Tag Archives: optimistic

Did God Really Tell Me That?

 
Although its been thousands of years since Lucifer first planted the idea of questioning God within eve’s mind, Genesis 3:1, there is a new trend gaining traction.  Sure, there will always be doubters, haters and nay sayers who will claim God does not exist.  Yet, this latest fad might be more harmful, especially when their promises come up empty.  Like a page out of the Bible, more and more people are sharing stories about how God is speaking to them in an audible voice, either in dreams, during a prayer or while reading the Bible.  Before these phanatics get excited by telling anyone who will listen, maybe they should practice 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, asking the question, “did God really tell me that?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnXxUUjAHhk

The reason why I say this is that gullible and hurting people are often burned by optimistic news, taking what pastors, television evangelists or faith healers say as gospel, as if these words came straight out of Jesus’ mouth.  Back in February of 2012, I began to hear countless testimonies, people who reached out to the parents of Joseph Feeley, one of my former students who had been battling cancer for 2 years.  Though I believe each had good intentions, they were proved wrong when Joseph went to be home with the Lord on February 27th, less than a month after confidently proclaiming Joseph would be healed, traveling throughout the country as a motivational speaker.

Six months later, I received a similar message at a Christian bookstore in Delaware.  Since I was still searching for a full time job, I was vulnerable, grasping at straws for anything positive.  When I wrote a blog on this encounter in late August of 2012, I was hopeful the words of this prophet might come true, “God will reward you with a great paying job, surpassing your wildest imagination.”  Unfortunately, this grandois prophecy did not occur within the time table give but who knows, maybe my position at Amazon could turn into something special.  However, like the Feeley family, I am still in a lot of pain, disappointed by the outcome of my current path.

Instead of crying over spilled milk, I won’t give up on chasing my dreams of becoming a novelist, screen writer or both.  In future blogs, I will be careful not to exploit anyone with promises unless I am certain of a specific message, truth or word of insight people need to hear.  The lesson to be learned from this blog is to dot your i’s and cross your t’s, ensuring your words don’t inflict false hope to a world searching for answers.  May these words, stirring within my heart, strike a cord, helping you to reflect before blotting out any words in the future.

by Jay Mankus

Consolation and Desolation

Depending upon how you see the world often dictates how you respond to the circumstances you are dealt.  If you are pessimistic, seeing the world glass half empty, you will experiences times of desolation, dwelling on the negative leading to periods of hopelessness, despair and restlessness.  King David, during a dark time in life  prayed his way out of desolation in Psalm 30:1-3.

If you are an eternal optimist having a half glass full perspective, you will begin to encounter moments of consolation.  Times where the Lord’s presence is strong, consistent and obvious by your day to day life.  The apostle Paul talked about consolation in Galatians 5:25.  Once a person is able to overcome the distractions of this world by devoting their time to God, they can begin to actually keep in step with the Holy Spirit.

The reality of life lies somewhere in between consolation and desolation.  If you are always positive, we can become fake, artificial and not genuine to those we interact with.  Those who regularly get up on the wrong side of bed leave a trail of negativity which can spread like cancer throughout any workplace environment.  The proper balance can be found in Philippians 3:12-16.  Success is the process of arriving, it is the journey and the marathon which we call life.  Once our focus turns heavenward, our perspective can change from consolation or desolation toward eternity.  In the end, each of us have to ask ourselves a question, “what legacy am I leaving?”  Is it consolation, desolation or eternity?  Carpe Diem or in modern times, Get busy!

by Jay Mankus