Business of Belief ... having faith in God's Power

by Dale Shumaker
www.spiritsavvy.net

4spirit@gmail.com

The Business of Belief by Tom Asacker is about understanding belief, what it is and how it is created.

Those who inspire and move others practice the business of belief. Here are some key thoughts in the Business of Belief. It is much like a compilation of proverbs on belief and what you can do.

 What They Know

Belief starts with our choices. We believe so then we choose. They are many times no more than our assumptions. Belief is opinion, so our opinion becomes our reality. Our beliefs make the work convincingly real to us. Our unique perspective on things form our belief about what is around us; it drives our decisions.

 Everything is inherently without meaning. Except for the meaning we create. We think in stories and stories steer our lives. We ultimately expect to find meaning in our lives by editing our stories, by freely mixing and  matching our decisions to create a narrative authentic to us.and others. Our minds crave control, so we direct our stories so we can feel safe. We want guided control along with freedom to create our own meaning, our own story; we want the illusion of control. 

People believe in things as long as there's a reason and evidence to  believe them. For entrepreneurs and other risk takers desire fuels belief, especially in their ability to control their destiny, and through thoughtful and determined action. Desire drives belief which motivates people to seek out information and act in certain ways that help them attain those desires. What we believe is what we desire, and what we desire is ultimately what we do. 

What They Do

The essential first step to changing people's behavior is to understand their perspectives and embrace their dreams and beliefs. Everything else flows naturally from there. It takes having an intuitive sense for the reality in which people live. Great designers design new beliefs. 

People are drawn across the bridge to belief by their anticipation of a better experience and a better life.  

Effective leaders ignite people's imaginations. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more you are a leader. Simplify the belief process by eliminating difficulties and competing options on our attention. 

Belief is a result of experience and repetition, both within and without, which makes our actions feel familiar and safe. We teach belief by believing in others, and they in turn increase belief themselves. It's behavior rather than understanding that best influences our beliefs. We must not only know we are on the right path in life, but we must feel and be affected by it. Your best argument is always yourself, your exuberance, your vitality, your passion, your belief. The person most confident in himself gains the confidence of others. Be willing to express confidence with boldness and passion. 

Learn to control emotional impulses, when to speak or not, when to respond to an email or not. Conceal the how, and keep that a mystery.  People despise reality, but love what appears to be true. Make us feel comfortable, invested, and in complete control... a blend of passion, creativity, self-awareness and impulse control. So when the task is accomplished people will say, we did it ourselves. 

What You Can Do

We must believe everything we think, and question the validity of our lazy assumptions. We must break the happy trance of our present beliefs and create new thinking. Insanity may be doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same results. If it ain't broke yet, it may be time to fix it. Watch and really wonder. Question and fully explore. Be driven by curiosity and passion. Have the wisdom and courage to follow your heart. You are not your history. Forget what you have done; forget what others are doing. What are you passionate about, now go do that. That's who you are. 

We are moved by our perceptions, by our immediate concerns and desires.

Made the choice first and allow that choice to direct your thoughts, inform your instincts, your feelings, your perceptions. Those who surpass a reality, begin with belief. Driven by a sense of purpose.

 In baseball the batters response to seeing a pitch and his physical response is about 450 milliseconds. Whereas, a major league pitcher's throw from hand to catcher is about 400 milliseconds. So how can a batter hit a ball as the speed exceeds the batters ability to see(perception), feel, think(cognition) and swing(decision and action). Instead of allowing perception, their present reality, to drive their actions, they begin with belief. Belief surpasses natural ability.

Breakthrough thinking is about belief, then a person's perception. Conviction then action, heart then head. Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing. Act as if you already have it. Your actions will convince your mind. Influence your attitude by controlling your actions. Change your behavior and your behavior will change your mind.

 You never change things by fighting your existing reality. To change something build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. To change your beliefs change your behavior. Comfort is an illusion, a fantasy that imagines freedom from pain and suffering if only we stay still and avoid change. Say no to short-term comforting activities and say yes to fear, passion and leadership.  A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities. Reality is for wimps.

More from Tom Asacker: 

 http://www.acleareye.com/

The Scriptures tell us to put our faith and trust in God. We can believe the promises He has for us in the Bible and put our hope and trust in His Promises
By making this the basis of our belief we rely on God's Power beyond our own. So our faith combined with faith in God and counting on His Spirit at work, we can live very hope-filled lives. We can expect results beyond our own abilities and skills.

When we combine our faith with the faith of others, it compounds again. In Leviticus is says five will chase a hundred and a hundred will chase ten thousand (Leviticus 26:8). Jesus said where two or three agree or work in unity of minds and Spirit, we can expect what we believe for and agreeing together it will happen (Matthew 18:19).

So then no matter how bleak our circumstances may be, or how big the vision is we have, God can turn the most difficult circumstance around or make the biggest dream come true. It's believing in the One who makes everything, the One whose power is unmatchable by anything.  God tells Isaiah that you will not be called the city of desolation, but the city of God's Delight (Isaiah 62:4). The city will change from desolation to joy and laughter in the streets.

God is faithful and you can count on Him and He will turn ruins into prosperity. The Lord is Good and His faithfulness endures forever (Jeremiah 33:10-12).

With belief in God, who's goodness lasts always, His Spirit can take complete failure and loss and transform it into a joy, happiness, and abundance of every kind.

 His Spirit will open our graves and take what was dead and dried up, and turn it into life. He will take where hope has vanished, and rebirth new life of greater proportions than ever before. The Spirit of God will come alive in us and we will have a whole new, a completely whole life. Then you will know the Lord has done this and He has done what He said (Ezekiel 37:11-14).

When His Spirit resides in us, and we believe as teams, we can see big dreams fulfilled. What others see as pipe dreams, God's Inspired vision of grand ideas are possible for those who believe.

 It centers around our faith, unbending belief in God's Spirit at work in our lives. He constantly watches over us and everything He says in the Bible is true.

 We can count on every promise He has made in His Word. Every day read the Bible until you find a promise that seems to leap out at you... note it and recite it to yourself throughout the day. Do this everyday.  Faith, belief as solid as steel will encompass you.

Jesus summed it up, "Anything is possible if a person believes." (Mark 9:23) "Where two or three agree, what you ask will be done for you." (Matt. 18:19) Nothing is too big, too hard, too complicated for God.

When You Pray.... always pray before decisions

by Dale Shumaker

www.spiritsavvy.net

4spirit@gmail.com

When in a business venture of any kind, prayer will add an additional substantial dimension to your business decision making and power to resolve critical situations. 

 

Isaiah said to Hezekiah that because he prayed to the Lord of Heavens Armies, God will respond with His might to come against his enemies (Isaiah 37). This is the lesson for all of us when faced with a decision. Ask God first, and He will respond to our requests. How do you pray... here's how to make prayer work in all we do, and see His Power at work in our efforts. 

 

When You Pray by Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft is a great fundamental study on learning the art of prayer. It is easy to follow and practical in how he explains it. It is a teaching manual intended to train the reader in the skill of prayer, and live in the prayer experience as a working part of life, and seeing results actualized in your life, business, career, relationships. 

 

 In this summary, be sure to note the last couple chapters on group prayer and the Power of the Holy Spirit in prayer. 

1. Think about God when you pray.

God will teach you to pray. It starts by doing it. God is good and he wants to answer your prayers and wants you to come to Him in prayer. God loves you and responds as a Father. God can do anything, and wants to help you regardless how difficult of a situation you may be in.

2. Come to God the right way.
Pray in Jesus' Name. Jesus tells us to use His authority in prayer. We should hold an attitude of respect, thankfulness, confidence, humility and repentance, forgiving and loving others, sincerity and earnestness. We can pray anywhere and in any position... kneeling, standing, laying down. A pattern to follow is the Lord's prayer using it as an outline for addressing current conditions of your life.

3. Listen to God when you pray.

God wants to talk to you. He speaks through life experiences, people, circumstances, visions, dreams and messages by others. Especially listen for God when you read the Bible. And when you feel God is speaking to you through people, places or events, always go back to the Bible to make sure it is consistent with the Bible.

4. Use God's Word when you pray.
Use the Bible as a guide. Many times when reading a verse it will come alive as meant for you. This is a way God speaks to you. Use the Bible to strengthen your faith, so you believe He will answer you. Use Bible verses when you pray and make them personal by using your name in them. God's promises are like a promissory note or bank check from Heaven... pay to the order of (every believer) the sum of (your needs). Act in faith as you believe He is answering your prayer, and keep on believing it is so.

5. Think about others when you pray.
Look at the needs of others. Pray for your family and others. He tells us what to do, tells others what to do, tells angels what to do, He works in nature, circumstances, in us and defeats evil powers. He works miracles.

6.Join with others when you pray.

Pray with a friend. Pray with you family.

Pray in a group. When praying in a group keep this in mind.

--Begin by singing together or listing to worship music.

--Have a brief time of reading the Scriptures, especially that encourage faith.

--Have some share testimonies of how God has answered a prayer in their life. This encourages us to pray for the needs of others.

--Encourage those with special needs to share them with the group.

--Then encourage everyone to take part in praying for needs and praying for others as the Lord may lead.

Small groups of around 10 or less work well so everyone can participate. These groups can be held at home, an office, or any place where there is privacy and people feel comfortable.  Many find a small group has great benefits for prayer as needs can be shared, prayed for, and faith is enlarged to see miracles in lives.  

 

 7. Let the Holy Spirit help you.
Listen to the Spirit's voice. The Spirit speaks to us in a two-way conversation. When in Spirit we can trust our thoughts to be of Spirit as we converse. Of course, Scriptures come alive too as if talking just to us. 

 

 In many cases we may let the Spirit speak through us. Some call this a prayer language as we feel a language moving through our lips. When your Spirit prays, it many times is this expression. "Speaking in Tongues" is what the Bible calls this. Let the Spirit pray through you in this way. Then as you get mental impressions, act through God's power. 

 

 Live by the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. Seek His will in all matters. The Holy Spirit will give you victory over Satan. Know The Spirit demolishes all earthly strongholds, so be obedient to what the Spirit is telling you. Jude 1:20 says to build yourself up in your holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 

 

When Your Pray is a publication of Global University. 

 http://www.globaluniversity.edu/sed_index.cfm 

and available as part of their Christian Life series.

One Minute Millionaire ... making minutes matter

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
www.spiritsavvy.net

Every Minute Matters

What if our thoughts were captivated with productive creativity, hope-filled thinking all day… every single minute?

This is the underlying theme behind the One Minute Millionaire… an emerging classic for building any individual or group venture. It is what you do mentally, every minute that fosters results. The authors’, Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen, say, “The entire process of becoming a millionaire is broken down into bite-sized, one-minute techniques… you can become a millionaire one minute at a time.” They researched over 100 millionaires to come up with a book of principles, processes and personal systems for anyone to reach this goal. The secret they say is managing principles, patterns, processes common to millionaires. The four areas, they say, where wealth is built include investments, real estate, business, the Internet.

The book is divided into two main sections: The Aha’s… 24 principles or regular patterns of thinking wealth-builders use. And how to effectively use leverage…a cornerstone component… to accomplish excessively more. Leveraging is the art of getting multiple results with one step, doing it constantly, applying it in everything. It’s about strategically using less time and effort to increase results… leveraging everything. 

The 24 Aha's, when they become a minute by minute way of thinking, will become transformational. A person must be transformed to a new way of thinking... to Be what you believe, not just Know what you want to be. When you Become the 24's Aha's as who you are, life begins a transformational experience.

1. What you think forms patterns in your brain for actions. You eventually follow those actions as a normal course of behavior.
2. Before you Do, you must Be what you believe. Do what you love, Become what you believe and you will have what you believe for...  Be, do, have.
3. Live above the blame line. Turn what goes wrong into beneficial learning experiences. Don't blame others, yourself or feel ashamed, make everything an opportunity to learn.
4. Abundance is your natural state. There is more than enough to go around. Embrace abundance and abundance will embrace you. God gives life... abundantly.
5. Givers get. When you give, what you give, is returned abundantly. More than you gave. Give unselfishly, as a way of your natural behavior.
6. Change your way of thinking by snapping yourself when you think negatively, without hope or belief. Cheer for yourself, "you can do it," "go for it," good for you."
7. Your words transform. Speak hope, the potential of positive outcomes, as if it exists now. If it doesn't serve a good purpose, don't say it.
8. You are already wealthy. Add up your internal assets, compare to your internal liabilities. Your can-do potential outweighs your internal liabilities. Begin with a good idea, commitment to do it, and the contacts you have to make it happen.
9. Wealth is freedom. Have enough that your future is prepaid, that you have time to do what you want to do, relationships you desire, ability to pursue your spirituality, and physical health you want.
10. It all starts with a dream. Give yourself permission to dream big dreams. For 90 days straight dream your dream when you go to sleep, wake up, between things in the day.
11. Clarity is power. See in detail yourself living in your dreams. Don't think about your goals, think from your goals. Visualize your goals clearly.
12. The more clarity, the more power. Write down your top six goals daily. Out loud affirm your goals every day. Say it happily and enthusiastically. Think of only what you want (not what you don't want). Write it, read it, say it, see it.
13. Tap into your genius. The four characteristics of your genius are your passion, talents you have, values you live by, and the destiny you desire or what is the unique contribution you desire to make. Do a personal inventory of what you love, are really good at, is important to you, and what you were born to be/do.
14. Live in Loverage. You need to be in-love with what you do and unshakably passionate about it. It must express your values. Practice "heartstorming" not brainstorming. Life is more about what you feel than what you think.
15. Imagination surpasses will. When your imagination comes in conflict with your logical brain, the imagination side wins. Imagine best-case scenarios.  What occurs in our imagination is planted in the subconscious mind, which is transmitted to many.  What we imagine comes into being somehow, somewhere.
16. The size of the question determines the size of the result. What you ask requires an answer from our mind. Ask empowering questions, that enlarge your vision, that get bigger results.
17. You already know the answer. Your subconscious data base is enormous. Keep asking it for answers and they will come. It also ignites your intuition.
18. Be congruent. Bring your desire in alignment with your belief and your self-acceptance in-line with them. You deserve wealth for doing good things.  Accept that.
19. You are a money magnet. Become that electromagnetic field for what you desire. This includes your dominant thoughts, being around people like you, being congruent with yourself and others. Being fully congruent you are like a magnet.
20. Knock and it shall be opened. When you are committed and your whole being knows it and others know it, you send out signals energized by your passion and purpose. People of the same frequency tune into you.
21. Sharing is having more. Giving combines faith with action. When we give we express faith for more. Giving expands money. What is given is multiplied 30, 60, 100 fold. Money expands spiritual dimensions. Giving is a seed that multiplies infinitely.
22. God knows where the gold is. Ask Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will respond. God knows where the gold is and He delights to show you.
23. Hysteresis is the tendency of materials to snap back to their original form after being stretched. To create change we must exceed elastic limits. Focus on the vision stubbornly, set new targets with new patterns of behavior. When you fail, focus again on your vision, add new off-limits tasks, and on-target behavior.
24. Put it all together. Your someday is now. Desire it daringly, believe in it beyond what you ever have, and be determined that you deserve it with a higher level of personal value. Learn what to do, and do it... never quitting, learn and grow.

Master the Aha's to make them you. Then use the six components of leverage to lift the million-dollar idea to become a million dollars. To do this include collaborating with other’s resources, experience, ideas, time and work. Every minute counts as you build it one minute at a time.
Leverage takes on six forms…
Mentors, teams, networks, infinite networks, tools and skills, and systems.

The formula… apply the 24 Aha principles with the six components of leverage as your power-train and you are on the road to building massive results.

The six forms of leverage:
Mentors: They may be people, books, Internet newsletters… information from those who have done it before and share their wisdom and knowledge with you. Mentors give you perspective, proficiency and patience. You benefit from their learning curve.

Teams: Build teams that are diverse in skills, complement each other, function as one and align with each other, with balance in the unit. Teams create supreme ideas and superior power to get bigger things done.

Visionaries, processors, people developers, detail compilers, analytical thinkers all make strong team partners… when functioning as interactive, harmonious cells. Begin your ideas with visionaries and processors... then use the analytical thinkers to refine the idea, detail compilers to put it together and people developers to advance it. 

Networks: Some people have influence with many. These contacts, or networking associations, can then bring you in contact with many more. They can be “weak ties”(just acquaintances) who like you, value what you are doing, and will work in concert with you. 

Infinite networks: One accord in thinking produces a spiritual factor that goes to work on our dreams, thoughts, ideas. Those who believe with you like this create an “incalculable” extra dimension of power. The Infinite power of God is at work when you have "belief" partners around you. It touches what man can't reach.
“The Spiritual Internet works when a team has a big, purposeful dream and everyone stays positive about its accomplishment." 

Skills and tools: Personal Thinking systems, persuasive, interpersonal relationship skills, writing, talking along with advancing technology spawn a prevailing force to get action and results. Master activity management and the money skills of knowing its value, controlling it, saving, investing, earning, shielding, and sharing it

Systems: Use effective people organization, processes, methods, technology to systematize. The secret is to create self-generating systems in all you do. Include both hi-touch and hi-tech. Automate systems that work as you sleep and create residual income streams.

They espouse this system acronym: Save-Your-Self-Time-Energy-Money.

When you are congruent, motivated, begin climbing one of the four millionaire mountains. 

They are...

Business: create your plan as a system. Build a one minute marketing plan and the mystery of anti-marketing.
Internet: the internet has the new streams of gold veins in them. Sell information and knowledge to those who want to know what you know. Everyone has a book in them, the Internet can publish it rapidly, and share it quickly.
Real Estate: knowing how to buy with partners, and sell to niches keeps real estate as an always premium way to wealth.
Investments: many have investment insights in all economies. Get advice from those who know and include others in securing them.

In everything learn the skills of presentation, writing, speaking, selling, negotiating. Those who sell well, advance farther.

Hansen and Allen explain more on how to create wealth from the four millionaire mountains.

Today the Internet is the new frontier.  All media are merging there. Keep up on these advances, and how people are using it. www.oneminutemillionaire.com

One Minute Miracles

We literally co-create with God in Spirit and all things are possible with the connections this makes.

What if minute-by-minute we lived in “Power Thoughts” that could change all things, move matter, and create from nothing. What if we searched out the thousands of “Power Thoughts” in the Bible and integrated them into our thinking one minute at a time. In a single work day that would be around 500 “Power thoughts” with Eternal precedent to change all things, move matter and create from nothing.

Do you think we would start to see Miracles… one minute at a time? There is an Infinite leverage of a Proactive Higher Power... of a Super-Natural kind.

Consider this Spiritual system to mobilize Super-Natural leverage.
Prayer... seek God for His insight and direction.
Revelation... note all inspired ideas that are Divinely communicated.
These are revelations from God's Spirit directly to you.
Obedience... follow through and do what is directed (even the small stuff is important).
The Cross... be willing to make sacrifices in love to do what you need to do.
Then if we added in a business the prophetically gifted (seers into the future), the spiritual gifted who could tap into Spiritual intelligence, and hear God inspired directives… like Joshua in the Bible.

And even more so make intercessory prayer as a hub of its functions in all things... And make it the hub of all activity in a business. As a core part of a business/ mission group these characteristics would manifest.
Apostle-like direction... vision of new territory to move in to.
Prophetic voice... hearing what God is saying to you.
Evangelists… advanced skills in influencing others, getting buy-in and persuasion skills.
Healers... those with gifts to heal emotions and our physical bodies. 
Teachers... develop people's gifts to their human and Spiritual potential.
Worship... praise to God with music, prayer and intercession that would stir these Super Spiritual giftings up to Ultra-High levels.
Intercessory prayer... interactive in Spirit with Spiritual Intelligence, saturated with Power and an unexplainable depth of Love for others.

When one with God, these naturally, in Spirit, show up. Think on these things...minute by minute. Think on the power of Spirit, ”Power Thoughts” in your life and all the Infinite connections it has.

Live lives of miracle-expecting activity, which may come from, at times, the smallest actions... as devised by Spirit. In a Spirit-saturated workplace you have:
Aha's... outstanding principles of Spirit at work.
Leverage... Spirit of the Universe doing incredibly great things.
Mentors... those who hear from Spirit to teach you Greater insights.
Teams... when united as one in Spirit a core of Spiritual Power is formed, Jesus Himself is manifested. …the One who creates everything.
Systems... New, Revelatory Spiritual process, a constant, reforming, re-newing, re-creating of Dynamic Spirit Systems to accomplish things.
Skills and abilities... of a Super-Naturally Gifted level, above human ability. Gifted trainers/coaches ignite the gifts in others. And endless Networks... tapping into the connections of the Universe, into the Heavenly realms that control all things on earth.

What if we took each day and re-created in Spirit, minute-by-minute,
a new Spiritual synergy in relationships, expanded into Spiritually-charged networks
and re-designed more effective, but especially, Spiritual Systems ...can you imagine what would happen.

This is a Super-Natural system of extraordinaire...
a phenomenal lifestyle... exquisite inner presence of love and joy in Spirit.

“Power thoughts” from the depth of Spirit
producing an endless flow of one-minute miracles every day.

Decisive ... Hearing God's Voice

by Dale Shumaker
www.spiritsavvy.net
4spirit@gmail.com

Decisive is about making better choices in life and work. The authors, Chip Heath and Dan Heath, describe a process using their WRAP formula:  widen options, reality test assumptions, attain distance and prepare to be wrong.

Most, when making decisions, encounter a choice, analyze options, make a choice and live with it.

Although villains face each of these phases. Villain one is we "narrow frame" our choices by limiting how we do go about them. Villain two is confirmation bias, where we accept confirmation for decisions based on biases we have. Villain three is that short-term emotions tempt us to make the wrong choices. Villain four is over-confidence about the future and how things will play out. 

They advocate that process matters more than analysis... by as much as a factor of six. A pros and cons process is too limiting; it won't correct these problems. The WRAP process will. 

Widen Your Options 

Reality Test Your Assumptions 

Attain Distance before Deciding 

Prepare to be Wrong 

Widen Your Options.

Learn to distrust "whether or not" decisions. Being too focused can cause us to not see other options. What if your current options disappeared. What would you then consider?

Compare alternatives and consider multiple alternatives. 
It keeps politics and ego's at bay. This is called multitracking. Always try to consider one or two extra choices beyond what you feel you have. Considering multiple choices simultaneously helps to shape the problem. If people on a team disagree on options, you then have real options. Toggle between prevention mindsets and promotion mindsets. A prevention focus avoids negative outcomes. A promotion mindset pursues positive outcomes. Push for "this And that," rather than "this Or that." 

When you look for options and feel stuck, look to someone who has solved your problem. Look out side... competitive analysis, best practices; look inside... your bright spots. Create a great decision playlist. The "what you did right" and "how you did it." It opens up new ideas. Why generate your own ideas when you can sample the world's buffet of options. 

Reality Test Your Assumptions.

Consider the opposite.

Watch out for confirmation bias where we seek out information that already favors our opinion, which is also self-serving.One exercise is to try to murder an idea to test its strength. Play devil's
advocate, the gong show game.

To gather trustworthy information we can ask discomforting questions. Try to come up with questions that that force ourselves to consider something opposite of our instincts. Test our assumptions with a deliberate mistake and see how it handles it. It takes discipline to challenge self-confirming information
.

Zoom out, zoom In.

Compare the inside view... what is in our heads... with the outside view... what is going on outside. The outside view is usually more accurate. Although most people gravitate to the inside view, what is in their heads.

What are the base rates... what usually happens in a given scenario. How far are you from these. Zoom in to examine the details to give it texture. The two are needed to balance the decision. 

Ooching 

Ooching is running small experiments to test our theories, rather than jumping in head first.  It slows the decision process down. In ooching we dip a toe in first.  Most are terrible at predicting the future. Entrepreneurs go out and try things, and then decide on the next steps based on  what they found out. Now, things that require commitment, like entering a college program, ooching is not the best plan. You don't take one class at a time and see what you want to do next. But when working with new people ooching is probably better... to try them out steps at a time, versus  trying to figure  them out if they will work out all up front. This makes a case for contracting with others on a short term arrangement. Ooching finds out first. Why try to predict when you can know. 

Attain Distance Before Deciding.

After reality testing your assumptions, many go ahead and make a decision. They feel it is time to choose. But what needs to be looked at is their feelings on the decision. Fleeting feelings tempt us to make decisions that are bad in the long term. To overcome distracting short-term emotions, we need to attain some distance.

One method is applying the 10/10/10 framework. Ask how you will feel about this decision 10 minutes from now, then what about 10 months from now, then what about 10 years from now. This tends to pull us out of the emotional side to a reality side.

Our decisions are often altered by two subtle short-term emotions: Mere exposure... we like what's familiar to us. Loss aversion... losses are more painful than gains are pleasant.  Look at it from someone else's perspective. What would our successors think?  Or ask  yourself, "What would I tell my best friend to do in this situation?"  

Honor your Core Priorities.

Quieting short-term emotions won't always make a decision easy. Agonizing decisions are often a sign of conflict among your core priorities.

Core priorities: long-term emotional values, goals, aspirations. What kind of person do you want to be? What kind of an organization do you want to build? The goal is not to eliminate emotion. It's to honor the emotions that count by identifying and enshrining core priorities. It is easier to resolve present and future dilemmas. 

Prepare to be Wrong. 

Our certainty about what will happen in the future is usually wrong. We really don't know.

Bookend the future.

Bookending is eliminating two different scenarios.  The dire scenario (the lower bookend), where things go badly for an enterprise. The rosy scenario(the upper bookend), where the enterprise gets a lot of breaks. It is looking at a range of possible outcomes from bad to very good.

To prepare for lower bookends, use a premortem. "It's a year later, our decision has failed. Why?" Prepare for the upper bookend of beyond belief success. Have a pre-parade. Will we be ready for success? What do we need to do now to be ready if it happens? 

To prepare for what is not foreseen, have a safety factor. Anticipating problems helps to cope with them if they occur. By bookending, anticipating and preparing for both adversity and success, stack the deck in favor of our decisions. 

Set a tripwire.

What can signal that we need to look at our decisions and make new ones. What can snap us awake to reconsider, that will grab our attention. Create an engine warning light.

Consider deadlines or partitions... where we hit a wall and we need to take a look. Tripwires can cap risks, quiet your mind until the trigger is hit. Many tripwires are patterns rather than dates/budgets... unexpected problems, unexpected success. They tell us we have a choice to make.  

Trusting the process. 

The most difficult way to make fair decisions is to involve as many people and get them to agree. To compromise is valuable in that it demonstrates you made use of diverse opinions. Most in business want decisions quickly, but you can't build consensus quickly.

Bargaining, horse trading, until all sides can live with the choice, makes for good decisions that
are fair. It is important to make sure those involved feel the decision is just. Trusting process is important. It isn't glamorous but the confidence it provides is precious. 

More at the Heath brothers' website. 

http://heathbrothers.com/ 


Hearing God's Voice. 

 When making decisions, we can ask God for direction. Many have wondered how to hear God's voice. Here are a few things to keep in mind. 

First, as believers we have the mind of Christ, when after time in  reading the Scriptures, listening to Worship music, I sense a keener feeling to hearing His voice.  The thoughts and ideas I get at these times I have taken them as direction from God's Spirit.

When I get an impression, and later on while still contemplating a decision, if I read something or someone shares something with me that re-enforces the impression I am getting in my mind, I take it as God's voice confirming what I am thinking. 

Another individual may share something with me and a phrase in what they say may jump out at me that relates to what I am thinking. I take that as God's voice.

The issue in many cases is confirmation. What I have learned to trust are the quiet times when contemplating while reading the Bible. In those moments, I take those as God speaking to me. The ideas and thoughts in those sessions, I have learned to trust and value. 

Here is an excerpt from what I wrote from my experience with a mentor I had on trusting God's voice.

Dr. Ashcroft always encouraged me to hear from Spirit directly and
trust the voice of Spirit through my mind...
To be bold, in what I was led by the Spirit Voice to do;
Use the Bible to double check to make sure it was consistent with Spiritual principle;
To follow my heart and not man's voices.

I have learned to read the Scriptures and trust the impressions I get from them. “That’s how God speaks to you, learn to trust that,” Dr. Ashcroft encouraged me. In this one area Dr. Ashcroft had the greatest impact on me. I struggled to believe that I could trust these impressions, ideas as from God. I always felt I had to defer these thoughts and find out what God was saying through someone else.  

 Also, here are a few more thoughts. 

--Hearing God's voice can sound like a series of spontaneous thoughts.

--Be still so you can sense God's flow of thoughts and emotions.

--Double check the emotions against the Bible... love, joy, peace, understanding,
etc. If they stir anger, strife, anxiety, you may want to re-examine the thought.

--Think of the character of Jesus and would this be something you would
hear from Jesus, His Spirit.

--Write out what you hear, and look at it later. God's voice will carry a Spirit
of genuineness and continue in a Spirit of excitement. It grows in stature

and significance and importance.  

 Some common ways God speaks to us are through The Bible (His Word), words of other people, circumstances and a message you get from them, and the notable still small voice. 

Being quiet and learning to listen is a skill to be developed where after several confirmations of hearing and knowing it is God's Spirit speaking, we learn to recognize the voice as His voice.

Again, it is in most cases He uses our mind and thoughts, and we learn to recognize when it is His voice speaking.

The Energy Bus ... what keeps it going

by Dale Shumaker
www.spiritsavvy.net
4spirit@gmail.com

  The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon is about how to cultivate energy, maintain it in all circumstances, and then share it with all others.

In life, you can choose to see the curse or choose to see the gift. On Joy's bus, she encourages the riders that it's their choice, so choose wisely. 

 George had a flat tire, so he had to take the bus. There he met Joy, the bus driver, who always was smiling at him. George found out his car had a defective brake system, was part of a recall, and that it would take two weeks for the part to come in. He decided to take the bus the next two weeks.

His job was on the line. George had lost zeal for life. What he learned from Joy turned his life around. Joy had "10 rules for the ride of your life" posted on front of the bus. The next ten days, Joy and her joyful bus riders explained the importance of these rules to George.

Rule #1. You're the Driver of Your Bus. Take responsibility and control of your life. Take it where you want it to go. You must decide what you want, then create it. Don't let the world create it for you. What's your vision for your life, your work, your relationships. The laws of physics point out it's all about energy. What and who increases your energy. Sometimes by seeing what we don't want we see what we do want. Use crisis to create opportunity.

Rule # 2. Desire, vision, and focus move your bus the right direction. Stop thinking about what you don't want and focus your energy on your vision and what you want. Live in your energy field of dreams.

Rule #3. Fuel your ride with positive energy. E + P = O. Events in your life plus your perception creates your outcome. Make P a positive energy perception. You control that. This fuels your vision and puts energy behind your focus and creates positive results. It's like remembering the excitement of a great golf shot. You review it in your mind, tell others about it. Recall the exciting events of the day. Think about your vision, replay it in your mind daily and tell others.

Rule #4. Invite people on your bus and share your vision. Remember you're driving the bus, but you are also asking people to get on. It's too much to do it all yourself so you need an organized, energized team to deliver a successful product launch. When you invite people to get on they need to be excited about your vision too. And don't forget to tell your wife and family... it is indispensable that they be kept in the discussion of your vision.

Rule #5. Don't waste your energy on those who don't get on your bus. You may have some negative team members already. You may have to ignore them and not take it personally. Don't worry about those who won't get on your bus. The less energy you spend worrying about them, the better off you'll be.

Rule #6. Post a sign that says No Energy Vampires Allowed on your bus. Some who are negative and won't be positive with the vision may need to be asked to get off your bus. Your positive energy and vision must be greater than anyone's negativity. Your certainty must be greater than anyone's doubt. Lead with your heart. The heart is your power center.

Rule #7. Enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them during the ride. Everyone around will be in beat to the frequency of your heart. Your positive energy will radiate to everyone's around you.

Rule #8. Love your passengers. Share love generously and you will become a love magnet to everyone around you. What people really want is to be loved and appreciated. When they feel loved employees will do more, and customers will send you more business.
Five ways to love your passengers. 1. Make time for them. 2. Listen to them. 3. Recognize them. 4. Serve them. 5. Bring out the best in them.

Rule #9. Drive with purpose. When you fuel up with purpose you find excitement in the mundane, the passion in the everyday, the extraordinary in the ordinary. Find your bigger purpose in the here and now and your purpose will find you. Shared purpose keeps your team energized. It is more powerful, meaningful, and inspiring if the team formulates what they want to be. They will be an energized, purpose-driven team.

Rule #10. Have fun and enjoy the ride. Live young, have fun, arrive at your destination as late as possible, with a smile on your face. Put these rules in your bus and the energy bus will give you the ride of your life.

In summary: 1. Create your vision. 2. Fuel your vision with purpose(it's benefit to others). 3. Write a vision/purpose statement. 4. Focus on your vision. 5. Zoom Focus. 6. Get on the bus. 7. Fuel the ride with positive energy. 8. Post a sign "No vampires allowed." 9. Navigate adversity and potholes. 10. Love your passengers 11. Have fun and enjoy the ride. For more go to...

http://www.jongordon.com/theenergybusbook.html


Jesus said when you remain in My Love you obey my commandments. His commands are not burdensome. We are to love God with all our heart and love each other.

In The True Vine by Andrew Murray, he writes about abiding in God's love. (Note John 14 and 15.) Abide in My love Jesus says. We speak of a man’s home as his abode. Our abode, the home of our soul, is to be the love of Christ. We are to live our life there, to be at home there all the day: this is what Christ means our life to be, and really can make it. Our continuous abiding in the Vine is to be an abiding in His love. The love of the Father to the Son is not a sentiment—it is a divine life, an infinite energy, an irresistible power. It carried Christ through life and death and the grave. The Father loved Him and dwelt in Him, and did all for Him.

So the love of Christ to us too is an infinite living power that will work in us all He delights to give us. The feebleness of our Christian life is that we do not take time to believe that this divine love does really delight in us, and will possess and work all in us. We do not take time to look at the Vine bearing the branch so entirely, working all in it so completely. We strive to do for ourselves what Christ alone can, what Christ, oh, so lovingly, longs to do for us.

And this now is the secret of the change we spoke of, and the beginning of a new life, when the soul sees this infinite love willing to do all, and gives itself up to it. “Abide in My love.” To believe that, it is possible so to live moment by moment; to believe that everything that makes it difficult or impossible will be overcome by Christ Himself; to believe that Love really means an infinite longing to give itself wholly to us and never leave us; and in this faith to cast ourselves on Christ to work it in us; this is the secret of the true Christian life.

And how to come to this faith?

Turn away from the visible if you would see and possess the invisible. Take more time with Jesus, gazing on Him as the heavenly Vine, living in the love of the Father, wanting you to live in His love. Turn away from yourself and your efforts and your faith, if you would have the heart filled with Him and the certainty of His love. Abiding means going out from everything else, to occupy one place and stay there. Come away from all else, and set your heart on Jesus, and His love, that love will waken your faith and strengthen it. Occupy yourself with that love, worship it, wait for it. You may be sure it will reach out to you, and by its power take you up into itself as your abode and your home. 

Murray continues in Abide in Christ.
"This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you." Let us try in all simplicity and honesty to go out to our home to translate the language of high faith, so that all men can understand it.

--Let our temper be under the rule of the love of Jesus: He can not alone curb it--He can make us gentle and patient. Let the vow, that not an unkind word about others shall ever be heard from our lips, be laid trustingly at His feet.
--Let the gentleness that refuses to take offense, that is always ready to excuse, to think and hope the best, mark our intercourse with all.
--Let the love that seeks not its own, to give its life for others, be our aim as we abide in Jesus. Let our life be one of self-sacrifice, always studying the welfare of others, finding our highest joy in blessing others.
--And let us, in studying the divine art of doing good, yield ourselves as obedient learners to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

By His grace, the most commonplace life can be transfigured with the brightness of a heavenly beauty, as the infinite love of the divine nature shines out through our frail humanity. Fellow-Christian, let us praise God! We are called to love as Jesus loves, as God loves.

Good to Great ... enduring work

By Dale Shumaker
www.spiritsavvy.net
4spirit@gmail.com

Good to Great (2001) by Jim Collins: "How to build a good organization into one that produces sustained great results." For over a decade, Good to Great has been on the top ten best business books.
Here is an outline of these stalwart business precepts that if all followed, applied, integrated within their systems, we could in decades move to new powerful heights as a business nation.

The first part of a business process is the build up. Then comes the breakthrough. But a certain path must be taken to get there. Here's the way:

The Build Up

Level 5 Leadership
Not Big personalities; but quiet, reserved, blending personal humility and professional will. The ambition is for the company, institutional success not personal success. Charismatic leaders need to learn lessons on how to involve others, build up others, and develop the skills of their team. It's having more plow horses than show horses. Their drive is for producing sustained results.

First Who... then What
Get the right people on the bus; the wrong people off. Most important asset--not people but the right people. Not ruthless cultures, but vigorous cultures. Put your best people on your best opportunities.

Confront the Brutal Facts(Yet never lose faith)
Maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties AND at the same time have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your reality. …"conduct autopsies without blame." Create a place where everyone can be heard. Get "motivated, self-directed people" and don't de-motivate them.

The Breakthrough

The Hedgehog Concept
Simplicity within the 3 Circles
Circle 1. What you can be the best in the world at.
Circle 2. What drives your economic engine.
Circle 3. What you are deeply passionate about.
In times of trouble go back to the 3 Circles.

The Council: people who can share openly, collect ideas, sort out honestly, and then come to a best idea resolved from great councils. It's a device to get a balance of perspectives of all parts of the company using the 3 Circles. Select people knowledgeable who work in critical areas.
Keep it to 5 to 10 people.

A Culture of Discipline
"When you have disciplined people, you don't need hierarchy."
"When you have disciplined thought, you don't need bureaucracy."

Technology Accelerations
"Pioneers in the application of carefully selected technology."
Use as a strategy to accomplish the 3 circles. It can accelerate the business clock. Avoid fads and use as a strategic servant to accomplish your values. Does the technology fit within your Hedgehog theme... it’s your slave, not your master.

The Flywheel and the Doom Loop
The flywheel builds results; the doom loop lacks results and sells the future. Relentlessly pushing a flywheel in one direction, turn upon turn, building momentum until a point of breakthrough and beyond. When you skip the build up and move directly to breakthrough, you risk entering the doom loop…creating a negative momentum difficult to reverse.

The Collins’ research group based their conclusions on findings, facts, and characteristics they found. They did not use a hypothesis approach to prove or disprove an assumption. They found out what worked and explained why it worked.

For more on Good to Great here is a more extensive summary:
http://www2.tech.purdue.edu/met/courses/met317/IAC/2011%20fall%20IAC/Good_to_Great.pdf
and Jim Collins’ website and particularly note
the Collins’ Good to Great diagnostic tool:
http://jimcollins.com/

If we would read the Bible in this way, we would maybe be better off pulling out what it is saying, than trying to make it fit preconceived ideas we have. The Bible is a life study book, loaded with spiritual case studies and enduring principles of Spirit. Just read it for yourself. See what jumps out at you and comes to mind. You can trust that as the Spirit of God speaking directly to you. Share it with a friend and see what comes of it.

The theme for progressing from good and moving to great is to be good, be humble and have patience. Humility with frankness plus respect form a winning combination. "I am not better than you. I respect you as much as I hope you respect me."

What is good?
This is a word that is one of the most vague terms we use. Talk to 20 people and you will probably get 20 different versions. So what is good? For whatever it's worth, here's my version.

Paul, the Apostle in the Bible said to fight the good fight. When he referred to fight the good fight he referred to doing what's righteous (God is Holy and we do all things in the light of what Holiness is. That still is vague and we wonder what that means and we have 1000's of very righteous groups telling us exactly what that means.)

The Apostle Paul goes on to say it is being like God, it promotes faith, expresses love, stays persevering, and is always gentle and kind. 1 Timothy 6:11, 12

God is Good, God is Holy, and to be Good is to be in God. Through Jesus Christ we have this right, privilege and ability to be in God. Jesus said to not call a man Good... "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good." Luke 18:19

This is to be in the very presence, person of God Himself, The Spirit of Likeness of Himself. Becoming just like Him. Then we are good. So our ability to be Good is limited by our own humanness and we come up with many definitions of what Good is, of which most are partially right but not truly great definitions.

Jesus goes on to say that "I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and they who know me do as I do. We are all one who follow one voice. I lay my life down for my sheep."

He encourages us to take the back seat; humble yourself before others. John 10:14-17

It's humility among men, not making more of yourself that will make you appear better than others. Being able to appeal for help when needed and not being embarrassed, or too proud. Do not think you should do it all. Ask for help when you need it. Accept help when it’s offered to you. Allow others to bless you with their gifts, abilities as they have them to share and give you. If you have the same gifts as someone else who works with you, lay yours down and let the other one use theirs. The more you give up so others can shine in what they do, and allow them to use their gifts and abilities, the stronger you become as a group.

Patience then comes into play. Jesus, when hearing of His dear friend's sickness, Lazarus, waited a few days before going to him. Consequently, Lazarus died. Martha, Lazarus' sister, was at first upset that Jesus was not there. She told Jesus if you would have come he would not have died. But then she also had confidence in Jesus in that He could do whatever He wanted.

Jesus knew everything has a time and purpose. He waited because there was a greater glory everyone was going to experience. His time was for a certain time so to bring Glory to God (raising Lazarus from the dead).

We can steal of God when we move ahead of His timing and disturb His timing for His Glory. Move on God's timing.

Even Peter, the Apostle failed to be patient. He wanted to take matters in his own hands and he even told Jesus He was wrong. Jesus told His disciples to wait. Wait until the very Spirit of God would come on them... before you take action on His Mission.

Breakthroughs come when we are patient and allow the Spirit to work and then move when that power is with us and goes before us. Not forging ahead on our own, but allowing God's Spirit to do its work, and this Power of Spirit going ahead of us.

So what is great?
According to Jesus, Greatness is living in Spirit Process.
“So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven ."
“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven !" (Matthew 5:19-20, NLT)
“I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John (the Baptist). Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!” (Luke 7:28, NLT)
“So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:4, NLT)

John the Baptist lived a very humble life. A child is open minded and willingly learns, without a sense of self-importance.

So then what is Great?
It is being Holy, Being in God (true Goodness),
and not into just yourself,
being humble around others,
and being patient for God to act on your behalf.
God helps us to be Great like Him?

"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances... I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations.” (Ezekiel 36: 27-30, NASB)

Take the back seat,
wait for Spirit,
then move with the flow of Spirit... Spirit Process!

Then, you will know the power of All God's Creative power
is with you and you will have penetrating breakthroughs.

Progress from good to Great by being in God’s Greatness.
Be humble and allow the talents of others to be expressed.
Be patient and watch Divine Power work on your behalf.

 

The Spirit Savvy Network ... living the Spirit Savvy way

by Dale Shumaker

The Spirit Savvy Network

www.spiritsavvy.net

What is a Spirit Savvy Network?

A Spirit Savvy Network is about

--discovering your natural gifts and becoming Spirit Savvy by expanding your gifts to be Spiritual Gifts.

--adding knowledge of business skills and entrepreneur skills that are empowered by the Spirit becoming Spirit Savvy.

--defining and refining your mission in life and operating in Spirit Savvy methods. ... using your gifts and abilities, entrepreneur skills within a Spirit-filled, Spirit-charged way of living.

Then networking with those who live the Spirit Savvy way of life.

This is a Spirit Savvy Network.
How is this done?...learn more at the Spirit Savvy Network where it has free links to biz book summaries and teachings on living supernaturally through prayer,
plus
programs on becoming a New Breed Missionary Entrepreneur and a leader of other Missionary Entrepreneurs through the Accelerator plan. 

How To Create a Buzz.
Taking Mark Hughes six buzz factors from Buzz Marketing we can see how Jesus used all of them and with great impact. It is still being talked about 2,000 years later. Now that is a power buzz.  People remember what is taboo, unusual, outrageous, hilarious, remarkable, or a secret. Jesus used all six factors that made what He did stick in the minds of people.

The taboo: Jesus talked to a women with several husbands which was at His time very “politically inappropriate” to talk to. It even raised the eyebrows of His disciples. But she told the whole town about Jesus, and they all came out to meet him.
The unusual: A blind man from birth was healed by Jesus. All the religious leaders wanted to speak to the blind man to find out what happened… they never saw this happen before.
The outrageous: Everyone was outraged, even His disciples, when Jesus asked one of the biggest crooks in town to be part of His inner circle. 

The hilarious: Jesus’ disciples must have had a tongue-in-cheek moment when they told others of how Jesus commanded demons to leave a person and they went into a whole herd of pigs who went squealing into a lake and drowned.
The remarkable: Walking on water, turning water to wine, and offering living water to prostitutes and undesirables was a little "out of the box" in going about things.
The secrets: Jesus told His disciples to keep it a secret that He was the Son of God. Nonetheless, the word of who Jesus was spread so rapidly He had to avoid public appearances because the crowds got big real fast.

Jesus' buzz still hums today. He walked in great Power to do this.

Use these six principles of creating a buzz to advance your mission. He promises that even today we have the same Power available to use.

Saying to us,
"I did this and You Can Too!"
"All things are (still) possible for those who believe." (Mark 9:23)

Believe:
Go against the grain of nature and traditions. Do something outrageously "good" and superior to mankind’s way of doing things.

Start your buzz… of Spiritual significance.The Spirit Savvy helps to develop skills like creating a buzz with the Spirit as the Driving force behind it.

One Word ... the power to stay focused

by Dale Shumaker
The Spirit Savvy Network
www.spiritsavvy.net

One Word by Dan Britton, Jimmy Page, Jon Gordon is about finding that One Word that will change your life.  Each year many resolutions are made but when it comes down to it one word sticks. The authors created a One Word process. They found the power of a word that a person keeps in focus all year has more impact on your life than themes, mission statements, and phrases.

The process to One Word has three steps
1. Prepare your Heart 
2. Discover your Word
3. Live your Word

One Word creates laser-like focus that lasts. Where do you want to make impact?
...spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally, mentally, financially ... set your word and focus.
1. Prepare your heart by looking in.
2. Discover your word by looking up.
3. Live your word by looking out.

Prepare your heart.
Escape from the busyness of life and take time to look in. Unplug intentionally, and find solitude (that's unplug from TV, computer, phone, people, to do lists...)

Ask...
1. What do i need? What may need changed, improvement, attention?
2. What's in my way? Obstacles, or attitudes in your mind?
3. What needs to go ? Past mistakes, bitterness, forgiveness, what we need to let go?

Discover your word.
Plug in. Make time for prayer.

Ask...
What do you want to do through me? It's about receiving a word, a God
Word. It's personal to you and specific for the moment.

Listen up
You may get the word while reading, listening to a song, a small voice while waking up. Be open to all experiences. The word may come through surprising channels.

Live your Word
When the word comes it may be in the form of a character trait, a discipline, a spiritual focus, an attribute, a number."  Some examples are "rest, intimacy, bold, green, purity, three..."

Live it out. Keep your word on the tip of your mind. Post it in prominent places, so you see it on a regular basis. It's your word... own it, personalize it, internalize it.

Write it down. Make it your screen saver, paint it on a sign, hang it around. Share your word with friends, family, and make it stretch your team, that is those who stretch you.
Now, go spread the word.

More on the One Word that will change your life at:
http://getoneword.com/

What one word would you say was Jesus' One Word.
His I see as being "Love."

All the commandments He said could be summed up in One Word...
to "love" the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and being.
And the second commandment is similar... to love everyone as much
as you love and desire for yourself.

Love contains a large volume of qualities.
Love remains patient when others want to react or get in a hurry.
Love stays kind no matter what others may do to him, or how he feels.
Love perseveres the pains and sufferings of life. He bears out a long time with things that are troubling without becoming down cast, resentful or wanting to get revenge.

Love does not get jealous of others who well, it does not brag on things it
has accomplish and becomes proud because of it, and is not rude to others
in all things. Love gives others the benefit of the doubt and is always
courteous and thoughtful to others.

Love seeks what is true and applauses those who tell the truth. Love is not irritated easily, and gives others the credit when it is due.
Love does not keep mental records of all the times someone has done
something wrong or tried to hurt them. Love does not become offended easily.
Love never gives up, always maintains hope and seeks opportunity to
be loving constantly. Love never, ever gives up as it endures all things.

So when Jesus said to love... he had quite of list of qualities love covers
that we can live out in all conditions.