This is the most powerful skit I have ever seen.  Jesus’ victory brings me to tears each time I watch it.

Most of you probably know or can testify firsthand that big rewards are very often the result of a series of small steps.  My entire career in real estate investing has been a series of small steps that led to huge rewards.  Even though these steps may seem small and insignificant as we’re taking them, without them our lives would become stagnant.

For this reason, it’s imperative for all of you who want to become true Lifeonaires to first develop your personal Lifeonaire Vision, then break it down into smaller goals, and finally divide those smaller goals even further into the smallest of action steps.  If you take the time and initiative necessary to outline this plan, things will begin to happen simply by taking those smallest of steps.

Practically, we can all understand that this works because it’s always easier to take small steps rather than large strides as we work toward our goals.  Yet, for many of us the big picture is often so intimidating that we are immobilized and choose instead to do nothing at all.  But rather than allowing the big picture to paralyze us, we need to use the big picture as our guide and then put all of our energy and focus toward getting the next small step done.  Only then can we make tremendous strides toward becoming Lifeonaires!

Recently, I have found biblical application for this principal as well, and I will admit, it has been very convicting.  Lifeonaire is one of those ideas that has a tremendous amount of potential to reach the masses.  It has already flipped people lives upside down and has the possibility to grow and become very influential.  Deep in my heart, I know this to be true and every time Shaun or I speak on the subject, we’re approached by people who also see this potential.  They often ask “I’m ready.  Now how do I get there?”  My answer is always the same:  you get there by taking small steps toward the big picture.

But lately I’ve had a hard time practicing what I’m preaching.  Let me explain.  As I think about the future, it has occurred to me that if Lifeonaire is going to be all that I believe God wants it to be, I need to prepare. I need help.  I need a publisher.  I need a staff of people, coaches, and trainers, who need training manuals!  So I spend my time thinking about I all need to do to get ready before I can tell too many people about Lifeonaire.  And while I’m thinking and planning for the future, Lifeonaire sits stagnant, doing no one any good.

Then it hit me:  not only am I not taking the small steps that will lead to something bigger, I’m not using what has already been entrusted to me.  You see, I already have all I need to tell people about Lifeonaire.  I may not have the “masses” I’m planning for quite yet, but I do have a following, a website, the ability to do blog posts, coaching calls, and teaching events.  Yet I’ve been waiting.  And now I’m wondering:  If God can’t trust me to use what he’s already put into my hands, why would he entrust me with more?

I think it’s time I start taking my own advice:  not only is it practical but it’s biblical too.  God has given me so much already.  With HIS help, I’m going to take those small steps, keeping my eye on the prize of the big picture and vision HE has given me for Lifeonaire!  Won’t you join me?

Dear Fellow Investors,

It’s been quite some time since I have made an entry into the Faith Corner. I journal regularly for my own purposes, but most of you get very little insight into what the Lord has been doing in my life. So I thought I’d share some things God has been showing me.

Lately, I have felt a major stir in my spirit. God is obviously trying to move me to new levels because I’ve felt conviction to do new things, do some things differently and, on occasion, to pursue a new path all together. I’ve been in constant prayer asking the Lord “what do you want of me?” I have heard very little which usually means one of two things – either God wants me to wait or I’m too busy to hear Him. I’ve come to the conclusion recently that it is both.

A few years back, I could see the Lord’s hand in my life and business with incredible clarity, but haven’t had that clarity the last couple of years. As I have achieved greater levels of success as a real estate investor, I’ve started to put my trust in my abilities, my business, and my wealth. I certainly have not had the peace I experienced early on. Through much prayer and pursuing God’s will for my life, I have begun to see clearly again. First and foremost, I am seeing how my blessings have clouded my vision. While I still always give glory to God for my accomplishments, my trust has been divided. I’ve been trusting in my checkbook. When you give 1% of your trust to your checkbook, you may as well give it all because God demands 100% of us.

I have learned some very valuable lessons from my experiences of the last couple of years and I’d like to share them with you:

1) We need to be fully obedient to God. On occasion, I have not done what I felt God speaking to my heart because it made no sense to me. For example, I had a home that God put on my heart to give away. It was a very expensive home and I bargained with God to give away a cheaper home instead. I thought about how my banking relationships may be compromised if I were to give away this particular home. I reasoned that God would not want me to jeopardize my entire business that He blessed me with by doing something that others would see as a very foolish business decision. So I didn’t give the home away.

I continued to feel conviction, but ignored God speaking to me. I thought I couldn’t hear God as clearly as in the past, but the truth is that I was hearing from Him – just not what I wanted to hear! After two years of dealing with this home (things certainly were not blessed with this home), I sold it and gave all the proceeds away. This was very freeing and satisfying since I felt like I was doing what God wanted. The money from the house has changed the lives of many people and nothing in this world gives me greater joy than making a difference in the life of someone else.
2) Through my experiences, I have come to believe that God does not bless us to indulge ourselves. From a financial point of view, I have been extremely blessed and have more than I need. I wholeheartedly believe that the reason I have been blessed is to bless others. God has clearly spoken the fact that it’s not for me. I’ve searched and searched in the Bible for justification to indulge myself, hoard and squander my blessings on myself, but cannot find it in scripture. I hear it from many preachers, particularly those who are on the television, but I can’t find any instance in the Bible where God has blessed someone with wealth so that they can fill their lives with material things.

I love Corvettes. I could go to the Chevrolet dealership and pay cash for one today if I chose to buy one. But when I think about what Jesus would do, I can’t reconcile that Jesus would buy a Corvette when there are so many other needs around Him. I can’t see how spending $50,000 on a car could in any way, shape or form further the Kingdom of God.

I see my wealth as giving me a platform. If I weren’t financially blessed the way that I am, no one who comes to Flipping Homes would listen to me. I believe that God blesses me so that I can be a voice in this industry and He know I try to do the right things with what he has blessed me with.

3) The Bible talks so much about money (it’s discussed more than anything else) because it’s the number one thing that competes with Him. Money is necessary and not evil unto itself, but it is extremely difficult to understand. It is something that you cannot master, unless God himself is your master. If God is not your master, money will master you. It will consume you. If you think about money all the time, it is your god. If you are in debt, you are a slave to money, and it is your god. If you spend more than you make, money masters you.

I have made a decision that this year is going to be the year that I completely release myself from the bondage of money. My wife and I have no personal debt, but my business does have debt. In my pursuit to make more, I leverage deals. I borrow money to build new homes, rehab homes or do land developments. In 2006, I intend to free myself from all of my debt, including my business. I will not borrow money ever again to do a deal. I’ll do all of my deals with cash. This will certainly limit the amount that I can do, but that is OK. I’ve wanted to slow down for quite some time so that I can give more of myself to others. My wife and I will keep only what we need and will give away the rest. It is my hope that I can give away 90% of my income in the upcoming years.

Please understand that I don’t say this to convict or judge anyone else. This is what God has put in my heart. I had to borrow money to get to where I am today. It was used well, but did distract me from Him. The Lord has revealed that my business debt consumes me and steals me away from Him. He has blessed me in such a way that I do not need to borrow any more and that is what I’m committed to doing.

I’d also like to say that I intend to give much more of myself to this website and to those around me in need. Please do not take this as an open invitation for the visitors of this site to ask for handouts. The Lord has already put on my heart where he wants my financial resources to go, so please don’t solicit me for gifts. I will be here to put my heart and soul into this website because I want to be as excellent as I can be and earn the respect of those who come here to visit. Hopefully, I’ll earn the right to tell visitors why I do what I do.

I pray and hope that you all pursue God with ALL of your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength. You can do amazing things with Him.

Blessings,

Steve