Gary L. Ellis

For a long time…a lot longer than I care to admit…I couldn’t seem to convert good intentions into consistent actions.  The resulting lack of consistency kept me locked into immaturity on many levels…especially in my relationship with God.

I tried this.  I tried that.  I bought e-courses.  I turned over a thousand and one new leaves (okay a million and one).  I was disgusted and discouraged with myself.

<oh, yea…and I threw in healthy doses of blaming other people, circumstances, and a boat load of ridiculous excuses.>

Then I discovered…

Routine (habit) has miraculous power to help you do the things that “get you where you want to go” each day with more and more consistency with less and less effort (I don’t think that’s good grammar…but you get the point).

There are three areas of my life that I decided I wanted routine to master:

1. My Spiritual Health
2. My Intellectual Health
3. My Physical Health

So, here is what I started doing…knowing that a pattern could be established in an average of 21 days if kept simple enough.  I also knew that, all things considered, each of the succeeding days would get easier.  In other words, routine would start carrying the load.

So, in simple terms, this is what I do:

• My Spiritual Health: In some form, I read (or listen to) the Word of God…especially the Psalms…for about 10 minutes.  In the process of reading (or listening) I give it my full attention and connect with what I am reading.  I continue to think about/pray over/praise over what I’ve read (or heard) for another 5 minutes or so.  I also communicate with the Lord…normally praying in the spirit (tongues) for several minutes.
• My Intellectual Health: I mostly read blogs I’ve subscribe to.  Sometimes I also catch up on world news for a few minutes.
• My Physical Health: I ride my stationary bike for at least 10 minutes (sometimes 15 or 20)

<btw…I always set my coffee maker so that I get a fresh hot cup as I head for my office>

Details can change.  In fact you should be creative or it all gets a bit boring.  But, take 3 areas.  Make a plan.  Set a simple routine.  Start doing it every day.  You’ll discover that it sets a frame of mind and heart that is nearly magical/miraculous.

You feel better about yourself, and your relationship with God gets increasingly richer.   And routine keeps you on track.  Eventually, you don’t even have to make yourself take care of the three areas.  You just keep doing them…like breathing.

Amount of time spent:  The first hour of my day.

What have you found helpful from your life…please comment

Gary

Deep and delicate respect for one another.  That’s how Brennon Manning in his book, “The Furious Longing of God,” describes the only true way that people will recognize true Christianity.  I got to thinking…

The source of anything good originates in God. Therefore…

Deep and delicate respect had to originate in the heart of God, first. It’s not a human invention. So…

We all know the importance of “respect.”  But, how can we truly give it?  By embracing the source of deep and delicate respect.  In other words, we embrace the fact that God’s love for us can also be described as “deep and delicate respect for us.”  So…

Know this: God’s love embraces you with deep and delicate respect.  Not the person you wish you were, or the person you should be.  God’s love embraces YOU (as you are) with deep and delicate respect. Right here.  Right now.  S0…

If you want to move out of the “poor self image zone” into the beautiful field of “What Can Be,”  (cuz He won’t leave you in the squalor of self hate) accept the deep and delicate respect of God’s love for you...as you are right now.  That acceptance will lift you like magic to a higher place….recognizing you are seated with Jesus in heavenly places.

I would love to hear your comments! – And Please Subscribe

Gary

K(nots) can have very positive purposes.  So can “nots.”  But, there are K(nots) that will hang you…

• I’m NOT ever going to have any friends
• I’m NOT gifted like other people
• I’m NOT able to “quit smoking”…”(you fill in the blank)”
• I’m NOT good enough
• Etc, etc, (ad infinitum etcs)

Those are the kind of K(nots) that will hang you.  To focus on all the negative and seemingly unproductive things in your life will never bring you the hope that encourages trust and faith.  Some people believe that they are only being “realistic” when they boldly declare the K(nots) about their lives.  Unfortunately, the longer they make their beds with this kind of “realism,” the blinder they become to God’s plan, power, and purposes for them.

“I can do all things…through Christ…who has given me His strength.”   Before it’s too late…be bold enough to believe God would never lie to you…ever!

Start agreeing with His Words. It may not be easy at first.  It depends on how tight the k(not) has become around the throat of your mind.  But, before you are hung without remedy, begin untying the k(not) with your mouth, today!

The k(nots) don’t have to hang you.  Start, today, talking the truth of God’s word.  Insist on it.  Let the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be acceptable -  without all the (k)NOTS!

What are some of the “k(nots)” that can hang people.  Join the conversation!  Comment!

Who does God love?  The make believe you?  The you that you wish you were?  Or the you that has so many inconsistencies that you are a disappointment to yourself, let alone God?   This may surprise you…

At least it will surprise your “religious” self…

God doesn’t love the person you wish you were.  He loves the “you” that you feel has no real redemptive value.

(just as an aside…He likes you, too.  How do I know that?  Because “like” is one of the qualities of love.  And He is LOVE in total.)

In fact, this may surprise you even further…

You may have heard this phrase, “God loves the Jesus in you” -or- “When God looks at you, He sees Jesus.”    Sorry, close…but no cigar.   When God looks at you….He sees YOU in all your inconsistencies and shortcomings.  He sees YOU.   And, He loves YOU.  He has since BEFORE Jesus touched your life.

<break….If you haven’t asked Jesus to wrap His arms around you and make you His…you can, right now as you read this.  Say, “Jesus, I need and want you.”>

Embrace the reality of your weakness. Don’t run from it.  Being honest and letting God love the “less-than-perfect” you is your only hope of being infected by the power of His raging love for you.  Once you have “the disease” and become “love sick” you’ll begin the joyous journey of discovering true freedom and authentic change.

How does this make you feel?  Please comment.  I want to know what you’re thinking!

Gary

Decide, today, that “giving up/throwing in the towel” is not an option.  You have to finish. But not in your own strength.  Never in your own strength. That’s been your problem.  Finish with the strength of your Heavenly Father.  Watch this short video.  It will give you courage:

It ain’t worth it.  It’s overrated.  Worry is a very popular sport, but it’s never really been beneficial to anybody, anywhere, EVER!  In fact…

…the exact opposite is true.  It has been medically proven to contribute to many physical ailments.  It puts the potential of discovering creative solutions to the problems we face in a cruel, unrepentant, dank, dark torture chamber.  And, on top of it all, it holds faith captive, and deafens the voice of God, within.

The Bible actually addresses the subject of worry (and it’s marauding family of masqueraders) repeatedly.  By the way…I called them a family of masqueraders because the imps pass themselves off as common sense, rationality, and many other good sounding attributes.

A better solution: Make your mind stuff itself on a buffet of God’s words regarding worry, fretting, and the like.

• Matthew 6:25-34
• Philippians 4:6

Here’s a quote I’d like to share with you from a book called, “The Noticer” by Andy Andrews that I believe you’ll think on for a long time:

“Take a deep breath.  If you can breathe you are still alive.
If you are alive, then you are still here.
If you are still here, then you have not completed
what you were put here on earth to do.
If you have not completed what you were put here on earth to do,
that means your very purpose has not yet been fulfilled.
If your very purpose has not yet been fulfilled,
Then the most important part of your life has not yet been lived.
If the most important part of your life has not yet been lived…
If the most important part of your life is yet ahead of you,
Then during the worst times, you can be assured that there is yet
more laughter ahead, more success to yet look forward to, more
children to teach and help, more friends to touch and influence.

Why worry when you can wait on the Lord and renew your strength.  Why worry when you can be like King David of the Old Testament (at one of the worst points of his life) and spend your time encouraging yourself in the Lord your God.

Gary

If you find this helpful, join in the conversation and encourage one of the readers with your testimony of how you waited on God and discovered Him faithful as always.  Just select “Comment.”   If you haven’t Subscribed by RSS or email, please do so.  I’d love to encourage you in the Lord with new blog posts from my experiences of life.

“Just the facts, M’am” is one of those phrases that Joe Friday coined in the early days of the T.V. series, “Dragnet.”  But, there’s a difference between Facts and Truth:  The words Evidence and Proof are also used interchangeably but have meanings that are quite different.  Are you hung up and defeated in your life because you don’t know the difference?

Here are the definitions:  Facts = Apparent Circumstances.   Truth = God’s Perspective.  Evidence and Proof are similar.

Often, when a person get’s stuck in a rut and can’t seem to see the potential that is yet to be fulfilled in their lives, it’s because they are looking at the
apparent circumstances and evidence in their lives as if it were the TRUTH or PROOF about themselves.  If you’ve failed once, twice, three times, or many more…well…that’s just the facts, right?  That is all the evidence you need.  That’s the disgusting, discouraging truth about you.  You have all the proof you need that you’ll never amount to anything.  WRONG! What do you look like from God’s Perspective?

He sees you, still, with all the seeds of potential He created you for.  According to Ephesians 2:10 a Christ Follower was created in Christ Jesus to do good works.  And that’s not referring to wimpy, meaningless stuff.  It’s also not referring to “religious church stuff.”  You were created and infused with God’s grace to accomplish phenominal feats.  If you have a “dirt body” you were made in the image of your Creator.  He is creative.  You have His genes.  You shine with unique creativity in your own right.

In every pimp and con artist, there’s the potential of being a great man of God.  Every prostitute and cocaine addict are potential awesome women of the Most High.  Every lazy couch potato has the potential of a successful motivational mentor.  It’s a matter of deciding, is my past my facts or my truth?   Your future is not in front of you.  It’s inside of you!  DECIDE IT WITH GOD!

Gary

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Where is God?  Why has He left me out in the cold?  There seems to be a promise of better things, but it’s always ahead of me out of reach.

Haven’t we all thought those things?

Here’s the good news.  No, not good news.  Great news!  You see King David was thinking the same thing in Psalm 42:3

He goes on to say twice in that Psalm alone: “Hope In God.” You see, King David had a multitude of experiences where the natural circumstances looked like God had gone on vacation.  The hope was  in the inviting “yellow house” of promises always ahead and just out of reach.  One of those times He said, “I encouraged myself in the Lord my God.”  In fact, search the word, “encourage” in your your bible (or let the great internet tool “Crosswalk.com” help you with that).  You’ll discover renewed courage from just reading some of those verses, yourself.

There are no words of encouragement like God’s Word to help pick up your soul and refresh your courage, today.

You may find hope in other places, but it’s the words of scripture that are your final authority and your lasting encouragement, discernment, and strength.  Don’t try to live your life, today, without them!

What other scriptures or thoughts are helpful to you? Comment by selecting the category at the top of this post. Also, I would love to have you subscribe and/or follow me by selecting the Facebook button under my pic. If you would like to post this as helpful information to your FB friends, you can do so by selecting the FB Share button on the left.  You might even be encouraged by some music videos I’ve made.  Just select my YouTube channel button.  Be encouraged in the Lord, today!