Counting on the Wrong Thing

Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.- Psalm 108:12 (NIV)

Let's put this in perspective.

If you have a legitimate problem, then you are in need of some real help.

What some folks have to offer just isn't real help.  It is worthless.

The plea within this psalm is for help or aid against an enemy or foe.  Actually, it is a plea for help from a specific enemy.  The psalm says the enemy.  Thus, the enemy must be known by both the victim and rescuer.

We realize in the midst of our own turmoil and struggles how useless some types of help amounts to when weighed against what we are going through at the time.  

TALK IS CHEAP

Talk is cheap when you need to spring into action.  Mere words offer little consolation when you are in the heat of a major conflict that needs immediate resolutions.

MONEY ISN'T ALWAYS THE ANSWER

Money can do a lot, but it doesn't solve everything.  In all honesty, some of the "true riches" that the Lord spoke of were the things that stood out in life despite how much money one had accumulated.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN DO MORE HARM THAN HELP

If someone is going to stab you in your back, they have to get close to you.  The attack is in close proximity to you.  No one can get any closer to you than family, even some friends.  Beware that it often hurts our hearts more that it someone we cared for and loved than the actual damage caused by the gossip, innuendo  and smear campaigns.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. - Psalm 118:8 (NIV)

Get your help from the right source.  Know that your real help comes from on high.  Tap into the Lord's powerful ability and availability.  Let Him know your troubles.  Give them over to Him in sincere, consecrated prayer.  Allow Him to empower you with the Spirit of God that embodies every believer.

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.- Psalm 146:3 (NIV)

If you tell Him, trust Him.  If you trust Him, take every ounce of what He offers to you in faith and with joy, knowing that He gives us what we do not deserve (grace) and that He spares us of what we truly deserve (mercy).

You can count on Him.

Today's Task

Today I vow to breathe positive words.

Today I swear to stay positive in my outlook.

Today I will be as positive as I can be.

Today I will think positively.

Today I will become the epitome of positive living.

Today I will be the picture of positive thinking.

The Miracle of Christmas

Feliz Navidad!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

Previously, I wrote about the miracles of Jesus and shared some of the inspirational accounts from the Gospels.  The Gospels depict Jesus as a worker of miracles as well as a messenger of God's redemption while remaining the Messiah who would serve as the Lamb of God.

But when the time had fully come, 
God sent his Son, 
born of a woman, 
born under law, 
to redeem those under law, 
that we might receive the full rights of sons.
- Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

However, the miracle of Christmas is more about God orchestrating everything beyond coincidence.  He set things in order long before they began to unfold in order to redeem mankind.  Christmas marks a celebration of things coming in order to fulfill God's plan for redemption.

New Mercies Day by Day

Morning by morning new mercies I see. . .- "Great is Thy Faithfulness"

Every single day is a blessing.  Yes, I know that it can be considered a given, but today I have good reason to say so.  After tossing and turning all night with a head cold, I could hardly sleep.  I awoke in a stuper this morning and in no condition to even try to go to church, possibly infecting everyone near me.  I awoke and celebrated the goodness of God.

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

I celebrate the fact that God is in charge.  He can slow us down when we will run ourselves down to the bone and keep on until there's nothing to wear out left.  God has stopping power.  He can stop the planets in the middle of their orbit.  He can command the birds of the air to feed a runaway prophet and the fish of the sea to leap into the nets of a small boat for Simon Peter.  God has power.

He gives us new mercies daily.  He doesn't try to pass off yesterday's mercies as just as good or in working condition.  He gives us the best that He has to offer.

Lord,
I just say thank you for not leaving me in yesterday's condition and
allowing me to awake today in a new condition.
Yes, Lord, You are powerful!
Amen.

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Remain Positive

He who walks with wise men will be wise,

But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

-Proverbs 13:20

Why suffer needlessly? It's senseless.  It's foolish.  It's totally unwise.

In midst of all of this foolishness that may come your way, I suggest that you remain positive.  Norman Vincent Peale wrote The Power o f Positive Thinking many years ago and it still generates fans to this day.  Keep yourself positive.

How?

Keep a positive perspective on things.  Be an optimist.  Winston Churchill once stated: "The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Maintain a positive perspective.

Stick with positive people.  Don't fall in with the wrong crowd at the copy machine or water cooler.  Keep yourself surrounded by people who will build you up and lift your spirits.

Stay positive.  We all know that bad things still happen to good people.  That's still a reality.  Let's maintain our own positivity in the midst of the storms of this life.  hink about the folks who survived Hurrican Sandy and who were so thankful to God for sparing their lives and the lives of their loved ones.  That's how to stay positive in the storm and beyond.

Studying on Activism

Recently, I enaged in some dialogue with some people about change within communities throughout the country.  We talked about actions in Atlanta, Philly, D.C., Los Angeles and elsewhere.  I grew excited and was taken back to read some of the historic stories of politicians and activists who made a difference by taking a political stand on issues, even taking action, in some cases, by becoming part of the system.

•  Harvey Milk: The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts
• Adam Clayton Powell: Adam by Adam, Adam Clayton Powell; King of Cats,Wil Haygood; Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.: The Political Biography of an American Dilemma, Charles V. Hamilton
• J.C. Watts, Jr.:  What Color is a Conservative?: My Life and My Politics
• Emiliano Zapata: Zapata, John Steinbeck
• Frederick Douglas: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas

I have found these stories interesting to read and view on DVD in some cases.  I truly can say that the common threads of struggle lead many to take action in various forms, but you have to read the stories from a variety of perspectives to see the change brought forth by their efforts.

Promote the Positive

Look at how Norman Vincent Peale breaks down some common challenges for people.

Positive thinking is powerful.  It has both blessings and benefits.  The power of positivity can carry you through some unbelievable storms.  Don't think that bad things don't happen to good people.  We all encounter various challenges day by day.  the difference is made by how we handle those challenges.

Embrace a positive mindset.  Don't let negative thinking invade your mind.  Keep a positive outlook and expect positive outcomes.

Let the Lord and His Word work on you.  Let His Word sink in and enrich you.  Let it take root in your willing soul.

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.- Philippians 4:13 (NASB)

Prayer Plan

Okay, folks.  The year is closing out.  We are wrapping up the third quarter and getting into the final and fourth quarter of the year, looking ahead towards 2011 with eagerness and excitement. 

Here's my sound advice for the evangelical entrepreneur or the Bible-believing businessman or businesswoman:

"Pray constantly."- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (HCSB)

You don't have to be consumed with the latest headlines and the market conditions through the news wire and constant streams of Internet data that reveal the ebb and flow of the business world moment by moment.  Get saturated in prayer.  Let your prayer life set you apart from how others approach business.

Believers who are in business need to be in prayer.  Constant prayer will need cause the problems to cease, but it will center you to focus on God's calling for your life and how to deal with the demands of being in business.

Pray frequently. Pray fervently. Pray faithfully.

Pray daily. Pray weekly. Pray monthly. Pray quarterly. Pray annually. Pray with a purpose. Pray with a plan. Pray with power.

Pray over your business and everything that is connected to your business.

How often you pray impacts how you pray, and how you pray impacts how often you pray.

Pray for your business today.  Pray with your future in mind.  Pray for guidance d strength