That title is a bit misleading (but it sure is catchy isn’t it?). You can’t actually “control” your thoughts – at least not in the same way that you can control other things, like a blender or a remote control car or a group of dancing robots.
It would be great if you could, but you can’t. You can’t control every thought that comes into your head. Thoughts will creep in that you have no control over. For example:
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Busy, busy, busy. Everyone is busy. Deadlines and pressure at work… a mile-long to-do list at home… I need to start exercising… I need to spend more time reading my Bible… I need to find time with the kids. UGHH!!! I just have too much on my plate!
Sound familiar? These days I don’t know of single person who isn’t struggling to keep up with everything. Everyone has more than they can handle and it doesn’t seem like there’s an end in sight. Is there???
Somehow in the midst of all the chaos around us, we find the Word of God giving us a beautiful promise in Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Peace? Where is that peace? How can I get it? And how can I make sure I keep it?
The Bible is clear that God has promised to give us His peace. But so many of us struggle to have peace. So clearly there's a disconnect here. There's something wrong with our view/expectation of "peace" and how to find it.
Read More“You don’t have to believe every stupid thought you have.” Dr. Daniel Amen
That's a summary of this week's message in a nutshell. Too many of us are living as if we are slaves to our thoughts, but in this week's message we saw how we can change our LIVES by changing our THOUGHTS. Specifically, we learned that our thoughts are real things that literally have the power to rewire our brains.
In this week's message, we not only learned the power of our thoughts over our lives, but also a practical way that we can implement God's command to “[bring] every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Read MoreWe kicked off a new series in The Well yesterday and I think you'll agree that it is EXACTLY what the doctor ordered - especially as we approach the happy holiday season. The series is titled Burnt Out: Finding Peace on Earth.
We'd all agree that our lives are busier and more fast-paced than ever. We're running at full speed, operating at maximum capacity and living without any margin or breathing room. This inevitably leads to struggles in all areas of life - specifically in our time, our finances, and most of all our relationships.
This goal of this series is to look at ways to create and/or restore margin and breathing room in our overloaded lives.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Ok, so, have you ever read this passage... prayed this passage... meditated on it... wrote it out and stuck it to your bedroom mirror... and STILL FELT ANXIOUS? Anyone???
I think God showed me a little secret a few years ago and He’s highlighted it again this year. Bear with me a little, please, while I get to the point.
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Anxiety. It’s something we all face. Whether it’s coming from work, or from school, or from marriage, or from money (or lack thereof), it’s something that everyone deals with. The consequences of having anxiety are well documented – hyperventilation, nausea, feeling loss of control, and feeling on edge. No one likes being anxious.
Anxiety results from our interpretation of situations. An assessment of a situation as threatening, damaging, or challenging, coupled with doubts over our ability to cope and respond in a manner that produces a desirable outcome can lead to anxiety. But often our interpretation of those situations is distorted – leading to misguided concern rather than the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.
“The servant of the Lord will be afraid only of his Master, while the man who does not yet fear Him is often scared by his own shadow.” St. John Climacus
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How would you answer that question? That's not an easy one.
What's the purpose of having faith in God? What does it do for my life? Does faith mean that life will be easy and without challenges? Why have faith when my life continues to be difficult and full of obstacles?
When I got sick and spent time in the ICU, I felt my faith shake. I wondered how God could allow someone with faith to nearly die from an eating disorder. I remember asking the nurses and doctors why I wasn't getting any better, but no one had an answer. I remember asking my family and church community why my condition was so hopeless, and they told me that God had a plan. But what plan? I had faith in God all my life, so why wasn't He intervening?!
Read MoreThe sixth and final message in THE DANIEL PLAN series and this may have been the most eye-opening, life-changing of them all. The message was titled "Winning with the Hand You're Dealt."
Life is kinda like a game of poker. We're given a certain set of "cards" that we didn't choose. We didn't choose when or where we were born... we didn't choose our parents or how they treated us... we didn't choose our physical weaknesses or limitations. There's a lot of things that go into us that are beyond our control.
The easy thing to do is to complain about it and wish I had a different set of cards; the right thing to do is to make the most of the hand I've been dealt.
That's the subject of this week's message. If you struggle with a poor self-identity or thoughts/feelings of anxiety, fear or guilt, then you MUST listen to this week's message to see how God wants to transforms those "cards" into a winning hand.
Enjoy!
Have you ever been so down and frustrated that you knew you were angry, but you weren’t quite sure who you were angry at? Just sort of angry at ‘life’ in general? I know I’ve felt that way before – especially during the time I was admitted to the ICU.
I felt hopeless and tired. I remember how weak I was; how pathetic I felt. I felt frustrated with life and wanted it to end. I didn't know if God was ever going to get me out alive, and at times, I actually didn't want to be alive. I was angry with myself. But more so, I was angry that life had been so harsh on me. I didn't understand why this was happening. All I knew was that this was the 'last straw'. I was breaking down, losing hope, and losing faith.
During that time, my parents would often comfort me and support me with three quotes from the late Pope Shenouda III (1923-2012). I’ll never forget those three statements that my family always said when they came to see me: “'this too will end soon”, “God is here”, and “all is for the good”.
Three short statements, but the power and hope they instilled within me was incredible.
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Tests, assignments, deadlines, speeches!! The list goes on and on for a student like me. God knows I try… try to do well, try to please my parents, try to excel in what I’m doing with the hope of one day doing a job that I “love.” Oh and yes, I forgot to mention I try not to worry too! Yes, all these things God knows… but it was one day when He showed me just how much I did NOT know.
I had a speech due for an accounting unit (can I get a BORING up in here?) the first Monday back after the mid-semester break. And – in the true spirit of university life – it wasn’t until the last weekend of the 2 week break that I gave myself a kick in the pants to actually start writing the speech.
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What do you NEED for Christmas? That’s the question I’m asking this year. Forget about "what do you WANT for Christmas – what you want isn’t as important as what you need (ie, chocolate fudge brownies vs spinach & broccoli for dinner). I want to know what you think is your #1 NEED this year for Christmas.
For me, the answer is simple. It’s the same topic I spoke about the other day and that I will continue to speak about till the end of my days. Any time someone asks me what I want, I give the same answer. It’s the one thing that you can never get enough of and if I could find a way to sell it in a bottle, I’d be a ba-zillionaire.
What is it? The one thing that every single person on this planet desires and needs more than anything else is REST. R-E-S-T.
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“Wow! He’s incredible! He’s amazing! This is a going to be our year! I’m so glad he’s on our team!”
That is what I’ve found myself thinking and saying ever since Sunday afternoon. What happened on Sunday afternoon? For those who don’t know, this past weekend was the one that I – and men like me all over the country – have had circled on our calendars since early February. It was the weekend that wives from coast to coast (including the one in my house) have been dreading and hoping to avoid. Oh yes, boys and girls, it’s that time of year…
FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!
How could I blog about anything else this week? Football and Sundays go together like peanut butter and jelly, and now that football is back, order is restored to the universe and my life.
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