able to overcome them if we just believe and trust the path we have been given.

It is not that the fears subside; it is just that our desire to go after our dreams is greater.  The opportunities that you felt you missed, the time that has been wasted, the gifts you thought were gone, all are redeemed the moment you choose to believe the “fresh wind” you have been given.

Bright Idea vs. Fresh Wind

The trap of a bright idea will hinder us from the opportunity of a “fresh wind.”  Bright ideas bombard our minds constantly.  The trap is that our bright ideas originate from either what we have seen, or heard, or have experienced before.  They seem to give us a solution to our dilemma but as time passes, we are left worse off than before.  Sometimes they satisfy a temporary need, but they do not permanently solve the problem.

For example, if I am in a financial crisis, a bright idea would be to get a credit card or loan to help handle the bills.  For a couple of months the bills are paid but there is more debt to pay without a gain in cash.  Now, the pit of debt is even deeper than before.  Bright ideas seem to be helpful, refreshing, and bright but in the end, usually bring unproductive results.

A “fresh wind” does not use the influence of others; it uses what you already have.  It places your chaotic life in order and reveals your priorities to you.  It may not immediately relieve you from your crisis but it gives you a plan that endures and overcomes your situation over time.  A “fresh wind” deals with your life at the root, while our bright ideas deal with the external leaves.  That is why we all go through a state of brokenness, because we have to realize that after all the “leaves” have fallen, we must accept the root that remains; who we are and what we have.  Once we have endured the winter and are still able to thrive and develop, when the next season comes, we can enjoy it knowing that we are rooted in a firm foundation.

What we see changes.  The season changes, circumstances change, and we change, but the word we have been given does not change.  It remains faithful and unaffected by the external surroundings and brings stability to our instability.  Therefore, we can trust that the word that we have been given, will endure the test and trials of life.  A “fresh wind” changes the rules of life. We no longer have to rely solely on what we see but we gain an inner clarity that begins to establish our steps.

Looking at the Author

When we receive a “fresh wind,” we do not receive a complete manuscript for our life; our Maker gives us an empty “book” with a word and infinite spaces and pages that follow.  We know that the word was given just for us, so in spite of the uncertainty of what lies ahead; we travel the pages of the “book,” writing new “chapters” with every moment of life that passes.

Through the dramatic stories that we experience, others that read our “pages” find courage to also move forward in their lives.  As we continue to face emptiness and uncertainty but as we press through it, the Author uses us to write His masterpiece.  As our life pours out like ink onto the pages from the author’s pen, we explore the journey with a fresh perspective that we were made to draw the world to the author.  As we become one with His hand, the more we understand the things that we experience.

There is no cap to the potential within us, except when we place one on ourselves.  If you believe there is a limit to what you have, it was not given by anyone but you.    We have been created with differences and a uniqueness that cannot be duplicated, and we have all been created to illuminate one word.  That one word is Love.

As our lives are written, they all illuminate the love given to us to fill the voids that once left us empty.  God saw our empty pages and wrote His name on them to bring love to our emptiness.  He sent His word, His Son, His love, to finish what He authored from the beginning of time.

For ages, God was separated from us – His creation – because we had dry and tainted “ink” that sealed our fate of death.  By pouring out His love, His Son brought life and fluidity to the dried “ink” that once plagued us, and His Word released us from the pressure of trying to be what we could not be: perfect.  We are now free to be poured out in entirety without the shame caused from our flaws.  Our flaws and mistakes actually illuminate the perfection of the Word that we have been given, and those who receive the “fresh wind” have the power to become the words of God. (John 1:12)

As humans, everything that pours out of us stems from the words that we believe.  Our lives are authored by what comes from our hearts and flows out of our mouths.  We have been formed not by what we see but by the word that we were made to become.  It starts with the word and the word is seen through our lives.  That is what makes us unique and valuable; the inner word presses through our insecurities and fears and accomplishes what it was created to do.

God wants the freedom to express who He is through our lives.  He wants us to let go of the reins and let Him explode onto our “pages.”  He wants to write masterpiece after masterpiece, with us being the main characters.  Even our imperfections are valuable to Him because they reveal the fact that we need Him.  It is the times when a writer has the freedom to express, that the true essence of the author is revealed.  When people look at us, they will see His reflection and receive a “fresh wind” that will speak to the need in their heart.

Day 5

Electrical Power Work

Now

There is nothing more extreme than living in the “now.” Sadly, all we do is consume ourselves with what has happened and what is going to happen, and in return, shackle our minds from realizing the present.  We were not created to serve time, but time was created to serve us.  Everything is more enjoyable when we live in the moment.

God gives us faith for now.  “Now” faith is our reality, our mindset; it carries us to our destiny.  We don’t have to believe for tomorrow, we just have to believe now.  Our focus is taken off our lack and need, and is placed on the power that we have now.  Our lives are meant to be spent in the “now” so that God can fill our tomorrow.

From Potential to Power

The power in us has been turned “on,” and now we must decide whether we will live in that power or not.  Like a remote control car, God has the controller turned towards us and when the switch moves forward, we are propelled forward by a power that we don’t see but still receive.  As we go backwards or spin, no matter which way we end up, God is in control.  He is willing to invest all of Himself to get us to go where He intends for us to go.  We don’t have to worry about our circumstances, we just need to receive the power and believe that it will take us where we need to go.  If we try and conserve our energy, we will not function the way we are intended to, and miss the opportunity of knowing and seeing the full depth of what we can do.  We are made to be powerful; we are made to work in our God-given gift.

Our potential does not produce results; it is simply, unused power that we need to use.  The more power we use, the more powerful we become, because we gain strength through our experiences.  The “now” mindset unlocks that power and impossible feats become possible.  The power is not ours, it is God’s, but through our faith, we are able to receive it in the moment that we need it.  Wherever we are in life, God gives enough power to sustain us and change the lives of those we meet.  To be powerful agents of change, we must seize the moment.  We must take each moment captive by the power of God and move in the “now,” for if we delaying prevents power from being realized.

Now Faith

“Now” faith changes everything.  People don’t see us; they see our faith because our faith reflects the untapped power that is in us all.  We become the mirror that reveals the image of God that they were made to be.  Envision a world where people see the reflection of what is inside of them by looking at you.  A life that is so powerful, the entire world can be changed.  When Jesus Christ was walking through villages and towns the people looked at Him and saw the reflection of God.  They saw and touched Him and what they were afflicted of was healed by one touch from God.  “Now” faith changes the environment and gives space for God to do what He has willed to happen.

Before Peter walked on water with Jesus, he made a request saying, “If it be You Lord, bid me to come.”  Jesus told him to come and Peter was granted access to power that could only come from God.  He could not walk on water by his own efforts but because God willed him to do so.  As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was able to walk on water.  He demonstrated how “now” faith could operate, but the moment he took his eyes off Jesus and placed them on his surroundings he sank.

We sink when we try to walk on water in our own strength.  We can’t do it; it was never intended to be done without God.  Peter had been given enough power to reach his destination but stopped believing prematurely.  Jesus knew that Peter was empowered to reach Him, which is why He said, “ye of little faith.”  We can’t make it to our intended destination without Jesus.  We can take the first step with Him but we still need Him for the second, third, fourth and so on.  The journey ahead is impossible without Him but we can make it with Him.

In that story, Peter was the only one to step out of the boat.  All who were on the boat saw the “spirit,” but Peter was the only one who was bold enough to go to it.  They saw the impossible happen in that moment because of Peter’s “now” faith.  He could have waited for another day to ask Jesus to let him walk on water, but something inside of him wanted to experience the impossible right then.  Seeing Jesus walk on water provoked Peter to want to do it and Jesus revealed that it was possible as long as Peter believed.

The Kingdom of God is not subject to the elements of this world.  Rather, we are subjects of the kingdom when we believe the words of the King.  God does not care what is happening around us, He wants us to listen and obey what He speaks to us.  Our subjection to His words allows others to see that He can do anything the moment we believe that He can do it.  “Now” faith is taking what we have received and putting it into action.

It is according to our faith that we receive the necessary power to see a new reality.  The more faith we have, the more power is released in our lives.  The more I doubt God, the smaller capacity I give God to work through and in me.

“Now” is a strong word for it expresses the importance of each moment.  “Now” can determine if you receive what you need or not.  No matter how many times you have doubted the power of God or hindered yourself from acting on what you believe, you can act now.  You can change now.  You can live now.  Every moment is a new beginning with new opportunities to do what you know you should do.  The kingdom of God is now.  You are a new creature now and you live in a new world now.

Day 6

Interior Work

New World – New Existence

Our new world is within our hearts.  It is a world that we can see and touch, only when we look within.  All that we discover in our new world defines how we live in this physical world.  The hidden treasures that are in our heart have great value for others, yearning to be discovered by those seeking to find a new existence.  No longer living to please an external god, who we are never sure whether He truly exists and loves us, we discover the tangible presence and voice of the eternal wise God.

The new world can’t be bought; nor can it be created or manufactured; it has to be discovered.  People can live their entire lives and never experience this new world.  This new world is for those that hunger and thirst for more and are willing to live in a state of uncertainty to find it.

Life itself begins the moment we see the truth in our heart.  The word of truth allows us to exist in this world while revealing a new world.  A world that is eternal, pure, and consumed in love.  We are re-born into an existence that can not be stripped from us.

God treasures you and He desires for you to see what He sees in you.  No person or thing is greater than what is inside you; you are the “new world.” You are a calculated creation that exudes life to the atmosphere surrounding you.  God has revealed the abundant world that He created us to live in.  The kingdom of God is not a kingdom of self-efforts or ambitions; it is a kingdom of love.  It is a kingdom that exudes true unconditional love to all seeking to find it.  With love, we become a miracle waiting to happen in the lives of others.

The new world that is in us, allows others to see the new world that dwells in them as well.  By following our hearts, we are able to lead others to following their heart.  At some point, every good leader will follow and every good follower will lead.  We all are both leaders and followers; following our heart and leading others to the truth.  The expression of your heart speaks to the heart of others.  Many times, we learn more of who we are just by seeing the heart of others.

From the Inside-Out

“Who do men say that I am?” Jesus’ disciples replied that men said He was a prophet, a teacher, and even John the Baptist. Then Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?”  Peter said, “Thou art the Christ.”  Jesus said, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but the spirit of God.”  Peter saw more than a prophet, more than a teacher, he saw God.  He saw beyond the man and saw what others could not see.  It was not the miracles, or the stories, but the heart of Jesus that revealed God to Peter.

Jesus walked the earth preaching the kingdom of God to all that would listen; a message that was beyond the laws of religion and established in a relationship with God.  He was moved with compassion and He healed.  He was moved with compassion and He fed.  He was moved with compassion and He resurrected.  He was moved with compassion and He saved the world.

Jesus lived from the inside out.  He followed God’s heart in all that He did and revealed the kingdom of God by living by the will of His Father.  He overcame evil by doing good.  He considered the cold hearts of men and showed them true love.  He had compassion on a heart that had no space for a king, and sacrificed His life in order to heal us.  His life resurrects our hearts and teaches us how to truly love.  He teaches us to think beyond our emotions and make the conscious decision to love in spite of the hate of others.

Love reaches the root of a person. It unveils a new existence that is filled with the outpouring of God’s love in this earth.  No matter how much we talk about love, inactive love is not love at all; it is simply a thought or feeling.  Feelings pass away and thoughts disappear but real love lasts forever.  Your life is vital; you have been equipped by the Father to fill the earth with the essence of His character: love.  When you walk in love, nothing is impossible, for love will prevail over every situation that presents itself.

Day 7

Final Touches

Hard Lessons of Love

How can loving someone be hard?  It should be easy to love others.  It should be easy to give of our time, our money and our hearts to people who are in need.  It should be easy to love our family and friends.

We are of another world. We live in another kingdom but we are a gift to this world.  When we forget that we are gifts to this world, we hide the solution that will meet the needs of others.  People have been waiting for a gift; for one situation that can bring understanding to the chaos, they have been living in.  God knows what they need and He uses us to meet those needs. Whatever resources, whatever knowledge, whatever gifts and talents you possess are not solely for you, they are to share with others that they may partake of the goodness of God.

A Gift for the Unlovable

It is easy to share our gifts with people whom we love and that love us but rarely does it make much of an impact with them.  To share our gifts with an enemy is a completely different dynamic.  An enemy is someone that is at odds with you.  To share yourself with someone that is not for you, can be one of the hardest things to do but brings the highest yield of reward.  To choose to love someone that does not love you back, not only changes their life, but yours as well.  We resemble God the most when we love regardless of the actions of others.

At any point in time, we can be enemies with our spouse, parents, children, friends, co-workers and people that really don’t like or know us.  A person may come from a different background and they don’t believe what we believe.  Someone may be going through a tough situation and release their frustration out on us.  Whatever the case, God has gift-wrapped us especially for them.  They might not want to receive what we have to offer but that does not stop love.  We can go and share the message of love to the church and to the world, but which will the message have a greater impact on: our enemies or friends?  Our enemies are the ones who make us better and stronger.  Without them, we miss the opportunity to see the drastic transformation of an enemy into a friend.  Only God can produce those kinds of results and He works through the gifts He placed in us.

Unwrap Heaven

We are gifts that are meant to be opened.  For a treasure hunter, in possession of a treasure chest, the chest only is important because of the value of what is inside of it.  The treasure hunter cannot see the treasure until the chest is unlocked and it is revealed.  We are also valuable because of what is inside of us.  Yet, if we fail to expose our substance, we are of no use to anyone.  What we carry can change lives when it is revealed.

It is a hard thing is to expose yourself to someone who has hurt you.  No one wants to be wounded by someone while trying to help them, but as long as we lock our hearts away from them, they will be at odds with us.  When we expose ourselves to our enemy, they no longer see us, they see love.  They see that in spite of their hateful feelings, we still choose to allow our heart to love.  To share our heart with an enemy means to share our heart with God.  We can’t truly share our heart with God and not love our enemy.  We receive His love so we can share love.  We forgive others because we are forgiven.  We are merciful because He is merciful.  We give because He has given.  Every aspect of His nature, He has freely given to us and His priceless possession is meant for others.  Our growth comes from sharing; the more we receive, the more we give.

Forgiving

While on the cross, Jesus said, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” He chose to love rather than condemn.  It is not easy to forgive someone that has hurt you, but He took the “hard road” instead of the “easy road.”  Many of us can live for years, holding a grudge, bitterly resenting a person to the point that we can’t even hear their name.  We say that we don’t care about that person but our minds are consumed with thoughts about them and what they’ve said or done.  The “easy road” is one of torment.  It seems to lead us to peace but only brings more pain.

In the kingdom of God, the king has ordered us to forgive.  The order is not optional it is vital to our survival in His kingdom.  God wants to share our hearts with our attackers.  He knows the wrong that they have done but they can’t change by being punished; they will never learn their lesson that way.  They can only change by love.  Loving them by forgiving them and forgetting, allows them to see the power of God.

Forgiving is so powerful because it gives us a new beginning; it washes the issues away and allows relationships to grow and develop.  It is the will of the King that we walk in forgiveness; it is the “cord” that keeps us connected to Him.

Forgiveness in God’s eyes is unconditional; no matter what you have done, you can receive forgiveness.  The question is, will you walk in the same spirit?  No matter what someone has done to you, will you still forgive them?  Forgiveness is a hard lesson but we reap so many benefits when we choose to forgive.

There was a ruler who forgave a man of his huge debt.  That same man then went and put another man who only owed him a small debt in jail.  He received forgiveness from the ruler but refused to share it with to his debtor.  The man lost sight of the new, debt-free life he was given because he was too concerned with what was owed to him.

The moment we feel entitled to something, we lose the ability to share what we have with others.  It is the same when we know someone who has done us wrong, and they never apologize or show remorse.  We don’t want to “forgive and forget,” but we should remember that Jesus died for our sins and that God has forgiven our debt.  We did not have to ask for forgiveness, it was given, in spite of our condition.  How can we withhold what is not ours to possess?  Forgiveness is given to us to share.  There is no virtue greater than love, and the kingdom that lives in us is revealed through our love towards others.  No matter how much the world may hate us we are empowered to love regardless.

Love People

The “old” us has passed away and our new existence is quickened by the love of Christ.  Christ’s love, then, empowers us to love others.  When we look inwardly, we find the substance necessary to love others, regardless of who they are.  This love is selfless, and considers others; it is love that changes the world we live in.  No one completely agrees on everything because we are all different, but loving the differences of others, allows them to feel accepted just as they are.

Telling people they need to change and that they need God, does not provoke them to want to change.  Loving without conditions allows them to realize they are loved and empowers them to love the one who first loved them.  Too many times, we profess to love people but we actually hate anyone that opposes our beliefs.  The world needs to know what real love looks like, and the solution is inside of us.

One thing we realize is that, over time, many of our beliefs change.  We grow in life and in our relationship with God.  So, why subject people to a theology that most likely, we won’t even hold on to?  Why not instead introduce them to love.  Love comes in many shapes and sizes, and it has no judgment or condemnation.  Sharing our love others exposes the truth of His love that our words and rules could never define.  We don’t need another religious movement, we don’t need another church organization, and we need to love as Christ loves us.

God is patient with our weaknesses and issues, so we should be patient with the issues of others.  Jesus washed the feet of all His disciple knowing that they would turn their back on Him when He would be arrested.  Still, Jesus chose to love even in the hard times; He chose to live in love and forgiveness, instead of hatred and wrath.

Jesus had every right to turn His back on us, but instead, He turned toward us to shield us from the punishment of our sins.  He covered us in love that we would never have to be without the love and fellowship of God.  Loving people becomes an easy decision when we can see their needs and the devastating effects of a life ignorant of its purpose. We become moved by compassion to fill their lives with love and to meet their need by drawing from what is in us.

Love God’s Way

Our heart is the key to liberating a generation that has been bred to hate.  Some of the greatest people to walk the earth have laid down their lives all for the betterment of others, including those that hated them.  Their efforts were not in vain, because through their love, the cold hearts of their enemies were turned warm.  Their love has caused countries to turn from war to peace and guided cultures to learn to look beyond the color of someone’s skin and ethnic background.  Through one person’s sacrifice, many are saved from a life filled of pain and hatred.

We are a people that love, not hate.  The Kingdom of God is not in a building or a religion, it is within us; revealed through the expression of our hearts.  When we love, we reveal the kingdom of God to the world.  The world needs our heart; they need the passion that will inspire them to look within themselves and receive the kingdom that is within them.

You are positioned to live in the love that fuels your existence.  You are the territory of the living God, expressing love for His creation through your life.  Don’t fight who you are.  The lesson of love kills the spirit of hate and selfishness.  It evicts pride and self-righteousness and opens hearts to be filled with love, peace and joy.

No requirements are necessary for love, you receive love for who you are, not what you do.  God looks beyond all faults and fills all needs.  You have been made over and stretched to the extreme, all for the purpose discovering the love.

Contact the Author:

Printed Word Publishing

Attn: E’yen A. Gardner

P.O. Box 360812

Columbus, Ohio 43236

WEBSITE: www.EyenGardner.com

EMAIL: eyengardner@yahoo.com

PHONE: 614-678-5353

FAX: 1-888-221-3166

Table of Contents

Copyright

Dedication

Day 1 Design & Planning

Day 2 Secure the foundation

Day 3 Demolition & Waste Removal

Day 4 Construction

Day 5 Electrical Power Work

Day 6 Interior Work

Day 7 Final Touches