 #SpiritualSunday #DanceInTheRain
Replace Fear with Faith in the Storm! Are you in the middle of a tough season in your life? Perhaps things aren’t going the way you planned and you’re feeling discouraged. Or maybe you’re doing everything right: … but you’re still struggling! It’s easy to get caught up in our problems and think, "My life is a wreck and it’s not going to change." When our eyes are on the problems, we often begin to lose hope. It is in these moments that God reminds us that He makes all things possible through Faith. When that happens to me, my best hope is to see my situation from a biblical perspective understanding that False Fears can motivate and shape us in unhealthy ways. In Unafraid, Adam Hamilton suggests ways to address a wide array of life crisis including crime, failure, financial insecurity, and the classic fear of illness, old age and death. To help us remember his four key strategies, he presents them as the acronym FEAR F – Face your fears with a bias of hope, Taking steps to do the things we fear often extinguishes them “I can imagine the worst possible scenario in every situation and I’ll be afraid,” Hamilton clarifies. “Or I can use the same emotional, cognitive energy to imagine the best possible outcome, and I won’t be afraid. E – Examine your assumptions in the light of the facts, Question the facts as you understand them,” Hamilton challenges. “Try to find accurate or actual facts. Pretty soon, if you get enough of those facts and you reinforce it with experience, you begin to find your fear level going away A – Attack your assumptions with action. Fear’s role is to move us to action. Doing something that addresses our worries can lessen their power in our lives R – Release your fears to God. As Christians, we offer our lives to God. Hamilton shares Scriptures and spiritual disciplines to help us trust God and let go of fear Never underestimate the power of faith! What you believe determines what you receive, so make sure you are thinking and believing correctly.
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 #Spiritual Sunday #DanceInTheRain
Learning and Growing through Adversity Here on earth, there is a lot of joy, but there are also times where we all experience times of trial, misfortune and grief. A common misunderstanding we may often share is that if we strive to do what is right nothing bad will happen to us, but...…. the truth is that bad things happen to the best of people. Life is very unpredictable, not everything is going to go your way exactly the way you want it. Some trials come as a result of unwise choices. For example, many people are burdened with financial debt as a result of purchases on credit and Yet other challenges come as a natural result of mortality and the world we live in. We are mortals with bodies that may become ill or injured. Through experience, I’ve learned my response to trials will result in them either becoming roadblocks (weighing me down) in my life or expressways to learning and growth through the experiences I encounter daily. When I remember that these trials are part of the great plan of happiness, this perception allows me to see them as opportunities to grow and learn. It's important to remember: * It is better to be flexible and fluid in your daily routine when encountering trials. * When facing adversity, the outcome revolves around your actions and it is up to you to navigate through these conflicts and liabilities, for there is no one else who is going to change those things for you. * No matter what happens you must always keep moving forward. Never look to your past with sorrow and see it is a never ending opportunity to learn something new.  #Spiritual Sunday #DanceInTheRain
I hope I’m not the only one who falls easily into the trap of grumbling and complaining. It seems like such a little thing but, let’s face it, there are plenty of things to gripe about. We live in a world and society that is prone to complaining. In companies, the employees complain about their bosses and one another. In homes, husbands complain about their wives. Wives complain about their husbands. Children complain about their siblings and their parents. In churches, the members of the congregation complain about one another and the pastor. The pastor complains about the congregants. We live in a world full of complaining and arguing. Complaining not only takes something out of everyone. Focusing on the negative drags others down, especially when it's done often, in many different situations. Don't just sit there and complain--it too quickly becomes a habit. Complain about the things that actually matter, and look for (and listen to) solutions to fix the thing that’s bothering you. The rest? Try to let it go. We’re called to shine the light into a dark world, but it’s hard to be shining when you’re whining so remember: *CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES *FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN *SANDWICH THE COMPLAINT BETWEEN 2 POSITIVE STATEMENTS  #Spiritual Sunday #DanceInTheRain
As I was reading some inspirational messages during some difficult times in my life recently, I came upon this this quote: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain” (Vivian Greene, 2006) I thought it was a nice reminder of gratitude, something that seems appropriate to reflect upon during the adversities that we face in our life. We all face adversities in our life! However, it’s not the adversity, but how we react to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our life. During tough times, do we spend too much time feeling sorry for ourselves as we wait for the storm to pass or can we, have an attitude of gratitude…learn how to dance in the rain?! What will you do? Learn to dance in the rain? Are you going to learn to enjoy the extra challenge? Will you revel in the chance to see if you are good enough to make it happen despite the weather? If you choose to wait for the storm to pass, what are you missing? Are there opportunities slipping by? Are there people to meet, whom you will not be able to meet because you aren’t out there? Yes, there are costs to waiting, just like there are costs associated with dancing in the rain. How many of those storms are you hiding from? While we all have our reasons or excuses, in the end, we either are doing things in the weather or we are not. That is our choice; to do or to do not. It is also our choice to enjoy it or to be miserable. Which will you choose, dancing in the rain, or waiting? We have the choice be Thank-Full in all circumstances as we meet each new day . This approach to life can change your attitude and thus your life, forever. Sarah Breathnach said it best… “When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present….we experience heaven on earth |
AuthorDebra Vogel is an entrepreneur, public speaker, real estate professional and the author of Failing Forward. Follow along as she challenges your perception of failure to achieve success in life.. Archives
July 2019
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