'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. '- Ephesians 6:10 ( Holy Bible - KJV)
Praise Jesus Christ!
Greetings my beloved 'Finish What You Start!' family! It's great to continue our fellowship together. I pray you had a Blessed 'Thanksgiving', and I feel constrained to remind you that every day is a time of Thanksgiving and praise to God for all He has done and continues to do on our behalf. Remember, if He doesn't do another thing for us, His dying for our sins is more than sufficient for us to offer up the sacrifice of praise to Him on a continuous basis. After all, is this praise really a sacrifice, considering the great measure He went to in order to ensure our Salvation?
Well, as we get closer to the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it is imperative that we understand that Jesus came not only to deliver us from our sins, but to give us the Power and Strength necessary to live a life pleasing and beneficial to God and to ourselves. With this fact in mind the reality of this Resurrection Power of Christ gives us ample ammunition to overcome every adverse circumstance, by placing our trust not solely in our own abilities, but in the Word of God and in the ability of the Saving Power of His shed Blood on that brutal and rugged Cross.
With all that encompasses our daily walks with the Lord, it sometimes becomes difficult to garner enough strength to successfully navigate the sometimes rocky terrain we call life. Let's face it, life has its ups and downs. For the unbeliever, there is no adequate remedy for all the stress and adversities that come our way with the dawn of each new day. Thankfully, you and I are saved by the finished Work of our Master Jesus Christ on Calvary's Cross. If I may, let me just interject here for a moment.
If you are reading this and you do not have a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, today is the day of your Salvation! It is not difficult to put your trust in Christ! All you have to do is simply confess your sins, repent (meaning 'to turn away' from your old sinful lifestyle), and believe that God the Father, came to earth in the form of a man (His Son Jesus), and died on a cross to pay the penalty of our fore-parents Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden (as well as the penalty for our willful disobedience to God and His Righteous Laws ), and that God's Spirit (The Holy Ghost Spirit) raised up Jesus from the dead after three days and three nights! Simply, by faith believe that there exists no other manner, way, or Name given under heaven whereby we must (or can) be saved ( Acts 4:12 ).
Once you have, by faith, placed your trust in Christ, an entire new realm (The Kingdom of God also called the Kingdom of Heaven) becomes available to you, making you one of its beloved citizens, never again to be in bondage to the fear of death or any other fear for that matter ( Hebrews 2:15, 2 Timothy 1:7 ). With a right relationship with God, we now have the ability to tap into the Strength that only Jesus can provide for the attaining of every God-given goal, dream, or desire.
Without proper navigation of life's ups and downs we can become stagnant in the process of 'finishing what we start'. As Christians, our adversary Satan attempts to steal the joy necessary to be profitable citizens of the Kingdom of God. After all, the Bible declares that the Joy of The LORD is our Strength ( Nehemiah 8:10). Without joy, we have no strength. However, with the Joy of the LORD we have all the ability necessary for any undertaking. Now the question must be, 'how do we receive or attain this strength?'.
Well, the main source of our strength is found in God and His Word - The Holy Bible. The Bible is filled with a plethora of wonderful Promises in its Holy Pages. These promises, if believed upon, are more than ample to strengthen our faith and resolve. The world handles stress in their own way (i.e. - alcohol abuse, drug abuse, etc.). We as Christians handle the rough patches of life by simply depending on Jesus.
All of us undergo some form of turbulence in our lives. At times, the child of God suffers more adversities than the unbeliever, simply because we are no longer a part of the devil's army. Because we have been transferred from death unto life, Satan and his angel's will attempt to hinder us, making our testimonies in Christ of none effect. That is why we will not and cannot live a victorious life, pleasing unto God, unless we learn, believe, meditate on, practice, speak, and Trust His Word.
Trusting in the Word of God is essential to establishing a Christ-like character and demeanor. Without faith in the Word of God, we become vessels of dishonour (2 Timothy 2:20-21) unfit for the Master's Use. However, with an unwavering faith and commitment to God's Commands, Laws, and Instructions we, by The Grace of His Son Jesus, become ample vessels of Christ, displaying His Glory to all whom we come in contact with or connect. Now let's further discuss what trusting in God's Word entails, and how we are to go about garnering this faith-filled trust!
Well, I believe the easiest method of learning to trust and rely on God and His Word is to simply put it to the test. When I say 'put it to the test', I am in no way declaring that we are to tempt or try God as if He is unworthy of our total trust! What I am saying is that if Christ tells us to do something, we are to do it without any doubtful questions or assumptions.
One example of putting Jesus to the test would be believing God's Word which declares that He is Faithful and Just to forgive us our sins, if we confess them unto Him (1 John 1:9), thus turning from darkness unto His Marvelous Light Which is Jesus Christ. Many of us say we believe the fact that we are forgiven, only to let Satan penetrate our thoughts with condemnation. Once we have confessed to God our iniquities and turned from them, they ARE forgiven. This is taking God at His Word no matter what we think or how we feel. If we believe we are forgiven, we will, by His Grace, walk in newness of life, beholding the Strength and Power bestowed upon us by our Savior, simply because of His Love and our faith. Knowing that we are forgiven of our sinful past is an act of faith that shows God that we wholeheartedly believe and trust in Him and His Word! We ourselves, as well as various onlookers, will not be able to deny the proven fact that we have been changed into a new creature by faith in the Glorious Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 ). But remember, we must first believe God before we patiently witness His Promises come to pass in our lives ( Hebrews 10:36).
Jesus, as The LORD, even declares in the Old Testament book of Malachi, that we can Prove Him in being sufficient to take care of all our desires by simply trusting Him in our giving of our Tithes and Offerings ( Malachi 3:10-12 ). When we wholeheartedly believe in Jesus and His Word, without doubt or dissimulation, we WILL see all His Promises come to pass in our lives. Remember, God is Trustworthy! If He says it in His Word, He CANNOT lie! When God says that He Swears by Himself ( Isaiah 45:23 ), that literally means that He is obligated to back up His Word. However, He is not obligated to the one who continues to willfully sin and disobey Him, living a faithless lifestyle, expecting to reap all the benefits a faithful follower of Christ can expect in his or her life. Remember God is about Covenant. Jesus established His Covenant of the New Testament in the shedding of His own Blood ( St Matthew 26:27-28 ). He has done His part. Our part is to believe on Him and His Sacrifice, confess His Name, and believe through the Faith that He has given unto us that God (as the Father), has raised Him (Jesus - as God the Son) by His Holy Ghost Spirit from the grave ( Romans 10:9 ). This is the faith that moves mountains ( St. Mark 11:22-24 ). For if we believe ( and know of a surety) that Jesus died, and rose from the grave for our redemption, sanctification, and justification, we have all the faith necessary to live a courageous and bold life that honors our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Today's Scripture admonishes us to be strong in the LORD. Realistically, that is the only way we can be strong. There is no other way for us as Christians to 'fight the good fight of faith' ( 1 Timothy 6:12), and succeed at any battle unless the Lord Jesus is our Stay. The world continues to advertise the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life ( 1 John 2:16 ). This is evident in much of the media programming we face on a consistent basis today. These destructive inundations are strategically geared by our adversary the devil, to continue to contaminate all that is Godly in our society with satanic ideals and ideologies that attempt to hinder the work of Salvation Jesus wants to accomplish in this life. However, God's plan of redemption CANNOT be thwarted. God will give us the strength necessary to preach and proclaim His Gospel to a lost and desperate world. We as Christians need to find the strength of God to take back the media, and all forms of entertainment, for the Kingdom and Glory of God and His Christ!
When we are truly strong in The LORD, we have all we need to overcome anything or anyone that will attempt to hinder our walks with Christ! In sickness, we find God's Strength to be made whole. In good health, we find God's strength to go into all the world to evangelize the lost ( St. Mark 16:15 ). In confusion, we find God's Strength to bring clarity to all stressful situations. His Strength is more than sufficient to grant unto us the Power necessary to accomplish all He has placed before us. Remember, it takes the Strength of Christ Almighty to truly 'Finish what we have Started'! When we read, meditate, and study God's Word daily, we will be established in His Faith, by the measure of Faith granted unto us by His Son Jesus Christ ( Romans 12:3 )!
You are much stronger than you ever thought you were! You have all that it takes to be an effective agent in the Kingdom of our LORD! Trust that God has already given you all you need to succeed! You HAVE the 'Mind of Christ', the 'Love of Christ', and the 'Strength of Christ'! Never let the devil make you feel weak! For in Christ, even when you are weak, you are strong ( 2 Corinthians 12:10 )! Abide in Jesus and His Strength, and His Spirit, Blessing, and Strength will continue to abide in you! ( Read St. John - Chapter 15) Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With the Finger of God
Next Week: Love Matters
Friday, December 9, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Need of Patience
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. - Hebrews 10:36
Praise Jesus Christ!
Along the journey to our destination of accomplishing our goals, various roadblocks and detours may manifest themselves. Our desires may seem to take longer than we previously envisioned. These times of despair or setbacks have a tendency to lead us to discouragement. However, during these times, what we must remember is that these obstructions are temporary. They are sent to 'test our metal' or placed in Biblical terms 'try our faith'.
Yes, our faith must be tried. God wants us to come forth and shine as pure gold. He wants us to not only reach our destination safely, but also to remember the manner in which He bought us through every obstacle or adversarial force. He wants us to remember His faithfulness, allowing us to encourage others in their quest to pursue and accomplish all their God-given goals, desires, and dreams.
The above Bible Scripture exclaims that we have 'need of patience'. Think about what God is saying here. We normally perceive a 'need' as shelter, food, or clothing. All these things in fact are needs that we may have, but God also declares that having 'patience' is also a need. He says that after we have done the will of God, we will inherit the promise if we have patience. Essentially we need patience, because without it, we will not become all that God has envisioned us to be.
Accumulating patience is not always an easy task. If it was something that could be garnered without much effort, all of us would exude patience. We simply have to learn patience. Once this virtue is attained, nothing will be able to keep us from our destinies in Christ Jesus. With patience, we become the loving vessels that God can utilize to accomplish His Will in His earth realm. Without patience, many sins are accomplished, and we become unfruitful and unproductive in our daily walks as Christians. Simply put, patience is the key ingredient in the recipe of becoming the charitable Christian that seasons the earth with the Word of God, and lights the world with the Testimony of Jesus Christ!
Now with this being said, the pertinent question becomes 'How do we receive the patience necessary to glorify our Savior?' Well, the first thing we must do is read, study, meditate, and rely on the Bible - The Word of God. We must learn the ways of our LORD and seek out His methods of doing things. It is not enough to just say, "I need patience". We must study God's Word diligently to understand all that having the patience that pleases God entails.
For example, Jesus tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Loving our enemies definitely takes patience. The only way to realize this 'patience' is to rely on the Holy Ghost to Help us. Jesus says the Holy Ghost will remind us of all that He has taught us (John 14:26). When we read the Holy Bible, we are literally instructed by Jesus Christ Himself. For Jesus is the WORD OF GOD! When we see that to obey the Lord's Commandments takes faith and patience, we will continually seek Him by reading and studying His Word on a daily basis.
Another way of obtaining patience is briefly mentioned in an above paragraph. We simply must have our faith in Christ 'tried' or tested. God is in the business of perfecting us. This perfection involves cleansing away all the impurities of our sinful past, ultimately conforming us into the image of Christ. Although the Bible states that we are made in the image of God, because of our sin in the Garden of Eden, we lost our identity. Only Jesus Christ, by His shed blood and resurrection power, can revive us, creating in us a new heart and renewing our minds to right fellowship with the Father through faith in Him. In a sense, our faith is proven (made sufficient and pleasing to Christ) when we go through difficulties and do not lose our 'patience' with God and with the trials He allows to come our way.
Let's face it, we have a demonic enemy to all that we hold dear. This enemy is the fallen Angel Satan. He does all he can to steal our faith from us. He knows that with the faith and patience of Christ, we can overcome and do miraculous exploits in God's earth, proclaiming the Glory of God our Savior. He knows that He is fallen, and he delights in having us fall to tarnish, not necessarily our image, but God's image as well. He delights in seeing Christians lose their cool in a tumultuous situation. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy not only us, but also our testimonies. But remember my friend, the devil is already defeated. Whatever was given to him in Adam's fall, was snatched from his grasp with the glorious Sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and granted over unto God's children triumphantly at Christ's Resurrection. As Christ stated before He gave up the Ghost on His cross, 'It Is Finished'. In simpler terms, Christ paid for our redemption by His Own Blood, and we are no longer in bondage to the devil and his wiles. By the faith and patience of Christ, we are more than conquerors, well able to walk a gait pleasing to God, exuding the necessary 'patience' that our loving God supplies.
One final thing to remember is that with the patience of Christ, we can accomplish and overcome any adversity. Years ago when I managed a secular Hip Hop group, I needed to retrieve a copy of the group's music CD in order that they have it for an upcoming show. I traveled to the recording studio early one morning in hopes that I would meet the engineer, and receive a copy of the CD from him. Unfortunately, on this particular occasion, he didn't come in to work until late that evening. I may have sat there for 10 or more hours. When the engineer arrived, one of the other employees said to me 'You're one of the most patient people I have ever met'. I simply said, 'I had to get the music or there would be no show'. In other words, I 'had' to be patient. I had no other choice. It was either wait and receive the promise of the CD and a successful show, or leave early and destroy the hopes of having a successful endeavor.
Remember, God is going to perfect our faith. He says we have need of patience. He is going to do everything in His Power to ensure our realization of this patience. Knowing this, as I learned, makes it easier to go through a particular trial. If we have to wait for God's timing, let us wait joyfully. For it would be unprofitable for us to stomp our feet as spoiled children. When we wait patiently, it displays our maturity and level of spiritual growth. God WILL see us triumphantly to our destination. All we have to do is seek Him and delight ourselves in Him! He is sure to grant us the desires of our hearts. Every desire of our hearts begins with faith and is realized through patience. God is patient with us! Let's reciprocate that patience by joyfully enduring every hardship and trial that is presented unto us. Amen? Amen!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Next Week: Finding Strength in The Word of God
Praise Jesus Christ!
Along the journey to our destination of accomplishing our goals, various roadblocks and detours may manifest themselves. Our desires may seem to take longer than we previously envisioned. These times of despair or setbacks have a tendency to lead us to discouragement. However, during these times, what we must remember is that these obstructions are temporary. They are sent to 'test our metal' or placed in Biblical terms 'try our faith'.
Yes, our faith must be tried. God wants us to come forth and shine as pure gold. He wants us to not only reach our destination safely, but also to remember the manner in which He bought us through every obstacle or adversarial force. He wants us to remember His faithfulness, allowing us to encourage others in their quest to pursue and accomplish all their God-given goals, desires, and dreams.
The above Bible Scripture exclaims that we have 'need of patience'. Think about what God is saying here. We normally perceive a 'need' as shelter, food, or clothing. All these things in fact are needs that we may have, but God also declares that having 'patience' is also a need. He says that after we have done the will of God, we will inherit the promise if we have patience. Essentially we need patience, because without it, we will not become all that God has envisioned us to be.
Accumulating patience is not always an easy task. If it was something that could be garnered without much effort, all of us would exude patience. We simply have to learn patience. Once this virtue is attained, nothing will be able to keep us from our destinies in Christ Jesus. With patience, we become the loving vessels that God can utilize to accomplish His Will in His earth realm. Without patience, many sins are accomplished, and we become unfruitful and unproductive in our daily walks as Christians. Simply put, patience is the key ingredient in the recipe of becoming the charitable Christian that seasons the earth with the Word of God, and lights the world with the Testimony of Jesus Christ!
Now with this being said, the pertinent question becomes 'How do we receive the patience necessary to glorify our Savior?' Well, the first thing we must do is read, study, meditate, and rely on the Bible - The Word of God. We must learn the ways of our LORD and seek out His methods of doing things. It is not enough to just say, "I need patience". We must study God's Word diligently to understand all that having the patience that pleases God entails.
For example, Jesus tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Loving our enemies definitely takes patience. The only way to realize this 'patience' is to rely on the Holy Ghost to Help us. Jesus says the Holy Ghost will remind us of all that He has taught us (John 14:26). When we read the Holy Bible, we are literally instructed by Jesus Christ Himself. For Jesus is the WORD OF GOD! When we see that to obey the Lord's Commandments takes faith and patience, we will continually seek Him by reading and studying His Word on a daily basis.
Another way of obtaining patience is briefly mentioned in an above paragraph. We simply must have our faith in Christ 'tried' or tested. God is in the business of perfecting us. This perfection involves cleansing away all the impurities of our sinful past, ultimately conforming us into the image of Christ. Although the Bible states that we are made in the image of God, because of our sin in the Garden of Eden, we lost our identity. Only Jesus Christ, by His shed blood and resurrection power, can revive us, creating in us a new heart and renewing our minds to right fellowship with the Father through faith in Him. In a sense, our faith is proven (made sufficient and pleasing to Christ) when we go through difficulties and do not lose our 'patience' with God and with the trials He allows to come our way.
Let's face it, we have a demonic enemy to all that we hold dear. This enemy is the fallen Angel Satan. He does all he can to steal our faith from us. He knows that with the faith and patience of Christ, we can overcome and do miraculous exploits in God's earth, proclaiming the Glory of God our Savior. He knows that He is fallen, and he delights in having us fall to tarnish, not necessarily our image, but God's image as well. He delights in seeing Christians lose their cool in a tumultuous situation. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy not only us, but also our testimonies. But remember my friend, the devil is already defeated. Whatever was given to him in Adam's fall, was snatched from his grasp with the glorious Sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and granted over unto God's children triumphantly at Christ's Resurrection. As Christ stated before He gave up the Ghost on His cross, 'It Is Finished'. In simpler terms, Christ paid for our redemption by His Own Blood, and we are no longer in bondage to the devil and his wiles. By the faith and patience of Christ, we are more than conquerors, well able to walk a gait pleasing to God, exuding the necessary 'patience' that our loving God supplies.
One final thing to remember is that with the patience of Christ, we can accomplish and overcome any adversity. Years ago when I managed a secular Hip Hop group, I needed to retrieve a copy of the group's music CD in order that they have it for an upcoming show. I traveled to the recording studio early one morning in hopes that I would meet the engineer, and receive a copy of the CD from him. Unfortunately, on this particular occasion, he didn't come in to work until late that evening. I may have sat there for 10 or more hours. When the engineer arrived, one of the other employees said to me 'You're one of the most patient people I have ever met'. I simply said, 'I had to get the music or there would be no show'. In other words, I 'had' to be patient. I had no other choice. It was either wait and receive the promise of the CD and a successful show, or leave early and destroy the hopes of having a successful endeavor.
Remember, God is going to perfect our faith. He says we have need of patience. He is going to do everything in His Power to ensure our realization of this patience. Knowing this, as I learned, makes it easier to go through a particular trial. If we have to wait for God's timing, let us wait joyfully. For it would be unprofitable for us to stomp our feet as spoiled children. When we wait patiently, it displays our maturity and level of spiritual growth. God WILL see us triumphantly to our destination. All we have to do is seek Him and delight ourselves in Him! He is sure to grant us the desires of our hearts. Every desire of our hearts begins with faith and is realized through patience. God is patient with us! Let's reciprocate that patience by joyfully enduring every hardship and trial that is presented unto us. Amen? Amen!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Next Week: Finding Strength in The Word of God
Sunday, November 6, 2011
You're Almost There
Praise Jesus Christ!
So often during our journey to finishing what we start, we begin to lose sight and focus of the attainment of our dreams. The road to fulfillment can seem tedious and wearisome, especially in the realization of accomplishing a huge goal. However, there is always light at the end of the tunnel with Christ Jesus!
You have come a long way since you began putting your faith in Christ to accomplish your desires! You may not have attained to the perfection of the completion of your goals, but you are not where you were when you started.
Yes, the road to success can be a difficult one to tread. But the rewards and benefits available at the end of the tunnel far outweigh any adversity encountered along the way. It is imperative that we come to the realization that when things seem to be the most difficult, our destination is closer than when we first believed.
The key is to not give up no matter how long it takes in the attainment of a dream. Your faith in God will see you through. Batten down the hatches, and dig your heels in deep and as our Savior Jesus says, 'strive for perfection'. God is right with you, giving you the power and ability necessary to fulfill your desire, goal, or dream.
When you began the journey of 'Finishing what you started' by planning your life and setting goals, your zeal flourished! Your excitement and anticipation of becoming a vessel fit for the Master's use soared to a high plateau. During your travels toward achieving your goals, some days were easier than others. Some days you accomplished what you set out to achieve, other days you did the proverbial dragging of your feet through the mud. But let's face it, you've accomplished more in a few months than you have in a few years. You know that God is with you in all your endeavors! You know that God is pleased with you and you are accepting of your position in His Kingdom at this time, while all the while striving to become all that Jesus has envisioned for you and your family.
So take heart if you're not achieving all your dreams at the pace in which you expected. Remember, God is still - and always will be - in control. He has not forgotten about you, your dreams, or desires. He is the one Who placed them inside of you! You will reach your destination! Remember, the Word of God states that you will reap the fruit of what you have sown if you faint not.
In closing, I want to remind you of a story I read about a lady that attempted to swim 26 miles to a desired haven. Although in impeccable shape, naturally she became weary towards the end of her race. During this particular endeavor the fog enveloped the canvas of her vision making it increasingly difficult to see her position in regards to the distance from her destination. Because of weariness, the daunting task of navigating the ominous fog that hindered her vision, and simply a feeling of it being too difficult to continue (notice I said 'a feeling'), she decided to summon the boats alongside her to scoop her from the waters, believing that this goal was not to be attained on that particular day.
However, once she gathered herself while resting on the boat, the fog began to dissipate. What she saw next was hard for her to believe. She realized that if she had kept going, her destination was only a mile away. Because she lost her vision, feeling she could no longer endure, she didn't achieve a task, though monumental, was well in her peripheral of attaining.
So what am I saying here? Essentially I'm saying that although doubt, fear, anxiety, or another form of adversity may attempt to hinder your attainment of your desires, keep pressing ahead! Don't let what you see or are unable to perceive keep you from what God has placed within your heart! You may feel as if you're not making satisfactory progress toward your desire. But don't lose heart! You're closer than you think! Trust that God will add to your attempts for success more than 100-fold! I like to ask God to add to my efforts a JESUS-FOLD Blessing! YOU ARE ALMOST THERE! If you give up now, what have you accomplished? Giving up after all you've put in means that not only have you wasted your time, but the giving-up in itself would be a waste of time! God is able to do any and everything but Fail! Trust Him! He Will see you through!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger Of God
Next Week: Patience Is The Key
So often during our journey to finishing what we start, we begin to lose sight and focus of the attainment of our dreams. The road to fulfillment can seem tedious and wearisome, especially in the realization of accomplishing a huge goal. However, there is always light at the end of the tunnel with Christ Jesus!
You have come a long way since you began putting your faith in Christ to accomplish your desires! You may not have attained to the perfection of the completion of your goals, but you are not where you were when you started.
Yes, the road to success can be a difficult one to tread. But the rewards and benefits available at the end of the tunnel far outweigh any adversity encountered along the way. It is imperative that we come to the realization that when things seem to be the most difficult, our destination is closer than when we first believed.
The key is to not give up no matter how long it takes in the attainment of a dream. Your faith in God will see you through. Batten down the hatches, and dig your heels in deep and as our Savior Jesus says, 'strive for perfection'. God is right with you, giving you the power and ability necessary to fulfill your desire, goal, or dream.
When you began the journey of 'Finishing what you started' by planning your life and setting goals, your zeal flourished! Your excitement and anticipation of becoming a vessel fit for the Master's use soared to a high plateau. During your travels toward achieving your goals, some days were easier than others. Some days you accomplished what you set out to achieve, other days you did the proverbial dragging of your feet through the mud. But let's face it, you've accomplished more in a few months than you have in a few years. You know that God is with you in all your endeavors! You know that God is pleased with you and you are accepting of your position in His Kingdom at this time, while all the while striving to become all that Jesus has envisioned for you and your family.
So take heart if you're not achieving all your dreams at the pace in which you expected. Remember, God is still - and always will be - in control. He has not forgotten about you, your dreams, or desires. He is the one Who placed them inside of you! You will reach your destination! Remember, the Word of God states that you will reap the fruit of what you have sown if you faint not.
In closing, I want to remind you of a story I read about a lady that attempted to swim 26 miles to a desired haven. Although in impeccable shape, naturally she became weary towards the end of her race. During this particular endeavor the fog enveloped the canvas of her vision making it increasingly difficult to see her position in regards to the distance from her destination. Because of weariness, the daunting task of navigating the ominous fog that hindered her vision, and simply a feeling of it being too difficult to continue (notice I said 'a feeling'), she decided to summon the boats alongside her to scoop her from the waters, believing that this goal was not to be attained on that particular day.
However, once she gathered herself while resting on the boat, the fog began to dissipate. What she saw next was hard for her to believe. She realized that if she had kept going, her destination was only a mile away. Because she lost her vision, feeling she could no longer endure, she didn't achieve a task, though monumental, was well in her peripheral of attaining.
So what am I saying here? Essentially I'm saying that although doubt, fear, anxiety, or another form of adversity may attempt to hinder your attainment of your desires, keep pressing ahead! Don't let what you see or are unable to perceive keep you from what God has placed within your heart! You may feel as if you're not making satisfactory progress toward your desire. But don't lose heart! You're closer than you think! Trust that God will add to your attempts for success more than 100-fold! I like to ask God to add to my efforts a JESUS-FOLD Blessing! YOU ARE ALMOST THERE! If you give up now, what have you accomplished? Giving up after all you've put in means that not only have you wasted your time, but the giving-up in itself would be a waste of time! God is able to do any and everything but Fail! Trust Him! He Will see you through!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger Of God
Next Week: Patience Is The Key
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Remember God
Praise Jesus Christ!
Greetings my 'Finish What You Start' family! How have you been since we last spoke? Well, I've been doing GREAT by the Abundant Mercy and Grace of Jesus and I trust you are doing the same! Today I'd like to discuss the topic of the importance of remembering our God.
Life can be a hectic environment for many of us. With the information age and all the tablet technology available to us today, we have seemingly unlimited methods and means of communication. Of course we are to thank God for all the inventions and technology HE has given us to make life easier and more enjoyable, but there is also a danger of getting so caught up in our every day mundane tasks, that we forget or deny the very God that brought us to this prosperous destination.
Remembering God is not a difficult endeavor. Simply put, we normally remember what or who is important to us. When we think about our loved ones, most of the time beautiful memories envelop our consciousness' enabling our countenance to become one of extreme joy! An example would be as follows: When I see my beautiful wife Angela smile, just knowing that see is experiencing a form of joy at a particular moment makes my eyes light up, and I thank God for her happiness and well-being. I'm sure when you think about your children becoming all and more than you envisioned them to be by the Grace of God, it puts a smile on your face. God has given us all these things and more, and He desires that we remember Him, as well as His Goodness. After all, by us realizing the gifts and blessings He has bestowed upon us, isn't He actually remembering us?
The main way we remember God begins with reading, studying, meditating, and remembering His Word, The Holy Bible. When we read His Holy Text, we see not only the promises our Heavenly Father has made to us, but we also perceive His character and intentions for all His wonderful creation. We see the heart of a loving Creator whose innate desire is to see His children blessed. The greatest Blessing He has given unto us is the sacrifice and shed blood of His Son Jesus. If Satan clogs our minds up with the potential stress and worry of this life, certainly we have the capability of at least remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The Bible even states that we are to partake in Holy Communion as a remembrance of what Jesus has done for us on the cross ( Luke 22:19 KJV). This let's us know that God desires mankind to remember Him in all things.
Remembering God is also a source of power for the believer. When we are enduring a trial or test involving matters of faith (i.e. - an illness, loss of a job, loss of a loved one), the main way we overcome and continue our walk of faith is to remember what our God has done for us in the past. All of us can remember at least one thing God has done for us in previous times. As the psalmist David proclaims, 'they are more than man can count'. After all, God woke you up this morning. Thank Him for that! God gave you eyes to read this. Thank Him for that! God gave you a computer to log onto this blog. Thank Him for that! God gave you food, shelter, and clothing. Thank Him for that! I am sure you, as I, can go on and on, proclaiming the wonderful things Jesus has done for us. If we stay meditating and remembering what He has already done for us, we will live each day victoriously proclaiming to others the Goodness of our LORD, thus pleasing the Soul of our Creator, and being a testimony to unbelievers of what the only True and Living God can, will, and wants to do for those who seek Him for and in all things, and are obedient to His commands.
Remembering God is not only a commandment, it is also an obligation or duty. No matter what we are going through at this present time, it can be worse. I woke up today walking with a walker. But I'm rejoicing for the fact that I know God has already healed me, and I will walk one day better than I've ever walked! I also rejoice because, someone who most likely would love to get around with a walker, is relegated to a wheelchair for his or her daily living. Now if you are the person relegated to a wheelchair right now, please don't despair! No matter what your spinal cord, brain, or body is doing at this moment, with Christ, things are destined to change. The medical doctor doesn't have the final say. If you have the faith to believe Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then you have the faith necessary to realize your total healing. The manifestation of your total well-being begins with the remembrance of God! Remember how Jesus healed the blind, mute, and deaf. Remember how Jesus healed the lame, the hunched, and the withered. Remember how Jesus brought the dead (and seemingly dead situations) back to life. This is remembering what God can do. His Word states that 'By his stripes we are healed', and it states in a future chapter that by His stripes we were healed ( 2 Peter 2:24 ). Remember God is the Healer! If He accomplished something 2000 or 4 years ago, He certainly has the same abundant Power to do it today!
Be encouraged my friend, and remember God in everything! When you make it through a trying day, say Thank you Jesus! When you receive that much needed job promotion, say Thank you Jesus! When you leave a comment saying how God utilized this article to edify and encourage you in your walk with Him, believe me, I will shout 'Thank You Jesus'! It's all a matter of perspective. You can remember God, or remember your pain! I choose to remember the God who relieved me from a life of pain and struggle, and enabled me to see His Goodness in the land of the living, and in the world to come. You remember this, with God all things are possible, and most importantly, thank Jesus for remembering you! IT IS FINISHED!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Next: You're almost there
Greetings my 'Finish What You Start' family! How have you been since we last spoke? Well, I've been doing GREAT by the Abundant Mercy and Grace of Jesus and I trust you are doing the same! Today I'd like to discuss the topic of the importance of remembering our God.
Life can be a hectic environment for many of us. With the information age and all the tablet technology available to us today, we have seemingly unlimited methods and means of communication. Of course we are to thank God for all the inventions and technology HE has given us to make life easier and more enjoyable, but there is also a danger of getting so caught up in our every day mundane tasks, that we forget or deny the very God that brought us to this prosperous destination.
Remembering God is not a difficult endeavor. Simply put, we normally remember what or who is important to us. When we think about our loved ones, most of the time beautiful memories envelop our consciousness' enabling our countenance to become one of extreme joy! An example would be as follows: When I see my beautiful wife Angela smile, just knowing that see is experiencing a form of joy at a particular moment makes my eyes light up, and I thank God for her happiness and well-being. I'm sure when you think about your children becoming all and more than you envisioned them to be by the Grace of God, it puts a smile on your face. God has given us all these things and more, and He desires that we remember Him, as well as His Goodness. After all, by us realizing the gifts and blessings He has bestowed upon us, isn't He actually remembering us?
The main way we remember God begins with reading, studying, meditating, and remembering His Word, The Holy Bible. When we read His Holy Text, we see not only the promises our Heavenly Father has made to us, but we also perceive His character and intentions for all His wonderful creation. We see the heart of a loving Creator whose innate desire is to see His children blessed. The greatest Blessing He has given unto us is the sacrifice and shed blood of His Son Jesus. If Satan clogs our minds up with the potential stress and worry of this life, certainly we have the capability of at least remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The Bible even states that we are to partake in Holy Communion as a remembrance of what Jesus has done for us on the cross ( Luke 22:19 KJV). This let's us know that God desires mankind to remember Him in all things.
Remembering God is also a source of power for the believer. When we are enduring a trial or test involving matters of faith (i.e. - an illness, loss of a job, loss of a loved one), the main way we overcome and continue our walk of faith is to remember what our God has done for us in the past. All of us can remember at least one thing God has done for us in previous times. As the psalmist David proclaims, 'they are more than man can count'. After all, God woke you up this morning. Thank Him for that! God gave you eyes to read this. Thank Him for that! God gave you a computer to log onto this blog. Thank Him for that! God gave you food, shelter, and clothing. Thank Him for that! I am sure you, as I, can go on and on, proclaiming the wonderful things Jesus has done for us. If we stay meditating and remembering what He has already done for us, we will live each day victoriously proclaiming to others the Goodness of our LORD, thus pleasing the Soul of our Creator, and being a testimony to unbelievers of what the only True and Living God can, will, and wants to do for those who seek Him for and in all things, and are obedient to His commands.
Remembering God is not only a commandment, it is also an obligation or duty. No matter what we are going through at this present time, it can be worse. I woke up today walking with a walker. But I'm rejoicing for the fact that I know God has already healed me, and I will walk one day better than I've ever walked! I also rejoice because, someone who most likely would love to get around with a walker, is relegated to a wheelchair for his or her daily living. Now if you are the person relegated to a wheelchair right now, please don't despair! No matter what your spinal cord, brain, or body is doing at this moment, with Christ, things are destined to change. The medical doctor doesn't have the final say. If you have the faith to believe Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then you have the faith necessary to realize your total healing. The manifestation of your total well-being begins with the remembrance of God! Remember how Jesus healed the blind, mute, and deaf. Remember how Jesus healed the lame, the hunched, and the withered. Remember how Jesus brought the dead (and seemingly dead situations) back to life. This is remembering what God can do. His Word states that 'By his stripes we are healed', and it states in a future chapter that by His stripes we were healed ( 2 Peter 2:24 ). Remember God is the Healer! If He accomplished something 2000 or 4 years ago, He certainly has the same abundant Power to do it today!
Be encouraged my friend, and remember God in everything! When you make it through a trying day, say Thank you Jesus! When you receive that much needed job promotion, say Thank you Jesus! When you leave a comment saying how God utilized this article to edify and encourage you in your walk with Him, believe me, I will shout 'Thank You Jesus'! It's all a matter of perspective. You can remember God, or remember your pain! I choose to remember the God who relieved me from a life of pain and struggle, and enabled me to see His Goodness in the land of the living, and in the world to come. You remember this, with God all things are possible, and most importantly, thank Jesus for remembering you! IT IS FINISHED!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Next: You're almost there
Friday, September 9, 2011
Do what you know is right
Praise Jesus Christ!
I stopped smoking today!
Greetings, my beloved Christian family. Today God Blessed me to take a major step in my quest to 'Finish what I start'! This step will enable me to not only become more healthier physically, but Spiritually as well. After years of trying, I made a firm, conscience decision to quit smoking cigars today! We must all do what we know is right and pleasing to God, and I know and believe that Jesus has been tugging at my heart for quite some time to put the lighter and tobacco down, and to focus entirely on Him for all I need Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I've tried and failed in the past, but I know that this is 'my time'! This is a new day, and with God's Help, I can definitely do ALL things through Christ Which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13)! I ask that you would continue to keep me in your prayers!
Now what does it mean to do what we know is right? Basically, this statement means that no matter what your friends, family members, associates, people in the world, or even other Christians say about what is right and pleasing to God, or what is wrong and grievous to the Spirit of God, we have to do what we believe God is telling us. For example, it is not a sin to drink wine as some would have us believe. The Bible clearly states that wine cheers the heart of God and man. The Bible declares it is a sin to be drunken with wine, and commands us to do all things in moderation. However, if during your Christian walk, you know that consumption of alcoholic beverages has led you to a sinful mindset in the past, and you understand that it is prudent for your walk with Christ to stray from the fruit of the vine, then by all means abstain from the consumption of wine. But if you are celebrating the goodness of God, for example, Who has enabled you and your spouse to make it to another anniversary and you two spend a night alone with wine and a candlelight dinner, there is no sin in doing this. After all, the Bible declares that He giveth us all things richly to enjoy! That is why it is imperative that we stay in the Word, and read the Bible for ourselves, even as the Bereans in the Book of Acts read the Scriptures after hearing the Declarations of the Apostle Paul, to find out if the things which he spoke were true. A lot of times, we live under condemnation for things that Satan makes us think are illegal in the courtroom of Salvation, rather than enjoying the benefits of wisely utilizing all God has bestowed upon us in His wonderful creation.
Now, doing what we know is right doesn't always necessitate doing Spiritual things, but most of the time they will involve Spiritual things. An example of this is not doing what we know we should do in regards to our health. We as Christians know and realize that there is no wisdom against God. In other words, doctor's don't always know what they are talking about in regards to natural things, including our physical capacities. However, I believe God has placed doctor's on this earth to help us, and has given them Wisdom and Knowledge to enable us to live long, prosperous lives doing what we know is right by adhering to what they admonish unto us. However, even though they may not have the final say over our physical, mental, and emotional well beings, I believe they have some say. For example, if God has given them the Knowledge to understand the importance of eating healthily, then we should by all means do our best to eat healthy, well-balanced meals. This is what I mean by saying they have some say, for even God commands us to do all things in moderation. But doctor's don't have the final say when they declare a patient suffering from a form of cancer has a certain amount of time to live. Only God knows and decides when we leave this earth, and this is evidenced by countless testimonies that prove God is STILL the Healer, and that there is nothing too hard for Him to accomplish. Doctor's are going by what they have learned in school, technology, and statistics. If they are not followers of Jesus, they are normally followers of science. That is one reason I encourage and applaud Christians like my mother who delve into the medical field. They know what the world says about science, but they also possess the upper hand in knowing what Jehovah God says about wholeness, wellness, healing, and all health matters in general.
As stated at the beginning of the above paragraph, it is also imperative that we realize that doing what is right concerning our health can also involve Spiritual matters. After all, God says our bodies are His temple. The main reason I quit smoking today is because of this Bible verse. Science says that smoking can cause a number of health issues. God has not let that fact be proven wrong. If it was proven that smoking was beneficial to the health of the body, and no harm ensued upon the health of those engaging in this habit, certainly we would see it as a blessing from God. But we know from countless medical reports the danger smoking can produce to not only the smoker, but the non-smoker as well through the relentlessness of second hand smoke. By denying ourselves what may feel good at the time, but is inherently wrong and sinful, and running our race with the patience Christ has given us, we have obtained the basic formula for doing what we know is right and pleasing to our Father in Heaven.
So remember, when people come against you, and your flesh is crying out, wanting you to fight back verbally, or physically, let it know that the battle is not yours. In reality, you are fighting back when you allow God to fight your battles for you. Believe me, He can do a much better job than you'd ever be able to accomplish. Realize we are in a Spiritual war. Our weapons are not carnal (fleshly or earthly - Ephesians Chapter 6). Sometimes the greatest tactic when someone is enticing you to sink to their level of depravity is to simply walk away. Oh, how I wish many of our young children, especially African-Americans knew this tactic of God-Given prudence. Countless lives could have been saved from the onslaught of gang violence. It is better to love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, just as Jesus said (Matthew 5:44), than to attempt to fight a Spiritual battle with a physical weapon. Realize that every step you take of doing what you know to be right, God is well pleased. After all, isn't that what we really want, to hear Him say 'well done my good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of the LORD'? Well, as long as we strive to do what is right in God's eyes, we will enter into His joy in this life, and definitely in the world to come! Amen? Amen!
(c) 2011 Writings with the Finger God
Next: Remember God
I stopped smoking today!
Greetings, my beloved Christian family. Today God Blessed me to take a major step in my quest to 'Finish what I start'! This step will enable me to not only become more healthier physically, but Spiritually as well. After years of trying, I made a firm, conscience decision to quit smoking cigars today! We must all do what we know is right and pleasing to God, and I know and believe that Jesus has been tugging at my heart for quite some time to put the lighter and tobacco down, and to focus entirely on Him for all I need Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I've tried and failed in the past, but I know that this is 'my time'! This is a new day, and with God's Help, I can definitely do ALL things through Christ Which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13)! I ask that you would continue to keep me in your prayers!
Now what does it mean to do what we know is right? Basically, this statement means that no matter what your friends, family members, associates, people in the world, or even other Christians say about what is right and pleasing to God, or what is wrong and grievous to the Spirit of God, we have to do what we believe God is telling us. For example, it is not a sin to drink wine as some would have us believe. The Bible clearly states that wine cheers the heart of God and man. The Bible declares it is a sin to be drunken with wine, and commands us to do all things in moderation. However, if during your Christian walk, you know that consumption of alcoholic beverages has led you to a sinful mindset in the past, and you understand that it is prudent for your walk with Christ to stray from the fruit of the vine, then by all means abstain from the consumption of wine. But if you are celebrating the goodness of God, for example, Who has enabled you and your spouse to make it to another anniversary and you two spend a night alone with wine and a candlelight dinner, there is no sin in doing this. After all, the Bible declares that He giveth us all things richly to enjoy! That is why it is imperative that we stay in the Word, and read the Bible for ourselves, even as the Bereans in the Book of Acts read the Scriptures after hearing the Declarations of the Apostle Paul, to find out if the things which he spoke were true. A lot of times, we live under condemnation for things that Satan makes us think are illegal in the courtroom of Salvation, rather than enjoying the benefits of wisely utilizing all God has bestowed upon us in His wonderful creation.
Now, doing what we know is right doesn't always necessitate doing Spiritual things, but most of the time they will involve Spiritual things. An example of this is not doing what we know we should do in regards to our health. We as Christians know and realize that there is no wisdom against God. In other words, doctor's don't always know what they are talking about in regards to natural things, including our physical capacities. However, I believe God has placed doctor's on this earth to help us, and has given them Wisdom and Knowledge to enable us to live long, prosperous lives doing what we know is right by adhering to what they admonish unto us. However, even though they may not have the final say over our physical, mental, and emotional well beings, I believe they have some say. For example, if God has given them the Knowledge to understand the importance of eating healthily, then we should by all means do our best to eat healthy, well-balanced meals. This is what I mean by saying they have some say, for even God commands us to do all things in moderation. But doctor's don't have the final say when they declare a patient suffering from a form of cancer has a certain amount of time to live. Only God knows and decides when we leave this earth, and this is evidenced by countless testimonies that prove God is STILL the Healer, and that there is nothing too hard for Him to accomplish. Doctor's are going by what they have learned in school, technology, and statistics. If they are not followers of Jesus, they are normally followers of science. That is one reason I encourage and applaud Christians like my mother who delve into the medical field. They know what the world says about science, but they also possess the upper hand in knowing what Jehovah God says about wholeness, wellness, healing, and all health matters in general.
As stated at the beginning of the above paragraph, it is also imperative that we realize that doing what is right concerning our health can also involve Spiritual matters. After all, God says our bodies are His temple. The main reason I quit smoking today is because of this Bible verse. Science says that smoking can cause a number of health issues. God has not let that fact be proven wrong. If it was proven that smoking was beneficial to the health of the body, and no harm ensued upon the health of those engaging in this habit, certainly we would see it as a blessing from God. But we know from countless medical reports the danger smoking can produce to not only the smoker, but the non-smoker as well through the relentlessness of second hand smoke. By denying ourselves what may feel good at the time, but is inherently wrong and sinful, and running our race with the patience Christ has given us, we have obtained the basic formula for doing what we know is right and pleasing to our Father in Heaven.
So remember, when people come against you, and your flesh is crying out, wanting you to fight back verbally, or physically, let it know that the battle is not yours. In reality, you are fighting back when you allow God to fight your battles for you. Believe me, He can do a much better job than you'd ever be able to accomplish. Realize we are in a Spiritual war. Our weapons are not carnal (fleshly or earthly - Ephesians Chapter 6). Sometimes the greatest tactic when someone is enticing you to sink to their level of depravity is to simply walk away. Oh, how I wish many of our young children, especially African-Americans knew this tactic of God-Given prudence. Countless lives could have been saved from the onslaught of gang violence. It is better to love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, just as Jesus said (Matthew 5:44), than to attempt to fight a Spiritual battle with a physical weapon. Realize that every step you take of doing what you know to be right, God is well pleased. After all, isn't that what we really want, to hear Him say 'well done my good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of the LORD'? Well, as long as we strive to do what is right in God's eyes, we will enter into His joy in this life, and definitely in the world to come! Amen? Amen!
(c) 2011 Writings with the Finger God
Next: Remember God
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Finish What You Start
Praise Jesus Christ!
Greetings my beloved family and friends! Thank you for returning once again to our blog, 'Finish What You Start'! We have come a long way together since the inception of these writings, and I trust your life is better off because of the God-Given Wisdom of these articles. Today we kind of want to go back to our roots by analyzing the term and title of this blog 'Finish What You Start'.
To finish what you start, you must obviously begin something. Every destination has a beginning and an ending. The key is to start the journey strong, and to finish even stronger. It is imperative that we not let complacency get in the way of completing a task. Yes, every journey has peaks and valleys, I am not denying this. But when we walk balanced on level ground, the journey is much easier, and not as strenuous. To reach this balance, we must give ample attention to the daily tasks we are bombarded with. Just as there is a portion of seasoning we put into a delicious meal, we must give a certain amount of 'mental seasoning' to everything we do, in order to not focus all our attention on a particular task, leaving little if any energy or focus for other important desires that need to be accomplished.
It's really not that difficult to finish what you start. All it takes is a vision, and the decision to see that vision come to fruition no matter how long it takes or what obstacles arise. Remember, you may not get to your destination at the exact time you planned, but if you're persistent and don't give up, you will get there.
So pray about where you are right now and where you want to be in the next month, year, or five years from now. Ask God to give you Wisdom and Guidance in order that you develop a goal-oriented plan that you can accomplish in a timely manner. Write down the steps to accomplishing each of your goals. Take one day at a time. Flee from all discouragement, by focusing on Christ and on what you've already accomplished. And finish each day better than you started it! May God be with you, and may He give you the desires of your heart! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Next: Do What You Know Is Right
Greetings my beloved family and friends! Thank you for returning once again to our blog, 'Finish What You Start'! We have come a long way together since the inception of these writings, and I trust your life is better off because of the God-Given Wisdom of these articles. Today we kind of want to go back to our roots by analyzing the term and title of this blog 'Finish What You Start'.
To finish what you start, you must obviously begin something. Every destination has a beginning and an ending. The key is to start the journey strong, and to finish even stronger. It is imperative that we not let complacency get in the way of completing a task. Yes, every journey has peaks and valleys, I am not denying this. But when we walk balanced on level ground, the journey is much easier, and not as strenuous. To reach this balance, we must give ample attention to the daily tasks we are bombarded with. Just as there is a portion of seasoning we put into a delicious meal, we must give a certain amount of 'mental seasoning' to everything we do, in order to not focus all our attention on a particular task, leaving little if any energy or focus for other important desires that need to be accomplished.
It's really not that difficult to finish what you start. All it takes is a vision, and the decision to see that vision come to fruition no matter how long it takes or what obstacles arise. Remember, you may not get to your destination at the exact time you planned, but if you're persistent and don't give up, you will get there.
So pray about where you are right now and where you want to be in the next month, year, or five years from now. Ask God to give you Wisdom and Guidance in order that you develop a goal-oriented plan that you can accomplish in a timely manner. Write down the steps to accomplishing each of your goals. Take one day at a time. Flee from all discouragement, by focusing on Christ and on what you've already accomplished. And finish each day better than you started it! May God be with you, and may He give you the desires of your heart! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Next: Do What You Know Is Right
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Power of The Tongue
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21 KJV Holy Bible)Praise JESUS CHRIST!
Greetings family! I trust you all are having a blessed week! I know I am! God is faithful, and before we begin today's discussion, let me just say that no matter what you may be going through, keep believing in Jesus! He is the Holy God (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Spirit), and He will keep you in all your ways, no matter how it looks in the natural. Remember, we are in a Spiritual warfare, and our weapons are not carnal (fleshly), keep fighting in The Spirit, by The Spirit, and for The Spirit, and you will come out on top every time!
Now onward to today's topic - The Power of The Tongue! Now we know from the Bible (James 3:5-18), that although the tongue is a little member, it is a powerful member of our bodies. The words we speak with this organ have the power to encourage, uplift, inspire, or destroy. After all think of the many damaging things that may have been spoken over you in your childhood. Without the Help and knowledge of God, some of those things would still effect us years later. That is why we must be wise, careful, and cautious with the words we speak to others as well as to ourselves.
The Bible says that God created all things by His Word, Jesus (John 1:1). He spoke and things came into existence. Because we are made in His Image, we have the same life changing power within us that He possesses. Our words have the ability to dictate the course of our lives. If I'm going through a rut, I must positively speak the things I want to see happen in my life rather than speak things as they may appear.
That's why I spoke in an earlier post about 'Positive Affirmations'. These affirmations are not just words that we speak that have little meaning. They are not words that just involve 'positive thinking'. These are words that show our faith in God. They are saying to ourselves, the devil, and to our Father God that we believe that all things are possible through Jesus, and that Christ ultimately has the final say over any seemingly adverse situation in our lives. It is important that we don't let the devil, and his fiery darts (Ephesians Chapter 6) discourage us from our God-Given Destiny. One way we prevent this is by using our words to build us up in the Lord, and strengthen our resolve.
As I spoke briefly earlier, we must also understand that our words have the ability to give or destroy life. If I am constantly telling myself what I can't accomplish, more than likely I will stay in a perpetual state of unfulfillment when it comes to all that God has in store for my present life and for my future. Understand, my beloved that God has already given us all we need to succeed. I understand that sometimes when the road gets tedious and tough, it may become difficult to continue declaring positive, faith filled words. In my own personal life, I had difficulty doing what I'm asking you to do on various occasions. However, through all my heartache and pain, God has continued to bring me through to the land of success as I've continued to cry out to Him, and done my best to keep not just a positive frame of mind, but a faith-filled frame of mind as well.
With this life changing power we possess within our tongues, we must be careful not to fight 'fire with fire'. In simpler terms, adding more combustion to an already explosive situation does nothing to extinguish the flame of despair. We must understand as Ephesians Chapter 6 declares that we are in a spiritual warfare. When someone comes against us, we have to look beyond that particular individual and see the source of their pain or destructive words. Our loving, faith filled words should be the Water of The Word of God that douses the venomous flames of contention, with the love of Christ that resides within us. This is not always an easy task. That is why it is imperative that we stay in our Bibles daily, gaining all the strength and Wisdom we can, and learning the attributes of our Heavenly Father while putting into application the thoughts of Jesus to show the masses that we are truly in the world, but not of the world.
So order your conversation upright. Let your words be filled with grace, seasoned with the salt of our Savior, and change your life by what you say and think. Don't live another day down in the dumps and depressed. God has spoken life over you. Now it's time to line your thoughts, intents, and words with His and live that life of blessing, abundance, and peace He has supplied for you by His Blood! Amen? Amen!!!!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger Of God
Next: Finish What You Start!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Begin Again
Praise JESUS CHRIST!
Have you ever had that feeling in life that dire circumstances won't change? Have you ever felt stagnant in the pursuing of your goals and dreams? Have you confidently began the proper coarse of action in terms of accomplishing a task, only to feel as if you've not achieved significant progress? Have you ever stopped doing the things you know are right and profitable because you have not 'felt like' pushing yourself onward to your accomplishments? Well, if you've answered any of these questions with a resounding 'yes', I have GREAT NEWS for you!
It's never too late to BEGIN AGAIN! You may have started up the mountain of a challenge in your life with the mobility of confidence. Each step taken towards success has encouraged you and lifted you further than you've ever dreamed. You see the top of the mountain in your sites only to be bombarded by an avalanche of unstable rocks drifting your way. What seemingly once became routine has now become a tough pill to swallow. You know you must move on toward your goal, but now you don't feel up to it. Days have gone by and you've said you'd make the most of the next day, only to retire for the night in despair and anguish because you did not accomplish what you set out to do that particular day. Fortunately, this is not the end of your attainment of a desire. Remember, all you have to do is BEGIN AGAIN!
Beginning again is not always easy. There will be times when you wonder if the risk of being uncomfortable for a season is worth the reward of accomplishing your dream. Logically, you know the reward of fulfillment in life far exceeds any pain along the path of achievement, however all you can see at the present moment is the rough terrain ahead, and you become unsure if the goal will ever be realized. Well, my friend although it may not necessarily be easy to start over in any arena of life, it is not as difficult as you may think.
To begin again takes one thing, DECISION! It takes a decision to begin a task, as well as to complete it. You must make a decision to not look at what you haven't done, and focus your energy and attention toward what you are going to do to accomplish your desire, starting with today! We need not be concerned with what didn't happen yesterday. All we can control, with the Grace of God, is what we make happen today! Today is the most important day of your life. What you accomplish today will prepare a better future for you, enabling your tomorrows to be far more rewarding than your yesterdays.
The easiest way to Begin Again and return to the race set before you, is to review your goals. Look at what you pray to accomplish, and set aside small goals (or tasks) that you will do everyday to achieve the goal. Today you may not 'feel like' jogging for an half an hour, well jog for 15 minutes. Do something to get your mind, body, and spirit back into the ebb and flow of accomplishing your goal. It also helps to not look at how far you have to go. I'm learning how to walk again after nearly nine years of being challenged in my mobility. After two spinal cord surgeries and countless physical therapy sessions, I have a set regime of walking I'm required to do daily to increase the strength in my gait. I have to do 10 laps up and down my living room, dining hall, and kitchen. Sometimes the first lap is very difficult, and I have a tendency to say, 'Wow, I've got nine more to go'! I've learned to just take one lap at a time, and before I know it, I'm going into my tenth lap. This helps me to focus on the task at hand, or the present, instead of letting my mental become overwhelmed by what potentially lies before me.
It is extremely important to see the Light at the end of the tunnel. See yourself happy, whole, and in full attainment of your goal, dream, or desire. You've come a long way, and you will make it to the desired destination if you remain steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the Work of The Lord. God wants your Light to shine in order that people will not only see your good works, and glorify Him, but also in order that they realize there's hope in their own lives if they just place their trust in Him. Remember, if you've proverbially 'fallen off the wagon' on the road to any endeavor, you CAN and WILL get back up! Keep looking up my friend. Your Redemption draweth nigh, and your sacrifice will be rewarded! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Next: Death and Life Are In The Power of The Tongue
Have you ever had that feeling in life that dire circumstances won't change? Have you ever felt stagnant in the pursuing of your goals and dreams? Have you confidently began the proper coarse of action in terms of accomplishing a task, only to feel as if you've not achieved significant progress? Have you ever stopped doing the things you know are right and profitable because you have not 'felt like' pushing yourself onward to your accomplishments? Well, if you've answered any of these questions with a resounding 'yes', I have GREAT NEWS for you!
It's never too late to BEGIN AGAIN! You may have started up the mountain of a challenge in your life with the mobility of confidence. Each step taken towards success has encouraged you and lifted you further than you've ever dreamed. You see the top of the mountain in your sites only to be bombarded by an avalanche of unstable rocks drifting your way. What seemingly once became routine has now become a tough pill to swallow. You know you must move on toward your goal, but now you don't feel up to it. Days have gone by and you've said you'd make the most of the next day, only to retire for the night in despair and anguish because you did not accomplish what you set out to do that particular day. Fortunately, this is not the end of your attainment of a desire. Remember, all you have to do is BEGIN AGAIN!
Beginning again is not always easy. There will be times when you wonder if the risk of being uncomfortable for a season is worth the reward of accomplishing your dream. Logically, you know the reward of fulfillment in life far exceeds any pain along the path of achievement, however all you can see at the present moment is the rough terrain ahead, and you become unsure if the goal will ever be realized. Well, my friend although it may not necessarily be easy to start over in any arena of life, it is not as difficult as you may think.
To begin again takes one thing, DECISION! It takes a decision to begin a task, as well as to complete it. You must make a decision to not look at what you haven't done, and focus your energy and attention toward what you are going to do to accomplish your desire, starting with today! We need not be concerned with what didn't happen yesterday. All we can control, with the Grace of God, is what we make happen today! Today is the most important day of your life. What you accomplish today will prepare a better future for you, enabling your tomorrows to be far more rewarding than your yesterdays.
The easiest way to Begin Again and return to the race set before you, is to review your goals. Look at what you pray to accomplish, and set aside small goals (or tasks) that you will do everyday to achieve the goal. Today you may not 'feel like' jogging for an half an hour, well jog for 15 minutes. Do something to get your mind, body, and spirit back into the ebb and flow of accomplishing your goal. It also helps to not look at how far you have to go. I'm learning how to walk again after nearly nine years of being challenged in my mobility. After two spinal cord surgeries and countless physical therapy sessions, I have a set regime of walking I'm required to do daily to increase the strength in my gait. I have to do 10 laps up and down my living room, dining hall, and kitchen. Sometimes the first lap is very difficult, and I have a tendency to say, 'Wow, I've got nine more to go'! I've learned to just take one lap at a time, and before I know it, I'm going into my tenth lap. This helps me to focus on the task at hand, or the present, instead of letting my mental become overwhelmed by what potentially lies before me.
It is extremely important to see the Light at the end of the tunnel. See yourself happy, whole, and in full attainment of your goal, dream, or desire. You've come a long way, and you will make it to the desired destination if you remain steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the Work of The Lord. God wants your Light to shine in order that people will not only see your good works, and glorify Him, but also in order that they realize there's hope in their own lives if they just place their trust in Him. Remember, if you've proverbially 'fallen off the wagon' on the road to any endeavor, you CAN and WILL get back up! Keep looking up my friend. Your Redemption draweth nigh, and your sacrifice will be rewarded! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Next: Death and Life Are In The Power of The Tongue
Friday, July 29, 2011
Taking Inventory
Praise JESUS CHRIST!
Greetings family! I trust you're having a blessed week in the LORD! Thank you for continuing to read this blog, and for making your friends and family aware of it as well! Please keep in mind that as you subscribe to this blog, you will be updated regularly as new topic's are posted. Be sure also to participate in the weekly polls. I REALLY appreciate your consistency in perusing these articles, and look forward to sharing more God-Given Wisdom and ideals that will encourage you along the path of your Christian walk, ensuring that you always 'Finish What You Start!'
Today, I would like to discuss the aspect of Taking Inventory as you progress along the journey of accomplishing your goals. Taking inventory basically means that we see where we are, and how we are doing in our efforts to better our lives. By taking inventory, we are able to note how far we've come, how far we have to go, and if there are any necessary changes or modifications that must be made toward the completion of our aspirations. Without knowing if our plan of action is working, we will not be able to complete any task.
Of course, this notion of Taking Inventory is nothing new. Successful businesses do this all the time. When someone wishes to purchase something from a particular establishment, that business must ensure they have the product 'in stock'. If not, they must be quick to order it, or the potential life-long customer might go elsewhere. We also take inventory in our personal lives. For instance, we see if we have stocked up on toiletries and other household supplies necessary for daily living. What a shame it would be to do 'our business' and realize we've forgotten to purchase toilet paper (I apologize for giving you this visual) during our last trip to the market. So it is with the accomplishing of our goals. We must understand what works, and what doesn't work. We must take the time to effectively measure our progress. If something is not working, we need to find out the reasoning behind this and modify our means of accomplishing the task at hand. The key is to keep doing what works, and quit doing what is not producing our desired result!
Now let's talk about how to take an inventory of your progress. Let's use the example of attempting to lose weight. Now, you have set a goal to lose 40 pounds in six months. You have established that losing approximately 2lbs per week would get you to your goal. You've decided to cut out the sweets, while eating healthier lower-fat meals. You've been on your weight-loss regimen for a month and you step onto the scale to see how far you've come. You've lost a total of 2lbs while you were projected to lose around 8. What do you do? Do you become discouraged and quit your goal? Of course not! You have made some progress. After all, you're thinner than you were when your diet began, so something is working. It may just be that instead of solely eating healthier, you may need to add an exercise program to achieve maximum results. Once you've modified your plan, periodically check your progress. If another month passes and you've lost a total of 10lbs or so, you have made the correct modification and are close to achieving your goal. If after the modification, you're still not progressing as you expected then it may be the time to rethink your strategy (i.e. - getting nutritional assistance from an expert), but by all means DO NOT give up! With the Help and Wisdom of GOD, there IS a way to accomplish your goal!
Another important reason for taking inventory is in order that you remain inspired and optimistic while attempting to accomplish something noteworthy in your life. More often than not, when we're in the process of accomplishing a goal, there will arise days of disappointment and discouragement. We may begin to feel as if we are 'spinning our wheels' instead of making steady progress toward the attainment of our dreams. Monitoring our progress in increments will enable us to see the positive results of our hard work. Remember the above weight-loss example displays some progress being made toward a goal, even if it wasn't what the achiever originally expected. After careful modification, though, we see that this person is well on their way to accomplishing their goals.
So where are you in your goal attaining process? I trust, with the dawn of each new day, you are closer to your dreams than you were when you began the journey. Remember, always have a plan in place to track your progress. Never become discouraged, if you don't see quick results. Realize, that Jesus will mix His Faith with yours, and enable you to continue to 'Fight the Good Fight'! You are an over comer, and you will accomplish anything and everything in which you've placed your mind and focus. I would love to hear your progress along the way. Be sure to email me @ macmoses1973@msn.com to let me know your progress, or simply leave a comment. Thanks again for joining us today! Now let me leave you with this reminder, You 'CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH YOU (Philippians 4:13)'! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Next: Begin Again!
Greetings family! I trust you're having a blessed week in the LORD! Thank you for continuing to read this blog, and for making your friends and family aware of it as well! Please keep in mind that as you subscribe to this blog, you will be updated regularly as new topic's are posted. Be sure also to participate in the weekly polls. I REALLY appreciate your consistency in perusing these articles, and look forward to sharing more God-Given Wisdom and ideals that will encourage you along the path of your Christian walk, ensuring that you always 'Finish What You Start!'
Today, I would like to discuss the aspect of Taking Inventory as you progress along the journey of accomplishing your goals. Taking inventory basically means that we see where we are, and how we are doing in our efforts to better our lives. By taking inventory, we are able to note how far we've come, how far we have to go, and if there are any necessary changes or modifications that must be made toward the completion of our aspirations. Without knowing if our plan of action is working, we will not be able to complete any task.
Of course, this notion of Taking Inventory is nothing new. Successful businesses do this all the time. When someone wishes to purchase something from a particular establishment, that business must ensure they have the product 'in stock'. If not, they must be quick to order it, or the potential life-long customer might go elsewhere. We also take inventory in our personal lives. For instance, we see if we have stocked up on toiletries and other household supplies necessary for daily living. What a shame it would be to do 'our business' and realize we've forgotten to purchase toilet paper (I apologize for giving you this visual) during our last trip to the market. So it is with the accomplishing of our goals. We must understand what works, and what doesn't work. We must take the time to effectively measure our progress. If something is not working, we need to find out the reasoning behind this and modify our means of accomplishing the task at hand. The key is to keep doing what works, and quit doing what is not producing our desired result!
Now let's talk about how to take an inventory of your progress. Let's use the example of attempting to lose weight. Now, you have set a goal to lose 40 pounds in six months. You have established that losing approximately 2lbs per week would get you to your goal. You've decided to cut out the sweets, while eating healthier lower-fat meals. You've been on your weight-loss regimen for a month and you step onto the scale to see how far you've come. You've lost a total of 2lbs while you were projected to lose around 8. What do you do? Do you become discouraged and quit your goal? Of course not! You have made some progress. After all, you're thinner than you were when your diet began, so something is working. It may just be that instead of solely eating healthier, you may need to add an exercise program to achieve maximum results. Once you've modified your plan, periodically check your progress. If another month passes and you've lost a total of 10lbs or so, you have made the correct modification and are close to achieving your goal. If after the modification, you're still not progressing as you expected then it may be the time to rethink your strategy (i.e. - getting nutritional assistance from an expert), but by all means DO NOT give up! With the Help and Wisdom of GOD, there IS a way to accomplish your goal!
Another important reason for taking inventory is in order that you remain inspired and optimistic while attempting to accomplish something noteworthy in your life. More often than not, when we're in the process of accomplishing a goal, there will arise days of disappointment and discouragement. We may begin to feel as if we are 'spinning our wheels' instead of making steady progress toward the attainment of our dreams. Monitoring our progress in increments will enable us to see the positive results of our hard work. Remember the above weight-loss example displays some progress being made toward a goal, even if it wasn't what the achiever originally expected. After careful modification, though, we see that this person is well on their way to accomplishing their goals.
So where are you in your goal attaining process? I trust, with the dawn of each new day, you are closer to your dreams than you were when you began the journey. Remember, always have a plan in place to track your progress. Never become discouraged, if you don't see quick results. Realize, that Jesus will mix His Faith with yours, and enable you to continue to 'Fight the Good Fight'! You are an over comer, and you will accomplish anything and everything in which you've placed your mind and focus. I would love to hear your progress along the way. Be sure to email me @ macmoses1973@msn.com to let me know your progress, or simply leave a comment. Thanks again for joining us today! Now let me leave you with this reminder, You 'CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH YOU (Philippians 4:13)'! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Next: Begin Again!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Power of Affirmations
I can do all things through Christ which Strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13 -KJV Holy Bible)
Praise JESUS CHRIST!
Greetings family! Thank you for joining us today as we continue the wonderful journey of 'Finishing What We Start'! I really appreciate your taking time out of your busy schedule to peruse our blog! Today we're going to discuss the topic of POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS. Positive affirmations are faith-filled statements we say out loud or to ourselves that indicate we have made the firm decision to stay on the path of accomplishing our desires, dreams, and goals. These affirmations are a necessary act of faith to enable us to stay encouraged and dedicated to the realization of our aspirations, especially in the face of adversity.
The above Bible verse is one of the best positive affirmations we can declare! It says 'I can...', even while everything going on around us may be screaming exactly the opposite. Let me give you an example from my own personal life. These past couple of days, let's just say, I haven't been feeling my best. I have been bombarded with a sense of weariness, as my adversary the devil attempts to destroy my hope of accomplishing all my goals. I have been under attack in my mind, body, and spirit with tactics that I can't remember being utilized by the enemy in quite some time. I have literally been pushed to my limits, and I thank God that He has rejuvenated my soul to be able to continue on my path to fulfilment. Yes, those who have made a declaration that they WILL walk the path of Christ, and accomplish something worthy for His Kingdom will have days when the darts of the enemy attempt to quench the fire of The Holy Spirit's faith in their lives. This is the main reason we must utilize our 'Shield of Faith' as spoken of in Ephesians Chapter 6 verse 16. One way to quench these fiery darts is with Faith-filled confessions or affirmations. (I wrote a book about this a few years ago entitled 10 Spirit Filled Confessions. It goes into greater detail about the power of our words and the proper usage of our tongue. I urge you to click the link to order it online. It will help you change your thinking about your situation while encouraging you to continue to speak faith-filled words no matter what your circumstance may be.)
Positive affirmations are a list of declarations you say to yourself all throughout the day. They are statements that counteract anything the enemy attempts to throw your way. For example, if you have a problem with fear, you may write an affirmation such as 'I DO NOT Fear man, I fear The LORD'! Whenever a feeling of fear or inadequacy tries to overtake your spirit, you would constantly repeat this affirmation to not fear, over and over in your mind, until your faith becomes strengthened, enabling you to walk in the boldness of Christ! Remember, you decide what you would like the affirmations to be. Only God, Himself, knows you better than you know yourself. With the Wisdom of God, you write and declare what you want to overcome in your life. Remember, 'Death and Life are in the Power of the tongue... (Proverbs 18:21)' Before anything changes in your life, you have to believe it will come to pass! No one can do this for you! God has already enabled you to believe, by giving you the measure of faith necessary, but even Jesus didn't do many miracles in one town, because of the people's unbelief (St. Matthew 13:58). If you don't believe in your abilities, who will?
As with your goals, your affirmations should be written and placed somewhere you can see them daily. Ultimately they should be between 5 to 10 statements of faith. Here is an example:
maCmoses' Faith-Filled Aspirations:
1. I have faith that moves the Heart of God and is able to remove mountains.
2. Everything I say, think, or do pleases my Father GOD!
3. Jesus lives in me, and because of this, I can accomplish every goal.
4. I DO NOT fear what man thinks, for GOD is pleased with me!
5. I am forgiven for every sin or mistake of my past!
6. I am wealthy Spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically.
7. Everything I put my hands to prospers.
8. My mind is sound because I have the Mind of Christ!
9. Everything I say in faith comes to pass!
10. I love my God, my neighbor, and myself, and because of that love, God has placed loving people in my life!
As I said these are basically examples. God will give you your set of affirmations as you seek Him daily by prayer and taking the time to read His Word. Remember, Jesus spoke, and continues to speak life over you! He created all things by His Word! When times of discouragement come, and they come to the best of us, cast all your cares upon Him. Continue to confess the Word of God! Memorize your affirmations and walk by the faith upon which God has endowed you. YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES! Boldly confess daily that You CAN do all things through CHRIST which strengtheneth you, and stand by faith defeating ALL opposition. Remember the Bible says to resist the devil and he will flee from you. Let your faith fill your entire being with The Light of Christ! Remember, darkness has no fellowship with light! When you enter into a dark and gloomy room, what happens when you flip the light switch? The darkness leaves, the light shines, and you are able to see clearly! Remember when your light shines, people will see all that God has done for you, and their faith will be strengthened knowing that He is able to do the same for them. Your words have the power to usher you into your Christ-ordained destiny. No matter what your mind is saying, declare out of your mouth 'Positive Affirmations'! The Bible says, 'Faith comes by hearing...' The more you hear your positive affirmations mixed with the positivity of God's Word, your faith will build muscles, and you Will accomplish everything YOUR God has envisioned for you! Amen? Amen! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Tomorrow: A time for Inventory
Praise JESUS CHRIST!
Greetings family! Thank you for joining us today as we continue the wonderful journey of 'Finishing What We Start'! I really appreciate your taking time out of your busy schedule to peruse our blog! Today we're going to discuss the topic of POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS. Positive affirmations are faith-filled statements we say out loud or to ourselves that indicate we have made the firm decision to stay on the path of accomplishing our desires, dreams, and goals. These affirmations are a necessary act of faith to enable us to stay encouraged and dedicated to the realization of our aspirations, especially in the face of adversity.
The above Bible verse is one of the best positive affirmations we can declare! It says 'I can...', even while everything going on around us may be screaming exactly the opposite. Let me give you an example from my own personal life. These past couple of days, let's just say, I haven't been feeling my best. I have been bombarded with a sense of weariness, as my adversary the devil attempts to destroy my hope of accomplishing all my goals. I have been under attack in my mind, body, and spirit with tactics that I can't remember being utilized by the enemy in quite some time. I have literally been pushed to my limits, and I thank God that He has rejuvenated my soul to be able to continue on my path to fulfilment. Yes, those who have made a declaration that they WILL walk the path of Christ, and accomplish something worthy for His Kingdom will have days when the darts of the enemy attempt to quench the fire of The Holy Spirit's faith in their lives. This is the main reason we must utilize our 'Shield of Faith' as spoken of in Ephesians Chapter 6 verse 16. One way to quench these fiery darts is with Faith-filled confessions or affirmations. (I wrote a book about this a few years ago entitled 10 Spirit Filled Confessions. It goes into greater detail about the power of our words and the proper usage of our tongue. I urge you to click the link to order it online. It will help you change your thinking about your situation while encouraging you to continue to speak faith-filled words no matter what your circumstance may be.)
Positive affirmations are a list of declarations you say to yourself all throughout the day. They are statements that counteract anything the enemy attempts to throw your way. For example, if you have a problem with fear, you may write an affirmation such as 'I DO NOT Fear man, I fear The LORD'! Whenever a feeling of fear or inadequacy tries to overtake your spirit, you would constantly repeat this affirmation to not fear, over and over in your mind, until your faith becomes strengthened, enabling you to walk in the boldness of Christ! Remember, you decide what you would like the affirmations to be. Only God, Himself, knows you better than you know yourself. With the Wisdom of God, you write and declare what you want to overcome in your life. Remember, 'Death and Life are in the Power of the tongue... (Proverbs 18:21)' Before anything changes in your life, you have to believe it will come to pass! No one can do this for you! God has already enabled you to believe, by giving you the measure of faith necessary, but even Jesus didn't do many miracles in one town, because of the people's unbelief (St. Matthew 13:58). If you don't believe in your abilities, who will?
As with your goals, your affirmations should be written and placed somewhere you can see them daily. Ultimately they should be between 5 to 10 statements of faith. Here is an example:
maCmoses' Faith-Filled Aspirations:
1. I have faith that moves the Heart of God and is able to remove mountains.
2. Everything I say, think, or do pleases my Father GOD!
3. Jesus lives in me, and because of this, I can accomplish every goal.
4. I DO NOT fear what man thinks, for GOD is pleased with me!
5. I am forgiven for every sin or mistake of my past!
6. I am wealthy Spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically.
7. Everything I put my hands to prospers.
8. My mind is sound because I have the Mind of Christ!
9. Everything I say in faith comes to pass!
10. I love my God, my neighbor, and myself, and because of that love, God has placed loving people in my life!
As I said these are basically examples. God will give you your set of affirmations as you seek Him daily by prayer and taking the time to read His Word. Remember, Jesus spoke, and continues to speak life over you! He created all things by His Word! When times of discouragement come, and they come to the best of us, cast all your cares upon Him. Continue to confess the Word of God! Memorize your affirmations and walk by the faith upon which God has endowed you. YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES! Boldly confess daily that You CAN do all things through CHRIST which strengtheneth you, and stand by faith defeating ALL opposition. Remember the Bible says to resist the devil and he will flee from you. Let your faith fill your entire being with The Light of Christ! Remember, darkness has no fellowship with light! When you enter into a dark and gloomy room, what happens when you flip the light switch? The darkness leaves, the light shines, and you are able to see clearly! Remember when your light shines, people will see all that God has done for you, and their faith will be strengthened knowing that He is able to do the same for them. Your words have the power to usher you into your Christ-ordained destiny. No matter what your mind is saying, declare out of your mouth 'Positive Affirmations'! The Bible says, 'Faith comes by hearing...' The more you hear your positive affirmations mixed with the positivity of God's Word, your faith will build muscles, and you Will accomplish everything YOUR God has envisioned for you! Amen? Amen! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Tomorrow: A time for Inventory
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Having Faith that Endures
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the Evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 - KJV Holy Bible)
Praise JESUS CHRIST!
Greetings family! I pray and trust that you are having a Blessed week, and that these blog posts are an encouragement to you, helping you on your road to success, and being the motivation for you to be persistent in 'Finishing what you Start'!
In order to be successful in any endeavor, we must have faith. This is not the flimsy aspect of having faith in yourself. I realize that the Bible declares that we 'can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us. (Philippians 4:13)', but it states through Christ, not through us! We have the faith to believe that we can accomplish any goal, because God is doing the work in us and not we ourselves. Yes, there is a healthy confidence we should have in our abilities to be successful, but ultimately our confidence, belief, and faith must be in our Creator and not our flesh! This keeps us from the pride, arrogance, and false fulfilment that is the impetus for any fall that may occur because of our glorying in ourselves and not in Jesus!
In the above Scripture it states that 'Faith is the substance...'. It is something that we can touch, or possess. It is more valuable than money or any other superficial commodity. It is the key that unlocks the Heart of Almighty God, and establishes His Kingdom in the earth. After all, through Faith God created everything (Hebrews 11:3). His Word (JESUS) is His Faith! That same Jesus that created all things, that died and rose from the grave, and that loves us unconditionally resides within us! After we've believed that He is the Son of God that came to give us the Way of Salvation (By Faith in His Blood), His Holy Spirit envelops us, living within the fabric of our being, and thus giving us the faith and the strength to trod the rocky hills of life victoriously, knowing that this same Jesus, who accomplished all things by His Faith, has given this same faith unto us, and is with us in every trial, battle, or endeavor.
We recently spoke on the action of goal-setting, and being motivated to continue our goals. The very act of setting goals is an example of our faith. We have the faith that with the Help of God, accompanied by our doing our best, we can, must, and will accomplish our aspirations. After all we know that there is nothing too hard for The LORD (Genesis 18:14). It not only takes faith to begin a goals program, it takes an enduring faith to sustain the program, when we don't seem to be progressing as fast as we would like. It is this enduring faith positioned alongside motivation that will encourage us to maintain a positive faith-filled attitude as we journey along the pathway of our Divine Destiny.
So what exactly is enduring faith? I believe enduring faith is the faith that no matter how long it takes, or how tiresome or tedious the road to accomplishing your dreams may become, you will not quit, and you will continue to have the faith in God, and in the abilities He has ordained upon you unto the completion of your goal. This does not mean that you will not grow weary. At times you will need to take a breather. However, your enduring faith has given you the mindset of perseverance whereby you will not ultimately 'rest' until the dream is realized.
Now that we have a clear understanding of the faith that endures, let's discuss the ways by which we can 'fan the flame' of this faith. In order to remain faithful in the undertaking of any task (marriage, goal pursuing, etc.), you must remember why you are doing what it is you are doing. You must not only see yourself in the possession of the goal, you must know that what you are doing will ultimately make a difference in your life, and what you are doing to accomplish the goal must make sense to you. No one wants to 'beat the air'. Those who attempt to plan their lives do so with realistic strategies that guard against ineptness and discouragement. I emphasize the word realistic. Sometimes it is more wise to take baby steps, rather than attempt to 'build Rome in one day'! Moderation is the key to any successful person's life. After all the Bible even declares that a false balance is an abomination to God (Proverbs 11:1). We must not only be balanced in our lives, but also in our goal setting. Set goals you can achieve daily, and your faith will increase with the accomplishment of each small realistic goal.
Before we end today's lesson, I want to discuss the most effective way of acquiring an enduring faith. That way is by spending adequate time in God's Word (The Holy Bible). Reading The Bible daily prepares you for any undertaking, and shows the Character of God, what He expects of us, and what we can expect of Him. When we understand that Jesus is in control of our lives, and that he wants to see us 'Prosper even as our soul prospers (3 John, Verse 2)', we will come to the understanding that God IS on our side, and this understanding will provide the Holy ammunition to carry on with our God-Given Goals.
Well, now that you have the faith to become all that God has envisioned for your life, it's time to act on those convictions. Don't let another day pass without you planning your life in such a way that will improve the quality of your existence, bringing you greater love, peace, contentment, and faith. Remember, Jesus said your faith will remove mountains (Mark 11:23). Have faith in The God by whom all things are and do exist! There is nothing too hard for Him, and with His Help, there will be nothing too hard for you!!!! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Tomorrow: Positive Affirmations
To learn more about the author, email macmoses1973@msn.com
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Staying Motivated!
Praise JESUS CHRIST!
Motivation is a key ingredient when enduring the sometimes difficult task of accomplishing goals. Without motivation, we become luke-warm goal seekers simply 'going through the motions', making the task at hand increasingly difficult. I mention that it would be more difficult because of the fact that when we are 'inspired' to do a thing, it makes it more joyous even if the job at hand may be a bit strenuous.
But how do we remain motivated? When we first begin a venture, we are at the peak of excitement! We feel rejuvenated by the new set of goals we have created and we know without a shadow of a doubt that with the aid of JEHOVAH we will accomplish our goals. We do great the first day, even better the second day, but then we seemingly hit that proverbial wall, where we don't feel up to doing what needs to be done to get us through the day. What are we to do when this occurs? Believe me, it WILL take place! The most successful people will tell you that much. However, the thing that made them successful, even when the road became tedious, was their being motivated to accomplish their desire. They have completely made up in their minds that they would see the aspiration to its end.
The key to remaining motivated is first to remember 'why' you set the goal. What was your reasoning behind the goal? Of course the main reason for setting your goals dealt with some form of self-improvement. When you remember that accomplishing the goal will greatly improve your outlook on life, this will assist you in following and finishing the plan you've set. Another reason to remember your 'why' is so that when attempting to accomplish a goal becomes uncomfortable or painful, your 'why' will encourage you to keep fighting, knowing that all your hard work will pay off in the end, enabling you to be healthier, happier, and more content than you previously realized!
A good way to stay motivated is to constantly look at your goals. You may want to write down the reason behind each goal to remain optimistic when the trials of pursuing the desire present themselves. The motivation necessary to accomplish your aspirations has already been placed inside of you by your Creator. Don't fret if you seem to lose some motivation, just continue to do what is necessary and doing that will keep you motivated, especially when you begin to make progress.
Another way to remain motivated is to think about how you will feel once the goal is accomplished. Seeing yourself in possession of the goal is a great way to encourage yourself along the ride. Remember your goals are most likely a marathon and not a sprint! There will be peaks and valleys along the path, but remain focus and decisive toward accomplishing the goal! It takes faith and strength to realize any worthwhile ambition. Keep believing and God will honor your faith, giving you the ingredients necessary to remain in a positive frame of mind along the ride toward the completion of your task.
So when the times get tough, and the travels along the road to accomplishing your goals make you weary, remember YOU CAN, WILL, AND MUST ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS!!!! You have all the motivation and desire needed to do all things to the Glory of GOD! God Will Strengthen you!!!! Don't become discouraged if things aren't progressing as quickly as they might. You will arrive at your destination if you do NOT quit!! Remember, as The Holy Bible states, 'YOU WILL REAP, IF YOU FAINT NOT!!!!' Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger Of GOD
Tomorrow: Enduring Faith
Motivation is a key ingredient when enduring the sometimes difficult task of accomplishing goals. Without motivation, we become luke-warm goal seekers simply 'going through the motions', making the task at hand increasingly difficult. I mention that it would be more difficult because of the fact that when we are 'inspired' to do a thing, it makes it more joyous even if the job at hand may be a bit strenuous.
But how do we remain motivated? When we first begin a venture, we are at the peak of excitement! We feel rejuvenated by the new set of goals we have created and we know without a shadow of a doubt that with the aid of JEHOVAH we will accomplish our goals. We do great the first day, even better the second day, but then we seemingly hit that proverbial wall, where we don't feel up to doing what needs to be done to get us through the day. What are we to do when this occurs? Believe me, it WILL take place! The most successful people will tell you that much. However, the thing that made them successful, even when the road became tedious, was their being motivated to accomplish their desire. They have completely made up in their minds that they would see the aspiration to its end.
The key to remaining motivated is first to remember 'why' you set the goal. What was your reasoning behind the goal? Of course the main reason for setting your goals dealt with some form of self-improvement. When you remember that accomplishing the goal will greatly improve your outlook on life, this will assist you in following and finishing the plan you've set. Another reason to remember your 'why' is so that when attempting to accomplish a goal becomes uncomfortable or painful, your 'why' will encourage you to keep fighting, knowing that all your hard work will pay off in the end, enabling you to be healthier, happier, and more content than you previously realized!
A good way to stay motivated is to constantly look at your goals. You may want to write down the reason behind each goal to remain optimistic when the trials of pursuing the desire present themselves. The motivation necessary to accomplish your aspirations has already been placed inside of you by your Creator. Don't fret if you seem to lose some motivation, just continue to do what is necessary and doing that will keep you motivated, especially when you begin to make progress.
Another way to remain motivated is to think about how you will feel once the goal is accomplished. Seeing yourself in possession of the goal is a great way to encourage yourself along the ride. Remember your goals are most likely a marathon and not a sprint! There will be peaks and valleys along the path, but remain focus and decisive toward accomplishing the goal! It takes faith and strength to realize any worthwhile ambition. Keep believing and God will honor your faith, giving you the ingredients necessary to remain in a positive frame of mind along the ride toward the completion of your task.
So when the times get tough, and the travels along the road to accomplishing your goals make you weary, remember YOU CAN, WILL, AND MUST ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS!!!! You have all the motivation and desire needed to do all things to the Glory of GOD! God Will Strengthen you!!!! Don't become discouraged if things aren't progressing as quickly as they might. You will arrive at your destination if you do NOT quit!! Remember, as The Holy Bible states, 'YOU WILL REAP, IF YOU FAINT NOT!!!!' Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger Of GOD
Tomorrow: Enduring Faith
Monday, July 18, 2011
An In-Depth Look At Goal Setting
Praise JESUS CHRIST!
Greetings family! Yesterday we scratched the surface of 'Finishing What we Start' by dealing with the issue of effective goal-setting. All great accomplishment is a direct result of the God-given goals we prepare for ourselves in order that we become successful in any area of life. With this in mind, let's discuss the purpose of goal setting.
Goal setting gives us a road map, a sense of direction as we navigate the many twists and turns of life. We all have desires, things we would like to accomplish before we leave this earth, and the most effective method of accomplishing these dreams is to implement goals that allow us to be the people in which God intended to fulfill His Purpose and Plan for not only our lives, but also the lives of others. Achieving well thought out goals also gives us a sense of accomplishment which boosts our confidence and esteem, not only in God, but also in ourselves. Goal setting gives us a sense of purpose, and if we have a purpose in life, more than likely we have goals. Those who don't feel a sense of purpose or self-worth, very seldom create goals and a plan to achieve them.
I mentioned briefly yesterday that we should prayerfully consider our goals. We need to be sure that our goals line up with the Word of GOD and His Plan for our lives. After all, what good does it do to gain the whole world and lose your soul? In other words, we shouldn't set goals that would compromise the very integrity and fabric of the ideals, and morals our Creator has instilled in us. Our goals should always be pleasing to God. They should not consist of fruitless pursuits that attempt to show the world we've arrived. Our goals, if presented to the world, should show the Faithfulness of Jesus, and give Glory to the One that has designed us with access to His Holy Spirit Power to achieve all He has ordained for us to accomplish, and to show the nations that our God is the King of kings, and Lord of lords! That is the ultimate reasoning behind setting goals, to put on display the wonderful acts of God! So make sure that your goal is one that cheers the heart of God and yours as well. If we are led by the peace of God, we can't go wrong in terms of setting our goals.
We also discussed yesterday that all goals fall into three specific categories, SPIRITUAL GOALS, PERSONAL GOALS, and CORPORATE GOALS (See the article in this blog 'Start Great! Finish GREATER!' - 7/17/11). SPIRITUAL GOALS are aspirations based on things you want to accomplish for the Kingdom of God. While PERSONAL, and CORPORATE GOALS are important, SPIRITUAL GOALS are a mandate for setting all other goals, because they give us the moral compass necessary to be truly successful at any task. PERSONAL GOALS are goal's that will improve the overall quality of our personal lives. These are things that we want to achieve that we believe will not only bring us more happiness and fulfilment, but also make us better equipped to live out the life God has envisioned for us even before we came into this world. CORPORATE GOALS are basically goal's that involve a community of like minded individuals, coming together for a cause greater than themselves. These goals usually involve things at Church, the workplace, or major business endeavors. In a sense, SPIRITUAL GOALS prepare a person for achievement, PERSONAL GOALS equip a person for achievement, and CORPORATE GOALS show that the person has achieved!
Within the realm of these three categories of goals comes the three types of goals, IMMEDIATE Goals, SHORT-TERM Goals, and LONG-RANGE Goals. IMMEDIATE Goals are ones that can usually be realized in the span of one day to one month. They are goal's that are the starting point for all achievement! They put the potential achiever into the right frame of mind as they take the first steps in improving their persona. Some IMMEDIATE goal's include changing a hairstyle, reading a new book, filling out necessary documentation for a business endeavor, preparing a plan of action for accomplishing goals, etc. SHORT-TERM Goals are ones that normally would require anywhere from one month to one year to accomplish. They are goals that include things such as losing weight, purchasing a new car, starting a business, or many other endeavors that would normally take some but not a lot of time. LONG-RANGE Goals are ones that would require more than a year's worth of persistence. The main goal which comes to mind as a LONG-RANGE Goal is purchasing your 'dream home'. Now that we know the three major categories of goals, and the three types within these categories, let's begin the actual process of setting and maintaining goals!
The first step once you've sought The LORD and have come to the conclusion of what you'd like to accomplish in life is to write down all the things you want to do. You may prefer to write in a notepad, or on your laptop. It really doesn't make a difference. The key here is to get something concrete so that you can consistently view the goals, revise them if need be, and track your progress. After you've written all you would like to accomplish, place an 'S' beside the goal for a SPIRITUAL Goal, a 'P' for PERSONAL Goals, and a 'C' for CORPORATE Goals. The next thing you would want to do is to put a date when you plan to start the goal, and when you plan on completing it. Setting a time frame is VERY important because it helps you to accurately track your progress. In the same manner you've labeled the category of the goal, place an 'I' if the goal can be done IMMEDIATELY, and 'ST' If it is a SHORT-TERM Goal, and an 'LR' if it is a LONG-RANGE accomplishment. Now you've taken the first step in realizing your dreams! Believe it or not, you've just accomplished something that many people hardly ever attempt. You are getting your life in order, and working diligently to accomplish all that God has, by His Sovereign Providence, placed inside your heart.
Now after you've decided what you want to do, the category and type of goal you want to achieve, and the time frame you plan on achieving the goal, it is time to clearly put a list up where you can see the goals all throughout the day. You may want to put them on your bathroom mirror, on the wall beside your bed, on the refrigerator, or any place you frequent. I personally place my goals on a note in my cell phone. There are no rules to which method you utilize. The important thing is that you place the goals where you can see them. This will help keep the goals at the forefront of your mind, and will help to keep you motivated if any discouragement from the adversary (the devil) or adversaries (people who want to see you fall, or who mean well but don't know how to encourage your dreams) attempts to overtake you!
As a side note, you will always have IMMEDIATE goals within the categories and types of the other goals. An example would be the LONG-TERM goal is to buy the house (more than one year), while the IMMEDIATE goal is to open a savings account towards the purchase of the house (one day to one month). Don't worry, God will give you all the Wisdom necessary to know what steps to take to realize these goals. You just have to GET STARTED!!! Psalm 1 tells us that whatever we 'do' will prosper! Take the first step, and let God guide you to the finish line!
Along the way of achieving your goals, you may have some bumpy roads. When you make an effort to do something worthwhile for God's Kingdom, the battle for your discouragement has ensued from Satan's fallen-world. Don't be overcome if and when you don't feel like doing something you feel needs to be done. Keep pushing ahead. Some days you may not feel like doing anything. At least do something towards the accomplishment of your goal. If you plan on jogging 3 miles in one day, and can only gather the strength to jog one mile, you still have done something! Don't be too hard on yourself, as you attempt to make the necessary changes in your life. Take small steps. I have a LONG-RANGE goal to lose 100lbs by 10/15/2012. That may seem like a tall feet, but if I lost only 2lbs a week, I would have accomplished my goal by the middle of August 2012! Yours goals CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED! Track your progress along the way to see how far you have come. When you've accomplished any goal, congratulate yourself! Reward yourself!! Be sure to thank JESUS for every accomplishment along the way of realizing your dream. It doesn't matter how minimal the accomplishment may be. YOU ARE A VICTOR, and YOU HAVE OVERCOME with each small step of victory even if the entire goal has yet to be realized! Remember the reason's why you set the goal. This will help motivate you when discouragement tries to intervene. Sometimes our bodies, minds, and spirits are reluctant to 'change'! But in this life change is necessary. The only Person that doesn't change is JESUS! HE IS PERFECT! He has no need for change! We are striving to be perfect, that 'Striving' is our Change!
After you've accomplished your goal, rest, and then set a NEW one! Keep progressing upward on this road of life! Remember to CELEBRATE along the way. You've come a long way, and because you have a desire to be better, God will make you better! Take the time to make the necessary changes in your life, and become all - AND I MEAN ALL - the person JESUS CALLS YOU TO BE!! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger Of God
Tomorrow: Staying Motivated
Greetings family! Yesterday we scratched the surface of 'Finishing What we Start' by dealing with the issue of effective goal-setting. All great accomplishment is a direct result of the God-given goals we prepare for ourselves in order that we become successful in any area of life. With this in mind, let's discuss the purpose of goal setting.
Goal setting gives us a road map, a sense of direction as we navigate the many twists and turns of life. We all have desires, things we would like to accomplish before we leave this earth, and the most effective method of accomplishing these dreams is to implement goals that allow us to be the people in which God intended to fulfill His Purpose and Plan for not only our lives, but also the lives of others. Achieving well thought out goals also gives us a sense of accomplishment which boosts our confidence and esteem, not only in God, but also in ourselves. Goal setting gives us a sense of purpose, and if we have a purpose in life, more than likely we have goals. Those who don't feel a sense of purpose or self-worth, very seldom create goals and a plan to achieve them.
I mentioned briefly yesterday that we should prayerfully consider our goals. We need to be sure that our goals line up with the Word of GOD and His Plan for our lives. After all, what good does it do to gain the whole world and lose your soul? In other words, we shouldn't set goals that would compromise the very integrity and fabric of the ideals, and morals our Creator has instilled in us. Our goals should always be pleasing to God. They should not consist of fruitless pursuits that attempt to show the world we've arrived. Our goals, if presented to the world, should show the Faithfulness of Jesus, and give Glory to the One that has designed us with access to His Holy Spirit Power to achieve all He has ordained for us to accomplish, and to show the nations that our God is the King of kings, and Lord of lords! That is the ultimate reasoning behind setting goals, to put on display the wonderful acts of God! So make sure that your goal is one that cheers the heart of God and yours as well. If we are led by the peace of God, we can't go wrong in terms of setting our goals.
We also discussed yesterday that all goals fall into three specific categories, SPIRITUAL GOALS, PERSONAL GOALS, and CORPORATE GOALS (See the article in this blog 'Start Great! Finish GREATER!' - 7/17/11). SPIRITUAL GOALS are aspirations based on things you want to accomplish for the Kingdom of God. While PERSONAL, and CORPORATE GOALS are important, SPIRITUAL GOALS are a mandate for setting all other goals, because they give us the moral compass necessary to be truly successful at any task. PERSONAL GOALS are goal's that will improve the overall quality of our personal lives. These are things that we want to achieve that we believe will not only bring us more happiness and fulfilment, but also make us better equipped to live out the life God has envisioned for us even before we came into this world. CORPORATE GOALS are basically goal's that involve a community of like minded individuals, coming together for a cause greater than themselves. These goals usually involve things at Church, the workplace, or major business endeavors. In a sense, SPIRITUAL GOALS prepare a person for achievement, PERSONAL GOALS equip a person for achievement, and CORPORATE GOALS show that the person has achieved!
Within the realm of these three categories of goals comes the three types of goals, IMMEDIATE Goals, SHORT-TERM Goals, and LONG-RANGE Goals. IMMEDIATE Goals are ones that can usually be realized in the span of one day to one month. They are goal's that are the starting point for all achievement! They put the potential achiever into the right frame of mind as they take the first steps in improving their persona. Some IMMEDIATE goal's include changing a hairstyle, reading a new book, filling out necessary documentation for a business endeavor, preparing a plan of action for accomplishing goals, etc. SHORT-TERM Goals are ones that normally would require anywhere from one month to one year to accomplish. They are goals that include things such as losing weight, purchasing a new car, starting a business, or many other endeavors that would normally take some but not a lot of time. LONG-RANGE Goals are ones that would require more than a year's worth of persistence. The main goal which comes to mind as a LONG-RANGE Goal is purchasing your 'dream home'. Now that we know the three major categories of goals, and the three types within these categories, let's begin the actual process of setting and maintaining goals!
The first step once you've sought The LORD and have come to the conclusion of what you'd like to accomplish in life is to write down all the things you want to do. You may prefer to write in a notepad, or on your laptop. It really doesn't make a difference. The key here is to get something concrete so that you can consistently view the goals, revise them if need be, and track your progress. After you've written all you would like to accomplish, place an 'S' beside the goal for a SPIRITUAL Goal, a 'P' for PERSONAL Goals, and a 'C' for CORPORATE Goals. The next thing you would want to do is to put a date when you plan to start the goal, and when you plan on completing it. Setting a time frame is VERY important because it helps you to accurately track your progress. In the same manner you've labeled the category of the goal, place an 'I' if the goal can be done IMMEDIATELY, and 'ST' If it is a SHORT-TERM Goal, and an 'LR' if it is a LONG-RANGE accomplishment. Now you've taken the first step in realizing your dreams! Believe it or not, you've just accomplished something that many people hardly ever attempt. You are getting your life in order, and working diligently to accomplish all that God has, by His Sovereign Providence, placed inside your heart.
Now after you've decided what you want to do, the category and type of goal you want to achieve, and the time frame you plan on achieving the goal, it is time to clearly put a list up where you can see the goals all throughout the day. You may want to put them on your bathroom mirror, on the wall beside your bed, on the refrigerator, or any place you frequent. I personally place my goals on a note in my cell phone. There are no rules to which method you utilize. The important thing is that you place the goals where you can see them. This will help keep the goals at the forefront of your mind, and will help to keep you motivated if any discouragement from the adversary (the devil) or adversaries (people who want to see you fall, or who mean well but don't know how to encourage your dreams) attempts to overtake you!
As a side note, you will always have IMMEDIATE goals within the categories and types of the other goals. An example would be the LONG-TERM goal is to buy the house (more than one year), while the IMMEDIATE goal is to open a savings account towards the purchase of the house (one day to one month). Don't worry, God will give you all the Wisdom necessary to know what steps to take to realize these goals. You just have to GET STARTED!!! Psalm 1 tells us that whatever we 'do' will prosper! Take the first step, and let God guide you to the finish line!
Along the way of achieving your goals, you may have some bumpy roads. When you make an effort to do something worthwhile for God's Kingdom, the battle for your discouragement has ensued from Satan's fallen-world. Don't be overcome if and when you don't feel like doing something you feel needs to be done. Keep pushing ahead. Some days you may not feel like doing anything. At least do something towards the accomplishment of your goal. If you plan on jogging 3 miles in one day, and can only gather the strength to jog one mile, you still have done something! Don't be too hard on yourself, as you attempt to make the necessary changes in your life. Take small steps. I have a LONG-RANGE goal to lose 100lbs by 10/15/2012. That may seem like a tall feet, but if I lost only 2lbs a week, I would have accomplished my goal by the middle of August 2012! Yours goals CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED! Track your progress along the way to see how far you have come. When you've accomplished any goal, congratulate yourself! Reward yourself!! Be sure to thank JESUS for every accomplishment along the way of realizing your dream. It doesn't matter how minimal the accomplishment may be. YOU ARE A VICTOR, and YOU HAVE OVERCOME with each small step of victory even if the entire goal has yet to be realized! Remember the reason's why you set the goal. This will help motivate you when discouragement tries to intervene. Sometimes our bodies, minds, and spirits are reluctant to 'change'! But in this life change is necessary. The only Person that doesn't change is JESUS! HE IS PERFECT! He has no need for change! We are striving to be perfect, that 'Striving' is our Change!
After you've accomplished your goal, rest, and then set a NEW one! Keep progressing upward on this road of life! Remember to CELEBRATE along the way. You've come a long way, and because you have a desire to be better, God will make you better! Take the time to make the necessary changes in your life, and become all - AND I MEAN ALL - the person JESUS CALLS YOU TO BE!! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger Of God
Tomorrow: Staying Motivated
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Start Great! Finish GREATER!!!!
Praise JESUS CHRIST!!!!
Greetings, my beloved friends and family! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to join me today as we continue on our ordained journey to finish what we start! It is my absolute joy and privilege to be able to speak into your hearts and minds the wonderful Word and strategies of our Beloved Savior and LORD JESUS CHRIST!
Today we must discuss the topic of not only starting each day GREAT, but also FINISHING GREATER than how we began. With this in mind I would like to verbalize what I believe is the key to not only starting and completing each day with the Greatness of The LORD, but also the key to enduring a successful and profitable life, as we walk with Jesus as our number one Ally and Friend along this road we call LIFE!
The key to living a fulfilling life is utilizing the God-Given ability we possess to set and finish strategic goals. I say strategic because we have to set a strategy as if we were preparing for a battle that we could not afford to lose! Actually we are preparing for a battle. As a Christian, we are given the Wisdom of Almighty God that we are in a Spiritual Warfare. Sometimes, just our having survived yesterday, and waking up today, still thanking God, is a battle that by the Mercy of Christ we have won. Life is a series of battles. Some are lesser than others, but with every battle, although we may have come out victorious, more than likely there will be some sort of wound or bruise. Our total healing from all of life's trials and tribulations can only be found in the Grace and loving Countenance of Jesus Christ. However, I'll reserve that topic for a future blog. Be sure to remind me!
In this collection of faith-filled words, my intent is to get you started in the right direction of becoming a vessel apt for the Master's use, and creating not only an innate desire to fulfil the Will of God in your life, but to also accomplish every dream, goal, and Christ-like intent in order that you might rejoice in The LORD daily no matter what satanic opposition comes against you, and that you may be the Salt and Light Jesus designed you to be so that the world would see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. The impetus to get you started on the right path of attaining your desires, is the effectiveness of setting, maintaining, and fulfilling your goals!
The first step in goal setting is to decide what exactly you want. It is very difficult to attempt to prepare a plan of action if you don't know what you hope to attain as a result of the action! Before we begin the act of preparing our goals, I would like to emphasize that there are Spiritual Goals, Personal Goals, and Corporate goals. I would suggest that you prayerfully consider not only what the Will of God is in your life, but also ask Him to show you what talent's He has already placed at your beck and call in regards to His Will, Plan, and Purpose for your life. The best and easiest was to find out the Will of God for your life is to be rooted and grounded in the Word of God, the Holy Bible. God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness in His Word. The Holy Bible is the only accurate and true source of the intents of Jesus's Heart. We not only learn the attributes of our Savior by intense reading of this 'gameplan' for life, we also learn about ourselves, as we see close range the triumphs, mistakes, pitfalls, and tragedies of other men and women of like passions as we. Simply put, before we talk about any personal or corporate goals, we must discuss the imperative matter of pursuing Spiritual Goals!
Spiritual goals will vary from person to person. A spiritual goal may be your endeavoring to read the entire Bible in a year. It may also mean that you would set a goal to spend 20 minutes in the morning, evening, and night in fellowship with your Creator. It might mean you've decided to not leave a conversation with anyone without talking about the Goodness of God. Of course each of us is different in our spiritual walks with God, so you do whatever God places in your heart. But remember, in order to live a successful and fulfilling life, without regrets, we must have Spiritual goals! I know and believe the most important goal we as Christians should pursue is to live a life pleasing to God. I'm not saying necessarily what man says is pleasing to God. I'm saying what God's Word says is pleasing to Him. This is why it is imperative to KNOW His Word for yourself, and your spirit will soar on the beautiful heavens of the Will of our Creator!
The next category of goals is Personal Goals. Personal goals involve, but are not limited to, what you would like to accomplish in your own personal life. These goals include such things as writing a book, losing weight, quitting smoking, spending more time with loved ones, finishing college, having a successful business, attaining a certain amount of wealth, and the list continues. These are all worthy goals, and should be pursued, according to the Will of God in your life. This is one of the main reasons we need to have our Spiritual lives in tact before we pursue our BIG dreams and desires!
The last category of goals is Corporate goals. These aspirations involve what you would like to accomplish with the community of individuals God has placed in your life. These include family goals (i.e. - Having a movie, or family night with your spouse and children weekly), Church goals (i.e. - planning with the Pastor missionary trips, fund raising, feeding the homeless, visiting the sick, communing with the imprisoned, etc.), business goals (i.e. - having performance incentives in the workplace or at your business, partnership, or corporation), or community goals (i.e. - planning block parties for your neighborhood, having barbecues or swimming trips, taking a group of underprivileged children to Church or the movies, etc). These Corporate goals in a sense are more worthy than personal goals, however, we must have our personal lives in tact before we can effectively minister to the masses!
I mentioned earlier that before you can plan your goals, you must know exactly what you want. What do you want in life? What would you like God to accomplish in your life by this time next year? What resources are available to you to accomplish your goals? Will the goal be an immediate goal, short term goal, or long term goal? Will you need the assistance of others to accomplish your goal? Do you possess the necessary funding to achieve your goal? Do YOU believe you can accomplish this goal? These are all questions that must be considered when you are striving to accomplish something great! These are only a few questions. I'm sure you can think of many more. This is why you MUST know what you want before you can create a goal setting plan. This takes prayer, and may take soul searching. But it can be done! Remember, you can do ALL things through CHRIST which strengtheneth you (Philippians 4:13)!
Now, before I delve deeper into how we are to plan, perfect, and pursue our goals and to discuss what IMMEDIATE, SHORT TERM, and LONG TERM Goals are, I want you to first spend some time in prayer, seeking and listening to God. Ask Jesus to give you Wisdom even as you rest tonight about what He would have you do. Ask Him to clear out all clutter in your minds and hearts in order that you are sincerely ready to pursue all that He has envisioned for your life. Read your favorite Bible Chapter tonight before you retire for the evening. If you don't believe all that the Bible states about Jesus being our only Way to Salvation, I would suggest that you read in the Holy Bible (preferably the King James Version) The Gospel according to St. John Chapter 3 tonight. You may accomplish goals in life seemingly without belief in Christ, but when the goal is accomplished, without this belief, you WILL NOT garner real peace or fulfillment!!!!
If you are just joining us on this journey of Finishing What We Start, I would suggest you take the time to read our previous blogs. These will help you effectively manuever the roads, peaks, valleys, and mountains of life. Remember, we are Starting Great, and Finishing Greater in EVERY aspect of life. Please join us tomorrow as we discuss the intricacies of proper goal setting. You won't want to miss it! Thanks again for joining us today and everyday, and leave a comment, share the link to these articles on your various social media pages, and make your friends and family members aware that this blog is on line! Remember, we deal exclusively with REAL POSITIVITY! That REAL POSITIVITY is maintaining a life focused on The Only REAL POSITIVE we have, JESUS CHRIST! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Tomorrow: Delving Deeper into Goal Setting
Greetings, my beloved friends and family! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to join me today as we continue on our ordained journey to finish what we start! It is my absolute joy and privilege to be able to speak into your hearts and minds the wonderful Word and strategies of our Beloved Savior and LORD JESUS CHRIST!
Today we must discuss the topic of not only starting each day GREAT, but also FINISHING GREATER than how we began. With this in mind I would like to verbalize what I believe is the key to not only starting and completing each day with the Greatness of The LORD, but also the key to enduring a successful and profitable life, as we walk with Jesus as our number one Ally and Friend along this road we call LIFE!
The key to living a fulfilling life is utilizing the God-Given ability we possess to set and finish strategic goals. I say strategic because we have to set a strategy as if we were preparing for a battle that we could not afford to lose! Actually we are preparing for a battle. As a Christian, we are given the Wisdom of Almighty God that we are in a Spiritual Warfare. Sometimes, just our having survived yesterday, and waking up today, still thanking God, is a battle that by the Mercy of Christ we have won. Life is a series of battles. Some are lesser than others, but with every battle, although we may have come out victorious, more than likely there will be some sort of wound or bruise. Our total healing from all of life's trials and tribulations can only be found in the Grace and loving Countenance of Jesus Christ. However, I'll reserve that topic for a future blog. Be sure to remind me!
In this collection of faith-filled words, my intent is to get you started in the right direction of becoming a vessel apt for the Master's use, and creating not only an innate desire to fulfil the Will of God in your life, but to also accomplish every dream, goal, and Christ-like intent in order that you might rejoice in The LORD daily no matter what satanic opposition comes against you, and that you may be the Salt and Light Jesus designed you to be so that the world would see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. The impetus to get you started on the right path of attaining your desires, is the effectiveness of setting, maintaining, and fulfilling your goals!
The first step in goal setting is to decide what exactly you want. It is very difficult to attempt to prepare a plan of action if you don't know what you hope to attain as a result of the action! Before we begin the act of preparing our goals, I would like to emphasize that there are Spiritual Goals, Personal Goals, and Corporate goals. I would suggest that you prayerfully consider not only what the Will of God is in your life, but also ask Him to show you what talent's He has already placed at your beck and call in regards to His Will, Plan, and Purpose for your life. The best and easiest was to find out the Will of God for your life is to be rooted and grounded in the Word of God, the Holy Bible. God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness in His Word. The Holy Bible is the only accurate and true source of the intents of Jesus's Heart. We not only learn the attributes of our Savior by intense reading of this 'gameplan' for life, we also learn about ourselves, as we see close range the triumphs, mistakes, pitfalls, and tragedies of other men and women of like passions as we. Simply put, before we talk about any personal or corporate goals, we must discuss the imperative matter of pursuing Spiritual Goals!
Spiritual goals will vary from person to person. A spiritual goal may be your endeavoring to read the entire Bible in a year. It may also mean that you would set a goal to spend 20 minutes in the morning, evening, and night in fellowship with your Creator. It might mean you've decided to not leave a conversation with anyone without talking about the Goodness of God. Of course each of us is different in our spiritual walks with God, so you do whatever God places in your heart. But remember, in order to live a successful and fulfilling life, without regrets, we must have Spiritual goals! I know and believe the most important goal we as Christians should pursue is to live a life pleasing to God. I'm not saying necessarily what man says is pleasing to God. I'm saying what God's Word says is pleasing to Him. This is why it is imperative to KNOW His Word for yourself, and your spirit will soar on the beautiful heavens of the Will of our Creator!
The next category of goals is Personal Goals. Personal goals involve, but are not limited to, what you would like to accomplish in your own personal life. These goals include such things as writing a book, losing weight, quitting smoking, spending more time with loved ones, finishing college, having a successful business, attaining a certain amount of wealth, and the list continues. These are all worthy goals, and should be pursued, according to the Will of God in your life. This is one of the main reasons we need to have our Spiritual lives in tact before we pursue our BIG dreams and desires!
The last category of goals is Corporate goals. These aspirations involve what you would like to accomplish with the community of individuals God has placed in your life. These include family goals (i.e. - Having a movie, or family night with your spouse and children weekly), Church goals (i.e. - planning with the Pastor missionary trips, fund raising, feeding the homeless, visiting the sick, communing with the imprisoned, etc.), business goals (i.e. - having performance incentives in the workplace or at your business, partnership, or corporation), or community goals (i.e. - planning block parties for your neighborhood, having barbecues or swimming trips, taking a group of underprivileged children to Church or the movies, etc). These Corporate goals in a sense are more worthy than personal goals, however, we must have our personal lives in tact before we can effectively minister to the masses!
I mentioned earlier that before you can plan your goals, you must know exactly what you want. What do you want in life? What would you like God to accomplish in your life by this time next year? What resources are available to you to accomplish your goals? Will the goal be an immediate goal, short term goal, or long term goal? Will you need the assistance of others to accomplish your goal? Do you possess the necessary funding to achieve your goal? Do YOU believe you can accomplish this goal? These are all questions that must be considered when you are striving to accomplish something great! These are only a few questions. I'm sure you can think of many more. This is why you MUST know what you want before you can create a goal setting plan. This takes prayer, and may take soul searching. But it can be done! Remember, you can do ALL things through CHRIST which strengtheneth you (Philippians 4:13)!
Now, before I delve deeper into how we are to plan, perfect, and pursue our goals and to discuss what IMMEDIATE, SHORT TERM, and LONG TERM Goals are, I want you to first spend some time in prayer, seeking and listening to God. Ask Jesus to give you Wisdom even as you rest tonight about what He would have you do. Ask Him to clear out all clutter in your minds and hearts in order that you are sincerely ready to pursue all that He has envisioned for your life. Read your favorite Bible Chapter tonight before you retire for the evening. If you don't believe all that the Bible states about Jesus being our only Way to Salvation, I would suggest that you read in the Holy Bible (preferably the King James Version) The Gospel according to St. John Chapter 3 tonight. You may accomplish goals in life seemingly without belief in Christ, but when the goal is accomplished, without this belief, you WILL NOT garner real peace or fulfillment!!!!
If you are just joining us on this journey of Finishing What We Start, I would suggest you take the time to read our previous blogs. These will help you effectively manuever the roads, peaks, valleys, and mountains of life. Remember, we are Starting Great, and Finishing Greater in EVERY aspect of life. Please join us tomorrow as we discuss the intricacies of proper goal setting. You won't want to miss it! Thanks again for joining us today and everyday, and leave a comment, share the link to these articles on your various social media pages, and make your friends and family members aware that this blog is on line! Remember, we deal exclusively with REAL POSITIVITY! That REAL POSITIVITY is maintaining a life focused on The Only REAL POSITIVE we have, JESUS CHRIST! Be Blessed!
(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God
Tomorrow: Delving Deeper into Goal Setting
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