Thursday, February 4, 2016
Pastor Linda Hillman Fundraising for Living Above Hurt/WHOLE Ministries
You are Bound No More.Pastor Linda Hillman(c) 2015 LAH Ministries InternationalBooklinda@gmail.comGet Your Copy NowWill You Be Made Whole - http://www.amazon.com/Will-You-Made-Whole-Restoration-ebook/dp/B00MG02PNMIn The Meantime - http://www.amazon.com/Meantime-When-Waiting-Key-ebook/dp/B00MF0LAVQ
Monday, December 7, 2015
How to Stop Negative Thinking in 7 Simple Steps courtesy of Curt Deatherage
Use these anti-negativity thinking tips to get your mental house in order
I thought he'd be pleased, I really did. But negative thinking can darken a cloudless day, bring down an uplifting event, and dampen a simple pleasure.
He'd won a lot of money and had been pleased...for a while. But now all Keith could say was, "Yeah, but now I have the added problem of whether to tell my friends or not. If I don't and they find out, it's bad. And if I do, they'll all expect me to share some with them!"
I suggested it wasn't a 'problem' but merely a consideration; that, all in all, he might as well be over the moon.
"Yeah, but I'm torn between paying off the mortgage and buying a Porsche."
Resisting the urge to throttle him (or ask for money), I got thinking about the true nature of negativity.
As someone once said: "Life's problems reveal who we really are!" and that's true; negative thinkers can "yeah, but" when things are going great. On the other hand, the more resilient of positive thinkers can remain upbeat when times are tough.
I sat and looked at Keith. A young man with intelligence (which was not best serving him), looks, and now money, and still he saw the old water jar as half empty. I've known people close to death with more zest and positivity.
Negative thinking can become a habit of mind, picked up from others. Or it can be little more than a failure of courage; because sometimes it actually takes guts to remain positive through setbacks. (Not that I considered winning money a 'setback'.)
I looked at him, thinking; he looked at me, wondering what I was looking at. Actually, I suppose negative thinking seems to have its advantages.
The devil you know
Thinking 'the worst', expecting failure and betrayal, seeing downsides where others don't, even seeing positives as negatives - all convey a kind of insurance policy. "If I expect the worst, then I won't be disappointed when it happens."
Another 'advantage' to negative thinking is the 'I told you so' syndrome. For some, it can feel more important to be proved right in their negative predictions than to have good things happen (and therefore be proved 'wrong').
Before I get too positive about negativity, here's a thought: The habit of thinking negatively doesn't just predict how likely someone is to become depressed, but also predicts how likely they are to suffer all kinds of other illnesses later on in life as well. (1) I'm not suggesting that negative thoughts alone produce illness, but they don't help.
We're going to look at what you can do to stop negative thinking. But first, let's examine a common fundamental mistake the pessimism-prone tend to make.
The most common negative thinking mistake
Keith was proud to describe himself as a 'realist'. Of course, anyone who strongly holds a belief think they are being 'realistic' in holding it, whether it involves green men from Mars or honest politicians.
The 'more realistic' proclamation is a favourite of cynics everywhere. And in a way they are right. But only because thinking negatively causes us not to try - or if we do try, to give up sooner - so the negativity itself influences results. Self-fulfilling prophecies really do happen. Research has even found that what we believe about our health can have more bearing on how long we live than our actual health. (2) So, negative thoughts can plague us even when things seem to be going well: "It's too good to last!" My first tip has to do with how negative thinking distorts perception.
1) Stop Thinking in Extremes
Most of life isn't black or white, completely this or that, all or nothing. But negative thinking tends to view bad stuff in the extreme. For example:
Rather than not doing as well as I'd like on my test, I'm going to "fail completely!"
Instead of my business venture taking a while to get going, it's going to "crash and burn, leaving me ruined!"
Rather than just feeling a few nerves during my speech, I'm going to "die out there; they're all going to hate me!"
All or nothing thinking misses out the subtle shades in life. It makes us see the future in terms of dramatic disasters, failures, and catastrophes. Sure, disasters occasionally happen, but - contrary to the shrill pronouncements from newsstands - most of life consists of shades of grey.
The first step to overcoming negative thinking isn't to 'just be positive' all of a sudden, but to look for shades of grey. Say you've been worrying about a relationship. Rather than thinking: "It's going to be a disaster, I just know it is" or even "It's going to be perfect!", how about: "I expect there will be great bits, good bits, and not so good bits, like any relationship."
Write down what you have been thinking negatively about. Write the extreme negative statement that comes to mind. Now write three 'middle of the road' possibilities - not so exciting (or terrifying), but a more realistic take on what is actually more likely to happen. Giving your brain more options will reduce emotionality and allow you to think more clearly.
Most of life isn't black or white, completely this or that, all or nothing. But negative thinking tends to view bad stuff in the extreme. For example:
Rather than not doing as well as I'd like on my test, I'm going to "fail completely!"
Instead of my business venture taking a while to get going, it's going to "crash and burn, leaving me ruined!"
Rather than just feeling a few nerves during my speech, I'm going to "die out there; they're all going to hate me!"
All or nothing thinking misses out the subtle shades in life. It makes us see the future in terms of dramatic disasters, failures, and catastrophes. Sure, disasters occasionally happen, but - contrary to the shrill pronouncements from newsstands - most of life consists of shades of grey.
The first step to overcoming negative thinking isn't to 'just be positive' all of a sudden, but to look for shades of grey. Say you've been worrying about a relationship. Rather than thinking: "It's going to be a disaster, I just know it is" or even "It's going to be perfect!", how about: "I expect there will be great bits, good bits, and not so good bits, like any relationship."
Write down what you have been thinking negatively about. Write the extreme negative statement that comes to mind. Now write three 'middle of the road' possibilities - not so exciting (or terrifying), but a more realistic take on what is actually more likely to happen. Giving your brain more options will reduce emotionality and allow you to think more clearly.
2) Stop Over-Generalizing the Negative
Ask yourself: "If something bad happens, do I over-generalize it? Do I view it as applying to everything and being permanent rather than containing it to one place and time?"
For example, if someone turns you down for a date, do you spread the negativity beyond that person, time, and place by telling yourself: "Nothing ever works out for me!"? If you fail a test do you say to yourself, "Well, I failed that test; I'm not happy about it, but I'll try harder next time."? Or do you over-generalize it by telling yourself you're "stupid" or "can't learn anything!"?
And while we're on the subject...
Ask yourself: "If something bad happens, do I over-generalize it? Do I view it as applying to everything and being permanent rather than containing it to one place and time?"
For example, if someone turns you down for a date, do you spread the negativity beyond that person, time, and place by telling yourself: "Nothing ever works out for me!"? If you fail a test do you say to yourself, "Well, I failed that test; I'm not happy about it, but I'll try harder next time."? Or do you over-generalize it by telling yourself you're "stupid" or "can't learn anything!"?
And while we're on the subject...
3) Don't Minimize The Positive
Negative thinking stops people seeing the positive when it does happen. It's as if there's a screen filtering out positives and just letting in stuff that confirms the 'negative bias'. Magnifying setbacks and minimizing successes leads to de-motivation and misery.
Get into the habit of seeing setbacks as temporary and specific rather than as permanent and pervasive. We all tend to find what we look for. If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts about a person, for instance, get into the habit of balancing it out with one positive thought about them: "He's so insincere... Mind you, to be fair, he was helpful with that project...and he can be very funny..." The positive is there, but you have to look for it.
Negative thinking stops people seeing the positive when it does happen. It's as if there's a screen filtering out positives and just letting in stuff that confirms the 'negative bias'. Magnifying setbacks and minimizing successes leads to de-motivation and misery.
Get into the habit of seeing setbacks as temporary and specific rather than as permanent and pervasive. We all tend to find what we look for. If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts about a person, for instance, get into the habit of balancing it out with one positive thought about them: "He's so insincere... Mind you, to be fair, he was helpful with that project...and he can be very funny..." The positive is there, but you have to look for it.
4) Stop Mind Reading
Thinking negatively stops us relaxing with uncertainty. This can lead to 'mindreading'. "She hasn't texted me back; she doesn't like me!" or "He only said that to make me feel better, he doesn't really think that!"
Having to assign a meaning to something before you have real evidence makes you more likely to believe what you imagine without question. Holding off assigning (made up) meaning to an ambiguous situation is a key part of overcoming negative thinking.
When you become more positive (or just more comfortably neutral), you'll be doing more of: "I don't know why she hasn't texted me back yet..." You'll also be able to consider all possible reasons you can think of, not just the negative ones.
Here are a few to help you out:
Thinking negatively stops us relaxing with uncertainty. This can lead to 'mindreading'. "She hasn't texted me back; she doesn't like me!" or "He only said that to make me feel better, he doesn't really think that!"
Having to assign a meaning to something before you have real evidence makes you more likely to believe what you imagine without question. Holding off assigning (made up) meaning to an ambiguous situation is a key part of overcoming negative thinking.
When you become more positive (or just more comfortably neutral), you'll be doing more of: "I don't know why she hasn't texted me back yet..." You'll also be able to consider all possible reasons you can think of, not just the negative ones.
Here are a few to help you out:
- She's forgotten her phone.
- The phone's battery is dead.
- She's run out of phone credits.
- She's in a lecture.
- She's on a plane.
- She's out of range.
5) Stop Taking All the Responsibility
If I put it down to 'other people' or 'luck' when something is good or successful and don't take any credit myself (even if the success was largely down to me), then I am externalizing the positive. Or I might externalize the quality of goodness from my friend when he does something kind by telling myself: "He only did that to win favours!" If you (or someone else) do something good or well, just accept it.
Negative thinkers also tend to do the opposite. They will internalize - that is, blame themselves - for all kinds of negatives that have little or nothing at all to do with them. Look at how much control and influence you really have over things that you tend to think negatively about.
If I put it down to 'other people' or 'luck' when something is good or successful and don't take any credit myself (even if the success was largely down to me), then I am externalizing the positive. Or I might externalize the quality of goodness from my friend when he does something kind by telling myself: "He only did that to win favours!" If you (or someone else) do something good or well, just accept it.
Negative thinkers also tend to do the opposite. They will internalize - that is, blame themselves - for all kinds of negatives that have little or nothing at all to do with them. Look at how much control and influence you really have over things that you tend to think negatively about.
6) Stop Forcing Your Own Rules on Life
"If he loved me, he wouldn't do that."
"If I was a good mother, I wouldn't lose my temper."
"People shouldn't act like that."
"If I can't do this, then I must be really stupid!"
"He was late - he must be seeing someone else!"
"Saying that means he doesn't respect me!"
"My medical tests haven't come back and that means it's bad news!"
Sometimes known as 'must-erbation', making up tight rules as to how reality must or should be is a sure-fire way of feeling let down by yourself and others.
This isn't to say that we shouldn't expect anything from ourselves and others, but rather that the rules need not be unreasonably inflexible.
If you feel disappointed or let down, then you must have been expecting something else. Examine what it was and ask yourself: "Was my expectation too narrow?"
"If I was a good mother, I wouldn't lose my temper."
"People shouldn't act like that."
"If I can't do this, then I must be really stupid!"
"He was late - he must be seeing someone else!"
"Saying that means he doesn't respect me!"
"My medical tests haven't come back and that means it's bad news!"
Sometimes known as 'must-erbation', making up tight rules as to how reality must or should be is a sure-fire way of feeling let down by yourself and others.
This isn't to say that we shouldn't expect anything from ourselves and others, but rather that the rules need not be unreasonably inflexible.
If you feel disappointed or let down, then you must have been expecting something else. Examine what it was and ask yourself: "Was my expectation too narrow?"
7) Stop Making Stuff Up and Believing It
Imagination is a wonderful thing, but not if you use it to scare yourself. Sometimes we need to be able to 'suspend the functioning of the imagination' (to quote Ernest Hemingway, no less). Looking at an upcoming event in your mind and negatively hypnotizing yourself by vividly imagining the worst is like using a hammer to paint a picture. Your imagination is there as a tool to be used constructively. By practicing imagining things going well, making it more likely, you'll be calmer in the situation and it will be a much better use of your time.
If you still have wildly negative thoughts, then at least 'dilute' them by imagining a positive outcome as well as the negative one. If you imagine forgetting what to say in an upcoming presentation, immediately disregard that and instead imagine it going well.
Stopping negative thinking takes time and effort, and to an extent it's a job that's never done. Practicing using these seven tips will serve you well for the rest of your life – isn't it worth spending a little time with them now?
Despite his negativity, Keith (a friend of mine) recognizes his own negative leanings and actually said he found these tips useful.
Imagination is a wonderful thing, but not if you use it to scare yourself. Sometimes we need to be able to 'suspend the functioning of the imagination' (to quote Ernest Hemingway, no less). Looking at an upcoming event in your mind and negatively hypnotizing yourself by vividly imagining the worst is like using a hammer to paint a picture. Your imagination is there as a tool to be used constructively. By practicing imagining things going well, making it more likely, you'll be calmer in the situation and it will be a much better use of your time.
If you still have wildly negative thoughts, then at least 'dilute' them by imagining a positive outcome as well as the negative one. If you imagine forgetting what to say in an upcoming presentation, immediately disregard that and instead imagine it going well.
Stopping negative thinking takes time and effort, and to an extent it's a job that's never done. Practicing using these seven tips will serve you well for the rest of your life – isn't it worth spending a little time with them now?
Despite his negativity, Keith (a friend of mine) recognizes his own negative leanings and actually said he found these tips useful.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Start Strong! Finish Strong! New Free Ebook
Get you copy of a book I wrote to help you finish 2015 with a bang and start 2016 with an even greater bang!
Here is an excerpt:
Get your free copy while supplies last. March 1, 2016. It will be launched on Amazon as an ebook
You are Bound No More.
Pastor Linda Hillman
(c) 2015 LAH Ministries International
Booklindahillman@gmail.com
Get Your Copy Now
Will You Be Made Whole
In The Meantime
Here is an excerpt:
This mindset causes you to believe that you never have enough, nor are you enough. It does not matter what you accomplish in life or how much money you have in the bank. Your focus is always on the things you don’t have, what someone else may have that you don’t. You become fixated on that next Shiny Object but it always seem to be just outside of your reach. You spend so much time and energy on what’s missing in your life, you cannot enjoy what has shown up that is really great and amazing.
If allowed this mindset will create an obsession to accumulate stuff that fills your life with empty happiness. Thus you are never fulfilled and you want more of the things you think you need. Scarcity thing is a breeding ground for fear. You begin to imagine loss, rejection, poverty and thus you begin to hoard physically and emotionally. You then begin to fear being alone and lonely. However, the oxymoron of this all is the more you hang on to stuff and hoard your emotions and speak your fears, they become your reality. Again I say it’s a vicious cycle, a double edged sword: the more you get, the more you want. Scarcity thinking become a habit that you want to break but it is now controlling you and it is your go to comfort zone.
Whenever something brings your fears to forefront and threatens your security, here comes that scarcity mindset, your ole faithful and reliable loop that never fulfills you but seems to drive you.The only way to break this cycle is to be truly grateful for what you have now. Gratitude opens the door for that greedy hoarding habit to be removed. You begin to see that what you have is good enough, you are good enough and surprisingly you attract more without the obsession to acquire more. You stop taking people and things in your life for granted. You appreciate everything. So let’s do a quick exercise. Take a deep breath. Now say, I am grateful for the air that filled my lungs. Do you fill the satisfaction of the moment? Now take a sip of water and do the same. Powerful stuff right? Did you noticed how in that moment you could not be fearful?
You can replace that scarcity mindset that stems from fear with gratitude. Let me drop a bit more wisdom here, if I may, most of the cause of the issues in your life is because we fail to be grateful for what we have and appreciate just being! In every situation that you find yourself in no matter how dire, look for the opportunity to be grateful in that moment. Find something that motivates you to achieve to move forward and express how grateful you are because it showed up in your life at the right moment. You will see how the things that don’t matter fade away in the distance and the things you don’t need just don’t matter at all.
Other thing to remember is that the people in our lives are the best gifts to us. So appreciate them. In doing so, you will release fear of loss, rejection and loneliness from your presence. Let me just go church for one second, Perfect love casts out all fear. So stop focusing on the people that have hurt you and caused stress in your life. Give your energy and time to those who love you and you love. This will strengthen your resolve to control how fear shows up in your life.
Now let me flip the coin. You should still be grateful for those that have cause suffering in your life. Forgiveness is key. Forgive the person, not the act. Release this person from all resentment and harboring grudges. These are most effective at causing us to destroy the good vibes that come from being love and giving love. Theses emotions rob us of all happiness and invites fear to once again to bring that scarcity mindset back with revenge.
Have you ever been in a room with people you love and respect, then that one comes in and your whole mood changes? You have gone from having a great time to now sitting and brooding over something they did. As you sit there, wishing for some awful outcome to overtake them…they are laughing and having a great time. Now you resent them even more. Do not lose another moment in your life allowing resentment, bitterness and grudges to change the temperature of your life. Here’s something you can do today to take back your control. Ready? Do something nice for someone you do not like. Buy a card, give flowers, bake a cake or just make a phone call or send an email. Don’t mention what they did, actually act like all is well. I can guarantee you that the reaction will warm your heart. Once this is done, check your own feelings. Do you still feel the animosity, contempt or resentment towards them? I challenge you to do it today and then email me about what occurred in your own heart and mind.
Get your free copy while supplies last. March 1, 2016. It will be launched on Amazon as an ebook
You are Bound No More.
Pastor Linda Hillman
(c) 2015 LAH Ministries International
Booklindahillman@gmail.com
Get Your Copy Now
Will You Be Made Whole
In The Meantime
Monday, August 10, 2015
Monday, August 3, 2015
Living On Purpose
Purpose is a result, end, mean, aim, or goal of an action intentionally undertaken, or of an object being brought into use or existence, whether or not the purpose was a primary or secondary effect.
So what does living on purpose truly mean? I am glad you asked. Many seem to be wondering aimlessly in life. They have questions like: Why am I here? What am I suppose to do and how am I suppose to do it? Does this sound familiar?
Maybe you are one that says, I know why I am here but I want to change my circumstances before I walk in the direction my life should take. Well, I am here to shed light on the situation for you.
First, let me say, living on purpose is more than setting goals and achieving them. It is more than having a positive attitude and commanding life. Living on purpose is a mindset. It is a lifestyle. It is taking responsibility for the authority and power you have been given; knowing that without surrender to the God of the universe, nothing is achievable.
Secondly, I want to say this and hear me well: So often, opportunities present themselves and we hide, perhaps out of fear or skepticism. "Too good to be true" we may tell ourselves until the opportunity has passed. Our comfort zone may be to stay with the familiar "missed opportunity" paradigm. We feel safer with what is familiar, even if it's not working for us! Opportunities are all around us, and we may not see or act on them, because of the "scarcity mentality.” FEAR, often driven by the daily news that comes out of our electronic life distracter, also known as television. Turn that stuff off and live your life!
Overcoming fear, seizing an opportunity, stepping out of skepticism and scarcity is exhilarating, rich and rewarding beyond description. This is life! Make good on an intention, follow your passion, live your dream, seize the opportunity.
If you are living your life on purpose, you understand that you are and what you have to offer and seizing every opportunity to grow in every area of your life. Dare to be you and follow the roadmap given to you on your day of birth. Listen if you live passionately, you will find that purpose becomes clear!
You are Bound No More.
Pastor Linda Hillman
(c) 2015 LAH Ministries International
Booklindahillman@gmail.com
Get Your Copy Now
Will You Be Made Whole
In The Meantime
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Giving To The Lord
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution. And this is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold, silver and bronze, blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, rams’ skins dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood, oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones and setting stones and setting stones, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:1-8).
Then Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and said to them, “These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do. For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.” And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded, saying, ‘Take from among you a contribution to the LORD; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the LORD’S contribution: gold, silver, and bronze, and blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and porpoise skins, and acacia wood, and oil for lighting, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense, and onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let every skillful man among you come, and make all that the LORD has commanded’” (Exodus 35:1-10).There are many details concerning the contributions of the people in this account, but for our purposes we shall attempt to focus our attention on some of the more general characteristics of the contributions to the tabernacle. Consider the following characteristics:
(1) Israel’s contributions were voluntarily given. There is an interesting comment given to us in verse 20 of chapter 35 which reinforces the voluntary aspect of Israel’s gifts. After Moses had given God’s instructions to the people, explaining the opportunity that each had to make a contribution, he dismissed them: “Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel departed from Moses’ presence” (Exod. 35:20). It is not until later, after the people had been dismissed, that the people began to bring their offerings to the Lord.
A number of modern-day fund-raisers would never think of dismissing a congregation until after they had made a commitment to give a particular sum. They would have pressed the Israelites to make an on the spot commitment. They would have passed out pledge cards to sign, so that the enthusiasm of the moment was not lost. Moses dismissed the people, so that they had time to themselves, apart from outside pressure, to determine what they could and should contribute. This insured the fact that the gifts were indeed voluntarily donated, and not obtained under some kind of emotional or psychological duress.
(2) Israel’s gifts were willingly and joyfully given. God instructed Moses to collect an offering from “whoever is of a willing heart” (Exod. 35:5), and the text frequently informs us that this was the case (cf. 35:21, 22, 26, 29). Every indication of our text is that the people gladly gave their gifts so that the tabernacle could be built.
(3) The gifts of the Israelites were abundantly given. The excitement and enthusiasm of the Israelites is evident by the abundance of their gifts. In fact, the text informs us that the gifts exceeded the need, so that Moses was requested by the workers to command the people to stop giving (Exod. 36:2-7). This is the first time in the history of mankind that I know of that people were told to stop giving because all that was needed was given. Today, there might have been a proposal to enlarge the tabernacle, so that donations would keep coming in. How wonderful it would be, just once, to be told not to give.
(4) The giving of the Israelites was unanimous. While all were free to give or not to give, the text strongly suggests that there were few, if any, who refused to have a part in contributing toward the construction of the tabernacle (cf. 35:23-28).
(5) The giving of the Israelites was proportionate. While virtually everyone gave something for the tabernacle, each one gave in accordance with what he or she had to give.
Everyone who could make a contribution of silver and bronze brought the LORD’S contribution; and every man, who had in his possession acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. And all the skilled women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue and purple and scarlet material and in fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred with a skill spun the goats’ hair. And the rulers brought the onyx stones and stones for setting for the ephod and for the breastpiece; and the spice and the oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. The Israelites, all the men and women, whose heart moved them to bring material for all the work, which the LORD had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a freewill offering to the LORD (Exod. 35:24-29, emphasis mine).
Those who were wealthy gave what only the wealthy would possess—the finest stones and gems, the most precious oils and fragrances. Those who had lesser means gave what they had.
(6) The giving of the Israelites included both material goods and technical services. The building of the tabernacle required two essential elements: goods and services. That is, there must be the raw materials from which the tabernacle and its furnishings were to be constructed. This included gold, silver, precious stones, animal skins, spices and ointments, and fine cloth. Then there must be skilled workers, both men and women, who would fashion these raw materials into objects of beauty. Some of those who gave to the tabernacle gave of their goods, while many others gave of their skilled abilities, to create a place of great beauty and worth.
(7) The contributions of the Israelites were of the highest quality. The tabernacle was to be of such quality and craftsmanship that it would befit the God who was to dwell within it (cf.Exod. 25:8). Thus, the materials used in building it were the finest that were available (cf. 35:6-9). So, too, with the craftsmen who were to create the intricate and beautiful works of art within the tabernacle (35:30-35). God was given the finest men had to offer, and all of these fine things, whether goods or skills, were God-given in the first place.
Many people say that they don't like church because they are always asking for money. The point is that when God wants to do something in the midst of His people He will give them an opportunity to be blessed.
He told Moses to only accept the offering from those who had a willing heart to give. To me, it means not everyone gave but those who did give were a blessing to the project that God ordained. To the point that Moses had to ask them to stop giving. No pulling teeth... no hostage situation.
Just ask and let God do the rest. I also liked the fact that he asked and The Bible says those that had gave. No one was made to feel bad because they didn't have. No one was pressured and no fake (false) rewards were promised. If you are willing and able changes the framework of how we give and why.
You are Bound No More.
Pastor Linda Hillman
(c) 2015 LAH Ministries International
Booklindahillman@gmail.com
Get Your Copy Now
Will You Be Made Whole
In The Meantime
You are Bound No More.
Pastor Linda Hillman
(c) 2015 LAH Ministries International
Booklindahillman@gmail.com
Get Your Copy Now
Will You Be Made Whole
In The Meantime
Friday, July 31, 2015
Watch And See What He Will Say!
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. - (Habakkuk 2:1-3 KJV)
About nine months ago, I heard a sermon that pointed this out. Habakkuk went up to his tower to see what the Lord would say. He did not want to hear from the Lord. He wanted to imagine the truth of the Lord. To see with his mind's eye. He needed to picture the deliverance of his people. Now granted I had read this passage many times, but that had not struck me until pointed out. He went to watch and see what the Lord would say.
As I listened to the sermon going forth, I began to see. Now the person that preached the sermon went a different way. They actually did not put a lot of emphasis on this. It was as if they mentioned it in passing. However, my spirit was shifted and revelation flooded my soul. A seed had been planted and wanted to grow. This is what I share with you.
Habakkuk knew that after he had complained to God about Israel's situation in bondage that God was going to speak. However, because he could only see bondage and oppression, he knew just hearing from the Lord was not an option. He had to see. He had to see the freedom of his people. He had to describe in vivid details what God had said. I get this as an author. I have written stories of fiction and in those stories you have to describe a scene. It's called staging or descriptive language. You have to let the reader see what you are saying through the words that you have chosen to write. You need them to connect with the experience that your character is having. Why? this allows your reader to become emotionally invested. Thus, they will continue to read.
As I listened to the sermon going forth, I began to see. Now the person that preached the sermon went a different way. They actually did not put a lot of emphasis on this. It was as if they mentioned it in passing. However, my spirit was shifted and revelation flooded my soul. A seed had been planted and wanted to grow. This is what I share with you.
Habakkuk knew that after he had complained to God about Israel's situation in bondage that God was going to speak. However, because he could only see bondage and oppression, he knew just hearing from the Lord was not an option. He had to see. He had to see the freedom of his people. He had to describe in vivid details what God had said. I get this as an author. I have written stories of fiction and in those stories you have to describe a scene. It's called staging or descriptive language. You have to let the reader see what you are saying through the words that you have chosen to write. You need them to connect with the experience that your character is having. Why? this allows your reader to become emotionally invested. Thus, they will continue to read.
I believe that is why God said, write it down and make it plain. We talk about vision, but we have no vision. It's time we stop wanting to hear a word from the Lord, but we go to our tower to SEE what the Lord will say. It's time we watch and See what the Lord will say.
You are Bound No More. Pastor Linda Hillman
(c) 2015 LAH Ministries International
Booklindahillman@gmail.com
Get Your Copy Now
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)