on the WINGS…

uplift for your world


“A Fresh Start”

Yesterday, at a get together in our home, after most of the guests had said their goodbyes, we three girls gathered around the bar to chat.  We three girls were those closest to me, one ahead and one following on the road of life – Mom, me, and my daughter.  After sipping yet another flavor of coffee, and tasting just one more bite of cherry pie, we talked about life.  Mom wished she knew what she knew now when she was my daughter’s age.  My daughter thought this wonderful concept could be achieved if mom’s wealth of wisdom was just downloaded to her immediately. It was a great idea of how becoming wise as an elder while still being young, could indeed be accomplished.  We laughed knowing that wisdom principals can be taught, but each person must then know when and how to apply those principals in his/her daily life.  Each path has different twists and turns that have to be personally walked out.

I have sometimes thought that if I could start over I would do things differently.  But after starting over, after many bummer days, I’ve found that it wasn’t just a second chance that was needed, but wisdom. Sometimes the wisdom ingredient to success was additional planning. After not being on time or prepared yet again, it became evident that I must avoid the trap of procrastination on a daily basis, to be wise.

I also had to let go of the myth that today’s fresh-start-path would somehow be easier than yesterday. Sometimes life is hard whatever the path. But hard is not always bad. Sometimes our greatest victories and highest joys are only realized by pushing past our comfort zones.

To totally embrace a fresh start, make peace with things in your past that cannot be relived or redone. Forgive, let go, and untie negative people and circumstances of yesterday.

Write down your goals, dreams, and ambitions and keep them before you. Surround yourself with people you would be happy to become more like.

Today is the day for a fresh start, whether it is your second or hundredth chance to live how you would — if you could — do it over.  Be diligent to live by wisdom principals that will bring the results you want in your life.  Learn something new each day, love well, and enjoy those before, beside, and behind you on the path of life.

Would you like a fresh start in any area of your life?  If so, then I pray today that you will commit to searching for wisdom, going past your comfort zones, and planning ahead.  May the God of all wisdom be your guide as you spend time in reflective silence before Him today.

(c)2013 Reba Wilson  www.rebawilson.com

“Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Pro 4:7 NKJV

FATHER, what an impact you have.

I Cor. 4:15 NASV “For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.”

*”I found this food for thought on how Fathers affect their children as adults, even at their work place.  My prayer is that each of you will have a Mentor Father in your life — either by birth or someone with no blood ties at all –  that carries the heart of a true Father.  I pray you learn well.  With God all things are possible.  There is something greater than our DNA.  It is called the Grace of God.   I also beg you fathers to mentor your boys to love God, family and country.  May the peace of God once again be restored to our homes and our land.” Pastor Reba

The Kind of Father You Had Affects the Way You Behave at Work

That’s the latest intelligence from Stephan Poulter, clinical psychologist and author of The Father Factor. Here are his 5 “dad definitions,” and the impact they have on your career:

There’s the Time-Bomb Dad who gets moody or explodes for no reason. If that’s your dad, you’re probably overly-anxious at work, and have trouble feeling safe and developing trust. It probably also means you’re good at resolving conflict, and are an effective negotiator.

The Super-Achiever. If that was your dad, you probably felt that nothing you did was good enough. Today, you’re probably so task-oriented, you can cut right through the red tape to get the job done fast. However, you may also have trouble with your supervisors, because you expect to get killed every time you speak up.

Then there’s The Passive Dad – who shows his love by action, not words, and probably worked quietly for General Motors for 30 years. It means you’re probably quiet and slow-moving, too, and might be pegged as unmotivated or an underachiever, but even though you’re not shooting up the corporate ladder, you’re a steady and productive worker.

The Absent Dad. The dad who wasn’t really involved in your life, emotionally, mentally, or physically. If that’s your dad, you’re probably either very angry at work, or you learned to turn your anger into passion, and are a super-productive worker bee.

The Compassionate Mentor who motivated you, helped you find out what you wanted to do, and provided the tools you needed to get there. It’s the dad we all wish we had, but only about 10 percent of dads actually fit this category. If your dad was like that, you’re probably a mentor, too, and go out of your way to help those around you achieve their own career dreams.

(Permission to distribute this message via email or as printed copies, is automatically granted on the condition all copies will be used for non-commercial (personal) purposes, and will not be sold for profit. To reproduce the Inspiration Daily in any other format (print, radio, websites or other media that includes paid advertising) written permission is required from Tim Levin.) ©2012 Tim Levin http://www.timsinspiration.com

Thank you Tim.

Quotes:  “Sometimes in the winds of change we find our true direction.” Author Unknown

*Devotional: (c) By Reba Wilson

Sometimes the winds are worse than change itself! I have often wondered why it is that I who love change, still fight so hard emotionally, to make the turn to go another direction!  I remember when I worked for Northeast Tech Center. The job was awesome until I reached a plateau of learning and creating.  I loved the people I worked with and the campus was a beautiful place, nestled among trees on the side of a hill.  I felt the breezes of change for days- maybe even a year- ahead of my resignation to resign.  I had reached my limit.  I just didn’t know where I was going next if I quit what I was doing.

The winds blew harder and unrest turned into dread. Early one very dreary, cloudy morning, on my drive to work, I started looking at a very tiny mobile home that had a light on.  And, I began to imagine that the lady of the house was home having coffee.  I thought of the joy she must have being able to sit and sip. Maybe she was taking time to read, talk to God and the cat.  She might actually have breakfast on the table.  Maybe she would be able to clean her own house, or see her children, or go out with a friend.  I just knew she would be feeling very fulfilled and would fling her head back and laugh at the rain—for she was happy.  I was not!  My goals of making more money to create a better car and house seemed way down on the list- compared to a moment of being true to myself- even if it meant downsizing. Although, some of my greatest concerns were that I would never get to trade cars or replace the carpet.

My scenario of the lady was pure imagination.  The winds of change were very much a reality! Would I be true to myself and try new things or shrivel up inside a shell- with a known paycheck end?

Yes, I quit and tears spilled onto the page of the resignation letter before it was sealed and signed!

It was quite funny that first week after.  Someone donated me an entire box of toilet paper!  Strange, but, it made me laugh at God’s humor. Forget the ‘if God cares for the birds’ story in the Bible.  I now had my own version which went something like, “If God cares if Reba has toilet paper, then He can also provide for food and clothes and carpet—and fun.”  I love God.  He’s personal to me. And, He likes to make me laugh.  People say He’s awesome- and I know He is.  Spiritual people say cliché words… I mostly think God is funny- in the very most Highest, Holy way!  Think about it. He made a donkey to talk, fed a prophet steak flown in by a black bird, divided a sea by lifting a stick, fed 5,000 people with a little boys lunch!  I tell you He really works to make us smile.  He pushes it further and wants me to be ‘full’ of joy the Bible says.  Well, that’s where the toilet paper came in!

Yes, I bought my first new car after that, founded the WINGS women’s ministry, became an ordained minister, started writing this column and began pastoring a church alongside my husband.

Breezes of change are a sweet relief- yet still emotional.

Winds of Change ever blow, redirecting us, charting our course, so that we arrive, totally spent, every gift opened and honed to the limit, having stopped at every port, and boarded every connecting flight, before arriving… at heaven’s door. (c) Reba Wilson 2010-2011

More Devotionals – www.rebawilson.com

TRY IT:

In the coming month daily tell your spouse when they do something that on a scale of one to ten is a 10 for you!  Seek to know their 10s as well.  Give them freely – show respect- enjoy the wonderful benefits of love in your home.

MESSAGE NOTES:

ADDING PRAISE TO YOUR GRIEF and PROBLEMS

  • Problems & Grief bring about a belief crisis.

  • Praise comes when you know God is bigger than your problem.

  • Dare to compare your problem to God’s ability to solve your problem!

Oh that men would praise the Lord Ps. 107:8

At this point you may be surprised to find what you really think. What you think is evidenced most times, by what you do.

If the problem looks bigger than what you believe God is gonna do….

1)    That is ok- because it is so good that ‘you’ found it out. God already knew what you believed.

2)    A trial can serve a purpose – to let you know what is in your heart.

3)    What is in your heart can be corrected as you ‘release’ the fear and doubt to God.

Faith is a must for without faith we cannot please God.

Faith is wonderful. Real faith tells the truth of God’s character, what He will do. Faith allows us to truly see God and His plan and brings us together into a place of agreement- with Him, and praise- for Him.  Faith sees what doubt never can! Faith Sees and Says, “He will!”   Faith brings praise.

FOCUS ON THE CERTAINTY OF GOD

Casting down imagination 2 Chor.10:5

“Man’s alternative for submission to God is a Flesh way to escape -shows our heart condition, that says if it’s this way then maybe I will do this or that in my way.” Kay Arthur

When faced with not understanding the path before him:

1)    Peter said I go fishing, back to something I understand.  Being familiar has a certain amount of security, or at least comfort zone, to it.

The children of Israel said:

2)    Has God brought us out here to die in this wilderness? I would have been better to have stayed in Egypt.

And then, there are those who responded when they saw God in the middle of their problems.

  1. Mary said, “my soul doth magnify the Lord!”
  2. Woman broke the alabaster box and worshiped.
  3. Hebrew chapter 11 records many ways people responded in faith.

Now, what do you see/say?

Sometimes it is the trial or grief that shows us ourselves. But, Faith shows us God with us even in the middle of problems!  We respond and we praise, and we find rest for our souls.

He knows the way.  He is certain. He has good plans for me.

Lord, I do believe.  I will rest in sweet confidence.

(c) 2010-2011 Reba Wilson

Verses to think on:

Garment of praise for spirit of heaviness. Ps. 61:3

Any praise, think on these things.  Phil.4:8

Faith might be to the praise of God. 1 Pet. 1:7

Why are you cast down oh my soul? Hope in God.  Ps. 42:5

KJV