Remember those resolutions, how are they going?

I shared this earlier this year…

“Our minds are like Teflon on the Good, but like Velcro on the BAD.”

2018 should be about learning to recognize the positive good things around us.

We focus on the negative, worry about the future and fret about out past mistakes.

We allow positivity to escape our memories.

Paul in Philippians 4:8, advises us to think about positive happy things (Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.)

Romans 8:28 advised us to look for the good (And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

How about those other resolutions?  How about your next steps?

Signed, Dearly Yours

Back in January I wrote:

I heard a comment that I thought we should consider…,

“Our minds are like Teflon on the Good, but like Velcro on the BAD.”

We focus on the negative, worry about the future and fret about out past mistakes.  We hold on to negativity like Velcro holds a child’s foot in a shoe.  We enjoy the happy good events in our lives but we let those wonderful events slip away like bacon and eggs cooking in a Teflon frying pan.  We allow positivity to escape our memories.

Why is that, why do we enjoy negativity?  Well, heart rates increase, blood pressure rises when we gossip and look for imperfections, Listening audiences grow, engage us, when bad reports are shared.  Our popularity improves (or seems to)… 2 Timothy 4:3-4, call this  “itchy ears”, turning way from the truth.  Perhaps we are confusing these reactions  (rise in heart rate, blood pressure and attention) with positive feedback…it isn’t.

Paul in Philippians 4:8, advises us to think about positive happy things (Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.)  2018 should be about learning to recognize the positive good things around us.  Romans 8:28 advised us to look for the good (And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

What did you think?

Signed, Dearly Yours

I listened to a talk on commitment by a neuro scientist named Susan Pierce-Thompson.  The speaker provided 6 ways to create accountability.

• To yourself
• To a group
• To an individual (buddy or sponsor)
• To a formal Contract
• Get an unbiased person to ask you a simple Question from an unbiased
  1. OK, this seemed very similar to #3
• Set Up a Game where you throw away/give up/lose the use of something you love

 

However, the number “6” has a biblical associate expressing…

Thus, the number 6 in the Bible is all about man and his labour. It signifies man’s shortcomings and the corruption he added into the world created by God. In whatever way we mathematically represent six it signifies corruption and imperfection only. It shows man as one who is destitute of God. Since was created on the sixth day of creation so this number is permanently stamped on him and he will bear this number always.

Number 6 not only denotes human labour but also human sorrow. Since God’s perfection is corrupted by human corruption so man is bound to suffer from sorrows. Six days have been given to man to work and perform labour and one day for rest and this we can observe in the modern era too. It is also true that the creation ended on the sixth day, i.e. God completed the creation of the world on the sixth day so it also represents secular completeness.

But if we research the number 7, we find:

Seven is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). It derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to God’s creation of all things. According to some Jewish traditions, the creation of Adam occurred on September 26, 3760 B.C. (or the first day of Tishri, which is the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar). The word ‘created’ is used 7 times describing God’s creative work (Genesis 1:1, 21, 27 three times; 2:3; 2:4). There are 7 days in a week and God’s Sabbath is on the 7th day.

It seems clear to me that the best way to gain completeness or success is to to seek the something that is beyond our own human abilities.

Let me know what you think we should do,

Signed, Dearly Yours

It does not come from winning.  Your struggles develop your strengths.  When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.

(God told some one on a CrossFit documentary to write that) Prov…i19:21 – [There are] many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand

Matthew 9:29 reads that we will have what we expect (²⁹Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”).

What do you believe that the Lord will do?  You know He can do anything, but what will He do in your life, in my life?

How much faith do we really have?

Given our actions, or lack of action, we may have no faith; this is a tragic statement.  There are scripture that recall that the faith necessary to succeed, is faith the size of a mustard seed, we can do wonderful, miraculous things with mustard seed faith.

But we don’t , we don’t watch for the miraculous, could we be faithless?

I’m not sure, I hope that we have the faith needed.

The Lord says we have the faith, We just have to remind ourselves through prayer, Bible reading and study, sharing with fellow believers, watching media that is focused on delivering the Word; Romans 10:17.

Yeah!!!’

We have faith!!

WHEW that was close, huh?

Let’s prayer for continual reminders that our Faith will strengthen and solidify daily.

In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Signed, Dearly Yours

 

 

 

 

 

reference:

Luke 17:6 ⁶He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Matthew 17:20 ²⁰He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 13:31 ³¹He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

“Our minds are like Teflon on the Good, but like Velcro on the BAD.”

We focus on the negative, worry about the future and fret about out past mistakes.  We hold on to negativity like Velcro holds a child’s foot in a shoe.

We enjoy the happy good events in our lives but we let those wonderful events slip away like bacon and eggs cooking in a Teflon frying pan.  We allow positivity to escape our memories.

Why is that, why do we enjoy negativity?  Well, heart rates increase, blood pressure rises when we gossip and look for imperfections, Listening audiences grow, engage us, when bad reports are shared.  Our popularity improves (or seems to)… 2 Timothy 4:3-4, call this  “itchy ears”, turning way from the truth.

Perhaps we are confusing these reactions  (rise in heart rate, blood pressure and attention) with positive feedback…it isn’t.

Paul in Philippians 4:8, advises us to think about positive happy things (Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.)

2018 should be about learning to recognize the positive good things around us.  Romans 8:28 advised us to look for the good (And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Comments?

Signed, Dearly Yours

C.S. Lewis believed that a key theme of the New Testament was the concept of being born again, putting on Christ, or having the mind of Christ.

I am relieved that my success related to Christ is all dependent on Christ’s efforts.

Sounds lazy and uncommitted doesn’t it?

The whole premise behind believing in (Christ, Jesus, the Holy Spirit) is that humans can not earn, develop or create the relationship, or forgiveness needed to have a relationship with the Father.

C. S.Lewis wrote that God is in the process of conforming us to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.  Let us be thankful that the outcome is not dependent on our ability to carry this out, but it is God working in us.”

Based on the Bible, the only actions required to have a great meaningful relationship with God are to “openly say, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, … (Romans 10:9).

I like simple tasks, with straightforward outcome, don’t you?  Apparently I don’t need to change anything, huh?

I am your believing friend, Dearly Yours

I heard a message in January 2018 at Downtown Baptist Church (DBC).

The scripture referenced was numerous* along with a song by little Wayne with the chorus, “I ain’t got no worries”.  The speaker’s points were that :

1. God cares for us (Matthew 6:5-7 embraces one fantastic quote – When You Pray),
2. Humbling ourselves are the best way to move (I Peter 5:6-7) ,
3. We are to cast all anxieties unto the Lord by praying earnestly.  (Luke 22:44).  

Worries is not of the Lord, so when we are caught worrying we need to acknowledge the feelings and give the issues to God.

Never easy, but always necessary.

That’s the story God gave me, and I am sticking with it.

As your friend, Dearly Yours

 

*Scripture: 1 peter 5:6-7, Psalm 34:17-19, Matt 6:5-7, Luke 22:44

I don’t know about this concept of starting over.

Of course, I know what it means/its definition: to set again, to change the reading to zero.

I know that there is an importance of passing on good value.  I am told that the reset is an opportunity to change.

So the need for a reset could be being drawn to negative activities, or perhaps a drift away from God’s narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14, or Luke 13:24).

During the discussion and research for reset I came across the concept of recharging.  THAT concept I get (can fully comprehend and embrace).  I get recharging, stepping away from to rest, reflect, and maybe start over.

If I consider my dreams and goals, I may need to adjust my movements to get back on track.  Using that energy would require a recharge to move the “battery” needle back to full.  And sometimes my cell phone needs to be reset to get a better signal and connections.

So having worked thorough these concepts I now see an acceptable need for the “Reset” concept.

Thanks for hanging in there.  I am your friend, Dearly Yours

 

 

At the beginning of the year I was given a fantastic gift, a job offer, an opportunity to take on a position.  I debated very briefly and said yes.

I debated moving because I liked the manager in the former area.  I enjoyed working with my colleagues in the former area.  I loved the 15 minute to 20 minute commute to the former area.

I liked, enjoyed, loved nearly everything about the former area.  It seemed perfect.  But there were some problems.  There was negativity…but I kept my head up and my positivity.  I focused so much on the positive that one of my friend called it denial).

After my pondering about accepting the position I accepted, turned in my notice (one full month The God would have me be generous see March 29th  post), I completed my assignments and began the new position.  ONE WEEK after leaving, I learned that the manager I liked accepted a new position, at least on of the colleagues I enjoyed accepted a new positon, and I realized the short commute I loved was 1,400% (sic) more expensive that the newer longer commute.

All of the previous elements were confirmation that I made the right decision.  Synonyms.com defined confirmation as additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct.  I found 4 verses from the Bible that support my theory that God knows the future and guides believers towards safety.  The scriptures are:

1. Isaiah 58:11, The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
2. Psalm 32:8, I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
3. Psalm 73:24, You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
4. John 16:13, But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

James also wrote a fantastic recommendation, chapter 1, verse 5, But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

John wrote at chapter 16, verse 13, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

I am overly convinced that I made the right decision, and that the Lord had everything to do with it.

That’s the story and I am sticking to it.

Take care from Dearly Yours