What Really ‘Matters’? [v270]

AUGUST 2021

It’s been said that relationships are a priority for a ‘happy’ life. So, is there a ‘RELATIONSHIP’ that you think should be the ‘MOST’ IMPORTANT?

INTRODUCTION

So, if you were going to invest now in your future best self, where would you put your time and your energy? Well, a recent survey of millennials asking them what their most important life goals were, and over 80% said that a major life goal for them was to “get rich.” Another 50% of those same young adults said that another major life goal was to “become famous.”

We are constantly told to work harder and achieve more. We are given the impression that these are the things that we need to go after in order to have a good life.

[ VIDEO: “What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness” – Robert Waldinger ]

So, have you ever stopped to wonder what ‘REALLY’ matters to you? Your highest priorities in life? Your purpose? Your “why” for your life?

Priorities are what one values—like family, friends, romantic relationships, community, health, work/career, personal growth, recreation/leisure time, and spirituality. Have you determined yet what YOUR ‘PRIORITIES’ are?

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<<< SUMMARY >>>

The following is a collection of ‘snippets’ from the post that aims to give you the overall ‘jest’ of this post. [ 10-15 Minute Read ].

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PRIORITIES

‘Intentional’ living is necessary in order to make a life that matters—living on purpose and choosing intentionally how we spend our time, energy, and attention.

Webster’s dictionary defines “priority” as the “SINGLE MOST important item.”

The thing is, many of us live a life of ‘accommodation’ rather than ‘evaluation’. We perpetually stretch ourselves too thin, become consumed by trivial tasks, and passively go along with other people’s agendas.

It may seem counterproductive to do less, but when we strategically eliminate and ‘pare down’ our lives down, we actually gain so MUCH MORE! So, one must separate the ‘necessary’ from the ‘discretionary’ and not to doing it all. The goal should be to do a few things superbly well. Excellence comes from ‘prioritizing’ on ONE ‘thing’!

So, when trying to decide what is essential—your priority—ask yourself these questions:

– What am I deeply passionate about?

– What taps my talent?

– What meets a significant need in the world?

‘RANKING’ PRIORITIES

So then, how does one come up with a list of what matters most that applies to life in general, with priorities or roles ranked in order of importance, that will guide all of one’s decisions going forward?

Well, when we talk about figuring out what matters, we certainly can look at the big picture and think about overall values and priorities, the things that matter in our life, and figure out how to effectuate them and act on these things in the moment.

This takes one having an ‘awareness’—making a conscious choice to be aware of WHO we are, WHAT we are doing, WHERE we are in life, WHEN we plan to do it, HOW we are planning to do it, and WHY we are doing it.

‘FOCUSING’ QUESTION

The quality of our lives comes down to the decisions we make and the actions we take, which are a result of the questions we choose to ask. As Gary Keller and Jay Papasan said in their book, “The ONE Thing”: “How we phrase the questions we ask ourselves determines the answers that eventually become our life.”

If we want to create extraordinary lives, we need to be intentional and deliberate about making time to ask ourselves exceptional questions, without distraction or other people’s priorities getting in the way.

So, then Keller and Jay propose a “Focusing Question.” It is: “What’s the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

Figuring out what matters most to you in your life is not easy. It tends to be a lifelong challenge that one must figure it out, at this very moment. With that in mind, try answering the following questions in trying to evaluate what really matters to you.

– How do you want to feel? Why?

– How do you want to be remembered by friends, family, coworkers, etc. Why?

– “What were you created for? What is your mission in life? What is your passion?

– Who do you admire? What do you admire about them?

– How committed are they to their work/career

– What kind of sense of humor do they have?

– If you admire a celebrity or author or public figure, what do you admire? Their philanthropic causes, their talent, or boldness?

– Why do you admire those things? How could you incorporate those things into your own life?

TIME

Prioritization isn’t just about tasks. It’s about time as well.

As you learn how to prioritize, be keenly aware of the impact your choices have on your future obligations.

So, the best thing you can do here is to focus on “time multipliers.”

Leadership consultant Rory Vaden explains that, “Rather than asking, “‘What’s the most important thing I can do today?,” time multipliers ask, “What’s the most important thing I can do today that would make tomorrow better?” In other words, by thinking about how we use our time today, we can free up our hours in the future.

So, by prioritizing the right habits and creating a distraction-free work environment, you give yourself extra time in the future.

So then, how does one know if they are not managing their time effectively? Well, here are a few questions to consider:

– Do you often think you could have done better on a task or project if you would have had more time?

– Do you consistently miss deadlines?

– Do you consistently ask for extra time to get your work done?

– Do you have to pull “all-nighters” or rush at the last minute to get your work done?

If one answers “Yes” to any of these questions, they likely could improve their time management skills.

‘DETERMINING’ PRIORITIES

So, in summary, think about what ‘YOU’ WANT MOST out of life. What is your passion? What is your mission in life? You were put on this earth for a reason, and knowing that reason will help you determine your priorities. So…

– Determine your “Why.”

– Create a plan.

– Prioritize your tasks.

– Solidify your time management.

– Focus on the now.

– Just say, “No.”

– Say, “Yes,” sometimes.

ONE’S ‘GOALS’

It’s so easy—especially for smart, determined, proactive and successful people—to spend A LOT of time and energy pursuing goals that, at the end of the day, are NOT actually the most important or meaningful ones to them! Sounds crazy, but it’s true. We are all ‘vulnerable’ to absorbing messages from our families, social media, our culture, and certainly the combined efforts of many savvy marketers about what we SHOULD ‘WANT’, and who we should ‘BE’, about what we should ‘DO’ with our lives.

HOWEVER, YOU are the ‘author’ of your own life story, and at the end of the day, buying into someone else’s hopes and dreams for your life can lead you down the wrong path. Even if you—by virtue of your intelligence, determination, and hard work—are successful in creating all of it and achieving the ideals that you were handed, they will still feel ‘hollow’ to you because they were never genuinely meaningful and important TO YOU. You will have spent so much of your precious time, energy, love, and devotion to achieving goals that, at the end of the day, could have been spent creating the life and reality that was your ‘HEART’S’ DESIRE!

SO, determine the ‘goals’ you want to pursue! You deserve to create a destiny that will lead to your heart overflowing with authentic happiness and gratitude. You deserve, at the very end of your precious life, to have zero regrets! You deserve to feel pride and appreciation for what you have created, and what will LAST LONG AFTER your time on this earth has passed!

S.M.A.R.T. GOALS

– Set Specific Goals

– Set Measurable Goals

– Set Attainable Goals

– Set Relevant Goals

– Set Time-Bound Goals

‘WHAT’ REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE?

There are many, many ‘really’ important things in life… but, which ‘ONE’ matters the most? How are we to know what should matter MOST in life? What helps us decide this?

We will all answer this question very differently, and even though the answer to what matters most varies with our particular season of life, there are some very common answers: Happiness; Peace; Health; Relationships; Purpose; Values; Love; and Time.

DEVELOPING A ‘PURPOSE’

A team of psychologists found that living meaningfully with a ‘purpose’ can boost feelings of harmony, peace, and well-being, which in turn promote physical health.

Additionally, having or looking for a purpose in life predicts lower levels of suicidal ideation and lower suicide risk.

Finally, another study found that having a high sense of purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk of mortality.

So, evidently, it’s really important to have a purpose for one’s life. Then, how does one go about ‘DEVELOPING’ a purpose?

Well, despite the incredible impact of having a life purpose, there is not a sure-fire way to develop the best possible life purpose statement for everyone. As well, life purposes can and should change over time. Therefore, this is an individual exercise, allowing you to be creative and choose one that works for you. The method that works for you now may not be best for your friends. It may also not be best for a future version of you. For this reason, here are a few ways to create your life purpose:

– Make a list of activities that make you happy.

– Make a list of what has made you feel excited to get out of bed.

– Ask yourself why you are ‘unique’.

– Define your ‘perfect’ existence.

– Plug into the rest of the world.

– Ask yourself some questions.

Leipzig deducted from his interviews one can find their life purpose by asking five simple questions:

1. Who are you?

2. What do you love to do?

3. Who do you do it for?

4. What do those people want or need?

5. How do they change as a result of what you give them?

LIVING ‘PURPOSELY’

Living purposefully is one of the most enjoyable experiences which one can enjoy in life. When one is living purposefully life just ‘flows’. Like flowing water, you effortlessly adapt to any obstacle which is placed in your path. You ‘carve out’ your own path for life as you pass peacefully through. Even when there are times when things can become turbulent and one ‘falls off’ their purpose, with a small amount of conscious effort, one can usually guide themselves back ‘on track’ until one is living purposefully once again. It may take a little time and effort to find one’s purpose, but once they do, and choose to live their purpose once again, the benefits are beyond measure.

ONE’S ‘VALUES’

Values are what bring ‘distinction’ to one’s purpose. One doesn’t ‘find’ them, one ‘chooses’ them—and when one does, they are on the path to purpose ’fulfillment’.

From achievement and adventure to wisdom and wonder, not to mention kindness, innovation, and professionalism, values are those things one deems important in life. Expressions of what one cares about, profoundly inform what one pursues day to day, year to year. In so doing, they fundamentally shape the ‘trajectory’ of your whole life.

Here are a few ways to determine if you are focused on what’s important…

– You feel a sense of ‘enough’, rather than the need to measure whether you have.

Values get you to enough; they make this moment about something that you hold dear, and then the next moment, and the next. A person with values might look back and say, “I am committed to being loving. I’m never as loving as I need to be, but I’m on that journey.” People who always want more are miserable because they will never get enough.

– You can readily name those who you admire (examples).

– You can single out the ‘sweetest’ moments of your life.

– You can identify your greatest pain.

– You don’t know the content, but you can identify the theme of the next

– It’s what you would do if nobody were looking.

– Your decisions make you feel like getting up in the morning.

– You can tell someone what really matters to you.

– You have a strong desire to communicate what you value to others.

– You live in an intimate, committed, and effective way, moving toward the kind of life we want to produce.

DEVELOPING ‘DEEP’ RELATIONSHIPS

Connecting with another person is about going beyond the surface to talk about what really matters to each other. For example, imagine a salesperson and an engineer paired together for a team-building exercise. At first glance, these two have nothing in common and you might expect them to have trouble getting through a 10-minute activity. But if each person remains curious, they will dig deeper to find commonalities. This is how people who seem to have nothing in common can become great friends and colleagues.

Connections are the lifeblood of communities in both our professional and personal domains. When we connect deeply with another person, we:

– Experience a sense of serenity.

– Feel safe enough to share stories we need to get off our chests.

– Are more likely to give and get trust.

– Put the other person at ease so she feels comfortable sharing her stories.

– Build meaningful and long-lasting relationships.

– Connecting deeply helps both people (and I recommend never settling for superficial conversations and connections again!)

In the popular book, “The Five Love Languages,” by Gary Chapman, love is described that there are five different ways that people experience and feel love. When you identify the way that your significant other feels love the most, you can use it to shower them with love and affection.

The five different love languages include:

– Words of affirmation

– Acts of service

– Spending quality time together

– Gifts

– Physical touch

ONE’S ‘LAST DAYS’

What if you were told you only had one year left to live? How would you choose to live the rest of your life? How would you live your life differently? What would TRULY matter to you? Thinking about this can open up a whole world of opportunities.

Now, most of us don’t think about this on a daily basis, but none of us knows what will happen in the next year, month, day, hour, or second, so maybe we should think about it MORE OFTEN than we do now.

So, let me encourage you to start by thinking about the things in your life that matter most. Maybe it’s your kids, your spouse, your family, and friends, ‘paying it forward’, finding your purpose, loving everyone, and ‘serving’ God. Maybe start doing something about how you want to be remembered—your “legacy.”

Studies have shown that when people are questioned about their own mortality, about any regrets they had, or about anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

2. “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”

3. “I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.”

4. “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”

5. “I wish that I had let myself be happier.”

JESUS ‘IS’ WHAT REALLY MATTERS MOST!

So, if relationships a so important with other humans—based on that 75-year Harvard study—then how important should it be to have a ‘relationship’ with your Creator? I’m thinking ‘PRIMARY’!

Well, first off, one must begin a personal ‘relationship’ with Him—for it is only as you align to His will for your life that you can fulfill the purpose for which He created you. Having a relationship with Christ is simply coming to the place where you understand and accept that the Bible is true when it talks about who Jesus is and your need for Him as your Savior. There is no ‘magical’ process needed to enter into a relationship with Christ. The following four steps can serve as a guide for anyone who sincerely desires to give his or her life to Him.

– Recognize Your Condition.

– Religion and Good Works Are Not the Answer.

– The Good News: Jesus Christ Provides the Way!

– Believe, Repent, and Receive Christ.

HOW MUCH ’SHOULD’ JESUS MATTER?

Well, there are a couple of parables that indicate HOW IMPORTANT a ‘relationship’ with one’s Creator is, and how to experience Him in the ‘place’ that He now resides—Heaven.

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” [ Matthew 13:44 ].

This is saying that the Kingdom of Heaven—‘where’ Jesus is—is worth ANY ‘SACRIFICE’ you have to make!

[ FYI: For more details about what following Jesus will ‘cost’ you, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:

https://markbesh.wordpress.com/it-will-cost-you-v233/ ].

The following is an adapted version of an article that was first published in Brunstand Christian Church’s periodical “Skjulte Skatter” (“Hidden Treasures”) in November 1929 with the title, “What Jesus Christ is to me.” (A publication still being published by “Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag,” a Norwegian book and magazine publisher 100+ years later!)

It was most likely written by its ‘organizer’, Johan Oscar Smith, who started BCC in the early 1900’s from an unorganized group of friends, that is now an officially registered church with 8,200 members today in Norway (in addition to local churches in 54 countries)…

WHAT MATTERS ‘MOST’ TO GOD

– HIS ‘GLORY’

– ‘LOST’ PEOPLE

– ‘RELATIONSHIP’

– LOVE

– OBEDIENCE

– SUBMISSION

– DOING HIS ‘WILL’

– WORSHIP

LIVING PURPOSELY ‘FOR’ GOD

– COMMITMENT

– DISCIPLESHIP

– THE “GREAT COMMISSION”

– BEING “SALT AND LIGHT”

– THE “GREAT COMMANDMENT”

DEVELOPING ‘THE’ RELATIONSHIP—FOR ETERNITY

As much as you ‘love’ your life, and the ‘things’ in it, in the end, what will REALLY MATTER is HEAVEN (‘Where’ Jesus is) AND a ‘relationship’ with Jesus. A ‘relationship with Him is ‘THE’ MOST IMPORTANT thing to develop—the ‘thing’ that MATTERS MOST!

Now, realize that not ONE single ‘material’ thing on earth will last forever (2 Peter 3:10). The ‘things’ that WILL last ARE PEOPLE, with ‘souls’, so “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal” [ Matthew 6:19 ]. You can’t take your stuff with you. HOWEVER, a soul ‘alive’ with Jesus will live forever!

Although I enjoy my stuff and I love being busy, what really matters in life is ‘who’ I influence for eternity. “The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever” [ 1 John 2:17 ].

ONE MUST BE “BORN AGAIN”

When an infant is born, he continues to grow and change. A year later, two years later, ten years later, the child has changed. They do not remain an infant because a live birth results in growth. We may not see this growth happening, but we see the changes it produces. So it is with being ‘reborn’ spiritually. When a person is born again in their spirit, they are born into the family of God “like newborn babies” (1 Peter 2:2). This birth is not visible, but it begins to produce changes that are evident. The following are some changes that follow a new ‘birth’:

– The “fruit of the Spirit”

– Godly Choices

– Love for Other Christians

– Spiritual Gifts

So, are you ‘born again”? If so, GREAT! HOWEVER, if you have NOT trusted in Jesus as your Savior, will you consider that the Holy Spirit might be ‘prompting’ you right now? (Maybe that’s why you are reading this right now). If you want to go to Heaven after you die, you MUST be “born again”!

My strong suggestion is to humbly surrender yourself to Jesus, genuinely repent of all your sins (‘turn’ from them and ‘go’ the opposite way), ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, and then believe that Jesus is your Savior and the ‘propitiation’ for the judgment of your sins (“All have fallen short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23).

[ Note: There is a “Reconciliation Prayer” below that could help you ‘talk’ to God about all this right now ].

WRAP UP

To many, the 2020 pandemic marked a ‘turning point’ in history. It prompted many to reflect on what REALLY them.

Historically, most of us have learned that money, fame, and material ‘things’ ARE NOT the ‘answer’. Still, many have a hard time figuring out what really matters to them.

HOW THE PANDEMIC CHANGED WHAT REALLY MATTERS

If we heed the lessons learned from the pandemic, we will focus on the things which really make us happy and fulfilled.

As a society, we are suffering from the highest levels of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse we have seen, and many people are still anxious about an unknown future. In addition, many have suffered extreme personal and financial losses, and many have bouts of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Hopefully, we have learned that we CAN improve our lives and achieve happiness and well-being. Here are some of the lessons learned:

– Life is fragile and unpredictable.

– We are more resilient than we thought.

– The importance of self-care.

– The importance of gratitude, and caring for others.

– The importance of acceptance.

– The importance of time.

– The importance of relationships.

Although this has been a difficult year, the challenges often brought opportunity. The lessons we have learned during the pandemic teach us that happiness and well-being can be achieved through intention and action. We just have to develop NEW ‘PRIORITIES’.

So, what can we take away from these hard times? Despite all that has gone on, there have been some positives to the world coming to a ‘stop’. It’s forced us to take a step back, think, understand, and appreciate what it means to ‘live’ and not just survive, and how much ‘RELATIONSHIPS’ mattered!

WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO GOD

What matters to God (Jesus), is that we believe in Him, trust in Him, and live out our lives with a vibrant faith in Him—a faith that works its way out, through love for others—and develop an intimate ‘RELATIONSHIP’ with Him! “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” [ Micah 6:8 ].

When one ‘aligns’ their life and ‘PRIORITIES’—doing what’s MOST IMPORTANT—in the ways that God says to, there are a few ‘things’ that emerge. First, one need to become a “born again” ‘child’, which allows ‘access’ to God to fulfill His ‘PURPOSES’ for you. God’s highest and best is achieved and accomplished when there is an ‘alignment’ of your priorities with the way He has designed you and designed life to work.

Secondly, one can then focus on developing a ‘RELATIONSHIP’ with God and then ‘glorify’ Him through their gifts, talents, and possessions.

Thirdly, one then begins their path to holiness and Christlikeness through ‘DISCIPLESHIP’.

Fourthly, since ‘LOST’ people matter to God, they ought to matter to the believer as well—and it should be the believer’s higher ‘GOAL’. So, then the believer should be “SALT AND LIGHT” to ‘their’ world—and no expense and no effort should be spared to aid in the unbeliever to coming into the ‘Kingdom’! (The “Great Commission”).

Essentially, ALL these things can be achieved when one makes Jesus to be what ‘MATTERS’ MOST!

‘MISPLACED’ PRIORITIES

However, when your ‘priorities’ get out of whack, and when the ‘balance’ gets out of whack, it produces some ‘painful’ things in you, in relationships, and, often, causes significant damage.

There are six ‘warning signs’ or symptoms of ‘MISPLACED’ PRIORITIES: Busyness, anxiety, guilt, finances, prayerlessness, and escapism.

So, if these are the symptoms, it raises a very important question: “What are the RIGHT PRIORITIES?”

Well, primarily, one must have a ‘RELATIONSHIP’ WITH JESUS, and the Father, and the Spirit, such that there is connection and an ‘abiding’ with Them.

Then, one needs the Word, prayer, and a community of believers. When one walks and abides with Jesus—empowered by the Holy Spirit—it overflows your life. It is a love that ‘flows’ into the lives around them—their spouse, children, friends, and acquaintances.

So, the ‘thing’ that matters most is—to help one become the person they long to be—is developing a deep, ‘INTIMATE’ RELATIONSHIP with the Triune God.

Just as the Harvard study concluded, ‘CLOSE’ RELATIONSHIPS keep us happier and healthier” and it’s the ‘QUALITY’ of those close relationships that MATTER MOST!

So, yes, relationships with others are very important, but ‘secondary’ to ‘THE’ relationship that matters most… the one a person has WITH GOD! One’s relationship with God (Jesus) IS ‘PRIMARY’.

So, do you have this ‘kind’ of relationship with Jesus? If so, GREAT! If not, WHY NOT!

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ALL THE ‘DETAILS’

The following is a comprehensive presentation of the topic that follows the ‘headings’ laid out in the Summary.

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PRIORITIES

‘Intentional’ living is necessary in order to make a life that matters—living on purpose and choosing intentionally how we spend our time, energy, and attention.

Webster’s dictionary defines “priority” as the “SINGLE MOST important item.”

Aristotle said that, “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

So, when trying to decide what is essential—your priority—ask yourself these questions:

– What am I deeply passionate about?

– What taps my talent?

– What meets a significant need in the world?

Now, be selective instead of letting a list of tasks dictate your time. When we fail to say, “No,” we are actually saying “Yes” by default—and living a life by happenstance rather than design. Think about what you value and make choices from that place. But how do we do that? Well, identify Your ‘core’ values.

In order to map out what matters most to you, one first needs to figure out what you value most. Try this exercise from Carnegie Mellon University that looks at a list of core values. Write down any that resonate with you:

http://idahoparentnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Value-Identification-Activity.pdf

[ Original document:

https://www.cmu.edu/career/documents/career-guides/myCareerPathGuide2018-2019.pdf ].

Write down as many or as few as you want. Next, group similar values together and arrange each group into columns. In each column, identify which word resonates with you the most. Knowing what you value will help you choose how to focus your time, thoughts, and energy as you begin to move your life in the direction you want. For example, when you realize that you place a high value on health and wellness, it may make it easier to make healthy food choices at the grocery store or when you’re dining out. When you’re clear about which values matter most, and you are focused on them, they become more accessible and automatic.

Now that you have defined your core values, take it a step further by putting them together into a “values statement” that represents how you want to lead your life and ‘behave’ in the world. When you are presented with a choice—on how you want to spend your time or attention—you can then check in with your values statements to determine if the activity aligns with the vision you have of your ‘ideal’ life.

Pick one to align with our essential intent, then let that be your ‘North Star’, directing you toward the tasks that have meaning for you, and helping you avoid what is putting you off your purpose. When one has a deep sense of what they want, and an understanding of the best use of their talents, they can live life with more meaning, clarity, and direction.

‘RANKING’ PRIORITIES

Ryder Carroll, of “The Bullet Journal Method” said, “The rush of our busy lives can quietly carve out a gulf separating our actions from our beliefs. We tend to follow the path of least resistance, even when it leads away from the things we care about.”

Sadly, many of us are in ‘RELATIVE’ mode all the time, dealing with whatever presents itself instead of being ‘STRATEGIC’ and living intentionally—asking whether what we are doing in the moment is contributing to the achievement of what matters to us. In order for our actions to move us forward, we MUST be aware and ‘conscious’ of what we’re doing and why.

The thing is, being busy doesn’t necessarily equate to being productive, and the things that matter less can eat up all our time, leaving no time to think about, much less accomplish, what matters most to us. If we can’t do it all—and be content and satisfied with our results—then we need to MAKE ‘CHOICES’. (Which is usually what needs to be done.)

So, figuring out what matters is really determining the ‘WHY’ of what we are doing.

‘FOCUSING’ QUESTION

So, then Keller and Jay propose a “Focusing Question.” It is: “What’s the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

The Focusing Question leads you to ONE thing to do. It makes you ‘choose’ something that you can do—not something you’d like to be ‘able’ to do, or that you think you should do. It’s the one thing you ’should’ actually act on.

This creates a discrete set of actions and tight ‘feedback loop’ a constant examination of your actions and outcomes.

The Focusing Question helps knock over that first ‘domino’ so that all our following actions go down easier, one-by-one in the proper order.

Now, when one has had trouble finding an answer to the Focusing Question, it might be because they are not clear on WHAT they really want to achieve in life, or because they find themselves at a ‘CROSSROADS’ and need to reassess their direction. In that case, there are other questions to ask.

– How do you want to feel? Why?

– How do you want to be remembered by friends, family, coworkers, etc. Why?

– “What were you created for? What is your mission in life? What is your passion?

– Who do you admire? What do you admire about them?

– How committed are they to their work/career

– What kind of sense of humor do they have?

– If you admire a celebrity or author or public figure, what do you admire? Their philanthropic causes, their talent, or boldness?

– Why do you admire those things? How could you incorporate those things into your own life?

If you’re having trouble finding your ‘Big Why’—the thing, deep down, that motivates you and keeps you going every day—try asking the “5 Why’s.”

The “5 Why’s” started at Toyota Motor Corporation as a key component of their legendary problem-solving process. Whenever something would go wrong in their production, management or customer relations, the team in question would get together, pick a Why Master (yes, really) and get down to asking why it happened. Then they would ask the question five times.

Taiichi Ohno, one of the brains behind the Toyota Production System, described the process as “the basis of Toyota’s scientific approach… by repeating why five times, the nature of the problem as well as its solution becomes clear.” Asking why so many times ‘penetrates’ down through each layer of complexity and defense in any situation.

For example, it might be that your business has an unhappy customer. Asking yourself ‘Why’ can lead you to the root cause of the problem:

“My customer is unhappy” (The Problem):

First Why: I didn’t deliver the project on time.

Second Why: The job took much longer than I thought it would.

Third Why: I underestimated the complexity of the project.

Fourth Why: I didn’t develop a proper plan and quickly made an estimate of the time required.

Fifth Why: I was running behind on other projects and lacked the time to plan. (a root cause)

When you arrive at the ‘root’ cause of the problem, you can then look into what are the strategies for being able to change this or improve the situation. In this case, it is clear that something needs to be done around the process of planning to ensure that projects are delivered on time. This could be in the form of developing a process, template or framework for ensuring that a proper plan and time estimate is developed and provided to the customer prior to making any commitments.

Remember that for an extraordinary life, one’s ‘core’ motivation needs to be clearly articulated.

The “Focusing Question” and the “5 Why’s” can help you answer every question, rise to every challenge, and keep you on track to create an extraordinary life.

In last month’s post, I detailed a couple of other approaches to determining the priority of tasks: The “Eisenhower Decision Matrix,” and the “Ivy Lee Method.”

The “Eisenhower Decision Matrix” ‘ranks’ tasks or commitments in four quadrants:

– Urgent and Important, Urgent but not important, Important but not urgent, neither urgent nor important.

– Urgent and Important: Do these tasks as soon as possible

Important, but not urgent: Decide when you’ll do these and schedule it

– Urgent, but not important: Delegate these tasks to someone else

– Neither urgent nor important: Drop these from your schedule as soon as possible.

One of the best ways to do this was developed over 100 years ago by productivity consultant named Ivy Lee. The so-called “Ivy Lee Method” forces you to prioritize your day by following a simple set of rules:

At the end of each work day, write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow. Do not write down more than six tasks.

Prioritize those six items in order of their true importance.

When you arrive tomorrow, concentrate only on the first task. Work until the first task is finished before moving on to the next one.

Approach the rest of your list in the same fashion. At the end of the day, move any unfinished items to a new list of six tasks for the following day.

Repeat this process every working day.

Limiting yourself to six tasks (or less) each day creates a constraint that forces you to prioritize properly and then stay focused by single-tasking your way through your list.

[ FYI: For more details on both the “Eisenhower Decision Matrix” and the “Ivy Lee Method,” view last month’s “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:

https://markbesh.wordpress.com/a-sense-of-urgency-v269/ ].

TIME

Prioritization isn’t just about tasks. It’s about time as well.

As you learn how to prioritize, be keenly aware of the impact your choices have on your future obligations.

So, the best thing you can do here is to focus on “time multipliers.”

So, by prioritizing the right habits and creating a distraction-free work environment, you give yourself extra time in the future.

Now, countless books—like Vaden’s—have been written on prioritization and time management, yet my experience is that most people often spend time doing things that are not a high priority. You may think you are making progress simply because you are busy. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, busyness can keep you from accomplishing anything meaningful by giving you a false feeling of accomplishment while stealing your time.

Managing time is easier said than done. Many people say that, “I don’t have enough time.” Although it is true that one does not have time to do everything, they DO have time to do what is truly ‘important’ to them.

Think of it like this: The least effective person you know has the same amount of time as does the most effective person you know. The difference, of course, is knowing how to manage their time, avoid distractions, and put maximum effort into their priorities. Effective time management will have a huge impact on their success.

If you spend time on non-priority activities, then obviously you have less time available for your priorities. Life is a series of choices. Choose wisely. As mentioned previously, saying “No” to some activities is as important as is saying “Yes”—perhaps even more so. When one says “Yes” to something now, you are saying “No” to something else later.

So then, how does one know if they are not managing their time effectively? Well, here are a few questions to consider:

– Do you often think you could have done better on a task or project if you would have had more time?

– Do you consistently miss deadlines?

– Do you consistently ask for extra time to get your work done?

– Do you have to pull “all-nighters” or rush at the last minute to get your work done?

If one answers “Yes” to any of these questions, they likely could improve their time management skills.

Now, remember, being busy (doing something) is not the same thing as being productive (doing something important). The difference between busyness and productivity can be difficult to see. Spending time on otherwise worthwhile activities can also get in the way of your progress if those activities are not priorities. Don’t miss this point: Not all “important” activities are equal, and “good” activities can get ‘in the way’ of your ‘true’ priorities.

Some key points for prioritizing and time management are:

– Know what steps are needed to complete your project.

– Know the amount of time required to complete each step.

– Plan enough time to get the work done on time.

– Schedule specific time into your calendar to allow you to complete each step.

– Prioritize your time to get the work done according to your plan.

– Busyness can keep you from accomplishing anything meaningful.

– The least effective person you know has the same amount of time as does the most effective person you know.

– Focus your efforts on your priorities.

– Urgent issues, whether yours or someone else’s, are not necessarily priority issues.

– Not all “important” activities are equal, and “good” activities can get in the way of your true priorities.

– Know what steps are needed to complete your project, and then plan enough time to get the work done on time.

So, if you are having time management ‘issues’, one way to determine the problem is to ask yourself, “What stuff do you spend most of your time on?” While most of us can answer that question in ‘general’ terms, the ‘specifics’ will show where one’s time is being ‘wasted’. The best thing to do is keep a time ‘journal’ of EVERYTHING one does—each 15-minute ‘chunk’ of time—for at least one week (two weeks are better).

To help you out, consider include categories such as the following:

– Sleeping

– Making household repairs

– Eating

– Preparing food

– Shopping

– Working

– Organizing

– Driving

– Talking with friends

– Cleaning

– Attending church

– Caring for children

– Spending time with one’s spouse

– Playing

– Praying

– Spending time with kids

– Studying

– Exercising

– Participating In a hobby

Another help I came across to optimize one’s time prioritization are the 25 tips that co-founder and CEO of the “Calendar” app John Rampton put together. I think they are very insightful. [ Note: I ‘summarized’ them. ]:

1. Set goals and stick to them.

Goals are like a map. They provide us with a starting point and step-by-directions on how to reach our destination.

So, before doing anything else, get clear on your goals and follow through with them. Not only will this give you purpose, but it will also guide you in determining how you want to spend your time.

2. Create a master list.

Now add those goals you just came up with to a list (along with anything else that needs to get done like administrative tasks, meetings, and household chores). Right now, the order doesn’t matter. You just need to get these items out of your head and place them in a notebook or sheet of paper (or digitally with Evernote, Google Keep, or Taoist).

Then begin arranging your list by date-specific responsibilities and only focus on important actions that need your attention right now.

If there’s anything that isn’t a good use of your time, delete them from your list.

3. Get to like Ike.

Even if your list isn’t as overwhelming, it’s still challenging to prioritize your list. One strategy to employ here would be using a priority matrix, such as the popular “Eisenhower Decision Matrix.”

4. Decide on your MIT.

Your most important task is the one thing that you want or needs to get done today—without question. It should always be aligned with the goals that you’ve set.

One was to rank your daily tasks by their true priority is the “Ivy Lee Method”

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we end up with a massive list of urgent and important tasks we need to get done. In which case, we need to find a way to dig deeper and find their true importance.

5. It’s as easy as A, B, C.

Another way to prioritize your time is to use a system where you list everything as A, B, and C. According to Steve Tobak, here’s how it works:

A = Critical things. These are the things that need to get done right away or there will be repercussions.

B = Business as usual. Everything that you need to focus on in order to achieve your short- and long-term goals.

C = Everything else. These are items like busy work things that would be nice to get to, or just goofing off.

The beauty of this system, explains Tobak, is that you’ll “actually never get to the Priority C tasks. In fact, this system forces you to be very clear on your goals because anything that doesn’t play a significant role in helping you achieve them gets pushed to the C list.”

6. Kondo your to-do-lists.

The organizational consultant Marie Kondo’s decluttering philosophy asks if ‘this’ “sparks joy.” If not, then ‘throw it away’ or donate it.

Decluttering your life can help relieve stress, allows you to make fewer decisions, and encourage you to spend more time on the things that truly matter.

Your passion should be the things that motivate and excite you.

7. Follow the 1-3-5 scheduling rule.

Remember that master list you created? Well, go back and use that to shape your day using the 1-3-5 scheduling rule.

Identify today’s top priority from the list. Nothing else matters here. This is your primary focus for the day.

Determine three medium priorities. Ideally, these should be subtasks related to your main priority.

And, schedule no more than five small must-to-do- priorities, such as meetings. While these are important and deserve your time, we call these smaller to-dos since they don’t require as much energy.

8. Use the scales method.

The scales method was developed by Leon Ho, founder, and CEO of Lifehack. It’s similar to a priority matrix in that you’re organizing your to-do-list by importance and the benefits you’ll receive.

Here, however, you would determine the priority of each of your tasks by:

– Low Cost + High Benefit: These are easy tasks to complete, but will also get you one step closer to your goals.

-High Cost + High Benefit: Here you would break large tasks into smaller and more manageable ones.

-Low Cost + Low Benefit: These would be your lowest priority tasks, like checking your inbox.

-High Cost + Low Benefit: Here would time wasters that could be automated or delegated.

9. Find your 20%.

The 80/20 rule was developed by the Italian economist and sociologist Vilfredo Pareto—hence why it’s also known as the Pareto Principle. This rule “clearly states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.”

You should always take care of your 20% first.

10. Take the 18-minute approach.

Peter Bregman, author of “18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done,” is responsible for this technique.

Step 1. Before doing anything, start your day by spending five minutes mapping out your day.

Step 2. Check-in every hour for just a minute to help put your back-on-track.

Step 3. At the end of the day, take five minutes to review what worked, as well as when you get distracted. Don’t forget to take note of when you had the most focus.

11. Listen to the Oracle.

I’m talking about the Oracle of Omaha, aka Warren Buffett. And, no, it’s not about how to invest your money. Instead, it’s how you should invest your time.

Start by writing down your top 25 goals. Next, draw a circle around the five that you would consider being the most important. What about the other 20 goals you listed? Avoid those at all cost so that you can dedicate 100% to your top 5.

12. Respect dates and deadlines.

A lot of people have a tendency to bite off more than they can chew.

In short, when you have something already in your calendar, whether if it’s a deadline or appointment, your day needs to be based around that entry. It was there first.

So, be sure to add buffers between tasks and events.

13. Honesty is all the best policy.

If you aren’t honest with yourself, then you won’t be able to prioritize your time.

Be honest with how much you can realistically get done in a day and do your best to block the appropriate time needed for everything that you need to do.

14. Weigh the consequences.

Whenever you’re at a crossroads, think about the ‘consequences’. Don’t run of ‘gas’ in the middle of nowhere.

15. Make every day count.

Spend your time wisely. If you want to know how this is done, I recommend you check out Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule. It’s simple while providing structure. Most importantly, it forces you to answer, “What good shall I do this day?”

16. Do what you dread first.

As Mark Twain famously said, “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning.” In other words, focus on completing your most challenging or dreaded task bright and early. Besides just getting it done and over with, this is usually when we have the most energy.

17. Alternate between a maker and manager schedule.

There are times when we need to focus on tasks without being disturbed and there are also times when we must do things like attending a meeting.

Each is important in their own way. But, if not managed properly, it can be disastrous.

So, plan these different kinds of things on alternate days so there is no disruption.

18. Deal with constant interruptions.

Interruptions are inevitable. Thankfully, there are ways for you to be victorious against this threat against productivity [ i.e. turning off your smartphone notifications, putting a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your office door, or work in a quiet place (or get some noise-canceling headphones) ].

19. Assemble your tool kit.

Get tools like project management software and scheduling apps. You’ll need them to reduce the time spent on tedious tasks like planning a meeting so that you have more time on the important things.

20. Use a gamification system.

Prioritization is all about staying motivated. So, tap into your intrinsic motivation through ‘gamification’. For example, break down your goals into micro-goals and reward yourself when you’ve completed each stage. Then treat yourself to something ‘special’ when you finish.

21. Don’t plug leaky ‘boats’.

The point here isn’t to spend money. It’s that when something is broken, it’s not always worth fixing.

22. Plan in reverse.

When it comes to more complex tasks, it’s more effective to plan backward. The reason? It forces you to anticipate the necessary step, stick to the original plan, and feel less pressured.

23. Keep a log of your work.

You can also use this as a reference to see which recurring tasks can be scheduled or delegated.

24. Find a ‘muse’.

Scout out optimal time prioritization from others that you respect. Pick the brains of people who you consider to be successful and productive like a mentor, family member, or renowned business leader.

25. Build your own prioritization system.

Finally, do what works best for you. Even if you’ve been inspired by someone else, make your own adjustments that meet your specific needs. Again, it’s like a musician. A guitar could have picked up the instrument because of the blues. But, over time, he developed his own signature style that was a better fit for his band.

One last thing: Prioritize your most important work during ‘YOUR’ MOST productive hours. Those certain times during the day where you are ‘naturally’ more productive—and this will vary for everyone!

So, after determining your peak productive times, schedule your highest priorities during them and you will be setting yourself up for the best day possible!

[ NOTE: There is a tool that can help. “RescueTime,” automatically observes how you work throughout the day and gives you in-depth reports on your productivity. Once it’s been running for a few days, you can start to pull out trends of when you’re most productive:

https://www.rescuetime.com/ ].

‘DETERMINING’ PRIORITIES

– Determine your “Why.”

Figure out what really matters to you

– Create a plan.

Create a plan to get from where you are today to where you want to be. A life plan will help you ‘focus’ your life, too.

– Prioritize your tasks.

Use the “Eisenhower Decision Matrix” to help determine these. Knowing these can reduce stress, help you focus, and improve your productivity (and can even help with your ‘work-life’ balance).

– Solidify your time management.

Once you know how to prioritize your tasks and your time, you realize that much that you felt was urgent, is not really and doesn’t really need your attention—at least not right away.

– Focus on the now.

Stop multitasking and focus on one thing at a time. The key is to focus on one thing at a time. Use the “Ivy Lee Method” to help with this.

– Just say, “No.”

We all have too much to do and too little time. The only way that you are going to find the time for the things that really matter is to say “no” to the things that don’t.

– Say, “Yes,” sometimes.

Use your purpose and life plan to make decisions about the projects and tasks that you say, “Yes” to. Saying, “No” to ‘good’ opportunities gives you time to focus on the ‘best’ opportunities.

Research tells us that 97% of people are living their life by ‘default’ and not by ‘design’! They don’t know where their life is headed, and don’t have a plan for what they want to accomplish in life!

Hopefully, these steps will help you to decide on your priorities, and will help you to create a life focused on what REALLY MATTERS to YOU!

ONE’S ‘GOALS’

So, have you thought about what you want to be doing in five years’ time? Are you clear about what your main objective at work is at the moment? Do you know what you want to have achieved by the end of today?

If you want to succeed, you need to SET ‘GOALS’. Without goals you lack focus and direction. Goal setting not only allows you to take control of your life’s direction; it also provides you a benchmark for determining whether you are actually succeeding. Think about it: having a million dollars in the bank is only proof of success if one of your goals is to amass riches. If your goal is to practice acts of charity, then keeping the money for yourself is suddenly contrary to how you would define success!

So, to accomplish your goals, you need to know how to ‘set’ them. You can’t simply say, “I want” and expect it to happen. Goal setting is a process that starts with careful consideration of what you want to achieve, and ends with a lot of hard work to actually do it. In between, there are some very well-defined ‘STEPS’ that transcend the specifics of each goal. Knowing these steps will allow you to formulate goals that you can accomplish.

To help you with goal setting, here are some ‘rules’ to help you set yourself up for success.

– Set Goals That Motivate You

When you set goals for yourself, it is important that they motivate you: this means making sure that they are important to you, and that there is value in achieving them. If you have little interest in the outcome, or they are irrelevant given the larger picture, then the chances of you putting in the work to make them happen are slim. Motivation is key to achieving goals.

Set goals that relate to the high priorities in your life. Without this type of focus, you can end up with far too many goals, leaving you too little time to devote to each one. Goal achievement requires commitment, so to maximize the likelihood of success, you need to feel a sense of urgency and have an “I must do this” attitude. When you don’t have this, you risk putting off what you need to do to make the goal a reality. This in turn leaves you feeling disappointed and frustrated with yourself, both of which are de-motivating. And you can end up in a very destructive “I can’t do anything or be successful at anything” frame of mind.

Now, to make sure that your goal is motivating, write down why it’s valuable and important to you. Ask yourself, “If I were to share my goal with others, what would I tell them to convince them it was a worthwhile goal?” You can use this motivating value statement to help you if you start to doubt yourself or lose confidence in your ability to actually make the goal happen.

– Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals

You have probably heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals already. But do you always apply the rule? The simple fact is that for goals to be powerful, they should be designed to be SMART. There are many variations of what SMART stands for, but the essence is this—goals should be: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

Set Specific Goals

Your goal must be clear and well-defined. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful because they don’t provide sufficient direction. Remember, you need goals to show you the way. Make it as easy as you can to get where you want to go by defining precisely where you want to end up.

Set Measurable Goals

Include precise amounts, dates, and so on in your goals so you can measure your degree of success. If your goal is simply defined as “To reduce expenses” how will you know when you have been successful? Will it be that in one month’s time you have a 1% reduction, or will it be in two years’ time when you have a 10% reduction? Without a way to measure your success, you miss out on the celebration that comes with knowing you have actually achieved something.

Set Attainable Goals

Make sure that it’s possible to achieve the goals you set. If you set a goal that you have no hope of achieving, you will only demoralize yourself and erode your confidence.

Set Relevant Goals

Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your life and career to take. By keeping goals aligned with this, you’ll develop the focus you need to get ahead and do what you want. Set widely scattered and inconsistent goals, and you’ll fritter your time—and your life—away.

Set Time-Bound Goals

Your goals must have a deadline. Again, this means that you know when you can celebrate success. When you are working on a deadline, your sense of urgency increases and achievement will come that much quicker.

– Set Goals in Writing

The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word “will” instead of “would like to” or “might.” For example, “I will reduce my operating expenses by 10% this year,” not “I would like to reduce my operating expenses by 10% this year.” The first goal statement has power and you can ‘see’ yourself reducing expenses, the second lacks passion and gives you an excuse if you get sidetracked.

Now, ‘frame’ your goal statement positively. If you want to improve your retention rates say, “I will hold on to all existing employees for the next quarter” rather than “I will reduce employee turnover.” The first one is motivating; the second one still has a get-out clause ‘allowing’ you to succeed even if some employees leave.

Now, post your goals in visible places to remind yourself every day of what it is you intend to do. Put them on your walls, desk, computer monitor, bathroom mirror or refrigerator as a constant reminder.

– Make an Action Plan

This step is often missed in the process of goal setting. You get so focused on the outcome that you forget to plan all of the steps that are needed along the way. By writing out the individual steps, and then crossing each one off as you complete it, you’ll realize that you are making progress towards your ultimate goal. This is especially important if your goal is big and demanding, or long-term.

– Stick To It!

Remember, goal setting is an ongoing activity, not just a means to an end. Build-in reminders to keep yourself on track, and make regular time-slots available to review your goals. Your end destination may remain quite similar over the long term, but the action plan you set for yourself along the way can change significantly. Make sure the relevance, value, and necessity remain high.

So, goal setting is much more than simply saying you want something to happen. Unless you clearly define exactly what you want and understand why you want it the first place, your odds of success are considerably reduced. By following the previous ‘rules’, you can set goals with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction that comes along with knowing you achieved what you set out to do.

‘WHAT’ REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE?

There are many, many ‘really’ important things in life… but, which ‘ONE’ matters the most? How are we to know what should matter MOST in life? What helps us decide this?

‘HAPPINESS’

Happiness is ‘subjective’ and an ‘inside’ job. No one in the world will make you happy. People can ‘enhance’ your happiness, but it really needs to START with you.

Also, happiness is not a ‘destination’. One must realize that one does not have to attain something be happy. Happiness is something that you choose, a mental state that attracts more things to be happy about!

Psychologists say that “self-awareness” is the key to happiness, but why is it so important? Well, because it allows us to improve the quality of our lives just by being aware of how external factors influence us. Since we can’t control 100% of our lives, a ‘solid’ self-awareness allows one to control how they ‘react’ to the stuff they can’t control.

The thing is, a simple smile or compliment to a stranger can go a really long way. It’s because happiness is like a ‘virus’—it’s contagious.

In a study published in the British Medical Journal, scientists have found that happiness can effectively spread through your social ties such as your friends, family, and neighbors. The researchers found that being close to happy people is directly associated with your own happiness.

In this study, researchers sought to prove how “prosocial” behavior (meaning, the kind deeds that we do for others) can make toddlers happy. The children who participated in this study were introduced to a puppet monkey who likes treats. The next steps of the experiment were as follows:

– The child was given their own bowl of treats

– The experimenter “found” a treat and gave it to the puppet

– The experimenter “found” another treat and asked the child to give it to the puppet

– The child was asked to give the puppet a treat from their own bowl

– The children’s happiness levels were tested in each phase, and it was found that giving to the puppet makes them happier than when they received treats for themselves. Furthermore, they were happier when they gave their own treats as compared to when they gave a treat “found” by the experimenter.

This proves that giving, sharing, and bringing happiness to others is rewarding and can totally add to our own happiness!

Another thing to do to be happier is to be more forgiving to others. Author Anne Lamott said it well: “Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.” Making mistakes is part of what makes us human. By not being able to forgive, we’re hurting our ability to be happy. So, in order to become better at forgiving, try to place yourself in the other person’s shoes.

When we try to see things from the other person’s perspective, we are able to more or less understand their motives behind their actions. Whenever we do something hurtful or bad ourselves, we can always justify our actions because we understand the reasons behind it. Since we know why we do the things we do, we usually find it easier to forgive ourselves compared to forgiving others.

Now, this does not mean that you have to ‘excuse’ their bad behavior. When we ‘manage our expectations’ towards other people, we will find it easier to forgive them when they let us down.

In last month’s post I mentioned a major study about “influences.” One of the things it showed was that a friend who lives within a mile and is happy with their life, increases the probability that their friend is happy by 25 percent. If a friend of a friend of a friend is happy with their life, then you have a 6% greater likelihood of being happy yourself. HOWEVER, consider that other studies suggest that a $10,000 raise at one’s job only triggers about a 2% increase in their happiness!

Happiness is NOT dependent on ‘WHAT’ you have. It’s based on WHAT YOU ‘THINK’—and the habits you maintain most regularly.

‘PEACE’

Peace matters on a micro and macro level. When one feels at peace, they feel life is more enjoyable. When you ‘protect’ your peace, you can then balance your emotions and manage relationships and stressful situations effectively. So, try to cultivate a more ‘positive’ attitude towards life.

People inherently strive towards a state of peacefulness, one free of stress and anxiety. Being peaceful is both an outward and an inward state of being and acting. If you are trying to be more peaceful, you can begin by finding peace within yourself. Further your peaceful nature by bringing it into your interactions with others and making your environment peaceful.

Wellness expert, Nicolette Tura, suggests the following to become a more peaceful person:

– Practice what brings you peace.

– Manage the stress in your life.

– Do physical activity.

– Do self-reflection.

– Meditate.

– Allow and accept change.

– Discontinue ‘bad’ habits.

– Accept people as they are.

– Tell the truth.

– Speak in a calm and relaxing voice.

– Let go of difficult or negative people.

– Keep a journal.

– Declutter.

– Keep your work life and home life separate.

– Use soothing tones or textures in your decorating.

– Fill your home with soothing scents and sounds.

‘HEALTH’

So many of us take our health for granted until something life-changing happens. Without it, you cannot live life to its fullest. So, it is vital to take care of our health by eating healthy and exercising daily to minimize preventable illnesses and the stress that may be keeping you from enjoying life.

Exercise increases one’s endorphins, making one happier. According to evidence-based research, it turns out that the correlation between regular exercise and happiness is REALLY significant.

Endorphins play a crucial role in our nervous system, in particular in response to stimuli such as stress, pain or fear. These chemicals are especially good at blocking pain and controlling emotions, both of which can improve happiness.

Exercise also stimulates Dopamine which results in happiness, too. Dopamine is one of the hormones involved in our internal reward mechanisms. Basically, when you do something that makes you feel good, that’s dopamine at work.

So then, how much exercising do you need to be happier? Well, researchers from the University of Michigan may have the answer. In their 2018 review, Zhanjia Zhang and Weiyun Chen analyzed the results of 23 studies published between 1980 and 2017 focusing on the relationship between exercise and happiness.

They found that there is a significant increase in happiness—one can just start walking!

While walking won’t give you the athletic benefits of jogging or weightlifting, it has many mental benefits that people don’t think about. From improving symptoms of depression and anxiety to increasing well-being, and giving you space to think, walking is a great activity. Especially in times when your whole life might be confined to your home.

So, when I tell you to “take a walk,” I only have your best interests in mind! ;^D

‘RELATIONSHIPS’

We live in a culture that places a high premium on external measures of success. As a society we value appearances that fall within our unrealistic standards of beauty, pride ourselves on being constantly busy, and seem to be constantly striving to make more money or have nicer things. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious, but often I think that we MISTAKENLY equate some of these external achievements with experiencing greater happiness.

Psychologists have coined a term “hedonic adaptation,” which refers to the common phenomenon where people quickly become used to external changes (good or bad), and return to their ‘baseline’ state of happiness.

According to psychologist, Heidi Halvorson Ph.D., “One often-cited study famously showed that despite their initial euphoria, lottery winners were no happier than non-winners eighteen months later. The same tendency to return to ‘baseline’ has been shown to occur after marriage, voluntary job changes, and promotions-the kinds of things we usually expect to change our happiness and well-being for the better in a permanent way.”

We have all experienced the initial high of reaching an external goal only to realize that once we have achieved a goal, often we simply move on to the next one or raise the benchmark of how we define success. Bronnie Ware, who works in palliative care, penned the well-known article entitled “Top 5 Regrets of the Dying.” According to Ware, the most common regrets that she heard were the following:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I’d stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish I’d let myself be happier.

It’s important to note that NONE of these regrets of the dying focus on EXTERNAL achievements, such as having a six-pack, making more money, or the number of Facebook followers. Rather, they touched on values that truly matter, such as vulnerability, balanced living, authenticity, having MEANINGFUL ‘RELATIONSHIPS’.

Often, we are so caught up in the pursuit of these external measures of success, that we forget about the ‘values’ that really matter.

We are given this ONE life, so I encourage you to dig deep and think about how you want to spend your time and energy.

Relationships that are authentic and meaningful build the kinds of relationships.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to strive for your “dream job” but I think that it is important to put the idea of achieving external goals into perspective. When you become all-consumed and measure your sense of self-worth in terms of something external-that is when this drive becomes ‘problematic’.

For example, for the past 75 years, an adult development study at Harvard tracked the lives of 724 men, year after year, asking about their work, their home lives, their health, and of course asking all along the way without knowing how their life stories were going to turn out.

About 60 of their original 724 men are still alive, still participating in the study—most of them in their 90s.

They have tracked the lives of two groups of men: sophomores at Harvard College, from ‘advantaged’ families, and a group of boys from Boston’s poorest neighborhoods, from ‘disadvantaged’ families.

So, what were the lessons that come from the tens of thousands of pages of information that we’ve generated in these lives? Well, the lessons ARE NOT about wealth or fame or working harder and harder. The CLEAREST message that we get from this 75-year study is this: CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS keep us happier and healthier—period!

It turns out that people who are more socially connected to family, to friends, to community, are happier, they’re physically healthier, and they live longer than people who are less well connected.

The experience of loneliness turns out to be ‘toxic’. People who are more isolated than they want to be from others find that they are less happy, their health declines earlier in midlife, their brain functioning declines sooner and they live shorter lives than people who are not lonely.

The second big lesson they learned is that it’s not just the ‘number’ of friends you have, and it’s not whether or not you’re in a committed relationship, but it’s the ‘QUALITY’ of your CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS that matters.

The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.

The third big lesson that they learned about relationships and our health is that good relationships don’t just protect our bodies, they protect our brains. It turns out that being in a securely attached relationship helps people’s memories stay sharper longer.

In the words of Professor Robert Waldinger, the director of the study: “The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier.”

Now, one of the most important things that was mentioned was the close relationships they had with their family members.

However, sadly, it’s too easy to forget just how much family means to us—typically taking them for granted because, at the end of the day, we know they will still be family. The thing is, always remember, your family is irreplaceable. You must devote time, love and energy to nurture your family relationships—not just for the sake of your family, but for yourself, too!

Now, you can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends and make them members of your ‘family’. So, it goes without saying that having friends makes our lives easier, happier, and more meaningful. If you can call three people your “good friend” consider yourself ‘BLESSED’! Isn’t it nice to have someone you can laugh with until your stomach hurts? With friends around, we feel less alone during the tough times and more joyful during the good ones.

Having strong friendships and being in the company of people who care about us can actually be beneficial to our health, well-being, and overall satisfaction. Not only do friends enhance our lives, but they also complete it to some extent. Because, honestly, how do we even live without our best friends?

So, make the most out of your time with your friends and, more importantly, BE the best friend you can be. Nurture your friendships.

Finally, focus on ‘positive’ relationships. In a world filled with negativity, it is obviously quite common for someone to be surrounded by negativity. In fact, spending time with negative people who continually see the bad in every situation is the quickest way to become a negative pessimist too. So, surround yourself with positive people!

There’s this old saying: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” I couldn’t agree more. If you hang out with pessimists, it’s likely you’ll slowly turn into one yourself.

It luckily works the other way around, too! Surround yourself with positivity, and you will slowly embrace that mindset yourself as well!

When it comes to friendships, it’s all about ‘QUALITY’ over quantity. A study investigated the role of best friendship and close friendship quality and conflict in happiness. The results showed that the quality of your best friendships is the only statistically significant predictor of happiness.

According to a 2010 study published in the “Journal of Happiness Studies,” the satisfaction of basic psychological needs is the mediator between the quality of friendships and happiness, and this applies to both best friendships and other close friendships.

Put simply: people have certain psychological needs, like companionship, intimacy, support, autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and good quality friendships help to satisfy those needs.

At the end of the day…what matters most are our ‘RELATIONSHIPS’. Our relationship with ourselves and our relationships with one another. Relationships aren’t always easy but know that the happier you are within, the happier your relationships with others will be.

If you have never thought about what matters to you, I encourage you to take some time to think about it, as your life will benefit tremendously when you live with purpose, meaning, and a clear understanding of what REALLY matters to you!

Our relationships are our foundation. They are truly the things that make our lives richer and more complete. Our relationships are our bedrock, our ‘foundation’. We need to nurture them with the love and attention they really deserve.

Psychiatrist George Vaillant, one of the earlier researchers of the study, had indicated the same in his own words: “The key to healthy aging is relationships, relationships, relationships.”

When we are thriving in our relationships with our family members, life seems easier. Our families have the potential to provide a great deal of support and love, and we can make an ‘IMPACT’ on people’s lives. [ My ‘focus’ is “to take as many people to Heaven with me as I can.” ].

‘PURPOSE’

A study by the researchers of the Harvard School of Public Health found that when people have a high sense of ‘PURPOSE’ or ‘DIRECTION’ in life, they tend to remain healthier in life. Having a purpose helps people to live longer and better.

Several other studies have also proven that having a purposeful life translates to having a lower risk of stroke, disability, and other health issues.

Purpose is our ‘WHY’. It drives our actions. It fuels our passion. It encompasses our work, our relationships, and our approach to living our lives. It wraps around everything we do. It means living our lives in an intentional way. It gives our lives a sharper ‘focus’ and ‘meaning’!

Our ‘why’ is what keeps us going when life gets tough, and gives life extra meaning and richness when time are good.

However, don’t panic if you struggle to find your purpose. We have all been in ‘there’. So, just ask yourself several related questions:

– Where am I’m trying to get to?

-What lights me up and gets me excited?

-What’s my reason for getting up in the mornings?

-What do I want more of in my life?

-What do I want less of in my life?

The answers to these questions can be revealing and can lead us back to the core of what really matters most to you. Listen to these answers and use them as a guiding light (and revisit them often).

A purposeful life is a happier life. When you live your life with a purpose, you are much more in control of your long-term happiness. You won’t have the feeling like you’re just drifting, working towards some vague goal that doesn’t make you happy.

With a purpose, your long-term happiness, satisfaction, and sense of achievement are much better definable. You are able to ‘steer’ your life in the best direction possible—and that’s the direction where long-term happiness can be found! This is backed up by plenty of evidence-based studies:

A team of psychologists from Poland and the US found that living meaningfully can boost feelings of harmony, peace, and well-being, which in turn promote happiness.

According to researchers Kleiman and Beaver, having or looking for a meaning in life predicts lower levels of suicidal ideation and lower suicide risk. Another study found that having a high sense of purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk of mortality.

Now, don’t get all ‘concerned’ if you don’t have a ’solid’ purpose. If you currently feel lost and have no idea what you want to spend the rest of your life on, then you can rest assured knowing that your purpose in life will eventually change anyway.

Know that your purpose in life can change. A life purpose can (and most likely will) change SEVERAL times over your life. For some people, this means that whatever got you motivated and inspired yesterday might not provide you with the same ‘itch’ tomorrow.

This is especially important for young adults, who have no idea what career to choose. Or maybe you just started your promising career and wake up every morning in panic because you dread working and worry whether or not you wasted all your years in college?

At some point in my life, I also worried about picking the wrong field of study and career. Remember that in the end, your first career will rarely turn out to be your life’s career. So, take a deep breath, RELAX, and know that your life purpose can and probably will change at some point.

If you have no idea where to even start, try this exercise from “Verywell Mind”: https://www.verywellmind.com/finding-meaning-425380. The exercise begins with making a list and ends with defining meaning. It’s a good place to start if you’ve never thought about your purpose or meaning in life before and need a structured way to gather your thoughts.

Another good method of finding your purpose in life is to step out of your ‘comfort zone’.

Comfort zones are great, but unfortunately, development can only happen once you take a step into the discomfort zone. Sometimes you need to look at life from a new perspective to find meaning and purpose.

So, if you feel like you’re stuck in a mindless, purposeless rut in life, shake things up a little. Whether it’s traveling somewhere new and exciting, or trying to see life through someone else’s eyes, it may help you discover your meaning.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

Purpose is our “why.” It drives our every action and fuels our passion. Our relationships, and our approach to living our best lives. Our purpose wraps around everything we do in our lives. To live a fulfilling life, we MUST have a purpose.

So, dig deep to find out what you’re passionate about and how that passion can make a positive impact on those around you, then go after it with vigor for the rest of your life. It means living your life in an ‘intentional’ way. Ultimately, it becomes your ‘legacy’.

Just like priorities, you have to ‘DEFINE’ YOUR purpose. Author Robert Byrne said, “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”

‘VALUES’

Values are basic and fundamental beliefs that guide or motivate attitudes or actions. They help us to determine what is important to us. Values describe the personal qualities we choose to embody to guide our actions—the sort of person we want to be, the manner in which we treat ourselves and others, and our interaction with the world around us. They provide the general ‘guidelines’ for one’s conduct.

Values in a narrow sense is that which is good, desirable, or worthwhile. Values are the motive behind purposeful action. They are the ends to which we act and come in many forms. Personal values are personal beliefs about right and wrong and may or may not be considered moral. Cultural values are values accepted by religions or societies and reflect what is important in each context.

Values are essential to ethics. Ethics is concerned with human actions, and the choice of those actions. Ethics evaluates those actions, and the values that underlie them. It determines which values should be pursued, and which shouldn’t. As I discussed in last week’s blog, courage is one such value. Those who value courage are willing to stand up for what they believe, even in the face of strong condemnation. Courage is a moral value when it deals with right and wrong conduct.

Values specify a relationship between a person and a goal. It is relational in the sense that what one person values may not be what another person values even in the same situation. For example, a person who values honesty might blow the whistle on financial wrongdoing by a superior whereas another person who values loyalty may remain silent. This is an example of values conflict. The honest person may believe there are limits to loyalty and keeping quiet about a wrongful act out of loyalty might harm others. The loyal person may believe in the importance of keeping one’s confidence even if it might harm others because of the trusting relationship.

Some values stand up well over the test of time, and they are always good or right behavior. Honesty and kindness are two such examples. It is difficult to imagine having a satisfying relationship without them because they build trust in relationships. There are always exceptions but they are rare. For example, if a criminal out to do harm to your friend knocks on the door and asks whether you have seen the friend, you are probably not going to say “Yes” and rationalize it out of a sense of honesty. Here, the greater good, so to speak, is to protect your friend from harm.

Virtue ethics holds that moral values can be turned into excellences of character with practice and repetition—we become virtuous by being virtuous. We use practical wisdom to make decisions about what virtuous behavior is.

From a virtue perspective, it is most important to distinguish intrinsic from extrinsic value. Intrinsic value is something that has value in its own right, such as honesty and kindness, whereas extrinsic value is doing something for another reason (i.e., wealth and fame).

It seems that what is missing in society today is the commitment to ‘core’ ethical values—that all people should strive to achieve, such as honesty, kindness, compassion, respect, and personal responsibility—values that are illustrative of a person of integrity.

Values are what ‘informs’ one’s purpose. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny.”

‘LOVE’

Socrates, who is sometimes regarded as the first great Western philosopher, resisted the idea that he should be numbered among the sophists (teachers of rhetoric in his day) who claimed to be wise and required payment from their students. He claimed that only an idiot or a charlatan would charge money for something that cannot be bought or sold, and that instead of possessing wisdom, he was a philosopher, one who loved and pursued it.

Socrates’ foremost biographer was Plato, and one of Plato’s most famous dialogues is the “Symposium,” a drinking party in which some of the most interesting people in ancient Athens gather to offer speeches in praise of what they regard as life’s meaning, LOVE. Socrates argues that love, at its best, is the longing for something beyond and above ourselves, the pursuit of which can bring out the best in us.

A similar idea is found in another foundational text of Western civilization, the Gospel of John. It is the only one of the four gospels in which Jesus issues a new commandment, and unlike many of the Ten Commandments, which include “Do not murder,” “Do not commit adultery,” and “Do not steal,” it is not a demand to refrain from a prohibited pattern of conduct. Instead Jesus enjoins His followers to “Love one another, as I have loved you.”

For both Socrates and Jesus, it seems, if life has some overarching meaning, it is bound up with love, and if we love at our best, our lives take on as much meaning as they possibly can. For both, the meaning of life is not a mere proposition, something that could be written down on a chalkboard, but a way of life, which cannot be understood once and for all but must be brought to life and lived out every day of our lives.

When someone experiences a life-threatening illness, or realizes that they are dying or that they have been cured, or witnesses a new life entering the world, they often ‘step out’ of their day-to-day cares and experience life in a new way.

Again and again, one of the themes that emerges is LOVE. When we live for a time on life’s ‘edge’, we experience a new and deeper sense of what really matters most. So often, what turns out to matter most about a day is not how much money we made or how many awards we collected, but HOW MUCH WE LOVED. Having realized what a precious thing life really is, we resolve to love like we have never loved before. [ Consider listening to Tim McGraw’s song “Live Like You Were Dying.” It’s in the “Songs” area below ].

Richard Gunderman, MD, Ph.D. said that he experienced moments of life with patients that deeply impressed upon him three insights concerning love and the meaning of life—that pointed to new possibilities of living.

The first one he alluded to was that whatever the meaning of life might be, it seems not to be a proposition that we can simply judge as true or false. To the contrary, it is a “call-to-action,” one that moves us from thinking and feeling to becoming. If such a truth were merely thought about but never acted on, then it would be no truth at all. In a sense, it is only in the acting and becoming that we stand any chance of knowing the truth in the first place.

The second one concerned how we see others. As long as we see ourselves as perfect or even potentially perfect, we are ‘cut off’ from one another. Only the complacent spend their time savoring the faults of others. By contrast, when we truly love, seeking out another’s defects brings us no joy. Love is not proud but humble, recognizing that when the line forms for people in need of forgiveness, no one merits a spot at its head more than we.

The final insight one concerned despair. To find meaning in life is not to blind ourselves to the many things that bring us grief, but instead to recognize that we are always vulnerable, life is a fragile and precious thing, and we are liable to despair precisely because we are spiritual creatures. When we recognize this woundedness in ourselves, we can begin to see it in others. Then the courage and compassion involved in doing so opens the ‘door’ to community, friendship, and love.

Socrates and Jesus both taught a great deal but wrote nothing, perhaps because they realized that to write anything down might contribute to the false notion that the meaning of life is a proposition. When presented with a question, each often responded with a question, not because they had nothing to say, but because they knew that to stand any chance of genuine discovery, we need to be drawn into the inquiry ourselves.

The authentic pursuit of the meaning of life is a call to service, the kind of service in which life’s meaning emerges from moment to moment. It is not something we understand so much as undertake, a search for opportunities in each day to see our lives not as burdens or curses but as gifts that come to life in the sharing. It summons us not to enter some altered state of consciousness, but to spend our days opening the ‘doors’ to love.

Love REALLY matters. Love is the most powerful ‘force’ in the universe. Why does it matter so much? Well, as Socrates and Jesus proposed, love IS the ‘foundation’ of one’s life.

‘TIME’

Time is the most finite resource any of us have, and at some point, we’re all going to run out of it. So, why do some of us run around, constantly stressed, complaining we “don’t have time,” while others seem to approach life in a relaxed and happy state but still get plenty done?

Though we all have responsibilities and obligations, this often comes down to CHOICES.

Many of us make poor exchanges on our time on a daily basis. Each time we say yes to something, we are effectively saying no to something else. The problem is, we often say “Yes” to too much. This is where a balance starts to tip.

Instead of feeling in control of our calendar, our time is all accounted for. We rush from this commitment to that, never really feeling like we’re truly ‘present’ at any of them. We squeeze evermore into our days but feel we have less and less time to do the things we really want to do, or see the people we want to see. We have less ‘space’ left for ourselves.

Time, once spent, is gone. We can’t get it back. So, we MUST be selective and intentional with the time we have.

We can take control by saying “Yes” to less and appreciating the ‘white space’ on our calendar. We can protect our precious time for the activities and people that give our lives the most meaning and joy.

Of course, reclaiming your time isn’t always this simple. Some of us are working several demanding jobs in order to pay the bills. Maybe we are bringing up a young family or caring for aging parents.

Finding time for anything in these scenarios can be especially tough since you have to be ‘available’.

If one is limited in this way, a good start is to find small ‘pockets’ of time to invest in their passion projects, our hobbies, and ourselves. Five minutes here, half an hour there can add up over a period of time.

Another step that we can take is to try to change our situation. Maybe work closer to home, simplify and reduce our bills, and perhaps even work a little less.

Blaze Olamiday said, “Don’t hesitate to live every moment out of your life in the best way you can because living is once, chances are rare and nothing is certain.”

Too often, we are stuck feeling bitter about the past or thinking about what might happen in the future. We are either holding regrets or worrying. The truth is, there is only now. You can only live in this moment—that’s why you need to make this moment count. What’s happened has passed and what is going to happen depends on what you do right now. Make every moment matter.

So, your time is ‘precious’. Don’t spend it saying, “Yes” to things that won’t serve your purpose!

DEVELOPING A ‘PURPOSE’

A team of psychologists found that living meaningfully with a ‘purpose’ can boost feelings of harmony, peace, and well-being, which in turn promote physical health.

Additionally, having or looking for a purpose in life predicts lower levels of suicidal ideation and lower suicide risk.

Finally, another study found that having a high sense of purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk of mortality.

So, evidently, it’s really important to have a purpose for one’s life. Then, how does one go about ‘DEVELOPING’ a purpose?

– Make a list of activities that make you happy.

Helen Keller wisely said, “Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.”

The more you live your life working toward larger meaning and purpose, the happier you will be. Accordingly, what makes you happy is, therefore, a clue to what your particular purpose in life is. Write out a list of what makes you truly happy and blissful. By partaking in this exercise and regularly reviewing the list, your life purpose may jump out at you.

In his book, “The Happiness Advantage,” Shawn Achor said, “Thanks to this cutting-edge science, we now know that happiness is the precursor to success, not merely the result.” Success follows happiness.

– Make a list of what has made you feel excited to get out of bed.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky said that, “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” So, make a ‘list’!

Think back through your life, back to when you were a child. Find those times in your life when you stayed up late passionately involved with something, only to wake up bright-eyed and excited to start again. Write down as long of a list as possible and review it regularly. As with the first ‘activity’, expect to find commonality and get closer to your life’s purpose.

– Ask yourself why you are ‘unique’.

If your life purpose is chosen by you, specifically for you, and can and should be different than everyone else’s, then you had better play to your ‘strengths’. What are you really good at? Start with that.

– Define your ‘perfect’ existence.

Assuming no limitations, what would your ‘perfect’ life look like? Now, of course, this is not ‘realistically’ possible, but just go with this and dream. If everything was perfect, what would your life look like in 10 years? Who is in your life? Where are you living? How do you contribute to society?

– Plug into the rest of the world.

True happiness does not come from being self-centered. Your life purpose needs to include meaningful contributions to those around you. Who do you want to help? How do you want to help them? Teaching? Charity of time? Charity of money? How can your unique strengths benefit others?

Author of the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” Stephen R. Covey said, “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”

– Ask yourself some questions.

Film producer Adam Leipzig found out that more than 80% of his college graduates were unhappy with their lives. So, he questioned the 20% who were leading happy and fulfilling lives and found that most of them had studied what interested them in college, not what they felt would propel them to the “right” career. He also discovered that they knew something about their very own life purpose.

Leipzig deducted from his interviews one can find their life purpose by asking five simple questions:

1. Who are you?

2. What do you love to do?

3. Who do you do it for?

4. What do those people want or need?

5. How do they change as a result of what you give them?

– Narrow down the lists

Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi said that, “Success demands singleness of purpose.”

If you’ve followed these steps, you’ve built an impressive list of clues that will help you find your life purpose. Now, assign a task to your subconscious. Ask it to sift through all of this data and pull out the common thread. Don’t rush this. Allow your brain to do its work and return a tremendous answer to you.

If you keep asking these questions, it’s likely that you’ll eventually circle back to the same answer. That answer is almost always your “Why” in life. That’s the reason why you want to move forward in life. That’s what makes you unhappy if your current situation doesn’t align with your “Why”.

LIVING ‘PURPOSELY’

ONE’S ‘VALUES’

Values are what bring ‘distinction’ to one’s purpose. One doesn’t ‘find’ them, one ‘chooses’ them—and when one does, they are on the path to purpose ’fulfillment’.

Values are an inexhaustible source of motivation—inexhaustible because they are qualities intrinsic to being and doing. They are visible only through their enactments. Because they are ‘chosen’ qualities of actions, they can never be fully achieved, only embraced and shown. Nevertheless, they give life direction, help us persist through difficulties. They nudge us, invite us, and draw us forward. They provide constant ‘soft’ encouragement.

The thing is, there is no domain, age, or situation to which values do not contribute, and one has to do the work of exploring, selecting and owning them.

Many argue that it is harder than ever for people—especially young people—to know what they value. Modern technology has created a ‘fire hose’ of information in the expansion of communication media. The gush of words and images that are unleashed on ourselves risks to psychologically overwhelm us.

Sadly, amidst all the ‘noise’, we are unable to put to rest our own insecurities, many generated by media constantly pulling us into self-defeating behaviors. We are unable to sit with the pain and distress that is a normal part of the human experience; instead, we are offered even more ways to ‘escape’ it. We are unable to reach through the mental ‘entanglement’ of human judgment, losing flexible contact with others. Compassion, connection, community, and peace of mind disappear into the ‘chatter’.

Here are a few ways to determine if you are focused on what’s important…

– You feel a sense of ‘enough’, rather than the need to measure whether you have.

– You can readily name those who you admire (examples).

Something we would like to stand for ourselves. What do they stand for, in your eyes, in the qualities of their actions?

– You can single out the ‘sweetest’ moments of your life.

‘Unpack’ that experience. There will be something in that memory that connects you to the vital source of valuing.

– You can identify your greatest pain.

Pain has large lessons to teach us. If you look inside the pain and see why it hurts, you have a precise and powerful indicator of what you value.

– You don’t know the content, but you can identify the theme of the next chapter of your life’s ‘narrative’.

The challenges you’ve overcome, the opportunities you’ve missed or reached out for, exemplify life as a journey.

– It’s what you would do if nobody were looking.

That exercise strips out the possibility of a self-aggrandizing motive: “I’m so great—look, I’m living my values and everybody sees it.”

– Your decisions make you feel like getting up in the morning.

There is an appetitive yearning—taking yet another step forward toward something.

– You can tell someone what really matters to you.

Talking about one’s values ‘strengthen’ them, and boost one’s ability to succeed.

– You have a strong desire to communicate what you value to others.

Care about the future—99% of the values are ‘social’ in nature.

– You live in an intimate, committed, and effective way, moving toward the kind of life we want to produce.

When we engage the capacity to choose and to embrace the values that inform our actions, we are humanizing ourselves, living in an intimate, committed, effective way, and moving toward the kind of life we want to produce.

In the end, choosing values is simple. But it takes a certain amount of psychological sophistication to rein in the problem-solving mind. It takes sophistication to maintain playful, chosen, conscious, human, values-based action amid the cacophony of voices coming at us from outside and from within—judging, blaming, shaming, and avoiding.

Values set the direction of one’s life path. However, if one wanders into avoidance and self-aggrandizement, they are heading away from their own chosen meaning. The gap between the two can serve as an ever-present ‘compass’, letting them know that they are straying from their ‘gut’ purpose. One’s values can be their ‘teacher’, vitalizing their life journey when they most need a ‘nudge’.

DEVELOPING ‘DEEP’ RELATIONSHIPS

Connections are the lifeblood of communities in both our professional and personal domains. When we connect deeply with another person, we:

– Experience a sense of serenity.

– Feel safe enough to share stories we need to get off our chests.

– Are more likely to give and get trust.

– Put the other person at ease so she feels comfortable sharing her stories.

– Build meaningful and long-lasting relationships.

– Connecting deeply helps both people (and I recommend never settling for superficial conversations and connections again!)

Cultivating deep connections tends to have a positive effect one’s business and can also pave the way for bringing ‘partners’ and mentors into your life.

I have heard it said in business ‘circles’ that a person will most likely do business with you if they “know, like, and trust” you—and that just takes time!

So, even if you don’t do business with someone you’ve got a deep connection with, it still feels good to get to know a new and interesting person. (Plus, it’s always best to give before we get.)

Now, know that one will not connect ‘deeply’ with everyone they meet—but that’s fine. So, just move on when it’s not working and remain curious about whomever you’re talking to.

I promise you will enjoy deep connections much more than superficial ones! So, start today and be encouraged about the possibilities that deep connections hold for you in the future!

Now, moving from just an acquaintance or friendship to the ‘deepest’ relationship one can have, love, while it’s not something that’s easy to come by or hold on to, deep love is something that one CAN find and enjoy in life.

Deep love isn’t going to look exactly the same for every relationship, so don’t get caught up in comparing your relationship to someone else’s. Here are some ‘symptoms’ of deep love that you can watch for:

– You accept their flaws.

When your relationship first started you were most likely blinded to the flaws that your significant other had. You thought they were perfect. But, as your relationship has matured, you are able to see their flaws. However, you accept them anyway, just as they are.

– You want to share everything with them.

When you experience deep love for someone, you want to share every part of your life with them. You want to recall the events of your day to them. And you want to be as much a part of their life as you want them to be in yours.

– You share your secrets with them.

When you truly love someone, you begin to trust them with your biggest secrets and the things that you wouldn’t tell just anyone. You reach a new level of comfort.

– You have a ‘mature’ relationship.

You don’t care quite as much about what you’re doing with the other person just as long as you’re spending time together. You might find that you’re perfectly happy just sitting next to them on a bench.

– You feel a sense of protection over the other person.

When you really love someone deeply, you want to protect them. You hate to see them hurting and want to help make their life easier.

You are honest with the other person.

Healthy relationships aren’t built on lies, and when you truly love someone, you won’t want to break their trust.

So, it seems like the benefits of deep love are obvious, right? You have someone who you love, and who loves you in return. There is someone standing by your side, supporting you through the difficult times, and celebrating with you during the good. There’s a person to go through life with so you won’t be alone. The thing is, scientists have found even MORE ‘additional’ benefits of deep love.

First off, there are health benefits. An article in the Harvard Gazette titled, “When Love and Science Double Date” describes the benefits of love after the initial infatuation stage wears off. It says, “That period is followed by an upsurge in the hormone oxytocin, a neurotransmitter associated with a calmer, more mature category of love. The oxytocin helps cement bonds, heighten immune function, and begin to confer the health benefits found in married couples who are inclined to live longer, have lesser strokes and heart attacks, be less depressed, and have increased survival rates from major surgery and cancer.”

As you can see, when you experience deep love you might also experience multiple other health benefits. There is also evidence showing that there are health benefits that couples in love experience:

– Visit the doctor less often

– Less chance of experiencing substance abuse or depression

– Lower blood pressure

– Reduced anxiety

– Less pain

– Greater ability to manage stress

– Fewer colds

– Heal faster

– Live longer

– Happier

Not only does being in love come with a long list of health benefits, there are also practical benefits, like finances (Marriage brings financial benefits, such as tax savings, savings on healthcare, and tax-free marital gifts.)

Now, yes, there are some financial benefits that you might experience (even for a single person), but getting married when you aren’t truly in love can lead you down a difficult path—and if you aren’t in love, the chance of your marriage surviving is not going to be great. Divorce is an ‘expensive’ and ‘painful’ process that you likely don’t want to go through. Therefore, you shouldn’t rush into marriage if you aren’t actually deeply ’in’ love.

So then, how does one love ‘deeply’? Well, the important thing to understand is that deep love is not something that can be ‘forced’. It’s true that love is a choice, but you can’t force the level of deepness that your relationship reaches. However, there are some things that you can do in order to encourage your relationship in that direction.

The five different love languages include:

– Words of affirmation

– Acts of service

– Spending quality time together

– Gifts

– Physical touch

Now, it’s perfectly normal for you NOT to have ‘everything’ in common with your partner (I’m thinking it would actually be odd and most likely boring if you did.) But just because you don’t enjoy all of the same things, it doesn’t mean you can’t do them together.

If your partner has a hobby or interest that you just don’t get, participate in it with them anyway (and make sure that you have a good attitude while you do it!). This will go a long way in showing them that you love them. It will also help you better understand them and learn more about the person that you love.

You’ve probably heard that “laughter is the best medicine.” The thing is, it’s great for your health as well as being good for your relationship.

A study by the University of Kansas found that humor is an important part of romantic attraction. While you shouldn’t build your entire relationship on pure attraction, it is an important part of a healthy relationship. So, find ways to laugh together.

Deep love can be a great thing; however, it doesn’t come without its own challenges. Love is complicated and faces many ups and downs. It can be hard to keep the feelings of love in your relationship when you are dealing with the difficulties of life. This includes things like work stress, paying bills, and raising children.

If you start to feel like the love is gone, it doesn’t mean that it really is. It just might be time to reach out for some help and guidance from a more ‘mature’ couple. They m most likely have experienced what you two are going through and can help you learn how to overcome the challenges you and your partner are facing—and learn to find the deep love that you have for another once again.

Love is a complicated and wonderful thing, and a lot of the time it’s hard to find the words to describe it. Deep love is often unexplainable. You can’t explain why it happens, or how, and you can’t instruct others how to find it, but when you do find it, you’ll be able to decipher deep love from all the rest.

Here’s a few authors that have tried to describe deep love:

“There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.”

[ Martin Luther King, Jr. ]

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

[ Lao Tzu ]

“To love one person among this world’s many and to have loved each other deeply for a long while is beautiful.”

[ Do Jong-Hwan ]

“My love is deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, both are infinite.”

[ William Shakespeare ]

ONE’S ‘LAST DAYS’

1. “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

2. “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. “I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.”

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end, it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”

Often, they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone with a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually, though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. “I wish that I had let myself be happier.”

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

The thing is, when you are on your ‘deathbed’, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to ‘let go’ and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly, and choose happiness.

Another way to find out what really mattered most to someone is to read their “last words.” Usually, whatever a person considers to be most important is on his mind when he comes to his last days on earth. That’s why we pay so much attention to last words, especially of people who are important to us.

[ FYI: For a discussion of people’s ‘last words’, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:

https://markbesh.wordpress.com/ones-last-words-v232/ ].

I read a story that might illustrate this better than I can. It described a pastor that talked about an observation he had made while visiting some of his church members at the nursing home. He asked a group of people how many boxes it would take for them to pack up all the things they owned.

He gave them a few moments to try to take a mental count. Then he said, of all the folks I’ve visited in the nursing home, I’m pretty sure that everything they owned, everything they had with them could fit into one box. They had a few photos of their family, pictures drawn by the grandkids or great-grandkids, their favorite book, their bible, a few other small things. The most important things that they possessed.

He then said “It’s funny, we spend most of our time filling our lives with all kinds of things, some good, some bad, some helpful, some harmful, some that reflect our love of God, and some that are just the opposite.

“But you know what, there will come a time when we have to decide what is more important. There will come a time when God is going to ask us to take an inventory of what we are putting in our box and ask us ‘Is this what Jesus taught? Is this how Jesus lived?’”

I’m thinking that, right now, God is asking us to take an ‘inventory’ of what we have made the priorities of our life, and if it’s not matching the life and teachings of Jesus, we should take it out of the ‘box’ and replace it! (To some, this will be REALLY ‘tough’ to do since the things in their ‘box’ are TOO special and ‘dear’ to them!)

JESUS ‘IS’ WHAT REALLY MATTERS MOST!

– Recognize Your Condition.

In order to find the way to eternal life with God, you must admit you are stuck in sin. (Sin is any act contrary to God’s laws and commandments.) Romans 5:12 teaches us that since Adam and Eve (the first man and woman on earth), a sinful nature has been present in all people. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The sins you have committed separate you from God and keep you apart from Him. But all sin has a penalty―a big one. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The “wage” or payment for our sin is spiritual death and eternal separation from God.

– Religion and Good Works Are Not the Answer.

World religions try to create their own ways to God. Their systems may seem logical, but they cannot bridge the gap created by our sin or remove the consequences of it. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.” In other words, our own ideas and opinions are not what matters. God’s Word, the Bible, is what provides true answers. It shows us how to receive forgiveness for our sins and wrongdoings, and that this forgiveness comes by God’s grace―it is His free gift to us. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and that this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

– The Good News: Jesus Christ Provides the Way!

Even though you are lost and your sins have separated you from God, He still loves you. In fact, it is because He is love. That God sent His Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross as a spiritual payment for your sins. John 3:16 explains, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Through the death of Jesus, He became the payment for your sins. In Romans 5:8, the Bible says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Through His resurrection three days later, He provided the spiritual power for us to live above the consequences of sin. As a result, we do not have to pay for our sins ourselves. By His grace, salvation―a way out―is provided.

– Believe, Repent, and Receive Christ.

In order to have a relationship with God and an eternal home with Him in heaven, you must stop trusting what you can do (or what any religion says) and must instead place your full trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins and for receiving eternal life. Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” It is a promise directly from God that if you will pray to Him, confess that you are a sinner (that is, confess that you have done things your own way rather than His), ask Him to forgive your sins, and turn to Him alone to be your Savior, He then promises to spiritually cleanse you, place you in a personal relationship with Him, and give you the free gift of eternal life. You can make that decision today by praying to Him from your heart. You can pray something like the “Reconciliation Prayer” below.

“Cru” (previously “Campus Crusade for Christ”) developed the “Four Spiritual Laws” to explains how one can begin a real relationship with Jesus/God. The principles are paraphrased below:

God’s Love / God’s Plan:

Understand that God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life (John 3:16, John 10:10).

We Are Sinful / We Are Separated:

Know that all of us sin and that our sin has separated us from God (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23).

He Dies In Our Place / He Rose From The Dead / He Is The Only Way To God:

Understand that Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin (Romans 5:8, John 14:6).

We Must Receive Christ / We Receive Christ Through Faith / We Receive Christ By Personal Invitation:

We must individually receive Jesus Christ as our savior so that we can experience God’s love and know His plans for us (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, Revelation 3:20).

[ For more details, visit Cru’s webpage for this:

https://www.cru.org/us/en/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally.html ].

Now, because of our fast-paced world and, most to the time, one’s fast-paced life, there seems to be less ‘TIME’ to develop one’s spiritual life, primarily because of the ‘distraction’ of busyness. [ Note: It has been said that “B.U.S.Y.” can be an acronym for “Being Under Satan’s Yoke” ]. It just so happens that there is a biblical story that addresses this:

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her’” [ Luke 10:38-42 ].

Martha and Mary often had guests over to their home, and one of them was a very notable guest, Jesus. They had invited Him and all His disciples and some other followers over for dinner, which made for a full house. People were hungry and chores needed to be done. So, Martha set out to do them. Mary, on the other hand, sat down to listen and learn from Jesus. She wasn’t busy. In fact, she wasn’t even moving, and that ‘ticked’ Martha off. As Martha hustled around the house caring for everyone, she noticed her sister not helping her. The first thing she thought was, “This is not fair!” She ‘boiled’ over with resentment, and she said something about it to Jesus. Martha was busy with ‘stuff’. Mary was busy with developing a ‘relationship’.

Now, back in Jesus’ time, Jewish women were expected to be engaged in domestic preparations while the men were engaged in study. For Mary to stop serving with Martha and to sit down with a group of men to listen to Jesus would have been seen as out of place by most and wrong by many. But Jesus does not rebuke her, instead, He ‘APPROVED’ of her behavior and ‘COMMENDS’ her actions by continuing to teach—and she continues to ‘soak up’ every word He speaks. But while all of this is going on, one must ask: “What is Martha doing?”

“But Martha was distracted…” [ Luke 10:40 ].

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word ‘distracted’ in this way: “Having one’s thoughts or attention drawn away; Unable to concentrate or give attention to something.”

Now, to understand the significance of this we must take a step back and understand that Jesus, the Son of God, the One who the Bible says “holds all things together,” the One who hung every star in the sky, established the mountains in their place, made you and me from the dust, is now standing in Martha’s living room, teaching—and Martha has her thoughts “drawn away” from Him! This is the first hindrance to knowing Jesus: DISTRACTION.

Surely there is not one person that has not felt the nagging pull of distraction. You wake up in the morning after having planned to sit down and read your Bible unhurried and as you sit down to fix your eyes and heart on the Word of God your heart beats with excitement. You begin to read but a thought comes to mind wondering if you ever replied to ‘that’ e-mail. Okay, back to it… then your phone vibrates—there is an ‘important’ text that you MUST respond to right away. Sooner or later you quit reading your Bible because you can’t seem to overcome all of the ‘distractions’.

All of us feel this ‘tension’—perhaps more than ever before. After all, we live in a day and age which, in large part, is due to the widespread influence of the Internet.

[ FYI: For more details on being ‘distracted’—and how to be ‘discerning’—view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:

https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-discerning-v266/ ].

Distractions hinder us from knowing Jesus more deeply. But notice the particular distraction that plagued Martha: “But Martha was distracted with much serving…” Martha traded the enjoyment of Jesus for the execution of tasks. (Are we any different today?) Martha was distracted with much serving, but as she sees Mary sitting and not helping her, she comes to Jesus and says, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

Martha sees that Mary is not doing her domestic preparation duties like she expected, so she goes to Jesus assuming that Jesus doesn’t care and demanding Him to rebuke her “tell her then to help me.” But Jesus responds not in stern rebuke towards Martha for complaining. Rather, He responds with tender love and patience: “But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things” [ Luke 10:41 ]. With that statement, Jesus reveals the second hindrance we face when wanting to know Jesus: ANXIETY. Anxiety is an invisible problem that shows visible effects.

Martha was worrying about Mary not ‘pulling her weight’, worried about if her guests were served well, worrying about what Jesus might think of her if the house isn’t all clean and tidy—yet all the while not enjoying Jesus’ presence. But Jesus goes deeper and uncovers the fountain of her anxiety when he says, “you are anxious and troubled about many things.” Where is Martha’s anxiety coming from? BUSYNESS. (Remember “Satan’s ‘yoke’”?)

Jesus is showing Martha that her frantic, overwhelmed, anxious living was actually being fueled by her mind and life being consumed with “many things.” (I’m sure many of us can relate.) Pastor and author Kevin DeYoung said:

“As Christians, our lives should be marked by joy, taste like joy, and be filled with the fullness of joy. Busyness attacks all of that. One study found that commuters experience greater levels of stress than fighter pilots and riot police… When our lives are frantic and frenzied, we are prone to anxiety, resentment, impatience, and irritability all the while neglecting God… Busyness has killed more Christians than bullets.”

Yet, in light of the story, we must ask this question: “What is busyness and how does it keep us from knowing Jesus?” In order to answer these questions, we must first understand that busyness IS NOT ‘inherently’ bad. After all, Jesus Himself was busy going from town to town, healing people and preaching the gospel. The Apostle Paul told the people in that he “toiled day and night for the sake of the Gospel” (2 Thessalonians 3:8). So, in many respects, God calls us to be busy with Him as He works in the world.

But the ‘busyness’ Jesus is pointing out in Martha’s life is the kind that is always looking ahead at the ‘NEXT’ thing, causing her to miss out on enjoying His presence in the ‘NOW’.

Think about it: Martha was busy. After all, she had a lot to do: The Son of God was coming over (and some of you freak out when just a family member comes over for supper). She had tasks to get done, food to make, floors to sweep, and laundry to get done.

So, Jesus reminds Martha that in light of all she has to do, there is only one thing she MUST do. ”Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary” [ Luke 10:41 ].

Surely Martha must have perked up at such an audacious statement: “one thing necessary?!” What is this one thing I must do? “Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her” [ Luke 10:42 ].

Essentially, Jesus said to her, “Martha, you’ve done a lot of ‘good’ and noble things, but you have neglected the most important thing. Mary has chosen the BEST thing.”

Do you find yourself feeling like Martha today? Easily distracted, usually anxious, always busy?

Life is full of things that matter. Your marriage matters. Your children matter. Your friends matter. Your neighbors matter. Your job matters. School matters. Church matters. Many things ‘matter’! But like Martha, these things can be all-consuming such that we forget what matters MORE than anything. This is why Jesus calls sitting at His feet the “good portion” or perhaps a more accurate translation: the “better portion.” What does this mean?

We desperately need to be reminded of this because the world has been selling you a ‘pack’ of lies all week. The Devil tempts us and tells us that there is joy and pleasure to be ‘outside’ of Jesus—even all the ‘good’ things I listed above. Puritan theologian Thomas Watson said, “If there be enough in God to satisfy us, then sure there is enough to satisfy us.” JESUS MATTERS THE MOST!

Jesus then gives one of the most precious promises in all of the Bible: “Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her” [ Luke 10:42 ].

So, how does this promise help distracted, busy, anxious people? By calling us to acknowledge two things:

Number 1: There is nothing we have that won’t one day be ‘TAKEN’.

There is nothing in this life that can’t be ‘taken’ from you. Your job can be taken. Your house can be taken. Your car can be taken. Your money can be taken. Your friends can be taken. Your spouse can be taken. Your children can be taken. Even your very life can be taken—and one day will be!

Pastor and author Tim Keller put it this way: “When pain and suffering come upon us, we finally see not only that we are not in control of our lives but that we never were.” There is nothing we have that won’t one day be taken from us. But at the same exact time, Jesus wants us to also acknowledge that, for the ‘BORN AGAIN’ BELIEVER…

Number 2: He can NEVER be taken from you!

Theologian J.C. Ryle explains this further when he writes:

“The true Christian’s possession shall never be taken from him. He alone, of all mankind, shall never be stripped of his inheritance. Kings must one day leave their palaces. Rich men must one day leave their money and lands. They only hold them till they die. But the poorest saint on Earth has a treasure of which he will never be deprived. The grace of God, and the presence of Christ are riches which no man can take from him. They will go with him to the grave when he dies. They will rise with him in the resurrection morning, and be his to all eternity.”

Busyness can’t take Him away. Anxiety can’t take Him away. Distraction can’t take Him away. Neither can the Devil, sickness, or even death itself can’t take Jesus away from the believer!

Perhaps you’ve been overwhelmed by distraction, busyness, anxiety, suffering or some circumstance in your life. Be encouraged by this: Jesus is here with you—right now. He is all around you—calling you to abide in Him, talk to Him, enjoy Him, and to worship Him above every anxiety, task, and distraction—reminding you that JESUS MATTERS MOST!

So, starting RIGHT NOW, will you ‘embrace’ Jesus or will you rush to the next thing to ‘do’?

[ “You Alone” – Kim Hill (Lyrics in “Songs” section below) ]

[ “All That I Want” – Kim Hill (Lyrics in “Songs” section below) ]

HOW MUCH ’SHOULD’ JESUS MATTER?

Well, there are a couple of parables that indicate HOW IMPORTANT a ‘relationship’ with one’s Creator is, and how to experience Him in the ‘place’ that He now resides—Heaven.

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” [ Matthew 13:44 ].

This is saying that the Kingdom of Heaven—‘where’ Jesus is—is worth ANY ‘SACRIFICE’ you have to make!

[ FYI: For more details about what following Jesus will ‘cost’ you, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:

https://markbesh.wordpress.com /it-will-cost-you-v233/ ].

In the book, “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” there is an allusion to this passage that says this well:

“Behold ye how these Chrystal Streams do glide,

(To comfort Pilgrims) by the High-way side.

The Meadows green; besides their fragrance smell,

Yield dainties for them; and he that can tell

What pleasant Fruit, yea, Leaves, these Trees do yield,

Will soon sell at, that he may buy this Field.”

The next parable then compares God’s Kingdom to a valuable pearl:

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” [ Matthew 13:45-46 ].

[ For more details on finding that ‘pearl’ (Heaven), read this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post: https://markbesh.wordpress.com/two-choices-one-way-v254/ ].

In each story, the point is very simple, they sell EVERYTHING to get the ‘prize’—which is Heaven/Who ‘resides’ in Heaven, Jesus. The parable ALSO teaches that those who do not believe in the Kingdom of Heaven enough to stake their WHOLE FUTURE on it are ‘UNWORTHY’ of the Kingdom/Jesus!

An interpretation of the parable, the Swedish hymn “Den Kostliga Pärlan” (“O That Pearl of Great Price!”), begins by trying to explain how ‘crucial’ it is to understand the ‘value’ of Heaven/Jesus:

“O that Pearl of great price! Have you found it?

Is the Savior supreme in your love?

O consider it well, ere you answer,

As you hope for a welcome above.

Have you given up all for this Treasure?

Have you counted past gains as but loss?

Has your trust in yourself and your merits?

Come to naught before Christ and His cross?”

Theologian John Calvin wrote of these parables, “The first two of these parables are intended to instruct believers to prefer the Kingdom of heaven to the whole world, and therefore to deny themselves and all the desires of the flesh, that nothing may prevent them from obtaining so valuable a possession. We are greatly in need of such a warning; for we are so captivated by the allurements of the world, that eternal life fades from our view; and in consequence of our carnality, the spiritual graces of God are far from being held by us in the estimation which they deserve.”

Heaven/Jesus is the ULTIMATE ‘FIND’. Is it that important to you to GIVE UP ‘EVERYTHING’ for it? Is Jesus so valuable to you that you have ‘stripped yourself bare’? In fact, Jesus said, “You can’t come to Me unless you hate yourself” [ John 12:25 ]. (Essentially ‘denying’ oneself of all self-righteousness).

Jesus IS worth EVERYTHING you have, and it just may ‘COST’ YOU EVERYTHING, too!

[ FYI: For more details on how much believing in Jesus may ‘cost’ you, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:

https://markbesh.wordpress.com/it-will-cost-you-v233/ ].

Johan says, very well, how much Jesus should matter to the believer:

“- He is my peace. Outside that, there can be unrest and commotion everywhere as far as I am concerned.

– He is my joy. I do not need any other joy.

– He is the atonement for all my sins. He has cast all my sins behind Him into the sea of forgetfulness. If I should sin again, He will forgive me, for this sin has also been atoned for.

– He is my sanctifier. He purifies me again and again as long as I live. His death is working in me, with the result that there is gradually more room for the life of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:12)

– He is my Shepherd. Even if no one else cares for me, He does so faithfully day and night.

– He is my song of praise. If there is no other topic or any other reason for singing praises, He is.

– He is my capital. I do not need any other capital. If that is not sufficient, then nothing is sufficient.

– He is my income. If that fails, then everything fails.

– He is my insurance. If that isn’t safe, nothing is safe.

– He is my future. I look unto Him. I am going to meet Him. Then my future is bright and long. Hallelujah!

– He is my only Lord and ruler. I have sanctified Him as Lord in my heart. (1 Peter 3:15) I have submitted to Him, being fully confident of the perfect goodness of His guidance and commands.

– He is my family. He is my mother, sister, and brother.

– He is my honor. I have absolutely no need of any other honor. It makes no difference if people dishonor and despise me all the days of my life.

– He is my fortress, my shield, and my guardian. There I am safe.

– He is my Master. I am an apprentice. Even if no one else instructs me diligently in the truth, He does.

– He is my leader. Even if all others were only talkers who had not themselves gone on the way, so I could rely on them to lead me, He would still be well acquainted with the way. Glory be to His name!

– He is my captain. Even if no one else strengthens me and teaches me to wage war, He is a mighty warrior, the captain of God’s host. He is no weakling.

– He is my rest. Even though my body had neither bed nor pillow, my spirit would still have a delightful place of rest – in Him!

– He is my storeroom. Even if I did not have any supplies, yet in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and I am a member of His body, filled by Him.

– He is my physician. Even if no earthly physician can heal my body, He can do it; and He also does it if it is for my best.

– He is my goal – to become like Him and partake of His nature.

– He is my forerunner. I am not journeying on an unknown way as an explorer. It is a way that has been cleared and on which Jesus has run ahead. Every step has been taken by Him previously. He has been tested in all points, exactly like the steps I am now taking and am yet to take. What a comfort that is!

– He is my comfort. This comfort is sufficient for me.

– He is my Judge. It does not matter how other people judge me.

– He is my choice food. He is the bread of life. His flesh is truly food.

– He is my entertainment and my pleasure. All other entertainment fades by comparison.

– He is my fortune and my prosperity. What He sends in my way is always fortunate and for my prosperity. No one has ever experienced better fortune and prosperity.

– He is my wisdom and my understanding. Greater wisdom and better understanding than obedience to Him is not to be found.

– He – the Word – is my sword. This weapon cuts better than any other.

– He is my faithful, upright friend. Any other friendship is not needed.

– He is my interest. Relative to Him all other interests are pure vanity.

– He is my rock and my foundation. He stands when everything else passes away.

– He is my life. It shall endure forever.

– He is the truth. There is never a reason to doubt Him.

– He is my Bridegroom, my eternally Beloved.

– He is my defender, my advocate, my lawyer. I have no need for any other lawyers.

– He is the Mediator; He mediates between the Father and me. I have access to the Father through Him.

– He is God’s Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit.

– He is the Son of Man, a man, the son of Abraham, the son of David, born of the Virgin Mary.

– He is my true Brother, the most excellent and firstborn among many brethren.

– He is my High Priest who has compassion with my infirmities.

– He is my holiday. You cannot have a more strengthening vacation than by abiding in Him.

– He is my comfort. No one can be more comfortable than by being where He is.

– He is the tree of life into which I have been grafted as a branch.

– He is the master builder who is building me up together with the others as a habitation of God in the Spirit.

– He is the chief cornerstone in the living building in which I have also become a living stone.

– He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense of which I have become a partaker through the cross – an offense to all those who want to defend their own.

– He is the Head of the church, the body of which I have also become a member.

– He is my strength. I can do all things in Him – everything that He appoints for me.

– He is God’s power. It is marvelous that He could accomplish all the things He did in a flesh and blood like ours.

– He is God’s wisdom. It is marvelous to gain insight into what occurred in Christ Jesus.

– He is the mystery of God. Is it any wonder that people do not understand His person?

– He is my time; He fills it. It never gets boring. Wasting time falls away.

– He is my Sabbath. I rest in Him, in His will and work, instead of going my own ways and “going about my own business.” I do this every day of the week all year long, and therefore I consider (as it is written) all days alike. Constant Sabbath rest! God be praised!

– He is the Giver of all good gifts. My eyes do not need to look out for other givers.

– He is my refuge. I can avoid having to run to broken cisterns on the day of need.

– He is the fountain of my life. “All my fountains are in You.” Psalm 87:7.

– He is in all things the perfect pattern.

– He is unchangeable and without shadow of turning. He is always the same even though all others are as changeable as the moon.

– He is everything to me. That is precisely why everything else is as nothing. It is meaningless and indifferent to me. Amen.”

[ FYI: For more details on how to grow closer to Jesus/God in the here and now, visit the “Search For Meaning” website:

http://www.4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q12_d1_1of10.html ].

WHAT MATTERS ‘MOST’ TO GOD

HIS ‘GLORY’

Man was created from the beginning in God’s image such that he might demonstrate God’s glory. “I have created them for My glory” [ Isaiah 43:7b ].

Now, when God said that He created humans for His glory, it cannot mean that He created us so that He would become more glorious—that His beauty and perfection would be somehow increased by us. It is unthinkable that God should become more perfectly God by making something that is not God.

Instead, what Isaiah 43:7 means is that He created us to display His glory such that His glory might be known and praised—and we are the ‘vessels’ which contain His glory.

This becomes clearer as we continue reading through Isaiah: “I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise” [ Isaiah 43:20c-21 ].

Isaiah makes it even more clear what it means for God to seek His own glory in creating and redeeming His people:

“For My name’s sake I defer my anger,

for the sake of My praise I restrain it for you,

that I may not cut you off.

Behold, I have refined you but not like silver;

I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

For My own sake, for My own sake I do it,

for how should My name be profaned?

My glory I will not give to another”

[ Isaiah 48:9-11 ]

How anti-20th-century this text is! How ugly and repulsive it must appear to the god of this age—Satan—the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). But how ‘sweet’ this is to all the believers who really love God above all else!

Although love for other people is ‘VERY’ important for the believer, trusting in earthly things, earthly relationships, or even one’s own self, these all should be ‘SECONDARY’ to one’s love for God. ‘Things’ fade and fail as they will inevitably do (being only temporary carriers of the greater glory). What we all need to realize is that God’s glory is constant, and as we journey through life we will see it manifest here and there, in this person, or in a story of love, or in our own personal lives. But it all ‘points back’ to God in the end.

Another important thing associated with God’s glory is that, “You shall have no other gods before Me” [ Exodus 20:3 ].

In the book of Exodus, God tells us something important about His character: He is ‘jealous’. He doesn’t like any ‘competition’ or having other gods vie for His place in His ‘children’s hearts. He says, “You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a Jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods” [ Exodus 20:5 ].

God doesn’t like lesser ‘gods’ trying to compete for the affection of His people, enticing them to be content with less than God Himself (That’s how Satan ‘manipulated’ Eve.) When we have these idols in our lives, our worship suffers. Then, even if we desire all our worship to be on the big-G God, the little-g gods pull us in another direction (money, power, greed, sex, envy, pride, etc.).

The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans indicates the worship of things in creation themselves—not just their images—is wrong in the eyes of God (Romans 1:25). Jesus then expanded the definition of “other gods” to include concepts in addition to images, living things and other supernatural beings. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” [ Mathew 6:24 ]. The Greek word “mammonas,” translated here as “money,” does not mean the money in one’s pockets. It is the ‘personification’ of wealth or money (especially wealth gained through greediness), the love of which, in modern terminology, is called “materialism.” [ The dangers of worshiping material things are clearly outlined in the story of the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-26) who turned away from Christ because he could not part with his wealth. ]

God commands us not to serve other gods because there are no other gods except the ones we make ourselves. King David describes what awaits the person who puts God ahead of all else: “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods” [ Psalm 40:4 ]. They are “blessed”! [ Consider reading “The Beatitudes,” in Matthew 5:1-12, for what Jesus says it means to be blessed. ]

So, what matters to God? YOU DO! Namely, that, you become His ‘child’ will glorify Him through your gifts, talents, and possessions on your path of holiness and Christlikeness, and that you don’t follow “other gods.”

These verses might solidify this for you: “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” [ 1 Corinthians 10:31 ], and “Let your light so shine among men that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in Heaven” [ Matthew 5:16 ].

‘LOST’ PEOPLE

A story in the Bible tells of a shepherd who realizes that he’s missing one of his sheep. He leaves the ninety-nine behind in order to find the one lost sheep. Then, when he gets back home, he throws a party for having found the one. This is a parable about God willing to go ‘find’ those who are spiritually lost and separated from him.

Another story is about a woman who loses one of her ten silver coins. She doesn’t say, “Well, that’s fine, I still have the other nine.” No, she diligently searches for it until it’s found, then throws a party for having found it. Same message—God LOVES ‘lost’ people! “In the same way, I tell you, joy breaks out in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who changes both heart and life” [ Luke 15:10 ].

The lost are ’outside’ of the Kingdom, and this really, really matters to God. Why? Well, because they are still dead ‘in’ their sins and spiritually separated from Him—and “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” [ 2 Peter 3:9 ]. More than anything else, God’s greatest desire is for ‘lost’ people to be ‘FOUND’!

Now, since lost people matter to God, they ought to matter to the believer as well. No expense and no effort should be spared to aid in their recovery! [ The reason I continue to write these posts. ]

English Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon said, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

‘RELATIONSHIP’

We must keep in mind that one of God’s purposes for creating humanity is to reflect His very character: “In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God” [ Genesis 5:1 ], and “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God created him; male and female He created them” [ Genesis 1:27 ].

Webster’s Dictionary defines “relationship” as the “quality or state of being related, a continuing attachment or association between persons.”

God instituted this type of relationship with ancient Israel when He said, “I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people” [ Leviticus 26:12 ].

These few words summarize what God wants in His relationship with people. Notice the two aspects of God’s simple statement.

First, He expresses His desire that we acknowledge and accept Him as the Supreme Being. Then, He expresses His desire to associate with—to have a relationship with—those who ‘accept’ Him as their God.

Once we understand God desires a ‘relationship’ with us, we should make is a ‘PRIORITY’ to develop it!

The Apostle John also briefly describes the nature of the relationship we are to have with God: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!… Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” [ 1 John 3:1-3 ].

Here we see the purpose for the creation of mankind: God is building a ‘family’—His own family. He created us so we can have a special Father-child relationship with Him. God plans to bestow His immortality on us. As the Apostle Paul explains: “This perishable body must be clothed with the imperishable, and what is mortal with immortality” [ 1 Corinthians 15:53 ]. God wants an ETERNAL relationship with us as His children!

Paul then tells us that, “God our Savior… desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” [ 1 Timothy 2:3-4 ]. God has planned a ‘WAY’ to make this relationship available to every human according to His timetable. As the Apostle Peter wrote: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” [ 2 Peter 3:9 ].

Notice that Peter says that “REPENTANCE” plays an ‘integral’ role in cementing the relationship between God and man—and God is EAGER to establish that relationship! BUT, He ‘conditions’ it on our willingness to recognize, acknowledge and repent of our former ways and determine to seek Him. Only then can God redeem us from the penalty of death we deserve because of our sins.

The Apostle John explains that, “We love Him because He first loved us” [ 1 John 4:19 ]. John also tells us that, “In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins” [ 1 John 4:10 ]. CLEARLY, it is God’s desire and plan to establish a relationship between human beings and Himself!

LOVE

As I just mentioned, the God who created the universe—the most powerful ‘being’ ever—LOVES you ‘personally’. Try to wrap your mind around that! He loves you—not just people in general, but YOU as a ‘person’. He CARES about your life and wants to be ‘PART’ of it!

Even if you have spent your whole life ‘running’ away from God or done things you regret, He still loves you and wants to have a relationship with you! God loves you whatever ‘state’ your life is in. God’s love is unconditional and infinite—far, far beyond what even the best of people are capable of.

These following verses from the Bible remind us of God’s wonderful, extravagant, amazing, unstoppable and unconditional love…

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance”

[ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ].

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love”

[ 1 John 4:18 ].

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? … No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord”

[ Romans 8:35, 37-39 ].

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God”

[ Ephesians 3:18-19 ].

“But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread Your protection over them, that all who love Your name may be filled with joy. For You bless the godly, O LORD; You surround them with Your shield of love”

[ Psalm 5:11-12 ].

“Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD. How precious is Your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of Your wings”

[ Psalm 36:5-7 ].

“See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know Him”

[ 1 John 3:1 ].

“God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure”

[ Ephesians 1:5 ].

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life”

[ John 3:16 ].

“But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”

[ Romans 5:8 ].

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved”

[ Ephesians 2:4-5 ].

“Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them”

[ 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ].

“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love”

[ Romans 5:5 ].

“My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline, and don’t be upset when He corrects you. For the LORD corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom He delights”

[ Proverbs 3:11-12 ].

“I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul”

[ Psalm 31:7 ].

“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning”

[ Lamentations 3:20-23 ].

“Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion because of the greatness of His unfailing love. For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow”

[ Lamentations 3:32-33 ].

“Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. So, He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him. … “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other”

[ John 13:3-5, 34 ].

“God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love — not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us”

[ 1 John 4:9-12 ].

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

[ Galatians 5:22-23 ].

God’s love should not stop with Him loving you, it should overflow into the lives of the people around you. This is the natural result of constantly experiencing God’s loving presence in the form of the Holy Spirit.

When you allow God’s love to ‘grow’ in you, it will be like a plant that produces fruit. One of the ‘fruits’ of God’s love is your increasing inclination and ability to love others. His Spirit also allows you to love with a love greater than you could have on your own.

Don’t keep the love of God to yourself; allow Him to use you to show His love to others!

[ FYI: For more details about the ‘fruit’ a believer should be showing to the world, consider taking a look/signing up for my “Fruits of the Beatitudes”:

http://fruitsofthebeatitudes .org/ ].

OBEDIENCE

So, why is obedience so important to God? Well, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has a lot to say about it. In the story of the Ten Commandments, we see just how important the concept of obedience is to God. It is summed up like this: “Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed” [ Deuteronomy 11:26-28 ]. Then, in the New Testament, we learn through the example of Jesus Christ that believers are called to a life of obedience: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” [ John 14:15 ].

Obedience is important to God since it is the believer’s ‘act’ of worship to Him. While the Bible places a strong emphasis on obedience, it’s critical to remember that believers are not justified (made righteous) by obedience. Salvation is a free gift of God, and we can do nothing to merit it. True Christian obedience flows from a heart of gratitude for the grace we have received from the Lord: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” [Romans 12:1 ].

The thing is, over and over again we read in the Bible that God blesses and rewards obedience: “And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me” [ Genesis 22:18 ]. Jesus said, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice” [ Luke 11:28 ].

So, the believer just CAN’T ‘LISTEN’ to God’s Word, they MUST ‘DO’ what it says—otherwise, they are only fooling themselves: “For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it” [ James 1:22-25 ].

Obedience to God also proves one’s love for Him. The books of 1 and 2 John clearly explain that obedience to God demonstrates love for God. Loving God implies following his commands: “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” [ 1 John 5:2-3 ].

Love means doing what God has commanded us, and He has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. (2 John 6)

Obedience to God demonstrates one’s faith. When we obey God, we show our trust and faith in him:

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did (1 John 2:3-6).

God says that obedience is better than a sacrifice. The phrase “obedience is better than sacrifice,” has often perplexed Christians. It can only be understood from an Old Testament perspective. The law required the Israelite people to offer sacrifices to God, but those sacrifices and offerings were never intended to take the place of obedience.

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: Your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So, because you have rejected the command of the LORD, He has rejected you as king” [ 1 Samuel 15:22-23 ].

The thing is, disobedience ‘leads’ to sin… and to death’! The disobedience of Adam brought sin and death into the world. This is the basis of the term “original sin.” But Jesus’ perfect obedience restores fellowship with God for everyone who believes in Him: “For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” [ Romans 5:19 ], and “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” [ 1 Corinthians 15:22 ].

Now for the really ‘good’ stuff: Through obedience, the believer will experience the ‘blessings’ of holy living! Only Jesus Christ is perfect, therefore, only He could walk in sinless, perfect obedience. But as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from within, we grow in holiness. This is the process called “sanctification,” which can also be described as spiritual growth. The more we read God’s Word, spend time with Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to change us from within, the more we grow in obedience and holiness as Christians:

“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!”

[ Psalm 119:1-8 ].

The Apostle Paul explained this by saying: “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” [ 2 Corinthians 7:1 ].

Now, we won’t learn obedience overnight—it is a lifelong process. So, we can pursue it by making it a DAILY ‘GOAL’.

SUBMISSION

In all the New Testament incidences where the word “submit” occurs, the word is translated from the Greek word “hupotasso.” The hupo means “under” and the “tasso” means “to arrange.” This word and a root of it are also translated by the words “subject” and “subjection.” So, the ‘full’ meaning of the word is “to obey, put under, be subject to, submit oneself unto, put in subjection under or be under obedience or obedient to.”

The word was used as a military term meaning “to arrange troop divisions in a military fashion under the command of a leader.” This word is a wonderful definition of what it means to “submit” to God. It means to arrange oneself under the command of the divine viewpoint rather than to live according to one’s old way of life, based on a human viewpoint. It is a process of surrendering our own will to that of God the Father’s.

Scripture also has a great deal to say about being ‘in’ submission to the “higher powers.” This has reference to the establishment principles that God has ordained in our world—the government and the leaders, in whatever capacity, that God has placed in authority over us on this earth. (Passages that teach this principle are Romans 13:1-7, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 2:13-14, and Titus 3:1.) The principle is that being in obedience to the authority over us, whatever that authority is, will bring a temporal blessing in real-time here and now and, for the believer, and a reward later. The highest authority is God, and He delegates authority to others; so, in order to submit to God, we submit to the authority He has placed over us. You will notice that there are no caveats that distinguish between good or bad authority or even just or unjust authority. We are just to humble ourselves and obey as “unto the Lord.”

We are also told to submit ourselves ‘to’ God (James 4:7). In Ephesians we read the wife is to submit to her husband as unto the Lord and the husband is to “love” his wife (Ephesians 5:22-25). The Apostle Peter writes, “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” [ 1 Peter 5:5 ]. The theme here is one of humility. One cannot submit to God without humility. Obedience requires us to humble ourselves to surrender to the authority of another, and we are told that God resists pride—the opposite of humility—and the arrogance that fosters that pride.

Therefore, having a humble and submissive ‘heart’ is a CHOICE we make. That means born-again believers need to make a DAILY choice to submit themselves to God for the work that the Holy Spirit does in us: “to conform us to the image of Christ.” God will use the situations of our lives to bring us the opportunity to submit to Him (Romans 8:28-29). The believer then accepts His grace and provision to walk in the Spirit and not after the manner of the old nature. That work is accomplished by choosing to apply ourselves to the Word of God and to learning about the provisions that God has made for us in Christ Jesus. From the moment one is “born again,” they have all the provisions they need, in Christ, to become a mature believer. However, they have to make the choice to learn about those provisions through study of the Word and to apply those provisions to their daily ‘walk’ with the Lord.

The believer has to CHOOSE to ‘submit’ to God for the process of learning in order to grow spiritually. It is a process begun at salvation and ongoing with each and every choice that one makes to submit themselves to God. This process will continue until Jesus comes back again or He calls them home. The wonderful thing about all this is that, as the Apostle Paul so aptly states, “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord” [ 2 Corinthians 3:18 ].

God does not require one to submit because He is a tyrant, but because He is a loving Father and He knows what is best for them. The blessings and peace that one gains from humbly surrendering and submitting themselves to Him daily are a gift of grace that nothing in this world can compare to!

So, what really matters to God is not that we excel in religious ‘activity’, but that we offer our whole ‘selves’ to Him in every moment. As Jesus made clear, our highest calling is to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31)—and do this every moment of every day!

Do you offer yourself to God fully, consistently? Are you willing to give control of your life to God, doing whatever He commands, even at the expense of your little gods that demand so much of your time and mind?

DOING HIS ‘WILL’

It is important to know God’s will for one’s life. Jesus said that His true ‘children’ are those who know and do the Father’s will: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” [ Mark 3:35 ]. In the parable of the two sons, Jesus rebukes the chief priests and elders for failing to do the will of the Father—specifically, they “did not repent and believe” (Matthew 21:32). At its most basic, the will of God is for one to repent of their sin and put their trust in Jesus. If one has not taken that first ‘step’, then they have not yet accepted God’s will.

However, once one ‘receives’ Jesus by faith, they are made one of God’s ‘children’ (John 1:12), and He desires to lead them in His way (Psalm 143:10). God is not trying to hide His will from them—He wants to reveal it. In fact, He has already given them many, many directions in His Word. They are to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you” [ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ], to do good works (1 Peter 2:15), and “that you should be sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:3a).

The thing is, God’s will IS knowable and provable. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” [ Romans 12:2 ]. This passage gives us an important sequence: the child of God refuses to be conformed to the world, and instead allows themselves to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. As their mind is renewed according to the things of God, then they can know God’s perfect will.

As one seeks God’s will, they should make sure what they are considering is not something the Bible forbids. For example, the Bible forbids stealing. So, since God has clearly spoken on the issue, we know it is not His will for us to be bank robbers—and we DON’T even need to pray about it! Also, we should make sure what we are considering will glorify God and help us and others grow spiritually.

Knowing God’s ‘will’ is sometimes difficult because it requires patience. It’s natural to want to know all of God’s will at once, but that’s not how He usually works. He reveals things to us one step at a time—each move a step of faith—which requires one to trust Him. The important thing is that, as they wait for further direction, they are busy doing the good that they know to do (James 4:17).

Often, one wants God to give them specifics—where to work, where to live, whom to marry, what car to buy, etc. However, God allows one to make their own choices, and, if they are yielded to Him, He has ways of preventing wrong choices: “And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” [ Acts 16:6-7 ].

The better one gets to know a person, the more acquainted they become with their desires. For example, a child may look across a busy street at the ball that bounced away, but he doesn’t run after it, because he knows that “my dad wouldn’t want me to do that.” He doesn’t have to ask his father for advice on every particular situation, he knows what his father would say because he ‘knows’ his father, and his father only wants ‘good’ things for him.

The same is true in our relationship to God. As one ‘walks’ with the Lord, obeying His Word and relying on His Spirit, they find that they are given the ‘mind’ of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). They ‘know’ Him, and that helps them to know His will. They find God’s guidance readily available: “The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness” [ Proverbs 11:5 ].

So, if one is ‘walking’ closely with the Lord—and is truly desiring His will for their lives—God will place His desires in their ‘hearts’. The key is wanting God’s will, not their own: “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” [ Psalm 37:4 ].

WORSHIP

The Apostle Paul described ‘true’ worship perfectly: “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable, or well pleasing and perfect” [ Romans 12:1-2 ].

This passage contains all the elements of true worship. First, there is the motivation to worship: “the mercies of God.” God’s mercies are everything He has given us that we don’t deserve: eternal love, eternal grace, the Holy Spirit, everlasting peace, eternal joy, saving faith, comfort, strength, wisdom, hope, patience, kindness, honor, glory, righteousness, security, eternal life, forgiveness, reconciliation, justification, sanctification, freedom, intercession and much more (Yes, more!). The knowledge and understanding of these incredible gifts motivate us to pour forth praise and thanksgiving—in other words, ‘WORSHIP’!

Also, in the passage is a description of the manner of our worship: “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice.” Presenting our bodies means giving to God all of ourselves. The reference to our bodies here means all our human faculties, all of our humanness—our hearts, minds, hands, thoughts, attitudes—are to be presented to God. In other words, we are to give up control of these things and turn them over to Him, just as a literal sacrifice was given totally to God on the altar. But how? Again, the passage is clear: “by the renewing of your mind.” We renew our minds daily by cleansing them of the world’s “wisdom” and replacing it with true wisdom that comes from God. We worship Him with our renewed and cleansed minds, not with our emotions. Emotions are wonderful things, but unless they are shaped by a mind saturated in Truth, they can be destructive, out-of-control forces. Where the mind goes, the will follows, and so do the emotions. The Bible tells us we have “the mind of Christ” (1Corinthians 2:16) not the ‘emotions’ of Christ!

Now, there is only ONE ‘WAY’ to renew our minds, and that is by the ‘truth’ of the Word of God. To know the truth, to believe the truth, to hold convictions about the truth, and to love the truth will naturally result in true spiritual worship. It is conviction followed by affection, affection that is a response to truth, not to any external stimuli, including music.

Music as such has nothing to do with worship. Music can’t produce worship, although it certainly can produce emotion. Music is not the ‘origin’ of worship, but it can be the ‘expression’ of it. Do not look to music to induce your worship. Look to music as simply an expression of that which is induced by a heart that is rapt by the mercies of God, obedient to His commands.

TRUE worship is ‘God-centered’. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how their worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This means we worship from the heart and the way God has designed. Worship can include praying, reading God’s Word with an open heart, singing, participating in communion, and serving others. It is not limited to one act, but is done properly when the heart and attitude of the person are in the right place.

It’s also important to note that worship is reserved ONLY for God. Only He is worthy and not any of His servants (Revelation 19:10). We are not to worship saints, prophets, statues, angels, any false gods, or even Mary, the mother of Jesus. We also should not be worshiping for the expectation of something in return, such as a miraculous healing. Worship is done for God—because He deserves it—and for His pleasure alone.

Although worship can be—and should be—done in private, it primarily is referred to when done in public (Psalm 22:22; 35:18)—in a ‘congregational’ setting—where we can proclaim through prayer and praise our adoration and thankfulness to God and what He has done for us. When we come to corporate worship, it is vital that we come not to be ‘entertained’, but to show God reverence and awe (We are meeting with the One who loves us deeply and Who is worthy of all the honor and glory we can ascribe to Him!)

True worship is felt inwardly and then is expressed through our actions. “Worshiping” out of obligation is displeasing to God and is completely in vain. He can see through all the hypocrisy, and He hates it. (He demonstrates this in Amos 5:21-24 as He talks about coming judgment.) Another example is the story of Cain and Abel, the first sons of Adam and Eve. They both brought gift offerings to the Lord, but God was only pleased with Abel’s. Cain brought the gift of his ‘left-overs’, whereas Abel brought his finest lambs from his flock. Abel brought it out of faith, joy, and admiration for God, whereas Cain brought his out of ‘obligation’.

True worship is not confined to what we do in church or open praise (although these things are both good, and we are told in the Bible to do them). True worship is the acknowledgment of God and all His power and glory in everything we do. The highest form of praise and worship is ‘OBEDIENCE’ to Him and His Word. To do this, we must ‘know’ God—we cannot be ignorant of Him (Acts 17:23). Worship is to glorify and exalt God—to show our loyalty and admiration to our Father.

LIVING PURPOSELY ‘FOR’ GOD

Some of the most important ‘matters’ for the believer are commitment, discipleship, the “Great Commission,” and being “salt and light” in the world.

COMMITMENT

The Bible says that the believer should be ‘committed’ to what God is committed to: “My eyes are searching the earth to find every person who is fully committed to me” [ 2 Chronicles 16:9]. God so loves those who have enlisted all of His other children who are willing to join the search.

So, if you are a believer, are you fully committed reach out to the lost? (Consider the following in determining your answer):

– Only the fully committed serve long hours at the church so it’s a place where the lost can get found.

– Only the fully committed pray diligently for their friends who will otherwise spend a Christless eternity.

– Only the fully committed alter their spending habits so they can render the full tithe and fund ministries that reach lost people.

– Only the committed stay up and stay up late, dreaming of ways to reach out to their lost friends and neighbors.

– Only the committed look out of eyes that see the way God does and think first about others and second about themselves.

Now, there are MANY more ‘things’ to determine your commitment but, hopefully, these will help you gauge the ‘level’ of your commitment.

DISCIPLESHIP

To grow spiritually as a ‘disciple’ of Jesus means that we become ‘LIKE’ Him. That’s why Jesus said, “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher” [ Matthew 10:25 ]. So, becoming a disciple is where the believer ought to be heading in their Christian lives.

Discipleship is that developmental process that progressively brings Christians from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity so that they are then able to reproduce the process with someone else. The singular, overarching goal of a disciple is to bring all of life under the ‘lordship’ of Jesus, and then help someone else to do the same.

Now, being a disciple is A LOT different from just going to church once or twice a week. Getting excited because the preacher ‘moved’ you and the choir ‘inspired’ you is nice, but that’s NOT spiritual growth.

The goal and the ‘cornerstone’ of our activity—that which brings God the most glory—is for us to become fully committed ‘FOLLOWERS’. God’s goal is not necessarily just salvation—that is just the introduction to God’s goal. His desire is that those who are saved become ‘DISCIPLES’—which is a bit more ‘holistic’.

So, in order to become a disciple, you must acquire and master a body of knowledge. But knowledge alone does not make you a disciple. You also have to know how to take that information and ‘do’ something with it. Discipleship involves developing your skills. That’s why Jesus would teach His disciples, then take them out into situations where they could apply what they were learning.

All of us know brilliant people who have lots of “book sense,” but very little common sense. We wonder how these people can be so smart and yet not be able to function well in the situations of daily life.

That’s not what a disciple is supposed to be like. A disciple marries the right information with the skill needed to put it into practice.

When Jesus said that disciples are to become like their teacher, He was making it clear that this business of being a disciple is a ‘PROCESS’.

It is not enough simply to say, “I’m on my way to Heaven.” The issue is, are you becoming like the One who is taking you to Heaven? That’s discipleship, and that’s what Jesus wants from us.

The characteristics of a disciple may be simply stated as the following:

– One who is assured of their salvation (John 3:16), and is ‘activated’ by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:26-27)

– One who is growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)

– One who shares Jesus’ ‘burden’ for the lost souls of men and women. He said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” [ Matthew 9:37-38 ].

THE “GREAT COMMISSION”

As those who seek to be obedient followers of Jesus, we need to know what matters most to Him so it can matter most to us. Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder about it. After His resurrection from the dead and just before His ascension back into Heaven, Jesus told His disciples—and us—what was uppermost on His mind. His last words on earth were:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” [ Matthew 28:18-20 ].

It is interesting that, in the original Greek, the only ‘direct’ command is “make disciples.” The instructions to “go,” “baptize,” and “teach” are ‘indirect’ commands—participles in the original.

As mentioned above, a disciple is someone who receives instruction from another person. A disciple is a ‘baptized’ follower of Jesus, one who believes the teaching of Christ—who imitates Jesus’ example, clings to His sacrifice, believes in His resurrection, possesses the Holy Spirit, and lives to do His work. The command in the Great Commission to “make disciples” means to teach or train people to follow and obey Jesus.

The believer has received a precious ‘gift’: “The faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 1:3). Jesus’ words in the Great Commission reveal the heart of God, who desires “all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). The Great Commission compels the believer to share the Good News (the “Gospel”) until everyone has heard. Like the servants in Jesus’ parable of the “Ten Minas,” we are to be about the business of the Kingdom, making disciples of all nations: “He called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13).

[ FYI: For more details on ‘discipleship’, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:

https://markbesh.wordpress .com/it-will-cost-you-v233/ ].

BEING “SALT AND LIGHT”

Jesus specifically refers to Christians as “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). Salt enhances the flavor of food, right? As salt, God intends believers to enhance the “flavor” of life—primarily in others’ lives.

Jesus also calls Christians “the light of the world,” and then tells us to “let your light shine before all people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14, 16).

The believer is supposed to intentionally allow the ‘light’ of Jesus within to shine forth so that people, especially non-Christians, see it, with the hopes that they will be drawn to it and eventually come to faith in Jesus (like a moth to a ‘flame’).

Being salt and light was Jesus’ terminology for having a ‘contagious’ faith. Usually being contagious is a bad thing. But when it comes to the spiritual life, it’s actually really ‘good’ and the believer’s ‘call’ for their life. God really wants us to ‘infect’ others with the love of Jesus Christ.

THE “GREAT COMMANDMENT”

Some very smart and well-studied people called scribes—who were experts in the biblical laws and commandments in Jesus’ day—were asking Him many ‘simple’ questions. However, one scribe got up some ‘courage, and asked Jesus a bit ‘harder’ question: “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

Now, most of the time the scribes were trying to ‘trip up’ Jesus, wanting Him to say something wrong—say something ‘blasphemous’—so they could have Him arrested.

However, Jesus answered with something that many of them knew quite well, since they said it every day—the “Shema.”

“Shema” in Hebrew means “hear,” and is the Jewish ‘confession of faith’. The name derives from the initial word of the scriptural verse “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Observant Jews consider the Shema to be the most important part of the prayer service in Judaism, and its twice-daily recitation as a ‘mitzvah’ (religious commandment). Also, it is traditional for Jews to say the Shema as their last words before they go to sleep for the night.

[ Note: The term Shema is used by extension to refer to the whole part of the daily prayers that commences with Shema Yisrael and comprises Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21, and Numbers 15:37-41 ].

However, Jesus ‘expands’ it a bit by saying, “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” [ Mark 12:30 ].

This would have been enough to ‘shut down’ any more questioning by the scribes. HOWEVER, Jesus didn’t stop there. He added a very important second ‘part’: “The second is this, you will love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these” [ Mark 12:31 ].

Did you notice Jesus didn’t say anything about career success, financial security, fame, or power? No, it’s ALL ABOUT loving God and loving one’s ‘neighbor’ (which is everyone—see Luke 10:30-37 for the parable of the “Good Samaritan” to ‘flesh that out).

Now, on the surface, it seems like a pretty easy thing to do—just two ’things’. However, when we try to do them, we realize just how ‘hard’ this kind of ‘unconditional’ love is to accomplish!

So then, how do we know how to do this? Well, we just have to look at the life of Jesus, and how He didn’t just ‘SAY’ these words, but He ‘LIVED’ what He said (“Walk the talk”).

Jesus shows us how to love God by who He welcomes and accepts, those who the fine and upstanding religious folks rejected and despised. He shows us how to love God by caring for those in need without expecting anything in return and without any strings attached.

The most important thing in Jesus’ life, His love for God is seen in the way we ‘interacted’ with others. He loved God with everything that He was, and showed the world just how much He loved God by the ‘WAY’ He LOVED OTHERS.

As believers, we strive to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and as our hearts and minds are transformed by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit we are able to begin to love others as ourselves. Yet, we still fail to do so, which again drives us back to the ‘Cross’ of Jesus and the hope of salvation that stems from the imputed righteousness of Him and not from any merit of our own.

DEVELOPING ‘THE’ RELATIONSHIP—FOR ETERNITY

The ‘world’ will confuse us about what really matters in life here ON EARTH ‘now’. WHEREAS, the believer looks forward to the life that is ‘STILL’ TO COME!

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever”

[ Revelation 21:1-4 ].

ONE MUST BE “BORN AGAIN”

Nicodemus was Jewish and a Pharisee (the most religious of the religious). [ FYI: His very name means “superior” ]. He was also a “ruler” of the Jews, a member of the Sanhedrin—the Jewish High Court. He was one of only 71 in all of the land of Israel. This guy was a ‘big shot’—the very top echelon! But, he had some questions for Jesus.

During their conversation, Jesus said something ‘stunning’ to Nicodemus, “‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Nicodemus responded, “How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” So, Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at My saying, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:3-7).

The phrase “born again” literally means “born from above.” Nicodemus had a real need. He needed a change of his ‘heart’—a ‘spiritual’ transformation, a new birth. Being born again is an act of God whereby eternal life is ‘imputed’ to the person who believes (2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18). Being “born again” also carries the idea of “becoming children of God” through trust in the name of Jesus (John 1:12-13).

To further answer Nicodemus’s questions about being ‘reborn’, Jesus began talking about the wind: “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” [ John 3:5-8 ].

In this analogy, Jesus was comparing physical birth and growth with spiritual birth and growth. Jesus points out that Nicodemus need not marvel at the necessity of the Spirit causing one to be “born again.” Nicodemus naturally believed in other things as difficult to understand, such as the wind, which he could not see. The effects of the wind are obvious: the sound is heard, and things move as it moves. The wind, unseen, unpredictable, and uncontrollable, is mysterious to us, but we see and understand its ‘effects’. So it is with the Holy Spirit. We do not see the Spirit, but we do see the ‘changes’ the Spirit produces in people. Sinful people are made holy; liars speak truth; and the proud become humble. When we see such changes, we know they have a cause. The Spirit affects us just as the wind affects the trees, water, and the clouds. We don’t see the cause, and we don’t understand all the ins and outs of how it works, but we do see the effect and believe.

– The “fruit of the Spirit”: Someone who has experienced the new birth will begin to exhibit character qualities that are more like Jesus. This doesn’t happen overnight, but just as a fruit tree grows and begins to produce fruit in season, the new believer will begin to produce godly character traits such as love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These traits are the natural result of yielding to the Spirit and spending time with God in His Word, with His people, and in worship.

– Godly Choices: Sins that once captivated the believer begin to fall away as they grow closer to Jesus. Their new birth broke the power that sin had over them and now enables them to live in freedom. Romans chapter six explains that we have died to our old way of life and are free to live as we were designed to live. Colossians 3:5 says, “Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.” This ‘death’ to sin is an ongoing process as the believer grows in their faith and love for Jesus (1 Peter 4:1).

– Love for Other Christians: One of the changes the new birth produces is love: “We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” [ 1 John 4:19-21 ]. A person who has been born into the family of God ‘craves’ fellowship with other believers. God did not create a team where players can be traded. He did not create a corporation where employees can be fired. He created a family where every member is valued and equally loved! As part of His family, every member is to love and appreciate all the other members of this worldwide ‘family’.

– Spiritual Gifts: A part of God’s welcome package to those who are born of His Spirit are spiritual ‘gifts’ that they can use to serve Him and edify the Church. Spiritual gifts are special abilities that enable the believer to be more effective in the particular ‘callings’ God places on their lives. As each member uses their gifts for the good of all, God’s family thrives.

So, just as new babies crave milk, and, without it, they won’t grow, likewise, new believers should crave biblical teaching, or they won’t grow in their faith. The Apostle Peter wrote, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” [ 1 Peter 2:2-3 ]. The new birth is ONLY THE BEGINNING of the life God designed for us. He wants us to receive the privilege of calling Him “Abba, Father” (Matthew 6:9; Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).

So then, your question just might be, “Why does a person need to be born again?” Well, the Apostle Paul said, “He made you alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” [ Ephesians 2:1 ], and “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [ Romans 3:23 ]. Sinners are spiritually ‘dead’. When they receive spiritual life through faith in Jesus, the Bible likens it to a ‘rebirth’. Jesus was emphatic that ONLY those who are “born again” have been forgiven of their sins, have been reconciled to God, and will have eternal life in Heaven!

How does that come to be? Well, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” [ Ephesians 2:8-9 ]. When one is ‘saved’ (“born again”) and spiritually renewed, they become a ‘child’ of God. Trusting in Jesus, the One who paid the penalty of sin when He died on the Cross, is the ‘means’ to be saved. Then, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!” [ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ].

The Apostle John said (describing a “born again” person), “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning because they have been born of God” [ 1 John 3:9 ]. God our Father is holy, and He desires that His children become holy like He is (1 Peter 1:15-16). When we are born of God, we have a new ‘heart’, one that wants to please God (Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 5:9; Colossians 1:10). This does not come about by good intentions or white-knuckled effort. We please God the Father by surrendering to the Holy Spirit who lives ‘within’ the believer. We allow Him to change our desires, our goals, and our will to conform to His (Romans 8:29; Philippians 2:13). Just as a baby grows to look similar to the parents to whom it was born, so does the believer grow to be more like Jesus when they are “born again” of God (Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:1-2). God has ‘removed’ our sin from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).

The thing is, the BIG distinction between your natural birth and your new birth is this: you didn’t have any choice in your natural birth, BUT YOU DO have a choice about your new birth!

Again, if you are being ‘prompted’, pray a prayer of repentance and become “born again” today! (“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” – John 1:12-13).

If you want to accept Jesus as your Savior, and become “born again,” the following could be your prayer. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save you. It is only trusting in Jesus that can save you from the penalty of your sin. This prayer is simply a way to express to God your faith in Jesus, and thank Him for providing for your salvation.

“God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in Him for my salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness, and the gift of eternal life with You!”

[ Note: There is a “Reconciliation Prayer” below that could help you ‘talk’ to God about all this right now ].

[ If you are not sure about all this, PLEASE consider reading the following previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” posts:

Are You ‘Blind’? [v252]

The Only ‘Way’ [v253]

Two ‘Choices’, One Way [v254]

Knowing ‘Assurance’ [v243]

‘Benefits’ Of Assurance [v244]

It Will ‘Cost’ You [v233]

Learning to trust God is a ‘journey’ everyone is on (even ‘strong’, “born again” believers), and God deliberately allows each of us to experience Him in different ways in order for our faith and trust to grow. So…

– Make a choice

– Stay close to God

– Make time for fellowship

– Obey God promptly

– Don’t let the world mold you

– Don’t keep looking back

– Don’t get side-tracked

– Don’t quit!***

– Don’t allow success to distract you

– Set your heart on things above

– Trust Him for new strength every day

– Trust God to enlarge your capacity to trust

– Trust God to reciprocate your trust

*** [ FYI: For more encouragement from God’s Word that applies to not quitting, read this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:

https://markbesh.wordpress .com/persistently-p-u-s-h-v261/ ].

WRAP UP

To many, the 2020 pandemic marked a ‘turning point’ in history. It prompted many to reflect on what REALLY them.

Historically, most of us have learned that money, fame, and material ‘things’ ARE NOT the ‘answer’. Still, many have a hard time figuring out what really matters to them.

HOW THE PANDEMIC CHANGED WHAT REALLY MATTERS

If we heed the lessons learned from the pandemic, we will focus on the things which really make us happy and fulfilled.

Hopefully, we have learned that we CAN improve our lives and achieve happiness and well-being. Here are some of the lessons learned:

– Life is fragile and unpredictable.

We could hardly have imagined what we had to live through. All of our routines, behaviors, roles, and plans were turned upside down. It has taught us that, although we have to plan for the future, it is important to live in the present, and enjoy every moment. Nothing is guaranteed, and although we like to feel we are competent, powerful, and able to control many things, we need to accept that much, if not most, is outside our control.

– We are more resilient than we thought.

Resilience is the ability to adapt well to adversity, tragedy, trauma, threats, and significant sources of stress. If, a year and a half ago, we were asked if we could handle our society closing down, thousands of people dying, and all that we have gone through, many of us would have thought it was not possible. We have learned that we are more capable and more resilient than we ever thought, and the knowledge that we were able to handle the pains of the pandemic will go a long way to fortifying us and preparing us to handle crisis in our lives in the future.

– The importance of self-care.

Proper nutrition, regular exercise, healthy sleep habits, moderation in alcohol use, and daily meditation/mindfulness practice all helped to maintain our bodies and minds in good condition, and allowed us to ward off the ill effects of change, despair, uncertainty, and loss. The ability to keep our minds and bodies functioning well has, more than ever, proven to be within our choice.

– The importance of gratitude, and caring for others.

When things were difficult, especially in the beginning of the pandemic, many of us began to catastrophize and to think of the worst. Our negative thinking led to feelings of despair, anxiety, and depression. However, as a large body of research has indicated, the ability to reflect on and experience gratitude and gratefulness in small and daily things helps one stay centered and not lose track of what is important. Thinking of three things you are grateful for each day has tremendous positive impact on how we feel, and is an easy exercise to do regularly. In a similar vein, when we can get outside of ourselves, and provide for others, it becomes we who benefit the most.

– The importance of acceptance.

The ability to acknowledge and accept one’s feelings, and to not self-judge, or judge others leads to a sense of inner peace. We do not have to get “back to normal” all at once. We need to be kind to ourselves, and accept that things have changed, and that there is a “new normal.” We need to honor our own feelings, concerns, fears, and not see that as any form of weakness, but rather strength.

– The importance of time.

Many of us have been using this time to do things that we generally wouldn’t, things we would normally shun with an excuse of not having enough time. However, the truth is, it was never really about time, it was about ‘PRIORITIZING’.

– The importance of relationships.

Even though we were social distancing, we learned that we did not have to be socially isolated. We found ways to reach out and connect to friends and family. (How many of us ever heard of a “Zoom” meeting a year and a half ago?) Remaining connected required more work than it did in the past, and we still experienced some of the benefits of relationships. The science of the psychology of happiness has proven that isolation is poor for one’s mental health, while staying connected puts one on the road to happiness. We have experienced a myriad of ways to stay connected, and need to make sure we continue to communicate effectively with those in our lives. FAMILY mattered more than most realized, and just might be the best ‘medicine’ of all.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO GOD

Secondly, one can then focus on developing a ‘RELATIONSHIP’ with God and then ‘glorify’ Him through their gifts, talents, and possessions.

Thirdly, one then begins their path to holiness and Christlikeness through ‘DISCIPLESHIP’.

Essentially, ALL these things can be achieved when one makes Jesus to be what ‘MATTERS’ MOST!

‘MISPLACED’ PRIORITIES

There are six ‘warning signs’ or symptoms of ‘MISPLACED’ PRIORITIES: Busyness, anxiety, guilt, finances, prayerlessness, and escapism.

The first symptom is ‘BUSYNESS’. If your life is characterized where you’re hurrying all the time, eating on the run, having piles of many things here and there because you are juggling too many ‘balls in the air’, then you are TOO BUSY! Busyness is an “activity trap.” (Remember, “B.U.S.Y.” is an acronym for “Being Under Satan’s Yoke”!)

Secondly is emotional stress, pressure, and ‘ANXIETY’. People whose priorities are out of whack have symptoms like uptightness. They sometimes have chest pains, migraine headaches, trouble sleeping. You feel restless a lot; it’s hard to sit still. Because you are multitasking about everything, all the time, you never get any real rest.

[ FYI: Last month’s “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post discussed health ‘issues’ related to procrastination in a bit more detail:

https://markbesh.wordpress.com/a-sense-of-urgency-v269/ ].

The third symptom is a low-grade, nagging ‘GUILT’. You feel bad about yourself and not fulfilled. There are a lot of things that you know you’re supposed to do. In fact, you did them in the past. You actually tell other people they should do them, but you don’t do them yourself anymore. Now, you know no one has it ‘all together’, but right now is not the way it used to be. Relationships become superficial, and you have little time for celebration. Daily pressures push aside the need to stop, envision, plan, and think about the future.

The fourth is financial debt and ‘FINANCIAL’ problems. When priorities really start unwinding, the debt begins to pile up.

The thing is, sometimes God speaks ‘through’ your money. You are making more money than ever before, but it just seems like a ’tremendous’ number of things are always ‘coming up’ that requires finances to fix. God just might be trying to get your attention about your extreme ‘discretionary’ spending.

The fifth symptom of misplaced priorities is ‘PRAYERLESSNESS’, or ‘inconsistency’ in one’s devotional life. You’re on a spiritual ‘roller coaster’. You might have an ‘experience’ at church or maybe a little something here or there, but it’s very up and down—not very consistent.

The final one is ‘ESCAPISM’ behavior. When one is young, they might seek some thrill-seeking behavior. However, when one gets older, it becomes impulsive buying, vacations they can’t afford, and eating out a lot.

You might be spending a lot of time doing things that make you feel like you are accomplishing something because, down deep, you don’t know where you’re GOING!

Now, of course, none of us has all these things ‘nailed down’. BUT, the big ‘falls’ always start with letting these little things go! It might just be one or two that you juggle now, but sometimes, when you are not ‘concerned’ with these things, pretty soon there are three or four things becoming a problem. The Bible says that, “He who is faithful in a very little thing [will be] faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing [will be] unrighteous also in much” [ Luke 16:10 ].

The thing is, these symptoms start to ‘weave’ into your life, and you get vulnerable, and you get hurt, and you just want some relief (And you never think it’s possible for someone who loves God the way you love God, for any of that to ever happen.)

But the right place, at the right time, in a weak moment, with these things happening—and all of a sudden, you’re the feature film in your own nightmare. (Remember what happened to King David when he saw Bathsheba?)

So, if these are the symptoms, it raises a very important question: “What are the RIGHT PRIORITIES?”

Well, primarily, one must have a ‘RELATIONSHIP’ WITH JESUS, and the Father, and the Spirit, such that there is connection and an ‘abiding’ with Them.

So, the ‘thing’ that matters most is—to help one become the person they long to be—is developing a deep, ‘INTIMATE’ RELATIONSHIP with the Triune God.

Priorities and ‘balancing’ one’s life really has to do with getting really clear on who one is, what God wants them to do, and then getting a sense of life’s ‘urgency’—that it is passing by quickly!

Now, some of us have ‘MISPLACED’ PRIORITIES, and some have four or five of the above ‘symptoms’. However, instead of stopping and saying, “Whoa, I must really reevaluate,” many go even faster!

The thing is, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away” [ Psalm 90:10 ]. Life is SHORT!

[ FYI: Last month’s “Life’s Deep Thoughts” talked about life being short:

https://markbesh.wordpress.com/a-sense-of-urgency-v269/ ].

I came across a very interesting interview of some centenarians, and it presented that they said, universally, two things. Number one, “We way overemphasized our accomplishments, and all the things that we thought were such big accomplishments, after four or five or six decades, we realized they weren’t such a big deal.” Then, number two, they said, “We underestimated the value of our families and relationships.”

Just as the Harvard study concluded, ‘CLOSE’ RELATIONSHIPS keep us happier and healthier” and it’s the ‘QUALITY’ of those close relationships that MATTER MOST!

So, do you have this ‘kind’ of relationship with Jesus? If so, GREAT! If not, WHY NOT!

[ Excerpts by: Phillip Wright; Diane Stermer; Ronnie Floyd; Jory MacKay; Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby; John Rampton; Jaime Bronstein; Nicolette Tura; Tajrian Zaman; Steve Spring; Natalya Bannister; CAJ Spirituality; Mind Tools; Jennifer Rollin; Steven Mintz; Stephanie Kirby; Justin Gesso; Vicki Bradley; Carl Phillips; Kathy Robichaux; John Piper; Got Questions; Mary Fairchild; Steven C. Hayes; Cindy Singleton; Alicia Michelle; Skip Heitzig; Diana Reid; Laura McClellan; Ellen Gregory; Steven C. Hayes; Hugo Huijer; Bronnie Ware; Lloyd Landry; Drew Hart; Tony Evans; Moe Gelbart; ]

RELATED POSTS:

“A Sense Of ‘Urgency’”:

A Sense Of ‘Urgency’ [v269]

“The ‘Final’ Deception”:

The ‘Final’ Deception [v268]

“The ‘Ongoing’ Deception”:

The ‘Ongoing’ Deception [v267]

“Being ‘Discerning’”:

Being ‘Discerning’ [v266]

“Gaining A Deep ‘Understanding’”:

Gaining A Deep ‘Understanding’ [v264]

“Learning To ‘T.R.U.S.T.’”

Learning To ‘T.R.U.S.T.’ [v263]

“‘Kingdoms’ Past, Present, and Future”:

‘Kingdoms’ Past, Present, and Future [v262]

“Persistently ‘P.U.S.H.’”:

Persistently ‘P.U.S.H.’ [v261]

“Love ‘Letter’”:

Love ‘Letter’ [v258]

“Got Your ‘Attention’ Yet?”:

Got Your ‘Attention’ Yet? [v255]

“Two ‘Choices’, One Way”:

Two ‘Choices’, One Way [v254]

“The Only ‘Way’”:

The Only ‘Way’ [v253]

“Are You ‘Blind’?”:

Are You ‘Blind’? [v252]

“‘Heed’ The Warning!”:

‘Heed’ The Warning! [v251]

“‘Benefits’ Of Assurance”:

‘Benefits’ Of Assurance [v244]

“Knowing ‘Assurance’”:

Knowing ‘Assurance’ [v243]

“It Will ‘Cost’ You”:

It Will ‘Cost’ You [v233]

“One’s ‘Last Words’”:

One’s ‘Last Words’ [v232]

“‘Saved’ From Death”:

‘Saved’ From Death [v219]

“‘Communication’ With God”:

‘Communication’ With God [v152]

‘PRAYER’ OF REPENTANCE

In the Bible, there is a parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying the the Temple. He notes that the tax collector didn’t even dare to lift his eyes toward Heaven as he prayed. Instead he “beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner’”—and Jesus said that the tax collector “went home justified,” he had been “born again” and ‘reconciled’ by God. (Luke 18:9-14).

If you are ‘sensing’ something like that right now, let me strongly encourage you to HUMBLE YOURSELF, CRY OUT to God, and PLEAD for Him to mercifully ‘SAVE’ YOU! None of us have a ‘claim’ on our salvation, nor do we have any ‘works’ that would cause us to deserve it or earn it—it is purely a gift of Divine grace—and all any of us can do is ask. So, CONFESS YOUR SINS and acknowledge to God that you have no hope for Heaven apart from what He provides through Jesus. [ See Psalm 51 ].

There is no ‘formula’ or certain words for this. So just talk to God, in your own words—He knows your ‘heart’. If you are genuinely sincere, and God does respond to your plea, one will usually have a sense of joy and peace.

Jesus said, “He that comes to Me, I will not cast out” [ John 6:37 ].

[ FYI: This is a great sermon on the “Call to Repentance” by John MacArthur from his book “The Gospel According to Jesus”: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-22/the-call-to-repentance (Transcript: http://www.spiritedesign.com/TheCallToRepentance-JohnMacArthur(Jul-27-2019).pdf) ].

[ NOTE: If you have ‘tasted the kindness of the Lord’, please e-mail me—I would love to CELEBRATE with you, and help you get started on your ‘journey’ with Jesus! ].

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RESOURCES

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“The Best Things in Life: A Guide to What Really Matters”

By: Thomas Hurka

For centuries, philosophers, theologians, moralists, and ordinary people have asked: How should we live? What makes for a good life?

In The Best Things in Life, distinguished philosopher Thomas Hurka takes a fresh look at these perennial questions as they arise for us now in the 21st century. Should we value family over career? How do we balance self-interest and serving others? What activities bring us the most joy?

While religion, literature, popular psychology, and everyday wisdom all grapple with these questions, philosophy more than anything else uses the tools of reason to make important distinctions, cut away irrelevancies, and distill these issues down to their essentials. Hurka argues that if we are to live a good life, one thing we need to know is which activities and experiences will most likely lead us to happiness and which will keep us from it, while also reminding us that happiness isn’t the only thing that makes life good. Hurka explores many topics: four types of good feeling (and the limits of good feeling); how we can improve our baseline level of happiness (making more money, it turns out, isn’t the answer); which kinds of knowledge are most worth having; the importance of achieving worthwhile goals; the value of love and friendship; and much more. Unlike many philosophers, he stresses that there isn’t just one good in life but many: pleasure, as Epicurus argued, is indeed one, but knowledge, as Socrates contended, is another, as is achievement. And while the great philosophers can help us understand what matters most in life, Hurka shows that we must ultimately decide for ourselves.

This delightfully accessible book offers timely guidance on answering the most important question any of us will ever ask: How do we live a good life?

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“The One Thing”

By: Gary Keller

YOU WANT LESS. You want fewer distractions and less on your plate. The daily barrage of e-mails, texts, tweets, messages, and meetings distract you and stress you out. The simultaneous demands of work and family are taking a toll. And what’s the cost? Second-rate work, missed deadlines, smaller pay cheques, fewer promotions-and lots of stress. AND YOU WANT MORE.You want more productivity from your work. More income for a better lifestyle. You want more satisfaction from life, and more time for yourself, your family, and your friends.NOW YOU CAN HAVE BOTH-LESS AND MORE. In The ONE Thing, you’ll learn to cut through the clutter, achieve better results in less time, build momentum toward your goal, dial down the stress, overcome that overwhelmed feeling, revive your energy, and stay on track, master what matters to you. The ONE Thing is the New York Times bestseller which delivers extraordinary results in every area of your life–work, personal, family, and spiritual. WHAT’S YOUR ONE THING?

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“What Really Matters: Living a Moral Life Amidst Uncertainty and Danger”

By: Arthur Kleinman

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“7 Lessons for Living from the Dying: How to Nurture What Really Matters”

By: Karen Dr. Wyatt

Dr Karen Wyatt has spent most of her career as a hospice medical doctor, homeless shelter physician and caregiver. In this inspirational book she shares the 7 lessons she has learned from the dying and gives a daily spiritual practice to help live them.

“Dr. Karen Wyatt addresses a long-standing taboo in our youth-obsessed, feel-good society: death and the process of dying.” Larry Dossey, MD, author of Healing Words

“This is a highly recommended book for those in the land of the living from those who are no longer with us.” Ken Wilber

Karen Wyatt has been privileged to share the final months, weeks, days and moments with many of her patients. This unique experience has given her a profound insight into death and dying. In this book she shares her story and the stories of her patients, providing us with 7 key lessons that the dying can teach us.

Lesson 1: Suffering: Embrace Your Difficulties

Lesson 2: Love: Let Your Heart Be Broken

Lesson 3: Forgiveness: Hold No Resentments

Lesson 4: Paradise: Dwell in the Present Moment

Lesson 5: Purpose: Manifest Your Highest Potential

Lesson 6: Surrender: Let Go of Expectations

Lesson 7: Impermanence: Face Your Fear

Each lesson is a wake up call to each and every one of us to live our lives more fully, without regret and in a more connected way. With each lesson Karen provides a clear analysis of the importance of that lesson and then goes on to share daily practices on how we can live the lessons as a spiritual practice.

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“Life In 20 Lessons: : What A Funeral Guy Discovered About Life, From Death”

By: Chris Meyer

If you could fast forward your life to your deathbed and hear your regrets (and joys), then rewind and live your life with that knowledge, would you do it? This book provides that knowledge. After fourteen years in the funeral business, Chris Meyer has sat with families and listened to their “could’ves,” “should’ves,” and “would’ves.” In doing so he learned many lessons–lessons that kept repeating themselves year after year.

Meyer knew he could help a lot of people with this information. So he sat down and memorialized the lessons he learned to share with the world: some simple, some profound, some irreverent. Lessons from life, from death, from surviving. But make no mistake, this is NOT a story about dying…this is a story of living. This is…Life in 20 Lessons. Poignant. Funny. Filled with love.

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“What Really Matters: Living a Moral Life Amidst Uncertainty and Danger”

By: Arthur Kleinman M.D.

In this moving and thought-provoking volume, Arthur Kleinman tells the unsettling stories of a handful of men and women, some of whom have lived through some of the most fundamental transitions of the turbulent twentieth century.

Here we meet an American veteran of World War II, tortured by the memory of the atrocities he committed while a soldier in the Pacific. A French-American woman aiding refugees in sub-Saharan Africa, facing the utter chaos of a society where life has become meaningless. A Chinese doctor trying to

stay alive during Mao’s cultural revolution, discovering that the only values that matter are those that get you beyond the next threat. These individuals found themselves caught in circumstances where those things that matter most to them–their desires, status, relationships, resources, political

and religious commitments, life itself–have been challenged by the society around them. Each is caught up in existential moral experiences that define what it means to be human, with an intensity that makes their life narratives arresting.

These stories reveal just how malleable moral life is, and just how central danger is to our worlds and our livelihood. Indeed, Kleinman offers in this book a groundbreaking approach to ethics, examining “who we are” through some of the most disturbing issues of our time–war, globalization,

poverty, social injustice–all in the context of actual lived moral life.

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“What Really Matters: Service, Leadership, People, and Values”

By: John Pepper

The fundamental question in business and in personal life is the same: What really matters? In this book one of America’ s most widely admired business leaders distills a lifetime of experience, including failures as well as successes, to reveal his answers.

John Pepper, president, CEO, and chairman of Procter & Gamble for a combined 16 years, underscores the importance of continuous change, innovation, and renewal as prerequisites for growth and sound leadership. In “What Really Matters” he suggests that a preparedness to alter perspective, rethink assumptions, or change course is central not only to understanding customer needs and keeping costs under control but also to developing talent, organizing global businesses, and supporting communities. While he discusses specific business tactics, he notes that they all center on fundamental tenets: listen to and respect the customer, engender personal accountability and passionate ownership, encourage diversity, and create a vibrant, trusting institution that incorporates employees and their families. In his own years as an executive, Pepper has demonstrated that a profitable business can create and sustain a culture that shapes– and is shaped by– ethical behavior. His profoundly important advice and counsel belong in the lexicon and practice of every leader.

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“What Really Matters”

By: Tony Schwartz

Seeking meaning in everyday life and wisdom in America, a journalist records his search, creating a guide to the best techniques for self-discovery, a social history of the consciousness movement, and a journey to the center of the soul.

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“Chasing What Matters: Finishing Without Regret”

By: Richard W. Smith

Every twenty-four hours we exchange a day of our life for something in return. At the end of our race, all of us want the same thing – to have run with such hope and purpose that we’ll be able to say, “I’m glad I gave my life for that thing.” Those who finish well never stop asking… What am I chasing in life? And if I get it, does it really matter?

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“What Matters Most: Thoughts on a Life Well Lived”

By: Danny Kittinger

Trusted voices help us on our journey; voices of those who have been tested, bloodied, and scarred but have endured. Voices of those who have kept hope alive when every reason for hope seemed lost. Voices of love and compassion, friendship and forgiveness. My hope is that you’ll find my voice trustworthy and that, in these words, you’ll find encouragement to live a life that matters, and ultimately, for what matters most.

Why should my words matter to you? I’m not famous or prominent in any way, neither am I a philosopher or a theologian. I’m an ordinary person like most of you; a husband, a father, an employee, and a friend. The world needs ordinary people to live lives that matter, lives that make a difference. It isn’t the experts and the thought leaders who change the world, it’s the everyday people like us.

“If living well matters genuinely to you, then What Matters Most is a must-read! Danny Kittinger says he’s an ordinary person, and I reckon it’s true. Yet, his earnest disciplined attention to the Word of God and to Jesus, the Word that became flesh, has given his life form and substance, producing an extraordinarily enviable life. I’m confident it won’t take long for you to trust his voice and be encouraged to, like him, ‘live a life that matters, and ultimately, for what matters most.’” —Fil Anderson, Spiritual director, conference speaker, retreat leader, and author

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“The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living”

By: Meik Wiking

Why are Danes the happiest people in the world? The answer, says Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, is Hygge. Loosely translated, Hygge―pronounced Hoo-ga―is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. “Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience,” Wiking explains. “It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe.”

Hygge is the sensation you get when you’re cuddled up on a sofa, in cozy socks under a soft throw, during a storm. It’s that feeling when you’re sharing comfort food and easy conversation with loved ones at a candlelit table. It is the warmth of morning light shining just right on a crisp blue-sky day.

The Little Book of Hygge introduces you to this cornerstone of Danish life, and offers advice and ideas on incorporating it into your own life, such as:

– Get comfy. Take a break.

– Be here now. Turn off the phones.

– Turn down the lights. Bring out the candles.

– Build relationships. Spend time with your tribe.

– Give yourself a break from the demands of healthy living. Cake is most definitely Hygge.

Live life today, like there is no coffee tomorrow.

From picking the right lighting to organizing a Hygge get-together to dressing hygge, Wiking shows you how to experience more joy and contentment the Danish way.

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“What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life”

By: James Hollis

The celebrated author of “Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life” delivers a unique look at happiness, sharing a Jungian approach to finding a fearless, authentic path.

Why are we here? What is the meaning of existence? What truly matters the most in life? To even begin to answer these questions we must start by exploring our own internal ideals, values, and beliefs. Presenting the unique perspective of respected analyst and author James Hollis, Ph.D., What Matters Most helps readers learn to appreciate (even be amazed by) events unfolding within, even as the external world creates constant struggles.

Taking a fresh look at the concept of happiness, Hollis uses a warm, accessible tone to encourage readers to learn to tolerate ambiguity, embrace growth rather than security, respect the power of Eros, engage spiritual crises, and acknowledge the shadow of mortality. Providing inspiring wisdom and personal reflections to address our deepest worries, What Matters Most yields far more than mere self-help clichés. Instead, Hollis guides readers in uncovering the heart of the matter, discovering what it means to truly live life to its fullest, most meaningful state—as fully engaged citizens of the world.

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“Life in 20 Lessons: What a Funeral Guy Discovered About Life, From Death”

By: Chris Meyer

No Excuses, No Regrets

If you could fast-forward your life to your deathbed and listen to your regrets (and joys), and then rewind your life and live it with that knowledge about living a life with no excuses, no misgivings, no looking back—would you do it?

This book provides that knowledge.

After fourteen years in the funeral business, Chris Meyer has listened to grieving families, their regrets and wishes, sadness and pain, for the dearly departed—expressing their “if onlys” and “what ifs.” From these painful graveside encounters, he learned lessons that kept repeating themselves.

These are the (first) 20 life lessons: some simple, some profound, some irreverent—lessons about life, from death.

This is not a story about dying. This is a story of living. This is…life in 20 lessons.

Poignant. Funny. Filled with love.

From the Introduction—

As a man over fifty years of age, statistically, I have lived more than half of my life.

For the last fourteen years of that life, I have owned a funeral home. It has taught me the most about the human condition and myself. I have seen horrific, absolutely horrific, things, smelled smells that are unimaginable, cried with friends and strangers, and witnessed unspeakable tragedy, heartache, and death all too often for one human being.

But the funeral home has also given me my greatest gift—perspective. If you think your day is going badly, someone always has it worse, way worse, guaranteed.

You’ve heard it all before: Each day above ground is a blessing, live each day as if it were your last, or any one of the manifold great quotes about being alive.

They are all true.

And now, in some way, I can see there may have been a purpose to all this. Like maybe I was meant to be a conduit, of sorts, between the surviving and the dead.

I have sat with the survivors. I have listened to their stories, their cries, their confessions, their regrets, their wishes, their “would’ves,” “should’ves,” and “could’ves.” I have just closed my mouth and listened.

In listening to the survivors, I have heard the dead. Not in any creepy M. Night Shyamalan “I see dead people” type of way, but in being around so much death, listening to families and loved ones’ stories, eulogies, services, pastors, preachers, passages, and musical selections, I have gained some insights over the years, some expertise.

And, for me, the bonus was that I raised a family just as I started in the funeral industry. Our lives together became the test case for the lessons I was learning about life, from death. After seeing the impact on my own family, I knew I could help a lot of people with this information.

So I sat down and memorialized the lessons I learned to make certain you don’t search your whole life only to realize the true meaning of life on your deathbed.

But make no mistake, this is not a funeral book. This is a story of living—with “insider’s knowledge.” Sure, I will tell you funeral stories from where I drew inspiration. That is my platform, the reason you should listen to me, why I am an “expert in the field”—at least that is what the publishers and editors have told me. (Why would anyone give two rips about some Everyman’s opinion of life?)

Fair enough.

But, honestly, there is as much inspiration from my current and past lives herein. Because I am not only a funeral guy, but also a father, a husband, a son, a grandson, a brother, a coach, and a friend.

In the end, this is not a funeral story. This is story about how one man discovered life in the funeral business…by living death.

The Lessons:

1 Be Thankful

2 Make a Difference

3 Avoid Judgment

4 Respect Others and Yourself

5 Be Vulnerable

6 Get Uncomfortable

7 Failure Is the Foundation

8 Love Simply

9 Become a Famillionaire

10 Make a Few Good Friends

11 Be with Self

12 Laugh

13 Enjoy Food

14 Sweat, Fiber, and Water

15 Stop Worrying about Money

16 Have Faith or Spirituality

17 Embrace the Elderly

18 Exercise Your Mind

19 Be Resilient

20 DEST (Do Epic Shit Today)

[ Book Review by “BookThinkers”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzDX4XiseR0 ].

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“Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End”

By: Atul Gawande

In Being Mortal, bestselling author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending

Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Nursing homes, preoccupied with safety, pin patients into railed beds and wheelchairs. Hospitals isolate the dying, checking for vital signs long after the goals of cure have become moot. Doctors, committed to extending life, continue to carry out devastating procedures that, in the end, extend suffering.

Gawande, a practicing surgeon, addresses his profession’s ultimate limitation, arguing that quality of life is the desired goal for patients and families. Gawande offers examples of freer, more socially fulfilling models for assisting the infirm and dependent elderly, and he explores the varieties of hospice care to demonstrate that a person’s last weeks or months may be rich and dignified.

Full of eye-opening research and riveting storytelling, Being Mortal asserts that medicine can comfort and enhance our experience even to the end, providing not only a good life but also a good end.

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“Living for What Really Matters: 7 Weeks in the Book of Philippians”

By: Teresa Swanstrom Anderson

The Get Wisdom Bible Studies help women connect with Scripture in an accessible and energizing way. Teresa Swanstrom Anderson guides with a winsome style that is rich in depth, but still approachable for newer readers of the Bible.

What Are You Hustling For?

We glorify busyness. We hustle, hoping to gain approval and find acceptance. Yet for most of us, we simply hustle our way to burnout. But what if it’s only pointless hustle that leads to burnout? What if meaningful struggle can lead us to growth and depth and even joy?

The apostle Paul understood hustle―and struggle―better than most. But in prison, where we’d expect him to be burned out and depressed, he wrote a letter to his Philippian friends seeking to build them up, a letter filled with thankfulness, generosity, and joy.

Focused on Jesus rather than concentrating on his own discomfort, Paul’s actions brilliantly display what happens when hardship is used for the glory of God.

We might feel that life is trying to bury us . . . but what we forget is that we’re a seed. Philippians will show us how we can grow deep roots and blossom by finding the meaning in our struggle.

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“Show Me Your Glory: Understanding the Majestic Splendor of God”

By: Steven J. Lawson

It’s the most important question we can ask: Who is God? The wrong answer could spell our doom, but God has clearly revealed Himself and His majesty in His Word. Just as Moses asked the Lord on the summit of Sinai, we can approach God’s Word with the ultimate request: “Show me Your glory.”

In Show Me Your Glory: Understanding the Majestic Splendor of God, Dr. Steven Lawson takes us to the mountaintop of divine revelation by distilling the Bible’s teaching about God Himself. Each chapter delves into the depths of God’s awesome attributes, teaching that a deeper knowledge of our Creator can lead us into intimate fellowship with and reverent worship of the One who made us for Himself.

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“Unstuff: Making Room in Your Life for What Really Matters”

By: Hayley DiMarco and Michael DiMarco

God . . . and stuff. Everything in the universe falls into one of these two categories. Which is more important to you? (It’s not a trick question.) In Unstuff: Making Room in Your Life for What Really Matters, popular authors Hayley and Michael DiMarco take a close look at what’s in your wallet, your heart, your house, and your mind to reveal the pleasures and perils of stuff—and the joy, peace, and freedom that comes from learning to live with less.

In this real-life look at “how it’s done,” the DiMarcos take an uncomfortably close look at the cost of their love affair with stuff. They start by Unstuffing their house—getting rid of anything they don’t need by giving away, selling, or throwing out items that only add to their love for more. Then, kicking it up a notch, this family of three travels across the country with nothing more than they can fit in a motor home . . . and discovers that the really important stuff goes with them.

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“What Matters Most – Leader Kit: A Study of Philippians”

By: Karen Ehman

The world has always been full of trials, disappointments, temptations, fractured friendships, and financial hardships. Yet Paul’s letter to the Philippians claims we can discover contentment and joy in the midst of it all by prioritizing what matters most—Christ.

Over 7 sessions, study the ever-relevant Letter of Philippians to deepen your relationship with Jesus, turn your worries into worship, and develop gospel-centered tools for navigating relational conflict and thriving in Christian love.

Leader Kit Includes:

– One Bible study book with personal study segments to complete between 7 weeks of group sessions and leader guide to lead discussion within small groups

– 2 DVDs with enriching teaching videos, approximately 18–26 minutes per session

– Card with 3 additional digital downloads of teaching videos

Benefits:

– Learn to live in joy despite your circumstances.

– Unearth the secret of contentment—knowing Christ.

– Banish anxiety by implementing biblical practices to rest in the peace of Christ.

– Prioritize the Lord above all else.

– Develop gospel-centered tools to navigate relational conflict.

Video Sessions:

Session 1: (35:53)—In Session 1, Karen introduces the letter to the Philippians by sharing background on Philippi, how the church was started there, and Paul’s reason for writing the letter. She also jumps into the text, sharing truths from the first eleven verses.

Session 2: (39:50)—One of the most familiar verses in Philippians is Paul’s declaration in 1:21 – “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” In Session 2, Karen takes us deep into that verse and the verses surrounding as she unpacks Philippians 1:20-30.

Session 3: (35:02)—In Session 3, Karen covers all of Philippians 2. She focuses on Paul’s plea to the church to live in unity, urging them to reflect the attitude of Christ as they “shine like stars” in the world.

Session 4: (28:00)—Some of the most powerful passages in Philippians are found in chapter three. Karen will challenge our priorities as she points out Paul’s laser focus on knowing Jesus above all else and the need for us to forget what’s behind and press forward to what God has for us.

Session 5: (31:08)—Karen covers the first nine verses of Philippians 4 in Session 6, insisting that we turn our worry into worship by praying with thanksgiving about what’s causing anxiety to rise within us. She’ll also turn our thoughts to our thoughts, examining Paul’s command for us to park our minds on things that are good and holy.

Session 6: (29:40)—In Session 6, Karen digs into the last part of Philippians, including probably the most often quoted verse in the letter, Philippians 4:13 – “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” She’ll tackle that verse in the context of helping us discover the secret to being content.

Session 7: (11:22)—Karen gives a closing challenging by sharing the story of Anthony, whose life transformation reflects the truths we’ve discovered in Philippians.

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“Before I Go: Letters to Our Children About What Really Matters”

By: Peter Kreeft

Most parents have no trouble telling their children how to dress, drive, study, or shave, but struggle to talk with them about how best to live―about real love, faith, integrity, values, true enrichment, and success. In the tradition of Tuesdays With Morrie, Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft shares with us the wisdom that he has compiled for his children as his best gift to them. Readable and browsable, these heart to heart chats present priceless truths to live by in a casual yet compelling way.

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“Treasure That Lasts: Trading Privilege, Pleasure, and Power for What Really Matters”

by Michael Youssef

We are surrounded by the temptation to glorify ourselves. We post carefully curated selfies on Instagram, chase money and pleasure, and live the “image is everything” lifestyle. We’ve created a culture of envy, emptiness, and depression. Even the church has bought into worldly values of wealth and status. God put us on this earth not to seek our own glory but to shine the light of his glory on a dying world.

Through the life of Moses, pastor and author Michael Youssef shows us how to store up treasure that lasts by living for God’s glory. Moses turned his back on privilege, pleasure, and power to invest in treasure that lasts–the treasure of God’s glory. His goal must be our goal as well.

Experience the rich life God intended for you. If you’re not sure you’ve truly surrendered your whole life to God, let Treasure That Lasts be the flame that lights the way to reliance on him.

This book includes a chapter-by-chapter guide for group discussion or individual study.

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“What Matters Most: Ten Lessons in Living Passionately from the Song of Solomon”

By: Renita J. Weems

Using the work of Scripture as inspiration, Weems offers 10 lessons that teach women how to discover what their passions are, and how to create direction and meaning in their lives. Helps readers to understand that passion is not something awakened by other people, but an inner source of energy that flows out of every aspect of one’s being. In doing so, Weems empowers women to fight against stereotypes and ignore the conventional way of doing things in order to find their own happiness and joy.

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“What Really Matters: Faith, Hope, Love: 365 Daily Devotions from Our Daily Bread”

By: Dave Branon and Bill Crowder (Our Daily Bread Ministries)

What Really Matters invites you to discover what the Bible says about faith, hope, and love—and why these vital concepts are significant to your relationships with God and others. This 365-day devotional collection includes a combination of Scripture, engaging stories, and compelling quotes to encourage you in your daily walk with the Lord.

You’ll find life-changing truths in this treasury of wisdom from the writers of Our Daily Bread—truths that will encourage you to…

– put your trust in the Sovereign Lord.

– increase your passion for God.

– share His amazing love with others.

Discover how you you can move forward in life with confident hope, as you grow in your understanding of what really matters to God.

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“What Matters Most: Four Absolute Necessities in Following Christ”

By: Tony Evans

What does it mean to be like Christ?

Following. It’s the essence of being like Christ. A new believer learns how to follow Christ by being part of a church of Christ’s followers, just like a child learns to talk by listening to his parents or a med school student learns surgery by watching an experienced surgeon. Each of us, no matter how new or established in the faith, is responsible for following Christ and modeling Him to others.

But what are the central precepts a person should know to fully follow Christ? Tony Evans presents what he terms “four absolute necessities” to following the Lord. Readers will be led into a more intense, passionate walk with Christ as they come to understand what’s required.

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“For His Glory : God’s Ultimate Purpose and Why it Matters to the Church”

By: William P. Farley

The modern church suffers because most Christians do not understand the ultimate purpose of God and how it affects us. For His Glory argues that God created all things for His Glory, and that the pursuit of this truth has far reaching implications for God’s people. No thoughtful believer can afford to be without this book and its timely, vital message.

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“What Is the Great Commission?”

By: R.C. Sproul

After His resurrection, Jesus gave His followers a mission: to go to all the nations and make disciples. What does this Great Commission mean? How are disciples made? And does every Christian have a role to play?

In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul explores the Great Commission by defining key terms such as the gospel, evangelism, missions, and discipleship. Dr. Sproul explains that disciple-making requires much more than just sharing the gospel, and two thousand years after Jesus’ commission, this mission continues.

The Crucial Questions booklet series by Dr. R.C. Sproul offers succinct answers to important questions often asked by Christians and thoughtful inquirers.

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“Would You Like to Know God Personally?”

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Must you become a better person so that God will accept you?

You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.

The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ.

[ Cru ]

https://www.cru.org/us/en/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally.html

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“HAVING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD”

What do we need to know about God? God loves us and wants us to have a personal relationship with Him… [more…]

[ Our Daily Bread ]

https://odb.org/personal-relationship-with-god/

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

SPECIAL ‘GENERAL’ RESOURCE

“ApologetiX Songbook”

(An interactive PDF)

It features the lyrics to every song on every CD and every “download” from 1993-2020

Special features:

– indexed by title, original song, original artist, subject, and Bible verse

– each song’s page has icons showing what albums it appears on

– each song’s page has a commentary from lyricist J. Jackson

– each album’s page includes liner notes and track listing

– print any pages you like or use for slides in church

– photos from ApologetiX’s debut concert in 1992

– discography of out-of-print cassettes

– downloadable in PDF format

New features in this edition:

– all song commentaries from J. Jackson updated and expanded

– also indexed by year when original song spoofed was a hit

– J.’s original handwritten rough lyrics to 40 ApX classics

– scads of photos from ApX 25th-anniversary concerts

– list of 40 ApX parodies most likely to be redone

– over 200 new parodies and journal entries

– list of the first ApX concerts in each state

– six new full-length feature articles

– DVD discography and synopses

– never-before-seen rare photos

– lyrics for over 700 parodies

– over 1000 pages!

Interactive features:

– click on any page number in indexes or TOC to go to that page

– click on any album icon to go to its liner notes and track listings

– click on any song title on an album page to go to that song

Note: This e-book is a download-only and doesn’t include sheet music.

The songbook is available for a donation of $50 or more. After we receive your donation, we’ll send you a follow-up email with the link.

Get the Songbook for a donation:

http://www.apologetix.com/store/store.php#songbook

Songbook Demo Video: https://rumble.com/vfazhl-apologetix-songbook-2020-demo.html

“THE SEARCH FOR MEANING” WEBSITE

This site presents discussions on the 12 most commonly asked questions about the Christian faith.

The 12 discussions are accessed by the “tabs” at the bottom of the page. The tabs are numbered 1-12. Roll your mouse over them and you will see the question displayed at the right. Click on the number to select that question.

Within each question (i.e. tabs 1-12), there are subtopics (or dialogues) to select that appear as smaller tabs underneath the numbered tabs. Roll your mouse over them and the title of these topics is also displayed to the right. Click on the open rectangle to select that dialogue.

For each question (1-12), a link to related resources and an optional flowchart is provided. To access this material, click on the respective words, “Related Resources” or “Options Flowchart.”

To play a more detailed discussion of the subject, between two people, select the desired dialogue and click on “Play Audio Dialogue.”

In the upper right-hand corner of the page, there is an icon that looks like binoculars looking at a question mark. Click on this icon to return to the homepage.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Related Resources” page, there is an icon that looks like some books. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the resources for all of the questions. There also are additional “appendices” for most of the questions.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Flowchart” page, there is an icon that looks like an Org chart. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the flowcharts.

http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q1_d1_1of10.html

[ Content by: Bill Kraftson and Lamar Smith; Website by Mark Besh ]

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“FRUITS OF THE BEATITUDES” WEB SITE

(The ATTITUDES of Jesus that produce the CHARACTER of Jesus)

CLICK ON THE LINK to view:

http://fruitsofthebeatitudes.org/

FACEBOOK PAGE:

https://www.facebook.com/FruitsOfTheBeatitudes/

[ Mark Besh ]

[ P.S.: If you would like to investigate further what it means to “believe,” visit the following link:

http://www.4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q10_d4_1of10.html ].

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ARTICLES

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“The Power of Relationships”

If you knew what mattered most in life, would that change how you live? How you spend your time? If you knew that there was something that would help you live a longer, healthier, happier life, wouldn’t you make that a priority? Listen to Andrew Mills as he passionately shares his story of discovery and healing and how you can change your own life, beginning today.

Andrew and his family recently moved to St. Catharines in August 2016. He and his wife Krista have three children. He loves to cook, carve extremely detailed Jack o’ Lanterns for Halloween and read several books a week. At the end of high school he changed his career path and went to Emmanuel Bible College for his B.Th. in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies and while there began to pastor in his home church under his father who was the lead pastor. Andrew continued his education through gaining a M.A. in Christian Theology from McMaster Divinity School.

He has a wonderful wife Krista and three young children. His other big passions are soccer, reading theology of all sorts, listening to records while cooking, and travelling whenever he can with his family.

[ Andrew Mills ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf3VPtQyehI

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“Good genes are nice, but joy is better”

Harvard study, almost 80 years old, has proved that embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier

[ The Harvard Gazette ]

Article: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/

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“The 5 Whys Template and How You Can Create Sustained Motivation (Free Download)”

A couple of weeks ago we learned why 92% of goals are not achieved. One of the major reasons behind this was that people don’t link their goals to a higher purpose. That is, they don’t have a burning platform or a clear understanding as to why they want to reach that goal.

I wanted to explore this concept in-depth as it’s absolutely fundamental to being able to live the life you want to live. Why? Because you need to understand WHY you want to live the life you want to live!

In my pursuit of providing you with real tools and strategies that you can actually implement into your life, I have developed a 5 whys template for this process which you can download from our free toolkit.

(https://www.startofhappiness.com/the-happiness-toolkit/)

[more…]

[ Brendan Baker ]

Article: https://www.startofhappiness.com/the-5-whys-template-and-how-you-can-create-sustained-motivation-free-download/

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“The 10 Happiest Countries To Live In The World”

The 2019 World Happiness Report, according to the happiness levels of their immigrants.

Happiness – and the pursuit of it – can mean very different things to different people. This, inevitably, makes it tough to quantify and rank with any real authority.

While happiness is said to come from within, residents in several nations are perceived to experience it more widely than in other countries.

The happiness of citizens does not increase when their country’s overall wealth increases.

This year’s ranking criteria has also seen some changes. It focuses on happiness and the community.

European countries dominate a ranking of nations seen as the happiest in the 2019 Best Countries report.

Here are the 10 happiest countries to live in the world for 2019, according to the United Nations. Many of these countries are seen as the world’s safest countries:

10. Austria. (safest country)

9. Canada.

8. New Zealand. (safest country)

7. Sweden.

6. Switzerland. (safest country)

5. The Netherlands.

4. Iceland. (rank 1 safest country)

3. Norway. (safest country)

2. Denmark. (safest country)

1. Finland. (safest country)

Happiness is everywhere in our homeland. We hope you find it.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGq2iAFrr2s

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“Why Finland And Denmark Are Happier Than The U.S.”

What does it take to be happy? The Nordic countries seem to have it all figured out. Finland and Denmark have consistently topped the United Nations’ most prestigious index, The World Happiness Report, in all six areas of life satisfaction: income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity.

Learn more about work-life balance secrets from the happiest countries in the world on CNBC Make It: https://cnb.cx/37So3YY

Each year, a group of happiness experts from around the globe rank 156 countries based on how “happy” citizens are, and they publish their findings in the World Happiness Report. Happiness might seem like an elusive concept to quantify, but there is a science to it.

When researchers talk about “happiness,” they’re referring to “satisfaction with the way one’s life is going,” Jeff Sachs, co-creator of the World Happiness Report and a professor at Columbia University, tells CNBC Make It.

“It’s not primarily a measure of whether one laughed or smiled yesterday, but how one feels about the course of one’s life,” he says.

Since the report began in 2012, Nordic countries — which include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, plus the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Aland — consistently turn up at the top of the list. (The United States, on the other hand, typically lands somewhere around 18th or 19th place.)

[ CNBC Make It ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pm0Mn0-jYU

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“How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes”

This is an edited Summary of Adam Leipzig’s talk How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes It’s a decent guide on the mindset you should have towards .

This is very easy and addicting once you have mastered it. Warning: This trick is a serious chick magnet. Exercise caution. Please ignore the following: How-to .

[ Adam Leipzig ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om-XLTeQee0

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“The Three Requirements of a Good Relationship”

It can be hard to know what we really need from a relationship. But the task becomes much simpler if we keep in mind that every relationship requires just three crucial ingredients to work.

[ The School of Life ]

Illustration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOn9HVQdOGc

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“The Power of Four Words: “What Matters to You?”

What matters to IHI is that those who work in health care understand the impact that asking, “What matters to you?” has on quality, safety, and the joy of the health care workforce.

In their 2012 New England Journal of Medicine article, Dr. Michael Barry and Susan Edgman-Levitan introduced the concept of asking, “What matters to you?” in addition to “What is the matter?” in the context of implementing shared decision making. Their ambition was to increase clinicians’ awareness of important issues in their patients’ lives that could drive customized plans of care.

IHI believes that “What Matters” is a simple, yet profound concept that is key to creating deeply personal engagements with patients and their family members, a deeper understanding of what really matters to them, and is the foundation of developing genuine partnerships for co-creating health.

By introducing this concept, Michael and Susan unlocked in health care leaders around the world the potential to solve problems that matter to their patients. The concept of “What Matters” also has a profound impact on the joy of the health care workforce.

“What Matters to You?” Day in June: Need Inspiration?

While “What Matters to You?” is important to practice every day, June 9 is marked as the annual celebration.

Organizations all over the world have cultivated the power of “What matters to you?” Below are some resources that might help your organization celebrate “What Matters to You?” Day on June 9.

What Matters to You? Global Movement

What Matters to You? (Health Improvement Scotland)

What Matters to You? (BC Patient Safety and Quality Council)

Stories by In Search of Mangomoments

Video clip: “11-Year-Old Girl Grants Wishes to Nursing Home Residents”

“What Matters” to Older Adults? A Toolkit for Health Systems to Design Better Care with Older Adults (IHI Age-Friendly Health Systems)

“What Matters to You?” Conversation Guide for Improving Joy in Work (IHI)

Maureen Bisognano: How WMTY Started (Danish Society for Patient Safety)

Internal Reflections: “What Matters” in Our Work at IHI

In honor of “What Matters to You?” Day on June 9, IHI asked our teams to consider what mattered in the work we are doing across North America. We are pleased to see the message of “What Matters” permeating our work. Learn more >>

Maureen Bisognano: What Matters to You Matters to Me (Danish Society for Patient Safety)

Examples of “What Matters” in Different Settings

The videos below provide examples of the impact of “What Matters” for patients in different clinical settings and for the health care workforce.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkjYvesHvkE

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5GfT07eaCg

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc0QfHOUA7I

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtgPIQws0aE

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnnu43Zt-oA

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2G39QcxGuQ

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“Leadership – When It Matters Most :: Half-Time Adjustments Every Leader Needs to Make”

I’m looking for leaders with a true commitment to lead others through positive influence. Is that you?

[ John C. Maxwell ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjAqbj8qums

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“Leadership When It Matters Most :: Best of Live2Lead”

Join us as we host Special Guest – Dave Ramsey

[ John C. Maxwell ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XhutE4jxow

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“A 97-Year-Old Philosopher Faces His Own Death”

Herbert Fingarette once argued that there was no reason to fear death. At 97, his own mortality began to haunt him, and he had to rethink everything.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX6NztnPU-4

Article: “A 97-Year-Old Philosopher Ponders Life and Death: ‘What Is the Point?”:

https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/604840/being-97/

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“Debbie’s Dying Wish”

If you knew you were dying, what would you do with the time you had left? For Debbie Whitmore, a young mother diagnosed with colon cancer, the answer was simple: spend quality time, including a trip to Disney World, with her husband and children.

[ Frontline PBS ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybVQF8FUyqc

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“Life Lessons From 100-Year-Olds”

We asked three unique and lovely centenarians what their most valuable life lessons were, and also their regrets.

The conversations that followed were remarkable. They talked about the importance of family, people, relationships and love. Their view on life, as an elderly citizen with a lot of experience is truly an inspiration and motivation. Enjoy the video! And please let us know what your thoughts are!

[ LifeHunters ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AThycGCakk

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“What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness”

What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it’s fame and money, you’re not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you’re mistaken. As the director of 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. In this talk, he shares three important lessons learned from the study as well as some practical, old-as-the-hills wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life.

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.

[ Robert Waldinger ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkKuTCFvzI

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“Work-life balance secrets from the happiest countries in the world”

Each year, a group of happiness experts from around the globe rank 156 countries based on how “happy” citizens are, and they publish their findings in the World Happiness Report.

Happiness might seem like an elusive concept to quantify, but there is a science to it.

“It’s not primarily a measure of whether one laughed or smiled yesterday, but how one feels about the course of one’s life,” he says.

In 2019, Finland was ranked No. 1 for the second year in a row. In 2017, it was Norway, and Denmark grabbed first place in 2013 and 2016. Switzerland nabbed the top rank in 2015.

This is no coincidence. Nordic countries rank so high on the happiness report because they have things like free education and healthcare, low crime rates, cushy social security nets, a relatively homogeneous population and they’re fairly prosperous.

Perhaps most importantly, these countries prioritize balance, which is the “formula for happiness,” Sachs says. “They’re not societies that are aiming for all of the effort and time to becoming gazillionaires, they’re looking for a good balance of life and the results are extremely positive,” he says.

“We find happiness in our own pursuits,” like our professional work and passions, he adds. “And by living in societies that are more balanced.” [more…]

[ Cory Stieg ]

Article: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/09/are-danish-people-really-happy-nordic-work-life-balance-secrets.html

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“Being Mortal” (Full film)

How do you talk about death with a dying loved one? Dr. Atul Gawande explores death, dying and why even doctors struggle to discuss being mortal with patients, in this Emmy-nominated documentary.

“Aging and dying — you can’t fix those,” says Dr. Gawande. This film examines the relationships between doctors and patients nearing the end of life, and how the medical profession can better help people navigate mortality. The ultimate goal, after all, is not a good death but a good life — to the very end.

[ Frontline PBS ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQhI3Jb7vMg

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“What Matters Most in Life?”

What is the most important thing in life? Money? Happiness? Love? Those things are certainly important, but what matters most is good values. What are values? They are what we consider more important than our feelings. For instance, just about everyone feels like eating junk food, but if you eat whatever you feel like eating you will end up obese and unhealthy. So then, what stops people from eating all the food they feel like eating? The answer is good values. Indeed a lack of good values is the root of virtually everything wrong with the world. In five minutes, learn why we should act based on values rather than our feelings. [more…]

[ Dennis Prager ]

Article: https://www.prageru.com/video/what-matters-most-in-life/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg-wNxJ5XxY

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“What really matters at the end of life | BJ Miller”

At the end of our lives, what do we most wish for? For many, it’s simply comfort, respect, love. BJ Miller is a palliative care physician who thinks deeply about how to create a dignified, graceful end of life for his patients. Take the time to savor this moving talk, which asks big questions about how we think on death and honor life.

[ B.J. Miller ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apbSsILLh28

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“What Matters Most? Exploring Your Values”

Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and enables YOU to take charge of your health and well-being and live your life to the fullest. It starts with YOU. It is fueled by the power of knowing yourself and what will really work for you in your life. Once you have some ideas about this, your team can help you with the skills, support, and follow up you need to reach your goals.

All resources provided in these handouts are reviewed by VHA clinicians and Veterans. No endorsement of any specific products is intended. Best wishes! [more…]

Article: https://www.va.gov/wholehealth/

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What are my values?

Values come from our true selves. They are the answers that come from asking ourselves “What matters most to me?” Values may be carried with us throughout our lives, or they may change over time. Values are deeply personal and vary from person to person. Some values may be more abstract, like loyalty or honesty, while others are more concrete, such as spending time with my family or committing to daily prayer. Sometimes it is easy to stay true to our values. However, sometimes events happen in our lives that cause us to shift our focus away from our values.

This handout is about ways to identify your values, recognize challenges in living from your values, and explore how best to match up your life and values.

PDF: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/veteran-handouts/docs/WhatMattersMost_Final508_07-25-2019.pdf

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“The Third Pillar of Strength is Purpose”

As believers we need to wake up to the truth that is in the word of God and begin to see how the world is being influenced by principalities and powers from the kingdom of Darkness.

[ Grace For Purpose ]

Video: https://youtu.be/VK9Cxu5_u4I?t=1019

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“What Is a Personal Relationship with Jesus? (And How to Know God Personally)”

What is a personal relationship with Jesus? Maybe you’ve heard that it’s possible to know God personally, but you have no idea what that means.

Or perhaps your faith feels like a religion instead of a relationship with God, and you wonder if it’s possible to know how to grow closer to God (in a meaningful way).

Here’s the truth: You were created to know God and have a close, personal relationship with Him–a life-changing experience that will affect every aspect of your life and bring you joy, hope and purpose like nothing else!

Let me share with you what the Bible says about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

P.S. I also want to give you a free 3-Day Bible Study that will teach you how to study the Bible so that you can have an easy, practical way to grow closer to God everyday!

Click here to download the free “How to Grow Closer to God” Bible Study course so that you can develop a strong relationship with Jesus and know God personally! [more…]

[ Alicia Michelle ]

Article: https://vibrantchristianliving.com/personal-relationship-with-jesus/

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“The Things That Matter Most”

The Things That Matter Most – Warren Wiersbe Sermon Teaching , Sunday Sermons, Church Services, Bible Study, Christian Revival, Gospel Salvation

[ Warren Wiersbe ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJwHaNaRMio

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“What Matters Most”

Proverbs 31:30

Beauty is fleeting, but our reverence for God lasts forever. Watch today’s devotional for a reminder to seek His heart above all else.

[ Elisa Morgan ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUZvVDXifKE

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“Live For What Matters – What Matters Most”

What’s my calling? Who should I marry? What degree should I get? What should I do next? Everyone has been stumped by these questions, but in this message, Pastor John simplifies these challenges and shows us how to live for what truly matters most! Check it out now!

[ John Hill ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czhiPNHEs1A

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“Love Matters Most” (Part 1)

This weekend we kicked off Love Matters Most– our new theme that will carry us through September. From the beginning, people were created and called to love God and love others no matter the cost. But in a culture that often feels more divisive than unified, radical love is no easy task.

[ Joe Coffey ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3p7–8fCeQ

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“Love Matters Most” (Part 4)

When Jesus tells us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and love our neighbor as ourself… that is a whole lot of love! But let’s be real, it can’t come from ourselves.

It is from God through Jesus that we are filled with love beyond measure, and that love means a few things. First, we can know that the bad things that happen to us will be used for good. Second, we know that we can never lose the gift of God’s love. And third, we know that we have hope for the future because the best things are yet to come!

[ Joe Coffey ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcqAcPTIorY

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“WHAT MATTERS MOST” (Series)

When we pray to God, instead of asking “What matters most?” we should be asking “What matters most—to You?” How are you inviting God into your life each day?

[ Southeast Christian Church ]

Eddie Johnson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p21l7BAfTdQ

Greg Allen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnjOtA5Ftb4

James Hauser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9zz3rrOa5U

Matt Reagan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwIcGjRiLrU

Michael Kast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jq6YhTye_c

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“What Matters Most in Your Life?”

Do you see the opportunities and gifts God’s given you?

In this Bible series project, Pastor Jared looks at the life and lessons of the apostle Paul.

[ Jared Oldenburg ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJiW3tdHkSM

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“What Matters Most”

[ David Sill ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVfW1qTB2WY

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“What Matters Most in Life?”

[ Dennis Prager ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg-wNxJ5XxY

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“WHAT MATTERS MOST” (Series)

When we pray to God, instead of asking “What matters most?” we should be asking “What matters most—to You?” How are you inviting God into your life each day?

[ CPC Danville ]

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5PIN4lgghw

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUcj6z_xeEs

Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDfQPlkYgt0

Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTkjhrdOmVY

Part 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gOk-IaDA-

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“Your Life Matters to God”

At low points in our lives, we may be tempted to think we don’t really matter to God. The struggles of earthly life can sometimes overwhelm us, eclipsing our fellowship with a heavenly Father who feels so far away. As we study the overwhelming evidence of His infinite care, we’ll discover that God never leaves or forsakes us, and we’ll find security in our true worth as a beloved child of the King.

Dr. Charles Stanley

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02E6hJFyFmQ

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“Become Aware Of What Matters Most”

The question isn’t, “Is God with me?”. It’s “Am I aware of his presence?”. In this message, we learn how to overcome by becoming aware of what matters most – God’s presence.

[ John Stickl ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6at61ZT9KzQ

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“Making Space: Doing What Matters Most” (Series)

Do you know what’s most important in life? Do you feel too busy to make time for those things? This Bible study helps you identify the things that matter to God and to you as a follower of Christ and apply godly wisdom to incorporate these activities into your busy life. Each week will address a topic that is important but often overlooked or wrongly engaged. This study gleans wisdom from the Book of Proverbs and from the example of Jesus to help you turn from empty and unfulfilling busyness and devote yourself to doing what matters most. (8 sessions)

[ Jeff Vanderstelt ]

Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPWRivqGXIg&list=PLJnIFQsOw6WVYKZulLHTL2O6oQRBKUQv1

Session 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEvhlHb43Hg

Session 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dCcEz6UkFo

Session 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y4Wnm7wKYk

Session 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb2mOrXMX58

Session 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRHqCCIAvWI

Session 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-_p3wFuOIo

Session 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwBjOzg_xqE

Session 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOCS30Ps0LM

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“Mark 1: 35-45 – What Matters Most in Life?”

For Christians its all too easy to answer the question ‘What Matters Most in Life?’ with a resounding and partronising chorus of ‘Is the answer Jesus?’, but what does that really mean? Ian Garrett explores the humanity and deity of Jesus to help us see why Jesus does matter most in life.

[ Ian Garrett ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOiB2uvu3Cs

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“The Secret of Loving God!”

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” 1 John 2:15

[ Charles Spurgeon ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIB3MHd2EWo

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“What You Do DAILY – Matters To God”

Christian motivation.

[ Grace For Purpose ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqjfom2APYw

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“God’s Plan Is All That Matters!

There is nothing that can stop the plans of God in your life! This video will encourage you to relax and accept that God is in control of every aspect of your life and that all things work together for those that trust in the Lord!

[ Grace For Purpose ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOXug9_oNtg

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“God’s Hand Is On Your Life No Matter What Your Situation Is”

God is building you even when it feels like he is breaking you.

[ Grace For Purpose ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDInWxGPY74

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“The Day When Nothing Else Will Matter But God”

The day of reckoning.

[ Grace For Purpose ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IB8G3aS-vo

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“End Time Signs That Will Save You”

The Lord is coming soon… its time for us to act like it. When it comes to your prayer life… do you act like you know the Lord is coming soon? Matthew chapter 24 verse 42 to 44 says “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

[ Grace For Purpose ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyGjX7rasPw

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“Most Unbelievers Understand This (But Christians Don’t)”

Christian Motivation by Joe Kirby from Off The Kirb Ministries. Christian principles every Christian should know about it for the believer – an inspirational morning Christian sermon to powerfully motivate them to action.

[ Off The Kirb Ministries ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBpMePOlOgI

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“Futures: Are You Sure God Knows You?”

You can know about Jesus Christ, yet not be saved. You can have knowledge of His existence without having a personal relationship with Him. But salvation requires that you know Jesus personally. It’s more than what you know, it’s WHO you know.

[ Jack Hibbs ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZlW3aQ73ng

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____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

SONGS

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“What Matters Most”

It’s not how long we held each others hand

What matters is how well we loved each other

It’s not how far we traveled on our way

Of what we found to say

It’s not the spring you see, but all the shades of green

It’s not how long I held you in my arms

What matters is how sweet the years together

It’s not how many summer times we had to give to fall

The early morning smiles we tearfully recall

What matters most is that we loved at all.

It’s not how many summer times we had to give to fall

The early morning smiles we tearfully recall

What matters most is that we loved at all.

[ Kenny Rankin ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YON2Fno-CQ0

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“What Matters Most”

You ask me where does my joy lie

I tell you in all that I do for Christ

You want to know how I am fulfilled

I tell you in doing my Father’s will

You think it strange when I tell you

That it’s what I live for and die if I have to

There’s nothing more satisfying than knowing I’m pleasing

The one who matters most

So if I make you smile

And the words that I sing make you feel better

Then I know that it’s all worth while

‘Cause nothing completes me more than doing what matters most

Your will is planned ’til the end of time

How I fit in only you define

The meaning for my existence

I can’t deny you – no room for resistance, no

The only one who makes sense of it all

Still trying to understand why my name you’ve called

But I’m created to praise you

It’s what I’m made for and it’s what I’ll do

So if I make you smile

And the words that I sing make you feel better

Then I know that it’s all worth while

‘Cause nothing completes me more than doing what matters most.

[ Ayiesha Woods – “Introducing Ayiesha Woods” album ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtL0jowlh3Q

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“What Matters Most”

Inhabit the trembling, yet be brave

Embrace your weakness, yet be strong

Say what you have to say

And always admit when you’re wrong

Accept who you are, yet keep striving

To become that which you’ve been declared

Be strong, yet bend with the wind

Mourn, yet never despair

Faith moves mountains, hope holds on

Love has paid what is owed

Belief is beautiful, trust is good

But love is what matters the most

Dwell in the moment, yet keep moving

Knowing you’re just passing through

Give all that you are, yet receive

All that is worthy and true

Be at peace, but never run from the battle

For the battle is where peace is found

And remember if you don’t have love

You have nothing, no matter how profound

Faith moves mountains, hope holds on

Love has paid what is owed

Belief is beautiful, trust is good

But love is what matters the most

Faith moves mountains, hope holds on

Love has paid what is owed

Belief is beautiful, trust is good

But love is what matters the most

Oh, faith moves mountains, hope holds on

Love has paid what is owed

Belief is beautiful, trust is good

But love is what matters the most

Faith moves mountains, hope holds on

Love has paid what is owed

Belief is beautiful, trust is good

But love is what matters the most

[ Wes King – “What Matters Most” album ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edOZFIC3SsM

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“Live Like You Were Dying”

He said

“I was in my early forties

With a lot of life before me

When a moment came that stopped me on a dime

I spent most of the next days

Looking at the x-rays

And talkin’ ’bout the options

And talkin’ ’bout sweet time”

I asked him

“When it sank in

That this might really be the real end

How’s it hit you

When you get that kind of news?

Man, what’d you do?”

And he said

“I went skydiving

I went Rocky Mountain climbing

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu

And I loved deeper

And I spoke sweeter

And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying”

And he said

“Someday I hope you get the chance

To live like you were dying”

He said

“I was finally the husband

That most of the time I wasn’t

And I became a friend a friend would like to have

And all of a sudden going fishin’

Wasn’t such an imposition

And I went three times that year I lost my dad

Well I, I finally read the Good Book, and I

Took a good, long, hard look

At what I’d do if I could do it all again

And then

I went skydiving

I went Rocky Mountain climbing

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu

And I loved deeper

And I spoke sweeter

And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying”

And he said

“Someday I hope you get the chance

To live like you were dying

Like tomorrow was a gift

And you’ve got eternity

To think about

What you’d do with it

What could you do with it

What did I do with it?

What would I do with it?

Skydiving

I went Rocky mountain climbing

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu

Man, I loved deeper

And I spoke sweeter

And I watched an eagle as it was flying”

And he said

“Someday I hope you get the chance

To live like you were dying

To live like you were dying”

Woo

[ Tim McGraw – “Live Like You Were Dying” album ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9TShlMkQnc

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“The Walk”

I’ve got a Grandpa Rudd

He gave thirty years to the lumber yard

Loving his family and working hard

Got a faith like a solid rock

He’s just doing the walk, yeah

I’ve got a friend named Larry

He sends me letters from a foreign land

He moved there with his kids and his pretty wife Mary

To answer the holy call

He’s just doing the walk

Oh, you can run with the big dog

You can fly with the eagle

You can jump through all the hoops

And climb the ladder to the top

But when it all comes down

You know it all comes down to the walk

It all come down to the walk

Now there’s a man I know

He said He’d come to show us the way

He died on a cross and He rose from the grave

And proved He was more than talk

He taught us the walk, yes He did

And now I’m singing my songs

Standing up on a big and bright stage, yeah

And I do my dance while the music plays

But when the music stops

Am I doing the walk?

‘Cause you can run with the big dog

You can fly with the eagle

You can jump through all the hoops

And climb the ladder to the top

But when it all comes down

You know it all comes down to this

Do justly, love mercy

Walk humbly with your God

Do justly, love mercy

Walk humbly with your God

Do justly, love mercy

Walk humbly with your God

Do justly, love mercy

Walk humbly with your God

‘Cause you can run with the big dog

You can fly with the eagles

You can jump through all the hoops

And climb your ladder to the top

But when it all comes down

You know it all comes down, down, down, down, down

To the walk

Do justly, love mercy

Walk humbly with your God

Do justly, love mercy

Walk humbly with your God

Do justly, love mercy

Walk humbly with your God

You all keep doing the walk

[ Steven Curtis Chapman – “Signs of Life” album ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U891-1BndUs

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“All That I Want”

Consume me

In Your mercy

Purify my soul

In the fire of Your holiness

Pursue me

Rescue me

Change this heart of stone

For a heart of flesh

‘Til all that I want

All I desire is You

All that I need

All that I require is You

Consume me

Heal me

Reveal me

Open up my eyes

To see Your worthiness

I cannot live by bread alone

But By Your every word

You are the living water and

I thirst

[ Kim Hill – “Arms of Mercy” album ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLGoSuJDxYY

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“You Alone”

I lift my eyes when I am troubled

I lift my hands, I lift my heart

And there I stand knowing nothing can defeat me

Just as long as I know where You are

In You alone

Is where I find my comfort

In You alone

You’re my only hope

In You alone

My heart has found a resting place

In You alone

So I won’t fear though darkness hides me

No, I won’t let my courage sway

For You are near and at the brightness of Your glory

The shadows of the night melt away

In You alone

Is promise I can cling to

In You alone

You’re my security

In You alone

My soul has found a dwelling place

Only in You alone

What could separate me from Your love?

Neither life nor death, nor anything at all

Anything at all

In You alone

Is where I find my comfort

In You alone

You’re my only hope

In You alone

My heart has found a resting place

Only in You alone

[ Kim Hill – “Arms of Mercy” album ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9DAdBiEToc

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“You Are Still Holy”

Holy, You are still holy

Even when the darkness surrounds my life

Sovereign, You are still sovereign

Even when confusion has blinded my eyes

Lord I don’t deserve Your kind affection

When my unbelief has kept me from Your touch

I want my life to be a pure reflection of Your love

CHORUS:

And so I come into Your chambers

And I dance at Your feet Lord

You are my saviour, and I’m at Your mercy

All that has been in my life up to now

It belong to You

You are still holy

Holy, You are still holy

Even though I don’t understand Your ways

Sovereign You will be sovereign

Even when my circumstances don’t change

Lord I don’t deserve Your tender patience

When my unbelief has kept me from Your truth

I want my life to be a sweet devotion to You

CHORUS:

And so I come into Your chambers

And I dance at Your feet Lord

You are my saviour, and I’m at Your mercy

All that has been in my life up to now

It belongs to You

I belong to You

And so I come into your chambers

And I dance at Your feet Lord

You are my saviour and I’m at your mercy

All that has been in my life up to now

It belongs to You

I belong to you

You are still holy, You are still sovereign

You are still holy, Lord

You are still righteous

You are all knowing

You are still holy, You are still holy

[ Kim Hill – “Arms of Mercy” album ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWEtd7ih7Bw

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“What Matters Most”

Filling this verse with superlative words

Making the most clever rhymes

Wouldn’t amount to much

Just wouldn’t count for much

If you can’t read between lines

But I have discovered I’ve finally uncovered

A most significant thing

It’s a noble theme

What matters most

Is how much we love

What matters most

Is how much we give

What would it matter if we just lived

Without loving our God, without loving each other

Faith, hope and love, especially love

That’s what matters most

What matters most

Once just a girl in a curious world

Learning the meaning of life

Tell me what is the reason

And why do the seasons keep turning

The pages of time

I had to discover the things from above

For the days turn so quickly to years

Then they disappear

Not money

Not power not fame or position

Don’t want it

Don’t need it don’t give me religion

All I wanna hear

All I wanna see

All I wanna read about is

All I wanna live

All I wanna know

All I wanna be about is

Love, what matters most

Givin’ love, what matters most

What matters most

Is how much we love

What matters most

Is how much we give

What would it matter if we just lived

Without loving our God

Without loving each other

What matters most is how much we love

[ Cheri Keaggy – “What Matters Most” album ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALDDjiWRG50

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“In Christ Alone”

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied –

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand:

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

[ Celtic Worship featuring Steph Macleod ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kvFtXphmMU

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“Love Is The Reason”

Mama dragged us to church every Sunday

And heaven knows I didn’t want to go

The preacher talked too long and I didn’t like those songs

That hour and 15 went by way too slow

I asked my mother “why do we bother?”

She smiled and said from deep down in her soul

Love is the reason

Love is the reason that I go

Standing up for what I believe in

That’s where my heart is leading

And love is the reason that I go

Time went by and we got a little older

My brother signed up to wear that army green

Fighting the good fight and leaving home behind

Giving everything to be all he could be

I asked my brother “why do you bother?”

He stood up tall and said these words to me

Love is the reason

Love is the reason that I go

I’m gonna fight for what I believe in

That’s where my heart is leading

And love is the reason that I go

Love is strong and love is kind

Love will go the extra mile

It ain’t scared to pay the price

Love will always sacrifice

Walking up the hill that stood before him

Carrying that cross to bear our shame

If I could ask him why he was laying down his life

I know that I would hear my Jesus say

[ Mac Powell – “Love Is The Reason” album ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2FnqjAusIk

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“A Love Never Known”

A love never known

Has come to call me home

And I say I do

I follow you

Something from my heart

Has stirred my soul

And I can’t ignore this feeling

Any more

And you say

“Don’t you worry

I will see you through

Cause you belong to me

And I to you”

Chorus

Something from my eyes

I can’t erase

And the tears keep falling

Down upon my face

You wiped away my sorrow and my sin

When you gave your blood for me to live

Chorus

I’ve always known

That there’s been someone looking out for me

And now I know your name

Lord from you I came

Chorus

[ Leahy – “Live from Gatineau” album ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncGmN–m30o

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____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

APOLOGETIX SONGS

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

“Miss Martha”

(Parody of “Miss Murder” by AFI)

Hey, Miss Martha, can I

Beg you to make some time for Jesus Christ

Whoa-o-oh

With angry looks she cooked

And set food down before Him

She never took a break at all

Then Martha said to Christ

I’m left to wash and dry

My sister pays no mind

She sits on her behind

Hey, Miss Martha, can I

Beg you to make some time for Jesus Christ

Whoa-o-oh

She was aghast perhaps

At how the Lord responded

He said, “Relax and settle down

“You’ve mopped and swept and wiped

“It kept you occupied

“And while it killed some time

“You left the best behind.”

Hey, Miss Martha, can I

Beg you to make some time for Jesus Christ

Whoa-o-oh

Martha looked as if she was a very busy bee

But she had a bee inside her bonnet

As the custom was, she ran the house with guests around — without help

“Well, these dishes ain’t just gonna go do themselves

“And the silverware it needs some polish

“Really, Lord, if I don’t clean it never gets done

“No-one ever helps me, Lord, it’s filthy — that’s the problem!”

Hey, Miss Martha, can I

Beg you to make some time for Jesus Christ

Whoa-o-oh

Hey, Miss Martha, can I

Beg you to make some time for Jesus Christ

Whoa-o-oh

[ ApologetiX – “Future Tense” album ]

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“Love & Kisses”

(Parody of “Rock and Roll All Night” by Kiss)

You know Moses and the things of God

The Ten Commandments and the Jewish laws

You try to find which one’s the greatest

You say you wanna know where it is

It’s part of Deuteronomy chapter 6

You try verse five; you’ll find it baby

You read about it — you need to shout it

I love the Lord with all my might — my heart and everything

The people came to Jesus Christ for a while

They looked for answers and they liked His style

You tell us, Christ: Which law’s the greatest?

“Love the Lord with everything you’ve got.”

Well, Jesus said, “Well, that’s quite a law!

“Do all this while you love your neighbor.”

Don’t even doubt it — you need to shout it

I love the Lord with all my might — my heart and everything

[ ApologetiX – ” Jesus Christ Morningstar” album ]

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“All You Gotta Do”

(Parody of “All I wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow)

Hit it!

I ain’t no bimbo!

This ain’t no cult I’m in, either!

It’s the real way!

All I wanna do is have a home in Heaven when I die

Says a man next to me – How do I go there?

‘Cause I don’t know nothin’ — I’m just a shameful failure

And I’m sure I’d feel real silly at a Bible study

Can you explain something to me?

‘Cause I wonder if I’ll ever have a way of findin’ eternal life

And me, I think it’s clear it’ll soon be doomsday

And as far as faith is concerned, I’m sure lost

And the good people of the world

Are worshipping God every Sunday

Holy and celibate – I bet they came to church in suits

The guy beside me thought that he blew it

I’d better show him somethin’ and let him know the truth

‘Cause it’s nothing like that really, you see

‘Cause all you gotta do is have God’s Son

That’s not a theory; my God, He told me, hon

All you gotta do is have God’s Son

I’m talkin’ Jesus; there’s lots of phony ones

All you gotta do is have God’s Son

That really sums things up on this matter ’cause it’s not really hard

I like my good friend Paul’s letter to the Romans

He said that Christ was killed to save us and we’re bought with His blood

He spreads His arms apart and He loves every man with an oversized passion

Instead of lettin’ each one burn

Now He can fix sinners – even though there’s a curse in our lives

‘Cause we got into trouble with God when we sinned at the start

When the happy couple entering the garden

Flagrantly chose to run amok there

But God sent us His Son if you want that

‘Cause all you gotta do is have God’s Son

That’s not a theory; my God, He told me, hon

All you gotta do is have God’s Son

I’m talkin’ Jesus; there’s lots of phony ones

All you gotta do is have God’s Son

That really sums things up on this matter ’cause it’s not really hard

LEAD

Otherwise we’d all be lost

But, hey, it’s all right ’cause the Lord wants you

The Bible says to trust and believe in the Son of God

He’s comin’ real soon

‘Cause all you gotta do is have God’s Son

That’s not a theory; my God, He told me, hon

All you gotta do is have God’s Son

I’m talkin’ Jesus; there’s lots of phony ones

All you gotta do is have God’s Son

Why not just read it? Yes, start the New Testament

All you gotta do is have God’s Son

I’m gonna tell you once more and only once

All you gotta do is have God’s Son

That really sums things up on this matter ’cause it’s not really hard

[ ApologetiX – “Quilt” album ]

*****************************

“Embarrassing Moments”

(Parody of: “American Woman” by The Guess Who)

Embarrassing moments — gonna mess your mind Embarrassing moments — they gonna mess your mind Mmmm … Embarrassing moments — gonna mess your mind Mm! Embarrassing moments — gonna mess up your mind

I say, E — uh

I say, M — mm!

Say, B

A —R

Say, R

Then A

Say, S

Sinnnn … mmmm

Embarrassing moments — gonna mention mine

Mmm — Embarrassing moments — gonna mess your mind Uh! Embarrassing moments — gonna mess up your mind

Embarrassing moments — made a name for me Embarrassing moments — but my nickname’s “Pete” They brought a gang to surround my Lord

I don’t got a hero’s faith no more

I’ve got more important things to do

Then see my life goin’ down the tubes

At that moment — I fled straight away-hay

Embarrassing moments — affectin’ what I say-hey-hey-hey-ey-ey

Embarrassing moments — get the best of me Embarrassing moments — come in sets of three Don’t want ‘em talkin’ about my Lord

Don’t want my ego shattered no more

I hope Christ can sympathize — until someone else denies Now no one had better wave

Embarrassing moments — guess I’m not so brave hey-hey

Embarrassing moments — I’d best get away Embarrassing moments — to live another day Don’t wanna hang here around my Lord Don’t wanna squeal or face the sword

I know they want more of His sheep

I know we won’t get off free

C’mon guys, I’m petrified

Cock crows somewhere else tonight Now someone — had better pray for me Embarrassing moments — are my legacy

Though — on a better day — I would never cave Now, no, no, no

I’m not free at the moment — I’m not me at the moment I tried — but I lied

And I cried — now I hide

Don’t go look for me … I won’t look for you ‘Cause I looked Truth right in the eye

He told me what I’d go and do

You know that I believe

He knew it long ago

He knew that I would leave

He knew I’d run and go from Him

I’m not the leader He wanted

Looks like — I’m scared of the moment Looks like — a vanishin’ trick

[ ApologetiX – “That’s Too Bad” album ]

*****************************

“For Just You”

(Parody of “Forget You” by Cee Lo Green)

Would Jesus Christ have come down from His throne above

To come die for just you? (ooh ooh ooh)

Well, if a sheep in His flock is wanderin’ off, He’ll find

And get you like good shepherds do

Well, you’ll find in Scripture, He’s real efficient

(At catchin’ sheep, at catchin’ sheep)

And though it’s strange to suggest

We’re like fish in His nets, we’re lives He rescued

He’ll hold a soiree when He finds where you are, eh?

But that don’t mean He’ll just let you there

You could be next door, or on a safari

But on the day you pray He’ll pay your fare

Like Pepé Le Pew – nobody wanted you

(Although we was both stinkers, His love still grows bigger)

Oooh! When God’s son chooses you

Yeah, go on, and tell me you ain’t a bit important

Would Jesus Christ have come down from His throne above

To come die for just you? (ooh ooh ooh)

Well, if a sheep in His flock is wanderin’ off, He’ll find

And get you like good shepherds do

Well, you’ll find in Scripture, He’s real efficient

(At catchin’ sheep, at catchin’ sheep)

And though it’s strange to suggest

We’re like fish in His nets, we’re lives He rescued

Well, I know it’s hard to swallow

But, babe, He’s skilled at findin’ sheep

Christ can reach ya, Christ can keep ya

‘Cause Jesus’ love is everlasting deep

Like Pepé Le Pew – nobody wanted you

(Although we was both stinkers, His love still grows bigger)

Oooh! So what’s your new excuse?

Oooh! I really hate to ask right now

Would Jesus Christ have come down from His throne above

To come die for just you? (ooh ooh ooh)

Well, if a sheep in His flock is wanderin’ off, He’ll find

And get you like good shepherds do

Well, you’ll find in Scripture, He’s real efficient

(At catchin’ sheep, at catchin’ sheep)

And though it’s strange to suggest

We’re like fish in His nets, we’re souls He rescued

Amazing grace that saved me I was blind and such a jerk and so bad

(So bad, so bad, so bad)

When I was still a prodigal, He told me, kid, don’t run from your Dad

(Your Dad, Your Dad, Your Dad)

Like uh — Why? (uh) Why? (uh) Why evade Him?

(Uh) God loves you! (Uh) God still loves you!

[ ApologetiX – “Hot Potato Soup” album ]

*****************************

“A Fool Can Sound Intelligent”

(Parody of “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” by Elvin Bishop)

A trusted friend knew about a million words

Another mental genius I’ve known

He didn’t care ’bout Jesus Christ, no sir

‘Cause he worshiped gold and the Stones

But then a fool can sound intelligent

A fool can sound intelligent

A fool can sound intell-igent

A fool can sound intelligent

It used to be when I’d seek a purpose in life

I read lots of books with bright-soundin’ names

But when they’d ask if I was gonna be there on the other side

I preferred outer space

But then a fool can sound intelligent

A fool can sound intelligent — did I mention, baby

A fool can sound intell-igent

A fool can sound intelligent

Ooooooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh

Aaaaah Aahh Ah

LEAD

Leavin’ God alone

That’s the way I used to be

But since I met the Savior

I’ve got a whole other philosophy

(fool can sound intelligent)

Truth has got a hold of me now – yeah!

(fool can sound intelligent)

I just can’t go on the same way

(fool can sound intell-igent)

I am not judging you now

(fool can sound intelligent)

Hey-ay-ay-ay!

But a fool can sound (fool can sound)

A fool can sound (fool can sound)

Intelligent

A fool can sound (fool can sound)

Yes indeed (fool can sound)

A fool can sound (fool can sound)

Poor old fool (fool can sound)

A fool can sound (fool can sound)

Intelligent

A fool can sound (fool can sound)

Oh oh oh (fool can sound)

A fool can sound (fool can sound)

Hey hey (fool can sound)

A fool can sound (fool can sound)

Intelligent

[ ApologetiX – “Snakes’ Clothing” album ]

*****************************

“Living, Loving Faith (Please Just Don’t Worry)”

(Parody of “Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman)” by Led Zeppelin)

There’s a purpose I’m fulfillin’ and I’m fixin’ on that

Believe Him, love Him, and just don’t worry

I know His Son now and I ain’t got a lack

Believe Him, love Him, and just don’t worry

C’mon, babe, it’s time you found this out

Lighten your heavy load now

We all need God to save us

So you’d better lay your burden down

God almighty’s Son already paid all your bills

Believe Him, love Him, and just don’t worry

When your conscience hits it’s ’cause you’re bad, but still

Believe Him, love Him, and just don’t worry

CHORUS

Heaven’s Son tells you now how you should be

Believe Him, love Him, and just don’t worry

His abundant cleansing grace sets His servants free

Believe Him love Him, and just don’t worry

(Awwwwww, get it now, trust Jesus)

LEAD

Aw, you got it, man!

MINI-LEAD

Nobody here can bring a work that saves

Believe Him, love Him, and just don’t worry

But He’ll keep us holy till our dyin’ day

Believe Him, love Him, and just don’t worry

CHORUS

Believe Him, love Him, and just don’t worry

(Believe in Jesus, love His Father)

Believe Him, love Him, and just don’t worry

(Live to believe and love to be loved)

Believe Him, love Him, and just don’t worry

[ ApologetiX – “Only a Glorified Cover Band” album ]

*****************************

“Guard Your Candle”

(Parody of “Hard To Handle” by The Black Crowes)

He saved me, here I am — I’m a man God redeemed

My candle is much too hot to be locked up at home with me

I can drop a bushel on it that I got from the corner store

But when my wick stops glowin’ I’m only a glob of some wax for floors

Sure, some things will come tryin’ to snuff it

They can’t snuff it if you trust the Lord above and

Give it everything — never hide your candle

‘Cause your Papa wants to show off His handiwork, yes, uh, now

I know He’s the light of the world, and I’m a lamp He’s made to share it

I know He’s got some other lamps, but we can all do better than this

Hey, my lamp don’t need a shade I’m gonna illuminate the world He made

Now’s not the time to cover Jesus up, so make sure that they see

Sure, they’ll come along in time tryin’ to snuff it

I ain’t nothin’ if I can’t stand sufferin’

Give it everything — never hide your candle

‘Cause your Papa wants to show off His handiwork, yes, uh, now

Yeah, guard your candle now — oh, baby

He saved me — here I am — look in Matthew 5:14

I’m a city up on top of a mountain for the world to see

I know God, He put me up there, and I got some important chores

When I get those done then all you are gonna come and glorify the Lord

Sure, they’ll come along in time tryin’ to snuff it

I ain’t bluffin’, man, I’m quite sure of it

Give it everything — never hide your candle

‘Cause your Papa wants to show off His handiwork, yes, uh, now

Ah! Guard your candle now

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eh

Sure, they’ll come along in time tryin’ to snuff it

I ain’t runnin’ like a scared Miss Muffet

Give it everything — never hide your candle

‘Cause your Papa wants to show off His handiwork, yes, uh, now

Yeah! So guard your candle now — oh yeah!

Baby — don’t snuff it

Baby — baby — uh oh oh

If you love Him — let’s see more of Him

Make it a habit

Oh-oh yeah-eh — Oh!

Guard your candle now

Yeah-eh

[ ApologetiX – “Hot Potato Soup” album ]

*****************************

“I Made the Team”

(Parody of “I’m Eighteen” by Alice Cooper)

I fall on my face and hands

The last ball knocked me on the ground

“Find us a hitter,” they shout in the stands

I’m annoying all the fans

I made the team — and I don’t know how to bunt

Made the team — I just don’t score any runs

Made the team — I’ve got swing and pray

I’m gonna get out anyway

I’ll go running to the wrong base, oh yeah

I’ve got, uh — Babe Ruth’s waist and an old man’s arm

Look at me field — you’ll get alarmed

Don’t always throw where I’m taught, there’s no doubt

Still I keep winnin’ — it’s a miracle how

But I made the team — I get confused every play

Made the team — I guess I’m no Willie Mays

Made the team — my God, He did the trade

Whoa oh!

I fall on my face and my hands

I fall at the feet of Christ

I’m just a sinner — a little-league life

But I’m important in my Lord’s plans

I made the team, and I like it!

Yes, I like it!

Whoa, I like it, love it, like it, love it

Made the team, made the team, made the team, and I like it!

[ ApologetiX – “The Boys Aren’t Backin’ Down” album ]

*****************************

“God’s Presence (Christ in Your Life)”

(Parody of “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day)

Another sermon point, you’re bored, ya hit the road

I’m glad the Bible gives a test of where you’ll go

So the take the test — is His presence in your life?

It’s in the Second Book of Corinthians, 13:5

It’s socially unacceptable, but in the end, it’s right

I hope you have the Christ in your life

So make a note of that — you still can change your mind

Take it off the shelf — read Romans 10, verse 9

Back in the heavenlies your test is on file

You’re on this earth for a very short while

It’s socially unacceptable, but in the end, it’s right

I hope you have the Christ in your life

It’s socially unacceptable, but in the end, it’s right

I hope you have the Christ in your life

It’s socially unacceptable, but in the end, it’s right

I hope you have the Christ in your life

[ ApologetiX – “Very Vicarious” album ]

*****************************

“Child of God”

(Parody of “Shining Star” performed by Earth, Wind & Fire)

Yeah, yeah – hey – huh

Bet you wish you were a star

You dream of fame and fancy cars, yeah

But when you’re with the Nazarene

Life ain’t always such a dream, oh yeah

What you’ll be now’s not so clear, hey

Yet to Christ you’re very dear, yeah

You’re a child of God – don’t matter who you’re not

We’re the bride to be – of Jesus, you and me – His church in unity

LEAD

Child, what’s gotten into you?

Child it’s not quite “what” — it’s “who”? Yeah!

It’s His Spirit there along, yeah

Yeah, makes His Body quick and strong, yeah

We’re goin’ to mansions of the Son — yeah

Yeah, sowin’ God’s Word to everyone

Yeah, God will help, His Spirit will move, yeah

Well, yes, He will, I got my proof, oh yeah, oh yeah

So edify yourself and read

I know you’re facin’ some adversity

Jesus Christ is greater than

Are you His? Say, yes, I am

You’re a child of God – don’t matter who you’re not

We’re the bride to be – of Jesus, you and me

You’re a child of God – don’t matter who you’re not

We’re the bride to be – of Jesus, you and me

You’re a child of God – don’t matter who you’re not

We’re the bride to be – of Jesus, you and me

Child of God, though you can’t see what you’re like and soon will be

Find First John 3:2 and read — and Philippians 2:15

[ ApologetiX – “Very Vicarious” album ]

*****************************

“We Got the Feet”

(Parody of “We Got the Beat” by The Go-Go’s)

See how Peter squawked real loud and shrieked

‘Cause the Lord was washing all their feet

Didn’t know that when He cleansed their soles

He washed them inside

‘Cause they got their feet

Cleaned off cause Jesus

Washed their feet, yeah

He got their feet

All the Christians gettin’ out the news

Paved the way, Isaiah 52

‘Member how the Lord sent out the twelve

God sent them far and wide

‘Cause they got to be

His Gospel feet

His Gospel feet, yeah

They got to be

So go use those feet and take a stand

In the mountains, woods, or in the sand

Then let Jesus rinse them off again

He’ll send you far and wide

‘Cause we got the feet

We got the feet

We got the feet, yeah

We go!

(We got the feet)

(We got the feet) Everybody get on the street

(We got the feet) We could use some sand on our feet

(We got the feet) Somebody needs found

(We got the feet) Romans 10 shows how

Whoa!

(We got the feet)

We got the feet

(We got the feet)

We got the feet

(We got the feet)

We got the feet

(We got the feet)

We got the feet

(We got the feet, we got the feet)

We got the feet

(We got the feet, we got the feet)

We got the feet

[ ApologetiX – “Play Nice” album ]

*****************************

“Unfinished Job”

(Parody of “Unskinny Bop” by Poison)

What’s gotten you so comfy?

How can you sit still, yeah?

Like gatherin’ season out in the country

There’s reapers needed in the field, yeah

Every time I touch on it, you get hot

Don’t wanna make all the neighbors talk

Come on, the devil’s goin’ door to door

Once we’d go with God but not anymore

Unfinished job – He showed you the way, yeah (ooooooh)

Unfinished job, job – so why delay, yeah? (ooooooh)

Unfinished job, job, job, job – we just want to stay, yeah (ooooooh)

Unfinished job, what’s the Lord to say?

Go look at Jesus’s strong faith

Loved by God, but acted oh, so brave

He said, we got so many people who want saved

Can I get some other workers that can pave their way?

Every time I touch on it, you get hot

Don’t wanna make all the neighbors talk

Come on, the devil’s goin’ door to door

Once we’d go with God but not anymore

Unfinished job – He showed you the way, yeah (ooooooh)

Unfinished job, job – so why delay, yeah? (ooooooh)

Unfinished job, job, job, job – we just love to play, yeah (ooooooh)

Unfinished job, but there’s more to save

You say the Bible always moves ya

Well, that ain’t much if you run in place

Well, honey, I can read it right to ya

Check Luke 10:1,2 and Matthew 28

LEAD

Tough life

Tough song

Tough love

Tough it out and go with God

Unfinished job – He showed you the way, yeah (ooooooh)

Unfinished job, job – so why delay, yeah? (ooooooh)

Unfinished job, job, job – Jesus wants ‘em saved, yeah (ooooooh)

Come on, the devil’s goin’ door to door

Unfinished job – Luke 10:1,2, Luke 10:1,2, Luke (ooooooh)

Unfinished job, job – Matthew 28, yeah (ooooooh)

Unfinished job, job, job – Luke 10:1,2, Luke 10:1,2, Luke (ooooooh)

Unfinished job (ooooooh)

[ Apologetix – “Play Nice” album ]

*****************************

“Don’t Be Fooled”

(Parody of “Don’t Be Cruel” by Elvis Presley)

You know life can be found in the Lord alone

But pagan gods abound – at least they’ll tell you so

Don’t be fooled – choose the God that’s true

Baby, in the 10 commands, it’s number on the list

Exodus chapter 20 – verse 3 you know what it says?

Don’t be fooled – choose the God that’s true

‘Cause there are no other gods

Baby, just the True One and the frauds

Those gods are pagan phonies – they don’t make me feel afraid

‘Cause I know Jesus loves me – and I know there’s one true way

Don’t be fooled – choose the God that’s true

Why don’t you play it smart

He really loves you baby – open your heart

So let’s look up First Corinthians – in chapter 8:5,6

And 10:19 and 20 – and I hope that something clicks

Don’t be fooled – choose the God that’s true

‘Cause there are no other gods

Baby, just the True One and the frauds

Don’t be fooled – choose the God that’s true

‘Cause there are no other gods

Baby, just the True One and the frauds

[ ApologetiX – “Apol-acoustiX” album ]

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

DEEP THOUGHTS

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

[ Stephen R. Covey ]

“A value is something you think is more important than anything else—more important than money, more important even than love, and even more important than happiness. And above all, values are what you consider to be more important than your feelings.”

[ Dennis Prager ]

“Life is short. Focus on what matters and let go of what doesn’t.”

[ Author unknown ]

“It’s not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about?”

[ Henry David Thoreau ]

“A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the “why” for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any ‘how.’”

[ Victor Frankl ]

“So happiness is both having a strong sense of purpose in life. It’s also experiencing moments of pleasure on a daily basis. It’s also feeling satisfied with life overall. So, hygge, is this element in our daily lives where we experience comfort and pleasure and togetherness and hopefully over time that accumulates also to a higher sense of life satisfaction.”

[ Meik Wiking ]

“Life is short. Do the things which make you happy. And be with people who make you happy. Look for the good in every day- even if some days you have to look harder.”

[ Karen Salmansohn ]

“The things that matter most must never be at the mercy of the things that matter least.”

[ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ]

“Life is just a blank slate. What matters most is what you write on it.”

[ Christine Frankland ]

“In the end, these things matter most. How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?”

[ Buddha ]

“Save the excuses. It’s not about having the time; it’s about making the time. If it matters you will make the time.”

[ Author unknown ]

“It’s important to know what really matters in life. Your sanity; your health; your family; and the ability to start anew.”

[ Les Brown ]

“Everyone dies. Everyone leaves. What matters is the things you build together before they go. What matters is the part of them that continues in you when they’re gone.”

[ Orson Scott Card ]

“The most important ingredient we put into any relationship is not what we say or what we do, but what we are.”

[ Stephen Covey ]

“Human relationships always help us to carry on because they always presuppose a future.”

[ Albert Camus ]

“Never sacrifice these three things. Your family; your heart; or your dignity.”

[ Author unknown ]

“Create time and space to listen to your heart and soul. Then you’ll know what matters most.”

[ Author unknown ]

“What matters most is to focus on what matters most”

[ Roy Bennett ]

“It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. What matters is what you choose to do from here.”

[ Author unknown ]

“At the end of the day what really matters is that your loved ones are well, you’ve done your best and that you’re thankful for all you have.”

[ Author unknown ]

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

[ Lao Tzu ]

“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.”

[ Earl Nightingale ]

“Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

[ Frank Outlaw ]

“Trust is to human relationships what faith is to gospel living. It is the beginning place, the foundation upon which more can be built. Where trust is, love can flourish.”

[ Barbara Smith ]

RELATED SCRIPTURE VERSES:

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

John 17:3

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Psalm 23:1-6

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 1:12

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Romans 5:8

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Revelation 1:1

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

John 15:15

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Isaiah 59:2

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

John 3:3

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Proverbs 18:24

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Psalm 42:1-2

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Genesis 2:18

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 14:23

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 6:44

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Jeremiah 3:1-25

“If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man’s wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the Lord. Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been ravished? By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers like an Arab in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your vile whoredom. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and the spring rain has not come; yet you have the forehead of a whore; you refuse to be ashamed. Have you not just now called to me, ‘My father, you are the friend of my youth— will he be angry forever, will he be indignant to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could.” …

Isaiah 40:31

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Luke 12:48

But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Psalm 34:17-19

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Hebrews 12:14

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 2:1

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Galatians 6:16

And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

Luke 14:26-27

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Exodus 20:12

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

1 John 2:3-6

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 Peter 3:18-22

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

James 4:8

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Hebrews 2:3

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

2 Timothy 1:7

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

1 Timothy 6:12-16

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Colossians 3:2

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:1-3

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 2:13-14

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Philippians 3:7-8

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Ephesians 6:14-20

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, …

Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Ephesians 2:1

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Galatians 4:6

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:14

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

1 Corinthians 16:22

If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:18

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 8:31-32

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:7

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Acts 17:10-11

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Acts 3:19

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:15

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 6:48

I am the bread of life.

John 6:40

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 1:10-13

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Luke 11:9-13

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Matthew 25:1-13

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. …

Matthew 22:37

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:9-13

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amos 3:2

“You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

Jeremiah 29:12-13

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Isaiah 59:1-2

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Isaiah 55:6

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;

Proverbs 31:10-11

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

Proverbs 27:9-10

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Psalm 112:6-8

For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

Psalm 50:5

“Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”

Psalm 27:4

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 10:4

In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

Job 42:5-6

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Deuteronomy 32:15

“But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked; you grew fat, stout, and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 7:6-11

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. …

Deuteronomy 6:5

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Leviticus 19:2

“Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

Leviticus 18:22

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Genesis 2:24

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

James 4:6-10

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

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“A quick summary of the Christian “Gospel”:

JESUS’ PROPITIATION made our SINS FORGIVEN and IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS to us so that we have GOD’S ACCEPTANCE into His Heaven and receive ETERNAL LIFE.”

[ Mark Besh ]

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Hope you enjoyed some of these insights—share them with your friends and colleagues—so we can have a larger ’pool’ to receive from, and more to share with! Also, remember to include your name as the “source,” if some of this wisdom is of your doing—I would like to give credit where credit is due!

FOCUS VERSES:

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God created him; male and female He created them.”

[ Genesis 1:27 ]

“In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.”

[ Genesis 5:1 ]

“And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

[ Genesis 22:18 ]

“You shall have no other gods before Me.”

[ Exodus 20:3 ]

“You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a Jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.”

[ Exodus 20:5 ]

“I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.”

[ Leviticus 26:12 ]

“Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed.”

[ Deuteronomy 11:26-28 ]

“What is more pleasing to the LORD: Your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

[ 1 Samuel 15:22-23 ]

“My eyes are searching the earth to find every person who is fully committed to me.”

[ 2 Chronicles 16:9]

[ Psalm 5:11-12 ]

“I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul.”

[ Psalm 31:7 ]

[ Psalm 36:5-7 ]

“Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

[ Psalm 37:4 ]

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.”

[ Psalm 40:4 ]

[ Psalm 119:1-8 ]

“My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline, and don’t be upset when He corrects you. For the LORD corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom He delights.”

[ Proverbs 3:11-12 ]

“The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.”

[ Proverbs 11:5 ]

“I have created them for My glory”

[ Isaiah 43:7b ]

“I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”

[ Isaiah 43:20c-21 ]

“For My name’s sake I defer my anger,

for the sake of My praise I restrain it for you,

that I may not cut you off.

Behold, I have refined you but not like silver;

I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

For My own sake, for My own sake I do it,

for how should My name be profaned?

My glory I will not give to another.”

[ Isaiah 48:9-11 ]

[ Lamentations 3:20-23 ]

“Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion because of the greatness of His unfailing love. For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.”

[ Lamentations 3:32-33 ]

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

[ Micah 6:8 ]

“And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

[ Matthew 5:1-12 ]

“Let your light so shine among men that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in Heaven.”

[ Matthew 5:16 ]

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

[ Mathew 6:24 ]

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

[ Matthew 9:37-38 ]

“It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher.”

[ Matthew 10:25 ]

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

[ Matthew 13:44 ]

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

[ Matthew 13:45-46 ]

“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

[ Matthew 19:16-26 ]

[ Matthew 28:18-20 ]

“Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

[ Mark 3:35 ]

“…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

[ Mark 12:30 ]

“The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

[ Mark 12:31 ]

[ Luke 10:38-42 ]

“But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

[ Luke 11:28 ]

“In the same way, I tell you, joy breaks out in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who changes both heart and life.”

[ Luke 15:10 ]

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

[ John 3:5-8 ]

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

[ John 3:16 ]

“You can’t come to Me unless you hate yourself.”

[ John 12:25 ]

“Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him. …“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

[ John 13:3-5, 34 ]

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

[ John 14:15 ]

“And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.”

[ Acts 16:6-7 ]

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” [Romans 12:1 ]

“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love”

[ Romans 5:5 ]

“But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

[ Romans 5:8 ]

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

[ Romans 5:19 ]

[ Romans 8:35, 37-39 ]

“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable, or well pleasing and perfect.”

[ Romans 12:1-2 ]

“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

[ 1 Corinthians 10:31 ]

[ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ]

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”

[ 1 Corinthians 15:22 ]

“This perishable body must be clothed with the imperishable, and what is mortal with immortality.”

[ 1 Corinthians 15:53 ]

“But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord.”

[ 2 Corinthians 3:18 ]

[ 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ]

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!”

[ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ]

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

[ 2 Corinthians 7:1 ]

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

[ Galatians 5:22-23 ]

“God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.”

[ Ephesians 1:5 ]

“He made you alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”

[ Ephesians 2:1 ]

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

[ Ephesians 2:4-5 ]

[ Ephesians 3:18-19 ].

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

[ Ephesians 5:17 ]

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you.”

[ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ]

“God our Savior… desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

[ 1 Timothy 2:3-4 ]

“For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

[ James 1:22-25 ]

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

[ James 4:7 ]

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

[ 1 Peter 2:2-3 ]

“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

[ 1 Peter 5:5 ]

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

[ 2 Peter 3:9 ]

“The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.”

[ 1 John 2:17 ]

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!… Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

[ 1 John 3:1-3 ]

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning because they have been born of God.”

[ 1 John 3:9 ]

[ 1 John 4:9-12 ]

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.”

[ 1 John 4:18 ]

“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

[ 1 John 4:19-21 ]

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”

[ 1 John 5:2-3 ]

[ Revelation 21:1-4 ]

Mark

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If you have a ‘neat’ story or some thoughts about an issue or current event that you would like me to try to respond to, I would be glad to give it a try…so, send them to me at: mbesh@comcast.net

Disclaimer: All the above jokes & inspirations are obtained from various sources and copyright are used when known. Other than our name and headers, we do not own the copyright to any of the materials sent to this list. We just want to spread the ministry of God’s love and cheerfulness throughout the world.

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