It Is Finished!

     Today's post is a gospel message that will focus on the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ completely paid the price (or penalty) for our sin, and that there is no remaining work on our part to do, but believe on the finished work of  Jesus, because we are saved by grace!

     "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and he bowed His head, and gave up the ghost." John 19:28-30.

     Jesus, perfectly and completely, fulfilled the prophecies written of Him in the Old Testament of the Bible. "And He (Jesus) said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me." Luke 24:44.

     "He said, It is finished"  When Jesus suffered, bled, and died on Calvary's cross, He, completely paid the penalty for our sin. Our sin debt was bought and paid for at that time.

     "And gave up the ghost." Luke 23:46 puts it this way, "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit; and having said thus, He gave up the ghost." Man did not kill our Savior, Jesus freely, willingly, lovingly, gave Himself for us! "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." John 10:17,18.

     SAVED BY GRACE ALONE!

     The gospel message is God's good news to man, and GRACE  is the reason this is good news!

     Because of sin, we are separated from God. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. And Romans 6:23 says "For the wages (or penalty) of sin is death (spiritual, or eternal death): But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." 

     As we have already seen, Jesus finished the work that was necessary to pay the penalty for our sin, when He died for us. Jesus was the only perfect, sinless, one that could  offer the sacrifice necessary to God to pay our sin debt. This was accomplished over 2000 years ago, but we are still in the day of grace, that is, the gift of salvation is still available to anyone willing to repent and receive the free gift of salvation! To repent means to be willing to turn from the path you have been on, to following after God. Receiving the free gift of salvation means realizing you can't do anything to earn your salvation, and you must simply receive it as a gift. When someone buys you a birthday present, wraps it up and holds it out to you, until you take it and claim it as your own, it is not yours!

     "Not of works", again, there are no good works we can do to earn God's favor. When Jesus was asked about this, this was His reply: "Then said they unto Him, what shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, this is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." John 6:28,29. 

     I trust and pray that each one who reads the words of this post, will do some serious soul searching, because this is the most serious of all decisions you will ever have to make. Where you will spend eternity depends on it! Remember, just by choosing not to believe, doesn't mean it is not true.

     "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11. One day, each one of us will bend the knee to Jesus, and confess that He is Lord and Savior, how much better to do it now, when it will lead to eternal life with God in Heaven, than after you die, and face Him at the day of judgement, when it will be too late!!!  "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" Hebrews 9:27. 

"So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus Himself and then delivered to us by those who heard Him speak?" Hebrews 2:3. Please don't put this off, none of us knows when we will die, we are not guaranteed of tomorrow. Receive the free gift of salvation today!

Contact Information:

Email: phil.419.@gmail.com

Twitter: @419Dave

Google: +David

The Importance Of Self discipline

     Something I have been learning (mostly the hard way), is the importance of self discipline, when it comes to starting and operating a  small business on the side, when you already have a full time job. Time is so valuable, that focus and self discipline are essential for success!

     The following is a portion of a very good article on self discipline:

Life isn't some waiting room in which to 'kill time' with repetitive self-amusements.

Self-discipline, like a muscle, can be developed. If we were raised in a disciplined environment, we may find it easier to be self-disciplined, but we can all develop more.

The following self-discipline tips have been gleaned from how top achievers manage and develop ability. Try them:

1) Don't wait to 'feel like it'

In some ways, exercising self-discipline is harder than ever before. We're all encouraged to feel something should entertain us before it is worthwhile. We become brainwashed with messages like:

"Don't do it unless you feel like it!"

"If it feels good, do it!"

"Yeah, the money's good but I'm not getting up at that time!"

Choosing to do something or not based on whether it feels comfortable/pleasurable or not is a disaster. If I waited to 'feel like it' before exercising or working or making that tricky phone call or putting in the occasional all-nighter to meet a deadline, then I would be much less disciplined than I am now and believe me that would be really bad. : o

"Don't have a wishbone where your backbone should be!"

2) Finish what you start (as a point of honour)

Winston Churchill could only offer the British people 'blood, sweat, and tears', but victory was the greater goal for the whole nation. Really think about:

A, How much you want to achieve a greater goal (be it weight loss, a finished novel, new business, or mastering a musical instrument).

B, How serious you really are.

You may think you are serious and even tell others how serious you are, but only your actions really convey how genuine you are. Better you keep silent and get on with it than delude yourself and others.

Focus on the long-term 'big outcome' and self-discipline will naturally follow. Every morning, get up (yes do please get up!) and tell yourself: "Today is not over until I have done..." – whatever you need to do that day. Literally, you can't finish your day until what you set out to do has been done. I'm not kidding. Respect yourself enough to keep your own promises to yourself.

3) Dump the excuses

Be honest with yourself. Do the following sound familiar?

"I don't want to overdo it!"

"I'll start it when the weather gets better!"

"Well it's too late now to do it, anyway!" (Remember: your day ain't over 'til it's done.)

"I'm not getting support from others so I won't bother then!"

"I'm not going to do it at all now if you're going to take that attitude!"

Now, lest you think I'm holier than thou – perish the thought. I have used all the above excuses and many more besides to mask my own laziness or fear.

But if you are going to make excuses, don't fall for them yourself. Don't believe your own PR.

In fact, start being honest. Tell yourself:

"I'm not going to go for the run now because I'm too soft and lazy."

Or: "I've decided not to give that speech now because I'm too cowardly!"

I've tried this and you know what? Honesty can be hard to take. Harder, in fact, than actually doing the thing you're trying to avoid. Stop mistaking excuses for credible reasons.

4) Sorry, it's non-negotiable

When we start to question whether we are really going to get down to some work, whether it's too late to make a start, whether we should watch the James Bond movie on TV instead, we start to 'leak' motivation. Make self-discipline 'non-negotiable'. I'm guessing you don't um and ah about whether to clean your teeth or pull the chain in the toilet (I'm hoping) – these things are unquestioned by you. Likewise, tell yourself: "I'm not going to listen to excuses or wimp-outs – this is non-negotiable!"

Remember the words of Abraham J. Heschel: "Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself."

5) The pull of the external deadline

Alan made promises to himself and he had enough self-respect to keep these promises. No one else put pressure on him to practice so much. But if he had a concert coming up, he worked even harder. External deadlines – working to deliver what others expect from you – can massively boost your drive to succeed. If there are no external deadlines, then make some.

Maybe you do contract work or a publisher is expecting your work by a certain time, so you already have an external deadline. But if you don't, then create aninternal one (such as "by July the 1st I'm going to be 12 pounds slimmer") and make it external by telling as many people as possible.

If you need to write 100,000 words in two months, tell other people that on a certain date you are going to get back to them to tell them you've done it. Print off a letter of intent, sign it in front of a friend or several people, and ask them to remind you of your deadline when it arrives and sign again that you have completed it. External deadlines work.

6) Ignore the naysayers

Other people can exert an immensely negative effect... if we let them. Don't let them. Don't let words or even negative facial expressions deter you. Seek the advice of experts by all means and learn from the best, but never accept negativity from people who haven't themselves achieved what it is you are set upon achieving.

If people say what you plan is not possible or sneer at your efforts, don't be deterred by this; rather, use it to fire your energy and strength. Proving others wrong is a greatly underrated pleasure.

7) Don't get hijacked by trivia

We all have a need to complete things, be it a story we are reading or an opera we are composing. If someone starts to tell you a joke (or a piece of gossip), they set an expectation in your brain that you really want fulfilled. But if you have important things to do, things to learn, an important project, then trivial things can 'hijack' this need for completion. Playing endless computer games or watching TV thrillers can leave you feeling satisfied because something has been completed. This is like meeting your physical hunger by eating junk, then no longer wanting to eat real nutrition.

By cutting out (or down) your consumption of TV, gaming, or even newspaper reading, you leave your need for completion free to work on what you really need to be focusing on. You need to feel that things remain unfinished to keep focused and you need to devote valuable time and energy where it's really needed.

Self-discipline is the fuel that gets you places. The happy by-products of discipline are success, self-respect, and improved physical and mental health.

As Alan said: "I have to be true to myself, else I feel like a fraud."

You can read this entire article by Mark Tyrrell  HERE.

Below is a portion of scripture we can look at in reference to self discipline:

"Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes, exercises self control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we, a crown that will never fade away. Therefore, I do not run like one that runs aimlessly, or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (HCSB).

     In the above portion, the Apostle Paul is comparing running in an athletic event, to running the Christian race. He stresses how important it is to exercise self discipline, and how it is to be taken very seriously. We can also apply this to our subject of self discipline, when squeezing in time to start a second business. If we do not take it seriously, and make the most of every moment we have to put into it, we most likely, will not succeed!

Contact Information:

Email: phil.419.@gmail.com

Twitter: @419Dave

Google: +David

"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