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Author: trevoressmith
My thoughts about God: Provider
The bright festive skies have now been subdued by gray clouds. Not ominous – as in rain bearing. But a reminder of another reality.
The change of scenery by God the Master Painter coincides with my reflection on some imperatives that I have to address by the end of 2009. My thoughts were muted – yet positively optimistic. A sense that blue skies will win out in the end.
In that moment, my thoughts about God was that He is the Great Provider. He promises not give us a stone when we ask for bread or a snake when we ask for fish.
What are your thoughts about God right now? Share by commenting below and bless others.
My thoughts about God: Master painter
I am blessed with a view of the mountains from my home office desk. I am just amazed by the subtle nuances of color, shape and shadings that create so many different moods and feelings.
Today, Christmas eve, the sky is a deeper, brighter shade of blue and the clouds are glistening white. This is an upbeat picture to inspire a positive, festive day.
My thoughts about God today includes the fact that he is THE master painter!
What are your thoughts about God right now? Take a minute and share…it will be a blessing to me and others.
Why I have entered the Empty Nest with confidence
Why I have entered the Empty Nest with confidence
1. That is the way we started – just the 2 of us and we had good times.
2. I am enjoying our time together as I did then.
3. The birds are never out of contact – in person and otherwise.
4. We have loads of stuff to occupy us….boredom is not an option.
Success in apparent failure
How can a team lose two games out of 3 and still regard the series as a success story?
West Indies lost the first cricket test match to Australia in 3 of the scheduled 5 days.They turned the situation around and had the Aussies on the run in the 2nd test which ended in a draw (no result …yes after 5 days!).
They came within a few runs of beating the Aussies in the 3rd Test which they lost. So they lost 2 out of 3 but scored 4 centuries (Aussies zero) and generally showed that they were a force to be reckoned with in test cricket.
Sometimes, the results on the surface do not reflect the successes that we are achieving. Look for success indicators in your life and not just the headline results.
Marriages that last
Caring wives lavish their mothering instincts and love on their husbands. Wise husbands recognize how blessed they are and soak it in.
Attentive husbands accept the responsibility of making their treasures comfortable.
Fussing about gender roles is not a feature of their existence. Marital bliss is the outcome.
2010 Success
I figure that success in 2010 well take care of itself if I manage to say and do the right things at the right time in the right way and for the right reasons.
Discernment will guide me to the right things.
Training and development will sort out the way I say or do them and the rationale.
Discipline will drive timing.
Just don’t do it!
The ultimate test of self-discipline is when everything about you says “Just do it!” you somehow find the strength not to do it. We are pretty good at re-affirming commitments to do or not to do a list of things. However, the acid challenge to compliance really takes place in a fleeting moment. If only we could recall some of those decisive moments.
Truth is that discipline has to become a reflex action. No time for thinking. We have to train ourselves to produce certain “automated” responses to given stimuli. The Bible teaches: Flee from the very appearance of evil. Discipline needs to be grounded in some knee-jerk reactions.
Just don’t do it!
TV discipline…
Replace one of your regular TV shows with work on a life goal. Apply the same level of discipline. Do not miss the start time and stay with it to the very end. Turn down all invitations, phone calls etc. so that you do not miss “your show.”
If you keep to the task with the same regularity and fervor as with the TV show you will be amazed at the success that you will achieve in achieving one of your life goals.
Discipline must be all pervasive
#Discipline must be all pervasive. Indiscipline in one area leaks into other areas. This is one time to sweat the small stuff and adopt a no tolerance approach to any signs of indiscipline in our lives.
Time keeping, grooming, housekeeping, money management, Bible study, worship, prayer, control of the tongue, eating, inter-personal relations, life style……
Weed out indiscipline at its first appearance. Do not wait until it is fully grown.
TrevorESSmith 