Too often people people say, "I'll believe it when I see it." However, the opposite is far more likely to happen. Anyone who has had a dream and taken the action to make it real can attest to this. Does an inventor see his invention before he believes it to be possible? It is in first believing that we reach the point of seeing.
Everything in the world has been here since the beginning, whenever that was! We've all learned that matter can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed. I think about how awesome this is as I sit typing on this computer. It is even more awesome when I look at my grandchildren, my pets, and the trees in my yard.
All of these living organisms are constantly growing and changing. I cannot create life but I can create changes in my own life. As long as I believe that success is possible for me and others, I am motivated to take the appropriate actions to bring about that success. In today's economy, I see way too many people immobilized by what they consider to be impossible conditions. I maintain that nothing is impossible as long as we believe it to be possible.
It is 5 days until Christmas Day. The greatest miracle ever happened on that first Christmas. Only those who truly believe that God loved His people enough to become a man can accept that Jesus is the Son of God and defeated death. Another instance of having to believe something in order to see it.
I know people right now who are financially devastated. While I am blessed to be able to assist the needy, I know that this is not my highest calling. Rather, my calling is to encourage the discouraged and give hope to the hopeless. To do this, I must convey to them that they have the power to transform any aspect of their lives right now. After all, believing is indeed seeing.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Poverty, Like Abundance, Is A Mindset
Since poverty, like abundance, depends on your mindset, then whether you think you are poor or rich, you are right. When we compare ourselves to others, we are always superior to some and inferior to others. Wealth is no different. People consider themselves poor or rich depending on how they compare to someone else.
This morning I was listening to a chaplain at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice talk about the high rate of recidivism among the juvenile inmates. He said the chief reason for the failure rate of these juveniles to succeed in society is poverty. Chaplain John said it's not parenting or the failure of schools and churches but simply poverty.
Another person there who ministers to the homeless in downtown Columbia, theorized that people remain homeless because of the messages they received as children. Children believe adults who tell them they will never amount to anything or that they will be alcoholics "just like your old man." By the time a person is 50, it is very difficult to change this pattern of thinking.
What about the rags to riches stories we have all heard? What makes one person look poverty in the face and determine not to stay in that situation? How can we as a society instill in the minds of everyone that we are all capable of achieving anything we desire? If one person can succeed in business or medicine or education, then anyone can, right?
As long as we think and teach others to believe that poverty is inevitable, then we will continue to see it. In a world as abundant as ours, this is hogwash. My mission, whether I'm talking to juvenile offenders or to a Sunday School class, is that God wants us to have abundance in our lives because He loves us. He created us in His image and His very nature is abundant.
Jesus said, "the poor you will always have with you." I often wondered what he meant by this. Now I believe he meant that as long as people believe they are poor and that is their lot in life, they will not take action to change that condition. They will accept it and react to it, but not creatively think of ways to change it.
The mindset of abundance begins with gratitude for what we have right now. The next step is to determine what would make your life better and set that as a goal. The third step is to look for opportunities to make that goal a reality. There are lots of legitimate opportunities for anyone who has the mindset of abundance.
Just like focusing on the glass half full, focus on the abundance in the world and you will notice a plethora of opportunities available to you today. Set an example for your children, your community and the world that abundance is the true reality. I fully believe we can eradicate poverty in our country and replace it with abundance if we focus on changing that mindset.
Sandra Hayes
Prosperity, South Carolina
This morning I was listening to a chaplain at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice talk about the high rate of recidivism among the juvenile inmates. He said the chief reason for the failure rate of these juveniles to succeed in society is poverty. Chaplain John said it's not parenting or the failure of schools and churches but simply poverty.
Another person there who ministers to the homeless in downtown Columbia, theorized that people remain homeless because of the messages they received as children. Children believe adults who tell them they will never amount to anything or that they will be alcoholics "just like your old man." By the time a person is 50, it is very difficult to change this pattern of thinking.
What about the rags to riches stories we have all heard? What makes one person look poverty in the face and determine not to stay in that situation? How can we as a society instill in the minds of everyone that we are all capable of achieving anything we desire? If one person can succeed in business or medicine or education, then anyone can, right?
As long as we think and teach others to believe that poverty is inevitable, then we will continue to see it. In a world as abundant as ours, this is hogwash. My mission, whether I'm talking to juvenile offenders or to a Sunday School class, is that God wants us to have abundance in our lives because He loves us. He created us in His image and His very nature is abundant.
Jesus said, "the poor you will always have with you." I often wondered what he meant by this. Now I believe he meant that as long as people believe they are poor and that is their lot in life, they will not take action to change that condition. They will accept it and react to it, but not creatively think of ways to change it.
The mindset of abundance begins with gratitude for what we have right now. The next step is to determine what would make your life better and set that as a goal. The third step is to look for opportunities to make that goal a reality. There are lots of legitimate opportunities for anyone who has the mindset of abundance.
Just like focusing on the glass half full, focus on the abundance in the world and you will notice a plethora of opportunities available to you today. Set an example for your children, your community and the world that abundance is the true reality. I fully believe we can eradicate poverty in our country and replace it with abundance if we focus on changing that mindset.
Sandra Hayes
Prosperity, South Carolina
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Network Marketing and Christianity - What's The Turn-Off?
Having been involved in network marketing off and on since the early 80's, I understand many of the challenges involved. In fact, I decided I was not a salesperson and totally gave up on the idea of a network marketing home based business in 1986. It seemed I couldn't quite master the art of instilling the same enthusiasm I had with others.
Then, 3 1/2 years ago, my husband Ed, a retired USAF officer who worked as a realtor after his retirement, was at his wit's end. After our move to SC, he was not happy with the real estate business and had taken a job as a retail store manager. While surfing the internet looking for something better, Ed found a website describing a home business opportunity.
We have been conducting this business ever since. This experience has given me the opportunity to examine this business model for its good points as well as its not-so-good ones. Network marketers know that only 2 - 5% of the people they talk to are willing to get started. Of that number, roughly the same percentage experience any lasting success. The question is "Why? What's the turn-off in this business?"
I got some insight into this answer in church this morning. It occurred to me that Christianity is also a network marketing business. We hear the message and either accept it and share it with others, or we turn around and run the other way. The reasons people run away from both opportunities are the same.
Most people in industrialized countries know both Christians and network marketers. Many people have actually "tried" one or both out to see if it is real. What they hear from either one may sound too good to be true. Or maybe they've read negative things about both groups, or they know people who got involved and were disappointed. Perhaps leaders misled them or didn't measure up to their expectations. Maybe they felt like they were lied to or that the representatives turned out to be hypocrites.
Regardless of the perceived experience, they developed mistrust for either Christianity or network marketing. Of course, millions of people have had wonderful, life changing experiences with Christianity. Millions have also been able to earn great incomes and help others do the same in home business ventures.
I don't seek to equate Christian faith with a business except to say that we were created as both spiritual and physical beings. We develop relationships with each other and seek to share what we learn in order to help others. My purpose in life is to open people's eyes to possibilities. I look for the positive in situations and people. As a result, I have a deep seated faith in God and believe He created us for abundance.
When I look at the world, I see abundance everywhere. When I study Scripture, I see wealthy patriarchs. In fact, when the Israelites, who had become slaves during their 400-year stay in Egypt, followed Moses into the wilderness, they received expensive gifts from the Egyptians to take with them. God did not deliver them in a state of poverty but rather in one of wealth. There is no evidence that God considers poverty to be the ideal human condition.
My question today is why does one person's enthusiastic belief in something trigger skepticism in someone else? It's sad to know that many people won't even consider something that could bring huge benefits to themselves and their families because of skepticism, which means the fear of being disappointed.
In my quest to open people's minds to life's possibilities, I seek to be a non-threatening, honest, communicator of the truth as I know it. By the grace of God and through my acceptance of Jesus Christ as His son and my savior, I have eternal life. Because I believe that wealth is also a blessing to be shared and not a curse, I choose to work a business that gives me the freedom to live the life I was created to live. What I want for myself, I want for others.
Then, 3 1/2 years ago, my husband Ed, a retired USAF officer who worked as a realtor after his retirement, was at his wit's end. After our move to SC, he was not happy with the real estate business and had taken a job as a retail store manager. While surfing the internet looking for something better, Ed found a website describing a home business opportunity.
We have been conducting this business ever since. This experience has given me the opportunity to examine this business model for its good points as well as its not-so-good ones. Network marketers know that only 2 - 5% of the people they talk to are willing to get started. Of that number, roughly the same percentage experience any lasting success. The question is "Why? What's the turn-off in this business?"
I got some insight into this answer in church this morning. It occurred to me that Christianity is also a network marketing business. We hear the message and either accept it and share it with others, or we turn around and run the other way. The reasons people run away from both opportunities are the same.
Most people in industrialized countries know both Christians and network marketers. Many people have actually "tried" one or both out to see if it is real. What they hear from either one may sound too good to be true. Or maybe they've read negative things about both groups, or they know people who got involved and were disappointed. Perhaps leaders misled them or didn't measure up to their expectations. Maybe they felt like they were lied to or that the representatives turned out to be hypocrites.
Regardless of the perceived experience, they developed mistrust for either Christianity or network marketing. Of course, millions of people have had wonderful, life changing experiences with Christianity. Millions have also been able to earn great incomes and help others do the same in home business ventures.
I don't seek to equate Christian faith with a business except to say that we were created as both spiritual and physical beings. We develop relationships with each other and seek to share what we learn in order to help others. My purpose in life is to open people's eyes to possibilities. I look for the positive in situations and people. As a result, I have a deep seated faith in God and believe He created us for abundance.
When I look at the world, I see abundance everywhere. When I study Scripture, I see wealthy patriarchs. In fact, when the Israelites, who had become slaves during their 400-year stay in Egypt, followed Moses into the wilderness, they received expensive gifts from the Egyptians to take with them. God did not deliver them in a state of poverty but rather in one of wealth. There is no evidence that God considers poverty to be the ideal human condition.
My question today is why does one person's enthusiastic belief in something trigger skepticism in someone else? It's sad to know that many people won't even consider something that could bring huge benefits to themselves and their families because of skepticism, which means the fear of being disappointed.
In my quest to open people's minds to life's possibilities, I seek to be a non-threatening, honest, communicator of the truth as I know it. By the grace of God and through my acceptance of Jesus Christ as His son and my savior, I have eternal life. Because I believe that wealth is also a blessing to be shared and not a curse, I choose to work a business that gives me the freedom to live the life I was created to live. What I want for myself, I want for others.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Fudgery - A Four-Year Old's Perspective on God
Like many children and adults today, our 4 ½ year-old grandson, Allen, enjoys playing with a game console called Wii. To play games on the Wii, people create a Mii, which resembles themselves or what they would like to resemble, and play games as this Mii. Their Mii scores points and achieves higher and higher levels of efficiency as the player’s skill improves.
One thing Allen has done a little differently than some of us who think more conventionally is to create Mii’s from his imagination. He designs them as male or female and then gives them shapes and features that he desires them to have. He also clothes them and names them. One such Mii is "Fudgery." Names are important!
According to our daughter, Fudgery is not very attractive to the rest of the family but Allen enjoys using her to play games. His movements cause Fudgery to hit balls, run races, exercise, bowl, etc. Recently, Allen said that he really loves Fudgery and enjoys helping her score points. He asked his mom, “Do you know why I love Fudgery so much? Because I made her! “ He pondered this thought for a minute and said, “that kind of makes me like God, doesn’t it?”
I love it. God loves us because He made us. He enjoys playing with us and helping us to improve - just because He made us. It doesn't matter how we look to others, either.
Have a blessed week as you remember how much God loves you.
Sandra Hayes
One thing Allen has done a little differently than some of us who think more conventionally is to create Mii’s from his imagination. He designs them as male or female and then gives them shapes and features that he desires them to have. He also clothes them and names them. One such Mii is "Fudgery." Names are important!
According to our daughter, Fudgery is not very attractive to the rest of the family but Allen enjoys using her to play games. His movements cause Fudgery to hit balls, run races, exercise, bowl, etc. Recently, Allen said that he really loves Fudgery and enjoys helping her score points. He asked his mom, “Do you know why I love Fudgery so much? Because I made her! “ He pondered this thought for a minute and said, “that kind of makes me like God, doesn’t it?”
I love it. God loves us because He made us. He enjoys playing with us and helping us to improve - just because He made us. It doesn't matter how we look to others, either.
Have a blessed week as you remember how much God loves you.
Sandra Hayes
Saturday, October 24, 2009
What Is True About Abundance?
I have been both and blessed and privileged recently to study the Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles under the guidance of Bob Proctor. Bob is a master at providing the insight and exercises to allow these teachings to become personal and quite pragmatic. Several years ago I actually spent an entire day with Bob, learning his views on creating wealth as a part of achieving our divine purpose in life. One of my biggest breakthroughs in this program is understanding that we as humans are able to choose our thoughts. It is in choosing our thoughts that we learn what is true and what is not true about abundance in our world.
People often think that their thoughts are at the mercy of the environment. This is true if one is only able to think in reaction to what is experienced by the five senses. However, to really think and reason about the real truth and not just the apparent truth is indeed tedious. Our thoughts can be quite random and flighty as we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste so many things. Our senses are exposed to millions of stimuli in a given day which our minds have to either process or ignore.
Can you imagine what your life would be like if you gave attention to every single stimulus brought in by your 5 physical senses? Thank goodness our minds know enough to filter most of it out before it reaches our conscious awareness. The goal now is to choose what to do with those things that do reach your awareness. Do you believe them all as true? Think about what you hear others say or what you read in a book, newpaper, magazine, or online. Is it all true?
The real work involves choosing which ideas and concepts we accept to be true. As we all know, this is not self-evident. As human beings, created in God's image with His indwelling spirit, we also have the intelligence, wisdom, and intuition to make judgments for ourselves. You see there is only one truth. Do you trust yourself enough to know that truth? Or do think you have to learn the truth from a source outside youreself?
If all of our truths, also known as beliefs, come from the outside, how did they get there? Who put out the so-called truth that human nature is innately evil? Who put out the truth that for one person to have more, another must have less? That's like saying each tree in the forest is allowed 1000 leaves. So if one tree has 1100, then another tree is only allowed to have 900. Isn't that absurd? It's the same with all of the physical resources on earth. It's also true of the population. People somehow get afraid that more people mean less quality of life or less available resources for each person. Creation was designed for growth and abundance.
Since there were droughts and famines thousands of years ago when the population was very small, how can anyone claim that there were more resources then than there are now? It is staggering for me to realize that there are twice as many people on earth today as there were 45 years ago. And I personally have a lot more resources at my disposal than I did then. Any personal lack in the world today is caused by human thought, not by the paucity of avaiable materials. If a human believes there to be lack and convinces another human of the same, then their behavior changes and as a result, they begin to experience lack.
As you can tell, I enjoy exploring the psychological, spiritiual, and social ramifications of what we each perceive as the truth about abundance. The thought I'd like to leave you with now is, "What is your truth?" I believe in exploring other peoples' thoughts, and espcecially God's thoughts on truth, which is why I read voraciously. Even with the Bible, though, different people interpret truth differently. As I read the Bible and other books, such as The Science of Getting Rich, my foremost goal is to know for myself what is true. Thinking is indeed hard work but worth the effort as we all learn the real truth about abundance.
To You Abundance,
Sandra Hayes
People often think that their thoughts are at the mercy of the environment. This is true if one is only able to think in reaction to what is experienced by the five senses. However, to really think and reason about the real truth and not just the apparent truth is indeed tedious. Our thoughts can be quite random and flighty as we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste so many things. Our senses are exposed to millions of stimuli in a given day which our minds have to either process or ignore.
Can you imagine what your life would be like if you gave attention to every single stimulus brought in by your 5 physical senses? Thank goodness our minds know enough to filter most of it out before it reaches our conscious awareness. The goal now is to choose what to do with those things that do reach your awareness. Do you believe them all as true? Think about what you hear others say or what you read in a book, newpaper, magazine, or online. Is it all true?
The real work involves choosing which ideas and concepts we accept to be true. As we all know, this is not self-evident. As human beings, created in God's image with His indwelling spirit, we also have the intelligence, wisdom, and intuition to make judgments for ourselves. You see there is only one truth. Do you trust yourself enough to know that truth? Or do think you have to learn the truth from a source outside youreself?
If all of our truths, also known as beliefs, come from the outside, how did they get there? Who put out the so-called truth that human nature is innately evil? Who put out the truth that for one person to have more, another must have less? That's like saying each tree in the forest is allowed 1000 leaves. So if one tree has 1100, then another tree is only allowed to have 900. Isn't that absurd? It's the same with all of the physical resources on earth. It's also true of the population. People somehow get afraid that more people mean less quality of life or less available resources for each person. Creation was designed for growth and abundance.
Since there were droughts and famines thousands of years ago when the population was very small, how can anyone claim that there were more resources then than there are now? It is staggering for me to realize that there are twice as many people on earth today as there were 45 years ago. And I personally have a lot more resources at my disposal than I did then. Any personal lack in the world today is caused by human thought, not by the paucity of avaiable materials. If a human believes there to be lack and convinces another human of the same, then their behavior changes and as a result, they begin to experience lack.
As you can tell, I enjoy exploring the psychological, spiritiual, and social ramifications of what we each perceive as the truth about abundance. The thought I'd like to leave you with now is, "What is your truth?" I believe in exploring other peoples' thoughts, and espcecially God's thoughts on truth, which is why I read voraciously. Even with the Bible, though, different people interpret truth differently. As I read the Bible and other books, such as The Science of Getting Rich, my foremost goal is to know for myself what is true. Thinking is indeed hard work but worth the effort as we all learn the real truth about abundance.
To You Abundance,
Sandra Hayes
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Abundance Is Our Birthright
I am so blessed and grateful to be sitting here in my home watching the sunrise on Lake Murray. It's Sunday and a bit chilly this October morning. Sundays are special in several ways. They represent a fresh start on a new week. They also offer an opportunity for me to join good friends and fellow Christians in Sunday School and worship services at Chapin United Methodist Church. In worhip, I thank my creator for the abundance of blessings we enjoy.
Over the years as we have lived in different places, Ed and I have worshipped at different churches. They have each blessed us in a special way and taught us lessons about God, life, and ourselves. Regardless of the pastor or the message, however, the recurring theme has been how abundantly blessed we are. As a result of being blessed, our duty is therefore to be a blessing to others.
As I read the story of the great patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Genesis, I realize that abundance was their birthright. These men and their families had challenges to be sure. Sometimes they made wise choices and sometimes not. Regardless, God continued to bless them and stay true to his covenant promise to bless them and make them as numerous as the stars in the sky or the sand on the shore.
Here we are, four thousand years later, and these blessings continue from one generation to the next. Like the patriarchs, we have challenges in life. And often our challenges are similar to theirs. As families we deal with sibling rivalry, jealousy, alienation, forgiveness, and reconciliation. As nations, we deal with war, peace treaties, immigration, and trade agreements.
The beauty of all of this is that the same God who made a covenant with Abraham seeks to make one with us. We may think we live in a different time with all our technology and so we do. But all we experience today was made possible by the one God who set everything in motion by His powerfully spoken word.
As we approach this Sunday with all of its abundance, let's take the time to recognize and offer thanks to the creator who makes it all possible. Abundance is our birthright. Our grateful stewardship of this abundance is our response. We have been freely given so that now we can freely give.
May you enjoy all the abundance, peace, and joy that you were created to experience.
Sandra Hayes
Prosperity, South Carolina
Over the years as we have lived in different places, Ed and I have worshipped at different churches. They have each blessed us in a special way and taught us lessons about God, life, and ourselves. Regardless of the pastor or the message, however, the recurring theme has been how abundantly blessed we are. As a result of being blessed, our duty is therefore to be a blessing to others.
As I read the story of the great patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Genesis, I realize that abundance was their birthright. These men and their families had challenges to be sure. Sometimes they made wise choices and sometimes not. Regardless, God continued to bless them and stay true to his covenant promise to bless them and make them as numerous as the stars in the sky or the sand on the shore.
Here we are, four thousand years later, and these blessings continue from one generation to the next. Like the patriarchs, we have challenges in life. And often our challenges are similar to theirs. As families we deal with sibling rivalry, jealousy, alienation, forgiveness, and reconciliation. As nations, we deal with war, peace treaties, immigration, and trade agreements.
The beauty of all of this is that the same God who made a covenant with Abraham seeks to make one with us. We may think we live in a different time with all our technology and so we do. But all we experience today was made possible by the one God who set everything in motion by His powerfully spoken word.
As we approach this Sunday with all of its abundance, let's take the time to recognize and offer thanks to the creator who makes it all possible. Abundance is our birthright. Our grateful stewardship of this abundance is our response. We have been freely given so that now we can freely give.
May you enjoy all the abundance, peace, and joy that you were created to experience.
Sandra Hayes
Prosperity, South Carolina
Sunday, September 27, 2009
You Are A Genius
As I ponder the scope of being created in God's image, it occurs to me that we are all geniuses. Webster's dictionary defines genius as the protective spirit within a person from conception. These words surprised me and gave me pause to meditate on their meaning. I thought of Psalm 139:13-14, "You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt."
So what makes me concentrate on the idea of your being a genius? Well, it has to do with confidence and worthiness. Knowing as I do that you are a genius, totally capable of achieving the purpose you were created for, does that affect your feeling of worthiness and confidence? To me, this says that you have within you everything necessary to accomplish your goals. Of course the next question is, "how do I set goals that I know are in line with God's will for my life?"
Whatever God gives you a passion for, He will provide the means for you to achieve. This means if you have a passion for becoming a pastor, you can achieve it. If you are passionate about government service, or medicine, flying airplanes, or business, you can become successful at it. Will it be simple and easy? Probably not, but simple and easy are not what we are discussing. We are discussing genius. If you study great people in scripture and outside of scripture, they were all geniuses in some way. They had a passion to accomplish their life's dream. Rarely, if ever, was it easy.
Some Biblical names that come to mind are Jesus Christ, Paul, Abraham, Moses, King David, Daniel, Ruth, Noah, Jonah, Elijah, and Jeremiah, just to name a few. Non-biblical people who come to mind are Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King,Jr., Thomas Edison, Christopher Columbus, and George Washington Carver. There are many more I could name and that is a good thing. These geniuses are famous. There are also many names that I do not know. Does this mean that non-famous people are not geniuses? Of course not. Many people have accomplished their life's passions and not become well-known.
The tragedy does not lie in not being famous. The tragedy lies in having given up on one's dreams and passions before they were accomplished. In our Disciple II class this week, we have been reading about Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament book of Genesis. Abraham and Sarah were already past child-bearing years when God called them to leave their home in Ur and establish a nation in Israel. They had no children at that time and the land was already occupied by other people of different religions. It really is an interesting story with the main characters taking matters into their own hands because they didn't believe God could do what He had promised. In spite of some poor decisions on their part, which caused some unneccessary hardships, they were successful in achieving the purpose they were called to and which they were passionate about.
The point here is that genius is not rare but rather common. Ever since Adam and Eve, people have been misled into doubting God's purposes and promises. From this moment forward, I challenge all of us to acknowlegde the great power of our creator who made us like Him, not to be Him, but to be His representatives on earth. As such, He gave us all the abilities we require to make our passionate dreams become real. And before we were born, He covered us with His protective spirit. I pray you now believe and are empowered by the fact that you are a genius.
So what makes me concentrate on the idea of your being a genius? Well, it has to do with confidence and worthiness. Knowing as I do that you are a genius, totally capable of achieving the purpose you were created for, does that affect your feeling of worthiness and confidence? To me, this says that you have within you everything necessary to accomplish your goals. Of course the next question is, "how do I set goals that I know are in line with God's will for my life?"
Whatever God gives you a passion for, He will provide the means for you to achieve. This means if you have a passion for becoming a pastor, you can achieve it. If you are passionate about government service, or medicine, flying airplanes, or business, you can become successful at it. Will it be simple and easy? Probably not, but simple and easy are not what we are discussing. We are discussing genius. If you study great people in scripture and outside of scripture, they were all geniuses in some way. They had a passion to accomplish their life's dream. Rarely, if ever, was it easy.
Some Biblical names that come to mind are Jesus Christ, Paul, Abraham, Moses, King David, Daniel, Ruth, Noah, Jonah, Elijah, and Jeremiah, just to name a few. Non-biblical people who come to mind are Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King,Jr., Thomas Edison, Christopher Columbus, and George Washington Carver. There are many more I could name and that is a good thing. These geniuses are famous. There are also many names that I do not know. Does this mean that non-famous people are not geniuses? Of course not. Many people have accomplished their life's passions and not become well-known.
The tragedy does not lie in not being famous. The tragedy lies in having given up on one's dreams and passions before they were accomplished. In our Disciple II class this week, we have been reading about Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament book of Genesis. Abraham and Sarah were already past child-bearing years when God called them to leave their home in Ur and establish a nation in Israel. They had no children at that time and the land was already occupied by other people of different religions. It really is an interesting story with the main characters taking matters into their own hands because they didn't believe God could do what He had promised. In spite of some poor decisions on their part, which caused some unneccessary hardships, they were successful in achieving the purpose they were called to and which they were passionate about.
The point here is that genius is not rare but rather common. Ever since Adam and Eve, people have been misled into doubting God's purposes and promises. From this moment forward, I challenge all of us to acknowlegde the great power of our creator who made us like Him, not to be Him, but to be His representatives on earth. As such, He gave us all the abilities we require to make our passionate dreams become real. And before we were born, He covered us with His protective spirit. I pray you now believe and are empowered by the fact that you are a genius.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Abundance Is Real
The abundance available to all life forms is staggering. Every time I look out the window, take a drive, go shopping, or visit the library I witness this. It is absolutely impossible for me to meet every person, read every book, taste every food, and hear every note played or sung in my lifetime. But I can achieve some of these things every day. And I can share the abundance I enjoy with another person - EVERY DAY.
For I am the only one who can do these things for me. God gave me the gift of free will, which is to me the ultimate gift. It gives me the freedom to think, believe, and act according to what I know to be true in this moment. God's relationship to us as humans is fundamentally one of freedom to love and serve Him and others or not.
How then have human beings inacted laws and systems that take away these freedoms? Some laws are necessary for a civil society because some humans have taken free will to mean they can do things to and against others. There are more than enough laws to deal with this behavior and I only mention it here to recognize that need. But telling another person what they can read or believe or how to raise their children is tyranny and should never be tolerated.
The challenge I put before myself and others is to take this gift of free will very seriously. We must all take ownership of our thoughts by choosing carefully what to read and believe. We must look at who we are individually and what our goals are for ourselves. We are not victims but co-authors with God of the lives we create.
What changes would you like to see in your world? Do you want to see more love, more sharing, more personal wealth for the freedom to be, do, and have more than you ever have before. The key word is more. We were created for more. With the abundance you see all around, more is so possible. The possibility of more gives us the ambition, motivation, and energy to make things happen.
After all, everything you see, hear, or read, began with an idea. Let's all come up with some good ideas and take action on them, today.
To your abundance.
Sandra Hayes
For I am the only one who can do these things for me. God gave me the gift of free will, which is to me the ultimate gift. It gives me the freedom to think, believe, and act according to what I know to be true in this moment. God's relationship to us as humans is fundamentally one of freedom to love and serve Him and others or not.
How then have human beings inacted laws and systems that take away these freedoms? Some laws are necessary for a civil society because some humans have taken free will to mean they can do things to and against others. There are more than enough laws to deal with this behavior and I only mention it here to recognize that need. But telling another person what they can read or believe or how to raise their children is tyranny and should never be tolerated.
The challenge I put before myself and others is to take this gift of free will very seriously. We must all take ownership of our thoughts by choosing carefully what to read and believe. We must look at who we are individually and what our goals are for ourselves. We are not victims but co-authors with God of the lives we create.
What changes would you like to see in your world? Do you want to see more love, more sharing, more personal wealth for the freedom to be, do, and have more than you ever have before. The key word is more. We were created for more. With the abundance you see all around, more is so possible. The possibility of more gives us the ambition, motivation, and energy to make things happen.
After all, everything you see, hear, or read, began with an idea. Let's all come up with some good ideas and take action on them, today.
To your abundance.
Sandra Hayes
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Thoughts Become Words Become Things
Yesteday, I had an interesting experience with our Epiphany Community at SC DJJ. This is a ministry in which we share the love of Jesus Christ with incarerated youth. A friend of ours presented a program on the power of our words. Before words are spoken, however, they are thoughts. So the question to ask is where do thoughts come from? We cannot experience them with any of our five senses. They are first recognized by our brain. As my 4 1/2 year-old grandson said the other day, "Nana, it's all about the brain." How true this is.
When we consider that God simply spoke and all of creation came to be, we can start to consider the power in thoughts and words. If we but look at recent history, we can see some amazing examples of how thoughts become words which set into motion the actions that produced powerful results. An example is President John F. Kennedy's speech describing his vision of a man on the moon before the end of the decade. As a result, others caught the vision, and we just celebrated the 40th anniversary of that feat.
Another example is Martin Luther King, Jr. The civil rights movement itself started as a thought which became words, which ignited the vision and determination of a nation to end segregation and foster equal rights for all people. This is powerful stuff resulting from thoughts. I mentioned some positive examples but there have been negative examples as well. One of the most horrible of course was the Holocaust. Angry, hate-filled thoughts resulted in the murder of millions of people.
Reflecting on how powerful our words can be should cause us to examine our thoughts before turning them into spoken words. Our thoughts come from the people we associate with, the books we read, and the movies we watch. With this in mind, we really need to take great care that we associate with people who we admire and who speak the truth. Also, we must fill our minds, from which our thougts emerge, with material that results in growth and abundance. Focusing on positive, loving ideas begets thoughts of speaking and acting in loving and positive ways.
There are plenty of negative words resulting in fear, anger, and isolation in the world today. Since I have freedom to control what I think and say, I choose to fill my mind with powerful, positive thougts. A powerful example of positive thoughts resulting in a powerful result occurred just this past week at a conference sponsored by our company, Liberty League International. Erik Wahl was a speaker there who paints as he speaks. As a result, he produced some lovely paintings. Three people were admiring the paintings and thinking how wonderful they would be to own. Then one had a thought about using them to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She shared the thought and a project took form. 2 days later, the paintings were auctioned with $179,034 being raised and donated to Make-a-Wish of Hawaii.
For a thought to become powerful, it must be shared and acted upon. Then miracles can happen. Let's all be grateful for thoughts, words, and the wisdom to share those that are beneficial. "A wise man's heart guides his mouth and makes his lips persuasive." Proverbs 16:23 Lets all celebrate our ability to impact the world in a powerfully abundant way by our thoughts and words.
When we consider that God simply spoke and all of creation came to be, we can start to consider the power in thoughts and words. If we but look at recent history, we can see some amazing examples of how thoughts become words which set into motion the actions that produced powerful results. An example is President John F. Kennedy's speech describing his vision of a man on the moon before the end of the decade. As a result, others caught the vision, and we just celebrated the 40th anniversary of that feat.
Another example is Martin Luther King, Jr. The civil rights movement itself started as a thought which became words, which ignited the vision and determination of a nation to end segregation and foster equal rights for all people. This is powerful stuff resulting from thoughts. I mentioned some positive examples but there have been negative examples as well. One of the most horrible of course was the Holocaust. Angry, hate-filled thoughts resulted in the murder of millions of people.
Reflecting on how powerful our words can be should cause us to examine our thoughts before turning them into spoken words. Our thoughts come from the people we associate with, the books we read, and the movies we watch. With this in mind, we really need to take great care that we associate with people who we admire and who speak the truth. Also, we must fill our minds, from which our thougts emerge, with material that results in growth and abundance. Focusing on positive, loving ideas begets thoughts of speaking and acting in loving and positive ways.
There are plenty of negative words resulting in fear, anger, and isolation in the world today. Since I have freedom to control what I think and say, I choose to fill my mind with powerful, positive thougts. A powerful example of positive thoughts resulting in a powerful result occurred just this past week at a conference sponsored by our company, Liberty League International. Erik Wahl was a speaker there who paints as he speaks. As a result, he produced some lovely paintings. Three people were admiring the paintings and thinking how wonderful they would be to own. Then one had a thought about using them to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She shared the thought and a project took form. 2 days later, the paintings were auctioned with $179,034 being raised and donated to Make-a-Wish of Hawaii.
For a thought to become powerful, it must be shared and acted upon. Then miracles can happen. Let's all be grateful for thoughts, words, and the wisdom to share those that are beneficial. "A wise man's heart guides his mouth and makes his lips persuasive." Proverbs 16:23 Lets all celebrate our ability to impact the world in a powerfully abundant way by our thoughts and words.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Socialism Does Not Favor Abundance
I received an interesting email this morning about socialism. It seems an economics professor challenged a class on the viability of socialism. Young, idealistic minds like to think that sharing equally by taking from the rich and giving to the poor will fix everything. To prove this does not happen, he assigned grades along socialistic lines. All test grades were averaged and every student received the same grade. After the first test, everyone got a B. They all received a D after the second test and an F after the third. Working hard to achieve more was no longer beneficial so no one did it. As a result, all failed and no one was happy. The professor had an abundance of A's at his disposal but they had to be earned.
This reminds me of a verse in the Bible, Mark 14:7, to be precise. Jesus told his disciples "You will always have poor people with you, and any time you want to, you can help them. But you will not always have me." Good News Bible There are some key words in this verse: always, want, and can. There will always be poor people. There are various reasons for this. Sometimes poor people indeed need our help. Jesus gave us the free will to choose who to help and when. In my experience this works far better than forced aid by taxation, or stealing from the rich to give to the poor by the government.
Some people are actually poor by choice. Haven't you heard people say they can't get married or earn more money because they will lose their welfare or social security income? As long as people perceive they deserve to be paid regardless of their productivity, many will choose to be unproductive. And when the productive realize that no matter how hard they work, what they earn will be taken from them and given to those who do nothing, they will lose their ambition. And where is a society when people are no longer motivated to be creative and productive?
Please note that I believe in missions and giving to those with burdens that are too great for them to carry. A good example is Katrina Relief along the U.S. gulf coast. People were hard hit by a natural disaster and needed all the help they could get to rebuid their homes and lives. The last time I was there, however, I saw some examples of people who were not helping themselves but complaining about the government. It actually put a negative thought in the minds of many volunteers who were using their vacation time, money, and energy to be of assistance only to be met with ingratitude. Right now I have a choice about where to go on my next mission.
I have this choice because right now I have the time and resources to be self-directed and spirit-led. If the government strips me of these resources and loses them in a quagmire of bureaucratic red tape, does anyone really benefit? This has happened along the gulf coast. Are there still people there who really need our help? Of course there are. Many didn't qualify for government funds the first time around for whatever reason. In fact every volunteer agency has paid social workers who take applications, fill our forms, and continually follow up to see what help is available and when. And everyone has become despondent because the government proved frustrating to both the poor and those who would like to help them.
You see, the residents there and the volunteers from out of state no longer see themselves and their hard work as the solution. So, I ask you. Are we all better off in a system where everyone has the potential to achieve an A? Or are we as a society better served when no one is allowed an A becaue all must receive the same grade? Remember, socialism does not favor abundance for anyone.
This reminds me of a verse in the Bible, Mark 14:7, to be precise. Jesus told his disciples "You will always have poor people with you, and any time you want to, you can help them. But you will not always have me." Good News Bible There are some key words in this verse: always, want, and can. There will always be poor people. There are various reasons for this. Sometimes poor people indeed need our help. Jesus gave us the free will to choose who to help and when. In my experience this works far better than forced aid by taxation, or stealing from the rich to give to the poor by the government.
Some people are actually poor by choice. Haven't you heard people say they can't get married or earn more money because they will lose their welfare or social security income? As long as people perceive they deserve to be paid regardless of their productivity, many will choose to be unproductive. And when the productive realize that no matter how hard they work, what they earn will be taken from them and given to those who do nothing, they will lose their ambition. And where is a society when people are no longer motivated to be creative and productive?
Please note that I believe in missions and giving to those with burdens that are too great for them to carry. A good example is Katrina Relief along the U.S. gulf coast. People were hard hit by a natural disaster and needed all the help they could get to rebuid their homes and lives. The last time I was there, however, I saw some examples of people who were not helping themselves but complaining about the government. It actually put a negative thought in the minds of many volunteers who were using their vacation time, money, and energy to be of assistance only to be met with ingratitude. Right now I have a choice about where to go on my next mission.
I have this choice because right now I have the time and resources to be self-directed and spirit-led. If the government strips me of these resources and loses them in a quagmire of bureaucratic red tape, does anyone really benefit? This has happened along the gulf coast. Are there still people there who really need our help? Of course there are. Many didn't qualify for government funds the first time around for whatever reason. In fact every volunteer agency has paid social workers who take applications, fill our forms, and continually follow up to see what help is available and when. And everyone has become despondent because the government proved frustrating to both the poor and those who would like to help them.
You see, the residents there and the volunteers from out of state no longer see themselves and their hard work as the solution. So, I ask you. Are we all better off in a system where everyone has the potential to achieve an A? Or are we as a society better served when no one is allowed an A becaue all must receive the same grade? Remember, socialism does not favor abundance for anyone.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Spiritual Health Reflects True Abundance
The third component of health is as vitally important as the first two. Spiritual health is a little more difficult to define and describe than either physical or mental. There are physicians and other practitioners for these but how do you define and receive treatment for spiritual health? Some people are actually afraid to discuss or consider how important our spiritual well-being actually is.
In a secular world that is very focused on political correctness, poeple are very wary of expressing beliefs in the Divine. We have become so conditioned not to offend anyone, that we are no longer sure if it is actually okay to believe in a Divine Creator who loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. I'm sure my upbringing has a lot to do with it, but I have no doubts that each of us was divinely planned and created. How could someone as wonderful and complex as humans, animals, plants or any part of creation, have appeared accidentally?
So spiritual health is connecting with the Divine being that created us, inspires us, and desires a connection with us and other created beings. The first step to spiritual health is getting quiet and letting your subconscious mind connect the spiritual realm with your conscious physical realm. This exercise is known as meditation or prayer. Too often people think prayer is speaking to our creator when it is also being quiet and listening for a spiritual message. This is so important for getting to the essence of our being. This is where we connect with our passions and purpose.
Just like physical and mental illnesses have symptoms, so does spiritual illness. In the Christian tradition, which is where my beliefs center, we often refer to the fruits of the spirit. These "fruits" are very powerful emotions which I hear people describe often. Having them confers spiritual health while lacking any of them leaves one spiritually empty. These "fruits" are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. "There is no law against such as these." Galatians 5:23
As we end this third component of health, think about how each affects the other. The most important emotion I use to bring about health is gratitude. As Andy Andrews says, "The seeds of depression cannot take root in a grateful heart." So to begin developing health, and especially, spiritual health, write down ten things you are grateful for. Didn't that feel good? Being alive and having air to breathe is a gift. May you find ways to improve your health and live happier more fulfilled each day.
To your abundant health,
Sandra Hayes
In a secular world that is very focused on political correctness, poeple are very wary of expressing beliefs in the Divine. We have become so conditioned not to offend anyone, that we are no longer sure if it is actually okay to believe in a Divine Creator who loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. I'm sure my upbringing has a lot to do with it, but I have no doubts that each of us was divinely planned and created. How could someone as wonderful and complex as humans, animals, plants or any part of creation, have appeared accidentally?
So spiritual health is connecting with the Divine being that created us, inspires us, and desires a connection with us and other created beings. The first step to spiritual health is getting quiet and letting your subconscious mind connect the spiritual realm with your conscious physical realm. This exercise is known as meditation or prayer. Too often people think prayer is speaking to our creator when it is also being quiet and listening for a spiritual message. This is so important for getting to the essence of our being. This is where we connect with our passions and purpose.
Just like physical and mental illnesses have symptoms, so does spiritual illness. In the Christian tradition, which is where my beliefs center, we often refer to the fruits of the spirit. These "fruits" are very powerful emotions which I hear people describe often. Having them confers spiritual health while lacking any of them leaves one spiritually empty. These "fruits" are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. "There is no law against such as these." Galatians 5:23
As we end this third component of health, think about how each affects the other. The most important emotion I use to bring about health is gratitude. As Andy Andrews says, "The seeds of depression cannot take root in a grateful heart." So to begin developing health, and especially, spiritual health, write down ten things you are grateful for. Didn't that feel good? Being alive and having air to breathe is a gift. May you find ways to improve your health and live happier more fulfilled each day.
To your abundant health,
Sandra Hayes
Monday, June 22, 2009
How To Achieve Mental Health
Mental health isn't quite as obvious as physical health. It can't be measured by a weight scale or a lab test. However, it is readily observable by behavior and emotions. The ideal mental health is self-confident and positive. It is knowing one is living in accord with the natural order of the universe. It does not require absolute physical health but simply an awareness of well-being.
In addition to self-confidence, mental health is knowing that all is well in spite of any external conditions, and especially in spite of imagined conditions. Most things that disturb a person's mental health and "peace" are imagined rather than real. Right now we are driving to Gainesville, Florida, at 78 miles per hour. There are many things I could imagine might happen that would be frightening. I'm not even going to begin thinking about them because then they will be planted in my subconscious. At the very least, they would be disturbing, and at the very worst, my focusing on them could actually bring them to pass.
As a nurse, I realize there are disorders attributed to chemical imbalances. As a result, chemicals have been created to hopefully correct those problems. If you watch television, which I don't advise if mental health is the goal, you will be bombarded with advertisements that treat everything from depression to erectile dysfunction. Even if you didn't realize you had these disorders, these commercials will have you wondering about them and possibly even developing them as a result of focusing on them.
Mental health, rather mental illness, is big business. As a business person,I'm all for product development and profit margins. However, successful businesses create a desire for their products. That's how advertising works. We realize there is something out there that we don't have but that would somehow make our lives better. This is also true for mental health. We know that regular aerobic exercise, like jogging or even walking, causes our brains to release chemicals called endorphins. We also know there are many physical benefits to physical exercise as well. So, why not take some personal responsibility and try this remedy before scheduling a doctor's appointment to request a medication you think you need to help you feel happier?
I am not negating true mental illnesses. I'm just pointing out that we were created for health and wellness as our natural state. The human race has survived for thousands of years without the need for artificial chemicals to create this state of health. Normal is common. Abnormal is uncommon. So take a few minutes to look inside yourself. Are you happy or unhappy? Are you confident? Do you enjoy your work and your life? Are you willing to take responsibility for your situation and do the simple things that we know make us healthier and happier.
Our relationships, both personal and professional, either make us happier or unhappier. The same is true of our jobs and hobbies. Our natural state is to be creative and productive. We were put here to bring increase to ourselves and others. It is our responsibility to realize this and take action to be in a state of increase rather than stagnation or even decrease. It is these last two that rob us of happiness, self-confidence, and mental wellness. Feel free to contact me to learn more about how to achieve mental health.
To your abundance of wellness.
Sandra Hayes
http://AchieveProsperityToday.com
In addition to self-confidence, mental health is knowing that all is well in spite of any external conditions, and especially in spite of imagined conditions. Most things that disturb a person's mental health and "peace" are imagined rather than real. Right now we are driving to Gainesville, Florida, at 78 miles per hour. There are many things I could imagine might happen that would be frightening. I'm not even going to begin thinking about them because then they will be planted in my subconscious. At the very least, they would be disturbing, and at the very worst, my focusing on them could actually bring them to pass.
As a nurse, I realize there are disorders attributed to chemical imbalances. As a result, chemicals have been created to hopefully correct those problems. If you watch television, which I don't advise if mental health is the goal, you will be bombarded with advertisements that treat everything from depression to erectile dysfunction. Even if you didn't realize you had these disorders, these commercials will have you wondering about them and possibly even developing them as a result of focusing on them.
Mental health, rather mental illness, is big business. As a business person,I'm all for product development and profit margins. However, successful businesses create a desire for their products. That's how advertising works. We realize there is something out there that we don't have but that would somehow make our lives better. This is also true for mental health. We know that regular aerobic exercise, like jogging or even walking, causes our brains to release chemicals called endorphins. We also know there are many physical benefits to physical exercise as well. So, why not take some personal responsibility and try this remedy before scheduling a doctor's appointment to request a medication you think you need to help you feel happier?
I am not negating true mental illnesses. I'm just pointing out that we were created for health and wellness as our natural state. The human race has survived for thousands of years without the need for artificial chemicals to create this state of health. Normal is common. Abnormal is uncommon. So take a few minutes to look inside yourself. Are you happy or unhappy? Are you confident? Do you enjoy your work and your life? Are you willing to take responsibility for your situation and do the simple things that we know make us healthier and happier.
Our relationships, both personal and professional, either make us happier or unhappier. The same is true of our jobs and hobbies. Our natural state is to be creative and productive. We were put here to bring increase to ourselves and others. It is our responsibility to realize this and take action to be in a state of increase rather than stagnation or even decrease. It is these last two that rob us of happiness, self-confidence, and mental wellness. Feel free to contact me to learn more about how to achieve mental health.
To your abundance of wellness.
Sandra Hayes
http://AchieveProsperityToday.com
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Here's To Your Health
This is part 1 of a series on health. Having been a registered nurse since 1976, I have seen many changes in the field of health care. Most of the people I encountered professionally were seeking sick care rather than healthcare. It seems to me that people are not willing to take responsibility for where they are in life. Healthcare is no different. People would rather be at the effect of outside influences instead of being at cause for their own health. If I can assist one person in changing their perspective on this, my efforts will be rewarded.
It's interesting to note that nurses are among the top trusted professionals in the United States. I feel honored by this trust and seek to uphold it with all I say and do. For this reason, everything I share will be something I truly believe with all my knowledge, wisdom, and experience. What is the most important health concern to people today? Is it cancer or such chronic illnesses as arthritis? I invite comments to this blog to assist with this answer.
From my observations, I would say that failure to take responsibility for their own condition is the number one healthcare issue. Ignoring advice about diet, exercise, and weight control contributes to all kinds of problems including the 2 mentioned above.
You can rest assured that I am not immune to these issues either! As part of my own overall goal to improve my health, I plan to lose 12 pounds in the next 6 months. Wii Fit is assisting me with this. We all need a coach of some sort to challenge us and hold us accountable. To achieve this goal of course, I must think about what fuel I put into my body. As with any goal, every action I take is either taking me closer to the goal or moving me farther away from it. Can you guess which category a Dunkin donut falls into?
Ask yourself what benefits you can expect from improving your health. Having more energy and stamina as well as looking better are adequate motivators for me. I know I'm stating the obvious here, but if it were simple, wouldn't everyone be doing it? My goal with this blog is simply to help you take a look at your own health and focus on some realistic changes you can make to feel better and enjoy life more.
It's interesting to note that nurses are among the top trusted professionals in the United States. I feel honored by this trust and seek to uphold it with all I say and do. For this reason, everything I share will be something I truly believe with all my knowledge, wisdom, and experience. What is the most important health concern to people today? Is it cancer or such chronic illnesses as arthritis? I invite comments to this blog to assist with this answer.
From my observations, I would say that failure to take responsibility for their own condition is the number one healthcare issue. Ignoring advice about diet, exercise, and weight control contributes to all kinds of problems including the 2 mentioned above.
You can rest assured that I am not immune to these issues either! As part of my own overall goal to improve my health, I plan to lose 12 pounds in the next 6 months. Wii Fit is assisting me with this. We all need a coach of some sort to challenge us and hold us accountable. To achieve this goal of course, I must think about what fuel I put into my body. As with any goal, every action I take is either taking me closer to the goal or moving me farther away from it. Can you guess which category a Dunkin donut falls into?
Ask yourself what benefits you can expect from improving your health. Having more energy and stamina as well as looking better are adequate motivators for me. I know I'm stating the obvious here, but if it were simple, wouldn't everyone be doing it? My goal with this blog is simply to help you take a look at your own health and focus on some realistic changes you can make to feel better and enjoy life more.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
How To Honor God With Our Words
The moment we recognize where all our blessings come from, we feel grateful and humble, right? I cannot name one single thing in the universe that I personally created. Any thought or talent I may have comes from my creator, not from me. So what gives me the right to feel superior to anyone or anything? We are all created equal in the sight of God.
Our pastor, Jody Flowers, gave us the most amazing message in church this morning. And Jody was simply the messenger, since his message came straight from God. The Scripture verse he based his sermon on was Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Jody said that the Greek word for unwholesome translates as unfit for use or rotten.
To become more aware of our words, Jody challenged us to have a Fast of Negative Words for the next 14 days. As an avid student of personal development, I am well aware of the power of our words. Words and the way they are used carry a lot of weight whether spoken by ourselves or others. We know this because all of us can remember instances where someone's words hurt us deeply - may even have caused us major self-doubt.
Before I speak, I plan to ask myself the following questions: "Is what I am about to say helpful to others?" and "How can I say what I'm about to say to build this person up?" I don't have to be right nor do I have to always speak the truth - only if my words can be of service to the other person. It's never about what I need to say but rather about what they need to hear. Sometimes people need to hear that they need to improve in certain areas. I am obliged to tell them so in a manner that is helpful to them.
The final three things Jody told us to remember are to ask for the other person's input in the conversation so they know we care about them. Secondly, we are to compliment often - we all do better when we feel loved and esteemed by someone. And finally, we are to exhort sparingly. One thing I would like to add is that we should also use these principles when talking to ourselves. We can correct ourselves in a loving way too. I use affirmations everyday to feel empowered in my life.
In closing, I am reminded of a sentence I have often told my husband of 32 years, "When I need love the most is when I deserve it the least." Think about this and see if you think this same statement holds true for everyone. I am grateful and blessed by the words I heard and shared today. I pray that you are as well.
Have an abundant week.
Our pastor, Jody Flowers, gave us the most amazing message in church this morning. And Jody was simply the messenger, since his message came straight from God. The Scripture verse he based his sermon on was Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Jody said that the Greek word for unwholesome translates as unfit for use or rotten.
To become more aware of our words, Jody challenged us to have a Fast of Negative Words for the next 14 days. As an avid student of personal development, I am well aware of the power of our words. Words and the way they are used carry a lot of weight whether spoken by ourselves or others. We know this because all of us can remember instances where someone's words hurt us deeply - may even have caused us major self-doubt.
Before I speak, I plan to ask myself the following questions: "Is what I am about to say helpful to others?" and "How can I say what I'm about to say to build this person up?" I don't have to be right nor do I have to always speak the truth - only if my words can be of service to the other person. It's never about what I need to say but rather about what they need to hear. Sometimes people need to hear that they need to improve in certain areas. I am obliged to tell them so in a manner that is helpful to them.
The final three things Jody told us to remember are to ask for the other person's input in the conversation so they know we care about them. Secondly, we are to compliment often - we all do better when we feel loved and esteemed by someone. And finally, we are to exhort sparingly. One thing I would like to add is that we should also use these principles when talking to ourselves. We can correct ourselves in a loving way too. I use affirmations everyday to feel empowered in my life.
In closing, I am reminded of a sentence I have often told my husband of 32 years, "When I need love the most is when I deserve it the least." Think about this and see if you think this same statement holds true for everyone. I am grateful and blessed by the words I heard and shared today. I pray that you are as well.
Have an abundant week.
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