Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

As we enter into 2012, we are filled with many dreams, hopes, aspirations, visions, desires and expectations. We make another year of  resolutions. We fill our schedules with new plans and mark the calendar with exciting activities for the upcoming year. By the end of the year, we are feeling depressed and unmotivated because we did not accomplish the goals that we set out to achieve.

The one thing we need to realize that we can expect another year of the same old thing unless we renew our minds. Our mentality has to change. Our attitudes has to change. Our behaviors has to change. Our disposition has to change. Our words and thoughts have to change. Sometime even our location has to change.  We can’t really expect a New Year full of change if we don’t change the internal things that may be blocking us from our goals.

It’s not an easy process. We are constantly transforming by our daily experiences but somehow we can remain stuck in an old mindset or behavior that may be hindering progress.  Let’s look ahead this year with a desire to renew our minds and embrace positive changes in our lives.  So, when we look back on another year we can really have a sense of accomplishment and look ahead with great expectation to a New Year!

Expect Great Things!

Cheers!

SHINE

Light in the Midst of Darkness

Last week, I was on my way home and had a negative thought that I’m  not representing the Lord very well because I’ve been in such a very dismal mood.  I was running low on energy and feeling very down.  I took notice of my environment and saw that mostly everyone either looked mad at the world,  extremely serious or just had no expression at all.  I rarely see a smile on anyone’s face in my daily travels and it’s even rare that I see strangers extend a hint of friendliness or politeness to one another.  I started to really examine how society as well as my own community has deteriorated. There is no more respect for others. Values have been washed away and morals have been erased. Our youth are running wild and companies are stealing, lying and cheating with no repercussions or penalties.

As a representative of Christ, our actions should reflect the love of Christ in everything we do and say.  In such a chaotic world, I sometimes feel that my actions will not mean anything in comparison to how much needs to be done in the world that we live in. It has left me feeling powerless and that I cannot possibly shine God’s light in such a dark world.

Strangely, I felt like I was becoming part of the darkness and it scared me. I quickly was reminded how powerful our thoughts are and how we should guard our thoughts and keep it under the obedience of Christ.   I also started to think about how strong God’s power is to illuminate light in the darkness. How quickly I forgot that I can’t do this in my own power! I realized that God has placed me in a specific environment to carry out His purpose. I’m not suppose to grow weary or burn out because of life’s circumstances. Jesus said, ” I am the light of the world.”  John 9:5. “It’s through Him, we move and have our being.” I’m also reminded of the scripture. “It’s not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” said the Lord. We must not grow tired in times of distress or frustration.  When we carry the Holy Spirit within us, we have the ability to change the atmosphere in any environment. We also have the ability to draw strength from the Lord. “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” I realized that somewhere along the line I must have lost that inner joy that came from the Lord.  It’s in the secret place of the most High when I  praise His name that I find strength. This is where I realized that I had lost my focus.  When you put the Lord first, many eternal promises are fulfilled and you lack nothing including joy, strength and His light.

It was very strong for me to post this intimate story because I’ve had about 5 confirmations this past week in regard to shining God’s light. It’s God’s way of nudging me to write for His purpose. I don’t believe in coincidences and I know there is someone who needs to read this message right now.  So take an introspective look at yourself today and find the light within because  “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a  lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. So let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. “

I Peter 2

Sheltered From the Storm

This evening I went grocery shopping. It was raining when I came out of the store. I had four bags in my hand and did not have the ability to hold an umbrella. There was a lady standing beside me in the lobby. I turned to her and said, “I’m trying to figure out how I will hold my umbrella so I can cross the street without getting drenched.” She quickly offered to carry two of my bags while holding her umbrella over us while we crossed the street. I said kindly, “thank you” as we departed.

It didn’t take long for the bus to come. I jumped on the bus and rode to my connecting stop. It was raining very hard by this time. However, it didn’t take long for the next bus to come. I jumped on the bus and while I sat there I watched two women get on the bus with a plastic poncho. One of the women sat directly in front of me. I was staring at her white hooded poncho as she got off the bus. I never really liked those things, but at this time it really looked nice and I desired to have one.

The temperature had dropped and I was wearing a summer top with leggings. I was uncomfortable, cold and wet. My shoulders were bare and I was very cold from the air condition blowing on my wet skin. I was debating whether I should get off the bus to get one of those plastic ponchos to cover myself.

There were two stops that I passed. I continued to look out the window because I just didn’t want to get off the bus again. I also wasn’t sure if the store would sell them so I decided to take the risk and walk in the rain. How bad could it be to get rained on in the summer anyway? I got off the bus and was waiting to cross the street dreading the 15 minute walk home. In the corner of my eye, I saw a connecting bus that would carry me down the street and drop me exactly a few feet away from my home! Usually that never happens to me! When I got off the bus, a lady got off the bus with me. I turned to her and told her how worried I was about getting caught in the storm but I said, “Where God guides, He provides!” She let me share her umbrella as we walked up the street and we spoke about how good God has been to us. Surprisingly, I only walked about 3 feet in the rain!

When I got home, I thought about my experience and was motivated to share my story. So often we worry about the storms we are going through in life. We are trying to figure out what we should do or how we will do it. We plan our course of direction and we are not prepared when the storm comes our way. We may even see a solution to the problem but it may be out of our reach.

When you walk through the storm, the Lord goes before you and provides protection, provision and favor. He carries you through the storms of life and leads you to your destinations. The timing of God is always perfect. Did you notice in the story how smoothly my connections were made. When God is working, your path opens without resistance and without a struggle. In Him, you may rest. For the good sheppard knows what you are in need of exactly when you need it, so trust Him. When we allow Him to work out our problems, we will be covered through the most heaviest storms of life.

“He that dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. “Psalms 91

Set Free

We celebrate our independence on July 4th with family and friends and many other activities. We honor the military for keeping us safe and protected, get together for barbeques, head to the beach, watch the fireworks and enjoy many other outdoor activities. Let’s not forget that we have been set free by the Blood of Christ who paid the debt for our sins. It’s in Him, we move and have our being. I’m not saying to disregard the activities for the day, but also remember that we have been released from the bondage of sin and death. After we proclaim the Lord as our Savior, He pours His spirit into us. We are renewed beings and are now representatives in Christ to share the love with others. We have been redeemed from our sins and forgiven. The past has been washed away. So we are free from mistakes, burdens, negative thinking and attitudes, addictions, pain, guilt, condemnation and all other attacks from the enemy. We are alive in Christ! So, let’s celebrate our liberty!

Happy July 4th!

Vision

For the past couple of months, I’ve been thinking of a topic for my blog. Unfortunately, I’ve had writer’s block and I’ve been struggling for a subject but the word vision kept popping up in my mind. Since we just closed the month of February and we have entered into the final month (March) of the first quarter of 2011, we can revisit what we took hold of on January 1st and refresh our memories while we prepare for the Spring. We are still in the early part of the new year with many hopes, dreams and expectations for the coming year. Having a clear vision of where you would like to go, what you would like to do and achieve is still very attainable. I look to Spring as a new beginning. It’s a time when things come alive again. Flowers bloom. Weather gets warmer and the daylight is longer. It gives us energy and motivation to move ahead with what we want to gain in 2011. Let’s take each day and take advantage of the time that is given to us. Be open to new opportunities and meeting new people that are different than how you think. Be willing to develop and grow and get out of your comfort zone this year. Make it an unforgettable year. Be the vision. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Keep your vision alive and keep moving forward…..

Happiness vs. Joy

Within the past two days, the topic of being happy in life came up in conversations with friends. I was inspired to write about the difference between being happy vs. having joy. I believe that happiness is influenced by external factors like a career, relationship, material possessions, etc. It can also be determined about how you view your life and the meaning of what you feel success means to you. So basically, you determine how you feel and how happy you want or choose to be. It’s a combination of the external and internal feelings and how you relate and interpret those feelings.

However, I believe joy is a feeling that responds regardless of your circumstances. When I consider my personal experiences, I have experienced joy in the worst situations and circumstances. May I also add without the use of medications, drugs or alcohol. I’ve endured very uncomfortable circumstances and was still able to smile, laugh and function in daily life despite my difficult situations. At the same time, I was not happy with my life or my circumstances. I do believe we all experience depression at one time or another, but as long as we don’t remain in a negative state of mind it is normal to experience periods of discouragement.

The key is to know how to respond and react to your circumstances. It is important to build on hope and encouragement which I touched on yesterday on my blog post. You must realize that life is constantly moving and nothing remains the same. Each trial that we face, is a learning experience and provides us lessons in life is we choose to listen. You must seek inspiration or something that brings you joy regardless of what you may be experiencing.

I also believe you can simply have joy from just being. You have to be in a mindset of not comparing yourself to others and not living in a material world in order to truly experience genuine joy. It’s being free to be who you are and accepting yourself and your faults. Most people have a hard time spending time with themselves because they are afraid of what they will find within themselves. To reach a healthy self image, you must deal with the good and the ugly by looking at yourself in the mirror and then make a change for the better.

The end result is that you are in control of your happiness or joy. You may not be able to control what people say or do, but you are in control of how you think and how you feel. Unfortunately, we live in a negative world and it will take every drop of energy to overcome challenges, obstacles and situations that we may feel consume us. Just keep this in mind….”Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Hope for the Hopeless

I created this blog on the foundation of hope. Hope is a powerful word and even more powerful when put to action. When you have hope you have the courage to keep believing, keep going and keep striving. If you are still breathing, you still have hope. Things still have an opportunity to change for the better. It’s a matter of eliminating the negative thoughts and walking by faith despite your circumstances. You have to feed your mind with positive thoughts and surround yourself with people who will uplift your spirits. Sometimes it’s better to be by yourself than to be with someone who will tear you down or speak words of doubt or negativity.

Hope gives you imagination and allows you to work towards your goals. Hope is purpose and inspiration.

“I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future.” (Jer 29:11)

Hope keeps you moving in the right direction….

As we enter the Fall, lets shake off the negativity of life and prepare for a new season of promises. It starts with your thoughts. Just like the colored leaves and acorns fall off of trees, get rid of the old and prepare for the new things that life has to offer. You may not see the change happen immediately, but with time you will eventually see a transformation.

Live with hope and high expectation.

Renewing Your Mind

As we anxiously wait for the first day of summer, let us not forget this is the perfect time to reflect on the goals we set during the beginning of the year. We are halfway through 2010. Let us not to forget to evaluate our lives and what we plan to achieve by the end of the year. We are always reminded during Spring to clean out the clutter, so we may receive new things. Let us not forget to clean out our minds which include bad memories and habits, defeated thoughts and attitudes or anything else that may be holding us back from receiving what God has promised us as His children. “Behold, I am doing a new thing. Old things have passed away. Behold, I make all things new.” II Corth 5:17

It’s important to take time to reflect on your life in a positive way. Don’t beat yourself up for goals that you haven’t attained just yet. But, just learn to refocus on priorities and set small goals to work towards what you desire to achieve. Also, you must pay close attention to your environment. You should build a strong support system whether family, friends, neighbors, classmates or church associates.

What type of people do you surround yourself? Make sure you are surrounding yourself with positive people who will inspire, encourage and motivate you. Pay attention to the details of the heart of people that you interact with on a daily basis. What are their motives or intentions? Are their actions and words positive or negative? Take note of their behavior and decide whether you choose to be around them. You are valuable and so is your time.

You should spend time expanding your mind. If you don’t enjoy reading, make it a point to watch a movie or documentary that will give you a different perspective on life. You need to refresh your mind. Water your mind with knowledge and watch it grow. In scripture it states, “My people will perish for the lack of knowledge.” So, don’t be afraid to surround yourself with people who think differently than you do. Expose yourself to new cultures, races, creeds, religions or non-religious people. Be open to new ideas, opinions and thoughts. You can have a healthy conversation without having a debate or argument. That’s what makes life interesting. You do not have to agree with the person, but please make sure you respect them.

It’s important to guard your thoughts. It’s so easy to dwell on negative emotions or words that will eventually influence your mind and behavior. Be mindful of what you allow to enter into your mind. There are many negative influences that surround us in the world and it doesn’t take long for a negative seed to be planted in your mind which eventually takes root. It’s much like weeds growing among beautiful, green grass. Weeds tend to multiply quickly and destroy the view. If you feed your mind junk, that’s exactly what you will eventually believe or think. We are constantly influenced by images, words and stereotypes that influence the way we think. We have been so programmed that we often do not really learn to think for ourselves anymore. Don’t rely on gossip or rumors, but confront the source to get the correct information. Let’s be conscious of what we choose to listen to since this has a strong impact on how we see ourselves and others and can eventually influence our overall behavior.

Fill your mind with God’s word. It’s the most important thing you can do to withstand the attacks from the enemy. The only way to win the battles that come against you is to put on the armor of the Lord. To overcome the storms of life, you must read and study God’s word. It’s filled with power, truth, protection, guidance and His promises. Through daily mediation on God’s word, you will start to build faith, strength and courage to overcome the challenges and obstacles that you face. Through prayer, you will build a relationship with the Lord and will be shielded through your trials and tribulations. Even though bad things will still happen, hold onto your faith. You will have to endure many tests in life. Keeping your heart and mind grounded in the word of God, will eventually lead you to the harvest He has prepared for you.

Living on Purpose

I’m compelled to address the current job market situation with over 24.5 million unemployed workers in the job market as stated on the Yahoo website on May 17th. I’m surprised that I haven’t written about this issue sooner. My blog was created in the midst of the economic downturn through my own experiences with job loss. However, I really felt the economic condition was too overwhelming for me to address. I remember my pastor at my home church in Atlanta taught me if you see a need, you should fill it.

There are a lot of hurting people in the world who are devastated by their loss on all levels: Financial, material, emotional, psychological, and emotional. They have loss their jobs, cars, material possessions, even their homes and not to exclude the people who suffered loss through natural disasters who have even loss their family members.

How do you find hope and hold onto your faith in troublous times? In Matthew 6:24 it states, “No man can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Most people have an attachment to their “things” which is an idol if you treasure it too the point that you put it before the Lord. Technology, celebrities, sports, etc is also another type of idolization. These “things” also include job titles, status, class or position which is defined by society and yourself; by what you own, where you live and who you are including in your associations. Most people carry an emotional and psychological attachment to their “things.” It’s a form of bondage and weight when you have to live up to a certain image or status. Even though we live in a physical world, we must not get too attached to material things. There is a danger when your happiness, joy and peace are tied to what the world defines as success. In Luke 9: 25 it states, “What profit a man if he gained the whole world and lose his soul.” It’s very unhealthy to think people or things will fulfill or satisfy your needs. You can spend a lifetime searching in frustration.

People seek “things” to fulfill and satisfy their needs. I’m not exempt from the desire to want and buy “things.” Through my experience, you must consciously guard your mind and heart not to allow temptation to overtake you. You must learn to emotionally and psychologically detach from material possessions, a job, location or whatever is keeping you in a prison. Simplicity is freedom.

Most people are not really doing what they love or want to do in life. This lack of fulfillment leads to frustration, anger and bitterness. In a position, salary or job responsibilities is the main reason why people decide to leave a position. Unfortunately, with the recession, this is no longer the case. You may be underemployed or unemployed. In either case, you are left feeling worthless, discouraged, taken advantage or under-appreciated.

The majority of people may not be utilizing their skills, talents and abilities that God has designed for them to use as a service for others. When you are working “On” purpose, you receive enthusiasm, energy and creativity. Notice I said, “On” purpose which means it’s a set of skills, talents or abilities that can be used in any industry “for” the same purpose. When you are working “On” purpose, you will feel a sense of accomplishment no matter how small the tasks. You will feel complete and satisfied because you are fulfilling “your” purpose.

You must access your past work experiences and know your weaknesses and strengths, likes and dislikes to begin the journey. Directing your journey should be a strong prayer life and Bible study, as well as building a network of spiritual-led and positive minded individuals who can encourage, support and uplift you during your challenges and obstacles towards your purpose. You simply cannot expect to jump in your car and go on a road trip without a GPS system or map, driving instructions and hopefully good company. I hope you get the point.

So here is that stinging question again? How do you find hope and hold onto your faith in troublous times? The key word is “Endurance.” Due not grow weary in well doing, but in due season you will reap if you faint not.” In other words, “Don’t Give Up!!!” Moving in faith will not be easy, but it’s attainable despite whatever circumstances you’re facing right now. In Psalm 30, it states, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” In translation, through every dark cloud, there is a silver lining or a rainbow. It’s imperative that you just keep pushing through the storms of life. Most of all, in Matthew 6:25-32 it states, “The Lord orders your steps.” You must be patient. In Hebrews 6:12 it states, “It’s through faith and patience that you will inherit the promises.” It’s on God’s timing and sometime God’s seasons are extremely looooong!!!

To endure the trial, your faith must be tested to see what’s really in your heart. If you really want to know a person, everything is revealed within their heart. Will you still love God despite your desert experience? In Luke 9:23 it states, “To pick up your cross and follow me” which means it’s not about you. He wants to to put Him first in all areas of your life. You are made and designed for God’s purposes and to complete His will. Just be still and know that He is God. In the process of being still, you still need to work towards the goals. Faith without works is dead. He will reveal your purpose and what you need to do. In the meantime, He completely molds, shapes and transforms your character to who He designed you to be—not by the world’s definition or standards.