5 OF THE BEST REALIZATIONS YOU CAN EVER HAVE

By:  S. Chavis

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.”
― Helen Keller

One of the things I am always trying to do is learn from the experiences that come my way. I just am not a fan of repeat lessons. Why experience the same types of issues over and over again when you could pay attention the first time and get the lesson?

Of course, that’s not to say I have always been able to do that. I have definitely had my fair share of repeat lessons where the same challenges would creep up because I needed to learn what I missed the time before.

But, once I realized that things don’t just happen “to us”, they also happen “for us” so that we can have certain realizations and live even better tomorrow, I really started paying attention.

Here are 5 of The Best Realizations To Have (in no particular order):

1. You Should Continually Rethink What’s Possible. There’s definitely a balance to be struck and although there is nothing more important than experiencing the moment in front of you and appreciating exactly where you are; you do want to make sure you are recognizing all that is really possible and going for what you really want.

2. There is a Possibility Spiral you must walk up if you want to get from where you are today to where you really want to be. You’ve got to use the days in front of you in the best way possible so you can continually move up your Possibility Spiral. Two important areas to focus on are: (1)What you’re doing each day to take a step in the direction you want to go (2) Having the best energy flowing by bringing your highest self to what you say, think and do.

3. There is something within each of us that is powerful and capable of so much. It’s like that great quote by Emerson explains – “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Our job is to get more and more acquainted with that part of ourselves – our Extraordinary Side-so that we can feel it at all times as we move through each day.

4. Your mindset influences so much - how you feel, what you do and what you really believe is possible. We’ve got to work everyday to clear away limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns that we’ve built up over the course of our lifetime. It’s like weeding a garden and your job each day is to pick out as many weeds as you can. It takes discipline and effort, but once you remove the weeds, life really opens up.

5. We need to let our Extraordinary Side lead the way when it comes to all the aspects of our life. (1) Goals, work, career, success (2) Health & Fitness (3) Financial Success (4) Family & Relationships (5) Spirituality (6) Enjoying Life – “You Time” (7) Your Mindset (8) Your actions and behaviors. Be willing to bring your highest self to everything you think, say, or do.

HOW TO PURSUE YOUR DREAM AND NOT GIVING UP?

By:  C. Irvin

Have you ever watched the sunset or seen a sunrise? It is a beautiful sight just to see the handiwork of God before your eyes. Yet while I was watching it, I wondered why it is so hard to have hope for our future. Surely, the same God that holds the universe in His hand holds our lives.

“‘I know the plans I have for you, to prosper you,’ says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

What is our response? Is it one of faith or are we a doubting Thomas? You may be saying, “How can I look beyond my present circumstances … finances, family problems, etc.” You might have a list of excuses but none are valid to God. He knows what lies ahead and if you pursue your dream and don’t give up, you will find your destiny.

The road may be hard sometimes but we must look at God’s Word and not what we see with the natural eye. We need to know there is a new day dawning for each of us who dare to believe and trust in the Lord.

We know the scripture that says, “the devil comes to rob, steal and destroy,” but do we know what he is after? He is after your joy, your hope and yes, my friend, even your dreams. The adversary, the devil, wants to steal from us. Once we recognize this, we can remind him that he is a defeated foe. Then we are on our way to reaching our destination in Christ.

I like to see the sunset. It comes at the close of another day where I can rest from my daily activities. But I really look forward to the sunrise because I have another chance to serve the Lord and receive the blessings that He has waiting for me. If I keep looking to Him and listening for His direction, then I will get where I am supposed to be going and enjoy each day to the fullest.

Don’t let anything stand in your way of obeying the Lord and fulfilling your destiny. It is just around the corner. See your destiny with the eyes of faith. It’s dawning brings to us a brand new sunrise. |

HOW TO COME FORTH AS GOLD?

By:  K. Hee

Our God is a good, compassionate, and merciful God. It is not His will for us to experience evil or pain. Yet, He does permit trials and challenges in our lives. And when we go through suffering, it is an opportunity for our faith to mature and grow so that we can endure to the end like our Lord Jesus did.

The reward for enduring for Christ is that we will spend eternity with Him and that we will see many others come to faith in Him too!

 

As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:10-13, “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faithful saying:  For …

If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.”

The bible tells us that times of tribulation are inevitable in our lives (John 16:33). But Jesus’ work of sacrifice and victory has given us the keys to overcome! Will we still allow suffering to take us down? Or will we recognize God’s unfailing love and purpose in every difficult situation, and use the opportunity to refine our faith and perfect our love for Jesus?

Let’s commit to having the same mind of Job, who said in the midst of his suffering: “When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10)!

Prayer for the day: 

Thank God for caring and loving you so much that He is willing to teach you hard lessons through your times of suffering, as a father teaches his child. Thank Him for refining your faith, so that it can endure for eternity!

7 WAYS TO GUARD YOUR THINKING

By:  J. Maxwell

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he . . . Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words . . . Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge . . . Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off. Hear, my son, and be wise; and guide your heart in the way."  Proverbs 23:7, 9, 12, 17-19

Leaders understand the importance of their minds to the future of their organizations. Consider some of these timeless principles offered in Proverbs 23 about our minds and a godly vision for tomorrow.

• Your thoughts determine your character.

•  Be careful of your thoughts; they may break into words at any time.

•  Don't waste your thoughts on those who don't hunger for them.

•  The first person you lead is you, and the first organ you master is         your  mind.

•  Don't let your mind drift away from God's truth and into vain envy.

•  Stay confident that your vision will come to pass.

•  Discipline your thoughts to remain steadfast in what you know is right.

HOW TO TRUST IN THE INVINCIBLE ONE?

By:  TFC

It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psalm 118:8)

King David gives us this warning from experience. He had come to the conclusion, and rightly so, that trusting in any man is risky and that it is only God that can be trusted. He had experienced treachery and betrayal. First, from King Saul who became jealous of David because of his exploits at war (1 Samuel 18). David’s son, Absalom, also rose up against him (2 Samuel 15).

The Bible also tells us of how David and his men had been kind to Nabal’s shepherds and protected his sheep and goats. However, when David asked Nabal to give him and his men food, Nabal not only refused, he also insulted David (1 Samuel 25).

It is not surprising therefore that David would say in Psalm 41:9, “Trust in no one but the Lord. Yea my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread hath lifted up his heel against me. Again in Psalm 55:12-13, David says, “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me and taunts me, then I might bear it: nor is it one who has hated me who innocently vaunts himself against me – then I might hide from him. But it was you my companion and my familiar friend”.

The Bible is replete with examples of people being disappointed and betrayed by those they least expected. For example, Moses own sister, Miriam and Cousin Aaron criticized him and joined the people in murmuring against him. Joseph was sold into slavery by his very own brothers and not strangers. While in prison, Joseph had interpreted the dream of the Baker and Butler and made the Butler promise not to forget him. The Butler did forget and only remembered Joseph two years later. Finally, the Bible tells us of how Jacob was deceived over and over again by his own uncle, Laban.

Friend, it is Jesus and He alone that will never betray us. The Bible says He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). We cannot afford to trust anyone but Jesus. Man will befriend us only when it suits them and when they have something to gain, but Jesus says I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

Today, I encourage you to put your trust in Him and in Him alone.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your faithfulness towards us Even when we are not faithful you are still faithful. Help us to put all our trust in you and not in man because man will disappoint us but you have promised that you will never leave us nor forsake us. We bless you today and always. Amen.