What I Fear

(Source: www.norcalblogs.com)

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. - Job 3 : 25

Fear is something that everyone has faced, ever since we were small. It doesn't matter how old we get, there will be small portion of fear in our lives.

But the fact is this; the more you feared, then more likely it will happen. Why is that so?

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ... - Proverbs 23 : 7

Surely we know this verse, or heard it somewhere. Our mind is probably the strongest weapon we have, it could either make us or break us. Therefore, we must control what is in our mind. How to do it? Feed our mind with the right information!

Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. - Philippians 4 : 6

Three keys as we learn from the verse above: Do not worry, pray & give thanks to God.

Believe me in one thing; surely God is big enough and more than enough for everything that we need to go through in life.

What The World Tells Us

How often is it that you are told how good you are and what a great job you have done?
How often is it that you are told that you can't do it, you're useless?

(Source: haileyburiana.blogspot.com)

Considering the two questions above, I believe you already figured out what the world always tell us. Yes, Negativity.

The world that we live in, this society tends to bring us down a lot more than to help us grow. Even if it's a close friend, how often is it will he / she tells you something positive, compared to all those negative stuffs told? It always get back to us, whether we take it silently or we rebuke it with positive stuffs.

The world will always set a high expectation on us. Yet some people in our lives, will at some point in time trying to bring us down, speak those negative words to us.

We on the other hand, supposed to give our best in everything we do, strive to be the best. Yet we cannot do it, because we are so bound by words from others.

Where do we find Encouragement? The Bible, The Word of God. We can always find the solutions there.

Next time when somebody tells you that you can't do it, remember God said that "Nothing is impossible." Just as easy as that. But first, we gotta know more about The Word of God. Start to read your Bible, meditate on it and pray more.
1. Stop putting your Bible on the shelf and take it out only on Sunday
2. Don't just try to remember what The Bible says only when you are troubled
3. Don't stop praying, especially when times are good

From now on, lives a life that's worthy to be told, leave a legacy start from now. If you don't challenge your mindset, you will never be who or what you want to be.

It is in our lives, and not from our words, that our religion must be judged. - Thomas Jefferson

Two Wolves

Recently, I heard this short story again. Heard it before, but this time it gets me to think more.

An old Cherokee chief is teaching his grandson about life:

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.

One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.

The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old chief simply replied, "The one you feed."

The story uses illustration of wolves, and it says the one that we feed will prevail. So, stop feeding our heart with negative thinking. Put more positive attitudes in.

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." - Proverbs 4 : 23

Surely, we all want our lives to be successful. Let me assure you this:

~ Every successful person always keep a positive mind! ~

Words

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." ~ Proverbs 18 : 21

It is clearly stated that our tongue holds the power to life, as well as death. What kind of life does it hold? What kind of death?

People are easily encouraged by the words we speak, but the words we speak might also be the downfall of others. That's why whenever we are about to speak, we need to think twice, even as long as we needed. We need to learn to speak more of encouragement words, rather than words that diminish others.

If you keep saying negative statement, you will only end up negative. It happens to us, it will also happen to others. Because that's how strong our tongue is. It affects the mind.

Few things we must learn to say:
1. Encouragement
When someone around us is feeling down / troubled, what they don't need is others to tell them how bad their situation is. Start by listening to them, then encouraged them. Remember though, listen more than you speak.
2. Praise
When someone else do good, we gives praise. A lot of people love to gives "praise" with a "but". Take away the "but", just praise wholeheartedly.
3. Thanks
Always be thankful for every help you can get. Be it small or big.

Master these three, so that through what we spoke, people lives can be rebuild.

~ Don't speak word that diminish others, neither keep it in your heart. Just delete it! ~

Facing Goliath!

Lessons to learn from 1 Samuel 17
 As usual, every morning I'll read my Bible according to my Bible reading plan. As I read, there is this chapter that I red, truly challenged my mind. It's the story about David, in his youth defeated the giant Goliath that no one in Israel even dare to face. It's a story that almost everyone of us have heard, but how many of us have really learned the meaning behind this story. How many of us really believe we could slay the giant? How can a young man like David, who never had any experience in war dare to face the giant? The answer is simple. Follow me!

V 1-3 Israel and Philistine are gathering, ready to battle each other out.

V 4-7 Goliath showed himself to Israel, with his armor and weapon, to show how big & tough he is.

V 8-11 Goliath comes out and taunt Israel, to make them scared.

V 16 For forty days, Goliath has been coming out to taunt Israel, yet there's none that dare to step out and fight.

V 24 And whenever he comes out, everyone will fled in great fear and despair.

V 25 Saul even willing to give out such reward to anyone who can kills Goliath, yet still none of them dare.

V 26 So one day, David saw how Goliath taunt Israel, he got angry and asked, 
“What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

V 28 David's own brother discouraged his heart for God.

V 32-34 But David still believes in his heart, even though Saul try to talk him out of it.

³² David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” ³³ Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” ³⁴ But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, ³⁵ I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. ³⁷ The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”

V 38-40 Saul tried to give David his armor, his sword. But it was all to heavy for him and he took them off. He ends up taking his own staff, a slingshot and 5 smooth stones "from the stream".

V 41-44 Goliath walks closer to David and despised him, looking at his weapon.

V 45-47 But David kept his faith, and stand still. It is not important what weapon that he brings to the battle "... I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel ... , for the battle is the Lord's ..."
V 48 David ran towards the giant! Even I can't believe it.
"As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him."

V 49-51 When David successfully bring down Goliath, he didn't just wait. He ran towards Goliath, used Goliath own sword to kill him.

What are the lessons? What is the secret?
1. Problems / Obstacles will always be there waiting for us. Unless we  make a move and go through it, we are stuck! Problem will always seems tough, but we must always stand firm and be tougher. Don't we all believe that God is bigger than anything in the world.
2. When nobody is willing, doesn't mean we should also be unwilling. Every obstacles are chances for us to grow, for promotion.
3. When we are doing thing for God's cause, God will see us through. That's Yes and Amen! And that's why David is called a man after God's own heart. This story show us how true that is. He can't stand Goliath humiliation on Israel, as it would be the same as  humiliating God.
4. We need to choose what other tells us wisely. Every once in a while, we will face discouragement from people around us. And it doesn't matter how close they are, how senior they are. That's why we need to always keep a clear and positive mind.
5. Remind ourselves of the past, when God saves us. Always remember how God saves us, not how we become successful because of our own power. Don't let it become a stumbling blocks for us, don't let it make us prideful. Remember this: Our past experiences are training for the next obstacles!
6. Prepare well, prepare the best. Notice that David choose five smooth stones from the stream. Why must he go all the way down to the stream to collect the 5 smooth stones, while at that area, stones are said to be everywhere. David choose the smooth stones because it flies faster. Those are the best to use with a sling. But why 5, when with God even 1 is enough? Because we will never know God's plan. That's why we need to prepare only the best!
7. Give our best shot. See how David run towards Goliath. When we have prepared well, all we need to do is go forward and face the obstacle.
8. Don't leave room for complacency. When David bring down Goliath, he didn't just stand there. He run forward, take Goliath sword and kill him. Don't be too smug because we have conquered half of the problems. Keep on pushing forward!
9. Trusts in God fully. None of this would happen if David didn't trusts in God. If we trusts God, do it with all our heart, our soul and our mind. Even though sometimes God's way can be uncomprehending, but remember that it always bring the best result.

~ Problems Defy, People Discourage, but God Saves ~

Keeping A Positive Mindset

I've gotten this short story from my friend, and it goes like this:

So one day, a guy was walking down the street looking sad and desperate. His family is currently facing a financial distress.

As he walks into a small alley, he steps on something. He picks it up, grumbling, he says, "Argh, just a dented old coin." Even though that's what he says, he still bring that coin to the bank, so that he could exchange it for a new one. But the teller told him, "You'd better get it to a collector."

So he took it the collector and it was priced $30. He was happy and took the $30.

Walking down  the street, he saw some tool shop having a clearance sales on wood pieces. So he buy it with everything he has, so that he could make some shelf for his wife.

On his way back, a furniture shop owner saw those pieces of wood, and he offered a cupboard worth $100 to exchange for it. He agreed to it, and borrow a cart to bring it home.

Half-way down the road, a lady just moved in around there. As she saw that cupboard, she offered $200 for it. He doubted it for few seconds, then she offered $250 and he accepts it, returned the cart.

He arrived in front of his house, but to make sure, he took out the money and counted them. At this moment, a robber jumps out from the bushes, pushed him down and took the money away.

His wife saw it, ran outside and asked him a series of question, "Are you alright? What happened? What did the robber took?" He gets up and say, "Oh, it's nothing. Just a dented old coin I found this morning."

How many of us can be like that guy in the story? I figured out, normally people reaction would be, "Why? Why? Why?" But really, why must we be sad for something that we didn't owned originally? Instead, be thankful for what we have now. That's our family, our loved one, our friends.

Remember that every blessings come from God. And every problems are chances for you to keep your hope and faith in God, to challenge and shape your mindset.

Keeping a positive mindset is very important. As our mind is a very powerful weapon, but it's also the most vulnerable part. The devil attacks us by pouring out all the negative thoughts into our mind.

How to keep it out? It's easy:

1. Read the Bible, this is where God keeps his answer to our problems. Because God always has a positive answer

2. Associate with the right people. People with a positive attitude and thinking

3. Read more motivational book

4. Stop complaining. "If you can't say anything positive, don't say anything." (Monica Bradley)

~ Your Thinking Directs Your Life. Set You Thinking Right ~

God Has A Positive Answer

You say: "It's impossible"

God says: All things are possible

... “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” ~ Luke 18:27

You say: "I'm too tired"

God says: I will give you rest

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ~ Matthew 11:28

You say: "Nobody really loves me"

God says: I love you

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son... ~ John 3:16

You say: "I can't go on"

God says: My grace is sufficient

...“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”... ~ II Corinthians 12:9

You say: "I can't figure things out"

God says: I will direct your steps

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

You say: "I can't do it"

God says: You can do all things

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. ~ Philippians 4:13

You say: "I'm not able"

God says: I am able

“And God is able to bless you abundantly... ~ II Corinthians 9:8

You say: "It's not worth it"

God says: It will be worth it

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him... ~ Romans 8:28

You say: "I can't forgive myself"

God says: I Forgive you

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ~ I John 1:9

You say: "I can't manage"

God says: I will supply all your needs

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:19

You say: "I'm afraid"

God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. ~ II Timothy 1:7

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"

God says: Cast all your cares on ME

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ~ I Peter  5:7

You say: "I'm not smart enough"

God says: I give you wisdom

It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ~ I Corinthians 1:30

You say: "I feel all alone"

God says: I will never leave you or forsake you

...“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” ~ Hebrews 13:5

Quotes to motivate your day... Stay positive!!!

Success: Success doesn't come to you. You go for it!
Greatness: The price of greatness is responsibility.
Leadership: He that cannot obey cannot command!
Challenge: Don't be afraid of opposition. Remember a kite rise against, not with the wind.
Achievement: Never mind what others do, you do better than yourself. Beat your own record from day to day, and you are a success!
Determination: We cannot direct the wind...but we can adjust the sails.
Wisdom: Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living, but others help you make a life.
Ability: The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigator.
Comfort: Kind words do not cause much, yet they accomplish much!
Ingenuity: Instead of crying over spilt milk, go milk other cow!
Leadership: A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
Adventure: Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.
Goals: Success is not final, failure is not fatal, and it is the courage to continue that counts.
Spirit: Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
Enthusiasm: Enthusiasm releases the drive to carry you over obstacles and adds significance to all you do.
Attitude: A positive attitude may not solve every problem but it makes solving any problem a more pleasant experience.
Commitment: The quality of a person's life in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.
Strength: Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from God and an indomitable will.
Discovery: The greatest discoveries have come from people who have looked at a standard situation and seen it differently.
Responsibility: It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute.
Respect: Treat others as you want them to treat you because what goes around comes around.
Growth: There are no such things as limits to growth, because there are no limits to the human capacity for intelligence, imagination and wonder.
Vision: Vision without action is dream. Action without Vision is simply passing the time. Action with Vision is making a positive difference.
Change: If you don't change, reality in the end forces that change upon you.
Innovation: Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat.
Optimism: A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.