Choice Two: DESTROY

As always, if you haven't done so, be sure to go back and read the past two articles that lead up to today's discussion. Also, be sure to listen to the podcasts that go along with these topics as well. (iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-spillmans-future-you/id423660739 or RSS feed: http://mikespillman.hipcast.com/rss/futureyouuniversity.xml )

de-stroy [dih-stroi] 

      verb (used with object)    1. to reduce (an object) to useless fragments, a useless form, or remains, as by rending, burning, or dissolving; injure beyond repair or renewal; demolish; ruin; annihilate. 2. to put an end to; extinguish.   3. to kill; slay.   4. to render ineffective or useless; nullify; neutralize; invalidate.   5. to defeat completely.  (from www.dictionary.com)

Wow! Take a moment and really look at this definition for the word, "destroy" and then attach it to  the words found in the graphic at the top of this article. I've already discussed, "When Bad Things Happen" and in the last article/podcast I talked about "Choice One: Define" and the need for all of us to understand that, as bad as something may be that takes place in our lives, it DOES NOT have to define us.

"Choice Two: Destroy" - When bad things happen it can define you or DESTROY you. Take a look at that definition again and apply it here. You and/or your LIFE would be that "object" talked about in the first definition. Bad things CAN reduce your life to useless fragments and cause it to be a "useless form".  But, how sad if we allow this to happen! I know that many of you may even feel that your life has been injured "beyond repair or renewal" and that it is nothing but "ruin" (need I go on?) - BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!

Too many people in this world have allowed bad things to put an end to and even "extinguish" what once was a vibrant, productive life. Again, please understand that I am NOT making light of whatever it is you or someone you know may have gone through or may be going through even now. But, the fact is, it is important for me to do all that I can to encourage you and anyone/everyone else that either IS or WILL BE going through these potentially crippling "bad things".

"As long as there is breath, there is HOPE!"

Hey, listen, whether you want to believe this or not, Satan himself wants to do all he can to make your life miserable, insert doubt into your mind/life and absolutely DESTROY you!  In John 10:10, Jesus Himself says this about the devil (the "thief") and what He (Jesus) offers - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

A "bully" wants to kick you while you are down, right? We all know that (at least I assume that we all know that) and I want you to understand that Satan IS a bully and that he wants to kick you while you are down and to keep you down. Why? Well, I could go into a LONG discourse on all of this (but I won't!) but let me just tell you that he does not want you - or anyone else - giving glory to God or even BELIEVING in God for that matter.

Friend, PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP! Do not allow any "bad thing" in your life to defeat you completely (definition #5). You have so much more to offer, you have so much more LIFE to LIVE and you have so much more LOVE to share with others that are just waiting for it even now.

Please feel free to contact me at any time (mike@futureyouuniversity.com) if you would like to or need to discuss this further. Whatever you do - DO NOT GIVE UP!

Tomorrow we will look at the best option available when bad things happen - Choice Three: STRENGTHEN!" - and how you CAN actually come out stronger than before. A little "heads up" before we get there...it ain't going to be easy!

Stay strong, my friend and, whatever you do - where you go - be sure to...

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

Mike

 

 

 /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ Show Spelled

When Something Bad Happens

As I begin this 4-part series today, I want to make sure you notice that the saying above is not, "IF bad things happen..." but, instead it is, "WHEN something bad happens...".

Friend, as bad as this may sound it is a fact of life that the longer you live you WILL experience something "bad" happening in your life. That's just part of being alive. Many of you have already experienced bad things happening in your life and, for some of you, maybe even too early in your life.

As I put this together there were many tornadoes that ripped through parts of our country last week that destroyed the lives of many people due to destruction and/or death. Storms come and go in our lives and it's not always the kind of storm that is defined by wind and rain.

As we go through this 4-part discussion we will ask ourselves if we will let these episodes in our lives DEFINE us, DESTROY us or STRENGTHEN us. For those of you that either have been or ARE going through bad times, what impact is it having on your life? Are you handling it - did you handle it - in a way that you wanted to? Hey, don't get me wrong - NO ONE wants anything bad to happen in their life, right? But, again, it is a fact that these things WILL come and we DO have a choice as to how we handle them.

Before we get into this whole discussion let me first of all say that I am NOT here to judge anyone on how they have handled or are handling a crisis in their lives. Too many people find it too easy to do just that - lay down "judgment" on something that they, themselves, either are not going through or have never gone through OR think everyone should handle the way that THEY handled it in their own situation.

We are all different! We all work through and handle things differently. This series is simply designed to be a means of encouragement to those that have been or are going through tough times due to "bad" things happening. It is also meant to be a way to encourage us all to PREPARE for these times before they arrive!

A football team (or any sports team) does not wait until the start of a game to prepare for that game. They begin their preparation MONTHS and MONTHS before that game is even scheduled to take place. The time for us to prepare ourselves for the "storms" that WILL come into our lives is NOT when the wind is trying to blow our door down!

The time to prepare is NOW. And, friend, if you've been there, I'd love to hear from you. I'd love you to share your story with me. I won't use any part of it unless you give me permission to do so, but you may just want to share with me, alone. I'd love to hear from you.

Remember, it's not IF but WHEN. Sure, it'd be great to avoid all things "bad" that may come along the way but, then again, we'd miss out on a lot of good as well.

Think about it and join me again tomorrow.

Until then, be sure to...

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

Mike