Beauty in your life- change your thoughts for a positive outlook
What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?
The thing that scares me the most is traveling to the Middle East. Especially during these turbulent times. Where I believe you would have to keep your head on swivel anywhere you do. It would be more so in the Middle East right now.
What would it take to get me to do it? That would be peace, people need to stop killings each other. I don’t care who’s side your on the bloodshed has to stop.
Faith sees beyond space and time and knows that everything is already as it should be. Hope dwells with the expectation of seeing in the physical reality what faith sees in the spiritual. And love is the eternal dimension that remains forever.
Faith, hope and love are not just durable and precious virtues or character. They are eternal, transcendent, powerful driving forces in human life.
Without these 3 things humanity will fall.
For believers of Jesus these 3 virtues are linked to Jesus as a source of personal image. It is Jesus who has initiated and perfected our faith in God. Jesus is and remains our hope that one day everything will come into perfect order. Jesus is our hope when all other hopes have faded away.
Jesus is the source and the engine of divine, unconditional love. It is in Him, we understand God’s love for us. By faith in Him, we gain access to this love, and through His power, we learn to live as fully beloved and accepted. Through Him, we become capable of giving love, and we learn to love in action and reality.
Faith is an attitude of the heart.
Faith is the starting point. The Bible says that without faith no one can come to God and be able to please Him. Faith acknowledges that there is God and that He rewards those who seek Him. It is the attitude of seeking Him in the small things that brings big things in life.
Faith is capable of seeing God. Faith is trust in a wise, holy, and loving God. It is a choice to trust God’s love and wisdom. Faith is an acknowledgement of one’s own limitations and inability, the need for forgiveness, redemption, and healing. Faith gives us complete assurance and certainty that God is with us and works to redeem our pains and s brings blessing to our lives.
The cross has not accidentally become a symbol of faith. It point to Jesus and symbolizes the life of faith in which we can live by God’s power and do what is good and acceptable to Go.
God has already solved the problems and has already worked everything out. We just have to be willing to accept it. He has already provided everything for you and me in this life on earth as well as for eternity. We just have to be willing to accept it. God’s provision is for every single day of our lives.
Hope is the anchor of the soul.
Faith cannot function without hope. Faith alone is not enough. We must have the expectation of good, and the confidence that we will experience the goodness of God in our lives. I don’t think it’s accidental the hope is likened in the Bible to a firm and secure anchor for the soul that penetrates behind the curtain, into the invisible and eternal.
“This Hope we have as an Achor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil“ – Hebrews 6:19
The guarantee of our hope is God Himself, who is not changing. His intentions and words are unchanging and permanent. No matter how our feelings and circumstances change, God’s Word stands unshakable.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” – Matthew 24:35
The voice of Hope says, “I know things will work out, I just do not know how or when. The how and when I will leave to God. But I am convinced everything will have a good end. Everything the happens from the worst to the best, God will make it work for good.
Love is the greatest of all.
Why is love the Great of all? The answer is that when faith and hope fail and fall away, love remains. At the time of complete restoration when God makes everything new. We will not need faith because we will see things as they are. We not need hope because everything will be already done.
God’s love, as well as our love for Him and the people who we carrying our hearts, remain forever. Love remains with us in eternity. It is the meaning and center of everything.
Even though some things will not work out on earth, nothing can separate us from the love God has for us. And nothing can change the love we have for God.
If we are willing to accept Him.
A good person produces good things from a treasury of a good heart, and an bad person produces bad things from the treasury if a bad heart. What you say and do flows from what is in your heart.
My son was in the service and in training they were told they could eat whatever they wanted during meal times. He said they had a table with all kinds of desserts. My son loving his sweets went and got a few extra helpings. That night they were to go on a 2-mile ruck (running with a 50 lb backpack ). All the guys who ate dessert had to run 3 miles the sergeant told them garbage in garbage out. A powerful lesson.
This concept of garbage in garbage out is even powerful and telling in our spiritual life. If we allow garbage into our hearts and minds, out will come anger, hate, grudge holding, immortality, stealing, lying gossiping, backbiting, jealousy and more bad character and conduct. But if we allow God ti dwell in our hearts and we follow His Word, and seek His help in prayer, and are sharpened by Christ like people everything can be different. Our attitudes and actions will show the fruit of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. No wonder Jesus sent Paul to teach us,
“Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whenever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you“ -Philippians 4:8-9
Paul tells us to ponder and practice godly things, he’s really telling us to focus on Jesus who embodies these virtues . Following Jesus in our thinking, being, and doing. He wants followers and not a fan club. Focus on the Lord and His ways helps us to develop spiritual muscles and a good mental filter. When we focus on God, we can avoid life-sapping, love-sapping habits. We can steer clear of behaviors that are dishonest, sinful, or impure. Paul tells us our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, who you have received from God. Jesus bought us with the price on the cross. We should honor God will our bodies.
What do you complain about the most?
The only thing I complain about is the weather. I am a fair-weathered human. I like the sun shining on my face and my body warm.. But, my complaining is in vain. It is not in my control. Complaining stems from bad moods or personality traits. Which can make you feel worse, and lead to a negative outlook on life.
Philippians 2:14-15 says, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God.”
Complaining is a form of selfishness. No one likes to hear someone complaining all the time. Philippians tells us to think about the people we are complaining to.
When the Bible speaks of the “Word” of God He speaks using scripture. It’s called Logos which is the principle of divine reason.
There’s also another word not many hear about it is Rhema. Rhema is a specific word that addresses the need of the hearer. It is about one if those times when God speaks directly to your heart.
Sometimes when my pastor does a sermon part of what he’s teaching I know is just for me. As if I’m the only one in the room. It also can happen when we are reading the Bible and thoughts jump off the page at us that answer our question, confirm your faith, or rebuke our sin, it encourages us to trust Jesus or simply blesses the situation we are in. It’s light the proverbial light bulb that lights up in our heads.
When God speaks, He is not talking idly. His words have a purpose. In the beginning, He spoke the world into existence, He spoke to Abraham and Abraham believed Him and became the “father of faith.”
The Word of God is powerful, not because of literature or because it is loved by God’s people, but because He wrote it and uses it to talk to us. 2 Peter 1:21 says,
“For no prophecy ever came by the will of man; but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.”
It’s the Rhema word that changes the lives of those who believe it and continue to read it.
“For the word of God is giving and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” – Hebrews 4:12
This is why I keep reading it, studying it, never assuming I know it all. Every time I read it, I get different insight in what God is saying. When God speaks to me it’s not an academic exercise or a theological project. I hear Him in my heart.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the shower and bread to the eater, so shall my Word be that goes from My mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it“ – Isaiah 55:10-11
What are your favorite sports to watch and play?
My favorite sport is Baseball. My son grew up playing baseball. That’s what drew my attention to the game.
I find it the most relaxing game, because it’s slow paced, and there is no clock ticking down. And it’s easy to follow and understand because there is no complicated rules to follow.
Playing baseball is a great way to develop motor skills. It involves throwing, catching, and running and all these motor skills are essential for everyday life.
I’m sure we’ve heard the saying, “Don’t put God in a box.” Don’t put limitations on God, let God be God, and don’t try to limit His capabilities
I get caught up in planning my days out. And if anything other than my initial plans occur, I get frustrated.
I have to remember that God is still about bringing glory to Himself. And often that means His mighty plan is going to be bigger than anything I could ever comprehend.
God is not limited to our likes and dislikes, our timeframe, of our personal goals. God does not fit into our little boxes. He loves us but sometimes His plan may look different than ours.
God tells us in Proverbs 3:5 to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
The Lord constantly speaks to us and gives us His direction. It’s never God not speaking to us, it’s that we are not hearing.
Many people are too busy pleading with God about our problems but there’s an issue with their receivers.
I have a habit of always being in a rush to get the things done on my to-do list and I tune everything out (including God). People tells me “I saw you the other day, and said hi but you ignored me.” I wasn’t ignoring them, I just blocked everything around me out.
It is easy to do this when God is speaking to us. If we’re not listening for His voice we won’t hear it. Have you ever been going somewhere and you get that check in your spirit to not go that way? And then hear about an accident that happened on that same road you decided not to take. That’s God protecting you. That’s God speaking to you.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
It is in stillness, not busyness, that we tune our spiritual ears to hear His voice. God always speaks to us in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12), but it’s often drowned out by all the turmoil of our daily lives.
We think that God won’t speak to us outside the church. But that’s putting Him a box.
It’s easy to mistake God’s voice for our own thoughts. God speaks to us in our spirits, not in words but in thoughts and impressions. God will not typically say “You do this or that,” but He will impress on our spirit to do something and our spirit says, “I think I should do…” Therefore, we often miss the leading of the Lord, thinking it’s our own thoughts.
Every one of us has done something stupid and said afterward, “I knew that was the wrong thing to do.” I once drove 4 hours to see a specialist at a doctor’s office, the day before I knew I should have called and canceled the appointment but I followed logic and drove the 4 hours ad I was pulling into the parking lot my phone started ringing. I picked it up and it was the doctor’s office calling to say the doctor had an emergency and they had to cancel. I immediately knew I should have listened to the check in my spirit.
Psalm 37:4 says,
“Also delight yourself the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
This verse is often interpreted to mean that God will give you whatever you want and has been used to justify selfishness, greed, and even adultery. But it doesn’t mean that at all. It means that when seeking Him, He will put His wants or desires into your heart.
God promises to take care of us, if we follow and obey Him. So many times we want to put Him in one of our little boxes. But that’s not how God works. Don’t limit God. Trust that check in your spirit. If we want Him to take care of us, we have to fix our receivers.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
If I won the lottery I would pay off my bills and then go purchase a beach home with some acreage and live happily ever after.
Hopefully I would be able to help some people along my lottery journey. One thing about getting a large amount of money is you can never forget where you came from. So many people who have money turn into greedy jerks, i would not want to be that way.
What books do you want to read?
Right now I am reading “The Real Faith” by Charles A. Price. And “Unshakable Hope Building Our Lives on the Promises of God. And “The Holy Bible.”
I usually read books based on Faith, because I believe that what you put in your head comes out of your mouth.
We’ve probably heard people say, “God will make a way.” I remember thinking “Ya right,” You have to take care of yourself first cause no one else is going to, right?
But then I learned that God’s ways are not our ways. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
I think many people doubt if God really cares about them. I didn’t think He cared for me for nearly 35 years. But God does care, Jeremiah 29:10-11 says,
“For the Lord says, “After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the Lord, “thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you hope and a future.”
This is one of many scriptures that tells us how much God loves us. When you read this scripture, does it make you feel faithful or fearful? I have gone from being fearful to faithful when reading this scripture over the years. Because I fear disappointment, the idea that God would take care of me and give me hope and a future used to scare me. The thought of being disappointed robbed me of the joy I should have felt younger in life.
In Numbers, God answered Moses, “Had the Lord’s hand grown short? Now you will see whether my word will happen of not.”
Have you ever told someone that you are there and let them know that you will help them and they doubted your love? It doesn’t feel very good. It makes you feel rejected and hurt.
God promises to take care of us, And God doesn’t like it when we doubt His love. The great thing about God is, that He isn’t like us and even though we can doubt Him, He will still come for us.
God cares about what we care about.
“Casting all your cares (all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares about you.” (with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully). – 1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified)
God knows we worry about things, have desires for things and get concerned about many things and He cares. This scripture says He watches over us with the deepest affection and very carefully. The closest comparison I can think of is a parent tending to their newborn baby. They are attentive and ready to help at any moment, working overtime to calm fears and comfort their little ones. This is what God does for us. All we have to do is tell Him what is on our minds and what we are feeling.
During prayer or even talking to Him in form of conversation can tell Him everything. He wants to know what’s going on in our hearts so that He can relieve our fears and replace them with hope.
One way God takes care of us is through the people around us. Even before I was a believer God used people in my life to take care of me when I needed it. If I look back I can see where God protected me through others during the hard times in my life.
Can you see in your past where God took care of you, when you least expected it?
“Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He will do this: He will make your righteousness go out as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun” -Psalm 37:6-7.
This scripture promises that when we choose to depend on God, He will take care of us.
Write about a few of your favorite family traditions.
I love my Hungarian family traditions. family get-together, with lots of food, and music. At Christmas, my Nagymama would make poppy seed desserts of strudel, and rolls. The rolls had 2 fillings symbolizing richness and good health and walnuts, which were believed to protect against bad luck.
My nagymama came here from Hungary when we was 16 and she taught me so much about Hungary. She always smelled like the lily of the valley.
I loved dancing with my Father . He would dance and sing the Hava Nagila. Which is Jewish, but for years I thought it was Hungarian.
“Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied” -Proverbs 27;20
Sheol and abaddon mean hell and destruction and the words says Hell is never full, and interestingly the next part speaks of human desire: the eyes of man are never satisfied, which suggests that greed is tied to eternal damnation.
If you think about the greediest people you know they are usually already high in status, having wealth or power and the need for more wealth. Politicians that are elected to office have power, but that isn’t enough, they have to have money and power and end up making shady deals and taking bribes to get more money while they have power, because one isn’t enough, which is the case with human desire and human depravity. That nature is in all of us because we inherited it from Adam and Eve, when they were thrown out of the Garden of Eden.
But what is scary, is that God’s Word says in one verse ties human desire not being fulfilled, to hell not ever overflowing. The reality is we can make all this fame and fortune in life on earth, but in the next God is not going to let anyone into heaven because the have the largest bank account, Greed separates us from God.
If we remember Jesus and the rich ruler, the rich ruler says, teacher what do I need to do to get into heaven? Jesus told him sell everything you have and give it to the poor, the rich ruler walked away crying because he loved his wealth, and couldn’t part with it.
It’s easy for us to point fingers at the ones richer than we are and say, this applies to them, but it also applies to us. Human desire is not exclusive to just rich people, it is every one of us who come from Adam and Eve, the entire human race. It is sin, and the only One who shows us our sin and takes it away is Jesus. We have to remember what He tells us, “do not state us our wealth in earth because it will just fade away.” Instead, we should store up our time and resources in heavenly places that are eternal.
From Pity to Praise