I think, therefore I am.

What one thinks, one becomes.

Be careful what thoughts you entertain, for it may just become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

We often don't realize how much our everyday thoughts effect who we are- or become.

Even those small fleeting thoughts- the ones we end up entertaining more with time- can become our reality if we're not careful.

What thoughts do you entertain?

Do they look like this?

No one cares.

I'm ugly.

I'll never succeed at anything worthwhile.

I mess up everything I touch.

This is not the life I wanted.

I'm a loser. The world is out to get me.

There is no way I'm going to survive this.

I'm too old...or too young...or too busy to make a difference.

Or do they look like this?

I am loved by God.

I can do this.

I'm not perfect, but I was made for a purpose.

I am special because of who God made me to be.

I might mess things up, but there is still hope for me.

I can be an overcomer. I will survive.

I can make a difference.

I can embrace joy. I can choose to believe the Truth.

We can choose faith and truth, or we an choose a lie. Whichever one we choose to dwell on will become the center of our thinking, which results in actions towards ourselves and others.

That's why the Bible talks about guarding our hearts, for they are the wellspring of life.

What thoughts are you dwelling on?

Do they bring life to your soul?

Beauty of Love Divine

Check out this Sonnet by Michelangelo: The course of my life has brought me now Through a stormy sea, in a frail ship, To the common port where, landing We account for every deed, wretched or holy. So that finally I see How wrong the fond illusion was That made art my idol and my King, Leading me to want what harmed me. My amorous fancies, once foolish and happy What sense have they now that I approach two deaths The first of which I know is sure, the second threatening. Let neither painting nor carving any longer calm My soul turned to that divine Love Who to embrace us, opened His arms upon the cross. - On the Brink of Death , To Giorgio Vasari, Sonnet LXV WOW. This reminds me to think of life in reverse. It may seem weird, but looking at the end - or starting with the end in mind - can give us perspective. When we think (like Michelangelo did here) from the perspective of death, suddenly many things we chase after seem insignificant and deceptive. Things...

The Importance of Worship Together

Why is weekly worship with a local body of believers important? If we profess to be Christ-followers, we practice the teachings of God’s Word and follow the example brought to us by Jesus himself. This includes worshipping in unity, as one body, on a regular basis. But why corporate worship? Can’t we worship God the way we feel most comfortable by ourselves? And what’s with all the singing? The answer? As others have done, I could fill an entire book and reference all the scriptures (there are many) to prove that God commands us to worship, we were created to worship Him and in the end, all will worship Him (willing or not). For the sake of brevity, I’ll address a portion of the question here – a question I’ve been asked many times throughout my ministry. We endeavor to pare everything down to a few strategic elements in our worship services, encouraging believers to participate fully in this worship process – worship through song, prayer, giving and hearing of the Word of G...

Character Over Comfort & Control

Control. We all want it. We don't always get it. Sometimes we get it, then decide we don't want it. Sigh. In my life I've come to recognize control as an old familiar acquaintance, continually proving that my sense of having it is simply an illusion. Just when I think I have it, it's often yanked from my groping hands and there's not much I can do about it. When we feel like we are in control, we often feel pretty comfortable with it. You may tell yourself you've earned it. You may snatch it away from someone else and justify it. You may hoard it, thinking no one can hurt you. You may sacrifice pieces of your character to have it. You may hide behind it. When we feel out of control, we often feel frantic. Why are we afraid to let go of it? we feel weak we feel uncomfortable we feel ineffective we feel frustrated we feel exposed we feel like we are floundering, grasping we wonder what will happen and how we...

Michelle Renee Speaks

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