Dominate Fear

 

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.    Nelson Mandela

Fear is ever present especially in the life of a leader. Fear has a thousand tongues and no hands. You will hear voices and think thoughts that come to disrupt your confidence. Confidence comes from knowing that you are on the right path and doing the right thing. If you are doing the right thing and on the right path the only other element for success is time. Patience knows that fear is along for the ride but ignores all the chatter.
Courageous people seem to walk in a zone of no fear. One popular saying that was turned into a brand is called “NO Fear”. The only reason that people of courage appear to have conquered fear is that they have accepted the fact that fear accompanies all achievement. Courageous people live out loud and their courage talks more than any fear.

Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, “Courage is the first of the human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all the others.”
You can be nothing without first demonstrating courage. It takes courage to learn how to walk and talk when you are an infant. And it takes courage to walk and talk about your vision when you are mature. And it definitely  takes courage to tackle another major project when you are old. Dominate fear and you will dominate life.

Maya Angelou said, “Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without it we can’t practice any other virtue with consistency.”

How will you use courage to dominate fear?

Your Laughter does not affect my Christian soul

 

You can laugh at me but it will not hurt me.My son gave this title without any more instructions.  After thinking about it I knew what it meant inside but putting it into words was a little more difficult. Daily we all battle something or some thought that nags us.  The thought that keeps pulling you down or worse just putting you down. Well those of us who are Christian have an answer that can stop this negativity in its tracks.

In the book “Patience to Dominate” there is a principle called “Unflappable, I shall not be moved.  This reflects the attitude of Christian towards any negative situation, especially ill-willed laughter. Stand firm and know that God is there to protect you.

Job 8:20-22

King James Version (KJV)

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:

21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

 

Dreams and goals are met with obstacles and these obstacles are primarily in your head. It is not over until you have the last laugh.

Abraham (in Genesis 21) named his son Isaac which means “he laughs”. But this reflects Abraham and Sarah’s unbelieving laugh at the promise of God. Do not laugh at the promises of God or you could cause delay in the blessing coming for you. Focus on the goodness inside of you and the unlimited goodness in the Father.

 

Job 5:22

At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth

Luke 6:20-22

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh

Psalm 64:10

10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

 

It is demonstrated in these scriptures that God already knows that you will be laughed at in your life time.  You can turn this into good and literally laugh at destruction and not be afraid of the antagonizer. Get it together the blessing is coming your way. Use your patience to overcome. Confessions have power so let’s use them and say, “Your Laughter does not affect my Christian soul!”

What is something or someone you wish to use the statement against?

Are you conscious of His favor?

Raise your consciousness and increase your joy. We are responsible for our joy. Knowing where joy comes from and how to keep it is explained in this Psalm.
Psalm 97:11
Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 Light is sown for the [uncompromisingly] righteous and strewn along their pathway, and joy for the upright in heart [the irrepressible joy which comes from consciousness of His favor and protection].
This one passage by itself encompasses a lifetime of wisdom. It shows God’s preparation for you and me. It states that, “light is sown”, this means it was plant or created for the righteous. And then it is thrown along our pathway. So even when we are in a place of darkness God shines light on us. Those with an upright heart receive joy along the path.

The type of joy we receive is “IRREPRESSIBLE” (it cannot be pushed down). There is nothing or no one that can steal your joy. This joy comes from you and I being conscious or fixing our mind on God’s favor and protection. All paths in life have darkness but, with the right mind set we can live every day in His glorious light.

My daughter wrote this:

Be delighted with yourself. You have to have an upright or a happy spirit for God to give you gladness.

Civil Rights Movement: Stop Violence with the gun and with the tongue

 

 the Dream lives

This was my first year going to the Dr. Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast in Birmingham, Alabama to support the Civil Rights Movement.  I have no clue to the reason of why I did not attend this wonderful event.  My son William V wanted to go and was pleased to get up early.  I asked why he wanted to go and he said, “so I can be with you dad.”

 

When we walked in we heard the wonderful voices of the choir that transformed the convention center into a Baptist Church. This 27thh Annual event lived up to the high standards of the SCLC.  The first thing that was evident is that this was a celebration of the past triumphs of Dr. King and the people of the Civil Rights movement and boost towards the future of possibilities.

The Keynote speaker was Dr. Charles Steele, SCLC President and CEO, his presence demanded attention.  His commitment to the organization and people of all creeds showed in the first few sentences of his speech.  He mentioned “Birmingham to Bethlehem” which is a campaign to bring nonviolence to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. He said he was in a meeting where a Palestinian man thanked him for holding the banner of nonviolence because, before their encounter the man did not realize that there was an alternative to violent conflict resolution.

Mr. Steele also mentions a “Poor Peoples Campaign “in Paris, France due to the overwhelming unemployment in that country.   This interests me because I set and marched with the original leader of the Poor Peoples Campaign, Hosea Williams.  Mr. Williams was a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement and to watch him work was masterful. His network of dignitaries and homeless was immense.  I think the SCLC should involve Jay Z and Kanye West as well as the down trodden.

 

In his meeting with President Gorbachev, Mr. Steele said the President asked him, “If the Dream was realized,” I just want you to pause there and ask that question that yourself.  If Yes, then celebrate and get back to work. And if No, just get back to work.

 

He told of his fundraising prowess and how he steered the organization to receive 20 million dollars in a 3 year period which led to the erection of a new office building.  It also set a secure foundation for the SCLC’s future in the Civil Rights Movement. This is a long way from the days of Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth. I wrote a post “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.” When Dr. Steele met Roland Martin, CNN analyst, Mr. Martin congratulated him and said “the building is good, but what are you doing for the people?” This question adds to the question from President Gorbachev and should make all of us who live the Dream focus on actions.

 

I have a more definitive answer to why I have not attended the Unity Breakfast.  The answer is that I was enjoying the Dream and now I need to help others fight for their Dream.

 

How will you help the Civil Rights Movement? How are you helping others achieve the dream?

Make God Mighty

God is Beautiful

Make God Mighty sounds weird just saying it. God is mighty all by Himself, why would He need you or me to help Him be mighty?

Luke 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

 

American Heritage Dictionary

Might:  Having or showing great power, skill strength or force

 

God always possesses the might to make all things possible and He will show this power when we invite Him into our lives.

 

3 ways we can make God mighty

  1. Act like He is watching

If all of your actions are done with the knowledge that the Father is watching then you will be more in line with the Father’s will.  Others will see your love walk and know that you serve a Mighty God. You make God Mighty when you are in His Will.

2.  Speak His word in every situation

Speaking His word is easy in the morning, at night and when we go to church. But when someone wrongly accuses you and it causes you to defend your honor unnecessarily? We need to speak the word of God more in these situations.

3.  Walk in the Might of God

This differs from acting like he is watching and speaking His word because walking in His word requires faith not obedience. Walk in His might and you will get up early to work on your craft. And when you began to walk out on faith the mighty God will show you another level of His ability.

 

How will you make God Mighty?

Immeasurable Week: How do you count life?

Immeasurable Week

True Life is skewed towards how you think on a matter. Look at your life and understand how and what you use to measure joy, peace and success.

Are you counting the right or wrong thing?

When your efforts do not add up…

Making money and life is taking it all…

Are you behind and have no visible progress?

How should you count?

Count hugs – not sales

Count smiles – not profits

Count your physically healthy days

Count the number of days you lived in a free society

Count the days you lived in mental stability

Psalm 121
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help

 

Why count when, you can be thankful?

Why count when, you can give gifts?

Joy comes from knowing that God wishes you to prosper in all situations.

Do you wonder how does God count?

 

A friend came and got me off the side of the Highway, that counts

Having breakfast at a cafe with my wife, that counts

Teaching my son to change a tire, that counts

Sharing French fries with my daughter, that counts

 

Learn how to count and have an immeasurable week! How do you count?

Take yourself off the Fiscal Cliff

Have you ever wondered what is going to happen when the country goes over the fiscal cliff? The first thing that happens is the bill collectors will know that our country is serious about debt freedom. And all of us in the family called the United States of America will go over the Fiscal Cliff also and have to pay the price. We will all pay a price sooner or later for the mistakes of our elected officials and the wizards of capitalism.  As a leader I have great respect for both professions but I do not believe they are focused on the effect these problems have on the common family. Having said that, “What can we do about the coming Fiscal Cliff and the challenges it will present?”

I think we all need to take ourselves off the Fiscal Cliff.

 

These following principles apply to our personal lives and the United States of America collectively.

Tighten up now or get tightened up later

If you look at your finances and it costs you more to live than you earn, then you must tighten up your spending. Look at the things you do not need and cut all conveniences.  Remember convenience kills.  My queen says, “Convenience is for rich people.”  Every time you say, :it is easier this way”, in the arena of purchases please measure the true cost. If you are not honest with every purchase you will find your self with less capital to work with.

Anything that we can do to raise personal savings is very much in the interest of this country.
Alan Greenspan

I’m climbing up, but I’m taking the scenic route

Once you take yourself over the fiscal cliff there will be some bumps and bruises, mainly to your ego and your immediate satisfaction.  After the initial pain it is necessary to have a mind make over.  If you have truly tightened up your fiscal life then you will have to add patience to your fiscal assent.   I call this taking the scenic route.  It may take just a little more time but you are enjoying the view.  Enjoy the little things, like removing the noose of the creditors and spending quality family time. It is not happiness that you gain from going over the fiscal cliff it is peace and whole life prosperity.

Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.  Psalm 122:7

Are you ready to go over the Fiscal Cliff?  How will it hurt you? How will it help you?

Patience has no fear

  • Fear and faith cannot exist together
  • Children of God must act on the will of their Father

 

 

Patience has no fear because it knows the outcome will be delightful.  Fear comes to move you off of your path of great accomplishment.  Once I was afraid to commit to working out because, I thought the time would take away from my family. Then I questioned if an unhealthy lifestyle would take away years at the end of my life or cause countless days at the doctor’s office.  Fear has an unstable foundation and will crumble with careful consideration.  A person can live with fear so long, that it becomes comfortable to them.  We let fear speak to us in daily activities, so much that we think fear is our unconscious mind attempting to protect us. We must use our faith, our abilities and the Almighty to combat this enemy.  In the canvas of the mind fear and faith cannot co-exist, one will dominate.  Faith requires action, fear promotes inaction.  When decisions arise today ask for wisdom to recognize when you are bowing down to the calamitous reports of fear.

 

Strive to be a faith giant.  Faith giants move to different states to pursue dreams. Faith giants call businesses with ideas to sell and have no prior experience.  Faith giants claim debt freedom while possessing a horrid debt to income ratio.  God helps faith giants and those of little faith but the more your faith is evident the more He has to work with.  The Bible says,

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  1 John 4:18

 

So love yourself, love people and love the Creator who continually supports you.  Repel fear and be patient for your dreams.

How have you overcome fear recently?

Confession for protection: Psalm 91

The following post is a prayer adaptation that I heard a long time ago.  It is a way to personalize Psalm 91.  There is a link to the original King James Version for your comparison.  I will highlight the altered portions.  You can say this in whenever you spend time with God it also good for your children use it as a prayer.

Psalm 91

I dwell in the secret place of the most High and shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

3 Surely He shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover me with His feathers, and under His wings shall I trust: His truth shall be my shield and buckler.

5 I shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand; but it shall not come near me

8 Only with my eyes shall I behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because I have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, my habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall me, neither shall any plague come near my dwelling.

11 For He shall give His angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways.

12 They shall bear me up in their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone.

13 I shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall I trample under my feet.

14 Because I have set my love upon God, therefore will He deliver me: He will set me on high, because I have known His name.

15 I shall call upon Him, and He will answer me: He will be with me in trouble; He will deliver me, and honor me.

16 With long life will He satisfy me, and show me His Great salvation.

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Have joy in the small things

 

Do you pray for the small things? A small prayed I said recently was, “Lord I thank you that nothing is lost, therefore I thank you that I find my pocket knife.”  It seems trivial to ask the God of the universe for something as inconsequential as a pocket knife but I was thinking about it so I asked.  The knife was out of my possession for about 6 months

I was looking for my keys in the drawer that I normally keep my keys and way in the back I saw the knife.  The joy that I felt was overwhelming.  My heart was warm and the smile on my face was one of those cheek burners (the kind of smile that make your cheeks hurt because you’re smiling too hard).  What struck me as odd is that I haven’t felt this way in a while. What caused me to feel this way about this small tool?

We are thankful for the things that give us joy more than the ones that make us happy.  Sometimes we take our joy for granted. Joy normally comes from gifts that keep giving.   Do you have people or things that are in your life that you do realize are truly significant? So why did I have so much joy in finding this small part of my Life?

 

Here are some reasons I have joy over this knife hopefully you will have more meaningful things and people that give you joy

  1. My knife is useful

This particular knife is a Case brand knife that is maybe 4 ½ inches long open and thin but it is not fragile.  It is strong enough to turn screws.   It can whittle branches to nothing and perform delicate razor operations

2.   A little attention makes it perform better

The second thing I did after I put it my pocket and tapped it a couple of times, was to sharpen it.  If I take care of it, it will cut anything I ask of it.  Just like the people around you.   Don’t take anyone or anything for lightly.

3    Joy is small enough to hide in plain sight

Many things that give us joy are right in plain sight.  This knife was tucked away in a drawer that I use daily and when I have it I throw it in my pocket where it stays until I need it.  Moments are precious – look around and be thankful.

 

The Bible quote that completes this thought is:

Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

God is interested in your well-being and your joy.  Look for the people and things that promote the warm feeling of joy and ask God to increase your awareness of them.

 

What gives you joy?