Foresight

Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?

Thinking about the future is a good way to plan. Psychologists say that thinking about the future is good for your mental health because it can harvest motivation, and the expectation of what will happen in the future makes you more likely to succeed.

I lived in the past for too many years. But it’s important to know there is a difference between fantasizing about the future and thinking of the future..

An interesting fact: When you hold a goal in your mind of the future and energize it, visualize it. You are able to do better in having it become a reality.

Remarkably that part of the brain that you use to think of the future is the same part of the brain you use when playing a sport.

Conquering Your Fears

Whatever it is that scares you, there are ways to fight your fears. Knowledge is key in a fear situation. There are tips for people who are coping with everyday fears.

Tip 1. Stop. Take a time out. It’s impossible to think clearly when you’re flooded with fear and anxiety. Take a time out so you can physically calm down.

Distract yourself from the fear and worry for 15 minutes by taking a walk, making a cup of tea, and having a bath or shower. This will help you be able to think clearly about the fear.

During covid people flooded to the store and bought a huge amount of toilet paper. So much so that there was a shortage. Why? Because they were afraid they would run out. But who needs 1000 rolls of toilet paper, especially when covid was a respiratory virus. Obviously their fear took over and they weren’t thinking clearly.

Tip 2. Breathing through the panic. When fear overtakes us, we begin to get a faster heartbeat or sweaty palms, the best thing is to not fight it. When we are in fear, it’s pretty normal to have a panic attack. The best advice I’ve ever received was to stay where you are, and take some slow deep breaths.

The goal is to help your mind get used to coping with panic, which takes the fear or fear away,

I used to have horrible panic attacks, when something triggered my fears, such as smelling my mother’s perfume on someone else. Basically anything that triggered an emotional response from my childhood. This breathing through the panic technique helped me overcome my fears.

Tip 3. Face your fears. Avoiding fears only makes them scarier. Whatever your fear, if you face it, it starts to fade. If you panic when you have to do something you’re afraid of. It’s best to do it again until you’re comfortable with doing it.

Tip 4. Imagine the worst. Try imagining the worst thing that can happen. Maybe that going some place and having a panic attack and having a heart attack. Try to think yourself in to having a heart attack. It’s just not possible. The fear will run away the more you chase it.

Tip 5.Look at the evidence. It sometimes helps to challenge the fearful thoughts. For example if you’re scared of running out of toilet paper, ask yourself if you’ve ever heard of someone running out of toilet paper. Probably not because you would go to the store and buy more if you were running out, more maybe you have a roll or two stashed in your vehicle for emergencies.

Tip 6. Don’t try and be perfect. Life is full of stresses, yet many of us feel that our lives must be perfect. Bad days and set backs will always happen, and it’s important to remember that sometimes life is messy.

Tip 7. Visualize a happy place. Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine a place of safety and calm. It could be a picture of you walking on the beach or snuggled up with your pet on the couch. Let the positive feelings soothe you until you feel more relaxed.

Tip 8. Talk about it. Sharing fears takes away a lot of their sharpness. Talk to a friend or trusted family member.

Tip 9, Get back to basics. A lot of people turn to alcohol or drugs to self-treat anxieties and fears, this only makes things worse. Things like a good night’s sleep, or a healthy meal, or walking are the best cures for anxiety that is caused by fear.

Tip 10. Reward yourself. Give yourself a treat. When you’ve faced a fear you’ve been dreading, reward yourself go get come ice cream, getting a massage, go out to dinner, buy the book or DVD you’ve been wanting, or whatever little gift that makes you happy.

Don’t be hard on yourself, if you are not able to face a fear, keep working at it, you’ll get there. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies.

Your Only As Fruitful As Your Roots

The Bible after uses nature and gardening imagery to illustrate its concepts. The parable of the sower. The fruit of the Spirit. Paul’s olive tree analogy in his letters to the Romans. The wheat and the tares. Soil, roots, branches, weeds, fruit…the list goes on.

Like everything in the Bible, this wasn’t done accidentally. In Church service on Sunday, my pastor talked about the “year of the trees.” Trees plant an accurate picture of how we are to be followers of Jesus: rooted and fruitful,

But what does that look like?

One answer can be found in Psalm 1. It speaks about a believer who is like a tree.

“Blessed is the man to walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he mediates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish” – Psalm 1:1-6

Immediately, we are told he’s blessed. Why? Because of his habits. If we look deeper we see:

The action in verse 1 speaks to a progressive change in state. The man goes from active walking to passive sitting. It refers to how we get caught up in sin. it begins with the path we decide to walk (which correlates to our company). Yet, we find ourselves comfortable where we are, and before we know it, we have a seat at the table.

The man in the Psalm avoids this. He doesn’t listen to those who would advise him to do evil or wrong. He doesn’t follow those traveling along a sinful path, and he doesn’t hang out with those who mock holy living. Instead, he loves the Word, studying it and thinking about it all day, because he delights in the law, he has a blessing.

Verse 3 explains his blessing: fruitfulness, it’s just not any kind of fruitfulness. It’s an abundant kind that shows who’s on his side.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the water, which spreads out its roots by the river. And will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought. Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

This adds a whole new level to the kind of fruitfulness mentioned in Psalm 1:3. We can be confident that fiery trials and dry spells will not hinder our ability to be fruitful.

God is speaking this to us, which is great. However, in order for us to be fruitful, we need to first be rooted.

Rooted In Christ

It’s common sense that roots are vital for the growth of the tree, and filter out impurities, absorb nutrients from water and soil, so the tree can mature.

Roots vary from tree to tree, but most actually only dig into the first 6 inches of soil, where the best nutrients are, and then grow outward. A root system can spread 2-3 times the diameter of the trees canopy. So, say if we have a 30- foot tree, its roots grow from 60 to 90 feet wide.

Roots are strong. They can break rocks and crack sidewalks and driveways. They are also helpful for the surrounding environment, as the prevent erosion.

Tree experts say that when there’s root damage, prompt treatment is essential to save the tree. Otherwise, the tree will slowly decay and die. If the damage is severe enough, the tree could become uprooted or fall.

If we are to be fruitful trees, we clearly need to be rooted well.

Rooted in what? The simple answer is Jesus. He is what we need to grow as strong mature trees, because he is the Vine and the Living Water.

Jesus As The Vine

In the Old Testament, a vine is a symbol of God’s people. Jesus’s last “I Am“ statement teaches that He is the true Vine.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and thrown in the fire, and they are burned” -John 15:1-6.

Branches cannot grow or bear fruit if they aren’t connected to the vine. We must be connected to Jesus if we want to bear fruit ourselves. We do this by abiding in Him. His Word provides the right nutrients we need to grow in strength and stature.

Jesus As The Living Water

In John 4 the account of the woman at the well. Jesus gives an important revelation to the Samaritan woman. It is one of the keys to being rooted in Him.

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” -John 4:13.

Jesus is the living water that nourishes our spiritual roots.

The Importance Of Being Rooted

Being spiritually rooted is impossible, not only to be fruitful but also to be steadfast. The storms and droughts of life will try their hardest to uproot you. But, if you are deeply rooted in Jesus, you will not just survive but thrive.

Colossians 2 6-10 tells us,

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

We need to be rooted in Christ Jesus so that we are not uprooted by the false teachings and doctrines of this world. Be rooted in the truth, in Christ and you will be complete.

Your Only As Fruitful As Your Roots

The Greatest Gift

What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

The greatest gift that someone can give me is love and time. Because they are giving a portion of their life that they will never get back.

Think about it. What memories do you cherish the most? Do you even remember the gifts that were under the tree when you were a child? Or do you have favorite holiday memories of hanging out with your grandparents, or playing with your cousins? Sure it’s fun to give gifts and get gifts, but the memories are what you cherish the most.

There’s a song out by King and Country that follows one of my favorite verses in the Bible,

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love. I gain nothing” – 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3.

Giving the gift of time without love is worthless, and giving love without time is impossible.

I would rather receive the gift of time and love than any other physical gift.

How To Know God Personally

What does it take to find God and start a relationship with Him? Wait for a spiritual experience? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you? None of these, God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.

1st principle: God loves you. You can find God and begin to experience His love for you.

God created you. Not only that, he loves you so much that He wants you to know Him and spend eternity with Him, Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

Jesus who is God in human form, came so that each of us could know and understand God in a personal way. Jesus can bring kindness, truth and purpose to our lives.

2nd Principle: All of us sin and our sin has separated us from God

We sense that separation, that distance from God because of our sin. The Bible tells us that “All of us like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way.”(Isaiah 53:6)

Deep down, our attitude may be one of active rebellion or passive indifference toward God and His ways, but it’s all evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

The result of sin in our lives is death -spiritual separation from God. Although we may try to get close to God through our own effort, we inevitably fail.

There is a distance gap between us and God. While we try to reach God by doing good for others, religious rituals, or try to be a good person. The problem is that none of these efforts actually never coverup or sin or remove it,

Our sin is known to God and stands as a barrier between us and God. The Bible tells us that the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). We would be eternally separated from God.

We can have a relationship with God because of what He did for us.

3rd principle: Jesus paid the penalty fir our sin for us. He now offers us complete forgiveness and a close relationship with Him.

Jesus took all of our sins, suffered and paid from them with His life at the cross. Jesus died for us, He died in our place. And He did it out of His tremendous love for us.

He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy. Because of Jesus’s death at the cross, our sins don’t have to separate us from God any longer.

Jesus not only died for our sins, He came back to life, so His spirit (the Holy Spirit) could come live on the inside of us.

This was final proof that everything Jesus said about Himself was true. To know His is to know God; to love Him is to love God. “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

Jesus said He could answer prayer, forgive sin, judge the world, and give us eternal life. His countless miracles supported His Words.

Jesus was clear, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one can come to the Father except through me” (John:14:6).

Instructions of trying to reach God, He tells us how we can begin a relationship with Him right now. Jesus, says, “Come to me, if anyone thirsts, let him come and drink…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-39).

It was Jesus’s love for us that caused Him to endure the cross. And no He invites us to come to Him, that we might begin a personal relationship with God.

Just knowing what Jesus has done for us and what He is offering us is not enough. To have a relationship with God, we need to welcome Him into our life.

4th principle: We must individually accept Jesus as Savior and Lord

The Bible says, “But as many as receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

We accept Jesus by faith. Jesus said, “by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” ( Ephesians 2:8).

Accepting Jesus means believing that Jesus is the Son ofGod, then inviting Hum to guide and direct our lives. Jesus said, “I come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

As Jesus’s invitation to us He said, “I’m standing at the door and I’m knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20).

Jesus is knocking

What Colleges I’ve Attended

What colleges have you attended?

I went a local college I’m my rural area. The College of Eastern Utah. I majored criminal justice and minored in psychology. Wanting to get into criminal investigation. I finished a two year college. But at that time I had 2 small children. And. Would have to leave them for 4-6 years if I wanted to complete my degrees.

I had a choice to make, and I chose my children. They came first. No matter what my children always came first. They were the most important thing in my life.

I went on to work as nursing aide, and ended up working for many years, while I raised my children. My children ended up being very successful in life. I don’t know how my children would have fended with their mother going out of town for schooling.

I believe when you have children they become the first priority in your life.

My playtime

Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?

My playtime involves going hiking and exploring with my dog. I enjoy being in nature. When you hike you get to see places that cannot any other way.

I love walking into places that only few people get to see. Hidden valleys, waterfalls or caves. And also the animals that live in the wild.

In the beauty of nature hiking promotes peace and quiet away from the day to day hustle and bustle. It allows me to relax, and breathe fresh air and enjoy the scenery along the way.

A Time Of Reformation

As the World continues to face a multitude of challenges, it is more important than ever to hold onto our faith and trust in God. Even in the darkest moments, God is still at work. He is calling His people to run towards the battle, now away from it, and to stand firm in their faith.

As we navigate through these end times, we can take comfort in the knowledge that God is with us and He has a plan for our lives. During these dark times, we need to stand together against the wicked agenda of the world, united in faith and unwavering in our commitment to righteousness.

Ecclesiastes 4;12 tells us “that a cord of three strands is not easily broken. And this principle is just as true for the body of Christ. By joining forces and lifting each other up in prayer, we can be a powerful force against the darkness that

In the midst of this storm we are in, there is a promise and a bright future for all nations that follow God’s plan. A generation of new believers who are filled with the Spirit of God is ready to take on the challenges of the end times,

It’s important to remember that our hope is not found in the world, but in Jesus. He is the light that shines in the darkness, and His presence with us ensures that we will never be alone. By keeping our eyes fixed on Him and trusting in His promises, we can face the future with confidence and hope.

All believers Of God (our brothers and sisters in Christ) need to come together and pray to the One and only God.

As we approach the end times, it is crucial that we remain steadfast in our faith and trust in Jesus, for even in the midst of darkness, there is hope and a bright future for those who stand firm in their faith.

By doing so, we can be a powerful force for good in the world and a beacon of hope for those who are lost in the darkness.

May we always remember that our future is secure in the hands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My Biggest Challenges

What are your biggest challenges?

My biggest challenge is that I’m not a people person. It’s not that I don’t like people, it’s just that sometimes it’s to tiring to be around others all the time and I seek to avoid any interactions there’s to many people.

I have been a loner all my life. I was not raised in a social atmosphere and it’s more comfortable for me to just spend time with my dog. Don’t get me wrong, I have a few friendships, but they are people who I can trust wholeheartedly.

I tend to avoid large gatherings, I would rather go for a long drive and bring my dog, than to be around a bunch of people I barely know.

I have been an introvert all my life. I have difficulty expressing and communicating with groups, I’m pretty sure because of my past. I can speak one on one very well. But i can feel the emotions of people and large groups and it makes me exhausted.

Why I’m Not Discouraged About The World

It is true that there is a lot of bad news in the world today, and much of it is an attack on the faith of believers. Radical Islam and atheism is rising and much of the Western church is backsliding, ad culture is rapidly deteriorating.

I am not discouraged, I am encouraged and hopeful in the Lord at the age of 45 when the Lord saved me, I knew the best was yet to come.

I am full of faith and hope because God is ruling and reigning from His throne. There is no fear or anxiety in God’s presence and no trace of worry or concern. The purposes of God will come to pass and He will work out His plan on the earth. Even though His heart grieves because of the sin and suffering, He is the undisputed King of the universe and in His presence, there is fullness of Joy (Psalm 16:11).

Jesus is Lord. The name of Jesus remains the highest name in all of creation and at His name, every knee will now and every tongue will confess (Philippians 2:9-11). If this was the only thing I knew, that Jesus died for my sins, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, I would securely rest and be filled with anticipation and expectation.

In the end, God will vindicate His people. I honestly feel sorry for those who fight against God’s purposes, knowing that in the end, they will be the losers. We who love the Lord and choose to serve the Lord will shine while they will fade away into the darkness (Daniel 12:2-3). We should pity them rather than fear them.

Everything Satan and this world mean for evil, God can turn around for good. Romans 8:28 tells us, “Now we know that all things work together for the good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. Often the very worst things that happen to us become the best things, and that which was intended to destroy us backfires in satan’s face. Stumbling blocks become stepping stones.

God is doing amazing things in the earth today. It is true the people are spreading false religions and cults continue to grow. But for decades not, the greatest spiritual growth has been taking place worldwide in born-again spirit-empowered circles. The harvest continues to be reaped an unprecedented pace, even in countries that despise good, there are tens of thousands being saved every year.

He who began the good work in us will bring it to completion. I have seen the Lord’s faithfulness, and my confidence in His is greater than ever before. My trust in His wisdom and power and goodness. And I know that I am standing strong today because He is the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). I’ve seen Him work miracles, why shouldn’t I have confidence in Him tomorrow?

Revival can and is turning things around. If you do a quick search of Mario Murrilo and His tent crusades. As well as many other evangelicals you will see the harvest is coming. It’s true we have had some very dark periods following the Revolutionary War, colleges were founded on Christian purposes, yet did not have a single professing believer. But awakening came, and awakening can turn things around again.

Political pundits have been wrong before. Many are telling us that the culture wars are over gay marriage, and gender confusion will sweep America. But we were once that the war on abortion was over and that American sentiment against the outlawing of abortion had turned for good. Today pro-abortion advocates are panicking as the pro-life movement continues to grow, especially among the younger generation.

Worldly ways are self-defeating. All the ways of the world -sexual promiscuity, drug and alcohol abuse, abortion, no-fault divorce, homosexual practice, materialism and greed, just to name a few bring a society down, not up. But God’s ways bring life, blessing, and stability. When the dust settles -and it may get very dusty for a while, the righteous will be standing strong.

I have seen God’s past promises to me fulfilled gloriously, and I am confident that the rest of His promises will come to pass as well.

Not one of us can boast about tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1), but we can boast in the Lord, not as a statement of presumption. King David once said, “Adonai, who has delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (meaning Goliath) -1 Samuel 17:37).

God has brought me out of a deep depression, kept me alive from malnutrition, my planned overdoses, and numerous vehicle accidents one of which my car slammed into a mountain and I walked away with no injuries, cured me of cancer literally bringing my soul out of the pit. That I would live in Him.

What promises has God made to you personally? And what has He promised to all of us in His Word?

Those who take His promises and rejoice. Those who put their trust in Him will never be ashamed. This is why I am not discouraged in the World today.