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Thursday, November 10, 2011

Blooming even after a drought


It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God's field in which we are working.  I Corinthians 3:7-8 (MSG)
Yesterday as pulled into our driveway from going grocery shopping I saw that we had a gardenia bloom.  My husband planted these in the spring so I thought it was odd to see it have a bloom now.  All day I had that flower in the back on my mind. how could there be a bloom now, after a scorching hot summer, after a summer of drought even though my husband faithfully watered it. 

Later that evening as we pulled into our driveway I saw not only the flower but another bud beginning to bloom. I heard in my heart "I am the one that brings growth regardless of time or seasons".  We go through so many 'events' in our life. Many times that we might feel like things are too 'hot' or seasons of drought. However I am encouraged and reminded that even if we have moment of dormancy in our life God is the one that still bring growth.

What do I mean? Think about the grass and how in the fall it begins to brown, it is going into dormancy for the winter.  We might water it still but really once the winter hits it is just there. Some how it knows when it is time to return to its color of green and then the lawn mowers come out because it grew! We might feel like things or just ourselves go through dormancy but then God brings growth into our life.  We need to continue to water our hearts, to be planted by the streams of Life - God life!

I just know that the blooming that I saw yesterday was not just the gardenias in our driveway but the new buds blooming in my heart!

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.  Psalm 1:3 (NIV)

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Thought Transformer


                                       Removable


As we approach this holiday season many are faced with an upheaval of emotions that have been buried all year.  It is important to realize that these energy draining emotions are removable.  Most of them can be removed for us to enjoy a consistent flow of joy and happiness.  The Christmas season is about joy and life, but they will elude us if these energy draining emotions are not removed.


Anything that is disruptive to human happiness and well-being, anything that fastens itself adversely to the human spirit is removable.  It is not without difficulty but it can be done.  Practicing the following steps will in time bring positive energy that will be felt through the emotions of joy, happiness, and well-being.


First, listen to yourself and become fully aware of the negative words coming from you.


Second, become completely honest with yourself so when the negative emotions being expressed, you can ask yourself if you really believe what you are saying and want what you are saying and feeling.


Third, adopt the practice of saying the exact opposite of what you are saying and feeling.  Shakespeare said, "Assume a virtue and you will have that virtue."  Your new vocabulary will cause the emotions of hope and energy and vitality will come.


Fourth, put the best possible outlook on every person and every situation.  This will stimulate a good outcome.
Consider asking God to guide you and show you His best as you follow this week's Action Steps:

 Action Steps 



1.  Practice the above steps and be determined to remove those defeating emotions.


2.  Don't give up but instead keep it up daily until you win.
These simple yet proven "Thought Transformers" will change your thinking which will change your life, if you let them... The "Thought Transformers" are not just ideas, they are the principles I follow in my daily life.

If you enjoy the "Thought Transformer", consider forwarding to a friend today.We would love to hear from you.

You are God's best! 

Dr. Rob Carman

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info@robcarman.com