Are you short on cash? Do you really need something, but don’t see how you can afford it? That’s a great opportunity to learn a new way to transact business without using cash.

Listen, in this tight economy, everyone’s watching their pennies, but you can still transact business for big ticket items if you know how. You see, in the rainforest, every day monkeys help themselves to fruit hanging on many of the trees. Never once have I seen them drop a quarter in a slot at the base of the tree. Yet, the rainforest thrives more than any environment on earth.

Think of the rainforest as a system. It has very specific rules for producing abundance, but none of them include cash or debt. They trade value. The agouti, the rainforest equivalent of an oversized squirrel, takes something he has in abundance but costs him almost nothing – his energy and mobility – and trades it for something a Brazil Nut tree has in abundance – Brazil nuts! In return, he plants some of those nuts in the ground to grow more trees – something the Brazil Nut tree desperately needs.

They don’t establish a dollar value before trading. They simply trade what they have in excess for what they have a shortage of. If you find the right trading partner, you’ll be amazed at what you can get. Once I traded something I had in abundance – information – specifically my sales training – for something one of the largest business magazines in the world had in abundance – advertising space.

A full page ad was $63,000 and we traded a day of training for an ad that was to run for six issues. Instead of trading $10,000 worth of training for $10,000 worth of advertising, I was able to trade the value of what I produced for the value of their ad and got a much better deal!

Get a complimentary copy of Rainforest Strategy now and learn all about the best business model on the planet. All we ask you to do is cover the shipping and handling and consider the offer for our printed newsletter (The R.A.I.N. Report) when you’re done. But first get your copy of Rainforest Strategy

Have you noticed the dramatic economic headlines the last few months? Have you felt the effects of the financial hurricane sweeping our country, but not known what to do?

I’ve got some great news for you! The rainforest is the most fruitful, abundant and diverse ecosystem on the planet despite having limited capital (poor, shallow topsoil) to work with. How it produces abundance from relative scarcity is what every business, every household, every entrepreneur needs to know. And now you can…

Think about this… the rainforest functions at the speed of peace. It uses no currency, yet it produces a super abundance of supply. On occasion, it may experience a storm, but it knows no recession. When a storm does come and blows down a few of the big canopy trees – that only makes way for a hundred smaller trees to take off like never before. That’s what’s happening in our economy right now. A few of the big boys have been blown over and it’s making room for the smaller guy to get ahead - Lots of smaller guys.

Are you one of them? Do you want to be one of them? Do you want your day of opportunity to open up for you? Well… it’s here - Right Now. Maybe you don’t see it, but would you like to? You’ve got to look at things differently if you’re going to experience a different result and looking at the rainforest as a business model or as a model for household management (which is the root meaning of the word “economics”) or as a model for thriving in times of change is a great place to start. Solomon studied trees and all of nature, learning from it and prospering. Why not you?

Get a complimentary copy of Rainforest Strategy now and learn all about the best business model on the planet. All we ask you to do is cover the shipping and handling and consider the offer for our printed newsletter (The R.A.I.N. Report) when you’re done. But first get your copy of Rainforest Strategy

Before I turn things over again to David Johnson from Epiphany Marketing, I want to make sure you’ve reserved your spot on this week’s conference calls.  They start tonight!  (And for those outside the US… in just a matter of hours!)

Both Michael and I have written recently about the economy.  Obviously it’s been on the minds of a lot of people, and certainly some industries and regions have been more affected by it than others.  Either way, the battle is definitely heating up — regardless of external economic conditions — especially for those of us who are believers and whose work and purpose is about expanding the Kingdom of God and not just “making a buck.”

I’m not certain (although I do have a few guesses) where this notion came from, but somewhere along the way in the Church, we got this idea that if God is “blessing” your life and/or your business, things will be easy.  You’ve probably heard it.  There’s a “flow.”  Things are “smooth.”  Doors open for you.

Listen, friends.  I don’t want to deny the supernatural power of the blessing — not even in the slightest.  But one thing I’ve learned is that while we may have seasons where there is less pressure, the notion that things will be easy is absolute garbage.  Don’t get me wrong — we can and should experience greater levels of peace and greater freedom from stress, especially in our interior life.  And we can walk in confidence, knowing that we are being led by the Holy Spirit and carrying out the purpose of God for our lives.

But take a look at what Jesus said Matthew 11:12.  Here it is from the Amplified Bible:

“And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].”

Let’s face it, if God has called you to the marketplace, then you are on the front lines of taking territory for the Kingdom.  That’s where the battle is the hottest.  Be encouraged today that you are operating in a sin-cursed world system dominated by powers that do not want you to be fruitful nor succeed.  There is and there will be resistance — just like swimming upstream.  But friends, we have access to all the resources of the Kingdom, and we can put them to work today.  If the battle is hot where you are right now, remember the “ardent zeal” and “intense exertion” is par for the course in this fight.  All who take territory will do so because of intentional effort at times when it would be easier to give up.  Take a moment and reach out for help from heaven!

Now, I’m not someone who believes that more revenue is necessarily the answer to every business challenge.  But, if you’ve taken a hit because of changes in the economy or in your business, then here’s a fact: you won’t succeed at fulfilling your purpose (in business or otherwise) unless you connect with those who you are called to serve — those who need what you have to offer.  I urge you to join Michael and I are on our conference calls this week so we can share with you some tools to help you do exactly that.

In the meantime: be encouraged!

“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].” (Ephesians 6:10)

Friends, as you can tell, David is as passionate as I am about advancing the Kingdom.  There are 4 opportunities to participate in this week’s conference calls.   If you haven’t already done so, choose your best time.  We’ll talk to you then!

“and the children of Israel went out with defiance.” Ex 14:8

Not that their defiance lasted very long. In a matter of hours when Pharaoh’s army came after them they were greatly afraid, cried out to God and blamed Moses. Their tough defiant talk — when challenged — turned to fear and tears. Israel had a lot to learn, but this was just the beginning.

It seems their defiance and determination lasted only as long as things were going their way. Their oppressors were freeing them and loading them down with silver and gold and precious stones. They probably felt a sense of entitlement that the Egyptians owed them this and in one sense they did. But when Pharaoh’s army approached, they lost their nerve. They doubted their decision. They regretted their choice. They looked for someone to blame.

How many times have you taken a stand, made a decision to get out of debt, start a new business, save up some money, lose weight etc., only to retreat from that position when challenged? If you are going to attempt something worthwhile, expect to be challenged. That comes with the territory. Quit doubting. Don’t look for someone or something (like a tough economy) to blame.

You have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwelling in you! You can do this! There is a new breed of Christian arising and you can be numbered among them. They are intent on taking their Promised Land. They are ready to face down the giants and step into their destiny. Care to join them?

There is a sentiment I am picking up from the Body of Christ that there is a reprieve of sorts – a window of opportunity that has opened – where before the shift comes in a big way, there is opportunity both to get your financial house in order and to prepare to seize the opportunities that lay ahead of us. Both ideas are interrelated as you cannot seize on the new opportunities if you are strapped and burdened by the past.

I heard from an intercessor in Nigeria (Yemi Issachar) who is a watcher of the global economy. This is what God has been showing him… “The recession today I believe is God’s making, to pave great ways and open serious opportunities for His children to follow a narrow path everybody ignores to become the new leaders in the new USA that God is building. This is the year of open doors and God is the one at the centre of all these shakings to propel His own to a new beginning.”

Friends, we need to take some bold steps this year to eradicate debt and position ourselves not only financially but in a host of other ways to step up into the positions of authority God has for us in the marketplace. He will not give it to us if we are unprepared, ill-equipped and unbelieving. We must rise up on the inside to accept the challenge of the Holy Spirit before us, to get trained, get positioned and take territory. Want to catch that train?

Today’s message is a guest entry from David G. Johnson of Epiphany Marketing, LLC.

“AND THERE was a famine in the land… Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with blessings. And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and distinguished; He owned flocks, herds, and a great supply of servants, and the Philistines envied him.” (Genesis 26:1a,12-14)

We said in my last message that the instructions Isaac received from God contradicted reason. He was to stay in the land despite the difficult conditions. What followed is a beautiful example of what happens when we partner with God to bring His covenant and His influence to bear on our circumstances.

“For we are laborers together with God….” (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Isaac planted at least one crop (maybe more!) when all around him farmers were failing. As he did, God put his “super” on Isaac’s “natural,” multiplying the results. Notice that Isaac didn’t “camp” in the land and do nothing, waiting for God to miraculously provide. Instead, he “occupied” the land and engaged in business. This, my friend, is how to partner with God.

Isn’t it fun that after it says he received a multiplication of results, the Scripture then says, “…and God favored him with blessings…”?! Most of us would’ve been happy with great business results, but God’s plan was bigger than that. By making Isaac a person of great influence, God was able to get the attention of the neighbors. Later in the chapter we find out that they came begging for partnership with Isaac because they saw that God was with him.

Friends, in every so-called “downturn” there are those who excel. If you’re under pressure today, make God your partner. Allow the pressure to increase your capacity. God wants to bring His influence to bear on your circumstances and on your sphere. It’s time for believers to occupy the “mountain” of business. This may very well your season for it!

Today’s message is a guest entry from David G. Johnson of Epiphany Marketing, LLC.

“AND THERE was a famine in the land… and Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I will tell you. Dwell temporarily in this land, and I will be with you and will favor you with blessings; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.’” (Genesis 26:1-3)

We’re hearing so much this year about the economy, the housing market, the falling dollar and business conditions in general. Hopefully, your business and family are not being affected by it personally, but whether you are or not, hearing about it frequently can have a mental, emotional and even spiritual impact.

With a variety of industries suffering in the local community here, I’ve had this passage from Genesis 26 on my heart quite a bit lately. Isaac found himself and his household surrounded by difficult conditions, and it’s hard to imagine how that may have weighed on his mind. As casual readers, we sometimes forget that his household was most likely substantial, with a lot of mouths to feed and a lot of people looking to him for answers. Today, he might be the owner of a small company — perhaps with 50 employees or more.

What to do?

What’s interesting to me is that when Isaac heard from God, the instructions he received were very counter-intuitive. Egypt would’ve been a safe haven for a nomadic family like his to go and find trading partners. But God instructed him to essentially start a business in a failing industry in an economy that was suffering, and in physical conditions that would not support his new venture. When there’s a famine, it’s generally not the best time to go into agriculture!

But when you have instructions from God, you have hope that others do not have! We’ll pick this subject up again in the next message, but in the meantime, consider this question: Are you getting instructions from God in this season, or are you allowing the conditions around you to shape your thinking?