datethewordtest

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  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 23 (11/23) is Acts 11:23

    “When he arrived and saw the evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy,
    and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.” – Acts 11:23
    The JOY of Testimonies

    There are numerous things that bring happiness and yes, true joy to our lives.  If I asked each reader to tell what has brought the most joy to your life, we would get a wide variety of answers.  For some, it would be the birth of a child.  For some, it could be a special celebration with your spouse.  It could be a sports team FINALLY winning a championship.  It could be getting a promotion at work.  It could be getting accepted at a desired school.  As you can see from the shortlist, there are numerous things that can bring happiness and joy to our lives.  I do however wonder if on your list of things that bring great joy is learning of God at work?  

    In our verse to DATE we see from Acts 11:23 that Barnabas was filled with joy because he had learned by seeing firsthand that God was blessing the ministry at Antioch.  Knowing that lives were being changed by God was exciting.  Knowing that God’s people were learning and growing and living like Christ and making Christ known to others was thrilling.   It brought to the heart of Barnabas true joy!!

    Barnabas, the encourager then did what he did best and he lived up to his name and spoke words of encouragement to the believers that they might stay true or fully committed to the Lord.   

    Putting this verse into personal action are you on the lookout for evidence of God’s blessings?  Do you ask people to share how God is working?  I encourage you to do so.     

    May I also ask how do you respond when you hear of God’s blessings to a ministry? Do you find yourself filled with joy or (you might need to brace yourself, put on some steel-toed shoes) or do you find yourself having feelings of jealousy?   It is a real possibility that upon seeing or hearing of God’s work and blessings you can become dismissive or jealous instead of filled with joy.  I hope you will be like Barnabas and be excited and overflowing with joy as you hear of God’s working and blessing!  Now I ask one more question.  Are you sharing with others what God is doing in your life?  As Christians, we do have to balance being boastful with being humble.  I would encourage you to make sure you are bragging on God, not self.  And I would encourage you to SHARE what God is doing!!  I heard a Christian leader say one time that if we don’t tell our story no one else will. 

    The sharing of a testimony will bring joy to other believers.  While we share your burdens with one another but also share your blessings with one another!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 23 (11/23) is Acts 11:23. It says, “When he (Barnabas) arrived and saw the evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.”

    Be filled with joy when you hear of God working and blessing and share your testimony of God working and blessing so others will be filled with joy!

    Continue Strong looking for and affirming the evidence of God’s blessings,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

    PS.  An easy question for Thanksgiving Dinner asking for testimonies of how has God been working in your life this past year.

    And HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 22 (11/22) is Hebrews 11:22

    “By faith Joseph when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.” – Hebrews 11:22
    Joseph had a Futuristic Faith

    Joseph is the last of the 4 major characters of the book of Genesis.  We start with ABRAHAM. He is regarded as the FATHER OF FAITH.  Then we have ISSAC and then JACOB.  Starting in Genesis 30 we have the adventures of JOSEPH, adventures filled with adversities.  He would go from being his father’s favorite to being cruelly sold into slavery BY HIS BROTHERS.   While finding favor as a slave he is promoted to the overseer of Potiphar’s house in Egypt, yet he is cruelly falsely accused by a very wicked woman, known only as Potiphar’s wife of sexual assault. He was persecuted for his conviction to live PURE!  This decision of Joseph’s and the lie of Potiphar’s wife land him in PRISON.  While he finds favor in prison he is also FORGOTTEN.  God, though, had not forgotten him and at just the right moment Joseph was raised up to be the PRIME MINISTER of Egypt.  Having the ability to interpret dreams he is able to prepare Egypt for the coming famine.  This famine will then allow him to be reacquainted with his father, Jacob, and with his brothers.  What a story to read!

    With that quick summation of the life and times of Joseph, we pause to ponder our verse for November 22 from Hebrews 11:22. Unlike the faith of Abraham or Issac or Jacob, Joseph’s faith was futuristic.  The faith he has is not for himself but for the children of Israel in later years.  He knew that one day THEY would return to the promised land and he wanted his bones to be buried in the promised land.  By faith, HE KNEW!!  He knew they would be returning one day!

    Please allow me to highlight one very important piece of information.  Many times it seems we believe Joseph’s last word in Genesis was his perspective on his life. You might recall in Genesis 50:20 he had said to his brothers, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.  As great as that is it is not his last words. Hebrews 11:22 says when he was dying, he made mention of the departure, which is the end of Genesis 50.  In making mention of the departure, he was letting them know of his confidence, his faith, in God’s PROMISES. And it was not just the promise to get them back to the promised land but that God would take care of THEM. Notice Genesis 50:24 as Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

    Oh, friends, GOD WILL SURELY TAKE CARE OF YOU!!!   Until you get to your heavenly home hear this dying man’s last words.  GOD WILL SURELY TAKE OF YOU!  What a futuristic faith Joseph had.

    The verse to DATE the Word on November 22 (11/22) is Hebrews 11:22. It says, “By faith, Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.” 

    GOD WILL SURELY TAKE OF YOU!

    Continue Strong knowing of God’s great care for you!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
     

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 21 (11/21) is Hebrews 11:21

    “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of
    Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.” – Hebrews 11:21

    By Faith, Jacob finished Well

    The story of Jacob begins in Genesis 25 with the birth of him and his twin Esau to Rebekah and Isaac. Jacob’s story is then weaved through the rest of the book of Genesis with a concluding statement in Genesis 49:33, which says, “And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.” 

    As we look at our verse from Hebrews 11:21 we see that just before he would die he would not just bless his sons but would bless Joseph, whom he had for years thought was dead.  And not only did he bless Joseph he was able to bless the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh.   

    What a moment that must have been to bless Joseph and then bless his grandsons!  If you have read Jacob’s story you will recall that for many years, he only had a memory of a most precious and cherished son that left him struggling with the promises of God. There came a point with Jacob that he hit rock bottom as not only was Joseph “dead” but his wife Rachel had died and they were in a famine, and after going to get grain in Eypgt Simeon was kept as a prisoner and to get more grain Benjamin has to go down to Egypt.  In this low moment, Jacob cried out in anguish in Genesis 42:36 “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.”  

    Let 4 words and then 6 words sink in:
    4 words: YOU HAVE BEREAVED ME!
    Six words: ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME.  
    YOU HAVE BEREAVED ME!
     ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME.
    That is the mind of Jacob in Genesis 42:36. God has bereaved him or God had ROBBED him as that is what the word bereaved means.  From the standpoint of Jacob God has robbed him and EVERYTHING IS AGAINST HIM!   

    Now at the end of his life, he is seeing both Joseph and his grandsons and he tells them as he blesses them that God is the One “who has fed me all my life long to this day.” (Genesis 48:15) 

    Please don’t miss the keyword spoken in Hebrews 11:21 as one reads “AND WORSHIPED!” What a great ending for Jacob!  While his story is filled with wondering about God, even being very upset with God it ends with him WORSHIPING!!  

    And you too can have a great ending!  Know that what you see today happening in your life is not the whole story. While Jacob was thinking all things were against him God was working all things out for his good! So keep trusting God! 

    The verse to DATE the Word on November 21 (11/21) is Hebrews 11:21. It says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying,blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”

    Finish Well by FAITH!

    Continue Strong believing that God is WORKING ALL THINGS OUT FOR HIS GLORY!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!
    PS. I find with the story of Jacob it is good to read Footprints in the Sand!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 20 (11/20) is Proverbs 11:20

    “Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
    but the blameless in their ways are His delight.” – Proverbs 11:20
    Bringing DELIGHT to the Lord

    As far as contrast goes Proverbs 11:20 may be one of the greatest for contrasting God’s feelings (attitude and actions) toward our behavior. Toward those who are perverse (think crooked, think twisted, think depraved, think dishonest) He finds them to be an abomination, to be DETESTED and despised.  Let us make no mistake that the perverse and depraved behavior is detested and despised by God.  On the other hand, toward those who are blameless (think upright, think one with INTEGRITY. think honest, think doing what is right) He finds them to be His DELIGHT.  
    One might say the perverse brings PAIN to God’s heart while the blameless brings PLEASURE to God’s heart.   

    It should be the AIM of each of us to do that which brings pleasure to God, doing what is PLEASING to God.  2 Corinthians 5:9 says, “We make it our AIM – our AMBITION – to be WELL PLEASING to God.”  Our actions are acceptable to God!

    As well, it should be our desire to despise any depraved action.  That which is despised by God should be despised by His children.  Proverbs 8:13 says, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”

    A great example of how one might live is found in Job. The Book of Job opens with a description of Job and it is a description we should desire to be used to describe us.  Job 1:1 says, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil (turned away or stayed away from evil.)   I trust you agree that this is a description that should be desired!  Job was right with God and right with people!  There was nothing crooked in his dealings with people.  

    In considering Proverbs 11:20 we asked what is your heart’s daily desires.
    Is it to bring pain to the heart of God or pleasure to the heart of God? 
    Is it to have God despise your actions or be delighted in your actions?  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 20 (11/20) is Proverbs 11:20. It says, “Those who are of a perverse (crooked, twisted, depraved, dishonest) heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless (honest, upright, having integrity) in their ways are His delight.”

    Our choices have consequences! May we do the things that DELIGHT the Lord!

    Continue Strong, desiring and living to delight the Lord!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 19 (11/19) is November 11:19

    “You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” – Deuteronomy 11:19
    The T in PARENT means TEACHER

    Looking at Deuteronomy 11:19 we need to immediately know that the “them” refers to God’s Word from verse 18.  Deuteronomy 11:19 gives instructions to PARENTS to INSTRUCT their children and gives parents a variety of ways to INSTRUCT children. The BIBLE teaches that PARENTS are to be TEACHING the WORD of GOD to their CHILDREN. 

    So often we think of a place to teach our children but it is a PERSON(s) that is to teach our children and the first person with the top responsibility of teaching God’s Word to their children is the PARENTS of the children.   

    For some of you, this is INCREDIBLY challenging.  It was for me.  It is one thing to be a learner and a whole different thing to be a teacher.  I had to learn to teach.  One of the lessons I learned for teaching was that I was to be learning not just for myself but for my children.  This meant that during my quiet time, I was reading for me and for them.  This meant that when listening to a sermon I was listening for me and for them. There would be numerous times I would read or hear something that I knew the Holy Spirit was impressing me to share with my children.  

    Another big lesson for me was to be watching for as well as creating TEACHABLE MOMENTS in order to pour into my children Biblical truth.  Teachable moments arise when questions come up.  Be ever so careful when your child is curious and asking questions about spiritual things.  Don’t quench that curiosity.  Give answers to their question or find the answers. As a matter of fact, fuel curiosity by asking questions. Jesus not only answered questions from the disciples He Himself would ask questions! 

    As you look at the instructions from Deuteronomy 11:19, it really does give some very practical “suggestions” for teaching your children.  There is the time sitting in your house which today may be when you are eating a meal. There is the time when you are walking which today would be driving.  Then there is when you lie down and when you rise up.  I have a friend who likes to say BIBLE BEFORE BED and BIBLE BEFORE BREAKFAST. Friends, end each day with a Bible verse and start each day with a Bible verse.  It could be the same one for a week. It could be a different one for each day.  What is important is you are teaching some of God’s Word to your children!

    Parents (and grandparents) may I ask what is the last Biblical truth you taught one of your children? How are you applying the teaching of Deuteronomy 6 and Deuteronomy 11:19 to TEACH your children?

    It takes WORK and TIME to be a TEACHER!  (Just ask any who does it for a living.) God has entrusted you with children.  You are to TRAIN THEM UP in the way they should live (Prov. 22:6)!  Be diligent to do the hard work and MAKE the time to teach. Look back at Deuteronomy 11:18 as it gives ideas for keeping God’s Word before your eyes AND (listen) your children’s eyes!

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 19 (11/19) is Deuteronomy 11:19. It says, “You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

    Continue Strong passing God’s Word on to the next generation!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 18 (11/18) is Deuteronomy 11:18

    “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and 
    in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they
    shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” – Deuteronomy 11:18
    KEEPING GOD’S WORD VISIBLE for VIABILITY

    In order to obey the instructions of God’s Word we are given instructions for PLACING God’s Word so that it can be easily seen, remembered, and applied. As one reads and hears God’s Word, we are to lay it up or “hide” God’s Word in our hearts.   David said in Psalm 119:11 that he had hidden God’s Word in his heart so that he might not sin against God.  Some versions translate “hidden” for TREASURE. Solomon writes in Proverbs 7:1 that his son should “keep his words, And TREASURE his commands within him.”

    One of the most important spiritual disciplines is memorizing God’s Word.  We read and hear it, but we also must memorize it so we can have immediate recall as we face decisions, especially when we face temptations.  

    Are you memorizing God’s Word?  Do you have a plan to memorize a verse a week?

    To help with the memorization we are instructed to bind them on your hand and put them in places where they can be seen.   For us today that means having them on a note card or on your phone in notes.  It means placing verses in frames and hanging them on walls.  It means placing a verse on your refrigerator or on a mirror in the bathroom.  I challenge you to be creative in placing key verses in places where you can easily see to be reminded of what God’s Word says!   

    Not only should your heart be filled with Scripture, but have your home filled with Scripture to see and refresh your mind as you see them. For me, it seems that as I keep God’s Word visible it helps to make it more viable!  

    Take a little inventory based on Deuteronomy 11:18. How much of God’s Word is hidden in your heart?  Look around your house and see how much of God’s Word you see.  What about where you work?  You should have Scriptures on your desk and maybe on your walls.  Inventory and put Deuteronomy 11:18 into practice. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 18 (11/18) is Deuteronomy 11:18. Deuteronomy 11:18 says, “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”

    Continue Strong keeping God’s Word visible, 
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
    www.datetheword.com

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 17 (11/17) is Luke 11:17

    “But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.” – Luke 11:17
     
    DIVISION = DESOLATION

    Whether it is a family or an organization or a team or a church, etc. UNITY is essential for success. I believe it was from Dr. John Maxwell that I first heard the concept, “WORKING TOGETHER PRECEDES WINNING TOGETHER.”  For years it has been said TEAM stands for TOGETHER EACH ACCOMPLISHES MORE.  The military tells us there has to be UNITY IN THE UNIT!

    From the teaching of Jesus in Luke 11:17, we must learn and understand the DANGER OF DIVISION and DIVISIVENESS for it leads to DESOLATION and DESTRUCTION.   

    Without going into a full discipleship lesson on unity it is worth considering one of the root causes of division which is PRIDE.   Notice a few verses:
    Proverbs 16:18  Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
    Proverbs 13:10  By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.
    As I deal with conflicts I ask the question, “Who is displaying pride?”   Who wants to have it THEIR WAY?  You probably can think of a time that someone brought division to a team because of THEIR pride.  And you probably can think of a time that YOU brought division to a team because of YOUR pride.  

    In working to bring about unity there are a couple of quotes I like to use.  Dr. Maxwell taught the 101% rule saying find the 1% you do agree on and give that 100%.  I am not sure if he got this from studying Philippians 4:2.  In Philippians 4:2 Paul implored “Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.”   The 1% was they were both IN THE LORD so they now needed to give 100% to both being in the Lord.  

    Friends, we are ALL different and we have differences and we have differences of opinions.  What we must guard against is allowing those differences to divide us to the point we destroy each other.  Growing in maturity means learning to disagree agreeably.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 17 (11/17) is Luke 11:17.  It says, “But He (JESUS)  knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.”

    Know the DANGER OF DIVISION for it leads to DESOLATION and DESTRUCTION.

    Continue Strong seeking unity in whatever unit you are in!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!!

    BTW – Jesus prayed that Christians would be unified in John 17 praying 3 different times for us to be one.   He only prayed once to raised Lazarus from the dead.   Seems it was easier for Jesus to raise the dead than for us to be unified. 

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 16 (11/16) is Deuteronomy 11:16

    “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside 
    and serve other gods and worship them,” – Deuteronomy 11:16
    Guard your HEART!

    “TAKE HEED” is a warning used in the Bible 50 plus times with Jesus using TAKE HEED fifteen (15) times. Several times the emphasis of the warning is to NOT BE DECEIVED, especially being deceived into who or what should really be worshipped. Instead of trusting the One and only true God, we find ourselves deceived into placing trust in false gods. These false gods are usually tangible and for a time seem to be able to meet our immediate needs. We make idols/false gods of money or pleasure or fame or people or even of ourselves. We turn from the true to the false. Being deceived we pour energy into serving these false gods. Being deceived we will soon experience great disappointment for they never satisfy the true longing of our hearts!

    Regarding experiencing great disappointment, the Psalmist’s words come to mind from Psalm 115.  Starting in verse 4, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; 7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. 8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.” 

    The idol looks SO REAL, but it is completely DEAD!  What a sad state of affairs for one who makes his own idols.  

    Pause for just a second and compare Deuteronomy 6:4-5 with what you just read,
    Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

    With our God, we have a RELATIONSHIP!  We have a living, loving relationship. He loves us! We love Him! And yes, we love Him because He first loved us.  

    Friend, please heed Deuteronomy 11:16 and “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,”  Hear the truth of Scripture that those false idols, false gods DO NOT LOVE YOU and CANNOT LOVE YOU!  

    Honest assessment: Are you worshipping the living God or dead idols?  Are you worshipping the God who created and redeemed you or are you worshipping a god you have created that can do nothing for you?

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 16 (11/16) is Deuteronomy 11:16.  It says, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,”

    Love and serve God who loves you!

    Continue Strong guarding your heart!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 15 (11/15) is Revelation 11:15

    “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 
    “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ,
    and He shall reign forever and ever!” – Revelation 11:15
    And HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER!!!

    We live in a world that is known as the kingdom of darkness.
    See Eph. 6:12 … against the rulers of the darkness of this age.”  
    See Eph. 2:2 “in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.”  
    See 1 John 5:19 “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”  
    See Matthew 4:8-9 “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

    These kingdoms oppose and resist Christ, but they will not win. Revelation 11:15 tells that there is coming a day when Christ will conquer and HE WILL REIGN.  His first coming was to be crucified. His second coming will be to conquer. In His first coming He provided REDEMPTION.  In His second coming He will REIGN FOREVER AND EVER! There will be no kingdoms that will be able to stand against Him. Individually or corporately, make no mistake HE WILL REIGN OVER ALL FOREVER AND EVER! 

    What a glorious day that will be! May His kingdom come!

    BTW, when I pray the Lord’s prayer that appeals “Your kingdom come” my mind goes to Revelation 11:15.  And then I add Revelation 22:20 “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 15 (11/15) is Revelations 11:15. It says, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

    And yes – play and/or sing Handel’s Messiah “The Hallelujah Chorus”  It is based on Rev. 11:15!

    Continue Strong,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus verses for November 15 (11/15) for consideration
    Deuteronomy 11:15 ‘And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’
    Mark 11:15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 14 (11/14) is Proverbs 11:14

    “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude
    of counselors there is safety.” – Proverbs 11:14
    The BEST ADVICE is to get the BEST ADVICE

    A summary of Proverb 11:14 would be that the best advice wisdom can give is to get the best advice! I am a firm believer that each person should have a personal “board of directors” to go to for advice.  These will be those who have your best interest in mind!  You can ask questions of them and they can ask questions of you.  Godly counselors can help prevent you from making a BAD decision and provide insights for making the BEST decision.  They can help you move from making a GOOD decision to making a GREAT decision! 

    Please be sure to heed the warning of this verse. It warns us, “where there is no counsel, the people fall.”  I know it is hard to hear but you really are not smart enough to figure out life’s decisions by yourself.  Trusting your own thinking brings only what you know to the table.  Having a multitude of counselors allows for much more to be brought to the table as each one has PAST EXPERIENCES to DRAW ON!

    So, do you have a “multitude of counselors?”  Have you established a “board of directors?”  If not, heed the advice of Proverbs 11:14 and create this personal board.  Cultivate relationships with a few godly, wise men and women that you can invite into your life so that when decisions come you can say, “WHAT DO YOU THINK?”

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 14 (11/14) is Proverbs 11:14. It says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

    Listen to the advice to get advice and then GET ADVICE!  

    Continue Strong with a strong personal board of directors!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD