JoAnna Lynn Oblander's Blog, page 48

In the End, It’s Not the Years in Your Life that Count…

As another week comes to and end, I can’t help think about Life and its importance. Every life is an opportunity to be a blessing! As I created today’s meme, I was thinking a lot about the importance of living a life of meaning.

Abraham Lincoln lived a life of meaning. Some may think that living a life with “Life” in your years would mean a life filled with partying and revelry. I believe that President Lincoln inferred a life filled with service and devotion to undying principles. That is certainly the life he  embodied and represented.

When my father passed away a couple of years ago, those who eulogized him and knew him best remembered his many moments of service and the true friend that he was. My father lived a life filled with Life. My father was not wealthy or famous but he cared for his friends and family and so his legacy was an abundant one nonetheless.

What kind of life are you living? What matters most to you? Are you trying to make life better for others? Do you let others know you care? Could it be said of you that others’ lives were made better because of you?

Those are the questions I am asking myself today. It’s always a good thing to step back and analyze life from time to time. Even when we think we are on track, taking time to reflect and allowing for course adjustments to be made helps to make sure that our life is on the right track. For me, it is very important to live a life filled with Life. I saw that living a life filled with service and love would be of prime importance during my near-death experience. Irregardless of how long I live, I hope my life will be seen as leaving a little bit of heaven on earth.

I hope that you are blessed with a life filled with Life! May the world be blessed with each of our lives!

 

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An Invitation to Fast & Pray for Our Nation

Sarah Land has initiated a Nationwide fast on Sunday, November 6, 2016. I love Sarah’s idea. Our nation and each of us need it! I believe in this country. I believe that the Lord has blessed this nation. I believe that now, more than ever, the United States of America needs to turn our hearts to our Creator for guidance and strength. I share with you Sarah’s words:

“With the Election coming up, I suggest that as a nation we fast for our country. Try to fast at anytime that you can on this day. If you can’t on this day, do so on another day. Fast for inspiration on who to vote for. Fast for Peace. If for whatever reason you can’t fast, just pray. Invite everyone.

If you don’t know how to fast this is how I fast: Start with a prayer. Prayerfully abstain from food and water for two meals. End with a prayer.”

I would ask that you also fast and pray that the individuals who will lead this nation and our communities by utilizing the Lord’s guidance would be elected.

The Lord is the perfect source of help and strength! There are many more stories throughout the scriptures that tell of the Lord’s assistance and protection! For example, here is a portion of the story of Elisha from 2 Kings 6:14-16:

14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

I learned in heaven that God is the same – He never changes. How can you change perfection? Why would you want to? God has helped His children throughout all ages! He continues to help us today as we turn to Him and request His help (And do our part)! I hope you will join with Sarah, others and myself in prayer and fasting on November 6th!

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When We Listen to God’s Guidance…

My life has been blessed with many miracles. I hope your life has been blessed by miracles as well! Some may think that God uses miracles to convince His children of His existence. I do not believe that to be the case. I believe that miracles are a gift to those that believe. I know that there are occasions when non-believers have experienced miracles but I believe those are rare exceptions. I have found that the more I learn to listen to God’s guidance, the greater the number of miracles that my life is blessed with. Not only are there more, I am able to recognize those miracles with much greater clarity. I think the Pharaoh that contended with Moses is a perfect example. I don’t think Pharaoh was ever that impressed with the miracles that he saw – loss seems to have been his greater motivator.  Can you imagine how amazing the story would have been if Pharaoh would have been converted to God and His ways?!! What if Moses and Pharaoh had teamed up to build a temple rather than the Israelites wandering for forty years? I think one of the greatest miracles that occurred with Moses was Moses himself. He went from a reluctant participant to a man of tremendous faith and ability. I believe that each of us is meant to make a similar transformation. We are meant to take the unformed clay that we currently are and work with God to transform us into a masterpiece. Each of us is meant to be our own miracle!

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Be the Change You Want to See in the World…

Do you ever want to see change in the world we live in? Do you want people to be nicer? Do you want your relationships to be stronger and more rewarding? Would you like this world to be a little bit of heaven on earth? I believe that, at times, we all want the world to be better.

Yet, if we look long enough, there are wonderful things about this world and there are wonderful people! This world is full of goodness, inspiration and miracles! We attract those things that we value and cherish!

Yet, evil does exist and will so long as we chose to be participants. If we want the world to be a safe place to be – we must do our part to make it safe. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that if everyone in the world chose to be honest, then we would know that we could trust everyone. There was such a time that existed in previous Asian cultures. In that culture, a man’s (woman’s) word was his word. Even on the battle field, if an enemy declared that he would surrender and never come to battle again, they could be trusted to take their arms, go home and never be a threat again.

That kind of world can exist. It is all a matter of choice. Remember that God will always maintain our ability to choose – even if our choices are negligent and/or immoral.

When we choose to be a person who is honest and trustworthy, we choose to bring the world one step closer to paradise. When we choose to allow those who are untrustworthy to suffer the consequences of their actions, we take a giant leap towards the ideal of making the world a heaven on earth.

I believe the world has become apathetic towards violence, dishonesty, and morality. As a result, we live in a world that is more violent, less secure, and where greater unhappiness thrives.

If we want a utopia, we must do our part rather than claim we are an exception from the rules.

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Let Your Vote be Heard this Coming Election!

There is a lot of coverage being given now to the U.S. presidential election. Rightfully so! I think that I may have a perspective about that campaign that is held by few others You may wonder what a near death experience has to do with politics? It has everything to do with politics and with life!

I know that the United States of America was founded under the influence, guidance, and protection of God – the Creator of us all. I also know that God will continue to protect us and our freedoms if we continue to serve and obey Him.

Some seem to be of the opinion that God blesses His children the same regardless of their behavior and choices. That is not true. God loves His children regardless of their choices and behavior but He does not bless them the same irregardless. What kind of parent would reward their naughty child the same as the obedient child?

I saw in heaven the evil that is a part of Satan’s work. His work carries on in this world to the extent that we choose to serve him and not God and/or ignore that Satan exists altogether. We each count and we each have important tasks to accomplish with our lives. Who we elect matters. The lives of unborn children matter, families matter, freedom as defined in our constitution matters, receiving blessings from God matters, and most of all – God matters. There is not such thing as a perfect candidate. For too long, our country has voted for individuals who “look good or are popular” according to standards that are light years away from God. Please join with me and let your voice be heard with those that follow God this coming election day!

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The Foundation Stones for a Balanced Success…

The stones of success that Zig Ziglar mentions are eternal principles. That means they will never change and are not situational. God sees that they are so important that He has taught us about them repeatedly. Through examples related in stories in the scriptures and verses of scripture we are taught the importance of living our lives accordingly to these and other eternal principle. As we approach the end of the work week, I hope you will reflect on these eternal principles and the importance of them in your life!

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If You Want to Know Where Your Heart Is, Look Where Your Mind Goes…

The heart is not only an amazing organ, it is also an amazing vehicle! The desires of your  heart steer your choices and propels the manifestation of your life!

Are your thoughts always focused on some worry? Are your thoughts often fixated on judgements of others? Do you protect your heart and make sure that it is not vulnerable so that others cannot hurt you? Would you say that you operate mostly on auto-pilot? Which has the greatest influence in your life: Love or fear?

You can choose where you center your life. And, as a result, you can use your heart to steer you towards the life of your dreams!

In a time before this life, You and I made plans for our lives. Those plans were based on our love for the Lord and our optimal growth using that experience we call mortality! Have you ever wondered why you cherish every lesson learned? It is because your spirit innately craves growth and goodness!

If you would like to optimize your positive growth, pay attention to your thoughts – all of your thoughts. When you do that, you will discover things about yourself that you may not have been aware of. The Lord has given us the gift of choice – choice in everything! That means that you have a choice over your thoughts as well!

I hope that you will make an effort to know yourself and to know your thoughts! Once you are able to identify the types of thoughts you are having, you can work to change any thought patterns that are interfering with you living a live filled with love and abundance.

It is my prayer that you will be able to fill your life with the kind of thoughts that will bring you the love and abundance you deserve!

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For Behold the Spirit of Christ is Given to Every Man…

I believe that there is much good in this world. I believe that we each have the Spirit of Christ as a gift given to us at birth. It is that gift that inspires so many to do good things!  I also believe that the Devil is more than just a being that is portrayed at Halloween. As a result of my work to share my knowledge of God with the world, I have had encounters with those who serve Satan. I believe that Satan and his followers are most dangerous when we minimize the intent and power of their work. There is a way to judge the intent of a man or woman. Is it self serving? Are lies and deception a part of their rhetoric? Is rationalization consistently present? Are sustainable positive results seen as a result of their efforts? Does their positive influence shine like the sun on the souls they encounter? (Think Mother Teresa or Mahatma Gandhi) Goodness and evil are real and they do not play situational ethics. There is a way to judge and playing on God’s side will always be the winning side!

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Seven Dangers to Human Virtue…Our Stewardship

Human Virtues – I think they go hand in hand with stewardship. I returned from my near death experience with the concept of stewardship deeply embedded in my heart. I realize now in ways that I did not realize prior to my near death experience how vitally important our stewardship called life truly is. I came across the seven dangers to human virtue today and my eyes lit up! Somebody out there gets it! I love this list. For me, it is like including a subheading with the Golden Rule. Work, conscience, character, ethics, humanity, sacrifice, and principles are vital to the well being of our lives and our world!

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The World is a Dangerous Place….

As election day draws near, please make your voice is heard! Do not be apathetic! There are no perfect candidates – please join your voice with mine and vote for those candidates who will protect our constitution, the rights contained thereon and the unborn children who are not given a voice. If we want to make the world less dangerous, we must vote for those who look to God for their answers.

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