Thought Weeds

What are you full of?

2011-06-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

You are either grateful or ungrateful. You are one or the other (Adrian Rodgers).

Problem - Solution = Complaint

2011-06-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

God's Whisper

2011-05-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

When pain shouts at you, be still, and hear God's whisper. (1 Kings 19:9-13)

The Strategy of Speaking

2011-04-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people; the wicked are sewers of abuse. (Proverbs 15:28) We should be forever mindful of the effect of our speech upon others. Evil people are always saying whatever pops into their heads without observing their impact. God has a strategy for every word that He speaks. (Isaiah 55:10-11) If we are to be like Him, so must we.

Seasoned Speech

2011-04-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

"Flavor you words with grace like sprinkling salt on your food. When you talk, your words should be enhanced with kindness. " (Col. 4:6A) Ponder the impact of your words before you speak them. Words should be spoken intentionally while weighing the impact of speaking those words beforehand.

Take the I.Q. Test

2011-04-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

"Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing." (Proverbs 12:18 NLT) Are you smart or stupid? Here is a good test to take straight from the Bible. Ask how is what I'm saying effecting others and exposing my intellect?

Are Riches Evil?

2011-04-05T09:08:00.000-07:00

Riches are neither good or evil. If you use riches to reach people, riches are good. If you use people to get riches, riches are bad. Riches are like a gun. You can use them to protect your family, or you can use them to steal and murder. "The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and adds no sorrow to it." (Proverbs 10:4, 10:22, Proverbs 28:20)

Winners vs Failures

2011-04-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

The only way to prevent failure is to do nothing. The question is not if we will fail? The question is what will we do with failure once it occurs? The only difference between winners and failures is what the person does with failure once it occurs. The winner keeps getting back up after each time they fail. (Gal. 6:9 & Saddleback)

Steps of Change

2011-04-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

When your conscious mind checks out the subconscious mind kicks in, that's why we do things without thinking. We act out of those old habits. Consciously identify and implement small actions steps of change that you can do today. The Bible is not novel. It requires action. If you read it without action, you are creating a subconscious habit of disobedience. (notes from Saddleback guest speaker)

Excuses = Failure?

2011-04-05T07:32:00.001-07:00

Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure. (notes taken from Saddleback Church)

Judas' Kiss

2011-04-05T06:38:00.000-07:00

Betrayal is a fact of life since most people have a tendency to put themselves first. If you get in their way, they'll just run you over. They'll shout out the car window as they run you down. "It wasn't personal it was just business. You were in the way of something I wanted." Betrayal happens to us all even Jesus. When we put ourselves before Jesus, it is a type of a betrayal.

A Secret to Happiness

2011-04-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

If you expect nothing from others, anything they do for you is more appreciated. Anything not done carries no pain.

Growing Old with Worry?

2011-04-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

Worry is a damaging emotion. It's like sand to a machine. Worry means division. Worry is like a rocking chair. It uses up a lot of energy, but takes your nowhere. Don't borrow troubles from tomorrow. Refuse to worry. Worry is the highest expression of unbelief in God.(Adrian Rodgers notes)

Citadel of your Soul

2011-04-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

The mind is the citadel of your soul. There is a war and your mind is the battleground. Satan works to dilute your single minded devotion to God. He works to build a mental stronghold in your minds to launch His assaults against you. (2 Cor. 10:3-5 & Adrian Rodgers notes)

Shake off Complacency

2011-03-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

We can't keep doing the same thing, the same way, and expect something different. If you want a better relationship with your family turn off the TV an extra hour in the evening to spend time with your family. Extend your prayer time. Change your attitude about your job, and be grateful for it. Life is too short not to be happy wherever you are. Cheer up other people. Do something that God asks you to do that is difficult. God sees your sacrifice. He sees you going the extra mile. Do the right thing when the wrong thing is happening to you. In Gen. 26:12, Isaac sowed seed in a famine without water. The same year Isaac received a 100 fold return. Don't be complacent and live less than your best. Keep praying for your lost relatives. In the natural, it may not appear that anything is working, but God is working behind the scenes. In Mark 5, a woman reached out to touch Jesus, when He was difficult to reach. She pushed and pressed just to touch Him. She reached out with expectancy, and her faith made her well. When you read your Bible, stretch out in faith to encounter Jesus. Treat the people in your life kinder. Shake off complacency. (includes Joel Osteen notes)

Watchmen and Women

2011-03-31T14:05:00.000-07:00

If you are struggling in an area, put in something that will stenghten you in your weak area. Take an inventory on what you are feeding your mind. Avoid people who gossip, are negative, and are critical. Watch out, or you'll pick up their attitudes. Avoid destructive TV shows, music, & video games. If you allow them, they will bring you down. Satan is trying to drag you down. Viewing movies with nudity, violence, and bad language is like digging around in a garbage can while looking for something good. It chips away at your values. What you eat will eventually become you. In the same way, what you look at and hear will eventually show up in your behavior. Sex is what sells in our society. We should only think upon things that are pure and wholesome. What you sow will eventually show up in your actions. It desensitizes you to it. Don't watch programs of people cheating on their spouses. You'll eventually think that it's okay. TV likes to match up people who are not married. In Matthew 12:35, Jesus warned about what we put into our hearts. Change the channel when something bad comes on. The mind can take things in that we are not aware of. Just don't leave the TV on in the background. Your mind will pick it out. Be on guard of video games because they devalue life. God will hold you responsible for what you allow your children to do. Don't use TV as a baby sitter. Flip off bad commercials during ball games. Things that we watch are being recording in our minds. Be careful of what you allow inside the temple of your body. You may not be able to do everything that your friends are doing. Think about Samson. God had a divine purpose for Samson's life. He had a weakness in his character, which was he couldn't control what he looked at. He couldn't keep his mind on the right things. He lived in mediocrity. God allowed the Philistines to puck out his eyes. Take an inventory of what you are putting into your mind. Start the day thinking God's thoughts. Find yourself good things to watch.(notes from Joel Osteen)

Bloom Like a Rose

2011-03-31T13:31:00.000-07:00

Thorns are aborted branches. If you are unkind and uncaring,you cause pain like a thorn. You're not being what you were meant to be. You were meant to mature, to grow, to reproduce, and to create beauty... like a rose.

Tending Flowers or Growing Weeds?

2011-03-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

It is difficult to grow flowers, but easy to grow weeds. Bad thoughts spread like weeds. It takes effort to tend your mind by hoeing out bad thoughts and planting good ones instead, but it sure is worth it when your mental garden fills in.

Thoughts impact destiny

2011-03-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

Sow a thought. Reap an act. Sow a act. Reap a habit. Sow a habit. Reap a character. Sow a character. Reap a destiny.

Do You Really Believe in God or Satan?

2011-03-31T08:38:00.000-07:00

If you believe that a stick is a snake, your reaction to it reveals that belief. When you are exposed to the truth about the stick, you realize that it is in reality not a snake afterall, and can't harm you. When this truth exposes the lie, it removes your fear in that stick. (Kevin Perry notes) Has this truth changed your beliefs? "Greater is He (God) who is in me than He (Satan) who is in the world?" (I John 4:4) Worry measures the amount of trust or distrust that you have in God, and the amount of confidence that you have in Satan. If you worry a lot, you trust God a little. If you don't worry, you're faith is strong.

Mr. Fix It?

2011-03-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

If I believe that God is sovereign, then the need in me to fix it leaves. (Kevin Perry)

Are you an Agnostic?

2011-03-31T08:32:00.001-07:00

In the areas in that you worry, you are ineffect an agnostic in those areas.

Garbage in means Garbage out

2011-03-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

Feed yourself with the right things. We must surround ourselves with positive influences. Watch for other people, music, video games, and the TV feeding you death. (Prov. 15:14) Remember garbage in means garbage out. You become what you take in. Guard you hearts with everything you watch or listen too. It'll get into your souls. Be extremely careful with what you put in. It will eventually come out. Get up early and program your mind with the good things of God. You'll attract what you continually think upon. Night and day mediate on God's word. It's more than positive thinking. It's thinking God's thoughts over my life. Don't dwell on circumstances, but on God Himself. Feed yourself life. Get up in the morning and feed yourself life. Put up scriptures all around the house. What we see get down in us. Look at God's creation. Take in what God has made. Take 30 minutes to think upon God and His promises with thankfulness. Don't dwell on the news and all the bad things of life. Start off the day with thanksgiving. Put on a praise CD on the way to work. Feed your mind with the right things. Be careful what you listen too. Your ears are not a garbage can to be fill up with trash. Drive times are excellent times to increase and improve your life. (Proverbs 4:20-24) (Notes taken from Joel Osteen)

Pay Attention to Yourself

2011-03-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

What's going on inside of me is more important than what's going on the outside of me. Guard your heart. Don't let your heart become polluted. Ask God to help you keep your motives pure. (Read Proverbs 4:23) Jesus had the most conflicts with pretenders. (Read Matthew 23:27) I'm not going to be blessed or see God work with impure motives. (Read Matthew 5:8) If I fix the inside, God will fix the outside of my life. Don't be a phony. (Proverbs 24:34) Take your wrong attitudes to God, and pay attention to your inner self. Take the time to know yourself. You have to be honest enough with yourself to confess your faults. (Read James 5:16) The enemy is constantly trying to pollute your life. Don't take his bait. It pollutes who we are. "To the pure, all things are pure." (Titus 1:15) You see your own heart by how you size up other people. We see others from our own frame of reference. Don't shift the blame to other people. You might be the problem. Don't focus on what you don't have. If you are thankful for what God has given you, He will give you more to be thankful for. Focus on what's right even about yourself. Always believe the best in people. God promote us when we keep our heart pure. How high a person goes is in direct proportion to the purity in their heart. God sees my heart, and He is the one who gives promotion. Take wrong feelings to God. If you have a desire, God will help you.

Give People Space

2011-03-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Be kind & friendly to people who travel through your life. Watch your body language and tone. Smile. To harvest kindess, you've got to sow it into others. Bring out the best in others. Our best friends are the friends who bring out the best in me. Focus on what others are doing right. Don't focus on what they are right now, but what they are becoming. Peter struggled, but Jesus saw what Peter would become with His help, which was a solid person like a rock. Don't take others for granted. Compliment. Compliments are the glue that hold relationships together. Be free with heartfelt compliments. Speak them outloud. If you can't give away money, surely you can at least give away a compliment. You are never more like God than when you give. Keep strife out of your life. We've got to give everybody a little bit of room. Give people the benefit of the doubt. We shouldn't expect them to be perfect. (read I Cor. 13:5-6) Love allows for the faults of others. Get into the habit of being positive. Ask do you want to be right, or do you want to have peace? Don't make a big deal out of things that are not a big deal. Other people change when you keep a good attitude and quit nagging. We need to adapt to keep the peace. Learn to swallow your pride, and get your mind off yourself. Be a maker of peace. Allow for others to have a bad day every once and a while. (Notes taken from Joel Osteen)

God has feelings, too!

2011-03-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

Take an inventory of your level of appreciation. What % of your prayers are thank yous. Be on a thank you safari. Thank yous moves the heart of God and positions us into further blessings. God has feelings, too! Thank comes from the word think. If we think upon His blessings, we will thank Him. If I am out of a thankful position, I will not be blessed. Money and blessings are linked. Test Him. We should be like a river. Blessings are supposed to flow through us. God increases our depth to use us. (notes taken from Adrian Rodgers)

The Worry Percentages

2011-03-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

40% of what we worry about never happens. 30% is about unchangeable past events. 12% over needless health concerns, and 10% about meaningless things. God watches over me in my sleep even as He watches over me when I am awake. When God brings us to a point when we don't know what to do, He teaches us to trust. (notes from Adrian Rodgers)

How to Handle Anxiety

2011-03-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

Anxiety originates from... 1. Misunderstanding my worth to God. 2. Focusing on what I can't control. 3. Failure to trust God. 4. Following the world's pattern. 5. Misplaced priorities. How to handle anxiety. 1. Surrender to the rule of Christ. 2. Surrender to God's molding his righteous character in me. 3. Surrender to what God wants. 4. Allow God to assume the responsibility for my wants and needs. 5. Don't live tomorrow today. 6. Take God's word that he will meet my every need. (from Matthew 6:25-34 & notes from Charles Stanley)

Resist Fear

2011-03-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

Resist thoughts of fear. In order to receive a healing for a man's daughter, Jesus said to him that he had to "Fear not, but only believe (Luke 8:50)! We too must resist fear, and focus on who Jesus is, His integrity, and what He has said about people who belong to Him. Do not trust in what you are currently experiencing. Take God's promise in the Bible. Read it. Make a decision to agree with it. Speak it. Act on it. First, sign of fear get on this at once by speaking God's position in God's word on the situation. This will drive out the thoughts of fear. The man's part was to fear not, and only believe. Jesus's part was you shall receive. This is the process, and the solution is inevitable. Working this process will cause you to enter into His rest. You enter into rest by mixing God's word with Faith. Unbelief is the reason that people do not receive a promise of God. We have a right to stand on God's word, too. Which specific Word of God are you standing on? Are your thoughts completely off your problem and only upon your God? Labor to enter into His rest, and not to obtain the answer to your problem. (Hebrews 4:1-3, 11).

Fear Based Prayer

2011-03-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

If I repetitively repeat a prayer, it is like a engine check light. The moment the fear thought comes upon me. I must take action, and focus on God's love for me.

My Spiritual Ear

2011-03-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

Practicing God's presence develops my spiritual ear.

Pick a Scripture

2011-03-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Pick a Scripture and practice it all day long.

Flush Out Fear

2011-03-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Whatever you use develops and strengthens whether it is Faith, Fear, or Love. If I focus on Christ's love for me , I will not doubt or distrust Him. When His love fills my heart, it flushes out fear. Practice Faith in God before the storms of life comes.

The Right Path?

2011-03-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

God can only protect me as far as I listen to Him and follow His right path.

Worry = Pride?

2011-03-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

For me to worry when Jesus has told me not to do so puts me in a position of pride. Jesus told us not to worry because He has it covered. Hand your cares over to Jesus, and then thank Him for receiving them. (Matthew 6:25-34, I Peter 5:5-7)

The Great Deception

2011-03-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

Check out every thought. Ask how does each thought line up with Scripture? (2 Cor. 10:3-6) If it doesn't line up with Scripture, it is of the devil and is a lie. Mediation on the lies of the devil is called worry, will over flow into your mouth and be released in words of fear. Then, those fears are acted upon. Acting on words of fear bring worry to pass. Satan is attempting to deceive you into harming yourself.

God Thoughts

2011-03-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

When you ponder the Scriptures, you are ineffect thinking God's thoughts after Him. When you mediate on the Scripture, you are driving doubt and fear out of your mind because you are gaining God's point of view. If you look at your problems from God's point of view, your problems as compared to Him are really small.

God's Image

2011-03-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

Covetness is the love of things and not people. This is backwards. We should love people and not things. People are what's truly important. They are made in God's image.

God is like Electricity

2011-03-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

If you believe Gen. 1:1, everything else is down hill. We don't have to understand everything about God and the Bible to enjoy it. We don't fully understand electricity, but we still use it's power to enlighten us.

Feeling Stressed

2011-03-28T06:26:00.001-07:00

Stress is the difference between what we need to do, and what we can do. God promises that if we stay in step with Him that He will give us strength (Is. 40:31). Why do we need to closely follow God to receive His strength? Why would God give you more strength to serve the devil? (Read I Cor. 1:25, Ps. 62:1, Prov. 8:34, Ps. 104:27, Prov. 27:18). Long, listen, look, and live for the Lord. The purpose of renewed strength is to mount up with wings of eagles. The two wings are faith and obdeience. God gives the power to rise in times of adversity, and master the storms of life. The eagles likes to go it alone. God gives the power to run in times of opportunity. The power of resolve in times of necessary. Can you think of anything that's too big for God? (comments from Adrian Rodgers)

Teachable Moment

2011-03-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

Season your words with kindness even in teachable moments. Col. 4:6 ME

Needless Problems

2011-03-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Carefully remove unhealthy thoughts from your thought life for out those thoughts produce a abundant harvest of needless problems. (a loose paraphrase of Proverbs 4:23)

Settling a Score

2011-03-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

God is more interested in refining your character and saving your enemy than settling a score.

Trust is Progressive

2011-03-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

Trust someone with a little thing to determine if they are trustworthy. If they are trustworthy, increase their responsibilities. If they prove themselves to be untrustworthy,check for understanding. If still unreliable, replace them with someone who is.

Can God Be Trusted?

2011-03-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

Lack of generosity is a symptom of a belief that God will not take care of me and my needs. We cling on to our stuff because we really don't believe that God can be trusted. Lack of generosity is a sympton of unbelief.

Brain God?

2011-03-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

If you won't believe God until you can figure everything out, your God will never be any bigger than your brain. (Chris Hodges)

God Talker?

2011-03-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

Don't talk to God about how BIG your problems are, but talk to problems about how BIG your God is.(Mark: 11:22-23)

Crazy?

2011-03-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

Isn't it crazy not to have confidence in God? If anyone is reliable, surely He is. What does it say about YOU if you don't trust HIM?

Sniper Fire

2011-03-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Snipers don't shoot at dead things. If you're doing something, you're going to become a target.

Make Me Feel Important!

2011-03-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

How to get along better with others. Imagine everyone with a yellow sticky note on their forehead, which says. "Make me feel important."

Quiet Whisper

2011-03-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

When you were a little kid, did your teacher line up your class and whisper into a kid's ear. Then, each kid whispered into the next kid’s ear in the line, and so forth. Finally, the last kid repeated what was said, and it wasn’t what was first whispered at all. It’s was funny how the original whisper had changed. I think that reading the Bible has come a little bit like that whisper. To a lot of Christians, they have fallen out of love with their Bibles, and have begun to prefer listening to each other over listening to that original whisper. You can tell it when they quote each other more than they quote God.

Pig Fight?

2011-03-11T06:09:00.000-08:00

Never get into a mud fight with a Pig. You both get muddy, but the Pig enjoys it.

Hard Ball

2011-03-10T11:36:00.000-08:00

Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-2 CEV, “Don't condemn others, and God won't condemn you. God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them.” I don’t want God to be tough on me. He could squash me like an ant. There is always going to be a reason to write someone off, but if I do God will do the same to me. No. I’m going to go the extra mile to forgive, to help, to love, to understand, and if I do, God will do the same for me.

Funnel of Love

2011-03-10T11:23:00.000-08:00

Jesus taught "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part (Matthew 6:14-15 MSG).

God wants for you to be a funnel of His love to others. If you don't allow for His love to flow through you, He'll turn off the faucet. It doesn't matter how fancy your prayers are, or how long and loud you pray. If you cut others off, God will cut you off.

Jesus went on to say, "Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need . Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get (Matthew 7:7 , 12 MSG).

Little Faith = Big Problems

2011-03-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (Matthew 6:30 NLT)
God is intricately involved in the matters of His creation down to the smallest blade of grass; therefore, God is fully capable of taking care of you. If you are in need, it isn’t because God isn’t aware of you and your situation. Maybe, it’s offensive to Him for you to believe that He doesn’t care, and isn’t reliable enough to take care of you. God calls for you to put His interests first, and live a life that is pleasing to Him. “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT).

Batting Practice

2011-03-10T11:07:00.000-08:00

Jesus promises that problems with come; however, think of them like batting practice. As each ball is thrown at you keep your eye on the ball and take your swing. Pause to see what just happened, and how you need to adjust your swing at the next one. Don’t get caught up in worrying about past swings. Keep your eye on the ball, and take life as it comes.

Jesus is teaching, so we’ll catch up with Him in mid sentence, "but let your first care be for his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these other things will be given to you in addition. Then have no care for tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Take the trouble of the day as it comes (Matthew 6:33-34 BBE)".

Remember to keep God first, and keep swinging one ball at a time.

Mind Drifts

2011-03-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG).

Whenever, you mind drifts over into worry. Nudge it back on track by using worry as a catalyst to worship, but don’t allow your prayer to be dominated by just asking. Enter into God's presence with praise. Mention your petition. Then, end with thanksgiving. Make your petition a worship sandwich in between praise and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is different than praise in that praise is centered upon who God is while thanksgiving is centered upon what God has done. Doing this will settle you down and refocus your thoughts upon God, and away from you problem.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name (Psalm 100:4 NLT)."

Read is your prayer a waste of time? http://u-open.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-your-prayer-waste-of-time.html

Thought = Destiny?

2011-03-04T08:16:00.000-08:00

A thought produces an act. An act produces a habit. A habit produces a character. A character produces a destiny.

Single Minded Strategy

2011-03-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

What- For thrust to occur on airplanes, air must be focused upon its wings from ONE single direction. When the airplane begins to pull forward, its movement is RESISTED by air and gravity.

How- When the engines begin pulling the plane forward AGAINST the air with growing acceleration, this creates thrust.

Physical Formula- Thrust + resistance = flight

Who- I recently read where Ronald Reagan’s presidential strategy could have been written on the back of a business card. It was simply to overthrow communism and cut taxes. This single-minded strategy created the mental thrust that accomplished his goals.

Observation- Keep your thoughts aligned to God’s Word by constantly checking for course corrections with scriptures.

Spiritual Formula- Single-mindedness + Obstacles = Perspective

Escape Negativity

2011-02-27T16:49:00.000-08:00

In the Bible, God created a man & woman and placed them into a paradise called Eden. They had everything except access to a forbidden fruit. Instead of focusing on all the good things they had, they were drawn to the one thing that they didn't have, which sealed their doom. We don’t want to follow their example. Come to think of it, God has filled our lives with wonderful things. Most of us have plenty of food to eat, a warm place to sleep, and good relationships. However, a lot of us get preoccupied with the one thing or the next thing that we don't have. A lot of us sabotage ourselves with negative thoughts. Instead of reflecting upon all the things that are going right, we gravitate to the one thing that is going wrong. If we can't find something wrong in the present, we even go back into our memories and relive a painful experience.

Question: How do you escape negativity?

Application: Decide to fill your mind with good thoughts constantly throughout the day to prevent your minds from being overwhelmed by negativity.

A Simple Truth

2011-02-27T16:46:00.000-08:00

Question- How do you tune into Joy?

Answer- You tune into Joy by simply choosing your thoughts. (Rom. 12:2).

How- When you think upon a good experience, you’ll broadcast joy for example. However, if you tune into a bad experience, you could broadcast despair.

Test- Conduct a brief test of a positive thought and then a negative one for about 2 minutes each. Then, as you do, monitor your emotions. You'll see what I’m taking about.

Simple Truth- Therefore, by selecting your thoughts, you determine your emotions, attitudes, and then finally come your actions. This truth is so simple; however, most people miss it.

Why- Who would want to go through life being miserable? The only way to escape a life of futility is by staying tuned to Joy.

Recap- This is accomplished by keeping your mind set on God’s Word, His Holy Spirit, and His blessings, which blocks the channels (thoughts) that make you miserable. (Phil. 4:8)

Escape Route

2011-02-27T16:44:00.002-08:00

Problem -
Throughout the day, our eyes, ears, and thoughts are bombarded with circumstances contrary to what God has said.

Solution-
1. Whenever circumstances oppose you, keep your hands tightly grasped onto the steering wheel by focusing your eyes, ears, & thoughts upon God’s Word instead of your problems.
2. Empathically speak those promises out loud to overcome resistance from circumstances.

Outcome-
Eventually, something marvelous happens. Lift is created. Your heart is lifted, so you can begin to see beyond your present boundaries, and plot your escape route.

Warning-
If you don’t routinely rehearse what God says about your situation in His word, nothing changes. Don’t remain entangled in doubt and double mindedness; therefore, review your verses daily, so you won’t remain trapped.

Spiritual Laws

2011-02-27T16:44:00.001-08:00

Question #1- Did you know that there are spiritual laws that actually mimic physical laws, or should I say physical laws that mimic spiritual laws?

Question #2- Did you know that the subconscious mind is designed to create lift just like that airplane wing?

Observation #1 - Just like the air most people’s thoughts are erratic. Their thoughts are a mixture of their circumstances, and the changes that they’d like to make. They are double-minded.

Observation #2 -Unless they learn how to focus their thoughts to become a single-minded person, those changes will never occur.

What - Choose the direction of your thoughts by writing down Scriptures, which reveal God’s will for you in your situation.

Why- This focuses your thought life.

Channel Surfing

2011-02-27T16:42:00.000-08:00

Observation-You CAN change your thought life by switching the channel of your mind to better thoughts.

How- It's a moment- by- moment decision. Whatever you practice you become good at.

What- Fill your thoughts with good things, and watch your success take off.

Warning #1- Remember what you are full of is going to come out.

Warning #2- "Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known. Jesus, Son of God". Luke 12:2. (NCV)

Shaken Soda Pop

2011-02-27T16:41:00.000-08:00

Warning #1- If YOU don't control your thoughts, YOU'RE PROBABLY RUNNING OFF OTHER PEOPLE. Others can even feel the tension in your voice even over the phone, and they'll get the impression that you don't have time for them.

Warning #2- If you don't habitually fill your mind with good thoughts, once you're shaken you're going to explode like a soda pop.

Warning #3- Whatever, you're full of is going to come out. If you're not full of good thoughts, you're going to be crushed like an empty cola can.

Application- I hope that everyone reading this will get on board, and THINK about what YOU'RE thinking about.

Stay Calm

2011-02-27T16:37:00.000-08:00

Here are some ways that I have discovered to prepare for conflict:

GET UP EARLY. Take the time to read healthy material before you start each day.

DO MENTAL CHECKUPS. Monitor your thoughts, mood, and conversations throughout the day.

SMILE. When you approach someone, it's amazing how something as simple as a smile can open doors. It's extremely difficult for the other person to be rude to you while you are smiling at them. (I think that smiling even works while talking on the phone. It comes through in your voice. Of course, you have to express concern, and know when not to smile, but overall smile).

BE EXTREMELY FRIENDLY with other people. When you are proactively being friendly, it makes people really uncomfortable to be abrupt with you.

STAY CALM. When someone is angry and is raising their voice at you, you can feel your emotions matching theirs. By staying calm and quietly responding, the other person will eventually calm down to your emotional level.

LOOK AWAY. Normally, it’s better to look at the speaker; however, a lot of anger is shown by facial expressions. If someone is losing control, look away.

PARAPHASE BACK. Calmly, repeat back to the upset person what they are saying. Paraphrasing simply means that you understand them, and does not mean that you agree.

Emotional Storms

2011-02-27T16:35:00.000-08:00

Warning #1- Emotions are little bit like that spring storm. Everything seems fine, but before you know it. You've been sucked into another person's emotional storm.

How- Their facial expression, demeanor, tone, and subject matter pull you into their storm. Before it's all over, you ask yourself. What just happened? We get caught up into the emotional storm of others.

Illustration- One of the hottest things on TV right now is American Idol. One reason for its popularity is the conflict between the judges. The tension stems from how each judge thinks differently. For example, Simon normally says something direct to each contestant. Paula attempts to soften her criticism with kindness. The judges get upset with each other based upon their individual communication styles. The result is big ratings.

Simple Truth- There are negative and positive aspects to every situation & person. We differ in how we process this information.

Warning #2- If we don't purposely fill our minds with healthy thoughts, we will eventually gravitate into a negative mind set.

Mind Setter

2011-02-27T16:29:00.000-08:00

Observation- Your heart (or subconscious mind) is just like an air conditioner. If you keep your thermostat (or head) on its settings, your heart (or subconscious mind) will ultimately produce change.

Warning- If you’ve failed in the past, your subconscious mind will only justify why. It’ll say the economy is down, sales are slow, & business is bad.

Solution- If you say, I can meet my objectives as an act of my will. Your subconscious mind also will begin to justify why. It'll say things like I've got what it takes. I'm not giving up. I'm going to figure this out.

Observation- Just like you set your thermostat for the air conditioner to produce the power to cool your house, it takes a while for your heart (or subconscious mind) to catch up with your head (or will), but your heart is where the power comes.

Timing- You may be reading God's will for you in the Bible for days, weeks, months, or years. However, at some point, your heart will finally kick in, and believe that it’s going to happen.

Reminder- Your heart (or subconscious mind) is just like an air conditioner. If you keep your thermostat (or head) on its settings, your heart (or subconscious mind) will ultimately produce change.

Reprogram the Mind

2011-02-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

What- Use your words to change your world not describe it by using your words to reprogram your thoughts.

Warning #1- Don’t say things like I just lost my job, I’m such a loser.

Warning #2- If you call it just like you see it, you’ll become overwhelmed by circumstances. You’ll be acting like a thermometer, measuring the temperature but not changing it.

Warning #3- You might feel like you're lying, but look at it this way. Are you lying to set the thermostat at 70 degrees when it’s actually 100 degrees outside?

Reprogram your mind with Scripture-Say something like “My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give me everything I need”. Philippians 4:19.

Talk the end result-“I have a successful job. It’s just around the corner based upon what God says in His word” Repeat the verses that confirm God's will in what your believing for.

God Setting Goals

2011-02-27T16:23:00.000-08:00

Observation- To receive from God, we must remain single minded when we ask, seek, and persist.

Why- James the brother of Jesus said in James 5:7-8 “…doubters are thinking two different things at the same time, and they cannot decide about anything they do. They should not think that they receive anything from the Lord.”(NCV)

What- We must have a strategy to remain single minded when we make a request to God.

#1- Determine if each goal is consistent with God’s will by reviewing pertinent scriptures and checking for the peace of Holy Spirit. (See also Philippians 4:6-7)

#2-You should write down each goal based upon two or three scriptures. (See 2 Corinthians 13:1)

#3- Make a petition to God for each goal, and then thank him for granting it. (See also Mark 11:24)

#4- Record each request with pertinent scriptures on an index card. Include the date of the request on the card.

#5- when you find your thoughts being overcome by obstacles, replace those troubled thoughts by empathically reading out loud your index card.

Game Changer

2011-02-27T16:22:00.000-08:00

Question- How do YOU change your thoughts and ultimately alter your circumstances just like a thermostat?

Step 1- It begins by YOU setting a goal for your life to be different from what you are currently experiencing.

Step 2- To do this, begin by concisely writing your goals down on an index card.

Observation #1- In John 3:27a, John the Baptist said “A man can get only what God gives him.”(Bible-NCV) Also, in I John 5:14b (NCV), the Apostle John said “If we ask God for anything that agrees with what he wants, he hears us”.

Observation #2- The key to setting a goal is to determine is this goal something God would like for us to have, and do we have God’s peace for asking, seeking, and persisting for it? (See also Matthew 7:7-8)

Keep the Past out of your Future

2011-02-27T16:20:00.000-08:00

Observation- Mistakes should be used as one more way NOT to do a thing.

Illustration- I’m been told that Thomas Edison failed over a thousand times to invent the light bulb. With each failure, he’d say that he just found another way to NOT invent it.

How- While he failed over a thousand times, he made detailed records to make sure that he never repeated the same mistake twice. He was honest about his mistakes, but identified what he didn’t want to reoccur.

Outcome- Because of this, he kept those failures in the past and not in his future.

Proceed With Caution

2011-02-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

Caution #1- Many times we fail because we believe our thoughts, beliefs, and choices have no connection with the problem or the resolution of it.

Observation- If this is the case, your thoughts, beliefs, and choices are actually creating problems.

Caution #2- Just like unnecessarily slamming on your brakes coming into an intersection. Don't wreck your lives by needlessly over reacting to problems.

Application- After you’ve correctly accessed your problem, make rational decisions that will circumvent it.

Success Strategy

2011-02-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

Observation #1- Some people say that they can’t overcome a problem.

Observation #2- At the same time, we hear of people overcoming problems such as being overweight, substance abuse, and a moral failure.

Application #1- A wiser course of action would be to determine how successful people handle their problems differently.

Application #2- Research how successful people overcame their problem, what books they read on the problem, or if they had an accountability partner.

Observation #3- If we make the same choices they made, it should work for us just like it worked for them.

Anger Magnet

2011-02-27T16:14:00.000-08:00

Question- Did you realize that we have an amazing ability to read people thoughts without even thinking about it? Simply observing facial expressions does this.

Observation #1-When I find myself getting upset, a lot of times it’s because I’m reading people’s facial expressions such as a smirk or irritated look. I’m not even aware that I’m doing it.

Solution- When I realize that this is happening, I’ve found that looking away and thinking about something else really helps. I’m no longer tempted to react.

Observation #2- If you can read other people’s thoughts through their facial expressions, remember they can also read your thoughts the same way.

Warning -I strongly recommend thinking only wholesome thoughts about others because they are taking your facial expressions and voice tones personally. You may be drawing conflict into your life like a magnet.

Cooling Down Angry People

2011-02-27T16:11:00.000-08:00

Observation #1- When some people don’t get their way, they’ll begin to raise their voice and speak loudly in agitated tones.

Observation #2- Instead of calmly communicating another logical argument to win their position, they’ll say almost the exact same thing over and over again in higher and higher octaves. They’ll attempt to control others simply by the loudness and stress in their voice.

Avoid - At times like these, I’d like to escape by putting my hands over my ears; however, I don’t do it to avoid appearing rude.

Recommendation- Here is something that works for me in those situations. When others get out of hand, I calmly paraphrase what they have said back to them. Although I may not agree with what they’re saying, at least I’m communicating to them that I understand, and I am taking the time to listen.

Remember- Maintain a pleasant tone with a warm facial expression while doing this. This will usually cool them down.

Bitter Pill

2011-02-27T16:08:00.000-08:00

Observation #1- Blockages can occur in our subconscious minds just like they can in our physical hearts.

Warning- One unhealthy mental food is bitterness.

Example- When I meet a person that harbors resentment, their thoughts tend to gravitate towards what someone else has done or might have done to them.

Observation #2- Their minds are being drawn away from thoughts that could actually improve their lives, which is focusing on productive behavior!

Thought = Behavior?

2011-02-27T16:07:00.000-08:00

Ask- We should always ask ourselves before we look, listen, or think upon something what will be the impact of depositing those things deep into our subconscious minds?

Warning- If what I am watching, listening, or thinking upon could eventually be exhibited in my behavior, what will be the benefits or consequences of me actually doing that behavior?

Ask- If that is so, how does that influence what I look, listen, or think?

Ready, Aim, Fire

2011-02-27T16:06:00.000-08:00

Question- Did you know that it’s impossible to think two different thoughts at once?

Observation #1- It’s impossible to be full of both thankfulness and bitterness. One of the greatest benefits of being thankful is what thanksgiving is replacing.

Observation #2- Thankfulness clears out a host of thought blockages such as ingratitude, resentment, doubt, and selfishness.

Ready, Aim, Fire- You’re always looking for something good to happen. When it runs by, you’ll see it in time to take your shot instead of being preoccupied with something else.

Remember- Thanksgiving has its day in November, but remember to give it your every moment.

Hear Evil, See Evil, Do Evil

2011-02-27T16:05:00.000-08:00

Observation #1- Your eyes and ears continually consume ideas just like your mouth consumes food and water.

Observaton #2-After those bits of information are digested by your mind into usable concepts, they are personalized into thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and then finally behavior.

Question- Do you want what you are constantly watching and hearing to be exhibited in your behavior?

Purpose Driven Problems

2011-02-27T16:03:00.000-08:00

Observation #1- The best way to solve our problems is to change our thoughts about them.

Observation #2- You know that you are thinking rationally when you determine how your problems are working out for your favor.

Solution- You can straighten out your thoughts by maintaining an attitude of joy.

Outcome- When we keep our joy during difficult circumstances, it rewrites and straightens out that wadded and entangled mindset.

Purpose of Problems- Did you know that your thoughts could become wadded under your problems? If this happens to you, your problems are not the REAL problem, but your thoughts about them are. Thoughts become wadded and twisted when we use them to do what they were not designed to do. They were designed to solve problems instead of becoming wadded and entangled under them. If you find yourself thinking upon problems instead of solutions, you are thinking irrationally.

Pathway to Success

2011-02-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

Question-What are you treasuring?

Observation #1- You can never achieve more than you are.

Observation #2- You are becoming what you think.

Famous Quote- Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived was also the richest, and he said, "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. (Proverbs 23:7)

Application- We need to learn how to throw away painful experiences like we do the trash.

Observation #3- Whenever, you share your faith, teach a Bible Study, or help with the children. At first, you might feel uncomfortable, and make a lot of mistakes. The experience may be so unpleasant that you never try again.

Step 1-Learn to look at what went wrong, and purpose to eliminate the mistakes.

Step 2-Look at what went right, and improve upon it.

Step 3- Finally, throw those painful experiences away like you would an empty tooth paste tube.

Outcome- You’ll be on the pathway to success.

Contaminated Personalities

2011-02-27T16:00:00.000-08:00

Recommendation #1- Don't continually hang on to the trash even about yourself.

Recommendation #2-Let's start throwing the trash out about our own selves. After all, we have to hang out with ourselves every day.

Recommendation #3- Throughout the day, we should recognize our shortcomings, seek forgiveness, forgive ourselves, and then move on.

Observation #1- Instead of throwing trash away, many hide it somewhere in a back room in their mind. They think that it’s well hidden, but the truth is its stinks up the entire house!

Observation #2- When we don't forgive ourselves and others, it contaminates our entire personalities. It comes across when we greet others, answer the phone, and talk to our families.

Recommendation #4- Not only must we throw out the trash on ourselves, but we must throw out the trash on others. We must forgive them and move on. You don't do it for them. You do it for you.

Question- Who wants to haul around a lot of trash even if it belongs to someone else?

League of Losers

2011-02-27T15:58:00.000-08:00

Observation #1- The reason that a lot of us fail is we treat our minds like a trash bin. Instead of holding on to our good experiences we are throwing them away.

Recommendation- We must purposely remember the good things that God has given us and treasure them (see Psalms 103:2).

Obervation #2- Some of us hold on to every painful experience. Making our minds so cluttered, we can't find the things of real value-our treasures.

Observation #3- If we don't throw out the trash daily, we are actually valuing our trash. In reality, the trash has become our treasure. We’ll even hang out with people, which hang on to bad experiences.

Question- Have you ever wondered why people who have the same weaknesses hang out together? You'd think that they'd seek out someone who's successful in their area of weakness, and ask for help. Instead, they feel more comfortable with the people who have the same problem. They are treasuring the same thing, which is their common problem.

Mental Key

2011-02-27T15:56:00.000-08:00

Recommendation- Before we let in ANY thought, we need to size it up just like we do a stranger at our door.

Remember-Ask yourself is this thought beneficial or harmful?

The Key- When a harmful thought knocks, you can lock your mind’s door with a key. The key is a better thought that YOU choose to think. After you involve your mind with a better thought, the harmful thought will tire of knocking and soon go away.

Application- Learn to guard the door of your conscious mind, lock out those destructive thoughts, and choose to think healthy thoughts.

Poison Pill

2011-02-27T15:54:00.000-08:00

Once, I received a complaint from a customer. They told me that they had made a purchase, and the product had problems. Furthermore, they related to me that the location, which had sold the product, had closed. When the customer approached another nearby location about the problem (only eleven miles away) that location refused to honor the warranty. After I made arrangements to have the customer satisfied, I then asked the supervisor of the noncompliant location to discuss with them the importance of performing warranty repairs.

Later, the supervisor told me that the noncompliant location was still bitter because of his disputes with the out of business location. This was his attempt to express his bitterness by refusing to complete ANY repair work for that failed location. His refusal to honor the warranty was actually violating the terms of his employment; therefore, putting his own job at risk.

Instead of welcoming the healthy thought, which was the opportunity to build a relationship with a new customer. The bitter person dwelt on the destructive thought of getting revenge upon a location, which no longer existed. His hostile attitude offended that customer, and cost this location business opportunity. Destructive thoughts are like having a disagreement with another person, and then YOU taking poison to get back at THEM.

Door of Our Conscious Minds

2011-02-27T15:52:00.000-08:00

I once knew a person who let an unannounced stranger into her house. The stranger then asked her questions concerning the whereabouts of an acquaintance. To get the answers, the stranger pointed a loaded gun to her 4-year-old daughter’s head. It was a very frightening experience for her. I guess that’s why I’m so conscious of strangers at MY door. In the same way, we can’t leave the door of our conscious minds wide open. If we allow thoughts to wander in and out, they can cause a lot of damage. We’ve done or said something that we regret, and before it’s all over we’ve harmed a relationship.

Mental Oars

2011-02-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

Don’t merely float downstream, as if you’re helplessly watching life like a TV show. Pick up your mental oars and row. Your oars are your imagination and your goals. Only by using them will your reach your destiny. Rowing upstream is difficult because you’re paddling against the current; however, just like anything else your mental muscles will strengthen with use.

What’s real IN you becomes real TO you

2011-02-27T14:58:00.000-08:00

Observation #1- A negative mindset keeps you from setting your goals, (which should be based upon specific promises in the Word of God since He made you), and completing your life script.

Observation #2- After all, a negative mind will take the position that when you don’t achieve a goal that you’ll only feel bad.

Step #1- MAKE A DECISION to replace your negative thought patterns with positive ones.

Step #2- Set your goals and live your dreams.

Step #3- Rehearse them over and over in your mind just like you’re reading a good book about you.

Remember- What’s real IN you becomes real TO you.

Celebrate your Victories

2011-02-27T14:55:00.000-08:00

Warning- Don’t carry today’s failures into tomorrow, or replay those mistakes over and over again in your mind.

First- We need to lighten up on ourselves, forgive ourselves when we do fail, and then dismiss it from our minds altogether. If you’ve messed up, be honest and ask forgiveness from others if needed, and then move on.

Second- learn to celebrate your victories. It’s okay to replay over and over again the things that you did well. In fact, this is really an important habit to practice.

Observation #1 -The reason that you might feel odd doing this is that you’re overcoming a negative mindset.

Observation #2 -We CAN overcome a negative mindset.

Mental Engraving

2011-02-27T14:54:00.000-08:00

Observation- Most of us have a very active imagination on the negative side. This is called worry.

Warning #1- Because our minds are so thoroughly trained to think negatively, we begin to see ourselves performing poorly in almost every situation. When the situation arises, we recall those mental pictures of us failing, and then we act accordingly.

Warning #2- Thinking negatively causes us to replay past failures over and over in our minds, which engraves in our thoughts what we actually don’t want to happen.

Negative Training

2011-02-27T14:52:00.000-08:00

Observation #1- we have more practice using our imaginations on the negative side because of our training. Many parents, educators, & employers, train on the negative side. An obstacle in using our imaginations positively is how we are trained from childhood. We have to guard against communicating in negatives.

Example- I have a Shetland Sheep dog named Shadow. When she was about two years old, I realized that she didn’t even know her name. Because I usually communicated to her negatively through the use of the word “NO”, she apparently began to think her name was “NO”. If I said “No”, she would come to me; however, if I called her by her name, she’d look at me with a blank stare.

Observation #2- most of our training comes from instructors telling us what NOT to do. Now, we identify and feel more comfortable with negativity just like Shadow.

Application- Guard against negative thinking, talking, and training because that is probably how you were brought up.

Pride Full?

2011-02-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

Humility is not maintaining negative thoughts about ourselves, but making room in our thoughts for the needs of others. In other words, humility is not being self centered.

Observation #1- An obstacle to us using our imaginations productively is a misunderstanding of the definitions of pride and humility.

Observation #2- Most of us were taught as children not to behave arrogantly or pride fully.

Observation #3- We feel uncomfortable when we think well of our selves.

Mental Pencils

2011-02-27T14:49:00.001-08:00

Before the advent of TV, people really enjoyed reading books. Using their imaginations, they had to visualize the action. In their minds, they constructed the character’s appearance, the setting, and the story line taking place. Through their habit of reading, they were forced to exercise their imaginations just to enjoy the book. Now instead of reading, people just drop on the couch, turn on the tube, and try to stay awake. Their imaginations have become lazy by a lack of use. They’re just mindlessly viewing the program; however, it plays out.We have to be cautious not to approach life like we watch TV. We should be scriptwriters, and not just viewers watching life happen. I'd like to talk about your life’s script and the instrument that you’ll need to author it. This instrument or pencil is your imagination, which is the ability to erase what is currently in your life and to author what will be. Use your imagination to film a mental VISUAL movie of you reaching your goals. Repetitively, watch that movie until it becomes more real to you than your current situation.

River of Negativity

2011-02-27T14:46:00.000-08:00

Observation- The world is flowing down a river of negativity. Somehow, we feel uncomfortable thinking positive thoughts even about our own selves.

Definition-I've heard that the word "think" and the word "thank" come from the same root word. Think about what you have to be thankful for.

Action- Fill your thoughts with gratitude because gratitude is the sprinkling system for your mental lawn. These are the ingredients that can change your negative thoughts into positive ones. It's a moment-by-moment decision to practice these things, but if you do, you, too, can have a prosperous mindset.

Mental Fertilizer

2011-02-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

Action- Learn to MIX THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR PAST SUCCESSES INTO YOUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES to create a solution.

What-Faith is a great fertilizer. Faith is the ability to take the truth, mix it with your dreams to create new expectations for improvement.

Action- You got to go on the offense by sowing the good seeds of "truth" into your future. This is how it's done. If you can say, I put together a successful strategy to pay off my car; therefore, say I CAN put together a successful strategy to pay off my house.

Recap- Learn to MIX THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR PAST SUCCESSES INTO YOUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES to create a solution.

MENTAL ROCKS

2011-02-27T14:43:00.000-08:00

A MENTAL ROCK IS A WRONG THINKING PATTERN THAT CLOGS UP YOUR PRODUCTIVITY.

Observation- Allow "the hoe of truth" about other's successes to open your mind for new seeds to be planted, so you, too, can have a fertile mental field. It can be identified by stubbornness or unwillingness to seek help from others. You've also got to allow your mental rocks to be dug up.

Step 1- With humility, recognize when & where you need help, and seek it.

Step 2- Be teachable.

Thought Killer

2011-02-27T14:41:00.000-08:00

Action 1- Learn to kill & remove the lies or mental thought weeds by spraying them with truth. Truth is a great weed killer.

Action 2- WRITE DOWN THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU IN RESPONSE TO THE LIE. "I did buy my own home", OR "I did marry a great spouse", OR "I do have good kids".

Action 3- Whenever the thought arises "Nothing that I do ever works out" spray it with your thought weed killer, the truth. Include what God says about you in the Bible to remove wrong thinking. Such as “Christ gives me strength to face anything (Philippians 4:13 CEV)".

Action 4- BOLDLY SPEAK THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU, to overcome thought weeds. You'll see them shrivel up.

A Beautiful Mind

2011-02-27T14:38:00.000-08:00

Question #1- How do YOU get a fertile mind? It's the same way that you get a beautiful green lawn. It takes effort & hard work.

First- Identify your poisonous thought weeds or words.

Question #2- Did you know that our casual speech simply overflows with what is abundant in our thoughts?

Observation- You might hear yourself saying, "Nothing that I do ever works out." Ask yourself is that really true? Does NOTHING really ever work out? If something does work out, then this statement of course is a LIE.

Question #3- Why continue to spread lies even about yourself?

Tough Situations

2011-02-26T12:03:00.000-08:00

What is God's will in tough situations? "You are to remain fixed on what you know to be true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable even during the tough situations, and to remain anchored upon the good even when it gets tough, and worship God even then (Phil.4:8B-9A). You are to squeeze every bit of joy out of this life that can possibly be squeezed out of it. You are to be constantly aware of God’s presence and stay in touch with Him throughout each and every day. You are to constantly look for God’s activity in your life, and remain grateful for all that favor He’s shining upon you. You are to yield to the Holy Spirit as He weaves you in and out of difficult situations (I Thessalonians 4:16-19). " This is God's will for you when it gets tough.