christianity

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Same Thing = The Same Results (ST = SR)

Imagine purchasing a spin bike. You like its design and bright colors, take the time to put it together, and give it a place in your home. Weeks go by with you continuing to look at it, just as you looked at the picture on the internet when you were considering which model to buy. Making the decision to purchase was big for you, knowing that making the purchase meant you were ready to make a change...or were you?

You went online to purchase a gym membership. It was a good price, and the location was about three minutes away; perfect for traveling. You could quickly get there, get your class done, and quickly get back home. But there’s a problem: you never started.

And then your frustrated mind is hit with the same thought you usually get: If you keep doing the same thing, you’ll keep getting the same results.

“Nothing changes until you change. Everything changes once you change.” – Julian Lennon

There was a woman in the New Testament (don’t know her name) who was sick and had been for some twelve years. She was bleeding constantly, and though she went to doctors (some tried to help while others just took her money) she got worse as the years went by. She was financially ruined, using the usual solutions for getting well, but getting the same results, which for her came to zero. She heard about Jesus and that he was healing people and decided to make a change. She thought that if she could get to him and touch him, she would get well. Why not give it a try since nothing else was working after all these years? Long story short, she eventually got to Jesus, touched him, and he knew someone touched him though he did not know who. So, he asked the question. “Who touched me?” She was afraid to answer but eventually came forward, telling him her plight. Not only did he call her daughter but told her it was her faith that made her well. It is interesting Jesus did not say it was him that healed her, but her faith is what did it. And by the way, the bleeding stopped and she experienced healing.

Making the change to get on the bike and pedal is faith in action. Having the faith to get that wide rear end on that seat acknowledges you are willing to cause change in your life, though you may not instantly see a difference at first. Going to the gym and lifting weights proclaims you want to be stronger and leaner and doing something for your overall health. It is the faith you have in your abilities to bust a move by doing something different. It is replacing complacency (looking at the bike) with determination (riding the bike). It is getting in the car and driving to the gym and taking a class that starts the shift from never going to scheduling to go and actually doing it. I suppose the title of this post should be

Changes Yield Different Results

Why not try THAT for a change? For those what want to read about the woman with the issue of blood, it’s in the bible: Mark 5: 25-34.

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God Is In Control

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, wondering why things happen the way they do. I wonder why things get a critical point while wondering how and why I got there.

Perhaps there are some answers, many of which I have to admit are my fault.

Doing things the familiar but unsuccessful way. Why does this happen? It’s because of the familiarity of it, which leads to the ‘I’m used to doing things this way’ road that leads to a dead end. When one does life this way, there is nothing new to discover, no new paths to move from the same ol’ way to doing something new. What would that entail?

Here’s an example. Instead of trying to do math in your head, thinking you are keeping a mental record of what you have spent, how about writing everything down? Having a financial journal of what you have spent can really open your eyes to discovering why your bank account dwindled to next to nothing, because you forgot some items you spent. Next writing down how much to spend for groceries, gas for your car, and other things that you may not really need to spend. I was surprised that writing a grocery list and vowing not to go over an amount actually worked. It aided in keeping my bank account in the green and not in the red.

But here is something more on the spiritual level.

Doing things your way while not including God will lead to disaster. Just because you go to church and agree with what the minister says in the sermon doesn’t necessarily mean you are adhering to what is being said. It is like the words are going in one ear and out the other. Because once the service is over, you return to your way of doing life. For example, when God says to come to him and give him what is on your mind to the point of worry (which he says not to do if you read Matthew 6), but you don’t give it over to him because you try to fix it using your outdated methods, you are spinning in an endless cycle that yields results, but not good positive ones. The worry continues, the prayer (if you do that) bounces off the ceiling, as you continue to keep in control of your challenging situation. Which leads to another point.

Acknowledgement of what is really happening. This point is where the rubber meets the road. Admit you are trying to stay in control. Answer this question: How is staying in control working for you? I hope your answer will be an honest one, admitting it is getting you nowhere. And further admit you have been going nowhere for years, decades even, to no avail. What would happen if God took over the reins?

If you truly gave things over to God, the responsibility is off you and on Him. I may have written about this in another post, but as you can see, one has to keep being reminded to give it over to God. You see, it is not you that is in control, but God is. He has the resources to do an ‘immediately’, meaning he can give you the solution in a suddenly type of manner. But admit there are things you have to learn, and it may take a while for your mindset to switch from the way you do things, to accepting and allowing God to be in control and experiencing how God does things. Be patient; the way God does things oftentimes is not in a quick, microwave manner. Remember there are some things you have to relearn. Wait I say on the Lord.

Doing things in a new way from doing things in an old way for years will take time. But it will make life better, if you allow God to be in control.

Prayer:

Lord God, you are my Jehovah-Jireh. You promise that you are my shepherd, and I lack for nothing. Show me the new thing. Give me the strength to follow in your way, as I give up my unsuccessful ways of doing things. Let me give up control and wait on you.