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How to Uncover the Miracle Life

February 8, 2017 by

I’m amazed at the miracle of my life.

I think back to the dead end road I walked in college.  Frustrated, alone, depressed, running chaotically to find elusive happiness.

Yet, out of that confusion to find my wife and be blessed with our children astounds me.  The prosperity we’ve been blessed with even after so many years of financial struggle amazes me.  And to think that after all these years the journey today is the best and keeps growing better.

The miracle began when I stopped running away from God and chose to walk to him.

The Psalmist wrote, “You have made known to me the path of life, you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”*

He offers you a clear path even when life seems confused.  Joy when it makes more sense to feel depressed.  His presence when you feel most alone.  And the comfort that all of this grows better not only now but forever.

*Psalm 16: 11 (NIV)

Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven, Love, Miracles, Success Tagged With:

What Do You Do When You Run Out of Strength to Press On?

February 6, 2017 by

There are times when each of us reach the end of our own power to keep pressing on against the challenges.  Sometimes we’ve fought the battle for so long we just grow tired and want to give up.

Into that void, though, flows God’s power when we simply rest back in him.

Micah, the prophet, wrote, “But as for me I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord.”*

I love that image because I’ve had occasions, probably like you, when I’ve felt overwhelmed and I couldn’t go one more step.

Yet God, in his love, brought me fresh strength when I rested in him.  He clarified my mind and filled me with his power.

He offers that to you as well, whatever you face today.   If your abilities and strength have run out he offers you his power as you simply come back and rest in him.

*Micah 3: 8 (ESV)

Filed Under: Success Tagged With:

How to Take the Miraculous Life You’ve Been Promised

February 3, 2017 by

Most of us start out with dreams of an extraordinary life.   Unfortunately, those dreams often get squashed by harsh reality.

So it’s easier to give up and simply settle for what’s comfortable.  Yet, I believe for most of us those dreams never really die.  Instead, they lie dormant leaving us feeling unfulfilled.

See God promised you can take on the amazing life he designed for you from the beginning by simply accepting it.

God promised Joshua, “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.” *

God had already set aside the land for them.   The gift was waiting to be opened.   They simply needed in courage to take it.

It’s like Christmas morning with presents under the tree.  The presents are wrapped and have your name on them.   All you need to do is open them.

Then enjoy the gifts already purchased for you.

*Joshua  1:6 (NLT)

Filed Under: Miracles, Success Tagged With:

How to Have Your Mind Transformed from Despair to Joy

February 1, 2017 by

I struggled, particularly when in college, with depression attacks.  They’d come on suddenly and last for hours or days.  Nothing I tried successfully counteracted them.  Often that left me feeling even more hopeless and vulnerable.

So many people today struggle with depression also shown by the billions in anti-depressive drug sales.

Yet when I came to the place I asked God into my life and to change my mind he did.

Oh, I still occasionally struggled but nothing like before.  My mind changed from despair to joy, from tyranny to hope.

It’s what God promises when Paul writes, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”*

When we ask God to change us he transforms our minds through filling us with his Spirit. And where his Spirit lives there can’t be darkness.

Then we’re set free from living trapped in the common pattern of this world.  Set free to be transformed from despair to joy.

Romans 12: 2

Filed Under: Happiness Tagged With: ,

Do You Face the Impossible?

January 30, 2017 by

We all face challenges at times that seem impossible don’t we?  We’ve struggled and worried yet the problem persists.

Yet, no challenge is impossible for God.  He created us and everything in our lives.  So if he created all things what challenge in his creation could be greater than his power to solve it?

Jesus responded to a challenge, “With people this is impossible but with God all things are possible.”*

I was struggling with several challenges and frankly by the end of the year just felt spent.  I grew depressed and just wanted to give up, find a cave to crawl into and sleep until it all went away.

Slowly though ideas came about the inherent problems and some possible solutions.  Further clarity continues to light.

I came back to just resting in God for the answers because that’s all I had.  Trusting that he had a plan and he would reveal it to me in time.  Believing he’d guided me this far and wouldn’t let me down now.

What seems impossible to us opens the door to God’s possibilities.

*Matthew 19: 26

Filed Under: Miracles, Success Tagged With:

Discovering Light in Emotional Darkness: A Personal Journey

January 25, 2017 by

The darkness snuck into my heart uninvited and unnoticed like a black fog drifting in through the windows choking my heart and clouding my mind.  I didn’t recognize it because though a frequent visitor when I was young it rarely visits today.  I didn’t understand my weighted soul until in a brief flash I understood the demon had returned.

There were several reasons and no reason.  So struggling to find my way felt like a journey in a dark forest without the moonlight to guide.  I searched to find the path I was on and grew lost searching for the trail out.

Days passed and the darkness remained.  Strategies I’ve practiced somehow failed.  I felt ever more alone.

Yet, somehow into the midst of this darkness the first glow of dawn broke.  I rested again in what has always saved me.  That God is still with me and though I’d lost my way he hadn’t lost me.

I remembered he promised that when I’m the poorest in spirit he reveals his kingdom most brightly.

“Thank you Lord Jesus.  That is enough for today.”

Filed Under: Happiness Tagged With:

An Inauguration Day Prayer

January 24, 2017 by

(First Posted on Facebook)

“Lord on this Inauguration Day help us to pause long enough to remember:

First, to give you thanks that we live in a country where we get to choose our political leaders. Every fours years we are reminded of that when we have a peaceful transfer of power. Most of the world looks on in amazement at that transition.

Second, to pray for our leaders whether we agree with them or not. They may be godly or not but you can direct their steps and minds as we pray.

Third, to remember to focus our trust on you not on political institutions. You are always dependable, they are not.

Fourth, to love each other with patience, respect and kindness. It is time we move forward from this divisive period and deepened our relationships with those we love, even those we disagree with. Only in that love will we glorify you and bring richness to life.

Amen.”

Filed Under: Love Tagged With:

How to Change Your Life and Accomplish Your Powerful Dreams

January 17, 2017 by

I fail at New Year’s resolutions routinely.  Well, at least I’m consistent.

I may want to lose an extra 10 pounds I’m carrying around so I resolutely set the goal.

But then those left over Christmas cookies keep calling my name.  I think, “It’d be a shame to waste them and I’d probably hurt my wife’s feelings if I didn’t eat them.  So I’ll have just a couple, each night.  It won’t hurt anything.  Then I’ll get really serious after they’re gone.”

I bet you can relate.

We set out to change our lives to accomplish our dreams.

 

We set a New Year’s resolution yet studies show before January ends most people have already given up.

 

Now, one failed resolution may not be a big deal but we set ourselves up for further defeat.  Every time we fail it reinforces not only our failure but that we’re a failure.  And that makes it ever harder to try something out of the ordinary in the future.

So the cycle of failure, frustration, defeat and discouragement continues until people finally give up on their most important dreams altogether.  Then settle for mediocre.

[Read more…]

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What to Do When Love Explodes and You Can’t Restore It (Part 3)

January 3, 2017 by

beach-couple

 

We looked previously at what to do when a relationship explodes and you can’t restore it.

But what happens when finding peace proves impossible?

Some years ago I had a friendship completely melt down with deep hurts on both sides.  Yet, we saw each other regularly because of circumstances we couldn’t avoid.

I tried to reconcile the relationship but this friend was having none of it.  Often my attempts were met with rejection or sometimes retaliation.  This would then elicit somewhat less than exemplary reactions from me.

There were times I would see him and say hi only to have him turn around and walk away without response.

Sometimes I could separate myself from him physically.  I just avoided him and that worked pretty well.

If I couldn’t avoid him I’d mentally separate telling myself it didn’t matter.  That worked often too.

Then he’d blind side me with something new that would leave me stunned for a day or two.

 

No matter what I tried I just couldn’t find a place of peace in the relationship.

 

[Read more…]

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What to Do When Love Explodes and You Can’t Restore It (Part 2)

December 20, 2016 by

beach-couple

 

Last post we talked about how, when a friendship or marriage explodes, at some point you need to move on in peace.

But what about when you’re continually forced to interact with that other person and the hurting cycle won’t stop?

An acquaintance recently mentioned his struggle with this.  He’s divorced and shares custody of his children with his ex-wife.  So they constantly interact and often negatively.

 

From the little I know, he tried to keep their relationship together but she wanted to move on and did after child three.  Seems like a strange time to figure out you can’t live with your husband but I’m not here to judge.

When they interact now, they often have conflict.  One is late to pick up or return the kids.  One has to change the day because of an emergency.  One wants money for something for the kids the other doesn’t see the need for.

The list goes on and on and they’re both stuck in this relationship of hurt.  The scabs are continually ripped off the old injuries and new wounds are opened up.

 

It leaves both feeling continually hurt and angry.

 

[Read more…]

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