A Good Friday Reminder

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Each Good Friday, I like to reflect on what the day represents. My fellow Christians believe Jesus was crucified on a cross. God gave us His only son to demonstrate His love for us. This son willingly gave up His life as a reminder of His love for us.

As I reflected this morning, here are the thoughts that entered my mind…

Because of what He did, I am forgiven. Every sin of action and omission, every mistake I’ve ever made, and every stupid thing I’ve ever said and done is gone and forgotten.

Because of what He did, His spirit is in me, around me, and always with me.

Because of what He did, I always have a spirit of power in me and with me.

Because of what He did, I am healed.

Because of what He did I prosper, and already am successful.

Because of what He did, I already have the solution to every problem, and the answer to every question.

Because of what He did, all joy is available to me.

Because of what He did, all abundance is available to me.

Because of what He did, I know without a doubt that I am loved in a way that I can never even imagine.

Because of what He did, I can be confident in every situation.

Because of what He did, I am completely free.

Because of what He did, I am extremely thankful for all of these things I’ve just mentioned.

Because of what He did, I am responsible to share this love, forgiveness, abundance, power, joy, and excellence with everyone I come in contact with. It’s the very least I can do in return for what this loving act on the cross has given me, even though He expects absolutely nothing in return.

This is just a short list of all we have been given as a result of the sacrifice on the cross. It’s a not a fair deal. He gets brutally beaten and crucified, and receives all of our punishment when He was completely innocent. In return, we get no punishment for our sins, and all of the benefits of the kingdom of heaven and all of the privileges of being sons of the king. However, He would still do it over and over again for us. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is. I challenge you to reflect on this sacrifice today and be thankful for what this day represents and for what you’ve been given. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

The Ultimate Compliment

One of my greatest goals in life is to make positive impacts in the lives of other people. That is one of the major reasons I have this blog. One thing I have realized over time is that one doesn’t have to work hard to make these impacts. In fact, there are times in my life where I felt like it was almost automatic. Here’s a situation to demonstrate.

I was at the annual Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. This was a time in my life where I had become infatuated with the city of Toronto (it’s still one of my favorites today). I was raised on Long Island, so I never knew much about the city. Then I had gone to college about 3 hours away from there and had several opportunities to visit during my college years I learned about the city and fell in love with it. This was also a very exciting time for me because, since I had left college, I felt God calling me to move from Long Island to Buffalo New York. During this trip which was about three years after graduating, I was staying in Buffalo making final preparations for my move there. And of course one of the things that attracted me to Buffalo was its close proximity to Toronto!

Anyway, I was feeling great as I was in my favorite city with some great friends, and I felt very close to God as He was leading me in this period of my life. Here’s one part that really made it special. At the exhibition, a woman was handing out Christian tracks. She asked if I wanted one. I smiled and said yes. The woman looked at me and said, “you’re already a Christian, aren’t you? I can definitely tell.”

When she said that, I was surprised in a way. I’m not usually one who broadcasts my faith, even though I would consider myself to be a strong Christian. However, I quickly realized why she said that. As mentioned, I felt very close to God during that time of my life. This situation showed me that, during those closes times, He not only brightens my world but shines through me to brighten others as well. For me, it was the ultimate compliment that made my day. In fact, it might have made my year. Through my normal actions and just being me without saying anything, someone could tell I was a Christian.

Through this experience, I learned that I don’t have to work hard at letting God’s light shine through me. In fact, I believe this moment was so special to me because it showed me I can let the light shine through me in a way that is most comfortable for me. I’m not one that you would find handing out tracks or broadcasting my faith as I mentioned earlier. Instead, I prefer to lead by example. I like to work with the quote by St. Francis which says, “preach the gospel. And if necessary, use words.”

Through this experience, I realized that for me, you, or anyone else to make positive impacts on the world, the only real effort it takes is to remain close to God. Keep in close contact with Him, realize He is totally in control of our lives, and allow Him to take that control. Follow the advice in I Thessalonians 5 16-17 which provides a simple 3 step process to be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. People who study the Law of Attraction closely would say to keep your energy vibration at a high level. It’s the same idea. I believe they go hand in hand because the three concepts from that Bible verse are the highest energy vibrations of joy, gratitude, and closeness with God.

I know that all three of the above ideas were part of my being on that beautiful day in Toronto. I was full of joy. I was thankful that God was leading me. And as I mentioned before, I was in prayer with Him on a regular basis. I present these keys to you if you would like to effortlessly bless those around you. Please know that I am not saying it is wrong to proclaim your faith or to be someone that regularly uses words to preach the gospel or to affect people around you. We need you to do that! I am just saying that, if you want that blessing that I received of having someone know instantly that God’s light is shining brightly in you, it is as simple as the 3 steps above. Be joyful in all things. Thank God on a regular basis for what you have, and even for what He is bringing to you. And stay in contact with God on a regular basis and allow Him to lead you in your life. When you do this your life with be blessed in ways you can’t even imagine 🙂

 

How to Increase Your Blessings

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” – Zig Ziglar.

This quote is one I’ve done my best to live by for years. In doing so, I realize its truth. Not everything goes our way all the time. However, I know from experience that when we are thankful for the great things in our lives, and for the not so great things, we are rewarded by God with more reasons to be grateful.

I can say that it also makes the quality of our overall lives so much better. When you are sincerely thankful with all your heart, your overall energy vibration is greater. That also opens you up to receive greater blessings in life and helps you do the same for those around you.

Although it may be difficult in today’s situation, I challenge you to look around and find things you can be thankful for. As you enjoy the comfort of your home, eat a nice meal, breathe clean air, use the technology, or whatever you can think of, be thankful for it. It will boost your emotional state immediately.

And as I end this short post, I sincerely thank you for reading and visiting my humble site. Have a great day 🙂

A Biblical Perspective on the Law of Attraction

One of my main goals in this space is to show how the ideas on Law of Attraction and those in the Bible go hand in hand. I firmly believe that the Law of Attraction, and dare I say many of the laws of science are Biblical.

In essence, the Law of Attraction says that what we receive in life is a direct reflection of the thoughts we think in our minds and the corresponding emotions we feel in our hearts. Basically, if we think and maintain positive thoughts, along with emotions such as love, joy, and gratitude, we will experience them in our lives.

I have studied this and lived it enough to know that it alone is totally true. As a Christian, I have found plenty of Bible verses to show that this is not just some modern-day thinkers trying to brainwash people into New Age philosophy. It is actual Biblical truth. It gets a bad name because many people use this law (which is as true a law as gravity, electricity, etc.) in a greedy fashion instead of using it for the greater good of humanity.

One key Bible verse that I’ve reflected on recently, is from Proverbs 4:23. The verse says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”. An even simpler version says, “More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.” I also love the Expanded Bible version which says, “Be careful what you think [^LAbove all that you guard, protect your heart], because ·your thoughts run your life [^Llife flows from it].

In my opinion, it can’t be any more clear that there is a direct correlation between the thoughts we think, what we feel in our heart and the quality of our lives. As a Christian, I understand that God’s will is supreme. I know that life is not always great, and there are reasons (often unknown) for that. Overall though, it is a simple fact, and if you don’t want to believe in the Law of Attraction information that the world supplies, go with the Biblical information that God Himself provides for us.

I will say it again, and I believe it more firmly every day. If you want a high quality, joyful life, then think high-quality thoughts. Follow the Biblical advice of thinking on whatever is good, honorable, and worthy of praise. To experience full joy, start from within. Be grateful for the big things and even the little ones. Then you will experience situations in your life that will be joyful for you and for those around you. When you create positive emotions, you will be given life situations that will also create those positive emotions.

I can write books on this topic (I actually have), and I hate to limit it to a short space here. However, as I further reflected on this verse, I found other articles that communicate the same message. I share them with you here…..

How to Guard Your Heart

What Does Guard Your Heart Mean in the Bible?

Remember what the verse says…protect your heart because your life flows from it. Be sure to think beautiful, joyful thoughts. Then the Bible says the same type of life will follow. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

 

How to Become a Millionaire Instantly

They say “Love is more precious than gold”
Can’t be bought and it can’t be sold
I got love enough to spare
That makes me a millionaire

Chris Stapleton

I heard this song the other day, as I have many other days. However, this was the first time where I truly listened to the lyrics and made the connection to the message of the song. It says that it’s not gold, silver, or dollars that really makes us millionaires. Instead, it’s an abundance of love and great relationships that really makes us rich.

We would all love to have more money in our lives. However, taking from the message of this song, let us not focus on how we can bring more currency into our lives. Let us focus instead on that abundant love of God that inhabits all people and things. Let us appreciate the good we have, and the good in others. That would make us true millionaires.

Now, I am writing a part 2 to this for anyone inquiring about the dollars and cents side of a million dollars. My mind reading skills are telling me some people are feeling like they’ve been ripped off by my title. So is it possible to be a millionaire instantly? I say yes, but please listen to my reasoning.

Just like the example above about being loving and thankful, I believe we can be millionaires without having a cent in our hands or in the bank. It’s a matter of simply playing the part. Think about this for a minute. If you actually had a million dollars in the bank, how would that make you feel? For me, I would feel free to do the things I want to do. I would feel more confident. I would feel far less stress. I would certainly be thankful and would have the desire to help as many people as I could.

The key is to focus on these feelings instead of your circumstances. For a moment at least, ignore the fact that you may not actually have a million dollars. Can you still be thankful for the things you have? Can you still have the freedom to do at least something that you want to do? Can you act more confidently and joyfully? I believe the answers to all of these questions is yes! And I believe further, that if you act as you would if you were truly a millionaire, then that puts you at the status of well…. a millionaire!!

When you do this, a funny thing happens….more money actually ends up at your disposal!! It may not actually add up to a million dollars, at least not yet. However, when you live as close as you can to the million dollar lifestyle, you’ll be amazed of how much this can start to be a reality.

I very much appreciate the excellent reminder I received yesterday. The true millionaire is not always the one with the big bucks in the bank. It is the one who fully demonstrates an attitude of love, joy, and simply being the best they can be, living life freely and abundantly. Isn’t that what you would hopefully be doing if you had the money in your pocket? I wish you the best, and hope you feel like a million dollars today 🙂

If You Are Struggling With God, Do This

Every once in a while, we struggle with what God is doing in our lives. Perhaps we believe He is not acting fast enough. Perhaps we believe He is angry with us. We may even believe He has abandoned us, wondering if He will ever come back for us.

I will start by saying that none of the above statements are true in God’s eyes. He acts on His own time, forgives every sin we ever commit, and absolutely never forsakes us. However, at some point we all feel those things are happening. If you’re there now, you can take comfort in knowing you’re not alone.

As I was doing my Bible reading today, I read about someone feeling the same way. It’s from the writer of Psalm 77. He had those same thoughts of God abandoning Him. What brought him back was the words in verses 11 and 12… But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

What an excellent key to overcoming struggles with God! Even if you are not doubting God and his presence, this is excellent advice to add and maintain joy in your life. Take time each day throughout the day to meditate on what God has done in your life. Focus on the excellence you have seen and what He has done for you and others. Give thanks that He is always with you whether you realize it or not, and that He is working in your life, even if it’s not exactly the way you would think.

I notice that whenever I am thankful for the things in my life, I receive more to be thankful for. I notice that when I seek God, He always seems to show me things that acknowledge His presence. He will do the same for you. When you are having doubts, remember and ponder on the great things God has done for you and for all the earth. It will make a world of difference in your day. Enjoy the blessings!

Maintaining a High Vibration…What’s the Big Deal?

If you are familiar with the Law of Attraction, or those that often promote the benefits of positive thinking, you have heard them discuss the concept of vibration. What is exactly is vibration? It is basically an indicator of the level of positivity we are projecting. The theory is that, since we are all made of energy, the more positive our thoughts and emotions are, the more we project high energy positive thoughts, and create more positive situations in our lives. In essence, when we are at a high vibration, we are full of positive energy that will attract high quality and fulfilling circumstances in our lives.

What type of positive situations can this high vibration attract? Anything you desire, really. As long is it lines up with the will of God, you can “ask anything in my name and it will be given to you”. I wrote in a previous article, Is Vibration Biblical? that when you maintain a high vibration, you are in essence following the will of God in 1 Thessalonians 5 where we are instructed to pray constantly, be joyful always, and pray at all times. When we are at our highest vibration, we are joyful, full of gratitude, and in regular communication with God.

There are other benefits as well. I recently read an article called 12 Manifestations of a High Vibration. This article provides further information about vibration, and the benefits are what many people seek in their own lives. I’m sure you can find one or several that will resonate with you.

Many inspirational speakers say that if you focus on keeping your personal vibration and energy level high, you automatically open yourself up to an avalanche of blessings. Think about it… it’s the people that are most joyful, appreciative, and in constant contact with their Creator that get the most out of life. I recommend you check out the above article to get specifics. So seek God first, appreciate what little or lot of good you have in your life, and focus on remaining in a joyful state as often as possible. You will then experience the benefits that your high vibration offers. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

3 Ways You Can Please God Today

 

I don’t know about you, but nothing pleases me more that when I know I’ve pleased my God. To be honest, He is always pleased with us, whether we know it or not. He is pleased with us even during our darkest moments. He loves us more than we’ll ever know.

Even though God will always love you abundantly and be pleased with His wonderful creation, there are actions you can take to get God’s attention and put an even bigger smile on His face. I take these from Psalm 9:

1. Praise Him with all your heart
2. Tell of the marvelous things He has done
3. Be filled with joy because of Him

In addition to bringing joy to God, taking these 3 actions regularly will add blessing to your life. I have learned often enough, that when I am thankful for the things I have in life, I am given more things to be thankful for. Likewise when I live with a joyful heart, I am provided more reasons to be joyful.

One of the reasons I share information on this blog is because I want to share the great things God has shown me and the wonderful things he has done for me. My hope is to inspire people facing similar situations and feelings that if God brought me through it, He can do the same for them. He can do the same for you.

Joy and gratitude are contagious. Not only are our lives blessed when we practice them, but other people around us are blessed as well. You can not only be a blessing to God, but to many others by simply practicing these three attitudes. So be thankful, joyful, and quick to share the many ways God has blessed you. It WILL make a difference. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

 

 

Jumpstart Your Success

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am beginning a series of articles on positive attitude attributes found in Jeffrey Gitomer’s book, “The Little Golden Book of Yes”. I am taking 22 yes attitude attributes from his self-reflection and report card section of the book. You can rate yourself on the level of your positive attitude you have by giving yourself a score of 1-5 for each. I have made it a point to get 5 for as many of them as possible each day.

The first attribute I will discuss is a logical one to jumpstart your success. It is quite simple, yet sometimes easier said than done. However, making this a key habit can make a major difference in your level of success each day. The simple attribute is to start EVERY day on a positive note. Begin the day immediately with thoughts of success and how you will excel. Here are some ways to accomplish this each day:

• Gratitude – Immediately reflect on the things you are thankful for in life. It can be anything from health and protection, your family, money (no matter how much or little you have), and basics like food, clothing, electricity, or whatever you place your mental focus on.
• Affirmations – Affirm positive words and phrases to yourself to set and maintain a positive frame of mind. I often do this in the shower first thing in the morning to help wake myself up and fill my mind with positive reminders.
• Visualize your day – I find it very helpful to determine what I need to do to be successful that day. Then, usually as I enjoy my breakfast and coffee, I visualize myself succeeding in those endeavors throughout the day.
• Determine how you can be a blessing – On many occasions, opportunities to bless others arrive spontaneously. However, when I think in advance of things I can do to be a blessing to others, it keeps me in that state of mind to look for ways I can give to others and take them to a higher level.
• Pray – I spend my 20 minute drive to work with no radio, music, or any type of distraction. The time is spent in prayer for a successful day for me and those close to me. This alone can be a powerful way to begin a successful day.

These are just some suggestions of how you can begin each day on a positive note. I understand that sometimes you know from the beginning that the day will be difficult to face. However, instead of dreading it and going into it with a negative attitude, prepare yourself right away for success, knowing that you can overcome any obstacle with the right frame of mind. Set yourself up for success by immediately filling your mind with positive thoughts at the start of each day. Once this becomes a regular habit, it will become as natural as anything else in your morning routine. Even better, it will add more success and joy to your life, and it contagiously translates to others as well. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

How Was 2014?

We have already arrived at the end of this “new” year (seems like it just started yesterday) 2014. I hope yours was a great one.

As I like to give me readers occasional glimpses inside my head, I will complete one of my annual “selfish” posts and share some of my own reflections of this past year. For me, 2014 was like the past five years. I was optimistic that this would be the breakthrough year where my greatest dreams would come true. Although it didn’t quite happen, it was a year of serious personal growth that has taken me steps closer to realizing my ultimate goals.

My greatest growth was a spiritual strengthening and renewal. My Christian walk has grown steadily for the past few years. However, I realized more than ever that the kingdom of heaven is within me, and that God’s spirit is not only near me, but an actual part of me. Reading books like Wayne Dyer’s “Wishes Fulfilled”, and St. Germain’s “I Am Discourses” really enlightened me to this truth and helped me begin to live it out. I also benefited greatly from learning more about the importance of living in the present moment instead of dwelling on past or worrying about the future. Eckhart Tolle’s book “The Power of the Present Moment” was a great help in getting me there. It’s a book I tried to read in the past but found it very difficult to understand. I guess the timing was right this time around and it truly resonated each time I read it. Regardless, I discovered that living in the present moment is truly one of our greatest powers.

In other areas of my life, there was some growth, while some areas didn’t grow as much as I would have liked. The greatest blessing was in the financial area as this was far and away my greatest financial year. We were able to put a significant dent in out debt and paid most of it off completely. I was provided a different part time job in addition to my teaching that paid twice what the previous one did.

The one area that still needs great improvement is my leadership at home. People tell me I am a good father, and I believe it. I still feel like I could be a much better husband and leader. I am home less due to the work schedule, which makes it a bit difficult. That will be major focus for next year. Speaking of jobs, I am less than happy with either of them. On the other hand, I am extremely happy to have them, and thankful for the income and impacts I can have on other people, especially adolescents. My ultimate goal is to work one job from home, and steps were taken this year to potentially make that happen.

Finally, I can also be thankful for the great health of myself and my family. We are very well protected, and none of us was sick for an extended period of time. Even among my crazy schedule, I did not miss any days because of extended sickness.

The bottom line, as I end another year, is I have SO much to be thankful for. I serve a God that has only my best in store, wants to bless me abundantly, and is a part of my very being. I take this with me as I head into 2015. I am setting some major goals, and look forward to the journey to reach them.

I thank you for staying with me for one person’s take on this past year. I invite you to share how 2014 was for you. I hope you have grown and can also eagerly look forward to 2015. Enjoy the blessings 🙂