Listened to Dan Yuen Attitude (part 2) today. I liked the part where he talked about what you would choose to do, if you could not fail, if you did not have fear.
Last yesterday morning, I think I listened to the first half, but I missed most of it – so in the evening (as I had noted) I listened to the Wolgamotts.
The Richest Man in Babylon had a chapter to talk about the transition from broke and in debt, to the turn around point. “Ill fortune pursues every man who thinks more of borrowing than of repaying.” Insight about the danger of debt (in hindsight): “Being young and without experience, I did not know that he who spends more than he earns is sowing the winds of needlyess self-indulgence from which he is sure to reap the whirlwinds of trouble and humiliation.” One question that you have to ask yourself if you’re on the wrong path is a life defining question: “Have I the soul of a slave, or the soul of a free man?” You’ll be able to continue on, “because the soul of a free man looks at life as a series of problems to be solved and solves them, whil the soul of a slave whines.” The point? Where determination is, the way can be found.
Genesis 19 was about the destruction of the evil places of Soddom and Gomorrah – and how Lot, his wife (almost) and his daughters were able to be saved because of Lot’s goodness. How’s that for generational impact?
Genesis 20 talked about Abraham’s esxperience with King Abimelech. Abimelech took Sarah to be his wife, but the Lord saved him from making a bad mistake. When he realized his wrong, he immediately made things right, and then some to rectify the situation and be at peace.
Matthew 8 explains more miracles that Jesus preformed. (Healings, storm calmings, etc).
The Purpose Driven Life explains that you were created for God’s pleasure. Something to think about would be that if god created you, and he has a purpose for you, than you are anything but insignificant. God doesn’t make mistakes.
• Bringing pleasure to God is called Worship Worship is a universal urge, hard-wired by God. If we fail to worship God, we always find a substitute (think of Wild at Heart).
• Worship is more than just music As long as it’s offered to God in spirit and truth, it is an act of worship. Don’t misconstrue the vocabulary for the truth.
• Worship is not for your benefit Don’t be so selfish – the true purpose is to bring pleasure to God. To let him know that he is important. Not to bring big-headedness to ourselves.
• Worship is not a PART of your life it IS your life Every actcan be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory and pleasure of God. “How is it possible to do everyhting to the glory of God? By doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus and by carrying on a continual conversation with him while you do it.” “Take your everyday, ordinary life, and place it before God as an offering.”
Verse to remember: “The lord takes pleasure in his people” Psalm 149a TEV
Question to consider: What common task could I start (or stop) doing if I were doing it directly for Jesus?
Traveling Light reveals some good insight for the burden of fear. Fear is the next level of worry: “if worry is a burlap bag, fear is a trunk of concrete.” Keep in mind that Jesus has felt fear. He didn’t hide from it though, he announced it, and his obvious need for help. He wears no false mask of “I’m okay”. Also, take note that though he asked for help for his fear, he didn’t announce it to his deciples and friends, but instead to his Father in Heaven. He made a request for strength that only One could answer.
If you can be reminded to look to the good and the right, you can avoid the appearance of evil. Rather than focus on the fear, focus on the solution focus on the opening in the clostrophobic area. Look for the opening in the endzone, not the myirad of people in the vicinity.
When presented with fear or pain, you have 3 options:
Go Home (explicit failure)
Meditate on the pains and fear (debilitating, leads to failure – like attracts like)
Look to the future, and keep going. (victorious, and powerful!)
When you experience pain and scary points in your life, don’t abandon them, enter into them Just be sure to not enter them alone! While you’re there, be honest. Be afraid, do what Jesus did, open your heart. And be specific about your pains and fears (include durations, situations, flight numbers, etc.)
Don’t measure the size of the mountain; talk to the One who can move it.