Month: July 2016

Aesop tells a tale about a shepherd boy who tended his sheep at the foot of a mountain near a dark forest. It was lonely for him, so he devised a plan to get a little company. He rushed down towards the village calling out “Wolf, Wolf,” and the villagers came out to meet him. This pleased the boy so much that a few days after he tried the same trick, and again the villagers came to his help. Shortly after this a wolf actually did come out from the forest. The boy cried out “Wolf, Wolf,” still louder than before. But this time the villagers, who had been fooled twice before, thought the boy was again lying, and nobody came to his aid. So the wolf made a good meal off the boy’s flock. An important lesson from this story is, “a liar will not be believed, even when telling the truth.”

What I want to focus on with this article is not the warning to avoid dishonesty and lying, but to call your attention to the need to pay persistent attention to God’s warnings for your life. There are many warnings designed to help us get through this life avoiding the consequences and devastation of sin. The Apostle Paul wrote these words in Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; {20} idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions {21} and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Do you see your life and lifestyle reflected in the Apostle’s words here?

Just because God does not immediately judge your sin does not mean He is ignoring it or turning a blind eye to it. We are reminded by the Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 3:9-12, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. {11} Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives {12} as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” We have a choice to make that will either include God and His Word in our daily lives or exclude Him. Unfortunately for many people, familiarity with the warnings from God’s Word breeds not only contempt but also apathy and carelessness. We have heard both the call to live a life that pleases Christ, and the warnings of eternal separation from God if we do not obey Him, until they are no more heeded than the repeated call of the boy who yelled, “wolf.”

When there have been numerous false alarms with the fire alarm system people tend to simply ignore it even when there is a fire. Often when severe weather has been forecast people do not heed the warning and continue on as if everything will always be Okay. When this happen usually someone becomes a casualty of failing to heed the warnings. This article provides you with yet another chance to hear and to heed God’s warning. As Joshua declared in Joshua 24:15, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Will you listen to and heed God’s warnings or simply write them off as the inconsequential cry of “wolf”?

What do you desire, wish for, or be inclined towards? Do you know what it is with a sense of certainty? On a scale of 1 to 10 how passionate are you about you about it? If that number is not close to a 10 you might ask yourself is this really what I want? If your number is close to a 10, then what are you doing towards planning for its achievement? Have you taken that desire, wish or inclination and turned it over to your imagination so you can begin to picture what it might look and feel like? Have you allowed those images and feelings to foster belief and faith in the realization of its reality?

Did you once have a desire, wish or inclination which you allowed to fail and drift toward oblivion, because you did not nurture and promote its reality? Why? Did you allow someone to steal your dreams, or did fear of the unknown or fear of failure pour water extinguishing the flame of your passion until it is only a distant memory of what might have been?

Jesus made a very important declaration which the Apostle John thought important enough to record. It is found in John 15:7, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” When we make the choice to remain or abide in Jesus which means to be in close relationship with Him and we allow His words to remain, or have influential influence and impact in our lives, we have His promise we can ask whatever we wish and it will be given to us. It is important to understand this promise does have conditions attached to it. This is not like a garage sale sign which says, “Free to a good home” and anyone who comes along can pick something up and walk away with it.

There must be a close and personal relationship with the Creator of all life. There must be a clearly defined desire, wish or inclination. There must be an intense desire which fuels the emotions towards the acquisition of the desire. Then that desire must create some definite organized plans towards receiving it. What would you do when it arrives. Faith and belief play an important role in this process. From the time of the asking, is there a knowingness of its reality in your life, or is there doubt as to whether you will get it? The answer to that question gives you a good picture of whether you have met the conditions or receiving your desire, wish or inclination.

Napoleon Hill, after more than 20 years of research came up with a formula which he said was frighteningly powerful in terms of achieving your dreams, desires or wishes. He realized however that even if people knew the formula most would not follow through and do anything with it. I just shared what Jesus said about it and Napoleon Hill’s research confirmed it. Here is a summation of what Napoleon Hill wrote in his book, “Think and Grow Rich,” “. . . magnetize your mind with intense desire . . . until that desire . . . drives you to create definite plans for acquiring it.”

Now you know the secret, what will you do with it? It is your choice and it will be your outcome. Are you ready to become the best version of you possible?

Our subconscious mind runs on auto pilot and is designed to protect us and maintain our survival physically. Many of the programs being using are based upon our thoughts, beliefs, declarations and intentions we have accepted into our life and continue to hold as true. What is interesting to consider is how well entrenched these programs and beliefs are, many of which go back to our early childhood or to traumatic events of the past.

The subconscious mind operates like a defence mechanism and is often based on fear and lack of trust which seeks to limit pain and discomfort. I picture it like a walled fortress with the gates all shut, so nothing gets in, but at the same time nothing gets out. There is a stagnation which takes place over time and real life and vitality gradually diminishes and gets squeezed out.

In such a situation there is a need for change to reduce the limiting beliefs and negative programming so love and freedom become possible for growth and advancement in life.

On four different occasions in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus asks the question, “What do you think?” I would ask you to repeat these words four times emphasizing a different word each time you say it. When you do this you get a different perspective on what is being asked in this question. So, ask the question again four times emphasizing a different word, only this time reflect upon what the answer might be if it was your subconscious mind, rather than your conscious mind giving the answer.

Look for responses which might give hints about your auto responses related to your limiting beliefs and programs which are holding you back from living life to its full potential. Awareness of these areas where you are locked in to a fortress is the first step towards your freedom. Determining what you really want instead of what you have and developing a burning desire for a different outcome is the next step. Then develop a strategy to get you where you want to be.

What do you think? As Henry Ford said, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, either way you are right. It is thought that makes it so.”

The media continues to provide ongoing daily examples of violence, terrorism, and brutality. We are being accosted with accusations of sexual impropriety, political scandals, increasing use of legal and illegal drugs, fraudulent financial doings and so much more on an ongoing basis. Rising personal and government debt world wide is creating economic uncertainties. It is easy for many people to conclude our world is in a state of significant political, financial and moral decay. The level of trust and love and compassion is being eroded by a self-centred, egotistical “me first” attitude. The stresses from so many different directions upon families in general is creating great strain on many marriages causing significant numbers of couples to give up on each other. The result is negatively impacting the future of a great number of children. Despite what seems to be an increasing dismal outlook on the future, it is worthwhile to look back in history and learn that with God all things are possible. There is still hope for a turnaround and it can come in the most unexpected ways when even a small remnant of people become passionate for God and His Kingdom on this earth.

In the 1700’s the world was in a state of turmoil. Before the end of the century the French Revolution had devastated France. This was not the case for England however. The influence of what took place in England had a significant impact on North America. What was the difference? The response of the people within the nations to their relationship with God.

I would point to two websites for a lengthy reading on the influence of spiritual renewal in England and its lack in France. I know the majority of people who read my blog posts will not likely take the time to read these two articles. If you do not, you will not know something you should know and you will have missed an opportunity to learn an important principle from the past which made a difference before and could again for future generations in your country.

I am deliberately not going to tell you what to look for in these articles, because if you look for and discern the truth, it will be your aha, and it will have a greater impact on your life and future.

Here are the two websites: (You might have to copy and paste the url into you browser address bar)

France: http://history-world.org/french_revolution1.htm

England: http://www.disciplenations.org/media/England-Before-and-After-Wesley_Drew.pdf

It is my prayer God may do for us today what he did in England and North America more than 200 years ago.

I would ask you to consider and meditate on the words of Psalm 119:9-16, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. {10} I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. {11} I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. {12} Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. {13} With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. {14} I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. {15} I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. {16} I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”

There are many people who do not choose to develop a close relationship with their Creator because they have made a mental decision not to. The specific reasons for such a choice are as varied as the potential thought options. What is often not considered such individuals is our relational connection to God is no more a mental decision than is our relational connection to a friend or spouse. It is a heart decision and connection. Notice the burning desire (passion) with which the Psalmist seeks to connect to God. “I seek you with all my heart.” The Hebrew word used for “seek” implies the concept of diligence, frequency and reverence or worship according to “Strong’s Exhaustive Hebrew Dictionary.”

In verse 11 the author declares, “I have hidden your word in my heart.” The Hebrew word used for hidden implies hoarding and protecting. If you want to seek for and protect something it means you are going to have to put some time and effort into the process. If you want to know something you will need to remember it in order to do it. Leo Buscaglia declared, “To know and not to do is not to do.”

The Psalmist asks for his teachability index to be raised in verse 12. We know how important a willingness to learn and a willingness to change is in the process of our growth in any area of life including the spiritual realm.

To verbally “recount” God’s principles is covered in verse thirteen. The Hebrew word used for “recount means to “inscribe” or “to score with a mark as a tally or record. How important is “knowing the score” to the achievement of that which you are seeking?

Verse 14 speaks about the value of knowing the power of the principles of God’s Word and the joy which it brings to your life. Can you get excited about having great riches? If so, then know the same joy and excitement of being in relationship with the One who created you and has a plan and purpose for your life.

When you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8) then take the time to meditate on His wisdom and consider your ways in relationship to Him. Have such great delight in what you are experiencing that you would never want to give up or abandon that which you have (verses 15 & 16).

When you take the time to get to know the One who loved you enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to this world to reveal Himself to you, then you can begin to understand your true value and worth. From that perspective you have the opportunity to live life to its full potential.