TIME for Spiritual Growth

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Perhaps one of the things you put on your list of things you would do if you had more time was to pray more and/or to read the Bible more. Many people have this desire and, from my experience, this is one of the main "New Year's Resolutions" that many believers make. And, like most other resolutions, this one lasts for a month or two (at most) and then it goes by the wayside with all the others.

But now that you have discovered that there IS time in your daily schedule to be "re-purposed" then why not use it to spend more time in prayer and in the Word? That is, of course, if it is a desire of yours.

I heard a guy on the radio the other day ask the following question, "Why don't you pray more?" After he asked that he stated that he would not take, "I don't have time" as an answer to his question. Why? He continued by saying that we MAKE time for what is important to us. Again, we can't "make" time but we DO "take" time for what is important to us. It's called "priority".

How much of a PRIORITY is spending more time in prayer and in the Word to you? Only YOU can answer that question.

So, this blog entry is short and to the point. The time is there. The desire...is it really there? If so, then you have nothing holding you back. Especially when you consider all the technical devices available to us today to make "reading the Bible" (getting INTO the Word) so much easier for us. Hey, if you have a smart phone you can access a Bible app and read while waiting in line to pick up your kids or while waiting at the doctors office, etc. Right? If you have some sort of an audio version of the Bible you can listen to it just about anytime, anywhere. Right?

And, as far as prayer goes...you can do that anytime and anywhere as well. Right? (Just don't close your eyes doing it while driving, o.k.?)

No more excuses. What better purpose than to "re-purpose" your time for this type of activity. Do it...you'll be glad you did!

Thanks for joining me for this series! Be sure to join me next time and, until then, be sure to...

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

Mike

The Very Essence of FAITH

Don't forget! Today is "Turn-Around Tuesday"...Stop waiting and turn things around TODAY!

The word "faith" is described in the following way from dictionary.com - "1. confidence or trust in a person or thing, 2. belief that is not based on proof.

The Bible defines faith in the following way as described in Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Many times in the arena of "positive thinking" or "personal development" we hear things said along the lines of, "If you can BELIEVE it, you can ACHIEVE it!". I think that Napoleon Hill was actually the one that first penned that phrase and, as a result of misquoting he has been "bashed' for thinking that all you have to do is believe.

NOT SO FAST! If you actually READ what Napoleon Hill wrote on the subject in his book, "Think and Grow Rich" (you should still be able to get a free copy by going here: http://www.freetgrbook.com/SeeYourSuccess ) you will find that he stresses the fact that ACTION must accompany this belief or you'll get nowhere. That word, "ACTION", makes a big difference doesn't it?

The hard part of really believing something - and I mean REALLY believing in something - is putting that belief (or FAITH) into ACTION. You know, the "if you really BELIEVE it - then DO it!" type of thing.

For example, kids seem to have TOTAL faith or believe that their mom or dad are going to take care of them no matter what. It seems to be true especially in the area of catching them no matter where you are in connection to where THEY are at the time! On one occasion one of our sons was standing on some steps on the back of one of my brother's house. I can't remember how old he was...he was walking and jabbering and was definitely a hand-full to keep up with. I think he was on the top of three steps when I caught sight of him. I was too far away to get to him and I actually thought my brother was as well and I could tell by looking at my son that he was about to jump without any worry at all as to if either of us would be there to catch him. And, you know what? I was right. He jumped. And you know what else? I don't know HOW he was able to do it but my older brother DID actually get there in time to catch him.

No worries. No problem. SOMEONE will catch me. End of discussion.

Take another look at that second definition given from the dictionary: "belief that is not based on proof". You see, FAITH is not based on proof! That would be called FACT! FACT is based on proof. If you KNOW that there is no way in the world that you will get hurt in ANY way then there in no FAITH demonstrated by making that jump.

From the Bible definition above we see FAITH described as something that is HOPED FOR based on EVIDENCE, but evidence that is not seen at the moment.

Huh?

Do you think it is possible for you to acquire a million dollars in your lifetime? That's not really that big of a feat over the period of a lifetime but just the IDEA of a million dollars causes some to doubt that it could actually happen to them!

Here's the deal - you may not can actually SEE the proof in YOUR life that it will happen, but friend, there is EVIDENCE all around us that DOES show PROOF that it CAN happen!

Is it possible for YOU - yes YOU - to succeed at whatever this passion is that you are following in and with your life? Sometimes it likely doesn't seem like it is possible but I can almost guarantee that you have already seen the EVIDENCE in the lives of others that causes you to KNOW - to have FAITH or a strong BELIEF - that it is not only POSSIBLE but that it WILL HAPPEN in your life even if you don't have the proof of that success.

"Why not me?"

Faith is powerful. Belief is powerful. However, the Bible also makes a very strong and powerful point to go along with those thoughts. Here it is, from James 2:20 (Good News Translation) - "You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless?"

So, YES, believe in yourself and the possibilities but then GET UP OFF OF YOUR BUTT and put the ACTION behind that belief necessary to move you towards success!

And, as you do so, be sure to...

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

Mike

Let Me Introduce Myself...

Today is "Magical Monday"...Share the magic with those around you!

Perhaps the more correct title of today's podcast and blog would be, "Let me RE-introduce myself." I mean, after all, if you've followed me for very long you have a pretty good idea of who I am and how I operate. If not, you can go to my website, http://www.futureyouuniversity.com/ , and read about the background of what I'm doing as well as my thoughts and plans.

I began my "adult life" as a youth minister back in 1982 and even was doing some work among youth groups before I graduated college. Since 1982 I have worked with teens and adults in a variety of positions and have always had a passion for sharing information and making it as interesting and relevant as possible. I also knew that, at some point, I wanted to change direction and step out with my own seminars that would be developed so as to encourage and uplift my audiences.

After developing some friends that liked my comments on another website I began my own podcast on March 2, 2009 and began doing my blog not too long afterwards. However, I intentionally planned NOT to bring "too much religion" in on my discussions thinking it might allow me to reach a larger audience with positive messages that had their "backing" in Scripture, all the while not coming across as too "preachy".

Here's the deal...where has that gotten me after almost three years? NOT VERY FAR!

Oh, I do have some followers and, part of the problem has been some inconsistency on my part due to some problems that I have deemed "beyond my control" in some ways. But, bottom line, I feel that something has been missing and I believe that the "something" has been the MEAT to the MESSAGE!

So, I'm not going to refrain from using thoughts and scriptures that I know fit what I'm talking about so that I may keep from "offending" anyone or so that I can supposedly have a "larger" audience. It's way past time for me to be me - ALL of me - and just do what I do as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Might I lose some followers? Maybe. If so, that is a choice that a person must make for themselves. Here's the deal... I'm the same guy as before so why stop following what I do because I am now going to be more outspoken and open about the foundations from which I get these principles?

Zig Ziglar once talked about how his career as a motivator "took off" once he got God involved in the discussion. I had the pleasure of hearing Jim Rohn speak on several occasions and, if you know anything about what he shared, he based the majority of his thoughts on Scripture.

IF YOU APPRECIATE WHAT I'M SAYING please let me know! I need your support and I need to know that this is something that you agree with whole-heartedly. If you don't, you can still let me know but, honestly, it's not necessary. Just do what you have to do.

So, ladies and gentlemen, my name is Mike Spillman and I am a proud husband, father, grandfather, motivator, writer and Christian. It's nice to meet you.

Whatever you do, where ever you go, be sure to...

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

Mike