I participated in a discussion on a social media site recently where one of the other people suggested that faith couldn't be trusted and unconditional love could get you in trouble. He reasoned that a lot of people of supposed faith do things incredibly wrong – like murdering in the name of God. He suggested that logic should reign supreme. If people would forget faith in favor of logic then they wouldn't do such stupid things. He also recommended that love should not have free reign because it leads to codependency or narcissistic behavior.
I found his way of thinking more frightening than the possibility that someone's unfounded faith might cause a terrorist attack. Shall we abandon faith, hope and charity for simple logic? Why does it have to be all or nothing? Can't we use all the faculties God gave us? Yes, God gave us our logical minds for a reason, but dare they be completely trusted when they too can be tainted by our life experiences? Our minds can fool us into thinking we're acting completely logically, when in reality we're basing everything on an underlying faulty premise lodged in our subconscious minds. Throughout my life, I continue to discover old "programming" running in my subconscious mind that drives my actions. When I get down to them and examine them, I realize that actions taken because of them were completely logical. The problem was they were NOT true!
I consider myself a very logical person – been a computer programmer for 20 years, but even when founded on "truth" I still don't trust my logic completely. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, and it's simply not logical that Christ would bother dying for me. It's not logical that He would love me just the way I am. None of it is logical to my reasoning. I'm just one person among billions of billions. Why not leave me off the list and save some suffering on His part? I'm so grateful that faith tells me He did indeed die for me. I'm grateful to have felt His unconditional love for me – in spite of all logic that He should feel that way. His grace still amazes me!
I have noticed as I go about my mission of lighting the world by helping gifted people get their messages out, that many abandon their desires to make a difference for one simple reason. They're just trying to survive. They're so busy trying to make this month's bills that they feel like they can't possibly focus on what brings them joy -- especially if they can't directly see how that's going to make them money.
I know how this feels -- been there, done that -- for a lot of years. But, I've noticed an interesting phenomenon. The year I started SheLovesGod.com (2000) is the year things started turning around for us financially. I put my heart, time and effort into making a positive impact on the world and God repaid me handsomely and exponentially over time. In Luke 10:7 Jesus told His disciples as he sent them out without purse or script that they would have food and drink, "for the labourer is worthy of his hire." God takes care of His own.
Luke 6:38 assures us:
"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
The more good you put out, the more good that returns to you. It's a universal law. The thing is, you don't control from where it will come. A lot of people have desires to serve, but they can't figure out how they can make money from that area of service. While many times gifts can be monetized, there are other times, that income doesn't come directly from our area of service. For example my effort to support and encourage Christians does not generate the income that supports our family. But God blesses the other business ventures I have as I serve Him. Miracles happen that I cannot explain. Ideas drop from heaven. The perfect people enter my life. Everything I need to support me in my mission is provided.
So if you're one of those people who would like to impact the world for good, but you've put it on hold until you "get out of debt" or until you have your finanances in order, flip it around. Serve God FIRST with your own unique, skills and talents. Open yourself up to possibilities. Follow the Spirit, and God will provide for you. It may take some education about how the laws of abundance work. It will take a lot of work to control your thoughts, but God will lead you to your own promised land if you serve Him.
If you're stuck in a financial muck like I was 10 years ago, I recommend you go to the person who helped me. Go to Leslie Householder's sites - www.ThoughtsAlive.com and get as much of her material as you can. Read her blogs. You can even get her book The Jackrabbit Factor for free at www.JackRabbitFactor.com . You can even read the first few chapters of its sequel at www.PortaltoGenius.com .
Also, I have an overview of the 7 Laws of Abundant Living here. These are the laws Leslie taught me. They changed my life AFTER I had committed myself to be a disciple of Christ. I think that committment is critical. The riches of eternity are in God's hands and they are His to give. Of course He wants to share them with you so you can fulfill your mission! On the other hand, if it's all about glutteny, pride or vanity, those will be stumbling blocks along your way.
God promises great things to His disciples:
Matthew 6:26-33
"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles [unbelievers] seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
What, if anything, is holding you back from making a positive impact on the world? I'd love to hear from you.
I appeared on the Women's Information Network Show (The WIN Show) to talk about the formula for accomplishing the impossible. I call it "HALO over Gratitude" or if you want to see it as a mathematical formula, it's
HALO
---------
Gratitude
This short video is that appearance:
Would love to hear what you think! And please do stop by and listen to my Light the World show on the WIN.
Many people today are feeling hopeless and helpless. In a society on information overload, we're often so inundated with "information" that we have a hard time discerning what is going to be helpful for us as individuals. I really enjoyed this episode of The WIN (Women's Information Network) Show in which Tiffany Berg addresses these issues and offers solutions:
I believe that God leaves symbols in nature that we can examine and apply to our lives. Whether it's lessons from my garden or from a trip hiking through Zion's National Park, there is always something significant to learn from God's creations.
In my recent trip to St. George, Utah, my friend Judy Hansen, took me hiking in Zion's National Park. This short 2-minute video on achieving your dreams is just one of the "aha moments" I had that week.
I'll be presenting on "The Road Less Travelled: Self-Publishing Your Masterpiece" at the Book Academy Writer's Conference at UVU in Orem Utah on Thursday, September 24th. I'll be signing books in the commons at 11:00am and presenting at 11:30am. Details on registering for the conference are here.
On Saturday, September 26th I'll be attending the Women's Information Network Launch. I won't be presenting but there will be some great presenters there and I'd love to meet you if you're in the Sandy, Utah area. Details on this free event are here.
I love this video on our divine ability and wish to create something that did not exist before... Powerful!
This evening I came up with a fun little exercise that was very revealing. I made a list of all the people who have impacted my life. Out to the right of each name, I jotted down the main way(s) each person affected me. As I did so, I saw a definite pattern. I went back to childhood, forward through time, and found the people I love, respect and value have come into my life for one or more of the following reasons:
Several people served more than one role, but in all, these 21 people have made me who I am. As I looked at the list and the number of people sent in each area, I thought it very revealing. Look at how many people have been sent to help me believe in myself. Either it's very important that I believe in myself or I'm weak in that area. Most likely it's a combination of both. I think we all need people who see our gifts, believe in us, and encourage us along the way.
I'm so grateful that God has sent me just the right people to help me progress. They have been and will continue to be priceless treasures in my life. So now it's your turn. Try writing down the people who have impacted your life and how they have done so. I'd be curious to hear your results. Let me know!
I was talking with my friend Phil Davis today, and he made an important observation. In a nuthsell, he said that when we start taking credit for our own successes, the weight of the world descends upon our shoulders. If we think we’re the ones making things happen, then we feel we must keep on making it happen. But, the moment we step back in awesome gratitude for the miracles we are allowed to witness, the weight is lifted from our shoulders. We’re no longer responsible for making everything right in the world.
What a liberating feeling!
Maybe this is why Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light." When we realize that it's not about us (not about our ability to say the right thing, do the right thing, or force the right outcome), we step into true power. When we do our best and let God make up the rest, outcomes no longer depend upon our human capabilities. Instead, through heartfelt gratitude, we tap into His enabling power. We know that ultimately He is in control and all things are going to work together for our good . . . in spite of our inadequacies.
Humble gratitude (acknowledgement that we are not the masters of our universe) is the key that unlocks His grace on our behalf.
One of our distributors was cleaning house and sent back a few cases of books. I'd like my office space back, so I decided to run an Overstock Book Sale on select titles. If you enjoy historical fiction or nonfiction Christian inspirational, now's a great time to stock up.
Packets of Sunlight for Patriots is only $4.95
Packets of Sunlight for Parents is only $4.95
Lord, Are You Sure? is only $5.95
You Can't Fly If You're Still Clutching the Dirt is only $5.95
You're Here for a Reason is only $10.95
The Patriot Wore Petticoats is only $8.95
Waltzing with the Light is only $7.95
Please note that these prices are good only while supplies last. So hop on over to our Overstock Inventory Sale!