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Bookmarks

Happy Spring!

Well it looks like I missed posting a St. Patty’s Day greeting this year.  That day has come and gone and now today is the first day of Spring.

That doesn’t mean much to us here in Glendale, Arizona.  We already had a couple of 90 degree days last week.  We just hope those triple digits don’t come too early this year.

By the way, I met Maurice and Karen from San Diego recently.  They have a web site called, A Joyful Creation with some inspirational products for sale.  They offer things like scripture cards, greeting cards, and bookmarks.

They were kind enough to give me some bookmarks and I like them. Actually, they gave me 12 bookmarks.  Each has a theme and then scriptures that follow the theme of that bookmark.

If you are interested in seeing what they have, here is the link to their web site.

Have a blessed week – I hope to be doing more podcasts sometime soon.

Mike Verdicchio

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How Tall Are You?

I mentioned on Sunday that this week I am going to post a couple of articles that I published 3 or 4 years ago.  I hope you enjoy them, and thanks again for visiting my blog.

How Tall Are You?

It is my understanding that as of this writing the tallest players in the NBA, Shawn Bradley and Yao Ming, are both seven feet six inches tall.  That is really, really tall!  It is almost as tall as an eight-foot ceiling.  You’ve no doubt heard many times that to play in the NBA, you have to be tall, right?

What about the shortest player?  That would be Earl Boykins of the Milwaukee Bucks who stands five feet five inches.  He is the second shortest player in NBA history.

So, I can honestly and truthfully say that I am indeed taller than an NBA player.  Seven inches taller in fact!  But would I dare to play a little one on one with Earl Boykins?  Not hardly.

What’s It Like?

But have you ever thought about what it is like for Earl when he plays against Shawn and Yao?  They are a little over two feet taller than he is!  Now that’s not to say it would be any easier when Earl plays against the average NBA height of 6’7″!  But what would it be like playing a very competitive game against someone two feet taller than you are?

It could be reasonably assumed that if you were 5 feet 5 inches tall many people would tell you that you could never play in the NBA.  If by some wild circumstance you did make it into the NBA, being so short and playing against players so much bigger than yourself, it would be most difficult to perform, right?

Earl doesn’t let that stop him. He is the shortest player in NBA history to score thirty points in a game! He has done it on a number of occasions!  If you know anything about the NBA then you know that if any player scores thirty points in a game it has been a terrific night.  But for someone who is 5’5″ to score thirty points in a game on a number of occasions is remarkable!

He Didn’t Listen To Them

I’m sure there were plenty of people who told him, “Earl, basketball is for big people, and the NBA, well, that’s for professional giants, certainly not you.”

And, of course being five feet five inches tall Earl has heard all the derogatory “short people” remarks his whole life.

But there he stands, five feet five inches tall, playing successfully in the NBA. It’s not how much talent and natural ability you have, but rather what you do with what you have.  It’s what you choose to do with your life.

Are You Waiting For Their Approval?

You will never, ever get everyone’s “okay” and approval for the things you desire to do in your life.  In fact, those who have not succeeded are the first ones to tell you that you can’t succeed either.

Have you noticed that the world lacks people who constantly encourage others?  The sad reality is that people are quick to point out all your shortcomings and slow to give you any praise for your accomplishments.

But regardless of what any one else says, it is still up to you to decide to do with your life.  Do you think Earl had to work hard?  I would say that perhaps he had to work even harder than the taller players did.

And yet, so many times in life, those with lots of talent don’t need to push as hard.  It makes you wonder sometimes where they would be if they did.  But, many people with less natural ability and talent push and work harder, and as a result, develop their full potential.

Don’t let anyone talk you out of your dreams, goals and desires.  Don’t talk yourself out of them either.  Live life with excitement and push toward your full potential.

By the way, Earl Boykins is not the shortest person to ever play in the NBA.  That honor goes to Muggsy Bogues, who is five feet three inches tall. And Muggsy is also the shortest player in the NBA to dunk the basketball!

So, how tall are you?

Michael Verdicchio
2007

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Stop Saying That!

Have you ever had “one of those days?”  It seems like I have had “one of those days” for three weeks now.  Busy, busy, busy, and a little under the weather too.

So, if you don’t mind, this week I am going to post a couple of articles that I published 3 or 4 years ago.  I hope you enjoy them, and thanks again for visiting my blog.

Stop Saying That!

Standing by the desk in my office one day, I suddenly blurted out, “I am really getting frustrated over this!”  And I was, too!

About five or six seconds after saying that, I caught myself, and said, “I need to stop saying that!  Why in the world do I want to admit, agree, confess and focus on all the frustration that I am having here?”  I knew that by putting my focus and attention on that, I would simply attract more frustration.

After a short prayer, I decided to stop thinking about the dissatisfaction I was experiencing, and instead start telling myself that a breakthrough was coming soon. I simply made a decision to change what I was thinking.  Once I changed my thoughts, my attitude changed, and I was in a much better mood.

Emotions

Emotions follow our thinking.  That’s the way we were designed and built.  Try it out.  Close your eyes and think for a few minutes on your most favorite food.  See it in your mind, taste it, go ahead have another bite!  Wow, that is good!

And just how do you feel after doing that?  Are you angry and upset?  No.  Thinking pleasant thoughts will evoke pleasant emotions.  Be careful though, because food thoughts can get you feeling hungry too!

My point is, that soon after I changed my thinking, and my attitude changed, I did have a breakthrough, and yes, that was so much better than all the frustration I had been trying to deal with.

It Happens To All Of Us

No one has reached nirvana.  Everyone faces obstacles and challenges.  But we can still choose how we are going to think in challenging situations.  And we certainly ought to make an effort to stop blurting out defeating phrases.

I have from time to time quoted Orison Swet Marden, and I’d like to offer you another excerpt from one of his writings.

“No matter what comes to you, defeat, threatened failure, never lose your victorious consciousness.  I am a winner!

The more trying your situation, the harder the way it looks to you, the darker the outlook, the more necessary it is to carry the victorious consciousness.  If you carry the down-and-out expression, if you confess by your very face that you are beaten, or that you expect to be, you are a goner.  The victorious idea of life, not the failure idea, the triumphant, not the thwarted ambition, is the thing to keep uppermost in the mind, for it is this that will lead you to the goal you aspire to reach.

Have faith in your God-given power to succeed in a worthy ambition.  Concentrate your efforts on its realization, and nothing on earth can keep you back from success.  Such an attitude will make you a winner.

The conviction that you are born to win is a tremendous creative force in your life, just as the conviction that you are a failure will keep you down till you change the model of yourself.  Life is not a losing game.  It is always a victorious game when properly played.”

Good Advise, Isn’t It?

Those are some really inspiring words, aren’t they?  It is quite obvious that we are the ones who decide which thoughts we will entertain.  Consistent thoughts of victory will produce victory in our lives.  Consistent thoughts of failure will produce failure in our lives.

Far too many people have chosen to think thoughts of failure and they cloak it with being a victim.  Being a victim or a victor is a choice.  Being a failure or a success is a choice.  God’s desire for all Christians is to be victorious in every area of life.

Keep thinking and speaking victory, day by day!

Michael Verdicchio
2007

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Who You Gonna Trust?

It’s Another Podcast!

It was never the intention of the Founding Fathers to guarantee happiness for everyone.  Being happy and taken care of is not anyone’s birthright.  The intent of the Founders was rather to allow each individual’s pursuit of their own happiness.

I posted an article a couple of weeks ago about this topic and I thought I would share some of that with you in this short podcast (6:53).

Should our trust be in our God, taking responsibility for our own lives, or, should we look to and expect our government to take care of us?

Enjoy the podcast!

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

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How To Build Trust In God
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Love Heals!

What’s Love Got To Do With Healing?

Whenever someone close to me is sick, I pray for their healing. Often times in doing that, I think about the many records in the Bible where people received deliverance and healing.  Perhaps you do the same thing, too.

I know and believe that healing from God is available; I wrote a book about it.  But there is something in that book that I certainly pointed out, but really didn’t elaborate or expand upon as much as I could have:  the healing power of love.

Take a few minutes to consider the concept of “love heals.”  There are those in the medical profession who know and understand this.  They have literally seen patients healed by love, and I’ll share with you a great quote about that in just a bit.

Let’s Start With You

Do you ever doubt at times whether God really loves you?  If you do, then stop it.  The truth is that God loves all of mankind.  The Bible says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. So, if you are a part of the human race, guess what?  God loves you.

I know, lots of people don’t buy into that.  To some, it might sound nice, but there are plenty of people who would ask the question of “Why?”  Some think, “What have I ever done to deserve God’s love?  I really don’t deserve His love.”  Thoughts of unworthiness continue to keep people from receiving what God wants them to have, including healing.

Can we please get logical here?  If you think that God’s love is dependent upon the things that you do, or the things that you don’t do, just how good would you have to be, consistently, to earn the love of the Creator of the heavens and earth?  Who could ever be good enough?  No one, and that’s the point.

Who Initiated Love?

God’s love to us was not in response to our love toward Him. The Bible says that He loved us first.  In other words, He is the One Who initiated love.  Why?  Because love is His nature; God is love.  And He demonstrated His love by giving His only begotten Son so that we could have eternal life.

How Do You Define God’s Love?

God’s remarkable love is composed of three main elements.  First, the love of God is giving.  If you are going to love with the love of God, then it is an act of giving.  God so loved the world that He gave…

Second, love is giving whether it is earned or deserved.  Love is not a reward; love is freely given even if it is not earned or deserved.  The Bible says that God loved us even while we were yet sinners; we didn’t earn or deserve God’s love.

Third, love is giving without requiring anything in return.  God gave His Son for all of mankind and in doing so what if all of mankind will not accept His Son?  What about those who would not respond back to Him?  Has everyone accepted Christ?  No, but that didn’t stop God from giving His Son.

God’s love is giving, regardless of whether it is deserved or not, and love is expecting nothing in return.  That is how God, Who is love, initiated His love to us in sending His Son to die for our sins so that we could have eternal life.

That’s why the Bible says that we love Him because He first loved us.  Sadly, a lot of people have it backwards; they think that God loves them only when they love God first and do all the right things, and never make a mistake.  Not so!  He loved us first; we then can choose to love Him because He first loved us.

But What About All My Mistakes?

Some people think, “How can God love me?  Look what I’ve done.  I’ve messed up again.  I really don’t deserve His love.”  Who really deserves God’s love?  Which of us could ever be good enough to earn it?

We have to remember that God’s love is unconditional.  He willingly gave His love to all.  The Bible says that there is nothing that can separate you from His love.  Why not accept that great truth?  Why not accept His love?

How Powerful Is Love?

In his book Love, Medicine, and Miracles, Bernie S. Siegel makes two statements: “I am convinced that unconditional love is the most powerful known stimulant of the immune system. If I told patients to raise their blood levels of immune globulins or killer T cells, no one would know how.

But if I can teach them to love themselves and others fully, the same changes happen automatically. The truth is, love heals.” And second, he says, “Remember I said love heals. I do not claim love cures everything, but it can heal and in the process of healing, cures occur also.”

So just how powerful is the love of God?  It is so very powerful, and it is a choice, it is a decision; we choose to love with the love of God.

Check This Out

I made reference to the scripture in John 3:16.  A lot of people have heard this verse.  Many times at sporting events, you see someone in the stands hold up a sign that says, “John 3:16.”  I was looking at the Bible in a hotel room a few years ago, and it had that scripture in about 75 different languages in the back of that Bible.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

I have a nice framed calligraphy of that verse hanging in my home, with a really neat explanation of that verse.  It says:

For God — the greatest lover

So loved – to the greatest degree

The world – the greatest number

That He gave – the greatest act

His only begotten Son – the greatest gift

That whosoever – the greatest invitation

Believes – the greatest simplicity

In him – the greatest person

Should not perish – the greatest deliverance

But – the greatest difference

Have – the greatest certainty

Everlasting life – the greatest possession

Remember…

Always remember that God is the One Who initiated love; He loved you first.  You did nothing to earn or deserve His love.  His love for you is unconditional and nothing will ever separate you from His love.

Because of His love to us, we love Him because He first loved us.  And, if God so loved us, then we ought to love others also.  Jesus said that by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one to another.

The Bible also says that when it comes to believing, hope and love, the greatest of those three is love.  Think of the great impact that you can have on others if you will simply love them like God loves you!  And, think of how you can play a very important part in someone receiving their healing because of your commitment to love them.

Love heals!

Michael Verdicchio
2011

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Do You Need More Time?

It’s Another Podcast!

At the convention I attended last weekend in Charlotte, the key note speaker was Darren Hardy.  It was quite a treat to listen to him share some real gems with us.

I wanted to share a couple of those gems with you and they are about time.  So, if you could use a little extra time, this short podcast (7:57) will give you two very practical keys.

Enjoy the podcast!

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Good Job!

Recognition at the workplace.  I know it and you know it.

How long has it been since someone told you, “You’re doing a good job?”

I was thinking about that last night.  I was doing some announcements for an awards banquet.  It was a managers conference for a company of over 30,000 employees.  This particular conference was for around 800 of their managers.

They received awards for safety, production, performance and other categories.  Very few of the recipients spoke, but those who did were very gracious.  As I watched many of them walk by our sound booth, carrying their trophy, it was obvious how good they felt to be recognized in such a way.

It made me think about the different places where I have worked over the years when someone told me that I was doing a good job.  I know, we should do a good job whether anyone notices or not, right?  But you and I both know that it feels good when someone compliments you for your work, shakes your hand or pats you on the back.

However, on other hand, I remember someone saying that if you wait for people to compliment you or show appreciation, you’re going to be waiting a long time.  Just always work heartily and do your best.  God remembers all the good that you do and He will bless your life.  That’s a lot better than a pat on the back, isn’t it?

Michael Verdicchio
2011

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Working Hard Does Not Produce Success

Are you working hard?

The economy in our country, and around the world, is still in serious trouble. I published an article three years ago that I think is even more relevant today than it was back in 2008.

So, I have reprinted that article for today’s post. There are also some links after the article that will take you to some really good related posts.

Have a great weekend!

Working Hard Does Not Produce Success

One of the pieces of advice about life that many young people hear is, “If you want to be successful and get ahead in life you need to work hard.” That advice means to get a good job and put your nose to the grindstone by working hard at it, and doing your best.

A lot of young people start out doing just that.  They really put forth a great effort and work hard, sometimes working long hours and weekends too.  They believe that being successful requires hard work, and they are willing to work as hard as they can so that they will be successful.

When things are not going as well as expected, many think that it is because they aren’t working as hard as they should, so they begin to work even harder.  Many people in their 40’s and 50’s have taken on a second job.  It certainly is a lot more work when you have two jobs than when you have just one job.  That is definitely working harder.

I remember someone once saying, “Learn to work smarter, not harder.”  What great advice that is.

I have nothing against hard work.  I enjoy working hard, putting all of my effort and energy into the project at hand. And, it is true that if you are going to be successful you do need to work hard.  But, if you look around you, it is evident that many people who have worked hard all their lives do not have enough means to enjoy their sunset years.

Plenty of people who have worked hard their whole lives are now struggling to support themselves.  So, they still work a job.  I’m willing to bet you that most of the over 60 crowd you see pouring your coffee at Denny’s, or greeting you at Wal-Mart, are not there by choice.    And yet, they worked hard all their life.  What happened?

Is there a deeper issue to consider?  It is very obvious that just working hard will not bring you success.  It is true; working smarter can be very advantageous.  But, it seems that something vitally important is often overlooked or dismissed.

The picture that you carry of yourself will determine the course you take in life.  If you have no specific, clearly defined goals or desires, you will not just wake up someday in nirvana, with a well padded retirement account.

Yes, we work hard to be successful, but we also have to choose to be successful.  It is a decision.  It is a conscious effort.  It takes mental discipline. It is a deliberate mindset.

It takes consistently evaluating our thoughts and then changing those thoughts when necessary.

It takes specific goals and desires that we must pursue with diligence.  It is up to us to reevaluate and reformulate those goals and desires as life changes. A lot more is needed to be successful than just arriving at a job and working hard all day!

In addition, we must remember that negative, defeating thoughts will always produce defeat.  Fears and worries will bring failure.

It is through positive, successful mind processes, that we come up with ideas for success.  When we keep our mind focused on our desires, opportunities become very obvious to us.   That is a big part of the “working smarter.”

Our culture has really changed in the last 40 years.  Working for one company and then retiring with a nice pension has become almost obsolete.  Staying at the same job for a long time is becoming a novelty.  And social security will not pay you enough, even if it’s still there when you retire.

So, work hard at your job, but work even harder with your brain.  Stay clear and focused on where you truly desire to go in life. Stay clear on the things that you really desire to see happen, and then, act on those desires.

Look for and expect opportunities to come your way.  Expect to have more ideas for your own personal success.  And, never forget that the Creator has promised to give you the desires of your heart.

And by the way, the next time you’re in Denny’s and a grandmother waits on your table, give her a ten or twenty dollar tip.

Mike Verdicchio
2008

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The Greatest Love

For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Related Posts:
John 3:16 Part 1
John 3:16 Part 2
John 3:16 Part 3
John 3:16 Part 4

John 3:16 Part 5
John 3:16 Compilation
Buy Without Money
He Got Kicked Out Of The Wedding!

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He Specializes In Things Called Impossible

It’s Another Podcast!

Recently I had the privilege of teaching at The Phoenix Rescue Mission.  I go there and teach on the 5th Saturday of the month.

I’ve been doing this now for around 5 years. They have been doing a great work there for many, many years.  They are changing lives, one person at a time.

Whenever I go I try to bring a message of hope and encouragement to the 80 or 90 men that I am speaking to.

In the days and times that you and I are living in, I thought the topic I covered recently would be helpful and practical.  Our God still specializes in things called impossible.  Take a little time and enjoy this teaching.

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Against All Odds
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