Hey Pastor,

I am self employed and was feeling a little like the weather today, just a little sluggish. I began to talk to myself saying get up because an idle mind is the devils workshop. My mom who is visiting for the holidays quickly corrected me by saying that is not scripture. I think it is. Who is right?

Pastor Ed,
I think the recession has only hit those who don’t understand the true meaning of prosperity. I myself am in full time ministry as well as being a self employed independent artist and songwriter/producer and God has provided my needs and I haven’t stopped sowing and tithing and I still can buy gas and do what is necessary to operate my ministry. I think the true kingdom seekers and not the publicity hounds that forget what it took to get where they are when they get where they are, wherever that is, will be the ones standing at the end of the day!! By the way Abundant Life and your blog is a blessing!! Heaven is in your heart!!

Hey Pastor Ed, I believe we can recover from this recession. However it is going to take all of America to come together as one. We as a country are to divided, just because one has a a different belief or opinion than we do. But Pastor we can do it, and this recession will be over.

Hi Pastor Ed,

You are correct! I believe it would do the world good to hear your audio message titled, “Show Me the Money!” That message really liberated my thinking and empowered me to believe that I can survive and thrive during any type of economy. Also the following passage of scripture has been a blessing to me: “Invest what you have in several different businesses, because you don’t know what disasters might happen.” (Ecclesiastes 11:2) Pastor Ed thank you for your continuous efforts to empower the hearts and minds of the people who shape our World!

I think if we get back to God’s word and live for God things will get in order

HI Pastor,we serve a great GOD,I am like you I choose not to participate in the recession.My testimony is that I PRAYED that G OD would restore to me the years that the loucoust have eaton,meaning my child support.Well I am from New Orleans,via hurricain katrina,my child support
recently resumed,I AM A TITHER GOD trully,was working behind the scenes,that was my first child
support in 8 years.THANK YOU LORD

Hello Dr.Ed, You are channeling along side of me as welll, I feel that same way. It reminds me of this, “So as a a man thinketh in his heart so is he”. Well if you belive that you are broke then you will be broke. But if you believe that you can prosper then you shall prosper. It’s in the way we think and the conditioning of the mind. Recondition your mind and your body (heart) will follow now I am a very strong believer of that. I ran this theroy before a group of Financial aids who looked at me some what strange. In two days the Fedearal Government used the same concept by throwing thossands of dollars back into the economy. Now this is changing the way you think, awesome stuff, Dorctor Ed. But we must never leave out Faith as this is the true stubstance and essence of all things. Oh yes, I do have all of your tapes and Books on that Heaven in your Heart Series and in your Pocket, awesome Revelations, very well taught!

Warren L. Veney! Northen Virginia

Good morning Pastor Ed,
Thank you so much for exhorting the body of believers (and for those who will soon be in the body of believers) concerning a deeper spirituality during these times. What is happening now did not take God by suprise – the signs of the last days does indicate what is happening right now. Read all of Matt 24.
I really want to admonish the believers that this is the time where we, the body of Christ, must stand firm. The church in the West, generally speaking, (the US, Europe, etc.) has become so secular – compromising, disobedient, with no power. The real change that has been prophesied will only happen with real sacrifice and really dying to self. Do you realize that there are over 2.8 billion people in the world who have never heard of Jesus the Christ – and that every minute over 53,000 people die into a “Christless” eternity? We are worrying about the wrong thing…let’s put first things first. Matt. 6:33-34; When we (the body of Christ) really seek to be obedient to the Great Commission – make disciples (not just make converts), there will be such an awakening that will resonate all over the world – God knows how to take care of His own…God has allowed this recession to wake us up to get back to Him – and for His people who are called by His name, will really be the body of Christ.

Min. Sherry Thomas – Wycliffe Bible Translators

First, giving all thanks and glory to our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. I also want to thank you Pastor Ed and First Lady Saundra for giving me an opportunity to respond – first time responding to one of your blogs.

Yes, I do believe the Power (of God) within us does shape our situations. God gives us by His Holy Spirit and Divine Revelation, a spirit of discernment. This is the time for the Body of Christ to get their business in order – business of life, home, family, Church, finances – all of this is our business. It is time for the Body of Christ to shine like never before. Opportunities will open up like never before – and change must and will come – so we have to be ready to adapt.

God is so wonderful – He just loves change. He made us all different – and He will get the glory, no matter what the situation looks like. I overheard a couple of ladies in the office speak today about how low the gasoline prices are right now. But see, even when the prices were high – it took trusting God to make our vehicle travel farther on less gasoline – or God gave us financial increase to pay for that gas! Tithing and sowing seeds make the difference – and maybe someone isn’t a tither – I encourage them to begin where they are – start with something – and prove God, and see if He will not increase what is still left in your hand after you tithe. See, He already knows what the future holds – He just wants us to trust Him more.

I have also changed my signature block under my name when I e-mail others at work. “Where you are now is a reflection of words you spoke in times past. Your future is determined by words you speak now. Only you can choose life words.” I am not talking name it and claim it, but proclaiming what God says about us – we are His prized possesions – His children – we are His ambassadors in the earth today. He has given us all authority and power over the enemy (satan and his posse) and the plans of the enemy – now, it is our choice to rule and reign as He created us to – or – hide in a hole and hope that the enemy does not come after us. I chose to rule and reign and proclaim the goodness of God – in every situation! God has made me the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath. As long as I seek God and have a thankful and pure heart – a heart that forgives and seeks truth, God will deliver me!

It is not about greed and only my 4 and no more – it is about being a good steward. It is about not living a life of lack. Some people preach against believers having money – but ask yourself, who will listen to someone who is broke? We need to get our business in order and use His wisdom and guidance to make quality decisions in the days ahead. We need to finish 2008 strong and start 2009 even stronger!

Thank you and may God continue to bless you and your family and all the members of ALC Church!

Hi Pastor! Thank you for being a Leader who can relate to where people are in life. And is able to impart hope and energy to move forward. I am a baby boomer, and I tell you I have not seen anything like this. But I am excited, because we can begin anew! Being of baby boomer age gives you that wisdom to lay a good foundation in times like these. I would encourage everyone not to wait for God to bring prosperity to you. But that you prepare. Take a class on handeling your finances, a class that is going to help you stand out on your job. Find an exercise that works for you and stick to it. Eat the right foods daily, and splurge the wrong foods. We must work with God to do our part and not depend on Him to do it all for us! Be Blessed!

Well what can i say the words saids that we walk by faith not by sight,we are beliveing to see God move in a mighty way in our land on our behalf, the body of Christ needs wisdom in handling finance remember the word says that a fool and his money will soon part God is calling us to accountable where finance for the body of Christ is concern far to long we spend money under the pretext of christianity the condition of the worlds economy should not have christian flustered and worring bcause we know that these thing has to happen the world system must fail remember isaac sowed in the land of famine and it did not affect him instead he prospered God is ready to put the wealth in the hands of his children which will be the last great wealth transfer for those who are equip to handle such great wealth positioning oneself for this time is very important being in the right place at the right time and hearing the voice of God.

Hello Pastor, I am new to the area and I found your church on Praise 92.1. I had been Praying that God would Bless me with a good church. My family and I have been attend Wednesday and Sunday services and I must say I have been truly blessed. I am a single parent and at times like these I seem to get depressed. However I know that God is going to work it out for my good. I’m not homeless, I have food and clothes and my kids are in good health. So why should I be depressed. The economy is something that I am concerned about but not to the point were I worry about it. I know that God is a provider and to be honest pastor I have been depress have my life and I’m tired of living a depressed life.

God is so awesome. Yes, I do believe the power within us can shape the circumstances around us. I am a living testimony. I had been unemployed for 1 year as me and my husband were relocating back to Houston with my husband’s job. The Lord blessed me with a job after one year of being unemployed in the field of work that I wanted to make a career change into. The new job allowed me to work from home, which was a blessing because we were also moving into our new home a couple of months later. It was great timing and setup for that season. I knew I was being under paid (with 3 degrees), but I believe that sometimes you have to take a step back to spring forward, but I was continent, (and I will just say that my husband was concerned). I just kept telling him my time is coming just wait.

I started getting frustrated with my job working from home after 2 years, because of the changes and layoffs that continued to take place at least twice a year, even though I was spared every layoff. Here recently, my job responsibilities had increased without any more compensation, and other people around me were making the same pay as I was or more, and I was more qualified. So I had enough of working long hours with little pay. Basically it was time to move on.

On 10/29/08 I received an email about a job fair to be held on 10/30. I said I must attend. So the next day, I just jumped to my feet and shouted through the house “THE DEVIL IS A LIE”, I am not going to be working like a slave. So I believe that the Lord made my seat “HOT” enough to make me take action. I attended the job fair on 10/30.

On 11/10 I was moved to call the recruiter to follow-up (the seat had gotten even “HOTTER” by then). I just kept telling myself I am working until the Lord until things change. I had an interview on 11/13 at 11:00am and was offered a new job the same day at 2:00pm with a salary offer that doubled my salary. “THAT’s GOD” (and yes, I know that my tithes must increase as well). Remind you this is suppose to be a recession. It has been reported that over 1.2 million people have lost their jobs. Who’s report will you believe? My husband has also reported that he will be getting a bonus this year along with a promotion. So all praises unto God!

So, thank you for the word this past Sunday. I just thought I would let you know that I have not been participating in the so called recession.

2008 – year of change

2009 – year for prosperity

I AM READY!

Thank You Pastor

Hello Pastor,

I completely agree with you last sunday message at church that “I will not participate in the recession” we serve a living God and he always makes a way for us that believe.

Thank you for the words! am truly inspired by your message each time.

I chose to believe prosperity!

I agree with Pastor Montgomery, I am not in recession I am in successon. I am not claiming anything that deals with the word recession. I believe that I am will prosper. I refuse to accept anything that deals with that word. Any time someone speaks about it I refuse to claim the word recession. I remember that I bought your tape on prosperity and healing. I am going to start listen to it again until I see change in my finance my body, my home and my family. Thank you for your prayers. Have a very happy and blessed holiday season.

I have experienced the affects of the recession but I am not participating in the world’s way of thinking. I know that everything works together for the good to then that love the Lord and who are called according to His purpose and we shall overcome every hindering obstacle that comes up against us. While the world is wondering the saints are in Faith. Amen.

Good Afternoon Pastor ED!

To sum it up GOD IS!! I know this to be true.

Eight years ago I moved here to Houston, Texas with nothing tanigle to call my own. I only had my four children and the faith to begin a new life. It was such a struggle from one apartment to another trying to find my way. But one thing I do know no man can pull you out of the storm unless you are really to admit to the Lord above you are ready for a change in your life. I had to go through many upsetting, hurtful things in my life but I pulled through not by failure but by learning from it. All those life interruptions which I call stumbling blocks are just tests to the next level. When I successfully past each one I move on up into a different level. Rising up the pyramid is a struggle but the rewards from the strict obedience of God’s will is such a pleasing experience. This is just a synopis of my pains and daily trials to succeed.

Whether the “world” calls this financial mess a recession or not, I chose to believe the Word of God- David stated that he has “NEVER SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN OR THEIR SEED BEGGING BREAD”. the question is, are we righteous????

God Bless you Dr. Ed, your words are truly God sent.

Pastor Ed, You’re so right and dead on point I believe that circumstances makes us who we’re, but first of all you need to know who you’re. I say that to say this God never promise us a bed of roses, but he did promise us that if we believe and trust in him he will provide and make a way out of no way. Yes God has given us the power/authority to shape and re-shape our circumstances and call those things that be not as though they were.

God bless you Dr. Ed, your words are an inspiration to all that have a ear to hear.

Dr. Ed you are an awesome man of God. What a gift you are to the body of Christ. Thanks for the encouragement and engaging our thinking.

Dr. Montgomery, I just discovered your blog and am happy to join in with you by refusing to participate in this so-called recession. My Bible declares to me the “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof”. It does not matter how much of the resources we use, the earth is still full and as long it is, my God “shall supply all” my “need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

We have heard it preached for years that the “wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.” I just believe this is the time of a great transfer of wealth to the just. Everything else has failed and the world will be forced to look at the church for answers. We cannot look like, act like, nor think like them. We are not citizens of this world and we do not operate according to their dictates.

It is our time to enter into a wealthy place in God.

Greetings Pastor,

If I can say this honestly, we are already in the promise land with the wealth and the body of Christ just has not understood how to take it. We won’t go like Joshua did as God commanded him. I beleive everything that was given to us from God had been stolen by the enemy becausae of Adam releasing it to him. God comes back and place Himself into man and release that man (Jesus) to the enemy for redemption, and this time it was to strip the power from satan. We now can recover what was once ours in the first place (garden). The first time satan was smooth and out slicked the man Adam. He didn’t deceive Adam, but took his focus off the respoonsibility. The second time satan tried to slick the second Adam (Jesus), but could not make Him loose His focus, being tempted after the 40 days of fasting in the wilderness. Therefore satan thought to kill Jesus, because nothing else worked. Once satan made that attempt to kill, still and destroy Jesus, He rose with all power in His hand and transfer it to every beleiver. Now we have the power we don’t understand how to us it to take the wealth and land back from the wicked. Through obedience, faith and fasting along with spiritual wisdom, knowledge and understanding, it put God in the position to open the windows off heaven. The problem comes we want to be resevouirs and hold on to stuff rather than being channels for distribution into other lives. So God holds back and stop being a channels as well to a believer. We have to get out of our comfort zone and trust God. There really is not a recession with God children it just a lack of knowledge. We need to wake up and stop sleeping.

I am understanding now how to rest in God and take to thought all that he is doing for the saints. Even though my company let 250 people go before the new year I am still here. Even though they say that we are in a recession I still make sure that I pay my tithes. I remember asking the Lord for tithing to become as natural as putting gas in the car. You need gas to go to work etc. you need to pay your tithes keep the windows of heaven open etc. I think that we should always be wise in our spending and our financials. Think of your long term goals as well as short terms. Have a plan for your family and trust that God will provide as he always has. He’s the same yesterday today and forever more and regardless of man’s failures God cannot and will not fail. I think that the economy is doing what it always does and was designed to do in many ways. It is just that we were in an economic boom for so long that people forgot what the norm was and that brings panic in the financial world when rates drop. You won’t always get that 10% rate it will go away eventually. I have also learned that those that are too aggressive and take major risks in their portfolios don’t even pay attention to the market unless it directly affects them leaving them in a frenzy when they see the news after the market has closed. To sum it up I feel that if you think that you are in a recession then you will have what you say. Its all about focus to me.

Thanks again Pastor

Pastor I want to share a testimony with you concerning my son Samuel. He’s in college on campus this semester and we were concerned that he would not have enough grants and loans to pay his tuition because of the increase of tuition. God is so good! He called me yesterday to say the school gave him a grant because his GPA was greater than 2.5 which covered his entire cost of tuition room and board for this semester. He was refunded $5000. I reminded him not to spend it until 2 days later. So he could calm down. I also asked if he felt he should tithe from this money. He said of course I always tithe from anything I get. Even large amounts. So he is doing 10-10-80. I thank God for you and your teachings. I thank God Sam was listening. I Thank God that He cares and we can cast our cares on Him. Thank you JESUS!