Preventing Loses

Sometimes we are our own enemy due to a condition called arrogance and stubborness.  Whether this terrible condition is manifested in a passive or aggressive manner it impedes our ability to look inside and assess areas in our life that need modification and streghtening of the weaker areas. It is not until a storm is announced or at times we wait until its arrival to decide to start making changes.  Do not wait for the annoucement of the storm to arrive, very likely at that time it's too late and then instead you are going to be counting loses and the next disease you are going to acquire guilt and regret.  Just liberate yourself from the blinders of arrogance and stubborness, look inside and assess. As you are in this process allow for God to help you and instruct you.  "Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble..." (Psalm 94).

...Waiting during the Storm

At times we are confronted with that appear to be monumental and too big for us and our strength.  Many times during the storm we do not even know what to do or just we cannot do anything, and it is required for us to stay still and wait.  AWWWWW what a horrendous feeling, that is when we start developing the famous anxiety and panic attacks.  Well given that there is so much you can do I there you to put your trust in the Lord and His faithful promises.  Know that He will be with you and for you and like in 2 Chronicles 20, praise Him, worship Him, and believe.  He will fight this battle for you. "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you."
BELIEVE.

Your Gifts

Many are waiting for doomsday.  Those who are consciously or unconsciously tired of life and those who are enduring significant pains and sorrows in life are looking forward to this day. However, many do not verbalize it, but do think about it.  Well in the mean time as you wait for doomsday and even those who are relentlessly doing preparations for this day, do not forget about today.  Today is real and you cannot run away from it. And even if you are tired of life and want to cease, if you look inside there are still gifts.  Even if you consider those gifts to be insignificant, they can make a difference today to make a contribution to make a better world, in this world as we know it.  If today there was an apocalyptic event and you were standing before GOD and if He would ask you how did you invest your time and your gifts what would you answer????   

Fixing Others

We have the tendency to attempt to fix others.  Normally this is well intentioned and comes from our perspective and vision.  It comes from our ability to see what they cannot, we are positioned from our angle  where we can see them at their full potential.  We can see what they can become if they start making different choices, if they are courageous enough to start making changes, if they are dedicated enough to make efforts for a better good in their lives.  However, when they don't engage in these efforts and when they can't see what you see many of you get frustrated, distressed, and even depressed.  Then you start making efforts to even subconsciously force them to do things differently.  This gives me a glimpse of how God sees us from His perspective.  He sees all the potential that we can achieve, only if we desire to believe and start taking steps to fulfill the purpose for what He created us.  The difference is that He respects our free will and He is waiting for us to walk on the path that He designed for us. Our individual paths is our responsibility.  And I wonder what are you not doing in your path because you are engaged in fixing someone elses life. How much effort and energy are you investing into fixing others.  Assess your life and start living it at its fullest, it is your responsibility.  While you are assessing your life just think about the potential that God sees from His perspective and live it.  Give to yourself, love yourself, invest on yourself, you are worth it.  Then you will become an effective agent of transformation to others. 

Challenge Yourself

Often people tell me about their dreams and goals, and shortly after they say some internal or external force shuts them them down.  And again another possibility of growth and potential is extinguished, leading to mental "falls".  It is like the opening or a crack that allows the entrance of unconscious feelings of low self-esteem, low self worth etc....  This allows our mind to start attending to things that are just so unimportant, yet making them important, stellar, and critical.  Afterwards it turns into a vicious circle of confusion and repetitive self-defeating thoughts and behaviors.  This can continue to the point that people might know that they are not living the life that they want to, but if you ask them they might not even know how to start making adjustment to get out of the dysfunciton.   But guess what there is hope, only if we start taking one step at a time, and allowing the thoughts of possibilities in our minds.  What is the worse thing that could happen if you try.  Well you could retailor your dreams. By allowing a renewal process you could be in the good danger of allowing new and good things in your life. 

Here are some bible verses that talk about the renewal of the mind.
Romans 12:2
Philippians 4:8
Romans 12:1-2
2 Corinthians 4:16
1 Peter 1:13
John 8:32
Ephesians 4:23
Colossians 3:16
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Philippians 4:6-7
Philinppians 2:5
Isaiah 42:1-8
Romans 12:1
Colossians 3:2
John 17:17
Joshua 1:8-9
John 3:16
1 Corinthians 2:16

 

    

Procrastination And Friends. Winning The Battle.

When you day dream about the things that you would like to accomplish in your life, your so called dreams and don't act on it, I compare it to a device (e.g. car, calculator) that is not being used according to its potential. The interesting thing is that when we talk about our dreams, or merely things that we would like to do with our lives, we are talking about vision. Many have talked about this topic from various angles, some from the metaphysical, others from a combination of metaphysical and quantum physics, others from a religious (e.g. Chrisitian) perspective. Simply the topic can be reduced to “living at your own and specific maximum potential”, “your potential DNA”. You see, God created you with a specific set of talents that make you unique and different from others, and you know it. He created you for a purpose and vision. You have seen those people that consciously or unconsciously we tend to admire, those people that kind of walk with the swag of living according to their potential. But the problem with this is that as you continue to admire them you might compare yourself and start feeling with a lower self-esteem if you are not doing what you are meant to do in life and with your life.  This is because of procrastination, because of the lack of commitment and consistency in your life and with your life.  You most people at one level or another deal and struggle with procrastination, but the difference lies in who wins that internal battle.  And when you see those around you that you admire because of their accomplishments is because they win one battle at a time.  They live according to that fire that they have in their heart. As they continue mastering this, the ability to dominate over procrastination becomes more implicit; and it becomes more natural to them.  Then instead of day dreaming about what life could be, they day dream about how to continue expanding on the life that they are living.

Procrastination does not only intervene with the initial attempt, it also attacks after you have started something, and it comes disguised in your mind as thoughts of doubts about potential success, and/or your historical inability to be consistent with and for you. And then, it happens, again procrastination wins another round, leaving you with a subtle feeling of poor self-efficacy, and poor self-esteem. Then in many cases the pity party, "poor me", nothing works for me "ever" in life. You know God says in his word: "Be strong and corageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9 NIV). You see is not that He or anyone will do it for you. You need to master yourself, and dominate over your thoughts. So I encourage you to apply the formula below to any of your goals as you move forward with them, and even have it with you at all times, like in a little piece of paper. So whenever the thoughts of doubts and discouragement come with the purpose of knocking you down you can attack them. Remember these thoughts are always going to come the difference is how you master them.

Formula:

God + Action + Commitment + Consistency = Accomplished Goals/Success.

G+A+Cm+Cn= AG/S

Apply this formula, or modify it and personalize it for your specific needs. This formula will help you get up when your thoughts or the way you process the comments others.  Apply this formula when you feel that your case is hopeless, when you are confronted with any obstacle, will help you to focus your attention, etc.  Only you can do this, no one can walk the path for you. Take responsibility for your life.

Relational Benefits

You see when you are well acquainted with a person, is when you get to know the nature of a person.  By having intimate relationships with them, you will know on whom you can rely on in moments of crisis. Even then in those difficult times you will be able to see more of their true colors as these intensify in times of need, and at times people will disappoint you, that is human nature. Do you remember a blog that I posted days ago about the nature of God?  I gave you known characteristics of His nature.  However, different from us humans, He will not disappoint us if we really give Him a chance. Careful with manipulation, sometimes we confuse manipulation (and this occurs in human relationships as well) and subtle passive coercion with unreliability.  You see at times we get confused and labeled someone as one as mean or unreliable when they don’t respond to our demands, and not allowing others to give us what they have according to their will, not ours.  This unconscious process also influences our perspective of God. Among the many people I have the privileged to meet and talk to on a daily basis, I met a woman that prior to what I call "the fall" (based on the book from Albert Camus) she had a very intimate relationship with God.  And this relationship increased her reserve of resilience for what she was going to confront later in life.  She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone marrow cancer among significant financial crises.  But due to her understanding of the loving nature of God, after her diagnosis and other issues, she has been able to welcome the loving healing nature of God into her life, her healing, and provision.  I also have been able to witness people fall apart while enduring temporary and light crises in their lives.  Unfortunately in this world we are exposed to difficulties.  Jesus said These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 KJV).  Take advantage of the time of peace in your life for you don’t know when you might need to tap into the reserve of resilience that comes from a close and intimate relationship with the God of love, for God is love, and desires to be with you always.