Kevin Ward

Creation, Gratitude and NOT hanging out with Poor People!

Too many times, We Christians are poor-minded. We concentrate on what's missing instead of what we have. The problem with this line of thinking is that it is unhealthy and wrong… VERY WRONG!

"Just give me a cabin in the corner of Glory-land" is our mantra sometimes... like we don't deserve anything… we are King's kids… KING'S KIDS!

When God created the Heavens and the earth, He created it all… everything we would need… forever.

When he created stars, that was it.. they're all here. When He created sand, again, all here. Water, buds of leaves in the spring, oxygen, etc.

So think of it this way. When we pray for God to bless us with something, and he says yes (which a lot of times He does), I don't think God says, "Alright!, I need to CREATE something else for Kevin. I believe that if he answers yes, it has already been made, when He created it long ago… He doesn't have to make it again… it's already here… it's been here.

I think when we pray, it sets OUR minds to find it. Does "Seek and you will find" sound familiar?

Think upon these things.

Think about what's GOOD, not about what's NOT.

• When you are thankful for the singers that you have, you tend to attract great singers… maybe because you treat them well.. because you are THANKFUL for them.


• When you are thankful for the bookings you already have, you tend to attract better dates because you DO THOSE DATES YOU HAVE better… because you are thankful for them.


• When you are thankful for the fans you already have, you tend to attract more fans because you treat the fans you have better. You tend to cherish them and create more things for them. They will, in turn, cherish your ministry and give you what YOU need… support.

I think people want to be around other people who have healthy minds… people who have "unhealthy" minds tend to attract those "un-healty" minds to them.

So, here's the challenge.

Take an inventory of what you already have that is good. Don't think about what you NEED… just concentrate on what you HAVE and want more of.

If you can't think of ANYTHING that you have that is good, please do us ALL a favor and find something else to do.

I've had to deal with this sort of thinking myself recently.

Susan Unthank asked me if I would like to write an article once a month for SoGospelNews.com. I was excited first to think that she saw me as a writer and a blogger (alot of people only see me as a Producer/Engineer/Writer dude).

Know what my next thought was?

"Wait a minute. Why should I write an article for another blog… I have my own blog… Should I write some of my best blog posts for a website that's not even mine?"

In other words, "I only have a limited number of GOOD blog post. I shouldn't give my best stuff away!"

Here is what I AM thinking. (and you should be too!)

"I have an abundance of GREAT blog posts… More than enough for the Empower your ministry blog… plus my course content, plus SoGospelNews.com and beyond". According to the Bible, more than I can ask or even think. All I need to do is to be a good steward of what God has already given me and he'll give me more… that's what JESUS said (remember the story of the talents?).

This is a mindset that I have to practice… everyday! You should be practicing too… Let's do it now.

Below, in the comments section, practice telling God something you are grateful for!

I'll start it!

Susan, Deon, Amy, Chris and the staff at SoGospel, THANK YOU for giving me the opportunity to talk to your "peeps" at SoGospelNews ... I am very Grateful.

What are YOU grateful for?



Kevin Ward's permanent record says he's the owner of kiloWatt Productions, the VP of Vine Records and the co-creator of EmPower Your Ministry. (His mom would want you to know he's also a Dove-Award-winning producer who's been nominated for his songwriting as well.) In real life, he's a happy husband, soon-to-be father, a seeker of knowledge, and a pursuer of great people.

Online, you'll find Kevin striving daily to be a mentor and thought leader with his blogs at KevinWardMusic.com and EmpowerYourMinistry.com, where he uses his gifts as a success and life coach to help others do just that. Connect with Kevin on Twitter and FaceBook to join him on the journey.

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Reader Comments

   PrimaryOvertone ~ 03/01/2010

Kevin,
It's good to have you blogging here. Welcome!
I agree with what you are saying but I have a little different perspective to add. The Bible says "In EVERYTHING give thanks"(caps added for emphasis). That 'Everything' does not only include the things we like or are happy about but also the things we do not. I have dealt with some hard things in the past and found that when I give thanks for things that I don't understand, that are 'bad,' that God gives more grace. It is hard to complain about something and thank God for it at the same time. Further, since God has promissed that all things work together for good if we are called to His purpose; it is an even greater miracle when we are thanking Him for something that the world, and our nature tells us is bad, and then He shows us why He had us in those situations.

Maybe you are booking small churches that just can't give enough to cover your expenses. You want bigger churches and more of them. God knows that there is someone in each of those little churches you are in, who needs to hear a song or testimony you are bringing before, or in the midst of a new trial. They would never hear that word if you were in some other church.

Maybe that singer with the poor voice needs this time or refreshing, being surounded by brothers and/or sisters in Christ who can bear their burdens with them.

Our relationship with God is unique. He is our slave-master as well as our Father. As our master we owe Him the Thanks no matter what, as our Father we can be assured that He will give us what is best because He loves us so much.

   Kevin Ward ~ 03/01/2010

Thanks for the warm welcome and you thoughtful comment Chris. I think you have some good points. I'd like to "unpack" one thing a little more.

"In ALL things give thanks"

I think it is a VERY healthy practice to FIND things you can be thankful for.. in ANY situation... it makes us think.. it makes us better... it makes us MORE thankful.

Gratitude is one of the healthiest emotions we can feel.

With that said, let's say a dear family member dies. I don't think that the Lord WANTS us to thank him for a death, but rather He WANTS us to look deep inside for SOMETHING to be thankful for.. say it was that persons walk or influence in our life, maybe it was as simple as the fact that if not for THAT person, You'd not be here.

So, in my very humble opinion, we should FIND things to REALLY be thankful for, not just mindlessly thank Him for whatever is dealt.

==========
Kevin Ward
http://empoweryourministry.com

   PrimaryOvertone ~ 03/01/2010

Kevin,
I disagree. I do not think that we should do anything mindlessly but I do think that we need to thank God for things that are "good" as well as "bad". I use the quotes because our human view of things can be flawed. Things we see as bad are often the things that God uses to create the most beauty.
I have personal experience with the specific example you used. I would not have been able to get through the time following my father's death without saying "Thank You" to God for His death. I did not understand why it happened but I do know that there was a special peace that came from that prayer. There are times when we do not feel thankful but our willingness to say it is just what God uses to help make us thankful.

   Kevin Ward ~ 03/01/2010

I do agree with this statement:

"Things we see as bad are often the things that God uses to create the most beauty."

Thanks for commenting Chris.

==========
Kevin Ward
http://empoweryourministry.com

   .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) ~ 11/07/2010

Kevin, I thank God for the inspiration and you for writing it down on this page. .........Bill.



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