by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
The Truth About You by Marcus Buckingham is an intriguing, inspiring, action-propelling package. Buckingham's new book about discovering your true strengths is a transformational package with a book, a DVD of Marcus Buckingham personally presenting his novel insights, and then a small, pocket ReMemo pad (probably the most important part of the book). All this is packaged as a personal, self-coaching system. This is a precocious concept. As an educational technology training specialist, I give this a high A as a multi-sensory, activating experience that will drive exciting change into your life.
The DVD includes a passionate, heart-reflecting presentation by Buckingham himself. Then within his presentation, a dramatic video story is inter-cut throughout about a young boy finding his strength. Ingeniously done. The little ReMemo pad is used to record where you feel strong, and where you feel weak. And how to champion your own discovery of what you are really good at, naturally excel at in life while feeling the fun of it along the way. The DVD makes you want to read and do the exercises Buckingham suggests in the book. I even tested it on an entrepreneur- minded couple, and after seeing the DVD they stayed up late that night and read the book. Buckingham has as life-transforming power system here.
Digging up our strengths reinvigorate us and make life fun again. When we are in our natural gifts, we feel happiness, we feel strong after we do them, we demonstrate a performance excellence instinctively, and then the rewards start falling in place. We feel comfortable in our strengths as we live an energizing concept of life...true to us.
Here's a snapshot of the content flow in The Truth About You. Who you are when young will be more of you as you get older. Your strength just grows through your life. Only about two out of ten of us get to play to our strengths in what we do.
Three truths to consider:
--As you grow, you become more and more of who you really are.
--You grow most in your areas of greatest strength.
--A great team player volunteers his strengths to the team most of the time and deliberately partners with people who have different strengths.
Take your interests seriously and don't let people take you out of your strengths. Strengths aren't what you are good at, and weaknesses aren't what you are bad at. Some things you are good at you don't really like and they don't make you feel strong. Feeling strong is the indicator.
To spot a strength, use the "sign"s.
S... Success. Where does success come naturally for you?
I... Instinct. What do you instinctively look toward?
G... Growth. Where do you concentrate easily, your brain fires up?
N... Needs. What fills a need?
When these occur, it may be a strength.
Use the ReMemo pad and note on the blue pages every day for a week what makes you feel strong as you do it. You have a feeling of anticipation before you do it, and when done, you feel fulfilled by doing it. Just say what you feel when you do it and don't try to figure it out too much. Then at the end of the week, note the "verbs" and see the actions that created these feelings.
In what you do, the "what" always trumps the why and who. Always ask "What am I paid to do." This is your defining answer. You never turn your weaknesses into strengths. You will never find the perfect job, so neutralize weaknesses and expand strengths.
Now use the ReMemo pad to list on the black pages what makes you feel weak, bored. After a week read them back to yourself and they will make you feel weak just thinking about them. So what do you do with these? Stop doing it. Partner up with someone strong in that. Sharpen your strengths. Look at your weakness through a strength. Do what makes you weak by using your strength in it. Try to play to your strengths as much as you can, but there are times you must just do it.
Your organization will never know you like you do; and you'll never turn your weaknesses to strengths. Find your strengths and keep in them as much as you can.
Buckingham has a amazing method to turn your life around in The Truth About You. This is a personal bookshelf book/DVD for constant review... to build the Strongest You.
Buckingham has extra background resources on the DVD, plus a blog and more resources on his website:
www.marcusbuckingham.com
The Truth about You is that in addition to having natural Strengths you can have Spiritual Strengths. The Apostle Paul says we are also given Spiritual Gifts and strengths that function Supernaturally.
They are given to us by the Spirit and function along side our natural gifts. So where we are weak, we may be strong. In fact many of these replace a weakness we have with a Spiritual Strength that is solely from God. A Spiritual Strength not given at birth or earned, but literally provided by God's Spirit to us.
Paul explains Spiritual gifts, and these are given, regardless of how our natural gifts may function. They may enhance a natural gift or replace a weakness with a strength.
"A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have."
(1 Corinthians 12: 7-11, NLT)
So a yearning may be an indicator that God wants to give you a Spiritual gift there, even in areas where we have a history of weakness in that area. God may very well want you to be strong where you see yourself weak, although His Spirit will do it through you. The Scriptures say that He will reward those who diligently seek Him.
The disciples were seeking God diligently and then all kinds of Spiritual gifts come on them. The people where amazed as they had knowledge of things when not educated, and speaking skills when they were common fishermen. The transformations amazed the crowds. When Spiritual gifts come on us our families, friends and acquaintances will be amazed at the dramatic change in us.
Paul said He would rather boast about His weaknesses. Why? Where Paul had shortcomings, The Spirit of God put in Him strengths and abilities to function in Spiritual strength where he was humanly weak.
King David said many times in the Psalms that his strength was through God's power. The Lord, the great one, was his strength.
"God arms me with strength,
and he makes my way perfect." (Psalm 18:32, NLT)
"God is awesome in his sanctuary.
The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people." (Psalm 68:35, NLT)
The Prophet Isaiah said that God rescues us from all our troubles and gives us new strength:
"Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
not a single one is missing.
O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength." (Isaiah 40:26-31, NLT)
Our natural bodies have many weaknesses. But even in our weaknesses here on earth we are promised Heavenly strengths. We will inherit Heavenly bodies to replace these earthly bodies. So where we are weak here on earth we will be made strong in Heaven. Regardless of how effective we are on earth with what we have to work with here, as far as our natural strengths go, we will be made perfect when we have Heavenly bodies after we die.
"There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory. It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies." (1 Corinthians 15:40-44, NLT)
Our natural bodies of earth are weak, but our Spiritual bodies of Heaven are strong. So, what we do on earth will be rewarded but according to how we live here on earth. It is important to realize we have two existences in our lives. One on earth and the other in Heaven promised to us when we live our earthly lives one in Jesus.The Heavenly lifestyle is unexplainable, more appealing than the earthly lifestyle of today. It supersedes anything we see and experience on earth now. It is so beyond earth in its magnitude and its euphoric delights. It is the best investment we can make in life to guarantee we live this after we live this life. Jesus said this life has it sorrows, but the next life is eternal happiness. How do we guarantee our Heavenly rewards? In Catching a Glimpse of Heaven, E. M. Bounds talks about what Heaven is like and the character of the person who gets there.
"Heaven will be the pursuit, enjoyment, and increase of life. It will be eternal Life in Heaven, will be a rapture. Mind, soul, and spirit will be widened, elevated, deepened, refined, and beautified by it. Everything will conspire to make the life supremely blessed and glorious. Christ will feed that life on the richest pastures and lead the way to fountains of living water. 'God will wipe away all tears' from the eyes of that Life."
"The power of the Holy Spirit puts in us a thirst for Heaven, until all other tastes grow pale in us. The power of the Spirit binds us to heaven because Jesus is its center and glory."
"The Holy Spirit implants Heaven in us."
"The law for Heavenly contestants is severe self control.... to restrain appetites of pride and self seeking. Purity of character reigns in Heaven but money does not."
"The building blocks of character are faith, a faith built on Jesus Christ. Virtue with courage as the chief and distinguishing idea in virtue. Knowledge including Spirit revelation through reading the Bible which yields a power, strength and light. Temperance with self control of passions, temper, appetites and desires. Patience to contend with earthly hindrances, persecutions, temptations that create conflict with our inner life in Spirit to the world. And become God-like in knowing God. Until we of the brotherhood of earth are like the brotherhood of Heaven. To prefer others before ourselves. To follow Jesus command to put others before ourselves."
"Death has no fascination for the true Christian, but he does not fear to die or fear to live. We find ourselves out of tune with earth, a world chilling to us, its companionship dull and insipid, Heaven is our natural home."
"It is to unfasten our hearts from earth and fasten them to Heaven. God must destroy our infatuation with our earthly homes so that we seek a home in Heaven."
The truth about you is that you will have two bodies.... an earthly body with natural birth gifts and this natural body has potential of Spiritual gifts planted in it Supernaturally... that you can use along with your natural gifts.
Then you will be transformed into a Heavenly body after this earthly body dies. It will have the Heavenly qualities... of constant love, joy, absent of pain, and eternal sense of wonder, as we live a life not even comprehensible with our human minds.
A glimpse of Heaven for just one second while on earth would change our perspectives forever. We would choose Heavenly priorities on earth as our chief aim. We would live looking forward to the wonderful moment of being in a marvelous ecstasy in presence of God forever.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tribes... Covenant Connections
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Tribes by Seth Godin is about all of us being a leader of a tribe.The factory concept of life is over and the tribe is the way of the community. To be a tribe a group needs two things: a shared interest and a way to communicate. "You can't have a tribe without a leader, and you can't be a leader without a tribe." There are many tribes and we have the tools. The market needs you as their leader and all that's missing is you, and your vision and your passion. All that's missing is leadership.
Tribes are about faith, belief in an idea, belief in a community. Three things have happened.
1. People are realizing that to work for something you believe in is much more satisfying than just getting a paycheck.
2. The factory-centric model of producing goods and services is not as profitable as it used to be.
3. Many consumers no longer buy from the factory-produced commodities.
We spend our time and money on fashion, on stories, on things that matter, and things they believe in. Godin's thesis: For the first time, everyone in an organization is expected to lead. The new structure in today's workplace makes it easier to change things and individuals have more leverage than ever.The marketplace is rewarding organizations and individuals who change things and create remarkable products and services. It's engaging type things, thrilling, profitable, and fun.
Most of all there's a tribe of fellow employees, customers, investors, believers, hobbyists, readers just waiting for you to connect them to one another and lead them where to go. Management manipulates. Leaders create things you believe in. The new rule is if you want to grow, you need to find customers, who are willing to believe in you, join you, donate to you or support you. Leaders make a ruckus.
It takes just two things to turn a group into a tribe:
A shared interest.
A way to communicate.
Communicate four ways:
Leader to tribe,
tribe to leader,
tribe member to tribe member,
tribe member to outsider.
The leader increases the effectiveness of the tribe and its members by transforming shared interest into a passionate goal and desire for change; providing tools to allow members to tighten their communication; leveraging the tribe to allow it to grow and gain new members.
A million people who join a tribe may not have change in mind, but a few thousand may. The million may only watch the thousand and wonder what they are doing. Extraordinary tribes are connected, communicating up, down, sideways because of a passionate mission and not just a shared idea.
Tribes grow by leading connections to more connections. Then you have a movement. A movement has three elements:
1. A narrative that tells a story of who we are and the future we are trying to build.
2. A connection between and among the leader and the tribe.
3. Something to do... the fewer the limits the better.
A crowd is a tribe without a leader, a tribe without communication. Many organizations market to crowds. Smart organizations assemble the tribe. Organizations that destroy the status quo win. Changing the status quo gives you a chance to be remarkable. Creating new products and services that are remarkable requires initiative. Initiative equals happiness.
Watch out for the F word. Why don't we initiate if it equals happiness. Fear. There must be a will to make things happen. Hone your skills and don't hide from the fear of leading. When you lead a tribe benefits increase, work gets easier, results are more obvious. This is good reason to overcome fear. Innovation is criticized. So create something that critics will criticize. This makes you a heretic. Great leaders of tribes are heretics. So heretics must believe.
Tighten your tribe. Attract eager followers, not just followers.
You need to know two things:
Individuals have far more power than ever before.
The only thing that holds you back from being a great leader is faith.
We turn existing systems on their head. We call heretics leaders. The heretics are winning. We must join them. Faith leads to hope, and it overcomes fear. Without faith its suicidal to be a leader, to act like a heretic. Don't fall in love with a system and you lose the ability to grow. Faith is demonstrated by the action you take. Initiating is truly difficult, and that's what leaders do. They make change.
Create your micromovement.
You can ignite your micromovement and then be propelled by the people joining it. The key elements to creating your micromovement are:
1. Publish a manifesto. Give it away and make it easy to spread far and wide.
2. Make it easy for your followers to connect with you. Use the Internet social network tools... Facebook, Ning, etc.
3. Make it easy for your followers to connect with one another. Great leaders find ways to make these interactions happen.
4. Realize that money is not the point of the movement. Money exists merely to enable it.
5.Track your progress.
Do it publicly and create pathways for your followers to contribute to the progress.
Principles:
1.Transparency really is your only option.
2. Your movement needs to be bigger than you.
3. Movements that grow thrive.
4. Movements are made most clear when compared to the status quo.
5. Exclude outsiders.
6. Tearing others down is never as helpful to a movement as building your followers up.
Being wrong is not fatal. The secret to being wrong isn't to avoid being wrong.
Leaders change the status quo.
Leaders create a culture around their goal and involve others in that culture.
Leaders have extra-ordinary amount of curiosity about the world they're trying to change, use their charisma to attract followers, communicate their vision of the future, commit to the vision, connect their followers to each other. If you require success before commitment you will never have either.
People believe what they tell themselves. All leaders are different and they deal differently with everyone. They do not back down on choices, yield to compromise, do not dumb down, or give up. Be the leader of your tribe and learn more at:
http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/
From his life work, The Body of Christ, the late Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft, explained what is essential for any group to work. It addresses the "tribe" relationships which make them powerful. In my blog, Jesusisus.blogspot.com , August 5, 2005, I created a paraphrase of what is the connection which make groups function at higher levels. Here's the Spiritual spin.
Groups who create Love Covenant Connections are Supernaturally strong.
The synagogues needed ten men to make it function. Jesus said two or three in unity will make it work. The secret is the quality of its unity, not how many. When the Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthians he was correcting the the lack of unity and ones that belongs in the Body of Christ. He was out to show them the importance of Covenant Connection.
A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties. In Exodus 24:8 there was a blood covenant. The covenant of blood suggests the binding relationship between and among believers who are the Body of Christ. This covenant was understood to be so binding that those who gave a blood covenant to each other protected the interests of the other, even to the point of giving his own life.
So Jesus emphasized this when he said.
"I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him." (John 6:53,56, NLT)
Eating his flesh could very well mean our living in acceptance of Jesus Miraculous birth, living sinless lives, accepting and living by Jesus' teachings, and knowing we have redemption and healing in our lives. Drinking His blood takes us even deeper in our relationship commitments. We intercede for others in prayer to the point of sweating in agony, as Jesus sweat drops of blood for the Kingdom to come to us. The blood He shed at the cross we are to drink. We do this when we serve at the expense of our selves. We bless until we bleed.
The commandments to serve one another by Jesus had a very critical meaning. We committed to serve one another in time of need. When we don't have a serving attitude to those in need, we suffer the loss of the manifestation of His Presence. The example Jesus set and the washing of the disciples week was Jesus making this point. ( Jesus said if you don't let me wash your feet, "you have no part of me.")
Dr. Ashcroft pointed out that the last supper meal of Jesus had a much more significant meaning than practiced today. When sharing the wine with each other, He was sharing His blood (from His brutal death) with everyone.
He was creating a blood covenant… which creates a close love covenant with us and God Himself, through the Holy Spirit Jesus promised. We as One is a binding relationship in that all things are shared as common. This is the ideal of marriage... all belongs to both. In any Spiritual union, it transfigures life around us.
When groups live in covenant relationships, a love covenant relationship intertwined by Spirit among each other, All The Power of Jesus, of His Spirit, is then manifested. It's part of us.
This Power of Spirit will then surpass what Jesus Himself accomplished while on earth. Paul wants us to see the value and need for unity.
Satan creates divisions, and when there are divisions and dissensions all around, the Holy Spirit cannot work. When there is unity and servant attitudes, the Holy Spirit works among them. By being in unity and having blood covenants in our attitudes of relationships the windows of Heaven will open and His blessings will pour over us. Paul was very harsh on those who cause divisions and he pronounced God's judgment on those causing these offenses. We cannot overemphasize the importance of 2 or 3 together in His Name and the value of unity.
The goal is growing to One in unity in Spirit, in with everyone, where ever we have functioning associations... home, work, community. Where 2, 3, 4 or more work as a love unit… the power of Jesus had is demonstrated through what we do. Again, division robs Spiritual Power. Sacrificial unity manufactures Power. Division is our biggest enemy… it destroys all the Potential Power of Jesus in Us.
"The Corinthians had lost the sense of Covenant Connection. Paul, the Apostle said, 'We being many are one bread, and one body.' He addressed their loss of consciousness of the value of need for unity. Satan, Evil Spirits, business is to divide. The Holy Spirit cannot work where there is division. We only need to remember that it is where two agree on earth, the Father works in Heaven. God, the Holy Spirit (Jesus Spirit) works when God's people are in unity." (Dr. Ashcroft)
Our objective should always be to Merge Diversity.
Different perspectives which merge to function as an orchestration of views and activity creates power. Harmony in Diversity is the fuse to power. Great things come out of this phenomenon. When we spend our time seeking for the right answer, from the right person, we limit impact. We should work toward merging ideas to form a better inspired idea.
When we do this, we then are hearing from Jesus, we transform our thinking as a group into the mind of Christ. . So we add "all" of Spirit (presented in parts from everyone). Then we all share part of Jesus, a true Voice of Spirit. We bring it into one Voice, one shared/combined view, perspective of a Higher Level… that moves us into being the Mind of Christ. When all voices are heard, we hear Jesus' voice... all ideas form One Bigger Idea... of Spirit Power.
Love, relationship binding, humility, respect to each other and an enthusiasm as a group is also inherently manifested out of this.
As I visited with Dr. A. he saw this... Covenant Connection Principle…as the key to seeing the Supernatural as the normal part of our lives. The lack of the Covenant Connection Principle is the reason why so little power in living exists today.
Any group.... a business group, family group, cause/mission group, Spiritual Growth group.... that applies this principle will see "Greater things than what Jesus did on earth" happen through their groups.
This would make businesses, and any group with a special purpose, very noble and powerful if they followed the Jesus Spirit pattern… an organism with a noble cause.
A business leader's role is ideally a servant leader to bring the gifts out of people, create business systems that utilize these gifts to the fullest and maintain the Spiritual unity which fosters greatness.
It is his/her role to create ways to take care of people and the needs in people's lives. Jesus ideal presented to mankind can be fulfilled through the business system in society. If business owners see their role beyond just profits for themselves and shareholders, but instead see profits for all who work with them as a core of Spirit power fulfilled through a Jesus-centered community.
Business entities can lead the way for the Power of Spirit to be manifested in the community, and nation they serve. This can be the hub of strength for our society. The home is ideal, but realistically people interact as a community with more time at work.
Spiritual cells of power and unity can be cultivated and carried out in the workplace with more precision…. which would impact the people, their home lives, the community and the nation…. and create a Supernaturally profitable business entity. This becomes a Spirit-powered driven business management model, process and system for exceptional service and product development.
It only takes 2, 3, 4 or more in unison, "Covenant Connection," to accomplish this. It takes "Giving up" all we have for others. And "Giving to" what we can to make it happen. "Those who Give up… for the Jesus mission… will not go without their reward." It is a reward of ultra-world proportions of the Most High for Us as the Body of Christ.
"When we unite here on earth, it connects us with Heaven."
(Dr. Ashcroft)
A unique view. Uniting on earth creates an interactive connection with Heaven's miraculous creating power. It Sparks Heavenly Activity.(Angelic forces strategically carry out Spiritual military engagements on our behalf.)
Great Groups living out this Spirit function with humility, forgiving hearts, serving others sacrificially as needed… a loving, reciprocating, caring group of noble, cause-driven, gifted, giving people.
Not all things are possible by a human being; but human beings as One in Spirit, become a powerful Body in Christ.
ALL Things Are Possible!
4spirit@gmail.com
Tribes by Seth Godin is about all of us being a leader of a tribe.The factory concept of life is over and the tribe is the way of the community. To be a tribe a group needs two things: a shared interest and a way to communicate. "You can't have a tribe without a leader, and you can't be a leader without a tribe." There are many tribes and we have the tools. The market needs you as their leader and all that's missing is you, and your vision and your passion. All that's missing is leadership.
Tribes are about faith, belief in an idea, belief in a community. Three things have happened.
1. People are realizing that to work for something you believe in is much more satisfying than just getting a paycheck.
2. The factory-centric model of producing goods and services is not as profitable as it used to be.
3. Many consumers no longer buy from the factory-produced commodities.
We spend our time and money on fashion, on stories, on things that matter, and things they believe in. Godin's thesis: For the first time, everyone in an organization is expected to lead. The new structure in today's workplace makes it easier to change things and individuals have more leverage than ever.The marketplace is rewarding organizations and individuals who change things and create remarkable products and services. It's engaging type things, thrilling, profitable, and fun.
Most of all there's a tribe of fellow employees, customers, investors, believers, hobbyists, readers just waiting for you to connect them to one another and lead them where to go. Management manipulates. Leaders create things you believe in. The new rule is if you want to grow, you need to find customers, who are willing to believe in you, join you, donate to you or support you. Leaders make a ruckus.
It takes just two things to turn a group into a tribe:
A shared interest.
A way to communicate.
Communicate four ways:
Leader to tribe,
tribe to leader,
tribe member to tribe member,
tribe member to outsider.
The leader increases the effectiveness of the tribe and its members by transforming shared interest into a passionate goal and desire for change; providing tools to allow members to tighten their communication; leveraging the tribe to allow it to grow and gain new members.
A million people who join a tribe may not have change in mind, but a few thousand may. The million may only watch the thousand and wonder what they are doing. Extraordinary tribes are connected, communicating up, down, sideways because of a passionate mission and not just a shared idea.
Tribes grow by leading connections to more connections. Then you have a movement. A movement has three elements:
1. A narrative that tells a story of who we are and the future we are trying to build.
2. A connection between and among the leader and the tribe.
3. Something to do... the fewer the limits the better.
A crowd is a tribe without a leader, a tribe without communication. Many organizations market to crowds. Smart organizations assemble the tribe. Organizations that destroy the status quo win. Changing the status quo gives you a chance to be remarkable. Creating new products and services that are remarkable requires initiative. Initiative equals happiness.
Watch out for the F word. Why don't we initiate if it equals happiness. Fear. There must be a will to make things happen. Hone your skills and don't hide from the fear of leading. When you lead a tribe benefits increase, work gets easier, results are more obvious. This is good reason to overcome fear. Innovation is criticized. So create something that critics will criticize. This makes you a heretic. Great leaders of tribes are heretics. So heretics must believe.
Tighten your tribe. Attract eager followers, not just followers.
You need to know two things:
Individuals have far more power than ever before.
The only thing that holds you back from being a great leader is faith.
We turn existing systems on their head. We call heretics leaders. The heretics are winning. We must join them. Faith leads to hope, and it overcomes fear. Without faith its suicidal to be a leader, to act like a heretic. Don't fall in love with a system and you lose the ability to grow. Faith is demonstrated by the action you take. Initiating is truly difficult, and that's what leaders do. They make change.
Create your micromovement.
You can ignite your micromovement and then be propelled by the people joining it. The key elements to creating your micromovement are:
1. Publish a manifesto. Give it away and make it easy to spread far and wide.
2. Make it easy for your followers to connect with you. Use the Internet social network tools... Facebook, Ning, etc.
3. Make it easy for your followers to connect with one another. Great leaders find ways to make these interactions happen.
4. Realize that money is not the point of the movement. Money exists merely to enable it.
5.Track your progress.
Do it publicly and create pathways for your followers to contribute to the progress.
Principles:
1.Transparency really is your only option.
2. Your movement needs to be bigger than you.
3. Movements that grow thrive.
4. Movements are made most clear when compared to the status quo.
5. Exclude outsiders.
6. Tearing others down is never as helpful to a movement as building your followers up.
Being wrong is not fatal. The secret to being wrong isn't to avoid being wrong.
Leaders change the status quo.
Leaders create a culture around their goal and involve others in that culture.
Leaders have extra-ordinary amount of curiosity about the world they're trying to change, use their charisma to attract followers, communicate their vision of the future, commit to the vision, connect their followers to each other. If you require success before commitment you will never have either.
People believe what they tell themselves. All leaders are different and they deal differently with everyone. They do not back down on choices, yield to compromise, do not dumb down, or give up. Be the leader of your tribe and learn more at:
http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/
From his life work, The Body of Christ, the late Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft, explained what is essential for any group to work. It addresses the "tribe" relationships which make them powerful. In my blog, Jesusisus.blogspot.com , August 5, 2005, I created a paraphrase of what is the connection which make groups function at higher levels. Here's the Spiritual spin.
Groups who create Love Covenant Connections are Supernaturally strong.
The synagogues needed ten men to make it function. Jesus said two or three in unity will make it work. The secret is the quality of its unity, not how many. When the Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthians he was correcting the the lack of unity and ones that belongs in the Body of Christ. He was out to show them the importance of Covenant Connection.
A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties. In Exodus 24:8 there was a blood covenant. The covenant of blood suggests the binding relationship between and among believers who are the Body of Christ. This covenant was understood to be so binding that those who gave a blood covenant to each other protected the interests of the other, even to the point of giving his own life.
So Jesus emphasized this when he said.
"I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him." (John 6:53,56, NLT)
Eating his flesh could very well mean our living in acceptance of Jesus Miraculous birth, living sinless lives, accepting and living by Jesus' teachings, and knowing we have redemption and healing in our lives. Drinking His blood takes us even deeper in our relationship commitments. We intercede for others in prayer to the point of sweating in agony, as Jesus sweat drops of blood for the Kingdom to come to us. The blood He shed at the cross we are to drink. We do this when we serve at the expense of our selves. We bless until we bleed.
The commandments to serve one another by Jesus had a very critical meaning. We committed to serve one another in time of need. When we don't have a serving attitude to those in need, we suffer the loss of the manifestation of His Presence. The example Jesus set and the washing of the disciples week was Jesus making this point. ( Jesus said if you don't let me wash your feet, "you have no part of me.")
Dr. Ashcroft pointed out that the last supper meal of Jesus had a much more significant meaning than practiced today. When sharing the wine with each other, He was sharing His blood (from His brutal death) with everyone.
He was creating a blood covenant… which creates a close love covenant with us and God Himself, through the Holy Spirit Jesus promised. We as One is a binding relationship in that all things are shared as common. This is the ideal of marriage... all belongs to both. In any Spiritual union, it transfigures life around us.
When groups live in covenant relationships, a love covenant relationship intertwined by Spirit among each other, All The Power of Jesus, of His Spirit, is then manifested. It's part of us.
This Power of Spirit will then surpass what Jesus Himself accomplished while on earth. Paul wants us to see the value and need for unity.
Satan creates divisions, and when there are divisions and dissensions all around, the Holy Spirit cannot work. When there is unity and servant attitudes, the Holy Spirit works among them. By being in unity and having blood covenants in our attitudes of relationships the windows of Heaven will open and His blessings will pour over us. Paul was very harsh on those who cause divisions and he pronounced God's judgment on those causing these offenses. We cannot overemphasize the importance of 2 or 3 together in His Name and the value of unity.
The goal is growing to One in unity in Spirit, in with everyone, where ever we have functioning associations... home, work, community. Where 2, 3, 4 or more work as a love unit… the power of Jesus had is demonstrated through what we do. Again, division robs Spiritual Power. Sacrificial unity manufactures Power. Division is our biggest enemy… it destroys all the Potential Power of Jesus in Us.
"The Corinthians had lost the sense of Covenant Connection. Paul, the Apostle said, 'We being many are one bread, and one body.' He addressed their loss of consciousness of the value of need for unity. Satan, Evil Spirits, business is to divide. The Holy Spirit cannot work where there is division. We only need to remember that it is where two agree on earth, the Father works in Heaven. God, the Holy Spirit (Jesus Spirit) works when God's people are in unity." (Dr. Ashcroft)
Our objective should always be to Merge Diversity.
Different perspectives which merge to function as an orchestration of views and activity creates power. Harmony in Diversity is the fuse to power. Great things come out of this phenomenon. When we spend our time seeking for the right answer, from the right person, we limit impact. We should work toward merging ideas to form a better inspired idea.
When we do this, we then are hearing from Jesus, we transform our thinking as a group into the mind of Christ. . So we add "all" of Spirit (presented in parts from everyone). Then we all share part of Jesus, a true Voice of Spirit. We bring it into one Voice, one shared/combined view, perspective of a Higher Level… that moves us into being the Mind of Christ. When all voices are heard, we hear Jesus' voice... all ideas form One Bigger Idea... of Spirit Power.
Love, relationship binding, humility, respect to each other and an enthusiasm as a group is also inherently manifested out of this.
As I visited with Dr. A. he saw this... Covenant Connection Principle…as the key to seeing the Supernatural as the normal part of our lives. The lack of the Covenant Connection Principle is the reason why so little power in living exists today.
Any group.... a business group, family group, cause/mission group, Spiritual Growth group.... that applies this principle will see "Greater things than what Jesus did on earth" happen through their groups.
This would make businesses, and any group with a special purpose, very noble and powerful if they followed the Jesus Spirit pattern… an organism with a noble cause.
A business leader's role is ideally a servant leader to bring the gifts out of people, create business systems that utilize these gifts to the fullest and maintain the Spiritual unity which fosters greatness.
It is his/her role to create ways to take care of people and the needs in people's lives. Jesus ideal presented to mankind can be fulfilled through the business system in society. If business owners see their role beyond just profits for themselves and shareholders, but instead see profits for all who work with them as a core of Spirit power fulfilled through a Jesus-centered community.
Business entities can lead the way for the Power of Spirit to be manifested in the community, and nation they serve. This can be the hub of strength for our society. The home is ideal, but realistically people interact as a community with more time at work.
Spiritual cells of power and unity can be cultivated and carried out in the workplace with more precision…. which would impact the people, their home lives, the community and the nation…. and create a Supernaturally profitable business entity. This becomes a Spirit-powered driven business management model, process and system for exceptional service and product development.
It only takes 2, 3, 4 or more in unison, "Covenant Connection," to accomplish this. It takes "Giving up" all we have for others. And "Giving to" what we can to make it happen. "Those who Give up… for the Jesus mission… will not go without their reward." It is a reward of ultra-world proportions of the Most High for Us as the Body of Christ.
"When we unite here on earth, it connects us with Heaven."
(Dr. Ashcroft)
A unique view. Uniting on earth creates an interactive connection with Heaven's miraculous creating power. It Sparks Heavenly Activity.(Angelic forces strategically carry out Spiritual military engagements on our behalf.)
Great Groups living out this Spirit function with humility, forgiving hearts, serving others sacrificially as needed… a loving, reciprocating, caring group of noble, cause-driven, gifted, giving people.
Not all things are possible by a human being; but human beings as One in Spirit, become a powerful Body in Christ.
ALL Things Are Possible!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
How to Win Friends and Influence People... be kind
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie was first published in 1937. Carnegie conducted years of research in how to deal with people. He started out as a training school to teach speaking skills, but his surveys showed the biggest problem people faced on a regular basis is getting along and dealing with people. Of all the books on effective business skills this one is being read even today as the best... tested, tried and proven... work on having influence and being effective in interpersonal relationships from the CEO to house wife, to customer service to school teacher. Here are the fundamentals to winning loyal friendships and influence with people in work and life.
Principle #1: Don't criticize, condemn or complain. Criticism is futile because it puts people on the defensive. Criticism is like the homing pigeon. It always finds its way back home. Instead of condemning people, try to understand them. Try to figure out why they do what they do. It breeds tolerance, sympathy and kindness.
Principle #2: Give honest and sincere appreciation. The only way to get people to do something is make them want to do it. Be anxious to praise and loath to find fault. Be hearty in commendation and lavish in praise. "Every person I meet is my superior in some way, learn from them."(Emerson)
Try to figure out the other person's good points. Give honest sincere appreciation.
Principle #3: Arouse in the other person an eager want. Talk about what people want and show them how to get it. "If there is one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own." If you can arouse an eager want in the other person, you will have the whole world with you. He who does not will walk alone. Self expression is the dominant necessity of human nature. When we have a brilliant idea instead of making it ours, let others see it as theirs and let them cook and stir it.
Six ways to make people like you.
Principle #1: Become genuinely interested in other people. When you meet people or answer the phone use a tone of voice that makes people feel you are excited to meet or talk to them. With eye contact and attentive expression of listening, make the person see and feel you care about what they are saying. If you want others to like you, if you want to develop real friendships, if you want to help others at the same time you help yourself, be genuinely interested in other people.
Principle #2: Smile, if you want to make a good first impression. Smiling even affects your voice when on the telephone. When you have a good time meeting people, with a friendly face, that's a smiling expression, people enjoy meeting you. People like being around happy people, and smiling expresses happiness. Control your thoughts and by thinking you like this person, your smile expresses it on your face. Practice smiling where you go and to everyone you meet. A smile brings a smile from another.
Principle #3: Remember names. A person's name is the sweetest and most important sound in any language. Say a person's name when you are introduced, or if you didn't hear it properly, ask them again to repeat their name, even ask them to spell it if it is unusual. Say the name several times in the conversation or meeting, and when you depart use their name in your departing comments. When you address a person, call them by their name. This one principle is what made Dale Carnegie famous... those who master this have much influence in their relationships.
Principle #4: Be a good listener and encourage others to talk about themselves. We not only will learn a lot, but it is one of the highest compliments we can pay anyone. Give exclusive attention to the person you are talking to. Empathize and express that you know how the other people feels. People you are talking to are more interested in themselves and their problems than you and your problems. To be a good conversationalist, be an attentive listener, be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that the other person will enjoy answering. Encourage them to talk about themselves and their accomplishments.
Principle #5: Talk in terms of the other person's interests. Talking in terms of the other person's interests pays off for both parties.You will get a different reward from each person, but be enlarged by the other person as you speak to them.
Principle #6: Make the other person feel important... and do it sincerely. This is a sure bet formula to make others like you instantly. This is reflected in the Golden Rule to do to others as you would have them do to you. We all want to feel important and when we make others feel important around us we are wielding great power when we express heartfelt, sincere appreciation. Show someone how important they are. Talk to people about themselves and they will listen to you for hours.
How to Win people to your way of thinking.
Principle #1: The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it. Remember, you can't win an argument. Nine times out of ten an argument ends with each of the contestants more convinced than ever that he is exactly right. How to keep disagreements from being arguments? Welcome the disagreement. Distrust your first instinctive impressions. Control your temper. Listen first. Look for areas of agreement. Be honest. Promise to think over your opponents ideas and study them carefully. Thank your opponents sincerely for their interest. Postpone action to give both sides time to think through the problem. Every one has something that's right. Find it and combine what's right from each other.
Principle #2: Show respect for the other person's opinion and never say "You're wrong." If you absolutely are convinced someone is wrong, start out by saying, "Well, I may be wrong and many times I am, but could we look at the facts here." Use diplomacy. When we are wrong, we may admit it to ourselves. And if we are handled gently and tactfully, we may admit it to others and even take pride in our frankness. When someone tries to slam it down our throats that we are wrong, we resent it and fight back. Don't tell people they are wrong, ask questions, listen, suggest alternative ideas... "What would you think if..."
Principle #3: If you are wrong admit it quickly and emphatically. When we are right, try to win people gently and tactfully to our way of thinking. When we are wrong admit it quickly and with enthusiasm. "By fighting you never get enough, but by yielding you get more than you expect."
Principle #4: Begin in a friendly way. A drop of honey catches more. Scolding and domineering people need to realize that people don't want to change their minds and force is met with stubbornness. They can't be forced or driven to agree with you. But they may possibly be led to, if we are gentle and friendly, ever so gently and ever so friendly. The sun can make you take off your coat more quickly than the wind; and kindness, the friendly approach and appreciation can make people change their minds more readily than all the bluster and storming in the world."
Principle #5: Get the other person saying "Yes, Yes" immediately. When talking to people, don't start by addressing the things you differ on, but emphasize the things you agree on. The word No creates instant rejection to anything else we say. Yes, opens the mind and heart for acceptance to what we say. The Socrates method was to ask questions he would get a yes with. Ask a gentle question that will get a yes. The Chinese proverb, "He who treads softly goes far."
Principle #6: Let the other person do a great deal of the talking. Let the other person talk themselves out. They know more about their business and life than you do. Ask others to share their joys with you and talk about your accomplishments when asked. Talk less, listen sincerely more, and care about the other person's life.
Principle #7: Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers. This is the fastest road to getting cooperation. Give someone only a part of your idea and ask them to share more that would make it complete. Then take their suggestions, and give them credit for having a great idea. Provide suggestions on how to make it work, get their feedback and then give them credit for their ideas again. Make it their idea and they will make it happen for you. Plant the idea casually in someone's mind. When they come back with an expansion of the idea, receive it enthusiastically and give them the credit.
Principle #8: Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view. Other people may be totally wrong, but try to look at it from their point of view. Try to understand them. Try honestly to put yourself in their place. See things from the other person's angle as well as yours.
Principle #9: Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires. "I don't blame you one iota for feeling as you do. If I were you I would undoubtedly feel just as you do." Three fourths of the people you ever meet are hungering and thirsting for sympathy. Give it to them, and they will love you. Even if someone is not kind to you, this will turn them around and you will win them over.
Principle #10: Appeal to nobler motives. When in a difficult situation and you have no information to prove otherwise, assume that people are sincere, honest, truthful and willing to make things right. People are honest and want to take care of their obligations. When people feel you see them as honest and upright, they in most cases respond in an honest and upright manner.
Principle #11: Dramatize your ideas. We are used to the movies doing it, so when we do it, we are noticed and remembered more. This is the day of dramatization. Merely stating a truth is not enough. The truth has to be made vivid, interesting and dramatic. The media does it and we need to do it too if we want attention. We can state the same facts, but when showmanship is used, it grabs attention and makes a stronger imprint on the other person.
Principle #12: Throw down a challenge. Create challenges for people. People want to excel and a challenge will stimulate incentive to do that. Friendly competition will do this. People don't want to be out done by someone else. We love to be in a game. The chance for self-expression, the chance to prove our worth, to excel, to win. This makes us feel important... and that others will notice.
Part four and final section of the book deals with how to be a leader and change people without giving offense and arousing resentment. The leader's job includes changing your people's attitude and behavior.The nine principles in a nutshell are:
1: Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
2. Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4. Ask questions before giving direct orders.
5. Let the other person save face.
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be "heartfelt instating approval and lavish in praise."
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.To change attitudes or behavior: Be sincere. Know exactly what you what the other person to do. Be empathetic. Match the benefits to the other person's wants and that he understands how he benefits.
Of all the skills to develop, Dale Carnegie found in his years of research that the greatest skill is the skill to speak. The ability to speak is a shortcut to distinction. It puts a person in the limelight, raises one head and shoulders above the crowd. The person who can speak is usually given credit for an ability out of proportion to what he or she really possesses.
The Dale Carnegie website of current training available now:
http://www.dalecarnegie.com/
In the Scriptures, Jesus said all He said was from the Father in Heaven.That The Heavenly Father told him what to say and how to say it. "I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it." (John 12: 49, NLT)
We would serve ourselves well to take time to reflect on what to say and how to say it. Carnegie, encouraged diplomacy in all matters and as you review his principles you see so much of what Jesus and Paul had to say in our dealings with people. The Apostle Paul even said to restore others gently. "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are Godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself." (Galatians 6:1, NLT)
"Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth." (2 Timothy 2:25, NLT)
When someone does error, we should be gentle, allow them to find their mistake themselves and then encourage them to continue the right path. Instead of standing around condemning them, pray for them. "So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."
(1 Thessalonians 5:11, NLT)
So much of all the New Testament is about restoring people and maintain positive relationships with all people. "When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some." (1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT)
It has become somewhat vogue in our society to be critical. In all things we should look to hope. Be of good cheer, Jesus said. He came to bring hope, a potential for a good future. The prophet Jeremiah said it, and Jesus said it. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT)
"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35, NLT)
Jesus goes on to say He came to save the world, not judge it. Jesus said he came to bring us life, not death. And He said we would get a life of satisfaction filled to the brim. The best way to save people is to help redirect them, pray the Spirit of God speaks to them and changes the course of their hearts. By loving them, even when they are despicable, we will influence their hearts more.... that's where change begins.
We should consider this in dealing with everyone. Our place is to be kind in all things we do. Let the person save face. Be forgiving and when necessary to put up with each other. In writing the Ephesians and his Colossians letter, he puts an earmark on that. "Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32, NLT)
"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." (Colossians 3:12, NLT)
This is Jesus' definition of Love expanded for us.
Again in Romans, Paul's summary highlights our human relations conduct. As the Scriptures say, "The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me." May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory." (Romans 15:3-7, NLT)
Why is this so important. All power is released when we work as units, one unit in harmony, instead of individually. So to work well as units, we need to create positive, respectful relationships with each other. And our voices carry a lot of weight in our dealing with those we talk to and even with those who are not visible. Our voice is like prayers. What we say about someone, even when they are absent from our presence, goes out to that person. If it is negative and puts the other person down, it creates a negative climate. Spirit can't work in negative climates. Well, it does, the human spirit does, but it works negatively, instead of positively. It works for destruction and not constructive to change and transformation. If what we say is positive,
it builds that person up. Our voice is like prayers and communicates Powerfully.
So be kind, considerate, gentle, gracious, diplomatic in all encounters.
4spirit@gmail.com
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie was first published in 1937. Carnegie conducted years of research in how to deal with people. He started out as a training school to teach speaking skills, but his surveys showed the biggest problem people faced on a regular basis is getting along and dealing with people. Of all the books on effective business skills this one is being read even today as the best... tested, tried and proven... work on having influence and being effective in interpersonal relationships from the CEO to house wife, to customer service to school teacher. Here are the fundamentals to winning loyal friendships and influence with people in work and life.
Principle #1: Don't criticize, condemn or complain. Criticism is futile because it puts people on the defensive. Criticism is like the homing pigeon. It always finds its way back home. Instead of condemning people, try to understand them. Try to figure out why they do what they do. It breeds tolerance, sympathy and kindness.
Principle #2: Give honest and sincere appreciation. The only way to get people to do something is make them want to do it. Be anxious to praise and loath to find fault. Be hearty in commendation and lavish in praise. "Every person I meet is my superior in some way, learn from them."(Emerson)
Try to figure out the other person's good points. Give honest sincere appreciation.
Principle #3: Arouse in the other person an eager want. Talk about what people want and show them how to get it. "If there is one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own." If you can arouse an eager want in the other person, you will have the whole world with you. He who does not will walk alone. Self expression is the dominant necessity of human nature. When we have a brilliant idea instead of making it ours, let others see it as theirs and let them cook and stir it.
Six ways to make people like you.
Principle #1: Become genuinely interested in other people. When you meet people or answer the phone use a tone of voice that makes people feel you are excited to meet or talk to them. With eye contact and attentive expression of listening, make the person see and feel you care about what they are saying. If you want others to like you, if you want to develop real friendships, if you want to help others at the same time you help yourself, be genuinely interested in other people.
Principle #2: Smile, if you want to make a good first impression. Smiling even affects your voice when on the telephone. When you have a good time meeting people, with a friendly face, that's a smiling expression, people enjoy meeting you. People like being around happy people, and smiling expresses happiness. Control your thoughts and by thinking you like this person, your smile expresses it on your face. Practice smiling where you go and to everyone you meet. A smile brings a smile from another.
Principle #3: Remember names. A person's name is the sweetest and most important sound in any language. Say a person's name when you are introduced, or if you didn't hear it properly, ask them again to repeat their name, even ask them to spell it if it is unusual. Say the name several times in the conversation or meeting, and when you depart use their name in your departing comments. When you address a person, call them by their name. This one principle is what made Dale Carnegie famous... those who master this have much influence in their relationships.
Principle #4: Be a good listener and encourage others to talk about themselves. We not only will learn a lot, but it is one of the highest compliments we can pay anyone. Give exclusive attention to the person you are talking to. Empathize and express that you know how the other people feels. People you are talking to are more interested in themselves and their problems than you and your problems. To be a good conversationalist, be an attentive listener, be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that the other person will enjoy answering. Encourage them to talk about themselves and their accomplishments.
Principle #5: Talk in terms of the other person's interests. Talking in terms of the other person's interests pays off for both parties.You will get a different reward from each person, but be enlarged by the other person as you speak to them.
Principle #6: Make the other person feel important... and do it sincerely. This is a sure bet formula to make others like you instantly. This is reflected in the Golden Rule to do to others as you would have them do to you. We all want to feel important and when we make others feel important around us we are wielding great power when we express heartfelt, sincere appreciation. Show someone how important they are. Talk to people about themselves and they will listen to you for hours.
How to Win people to your way of thinking.
Principle #1: The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it. Remember, you can't win an argument. Nine times out of ten an argument ends with each of the contestants more convinced than ever that he is exactly right. How to keep disagreements from being arguments? Welcome the disagreement. Distrust your first instinctive impressions. Control your temper. Listen first. Look for areas of agreement. Be honest. Promise to think over your opponents ideas and study them carefully. Thank your opponents sincerely for their interest. Postpone action to give both sides time to think through the problem. Every one has something that's right. Find it and combine what's right from each other.
Principle #2: Show respect for the other person's opinion and never say "You're wrong." If you absolutely are convinced someone is wrong, start out by saying, "Well, I may be wrong and many times I am, but could we look at the facts here." Use diplomacy. When we are wrong, we may admit it to ourselves. And if we are handled gently and tactfully, we may admit it to others and even take pride in our frankness. When someone tries to slam it down our throats that we are wrong, we resent it and fight back. Don't tell people they are wrong, ask questions, listen, suggest alternative ideas... "What would you think if..."
Principle #3: If you are wrong admit it quickly and emphatically. When we are right, try to win people gently and tactfully to our way of thinking. When we are wrong admit it quickly and with enthusiasm. "By fighting you never get enough, but by yielding you get more than you expect."
Principle #4: Begin in a friendly way. A drop of honey catches more. Scolding and domineering people need to realize that people don't want to change their minds and force is met with stubbornness. They can't be forced or driven to agree with you. But they may possibly be led to, if we are gentle and friendly, ever so gently and ever so friendly. The sun can make you take off your coat more quickly than the wind; and kindness, the friendly approach and appreciation can make people change their minds more readily than all the bluster and storming in the world."
Principle #5: Get the other person saying "Yes, Yes" immediately. When talking to people, don't start by addressing the things you differ on, but emphasize the things you agree on. The word No creates instant rejection to anything else we say. Yes, opens the mind and heart for acceptance to what we say. The Socrates method was to ask questions he would get a yes with. Ask a gentle question that will get a yes. The Chinese proverb, "He who treads softly goes far."
Principle #6: Let the other person do a great deal of the talking. Let the other person talk themselves out. They know more about their business and life than you do. Ask others to share their joys with you and talk about your accomplishments when asked. Talk less, listen sincerely more, and care about the other person's life.
Principle #7: Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers. This is the fastest road to getting cooperation. Give someone only a part of your idea and ask them to share more that would make it complete. Then take their suggestions, and give them credit for having a great idea. Provide suggestions on how to make it work, get their feedback and then give them credit for their ideas again. Make it their idea and they will make it happen for you. Plant the idea casually in someone's mind. When they come back with an expansion of the idea, receive it enthusiastically and give them the credit.
Principle #8: Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view. Other people may be totally wrong, but try to look at it from their point of view. Try to understand them. Try honestly to put yourself in their place. See things from the other person's angle as well as yours.
Principle #9: Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires. "I don't blame you one iota for feeling as you do. If I were you I would undoubtedly feel just as you do." Three fourths of the people you ever meet are hungering and thirsting for sympathy. Give it to them, and they will love you. Even if someone is not kind to you, this will turn them around and you will win them over.
Principle #10: Appeal to nobler motives. When in a difficult situation and you have no information to prove otherwise, assume that people are sincere, honest, truthful and willing to make things right. People are honest and want to take care of their obligations. When people feel you see them as honest and upright, they in most cases respond in an honest and upright manner.
Principle #11: Dramatize your ideas. We are used to the movies doing it, so when we do it, we are noticed and remembered more. This is the day of dramatization. Merely stating a truth is not enough. The truth has to be made vivid, interesting and dramatic. The media does it and we need to do it too if we want attention. We can state the same facts, but when showmanship is used, it grabs attention and makes a stronger imprint on the other person.
Principle #12: Throw down a challenge. Create challenges for people. People want to excel and a challenge will stimulate incentive to do that. Friendly competition will do this. People don't want to be out done by someone else. We love to be in a game. The chance for self-expression, the chance to prove our worth, to excel, to win. This makes us feel important... and that others will notice.
Part four and final section of the book deals with how to be a leader and change people without giving offense and arousing resentment. The leader's job includes changing your people's attitude and behavior.The nine principles in a nutshell are:
1: Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
2. Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4. Ask questions before giving direct orders.
5. Let the other person save face.
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be "heartfelt instating approval and lavish in praise."
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.To change attitudes or behavior: Be sincere. Know exactly what you what the other person to do. Be empathetic. Match the benefits to the other person's wants and that he understands how he benefits.
Of all the skills to develop, Dale Carnegie found in his years of research that the greatest skill is the skill to speak. The ability to speak is a shortcut to distinction. It puts a person in the limelight, raises one head and shoulders above the crowd. The person who can speak is usually given credit for an ability out of proportion to what he or she really possesses.
The Dale Carnegie website of current training available now:
http://www.dalecarnegie.com/
In the Scriptures, Jesus said all He said was from the Father in Heaven.That The Heavenly Father told him what to say and how to say it. "I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it." (John 12: 49, NLT)
We would serve ourselves well to take time to reflect on what to say and how to say it. Carnegie, encouraged diplomacy in all matters and as you review his principles you see so much of what Jesus and Paul had to say in our dealings with people. The Apostle Paul even said to restore others gently. "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are Godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself." (Galatians 6:1, NLT)
"Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth." (2 Timothy 2:25, NLT)
When someone does error, we should be gentle, allow them to find their mistake themselves and then encourage them to continue the right path. Instead of standing around condemning them, pray for them. "So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."
(1 Thessalonians 5:11, NLT)
So much of all the New Testament is about restoring people and maintain positive relationships with all people. "When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some." (1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT)
It has become somewhat vogue in our society to be critical. In all things we should look to hope. Be of good cheer, Jesus said. He came to bring hope, a potential for a good future. The prophet Jeremiah said it, and Jesus said it. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT)
"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35, NLT)
Jesus goes on to say He came to save the world, not judge it. Jesus said he came to bring us life, not death. And He said we would get a life of satisfaction filled to the brim. The best way to save people is to help redirect them, pray the Spirit of God speaks to them and changes the course of their hearts. By loving them, even when they are despicable, we will influence their hearts more.... that's where change begins.
We should consider this in dealing with everyone. Our place is to be kind in all things we do. Let the person save face. Be forgiving and when necessary to put up with each other. In writing the Ephesians and his Colossians letter, he puts an earmark on that. "Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32, NLT)
"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." (Colossians 3:12, NLT)
This is Jesus' definition of Love expanded for us.
Again in Romans, Paul's summary highlights our human relations conduct. As the Scriptures say, "The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me." May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory." (Romans 15:3-7, NLT)
Why is this so important. All power is released when we work as units, one unit in harmony, instead of individually. So to work well as units, we need to create positive, respectful relationships with each other. And our voices carry a lot of weight in our dealing with those we talk to and even with those who are not visible. Our voice is like prayers. What we say about someone, even when they are absent from our presence, goes out to that person. If it is negative and puts the other person down, it creates a negative climate. Spirit can't work in negative climates. Well, it does, the human spirit does, but it works negatively, instead of positively. It works for destruction and not constructive to change and transformation. If what we say is positive,
it builds that person up. Our voice is like prayers and communicates Powerfully.
So be kind, considerate, gentle, gracious, diplomatic in all encounters.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Greatest Miracle in the World
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
The Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino is one of several of Mandino's inspirational business achievement books. We are all miracles and Mandino's shares insight from the conversation he had ongoing with a "ragpicker.".... an unusual person we would not quickly recognize as a mentor. Especially, an apparent pauper, counseling a wealthy magazine and book publisher. Here's a flow of thought in The Greatest Miracle which then concludes with the God Memorandum. This is commendably inspiring, and like the ragpicker expressed, I too found this book at a used book store, where the ragpicker said he got most of his books for his wealth of knowledge and wisdom.
"Every noble work seems impossible at first," Thomas Carlyle.
Every generation has talented, special people bearing a message in one form or another... that every human is capable of performing the greatest miracle in this world. Unfortunately many suffer from low self-esteem, settled for a life of mediocrity, live in despair and fight nights of tears. They are living in death, yet they need not remain in that state. They can come back from that state and live a life as they wish and attain all the true riches of life. The hand of God is on you and He can bring you out of living death.The ragpicker, Simon, found in stacks of old books the works of the "hand of God" that can help immensely to bring great miracles to your life.
The secret is to control your mind and how you think. We bring into life what we think about and dwell on the most. How is this done? Control what you allow to enter your mind. What we put in our minds will then bear fruit. By hearing and reading a thought or an affirmation over and over again will eventually imprint our thoughts and they will become a permanent part of our personality, and we will act on it in the future.
When we get down, it seems that self-help books became in great demand and they actually turned people around and then our country around. Books like Wake up and Live,The Power of Positive Thinking, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Our lack of self esteem has produce failure and is a universal sickness which always originates from anxiety, guilt or inferiority. Then people thrown themselves on the junk piles of life thinking no one cares about them. Although there are still two who care: "God and me; one in Heaven and one on earth," said Simon. Be the one on earth who cares with God in Heaven.
Simon created a "memorandum from God." This is a condensation of all the books he had stacked along the walls of his small apartment. He said to take 20 minutes every night and read it right before you go to sleep. Each day when you wake up these will be more and more the imprint of your mind. Each day you will change more and more and get more and more ideas, taking actions that will transform your life. Your miracle will show up.
Everything is attainable in life if you are prepared to give up, to sacrifice, to get it. Whatever you want to do, you can do it, if you want it badly enough. "How can you achieve any degree of self-esteem when you must spend most of your time and effort merely trying to survive." Our strength grows out of our weakness. You can resurrect yourself from a living death, to perform the greatest miracle in the world. Make this a better world for all of God's creatures. We have the power to control our minds and decide how our life is lived.
For earth to survive we each must be our own ragpicker, and pull people out of the junk piles of life. It must start with you first, then teach others.
The book has a surprise ending as the person Mandino was talking to, Simon, the ragpicker had mysteriously disappeared. He left a package for Mandino. It was the original copy of the God Memorandum. He said to follow four steps in using it.
1. Mark out 100 days on your calendar.
2. Take a safety pin and small piece of cloth, about an inch square, and wear this amulet on your label. This symbolizes that you are changing your life from the pins and rags of failure to the treasures of a new and better life.
3. During the 100 days, do not divulge the meaning of the pin and rag amulet.
4. Read the God Memorandum every night before you go to sleep during these100 days. Sleep in peace as the message goes deep into your mind that never sleeps. Let no excuse or reason cause you to fore go reading it every night.
Gradually over days, then weeks you will see changes emerge in your life.
The God Memorandum has four laws that will, over time, influence these changes:
Count your blessings.
Proclaim your rarity.
Go another mile.
Use wisely your power of choice.
The God Memorandum.
http://www.wowzone.com/godmemo.htm
Then this version of the God Memorandum has the Scriptures from the Bible they are based on. Read this one and look up the Scriptures. http://famguardian.org/Subjects/Spirituality/Inspiration/GodMemorandum.htm
The Scriptures say to meditate on His word Day and Night and all the greatness of God will be part of your life. (Joshua 1). All things you do will prosper and you will have victories in all of life's battles. To renew our minds takes a constant daily exposure to the principles of Spirit God reveals to us in the Scriptures. Read this every day and see what transpires as you become a totally new and transformed person.
Make a separate list of all the Scriptures cited in the second version above, and read these every day too... Read the Og Mandino version in the evening and start your day with the Scriptures. Life transformation takes a dedicated focus over time. The longer and more the dedicated, concentrated time devoted to this, the greater the levels of transformation and power coming into your life.
Those who seek God He will show deep secrets of His Kingdom and power to do great things, to do miraculous things. You will become a person of miracles.
4spirit@gmail.com
The Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino is one of several of Mandino's inspirational business achievement books. We are all miracles and Mandino's shares insight from the conversation he had ongoing with a "ragpicker.".... an unusual person we would not quickly recognize as a mentor. Especially, an apparent pauper, counseling a wealthy magazine and book publisher. Here's a flow of thought in The Greatest Miracle which then concludes with the God Memorandum. This is commendably inspiring, and like the ragpicker expressed, I too found this book at a used book store, where the ragpicker said he got most of his books for his wealth of knowledge and wisdom.
"Every noble work seems impossible at first," Thomas Carlyle.
Every generation has talented, special people bearing a message in one form or another... that every human is capable of performing the greatest miracle in this world. Unfortunately many suffer from low self-esteem, settled for a life of mediocrity, live in despair and fight nights of tears. They are living in death, yet they need not remain in that state. They can come back from that state and live a life as they wish and attain all the true riches of life. The hand of God is on you and He can bring you out of living death.The ragpicker, Simon, found in stacks of old books the works of the "hand of God" that can help immensely to bring great miracles to your life.
The secret is to control your mind and how you think. We bring into life what we think about and dwell on the most. How is this done? Control what you allow to enter your mind. What we put in our minds will then bear fruit. By hearing and reading a thought or an affirmation over and over again will eventually imprint our thoughts and they will become a permanent part of our personality, and we will act on it in the future.
When we get down, it seems that self-help books became in great demand and they actually turned people around and then our country around. Books like Wake up and Live,The Power of Positive Thinking, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Our lack of self esteem has produce failure and is a universal sickness which always originates from anxiety, guilt or inferiority. Then people thrown themselves on the junk piles of life thinking no one cares about them. Although there are still two who care: "God and me; one in Heaven and one on earth," said Simon. Be the one on earth who cares with God in Heaven.
Simon created a "memorandum from God." This is a condensation of all the books he had stacked along the walls of his small apartment. He said to take 20 minutes every night and read it right before you go to sleep. Each day when you wake up these will be more and more the imprint of your mind. Each day you will change more and more and get more and more ideas, taking actions that will transform your life. Your miracle will show up.
Everything is attainable in life if you are prepared to give up, to sacrifice, to get it. Whatever you want to do, you can do it, if you want it badly enough. "How can you achieve any degree of self-esteem when you must spend most of your time and effort merely trying to survive." Our strength grows out of our weakness. You can resurrect yourself from a living death, to perform the greatest miracle in the world. Make this a better world for all of God's creatures. We have the power to control our minds and decide how our life is lived.
For earth to survive we each must be our own ragpicker, and pull people out of the junk piles of life. It must start with you first, then teach others.
The book has a surprise ending as the person Mandino was talking to, Simon, the ragpicker had mysteriously disappeared. He left a package for Mandino. It was the original copy of the God Memorandum. He said to follow four steps in using it.
1. Mark out 100 days on your calendar.
2. Take a safety pin and small piece of cloth, about an inch square, and wear this amulet on your label. This symbolizes that you are changing your life from the pins and rags of failure to the treasures of a new and better life.
3. During the 100 days, do not divulge the meaning of the pin and rag amulet.
4. Read the God Memorandum every night before you go to sleep during these100 days. Sleep in peace as the message goes deep into your mind that never sleeps. Let no excuse or reason cause you to fore go reading it every night.
Gradually over days, then weeks you will see changes emerge in your life.
The God Memorandum has four laws that will, over time, influence these changes:
Count your blessings.
Proclaim your rarity.
Go another mile.
Use wisely your power of choice.
The God Memorandum.
http://www.wowzone.com/godmemo.htm
Then this version of the God Memorandum has the Scriptures from the Bible they are based on. Read this one and look up the Scriptures. http://famguardian.org/Subjects/Spirituality/Inspiration/GodMemorandum.htm
The Scriptures say to meditate on His word Day and Night and all the greatness of God will be part of your life. (Joshua 1). All things you do will prosper and you will have victories in all of life's battles. To renew our minds takes a constant daily exposure to the principles of Spirit God reveals to us in the Scriptures. Read this every day and see what transpires as you become a totally new and transformed person.
Make a separate list of all the Scriptures cited in the second version above, and read these every day too... Read the Og Mandino version in the evening and start your day with the Scriptures. Life transformation takes a dedicated focus over time. The longer and more the dedicated, concentrated time devoted to this, the greater the levels of transformation and power coming into your life.
Those who seek God He will show deep secrets of His Kingdom and power to do great things, to do miraculous things. You will become a person of miracles.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Secret of the Ages... Jesus in Us
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
The Secret of the Ages by Robert Collier is a book that those who were reading Think and Grow Rich, had right along side it. It was somewhat lost in the shuffle since first published in 1925, but has been republished. Collier was a minister who then began writing life success principles, and business success principles. Here's his view on things, which interestingly are also reflected in contemporary works of cutting-edge business success dynamics. As you look at the success series of Napoleon Hill, W. Clement Stone, and Robert Collier they all make frequent mention of Spiritual and Biblical principles. They saw Spiritual power as the deciding edge to exceptional accomplishments.
Life Principle is Collier's theme throughout. We are dynamic beings who create and can do it at much higher levels than we realize. We need only to use all that is make available to us to do it. He covers the dynamic of the mind principles and Spiritual principles into One cooperating system. The Life Principle is part of our existence on earth. It has unlimited resources, unlimited energy, unlimited LIFE! The whole purpose of existence is Growth... expression. This life source or Vital Force, as Collier calls it, exists to meet your needs when you need it, and at the level you need it.... not restricted by time, conditions, or magnitude.
The power to be what you want to be, to get what you want, to accomplish what you want is in you. You must learn how to tap it, but first you must realize that you possess the power, so your first objective is to get acquainted with it.
Our minds are made in three functions... the conscious mind, the subconscious mind, and the superconscious mind. The most powerful are the subconscious mind and superconscious mind.They work effortlessly, but we need to know how they work to reap the benefits of their power. Referring to the superconscious mind as the Universal mind, Collier points out the Universal mind is omnipotent. Given any desire that is in harmony with the Universal mind and you hold that desire in your thoughts, conscious mind, with a confident and serene faith to attract from the invisible domain the things you need to satisfy it. In the beginning was the "Word." God with the word, an invisible image of the God mind, created everything in the universe.
Today this is prayer. An image implanted of a desire, with faith that you ARE RECEIVING it, the thing you asked for, is fulfilled by Vital Force (or what the Bible calls Spirit) and brings it into being. Jesus cured the sick in the New Testament. He promised that we can do greater things than these. Where comes such power. It comes from the Divinity we all can connect to and utilize. And it can have a positive effect on others a distance from us. Jesus healed the Centurion's son by merely announcing the man's son was healed... without going to the Centurion's house where the boy was. In prayer, we can do the same.
To create anything of good requires four things:
1. The mental image of what you want.
2. Knowledge of the power you can consciously draw and pour that power into your mental mold.
3. Faith in your creative power, the ability to create, until what you see in your mental mold, the invisible, becomes reality.
4. Do something to make the subconscious believe that you have received what you believed. Taking a step, in this faith, about what you prayed for as if it already exists.
This is what created the universe, and we have this as part of our existence to do creation like this as well. God created the universe from nothing. We can exercise the same privilege and have His Force at work still today.
There is a power within you. You must first realize it exists and it is the source of all supply. This is the primal cause for everything. Then know what you want, and center your thought upon it with singleness of purpose. You start by knowing you can do anything. Ask and it will be done unto you.
Desire is the first law of gain. You can have anything you want badly enough. Find your desire, impress it on your thought, and it will begin opening doors for opportunity. This intensity of thought is prayer. Prayer is your sincere heart's desire. It starts with belief and ends with gratitude. Prayer is effective and it will be done if it is right for you to have it. According to your level of faith is the level it will be answered.
Successful prayer has within its formula.
1. Center your thoughts on the thing you want. Warm it with faith and nurture it with belief.
2. Read Psalm 91 and the 23rd Psalm that remind you of God's power and create a readiness in you to receive your answer.
3. Be grateful for God granting the favor you are asking for.
4. Believe and see it accomplished as fact. Remind yourself that "God is attending to that" and know that He is.
As this sincere conviction registers in your mind the Universal Mind brings you the answer to your prayers. Once your subconscious mind is convinced, you have what you ask for . You can forget it and go on to your next problem. Your mind will attend to bring what you ask for to you.
Continue to create pictures and put objects in display before you that remind you the answer is on the way. Before you go to sleep enjoy the pleasure of what you desire. Don't let doubt and fear come in. But confidently know your wish is working itself out and if there is nothing harmful in it, it will work out. Act on it by giving what you want. If you need money, give to a charity. Emerson said to do the thing, and you shall have the reward. Do this every night as you will see the wish you have will start to come into being in your life.
During the day see things as you desire them, not as they are. Daydream through out the day of what you want them to be. Practice daydreaming with a purpose. Get the picture fixed in your mind, see it. There is no limitation, only supply. But constantly throughout the day see it being carried out as you wish. We are Temples for the living God. Ask and receive and your joy will be complete, believe it.
The world without is a reflection of the world within, so what you think you are you become. The Scriptures say "as a man thinketh so he is." The successful man has no time to think of failure. He is too busy thinking up new ways to succeed. "There is nothing either good or bad," said Shakespeare, "but thinking makes it so."
"All things were made by Him (God), and without Him was not anything made that was made." Practice looking forward and always looking forward to something better. Your mind is like a radio tuned in to something all day long. Keep it tuned in to happy thoughts. Whatever you are tuned into is what the Vital Force will take you to.
The law of the universe is the law of supply. Nature is lavish in everything it does. Look at the heavens, just millions of stars. Nature supplies the birds and wild animals bountifully with everything they need. There is more than plenty for everyone. The world is our estate. It not only owes you a living but everything good you desire. You must demand it though. Learn to contact the power within that everyone is privileged to have and all these things will be added to you. Seek the ideas of the universe because it is there where there is great abundance. Use the resources of the universe purposely.
The essence of the law of supply is that you must think abundantly, see abundance, feel abundance, believe abundance. Let no thought of limitation enter your mind. Picture what you want, believe it, and forget your fears. Belief in limitation is the only thing that causes limitation. Supply is where you are and what you need. It is your position "All that the Father has is yours," said Jesus. What your heart desires is already yours. You can do anything right now that you may wish to do. The more you have to offer, the more flows to you.
Control your thoughts and you control your circumstances is the formula for success. It takes belief and the power of belief is faith. You can do anything you think you can. The mind will do every good thing for you and it will remove the mountains for you. Bring all your thoughts, your desires, your aims, your talents, into the storehouse... the law of infinite supply... and prove these blessings.
Reach out, stretch your mind, try to comprehend unlimited thought, unlimited supply. Plant the seed of desire, nourish it with a clear visualization of the ripened fruit, water it with sincere faith, but leave the means to the Universal Mind. Keep yourself in a state of receptivity and constantly be expecting good. Know that you can do it, and you will. You must see yourself doing it. Understand and believe. The chances of success are always measured by your belief in yourself. As you go to sleep, concentrate on your thought of the thing as you desire it. Believe that you have it, see yourself possessing it, feel yourself using it. Do this every night until you actually believe that you have the thing you want. When you reach this point, you have it.
Collier continues with what he calls the law of attraction. The law of attraction is service. We receive in proportion to what we give out. Cast your bread on the waters and it will return to you one hundred fold. So give out whatever you seek, and what you give out will come back many times the value or amount you gave out. Keep this thought on giving out greater value for what you get, and you'll never need to worry about making more for yourself.
There are three requisites in business.
1. The confidence in yourself and the knowledge of your power.
2. Initiative or courage to start the thing.
3. The faith to go ahead and do the thing in face of obstacles. We have the right of dominion over everything. Whatever you work for wholeheartedly, confidently, with singleness of purpose... you can get it.
You can overcome bad luck when you apply sincere desire, seeing yourself doing it, faith which is believing you have it, and gratitude for receiving it. Trust in the Lord, delight yourself in the Lord, and commit all your efforts to the Lord.
Your needs are met and their is an ark for every flood. Forget your worries, forget your fears and keep impressing to your subconscious and superconscious that your needs have been met. When you do, the superconscious mind will proceed to make it true. "Believe then you have received it and it will be yours." This is God's covenant to enact the Universal Mind unlimited in power and supply. Suggestion with belief is the agent through which all gifts are received, through which you can expect and receive all gifts.
The message of Jesus was that all men are equally children of God, with the same privileges and power of God's most honored son Jesus. Jesus came to reveal man to Himself. The Holy Spirit is a tongue of fire on you. Say aloud, "the Holy Spirit within me goes before me and opens the way. Infinite wisdom tells me just what to do." Say it and believe it.
Keep your tracks clear in your thinking. A River of Life wants to flow continuously and abundantly through you... supplying fresh water constantly. God is as we see Him and so according to our faith in Him will He be to you. The River of Life is a river of plenty. Be confident in it, believe in it, and it will carry you to the Isle of Plenty.
You have a right to be rich. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and Jesus said, I came that you have life and have it abundantly. Be unselfish, serve freely, and your spiritual development will keep pace to the what takes place within. You can do it and your obstacles will melt away as you apply the unlimited supply of life through the life principles. Start today and you will see the benefits start to unfold in your life right away.
More from Robert Collier at
http://robertcollier.wwwhubs.com/
In the Secret of the Ages, Collier outlined many principles that he called the secret of the ages.
The origin of most of his principles came from the New Testament teachings of Jesus.
Paul the Apostle said that the message through Jesus has been kept secret for ages. But goes on to say, here is the secret: Jesus lives in you. Colossians 1:27
Paul says that this secret kept secret for generations is now revealed through Christ.
"This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God's people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too."
(Colossians 1:26, 27 NLT)
And we do share in the riches of all there is in the Universe created by God Himself. There is unlimited supply, power, happiness in and for all.
Paul explains how significant this is when he explains how significant Jesus is to all the universe and everything ever created. This power is In Us.
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can't see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body. He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ's blood on the cross.
(Colossians 1: 15-20, NLT)
Now, think of what this indicates... Jesus actually living in you.
If all of the universe is created through Jesus who lives in us, what does that mean for us. And it is not just an individual thing.
Jesus came back in Spirit to dwell in another body. That body is now all of us united in His Spirit which form His body, a Spiritually connected body. So as we form relationships in this Spiritual connection, we do take on all of who Jesus is and was.
"All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it."
(1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT)
We also have all His power as a body, a group, a tied together in mind and spirit group of people. When we are One in His Spirit, we have all the resources at our disposal that Jesus had and now has through us.
So when two or three come together in prayer, united in this Spirit Mind, we are Christ's expression now in all. Jesus then genuinely, and in all of His Power is in us, through us, and we can manifest its characteristics in all elements of our lifestyle.
If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.
(Matthew 18:19, NLT)
God recognizes this as if Jesus Himself was making the request... when we share love as one. Ask, and it will be given to you, of even greater proportions that you can even imagine.
We can pray for someone at a distance from us and see the power of God perform miracles.... just like Jesus did for the Centurion's son. In faith, in belief, we just say the word and they are healed, the circumstances are transformed.
What's the secret... it's in our bonding, our unity, closeness in love, sharing all things with each other as not our own, our unity as one.... that's the secret. This is more effectively achieved through two people than 20. So the power is in the relationship, not the numbers. Power is released supernaturally through united love... as one. Loving someone as you love yourself. That's the secret to earth changing miracle power.
Uniting voice with just one more believer, can create transformation in any place, for anyone, about any condition that faces us. Jesus, as us, is indescribably powerful. We can't explain it as to why it works. When done in faith, and we are connected in love with those we pray with, all power of God's Heavenly Spirit is released to attend to the matter.
The result is miracles.
Let love abound in your life and really love others, by action, with your attitude from deep in your heart. This love bond creates miracles when we unite with this person we are in Love with, sharing love with, have this unbreakable bond of love between us. Expect miracles in your life. Love each other as Jesus loves and loved.Then you can pour all your faith out and expect miracles as you pray.
As Collier emphasized, when you pray, and see it fulfilled in your mind, hold to believing it is done and have unmovable faith... and then it IS done for you.
Be positive in your mental images as you pray, unite with another who does the same, and miracles will become common for you... in love, money, relationships, lifestyle, business, healings, emotions, and all we face in life.
4spirit@gmail.com
The Secret of the Ages by Robert Collier is a book that those who were reading Think and Grow Rich, had right along side it. It was somewhat lost in the shuffle since first published in 1925, but has been republished. Collier was a minister who then began writing life success principles, and business success principles. Here's his view on things, which interestingly are also reflected in contemporary works of cutting-edge business success dynamics. As you look at the success series of Napoleon Hill, W. Clement Stone, and Robert Collier they all make frequent mention of Spiritual and Biblical principles. They saw Spiritual power as the deciding edge to exceptional accomplishments.
Life Principle is Collier's theme throughout. We are dynamic beings who create and can do it at much higher levels than we realize. We need only to use all that is make available to us to do it. He covers the dynamic of the mind principles and Spiritual principles into One cooperating system. The Life Principle is part of our existence on earth. It has unlimited resources, unlimited energy, unlimited LIFE! The whole purpose of existence is Growth... expression. This life source or Vital Force, as Collier calls it, exists to meet your needs when you need it, and at the level you need it.... not restricted by time, conditions, or magnitude.
The power to be what you want to be, to get what you want, to accomplish what you want is in you. You must learn how to tap it, but first you must realize that you possess the power, so your first objective is to get acquainted with it.
Our minds are made in three functions... the conscious mind, the subconscious mind, and the superconscious mind. The most powerful are the subconscious mind and superconscious mind.They work effortlessly, but we need to know how they work to reap the benefits of their power. Referring to the superconscious mind as the Universal mind, Collier points out the Universal mind is omnipotent. Given any desire that is in harmony with the Universal mind and you hold that desire in your thoughts, conscious mind, with a confident and serene faith to attract from the invisible domain the things you need to satisfy it. In the beginning was the "Word." God with the word, an invisible image of the God mind, created everything in the universe.
Today this is prayer. An image implanted of a desire, with faith that you ARE RECEIVING it, the thing you asked for, is fulfilled by Vital Force (or what the Bible calls Spirit) and brings it into being. Jesus cured the sick in the New Testament. He promised that we can do greater things than these. Where comes such power. It comes from the Divinity we all can connect to and utilize. And it can have a positive effect on others a distance from us. Jesus healed the Centurion's son by merely announcing the man's son was healed... without going to the Centurion's house where the boy was. In prayer, we can do the same.
To create anything of good requires four things:
1. The mental image of what you want.
2. Knowledge of the power you can consciously draw and pour that power into your mental mold.
3. Faith in your creative power, the ability to create, until what you see in your mental mold, the invisible, becomes reality.
4. Do something to make the subconscious believe that you have received what you believed. Taking a step, in this faith, about what you prayed for as if it already exists.
This is what created the universe, and we have this as part of our existence to do creation like this as well. God created the universe from nothing. We can exercise the same privilege and have His Force at work still today.
There is a power within you. You must first realize it exists and it is the source of all supply. This is the primal cause for everything. Then know what you want, and center your thought upon it with singleness of purpose. You start by knowing you can do anything. Ask and it will be done unto you.
Desire is the first law of gain. You can have anything you want badly enough. Find your desire, impress it on your thought, and it will begin opening doors for opportunity. This intensity of thought is prayer. Prayer is your sincere heart's desire. It starts with belief and ends with gratitude. Prayer is effective and it will be done if it is right for you to have it. According to your level of faith is the level it will be answered.
Successful prayer has within its formula.
1. Center your thoughts on the thing you want. Warm it with faith and nurture it with belief.
2. Read Psalm 91 and the 23rd Psalm that remind you of God's power and create a readiness in you to receive your answer.
3. Be grateful for God granting the favor you are asking for.
4. Believe and see it accomplished as fact. Remind yourself that "God is attending to that" and know that He is.
As this sincere conviction registers in your mind the Universal Mind brings you the answer to your prayers. Once your subconscious mind is convinced, you have what you ask for . You can forget it and go on to your next problem. Your mind will attend to bring what you ask for to you.
Continue to create pictures and put objects in display before you that remind you the answer is on the way. Before you go to sleep enjoy the pleasure of what you desire. Don't let doubt and fear come in. But confidently know your wish is working itself out and if there is nothing harmful in it, it will work out. Act on it by giving what you want. If you need money, give to a charity. Emerson said to do the thing, and you shall have the reward. Do this every night as you will see the wish you have will start to come into being in your life.
During the day see things as you desire them, not as they are. Daydream through out the day of what you want them to be. Practice daydreaming with a purpose. Get the picture fixed in your mind, see it. There is no limitation, only supply. But constantly throughout the day see it being carried out as you wish. We are Temples for the living God. Ask and receive and your joy will be complete, believe it.
The world without is a reflection of the world within, so what you think you are you become. The Scriptures say "as a man thinketh so he is." The successful man has no time to think of failure. He is too busy thinking up new ways to succeed. "There is nothing either good or bad," said Shakespeare, "but thinking makes it so."
"All things were made by Him (God), and without Him was not anything made that was made." Practice looking forward and always looking forward to something better. Your mind is like a radio tuned in to something all day long. Keep it tuned in to happy thoughts. Whatever you are tuned into is what the Vital Force will take you to.
The law of the universe is the law of supply. Nature is lavish in everything it does. Look at the heavens, just millions of stars. Nature supplies the birds and wild animals bountifully with everything they need. There is more than plenty for everyone. The world is our estate. It not only owes you a living but everything good you desire. You must demand it though. Learn to contact the power within that everyone is privileged to have and all these things will be added to you. Seek the ideas of the universe because it is there where there is great abundance. Use the resources of the universe purposely.
The essence of the law of supply is that you must think abundantly, see abundance, feel abundance, believe abundance. Let no thought of limitation enter your mind. Picture what you want, believe it, and forget your fears. Belief in limitation is the only thing that causes limitation. Supply is where you are and what you need. It is your position "All that the Father has is yours," said Jesus. What your heart desires is already yours. You can do anything right now that you may wish to do. The more you have to offer, the more flows to you.
Control your thoughts and you control your circumstances is the formula for success. It takes belief and the power of belief is faith. You can do anything you think you can. The mind will do every good thing for you and it will remove the mountains for you. Bring all your thoughts, your desires, your aims, your talents, into the storehouse... the law of infinite supply... and prove these blessings.
Reach out, stretch your mind, try to comprehend unlimited thought, unlimited supply. Plant the seed of desire, nourish it with a clear visualization of the ripened fruit, water it with sincere faith, but leave the means to the Universal Mind. Keep yourself in a state of receptivity and constantly be expecting good. Know that you can do it, and you will. You must see yourself doing it. Understand and believe. The chances of success are always measured by your belief in yourself. As you go to sleep, concentrate on your thought of the thing as you desire it. Believe that you have it, see yourself possessing it, feel yourself using it. Do this every night until you actually believe that you have the thing you want. When you reach this point, you have it.
Collier continues with what he calls the law of attraction. The law of attraction is service. We receive in proportion to what we give out. Cast your bread on the waters and it will return to you one hundred fold. So give out whatever you seek, and what you give out will come back many times the value or amount you gave out. Keep this thought on giving out greater value for what you get, and you'll never need to worry about making more for yourself.
There are three requisites in business.
1. The confidence in yourself and the knowledge of your power.
2. Initiative or courage to start the thing.
3. The faith to go ahead and do the thing in face of obstacles. We have the right of dominion over everything. Whatever you work for wholeheartedly, confidently, with singleness of purpose... you can get it.
You can overcome bad luck when you apply sincere desire, seeing yourself doing it, faith which is believing you have it, and gratitude for receiving it. Trust in the Lord, delight yourself in the Lord, and commit all your efforts to the Lord.
Your needs are met and their is an ark for every flood. Forget your worries, forget your fears and keep impressing to your subconscious and superconscious that your needs have been met. When you do, the superconscious mind will proceed to make it true. "Believe then you have received it and it will be yours." This is God's covenant to enact the Universal Mind unlimited in power and supply. Suggestion with belief is the agent through which all gifts are received, through which you can expect and receive all gifts.
The message of Jesus was that all men are equally children of God, with the same privileges and power of God's most honored son Jesus. Jesus came to reveal man to Himself. The Holy Spirit is a tongue of fire on you. Say aloud, "the Holy Spirit within me goes before me and opens the way. Infinite wisdom tells me just what to do." Say it and believe it.
Keep your tracks clear in your thinking. A River of Life wants to flow continuously and abundantly through you... supplying fresh water constantly. God is as we see Him and so according to our faith in Him will He be to you. The River of Life is a river of plenty. Be confident in it, believe in it, and it will carry you to the Isle of Plenty.
You have a right to be rich. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and Jesus said, I came that you have life and have it abundantly. Be unselfish, serve freely, and your spiritual development will keep pace to the what takes place within. You can do it and your obstacles will melt away as you apply the unlimited supply of life through the life principles. Start today and you will see the benefits start to unfold in your life right away.
More from Robert Collier at
http://robertcollier.wwwhubs.com/
In the Secret of the Ages, Collier outlined many principles that he called the secret of the ages.
The origin of most of his principles came from the New Testament teachings of Jesus.
Paul the Apostle said that the message through Jesus has been kept secret for ages. But goes on to say, here is the secret: Jesus lives in you. Colossians 1:27
Paul says that this secret kept secret for generations is now revealed through Christ.
"This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God's people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too."
(Colossians 1:26, 27 NLT)
And we do share in the riches of all there is in the Universe created by God Himself. There is unlimited supply, power, happiness in and for all.
Paul explains how significant this is when he explains how significant Jesus is to all the universe and everything ever created. This power is In Us.
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can't see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body. He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ's blood on the cross.
(Colossians 1: 15-20, NLT)
Now, think of what this indicates... Jesus actually living in you.
If all of the universe is created through Jesus who lives in us, what does that mean for us. And it is not just an individual thing.
Jesus came back in Spirit to dwell in another body. That body is now all of us united in His Spirit which form His body, a Spiritually connected body. So as we form relationships in this Spiritual connection, we do take on all of who Jesus is and was.
"All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it."
(1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT)
We also have all His power as a body, a group, a tied together in mind and spirit group of people. When we are One in His Spirit, we have all the resources at our disposal that Jesus had and now has through us.
So when two or three come together in prayer, united in this Spirit Mind, we are Christ's expression now in all. Jesus then genuinely, and in all of His Power is in us, through us, and we can manifest its characteristics in all elements of our lifestyle.
If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.
(Matthew 18:19, NLT)
God recognizes this as if Jesus Himself was making the request... when we share love as one. Ask, and it will be given to you, of even greater proportions that you can even imagine.
We can pray for someone at a distance from us and see the power of God perform miracles.... just like Jesus did for the Centurion's son. In faith, in belief, we just say the word and they are healed, the circumstances are transformed.
What's the secret... it's in our bonding, our unity, closeness in love, sharing all things with each other as not our own, our unity as one.... that's the secret. This is more effectively achieved through two people than 20. So the power is in the relationship, not the numbers. Power is released supernaturally through united love... as one. Loving someone as you love yourself. That's the secret to earth changing miracle power.
Uniting voice with just one more believer, can create transformation in any place, for anyone, about any condition that faces us. Jesus, as us, is indescribably powerful. We can't explain it as to why it works. When done in faith, and we are connected in love with those we pray with, all power of God's Heavenly Spirit is released to attend to the matter.
The result is miracles.
Let love abound in your life and really love others, by action, with your attitude from deep in your heart. This love bond creates miracles when we unite with this person we are in Love with, sharing love with, have this unbreakable bond of love between us. Expect miracles in your life. Love each other as Jesus loves and loved.Then you can pour all your faith out and expect miracles as you pray.
As Collier emphasized, when you pray, and see it fulfilled in your mind, hold to believing it is done and have unmovable faith... and then it IS done for you.
Be positive in your mental images as you pray, unite with another who does the same, and miracles will become common for you... in love, money, relationships, lifestyle, business, healings, emotions, and all we face in life.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude... Faith that Prevails
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone is the civilization rebuilding sequel to Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Hill originally wrote the Laws of Success in 1928, after 20 years of research as recommended by Andrew Carnegie, one of the richest men in the world. Then 7 years later he wrote his wealth building classic, Think and Grow Rich.
Stone picked up Think and Grow Rich in 1937 as America was digging its way out of a great depression. He distributed copies to all of his sales representatives. In 1951, Stone met Hill and they collaborated on Success through a Positive Mental Attitude. A life and business revitalizing work unprecedented in its long term contribution to the growth of wealth in America.
S. B. Fuller was one greatly influenced by Think and Grow Rich. Believing that poverty was only a mind set, of which he grew up in, Fuller followed the principles of Think and Grow Rich and bought a company of cleaning aides. He had no money to start. He sold soap for 12 years and saved all he could while living very frugal. His belief was that desire is the first step to obtaining wealth. He did, in buying a company for $150,000 and getting his final stage of the investment late into the night right before the offer expired.
He said three books highly influenced his life as he established the Fuller Brush company.The three books were the 1) Bible, 2) Think and Grow Rich, 3) and The Secret of the Ages. Fuller said, " you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying. Success is achieved and maintained by those with a Positive Mental Attitude."
Success with a Positive Mental Attitude has these precepts outlined throughout.
Develop inspirational dissatisfaction. With PMA and desire you can do better.
With a positive mental attitude, you live life believing that every adversity has a seed of an equivalent or greater benefit. Greatness comes to those who have a burning desire to achieve high goals. Success is achieved and maintained by those who try and keep on trying with PMA. To become an expert achiever in any human activity takes practice, practice, practice.
Man's greatest power lies in the power of prayer.
Apply a positive mental attitude with the 17 success principles, of which PMA is the first.
1. Positive Mental Attitude
2. Definiteness of purpose
3. Going the extra mile
4. Accurate thinking
5. Self-discipline
6, The master mind (harmony of two or more minds)
7. Applied faith
8. A pleasing personality
9. Personal initiative
10. Enthusiasm
11. Controlled attention
12. Teamwork
13. Learning from defeat
14. Creative vision
15. Budgeting time and money
16. Maintaining sound physical and mental health
17. Using cosmic habit force (universal law, i.e., Spiritual power)
Create a positive picture of your future along with a definite purpose. What is your goal? What do you really want? When you fix this in your mind, it pushes into your subconscious mind. Then Universal Law goes to work for you. And things you want begin coming your way. You naturally start heading in right directions. Work becomes fun, with less stressful effort and results start mounting up. So with PMA all along you way, you begin attracting wealth.
When faced with a problem that involves another person, "I must first clear that up. This then opens the way for other benefits to make their way to me. Honesty is inherent in PMA. "Negative passions, emotions, feelings, habits, prejudices need to be cleaned from the mind, and these negative mental attitudes converted to positive mental attitudes. It takes positive, conscious auto suggestion to train your subconscious to be ready to receive the wealth that will come its way. You can then do anything, if you believe you can.
So what the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve through PMA.
With a Positive Mental Attitude we move from complaining or blaming to problem solving and idea innovation.
When faced with a problem use PMA...
1. Ask for Divine guidance. Ask for help in finding the right solution.
2. Engage in thinking time for the purpose of solving the problem. Remember that every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater opportunity, when you maintain a positive mental attitude.
3. State the problem, analyze and define it.
4. State to yourself enthusiastically... "that's good."
5. Ask yourself some specific questions: What's good about it? How can I turn this adversity into a seed of equivalent or greater benefit;or how can I turn this liability into a greater asset?
6. Keep searching for answers until you find at least one answer that can work.
The key to motivating yourself is hope. Hope is the desire of the expectation of obtaining something that is desired and belief that it is obtainable. Motives that inspire human action are self-preservation, love, fear, sex, life after death, freedom of body and mind, anger, hate, recognition and self-expression, and material gain.
Keep your mind on the things you should and do want and off the things you shouldn't and don't want. Practice the personal action starter, "Do It Now!"
Motivate others by motivating yourself. Give them inspirational books and activity knowledge. Stories of others and increasing the knowledge of the product or service helps others stay motivated. The more we learn and skills we acquire, the more we want to put them to work.
The shortcut to success is to think always with PMA and apply it to all the 17 success principles. When you master the 17 success principles with PMA, success is inevitable.
You attract wealth by giving of what you have. The more you give, the more it reciprocates in a greater number back to you. Write your goals, give yourself a deadline, set high standards, aim high and use PMA along the way. Take the first step, and apply PMA in difficulties as well as when things go well.
If you don't have money for an investment, you can use PMA and OPM, other people's money, to secure money you need. OPM is the way to acquire wealth. You must operate with the highest personal ethical standards with OPM.... that's with integrity, honor, honesty, loyalty, consent and the Golden Rule.
Riches beyond your wildest dreams will come when you have a Magnificent Obsession. Your magnificent obsession is developing an obsession to serve others. Share yourself without expecting a reward, payment, or commendation. Keep your good turn a secret. Try as you will to avoid payment for your good deed... blessings and rewards will be showered upon you. Share what is good and desirable and withhold what is bad and undesirable. Be part of a great cause.
There is something better than making a living, it is making a noble life. Anything in life worth having is worth working for. Money is not evil but the love of money is. The evil is not using money for noble things. What you share with others will multiply, what you withhold will diminish.
HIll and Stone show how PMA gives you endless energy, brings good health and contributes to living longer, attracts happiness and living with a sense of happiness, and it rids guilt feelings. Listen to advice and count your blessings. Character can be caught and taught.
They provide a test on your own success quotient. With a positive mental attitude you awaken the giant within you. The highest ideal of man is the will of God. Hill and Stone conclude Success through a Positive Mental Attitude with a biography of must read books to stay in the positive frame of mind. The first recommendation is the Bible followed by 64 other titles. When you need to sharpen your PMA, read a good inspirational, self-help book. They constantly recommend, in about every chapter of Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, to read PMA inspired books and constantly taking action on the thoughts you get when reading them.
This is an inspiring work with a never ending influence since written in 1960 and will probably remain as a constant re-read to have the power of a positive mental attitude working in your life. Just picking it up and reading a chapter, renews a spirit of belief and hope and action to make a difference in life and the world. Note the Napoleon Hill Foundation website:
http://www.naphill.org/
And their outline of the 17 success principles...
http://www.naphill.org/points/
Faith That Prevails
God wants us to live with a stubborn positive mental attitude. The Bible calls it faith. The Belief and Knowing something will turn out good even though the resulting image is still in the mind. But even though the positive image of the outcome we want is in the mind, we just know it will happen that way.
It is equally important to dispel the thoughts that are destructive, non-productive. We must not only expel them but literally kill it. As Jesus said that we must die to the world of criticism and defeatism, and live in faith and hope for things greater than what He did will prevail. Jesus said there will be problems in the world, but to be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world. Have Faith in Jesus working on your behalf.
Smith Wigglesworth wrote about Faith that Prevails, online at
http://www.smithwigglesworth.com/sermons.htm#ftp
Faith in God's Spirit at work in and around you, and throughout the universe, is the other dimension beyond the mental ability and capability, which is beyond comprehension. Here are Wigglesworth's views on Faith from Faith That Prevails, a positive mental belief in Spirit and its tremendous power at work in us.
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is rewards them that diligently seek him." "I can see that it is impossible to please Him on any line but faith, for everything that is not of faith is sin. God wants us to see that the plan of faith is the ideal and principle of God. In this connection I love to keep in my thoughts the beautiful words in the 2nd verse of the 12th chapter of Hebrews: "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." He is the author of faith. God worked through Him for the forming of the world.
"All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." And because of the exceedingly abundant joy of providing for us so great salvation, He became the author of a living faith. And through this principle of living faith, looking unto Him who is the author and finisher of our faith, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord. God has something better for you than you have ever had in the past. Come out into all the fullness of faith and power and life and victory that He is willing to provide, as you forget the things of the past, and press right on for the prize of His high calling in Christ Jesus."
"In Mark 11:24 we read, "What things you desire, when you pray, believe that you received them, and you shall have them." The previous verse speaks of mountains removed, difficulties cleared away. Veneering won't do. We must have reality, the real working of our God. We must know God.
We must be able to go in and hold converse with God. We must also know the mind of God toward us, so that all our petitions are always on the line of His will. As this like precious faith becomes a part of you, it will make you so that you will dare to do anything. And remember, God wants daring men, men who will dare all, men who will be strong in Him and dare to do exploits.
How shall we reach this plane of faith? Let go your own thoughts of defeat, and take the thoughts of God, the Word of God. If you build yourself on your own imaginations you will go wrong. You have the Word of God and it is enough. A man gave this remarkable testimony concerning the Word: "Never compare this Book with other books. Comparisons are dangerous. Never think or never say that this Book contains the Word of God. It is the Word of God. It is supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, inexpressible in value, infinite in scope, regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application, inspired in totality. Read it through. Write it down. Pray it in. Work it out. And then pass it on."
"I want to tell everyone about the Lord's healing power. Have you no tracts on this subject?" "Matthew, Mark, Luke, John--they are the best tracts on healing. They are full of incidents about the power of Jesus. They will never fail to accomplish the work of God if people will believe them.
"All lack of faith is due to not feeding on God's Word. You need it every day. How can you enter into a life of faith? Feed on the living Christ of whom this Word is full. As you get taken up with the glorious fact and the wondrous presence of the living Christ, the faith of God will spring up within you. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom. 10:17)
"Humanity is a failure everywhere. But when humanity is filled with divine power, there is no such thing as failure; and we know that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a failure. There are two sides to this Baptism: the first is, that you possess the Spirit; the second is that the Spirit possesses you.
This is my message at this time--being possessed by the Baptizer, and not merely possessing the Baptizer. There is no limit to the possibilities of such a life, because it has God behind it, in the midst of it, and through it. I see people from time to time very slack, cold, and indifferent; but after they get filled with the Holy Spirit they become ablaze for God.
Surely, this is the ideal and the purpose of this great plan of salvation for man--that we might be filled with all the fullness of God, and become ministers of life, God working mightily in us and through us to manifest His grace--the saving power of humanity.
So you will find out that, with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, you will be in a position to act when you have no time to think. The power and working of the Holy Spirit is of divine origin. It is the supernatural, God thrilling and moving one with the authority and power of almightiness, and it brings things to pass that could not come to pass in any other way.
"It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me." I believe that God wants to make real to us all this ideal of humility where we so recognize human helplessness and human insufficiency that we shall rest no more on human plans and human devices and human energy, but continually look to God for His thought, for His voice, for His power, for His all-sufficiency in all things.
A man filled with the Holy Spirit is no longer an ordinary man. A man can be swept by the power of God in the first stage of the revelation of Christ so that from that moment he will be an extraordinary man. But to be filled with the Holy Spirit, he has to become a free body for God to dwell in, and to use, and to manifest Himself through.
So I appeal to you, you people who have received the Holy Spirit, I appeal to you to let God have His way at whatever cost; I appeal to you to keep moving on with God into an ever increasing realization of His infinite purpose in Christ Jesus for His redeemed ones until you are filled unto all the fullness of God. The child of God must catch the vision anew every day. Every day the child of God must be moved more and more by the Holy Spirit. The child of God must come into line with the power of heaven so that he knows that God has his hand upon him.
Here it is, the blessed Word of God, the whole Word, not part of it, no, no, no! We believe in the whole of it. We really have such an effectiveness worked in us by the Word of life, that day by day we are finding out that the Word itself gives life; the Spirit of the Lord, breathing through, revealing by the Word, giving it afresh to us, makes the whole Word alive today. Amen. So I have within my hands, within my heart, within my mind, this blessed reservoir of promises that is able to do so many marvelous things.
God is making people hungry and thirsty after His best. And everywhere He is filling the hungry and giving them that which the disciples received at the very beginning. Are you hungry? If you are, God promises that you shall be filled.
Seek this vision from God, and keep it ever before you. Pray the prayer that the apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers, as recorded in Ephesians 1:17, 18, 19, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of His power is to us who believe."
4spirit@gmail.com
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone is the civilization rebuilding sequel to Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Hill originally wrote the Laws of Success in 1928, after 20 years of research as recommended by Andrew Carnegie, one of the richest men in the world. Then 7 years later he wrote his wealth building classic, Think and Grow Rich.
Stone picked up Think and Grow Rich in 1937 as America was digging its way out of a great depression. He distributed copies to all of his sales representatives. In 1951, Stone met Hill and they collaborated on Success through a Positive Mental Attitude. A life and business revitalizing work unprecedented in its long term contribution to the growth of wealth in America.
S. B. Fuller was one greatly influenced by Think and Grow Rich. Believing that poverty was only a mind set, of which he grew up in, Fuller followed the principles of Think and Grow Rich and bought a company of cleaning aides. He had no money to start. He sold soap for 12 years and saved all he could while living very frugal. His belief was that desire is the first step to obtaining wealth. He did, in buying a company for $150,000 and getting his final stage of the investment late into the night right before the offer expired.
He said three books highly influenced his life as he established the Fuller Brush company.The three books were the 1) Bible, 2) Think and Grow Rich, 3) and The Secret of the Ages. Fuller said, " you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying. Success is achieved and maintained by those with a Positive Mental Attitude."
Success with a Positive Mental Attitude has these precepts outlined throughout.
Develop inspirational dissatisfaction. With PMA and desire you can do better.
With a positive mental attitude, you live life believing that every adversity has a seed of an equivalent or greater benefit. Greatness comes to those who have a burning desire to achieve high goals. Success is achieved and maintained by those who try and keep on trying with PMA. To become an expert achiever in any human activity takes practice, practice, practice.
Man's greatest power lies in the power of prayer.
Apply a positive mental attitude with the 17 success principles, of which PMA is the first.
1. Positive Mental Attitude
2. Definiteness of purpose
3. Going the extra mile
4. Accurate thinking
5. Self-discipline
6, The master mind (harmony of two or more minds)
7. Applied faith
8. A pleasing personality
9. Personal initiative
10. Enthusiasm
11. Controlled attention
12. Teamwork
13. Learning from defeat
14. Creative vision
15. Budgeting time and money
16. Maintaining sound physical and mental health
17. Using cosmic habit force (universal law, i.e., Spiritual power)
Create a positive picture of your future along with a definite purpose. What is your goal? What do you really want? When you fix this in your mind, it pushes into your subconscious mind. Then Universal Law goes to work for you. And things you want begin coming your way. You naturally start heading in right directions. Work becomes fun, with less stressful effort and results start mounting up. So with PMA all along you way, you begin attracting wealth.
When faced with a problem that involves another person, "I must first clear that up. This then opens the way for other benefits to make their way to me. Honesty is inherent in PMA. "Negative passions, emotions, feelings, habits, prejudices need to be cleaned from the mind, and these negative mental attitudes converted to positive mental attitudes. It takes positive, conscious auto suggestion to train your subconscious to be ready to receive the wealth that will come its way. You can then do anything, if you believe you can.
So what the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve through PMA.
With a Positive Mental Attitude we move from complaining or blaming to problem solving and idea innovation.
When faced with a problem use PMA...
1. Ask for Divine guidance. Ask for help in finding the right solution.
2. Engage in thinking time for the purpose of solving the problem. Remember that every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater opportunity, when you maintain a positive mental attitude.
3. State the problem, analyze and define it.
4. State to yourself enthusiastically... "that's good."
5. Ask yourself some specific questions: What's good about it? How can I turn this adversity into a seed of equivalent or greater benefit;or how can I turn this liability into a greater asset?
6. Keep searching for answers until you find at least one answer that can work.
The key to motivating yourself is hope. Hope is the desire of the expectation of obtaining something that is desired and belief that it is obtainable. Motives that inspire human action are self-preservation, love, fear, sex, life after death, freedom of body and mind, anger, hate, recognition and self-expression, and material gain.
Keep your mind on the things you should and do want and off the things you shouldn't and don't want. Practice the personal action starter, "Do It Now!"
Motivate others by motivating yourself. Give them inspirational books and activity knowledge. Stories of others and increasing the knowledge of the product or service helps others stay motivated. The more we learn and skills we acquire, the more we want to put them to work.
The shortcut to success is to think always with PMA and apply it to all the 17 success principles. When you master the 17 success principles with PMA, success is inevitable.
You attract wealth by giving of what you have. The more you give, the more it reciprocates in a greater number back to you. Write your goals, give yourself a deadline, set high standards, aim high and use PMA along the way. Take the first step, and apply PMA in difficulties as well as when things go well.
If you don't have money for an investment, you can use PMA and OPM, other people's money, to secure money you need. OPM is the way to acquire wealth. You must operate with the highest personal ethical standards with OPM.... that's with integrity, honor, honesty, loyalty, consent and the Golden Rule.
Riches beyond your wildest dreams will come when you have a Magnificent Obsession. Your magnificent obsession is developing an obsession to serve others. Share yourself without expecting a reward, payment, or commendation. Keep your good turn a secret. Try as you will to avoid payment for your good deed... blessings and rewards will be showered upon you. Share what is good and desirable and withhold what is bad and undesirable. Be part of a great cause.
There is something better than making a living, it is making a noble life. Anything in life worth having is worth working for. Money is not evil but the love of money is. The evil is not using money for noble things. What you share with others will multiply, what you withhold will diminish.
HIll and Stone show how PMA gives you endless energy, brings good health and contributes to living longer, attracts happiness and living with a sense of happiness, and it rids guilt feelings. Listen to advice and count your blessings. Character can be caught and taught.
They provide a test on your own success quotient. With a positive mental attitude you awaken the giant within you. The highest ideal of man is the will of God. Hill and Stone conclude Success through a Positive Mental Attitude with a biography of must read books to stay in the positive frame of mind. The first recommendation is the Bible followed by 64 other titles. When you need to sharpen your PMA, read a good inspirational, self-help book. They constantly recommend, in about every chapter of Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, to read PMA inspired books and constantly taking action on the thoughts you get when reading them.
This is an inspiring work with a never ending influence since written in 1960 and will probably remain as a constant re-read to have the power of a positive mental attitude working in your life. Just picking it up and reading a chapter, renews a spirit of belief and hope and action to make a difference in life and the world. Note the Napoleon Hill Foundation website:
http://www.naphill.org/
And their outline of the 17 success principles...
http://www.naphill.org/points/
Faith That Prevails
God wants us to live with a stubborn positive mental attitude. The Bible calls it faith. The Belief and Knowing something will turn out good even though the resulting image is still in the mind. But even though the positive image of the outcome we want is in the mind, we just know it will happen that way.
It is equally important to dispel the thoughts that are destructive, non-productive. We must not only expel them but literally kill it. As Jesus said that we must die to the world of criticism and defeatism, and live in faith and hope for things greater than what He did will prevail. Jesus said there will be problems in the world, but to be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world. Have Faith in Jesus working on your behalf.
Smith Wigglesworth wrote about Faith that Prevails, online at
http://www.smithwigglesworth.com/sermons.htm#ftp
Faith in God's Spirit at work in and around you, and throughout the universe, is the other dimension beyond the mental ability and capability, which is beyond comprehension. Here are Wigglesworth's views on Faith from Faith That Prevails, a positive mental belief in Spirit and its tremendous power at work in us.
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is rewards them that diligently seek him." "I can see that it is impossible to please Him on any line but faith, for everything that is not of faith is sin. God wants us to see that the plan of faith is the ideal and principle of God. In this connection I love to keep in my thoughts the beautiful words in the 2nd verse of the 12th chapter of Hebrews: "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." He is the author of faith. God worked through Him for the forming of the world.
"All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." And because of the exceedingly abundant joy of providing for us so great salvation, He became the author of a living faith. And through this principle of living faith, looking unto Him who is the author and finisher of our faith, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord. God has something better for you than you have ever had in the past. Come out into all the fullness of faith and power and life and victory that He is willing to provide, as you forget the things of the past, and press right on for the prize of His high calling in Christ Jesus."
"In Mark 11:24 we read, "What things you desire, when you pray, believe that you received them, and you shall have them." The previous verse speaks of mountains removed, difficulties cleared away. Veneering won't do. We must have reality, the real working of our God. We must know God.
We must be able to go in and hold converse with God. We must also know the mind of God toward us, so that all our petitions are always on the line of His will. As this like precious faith becomes a part of you, it will make you so that you will dare to do anything. And remember, God wants daring men, men who will dare all, men who will be strong in Him and dare to do exploits.
How shall we reach this plane of faith? Let go your own thoughts of defeat, and take the thoughts of God, the Word of God. If you build yourself on your own imaginations you will go wrong. You have the Word of God and it is enough. A man gave this remarkable testimony concerning the Word: "Never compare this Book with other books. Comparisons are dangerous. Never think or never say that this Book contains the Word of God. It is the Word of God. It is supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, inexpressible in value, infinite in scope, regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application, inspired in totality. Read it through. Write it down. Pray it in. Work it out. And then pass it on."
"I want to tell everyone about the Lord's healing power. Have you no tracts on this subject?" "Matthew, Mark, Luke, John--they are the best tracts on healing. They are full of incidents about the power of Jesus. They will never fail to accomplish the work of God if people will believe them.
"All lack of faith is due to not feeding on God's Word. You need it every day. How can you enter into a life of faith? Feed on the living Christ of whom this Word is full. As you get taken up with the glorious fact and the wondrous presence of the living Christ, the faith of God will spring up within you. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom. 10:17)
"Humanity is a failure everywhere. But when humanity is filled with divine power, there is no such thing as failure; and we know that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a failure. There are two sides to this Baptism: the first is, that you possess the Spirit; the second is that the Spirit possesses you.
This is my message at this time--being possessed by the Baptizer, and not merely possessing the Baptizer. There is no limit to the possibilities of such a life, because it has God behind it, in the midst of it, and through it. I see people from time to time very slack, cold, and indifferent; but after they get filled with the Holy Spirit they become ablaze for God.
Surely, this is the ideal and the purpose of this great plan of salvation for man--that we might be filled with all the fullness of God, and become ministers of life, God working mightily in us and through us to manifest His grace--the saving power of humanity.
So you will find out that, with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, you will be in a position to act when you have no time to think. The power and working of the Holy Spirit is of divine origin. It is the supernatural, God thrilling and moving one with the authority and power of almightiness, and it brings things to pass that could not come to pass in any other way.
"It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me." I believe that God wants to make real to us all this ideal of humility where we so recognize human helplessness and human insufficiency that we shall rest no more on human plans and human devices and human energy, but continually look to God for His thought, for His voice, for His power, for His all-sufficiency in all things.
A man filled with the Holy Spirit is no longer an ordinary man. A man can be swept by the power of God in the first stage of the revelation of Christ so that from that moment he will be an extraordinary man. But to be filled with the Holy Spirit, he has to become a free body for God to dwell in, and to use, and to manifest Himself through.
So I appeal to you, you people who have received the Holy Spirit, I appeal to you to let God have His way at whatever cost; I appeal to you to keep moving on with God into an ever increasing realization of His infinite purpose in Christ Jesus for His redeemed ones until you are filled unto all the fullness of God. The child of God must catch the vision anew every day. Every day the child of God must be moved more and more by the Holy Spirit. The child of God must come into line with the power of heaven so that he knows that God has his hand upon him.
Here it is, the blessed Word of God, the whole Word, not part of it, no, no, no! We believe in the whole of it. We really have such an effectiveness worked in us by the Word of life, that day by day we are finding out that the Word itself gives life; the Spirit of the Lord, breathing through, revealing by the Word, giving it afresh to us, makes the whole Word alive today. Amen. So I have within my hands, within my heart, within my mind, this blessed reservoir of promises that is able to do so many marvelous things.
God is making people hungry and thirsty after His best. And everywhere He is filling the hungry and giving them that which the disciples received at the very beginning. Are you hungry? If you are, God promises that you shall be filled.
Seek this vision from God, and keep it ever before you. Pray the prayer that the apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers, as recorded in Ephesians 1:17, 18, 19, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of His power is to us who believe."
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