Counselors, discerning parents and teachers tend to pick up things that most people miss. Body language, tone and words are like warning signals. Unless someone intervenes, a doubting mind can prevent you from greatness.
While the heart is a wellspring for life, Proverbs 4:23, the mind serves as a compass. Though the mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart, Luke 6:45, the mind provides discipline to zip your lips or just blurt out whatever you think. If you allow emotions to get the best of you, a weak mind can alienate you from others.
The greatest assault anyone faces is often invisible. The devil is similar to a creature searching for a vulnerable mind to attack, 1 Peter 5:8 Lucifer’s ultimate goal is to steal, kill and destroy psyches, John 10:10. Preying on fears, anxieties and past mistakes, its easy to become unraveled. In view of this reality, guard your mind with the Bible, Romans 12:1-2, so that the next time you are under siege, you will be armed with weapons to achieve greatness, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
Whether you’re a child busy day dreaming or an adult trying to crunch financial numbers, everyone has a desired destination. Some dreams may appear lofty, others middle of the road with a few unrealistic. Nonetheless, without vision, people perish, Hosea 4:6, dying inside without anything tangible to live for.
Israel longed for a promised land, African Americans envisioned a nation free from slavery and the poor seek a life without hunger. On the road to success, doubt, a lack of resources and time stand in the way. Depending upon the voices you hear, the people you surround yourself with and what you choose to believe, your destination may be altered, seeing but never reaching the Land of Oz.
The apostle Paul understood this concept, writing to the church in Philippi, Philippians 3:12-14. Pride didn’t get in the way of his goal. Despite his past ideology, Paul set his mind on heaven. While his life was cut short on earth, martyred for his belief in Christ, faith allowed this servant of God to reach his desired destination. May promises like Philippians 1:6 encourage you to never waiver until you arrive where you belong.
Before the days of cell phones and personal computers, a jukebox connected individuals at local restaurants. Portrayed in sitcoms like Happy Days, placing a coin in the jukebox and selecting a hip song often inspired young people to join the dance floor. Thus, music enhanced the life of teens creating jukebox memories.
As technology advanced, diners began to install miniature jukeboxes in each booth, enabling guests to interact while listening to their favorite songs. Over time, music became associated, linked and tied to special moments in time. Whether you were traveling somewhere on vacation, going out on a date or enjoying your prom, music etches memories within our minds.
Today, I can be shopping in a local grocery store, driving in my car or walking down Main Street when I hear a song from my past. Within seconds, my mind takes me back in time, reminiscing about where I was, who I was with and the friends I made along the way. Through the good and bad, music is like a recipe to cure the blues in life. Regardless of what you use to access modern music, may these devices provide soothing jukebox memories.
If you’ve ever had one of those days; then you know how I felt last night when I came home. Restless, my frustrations began to boil over, spewing out venom fueled by annoyance and irritation. Replaying this in my mind, over and over again, I allowed distress to interrupt my ability to sleep.
Like a scene from a horror movie, I sensed the clutches of demons taking over my mind, inspired by hatred and revenge. Before I let my thoughts get out of control, I cried out to the Lord, rebuking the images racing through my head, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. This tug of war went on for nearly 15 minutes, drifting back and forth, with huge momentum swings. Finally, as the noises around me started to dissipate, God turned my distress into rest.
When I awoke the next day, I stumbled across Psalm 107:6. “Then, they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he (God) delivered them from their distress.” Perhaps, a coincidence? I don’t think so! Rather, I believe the Lord let this night of turmoil occur so that I could remind the world that God can turn distress into rest, a deep peaceful sleep.
Novelist Orson Scott Card made a interesting observation in regards to sacrifice. “Happiness is not a life without pain, but rather is life in which pain is traded for a worthy price.” Whether you are referring to freedom of speech, defending a just cause or standing up for what you believe, nothing is accomplished with a cost.
Perhaps, your reputation takes a hit, attacked by those with opposing views. Or friendships are estranged as your worldview comes in direct conflict with a person you care about. Either way, actions, choices and decisions will create enemies, hatred or jealousy. What you need to determine is… is it worth the price?
When becoming of disciple of Jesus became popular, motives for following were mixed. Some wanted to join because it was cool, others for the fame and a few for the right reasons. Thus, Jesus set the bar high in Luke 9:57-62, causing many to quit, unable to pay the price. Whether you are excelling as an athlete, student or servant, to become the greatest in anything takes unswerving devotion. May you consider the costs, make up your mind and take a leap of faith, paying the price today to achieve a better tomorrow.
The saying, “absence makes the heart grow fonder” first appeared in 1602, published within Francis Davison’s Poetical Rhapsody. This expression applies to several aspects in life. Thus, while working nights since July, I began to miss some of the television shows I use to watch with my family. Until Saturday, a marathon to check up on a few of my favorites, I forgot how empty entertainment can leave a soul, void of any significant meaning.
Although spending an entire day as a couch potato sounds appealing, boredom is a likely destination despite how many channels your cable or dish company provides. According to Philippians 2:4, every human does need to be refreshed, before they can be of any benefit to others. Yet, indulging in comedies, movies and sitcoms provide temporary pleasure before fading fast. If you choose this path, emptiness is unavoidable.
Subsequently, individuals need to look in a different direction to experience a complete restoration. Emptiness can be replaced by practicing Romans 12:1-2, leading to a transformed mind. Depending upon your own desire, devotion and discipline, the timing on this change varies. Whether you’re listening to or reading the Bible, Romans 10:17, faith will not disappoint, making the empty feel whole once again.
The Greek philosopher Plato referred to the soul as a psyche with 3 parts: reason, high spirited and appetite. Modern definitions suggest the soul is the essence of who you are, personification or something connected to the heart and mind. However you envision the soul, one thing is clear, sooner or later a cleansing will be necessary.
If a car needs their cooling system flushed every 50,000 to 75,000 miles, then why would individuals go years without cleansing their soul. The Message Bible provides a modern illustration of what it means to be purge your soul from the stresses of life. Listen to Jesus as he addresses wounded souls: 28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
An Old Testament prophet recounts a similar procedure within Isaiah 1:12-20. The situation recorded takes us behind the scenes to God’s perspective. Exposing the flaws of mankind, impure motives abound, preventing the Lord from answering prayers for forgiveness. Yet, when honest lips take the initiative, the cleansing process can commence. Nonetheless, words are meaningless unless acts of contrition follow. Therefore, if you truly want transgressions of the past flushed out of your body, practice the words of Isaiah 1:16-18 and you too can experience a cleansing of your soul.
Over the weekend, I got off the Exit called Reflection. Trying to avoid an eat, sleep, work and repeat the same cycle over again mentality, I pulled off to take a breather, camping in the mountains with my daughter. Subsequently, I was able to slow down enough to take my spiritual pulse. Laying back in the wilderness, thoughts began to flood my mind.
Healed from most of the scars from losing my teaching position to a new management group, God allowed me to see positive images from my past. Similar to the theme song from All in the Family, the Lord brought to recall memories that made me think, those were the days. Skipping my planning period to partake in a gym class with juniors and seniors, participating in school fundraisers like Donkey Basketball, Dodgeball, Golf Megaathon & Volleyball and developing an Ultimate Frisbee class will always hold a special place in my heart.
Although, you and I may not be exactly where we want to be currently, there’s still time to change course. Perhaps you need to pull over, take a break or spend time reflecting. You can start by reading Philippians 4:8; then apply this principle like a scene from Polyanna, playing the good game. If this exercise can become a habit or daily routine, you may reach a point in time when you can honesty say, “those were the days!”
If you believe everything happens for a reason, then my first full time teaching position after college was a blessing in disguise. Tucked away in the Monongahela National Forest, I spent the Spring Semester of 1993 counseling, teaching and tutoring junior high students who were considered career underachievers. The learning never stopped, continuing through breakfast, lunch and dinner. My only true break was for 40 minutes, from 12:20-1:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. Titled 20/20 Time, students and teachers spent 40 minutes in solitude either on a hillside, in the valley or along the banks of a stream. The goal of this exercise was to spend 20 minutes reflecting and 20 writing. To my amazement, I developed a love for journaling; eventually inspiring 12 songs that formed my first album, A Simple Confession.
For those of us who love food, eating is like a race to see who can devour a meal the fastest. Yet, for businessmen, savvy entrepreneurs and relational individuals, meals are maximized to get work done, explore new opportunities or develop permanent meaningful lasting relationships. Prior to the rise in youth sports, families spent 30-60 minutes a day at their kitchen table talking . Now, some households eat out breakfast, lunch and dinner, working meals around busy schedules. Although hunger is a natural part of the body, appetites can vary from delicacies to worldly obsessions. Realizing this truth, Jesus introduced a new concept for his listeners to digest, “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” Matthew 5:6.
The Psalms of the Bible illuminate how to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Beginning in Psalm 1:1-3, the author compares this type of individual with an evergreen, a tree that stays green throughout the year. Known as conifers, the key to this tree is its root system. When planted near a creek, river or stream, daily nutrients are widely available. The spiritual dimension to this analogy can be found in Joshua 1:8, where meditating on the Bible day and night results in a similar outcome. Therefore, if you want to maximize your own meals, start by consuming the Word of God before every breakfast, lunch and dinner. If this concept takes ahold of your heart, soul and mind, then will resemble the tree in Psalm 1. This leads me to the chorus from one of the first songs the Holy Spirit inspired me to write, Psalm 1.
“I want to be the tree, down by the river”
“I want to be the tree, down by the bank”
“I want to be the tree, that walks and talks like Jesus”
“Reaching out for nourishment by staying in God’s Word.”
In a chapter entitled, Anatomy of Adultery, Dr. James Dobson addresses a shocking trend in America. Although men were more guilty of committing adultery in previous decades, today married women 29 years of age and younger have turned the tables on their spouses, indulging in significantly more affairs than men. Another study from Dr. Kelly Bonewell reveals 4 out of 10 Americans believe adultery is morally acceptable. If this is true, many adults are inches away from adultery.
The topic of adultery is nothing new. During his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus threw a curve ball to those in attendance. Formerly regarded as something only a married man or woman could commit, Jesus introduces a spiritual element to adultery in Matthew 5:27-30. This perspective has no limitations, including all ages, who are also vulnerable to temptation. Adultery isn’t just a sin, its a byproduct of lust. Therefore, if flirting gives birth to lust, James 1:13-15, even Christians can draw close, inches away from adultery.
The first time I read Jesus’ comments in Matthew 5:29-30, I thought He was being unreasonable. However, once I did a little research, I discovered Jesus was referencing the Old Testament principle of purging. When someone removes the atmosphere, environment and traces of lust, thoughts of adultery will fade from their minds. However, if you put yourself into a compromising position one too many times, the line will be crossed so that inches become reality. May the words of 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 serve as a warning before its too late to alter history.
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