Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
NO TV!!
Hey Hey...I think the blog has really become what it was supposed to be all along, my random daily thoughts. I am encouraged that my son, TJ, is seemingly waking up and becoming more responsible with his lessons. By setting myself up with a no TV regimen thru the end of this year, I can focus more on what he and Justin need and how I can better support them. As for the rest of the time, I know I really need to get the money flowing in my business! The past few months, production has been down, but I feel a shift in the atmosphere. I guess I feel kinda like the prophet that prayed for rain and then got excited when he saw a cloud about the size of a man's hand....
Pray my strength in the lord and I know I will see a rise in production this week. Yesterday I spent about 2hrs putting up door knockers. I feel like Will Smith's character from "The Pursuit of Happyness".
Pray my strength in the lord and I know I will see a rise in production this week. Yesterday I spent about 2hrs putting up door knockers. I feel like Will Smith's character from "The Pursuit of Happyness".
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Reflection is a God thing!
I woke up this morning and looked out my window to see the Vegas skyline rising behind the Trump Plaza, and all I could think about was my oldest son, TJ. His major challenge in life is actually my strength. He resists reading and writing, and his resistance has finally caught up with him. The magnet program at his school has a pre-AP English course that requires a great deal of discourse, and then the students must reflect on the discussion in their writing. When we spoke via videophone last night, I could see the frustration in his eyes, in his mannerisms, and I heard his struggle in his voice. Initially, I was angry because he had allowed himself to get behind in his assignments, but then I realized that he simply was avoiding things that he had always avoided, but having never been truly confronted about his avoidance issues, he now has deadlines pending that require him to alter his behavior and engage NOW.
As a father, my first emotion was anger that my son would allow himself to get into this situation. Didn't he know that I have a master's in English? Didn't he know that I would have gladly spent time with him going over everything and helping him finish all his assignments? What if his teacher had not called and let me know about his lapses...what could have happened if I had not gotten the word to step in and intervene? What was he thinking? And then...it hit me...isn't that what I do with my heavenly father? Don't I know that he owns the cattle on a thousand hills? Don't I know that his desire for me is to prosper, to have life and to have it more abundantly? Why is it that we have challenges, and though our heavenly Father has all that we need, he usually has to find out about everything thru the prayers/communications of someone else: mothers, fathers, spouses, prayer intercessors?
In this time with my son, God has shown me that I need to come to Him with ALL my issues, and I need to have the confidence in knowing that having been tempted Himself, in all points, without having sinned, He is able to deliver us. So now, thru my dissappointment with my son, I found the compassion that Christ had and has for me, and how in the midst of it all, he looks beyond my faults, and sees my needs.
Show the love of Christ to everyone you encounter today, and begin to extend the compassion to others that is perpetually being extended to you. In my reflections on these truths, the scripture that admonishes us to be slow to wrath came to mind...wrath can really cloud your thinking. Good thing I was here to see that Vegas skyline...reflection is a God thing.
As a father, my first emotion was anger that my son would allow himself to get into this situation. Didn't he know that I have a master's in English? Didn't he know that I would have gladly spent time with him going over everything and helping him finish all his assignments? What if his teacher had not called and let me know about his lapses...what could have happened if I had not gotten the word to step in and intervene? What was he thinking? And then...it hit me...isn't that what I do with my heavenly father? Don't I know that he owns the cattle on a thousand hills? Don't I know that his desire for me is to prosper, to have life and to have it more abundantly? Why is it that we have challenges, and though our heavenly Father has all that we need, he usually has to find out about everything thru the prayers/communications of someone else: mothers, fathers, spouses, prayer intercessors?
In this time with my son, God has shown me that I need to come to Him with ALL my issues, and I need to have the confidence in knowing that having been tempted Himself, in all points, without having sinned, He is able to deliver us. So now, thru my dissappointment with my son, I found the compassion that Christ had and has for me, and how in the midst of it all, he looks beyond my faults, and sees my needs.
Show the love of Christ to everyone you encounter today, and begin to extend the compassion to others that is perpetually being extended to you. In my reflections on these truths, the scripture that admonishes us to be slow to wrath came to mind...wrath can really cloud your thinking. Good thing I was here to see that Vegas skyline...reflection is a God thing.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Random thoughts...
I often find myself struggling with myself. Its as if I know what it takes for me to have success today, right now, but there is some other part of me that always wants to put if off. I see myself being successful today, right now, but there is some other part of me that always wants to put it off. Tomorrow functions as a safety-net of sorts, and so I keep battling to stay out of the safety net and jump into my destiny today, right now!
The conversation that Paul has about these warring factions in our nature: "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Romans 7:21-24
It helps me when I recognize that I am not alone in my struggles. I have an advocate with the father: His son Jesus Christ. And even though I am constantly being accused by Satan and berated with guilt and a feeling of unworthiness for my failures, I am encouraged because Revelations tells me that the accuser has been defeated, and his time is short. So all I have to do is walk in the victory already provided!
I feel good about that...no matter what comes my way today, I have complete and total victory!
The conversation that Paul has about these warring factions in our nature: "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Romans 7:21-24
It helps me when I recognize that I am not alone in my struggles. I have an advocate with the father: His son Jesus Christ. And even though I am constantly being accused by Satan and berated with guilt and a feeling of unworthiness for my failures, I am encouraged because Revelations tells me that the accuser has been defeated, and his time is short. So all I have to do is walk in the victory already provided!
I feel good about that...no matter what comes my way today, I have complete and total victory!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Does one size really fit all?
I got my first lesson in pressure when I owned a Ford Ranger. It needed a new hose, so I had one of my "shade tree mechanic" friends replace it for me. We did not pay attention to any SPECS for the Ford, we just attached the new hose. A few days later, I noticed that my truck would periodically stall, and it never seemed to ride as smooth as it had in the past. Some time later, I was getting ready to get on the road, and I brought my truck in for a tuneup...you know, I didn't want to be stranded on the side of the road. When the mechanic came to me to give me the run-down on my services, I remember him telling me that the pressure was off in one of my hoses, and it had led to some other issues, but everything was fine now. Immediately, I reflected on that hose I had a friend replace because I wanted to save some money on repairs. That was my first lesson in pressure.
When I had that hose installed, my friend didn't have any gauges to check the pressure, he just knew how to replace my damaged hose. I guess neither one of us took any thought about the pressure differences, so it never was taken into consideration. All these memories came rushing back to me when I was having a discussion with my wife. She and I have different pressure points, and it would be ludicrous of me to attempt to apply my pressure standards to hers. Romans 12:3 reminds us that, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." One of the most pivotal things you can do in any relationship is not confuse pressure points. That doesn't mean that one person is stronger or weaker, just that they are different, and this diffence must be accounted for when we talk to one another. Just like my truck began to run rough when the pressure was off, our relationships can become rough and rocky when we make assumptions about the pressure gauges in someone else's life. If we are not careful, our lack of sensitivity in one area can lead to other problems, and we will find ourselves throwing up our hands in frustration.
Remember, my first error was that I did not check with the SPECS, prior to hooking up the hose. Who better to consult when life is in need of repair than our heavenly father? Psalm 139, reminds us of how God knows us completely and will always be with us. Prior to your next conversation with a spouse or loved one, remember to consult life's spec sheet, and find out what the Lord says about it. This has helped me thru the years. Remember, we all have a measure of grace, there is no one size fits all...
When I had that hose installed, my friend didn't have any gauges to check the pressure, he just knew how to replace my damaged hose. I guess neither one of us took any thought about the pressure differences, so it never was taken into consideration. All these memories came rushing back to me when I was having a discussion with my wife. She and I have different pressure points, and it would be ludicrous of me to attempt to apply my pressure standards to hers. Romans 12:3 reminds us that, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." One of the most pivotal things you can do in any relationship is not confuse pressure points. That doesn't mean that one person is stronger or weaker, just that they are different, and this diffence must be accounted for when we talk to one another. Just like my truck began to run rough when the pressure was off, our relationships can become rough and rocky when we make assumptions about the pressure gauges in someone else's life. If we are not careful, our lack of sensitivity in one area can lead to other problems, and we will find ourselves throwing up our hands in frustration.
Remember, my first error was that I did not check with the SPECS, prior to hooking up the hose. Who better to consult when life is in need of repair than our heavenly father? Psalm 139, reminds us of how God knows us completely and will always be with us. Prior to your next conversation with a spouse or loved one, remember to consult life's spec sheet, and find out what the Lord says about it. This has helped me thru the years. Remember, we all have a measure of grace, there is no one size fits all...
Friday, September 3, 2010
What to do...
Direction in life seems at times to be such a mystery. Have you ever prayed for answers only to find yourself running after everything that appears to be a "sign"? It's as if we ask God for a job, and the first person or opportunity that comes our way we jump at it as though this must be what God has for me. I don't know how many times I've done that, only to find that I have been a victim of my own desires...looking so hard for answers that I begin to force SQUARE happenings into ROUND answers, if that makes any sense.
In my reading, I came across the writings of "Pastor Greg". He explained it in such a way as to make me examine my relationship with God. How do I see Him? Is He here as some sort of cosmic Genie, to grant wishes to me, or am I here for Him seeking His will for my life?
As you examine your own prayer life and relationship with God, ask yourself, "Am I willing to submit to God's will for my life, or do I just worship God so that He will give me what I want?"
While you are enjoying your Labor Day Weekend, reflect on how you can better reverence God's will for your life and receive instruction that provides more clarity in your life and enables you to joyfully embrace God's perfect will for you. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2
In my reading, I came across the writings of "Pastor Greg". He explained it in such a way as to make me examine my relationship with God. How do I see Him? Is He here as some sort of cosmic Genie, to grant wishes to me, or am I here for Him seeking His will for my life?
As you examine your own prayer life and relationship with God, ask yourself, "Am I willing to submit to God's will for my life, or do I just worship God so that He will give me what I want?"
While you are enjoying your Labor Day Weekend, reflect on how you can better reverence God's will for your life and receive instruction that provides more clarity in your life and enables you to joyfully embrace God's perfect will for you. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Distractions...
Some of you may know that I am involved in an MLM, and have been a top producer in my opportunity for quite some time. Due to my success, I have often been approached by other MLMs asking if I will share their information with my network of independent marketers. Interestingly enough, they always start by explaining to me how easy it is, or how new it is and how we need to jump on this thing quick. When I woke up this morning, it hit me that the draw is not unlike any other distraction that appears in life.
Luke 10:38-42 details one such distraction: "Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
I want to highlight two points. First, there were many things going on, and Luke identifies these things as distractions, not that they were bad, only that they took the focus off of Jesus. Second, when Martha was distracted, her desire was to have Mary lose her laser-like focus and join her in her distraction. How many times have we seen this happen? I recall countless situations where one person became so entangled in other endeavors that they lost sight of the main thing. For you, the main thing could be your spouse, your children, the "why" for why you are involved in a particular venture, or your relationship with Jesus.
Look at your life today and begin to prioritize your energies. Put first things first, and then maintain a laser-like focus until you reach your goals. Remember, your path to greatness will be lined with temptation, but as you stay focused and avoid distractions, you will eventually reach your goals and see yourself living a life of abundance.
Luke 10:38-42 details one such distraction: "Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
I want to highlight two points. First, there were many things going on, and Luke identifies these things as distractions, not that they were bad, only that they took the focus off of Jesus. Second, when Martha was distracted, her desire was to have Mary lose her laser-like focus and join her in her distraction. How many times have we seen this happen? I recall countless situations where one person became so entangled in other endeavors that they lost sight of the main thing. For you, the main thing could be your spouse, your children, the "why" for why you are involved in a particular venture, or your relationship with Jesus.
Look at your life today and begin to prioritize your energies. Put first things first, and then maintain a laser-like focus until you reach your goals. Remember, your path to greatness will be lined with temptation, but as you stay focused and avoid distractions, you will eventually reach your goals and see yourself living a life of abundance.
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