WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

I have recently been reading about reaching goals and at the end of the chapter, I was asked a question that rocked me to the core and the question was simple.... "What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?"

Before my mind could totally process, I had already answered quickly what I would do; there was silence. It was in that silence I knew instinctively "then you should be doing that." So what is stopping us, what causes us to wait and not take action?

A few things come to mind.

1. The fear of Failure. Let's face it, we don't like to mess up, look bad, and it's human nature. We're all similar in that way. But we don't need to be so afraid we don't do anything, or even try because that is when we fail. Here are a few quotes to ponder.

"Failure isn't fatal, but failure to change might be." (John Wooden)

"Everything you want is on the other side of fear" (Jack Canfield)

"It's failure that gives you the proper perspective on success" (Ellen Degeneres)

"I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work" (Thomas Edison)

So failure is inevitable but we must push through the fear to get to the greatness on the other side. I'm sure most of you know how to ride a bike. In order to learn to ride a bike you will fall at times. It does not feel good, sometimes it even hurts, but we keep getting back up because that failure drives us to keep going until....we are riding! We also can see ourselves riding successfully even when our balance and footwork seem to say otherwise. When you see yourself riding before you actually are, you won't stop until you actually are! (That is faith in a nutshell)

So as the new year approaches let's change our mindsets, rebuke lies, and fear that say you can't do it, it's not realistic, it doesn't make sense. Yes it does, because you already can see it. Just do it! The marketplace needs what you have but only you can give it to us. No one can give you me, but me. We benefit from each others gifts, lets push through those obstacles together and be the change that we so desperately want to see. God is for us, who can be against us...so again I say, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? Let's Go!

In the comments tell me some things you would do if you couldn't fail...I would love to pray for you...or better yet show me the things that you were afraid of that you now have accomplished. 

In case you are interested in the book I'm reading it's called The Big Gig (Big picture thinking for success) by Zoro a famous percussionist.

Be blessed, and be encouraged, be encouraging, subscribe, share, tell others about it that they too might be uplifted.

In His love,

Imade

Be thankful in your storm, beauty can still be seen.

What are some simple ways we can show love during a storm?

Answer: Being thankful, but is it that easy?   Yes! 

A storm is defined as a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow. Wow, but how can anyone prepare for such a thing. The reasons why storms usually upset, and ruin our days is because of its suddenness. Whether it is a literal storm or a personal storm, when a violent disturbance shifts the atmosphere you were comfortable with, it has the power to destroy. So how can we be thankful in something like this? Here's how. We must slow down! I will say it again, We Must Slow Down! and one more time, WE MUST SLOW DOWN!

The enemy wants to throw as much wind, rain, and snow all at once, violently, and suddenly...why because he wants to send you into a frenzy, cause you to stress about everything that is being hurled at you, make you feel guilty that you weren't prepared enough, that you lost control (as if you were ever in control), bring frustration, complaining, anger and all sorts of chaos. This is all designed to break you down, cloud your mind so that you will stay focused on your problems, be full of fear, try to fix it yourself, never look to God, be angry with Him because everything is out of control and He doesn't even seem to be around, or doing anything to fix it. 

Do you remember when the disciples were on the boat and all of a sudden they were hurled into a storm and Jesus was sleep at the bottom. They were up there, all hands on deck doing their best to maintain control, knowing that they had none, trying not to loose equipment, and most importantly trying not to die. Jesus was asleep. They said angrily "Do you not care if we parish?" Can you imagine the outrage..."We are up here doing everything, we know to do, trying not to die and you're down here sleeping!" Jesus came up, spoke to the storm and said, "Peace be still" and it calmed. Did he care, yes! Did they know that? No because they Never Slowed Down. The reason why we complain is because we're afraid, the reason why we're afraid is because we can't see, but Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God! (If you slow down, you'll be able to hear, and the faith will cause you to see again) From the moment the storm came, they were in a frenzy which is exactly what satan wants. He doesn't want you to think, because then you will see the truth and the answer is sleeping within you, you just need to slow down, ask and wake it up. God is always there friends, slow down and hear Him, He is waiting to arise within you and give you peace in your storm. When this happens His beauty will sleep no more and you will see clear again, though everything around whirls. Do not be overcome, don't go insane, slow down, the answer and solution is already there. Greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world. Go and be thankful in your storm, see and hear the beauty, now that you know that you can!

Here's a practical unedited video of ideas God gave me on how to be thankful in a literal southern snow/ice storm. Do enjoy, you have my full permission. I love you all and I am praying for you continually.

Madetoencourageyou:)

"As a Man Thinks So is He" Ramblings Part 2

At every moment we have the amazing ability to speak life or speak death. One way the enemy tries to get us to speak death is by lying to us, in hopes that we believe them. Beloved, when we believe something, it takes root in us and we naturally talk about it. Well lies work that way too, if we hear a lie for instance..."I'm fat" even though I may be 5'8, 135lb, if you hear it long enough And Believe it....what happens? You begin to speak it out, even though it is NOT TRUE because you believe it, it becomes true to you and begin to live out the lie. This is a way satan tries to destroy us from the inside out.

In this video I want to encourage and challenge you to wake up to, yet not submit to the attacks and lies thrown at you on a daily basis from the enemy. Instead recognize them, cast them down in the name of Jesus and focus on Christ, the way, the TRUTH, and the Life. Don't believe lies about yourself, about others, even if you've been doing it for a long time, you can still change. God is your greatest fan, He is rooting for you, He believes in you, and He wants you to win! I love you all; Be Encouraged!

Madetoencourageyou:)