Christmas Caroling to Closed Doors, Serving Others, and The One that Opened!
Our church group went Christmas caroling in an apartment complex for retired people last night. As we approached the first set of doors to begin singing, I could visualize joyful old folks opening their doors in delight, then beaming with the Christmas spirit as they stood and listened to us sing.
We began with “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” and by the time we concluded no doors had opened. “They’re old, I thought….it takes them a while to get to the door”. Then we sang Jingle Bells…..nothing. Silent Night….nada.
So, I thought, this particular section of the apartment isn’t exactly bubbling with Christmas Spirit. We’ll move on to the next. To my great surprise, after singing to at least a dozen apartments, not a single door had opened…..not a single smiling face.
As we came to one of the last sections of the complex, we gathered together once again and began to sing. After only a brief moment we saw a doorknob turn, a door open, and a smiling face appear. She stood in the doorway, utterly delighted, and beamed with light as we sang.
This is such a great metaphor for life. As we attempt to help others, we’re going to encounter closed doors. But we must sally forth, because in due time doors will open and smiling faces will appear.
There are two things we’ll never know: when doors will open, and what’s going on behind the ones that remain closed. We may not have even seen the person who was most touched last night. For that reason, we can't base our efforts to help people on results. We need only follow our hearts and not get discouraged. If we do that, people will be blessed.
Chime in, what do you think? Have you ever had an experience where persistence has payed off for you?
The Law of Attraction, an Abundance Mentality, and How a Stack of Coupons Changed my Life!
- What is keeping unlimited blessings from flowing into your life?
Tonight I had a profound experience…in a grocery store of all places.
I was checking out of the “express” line on my way home from work. I held in my hands a 2 pound salad, custom made by yours truly, and I somehow managed to fit it into a 1 pound container….but that’s just how I roll.
Anyway, it was about 8:00 at night and I was about an hour and a half from home. I realized this around the same time that I noticed that the lady in front of me had slightly exceeded the 15 item limit by roughly a dozen items, plus the line was barely even moving! This is where it gets interesting.
A New and Surprising Reaction
Several weeks ago I would have harbored some negative feelings, grumbled a bit, and probably looked at the clock every 30 seconds trying to expedite the situation through the sheer power of my will…….But not tonight.
Tonight I was overwhelmed by one single feeling; and it’ the same emotion that’s filled my soul over the past week: a feeling of gratitude and deep appreciation.
As I stood there in line I was fully present and conscious; everything seemed to move in slow motion. I felt intense gratitude for all of my surroundings and saw that literally everything was a blessing. I was grateful for all of the people around me. As I watched them, I could see the good in them. I looked around the store. I noticed things I’ve never taken the time to see before: flags hanging from the ceiling, management bustling in the back rooms, the flow of people in and out of the store. I stood there in awe. I was grateful to live in a place where I could walk into a building, fill a basket, and walk out with an abundance of food. A quote from Rumi came to mind, “Sell your cleverness and purchase bewilderment.” I was indeed bewildered.
As we advanced in line and my mathematically challenged buddy was checking out, she broke out the biggest stack of a stack of coupons I had ever seen. It literally took longer to scan every coupon than it did all of her items. As the cashier scanned each one I smiled. All I could feel was empathy and appreciation for this hard working mom. Just one week ago I would have stood impatiently as more and more frustration mounted with every ‘beep’ of the scanner. Now every beep was a blessing.
As the last coupon was scanned there was a discrepancy requiring the attention of a manager which resulted in another long delay. The lady, who had already been uncomfortable taking so long, looked at me and said “I am so sorry”.
I had hoped for this opportunity and immediately said, “Please don’t apologize. I can tell you put a lot of hard work into this and I am so happy that you are able to save this money.”
I may have said something similar a few weeks ago….who knows? But now I felt it through my entire body. I could see her in my mind, balancing her checkbook and determining that she would do whatever it took to save money and help her family. I could see her sitting at the kitchen table shuffling through newspapers, clipping coupons, and planning this trip to the grocery store. I could see her walking down the aisles, carefully selecting the pre-planned items.
She was not some ‘thing’ standing in front of me in line, some obstacle placed between me and what I wanted. She was a person with real purpose, real intention, and of real value. I could see how this person, myself, and everyone else in the store were somehow connected.
The Epiphany: A True understanding of the Law of Attraction
I have been studying the Law of Attraction for years, but it wasn’t until last week that I finally ‘got it’. The law of attraction basically states that a person will attract the same types of energy that they emit. If you’re kind to people, then people will generally be kind to you in return…and vice versa. It revolves around the notion of karma and I happen to believe it to be a true principle and in complete agreement with Christianity (but that’s another article).
I had always understood the concept of doing good and getting good in return, but the real epiphany came last week as I studied Wayne Dyers book “The Power of Intention”. I discovered that the Law of Attraction applied as much to our focus as our actions. In my case, I had been focusing on some things (all good things) that I wanted in my life but had not yet achieved. This led to weeks of frustration and a general feeling of discontent; to the point that I even wrote about this it in a previous blog post. What I came to understand was that if you attract whatever remains in your focus, and you focus on what you do not have, then what you attract is more of what you do not have. This may sound trivial, but it literally changed my life and led to the experience in the grocery store as well as many others over the past few days. My focus shifted from the things that I wanted to the things that I already have and will have. I basically transitioned from a scarcity mentality to an abundance mentality.
Scarcity Mentality vs. Abundance Mentality
These are essentially the only two ways to see the world.
Seeing the world through the lens of abundance means that there are no limits to life, you see the good in everything, the glass is half full, the pie is huge and constantly growing so you’re happy to share as much of it as you can. It produces gratitude, peace, and yes, even prosperity. It emanates from our true selves and ultimately comes from God. It focuses on what we have and what we will achieve.
The scarcity mentality is the exact opposite. In this perspective there is never enough, things could always be better, the glass is half empty, I won’t share the pie because it’s too dang small and I want mine! It is ego driven and focuses on the things we do not have.
Now, with that said, anyone will tell you that I have always been a very optimistic person; very willing to share the pie and even give you my half full glass of milk! However, I was guilty of having a scarcity mentality with regards to fulfilling my life’s mission. My thoughts revolved around the aspects of it I didn’t have. When the epiphany came, I immediately let it all go. I was just grateful for life. I could breathe, smell, touch, taste, and enjoy my family and friends. My heart was beating and this was enough. I was complete with no strings attached. What immediately happened was amazing. I found that as I focused on what I had, God gave me even more to be grateful for.
I discovered that the only thing between me and my mission was…..me! Ironically, I was the sole architect in fabricating the barriers between what I had and what I wanted. As soon as I embraced an abundance mentality with regards to my life mission the miracle began to happen and the same can happen for you.
Here are 6 Quick Tips for Attracting Abundance into Your Life
The ability to attract success rests in your hands!
1. Be Grateful
Gratitude puts you in a humble state of mind. There is always something to be grateful for. Find the life under your life situation. You are not your circumstances, your body, or even your mind. The essence of who you are is a miraculous. Acknowledge this and thank your Father in Heaven for it. If you think otherwise, then that is exactly what will manifest itself in your life….more to be ungrateful for.
2. Refuse to Focus on the Negative
There is always something to complain about. Imagine you could choose to go anywhere in the world with whoever you like for as long as you wanted. As soon as you were there, your mind would still find something wrong…..the peeled grapes would be soggy….you get the point. Shut this out of your mind because it only brings pain and suffering, which in turn attracts….you, got it, more pain.
3. Deny Your Ego
Your ego is essentially your self identity. It’s the 3 year old kid inside you that screams “MINE!” It tries to convince you that happiness is everywhere except where you are now. It tries to convince you that you are isolated and separate from everyone else. It tries to convince you that it is you. It feeds on pain. Separate yourself from it, observe it, and deny its promptings. It screams “scarcity, scarcity, scarcity!” Laugh at it, put it aside, and choose abundance.
4. Be Present
The key to any spiritual success is quieting the mind. Take notice of your surroundings. Take notice of your breathing, your pulse, nature, background sounds. Don’t judge them, just observe them. This is the beginning of gratitude. Pretend past and future do not exist. All you have is the present moment. God exists outside of time and if you can periodically remove yourself from the burden of time it will only bring you closer to him.
5. Be in a State of Perpetual Prayer
Communication with God is essential. Be open to promptings that He sends you, they happen for a reason. I always think of this when I look at my Blackberry. It has two arrows, one representing when information is being sent ‘up’ and another for when it is sent ‘down’. Let’s be sure to do at least as much downloading as we do uploading to God.
6. Do Good continually and expect nothing in return
Christ taught the golden rule of human relations. He taught not only to love others as ourselves, but that to serve them is to serve God. As we do this expecting nothing in return, we will find an abundance of peace, joy, and many other blessings flow into our lives.
I am grateful for the knowledge that God gives us line upon line and precept upon precept. I have found The Law of Attraction to be a true principle, both for better and for worse. I know that as we focus on the blessings we have, share all that we have, and see ourselves as we ultimately wish ourselves to be, God will bless us beyond measure. I’ll never look at a sheet of coupons the same again!
As always comments are welcome and appreciated.
5 Inspiring Thoughts to Brighten Your Day: Courtesy of Mother Teresa
Looks like she's having a pretty good day.....huh?
1. “Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.”
Today, let’s keep an eye out for some low hanging “fruit”. Go out of your way to hold the door for someone. Let someone ahead of you in traffic. Give an intentional smile to someone who needs it. Let’s seek someone to serve. Let’s sow seeds of love….let’s do it today.
2. “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”
Let’s give part of ourselves away today….the things we most treasure. Freely give all credit for an accomplishment to others. Freely accept all blame for a situation. Take all possible discomforts upon yourself to increase the happiness of those around you. Be the last to begin eating, be the first up to do the dishes. Give a back message while your back is killing you. Sacrifice yourself for others in every possible way today…..see what happens.
3. “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
Christ taught the principle of the 99 and the 1. Every soul is precious in the sight of God. The worst thing we can do today is feel that we can’t make a difference. Let’s set a goal right now to touch at least one person in a positive way today. I promise you that it will happen, and the effects will be profound.
4. “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
Nothing will keep you further from happiness today then judging others. It literally sucks the life and energy from you as well as those around you. Remove this negative energy from yourself today, and fill the void with compassion and a genuine desire to serve others. Seek out those you are most inclined to stand in judgment of and make their happiness your priority. Pray for help, and then make it happen. You’ll be amazed at the results. Don’t wait for tomorrow…..do it today!
5. “Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”
Matthew 25 is the mantra of my life: “What you have done unto the least of these my bretheren you have done it unto me.”, Christ taught. Take this teaching literally. Sense the love and appreciation you have for Jesus Christ and project it onto others. This is a life changing paradigm because it changes the lens through which you see the entire world. Every person in every situation is Christ. Imagine smiling at Him, letting Him in front of you in line at the grocery store, giving Him money, or a job, or even a hug. I have written of my own personal experiences living this principle and simply can’t say enough about the happiness and peace that it has brought into my life.
I have gratitude for the life of Mother Teresa; for her words, and for her inspiring life which was the embodiment of selfless service. Let’s all be inspired to make a difference today. A line from one of my kid’s favorite movies just came to mind, “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift….that’s why it’s called the ‘present’”. Let’s make today count!
Comments are welcome and appreciated as always. God Bless!
Memoirs of a Christian Entrepreneur: How I met Jesus in Fort Worth Texas.
Sometimes opportunities arise when you least expect it!
Here’s yet another post in my series “Memoirs of a Christian Entrepreneur”. This was an awesome experience I had in Texas while attending a three day swimming pool construction course.
Many of you have heard this experience before, but it was one of my first posts so it got no love, plus I wanted to re-post it as part of this series anyway. I wrote the following story the night it happened. It will always remain an experience that’s near to my heart.
It was about 9:00 pm and I was walking down Houston Ave in downtown Fort Worth, Texas desperately seeking a hot meal. It had been a hectic day of travel that included a full blown sprint to catch a flight, lost luggage, “misplaced” hotel reservations, and no food. It was cold, I was tired, and my quest for an authentic Tex-Mex meal was looking bleak, so I compromised and settled for some Applebee’s wanna-be.
By this time I had reached caveman status so I grabbed a seat and ordered way too much food. While anxiously awaiting the arrival of my meal I tried to distract myself by reflecting on the purpose of my trip. I had traveled to Texas to attend a three-day course to be further trained in the arts of high-end residential swimming pool construction…...and I was pumped. An opportunity to learn, meet new people, and…never mind here comes my food.
My meal finally hit the table and I was ready to dig in when some dirty guy taps on the window, points to his wide open mouth and lips the word “homeless”. So I kind of look down at my food for a split second and think, ‘this is awkward’, but instantly look up again to gaze at the man.
But when I did it wasn’t the same person. In my eyes his appearance had completely transformed. You see, in that split second I looked down, I remembered something I had read in the Bible that changed the way I saw the world as well as everyone around me. It is one of Jesus’ teachings found in Matthew chapter 25.
He taught “what you have done to the least of these your brethren you have done unto me”. When I looked out of the window the second time the person I saw was Him…..literally. So, let’s pause to ask ourselves an honest question: If Jesus tapped on your window and asked you for help how would you respond? Probably exactly as I did. I got up, went outside and talked to Him. After we exchanged a few words I gave Him some money (I mean come on, it was Jesus, the least I could do was give Him ten bucks!). At that point his eyes welled up with tears and he said “I just want to give you a hug”. Then we embraced. So not only did I meet Jesus in Fort Worth, but He gave me a hug as well!
This was an experience I will always treasure. It has little to do with giving to the homeless and everything to do with the little opportunities we have on a daily basis to serve others. It’s been rare occasions like this, when I completely forget my own selfish desires and see Jesus’ face in those I serve, that I find anything close to real joy which is the kind of happiness that endures. All other types of pseudo-happiness eventually wither and leave us empty and alone. But this requires a change of focus, a paradigm shift. It’s extremely difficult. Only the best people in history have even come close to it, only One has ever done it perfectly. Serving others is not about the why, the where, or the how….it is about the Who.
How could this paradigm affect Your Business?
As Christians and especially as Christian business owners we constantly find ourselves presented with opportunities to bless others and bring glory to God. I have no idea how many of these opportunities I’ve squandered in the past, but I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had this one. It has helped shape the way I see others (when I have my head screwed on straight). “The least of these” can literally be anyone in our lives....and in our businesses.
What if we saw the face of Jesus every time we looked out at our customers, employees, and other associates? How would that change the way we do business? How would it change the way the world does business? It may seem absolutely ludicrous to have this mentality in today’s dog-eat-dog climate, but I can testify that when applied it will brings peace and joy to doing business and to life.
What experiences have you had serving others in your life or in your business?
How to Break out of A BAD MOOD in less than 10 seconds…..guaranteed!
Hi there grumpy! Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Someone do a number in your corn flakes? I know the feeling….and the worst part I seldom know why I feel that way. One thing that I do know is that I despise being in a bad mood. Lucky for you (and me), there’s a quick solution.
Let’s think about this for a second. What kinds of things do we normally think or say when we’re in a bad mood? I don' know abou you but I’m the most impatient and irritable when focused on myself. I’m worried about my problems and the things that I want. This is not a percentage of the time, but every single time I’m in a bad mood it’s because of a selfish way of thinking. So what’s the 10 second solution?
Here’s how to Bust the Bad Mood Dude!
Step One:
Forget yourself….period. You don’t exist. If you don’t exist, neither do your nagging problems or whatever else you found an excuse to gripe about.
Step Two:
Find someone to serve. Do it now! Find your spouse and start a spontaneous back massage. Call a friend and tell them how much you appreciate them. Do something kind for a complete stranger. The possibilities are endless!
Upon doing this you will find that as soon as your focus is off yourself, you simply start to feel better. But then you need to shift the focus elsewhere, and where better than another person. The self imposed negative energy is converted to outward positive energy. ‘Won’t our problems still be there waiting for us?’ you may ask. Sure, if you really had any problems to start with. Let’s be honest, when we’re in a bad mood we find things to be negative about….right? It all boils down to this point: regardless of our circumstances, we chose our attitude and our behavior. The problem is that sometimes we get bogged down and have a hard time choosing to be positive, and that’s when focusing our energy on serving others will help us snap out of it. If you do have significant problems in your life then this service paradigm is exponentially more important to you because it will bring a greater feeling of peace when you most need it. In fact, it’s my opinion that serving others can do far more than cure us of a bad mood….although that’s a start. When seeking to serve others, we are serving our God. Jesus taught “what you have done unto the least of these my brethren, you have done unto me.”, and it’s my testimony this work brings us closer to God and gives us an increase of joy in this life. But what do you think? Your comments are always welcome and feel free to subscribe at the bottom of the page. Take care and until next time, God bless.
How I met Jesus in Fort Worth, Texas!
by: Jason Hughes www.figliving.com
It was about 9:00 pm and I was walking down Houston Ave in downtown Fort Worth, Texas desperately seeking a hot meal. It had been a hectic day of travel that included a full blown sprint to catch a flight, lost luggage, “misplaced” hotel reservations, and no food. It was cold, I was tired, and my quest for an authentic Tex-Mex meal was looking bleak, so I compromised and settled for some Applebee’s wanna-be. By this time I had reached caveman status so I grabbed a seat and ordered way too much food. While anxiously awaiting the arrival of my meal I tried to distract myself by reflecting on the purpose of my trip. I had traveled to Texas to attend a three-day course to be further trained in the arts of high-end residential swimming pool construction…...and I was pumped. An opportunity to learn, meet new people, and…never mind here comes my food. My meal finally hit the table and I was ready to dig in when some dirty guy taps on the window, points to his wide open mouth and lips the word “homeless”. So I kind of look down at my food for a split second and think, ‘this is awkward’, but instantly look up again to gaze at the man. But when I did it wasn’t the same person. In my eyes his appearance had completely transformed. You see, in that split second I looked down, I remembered something I had read in the Bible that changed the way I saw the world as well as everyone around me. It is one of Jesus’ teachings found in Matthew chapter 25. He taught “what you have done to the least of these your brethren you have done unto me”. When I looked out of the window the second time the person I saw was Him…..literally. So, let’s pause to ask ourselves an honest question: If Jesus tapped on your window and asked you for help how would you respond? Probably exactly as I did. I got up, went outside and talked to Him. After we exchanged a few words and I gave Him some money (I mean come on, it was Jesus, the least I could do was give Him ten bucks!). At that point his eyes welled up with tears and he said “I just want to give you a hug”. Then we embraced. Not only did I meet Jesus in Fort Worth, but He gave me a hug as well! This was an experience I will always treasure. It has little to do with giving to the homeless and everything to do with the little opportunities we have on a daily basis to serve others. Based on my experience, it is only on the rare occasion I forget myself and seek to help others that I find anything close to real joy, the kind of happiness that endures. All other types of pseudo-happiness eventually wither, leaving only a feeling of utter emptiness. This requires a change of focus, a paradigm shift. It’s extremely difficult. Only the best people in history have even come close to it, only One has ever done it perfectly. Service is not about the why, the where, or the how….it is about the Who.
Please share a faith building experience you've had in the comments section below. Thanks!
Northern Neck Food Bank distributes Food and Love!
On the second Saturday of each month the White Stone Church of the Nazerene in the Northern Neck of Virginia opens its doors to those who stand in need: food for those with empty cabinets, love for those with empty hearts, and an opportunity to serve for those who need to fill an emptiness inside of themselves. This is a wonderful experience for all involved. From the second you walk through the door it's obvious that the objective is to do more than simply provide for the temporal needs of the patrons. Everyone is warmly greeted and the morning is started off with a spirit filled prayer which is followed by a hot breakfast. Patrons then have their orders filled and taken to their vehicles. From start to finish each patron is made to feel valued and loved. Smiling faces abound and the Spirit of the Lord abides as this wonderful service takes place. I have had the opportunity to work with Lance Barton and the team of dedicated volunteers on several occasions; each time knowing that I was the one blessed by the experience. Last time we brought five young men from our church with us and they were all blown away. Each one stood before the congregation the next day and shared their experiences. All of the boys were moved and several became emotional as they shared what an impact serving others had on them. I would encourage anyone who could possibly spare a couple hours on a Saturday morning to participate. What better thing can we do with our time than serve others?
5 Ways to Incorporate Christian Service into Our Busy Lives!
We all have a shortage of time. There just isn't enough to go around. Most folks are overworked, overscheduled, and frankly overwhelmed. So how does a true disciple of Christ possibly find time to make Christian Service an integral part of their life? Great Question! Probably one of the finest, but most difficult questions one can ask. Fine because asking the question demonstrates a desire to be more like Christ; difficult because to genuinely seek the answer forces us to look inside of ourselves to see what really makes us tick. Most times we don’t like what we find, I know I don’t. Isn’t that wonderful! That is the miracle and essence of Christianity. To see ourselves as we truly are, to see Christ as He is, and hold His hand as we bridge the gap together. Bridging this gap basically means throwing part of our old self on the scrap heap and replacing it with something divine. The fact is that all of our souls are cluttered with piles of debris that stand between us and the Savior. Maybe some of that garbage keeps us from providing Christ like Service to others. The following are five simple concepts, or ideas that may help us focus on the “fruit” that comes from serving others:
5 Ways to Make Christian Service Part of Our Daily Lives:
1. See Christ in Those You Serve
Matthew Chapter 25:40 states, “And the king shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.’ Maybe we should take this counsel literally. Think of how powerful it would be to actually see the face of the Savior in those we serve; to shake His hand or give Him a hug.
2. Make it a Family Activity
Seek ways your family can serve others together. This can be difficult, especially with young families but it is possible. Here are a few ideas:
-young children: have a family meeting explaining how there are many children who do not have toys to play with. Pray together as a family and then ask the children if they would be willing to give some of their toys to other children less fortunate than themselves. Then allow the children to choose any toys they are willing to part with. Never impose or force anything. If a child doesn’t want to give, that’s fine……no biggie. But watch as their siblings encourage them to participate. Watch as they struggle to decide whether to part with a favorite toy. Watch as they smile after the decision is made; a smile that comes from inside out not the outside in.
-pre-teens: consider yard clean-ups or working at a food bank. Anywhere they can burn energy and be productive at the same time.
-teenagers: any situation where they can see that the work they are doing has an impact on the individual they serve. This can have a profound impact on their lives as it puts their life situation in perspective and strengthens their testimony.
3. Remember a Time When You Were Served by Others
When you were broken down on the side of the road…..When you were down and out and needed food, clothing, money, a place to stay……When you sought the counsel of a busy friend who stopped what they were doing to take time with you…..When you were frustrated with life and the world and the smile of a stranger gave you hope. At one time or another, we have all been the recipient of service. Let’s take a minute to reflect on these periods of our life and let this inspire us to do the same for others.
4. Be Honest With Yourself
What has kept us from serving more? What barriers stand in our way? Sometimes the obstacles are extrinsic, but many times they are our own internal thought patterns or prejudices. Ask yourself the following self-searching questions:
-Do I truly see the value of serving others?
-Do I have negative feelings about serving the needy?
-Do I feel that they can and should do for themselves?
-Do I rationalize why I can’t or don’t serve others as much as I think I should?
-Do I fear what other people think or fear being judged by others?
-Do I feel that it is the responsibility of someone else, like the government to meet this need in society?
5. Take Control of Your Life
Who is in control of your life? Who decides how you spend your time? I have news for you: if it ain't you, that’s a problem. If you feel that Christian service should be a major part of your life and it’s not, I would suggest you change that! This applies to anything that you value in life. If you should spend more time communicating with your spouse, having family prayer or scripture study, or anything else that resonates with your soul, you should re-structure your life and put these first things first. No one else can or will do this for you. I’m here to tell you that it is possible! Not because I have achieved it, but because I have seen it achieved by others.
In my opinion there is no better way to become more like Christ than to emulate Him. There is no better way to show our love for Him than to see Him in every person we come in contact with and to find ways to bless their lives. We must build our lives around this principle of service. We must make it a part of our family culture. Every one of us has so much God given power to influence the lives of others in a positive way if we will only take advantage of it. The great thing is that this does not necessarily mean we have to work in a homeless shelter every weekend. The ways we can serve others are as diverse as the people we come in contact with. We only need to have empathy toward others, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit, and fear nothing!
