Unsure

1 Corinthians 1:10 "I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." 

The worst misery and loneliness you experience is to feel unsure of your self like everyone else is ahead of you somehow.  When you’re feeling insecure like this, you don’t notice the hundreds of people around you who accept you just the way you are.  All you notice are the few who don’t.

Don’t let your insecurities bully you into a corner.  Don’t be your own victim.  Forget whether or not everyone else likes you, and focus on loving yourself more.  Accept, define and believe in the person you are.  For once you sincerely do, so will the rest of the people in your life who truly matter to you.

When you’re worried about what others think of you, you’re really just worried about what you think of yourself.

At times you may flatter yourself indirectly by thinking that every little fault you see in yourself is also present in the minds of everyone around you, as if these people are constantly contemplating your personal strengths and weaknesses.  But the truth is, 99.9% of the time, they aren’t.

And regardless of whether others are judging you or not, you can’t control what they think.  The only thing you can control is yourself.  Some people will look down on you for your decisions in life no matter what they are.  You can’t do anything about that.  The only thing you can do is live in such a way that brings peace to your own heart and mind.  

How Do You Measure?

Matthew 5:44  "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you..." 

How do you measure success?

-Have you dropped everything to help a friend in need?

-Did you do any favors today for complete strangers?

-Have you recently listened to someone else’s story without talking about yourself?

-Have you spoken up against friends, family and authority figures that were in the wrong by their words or actions even when it was hard to do so?

-Have you kept silent when you knew you were right, knowing that an argument would be useless?

-Have you been patient, compassionate, and gentle toward those who have wronged you?

The point is not that one measure of success is any better or worse than another; the point is that you get to choose how you define it for yourself. Recognize that the more conscious and deliberate you can be about what success means for you, the more blessed you will be to pursue the path that’s right for you.

Be lead by your dreams

Don’t be pushed by your problems, but be led by your God-given dreams.  Live the life God wants you to live.  Be the person you want to remember years from now.  Make decisions and act on them.  Make mistakes, fall and try again.  Even if you fall a thousand times, at least you won’t have to wonder what could have been.  At least you will know in your heart that you gave your dreams your best shot by faith.

Each of us has a fire in our hearts burning for something.  It’s our responsibility in life to find it and keep it lit.  This is your life, and it’s a short one.  Don’t let others extinguish your flame.  Try what God wants you to try.  Go where God wants you to go.  Follow your own intuition.  Dream with your eyes open until you know exactly what it looks like.  Then do at least one thing every day to make it a reality.

As you strive to achieve your goals, you can count on there being some fairly substantial disappointments along the way.  Don’t get discouraged, because he road to your dreams may not be an easy one.  Think of these disappointments as challenges, tests of persistence, and courage.  At the end of the road, more often than not, we regret what we didn’t do far more than what we did.

2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith..."

A Best Friend

1. A best friend doesn't just talk the talk, they walk it out. When we characterize people by their actions, we are never fooled by their words.  
2. A best friend helps you realize your greatest potential. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when someone believes in you. 
3. A best friend is an encourager. One sincere word of encouragement after a failure is worth more than a day of praise after success.  Be a blessing. Take time to care.  Let your words heal, and not deepen any wound.
4. A best friend is someone who truly knows you, and loves you just the same.  Be yourself and the right person will love the real you.
5. A best friend is someone who will inspire you to be who you always knew you could be.  Anyone who helps you make your half-hearted attempts more whole-hearted through kindness, commitment and teamwork, is a keeper.

What God Sees In You!

Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

Every once in awhile the world is reminded that we put frivilous, fake and superficial ahead of reason, compassion and dignity.

Then God steps in and says "look, you are a masterpiece. You are a bright shining example of my work. Lift up your head and hold it high! Your gifts may not be obvious to the world, but who are they to judge my creation!"

Today, break the bonds that tie you down. Loosen the grip you have held on words like "not good enough," "failure," "ugly," "useless," "unworthy," and "hopeless."

You may indeed need to work harder. You may have to fight prejudice. You may be ridiculed and mocked for even thinking you can make it, but you are His child. You are better than all of that. You are more than you ever imagined and greater than all you believe.

Stand up! Get moving! Start planning! Discover today what God sees in you, by asking Him to reveal it in all of its glory.

You need not stand on a stage, in a spot light, write an epic novel or discover the cure for cancer. But you must, I repeat, you must, live up to your full potential. Perhaps as a wife, mother, husband, father, teacher, mechanic, singer, dancer, painter, friend, lover, janitor, plumber or anything you believe is your gift to the world.

For as the ugly duckling became the graceful swan, you will develop into the perfection only you can be. The greatest, shining example of you!

Rush

Isaiah 33:6 "Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the Lord is His treasure."

It seems like far too many people in this world are always in a hurry. They seem in a constant rush to get somewhere.

-They rush to work.

-They rush home.

-They rush off to their vacations and then rush back.

-They rush through every part of their lives.

-No matter how much they rush, though, they never seem to get anywhere.

That is because they mistake rushing for living.

    
God gave us these lives to learn in, to grow in, and to love in. Don’t rush through them.

-There is no place that you need to be except where you are right now.

-You were meant to experience life, to cherish life, and to enjoy life: not to hurry through life.

-Your life is meant to be a journey of love and happiness not a race to some unseen finish line.

Take your time and rejoice in every second that you are given here. Then when you look back on the life you have lived you will see a million moments of love and not a blur of wasted years.

Colossians 4:5 "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time."

In The End

James 4:14b "For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

Writer Og Mandino put it this way: "Beginning today," he said, "treat everyone you meet as if he or she were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do so with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again."

James said life is uncertain, unsure, and without guarantee. The old saying, "Here today, gone tomorrow", could apply to you and me as much as anyone else. So while we are here, regardless of our age, we must make an impression on those around us and those that we love. We only get one shot at this so here is some advise that I hope will help today extend your gospel heritage to those you love and those you have a sphere of influence over.

-Don't get so caught up in your career that you let the people that matter the most slip through your fingers.

Ephesians 6:4 "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it..."

-Don't use people just to get what you want, then throw them away. Be a restorer of dreams and not a destroyer.

Galatians 6:1, 2 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

-Nothing is more important than your friends and family. No position is worth compromise of your integrity, conscience, or spiritual life that has a direct influence on those in your home or community.

John 15:3 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

-In the end, only your relationships will matter. Tend them well. Extend your heritage to the greatest length possible.
Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."

Hear my voice

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27 KJV)

 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20 KJV)

There are many important answers only you can give yourself, through first hand experience and self-reflection.  So stop listening to what the world says you should want start listening to who God says you are.  Once you’re tuned-in to Him a time will come when you finally get it.  When in the midst of life’s chaos and commotion you will stop dead in your tracks and, from somewhere deep down, the voice inside your head cries out “ENOUGH!”  This moment is the turning point that leads to joy in the midst of sorrow, peace in the midst of the storm, and calmness in the midst of chaos.

No one else can give you the exact answers you need to be happy and successful but God.

Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. (Psalms 130:2 KJV)

Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment. (Psalms 119:149 KJV)

Keys for Living On The Edge

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

We all live on the edge in today's world. We don't know what's going to happen next, so we questions God about all kinds of things. Yet God requires us to live by faith and these simple thoughts I hope will increase not diminish you faith.

-Every experience and step is necessary. Even if things aren’t the way you want them to be.  Even if there’s more to do or undo.  Even if you feel like you need to start over from scratch.  You are exactly where you’re supposed to be at this very moment. Don't jump ship. Hold steady until God moves you.

-Tomorrow will reveal itself exactly as it should. Be present.  Focus. You can’t change yesterday, but you can ruin today by worrying about tomorrow.

-You’re often using your imagination to create things you don’t want when you spend your time worrying and over-thinking everything. Some things and some people will never change and there's nothing you can do about it. Just be the best you can be at your allotted time.

-The most underrated trait of all successful people is positivity.  Your attitude directly determines how well you live your life.   You can’t live a positive life with a negative attitude. That's why Paul said think on the things that are positive rather than on the negative.

Life changes, but so can you.  If you’re being pulled in every direction by forces beyond your control, take time to pray and align yourself with what you trust most in life.  Have the courage to make a necessary change when you must, the strength to see it through, and faith that everything will turn out the way it’s supposed to be with the help of the Lord.

Life is tough.  There’s so much you simply can’t control, but you have to let these things go.  Do not let what is out of your control interfere with all the things you can control.  Focus on the important steps you can take today, and go for it!  No regrets.  No looking back.  Just hold on to life and move forward confidently.

We have no way of knowing exactly what lies over the horizon, but that’s what makes the journey even more exciting and that’s what makes today the most important day of your life.  Make it count!

Expectations

Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

I know a few things about irrational expectations among people and I know that irrational expectations can cause untold disappointment.

Like the expectation that someone else can make me happy. This is irrational because nobody can make me happy, but myself. That is my job. If I expect others to make me happy or to keep me happy, I know I will be disappointed again and again.

Many people live with the expectation that life should be, for the most part, relatively easy and problem free. This, too, is irrational because bad things happen and living can be difficult. If I expect things to be easy, if I expect not to have problems, if I expect to avoid pain and heartache, I know I will be in for serious disappointment. Problems are here to stay.

I don't mean to paint a picture of life as bleak and miserable because it isn't. In fact, I think it is amazing and  wonderful. It's all the more wonderful when I don't expect too much out of it. I expect problems, but I also expect to find joy. I do not expect others to always please me, but I do expect to be responsible for my own well-being.

So what did you expect? I think if you can answer that question well, you can expect to be much happier and like the Apostle Paul be content in whatever condition you are in.

Choices and Changes

Life is a balancing act of holding on and letting go and of staying put and moving on. We strive to make the right choices, but how do we know when it is truly time to move forward with our lives?  

The signs aren’t always easy to accept, but they are there and you know it.  Relationships, jobs, and even the cities we live in have expiration dates.  Sometimes we hold on to what’s not working out of fear that we won’t be able to adapt to necessary changes.  And thus, the outcome is always the same: more pain, immense frustration, and lasting regret.  

Be smarter than that. Embrace the changes you know you need to make and make them. Promise to slap adversity back into its seat whenever it dares to stand against you. Promise to be a force to be reckoned with because you are a force to be reckoned with. Let God work it all out.

Suffering

1 Peter 4:16 "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

Where is God when we are suffering?

Many people have asked that question. When God created us He made us perfect until sin was brought into the world. When sin was introduced, suffering followed. It is no longer a perfect world and we can all expect some suffering in our lives. Why is it that some people seem to suffer more than others? Why do some people have to endure constant pain and slow death from cancer? Why do Christian marriages break apart and cause suffering for adults and children? Those are questions that are hard to answer and mostly asked by agnostics or atheists. Suffering Christians have asked the same question and their faith is severely tested because of the suffering they endure.

You may question your spirituality if you are questioning God. That is a human trait but God knows and understands our questions. You see God sent Jesus to this earth to experience the same suffering we have to endure. Pain, disloyalty, and doubting followers, He experienced it all so He could experience what we will be called on to suffer. Think of the life of Jesus. He experienced the toils of life as we do and then betrayal as an adult. He knows what it feels like to face rejection. He spent 33 years walking among humans who were sick, depraved, and watched their suffering.

The final suffering was his painful and horrible death on the cross, betrayed by loved ones, and doubting followers. He made the choice to face the suffering His followers would eventually have to suffer so He could help us when we are facing trials and tribulations. Jesus no longer walks on this earth, yet He does use many tools and messengers to show His love for us. He is nearer to us than we know;. In fact, He is right beside us, suffering right along with us and helping us bear our burdens as well.

We may never know or understand why some people have more suffering than others, but the body of Christ does play the physical role of Jesus comforting his followers. Our spiritual leaders, and spiritual groups are instrumental in showing love and comforting us in our sorrow. We lay hands on people and pray for spiritual, emotional, and physical healing. The church and spiritual leaders are the instruments God uses to provide comfort, heal, and hold the hand of the suffering. We don't have all the answers to the why me question, but we do know we serve a God who can help us in our time of suffering.

1 Peter 4:19 "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."

The Power Of Change

Psalms 111:6  "He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen."  

God has shown His people His power time and time again. You have this power of change within you.

-You have the power to move forward no matter what obstacles block your path.  

-You have the power to live up to the highest vision of how your life can be.  

-You have the power to follow through and make significant progress on your biggest goals and dreams.

-You have this power because you have a choice concerning what you think, what you do, and where God wants you to be.

-Stop being pulled in every direction by things beyond your control. Take time to seek God's will for your life and press on.

Today is a new day, filled with new possibilities. Remember that the biggest breakthroughs often come when you least expect them. Embrace this because when things seem to be at their worst it's the ideal time for you to trust God for His best.  

If you can’t take a big step forward, take a little one. Just keep reminding yourself that you have the power in Jesus Name to take that first step and it's the only step that matters right now.

Stretching Out Further Than You Ever Have

Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

We all have dealt with struggle at one point or another in our lives. Some may be still dealing with it now. No one really asked for it or wants to remain in struggle due to the effect it has in all areas of your life. Today I want to share with you 5 steps to overcoming struggle in your life so you can de-clutter and live a life you love!

-Holding on to what happened to you in the past, what you had in the past, who you were in the past, and what people thought about you in the past is counterproductive to living in the moment and creating a supernatural future. Your past wants to make you feel unworthy, guilty, shameful, condemned, and even enslaved. But only you can give your past permission to do so. You are the co-creator and must decide if you want to write a new happy ending or allow the past to determine what your end will be. The choice is yours so choose to let go of your past.

-Holding on to people who do not love you, support you, and add value to your life will only use you, abuse you, and leave you high and dry! Do a quick check up on the company you keep. When you are together-Do you feel happy? Valued? Trusted? Supported? Encouraged? If not, why are they still around? It’s time to get serious about your time and stop allowing those who don’t deserve any, take it all. It’s a tough call but if you don’t they will be ringing the bell and you’ll be running like a servant.

What you think becomes your words and your words become your actions and your actions become your habits and your habits become your reality. We all know these reality shows are full of drama but your life doesn’t have to be. You can write the script and it all starts with your thoughts. Everything starts with a thought. So why not spend time thinking thoughts that will bring about what you dream about. Living a healthy, happy, abundant life! Once you allow negative thoughts to overtake you mentally, every word you speak will speak be in alignment with those negative thoughts and all the negativity that will manifest in your life. If you want more clarity, peace, wealth, and joy think it so you will speak it! Starting today, let go of the thoughts of I can’t, I won’t be able to, I’m not good at and replace them with I AM, I CAN, I WILL!

-Holding on to fear is like holding on to fire,but worse. Fire will burn you and take your life but fear will slow your life down and drag it out making it last f-o-r-e-v-e-r. Or so it will seem because nothing will be changing or getting better!. When you operate in fear you get nothing done, you do nothing extraordinary, you have failed relationships, or stay stuck in less than desirable positions in life all because you are afraid of what you don’t know. There are no guarantees in life but one-if you hang onto fear you will not see much fruit. You cannot be, do and have all that you desire if you remain a prisoner to fear. It immobilizes you. It locks you into situations that you want out of but are too fearful to leave. Take risks! Trust God has a plan for you. Go for it and if it doesn’t work out at least you know you tried. Let go of fear and stop saying , “Hoping for the best but expecting the worse.” I never understood that line!

-What you do on a daily basis are the bricks you are laying on the house (life) you are building. Your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become you reality! Here are just a few  habits that are keeping people in struggle-

a. Overspending leads to financial struggle.
b. Overeating leads to struggles with health and self-esteem.
c. Lying leads to struggles with trust.
d. Cheating and sleeping around lead to struggle in relationships.
e. Sleeping late, excessive partying etc lead to struggles on the job.
d. Quitting leads to struggles with being successful.
e. Wasting time leads to struggling with achieving goals.

Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing.  Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there.  Know this!  When you’re struggling, that’s when you’re growing stronger and smarter.  The more time you spend there, the faster you learn.  It’s better to spend an extremely high quality ten minutes growing, than it is to spend a mediocre hour running in place.  Every day, you want to practice at the point where you are on the edge of your ability, stretching yourself over and over again, making mistakes, stumbling, learning from those mistakes and stretching yourself even farther.

Strong Storms

"He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."

Psalms 107:29 

Hard times are like strong storms that blow against you.  And it’s not just that these storms hold you back from places you might otherwise go.  They also tear away from you all but the essential parts of your ego that cannot be torn, so that afterward you see yourself as you really are, and not merely as you might like to be.  This is a great thing.  

It may seem impossible now, but one day you will look back at the storms you have weathered and give a silent thank you.  For many of us, it is the storms of our lives that have given us compassion, kindness, and gentleness that we otherwise may not have known – and that we can now give away to others, because these qualities are inside of us

Our God is a merciful God.

 "I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us -- yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses."   (Isaiah 63:7 NIV)

While God shows us mercy, He also directs us to show mercy to others. The "compassionate treatment" that defines mercy includes forgiveness. No matter what someone does to you, God directs you to forgive them and not to seek retribution.

"Do not hate your brother in your heart... Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself...."   (Leviticus 19:17-18 NIV)

This familiar refrain was repeated by Jesus a thousand years later.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."   (Mark 12:30-31 NIV)

Forgiveness and mercy go hand in hand with both God and man. The two are inseparable because the prerequisite of forgiveness is mercy. Without mercy on earth, there can be no forgiveness in Heaven.

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."   (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV)

Stuck

You can’t have a better today if you’re still thinking and worrying about yesterday.  Whatever could have been or should have been, doesn’t really matter.  Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you have one foot on the brakes when you’re thinking about the past.  In order to free yourself, you must learn how to let go of whatever old news is keeping you stuck.  Release your regrets.  Discard yesterday’s frustrations.  Refuse to entertain old pain.  The energy it takes to hang onto these things is holding you back from a new beginning. 

It could be a change of heart, a change in your perspective, or a change in your location.  But the point in any case is that the way you are doing things is no longer working.  Imagine yourself as a river, flowing into a great ocean.  Oftentimes a river grows narrower and appears on the surface to lack movement just before it breaks through to the larger body of water.  The same thing happens to us as we prepare for a breakthrough in life.  Our flow must contract before it can expand.  And the contraction is equally important to the expansion. 

If you’ve been asking the same questions for a long time, yet you’re still stuck, it’s probably not that you haven’t been given the answers, but that you don’t like the answers you were given.  Remember, it takes a great deal of courage to admit that something needs to change, and a lot more courage still, to accept the responsibility for making the change happen.  Growth and change may be painful sometimes, but nothing in life is as painful as staying stuck where you don’t belong.

If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way.  If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.  This may be tough to accept, but it’s the truth.  Stop making excuses for why you can’t get it done and start focusing on all the reasons why you must make it happen.  The only person who can truly hold you back is you.  So no more excuses because it’s time for a change. It's time to choose what's best for you..  Oftentimes when we feel stuck, we are waiting for something magical to happen.  We wonder when the Lord will change things in our favor.  We do this instead of embracing the present and admitting the change we need to make.  What is keeping you from stepping forward?  If not fear of failure, then what?  Insecurity?  Laziness?  What is your excuse?  We all have one.  And when we focus on our excuses more than our steps forward, we walk in a circle and fall into the familiar pit we call “Stuck.”

If you find yourself constantly trying to prove your worth to someone else, you’ve already forgotten your value.  Don’t do this to yourself.  Care too much about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner. My biggest fear is allowing what others think to create bitterness and hatred in your heart. It's hard to try and love people that don't love you in return or even give you a chance to be what God has called you to be.  Your freedom lies not in the physical space around you, but in your mind.  As long as you cling to other people’s definitions of your truth, your life, and your happiness, you will always be chained.  Thoughts that begin with, “I have to…” or “I really should…” reveal where we feel most obligated to direct our energy.  Redefine things for yourself.  Write your own definitions.  Finish your own sentences.  Find your own way.  And most importantly, listen to the Lord.  He already knows what you truly need. 

New Wine and Old Wineskins don't mix

Matthew 9:17 "Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Jesus told John the Baptist’s disciples that people don’t put new wine in old wineskins because the skins will burst and the wine will be wasted. But many churches and ministries today insist on pouring their new wine in the old models, again and again. We resist innovation and we fight progress. 90 % of what we are doing in church today needs a total makeover. We are facing the most daunting renovation project in the history of the church.

The task is not impossible, but it will require us to take some very bold initiatives:

- Stay open to His fresh directives and expect Him to stretch your faith. He might lead us to camp in one place for a while, but we should never get too comfortable. His trumpet will eventually blow and the cloud of His presence will shift. Don’t put on the brakes when God is calling you to move forward.

-God is with the courageous few who are willing to blaze a new path into unreached territory and are willing to defy tradition. People who are married to the past will not embrace the future. Sacred cows do not belong in the pulpit, but must be sacrificed on the altar. The crowd chooses the comfort of nostalgia, but the way we’ve always done it will not work in God’s new season.

-We cannot rely on church growth seminars, popular books, or superstar preachers to lead us into genuine change. Copying spiritual trends is just a form of carnality and is a sad substitute for a real move of God. If the work of transforming the church is not totally led by the Holy Ghost, then our changes will be shallow and our impact will be pitiful. The last thing we need is a superficial upgrade. We need a fresh anointing of the Holy Ghost and fire!

The Lord wants to unleash an outpouring of new wine into the church today, but He is calling us to prepare our wineskins. What is old must be renewed by the Spirit, what is outdated must be remodeled, and what is ineffective must be replaced. God wants to do a new thing. Don’t resist it, but accept it and be blessed.

Defining your life and legacy

Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Common fears have kept countless people from enjoying life fully. Some of the greatest fears we share are a fear of becoming incapacitated, a fear of financial ruin, fear of abandonment and fear of death. Fear may be the most powerful enemy of humanity. And it is an enemy all of us are intimately acquainted with.
We don’t become fearless by reading books or thinking about things, just educated.  Living out experiences firsthand in the real world, one day at a time, is what gives birth to fearlessness.  Ultimately becoming fearless is what you get when you test out the waters for yourself.  This kind of life experience is the most valuable asset you own.

Sometimes on the road to acquiring fearlessness life will beat you down, but you have to stand back up because nothing is more beautiful and powerful than a soul who has weathered and grown through life’s difficulties.  Don’t regret your time, even the moments that were filled with hurt.  Smile because you learned from it all and because you gained enough strength to rise above it all.  In the end, it’s not what you have been through that matters, but it’s how you got through it that defines your life and your legacy.

By surviving your worst fears imaginable, you develop newfound courage. It's that courage that helps you believe that nothing can ever happen to you that is worse than what you have already endured. There is nothing you cannot face with God's courage and strength in your heart. Let Him replace your fears with faith and you can make it all the way home.

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. "

What If

-What if you choose to believe that you have enough, you are enough, and that you’ve come far enough to be all God wants you to be?

-What if you choose to believe that you are strong enough, wise enough, kind enough, and loved enough to move forward in faith?

-What if you choose to believe that you can do all things through Christ?

-What if tomorrow morning you choose to believe it all over again?

Stop limiting your faith about what you can or cannot do or what is possible or impossible. Your faith is not an idea held just in your mind. It is the reality that holds the mind, spirit, and body together.

Faith means living with uncertainty, feeling your way through life, and letting God's Spirit guide you like a flashlight in the dark. It means expecting the unexpected and believing for the impossible.

Stop the what if's and just believe. It could rock your world like never before.

Hebrews 11:1; 6

Stuck between a rock and a hard place

-Have you been more focused on not failing than actually succeeding?

-Are you are comfortable with mediocrity rather than try because it’s safer?  B

-Is it because it’s easier to talk about learning that new skill as opposed to actually learning it? 

-Is it because you think everything is too hard or too complicated so you will just “sit this one out,” or maybe you’ll “do it someday?” 

-Do you hate your present job so badly, but won’t apply for a new one because it’s easier to reject the possibility of rejection?

Snap out of it! Wake Up! Do something about it while you can!

Instead of sitting around failing to try, you really need to be out there trying to fail, challenging yourself, learning new things and failing forward as fast as possible.  Your desire to succeed must overpower your fear of failure.  Because if you are too afraid of failure, you can’t possibly do what needs to be done to be successful. Really, that's when you becomes satisfied with mediocrity and nothing mediocre really ever turns out good. It's either not hot enough or not cold enough. It's kind of stuck in between.

John the Revelator said this in Revelation 3:15, 16 "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

I don't want to be stuck in the middle between blessing and cursing or struck between a rock and a hard place. I'll take the blessing part anytime, but I can only do so by trying to do my best. So can you.

Excuse Me

Luke 14:18-20

"And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come."

Do you have a plan that's bigger than your excuses?

There is so very much to touch, to do, to create, and to experience in life. Confident people in Christ take ownership of their thoughts and actions and stop relying on excuses.

-They don’t blame the traffic for being tardy at work because they know they were late leaving home.

-They don’t excuse their shortcomings with excuses like “I don’t have time” or “I’m just not good enough”. No, they just make the time and they keep on improving until they see results in the area they have depended on excuses for.

-They understand that even a tiny effort is infinitely more productive than a big, impressive excuse.  

So stop seeing every obstacle as an excuse and start seeing those obstacles as forming a pathway to your goals. If you don't nothing will ever get done.

The only way to live

How many of us have tried to skip ahead in our lives and figure out what to do months and even years from now instead of embracing each day as God intended. I knew that my book of my life isn't done yet and that I have many pages left to go. Still, that doesn't stop me from trying to write the ending half-way through. Time and again, I foolishly jump ahead and try to solve every conceivable problem before it happens so I could reach that happily ever after ending. Life, however, doesn’t work like that. God loves to surprise us, and you never know what new problem, change, or opportunity each new day will bring. 

God in His loving wisdom often reminds us to relax, slow down and find His love and joy in each day. Recently when I found myself returning to that bad habit of rushing ahead and living in the future again, I remembered His truth about needing to "live one day at a time." When I remembered those words I smiled, turned the book of my life back to the right page, and thanked God for today. 

There is no skipping ahead in the book of life. Each of us has to live it one page and one day at a time. Each of us has to have faith in God to help us to write it line by line and moment by moment. Each of us has to trust that our Heavenly Father will bring our story to its perfect end. We do it by faith in His Word and through the power of the Holy Ghost. That's the only way we can live.

What Does God Want With My LIfe?

What does God want with your life?

-He wants you to catch only the good within yourself, and forsake the bad.

-He wants you to capture only the highest, wisest, best, most loving, most giving, and most joyous part of your elf and let the rest fade away.

-He wants you to become the person that God meant for you to be and live the way that God meant for you to live.

-He wants you to share His love and joy with others and the world. 

The glorious truth is that you, I, and everyone else in this world who loves Jesus can do this. God loves us all so much and gives us the strength and ability to become our highest selves. We can choose to be the person God meant for us to be and fill ourselves with love, joy, and light and then share them with the world. We can capture the best within us and allow the worst parts of ourselves to fade away. We can live as a true Child of God sending smiles, giving love, offering joy, scattering sunshine, and creating laughter wherever we go. We can catch the dream of the person we always wanted to be and make it a reality.

That's what God want with your life. Will you give it completely to Him?

Save Your Children

Ephesians 6:11-13 "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Satan wants to destroy your children.

There are two reasons Satan wants them:
-First, Satan wants to destroy the lives of anyone he can attack, and children, being generally more vulnerable than adults, especially Christian adults, are a prime target of his scheming.

-Second, he believes if he gets your children, it will be easier for him to get to you (see Job 1:18-19), and he wants you, too.

Satan's ultimate goal is to defeat God and his people, and though we know that this is a battle he cannot win according to Revelation 20, that does not stop his attempts, and it does not exempt us from his efforts.

Fortunately, we are not left defenseless against such a powerful adversary. In 1 Peter 5:8 we see Satan as a lion, certainly not a foe to be taken lightly, but we have examples in the Old Testament of God's servants being able to defeat lions, so we can take comfort in God's ability to protect His own from this great an opponent.

However, Paul told the church at Ephesus that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. We cannot doubt the strength of our adversary. Clearly, we are going to have to recognize his power, so that we can learn to depend on the One who is more powerful. We must also be prepared to meet Satan's attacks on all fronts, including those against our children.

This latest outbreak of violence against kids is but another effort by Satan to destroy the lives of families. Families broken down by grief, or families corraled by fear are more susceptible to questioning God and His protections. If Satan can convince people that God is powerless, he wins the souls of those people, and with his attacks on the moral fiber of the home he begins to affect the children in ways we cannot even imagine. In addition, drugs are another way in which Satan will try to win your kids. How many families have been destroyed by this great evil? We must understand that Satan is not happy when families live as God would have them, so he will seek to destroy whatever may bond them to God by any means necessary.

How then, do we meet our adversary?
-First, we need to realize that if Satan is determined to get to us, even through our children, we must be prepared to look for and recognize his attacks. Study what you can on drugs and other forms of sin which are so prevalent among young people. Be prepared when your children ask about common social evils. Only when you are knowledgeable can you prepare your children for when they are confronted with these sins.

-Secondly, remember James gave his readers this two-part admonition in James 4:7 "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Resistance to Satan will not be easy, especially for your children. He has as his resources all that the world characterizes as fun and desirable, and for us to resist will require willpower and prayer.

Satan wants your children, but Satan will not win. It is incumbent on us then, not to give up, for we will win as well if we stand with God. Paul said in Galatians 6:9, "In due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary." In this case, we will reap children who have the desire and ability to defeat Satan on their own. We will reap saved kids. We will reap victory.

If You Believe...

If you believe you know that every day is a new beginning. It is to trust that miracles happen, and dreams really do come true.

If you believe you can see angels dancing among the clouds, know the wonder of a stardust sky, and the wisdom of the one who created the sun and the moon.

If you believe you know the value of a nurturing heart, the innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of an aging hand, for it is through their teachings we learn to love.

If you believe you find the strength and courage that lies within you, when it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again.

If you believe you know you are not alone, that life is a gift, and this is your time to cherish it.

If believe you know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen, and all your hopes and dreams are within reach.
 
If you believe.

5 Random Thoughts For Today

Two days ago I had my 7th stent implanted in my heart. I've been hurting for at least 4 days and finally had to give into it. When the nurse asked me at the emergency room why I waited so long to come in I told her that I'm a minister and I prayed for Divine Healing. She laughed, not out of disrespect, but because I wasn't healed as I expectedand ended up in the emergency room.

I don't know why God didn't heal me last Sunday when I asked the church to pray for me. However, I learned through this cath that I do not have any more blockages. 7 months ago they saw this one they just repaired at about 50 % blocked and said there were a couple of more. However, when the doctor came out of the surgery he told my wife that this was the only blockage he could see. So even though I had to have the surgery, I believe God did heal me and gave me a new chance to testify about it for Him. Even though it didn't happen as I expected, God did touch me and for that I give Him praise.

Laying in bed this morning, these random thoughts stuck out in my mind. I thought I would just share them with you today because you may have expected more than what you got when you prayed. If so, maybe these will help you remember His plan is different than yours or mine and we have to learn to trust in Him to figure it all out.

-Value and enjoy the journey, even when there are detours along the way.  Appreciate every moment, whatever each moment may bring.  From the genuine appreciation of these little moments will come a remarkable life. No moment is wasted when you live in God's presence.

-Treat yourself as the most important person in the world, and treat others as you treat yourself.  Do not miss one single opportunity to tell someone how wonderful they are, how beautiful they are inside and out.  Live so that people will enjoy your presence when they’re with you, and appreciate you just as much or even more when they’re apart from you.

-Accept important apologies you never received. If you love someone and you want to forgive them, relieve them of the need to apologize to you, for anything.

-Let go of expectation, let go of requirements and rules and regulations that you would impose on your loved ones.  The gift of pure love allows you to bless others and accept them without condition, granting them freedom to make their own choices.

-Remember everyone you meet can teach you something important. In fact, the people who are the most difficult to deal with can also be your most valuable teachers.

No matter how much you know, there’s a whole lot you don’t know. In almost every situation, a little more willingness to acknowledge that there may be something you do not know could change everything.  Go somewhere new, and countless opportunities suddenly appear.  Do something differently, and all sorts of great new possibilities spring up.  Keep an open mind and God will receive His glory through things we don't expect. It could be an illness, an unexpected move, a never thought of loss, or just a change of opinion, Whatever. Just realize somehow and someway He is working all things for your good.

Erasing Regret

Every one of us has experienced feelings of regret.  But it’s not too late to set things straight.  We’re still here breathing.  Today we have an opportunity to change tomorrow.  Right now we can choose to erase regret from our later years. It’s time to make the best of each and every day.

-If you spend your life trying to define yourself by what someone else loves, you’re going to be miserable.  Try things.  Explore.  See what makes you hear music inside and what makes your heart swell, and then go do it.  Find out everything you can about it.  Find other people who love it too.  If you waste time pretending to like something just because other people you think are “cool” like it, you’re going to end up with the wrong people and circumstances in your life.  Love what you love and be yourself, and you will end up with a lifestyle and relationships that make you truly happy.

-As you’re working on point #1, you will inevitably meet people who want to steer you in a different direction – their direction.  Just remember, what’s right for them may be wrong for you, and vice versa.  The truth is that the world isn’t really as it is, but as we see it.  And we all see it differently.  If you end up living a boring, miserable life because you completely ignored yourself and instead listened to a parent, a peer, or some gal on TV telling you how to live your life, then you have no one but yourself to blame.  Honestly, the smartest and most courageous act is simply to think for yourself and listen to you own intuition.  It’s better to die your way, than live someone else’s idea of your life. 

-The world does not owe you a living.  You owe the world a life.  So stop daydreaming and start DOING.  Develop a backbone, not a wishbone.  Take full responsibility for your life – take control.  You are important and you are needed.  It’s too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday.  Someday is now; the somebody the world needs is YOU.  Focus on being productive, not being busy.  Don’t just get things done; get the right things done (and this includes things in your personal life too).

-Is there anything worse than getting somewhere and not realizing how you got there?  Even worse is only realizing how great something is after it’s gone.  Living in the present is a basic notion, but as with most simple things, we often find a way to complicate it.  But there’s nothing complicated about learning to appreciate and notice life as it’s happening.  There’s nothing complicated about being present.  You won’t remember the cool Instagram photo you saw on your feed anyway.  You will, however, want to remember the conversations you had and the stories you lived through. 

I don’t regret the things I’ve done. I regret the things I didn’t do when I had the chance.

Your Pastor is human

Your pastor is human. Yep, that’s right, they are human. They don’t have wings or a halo or feet of gold or feelings that can’t get hurt. They have been called by God to do something that would scare most people to death, which is to minister to and help Christians grow in their faith, build a church, and reach out to the lost and share “thus saith the Lord.” In this world of change, where too few believe the Bible is God’s Word, every other week it seems there is a need to “re-define” this or “re-define” that, and your pastor’s calling is getting more and more difficult to perform.

Statistics tell us 97 percent of pastors have been betrayed, falsely accused or hurt by someone close to them, and 70 percent of pastors battle depression. Seven thousand churches close each year, and 1,500 pastors quit the ministry each month. Only 10 percent of all pastors will retire a pastor, and 80 percent of pastors feel discouraged. Ninety-four percent of pastors' families feel the pressure of the ministry. Seventy-eight percent of pastors have no close friends, and 90 percent of pastors report working 55-70 hours per week.

It’s not an easy job and your pastor works more than just on Sunday or Wednesday. Your pastor is actually “on call” 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Many times I have received a call for help at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. and sometimes, our days don’t end until way late at night. They are also maintenance men, yard workers, and janitors when there is no one else to do those jobs.

So the next time you get a little disturbed or angry at your pastor, instead of flying off the handle and telling someone else, call your pastor, set up a time to meet and sit down and talk with them. I’m sure the door to their office swings both ways. And before you call them up to schedule a time to talk with them, maybe you should spend some time on your knees talking to God about them. That might be all that needs to be done.

A Different Spirit

The Bible tells us in the Book of Numbers that the Israelites refused to go into the promised land because of all the giants. They were scared of what they saw. The Israelites start singing the same old song: “Oh that we would have died in Egypt! Why did God bring us here to die?" When Joshua and Caleb tell them to have courage because God is for them, the Israelites were ready to stone them. Then the Lord stepped in and said to Moses:

“How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?" (Numbers 14:11 NKJV)

Israel constantly forget all that the Lord had done for them. It was their lack of faith that cause them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

Yet, we are often exactly the same way. How quickly we forget the Lord’s goodness to us and His constant provision and uncountable blessings in our own lives. It’s really sad. But I am grateful that the Lord has an active, pursuing, encompassing love for us. I am thankful he doesn’t wipe us out and start over.

That's why the older I get I want to be like Caleb:

"But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it." (Numbers 14:24 NKJV)

Caleb had a different spirit. Yes, Lord, help me be more like Caleb. I want a different spirit in me. Give me a spirit of unwavering faith and trust in you that no matter what I see in the natural, no matter how overwhelming the odds look, that you are still in control and there is absolutely nothing that takes you by surprise. Caleb didn't see giants, he saw victory. Caleb didn't see obstacles, he saw stepping stones. Caleb didn't see defeat, he saw conquest.

I want that same different spirit. I want to see God at His highest and most powerful point. I want the mountain and I am determined to climb it in Jesus' Name.

How about you?