SEEKING (Asking - Seeking - Knocking)

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."    (Matthew 7: 7-8) NKJV

 If you've not done so, please take a few minutes and read the previous two articles on "WHY Do You Ask, Seek, Knock?" and then on the first part on "ASKING". They will get you caught up on this discussion that, regardless of what you do or don't believe, STILL have application in your life for today. 

As a quick preview, the strength of your "why" will greatly determine the strength of your search, or your "SEEKING". If, whatever it is that you decided to "ASK" for/about is not that big of a deal to you then, guess what? The effort that you put into searching and/or SEEKING for that will also not be that big of a deal and, as a result, nothing will happen. You can't just ASK and wait for the answer to fall into your lap!

Remember, "Opportunity Does NOT Always Knock!"

One of the main things that I discuss in the podcast version of this particular article is that, when you begin to actually take action and search and/or seek, YOU CANNOT SEEK WITH PREDETERMINED IDEAS OF WHAT THE ANSWER WILL BE FOR WHICH YOU SEEK.

You can't put "guidelines" or "parameters" on that search. If you do, you are not truly SEEKING. You are simply limiting yourself to hopefully finding something that will already fit what you have decided that you actually need at this point.  

I share in the podcast (see links for iTunes as well as the RSS feed below) a TRUE STORY from my own life where I was "asking" and "seeking" a new church to work with/for a number of years back but, at the same time, I had put some specific parameters on where I was willing to look. And, for me at that time in my life, I had actually put the stipulation on my search of, "O.k. God, please lead me to my next location to work in youth ministry BUT...there needs to be a lake nearby!". I literally would get out a map and see if there was a lake nearby if I got a call from a church that wanted to interview me for the job. Be sure to listen to the podcast to find out how this turned out. Hint: As long as I kept that closed-minded approach to my "search" (it wasn't really a true search, was it?) things did not turn out as I had hoped.

Remember what I said earlier about the strength of your "WHY" determining the strength of your search or SEEKING. Another way to word that would be, how VALUABLE is that for which you seek? Take a look at another scripture where Jesus discusses such thoughts...

⁴⁴ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, ⁴⁶ who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." (Matthew 13: 44-46)

So, to sum this all up, IF YOU TRULY SEEK TO FIND "THE ANSWER"...  

1. Do not put parameters or limitations for that which you seek 

2. Remove the "blinders" that would keep you from truly seeing that "open door" that might appear

In the next podcast and article we will talk about "KNOCKING" in the process of "ASKING, SEEKING, KNOCKING". Think about this between now and then: If you decide to "knock" on a particular "door", WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED THAT YOU NEED TO KNOCK ON THAT PARTICULAR DOOR?

I'd love to get your feedback about this series and, maybe even, this particular article. Yes, you can do so by leaving a comment here but, would you do me a favor and go over to my Facebook page to do so? I'd really appreciate that! 

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 

 

ASKING (parts 1 and 2)

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."    (Matthew 7: 7-8) NKJV

Go HERE to listen to the podcasts on parts 1 and 2 on the RSS feed or go HERE to listen to it on iTunes.

In these two podcasts I begin with a discussion of the first "step" of the three (Ask, Seek, Knock) and, specifically, in part 1, of how it is a sequence or a progression that naturally takes place. Also, although this IS a "biblical principle" it is something that applies to "every day life" regardless of what you do - or don't - believe.

When you consider, and understand, that this "process" is a very definite SEQUENCE, then you will also understand that there are many (maybe even you?) that BEGIN the process/sequence by ASKING but never go any further than that. It is as if they believe that all they have to do is ASK for something and it is going to magically appear and, literally, fall into their laps!

Friend, it just doesn't happen that way. #TRUTH

Much of your determination to proceed with the sequence that will cause you to move past the ASKING part of this sequence will greatly depend upon what it is that you seek. Your "WHY" for asking. What are you going to do? Are you going to just sit back and whine and complain because "nothing is happening"?

Remember, it's a sequence...you ASK and then you SEEK.

 Again, you cannot "ask" and expect the answer or solution to simply fall into your lap! You must keep your eyes open (go back to my last series, "Seeing with NEW Eyes") and be WATCHING and paying attention so that you can SEE that answer (or potential answer) when it appears and/or crosses before you. 

Now then, in the part 2 podcast, I address the question of, "What happens when you get, not just a 'no' but a 'slap in the face, RESOUNDING 'NO'?" Do you just give up? Do you stop asking? Do you stop seeking for an answer or THE answer if/when that happens?

 This is a book that I am currently reading and I HIGHLY recommend that you do the same. It is an EXCELLENT book that is very interesting in it's approach and, at the same time, very POWERFUL in what it has to say and teach us about "drifting" along without any focus or purpose and the dangers of doing so. 

In the part 2 podcast on "ASKING" I point out a couple of things from this book that want to share with you here. 

On page 38 of this book, Napoleon Hill states the following (word emphasis is mine): "...there comes with every experience of temporary defeat, and every failure and every form of adversity, the seed of an equivalent benefit. Mind you, I did not say the full-blown flower of success, but the seed from which that flower may be made to germinate and grow. I know of no exception to this rule. The seed of which I speak may not always be observed, but you may be sure it is there, in one form or another."

Notice that I emphasized the word "temporary" in reference to defeat. This, too, is a CHOICE that you make each and every time you face a difficulty or a set back. Will you allow this to be temporary or, like a child, will you throw a tantrum and allow it to take root in your day, week, month, year and perhaps, even your whole life? 

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN to the "seed of an equivalent benefit". If you have allowed yourself to get so upset and "down" over this temporary failure, you very likely will not "see" or "observe" this "seed" that - in one form or another - is, indeed, there. 

I also share (in part 2 of the podcasts) Napoleon Hill's sharing of Ralph Waldo Emerson's "law of compensation" that can be found on page 41 of this book. It is stated as follows:

"For everything you have missed, you have gained something else; and for everything you gain, you lose something else." Also, in his journal dated January 8, 1826, he also wrote, "The whole of what we know is a system of compensations. Every defect in one manner is made up in another. Every suffering is rewarded; every sacrifice is made up; every debt is paid."

 As encouraging as these words are, I have to ask you this question: Do you hang around long enough - after your "temporary defeat" to discover this "compensation"? Do you allow yourself to have your head up to where you may be able to "see" this compensation when it comes your way? 

It's like that old saying that my wife reminded me of the other day during our discussion of these podcasts..."When one door shuts, another one opens". However, if you are not looking, that door could open - and also shut - without you ever even noticing!

In the part 2 podcast, I share information about a real estate deal that, the day I recorded the podcast, looked as if it was going to fall through. Hey friend, that was NOT the end result that I wanted or had planned! But, you know what? I decided that I was NOT going to allow this to "ruin my day" or even my next minute. I chose, instead, to believe that if this deal DID fall through then it simply meant that God had something better planned for me. 

My mind immediately went to a new business venture that I was involved in that I would be able to focus on even more if, indeed, this real estate deal did fall through and...guess what?...I was not only o.k. with it but I was also excited about the extra time that I would now be able to focus on in this new venture!

UPDATE: Since the recording of part 2 in the podcasts it looks as if that real estate venture may be "back on track". The main thing is, whether it is or isn't - I'm good either way! Now friend, let me tell you, that is a POWERFUL and much BETTER way to live life!

So, again, you have a choice to make when you ask and the answer appears to be a LOUD and RESOUNDING "NO!". But remember, "Every choice requires a decision and every decision requires a choice."

You have a CHOICE on what you do when you have that "temporary defeat". And, honestly, regardless of what you choose to do, either way, a DECISION has been made.

Will you decide to pull back and give up on what it is that you asked about OR will you decide to keep seeking.

CONSIDER THIS: Honestly, this thought just came to me when I typed that last sentence. Maybe, before continuing to seek an answer to that for which you asked, you should go back and ask again and make sure you are pursuing what you actually need in and for your life. In other words, in my mind and approach, it would be something like, "O.k. God...help me out here. What's my next move? Help me to open my eyes and keep them open to see what it is that YOU want me to see and choose."

Be sure to join me on the next podcast when I dive deeper into the next part of the sequence: SEEKING. 

If you would, please be sure to go to the NEW and IMPROVED website at www.FutureYouUniversity.com and let me know what you think. While you are there, be sure to sign up for your FREE e-book that I have put together for you there AND THEN go to my fan page on Facebook to give me your feedback on the new website as well as my podcasts and blog articles.

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 

WHY Do You Ask, Seek and Knock?

 

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."    (Matthew 7: 7-8) NKJV

Most - if not all - of us, at some point in our lives have or will "ask" and "seek" an answer from God concerning some event or situation in our lives or the lives of those that we love. 

The fact that Jesus spoke the words that you read above should indicate that it is okay and, even "normal", to ask and seek for something which we desire. 

The main question I would like to ask as we begin this new series is simply this: "WHY do you ask, seek and knock?" What is the reason? What is it that you seek and/or desire?

As I mentioned on the podcast by the same title (links at bottom of article), I believe it is important to take a few minutes and actually write down your answer to that question. I'm thinking that, often, we ask, seek and knock because we are "lacking" in some area(s) of our life and we are searching for answers.

So, yeah, take that thought and add it to your activity of answering the questions of "Why?" mentioned above. Answer that part first and then try to break it down even more and get very specific to see if you can pinpoint the area of "lack" in your life.  

Using the areas of life discussed with Project141 , address this question with each area of your life mentioned in the Project141 approach to life. How are you doing with your physical health? How are you doing with your spiritual health? What about your relationships with your spouse, family, friends, co-workers and others around you? How are things with your finances?

What is it that you seek and desire? What is that for which you have a desire to ask?

Address those things and then hang on to those notes as we delve deeper into our desire to "Ask, Seek & Knock". 

On a side note, in case you haven't heard, I have finally updated my website and have even "revamped" things a bit with my podcast (see links below). If you would, please check both of those things out and then go to my FYU Facebook page and leave me some feedback on your thoughts about these changes. I'd love to hear from you! 

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 

Seeing With NEW Eyes - the CONCLUSION

 

 Well, here we are with the conclusion of this series but, friend, by no means is this the CONCLUSION of what God has been doing, IS doing and WILL CONTINUE to do in the lives of my wife and I. 

I've shared a LOT of details about "happenings" in our lives since the end of 2020 and, at the same time, I've left out a LOT more that I could have shared but simply felt that it would have been too time consuming. Hopefully I've shared enough with you that, for some, it will create a spark of curiosity or praise about these things. 

Thing is, I'm looking at the information that I had already written down (a record of these things, so to speak) and I realize that I'm going to have to even cut out a LOT of the things that I have left of these events in our life. (As a matter of fact, I had to re-record the podcast on this one because the first time through was just too long!). 

I love the fact that I have shared so much but that it is just a "sampling" of all of the things that I have recorded so that I will remember these things in the future. So, saying all of that, let me simply say that I HAVE to share with you this one last situation that we experienced just in the past few days.

As I type this article, it is Monday, September 13, 2021. On Friday evening, September 10, 2021 I came across a post on Facebook by a young, single mother that does foster care for several kids on top of raising her own child. She is an amazing young lady and we have sent $100 several times over the past several months. The intention has been to do that every month but, sadly, it had been a couple of months. When I read her post stating that she was asking for prayers because Satan was "attacking" them hard at that time I thought, "I need to send her that money like I've been talking about!".

Saturday morning, September 11, 2021, I was preparing to send the $100 to her via an online channel so that she could receive it quickly when the thought hit me that my wife and I had actually committed to doing more than that "if/when" something particular happened. What was that? We said that when we sold my motorcycle for a certain amount of money that we would send $500 to this precious young lady with plans to increase that in the future with God's help. Well, we didn't sell the motorcycle yet BUT we did sell one of our cars on Thursday (9.9.21) for - guess what - the EXACT amount of money that we had discussed about the motorcycle.

Now then, I called my wife in the room and we discussed the fact that we had said - out loud - that we were going to do this and that, even though it was not the motorcycle, it was the EXACT amount of money that we had discussed and that since we had said it "out loud" that we knew we had committed to doing this "as to the Lord". In other words, HE heard us say it so we felt that it was a commitment to Him. We both agreed that, indeed, we needed to send the $500 to her and prayed over that decision and for it to be a blessing in her life and in the life of those kids that she cares for -  and then I hit the "send" button. 

Within a few minutes I heard back from her and she basically said something like, "You will NOT believe this and THANK YOU!" She shared with me that they had to make an unexpected trip out of town and leave their dog at a kennel. Friday night (9.10.21) she got the bill and was floored. She was moved to tears because she did not know how she was going to pay this unexpected bill. The amount? You may have figured it out by now...$500! Hello???

Friends, my wife and I had NO IDEA that ANY of this was going on. We had NO IDEA that she had received this bill and we sure had NO IDEA what the amount of that bill was. On top of all of that, the TIMING in this (God's timing, by the way) is quite amazing. If we had not sold that car the day before she received that bill and the day before I was reminded that we needed to send her some money, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. Well, it would not have been the exact amount needed.

There's so much more that I could say about this whole situation but I hope that what I've shared is enough to get your attention.

Listen, I don't know who you are or what you believe. I don't know if you are a believer or if you are one that doesn't even know for sure if God even exists. Here's what I do know: 

1. Whether it's asking/seeking to even know if God is out there OR  

2. Whether you are asking/seeking His guidance in and for your life  ---- HE HEARS YOU!

I'm not going to get real deep into this right now because my next series is going to deal on this more (the idea of "Asking - Seeking - Knocking" and what it means for each of us) but let me ask you a quick question that I've asked before in this series: "If you are asking for guidance or if you are simply seeking...are you LISTENING, WATCHING and OPENING YOUR EYES for what may be sent your way as an answer?"

Opportunity doesn't always knock. Neither do "the answers" that you seek.

May you also begin to SEE with NEW EYES, friend!

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 

Seeing With NEW Eyes - The TRANSFORMATION (Part 6)

 

We are nearing the end of this series - I promise! The next article will actually be the conclusion to this series and I hope that you have benefited from the blog articles as well as the podcasts that I have published on the same topics. 

So, as always, if you've not read (and/or listened) to the previous 5 articles/podcasts in this series, please be sure and do that BEFORE you move forward. This whole series has been about me sharing events that have taken place - chronologically - over the past several months. That being true, it's important to read/listen to these events in order. 

I talk about this on the podcasts that I do but, for whatever reason, I have failed to do so with these articles. What am I talking about? The fact that you are reading this FOR A REASON, my friend! I don't know who you are, where you are from are even WHEN it is that you may be reading this blog article. I'm typing these words on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 but, who knows, you may be reading this 25 years after I put this article together. Either way, the fact remains the same...I believe that this is NOT a "coincidence" that you are reading this article. I also believe that God has brought you to this article and that there is something in this article that you NEED to read. Hey, that's really what this whole series has been about...the fact that I do not believe that anything happens by coincidence, including you reading this article. 

Alright, let's move forward with our discussion on this topic. Again, go back and read the previous articles because I now pick up where I left off in the last article I shared with you.

I mentioned my introduction to a man by the name of Paul Bocco back in December of 2020. His program was in the real estate niche but, the main attraction for me was that it was formed and guided by spiritual principles. Now listen, I've come across many so-called "Christian business entrepreneurs" before that turned out to be nothing but a gimmick to try to attract Christians and take their money. NOT SO WITH PAUL BOCCO! I came to the conclusion very quickly that he was, indeed, "the real deal" when it came to him actually believing what he said and "taught" in his materials.

What a blessing he was to me at that time! I credit him - along with God's timing - for helping me really get focused on truly surrendering to God and following God with the idea of removing myself more from the "headship" of this relationship. Along with the spiritual emphasis, I also greatly benefited from the organizational instructions in his program. HUGE plus for me! I finally began to take control of my days instead of my days taking control of me...BIG difference and  BIG advantage in every area of my life. 

However, after 7 months in the program I did not feel that the "business side" of the program was really working out for me in the way that I needed and I had to make a difficult decision about the program. To be honest, I was already into this program by several thousands of dollars and I did not easily walk away from such an investment. Yet, I was at complete peace because I felt that the spiritual guidance that I received was exactly what I needed in order to move forward toward success in all areas of my life.

 In discussing this struggle with my wife, I mentioned to her that if I only had a way to PINPOINT people that were in TOUGH SITUATIONS with their homes (as we had once been in our past) that it would make the process a lot easier by being able to actually find such people. A couple of days after that, on a Saturday night (8.14.21) - and by late, I mean almost into Sunday morning, so around 12:45 p.m. or so - I came across a webinar on my computer that talked about being involved in the real estate market so I began to watch it. Little did I know that this sucker was going to last for an hour and forty-five minutes!

But, guess what? From what I could tell, this program did EXACTLY what I said I needed, "if I could only find". COINCIDENCE? As I took a couple of days to "debate" (there really wasn't much of a debate but it was more due to my "head spinning" by this happening) I had to ask myself the following question:  "WOULD I NOT BE FOOLISH TO IGNORE THIS SPECIFIC ANSWER TO MY SEARCH?" Again, COINCIDENCE? As Bill Engvall says: "Here's your sign!"

Now then, get this...I'm not done with this particular event and it was not done with me! Two days after watching that webinar and "debating" about whether or not I should sign up for this program, I opened up an email and had more information from this company and it's creator, Ross Hamilton,  and it had free downloads to some material that was available. With interest I downloaded one that was labeled "Create your custom 12 month plan to 10X your income while improving your health and overall happiness." I grinned as I saw that (P141, Oola and Travis Peters all had a 12 month plan) and when I opened it up - hang on to your seats - I was "blown away" when I saw the areas they "focus" on for this "plan". Look at the comparison below and see how closely all four of these programs are connected (Connected Investors is the name of the company that had the webinar that I mentioned):

I literally - I really did - laughed OUT LOUD - when I read this. "Oh my goodness, God...thank you for showing me this!"  Again, "HERE'S YOUR SIGN!" What decision do you think I made about this program after these things? You got it...I signed up!

Listen, I share even more on the podcast (part 5) that goes along with this article. GO LISTEN! I could write and write and write about these things because they keep coming on a DAILY basis - I kid you not!

In closing for this article, I again ask you the question, "If you have been asking for guidance and direction, have you allowed that guidance and direction to pass right in front of you unnoticed?" Have you allowed "opportunity" to walk by right in front of your house because you were waiting to have it knock on your door? After all, "opportunity knocks", right? NOT ALWAYS!

You don't have to agree with me about God's part in all of this. That's fine but it does not change what I believe and it does not change my dedication to sharing my belief that God is moving in a MIGHTY and POWERFUL way in the life of my wife and I. As the old saying goes, "Try it, you might like it!"

I'll share a few more final thoughts on these things in the next article and, again, it will be the conclusion of this series. It is exciting for me to know that this is not done! I honestly have no idea where God is taking me or leading me but I DO know that I am willingly following Him wherever that may be and I thank you for coming along this journey with me. 

So, friend, 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