Tag: JesusChrist

Negative Breeds Negative

It’s pretty simple. If you think negative thoughts you’ll get a negative outcome. That’s because negative breeds negative. Think negative and you get negative.

The devil LOVES negative thinking. He seeds it and helps it flourish. His whispers in your ear grow louder with every negative thought.

I use to think about the worst of any situation. In fact, I would play out the worst outcome before it was an outcome. In essence, I willed the negative outcome with my negative thinging.

I know it’s tough to think positive thoughts all the time. Especially in the very negative world we live in. The news is negative, not just because a lot of bad things are happening but because the media loves negative reporting. The media thrives on negativity.

God is the model of everything positive. There is nothing negative in God. Only positive unconditional love. That’s why I turn to God—Creator, Savior, and Empowerer—any time negative thinking creeps into my head. It’s not always easy but willing positive thinking, and praying for it, can swamp the negative thoughts.

Positive thinking breeds positive outcomes. So, if you want positive outcomes in your life, plant those seeds of positive thinking. Like all things in life, God means this to be so simple. But we complicate and make it difficult.

Have a POSITIVE weekend!!!

You Are AMAZINGLY Special and Unique!

Yes, you are. And so am I and every other person on this planet. No matter what we do or who we are we are all special and unique. We are children of God, created in his image. Not only do each one of us have different physical finger prints but we are special and unique in soul. And God created each of us with a special and unique purpose in life.

We judge people by what they look like, how much money they have, how famous they are, and other outward manifestations. But God sees inside of us, knowing that no matter who we are or what we have we are special and unique. We each have an individual purpose in life, no matter how little or large.

One of the Secrets to Life is understanding our God-given purpose in life. Jesus came to save us. What is your purpose? Knowing that purpose is the fulfillment of lfe.

I hope this week you reflect on how special and unique you are. And start finding your purpose in life if you haven’t already.

Have an AMAZING week ahead because you are amazing! Feel it!!!

Not About Me. It’s About You.

Imagine a world where everyone thought about the other person than themselves. It would be heaven. Most likely, that is what heaven is like. Filled with people looking out for others first, themselves last. This is exactly what Jesus did in dying for all of us. He’s our model. Unfortunately, we ignore Him.

More so than ever, we live in a world where it’s all about me, and not about you. When someone does something wrong, they not only don’t admit it but they are the victim. That’s why the world is so screwed up. We ignore how Jesus lived and the model of His life. We live for us, not the other person.

There is one way to heaven and that’s by putting yourself in back of others. You need to step in their shoes and understand their views and problems. You need to be them, rather than you. That’s the Jesus way. That’s the road to heaven!

Think about other people this week. No matter what you think, we are all children of God. We all veer off the path, some more than others. But we are all children of God. He loves us all equally and unconditionally. More so-called “Christians” should practice what they preach.

Smile, help, give, and spread some love this week. Look at others’ points of views.

ENJOY the week ahead!

Pressing Forward

Let’s face it—we’re all imperfect. Imperfect children of a perfect God. Like everyone else, I screw up more times than I like or should. The flesh takes over the spirit and we simply give in to the flesh. That’s life. But when I do screw up I try not to beat myself up but press forward.

I have found that the worst thing you can do is beat yourself up after you screw up. The devil loves to pile on and make you look back at what you did rather than forward to what you should be doing. Devil back. God ahead.

Let me give you a news break if you don’t already know it. God knows everything you have done and everything you will do. He sees everything. He wants you to keep pressing forward not backward in a pool of self incrimination.

There’s a reason why God the Father sent His only Son Jesus to die for our sins. So, when you admit you did something wrong and ask for forgiveness, you are forgiven. Jesus already has wiped those sins off the board. Now press forward!

Don’t look back only to not make the same wrong again. Learn from your mistakes but don’t wallow in them. Press forward!

Have a GREAT rest of the week and remember to press forward!!!

I Am What I Am by the Grace of God

Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 15:10 that by the grace of God he is what he is. And by the grace of God we are all what we are. Regardless of our situation, God threw away the mold when He made you, me, and every other person to have lived. We are all special and unique children of God.

I do the wrong thing all the time. I mess up. But I stop getting down on myself, pick myself up, and don’t make the same mistake again. At least I try not to make the same mistake again. I tell myself that God made me, and I am what I am by His grace.

I know I am nothing without God. Anything I do right I attribute to His grace. God made me and hardwired me with Him. He sent His Son to save me and His Spirit to empower me. How can I go wrong with all that help?

Don’t get down on yourself. And don’t ever let yourself feel inferior to anyone. God created you, saved you, and is empowering you. By His grace you are who you are. Special. Unique. One of a kind.

Have an amazing week being who God created you to be!

Paradise Is Where Your Heart Is!

Our daughter—only child—was married several weeks back. When your daughter tells you this was the best day of her life, you are in paradise. Everything about the day was perfect! It was paradise! But then paradise fades because the day is over. Yes, the pictures and videos keep the memories flowing. But there is a sense of loss. Paradise lost.

This experience has just reaffirmed to me that paradise is in your heart. It’s not predicated on people, outside events, and experiences. It’s in your heart and is there day-in and day-out. That’s because a Secret to Life is that God hard-wired paradise into each one of us. The problem is most of us don’t know where paradise really is. It’s in your heart!

People disappoint and things happen in life. If your definition of paradise is a wedding day, vacation, or even a love all that will come and go. But God has given you the ability to live in paradise day-in and day-out if you reach into Him in your heart. He sent His Only Son to die to sin for us and the Spirit is always there empowering us and lifting us up if we fall or even fail. What more can you ask for? It’s paradise.

If we make the right choices in this life eternity will be paradise forever. It is our Promised Land. But while on this earth we can find paradise within us if we just look. LISTEN for and to God and you will find paradise. He is reaching out to you. Reach into Him. He is never more than less than a heart beat away.

Enjoy paradise this week!

Don’t Let ANYONE Steal Your Joy!!!

Our daughter’s wedding was a HUGE success. Everything about the day was truly blessed. Even the weather cooperated, which wasn’t looking good the week before. But as with everything in life, there were several people issues that were annoyances to my wife. My message to her was simple—Don’t let anyone steal your joy from what was a perfect day.

No, not every day is perfect. Some far from it. But there is always one thing in life that is perfect day in and day out. And that’s God. He is perfect everyday, no matter what is going on in your life. So, my message to you is simple—don’t let anyone steal your joy! God is always there to help!

Trust me, I know that people can be really annoying. But shame on you if you let anyone get to you. God has hardwired joy into you whether you know it or not. So, falling back on God—Father, Son & Spirit—and His perfection is the guard to stop anyone from stealing your joy.

We think it’s shame on people for stealing our joy when it’s actually shame on us for letting anyone steal our joy. In fact, they don’t steal it. We give it up.

Feel your joy slipping away? It may sound way overly simple but turn to perfection. Turn to God. LISTEN for and to God because He is always there.

Have a joy-filled rest of the week!

Your Word is Your Bond

We live in a time where words and living by them are meaningless. Someone can say one thing one day and turn face the other. We see this all over the place, most recently in the honored world of golf. Leaders in the PGA, including players, said they would never take money from the Saudis and merge with the LIV “tour.” Well, we have seen how that has been thrown out the window.

Your word is your bond. What you say you need to stick to and live by. Yes, we all say things that we realize later are mistakes. That’s different. But the basic premise is you say what you mean and live by it.

I find a lot of professed Christians who say a lot of pretty sounding words. But they then don’t live by those words. We are just so fortunate that God lives by every word He speaks to us. Truly, His word is His bond. We need to follow that model.

I try to live by my words. Obviously, sometimes I fail. But I pick myself back up and give it another go. If we don’t live by our words what are we?

Have an AMAZING week ahead! And live by your words this week!

What is God?

Love. Pure and simple, God is love. John said it best so suggest you read 1 John 4:7-12. God is love and everything that comes from God is love.

If God were anything but pure and unconditional love then we would be in big trouble. At the very least, He would not have sacrificed His Only Son to clear out all sins past, present, and future.

It’s hard to think about a God that is pure refined love. The ultimate expression of love. But that is what God is. It’s hard to believe because we live in a world so filled with strife and downright hatred.

There is only one way to get closer to God and that’s to love. Not just love people close to you but love everyone, regardless of who they are. Love, love, and love. There is only one path to God.

So, the next time you want to say something bad, do something bad, lash out, or do anything but love, think again if you want to really feel love in your life. Love is just like an electric current. It’s not static but flows. Love can’t exist as a static feeling. It has to flow.

Let your love flow this week. LOVE is truly a Secret to Life. So have a great week and let it flow!

When Work Gets in the Way of God

I’ve been really, really, really busy at work. Did I say “really” busy? Oh yea. Although I do make it a regular morning activity to pray, God too often takes a backseat to work and all the things personally I have going on, including my daughter’s wedding in less than two months. Yep, lots of things going on. But, at times, not enough God going on.

One thing that has taken a backseat is writing this blog. As I have said in the past, if this helps just one person, great. But I first write it for myself to force writing about life as it should be centered on God. If God isn’t the first and last thing you think about each day—with a lot more God during the day—it’s a problem for me. A day without a lot of God is a day that can get really bad fast.

I think having God by your side—and always less than a heartbeat away—is a day when you are always safe, no matter what the day brings. The problem is we get so wrapped up in our work and personal lives that it’s easy to leave God behind. We can’t stop for even a few minutes to have a conversation with God. That’s me lately.

So, it’s way past the New Year but its time for a resolution. A resolution to give God some time in my life, some meaningful time. To stop, talk and most importantly LISTEN, because God is always reaching out trying to talk to you and me. Really. LISTEN and you will hear. It’s my first Secret to Life. It’s why I started writing this blog a long time ago.

So, spend time with God—and tomorrow and the days after tomorrow!