Renewed2Win

Start With The Vision Proverbs 29:18 says: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” As you can imagine, I meet many disappointed people who have spent tons of money on goal setting and other programs claiming to produce positive results. They have attended seminars, bought the online programs and books; they may have even gone to a seminar or two on the subject. Maybe they have even taken what is commonly referred to as a “master class,” given by someone who is anything but a master and have ended up… frustrated, discouraged and hopeless! I was once among those same people who have got caught up in the goal setting and blind self-improvement frenzy that seems to have taken over our greed filled, selfish culture. There are countless programs out there that do a great job making their creators plenty of money but leaving everybody else broke with no direction; wondering why they can’t seem to make any forward progress in life. I am absolutely convinced that for the vast majority of people reading or listening to this message, just setting goals is a waste of time. I’m going to tell you something. Listen carefully. It’s not a secret but the people who push those useless programs on the rest of us wish it was. Goal setting without an underlying life-purpose and vision doesn’t work. Oh, it may work in the short term, to get selfish things and objectives but in the end, it will leave you broken and confused. Goal setting doesn’t work because it is based on your greed, pride, ego and materialism. Goal setting usually means trying to create a plan to acquire more money, a bigger house and an expensive car and it usually means acquiring these things quickly and for the sole purpose of impressing others, These things, while all fine, do not matter to your purpose for being here, on this planet, in this society at this time. So stop chasing the big wad of money, big house, fancy car or whatever it is you are sacrificing everything to get and turn to what’s really important. Why are you here? Don’t spend any more time chasing after worthless things but instead start focusing on the truth that each and every single one of us was created with a purpose and a plan for our lives. Yes, that includes you! It is unique and it is yours. No one else can achieve your life-mission. As worthless and insecure as you may feel, there is a reason for you being here. When your eyes open and you begin to realize this important truth, everything changes and I mean everything. You’ll never be the same. You change, your environment changes, people around you change, your circumstances change. When you begin to realize this, your purpose becomes clear and in the clarity, you begin taking action. It’s here that you become unstoppable. This sets in motion a strengthening of faith and a trust in God that you never had before.You will become unstoppable. The reason you are on this earth is God’s vision for your life. You are not here by accident. The vision for your life is God given, it’s not created from your own mind or by accident. It is not what someone else thinks you should be or do. It is the perfect plan for your life that will give you a feeling of purpose. It is perfect in the fact that vision isn’t about you at all; but about your Creator’s perfect plan for your life and how you are meant to have an impact on the world around you. When you discover your God-given vision, it will motivate you where goals have failed. It will change the way you think and the way you live your life. It will cause you to get out of bed in the morning, ready to take on any challenge because you know the strength and power of the one who stands behind you. Vision will give you the ability to overcome any obstacle and rise to any challenge that stands in the way to its achievement. Vision will never die but only grow stronger as you move closer to it! Vision will be accompanied, if you are watching, with specific instructions and steps. Begin to ask God for your vision today and He will deliver! Am I saying, don’t plan for the future and set worthwhile goals and objectives for yourself? No, I’m simply saying, discover the vision and design the goals, plans and objectives around the vision. The goals will be accomplished that are part of God’s plan when your heart is aligned with His. Here at Renewed2Win, we are experts at helping people in the search for and implementation of their vision. We offer one on one coaching designed to move your life in the right direction. The direction God has planned for you all along. Contact us today to learn about our coaching programs designed to meet your life’s unique circumstances and challenges. Nobody is too far lost to turn back to God and live the life they were meant for. That includes you. You now know the truth so there are no more excuses. Move forward today because maybe everything you have ever believed doesn’t matter to what is truly real.

The holiday season is fast approaching. Thanksgiving is today. Christmas is only 31 short days away. A week after that we celebrate New Years. This is a time of year when many people focus on all of the reasons they have to be thankful. This got me thinking about how many people live their lives for the big events and ignore the day to day. So is this it? Do we focus on gratitude for a couple of days out of the year and then go back to our selfish lives? It doesn’t have to be this way. You can choose to live a life of gratitude. All year- 365 days, 52 weeks. And yes, it is a choice. If you have ever been in touch with someone who is really in need and had that need met then you have seen the face of gratitude. In fact, I used to volunteer for an organization named Operation Christmas Child. It is an organization that packs shoe boxes full of Christmas gifts for kids and sends them all over the world. I have met several adults who actually received these boxes years earlier as kids. Their reaction was always the same: “those boxes changed my life.” So how do you live a life of gratitude? It’s really very simple. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” That’s it. Give thanks! In all circumstances! Let’s look a little closer. A measure of your spiritual and emotional maturity is the amount of gratitude you show in your life. If you are unsure of where you stand, take a look at the people you choose to spend your time with. Are your friends and acquaintances ungrateful? If so, then chances are that you are too. Ever hear the saying “birds of a feather flock together?” It’s a popular saying because it is accurate. Look at who you surround yourself with. When you make the simple decision to “give thanks in all circumstances,” your life changes. Gratitude will allow you to grow closer to other people. Gratitude will allow you to grow closer to God. So, how can you learn to be more grateful? Focus on life’s blessings. Life is challenging. You will face difficulties. If you don’t then I would recommend checking your pulse to make sure you are alive. In fact, in John 16:33, Jesus tells us: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Think about the good in your life. The words “think” and “thank'' come from the same root. Being thankful is directly related to how much time you spend focusing on the good in your life. So what is good in your life? Positive relationships- You have at least one. His name is God. Material blessing- You do have stuff- look around. Positive world events- Negative news sells but try to find the positive stories in the news. Health- Eating Right and exercising will change your life. If you're not doing them, then start. Success- What are you successful at? There's something. Avoid focusing on the bad. Bad things happen… It’s just part of life. Deal with the situation and move on; don’t dwell on the situation and become bitter. Negative relationships- Some relationships are just a part of life but that doesn’t mean you need to be part of the negativity; be the light instead. People who don’t like you- Not everyone likes you. It’s none of your business what someone else thinks of you. People you don’t like- Let's be real. These people will always exist. You don't need to focus on them. Material lack- You're always going to want something. It’s human nature. Focus on what you do have instead. Sickness- We live in a world where people get sick, including you, choose to be positive anyway. Failures- Everyone has failures. Learn from them and apply the lessons to the future. We can’t be grateful unless we realize how blessed we really are. Grateful people take time to experience joy. Learn to tune out the world and praise God. Accept His free gift and share it with others. Learn to be still and listen for Him as you take quiet time each day. Grateful people live for today. Put down the phone and focus on now. Destination disease causes a person to search for happiness somewhere in the future. It’s an excuse for not living today. It makes you believe that you will be happy and grateful at some point in the future. The prime cause of destination disease is being unhappy/ungrateful. People who suffer from it put off joy until some distant time or event in the future that may never happen. There is no one place to arrive at once and for all. Life is a journey. Live for today. Do the things you love. Be grateful! Happy Thanksgiving! If you have found this episode helpful, please follow, like, rate and share with your friends on social media. Thanks for joining me at renewed2win. Remember, maybe everything you have ever believed doesn’t actually matter to what is truly real.

Psalm 37:4 says “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (NIV) Many people take this to mean that if you ask God, he will supply everything you ask Him for. That is why there are so many disappointed and disillusioned Christians.They have learned to ask for things based on their own selfishness and greed. What the verse actually means is that if you seek after Him first then He will change the things you want and ask for to align with His will for you. I always thought that there was something wrong with me. Then one day, while I was praying, God began to open my eyes. He showed me that I was chasing the world’s concept of success. I was told what the world thought success was and I pursued it, not realizing that I didn’t even want it. Being in charge of the world’s money supply and controlling all the people wasn’t in the cards for me. Thank God! It was in these moments that God began to show me His vision for my life. It was at this point in my journey that I began to realize how successful I was and that I had been for a very long time. I stopped chasing an idea of success that wasn’t mine. I began to examine the ideas, beliefs and attitudes that I had learned in my childhood, were reinforced in my teenage years and pursued in my early adult years. I owned an idea of success for much of my life just because I was not aware of the truth. When I began to look around at my life, I saw that I had a strong relationship with my Creator. I had the abilities and gifts that He gave me. I had the love, friendship and trust of many people. I had the respect and love of my kids. I had my health and intelligence. I had so many positives in my life, even though I faced difficulties all around me but I was deceived into thinking that I wasn’t worth very much. I now know that I am successful not only because I have all of the things that were mentioned above, but also because of the value and worth I bring to others lives. I don’t mean monetary value but the positive comment in the midst of a negative atmosphere. They are words of encouragement to someone who is feeling down or left out. It’s having the conviction to stand my ground on what is true or right no matter what the consequences. It’s having the courage to learn from my biggest failures, disappointments and pain so that I may share the lessons with others in need. Maybe yes, I have been successful for most of my life. It’s time for you to take a look at your own life. Who defines whether you are successful or not? We all are created to have relationships with others which makes social interaction an important part of life. We all strive at some level to be accepted by those around us. That feeling of acceptance is what many people seek as their measure of success. If people around us are praising us then we must be doing well or so we think! So at this point you need to be honest with yourself. Up to this point who has determined whether you feel successful? Friends, family, co-workers or business partners and the expectations of society have determined success in general for most people. It’s hard to admit, but it’s true, if you examine the things you have been striving for, you are sure to find that many of the people who fall into the groups mentioned above have shaped you and your definition of success. But who should define success in your life? I am going to go out on a limb here; I am suggesting that success should be defined by God and by your relationship with Him. I know that I turned some people off with that statement but I ask you to approach this with an open mind. Besides, if you're like most people then the results you have been getting from the common way of defining success has been very disappointing. I am asking you to suspend all fear, doubt and disbelief. Will you do that? Do you mean it? Are you willing to continue making progress? If what I have to share isn’t true, real and relevant to you then you can disregard what I say and just go back to your old ways. If it is though, then you are on the road to a new and unexpected future. One where your steps are guided and although you are engaged in spiritual warfare, you are certain of the outcome. Yes, your definition of success should be based on God! It has been said “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” In other words, if you are doing the right things for the right reasons, you will be successful. If you have found this episode helpful, please follow, like, rate and share with your friends on social media. Thanks for joining me at renewed2win. Remember, maybe everything you have ever believed doesn’t actually matter to what is truly real. Michael at R2W

Neale Donald Walsch said “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” That statement seems to be more true today than at any other time in human history. With our faces buried in our phones, consuming a mental diet of electronic brainwashing and manipulation, we can get quite comfortable with our little spot in the world. After all, there isn’t much thinking needed to live a comfortable life. We are told what to think, what to watch, what’s “trending”, even what to eat. We have come to expect a certain level of comfort in our lives. After all, that’s exactly what our hand-held masters have told us to desire and embrace. As long as we receive this morphine-like slow drip of the known, we stay comfortable and therefore paralyzed… unwilling or unable to life life to the fullest. The end of your comfort zone, though, that’s a whole different form of living. It is the place where we go from the known predictable patterns of life into the unknown and unpredictable. When we choose to step over that line into the difficult and uncomfortable, well that’s where the living and winning is done. So today I'm going to ask you some questions. Be honest with your resposes, Maybe even write them down and contemplate the answers over the coming days. Where are you living in relation to your comfort zone? Do you enjoy a life where nothing changes? Or Do you wonder if you could live a life of adventure? Do you prefer being told how to live? Or Do you prefer making your own decisions? Do you hire an “expert” when something needs fixing? or Do you want to test the limits of what you know? Do you believe you are ordinary? Or Do you know God created you to be extraordinary? Most people choose to live in their comfort zone. They never seem to venture out beyond what seems certain. Maybe they don’t know that they can. They get comfortable and stop pushing on the limits of their dreams. The predictable comforts of modern life nave put their God given purpose to sleep. They are robbed of that vision God planted in their hearts as a child. They are told not to demand more of life. To just keep their eyes on their device. Even in the spiritual unconsciousness we seem to live our lives, there is a hidden desire for more. More of the goodness of life; more of God. Inside all of us is a desire to get more from life. It has become buried under layers of complexity we should reject. Many of us are just afraid to do it. This is where some of us chose to live. But for God’s chosen and awoken there is something different. It’s a deliberate attempt to run away from the spiritual jail cells that surround us. We get up every day trying to get away from the ordinary. We run from the comfort zones erected all around us; fighting with every essence of our being not only to keep ourselves free but to open the eyes of the lost and help them to their spiritual feet so that they too can join the fight. We enjoy the challenge of growing and getting better everyday. We trust that the fight and the struggle will make us stronger. We move with purpose towards the end of our comfort zone. This is where our senses are alive; where we live life to the full. This is where we are in the will of our Creator and Savior. Where are you? Where do you want to be? Where are you heading? These are questions each of us must ask and answer for ourselves each and every day. We must contemplate these questions without the outside influence of the electronics all around us. Learning to live a life beyond the everyday societal trappings of TV, internet, junk food, social media, and other influences that keep you down, is a life planned just for you; a life beyond your wildest dreams. Its a life of accomplishment, success and fulfillment. It is a life that isn't always easy, comfortable or predictable but it is a life worth living. To find it you simply need to break free. You need to develop a God centered and directed self-reliance. realizing that you are a unique creation. It is a spiritual battle. Suit up with the full Armor of God and join the battle, until He returns. Thanks for joining me at renewed2win. Remember, maybe everything you have ever believed doesn’t actually matter to what is truly real. If you have found this helpful, please like, subscribe or share.

The simple answer is: I don't know! And just as importantly, I don’t need to know! First things first... a little background about me. Not too long ago, I had a job that I loved more than anything. I think that was part of the reason I stood there four and a half years ago confused and baffled… devastated. It was more than a job. It was a calling; a mission. I was good at it! People loved me! I was a kids and youth pastor for 12 years. I didn’t know then but I do know now, I put that ministry before everything, even God himself! All in an attempt to feed my ego. I took a church with a failing kids and youth program and turned it around. Over a period of 12 years I saw hundreds of kids and teenagers grow into young adults with families of their own. Some of them even went into ministry themselves because of me! I know now that I wasn't the reason but my ego was BIG! Fast forward... to early 2018. The senior pastor's son graduated from bible college and wanted to be a kids and youth pastor. He also wanted to serve his dad in ministry. So guess where I ended up? That's right... unemployed. The funny thing is, he moved away again one year after serving at his dad's church.. I know now that God used that situation to move me out of that ministry and into the unknown. Am I mad about how I was treated? I was,.. but the bigger picture is unfolding and it's going to be better than I ever dreamed. It's no longer about me. It's about my Savior; yes it's about Jesus! I can't say I would have done anything any different if I was in charge and my son or daughter came and told me that they wanted to serve alongside me in ministry. I would be honored if that happened. Besides, I needed a major spiritual overhauling. I spent months after that wrestling with God. I was trying to bargain with Him. I was praying for His will but doing my own thing. He knew what I needed. He broke me... in a way I have never been broken. It hurt. I cried... a lot. (If you're wondering: Real men do cry). I spent months in the wilderness, alone or so I thought. I know now that my loving Heavenly Father was with me the entire time. Family with whom I thought I had an unbreakable bond said and did things to me that crushed my spirit. Friends I thought I had were nowhere to be found. I was hurt and alone. I got myself involved in some serious 12 step work. It broke me even more. I surrendered... things continued to get worse. I realize now the first attempt at surrender was me trying to trick God. Like an all powerful, all knowing and all present God wouldn't see through my attempts at deception. I prayed harder and hurt more. I kept pressing in… even when my old life was crumbling all around me. Somewhere along the way His love changed me. It didn’t happen overnight. It was a very gradual process. I survived. If you find yourself in a similar season of life, you will survive too. But you need God. You really do! So, here I am today. Rebuilt and committed to following Jesus. Yes, sometimes into very painful places and complete darkness but sometimes into places of joy and blessing. I have taken the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:10-13 and have learned “to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” He keeps leading me, I keep doing the next right thing, miracles keep happening! It's just like that for me now. Over 4 years later He has my attention. I feel Him, guiding me, leading me; very carefully, back into ministry. This is my ministry and what it will become is His plan, not mine. For now he has me on a need to know basis. Quite honestly, I'm good with that! I trust Him, even when I cant see. Thanks for joining me at renewed2win. Remember, maybe everything you have ever believed doesn’t actually matter to what is truly real.

As I glance at the clock in front of me, I see the seconds ticking by. It seems insignificant in the moment. What’s a few seconds? And in the grand plan of life, a few seconds will not change the course of a life. But string together a few seconds and then a few more and then a few more. If you expand this out and follow it logically, you will see that the seconds become minutes; the minutes become hours; hours become days… well I think you get where I'm going with this. If wasting seconds is a constant practice in your life then what eventually happens is that years of life get wasted. Time doesn’t stop. It continues to creep forward no matter what you do or fail to do. It is an impersonal reality that you can either master or serve. Remember this though: The choice is yours! Are you moving with time or are you stuck? Are you stuck in the past with regrets of mistakes or things left undone? Maybe you're stuck in the future, paralyzed by the “what ifs.' Is the time that you should be working consumed with fear? Are you stuck in the present without clear direction? Are you afraid to make a mistake because that biting criticism from the past is still lurking under the surface, waiting to take you down again?. Make a choice: GET UNSTUCK!. Now! Stop allowing the time to aimlessly drift by while your goals and dreams fade into the sunset of this beautiful life you have been given. You were created to do and be more. Take hold of that truth. Embrace it and learn to recognize the wasted time. And most importantly, Do something about it. A life of self-sufficient living requires you to become the master of your time. Sometimes it’s good to let the seconds drift by. In fact you should have a time every day where you do absolutely nothing. That is good… and healthy. Remember though what your objective is. You are trying to break free from the chains of a lost and dying world. You are learning to set yourself apart from the masses… those who aimlessly move through life, seeking comfort and pleasure. You are seeking to dismiss society as your source of dependence and turn towards God. The only way to do that is to become an efficient user of the hours in front of you. Get unstuck: Do something now! Don’t let the next hour pass without you doing something to move you closer to your objective of freedom and independence. Do something no matter how small or unimportant it may seem in the moment. It will help you move in the right direction. I recently had a great experience with this concept and I want to share it with you. I have had trouble in the last few years keeping my garage organized. I always intend to get it picked up and in order but I never did. I watched the clock tick by, unwilling to take action. I carried this seemingly unimportant burden with me, not realizing what It was doing to my God given destiny. I was very frustrated with my inability to take action. Then, after listening to a podcast about a relevant topic, I decided to go out to the garage and put a screwdriver away. It felt good. I began to pick two things that I could do in the garage each day to move me closer to the objective. I began to develop momentum and over the course of about two weeks, the garage was organized. That momentum carried over to every single area of my life. All because I decided to stop watching the moments tic by and do something. You can do the same thing. What will you commit to right now? Now will be gone before you know it. Your chance to do something will fade into the past: What’s your something? What’s your screwdriver? Time will continue to creep forward no matter what you do or fail to do. It is an impersonal reality that you can either master or serve. Remember this though: The Choice Is Yours! Don’t let time pass without you doing something to move you closer to your objective of freedom and independence. Thanks for joining me at renewed2win. Remember, maybe everything you have ever believed doesn’t actually matter to what is truly real.

We learn to walk by the time we are one; we learn to ride a bike by the time we’re six, about the same time, we are starting school. We learn to drive by the time we are sixteen. We get married, have kids and then retire. We do this, most of us anyway, without learning about success. I’m talking about real success. Most of us have learned society’s version of success and that is precisely why we are unhappy and unfulfilled. Of true success, we know very little or even nothing at all. Many of us never learn what success is and what it isn’t. We don’t understand what failure is or what it isn’t. If you look around at the world today you will see many people leading unfulfilled, unhappy and unproductive lives. No one ever taught us about success. There are no high school courses on the subject and I have yet to see a college course that teaches life-long principles that, if lived by, will set your destiny in a new trajectory. It’s a concept most people will never grasp. Well, that’s what renewed2win is about. By reading, watching or listening to these mini lessons you will begin to uncover the life that was meant for you. You will realize your uniqueness and finally realize that we are not living in a one-size-fits-all world. You will find true happiness as you begin to realize success. As we begin our journey, I would like to share with you my personal experiences with success as the world and popular society defines it and what I have come to know as true, lasting and real success. My journey began, like everyone else, as a child. It’s when we are young and impressionable that our beliefs, attitudes and behaviors are formed. They affect the rest of our lives, and for many people, it is never realized that they may develop these characteristics in an atmosphere that isn’t or wasn’t supportive of real success. My first experiences with worldly success revolved around sports and money. These two areas were given major emphasis. As I remember I was strongly persuaded to practice baseball every day and I also had a paper route. Two things that I didn’t enjoy but was told would be stepping stones to future success. I remember hearing from people who had an influence on my life that I could do anything and have as much money as I wanted. Wow, what’s wrong with that? So, the race was on. Like many young people, my ambitions began to revolve around power, importance, prestige and money. The cues from society, in general, were the same. I should want “stuff” and I should do whatever it takes to get that “stuff.” That was success! I took a job as an insurance and investment broker out of college, after seeing the movie “Wall Street.” I felt important and there was some feeling of power. After all, I was helping people with their money. There was some feeling of prestige, especially among friends and people who didn’t know the industry that well. I didn’t make much money though and found out later why. It was not what I was supposed to do. In an industry where they hire almost anybody who walks through the door, I wasn’t making the money I thought I deserved. I came to realize years later, that I wasn’t working nearly as intelligently or efficiently as I needed to in order to make that money. I would work twelve to sixteen hours a day; I realize now that I was sitting at a desk for twelve to sixteen hours a day, but not really working. I remember telling people with an absolute degree of certainty that I was going to be the richest man in the world; I was going to be successful. I don’t know if anyone bought into that or not. So off I went chasing success. After some time of this I figured out what I thought the real problem was, it was the insurance and investment industry. So, I quit my job and took other sales jobs, working equally tiring hours; driving myself and everyone around me insane with no time for fun or leisure. I don’t think it was until my son came along in 2004 that I realized what I was doing to myself. I was working and expending energy toward goals and ideals that were not my own. So, what did I do? I quit my job. I would be successful on my own, without the help of anyone else. I went and bought some computers, desks, chairs and a two-line phone. I started my own business. Doing what? Well, selling insurance and investments of course. Needless to say, I was not “successful,” but I kept up the chase. I don’t think it was until my daughter was born in 2007 that I decided to look at my life and make concrete changes. Now I have always been happy with my life. I have the two best kids anyone could have asked or hoped for but I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t make any money or find fulfillment in life. Why I couldn’t be “successful.” I could run 4 miles and work out every day. I could eat fairly good food; have energy and health. I could have great relationships with my kids and many other people, but I couldn’t be “successful”. As could be anticipated, I was very frustrated. Then, after surviving through active addiction and a series of financial disasters and relational failures, my eyes began to open. I was successful. At renewed2win you will learn about real success. For today, though, just start thinking about who you want to become. That’s where it starts. Start thinking about what success looks like, feels like, and sounds like for you. Don’t worry about what others may say or think, just begin to define it. Thanks for joining me at renewed2win. Remember, maybe everything you have ever believed doesn’t actually matter to what is truly real.

I was out early this morning in the yard. As I walked out towards the shed, I tripped over something. As I looked down, I saw it! That same piece of wood that has been there for several weeks. A stumbling block… I continued on my mission to the shed. As I walked, I was reminded of all of the times I stumbled over that piece of wood. It was right in my path but I hadn’t done anything about it for a long time. This morning though, I decided to take action. I picked up the stumbling block and I threw it into the woods, where I would never have to walk near it again.I remembered how that particular stumbling block took its position. It was the result of my splitting firewood in preparation for the upcoming winter… something good. I saw a small chunk of wood fly off the side of the log I was splitting and I clearly remember saying to myself that I would pick it up later, but I never did. So my internal dialogue began to focus on not only this particular stumbling block but on what other obstacle I may have set up in my path. My path of life. I began to think of the failures I encountered on this path of life. I thought about my early life and who I wanted to be, the broken relationships, the betrayal of those closest to me, the shattered dreams, the missed opportunities… the list goes on but I think you get the point. It was quite an emotional and eye opening experience, out there this morning as I picked up this particular stumbling block and tossed it where my feet would never tread. I began to wonder what other stumbling blocks can I move from my path right now. I know I can’t remove all of them at once but today I can remove one… just one. To move all of them will take a lifetime but for today, I can focus on one… just one. Maybe tomorrow I can do two; but that's tomorrow. Today I can move one. It’s the same with you. You can take action right now. No more waiting, no more excuses, no more ignoring what has been holding you back. What people, situations, circumstances, habits, behaviors and past hurts are causing you to stumble? Be honest… it’s just you and God. Well, if you're like me, then I bet your list is quite formidable. You may have thought of turning back and ignoring these things that are holding you back from your true potential. These thoughts may have even stirred up some dormant pain or distant memories. That’s ok. It’s the first step on your journey to a new you. Muster the courage to pick one stumbling block. What are you willing to let go of or move out of your way? You don’t need to pick the biggest or most painful, just pick one. One thing, that if you remove from the path you're on, it will make your journey better. Don’t think too much about it, just decide. Don’t worry, tomorrow you can pick another. Tomorrow you can even eliminate two if you want, but for today just pick one. Now that you have this obstacle before you, put it before God. Ask Him what you need to do. What actions you should take to rid yourself of this thing that has been holding you back. Most importantly ask Him to be with you as you take the steps necessary to remove it. Most likely it's not as easy as picking up a chunk of wood and tossing it into the woods. Just do something! Just eliminate one! Thanks for joining me at renewed2win. Remember, maybe everything you have ever believed doesn’t actually matter to what is truly real.

As every successful person understands, achieving one’s own objective is simply not enough. Sooner or later, you realize that there is more to life thanjustachieving your own objectives. One of life’s greatest challenges and most rewarding responsibilities is to continually encourageothersto live up to their potential! Regardless of if you are a business leader, friend, parent or spouse, one of the most important obligations you have is to lift others to new levels of success and help them live to their potential. If done properly, this can be made into a winning situation forallinvolved. It’s important to realize that you arealwaysinfluencing the people around you, in general and the people who look to you for leadership, in particular, either positively or negatively. Everything you say has an effect and your actions have significance. These words and actions can be used to build others up or tear them down. Obviously, you would prefer to build people up, I hope. Here are ten thingsyoucan do to help others identify and realize the best that's within them: Believe in Them:Everyonelacks confidence at times. Sometimes people question their abilities to achieve an objective or accomplish a task. Many times, that lack of confidence can be overcome just by knowing that someone believes in you. Having someone believe in you, in these circumstances, is immeasurable and is often the only thing that stands between failure and success. Think back to a time when someone believed in you, even when you doubted yourself. It made you feel good, didn’t it? History is full of examples of great people who became successful because someone believed in them, even though they struggled with their own confidence. Expect More: I expect more from myself thananyonecould ever ask of me; and I can guess that if you are following this program, that it is very likely that you do too. Unfortunately, many people around you have been conditioned by society, “not to get their hopes up.” It’s been my experience that the more you ask of someone, the more you will get. By increasing your expectations, you can lift other people up to new levels of achievement. Has there ever been a time when your boss handed you an “impossible” project, expecting you to complete it and somehow you did? Be careful not to overwhelm someone, but do expect a lot. Image by Keith Johnston from Pixabay LeadbyExample:One of the most effective ways to bring out the best in others is through your own actions. The way youact, both publicly and privately, says much more about you than what comes out of your mouth. Your kids are constantly watching you, for the way you react toall of life’s circumstances and situations. You may tell your kids to eat their broccoli, but if you don’t set the example by actually doing it yourself, they may do it to avoid being punished, but as soon as you're gone, the broccoli’s going straight into the trash. People naturally try to act like their mentors and you are a mentor to someone, so mentor by example! Be A SourceofEncouragement:How often do you encourage other people? With the pace of society today, it is very easy to get “caught up” in your day-to-day busyness and forget that youcanreally help someone by speaking words such as: "You can do it" or "I know you can."Genuineencouragement can go far in helping someone persevere. Making this a habit will lift everyone you come into contact with to new levels of success. Try saying to a friend, who may be having problems at home, "I know that you are going through a difficult time with your spouse, but I know that you two will work it out. Your relationship will come out even stronger in the end.” Always TelltheTruth:Many people will avoid telling the truth, because they don’t want to hurt someone’s Source: Giphy feelings or lose a friend. But in order to truly help someone, you must tell the truth! I know that you want to be liked, but telling the truth is an action that showsreal concern and friendship. It may be that what needs to be said can only come from you. Your boyfriend or girlfriend drinks too much? By telling them and confronting the problem, you may not only help them stop, you may also let them realize how much you care. Expose Your Failures:Your failures are the greatest learning experiences forotherswho may be doing what you tried to do in the past. Many people, to avoid looking vulnerable, will hide the failures that they have encountered. Showing other people that you have failed can really help them by showing them that everyone fails! In fact, the most successful people are the ones who have failed the most. Be proud of your failures! You can use them to encourage other people and to remember where you have been. Telling your spouse about the broken dream you had, may be enough to keep her motivated in pursuing her vision. Praise Them: Catch someone doing somethingright. It’s easy to criticize others when they are not living up to your expectations. Over time, this leads to a breakdown of someone’s self-esteem and their ability to encourage themselves. Learn to give positive feedback and you’ll be amazed at the results. Here is a good rule to follow: every time you need to criticize someone, you must also give them ten compliments. If you are a sales manager, try this with someone on your team. When people know that they will get rewarded for positive actions, they tend to do them more often. Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com ListenandAsk Good Questions:A successful person doesn't tell other people what to do. They learn toaskthought-provoking questions, in order for others to rationalize decisions more clearly. This helps them to get clear on the implications of their choices. When the questions are asked, sit back and listen. Use why and how questions, as opposed to yes and no know questions; this will help them to make good choices, because they will come to theirownconclusions. They will also learn to respect you as someone who they can trust. By asking well thought out questions, you cause others to think of their own solutions to problems, which will lead to more self-reliance. LearntoMotivate Others:Learn what causes people in your life to be motivated. Everyone hasdifferentmotivations and people who are “unmotivated” will only work hard enough to keep their current position in life. Someone who is sufficiently motivated will strive for excellence, in spite of the obstacles. Everyone needs to be challenged from time to time. This is how we grow and become better. Learning to challenge and motivate others is a skill that will not only improve your relationships, but also improveeveryonearound you. Think of someone you know that is just going through the motions of daily living; how can you motivate them? Invest Your Most Precious Asset:Do you want to know what someone cherishes and respects? Watch to see where they spend theirtime. If you learn to invest your time in people that you want to succeed, they will! You will communicate the message that they are important and they will learn to respect and value the time you spend with them. My teen-aged son and daughter know that I will drop everything and focus completely on them; they know that they’re important and how much I love them. I have no doubt about their future success. Cancel your “night out” and spend time with those whotruly matter. Use this most treasured of resources to lift others up! Remember, once you're out of time, you can’t do any more to help others. Learninghow to bring out the best in othersis one of the most important skills you can learn. When you understand how to do this effectively, then you have truly become successful.

Romans 12:1-2 …offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. How’s life? Really, take off the mask for a minute. Look in the mirror and ask yourself how your life is going. Are you all you hoped to be? Remember when you were a kid, sitting under an oak tree dreaming about all that you would be and do? I do. It was fascinating. You were going to do and be so much. You had big plans and big dreams. What happened? For me, I know what happened. The influence of a lost and broken world began to set in. Slowly the demands and worries of life separated me from that vision. It happened to you too. Life happened! You got caught up in this circus of a world chasing things that aren’t real. It’s a form of brainwashing and it’s the evilest form of deception. You started to believe the lies. If you just abandoned those childhood dreams… and entered the circus tent everything would be ok. So you did. After all, the “important” people were telling you this was the way ro true success. If you could just get your hands on a big stack of money, a shiny new car and a big house everything would be great. So that’s what you did. You followed the path laid out before you… by the world The path that so many others took before you. It was paved and straight. There were so many people on the path, you thought for sure that it must be the right way. You started pursuing society’s version of success. You got lost, you forgot those childhood dreams. And now, you look in that mirror and you have no idea who’s staring back. It ends now. Are you desperate enough to change? Do you have a soul sickness that runs so deep it’s brought you to a place of change? Maybe you can’t even look at yourself in the mirror. You can’t stand who you have become. Today’s a new day. If you are reading or listening to this it’s no accident. You are being called out of this society induced coma… to rise up. To embrace your purpose! To present yourself before God. To stop conforming to the pattern that has captured so many people and lulled them into a state of emotional, spiritual and physical bondage.You must be transformed! Renew your mind. Think for yourself. Seek the one who created you! He still has a plan and a purpose for your life and although dormant, that plan will come alive the moment you accept and embrace it. He’s been waiting for you to reawaken that childhood dream. To get up from your slumber. To look at what society is doing and doing the opposite. Take the path less traveled. This path is unpaved but it was made specifically for you. It’s not straight, You can’t always see where you're going, but you don't need to. There are obstacles and tests along the way but with a renewed and transformed mind you will pass them all. It’s not the easy path but it's the one designed for you. This path will take you to the life that has been uniquely designed for you. True success. Are you ready? Stop waiting. Take the first step. Now. What is the first step? Get alone with yourself and your creator. Let Him guide you. I don’t know what the specifics are for you. Change your life. There is no looking back! Step! Go! Win!

I was out early this morning walking the dog. While out, I was thinking of what the next episode was going to be about. I came up with four random thoughts on health which if applied in your life will help to lift your life to a new level of success. So here they are: Some of these ideas may seem like common sense to you, some of them you may not have thought of.  I throw them out to you now, as ideas you can use and work on, to help you in your pursuit of physical health and success.  The first one is to avoid drugs and alcohol.  At their worst they cause broken families, broken lives and much pain.  At their best they cause drowsiness and lack of ambition.  "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints?  Who has needless bruises?  Who has bloodshot eyes?  Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.  Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!  In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.  Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind will imagine confusing things.  You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.  'They hit me,' you will say, 'but I'm not hurt!  They beat me, but I don't feel it!  When will I wake up so I can find another drink?'"xcii My experience and work with other people has shown that you can insert any type of alcohol or drug in the above statement and you will end up with the same result. Also, don’t be fooled by the so-called “legal” drugs (prescription and non-prescription). My best advice to you is this: avoid drugs and alcohol like the plague! They will kill your success and your dreams, or at the very least, they will make it much harder to be successful. Source: Giphy The next suggestion I have is to make sure you laugh hard and laugh often. Laugh with your family. Laugh with your friends. Laugh with co-workers. Laugh with enemies…yes, enemies, if you can. When I learn to laugh at my faults and mistakes, it makes it much easier to work through them. Laughing will improve your personality and your overall outlook on life. So, go watch a funny movie or buy a joke book; just start laughing. Remember that it is okay to laugh at yourself. When other people are involved, make sure you aren’t laughing at them, but with them. Laughter is contagious, if you begin laughing, you just might get other people laughing with you and by doing this, you just might make, not only your life, but also the lives of everyone around you a little bit better. The next suggestion I have is to fast on a regular basis. It’s okay; you can make it for a short period of time without food. Start small and gradually increase the amount of time. Fasting cleans the built-up toxins out of your body and allows your body to repair itself. The simple explanation for this is that if you deprive your body of food for a short time, it will begin looking for other sources of energy. Rather than attacking healthy tissue and cells in your systems, it will go after the “bad” stuff first. This includes unhealthy cells and bodily tissue, thereby eliminating this harmful stuff. Fasting for too long will cause your body to begin going after the healthy cells and bodily tissue. I generally try to fast for twenty-four to forty-eight hours once a month. Sometimes however, I may fast for more than forty-eight hours several times a year. If you are new to fasting, I suggest you try a twenty-four hour fast to begin with. As with everything else in life, use common sense and listen to your body. It is an amazing creation and it knows exactly what it needs. Image by Himsan from Pixabay On top of the physical benefits of fasting, you have the added benefit of experiencing a great deal of spiritual and mental growth. You will clear your mind and feel “cleaner” in your spirit. You might have a problem that you have been working on before fasting and suddenly, during the fast; you are supplied with the answer. If the fast is combined with a definite amount of prayer, you will feel an unexplainable and incredible closeness with God. I receive enormous benefits from combining the two, fasting and prayer. If you give it a try, you will see why this combination is much more effective and beneficial when the period of prayer takes place at the end of the fasting period. Experiment with this and see what works best for you. Keep a journal of how you feel physically, mentally and spiritually – before, during and after your fasts. Breathing is another important factor that you shouldn’t overlook. It sounds simple enough; you breathe all the time, right? However, effective breathing is so important and most don’t utilize it to its full potential. When done properly, breathing gives you energy and cleanses your body, thereby improving your health. Whenever you consciously remember, take long, slow, deep breaths. Over time, you will train your body to breathe like that naturally. This will help to move the stored toxins through and out of your body. You will also get the added benefits of stress reduction and relaxation. Try this simple exercise. Take a deep breath for 5 seconds, hold it for 20 seconds and exhale for 10 seconds. If the time is too long, or if you feel lightheaded, dizzy or sick when doing these exercises, cut down on the length of time and do a shorter cycle. Remember to keep the same ratio though. You can try taking a deep breath for 2 seconds, holding it for 8 seconds and exhaling for 4 seconds. You can work up to the longer cycle as you get healthier. So there are my random thoughts on health from my early morning walk. I hope these four random thoughts help to take your life to a new level. Thanks for joining me at renewed2win. Remember, maybe everything you have ever believed doesn’t actually matter to what is truly real.