Want A Positive Mindset?

In the grind of every day life it can be really easy to get caught up in the critical, negativity of what's not happening or what you don't have. Maybe you caught every red light on your way home or you finally saved enough to update the house, but your car broke down. So many things in life can throw a curve ball our way. It can be so easy to focus on what's going wrong. Then there's the Negative Nancy's that rub in the negativity ten times worse than where you were at. Yikes!

It's really been on my heart to keep a positive attitude no matter what. I believe that what ever posture your heart takes, whether negative or positive, will bleed an outlook in all areas of life. Kinda like the, "rose colored glasses" concept. The color of your glasses paint the tint you see in the world most.

Before I go further I wanted to state, I am not a fan of fake and fluffy. If something terrible happened I don't think pretending every thing is OK is the answer. How the terrible things effect our hearts posture is where I believe we have the choice to let negativity or positivity root into our souls. I believe agreeing with truth is the point where freedom takes place. I also believe that our expectations and agreements can have an influence on the outcomes of life.

Today I was inspired by the Lord to make a "Gratitude Board." A board designed just how I like it, with all the good things the Lord has done and all the blessings He's given me. That way I'll be able to see it every day and remember how good God has been to me. I love how God is creative and enjoys helping us in practical ways.

Now I'm super visual so this board is going to help me SEE the goodness, haha! You may be different, perhaps keeping a audio log would be better for you or writing about it down in a notebook. Every one is so unique there really isn't a limit as to HOW we can remember God's goodness.

This fun way to remember God's goodness is connected to the verse in Philippians 4:8

"Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."

Try it and see what happens!!

When Love Knocks Fear Fails

Lately I've had the privilege to get to know a very special person. He and I have gone through crazy things together. We've had high stress times and lots of fear buttons pushed. Along the way I have really noticed that fears really cause people to not act like themselves. In a matter of seconds the switch flips, BAM!! It's like this alarm inside goes off; people kick into survival mode, get aggressive or totally shut down hiding in their preverbial shell. Why do we as humans act like that?

More and more I see that a past experience, one of injury, certain belief or trauma, keep people stuck in their soul in that old place. This throws up a wall, this fortress of mistrust and defenses. The fear usually pops up once again, maybe a few days later, perhaps years down the road when similar situations come around again. I personally don't like that very much.

The acronym for fear is

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

Fear is never true!! The only way fears can become true is if we agree with them and give them power.

One day, a friend of mine told me that when that same fear shoots up again inside, it can actually be an opportunity to grow past it. Now I've heard of overcoming fears before and have done crazy things in my life for the sake of "overcoming fear," however, he suggested that when we feel fear often it is Love Himself coming to fill our hearts. It's like this, when Love come around our hearts have a choice of how we respond. All the places that work great open up and enjoy! The places that are griped with defenses will react in what they are rooted in. I imagine these little soldiers in the fortress of "self defense" and "self preservation" yelling out, "IN COMING!!!!!! Man your stations!" Because the fortresses of fear are rooted in fear the reaction to the "invader," Love, is fear! At this moment we all have a choice to make. We can A) push Love back, keeping the fortress doors tightly shut OR we can choose B) open up to the truth of Love, experiencing healing.

Knowing this principles has really changed my life!! Now I know when fear blows up in my soul, I can let Love in. That means I don't run, harden, push back or react, but let Jesus (Perfect Love) know He can replace the fear with His love. Often times Love loves on me through that very special person who I've been walking out these crazy situations with. Sometimes all it takes is saying,"I'm afraid, because of ____ and ____, but I choose to believe the truth of Love. Help!" Simple, but effective!

Thanks for reading!

We Must Know THE Artist

I found a writing from March, 4th 2010. In reading it I find I am inspired unto peace once again...

"Sometimes I feel this pressure to figure everything out all at once about who God made me to be. This self-focus and self-evaluation sneaks up on me and drowns me in a whirlwind of analyzation. 

I'm finding that this discovery is a process to be ENJOYED, not filled with drudgery or pressure. I'm finding that the process is more simple than I imagined... know God and you will know yourself...

We cannot know who we are unless we know who GOD is. He is our Father and gives is identity... only He truly knows who we are. We have filters and blinders from wounds, accusations, people's opinions, our own concepts etc... God sees deeper...

Actually, He sees so deeply because He hand crafted us in the womb... He really knows us. Just like an artist knows their work, He knows us and put elements of Himself in us. He invested Himself in us... ideas, dreams, expressions of His nature, who HE is, is who WE ARE... we bare the image of our Creator. 

People's ideas of who we are changes... our own idea of who we are changes too... man looks on the OUTSIDE, but God looks at the HEART. It's the heart that lasts and stays with us. It's the heart, the core of who we are that holds the passions and life we express and live.

Lastly, we are not bound by the boxes of what was or has been, in society, history, and in our minds. No two people are alike and therefor we've already been set-up to do something new, fresh, unique, and full of the LIFE/PASSION in us. Only you can show the world the love of Jesus as you... no one else can do that... no one else can be you!!! We all have so much value. We can just BE. 

What elements of the Artist do you express?"