Chris Vonada's Blog, page 6

How Do You Explain The Gospel?

How do you explain the Gospel? The question came up twice for me in the same week, and low and behold I’ve never articulated the thought in writing… so I thought I better have at it!

Bilbo B. wasn’t exactly gifted for an adventure… he simply went along with a game-changing calling.

Here’s my go at the Gospel:

God created the world. He also created man in his image. When he created man, he gave us a gift: free will, or the freedom to make choices. “The fall of man” occurred in the Garden of Eden shortly thereafter when Adam and Eve exercised their free will and sinned, following the instruction of satan disguised as a snake, and disobeying God. Therein lies the problem – the wage for disobedience or sin is death and eternal separation from God. We, as humanity, have royally messed up. Since Adam and Eve, all of humanity has fallen short… we’re all sinners in need of a Savior… there is no other way.

Fortunately, our God is a loving God. So, he sent his son, Jesus, to live a perfect, sinless life on earth in the flesh as a man and to die on a cross as a substitute for our sin, thus providing an opportunity for us. Again, there is no other way. Jesus didn’t come into our world to make bad men good. He came into our world so that dead men can live. Thankful.

Jesus reigns in heaven at this time called the church age and offers us forgiveness for our sins. When we repent from our sins and believe in him we all can have eternal life… If that is our choice. Here’s another cool part of the story: when we belong to God and are a part of His family the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Our human body actually becomes a temple where our living God dwells.

Can you dig it? Or maybe I should say can you feel Him within?

How would you explain the Gospel?

Image courtesy of Jim Pennucci on creativecommons.org

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The Big Deal With First Mentions

If you want to figure out the definition of a word you would check the dictionary, right? Ummm, usually that would be the correct answer. There may be a better way for some words… I figured this out when was enlightened with another reason the Old Testament is so important: First mentions lie within the OT.

I was studying to teach in one of my disciple groups when it was duly noted the first time a word is used in the Bible is the purest meaning of the word. Pretty cool! So lets check out “Peace, Love and Unity” – since that is one of my awesome theme/categories here at I’m Just Thinkin’

Peace – In Genesis 15:15 the Lord says to Abraham: And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

So check this out: Abraham was engaged in conversation with the Lord, who had also appeared to him in visions. Shortly after a thick and dreadful darkness came over Abraham in his sleep, the Lord offered reassurance to him… that his descendents would indeed make it to the promised land, and that Abraham will pass away in peace. How touching that we can see the use of the word “peace” through death since we all struggle with our own mortality. Indeed, it is through the promise of Jesus, the cross and His resurrection that we can find peace in passing from this life to the next when we believe that we will have eternal life.

On to the next…

Love –  Once again, the Lord came to Abraham in a dream or vision to help comfort him…

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Genesis 22:1-2

Interesting that it didn’t come up during the time of Adam and Eve. However, when we put “love” into its most powerful and meaningful context we get a taste of what is to come – what could be a more perfect definition of love than the verb in action… Abraham’s love for his son Isaac… and in God’s love for Jesus… and each of us too! As we have dived into the Old Testament at church I have grown to appreciate more and more how perfectly it is woven together.

Part III of the my trinity…

Unity – Psalm 133:1 – Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

This is a powerful passage. We could literally dwell on every word here. Behold – an expression encouraging us to take note, observe or witness… used here for emphasis. Likewise, the verse ends in an exclamation mark! Good and pleasant… these point to the common tagline for Psalm 133: A Song Of Ascents, or the Joy Of Harmonious Relationships. Holy wow, how more appropriate for David to start this verse than to share how special it is for us to live in a state of unity. So we can think of unity here as wholeness. Functioning and behaving as a united body of believers is pretty important. It also tells the rest of the world about us… who we are, what we believe, how we chose to roll with it.

Finally, you may have picked up on the fact I’ve used the King James Version in quoting scripture here. Why? Well as I went through this study I found different first uses of key words in different versions in the Bible. That’s significant for this exercise as we need to find the first use in its purest form… that is commonly accepted to be in the KJV.

Pick a word and have a go at this! Check out the search tool in many online Bibles –  I used bible.com. Use the King James Version. What word did you research to identify the first use? Where is it found in the Bible?

Image courtesy of kjvbelievers.com

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Just Another Drop In The Ocean?

Seven billion people in the world today. Holy wow, that is challenging to wrap my mind around. When I think about how enormous humanity has grown to I have to stop to think: Can one person really make a difference? I mean, sure Noah made a difference when he built the ark. And Abraham too when he was obedient, pulled up stakes and moved to destination unknown. God spoke to them both so that was helpful, I’m sure. But they acted in faith. And they were key players. I guess lots of folks must wonder… with 7 billion of us now, am I really that significant? It must seem to many that we’re all just another drop in the ocean. Are we each key players in the outcome of humanity?

“We ourselves feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” — Mother Teresa

So think about it this way: when God asks us to do something we have a choice, right? That’s where free will comes in. Let’s think about Jonah… so here’s a guy who was called on by God to go to the Assyrians and warn them that they would receive judgment if they did not repent from their evil ways. Well, Jonah didn’t really care for the Assyrians… so much so that didn’t want them to receive God’s mercy. So instead of heading over to Nineveh as God directed, Jonah headed in the opposite direction.

Surely God could have easily found another messenger, right? Right. But I can’t see that scenario happening anywhere in the Bible. Jonah’s task at hand was important… and so it was for Noah and Abraham. Even Moses had questions and doubts of his ability to lead. Just another drop in the ocean? I think we all agree the rock stars that are in the Bible are worthy, right? Wrong. They were all wretched black-hearted sinners just like you and me… sinners in need of a savior. They needed a Savior. We all do. What happened next? Well, in Jonah’s case God pursued him and turned him around. Jonah fulfills his mission.

And how about for you and me? I think God likes us to use our free will, that’s why He gave it to us. However, when it comes down to the important stuff… like following God’s will and fulfilling the decisions that He rests on for the story of humanity… I think He works on and in us when we rebel (or turn to religiosity, whatever the case may be). Who knows whether our next decision will be a catalyst for all of humanity or not. Surely we can see how some of our decisions affect not only us but our offspring and theirs as well. Does that make me want to be more obedient to following Jesus, growing to be more and more like him? Yes, indeed it does. It also makes me want to contribute to the big picture. Like Mother Teresa says, the ocean would still be the ocean but it would in fact have one less drop without me or you. Every drop counts…

What is your favorite Bible story about obedience? Are you more likely to turn to rebelling or religiosity when God wants you to do something that you don’t want to do?

Image courtesy of wallpaperswide.com

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Why And When You Should Say What You Need To Say

“Whew, glad I got that one off my chest!”

Have you ever uttered these words? Or perhaps you have been nagged for eons by the wisdom you would like to share but just don’t feel it is the right time or place. So today I thought I would lay out the why and when you should say what you need to say. Or not.

First of all, we have to carefully determine if we are in a place where sharing our thoughts or opinions is going to be helpful. Let’s just suppose you and I had a little falling out (ok, it happens). No matter how tactfully I may hand the situation, it is unlikely that I’m now in a place of admonishment.

Admonishment…

Yep, the land of sharing our opinion of a wise or proper course of action. It’s not about you, it’s about the person who desperately needs our help.

Next up: speaking the truth in love. Do you genuinely care for and want to help this person in need? Right there is the why.

“Ground wisdom in His words… not yours.” Michelle Myers lit it up with “when life is so much more complicated than uttering the dude word”

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:14-16

Always seek to build  the other person up – knowing in the short-term it may be difficult for them.

I often find I’m more likely to share my thoughts and opinions with my daughters than with a co-worker. That’s fine, I may even pull of admonishment with a relative using a quip. If the co-worker is smoking cigarettes I am probably going to be more likely to offer them encouragement to quit if we share a close friendship.

Of course, we can choose the venue…

And the when?

Remember from Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to be silent and a time to speak…

and sometimes not… consider the nosy neighbor…

So I had a fellow blogger ask for some input recently. This friend is rather accomplished… bestselling author… tons of fans, followers and likes. I think he knows me well enough to discern that I’m not a pundit but simply an honest fan, so I shared with him that it often seems he is more interested in advancing his own kingdom than that of the Lord.

That’s the why and when you should say what you need to say…

One more thought:

Let’s say you find yourself on the other end of the stick, someone is sharing their wisdom with you this time around. Here’s some great advice:

Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Test everything to see if it jives with God’s word. Disregard the shower of Babel…

His word is perfect and complete. Need we say more?

What suggestions can you provide for “helping a brother out” through admonishment?

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The Most Relevant Factor To Identifying Your Calling

We often think of calling as a big-picture objective. That it is, indeed. We were all born for a reason, with an intended purpose. We all fit into the big picture of humanity. More people are getting in tune with the notion of discovering the life they were born to live. This is so exciting to see in action! Our calling is, however, much like painting a masterpiece – it is completed one brush stroke at a time. When an artists creates she does so with creativity and skill. She may use many different brushes, colors or shades for emphasis. She may even make outline sketches before she attempts the magnum opus. God works in our lives in the same way, when we allow that to happen. We tend to think of calling as the finished product, like artwork, but the process or journey is just as important. God may call us to action in many different ways.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

There is a common thread to our calling; we are all gifted to serve other people in the big picture of life…

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Here’s one of the most useful and accurate tools I’ve found to identifying spiritual gifts.

Once you identify your gifts, the next step in the process is personal development. Stay tuned in to the “clues” that could provide further direction to zero in on your true identity in Christ Jesus and your work in the Lord’s name:

The people or places we can think of as opportunity.
Your past experiences certainly may play a key role as well.
Take stock of the resources that you have – be it your education or assets, or maybe even your current position at work.
Listen carefully to the folks around you that you would consider to be wise counsel.
Focus on opportunities – they may be a very important doorway to fulfilling your mission.

These are all critical elements to identifying your calling… and they all lead to the same conclusion:

Getting to know yourself is the most relevant factor to identifying your calling. (Click To Tweet)

Our gifts are the things we do with seemingly little to no effort. I could rattle out these blog posts every morning. Writing is certainly a gift for me, and evidenced by the Holy Spirit dwelling within me as I never had that gift before I came to know Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Savior.

Why do it? It is all about fulfillment. We are an empty shell without fulfillment in the Lord, left with a void in our soul that nothing else can fill. It’s about getting to know oneself. Then, we can finish the painting of the thing called life, like an artist fills the canvas. Starting with nothing but a blank sheet, God created each of us specifically for a unique and special purpose. We are each His crowning achievement.

Will you be fulfilling yours?

Image courtesy of jandismall.wordpress.com

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“With Faith Like Hers” Bible Study Series by Carol Peterson

One of my favorite blogger friends Carol Peterson is launching a new Bible study series, “With Faith Like Hers.” She has completed 3 books in the series, “I Am Eve,” “I Am Esther,” and “I Am Ruth.” There are 2 more in the works…

Carol sent me a copy of “I Am Eve” – cool even for a dude to read! So I came up with some questions on her series and writing…

What inspired you to write the series?

It wasn’t so much inspiration as God poking me until I agreed to write it. He first gave me a verse from the Book of Esther, which led to me argue with Him over whether I should write a book or a blog post. Once I agreed to write a study of Esther, three people suggested it be a series on Bible women. After more prayer, I planned out the series, With Faith Like Hers.

Or maybe God did.

Do you have a favorite Bible lady? Why is she your favorite?

As a girl, I loved Esther because going from Jewish exile to Queen of the world’s greatest empire was awe-inspiring. Being forced from her home and dumped into a harem was a more likely description, but I loved the Cinderella story, regardless of pesky real life facts.

Surprisingly, Eve became my favorite Bible lady. Yes, we pay for her disobedience. But she walked and talked with God in the Garden. She knew God was actively looking for her. She knew she was loved despite her sin. She sought knowledge and learned about God’s forgiveness and provision—lessons I still struggle to learn.

Frankly, each woman becomes my favorite as I write their story. Ruth had a brave heart. Mother Mary summed up 4,000 years of Scripture in five words—“Do whatever Jesus tells you.” Elizabeth had a hand in preparing the way for the Lord. How can you not love those gals?

One of my favorite devotions from I am Eve was “I Live Amid Incomparable Beauty.” I discovered we have both been to a pretty special place, Kealakekua Bay on the big island in Hawaii. So I’m asking Carol one of her own questions from her book: What aspects of stewardship over God’s resources are you most passionate about?  

Kealakekua Bay is indeed incomparably beautiful!

I tend to be personally rigorous about not wasting God’s natural resources—turning off lights and taking short showers. But the stewardship I’m most passionate about is the stewardship He has given us of our bodies. I haven’t always done the best job taking care of mine, which is why I’m passionate about it now.

It is convicting to combine the realization that this bag of bones belongs to God with the fact that God is living right here in me—watching how I take care of it. We struggle with faulty thinking that: “God owns my heart and soul, but this body is mine.”

The thought I keep in my head is that if I am God’s hands and feet in His world, how am I taking care of His tools? My truth is that I haven’t always done the best job I could caring for this resource.

I’ve heard that most women struggle with their true beauty, so “I Value Modesty” is a very meaningful devotion in which Carol describes how Satan convinces us to feel shameful about our bodies. Carol, describe the importance of modesty in today’s society. How can you encourage modesty in others?

God made our bodies “very good.” Before Eve met Satan, she felt no shame and had no need to cover up. Satan encourages us to feel shame. Satan also encourages others to sin because of woman’s beauty.

Womanly modesty is a matter of self-protection. We can’t stop others from having lustful thoughts but modesty can help us not encourage them. I think of modesty as part of woman’s “robe of righteousness.” If I were sitting next to the Apostle Paul while he wrote to the Ephesians, I would suggest he add a “smock of modesty” to his list of the armor of God for women.

Wearing sweeping cloaks and veils isn’t practical today. But we can stay within socially accepted levels of modesty. One of the ways Christians express their faith is by modeling their lives to others, especially to younger women who look to us for guidance. Modesty should be part of that modeling.

You’re also working on a line of beauty products with your daughter to go along with the book series. Can you tell us more about that exciting project?

My beautiful daughter is a physicist. One day we chatted about Queen Esther’s 12 months of beauty treatments before she was presented to the King. I said it was like a year-long spa experience. That simmered in my imagination until one morning I was using a sugar scrub Nicole had made for me. The two things clicked.

We’re creating a line of products called Esther’s Spa with a unique fragrance for each woman in my Bible study series. We connect the fragrance with the woman’s circumstances—succulent fruit from the Garden for Eve, a sweet floral blend reminiscent of Esther’s palace grounds and a cool, relaxing scent Ruth might have enjoyed after an exhausting day in the barley field.

A sugar scrub is first. We hope to have a matching lotion by the end of the year, for the release of I am Mary (a study of Jesus’ mother) and her spicy fragrance, with hints of frankincense and myrrh. The fragrance for I am Elizabeth will give a nod to her son John the Baptist’s diet that included wild honey—expected to release in 2015.

 

Just one more announcement for today…

Carol Peterson’s Cyber Party

This post is part of a week-long cyber party, celebrating the launch of my new Bible study series. A party isn’t a party though without friends and gifts. So please get to know some of my friends, by heading to their place and signing up for a drawing. Leave your name and email addie in a comment. At the end of the week, I’ll pick three people who will each receive one of the Bible studies in this new series.

For more fun:

*Monday’s delicious CYBER LAUNCH LUNCH is still going on at my site www.CarolPetersonAuthor.com. There’s plenty of cyber food left. (OK, so they’re recipes, but they’re still available for download and still delicious!) Leave a comment with your email address to enter the drawing.

*Also on Tuesday at www.CarolPetersonAuthor.com, I’ll chat a bit about the writing of I am Eve and how I had to rethink the idea that living a life like Eve was a bad thing. Remember to leave a comment to enter the drawing—once more.

*Then return to Wednesday’s post at www.LynnMosher.com to glimpse a bit about one of Jesus’ ancestors, Ruth. Don’t forget to leave a comment to enter the drawing—one more time.

*Then Thursday, go to Terrie Thorpe’s blog at www.4everhischild-tathorpe.blogspot.com to glimpse a bit about Queen Esther. Don’t forget to leave a comment to enter the drawing—one more time.

*Return to the celebration on Friday at my site again www.CarolPetersonAuthor.com. More gifts and offers await you there; along with my thanks for helping me celebrate this launch.

One more gift to you: if you purchase two of the three print books in this series from Amazon, email me a copy of your receipt and I’ll email a pdf of the third book FREE.

All three books are part of Amazon’s “match book” program. If you purchase the print book for a friend, you receive the Kindle version for only 99 cents. That’s a good deal available any time.

BIO: Carol Peterson has an unquenchable desire to understand and share God’s Word with others and help them apply His teachings to everyday life in the modern world. Her books are available on Amazon. She writes about faith on her website CarolPetersonAuthor.com.

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Two Ways To Change History

If you’ve got the gigawatts, one day there just may be another way back to the future. Today, there’s just one honorable way.

The summer doldrums… do you know the feeling? I love the longer days of summer but the heat is a bit much here in Jacksonville, Fla. By the time Labor Day rolls around every year I am yearning for the season of change. Fall. As my mind wandered to change I got to thinking more about it and came up with two ways to change history…

The secret to change is not resisting what we’re called to leave behind, it is the burning desire to build upon what is new. (Click To Tweet)

Until there is a time machine gizmo to take us back to the future, like Dr. Emmett Brown’s, we’ll have to settle to some other ideas for changing history. Fortunately, I bring good news today. If we think of every moment as moving on the continuum from past, through present, and into the future, there are two ways to change history:

- I’m first going to share with you an unbecoming way to change history: to muddle the truth. My example: the attempt to convince that Martin Luther King Jr. was not an awesome guy. Wait what what? Yep, the notion that if we throw him under the bus his influence with be diminished. I believe MLK Jr. came in the name of love, as the U2 song goes. If you try to change the truth you’ve come to raise the dead. There is only One who can and will raise the dead. His name is Jesus. Raising the dead by anyone other than Jesus is spiritual attack. We can effectively defend that by using God’s word (the sword of the Spirit), putting on the shoes to keep moving in the forward direction of the future (shoes point that way for a reason).

- The second way to rewrite history is to Change it before it occurs. Remember “#52: Thankful It’s A Keeper” – maybe not lol… I wrote an inspiring piece about the last week of the year. It was several years ago. I ventured into a challenging week with an optimistic spirit. In doing so, I was able to be a change agent in what otherwise might have been an embarrassing and ill-fated journey down a dark road for a few folks. We collectively changed history in that moment.

Be it the summer doldrums or some other season that needs a spark in the right direction, we can change history as it happens. Changing the past by manipulating the truth is looking for trouble – I wouldn’t suggest venturing down that one. Let the truth speak for itself.

If you’ve got the gigawatts, one day there just may be another way back to the future. Today, there’s just one honorable way.

In what ways are you being a change agent to the glory of God?

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The Shower Of Babel And God’s Final Word

Image courtesy of wikipedia.com

Not too long after God flooded the world to start over with Noah, there was a little predicament…

The tower of Babel was built out of man-made materials as a shrine or exhibit to the people who built it. It was an emblem of their greatness, a testimony to their self-worth and identity. They built it tall, as to reach to the heavens, so they would make a name for themselves. They built it as a symbol of their unity.

When the Lord saw the tower He quickly came to a different conclusion:

And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth. Genesis 11:5-9

Lordy Lordy. Humanity is just that way. Time and again in the Bible we read of our failure to fall in line with perfection. Why? Well, we’re human. God intentionally dispersed the people and created barriers to their unity as it wasn’t honoring Him. It seems like life before Jesus came was tough. Life before the Pentecost was different from what we have now living in “The Church Age.” It will be different after the Rapture as well. We live in the age of grace and for that I’m thankful. For all of the difficulties that we face in the world today, we have it pretty good in comparison to the other ages of humanity. O for the love of grace…

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

One of the very last passages in the Bible is how we should respect and use God’s word to teach other people. I thought this must be pretty important, since it was at the very end… and since it mentioned possible repercussions for the misuse of His Word. This is God’s final word:

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19

So I got to thinking, as someone who writes regularly about the Bible and Jesus and whatnot, how important it is to SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE. We’re called to handle the Word of God with great respect in two ways:

- We’re not to distort His Word, like using it out of context or for some reason other than its intended purpose.

- When also to avoid taking away from God’s Word. I think of this, I envision someone who wants to pick and chose the parts of the Bible they want to prescribe to.

What does all of this lead up to?

A shower of Babel… if it doesn’t honor God.

As someone who is interested in helping to spread the Gospel, this seems to be a pretty big deal.

Be it the plagues or the eternal lake of fire, I don’t want to go there by misusing His Word. So I have to be diligent in the use and teaching of scripture. The Bible as we know it is perfect and complete. The more I read and learn about scripture, the more I can see how perfectly put together it is.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Unity is awesome when it is pleasing to the Lord… I’m excited to learn more about God’s Word and how to use it to further His kingdom.

How can we be sure to respect God’s Word? In what ways can we add to or take away from scripture?

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The Top 5 Magnetic Qualities Of Happy People

I think everyone wants to be happy, but how many people do you know that you can say actually are happy? Like not just on Friday evening, or when they receive the annual bonus check – we’re all pretty happy on these occasions. It is interesting that few of us are happy whatever the occasion or day of the week. It doesn’t have to be a party for these folks to shine. You know them, they’re pleasant to be around and draw other people to them… much like a magnet.

What is it that we find so inviting about happy people? Here are the top 5 magnetic qualities of happy people:

Happy people are warm and energetic. Others are attracted to their inviting smile, good nature and their heart of compassion. They don’t have an interest in gossip or complaining – they’re a joy to be around.


Happy people speak the truth. They shoot straight, and other people are naturally attracted to this quality. Time shows that authenticity and honesty don’t bode well with deceit and lies. People on the plus side are comfortable just being themselves. Life is less complicated, dramatic and stressful when we are real. As long as you’re being you and I’m being me we’ll all get along copacetically. (Click To Tweet)


They are willing to commit to working on good relationships with other happy people. Wait, what what?? Yep, that’s right – these folks know that relationships at times mean work and that it’s worth it because they make wise choice of those people they’ll let in to close proximity. Remember, The Four Circles And The Great Beyond?   Ha! I know… long time ago and already written into a great book about people, and happiness.


These people are content. They are grounded in this simple truth: Perspective is a powerful attitude, providing the ability to see circumstances, no matter how challenging, as an opportunity. (Click To Tweet).


There is something very different about the expectations of happy people: Happy people, being giving by nature, don’t often look for what other people can do for them, or for materialistic “wealth.” These folks know happiness comes to them from within – they have diamonds on the inside. Because other people are constantly disappointed with unmet desires, they live in a world of misery. Bummer dude.

The road to being a happy person centers on true, inner peace and happiness. We have to be comfortable in our own skin. Then, the light comes on and glows for everyone to see.

What Are You Bringing To The Party?

What Makes Chasing A Dream So Much Fun?

Have you ever thought about chasing a dream but decided it was too much work? Or maybe that it wasn’t worth the effort? I know I have. Sometimes we lose out on chasing the dream because we’re impatient. Something else comes along and we settle for less than what God had placed the passion for in our heart. We compromise and settle into the wrong groove. This becomes evident whenever we yearn for something more…

For me personally, writing 4 books was something I never would have dreamed to be a goal in life… then suddenly God placed it in my heart. I took the initiative, overcame adversity and stayed true to the path. Writing for me has been an extremely rewarding experience, combining strengths in teaching and encouragement with the pursuit of wisdom, it just seemed to be a natural dream to follow…

“Turning your passion into your job is easier than finding a job that matches your passion.” Seth Godin

I admire younger generations that place greater importance on following their dreams as a key factor to leading a fulfilling life. That rocks!

So we all have more than just one dream, right? How do we know which ones to chase? Maybe you’ve chased a dream and it went nowhere. Maybe that just wasn’t the right dream. How do we know?

Chasing the dream is fun when we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

Sure, there will be challenges or obstacles to achieving anything worthy of our passion, or a dream. However, chasing a dream should be fun – a realization that provides gratification right along with the sweat-equity we are devoting to this endeavor at hand. I think part of the gratification that comes with fulfillment of the dream comes by virtue of the effort required to reach the desired result. But it should be fun. When we get busy we lose the margin in our schedule that allows us to catch our breath and to do fun stuff on a  whim. I miss that when I’m crazy busy. Just don’t take yourself too seriously. If it’s a chore read the writing on the walls, you’re most likely chasing the wrong dream, or taking yourself too seriously. (Click To Tweet)

What dream are you chasing or feeling God has laid on your heart? Is it an endeavor that you truly enjoy?

Image courtesy of RF Designs on flickr.com