God intends to develop good in our relationships with friends, loved ones, spouses, ex-spouses, bosses, and family members. No matter what issues you have in any relationship in your life right now, God can make them function properly and even become enjoyable once again.
i believe alot of situations in our lives can be symptomatic of larger problems. a central issue in many of our lives is the inability to live life without large amounts of DRAMA involved. for some of us, if there is no drama and nothing wrong in our lives at any given time, we dont know how to act.
think of all the problems that are in your life right now and honestly analyze how much of it was self-inflicted, a result of what i call "drama-seeking".
you might say that there were real problems associated with the people involved in your life's issues, but the truth is that everyone has issues with the people there in relationship with.
could it be that we blow these standard relational issues out of proportion?
does it ever seem that sometimes your almost addicted to DRAMA? maybe you've went on a vacation before where you were even away from all the "bad" people (lol) and issues, yet you still had a hard time enjoying yourself, even on vacation.
drama-seeking can get so bad that some of us only find relief from drama by ingesting substances that alter our mood; drugs and alcohol seem like the only way to receive some temporary relifef. of course, these things just add more problems into our lives while giving no real relief in the process.
the devil uses this tool of "drama-seeking" in our lives to keep us where we are while not allowing us to grow in God and reap the rewards of living for Jesus.
so what do we need to do in a nutshell to eliminate drama-seeking behavior and attitudes?...........avoid disputes, avoid problems, drop them and run, look for good, believe for the best, start refraining from voicing the negativity in your life, start proclaiming the victories God's giving to you in your life!
sometimes this kind of negative, drama-filled thinking that we're used to causes us to expect drama. drama becomes something weve gotten used to. it's like a large riverbed that has been dug deep into our thought process.
here are some practical ways to re-direct this current of negative, drama-seeking behavior that we've gotten used to living with:
first, you have to MAKE A DECISION....to change, change your thought life.
second, you have to start re-training your mind to think the way God wants you to. so how does God want you to think....He tells us in Scripture.
Philip 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
third, its gonna take a little time to retrain your thinking, and it can happen as fast as you want it to. DAILY you must start capturing negative, doubtful, dark, and pessimistic thoughts and start replacing them with positive, Scripture-filled, God breathed thoughts.
fourth, and most importantly, before you attempt to do any of the first three steps, GIVE this drama-filled, negative lifestyle over to God and asking Him to help you change.
Jesus saved you, and truthfully He never stops saving you. He can save you from this as well.
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Start avoiding drama and start thinking Scripture-filled thoughts of victory. A Victorious-type of thinking will lead to a natural gravitation away from drama, leaving those who'd like to start trouble with you in the dust....you wont have time for their mess.
you can do this. God has made you able through His strength.
God is good.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
taking advantage of opportunities
recently i had an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone whom God has placed in my path.
actually it's one of my customers. i started a graphic design and print business with my brother Mark called Earle Graphics 2 months ago, and it has been going well. this business has increased the opportunities for my brother Mark and i to witness and share the Gospel with those we work with.
i thought i'd post my conversation with one of my customers who i'll name "Tim". Tim is a very nice guy, a good guy who definitely thinks he's somewhat spiritual and has thoughts about God and who God is.
however, even though he thinks of himself as somewhat spiritual, he has no answers.
in my last face to face meeting with him over a business matter, the issue of God came up, and in a light and quick fashion, i was able to share the Gospel with him.
below is my correspondence with Tim over email yesterday and today.
Tim's email to me:
____________________________________________
"Paul....Nice design. Sort of like having the subliminal eye of God overseeing the success of a vehicle to help man kind in the name of good. One family at a time. When I eventually get there, do you think it'll position me to a higher level of heaven for my deeds?
Tim"
____________________________________________
my reply to Tim's email
____________________________________________
"hi Tim,
im glad you like the design. I will make the changes you've asked for and then submit it to you again so you can see the final version.
as far as your question is concerned, I don’t think any of us will go to a higher level of heaven according to our deeds. this is somewhat of a common thought, so I don’t blame you for thinking it, because this is how the world works to a degree; do good, get rewarded - do bad, get condemned.
I would like to refer you however to a Scripture in the Bible, to tell you what It says about this issue.
in Romans chapter 3 and verse 23, the Apostle Paul states, "for we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
basically Tim, this means that there is a "good" according to human standards, that we can achieve that will bring us some reward in this life. However, there is also a "good" according to God's standards that no human, past or present has ever grasped; that is except for Jesus Christ, God's Son.
this is why the Scriptures also tell us to believe and trust not in our own goodness, but in God's goodness in order to be rewarded not only in this life, but eternally as well in the life to come.
how do you access God's goodness? through faith in what Christ did on the Cross, where He paid the penalty for your and my sin.
Scripture states in John 3:16 "for God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, would not perish but have everlasting life".
simply stated, we achieve God's standard of goodness and receive all the rewards associated with that goodness (in this life and the one to come) by placing our faith and trust in Jesus, the Son of God.
if you'd like to, you too can place your faith in Christ and be assured of eternal life. just pray "Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I ask Him to come into my life and save me. I want you to become the leader of my life. I thank you for your unconditional love. In Jesus Name, Amen."
I prayed a prayer similar to this in 1994, and my life was never the same. my life became everything I dreamed it could be and more because of God's goodness and not my own.
if you do pray this prayer, let me or another Christian know. Jesus said it's important to do this because true faith is followed by action.
I believe God has awesome plans in your future Tim with Christ in your life.
God bless,
Paul Earle
Earle Graphics
quick • clean • affordable"
____________________________________________
my encouragement is that no matter what you do for a job, know that you are a full time minister as a follower of Christ, and that you can make an eternal difference in the lives of those around you daily.
always remember, you have the Truth and the Power of God in you.
God is good,
Paul
actually it's one of my customers. i started a graphic design and print business with my brother Mark called Earle Graphics 2 months ago, and it has been going well. this business has increased the opportunities for my brother Mark and i to witness and share the Gospel with those we work with.
i thought i'd post my conversation with one of my customers who i'll name "Tim". Tim is a very nice guy, a good guy who definitely thinks he's somewhat spiritual and has thoughts about God and who God is.
however, even though he thinks of himself as somewhat spiritual, he has no answers.
in my last face to face meeting with him over a business matter, the issue of God came up, and in a light and quick fashion, i was able to share the Gospel with him.
below is my correspondence with Tim over email yesterday and today.
Tim's email to me:
____________________________________________
"Paul....Nice design. Sort of like having the subliminal eye of God overseeing the success of a vehicle to help man kind in the name of good. One family at a time. When I eventually get there, do you think it'll position me to a higher level of heaven for my deeds?
Tim"
____________________________________________
my reply to Tim's email
____________________________________________
"hi Tim,
im glad you like the design. I will make the changes you've asked for and then submit it to you again so you can see the final version.
as far as your question is concerned, I don’t think any of us will go to a higher level of heaven according to our deeds. this is somewhat of a common thought, so I don’t blame you for thinking it, because this is how the world works to a degree; do good, get rewarded - do bad, get condemned.
I would like to refer you however to a Scripture in the Bible, to tell you what It says about this issue.
in Romans chapter 3 and verse 23, the Apostle Paul states, "for we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
basically Tim, this means that there is a "good" according to human standards, that we can achieve that will bring us some reward in this life. However, there is also a "good" according to God's standards that no human, past or present has ever grasped; that is except for Jesus Christ, God's Son.
this is why the Scriptures also tell us to believe and trust not in our own goodness, but in God's goodness in order to be rewarded not only in this life, but eternally as well in the life to come.
how do you access God's goodness? through faith in what Christ did on the Cross, where He paid the penalty for your and my sin.
Scripture states in John 3:16 "for God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, would not perish but have everlasting life".
simply stated, we achieve God's standard of goodness and receive all the rewards associated with that goodness (in this life and the one to come) by placing our faith and trust in Jesus, the Son of God.
if you'd like to, you too can place your faith in Christ and be assured of eternal life. just pray "Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I ask Him to come into my life and save me. I want you to become the leader of my life. I thank you for your unconditional love. In Jesus Name, Amen."
I prayed a prayer similar to this in 1994, and my life was never the same. my life became everything I dreamed it could be and more because of God's goodness and not my own.
if you do pray this prayer, let me or another Christian know. Jesus said it's important to do this because true faith is followed by action.
I believe God has awesome plans in your future Tim with Christ in your life.
God bless,
Paul Earle
Earle Graphics
quick • clean • affordable"
____________________________________________
my encouragement is that no matter what you do for a job, know that you are a full time minister as a follower of Christ, and that you can make an eternal difference in the lives of those around you daily.
always remember, you have the Truth and the Power of God in you.
God is good,
Paul
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