There’s an old proverb about what those who say they can and those who say they can’t have in common: they’re BOTH RIGHT!

I don’t want this to come off sounding New Age teaching or a worldly motivational talk that is 100% focused on “you,” but there is a direct relationship between how successfully and effectively you run your race to the destiny God has put before you and how you perceive your ability to run that race.

To take that even a step further, how YOU see yourself is exactly the same way OTHERS will see you. What is in your mind and in your heart will find a way to show itself outwardly-and people will perceive you by what you display. So, it’s true that:

—If you want others to believe you can, then YOU HAVE to believe you can!

—If you want

Have you ever thought how important attitude is when it comes to having good, healthy relationships? Put simply, relationships just work better when you are happy. A good attitude goes a long way toward building lasting relationships. Think about it. Nobody wants to be around a person harboring a bad attitude, do they? The fact is that the friendlier you are, the more you are going to have people who want to pursue long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with you.

It is so easy to understand why so many people go unrewarded in life. They just don’t do the necessary things to be rewarded. Although life is designed to be a continual process of growth, most people stop growing. You MUST BE WILLING to cheerfully solve problems for those God has placed in your life. Only when

Once a person has confessed Jesus Lord of their lives, they must grow in their knowledge of God and His Word because He has given us great promises and blessings that He desires for us to experience. Salvation is the greatest gift to mankind, but it is also JUST THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE OF VICTORY!

In the book of Peter, he reminds us that we, as believers, should be like newborn babies WHO CRAVE spiritual milk so that we will grow up and mature in our salvation (1Peter 2:2).

The Bible says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that WE MIGHT KNOW the things that have been FREELY GIVEN to us by God” (1Corinthians 2:12). Paul states four important truths in this passage of Scripture:

1. We have not received the spirit

Paul, in his writing in Philipians said; “…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind…” (Phil.3:13)

We cannot grab on to our future if we don’t let go of our past!

WAIT!!!

Let me say this right here. I DIDN’T say the past is something that we can completely erase from our minds. And, I DIDN’T say the past doesn’t matter. But, rather than living there ( like a prison), we can learn from it and move forward.

Not looking back but looking forward. Paul went on to say in that same verse; “…and reaching FORTH to those things which are BEFORE,”)  Notice he said ” I’m reaching forth, not behind, but forth. That’s ahead. He’s leaving a place and He’s reaching for a new place.

Then, he continues on and says “…the things that are

If you wait on people to understand you, or you won’t take your next step because you fear it may cause people to not like you, then you will more than likely find yourself “stuck” in your walk with Jesus. How do I know? Well, because — I’ve lived it!

There have been times in my life that I really wanted to be loved and understood by people MORE than I wanted to be obedient to the Lord. And lets face it, that’s NOT A GOOD CHOICE! One of the biggest things that stands out in this area is the decision to step out in ministry like launching a website, making uplifting heartfelt post, etc. ( I know, you’d thinl that’s  something people would be excited about).

I fought it. Because I knew people were going to make assumptions and accusations that were not true (and some that

The angel said to the shepherd,”Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of GREAT JOY that will be for all the people…”(Luke2:10)

“Great joy”in Greek means “mega-joy!”

Let me tell you, I have discovered a powerful secret to miracles. It is “mega-rejoicing” before God.

The angels experience this joy in heaven. When we enter into it, we are positioning ourselves for a miracle’

What is “mega-joy?” It is “mega-rejoicing!”

So, let me share with you some ways that “rejoicing” will bring down the miracle-working power of God in your life:

#1. I Rejoice Before I Even Feel Like It.

Paul was in prison in Rome when he wrote these words: “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice!” (Phil.4:4)

You know his emotions were not

I recently was talking with a dear friend who has been dealing with the loss of a loved one and the reality of how she was dealing with grief. It had me thinking about how each of us from time to time deal with grief and also regret. You might ask, “why regret?” Because I believe grief and regret at times work together.

Let’s give a simple definition of grief and regret. Grief comes from a loss you experienced. Regret comes from a mistake you had control of. In both cases, the opportunity for change is gone. The truth is if you can change it, change it. If you can’t change it, move past it. There are people you and I know that hit the “pause” button on life because of grief and regret. They are frozen to move forward. Some blame themselves. Some blame others. They even

#3. Don’t Listen To The Fearful.

You become what you hear. “Faith comes by hearing”(Rom.10:17), and we could also say “Fear comes by hearing!”

Its not good for you to give attention to and listen to someone who is very fearful. It will grow inside of you.

“Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own” (Deut. 20:8)

If you surround yourself with the fearful, your heart will faint like theirs.

Declare this outloud: “I will not listen to the fearful!”

#4. Try To Make Peace.

Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt. 5:9)

He told us to “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you

I was never a basketball player, but when I did attempt to join the guys in a pickup game, the other team always looked larger than our team. I wondered why is that. Not long ago, I read about a 7 ft.,  9 in. teenage basketball player in Florida. He has grown two inches in the last two months.

I started thinking about how our minds quickly perceive when we are outnumbered and outmatched. It is a survival instinct.

Remember David and Goliath? Goliath was seven feet taller than David, yet David ran at him with a rock and a sling!

Here are a few things to remember when you come up against a battle where you are “outnumbered”:

1. GOD IS WITH YOU.

In Deuteronomy 20, God told Israel that when they were outnumbered in a battle, they should not

The mindset of BONDAGE.

“Will I ever be able to be free from this problem?”

God created us free.  He gave us a “free will.”  He sent Christ to set us free.  He delivered those on earth who were bound by demonic spirits and destructive habits.

You were made to be free.  Whatever is binding you, speak to it now, “I declare that I am free from the bondage of ___________.Jesus paid for your freedom.  The Holy Spirit brings “liberty” to the captives.  

Change your mentality, rise, and shake off the shackles that have held you captive.

 The mindset of MISTRUST.

“Will I ever be able to trust anyone ever again?

People go through heartbreaking relationships. They make a

“The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom. 8: 6).

How do I do that?

To “set your mind” is a “mindset.”

In other words, the culture and worldview of your mind must change.  

If you are like me, you have certain mindsets and mentalities that may limit your success.

 The mindset of SCARCITY.

“Am I going to have enough to make it?”

The world is constantly feeding your mind about scarcity.  Statistics blare out continually about all of the earth’s resources drying up.

God made this planet, and He made it abundant. Schools of millions of fish, flocks of millions of birds, herds of

The Lord Is With You In Trouble.

The Son of God was in the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew men.  After the trouble was over, they didn’t even smell like smoke!

David said that when he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord was “with Him.”

He never leaves your side.  He will be right there “until the trouble is over.”

 You Will Come Out Of This Trouble Much Stronger.

Christ was crossing the sea of Galilee when a sudden storm threatened to sink His boat.  He rebuked the storm and stopped it.

That storm was not the will of God (many things are not).  Satan sent it for one reason:  to stop Christ from reaching the other side. There, on the other side, was a maniac filled with at least 6000 demons who Christ

GLAD HEART

“A GLAD HEART promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up” (Prov. 17: 22)

Some translations say, “merry, joyful, cheerful, happy heart.”

You laugh a lot.  

Someone I knew was in the hospital for many months, teetering at the point of death.  He always maintained his sense of joy.  He told his son one day, “I don’t care to know WHEN I am going to die but WHERE I am going to die.”  His son said, “Why is that?”  He replied, “Because I never want to go there!”

He is out of the hospital and still playing golf today!

Keep your joy.

Find something to joke about.  Smile at others who are depressed, downcast, and gloom and doom.

Your own heart will be

But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.  
-Acts 28:5
So, Paul literally shook the snake off. Sometimes that’s what you and need to do when certain issues or circumstances try to latch on to our mind. You know what I’m talking about. The devil throws something your way trying to get you all worked up with worry or fear. Whata do? You shake it off. Really?  Yep! Just shake it off and start rejoicing because,”Greater is He Who is in YOU!”

ohn 8:4-5 ‘They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?’

John 12:31 ‘Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.’

Luke 2:52, ‘And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.’