Monthly Archives: July 2011

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Default

How Many Times Have You Heard The Word, “Default” Lately?

What does the word, “default” mean?  One of the definitions is to fail in fulfilling or satisfying an engagement, claim, or obligation.  We here in the United States have been hearing a lot lately about the possibility of our government defaulting.

It is no exaggeration that our country is facing some very serious decisions.  The problems we face are a result of many, many years of wrong decisions and failure to correct past mistakes.  Regardless of what decisions our lawmakers make now there are going to be consequences; their decisions will simply map out how severe and how long lasting.

I wrote an article back in April that I posted on this blog when fear of a government shutdown was looming.  Now, a little more than three months laterm it is once again crunch time for the politicians.

One Of The Biggest Problems?

There is no question that difficult times are inevitable.  But looking to our government to solve our problems is perhaps one of the biggest problems itself.

In that article from April, I wrote, “But our trust, our confidence, our absolute reliance must always be in our God.  Regardless of what politicians do, regardless of what the consequences of their decisions bring, none of it ever shuts down God.  There will never, ever be a shutdown of God’s love and power to help you.”

The Same Is True Today

God will not default on His promises to you.  Therefore our trust, our confidence, our reliance must be on our God and not on our government.  Yes, our country needs prayer; the Bible directs us to pray for our leaders.  But those who continue to put their trust in the government to solve all their problems are going to be disappointed.

In these treacherous days of uncertainty we should definitely be praying for our country and our leaders.  We should also being praying much for our own personal situations, looking to God for His help and guidance.

I still believe that our God is a personal God.  I believe that He can help each one of us personally and individually.  I believe that our loving God can reveal specific things to us that are just for us.  Do you?

Our God will never fail in fulfilling or satisfying His claims or obligations.  Our God will not default!

Michael Verdicchio
2011

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You Might Also Enjoy:
A Shutdown?
God Is Not In Charge
Why Does God Let Things Happen?
How Big Is your God?

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Are You Putting Limits On God?

It’s Another Podcast!

I am working on the next article for The Pep Letter.  Would you like a little preview?

This short (3:58) podcast is about how many people are limiting God. As a result, they do not receive what they could be receiving from Him

Enjoy the podcast!

[If you cannot see the player below, just click the title above]

Don’t Be Shy – Leave A Comment!
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You Might Also Enjoy:
How Do You Address Him
Send God A Text
3 Prayer Keys

Share This Podcast!
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What Are You Doing?

Action.  Persistence. Commitment.

Those are things that are in my control.

We all decide whether to take action, persist, and commit to something. There are those who pray and then wait on God.  But I think many times God is waiting on us to take action, persist and stay committed.

The last 10 days or so I have been really busy.  I probably put more on my plate than I should have.  But, I am really into taking action, persisting, and staying committed.

Yes, of course I pray throughout the day and continue to look for and expect answers.  But I am also doing my part.

In understanding the concept of “doing my part,” read the follwing excerpt.  It is from “The Victorious Attitude,” Chapter 4, “Making Dreams Come True,” by Orison Swett Marden.

“The thoughtless, the ignorant, and the indolent, seeing only the apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, talk of luck, or fortune and chance.  Seeing a man grow rich, they saw ‘How lucky he is!’  Observing another become intellectual they exclaim ‘How highly favored he is!’  And noting the saintly character and wide influence of another they remark, ‘How chance aids him at every turn!’

They do not see the trials and failures and struggles which these men have voluntarily encountered in order to gain their experience; have no knowledge of the sacrifice they have made, or the undaunted efforts they have put forth, of the faith they have exercised, that they might overcome the apparently insurmountable, and realize the vision of their heart.”

The reason why so many people fail to realize their ideals is that they are not willing to do their part to make it real.

Remember that the longing, the desire to do a certain thing, is merely sowing the seed of your ambition.  If you stop at this you will get about as much harvest as the farmer would get if he put his seed in the ground without preparing the soil, without fertilizing it and keeping the weeds down.

You must back up that which your heart longs to realize with an honest purpose to do your best, a dead-in-earnest effort to make your vision real.  The mere holding of the desire to do so, no matter how persistently or strongly you hold it, will not help you to realize your dreams.

You must not only sow the seed of desire and longing, but you must do all the nourishing, cultivating, caring for, or you will only reap a thistle harvest.  We see men and women everywhere reaping a very thistly, a very weedy harvest from the sowing of mere longings.  These people can scarcely get enough out of their harvest to keep them alive, simply because they took no care of their seed after the planting.

The constant nursing, cultivating the desire, the ambition, keeping our heart’s longings and soul yearnings alive, wholesome and healthy by active endeavor, is the only way in which we can match our dreams with their realities.

Mr. Marden wrote some very inspiring books, and the underlying truth of God giving all of us free will runs throughout them.  As we pray and put our trust in God, think the right thoughts, and, take the right action, we can’t help but be successful in any and every endeavor, regardless of our current situations.

Michael A. Verdicchio
2011

Don’t Be Shy – Leave A Comment!
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You Might Also Enjoy:
Are you Waiting On God?
Who Is Stopping You?
Moving Forward
God Is Not In Charge

Share This Podcast!
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Today!

It’s Another Podcast!

If you’re familiar with this blog then you know that the articles and videos and podcasts are intended to be uplifting; inspiring confidence in God and bringing joy to the soul.

Even though this podcast (10:09) starts a little depressing, hang in there until the end and I think you will be inspired!

Enjoy the podcast!

[If you cannot see the player below, just click the title above]

Don’t Be Shy – Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think.  Just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment. (If you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and then scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.)

You Might Also Enjoy:
What’s The Solution?
Are You Waiting On God?
He Is Willing, Are You?
God Is Not In Charge

Share This Podcast!
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What’s The Solution?

I heard a really cool statement a few months ago.  I can’t remember the exact quote, but it went something like this:  excuses, even valid ones, are never impressive.  Wouldn’t you agree?

The phrase, “It’s not really my fault,” is so common place today.  Very few take responsibility for their own lives.  Instead, most blame everyone and everything for their personal current circumstances.

Of course there are things that happen to all of us that are outside of our control, right?  But, when then those things do fall into our lap, what is our response?  It’s easy in those situations to say, “It’s not my fault,” but that’s really not the issue.

Here’s The Important Question

Whether it is something outside of your control, or, something that is a result of your choices, there is a much more important question than, “Who’s to blame here?”  The real question is, “What is the solution?”

Far too many people are spending their lives blaming. They blame other people, the current circumstances, the government; anything and everything. Many people simply do not believe that they are really responsible for their own life, and as a result they are not solution oriented.

I heard another phrase recently:  “meandering in the meadow of mediocrity and navigating by the needle of negativity.” That phrase paints a pretty pathetic and bleak picture doesn’t it?  Blaming is mediocrity and negative, and, it never brings a solution.

Stop And Think For A Minute!

If you are breathing, then you are alive!  God has given you life!  And you know whose life it is?  It is your life!

Every thought we think is a choice. God gave human beings the ability to think whatever thoughts we choose to think.  Those who blame others and are living in self pity have chosen to continue to think those kinds of thoughts.  And whatever thoughts you choose to think consistently will eventually have an impact on your life.

So, since the thoughts we think are of our own choosing, and they will impact our lives and our circumstances, then why not choose to think thoughts that are solution oriented?  That’s why I said that the real question is, “What is the solution?”

Take Charge Of You Life!

Who is in charge of your life?  You are!  Well at least you should be.

So what if you made a mistake, or two or ten?  So what if your life is a mess?  So what if situations outside of your control have taken their toll on you?  What is the solution?

By changing your thinking and asking God for His help, there is no situation or circumstance in your life that cannot be turned around.  If your situation or circumstance is too big for God, then you need a new God.  Not me!

I am convinced by the words I read in the Bible that there is no situation that is too big for our God.  He is unlimited in power and resources. He is able and willing and He has already proved Himself over and over again.

How Long Will You Wait?

A big problem is that too often people are waiting for God to do something.  They sit in self pity blaming everyone and everything.  But have you ever considered that God is waiting on you to change your thinking, and, to ask and expect His help?

Many ask for His help but continue to think defeating thoughts instead of being solution oriented.  How can someone honestly be looking for and expecting an answer to prayer when they are complaining and blaming?  Are you asking and looking, or, are you complaining and blaming?  It is still your choice.

As my children were growing up, I told them numerous times, “life is not fair.”  And, as we all know, life is indeed, not fair. But, knowing that life is not fair, knowing that we can choose our own thoughts, and, knowing that God is able and willing to help us, doesn’t it seem logical that we ought to be solution minded?  Doesn’t that just make logical sense?

You Have A Choice Every Day

There are those who will choose self pity.  That attitude breeds a victim mentality.  Those who live with a victim mentality scarcely ever see any worthwhile change in their lives.  Nothing ever changes, except maybe the level of their complaining.

On the other hand, you can decide each day to take charge of your own life.  Refuse to dwell on the problems and their effects.  Instead, think about and look for the solutions.  Ask God to help you and show you, and then, move forward, take action, and keep your eyes and ears open, looking and expecting.

Michael Verdicchio
2011

Don’t Be Shy – Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think. Just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment. (If you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and then scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.)

You Might Also Enjoy:
Are You Waiting On God?
God Is Not In Charge
Why Does God Let Things Happen?
How Big Is your God?

Share This!
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There’s More!
For past articles, click on the, “Posts” tab above.  For past videos and podcasts, mouse over the “Posts” tab above.  Look for more videos as well as more podcasts coming soon to Confidence And Joy!

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Independence Day 2011

Today, here in the United States of America, we celebrate our 235th year.

For this occasion in 2009, I posted a very moving video called, “God Bless The USA” And under the video, some great quotes from Jefferson and Adams.

Last year, I posted a video that captured something no one was expecting.  I also put up some really great history about Adams and Jefferson, who both died on July 4th, 1826, the 50th anniversary of United of America.

This year I have a video from a girl from the same city I live in, Glendale, Arizona.  She was the winner in season 6 of American Idol.  She did a fabulous job of singing the national anthem at Super Bowl XLII.

Happy Independence Day and may our God continue to shed His grace on this country.

Michael Verdicchio
2011

Don’t Be Shy – Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think. Just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment. (If you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and then scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.)

You Might Also Enjoy:
God Bless The USA
Independence Day – 2010

Share This!
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There’s More!
For past articles, click on the, “Posts” tab above.  For past videos and podcasts, mouse over the “Posts” tab above.  Look for more videos as well as more podcasts coming soon to Confidence And Joy!