Today the message at Suncrest discussed the power of the Holy Spirit and the changes it will bring to the life of a follower. Pastor Greg Lee stressed the importance of totally trusting God with everything in our lives. He made it clear that between the life we are living and the life we could be living exists a gap that can never be filled with anything except the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. It is this mysterious gift available to everyone that often turns the impossible into reality. After accepting the Holy Spirit, we become servants of God with the ability to accomplish his will.
The Holy Spirit changes our direction, perspective and potential. We will instantly move from being an object of God's mission to a participant in a movement so much greater than ourselves. An absurd amount of time and effort is wasted on serving selfish objectives that lead us down a dark and treacherous road. The Holy Spirit will direct us toward a path that will transform our perspective. We will suddenly become aware of what is truly valuable in life ultimately allowing us to reach our full potential.
The topic of this message has played an important role in my life. Before becoming a follower, it is so clear that God was always pursuing me. His love and compassion were present in my life even when my resistance was in full force. I failed to see it at the time, but looking back I recognize that it was his protection that allowed me to survive. Over the past year, I have accepted God's guidance and listen obediently. Because of the power of the Holy Spirit, my entire life has been forever changed.
The path that I have taken to arrive at this moment in my existence has definitely not been one that I would have planned. However, I am so incredibly grateful for the blessed life I have been given. I have a great deal of faith and sincerely trust God to lead me toward serving a purpose much greater than anything I could ever think of on my own. It is because of his love and compassion that I now have a positive direction, an enlightened perspective and unlimited potential.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Experienced Flooring
This afternoon I helped a friend remove carpet from her house in order to prep the area for a new hardwood floor. I was glad I could help her out using some of the experience that I gained last year helping my former boss rehab one of his rental properties. After moving furniture and ripping out the old carpet, we uncovered the original tile that was most likely put down when the house was built. The process went rather smoothly, and a new fresh feeling seemed to fill the air after the dusty old carpet was tossed out the window.
In the mean time, the original tile remains uncovered complete with paint stains and chipped corners. It may not be clean and shiny, but it will serve its purpose as the current floor's surface. The old tile displays the rich history of the house and will continue to carry that history forward as it serves as the foundation for the new hardwood that will be used to cover it.
As I reflected on today's task, I found myself incorporating the story of the old dirty tile into my own life. My dedication toward change has often lead me to strip myself of old dusty habits leaving my true inner self completely exposed. I went on to further recognize that my past experiences represent the same stained and chipped history of the old dirty tile. I must never forget about those experiences as I continue on my journey of change. Just as the old dirty tile, my experiences will always serve as the foundation for the 'new shiny hardwood floors' of my future.
Today's reflection has also reminded me that I have participated in a good number of "blue collar" jobs since leaving my office work over two years ago. I have never had a full-time job of this type, but I have come to enjoy the intermittent work. I discovered that there is a certain satisfaction that accompanies manual labor. After completing a task, the hard work is rewarded with a feeling of accomplishment. I have found that I experience a feeling of joy upon looking back at a completed job, especially when I know I gave it my best effort.
As I continue seeking employment, I trust that God will lead me down the path that best supports his plan for my life. Whether I end up working outside or in an office, I believe that I will find happiness through my occupation. However, I have come to realize that the specific occupation will not supply the happiness. It will be up to me to make the most out of the opportunity God puts before me by always living with joy in my heart. Through my attitude and actions, I need to make the decision to follow God's guidance and receive the happiness he will provide.
In the mean time, the original tile remains uncovered complete with paint stains and chipped corners. It may not be clean and shiny, but it will serve its purpose as the current floor's surface. The old tile displays the rich history of the house and will continue to carry that history forward as it serves as the foundation for the new hardwood that will be used to cover it.
As I reflected on today's task, I found myself incorporating the story of the old dirty tile into my own life. My dedication toward change has often lead me to strip myself of old dusty habits leaving my true inner self completely exposed. I went on to further recognize that my past experiences represent the same stained and chipped history of the old dirty tile. I must never forget about those experiences as I continue on my journey of change. Just as the old dirty tile, my experiences will always serve as the foundation for the 'new shiny hardwood floors' of my future.
Today's reflection has also reminded me that I have participated in a good number of "blue collar" jobs since leaving my office work over two years ago. I have never had a full-time job of this type, but I have come to enjoy the intermittent work. I discovered that there is a certain satisfaction that accompanies manual labor. After completing a task, the hard work is rewarded with a feeling of accomplishment. I have found that I experience a feeling of joy upon looking back at a completed job, especially when I know I gave it my best effort.
As I continue seeking employment, I trust that God will lead me down the path that best supports his plan for my life. Whether I end up working outside or in an office, I believe that I will find happiness through my occupation. However, I have come to realize that the specific occupation will not supply the happiness. It will be up to me to make the most out of the opportunity God puts before me by always living with joy in my heart. Through my attitude and actions, I need to make the decision to follow God's guidance and receive the happiness he will provide.
Friday, March 5, 2010
A Sunny Walk
Today was filled with sunshine. It was so nice to step outside and look up to a bright blue sky. I took advantage of the change in weather and went for a walk. I was able to use the time to really get in touch with how I have been feeling. After recognizing some true feelings, I reached up toward the warm sun and thanked God for his presence in my life.
During the unplanned walk, I was able to really be honest with myself. I identified certain areas in my life which require more attention as I continue on my journey of change. Specifically, I believe that I can make a much better effort at becoming more healthy. I want to start making changes to my diet and exercise routine.
I think that I need to implement more discipline to this area of my life in order to meet future goals. Thinking back ten years when I was in better physical shape, I followed a strict schedule and kept track of my progress in a journal. I will be developing a similar method this weekend and plan to begin following it on Monday. I look forward to feeling more healthy and really believe that hard work in this area will carry over into several aspects of my life.
I am glad I took the time to reflect today and identify ways that will enable me to continue working to become a better person. The last couple of weeks have really been a challenge for me. To be perfectly honest, I have found myself fighting off negative behavioral patterns from my past. Using my faith and support from those close to me, I have been able to rise above and am so grateful to be sitting here writing with a victorious grin on my face.
I have very high expectations for this upcoming Spring season and look forward to all the wonderful events God has planned for me. I knew going into this journey of change that times would be tough, but I had no idea how great it would feel to overcome those challenging times. I will continue to give my all toward everything I do and trust God will take care of the rest.
During the unplanned walk, I was able to really be honest with myself. I identified certain areas in my life which require more attention as I continue on my journey of change. Specifically, I believe that I can make a much better effort at becoming more healthy. I want to start making changes to my diet and exercise routine.
I think that I need to implement more discipline to this area of my life in order to meet future goals. Thinking back ten years when I was in better physical shape, I followed a strict schedule and kept track of my progress in a journal. I will be developing a similar method this weekend and plan to begin following it on Monday. I look forward to feeling more healthy and really believe that hard work in this area will carry over into several aspects of my life.
I am glad I took the time to reflect today and identify ways that will enable me to continue working to become a better person. The last couple of weeks have really been a challenge for me. To be perfectly honest, I have found myself fighting off negative behavioral patterns from my past. Using my faith and support from those close to me, I have been able to rise above and am so grateful to be sitting here writing with a victorious grin on my face.
I have very high expectations for this upcoming Spring season and look forward to all the wonderful events God has planned for me. I knew going into this journey of change that times would be tough, but I had no idea how great it would feel to overcome those challenging times. I will continue to give my all toward everything I do and trust God will take care of the rest.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The Greatest Lesson
I was blessed with the idea to ask a very broad question to some of the people that I would speak with today at the Soup and Serenity program. I was hoping that I would be able to get a few candid responses and use their answers as inspiration for a possible future blog. I respect the hard earned experience that accompanies every person's life story and believe that we can learn a lot from our elders. While engaging in sincere conversations, I found a way to simply ask, "What is the greatest lesson you have learned over the course of your lifetime?"
I was quite surprised by the various responses to this powerful question. Some people seemed to be caught off guard, while others jumped at the chance to share their wisdom. A few people voiced some concern about getting so personal, but some wanted to think about it throughout the week and share their thoughts at next week's program. Overall, it was just wonderful to connect with others through amazing life stories and listen to first hand accounts of some priceless lessons.
During the most touching conversation of the day, I felt a connection to a woman as she spoke about the pain she had experienced and dealt with after a long relationship had ended. Just like she was describing, I knew what it was like to fall victim to depression after losing someone I thought was the person for me. But as she continued her story, the tone of her voice began to change and a smile emerged shining with the grace of God.
She went on to say that she ended up developing a deeper relationship with God and found peace within herself after overcoming that challenging time in life. She now looks back on what seemed to be the most horrible thing that ever happened to her as a true blessing. She continues to live a very blessed life with a loving husband of 36 years and 3 healthy children that have went on to give her 7 beautiful grandchildren. She concluded passionately that, "Sometimes what seems to be the worst can easily become the greatest."
Her greatest lesson in life is definitely one that carries over into all of our lives. We never know what God is doing in our lives and should trust that he is always working with a much greater plan in mind. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from other's experiences and look forward to using this same question during future conversations. I encourage everyone to take some time to identify people in life that may have valuable life lessons to share. By asking the right questions, we may be able to avoid having to learn the hard way - which could just turn out to be the greatest lesson of our life.
I was quite surprised by the various responses to this powerful question. Some people seemed to be caught off guard, while others jumped at the chance to share their wisdom. A few people voiced some concern about getting so personal, but some wanted to think about it throughout the week and share their thoughts at next week's program. Overall, it was just wonderful to connect with others through amazing life stories and listen to first hand accounts of some priceless lessons.
During the most touching conversation of the day, I felt a connection to a woman as she spoke about the pain she had experienced and dealt with after a long relationship had ended. Just like she was describing, I knew what it was like to fall victim to depression after losing someone I thought was the person for me. But as she continued her story, the tone of her voice began to change and a smile emerged shining with the grace of God.
She went on to say that she ended up developing a deeper relationship with God and found peace within herself after overcoming that challenging time in life. She now looks back on what seemed to be the most horrible thing that ever happened to her as a true blessing. She continues to live a very blessed life with a loving husband of 36 years and 3 healthy children that have went on to give her 7 beautiful grandchildren. She concluded passionately that, "Sometimes what seems to be the worst can easily become the greatest."
Her greatest lesson in life is definitely one that carries over into all of our lives. We never know what God is doing in our lives and should trust that he is always working with a much greater plan in mind. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from other's experiences and look forward to using this same question during future conversations. I encourage everyone to take some time to identify people in life that may have valuable life lessons to share. By asking the right questions, we may be able to avoid having to learn the hard way - which could just turn out to be the greatest lesson of our life.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Oldie But Goodie
Music has always played a significant role in my life. I remember being about 6 years old and going absolutely crazy for Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA." I would skip throughout the house playing the air guitar and totally get caught up in the moment upon hearing it. My mom soon came to realize that she could always cheer me up by playing that specific record.
As my life progressed, I developed a tolerance to a wide variety of music. Mostly, I found myself buying anything that inspired me emotionally. From Vanilla Ice to Celine Dion, every album in my music collection carries a purpose that I can tie to a certain state of mind. There are certain songs attached to memories that will last forever. Upon hearing these songs, I can immediately recall those experiences and feel as if I am actually there again reliving the moment.
When I first hear a song that I really enjoy, I get very excited to listen to it and often will play it over and over again. However, I find that as time goes on I seem to lose the excitement that was once tied to the song. Before long, I begin to take it for granted. It eventually gets lost in the music collection and becomes just another memory filled song from my past.
However, I have come to realize that the songs from my past are just as good now as they were when they first were released. In order to enjoy them, all I have to do is find them and listen as if they are brand new. The same excitement and emotion fill my heart making me remember why they were once special to me.
As I continue fighting through this tough time in my life, I cannot help but to think back to different stages in my life. Exploring years of experiences that have made me who I am today, I am reminded of the diverse range of emotions from each time period. I can remember times when I was so excited about living life. But as challenges seemed to take control, I eventually lost my passion for certain hopes and dreams just as I did for songs throughout my life.
I believe that I will find hidden passion stored in forgotten hopes and dreams just like I have found lost excitement in certain songs from my past. All I need to do is identify what they may be and chase after them. After remembering how strongly I feel about them, I think I will once again experience the same past emotions and get excited about accomplishing them. It may not lead to me skipping around playing the air guitar, but I am pretty sure it will help me live with a new energy that will be sure to make life more interesting.
As my life progressed, I developed a tolerance to a wide variety of music. Mostly, I found myself buying anything that inspired me emotionally. From Vanilla Ice to Celine Dion, every album in my music collection carries a purpose that I can tie to a certain state of mind. There are certain songs attached to memories that will last forever. Upon hearing these songs, I can immediately recall those experiences and feel as if I am actually there again reliving the moment.
When I first hear a song that I really enjoy, I get very excited to listen to it and often will play it over and over again. However, I find that as time goes on I seem to lose the excitement that was once tied to the song. Before long, I begin to take it for granted. It eventually gets lost in the music collection and becomes just another memory filled song from my past.
However, I have come to realize that the songs from my past are just as good now as they were when they first were released. In order to enjoy them, all I have to do is find them and listen as if they are brand new. The same excitement and emotion fill my heart making me remember why they were once special to me.
As I continue fighting through this tough time in my life, I cannot help but to think back to different stages in my life. Exploring years of experiences that have made me who I am today, I am reminded of the diverse range of emotions from each time period. I can remember times when I was so excited about living life. But as challenges seemed to take control, I eventually lost my passion for certain hopes and dreams just as I did for songs throughout my life.
I believe that I will find hidden passion stored in forgotten hopes and dreams just like I have found lost excitement in certain songs from my past. All I need to do is identify what they may be and chase after them. After remembering how strongly I feel about them, I think I will once again experience the same past emotions and get excited about accomplishing them. It may not lead to me skipping around playing the air guitar, but I am pretty sure it will help me live with a new energy that will be sure to make life more interesting.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Refreshed
I was lying in my bed early this morning feeling tired and worn down when I started to think. Usually I welcome new and exciting ideas, but today the thoughts seemed to be accompanied by anxiety and doubt. I immediately recognized the negative feelings and began praying for help to overcome them.
I know I have a hard time accepting my current situation and often find myself fighting back the could have, would have, should haves. I must constantly remind myself of how far I have come and keep my faith strong trusting that God has something wonderful planned for me. I really think my current state of mind is being influenced by the sickness that kept me grounded throughout the last week. However, I am feeling much better and am looking forward to being more productive during the rest of the week.
I really am excited about getting out of the house during the next two days. I feel as if I might have given in to a weekly routine and need to focus on changing things up by incorporating a few new and fresh events. As I continue looking for employment, I need to concentrate more on the gained experience than the discouraging results of past interviews. With every new day, I will seek opportunities to serve others and keep finding ways to improve myself. God will provide everything I need and guide me exactly where I need to be.
As I work through this challenging time, I want to thank all my family and friends that have provided support and continue to help me move forward toward my goals. God has definitely blessed me with your kind and generous presence in my life. By overcoming these challenging times, I am confident that I am building strength that will help shape me into the person God wishes me to be. Tonight I praise God and end this day looking to Hebrews 10:35 for encouragement as I anticipate waking up tomorrow refreshed... ready to continue chasing change.
_________________________________
Hebrews 10:35, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."
I know I have a hard time accepting my current situation and often find myself fighting back the could have, would have, should haves. I must constantly remind myself of how far I have come and keep my faith strong trusting that God has something wonderful planned for me. I really think my current state of mind is being influenced by the sickness that kept me grounded throughout the last week. However, I am feeling much better and am looking forward to being more productive during the rest of the week.
I really am excited about getting out of the house during the next two days. I feel as if I might have given in to a weekly routine and need to focus on changing things up by incorporating a few new and fresh events. As I continue looking for employment, I need to concentrate more on the gained experience than the discouraging results of past interviews. With every new day, I will seek opportunities to serve others and keep finding ways to improve myself. God will provide everything I need and guide me exactly where I need to be.
As I work through this challenging time, I want to thank all my family and friends that have provided support and continue to help me move forward toward my goals. God has definitely blessed me with your kind and generous presence in my life. By overcoming these challenging times, I am confident that I am building strength that will help shape me into the person God wishes me to be. Tonight I praise God and end this day looking to Hebrews 10:35 for encouragement as I anticipate waking up tomorrow refreshed... ready to continue chasing change.
_________________________________
Hebrews 10:35, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."
Monday, March 1, 2010
3 F's
Bear Grylls is the host of a reality show called Man vs. Wild airing on the Discovery Channel. I absolutely love watching his adventures as he voluntarily takes on the toughest environments Mother Nature has to offer with nothing except a few key survival items. As a former member of the British Special Forces, Bear has an amazing drive to conquer all the harsh situations he encounters during his battles with nature. He does a wonderful job providing helpful tips and demonstrations that teach viewers different ways to stay alive regardless of the circumstance.
I used to spend time imagining myself escaping to some far-off land alone with nothing except the clothes on my back. It may seem ridiculous to desire something so extreme, but at the time it helped me forget about all the trouble and hardship I had brought upon myself through years of self destructive behavior. I knew deep down inside that I was a strong person meant for much greater accomplishments and figured that I would be better off trying to survive in a natural environment away from society rather than face the strongholds in my life.
Obviously, my past tendency to think about attempting to survive on my own out in the wilderness naturally attracts me to watching Bear succeed at his adventures. During a recent episode, Bear was speaking of his experiences living through his toughest situations by himself while being challenged by some of the most dangerous conditions known to man. He stressed the importance of adequate food and shelter, but placed an even higher amount of importance in keeping your hope and spirits high in order to survive. Bear said he always keeps the 3 F's close to his heart in order to find the strength to come out of each situation alive.
I am so grateful to say that I never followed through on my desire to escape my life's problems by running away to some secluded forest in the mountains. I can now see that would have been crazy considering I have absolutely no experience surviving on my own in the wilderness. Furthermore, I would have never gained the strength and wisdom that God has blessed me with over the last couple years through overcoming the adversity in my life. However, it seems that by fighting through the toughest situations in my own life I have found the same 3 F's Bear Grylls mentioned to also be number one to my survival - Faith, Family and Friends.
I used to spend time imagining myself escaping to some far-off land alone with nothing except the clothes on my back. It may seem ridiculous to desire something so extreme, but at the time it helped me forget about all the trouble and hardship I had brought upon myself through years of self destructive behavior. I knew deep down inside that I was a strong person meant for much greater accomplishments and figured that I would be better off trying to survive in a natural environment away from society rather than face the strongholds in my life.
Obviously, my past tendency to think about attempting to survive on my own out in the wilderness naturally attracts me to watching Bear succeed at his adventures. During a recent episode, Bear was speaking of his experiences living through his toughest situations by himself while being challenged by some of the most dangerous conditions known to man. He stressed the importance of adequate food and shelter, but placed an even higher amount of importance in keeping your hope and spirits high in order to survive. Bear said he always keeps the 3 F's close to his heart in order to find the strength to come out of each situation alive.
I am so grateful to say that I never followed through on my desire to escape my life's problems by running away to some secluded forest in the mountains. I can now see that would have been crazy considering I have absolutely no experience surviving on my own in the wilderness. Furthermore, I would have never gained the strength and wisdom that God has blessed me with over the last couple years through overcoming the adversity in my life. However, it seems that by fighting through the toughest situations in my own life I have found the same 3 F's Bear Grylls mentioned to also be number one to my survival - Faith, Family and Friends.
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