Just recently my husband spent a few hours with Jim Stovall, a Global Entrepreneur, film producer and author of over 20 books. I am sure you would never consider that Mr. Stovall was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease at 17 and was blind by the age of 29.
Jim invented “S.A.P,” a special technology that allows the blind to enjoy major film releases. You see, Jim was an avid movie buff. Losing his sight meant he could no longer enjoy his classic collection. One day he determined that someone should solve this problem, and he created his Emmy Award-winning Narrative TV Network that serves over 13 million blind people each year.
Zig Ziglar, world class motivational speaker of 40 years says, “Happiness is a by-product of who you are and what you do. And yes, you CAN set it as a specific goal.”
Our third power-phrase is this: The difference between great and small people is that while all may fall, small people just fall but great people get up again.
You see, positive thinking is the power to look at your situation and find just one positive aspect, one positive thought that you can hold on to in order to transform your negative situation into an opportunity!
Regardless of what you may face today remember this, NEVER GIVE UP! You may be at the end of your rope but remember… one positive thought has the power to loosen the grip of impossibility and propel you forward into possibility!
The second power-phrase I want you to ponder this week is: “Great people are ordinary people with extraordinary determination.”
Standing before a large audience of farmers, Dr. Schuller recalled another family tragedy. During the great depression and several years before the tornado disaster, a drought destroyed the family crops, forcing his father to mortgage everything to survive. Dr. Schuller recalled entering the bank and seeing a sign on the wall that stated “Great people are ordinary people with extraordinary determination.”
Five years after the destructive tornado, Schuller’s father had completely rebuilt the farm, paid off the mortgage taken after the Great Depression drought and retired a successful man!
Have you ever considered how to generate a positive thought? Over the next three days I want to introduce 3 power-phrases for you to frequently recite, and allow them to fill your sails with the wind of positive expectation!
First, Tough times never last but tough people do.
This phrase comes from the title of one of over 37 books authored by Dr. Robert Schuller, pioneer of the first television church service.
Living positive in a negative world, or developing positive thinking patterns in difficult situations, provides a creative energy and stamina necessary to tackle life’s biggest challenges.
You may be thinking, “If you only knew the problems I am facing!” Well, Dr. Schuller’s family certainly had their own share of problems. His own father, at the age of 60, lost everything when a devastating tornado destroyed their livestock, their crops, the family home and their barn. Nothing was left! Ten farms were utterly destroyed by that storm. Only one man rebuilt! http://bit.ly/1EFXOOW
Recently a leading global medical research institute listed these benefits attributed to positive thinking:
- Longer life expectancy
- Increased resistance to the common cold
- Lower rates of depression
- Lower risk of heart disease and related death
- Better overall psychological health
- Lower stress levels
- Better stress management and coping skills
- Increased physical well-being
These facts alone should enthuse you about the real life benefits of thinking positively. One positive thought can indeed cultivate the dream that is in your heart! http://bit.ly/1FcdCOj
What does offering help to someone else provide? Does it provide a sense of personal fulfillment? Or perhaps a reminder that your situation may not be all that bad?
I often tell people that when you help someone else, you sense the presence of God helping people, and this in turn is a reminder that God will help you. I recently received a letter from someone who took this to heart. She said:
“Thank you for your message about helping somebody else when you’re going through personal problems. My younger brother is dying of brain cancer. For much of his life he has been homeless and battling alcoholism. My other sister was too drunk to properly care for him or even to talk to the hospital about his needs. But, today I went on visitations for my sidewalk Sunday school and I was able to pray with a mom that has been fighting depression. Seeing the kids excited about Sunday school tomorrow brought me true joy. It’s so true when you’re going through something, reach out to somebody else and that’s where you find God’s strength.”
God has granted us access to a relationship far greater than a master and a slave. He set all things before us so that we might enjoy the very best that life has to give!
We are not mere servants of God, but through God’s Son Jesus Christ we become children of God. Jesus called God Father! Have you ever called God ‘Father’? Perhaps you have called Him Creator, or you identify Him with the cosmic universe. But I want you to know today you can call Him Father.
Trust begins with a simple decision to get to know God through His words. How can you know all the functions of your TV or your cell phone if you don’t spend some time in the search menus or with the instruction booklet?
God only requires one thing for trust. He tells us, get to know Me and My words, and I will get to know you.
The Creator of the universe so desired to be connected with you and me that He created a beautiful garden and placed people just like you and me in the very center.
David the King said, “I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you set in place – what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us! You put us in charge of everything you made and gave us authority over all things.”
Did you know that God trusts you? And that you were created for a purpose and fashioned for dignity? Perhaps you feel like you cannot be trusted, or you cannot trust because you’ve been hurt too deeply. Today I want you to know that you can trust God – He will trust you!
Scripture: Psalm 8:3
As you embark upon your dream remember these four words: WORK, WORSHIP, REST & PLAY.
Work routines provide healthy self-esteem and a confidence that your dream is well underway. Worship is our expression to God for all that He has done in creating and preparing us for the life ahead. Worship helps us acknowledge that a source greater than ourselves is gently guiding and strengthening us each day.
Rest is the time required to recharge our physical and mental capabilities. We are complex beings that have a spirit, live in a body and function through our mind, will and emotions. Rest recharges our spiritual, physical and emotional energy.
My last encouragement is to remind you to PLAY! Allowing ourselves to play opens up a child-like spirit of creativity allowing us to dream as only a child can do. Go for a swing! Play! Ride the local carousel! Treat yourself to an ice cream! Tap into the supernatural reservoir of joy and energy that is resonant within!
God has put a road in front of you. Not just a little overgrown path but a great highway! Even if you are uneducated, unemployed, unsophisticated or any other negative thing, you still can live error free on this road provided by God.
If Jesus is your Lord, you will even find protection there from the lions of life. Those that roar as well as those that bite! It is not a hard road for you to find. Jesus said “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Scripture: Matt. 11:30
