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Transform Your Life with Hope: Believe, Speak, Help

9 Jan

As we enter the new year, the world seems to be in a mess. Maybe, your personal world is a mess, or others you know are living in or through a mess. Throughout the existence of mankind things have been messy at times, but history is quick to remind us there are good times and bad times. There are joyful times and miserable times. There are times of abundance and there are times of poverty and famine and yet we (mankind) survive, we struggle through, we emerge out of the darkest times into the light of glorious times. One thing is for sure; times and things will change.

So, how do we survive when we find ourselves in the quagmire of a mess. When bad news affects us, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It seems the darkness is so thick, it’s like being encapsulated in the deepest darkest mud of all times. What do we do? The answer, Hope! Let me explain.

Hope is a confident expectation of good, or you could even say a good future. Having hope can release and even catapult us from the deepest, darkest, and even lightlessness of times to a good future and there are three exercises that are sure to help. Believe, Speak, and Help others.

First, Believe! Start by thinking, “For as a man thinketh so is he”. Change your thoughts by turning away from negative inputs. These inputs could be friends, news media, social media and such and begin to input positive thoughts through reading biographies, watching media that uplifts, associating with people who are more positive and reading good books. A great book to start with would be, “The Power of Positive Thinking”, by Norman Vincent Peele. Once you start changing your thinking, you will begin to believe and having a confident expectation of good will begin to gain traction.

Second, Speak Hope! Did you know that life and death are in the power of the tongue? You see, your words matter. Take a moment and think about how you talk about yourself. Is it positive or negative? If your words tend towards the negative, STOP and begin speaking positive about yourself. Be kind in speaking to and about yourself.

Psychologists tell us that there is an advantage in choosing positive words over negative words. For instance, our cognitive reasoning strengthens, we make better decisions, and we’re more forward thinking when we use positive words in our speaking. Positive words even impact our quality of life, from relationships to our overall health. Negative words on the other hand cause stress, anxiety, anger, depression, hopelessness and severe effects on our health.

Without going into a deep dive about the power of our words the picture is clear, our words matter. So, change your words to those of HOPE, a confident expectation of good about yourself, the future, and others, which brings us to the third exercise of speaking hope into others.

Third, Be Hope! You do this through a couple of ways. The first, choose to speak words of life into others. Words that will give them a confident expectation of good in their lives. You will need to be intentional with your words. Always remember your words matter and will and can affect the lives of others. Second, and lastly, help others as often as possible. Put them first. Be concerned about their wellbeing. It will chang you and them for the better.

In conclusion, if your personal world is a mess and you have a negative worldview it can all be changed with HOPE. That is having a confident expectation of good, of a good future. Just remember what you believe, the words you say, and helping others can make all the difference in your life and the world. So, decide today to put into action what you have read and make a difference!

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So how do I Know God’s Voice?

30 Dec

Yesterday, was about turning to the Creator, God, for our wisdom. Today, it will be hearing God once we’ve asked for his wisdom, for he speaks in a still small voice or in a gentle whisper. As the story goes, the prophet Elijah needed to hear from God. God told him to go, “Go out and stand before me (him) on the mountain… And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave” and the Lord spoke to him (see 1 Kings 19:11-13).

Life is loud, self-serving, relying on the wisdom of others and our own experiences. It is bombarded with all sorts of information and a sprinkling of truth to make us gravitate towards a faulty discission, that usually ends with a less than desired outcome. So, what do we do?

For starters, we slow down; by dismantling the habits we’ve acquired of information overload. Then we take the additional time we had previously allotted for binging on all the information produced through technology and get still. Once we are still, we dismiss all the chaos around us, putting it aside, so we can hear the gentle whisper of God. For God truly wants to talk with us and develop a relationship with us. He says, “Be still and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10. And it’s during these times of stillness that we can hear from the Lord, God and ask our questions, seek answers, and hear his wisdom as it pertains to anything we ask. For in the book of James, chapter 4, verse 2, it says, “You do not have because you do not ask God”. So, get still and ask! Ask God for the wisdom you need in any given situation. Call on him and he will answer you.

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Today is the Day!

29 Dec

As the end of the year approaches, the Creator of all the heavens and the earth, says, “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22). I’m sure most of us have ignored the words of Isaiah for most of this year. Yes, we may have had spits and sputters along the way of calling out to the Creator for help and wisdom, but mostly we have ignored His help, leaving us short of where we wanted or hoped to be by the end of the year. However, today could be the day all that changes for our coming year, if we but open our ears to what the Spirit of the Creator is saying. Let me explain through a story.

There once were two kings. and each sought the advice of their counselors on how they should lead their respective countries or people. Both knew there was only one Creator of all things, but neither of them would turn to him for help. One rejected the wisdom of the older advisors and sought out the wisdom of younger men. The other, also sought the advice of his counselors, but neither, sought out the wisdom of the Creator. The result, destruction, defeat, and a terrible legacy. (You can find the complete story in 1 Kings 12-14, 2 Chronicles 12, and the books of the kings of Isarel and Judah). Maybe you have experienced the negative effects of relying on your own wisdom, experience, and advisers without consulting with the Creator. He, the Creator says, to turn to him and you will be saved.

Do you need to be saved? The Creator says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Call out to him! Who is the Creator, “The Lord Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The Savior of the World, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”. For He alone is God, the Creator! Call out to Him for wisdom for the coming year. Turn to Him, ask Him to reveal truth to you, obey His leading and instructions. For his “burden is easy and his yoke is light” (Matthew 11:13). He says to, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it” (Matthew 7:13).

You see, salvation and prosperity are found in the Creators wisdom. In turning to Him and calling out to Him to be saved. If you want your new day and year ahead to turn out better than this past year, then turn to him, not to your own self, or the wisdom of this world. Call out to Him and be saved!

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How You See Yourself Matters

23 Dec

Most of us go through life getting by from day to day. We find ourselves lost in the despair of providing for ourselves and our families. Being consumed by worry, fear, and doubt, and our need of being esteemed, liked and loved, makes it even more difficult. So, what can we do?

Did you know that how you see your situation and even yourself, has consequences? If you see your situation as one full of gloom and doom, that is what it will be. If you see yourself in a negative light, negativity is what you will produce. It’s the law of what you see is what you get. Have you ever heard the saying, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”? Well, there have even been books written on the subject. One is “As a Man Thinketh” by James Allen.

Other quotes, include, “As you think, so shall you become”, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is”, and “What you focus on grows”. Each of these sayings, conclude that thoughts will shape one’s character and life. For example: If you think that you will fail, you will fail. If you have thoughts of yourself as inferior, that low and negative opinion will hinder you until you change the way you think. If your old enough to remember the Star Trek series, Commander Kirk would say, “Think man, think!”, what and how you think matters. It reveals to others how you see yourself.

So, instead of thinking scarcity, think abundance. Replace thoughts of inferiority with superiority, and failure with success. See yourself as being a lover of people and you will be loved. If you have anger issues, begin seeing yourself as a person of peace and good humor. You see, changing your thoughts will change your life and the lives of those around you.

As you begin this new journey of changing the way you think, you will have good days and not so good days. But never give up, your perseverance will be rewarded. Your life will be transformed, your character polished, and your friends and acquaintances astonished. Remember, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

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“What’s Love got to do with it?”

22 Dec

Did you know that love is the core, the very foundation of everything? Most of us are so busy trying to live, we neglect the key that unlocks what we are truly looking for and that is love. Without love, our very lives spiral out of control. We begin, “looking for love in all the wrong places”. We become preoccupied and selfish, which leads to conflict, resentments, and a breakdown in our relationships. What we really need is to be altruistic, the very opposite of being selfish and self-centered.

Norman Vincent Peale, in his book, “The Powerful Way To Change Your Life”, challenged people in every walk of life to practice the golden rule of loving people. He gave many examples of salesman and business owners who loved, served, and treated others as they would like to be treated, which in turn made for a more prosperous outcome in their personal and professional lives.

So, if we really want to make a difference, we must become selfless by first making an examination of ourselves. In doing this, we must look at ourselves truthfully in a mirror and confront any characteristics that would isolate ourselves from others. Those characteristics might include a lack of self-confidence, anxiety, being an isolationist, concerned only for oneself, or having no regard for anyone else. Once a complete examination has be exhausted, we must make the necessary transformations. We can find this type of help through good books, podcast, seminars, blogs, or even professional help. Once we’ve identified our alienating characteristics, we must help others think more highly of themselves. We can do this by deliberately and consciously helping other people feel better about themselves by being interested in them as a person. Point out all you can that is positive about a person whenever possible. Third, always be available to help people in the stormy times in their lives, they will never forget the help and in turn someone may come to your aid when you hit a ruff spot in life. And finally, the most important. Genuinely love people. For people always know when they are loved and will respond in love.

In recapping, people really will love us, when we love them! So, remember: 1. Confront and make the necessary adjustments to your character. 2. Make a conscious effort to help people feel better about themselves. 3. Render aid to people. And in finalizing the steps, genuinely love people. You just can’t go wrong by remembering to “love one another” (John 15:17).

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Who’s at Your Gate?

19 Dec

Did you know, there is a story about a very rich man who lived every day in the greatest of luxury? His wardrobe was quite exquisite, and he was known for his great wealth. One day, a beggar, who was covered in sores and longing just for something to eat, had been laid at the entrance gate of the rich man’s home. This beggar was only hoping to eat what fell from the rich man’s table and nothing more. What’s interesting is that the dogs which were in the area cared more for this man than the rich man. For the dogs at least noticed, approached the beggar and licked his sores. The rich man ignored the beggar even though he had the means to care for all his needs, from food to medical care. But the story goes even deeper than just the rich man’s lack of concern for others, it reveals a man who ignored truth, because he was so caught up in his wealth.

As the story goes both the beggar and the rich man eventually died, the beggar to an eternal life of comfort, and the rich man to one of agony. The rich man, who would be tormented in the place of hell forever could see the beggar in a different place than he, a place of eternal comfort. Seeing this, he wanted the beggar to bring him relief, but it was not possible for their eternal destinies had been set. When this realization was evident to the rich man, he requested that the beggar be sent from his place of comfort to his five brothers, to warn them of the place of torment. He thought that if someone from the dead would go to them, they would repent. However, he was told that if his brothers would not listen to truth, they would not be convinced even though someone rose from the grave.

This story really can be life changing for us all. You see, everyone is concerned about life after death. I know that is a chilling statement, but study after study reveals people are concerned about this very topic. The older, if we’re so fortunate, and the closer to death we get, the topic of life after death becomes important. Having this knowledge, the story above reveals that truth takes precedent over all things. Not, money, fame, or earthly comforts. We must listen for the truth! And truth does not kill, steal, or destroy, but gives life, abundant and eternal.

The rich man cared only for himself, not his brothers, or even a crippled, sore covered, hungry man, laid at his very gate. He refused to listen to truth, which ended for him in eternal torment and possibly that of his brothers too, if they followed his example. Truth really does matter, and the rich man came face to face with truth after his death. His story being told is so important for us all. It gives each of us an opportunity to assess our earthly lives, listen to the truth, and care for others.

This may lead us to ask, “What is truth?”, which was asked by another historical figure, Pontius Pilate during the trial of Jesus recorded in the New Testament Gospels of the Bible and by Tacitus and Josephus who were historical writers of the times. Jesus in an earlier conversation with his disciples stated, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 16:6a). If we are listening, then truth is a person and we should be listening to Him, (Jesus) and no other. The rich man came face to face with truth, learning too late the consequences of not listening, not repenting, and the neglecting others has on one’s destiny.

Truth would ask for our attention. It would not ask for us to steal, kill, or destroy, in any fashion. Truth would want us to share or even give our lives for others, so that they too could live their eternal life in comfort and not torment. Are we listening to Truth? As stated earlier, truth can be found in Jesus, who is the Truth. Let us call out to Him and He will reveal Truth to us. So, the question is, “Who’s at your gate?” Life or Death? Comfort or Torment? We all get to choose!

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Overcoming Disability: A Journey of Faith

12 Dec

Did you know there is a wonderful story of a woman in the middle east who had struggled with a physical disability for 18 years. The disability may have been a severe case of scoliosis, an abnormally curved spine. There is no way to know the correct diagnosis because the story does not give us one. The description is only that she was bent over and could not raise herself up. The description, however, does give us enough information to scoliosis.

Can you sense the pain this woman must have endured for 18 years. Not only the physical pain but the difficulty in getting a good deep breath. How about the emotional and mental pain. Just trying to imagine her dilemma would be hard for most of us, but there are those who can. Like those who suffer in their own disability, whether physically, emotionally, or mentally. Many of these disabilities are invisible, yet people are suffering. You might be asking, how this woman’s story has anything to do with those suffering with disabilities today? Maybe, just maybe finding or renewing their hope.

As the story goes, during the time of this woman’s life there was a man who traveled throughout the region in which she lived healing every kind of disease and illness, even those who were demon possessed, epileptic, or paralyzed. He healed them all. What’s interesting about this story is the cause of her disability. You see, this man happened to be teaching in the city she lived and saw her. He couldn’t help but notice her disability or sickness and called her over to himself. Once she made her way to him, he had compassion for her and told her she was healed of her sickness. He then touched her and instantly she could stand straight. He told those who questioned him about her healing, that she had been held in bondage by Satan for 18 years and that it was right for him to release her.

Wow, what a story! A story of healing and deliverance. And what’s even more exciting is that this same man lives today, being the same as he was then, today, and forever. Let’s dive a little deeper into this man. You see, this man’s coming was foretold years before by another. He described his appearance as nothing beautiful or majestic, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. A man people would turn their backs on and look the other way, not even caring. Yet this man carried our weaknesses. Our sorrows weighed him down. He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins, beaten so we could be whole, and whipped so we could be healed. Yet we ignore this back story. We’re blinded to the truth about this man. This man is Jesus, the son of God. God himself who came in the flesh. Who loved us and gave himself for us, so we could be made right with him.

This man, Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah about himself, when he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that the captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18,19). You see, Jesus is the answer to our deepest need. The need for our sins to be forgiven, our lives to be made whole, and the healing of our body, soul, and spirit. Jesus also said, the thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. But his purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life, an abundant life (see John 10:10).

Jesus is calling us all to himself as he did the woman in this story. He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

The story of the woman with the disability can be found in Luke 13:11-33. Its truth will resonate with hope and an expectation of the possibilities of healing and deliverance for anyone who comes to Jesus, the Son of God!

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Transform Your Life with Kind Words

11 Dec

Did you know that speaking kind words to yourself and others can be uplifting and encouraging? They can replace worry with hope and depression with joy. Did you know that speaking pleasant words can ease emotional turmoil, bringing comfort to ones very soul. Did you know that speaking positive words have so much impact they can produce physical benefits, reduce stress, and promote overall health and well-being.

Kind and gentle words really matter! The words you speak can uplift or tear down, they can encourage or discourage, they can bring joy or pain, they can heal or destroy. You see, words can be used as a thief, they can steal, kill, and destroy or they can bring life and abundance.

“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21

“But the tongue of the wise promotes health.” Proverbs 12:18

Maybe it would be wise to watch what we say to ourselves and others, because our words truly matter! Did you know that thousands of people have transformed their lives by changing the words they speak, and you can too! Believe and put into action the wisdom found in the proverbs and your life will take a drastic change. Remember to develop consistency in the habit of your use of kind words. The impact it has on your life and others will be noticeably dramatic.

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Just Life

9 Dec

I often wonder what people are really thinking about as they experience life. Life itself is so different depending on your birthplace and cultural upbringing. The expanse of differences is so vast, unless you could experience firsthand every culture of the world your comprehension would be tainted. You would have no idea about the day-to-day life of most cultures. But what’s interesting about life is though we are so different as it relates to culture, we are likeminded, or kindred when it comes to fear, temptations, love, loneliness, and happiness. We all experience some forms of success and failure, stress, sickness, times of rejoicing, times of worry, and eventually death. I would think, most of us question our existence, the fairness of life, and our purpose. With that being said, you would think consideration for one another would supersede all else, but it doesn’t. We put our cultural differences above our kindred likenesses. Our own selfishness about selflessness.

There are, however, people life Oskar Schindler, a businessman who focused on profits above others. He engaged in the horrific treatment of others for the sake of said profits, but what he witnessed changed his priorities from profit to people. He spent his entire fortune safeguarding lives, being transformed from selfishness to a life of selflessness. His revelation of the mankind’s kindred likeness changed him forever.

Maybe it’s time we all shifted our priorities of self to that of selflessness, realizing our kindred likenesses above our cultural differences.

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Pressure, Frustration, Hopelessness, and Suffering

5 Dec

There is not a single person alive who has not been affected by the pressures of life, the frustrations of lack, the hopelessness of a situation, or the suffering of pain, loss, sickness, and death. Many bury the anguish and move through life resentful, scared, and joyless. They feel as though life is unfair and, on some days, unbearable. They really just want to run away or find a way to lessen the pain. We all know from our own experiences or watching others running from their anguish it only extends the negative effects of any one of these situations and we fall deeper into the darkness. So, what’s the answer to dealing with these crises of life, is there any hope?

There is hope, but it’s found in perseverance, creativity, and resilience. Examples would be Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned for 27 years but persevered by enduring the hardships and later emerged to lead his country to freedom and became the first Black president. Then there’s Victor Frankl who endured the Holocaust and wrote a book about finding purpose in the darkest of times. Or how about the author of, “Harry Potter”, J.K. Rowling who was deep in poverty and depression, who never gave up, persevering till she escaped her poverty and depression. Their examples teach us there’s light in the darkness, that the crises of pressure, frustration, hopelessness, and suffering are surmountable through perseverance, creativity and resilience.

Have you heard the saying, “Facts tell, but Stories sale”. In finding your way out of crises in your life, reading life stories may give you the courage to persevere. You may even begin to see the light again and come up with ideas when acted upon that may extinguish your anguish of feeling less than or depressed to a brighter more joyful future. Giving it a good try surely can’t hurt. So, pick up a good book on a life story of someone who found themselves in the depths of hopelessness, who persevered and came out the other side with purpose, meaning, and victory. A couple books may be, “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand, the story of Louie Zamperini or “The Class Castle” by Jannette Walls, which has to do with the dynamics of family relationships. You might even read “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vencent Peale is a book about how a positive attitude can change everything. But whatever you do find a story that interest you and begin.

Recently, a gentleman had found himself in quite a crisis. He had returned home from a deployment and had lost everything, from his wife, family, home, and even a car. He was truly beside himself and was spiraling quickly into a depressive state. Having little hope if any, he was traveling to visit other family to help with some of his needs. However, as destiny would have it, he found himself with a tire on his used car, which he had recently acquired and for which he had purchased new tires for going flat. Fortunately, he was able to make if to a tire store, but the only problem was he had no money.

As the story was told, the gentleman made his way into the store and ran into another gentleman who had been waiting for the counter help. As they waited, the gentleman with the tire problem began sharing the dire crisis he found himself in and how he wanted to just get to his little apartment with his dog and regress from the rest of the world. His problems were just too overwhelming. The pressure and frustration of life was just too much. He expressed his hopelessness and the emotional suffering he was experiencing. Little did he know his life was about to change for he had prayed earlier that morning for God to help him, actually he felt that was all he could do, he had come to his end. What he didn’t know was God was going to answer that prayer, you see, the other gentleman has spent time with God in prayer that morning too but had a different conversation with God. He had shared in his prayer that he was available to be used by God if needed. Through a series of circumstances both gentlemen ended up at the tire store. After hearing about the other gentleman’s crisis, a conversation began that caught the attention of two other men in the tire store, one of which was the owner. By the end of the conversation the gentleman turned all his cares over to God, decided he needed to turn his attention from himself to others, and in fact turned from his way of doing life to God.

What were the results of the encounter brought about by praying to God. Well, a gentleman surrendered his life and crisis to God and was made new, along with the answer to the other gentleman’s prayer of being available. How awesome is that? Oh, and by the way, the owner of the tire store who heard the conversation did not charge for his service of repairing the tire.

So, if you’re experiencing a crisis in your life, call out to God for help and he will help. Cast all your care on him for he cares for you!

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