In a recent cover letter, I wrote this statement which thinking back on it now, may have been a strong statement. Hopefully it is heard right.
"I am a person who is driven to learn."
Driven to learn. I think we have to be driven to learn. If we stop learning, I think we stop progressing. We stop moving forward. We in essence stop dreaming. Dreaming is all about learning. This life is a journey of learning.
If there's something I don't know how to do, then I need to find out how to do it. Maybe it's the student in me. Maybe it's the desire to teach deep within me.
Every teacher first and foremost is a learner. You can never teach if you never learn.
You can never express without learning something from that expression.
You can never truly understand the ways and the heart of God without learning.
Learn to love and love to learn.
I remember Dr. Frank Lipsett, my Middle School principal, wore this dog chain around his neck during every assembly. It was a symbol of how we are all linked together. It was a symbol of teaching and learning. We heard it so often that we took it for granted. We didn't understand what he was saying. We'd roll our eyes. We would mockingly repeat it. We'd crack jokes about the dog chain.
However; now that I think about it...we are all linked together. Teachers are students...eternal students. Students are teachers...whether or not they realize it. We all share the role of teaching and learning.
If you're going to be a learned individual...be a good one. Desire to learn.
If you're going to be a teacher.....first be a good learner...then you'll find that you've already taught.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Perception, Our Mind & The Internal Conversation
Isn't it strange how our minds work? Sometimes they can get way out of control. As we talked about perception in our last two blogs I guess we should continue in this vein for a little bit. Call it a wild imagination or what have you a lot of times we find ourselves worked up into a frenzy and come to find out that none of it be the truth.
Take for example: you are talking to a relative. They're not talking much. You feel a bit of tension (of course this is over Facebook Chat and you know how much you can tell by that). Then you begin to think they are mad at you. Then you go back in time to your last real conversation with them and you think there were some tension back there. Oh you wonder what you might have done wrong. You become afraid that you might lose the closeness of your relationship. You have this sick feeling in your stomach. You are now in full worry mode.
When you do talk to them, they wonder what you're talking about. Their tension was not toward you but toward another situation that was happening at that moment.
That's what I'm talking about: you can't be led by your perception. What I perceived to be the problem wasn't the problem at all. I have a term for this: I call it Internal Conversation. It can be good but it also can be very negative.
Think of the woman who followed Paul and Silas saying "These men are called of God." What she was saying was right: BUT the perception behind it caused Paul to feel grieved. He recognized it was a spirit and cast it out.
Sometimes I wish that I could cast out my negative Internal Conversation.
That's why we need to harness our mind. Don't let it run away on you. It's a wild horse that must be tamed.
The Apostle Paul taught a lot about the mind:
1) Romans 12 1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
2) Ephesians 4:22-23 (Amplified Bible)
22Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
3) Hebrews 12 1THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
2Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.(A)
4) Romans 8:5 (Amplified Bible)
5For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and [a]pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and [b]seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.
5) Philippians 2:5Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
6)Philippians 4:7And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
So today we need to understand the importance of taking a hold of every thought, bring it into captivity. I want to end this thought with this setting of Scripture:
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (New King James Version)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Take for example: you are talking to a relative. They're not talking much. You feel a bit of tension (of course this is over Facebook Chat and you know how much you can tell by that). Then you begin to think they are mad at you. Then you go back in time to your last real conversation with them and you think there were some tension back there. Oh you wonder what you might have done wrong. You become afraid that you might lose the closeness of your relationship. You have this sick feeling in your stomach. You are now in full worry mode.
When you do talk to them, they wonder what you're talking about. Their tension was not toward you but toward another situation that was happening at that moment.
That's what I'm talking about: you can't be led by your perception. What I perceived to be the problem wasn't the problem at all. I have a term for this: I call it Internal Conversation. It can be good but it also can be very negative.
Think of the woman who followed Paul and Silas saying "These men are called of God." What she was saying was right: BUT the perception behind it caused Paul to feel grieved. He recognized it was a spirit and cast it out.
Sometimes I wish that I could cast out my negative Internal Conversation.
That's why we need to harness our mind. Don't let it run away on you. It's a wild horse that must be tamed.
The Apostle Paul taught a lot about the mind:
1) Romans 12 1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
2) Ephesians 4:22-23 (Amplified Bible)
22Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
3) Hebrews 12 1THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
2Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.(A)
4) Romans 8:5 (Amplified Bible)
5For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and [a]pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and [b]seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.
5) Philippians 2:5Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
6)Philippians 4:7And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
So today we need to understand the importance of taking a hold of every thought, bring it into captivity. I want to end this thought with this setting of Scripture:
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (New King James Version)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
The Heart - The Central Core
As I have said in blogs past, this thing started with the heart and it will forever be with the heart. As I begin to think about that I am keen to understand what the heart means.
1) The heart is the central core system of the body. The heart is what allows for the life to flow through us. The life force is the blood. The Bible says that the life is found in the blood. It's so true. When the blood isn't effectively flowing through the heart, it will be either too high or too low causing us to be unhealthy. Stress can be a cause of more serious troubles with the heart leading to a complete breakdown of health and causing one to be ineffective with their Divine Destiny. We must learn to respect the central core system that allows life to flow.
2) The heart is the central core system of the soul. The soul is the core system where thoughts and actions and feelings dwell. It's the think tank of greater things. When the thoughts of destruction fill our soul it will affect our body. Although we are not to be governed by the soul we must learn to respect the soul. I've heard teachings and have been a participant therein to teach how wrong it was to be led by the soul. I don't think I've had an understanding of the purpose of the soul. God created man to house a soul and a spirit. When I don't respect the soul aspect of who God created me to be I deny myself the awesome ability to live in the spirit. Without the power of thoughts and the soul we can't truly understand the anointing that is housed within us.
3) The heart is the central core system of the spirit. When I embrace the importance of the soul I then am able to enter into the portal that leads to all things Spirit. We must learn to respect ourselves as a three part being that God created us to be. Respect the temple and you'll come into a respect for the soul and the spirit. The three part being of man was created to be unified. We were created this way for a purpose.
When I take care of all three parts of my three part being I will truly know what it means to be a whole individual.
1) The heart is the central core system of the body. The heart is what allows for the life to flow through us. The life force is the blood. The Bible says that the life is found in the blood. It's so true. When the blood isn't effectively flowing through the heart, it will be either too high or too low causing us to be unhealthy. Stress can be a cause of more serious troubles with the heart leading to a complete breakdown of health and causing one to be ineffective with their Divine Destiny. We must learn to respect the central core system that allows life to flow.
2) The heart is the central core system of the soul. The soul is the core system where thoughts and actions and feelings dwell. It's the think tank of greater things. When the thoughts of destruction fill our soul it will affect our body. Although we are not to be governed by the soul we must learn to respect the soul. I've heard teachings and have been a participant therein to teach how wrong it was to be led by the soul. I don't think I've had an understanding of the purpose of the soul. God created man to house a soul and a spirit. When I don't respect the soul aspect of who God created me to be I deny myself the awesome ability to live in the spirit. Without the power of thoughts and the soul we can't truly understand the anointing that is housed within us.
3) The heart is the central core system of the spirit. When I embrace the importance of the soul I then am able to enter into the portal that leads to all things Spirit. We must learn to respect ourselves as a three part being that God created us to be. Respect the temple and you'll come into a respect for the soul and the spirit. The three part being of man was created to be unified. We were created this way for a purpose.
When I take care of all three parts of my three part being I will truly know what it means to be a whole individual.
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