MY THOUGHTS control my life, BUT I CAN
control my
thoughts. Rick Warren
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Resist = Persists
What you resist
persists. Change the channel of your
mind. You’re feelings are resistant to your will. You can’t force a feeling, but you can force
a thought. Your thoughts change your
feelings.
Rick Warren
Do you have an open mind?
Just because you have an open
mind doesn’t mean that you should allow people to put stuff in it. Why are
you allowing other people to control what you think?
Rick Warren
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Our Point of View
Proverbs
23:7 A (NKJV)
7 For
as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
How do you think in life?
We are where our thoughts take us.
1. How we view things determine how we do things.
2. What you see is who you will be.
3. When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.
4. What we believe about life determines how we perceive life.
John Maxwell
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
How to Change
Change your thoughts before your thoughts change you!
Our thoughts are like a plant, and WE are commanded by Jesus to cultivate good thoughts.
IF we do this, our words and actions will follow.
Solomon said... "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life" (Proverbs 4:23 NCV).
Jesus said ... "a good man produces good from HIS store room of good, and an evil man produces evil from HIS store room of evil. (Matthew 12:35 HCSB)"
How do we store up good or evil?
We store up good or evil by consuming it into our eyes and ears, thinking upon it, and then finally living it out in our speech and actions.
Jesus..."Think carefully about WHAT you hear (Mark 4:24A NCV)."
We store up things by hearing them, and then by thinking upon them.
IF we keep our minds full of good stuff, the bad stuff won't have room to creep in.
We should monitor our eyes, ears, and thoughts.
Paul said…"keep YOUR minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper, Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8-9 CEV).
Jesus... "The soil (heart) produces fruit of itself (Mark 4:28 HCSB)"
We need to focus more on changing our minds than changing our actions. Our failure comes from trying to invert the two.
Check out Jesus' analogy in Mark 4:13-20. He compares the heart (minds) to the soil and God's Word to the seed.
The Word of God (or any word) is like a natural seed, and our thoughts are like natural soil.
Watch the seeds that you’re planting and watering.
We can change our minds with our mouth.
In Joshua 1:8 HCSB, God says..."This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then, you will prosper in whatever you do". Read also James 3:1-2. Psalm 1. Romans 12:2.
M. H. Dennis
Jesus... "If YOU want good fruit, YOU must make the tree good. (Matthew 12:33 A NCV)" ...
Our thoughts are like a plant, and WE are commanded by Jesus to cultivate good thoughts.
IF we do this, our words and actions will follow.
Solomon said... "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life" (Proverbs 4:23 NCV).
Jesus said ... "a good man produces good from HIS store room of good, and an evil man produces evil from HIS store room of evil. (Matthew 12:35 HCSB)"
How do we store up good or evil?
We store up good or evil by consuming it into our eyes and ears, thinking upon it, and then finally living it out in our speech and actions.
Jesus..."Think carefully about WHAT you hear (Mark 4:24A NCV)."
We store up things by hearing them, and then by thinking upon them.
IF we keep our minds full of good stuff, the bad stuff won't have room to creep in.
We should monitor our eyes, ears, and thoughts.
Paul said…"keep YOUR minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper, Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8-9 CEV).
Jesus... "The soil (heart) produces fruit of itself (Mark 4:28 HCSB)"
We need to focus more on changing our minds than changing our actions. Our failure comes from trying to invert the two.
Check out Jesus' analogy in Mark 4:13-20. He compares the heart (minds) to the soil and God's Word to the seed.
The Word of God (or any word) is like a natural seed, and our thoughts are like natural soil.
Watch the seeds that you’re planting and watering.
We can change our minds with our mouth.
In Joshua 1:8 HCSB, God says..."This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then, you will prosper in whatever you do". Read also James 3:1-2. Psalm 1. Romans 12:2.
M. H. Dennis
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Birthplace of a Deed
What I think about is what I truly value.
Eventually, what I'm thinking will eventually spill out into my words and actions.
If I don't think about right things, I'll just naturally over flow with wrong words and actions.
God says that we'll have to account to Him on these.
Do you really want to change?
First, study God's word, and saturate your mind with it.
Then, imagine yourself doing it.
Next, watch your life change. It will.
Things to ponder....
1. Words are just vocalized thoughts.
2. Actions are just acted upon thoughts.
3. Actions are just thoughts in action.
4. Thoughts father our actions.
5. What you're thinking proceeds your behavior.
6. Thoughts come from your viewing and listening habits.
(Matthew 16:33-37, Matthew 16:16-20, Proverbs 4:20-24)
M. H. Dennis
M. H. Dennis
Our problem is right under our nose
On July 4th, 1776, our fore fathers meet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and made a declaration that they were now independent from British rule. On the surface, it would appear that what they were saying was a lie. It was almost laughable.
In reality, they were actually still under British bondage. All they’d have to do is look outside the window, and they’d probably see British troops roaming up and down the streets.
However, they made a decision to believe, speak, and act contrary to that reality.
In the Declaration of Independence, the founders referred to “being endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
They also stated that “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States”.
Just where did they get the notion of declaring a nation into existence? I believe that it was in the same place that they got the references to the Creator and Supreme Judge of the World. It came from the Holy Scriptures.
Let’s take a moment to examine the beliefs of our founding fathers, which caused them to declare a nation into existence, and how they came up with the idea of a declaration.
When Moses first wrote about the Creator in Genesis, the Creator was declaring the universe out of nothingness by His words. Moses said that in the beginning when God looked upon the earth God saw darkness. (Genesis 1:1-4) Instead of complaining how dark it was God declared the opposite of what he saw.
He said let there be light, and what God said changed what God saw. Light appeared.
Moses taught in Genesis 17:1-8 how God also birthed a nation(s) through Abraham by using a declaration. Moses says God taught Abraham how to declare nation(s) into being by using Abraham’s own words to do it. God did this by changing fatherless Abram’s name to Abraham, which means the Father of Nations.
At the time, Abraham was about 100 years old, his wife was barren, and it was impossible for him to have a child.
By changing his name, God taught Abraham how to first change his own thinking by making him declare to everyone that he met that his name was now Abraham or the Father of many Nations.
At first to Abraham, it must have seemed like a lie; however, before it was all over, Abraham had a child (see also Romans 4:17-23).
Another famous teacher of a declaration in the scriptures was Jesus. Jesus not only taught the importance of having faith in God, but also in the importance of believing in your own words (i.e. declarations. See Mark 11: 12-14 & 20-24).
Once while Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, he became hungry. He looked for some figs off a wild fig tree full of leaves.
After He didn’t find any figs, He declared to the fig tree that no one will ever eat from you again. Then, he went on His way.
Upon his return to Jerusalem the next morning, His disciples noticed that the fig tree had withered up and died.
His disciple Peter said, look the fig tree that you cursed has died!
Jesus had not spoken profanity to the fig tree; however, He had spoken negativity to it by declaring that no one would ever eat from it again. His words killed the fig tree.
Some people would say that only God himself or Jesus could cause something to die simply by speaking or declaring it; however, Jesus Himself would dispute that statement.
Jesus further taught His disciples in that passage that anyone could in fact do it. (See in Mark 11: 12-14 & 20-24 again) He said not only could anyone curse a fig tree, he also said that anyone could speak to a mountain, tell it to move, and it would.
He said the secret was to have faith in God (be lead by His Spirit before you speak), to absolutely believe in the power of your words, and to totally disbelieve in any obstacle that stands in your way.
Truly I say to you, Whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and be put into the sea; and has no doubt in his heart, but has faith that what he says will come about, he will have his desire. Jesus, Son of God. Mark 11:23. (BBE)
Truly I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything himself; he is able to do only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does the Son does it in the same way. Jesus, Son of Good. John 5:19 (BBE)
Is there anything that you’re trying to break free of?
Maybe the problem is right under your nose.
It’s called your mouth.
What are you saying about you?
Do you go around talking about what you can’t do, holding onto the bad things of the past, and complaining that good things are not happening now?
Are you exercising this declaration principle in reverse and cursing yourself by declaring negativity about you?
I suggest that you learn from our founding fathers and do the opposite.
Consistently speak positively about you, your family, and your employer.
Find what God says about you in the Bible, follow the Holy Spirit’s leadings, and say what God says no matter what you are experiencing.
I know that at first it may feel like a lie; however, just like our founding father’s declared something that was not as though it was. You must do the same.
M. H. Dennis
In reality, they were actually still under British bondage. All they’d have to do is look outside the window, and they’d probably see British troops roaming up and down the streets.
However, they made a decision to believe, speak, and act contrary to that reality.
In the Declaration of Independence, the founders referred to “being endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
They also stated that “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States”.
Just where did they get the notion of declaring a nation into existence? I believe that it was in the same place that they got the references to the Creator and Supreme Judge of the World. It came from the Holy Scriptures.
Let’s take a moment to examine the beliefs of our founding fathers, which caused them to declare a nation into existence, and how they came up with the idea of a declaration.
When Moses first wrote about the Creator in Genesis, the Creator was declaring the universe out of nothingness by His words. Moses said that in the beginning when God looked upon the earth God saw darkness. (Genesis 1:1-4) Instead of complaining how dark it was God declared the opposite of what he saw.
He said let there be light, and what God said changed what God saw. Light appeared.
Moses taught in Genesis 17:1-8 how God also birthed a nation(s) through Abraham by using a declaration. Moses says God taught Abraham how to declare nation(s) into being by using Abraham’s own words to do it. God did this by changing fatherless Abram’s name to Abraham, which means the Father of Nations.
At the time, Abraham was about 100 years old, his wife was barren, and it was impossible for him to have a child.
By changing his name, God taught Abraham how to first change his own thinking by making him declare to everyone that he met that his name was now Abraham or the Father of many Nations.
At first to Abraham, it must have seemed like a lie; however, before it was all over, Abraham had a child (see also Romans 4:17-23).
Another famous teacher of a declaration in the scriptures was Jesus. Jesus not only taught the importance of having faith in God, but also in the importance of believing in your own words (i.e. declarations. See Mark 11: 12-14 & 20-24).
Once while Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, he became hungry. He looked for some figs off a wild fig tree full of leaves.
After He didn’t find any figs, He declared to the fig tree that no one will ever eat from you again. Then, he went on His way.
Upon his return to Jerusalem the next morning, His disciples noticed that the fig tree had withered up and died.
His disciple Peter said, look the fig tree that you cursed has died!
Jesus had not spoken profanity to the fig tree; however, He had spoken negativity to it by declaring that no one would ever eat from it again. His words killed the fig tree.
Some people would say that only God himself or Jesus could cause something to die simply by speaking or declaring it; however, Jesus Himself would dispute that statement.
Jesus further taught His disciples in that passage that anyone could in fact do it. (See in Mark 11: 12-14 & 20-24 again) He said not only could anyone curse a fig tree, he also said that anyone could speak to a mountain, tell it to move, and it would.
He said the secret was to have faith in God (be lead by His Spirit before you speak), to absolutely believe in the power of your words, and to totally disbelieve in any obstacle that stands in your way.
Truly I say to you, Whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and be put into the sea; and has no doubt in his heart, but has faith that what he says will come about, he will have his desire. Jesus, Son of God. Mark 11:23. (BBE)
Truly I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything himself; he is able to do only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does the Son does it in the same way. Jesus, Son of Good. John 5:19 (BBE)
Is there anything that you’re trying to break free of?
Maybe the problem is right under your nose.
It’s called your mouth.
What are you saying about you?
Do you go around talking about what you can’t do, holding onto the bad things of the past, and complaining that good things are not happening now?
Are you exercising this declaration principle in reverse and cursing yourself by declaring negativity about you?
I suggest that you learn from our founding fathers and do the opposite.
Consistently speak positively about you, your family, and your employer.
Find what God says about you in the Bible, follow the Holy Spirit’s leadings, and say what God says no matter what you are experiencing.
I know that at first it may feel like a lie; however, just like our founding father’s declared something that was not as though it was. You must do the same.
M. H. Dennis
An Open Book
Imagine yourself going through a dense rain forest.
You keep hacking away with your machete, but you just can get through.
You keep getting tangled up in vines, swatting insects, and bogging down in quick sand.
Is your mind sometimes like a jungle?
When someone is talking, is your mind so full of your own thoughts that you just can't hear?
During a conversation, do you sometimes focus on what you're going to say next; therefore, you miss what the other person is saying?
We've got to learn to clear out our minds, so that we can really listen.
A full mind is like a dense jungle. It's hard to get a good idea in or out.
Our lives also can be filled with meaningless activities.
For example, I used to spend 30 minutes a day just reading the newspaper.
It usually contained a lot of depressing news that didn't pertain to me. Now, I just read the headlines to stay informed.
Next, I'll read the 1st paragraph, and then the entire article if I'm really, really interested.
In this way, I can usually scan an entire newspaper in about 5 minutes. There's nothing wrong with reading the paper, but I've chosen to invest my time in other ways.
Now, I've emptied out 30 more minutes a day to do something more worthwhile, so my life and mind won't be so full.
I'm learning to replace good things with better things.
In the past, if I read a book a month, I was really doing well. However, I've come to understand the importance of improving myself.
I now get up early every morning and block out an hour or so just to read in a quiet place. In the evening, I pick up the same book, and read it if my family is watching TV. I can usually keep up with a show if I want to, and read at the same time. It helps my reading to mute the sound during the commercials.
When I was a kid, I hated reading, so avoided it. I think it was because I read a really sad book about a couple of hunting dogs dying. I started to avoid reading.
Furthermore, I disliked reading because I read too slowly. I felt like I was wasting my time.
Now, by spending more time reading, I'm getting better at it. It helps me to use a bookmark to underscore each sentence that I'm reading.
Lately, I've been knocking out about 100 pages a day. I've read as many as 5 books in one week. I now enjoy reading.
I read to learn more about God,
simplify my life,
gather new ideas,
and improve my circumstances.
When I really like the book, I've read it, and listened to its audio book up to 10 times. If I own the book, I highlight the parts that I want to remember.
Recently, my reading habit became so expensive that I've started getting books out of the library, so I could read them for free.
Another benefit that I've noticed is my 10-year old son has had a renewed interest in reading. In fact, it's not unusual for him to read a book or more a week. He doesn't particularly like the types of books that I like, but that's okay. I figure if he can improve on his comprehension and reading speed, it will give him an edge.
It can do the same for you. Are you trying to overcome a problem, and find some answers? You might find the answer in a good book.
Simply go to the bookstore and read the titles in the desired section.
Ask yourself, has the author earned the right to be read?
If one book seems interesting, pick it up, and read the back cover to see whose recommending the book.
Then, read the names of each of the chapters, and then, if you're still interested, read the introduction.
Think of this like reviewing a resume before hiring an applicant.
M. H. Dennis
You keep hacking away with your machete, but you just can get through.
You keep getting tangled up in vines, swatting insects, and bogging down in quick sand.
Is your mind sometimes like a jungle?
When someone is talking, is your mind so full of your own thoughts that you just can't hear?
During a conversation, do you sometimes focus on what you're going to say next; therefore, you miss what the other person is saying?
We've got to learn to clear out our minds, so that we can really listen.
A full mind is like a dense jungle. It's hard to get a good idea in or out.
Our lives also can be filled with meaningless activities.
For example, I used to spend 30 minutes a day just reading the newspaper.
It usually contained a lot of depressing news that didn't pertain to me. Now, I just read the headlines to stay informed.
Next, I'll read the 1st paragraph, and then the entire article if I'm really, really interested.
In this way, I can usually scan an entire newspaper in about 5 minutes. There's nothing wrong with reading the paper, but I've chosen to invest my time in other ways.
Now, I've emptied out 30 more minutes a day to do something more worthwhile, so my life and mind won't be so full.
I'm learning to replace good things with better things.
In the past, if I read a book a month, I was really doing well. However, I've come to understand the importance of improving myself.
I now get up early every morning and block out an hour or so just to read in a quiet place. In the evening, I pick up the same book, and read it if my family is watching TV. I can usually keep up with a show if I want to, and read at the same time. It helps my reading to mute the sound during the commercials.
When I was a kid, I hated reading, so avoided it. I think it was because I read a really sad book about a couple of hunting dogs dying. I started to avoid reading.
Furthermore, I disliked reading because I read too slowly. I felt like I was wasting my time.
Now, by spending more time reading, I'm getting better at it. It helps me to use a bookmark to underscore each sentence that I'm reading.
Lately, I've been knocking out about 100 pages a day. I've read as many as 5 books in one week. I now enjoy reading.
I read to learn more about God,
simplify my life,
gather new ideas,
and improve my circumstances.
When I really like the book, I've read it, and listened to its audio book up to 10 times. If I own the book, I highlight the parts that I want to remember.
Recently, my reading habit became so expensive that I've started getting books out of the library, so I could read them for free.
Another benefit that I've noticed is my 10-year old son has had a renewed interest in reading. In fact, it's not unusual for him to read a book or more a week. He doesn't particularly like the types of books that I like, but that's okay. I figure if he can improve on his comprehension and reading speed, it will give him an edge.
It can do the same for you. Are you trying to overcome a problem, and find some answers? You might find the answer in a good book.
Simply go to the bookstore and read the titles in the desired section.
Ask yourself, has the author earned the right to be read?
If one book seems interesting, pick it up, and read the back cover to see whose recommending the book.
Then, read the names of each of the chapters, and then, if you're still interested, read the introduction.
Think of this like reviewing a resume before hiring an applicant.
M. H. Dennis
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