All of the events you have experienced in your lifetime up this moment have been created by the thoughts and beliefs you have held in the past. They were created by thoughts and words you used yesterday, last week, last month, last year, depending on how old you are.

However, that is your past. It is over and done with. What is important in this moment is what you are choosing to think and believe and say right now.

For these thoughts and words will create your future. Your point of power is in the present moment and is forming the experience of tomorrow, next week, next month, next year and so on.

You might notice what thought you are thinking at this moment. Is it negative or positive?

Do you want this thought to be creating your future? Just notice and be aware.

No matter what the problem is, our experiences are just outer effects of inner thoughts.

Even self hatred is only hating a thought you have about yourself. You have a thought, a bad thought, this thought produces a feeling, and you buy into the feeling.

However if you don’t have the thought, you won’t have the feeling. And thoughts can be changed. Change the thought and the feeling must go.

This is only to show us where we get many of our beliefs. But let’s not use this information as an excuse to stay stuck in our pain. Let us not use it to keep us from living in our greatness, abundance and prosperity.

The past has no power over us.

It does not matter how long we have had a negative pattern.

The point of power is in the present moment.

What a wonderful thing to realize. We can begin to be free in this moment.

Lolly specializes in solving issues that directly affect people who have not reached the success level they desire and assists them to achieve their desired goals.

In Lolly’s business she looks to attract: “People who have the desire to change their lives-People who look to improve their financial situation-People who are coachable and trainable-People who can use a very simple and lucrative system to achieve success”

“I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1)

While exercise was not a priority in Biblical times, Paul instructs us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Each of us is advised to take care of our body since it is the “temple of the Holy Spirit.”

Here’s a sobering question: do you think we’ll be required to give an accounting to the Lord for the stewardship of our bodies and how well we’ve taken care of them?

That’s a frightening thought for most of us! “You are not your own,” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19. “For you were bought at a price” (the shed blood of Jesus Christ).

Could that mean your body is not yours, but the Lord’s? How well are we caring for the Lord’s property?

The good news is that since your body belongs to the Lord, He has a vested interest in helping you care for it. Your body is not only the temple of His Holy Spirit, it’s what you need to be able to walk around on this earth and spread the good news that Jesus is Lord.

You CAN be a “fit witness” for Christ. The more fit and healthy you are, the greater the probability is that you will be around longer to carry out His will for your life.

The enemy wants you to fail at your task, to fail horribly and leave earth before your time. He doesn’t really care that you’re going to heaven; he just doesn’t want you to take anyone else with you!

If your body is out-of-shape and lacking energy, it’s difficult to do all the Lord is calling you to do. But you and the Lord working together can change that!

“What?!” you ask. “The Lord needs MY help? But He’s omnipotent, all-powerful and in control!” Well, yes–and no. He is all-powerful, but He will not wrestle the cake fork out of your hand or pick up the strings like a grand marionette master and animate your body to take a brisk walk. We are the ones who have to exercise our will to exercise our body and “choose life.”

You don’t have to wait. You can start right now. Would you be willing to choose to do at least one new thing for your health and fitness today? Here are some ideas: take a brisk walk; eat a raw vegetable salad before dinner; have an apple for dessert or a snack instead of a sugar-laden treat; pray before bedtime; write your goals for a healthier lifestyle in a prayer journal.

When you feel about to give in to self-indulgence, turn to the Lord in prayer and praise, and yield to the fruit of the Holy Spirit within you (Galatians 5:23 says that one of those fruit is that of self-control!).

Ask the Lord to help you become the person He has called you to be. You are not alone. Remember, He loves you more than you can possibly imagine, and wants you to succeed in every way. As Paul said under the influence of the Holy Spirit in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Addictions are a difficult burden to bear, for the afflicted individual as well as loved ones of the addict. For the partner of an alcoholic or other type of addict, there may be a great deal of confusion over why their partner is doing what he or she is doing. Certainly, there may be many contributing factors to addiction. One factor that could be present is the presence of an underlying personality disorder, like narcissism or sociopath/psychopathy, that is driving the addict to use substances compulsively.

Keeping in mind that some of the signs of these disorders can look like more typical behavior of addicts, and that a personality disorder can only be diagnosed by a qualified mental health provider, here are 9 signs that there could be more than simply an addiction present:

1. There is a lack of guilt or remorse as a true emotional response. In other words, your partner may lack conscience.

2. There is a lack of empathy and ability to place him or herself in the shoes of anyone else. This can lead to selfish and callous behavior.

3. Your partner consistently displays irresponsibility, being unlikely to hold down a steady job or pay bills on time, or honor marital commitments.

4. Your partner tends to get bored and engage in risky behaviors without regard for the safety of self or others.

5. Your partner tends to manipulate, con, and lie his or her way to achieving a personal agenda. Some individuals lead a parasitic life, sponging off others and exploiting them for what they can get.

6. Your partner may exhibit a sense of superiority and grandiose sense worth, feeling entitled to preferential treatment, expecting to associate with special people or institutions, and showing a haughty attitude toward others.

7. There may be a lack of impulse control. Your partner may be driven to use drugs and alcohol, or engage in sex, compulsively.

8. Your partner may think in ideals of love, power, and beauty. You may be idealized and raised up on a pedestal, then devalued and treated as worthless, with little in between.

9. Your partner may ignore social norms and have a tendency toward criminal behavior, including violence.

Are you interested in addressing your life challenges from a holistic standpoint, assessing the physical, emotional, and relationship components?

There are times when strong clear and specific leadership is required, especially when a nation is in real trouble and they were at that time. In the book of Nehemiah we learn so much about wise responsible practical leadership. I am writing from my reading of Nehemiah Chapter 9 which contains one of the longest prayers in the Bible. Do check out the actual text. That is always wise and can have its own very special rewards.

In prayer the people address God and say, “You have kept your promise, because You are righteous. You saw the suffering, and YOU see the suffering. You saw and You heard. You are a miracle working God.

You lead your people. Do not we who are among the people of God still need strong clear leadership in these present times?

You speak and You give laws that are just and Right. You provide. We are learning here so much of the greatness of God and the goodness of God.

You told your people to go in and take possession of the land, but then sin came and our forefathers refused to obey You. Sin is one of the few great unmentionable words today. People can become very embarrassed when anyone talks about sin. Euphemisms are used to hide the reality of what is basically sin.

But, You are a forgiving GOD, and You do not desert your people, even when they desert You. It is a most wonderful thing to know that Almighty God will never forsake you and leave you on your own. The focus of the prayer is the marvellous mercy and grace of God.

The Holy Spirit was with them, to instruct them, even when they had no time nor desire for instruction. When we reach verse 21 we read that God sustained this rebellious obstinate people, and He them lands and nations.

This Prayer is grounded in Scripture. Note how often “YOU” is mentioned. The prayer is God-centred.

You were so good to these YOUR PEOPLE. God is faithful, but alas His people are unfaithful. God is consistent but His people are inconsistent. God is reliable, but His people are unreliable.

At verse 26, we come to man’s sin. When the situation became tough and unbearable, You came and rescued and delivered. It was all compassion, and that compassion made You raise up leaders. We have the settling in the land and then reference is made to the times of the Judges or Leaders raised up by God, and then the Monarchy.

But sin reared its ugly head and it happened all over again. The people paid no attention to the prophets God sent, and they say in verse 32, that what we have been through we have deserved. All this suffering is because of our sins.

But they had gathered in prayer to sort it all out, and to do so in a very real and practical manner, and all this recorded to teach us and perhaps help us avoid the pitfalls. It can be valuable to take time to review history. We read here of the horrendous and awesome consequences of ingratitude and rebellion, and the inevitability of punishment, but there is hope for the future. The present painful harvest is a product of a rebellious past, but it can also be the seed for the future.

A biblical view of history makes us neither wide-eyed optimists nor downhearted pessimists, but realists. There are no excuses here, just plain honest confession.

As soon as we say “I was wrong” forgiveness and cleansing and healing restoration will flood such people! This was indeed a serious hour and it goes right through into Chapter 10.

Some may wish to return to the Law of God if only for verse 31, but it has to be the whole law, the law of Christ for us, the law of mercy and grace and power!

When debt is such a massive problem here is a marvellous jewel of truth.

The people state how they are going to assume responsibility. There follows a whole lengthy list of promises, with that solemn word at the end of Chapter 10.

This kind of commitment arises from the clear anointed exposition of the Word of God, but such genuine commitment takes courage. Do you this quality of courage for these dark financial times when many are hurting?

Nehemiah and Ezra gave such positive leadership and this amazing harvest resulted. Some may despise, ridicule or scorn such leadership but it worked and the circumstances were remedied!

I write this when the western world is experiencing a financial crisis as a result of greed and immorality and selfishness and horrendous planning. It could all be corrected reasonably speedily if we listened attentively and seriously to men like Nehemiah and Ezra.

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.