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Have you ever rubbed your hand across sandpaper? Depending on the grade, it can range from semi, smooth or very rough in texture. Each type of sandpaper serves different purposes. For example, the smoother grade is meant to finish off any final touches on a project where only a little bit of polish is needed. The very rough type of sandpaper is meant to dig in and take off any areas that are uneven or unpleasant to the eye. Isn’t trouble like those types of sandpaper? Maybe you’re going through a season where you are experiencing a very big trial. You feel like your particular troubles are about to swallow you up or overwhelm you. These are the moments that are refining you just like the rough sandpaper. They are meant to polish off major areas where you need adjustments or upgrades in your character. Of course, this polishing process doesn’t feel good. You may go through moments of asking “Why me?” or even downright despair. Please be encouraged through this process. At the end, you will see the good that was intended through it all. If you’re enduring small irritations or problems that just seem petty, you’re in the smoothing process. This is where God is trying to adjust small areas of your life where you need a slight upgrade. Maybe you need to be a little more assertive on your job so that you don’t get taken advantage of. Perhaps there is a relationship issue that keeps cropping up and you need to set a boundary. As you learn to confront those small areas you will notice a difference in your circumstances. Thank God for the smoothing process because it all works together for your ultimate good.

If you were to take a “health assessment” on your words what do you think they would rate? It’s easy to let down our guard and allow our words to cross from gratitude to negativity, gossip and complaining. The anecdote to complaining is gratitude. Make a mental note today to stop and stand still for ten seconds every time you catch yourself complaining. During those ten seconds, reevaluate and redirect your heart to thankfulness to combat the critical thoughts. When we put into practice regularly acknowledging what we are grateful for, everyone around us is impacted. Our outlook on life and attitude changes. People around us can see and feel the difference. Our countenance changes. Our face tells a different story when we are grateful than it does when we are sitting in the negativity.

I wonder what you think of when you hear the word ‘fear.’ I wonder what image comes into your head. It may be that the term ‘fear’ reminds you of an event in your past or a challenge we are currently facing in the present like the Coronavirus. It may be that the word ‘fear’ makes you feel helpless and vulnerable, or that it throws you off guard in some way. But one thing is for sure, the word ‘fear’ is always going to remind you of something negative; I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who has talked of their fears as being something positive! The word ‘fear’ has very negative connotations in our society today, and in most cases deservedly so. We use the word when talking about our deepest worries, and the things we are most scared of. So it may surprise you to know that there is one unique instance in which the use of the word ‘fear’ is actually overwhelmingly positive. Although fear generally has a negative impact on us, this one instance has the polar opposite effect - a positive impact on us. This fear that we are talking about is the 'fear of God.' The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. What this means is that the starting point for each of us must be an understanding of the fear of God. But what is incredible is that the word used for ‘fear’ in this passage is actually a positive fear; it means a great awe and reverence for the awesomeness of God. In this context, fear does not mean being petrified of God, but rather to be in awe of his goodness and greatness. This is great news, as the more we understand how mighty and powerful God is, the less we fear man and what man can do. Fear of God is actually the antidote to the fear of man. In the Word of God, we have everything we need to successfully take fear out of our lives.

It can be easy to be thankful for the people we are closest to, but what about the teller at the bank or the bag boy at the grocery store? Do you notice the lady who checked you in at your doctor’s appointment or the waiter who took your lunch order? We can get so busy that we quit noticing people. That is in direct opposition of what our Savior did. He went out of His way to see people with less than perfect backgrounds and less than glamorous jobs. He took time to notice, serve and thank His Father in Heaven. There are people all around us we can and should be grateful for. Our expression of gratitude to the Father impacts how we see and treat them. When we express gratitude to the people we encounter throughout our day, we have the opportunity to allow our words and actions to impact their lives. Take a look at the people around you. The ones you interact with on a regular basis and the ones you see sporadically. Who are they? Do you exhibit gratitude to those around you? Would they say you are friendly? Pray and ask the Lord for open doors and opportunities to share with the people around you what you’re grateful for and why. When you share about people, add a specific reason for why you are grateful for them. Make it a priority to notice and share who you are grateful for.

“Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by God All-Powerful. I will say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety and protection. You are my God, and I trust you.” God will save you from hidden traps and from deadly diseases. He will protect you like a bird spreading its wings over its young. His truth will be like your armor and shield. You will not fear any danger by night or an arrow during the day. You will not be afraid of diseases that come in the dark or sickness that strikes at noon. At your side 1,000 people may die, or even 10,000 right beside you. But you will not be hurt. You will only watch what happens. You will see the wicked punished. The Lord is your protection. You have made God Most High your place of safety. Nothing bad will happen to you. No disaster will come to your home. He has put his angels in charge of you. They will watch over you wherever you go. They will catch you with their hands. And you will not hit your foot on a rock. You will walk on lions and cobras. You will step on strong lions and snakes. The Lord says, “If someone loves me, I will save him. I will protect those who know me. They will call to me, and I will answer them. I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. I will give them a long, full life. They will see how I can save.””

How will I pay the bills tomorrow? How am I going to feed my children? How can I get out of this mess? So many people are looking for a way to escape financial pressure. That’s why winning the lottery and get-rich-quick schemes are tempting to so many. People are desperate to find rest. They only look forward to the weekend, their next vacation, or even retirement. Because that’s when they can finally stop running and start doing what they’re passionate about. No one wants to keep waking up with the weight of finding provision on their shoulders. When you’re living that way, your life is stuck on pause—every day you’re waiting for a breakthrough so you can finally start living. The good news is you don’t have to live that way any longer. You don’t have to put your dreams on hold while you struggle paycheck-to-paycheck. He created you with a specific purpose for your life, and when you tap into the laws that govern His Kingdom, you can stop chasing after money and start accelerating toward your destiny. God’s plan for your life is bigger and better than anything you can do in your own strength. That’s why EPH 3:20 says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (NLT). God didn’t create you to just survive. He created you to THRIVE, to live in His favor, to live a life of rest—where your needs are met. And the best part is you don't have to work more hours to accomplish it! The power of rest is a law of God’s Kingdom that frees you to stop chasing after money and start accelerating toward your destiny. It’s one of the most life-changing principles God has ever taught me. It’s time to unlock the freedom to prosper in your passion through the laws of God’s Kingdom. Quit counting down the number of days until the weekend, and start experiencing the power of rest in your life every day!

“Believe in yourself!” How many times have we been given this line as a pep talk? It is a banner statement in our new tradition of building up the self-esteem of a new generation. This kind of advice resonates with our human nature because at the end of the day, we all love taking matters into our own hands. We’d rather trust in ourselves because it makes us feel in control. Deep down, however, in the true essence of who we are, in our soul and spirit, we know it’s a lie. The truth is, the older you get, the more you begin to realize that one of your greatest enemies is yourself. No one has misled you more than you’ve misled yourself. No one has lied to you more than you’ve lied to yourself. No one has hurt, distracted, or hindered you more than you have. In fact, the more you believe in yourself, the deeper the pit you find yourself in. Have you ever noticed that the harder you try, the more you mess up? If you attempt to live life believing in yourself, you will be trapped by discouragement, fear, anxiety, and worry. The pressure of trying to be in control of all situations will set you up for failure. You were not made to believe in yourself, because you were not made to be in control. You were made to believe in Someone else. You were made to trust Someone else to be in control. A great thing about believing in God and trusting Him with your life is that He does not struggle with the same things you and I do. He never gets stressed, anxious, or worried. We will fail. He never does. We will make mistakes. He never does. We will make a mess of things. He never does. He can be trusted.

I know what it’s like to have your dreams and God-designed assignments smothered and snuffed out by the cares of life and the need for provision. I know what it’s like to lose sight of who you are. I know what it’s like to be so busy chasing after money to pay your bills that you don’t have time to pursue your destiny. When you’re a slave to your wallet, it hinders you from being obedient to God. Money is supposed to be a tool to serve you and your assignment, not the other way around. God has a plan for your life that is beyond the earth curse system of slaving after money. God didn’t design you to spend your whole life chasing after money. Your life is about so much more than a paycheck, a bigger house, or a fancier car. God didn’t create you to survive through life—He created you to THRIVE in your assignment! You don’t have to live in survival mode any longer. You don’t have to put your dreams on hold while you struggle living paycheck-to-paycheck. God created you with a specific purpose for your life, and when you tap into the laws that govern His Kingdom, you can unlock the tools to live in a place where your needs are more than met. Jesus broke the earth curse so you could unlock the power of rest in your life. When God showed me that He had a plan to meet my needs that didn’t involve me working longer and harder hours, I was free to discover my purpose in Him. The principle of rest helped me overcome the exhaustion, stress, and oppression of the rat race, and it can do the same for you. It’s time to unlock the freedom to prosper in your purpose through the laws of God’s Kingdom!

We read in the Bible, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) What is worrying you today? Is it your financial situation? Your academic achievement or performance in school? Your health or the health of your children? An uncertain future? As for me, for a long time I was very worried about others’ views and what they thought of me… Now I have another question for you: what would your life look like if you didn’t worry about anything? I’m not talking about being reckless, immature, or passive, but rather living a life in which you totally let go of what you can’t control. As Jesus says so well in His Word, “...“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. [...] And which of you by worrying can add one minute to your life? [...] But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”” (see Luke 12:22-31) While difficulties are often exterior, worries attack us on the inside. And if you’re like me, you tend to believe what your thoughts are telling you…! We take worries for what they’re not—instinct, intuition—when in fact, they’re only distortions of reality. I ask God, day by day, to free me from all worry. I need Him for this. And here’s what I choose to do: I do what’s possible for me to do: I turn to Him and do what I can concerning my situation. Then, I release the impossible into His hands: what I cannot do, humanly speaking. My prayer for you today is that you may be able to do your part (what’s possible) and let God do His (the impossible)...!

What’s your worry? What are your concerns at home or at the office? What is in your heart that you need to lay down to Him and say, “Lord, I want to give this to You, so that I can trust You with it”? Matthew 6:30 says, “And if that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you — you of little faith?” In this passage, Jesus is telling us two things. Number one, He wants you to believe that God will provide for your needs. Not just your clothes and food, but He will provide the deepest needs of your heart and soul. That’s the good news. The bad news is what you and I think we need is not always the same as what God knows we need. We may be pleading to Him, “God, please provide this very need,” and the Lord is saying, “Wait a minute, you don’t really need that. You think you need that rescue at this moment, but you actually need to go further into the trial so that you can learn something greater about Me.” In our walk with God and as followers of Christ, it can be challenging to trust that He knows our needs more than what we believe our needs are. His Word says, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask.” The truth is that you and I don’t even understand the depths of our needs. There are things that you and I need that are so deep within the soul, groanings too deep for words, that we must surrender, believing God will provide. Number two is believing you are valuable to God. If God dresses the fields with flowers, aren’t you more valuable than that? Doesn’t He love you more? Won’t He do more for you then? God provides your needs because you are so much more valuable than anything He’s ever planted on the earth. He’s planted His very own Spirit in your heart. He doesn’t just love you, He likes you! He’s not just interested in you, He’s come for you. He doesn’t just listen to you when He doesn’t have anybody else praying. He’s listening to you at every single moment. Do you want to move from worry to trust in God? Then begin to believe and trust that God will provide your needs because you mean everything to Him.

Every day you will have a new opportunity to start another day or week with the right mindset. When you have the right mindset about prayer it allows you stay on track with your day. Even when you feel that your day is not starting off right you can go into a strategic prayer focus and get it back on track. Have you ever woken up and said, “I got up on the wrong side of the bed,” when things aren’t going well? Well, today you have a chance to frame the kind of day, even the week, that you want to have. Keep your mindset on your prayer strategy for the day. Remember your mindset makes a difference.

Speak what you seek until you see what you’ve said.

Every positive change in your life begins with a clear, unequivocal decision that you are going to do something or stop doing something.

You never know what battles people are fighting. Be kind, gentle and nonjudgmental.

A month from now you will either have a month of progress or a month of excuses why you didn’t. Use your time wisely.

Good things come to those who wait, but great things come to those who pray while they wait.

God didn’t add another day to your life because you needed it. He added it because someone out there needs you.

Let’s pray and thank God that He will be our guide through life. He is not a God who keeps us guessing but will reveal His way so that we can walk in it. Holy God, you always provide a light for me; to direct me and guide me on the path which you have chosen as the best way for me to go. I lift up your name in praise, knowing that I can depend on you to show me your way. I thank you for your wisdom, which stretches even into the future in order to guide and direct me toward my best possible outcome. I love you, God, and I want to know how to follow you better. May your glory and goodness overshadow my doubts and confusion. Break through all my questions and show me the path toward life, peace, and love. I praise you that you have always given me more than I deserve, and that you offer a love that guides me every step of the way. In Jesus' name, amen. What are you thankful for today?

Jesus was with his disciples giving them some final words before he would be arrested and crucified. The disciples finally realized Jesus would actually be heading to his death. They realized soon, it would just be them and the other disciples left to fend for themselves. Put yourself in their shoes. What would be running through your mind? “I can’t do this without him.” “I’m not ready.” “I’m not good enough.” Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever had a time where you just felt really discouraged? It could be a time like the one we’ve been in where nothing seemed to go the way you planned and you’re struggling to find some semblance of “normal”. You start thinking all kinds of negative things and it just continues to cause you to spiral. Or maybe there’s something from your past that continues to be brought up—something you did or something that was done to you. You can’t seem to outrun your mistakes and all of those words and feelings flood your mind. Maybe you’ve been called something or labeled something that just hurts. We all have seasons where the words we use to describe ourselves or our current situation are filled with negativity, self-doubt, or shame. Can I just let you know? None of that is from God. Knowing the disciples would feel discouraged, Jesus told them, “But I will send you the Advocate”. The original word that’s translated “advocate“ literally means “one who comes alongside to help or encourage”. God has given you and me the Holy Spirit to encourage us and speak words of life into us. The Holy Spirit will never discourage you. The Holy Spirit will only encourage you. Take time to thank God.

Today, let's remind ourselves to let GO... So how can we stop holding on? By realizing that there’s nothing to hold on to in the first place. Most of the things we desperately try to hold on to, as if they’re real, solid, everlasting fixtures in our lives, aren’t really there. Or if they are there in some form, they’re changing, fluid, impermanent, or simply imagined in our minds. Life gets a lot easier to deal with when we understand this. Imagine you’re blindfolded and treading water in the center of a large swimming pool, and you’re struggling desperately to grab the edge of the pool that you think is nearby, but really it’s not—it’s far away. Trying to grab that imaginary edge is stressing you out, and tiring you out, as you splash around aimlessly trying to holding on to something that isn’t there. Now imagine you pause, take a deep breath, and realize that there’s nothing nearby to hold on to. Just water around you. You can continue to struggle with grabbing at something that doesn’t exist... or you can accept that there’s only water around you, and relax, and float. This is the process of letting GO. It can be liberating. Truth be told, inner peace begins the moment you take a new breath and choose not to allow an uncontrollable circumstance to dominate you in the present. You are not what happened to you. You are what you choose to become in this moment. Let go, breathe, and begin...

I created "When You Have Real Power You Can't Lose" to bring together the people most important to us in a way that’s focused, valuable, and––most importantly––all our own. There’s no question it’s a different approach. And a new one, which may have a bit of a learning curve. I could have created a group somewhere else, but I chose this path for a few key reasons: It’s Ours. As we build this community together, we have some great features for creating exclusive content, deeper conversations, richer polls, and online or in-real-life events (when I decide to turn those on). Plus, I have access to great analytics that will make us smarter and faster about what’s working for you, and what’s not. There are More Ways for You to Meet Each Other. There are more ways to introduce people who are near each other, who fall into the same categories, and who care about the same topics. We can’t get that in free groups or on a website elsewhere. We Can Bring Together More in One Place. Right now, I'm juggling a bunch of services in different places. It doesn’t necessarily allow me to create the best experience for you. By launching this community, I can introduce you to more people, unlock valuable collaborations and exclusive content, and I'm freed up to bring you new, fresh ideas and practices to take into your daily life. What You Should Expect From "When You Have Real Power You Can't Lose" I'm aiming to make your experience here awesome. I want you to get five key things from When You Have Real Power You Can't Lose: Experience exclusive content and conversations you can’t find anywhere else. Meet people who share your interests who live near you, who do the same things, or who care about the same topics. Make better, more well-informed decisions about the things that are most important to you. Swap stories, experiences, and ideas (not necessarily advice) around our shared mission. Find a little inspiration, thought-provoking conversations, and expert perspective each and every day. To make this a reality, I'm going to need your help. Every time you contribute a story, experience, or idea, you’re building a knowledge base every member of this community can tap to make better decisions. And when you invite in as few as two new members, you’re adding rocket fuel to what this community can accomplish together. It doesn’t get any better than that. Let’s Dive In! I can’t wait to be inspired by your Post!

We're all here to accomplish the same goals. Therefore, I need your help to keep this community strong and useful. These guidelines were created to ensure that together we're creating a place that’s welcoming, inclusive, and valuable for everyone. With that in mind, I ask that you keep these principles in mind when you post. Focus on knowledge sharing, not giving out advice. There are plenty of places online where we can dole out our expert opinions. I want to instead foster an environment where healthy debate is encouraged and everyone is celebrated for sharing their questions, stories, and perspectives. My goal is to tackle big questions and work together to discover all of the potential answers. That can only happen when we are committed to collaboration and true knowledge sharing. Be respectful. Please be kind and constructive when you add a new post, ask a question, or comment on someone else's contribution. Snark or spam will be deleted immediately. Provide context. I love it when our members share links and resources. If you do, add some commentary or give us some context so that we can understand more about why you care about this particular topic or article. Have questions? We're here. If you see a post in the feed the violates these guidelines, flag it! I will step in to contact the member privately or remove the offending post.

Thank you for joining. I hope that this community can be an platform for positivity, motivation, empowerment, and openness.

As a member of "When You Have Real Power You Can't Lose", I want you to get immediate value from being here. That’s why I'm aiming to offer five simple things: Experience exclusive content and conversations you can’t find anywhere else. Meet people who share your interests who live near you, who do the same things, or who care about the same topics. Make better, more well-informed decisions about the things that are most important to you. Swap stories, experiences, and ideas around our shared mission. Find a little inspiration, thought-provoking conversations, and expert perspective each and every day. Things to Do First Introduce Yourself. If you haven’t already, go to your Profile Page to add a mini-bio and a quick introduction. It should take you less than a minute and you’ll immediately start to see folks like you in your feed. Post One Thing You’re Excited About Right Now. Sharing your first Post is easy. Just write the one thing you’re most excited about right now.

Are you struggling to forgive someone who hurt you? Or are you struggling to forgive yourself? Maybe you are curious about God’s forgiveness and even wondering if He could forgive you for something you regret. If you struggle with forgiving others or yourself, then you are not alone. We are not in charge of the behavior of others, but we are in charge of how we respond. It is only the through receiving the grace and forgiveness of God that we can extend the same to others. The pain and hurt others cause us is a reality for many. But the pain of living with bitterness and unforgiveness can poison your soul and destroy you. When we forgive others, we are not saying what they did was OK, but we are letting go of their hold on us. Forgiving ourselves and others can be one of the hardest things we face in life, but it will lead to the greatest blessings and freedom as a result. Despite the prevalence of unforgiveness in our lives, it seems that many of us have a mistaken understanding of forgiveness and its impact, not only spiritually and emotionally, but also physically. In fact, according to John Hopkins Medicine, forgiveness has a huge impact on your health: “Whether it’s a simple spat with your spouse or long-held resentment toward a family member or friend, unresolved conflict can go deeper than you may realize—it may be affecting your physical health. The good news: Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress. And research points to an increase in the forgiveness-health connection as you age.” Do not live with the burden of unforgiveness any longer. Find freedom through God’s word. Choose to let go and let God and walk in freedom. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). What keeps you from choosing freedom through forgiveness?

We want everyone to get the most out of this community, so we ask that you please read and follow these guidelines: Respect each other Keep posts relevant to the forum topic No spamming I'm doing something a bit different here with "When You Have Real Power You Can't Lose." I need everyone’s help to keep this emerging community as valuable, authentic, and safe as possible. This means a few rules of the road: Share Stories and Experiences, Not Advice. Nothing builds a beautiful conversation faster than sharing your stories and experiences, and nothing shuts one down faster than just posting advice. If you’ve written the words, “you should…” hold up. On the other hand, if you find yourself writing, “In my experience…” keep going! Troll Elsewhere. There are plenty of places you can spend your time today where trolling is going to get you a lot more attention. If you’re tempted to troll here, head on over to those platforms first and get it out of your system. Have More Questions? I'm here to make sure your time here in "When You Have Real Power You Can't Lose" is worth it. You can see and message me at any time.

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You don’t need to have it all figured out to take the next step. But you do need to take the next step to figure it out. You know the thing you’ve been putting off the longest? That thing you’ve been procrastinating on for the last several weeks? That’s the thing you need to start doing, with passion! Remind yourself that passion is not something you find in life; it’s something you do. When you want to find the passion and inner strength needed to change your situation, you have to force yourself to step forward. Too many of us are still hopelessly trying to “find our passion”—something we believe will ultimately lead us closer to happiness, success, or the life situation we ultimately want. And I say “hopelessly” primarily because passion can’t really be found. When we say we’re trying to find our passion, it implies that our passion is somehow hiding behind a tree or under a rock somewhere. But that’s far from the truth. The truth is, our passion comes from doing things right. If you’re waiting to somehow “find your passion” somewhere outside yourself, so you finally have a reason to put your whole heart and soul into your life and the changes you need to make, you’ll likely be waiting around for an eternity. On the other hand, if you’re tired of waiting, and you’d rather live more passionately starting today and experience small positive changes, it’s time to proactively inject passion into the very next thing you do. Think about it: When was the last time you sat down and had a conversation with someone nearby, with zero distractions and 100 percent focus? When was the last time you exercised and put every bit of effort you could muster into it? When was the last time you truly tried—truly tried—to do your very best? Like most of us, you’re likely putting a halfhearted effort into most of the things you do on a daily basis. Because you’re still waiting. You’re still waiting to “find” something to be passionate about—some magical reason to step into the life you want to create for yourself. But you need to do the exact opposite! Start doing the hard and necessary things, with your whole heart and soul fully invested.

There are four voices that are raging in our heads on a daily basis. Another way to put it could be “The Battle of the Wills”. No wonder there can be confusion in our lives. No wonder people are at odds with one another. No wonder that there can never truly be “peace on earth”. These four wills/voices are: 1.The will/voice of God the Father. God designed each of us ON purpose, WITH purpose, and FOR a purpose. He is the Knitter and the Knower of each day of our lives. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. He designed that we walk in harmony with His plan. He is knocking at the door of our heart always as He longs to speak to us. 2.The will/voice of the enemy. We have an enemy—a thief, who comes to rob, kill, and destroy our lives, our joy, our families and His will. He seeks death over life and has purposed to destroy all that is good and right. He is sneaky. He is real. The battle is on! 3.The will/voice of ourselves. Then we have to deal with our own self-will, our own selfish nature, and our own pride that wants our own way. We all have the common ground of the “human condition”. We all have blind spots. We all are self-centered to some degree. 4.The will/voice of the other. This could be parents, a teacher, boss, neighbor, friend or pastor. There are often many voices in our lives telling us what to do. Or even just suggesting what to do. Most of these voices mean well, but they are still other voices that we hear. Pay attention! Listen to the Voice of the Father. Be aware of the other voices and the choices as the voice you believe will determine the future you experience.

Comparison is the thief of joy. Oftentimes, comparing ourselves to others also leads us into making poor choices. Each of us is unique. God created each of us fearfully and wonderfully and then signed us with our own unique thumbprint. We are not like other people. We were not designed to be them. Not to look like them or live like them. Not to carry their load. We have a unique call upon our lives to be totally and completely who He created us to be. Don’t get distracted by unnecessary and unwanted comparisons. Stay on your own path.  Comparing ourselves to others is an ugly game that we all have played, and it leads to the death of our happiness. Envy can often be the result of this comparison game, and God does not like envy. There is no win in this game. No finish line. No final satisfaction. Keep your eyes to yourself, your giftings and your call. Live for the audience of ONE. Listen to only His voice. Do not carry more than what you are called to do. Unload your backpack from the unwanted comparisons in your life. The internet and social media can amp up comparison to either discourage you or encourage you all in the same breath. It’s so easy to scroll and scroll and have disappointment and jealousy grow with every thumb swipe as we over-analyze and scrutinize the lives of others. Our peace of mind only comes with trusting the Knitter and the Knower for our perfectly imperfect individual design. He gifted each of us uniquely to bless and serve others. Do not be an “elbow” trying to be a “foot” in the body of Christ. We are all geniuses at something, but if a fish spent his lifetime trying to climb a tree, he would feel stupid. Stay in your lane. Shine on as you, and you alone, were uniquely created to do. How is comparison a “thief of your joy"? Prayer: O Lord, blind me to comparing myself to others and help me to understand exactly who You created me to be. Lead me into my unique purpose that You designed just for me.

Even if it wasn’t your kid, I’m sure you’ve at least heard this in a store: “Can I have that? Please? Pllleeeeaaaaaase?” And if the parent doesn’t respond, you hear it again, and again! It’s irritating, right? Why do kids do that? Because it works. Today, let’s talk about being Persistent. Sometimes people pray about something one time, and they think that should be enough. They throw a quick prayer over their shoulder, and then they move on. The truth of the matter is that we actually have some lessons we can learn about persistence from the kid at the store. (Not to be whiny and annoying, but to be persistent—to ask and keep on asking, in faith.) See, what happens when we ask and we don’t get it? We get discouraged. Sometimes, so much so we quit asking—or think God is being mean or doesn’t hear us because He didn’t do it for us right then. I want to propose an idea to you. What if when you don’t get it right away God’s answer isn’t, “No, you can’t have it” but instead is, “No, it’s not ready yet.”  Or what if you’re not ready for it yet? Or what if it’s, “I have something better for you”? Would it change the way you pray if you realized it may not be the right way, the right time, or the right thing for Him to say yes to that prayer? I think it might. Jesus tells us that we are to pray—and keep on praying. Because those who pray and keep doing it, in faith, without getting discouraged, receive answers from God. God is not our magic genie in a bottle just waiting for us to rub His magic Bible with a few choice Christian-sounding words. God is so much beyond that, even thinking of Him like a spiritual waiter taking our order is a grave insult. But when you have submitted your will to His humbly, you’ve learned what He says in His Word and you’re asking specifically according to what the Bible says, you can ask persistently without losing heart until you get His answer.  So I’m obviously not telling you to throw a fit at God like the kid in the store, but next time you’re praying, remember that persistence is a key to powerful prayers.

The children of Israel were given this task of spying out the land in order to test their faith. The twelve spies went in and what they found was amazing. The fruit was so large that it took two men and a pole to carry one cluster of grapes. This land was incredible! Sometimes we need to see things for ourselves, and I think that this was part of the exercise of faith that God was sending them. It is like God was trying to tell them, “Look, this is what I told you it would be – an amazing land!” This was the God Who had freed them from the bondage of Egypt, the most powerful nation on the earth, by doing incredible miracles. They could see the awesome power of God with their own eyes. Then they were trapped by the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army right behind them. They were about to be obliterated when God opened the waters of the Red Sea and provided a dry passage. As soon as they were safely on the other side, the waters closed on the Egyptian army.  They had seen God’s power and might on display during their wilderness wanderings. They had seen water come from a rock. When they were in danger of starvation, they had eaten bread that had miraculously appeared on the ground. God had provided over and over. They knew God was powerful and capable of providing food, water, and protection for them. Now they were ready to go into the land that God had promised them. They had seen the bounty that God had given them. The land was theirs for the taking. All they had to do was exercise faith in God Who had proved Himself faithful. Are you struggling with a decision to do right? Maybe you know God is calling you to do something for Him. Look back on His faithfulness in your life and know that you can trust Him with your future.

Our passage today reminds us that we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us. Now the context of this is contentment – and contentment is one of the big hurdles of life. In these days of smartphones, tablets, super high definition TV’s and other technology that seems to change every month, how can we be content? It certainly is a hard challenge, but with God’s help, and with the proper attitude, we can be content with whatever God has given us. Whether we are abased, or whether we abound, we need to find contentment. I think this translates into the other obstacles that we face in life. With the Lord Jesus Christ’s power and ability working through us, and our willingness to let Him work in our lives, He will strengthen us to do whatever it is that He has called us to do. The Scripture says, I can do all things through Christ… but sometimes we do not believe that or act upon it. In Numbers 13, the people of Israel were paralyzed with fear and did not move forward. They listened to the ten spies with the report that said there was no way to conquer the land. They did not listen to Joshua and Caleb who said, “Yes, it is a challenge, but with God, it is possible.” The sad result was that all those people, except for Joshua and Caleb, died in the wilderness. They had been promised the land by an all-powerful God. They were right there; all they had to do was go in and take what God had given them. Had they believed and moved forward, they would have seen God work, but they were afraid. Christian, we can’t let this be our life story – don’t let fear keep us from the blessings that God has promised.

A wealthy man from England died and left his nephew the bulk of his estate. In today’s money, it was equivalent to around five million dollars. The only problem was that the young man had traveled to America years before and disappeared. Scotland Yard was called in to investigate. Eventually, they found the young man – lying frozen in the doorway of a cheap hotel. He didn’t have the money for a hotel room, yet he was literally a millionaire. Many Christians live their lives like this. They live like beggars and paupers when they are an heir of the God Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. They don’t, however, need to live like this because they have the Lord on their side. Joshua and Caleb believed and trusted the Lord. They agreed that it would be a huge undertaking to enter the Promised Land and conquer the mighty inhabitants, but they also knew that with God on their side, they would be victorious. Because of their faith, Joshua and Caleb were able to enter the Promised Land. Even though Joshua was a man of faith, I’m sure he was still afraid. I am sure that many years later, when it was time to cross the Jordan River and start taking the land, he had many doubts and questions. He overcame that fear by trusting that if the Lord was the One Who put the obstacle in his path, then the Lord was going to help him overcome that obstacle. Life is never going to be exempt of things that we fear. The most successful people in the world are the ones who have many insecurities and fears, yet still move forward in spite of those fears. It is the confidence of knowing that we serve a living God Who is powerful and mighty and He wants to help us

Dear God, as I begin this day, Let me turn my thoughts to you, And ask your help in guiding me In everything I say and do. Give me the patience that I need To keep my piece of mind, And with life’s cares, I hope, Dear God Some happiness to find. Let me live but for you today, Not worrying what’s ahead, For I have trust that you will see I get my “Daily Bread.” Give me the courage to face life’s trials And not from troubles run, Let me keep this thought in mind, “Thy will”, not mine”, be done. And if some wish I do not get Though I have prayed to Thee, Help me to believe and understand You know what’s best for me. I have failed many times I know, But when tonight I rest, I hope that I can kneel and say, “Dear God,” I’ve tried my best.

“I praise your promises! I trust you and am not afraid. No one can harm me.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56:10-11‬ ‭CEV‬‬ Words are powerful. Like the tide coming in, they can lift us up, or like the tide going out, they can drag us down. Like a crane on a construction site, they can build us up, or like a bulldozer on a demolition site, they can break us down and destroy us. No matter how old we are or what profession or situation we are in, the words people speak over us affect us at some level or other. Right now we might be aware of some negative labels that have stuck with us, some names that have begun to define us and caused us to doubt what God has said about us through his Word. The fear of ridicule is fear of the destructive things people will say about us. From a few comments in the coffee area during our work-break to severe verbal bullying at school, we can’t control the words people say. But what we can control is the power we give those words over our lives. We can choose whether to allow those words to define us or not. The way to disarm a bully is to disallow their words to have any power over us. When it comes to facing the fear of ridicule, it comes down to a choice that each of us must make. In today’s passage the author of the Psalm makes the choice to trust in God rather than in ‘mere mortals,' i.e., other humans. The question is: Whose voice are you listening to? The voice of your creator or the voice of the crowd? We can listen to and agree with what the crowd says about us, or we can choose to accept what Christ says about us. We can listen to what social media says, or listen to what our Savior says. We can listen to the words of man, or listen to the Word of our Maker. Our Maker, our heavenly Father, says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made; that there is a plan and purpose for our life; and that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. Let’s allow these positive words to resonate deep in our heart and find agreement with them – and rather than falling into fear in the face of ridicule, we can then stand firm.

Tattoos are permanent. Bruises are temporary. When it comes to failure, we need to understand that it is not a tattoo; it is a bruise, a one-off event rather than a label to define your life. The fact that we fail at times does not make us a failure. It means we tried, and the key is to get up and have another go! We can only do that if we allow failure to teach us and grow us, rather than define us. This way, when we try, we win or we learn, but we never lose. The Bible is full of stories of people who failed; it is also full of stories of many who overcame their failures. The biggest heroes in the Bible are people who failed time and time again, but who God continued to use just because they didn’t give up trying. Micah 7:8 says, ‘Don’t gloat over me, my enemies, although I have fallen, I will rise.’ There is so much hope in this verse. To be aware of a failure, yet being able to keep focused on the comeback is a beautiful thing! Winston Churchill said, ‘Success is to keep failing without losing enthusiasm.’ In life we will have some small, and some epic, fails. Some we forget in a day; others we carry around for a lifetime. The question is: Do our failings make us stronger and wiser, or do they make us fearful to try again; fearful of taking a risk, or stepping out? In some jobs, there is zero tolerance for failure. If you are a pilot or a heart surgeon, there is zero tolerance to fail because lives depend on you. For this reason, they have had years of practice and training where they could fail. Heart surgeons had practice bodies. Pilots had simulators and test flights. These were platforms where there was room for failure many times over that allowed them to grow and become skilled. When it comes to our walk with God, we are all works in progress. We are all on a journey, and failures along the way will happen. Let’s embrace them, learn from them and prevent them from holding us back from where God has called us to go. God hasn’t called us to be perfect. He’s just called us to not give up.

Always end the day with a positive thought. No matter how hard things were, tomorrow’s a fresh opportunity to make it better.

Do you have a favorite season of the year? Perhaps it’s one of the four seasons, such as spring or fall. Or perhaps your preferred season revolves around a certain sport or activity, like basketball, baseball or football . No matter what your favorite time of year is, God has designated every activity—every unique season in our lives—for a certain time. And once that season is finished, it’s time for another to take its place. Instead of being frustrated about a particular season coming to an end in your life, pray and ask God to remind you that with each season comes with new challenges and new experiences—and the opportunity for newfound joy and excitement along the way.

One thing that all of us have in common is that we are all following someone. I wonder if you have ever thought about who you are following and about how they influence your life. I have come to realize that who we follow determines who and what we fear. If we follow someone who is fearless, we will fear less; if we follow someone who is fearful, we will have much more fear. Fear is a learned trait; we can learn it from our parents, our role models and our bad experiences. But the good news is that if fear is a learned trait, then it is possible to unlearn it. Firstly, we need to identify our fears. Once we have done this, we can then choose to either run towards our fears or run away from them; to be overwhelmed by our fears or be overcome by them. Once we are honest with ourselves about who and what we fear, we can then choose to conquer our fears, but the first step is identifying where our fear lies. We can be fearful or fearless, and both have a ripple effect on the people around us - our friends, our kids, our spouse, and our colleagues. When a ‘giant’ comes our way, how do they see us respond? In a financial recession, do they see us full of fear? When sickness hits, do they see us full of worry? When intimidation comes our way, do they see anxiety or fearless confidence? Rather than allowing fear to dictate our lives, let’s demonstrate what it is to be fearless and encourage each other to live a fearless life.

God will take you places that are foreign to you (in the spirit & the flesh) so you can come out a better version of your self. All you have to do is trust in him. He will take you through the storms & sometimes those storms may SEEM to be paradises but do not be fooled stay strong & stead fast in the lord.

We all have plans & ideas, some world/ life changing but God’s plan is the one that matters the most. He will help us along the way more than we think, we just have to let go and let God. You will soon notice that everything has changed for the better including our selves.

One of the worst consequences of fear is that when it strikes it causes us to assume the worst. We fail the exam and we think we will never get a good job. We get dumped, or go through a divorce, and assume we will always be on our own. If we let it, fear takes over and runs wild in our minds, and we begin to invent worst-case scenarios. Fear causes us to have vision without optimism, to see a future without hope. There is a famous story in Matthew 8 in which Jesus is hanging out with his disciples on a boat. He is asleep when a storm hits, and immediately the disciples run to Jesus to wake him up and say, ‘Jesus! Don’t you care that we are going to drown?’ Bear in mind that at this point they are still safe on the boat; they are not in the water, yet they are visualizing their deaths. This is what fear does. It dictates a false reality and causes us to assume the worst. What we give attention to, we also give authority to. So the key is to shift our focus, and this will allow us to shift our fear, because whereas fear may well be present, we don’t need to allow it to be president of our mind. Let’s say we go to the famous Kings Cross train station in London. We can get on one train to the North of England or we can get on another train to Paris. One station, two trains, with two entirely different destinations. It is exactly the same with our mind. We can get on one ‘train of thought’ that focuses on the situation and gives way to fear; that is the train of doubt and negativity and the destination is defeat. Or we can shift our focus and fix our minds on the Word of Jesus; that is the train of faith and hope and the destination is victory. Today, look for opportunities to shift your focus. Like the author of the Psalm says, God can free us from all our fears, it just requires a shift in focus. God is stronger than our situation, more powerful than our problem, so let’s focus on him, rather than what is intimidating us.

If you're anything like me, you've come to realize that focusing on Jesus isn't always an easy thing. There are so many distractions in this world that we treat as idols and we don't even recognize it. How many times have you been given an opportunity but your focus quickly falls off Jesus? In our modern day and age we're more focused on what we want the way we want it. We want our desires in a fast, easy, and comfortable way. Most of us have no problem doing Jesus' work as long as it fits into our schedule. We're basically a modern day Peter. We are so focused on the wind, the storm, and depth of the water that we forgot our Savior has called us to do the impossible. Imagine if Peter kept his focus on Jesus the entire time. What other impossible things would he have been able to accomplish? Today I encourage you to focus less on the wind. Let's try to worry less about the busy part of life and overcome the doubt that the world is trying to sell. Let's try to focus more on Jesus. Think on this: What are a few things you're doing daily that can be replaced by focusing on Jesus?

If you’re scared to give generously, whether your time to serve others or your money to spread the gospel, Paul’s words are exactly what you need. “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Paul is all about the fear-erasing “alls.” “In all things at all times.” Good times, bad times. Tuition times, tax times. Got a raise times, lost my job times. That time and this time. God will bless you through it all. “Having all that you need.” All the promises you need—the presence of God, the power of God, mercy of God, the grace of God, the Spirit of God, the Son of God. All your heart really needs to be happy, to have hope, to breathe, to be blessed is God, and you have him because Jesus brought you back to him. So “you will abound in every good work.” With God, you’re not scraping by in life. No bare minimums. No, you are abounding! Doing the exact works God lined up for you to do. This church to support. This poor family member to feed. This neighbor in need. If you’re scared to give, remember that giving is like farming. A generous life is like a seed. And the God who created the sun and rain will provide it all to make that seed grow.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Strong words. A sober warning. If we live in pride, God warns us, “You are headed for destruction. You are headed for a fall.” We may not know when, where, or how the fall will come. It may not come fully until we die, but the fall will come. Sooner or later, we will be humbled. But what exactly is pride? Pride is when we rely upon ourselves rather than God. When we live for ourselves rather than God. When we are preoccupied with ourselves rather than God. Pride is when we refuse to humble ourselves before God and obey his commands. When we draw attention to ourselves and promote ourselves. When we think we are responsible for the good things in our lives. Pride is when we strut around and act as if we were God. Unfortunately, none of us is immune to pride. All of us are infected by the insidious plague of pride—a malady that is self-destructive, for pride inevitably leads to destruction. C.S. Lewis once described the sin of pride: According to Christian teachers the essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through pride that the devil became the devil: pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind. Pride is the mother hen under which all other sins are hatched. Pride is the essence of sin. Sin is fundamentally self-centeredness. Pride keeps more people out of the kingdom of God than anything else. The great Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., once said, “The great act of faith is when man decides that he is not God.” Well put. Recognize that you are not God, and decide to live your life for the one who is God, Jesus Christ.

Imagine, for a moment, a man, ever isolated, living alone in the mountains perhaps. Imagine him living a vigorous, adventurous, spiritual life, but lacking community. The knowledge this man would have of God, the knowledge he’d have of himself, would be modest compared to the knowledge he’d have of both, were he to have full access to relationships, friendships, brotherhood. You see, the isolated man may know about God. But, no matter how much he might read and study, he cannot know God. That takes community. We get to know God by seeing his Holy Spirit moving in others. We encounter God, we experience Him, we understand Him when He works through the love and sacrifice of other people. In brotherhood, we get to show God to one another. And, the more we’re in community with brothers, the deeper our understanding becomes. The isolated man may also know about himself—his talents, his likes, his dislikes. But, he cannot know himself. He cannot know the man God intends him to become. That too takes community. It takes others around him, who know his story, who spend time with him, who watch him, to discern and affirm and call forth things true and eternal in him, things God longs for to emerge. It takes brotherhood to call forth the true man. Though we live in cities and towns, many of us are yet like the man isolated in the mountains. We know about God, but we don’t know Him. We know the men we’d like to be, but we don’t know the men He created us to be. This message, right now, is another call for brotherhood. It’s a call for you, brother, to get into community with other men. Find some brothers; find your place.

We men love to measure things. And we have, at our disposal, highly accurate gauges for measuring just about anything, including the progress of our lives. I mean, we never have to wonder which careers are most prestigious; which jobs are most coveted; which neighborhoods are most exclusive; which vacations are most glamorous; which cars are most luxurious. Our culture makes sure its gauges remain well calibrated. “Listen carefully . . . and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world . . .” (Mark 4:24 MSG) The problem is, such things are not proper for measuring the progress of any life. There’s nothing wrong with careers or communities or cars, in-and-of themselves. They’re just not appropriate gauges in this context. Using them is like using a thermometer to measure the weight of a steel beam. It doesn’t work. Likewise, improper gauges won’t work for us, for measuring our lives as men. We must create and calibrate new gauges, ones that can properly measure our lives, because they measure the right stuff—like how we’re doing as husbands, as fathers, as friends, as neighbors; and how we’re doing toward becoming the men God intends us to become. Build new gauges for yourself, brother, ones that measure things like . . . how many nights you are home for dinner; or how often you sit down and pray with your wife or girlfriend; or how often you have conversations with your sons or daughters about their dreams or their fears; or how often you meet with brothers in community; or how often you drop what you’re doing to spend time with friends in need. Get practical. Build a simple spreadsheet, for example. Or create a calendar. Do what makes sense for you, but start measuring, today.

God loves us—just as we are, right now. Wow. That’s kind of difficult to accept, isn’t it? I mean, it’s hard to feel worthy of that love, with all our mistakes, our imperfections. Don’t we need to be perfect and holy too, just as He is, before He can love us? No, brother, He loves us—just as we are, right now. If we’re ever going to understand God, if we’re ever going to understand ourselves, in relation to God, we’re going to have to bend our minds toward that truth. He is perfect and holy; we are not. True. What’s not true is that, because of His perfection, He’s drawn only to more perfection. What’s not true is that, because of His holiness, He demands our holiness before He’ll love us, accept us, want anything to do with us. God knows our mistakes, every imperfection. Nothing is hidden from Him (Hebrews 4:13). And, actually, precisely because He knows, He executed the ultimate act of love: He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our King and to save us from our mistakes and imperfections (Romans 5:8). So, the truth is—like a doctor to the sick—He’s actually drawn to imperfection and sin (Mark 2:17). Our relationships with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, begin to work when we accept and welcome that love. Throughout this week, take these words as God’s promise, just to you. Meditate upon them. Let them sink in deep. “. . . neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate [me] from the love of God in Christ Jesus . . .” (Romans 8:38-39)