I know you've already concluded by my title that today is Thinking Thursday. Bravo!
Today I want to challenge you to consider something you may not have thought about before. I'm willing to bet (metaphorically of course) that my title 'Identity Theft' is sparking your curiosity just a bit. It does not, however hold the conventional meaning in this dissertation.
I want to grab your attention to talk about something that is prevelent throughout our world today. We see it in every genre of society; in every sect; in every corner, and in all people. Identity theft!
Let me qualify this misnomer...
Everywhere you turn throughout our world today you will find everyday, unassuming people, walking around with someone else's identity! that's right! Even you might be one of the latest culprits of this alluring and easy to hide wrongdoing. I'm not talking about stolen credit cards and drivers' licenses, this is a greater evil with further reaching effects. To put it simply, we have all been guilty of wanting to be like someone else to the point of taking on their characteristics and personality, leaving our true selves on a shelf somewhere, collecting dust.
'What is the great offense?' you ask - Well, we rob this world of who God has created us to be, doing a dis-service to those who need us for who we really are. This my friend, is a grave injustice.
YOU are a gift from God to others! I know you've heard it many times before that there is no one else like you, with your fingerprint blah, blah blah...but it's true! Your are unique! You may think being yourself doesn't accomplish much but Suzy Sunshine has it all together so why not be like her. No! Do you not know that the very ones you imitate are most likely trying to imitate you!
In short, don't try to be someone that you were never meant to be. This is not only false advertising but you are burdening yourself with the unnecessary stress of going totally against what should be natural for you.
Consider this Psalm of David - "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...my frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - Ps 139:13-16 (NIV)
Now don't you think if God spent that much time, thought, and effort creating someone as wonderful as you, that something really special happened and someone really awesome was born? please don't insult Him by refusing His gift. Determine to be the greatest YOU you possibly can.
Just be yourself...the world is waiting!!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Winning Wednesday: Wooden Bowls
There is a story about a frail old man who lived with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson.
The family would eat together nightly but the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made it difficult to eat without spilling food and milk onto the floor and dropping his spoon, creating a great mess.
The son and daughter-in-law soon became very irritated at the mess each night. The son said, "we have got to do something about grandfather". The daughter-in-law agreed, "I'm tired of his milk spilling and noisy eating." So the couple set a table over in the corner so grandfather could eat alone, away from them. They had given him a wooden bowl to eat from so he wouldn't break any more plates. Each night as they would glance over at him they would notice tears falling from his face into the wooden bowl as he ate alone.
One day the father observed their four year old sitting on the floor playing with wooden scraps. He asked him curiously, "what are you making son?" The boy replied, "I'm making wooden bowls for when you and mommy get old."
Jesus gives us instructions on how we should treat others. Luke 6:31 says, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (NIV)
What wooden bowls have you given to others? How would you feel if someone gave one to you?Today is Winning Wednesday and this little reminder of a simple truth will do well to help us win today!
Remember...every action yields a reward or a repercussion. Wouldn't you like to see kindness and mercy extended to you as a result of you giving it to others? What a lonely and unfulfilled life we would live if we did nothing for others and lived to please ourselves.
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works." - Heb 10:24 (ESV)
Go on winning friends!
The family would eat together nightly but the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made it difficult to eat without spilling food and milk onto the floor and dropping his spoon, creating a great mess.
The son and daughter-in-law soon became very irritated at the mess each night. The son said, "we have got to do something about grandfather". The daughter-in-law agreed, "I'm tired of his milk spilling and noisy eating." So the couple set a table over in the corner so grandfather could eat alone, away from them. They had given him a wooden bowl to eat from so he wouldn't break any more plates. Each night as they would glance over at him they would notice tears falling from his face into the wooden bowl as he ate alone.
One day the father observed their four year old sitting on the floor playing with wooden scraps. He asked him curiously, "what are you making son?" The boy replied, "I'm making wooden bowls for when you and mommy get old."
Jesus gives us instructions on how we should treat others. Luke 6:31 says, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (NIV)
What wooden bowls have you given to others? How would you feel if someone gave one to you?Today is Winning Wednesday and this little reminder of a simple truth will do well to help us win today!
Remember...every action yields a reward or a repercussion. Wouldn't you like to see kindness and mercy extended to you as a result of you giving it to others? What a lonely and unfulfilled life we would live if we did nothing for others and lived to please ourselves.
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works." - Heb 10:24 (ESV)
Go on winning friends!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tenacious Tuesday: Keeping the momentum
Welcome to the second day of my new season of launching out into the blogosphere.
Today is Tenacious Tuesday! It is apply named because to be tenacious is to be persistent and today is your day of persistance. You've conquered Monumental Monday, now it's important that you keep the momentum going!
In my line of business (outside of pastoring) my success is completely dependant upon what I believe to be divine encounters with potential clients. These encounters give me the opportunity for witty conversation and tactical negotiations. But without the encounter there is no client. Recently, I drove over to my usual place of engagement where I would meet unsuspecting clients, and waited. The hours seemed like days in the unfriendly January cold. Once fatigue began to set in I took one last look at my watch and decided it was time to go home.
Just then I began yet another debate with myself whether to leave or stay for another thirty minutes - but in that moment of indicission, I found myself fighting against all natural impulses to jump into my car and drive away. I began to delay getting into the car. Within a New York minute I noticed a car pulling in next to me. I will spear you the belaboring of this story by concluding - Had I left thirty seconds earlier, I would have missed what proved to be my most successful encounter in weeks!
You see where this is going. Persistence is the key to success!
In Luke 18, Jesus tells a story of a persistent woman who repeatedly petitioned before an unjust judge, seeking justice against her adversaries. He taught that because of her persistence she got what she was fighting for, even though the unrighteous judge had no intentions of granting her request!
How many great moments have you missed in your life simply because you gave up too soon? As you go through you day today, think about the way you started this week or this year. Your new initiatives... your new perspective... the changes you've already made so far. Now just as you began, continue! This is Tenacious Tuesday and today is the day you determine to keep the momentum so that you finish strong!
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Gal. 6:9
Stay strong my friend!
Today is Tenacious Tuesday! It is apply named because to be tenacious is to be persistent and today is your day of persistance. You've conquered Monumental Monday, now it's important that you keep the momentum going!
In my line of business (outside of pastoring) my success is completely dependant upon what I believe to be divine encounters with potential clients. These encounters give me the opportunity for witty conversation and tactical negotiations. But without the encounter there is no client. Recently, I drove over to my usual place of engagement where I would meet unsuspecting clients, and waited. The hours seemed like days in the unfriendly January cold. Once fatigue began to set in I took one last look at my watch and decided it was time to go home.
Just then I began yet another debate with myself whether to leave or stay for another thirty minutes - but in that moment of indicission, I found myself fighting against all natural impulses to jump into my car and drive away. I began to delay getting into the car. Within a New York minute I noticed a car pulling in next to me. I will spear you the belaboring of this story by concluding - Had I left thirty seconds earlier, I would have missed what proved to be my most successful encounter in weeks!
You see where this is going. Persistence is the key to success!
In Luke 18, Jesus tells a story of a persistent woman who repeatedly petitioned before an unjust judge, seeking justice against her adversaries. He taught that because of her persistence she got what she was fighting for, even though the unrighteous judge had no intentions of granting her request!
How many great moments have you missed in your life simply because you gave up too soon? As you go through you day today, think about the way you started this week or this year. Your new initiatives... your new perspective... the changes you've already made so far. Now just as you began, continue! This is Tenacious Tuesday and today is the day you determine to keep the momentum so that you finish strong!
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Gal. 6:9
Stay strong my friend!
Monumental Monday: A Day Without an End
Today is what I like to call Monumental Monday. It is the dreaded first work day of the week for most people but I would like to change that! How about we see Monday as a day that we look forward to; a day to strategize so we can snatch the rest of the week by the nap of it's neck and make it surrender to us!
How exactly do we do that? Well I'll tell you in just a moment...
Let's backtrack for a moment. I chose today's title, 'A Day Without an End' becuase Mondays tend to feel like you've fallen into a deep dark hole without escape, kind of like when my wife drags me into Walmart... anyhew, we begin the day with a groggy endeavor to suffer through the physical and mental shock of leaving "weekend mode" and stepping into "work mode". As our workday quickly ensues, we garner a stealthy approach at pacing ourselves to actually make it through the day without requital, and eventually (yes finally), find ourselves deep within the the throws of our creature comforts at the end of the day grimacing but glad to have made it out alive! I'm talking about Mondays!
Now back to how we change that. How about we start with something that summons us in the morning. Something that we can actually look forward to each week. Something that would get us out of bed extra early, excited to give our Monday a surprise attack! An ambush if you will! All you need is a strategy...are you ready? Here it is...
~The Strategy~
1/ Pray about your day -
Get up early and thank God for a new day that will be filled with strength and accomplishment. Ask Him for safety and protection agaist incident or accident, for the ability to complete each task and to make your day go by quickly. An early prayer of guidance and covering is needed before you walk through the door!
"O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water." - Ps. 63:1(NKJV)
2/ Get a word for the day -
Open your Bible and ask God for your specific word for the day. You don't have to read an entire chapter before you go to work, all you need is a word! Believe me, whatever He gives you will carry you through your day with great success!
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" - Ps. 119:105 (NIV)
3/ Eat a healthy breakfast -
I know, I sound just like your mama, right? the problem is we usually neglect the things that we know to do! Feed your body and your brain with food that will promote energy and clear thinking.
"...I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food" - Gen. 1:29 (NIV)
4/ Get in 15 minutes of excercise -
This is not the time to run a marathon. With just 15 minutes of excercise, you prepare you body for a day of activity. The thing is most people don't realize how much energy they exert (even at the office) each day.
"For physical training is of some value..." - 1 Tim. 4:8 (NIV)
5/ Expect a Monumental Monday!
You did what was necessary to ensure the most productive and successful day possible. Now you have to believe that God was out of bed before you and already did His part!
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." - Ps. 118:24 (NIV)
Have a Monumental Monday!
Go forth and conquer!!
How exactly do we do that? Well I'll tell you in just a moment...
Let's backtrack for a moment. I chose today's title, 'A Day Without an End' becuase Mondays tend to feel like you've fallen into a deep dark hole without escape, kind of like when my wife drags me into Walmart... anyhew, we begin the day with a groggy endeavor to suffer through the physical and mental shock of leaving "weekend mode" and stepping into "work mode". As our workday quickly ensues, we garner a stealthy approach at pacing ourselves to actually make it through the day without requital, and eventually (yes finally), find ourselves deep within the the throws of our creature comforts at the end of the day grimacing but glad to have made it out alive! I'm talking about Mondays!
Now back to how we change that. How about we start with something that summons us in the morning. Something that we can actually look forward to each week. Something that would get us out of bed extra early, excited to give our Monday a surprise attack! An ambush if you will! All you need is a strategy...are you ready? Here it is...
~The Strategy~
1/ Pray about your day -
Get up early and thank God for a new day that will be filled with strength and accomplishment. Ask Him for safety and protection agaist incident or accident, for the ability to complete each task and to make your day go by quickly. An early prayer of guidance and covering is needed before you walk through the door!
"O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water." - Ps. 63:1(NKJV)
2/ Get a word for the day -
Open your Bible and ask God for your specific word for the day. You don't have to read an entire chapter before you go to work, all you need is a word! Believe me, whatever He gives you will carry you through your day with great success!
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" - Ps. 119:105 (NIV)
3/ Eat a healthy breakfast -
I know, I sound just like your mama, right? the problem is we usually neglect the things that we know to do! Feed your body and your brain with food that will promote energy and clear thinking.
"...I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food" - Gen. 1:29 (NIV)
4/ Get in 15 minutes of excercise -
This is not the time to run a marathon. With just 15 minutes of excercise, you prepare you body for a day of activity. The thing is most people don't realize how much energy they exert (even at the office) each day.
"For physical training is of some value..." - 1 Tim. 4:8 (NIV)
5/ Expect a Monumental Monday!
You did what was necessary to ensure the most productive and successful day possible. Now you have to believe that God was out of bed before you and already did His part!
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." - Ps. 118:24 (NIV)
Have a Monumental Monday!
Go forth and conquer!!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Grief
Grief is an emotion that we will all experience at some time or another.
The five stages of grief made popular by author Elizabeth Kubler Ross, in her book Death and Dying, are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It is unclear whether these stages are experienced by everyone who grieves but one thing is certain...we all grieve.
The reason death is so hard to accept is because it is unnatural. We were never made to die! Death was introduced into the world the moment sin announced its arrival. For the Christian, there will come a day when death will be no more.
There is no remedy to grief outside of God's supernatural comfort to help us through it. The Bible says, "it's appointed unto man once to die..." which means we all have an appointment with death at some point,unless we are the ones caught away in 'the rapture'. Death is the frigid, icy bridge we must cross to enter eternity. Our assurance and greatest comfort comes from knowing that our loved ones that have passed away maintained a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and that they have gone to be with Him.
"Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should." - Psalm 90:12
The five stages of grief made popular by author Elizabeth Kubler Ross, in her book Death and Dying, are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It is unclear whether these stages are experienced by everyone who grieves but one thing is certain...we all grieve.
The reason death is so hard to accept is because it is unnatural. We were never made to die! Death was introduced into the world the moment sin announced its arrival. For the Christian, there will come a day when death will be no more.
There is no remedy to grief outside of God's supernatural comfort to help us through it. The Bible says, "it's appointed unto man once to die..." which means we all have an appointment with death at some point,unless we are the ones caught away in 'the rapture'. Death is the frigid, icy bridge we must cross to enter eternity. Our assurance and greatest comfort comes from knowing that our loved ones that have passed away maintained a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and that they have gone to be with Him.
"Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should." - Psalm 90:12
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Fear Not!
Fear is a threat that we perceive (real or unreal) that can have a debilitating effect on us.
The Bible teaches that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 1:7). This is the only healthy fear. When we fear God, which is a reverential fear, it helps us to see that there is no need to fear man or circumstances. Also, in Luke 12 Jesus teaches us to fear God not man.
Unhealthy fear is the fear of people or circumstances. The opposite of FEAR is FAITH! They cannot co-habit your mind and heart! Faith eliminates fear, like turning on a light switch and darkness disappearing. Have faith in God (Mark 11:23), and fear will have to pack its bags!
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." - 2Tim. 1:7
Be Blessed!
The Bible teaches that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 1:7). This is the only healthy fear. When we fear God, which is a reverential fear, it helps us to see that there is no need to fear man or circumstances. Also, in Luke 12 Jesus teaches us to fear God not man.
Unhealthy fear is the fear of people or circumstances. The opposite of FEAR is FAITH! They cannot co-habit your mind and heart! Faith eliminates fear, like turning on a light switch and darkness disappearing. Have faith in God (Mark 11:23), and fear will have to pack its bags!
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." - 2Tim. 1:7
Be Blessed!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Loneliness
Loneliness - A deep longing for heart felt interaction with another person or other people. For some, the void remains despite the existence of meaningful relationships...loneliness.
Whatever our perceived or felt needs are in this area, the truth of the matter is that if we are Christians, we are never alone. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promised us, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
I believe the church is one of God's solutions to remedy loneliness. When believers get together something happens! We share our experiences and realize that we are not the only ones facing challenges. We find comfort in just being around others of like faith, and we get to encourage and uplift each other. There is also the fulfilment of getting involved in the work of the church that keeps us satisfied.
If you find yourself fighting feelings of loneliness, let me exhort you to consider these things. I will leave you with these words found in Isaiah...
"Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." - Isaiah 41:10
Be Blessed!
Whatever our perceived or felt needs are in this area, the truth of the matter is that if we are Christians, we are never alone. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promised us, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
I believe the church is one of God's solutions to remedy loneliness. When believers get together something happens! We share our experiences and realize that we are not the only ones facing challenges. We find comfort in just being around others of like faith, and we get to encourage and uplift each other. There is also the fulfilment of getting involved in the work of the church that keeps us satisfied.
If you find yourself fighting feelings of loneliness, let me exhort you to consider these things. I will leave you with these words found in Isaiah...
"Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." - Isaiah 41:10
Be Blessed!
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