"Risk Taking"

     Today I am going to discuss "risk taking" and not allowing fear to hold us back from making positive and needful changes in our lives. This is something I have struggled with often through the years, and I know I have missed out on many things that would have been beneficial to me, had I not been afraid to let go of what I was clinging to so tightly. I have just recently started improving in this area, and truthfully, it has been mainly due to necessity than choice, but nonetheless, I am improving in this area, and I want to encourage others to do so as well.

     I have been a truck driver for over 30 years now. It is pretty much all I have ever done. About 15 years ago, I developed rheumatoid arthritis, and I have been struggling with this ever since. Even though it is painful, and really slows me down, I have been determined to continue truck driving, as long as I can pass my DOT physicals, and stay licensed. I do not mean to be saying this in a boastful way, that I am working in spite of my handicap, actually, it is just the opposite of that. I have known for years now, that I need to learn something new, because this condition continues to get worse, and soon I won't be able to continue this line of work. But, mainly due to fear of the unknown, I have kept clinging to the one thing I knew, with a desperate grip, afraid to let go and learn something new!

     Many of you have probably heard the story of how natives in Africa catch monkeys, but since it is so applicable to my story, I want to share it again. The story goes, as I understand it, that a small hole is made in a coconut, and the fruit inside is hollowed out, and peanuts are put inside, then a string is attached to the coconut. The monkey comes along and reaches inside and grabs the peanuts, thus making a fist. He then cannot pull his hand back out of the coconut because the fist he is making, due to holding on to the peanuts, makes his hand too large to get back through the opening. But the monkey refuses to let go of the peanuts, and he is pulled in by the string and captured!

     This seems so silly, but it applies so fittingly to what I was doing, by refusing to let go of the one thing I know how to do, I was crippling myself from making the positive changes that were becoming so necessary in my life!

     I have been especially fearful about learning anything to do with computers, or online businesses. I have never considered myself smart, or quick to catch on to new things, especially having to do with new technology, but recently I have developed an interest in online businesses and computer work, and I am greatly enjoying everything I have been learning!

     Sometimes necessity is the greatest motivator, but I can be thankful that the circumstances I have gone through have finally forced me into making these changes.Yes, there is risk of failure in everything we do. The first couple of online businesses I have gotten involved with didn't work out very well, but I can honestly say,  that even in what we see as failure, there is much to be learned from it, and we can use what we have learned, to help us in the next endeavor, so don't give up, expect problems and set-backs, learn from them and keep going! Be determined and keep pressing on!

     I still have a lot to learn, and a long way to go, before I can replace my full time job with what I am doing now, but I am greatly encouraged that I have been able to catch on and learn new things that I never before would have thought possible! I am now learning that I am not to old to catch on to new things, and that there is hope for a better future for me! 

     This blog site is an example of one of the new things I have learned. I have a strong desire to share what I have learned, and what I have gone through, to encourage others, that they can do the same thing, and this blog site is one good way of doing this! I will share tips for starting a new career in your spare time while working a full-time job. I am learning as I go, and I don't pretend to know everything, so if any of you have any thoughts, comments, or personal stories along these lines that you want to share, please feel free to do so!

     For Christians, we have the added benefit of seeking the Lord for help and guidance with the direction we need to take in our lives. To be able to pray for His will in our lives, and then by faith, to step out and go where He leads, can be scary, and challenge our faith, but God says "For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for well-being, and not for calamity, in order to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (ISV).

     We often times have to make changes, but a Christian can take comfort in the fact that God does not change. "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Malachi 3:6. His love and grace and mercy are always with us. "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9.

Contact Information:

Email: phil.419.@gmail.com

Twitter: @419Dave

Google: +David

"Blessed Assurance"

     The purpose of today's post is to bring encouragement, comfort, and assurance to all who have believed on Jesus, that the day is coming, when faith will give way to sight, and  we will be quickly ushered into Heaven, to spend all of eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

     What prompted my thoughts on this subject were the words of the wonderful hymn "Blessed Assurance"

vs.1

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior all the day long;

this is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior all the day long.

vs.2

Perfect submission, perfect delight!

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels descending bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

(Refrain)

vs.3

Perfect submission, all is at rest!

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

(Refrain)

- F.J. Crosby

     The Lord would not have us to be in doubt or fear concerning our eternal future, but to have the "blessed assurance" of His promises, that say: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." John 10:28. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life" 1 John 5:13. 

     The second line of the second verse of the hymn says "Visions of rapture now burst on my sight." In 1 Thessalonians 4, verses 15-18, the rapture is explained, giving us more comfort and assurance: "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

     The third line of the third verse of the hymn says "Watching and waiting, looking above." How important it is for the believer to be watching and patiently waiting for the soon coming return of the Lord, it could be any moment! "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord... Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching... And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants... Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." Luke 12:35, 36a, 37a, 38, 40.

     I hope these words have been a comfort and encouragement to you, as we remember what a "Blessed Assurance" each believer has of everlasting life!

     I will close this post with the last two verses in the Bible. 

     "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

                                     

Contact Information:

Email: phil.419.@gmail.com

Twitter: @419Dave

Google: +David

Improve Your Focus!

     Hello!     
     On today's post, I have some helpful ways of improving your focus, so that you can get more accomplished in the amount of time you have to spend on your business! I am primarily thinking of those who work full time, and are trying to squeeze in time to work on a second business on the side. This is when it is so important to be able to focus well, so you can make the most of the time you have available to work on your second business.

     When studying on this subject, I found some very good material. I will quote portions of the articles, and then give the links to the articles, so you can read them completely if you choose.


Improving your focus can make you a better student or employee as well as a happier and more organized person. If you want to improve your focus, then you need to learn to avoid distractions and to be prepared with a focus-filled game plan before you set out to accomplish a task. If you want to know how to focus like a laser, just follow these steps.

Multi-task less. Though many people think that multi-tasking is a great way to accomplish goals more quickly and to get two or three things done at once, multi-tasking is actually harmful to your concentration. When you multi-task, you may think you're getting more done, but you're not putting all of your focus and energy into any one task, which actually harms your concentration.

• Work on getting just one thing done at a time and you'll see that you get this done more quickly.
• Chatting with your friends online while getting work done is one of the worst forms of multi-tasking. Chatting with a friend can slow your productivity down by half.
• If you're working at home, avoid the temptation to do chores while you're working or studying. You may get the dishes washed, but you'll slow yourself down tremendously.

Reflect. Have you ever spent a whole day "working" and then wondered how you managed to accomplish almost nothing? If this has happened to you, then you should reflect on the experience before you jump into another equally unproductive day. Before you start working, you should write down all of the things that were and weren't working during your study or work session to make sure to have a better experience.

• Were you supposed to study, but spent the whole time gossiping with your study buddy? Then you should study solo next time.
• Were you doing work in your office, but really spent the whole day helping out your colleagues instead of getting any work done for yourself? Then next time, you should be less helpful and a little bit more selfish.
• Did you waste your whole day reading random articles that people posted on Facebook, g-chatting with your friends, or texting with your friends about what you'll do that night? It's better to do those things after the work day is done.
• Before you start your work day, write down whatever it was that kept you from accomplishing your goals, so that you're less likely to make the same mistake.

Make a to-do list. If you want to focus better, you need to make a to-do list every day so that you have a tangible list of things to check off when you're done, and feel more direction to accomplish your goals. Instead of sitting around aimlessly, you'll have a list of goals in front of you, and will feel a sense of pride when you get them done.

• Write down at least three things you need to get done that day, three things you need to get done the next day, and three things that need to get done that week. Tackle the things that you need to get done that day first, and feel accomplished if you have time to get a jump start and work on the other tasks.
• Reward yourself with breaks. Give yourself a small break every time you check another item off of your to-do list.

Avoid distractions online. The Internet may be filled with interesting and valuable information, but when it comes to getting work done, it can be a huge time-suck. If you really want to get work done, then you need to avoid Facebook and chatting with your friends throughout your work day, and to check your email only a few times a day if you really need to.

• If you spot an interesting article, tell yourself that you can read it during your scheduled break time -- but not sooner.
• Avoid sending personal emails while you're working. This will distract you and will usually take a lot longer than you intended.
• If you don't really need the Internet for work, then disconnect your wireless completely. You can reconnect it every hour or two to check back in.
• Avoiding online distractions completely takes time. If you check your Facebook and email every fifteen minutes, start by checking it every 30 minutes, and see if you can work up to checking it just two or three times a day, or to avoiding Facebook all together.
• If you do need the Internet to work, try not to keep more than five tabs open at a time. Focus on what you need to read and move on. If you have too many pages open at once, your mind will be in multi-task mode.

Stay motivated. If you want to avoid distractions and focus more, the best way is to stay motivated to finish your task. You should write down why you're motivated to get your work done, and look down at this reason several times a day, to remind yourself why it's important to focus and not be tempted by a distraction.

• Consider the importance of your work itself. Tell yourself that if you're grading papers, it's important to give your students feedback. If you're wrapping up a project, then it's important for the success of your company.
• Consider yourself. What personal advantage will you gain from getting the work done? If you study for a test, then you'll be able to get a good grade and boost your GPA. If you seal an important deal with a client, you may be able to get a promotion.
• Consider the fun things that await once the work is done. Remind yourself about the fun things you can do once the task is done, whether it's taking an evening yoga class, catching up with an old friend over ice cream, or having a nice, relaxing meal with your significant other.

     You can read the above article in full HERE.

Conquer Procrastination

Don't feel like concentrating? Are you putting off a task or project you're supposed to be working on? That's a form of procrastination. R. D. Clyde said, "It's amazing how long it takes to complete something we're not working on."

Next time you're about to postpone a responsibility ask yourself, "Do I have to do this? Do I want it done so it's not on my mind? Will it be any easier later?" Those three questions can give you the incentive to mentally apply yourself because they bring you face to face with the fact this task isn't going away, and delaying will only add to your guilt and make this onerous task occupy more of your mind and time.

     You can read the above article in full HERE.

"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:13,14

     These 2 verses are wonderful. We can apply this to our subject today of improving our focus. "This one thing I do" would speak of focusing on one thing at a time, being single-minded, and not allowing ourselves to be distracted during the time we are working on our business.

     "Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before" reminds us to not allow past mistakes and failures to keep us from continuing on with renewed determination. 

     "I press toward the mark for the prize" success comes from having patient continuance in well doing. Don't give up, expect problems and set-backs, and overcome them with determination and enthusiasm!

Contact Information:

Email: phil.419.@gmail.com

Twitter: @419Dave

Google: +David

There Is Forgiveness!

     Thursday is usually my day for a gospel message, but my truck driving schedule has been really busy this week, so I am behind on my blog posts. I trust that today's post will be of great value and encouragement to all who read it! The gospel message surely is GOOD NEWS!

"If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared." Psalm 130:3,4.

    What verse 3, "If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" is reminding us is, we have all sinned, and because of this, none of us can stand before God. "There is none righteous, no, not one... for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  Romans 3:10,23.  The first step of being saved (born again), is coming to grips with the fact that you are a sinner, and that your sin has separated you from God, and there is nothing you can do on your own, to bring yourself back to favor with God. Please consider this very earnestly, because if you die in this condition, you will go to Hell, and be eternally separated from God.

     But now for the good news!  "There is forgiveness with Thee." God knows there is nothing we can do of ourselves to cleanse us from our sin, so He displayed His great love to us, by sending His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come down to this world, to suffer, to shed His precious, sinless blood, and to die, to pay the price for our sin. Jesus alone can bring us back into favor with God, and bridge the gap that our sin put between ourselves and God!

     Dear friend, the price has been paid, the free gift is there waiting for you, but you must reach out and receive this gift by believing that Jesus died for you! "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.

     It will not do you any good to read these words, or to hear the gospel message, and then walk away and neglect it, or say to yourself I will consider this again at another time, we are not guaranteed tomorrow, tomorrow may be too late. Please make this important decision today! 

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9. "For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13.

Contact Information:

Email: phil.419.@gmail.com

Twitter: @419Dave

Google: +David

      

Consider The Ant!

     Greetings! Today I am going to expound on some sound, practical advise from the scriptures, concerning our work ethics, and especially how it applies to the self-employed.

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." Proverbs 6:6-8.

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;" Proverbs 30:25.

     Something I have learned (or, I should say, I am still learning), is, it is one thing to report to work on time, and do all that is required of you, when you are an employee and have a boss watching your every move, whom you must be accountable to, and another thing altogether, when you are self-employed, and have to have the motivation and diligence to do these things on your own!

     "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:" It is easy to develop lazy habits when we have no one looking over our shoulder telling us what to do. If we are networking with other people, this helps us to be accountable, but, for the most part, when self-employed, we must develop good habits of faithfully going to work every day, (even if it is at home) and doing all that is necessary to keep the business going and growing, on a regular basis. Having a plan of what needs to be done each day, and then checking it off as you complete each item, is probably the one most beneficial trick I have learned, to make sure everything gets done on a regular basis.

     

  "Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." If we are going to have food to gather in the harvest, we must faithfully put in the time and effort needed, each and every day, even when we don't immediately see any fruit for our labor. The ant is a very good example of not only hard, dedicated work, with no one watching over them, but also an example of working with foresight. The ants know they will be hibernating through the winter, so they work very hard through the summer, so that they will have provisions to last them through the winter.

       "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;" The key to success for the self-employed is not having any special abilities or being smarter than anyone else, it is simply the commitment to making a plan or goal, then sticking to it on a regular basis. "With ordinary talents and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable." - Sir Thomas Buxton (1786-1845); British Member Of Parliament.

     This subject reminded me of of the old saying: "Make hay while the sun shines", so I found a good explanation of this saying, and I'm adding it to this post because I think it lends itself well to this subject. 

Have you ever been told to “make hay while the sun shines”? What does that even mean? You might not even be a farmer! Why would you want to make hay? And what does sunshine have to do with it?

“Make hay while the sun shines” is an old saying that’s considered a proverb. A proverb is an old, usually short saying that communicates good advice or something true.

If you make hay while the sun shines, it means that you take advantage of the chance to do something while conditions are good. In other words, you make good use of your time or make the most of an opportunity while you have the chance.

The saying has been around for hundreds of years. It first appeared in 1546 in John Heywood’s A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue. Experts believe the phrase came from medieval English farmers.

Hundreds of years ago, it would take many days for farmers to cut, dry and gather hay. Today, it’s much easier to make hay because of our modern machinery and weather forecasting.

Since hay can be ruined easily if it gets too wet, medieval farmers had to take advantage of hot, dry, sunny weather to cut and gather hay. Thus, “make hay while the sun shines” was just a matter of common sense to them.

They eventually began to use the phrase generally to mean to take advantage of circumstances before the chance slips away.

This proverb, like so many others, offers good advice. Opportunities may only come along every so often.

It’s good to take stock of a situation and realize when an opportunity presents itself. If you can act on it before it slips away, you’ll have made hay while the sun shone!

A similar idea can be communicated by the Latin phrase carpe diem, which is usually translated as “seize the day.” Those who use this phrase stress that the future is uncertain.

Since one never knows what the future may hold, take advantage of those opportunities that present themselves today. Make every second count!

     Here is where the above article can be found.

     I am now going to add portion of a previous post I wrote (Working Diligently), because diligence is such an important factor in success for the self-employed.

     Here is a dictionary definition of "Working diligently":

    "Diligently is defined as something done with great persistence, care or dedication. When you work carefully on a project and persist in doing it even when it becomes difficult, this is an example of a situation where you work diligently on the project."

     Proverbs 13:11 says: "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase."  I think we can replace the word "Vanity" with lotteries, get-rich-quick schemes, dishonesty, etc. I think it is true, that if we do come into money by any of these ways, it does diminish quickly. When we have done little to earn something, we don't value it near as much as we do when something takes a lot more time and effort to earn.

       "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." Proverbs 13:4,. In other words, a lazy person will constantly be wanting and desiring things, but unless they organize a plan, and commit to working diligently at it, will it be successful, otherwise it will only remain a dream.

        "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want." Proverbs 21:5. Good planning and hard work are the keys to success, but people that want something for nothing will fail. 

     

     Have "Patient continuance in well doing" Romans 2:7.

Contact Information:
Email: phil.419.@gmail.com

Twitter: @419Dave

Google: +David

The Gospel Of Grace

     Many people think they will go to Heaven because they have lived a good life. Perhaps, they treat all of their neighbors fairly, maybe they volunteer for charity work, and have never broken the law, maybe they were even baptized, or go to church regularly, but the bible, God's Word, says that no one can live up to God's standard of righteousness.

"As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one..."  Romans 3:10.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God..."  Romans 3:23.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Romans 6:23.

     Salvation cannot be earned, it is a gift of God that must be received by repenting (that is, turning your life over to God), and believing that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, died to pay the penalty for your sins on the cross.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."  John 3:36.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."  John 14:6.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast."  Ephesians 2:8,9.

      This is the gospel of grace, plain and simple. If you have not received the gift of salvation, please stop right now, and confess to God that you are a sinner in need of salvation, that you want to turn from the path you have been on, and that you believe the Lord Jesus died for your sins.

Contact Information:

Email: phil.419.@gmail.com

Twitter: @419Dave

Google: +David