Feeling Fulfilled

In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?

A hard work ethic helps us to develop self-discipline, and self-confidence which helps us overcome obstacles and cultivate valuable skills.

Hard work helps me feel that I am contributing something to society. Without it I tend to feel worthless. It important for me to be a valuable member of the community I live in. I find when I work use my time more efficiently throughout the day.

Do what you love when you work and it will feel like play.

Turn Negative Thinking Around

Noticing what’s right in the world can have a big impact on your life

Does negativity dominate your thinking? If the thoughts in your head about people, situations-and even yourself are on the harsh side, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

What problems does negative thinking create? Negative thinking makes you feel blue about the world, about yourself, and about the future. It contributes to low self worth. It makes you feel you’re not effective in the world.

Psychologists link negative thinking to depression, anxiety, chronic worry, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Almost all people contend with it, even those born with a positive outlook on life.

It’s the way our brains are constructed. It’s because our amygdala and lambic systems are build to notice threats, to protect our survival. In prehistoric times it may have been a beautiful day, but when we were stalked by a predator, our brains we trained to notice danger.

Today the same parts of our brains are active even when threats are minimal. The threats we deal with today are more cognitive they involve finances, whether we are loved, or succeeding at work. They can set our hearts racing. That’s why we can get panicked on a Sunday night just thinking about work.

Negative thinking can become a habit. We practice worrying, and it gets worse over time. Worry is maintained by what we call ritualized reassurance. We think of the the negative scenarios that can possibly occur, and then all the ways we could solve them, to calm ourselves down.

Reassurance is a drug with a short half-life, like caffeine. If we use caffeine to combat fatigue, the more you use, the more fatigued you become over time. When people say, “The older I get, the more I worry,” it’s because they’ve been practicing.

We can work out thousands of scenarios, they story is still going to unfold in one way. It’s estimated that approximately 94% of the time, what we worry about doesn’t happen. What does happen is usually something we have never worried about.

We are constantly dosed with negative thinking because media primarily portrays negative events. They know that we are more drawn to what’s wrong than what’s right.

It is possible to change the way we think, but it comes from changing your relationship to your thoughts. We actually have about 50,000 spontaneous thoughts, images, and ideas every day. Whether they are positive or negative, they intrude into our awareness. Those that are negative are more likely to capture our awareness and stick with us.

We have to learn to watch our thoughts, rather than engaging with them. Practicing mindfulness can take you away from the thinking experience

For Example:

  • Notice your breaths or your footsteps for five to ten seconds
  • Notice anything that takes your attention away from them
  • Then guide yourself back to your breath or footsteps

When you get distracted by a negative thought, notice something to engage with in the present. What are you seeing, smelling, tasting, feeling.

Mindfulness also helps us program ourselves a sense of that which is right. We can systematically notice what’s going well in the present. We can notice something favorable about each person we encounter. Ans words of admiration help us notice the rightness of things.

Try keeping a gratitude journal, looking for those events that did work out. Doing this right before bed is especially helpful.

By changing your thoughts from negative to positive ones can actually change your brain circuitry. It takes hard work, you can exchange bad habit for good ones because they exist deep within the brain.

But when new positive thoughts are exchanged for negative ones, they tend to stick and become automatic. Our brains may resist this practice at first, but after a while new habits form around how we relate to our thoughts. It’s take 30-60 days to change a habit, and up to 254 days to form a new behavior.

The practice of mindfulness is being used as a tool more and more to treat problems like social anxiety, depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Mindfulness helps people accept things as they are, rather than always being in a fix-it mode.

Our thoughts affect the way we regard our lives. Positive thinking fosters self-acceptance and self-efficacy.

Maybe you have a gift to give that makes the lives of those around you better. Saying good things about others has such an impact. It can create delight. It makes you and every one around you feel and function better, and makes the world a better place.

Developing positively can influence the ways we choose to behave, which leads us to feel better and to have better outcomes in our lives.

My Most Valued Trait

What’s the trait you value most about yourself?

The most valued trait I think I have is my honesty. Telling a lie is not only disrespectful to the other person. But it also a command that God gave us.

The world is often tainted by deception and half truths, so badly that when you tell a person the truth it makes them mad. There’s a quote that goes, “If you don’t want the truth don’t ask me. If you want something sugarcoated go eat a donut.”

Truth if intrinsically tied to integrity, as it compels us to uphold our values, even it challenging situations. Honesty enables us to take responsibility for our actions.

When people ask me a question, they know they will get an honest answer. I would definitely Peter to hurt someone with the truth, that to comfort them with a lie. Being straightforward direct, honest, transparent in communication and behavior without a hidden agenda is who I am.

The Overlooked Importance of Chastisement

Sometimes we miss many important and profitable things in life when we overlook their values and the great advantages they offer to us. Chastisement is a very good example of what I’m talking about.

Chastening is not a punishment from God, but a warning that if we don’t listen things will become worse for us. It’s like us telling our children not to touch the hot stove, if they don’t listen the consequence will be much worse.

It’s important to pay attention when it comes to being chastened by the Lord. Hebrews 12:5 was not written without purpose, but rather to counteract one’s negative attitude concerning God’s chastisement.

Comfort oriented followers of God react indifferently every time chastisement comes to their life’s. Some are not even bothered by their sins and accountability. They desire blessings from God, but despise His correction. The Bible tells us that chastening from God is for our own profit and is His way of leading His children to be more like Jesus.

God’s chastisement is to bring out the best in us, not to drag us down.

Most people, even professing believers, have the inclination of desiring material profit more than spiritual gain. God wants to give the best to His children, but on our part, we must realize that spiritual blessings are the best for us. Through chastisement, we are led to be partakes of God’s holiness.

Here are some scriptures is you want to under the chastisement better:

  • Hebrews 12:8
  • Isaiah 53:5
  • Proverbs 3:11-12

“Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the ones He loves, and chastises every ones He receives.“ -Hebrews 12

Pursuing Careers

List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.

I have always wanted to be some sort of doctor since I was little. But, my choice would be a clinical psychologist. There are so many people in the world that are hurting, and it seems to be that all health care professionals want to do if feed people drugs, to cover things up. I would like to help people get to the root of their mental issues, and then provide drugs if only necessary. I believe you can never solve a problem until you get to the root cause.

My second choice would be a Veterinarian, I have always be a animal lover. And I think good veterinarian services are hard to come by these day. And the cost to get your animals taken care of are way over board. I think most are trying to take advantage of people for loving and wanting to have their animals healthy.

My last choice would be a crime scene investigator, I would just want to go in after the crime and investigate the evidence on scene, and find thr proof.

I started going to college when I was younger for psychology and criminology. But since I live in a small rural community, and I had two small children, I would have to leave my town to finish my schooling for four years, and I chose to raise my children instead.

Psychology and criminology have always been my passion of career choices.

Works Of The Flesh

The works of the flesh may seem old-fashioned, but the term still has something important to teach us today. So, what are the works of the flesh exactly?

Wouldn’t it be nice if we no longer struggled with sin after we accepted Jesus as our Savior? Unfortunately, that won’t be the case until we have eternity with Him. Even though are saved by the blood of Jesus because His blood was shed for us, and we are no longer slaves to sin, we still continue to fight against the sinful nature until Jesus returns.

But that doesn’t mean we are doomed. It simply means we must remain aware of what this battle looks like. We must remain on guard and alert, pulling from God’s power within us to overcome. We must remain aware what the works of the flesh looks like -those actions and behaviors that go against God’s will and can lead us toward spiritual decline,

How can be overcome the works of the flesh?

We can start by seeing what the Bible says about these works of the flesh.

When the Bible refers to “works of the flesh,” it describes the actions and behaviors that draw us away from God. These are contrary to His Will and are byproducts of our sinful nature. If we do not gain control over sin and learn ti walk by the spirit, temptations and actions become destructive and lead us away from God.

In Galatians, Paul writes to Jewish Christians the falling away from the Lord and gravitating back toward sinful lifestyles. Galatians 5, teaches us about the importance of putting our sin to death and instead “living by the Spirit. This chapter lists these vices as sexual immortality, impurity, and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” (Galatians 5:19-21). This list is followed by Paul’s admonition that “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21)

We see so many of these actions and behaviors going on today. It breaks my heart the amount of suffering these individuals will have to endure. Yet so many are blinded by the works of the flesh.

These acts are seen as sinful and detrimental to our spiritual growth and development. The Bible also speaks about the works of the flesh in Romans 8:5-8 and Ephesians 5:3-7. In these verses we learn that the works of the flesh hinder us from living a life that pleases God. They leads us away from holiness and closer to sinfulness. Romans 5:8 reminds us that “those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

We need to recognize when we are engaging in works of the flesh; that way, we can repent and turn back toward living under God’s will, and cover of protection.

Does ‘Flesh’ Meal All Worldly Things?

The term “works of the flesh” can be confusing. Some might automatically think that all acts of the body are sinful. But, that’s not exactly what the Bible says.

When the Bible mentions the “works of the flesh,” it refers to the acts of our sinful nature. If we look at the list of these sinful behaviors -such as lying, stealing, cheating, and hatred – we see that these actions are self-centered. They bring harm to not only us but others around us as well.

Since God had given us free will, we can make our own choices in life -for better or for worse. But will we use this freedom of our flesh to please God or Satan?

When we struggle with knowing whether an action displeases God, we should ask ourselves: “Will this behavior, action, or thought please God or displease Him? If I follow through with this choice, will it reap my spiritual life or spiritual decay.?”

When I was younger I remember seeing bracelets with “W.W.J.D?” on them. A reminder to any that wore or seen them to ask themselves, what would Jesus do?

God will forgive us 50 times a day, but He won’t won’t do it if we don’t ask for repentance and turn away from our sin. Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us that if we follow the Spirit which include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goo, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control wr will be following the Spirit.

We have been called to live in freedom, but we shouldn’t use that freedom to satisfy our sinful nature. Instead we should use that freedom to serve one another in love. If we let the Holy Spirit to guide our lives, then we won’t be doing what our sinful nature craves.

God doesn’t except us to be perfect, but He does except us to be choosing to do the right things, and work on pleasing Him instead of Satan.

My Cultural Heritage

What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?

My cultural background is Hungarian. I would love to visit Hungaria to get more in touch with my roots. I never got to meet my grand father, he had passed away before I was born.

People in the Hungarian culture value family very much. It is the cornerstone of their society. They believe in transparency and honesty, which I try to live every day, and instilled in my children.

I would like to learn more about Hungarian culture. It’s funny that after all my father’s side of the family is gone, and there’s still so much I want to learn. I have a strong yearning.

I have childhood memories I have is being in kindergarten and the teacher showed us a picture of a dresser and asked if anyone knew what is was called. I yelled out “fiokos.” Immediately the class turn and stared at me. And my teacher asked, “a what?” I was like you know that thing you put your clothes in.

How To Spot A False Prophet

Over the centuries since Jesus’s death and resurrection, there have been countless imposters, who have claimed to know details about the future they could not possibly know. False prophets are nothing new, and they will become increasingly prevalent and destructive in the End Times. Jesus warned us about these individuals in His Olivet Discourse. In Matthew 24:11 He said, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”

In Matters 10:16 and Luke 10:3, Jesus warned His followers about “wolves” who would be openly hostile to the Gospel. But in Matthew 7 He presents a more subtle threat – wolves disguised as sheep. “Beware of false prophets,who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” (Matte 7:15). These are false prophets who infiltrate the Church and lead people astray.

Jesus warned that false prophets would deceive many people in the Last Days, but we don’t have to fall for their schemes. The Bible provides many warning signs and practical ways we can respond to false teachings.

Signs of a False Prophet

  • False prophets make predictions that do not come true
  • False prophets perform miraculous signs and wonders
  • False prophets may claim to be Jesus
  • False prophets may have an unbiblical lifestyle
  • False prophets may deny Jesus’s indentity
  • False prophets teachings will lead people away from the Lord

There are 22 attributes of False Teachers 2 Peter 2:1-19

I will name a few:

1. They are ignorant

2.They come in secret

3. They are full of adultery

4. They are greedy

5. They prey on new believers

6. They talk a lot but say nothing

7. They do not want to be under anyone’s authority

8. They make grandiose promises but never deliver

9. They use alluring thoughts to provoke attention from their audience

10. They speak more evil than good.

If you are thinking you can’t fall for these tactics of the False Prophets. I met a young lady the other day. She had just moved here and began coming to my church.

Speaking to her she brought up the topic and said she was in a “cult.” She began telling me, that a friend from work invited her to a meeting. She said she was instantly hooked. The false teacher was very convincing and before too long she was giving him 30% of her income and that it was mandatory that everyone spent 30 hours a month serving the his “church.” I was amazed that people would even do that. But she said she felt like she was under some sort of trace. She felt like she would never fall for something like this but she did.

I urge you to search the internet for “Bible verses for identifying false prophets.”

If a pastor, teacher, priest or any others matches any of the criteria, God’s Word calls the a false prophet – a wolf in sheep’s clothing. We should not be surprised when we encounter such people. “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. So, it no great thing if ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15), it takes discernment to see beneath the mask of an imposter, but that discernment can be cultivated by studying God’s Word and abiding in its truth.

The Power Of Humility

The Word of God says He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. The power of humility quickens you in the spirit so than you can discern wisely and walk in authority.

Humility grounds you in and centers you on God. It helps you remember,

It’s not your wisdom

It’s not your knowledge

It’s not your intelligence

These are given to you as a gift from God. God grants grace to the humble which is the power to do His will. Humility allows people to be open to the possibility of making a mistake and it’s an integral part of moral leadership.

The degree of humility is based on how a person responds to failure, power, and obedience to God.

Nearly all men can handle adversity, but if you really want to test a man’s character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln

Humanity has to do with viewing yourself in the proper manner regarding your gifts, abilities, purpose, weakness, and limitations.

Humility is not self-deprecation or putting yourself down, treating yourself badly, self-mortification, self-pity, self-hatred, low self-esteem, or acting legalistic with religious traditions.

Humility is self-dignity, self-respect and assurance of your place as a child of God and your call in the kingdom of God (John 3:30). It’s a result of a person responding to God and the realities of life and wisdom from the experiences of life.

One of the easiest ways to develop humility is to learn from other people’s mistakes. If you see someone else making a mistake, take note of it.

Humility is one of the most powerful virtues we can cultivate. It’s also the hardest to practice. But, humility should be our goal so that God will fight for us rather than against us (1 Peter 5:5-7).