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He Promised

There are any number of “big” unpleasant events that “could” happen.  After watching a show recently on TV, I was inspired to write this article.  It’s all about an event that I “know” is going to happen.

He Promised

I saw part of a TV show on the Discovery channel recently, called “Curiosity.”  It was narrated by Samuel L. Jackson.  It was about possible cataclysmic events that would end the world as we know it.  The Mayan calendar was mentioned several times; that has received a lot of attention in the last couple of years because it stops in December of 2012.

One of the top five scenarios was a meteor destroying the earth.  There is of course evidence of large meteors hitting earth. One such occurred close to where I live called, Meteor Crater. It is between Flagstaff & Winslow, Arizona.  Scientists estimate that a meteor crashed there 50,000 years ago.


We have all seen or heard about disasters that have happened in our lifetime.  Earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, are nothing new.  Perhaps the worst event in recent years was the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and resulting tsunami.  That event killed over 230,000 people in fourteen countries.


This TV show gave the odds for the possible disasters happening in our lifetime.  Even though there is the possibility, I do not choose to prescribe to doomsday.  While I do plan for emergencies (power outages, food shortages, etc) I am not expecting nor planning for any major, earth changing events except one.

The Long Wait

For hundreds of years mankind waited for the promise of a savior who would redeem all of mankind from the consequences of Adam’s sin.  God even promised that the redeemer would be of the bloodline of King David.  Over two thousand years ago His promise came to pass; Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Jesus Christ completed the work that His Father gave him to do.  “He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him,” the scriptures say.

Some forty days after his death and resurrection, in a most remarkable event, the apostles watched Jesus literally ascend off the earth into the clouds and out of sight.  However, right after that, two angels delivered a message to those still gazing up into the sky.

The angels told the men that that, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.”  Angels as you know are messengers from God.  Thus, it was a promise from God that His Son will return.

Of course other verses in the New Testament foretell of Christ’s return.  And, although we don’t know when he is coming back, we know that he is absolutely coming back, because God promised.  In fact, the scriptures declare that those who are born again will meet him in the clouds!

Who’s Talking About This Event?

Now that’s an event coming to this earth worth talking about!  Will this event happen right before an Ark storm that they think, maybe perhaps there is a one in ten chance in the next hundred years?  I don’t know.  I do know is that there is no percentage needed; Christ is coming back!

No offense to the Discovery channel, or any other channel for that matter.  But, any time I have ever seen shows about earth shattering cataclysmic events, no one has ever mentioned the Return of Christ.  And yet, it is absolutely going to happen, because God promised.  He promised to send the savior and He did just that. He promised to send Christ back, and He will do that as well.

We are not hopeless people waiting for the earth to explode.  We are people who have the greatest hope there is: the hope of Christ returning for us and eternal life.  Without that hope we would all be, as the scriptures say, most miserable.

We are not helpless people either.  God has given us His spirit, and He has given us His exceeding great and precious promises recorded in the Bible.  We can operate His power, believe His words and then choose to live and enjoy this life now, even while we wait for the “main event!”

Cataclysmic earth ending events are scary to say the least.  But God’s future plans for us are quite the opposite: joyful, hope-inspiring and fruitful beyond measure. How do we know? He promised.

Mike Verdicchio
2011

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Get Up and Get Dressed!

Real problems and real issues need real solutions.  But, you cannot arrive at those real solutions by focusing on the problems.

Get Up and Get Dressed!

When we get up in the morning, it’s pretty rare to spend the whole day wearing what we went to sleep in.  We clean ourselves up, and then we get dressed.  We put our clothes on.

Some occupations require a suit and tie.  Others require a special uniform. People put on a variety of types of clothing before they head out for the day.

Regardless of what clothing you put on your body for the new day, what thoughts do you put on in your mind for the new day?  Putting on your clothing can serve as an excellent reminder to put some healthy and productive thoughts into your head.

Time To Get Up

Many studies show that the thoughts you think about during the first half hour you are awake influence your life for the entire day.  Few people realize this. Yet, it is true.

How many people as they wake up think, “Oh no, I have to get up and go to work!”  That thought is a habit that they have developed.  And so, they are setting their course and the tone for the day with negatives about their job.  They also usually display that kind of attitude all day at work.

But, on the other hand, what happens when you wake up on the morning of the start of a long planned vacation?  Would you ever think, “Oh no, I have to go on this vacation!”  Well of course not!

What Are You Thinking About?

A really big key to being successful in life is what you think when you first wake up.  Since you have free will to think whatever thoughts you want to think, the first thoughts in the morning are like a set of directions you give to your own mind.  You give your mind the course to follow.

You can choose to think thoughts that inspire success or failure; victory or defeat; confidence or fear; happiness or sadness.  But, many people allow their thoughts to be determined by their circumstances and situations.  In other words, if things in their life are going lousy, then they think lousy thoughts.  They fail to recognize that they still have a choice as to what kind of thoughts they can think.

Some might argue that it is foolishness, or even mind games, to think positive, happy thoughts when their life is not going well.  What they do not understand is that their mind will follow the directions that they give it, regardless of the present circumstances in their life.

Guard your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

The Bible certainly gives valuable instruction about thinking the right thoughts.  But, I am not aware of any scriptures that talk about thinking positive, encouraging or uplifting thoughts only when things are going well.  Quite the opposite exists; the instructions indicate to not think and dwell on negatives and defeat.

Does this mean we are to simply ignore all our problems and pretend that they don’t exist, and to live in a fantasy world in our minds?  Of course it does not.  Real problems and real issues need real solutions.  However, we will not arrive at those real solutions by focusing on the problems.  At best, we will just temporarily cover them up.

Regardless of where you have been in life’s journey, or where you are in that journey today, it is both possible and available for you to really enjoy happiness and success in every category of your life.  The only limits you have are the limitations that you accept.  You either accept them, or erase them by the thoughts you decide to think.

Start forming new habits of thinking as you get dressed every morning.  As you put clothes on your body, remind yourself, at that moment, to put on good, healthy and productive thoughts.  Tell yourself who you are and what you can do. “I am a child of God!”  “I am more than a conqueror!”  “I can do all things!”  “God will help me!”  “I am going to have a great day today!”

You really are in control of your own life.  You have free will to think whatever thoughts you want to think.  Just remember that the thoughts you consistently think will form your belief system, your core beliefs.  And, our own core beliefs determine our own circumstances.

Mike Verdicchio
2011

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What Do You See?

We all have a mental picture of ourselves that we have have painted… Following this article is a poem that might be familiar to you.

What Do You See?

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “What you see is what you get.”  Perhaps you use it once in awhile. It has been used for a long time, in a variety of ways including song lyrics.

So, what about when you look into the mirror?  What do you see?  Just who is that person?  Have you ever just stopped for a few minutes and stared into the mirror? I’m not talking about fixing your hair or adjusting your clothing.  I’m talking about staring right into the mirror.

Who do you see?  What do you think of that person starring right back at you?  Do you like what you see?  Is the person you see headed for success or failure in life?

Is that person just getting by day after day?  What has that person accomplished that impresses you?  Do you admire that person?

Who Do You Admire?

Now I am sure that there are a number of people that you admire, but have you ever considered just why you admire them?  What specific quality do you find appealing enough to admire them?  There must be reasons why you hold them in such high esteem. So, just what is it about them?

Do you know all the faults, weaknesses and shortcomings of the people that you admire?  Is that what you admire about them?  Absolutely not.

Okay, so now back to the mirror.  Do you admire the person you see in the mirror?  If not, why not?  Is it because they have not achieved a level that would warrant your admiration?  Or, is it that you know their failings and shortcomings all too well?  Is that what you see when you look into the mirror, only failures and shortcomings?

If that’s true, then stay at the mirror for just a bit longer.  Do you have any compliments for the person in the mirror? You must have a least one, don’t you?  After all, you’ve known that person for a really long time. Surely, there must something you can bring to mind about them that is positive and complimentary.

How about another compliment?  And another?  The person in the mirror needs and deserves your praise.  So, why not give them a compliment?  Say it!

Talk To Myself?

Yes, say it:  “I’m proud of you for doing that.”  I’m really impressed at the way you handled that situation.”  “You know, you really are good at that.”    Why do we think that it is just fine and normal to beat ourselves up for our failures and shortcomings, but somehow think that it is egotistical to recognize and acknowledge our successes?  I think we’ve got it all backwards!

Often, when people look into the mirror they only see failures, shortcomings, and weaknesses.  That’s what they see because that’s the picture of themselves that they carry around day after day.

The picture that we carry of ourselves is the one that we have painted with our own self-talk.  The things that we think and say about ourselves are the paint that we have chosen to put on the canvas.  And, what you see is what you get.

The picture that you carry of yourself will manifest and be evident in your life.  “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he!”  Our consistent thoughts about ourselves and the emotions they evoke will eventually move into our belief system. Our lives today are a product of our own belief system.

And Now, The Good News!

The good news is that if we want to, we can change our belief system, and thus change our lives.

A great starting point, or, a simple method to help in that process, is to compliment the person looking back at you whenever you look into the mirror.  Remind them of past successes, not past failures.  Remind them of good things, not bad.

Remind them of what God has done for them because of what Christ accomplished.  Remind them of who they really are – God’s righteous child.  Remind them that with God’s help there is no stopping them, for He has promised to give us the desires of our hearts.

This simple method, along with guarding the things that you think and say about yourself, will help you greatly in changing your belief system so that you can truly be the person you desire to be.

What you see is what you get!

Michael Verdicchio
2011

Over the years, the following poem has been misquoted and even wrongly titled as, “The Man in the Glass.”  Here is the original, written in 1934, by Dale Wimbrow.  And, no, there is no typo in the last word of the first line; it is indeed the word, “pelf.”

The Guy in the Glass
by Dale Wimbrow, (c) 1934

When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He’s the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear up to the end,
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.

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What Kind Of Day?
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Delete

The “delete” key on the computer comes in pretty handy, doesn’t it?  There are also some thoughts that we need to delete as well.

Delete, Delete, Delete!

How many times do you have to hit the “delete” key on your computer when you check your email? Sometimes there are a number of those annoying advertisements all in a row, so it’s, delete, delete, delete. And what about those annoying little “pop-ups” when you go to some web sites? Delete, delete, delete!

The reason we delete the things on our computers is because we don’t want them! They are of no value to us. They are just a waste of time. And, we are also aware that some of them could contain those nasty little viruses, just waiting for us to open them up. Those are a big threat to our computer system.

Pop-ups In Your Mind

There are many times in life that we really need to delete thoughts that “pop up” in our brain. Thoughts that are of no value to us are a waste of time. Other thoughts, if we harbor them, dwell on them, and allow them to incubate, will also negatively affect our lives.

God gave all of us free will. You can choose to think about anything you want to. But, just thinking about anything you want to think about is not the best course of action.

For example, if you think about an unpleasant situation that happened several years ago, dwell on that, and think about all the negative things associated with it, it will trigger some unpleasant memories. Those unpleasant thoughts will then trigger emotions. You will feel unhappy, and your attitude and actions will follow suit. The next thing you know, someone will be saying, “Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

Feelings follow thoughts, and actions follow feelings. Our feelings are a product of our thoughts, and our actions are a product of our feelings.

A Bad Mood

Have you ever been in a bad mood? Or, has someone ever said to you, “I’m just in a bad mood”? Well to hear some people talk, these “bad moods” are just flying around all over the place and every once in awhile, boom, one hits you, and suddenly you’re in a bad mood. Maybe some people are just prone to getting hit by these, because they always seem to be in a bad mood!

A bad mood is a feeling. A good mood is a feeling. And feelings are a result of our thoughts.

Have you ever watched a depressing movie? When it was over, how did you feel? Did you feel light hearted and happy? More than likely you felt gloomy. That’s because you spent some time allowing depressing thoughts into your head.

On the other hand, after watching a comedy that you found to be funny and entertaining, how did you feel? I’m not trying to be critical of depressing movies, nor am I advocating comedy movies. I’m simply making a point of how our brain works.

What Are You Thinking About?

The Bible says that we should guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it (our own heart) are the issues of life (our own life). Do you know that hundreds of books, seminars and courses, are basically based on that one principle from the Book of Proverbs? Just how important are the thoughts we think?

Certainly not every thought you think gets lodged into your heart, just like not every email you receive gets saved. But the thoughts we harbor, dwell on and stay fixed on will eventually get into our hearts.

Someone who consistently day after day see himself as a failure and unsuccessful will be just that: an unsuccessful failure. He is a product of the thoughts that he allowed to get into his heart.  So many people today are negative, and the results they are getting in their lives are negative.

On the other hand, perhaps you’ve noticed that a positive person sticks out like a sore thumb. In fact, when some people encounter a really positive person, they think the positive person might have a screw loose somewhere (not a playing with a full deck, bread not quite baked, out of touch with reality, etc).

But why are some people positive? Are they just born that way? No! We are all a product of our own thoughts. What we have allowed to get into our hearts is what we manifest.

The good news is that you can change what’s in your heart if you really want to. You still have free will. Choose the thoughts you want to keep, and the rest, just delete, delete, delete!

Michael Verdicchio
2011

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What Kind Of Day?
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Are You Clear?

You’ve probably heard it said, “Be clear and focused.” I’ve heard it many times; how about you?  But what you are clear and focused on will be the determining factor in what happens in your life.

Are You Clear?

There is something that I have observed for a long time. Think about it and decide if it’s something that you too have observed.

When it comes to problems, shortcomings, failures and all the negative things in life, there are a lot of people who seem to be able to relate and talk about those things in exquisite detail! Even if it’s something that happened in the past, people seem to remember it and repeat it as if it happened only a few minutes ago.

But, if you were to ask these same people where they are headed in life and what the future holds for them, you would usually, at best, get a vague, short answer like, “Oh, just hoping for the best; maybe retire when I’m 65.”

Take a step back for a moment and think about it. What’s wrong with this picture? Why are people eloquent and excited with many very clear details about negative situations, instead of being eloquent and excited with many very clear details about the things that really matter? When it comes to the future of their own lives, why don’t they have a clear vision?

If you have ever wondered why people are so negative, this is the answer. They have trained their minds to focus on negative situations and have chosen to not focus on their future and their unlimited potential for success.

Ever Had A Flat?

Here’s an example: a flat tire. That is certainly not a positive situation. However, one person may not even mention the event, or if he does, it’s just a passing remark, like, “Yeah, had a flat.”

But for someone else, you better look out! You’re going to get a 20 minute story of what happened before the tire went flat, blaming everyone who is at fault over the flat tire, explaining how the tire company doesn’t make tires like they should, and the roads are in such poor shape, and idiots just throw things in the road, and on and on it goes.

Then, after all of that comes the part about the actual changing of the tire and all the negative things that surrounded it. They might say the jack is hard to get to, complain about those lousy lug nuts, tell you about sweating so much out in the heat, and complain that it took so long, and so on. You get the point.

Now, compare all of those negative statements to someone who just says, “Oh yeah, had a flat.”

What You Look At Is What You Become

Constantly focusing on negatives will train your mind to look for and evaluate circumstances and situations from a negative point of view. The glass will always look half empty. But, even more importantly, if you continue to focus on negatives, you will attract more negatives into your life.

So, what kind of future can you expect? The results that you receive will depend on whatever you are consistently focusing on, either negative or positive. Your future is your choice.

Instead of getting wrapped up in all the negatives around you, get a clear picture of where you want your life to go. Call it your goals, dreams or whatever you like. Just be sure to have a picture so clear in your mind that you could describe it to others with great passion and in great detail.

Remind yourself daily of exactly what you desire. Repeat that specific desire to yourself every day, with passion and emotion! Keep the picture crystal clear.

There will always be “flat tires.” Deal with them, forget them, and move on. Why waste your brain power thinking about negative situations that are already over and done with? Instead, focus on the positive things around you.

Do whatever you need to do to keep your vision alive by keeping the focus of your desires crystal clear.

Michael Verdicchio
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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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

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Are you Waiting On God?
Who Is Stopping You?
Moving Forward
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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

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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

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Why?

At a business conference last weekend in San Jose, we had the pleasure of having Darren Hardy speak to us.  Darren is the publisher and editorial director of Success magazine.  There were many “gems” in his presentation, and I thought I would briefly share one with you.

He told how beneficial it would be for us personally if we found three habits that are hindering us, and then uprooted them.  Now this doesn’t just apply to being a business owner.  It is applicable to all of life.

Bad habits are easy to develop and hard to lose.  Good habits are hard to develop and easy to lose.  I think it all comes down to the choices we make and the effort we are willing to put forth.

Darin pointed out that will power is not the way to uproot a bad habit. Focusing on “not doing something” is simply re-focusing on the activity and that does not bring about any change. The real motivation comes in your desire to change; it is all about your “why?”

Why?

If your “why?” is big and important enough to you, then you will be motivated.  For example, someone might want to lose some weight, but why?  If their burning desire is so that that they can be healthier, live longer, have more energy, feel better about themselves, and, that is their reason, then they will have the motivation to do what they need to do to accomplish it.

In uprooting bad habits that hinder loosing weight, remembering the “why?” will be the motivation at those times when it’s not so easy, and a few cookies sound mighty good!

Now, Mr. Hardy did not discuss weight loss, but I thought it is a simple example we could all relate to.  It really doesn’t matter what dreams and goals you have. But, having a very, very strong “why?” is very important.

Take a few minutes to revisit your dreams and goals, and ask yourself why it is important to you.  Whether it is a deeper relationship with God, loosing weight, a stronger marriage, greater income, or any number of goals, make sure your “why?” is powerful.  Make sure your “why?” is a clear picture, filled with emotion – your “why?” should make you cry.

I think it is very noteworthy that the scriptures say to acknowledge God in all your ways and He will give you the desires of your heart.  The desire of your heart is really the combination of the goals and dreams that you have, and a very strong “why?”  And our loving God is very concerned with the desires of your heart.

Michael Verdicchio
2011

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