Some might think their best days are behind them, but, “the best is yet to come!”
Join me on this short video podcast for a cup of coffee. I have one of my favorite cups. It has something written inside of it.
Enjoy the video.
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I don’t like the word, “fate.” Maybe it’s because for a long time now I have not been one to just settle for the way things are today, with no hope for better days ahead. With so many promises in the Bible of help, deliverance, healing, and, prosperity, no one needs to just settle.
The dictionary defines the word “fate” as, “The supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events,” and, “the inevitable events predestined by this force.” It also says, “An event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future: the ultimate agency that predetermines the course of events.”
You have probably heard a number of phrases that talk about fate, like, “Don’t tempt fate,” or, “That was a twist of fate,” or, “She deserves a better fate,” or, “That will certainly seal his fate.” In Greek mythology, “The Fates” were three goddesses who controlled human destiny! What? No thank you!
Fate is also described and referred to in other ways, like, “Well that was just meant to be“, meaning that it was going to happen, and that it was supposed to happen, and so that’s why it happened. If you follow that logic you end up with the conclusion that whatever happens was meant to happen. But doesn’t that take away all personal responsibility for your actions? Yes it does, and that’s the point.
Suppose I decide to have a sandwich for lunch. Is that fate? Was it meant to be? As I eat that sandwich, am I to think that eating this sandwich right now is what was supposed to have happened? Some would say, “Yes.”
But what if I took the bread out to make the sandwich, and
then stopped and said, “Wait a minute – I think I’ll have a salad instead.” But the bread is already out and sitting there! Wasn’t I meant to have a sandwich?
Which one was meant to be, the sandwich or the salad? There are some who would say that I was meant to get the bread out first, and then I was meant to change and go with the salad. For those who think like that, everything is just meant to be.
The problem with that kind of thinking and rationale is that it eliminates free will. It also eliminates any and all responsibility for your actions. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
No one is destined to be successful or destined to be a failure. Far too many people accept that their lives are dictated by fate. They say things like, “This is my lot in life; these are the cards that I’ve been dealt; I’m just a victim of circumstances and fate; this is all I can really expect in life.” To all of that I say, “No, no, no!”
How can a child of the Creator of the universe go through life accepting things as they are, thinking that he cannot change them and just accepting that this is the way things are supposed to be?
Have you ever considered that if your “fate is sealed,” you have no free will? If you have no free will then it really doesn’t matter what you do, good or bad, because it is not your fault. It’s what was supposed to have happened.
The Creator gave each and every one of us free will to choose. Each one of us can decide what we want to believe and what we want to do. And, with God’s help, there’s really no limit to what we can accomplish.
If anything is really “meant to be,” it is that God wants us successful and blessed with the life that we have to live. He has lovingly provided all that we need. But, he also gave us free will to choose.
You can choose to accept “fate,” or, you can choose to accept the promises in the Bible as true and choose to believe them.
You are in life today where you are because of what you have believed and accepted as true. You can change your circumstances by changing your thinking. You can choose to focus on the things that you do desire instead of settling for the way things are now.
The only other choice is to accept fate. And, if you choose to accept fate, well then, “good luck.” You’ll need it!
Mike Verdicchio
Related Posts:
God Is Not In Charge
Do You Rely On Luck Or Fate?
How To Overcome Obstacles
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A number of years ago when I produced “Mike’s Pep Talks,” I did a one called, “If I Were Any Better, I’d Be Twins.” It is currently on the series for “Self Employed Christians,” in two parts.
Since the material is very relevant for the days we are living in, I thought it would be profitable to re-do it here on the blog, and add some other insight.
Once you listen to it, you’ll know why I picked up the habit of often saying, “If I were any better, I’d be twins.” Find out in this short podcast (9:13) what Jerry did when faced with a very serious situation.
[If you cannot see the player below, just click the title above]
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Related Posts:
Mike’s Pep Talks
This Economic Mess Just Isn’t Fair!
Do You Rely On Luck Or Fate?
Stop Making Excuses!
Lots of Christian Gifts From NestEntertainment.com
The holidays are right around the corner. And, if you’re like me, there are some people on my list that I like to give gifts that have a Christian theme or message. I found a site that has a whole lot to choose from at some really good prices. it’s called, NestEntertainment.com
They carry Christian Books, Christian Videos, Christian Music, Christian Toys & Games, and, a lots more. Actually they have a huge selection of items to choose from.
NEST Family Entertainment is your one-stop shop for the best in Christian entertainment! When you’re in the market for wholesome, pre-screened Christian books, music, videos, and more we do the work for you.
From best selling Christian books to chart topping Christian music and award winning Christian videos, NestEntertainment.com offers the best in inspirational resources. We are committed to producing and distributing the highest quality, media products that educate and entertain children of all ages.
If you’re searching for any book, video, music or other Christian product not found on our site, please call us or drop us a note. You ask, we deliver.
I noticed that have several pages of specials, and if you like, you can get someone a gift certificate. But, again, what stood out to me was the huge variety of items – they even have Veggie Tales Bible covers!
So, if you are thinking about getting someone on your list something with a Christian theme, do check out their site. Whether it’s an adult or a child you’re shopping for, they have plenty to choose from. They also offer free shipping for orders over $59.
Click the banner below to get to NestEntertainment.com And, please to feel free to leave a comment, especially if you purchase some items from them.
Last night Kathy and I watched the movie, “Coach Carter. We have seen it several times before. It is a really an inspiring movie, based on the true story of Coach Ken Carter, in Richmond California.
There is a great quote near the end of the movie. The quote is from a poem by Marianne Williamson.
Even though the quote in the movie was very inspiring, there were some lines that the movie script left out from the original poem. So, below, first, the quote from the movie, and then, the actual poem from Marianne Williamson.
From the movie, Coach Carter:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
From the poem, Our Greatest Fear, by Marianne Williamson:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Those are some pretty powerful words – perhaps some good food to chew on over the weekend. If you have a comment, please type itin below; we’d love to hear what’s on your mind.
Have a great weekend!
Mike Verdicchio
By the way, if you want to buy the movie, click the link below; it will take you to Amazon where you can get the best price.
After the day I had yesterday, I thought maybe I ought to do a podcast about obstacles. My latest Pep Letter article is titled, “Obstacle Illusions,” so the topic is pretty fresh in my mind.
Actually, I applied the information I share in that article to handle the obstacles I was faced with. They weren’t big obstacles, but even if they were, the principles still work. Discover in this short podcast (9:20) what to do when you’re faced with an obstacle, big or small.
[If you cannot see the player below, just click the title above]
Leave A Comment!
What do you have to say? We’d love to hear what you think. Please type your comment below.
Related Posts:
Stop making Excuses
How To Overcome Obstacles
Against All Odds
What Kind Of Day?
This Is My Story
Look for more podcasts as well as more videos coming soon to Confidence And Joy!
In this short two minute video I talk about the phrase, “What if?” And many times that phrase is followed by another popular phrase. Can you guess what that phrase is?
At the end of the video, I offer my own, “What if?”
Enjoy the video.
What if you have a comment about this video? I hope so; we’d love to hear what’s on your mind!
You’ve probably heard the question, “What are you thinking about?” But have you ever wondered how many thoughts you actually think? Scientific research varies on estimtes from 12,000 to 50,000 thoughts per day. But, there is something that you cannot think about!
In this article I am going to show you just how magnificent the human mind is by asking you to do something with your mind that you cannot do. I’ve tried it and I can’t do it. In fact there is no one on the planet that can do it.
I’ll explain more in a few minutes.
What you focus on in your mind will always set the course for your life, whether it is positive or negative, success or failure, victory or defeat. Amazingly, few people know and understand this and even fewer believe it. Believe it or don’t believe it; the battle will always take place in the mind.
I like to think of thoughts as seeds. Seeds have a planting and germinating process. If they are planted and nourished, they will grow and produce. This is true with weed seeds too.
Just because a negative thought comes into your mind doesn’t mean you need to harbor that thought and entertain it. You can simply dismiss it, like pulling a weed out. Or, you can choose to keep it and let it settle in.
Now, consider opposites. How do you get rid of darkness? Simply by introducing light. Light and darkness are opposites. The same is true with cold and heat. Hot and cold are opposites, just as light and darkness are opposites. One replaces or neutralizes the other.
Now when it comes to our thinking and our thoughts, we just cannot think two opposite thoughts at the same time. Have you ever tried? If not, here’s an experiment you can do right now.
Picture a building in your mind. Make this building a very, very tall building and, at the same time, make this building a very short building. You can’t do it!
You cannot picture the same building as a very tall building and a very short building at the same time. That’s because tall and short are opposites.
Want to try another?
Picture a car at a racetrack going one-hundred and fifty miles an hour and at the same time see the car going twenty miles and hour. You cannot picture it because fast and slow are opposites.
You cannot hold two opposite thoughts in your mind at the same time. One will simply overwrite the other. That is how the Creator designed our brains to work.
The thoughts that you hold in your mind are the thoughts that you are planting and nourishing, and they will grow. The question is, “What kind of crop do you want to harvest?”
Get busy planting and nourishing the seeds that you want to harvest. If a farmer wants to harvest wheat and corn, does he just sit around all day and do nothing, and then hope that maybe someday he could harvest some wheat and corn? No. He plants seeds and nourishes them.
What kind of seeds does he plant? Wheat and corn, of course! It’s so simple and so very obvious in so many categories of life. And, it works just as accurately and precisely in our minds.
You must decide what you truly desire, and then start planting and nourishing the seed. When those destructive, negative, defeating thoughts pop in, drive them out, by replacing them with what you do desire.
Your thoughts will truly bring to you courage or discouragement; success or failure; confidence or fear. It is always in your own power to choose which thoughts you will hold in your mind. Changing your thinking is absolutely required if you want to change your circumstances.
God gave us all free will. You can choose to think whatever thoughts you want to think. But remember, you are and you will be a product of the thoughts that you have planted and nourished. The Bible says, “As he thinks in his heart so is he.”
Mike Verdicchio
2009
Related Posts:
It Changed My Life
Are Weeds Growing In Your Head?
Stop Looking Back
Do you have a comment? We’d love to hear what’s on your mind. If you do, please type it in below.
We all talk to ourselves, all day long, about lots of things. But does it make any difference what we are saying to ourselves about ourselves?
In this short video, (3:19) discover the effects of your own self talk. You just might want to change the message!
Enjoy the video.
Leave A Comment! We’d love to hear from you.
As I mentioned in the last review, in these economic times, we are all trying to save some money wherever we can. The holidays are coming up soon and something fun and inexpensive that you can do with your kids is to make things? And, oh boy, what a relief; it’s a break from all the electronic technology!
I looked at KraftyKid.com web site and saw that they are a Christian business. They do Craft Kits for kids of all ages – delivered monthly to your mailbox! No more time wasted planning your craft activities!
Here’s what I found on their web site:
Our Mission:
Our mission is to help families spend more time together engaging in craft activities that are fun, educational, and easy. We do this by providing affordable arts and craft kits directly to your door with easy to read instructions.Fun and Easy Crafts, LLC. (dba KraftyKid.com) Our Mission:
Our mission is to help families spend more time together engaging in craft activities that are fun, educational, and easy. We do this by providing affordable arts and craft kits directly to your door with easy to read instructions.Each kit come prepackaged with clear and easy to read instructions, precut pieces, and embellishments. The appropriate age for these product is 3 years (with parent supervision) and up. Many of our kits, as well as our free craft idea section, are suitable for all ages.
Secure and Safe Payments:
All payments are secure through our payment processing agent. We are hacker safe and members of the Better Business Bureau so you can rest assure that your payment will be kept in strict confidence. You can also order via mail by printing our craft kits order form and mailing it to our location.
Click the banner below to get to KraftyKid.com and check it out. You will probably find something you like, as they really have a large selection of craft kits. Then enjoy spending some time with your kids.
