Tag Archives: Raising a Dreamer

Kingdom Success

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Kingdom success post

 

 

“God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:26-28 (AMP)

How many of you have truly thought on the greatness of these scriptures? Don’t get me wrong, ALL of God’s Word is powerful and great, BUT something about how God is starting things off with these words set the stage for greatness, YOUR greatness.

I was reading an article and the writer defined success like this: “Real success is the spiritual process of developing a mature and constructive personality through which we can accomplish our highest objectives, with the help of God”. When we finally realize we can do nothing eternal on our own, then the sooner we can get on the path to true Kingdom Success. I heard it said once, that what we start on our own we would have to maintain on our own. I don’t know about you, but if I have to choose between doing things on my own or doing things through God, based on His strength and wisdom, I will ALWAYS choose God!

I was doing some online research on the topic of “Kingdom Success” and one thing that I noticed over and over, was how much the word “formula” was used. So many have their own formula for success. When I see this, it reminds me of how the world offers a million different formulas to how they say you can be successful. Kingdom Success in any area CANNOT be formula based, but instead it must be life style based. We read His Word and apply His principles in our daily life and step out in faith into our dreams and callings. I have found that when I do this and as I read what others write or listen to what others say, I gleam nuggets of wisdom and He shows me what to do with those nuggets. I can read through the Bible and find success story after success story; however, none of them had a formula for achieving what they did.

“But the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a successful and prosperous man.”
Genesis 39:2 (AMP)

Most of the time, we think we can’t have success where we are or in what we are doing, but this scripture above is based around the life of a man that defies all of those thoughts. As slave and prisoner, he prospered and even caused those around him to increase. All of this was done before the cross, so what can we do on this side of the cross?

QUESTION: How do you view your path to success?

That’s it for this week, BUT there is going to be more to come on this topic! I would love to hear back from you below with your comments, suggestions and feedback.

I want to also encourage you to check out the Kingdom Thinking Podcast on iTunes at: http://goo.gl/0kx3Ya ; it would be a blessing if you could let others know about us.

I believe our life is truly meant to be the greatest adventure novel waiting to be written as we live it out. Start living the best life possible NOW on purpose with purpose. Live with no regrets and love without boundaries. Hold nothing back and charge life head on. I am excited for what’s next because the excitement of anticipation and not knowing of what is next is what births each breath in life.
So stand strong, live life loud and bold! Take this new day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.

LivXtrem4Him

An Idle Mind

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Idle mind

“A dog will not chase a parked car nor will success chase an idle dreamer.”

Idle defined: Not employed or busy, inactive. Avoiding work or employment, lazy, shiftless, not in use or operation, idle hands, lacking worth.

Has that ever described you? I can be honest and say YES, it has described me at different times in my life. I have also found when I slip into idle mode, my mind strays and is not productive. I believe the idle mind is wide open for attack! When I lose focus and go into an idle mode, my mind wanders; I might pick up a care that I laid to the side and start worrying about it again. On the contrary, when I stay focused on
what matters and keep my perspective in check, I am able to stay on track and be productive.

I was doing some research and found an individual who writes on his web-site about how being idle and a loafer make for a happy life; he even offered coaching for this. I thought to myself, “If someone has to pay to be coached in loafing then they are in bad shape!” This is the junk that is being brought to the table and offered in today’s society.

Proverbs 16:27 (The Living Bible) “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.”

We must realize that being idle and resting are two very different things. Look above at the definition of idle and you will see this. We must rest and meditate and allow ourselves the time to refresh and renew; this time is needed and is not being idle. This is obedience to Matthew 6:33 which tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God.

“Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much can be done if we are always doing.” Thomas Jefferson

This quote is so true and we must remember that idle time is lost time and lost time can never be made up! We schedule what is important, so learn to schedule your days and stay focused on what matters. God
first, spouse second, then children and so on from there.

QUESTION: How do you keep from going into idle mode?

That’s it for this week, BUT there is going to be more to come on this topic! I would love to hear back from you below with your comments, suggestions and feedback.

I want to also encourage you to check out the Kingdom Thinking Podcast on iTunes at: http://goo.gl/0kx3Ya ; it would be a blessing if you could let others know about us.

I believe our life is truly meant to be the greatest adventure novel waiting to be written as we live it out. Start living the best life possible NOW on purpose with purpose. Live with no regrets and love without boundaries. Hold nothing back and charge life head on. I am excited for what’s next because the excitement of anticipation and not knowing of what is next is what births each breath in life.

So stand strong, live life loud and bold! Take this new day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.

LivXtrem4Him

The Journey

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the-journey

If you have not realized it yet, life is a journey. In that journey, like all others, we make decisions that route us to a destination. Today’s blog post will focus on your place in that journey.

Every journey starts with you, how you’re viewing this journey and the position you’re taking in it. You must have clarity in your objective or the trip is already starting off badly. Can you imagine boarding an aircraft with no clear objective? Of course not! We must view life in the same way.

I just read a mini book by Isabel Hundt titled “Identity Crisis in the World of Entrepreneurs”. (You can find out more about Isabel and get the e-book at http://www.isabelhundt.com). In her book, she mentions “students and followers”. When I read this, it resonated inside of me. I want to take this thought a little deeper. First, let me define those two words: the word “follower” is defined as “one who imitates” while the word “student” means “one who studies something or someone”.

How do you see yourself in the scheme of life, are you a follower or a student? Or, would you say, “I’m not really sure!”? The Bible tells us many different times, that we are to be followers of Christ. Note, Christ NOT man! Even the word disciple means “a personal follower of Jesus”. Now let’s think about the word “student” for a moment. I defined this as “one who studies something or someone” and though we are studiers and followers of Christ, we are also students of life, BUT we are not to be followers of it. We have a society of followers who are constantly shifting to what life dictates to them; we see this in every age group and gender. They follow the latest fashion, music and the list goes on and on and shifts constantly; so many are swayed by these things.

A man can say, “Be like me and you will be successful” and people will try to do just that. Just because it works for one, does not mean it will work for another. BUT it also does not mean we can’t take his concepts and adapt them to our life and calling. If we are students of life, we are always hearing, seeing, smelling and tasting of life and taking what we get and making educated decisions with it. What makes a student of life different than a follower of life is that we are taking in information, processing and using it to better ourselves, BUT not to conform to it. If you add the Christ follower with the student of life, BOOM you have a powerful combination. This combination is NOT afraid to dream and risk failure to live the life God designed for us. A life lived on purpose with purpose!

QUESTION: How do you see yourself, as a student or a follower?

That’s it for this week, BUT there is going to be more to come on this topic! I would love to hear back from you below with your comments, suggestions and feedback.

I want to also encourage you to check out the Kingdom Thinking Podcast on iTunes at: http://goo.gl/0kx3Ya ; it would be a blessing if you could let others know about us.

I believe our life is truly meant to be the greatest adventure novel waiting to be written as we live it out. Start living the best life possible NOW on purpose with purpose. Live with no regrets and love without boundaries. Hold nothing back and charge life head on. I am excited for what’s next because the excitement of anticipation and not knowing of what is next is what births each breath in life.

So stand strong, live life loud and bold! Take this new day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.

LivXtrem4Him

Raising a Dreamer

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Raising a dreamer

As a parent, I know the parental desire to see your kids have a successful life. But, are we hurting more than helping by trying to force them into the box we think that success is?

My family and I just saw a really good movie called “The Identical” and part of the storyline in the movie brought me back to something I have been thinking about lately. In the movie, the dad was trying to force his son to follow the same walk in ministry that he was on. I have had the opportunity to speak with youth, as well as parents, and have heard this very thing happening; BUT, we have to realize that our calling is not our kid’s calling and just because we choose a certain path, does not mean it is also their path. This is the same for those in business and other fields.

We, as parents, have to realize that we are not here to choose our kid’s paths for them; but instead, to be an example to help them choose what their path in life might be. For instance, we cannot force our children into the path of college, career and retirement. I have seen parents that have a solid career, think that it’s in the family’s genes for their children to follow their same career path. Then begins the process of forming the children to be like the parent and not who God designed them to be. The fact is, our children are not made in our image or designed to be like us. I know this goes against everything society thinks or is willing to accept; BUT, it does not change the fact that God says in Genesis 1:28 that we are made in His image and likeness, end of story.

We are not parenting to design our children into what we think they should be; BUT instead, we should be living such a Kingdom life before them that they find who it is God has created them to be. I was ministering at a school in Panama and met a young man after the session. We talked for a while and then he pulled out this small sketchpad and handed it to me. I thumbed through the pages and saw that it was packed with drawing after drawing and they were all amazing! He said his parents always told him “he was wasting his time and this would not supply for his future”. He was discouraged to say the least. My heart cried out for this kid and all I could do was encourage him, but before we parted ways, I handed him my Bible and asked him to draw a picture on the inside of the cover. The expression on his face as I asked this was priceless!

Recently, I spent time talking to another young man and his dream is to make music as a career. He is in the same type of situation with his parents; I know there are so many more stories just like these. My question is, if art in whatever form is a waste of time and it is not able to provide financially for one’s future, why are there museums around the world and music stores in almost every city? (Just something to think about!) Instead of trying to design our children, we must help them find themselves, because if we don’t, one day they will face the truth that they have not been true to their dreams or themselves and that is a cold dark place!

I feel a part of really living is taking chances and risking failure. I know that many might be shaking their heads, but that’s OK, because I’m a dreamer. Part of my dream is the blog you are reading now. It’s living proof that dreams do come true! =)

We are ALL created unique and designed with purpose; that’s why it’s so important that we live life on purpose with purpose! There are no do overs and no resets; time is the only thing that really belongs to a person and it’s the one thing we can’t get back once it is gone. So live life to the fullest on purpose with purpose.

That’s it for this week, BUT there is going to be more to come on this topic! I would love to hear back from you below with your comments, suggestions and feedback.
I want to also encourage you to check out the Kingdom Thinking Podcast on iTunes at: http://goo.gl/0kx3Ya ; it would be a blessing if you could let others know about us.
I believe our life is truly meant to be the greatest adventure novel waiting to be written as we live it out. Start living the best life possible NOW on purpose with purpose. Live with no regrets and love without boundaries. Hold nothing back and charge life head on. I am excited for what’s next because the excitement of anticipation and not knowing of what is next is what births each breath in life.
So stand strong, live life loud and bold! Take this new day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.
LivXtrem4Him