Seeing With NEW Eyes - The TRANSFORMATION (Part 5)

As always, if you haven't read the articles before this one in this series - DO THAT FIRST, BEFORE YOU READ ANY FURTHER IN THIS ONE.

Go ahead. I'll wait. 

Now then, let's continue!

I do not believe in coincidences. I used to, but not any more. When you ask for guidance, do you ignore or simply "miss" that guidance when it comes your way? Do you "miss it" because you are busy focusing on something else OR, perhaps, do you discount where that guidance is coming from? (Wow, there's a whole article in that last question all by itself!).

If you've been following along (or if you just got caught up) you have read several things that I've been sharing that, for others, they may label as "coincidence" but, like I said, not me. Here's another example from the past that I've shared before but, if you are "new" to Future You University, then this will bring the point home even more.

About 10 years ago I was out on an afternoon ride on my motorcycle and covered somewhere around 80 miles or so over a couple to three house time span. During that time I passed by 3 different signs in front of churches that were of 3 different "denominations" which, to me, indicated that this was not a connected effort among a certain group to have the same message on their signs on the same day. These 3 different signs all did have the same message on them: "Trust in Yourself". Coincidence? I don't think so and, as a matter of fact, after seeing it on the 2nd sign I began to feel that this was something I needed to see that day and the 3rd time confirmed that belief!

When we dismiss such things I believe we also dismiss something that may be coming from God Himself and, I don't know about you, but I sure don't to be dismissive of God! Again, you can choose to agree with me or not - that's totally up to you but I am sharing with you my thoughts and beliefs, right?

So, even though the past few months have been SLAMMED FULL of such things, I've had them in my life before. However, as my wife and I have discussed, it is like we have stepped into a new "room" or "realm" in our walk with God and He is keeping our mind "spinning" with these things. 

Again, go back and read (and listen to the podcasts) to what has come before this article/podcast so that you can follow the time line that I discuss. In this article (and on the podcast).  

I now jump ahead to August of 2021.

During this time we started hearing and seeing a "focus" on FEAR and the power that we have IN CHRIST to overcome and DEFEAT any and all FEAR! (Now listen, I give all glory to God in all of this and if that is something that would cause you to step away then, I'm sorry you feel that way but I am going to be bolder in proclaiming what I believe what He is doing in and through my life).

Around this time we (my wife and I) knew that it was finally time - once and for all - to totally leave behind our own selfish desires and allow God to take us and use us for HIS GLORY however He wanted to lead us and use us.  For us, part of what that means at least in OUR minds is for us to be used by Him in helping others financially in MIGHTY ways like never before. Beyond our wildest dreams and/or imagination.

EVERYTHING is pointing to GOOD and the TRANSFORMATION is getting stronger and stronger and I am feeling more at peace that I think I have in my whole life (all of this while I am not working and have $0 income, though I had some in savings). I add that simply to show the power of what we are seeing and hearing about FEAR and what was still coming with that message in "coincidental ways".

On Sunday, Aug. 8th, during a sermon, I wrote down something that the preacher pointed out that is found in Psalm 34:4 - "I prayed to the Lord and He freed me from all my fears..."  One night during the following week I came across Travis Peters through a social media ad. You know how these social media platforms work, right? If you click on an ad for something then, all of a sudden, your newsfeed is flooded with similar ads, right? I had clicked on someone suggesting that they were a "Christian entrepreneur" and then my page was flooded with such ads. I came across one and thought, "O.k...let's see what THIS guy is peddling! I wasn't expecting much and then, WOW! During one of his videos he talked about the absolute NECESSITY for us to overcome...guess what...FEAR! ("Here's your sign!")

Keep following me here...Because I had signed up for some information from Travis Peters, I receive an email (auto generated) from him. Again, this was not something he specifically sent to me...it was something that he has had in place for a while that was scheduled to "go out" at a certain time after filling out that information on his page. Now, look at the TIMING of this!

In that e-mail, it listed several things that he covered in another "next-level" course that he offers and, guess what? IT ALMOST EXACTLY LINED UP WITH P141 and OOLA (I've shown these 3 programs side by side so that you can see what I'm talking about). I showed that to my wife and said to her: "It would be absolutely FOOLISH to ignore this!"  (Here's your sign!)

 

The day after this, I noticed a lady in my Oola group post something that indicated she had a podcast. I touched base with her, got the link and listened to her first podcast that was about....guess what?...FEAR!

Let me ask you this question again: If you ASK or you SEEK guidance and wisdom from God...what are you looking for? ARE YOU EVEN LOOKING or do you have your head down to where you are missing opportunity day after day after day?

Along those lines, here is something else that I don't believe was just a "coincidence" or just something that I happened to come up with...

 

But notice, friend...first and foremost, you have to LOOK UP before anything else. Think about that and keep your eyes open!

Until next time, remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

YouTube    Project141  Oola Program

Project 141: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT (Part 3: REFILL)

 

 Again, if you've not done so, be sure to go back and read parts 1 and 2 of this article. Part 1 can be found HERE and Part 2 can be found HERE.

In the last article I discussed the "RELEASE" part of the "Release and Refill"  concept found in the following scripture. Be sure to go back and read it so that you can make the "connection" on these two parts.

 Philippians 4: 6-8. Here is that passage again:

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

 

 

So, understanding (or at least acknowledging) the idea that we must RELEASE the worry from our lives in order to help improve our mind, mindset and attitude we must also understand/acknowledge the idea that we must then REPLACE that "void" that has been left by removing that habit of worry from our lives. And, verse 8, tells us EXACTLY what we need to be using to REPLACE that "void".

In order to develop ourselves, personally, we must improve and, usually, CHANGE our mind/mindset. Before we can change our life we must first change us - ourselves. And it all begins with this change of mindset and attitude.

Instead of focusing our thoughts on those things that we tend to worry about, we now need to begin to focus on things that are TRUE. Obviously, we want to avoid focusing on things that are untrue (lies) in our world. We are SURROUNDED by these lies from all angles and in regards to just about every area that we encounter each and every day. But, as we think about changing our mind and mindset and, as a result, our attitude, we must understand that we must reject the lies that we may believe about ourselves and our abilities.

Again, you don't have to agree with me friend but, in my opinion, there is no better way to do that than to spend time in the Word and to allow God - your Creator - to tell you what He thinks about you. The TRUTH and not the lies that we may want to believe instead. One of my daily affirmations that I created several years ago states this fact: "I AM ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AND DO GREAT THINGS!" while one that I added later also states, "I AM A CHILD OF GOD, THEREFORE I AM AMAZING!"

It is important to focus on this TRUTH in and for your life!

 

Paul then encourages us to think or focus on that which is NOBLE. Simply put, think of it this way - choose to think and focus on what is BETTER and ABOVE the "normal" activity and thoughts that surround us each day. We must "rise above" the negativity that surrounds all of us and begin to focus on BETTER thoughts and ideas. Don't allow yourself to "think and act" like everyone else. Friend, you are NOT "everyone else" and, to be blunt, you are BETTER than everyone else because "everyone else" tends to just "go with the flow" and THAT AIN'T YOU!

Now then, it is also important that we fill that void with what is "JUST" or, maybe better understood as what is "RIGHT". Wow, just typing those words may even stir up a hornets nest with some people because many in our world today do not like ANYONE pointing out the fact that, indeed, there IS right and wrong in our world. Yes, all of these things are very closely related and, again, the main point of this is the fact that, in order to improve your mind, mindset and attitude (which means you are improving YOU overall) we must discipline ourselves to THINK DIFFERENTLY than others. And, most likely, differently than you have focused your thought before. Don't be thinking of ways that you can take advantage of people in your work (this applies in a LOT of ways, friend) but, rather, by thinking about what is true, noble and just (right) you begin to think about how you can help others and be of service to others. WOW! What a change in mindset, wouldn't you agree?

And, finally, think on things that are PURE, LOVELY and of "GOOD REPORT". It's a mind shift! Get rid of all of the "garbage" that you have allowed into your mind (this is a DAILY process, by the way) and allow your mind to begin to think and focus on what is PURE and LOVELY! Also, again being closely related is the encouragement to think/focus on things that are of "GOOD REPORT" or things that are positive, uplifting and encouraging. The other side of this? You already know.

I know I've already said it but let me say it again. You may not believe in God or the Bible, but I do and I believe that it is my calling to share with you how this can help you in every area of your life. 

When I started this section on PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT I did not plan to have 3 parts on this but I felt that I needed to share with you as much as I could in this area. As I discussed in part 1, "personal development" is closely connected with the Spiritual aspect that we talked about in part 1.

Bottom line, as I discuss my "expanded" use of Project 141, I encourage you to do SOMETHING (at least 1 thing) in the area of "personal development" every day for the next year and see what happens in and for your life.

I'd love to get some feedback from you about what you've read so far in this new series talking about this "expansion". I always love to connect with my readers and I'd love to do that with you.

Always remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

YouTube  Project141

Project 141: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT (Part 2: RELEASE)

 

 If you've not done so, be sure and read part 1 in the last article that I posted. I didn't want to make that article too long and decided to break it up in a couple of posts. You're welcome! :)

What I want to do today is break down some phrases and words that I highlighted in yesterday's article from Philippians 4: 6-8. Here is that passage again:

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

I want to break down a couple of things from these verses that may help us all understand the importance of what we allow into our mind and, as a result, our mindset and attitude.

1. Stop Worrying!  Do you find that you worry a lot? If so, take a moment and write down the things that you tend to worry about most often. Is it your job? Is it finances? Your kids? Your marriage? Whatever it is that you seem to spend a lot of time worrying about, write it down and then take a good hard look at that list. The next question on this is simply, "WHY do you worry so much about these things?" Is there anything that your worrying is going to do to help the situation? Likely not! And, truth be told, the majority of the things you worry about never come to be anyway.

So, I like to look at and label verses 6 and 7 as: "Release and Refill"  It's not enough for us to simply remove the things from our mind that worry us. You know what that does? It leave a big ol' hole in our mind that WILL be filled by SOME thought and, more often than not, they will be other negative thoughts. So, first and foremost, RELEASE your worry and, verse 6 tells us all exactly how to do that! "...but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God..." So, go to God in prayer (that's simply spending time talking with him about your life and your needs). "Supplication" simply means to "humbly ask". But here's the kicker - with THANKSGIVING! In other words, take a few moments and take your eyes off of your list of worries and make another list of things that are in your life for which you can be THANKFUL! Take note, this is of GREAT IMPORTANCE in the area of personal development...you MUST develop an attitude of gratitude.

So, RELEASE the worry from your mind. Pay attention and be THANKFUL for the things in your life that are good (friend, no matter what is going on in your life there are more things than you think in this area) and just talk with God and "release" your cares and concerns as you do so. Just do it friend and see what begins to happen with your mind, mindset and attitude. Read a little further and you find a promise from God about the level of PEACE that will enter your life and power that you now have to help GUARD your mind.That's part 1...RELEASE.

Again, remember, it's important to make sure we now fill that VOID that has been left by those things that we have released with something powerful and positive. First of all, get in the habit of being aware of what you have that brings about THANKS in your life. I cannot stress that enough!

Again, so as to be sure that this article does not become too long, I'm going to save the second part of this ("REFILL") for the next article. 

Friend, take some time and really consider the things that I have discussed here today. These are things that can literally change the direction of your life and, yes, it IS a part of personal development. I would say that this is actually the FOUNDATION of what we now refer to as "personal development".

-----------------------------

As an added bonus today, here is a great article by Jim Rohn on the importance of personal development...

The Miracle of Personal Development by Jim Rohn

One day my mentor Mr. Shoaff said, “Jim, if you want to be wealthy and happy, learn this lesson well: Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job.”

Since that time I’ve been working on my own personal development. And I must admit that this has been the most challenging assignment of all. This business of personal development lasts a lifetime.

You see, what you become is far more important than what you get. The important question to ask on the job is not, “What am I getting?” Instead, you should ask, “What am I becoming?” Getting and becoming are like Siamese twins: What you become directly influences what you get. Think of it this way: Most of what you have today you have attracted by becoming the person you are today.

I’ve also found that income rarely exceeds personal development. Sometimes income takes a lucky jump, but unless you learn to handle the responsibilities that come with it, it will usually shrink back to the amount you can handle.

If someone hands you a million dollars, you’d better hurry up and become a millionaire. A very rich man once said, “If you took all the money in the world and divided it equally among everybody, it would soon be back in the same pockets it was before.”

It is hard to keep that which has not been obtained through personal development.

So here’s the great axiom of life:

To have more than you’ve got, become more than you are.

This is where you should focus most of your attention. Otherwise, you just might have to contend with the axiom of not changing, which is:

Unless you change how you are, you’ll always have what you’ve got.

Until next time remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

YouTube  Project141

Every Area Every Day

Relationships (spouse/kids/family) - Spiritual - Physical - Financial

 

On December 15, 2020, I wrote out my plans for the next 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 3 years. Notice the date that I listed. The above graphic (from Dave Ramsey) came across my social media feed just a few days ago and, as I type this article it is January 6, 2021 - a time difference of about three weeks. 

Why do I bother mentioning that information? Because I always find it interesting the way things like this work. The heading line that you see below the "wheel" above are the areas that I listed on my paper on the 15th of December that I focused on in my plans over the next three years and the items in the "wheel" from Dave Ramsey listed items to focus on for the New Year just a couple of days ago. 

Coincidence? I don't think so.

For years as I have done my podcast, blog articles and videos and shared my thoughts and ideas I have always been amazed when I would read something from people like Jim Rohn, Bob Proctor or others that said basically the exact same thing. 

WOW!

But I've discovered that when you focus on powerful and positive things as others do (like those that I listed along with many more) you will find a similar mindset...a cohesiveness of thought, so to speak. 

For me, it is an acknowledgement that I am on "the right track" in my thinking about such things. 

So, as a continued discussion about my Project 141 and also as a way of introduction of how I am "expanding" Project 141, I want to encourage you to take into consideration HOW you can make improvements in the areas mentioned above every single day of your life. 

Yes, the items listed in Dave Ramsey's "wheel" expand on my thoughts a little more, but specifically, I will be sharing this approach for the following areas in your life, as well as mine: Relationships (spouse/kids/family) - Spiritual - Physical - Financial.

 

Why not start brainstorming these things ahead of time? Why not start NOW thinking about how YOU can implement something on a DAILY basis to improve these areas of your life TODAY...right now!?

Until next time, when I begin to discuss how we can use Project 141 in our relationships, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

YouTube 

 

The APPLICATION of FAITH

It's "FUN FRIDAY"! Get out there and LIVE life and have FUN doing it!

All week long we have been talking about faith and, for the most part, have used the Biblical definition of faith found in Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."  I've also been using this definition as an application for us as we strive to reach our goals and dreams that we have set for ourselves. Again, if you've not done so, I encourage you to go back and catch up with the blog AND the podcast (iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-spillmans-future-you/id423660739 and the RSS feed: http://mikespillman.hipcast.com/rss/futureyouuniversity.xml ) before reading today's article.

Today I want to make some spiritual observations and discuss the APPLICATION of FAITH. Sure, you can also apply this to reaching your personal goals and dreams because, again, you can believe something all you want, you can have FAITH that something WILL happen but, until you step out and take ACTION - NOTHING will happen! Again, I'd love to get some feedback from you on today's article either here, via e-mail (mike@futureyouuniversity.com) or on our FB fan page (www.facebook.com/futureyouuniversity).

Once, when I was a young boy, I heard a sermon on the topic of faith. And, in that sermon, I heard it said that with faith I could do anything. Anything? Yes, from what I understood, ANYTHING. So, I decided to test this out and, going into my back yard, tried to pull a full grown tree up out of the ground by putting my little arms as far around that tree as I could which, obviously, wasn't very far around. Guess what? Are you ready for this? That tree stayed put and I wore myself out.

In 1 Corinthians 13:11 Paul says the following: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Now, at the time of the above-mentioned incident, I was definitely a child and I definitely understood the concept of faith as a child would. And, thankfully, I do believe I've matured spiritually to the point that I have a better understanding of this concept of "faith". Notice that I didn't say that I understood it completely. Big difference and I hope you'll NEVER hear me say ANYTHING along the lines of me having it all figured out.

Repeating what was said earlier in the week, "Faith is NOT careless living!" and, to go along with that, "Faith is NOT a magic wand!" Let's look at a great example of the application of faith found in the Bible in Matthew 14: 22-33. I'm not going to "cut and paste" the scripture for you but I'm going to "sum up" what is being found there. I hope that you'll have the opportunity to take a look at it for yourself to see that what I'm saying does, indeed, go right along with what is written there.

When you read the preceding verses you will find that there has been a LOT going on for Jesus and His followers. And, as He would often do, Jesus told his disciples (followers) to go on ahead of Him and that He would join them a little later so that He could spend some alone time in prayer. While He was doing so a storm came up with a lot of wind and it began to toss the boat that the disciples were in quite violently to the point that they feared for their lives.

Sometime around 3 - 6 a.m. (the fourth watch of the night) these frightened disciples looked out on the water and saw what they believed to be a ghost! Think about that for a moment...you're fighting to keep water out of your boat and, among all the hustle and bustle and panic, you look out and see a ghost! I don't know about WALKING on the water but I'm thinking I may have begun RUNNING on TOP of the water and in the opposite direction!

In one of several humorous understatements that I believe are found in the translations of the Bible, we read that they "cried out for fear". Now, maybe that is not an understatement but, if you're like me and many others, we READ it as an understatement. Seriously, put yourself in that situation as much as you can and consider how YOU would sound as YOU "cried out for fear". I'm thinking they were screaming their heads off like a boat load of school girls! Mike's translation reads, "THEY WERE FREAKING OUT!"

What did Jesus do? Did He play tricks on them by appearing on one side of the boat and then - BAM - switching sides? Did He say, "Boo!"? Nope. The Bible states that IMMEDIATELY - and, friends, I think that is a KEY POINT that we should always remember - He began to try to calm them down by telling them NOT to be afraid because it was Him, not a ghost, but Him.

Now, one of the disciples - PETER - once realizing that it was Jesus (this same Jesus that Peter had seen do many miracles) replied, (and I paraphrase), "O.k., if it's really you, tell me to come out there with you!". I don't think this was a taunt or a "prove it to me" type of thing. Peter KNEW who Jesus was and he KNEW that he would be safe with Jesus but he wanted that "substance of things hoped for" to be based on TRUTH!

Jesus said, "Come on!" and Peter had a decision to make. He could stay in the boat that was in danger of sinking or, not really knowing how it would work, he could step out and go to Jesus who he KNEW could do things that had never been seen or done before.

Peter had to "put his money where his mouth was" (a trait that Peter exhibited quite often) and make a decision. Look again at that definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR (Peter's hope was that, by getting out of that boat, he would be safe with Jesus) and the EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN" (Peter also knew that, even though he had NEVER seen anyone walk on top of the water like Jesus was doing, there was EVIDENCE in the fact that, indeed, Jesus WAS doing just that and, again, that he - Peter - had seen EVIDENCE of Jesus' mighty miracles).

Look at verse 29 - "....and when Peter came down out of the boat..." Notice it says Peter and not, "Peter and the other disciples". Just Peter. And he did it - he got out of the boat and began to walk - ON TOP OF THE WATER - toward Jesus.

Yes, once he noticed the big waves around him, he became afraid and he DID sink. However, do NOT miss the following points: He was the ONLY one that trusted in Jesus enough to put their FAITH into ACTION and to get out of the boat and, secondly, even though he "failed" (according to some) and began to sink, Jesus still rescued him and walked him back to the boat, safe and sound.

SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: Friend, it's one thing to SAY what we believe. It's one thing to try to convince those around us of our faith in God and His Son, Jesus. But, it's not what we say, it's what we DO - what we SHOW by the lives that we live - that truly demonstrate our FAITH!

Too, for ourselves, we can try to convince OURSELVES that we have a great amount of faith but, without ever putting it into action (getting out of the boat) we're just fooling ourselves. Fact is, we are the only ones being fooled because those around us are likely NOT being fooled when they see our ACTIONS speaking louder than our WORDS.

Hey friend, I'm still working on stepping out of that boat more often than I do and I want to encourage you to keep on growing in YOUR faith in the one we call JESUS.

As we work to walk more in FAITH, I want to encourage you to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike