Month: August 2016

If there was a way to keep you from being ineffective and unproductive, would you want to know what it was? AND if you knew what it was, would you be willing to learn through application, and willing to change if necessary for it to become a reality in your life? The Apostle Peter wrote some specific instructions about what we need to do to be effective and productive. In fact, he says we should possess these qualities in increasing measure. It will involve some effort on our part, but isn’t that true about almost everything worthwhile?

It should not surprise you there is a recipe to be followed if you want the proper results, but you know that, right? So, now you are presented with a choice. Follow the recipe, or not! You get to choose your desired outcome based on your choice.

Here is his recipe as found in 2 Peter 1:5-8, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; {6} and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; {7} and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. {8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Notice the similarities to another list written by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

I would suggest to you that God does not operate independent of us, nor do we operate independent of Him. We are to be co-creators with Him of what takes place in our life. If it was all up to God through His Spirit in us, we would be robots or puppets. However, Peter makes it clear, we have choices, and are ultimately responsible for those choices. Do we participate as a co-creator, putting in our effort, and input, or do we pretend to be in complete control of the drivers seat, doing things as Frank Sinatra sang, “my way?” Either way, we reap what we sow.

The balance of co-creatorship is seen in the combining of Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– {9} not by works, so that no one can boast,” with Philippians 2:12, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Let me ask the question I started with. If there was a way to keep you from being ineffective and unproductive, would you want to know what it was? AND if you knew what it was, would you be willing to learn through application, and willing to change if necessary for it to become a reality in your life?

Yesterday, I wrote about having a high teachability index and the value in connecting with the One who is the source of all wisdom and knowledge. Today I would encourage you to consider the impact and benefit of joining together with those of like minded faith and belief who have a desire to uplift, encourage and help one another live life to its full potential.

Depending on the time of day you read this, I will either on my way to, or will have arrived in San Diego, California. This trip not only provides and opportunity to demonstrate a willingness to keep my teachability index high as I go through very powerful training, but it also brings together high vibrational people in a master mind setting. In such gatherings significant life changing decisions are often made. The collective energy, spirit and support within the group can literally be felt.

This is what the Church ought to be, as visualized by its head, Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 1:15-23, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. {16} For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. {17} He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. {18} And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. {19} For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, {20} and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. {21} Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. {22} But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation– {23} if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

What should a master mind look like as it relates to the Church? Notice what is written in Hebrews 10:22-25, “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. {23} Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. {24} And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

{25} Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.”

Why should we go out of our way to be part of a master mind group? It is not just for what we can get out of it, but for what we can do to benefit others through the gifts, talents and graces we have been given. Each person is responsible and accountable for what we have. To whom much is given, much is also required. Today, would be a good day to make a commitment to do something which will encourage, uplift and help someone move towards living life to the full.

The Book of Proverbs has a great deal to say about teachability. In fact the beginning verses of chapter one identify this as one of the purposes of the book. Having a high teachability index allows for the practical application of the truth of God’s Word with wisdom. The result is spiritual growth towards spiritual maturity.

How important is a willingness to learn and a willingness to change to you? It is incredibly important if you what to be successful in whatever endeavour you are considering. Consider what Solomon says in the first seven verses of this book. “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: {2} for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; {3} for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; {4} for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young– {5} let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance– {6} for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. {7} The reverence of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

If you want to attain wisdom, to know the secret universal principles in the Kingdom of God you must apply effort. That is the meaning of the word translated from the Hebrew for “attain.” Look at the list of things involved in this process to which your teachability is connected. It includes, wisdom, discipline, insight, knowledge, prudence, discernment and understanding. You might want to grab a dictionary and investigate the meanings of these words and the plethora of valuable insights to be gained through the willingness to be teachable.

Many people identify wisdom as one of their key core values. It is important to understand wisdom’s true value is found in relation to its Creator. Verse 7 reminds us it is tied into reverence for the Creator of all things. Proverbs 8:22-23 declares, “The LORD brought me (wisdom) forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; {23} I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.”

The pursuit of wisdom must include a personal relationship with the Creator. Anything less leaves us short on the teachability index according to Solomon. What will you do to increase your teachability index today? Why will you do it? How will your intentions bring you to the outcomes you really want? Where will you go to insure you have expressed reverence to the Lord? When will you apply the effort and discipline to achieve the blessings offered here in God’s Word? Who will you share your insights, growth and blessings with? Your answers to these questions will speak loudly to the where you are on the path to living your life to its full potential.

The Apostle Peter in his Second Epistle, verses 12 and 13 wrote, “So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. {13} I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body . . . .” There is value and importance in being reminded of what we know, or reminded of what we have forgotten and would be good to know again, so our memory is refreshed. So today I think it right to remind and fresh your memory with an important principle.

This principle relates to the idea, your thoughts are important because thoughts are things. What you think and what you believe and what you say and the intentions of your heart create your reality.

Read carefully and give careful consideration to this insightful poem written by Napoleon Hill in the book, “Think & Grow Rich.”

“If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win, but you think you can’t,
It is almost certain you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,
For out in the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will.
It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You’ve got to think high to rise,
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But soon or late the man who wins,
Is the man who thinks he can.”

Reflect and think about your thoughts and the words which come out of your mouth. Are they expressing faith and positive belief, or are they demonstrating doubt, pessimism and lack of faith? Your thoughts create actions which become habits. Your habits become the testimony of your character and your character reflects the programming running in your subconscious mind. Now we have a cycle that will continue to repeat itself until you make a decision otherwise. The person who will live life to its full potential is the one who will have an ongoing “I can” attitude and outlook on life. Reread the above poem to remind and refresh your memory to take you through the next “I can” moment in your life.

The beginning of a new month provides the opportunity to flip the calendar and stare at a clean slate. Yes, if your calendar is a Priority Manager or a scheduler of some variety, it may have items, appointments and other data on it, but those events have not yet appeared in your life. Some things may change or never even happen. Proverbs 27:1 reminds us, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” In light of the fact we really do not know what tomorrow may bring we hear the words of the saying, “the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry” adapted from a line in the poem, “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns.

What we think, believe, say and intend provides insight into how the month before us may play out regardless of what events may transpire in that month. Do you picture a great month with many positive things which enhance your life and benefit the lives of others, or do you dread and fear what the coming days may bring? Earl Nightingale reminds us, “We get what we think about most of the time.”

Out approach to the future should be anchored in faith rather than worry and fear. Jesus provided some very important instruction appropriate for this topic as recorded in Matthew 6:25-34, “‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? {26} Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? {27} Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? {28} ‘And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. {29} Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. {30} If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? {31} So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ {32} For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. {33} But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. {34} Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’”

You have a choice today as you look at the calendar for this month. Will you chose to see all the great blessings and possibilities which lay before you, or will you see only an unending flow of challenges and difficulties and problems. For me, I am excited about the blessings and opportunities that are coming my way, and for me to be able to be a part of in influencing and helping others move towards living their God-given potential.